“More likely,” Tina responded, as she also drew a hand of Bette to her lips, tenderly kissing each finger.

After a few minutes, Tina lifted her head.  “Baby, do the showers work already?”

Bette reluctantly opened her eyes.  She scrunched her brows.  “I think so…why?” She remembered she’d brought some towels the other day, and toiletries.  They were somewhere in the bathroom adjoining her office.

Tina glanced at her watch.  “Because we have about 15 minutes before the next wave of furniture and media installation people come to bring other stuff and do their work.”

Bette reluctantly struggled to sit up, as Tina lifted herself by her arms, settling lightly on her heels as Bette spread her legs to make room for Tina, who was holding on to the back of the couch.  As Bette sat up, one leg curled round Tina.  They kissed, and broke off slowly. 

“Why are you so fucking sexy?” Bette asked as she kissed the tip of the blonde’s nose.  “And why are you so damn gorgeous, why smell so intoxicating, and taste so good?,” Tina responded, hazel eyes flashing.  They shared a smile, and, as always, felt the air still around them. 

“Shower,” they said simultaneously, and laughed.

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A week later, Bette and Tina were nearly done with the reconstruction project, and only a few things remained to be done on the duplex. 

Tina looked up from their large dining table in the rented apartment as she heard the door open.  She ran to the door when she heard Bette call out, “Baby?”

Shane and Carmen exchanged knowing grins.

Helena and Alice were playing with baby Angelica on the nearby play-rug, while Dana and Kit were busy in the kitchen.

All the girls had flown up to visit with Bette and Tina for the week, to help them with final details of their transfer from the apartment to their new place, and spend time with the couple and their baby.  Valentine’s Day was also coming up in a few days, and Bette and Tina had decided to throw a party “for their closest friends,” for the first event they were holding in the new house.

Bette had spent the past week monitoring installation of the lighting features, which were amongst the most costly items amongst the new interiors of the house.  She had spent each day every day doing only that: there were five custom lighting features, each one of which was bespoke and custom made, coming from South Africa, Rome, Paris, London, and New York itself.