Bette inched her face closer to Tina’s, slowly searching for her lips. Her chin rested against the blonde’s forehead before pressing against her cheek, knowing Tina’s head had tilted upwards, their mouths creeping closer to one other.

Their lips softly touched, barely a kiss to tease their past. Bette stopped dancing, studying Tina’s face. Tina continued moving her hands over the brunette’s body, her eyes pleading with the brown orbs in front of her. Bette’s hand glided down Tina’s neck, her fingers tracing the chin dimples, her thumb brushing the soft lips. She didn’t know if it would be a mistake later but in that moment everything felt right. She kissed Tina gently.

“Happy Birthday, T.”

Tina’s chin quivered as she mumbled a thank you and put her head against Bette’s chest. The couple continued to dance forgetting about the reality on the other side of this night. They were still holding each other when the music stopped.

With their heads still pressed together they both looked up and said, “I think we missed the last song.”

They swung their arms between them on the walk back to the bar.

“So, Cinderella, it’s almost midnight. Your birthday is almost over.”

Tina moved her hips against Bette’s while Bette waited to settle their tab.

“Yes, it seems that way, doesn’t it?” She wrapped her arms around Bette’s waist, noses nuzzling. “Thank you. For this. For indulging me.”

Tina followed the pronounced frown lines as Bette’s mouth turned down.

“I know this is selfish, but you are truly all I wanted for my birthday.” Tina took her arms away from Bette when she noticed she wouldn’t look her in the eye.

Bette reached into her bag and handed Tina the envelope. “Every year since we have been apart, I write you a card with a quote or something that reminds me or represents that year. I do it for my birthday, too.” Bette was rambling. “Don’t laugh.” She shook her head flirtatiously as Tina studied her with tears pooling in her eyes. “I don’t feel the need to send them, but being here with you I want you to have this one.”

Tina started to open the card but Bette grabbed her hands, lacing her fingers over Tina’s, dipping them between her knuckles, tracing her veins to her wrists, folding their thumbs over each other.