Bette poured herself a large whisky and drank it in one gulp. She poured another and was just lifting the glass to her lips when Tina strode into the house, slamming the door behind her.

***** ***** got away! she fumed, walking to the kitchen. How dare she come here? How ***** dare she?!

Bette let her rant on for a while, then reached into the cupboard above her to get the first aid kit. Tina, who was gesturing wildly as she shouted, didnt notice Bette busying herself with it until she pressed a large piece of cotton wool covered in antiseptic to her nose.

Oww! she shrieked, batting away her hand. What are you doing?

Im cleaning your nose, Bette explained patiently, pressing it to Tinas nose again. I think youve probably broken it, so it will need to be looked at. And these cuts need a good clean.

I dont need your help, Tina muttered defiantly as Bette started to clean the scratches on her cheek, but she made no move to stop her.

Bette sighed, handing her another piece of cotton wool to stem the blood flow before pulling away. Youre acting very mature, she said sarcastically. You were the one that decided to have a pointless fight with Candace, and now Im trying to help you and all you can do is sulk.

Tinas mouth dropped open in disbelief. You are calling me immature? Bette Porter, the hypocritical cheater with the emotional capacity of a teenage boy, is calling me immature? Its you that needs to grow up, Bette, not me.

So what would you call that? Bette shouted, pointing to the front door. Are you really telling me that punching Candace is the solution to all our problems?

What do you care anyway? Were you scared in case your mistress got hurt?

No, T, I was scared in case you got hurt!

Whatever, Bette, Tina said coldly, advancing on Bette. You dont care about me, you just care about yourself. You cheated on me, you destroyed our marriage, and now you are pretending youre sorry. But you cant even tell me why you did it. With each you Tina jabbed a finger in Bettes chest, forcing her to step backwards.

I did it because I was lost, Tina, which I told you before but you didnt listen. Bette was beginning to see red, Tina was just dismissing everything she said and not letting her explain, then getting angry because she didnt. After our baby died I was lost, and scared, T, and I needed to feel something other than emptiness to make me feel alive.

Thats not a reason, thats an excuse. If thats what you needed, then why didnt you come to me?

I tried, but you just pushed me away! I needed you, but you werent there for me. You wouldnt let me touch you, can you imagine how that made me feel?!

What, so this is all my fault? Tina shouted incredulously. Youre blaming me for all this?

No, T, I

How dare you blame me?! How dare you turn this around and say that it is all my fault?!

I never said that! But if you actually let me finish then you might know what I was about to say!

Tina glared at her for a few seconds, the fury coming off her in waves, before she took Bettes head in her hands and crushed her lips to hers.

*****

Shane left the hospital room and drifted inside her own mind. She reached out with her thoughts, trying to find Zoe and her father and Ronnie, trying to go back to that happy place she was in before.

She felt herself falling, then there was a sharp jolt as she landed on something hard, sending searing pain through her knees and wrists. The beeping of the monitor came back, and she felt hands helping her up, but they quickly dissolved again and were replaced by complete silence.

She was lying on cold, smooth stone that extended in every direction into the distance. It was cold and the sky was stormy again, but there was no rain or lightening this time. Instead the black clouds just hung low and menacing, ready to break at any time.

Zoe? Shane called out, but the silence swallowed her shout. Daddy? she called again, but the silence was like a blanket, and her voice was too weak to fight against the oppressive air.

Zoe? she tried one last time, but this time her voice was barely a whisper. She fell back onto her hands, wondering where they all were. This wasnt what shed come back to, she wanted to go back to the field with the swing and the trees and the flowers.

Shed just closed her eyes, willing herself to go there, when a voice from behind her made her freeze.

Dont you get it?

Shanes eyes opened wide. That couldnt becould it? She whirled round to face the woman behind her.

Get what? she stammered as she came face to face with her foster mother for the first time in twelve years.

Theyre not coming back, she told her with a sneer. And why would they? Look at you, why would they come back for you?

Shane looked down at herself, then back up into the gleeful face towering above her. They will, she said, but she was unsure and her voice was hesitant.

No. They wont.

*****

I dont know why now, Alice said quietly, fiddling with the top of her bottle of water. All I know is that when you announced your engagement II She struggled with the words, for a journalist she was finding it incredibly hard to articulate her feelings. I got this ache, here. She took Danas hand and placed it over her heart. I didnt say anything straight away because I wasnt completely sure what it meant, but then I realised that I was in love with you. She traced a finger down Danas cheek to her chin, but one glance into Dana hard eyes made her hand fall back down to her lap. And then I didnt have the confidence to tell you, because I didnt think you felt the same.

But, why that night?

It wasnt planned, Alice admitted. But, after seeing all those artists – and Bette – risking their reputation and careers to get their message seenwellI realised that it was time I stopped being a coward and possibly missing out on a chance of happiness. So, I took a risk, and here we are.

Danas eyes softened at that, and she reached out to gently take Alices hands on hers. Al

She stopped speaking abruptly as three nurses and two doctors suddenly left their work station and ran full pelt down the corridor and into Shanes room.

What the ***** going on? Alice asked Dana, and they leapt up from the waiting area and ran after them.

Whats happened? Dana asked the nurses as she saw them pick an unconscious Shane off the floor and put her onto the bed. Shane? Whats going on?

She needs to go to surgery now, one of the doctors shouted, connecting her back up to the heart monitors. The nurses complied, and soon Shanes bed was pushed through the doors and down the corridor, leaving a very confused and worried pair in her now empty room.

*****

They kissed furiously, all the anger and frustration ebbing away as they devoured each other. They grappled with each other, Bettes trying desperately to remove Tinas shirt as Tinas hands distracted her by roaming all her body.

Ohhh Bette gasped as Tina squeezed her buttocks, and she turned them round so Tinas back was against the wall. She pulled away as the need for air became an issue, and watched with an open mouth as Tina undid her own jeans and placed Bettes hand inside. The parallel to her second encounter with Candace was too spooky, and she was about to pull away when Tinas mouth was on her ear, breathing hotly into it.

Cmon, Bette, I want you to ***** me, she whispered, and all thoughts of Candace flew out of Bettes head. She attacked Tinas mouth with new vigour, their tongues dancing intimately as she slid two fingers into Tina and began to thrust, her thumb pressing hard onto her *****.

Tina slid her hands down the back of Bettes slacks, pressing Bettes body even further into hers. Oh God, she groaned, and Bette could feel her walls begin to contract around her fingers. She thrust even harder and was rewarded when Tina let out a guttural moan as her back arched, and she came in a fast and powerful climax.

*****

They will, Shane repeated in a whisper.

Face it, Shane, youre nothing, and theyre not coming back for you.

Stop saying that! Shane shouted, scrambling up onto her feet and glaring at her foster mother. Stop it! Its not true! They love me.

Her foster mother sniggered, and slapped her around the face, almost knocking her back down. They love you? How can they love a nothing like you? Look at you, youre weak! You couldnt face life so you took the easy way out.

Im not nothing, Shane said, without much conviction.

Well, what have you accomplished then, huh? Youre unemployed, sleeping in a truck and ***** a different ***** every night. So what exactly makes you great?

As always, her foster mother had managed to get inside her and break her down. Shane fell back to the floor and cried.

*****

Tina rested her head on Bettes shoulder as she tried to get her breathing under control. She felt Bettes arms snake around her, and for a few seconds she let herself feel the familiar comfort that they brought, before she pulled away and stepped out of Bettes embrace.

I love you, Tina murmured as she did up her fly.

Huh? Bettes head snapped up from where it had hung as shed slumped against the wall.

I love you. But, right at this moment, I hate you as well.

Bettes knees gave way and she slid down the wall. Is there any chance for us? she asked in a whisper.

I dont know, Bette, I really dont know.

I love you so much, Bette told her, her voice trembling as she held back the tears. Tina nodded, and their eyes met for a few moments before the silence was broken by the sound of Tinas phone ringing.