Bette was leaning on her elbow and looking at the woman she loved sleeping in her bed. She wanted to wake up to this every morning, to have the sensation of Tinas skin, her breath, her hair on her own skin. To wake up to this vision, to wake up in the arms of the woman who completed her. not to mention the woman who gave her the most intense orgasms shes ever had. the woman she loved so completely. Bette was wondering what Tina had planned for today but she knew what she wanted was to spend the day with her.

Tina couldnt help but think that that was the best nights sleep she has had in a while, even though it was only an hour or two she felt rejuvenated. She could feel Bettes eyes on her, watching her and couldnt suppress the goofy grin that spread across her face at the thought of the gorgeous woman lying next to her. She couldnt believe how lucky she was to have Bette in her life, to have someone who loved her for being herself. There was more about her past that she had to tell Bette, but she was just so scared. In a way she had created a doorway into that conversation with the meaning of her tattoo but Tina didnt feel ready to relive those memories, not just yet anyway, not when she was truly happy for the first time since she can remember. So Tina turned over and lost herself in Bettes eyes, forgetting everything else but the love she felt for this woman.

Morning babe Tina whispers as she gently presses her lips to Bettes

Mmmm, morning T. I could wake up like this everyday, with you in my arms

Tina lost herself in memories again, memories of how she used to stare up at the stars and wish for a life where she felt loved and needed. She used to imagine that someone out there was wishing the same and that one day they would find each other. She remembered how she used to cry herself to sleep at night, praying someone would see who she really was and the nightmare would stop and she wouldnt have to pretend anymore. Even now, she was hiding part of herself, a part she didnt want Bette to see but knew she had to. Because of this, she had never really let Bette make love to her in much light, it was always just enough to see each other but not the small details which Tina wanted so desperately to forget.

Bette noticed the sadness and fear which now clouded Tinas mind and became increasingly worried as Tinas silence lengthened into what seemed like an eternity. She couldnt contain her fear and worry anymore and slowly tipped Tinas head up so that their eyes made contact and whispered almost brokenly, fearing the worst.

T, whats wrong. did I do or say something? Noticing the worry and fear in Bettes eyes, all other thoughts leave Tinas mind except those of reassuring Bette that she had made her the happiest woman in the world. She slowly raised her hand to Bettes cheek as she whispered

I have never felt so loved, safe, cherished or beautiful. I am lost until I am in your arms, your voice soothing all my fears and doubts and knowing that as long as you are near, in my heart and in my thoughts that I am home, I am where I was always meant to be. I love you with everything that I am and everything that I have to offer and I trust that you will take care of my heart, feed my body and nurture my soul. I am yours. always. if youll have me?

Bette could not fathom how she had lived without the woman lying beside her, she could feel her heart swelling with love and pride with every word Tina said. She could feel the tears of happiness she had been holding in, brimming over and softly running down her cheek. Only to be wiped away by Tinas soft, sweet touch. She committed this moment to memory, knowing it would be the fist of many of the best days of her life that were yet to come. She knew at that moment that she belonged to Tina, she always had and always will. This woman had taken her over completely, she had made Bette whole and she had found where she belonged. in the arms of this woman, lost in the depths of her eyes and transfixed by her voice, Bette had found her home.

T. I . I love you so much as all Bette managed to say, she chose to convey her feelings through actions as she could not find the words to explain how she felt.

It was mid-day before Tina finally left the bed to take a shower, she had classes to take in the afternoon and so needed to get home and get ready. Bette followed Tina to the shower and had to use every ounce of willpower she had not to make love to Tina again, her body just looked so perfect and tantalizing underneath the water and her fingers ached to touch her. Tina could see Bette struggling and couldnt help but smile at the pained look that spread across her face as her eyes roamed over her body. She knew how hard Bette was finding this as she was struggling not to touch Bette herself, so she showered in record time so that the sweet torture would end.
_____________________________________________

Bette had driven Tina home and was now just relaxing in her apartment while Tina made then some lunch. Tina had insisted on making them lunch and insisted Bette sit and relax. Bette couldnt help but notice how much Tina had made it look like a home in just a month, she was surprised to see how many photographs she had around the house. They hadnt been here last time she came and she was intrigued. It was as though they were all she had left of her old life, she could see Tina in her school uniform with a whole bunch of girls she presumed were in her class, there were photos of Tina and her friends in their dancing costumes from all the shows shes been in, photos of little girls in leotard and tights which she presumed were girls Tina used to teach. There were photos of her all around London with her family and also with her friends, there were photos of what Bette thought was Zimbabwe, or more accurately the wildlife and the people. They looked more like postcards and Bette made a mental note to ask Tina when she came back in. She thought they were beautiful, portraying a love of what one was seeing and showing the wonder of a world unknown to Bette.

Grubs up babe Tina called from the kitchen, pulling Bette out of her thoughts

Hmmm, smells delicious T

As they sat down to eat lunch, Bette looked at Tina in amazement because she somehow knew that Tina was the one that took those photographs. She knew she had to ask, she wanted to hear Tina talk about them, about home.

T, did you take those photographs of the animals?

I. well ya I did, but theyre not very good. why?

Because I love them T, they create a feeling of love and caring for what one is looking at. The colours are amazing and the black and whites are breathtaking. Will you tell me about them?

WellI I love taking photographs, if I hadnt of gotten in R.A.D I would have done a photography course. I suppose I feel that they help me to capture moments, memories, and make them tangible. They allow me to take a piece of home with me, they represent what hasnt been destroyed as well as the beauty of the land and the people.

As they finished lunch, they moved to the couch and Bette asked about the ones that captured her imagination. There were photos of giraffes entwined, an elephant with a broken tusk and its trunk wrapped around a tiny piece of bark. There were photos of leopards cleaning their cubs and lionesses carrying their cubs in their mouths. There were pictures of antelope herds, as well as individual antelope. A Sable standing rigid, its ears forward and head proud, the sunlight casting shadows on the curved horns or the Kudu mother with her foal, both staring into the camera.

She was intrigued by the photos of African women selling what seemed like anything they could on the side of the road, of the young boy leading a blind man through the middle of traffic begging for money. She felt pity for the people she saw, for the child looking through the car window pleading with her eyes and holding out a bowl, for the woman sitting on the side of the road begging for someone to help her feed her newborn baby. There were photos of children which Tina explained were the AIDS orphans she used to look after and women who had been given a death sentence by their infected husbands.

There was one in particular which Bette could not take her eyes off, it was of a young boy looking up at the camera with a world of despair in his eyes but if you looked, you could also see a love for the person behind the camera and a glimmer of hope as a single tear was captured trailing down his cheek. Bette saw the tears fill Tinas eyes as she asked about this picture.

Thats Joshua, my little angel. he was at the orphanage and in my care. This was taken on his fifth birthday, the day his twin brother died. Josh was always happy, even when he was having bad days he would always smile at me and tell me not to be sad. He said God had given him an angel, he had given him me. But I couldnt save him, I couldnt help him he he died a week after this was taken and thats when I stopped going. I. I couldnt imagine going and not seeing his smiling face I I ran away Bette, I left them

Thats why I take photographs, to remember the beauty of life and the pain of loss. To remember what it was like to be a child and to see through a childs eyes and see that vision change as I grew. To remember who I am and where I have come from.

Bette is in awe of this woman, she has gone through so much pain and tragedy yet she creates and sees beauty within it all. Bettes thoughts are interrupted though as Tina flies into action, she had forgotten the time and was going to be late to teach her class if she didnt hurry.

B, do you want to come to class with me I Id like you to, I wanted to spend the day with you

Id love nothing more T.Thank you!

For what babe? All the sadness has left Tina, Bette wonders how she does it but realises that unlike her, Tina is used to what she had just told Bette and is practiced at letting go of all the pain.

For telling me about your photographs, about Joshua. And for wanting me to spend the day with you

All Tina could do in reply was to gently kiss Bettes lips otherwise the tears would start again and she didnt want that. This was one of the happiest moments of her life, knowing that the beautiful woman in front of her wanted to know about her and loved her and that was all Tina needed to know to carry on with her day and forget about the pain and the memories that the pictures brought back.