"And that you found me," Bette cut in, picking up on Tina’s thoughts.

"And that we have Angie," they said simultaneously.  

They shared a smile, and then Bette leaned towards Tina to kiss her — Tina met her halfway, eyes shut also.  

"These are the moments our life together is built on T," Bette said quietly. Tina nodded in silent agreement, bringing Bette’s hand to her lips, to kiss her wife’s fingers.  "Why I work so hard," Bette continued, with quiet passion. "Why I pray ever more fervently, hoping i’ll get to spend many more years with you both.  I promise you I never take these moments…or you… or Angie… for granted."

Tina cocked her head, sensing something behind what Bette had just said, "Did something come up during your visit to the heart specialist, Bette?"

Bette shook her head.  "No.. Nothing jumped out.  But he did tell me to be more careful.  I guess all of the excitement in Afghanistan… then all the recent stress with these things I’ve been working on… and the hard skiing a couple of weeks ago…" She paused and gave Tina a rueful smile, as Tina clucked her tongue, "Yeah,  I told him about my fever, like I promised you I would, and he said that should have told me to dial things down a bit."

"Bette.." Tina started.

"I know… I know…," Bette responded, rubbing Tina’s forearm soothingly.

They fell silent again.  Tina decided not to press, knowing Bette knew better than anyone else that she needed to take better care.  The best Tina could do was gently remind her in subtle ways, when she noticed the brunette’s hard-driving ways were getting the better of her.

She stood up, and motioned to Bette to stay seated while she loaded the tray Bette had used with her empty tumbler and Bette’s glass, as well as the small plates and cheese board.  She said over her shoulder, "Anyway … Do you want to hear more about what Liz and I were talking about now or later, after Rose drops Angie off?"

"Let’s continue now, T," Bette responded, as she pulled out a red rose from the flower arrangement in the center of the dining table, and then proceeded to de-thorn it. Tina began loading the dishwasher, then turned to the refrigerator to pull out some items from it.  She next proceeded to the ice bucket in the bar on the other side of the kitchen, to fill a couple of water glasses with ice.  She resumed talking, "So Liz was saying that a significant source of stress for the couple seems to be their art holdings."