Tina woke up with Bette on her mind. She thought about the way they had held each other after the session with Dan Foxworthy. They had finally talked about what had happened. They still had not addressed what happened the night she told Bette that she knew about Candace but she knew that eventually they would have to deal with that too. Tina hadnt told Alice about her agreeing to see Dan Foxworthy with Bette nor the outcome but she needed to talk it over with someone. She was questioning whether or not she had made the right decision. She got up, got dressed and headed into the kitchen to find something to eat. For some reason this morning she was really hungry. Maybe that is a sign that she is feeling better about life in general. Alice comes walking out of her bedroom in her pajamas and heads to the coffee pot.

Alice: Morning. You want some coffee?

Tina: Good morning to you too. How about instead of you making that coffee, we go over to the Planet and get some breakfast. I’ hungry this morning.

Alice: Okay. That sounds good to me. Just give me 10 minutes to change.

Tina: Okay but hurry. I have to go into work this morning. I have a few errands to run for my boss and he is expecting me in around 10:00 a.m. How about if I just meet you there in about 25 minutes so I can just leave from there?

Alice: See you there.

Tina left and Alice went in to get dressed. They met and the Planet and had both ordered some breakfast and coffee.

Alice: You seem to be in a pretty good mood today.

Tina: Yeah. I am. Things are a little better between Bette and I. Yesterday we went and saw Dan Foxworthy. We actually talked about the affair.

Alice: That must have been tough.

Tina: It was. I was emotionally drained after the session. We talked about both bad times and good though. At the end I told Bette that I would try to work on forgiving her.

Alice: For what its worth I think you are doing the right thing.

Tina: Then why am I filled with doubt regarding that decision this morning?

Alice: Maybe because youre scared of being hurt again.

Tina (thinking about it): I am. I really am. I have to honest with myself through this whole process to make sure that I am doing what is right for me. I love her. I thought I could make it go away, but its there with me all the time.

Alice: Like I said, I think you are making the right decision. There is just something so special between the two of you. So are you thinking about moving back with in her?

Tina: No. It is still soon to even consider it. I made her no promises. I only told her I would try. We are going to go out on a date tomorrow night and we are supposed to see Dan Foxworthy again early next week.

Alice: I bet Bette will be going all out for the date. Is she taking you some where special?

Tina: I told her I would only go if it was something simple. We are going to dinner some place quiet.

Alice: Do you want to use the apartment and cook her dinner? I can clear out for the night if you want.

Tina: No that is too intimate. I am not ready for that. (She gets a flash in her head of her and Bette in bed making love and quickly pushes it away). I dont know what the future holds but I have to be sure of what I want.

Alice and Tina finished their breakfast and Tina headed out to run the rest of her errands and headed in to work.

Bette had started her morning with a smile. It was the first time since Tina had left her that she actually thought there was hope for them. Yesterday had been hard on both of them but at the end of the day Tina had agreed to try to forgive her. She was thankful because she knew that her workday would fly by because there was a lot of work she needed to get accomplished. Her workday was nearing the end when she looked up to see Candace standing there. She had called to break things off with her the day that Tina left her and she hadnt seen her since the Provocations opening and was surprised to see her standing there.

Bette: Hi. What are you doing here?

Candace: I came by to pick up my final check for the renovations on the gallery and I wanted to stop in and see you. How are you? How are things with Tina?

Bette: I m doing okay. Tina and I are trying to work things out. We are going out on a date tomorrow night.

Candace: Oh. I just wanted you to know that if things dont work out with the two of you that I wouldnt mind you giving me a call and us hanging out sometime.

Bette (hating hurting Candace anymore than she already has): Im sorry but that is not going to happen. I love Tina and I will always will. I made a mistake. I am going to do whatever it takes to make sure that I make it up to her.

Candace: I understand. If that is what you want then I hope you get it.

Candace turned and walked out of Bettes office. Bette realized that while she felt bad for hurting Candace that strong sexual attraction just didn’t seem to be there this time. She was glad that Candace had come by because it reaffirmed what she already knew that the affair was meaningless and she loved Tina. She gathered up her things and started out for home and decided she would swing by Kits. She had promised her she would let her know the outcome of her and Tinas appointment with Dan Foxworthy. She had been too emotionally drained to call her last night.

Kit (answering the door): Hi. I was worried because I didnt hear from you last night..

Bette (hugging Kit): It was emotionally draining and I just went home, had some dinner and crashed.

Kit: Well?

Bette (smiles): She is going to at least try and forgive me.

Kit (squeezes Bette hard): Great!!! I knew she would. She loves you.

Bette (pulling away from Kit and walking over to the sofa): Well she made no promises except that she would try. We talked about a lot of different things and it was painful. It was good too though. Dan Foxworthy made us remember all the things that brought and kept us together before we started on the painful stuff. I think that it really helped. I wouldnt have blamed her if she had told me it was over. I am grateful to be getting a chance at a new beginning.

Kit: You know that it is not going to be easy. You are going to have to go slow and not push to hard. I know you want everything back like it was before.

Bette: No I dont.

Kit (misunderstanding): You dont want it back like it was before? I am confused.

Bette: I want Tina back in my life forever but I want it to better than it has been for us the last year or so. Tina deserves that and so do I.

Kit: Oh. You both do. I am so happy for you.

Bette: We are going out to dinner tomorrow night. I am supposed to take her someplace quiet. She said it had to be simple. Do you think me taking her flowers or small present would go beyond simple?

Kit: Depends on the present. I dont think you have to try and buy her love with flowers or a present.

Bette: I know that but I want her to see and feel how much I love her.

Kit: Well then just take her a single rose. Make it her favorite color.

Bette: Well she really looks good in brown.

Kit (laughing): I wasnt talking about what she looks good in. Just go to the florist and pick one up. It is good to see you smile again.

Kit and Bette talked a while and finally Bette said she really should get home. She needed to decide what she was going to wear for her date with Tina. She promised Kit that she would let her know if anything changed with the situation with Tina.

The next workday moved like slow molasses for both Bette and Tina. Bette kept looking at the clock on her wall and Tina kept looking at her watch. They both were looking forward to seeing each other at 7:00 p.m. Finally 5:30 p.m. arrived and they each headed home to get ready for their date. At exactly 7:00 p.m. Bette knocked on the door at Alices apartment.

Tina (opening the door to and smiling tentatively): Hi.

Bette: Hi.

Tina: You want to come in for a minute or should I just grab my purse so we can be on our way.

Bette: I made reservations for 7:30 p.m. so we should probably get going. (Taking a long look at Tina) You look beautiful.

Tina (taking in how good Bette looks): Thanks. So do you.

Bette: Shall we go?

Tina: Yeah. So where are you taking me?

Bette: To this new Italian place. It just opened a week ago and I heard it is pretty good food. (She reaches out and goes to take Tinas hand) Is this okay?

Tina: Yeah its okay.

Bette takes Tina to the car and they are getting in when Bette realizes that she forgot to give Tina the rose she brought her. She was so nervous that she had left it in the car. Tina gets in and almost sits on it but Bette grabs right before it gets squished.

Bette (holding out the rose): I brought this for you but forgot to bring it in.

Tina (smelling the rose): Thats heavenly. Thank you but you really didnt need to do that.

Bette (reached up and took her finger and turned Tinas face toward her): I wanted to. I dont mean to push but I want you to know how much I love you.

Tina (She is uncomfortable because it would be so easy to give in to the ***** Bette sitting beside her): So tell me about this new Italian place we are going to.

Bette: It is not too far from the gallery. James and his friends ate there the other night and he recommended it.

Bette started the car and they drove along in silence. Tina noticed that Bette seemed to have become a little uncomfortable and she chalked it up to nervousness. After they pulled into a parking spot at the restaurant Bette stopped her from getting out of the car.

Bette (hesitating): I need to tell you something before we go in. You have to know how much I want this evening to go well for us but something happened today and I have to be honest about it.

Tina (worried about what Bette is going to say): Okay.

Bette: I saw Candace today.

Tina (flinching at hearing Candaces name): I dont think I want hear this (she reaches over to open the car door and Bette grabs her hand).

Bette: Will you please let me explain? I didnt go and see her. She was at the gallery to pick up her last check for the renovations that were done for Provocations. She stopped in my office to see how I was doing?

Tina (hurt and angry): So did you two get it on right there?

Bette (shocked at Tinas words): NO! No ***** way would I do that to you again! I love YOU! Can I please just tell you what happened?

Tina (still hurting): Go ahead. Get it over with.

Bette: She came in and wanted to see how I was doing. I told her that you and I were trying to work things out. I told her that I love you and I always will. I told her I made a mistake and I was going to do everything I could to make it up to you.

Tina (relieved to hear Bettes words): You really told her that?

Bette: Yes I did and I meant every word. I just wanted to be totally honest with you. My being totally honest with you is the only way I can ever hope to ever regain your trust. I didnt want to hurt you but I had to tell you that I had seen her.

Tina (tentatively smiling): I am glad you told me. Now can we go inside and eat some dinner Im starving.

Bette was relieved that Tina still wanted to spend the evening with her. She had been afraid of telling Tina about seeing Candace and was happy that she had told her the truth. They were seated at a table which over looked a water garden that was on one end of the restaurant and they were looking over their menus. They both realized that this dinner was going to be a little awkward for them. In the past they would have ordered two different items and would have eaten off of each others plate so tonight they both opted to have the lasagna and they added a bottle of wine to their order.

Bette: So how was work today?

Tina: Long. It seemed like 24 hours but it was only a little over 8. How about for you?

Bette: Work it self wasnt too bad but the clock moved so slow that I checked it about 20 times to see if it had stopped.

Tina: Youre not normally a clock watcher.

Bette: I was anxious to see you.

Tina (not sure if she should admit this): I was anxious to see you too.

Their dinner showed up and they spent the time talking about what had been going on with Alice, Dana, Shane and Kit. They agreed that the food was very good but the wine was even better. The waiter had brought the check and they both reached for it at the same time.

Bette: Ive got it.

Tina: Tell me how much I owe for my part?

Bette: I am paying.

Tina: I can pay for my own food.

Bette: Please lets not argue over this. I know you are working and you can pay your own way but I want to pay this. It was my idea to come out to dinner. You can pay next time, okay?

Tina: Okay

Bette handed her credit card to the waiter and he told her he would be right back with the charge slip.

Bette: So is there anything you would like to go and do now? We could take a walk along the waterfront. We could take a drive and find some where to park and watch the sunset and talk or we could make out like a couple of teenagers.

Tina: BETTE!

Bette: Okay so maybe making out like a couple of teenagers isnt a good option right now. Besides if I started kissing you I dont know if I could stop with just kissing.

The waiter walked back up and handed Bette the charge slip for her to sign. She added on a generous tip for him and handed it back to him. She stood up and held out her hand to Tina.

Bette: So what are you thinking?

Tina (a flash of her and Bette making out pops into her mind): No parking! How about watching the sunset down on the waterfront?

Bette: Sounds good to me. I just want to be with you.

Bette is just so ***** that Tina wonders how she can spend time with her and not give in to her. She strengthens her resolve that she has to stay strong because she has to do what is right for both of them.

They spend the rest of the evening just really enjoying being with one another. They each talk about how nice the weather is and how beautiful the sunset was but mostly there is comfortable silence with one another. Bette drives Tina back to Alices and walks her to the door.

Bette: This feels really strange.

Tina: Yes it does.

Bette: You know you can move back home anytime you want. I (Tina interrupts her)

Tina: Bette, please dont push.

Bette: I was going to say that we could sleep in different bedrooms or I could stay with Kit. I know youre not ready to share a bed with me.

Tina: Oh, sorry. I think it would be best if I stay here for now. I really did enjoy this evening though.

Bette (reaching out and touching Tinas face): I did too. Do you think I could push just a little bit?

Tina (laughing): How much is a little bit?

Bette: A hug and maybe just a little kiss. I promise nothing too heavy.

Tina (laughs again): You are just too damn ***** Bette Porter!

Tina pulls Bette into a hug and she softly kisses her and pulls back.

Tina: Goodnight. I will see you next week out our appointment.

Bette: Goodnight.

Tina walks into Alices apartment and leans against the back of the door. Bette leaned against the outside of Alices door. They each stood there thinking that tonight they took a few more steps towards finding their way back to each other. Granted they were baby steps but steps nonetheless.