Tina was the first to recollect her self and as she let the look in Bette’s eyes sink in, her mind went into overdrive in order to go through this evenings plan. Regaining her composure as well as finding a new and oddly calming strength she relaxed back into her seat and waited for Bette to reach the table.

Her calmness came very much from the same place that harboured Bette’s nervousness. As her eyes had run over Bette beautiful form, before meeting Bette gaze, she had noticed the necklace around Bette’s neck. It was a sign. And more importantly it was the sign she had hoped for.

Tina thought back on the conversations between them in the past week.

Monday night they had spoken on the phone, it had been quite sombre. Bette was sad as she did feel that Jodi had many very attractive qualities that she would miss. She had no regrets but she did feel that somehow she had given up on taking the relationship to the next level.
Early on Jodi was spending a lot of time at Bette’s house and at one point the idea of her moving in had been aired. Bette had used Angelica to bury the conversation explaining her hesitation with a concern for Angelica’s perception of who were her parents. Two mommies’ was somehow the limit at this stage in Angels development. A third woman in her daily life was just too much Bette had argued. Jodi had been very gracious about it, but Bette felt that her response had been very telling as to the extent of her feelings and intentions towards Jodi.
She also believed that Jodi’s graciousness was mainly due to the level of comfort they already enjoyed together and the feeling that Jodi, in this decision also had been guaranteed the level of freedom that she, at least normally, to some extent preferred. The weekend bag that had gotten its own space in Bette’s closet was however a constant reminder of the status of their relationship as well as Bette’s capability or willingness to let Jodi in completely.
Tina could only listen as Bette quietly spoke of the slow demise of her relationship with Jodi. After that conversation, Tina was still very much undecided as to which break up was the worst, the slow less dramatic version or the nightmare of all time, which the night after ‘Provocations’ had been.


Tuesday. The turning point Tina thought. Bette had spent the evening with Alice and it was clear from the get go that Alice not only had cheered Bette up, but somehow also pointed out to Bette that she should try to gage Tina’s feelings as far as her single life was concerned and the underlying reasons for her still being single.
Bette answered the phone with a smile, which actually made Tina blush just from the thought of how that smile might light up the place. Bette was feeling better about the whole thing and Alice’s suggestions regarding Tina current feelings on long-term relationships had brought back the hopefulness that had accompanied Bette to her sleep on Saturday night, just after the final break up with Jodi.
The conversation had started out serious and had ended up being what could only be described as extremely flirtatious. Tina had lured Bette into substantiating on the qualities she enjoyed in Jodi and what other qualities might add up to the perfect partner and as the list went on it was obvious to both of them that Bette was talking about Tina. Tina decided to let it lie for the evening but not until working Bette up by talking about her sore back and have she was having a nice bubble bath after their conversation making sure that Bette went to bed with a complete image of Tina in the bathtub edged in her mind.

Wednesday, it was clear to Tina that the good old Porter trait known as impatience maximus, was not going to allow Bette to beat around the bush as far as her desire to disclose Tina’s thoughts on a possible reunion. Bette had called her a little later than the other night with that edge in her voice that Tina knew all too well. She could easily imagine the tossing and turning that most likely had preceded the phone call and was a little bit amused mainly because she felt that she was finally reaping the benefits of knowing Bette so well.
She knew what Bette wanted, in fact craved to know, which was whether or not she was alone in her thoughts of a reconciliation, and she also had known the answer to that question and even had the urge to tell Bette that she wanted nothing more than for them to have a swift reconciliation and a honeymoon period that would last the rest of their lives. It wasn’t that Tina was sexually starved per se she really was just interested in a massive piece of Porter pie, but was in no mood to beg Bette for anything of the sort. So that evening she blatantly teased Bette to the point of tears and finally Bette had blurted out “Jesus Christ Tina, do I really have to spell it out for you, I just want to know, will you ever want me back?” Tina response had been very calm she said “You sound tired B, how about we finish this conversation tomorrow – besides it is a big question to just throw out there this late at night”, Tina took her time before she continued “do you mean will I ever want you back or do you mean would I want you back right now fresh out of a long-term relationship with a very beautiful and intelligent woman?” Tina made another pause and she could almost hear Bette squirming in the other end “will you let me sleep on it please?” Bette sighed and mumbled “do I have any other choice?” “No” Tina replied calmly.

Thursday, was a bit of a rollercoaster ride for the both of them. Bette had been waiting for Tina to call all day and had had to use a lot of energy on simply keeping it together and not phoning Tina. That evening Bette came home to find a little letter with only her name on it. She immediately got really scared. She had been uneasy with Tina wanting time to sleep on her answer as she thought things should be simple or not at all, and so if Tina was not sure and needed time to think, well then just maybe they were meant to be friends and co-parents no more no less. So she took of her shoes, poured herself a very large whisky and went pool side to ‘enjoy’ her newly received letter of rejection as she thought it would be.

The letter said.

Bette,
I don’t believe we can be together again, not like we used to.
I am different and I am pleased to know that so are you. I know it is cruel to have kept you in suspense so here is the answer to your question.
Our reconciliation is something I want more than anything else in the world. I do however want us to start the journey towards that goal in a manner that you may not necessarily agree to.
In the light of your recent break up I feel strongly that the only way we can move towards reconciliation as quickly as we both want, is if you show me that you can handle the new us.
I have left a gift in your room. If you choose to wear it to The Planet tomorrow night it will be a sign that you are willing to let me show you how I want us to be together. It means that tomorrow night you let me claim you; I will be in full control and you will oblige.
This is not a punishment, this is a gift that you will give me, and in return I will take you back so hard you will not know what hit you, and you will never again doubt my intentions towards you.
If you choose not to wear the gift, consider this window of opportunity closed for now, but know that I believe our reconciliation is inevitable. This is a fact in which I find freedom to enjoy life with or without you as my lover. I can therefore guarantee that you will have no problem finding a friend in me regardless of our status.

Love
T.



And so here they were. Bette was here and Tina was there, ready to pounce and claim her life and her lover back……

Bette was dressed in some what casual attire, low key for her standards; she still managed to turn the heads of most of the women she passed on her way to the table. Black was the colour of the evening. Besides the necklace, which Tina had noticed immediately, she wore a long black silk scarf around her neck. She had on her long black leather jacket with a thin black top underneath revealing a thin line of mocca; she wore a black sleek pair of pants with the promise of showing of her sexy curves once the jacket came off. Her hair was down and Tina felt she could smell it all the way across the room.
Bette was, despite her cool and casual attire, looking almost demure. She didn’t catch eye contact with anyone other than a quick nod towards Kit in the bar; afterwards she set her eyes on the girls at the table and headed directly for them, letting everyone know that she wasn’t playing this evening.
Tina felt her whole body throb and ache for Bette, but she was determined to make this night feel like forever for the Dean of cool. She started up a conversation with Alice who was happily unaware of Tina’s strategy and therefore more than happy to chip in her opinion on some random topic regarding Tina’s work. Alice had warmed up quickly and was in the middle of a big speech on how TV-dramas should make an effort to listen to their core audience, when Bette made her presence known. She too was now trying her best to be cool and collected and greeted everyone at the table including Tina as if nothing was out of the ordinary. But the night had just started and before it could end, everything would become extraordinary.