That night at the club she scanned the crowd until she saw her.  Tina seemed to sense her and waved at her as she continued dancing with her companion.  Blonde, Bette noted, nice body and very much into Tina.  Her stomach clenched as the blonde drew Tina’s hands to her lips and urged her back onto the dance floor.  Tina did not resist.

She danced with Jodi, talked with Kit and pretended that she was not ready to jump out of her skin.  She wanted to leave yet when Kit and Jodi said they were ready she could not go.  She used Shane as her excuse.  She couldn’t leave knowing Tina was still there in another woman’s arms.

She needed another drink.  The bouncer barred her way to the bar she had been using and she wandered into a deserted alcove.  She saw her immediately. She was alone at the bar waiting she suspected for her date.

“Hey” she greeted her.

“Hey” she jumped slightly startled by her voice.

“What are you doing here all by yourself?”  Not that I want to hear that you are waiting for your lover, she thought ruefully.

“I don’t know.” She answered after a pause. 

Bette turned to walk away fearful of witnessing another display of affection once Brenda returned. 

“Hiding” she heard and her heart leapt. There was an invitation in her tone that she had not heard is a long time.

“What?”

“Hiding, I’m hiding from Brenda.”

She was shocked but immensely pleased with this information.  “You two looked so into each other.” She ventured this opinion. It was her deepest fear that Tina had found a new love.

“She’s fucking crazy.  I can’t keep up with her.”  Tina admitted. “This is not really my scene, bars…” she trailed off helplessly.

“Yeah, I know it’s just…” the words did not appear and Tina went back to surveying her glass. 

Tina suddenly got up and was walking away.  Bette grabbed her wrist.  She pulled her to her without thought of the consequences.  She kissed her sliding her hand behind her neck.  She heard the initial gasp of shock then felt her respond.  There was no more thought as she claimed and reclaimed the soft lips.

Tina’s hands were in her hair, her tongue seeking hers.  They kissed like the last four years never happened.  They kissed like the first time until they were both breathless.  It was this that she missed most of all, the feeling of utter rightness that filled her when she was with this woman. 

The enormity of the emotion caught her off guard.  She began to cry and they were tears of joy and loss.  Tina understood she knew, without words, as she caressed her and soothed her, kissing her yet again, till all she knew was her kiss once again. 

…the words will never show, the you I’ve come to know. If a face could launch a thousand ships, then where am I to go, there’s no one home but you…

And when my love for life is running dry, you come and pour yourself on me.

 If a [wo]man could be two places at one time, I’d be with you, tomorrow and today, beside you all the way.

If the world should stop revolving spinning slowly down to die, I’d spend the end with you, and when the world was through, then one by one the stars would all go out, then you and I would simply fly away… (If – Bread).

The hazel eyes regarded her once more.  She looked and saw love… and a question. She did not move to stop her again when Tina turned and walked away.  She was blissfully bereft. She felt the bond between them, love and passion, burst yet again into flame.