“Wait until she realizes that they put it in ice cream” Tina said in a warning high pitched voice as she stood up to put the first batch in the oven, “she’ll never believe anything you say after that.”

“That’s because she’s never going to eat that stuff” Bette replied as she picked Angie up, “Isn’t that right Pumpkin Pie?”  Angie squealed in laughter after her Momma B gave her a little toss in the air then carried her to watch Momma T stir up dinner that she kept warm on the stove.

“Let’s eat” Tina said as she served her family.  They ate and shared pleasant conversations about their day, and every once in a while Angie would join with an account of her day.  Bette and Tina listened intently which was their way of encouraging Angie to participate during their family night discussions.  By the time they were done with the main course their dessert was ready.  They enjoyed it with ice cream, another family favorite then Bette cleaned up while Tina got an exhausted Angie ready for bed.

“I set up an appointment for us at the sperm bank” Tina said to Bette who had just walked in their bedroom from locking up.

“Okay” Bette said excitedly “when?”  She sat on the bed facing Tina then grabbed Tina’s hand to lace her fingers together.

“When we get back from the pink ride” Tina turned her body to face Bette.  She looked at their entwined hands, “Are you sure?”

“There are two things that I am sure of.  The first one is that I love you and Angie with all my heart and the second is I want to have this baby with you.”  Bette’s eyes bared her soul while Tina sat in awe and teary eyed over what she was witnessing.  “When you asked me to carry our child” Bette took a moment before the floodgates opened, “I was overwhelmed with love and honor to be asked to bring another life into our family, to carry our child.  It means so much to me that you would think of me in that way.”

“That I can see you barefoot and pregnant” Tina finished her thought and Bette nodded.  “I couldn’t at first, but I saw how unsatisfied you were becoming with work and” Tina tried to find the right words “you seemed unfulfilled.  I don’t know, I thought maybe this would be something that would help you deal with what you were struggling with internally.”  Tina took in Bette’s shocked expression “Yes, I could tell you were going through some kind of inner turmoil, and no matter how opened we said we would be about our feelings, you still keep your feelings hidden.  In order for me understand what you were going through and not telling me, I had learned to gauge your moods, combined with our history as a couple, it was like piecing a puzzle back together, a puzzle that I was familiar with.”  Tina caressed Bette’s face “You’re my alpha who’s afraid to be vulnerable.  Don’t you know you don’t have to be so brave with me anymore?”  Bette nodded as Tina leaned her head in to Bette’s then rubbed their noses together “You know” she kissed Bette’s nose then moved to her cheek “you could’ve said no and I would be okay with it?”

“I know” Bette said with her eyes closed as she moved her head to graze her lips against Tina’s.

“But I’m glad you said yes” Tina closed her eyes when she felt Bette’s breath on her lips, then opened her eyes to look at Bette.  “I want you to experience it and I want our connection to come full circle.  I’m going to take care of you okay?”  Tina promised against Bette’s lips before sealing it with a kiss.