Opening the front door to her house, Bette immediately kicked off her shoes. Walking over to the sofa, she fell down on it, reaching for her feet to massage the aches and pains that were screaming in response to the mile walk home in 3 inch heels.

***** she moaned as she rested her head against the back of the sofa. No that did not just happen she said to the empty house, wondering how her afternoon had completely fallen apart as it had.

On her walk home, she had replayed over and over again, the conversation with Tina that had led to her storming out of the restaurant.

She knew that she should have probably responded differently, but the total stock at Tinas request for them to live together, had hindered her ability to react in a manner that would not cause hurt.

She felt terrible for causing Tina pain, but did not feel bad for being honest. Isnt that how we are supposed to communicate with each other? Honestly? she once again spoke out loud.

Dragging herself up from the sofa, she walked gingerly towards her bedroom, careful to distribute her weight away from the painful parts of her feet.

Looking through her closet, she grabbed a shirt and pair of jeans. After changing, she threw on a comfortable pair of flip flops and made her way towards the front door.

Ok Porter she said out loud as she locked the door behind her, lets see how youre gonna fix this one.




After leaving Alices apartment, Tina drove straight to Bettes house. Please dont let me have fucked this up too badly she muttered to herself as she made her way through the streets of West Hollywood.

Pulling into Bettes driveway, the first thing that she noticed was the empty spot where her car had been parked just hours ago.

***** she said as she opened her door. Walking up to the house, she rang the doorbell while peering through the windows, just to confirm what she already knew.

Where are you, baby? she wondered.

She had a key to her house, but didnt think that she should use it.

Ill just wait here for a while I guess she said as she plopped down in front of the door.

Reaching for her phone, she dialed Bettes cell and heard the ring coming from inside the house.

*****! She doesnt have her phone with her she said in frustration, remembering that before lunch, Bette had quickly thrown all of her stuff inside while Tina waited for her.

Well, I guess that Ill just get comfortable and wait for her she said as she settled against the front door, trying to find a comfortable position on the hard cold floor beneath her.




Bette meanwhile, had arrived at Tinas house in Brentwood and saw that she was not home.

Reaching down to her pocket, she felt around for her cell phone but realized that it was with all of her other stuff that she had thrown onto the chair before lunch.

*****! she said as she weighed her options.

I guess that I can just wait a while and see if she comes home. I mean, shes gotta come back here at some point, right? she asked herself.

Turning the car off, she closed her door and walked around to the back of the house. Peering through the kitchen door, she saw that the house was quiet and dark inside.

Hmmm, where are you, T? she asked as she sat down on the doorstep. She too had a key to the house, but under the circumstances, didnt find it wise to use it and so decided to just wait.

Leaning back against the door, Bette thought about Tinas request that they move in together.

She had never been with a woman long enough to even get near the point of having this be a topic of conversation.

Tina was of course different though and she knew that. Her relationship with Tina was like nothing that she had ever experienced. She knew that the two of them were meant to be together, but had just not played it out in terms of their future.

Obviously Tina has though she thought.

She and Tina spent a lot of time together, but not as much as either would like. Bette knew that the time that she was spending on getting her gallery up and running, was frustrating Tina and she was not pleased with it either, but moving in together? No, she had not thought of that as a solution.

She wondered what living with someone would be like. She knew that she was pretty set in her ways, liked having things done on her terms and within her time schedule. Bringing someone else into the mix would certainly change that she realized.

Who knows? she thought, Maybe its time for a change

She wanted nothing more than to have a future with Tina and if this was something that Tina wanted them to work towards, than she knew that she would have to be flexible.

She didnt really know what her hang up was with living with someone. Something about it just seemed so final and finality was not something that settled well with her. She knew it wasnt a matter of not knowing that she was in love with Tina, or even that she was looking for someone else, it was just, well, just so final.

What ever happened to if it aint broke, why fix it? she asked.

Maybe thats part of the problem she answered herself. Maybe Tina thinks that part of us is broken.

Hmmm she muttered. Are we? And is living together really the solution?

Well, it cant hurt anything, can it? she reasoned.

The ***** it cant! she said as she stood up to walk around the driveway.

Maybe Tina will finally realize what a horses ***** I truly am she said as she walked in circles. Maybe shell realize what an ogre I can be in the morning, that I dont always hang my towel up after the shower, that I dont always remember to separate colors from whites when I do laundry, that I.

*****, I could go on all day she said under her breath.

Maybe thats what it is she realized. Im afraid for Tina to see the true me.

But maybe she has doubts as well she continued to think. Yeah, but shes not a ***** ***** like me she answered herself.

Maybe at the end of the day, Im just a coward when it comes to a commitment at this level she admitted.

Uhhhh she moaned as she plopped down right in the middle of the driveway, sitting cross legged while leaning back on her arms that were behind her.

Living together she muttered. I mean, me of all people she chuckled as she shook her head.

So, what do I do now? she asked the sky as she looked up and watched the white fluffy clouds slowly making their way from wherever they had been to wherever they were going.




Tina looked up in the sky and watched the clouds floating by.

Oh, to be as carefree and void of problems as you must be she mused as she turned her eyes away from the sky to look at her watch.

Damnit, Bette! she said in frustration. Where are you? she asked as she stood to stretch her legs.

Having no idea as to where Bette was, or what state of mind she was in, Tina decided to throw in the towel, for now at least, and go home to change clothes and re-group.

You can be so ***** stubborn, Bette Porter she said through clenched jaws as she started her car.

Driving towards her house, she thought about the decision that she had made while waiting for Bette to arrive. She had come to the conclusion that backing down from her belief that they should live together, was simply not the right thing to do, and therefore, she was going to stick to her guns on this one. She felt good about her decision, especially in the knowledge that this was what was right for the two of them. She knew that this was something new for Bette, the idea of living with someone, but also knew that giving into Bettes hesitation was not the way to go here.

She felt deep in her heart that their living together was the right move for both of them, and she was just going to have to make Bette recognize this as well.

And what fun that will be she said sarcastically as she turned into her driveway.

As she pulled in towards the back of the house, the first thing that she saw was Bettes car, and the second thing was Bette, lying down on her driveway, looking straight up towards the sky with her arms crossed beneath her head.

What the fu-? she said, but didnt finish her sentence as she got out of her still running car to walk quickly over to where Bette was laying.

Baby? she said as she got over to her, afraid that something was wrong with her.

Bette lifted her head off of the driveway slightly and said Hi T.

Baby, what are you, I mean, are you ok? she asked as she kneeled down next to Bette, placing her hand on Bettes cheek.

Yeah, Im fine T, just watching the day go by she answered as if this was something that she was in the habit of doing.

Uh, ok was all Tina said as she tried to figure out what her girlfriend was really doing.

Wanna join me? she asked Tina with a smile on her face.

Tina smiled and looked at Bette as if she had lost her mind.

Here? On the driveway? she asked incredulously.

Sure, T. Why not?

Are you really comfortable here?

Not really, but the view is amazing she explained.

Tina continued to watch Bette and wonder what in the world had come over her. She had had enough difficulties in the past getting her to sit down long enough to enjoy a picnic in the park or day at the beach, and so watching the day go by from the vantage point of her driveway, was not something that she had readily been expecting from her.

Uh, sure baby, just a sec.

Bette resumed her viewing of the clouds overhead and heard Tina walk over to her car in order to turn it off. She knew that Tina was probably thinking that she had totally lost her mind, but in all honesty, she was really quite enjoying herself.

Walking back towards Bette with a smile on her face, Tina thought to herself, Will I ever truly understand that woman of mine?

Taking her jacket off, she joined Bette on the driveway, lying down right next to her so that their shoulders and hips were touching.

After a few moments of silence, Tina turned her head towards Bette and said, What now?

Ignoring Tinas question, Bette said while pointing towards the sky, I think that that one looks like a sailboat.

Tina continued to look at Bette until she felt obligated to follow her finger to the cloud that she was indicating.

I guess that I could see that she agreed.

And what about that one? asked Bette as she pointed out the cloud just behind it.

Tina continued to study the clouds, knowing the one that Bette was referring to and said, I dunno, some kinda square type shape thingy?

Thats eloquent, T Bette teased.

Well Miss I Know What All The Clouds Look Like, what do you think? she asked, laughter present in her question.

Well, lets see. From all of my years of training and education, I would have to say a house.

A house! How in the world do you get that? she asked indignantly, furrowing her brow in effort to see how Bette had come to that conclusion.

Turning her head to Tina, she said, Well, I think the easiest way to get it is to find a real estate agent that we like and see what is available on the market.

Tina said nothing, just kept her eyes focused on the sky. Did I really just hear her say what I think she said? she thought to herself.

At least, I think thats how people buy houses she clarified.

Tina slowly turned her head towards Bette.

Are we thinking about buying a house? she said softly as she turned her whole body so that she was lying on her side, head propped up in her hand while placing her other hand on Bettes stomach.

Well, I dont really know. My girlfriend said something about wanting to move in together, and I was thinking that a new house could be just the ticket for us.

Tina took a deep breath, feeling the tears starting in her eyes, and reaching over, placed her palm down on Bettes cheek, thumb softly stroking her bottom lip.

Baby? she whispered looking into Bettes eyes.

Bette looked up at her and with a soft smile said, Yeah?

Are you sure about this? she said, a tear rolling down her face.

Bette reached up to wipe the tear from Tinas face and said, Sometimes I forget to ***** that cap all the way back onto the toothpaste.

Tina just laughed as she leaned down to kiss Bette. Idontcare she said in between kisses.

Pulling back to look at Bette, she knew that no words would ever be able to express how happy she was, right now, at this specific point in time, lying on her driveway with the love of her life who had just agreed to move in with her.

Wow! she exclaimed as she continued to look down at Bette.

What? she laughed.

You sure know how to keep a girl on her toes she laughed.

And speaking of toes said Bette in a mock serious tone.

Tinas hand flew to her mouth and she said, Oh my God! Baby, I am so sorry about that!

Uh huh smiled Bette as she brought one of her feet across her knee to massage. I think that I am going to have to go see a podiatrist after that little hike in those shoes.

Baby, I really am sorry said Tina, truly worried that Bette was angry.

Bette chuckled and pulled Tina down on to her in a big hug.

T, its fine. Im just kidding she smiled.

Really? she heard from Tina who had her face buried in Bettes shoulder.

Really. I promise she said as she rubbed Tinas back.

Pulling herself back up to look into Bettes eyes she said, Baby, I really am sorry that I left you there. I guess that I just overreacted and got freaked out thinking that you were turning me down she sheepishly explained.

I never said no, T said Bette.

I know, I just, well you never said yes either.

No, thats true, but you didnt give me much of an opportunity to say anything at all she responded.

I know she admitted, hanging her head a bit. Im sorry, the thought of you not wanting to be with me just really, well, freaked me out.

Tina, baby, who said anything about not wanting to be with you? asked Bette, surprised at Tinas statement.

Well, I just kinda assumed that when you didnt immediately say yes. I mean, its not like I have a lot of experience in asking women to live with me she said.

No? How bout men? teased Bette.

At least I had the nerve to do it! exclaimed Tina. If I had been waiting on you to pop the question, we would be 80 years old, still seeing each other twice a week, if that!

Bette rolled over, forcing Tina onto her back as she got on top of her and said, Well, arent we the little feisty one, huh?

Knowing exactly what Bette was about to do, she tried to push her off of her, but knew that she didnt have much of a chance.

Strategically placing her hands on the areas of Tinas body that she knew would garner the best results, she dove in mercilessly and began tickling her.

BETTE! she screamed as the laughter poured from her mouth. STOP! she managed to get out while trying to still Bettes hands that were moving way to fast for her to catch up with.

Huh? Whos the feisty one now? she laughed, looking down at Tinas face that had tears running down it as she was laughing so hard.

God damnit, Bette Porter! she got out in between fits of laughter as she tried to roll away from her. I said stop!

Not until you tell me that you will never abandon me again she laughed as she placed little kisses on Tinas nose.

Bette stepped up the tickling eliciting the desired response from her girlfriend.

Okay, okay she pleaded. I promise! I wont abandon you again…today.

Nice try laughed Bette as she resumed tickling Tina.

*****! Okay! I promise you that I wont abandon you ever again. There! Does that work? she panted, looking up at Bette as the tears continued to roll down the sides of her face.

Sufficient I suppose she said as she rolled off of Tina.

Both women just laid there, catching their breath, lost in their own thoughts.

Bette?

Hmm?

When can we get up from the driveway? laughed Tina as she turned her head to look at Bettes profile.

Oh, I guess nows as good a time as any she chuckled.

How bout I make us a little dinner? she asked as she pulled herself up from the driveway.

I think that Ive worked up an appetite, thats for sure smiled Bette as she accepted the hand that Tina was offering.

Tina pulled Bette up and gathered her into her arms.

Do you have any idea how happy you have made me today? she whispered as she leaned in to kiss Bette.

Do you have any idea how happy you make me every day? she asked, returning her kiss.

Tina smiled into the kiss and tightened her hold around Bettes neck.

I hope you understand how much I love you Bette Porter she said, looking deeply into her eyes and seeing the safety that she always found there.

I do, T. Trust me, I do she smiled, knowing that in fact, both women were keenly aware of the love that they had for the other.

Shall we go in? asked Tina with a big smile on her face.

Yep said Bette as she reached for Tinas hand to walk towards the kitchen door.

As they walked, Bette said, T?

Yeah babe?

Whats your position on separating colors from whites while doing laundry?

Tina just looked at Bette as they reached the door and merely repeated the question in her head that she had asked herself earlier, Will I really ever truly know this woman?

Looking at Bette and shaking her head while chuckling, she said, Lets go in babe.