"Risk is what relationships are all about Tina," Bette said. "All relationships break up and get back together until they either split for good or stay for good."

"And how do we know this would be a permanent try and not just another feeble attempt like all the others?" Tina said.

"Because you said it yourself Tina, we’re both different people," Bette said. "Don’t you think we owe it to our new selves to explore this love we have? Cause you can’t deny that you love me too."

Tina shook her head, "I would never deny that. I love you just as much or more than the very beginning."

"So do I," Bette said grabbing Tina’s hand gently. "Tell me though, did what happened that night on your birthday affect your decision to leave Eric for me?"

"It had everything to do with it," Tina said. "After that night, that blind love and devotion I had for him was completely gone and I felt nothing for him but disappointment and I would say even disgust. I don’t even know why I stayed with him. Maybe it was because I had no one else to go to, until I found you at least."

January 11, 2001

Eric was shoved down on the floor beside Tina and Tina let out a squeak of terror.

"Shut the fuck up before I knock your mouth out blondie!" One of the men hollered.

Tina trembled and cowered away.

"We can make this simple Miller, tell us who ratted out our boss and we let you and your little girlfriend go," the other man said.

"Eric don’t," Tina whispered grabbing his arm, "they’ll kill the guy."

A strong hand whacked her hard on the jaw making blood spill out of her mouth. "I said shut it blonde bitch!"

Eric didn’t even attempt to stop the hit nor help Tina sit back up again. Instead he started crying like a baby and said, "I don’t care if they kill him, I don’t wanna die. His name is Hany Craigstein."

"Hany?" The man growled, "that fucking traitor."

The other man who had hit Tina, sat her up and shoved her against Eric. "If you two spill a word of this we’ll come back for you and that time you’ll never escape."