Maggie wheeled Bianca into the entrance hall and then made her excuses; she had to hurry back out to see David.

"You'll be alright?" she asked before leaving.

"I'll be fine." said Bianca, steering her wheelchair around to face her old friend. "Reese should be back by now with the kids."

Maggie nodded and retreated. Bianca watching her with disappointment. Despite their talk Maggie clearly still wanted to avoid Reese.

In a way Bianca knew she was being a little selfish trying to set the two of them up. As nice as it was to see Maggie and as nice as it was that her girls were spending time with Reese, she was also looking forward to the time when her two exes returned to Paris and she could get on with starting her new life with Marissa without any reminders of the past.

Bianca wheeled herself towards the parlour; where was Reese?

…

In the parlour Bianca found Gabby playing house with her dolls and a mess of couch cushions.

"Where is everyone?" Bianca asked, surprised to see her youngest daughter all alone.

Gabby looked up from her game.

"Hi mommy! M'anda and AJ are upstairs and Mama Reese is in the study."

"Okay," said Bianca. "Well, don't let Strawberry Bear and Mrs Rabbit make any more of a mess."

"I won't." said Gabby turning back to her game.

Bianca turned herself around and headed to the study to find Reese, a little annoyed as her ex-wife was supposed to be watching the kids.

…

Bianca found Reese in the study just as Gabby said. The desk was strewn with architect plans.

"What is all this?"

"I found my house." said Reese, a hint of excitement in her voice. "I hope you don't mind me taking over your study?"

"You really did it?" asked Bianca, in surprise, not quite believing what she was hearing. "You bought a house here?"

And in that moment all of Bianca's hopes for a future with just Marissa and their kids were suddenly in tatters.

Reese turned to Bianca.

"I needed something to do… It has such great potential!"

"But a house?"

"It's more a cabin really." said Reese, not noticing the shock in Bianca's tone. "It's a great little property; not far from the lake. It's very dated but it could be amazing!"

Bianca just stared back at her.

"Why?" she asked.

"Sorry?" asked Reese; suddenly lifted from her excitement at the prospect with a new project.

"Why buy a house? I know you've been talking about it but… you hate this place. The arguments we had when I even mentioned visiting home..! Why have you brought a house; here; now? And don't say it's just something to do… If you wanted to do some decorating you could have had free reign in the guest rooms here."

Reese blinked.

"I just thought I'd get out of your hair, you know. You're back; you're a family again. I'm just a spare wheel."

"Then why not go home to Paris?" asked Bianca. "I know Maggie's staying because of you, even if she won't admit it. But you..? Why are you staying? When I got back from hospital you said you needed to get back home for work."

"I said I'd stay for the wedding."

"Your ex-wife's wedding? Really?" asked Bianca incredulously.

They stared at each other intently and neither one spoke.

"Just don't say it's because you're still in love with me." said Bianca flatly.

Reese looked down.

"Then I won't. I'm here because… because I miss you and I miss the kids. I was lonely in Paris, all I had was work. I…" Reese met Bianca's gaze again. "I guess it's true. You don't know what you've got until it's gone."

Bianca shook her head.

"No you don't get to do this. You broke us."

"I know."

"I'm happy."

"I know that too."

"You can't expect me to fix the mess you made of your life."

"I don't." said Reese. "I really don't. That's why I bought the house. I don't… I can't go back to Paris. There's nothing for me there."

"There's nothing for you here." warned Bianca.

"There are my girls." said Reese meekly. "I need fresh start."

Bianca's eyes went wide. Reese was really serious about staying.

"This is not a fresh start!" she exclaimed in dismay, "This is going over old ground!"

Bianca closed her eyes. She was losing her temper with Reese; she thought that was something she had left in the past. How this gotten so ugly so fast?

"Look I didn't come here for an argument. I just came to see why you weren't watching the kids… and now I know… work!"

Reese reached out and touched the back of Bianca's wrist.

"Bianca…" she said quietly.

Bianca withdrew from her touch and instead Reese's hand rested on the arm of her wheelchair.

"Bianca," continued Reese. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry we didn't work but I need this right now. I can't explain. I just need to find myself again. You help me do that…"

"We're divorced and not all that amicably. How can you think this is something I'd be cool with?" exclaimed Bianca.

Reese sighed and withdrew her hand.

"Because you're you… and now there's Maggie and me?" she said, uncertainty in her voice.

"I don't mind if you two are happy," said Bianca, "But if it doesn't work out with Maggie that's not my fault…"

"I know."

"Next month I'm getting married to the woman I love..!"

"I know that too."

"So..."

"So..?"

"…You're really serious about moving back to Pine Valley."

"Yeah, I am. I'm staying right here. You'll see it's the right thing to do."

…