"So do you." Bette said, whipping Helena away from her daydream, "Please, come in." She reached for one of the bags and led her into the house.

***

After dinner, the two women sat side by side next to Bette’s pool. They had been talking all night and into the wee hours of the morning. Helena made Bette laugh so hard she cried. The only person to ever do that to her was her sister, Kit, and even then that was when she was a kid. Bette knew how to make Helena feel open. She made her feel like more than the number of zeroes in her bank account, that she may or may not reinherit; more than her last name.

"I have a bit of a confession to make." Helena started, "I’ve been obsessed with you since the day we met."

"Really?" Bette asked, skeptically.

"Yes. At first it was out of pure hatred. I hated your fucking guts and it was all because mummy used to speak of you so highly and she would barely introduce me to her friends."

"I’m sorry to hear that."

"Its quite alright. So, my mission in life was to destroy you. Thats why I did what I did at the CAC and why I dated Tina."

"What did that have to do with dating Tina?"

"I wanted to make you jealous. I wanted to have something you didn’t, something you couldn’t have. I, honestly, wasn’t really all that interested in Tina. She was beautiful, but not my type. I go after the tall, dark, and…"

"Sneaky? Like Dylan and Catherine?" Bette hissed at the name Catherine. Of all people in the world, Catherine was the one Bette hated the most. She turned Helena into a kitten. It wasn’t her Helena when she was around Catherine.

"Touche’" Helena smiled, "But I was going to say exotic. Like you." Bette blushed slightly, "I can’t help it. I’m attracted to you and it’s more than your body, its your mind. You have the sexiest mind I’ve ever encountered."

"I’d say the same for you…"

"But, what?"

"But nothing. I think that you’re an amazingly brilliant and caring woman. The things you’ve done for Alice, Shane, and Dana before she passed, the way you’ve been there for me, you’re amazing."

Bette stood and Helena stood to meet her. Their lips met briefly before they backed away and looked into each others eyes. Their lips met again, more passionate this time. Bette wrapped her around Helena’s waist, pulling her to her. Helena pulled away and looked Bette deep into her eyes.

"You’re with Jodi still. I can’t do this; be your fling. I want a relationship and I want to be with you, but not at someone’s expense."

"I want a relationship too, and Jodi is seeing other people. I’m seeing other people, namely you. She doesn’t have a problem with sharing me." Bette leaned in for another kiss, only to be stopped by Helena.

"But I have a problem sharing you, Bette."

There was an awkward silence, moreso on Bette’s part than Helena’s. She needed time to think this over.

"Um…you should stay here tonight. It’s late and we’ve both been drinking. I’ll get you some clothes to sleep in…"

"I sleep naked, Bette."

"Then you’ll be sleeping in the guest room, I suppose, because I can’t lie next to you while you’re naked." This caused Helena to snicker. Bette reached out for Helena and pulled her into her arms.

"The next time you see me naked, I want it to be because we’re dating, monogamously, and because I’ve just made love to you, not fucked you." She kissed her softly on the lips and turned to Bette’s room to search for clothes.