Bette awoke that morning in the same unenthusiastic manner that she usually did, it was days like today that Bette realized just how much she wasnt a morning person. She slowly rolled over and with a heavy hand turned of the blaring noise of her alarm. After three weeks she had now gotten used to the idea that no matter how much she wished Tina was their next to her, she wasnt and no matter how many times she rolled over and reached for her it simply wasnt going to happen. Bette got up and repeated with flawless precision her morning ritual; shower, dress, coffees, leave, go to work.

Half an hour later as Bette sat in the parking lot that was the LA freeway at this time of the morning, she sat with her arm resting on the window and her head in her hand. She looked up as the car in front edged a little forward but then did not relax. As it happens in the movies that song came over her radio, the one that explains how your feeling right at that moment in your life, the song that can explain all that is wrong in your life, but never how to fix it. Bettes mind went back to the conversation she had had with Tina the night before, she knew that whilst Tina had said what she had needed to she hadnt gotten any answers in return. Bette had not told her why she had done what she had and she certainly had not told her how much she missed her or how lost she was without her, but this song did.


A little while later Bette walked through the front doors to the CAC, she walked passed all the people whop were in the room and made straight for James desk.
James I need a copy of that song ASAP ok?
Good morning Bette, here is todays mail, Franklin is out for the day so its going to be smooth sailing today and I can have a copy of that for you in about fifteen minutes. James replied without fault.
Oh thank god, thank you James, youre a life saver. Oh and James please dont write anything on the CD ok. Bette asked as she walked to wards her office.
Sure
Bette walked into her office, dumped her bags on the floor next to the club chair, her mail on the desk in a heap, she walked around to the chair behind the desk and sat down heavily. She put her back against the chair, her elbow on the armrest and her head assumed the position on her hand. The chair rotated so that her back was to the door and Bette went into her world of nothingness. A few minutes later the door slid open to reveal James holding a blank UN marked re write able CD in a transparent case. He silently placed it on Bettes desk and then went to leave. Bette turned around in her chair and looked as James headed for the exit.
James
James turned around at Bette and simply looked at her as though asking her what she wanted.
Thank you. Bette said sincerely.
Any time Bette



Alice walked up the front steps to her apartment and immediately noticed the package at the door. Her heart skipped a beat as her mind thought about the possibility of it being from Dana, and then she noticed the Tina in Bettes handwriting and simply sighed to her self. She picked it up and went inside, after placing the package on the bench Alice headed to get changed as Tina came flying in to the house.
Hey Al, look I know that Dana might be coming here tonight so I just came to get changed and then I will be out of your hair ok?
Yeah whatever, hey this came for you today Alice said handing the package to Tina.
What is it?
I dont know its addressed to you
Tina took the package in her hands and the stopped dead in her tracks, she recognized the hand writing on the front instantaneously.
Its from Bette
Yeah I noticed her hand writing to
Tina still hadnt moved, Alice was becoming in-patient.
Well are you going to open it or what?
Tina opened the package to reveal a folded piece of paper and an unmarked CD in a transparent case. She un folded the paper and read it silently to her self before handing it to Alice who read it aloud.

T,
On my way to work this morning I heard this song over the radio, I cant explain how empty I have been since you left but I think this song can.

Bette

As Alice read the letter Tina made her way over to the stereo to put the song on. As she was about to press the play button Alice stopped her.
Hey Tina are you sure you want to do that now?
What are you talking about?
Well some thing is telling me that what is on that CD isnt not going to make you cry. its just that if you listen to it now you can pretty much write off the rest of your night
Yeah but if I dont I know that its all I will be able to think about all night any way
Touch
Tina pressed play and positioned her self on the couch with her back to Alice.



Shirts in the closet, shoes in the hall
Mamas in the kitchen, baby and all
Every thing is every thing
Every thing is every thing
But youre missing

Coffee cups on the counter
Jackets on the chair
Papers on the doorstep
But your not their

Every thing is every thing
Every thing is every thing
But youre missing

Picture on the nightstand
TVs on in the den
Your house is waiting
Your house is waiting
For you to walk in
For you to walk in
But youre missing

Youre missing
When I shut out the light
Youre missing
When I close my eyes
Youre missing
When I see the sun rise
Youre missing

Children are asking if its all right
Will you be in our arms tonight?

Morning is morning
The evening falls
I got to much room in my bed
To many phone calls

How every thing every thing
Every thing, every thing
But youre missing
Youre missing

Gods drifting in heaven
Devils in the mailbox
I got dust on my shoes
Nothing but tear drops


Alice stood in the kitchen and didnt move, she simply watched Tina. She watched as Tina sat down on the couch and pressed the play button on the remote. She watched as Tinas body stiffened up about thirty seconds into the song. She watched as Tina leaned forward and held her head in her hands after the second verse, and she watched as Tina looked up to the ceiling trying to fight the tears back during the fourth verse.

When the song came to an end Tina calmly got up from the couch and sighed heavily to her self, she placed the remote back in its place and then slowly turned around. She wasnt crying but Alice would have bet her life on the fact that if she listened to it again she would be with in twenty seconds.
You ok? Alice asked.
Yeah Ill be fine Tina answered shaking of Alices concern.
You sure?
Yeah, look you have half an hour before Dana is due to show up, so go and have a cigarette and figure out what youre going to say to her ok Tina said making a good point.
Tina I dont smoke
Alice you have half an hour and what ever you say has to be good remember
Ill be back, I have to go and get some cigarettes Alice said nervously.

Tina and Alice left the house together. Alice headed for the local anywhere that sold cigarettes and Tina was going to go for a drive to clear her head. At 19:35 Alice returned home, she walked through the front door into the kitchen, threw her wallet and keys on the bench in one continuous stride and then went out side to consume the fresh tobacco.

She lit the cigarette and took a long drag, filling her lungs with the nicotine filled smoke that she dearly needed at that moment. Then she had a coughing fit for about thirty seconds. After recovering she sat down and thought about what it was that she was actually going to say to Dana. She realized she had nothing, no way to sugar cote this, she had to tell Dana the blatant truth about the way she felt about her.
Hey Al? Are you there?
Alice stood up and ran to the door.
*****, sorry Dana I was Alice said
You were smoking. Dana said walking through the door.
I take it you got the flowers then? Alice says following Dana into the living room.
Yeah I told Tonja they were from Harrison. Dana said softly.
Sorry. Alice returned.
No look its nothing for you to apologize for
Dana look, sit down, I think your going to need to. Alice said nervously.
Dana sat on the couch and then that nervous silence hit the room like a battering ram at the front doors of a castle.
Do you want a drink? Alice said needing to leave the room.
Yeah. Dana said honestly.
Alice left the room and collected two beers as well as some self-confidence.
Ok Dana, look I have no idea how to say this so I am just going to blurt it out.
Ok
Dana I love you, Im in love with you, I have been for some time now, and this is the reason that I dont want you to marry Tonja. Alice paused, she broke her intimate eye contact with her shoes and met Danas gaze.
I want you to marry me