Logan had snuck up on them as they kissed.

“So Bette,” he said loudly, smirking as Bette and Tina jumped apart from their kiss, thoroughly surprised by Logan. “Have you asked her yet?,” he queried Bette, a naughty glimmer in his eye.

Tina shook her head. Here we go again.  She’d heard this exchange before and still had no clue about what they seemed to be mock-arguing about.

Bette was flustered. She playfully punched Logan’s arm in response.  “Will you please just give me time?!”

“I don’t know what you’re waiting for, Bette Porter. “

“It takes planning, Logan,” she responded drily, while motioning to him, as she stepped behind Tina,
to cut it, drawing a hand across her throat, brown eyes commanding.

Logan clearly had an advantage in this game, and wasn’t about to give it up.  There weren’t many mental jousts and games he’d won with Bette, he thought.

“If Bette hasn’t clued you in yet, Tina…,” he started to say, in a teasing voice, as he saw Bette’s face grow desperate.  Of course he wasn’t going to spoil anything.

Bette realized that Logan hadn’t brought Melanie. "Mel…?" Logan shook his head and pursed his lips, mirth evaporating. Bette reached around Tina to clutch his hand, while Tina rubbed his forearm.

"I’m sorry…"

Just then, George’s booming voice cut off the rest of her sentence, “Logan!”

George and Claudia were stepping through the threshold.

They were intending to walk towards Bette, Tina, and Logan, but caught themselves.  “Good heavens Bette!,” he exclaimed as he and Claudia stopped, turning around slowly, looking up at the rainfall chandelier, then to the right and left at the artfully made furniture, textured walls, and strategically hung paintings, which were interspersed with personal touches like randomly scattered pictures of Angelica, Tina, and Bette, and collectively of all three. There were even toys of Angelica scattered about in cleverly designed baskets next to walls.

Claudia walked to Bette and Tina, embracing both, and kissing them.  George was still turning in circles, mouth agape.  “This is a design triumph, Bette and Tina.  High concept, with casual, personal touches, just the most stunning home I have ever seen.  Congratulations,” she said, rubbing their arms, and then drawing them again into an embrace.  She touched Tina’s face softly, remembering the blonde’s struggle in the hospital when she’d given birth.  She and Bette had gone through a lot.  So much pain; such a difficult journey they’d each endured.  And now… here they were, in this absolutely dazzling home.