As the two women neared the hotel, Bette broke the silence by asking Tina if she wanted to have an early dinner before heading up to the apartment.

Sure baby came her reply. What sounds good?

Theres this little French place around the corner that I have heard has great fondue.

Fondue? questioned Tina giggling. Isnt that a little 1970s?

Come on now chided Bette, playfully nudging Tina on the shoulder, Nothing like revisiting your past, right?

My past? shrieked Tina. Lets try your past! 1970s my past, as if muttered a still indignant Tina under her breath.

Pleased with the rise she got out of Tina, she smiled as she led them into the fondue restaurant.

After they were seated, they looked at the menus and decided on a cheese fondue as well as meat. They selected a bottle of wine and after ordering, were left alone.

Each looked at the other, wondering where this time spent together would lead them.

So, youre heading back to the gallery tomorrow, huh? started Tina.

Well, if you are ok with that, I think that I should plan on making an appearance said Bette.

Of course Im ok with it, baby. Im not here to disrupt your life, just to be a part of it again said Tina, smiling directly at Bette.

The wine was brought to the table and poured for each woman. They raised their glasses in toasts and Bette said, What should we toast to?

Isnt that obvious? asked a still smiling Tina.

Bette thinking that she was going to have to say something deep and profound, was interrupted by Tina who said Heres to your being so much older than me and therefore knowing about fondue! and then fell into a fit of laughter.

Bette just looked at her with a raised brow, glass still in the air, took a sip of her wine, and simply responded Touch.

The rest of the meal was carried out in a light hearted manner, both just enjoying the others company. Both felt that since Tina had been in NY, there had not been enough of these less serious times, and so when they did present themselves, needed to take full advantage of them.

With the meal ended and check paid, they got up to head back to the apartment. As it was only 7 pm, Bette said, T?

Uh huh she responded looking at Bette.

Wanna rent a movie?

Oh baby, that would be great. We have not watched a movie together since Tina did not finish the sentence, as no clarity was required. The mood took an immediate turn, almost as if the reality of their situation was brought back.

Both mentally shook their minds to try and not allow the shift in mood to take hold. As they walked to the video store though, once again, both went back to that place of thought that seemed to always require their presence.

After little debate, they chose a movie and went back to the apartment.

Why dont you go change and get comfortable Bette said to Tina and Ill set the movie up.

Ok was Tinas only response. She walked to the bedroom, shoulders not held as high as earlier in the day. Bette watched her in frustration. Why is it that just when we are getting comfortable in each others presence, that something trivial has to be said to bring everything crashing down? she asked herself in anger.

What do I expect? she asked again. No matter how much we laugh about current events or situations, we still have managed to avoid the pain of the past. Somethings gonna have to give she thought.

Bette went over to where the TV and DVD player were and after loading the movie and hitting pause, sat on the sofa waiting for Tina.

Tina emerged from the bedroom wearing yoga pants and an old workshirt of Bettes.

You look comfortable said Bette to Tina upon hearing her enter the room.

Tina looked at Bette and saw the subtle change in her demeanor. She sighed inwardly recognizing that they had moved to a different place where the ease of the afternoon did not reside.

I am. I actually set some clothes out for you, and so why dont you go do the same thing. said Tina as she sat on the sofa next to Bette.

Ok was her only reply.

Tina watched her walk into the bedroom and thought how are we ever going to get past any of this when only one sentence has the ability to totally change the mood between us?

She had no answer though and so just continued to wait on Bette to return.

When Bette was done, she walked into the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of red wine and two glasses and went back into the living room.

She put more space between the two of them than Tina had, and this was not missed by Tina.

Tina watched Bette open the wine, pour two glasses and hand her one.

Thanks she said to Bette.

Sure said Bette.

They both continued to sit on the sofa, holding on to their glasses, wondering what was coming next.

Look T, it would be really easy for me to just start the movie and ignore what is going on between us, but I dont know that that would be the right thing to do.

Tina looked at her, surprised by her willingness to talk about this. Before, that is exactly what Bette would have done. Just hit play, letting whatever rift was between them ride itself out, regardless of the amount of time that it took to exhaust itself.

No, I would agree with you. That would not be the right thing to do.

It seems to me said Bette, that whatever is hanging in the air between us was brought on by your referencing the end of our relationship and that is not the first time that either of us has done so.

Tina just sat there, waiting for Bette to finish what she had to say.

T she continued, I think that we both know that our relationship ended and so every time we say something about that, it should not bring us to our knees. I think the problem is that we have not discussed, with the exception of superficially, what got us to that end, and if you are willing and able, I think that we need to start poking a few holes in that monster.

Yes sighed Tina, I would agree. That is one monster that definitely needs to be slayed. Where to begin she trailed off.

Tina? said Bette.

Yes baby? she responded quizzically.

Do you still love me? whispered Bette.

Tina felt her eyes begin to well with tears, but kept them at bay, and shaking her head sadly, said, Oh baby, that you would even need to ask me that question.

Do you? persisted Bette.

Yes, with everything that I am she clearly answered with no hesitation. After a pause, she said, and do you still love me?

Bette looked directly into Tinas eyes and said, I never stopped.

The two woman sat there, next to each other and yet so far apart.

Why did we stop telling each other that? asked Bette in a soft tone.

I dont know whispered Tina, now allowing the tears to fall. I dont know

I think that that is what we need to figure out said Bette. Why we no longer felt it necessary to communicate to each other how much we meant to the other. I can only say that I think that is where everything seemed to start falling apart.

Youre right said Tina, realizing just how right she was.

It was like a light bulb turning on for both of them. Maybe if they could figure out why they had stopped letting the other know what she meant to her, they could then go from there, untying the knots along the way.

Bette leaned back on the sofa, realizing that she had been tensely perched right on the side, prepared to jump up and flee if necessary. But is had not been necessary. She and Tina were communicating in a manner that had not existed in years.

Do you remember our first date? asked Bette, turning towards Tina.

Tina looked at her in a way that said, You really dont need an answer to that question, do you?

Bette got the look and continued. When we were lying in the park today, I couldnt help but think about that night. I dont think that I have ever been as nervous either since or after that time as I was then.

Tina smiled back at her encouraging her to continue. This so felt like old times, sitting around and lovingly discussing memories that they had made together. Tina loved this side of Bette that she was rarely allowed to see. Another thing that had stopped once their lives go too busy, careers taking over, emotions and memories pushed to the side.

When you opened the front door to your apartment that night, I thought for sure that my heart would burst. If it was not at first sight that I fell in love with you, it was no later than second. Bette trailed off, almost reliving the memory of nearly 8 years ago, putting herself back in that place of standing in the front door, looking at Tina, wondering how she was going to pull this off.

Tina continued to sit there, absorbed in Bettes memory, being pulled in right along with her.

I was just so overwhelmed said Bette, staring off into some place that allowed her to see that time. There, standing in front of me was the most beautiful woman that I had ever seen before in my life, waiting for me to say something, and yet, all I could do was stare at you. All I can say is thank God my first impression was ok cause my second one sure would not have gotten me further she chuckled.

Tina chuckled along with her, allowing Bette to think that she had been somewhat less than perfect when she came to pick her up for their date, but secretly knowing that the truth of the matter was, Tina had been just as overwhelmed as Bette, if not more so, and she had been concerned the entire evening that she had made an ***** out of herself in the way that she just stared at Bette, occasionally wiping the sides of her mouth to be sure that she wasnt drooling.

What a crazy time said Bette, smiling at Tina.

Crazy in love I would say responded Tina.

Hmm murmured Bette as she appeared to return to her reverie.

Do you think that we lost that craziness? Tina asked quietly.

Lost? I dont know. Misplaced, definitely said Bette.

You know that we can have it again, dont you baby?

Honestly, I stopped believing that we could ever have that again said Bette, but I dont believe that to be the case anymore.

What changed your mind?

Simply put, you said Bette.

How do you mean?

Well, not only did I think that we could never find that place again, I didnt think that we would ever get a chance to be talking like this again. Now that one of those things has come true, I know that the other can as well.

Tina continued to wonder who this beautiful woman sitting next to her was. Bette had not opened up with her like this in literally years, and it was quite invigorating. She didnt realize it but she was smiling and Bette watching her, started smiling as well. Both smiling at each other and yet, neither specifically knowing why. Just like how it had used to be. Not needing a reason to smile at the other, just wanting to do so as it was one of the many ways that they knew that conveyed the love and fulfillment that they got from the other.

Yep, there it was, starting to slowly emerge. What was it? Oh yeah, crazy in love.