“I have to go. I have an artist meeting tomorrow morning but I had a great time. Thanks for inviting me, Al.”

“Now that you are back for good, lets make it permanent again,” Alice smiled, happy to see their little group reunited.

“I’d better get going too,” Tina got up and put a few bills on the table. “I have to be at work early tomorrow.”

They both said their goodbyes and walked together outside.

Alice watched them go and looked at Shane, “Am I missing something? What’s going on?”

Shane watched them too, noticing how protective Bette was while helping Tina to move through the crowd. “Nothing’s going on…yet. I think they are trying to learn to be with each other again without the past year hanging over them. I think they’ll be just fine, though it might take some time. Those two belong together, whether they know it or not and in the end, love conquers all.”

“And thus spoke Yoda,” Alice raised her glass and they all toasted to their friends, wishing them the best.

Outside, Bette walked Tina to her car and they stood there for a moment. Bette summoned her courage and took Tina’s hands, turning so they could see each other face to face.

“I want to ask you something,” Tina nodded and Bette continued. “Can we start over and date? No commitments, no promises, just dating and having fun? All I want right now is to earn your trust and be your friend again. At the end of the day I know what I want and where I want to be and if some day you’ll want the same things, I’ll be here waiting for you. I don’t know if it will work for us again but if in the end we can be together, even as just best friends, I’m willing to take that chance. I’m not going to give up on us.”

Tina bit her lip but didn’t avert her eyes and Bette added softly, “You don’t have to give me an answer right now. I just want you to know that I’ll be here always. I just want you to be happy and it’s okay if it won’t include me. Whatever you decide please let me know…whatever it is, because I love you and respect you and your choices. Just don’t walk away because I don’t want to lose you again.”

“I don’t want to lose you either. You never stopped being my friend. We just lost track of each other for a while but we still have this bond, this wonderful connection. We will always have this. Let’s start with being friends and see where it goes. We’ll deal with the rest when we get there.”

Bette nodded with a smile and kissed Tina gently on a cheek. They hugged each other tightly, holding on for a few extra seconds. Tina got inside her car and rolled down the window. “I’ll talk to you soon, okay?”

“Okay,” Bette watched Tina drive away as she kept smiling. This night went better than she expected. Tina didn’t say no and it gave Bette some hope for the first time in weeks. They had a long and winding road ahead of them and she knew that the outcome was still uncertain but they both made first step towards a more hopeful future and for now it was enough.

THE END