“Hmmm… what we want,” Tina repeated.

“What you each want,” Dan corrected her gently.

He looked at Bette, who was contemplating Dan’s question.

“How about you, Bette?  I haven’t heard from you in a really long time…"

“I don’t have many wants, Dan.  Not anymore, anyway, “ Bette began.  She kissed the top of Tina’s head.

“I want Tina. I want to be with her forever. I want Angelica to grow up to be healthy, happy, kind, and confident.  I want Tina to be happy… and happy to be with me,” she added the last phrase, a little hesitant.  She had never asked Tina directly if she was happy to be with her.  Tina had said often enough that she was happy, and content.  She had assumed, and connected that last phrase in her mind… to be with Bette.

Tina sat up, drew slightly away from Bette, in order to look at her.

“Bette…I am.  I am happy.  And I am happy to be with you.  I have never been happier.  Felt more secure.  More loved. Or lived with more purpose.”

She caressed the brunette’s chin, “When I wake in the morning, I have a big smile on my face. Often you’re asleep, and Angelica’s asleep, too.  If she’s by our bed, I have the unique opportunity to gaze at the woman I love, and the baby we’ve become proud parents of.  The two loves of my life, sometimes snoring in sync, too!,” she laughed lightly at that, as did Dan and Bette.

“So the only things I’d want right now are to get through the negotiations on our place, work with you on the reconstruction project, move into the beautiful home that will come out of all that, and raise the miracle baby we both love in that house.”  She was tearing up.

Bette gently wiped her eyes, caressed her cheek tenderly, then kissed her softly.  “I love you,” she whispered, so quietly that Dan almost didn’t hear it.

He cleared his throat.

“Bette, I understand from Tina that you and she have been talking a lot about what happened in the months following yours and Tina’s move to New York, and before that, how she felt when you’d left her in Paris, and finally…her cheating, then your departure.”

Bette nodded, Tina’s head was resting on her shoulder again, and they sat closer together than previously, if that were possible.

“Although our time here is almost up now, if you’d like, next time we can talk more about what you yourself felt when you’d left Tina in Paris… then again, in New York.”

Bette swallowed.  Dan was right to push her on those two events.

Tina absent-mindedly pulled Bette’s arm that was lying across her shoulder, down and across her chest, and began to gently caress the brunette’s arm.

Dan was taking notes.  Then he asked, nonchalantly, “And how about sex?”

Tina and Bette exchanged a long look, then looked back at Dan.  “What do you want to know,?” Bette asked, slowly.

“What do you want to share?”

Bette looked down at Tina, then back at Dan, “On my side, it’s been mindblowing, the best ever, nothing ordinary about any of it, and I can never, ever get enough. Ever.  She’s just been the most amazing lover I’ve ever had.  The time I spent away from her after Paris; then that long, dark period in the desert  — worst times of my life.  Being without her, without her kiss, her touch…without making love.  Made me crazy, Dan.  Now, when she leaves in the morning, I admit, I feel some of that loneliness all over again, and when I get to see her at the end of the day, or if we see each other in the middle of the day…the joy I feel being back at her side, holding her, kissing her, touching her.  I can’t describe it. ”

Tina was blushing, “Oh, Bette…,” she sighed as she looked up.  Bette bent down to give her a kiss.

“Ditto…,” she told Dan simply, as they drew apart.