Their dinner was a disaster. In the weeks to come, Helena would revisit the event in order to better understand a whole lot of problems in her life. By the end of it, Bette had reassessed the entire partnership and was already looking to another city. Helena wasn’t even aware of this, because she had stormed out halfway through after some asshole makes fun of her ‘latest cause’ and called her a ‘thespian’ more than once.

Also unknown to Helena, while she sat stewing in her hotel room, Bette told the entire table off on her behalf.

An hour later, Bette knocked timidly on the door. Her smile was tired but still utterly charming and Helena felt better just to see it. She led Bette to the bed where they lay side by side.

“I have a breakfast meeting with some of the local University big wigs. I’m letting them down gently. I won’t be long.” Yawning, Bette let herself roll over until she could rest her head on Helena’s shoulder. “Then we’ll spend the day having some fun.”

“Ok.” Helena’s voice sounded hollow in her ears. She could feel Bette tense and kissed the top of her head. “I think I need to reinvent myself, somehow. Or perhaps reinvent the Peabody legacy altogether.”

“Where is this…” Bette sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “You know, I should have been more sensitive to these changes you’ve gone through. I remember saying, ‘you’re reinventing yourself, that’s huge’ and then we just fell out of touch. Things got chaotic in your life and I wasn’t around to help in any way.”

“We’ve been through all of that.” Helena shrugged. “And here I am, seeking to understand the changes I’m going through yet again. Now, what to do with all of this power and wealth? And how do I avoid situations like the one I was in tonite? I’m not the person I used to be. I can’t go to some dinner and make everyone feel intimidated and stupidly reverent.”

Ignoring that last part for the time being—because Bette really did like the new Helena better than the person she first met—she said cheekily, “Become giant art funders. Give all of your money to continue federal arts grants.”