Tina’s body falls back to the chair, shaking violently by the tears, Bette sees this, slowly, she walks to her side and offers her arm to embrace the blonde.

“Shh…T…Shh…it’s alright.”

T, she called her T. The name that only Bette would call her like that, Tina once thought she would never have a chance to hear the name again, she almost burst out crying when she heard this.

“And I have to raise her little boy, Bette, I am not complaining about Noah, he’s a smart and thoughtful kid, I’m grateful to have he beside me, but there are so many things I have to do, it’s almost broke my will.”

Tina buries her head in Bette’s neck, smelling the brunette’s unique odor, even if Bette has changed the perfume, this is the same smell that Tina has been craving for days. Her tears wet Bette’s collar, but the detective doesn’t seem to care.

“I’m so sorry, Bette…I’m so sorry…” The blonde presses her forehead on Bette’s shoulder, ashamed to look at the brunette.

Tina finally breaks down, she cries hysterically with her body shaking in Bette’s strong arms.  

“T…” Bette sighs, she holds Tina closer to her.

The blonde seems thinner than years ago when she was in the organization, hell knows what kind of life she’s living. Always giving instead of taking, Tina Kennard did all her best to help the others.

Seldom does Bette know that Tina’s bank account is almost overdrawn, most of her money was gone, being used in transferring the women and boys from the Coopers, being a waitress was not only for taking an eye on Bette, but also make a living.

When she saw Bette with Candace that night, her heart shattered into pieces. However, this was what she wanted, right? To give back her lover a normal life, cause there would be no future, no peace to live with a criminal, especially those who still have unfinished businesses to deal with.

“T, what about drug addiction? Are you still taking any of those?”

“No, no…I quit it, maybe a few months after I got out of the mansion.”

“What…but how? You are on your own, how could you do that without any help?”

Tina snuggles closer into Bette.

“Can we just…take a short break? It’s been a while since I’ve talked so much, I’m a bit tired, I promise I will tell you later.”

“Okay, let’s just rest.”

Bette let the blonde to lean on her shoulder, Tina’s golden wavy hair falls on her chest, her hazel eyes shine happiness when she smells Bette’s odor, which can always calm her down. On the other hand, the up curve of Bette’s mouth corner never disappears, it grows even bigger when Tina shyly touches her hand. With no hesitation, Bette interlocks the blondes’ fingers with hers.

Two women’s’ interaction is so natural, and smooth, as if they were an ‘in love couple’ who had been together for years.

The scene cannot be more beautiful.

Finally, tiredness subdues Tina, by the years of stress and lack of sleep, the blondes’ eyes slowly close up, her body starts to lose the strength. Little by little, Tina finally relaxes.

“I love you, Bette, I love you so much.” Tina whispers in an extremely tiny voice, this is saying to herself, so small and quiet, then she slowly drifting to sleep.

But Bette hears it.

“I love you too, Tina Kennard, forever, till the end of time.” Bette whispers.

Two women holding each other, feeling each other’s temperature, smelling the familiar odor from the other. They’ve remained the same position for hours, unwilling to let it go.

Until dawn, the sun rises up in the sky.

No matter what happens, no matter how long they’ve separated or been through, again, they are coming back together.

This time no doubt they don’t want to be parted again, holding each other, they are ready to face any upcoming obstacles.

CJ