Tina is startled by Bette’s quick movement, but she’s come this far and isn’t going to let Bette avoid this. Not anymore. She reaches over and grabs Bette’s arm, before the brunette can swing her legs over the side of the bed. “Baby, please.” The term of endearment makes Bette squeeze her eyes shut tightly and clench her jaw.  Taking a deep breath, she opens them and faces her lover. Tina drops her grip and sits up herself, scooting back against the headboard and drawing her knees up to her chest. “Should I be?”

Bette’s glassy eyes narrow at the question. “Should you be what?” She asks quietly.

“Should I be scared?” Tina whispers.

Bette rubs her face and a tidal wave of emotions swallows her soul. Fear. Guilt. Shame. Anguish. Confusion. Pain. Love. There’s always been love. Every step of the way; from the moment Tina walked into her gallery that fateful night, love had lived within her. Powerful, abiding love. Steadfast. True. Deep.

She gazes into Tina’s eyes and sees the same mix of torturing emotions reflecting back at her. The tears fall freely from her brown orbs now as she slowly shakes her head. “T – I’m the one who’s scared.”

Tina’s face contorts in sob at Bette’s admission and she reaches out pulling the brunette towards the headboard. Bette willingly moves closer to Tina, but is determined to maintain eye contact with her this time.

“I just don’t know if I’m safe anymore.” Bette reveals through her tears.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I’ve been feeling trapped. Suffocated. This is a life-altering decision we’ve made and I worry that it may not be the right one for us.” Bette looks at Tina as the blonde feels like she’s just been punched in the gut.

“You regret me getting pregnant?” Tina asks slowly, fearing the answer. “You think I’ve trapped you?”

Again, Bette squeezes her eyes shut, mentally chastising herself for not expressing herself enough for Tina to understand. “No. No, baby, I’m just freaked out about it. The responsibility, the sacrifices we’re both going to have to make – that you’ve already made. I – I…”

“I thought this is what we both wanted?”

“It is, T. It is. I want to have a baby with you.”