Bette found Tina in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on a feast for three. For Tina, that meant the music cranked, and dancing around the kitchen with a large spoon in her hand.

Lost in this world, she backed into Bette, momentarily startled, jumped forward.

"A little edgy tonight?"

Tina turned the volume down. "I just wasn’t expected anyone."

"Anyone? Or me?"

"And what does that mean, Ms. Porter?" Tina slapped the spoon into her hand.

Bette moved in closer, put a hand on Tina’s hip, and started to move to the beat. "It means, I thought we’d be alone tonight."

"I’m sorry I didn’t warn you." Tina wrapped her arms around Bette’s neck and leaned in, letting her partner set the pace.

"It’s not that, exactly," Bette admitted. She stopped her movement, but still kept her hands on Tina’s hips, feeling the warmth of her wife through the fabric of Tina’s jeans. "We don’t know her, T. For all we know, she could be robbing us blind."

A lump caught in Tina’s throat. "She could be." Still, she was willing to continue her gamble. "But I don’t think she will."

Bette looked unconvinced.

"It’s only for one more night, babe."

 "Really?"

Tina nodded. "I promised if she goes to see Gina tomorrow, you know, that woman I went to college with who does outreach on at-risk youth. Then she could stay here tonight."

"I suppose." Bette was torn between wanting to support her wife, and wanting to do what she felt was safest for both of them.

"One more favor?"

Bette couldn’t help but at least smile at her wife’s eagerness over the project she had made of this young woman. "What?"

"I want to take her to brunch with us tomorrow."

"What?"

So much for the support.

"You want us to introduce her to our friends?"

"Mmm hmmm." Tina ran her fingertips over Bette’s collarbone, tracing over the delicate skin.

"As in, ‘guys, meet our prostitute?’"

"Not like that." Tina laid a soft kiss at the base of Bette’s neck. "But if we introduce her as a friend, it helps to get her established." Another kiss. "Makes it easier for her to become like any of us."