Los Angeles California,

Somewhere in time…

“Heeey…” Amelia greeted Helena and Bette , turning slowly from where she had been watching the rain, waiting for the door to open. She was slightly wet, and grinning in the most endearing way.  Bette quickly shooed her inside, offering to take her jacket. Amelia felt the need to explain her presence immediately, and so sort of goofily stood around at the doorway before allowing herself entrance. “I guess you guys heard…”

“About your breakup with Tina?” Helena asked gently. “We’re very sorry…”

“Well, c’est la vie. She’s a mystery, that Tina Kennard. But you two were so great, I thought you wouldn’t mind the visit?” Amelia’s inner confidence, rooted in a genuine desire to connect, came across so clearly that Bette and Helena relaxed, despite what may have seemed awkwardly eager from anybody else.

“No, this visit is nice.” Bette replied honestly, though she was worrying that this might seem disloyal in a way.  But then again, they really did like Amelia, and maybe she could eventually win her way back into Tina’s heart. She glanced at Helena—at the way she watched Amelia, and the way she watched Bette watching Amelia, all with a strange sort of knowing smile.

They sat in the living room, while Helena made coffee.  Amelia noted with amusement that Bette and Helena were already behaving like an old couple—in all the best ways of course. They were comfortable in their movements together, as though they had been lovers for longer than the few months Amelia knew them to be. Helena touched Bette’s hand lightly when she handed her her coffee, while Bette instinctively leaned up to kiss her by way of thanks.

Amelia found it easy to invite them to dinner.  She had a day to herself, to work on a ridiculous, useless case, and then she would see where things went with these two.  Though none of them discussed it, they were open to her, as she was to them.

Amelia knew it wouldn’t be the happy ending of movie romances.  But her heart was with someone else, so, cheesy threeway and all, she was relieved that this would remain completely casual.