Miranda opened her eyes to the sound of the elevator humming to life. Mommy was up and about. It must be morning. She leaned over the side of the mattress to check on Gabby in the truckle bed beside her. Gabby was already looking up at her, blinking sleepy eyes.

"Time to get up!" Miranda exclaimed taking a flying leap over her sister's mattress and rushing to the door. Now she, Gabby and AJ shared one bathroom it paid to get in there first.

Marissa was just entering as Miranda hurried past.

"Is Gabby up?" Marissa called after her retreating form.

"Almost." Miranda replied, diving into the bathroom just as AJ emerged from his room. "First dibs!" she called shutting the door in his face.

"I'm first dibs tomorrow!" AJ called through the closed door.

"Only if you beat me!" Miranda called back.

…

It was cereal for breakfast this morning in the dining room. The step down to the kitchen was too much of a chore for Bianca in her wheelchair. Miranda poured the milk onto her Captain Crunch and then turned to her mom.

"Mommy, why didn't you wait for us to help with your exercises this morning?" she asked.

Bianca, who had just taken a sip of coffee, found the question answered for her by Marissa.

"She's going to the hospital this morning for a scan, remember."

"…I start walking again today." Bianca added finally able to answer herself.

"I remembered." said AJ. "And Reese is picking us up from school tonight 'cause Reggie has class."

"That's right." said Marissa ruffling her son's hair. She was fussing around the table making sure everyone had what they needed and was yet to take her seat.

"Mommy?" Gabby asked; her mouth half full of Chocolate flakes.

"Yes, sweetie." said Bianca.

"Is Maggie going to be in my bed much longer?"

"We'll have to wait to see what Frankie says today."

"Is someone talking about me?" Maggie asked, popping her head around door.

"It's just Gabby wanting her bed back." explained Marissa finally taking her seat.

"Oh…" Maggie said playfully. "It's so very comfortable I might not want to give to back at all. I might even take it back to Paris with me!"

"No!" exclaimed Gabby in horror.

"Don't tease her this early, she can't take it." warned Bianca before turning to Gabby and reassuring her that Maggie didn't really mean it.

"Is Reese awake yet?" Marissa asked.

Maggie shrugged.

"I haven't seen her." she said flatly.

Marissa looked disappointed in her, Bianca did too. Maggie and Reese were suddenly not talking to each other and it left Marissa and Bianca in an awkward position now they were all sharing the same house.

"Well if you do," Marissa said, "Can you remind her about picking up the kids? The casserole just needs going in the oven at five..."

"I won't be here tonight." said Maggie, cutting her off. "I'm seeing David about his research project … You could leave a note?"

"Oh… I'm sure we'll see her before then." said Bianca giving her ex a worried look. "Just be smart when it comes to David, okay?"

"I always am!" she said as she turned to leave.

"Are Maggie and Reese cross with each other?" Miranda asked, confused about the two women's behaviour.

Marisa poured her an orange juice.

"I think it's just the opposite." she said. "They're just being dumb about it… Now eat up, it's almost time for school!"

…