Tina and Bette spent the whole day after leaving Alices, organizing things, unpacking, doing some laundry, buying groceries. As Bette was driving back home from grocery store she looked to Tina who at her side was relaxing, with her eyes closed, exhausted from the day activities.

“Are you ok Tee?”
“Yeah am fine, just a little tired”.
“Yeah, me toowhat you think if we buy some take out food from that Thai place you like so much and then we just camp in the living room, doing nothing?”

Tina caressing Bettes bare arm smiled, taking some seconds before sighing, nodding,

Sounds great to me With that she closed her eyes again, resting her head, relaxing.


They enjoyed a happy dinner chatting, about the gang, Alice and Danas relationship and Shane,s mysterious always quiet love life. Then as Tina was cleaning the table, helped by Bette she nonchalantly said,

You know, I really like being here like this with you, I love it doing this silly, every day kind of things together.. Tina was placing the last plate on the sink when she felt Bettes arms from behind, hugging her waist, placing her head on her neck.

I know ..I love it tooand as much as I love it now, I know we still have to talk Bettes last words were almost a whisper, as she was hiding her face on Tinas back, in her hair, feeling Tina tensing.

I know we have…and am glad you are willing to talk could we just stay like this for a couple of days?…I need to make some new memries to fight some old ones…” Tina was saying that turning around, facing Bette, removing a lock of her hair from her concerned face.

“Sure we can Bette answered, her smile dying in Tinas lips.

Taking Tinas hand she leaded her to their bedroom. It was a step they had to take, it had many memories to Bette, bad ones and was feeling unsure and insecure but holding Tinas hand in hers she sighed, walking in.

She lied on the bed inviting Tina on. Tina, shyly moved closer and lying at her side placed her head on Bettes chest. Bette put her arm around Tinas shoulders, and started playing with her hair, loving the soft feeling in it.

I love it here, I love it now.. I love feeling, hearing how your heart bitting fasterI love feeling you breath, how your body moves, feeling your warm skin against mine Tinas words were rebuilding Bettes hopes, burying her shame and guilt.

Tina could feel Bettes smile growing, her face softening.

You know, I have been reading your diary Tina said, not moving from where she was.

“You have?” Bettes words were of surprise, of joy, of wonder.

Yeah, that was a great gift the bestnot as good as the robe but almost Tina said, turning her face to look at Bette, to see the look on her eyes, to show the look in hers.

“What have you read?” Bette asked, unable to erase the smile on her face, caressing Tinas ear, playing with her lob.

The time we met Tina answered, satisfied.

Oh, starting from the beginning eh?, pretty anal you are.. teased Bette, chuckling.

No, I just opened it there, and am glad I did before that I read about the night you asked me to move in with you. Tina smile could be felt by Bette.
Oh ok

Can I share something with you? Tinas words were tentative, imploring, shy.
Sure you can Bug Bette whispered, kissing Tinas head.

Caressing Bettes arm, Tina started talking, almost whispering, remembering,

I dont know why we havent talk about the first time we saw each other before, but I loved reading it in your diary and I want to tell you how I remembered it I remember I didnt want to go to the opening I remember Eric had to beg me to go with him I was not in the mood, was feeling anxious, was having lots of problems at work and there was something bothering me but I didnt know what it was and that was bothering me even more I remembered I dressed up feeling awful you know those times when you have to dress up and after looking in your closet where hang hundreds of things you decided there is nothing there youd wear that could make you feel ok or comfortable?…

Bette nodded, chuckling, smiling, recognizing the feeling.

well, that was me that nightso I put on that old black dress, I knew that at least I was going to feel comfortable in it, it wasnt new, it had a history of good moments so taking comfort from that memories I put it on. Eric picked me up late, as always, which didnt light my aggravation but I let it goon our way to the gallery I decided to get the best from the night, to try to have a good time even when I was feeling miserable and the knot in my stomach was killing me

Tina was playing with Bettes fingers in hers, lost in the memory.

Eric was parking so I walked in I didnt know anybody, artists, painters were not the kind of people I knew so I just walked in thinking about having a drink while waiting for Eric I remembered that the moment I walked in the energy took me by surprise, unlike any other opening, there, the crowd was calm, relaxed, laughing in a non treating way.

I remembered I looked around, checking the place, as the paintings were almost impossible to see with the people wandering aroundso I started walking and I saw something that hit me, that stopped my paceI dont know why it happened, I didnt know then as it was happening ..I saw how somebody, who turned to be you,( whispered Tina feeling her mouth grow bigger with a smile) was lifting a glass of wine, offering it to an old lady I remember I could not see who the person behind that sweet gesture was but I remember that the swing of your hand as it was taking the glass, the tenderness of it as it was being offered to the old lady moved meI stood there for a few seconds, staring at it but not really seeing anything as people was walking in front of me, in between both of us. Shaking my head, I started walking again towards the bar, the image glued in my head, comforting me, I remember that as I was trying to get the waiters attention I noticed how the knot in my stomach was gone.. I finally ordered something and taking the first sip I thought about that simple gesture, thinking that simple beautiful things like that make days bearable

As Tina stopped, lost in her memories Bette tried to remember that gesture, she couldnt, she remembered the old lady though, it was an old painter she was very fond of, an old lady that died just a few months later.

Eric finally arrived and after ordering a drink dragged me around the gallery, introducing me and explaining to me why was so important for him to be there, he wanted to buy something, thats when he said we should go to talk with the owner. I wasnt listening so much, I was just going with the flow you know those times when you stop yourself for a second and say, or think, am happy, right now, at this exact moment am happy… and you dont know why it is or the reason as you are not doing anything special but then that happiness fills you inside, lights your heart opening your lungs well I was… I just nodded to him, letting him leaded me towards you he tapped your shoulder and when you turned around I remembered I thought you were one of the most beautiful women Ive ever seen, but then you shook my hand and then I saw it, your hand, your armit was you knowing that the person behind that tender loving gesture was this gorgeous profesional woman confused me, surprised me….blushing from the notion, as if my most precious secret have been revealed I looked up and saw, felt your eyes on mine, there was something running through my body but I was so transfixed by your presence that all I did was smile like a kid I didnt know what to say or do I just followed you around thinking well now that I think about itwasnt really thinking, was just beingit was so easy, felt so right to just talk with you, let you talk, follow the look in your eyes, laughing at your remarks

I remembered that when I went home that night I told Eric I was tired, didnt want to be with him, needed, wanted to be alone wanted to be alone to think about you but again, I didnt do that,. I just wanted to feel, to try to feel what I felt being at your side…it was as you were holding my hand, filling my heart with an easiness, with joy I felt like you were there just for meI remembered I fall asleep having no idea what just happened that night, having no idea what was going on inside of me but loving, knowing that whatever it was I had to get it, I had to find out if it was you of if it was me

…I didnt even know you were ***** fate I guess it was, as in the morning, before heading to work, Eric called me, wondering about my head and how did I like the night beforenot sure why but he mentioned Alice, making a funny remark about her, and lightly saying that she once was your girlfriend I didnt register that at the moment, was in a hurry, as always but then, driving to work it hit me, from nowhere it hit me that you were ***** and what surprised me most was that instead of feeling bad about it, all I could think about was your eyes, your lipsI found myself clearly thinking about you in another wayjust came naturallyI didnt work much that day, and then realizing about the earring I just jumped in my car and drove there when I saw you with that turtle neck, smiling at me I felt little, inadequate, shy but then you looked me in the eyes, your smile was gone but the way you leaned into me, the way you kissed me…it assured me, filed my with confidence, I felt so care, so desired


Tina, back in reality moved to look at Bette who was very still, quietly listening to her. Looking at Bette Tina show how moved she was, how much she was loving the memories.

Leaning into her, placing her chin on Bettes chest Tina whispered,

It was there, it was you its always been you I knew it on my way home that night.. I wasnt sure about anything any moreI realized that I was not ***** (noticing Bettes eyebrow rising, teasing)well I didnt know I was (smiled).but I knew that if you didnt call Id dieI dont know why but I knew youd, I felt it, I knew you were going to pursued me I loved it, the whole courtship it felt so right, so naturalso easy

Moving a little more, Tina put her lips on Bettes, kissing her sweetly, softly but leaving a demanding print showing not only all her love but all her lust.
Bette put her arms around Tina, pushing her, tightening her, getting lost not only in her lips but in her arm, in her presence, in her love…

tbc