*****

Bette met Tina at her apartment. They were eating spaghetti and salad that Tina had prepared. Tina was always a good cook and that was one of the reasons Bette started falling for her in the first place. The way to her heart was through her stomach.

"I just felt like I was losing you."

"You’ll never lose me, Tina."

"But she’s taking my place."

"Your old place, maybe. But you’ll always have a special, reserved place just for you in my heart. You’re the mother of my child. I’ve loved you since the moment I first saw you. I’m never going to stop loving you. It may not be romantic, but T, I’ll lay my life on the line for you." She placed her hand on Tina’s as Tina’s eyes looked anywhere but at Bette, "T, look at me." Tina raised her eyes to meet Bette’s.

She never imagined it would be this hard. This was more than just hard, letting Bette go. With her romantic feelings for Bette subsided, she still found it incredibly difficult to imagine her in the arms of someone else and falling in love with someone else. She wanted to be the best friend she always knew she could be for Bette, but being a best friend and giving advice to her about Helena was seemingly impossible. Doing that for Bette in regards to Jodi was a piece of cake. Tina knew that Jodi wouldn’t last long and that she could never take Tina’s place. Helena was different. When Helena loved, she loved hard. For the short time she was with Helena, she knew that Helena would do anything for the person she loved. Helena would sweep Bette off her feet, if she hadn’t already. That was something she’d just have to deal with, she thought.

"You know that, don’t you T? You know that I would rather die than have you hurt in any fashion? I’ve never connected like that with anyone, besides Kit and Boo. You’re always gonna have that, T."

"But you feel like you could connect like that with Helena too, right?"

"Maybe. It’s too soon to tell. I just know that enjoy being around her. I like what we’ve started and I want to see where it goes. And I’d love it if we—you and I—can become best friends again, because, out of all the things I miss about you, Tina, I miss your friendship and support the most. I miss talking on the phone to you at three o’clock in the morning about everything and anything. I miss how you used to tell me how much you believe in me. I miss my buddy, ya know?"

Tina smiled brightly, "I miss that too." Bette leaned over and pecked Tina on the cheek.

"Let’s work on being friends and parents, Tina."

With that, Tina let out a soft sigh and slight grin. This would be hard, more than just that, but she loved Bette. And if Bette wanted Helena, Tina wouldn’t stand in her way.