She looked around nervously, scanning the room to look for the table Bette’s friends were seated around.  An arm suddenly came around her, to turn her around. “Tina!” she heard Kit exclaim, as she was pulled into a warm hug.

Kit looked down at the baby in the stroller, and immediately bent down next to her. “And is this our little angel?” she cooed, smiling down at the baby, softly stroking her cheek. “She’s just beautiful, Tina,” she whispered.  She straightened up, with tears in her eyes, and drew Tina in again for a warm hug.

Tina began to tear up, as well, and returned Kit’s hug, grateful for the warm, consoling embrace.  “Thank you, Kit,” she whispered.  “I couldn’t have…”

“Tina, Tina,” Kit cut in. “ There’s no need to thank me.  Now, don’t you worry your pretty blonde head.  That sister of mine will come to her senses, and will realize that she can’t keep running. She’ll tire soon enough.. then the two of you will just have to talk it out.”  Tina began to cry, and leaned into Kit, holding her mouth to keep from sobbing out loud.

“Tina, sweetie,” Kit said, as she stroked Tina’s hair.  “You have to be strong.  You have to be the stronger one now… you have to help her see a way out of this, for the sake of all three of you.”

“You have to believe, Tina,” Kit said reassuringly, “Believe. Bette loves you, is crazy about you, and can’t live without you.  She needs you like she needs air to breathe. Trust me. And I know you love her, too.  A lot.  More than life itself, probably.  You love each other like no other couple I know.  You just have to find a way to stop hurting each other…”

She stopped as she saw Bette’s friends jump from the table, and started rushing towards them.

“Tina!” they each cried out, then stopped as they saw the stroller.

“You brought the baby!” they screamed excitedly.

“Well, a baby that’s now going to start wailing if everybody keeps shouting,” Alice’ sharp voice cut through the excited voices, as she took command of the stroller, and then wheeled it around to push it towards their table.

Everyone started hugging Tina warmly, enveloping the blonde in a group hug, and then released her to excitedly follow Alice.