Bette pulled up to the gate and grabbed the ticket from the machine. As she waited for it to open, she thought about Tina. What she’d look like, how she’d smell; her first time seeing her since Philadelphia when they parted ways. Each taking a different flight, each on their own path. She wondered if things would move forward, or if they’d be stuck in the somewhere, between the here…and then.

She couldn’t help but feel cheated by the years that had passed between the cracks of her own memory. Her own psyche, betraying her. How she would have loved to have seen Tina grow into the impressive woman she had become. How she would have loved to have been responsible, if for only a sliver, of her being.

She was on her way to the baggage claim and decided to hang back when she saw Tina searching for her bag. “How the mundane could be so interesting when done by the right person,” she thought. As Tina grabbed for her bag, she became distracted by the form leaning against the wall; admiring her, taking her in. Smiling, she put her head down and pretended not to feel the eyes on her body. She played along for a bit before caving in, and laughed as she made her way over to her. “How long have you been watching me?” She dropped her bag and taking Bette into her arms, pulled her close to her body.

“Not long enough. I can’t tell you how happy I am that you came home to me.”

Tina pulled away and studied Bette’s face. “Do you really mean that?” But, Bette couldn’t answer. “You do, don’t you?” She kissed Bette, slowly, gently, before pulling her mouth away. Locking eyes with Bette’s lingering gaze, she finally said, “Take me home.”

Tina held Bette’s hand the whole ride back to the house; kissing at her fingers and smelling her skin. “You are so beautiful,” she said, running her hand across Bette’s face. “You’re going to cause an accident,” Bette said, playfully biting at Tina’s retreating hand. “I mean it, you really are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” Bette blushed and looking back at the road, said, “That is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”