Bette ran up the stairs to Alices apartment and when she got to her door she took a breath before knocking. Bette heard movement inside the apartment but after a few minutes the door still hadnt opened and Bette was getting desperate.

Alice! I know youre in there. Open the door.

Bette I think you should come back later. Nows not a good time.

Alice quickly looked at her bedroom door hoping that Tina wouldnt wake up. Bette continued to bang on the door and Alice was so indecisive as to what she should do.

ALICE! Come on. Let me in.

I told you, later Bette.

The commotion woke Tina and at first she was startled at the sound of someone banging on Alices door. She went into the living room to find Alice standing in the hallway looking back and forth between the front door and her bedroom door.

ALICE! OPEN THE ***** DOOR!

A look of panic crossed Tinas face at the sound of Bettes voice. Alice didnt know what to do so she mouthed, should I let her in? to Tina. Tina didnt respond right away as she was trying to decide if she wanted to see Bette. She finally nodded yes and when Alice went to go let Bette in, Tina walked to the bathroom to splash her face with water to calm her down.

Is she here?

Alice had never seen Bette so torn up and she took a surprised step back letting Bette into the apartment. Bettes demeanor seemed calm, but underneath it all Alice could tell that Bette was going crazy.

Tina?

Tina stood in the bathroom staring at herself in the mirror. She hardly recognized the face she saw and when she heard Bette call her name she felt the tears well up all over again. She turned and headed into the living room surprised to find herself so steady. She felt a feeling of anger beginning to form somewhere in the pit of her stomach and this time she did nothing to hold it down.

What Bette? What now? Look I dont want to hear anything you have to say okay? Im done listening to your lies.

Alice sensed the tension in the air and she decided this conversation would be better off without her there.

Oh look at that I have to get back to work. Tina call me if you need anything.

She quickly gathered her things and left the two lost lovers squared off each at opposite sides of the room.

Tina please, can we sit down and talk?

No Bette. I dont want to hear it. You know I went to look for you today to actually try and see if we could work this out. It sure didnt take you long to run back to her did it?

Venom poured off of Tinas words and for the first time Tina realized that besides pain and anger what she was most feeling was jealousy. She was jealous that Bette was putting someone before her and that Bette was able to laugh with someone else. It had been so long since they had been able to do that and Tina almost forgot how good it felt to just sit with Bette and have those private conversations.

Tina, I know you dont believe me, but its not what you think.

Bette was getting annoyed that Tina would not even listen to what she had to say and she couldnt believe that after all they had been through together that Tina would ever think so little of her.

I think I saw you having coffee with her and sitting and laughing like nothing had happened. Talking and laughing with her like WE used to. So either Im going blind or this is going to be one ***** of an explanation.

Bette was now fed up with Tinas accusations. She could understand how it all looked to Tina and she knew she was really in no position to be getting mad at Tina, but somehow the stubbornness in her always managed to appear at the wrong times.

Tina, Bette let out an exasperated sighed and held her hands out as if to say, I cant believe you.

Tina, yes I did go and see Candace today. But I went there because there were some things I had to talk to her about. I had to try and understand how all of this happened with her and why she let it even though she knew I was involved. But the main reason I went to go see her is because I was trying to figure out what it was that drew me to her in the first place. And if you had stuck around long enough you would have seen that whatever fleeting thing was there before is completely gone. The more I sat there and talked to her the more I realized how much I love you and only want to spend my life with you. Im sorry that you saw us together and assumed the worst, but that is the truth. I dont know what else I can do to make you believe me.

Tina crossed her arms and bit her lip as she contemplated what Bette had just said. Some part of her wanted to just believe Bette and run back into her arms where she felt safe and loved, but the other part, the part that was still hurting from Bettes infidelity in the first place kept her feet firmly planted. She looked at Bette with questioning eyes and as she held Bettes gaze she was searching Bettes eyes for the truth. As she stood there staring at the woman who had ripped her heart out only a few days ago, Tina wondered if the whole Candace ordeal was something she could ever get past completely. When she spoke again her voice was soft and controlled.

Well if I thought the worst its because you didnt give me any reason to believe otherwise. Bette, maybe this just isnt going to work between us. I mean maybe after seven years youve realized that I am not all that you need. It happens. People change, they grow apart. And Im not willing to sit by and watch as you slowly tear me apart day by day. I cant do that to myself. So if what youre saying is true and things are truly over between you and Candace then fine, I believe you. But that still doesnt change where we are and if there is a chance for us again. You need to think long and hard about what you want and honestly, so do I.

Bettes expression was similar to that of a child who was just told there is no Santa Clause. The disbelief in her eyes made Tinas heart melt as she saw how affected Bette was by what she just said. Bette looked down at the floor, not knowing what to say. She could not imagine a life without Tina and when she spoke again her voice was quiet and scared.

Are you saying you dont love me anymore?

Tinas face softened a little at this comment. She slowly walked over to Bette and reached out taking one of Bettes hands in hers. She saw the tears running down Bettes face and Tina gently lifted Bettes face with her other hand. This time when she spoke her tone was loving and soft and Bette cried harder thinking she may never hear Tina speak to her like this again.

Bette, if you dont know the answer to that then you really dont know me at all. Whether I like it or not I will always love you, but right now Im not sure if its enough. You really hurt me Bette, you hurt us. Even when things were at their worst and we were having major problems, I never thought you would ever be unfaithful. I trusted you with everything I had, with my most valuable possession, my heart. And you broke it. I understand that you were at a low point and you were looking for a way out but what I dont understand is why you thought we couldnt work through it together. So to answer your question, yes I still love you and I am still in love with you. But I am also scared that if I forgive you and we are in a relationship again that the next time things are going badly that you wont hurt me again. And I dont know if its a risk I can take.

Bette looked at Tina with so much hurt and pain in her eyes that Tina almost gave in. But she stood before Bette the strong one, and she knew that Bette understood if they were going to get back together that she was going to have to earn Tinas trust again.

I am so sorry Tina. I am so sorry. I will do whatever it takes to earn your trust again. I know it wont be easy, but I wont give up. Please believe me when I say I love you and if I could take away all the pain I have caused you I would. Tina I love you more than anything, more than life itself.

Tina gave Bette a small smile and she slowly caressed the side of Bettes face with her hand. She gave Bettes hand a squeeze and turned to head back into Alices room. As she was walking away Bette had one more thing to say.

T?

Yeah?

I really am sorry from the bottom of my heart, and I really love you Tina.

Tina gave Bette another small smile as she answered Bette in a slightly playful tone.

Then do one thing.

What baby? Anything.

Prove it.

Bette began crying again as she stood there staring at the closed door to Alices room. Her body started to shake from all of the emotions that were running through her body. She understood that she still had a chance with Tina, but it was a long shot. She was going to have to do everything in her power to show Tina how much she loved her and that she could be trusted again, and Bette knew this was not going to be easy. With one last longing look at the bedroom door Bette turned and left Alices apartment. She got into her car and before she had the chance to turn on the engine she lost it. She sat there crying and shaking so much she thought she was going to faint. After about ten minutes she wiped her face with her hands and started the car. As she drove away determination was all that she could feel because she knew if she thought about anything else she would break down again. Tina Kennard was worth traveling to the ends of the earth for and if thats what it took then Bette would do it a hundred times to prove herself worthy. After all, everyone knows that when Bette Porter sets her mind to it, there is nothing she cant have.