PREVIOUSLY
Once she was done, she kissed her way back up to Tina’s lips, where their tongues danced in each other’s mouths just as they had before making love. They broke away and looked into each other’s eyes. Pure love was visible.

“I love you,” Tina said as she caressed Bette’s face.

“I love you too. Welcome home baby,” Bette said as she put her head on Tina’s shoulder.

Tina thought to herself, ‘That was one ***** of a welcoming.’ They both fell asleep in each other’s arms listening to each other breathe.

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When Bette opened her eyes the room was quite dark. She saw Tina sleeping next to her, something that she was spoiled with in the past. Seeing Tina sleeping there, in their bed made a tear of joy trickle down her cheek. Considering that this was the first night Tina would be spending in their home, Bette decided she should cook dinner for the two of them. She carefully snuck out of bed and put on a black tank top and a pair of shorts before she went into the kitchen. The clock read 7:20pm; Bette smiled knowing that she was still tired from her fun with Tina, as if the jet lag wasn’t bad enough in the first place. She made her way around the kitchen, pulling out everything she would need.

She figured that chicken mixed with vegetables over yellow rice would be an easy and quick meal to prepare. As she was cooking, Tina was finally awaking from her slumber to the mouth watering aroma coming from the kitchen.  She decided she would just lay there while Bette cooked, because it was something she wasn’t accustomed to.

When Tina heard Bette pulling the plates out of the cabinet she finally got up. She slipped back into her clothes and went into the bathroom. She then snuck into the kitchen and behind Bette, who was slaving away over the stove stirring the contents of their meal. Tina wrapped her arms around Bette’s waist and peered over her shoulder.

“What are we having?” Tina asked.

“Chicken and stuff.”

“Stuff? You’re a culinary vocabulary genius.” Tina playfully said.

“You’d be surprised at what a master I’ve become in the kitchen,” Bette said as she turned around to face Tina.

“Well I guess I’ll be finding out soon enough.”

They softly kissed and got lost in each other’s eyes. It wasn’t until Bette’s food began to sizzle that they realized it. “*****,” Bette said as she turned back to lower the heat.

Tina laughed. “Is there anything I can do?”

“No, just sit down and relax. Everything is basically done.”

Tina sat down at the table, which was illuminated with candles, and admired Bette who was trying so hard to make this perfect. Bette put the plate down in front of Tina and filled her glass with water before sitting down herself.

“Bon appetit!” Bette said, proud of her creation.

Tina looked down at the food and played with it. She wanted to prolong her approval of it, and continue to torture Bette, in a good way of course. She raised her glass and said, “Cheers!”

Bette raised her and they clinked glasses. “To happy times.”

“Yes, to happy times,” Tina replied before taking a sip of the water.

Tina was staring at Bette, and Bette was staring right back at her because she didn’t want to take a bite before Tina did. Bette couldn’t wait any longer when the gazing lasted over a minute. “Aren’t you going to try it? It’s going to get cold.”

Tina reluctantly lifted a fork full to her mouth. She slowly chewed and when she swallowed her eyes opened wide.

Bette took that as a bad sign. “You don’t like it do you? I’m sorry I tried my best. I’ll call for take out.” She started to get up for the menu but Tina reached across the table and grabbed her hand.

“I love it!”

Bette sat back down with a smile across her face. “Really?”

“Yes really! It’s delicious! Did you put some sort of sauce on it?”

“A good chief doesn’t share their secret ingredients,” Bette boasted.

Tina smirked. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. You’re no more of an Emeril Lagasse than you are Lara Croft.”

Bette pouted, acting as if she was hurt by Tina’s comment. “You’re better than them,” Tina finished, bringing a smile back to Bette’s face.

After they finished their meal, Bette did the dishes while Tina sat on the couch flipping through the channels looking for something to watch. When Bette was done she joined Tina.

“Find anything good?” Bette inquired.

“Well there’s ***** Eye for the Straight Guy, WIll & Grace, Kissing Jessica Stein, and an Ellen rerun.”

Bette raised an eyebrow and looked at Tina. “And those caught your eye because?”

“Huh?” Tina asked.

“Everything you listed is *****.”

Tina didn’t realize this. “Oh well it was all subconcious I guess.”

“Sure,” Bette said with a chuckle before taking control of the remote. After she searched, they settled on watching Love Actually, which had become one of Bette’s favorites.  Come the time the curtain dropped to reveal Hugh Grant and the assistant kissing, Bette and Tina were already passed out, and the candles which Bette forgot to blow out extinguished themselves.

Hours later the phone rang. Bette jumped up and hurried to answer it to stop the ringing from echoing through out the house.

“Hello?”

“Hey baby sis!”

‘What could she possibly have to talk about in the middle of the night?’ Bette thought. “Kit, do you know what time it is?!” Bette actually didn’t know herself.

“I know it’s 6 but I figured you’d be up getting ready for work.”

‘*****’ Bette thought, she had completely forgotten all about work.  “Well in that case thanks for calling because otherwise I would have still been sleeping.”

“So tell me how was Paris? I saw the girls last night and they said good things happened for you.”

Bette looked over at Tina who was still sleeping. “Yes they did. Want to meet for lunch?”

“Ok sounds good. Call me when you’re coming over.”

“Alright. Bye Kit.” Bette hung up and went over to turn off the TV and kissed Tina on the forehead before jumping in the shower.  When she got out she put on her bathrobe and went back to the living room. She lightly shook Tina to wake her up.

“T, wake up.” Tina didn’t respond. Bette had no choice but to kiss her. She lightly pressed her lips against Tina’s but Tina responded with force.

When they broke away Bette asked, “I thought you were asleep.

“No I was just waiting for you to do that,” Tina replied with a smile.

“I have to go to work today,” Bette said, disappointment clearly in her voice.

Tina gave her best puppy dog face. “Do you have to?”

“Yes, I have to.”

Tina thought for a moment about what she wanted to do with her day and she asked Bette if she could drop her off at The Planet before work.  They both got dressed and set for their day. They headed out and got in Bette’s car. It was then that Tina realized something.

“Do you know this is the first time I’ve been in this car since…”

That fact had already crossed Bette’s mind. “Yes, I thought about that.”

Tina put her hand on Bette’s thigh and said, “I’m glad I’m back in it.”

Bette placed her right hand on top of Tina’s and responded, “Me too.”

They arrived at The Planet and walked in hand in hand, prompting cheers from their friends who were sitting at their usual table. They sat down and engaged in small talk, just like the good old days. When Bette looked at her watch and saw it was getting late she kissed Tina goodbye. She got back in her car, and drove off to the ***** that was waiting for her at the CAC.

TBC…