At Bette’s words Tina gently set her glass down and reached forward to wipe the tears from Bette’s eyes as she spoke, "I have to I implode if I don’t, that’s what I did when I was there in the pain, I denied myself and who I was because I was the only person I saw. No matter how much I was hurting I wasn’t the only one that lost our child and in the pain I forgot that baby." Bette felt not only heard the weight of Tina’s words as she spoke them and from somewhere deep inside her soul she felt a hard knot release and then the tears flowed with no chance of stopping them. She barely registered T’s next words, "Come here Bette honey, it’s ok to let it out, to let him go. I won’t let go of you. I promise." Suddenly Bette felt the warmth and comfort of Tina’s arms drawing her in and pulling her close to her chest. Time became a meaningless concept as they sat holding on to each other, grieving their son for the very first time together.

Gradually, Bette’s grief lessened and her tears slowed, raising her head she looked into Tina’s eyes and found indescribable love reflected there not the rejection and blame she had feared. Just as she was about to speak Tina’s lips met hers and Bette lost herself in the intensity of a kiss that rocked her soul to its core. The unspoken message of Tina’s kiss–her acceptance, respect and trust brought the cynical voice Bette dreaded front and centre, Better enjoy it while you can Porter. It’ll be gone, gone forever when you lose it all–your job, your reputation Responding instantly to the silent message Bette pulled back breaking the kiss, shattering the moment . Getting to her feet, Bette walked to the patio doors as fear and anger charged through her as she deperately grasped for her equilibrium.

Shocked by Bette’s sudden retreat Tina stood and fought the urge to follow Bette to the door, instead she stayed on the couch as she spoke, "Bette.. honey… what just happened?"

"Fuck T! I…this isn’t going to last… it can’t. This fucking mess with Jodie, my job it could destroy me, us!"