“Babe, is that you?” Tina called out hearing the front door close.
“Yeah,” Bette replied.

She hesitated on asking where in the house Tina was but did so anyway.

“T?”
“In the bathroom,” Tina answered anticipating Bette’s question.

A few minutes later Bette leaned against the bathroom’s door frame.

“Hi babe,” Tina smiled looking up from the mess that was Angie, “I would kiss you but I don’t want to ruin your suit.”

Several beats later, Bette stepped forward and kissed Tina; holding her in an embrace.

“Fuck the suit,” she whispered in Tina’s ear.
“This feels good. I’ve missed you,” Tina said against her neck,” you smell so wonderful.”

Bette hugged Tina tighter. She could stay like this forever.

“Momma B,” Angie interrupted.

She held up her arms wanted to be included in the hug.

“Oh Boo” Bette cooed.

Breaking the embrace slightly, she picked up the toddler, squezzing her between the two of them.

“Love my mommies lot,” Angie declared.
“Ahh, we love you to baby,” Tina replied.
“Lot?” she asked.
“We love you more than alot. We love you billions millions times a lot,” Bette confessed watching the little girl’s reaction.

Angie’s eyes grew big and her mouth opened in the shape of an O.

“Wow,” she smiled.
“Wow,” Tina repeated smiling.
“How about while you and Momma finish getting cleaned up, I’ll make some stir fry noodles and chicken?” Bette suggested.

That meal was quickly becoming one of Angie’s favorites. Maybe because it was one of the few that Bette cooked well.

“Yeah, yeah.”
“Oh babe, you don’t have to. I was gonna cook when I was done with her,” Tina stated.
“Please. I want to cook for my family.”
“Are you okay?” Tina asked sensing something bothering her wife.

Bette relaxed a little against the hand rubbing her back.

“We’ll talk later,” Bette answered, “I just want to enjoy my family right now.”
“Okay, babe,” Tina kissed her softly on the lips, “I love you.”
“You always know what to say to make me feel better,” Bette smiled.

*****

Dishes were done. The kid in bed. And Bette and Tina stood next to the open french doors holding each other. The cool night breeze washed over them, making Tina burrow deeper into Bette’s arms.

“Cold?”
“A little but I don’t want to move. I want to stay here in her arms,” Tina answered.

She snuggled closer to Bette.

“Are you trying to get under my skin?”
“I thought I already was,” Tina laughed.
“You are, T. Always.”

They stood in silence minutes longer before Tina couldn’t take not knowing.

“So are you going tell me what was bothering you?” Tina asked pulling away slightly.
“Yeah, I will. You know I always do.”
“Yeah… I just don’t want you to wait until whatever it is has chewed you up,” Tina replied tilting her head up at Bette.
“Come with me,” Bette said stepping out of their embrace and taking Tina by the hand.

She walked them down the hall, stopping momentarily to check on Angie, and then into their bedroom.

“Sit,” Bette instructed. “Okay. I have something to tell you that you should know. Something that I’m afraid of,” watching Tina’s face, she could see the terrible thoughts run across her mind. “I’m not sick. I haven’t don’t anything illegal and neither has Kit. I need to tell you something that will upset you. I just need you to listen first and then yell and scream, albeit quietly, later.”
“Babe, I’m sure whatever you did or think you did, is not that bad. “

Bette looked down at Tina, let out a breathe and began to pace. She tried gathering her thoughts.

“Babe, whatever it is, it’s not as bad as u think. I promise.”

‘That’s what u say now,’ Bette thought to herself.

” A couple of months ago, when I was still with Jodi, ” she added as a precursor to the damaging story she was about to tell, as if that was going stop Tina from striking out well at least she hopes so.

Stalling, Bette took a breath and once again tried to think of a more easier or logically way, if that was at all possible, that would make Tina see Jodi in a different light.

“What is it, Bette? Just tell me already,” Tina said growing impatient with her partner.
“Okay, okay….awhileagowhenIwasstillwithJodi,shesaidsomethingstoAngiewhenshethoughtIwasoutof theroom.Icanseethatyou’reabouttokillmeforporcrastinating,whichissomethingI’mdoingrightnow,changingthesubjectbecauseI’mscaredofwhatyourreactionwillbe.IthinkIbetterjusttellyouknowbecausenowyou’restandingwithherhandonherhip.OkaysoIwantyoutoknowthatwhenshesaidthesethingsIreactedimmediatelybutnotinthewayyouwouldhavewanted.Ijusttoldhertogetoutofmyhouse.”
“Bette, you still haven’t told me what she said.”
“Oh yeah,” she answered sheepishly.

Tina folded her arms and waited.

“Okay so, she basically called Marcus a monkey.”
“She never met or even know Marcus.”
“And she told Angie she that looks like a monkey and wondered if she would grow up to look like a baboon,” Bette finally said looking down at the floor then closing her eyes.

She waited to hear an explosion from Tina. There was none. Openine her eyes, Bette saw that she was standing in the bedroom alone.

“T?” she called softly.

No reply.

“Tina,” Bette called again as she walked through to the hallway.

In the distance she heard a car engine turnover.

“Tina?”

Bette crossed the floor to the front door, seeing it slightly ajar. She looked outside and saw her wife behind the wheel of her car.

“Oh shit! Tina! No!” Bette shouted running to the vehicle.

Bette just made it to the driver’s side when Tina began to back up. Banging on the closed window, Bette begged for Tina to get out.

“T, you’re about to do something stupid. Please get out the car and come back inside with me,” Bette begged.

‘Please, baby.’ Bette thought.

“Get out of my way,Bette,” Tina seethed.

When Bette saw that Tina made no attmept to get out the car, she stepped behind it. Guarunteed Tina wasn’t going anywhere.

Tina rolled down the window.

“Bette, get the fuck out of my way,” she yelled.
“No.”
“Fucking move!” Tina screamed.
Hitting her hands against the trunk of the car, Bette replied,”I will not let you do something that you will regret later.”