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The Thawing of the Ice – Chapter Thirty-Seven
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Chapter Thirty-Seven
Tina sat on the couch for at least another hour after Bette left. She was too numb to cry about what had just happened and too hyped up to sleep. She lay back on the cushions and replayed the sequence of events over and over in her mind.
Bette had kissed her first. She’d kissed back greedily, but she was sure that Bette had kissed her first. Things had heated up pretty quickly and things seemed fine until they got to the bedroom. Then it all unraveled. The image of a panicked Bette with flushed honeyed cheeks, wide eyes, and heaving chest kept flashing in her mind. Bette had been afraid and Tina had been afraid for her.
Her ex-lover’s body had felt good when Bette had rested against her and just as soon as they seemed to get comfortable, Bette had hurried away. Hot and cold. Fire and then ice.
Though she knew it was irrational to think there was anything going on between Bette and Helena, Tina had still had her doubts. Both of her exes were extremely attractive women and it would only be natural that at some point, they might be drawn to one another. But Bette had confirmed it herself. She wasn’t sleeping with Helena. Matter of fact, she wasn’t sleeping with anyone.
Tina frowned at that thought. Bette seemed locked in a world of anxious preoccupation and Tina felt guilty for that. She dragged herself to bed and tumbled into an uneasy sleep sometime after midnight.
She awoke to the sound of her cell phone singing and recognized the ring tone as belonging to Bette.
“Bette?” she answered groggily.
There was lightness in her ex’s tone and that was a welcomed sound. “Were you still sleeping, Tee? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“No, no. It’s fine. What’s going on? Angie okay?”
Bette chuckled. “Boo is great. She and I thought you might like to join us for breakfast at the Planet. Are you up for it?”
Tina sat up and scratched at her tousled blonde hair. “I’d love to meet you guys for breakfast.”
“Great. Call me when you’re ready and we’ll meet you there.”
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After reading your AN I think I have to clear the air. I do remember saying that I was NOT criticizing your writing ability or style in any way. And certainly did not intentionaly try to bash you in any way. May I offer a sincere apology if my comment was taken in such a manner. I have never intentionaly tried to do any such thing to an author on this or any other site. As a lifelong avid reader of all genre’ of writing, I am ususlly able to discern where or what a writer is doing or going with a story. I still contend that I don’t quite understand what is going on with this story. Since this is not a paying gig for either of us, I will bow out of commenting on this story further. Keep writing and don’t let anyone or anything deter you from what you are doing. You are obviously an awesome writer to have so many poeple emotionally overwrought by your work. Good luck to you in your continued writing endeavor.
it seems to me that Bette is just trying to justify to herself why she doesn’t want to be with Tina and why she feels more comfortable with Helena…it looks like she had already decided what she wants and just keeps procrastinating for whatever reason…she should be honest with Tina and tell her the truth, not some half-truth that they both fucked up and now it’s hard for her to move forward but the whole truth about Helena, her own feelings and her fears…Tina deserves the truth just as she offered it to Bette…i bet, when Helena gets home and if she even hints on the attraction between them, Bette will jump in without another thought…i just wish she was honest with Tina
YES! Go home, Tina. Now, Bette you think about everything that’s happening and come to the same conclusion that I have… Helena is the woman for you now. You and Tina have had your chances. You don’t work well together anymore. You’ve outgrown her. Move on to Helena. Thanks for the update! PPVS!
MTS, love your writing, even if I don’t like how the story is going at the moment. Please keep up the good work! Now, Bette…I just don’t get her. Why she gets all defensive and just doesn’t come clean with Tina is beyond me. I think she should put herself in Tina’s position…I’m sure she would feel the same way. As I said before, did she forget how badly she treated Tina? And what’s with her wondering what horrible things Tina might be hiding. Does she not realize she is being just as horrible if not more to Tina right now? She really needs to stop this and soon! Thanks for the great chap and please do continue. I’m still holding out for a B&T reunion. :)
MTS – Thanks for correcting us. Your dialogue is very good – not one false note. My Tibette bias is blinding me to the merits of a very good story with a very inventive alternate plot. Thanks for entertaining us! Don’t stop!
I haven’t comment on this story yet, but I will. It is a great, well written story. It is hard for me to read, because I am a definite Tina/Bette fan, but nonetheless it is a very good story, I cannot not read it. Looking forward to more.
My own horror at the idea of B & H together notwithstanding, I’m loving this story – and the comments too. Most of what i love is the unpredictability of B, T and H’s behavior….I can’t wait to see what’s next. For me, the single worst moment on the show was Tina fucking Henry in B&T’s bedroom – I remember vividly feeling near tears at the idea someone could be so utterly cruel to someone you once loved. I wonder if that is one of the horrible things Tina is referring to? If so, I think there will be no going back for Bette – she already knows Tina can destroy her, and once she finds out just how much Tina must have hated her she should run for the hills. I love B&T, but you’ve successfully made me feel that Tina is too much for this fragile, unsure Bette. Great story -PPS!
wow. your story has ignited some passion about the direction of the story. That is a testament to your obvious talent. Not only are the characters going through real emotions, but you are not going the predictable route. I rather prefer it that way. This is fiction and it is your vision, so keep doing your thing. Now about the story, I love the fact that Tina is being more honest with her feelings. I think Bette should give her the same treatment. If she is confused about her feelings for Helena but want to explore them, she should let Tina know that. This chap was a start in that direction. They are talking and raising their daughter so they will need to be civil. I guess only time will tell if there is enough there for them to fall in love all over again as the people they have become. there is a depth to your characters and story arc I enjoy. pps
Does the truth not set someone free, it seems to be only in Tina’s case that it is setting her free but in Bette’s case she doesn’t want to hear it or speak it. It is making her step back so much into herself when it comes to Tina and the anger that is there just starts to simmer all over again. R.I.P Tina and Bette. I really do want these two to be happy but fricken frack can they ever be that together. I do not see how these two can be together not with the story that is unfolding before my eyes. Bette in my opinion wants Helena and Tina wants Bette, Bette doesn’t want Tina, even if hell frooze over Tina would never be in there with Bette again. I really cannot fathom out Bette at all, why is it so difficult to talk to Tina about her she feelings but on one hand she can talk to Helena so easily. A woman who only after six weeks are BFF, no wonder Tina is crushed with this latest development. I wonder if Tina will be the one to say to Bette that she will no longer pursue her, less of a quilt trip for Bette. Thank you.
As ever this is a beautiful chapter MTS, I feel like I am in this story, every chapter I read, I can see their expressions, feel their emotions in every word you right. You have a wonderful talent & it is an honour to be part of you sharing your fantastic talent with us…… TiBette or BeLena who cares, I just read you words & float away into a beauftiful story. Please keep doing what you do best, I wait for the next fantastic chapter. PPVS :o) xx
Ok, I have put off commenting so far as stress levels are very high here. I’m a Tibetter through and through and love all the happy ever after stuff but this is my pov. Bette did wrong, she cheated and boy did she pay! By the end of s3, where we are now, I disliked Tina big time. She had systematically and cruely destroyed Bette! Her cruelty far out weighed any thing Ms P had done previously. All Bette wanted to do was love Tina and the child she had given them. Can we really blame Bette for her confusion? Bette is caught between the fact that Tina has been the one woman she has ever loved: ever dreamed of loving; and the way she treated her s3. The thought of Belena is not one I like to entertain but the scars run too deep for Bette to connect with Tina in this instance. Given time – who knows. One thing I do know is that just because Tina realises what she has done and what she has lost, that Bette can just forgive her. Ask yourself would you…………..This from a Tibetter!
This is a great story and you are a wonderful and gifted writer. If people do not like this story they should not bother to read it. It is after all, your story, it just happens to be about to fictional characters we have either a love/love or love/hate relationship with. I am a push over for a Bette and Tina happily ever after but I would never for go a good read just because it may not have that happily ever after. Looking forward to the next post.
I want to say sorry too that my not appending the rest of Dainty’s comment to my quote made it come across like an attack on your person, which was not my intention either. This story had me riled up and Bette’s frustration is mine. I am still here because your writing is so compelling I am about to lose the last five strands of my hair from all that hair pulling. I respect your creative impulse and am feeling so ashamed that a non-writer like me would even attempt to stand in the way of where it wants to go. Again, I apologize. On the story, BatnAA made a good point a couple of chapters back when she said that Bette treats Tina here the way she treated Jodi in S6. The full import of Bette’s behavior then was just mitigated by there being no cheering squad for Jobette. And Jodi had it worse because there had been no Henry wth her. I agree with LuHstrous. It looks like Tina is going to come out of this the better person of all three. I wish the same for Bette, but with where she is now it will take time.
Your writing is outstanding. Bette’s actions seem inconsistent. By asking Tina to go to the zoo and breakfast, Bette is sending mixed messages. Tina wants a romantic relationship and Bette doesn’t. If Bette partners up w/Helena, she can never get together w/Tina. Tina is just the birth mother of their child, nothing more. Tina should just more on. She is being totally honest w/Bette and Bette just hurts her.
I’m sorry I’ve been out of line and emotional in my quoting another commenter. Please continue posting. You are a very able writer, and this site is alive because writers like you keep posting.
I dont understand with all the opportunities bette have, why cant she just be honest and upfront with Tina that she dont love her anymore and have feelings to H, so that Tina can process it and start to find a way to move on. Is this Bette’s way of disiring to regain her power over Tina bec she have the hold on Tina’s affection. It’s obviously forced when she invited Tina for breakfast thinking of Helena’s french toast and her invitation at the zoo is soo fake. Why the hesitant of being honest to tina and forcing herself to spend time w/ tina getting tense and nervous. To spare tina from pain? Too late for that Bette. She already hurt Tina on so many occasions. cheating w/ candace, continued to see candce after tina finds out, filing for sole custody of angie and kidnapping Angie. Typical selfish of Bette’s character. By this time. Bette should be a pro and used of hurting Tina like eating french toast. What is another hurt of telling her she’s inlove with Helena. This makes me think that Bette’s hesitance of telling the truth is just in case it doesn’t work w/ H she can always go back to tina. It’s all about Bette’s pride, her superiority, and not being rejected. This typical behavior of Bette rooted from her selfish characteristic. Why I say selfish bec. back in history, she pursued Tina even Tina has a BF, Eric, her job and popularity in art world is more important than Tina. Her filing for sole custody w/o even thinking how it affected and hurt T who gave birth to Angie who love her daughter unconditionally. Bette doesn’t care about this because she thinks highly of herself as a better mother. so her reason of sparing Tee from pain is just BS. If she’s happy because the blue eyed dragon makes her happy, she should let Tee move on and find happiness. I dont undersatnd why Tina have to apologize so much. If we just weigh it up. I think tina suffered more than Bette. She is the birth mother of their lost son. Losing a child is so painful that cannot be measured by anyone. then after a few months w/o even recovering from the pain, Bette cheated on her and continued to have sex w/ C after tina left. Tina was lost and lonely for a long time even w/ Helena and Henry. She deserve to be happy and I dont want it to be w/ this brand new Bette. This Bette is inlove w/ herself. so self-absorved w/ her pain and no sense of direction when it comes to her emotions. I wouldn’t want Tina with this Bette who obviously doesn’t even recognize what is right and wrong anymore. She can go w/ Helena for all I care, since both are compatible and a lot in common. Both adores Peggy, they were both bully, wanting to get what they want. Helena, as serial womanizer and cheater to Winnie. She used her money and power to play w/ women including Tina. Bette womanizer who used her art to seduced women including Tina whom she cheated on to. So here goes the saying, B&H are birds w/ the same feathers that flocks together. They easily get used to each other and became bestfriends. Is Bette ashamed to tell the truth to Tee abouth H because Tina and Helena had sex before and it felt incestous now that she’s inlove w/ h? Bette had sex w/ Tina , Helena had sex w/ tina. This is just “GROSSED” for conservative Bette who was not happy when Tina said the word “F**k” her in the last chapter, if Bette will have sex w/ helena. Angie will say when she grows up. My mom slept w/ my mom’s GF. this is just hilarious. they should compare notes one day, it would be fun. Or maybe Bette can ask Tina which part of Helena’s body is the most ticklish. LOL. To sum it up if Tina became hateful, revengeful and turned back to men is because of Bette’s infidelity and superiority complex. Bette is too focus on her anger w/ tina that she experiances anxiety and panic attacks. Bette should try to be alone and reflect of what kind of person she was w/ tina and was Tina with her from the start of their relationship and at present. she needsed to do this alone w/o the blue eyed dragon baking cookies. Becuase If she keep leaning on H opinions, it will always be one sided. H doesn’t know the real T/B and their hstory. All she knew is how broken and vulnerable Bette is and she is one of the reason for Btte’s hurt in the past. Like what she did to Tina. She took advantage of how broken and vulnerable Tina after her break up w/ bette and she seduced Tee. Any opinions H may give will be bias favoring one side. H is not a therapist so she cannot analyze Bette and Tina. W/ the anxiety attacks, Bette needed to have a consult with a doctor. it can be a medical problem that needed medical intervention. She’s playing w/ fire getting involve w/ H when she haven’t even sorted her own emotional health and feeling w/ tina. This is multitasking, emotionally and pshycologically.
Oh dear. I think Tina’s just starting to realise that she may have lost Bette forever… And Bette, she seems not to have any further answers to any of her questions. What will their next interaction bring? Everything seems awkward and painful for them just now… can they even forge a friendship out of the wreckage? Thanks for the post, MTS. :)
Another outstanding and emotional chapter. Its funny how quick people forget. Tina was punishing Bette all during S2, S3 and part of S4 for her affair with Candace, but Bette is not allowed to be wary of Tina’s intentions. Of course she is not going to tell Tina all about her relationship with Helena, why would she, they haven’t decided what to do themselves and as Bette said she and Tina are no longer best friends. As for Helena destroying Bette’s life, Bette and Tina in my opinion did a fairly good job in doing that by themselves. For me Tina was the one who used Helena’s advances toward her to punish Bette for her affair, she was the one who knew about her denying Bette the grand and Bette’s dislike of her when she accepted Helena’s dinner invitation. And yes in my opinion she was aware of the fact that Helena wanted more from her than just dinner. As for her job at the CAC, Franklin was trying to fire Bette long before Helena appeared and like Tina he used Helena for his own agenda. Granted Helena didn’t stop them and participated in Bette’s demise, but they didn’t know each other so why put up a fight and try to stop them. Bette was honest with Tina in that she told her that she wasn’t ready to start a relationship with her during their ride over to Tina’s apartment, but still Tina let Bette know due to her actions like inviting her into her apartment, then paying the babysitter etc. that she wanted to have sex with her. Bette not having been with another woman for a long time of course she took the chance, but in the end couldn’t go through with it. Her inviting Tina for breakfast with her and Angie as well as a visit to the zoo, was her way of showing Tina that she is able to be together with Tina when they are co-parenting Angie, regardless of what happened the night before. But as I said before that’s just my opinion. MTS thanks again for posting such an amazing story.
I think I understand where they are both coming from. Right now I feel as if I don’t care whi ends up with who. I just want them to be happy and move forward. There’s just too much confusion, hurt and sadness going around. Thanks for the post!
Love this chap too:)) And there’s soo much bad thing between tibette, thing that can be forgiven but not forget..IN the show I never really understood completely Bette’s change, from alpha she became timid, gentle and very scared in the end, like it’s all up to her not to f* up again, like she’s the one to blame for all. This approach is soo much believable and really like it!!:)) I’d love to see belena together, but no matter where you take the story, I’m up for a rideeeee!!;)
MTS, you are an awesome writer. Love your stories & writting style. Thank you for sharing.
That your writing inspires such emotion means you are putting together an AWESOME piece of work…. SOOOOOOO LOVE this fic…keep up the great work!!
You are a great writer MTS. Every morning I look forward to reading this story. Great chapter.
Wonderful update. Thank you.
I only comment sporadically but after reading your AN I have to say, that it is ridiculous to criticise you as a writer. This is fiction, it can go anywhere it wants to, even if the readers don’t like it. If you don’t like a book, you don’t rant and rail at the author (stephanie meyer does not count! :P), you just don’t read the book! And puhlease, just look at the roommates series, MTS you are a talented, amazing writer. The responses generated by this story alone is proof as well, you’ve got us all sucked into this story!! :)) I may be a strong Tibette fan but I will never begrudge you simply because you’re writing what appears to be a Belena fic at the moment. I trust in your judgement and I will read till the end! Thank you for sharing your story and I hope to see the next post soon :)
Hey MTS, I am behind you and this story all the way. As a TiBetter, it is at times difficult to read about Bette’s building attraction to Helena especially after everything they have been through in the past. This is further complicated as Bette has been able to forgive Helena’s past indiscretions while struggle to accept how Tina has changed and is trying to rebuild their friendship and partnership. I can accept Bette and Helena together however Bette needs to sort out her feelings for Tina. Only this will allow her to talk things through. Bette has to be completely honest about her desires whether it be to try again and reunited her family or if it is to embark on a new journey with Helena.Angelica’s future is paramount to both Bette and Tina so she deserves her parents to be happy.Whatever way this tale plays out I will be here reading and supporting you. MTS, your talent is immense and needs the autonomy to write what inspires you. This is freedom of speech and I’ll defend every creative choice you make.Please continue with this fantastic and thought provoking fan fiction. I hope you realize the depth og backing you have.Many thanks from Your Loyal Fan.
Hi MTS, Based on your AN comments and your comments in the forum, I had begun to realize that you were taking some of the heated discussion here somewhat personally. I know that some comments here are harsh, but they are almost exclusively directed at the story and the development of the characters. Most of us hold you in the highest esteem as a writer and have been HUGE fans of yours from the Roommates series. Nothing that you do here or in future stories is likely to knock you off that pedestal. [para] I stopped commenting on the story because I wasn’t doing it justice. I skip all the Bette and Helena parts because the Bette in those parts was so beyond my conception of the character that I enjoyed your writing much better by skipping those parts. (I could still glean what happened in those parts from reading the remaining parts.) [para] I know you justified this new-and-supposedly-improved Bette as “character growth” in one of your ANs, but even with that perspective I could not quite stomach the previously-reserved Bette devolution into one who invites HP to share her home, declares her her BFF, falls in love with her (but not enough to resolve all ambiguities about Tina) – all in six weeks. Yes, Bette had done things like that before with Tina – but that was compelling in the storyline only because it was so against Bette’s basic nature to do such things. This Bette seems more like Alice in her behavior with Helena, all tremulous and UHaul-y, neither here nor there, not strongly enough attached to HP to let Tina go, etc. All of that (to my eyes) feels like a huge departure from the basic chemistry of Bette. To me, none of this felt like growth. Seen through my eyes, some of this felt like regression to a 12-years-old’s maturity level (like the declaration of instantaneous BFF status. Poor Alice and Shane.) [para] I am saying all of this again in order to try and explain where my heated comments are coming from. All said and done, you have to know that the only reason you are getting such strong comments is because people are still engaged, if not with with the story then with you as a writer. This passion in the comments is a compliment to you, although I know that it may be difficult to see it as such given the intensity of tone. [para] Thank you MTS. Take care.
Tina’s honesty just caused Bette to put another nail in her coffin. The romance is dead – please just give it a proper burial and move on… If Bette would stop dangling carrots in front of Tina only to pull them away then maybe she can spare telling Bette whatever ‘horrible’ thing she’s done. Bette has enough in her cache to justify her hatred of Tina (in her mind) so just like Bette didn’t think bringing up Candace the night before was necessary, maybe some things need to be left unsaid… I’m sure the horrible thing is probably f**king Henry in their bedroom unless Tina has some other secrets that haven’t been revealed yet… One good thing that will come out of all this is that Tina is processing and dealing with her mistakes and issues; she’s getting resolution and closure even if she doesn’t thaw Bette’s heart. That will make her a better person for herself, for Angie and for her future partner… Bette on the other hand is finding things and ways to continue to feel victimized and that’s only making her more resentful, deceptive and more the cause of the continued ‘unhealthiness’ in their relationship than anything Tina might have done in the past… 1-800-THERAPY. I still strongly recommend it. If she doesn’t get help she’s going to bring a lot of baggage into her relationship with Helena and as much as ‘crystal blue eyes’ has morphed into this wonderful person I don’t know that she will have patience for this whinny, insecure, can’t make a decision without consulting my best friend, needy partner in the long term… I guess Bette needs to spend time with Tina as Helena told her to – but is her motive to resolve things with Tina or to just find more things she can use to continue this ‘woe is me’ behavior … At least she’s making slow progress towards a bit more honesty by revealing more about her relationship with Helena. Tina gave her the perfect opening to come clean and she’s still holding back. When I saw the ‘R’ rating I was dreading another sexual encounter so I’m glad that didn’t happen – I was thinking that maybe Bette thought changing the locale from Tina’s condo to her house would have different results, but I think Helena would appreciate her not sleeping with her ex since she’s declared her love, but then again it is Helena so maybe that’s OK. MTS – your story is causing a lot of emotional turmoil but it’s a credit to your talent, not to take away from it. I’m almost convinced it’s BeLena (still a stretch in my mind) but I won’t be surprised if you make a 360 degree turn at some point and make TiBette work or maybe it’s neither. Keep up the good work. Thanks for posting.
I don’t understand why Tina feels she needs to apologize so much & take on so much of the blame for their demise. They BOTH caused one another pain and they’ve already had that convo in which they apologized. Tina has dealt with the past & come out a better person. I can’t say the same for Bette. You’re a grown woman Bette, stop feeling sorry for yourself. You said it yourself, what’s done is done. Let it go already. Bette’s hanging on to all this anger & it’s only making her worse. Did Bette seriously think that Tina wouldn’t find it strange that she & Helena are now roommates & best friends when they were once mortal enemies? It’s Tina’s ex, Bette. You know, the dragon you used to hate with a passion? Anyone with a brain would find that strange. C’mon. Bette keeps referring to Tina as a stranger. Well, I certainly don’t recognize this Bette. I wish Tina knew of all of Bette’s behavior because she would have made the decision to move on with her life long ago. I’m still baffled as to why people are holding out for a B&T reunion. If Bette is lying to Tina & treating her harshly now, just think how she’ll treat her if they were to get back into a relationship. Does Helena really want someone who treats a person the way Bette is treating Tina? Does she really want to get into a relationship that has the potential to cause so much drama in her life? Tina & Bette need to try to work to be civil to one another so that they can sufficiently co-parent Angie. She’s what matters most. She doesn’t need to see them at one another’s throats. Thanks for the story.