While both Tina and Bette enjoyed their evening out together they know that they still have a lot of work to do on their relationship in order for them to become a couple again.
Since the night of their date, Tina has alternated between being happy and constantly cautioning herself not to let Bettes charm sweep her off her feet. She knows that if she doesnt stay strong, she will wind up back at the house in their bed and she feels that they would more than likely make the same mistakes they made before. She could not live through an ordeal like that again. Bette has picked up the phone to call Tina about 100 times since the night of their date but so far she has managed to keep from actually making a call to her. She was elated with the outcome of their date. She hadnt really expected Tina to give her a kiss and was so happy that she had. She desperately wants Tina home with her where she belongs. She wants it to happen now but she knows if she pushes to hard that Tina will back away. The morning of their appointment with Dan Foxworthy arrives so Bette calls Tina to confirm that she is still planning on meeting her there.

Tina (seeing Bettes number on her caller ID): Good morning.

Bette: Do you have any idea how wonderful it is to be able to call you and to hear you say good morning?

Tina (laughs): Bette have you been drinking? Youve heard me say good morning hundreds of times.

Bette (laughing): No I have not been drinking. (Then softly): Im serious. When you wouldnt see me or talk to me I missed hearing your voice.

Tina: What am I going to do with you?

Bette (sexily): Well I can think of several things right off the top of my head.

Tina: Bette! Stop! You have got to turn off the ***** charm!

Bette: I am not doing it on purpose. Cant I let the woman I love know that I love hearing her voice and I want to be with her?

Tina: What am I supposed to say to that?

Bette (questioning): How about you want to be with her too? Forget I just said that. Maybe we better just get down to the reason I called.

Tina: That is probably a good idea.

Bette: I wanted to make sure you were going to make it to our appointment later today and to see if you wanted me to pick you up.

Tina: I have some errands to run for my boss this afternoon so I will just meet you there.

Bette: Okay. See you there.

Tina: Okay and by the way, Im glad you called.

Bette hung up the phone and was smiling. She was thinking that if this afternoons appointment went well maybe Tina would be home with her before too long. Tina hung the phone and was smiling but she was a little apprehensive about the appointment this afternoon. She knows that Bette wants her home with her but she is terrified of getting her heart stomped on again. When Tina arrived at Dan Foxworthys office she was surprised again to find Bette waiting on her. She let the thought that maybe Bette really has changed run through her mind.

Tina: Hey.

Bette (smiling): Hi! (Looks over at the receptionist) She said he was running a little late so we might have to wait a few minutes. So how was your day?

Tina: Busy.

Bette: Mine too. I have already started looking for our next show and I feel like we need something wonderful to follow Provocations.

Tina: Im sure youll find something good. I knew you would make the CAC a success given the chance.

Bette: Thanks for believing in me. I just wish (the receptionist walks up and tells them that they can go in now)

They go into Dan Foxworthys office and he asks them how thing have been and how they felt the last session went. They tell him about the date and how they enjoyed spending time with one another. He tells them that he feels that while they made some good progress in the last session he feels they still have some work ahead of them if they want to be together. He tells them that last session they had talked primarily about the reasons that Bette has felt so much pressure and that he would like for this session to have them touch on how Tinas feels in regards as to why they had problems in their relationship. He asks Tina to start. He tells her she can talk about whatever is on her mind. Tina doesnt really know where to start but she says that she is afraid. He asks her what she is afraid of. She tells him that she is afraid of loving Bette and getting her heart ripped out again. Bette is upset by Tinas words because knows she has put Tina through so much pain and is still causing her pain. Bette starts to say something and Dan Foxworthy stops her. Let her talk it out Bette. I know this is painful for both of you but you have to talk this through. He asks Tina if she wants to continue. She says that she loves Bette and probably always will but she doesnt know if she can ever be her wife again. A tear trickles down Bettes face but she just sits there. Tina says it would be so easy to give in to her love for Bette and be her wife but she says she has all these feelings of doubt and she fears that the lack of trust would eventually kill the love. Dan Foxworthy asks her if she is saying that she doesnt even want to try. Bettes heart is now in her stomach and she doesnt know if she can stand to hear what Tina might say. Tina just sits there for a minute or so and then looks over at Bette and says that she isnt ready to give up on them yet. Bettes tears are now flowing freely but she is relieved at Tinas words. Tina says that she doesnt know what to do with her fear. Dan Foxworthy says he thinks that her being there says she wants to overcome that fear and find a way for them to be together. He tells them both that overcoming infidelity in a relationship is one of the toughest things a couple can work through. He tells them it can be done if two people really love each other and are committed to working it out. He then asks Tina again to address what she thought had caused problems in their relationship in the past. She talked about how Bettes work was her priority. She said she tried to leave Bette alone because Bette was always so busy with work that she felt the need to make her own decisions, she talked about their lack of communication. She touched again on realizing that when she quit work that she changed. She also talked about the situation with Bettes father. She said that she always felt like she took a back seat to Melvin. She said that she did not know if he would ever accept her in Bettes life and if they ever had a baby if he would accept it. She talks about the baby that she lost and feeling so alone because Bette wasnt there with her when the doctor told her that she couldnt find a heart beat. Bette cant just sit there any more. She reaches over and pulls Tina into her arms and she cries and tells her she is sorry over and over again. They were both crying. Dan Foxworthy asks them if this the first time they have cried together over the loss of the baby and they both said yes. It takes time to deal with a loss and he told them they needed to help each through the process. He told them that he thought that they should stop now and they could take up where they left off in their next session. Neither of them said anything as they walked out of Dan Foxworthys office. They hadnt even stopped to make another appointment. They were headed out for the parking lot and Bette knew that she could not let Tina leave there alone.

Bette: Tina I am taking you home. You are too upset to drive.

Tina: Im okay.

Bette: No your not and neither am I. Please let me take you back to the house where we can talk? Dan Foxworthy is right. We need to talk about our baby.

Tina (crying): Why does it still hurt so much?

Bette (crying and taking Tina in her arms): Because we loved him. Please will you go back to the house with me so we can talk?

Tina (she is still crying): Okay.

Bette walks Tina over to her car and puts her in the passenger seat and buckles her seat belt. Neither of them says anything during the short drive over to the house. When they arrive Bette gets out of the car but Tina just sits there.
Bette (coming around to the passenger side and opening the door): Are you going to get out of the car?

Tina: I dont know if I can go in there with you. I remember every detail of what happened the last time we were in there together.

Bette: Oh Tina if you only knew how much I wish I could change things and undo what I did. If we are to have any chance at all of being together again we have to face what happened here and deal with the loss of our baby. We made that baby here together in this house in our bed and I think that we should deal with losing him here too.

Tina got out of the car and walked with Bette towards the house. As they approached the front door Bette held out her hand to Tina. Tina took her hand and they walked in together. Tina felt like it had been forever since shed been there but she knew it was home. Tina walked over and sat down on the sofa and Bette followed her.

Bette: Are you okay?

Tina: Yeah. Being here is just hard.

Bette (starting to cry): I am so sorry Tina. It just seems like no matter what I do I just keep hurting you. Maybe I should just walk a way and leave you alone. Let you find someone who will bring you happiness.

Tina (softly): Is that what you want? You want me to find someone else?

Bette (still crying): You know it isnt! It breaks my heart to see you hurting and I hate it that I am the cause. I love you Tina and I always will. I want you to be happy even if it means I have to let go of you. Your happiness is the most important thing in to the world to me.

Tina (puts her arms around Bette): Oh Bette how did we manage to let things get so fucked up.

Bette (still crying): We stopped talking to each other and I was a fool about so many things. When you lost the baby I knew I had to be strong for you but I wouldnt let myself cry. I couldnt let myself show any sign of weakness when in reality we should have been holding each other and crying together. I should have been with you when you found out. I loved our son as much as you did.

Tina (crying hard now): I know you did. I was too wrapped up in my own grieve to see that you were hiding the hurt from me. We should have been there for each other.

They sat there holding each other and crying until there were no more tears. Bette pulled away and went to get them some tissues. When she returned Tina was lying on the sofa with her eyes closed. Bette just stood there looking at her for a moment.
Bette: Tina you are exhausted. Why dont you stay here tonight?

Tina (starts to get up but sits back down): Im not sure thats a good idea.

Bette: You just need to rest. Please stay and let me take care of you.

Tina: I am too tired to argue anymore.

Bette: Do you want to sleep in our bedroom or out here?

Tina: Here is good.

Tina lay back down on the sofa and within minutes she was sound asleep. Bette called and left a message on Alices answering machine saying that Tina was with her and she was spending the night. Bette got a blanket and covered Tina up. She kissed Tina on the forehead and then moved over to the chair where she sat watching Tina sleep until she fell asleep. Bette woke up before Tina and went over and sat down next to the sofa as close to Tina as she could get with out touching her. She was sitting there just watching Tina when Tina opened her eyes.

Tina: Bette? Am I dreaming?

Bette (reaching out and brushing the hair away from Tinas face): No baby. I am here.

Tina: What time is it?

Bette: Its around 7:00 a.m. What time are you supposed to be at work?

Tina: 10 oclock.

Bette: I dont suppose I could talk you into taking the day off and spending it with me is there?

Tina: Dont you have work today.

Bette: Yes but I would rather spend the day with you. I have a little more leeway about taking off since Provocations has been successful. So what do you think? Can we spend the day together?

Tina (hesitating): I dont know Bette. I am feeling so vulnerable after what happened last night that I am afraid to spend the day with you.

Bette: Please. I really want you to stay. We can talk some more and see where the day takes us.

Tina: Okay. Let me call my boss and see if he will let me have the day off.
Tina called her boss and asked for the day off. She briefly explained that she was having some personal problems and she promised that she would be back to work tomorrow and would work extra hours if need be. Her boss told her not to worry about it because he knew she had been putting in extra hours anyway. Tina hung up the phone and walked over to where Bette was laying on the sofa with her arm over her eyes.

Tina (reaches out and touches Bettes arm): Are you okay?

Bette: Just tired.

Tina: Maybe I should just go.

Bette (looking at Tina): I dont want you to go. I want you to stay forever. I know after what happened I probably dont deserve to have you here. The day you left me was the worst day of my life. When I woke up and you were gone I walked through the house calling your name but you werent here. I found your ring lying on your pillow and I felt as though my world had come to an end. (She pulls the chain that has Tinas ring on it from beneath her shirt). I have had this with me constantly to try and keep you close to me. That night, what happened between us, still haunts me. I lost it when I knew you had seen me with Candace. I was desperate to prove to you that I loved you and that I was sorry. I thought if I could just get you to make love with me I could prove that. I never meant to physically hold you down or tear your dress off. I wanted to calm you down so I could make love to you.

Tina (quietly): I felt as if my heart had been ripped out of my chest and stomped on. When I told you I knew, you tried to hug me as if that would make everything okay and I couldnt deal with you touching me so I pushed you away. When you said you were sorry I just reacted with the slap. I have never slapped another human being in life but I was so hurt and angry that I couldnt control it. When you said you loved me and tried to hug me again I just freaked. The more you tried to touch me the more I fought it. I wanted you to hurt as bad as I was so I bit you. Im not sure exactly at what point I just decided if you wanted to ***** me that I would let you but on my terms. I think I thought that letting you ***** me would at least stop the pain if only for a couple of minutes. When you fell asleep I left because I knew I could not stay there with you. It was just too painful. I took off my ring because you had broken the commitment we made to each other and having it on my hand would have been a constant reminder of what I lost and what you had done.

Bette: We both lost control that night but it was my actions that caused it. I dont blame you for trying to hurt me. I deserved it. I wished to God, Id been a stronger person and we wouldnt be sitting here dealing with the aftermath of my stupid mistake.

Tina: Bette we cant change was has happened. We just have to decide if we can go forward and have a life together.

Bette: There is no decision for me to make. It is totally up to you. I can tell you a thousand or even million times that I am sorry and I love you but ultimately it is up to you to decide if you can live with what I have done. I will be heartbroken if you decide that we cant ever be together again but I will accept your decision.

Tina: I wish it was an easy decision to make but it isnt. I know that I love you and right now the thought of never seeing you again makes me think that my heart is going to stop beating. As for a decision about whether I can live with what you have done only time will tell. I do think however the only way I can make that decision is to actually live with you again.

Bette (excitedly): Are you saying you will move back in here with me?

Tina: Yes but there are going to be some ground rules.

Bette: I dont care what they are as long as you are here.

Tina: I am not going to share your bed. I cant do that until I am sure of what I want. I cant promise that I will stay forever and I want that understood from the beginning.

Bette: I think I can live with those rules as long as youre willing to try. Will you be upset with me if I say that I hope your rules go a way in a very short time?

Tina (laughs): How did I know you would say that?

Bette: Because you love me and know me better than anyone else in the world. So when can we move you back in?

Tina: How about now?

Bette drove Tina back to Alices and she helped her pack up her stuff and they loaded it in the car. Alice was there and told them she was happy they were trying to make it work because she knows that they really love each other. They both thanked her for letting Tina stay there and for supporting them. They got in the car and Bette drove them over to Dan Foxworthys office to pick up Tinas car. When she dropped Tina off at her car she told her that she would be waiting for her. As Bette drove along she couldnt help but think how happy she was that Tina was coming home and she prayed that she was coming home to stay.