Three days later, the surgery went well, it wasn´t a full cloth, but it was on it´s way to become one. They had gotten it in time, so to speak. Tina was home again, with strict message from the doctor to stay put, relax, and she should do that for at least a few days. Which wasn´t a problem since they were going to Bette´s cabin to spend time there together over the new year and just relax for a few days.
They were on their way towards the cabin.
“See, I told you I would be okay.” Tina says softly.
“Yeah, you did, but I still worried.” Bette says and smiled towards Tina.
“And for that I love you.” Tina replies. “How long till we´re there?” She asks.
“Not long now, maybe 15 minutes or so. But we have to stop by the store to pick up some food and supplies we need.” Bette replies.
“Okay, I can´t wait.” Tina says excitingly.
“Me either.” Bette agrees.
45 minutes later they parked in front of the cabin, after spending half an hour at the local store to get the stuff they need to keep them fed for the next half week.
“Oh my God, it´s huge. Who new cabins could be this size.” Tina says as stares up at the house.
“It´s more like a house, summer house. I did build it with that in mind that I could later live there full time.” Bette says as she makes her way out of the car and to Tina´s side to help her out. “You just go up and unlock it. I´ll bring our stuff.” Bette says.
“I can help with that.” Tina says and grabs one of the shopping bags.
“Okay, but only that one. I´ll take care of the rest.” Bette says with a smile.
“You know, I could get used to this personal helper stuff.” Tina says with a wink and she leans in for a kiss before she slowly heads for the front door to unlock it.
Bette smiles as she grabs the shoppingbags from the trunk and folllows Tina, who is now almost at the door.
“You okay babe? Are you in any pain?” Bette asks.
“It´s okay, a little but, it´s to be expected I guess. I just had surgery afterall.” Tina says with a smile.
“Well tell me if it becomes too much.” Bette says and looks lovingly at her.
“I will. So, let´s get this party started.” Tina says with a chuckle as she opens the door and walks inside. “Wow.” Is the first thing she says as she walks inside and looks around.
“Let me just put these bags in the kitchen, and then I´ll run back out to get out bags. I´ll be right back. Make yourself at home.” Bette says as she hurries into the kitchen with the bags and then outside. A few minutes later she´s back and is walking up behind Tina and sliding her arms around her waist. They are now looking out on the ocean. “You like?” Bette asks.
“I love.” Tine simply answers.
“Good.” Bette says as she softly kisses Tina´s head. “Are you tired after the drive or? Hungry?” Bette asks.
“I am a little tired, but not too tired. Can we maybe get some sodas and some snacks and camp out here on the sofa, it looks really comfy.” Tina says as she turns in Bette´s arms and put her own arms around Bette´s waist.
“That sounds great. Why don´t you go and lay down, I´ll get the supplies and the blankets.” Bette suggests.
“Okay.” Tina replies and walks slowly over to the sofa and takes a seat. It´s a big cornered sofa with a chaise on one side. Tina takes a seat in the corner, she lay back and lifts her leg up and onto the sofa. There she waits for Bette to come with the snacks. She doesn´t have to wait long.
“I brought you pepsi, is that okay?” Bette asks as she takes a seat and places a service plate on the table with the snacks on it.
“Perfect.” Tina replies.
Bette takes a seat. “Let me get behind you, you can lean against me.” Bette suggests. Tina raises up ant let Bette get behind her. Then she eases back against Bette.
“Can I suggest a rule?” Tina asks, looking up into Bette´s eyes.
“What kind of rule?” Bette asks.
“A rule for our relationship.” Tina replies.
“Okay…” Bette says a little hesitant.
“Don´t worry, it´s not a bad rule.” Tina says with a smile.
“Okay, what is it?” Bette asks.
“At least once a week, we do this.” Tina says.
“This? You mean the cabin?” Bette asks.
“No, this, sitting together like this. A little snack and drinks, no alcohole though, and we talk, just spending time together like this.” Tina says.
“We have done that always.” Bette says, not understanding quite what Tina means by it.
“I know we have, but sooner or later, we´re back to our regular lives. You with work and I with school. We´ll be busy. But I want us to make this rule, that no matter how busy we are, we always find time in the week for this.” Tina says as she pulls herself slightly up and turns towards Bette. “And dinner and occationly lunch or whatever, doesn´t count.” Tina says.
Bette smiles and put her hands on each side of Tina´s face and pulls her close. She leans in and give Tina a soft loving kiss.
“I love you. And it´s now an official rule of the Porter-Kennard households.” Bette says after ending the kiss. 
“I love you too. Thank you.” Tina replies after a few moments.
They settle back onto the sofa, with Tina´s head in Bette´s lap and Bette softly running her fingers through Tina´s hair.
“Did you have a good time during christmas?” Tina asks.
“I´ve had the best time. You´re family is great. I felt really welcomed. I couldn´t ask for a better family to come into.” Bette says, smiling down on Tina.
“I´m glad. I had the best time too. I told you they would come around. They will grow to love you, if they haven´t allready.” Tina replies.
“Well I´m getting there.” Bette says softly. “Do you think that maybe next year, we could invite them all for Christmas here?” Bette suggests as she holds her breath for what Tina might think.
“I think that would be lovely.” Tina replies. “I think they would love it. And I know for sure that Michael and Megan would love to be near the ocean. Mom also told me once that she loves the ocean, but rarely get to see it. So I´m sure they would love it.” Tina says.
“Good. I look forward to it allready.” Bette says with a chuckle.
“How many bedrooms are there here?” Tina asks.
“It´s one master bedroom down here, with a bathroom in it. That is ours by the way. And there is three bedrooms upstairs. Two that shares a bathroom and one bigger with it´s own small bathroom. There´s also a TV room upstairs.” Bette says.
“Wow, what´s with all the bedrooms?” Tina asks.
“Summerhouse for the family. That´s what it was when I build it.” Bette replies.
“When did you build it?” Tina asks.
“Four years ago.” Bette simply says.
“Oh, I´m sorry. I thought it was newer than that. Babe, I´m sorry I brought it up.” Tina says.
“It´s okay. It´s bound to come up in conversation. We can´t sensor everything incase we ´might´ touch the subject.” Bette says and looks down on Tina with a smile.
“I know that, but when it´s obvious, I´ll just don´t mention certain things.” Tina says.
“Honey, it´s okay. They were a part of my past. You are my future. We are allowed to talk about our past, as long as we live and remember the present and the future, okay?” Bette says.
“Okay.” Tina replies.
“Now, I don´t know about you, but I am getting hungry.” Bette says.
“Yeah.” Tina says as Bette gets up and walks into the kitchen. Tina stays back a few minutes wondering if it´ll be like this everytime Bette´s past is brought up.
In the kitchen, Bette also takes a few minutes to get on top of her feelings. She loves Tina so much, maybe even more than she did Caitlin. But little Zac she was missing him more and more.
After a few more minutes Tina enters the kitchen and finds Bette sitting at the table in deep thought.
“Hey.” She starts.
“Hey.” Bette replies.
“What are you thinking about?” Tina asks.
“Zach.” Bette simply says.
“Oh!” Tina replies.
“Come here, sit with me.” Bette says and reach out for Tina´s hand.
“Should I be worried?” Tina asks carefully.
“No… no, you don´t have anything to be worried about.” Bette reassures her with a smile.
“Good.” Tina replies.
“I´m sorry.” Bette says.
“Don´t be. I´m the one who´s sorry.” Tina replies.
They stay in silence a few minutes.
“It´s okay to miss him. I know I would.” Tina says after a few minutes.
“Yeah, I do miss him. More and more. I see 4 year olds and I think of Zach, and that he´d be that size now, or that he could be doing what that 4 year old are doing. It´s hard.” Bette finally admits, as tears roll down her face.
“How long have you kept this inside?” Tina asks and takes Bette´s face in her hands and softly wipes away the tears the best she could.
“Since the day he died… I´m sorry. Let´s make dinner.” Bette says as she stands up, wipes her tears away and walks over to the fridge and sees what´s inside.
Tina sighs and watches her walk to the fridge. She follows a few moments later and slides her arms around Bette’s waist and puts her head on Bette’s shoulder.
“You can talk about him with me you know.” Tina softly says.
“Yeah I guess. It’s just… I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.” Bette replies.
“Bette, he was your son. I can’t even begin to imagine what it feels like to loose a child. I know we’ve talked about this before, but that was more about Caitlin and the feelings you still had towards her, that you hadn’t let her go completely. But this…” Tina says, but is interrupted by Bette.
“I’m over her now. You are the one for me now.” Bette says quickly to reassure Tina somehow.
“I know that babe, but… you are not over Zach, and you don’t have to get over him, like you did Caitlin. And you don’t have to keep all this inside. We are a partnership, and that means we share everything with each other.” Tina says.
“I was afraid that you would get… I don’t know… that you wouldn’t want to be with me because of this.” Bette says.
“I love you. I’ll never leave you. You’re stuck with me. If you cheat on me, then I’ll leave you, no question asked.” Tina says as she pushes a few loose strands of hair behind her ear.
“I’ll never cheat on you. I’ll promise you that here and now.” Bette replies.
“Good.” Tina says. She leans in for a kiss. “Don’t sensor your feelings okay? Talk to me.” She adds softly.
“I will from now on.” Bette replies.
“Now, we can make some dinner, because now I’m hungry.” Tina says with a chuckle.
“What do you want? Chicken?” Bette asks.
“Yeah, Wok maybe?” Tina suggests.
“Sure. Here, will you cut the veggies?” Bette asks.
“Yeah.” Tina replies.
After a while they’re ready to eat. After the veggies, Tina set the table, with lighting, a romantic setting for two. Bette is doing the finishing touch on the chicken before serving. Suddenly an overwhelming feeling came over her and she found herself with tears streaming down her face. She has her back against Tina, she leans towards the counter for support for a moment.
“Hey, babe, are you coming?” Tina asks she takes a seat.
“Yeah… coming.” Bette says after a few moments and with a choked up voice. She hoped that Tina didn’t notice. But she wasn’t that lucky. Tina sensed it right away and quickly gets up and walks over to Bette.
“Babe? What’s wrong?” Tina says as she softly touches Bette’s shoulder. She starts to rub her shoulder gently. She carefully turns Bette towards her and then sees the tears. She softly takes her face in her hands. “Babe?” She asks one more time.
“It’s nothing, I’m just happy, so incredibly happy. It just got to me I guess. That I’m not alone anymore. It’s a great feeling. It’s not sad tears.” Bette says as she gives her a smile.
“Are you sure?” Tina asks concerned.
“Yeah, I’m sure. Thank you for being you and for loving me.” Bette whispers as she pulls Tina into a hug.
“You don’t have to thank me for that.” Tina whispers back.
“I wanted to.” Bette replies.
“Come on, let’s eat before it gets cold.” Tina says and pulls Bette with her towards the table.