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    Love’s Recovery

    Tina pushed her anger aside quickly, trying to remain focused on Bette and her feelings.

    “The issue is Maxine and whether I want her involved in our lives at this point.”

    “That’s true,” Tina said carefully as she settled next to Bette, leaning against the headboard herself as she waited for Bette to continue.

    “I keep wondering if there’s a reason to even let her in,” Bette rubbed at her temples, the stress of the last few weeks taking its toll.  “She threw this shitty parting comment out and I can’t help but to feel like she was trying to manipulate me.”

    “What was it?”

    “That Angie deserves a grandparent and we can give her one now,” Bette muttered, leaning forward as Tina’s hand drifted to Bette’s shoulders, kneading across the taut muscles.  “Angie doesn’t know that she’s missing something if she’s never had it.  Our family might not be traditional, I mean for god’s sake she has an Earth Mother rather than a god mother, but it’s the family that takes care of her and of us.”

    Tina smiled, admiring how much Bette had so obviously grown over the years.

    “But I don’t want to make this decision solely based on that,” Bette continued.  “If your parents could accept you as a lesbian, and were involved in Angie’s life, would this even be a valid argument for anyone to make?  At some point Maxine needs to be judged on her own actions and not just because someone thinks that Angie needs some societal idea of the perfect nuclear family.”

    Bette stopped and made eye contact with Tina, surprising her.

    “Has Angie ever asked you about grandparents?”

    “No,” Tina shook her head.  “But in all fairness she’s three and really doesn’t have much to say on many subjects that don’t have to do with TV characters.”

    “I just don’t believe that because she doesn’t have something, she needs it, when she doesn’t know she even misses it.”

    Tina remained silent, pondering Bette’s thought process.

    “And even if I bought that as a reason,” Bette stopped and looked at Tina once more, “which I do not by the way, is Maxine the type of grandparent I want for our children?”

    “She seems to have gotten sober,” Tina pointed out.  “I spent more time with her than you did and she never seemed under the influence of anything.”

    Comments

    1. Wow…powerful arguments on both sides. Amazing how you are able to capture the heart dilemma for Bette. I really like how you have Tina try to give perspective and balance to Bette. But at the end of the day, Bette will need to come up with a decision that she can be peaceful for herself. I think this is one of the most courageous walks a person can do…forgive, and move the relationship to a new chapter. Bette is no longer the “little girl abandoned.” She is an adult that can “own” the new relationship with her mother, whatever that maybe. Be courageous, Bette. Gumpy…you are simply amazing!!!

    2. vowing silently to take care of them tomorrow morning. – “Or breaking them over Maxine’s head tonight if she’s hurt my wife” – love your smart thoughtful Tina, and vulnerable Bette :)

    3. In a chapter full of depth and drama and Bette’s dilemma with her mother, I am shallow enough to admit that this is what I loved most about it: “But in all fairness she’s three and really doesn’t have much to say on many subjects that don’t have to do with TV characters.” To insert humor in all that is truly a gift. Thanks for the post.

    4. “At some point Maxine needs to be judged on her own actions and not just because someone thinks that Angie needs some societal idea of the perfect nuclear family.” Right on! When I have to force myself to write it’s usually crap…when you have to it’s so damn good!!! Thanks!

    5. i understand how bette feels. i had a great loving mother. my father was never in the picture for me and my brother but was there for our oldest brother always. the oldest brother got killed in a car accident. now our father wants to be apart of my brothers life but constantly excludes me…makes me wonder if my brother were to die before the father if it will be my turn. i want so much to give him a chance but it is on him and he is not talking it and it is hurting my kids as well because he is their only grandparent. so yes i believe she should give her a chance but limited at first and not tell angie who she really is just yet

    6. I understand how Bette feels and why. Having said that, I think she needs to give her mother a chance, and they all need the opportunity to get to know one another over time and I believe that is the only way Bette will be able to make up her own mind about Maxine and to know that she did or did not make the right decision to allow her in their lives. I think given time Maxine will prove to be the mother that Bette lost and needs in her life. She can’t do this for Angie or anyone else, only for herself. I also think Kit has unduly influenced Bette about her mother. Kit still harbors resentment about Maxine being with Melvin because he left her mother for Maxine, so her opinions will always be tainted. Now that Melvin is deceased, no one will ever know what truly transpired between them. whether he threatned her if she ever tried to see Bette when she was a small child after she left or not. We only have one person’s side to this and that is not enough to make an informed decision. Bette is going to have to go on her own instinct and/or inner voice for the best choice. I’ve said more than enough. Thanks for posting.

    7. I went through the very same thing in my own life with my father. You are writing a very realistic portrayal of a parent who was absent suddenly wanting to come back into your life now that you’re an adult. I’ve felt every emotion Bette is going through right now. Great writing! PPS

    8. I am thoroughy enjoying this story. I am happy to see that Bette at least went to talk to Maxine, and was even more thrilled that when she arrived back home she found that she had a loving and supportive partner in Tina. I love their scenes together in this fan fic.

    9. Such a shame that this was the last post on this story.

      Starting with ‘Sweet Memories’ leading to ‘Believing in Love’ and then going on to the wonderful stories ‘On Centre Stage’ and ‘Enter Stage Right’ featuring the truly funny Kennard Family Gumby shows as a brilliantly talented Writer.

      I’m on re-reads now and still finding ‘gems’ I missed first and second time round.

    10. Gumby, i really hope you will find the time to update this incredible story!

      Like SassyGran said, i reread all your stories several times and truly loves them.

      It has been a few years but there are a few writers who came back after a few years and i still hope you will be one of them.

      I sincerly hope everything is going well with you !

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