Seeing Shane laughing was not what Tina had in mind when she got there. It was a total surprise, not just seeing her there but seeing her so happy and relax made Tina wondered. She wanted to walk there and talk with her friend but just the sight of Shane like that was making her feel so good that she could not move. The feeling that somebody was behind her made her turn around.
She looks like she is getting better
Zoe was looking at Shane but opening her long slim arms she put Tina into a big warm hug.
what are you doing here dear?
Tina let the warm feeling of having her grandmother arms around her bring a smile to her face and tears to her tired eyes.
Just wanted to see you
Tinas answer didnt fool Zoe, she knew her granddaughter and also knew that it was better to give her time, she was sure that at some point she will know what was going on.
Thats nice, seems like am becoming popular She said that while looking back at Shane again.
Tina followed Zoe to the lake and when Shane saw them her face clouded. She didnt know how to explain to Tina what was going on but she had not to worry as Tina the moment she got closer put her into a big hug.

They spent the rest of the afternoon playing with the dogs and swimming in the lake. They didnt talk about anything important, both avoiding the real issues that brought them there. Zoe made them laugh and bossed them into setting the table and preparing dinner.
After what became the best shower ever Tina finally made it back to the kitchen. Shane was already there making a salad. Tina noticed how thin Shane was, more than ever she thought. She was worried, her quiet friend didnt look so good although she looked much better than a few days back. She wasnt as pale, her sad look was still there but there was something else in her eyes, something brighter. She was wearing her usual jeans and t-shirt, her hair was still wet and she looked like she was enjoying herself.

Shane knew that Tina was looking at her, shed feel her presence behind her. She was used to feel her presence anywhere, her warmness, her sweetness. Tina had been the constant in her life for the past seven years. She knew she was with Bette but that didnt make her love for her weaker. It was something she knew the moment she met her.

They were at the Planet, as usual. They were waiting for Bett,e who after a week avoiding them, had finally accept to meet them. They knew something was going on with her. Bette was always busy but always had a few minutes to talk with her friends. They knew that it could not be a new girl since every time Bette made a conquest it only last a couple of days the most. Alice was one, if not the one, longest of her girlfriends. So waiting for Bette they didnt expect Tina to come into their lives. Shane saw her first. Tina arrived at the Planet alone, she had longer hair and was bit thinner then. She went right to the bar and asked for a coffee. She then moved to a table and taking a the paper from her bag started reading. Shane followed her moves, there was something in Tina that made her wanted to know her. It was not only her beauty, she was beautiful, but her easiness, her warm eyes and her sweet lips. Shane looked at Tina for a few minutes, waiting for her to look back at her but seemed like it wasnt working. Tina was reading the paper and just briefly looked up to the door. As Shane stood up to go talk with Tina, Bette entered the Planet. They didnt have time to do or say anything as Bette walked straight to Tina. The moment she was at her side, Shane noticed, Tina looked up at her with the most lovely sweet and tender look that Shane has ever seen. Thats when she knew that she loved Tina. She knew that that woman could never betray her or hurt her but she also knew right away that she was Bettes woman. It was in her eyes as never before. Bette leaned down and after tenderly placing her hand on Tinas neck, kissed her sweetly.

Remembering all that put a smile in Shanes face that didnt go unnoticed to Tina.
What is so funny?
Uh?
Just now, you had a great smile on your face that I have not seen in a while. Tina was caressing Shanes arm while talking with her. I missed that smile
oh, nothing, was remembering the first time we met
Oh yeah wownot a great impression eh. I made it clear to all of you how clumsy Id be
Shane laughed but inside was still wondering how was it possible that Tina didnt know how amazing she was.
well, you broke that cup but Alice did it too afterwards so you just fitted perfectly
Tina laughed too but she was already thinking about how different things were now.


Bette was lying in bed. She was feeling cold and miserably. She could not stop remembering that morning. She woke up feeling sick again. Not having Tina by her side, not seeing her lovely face the moment she woke up, not kissing her goodbye was tearing her apart. She forced herself to work but the moment she got there she knew it was a mistake. Candance was there, waiting for her. She didnt ask or say anything, she just took Bettes hand and drove her away. Bette didnt do anything, she was too tired, too weak. She knew what was going to happen. It wasnt a surprise that Candace drove them to the same hotel. They did all the same things, with the difference that this time the ***** was different. The moment they finish, Bette took her purse and left. She didnt say a word, she just left knowing that it was the last time she was going to see of at least talk with Candance.
She drove all the way back home crying. She wanted to call Tina, tell her about all her problems, her thoughts, her doubts but knowing that she couldnt, that her actions were the reason that Tina was not there anymore made her cried even harder. She made it home and all shed do was lied in bed. She just lied there looking at the ceiling, not feeling anything but emptiness. She could feel Tina moving on with her life, she could feel how Tina was moving away from her. Her world was becoming smaller and smaller, she felt her stomach spinning around, she felt like dying and just when she thought she was going to die for good she saw Kit at the door frame.

Dinner went great and after they cleaned up, Zoe suggested playing some cards. It was a surprise to Tina seeing how Shane was around her granny. She was so polite, so caring, so sweet. It wasnt like Tina didnt know all that bout Shane, it was that she was not use to see her friend exposing her true self so freely.
They played cards and laughed about how clumsy Tina still was, she broke a glass and hit her knee with the table. Shes always been these graceful was all Zoe said which made Shane and later Tina to burst out laughing. But Zoe was feeling tired so she decided to go to bed not before kissing both of the girls on the forehead.
It was so sweet that Tina could not stop herself for crying the moment Zoe got to her room.
Shane looked at her friend for a few seconds before moving to her side and without saying a word she took her friend in her arms and held her.
It was like holding a teddy bear. Tina was soft, and small, or so it seemed to Shane. Shed smell her shampoo and could not stop herself from caressing her hair.
Tina was quiet, its been so long since somebody hold her. Last time shed remember was when she lost the baby and that awful night when Alice held here after she found out about Bette but before that she could not even remember. She was always the holder, she was always there for Bette and it felt so good to be hold for once. She could feel Shanes breathe, her strong arms around her and above all she could feel her friends care. She loved that Shane was saying nothing, she loved that she was just there, with her, she was loving that Shane knew that she didnt want to hear anything, that she knew that all she wanted was to be hold.

They woke up together, lying on the couch. Tinas arms around Shane, protecting her. Shane was already awake when Tina did . She has been awake for a while but didnt want to move.She loved the feeling of Tinas arms around her, the love of Tinas body behind her. She could not see her face but she could feel she was resting, that she was relax and at ease. It was a new feeling for Shane. She was not use of having somebody hugging her, by her side on the bed. She was use to leave the moment the ***** was over. But this time was different, there have been no ***** and she was feeling so complete, so at ease with her friend by her side that she didnt notice the moment Tina opened her eyes.
Tina felt the body at her side and was afraid to open her eyes not sure where or with whom she was but the moment she did she felt at ease. She remembered everything about last night. How she fall sleep, how Shane took care of her and seeing her now, in her arms only made it sweeter. She hugged her tighter, as an impulse, she didnt mean to, but she was so thankful for her friend that all she wanted to do was to protect her, take care of her.