Fan Fiction
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Comfort Enough
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At first, Tina’s path seemed meandering. A general reacquainting of sorts, a reclaiming of the space where she had shared so many celebrations, so many festive occasions with Bette. Over the past few years, as Bette worked hard to lift the museum from relative obscurity to national prominence, Tina had become a favorite of the CAC’s most influential constituents. Bette Porter’s beautiful, intelligent wife, had done her share of behind the scenes wooing and schmoozing, and it was not uncommon for Bette to seat Tina strategically near major players during dinners or parties to gain the greatest advantage from her charm and passionate understanding of art.
Ultimately, though, Tina understood that her stroll through the rooms was not at all random. She knew exactly where she was going. And as she stood there, arriving finally at the spot where she’d been when her life had changed forever, Tina was filled with a terrible ache that overwhelmed her completely, and forced a sharp intake of breath.
“Tina,” Bette called, hurrying toward her, visible only as a blur of ivory linen, knowable only by her voice.
“I’m right here, T. I’m here,” Bette said, pulling Tina close.
“I justII had to see. I don’t know why,” Tina said, impatiently wiping her eyes.
“Come on,” Bette said, putting her arm around Tina’s shoulders and gently leading her out of the room. “Let’s get out of here.”
They walked to an adjoining gallery and sat together, holding hands on a bench in front of a wall-length photography display.
“IumI didn’t think that would happen,” Tina said softly, her eyes lowered.
“At first I couldn’t even walk through,” Bette replied. “Then I would force myself toas punishment.”
They sat in silence for a while longer before Bette asked, “What are you thinking?”
Tina shrugged, her whole body suddenly weighed down by weariness. “II thought I was over it. I know it’s not like that. I know it’s not ever going to completely go away. I guess I just hoped it would.”
Bette raised Tina’s hand to her lips, kissing her palm. “It’s a part of us now. And that’s my fault. I brought this into our relationship and I’m sosorry.”
“Maybemaybe now that we’re in a better place with each other, we can talk about it a little more. AboutCandace,” Tina said, not looking up.
“Anything you want. We can talk about anything.”
Tina nodded, finally looking up to meet Bette’s gaze. “We have to go soon, don’t we?”
Bette looked at her watch. “Yes.”
Tina leaned heavily against Bette’s shoulder. “Sometimes I want to run away from everything. Not you. But the past. You know? Justforget that it all happened.”
“Me too. But we can’t. And in some ways, thatrememberingis what’s going to keep us from ever going back there again.”
“I know. In my mind, I know that’s true. I’m waiting for my heart to catch up,” Tina said, smiling faintly.
Bette stood up and extended a hand to help Tina to her feet. As they stood there, facing each other, Bette brushed Tina’s hair back from her face, tucking it behind her ear.
“You tell your heart to take all the time it needs. I’m not going anywhere.”
To seal her promise, Bette leaned in and, ever so tenderly, kissed Tina’s waiting lips.
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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.