Tina cleared the table and washed the dishes while Bette put Angel to bed.  Returning to the kitchen she watched unobserved the golden blond head bent on her tasks. Bette was overcome with pride that this woman chose to be with her.  She loved her more than words could express.  With both of them working and forced to carve out time for their daughter and each other in the process they built a relationship that was even stronger than before. 

Tina looked up and smiled her shy smile.  Bette’s own rose in response. 

            “I suspect you are not going to let this go.”  Bette glanced at the golden blond. 

            “Nope.”  There was laughter in her eyes as she observed her Queen looking like she was being forced to eat squash which the Princess did not care for either.

            “Okay.  Do you want to talk here or do you want to go into the living room?  I heard that the film of Dylan’s that you produced has been nominated for an Emmy.  You must be so excited. I’m so proud of you.

            “It is very exciting and thank you.  This is not however the conversation that I had in mind.  We can talk right here.”  Tina settled her hip onto a stool and rested her hands on the counter. “What makes you hesitate for us to live together again?  It’s not as if we aren’t living together as it is?”  We both know that we haven’t spent more than five nights apart in the past two months and we both hated it.”

            “I’m afraid to jinx it.”  Bette replied softly.  “I know we are in a much better place, still…

            Tina looked up and saw love, hurt and confusion in those deep brown eyes. “Say it.”  

            “What about your feelings for men? Are you still confused?”

            Tina closed her eyes and bit down on her bottom lip.  She opened them to find Bette waiting intently searching her eyes and face for the answers she sought. 

            “No. I’m clear.  I want to be with you, Babe. You are my Alpha and my Omega.  I have never loved anyone the way I love you.”

            The sincerity of Tina’s words was evident, still she had been just as sincere the last time they tried to be together and it only drove them further apart.  “I hate to say this T, but I’ve heard something like this before.  It did not go well.”  The wall went up.  The hurt and confusion threatened to drown her again.

            Tina was determined the wall come and stay down.  “Maybe we should go sit in the living room.  This might take awhile.” 

Tucking a leg underneath her on the sofa she began to speak.  “I wanted us to be a family.  When this child was conceived in our hearts I never imagined that I would be raising her alone. I say our hearts because even though I didn’t tell you when I was inseminated you were there in my heart.  I only wanted to spare you pain.  I did not mean to shut you out.  I never imagined that I would go through this pregnancy alone. 

Although, after I learned that you had betrayed me it was my intention to have her by myself.  Then Helena waltzed into my life and showered me with attention and desire and it helped.  The love of my life had turned to another and now I was fat and thought no one would want me.”

Bette flinched; having thought at the time something along those lines. 

 “You left me alone too long, Babe.” Tina paused and saw that she had Bette’s full attention; the wall had come down.  “Don’t leave me now, let me get this all out.