Okay, shes not due to nurse for about another hour or so. Lets put her down in the crib, put the baby monitors on and you and I just lie down together for a few moments.

They got Angelica all settled in.  And like all new parents, just stood and looked at their baby and reveled in the wonder of it all. 

Its okay to leave her, T?

Yes, babe, its okay.  Look, shes sleeping already.  Babies do four things a lot, Bette.  Eat, sleep, pee and *****.  We just did the pee and *****, now shes sleepingsoon shell be eating.  And the cycle will begin again.  So let us just rest, okay?  Tina took Bettes hand and led her to the bedroom.

Lie down with me. Hold me, okay, baby?  I havent felt your arms around me in a couple days now and Im thinking that would feel real good right now.

They lay down facing each other, as close as they could get.

This is just what I wanted, baby.  Close enough that I can feel your breath on me.  Tina put her hand over Bettes heart.  To feel this and know it belongs to me.

It always has, T.  You have exclusive rights.

Their lips touched and they kissed tenderly as if it were their first intimate contact, both knowing it couldnt go any further, but yet the need to explore one anothers lips, their mouths; mingled with the excitement of familiarity, having the sweetness of that one persons taste imbedded in your senses – one touch of their moist lips on yours, the feel of their tongue in your mouth sends little surges of electricity throughout your body sparking warmth and want distributed to all the right places.  This kind of familiarity does not breed contempt.  This kind of familiarity breeds desire. 

Tina pulled back slightly and began to trace Bettes lips with her index finger; Bette had her hand on Tinas hip and let it slide down over her butt and with a seductive pull she brought Tinas lower body even closer to hers.  Tina slipped her leg between Bettes.  They both knew this gentle exploring and remapping of one anothers bodies was to be their limit for the next six weeks, but that didnt stop the powerful, yet silent, emotions passing between them.  Looking into one anothers eyes they both saw and felt what the actual physical acts would always bring them to – the unfettered cravings of their needs fulfilled beyond explanation as they brought one another over and beyond that special place and back once more to the gentle kissing and melding of their souls.

Beyond politics, beyond all opinions, beyond definitions defined by law and beyond the hate and prejudice, in this bed lay two human beings sharing the most precious gift we mortals can give to one another – ourselves.

It is that and not blood alone – and as written in the scriptures of our lives – what really makes us family to one another

TBC