Chapter 13

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Despite their initial fears Bianca and Maggie were in love, they were determined to make it work this time. Ishmael soon came to view Miranda and Gabby as his sisters, and they saw him as their new brother. The five of them came to be a real family. This was not to say that things were perfect. Bianca and Maggie still got dirty looks from some whenever they went on a date. Even with the good cops on the Pine Valley Police Force, they still feared there might be one extreme homophobe who would hurt them. Ishmael adjusted fairly well to an American school, but there were those who called him ugly racist names. Bianca and Maggie couldn't fight his battles for him. All they could do was be there for him, let him know he was loved, and watch with pride as he became stronger. And rather than tear their new family apart, these incidents made it stronger. Noone was surprised when Bianca proposed to Maggie. Maggie was already planning to propose to Bianca, Bianca just beat her to it. They had a fairly small ceremony, only family. Even David had made parole by this point, so he and Anna were able to attend. Bianca and Maggie hoped he could remain good and free this time. The priest also mentioned their past loved ones who had died by this point, Ryan, Zack, Leo, Frankie, Marissa, Bianca's father, her grandmother Mona. Their lives together might not be perfect, but they were able to face it together. And they had this moment, completely surrounded by love. Maggie and Bianca knew it would be a good life together.