So Alwhat else is new?

Nothing much BetteDana is fine, Shane iswell Shane

Hows

Do you really want to know?

Bette sighed as she gripped the phone tighter and stared at the wall in front of her. Her glamorous Upper West Side apartment suddenly seemed empty and dull as she swallowed hard and thought about the one that got away. Bette sighed loud enough for Alice to know that meant yes so Alice forged ahead.

Shes doing good Betteshe just finished a huge project and shes taking a vacation this weekend.

Vacation? Since when did Tina have time for a vacation?

She deserves one Betteshes been working her ***** off ever since you leftreally its not healthy for her

What do you mean?

Well shes been putting in crazy hoursI swear she adopted your work ethics

Bette laughed an unhappy laugh. She looked at the picture next to her bed and sighed. I miss you baby thought Bette as she ran her finger over Tinas smiling face and sighed again. She listened to Alice ramble on and on about how great Tina was doing and Bette began to get the feeling maybe it was better for Tina for her to just stay away. Maybe Bette wasnt meant for Tina like she thought she was. Maybe it was time for her to just accept it and move on.

***** no.

What Bette Porter wants Bette Porter gets. And right now Bette Porter wanted Tina back.

***********************

Tina was miserable. It had been four months since Bette moved to New York and each day that passed made Tina wish she could just crawl under a rock somewhere and forget about life. Luckily her boss had slammed a huge project on her right around the time Bette left so Tina had a distraction. A much needed distraction. But as time went by she slowly learned to live without Bette even though in the back of her mind she hoped each and every day that Bette would return.

Tina just looked sadly at her clothes as she folded them neatly and stuck them into her suitcase. She finally had some time off so she put off her next project for two weeks so she could take a break and spend some time on her own. She had always wanted to visit New York but she never had a reason. Until now. Tina had no idea where Bette was or if she even still loved her, but Tina had to find out. She told herself that she wasnt running after Bette, but she had no idea if that was the truth. She had no idea what would happen once she got there. Even if she did get to see Bette, who knew what would become of it? Tina had no expectations, no hope for a picture perfect reunion. Instead all she wanted was to see Bette and know that Bette was happy. Tina felt that this trip would bring her closure, or break her heart entirely, but either way, she knew it would finalize the breakup that had taken her entire world and smashed it to pieces.

The one thing that she didnt do was tell anyone where she was going. She didnt want Bette to get word that she was coming to New York because if she did Tina feared that Bette might try to win her back, or worse yet, make herself conveniently unavailable and avoid her altogether. No, if Tina was going to see Bette it had to be a surprise so she could see her real reaction. Alice had volunteered to join Tina on her mystery vacation, but Tina managed to fend her off without giving away any details. She felt bad, but sometimes a girl has to do what a girl has to do.

At ten AM the next morning Tina got out of the cab which dropped her off at LAX and she had a look of worry written all over her face. The porter helped her with her bags and before she knew it she was seated in her first class seat waiting for the plane to depart. For the entire five hours she ran scenario after scenario over and over in her head and before she knew it they had landed. It took the plane a few minutes to reach the gate and Tina quickly grabbed her bags and waited impatiently as the line of people waiting to get off the plane took what seemed like forever. Tina flew down to baggage claim and grabbed her luggage before she stopped and looked around.

She was standing in the middle of La Guardia Airport and she had no idea what to do next. Tina figured she might as well check into her hotel so she dragged her suitcase outside and looked around for a cab. It was only 7:00PM EST but for some reason Tina couldnt see a cab in sight. She sat down on her suitcase and felt tears come to her eyes.

*******************************
Bette ran through the airport baggage claim area frantically searching for Tina. After Bette had gotten off the phone with Alice it dawned on her that if Tina didnt tell anyone where she was going it meant it was important. Bette hoped to every deity above that Tina was coming to New York and Bette got on the phone with her old travel agents from LA. The travel agent had helped her and Tina book quite a few weekend trips and the agent was also a close personal friend of Bettes from a long time ago. She hadnt handled Tinas travel arrangements, but through some quick searching and a promise from Bette to fly her out to NY sometime, Bette got the info she needed. Tina was on the 10:00AM flight from LA to La Guardia.

As soon as Bette found out about this she went into full nutso mode. She straightened up her apartment in record time and jumped into a cab hoping that for once the New York traffic gods would be good to her for once as she shifted around impatiently wishing right about now that her cab could spout wings and fly there.

The moment the cab got in the general airport area, Bette jumped out and made a mad dash for the baggage claim. She kept looking at her watch hoping that she had made it there before Tina left for her hotel. She checked every baggage claim area and when she didnt see her Bette felt like crying. So close yet so far. That seemed to be the motto of her life these days. Bette hung her head dejectedly as she walked out and as if the fates had smiled down on her something caught her eye. She looked up in disbelief. There was Tina, sitting on her suitcase next to the curb looking as distraught and cute as ever. Bette took a moment to just watch Tina from afar. The sight took her breath away.

For some reason as much as Bette wanted to run to her and throw her arms around Tina, something stopped her. Bette felt like she had a flashback to the first time she ever laid eyes on Tina. She got the warm fuzzies that people only get to feel once in a lucky while and Bette felt a small smile form on her lips. She watched Tina look around for a cab and she could almost hear the thoughts running through Tinas head. Even though it had been four months since theyd seen or spoken to one another, the connection was still there. It was as if they had survived some major test in their relationship and now it was over. They would reunite and things would be perfect.

Or would they?

Was it that easy? Would it be that simple to just walk back into each others life? When Bette had left for NY, things were so unsettled and she had no idea where she stood in Tinas life right now. Maybe Tina WAS happy like Alice had said. Maybe Tina had moved on and this was just a coincidence that Tinas mysterious vacation happened to be to NY. There was only one way to find out.

Need a ride?

************************
Noit cant be

Tinas head whipped up so fast she almost fell off her suitcase. There she was, standing about fifteen feet away looking more beautiful than ever. Bette. HER Bette. Tinas cheeks seemed to flush with color faster than humanly possible and she had so many things she wanted to say to Bette but for some reason nothing made it past her throat. Tina stood up slowly and took in the sight of Bette. Something about her was different. She lookedshe lookedunhappy. Tina studied Bette closely looking for any signs of anger or resentment but she didnt find any. All she could see were a pair of rich brown eyes staring at her with the love and affection they used to every day for the past three years. Tina started to take a few steps towards Bette then it dawned on her.

What are you doing here Bette?

Offering you a ride T

Yeah but how did you know I would be here?

Well

What you found out that I was coming to New York and you assumed I was coming to see you? Thats a little pretentious dont you think?

What?

I mean what if I was coming out here with someone else? What then?

Well are you?

Nobut still

Bette gave Tina her trademark annoyed look and Tina felt the irritation begin to build. She shook her head. This wasnt what she had expected and this certainly wasnt why she came to NY. Tina put her hands up in surrender.

Im sorry Betteits been a long flightyes of course Id love a ride

Bette smiled warmly at Tina as she grabbed Tinas suitcase and walked down to where the cabs were waiting at the curb. She got Tina and herself settled into one and looked at Tina expectantly to tell the cab driver where to go.

What?

Where to lady?

Oh sorryumFour Seasons.

Bette just raised an eyebrow as the car started moving but she remained silent. A couple of times on the way over she glanced at Tina wondering what Tina was thinking and more importantly why Tina had come to NY. Although Tina had been right in Bette assuming that Tina was there to see her she knew it wasnt going to do her any good to assume that. All she could do was hope that she was right and that somehow her and Tina could find their way back to each other.

**************************
Okay Im in New York, sharing a cab with Bettenow what?

Tina looked out the window and contemplated what her next move should be. As much as she hoped that things would work out between them something suddenly dawned on her. What if Bette was seeing someone? Would Tinas trip out here disrupt that? Would Bette care if it did? Tina tried to push all these thoughts out of her head as she waited for the cab to reach its destination.

Okay lady

Tinas thoughts were snapped back down to earth as she looked up and saw they were at the Four Seasons. She smiled shyly at the cabbie and handed him some money as she got out of the cab. Bette followed her out of the cab and helped Tina with her bags. After the cabbie left they stood there kind of awkwardly staring at each other. They smiled shyly at each other and for the first time both women were speechless. Tina shifted uncomfortably and after a few minutes just made a decision. One that she hoped would be the turning point of their relationship but what would actually turn out to be the turning point in her life. A decision that was so natural she didnt even notice she had done it. With a quick smile she turned to Bette.

Do you want to come up for a little while?