A few seconds later Tina heard what thought a familiar voice. Alice, ***** and Shane, what are they doing here she thought. Tina waddled over to investigate and got the surprise of her life to see the four girls throwing a freesbie around. Bette, she is still beautiful. That hair and those eyes, Bette looked relaxed, like she might be having a good time. It took a few seconds before Tina realized shed been staring at Bette but no one seemed to have seen her. Bette had no shoes on, casual black designer jeans and a white tank top. Her and Shane battled each other in a friendly manner to catch the freesbie. Bette fell on top of Shane and all four girls started laughing. Shane started to tickle Bette and swung them around so Shane was on top. It felt good, Bette thought, even if it was only a temporary relief.

Suffering my ***** Tina thought. What a joke, laughing and playing around, hardly noticing I am not there at all. Who was Alice kidding ?

Helena : Hi darling, did I startle you ?
Tina : No, not all. I just saw the girls, I was going to go an say Hi, did you want to meet them ?
Helena : Sure.

Holding hands Tina and Helena made their way over to Alice, Kit, Shane and Bette. Only Alice noticed them approaching and only Alice knew about Helena. Oh *****, she said out loud. Tina hadnt yet had a chance to tell the others. Shane was still tickling Bette and Bette was laughing and squirming, Kit had joined in. Looked like a game of Twister. Before Alice could get their attention Tina and Helena were right there. Bette felt the light being blocked. Shane and Kit stayed still. Slowly Kit and Shane made their way up onto their feet. Kit helping Bette up.

Bettes thoughts : Tina, shes here right in front of me, so beautiful and radiant with our child. Wait, what the *****, why is that woman, wait I know her, Helena holding Tinas hand. Ill ***** kill her. I dont understand this.

On cue, Shane : Hey Tina, and you are ? Moving slightly in front on Bette and not in a very friendly way.
Helena : Helena Peabody, Tinas girlfriend, as she held her hand out, but Shane did not take it.

Tina knew what was going on here. Theyd all sided with Bette, even Alice and they were going to accept no one in Tinas life except Bette. We will see about that Tina thought.

Bette : Hi Tina. Looking at the ground.
Tina : Having a good time Bette ? You seem to be in a better way than last night (Tina glared at Alice whod all but let Alice convince her Bette too was suffering).
Bette : (Bette knew it was intended to sting and it did). Just trying to get by Tina, Bette looked down and around, anywhere but at Tina and Helena.
Tina made a snap decision. Tina : Bette Ill get those papers drawn up tomorrow and have the lawyer send them around for you to sign if you are happy with them.
Helena was beaming.
Alice, Shane and Kit did not like that woman. And Bette, she was never going to like any woman near Tina.
Bettes thoughts : As though it could get worse than seeing her with another woman, now she seems to be in a hurry to be free of me to be with her. What the *****, cant I get 30 minutes of peace.
Bette looked at Tina and said nothing, just looked at her, her eyes begging Tina, not yet, please not yet. Tina knew in that instant shed made a mistake but before she could stop it, it slipped out. Bette, its over.

Tina and Helena made their way back to Helenas car. Alice and Kit stood there shell shocked. Shane sulked like a child, secretly vowing to rid of Helena. Did Tina have to humiliate Bette like that ? Why did Tina have to ruin the only couple of angst free hours Bette has had in so long ? None of it made any sense.

Tears streamed down Bettes face and recalled her promise to herself this morning to get her wife and child back. She said nothing. No one knew what to do. Alice put her hand on Bettes back and began to rub.

Alice : Come on, lets get you home.
Bette : Its over. And with that Bette started the slow walk home, alone and to wherever home was. Not here that was for sure.