Bette paused as they got to the table, her body suddenly stiffened.  "What’s wrong, dear?," Peggy asked worriedly.

"Hi, Bette," Marissa greeted her formally, standing up halfway.

Peggy looked at Marissa somewhat shocked, as Marissa didn’t stand up for just anyone.  And turned back to look at Bette.

Bette saw that Marissa looked to be …

"Yes," Marissa nodded with a smile, her shoulders relaxed as she lightly rubbed her stomach.  "Early days, yet.  About 8 weeks."

Bette walked over to her, and bent lightly to kiss her on both cheeks, "Well, I am thrilled for you, Marissa. Congratulations to you and …"

"That’s the question!," a blonde to Marissa’s right cut in.  Bette looked at her then at Marissa, and guessed from Marissa’s look that she hadn’t told the table yet about Wendy, or, perhaps, anything else about her private life.

Bette gave Marissa a half-smile, "Well Tina and I offer our congratulations, anyway."

Marissa clutched Bette’s hand gratefully, then responded softly, "Thank you, Bette.  That means a lot."

Bette smiled again, before walking back to sit next to Peggy.

"So I can see you know Marissa," Peggy started her eyebrows raised in a questioning manner at Bette.  Bette will have to tell her about what looks to have been an interesting encounter with Marissa, sometime.

"To her right is Lauren MacAllan," Peggy continued.  Bette smiled in Lauren’s direction, who smiled back at her, an interested look flashing in her blue eyes.  "And to her left is Brook Adams," Peggy added.  "Everyone else who was in the table earlier will probably be filtering back later."

Bette smiled at Brook, who smiled back at first, then extended her hand to Bette, as they were seated nearer to each other than Lauren and Bette were.  Bette shook Brook’s hand, and laughed lightly as the portly girl gushed, "You were dancing sooo gracefully out there earlier.  Was that man your husband or something?"

Bette shook her head, laughing, "No he’s just a friend."

"Well you two had such chemistry together," Brook added.  "You’re both tall, and … um … sexy."

"But you’re married, right?," Lauren, asked, cutting in, nodding at the rings on Bette’s ring finger.

Bette nodded, "Yes, yes I am…" she smiled her thanks at the waiter who brought a glass of champagne over.