Why??! a scowling, strutting Bette Porter demanded.

Give me ONE good reason!?!

The wall she was talking to remained silent.

Fine then. Ill do it. With that last affirmation, she spun on her heel and snatching up her purse on the way, strode furiously through the door.

Half-an-hour later, she walked through the door held open by a doorman who had the foolish grin in his face that men get when theyve seen a woman so beautiful that it rocks their socks off, but for some reason they arent allowed to talk about it. More admiring glances came her way as she proceeded to the top of the stairs.

Inside, Bette didnt care. She was still fuming about being there.

Outside, she smiled the thousand-watt smile.

– – –

Tina suddenly felt two strong yet utterly conflicting emotions. She felt a sudden warmth, and a sudden anger. The source of the warmth she hadnt identified yet, but she had a strong suspicion what the cause was.

The anger was something where she was crystal clear on the cause. Helena was pawing her. There was no other descriptor her current emotions would allow.

However, Tinas emotions of late hadnt exactly been under the tight control the blonde had previously been used to. Ever since a certain sonogram in fact, shed felt things that she thought she had a good tight leash on, slipping wildly out of her control. Again.

And truth to tell – she was a little bit angry at her emotions for that betrayal. So she retaliated against them and ignored them. Again.

– – –

Bette felt the thousand-watts dim to about a hundred until a voice whispered in her memory

Remember, game face, itll drive her nuts if she sees shes not getting to you.

A thousand-watts grew to a thousand-and-ten.

Game on.

– – –

Tina finally caught Bettes stare.

As her ex-wifes eyes widened in surprise and then darkened in unknowing welcome while a smile to match Bettes broke across her face, Bette felt her heart expand and then clench hard into the happiness blooming out from it.