It was Friday, late afternoon and Bette was laying down to take a quick nap. Her and Tina were going out for dinner and then dancing a little later, so a second wind was in order, after another wonderful day of sightseeing.

They had spent the last several days visiting all kinds of places, from popular tourist spots, like the Space Needle, to more local areas, like University Village. Tina had been the perfect tour guide. They had taken a ferry ride across Puget Sound, gone down to Pike Place Market (known as “The Market” to the locals), and walked up and down the waterfront. Yesterday they had watched commercial barges and pleasure craft alike, slide into the Ballard locks, that would allow them by either raising, or lowering the level of water to go from the salt water of Puget Sound, into the fresh water of the Ship Canal, that connects to Lake Union, as well as Lake Washington. They watched in awe as the Chinook (King) salmon jumped and swam with all they had, making their way up the fish ladder, trying to get back “home.”

Bette had seen more of this beautiful city in the three days she had been here, than in all her previous trips combined. And every time they walked through a small shop, or past an artists booth at a local art show, she was reminded of how many incredibly talented people there are in the world, who for the most part remain anonymous to all but a lucky few. Tina had watched with genuine pleasure as she had taken notes, and collected several business cards, in order to follow up with a particular artist. However, these instances were rare, because Bette wanted nothing more than to give all her attention and energy to Tina.

Tina…as she laid her head on the hotel pillow, she breathed in her name…drifting off with a small smile on her lips.

~ ~ ~

Bette had just finished getting dressed and was walking into the sitting area of the suite, when there was a soft knock on the door. She smiled, knowing it was Tina, and walked over to let her in, feeling her smile travel all the way down to her toes, just like it always did when she knew she was going to see her beautiful Tina.

She opened the door to a smiling Tina, holding out a beautiful bunch of wild flowers. “Hey T! Oh God, those are gorgeous. Come on in.”

Tina walked into the room. “Well, as stylish as this room is, it’s August in Seattle, so I thought I would bring you some fresh flowers from The Market.”

Bette reached over and clasped her hand around Tina’s hand that was holding the flowers. “Thank you Tina. They will definitely brighten the room. Let me call down and have room service send up a vase.” She gave Tina’s hand a squeeze and walked over to the phone.

As they were waiting for the vase, they talk about their plans for the evening. They decided to first go up to Capital Hill and visit the oldest women’s bar in Seattle, The Wild Rose, before heading back downtown. Tina had found out about a brand new restaurant called the Fox Dinner Club, that catered to the ***** community and offered fine dining, as well as dancing. They had both agreed that their days of wanting to gyrate their bodies together, along with a couple hundred other people, while listening to music so loud that the beat of the bass could actually change the beat of your heart to match it…had long past them by. Now they were both more interested in the slow, quiet, sensual romance that dinner and dancing with the person you love cradled in your arms, had to offer.

They left the hotel, approaching Tina’s car, each automatically going to their designated side…Tina to the drivers side, Bette to the passenger. Bette looked over at Tina and laughed. “It’s funny how much has changed, yet so much is still the same.”

Tina smiled at Bette, loving how happy she looked. “What?”

“Well, was there ever a time in our relationship where you were the driver and I was the passenger?” Bette laughed again, shaking her head. “Just another one of those control issues that was so important to me back then…that I don’t even think about now. I don’t even remember the last time I drove somewhere…and I don’t care.” She shook her head. “God, I was a mess back then.”

Tina smiled, thinking back to a time when Bette had always insisted on driving. It was one of those needs Bette had, that Tina didn’t understand, but when she realized that it wasn’t going to change, she had come to peace with it and let it go. “So, I know what’s changed, but what is still the same?”

Bette grinned at Tina, giving her a mischievous look. “Well, we still like to lay our hand on the others thigh while driving…and you’re still a radio hog!!!

Tina scoffed. “I am not a radio hog!”

Bette walked around the car so she was standing right next to Tina. She looked at her with nothing but love and reached out, gently taking Tina’s hands in her own. She leaned forward and put her mouth so close to Tina’s ear, that as she whispered, Tina could feel the moisture from Bette’s breath. “Baby, you are sooo a radio hog. But you’re my radio hog, so you listen to whatever you want.” She kissed Tina’s ear, and walked back around the car.

Tina just stood there, chills running through her body from the air hitting her ear, where Bette’s moist lips had just been. She couldn’t help the surge of desire shooting through her. She took a deep breath of air, and looked over at Bette, who was standing, watching her with her eyebrows raised and a smirk on her face. “I am not a radio hog…,” she mumbled as she got into the car. Bette laughed out loud and got in beside her.

As they approached the women’s bar, Bette reached over and took Tina’s hand in hers. They looked at each other, sharing a smile, both feeling excited about a simple gesture that had been so normal for them, so many years before. They walked in the door and were surprised by the overhead lighting. This was not your normal dark tavern, where you have to let your eyes adjust. The room was bright, and fairly loud. Music was playing over the jukebox and the din of conversation was competing with the music. One room had tables and a long mahogany bar, then you could walk through a doorway into another room where there was a group of women gathered around the two pool tables.

Bette noticed a table for two against the wall and motioned to Tina to head that direction. They were both so into each others presence, as well as trying to take in a new place, that neither noticed that over half the bar had stopped their conversations and were looking at them, nodding their heads with appreciation. Tina was beautiful in her own right, and Bette of course was absolutely stunning, so together they created a vision, no matter where they went. But here, in a women’s bar, full of women who could appreciate these women for more than their beauty…yea right…let’s just say that a whole lot of new fantasies were created at that moment!

Bette walked up to the bar to get their drinks, smiling graciously to the several women who were giving her a nod and a smile, with a hopeful “hi” thrown in. It had been so long since she had gone into a women’s bar…since before Nica’s death. Her reaction to the patrons was different from when she was younger. Back then, she loved the attention she would get walking into a bar. She sometimes craved it for how it fed her ego. But, she had long since come to peace with others reactions to her physical appearance, and was now able to enjoy the positive aspects of those reactions, and let go of the negative.

Tina watched Bette as she walked to the bar, exuding confidence and grace with each step. She also watched the women in the bar, watching Bette and couldn’t help but smile. She noticed that Bette reacted differently to the looks she was getting than she had in the past. She use to play up all the attention she would get. Dress for the occasion, just to see what kind of looks she could inspire. Now, as Tina watched her, she just seemed…so at peace within her own skin. Tina knew that this older, wiser Bette had no clue that how she carried herself now, was so much more of a turn on, than all her power suits and low cut shirts combined from her younger days.

And as Tina watched Bette, she knew without a doubt that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with this woman…

She just had to figure out a way to get Bette to agree to spend the night with her, in the same bed, so they could start their future together!!