Liz put that down!

Liz heard the sharp tone in Bettes voice and she spun around quickly almost dropping the African statue she held in her little hands. Bette sighed to herself as she walked over to Liz and took the statue from her hands. She wanted to be mad at Liz for touching everything in her office, but after one sad puppy dog look from Liz, Bette couldnt help but smile. With the new baby on the way Bette had decided that it was time for her and Liz to bond more since Tina would be going through the pregnancy issues again, and Bette didnt want Liz to feel left out of anything so she brought Liz to work with her in hopes that one, Liz would find some kind of appreciation for art like she did, and two, that Tina would have a chance to have some peace and quiet at home. It was Saturday morning and Bette had to be in the office for a few hours so Tina could sleep in and relax a little, but unfortunately as soon as they got there Bette realized what a mistake that was. Given the fact that Liz was a little over three years old, she was in that stage where she needed to see and touch almost everything and Bette was losing her mind trying to keep Liz occupied while she made a few phone calls and actually got some work done. Liz had made this an almost impossible task however as she looked at all the things in Bettes office and decided that she needed to see exactly how each one was either made or painted or whatever and it was driving Bette insane.

Come on Lizsit down here next to mommy okay?

Liz looked at Bette for a few seconds before giggling and slowly backing up towards a shelf that had some photos and some expensive pieces of art from Bettes trip to Italy almost ten years ago. Bette watched her like a hawk as Liz slowly kept backing up while never letting her eyes leave Bettes, until she felt the shelf behind her. She stuck her hand back and grabbed the first thing she touched, which happened to be a very expensive crystal figurine given to her by a friend who works for an art museum in Italy, and Bette prayed to every deity possible that Liz wouldnt drop it or throw it as she slowly took a few steps towards Liz with a stern look on her face.

Liz that is not a toy. Put that down right now. You are in big trouble young lady!

Liz looked at the figurine in her hand then at Bette then back to the figurine as she contemplated what to do. Bette stood before her with her hands on her hips looking down at her daughter like she was going to strange her and finally Liz held the figurine out for Bette to take. Bette breathed a sigh of relief as she took the figurine from Liz and put it back safely on the shelf. Not more than a few seconds went by before Bette realized that it was wayyy too quiet in her office. She turned around and when she didnt see Liz her heart literally stopped beating for a few seconds.

Liz??

LIZ?!?!

Bette quickly scanned her office and looked under her desk for her daughter but when she didnt see her all sorts of worst case scenarios started running through her head at top speed. Bette knew she was the only one at the CAC that morning and she also knew there were about a million places for a three year old to hide. She quickly ran out of her office and down the hall checking each office as she went by. The longer it took her to find Liz the more her heart started to pound in her chest and when she came to the main gallery and still couldnt find Liz, Bette decided she might have to call Tina and explain how she lost their daughter.

LIZ!!!

Mommy?

Bette spun around at the sound of Lizs voice who looked frightened at the expression on Bettes face. Bette had never felt so many emotions run through her body and she didnt know if she wanted to hug Liz or spank her for disappearing. Bette walked over to Liz and bent down in front of her.

Liz honeywhere did you go? You scared meyou cannot disappear like that okay?

Sorry mommy. I went potty.

You went

It finally registered in Bettes head what Liz had said she laughed out loud thinking that the bathroom was the one place she didnt check for Liz since she figured Liz was too little to use the toilet by herself. Bette looked at Liz curiously.

Honey did you go all by yourself?

Of course she didntI helped her.

Bette spun around at the sound of another voice and she was surprised to see Tina standing in the gallery. Bette looked at Liz then back at Tina then finally around the gallery in complete confusion. Tina saw the look on Bettes face and figured Bette must have no clue as to why she was here so she held up the bags of food in her hands as an indicator as to why she was there.

You forgot didnt you?

Noforgot what?

Lunchyou, me, Liz? Okay BetteseriouslyI dont know where your mind has been lately.

Bette looked at Tina with curiosity. She didnt remember Tina telling her anything about bringing lunch today and she certainly would have remembered that, so she hoped. Bette put Liz down who promptly ran over to Tina and hugged her as Bette was puzzled as to when exactly Tina said she was bringing lunch. Tina smiled and shook her head as she walked into Bettes office with Liz and Bette not too far behind her. Bette helped Tina get everything settled and fed Liz as Tina told Bette about her day, which pretty much consisted of sleeping and gardening and Bette told Tina about her adventures with Liz that morning.

I am never bringing your daughter to work with me again T

Why what did she do?

Ha…what did she not do is the question

Bette rolled her eyes and Tina laughed as they watched Liz poke around Bettes office some more before finally settling down in her office chair and putting her hands on Bettes desk and doing a pretty good imitation of Bette. Tina looked at Liz and laughed as Bette pretended to be upset. Liz smiled at Bette who gave in and started laughing as Liz picked up the phone and pretended to be talking to someone as she ignored the looks from her two mommies and focused all her attention on her phone call. Tina turned to Bette with a smile.

Well at least we know she has your work ethic.

Thanks T

Bette and Tina laughed some more as they finished lunch and Tina left with Liz so that Bette could actually get some work done and before long it was dinnertime and Bette was home from work and ready to spend the evening with her family. After a delicious meal, Bette gave Liz a bath while Tina rested and eventually fell asleep right on the couch. Liz appeared moments later to find her mother sleeping so she went to her room to play while Bette showered and got ready for bed. Bette went to wake Tina up after she was done showering so that Tina could shower and go to sleep and Tina just smiled at her as Bette gently woke her up.

Mmmmmm

Come on babywhy dont you shower and go to bed. I can tuck Liz in tonight.

Mphhmph

What?

Tina rolled over and looked at Bette with adoring eyes. She gently ran her hand along Bettes face as she grinned up at her.

I said, but Im so comfortable.

I know I knowbut you need to shower so you can go to sleep okay? Come on

How about you lie here with me for a little while

Anything you want baby

Bette lied down gently next to Tina on the couch and they talked softly while Bette lovingly stroked Tinas tummy, which seemed larger than the last time around. Bette and Tina were sharing an intimate conversation when out of nowhere Liz came trampling through the living room beaming at Tina and Bette. Both mommies looked at Liz and started busting up with laughter. Liz was standing there wearing one of Tinas shirts and she had stuck a pillow under her shirt to make her tummy big like Tinas. She had one hand on her tummy and was patting it like Tina does and she smiled at her mommies with such pride.

LookI have a big belly too.

Bette looked at her daughter then back at Tina and couldnt help but laugh so hard she had tears in her eyes. Tina smiled at Liz and motioned for her to come over and join them. Liz flopped down between Bette and Tina and continued to rub her stomach like she has seen Tina do so many times. Tina sat up and looked at Liz with bright eyes.

You look like you have a baby in there Lizdo you?

Yup.

Yeah? Whats its name?

Um. I dont know yet.

Ohis it a boy or a girl?

Girl.

Okaywell do you want to pick out a name?

Nonot yet

Okay

Bette was listening to this conversation and was doing her best not to laugh out loud. Liz could be so cute sometimes and right now was one of those times. Bette listened more as Tina gave Liz advice on being pregnant.

Remember sweetieyou have to take good care of the baby okay?

Yes mommy.

And were having another baby soon too.

Yup.

Yeah Liz youre getting a little brother.

A boy?!?

Tina laughed at Lizs incredulous question. She figured with all the estrogen in the house Liz would want a baby brother, but they would just have to wait and see she figured. Tina looked at Bette then back at Liz.

Yeah honey. A boy. You can teach him all kinds of things and you can play with him.

A boy mommy? Why not a girl?

Well

Tina looked at Bette with a help me please look so Bette cleared her throat and stepped in.

Because honeywe already have you, our baby girlso now its time for a boy.

Liz thought about that for a few seconds before smiling up at Bette.

Okaya boy.

And with that she jumped up and ran off to her room. Tina and Bette watched her scamper off and they looked at each other with smiles on their faces. Tina leaned in and kissed Bette softly on the lips before pulling back and smiling at her.

You know what this means dont you?

What?

With our luckLiz is going to be the tomboy and our son is going to be the feminine one.

Bette thought about that for a few seconds before smiling down at Tina.

Dont worryeither way, we have our family and besidesnormal would be downright boring.