Tina smiled at Bette with gratitude.  Bette returned her grin, and leaned down slightly to oblige Tina’ silent request for a kiss, pressing her lips softly on the upturned lips of the blonde.  This time, the kiss lingered.

Tina drew back first, “now that’s another thing I had been missing in all my relationships before.”

“What?” Bette wondered, mentally noting how open Tina was now to physical contact between them, even if they hadn’t as yet  figured out what to do about the intense attraction they each held for the other.  Tina was just coming off a rocky end to her relationship with Eric, however; and the blonde had never dated a woman before.  So Bette was anxious that they somehow would find a way to deal with the insane chemistry between them in a way that wouldn’t be confusing to the blonde, or would jeopardize the deepening friendship Bette was forming with her – a type of relationship that had been foreign to Bette, ‘til Tina.

She judged Tina to be vulnerable to the unique, inexplicable attraction they held for one another, and didn’t want her to regret their acting on it, if things got to that point.   Ironically, Tina’s idea of sharing a day in Paris together, without any expectations, would be a good test of Bette’s resolve to take things slowly.

On the other hand, Tina was intent on being open and honest with Bette, and curious to see what would happen between them.  She wasn’t sure that the brunette’s clearly hesitant approach was the right one for them to take.

Tina continued, “You’re different from everyone else, because of your belief in me, in my abilities…. and everything.”

She paused to look up, and smile at the brunette, “When you talk about me when we’re with other people, like with your friends last Sunday night, it sounds like you’re soo proud to be with me.  And even if we haven’t really gotten into a romantic relationship…. yet, (Bette smiled at the careful pause)…and, even when we’re alone like this, by ourselves with no one to overhear us, you remain just as supportive, just as, I don’t know, proud of me. As if you value me in a special way.”   She paused and squeezed the hand she had kept a hold of as they walked around the tower.