Sensing Tina’s struggle, Bette turned slightly and reached to draw her in, moving in gladly Tina joined the circle that was her family.

**Monique’s Condo — 4:30 AM**

While most of the ‘normal’ world slept Monique sat in the darkness of her condo dressed in a tattered and faded green muscle shirt and cutoff fatigues. A half dozen beer bottles lined the desk in front of her while 2 or three more sat abandoned where they had been finished. She wasn’t sure how many actually she had drank since returning this afternoon–enough she had hoped to take the thoughts and hurt away but no dice!

She had known that seeing Bette again was going to be rough but she had told herself she could handle it. It had been another lifetime ago after all and she had grown harder and wiser. Yet, when she had walked into the bar and scanned the place for her former lover she had been visibly shaken when her eyes had picked Bette out of the crowd. Many who knew her now would have been shocked to have glimpsed her reaction. It wasn’t that she had lacked for lovers since they had gone their seperate ways–not at all but somehow in that moment she realized that none of them if she were honest would ever have the effect on her that Bette Porter did. Their affair had been brief but intense and perhaps one of the most damaging moments of her life she had to admit but also one of the reason she was who she was today and had what she had. She would not be half as successful in her chosen profession if Bette had not crashed through her life. Bette’s call had come completely out of the blue and she had not appreciated the reminder of what had happened–how she had come to "owe Bette one" that had come with it but her word was her word.

After their meeting she had been unable to stop herself from doing a little electronic searching on Bette Porter. It was impossible to live anywhere in the state or in the country for that matter and not know who she was after the Provocations scandal but there was always another side to every story–the untold one, the one that made all the other stuff make sense. Bette’s request regarding Jodie Lerner was no small one and she needed to know why and how this woman had gotten under Bette’s guard so easily and so deeply– it was no easy feat, she could vouch for that. Her search brought up the details of her relationship with Tina Kennard, the loss of her child–plastered all over the media and the disintegration of their relationship. The picture grew clearer as she realized that Bette had begun a rather torrid relationship with the deaf artist shortly after her breakup. Some things never changed. Bette’s always had a weakness for a nice set of legs and a firm ass. Monique thought grimly remembering where it had taken her in the past. Obviously something had changed and Ms Lerner hadn’t taken Bette’s dumping of her well. Bette had left some key details out when she had explained the situation and what she wanted her to do. Monique couldn’t help but wonder what those details were. So far she had found nothing to speak of–Bette’s former ‘life partner’ and child’s mother maintained a modest house on the other side of the city and she shared access to their daughter.

Realizing she was wasting time chasing ghosts Monique had turned her attention to Hodie Lerner. She had found some interesting things that was certain. How she could use them she hadn’t quite piece together. Sleep had eluded her and now she sat looking out the window suddenly aware of the rising storm outside. Unsure as to whether it was the hour or the beer Monique found herself remembering other times–other rainstorms wondering where Bette was now or rather who she was with. Throwing the latest bottle she held in her hand Monique watched as it shattered, leaving a hunk of plaster hanging loose on the wall Fuck you Porter she thought as she watched the remnants of beer drip down the wall You wish came the unspoken response of her libido.

"Damn it Bette, why do you do this to me? I swear to God once this is done I am getting away from you!" she ground out as her jaw tightened, breaking the early morning silence that surrounded her