“Bette!” She literally jumped into Bette’s arms and burst into tears. “Oh Baby…I can’t believe you’re here. How did you get here? I thought you were at brunch with Milaine…in New York!”

Bette’s eyes filled with tears, knowing that she really had been able to get away with surprising Tina. “Aw Baby…you didn’t think I was going to let you open up my presents without me…did you?”

Tina kept her arms around Bette, not wanting to ever let go. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you for this wonderful surprise.”

Bette let go of Tina just enough so that she could lean back and see her eyes. “I couldn’t do it, T. I couldn’t miss our first Christmas together…not after so many years apart.” She leaned forward and gently kissed away the tears that had been making their way down Tina’s cheeks. “So…may I come in?”

Tina heard the soft chuckles coming from Dan and Kathy, whose own eyes were misty from watching the loving reunion taking place before them. “Yea Tina…can we come in?”

Only letting go of Bette’s hand long enough to give Dan and Kathy each a hug, she ushered everyone inside. “I can’t believe that you two were part of this. How long have you known Bette was coming out?”

Dan grinned at his ex-wife, taking a moment to enjoy seeing the pure happiness shining out from her. All he had to do was look at the way Tina gazed at Bette, understanding that it was the same way he gazed at Kathy, to know in his heart that he had made the right choice three years ago…no matter how painful it had been at the time. Here they were, three years later, both incredibly lucky to be with the one they truly were meant to be with.

“Ah, well…I’ve known for about three weeks.”

“Three weeks!” Tina was astounded that Bette had actually planned this trip…that it wasn’t just a last minute decision. “You have all known about this for three weeks, and none of you let on?”

Bette, Dan and Kathy all three looked at each other and bobbed their heads up and down, saying in unision…”Yep!”

Tina turned and started to walk away, mumbling as she went…”I can’t believe that my ex-husband and my partner are conspiring behind my back so easily.” She shook her head, looking back at them, trying not to laugh. “This cannot be a good thing for me…I just know it.”

“Bette!” Dani came running to the front door, wrapping her arms around the woman she had grown to love and admire. “What a great surprise! No wonder you wanted us to wait to open up the presents.”

Bette laughed at Dani, returning her hug. “I hope you don’t mind. I just really wanted to be here with you today.”

Dani looked up into Bette’s loving, comforting eyes…and in a moment of clarity, she finally understood, that with the appearance of this woman into their lives, none of them were ever going to be the same again. The kind of adult they turned out to be, what they created for themselves in the working world, would all be influenced by this woman…and Dani couldn’t wait…because she knew that she was already receiving the benefits from knowing Bette Porter!

The next several minutes were filled with greetings all around. The kids surrounded Dan and Kathy at one point, thanking them for all their Christmas presents.

Finally, after about five minutes, Alex reached up and grabbed hold of Bette’s hand, and started pulling her in the direction of the livingroom. “Ok, Ok…let’s open up our presents!”

Bette laughed and allowed herself to be led over to the couch. “Here Bette…sit here.” Alex pointed where she wanted Bette to sit, and knowing that she had made these kids wait long enough for their gifts, she sat right down.

Tina was absolutely beaming. She watched her three children, and could tell that they were thrilled to see Bette again. She was feeling so lucky that they had all accepted Bette into their lives so easily. Well, there was still a little hesitation on Alex’s part every once in a while, but Tina felt that was more out her loyalty to Dan, than it was anything against Bette. However, for the most part, they all treated Bette like she had been a part of the family for years.

“Alex, honey…let me at least get Bette some tea before we start. We’ll open the presents soon…let’s just give her a chance to unwind for a minute. She’s been traveling all morning.”

Alex looked forlorn over at the four boxes sitting in a row, all the same size with the same wrapping paper…all with her name on them, and gave her Mother a big sigh. “All right…but hurry…please.”

Bette couldn’t help but laugh, remembering how exciting Christmas could be when seen through a child’s eyes. She reached out and ran her hand through Alex’s hair, before standing up to follow Tina into the kitchen. But before walking away, she leaned down and whispered into Alex’s ear, causing her to giggle. “Don’t worry…I’ll drink fast!”

Tina was still in shock that Bette had made the trip all the way out here, and on Christmas Day. She knew how much Bette hated to travel on any kind of a holiday, especially one of the major ones. All the “amateur” travelers, so many of them with small children…all dragging way too much hand luggage onto the plane with them. She also knew how important it was to Bette to be able to spend the holidays with her family. That thought in itself warmed her whole insides, because she now knew in her heart that Bette had totally and completely accepted her children into her family.

Bette walked into the kitchen so she and Tina could have a moment alone. Tina was standing at the sink, filling up the kettle with water. Bette reached out and wrapped her arms around her beautiful lover’s slender waist, and breathed in the scent she had only been able to fantasize about for the last month. The two women just stood there, silently taking in each other’s presence, relaxing into the other’s body.

Tina turned off the water and set the kettle down on the counter, before turning herself in Bette’s arms, so they were facing. She looked deep into Bette’s eyes, radiating all her love through her own. “I love you so much,” she whispered. “I can’t tell you how much this means to me, but Baby, why didn’t you stay in New York, with Milaine?”

Bette smiled and leaned forward, once again kissing the tears slowly making a path down Tina’s cheeks. She kissed one cheek, then the other…then she gently grazed her lips over Tina’s closed eyes, before lifting up and taking hold of her eyebrow in between her lips. “Tina, I have been away from you during this holiday for so many years. I wanted…no, I needed to be with you today. But, I also wanted to spend the day with the girls back home. So, we all celebrated Christmas yesterday, instead of today, just so I could come be with you…be with your children. We opened our presents yesterday morning, and then went out for brunch. We did everything that we would normally do today…just one day ahead of time.”

Bette tightened her hold on Tina’s waist and smiled. “They all send their love…especially Milaine. She wanted to come, but decided to spend the day with Leslie, Kit and Ed.” Bette smiled. “She loves her gift from you and the kids. She kept running her hands over the soft leather of the journal, reading and rereading the personal messages that the kids each wrote to her on the inside.” Bette had to laugh at her daughter’s reaction to the gift from her family in Seattle. Then pouted a little for effect. “However, I’m not sure I like the present or not. She sounded way too excited to be leaving me for a year after she opened it. All she could talk about was how excited she was about going to Italy, and that she couldn’t wait to start writing things in the journal, with the beautifully engraved pen that you included.”

Bette leaned down and nuzzled her nose into Tina’s neck. “That was a very thoughtful gift Tina. She really did love it. Thank you.”

Tina smiled with pride. “You know, it was Dani’s idea…to get Milaine the journal. Then Paul was the one who said if we were going to give her that, we should give her a pen, as well. I think his comment was something like, ’cause you can never find a pen when you want one.’ Then when we thought we were done, Alex made the suggestion that we put Milaine’s name on the pen, so she wouldn’t lose it.” Tina sighed, thinking of her children and how much they had wanted to give Milaine a present she would really like. “It truly was a group effort.”

Bette smiled at hearing the story behind Milaine’s present. “Well, it was perfect…and I will be sure to pass on Milaine’s gratitude to each of them. As well as my own, for my wonderful gifts” Bette brought her hand up and softly stroked Tina’s cheek. “The silver picture frame was gorgeous…and the picture of you and I, and all of our children together was…” Bette stopped for a moment, her own tears starting to flow. “Well, it was a dream come true. That picture was enough by itself, they didn’t need to buy those beautiful leather gloves, or that delicious silk scarf, but…” Bette wiggled her eyebrows, “I will get lots and lots of enjoyment out of both of those presents, as well!” Both women laughed, knowing Bette’s penchant for fine leather and all things silk.

It was Tina’s turn to reach up and caress her lover’s cheek with her finger tips. “I’m thinking that there is probably one more reason you made the trip out here…right?” She smiled, already knowing the answer to her question.

Bette chuckled…that low *****, sultry sound that makes your whole body shiver in delight. She knew that Tina would guess the other reason that caused her to get on a crowded, noisy plane and travel for five hours. She just didn’t think her partner would figure it out within a half an hour of Bette’s arrival.

“Well, what did you expect? You told me you could only give me my Christmas present in person? And you KNOW how much I love getting presents from you…so…I mean really Tina, what’s a girl to do?”