The awkward silence between mother and daughter was interrupted by the arrival of Kendal, Zack and the boys. Zack was dressed as an Indian chief, Kendal as his squaw and the boys as Indian braves.

"Well hello Hiawatha." said Bianca giving her sister a hug.

"Well hello to you too." said Kendal, taking in her outfit and the plastic hook tucked up her sleeve. "Pirate?"

"When you see Marissa and the kid's outfits it will make sense." said Bianca.

Kendal then noticed the expression on her mother's face at the sight of both her daughter's less than glamorous appearances. Kendal kissed both of her mother's cheeks and sighed,

"I know you like us looking pretty for the cameras but Spike really wanted to wear his Indian brave costume, and it was this or dinosaurs, which was Ian's preference. Trust me you got off lightly."

Erica just shook her head.

"I just don't believe this is the best you could come up with." She said a little sharply.

"Hey." said Kendal, "This is our year mom. The trophy is ours for sure."

"You think." said Bianca giving her sister a playful nudge.

"Hell yeah!" said Kendal, "This dress is the real deal – have you any idea how much it cost!"

Bianca had to begrudgingly accept that Kendal and Zack's costumes were very impressive but she didn't think it was a match to her family's efforts. No, the Montgomery/Tasker clan were in for a good chance at winning this year for sure. They could probably win by virtue of Gabby's crocodile cuteness alone. Opal, who was one of the judges, had a definite soft spot for children in animal costumes.

…

Bianca followed her sister's family into the party leaving Erica and Uncle Jack to greet the remaining guests. The party was already in full swing, people jostling on the dance floor, and everyone had really made an effort with the costumes. Even David Hayward was there, dressed as a mad scientist.

They caught up with Marissa and the kids at a table in the corner. They spotted AJ first; he was standing on a chair, peering around the room like a Meercat. Bianca smiled; he was obviously looking for her. She gave him a wave and when he spotted her he waved back his smile just beaming.

When they got to the table Bianca found Marissa chatting to Opal, who was dressed as the Bride of Frankenstein and Caleb, who had come as Davy Crockett complete with Coonskin hat. Ian ran up to Gabby straight away. He was clearly envious of her costume and Kendal had to quickly step in before he could make a grab for the crocodile hat. Miranda was already on the dance floor with Emma who was in a pretty Alice in Wonderland costume. Greenlee and Ryan weren't far away, dressed as the Queen of Hearts and the Mad Hatter.

"Hi." said Marissa when she noticed Kendal's costume, "So should I call you Tiger-Lily."

"That depends are you Robin Hood or Peter Pan?"

"Very funny." said Marissa sarcastically, "It's the hat isn't it."

"Don't mind her." said Bianca taking a seat beside her girlfriend, not missing an opportunity to slip her arm around Marissa's waist. "She's just a sore loser."

"That's big talk little sis, hope you've got something to back it up."

Bianca leaned in, a wicked smile on her face.

"Turn around and check out Tad's costume for this year."

Kendal, a sceptical scowl on her face, turned round to spy Tad in full Indian headdress. His family had come as an Indian Tribe too.

"Well," said Kendal after scanning the crowd, "Check out Jake and Amanda, you are not the only pirate in the room either."

"Oh my God!" gasped Marissa, who had also been scanning the room, grinning at the way Kendal and Bianca teased each other. She had spotted her mom dressed as a mermaid.

Krystal made her way over once she spotted them in the corner.

She gave her daughter and Bianca a hug.

"I hope you don't mind but I thought I'd try and link my costume in with your Peter Pan theme, it seemed like more fun."

"Well seeing as we have half the cast already at the party I say more the merrier." admitted Marissa

Marissa wasn't the only one to make this observation. When the photographer was setting up for the group shots Bianca's little family entry became a full blown diorama. The Pirates verses the Indians.

Tad, Dixie and the girls joined Kendal's family on one side, while Jake, Amanda and Trevor squeezed in alongside AJ and Bianca. Marissa was in the middle as Peter Pan posed in a sword fight with Captain Hook. Miranda as Tinkerbelle and Gabby the crocodile were on the right while Krystal and Cara who had also come in a mermaid's costume, were sat on the left. Uncle Jack even got in on the act losing his brocade jacket and borrowing AJ's eye patch in order to join the pirates.

The photographer was being very serious about the whole thing but no one else could keep a straight face. The only person who didn't seem amused was Erica.

…

Bianca decided to confront her mother about whatever it was that was bothering her.

"No, no I'm fine." said Erica attempting to brush the issue aside with a smile.

"Mom, please tell me what's wrong." begged Bianca, her eyes wide with concern.

"It's just…" began Erica gesturing towards Bianca's costume. "You're not normally so… manly."

"Manly?" Bianca asked slightly confused, and then she twigged, "Is this a gay thing mom?"

"It's just since you started seeing Marissa you seem to wear jeans more than usual and today you're…" again she gestured to Bianca's costume.

Bianca burst out laughing.

"You think Marissa is trying to turn me into a man. Mom you couldn't be more wrong. I know you have a problem with Marissa's family but she is her own person mom. And yes, I'm wearing jeans more because Marissa likes me in them - but I can assure you men are the last thing she's thinking about."

Erica looked uncomfortable and a little embarrassed. Bianca toned down her amusement to ease her mother's discomfort.

"I've not changed, mom. I'm not going to stop being your daughter, and besides the glamour is sort of ingrained. As for this costume… today is for the kids, and being Captain Hook was AJ's idea! I think it's wonderful how he has welcomed me and my girls into his family. And my future happiness right now is as much about AJ being part of my life as it is Marissa."

Erica smiled a little ashamed at herself, and accepted a hug from her wise daughter.

…

The party was winding down now for everyone but the kids. What had started as a photo opportunity was now a full grown war. Egged on by Tad and Jake the children had taken over the conservatory in a game of Pirates versus Indians.

Miranda had decided early on in the war game that being a Fairy was no fun, especially when no-one would let her use magic as a weapon. Now she was kitted out in her mom's hat and jacket brandishing a plastic sword in one hand and Captain Hook's hook in the other. Bianca had also taken pity on Emma, who had wanted to join in too and given up her waistcoat and turned her sash into a bandana for the girl. Marissa had also handed over her plastic sword. Thanks to Bianca and Marissa the pirates added two more cutthroats to their ranks.

Ian was now tearing around in Gabby's crocodile hat with the tail attached to his Indian Brave costume, gleefully attacking both sides. Marissa had given Gabby her hat as compensation so she could be Peter Pan instead. Gabby however showed no interest in the game and went off to find a lap to sit on.

The lap she chose belonged to a bemused Randi, who was dressed as a vampire queen. Randi had been talking to Madison (who was dressed as Supergirl to Scott's Superman) and Cara about the latest Fusion fashion shoot. Now all three women, captivated by Gabby's cuteness, were listening to her tell them all about what her dolly liked for breakfast.

The children fully occupied, Marissa and Bianca took to the floor for the slow dance. Bianca, her costume now nothing more than a loose white shirt and black trousers, in a fit of perverseness had put on her daughter's fairy wings which Marissa found wonderfully adorable. They held each other close dancing in slow circles, their foreheads almost touching as they drank in each other's smiles.

…

Erica watched her youngest daughter from afar.

"They look so happy don't they? They've both had more than their fair share of heartbreak. They deserve a little joy."

Erica turned to see her arch rival Krystal at her shoulder,

Before Erica could say something biting in response, Krystal beat her to it.

"I know I had a part to play in a huge chunk of your daughter's unhappiness for which I will be eternally sorry – I cannot believe how incredible she is to be able to forgive me the way she has. I know I don't deserve any of it."

Erica saw that Krystal was attempting to make peace between them. Erica was loathed to accept it but she knew that the way things were moving between their two daughters some time, probably very soon, she and Krystal were going to become in-laws. So Erica bit her tongue and turned back to the dance floor. The music tempo had changed to something much more lively but Marissa and Bianca seemed not to have noticed, they were slow dancing still in their own little world.

"They do seem very much in love." said Erica, but that was all she was ready to admit to Krystal for now.

...

Bianca was lost in a daydream, her eyes fixated on Marissa's lips and the little smile that played on then. Her body moulded perfectly to Marissa's as the swayed gently in slow circles. She revelled in the memory of the taste of that mouth, the warm and softness of that body…

Reality rudely jolted Bianca out of her daze when another dancer bumped into her. For the first time Bianca heard the fast pace of the music and saw the wild dancing of everyone around her. Marissa grinned her cheeks turning red with embarrassment; she'd been as lost in the moment as her lover. Bianca glanced nervously around and caught her mother and Krystal starring at them. She gave her mother a cautious smile and was delighted when Erica smiled back. Maybe there was hope for peace between those two after all.

…

At ten o'clock Bianca and Marissa gathered together their brood. It was time to go home. Miranda and AJ were still hyper from their game of pirates, eagerly talking over each other as they regaled their moms with their tactics and victories. Gabby was a dead weight in Bianca's arms, fast asleep and showing no sign of stirring.

Everyone agreed it had been a fun evening although not entirely successful. The fancy dress prize had gone to Maya and the Hubbards who had all come as characters from the Wizard of Oz. Maya as Dorothy, Angie as a female scarecrow, Jesse as the Tin man and Little Lucy being the cutest of all, in a novelty sleepsuit as the cowardly lion.

The Kane pride was still a little dented but then again there was always next year.

The end.