Title: Countdown To Midnight

Author: Casandra

Email: Casandranow@aol.com

"Get that door clear!"

"Where's the damn rescue squads!"

"Oh god! Oh my god! What was THAT?!"

The bomb, attached to the furnace and designed not to blow the building sky high, but rather have it implode in on itself, achieved much of it's desired effect. The ballroom was covered in debris. Tables tossed upside down, pieces of the ceiling scattered across the entire room, dust and grime absolutely everywhere. And among all of it, Pine Valley's best and brightest, some unconscious, some coherent and fighting like hell to help the injured.

"Bianca? Bianca, can you hear me?" David crouched down next to an unconscious Bianca, gently checking over her, trying to see if she had any visible injuries. Lena knelt on the other side of Bianca, gently stroking her arm, offering what little comfort she thought she could.

"Maggie?" Bianca called out, slowly coming back around. The last thing she remembered was seeing the bar fall on top of her best friend.

"No, it's David. Just relax Bianca, we're going to get you out of here." David gently tried to hold her in place, fearing that even though she appeared alright, after the kind of blast they just lived through, who knew what other injuries she may have been suffering from. He gestured to Lena to come and take his place, making sure to keep Bianca from getting up. "Bianca, I'll be right back. I need to go look for Maggie." He started to pick himself up off of the debris covered dance floor when Bianca grabbed his hand. He winced briefly at the contact, looking down and for the first time noticing a large gash across his palm, from the base of his thumb to his ring finger.

"David, she pushed me out of the way. She pushed me out of the way to keep me safe." Bianca cried, tears falling continuously down her cheeks, washing away the dirt from the explosion.

"What? What do you mean, she pushed you out of the way?" David turned and surveyed what he could see of the surrounding area, not noticing anything that could have fallen. Just as he was about to turn back around to Bianca, he realized something was missing. The entire bar was gone. Not exactly gone, but not upright either. David looked to about 10 feet away, where he saw the huge oak cabinetry that must have come crashing down during the explosion. 'Oh god, please don't let Maggie be under THAT.' His medical intuition told him that it would be a miracle for anyone to survive something of that size and weight falling directly on top of them.

"Bianca, shhh, we'll find Maggie. Try and calm down. It's not good for the baby." Lena tried her best to soothe Bianca, who was anything BUT calm. David looked over at the sobbing girl, back to what was left of the bar, and then to Lena, who looked just as hopeless as he imagined he looked himself.

David picked himself up again, and crouched down next to Lena, whispering in her ear, making sure Bianca couldn't hear what he was saying to the older woman. "Lena, you need to make sure she stays as calm as possible. She's well into her second trimester, the stress could make it very easy for her to miscarry." He glanced back over at the ruins of the bar area. "And I'm really afraid that this might just be the beginning. IF Maggie is under there, it'll take a miracle for her to come back to Bianca." He felt he didn't need to mince words with Lena. Before the explosion, during the dance they shared, they had talked all about the mess his cousin and Bianca had found themselves in. He was well aware that Lena knew exactly what the girls were feeling, just like he had been. He also knew Lena could tell the severity of the situation. Her eyes carried the message loud and clear. He knew that Lena loved Bianca, very much so, but he saw the look of sympathy and hopelessness in her brown depths, for the love that Maggie and Bianca might have waited too long to recognize.

"David, find her." Lena grasped his hand for a moment, before turning her attention back to Bianca, who was still trying to fight her way to her feet in search of Maggie. David nodded his head and then turned to start climbing his way through the rubble, pushing aside toppled tables and overturned chairs in his path, slowly making his way to where Bianca had pinpointed she last saw Maggie before everything erupted into chaos. He finally made it over to the area where the bar had stood not more than fifteen minutes ago. All that was left was piles of broken glasses, bottles and splintered pieces of wood. And a huge beamlike block of wood lying at it's center. He hoped to God that his cousin wasn't under there.

------

"Lena, let me go! I have to help Maggie, she needs me!" Bianca desperately tried to release herself from Lena's strong grip. But no matter which way she moved, the older woman would not let go.

"Bianca, you need to stay still. David will find Maggie for you." Lena never realized how physically strong Bianca was. It took everything in her not to lose the grip she had on her.

"But she needs ME! She would never let someone else look for me and just sit there if I was in trouble!" Lena knew it was true, in fact it was mostly because of Maggie's protectiveness that she slowly came to realize how deeply Maggie's feelings ran for Bianca. But she also knew that Maggie would not want Bianca to do anything to jeopardize the baby she carried. She'd rather die herself than have Bianca lose her child.

"Bianca, listen to me. What Maggie's needs right now is to know that you're ok. You have to take care of yourself, and that baby you're carrying. For Maggie's sake." Lena knew it was a bit underhanded, but she was running out of options, and her grip on Bianca was weakening by the second. She was hoping that using Maggie's love for Bianca's baby would be enough to convince her to let David and the rescue workers concentrate on helping Maggie now. She knew she had succeeded somewhat when she felt Bianca stop fighting so strongly, instead, sagging against her arms and clutching desperately to her own slightly swollen stomach, as if she was holding onto her baby for dear life. Lena tightened the hold she had around Bianca's shoulders, gently rocking her back and forth, trying to be strong for the younger girl, all the while having a sinking feeling that this was just the beginning of what was shaping up to be a torturously long night.

--------------

David meanwhile, continued to move around the fallen beams and boards, desperately searching for any sign of his cousin. He could hear sirens in the distance, cursing them under his breath for their tardiness in responding to the explosion. Even if he did find Maggie underneath all of the debris, there was no way he would be able to pull her out from under by himself.

"Bianca!!!" David's head snapped around when he heard Erica frantically calling for her daughter. He looked to the now only partially blocked door of the ballroom, seeing rescue personnel and concerned family members scrambling their way through the opening.

"Bianca!!" Erica screamed again.

"She's over here Ms. Kane." Lena called across the room to Bianca's frightened mother. Bianca herself was starting to slip into a state of shock, curled up into a tight ball in Lena's arms, gently rocking herself and not moving her gaze from where David stood, searching desperately for Maggie.

"Oh my god! Bianca, darling, are you ok?" Erica rushed over to her daughter, expertly climbing over the fallen tables and chairs, letting nothing stand in her way. She reached the two huddled figures and dropped herself to her knees unceremoniously. "Bianca? Please talk to me honey. Are you alright?" Bianca still refused to remove her gaze from the pile of rubble that was the bar of the Valley Inn. And with every moment that passed Erica became more and more frightened that Bianca was seriously injured.

Lena noticed that Erica was about to slip into hysterics. "She's alright Ms. Kane, David already checked her out. As far as he can tell, she's perfectly fine." Lena knew enough not to mention anything regarding the baby Bianca was carrying.

"Well if she's so fine, why won't she answer me?!" Erica couldn't understand what was wrong with her precious daughter.

"Maggie." Lena answered, while motioning her head to where David stood combing through the wreckage.

"Maggie?" Erica questioned, her eyes following to where Lena was directing her. She saw David, starting to become frantic in his pace, pulling through the downed chairs and pieces of paneling and plaster. "Oh dear god!" Erica spun back around to meet Lena's gaze, an unspoken question in her eyes, one she feared she already knew the answer to.

"David asked me to dance, to give Bianca and Maggie some time to talk." Lena began. She was well aware that Erica had always disliked her. She also knew that Erica wasn't blind to the girls' feelings for each other either. "They had followed us onto the dance floor shortly after. Right before the explosion I saw Maggie pull Bianca off towards the side, right in front of the bar." Lena gestured with her eyes over to the pile of rubble David was still searching through. "After everything happened, David and I found Bianca unconscious on the floor, but there was no sign of Maggie. Once Bianca came to, she immediately called out for her. Apparently, when the explosion happened, the bar started to collapse. And Maggie pushed Bianca out of the way." Lena finished sadly.

"Oh god, she saved my baby?" Erica's eyes started to tear up, looking back between Bianca's shaking frame, and the frantic search for her best friend. Jackson, having heard the tail end of Lena's explanation, rushed over to help David.

"Mom?" Lena and Erica both turned to face Bianca, their attention taken away from the chaos they found themselves surrounded by.

Erica moved closer to Bianca, wrapping her arm around her trembling frame. "I'm right here sweetie."

Bianca looked up helplessly into her mother's sympathetic gaze. "Mom, please. You have to help them. You have to help them find her!"

Erica tried to soothe her daughter, stroking her dark chocolate locks. "Honey, your Uncle Jack and David are doing everything they can to find Maggie. And the rescue people are here now too." Erica looked up to meet Lena's gaze, seeing the hopelessness in their dark depths. They both knew, with every minute that passed, the chances of finding Maggie alive were dwindling considerably.

"I need a stretcher over here, NOW!!!" All three woman huddled on the floor amidst the debris and dust looked up sharply when they heard David shout across the room to the EMT squad. Before Erica or Lena could stop her, Bianca was up on her feet and hurrying over to where David and Jackson sat crouched by a large wooden beam.

"David?"

David looked up to meet Bianca's terrified stare. "It's her Bianca, it's Maggie." Before he could continue, Bianca dropped to her knees in front of the spot where David sat. She could see the upper portion of Maggie's body, from about her ribcage up. Her dirty blonde hair was streaked with plaster bits and dust, the dress she was wearing, torn in numerous places. But what was really worrisome to Bianca was the large gash across her best friend's forehead, the blood caked into her hairline and a few rivulets starting to dry along her temple and down to her chin. Before Bianca could ask David anything about her condition, the EMT's arrived with a stretcher, right behind them a pair of firemen with crowbars and an inflatable air bag to lift the beam off of Maggie's lower body. Bianca watched helplessly as the rescue workers hurried to free her best friend from the wreckage.

After what seemed like an eternity to Bianca, they finally had pulled Maggie free, carefully loading her onto the stretcher, David filling them in the best he could on her vitals. Bianca felt like she was in slow motion as she followed them outside to the waiting ambulance. The EMT crew loaded Maggie gently into the rig, David pulling himself up behind her. "David!" Bianca called out to him, trying to follow him into the ambulance.

"You have to stay here miss." One of the paramedics told her, grasping her arm lightly to prevent her from getting into the ambulance.

"No! I want to go with her!" Bianca protested, trying to remove the man's hand from her arm.

"I'm sorry miss, but we're all full up in there. Doctor Hayward is only allowed to ride with her because he's her physician." The young man tried to be gentle but firm with Bianca, having seen many friends and family members go through the exact same thing in the time he had been on the job.

"No! You don't understand! She needs me! I need to be with her!" Bianca frantically fought to release the man's hands from her person, tears threatening to blind her.

"Bianca, honey, I'll drive you to the hospital. We'll be right behind the ambulance the entire time, I promise you." Jackson pulled Bianca out of the medic's hold, giving the man a withering stare as he did so.

"But Uncle Jack-----" Bianca continued to protest, her gut instincts telling her that she absolutely needed to be in that ambulance, by Maggie's side. No matter how short a ride to the hospital it was.

"Let her ride. I'll meet you at the hospital." David said, climbing his way back out of the rig and coming to Bianca's side. "I think having you there by her side is exactly what Maggie would want." David pulled Bianca into a hug, helping her up and into the back of the ambulance, squeezing her hand gently before letting go to close up the doors. "Talk to her Bianca. Give her something to stay here for." Bianca looked at David one more time, as the doors slammed shut and the ambulance pulled away from the pandemonium of the Valley Inn.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bianca sat as close to Maggie as she possibly could in the cramped ambulance. She gingerly picked up her best friend's free hand, the other already attached to an IV line and getting some kind of liquid or another. Bianca didn't really care what it was, as long as it would ensure that Maggie stayed with her. Bianca gently stroked the hand she held, watching in an almost daze as the paramedics continued to assess Maggie's injuries.

"Mags, I don't really know if you can hear me or not. But I have to try." Bianca paused to wipe a few tears away. She didn't care if the EMT's were listening in. Maggie was all that mattered right now. Bianca gripped her best friend's hand tighter, trying to transfer some of her strength through their connection. Or maybe it was just to feel Maggie's steady but weak heartbeat, she wasn't really sure.

Bianca paused, trying gather the right words together, hoping that she was at the very least half way intelligible. David had put his faith in her, she needed to make sure Maggie hung on, her words were the only thing she could use now. One of the EMT's, a mid thirty-ish woman whom Bianca vaguely recognized from the clinic during her sonogram, placed her hand gently on Bianca's forearm. "Miss, Dr. Hayward was right, the best thing you can do is talk to her, let your voice be her anchor to this world."

Bianca turned and gave the woman a small smile in appreciation before replying in not more than a bare whisper. "I don't know what to say to her. What could I say to make her stay?" Bianca wiped a few more tears from her eyes, trying to stay as composed as possible.

The paramedic smiled gently at Bianca, turning her gaze to Maggie for a moment and debating whether or not she should share what had been on almost constant repeat in her mind ever since she recognized who it was she was treating at the Valley Inn. She glanced once more between Maggie, who was still non responsive and Bianca, who gripped Maggie's hand in an almost vice like clutch, cradling it against her face and placing feather light kisses upon it. That visual was enough to make up the woman's mind.

"You know, I recognize the both of you. From the day you had your sonogram with Dr. Hayward. I remember this one here, she was running a little late, and you and the Dr. were already in the exam room. And this young lady comes bustling up to me while I was waiting at the nurses station for my partner. She asked me which room she could find Mary Francis in. I had to double take because she was practically bouncing out of her shoes, with the biggest grin on her face. I think the only reason I remember so well is because at that clinic, you very rarely see someone *that* happy, usually it's much the opposite. But she was just beaming away. It wasn't until later, when I went to put your chart away for the nurse on duty that I realized just why she seemed so happy." The woman turned her gaze away from Maggie to look at Bianca, who during the story had placed her and Maggie's joined hands gently against her slightly swollen belly. "If I hadn't known better, I would have thought that *she* was the one expecting."

Bianca couldn't help but smile at that, caressing herself with their clasped hands once more. "Maggie has been absolutely incredible. She makes sure I eat right, I exercise, I get enough sleep. She's certainly getting good practice for being a doctor with me." Bianca gazed lovingly down at her best friend, trying hard to block out the blood splotches and bruises marring Maggie's gorgeous face. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, for both her sake and her unborn child's. "Maggie pushed me out of the way tonight. I should be the one laying here hooked up to all of this stuff, not her. But she protected me, like she always does." Bianca couldn't hold the stream of tears in any longer. She bent her head down, staring at their intertwined fingers, crying softly as the medic watched her compassionately.

"She loves you. It was written all over her face that day." The woman decided that there was no reason NOT to be honest. Especially given how severe the situation was. She checked once again that all the IV's were flowing into Maggie's body and that her heartbeat and blood pressure were remaining as steady as possible. She hoped that Maggie could hear them, hear Bianca.

Bianca looked up sharply at the EMT for a moment before deciding there was no reason to try and defend Maggie's sexuality or their complicated relationship. Not now. Not here.

"I know."

The woman tending to Maggie glanced at Bianca, and then followed her gaze back to Maggie, almost overcome with how strong their connection was, it was completely obvious, even to a total stranger.

"Does she know how much you love her?"

Bianca looked up from her study of their hands to look eyes with the woman treating her best friend. They gazed at each other for a moment, before Bianca bowed her head once more and whispered, "I don't know."

Bianca thought back to their shared dance less than an hour ago. It seemed so much longer than that to her, and yet also, she felt like she could still feel Maggie pressed up against, holding her, breathing with her. She never felt so in sync with anyone the way she had in those few moments tonight with Maggie. She wasn't even sure if she knew herself just how much she loved Maggie, until the chance of her being taken away from Bianca was a very real possibility. Now, now all Bianca could think about was the fact that her best friend would never truly know, never fully understand how deeply her love ran. That thought alone was enough to shatter Bianca's already fragile heart.

Bianca looked desperately at the EMT, begging her to free her from this torture, pleading with her silently to make everything alright. The woman again gently rested her hand atop Bianca's arm, giving her a squeeze of reassurance just as the ambulance finally arrived at Pine Valley Hospital.

The back doors swung open to reveal a set of white coat clad ER doctors, and two more paramedics, reaching into the rig and pulling Maggie out as gently but efficiently as they could. Bianca knew that time was most certainly of the essence, so she stayed back a bit, waiting to get out of the ambulance until Maggie was being wheeled into the ER entrance, surrounded by medical staff. The female medic that had been talking with her the entire ride turned back towards her and reached a hand up to help her down out of the ambulance, ushering her along through the doors once she was safely on the ground.

As she came inside the frantic ER she could hear all sorts of things being called out around her. Doctors shouting orders out to their frazzled ER staff, EMT's giving the attending physicians the statistics of patients in transit from the site of the Valley Inn explosion. Bianca let herself be led by the woman to the cubicle Maggie had been taken to. As she reached the curtain she could hear the frenetic pace at which the staff where trying to help her best friend.

"Get her hooked up to that monitor ASAP!"

"What do we know so far?"

"Adult female, approximately 22 years old. Trapped under a wooden beam for at least 15 minutes. Pupils are equal and reactive though, but she's been unconscious the entire time."

"Well no wonder, she's still bleeding here at her hairline. Nurse! Pack the wound over her right temple and suture it if necessary."

"Anything else? Where was the beam located precisely at? Were you on scene, do you know?"

"Yes doctor, the beam itself was centered around her lower leg area, but she was almost completely covered in debris."

The doctor stepped towards Maggie's legs and gently but firmly felt around, checking the best he could for any fractures, from her knees lower.

"I don't know how in the hell she managed that, but I'm pretty sure nothing in either of her legs is broken."

He moved back up to her abdomen and felt around, gently pushing in at a few places, trying to determine quickly if there was any chance of severe internal bleeding.

"Nurse, I want a full CT scan of her upper and lower abdomen, a pelvic ultrasound, full X-rays on both of her legs, and a chest X-ray, just to be on the safe side." He leaned down and double checked her breathing, listening for anything that would even remotely alert him to a punctured lung. He breathed a small sigh of relief when he heard no wheezing and no wet sounds. But he was a cautious man by nature. The tests were better to be done then not and have a complication somewhere down the line.

What most concerned him now was the head trauma. She had still not regained consciousness and that worried him, coupled with the amount of blood she seemed to have lost. Even though head wounds bled fiercely, it concerned him with her state of unconsciousness.

"I also want a full CT scan of her head and an MRI as well. This might just be a severe concussion, but the fact that she hasn't even come close to regaining consciousness from what I can tell is making me think there might be some hemorrhaging in her skull. Call up and see if Dr. Grey is on rotation tonight."

"Oh god!"

Dr. Thomas turned for the first time in the direction of the open curtain. He saw the young woman being held tightly by one of the EMT's that had brought Maggie Stone in. If he had realized that she had been so close by he might have used a little more discretion, but it was something he couldn't help now, so he thought the best thing he could do was to try and calm the woman down and give her the facts, as gently as he could.

"Miss?"

Bianca turned her attention away from Maggie's prone body laying on the hospital gurney, to the doctor, taking in his gentle brown eyes and warm open expression.

"Bianca, Bianca Montgomery. How's Maggie? Is she going to be ok?"

~~~~~~~~

"How's Maggie? Is she going to be ok?"

The doctor nodded his head and guided Bianca towards the family waiting area in the ER. He ushered Bianca to take a seat and then sat down on the small table right in front of her.

"Miss Montgomery, my name is Doctor Thomas, I'm the senior attending ER physician here."

"Please Dr. Thomas, please, just tell me, is Maggie going to be alright?" Bianca was getting more and more frustrated with each passing second. She appreciated the gentleness of the doctor, but she was beyond the point of caring. She just wanted Maggie.

Dr. Thomas understood the impatience of the woman in front of him. Too often he'd had conversations just like the one he was having now.

"Miss Stone is still unconscious I'm afraid. That's the bad news. The good news is that on my initial examination, other than the head trauma she was relatively in one piece. It's amazing considering I've been told she was found trapped under a wooden beam. There are no apparent broken bones, no internal bleeding in her stomach from what I can tell, and her breath sounds were normal and strong."

"So then why isn't she awake if nothing is wrong?" Bianca asked in a mere whisper, already knowing the answer. The sight of Maggie's face covered in her own blood was something she'd never be able to forget.

"Miss Montgomery, you have to understand, Miss Stone took a severe blow to her head. It's not uncommon for a patient to be unconscious for a significant period of time after a trauma such as hers. I've ordered a complete neurological workup on her, just to be on the safe side. It may just be a severe concussion. But I want to be absolutely sure."

Bianca swallowed the lump forming in her throat. "What else could it be?"

Dr. Thomas sighed, running a hand through his salt and pepper hair. "There's a possibility that she may be bleeding somewhere in her skull. That would be the cause for the continued lack of consciousness. I can't rule anything out until I see the result of her CT scan and MRI."

"Oh God."

"Miss Montgomery, I promise you, we're going to do everything within our power to make sure that your partner is good as new again. We have one of THE best neurologists on the east coast here at PVH, Dr. Maria Grey. She's being briefed of Miss Stone's condition as we speak."

Bianca took small notice of the doctor's assumption of her and Maggie's relationship, but didn't even bother to waste the energy in correcting him. It didn't matter anyway. She did glance up at the second part though.

"Maria is going to be taking care of Maggie?" Bianca felt a small sense of comfort wash over her. Maria was a good friend to her, she knew Maggie would be in the best hands possible.

Dr. Thomas looked a bit startled at Bianca's use of Dr. Grey's first name, but tried to hide it. After all, Pine Valley was a relatively small town, it shouldn't have surprised him that this young woman was an apparent friend of Maria Grey's.

"I take it you're a friend of Dr. Grey's?"

"Something like that." David answered for Bianca as he swept into the waiting room, followed by Jackson, Erica, Lena and surprisingly even Jaime and Babe. Erica headed straight for her daughter, grasping her up in a fierce hug.

Dr. Thomas took in the motley crew of people now standing in front of him, almost all of them covered in dust and grime. He felt compelled to make sure that

they were all ok, since it was obvious they were involved in the explosion as well.

"Did all of you get checked out yet?"

"We're fine, but please, tell us, is Maggie ok?" Jackson decided to intercede and be the voice for the entire group. David was barely holding it together, resisting the strong urge to go and find Maggie and tend to her himself. Erica was holding onto Bianca tightly, trying to will some of her strength into her daughter, who was obviously one tear away from sobbing and not being able to stop. Lena, Jaime and Babe all sat quietly near the door, offering whatever moral support they could.

Dr. Thomas rubbed the bridge of his nose before returning his attention to the tall sandy haired man in front of him. He wondered for a moment just who was who and what relation they had to his patient. He could literally feel the concern and fear radiating off of ALL of them. This was the one part of his job he absolutely hated.

"I'll tell you what I told Miss Montgomery. Miss Stone is still unconscious, and that gives us cause for concern. She took a very harsh blow to her head, so we're doing a full neurological exam on her, to be on the safe side. It could very well be just a concussion, but we aren't taking any chances. As you heard when you came in, Miss Stone's case has been given to Dr. Grey."

Jackson stepped forward and shook Dr. Thomas' hand, the concern still evident in his expression. "Thank you Dr......"

"Thomas. I was the attending ER doctor tonight. Miss Stone was one of the first ones brought in from the explosion." Dr. Thomas paused for a moment, looking Jackson up and down for a moment before pulling him away from the rest a bit. "Tell me Mr......." He paused realizing he had no idea who this man was.

"Jackson Montgomery."

Dr. Thomas nodded his head in acknowledgement. He had thought Jackson looked familiar, but he wasn't sure. It wasn't every day that he spoke with a District Attorney. "Mr. Montgomery. Tell me, just how bad is it over there?"

It took a moment for Jack to understand what the doctor was asking, his mind centered on his niece at the moment. He lowered his head , trying to find a way to describe the scene they had left not more than fifteen minutes ago.

"Chaos. Pure chaos. The entire ballroom of the Valley Inn is in ruins. Ms Kane and I were out in the lobby when the explosion happened and it took at least a few minutes just to get the doors unblocked, there was that much debris. If you could have seen it Dr. Thomas, it would be very hard to imagine how anyone could survive it. But Bianca, David and Lena were all in there with Maggie, and other than a couple of cuts and bruises, they're fine. How Maggie ended up being the odd one out I wish I understood." Jackson rubbed his forehead with the base of his palm, trying to fathom all that had occurred in such a small amount of time. An hour ago he and Erica had been laughing and toasting to the New Year. Now he stood here in the Emergency Room, watching his niece have to suffer yet another crisis. Bianca wasn't the only reason he was there though.

No, he had to admit that Maggie had managed to find a place of her own in his heart. The sheer amount of devotion and love she showed Bianca was enough to make him love her himself, much like another daughter.

"Well, why don't I take you upstairs to the ICU waiting room. That's where they'll be bringing Miss Stone once all her tests are done. I'm afraid I'll have to excuse myself afterwards though, it looks like I'm going to have a very long night."

~~~~~~~~~

Once everyone had been situated in the ICU waiting room, Dr. Thomas excused himself to go back down to the emergency room, offering up a silent prayer for both Maggie Stone and her loved ones.

~~~~~~~~~

Maria double checked the lab reports one more time before lifting herself out of the chair and heading across the third floor of PVH to the ICU waiting room. Her hand reached for the door knob, but she hesitated a bit before letting herself into the room. As a neurosurgeon, she'd had to do this far too many times for her liking. It was never easy talking to loved ones of a patient. In her line of expertise, the news was very often not of the good variety. And it was twice as hard for her now.

She knew these people, they were her friends.

Maria took one more deep breath and then opened the door, stepping inside the room, feeling the tension and fear palpably. For some reason her gaze zeroed directly in on Bianca, taking in the slumping of her shoulders, her porcelain cheeks blemished with tear tracks, and her eyes almost completely bloodshot from crying.

"Maria?" Maria's attention was drawn away from Bianca when David stepped forward, concern radiating off of him in waves.

She gave him a small sympathetic smile before nodding an acknowledgement to the rest of the occupants in the room. She glanced back around David again to see Bianca at full attention now, sitting anxiously in her seat, Erica holding both of her hands in a vice like grip.

"Why don't we all sit down and I'll update you on what's going on with Maggie." She nodded over David's shoulder for a moment, before making her way to Bianca's side and sitting next to her on the opposite side of Erica.

Bianca looked up at Maria, tears still bubbling over. "Maria, did you get the test results? Is Maggie ok?"

Maria looked compassionately at Bianca for a moment before getting down to the nitty gritty. "I did get the results. We ran a CT scan and an MRI on Maggie. The CT scan came back negative, but on the MRI I noticed a minor area of distorted coloration. I've checked and double checked the charts, and my best diagnosis would be that Maggie has a little swelling in her brain." Maria stopped when she felt Bianca start trembling next to her. She quickly continued. "I'm almost one hundred percent sure that she's not hemorrhaging, and given the severity of the blow she took to her skull, I'm honestly not surprised she's swelling a bit."

"Maria, how much is a bit?" David interrupted her, knowing full well how sugar coated things like this could be when it came to delivering news to family members and loved ones.

Maria looked up at David, understanding the impatience of being a doctor relegated to the sidelines. "Honestly David, the swelling is really quite minor. It could definitely be much worse. But it's the reason that Maggie has yet to regain consciousness. We've started her on a steroidal therapy to try and bring the swelling down. If that works, and I have every confidence that it will, Maggie should be awake and talking within the next twelve to twenty four hours."

Bianca had been sitting there listening in an almost daze. She heard what Maria was telling them, but she felt as if she was floating away from her body. All that kept flashing into her mind was Maggie's face right before the explosion . The dance they shared. It was what she was clinging onto so tightly, afraid that it would be her last piece of Maggie. She had to know.

"Maria, is Maggie going to be alright?"

Maria was almost brought to tears by the lost tone in Bianca's voice. She sounded so broken, so defeated. Maria smiled gently at her, reaching down and squeezing her leg in reassurance.

"Bianca, I won't lie to you. The next twenty four hours are critical for Maggie. But if she can pull through and we can get that swelling to go down, then I think she'll be just fine. Once she wakes up, we'll be in good shape. Until then though, I can't promise you anything, I wish to God I could."

~~~~~~~~~

Bianca sat perched on the edge of the hard plastic chair, both hands grasping onto Maggie's free hand, the one not being used to pump what Bianca could only assume were the steroids she had vaguely remembered Maria talking about.

She sat hypnotized by the small drops flowing into the IV machine and making their way down the tube and into Maggie's arm. She wondered how something so small, something so seemingly insignificant, could be responsible for saving someone's life. How each of those tiny little drips of liquid could make all the difference between life and death. It scared her to realize that Maggie's very life could be completely dependant on whether the medicine in that bag above her bed worked the way it was supposed to.

Bianca glanced back down to their clasped hands, gently rubbing the pad of her thumb against the back of Maggie's, feeling the soft smoothness, and trying to will the comfort that touch usually brought, into her incredibly nervous body. The tears started up again before she could even try and stop them. Bianca lowered her head on top of where she held Maggie's hand, gently weeping beside her best friend, praying to God that she wouldn't lose Maggie, not now, not like this.

Even now the world is bleedin'
But feelin' just fine all numb
In our castle where we're always free
To choose never free enough
To find I wish somethin' would break
Cause we're runnin' out of time

And I am overcome
I am overcome
Holy water in my lungs
I am overcome

Lena watched Bianca from the window outside of Maggie's ICU room. There was such a strong part of her that just wanted to sweep in and hold Bianca as tight as she could. To do anything to make the pain go away. But she knew that was no longer her place. And she knew that she more than likely would be of no comfort anyway. The one person that could always make Bianca feel better, even for just a moment, was lying unconscious by Bianca's side.

"God Maggie, if you could see how much this was tearing Bianca apart, I have no doubt you'd move heaven and earth just to wake up and say hi to her." Lena smiled a bit at the visual that came to her mind with that thought. She knew full well that Maggie indeed would probably say something very much like that. Completely unaware that she had scared the life out of not just Bianca, but everyone who loved her.

One of the reasons that Lena couldn't bring herself to hold a grudge against Bianca's best friend was how completely humble the girl was. To a fault she sometimes thought. Lena didn't know much about Maggie's childhood, except for the bare basics that Bianca had told her when explaining their complicated relationship and it's roots that were sprung from Bianca's connection to Frankie. But she wondered if maybe Maggie just had a hard time believing that anyone could care *that* much about her. Lena couldn't help but realize how preposterous the idea was, considering even *she* cared about Maggie. And out of anyone in Pine Valley, she felt she had the most reason to NOT like Bianca's best friend. But yet despite all of it, the fighting, the jealousy, Lena was so very glad that Maggie was in Bianca's life. She only hoped now that their time wasn't about to be cut short, for both Bianca and Maggie's sake.

These women in the street pullin' out their hair
My master's in the yard givin' light to the unaware
This plastic little place is just a step amongst the stairs

And I am overcome, yeah
I am overcome, baby
Holy water in my lungs, yeah
I am overcome

Erica sat kneeling in the hospital chapel, hands clasped together in prayer, eyes shut tightly to ward off the tears threatening. Jackson stood behind her, reaching over and lighting a candle for Maggie. He hated feeling so helpless, seeing Erica trying so hard to be strong for both Bianca and Maggie. After snuffing out the small torch he used to light the prayer candle he reached down and gently squeezed Erica's shoulder in a show of support. She reached up, covering his hand with her own.

"Dear God, please. Please don't take Maggie from us. My daughter has suffered so much in her short life, please don't let her lose Maggie too. I don't think she could survive it." Erica paused in her prayer to wipe away the tears that had managed to escape. "Bianca loves her, she loves her so very much. If she never gets to share that love with Maggie it will kill her. I know it." Jackson squeezed again in comfort, urging Erica to not hold anything back. "I don't think any of us really realized how much we loved Maggie until now. I've known for a long while now that she had my total gratitude and appreciation. She saved Bianca, I believe that down to the very core of my being. But I didn't really understand until now that I wasn't just grateful to her. I love her in my own way as well. She's become a member of my family, a very integral part of it. We can't lose her, not now."

Jackson kneeled down and turned Erica into his embrace, rubbing her back in gentle circles in an attempt at soothing her. As he felt her relax into his arms he looked up at the statue of Christ that hung in front of the chapel.

"Amen."

So drive me out, yeah
Out to that open field
Turn the ignition off
And spin around
Your help is here
But I'm parked in this open space
Blockin' the gates of love

And I am overcome, yeah
I am overcome, baby
Holy water in my lungs, yeah
I am overcome, yeah-yeah

Bianca continued to silently cry into Maggie's hand, feeling the salty drops making both of their palms slick with the moisture. She thought back to what David and the lady paramedic had said. Talk to her. Anchor her here.

I am overcome, oh lord
I am overcome, baby
Holy water in my lungs, holy water, holy water
I am overcome

"Maggie, I really hope you can hear me. Because if you can that means that you're still here with us. With me." Bianca paused to try and gather her thoughts before she continued.

"I think I'm finally beginning to understand what you felt like all these months. Watching me drown in all the pain I felt, in all the shame that I was convinced belonged to me." She leaned down to place a delicate kiss on Maggie's hand.

Beautiful drowning
This beautiful drowning
This holy water
This holy water
Is in my lungs

"You saved me Maggie. That day at the Valley Inn, the minute I saw you come sweeping in, I knew. I knew that if I just could tell you that eventually I'd be ok. And I was right. Because Maggie, I'm finally starting to be ok. You did that. You put the broken pieces of my soul back together. I didn't think I could love you more than I had already, but I was wrong."

And I am overcome
I am overcome, yeah-yeah
And I, and I, and I am overcome
I am overcome, lord

Bianca stood up from the uncomfortable chair and ever so gently eased herself onto Maggie's bed, curling up beside her and resting their joined hands lightly on Maggie's stomach.

"You need to wake up Maggie. You need to hear me when I tell you how in love with you I am. I need to see those gorgeous chocolate eyes of yours. I can't imagine going through the rest of my life never seeing them again. I need you Maggie. Our little girl needs you. She IS our little girl, in every single way that matters. You can't leave us. Not now. Not ever." Bianca's tears started anew, stinging her bloodshot eyes. She made sure there wasn't any way she could toss and hurt Maggie even more, before settling and drifting off into a light slumber, holding onto her soulmate, hoping to God and anyone up there that would listen that when she woke up this all would be some terrible nightmare.

~~~~~~~~~~

The first thing she could feel was pain. Throbbing and pulsing right behind her temples, beating a cadence to some phantom drummer. As she tried in vain to block out the waves of nauseating pain flowing through her skull she became aware of another sensation, this one much more pleasant. With her eyes still closed she tried to concentrate on the wonderful feelings coursing through her, despite the pain in her head. She could feel a warm hand in her own, soft breath on her neck, a gentle head on her shoulder. Without even opening her eyes she knew instinctively that it was Bianca. She breathed in Bianca's scent, lilac perfume with just a small hint of something sweeter. And totally Bianca.

Maggie couldn't help but feel comforted by the presence of her best friend. Her memory was a bit fuzzy, but from the throbbing in her head she knew that whatever had happened had to have landed her in the hospital. She experimentally opened up one eye, trying to adjust to the light of the room without it sending her screaming in pain. All of the lights were turned off, the dim reflections from the street lamps outside her window filtering through being the only source of illumination in the relatively large hospital room. Maggie glanced outside for a moment, seeing the first tendrils of sunshine starting to make their way over the horizon. She quickly looked around for a clock, wondering just how long she had been out of it.

"Mmmm, Maggie?"

The movement was enough to rouse Bianca from her sleep. Maggie turned her attention back to her friend, gripping her hand tighter and curling an arm around her shoulder to make sure that Bianca didn't go flying off the bed when she came completely around.

"Wakey wakey Binks." Maggie stroked the back of Bianca's head, trying to usher her awake.

Bianca stirred some more before stiffening in Maggie's embrace for a moment. Maggie, still worried that she would fall out of the bed, pulled her in as tightly as she could.

"Maggie?" Bianca slowly raised her head up from Maggie's shoulder, daring to hope yet scared to believe what reality was telling her.

Maggie chuckled a bit at the wonderment in Bianca's voice, not understanding the true depth of how scared Bianca had been. "Well look who finally woke up."

Bianca gaped at Maggie, "ME? You're the one that's been out cold for the last how many hours. You scared us half to death!"

Maggie turned a bit to be able to look Bianca in the eyes. It was a little difficult in the relatively small bed, but she managed, just pulling Bianca closer to her as she adjusted herself. She brought her right hand around to gently stroke away the tears that were silently coursing their way down Bianca's alabaster cheek. "Bianca, I'm fine. See, nothing to worry about." Maggie tried to calm her friend down, still not completely comprehending how severely she had been injured.

Bianca reveled in the soft touch of Maggie's fingers on her cheek for a moment before responding, "Nothing to worry about?! Maggie, you were unconscious all night long! I was SO scared!" Bianca couldn't control the new onslaught of tears. She was completely tired of crying, but her supply of tears seemed to be endless. She calmed herself and continued, "Do you even remember what happened?" Bianca couldn't believe that Maggie would be acting so flippant if she understood the entire gravity of what the two of them had gone through the night before.

Maggie racked her brain for a moment, trying to clear up the haze of memories she had floating at the back of her mind. A small smile came to her face as the images of the previous night floated through her head. "I remember coming over to you after Lena and David went onto the dance floor. I asked you to dance with me." Maggie's smile grew even brighter, matched only by the similar one now adorning Bianca's face.

"Glad you at least remember that." Bianca giggled a bit, not worried at all about wearing her heart on her sleeve. After the last six hours, she wasn't about to go back into hiding.

"Of course I remember that, I've wanted to dance with you again ever since we went to the Prom together."

Bianca blushed a bit, tucking an errant strand of dark hair behind her ear. "Maggie......"

Maggie decided to save the teasing for later. "Right, so we were dancing and I was just about to tell you that I...." Maggie stopped herself, not entirely sure whether now was the best time to tell Bianca her truth.

Bianca, picking up on Maggie's hesitancy, decided to try and fill in the gaps for her. Getting Maggie to remember everything about the explosion was her top priority at the moment. "Do you remember the building starting to shake?"

Maggie looked momentarily confused before a look of realization crossed her features. "Oh God! I remember, I remember everything now. We were dancing and I wanted to tell you......something. So I pulled us off of the dance floor and over towards the bar. The last thing I remember is seeing the casing of the bar starting to fall towards us." A look of horror came over Maggie. "Oh my God Bianca, are you ok? Is the baby ok? Oh God!"

Bianca couldn't help but smile. As upset as Maggie was making herself, Bianca felt such a sense of love and safety in that moment. Here Maggie was, lying in a hospital bed with a bandage wrapped completely around her head, having been in a coma all night long. And she was worrying about her. Bianca had to fight the strong urge not to just close the few scant inches between them and kiss Maggie for all she was worth.

She placed a delicate finger to Maggie's lips, effectively shushing her. "I'm fine. And the baby is fine. David checked me out in one of the empty rooms after they brought you up here to ICU, just to be on the safe side."

"But--"

"I promise you Maggie. Everything is fine." Bianca smiled again, never once removing her finger from Maggie's lips. "Because of you, we're ok." Bianca paused to draw up the image from the previous night into her mind. A small shudder passed through her body at the reminder of just how close she had come to losing Maggie. "The bar started to come down on top of us. I remember looking at you, completely terrified, and then I saw it. This little glimmer when you looked back at me. And I knew that you'd make sure that we were safe. I've never felt more sure of anything." Bianca stopped because the water works had once again turned themselves on.

"You know, I'd do anything to keep you and your little girl safe Bianca." Maggie once again gently wiped away Bianca's tears, continuing to softly caress her cheek.

"Maggie, when we couldn't find you........."

"Shh, it's ok....."

"No, it's NOT ok. Maggie I really thought that I was going to lose you tonight. I sat there in that ambulance, and later on in the waiting room, and all that kept going through my mind was that I was never going to see you again." Bianca paused to bring her left hand up from where it had been resting against Maggie's hip to gently stroke her friend's golden brown locks. "I'd never get to hug you, to see you smile, to feel your touch. Maggie, the thought of that almost killed me."

Maggie sat completely stunned for a moment, relishing the feel of Bianca's fingers cascading through her hair. She couldn't pry her eyes away from Bianca's intense gaze, she was completely enraptured by the beautiful soul mere inches away from her. Without giving anymore thought to it, going completely on instinct and her own pent up emotions, Maggie closed the remaining distance between them and gently captured Bianca's lips with her own in a sweet and loving kiss. Bianca, though taken by surprise at first, was more than willing to reciprocate, trailing her hand to the back of Maggie's neck, mindful still of her head wound, and pulled her closer, completely getting caught up in the sensations of Maggie's lips exploring her own.

When Maggie felt like she was starting to lose complete control she reluctantly pulled back, breaking the embrace. She cautiously opened her eyes to gauge Bianca's reaction, pleasantly surprised to see her smiling, her own eyes still sealed shut.

"You kissed me."

Maggie smiled at the sound of total contentment in Bianca's voice. "You kissed me back."

Simultaneously. "Why?"

Maggie smiled again, mirroring the grin spread across Bianca's face. Bianca sobered for a moment, but still keeping the happiness she was feeling easily visible to Maggie. "Before the explosion, you were about to tell me something. What was it?" Bianca had pretty much figured things out, but she needed to hear Maggie say it. Their relationship was so complex that there needed to be complete honesty and understanding if things were going to move forward in the direction she was pretty confident they were headed.

Maggie's smile softened, as she reached up and gently brushed her fingertips over Bianca's forehead, trying to erase the ever so tiny worry lines that were etched there. She understood the reasons behind the uncertainty, and she was determined to not screw this up. After months, years even, of constantly dancing around things, it was time to be completely open and honest. The night before proved to her that time was indeed precious, and she was tired of wasting it. She wanted the rest of her life to start right now, with Bianca.

"I was about to tell you that I love you. That I can't imagine not having you in my life for even a second. That it makes me so jealous to see you with Lena that I've literally started to see green whenever you're together." Maggie brought her free hand down to gently caress Bianca's slightly swollen stomach. " I want to be there for you every single moment of your pregnancy. I want to hold your hand when you're in labor, kiss your tears away. I want to watch your daughter grow up, watch her take her first steps, be there the first time she says Mommy. I want to make sure that she always knows that no matter who her father is, she is the luckiest girl in the world to be your daughter." Maggie paused to wipe away the tears that had started to track their way down her own cheeks. "And of course, to make sure that once she hits her teens she doesn't start bringing any kind of losers home. Only the best for your daughter."

Bianca giggled a bit through her tears, imagining Maggie standing there next to some six foot teenager, reading him the riot act for bringing their daughter home past curfew.

"Bianca, I want to be there for all of it. Standing by your side, watching her grow up to be just as beautiful, intelligent, loving and compassionate a woman as her mother. I want to be there, as your best friend, your shoulder to lean on, your partner.....your lover. Your everything."

Bianca couldn't hold back anymore. Maggie had just opened herself up completely, laid her whole heart on the line in a moment of pure vulnerability, trust and love. Bianca was completely overcome that the only thing she could even possibly imagine doing was to pull Maggie back to her and capture her in a kiss more heated and more passionate than the first one they had shared.

Hands wound into silky tresses, bodies completely fused together, Bianca and Maggie released all of their pent up emotions into that one single embrace. Clutching each other desperately, both of them wondering in the back of their minds why they were ever so scared of this. It felt so completely right, to both of them.

Bianca suddenly remembered something that she had wanted to tell Maggie. Something that she knew would reassure the blonde that her feelings were entirely reciprocated. Very reluctantly she pulled her lips away from Maggie's, ending the passionate kiss much too soon for her tastes. Bianca leaned her forehead against Maggie's, their lips still lightly brushing up against each other with each breath, she uttered on solitary word.

"Ours."

Maggie, still a bit dazed by the incredible kiss they had just shared, didn't quite catch on to what Bianca was saying. "What?"

Bianca placed a light, delicate kiss on Maggie's slightly swollen lips once more before explaining. "Ours." Kiss. "Our life." Kiss. "Our future." Kiss. "Our daughter."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Erica stood gazing in the small window of Maggie's hospital room, completely unnoticed by the two young women inside. She smiled a rare smile, one full of happiness and contentment for her daughter. For the first time since Bianca had told her she was gay, Erica was completely at peace with it. She knew now that Maggie and Bianca had finally found their way to each other, her daughter would be happy. Maggie did that for her, she always had, even during Bianca's darkest days, Maggie had been the one bright light of hope in her life. She could make her smile, even if it was only for a moment, when no one else in the world could. And Erica would be forever grateful to her for it.

She peered back into the room one last time, seeing Bianca curled up in Maggie's arms on the bed. She had her one leg draped over Maggie's own, her arm tucked firmly around Maggie's waist. And Maggie was holding on as tight as she could it looked to Erica. One arm wrapped securely around Bianca, their foreheads nestled firmly together. Erica chuckled affectionately at the sight, knowing that the second a nurse walked into the room the two of them would be in for one heck of lecture. She also knew her daughter though. Bianca wouldn't move from Maggie's embrace for anything now, let alone some old battleaxe of a nurse.

With one last smile in their direction she turned from the window and started to make her way to the elevator, deciding that a bubble bath was sorely needed after the last twenty four hours. As she stood waiting for the elevator car to reach her floor, she turned once more and glanced back at Maggie's room before clasping her hands together tightly for a moment, raising her head briefly in prayer. "Thank you."

~~~~~~~~

7 Months Later

Growing up I never really thought much about love. I didn’t have it then, so why did I expect to have it when I was older. In my household the only real emotion I ever felt on a constant basis was sadness. My father was gone, and I knew he’d never be coming back. Why would he anyway? There was nothing for him there, that‘s why he left in the first place. My mother was always only half aware, even on her good days. Sometimes I wonder if she even realized Frankie and I were her kids, in her continual haze she probably thought we were just any ordinary person. Nothing special. And growing up for years like that, I learned that maybe we were just that. Nothing special.

Until Bianca.

From the moment I met her, there was something in her eyes that told me that maybe there was something about me that was worthwhile. Of course it was all shadowed by Frankie’s ghost for the first couple of months I spent in Pine Valley. But eventually that fog lifted, and I realized that she was seeing me. And god, what I would have given to see myself through her eyes, just for a moment. Now though, now I can sometimes, even if only for a few seconds. And it’s the most amazing thing in the entire world.

These past seven months have been the most incredible days of my life. Bianca’s love makes me feel indescribable. And the love that I have for her and Miranda is something I never thought I was capable of. That day in the birthing room, seeing Miranda take her first breath, cutting the umbilical cord, holding her and then being able to place her into Bianca’s arms. As long as I live, I don’t think there will be anything that even comes close to the magic of that moment.

Although I’ve decided to try and see if that will hold true. Which is why I’m sitting here, nervously playing around with the small ring box I have hidden inside my jeans pocket. I actually hadn’t planned on proposing so soon, but David had pulled me aside a few days ago, knowing that I already had bought Bianca’s ring, and suggested to me that maybe the summer festival here in the park would be the perfect opportunity. I glance around at all the families sitting out on their blankets and chairs here tonight, waiting anxiously for the fireworks to begin and I know now that he was right.

“Sweetie, are you ok?” I turn back around to look at the love of my life, sitting perched with her back up against the large maple we’re sitting under. She’s cradling Miranda against her, rocking her slightly to put her to sleep before the fireworks begin. We had debated for over an hour on whether or not to bring our daughter along with us, but eventually we both decided that we didn’t want to spend the night out without an integral part of our family. Miranda seems to be quite the heavy sleeper, not to mention that not much seems to faze her. So I’m hoping that she won’t mind the noise too much. And to be perfectly honest, I didn’t want to do what I’m about to do without her in the near vicinity. We’re a family, and I’m hoping to make that permanent very soon. It’s only right that she be here with us.

“How’s she doing?” I inch myself a little closer to Bianca, resting my chin on her shoulder and gazing at the perfect little angel in her arms.

“She’s out like a light. Here’s hoping she stays that way.” Bianca smiles down at her for a moment before turning her attention to me. “Are you sure you’re ok Maggie, you seem awfully distracted tonight.”

For a moment I start to panic. I don't want to do it just yet, but Bianca has always been able to read me like a book. I can't hide anything from her. And usually there's never anything to hide in the first place. The silver band encasing a diamond burning a hole through my pocket right now being the exception. I trail my gaze away from her for a moment, trying to find something, anything, to buy me a few more minutes. Just then I recognize one of my nurses from all those months ago.

"Bianca, is that Michelle over there?" I discreetly point in the direction I saw her.

Bianca turns her inquisitive stare away from me begrudgingly and glances towards where I'm gesturing. I can tell she was moments away from knowing something was definitely up with me. Way to dodge the bullet, Stone.

"Yeah, it does look like her! Oh my gosh." I turn towards my girlfriend, wondering why my spotting of Michelle elicited such a strong reaction from her. She turns to face me again, seeing my perplexed look. "It's not just Michelle honey. You remember the paramedic I told you about? The one who tried to keep me calm in the ambulance that night you were hurt?" I see her try and suppress a small shudder, the same one that seems to come over her every time the memory of New Year's Eve is brought up.

Of course I remembered that though. We had been laying together on my hospital bed, just relaxing in each other's arms while I waited for Maria to give me the clean bill of health. We had actually been really lucky, the nurses thankfully had incredible timing, because they never once came in while Bianca had climbed up into bed with me. Which was kind of amazing considering throughout my three day stay at PVU last winter, she was curled up against me 75 percent of the time. The nurses always seemed to pop in just after Bianca had left. Even if it was just for a bathroom break, they never once managed to find us snuggled up together.

Except for that last day. We had been laying there, both of us right on the edges of morpheus when the door to my room gently opened and a short heavy set woman came walking in. I remember at first I froze completely, thinking that we were so busted. The nurse looked like she wouldn't take any kind of bull from anyone. The closer she came though the more I realized that maybe my assumptions were off. She had a twinkle in her eye and a slight mischievous smirk crossing her lips.

"So Miss Stone, I see Miss Montgomery has been keeping you company. I assume you're comfortable?" The smirk had never left her face and when she said that it only intensified.

I pulled myself up a bit in her embrace before softly brushing my lips against her own. "It's more than ok." I smiled and tucked an errant strand of dark hair behind her ear. "So tell me, who did she remind you of?"

That was when she told me about what I know now must have been an awful fifteen minute ambulance ride. I pulled myself out of the memory and lifted myself away from Bianca. "I think I'm gonna go over and say hi, see if she remembers me."

~~~~~~~

"Ok sweetie, I'm going to stay here, I don't want to wake Miranda up, the fireworks are going to start soon."

I leaned down and gave her a quick kiss before I made my way over to where Michelle and the other woman were standing in line for a cone of cotton candy. As nonchalantly as I could, I filed into line behind them. Bianca loves cotton candy anyway, might as well grab us a snack in the process.

"Well if it isn't Miss Stone. Or is it Montgomery now?" I glance up from fumbling around with my wallet and lock my gaze with the playful one of Michelle. My mind catches up a few seconds later, registering what she said. Of course I can immediately feel my cheeks redden. If she only knew. I briefly glance back at Bianca, who gives us a quick wave, making sure not to jostle Miranda too much.

Michelle returns the gesture before raising her eyebrow pointedly at me. "So?"

I smirk a bit, "You're awfully nosy for someone who barely knows us." I make sure my tone isn't at all hostile, just playful. For some reason I can't bring myself to be at all annoyed by her insinuations. There's just something so laid back about her entire presence, it makes me feel completely at ease too.

The eyebrow never lowers itself, but a small smirk now joins it. "I didn't hear a denial."

I lower my head for a moment, trying to hide the blush that's returning to my cheeks. "Oh honey, look at that, I was right!" Michelle leans over and kisses the other woman on the cheek, smiling in triumph. "Maggie, this is..."

"Amber" I cut her off, extending my hand out.

"Wait, how did you know that?" Michelle looks completely lost, which I have to admit, is rather amusing. The shoe is definitely on the other foot now.

Amber and I share a small private smile before I elaborate a bit. "Bianca's told me a lot about what happened that night. Thank you."

"Honey, how do you know Bianca?" Michelle is still totally confused.

"Don't you remember, I was working New Year's Eve?" Amber gives her partner a pointed look. I think I can literally see the wheels turning in her head.

"Wait, Maggie and Bianca were the two you told me about? How come you never said anything, you knew Maggie was my patient."

"Honestly, I don't really know. I'm sorry sweetie." Amber leans over and gently pecks Michelle on the lips, trying to soothe her. Not at all caring that I'm standing not more than two feet away from them.

I turn my head away, not wanting to intrude in on their intimate moment. "So you never answered me. Stone or Montgomery?"

I glance back, both of them now grinning conspiratorially at me. I shoot a quick look over to the blanket where Bianca is, noticing that she's completely pre-occupied with Miranda in her bassinet. I purposely turn my back to her and guide them to stand in front of me.

"Well, I'm thinking Stone-Montgomery." I discreetly pull the velvet box out of my pocket and open it up to reveal the pear cut silver diamond ring.

"Oh my god! You're going to propose TONIGHT?" I quickly tried to shush her, Michelle was practically screaming it.

"I guess I can't hide it that well, since you nailed it on the head the second you saw me." I smirked.

Michelle lowered her head a bit in what I could have sworn looked almost like a blush. "Well actually I was just teasing you. I had no idea."

"Well lets hope Bianca is as clueless as you were." I wink at both of them before quickly shutting the ring box and slip it back into my pocket. "Anyway, I better get back to her before she starts getting any ideas."

Amber reaches over and gives me an impulsive hug, whispering in my ear. "She's all yours Maggie. Trust me. I saw it with my own eyes that night." She pulls back from the hug and gives me a radiant smile. "Congratulations!"

"Well she hasn't said yes yet!"

Amber gives me a pointed look before pulling on Michelle's hand and guiding her away. "Come on baby, let Maggie get back to her girl."

"Good luck Maggie!" Michelle surreptitiously gives me a thumbs up as we head in opposite directions. I'm halfway back to our blanket before I remember the cotton candy.

A quick jog back to the stand and 3 dollars later I'm back by Bianca's side, once again peering over her shoulder to watch our daughter counting the sheep in dreamland.

“So what’s the scoop with them?” Bianca asks me, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

“I never knew you were such a gossip hound honey,” I tease her.

“Well another gay couple, that we actually know, isn’t the most common thing around here Mags,”

I settle myself behind Bianca, wrapping my arms around her waist as she picks at the cone of pink cotton candy. “So you caught that little smooch too huh?”

Bianca wordlessly offers me a bite from her cone, making sure to let her fingers linger just long enough between my lips to tease me. “Kinda hard to miss.”

“Wasn’t it nice though? Seeing two people that much in love, letting themselves have the freedom to express it whenever and wherever they want?” I sigh in contentment, realizing that’s exactly what my life is like now. Thank god I finally wised up enough to own up to my feelings for the gorgeous brunette in my arms. I can’t even imagine where I would be at this exact moment if I hadn’t.

Bianca turns around in my embrace, reaching up to gently stroke my cheek before placing her sugar coated lips against my own in a soft, loving kiss. After a few moments in pure heaven she pulls back a bit to give me a gentle smile, “I can certainly relate.”

We‘re broken from our reverie by the announcement over the intercom system in the park. “Ladies and gentleman, the fireworks are set to begin momentarily. On behalf of the Pine Valley Chamber of Commerce we’d like to welcome you. This year we decided to change things up a bit for the show, so please put your hands together for Candy Cane, our resident DJ for the evening!”

I glance down curiously at Bianca who has returned to her previous position, curled up in my lap with her hands resting over my own wrapped around her waist. “Candy Cane? Please tell me your mother doesn’t have some long lost sister that I don’t know about.”

Bianca giggles a bit, “God I hope not. I’m not sure if I can take anymore unknown relatives popping up out of the woodwork. Greenlee’s performance last year alone was enough to last me a lifetime.”

I wince a bit at that, remembering the circumstances of the great wedding interruptus as David had called it. I honestly don’t know how I managed to keep myself together that day. I felt like curling into a ball and sobbing until my eyes swelled shut. And knowing the pain I felt *for* Bianca, I can’t even begin to imagine how she got through it having actually experienced it herself. Her strength and bravery continues to astound me, day in and day out.

Bianca must have felt me cringe because she tightens the hold she has on our interlocked hands resting at her waist. “Don’t go there baby. It’s in the past. I just want to concentrate on the future. Our future.”

I snuggle into the crook of her neck from behind. “Together.”

We sit together in contented silence for a few minutes, waiting for the fireworks to start when a familiar song starts to float through the air. It’s one I’ve become rather familiar with over the last few months, having listened to it on repeat quite a few times. I’m pulled out of my thoughts as I hear Bianca gently singing the lyrics to me.

‘Daytime I'm fine, everything is back normal. Last night I thought that I would die. I had nightmares, I was so scared. Thank god that you are by my side, to hold me when I cry.’

I tighten my hold on her as I pick up the next verse, singing softly into her ear.

‘I wanna be strong but I don't want to be alone tonight. I wanna believe that I can save the world, and make it right , but I'm only human. And you've got a hero's face, right here in your arms is the safest place. The safest place.’

Before I can continue, Bianca’s angelic voice once again whispers the words to me and me alone.

‘It feels so real, you showed me I can trust you, with emotions I had locked away. It was your touch, your words, they heal the deepest part of me, that only you can see.’

As the last few words ghost past her lips she turns around to face me, ever so gently reaching up to cup my cheek in her delicate hand, a few tears misting at the edges of her perfect chocolate orbs.

‘As long as I am with you. As long as I can feel you. That's all I need to keep me going, on and on and on and on…’

She trails off, emotion taking away her voice for the moment. I lean in and place a heartfelt kiss against her rose colored lips, resting my forehead against her own as I pull away. Looking deeply into her eyes, into her soul, I finish the chorus of the song I know so well by heart.

‘Right here in your arms is the safest place.’

Deciding that there possibly could never be a more perfect moment than the one we’ve found ourselves in right now, I reach into the pocket of my jeans and pull out the velvet encased ring. Pulling back a small bit from our embrace, brushing an errant strand of silky hair away from Bianca’s eyes in the process. “I love you so much Bianca.” Without waiting for the reciprocation I knew would come, I bring the small box up into her line of vision, opening it up with one hand, hoping in the process I wouldn’t end up making an idiot of myself by dropping it. But taking my other hand away from the small of my girlfriend‘s, hopefully soon to be fiancée, back, was not something I was willing to do.

“Oh God!” Bianca’s hand flies up to cover her mouth in shock. The tears that were edging their way to the surface moments ago have burst through the dam and are now flowing down her alabaster cheeks unchecked.

“I wasn’t exactly sure how to go about this Bianca. I mean God, anything I could have possibly ever come up with would never have been good enough for you. And then you go and serenade me like you just did and it all fell into place.” I grin up at her, my own tears almost blinding me. “I don’t know how you do it baby, how you can just make everything ok. Better than ok, perfect. But I want to spend the rest of my life trying to figure it out. I want us to raise your daughter together, to have a family, to give Miranda a couple of little brothers or sisters.” The tears come even harder, from both of us. “I never want us to be apart ever again. For the rest of our lives. Nothing in this world could ever make me happier than you do. Bianca, will you marry me?”

As I’m waiting with bated breath for her answer, the first rocket lights up the summer sky, bathing Bianca in it’s heavenly glow.

“Yes.”

Please tell me I heard her right. “Yes?”

“Yes! A thousand times yes! Maggie! I love you! God how I love you!” She launches herself into my arms, pulling me to her in the most passionate kiss we’ve ever shared. I trailed my tongue against her bottom lip, requesting entrance into her own wet cavern. She parted her mouth without hesitation, inviting me in and instantly seeking my own tongue out. They hugged together, embracing like lovers, dueling, neither one of us demanding control, just relaxing in the intimacy of the action. Before either one of us got so caught up that we gave a show to the rest of the families situated around us I pulled away ever so reluctantly. Just enough to reach around and pull the ring out of its box.

“May I?” I reach for her left hand, holding the silver encased diamond band on the tip of finger waiting for permission.

Tears continued to pour from her eyes, her cheeks completely saturated with their salty residue. Her voice stolen with emotion she instead nodded her head vigorously. I could feel the smile widen itself immeasurably as I slid the ring down onto her finger. I brought her hand up to my lips and placed a delicate kiss on it just to convince myself that it was really resting there. Together we gazed down at the sparkling diamond for a moment, matching grins adorning our faces.

Bianca reached in and kissed me one more time, a sweet and loving kiss, a promise of a lifetime more to come. As the fireworks continue to go off above our heads I hear Miranda gurgle a bit in her bassinet. Bianca reluctantly releases my lips from her own to check on our daughter. Content that Miranda is still asleep, she curls back up into my lap, resting her head against my shoulder and sighing in perfect contentment. “So, just how many brothers and sisters were you thinking?”

I chuckle a bit, “Well lets see, three maybe. Gotta have at least an even number. So I was thinking, another little girl and maybe twin boys. You do know it tends to run in the family.”

“Wow, how could I have missed that.” Bianca teases me back.

I snuggle myself back into the crook of her neck, placing a delicate kiss there as I do so. “I don’t care how many we have. As long as they all take after you I couldn’t be happier.”

“Maggie……”

“Shh, lets just have the most fabulous wedding. And honeymoon, don’t forget the honeymoon.” I grin mischievously, getting an embarrassed giggle from my fiancée in the process. “After that, we can argue all you want about Miranda’s siblings.”

“Well then, does that mean we can argue over where to go on our honeymoon now?”

“Anywhere you want honey.” I reply, kissing the nape of her neck.

“Paris?”

“Sure.”

“Hawaii?”

Oh, I like that one! “Definitely!”

“Mexico?”

“Si.”

“Poland?”

What?! “NO!”

Bianca bursts into uncontrollable fits of giggles. “Oh sweetie, I’m so sorry. I just couldn’t help myself.”

“Way to kill the mood Binks.” I pout, not all that grumpy, just not willing to admit she had definitely got me there for a minute.

“Let me make it up to you.” She turns towards me and pulls me forward into another steamy kiss, one hand reaching up into my hair to bring us closer together. After a few minutes of complete and utter bliss Bianca pulls away and goes back to watching the light show above us. “So, Hawaii?”

“Hawaii.”

FIN