There was a photograph in Bettes bedroom. It was the first image she saw in the morning and the last image she saw at night. She, was sitting on a stone, wall, wearing a loose white shirt, open over her bare chest. The breeze blew through her sun, bleached hair, ruffling it into a halo around her head. She looked at Bette with a half smile, relaxed and amused. Behind her the sky was blue, blue, blue. Her eyes sparkled. She looked like an angel. Bette thought fondly.

When Bette took that picture, she was standing on the patio at the luxury villa in Grand Caymen, where they spent their honeymoon, and Tina was talking about how nice it was to finally be able to let their hair down, and spend time together, and not have to worry about the stresses of work.

Bette, laughed out loud, at the memory, Show us your ***** T, she had said, before pointing the camera and waiting for Tinas response to her brazen request. Tina never did comply though. She just sat there and blushed, shaking her head at Bette. God we were so happy then. Bette said out loud. When did it all start to go so horribly wrong T? She whispered, her eyes pleading at the picture of Tina, hoping, as if by some miracle, looking at the photograph, would give her all the answers, and the past Ten years would just fade in to oblivion, and never exist. But they did exist, and there was nothing she could do to bring them back.

She gently placed the picture back on her night, stand, and a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
At least she had Tina back in her life now. Tina and Ellie. Just the thought of her, family, sent a lovely warm shiver, pulsing through her body. She still couldnt quite believe that she had been given a second chance at her past life, but she knew one thing, she wasnt going to mess up this time around, this time she was playing for keeps. This time it really was forever.

I love you T. She said, softly tracing her fingertips over the glass, I wont let you down, this time, I promise.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

One Year later . . .

That night, Ellie had fell asleep on the couch, after the weekly poker game with the gang which theyd resumed almost as soon as they were a couple again. Bette had carried her to the bedroom, cupped in her arms. She looked younger than she was – with her brown curly hair and her small full lips, mouthing something in her sleep. They undressed Ellie together, Bette taking care of her sneakers and socks, while Tina gently slid off her jeans and t-shirt.

How deeply children sleep. Bette whispered to Tina.

Yeah, they do. Tina whispered back, smiling lovingly at her.

Shes beautiful, isnt she T.

Yeah. Tina, admitted, she, is beautiful.

Tina took Bettes hand.

I feel happy, she said. Everythings just how it should be.

Ellie clenched and unclenched her fists and murmured something in her sleep.Bette pushed the hair back from Ellies forehead, and Ellie stirred. They lifted her and put her under the sheets. The whole room smelt of her.Tina sat on the bed for a little while listening to her breathing, while Bette stood by the doorway, watching both Tina and Ellie.

Her and Tina had been back together now for the best part of a year. That night at the restaurant, when they had both plucked up the courage to tell each other how they really felt, everything had changed completely. A new certainty had entered her life. It wasnt just that she loved Tina with all her heart, she desired her too, with an intensity that eclipsed anything she had ever felt before. That night, she had gone to Tinas bed and since then they had never been apart.

Perhaps it was an unconventional family, two, moms bringing up a child, three if you counted Helena.

But it was one that worked. And Bette had never felt more, happier or more alive in her whole life.







The End . . .