Tina awoke the next morning completely exhausted. She and Bette had spent most of last night making love and talking and now she was tired. She reached out for Bette, but when her hand felt nothing she sat up. She looked around and didnt see Bette anywhere so she decided to go and make some coffee. It was Tuesday morning and she didnt have to meet Oscar until noon and Tina decided she would enjoy her free morning. Tina walked into the kitchen and stopped in her tracks.

Bette was standing at the stove trying her best to make Tina breakfast. So far she had accomplished making toast and coffee, but even those were slightly burned. Tina giggled to herself as she took in the sight of Bette struggling with the waffle maker and she knew she would have to spend the rest of the morning cleaning up after her. Bette was having a hard time getting the mix to stay in the waffle maker and it was dripping down the sides. DAMMIT, said Bette out of sheer frustration. Tina quietly walked up behind her and wrapped her arms around her waist.

Morning baby. Trying to play Martha Stewart I see.

I was trying to cook you breakfast.

Tina stifled a laugh at Bettes best attempt at a little kids voice and she lightly kissed her on the cheek.

Okay babe, before you completely ruin breakfast why dont you sit down and let me do it.

No, I can do this. I wanted to make you breakfast and that is exactly what I am going to do. Why dont you go shower and when youre done Ill have breakfast waiting.

Tina gave Bette another kiss on the cheek and a smile before heading to the bathroom. She knew that Bette would be extremely busy for the next couple of days and she was going to enjoy every minute she could spend with Bette. After her shower Tina walked back to the table to find a plate of sliced fruit and a few pieces of not so badly burned toast. There was coffee and orange juice next to the plate and a rose on the table along with a note.

Baby,

The waffles were a disaster so how about some fruit. I had to get to work but I just wanted to let you know I love you.

Yours,

B

Tina smiled as she looked down at the fruit. Her smile turned to a slight frown however when she looked at the kitchen and saw exactly what Bette meant by disaster. There were pieces of burned waffle everywhere and the waffle maker was covered in waffle mix. Tina sighed to herself as she headed into the kitchen to start cleaning up.

Bette had been at work for a couple of hours when her cell phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Alice but she didnt have time to talk. She was behind on getting through the proofs and she had to meet with the caterer to discuss the menu for the party on Friday. She hoped Alice would understand and turned her cell phone off completely. Bette was so busy, that when Candace stopped in to let her know she was there she barely said two words to her. Bette knew these next few days were going to be very stressful and she decided that when this was all over she was planning a weekend away with Tina.

Lunchtime rolled around and there was a knock on her door. Bette looked up to see Candace standing in the doorway looking at her.

Hey Candace, whats up?

Well youve been here for about five hours and not left this office once yet. Its lunch time and a few of us were going to run and get lunch, I was just wondering if you wanted anything?

Bette looked at Candace with a questioning look. Even though they seemed to be on a friendship basis, she still didnt trust Candace or herself for that matter. Bette was doing her best to avoid Candace altogether, but she knew she couldnt be downright rude to Candace. Besides, for some odd reason she couldnt seem to get Candace out of her life completely.

Sure lunch sounds good. Im starving. Where are you going?

That sandwich place on the corner. What can I get you?

Bette gave Candace her lunch order along with some money, which Candace refused at first, but after Bette pointed out that they were friends now and there was no reason to give her special treatment, Candace took it. Fifteen minutes later Candace was back with the food and she joined her along with a few other people in the break room for lunch. They had been eating for about five minutes when Bette remembered she had turned off her cell phone. She walked back into her office to get it and when she turned it on she saw that she had a couple of messages.

Hey Bette, its Alice. Look we were all going out to dinner tonight and were just wondering if the happy couple wanted to join us. Call me.

Hey baby sister, its me. Ivan invited me to a blues concert this weekend and we were wondering if you and Tina wanted to come. Let me know.

Hey babe its me. How is your day going? Hope youre not working too hard. Anyway Im calling because Dana asked if we wanted to go to her tournament this weekend. I told her I would ask you first, so let me know. Shes playing in San Diego this weekend and I thought it might be a nice trip. Okay I have to go, bye babe, I love you.

Bette sighed looking down at her phone. It seemed that lately she had become the hub of her social group and she wondered if it was because everyone was so glad her and Tina were back together. She had hoped for a relaxing weekend, but between her sister and Dana, it seemed she would be having a very eventful weekend. Bette turned her phone off again and threw it back into her bag as she walked out of her office. She finished her lunch with Candace then went straight back to work.

At eight oclock Bette leaned back in her chair and rubbed her eyes. She had been at work for almost thirteen hours and she was beat. She had a few more things to do however, and if she was lucky she should be out of there by nine or nine thirty. She had assumed everyone was gone for the day and she decided she needed to stretch her legs. She started to walk around the gallery looking at the art when she noticed someone was walking in behind her. She turned around, obviously startled, to find Candace carrying a few pieces of wood and a bucket of paint.

Working late I see?

As are you.

They stood there staring at each other and Bette was beginning to get nervous. Bette felt her palms becoming sweaty and she felt a familiar wave of desire wash over her. What the *****, thought Bette as she tried to control her emotions. She had seen Candace a few times since she broke things off between them and each of those timess she didnt feel like this. Maybe it was because they were alone, or maybe it was because she was just exhausted and wasnt thinking clearly, but Bette definitely knew that if she didnt get out of there fast she would do something she would regret later.

Candace noticed Bette staring at her and she could see the desire running through her. Candace wanted nothing more than to walk over to her and kiss her, but she thought twice about it. Weve been there before and nothing good can come of it, Candace told herself as she looked back at Bette with the same desire in her eyes.

Bette was trying to figure out if she should say something or just walk away but she didnt know which of the two would seem worse. Before she could think she found herself slowly walking towards Candace, anticipation building with each step. When she was right in front of Candace she stopped walking and looked down. She didnt know what she was doing, and she couldnt believe that she was in this position again. She looked up and met Candaces eyes trying to tell her that she wanted her, but could never have her again. Candace understood the look in her eyes and she looked back saying that she felt the same way. They stood there staring at each other for the longest time, when Candace slowly set her things down and reached for Bettes hand.

Bette let Candace take her hand and she immediately felt a warmth run through her system. Candace let go of her hand and slowly ran her hands along the sides of Bettes arms. Bette could feel her skin tingle under Candaces touch and she so desperately wanted Candaces mouth on hers. Candace ran her hands all the way up Bettes arms and stopped when she reached her neck. With one hand she lightly gripped Bette by the back of the neck and slowly pulled her in for a kiss.

Bette could feel her body tremble with want and she knew she could totally lose herself in Candaces kiss, but this time something stopped her. Tina. She loved Tina and she would never do anything to hurt her again. Right before Candace was going to make contact with Bettes lips she stopped her.

Candace, Im sorry, I cant do this. Not this time. I love her. I love Tina.

Candace pulled back a little and looked Bette in the eye, searching for something. Some feeling, some inclination that Bette didnt really want her to stop. Candace may be the aggressor when it came to dating, but she would never force anyone to do something they didnt want to. She came up empty and slowly released her grip on Bette. She took a step back and looked around as if she was making sure no one was there, then she looked back at Bette. Bette had a look of pain on her face and Candace knew it was taking every ounce of control for Bette not to kiss her, and she was surprised that Bette was able to do it.

Shes lucky.

What?

Tina. Shes lucky.

Why?

She has you.

Candace reached down to pick up her stuff and walked past Bette into the main gallery. Bette stared at her as she walked away and suddenly she felt herself break down in tears. Tears for what could have been and tears for what was. Bette knew she had just made a terrible mistake by even letting Candace get that close, but she felt better knowing she had stopped it. Bette quickly walked back into her office and decided to call it a day. As she was driving home she turned her cell phone on again and checked her messages.

Hey its Alice again, I guess youre still working but if you have time we are going to Antonios tonight at eight. Meet us if you want.

Hey babe its me again, just checking to see how things are coming. Alice called and said everyone was going to dinner and I was going to join them if you werent coming home. Were meeting at eight so if youre coming home call me before then. Okay, I guess youre busy so Im going to go. I love you babe. Bye.

Upon hearing Tinas message Bette couldnt help but feel extremely guilty. She knew that Tina loved her and fully trusted her again and she almost violated that trust for the second time tonight. She pulled in to her driveway and looked at the house. She felt tears running down her face as she tried to figure out what was going on. She loved Tina, and she didnt know why she felt the attraction to Candace tonight.

Bette got out of her car and walked into the empty house and felt a sadness wash over her. She knew Tina would be out late, so she climbed into bed and immediately fell asleep. When she awoke the next morning she felt Tinas arms draped across her body and she immediately felt guilty again. As she lay there watching Tina sleep she felt the tears threatening to spill out again but this time she held them in. She looked at Tina, who was so peaceful and so beautiful when she was sleeping, and her mind was racing with thoughts about last night. Maybe its just because Im stressed, or maybe its because everything is back to normal and Im scared of things being how they used to be. Bette couldnt figure out what was wrong and as she placed a soft kiss on Tinas cheek before getting out of bed she had one last thought, I dont know what Im going to do, but I cant lose her again. The only thing was, Bette wasn’t sure exactly who she was thinking about.