“My money’s on you, blondie.  And I never lose on this stuff.”

“Just ask Alice,” she laughed.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bette took another sip from her glass.  They had nearly finished the bottle, and she was beginning to tire.  They had talked through a lot of things, and Tina had begun to share with Bette some of what she had been talking about with Dan Foxworthy. As Bette had told Shane, she was guessing that Tina had experienced something dark in her life that she was probably dealing with unconsciously, and which surfaced due to the collective impact of all that had transpired since the summer.

They hadn’t gotten to the real trigger of the problems that led to their separation, however.

Tina took note of Bette’s condition.

“Did you fly in last night?” she asked, voice tinged with concern.

The brunette nodded. “Do you want me to take you back to your hotel?” Tina followed-up.

Bette tilted her head to one side. “Yeah, actually, that would be great.”

Tina signaled to the owner.  He rang for a cab.

A few minutes later, he came over to tell Tina the cab would be over any minute now.

Tina reached into her bag, preparing to settle the bill.

“Oh, non, non, mademoiselle,” the owner said.  “It’s been paid.”

Tina looked quizzically at him, then turned to Bette. “Did you…?”

“Yeah,” Bette nodded. “Don’t worry about it,” she smiled, standing up to leave.  Tina figured Bette must have settled the bill when the blonde had gone to the ladies’ room.

The owner gave Bette a hug as she stood. “I hope you come back.  I hope the two of you come back,” he said.

Bette gave him a small smile.

“Bette you shouldn’t have,” Tina began to say.

“You get the next one, T,” Bette smiled and then reflexively reached for Tina’s hand as they walked out.

Tina was shocked but pleased to be holding Bette’s hand again.  She felt the familiar jolt of electricity, and unconsciously rubbed her thumb over the back of Bette’s hand.  Her heart began to beat fast.

As they settled into the back of the cab, Bette gave him the name of the hotel.  Tina was surprised; it was well outside the center of Paris, and was near the Palace of Versailles.

“Safety?” she asked Bette, who nodded.

A half hour later they were entering Bette’s room.

Bette was exhausted.  She still hadn’t fully recovered her strength, and had been walking around all day.  The day’s emotional events also left her feeling wasted.

She allowed herself to be walked over to the bed by Tina, who supported her weight until she got to the bed, and laid her gently on it.  Bette was grateful to lay her head on the soft, cool pillow.

She felt Tina remove her shoes.  Unconsciously, she sat herself up, again, and started peeling her clothes off.  Ever since the Maldives, she had gotten into the habit of sleeping naked.

Tina bit her lip on seeing how thin Bette was, once Bette had stripped, and lay back down again, burrowing under the sheets.  She tucked Bette under a thick blanket.  She prepared to leave the room, but then heard Bette ask quietly, “Stay.”  Tina’s hair stood on end.

A few minutes later she heard Bette snoring softly.  She smiled tenderly at the brunette, her heart filled with love.  Love she was yearning to express.  Maybe later, she thought.  Later in the process.

She walked over to the sofa by the window.  She lay down quietly, reflecting on the momentous night.  She teared-up, grateful to the fates that she had been given another chance.  At one point, perhaps tomorrow, she would have to find a way to talk to Bette about what she had done.  Then she would have to find a way to talk about the baby.

She fell into the first deep sleep she had taken in a very long time, feeling an enormous sense of relief.