“Oh please say that stud, Eric whatever his last name is, the one from Resident Evil, remember?” asked Jo standing on her toes to look around for the gorgeous hunk of a man. 

            “Oh, the one that looks like Tim?”

            “That one,” said Jo.  Spotting something from her vantage point, “Is that a panel from Rage?”

            “Over there?  Yes, Justin was sweet enough to give it to us, all the proceeds go to the scholarship program,” informed Bette with a grin.

            “How silent is this silent auction?” asked Jo, mentally thinking of the cash she had in her wall safe at Twilight.  Rage was one of her favorite comic books, but she didn’t tell that to Bette. 

            “You want it?” asked Bette in an odd voice.

            “I want it,” said Jo.  “I’m going to go find Justin…,” said Jo to Bette.  “You wander around and do your thing, don’t worry about me.  Just think really hard, and I’ll find you,” giggled Jo, her eyes flashing a deep amber and Bette felt that heat inside of her again. 

            Bette watched her walking across the floor, hips swaying, making Bette want to go up behind her and ravish her, but holding her libido at bay.  Jo turned, as if knowing that Bette was watching her, smiling and pivoting back, spotting Justin and Brian chatting with the Ugly Bette actor.  Bette smiled, biting her lip and feeling at peace with herself, feeling happy and wanted. 

CC

            Bette was talking to a new student, when a hand tapped her shoulder, turning; Bette saw a face she’d wanted to be there, Senator Amy Astin-Larkin.  The woman that could very well run for President in 2008 if she so desired.  Inviting the Senator had been a huge effort in the making, she’d been a wonderful sponsor of the arts in her time in the state and federal senate.

            “Senator Astin-Larkin, I was hoping you’d be here, I hope you are enjoying the art of our students,” asked Bette, extending a hand to the gorgeous woman. 

            Green eyes smiling, Amy took Bette’s hand, shaking it gently, “It’s just Astin now, I’m getting a divorce in the very near future.  And I’m loving this format of looking at art.  Sorry I’m late, I was having dinner with my daughter, Tegan, who is in town, staying with friends.  A wonderful exhibit of progressive art you have here.”

            “We have a few upcoming students that are going to turn the art world over onto it’s ear, and I’m hoping that we do get more federal and state funding for scholarships in the future.”

            Amy laughed, “Well my term is up, and I’m going right back into my former practice.” 

            “You were a psychologist, weren’t you?  Criminal profiling with a law firm?” asked Bette.  Looking around for Jo, wanting her to meet the Senator, knowing that Jo did well with any type of people, and Senator Astin, whether in office or not, was a good sort of person to know and to charm.  Where was her wandering girlfriend?

            “Someone has done her homework, who are you looking for?” asked Amy, her own eyes gaze sweeping around the room.  Seeing various people that she knew from her life.

            “My girlfriend, I’d like to introduce you.”

            “Ah, you’re gay?  I didn’t know,” said Amy walking along side of Bette as they moved through the crowd.  Hip to hip and shoulder to shoulder, two stunningly beautiful women, searching the room.

            “Really?  Not doing your research?” smiled Bette easily, feeling that bantering with the Senator was something that was allowed.

            “I’m not much on researching people, I like to get a feel for someone when I meet them,” grinned Amy in a very flirty voice. 

            Bette turned and smiled at her, and then over Amy Astin’s shoulder, she spotted Jo.  “I’ll remember that, I think I’ve found her,” added Bette.

            Walking over to Jo, Amy in tow, slipping behind Jo, hands around her waist, who was chatting with Brian Kinney, kissing Jo’s neck, “There is someone I’d like you to meet.”

            Jo turned, a smile on her lips, then seeing the blonde woman standing next to Bette, equally as stunning as Bette in every opposite contrast, Jo met the emerald gaze of her former lover, her soul mate in every aspect, “Amy Astin.”