“Never,” Bette said firmly. “I love you too much for that.”

“I love you, too.” They kissed and Bette held on to Tina a little longer than necessary. She pulled back suddenly. “Come on, I want to give you your present now.”

“Now?”

Bette nodded and put an arm around Tina’s shoulders.

Tina grinned and wrapped an arm around Bette’s waist. “Well, show me! I’m excited.”

“You should be,” Bette said, leading Tina into the doorway of the living room. “Besides, there’s no way I could keep it quiet until tomorrow.” It was dark in the living room, except for the Christmas tree lights glowing in one corner. Bette snapped on the light and Tina’s shocked gasp was drowned out by a chorus of voices.

“SURPRISE!”

Tina’s mouth dropped open and she ran into the room to embrace Alice, Shane, Tasha, Kit, Helena, Max, and place a kiss on the forehead of Max’s baby girl, Leah, in turn.

Tina turned from one smiling face to the next as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

“You’re really here! I’m so happy to see all of you! I can’t believe it!”

“Bette called all of us and said you might want to see us,” Shane said.

“Of course I did!” Tina said, dabbing at happy tears pooling in the corner of her eyes.

“God knows why,” Tasha interjected dryly. “You were doing good to get away from us.”

Alice pretended to jab Tasha in the ribs for that remark. “Anyway, Helena flew us all out here on her private jet.”

“So here we are,” Helena said brightly. “Don’t worry about putting all of us up, I’ve got the accommodations covered.”

“We’re just here to par-tay!” Kit sing-songed. “You know any fine, eligible bachelors you can introduce me to while I’m out here?”

Tina laughed. “Actually, Kit, I do. I didn’t know you were interested in a long-distance relationship.”

“Relationship?” Kit scoffed. “Girl, I’m just lookin’ to get my Christmas groove on and poppin’.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Alice piped up, holding up a few small, glass bottles of whisky.

Tasha rolled her eyes. “How did you even get through the airport with that? I should write you a citation.”

“You have no jurisdiction here,” Alice said, booping the end of Tasha’s nose. Tasha laughed in spite of herself and shook her head.

“Nice family holiday you guys have going on,” Max said, shifting baby Leah to his other hip.

“I wasn’t serious, Max,” Alice said, rolling her eyes.

“The kids gotta go to bed sometime,” Shane said, sitting down and cracking her knuckles. “Is it too early to have one of those drinks?”

“No, I’ll go get something for those that will partake,” Bette said, looking at Alice, Helena and Shane, “and something else for those who will not. Be right back.”

Bette walked away from the chatter in the living room and into the kitchen. She heard music start playing as she filled glasses with ice and smiled. It was good to have her friends here for the holidays. The look on Tina’s face had made it all worthwhile.

Just then, Tina appeared in the kitchen doorway and came straight to Bette to give her another hug and a kiss.

“Well,” Bette said. “Is that a thank you?”

“You’re the best,” Tina said. “How did you know that I wanted to see everyone again for Christmas?”

“I have my ways. All I want is for you to be happy, T. So… Are you happy?”

“I am. Happier than I ever imagined possible.”

“Then my work here is done,” Bette said with a grin. “Merry Christmas, T.”

“Merry Christmas, baby.”

END