Tina looks up at her, her eyes shimmering. “Hi.”

Bette smiles and brushes her thumbs across Tina’s cheeks.

Tina laughs through her tears. “What are you doing, baby?”

Bette chuckles softly. “Well, I was hoping that part would be pretty obvious.”

Tina laughs again.

Bette leans forward, kisses her forehead, then takes both her hands. “Okay,” she says, exhaling slowly. “So, I have been trying to perfect this speech for, like, months now.”

 “Months?” Tina quietly asks.

Bette nods. “Months. And every single time I think I’ve finally found the right words, I read it back, and it just doesn’t feel like enough.”

Tina watches her, tears slipping freely down her cheeks.

Bette smiles nervously. “Because I can never seem to find enough ways, or enough words, to convey just how much I love you, T.”

Tina presses her lips together, trying unsuccessfully to contain her emotions.

Bette squeezes her hands. “Our first time around was this beautiful whirlwind of love and passion. And heartache. And pain.” She pauses, swallowing against the emotion rising in her throat. “We were young, and we loved each other so fiercely. But we also made mistakes. I certainly made my fair share.”

Tina gives her a small, tearful smile.

Bette continues. “And there were times when we hurt each other. Times when we didn’t know how to fix what was broken between us.” She glances down briefly, then meets Tina’s eyes again. “And somehow, after everything, after all those years of being out of each other’s lives, that love never really went away,” Bette says softly. “Not for me. And I know it didn’t for you.”

Tina nods.

Bette draws a steadying breath. “Because even though we’ve been through a lot of shit, both together and separately, here we are.” She smiles. “Building a life together again.”

Tina lets out a quiet sob and laughs at herself.

Bette’s own eyes begin to fill. “And this time, baby, we’re not just finding our way back to each other. We’re creating something new. Something stronger.” She glances toward the children. “A home. A family. A life that I never want to take for granted.”

Tina follows her gaze.

Angie watches with wide, excited eyes, while Mickey shifts impatiently on his knees.