”That I’m alive… but I don’t want to get my hopes up too much…”

”Do you think you’re dreaming?”

”No, no…” Bette giggled ”I’m afraid of what awaits me, of what I’ll have to face… if I don’t manage to…”

”You don’t have to think about it now… please…” Tina sat down slowly on the bed to see Bette better ”You’ll face it.. now you have to be happy and think about Bette day after day, that’s the only way you’ll get out of this…”

Bette nodded, her fingers playing with Tina’s fingers, they were so warm.

”My God, I can’t believe it…” Helena entered the room smiling ”you were keeping it to yourself huh? Amelia Sheaperd, she’s getting a massive raise” Helena entered her beaming smile as she approached Bette ”how are you my friend?”

”how do you look?”

”in great shape” Helena played with Bette, she couldn’t believe it.

Tina smiled, finally seeing Bette out of danger was a good thing. Helena leaned against her side standing

”How long has it been like this?”

”Fifteen minutes maybe”

”Good…Then tonight you’re going home”

”What?” Tina turned around abruptly.

”I’ll take care of it here go, you have your daughter Tina…you have to think about her too…”

Fuck it was true.

”I could tell Monica…”

”Tina!” Helena warned her ”well, Bette is out of danger, the parameters are perfect, communication, vision, Amelia won’t be coming until tomorrow to visit her…you’re not needed”.

”Oh…I don’t….”

”That’s not what she meant…” Bette stepped in the middle looking lovingly at Tina ”How long has it been since you slept?”

”Too much.” Helena said protectively

”I can answer for myself.” Helena huffed and went to the window ”she’s been working crazy shifts, she’s slept little and seen little Angelica…you’ll collapse…”

Tina crossed her arms over her chest, Bette touched her thigh caressing it ”tomorrow you will be here again… the drugs will make me sleep… Angie needs you.. more than me.”

Tina met her gaze ”I don’t want to leave you Bette I have…”

”scared, I know…” Bette finished ”but I won’t go anywhere… whatever Helena will warn you… is it true?” Bette looked at Helena

”absolutely… I just want you to rest Tina, the first few days will be hard for Bette and for all of us.”

Tina bit her lip, a bad habit that Bette had already noticed when Tina wanted to pout ”ok…” she whispered.

”Be a good girl” Tina said looking into Bette’s eyes and gently caressing her cheek ”I’ll be here before eight okay?”

”Yes ma’am.” Bette joked as Tina leaned down to gently kiss the bridge of her nose.

”What I told you, I don’t regret it…that’s how I feel Tina…”

Tina smiled and Bette’s eyes lit up ”I feel the same way.”

Bette saw Tina walk out the door, that day she had won for the second time because she had reopened her eyes and life was still there for her, and she had won Tina’s heart, that for a long time already, but only now Bette felt she could really chase this great prize.
Only now with time on her side, she could risk everything to be able to conquer a bit of normal life.

Tina was her sunshine now.