“Wow Bette… this is…” Julia started saying.

“Breath taking” Alice finished the line.

“Thank you” Bette shyly replied. “Let’s go upstairs so we can leave our stuff and I’ll show you around”

Bette showed her guests their bedrooms; Tina and Julia in one and Alice and Shane in another, leaving Bette to sleep in her old bedroom. Each room had its own bathroom and a small balcony with an ocean view. The only ones that didn’t have an ocean view were the master bedroom which obviously belonged to Bette’s father and the one that Kit used when she was around.

After a while the girls were accommodated and had freshen up, they were met downstairs by an exited Bette who couldn’t wait to show them the rest of the house.

“Here’s the kitchen… there’s a back door that leads directly to the pool and then to the beach… here’s another bathroom… closet space… right over there… that little door leads to the play room… living room you already saw… what else…” Bette was trying to focus not to forget anything.

“You have a swimming pool?” Alice asked in disbelief. Bette raised her head with a questioning face.

“Well… yeah?”

“But you have a whole ocean back there… why a swimming pool?” Julia asked understanding where Alice’s question was coming from. Bette smiled briefly.

“My father insisted on building that pool… he’s not much of a beach kind of guy”

“But… this is Acapulco… there’s a beach in every direction you look at” Alice’s curiosity had kicked in.

“Yeah… but my mother insisted on buying this house… she was the one that enjoyed this place the most” Bette’s demeanour changed from exited to pensive, and a little bit of sadness immediately reflected in her expression, so even Alice understood what this house meant for Bette and what they meant for her if she wanted to share it with them.

“Anyway… let’s go see outside… shall we?” Bette needed to change the subject of conversation and soon.

LA – Summer 2002

“I swear T… I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you…” Bette continued her phrase using all the strength she had in her to verbalize her thoughts instead of acting on her feelings.

“Why do I feel there’s a “but” coming?” Tina immediately understood where Bette was going but still she needed to ask. Bette took Tina’s hand in hers and kissed it while she locked eyes with the blonde again.

“But we can’t… I… we… need to talk… and see if we can put everything that has happened between us behind… and…” Bette calmly said.

“I know… I know… it’s just that I’ve been longing for this… for you… so damn much…” Tina interrupted the brunette.

“That goes both ways T… but I don’t wanna rush into something… if later on… we’ll…”

“Bette…” Tina made a pause after interrupting the woman she loved for the second time. “Let’s just stick to the original plan… just… just hold me and in the morning…” But Bette didn’t let her finish her sentence; she softly kissed the blonde and stared at her with love written all over her eyes.

Tina melted, who wouldn’t if the person that you love does that to you?

So she did the only thing left to do, she turned to give her back to the brunette taking Bette’s arm with her, all in a single motion.

“I love you… what took me so long?” Tina whispered more to herself than to the woman lying next to her.

“And I’ve loved you from day one… and that love… hasn’t gone anywhere” Bette replied surprising Tina, while she placed a soft kiss on the back of the blonde’s neck at the same time she was snuggling up against her.

After a while physical, but most importantly emotional exhaustion won the battle and they both drifted off to the best night of sleep they had in years.

The next morning and everything it implicated was awaiting them but for now, it was time to enjoy the proximity of one another.