It was Sundays brunch again. A week after the babiess arrival and to every bodys surprise Tina insisted on having their usual gathering.

Alice entered the house quietly. Looking around, trying to find them. She walked to the kitchen and from there she saw Greta seated on one of the chase lounges holding a baby. Walkig towards her, Alice whipered,

Is Victor or Victoria? Alices pace was slow, she was limping a little.

Smiling, nodding, Greta said, her accent heavier,

James she said, cradling the baby.

Cool, thats mine Alice said, sitting at Gretas side.

Yours? Asked the German beauty, arching an eyebrow.

Yeah, well, you know what I meanI have to look after her nodded Alice, offering her arms, asking for the baby.

Am the godmother she proudly added.

Yeah, thats what Ive heard chuckled Greta, placing the baby on Alices arm.

Looking at the baby, getting lost in her cuteness, Alice mumbled,

Is she already fed?

Standing up, Greta said,

yeah, Tina is finishing with Jules now

Cool said Alice, not bothering to look at Greta.

Whats cool? asked Dana from the kitchens door.

Tina is feeding Jules said Greta greeting her.

Really? asked Dana, looking inside.

Without a word, she walked towards Tinas bedroom. Greta, noticing the excitement on Danas face nodded, smiling.

Am gonna go talk with Shane she said to no one as Alice was lost in Jamies face.


Knocking on the door, Dana waited to hear Tinas voice. Once she did she opened it slowly, showing her bright face first.

Can I come in? She whispered, finding Tina alone, seated on the armchair.

Sure Dane, come on in answered Tina, smiling, waving for her to walk closer.


***

Alice was caressing Jamies little foot when she felt a presence looking at her. Looking up she found little Tina staring at her.

Hey Alices said, surprised.

Noticing little Tinas shiness, she added,

You want to see her?

Nodding, still mute, little Tina moved closer enough to be able to take a look at the baby. Once she did, she looked back again to Alice, as if waiting for her to say something else.Alice, noticing the little girls reaction, not sure what else to say added,

Soyou Tina, eh? feeling stupid she look around, hoping for no witnesses.

Nodding, little Tina shyly smiled.

Am Alice Alice said, offering her her hand.

Not getting any word for the little one, she shook her hand in silence. Praying for an exit, she looked up the moment she heard the noises coming from the kitchen. Looking around, Helen walked out.

Here you are she said to her daughter, smiling.

Hi she added, seeing Alice.

Hi Alice answered, nodding.

You saw the baby? asked Helen, taking little Tina in her arms, moving closer to Alice.

Nodding, Tina smiled, shyly hiding her face on her moms neck. Just then she saw Bette inside.

Bette she said, bright and loud.

Yeah? her mother said, turning to see Bette on the phone.

Bette is there little Tina said, pointing inside.

You want go see her? Helen asked, placing her daughter back on the floor.

Yes nodded a very happy girl.

Must go with the name mumbled Alice, seeing little Tina running inside.

Yeah chuckled Helen, walking to the pool.

How are you doing? Asked Helen, backing Alice.

Me? Am finejust fine Alice answered, nodding, cradling the baby

Glad to hear said Helen, turning to Alice.

They looked at each other in silence for almost a minute before Alice said,

So little Tina, eh

Helen stared at her a bit longer before saying,

Yes

Nodding, smiling, Alice said,

Like mother like daughter

What? Helen asked, walking towards Alice.

She is not much of a talker either

Tina? Oh, no she is a talkerin fact she talks like a parrot smiled Lady Penelope, sitting in front of Alice.

Does she?, must be me then Alice said, shaking her head.

Smiling, Helen looked at the baby.

So? Asked Alice, unable to keep her curiosity to herself one second longer.

So? Asked Helen, looking up at her.

The resemblance is obvious started Alice, looking towards the kitchen.


***

Talking on the phone, pacing the room up and down Bette didnt noticed little Tina staring at her. Talking with her father Bette was telling him the news, trying to get a warm response but losing her hopes and patience with every cold word her father was voicing. Shaking her head Bette mumbled something on the phone and hunging up she let a deep sigh escaped her lungs.

Sittind down on the couch she finally noticed the little girl staring at her, shyly smiling.

Hey Bette said, smiling back.

Hearing Bettes word a big smiled grew on little Tinas face. Running, she moved closer to Bette, climbing up the couch, sitting at Bettes side.

Before Bette could say or do anything else, little Tina said,

I saw the dolphins, and some whales too the excitement in every word, the sweet accent in every syllable.

You did? Asked Bette smiling.

Yes little Tina said, nodding.

Wow said Bette, moving a little to look at her better.

Its been a long time since Ive seen them she added,

Nodding, Tina smiled, moving to seat on Bettes lap, surprising her.

I will tell my mom to bring you there if you want she seriously added, taking a lock of Bettes hair in her little hand.

Oh thank you, thats very sweet Bette said, getting lost in little Tinas cuteness.

She knows a lot about whales, she told me my dad used to play with them the little girl excitedly added, playing with Bettes hair.

I know Bette added, smiling, caressing little Tinas bare arm.

You know? Asked a surprised Tina, looking from Bettes hair to her face.

Yes, he was very good with whales Bette whispered.

You played with whales too? Asked little Tina, her hand back in Bettes hair.

No, I didnt but a friend did Bette shyly added, looking around.

Really? asked little Tina, moving on Bettes lap, looking fully at her.

Does she like whales too? Added the girl, excited.

Yeah, I think so nodded Bette.

Maybe she can come with us to see them mom will bring us all said little Tina, smiling.

Just then, as Bette was caressing little Tinas soft hair, a cough behind them was heard, anticipating Tinas figure.

Hey she said, smiling at the odd couple.

Hey smiled Bette, standing up, balancing little Tina on her hip.

“Hello shyly said the little one looking at Tina.

We were just talking about whalessaid Bette, looking from one Tina to the other.

Yes nodded the little one, unable to stop looking at Tina.

Was telling her how you played with one once added Bette, placing the little one on the floor.

I like whales Tina nodded, sadly smiling.

was it big? Asked the little one, amazed, walking towards Tina.

Yeah smiled Tina, looking at her.

How big? Little Tina asked, opening her arms.

Oh very big said Tina opening her arms widely.

A big smile was growing on little Tinas face as they were walking towards the back yard were Helen was talking with Alice.

There you are said Helen, standing up, walking towards her daughter.

Smiling, before anyone else could talk, little Tina said,

She (pointing to Tina) played with a very big whale .

She has a name sweety, her name is Tina said Helen, smiling, taking her up.

Tina? Like me? proudly asked the little one, shyly looking at Tina.

Exactly like you said Bette, smiling at her, playfully taking her tiny hand in hers.

Alice, looking from one to another rolled her eyes.

Guys, guys this is becoming too much like the little house on the prairie can we cut to the point? she said nodding not very subtly to the little girl.

For the first time in a long time they all noticed how Tinas face changed from sweetness to not only seriousness but something else that cut Alices curiosity right away.

Murph, could you help me inside Tina said, looking at Alice, her words cold as steel.

Sure nodded Helen, placing her kid on the floor.

Following Tinas pace, Lady Penelope walked back inside, not only to Tinas living room but to their past.

They left a nervous Bette taking Jamie in her arms, a shocked and curious Alice looking at the little girl and a very happy little Tina cooling her feet on the pool.

Moving closer to the pool, Bette asked,

Tina sweety, you know how to swim?

Looking up, smiling, little Tina nodded at Bette.

Good then, be careful ok Bette said, winking at her, holding her daughter tight.