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Life and Love and Why – 13
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Tina sighed. "It won’t go down so well if people figure out that you were sharing a room with me in a suite."
Bette conceded that point.
"But I’m really glad you’re here," Tina said softly.
Bette smiled at her. "Let’s talk about it later. We don’t have to solve everything right now, right?"
"Sure," Tina nodded. She sat down on the bed. "Alright. Now that Dad’s better, we’re going to be at the hospital probably with Mom and Cath around. So this is going to be really unpleasant." She sighed, and looked at Bette. "I haven’t told Paul or anyone other than Ned that you and I broke up, so…"
"I’m not the one who didn’t tell her ex she got promoted to Vice President." Bette pointed out, teasingly, before she returned to the serious topic at hand. "I’ll be whatever you need me to be."
Tina smiled weakly. "Is it really wrong that I’m so happy that you’re here that I don’t even care if we still have so much to talk about?"
"I’m just glad I get to be here for you," Bette answered, sliding her hand down Tina’s forearm to rest against her palm. She glanced down at their hands. Funny how their hands still seemed to fit. "But I’m sorry that it took your dad getting a stroke for us to, you know…"
Tina had to smile. "What, fake affection?"
"Is that what it is?" Bette asked, unable to hide the hurt that Tina would imply their contact was anything but real.
Tina sighed. "That came out wrong. I just mean… I don’t know." She sighed again. "I hate that after all this time, after everything that’s happened, nothing feels safer than when you hold me."
Bette looked up.
Tina glanced at her.
"That’s one of the things we still need to talk about, huh?" Bette commented.
"How long is that list," was Tina’s feeble attempt at levity.
Bette lifted her other hand, clasping Tina’s hand between both of her own, and looked at the blonde. "I’m here for you, OK? If you don’t want to tell your family about what’s happened to us, I won’t fight you on it. But I don’t want you to fight me. Let’s leave all that for another day, OK, T?"
Tina nodded mutely, alternating her gaze to where Bette held her hand, then back up at those brown eyes that she had always loved.
"Talk to me," Bette said gently. "I know you think you shouldn’t be telling me things anymore, but I’m on your side. And I want to know everything that’s going on with you. If you want me to get into a throwdown with Catherine, I’ll do it, we’ll figure out how. Just don’t block me out."
Tina kept her gaze on their entwined hands, feeling her heart breaking all over again at the realization that for the first time in a very long time, Bette was truly willing to listen to what she had to say… And yet she still couldn’t fully appreciate it, because Bette was not hers anymore.
"And no matter what happens, if your mom still can’t accept you, or us, or our daughter, never forget that I still love you. Me and Angie, we love you, no matter what. And we will always be proud of you." Bette lowered her head, looking up to meet Tina’s gaze, and searched Tina’s eyes, checking for the light of understanding in those hazel eyes.
"But there is no ‘us’," Tina whispered.
Bette gave her one of those sad, beautiful smiles, the one that always melted her heart, melted her inside. The one she loved the most. "We both know better than that."
Tina didn’t answer.
Not that Bette expected her to. "Stay here, OK? I’ll just change."
Tina felt instantly the moment Bette let go of her hand. She watched Bette walk to the bathroom, then lowered her head and closed her eyes.
They both knew better. Things between them were going to be talked about before this was all over, and they both knew it.
tbc.
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Great story. Thanks for the update. I want, I want, I want, more. : )
I love the dialogue in this story. I truly believe Bette is definitely the person Tina needs right now, even if they have to fake it for some members of Tina’s family. Somehow through the faking, I think the real love will still show to others and between the both of them. This time together will be what will drive them back together for good! PPS
OMG Tiff…could your dialogue get any better. You could teach Ilene a few things about meaningful dialogue. None of yours is lengthy and yet says so much…it could easily be in a TV script. Hats off to you Tiff, that was one awesome update!
Now that the “this doesn’t change anything” declaration has been made, can’t they just be together, focusing on the health of T’s dad…no talking about the past or what it means for Bette to be in NC. More please! PPS!
Love your writing, love it! My favorite lines: Bette gave her one of those sad, beautiful smiles, the one that always melted her heart, melted her inside. The one she loved the most. “We both know better than that.” I don’t know how you do it story after story but you do. Please post soon!!
So glad they are not fueding and are taking a cautious and loving approach to their problems. Bette is right, they both know they are just as in love with each other as they have ever been. Tina is right in her thinking too, that they will need to have “the” talk before they leave Carolina. Sorry that her father had to be ill for them to see the truth of their love. I do love the way you write your Tina and Bette. They may be estranged but, they are still the other’s rock. Tina feels safe when Bette is holding her because with Bette loving her she knows she is as safe as she could ever be and Bette will do anything to protect her and that includes taking on her family if need be. Love this story. Thanks for posting.
It keeps getting better and better.
A good talk with an all out emotion filled throw down is what Bette and Tina need. Of course right now Bette is there for Tina and only Tina.
I’ve missed this story Tiff.I am glad that Bette is willing to give Tina what she needs.There is still so much they need to talk about.Hopefully by the end of it they will be better for it.
Love your story. Thank you for updating. This was such a touching update. Thank you :)
Things between them were going to be talked about before this was all over, and they both knew it.- love your story!
I like what you have done with the two of them in this one. They have acknowledge the love yet know the limits of the current situation they are in. I like how they both know things need to be discussed and Bette is going to try to be there for Tina unconditionally. Also I agree that only Tina/Bette/Ned should know what going on currently…i have a feeling that telling Tina mom or Catherine about their situation will just add fuel to the fire.
There’s a lot of honesty here, but it’s necessary. The next while, with Tina’s family (Bette would so wipe the floor with Cathy in a throwdown), trying to maintain a certain boundary between them, the talking they’re going to have to do, it’s going to be hard for them. But it’ll be worth it, and I think they both know it. Great chapter, tiff. Thanks
I do love your Bette and Tina, always have. Such intelligent, sensitive portraits of these two characters. Thanks for returning with this story.
Oh I love love how this is going! Yes, they know better, and life is just too short to not really talk about it. How they deal with Tina’s family will be interesting. TD, can I beg for a chapter really soon? Please? Thanks.
finally, they are talking. they need to do this. even with tina’s words “there is no us” is heartbreaking, there is hope that once they get to talk more, there will be an “us”… great update, girl!
You continue to write the best dialogue on the site (along with Fanficchick). If you two ever decided to write a screenplay, individually, or together, it would truly be Oscar worthy. It is your dialogue that we all wished the writers of the show could have acheived. Thank you for continuing to allow us into your imagination.
This is what really happens in between the dramatic moments of peoples lives. Thank you for filling in the gaps.
Oh, yeah! Another great chapter Tiff! I can feel the sadness of Tina that the “us” is part of her past. Will you have them fake togetherness with Bette in front of her family? Love how you have Bette be compassionate and tender with Tina. This was rarely stated by IC, but you can tell that JB wanted to show it on the show(ie. tender looks and touches that she did as BP). You really capture the spirit of Tibette…the great love story that they have. Kudos to you…keep ’em coming. BTW: I started my Tiffy marathon this weekend with Reprise…It’s even better the 2nd time round-I caught more of your nuances. You are so awesome with dialogue!!!!Whew…had my Tiffy fix for the day…and wanting more!
Poor Tina. As much as I love Bette for wanting to be there for her, the last thing she needs to think about while she’s got all the stress of her father’s stroke and the meeting with the part of the family that shunned her, is her relationship with Bette. I was really excited when you made her go to Carolina, but this chapter made me realize that, at the moment, Bette is not what Tina needs. Thanks for your fantastic and nuanced writing
I don’t know Jikes, I believe Bette is with Tina – in the one place is counts the most – her heart. Loved this chapter soo much! My heart sped up and felt the love and hope for these two.
Your dialogue is what JB and LuH hoped to be saying. At least, they tried their best to imply adult convo w/that dreck they had to work with. I am so pissed at IC for wrecking S6. If she had any sense and ability for storytelling w/o ridiculous mellodrama, the show would still be on. Your writing is so damn good.
this chapter melted my heart…and this was the best conversation between B&T yet…i wish you wrote TLW scripts…btw, i would like to see a “throwdown with Catherine” LOL
‘we both know better than that’, gives me so much hope a TIBETTE reunion…plzzzzzzz
Sounds like Tina is willing to acknowledge the 600 lbs. gorilla in the room, but prefers to ignore it in the hope of not rousing it. And given all the familial emotions that are already on her plate, it’s understandable. But when it starts wearing her clothes and sleeping in her bed, she WILL have to address it. Like the old song says, “one monkey don’t stop no show”.
Awesome writing…as always. Thanks.
That was good and they need to talk more!