Bette glanced down at Tinas sleeping form once again and snuggled close to her, wrapping her arm around Tinas stomach, her fingers absentmindedly rubbing the soft skin of Tinas stomach under her sleep shirt. Rubbing her wifes stomach reminded Bette of when Tina had been pregnant, and how it had all gone disastrously wrong. She closed her eyes, picturing what Tina would have looked like if she hadnt had a miscarriage. She envisioned Tina with a cute, large belly and healthy glow, and then imagined Tina holding a little baby, their little baby, and rocking him or her to sleep.

A smile crossed Bettes face. Perhaps she was feeling overly sentimental after her fathers death, but she felt a pang as she imagined the baby she and Tina should have had. Bette shifted her position, laying her hand flat on Tinas smooth belly. Maybe it wasnt too late. There was no time like the present, and nothing was more important than family, right? Besides, this experience had taught her that when you put something so important off, you might never get the chance to address it before it was too late.

Tina mumbled something in her sleep and rolled over, throwing an arm over Bette. Bette observed Tinas angelic face in the dim light that came from the streetlights outside the hotel window. Perhaps once they were back in L.A., it was time for them to have a serious discussion about this.

*********************************************

Alice peered around the kitchen, unsure of what to do. Bette hadnt been any help at all. She probably should have called Marina; shed have known more about this. But Alice was still in the habit of doing what shed done for years: calling Bette whenever she needed someone. Okay, shed start simple: the soup. She found a big pot and began boiling some water. That was a start. She threw in a bunch of pre-cooked noodles and vegetables shed found.

Now for some flavoring. Alice found what she thought was salt and poured in a generous handful. It was not until she put the container away that she saw it was actually sugar. Oh well, not much she could do about that now.