"Bette!" Carmen yelled over the distance between them, "It’s a surprise so don’t call Tina. And uh… a friend will be there to pick you up . Ok?"

"Thanks." she yelled back.

……………………………………………………….

"Daddy I promise you I’ll be fine. I f you don’t leave now you’re going to miss your flight and then i’ll be stuck with you here."

"Baby I’m so sorry this conference is a true pain in the ass but I have to go. You know I’d stay if I could right?"

"I understand. Besides we celebrated yesterday together right? I’ll be fine, Alice called and said she was coming over with a surprise anyway, so I’ll spend all day with her and Dee."

"I just wish I was here for your birthday. It’s not everyday my little girl turns 16, I really wanted to be here to celebrate with you Munchkin." his anger was growing by the minute at his new assistant for sending a confirmation that conflicted directly with his rebuilding of his relationship with Tina. He was on his way out the door when he started to say, "Ok, ok ok, I’m going, but remember no driving at night and no driving without a licensed driver, you still have a permit, it’s not a license."

Tina nodded her head in agreement but she already knew what she was going to do anyway, she figured what her father didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. With those final instructions and a very persistent honk from the ca outside Charles was out the door.

Tina huffed as she leant against the door finally pushing her father through it. She smiled as she was finally left alone in her home, she ran over to the stereo and cranked her music loud. Even if she was alone for a little while she was determined to enjoy her birthday, it’s what Bette would’ve told her to do. Tina then took a second to wonder why Bette hadn’t called her yet.

 …………………………………………………………………..

 Bette was groggy as the plane made it’s final descent in SFO. The captain’s voice came on overhead and that woke her up further from an almost anxious sleep. She prepared as instructed and her heart was beating so hard it made her anxiety almost unbearable. The plane landed and she had to wait for the landing  procedures to end, she could hardly wait to see Tina.She hadn’t seen her since she’d left her home that summer.