“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” Tina whispered.  “What the hell did I just say to her and why did I even say it!”  Had she seen the look on Bette’s face she would have seen the depth of the impact that her words had.

As she walked into the kitchen Bette sat down at the table fighting to keep her emotions in check.  She realized that to truly understand the ramifications of her betrayal that she would have to expose herself totally to Tina.  “Tina if you only knew how right you are about my wanting to crawl inside your heart,” she thought to herself.  “I want to make things right from the very depths of your heart.  I want you to be able to trust me enough so that I can hold your heart in the palm of my hand and both of us to know that when it beats, it beats for us.  I’ll wear my heart of my sleeve so that there is never a doubt as to where my heart lies.  It lies open and exposed to you, only to you.”

Bette decided to go and get the remainder of her purchases from Alice‘s car.  As she brought in the last of Tina’s surprises she realized exactly what she had to do – she had to make Tina fall in love with her all over again.  This time when she fell Bette knew that she would never let her go.  She understood that for whatever reason she had been given a second chance and with this chance came the knowledge that there would be no other chances.  She continued to hide her purchases throughout the kitchen suddenly ready to face the battle of her life.

“Oh shit!” moaned Shane as she rolled over in the floor.  She slowly opened her eyes and tried to figure out where she was.

“Good afternoon sunshine!” Bette yelled from the kitchen.  “It’s nice to see that you are still among the living.”

Grabbing her head in her hands Shane sat up on the floor and said, “Are you sure that I am still alive?”

Bette laughed,” If you can make it to the table I’ve got some coffee ready.”

Shane stood up gingerly and staggered into the kitchen.  Bette handed her the coffee, smiled broadly and said, “Merry Christmas Eve Shane.”

Liza fed for her usual 20 minutes and then fell asleep almost immediately.  Tina placed her in the crib and stood contemplating what she needed to say to Bette.  She knew that she was not deliberately trying to hurt Bette but her own anger somehow always managed to surface.  The only thing she was certain of was that she loved Bette with all of her heart; she just didn’t know how to express it without all of her other emotions spilling out.  As she stepped into the hallway she heard Shane’s voice.  Not knowing whether she was comforted or disappointed by it she headed to the living room feeling once again that there was so much left unsaid with Bette.