“Yes I am well aware of your knee, your bumps and bruises AND the fact that you were nearly killed by a drunk driver. I am the one who looked at you lying on the bed in the emergency room clinging to life. Do not tell me I cannot take care of you!” Bette smiles sweetly, “Besides, I want to take care of you, always.” Bette leans into Tina and kisses her. Not a hospital kiss. A Bette Porter kiss. Kissing the woman she wants to spend the rest of her life with. Tina’s lips responds. It is a gentle kiss but it is a kiss from Tina. Bette was afraid that it might never happen again.

“OK, how about some juice so you can take your pills, It’s about time.”

“Juice is fine.” Tina’s fatigue can be heard in her voice.

“You stay right there. I’ll get it.  Maybe some crackers too.” Bette walks into the kitchen.  “You need something in your stomach.” Bette is now speaking louder so that Tina can here her.

“Baby,” Tina has made her way to the kitchen, ”I think I’m going  ……..”

Bette catches her before she falls to the floor.

“Fuck, FUCK, Tina, Tina!” Bette wraps her arms around Tina to keep her on her feet.

“Oh baby, I’m sorry.  I guess I am weaker than I thought I was.” Bette walks her back to the couch, scolding her the entire way. “Tina, fuck, I said do not get up! I will not stand by and allow you to hurt yourself. Please, do not scare me like that again. You’ll be stronger in a couple of days, what’s your hurry?”

Tina looking up at Bette, her eyes full of love. “You are my hurry. I want to be better for you.”

“Tina, there is time for that  …….”

“We always think that there is time.” Tina’s voice falls off as she thinks about the fatal tragedy averted.

Bette takes Tina’s shoulders firmly in each hand. She tilts her head ever so slightly to kiss Tina’s neck. In a whisper meant only for her love,  “T, from this day forward, we will  live like there may be no tomorrow. We will love each other as if no one else exists and we will raise our daughter together, as it should be.”

As Bette raises her head, Tina moves her lips to Bette’s. They both needed this kiss. It was deep and passionate. Like the kisses they share while making love. Their mouths slightly apart, their tongues explore the warmth of the other. Tina nibbles at Bette’s bottom lip. Her breath quickens and her kiss becomes more intense. Bette is trying to slow things down.

“T  …  I  …”

Before Bette could finish Tina placed her finger to Bette’s mouth and Bette instinctively sucked it into her mouth tonguing Tina’s finger and wishing it was another part of her body.

“T  …  no  ….” They both had forgotten about Angelica playing with her toys on the floor. They looked at each other, they looked at Angelica who was oblivious to them.

In a whisper meant only for Tina’s ears. “God , we have to keep her in mind. It’s not like it used to be, just you and me and we fuck whenever we want to! Besides, right now you need your rest.” Tina lays back on the couch and looks at her daughter and her love. She will never take them for granted. She realizes how truly blessed she is.