Still lying in bed, Bette begins to speak,
T? You know I love you with all my heart right?
Yes babe, I know and I love you too. (She gently gives Bette a quick kiss) But youre starting to scare me, and I want to help you, I do, but you have to talk to me babe.

Bette lets out another huge sigh,
Well, its just the stress that Ive been feeling these past few weeks is beginning to get to me. Both you and I have been putting in long hours at the office, we hardly get to spend time with each other. And with the opening of the new exhibit coming up the stress is a bit over whelming, I feel like Im being pulled in a hundred directions at the same time, like the world is crashing down around me. Lately Ive been feeling so much pressure. It keeps reminding me of what happened two years agowhen I almost cost us everything, when I almost lost you. I keep dreaming of that terrible night and that I wake up and youre not here.

Tina takes in what Bette had just said and replies in a soft, loving voice,
Babe, you know that that was a long time ago. Weve moved on from there. It was a hurtful time Ill admit, but we managed to get through it, our love helped us to get through it together. Bette, Im committed. Im not going anywhere. You should know that by now baby.

I know T, but the past few weeks, the stress, the long hours, while those werent the only factors, they did play a huge role in what happened. God, to think I almost fucked everything up and lost you. Without you, I thought my life was endingit wasnt worth living without you. How could I have been so stupid? I keep seeing it over and over again in my dreamthe hurt, pain, anger in your eyes, your words. Its like a broken record reminding me over and over about that painful time. She shuts her eyes and shakes her head, trying to hold back the tears, trying not to cry again.

Bette, look at me (Bette turns to look at Tina). Thats the past. Youre stronger now. Im stronger. WE are stronger. Baby, I forgave you a long time ago, dont you think its about time you forgave yourself? I know that everyone deals with things differently, and needs different amounts of time to let go, but I think its time. (Tina pauses before continuing) What you did back then was awful, almost unforgivable, but I found myself just miserable without you in my life, I wasnt complete without you, I was an empty shell of the person I used to be. Its like they say, sometimes you can love someone so much that it hurts and I didnt realize that until we were apart. I wont lie to youthere was a point that I wanted to give it all up and forget you, but I couldnt. I couldnt forget the love that we shared for each other. It was that love, that bond between us that brought our paths in life together again. I know it was a hard time, filled with much pain and hurt, but after a long road back I forgave you. Im actually glad things happened the way they did. It showed us just how much we loved each other and helped to prove that our love for each other is strong enough to tackle even the highest of mountains and the deepest of seas.

But,

No babe, stop with the buts. You have to forgive yourself. I know its not easy and I can see how this stress youre under can remind you of what happened, but it will be okay. Ill be here to help you through this. You can do this baby, I believe in you, I believe in us. Do you?

Yeah of course I do.

Bette, you cant let the past keep haunting you. The past will always be there, but you cant let it affect the future. Babe, you cant keep letting your fears get in the way. I cant pretend to be you and say I know what youre feeling, but I can tell you that I too have fears. But just because I have fears, I try not to let it affect what I have now. And what I have now is you.

Well T, its just that I dont want to bother you with my problems, theyre not important

Tina cuts Bette off again,
I love you Bette, and I am here for you anytimeyou can talk to me no matter what. And I never want you to feel like your problems are unimportant and that you dont want to bother me with them, you know that that is part of why things happened between us. You need to realize that YOU and your feelings are very important. You should never feel like what you go through is not important to me, because it is. You dont always have to be the strong one. You dont have to put up a front. Im here for you.

Thank you baby. Thank you for reminding me, and for being so understanding. I love you so much.
I know Bette, I love you too

Bette reached up for Tina and pulled her in for a gentle kiss.
Babe what did I do to deserve you? Youre an angel sent down from heaven. No, youre my angel and I love you with all my heart and soul. You are my life, more important to me than the air I breathe. Ive always tried to be the strong one, but truth be told you are the rock I hold on to, my pillar of strength. I sometimes forget that, and Im sorry that I ever hurt you. Sometimes I am so in awe of your inner strength that I take you for granted. I often try not to bother you with things because I want everything to be perfectbut I have to realize that not everything can be perfect, and I dont ever want to take you for granted baby.

Well thats good to hear because I never want to be taken for granted. However, I dont mind being taken(looking at Bette with a devilish, lusty grin).
T, dont start thatwere gonna be late for work.
Oh, alright (sounding disappointed)how about breakfast then?
Sounds great baby.
Good. Then why dont you lay here awhile longer and Ill get it started.

Tina got up and headed for the kitchen, giving Bette a quick kiss before she left. Tina was glad that Bette had opened up to her. It hurt her to know that Bette still wasnt able to fully forgive herself, but she knew that in time she would. Tina just needed to be there for her.
Bette lay there on the bed, still thinking about their talk, about what Tina had said. She knew that Tina was right. She needed to be able to forgive herself completely, to let the past go so that stressful situations wouldnt bring on such dreams, such memories. She was grateful for Tina, and thanked the heavens for allowing them to have another chance. Bette closed her eyes and said a small prayer
God, if your listening. Please give me the strength to forgive myself and let the past die. Strength like Tinas so that our love may grow stronger everyday. Help me to be a better person for Tina and for myself. Also please keep her safe and let her always know how much I love her. Thank you God for sending me an angel. Amen.
After a few moments, Bette thought to herself, I wonder if Tina would be up to a little vacation alone once the show starts? Time away for just the two of us. A smile crept over her face with this last thought, as if she were congratulating herself for coming up with that plan. With that, Bette got out of bed and bounded off to find Tina. She felt as if their talk had lifted a great weight off her shoulders and she could face anything, anything at all.
Bette was walking down the hall to the kitchen making a checklist and thinking out loud,
Okay get through the opening of the new exhibit, plan a
Tina was in the kitchen busy making breakfast when she heard Bette coming down the hall,
Plan a what babe?
Bette, realizing that she had been talking out loud quickly responded,
Oh nothing, just thinking out loud to myself about what I needed to do at work today
Yeah right she thought, giggling to herself. If you only knew T, if you only knew.

TBC