They met during the afternoon at the boathouse, after his operation. She was still a tad wary of him, but she still went anyways.
"Thanks for coming, Bianca, this means a whole lot to me."
"What do you need?"
"Well, I called because of Maggie, and because I like her and need your help."
"My help? How?"
"Do the dutiful friend act and try to hook us up. Make it seem like you are pushing her towards me."
"Why would I do that?"
"Because I know that you are in love with her, and I can make your life miserable if you don't."
"Tim, that's not fair. My feelings for Maggie have nothing to do with you or her or the possibility of the two of you getting together. If she feels nothing for you, then she feels nothing, you can't force it."
"I can and I will Bianca. Frankie meant a lot to you, didn't she?"
"Yes, I loved her very much."
"And how would Maggie feel if she knew how you felt?"
"I don't know, honestly, and I don't care."
"Yes you do. You always care what she thinks."
"Fine, yes, I do. I love her, ok. Is that what you wanted to hear? Huh? I love her."
Tim grinned evilly.
"I knew that, just wanted to hear you say that."
"Why? Why did you want to know?"
"So I can blackmail you into helping me get Maggie."
"Tim, do it yourself!"
"I will let everyone know how perverted you are. Trust me, I can do it."
"Damn it Tim, why are you doing this?"
"Because I can."
"Tim?"
"Trust me, Bianca, I can be very pursasive, no matter what you think. You will do what I want you to, or you in a whole lot of trouble, Bianca."
Bianca stared at Tim, and for the first time in a long while, she was truly scared for her safety and for Maggie's. After much internal debate, she reluctantly agreed to help Tim. And it seemed to have worked.
She did her best to convince Maggie that Tim was a good guy that she should go for him. But more and more Maggie became persistant in being around her than Tim. This pissed Tim off to the extreme, and he began threatening Bianca even more. Saying that he'd hurt her physically if she didn't help him with Maggie.
Bianca did her best, and it wasn't really her fault that Maggie didn't like Tim. So finally after the wedding, after everything that had happened recently, and after worrying so much about Bianca, Maggie decided to take things into her own hands.
She knew something was up with Bianca and she figured Tim definately had to do something with it. So Maggie set up a time when she knew Tim wouldn't be around to talk to Bianca. They mey at the SOS and sat near the back.
"Ok, Bianca, spill. What is eating you up?"
"Nothing, what makes you ask?"
Maggie noticed the slight fear cross Bianca's face, and knew that something was up. Little did either of them know, Tim was watching, seeing what was going on.
"Bianca, I know you better than that. You've done everything except physically put me together with Tim, then you disappear like the red plague when it happens. You rarely want to be around me, or Tim and I, anymore. Did I do something?"
"No, no. It's not you, it's me. I am just dealing with a lot. You didn't do anything wrong, you never do."
"That is highly debatable. Has something happened between you and Tim? You can trust me, Bianca, I won't hurt you."
"If it were that simple, I would, I swear I would."
Tim growled as he watched Bianca start to crumble under the pressure that was Maggie Stone. He knew that Bianca was head over heels in love with Maggie, and he couldn't have this. He wanted Maggie, and he felt that Bianca already had her chance with Frankie, so she didn't deserve Maggie.
Bianca dipped her head down, trying to collect her thoughts.
"Bean, you trust me right?"
"With my life."
"Then trust me now. Let me in. I'll help you out, no matter what is going on, I will help you out, I swear."
"It's not that easy."
"It can be."
"How?"
"Because I can help you. Because I care about you and would never let anything happen."
"You can't always protect me Maggie."
"I want to try. Why are you pushing me away? I miss you."
"I miss you too."
Maggie got up and went to hug Bianca. This really pissed Tim off, because he now knew he would never really claim Maggie as long as Bianca was around. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed Bianca's number. Bianca heard the phone and pulled it out of her bag. She placed it by her ear.
"Don't speak, you little bitch. Tell Maggie you have to leave, now. Something happened at Enchantment, and you're needed. I'll be outside waiting," Tim growled into his phone.
"Ok."
Bianca hung up her phone and looked to Maggie.
"I have to go. Something's come up at Enchantment, and they need me. I'll talk to you later, ok."
"I'll come with."
"No! I mean, no, you can't. I'll be a long time and you probably have a date with Tim. I'm sorry. I have to go."
Bianca got up, leaving her cell phone on the table as she rushed out of the SOS. Tim was waiting for her by the entrance. He grabbed her arm roughly and threw her into his car. They drove in silence till they got to the boat house. He pulled her out of the car and threw her down to the ground.
"What the fuck were you thinking?"
"Tim?"
"You fucking bitch! She's mine!"
Tim then proceeded to kick Bianca as she sat on the ground. She doubled over and he repeatedly kicked her in her stomach and back. She cried out in pain.
"She loves you, you stupid bitch, what the fuck were you thinking!"
He bent down, grabbing Bianca by her hair, pulling her up roughly. He then struck her across her face, knocking her once again to the hard earth. With fire in his fists, he proceeded to plummet them into Bianca's face. Little did either of them know, but Maggie had noticed Bianca left her phone and rushed out to give it to her, only to see Tim rough Bianca up and throw her into a car.
She waited a few minutes, having a feeling on where they went, as she called Anna. She told Anna something weird was going on and that she wanted her she needed help, and Anna promised to meet her at the boat house.
Maggie arrived just in time to see Tim beat Bianca several times across the face. He stood up, removing his belt and then his pants. Maggie was frozen with horror of what he was going to do to Bianca.
"You fucking bitch! She is mine! I love her, not you. What the hell do you know about love! She's mine you cunt whore!"
Bianca was crying out in pain. Maggie saw almost the full extent to Bianca's wounds. Her face had several cuts and bruises and there was blood dripping from her mouth. Tim began to pin Bianca to the ground and try to remove her pants. This sent a fire of pure hellish hatred through Maggie as she finally found the strength to move again.
"GET THE FUCK OFF HER YOU SON OF A BITCH!!!"
Maggie roared as she leapt at Tim, pulling him off of Bianca. She then unleashed her own fists of fury across the "hero" of Pine Valley's face. She didn't give a rats ass on who he saved, he was still an asshole in her eyes and she would see to him getting punished, physically. A few moments later, she felt strong arms pull her off of Tim, who was now sobbing like the little bitch he is.
Maggie turned to see Anna, and it finally sunk it what happened. She broke down in Anna's arms and slumped to the ground. Anna fell with her, holding her surrogate cousin in a tight embrace. Anna brought back up, just in case, in the form of David, who was now checking out Bianca.
"She needs an ambulance. Anna call it in, there is probably internal bleeding. She needs a hospital now," David called out.
Anna let go of Maggie, who saw Bianca and quickly scurried over to her fallen friend. 'Friend,' Maggie thought, 'more than friend, the one person who filled her soul completely. The person I love more than life itself.' The minutes were agonizing as they waited in silence for the ambulance to come.
Tim was in handcuffs and placed in the back of Anna's car. David and Maggie were to ride with Bianca to the hospital as she took Tim to the ER, then to jail.
Maggie didn't know the extent of Bianca's injuries, and now she feared that the love of her life would be stripped away. And for a moment, she truly felt what Bianca did when she lost Frankie, a soul shattering sadness that would cripple her.
When the ambulance arrived, and the EMT's gently placed Bianca on the gurney, Maggie watched in silence. She felt a gentle arm being placed on her shoulders. She looked up to see David, his eyes glistening with tears.
"She'll get the best doctors, you know that, right," David said gently.
"I know, thanks for being here David."
"Anna insisted. Come on, lets get in, just in case she wakes up. She is going to need you now, you know that right?"
"I know. I need her too."
"You love her, don't you?"
"Would it be wrong for me to say yes?"
"No. I think Frankie would have been proud to have you taking care of Bianca."
"Thanks David."
"No problem. Let's go."
Maggie nodded as they got into the ambulance, and the ride to the hospital was pretty silent. Anna was at the hospital when they arrived, Hayley was in tow. When Anna had called her to tell her that her nephew had attacked Bianca, she didn't believe it. That was until she saw Bianca being wheeled into the ER.
The usually unmarred face covered in welts, bruises and cuts. She couldn't see the internal damage that Tim had done, but she suspected when she noticed a stream of blood from Bianca's mouth. She noticed Maggie and David following the gurney and stopped them.
"What happened," Hayley asked.
David left and Maggie looked to Anna, who just nodded her head. Maggie swallowed the bile that was rising in her throat and began to tell what she saw. She told her in detail that Tim was going to rape Bianca if she didn't stop him. She also let her suspicions be known that Bianca was being used by Tim to get to her.
Hayley just nodded, not knowing what to say, hell who would know what to say. Hayley thanked Maggie for being truthful, even though Maggie did leave out a few details, that was sensitive to Bianca. Plus she didn't really want to believe that she was the reason Tim did this to Bianca. Hayley then went to go check on Tim, and reem him out big time. She like Bianca, and she couldn't believe that he would do this to her.
Anna turned to Maggie and smiled.
"You are so very brave, you know that right."
"If I was so brave, Anna, I would have told her how I felt to begin with."
"You were afraid because of your sisters memory. You gave her the chance to love you for you, and knowing Bianca, she does love you."
"How do you know?"
"I have had an eye on Bianca because she is special, more special than her mother realizes. I am not the only who knows how special she is. Leo does too. He loves her so much as his own sister, that he'd probably kill Tim when he finds out."
"I forgot about Leo."
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it," David said, coming out of the ER.
"What's going on?"
"They are taking her up to the OR. They think that a lung is punctured so they need to take care of that now. Jake is looking after her, he's a good doctor. Did you call her mother yet, Anna?"
"No. She's out of town for the week and there is no number for where she is at. But I did notify her uncle," Anna replied.
"Good. I hope Jackson throws the book at this punk. I'm going to go find Leo. Anna, stay here with Maggie please. She needs a good friend right now, and she'll listen to you."
David gave his wife a quick kiss then headed off within the depths of the hospital. Maggie once again began to sink to the floor.
Anna caught the girl, holding her tightly.
"She'll be ok. She's a fighter."
"I love her Anna, I can't lose her."
"You won't, I promise."
Maggie sobbed harder into Anna's shoulder. An angel was watching out for them, and that angel was Frankie.
"I'll make sure she makes it, sis. You deserve her love more than I ever did. Take care of her."
Frankie then moved to the OR and saw Bianca's spirit floating around.
"Bianca-la, get over here," Frankie commanded, with a slight tease in her voice.
"Frankie is that really you?"
"Yeah. Listen, you're going to make it, but this was the only time we can talk."
"Frankie, I want to be with you, I've missed you so much."
"I've missed you too, but if you go, you'll kill my sister."
"Kill her?"
"Come on Binks, open your eyes, she loves you."
"But wouldn't I be betraying you?"
"No, never, not in a million years. I'm not supposed to tell you this, but since when did I follow the rules. You two are going to be happy for a long time Bianca-la. I know love always seemed to bite you in the ass, and you were the first person to ever truly love me, and I am sorry I screwed up. But now you have a chance, a real chance to be truly happy, and its not up here in heaven with me. Be with Maggie, love her, and know that you'll be happy."
"Frankie?"
"Trust me, Binks, I'd never steer you wrong this time."
"I love you Frankie, thank you."
"No, thank you, Bianca, for you made me a better person. See you
around, but not any time soon."
Bianca was out of it for the next few days, due to the
fact that she
had a concusion. Jackson had visited his niece daily,
and had kept
tabs on her through Maggie, who had yet to leave
Bianca's side.
Maggie felt so guilty for what had happened to Bianca.
Tim had been
released from jail and was under strict supervision.
Also he could
go no where near the hospital or Maggie for that
matter.
He was being charged with everything Anna could think of, and for the first time, Jackson agreed with her. His charges worked up to be assault and battery, attempted rape, attempted murder, and even possible kidnapping.
Her mother was finally reached and she got home as soon as she could. It turned out that Ms Kane was in Los Angelos promoting her company. When La Kane entered her daughter's room, she noticed an extremely tired Maggie stone, sitting vigil next to her daughter.
"How is she," Erica asked, quietly.
"She keeps slipping in and out, but the doctor says the rest is good for her. Gives her time to heal."
"I hear I owe you a lot for saving her."
"Ms. Kane, I know you never liked my sister, but I did exactly what she would do. And I am not going to lie to you either, I love Bianca."
"I know."
Maggie wearly looked up at the older woman.
"You know?"
"How could I not? The prom was a dead give away. Take care of her, Maggie. She needs someone good in her life and you're it. I can't deny that anymore. I can't deny that my little girl is gay. She is all I have left, besides Kendal that is, and we all know how Kendal is."
Maggie let out a small laugh at that comment.
"I will do my best to take care of her, Ms. Kane...and thanks."
"For what?"
"Not trying to get rid of me."
"I did that too many times, and nearly lost my daughter. I'm not going to be like a PFLAG parent, waving a rainbowed flag, but I will support her and love her."
"Nice to know."
Erica smiled at Maggie and walked over to the other side of the bed. She sat down in the chair, hoping that her daughter would wake up soon.
Jetlag had finally caught up with Erica and so she was fast asleep in her seat. Also, the vigils Maggie held where catching up with her as well. She just figured she'd close her eyes for a few minutes, but wound up falling asleep.
Bianca felt such enormous amounts of love surrounding her as she finally started to open her eyes. When she finally came to, she saw something she'd never thought she'd see in a million years. The two women that she needed most in her life, asleep by her side, holding her hands.
She remembered what Frankie had told her, and swore that she wouldn't let Frankie down. She gently pulled Maggie's hand up to her lips and placed a soft kiss on the back of it. Maggie started to stir and sat straight up when she saw Bianca awake.
"Bianca? Are you really awake?"
"Yeah. What happened? I feel like I was hit by a bus."
"Tim is what happened."
"Did he?"
"No. I stopped him, Love. I'd never let him hurt you like that."
"Love?"
"I told you this a thousand times when you were out of it. I love you Bean. And not even psycho Tim can stop what I feel for you."
This time Maggie brought Bianca's hand to her lips, kissing it softly. Little did they know, Erica was watching the entire display and smiled. She knew her daughter would be in good hands.
Erica coughed slightly, just to let them know she was awake. Bianca looked over to her mom and smiled.
"Hello sweetie, how are you feeling," Erica asked.
"Better than a few days ago. How long have you been here?"
"A couple of days now. I think you need to order Maggie home for some sleep, she's been here since the first night."
Bianca looked over to Maggie. Maggie had her head down, blushing.
"Maggie, go home, get a hot meal, and come back after you've rested some, ok? I'll be all right, I promise."
"I just wanted to make sure Tim wasn't going to come and hurt you."
"That's very noble Ms. Stone, but in your exhausted position he would most likely have hurt both of you, if by some act of God he got through security. He is banned from the hospital while the two of you are here. There is a restraining order in place, he can not come within 500 feet of either of you while he is out on bail. He will be tried here and then sent back home to do the time. They are trying him as an adult, and he's defense isn't really good," Jackson Montgomery said, from the door.
"Uncle Jack!"
"Hey kiddo, feeling any better?"
"I'm awake, and have the people I love most around me, of course I'm feeling good."
"Will one more person be allowed in," Leo called from outside.
"Come in Leo."
"Hey Binky. God, I'm so sorry."
Leo walked over and leaned down, gently kissing Bianca's bruised cheek.
"Don't be sorry, from what I've been told, Maggie beat the hell out of him. I guess she has some of you in her," Bianca said.
"That definately is a trait in our family," Leo agreed.
Maggie's face turned a bright crimson and she kept trying to hide her face with her hair.
"Cut it out, ok," Maggie stammered.
"Well does anyone know when I can get out of here," Bianca asked.
"I'll go check," Erica said.
"Well sweetie, I need to head back to work, I'll check in on you later."
"Ok, Uncle Jack."
Jackson kissed his niece goodbye and walked out with Erica, leaving Leo and Maggie alone in the room.
"Bianca, don't get mad, but I called Laura to let her know. I figured she had some what of a right to know. She sends her love and wishes you well. She said she would come back to see you soon, but not till she was ready. She has a lot of demons to fight."
"Thanks Leo. That means a lot to me knowing she still cares."
"She'll always love you like a sister Binks, she just has a lot of issues with how she got her heart and what she did to all of us. She knows about me and Greenlee and she is actually happy for us. Well I just wanted to check up on you. Greenlee sends her love, and said just because she hates your mother doesn't mean she doesn't see the wonderful woman you are. Get better Binky."
"Thanks Leo."
Leo left, leaving Maggie and Bianca alone.
"Maggie, I need to tell you something."
"What is it, bean?"
"Frankie came to visit me, when I was being operated on. She thanked me and told me I had to live. I had to live for you because I love you Maggie. She said we could have a really good chance of being happy together for a long time. I want that Maggie, I want it so much that it scares me."
"Oh Bianca," Maggie sighed, kissing the girl's hand, "I love you too."
Maggie leaned in and gently brushed her lips against Bianca's. The kiss was very chaste, but it was enough for both girls.
"When you get out of here, I am taking you on a very nice date and
then some place where I can kiss you as much and as often as I
want. I so love you Bianca, and no one will hurt you ever again."
After a few more days in the hospital, Bianca was finally discharged. Her ribs were healing nicely. It turned out that Tim had pleaded guilty in beating Bianca and now he was forced to go to a military academy, then into boot camp, which branch was to be decided later, though the Marines were deeply considered.
When Bianca got home, she had a letter from Laura. She smiled brightly as she read it. Laura was in NYC and now had a steady girlfriend. Then she had wished Bianca and Maggie all the luck and love in the world. And if Maggie ever hurt Bianca, Laura was going to beat Maggie over the head with a shovel(BTVS reference). Even Greenlee sent a card wishing Bianca well wishes.
As Maggie promised, they were planning a date for the friday coming up. Maggie had rented a cabin up in the woods, away from Pine Valley. She had it all planned out. They would leave Friday afternoon. She would cook a romantic dinner, then they'd spend the rest of the time, together, like it should be.
Maggie drove Bianca to the cabin, they made small talk,
but both
were very nervous about what this weekend could mean for
the both of
them. There was so much love between them, that they
really didn't
even understand all of it. When they arrived at the
cabin, Maggie
helped Bianca out of the car and into the house.
Bianca smiled as she entered the cabin, then she pulled Maggie into her arms, gently kissing her lips.
"What was that for," Maggie asked when they broke apart.
"No reason, I just wanted to kiss you."
"Oh ok. Cause I want to kiss you agin."
Maggie pulled Bianca against her, capturing the brunettes lips with hers. The kiss lasted till they were both left breathless.
"Come on bean, let's get settled, and I'll make you dinner."
"Make me dinner, I like that."
"Me too, Bean, me too."
After a few minutes, Bianca was settle on the couch. She was still under strict orders to take things easy. Maggie went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of Sparkling Cider, and grabbed two glasses. She then proceeded over to the CD player, putting in a mixed CD she had Leo make her.
Maggie walked over to Bianca, sitting next to her. She placed the cider and glasses on the table.
"We're gonna go through a lot of things in our lives from here on out and there is no other person I'd rather be with than you. I love you Bianca, and I'm sorry it took a serious incident for me to fully admit it."
"I love you too, Maggie."
The two just sat and cuddled, listening to the song playing on the stereo system.
//now the parking lot is empty
everyone's gone someplace
I pick you up and in the trunk i've packed
a cooler and a 2-day suitcase
cause there's a place we like to drive
way out in the country
five miles out of the city limit we're singing
and your hand's upon my knee//
//so we're okay
we're fine
baby i'm here to stop your crying
chase all the ghosts from your head
i'm stronger than the monster beneath your bed
smarter than the tricks played on your heart
we'll look at them together then we'll take them apart
adding up the total of a love that's true
multiply life by the power of two//
"I'm never going to let you go, you know this right, Bean?"
"I know. It was hard at first, I thought it was Frankie, but it wasn't. It was you and I loved you from that time I tried to kiss you."
"I thought it was because of Frankie, but I know its not now. You get me, Bianca. You understand me, you love me, not just the ghost of my sister."
//you know the things that I am afraid of
i'm not afraid to tell
and if we ever leave a legacy
it's that we loved each other well
cause i've seen the shadows of so many people
trying on the treasures of youth
but a road that fancy and fast
ends in a fatal crash
and i'm glad we got off
to tell you the truth//
Maggie stood up, taking Bianca's hand. When Bianca was standing, Maggie smiled, pulling her closer.
"Dance with me."
And they danced, the first of many.
//cause we're okay
we're fine
baby i'm here to stop your crying
chase all the ghosts from your head
i'm stronger than the monster beneath your bed
smarter than the tricks played on your heart
we'll look at them together then we'll take them apart
adding up the total of a love that's true
multiply life by the power of two//
//all the shiny little trinkets of temptation
(make new friends)
something new instead of something old
(but keep the old)
all you gotta do is scratch beneath the surface
(but remember what is gold)
and it's fools gold
(what is gold)
fools gold
(what is gold)
fools gold//
"You are worth so much more than anyone could offer me. I love you to the moon and back. I want to love you forever and then some. I want to wake up every morning next to you, knowing the feeling of love that is you. You are perfect, courageous, beautiful, smart, funny, you are everything I have ever wanted. And one day, I will ask you to marry me."
//now we're talking about a difficult thing
and your eyes are getting wet
I took us for better and I took us for worse
don't you ever forget it
now the steel bars between me and a promise
suddenly bend with ease
the closer i'm bound in love to you
the closer I am to free//
Maggie then kissed Bianca very passionately, gently laying her back down on the couch. Maggie lay atop of Bianca, kissing her deeply, lovingly and passionately. She made sure that she wasn't hurting Bianca in any way.
Bianca loved the way Maggie felt on top of her, just as Maggie loved the way she felt atop of Bianca. They spent the next few hours laying together, cuddling and kissing. The recent events erased from memory for now at least.
//so we're okay
we're fine
baby i'm here to stop your crying
chase all the ghosts from your head
I'm stronger than the monster beneath your bed
smarter than the tricks played on your heart
we'll look at them together then we'll take them apart
adding up the total of a love that's true
multiply life by the power of two//
(Power of Two by Indigo Girls)
The end.
Return to Author Index
Return to Title Index
Return to Pairing Index