The brunette pursed her lips slightly then looked at the dark liquid in the mug she held.  It pressed just above where her right leg bent at the knee. 

“Would you like some?” she asked thoughtfully. 

“No.”

It was strange.  This conversation was so uneasy in a way neither of them could thoroughly describe.  The brunette kept looking in Tina’s direction.  Or maybe she was staring over her shoulder to the darkness of the living area and kitchen. 

The seated woman took a sip. 

“Why are you awake?”

“I don’t know,” the other woman admitted, “I just woke up.”

“I tried to be quiet.”  The apology was masked but noted.

Tina disagreed affably, “It wasn’t you.”

Remembering the times before Bette solicited, "Are you sure I can’t get you anything?”

It continued.  This peculiar early morning conversation.

“No … really I’m fine.”

Silence.  A minute went by and then another.

After the awkward silence she cleared her throat to say, “I’m going to try and get some sleep.”

“Okay,” Bette whispered then took another sip of the black liquid. 

Tina turned to walk away but stopped, “Are you coming back to bed?”

It was dark but the blonde couldn’t help the shiver that ran through her as she felt the penetrating gaze. 

Bette let out a breath through her nose before answering. 

“You go on ahead.  Go rest."  There was no aggression in her voice but there was an unmistakable message in her tone.  That she was fine exactly where she was.  Where there wasn’t empty space.  Where the feeling of having the sofa pressing against her back significantly offset the physical comfort the king sized bed offered.

Tina nodded.  Before walking away she requested, “Don’t have too much okay?”

Her back was turned fully before she heard Bette quietly agree, “I won’t.”

A few seconds later she was back in the bedroom.  Looking at the ceiling in darkness.  As she lay there Tina contemplated how things were so tightly wound.  How everything about them seemed to be falling behind. 

She was tired, but so awake.  Turning her head to find a comfortable position she focused on the faint glow of the clock’s hands.  In the surrounding darkness she could barely make out the time.

3:47 A.M.

– ? –