There was an abrupt pounding sound, and Carmen picked up her head, looking around lazily to see what the sound was. The short bursts of sound came again, and she realized someone was knocking on the door. She got up lazily and absent-mindedly swung the door open.

“Hello?” She murmured, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

“Carmen? What are you doing here?” The familiar sweet sound of Carla’s voice wafted to her.

“Why wouldn’t I be here?” Carmen replied, yawning and stretching slightly. Suddenly, it dawned on her that she and Shane weren’t technically together. “Oh. I mean, uh…”

“It’s okay. I understand. You came back to Shane. That’s so great.”

“Uh, I guess…”

“Shane really deserves to be happy.”

“Um, yeah. Can I help you?”

“Oh, right. Could you and Shane watch Shay for a week or so?”

“Why?”

“Because I have to go bail out Gabriel.” Carla said simply, no emotion displayed on her face.

“What? After what he did to you?” Carmen asked, her outrage plain and simple to the older woman in front of her.

“Of course I’m going back to him.” Carla stated, again without emotion.

“But why? He left you, and talked his daughter out of marrying someone she loves!”

Carla just chuckled sadly and shook her head.

“You don’t get it, do you?”

“Get what?”

“That it’s what we do. They put us through hell, leave us, then when they come back to us on their hands and knees, giving us that puppy dog look, we fall in love all over and take them back, just to be used again. It’s a vicious circle, but… they make us happy, so we keep putting ourselves through it, over and over. And each time we tell ourselves, ‘I’m not gonna take him back. Not after what that bastard did to me.’ But then they show up, and… well, we take them back.”

“Well, not anymore. Get Shay, you’re staying with us. Shane!” She yelled in the doorway. “Shane, Carla’s staying with us!”

Shane picked her head up lazily from the couch, glancing at the scene in front of her and deciding that dealing with Carmen when she’s worked up was not the best idea.

“Okay!” She replied, letting her head fall back on the arm of the couch and falling back to sleep.

Tina stood, rocking Angelica lightly, thinking about the future, what she might look like when she grows older, her wedding day, what a beautiful bride she’ll be. Two strong arms wrapped around her waist, and she leaned back into them, completely comfortable in her lover’s warm embrace.

“I think the therapy’s helping. I think… I think I’m beating it, Bette.” Tina whispered, not wanting to wake the sleeping Angelica.

Bette gently placed a kiss to Tina’s temple.

“Good. I never doubted you, you know.” Bette keeping her voice as soft as Tina’s.

“I know. Thank you for your support, baby.”

“No problem, Tee.”

Bette kissed Tina lightly on the lips and stared down at the slumbering baby.

“Are you excited to meet your grandparents, Angie?” She cooed softly.

“I hope so. I hope my parents are okay with all of this. They just found out about our 7-year relationship two weeks ago.”

“Why didn’t you tell them sooner?”

“I kept waiting for the right time, and waiting for the right time, but I guess the right time just never came, you know?”

“Yeah, I know.” She placed another kiss to Tina’s temple. “We should get some sleep. I think Al’s dragging us all Christmas shopping.”

Tina smiled.

“Ooh! I love Christmas shopping with Alice!”

“I know. Which is why I need to get some sleep.”

Tina laughed, and put Angelica gently back in her crib.

“Good night, little one.” She whispered softly as she kissed Angelica’s forehead. “Now to put my big baby to bed.” She grinned, stopping to lean in the doorframe seductively before rushing off to the bedroom with Bette hot on her heels.