Bette sat in a lounger by the pool, savoring the glass of 12 year-old scotch that she poured before she went outside.  In the evening twilight, she sat contemplating the changes in last 11 months.  She had the life that she had always dreamed about.  She and Tina were stronger than ever.  After they decided to start dating again, they spent time talking – talking about the good things and the difficult topics, talking about their feelings for one another, and talking about their future as lovers and as a family with Angie.

Angie was so happy to have her moms back together again.  Even though Bette and Tina waited 6 months to move in together, they spent as much family time as they could, and rarely a night apart.  They decided that they wanted to make sure that this time, their relationship was going to work before they lived together again.  Both remembered the problems the last time they tried to reconcile to quickly, and were determined to not repeat those same mistakes.  It would have been devastating for everyone, especially their daughter.  The time that they waited to officially move in together again just strengthened their relationship and their resolve to make a life together.  

Tina stood in the doorway and quietly watched Bette reclining in the lounger.  She looked so relaxed and content, a contrast to the anxious woman from 11 months ago.  Each day she fell just a little more in love with Bette.  Gone was the Bette whose top priority was her career, only to be replaced by a loving, thoughtful partner who idolized their daughter, and placed a priority on family time.

Bette felt a hand stroke her hair.  She opened her eyes to the most beautiful hazel eyes she had ever seen looking back at her.

“Hey.  Room for me?”

“Of course.  Is she finally asleep?”  Tina positioned herself in front of Bette, and rested into a loose embrace from her.

“Share?”

“Always.”  Tina took the tumbler from Bette and took a sip, feeling the warmth as the amber liquid traveled down her throat.

“Yeah, she finally gave in after I started the second story.  I have no idea how she stayed awake as long as she did.  She was so tired after her afternoon with Alice, I thought she was going to fall asleep in the bath.”