The Only Gift That I Need by Misty Flores

Fandom: All My Children
Pairing/characters: Bianca/Maggie
Rating: Hard R - maybe NC-17Playing card URL (will be supplied): http://invisible-cities.net/images/gsc/femslash/02.jpg

Summary: Bianca's plans for a perfect first Christmas in Paris with Maggie are thwarted a surprise visit home, and the return of some old ghosts.

CHAPTERS

"Are you absolutely sure?" Anna shivered in the cold, rubbing at Maggie's arms as if by default she could warm them both. "I can stay another night."

Maggie just grinned, taking a step closer in the crowded walkway outside of the Paris airport. "Listen - if you don't get out of here, who knows when your flight is going to take off. This storm isn't going to get any better."

Still, Anna looked doubtful, and Maggie plastered on a serious face, determined not to seem wishy washy at the idea of Anna leaving her on New Years Eve.

"I'm a big girl, Anna," she reminded her. Truthfully, it would have been nice, to have Anna around for New Years Eve, but her mentor had other obligations, a life of her own, and Maggie had already selfishly taken up so much of her time. "Please. I haven't gotten any studying done, and that's what I'm really looking forward to doing."

Rolling her eyes, Maggie smacked her lightly on the arm. "Seriously, before they cancel your flight too."

Anna blew her breath out, glancing back towards the terminal and then back at her. "Be careful," she said finally. "Don’t spend all your time doing home work, and remember what I said to you."

Maggie pressed her lips together, a careful smile. Anna's well meant words and advice were taken to heart, but Maggie had yet to talk about the infamous picture that was now burned into her retinas, and she could tell, in the worried look in Anna's dark, beautiful eyes, she was still unconvinced of Maggie's own security.

"I promise," Maggie said, raising up her palm like she was reciting an oath. "To be a good girl and not worry myself to death, or generally be me. Bianca's coming back in a week or so. I'll be fine until then. I promise. I've got Noel."

Anna stared for another long minute. "Thoughtful of Bianca, wasn't it? To leave you with a warm body to spend the night."

Maggie licked her lips and shrugged, implicitly agreeing, holding on to the cuddly warmth wasn't the same as it was holding onto Bianca, but it certainly made the transition easier. "Just wait until she gets back and has to fight the dog for her spot."

In that small bit of snark, Anna seemed to get what she was looking for. She broke out into a relieved smile, and once again pressed Maggie tight against her.

Catching her breath at the admission, Maggie closed her eyes and allowed a brief moment of tenderness. "Me too." Pulling back, she felt another gust of wind and shivered. "Now, please go inside so I can go into the warm limo with the nice toasty heater!"

Anna laughed, stepping back and grabbing hold of her back, slinging it over her shoulder. "I'll see you soon."

Nodding, Maggie smiled, holding her arms against her chest, shivering as she watched Anna disappear into the terminal on New Years Eve.

Sucking in her breath, she let it out slowly, turning slowly, somehow suddenly unsure of what to do. A few friends from school had invited her to their New Years bash, but unsurprisingly, she wasn't in the mood. Med students were meant to party hard and work harder, but Maggie had gotten out of the habit of drinking and staying up all hours. With a baby girl at home, it simply couldn't be done.

She hadn't missed that, and now, given the opportunity, she felt almost awkward, to be there without Bianca.

Bianca's driver was waiting, and biting her lip, Maggie resigned herself to a quiet evening at home, with her books. Moving fast, she kept her eyes on the driver, until, about twenty feet away from the curb, a figure passed in front of her that caught her breath in her throat, taking her by such surprise she blurted, "Lena?!"

Pausing immediately, the lean, slender body of her former rival turned slowly, mouth falling open with surprise when they fell upon her. Dark eyes widened, and short cropped hair whipped viciously around her, a testament to the cold. In an expensive black coat, and dark black scarf, she looked mysterious and dangerous, and it took her a second to register Maggie.

Feeling self conscious, Maggie licked her lips against the blistering cold and crossed her arms, suddenly regretting her outburst. But Lena took her in, hands coming out of her pockets, fingering her expensive designer purse. "Maggie Stone?"

"I'm sorry!" Lena answered, Polish accent thick, tone light and obviously startled. Her smile was wide, almost disbelieving, as eyes roamed up and down Maggie's body, as if still trying to convince herself it was her. "I didn't- I didn't recognize you- you look so different."

"Do I?" Maggie repeated, glancing down immediately, unsure what she meant by that.

"Your hair is darker, and your clothes..." Lena took another look, and her smile grew slowly, like she was seeing an old friend. "And I didn't expect to find you so far from Pine Valley," Lena continued, shrugging, burying hands back into her pockets.

Raising up a hand to pat at her hair, Maggie swallowed suddenly, realizing suddenly how long it had been for she and Lena. "Yeah... I... I'm in Paris," she said, falling into an awkward sort of laugh, restating the obvious. "And the clothes - well I kinda showed up with nothing but a dress, so... I had a personal shopper..." Mouth clamping shut, Maggie wondered why on earth she was sharing that information.

Lena shivered slightly, trying to keep her short bangs out of her face and failing. "So you live in Paris?"

"... Yeah." It really was a surreal position to be in. Standing close to Bianca's ex, Maggie remained the picture of civility, confused at the fact that for all intents and purposes, Lena seemed to be genuinely GLAD to see her. Her eyes were warm with something that looked like affection, and her tone was light and glad. Maggie wasn't quite there. "I... I'm in med school here."

It was an interesting moment. Had it been any other time of year, she would have probably almost relished in breaking the happy news to Lena. God knew she had hated Lena at times, in Pine Valley.

But this was a woman who had loved Bianca. Who had been prepared to share her life with Bianca. Who had waited for months for Bianca to give a damn, and lost her when Bianca couldn’t choose what they had over Babe.

Staring into the woman in whose arms she had once cried, Maggie couldn't bring herself to confirm Lena's suspicions. Not now.

"Just roommates," she lied, smiling crookedly. "She's actually not here. She's in Pine Valley, visiting family for the holidays."

"Well, class, and... just not feeling like it, played a big part." Smiling politely, she leaned forward, rubbing her arms furiously. "What about you? What are- do you live here?"

"Oh." Lena straightened, as Maggie obviously touched on a sore subject. Her mouth creased into an angry, frustrated line. "No," she said tartly. "This storm has cancelled my flight back to Poland, and I am now stuck for who knows how long. I was just going to find a hotel that wasn't ridiculously overpriced on New Years Eve. Bah."

"I wasn't planning on being here for more than a day," Lena admitted, looking almost sheepish. "I'm sure I'll find something."

And here was an interesting quandary. Human decency would require Maggie to at least offer her home. After all her and Lena were... somethings, and this was somebody she knew Bianca at least cared about. Bianca would be disappointed if she left her ex-girlfriend out in the frigid cold on New Years Eve.

But being decent also meant inviting Bianca's ex girlfriend into THEIR home, and DAMN if that didn't feel really, really, weird and inappropriate.

"Well... that sucks," she found herself saying. Lena agreed with a sigh, and then lingered, looking at her and shaking her head. "What?" Maggie found herself saying.

"You've grown up," Lena said quietly, and Maggie blinked, unsure how to take that, when Lena suddenly leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Happy New Years, Maggie."

Giving up with a sigh, Maggie pointed to the black luxury sedan that was waiting, the driver huddled in his trenchcoat near the open door, glaring at Maggie for making him wait this long.

Lena blinked, and when Maggie placed a palm on her back and shoved her in that direction, she laughed.

Maggie, annoyed with herself and a little angry at Lena for putting her in this predicament, just shoved her harder.

New Years Eve wasn't turning out quite like she had expected, but she suspected her books wouldn't mind being on their own.

David, her ever helpful doorman, was not as enthusiastic to see her, when he bowed low and beneath the brim of his warm wooly cap, gave the beautiful European coming behind her a more than curious stare, from her calfskin boots to the stylish haircut.

Sighing at the accusing tone, Maggie gave him a stilted smile. "David, this is Lena, she's a friend of Bianca and I's. She's staying the night because her flight got cancelled because of this storm and needed a place to crash."

It was a long winded explanation, and she felt like an idiot saying it, but David's eyes narrowed only slightly.

David tipped his head civilly. "And Mademoiselle Montgomery, she is arriving soon, no?"

David's obvious indignation on Bianca's behalf would have been funny any other day. At the moment, Maggie wasn't amused.

"Yes, David," she snapped, shaking the sprinkles of melting snow from her dark hair. "Bianca will be here soon. Lena's just here for the night."

"Let's go," she said to Lena, who dawdled for a second or two, eyeing the doorman curiously before a mysterious smirk curled onto her striking features. Eyebrow arching, she crossed her arms and joined Maggie at the elevator.

"So am I to assume this isn't the type of establishment that welcomes the working girl?"

This was a bad idea. Very bad. Maggie had to wonder if the cold air had somehow gotten into her head and frozen her brain, because clearly, she had lost her mind.

She was in an elevator with the attendant and LENA. Lena - the Polish Fox. Lena, who wore dark eyeliner and stylish, sexy hair, and high black boots and a black coat, and looked every inch the predator that Maggie had once thought she was.

And Lena was SMART. She remember Lena and her dry, calm, assuming demeanor, rattled only when it came to Bianca, acting like Maggie was five years old and a fly to be swatted.

She stood, stiffly, taking in a harsh, frustrated breath. How the hell was she going to explain this to Bianca?

Her girlfriend had proved incapable of following the rules - she had called her so much her first day in Pine Valley Maggie had to yell at her, and just the last few days had decided that calling daily wasn't a flagrant violation. She'd talk to her soon. What the hell was Maggie supposed to say? "Oh, by the way - I ran into your ex. You know, love of your life, Lena? Yeah, she's hanging out here. Wanna say hi?"

"Oh..." Biting her bottom lip, she snuck a look to the attendant. Stone-faced, he only stared back. "Right, well- you know Bianca. Rich, well-known. Lesbian. Everyone kinda just assumed, and..."

"Something like that," she muttered, as the mustache on the elevator attendant twitched. The elevator bobbed, and she rushed toward the opening doors. "Well, here we are."

Pulling off her coat, she shuffled her keys, finding the right one and inserting it quickly. "So... the Au Pair stays over sometimes so she has a room here. I'd offer you Erica Kane's room, but-"

"Yes, I'd rather not," Lena said quickly, taking her time as she followed Maggie in, hawk eyes taking in every aspect of the spacious flat. "This is very nice."

Maggie took in a ragged breath, and noted the picture of her, Bianca and Miranda sitting in the exquisite frame on the mantle. "Thanks. It's all Bianca. Not me. Look - the room is that way. Make yourself at home." A series of yips began to erupt from the corner. "I have to let out the dog."

Reaching the little puppy, Maggie had to smile at Noel's obvious excitement, tail wagging so violently in his crate that it literally shook. As soon as she lifted the cage door, he only paused for half a second to give her a welcome lick on the hand, before careening suddenly toward their new house guest.

As the little dog barreled toward her, Lena suddenly looked like it was an elephant charging. Eyes wide, her jaw dropped, and she stayed perfectly still, staring down at the yipping, barking puppy, who bounced up and down, paws against her legs.

"I... um..." Flustered, Lena tried to pat the dog, but retracted at the last minute, glancing up with wide, almost frightened eyes. "Have I mentioned my... fear of... "

On her knees, Maggie wrangled the excited pup, pausing suddenly when Lena actually gulped. It was wicked to find it as amusing as she did. "Seriously? You're afraid of dogs?"

"Would you mind-" Stepping back, Lena shoved her hands in her pockets, eyes never leaving the squirming animal.

She was openly grinning, hands maneuvering to hold Noel to her, while the puppy squirmed, obviously working the best he could to get at his new friend.

"Are you seriously telling me that all I had to do back in Pine Valley to get rid of you was to get a dog?"

Lena arched an eyebrow and crossed her arms stiffly. "Well, I'm happy you're at least entertained."

At that, she burst into a short laugh. It felt good. Somehow, being reminded that Lena was ridiculous and human let her breathe a little. "Okay. I'll put him on a leash. Let me take him out, and I promise, I'll keep the ferocious man eater Noel at bay." Hearing his name, Noel proceeded to lick all over her face.

An hour later, Noel had given up the anxious frolics in favor of settling his little furry body over Maggie's lap, paws extended, covering her thighs like a blanket.

A bottle of wine had already been emptied, and another was halfway there, as she and Lena sat on the plush leather couch and watched the television blare the news of the coming New Year, live from Paris streets.

There was an odd sort of relaxation that came from neither of them having no idea what to say. In favor of small talk, there was the marvelous invention of the television, and three glasses of wine later, Maggie had sunk into the couch, fingers skating through soft fur, tingly warm.

"And why aren't you out there?" Lena asked suddenly, her voice a dark purr, liquor obviously seeping into her tone.

"Because I'm a little exhausted," Maggie replied smoothly, taking another sip of the fruity flavored dark wine, lingering thoughts of her lover making her feel a little heavy. "And frankly, I wasn't really in the mood." Lena grunted slightly, a non-committal response, looking a little undone in her tailored suit, collar open, jacket slightly wrinkled from her less than posture perfect position on the couch. "What about you? No socialite soirée with young debutants to seduce?"

"My life has become my work," she said, accent thicker now, eyelids heavy as she ran perfect fingernails across her forehead, ever fussy with her dark bangs.

"Corporate Takeover," Lena remarked, smile growing mischievous. "As you Americans would say, Maggie, I am back to my wicked, wicked ways."

Maggie shook her head slowly, a curious tightness in her chest. "And why were you in Paris?" Lena stared at her, and Maggie sighed, glancing down at her glass. "You obviously knew Bianca was here... " Lena closed her mouth and looked away. "Were you looking to reconnect or something?"

A small, dry chuckle broke out from the woman beside her. "Don’t you think if that were the case she would have heard from me by now?"

Lena's dark eyes were pools of ambiguity. The look she gave was mysterious and frightening, and Maggie's heart trembled in response, horribly afraid of the answer.

"Why do you care?" Lena asked, a sharp, direct answer. Mouth opening, shutting, Maggie shifted in her seat, overly heated, as Noel whined and readjusted himself, settling his chin over Lena's thigh, bridging them together. Lena, liquored up, only stared at the dog in perplexed bewilderment before she simply ignored it, patting it roughly on the head and letting her head fall back against the couch. "Whatever Bianca and I had, it cannot be rekindled," she said finally, obviously letting Maggie get away with not answering. "She lost my faith when she lost my love - were I to ever attempt a reconciliation, I'd be forever worried of encountering yet another Babe."

The relief that flooded Maggie's small chest was fleeting, chased away by a sudden grimace at the name. "Right," she added, a dry echo. "Babe." There was a moment of silence, and suddenly she snapped, "I really hate her."

"Bianca's failing is her willingness to love so easily," Lena said quietly. "She hurts so many when she loves so openly."

Sucking in her breath, Maggie closed her eyes, ignoring the pang. "Bianca's willingness to love isn't a failing," Maggie answered. "It's her strength."

"It can't be both?" Lena asked simply. "Bianca's willingness to love allowed her to love me. For that I am grateful. But it just as easily transferred to Babe. How was I to believe the same would not happen again?"

Maggie's throat was tight, her body stiff. "Babe was different. Bianca... she had lost her little girl and somehow she thought-"

"Bianca's loyalty was to Be-Miranda," Maggie said roughly. But her mind was once again on the haunting sight of Bianca, naked, in bed with the woman who stole her child. Shutting her eyes tightly, she wondered if she would ever be able to forget it.

Maggie's mouth curled into a smile, turning to catch Lena's curious gaze, turning to face Lena with a tilt of her head. "She talks all the time. You can't shut her up. And she's forever getting into trouble. She's stubborn. She wants something, and she won't quit until she gets it. Bianca spoils her so much even the nanny yells at her, but she's a good mom. A great mom."

Lena's glance was soft, gentle, different than before. Her lips had turned up in bemusement, and she sighed, eyes fluttering closed as if picturing the sight. "You love her."

"Yeah," she agreed, placing her wine against the table. "Miranda's an amazing kid."

Maggie nearly choked, a huge lump caught in her throat, painful and deep, like a stab to the heart, as Lena's eyes opened and locked onto her gaze, intense.

Licking dry lips, Maggie stared hard at Lena, and found herself losing her will. "I'm not."

Lena chuckled suddenly. "Truthfully, Maggie, your love for her I never questioned. It was the one thing we had in common. It made me like you."

"Well, you were smart. Plucky. You would hold onto your point like a dog with a bone between it's teeth. Despite your doubts, you carried your anguish within for Bianca. I admired you for that."

"Right," she said, snorting. "I seem to recall breaking down like a piece of tissue paper and you having to put me back together."

"Hey- it wasn't all antagonistic," Maggie said, the grin infectious. "Remember doing the Macarena?"

"Ah, don't remind me," Lena said, bursting into a spat of giggles. "I must have looked insane."

"No, no," Maggie assured her, straight-faced. "Doing the hustle, that was your crowning moment." Lena blushed, glancing away. "Seriously Lena, for a world-renowned seductress, you could be a real geek sometimes."

"Oh, me?!" Lena burst, twisting in her seat, once again upsetting Noel. "Coming from you? And your shirts and your pants!"

"Your clothes, Maggie," Lena said gravely, "In Pine Valley, left quite a bit to be desired."

Somehow annoyed, Maggie shrugged, grumbling in her seat. "I thought I looked cute."

"I'm of the opinion this look suits you better." Glancing down at the designer clothes Bianca and her personal shopper had insisted upon, Maggie felt a small sensation ripple down her spine. It was Paris, fashion was highly regarded, and Maggie, on the arm of the world famous Bianca Montgomery, had tried to please. Honestly, she had wanted to - make a new style, leave the old Maggie behind.

The clothes she wore were sleek and simple, and they had become second nature. She hadn't thought of them as radically different. But Lena had a point.

Lena's fingers traced the fabric of her collared green shirt, thumbing the material, and it was then, Maggie realized the clock had struck midnight.

On the television, crowds screamed and fireworks blew, and distracted, Maggie glanced back to find Lena closer, a sincere, simple smile on her face.

And then, almost in slow motion, a palm cradled her chin, and a dark head bent over her own, until lips covered hers, moving against them intimately.

Stunned, Maggie was frozen, forgetting to breathe when Lena gently released her mouth, coal black eyes studying herself, before lowering again.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" she yelped, pushing hard, jumping off the couch so fast, poor Noel went with her, falling to the floor with a strangled yip.

"CRAP!" Pacing and feeling suddenly feverish, Maggie whirled on the woman still seated. "WHY?! Why did you do that?!"

Taking her cup of wine, Lena seemed to be over her shock, eyebrow nearly buried into her forehead. "It seemed appropriate."

"Appropriate?!" Maggie hissed. "Why would you-how could you- did you really- CRAP."

"The big deal?!" she sputtered, coming forward again, to jab a finger at the woman on the couch who had just planted the years biggest shock on her lips. "You're supposed to hate me. You're not supposed to want to make out!"

"Forgive me for not following precedence." Lena's cheeks were flushed. She looked amused.

"No, I'm tipsy," Lena answered calmly. "And so are you. Maggie, where did you think this was heading?"

"NO WHERE!" She snapped, resuming her pacing along the worn carpet, Noel making an effort to scoot out of her way. "We were bonding! We were not heading towards comfort sex or whatever the hell that was supposed to be!"

"It's New Years Eve, I found you attractive," Lena said simply. "What would have been so wrong about that?"

Growling in frustration, she nearly stomped her feat. "You're my girlfriend's ex! Okay?!"

Lena seemed to consider the situation, and somehow found it amusing. "Why? Exactly?"

"That is not a word to be thrown about lightly," Lena said gravely, smirk deepening. "And this is your fault."

"You lied. I was brought here under false pretense. Had I known you and Bianca were in laaaahv," she dragged out the word, somehow making it a teasing mockery, "I would have kept my hands and lips to myself."

Maggie closed her eyes, and in her horror, nearly tore her hair out. "You know what? You're drunk. Go to your room."

It was then she realized that Noel had crawled into Lena's lap, obviously feeling safer with her than the currently spazzing Maggie.

Lena grinned. "Is it wrong that I still find you very cute right now, even if you've gone insane?"

Pushing the dog gently off her, Lena teetered up, toasting Maggie with another sip. "Happy New Year, Maggie."

Left behind with a confused, puzzled dog and her head nearly exploding, Maggie stared hard at the retreating back.

Doing the only thing she could think of, she stuck out her tongue, and for good measure, flipped her off, before collapsing in a heap on the couch.