It was just one of those days.

DAMN.

You knowone of those days at the end of a week where nothing seems to be going right and you feel like you are at the end of your rope? Well that just about sums up the week Bette was having. It was time for the CAC to pick their spring show and Bette was up to her ears in requests and meetings trying to get her slots filled. Franklin had been on her ***** all week about some big meeting coming up on Friday with the board of trustees and she better have a damn good presentation for them and Bette had to restrain herself more than once from telling him to go ***** himself. Apparently this meeting was a huge deal to the CAC but Bette really thought Franklin was overdoing it with the anal boss routine. Bette sat at her desk on Thursday afternoon and put her head in her hands. It was the first five minutes she had to herself all day and she desperately needed to just stop and sit for a few seconds. James came in and told her that Tina was on the phone for her and Bette barely acknowledged him as she picked up the phone with an exhausted voice.

Hi.

Hi babeaww whats wrong? You sound tired.

I am. Long week. Big meeting tomorrow. You know how it goes

You really shouldnt work yourself so hard babe.

I knowI know. So whats up?

I was just calling to see what you wanted for dinner tonight?

Oh baby I dont think Im going to make it home in time for dinnerI have a million files to go over for tomorrowIm sorry.

Its okay Bettedont worry about it. Ill just leave something in the stove for you okay?

Thanks baby. So hows Liz?

Shes getting betterthe doctor said she would be okay and it was just a little fever. Her temperature is back to normal and she still coughs a little but other than that she is okay.

Im sorry I cant be there to help you with her.

Its okay BetteI know you have to work late sometimes.

Still

Dont worry about itIll see you when you get home okay?

Okay. Bye.

Bette hung up and sighed loudly as she looked at the mound of work in front of her. It was times like these that she just wanted to go home and crawl in bed with her family. Liz had gotten sick this week and she had a really high fever that scared Tina but after taking her to the doctors and getting her some medicine, the fever came down quickly and she had recovered very fast. Bette looked at the clock and seeing that it was almost five she decided she would work here until about nine or so then head home. She wanted to spend a little time with Tina and Liz and unfortunately her schedule had not allowed for that this past week. She had been out of the house by seven every morning and she had been coming home late all week. Liz had usually been sleeping when she came home or Tina had to take her to day care or her moms so Bette had barely seen her for more than five minutes this week. Bette knew that Tina understood why she was working so hard and when she came home late and in a terrible mood Tina had tried to stay out of her way or relax her, but Bette knew she was neglecting Tina a little. Bette decided that this weekend they should take a trip somewheremaybe the Orange County Fair or somethinganything as long as they spent time together.

Bette stood up and stretched her arms as far as they would go over her head. Her body was exhausted and she really missed having Tina in her arms. She had been working so much that Tina always went to bed before her and even though she would pull Tina into her arms as she fell asleep, it wasnt enough. Bette needed to make love to Tina more than anything but she just couldnt seem to find the time. One week really wasnt that long of a time, but Bette felt like it had been forever since they had *****. She would be too tired or too crabby or too anything and the few times that Tina had tried to initiate it Bette had just pushed her away saying all she wanted to do was sleep. Bette cracked her back before sitting down again and she grudgingly opened her laptop to finish some reports. As her computer loaded she closed her eyes for a second and imagined Tinas body and how beautiful it was. She thought about the smell of her skin, the taste of her lips, the feel of her- Bette shook her head and opened her eyes. The last thing she needed was to be stuck at work frustrated as ***** and no way of doing anything about it.

At nine thirty Bette finally walked through the door and she was greeted by Liz who ran at her with her arms open wanting to be held.

Mommy! Mommy!

Bette barely had time to set her things down before Liz jumped into her arms. Bette gave her a small smile and kissed her forehead before setting her back down. Bette looked at Tina with tired eyes and gave her the same small smile.

What is she still doing up?

She had a late nap and now she cant sleep. Besides she wanted to wait for you.

Its late Tmaybe she should go to sleep.

Okay, but can you watch her while I shower first?

Tina

It will take ten minutes babeplease?

Finego and showerIll spend time with my other baby.

Liz beamed at Bette as Bette lifted her up into her arms again. Tina smiled at them and walked over to give Bette a kiss on the lips before heading of to the shower. Bette licked her lips as Tina walked away wanting to capture the feel of them since she probably wouldnt be releasing any frustration tonight and she shook her head again before setting Liz down and taking her bag to the couch so she could finish her work. She spread everything out and started flipping through some files as Liz climbed up on the couch and sat next to her pretending to copy her and Bette just chuckled at Lizs behavior. She is too cute, thought Bette as she shuffled some papers around and Liz did the same. Bettes stomach growled right then and she suddenly remembered she hadnt eaten all day so she got up and walked to the kitchen to see what Tina left for dinner. Bette was just pulling the food out of the stove when she realized Liz hadnt followed her in there. Bette walked out of the kitchen a little to see what Liz was doing when she suddenly started yelling.

LIZ! NO!

Bette ran over to Liz and grabbed the papers from her hands. Liz had found a pen and was drawing all over Bettes reports and Bette just looked at her in anger and shook the papers at her.

LIZ THIS IS MOMMYS WORKYOU CANNOT DRAW ON THIS!!!

Liz looked frightened at Bettes yelling and she started to cry a little as she ran to the back of the house. Bette just looked from the papers in her hands to the empty hallway and sighed.

***** how am I going to get this done by nine oclock tomorrow? *****.

Bette sat back down on the sofa and threw the papers angrily on the table. She let her head fall forward into her hands as Tina reappeared carrying a still crying Liz in her arms. Tina looked at Bette angrily and stopped right in front of the table and looked down at her.

What the ***** happened Bette?

Bette looked up angrily at first but when she saw the look in Tinas eye and the sadness in Lizs face she felt her heart break a little. Bette felt terrible about yelling at Liz and she knew she had taken some of her frustration of this past week out on Liz without meaning to. Bette just looked at Tina with exhaustion written all over her face and spoke in an irritated tone.

I went to get some food and when I came back she had drawn all over these reports. I didnt mean to yell at her but this is important Tina.

So is our child Bette.

Tina gave Bette one last hard look before turning and kissing Lizs cheek and rubbing her back as she slowly stopped crying.

Its okay honeyits okay mommys sorrycome onlets get you to bed.

Tina turned and walked back to Lizs room and Bette let out another huge sigh. She felt like she had just slammed into a brick wall and now all the lose bricks were falling on top of her one by one. She couldnt do anything right and now she had even managed to yell at her innocent two year old. God I am such an *****, thought Bette as she felt the irritation still working its way through her system. Bette looked down at her work and tried to calculate how much time it would take to fix everything tomorrow when Tina came back into the living room with the same angry look on her face.

Look Bette, I know youre tired okay? And I know she shouldnt have done that but shes only two and a half Betteshe doesnt know any better. You didnt have to yell at her like thatshe doesnt understandbesides all she wanted to do was spend some time with you. She hasnt seen that much of you lately you know and neither have I.

I know Tina. I said I was sorry okay?

Youre always sorry Betteeven with me, you always do this. You let yourself get overwhelmed then you get angry then you take it out on me. Are you going to start doing that to Liz too? Because if you are then I can tell you right now youd better have a back up plan because I am not going to let you treat her like that.

Tina turned and walked back to the bedroom leaving Bette staring at her with an open mouth. She had never seen Tina so protective of anything in her life and it made Bette feel more alienated from her than she could ever remember. Bette picked up the drawn on papers and looked at them as she felt tears forming in her eyes. What am I doing? thought Bette. Why am I doing this to the people who mean the most to me? Bette felt the tears threatening to spill but she did her best to hold them in. Tina walked back out and was about to start up again but stopped herself when she saw the look on Bettes face and tears that were about to fall. Tina walked over and sat down next to Bette and gently rubbed her forearm as she spoke softly to Bette.

Its going to be okay babyyou can fix those tomorrow.

Bette turned and looked at her with a confused look on her face before turning back to the papers. She thinks Im mad over the reports being ruined? What the helldoes she even think I care about Liz? Bette felt the tears fall and she did nothing to stop them. The fact that Tina had just thought that Bette was more concerned about work than her daughter and their family was killing her. Tina gently took the papers away from Bette and set them down on the table. She reached out and pulled Bette into her arms and smoothed her hair while whispering into her ear.

Youve had such a long week babyits almost over.

Bette cried softly on Tinas shoulder as a sudden thought ripped through her mind. She started crying harder and her body shook a little as the emotion overtook her. Tina held on to her tightly and kissed her forehead as she tried to calm Bette down. Bette felt the weight of the world fall on her shoulders and she let it all out right there on the couch in Tinas arms. After a little while she stopped crying and sat up to look into Tinas empathetic eyes. Bette cleared her throat before she spoke softly.

I dont want to be like him T.

What? Like who?

My father. I dont want to be like him. Emotionally unattached, expecting the impossible, always criticalI dont want to be like that.

Oh baby youre not like that

Yes I am Tina. God I just yelled at our two-year-old daughter because she drew on something. ***** Christ I swear

Tina leaned in and pulled Bette into her arms again. Bette let her body sink into Tinas but she somehow managed to hold the tears in this time. Tina rubbed Bettes back soothingly as she looked down at her with a small smile on her face.

Youre not like him babeyou have so much love in you. Love for me and love for our daughter. Youll never be like him babenever.

Bette gave Tina a small smile before leaning in and kissing her softly on the lips. Bette hoped what Tina was saying was true and that she never turned out like her father, but it was a fear Bette always kept in the back of her head. She didnt want to be one of those unrealistic parents who always held their kids to unattainable expectations. She would love Liz no matter what even if she failed at everything she did because she was her daughter and that was enough. Bette stood up and led Tina to the bedroom just wanting to fall asleep together for a change and when they had both put their pajamas on and gotten into bed Bette immediately reached out and snuggled into Tina. As she fell asleep that night she said a silent prayer to whoever was listening to please make her a better parent and to let Liz forgive her for being so mean. In the morning Bette woke up to a smiling face just inches from hers. When she saw Bettes eyes open Liz started giggling and Bette felt her heart soar with love. Bette pulled Liz into bed with her and started lightly tickling her causing Liz to squeal with happiness. Bette grinned as she watched her daughter squirm around on the bed and she laughed when Liz sat up and placed a kiss on Bettes nose and told her she loved her. Yes, thought Bette, today is going to be a good day.