Silence filled the kitchen after Jodi made her exit.  Shane had to admit that Jodi was on point.  The only two people who did not seem to realize that Bette and Tina were irrevocably bound to each other were Bette and Tina.  Jodi’s colorful description was spot on. 

The more Shane pondered the thought the more right it seemed.  Bette was powerful, indomitable, fiery and explosive.  It was hard to see her as submissive, except when it came to Tina.  Tina was Bette’s natural mistress. 

Tina appeared to be the weaker of the two, yet the reality was that Bette was not the same without Tina.  Tina grew in strength while they were apart.  Over the past several years Tina’s steel and fire became more evident.  Bette on the other hand was lost.  It was clear that Tina centered Bette’s world in a way that had not been evident before.

“I’m going to take off guys” Shane announced. She hoped that what was clear to her would become clear to the two who it really needed to be clear to. “You need another night alone?”

“Thanks but no” Tina had not taken eyes from Bette since Jodi left.  She reluctantly turned her gaze to Shane.  “We need to be together with our daughter.” 

“Thanks again Shane” Bette turned to her. “And thanks for understanding about Jenny.” The fire of the brunette shone then.  Bette may be weak as far as Tina and Angelica was concerned but that did not extend to anyone else, Shane saw clearly.  She was still a force to be reckoned with.

They had a lovely evening together.  Bette took care of Angelica while Tina prepared dinner.  Bette and Angelica went for one last swim for the day and then they took a bath together.  Tina thought that her heart would burst with so many conflicting emotions when she walked into the bathroom to find her two favorite girls in the tub together. 

This was the way it was meant to be, she thought as she roused them to finish their bath so that they would not be late for dinner.  Bette and Angelica set the table and they sat down in their home for their first family dinner together.  Angelica was too young when they had separated to eat together as a family.  Tina struggled with the tears in her eyes throughout the meal.