Bette had apologized and asked Tina if perhaps they could talk the following evening, but everything went sideways again the next morning when the grant announcements were released. Not seeing the CAC on the list Tina called Bette to see how she was taking the news. Needless to say, Bette was in an uproar and Tina suffered the brunt of her rage; especially after hearing that Tina’s organization had been awarded the largest grant in Peabody history. She’d even gone so far as accusing Tina of going after the Peabody grant as some kind of vendetta against her.
Tina was upset after the fight with Bette and all thoughts of telling her about the baby that had resulted from her self-insemination three months earlier was put on the back burner.

Tina had confided in one of her friends so it was just a matter of time before the inevitable, but for the time being she decided to just keep the pregnancy a secret from Bette. Considering their volatile relationship she was afraid of Bette’s reaction. Just as she had been blindsided by Bette’s affair never expecting that infidelity would enter a marriage where her partner was so staunchly committed to monogamy, she couldn’t imagine that Bette would ever expect her to get pregnant again after the miscarriage when just two months previously she’d told her that she wasn’t ready.

However, the decision was taken out of her hands when hours later Helena Peabody showed up at the center in a surprise visit bringing a media crew with her to promote the grant. Having an unnatural attraction to pregnant women, she immediately honed in on Tina’s futile attempt to hide her baby bump under what had to be the most hideous pink poncho that she’d ever seen. Not only did it assault her impeccable fashion sense, but wearing warm outerwear indoors was rather conspicuous.

***

Later that afternoon, feeling badly about the accusation and argument Bette had gone to Tina’s office with flowers to apologize. Tina was acting dismissively and basically told Bette that she couldn’t throw flowers on the situation and expect everything to be forgiven. Bette became defensive and accused Tina of saying some mean things too and the conversation once again escalated into a heated argument.