"What’s it , Tina?"

"It… it’s the look you get when you see me walk across a room or the way you smile at me and the face you make when I smile back. It’s the tingling sensation I feel all over my body when you touch my lower back. It’s the way you make me wanna get up in the morning and shower you with every bit of love I have in me. It is my own realization of self beauty and confidence."

"As silly as this sounds; I always thought me loving you or telling you you’re beautiful constantly was it. I always thought it was there already."

"That was it, for that moment. Until I got sight of what everyone was telling me was ugly, and wrong then there I was tearing myself down again. Only to use you to temporarily build me back up. It wasn’t until I talked to…"

"Vanessa."

"Yes…" Tina looked at Bette quizzically.

"Alice." she answered dryly before the question was asked. " I practically beat it out of her before I left."

"I’ll bet."

"Tina you should’ve told me that you wanted to talk to Vanessa while I was gone. You kept that big of a secret from me. Then you lied to me about it."

"Bette, I know I was wrong in lying to you but baby, between Melito, the adoption, Alicia, and the burden that is my life you would’ve pulled yourself apart. That’s not fair to you in the least bit." Tina finished and saw that look in Bette’s eyes that told her a feeling was struck by her words. "What?"

"That’s the second time I’ve heard that. Your life, your problems being another burden on me." Bette had to stop to calm herself " I can’t believe it." Bette got up to go into the house when she felt Tina grab her arm to stop her.

Without taking her eyes away from the ground Tina said "Talk to me Bette. Don’t walk away from this."

Bette walked back around so Tina could see her. Bette reached out and lifted Tina’s eyes to meet hers as she crouched down in front of her. She spoke softly so as not to seem too upset, "Tina as your friend, your confidant, and as your lover I always thought any part your life you wanted to share with me, whether it was good or bad was a privilege and an honor. But never once did I ever consider you to be a burden on me." she leaned in and kissed Tina softly on the lips and proceeded to head into the kitchen.