Tina quietly entered her apartment, smiling as she looked over to see Bette still sleeping on the couch, right where she’d left her. She went into the kitchen and unloaded the cartons of Thai food. She had decided to make tonight chicken night, so first out of the bag was Bette’s favorite, Chicken Pad Thai. Then Tina’s favorite, Gaeng gari chicken, which was chicken, potatoes, coconut milk and yellow curry…yum! Last but not least was Tom Kha gai, a hot and sour chicken soup, and of course a big container of white rice. Tina’s mouth was watering, as it was now 8:30 and she was starving!

Walking over to the couch, Tina leaned down and gently brushed the hair out of Bette’s eyes, kissing her ever so softy on the cheek. “Baby…,” she whispered. Bette twitched a little feeling the gentle touch in her sleep. “Baby…wake up.” Bette stirred and slowly opened her eyes, unsure of where she was. Tina smiled down at her. “Hey you…time to get up for a bit. I want you to eat something.”

The room was silent, except for Tina’s soft voice. Remembering where she was, Bette smiled back at Tina, then let out a big yawn right in her face. “Oops…sorry.” Tina chuckled and stood up. Bette stretched, still smiling at Tina. “…what time is it?”

“It’s 8:30. I didn’t want you to sleep through the night without eating something. If I know you, you probably didn’t eat anything at all today…right?”

As images from the days events replayed themselves in her head, Bette’s smile disappeared for the moment. She looked away from Tina. “No…I don’t think I did. I don’t remember eating anything…maybe some peanuts on the plane…no that’s not true. I tried to eat one and thought it was going to come back up.”

Tina reached down, tracing her finger along Bette’s cheek, understanding how much of an emotional toll today had taken on her. She moved her hand over and took Bette’s hand, gently pulling her up off the couch. “Well, come and eat with me then.”

“Ok.” Bette padded along beside Tina into the kitchen, still holding onto her hand, getting a big grin on her face when she saw the food all laid out. “Tina, you got our favorites!” Bette reached out and pulled Tina into a full body hug. “Thanks Baby…thanks for the food…thanks for letting me stay, and not kicking me out…thanks for still loving me.”

Tina leaned back in the hug so she could look into Bette’s eyes. “I do still love you Bette, and how could you possibly think I would want to kick you out? I mean, during the last several weeks, I may have wanted to slug you…but after today, kicking you out is the last thing on my mind. Come on, let’s eat.”

They sat down, both digging into the delicious food. Their conversation was quiet, but loving. “I can’t tell you how happy I was to hear you behind me when that photographer grabbed me. I don’t think I have ever heard such venom drip from those lips.” Tina smiled. “It kind of scared me, but the fact that you were there to protect me, turned me on at the same time.”

Bette let out a short laugh. “Well, I don’t think I scared those two guys one bit, but…,” she looked at Tina, “it’s nice to know I can still get a rise out of you.”

Tina slowly shook her head back and forth, smiling. “Bette, you have no idea how my body rises for you…”

Bette, whose fork was half way to her mouth, just stopped, swallowed, and stared at Tina. “Huh…humm.”

Tina laughed at Bette’s reaction. “Relax Baby. Tonight, we are going to finish eating and then go get into bed to SLEEP.” Tina then got serious. “We love each other…we are safe here, with each other. All I want tonight is to feel you in my arms. I mean it Bette…I am here for you, I will hold you for as long as you want me to, and after today, I truly know that you are here for me as well. Let’s just go with that for now, Ok?”

Bette reached out and held onto Tina’s hand, smiling at her with all the love she felt in her heart. “Yes.”

After they had finished eating, they cleaned up the kitchen and headed for Tina’s bedroom. Both women chose to wear PJ bottoms and a T-shirt, not wanting to tempt themselves, or each other with something that both knew wasn’t what they really wanted for tonight. They got into bed, automatically getting in on the side of the bed that they had chosen for themselves almost eight years earlier, then turning on their sides so they were facing each other.

Bette looked into Tina’s eyes, feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude that she was here, with Tina, sharing her bed…it was too much. Even after all the tears she had shed earlier, she started to quietly cry, but didn’t look away. Tina reached out and pulled Bette to her, letting her own tears of joy fall into Bette’s hair. Neither one of them said a word. They just laid there holding on, crying…just as Tina had said…feeling loved by the other…and feeling safe with the other.