Dana had jogged at least 10 miles that morning, if there was something Dana could really pride herself in, it was her endurance and her atlhletic attitude that told her to never give up. If only the attitude she held on the court she could hold off of it. She couldnt believe that the secret she had held onto for so long came out in a matter of seconds. Dana didnt know when or how exactly she fell for Alice Pies-PieseckGEEZ she couldnt even really say her last name!

Before she could finish her thought, as she jogged towards her house she saw Tina sitting on the steps. Tina saw Dana jogging toward her and stood up to greet her sweaty friend.

Dana was breathing heavily, Hey T, what are you doing here?.

Tina put a soothing hand on Danas shoulder, I came here to talk.

—————

Shane and Bette were in Bettes living room trying to figure out what to do with the birthing tank.

Bette had her hands on her hips and was looking intently at the tank, So, you think we could lift it?.

Shane just looked at her with a Yea Right kind of glare, Why dont you just leave it? You really dont need it do you?

Bette: Shane, theyre the instructionsunless we get the pamphlet from under there Im never going to finish this..

Shane started to laugh at Bette, she couldnt help it. Bette was never one to do foolish things like that. She was always the smart one, the one who had a checklist for the checklist! Ever since Bette and Tina got back together with the baby and all, Bette had started to lay low a bit more, it shocked Shane to see that Bette had indeed learned how to kick back and relax.

Bette had given up and sat on the couch, Forget it, well get Alice to help when she gets here. What time did you tell her to meet us?

Shane looked at her watch, She should be here in a few minutes.

Bette smiled, you know I expected thisI never did think though that Miss Dana would be the one to actually want to initiate anythingI always thought Alice would.

Shane smiled, Yea, who knew Dana had the guts. You think theyll go for it?

Suddenly they heard someone knock on the door, Bette stood up to get it and was greeted by the journalist who said as she took off her sunglasses, So Porter, whats going on?

—————

Tina and Dana were sitting in the living room and drinking some juice.

Tina: How long?

Dana threw her hands up and leaned back into the sofa, I dont know T! it just happened, one morning she was just my very annoying friend, next morning I found her annoyingness a bit attractive, then everyday there was something more attractive about her..

Tina was really interested, so, then do you think maybe its just an attraction?

Dana exhaled and looked at Tina, I love her T. I mean, yea, shes beautiful and HOT, but shes everything else too. Gosh, I dont even know how to explain it. Its not just an attraction T, an attraction ismy crush on Anna Kournikova because shes hot, but with Al, its like I can feel something when shes close. I never felt that with TonyaI never even felt that with Lara!

Tina put an arm around Dana and pulled her into a hug, wellwith that saidIve got a plan.

Dana released herself from Tinas motherly hold and looked at her questioningly, what plan?

Tina smiled, well, actually it was Shanes, Bettes and my plan.

—————–

Back at Bette and Tinas. the three girls are sitting on the couch talking.

Alice was a little confused, ok let me get this straight Porter, I tell youIm going straightyou react by giving me a ticket on some ***** cruisewhichyou are giving to me for free?

Bette smiled at Alices quirky description of The Plan, That is correct Alice.

Alice turned to Shane, are you going too?.

Shane shook her head, Nope, just here for moral support.

Alice smiled and grabbed the ticket, well, I guess after this trip, my bisexuality is going to peeping its interesting little head back out. Thanks Porter. Wait, but didnt Tina have a ticket too?

——————

Dana was looking at the ticket she was holding, I cant do it Tina! she said as she lowered her head into her hands.

Tina moved closer to Dana, of course you can, and unless you tell her, shes going to drag you around on a leash.

Dana looked up and knew Tina was right, as much as she didnt want to admit it Dana was the jealous type. Whenever she so much as saw Alice laugh with another woman or man in a flirtatious way, she felt the steam roll.

Dana let out, What am I going to tell her?

—————
After Tina left, Dana immediately started packing. Shane, Tina and Bette were going to pick her up in the morning with Alice. The trip was a two day one night cruise, one of the shortest cruises Dana had ever been on, and yet it was the most important cruise she would ever be on. Dana was at the foot of the bed going through her checklist when the phone rang.

Dana: Hello?

Alices voice oozed excitement, Hey Wifey!

Dana couldnt help but smile at the comment, hey Al, hows it going?

Alice laughed, Are you kidding? Things are great, free ticket on a ***** cruise with my very best friend who by the way, I will be sharing a honeymoon suite with, Alice laughed, anyways, I just called to see if you were all packed and ready for the big trip, let me guess, you are probably going through your checklist now arent you?

Dana smiled, she loved that Alice knew her so well. It was what set off one of the many sparks. Alice knew what coffee she drank when she drank coffee, Alice knew that Dana cried in all the chick flick movies even when it wasnt sad, she knew Dana still has to sleep with a nightlight for midnight trips to the bathroom and the kitchen, Alice knew all of those things and plenty of other things no one else knew. And yet Dana still felt that need to ask Alice on the phone,

How did you know I was doing that?.

Alice laughed again, Thats easy Dane, I know you, too well in fact, and plus only dorks have checklists, us cool cats go with the moment.

yea well lets hope that moment includes deoderant

Alices face changed as she rushed into the bathroom, Thanks Dana, almost forgot, well, anyway, I better go and make sure I have everything I needWITHOUT USING A LIST.ok so Ill see you tomorrow, bye Dana.

Dana grew nervous and merely whispered, Bye Al.

She walked over to her luggage and took out an envelope she had carefully slipped inside, she slowly opened it and looked at the picture. It was a picture of Dana at one of her first major matches.

———— Flashback

Dana was pacing back and forth in the locker room. Her former agent Conrad walked in.

Conrad took off his sunglasses, Jesus Dane, you have really go to relax, youre going to do ***** great, especially in those shorts.

Dana gave him a look then went back to being nervous, Are my parents out there yet?

Conrad: Thats right, they gave me a call and said they couldnt make it, something about an important Republicans of America Luncheon, they wish you good luck though, ok, you have half an hour Fairbanks, pump yourself up, ill see you out on the court.

Dana was devastated, she had someone with her at every game she was in, her parents had never failed to come see her before. But she knew she should have expected this, her big Subaru coming out ads were embarrassing to her parents and they never failed to make sure she knew that. She sat on the bench and buried her head in her hands and was about to cry.

A familiar voice came in from the door, Hey, big lezzy tennis players dont cry remember?

Dana looked up and smiled, Al, what are you doing here?

Alice walked up to her friend and put a comforting arm around her, I wasnt about to miss this opportunity, Alice saw Dana wipe away some tears, Im sorry Dana, Howie called me and told me what happened.

Dana looked at her surprised, So you just drove out here? He mustve called you early this morning, its a six hour drive out here?.

Alice smiled, he called me 2 hours ago, I bought a ticket, its one way so you have to put me up for the night and drive me back homedont think youre off the hook.

Dana hugged Alice, Thanks Alice.

—————

Dana looked back at the picture, Dana won the match that day, and in the picture Alice was hugging Dana tightly, a fan had taken it. That moment will never fade in Danas mind because that day Alice became her family. Dana wanted to be Alices family too, she wanted to return the favor and be the shoulder Alice would lay on whenever she needed to feel loved. And the mind-blowing hot ***** wouldnt hurt either.