Fan Fiction
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Comfort Enough
Tina was well aware that at some point she was going to have to re-enter this building. Since they reunited, Tina had been able to beg off attending the regular events that Bette hosted at the museum. And Bette was only too happy to insist that, indeed, her pregnant wife had more important things to do than nurse a club soda all night and make small talk with pretentious wannabes. But Tina was the boss’ wife. And eventually, after the baby was born, she knew she was going to be expected at the receptions, and the lectures, and the openings. If not by Bette then by the CAC’s board and staff. She couldn’t hide out forever.
“Hey stranger,” James beamed, hurrying over to open the door for Tina.
“Hey James,” she greeted him, pulling him into a quick embrace.
“Bette wanted me to wait for you-she’s wrapping up a conference call but she’ll be out in five minutes. Would you like some water? Tea? Milk?”
“Milk? Do you get a lot of requests for that from visiting artists?”
“Bette sent me out for it this morning,” James admitted, nodding toward the cluster of plush chairs in the lobby.
“No. No thanks. I actually think I’ll wander while I wait. I haven’t been here sincein a long time,” Tina said.
“Ohokay. Would you like me to show you the new exhibits? We’re featuring this one Kenyan sculptor who’s doing some really amazing dimensional still life stuff.”
“James, I’m sure you have much better things to do than walk me through the galleries. Thanks for the offer, but I’ll just find my way around,” Tina replied.
The young man hesitated, clearly uncomfortable with this change of plan. Tina noticed his worried expression and smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry. You can tell her it was my idea. Now go on, go back to work. She can find me when she’s ready.”
Tina turned and walked away, leaving James standing in the lobby with an anxious look on his face. She didn’t want an audience. This first visit, this first time back, needed to happen on her own terms. Provocations had long been packed up and shipped off to its next destination, replaced by a collection of works by African artists. Tina had read about it in the paper a few months ago, and wondered, fleetingly, who Bette had hired to dismantle the displays.
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(23 votes, average: 4.78 out of 5)
Ah, the hair thing…I know it well. In fact, I was getting drowsy just thinking about it!
You could almost hear James battling in his head “OMG…OMG…OMG, Bette is NOT going to like this. I wonder if I have death benefits?”.
Emancipation is a battle hard fought, but the victory will be a sweet reward. For both of them.
The slow and steady pace that you have set for their journey back to each other rings true and does not stretch the limits of credulity.
I am always delighted to see a new chapter from you.
Art often imitates life …this story… your story makes me wish life would imitate art. I love the pace of this reconciliation… if there exists ( I think it does) a positive side to storms in relationships…it’s the day to day discoveries you make about each other and about real intimacy on the way back to love… which you have beautifully illustrated …standing ovation FFC…please take a bow you deserve it.
I’m not foolish enough to think Tina and Bette aren’t going to revisit the affair in S3 but your version is pitch perfect and engaging whereas the new spoilers suggest we all got TiBette wrong.
Thanks for the updates FFC…just been doing some catching up as always these days…..wonderful FFC..keep going
Another sweet chapter in this story I´ve come to adore and love. Looking forward to reading the continuation so please post soon and please don´t cause any more turmoil but let us only have sweet, tender moments while they´re working their way toward forgiveness and complete reconciliation.
baby steps. be brave and face it. great chapter…..love it..every line.
I loved this chapter. If it only goes this well on the show next year…post soon
that is right.. for think about the future talk about the past is necessary otherwise the ghosts of the past will be always in their lives but their are ok and the talk will be hard but they wil be fine..another great chapter post soon thanks :o)
Lets hope good memories will wash away all the bad ones. It might take a long time but we can hope. Bette still take the blame.most of the time more people are to blame.. thanks
“you know how the hair thing relaxes me.”
“the butler did it.”
do you get alot of requests for that from visiting artists?”
“bette sent me out for it this morning.”
“dont worry. you can tell her it was my idea.”
“i just…i…i had to see. i dont know why.”
“at first i couldnt even walk through. then i would force mself to…as punishment.”
“me too. but we cant. and in some ways, that… remembering…is whats going to keep us from ever going back there again.”
“you tell your heart to take all the time it needs. im not going anywhere.”
YOKO ONO – we didnt get tibette wrong. we got IC on crack for s3.
ffc – this is picture perfect. these snapshots you give us. my heart just swells reading your words. they inspire me to reflect. dont want this to end. thanks.
Very very sensitively done – I’m playing catch up and the last 4 chapters have been really wonderful very soft and warm.