—

In a few minutes they were both lounging on the sofa with their feet on a giant bean bag. Bette was holding a bottle of beer and Tina was onto her second spoonful of ice cream
“So why have you had a bad day ?” Tina asked
“Apart from you I would say that the people who know me best are my parents and James and Helena “
Tina nodded as she sucked ice cream from the spoon
“Well I have had three of them all giving me varying lectures on the same theme and its pissing me off “
Tina smiled “The theme wouldn’t happen to be Emma Kennard would it ?”
“It would “
“Why are they lecturing you ?”
Bette sighed – she guessed that Tina knew most of this already
“You know because you know me and you know what I am like that some of the things that your mom says to you really bother me ?”
Tina nodded
“In fact “ Bette said deciding that honesty was the best policy “its been really eating away at me and I have been telling myself that as soon as I got the chance I was going to tell her that “
Tina smiled “I guessed “
“Are you cross with me about it ?”
“Its sweet Bette – it means the world to me that you are so protective but – mom is my battle “
“I can’t just let her “ Bette began “Sorry “
“No “ Tina said “I understand – really I do. Maybe you can make her see sense but it all about my relationship with her – she’s a difficult woman “
“Sorry – how did it go with her ?”
“She started okay – then it was that she just wanted me to make the best of myself and you know that just pushes my buttons “
“Mine too “ Bette said darkly “I mean – what the fuck does she mean – does she want you to be a junior partner in her firm or the chief of surgery at one of the big hospitals – god that fucking annoys me “
“I made it pretty plain that when it came to comparing the two of you that you were supportive of me and whatever I did – I guess that had to hurt her. She asked me to describe you and of course I went into overdrive saying how fantastic you are “
Bette smiled and kissed Tina on the cheek “Thanks “
“You know what – she just said – well yeah – you two are bound to be at that point where everything is perfect – I said that we can infuriate one another and you know what she said”
Tina shook her head and took one of Bette’s beers and opened it
“Beer and ice cream ?”
“You have your vices – I have mine – you listening to this ?”
“I am babe “
“She said – well yes – you are annoying – I just lost it – accused her off hawking me around and threatened what I would do if she came between us”
“ouch “
“Ouch – exactly. It got heated and she walked out “
“She walked out ! “
“Tactical error from my mother – she picked a bar right near where she works – its virtually the firm’s bar. The place was full of her minions – the last thing she would have wanted was me making a scene “
“Would you have made a scene ?” Bette asked
“I might have just to show her up “
“Tina “
“I know – but she’s driving me crazy at the moment. I am not going to let her hurt us”
“She won’t “
“She will do her best “
Bette looked at Tina “ Do you think she is going to try and sabotage us ?”
“I don’t think she would actively sabotage us – anyway – how the hell would she even start trying to split us up – she did a bad job getting us together. Anyway – tell me about your day – you do look miserable “
“Probably had too much to drink “ Bette admitted
“Talk to me babe “ Tina said softly – she reached out a hand and took Bette’s and kissed it. Bette smiled -the gesture was so simple but so effective. Bette kissed Tina’s hand
“I’ll make you a deal “
“Sure “
“Lets leave the ice cream and the beer and go to bed “
“Bette ! – its not 9 O’clock yet “
Bette looked at Tina for a few seconds “Please Ti “
Tina swallowed – fuck – how could she say no now ? Answer – she couldn’t and she knew it.
She looked at the ice cream – if she ate much more she would be sick
“Okay “ she agreed “I’ll put the beer and ice cream away and make sure the house is secure”
Bette nodded – her headache wasn’t getting any better and she knew that the more she drank the angrier she would get with fucking Emma Kennard and it seemed that she had been angry with her all day and that wasn’t good for her and Tina.
When Tina finished washing and cleaning her teeth she padded into Bette’s bedroom. The brunette was sitting up – Tina smiled – and she was NAKED. Tina smiled
“So you are not THAT tired “ she said with a smile
Bette looked at herself and looked back at Tina
“I am not “ she looked at Tina who was just wearing her bra and pants “I just feel that I need to feel your body against mine more than anything “
“Oh babe “ Tina wasted no time stripping naked and in climbing into bed. They cuddled up lying half against the pillows. For a few minutes they were both silent. Tina had never seen Bette so uptight and she needed to know why
“Talk to me please “
Bette sighed – she was a supreme communicator until it came to those she was closest to. Tina had to be different- Tina had to be someone who Bette could tell anything and everything to.
“First of all I had James and his therapy crap background weighing in telling me not to interfere and that I needed to realise I was on thin ice and all that. Then my mother showed up = which I was looking forward to. I just wanted to tell her how happy we are and that you are really different for me. But mom had been talking to Helena who had decided that she wanted to get it in good and early and you and her were not an item and the whole idea was as absurd as it was insane. She also said stuff about you and your mom – in the end I gather that Helena told my mom that your mom doesn’t think that you are good enough for me “
Tina swallowed back something hard in her mouth – it was one thing for her to know that was what her mother thought. For it to be semi public knowledge was much more hurtful. Bette pulled her closer and kissed her hair
“So mom weighed in with her opinions – the problem is mom doesn’t really want to believe anything bad of your mom. I have imagined being with my mom once it was out in the open about us and what she would say and what I would say. But suddenly its all about your mom. I said too much and I got upset”
“Oh Bette “
Tina was so blown away by how sensitive and loving Bette was. This was the most fantastic relationship and everyone was in danger of thinking it was about her mom and not about the two of them.
Tina kissed Bette softly on the lips – she let the kiss linger for as long as she felt they both needed. Finally when the kiss ended Tina spoke
“Maybe I am a little drunk too but I swear to you that I have never felt this way before Bette. I just love you in ways that scare me sometimes but mainly excite me. I “
Tina looked for the words “You thrill me and at the same time you just soothe me. I want to be with you all the time and when you aren’t around I miss you to a ridiculous degree. I know that my mom is causing us both so much grief but she is not a threat. Bette – I am so scared that you will get fed up with all of this – please “
Bette hugged Tina and kissed her on the lips before stroking her face
“Babe – Tina – I love you too. I love you so much and I am just as scared and excited as you. Its going to be okay. If I wasn’t such a control freak and so obsessed with being your knight in shining armour then – well I wouldn’t be so wound up. But I am and it is – so you and I have to communicate about what we feel about what is happening and we need to always be on the same page. Just so as you know – I’m in this for the long haul “
Tina stroked Bette’s face and kissed her again
“I am so sorry that my mom is being such a ass”
“Its hardly your fault “
“It is – I let her do all of this to me – I let her walk all over me “
“Tina – don’t be so hard on yourself “
Tina took a deep breath “Fucking old bat “
Bette laughed “Helena told me that we should bide our time and see what she does “
Tina puffed out her cheeks “You think ?”
Bette sighed “I think we are both wound up after last night which we seemed to have been planning since we got back from the weekend away. Everyone seems to have an opinion – my mom, James and Helena are all on our side – I know that. We have shown that we are smarter than her once “
Tina smiled and kissed Bette
“You are so smart “
“If I was being smart I wouldn’t have got so tense about everything “
“I would have paid to hear James giving you advice “
“James “ Bette said grinning “ His advice needs to be served with a vat of salt not a pinch. You see all these silly quizzes in magazines – you know — the sort that decide you are an alcoholic if you keep a pack of wine gums in your bag. He buys into all this cod-psychology. He reads all these books about personality types “
“He needs a book to know that you are alpha ?”
“No he needs a book to work out how to not piss me off so much that not only do I fire his ass but also staple his balls onto his forehead “
Tina laughed “Would you ?”
Bette raised one eyebrow “ Between you and I ?”
“Yeah “
“Its all an act – the me that you see – the one that was nearly in tears with my mom and the one who did cry in front of Helena – that’s real – the rest is just a survival tactic “
Tina swallowed again “ You have been in tears today ?”
“Frustration “
“I am sorry “ Tina meant it “I never want to be the reason you cry “
“I get frustrated with myself. I know the sensible thing to do is to just let your mom get her head around what has been happening and the fact that she comes out of all of this rather badly “
“How much does your mom know do you think ?”
“I gather that Helena was trying to be discrete “
Tina snorted “I know that you love Helena babe but “
“I know – its not a weapon that often comes out of her armoury – she can be amazingly charming and all of that but “
“So basically Helena spilled the beans to your mom about everything ?”
“Helena said something about the reason we kept our relationship secret for so long “
“And the only reason we did keep it secret was my mom ?”
“I think Helena’s attempt was to hint that we had done it because of your mom and she left mom thinking that Emma thought I was not good enough for you “
“ Nice one Helena “
“Exactly so she had to come out and be less discrete and say that Emma doesn’t have the highest opinion of her own daughter “
“It would be nice if it shames her into either leaving us alone or giving us a fair chance “
“Its just been a lot today – especially after last night “
Tina held Bette closer “Its going to be okay “
“I am not letting her hurt you “ Bette said shaking her head “But Helena pointed out that the last thing I need is to make an enemy of her “
“Bette – you are everything she could want of a girlfriend for me. I know she latched onto Helena and me – probably because we were so obsessed with not letting her see the two of us together. Helena is right and you and I have been getting too obsessed about her. Lets give it a few days. We are going to lunch with your mom and dad at the weekend – how about a few days after that we take my mom to dinner or something. Lets give everyone a chance to just calm the hell down”
Bette stroked Tina’s face and kissed her on the mouth again. She looked at the blonde for a few minutes
“I mean what I said earlier – this is real for me. This isn’t a fling – its real and I love you so much” Bette’s eyes held Tina’s “This is serious – you are the best thing in my life right now and I want that to keep being the case. You and I just make sense “
“Even if the rest of the world doesn’t ?”
“Especially when the rest of the world doesn’t “