“I…I don’t understand” Tina stuttered.

“Guys, can you give us a minute?” Bette stood up and led Tina to the bedroom.

She closed the door behind them and they both sat on the bed.

“Baby, the law means that same ***** couples can’t legally marry. We can have a commitment ceremony though, and it can be the same to us” Bette took Tina’s hand.

“So…I can never actually be your wife?” Tina started to cry.

“You can baby. In my heart you will be, to everyone that knows us you will be, it’s only the law that says different. But that doesn’t have to matter”

“But…I just had no idea. When you asked me to marry you, I just thought…” Tina trailed off.

“I’m sorry, T. I just forgot that you hadn’t been a ***** all your life. I just assumed you’d know” Bette wiped away Tina’s tears.

“But I didn’t know, Bette”

“I know that now” Bette whispered.

“I can’t believe this”

“Baby, it doesn’t have to change anything. It’ll still be our wedding” Bette stroked Tina’s cheek.

“I don’t know”

“T, I want us to have our day. Whether it’s legal or not is irrelevant”

“Okay…okay…”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Let’s get married. Or committed, or whatever we’re meant to call it” Tina smiled.

“I love you” Bette kissed Tina softly.

They rested their foreheads together briefly.

“You ready to make some more plans? Or we can do it another time…”

“No, let’s do it” Tina said firmly, getting up.

They walked back to the sofa hand in hand. The others looked up expectantly.

“Carry on” Bette ordered.

“Erm..okay” Alice looked back to her notebook “so you wanna do it here?”

“Yes” Tina squeezed Bette’s hand.

“Great. Right, so who’s gonna perform the ceremony?”

Both Bette and Tina looked at Alice blankly.

Shane sat forward “you know, guys, a friend of mine got hitched and the woman who did it was great. I could call her and see if she’s available if you want?”

“That would be great” Tina smiled.

“Thank you” a warm smile spread across Bette’s face.

“Number of guests?” Alice pressed on.

“I’d like to keep it small” Tina commented.

“Me too” Bette agreed.

“Perfect. See, you guys are totally meant to be together” Alice smiled “okay, what will you wear?”

Bette and Tina looked at each other.

“What do lesbians wear to get married?” Dana asked.

“Okay, well you can do the butch and femme thing, you know one in a tux one in a dress” Shane explained “or both in dresses, or both in suits”

“Wow” Dana sat back to digest the possibilities.

“Well we’re hardly butch and femme stereotypes” Tina commented.

“Yeah, but Bette does look hot in a tux” Alice pointed out.

“True” Tina stroked Bette’s thigh.

“Okay baby, I’ll wear my tux for you” Bette gazed into Tina’s eyes.

“Guys” Alice scolded “GUYS!”

“Sorry” Bette and Tina grinned.

“Okay, so what’s Tina gonna wear?”

“Well, I always did want to be the bride in a white dress” Tina said timidly.

“That would be beautiful” Dana smiled at her.

“You can do that” Shane confirmed.

Alice rolled her eyes “this is gonna end up like a hetero wedding, isn’t it?”

“Sure, Al, you can be my best man!” Bette grinned.

“Whatever. Now really important one – are you gonna write your own vows?”

“I’d like to do that…T?” Bette turned to Tina.

“Yeah” Tina smiled at Bette.

“That’s so sweet” Dana was smiling at them.

“Okay, well I think that’s enough for tonight. Thanks for your help guys” Bette stood up.

“Ladies, I think that’s our cue to leave” Shane nodded to Alice and Dana, and the three of them got up.

“Thank you” Tina smiled.

They all hugged goodbye, and the three left, leaving Bette and Tina alone. They sat back down on the sofa and cuddled up together.

“We’re really gonna do this, aren’t we?” Tina looked into Bette’s eyes.

“I think we are. Are you happy about it?” Bette was concerned.

“I’m the happiest woman in the world”