As dinner finished, they sat around the TV watching and good-naturedly jeering some of the actions of the onscreen characters.
But Tina found her eyes wandering back to the board where Bettes name lay linked to anothers.

The pain intensified if possible at the sight and her mind seemed to move back in time to another place where her nightmare had happened and haunted her.

Excusing herself she moved to the bedroom, where her mind was filled with unanswered question and the sorrow rose again to move her to tears.

What if it was her fault?

Maybe if she had paid more attention to Bette, she wouldnt have strayed?

Maybe she deserved this pain as it was punishment for losing the baby?

Maybe she was enough for Bette?

What if this wasnt the first time?

These questions and more swirled inside her head but it was the last one that caused her to run to the bathroom and lose her dinner.

Dana, who had come in to check on her friend, saw her dash to the bath room; quickly calling for the others she followed her friend.

Placing a cold washcloth on the back of Tinas neck, she waited until Tina no longer seemed to want to throw up then with Shanes help, carried her back to the bed.

Tina fell into a restless oblivion, much like the passed out Bette who was only a few miles away, but her friends had decided that one of them should stay with her until she was more herself.

Shane, Dana and Alice had to deal with this situation differently as they seemed to still feel some shock and disbelief over what had happened.

Shane left, looking more moody than normal and said that she would be back tomorrow and for them to call if needed.

Dana sat as she watched Alice pace and rant softly as to not wake Tina.

Alice was angry but she was still struggling to believe that what happened was actually true. She couldnt believe that her best friend that she had known for so long would do something like this.
But nevertheless the evidence was pretty damning.

Thinking of Tinas distress Alices temper was pushed to boiling point and all she wanted to do was go over and give Bette a swift kick for her thoughtless actions.

Dana had never seen Alice this way but then again she had never thought that Bette could actually cheat either.

Placing a calming hand on her friends arm she looked in confused and angry eyes and just stared.

Looking into Danas eyes Alice felt her temper deflate and just couldnt muster the energy to bring it up again.

Her heart broke as whimpers sounded from the bedroom and gave Dana a swift hug before she moved to the bedroom.

Dana stood there in Alices living room with her own chaotic mind still trying to think and understand what had happened.

Deciding to come back in the morning Dana left and went to her house where her footsteps echoed loudly through the empty spaces.

Thinking of Bette and Tina caused and stirred her own doubts and regrets.

With her own belief in love and the perfect union shaken she slipped into a restless slumber he had no doubt that the coming months would set the course for the coming years.