After breakfast the two women were dressing and getting ready, for what Bette believed, was going to be a long ***** day. Bette moved into the bathroom to brush her teeth, so when her cell phone rang, Tina was the one picking it up. Not recognizing the number she decided to answer it formally, just in case it was an important client or boss calling. Bette Porters phone. Tina said monotonously. Uhis, is Bette there? as soon as she heard the voice her jaw clenched tightly and she felt like her stomach just jumped out of a plane without a parachute. She wanted to vomit, hit something, reach through the phone and choke the caller. At this very second Bette walked back into the room and saw Tinas tensed face. *****, Bette thought. That look is NEVER good. T? Tina turned to look at Bette and with a cold and mocking demeanor tossed the phone to Bette. Its your GIRLFRIEND she said walking out the door, then stopped and decided to listen to at least one side of the conversation. Bette tentatively put the phone to her ear. He-hello? Hey gorgeous. Normally Candace calling her this would make her more than a little excited, but now, with everything that had happened; all it did was make her sick. Tina watched as Bette clutched her stomach and lowered herself to sit on the bed. Hi Candace. Why so formal? Are you okay Bette? Why dont you come over, I can make you feel better. Im fineI just, its done Candacewhatever the thing was that we were doing. I cant anymore. Candace was dazed for a minute, and then her head went into a tailspin. Did Tina find out, is that why youre saying this now? Bette closed her eyes and shook her head. Nowell yes she did, but thats not the main reason. I dont have feeling for you Candace. You were a convenience, I was so lost, in so much painI dont know why I turned to you instead of Tina, but it happened. I regret every second of it. She heard Candace try to stop and start, try to convince her that they did have something. But Bette didnt want to hear it. Im sorry if you felt something for mebut whatever it was, it wasnt reciprocated. Please, just leave me alone to work out things with Tinadont call me again. And with that she hung up the phone. She sighed and rested her head in her hands, placing her elbows on her knees she lent forward. Tina, who had heard the entire conversation, was faced with more questions; but seeing Bette probably in as much pain as she, only served to further cement her decision to stick it out with her love. She walked over to the bed and sat down lightly next to Bette, running a hand up and down her back for comfort. She heard Bette let out a long, shaky breath. I dont know why youd want to stick around T. Why youre here comforting me. How can you even stand to touch me? Bette asked raising a tear streaked face to look at Tina, her eyes pleading, searching for a reason not to hate herself. Bette, I already explained some of this to you. I cant exist without you. I dont know how many times Ill have to say that to you before it sinks in to your think head, but youre the reason that I can function everydayeven when we started to go down the tubes, you were still my driving force to get up in the morning. I think that we can get back to being who we used to be, if we try, if we work together, we can. Moving on to your next question, Im comforting you because youre my wife, and youre in pain. Although you may be the one who caused yourself that pain, I still cannot stand to see you like that. As for being able to touch you Tina looked down at the bed and picked the lint off the sheets for a few second before looking back to Bettes face, into Bettes eyes. Its hardvery hard. The thought of her hands on you, touching you in ways that have been only MY ways for that past 7 yearsit makes me want to dieit makes me feel like Im dying. I dont know why you would look outside of us for that connection, that intimacymaybe we lost it? I dont know, I always thought, when we actually had *****, that we were more connected. Was I wrong? Maybe I was the only one who felt a connection. Im not sure Bette shook her head. No Tina, I did but Tina cut her off. I dont know why you were unfaithfulbut I know I want you to tell mebecause I cant fix what drove you away from me without knowing what I did wrong. And I know there were things that I did too. Maybe after we sort these things out itll get easier for me to be with you fully. T, Im not going to push you into doing something youre not ready for. I mean, Ill even leave if you want me to. I can stay at Kits if you need time Bette got up and was pacing. Do you think it would be better if I let you think about what you want T? I mean maybe it would be good for you to talk to someone about this that wasnt the person who caused this messIll wait for you foreveryou know thathopefullyGOD why do I always ***** everything up!? Tina watched her wife become more flustered and berate herself. Not liking where this was going yet again, she got up and grabbed Bettes frenzied hands, trying to steady them as they flung every which way as she talked. When Tina grabbed her hands Bette stopped completely and looked into her eyes. Bette. Listen to me because Im not going to keep repeating the same things over and over. Bette just shook her head and muttered out a low okay. I want to be here. With you. If Im not here, or if youre not here; what good is it going to do us? We need to process everything thats happened. Its not going to happen over nightor even in the next week. But were gonna be okay eventually. We can start tonight, after dinner, start sorting though everything. I just want today to be us, like we used to bebefore we go back to reality. Okay? Bette nodded and Tina put a warm hand to each of Bettes cheeks. No matter what Bette Porter, youre my one and onlydont ever think that I would give you up easily; because I know youyou may have done one of the most horrible things that anyone can do in a relationshipbut I know you didnt do it to intentionally hurt me. Tina saw the frown come over Bettes striking features. God Tina I would never, ever intentionally hurt you. I just wasnt For the second time that day Tina cut Bette off. Not now Bette. Later. We can deal later. I want to have my day with you. Then we can start the hard stuff. Tina looked at Bette and arched an eyebrow. Without thinking Bette leaned into Tina and kissed her arching brow. Suddenly realizing what she was doing she pulled back. God T. Im sorry, I didnt meanI wasnt thinking The blonde but a finger to Bettes lips. Babe, its okay. It was nice actually. It made me feel like I was doing the right thing, that I am meant to be here. I kinda missed that. She finished smiling. Bette just nodded and grinned back. Tina couldnt help the fact that even if the thought of Bettes infidelity made her not want to touch Bette, she was still very much attracted to her wife. Even if she wasnt ready to make love right away again, she still wanted to be close to her physically. Leaning into Bette she joined their lips together in a very light and sweet kiss that reminded her of their first. Pulling away she looked at Bette who stood still with her eyes closed. Grabbing Bettes hand she dragged her out the door and out of the house, into the sun. Come on babe, were gonna have a good day Tina praised herself internally for her decision. She gave both herself and Bette a chance to organize their thoughts before they dove into the down and dirty facts about where their relationship took a turn for the worse. Hopefully it would prevent any major blow-ups from either party. Tina jumped into the drivers seat of the Saab and almost had a heart attack as Bette just silently handed over the keys and gave Tina a smile. Was this symbolic for a new stage in their relationship? Tina sure as ***** hoped so.