BETTES SIDE

As Bette left Tinas work she was so shaken she could hardly see straight. The sight of Katie made her want to rip her head off and after the way Katie spoke to her it was obvious that she did in fact have her sights set on Tina. The other thing that Bette was sure of was Tinas honesty about the situation. From what she could tell Tina was being completely honest about her lack of interest in Katie and Bette knew better than to grill her about it tomorrow.

The other thing that Bette was surprised at was the way she was able to control herself. She probably surprised herself more than she surprised Tina and that was probably the biggest shock of all. Wow, those therapy sessions must really be helping, thought Bette as she drove home. Six months ago she would have probably exploded on Tina the minute she walked through the door, but now, the new and improved Bette had trust in Tina and trust in their relationship and that was enough for her.

When she got home she decided to go to bed since she really didnt want to think about Tina working late with Katie hanging all over her. As she drifted off to sleep she thought about how Tina must have felt the first few days after she found out about Candace. Bette could only imagine what Katie would do to Tina if given the chance and the thought made her want to vomit. Just the thought of another woman touching Tina in her most intimate places was enough for Bette to want to kill someone. At least she had the comfort of knowing it would never happen. How was Tina able to forgive me? thought Bette, as she thanked God for another chance with Tina.

She drifted off into a deep sleep and when she awoke in the morning she realized she was not alone. As she rolled over she could smell Tinas hair and wrapping her arms around her she felt content that they had gotten past all the negatives and the future held the promise of wonderful things to come.

TINAS SIDE

As she watched Bette walk away Tina was completely dumbfounded. Okay who was that and where is my wife? thought Tina with a smile. Bettes ability to handle herself given the most compromising of positions was all the proof that Tina needed that Bette had completely changed for the better.

When she walked back into the conference room she couldnt help but feel a little bit of resentment towards Katie. She didnt know why Katie had been so obvious with Bette but she wasnt happy about it.

Look Katie, I dont know what is going on, but if we are going to work together you cant treat Bette like that.

Katie looked up with a surprised look on her face.

What are you talking about?

Oh come on even I could see it. Tina mimicked Katie, Ive heard a lot about you what was that anyway?

I was just having a little fun thats all, relax Tina.

Well, I dont like it so I would appreciate it if you stayed out of my personal affairs okay?

Come on Tina, when are you going to wake up. Its obvious she treated you like ***** and now shes come begging back down on her knees and youre letting her get away with it. Why are you even putting up with it?

Tina was getting angry at having to defend herself and she was beginning to like Katie less and less.

Because I love her. I love who she is. She made a mistake but it wasnt all her fault. We were together for seven years Katie. Thats a lot of history together. Regardless of what you may think about me or Bette we belong together and the fact that we were able to get through the toughest of situations is only proof of that okay? So stay out of it.

With that Tina grabbed the rest of the files she had to work on and went into her office to get the rest of her things. When she came back to the conference room all she said was, I think Im going to work at home. Ill see you on Monday.

She turned and left the office and as she walked down to her car she felt tears forming in her eyes. She knew they were tears of anger and frustration but nonetheless she felt silly for wanting to cry right now. She started her car and drove home, not really paying attention to where she was going because at this point her mind was a million miles away. When she got there she just sat in her car staring at where she had arrived.

After about fifteen minutes of sitting in her car Tina got out walked up the steps to the door. She used her old key to let herself into what used to be her and Bettes house and was careful not to make any noise since it was obvious Bette had gone to bed. As she walked through the house and looked around she felt like it was the first time all over again. She had spent many nights with Bette sleeping in their old bed in the past four months when her and Bette were dating but tonight was different. Tina knew everything was going to be okay and after next weekend Tina wanted to come home, for good.

She reached the bedroom and stood in the doorway just looking at the room and at Bette sleeping. Tina felt a calm wash over her and she knew she was the luckiest person on earth. Bette was an incredible woman and Tina knew that she felt the same way about her. Sure Bette did a terrible thing and Tina would always have it somewhere in the back of her mind, but Bette did an amazing thing, she completely compromised who she was and changed for the better. And the best part was, she did it out of love.

Tina walked over to the dresser and opened her drawer hoping to find her stuff still in there. Sure enough she pulled out a pair of sweat pants and a tank top and after changing she crawled into bed beside Bette. As she lay there next to Bette she looked at her beautiful face in the moonlight and she felt tears swelling up in her eyes again as she remembered all the things she has shared with Bette over the past seven years, but this time they were tears of happiness.

She remembered the little things that made her heart melt, like when Bette did her best to try and cook Tina a birthday dinner back when they first started dating and ended up almost setting her kitchen on fire. She remembered how upset Bette had been that night because she wanted everything just right and when it came crashing down they were able to laugh about it. She remembered the times that she would come home, before they were living together, and find a beautiful bouquet of roses on her table with a note that said just because, or the times that they would lie in bed together after making love and just hold each other making each other feel so safe and loved. She remembered the day they bought the house and how happy Bette had been that day, almost bursting with excitement to start the next phase in their lives together. She remembered how happy Bette had been when she found out Tina was pregnant and how strong she had been when Tina lost the baby.

Tina remembered the bad times too like when she and Bette would get into little arguments that somehow managed to last for a week, or how Bette always seemed overly critical of Tina whenever her father was around. She remembered the late nights Bette used to work and then come home in a rage, usually taking it out on Tina, but then Tina remembered that Bette always made up for it later saying she would never do it again. But she always did. She remembered what a strain it had been on both of them both emotionally and financially when Tina had quit her job and how Bette seemed to slip further and further away as the days went by. Tina remembered how sad and distant Bette had been towards the end and how angry she had gotten over Tina hiring Candace to work with her. She remembered seeing Bette with Candace at the opening of Provocations and then confronting her that night, here in this bed.

No matter what bad things happened to them, Tina realized, they always managed to get through it. Sometimes love just isnt enough, but for them it was. At the end of the day it came down to love plain and simple. Tina loved Bette and Bette loved Tina. Tina knew that for better or for worse Bette was the person who she was meant to be with and that meant accepting Bette for who she was. She would never be perfect, but Tina knew that Bette had seen the error of her ways and was trying so hard to be what Tina needed.

Tina wrapped her arms around Bette and pulled her close while trying not to wake her. At the feel of Tinas touch Bette unconsciously turned her body so that she had an arm around Tina and her leg was intertwined with Tinas. Tina smiled to herself before falling asleep as she looked down and saw that they were now and would always be a perfect fit.