Tina’s expression softens into a faint smile of recognition. “There she is.”

Bette takes Tina’s wrists and raises them, pinning them to the wall above her head. She kisses her slowly at first, then less slowly. Her thigh presses between Tina’s legs, and she feels Tina shudder against her, hips tilting forward to meet the pressure.

Tina’s head tips back. Her bottom lip catches between her teeth. When Bette’s fingers slide inside her she makes a sound that the shower almost swallows, and she begins to move, finding the rhythm, matching it, before reaching between them and sliding her own fingers inside Bette.

Bette’s free hand shoots to the wall above Tina’s head. She steadies herself there, forehead dropping to Tina’s temple, both of them breathing hard now, moving together in the close heat of the steam. They hold each other’s gaze, the kind of eye contact that requires a type of love, trust, and deep connection, something that neither of them has ever quite managed with anyone else…

***

Later, Tina is on the back patio, eating breakfast with Angie and Mickey. She’s dressed for the day, with a cream blouse tucked neatly into a tailored skirt and her hair straightened, falling against her shoulders. A mug of coffee rests near her, and a bowl of fresh fruit sits between her and the kids.

Angie giggles at something Mickey says, nearly knocking over her orange juice.

“Hey, careful, you two,” Tina laughs, steadying the glass.

“Sorry…” The kids say in union.

Tina smiles, watching them immediately fall back into their playful banter, their energy filling the quiet morning.

The back gate creaks open, drawing her attention. Tina looks up, brows lifting slightly as Alice strolls in like she owns the place. “Well, look at this,” she says, amused. “What brings you by?”

Alice flashes a grin, waving as she approaches. “Hey, babies…” She leans down, kissing Angie on the cheek, then Mickey. “Miss me?”

“Hi, Aunt Alice,” Angie chirps with a wave. Mickey mimics his sister, offering his own enthusiastic wave.

Alice drops into the extra chair at the table like it was reserved for her. “I was in the neighborhood.”