Finally able to reign in the last tears, Bette pats her sisters arm, Im going to bed Kit. I cant talk about it anymore tonight.

Kit wraps Bette in her arms for a quick embrace, whispering in her ear, Just remember what I said, you have to forgive yourself.

Knowing Bettes sense of pride wouldnt allow her to linger in Kits compassion, she quickly releases her. I love you baby sister.

At the final words, Bettes face contorts with pain as she quickly stands. At the door, she turns back and nods goodnight before leaving.

Once in the quiet reprieve of her room, Bette removes her clothes and climbs into bed curling up like a newborn and wrapping her self in the bedding. But the luxurious sheets are an apathetic bedmate and provide little comfort to her; shackled within the reviled cold walls of her broken heart, she shakes from the chill of it all, until finally her exhausted body insists on rest.

*****************

Alice clears her throat as she gently rose from the bed, not wanting to disturb Shane. Guys, she seems to be doing okay for now. If you dont mind, I uh, Im gonna go I need to check on something before I call it a night. Ill come back and stay with her, then you two can get some rest. That sound okay with you?

Speaking back over her shoulder with a soothing voice, Its okay Alice, Ill stay with her. Im not much of a sleeper. Marina turns her eyes to Jenny, curled up with a blanket in the matching rocker at the opposite end of the tub, You and Jenny should get some rest.

Okay, but let me know if anything comes up. Grimacing at the double meaning of her words, she adds shaking her head and rolling her eyes, so to speak. She captures their eyes briefly with acceptance, Im in room three opposite end of the hall. Night guys.

*****************

Almost a mirror image, in the room next to Bette, lays Tina. Sleep had eluded her for what seemed to be endless hours, as the sandman floated past her window. With each pass he seemingly shakes his head not yet as he pauses to gaze at her in the moonlight.

She stares at the empty space next to her. Again and again, she examines their history, the events leading to that wretched moment, sorting and stacking the memories neatly into the forefront of her mind until she is surrounded by them and slowly a foggy realization settles onto her and she begins to understand how she had played a part in it all.

In an attempt to reject that unwanted knowledge, she turns her thoughts to Marina and Jenny. A rueful smiled crept across her face as she remembers their first meetings. Marina had been hypnotized by the young crazed writer having no concept of what that meant, while Jenny, the poor confused girl had fallen deep into the abyss of her mystery. Neither of them was willing nor capable of seeing beyond the moment and the destruction they suffered on those who loved them. Tina knew almost from the beginning that they had fallen tragically in love. Was that the way it had happened with Bette and Candace? No, Bette swore, time and again, that she didnt love Candace.. as if that made all the difference.

Tina wonders how it is that Bette could think that comforts her. Knowing she put all they had at risk for nothing more than a *****. With that thought, Tina grabs the empty pillow flinging it across the room. Taking a deep breath in an effort to exhale some of the rising rage, she turns away from the empty spot in her bed hoping that small simple physical shift, will allow her to also turn away from the gaping chasm in her heart and slowly drift into the safety of darkness.

*****************

Alice taps on the door again, pleading, Dana, please talk to me. Please. Her head rests wearily against the door frame, drained by emotion, weak with the need for her to understand.

Dana watches her from the end of the hall, towel in hand, her hair dripping sweat and face flushed, Al, what are you doing?

Alice jumps at the sound of her voice, glancing up and back down again, one hand resting nervously on her hip the other nervously clasping her forehead, I.would you ***** Alice sighs, hands falling to her side, what am I doing?

Dana walks past her, opening the door to her room, I uh need a shower. I went for a run and I kinda stink you wanna come in? Dana stands inside the room as she too nervously avoids eye contact wondering where this might lead.

Alice shuffles on her feet, her heart taking its toll from the bashing inside her head, I dont know *****, ummm its late, maybe we should talk after weve had some sleep.

Dana breathes deep and reaches for her sleeve pulling Alice into her room, No not this time She leads her to the small couch near the fireplace, shoving her into its billowy arms, Im gonna shower, Ill be right back. She grabs a robe and turns before shutting the door, eyes hopeful, youll be here when I get out, right?

Alice nods intent on convincing herself, yeah right Ill be here.

*****************

Alice had been gone only a few minutes when Jenny spoke, What you said about dreams youre right. It is devastating to lose your dreams it crushes you inside

I cried as you made love to me that first night then, when I got home, I cried even more that was the beginning of it all. The beginning of me blaming you its the first time I realized I was losing my dream I understand how Shane must have felt..giving control of your dreams to someone, only to have them shattered.

Marina studies her words, deconstructing and reconstructing them, her eyes grow dark as her head draws slightly back, is that what I did to you, Jenny? Shatter your dreams?

Refusing to stop till all is said that must be said, In one fail swoop, Cherie crushed Shanes dreams by choosing the comfort of her husbands wealth and power over Shanes love and at the same time, she also managed to destroy Shanes dream of having her own salon. Everything shed hoped for, wanted, dreamed of gone in an instant.

Swallowing hard she turns from her, Jenny, I I wish Against her will, her eyes narrow and her lips tighten, as she draws back into the familiar comfort of silence.

For a brief moment, Jenny waits, expectantly, but she knows there will be no more, and continues, It was nave of Shane to think Cherie would leave her husband. What would she and Shane have had without her husbands money, his power? There would have been no salon, no happily ever after.

Marina desperately wants Jenny to understand the difference. Shane knew better than to put so much of her dreams into that kind of relationship. She knew Cherie was married, Shane knew the risk she was taking. Marina pauses, as the guilt constricts her throat, choking back the words, You didnt know what you were getting into, Jenny.

Youre right. I was nave. I didnt know about Francesca. Battling inside her self, wanting to tell Marina how it would have made no difference. How she would have still run to her, eager, happy to clasp onto a passion never before known to her, I only knew that you had completely dismantled me. And I embraced that. I wanted it.

Marina shakes her head, dismissing the words. Its not the same, Jenny. Shane knew all she needed to know; you didnt. Marina turns and stares at her with serious intent; wanting to make sure her words are both heard and understood. Its different for you Jenny; you and Tim had been together for four years. How does anyone suddenly turn their back on that?

Jenny shakes her head, frustrated at Marinas refusal to hear her. How long were you and Francesca together? Jenny stares down at her lap as she turns the hem of her shirt in her fingers awaiting her cue.

Almost seven years

So tell me, how does someone turn their back on that? Never raising her head, she turns her gaze from the twisted cloth into Marinas eyes, eyes wide and full of wonder, frantic to determine the reason for the question.

Familiar with the silent stare, again she attempts to ease her words into the open, I never considered how hard a choice this may have been for you, Marina. Seven years is a long time to turn your back to.

Marina blinks back the emotion as she struggles to accept Jennys revelation; finally, she turns to gaze again at the darkened window trying to prevent the tears stinging her eyes.

For a long moment, the room is silent as they each sit with the enormity of Jennys words. Slowly, Jenny raises her head to a level stare, watching Marinas reflection in the window. No one ever told me why you and Francesca broke up, so why did you?

Marinas heart pounded hard against her chest, lips shape-shifting in and out of countless reasons before timidly trespassing into the unfamiliar territory of truth. As the tears spilled from her eyes, all she could do was whisper, dreams

Jenny felt the shudder rising up from her core, shivering throughout her being, her eyes holding fast to Marinas reflection, as she places the question before her, am I that dream?

Bound by the fear of rejection, Marina struggles in the sudden, unexpected wave of hope that washes over her. Afraid she will no longer be able to contain her emotions, she closes her eyes, mustering all her strength, all her courage, and breathes out the single word, .yes…

*****************

As the warm soapy water washes down the drain, taking her conviction with it, Dana cringes at what shes done. okay Dana, now what? You took the position of control and what are you going to do with it? She rests her head on the cool tile of the shower wall regretting her false bravado. What are you going to say to her, what are you going to do? You gonna tell her how pissed you are at her for shaking up your relationship with Tonya? You gonna tell her how lousy it was with Tonya from that one kiss forward? How all you could think about was her? Angry that with one passionate ***** kiss she took away your dreams your best friend…?

She sighs and steps from the shower, toweling her self absentmindedly, uncertain about where the path will lead once shes on the other side of the door. Wrapping her robe tightly and securely around her, as if it could shield her from all that could go wrong once she opens the bathroom door, she nervously fumbles with the handle and exits forming the words one by one, okay, the way I see it

At the sight of Alices sleeping form, Dana throws her hands up in exasperation. Oh great I finally work up enough nerve to tell you what Ive been thinking for the past six ***** months and you fall asleep. She walks to the couch, taking in the sight of her sleeping beauty, and the anger easily falls away as she pulls the blanket up and tucks her best friend in, kissing her gently, lovingly on the cheek. With one last glance, she sighs, Oh Al, what are we going to do?

Once in bed, Dana snuggles under the blankets. The distance between them is trivial and Dana is aware of her presence as if she were lying on the pillow next to her, cradled in her arms. Within in moments, Dana falls peacefully asleep with her dreams chasing sanity far from her view.

*****************

The heavy silence was broken by the groaning and rustling of covers, startling Marina and Jenny out of their epiphany. They both turn in time to see a groaning Shane climb out of bed and stumble groggily towards the bathroom. They stand and watch for signs of needed help then wait for Shane to retrace her wobbly path back to the bed.

As Shane steps out of the bathroom scratching her head with squinted eyes she sees them and jumps grabbing her chest, what the *****? She stumbles on towards the bed, what are you two doing in my room? Dont you have rooms of your own? Plopping down, roughly grabbing the covers, partys over guys, time to move along.

Jenny looks at Marina with her mouth gaping wide open, Marina chuckles at Shane and the childlike expression on Jennys face, I think weve been excused. She motions to the door and follows after a surprised hesitant Jenny.

At the door, Jenny pauses, whispering, Do you think shell be okay?

Im ***** fine, I just need some sleep. Shane barks, Get out of here.

Marina can no longer contain the bubbling laughter choking her; she bursts into a stifled laugh, opening the door for them to leave, Goodnight Shane.

Yeah, yeah, whatever. Shane mumbles to the closing door.

Once outside the door, Marinas chuckle is contagious to Jenny, and she too begins to laugh, oh my god, she scared me to death. Shes such a grump when she wakes up.

Marina wipes a tear from her eye finally containing her laughter, smiling broadly at Jenny, I believe this is your door.

Suddenly uncomfortable with how to react to the end of the evening, Oh, right, it is my door, my room With a swaying motion of her hands, I uh should go in go to bed um sleep I should go in and go to sleep

Marina continues to grin, amused by the youthful antics of her sudden shyness, yes, you should go in and go to sleep. Marina turns towards the center landing, stopping at the first step, Goodnight Jenny Sweet dreams.

As Marina rounds the bottom step, moving towards her room, she sees Kit entering the foyer, Kit, what are you doing up, its so late?

Kit slips her arm around Marinas waist as they continue towards their rooms, Oh you know me Im the oldie but goodie. Gotta make sure all my little ones get safely tucked into bed. As they reach the doors to their rooms, It was a rough evening, but I take it from the smile in your eyes, yours turned out okay?

Tilted head and soft dark smiling eyes gaze back at her, yes.

Alright then night girl.

Goodnight, Kit.