“Hmmmm…come here.” Tina reached out and pulled Bette into her arms, both women snuggling further down into the blankets. “I can’t believe that you have to leave tomorrow. The time went by way too fast.” Tina nuzzled her nose into Bette’s neck. “I know the others need to go back, but can’t you stay for a little longer?”

Bette closed her eyes and sighed. She knew that Tina was just asking her to stay because she missed her, but when she did, it put Bette on the spot, and always made her feel like the bad guy for having to leave. “T, you know I have to go back. This next month is one of the busiest times of the year for us. Besides, I still have to find someone to take over for me. I can’t move until I find that person, and it’s not going to happen if I am here.”

Tina kissed the bottom of Bette’s ear and let out her own sigh. “I know. I just…miss you…so…” Tina stopped, unable to continue through the tears that had hit her hard and fast.

Bette, surprised by Tina’s reaction tightened her hold on Tina’s midsection. “Baby, what’s the matter?”

Tina didn’t know where the overwhelming sense of sadness came from, but it enveloped her, and hung on tight. She pressed her head into her pillow, surprised and confused by the intense feelings that were causing her body to convulse as she silently sobbed. Bette started to sit up, concerned now, because she knew this reaction was about much more than just her going back to New York.

“Tina…” Bette lifted herself up and gently turned Tina onto her back. “Baby…tell me…what’s the matter?” She could tell that Tina wasn’t able answer yet, so she cradled their bodies together, softly rubbing her cheek against Tina’s, whispering to her. “It’s all right Baby…we’ll get there, I promise. Shhhh, I love you.”

After a few minutes, Tina’s body started to quiet, her breathing beginning to even out. She loved being held by Bette more than anything in the world. She always felt so safe, so loved…so taken care of. And yes, even though Tina was very independent and strongwilled, and had no problem making decisions all day long…sometimes, it just felt so good to allow Bette to take care of her…just as she hoped she took care of Bette when she needed it.

Her voiced was quiet and shaky. “I don’t know. I just got this incredibly strong feeling that if you leave now, I won’t ever see you again.” Tina looked into the eyes of the woman who had captured her heart twenty-two years earlier. Even though they had both loved again…Tina’s heart had always been Bette’s. “I know it sounds a little dramatic, but…God, Bette. It was so strong. Baby…please stay…I can’t bear to lose you again…I can’t.”


“Shhhhh…it’s Ok.” Bette gently rocked their bodies, still whispering in Tina’s ear. “Nothings going to happen. I just need more time to get things ready.”

Tina, still feeling the pit in her stomach, tried once again to keep Bette with her. “I mean it Bette. I have a bad feeling, something is going to happen, I just know it. Please stay with me.”

That last statement brought out an anger in Bette, that surprised them both. “So, what are you saying Tina? What…that you think something is going to happen on the plane tomorrow? If that’s the case, how could you possibly suggest that I put MY family on that plane without me…send MY daughter into danger without me sitting beside her, just so I can sit here safe in your arms?” Bette eased her arms out from under Tina and got out of bed, heading for the bathroom. “That’s great Tina…just great.”

~ ~ ~

While Bette and Tina had gone to bed a bit early, their children were all gathered in Milaine’s room, just hanging out…quietly talking. Tina’s children all liked Milaine. She was not only beautiful, but was really nice and seemed genuinely interested in talking with them. Plus the fact that…well, that she wasn’t white, was a thrill for them. Milaine’s mixed heritage just made her seem all the more exotic and worldly.

“Can I ask you a question?” Dani was curled up on one side of the love seat that sat across from the queen size bed, while Paul was slouched on the other side. Alex, who had warmed right up to Milaine, loving her gentle and serene nature, was lying on the bed with her.

Milaine smiled at Dani, amazed at the strong feelings she had developed for these three children over such a short period of time. It didn’t matter to her that she was so much older, and was going to be graduating from college, and then leaving for Italy. She was starting to feel like someone’s sister, an older sister at that, and it was giving her an incredible feeling of…belonging. “Sure Dani.”

“Were you really adopted?”

Milaine smiled and nodded her head. She was not ashamed, or embarrassed of her past. “Yes.”

None of Tina’s children’s friends had been adopted, at least, not that they knew of. So, they were all interested to hear what it was like. Because, even though their parents divorce had been painful, and had affected so many parts of their lives, all three children knew in their hearts that they were both wanted, and loved by Tina and Dan. They had never had to feel what it was like to be unwanted…shuffled around from one place to the next…always being treated like you’re just in someone’s way, or that the only reason your being housed is for a check from the state. And even though that’s not always the case, sometimes it’s hard to differentiate between the two when you are a child.

“Were you a baby when they got you?” This question came from Alex.

“No…that’s what makes MaBe and Mama Nica so wonderful. They chose me to come home with them when I was eight. And by the time the adoption of finalized, I was nine. That’s old for adopting someone.”

Alex just looked over at the young woman she was so drawn to, her eyes widening with shock. “You mean you were the same age as me before you found a family?”

“That’s right, Alex. I was your age when I first met my mothers.”

Paul, who up until then hadn’t participated too much in the conversation, preferring to just sit back and listen, was floored to hear that there were children out there Alex’s age who didn’t have a family to go home to every day. He knew that there were lots of babies that were adopted for different reasons, but he always thought that they found homes while they were still babies…not girls Alex’s age. “Wow…what was that like…I mean, where did you live?”

Even though Milaine wasn’t ashamed or embarrassed of her past, it wasn’t something she really wanted to go into detail about. She would rather talk about what her life was like afterwards. “Lonely.” She gave Paul a sad smile. “But, my life changed the day that MaBe and Mama Nica came and picked me to come live with them. They were both so loving and caring.” Milaine let out a soft giggle. “When I realized they wanted me to stay, and be their daughter…well, let’s just say that I was so afraid that they were going to change their minds, that I followed them all over the house…like a little puppy dog.” Now Milaine laughed out loud. “In fact, I remember one time, I was following MaBe around, and she walked into the bathroom. I walked right on in with her, not really thinking about what I was doing.” She shook her head and smiled at the memory. “MaBe was so wonderful. She gave me a big hug and told me it was Ok, that she was going to be right out. I still didn’t quite believe her, so she took my hand and led me into the den, where Mama Nica was working on the computer. She asked her if I could sit with her for a minute, until she came back. Mama Nica was so great, she let me not only sit with her, she started teaching me how to use the computer, and was somehow able to convince me that I was actually helping her.”

Milaine’s eyes started to water, thinking about how much she missed her mother. “They saved me, you know? I don’t even want to think about where I would be if they hadn’t chosen me that day. I love them both so much.”

Dani couldn’t help but ask her next question. “Did Bette and your Mama Nica…well, were they happy together?”

That question brought Milaine back out of the pool of sadness she had slipped into for just a moment. “Oh yea…they loved each other very much. You could tell…you know…by how much they laughed with each other. They were really affectionate…” Milaine rolled her eyes for affect. “Always hugging and kissing!” This brought a giggle out of all three children.

Alex was so enjoying just being here in the room…all of them together. She especially loved listening to Milaine talk, so after they had stopped giggling, she asked the question that had been on her mind for a while. “Why do you call her MaBe instead of Mama Bette…like you do your Mama Nica?”

Milaine grinned. “Well, actually I did call her Mama Bette for a while. But one day Mama Nica was teasing her about something and she called her MaBe…I think she was teasing her about being older…I can’t remember. I just remember that they both thought it was so funny, so I started calling her that. I think she really likes it, cause she knows it is said with love.”

Dani said, “I like the nickname.” Her voice got quiet. “Do you think that someday she would let us call her that? I mean, I just feel weird calling someone older than my mother by their first name, and MaBe…well, it just suits her.” Dani looked at Milaine with such a hopeful look on her face.

“Oh Dani, I think MaBe would be touched if you wanted to call her that. You know that she thinks you are all so wonderful. She considers us all one big family now, just like your mother does.”

Dani looked up at the ceiling, lost in her own thoughts for a moment. “Why do you think they broke up…ya know…before?”

Paul decided to join the conversation again. “I don’t know, but I’m glad they did.”

“Paul!” Dani sounded upset.

“What? Hey, if they had stayed together, none of us would be here…and I don’t know about you, but I like being here, so for as much as I’m glad they are back together now…I mean, I can see how happy Mom is with Bette, but I’m also glad they broke up before.”

Milaine couldn’t help but laugh at Paul’s honesty. “You’re absolutely right Paul. I hate to admit it, but if they had stayed together, MaBe would have never met Nica, and who knows where I would have ended up then.” She reached out and ran her hand through Alex’s hair. “I want you to know though, for as much as I know MaBe loved my mother, there is something there, between her and your Mom, that is…I don’t know…so incredible…so powerful. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Tina’s three children just sat in silence, nodding their heads in agreement with the statement made by their new sister, knowing in their hearts, she was telling the absolute truth.

~ ~ ~

Bette walked out of the bathroom a few minutes later with a look of apology on her face. She pulled back the covers and crawled back into bed, curling up with her partner. “I’m sorry T. Boy, talk about over reacting, I think I just won the prize.”

Tina reached out and laid her hand on Bette’s cheek. “That’s Ok. I knew you didn’t really think that I would feel that way. We both know I wouldn’t want you to put OUR family on a plane if I thought something would happen. That’s not what I meant about something bad. I don’t know what it is, but I didn’t get the feeling it was about a plane.”

Bette just shook her head and smiled. “God…Kit was so right.”

“Right about what?”

“Well, on the plane coming here, she said that you and Nica are the only two people in this world that have been able to keep me in line.”

Tina giggled. “Well, I hope that’s a good thing?”

Bette leaned over, kissing Tina’s cheek. “Oh…I think that is a very good thing.” She moved her lips over and gently started nibbling Tina’s left ear. “Now, since I’m still here…let me show you just how much I love you.” She flicked her tongue across Tina’s ear lobe, causing Tina to moan.

“Hmmm…my God, Bette. I don’t think you understand just how much I miss you when you’re not here beside me.” She couldn’t help the moan that escaped her lips again, as she felt Bette’s hot breath on her neck. “Don’t you get it, that to have you make love to me, is not just a one night kind of thing. Now that I have experienced all of your…”gifts” again, all it takes is one small memory and I am not able to get through a day without aching.” She sighed as she felt Bette’s soft lips making their way down her chest. “Oh God….which means…that I am aching…ooohhhh…” All she could feel was the warm moist tongue of her lover, oh so slowly circling and licking her nipple. “all….the time.”

Bette, wanting to ease Tina’s fears that she had expressed earlier, was trying everything in her power to show this beautiful woman, just how much she meant to her. She wanted to taste Tina, to savor her…but knew that when Tina was feeling like this, she liked Bette to stay close to her, where she could see her…look into her eyes. So, she did just that…stayed close, taking her time with every kiss, moving her lips slowly over Tina’s, grazing her tongue over her partner’s lips, as she caressed Tina’s stomach, then her legs with her left hand.

“Baby, you know that I am always here for you. That my love expands further than any airplane can fly.” Bette gently moved her hand down and softly…loving, entered Tina, creating a rhythm in her head, then matching that rhythm with the soft part of her thumb, skimming it over Tina’s center of desire…causing an even louder moan to rumble out from Tina’s chest. “My love for you is always here…everywhere you are…totally surrounding you…” She had propped herself up on her right elbow, and brought that hand up to caress Tina’s nipple.

Tina started moaning and whimpering after each breath, her stomach raising and falling in rapid movements. The sensations were overwhelming. She felt like she was being touch everywhere all at once. “Can you feel me Tina. Just like I am touching every part of your body right this moment, my love for you is everywhere you turn, everywhere you go. ..you are wrapped in my love, whether I am here with you, or on the other side of the world.”

Tina was delirious. Every time she tried to concentrate on one sensation…how wonderful it felt to have Bette kissing her, she would gasp as she was bombarded with the methodical circling of Bette’s thumb on her center, or she would jerk in surprise over Bette stroking a sensitive spot as her fingers moved inside her, and then in between all that, would be the pinching of her nipple. “I’m here Baby. I’m not going anywhere ever again. You have me…and I have you…every part of you.” Tina’s breathing was ragged, her whimpers coming faster. “Do you feel me…do you feel my love. It’s everywhere, isn’t it?” Tina couldn’t answer. She couldn’t ever remember a time when every inch of her body, from her toes, to the top of her head (which was buzzing), felt like she was being both loved and fucked at the same time. Her legs were rigid, her arms numb and useless by her sides…except for the prickly feeling at the tips of her fingers.

“I love you Tina…” Bette whispered. “Let go. Show me that you feel every circle of my love, every thrust of my devotion to you. I am every part of you…show me that you feel that too.”

And in that moment of hearing the sweet whispers floating into her ear, Tina felt the heat swirling in her stomach. She let out a guttural moan, and she did what she was asked…she let go…only to hang on for dear life to the love that was spreading throughout every part of her body, completely encircling her.