Bette stared at her for a moment. Their eyes locked. Both of them were struggling with their feelings for each other, daring the other to make the move while all along praying for the strength to get through this without a broken heart.

Suddenly Bette turned around effectively breaking the eye contact with Tina.

“I have to go.” She mumbled

“Go where?” Tina asked, panic starting to rise in her stomach making her heartbeat quicken with fear.

“Away from this place.” Bette replied distractedly.

“But this is your home!” Tina said trying frantically to figure out what was going on with Bette, the way she was acting baffled her. This was not how she expected her to react. Then it dawned on her. It was the classic Porter trait; running away, hiding out. But Tina would be damned if she let Bette do this.

“Oh so you have to go then.” Tina was brought out of her thoughts as she heard Bette say this.

“Bette please…don’t do this listen to me!” Tina pleaded with her.

But Bette kept on busy, wandering around the room looking for her keys while mumbling to herself; ‘No, no..this can’t be happening. I can’t do this. Stay away, that’s the right thing to do. Right, yes, that’s what I am going to do. I won’t let her make the same mistakes again. Mistakes that I made. No. Never.’

Tina is looking on helplessly getting frustrated by the situation. Finally her nerves get the better of her and she screams.

“BETTEEE Stup Up!”

Bette instantly stops any movement and stands still her heart thumping.

Tina walks towards Bette, holds her by the arm and spins her around to face her.

She looks into her eyes, puts her hand behind her neck and pulls her close towards her face and without any warning places a deep kiss on her soft lips.

Bette is so taken aback by surprise that she couldn’t check the moan that left her mouth. Tina slowly lets go of her lips but stays close and waits for Bette to open her eyes. She looks into the chocolate brown eyes in front of her and what she sees there makes her gasp.

So much vulnerability, so much hurt, helplessness, so much love. Tina is taken aback by its sheer magnitude and openness.

“God what have I done? What is troubling you baby? Tell me please baby, let me in for god sakes”

Bette’s eyes were welled up with tears slipping down her flushed cheeks.

“Oh baby…” Tina couldn’t take it anymore.

“Come here love”

Tina pulls her close to her body and holds her there tight in her arms.

She gently rubs her back as she feels the sobs leaving Bette’s body.

“Shhhh…I am here. Shhh….sweetheart, let it go. I got you babe. I got you.”

Finally Bette calms down after a few minutes but still clings on to Tina. Tina slowly tries to pull away but Bette tightens her hold on her.

“Its okay. Shh…its okay. Let me look at you baby.” Tina says in a soothing voice while running her hand through her hair lovingly.

Bette lets go a little but still keeps her arms around Tina’s waist.

“Aww sweetie” Tina gives her a loving warm smile as she rubs the last trails of tears from Bette’s face.

“What am I gonna do with you?”

Tina kisses Bette on the forehead as she caresses her head

Both just keep gazing at each other for a long time. Finally Tina gently pulls Bette along towards the love seat.

“Come sit with me?”

Bette nods and follows feeling drained of all the energy all of a sudden.

tbc??