Part 10-


Bette and Tina just layed there silently caressing each other, staring meaningfully into each others eyes, and kissing each other lightly on the mouth, all over the others face, neck, and shoulders. As the skies became lighter, the sun remained hidden by the clouds that overcastted the sky, the rain had become a steady, moderate beat on West Hollywood; it sat its pace as it was going to be a very wet day.

Caressing the hair out of Tinas eyes and behind her ears, Bette was the first to speak in nearly 12-hours. Needing to put into words what last night and today means to her, her hopes and plans for the future, and most of all her regret.

Tee, baby, I am so sorry for ever hurting you! You cant possibly know how much I wish I could go back in time and stop myself from having ever met Candace. But, I cant no matter how much I wish I could or how much I regret the whole ugly situation and I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Its true what they say, you know, about not knowing what you have until its gone. Spent way too long refusing to look at myself, to really look at myself. However, I finally woke-up and took a long, hard, and deep look. Tee, I will always regret not taken advantage of therapy the first go around even though I am not seeing Foxworthy-but, instead a woman therapist. I need you to know that I am working really hard. I am trying to be patient and not rush it; I do realize that itll take years or even the rest of my life. I mean, it is about time I started to grow up, dont you think? I understand now that I havent always put you first you or us first. That Ive treated horribly whenever daddy is around. I have a problem with allowing my ego to call the shots. And I have been a mega-controlling *****. I, also, need you to know that even though Ive came to accept those facts about myself I am still unable to understand why Ive allowed to become who I am. I am working on it and if youll be patient with me, I promise to work on being better at recognizing them raising in me and how to better restrain my more darker, negative personality traits, Bette stopped, with tears unabashedly staining her cheeks, waiting for some form of confirmation from Tina.

I am so proud of you, Bette, Tina said with her own tears freely falling. Then, with a radiant smile setting her whole entire being a glow, Of course, Ill be patient with you, baby.

I know Ive hurt so many times over the last 4 years, in so many ways. As much as Id like to make up for all of it. I cant, even if we lived to be a 100 I couldnt. Quite frankly, I dont want to waste the 2nd chance you are giving me, on looking back. I want to make every moment, we have from here on out count. I want to fill our days, hours, minutes, and seconds with nothing but good and wonderful memories of countless happy times. Thats why 6-weeks ago I had a conversation with Franklin and have been even more busy then usual since then setting everything up. Now that everything is, Ill be able to devote more of my attention on and our family. Ive arranged for James to become Assistant Director and move him into my office. ***** need it more than I will as ***** be at the CAC more, we even hired him a full time assistant. I sat up some office space in our dining area, where Ill be working from for the majority of my workdays. Ill only be going into the office for openings, board meetings, and no more than 20 hours a week to make myself available to the public when they come into view the art on display. Otherwise, I am working from home; James and his assistant will be handling the more of the details I hate, leaving me to concentrate on the art, the artist, and collectors. What? We both know James is more diplomatic and capable of remaining cool under fire then I am. Oh yeah, thats another thing I am working on relinquishing control and realizing that I am not the be all and end all of the universe. Well, anyway unless am not meeting with an artist, collector, on work time the cell phone will be turned off. I know that look, you are not so sure. Dont worry, once Ive gotten used to it, Ill be more relaxed. Still skeptical, hunh?! I can do this, you wait and see. I know I havent given you a lot of reasons to trust me in the last several years; if, you promise to be honest with me and tell me that I am hurting you and how. I promise to work on being better. You and your happiness are my number one priority and nothing else matters if you are not happy. By the way, I would use to let you believe you were the lucky one to have me. Thats not entirely true; because all my life Ive had to make my own luck until one day, a little over 8 years ago. You, Tee, just strolled right into my life. You and your love made me the luckiest person to ever walk the face of the Earth. The day you bestowed with the greatest honor of becoming my wife, committing yourself to loving me and only me forever. You made me even luckier then anyone could ever dare to imagine. Over the last 4 years Ive slowly grew to take that fact and you for granted and then I went committed the most unforgivable sin that anyone could ever do to another. The fact that you are willing to give me, yet, another chance just re-affirms that-indeed-it is I who is the lucky one in our relationship. Shhhh! Dont try to argue with me. Its okay, just like its okay that I will spend the rest of my life proving it, thus ensuring to never, ever again to take you and our love for granted ever again. Tina, you are my heart, my soul, and my everything. I know it nearly killed you when we lost our son and I almost died myself, I shut down and tried to hold everything together, but when we lost our son, somewhere along the way I lost myself. It wasnt until after you took me last night for the first time, that I was even able to begin to find my way back again. When and if you are ready to try again to have another baby, I promise you and our children will know my full devotion and love, Bette declared more in this momentous time then she had in the last 3 years of their life together.

With tears dripping down from her chin, Bette rolled atop of Tina, maintaining their deep, penetrating eye-lock.

Laying on her back, Tina reached up, eased and dried the tear streak from underneath Bettes eyes.

I do love you more than my own life, Bette. This time without you has been the longest and hardest of my life. Our life together will never be the same and I cant say that Ill be able to trust you the same way ever again, but I know I cant live without you, without your love. I am incomplete without. I have no doubt that you meant everything you just said. I have never been more proud of you then I am in this very moment and Ive fallen in-love with you, Bette Porter, all over again. You are my life and my happiness, Tina finished as she sat up and leaned into kiss her wife.

Bette began making love with Tina. For the next 12 hours they sustained each other on the love they were making. Magically, afterwards, (more like they were too distracted to notice Alice, ironically enough, stealthily bringing all of Tinas stuff and slipping into the room with a trey filled with good and a bottle of red wine, with a little note leaning against a vase full of red roses. Alice had leaned against the door frame and indulged in her voyeuristic tendencies for a few moments before a genuine smile of happiness, for her two friends, spread over her face. Then she disappeared down the hall and made sure the door was securely locked behind her as she left the house. Heading to The Planet to report the situation to the rest of the gang) they found the spread of fruit (strawberries and white grapes), cubes of cheese with toothpicks in the center of each, and the loaf of French bread for them to tear off individual pieces. Tina leaned back against the pillows as Bette brought the trey over to sit in between them over Tinas stomach. Noticing the note, Bette picked it up, opened it, read whom it was from, and with a raised eyebrow she looked at Tina before reading it aloud.

Bette/Tina I brought all of Tinas stuff back and its all sitting in the living room, since I havent heard or seen either one of you since late afternoon a few days back. I am glad to see I was correct in assuming the best. Take all the time you, two, need and we will see you when we see you. By the way, I also took the liberty of preparing the fest before you, as I presume neither of you has eaten in the last 24 hours. Thank you for showing me what real, true love looks like. Love, Alice. PS: No, I wont keep my mouth shut, Bette finished

Like she could, Tina laughingly stated.

They consumed the entirety of the food and wine, they then made their way into the shower, cleansed each other, returned to the bed, and made love until they couldnt no more. Bette spooned up into Tinas backside, where they peacefully fell asleep, blissfully more in-love then ever.

THE END