"Why are you defending her?" Tina asked surprised.

"Tina, she’s just hurt now, can you blame her? I made her be monogamist only to cheat on her."

"Babe, I know, but you’ve paid. You can’t keep paying forever." Tina said the irony of the situation not lost on her. After Candace she made Bette pay for a while. Then again that was a different situation, Bette wasn’t with Jodie for seven years and Bette sure wasn’t trying to get back together with her.

"I know, I know I just… lets just see how it goes." Bette said.

"Ok babe. But if she hurts you again all bets are off." Tina said.

"Deal" Bette said lifting her head to look at Tina. "My protector" she said.

Tina kissed her "Damn straight"

————————————————————————————————————————————– 

Bette was sitting at her office. Jodie was just finishing her first class. Bette wasn’t surprised when she heard a knock on the door and saw Jodie standing there.

"Yes?" Bette asked.

"How are you Dean Porter, you look tired" Jodie asked with a false concern.

"I’m fine. You wanted something?"

"Yes now that you mention it I did. You."

Bette sighted, "Jodie…" But before she could say anything Jodie’s hands were in the air signaling her to stop.

"I know I know you’re with Tina but Bette, that didn’t stop you before when you were with her. or with me. Come on Bette I won’t tell her, she deserve the same courtesy she gave me. I’ll keep my mouth shut." Jodie finished. Bette sat there shocked.

"Jodie, even if I wasn’t with Tina, and happy, which I am. You and I will never be together especially after the little show of yours. Now I have to work with you but I don’t have to like you. Keep out of my way!" Bette said getting angry.

Jodie just looked at her, not believing a word she said. "We’ll see."

Bette got up, "Well I have to go"

"So early? My you’re getting sloppy." Jodie said, getting closer to Bette’s personal space.

"No. I have a driving refreshers course." Bette said, feeling uncomfortable with having Jodie in her personal space.

"Finally paying for your mistakes, finally someone’s punishing you." Jodie said.

"Oh, I think you being here is punishment enough" Bette replied smiling sweetly and leaving an angry Jodie behind.

——————————————————————————————————————————— 

Bette walked in to class a little late. "Sorry I’m late, didn’t find a parking space." Bette mumble, not even looking at Mandy. "Well, well seems like Miss Kennard is rubbing off of you" Mandy said smugly.

"Oh fuck off!" Bette said. She was tired of dealing with Jodie and now Mandy. God she felt a headache coming.

"Excuse me?" Mandy asked, not liking that response.

"You heard me, if I’ll hear one more inappropriate remark from you, if you even look at me and a way that will make me or Tina feel uncomfortable I’ll make sure you’ll never even teach a class to three years old am I making myself clear?" Bette asked an edge to her voice. Mandy looked at her shocked. "AM I CLEAR??"

"Crystal." Mandy answered sounding like a five years old being reprehended by her mother. Then leaned and spoken in a volume only Bette could hear, "you’re so hot when you’re angry."

Bette walked over to her seat, Tina looked at her worried. Bette gave her a smile trying to reassure her but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. Tina frowned. As Bette approached the chairs Tina took Bette’s chair and again moved it closer to hers. "Don’t want you to not see now do we." Tina explained. Bette just smiled "Thanks." Tina looked at her for a while, studying her. Finally she leaned down her hand on Bette’s back.

"I think it’s time we’ll get our point across, want me to unbutton my pants?" she asked Bette. Bette’s head jerked up a smile spreading. "Really?" she asked excitedly.

"No, but I made you smile." Tina said.

"You’re just evil." Bette said chuckling and shaking her head.

"Yeah, but you love me anyway" Tina said leaning in for a kiss.

‘She’s worth all the trouble.’ Bette thought. "I love you anyway" Bette agreed looking at Tina and smiling.