After Alice dropped her off, Bette stood outside the house for what seemed like hours even though in reality it was only a couple of minutes. She couldnt face the thought of going inside knowing that Tinas things were still there but Tina herself might be gone from her life forever. She finally gathered up enough emotional fortitude to walk inside and to start dealing with the wreck she had made of her life. When she got in the house she headed straight to the phone to make two calls. The first one was to Candace to break things off with her. She explained that Tina had found about them and that she realized now that what happened between them was a mistake. She told Candace that she was in love with Tina and she apologized to her for any hurt she may have caused her. The second call was to Kit. She asked her if it would be possible for her to come over because she needed some advice on something. She took a quick shower and put on clean clothes and went to sit on the sofa to wait for Kit to show up. As she sat there she looked around at the room and saw little touches of Tina everywhere and she began to cry. She didnt hear when Kit knocked on the door and she didnt hear her open the door and walk in to the living room because she was crying.

Bette Kit said. Whats wrong? Why are you crying?

Bette looked up at Kit standing there and her response was to cry even harder and to sob. Kit sat down beside her and put her arms around her and held her until her crying let up.

Bette, please tell me what is wrong Kit said.

Tina left me Bette said.

Kit sat there in stunned silence. Bettes words didnt make sense to her because she knew how much Tina loved Bette. When she was around them she could always see it in the way that Tina looked at Bette and the way she talked about Bette when Bette wasnt around.

She really left you? Kit asked.

Yes Bette replied.

Kit just couldnt believe what she was hearing. Kit knew that something drastic must have happened for Tina to leave.

Bette, this isnt making much sense to me because I know that Tina loves you. So why would she leave you? Kit asked.

She had a good reason Bette said softly. She found out that I was sleeping with Candace.

You were what? Kit exclaimed.

I was having an affair with Candace Bette said.

Kit sat there for a minute or so not knowing what to say to Bette. She didnt know whether to yell at her or to hug her. In the end she decided to neither until she got more information from Bette.

To say I am shocked is an understatement Kit said Im having trouble believing this. I thought you and Tina had something special.

We did Bette said. We did until I fucked it all up!

Why did you do it? Kit asked. Maybe you better just tell me the whole story.

I honestly dont even know why I did it Bette said.

Bette told Kit everything from the beginning. How she had been panicking over the baby, how she had questioned herself as to whether she was falling out of love, how she had been strong for Tina over the loss of the baby and how she had never let her self grieve. She told her about how she felt her life spinning out of control and how she turned to Candace and about how Tina had found out the night of the Provocations opening and how Tina had left her and finally about the accident and Tina being in Denver with her mother.

Do you really think that Denver is where Tina should be right now? Kit asked.

I wanted to bring her here but Alice convinced me that I had to let her go with Julie.
Bette said. Kit, what am I going to do with out her being in my life? I love her and I always will.

Kit was surprised to see Bette just accepting that Tina was out of her life.

Okay who kidnapped my sister and put this pod person in her place? Kit asked. My baby sister would not be sitting here giving up on getting the love of her life back. She would be figuring out what to do to get her back.

You think I dont want to be doing that? Bette asked.

I dont know Kit said. It sounds like to me youve given up. I cant believe you let her go to Denver. Do you really want her back?

You know I do. Bette said.

Then my advice, for what it is worth, is for you to take some time off from work, figure out just why and how you screwed up both your lives and go get Tina and bring her home so that the two of you have a chance of working things out Kit said. Bette I know that Tina left because she was hurt and angry, but I dont have a doubt in my mind that somewhere within her heart her love for you is there. Ive seen the love that you two share and you dont just give up on something that powerful but you have to believe in it.

I thought I was doing what was right for Tina by letting her go. Bette said. Ive hurt her so badly and I just couldnt bear the thought of hurting her anymore.

Bette there is no doubt that there is going to be more pain for both of you until you can sort everything out. But dont you think the chance of spending the rest of your life with the person that you love more than life itself is worth a little pain Kit said.

You know it is. Bette said. I would do anything to be able to spend the rest of my life with Tina.

Then get up from here and start working on figuring out what happened and get your house back in order Kit said.

Kit, I just wanted to thank you for not judging me Bette said.

Hey its not my place to judge anyone. Kit said. Besides I have to care of my baby sister.

Kit left Bette with a hug and a promise that she would be calling to check up on her in the next few days. Bette spent the rest of the evening weighing her options and trying to figure out what she needed to do to try and straighten out the mess she had made of her life. She slept very little and by morning she had decided that Kit was right. She needed to take some time off from work and figure out why she did what she did. She called in to work and talked to Franklin and told him she had a family emergency and that she was taking off the rest of the week. Bette called Kit to let her know that she was taking at least part of her advice. She told her that she had taken some time off and she was going to be doing some soul searching and she would not be able to be reached. She promised her she would call her when she got some clarity. Bette didnt leave the house but she turned off the phones, closed all of the windows and locked the doors. She wanted to face her demons in the house that she and Tina had bought together. She knew she had to find some answers within herself as to why she would throw away everything she had with Tina to be with Candace. She knew it wasnt about love so what was it that drove her to that point. She replayed in her mind all of the events that lead up to the affair with Candace and then Tina finding out. Bette knew that she had tried to tell Tina about the affair but she couldnt look her in the eyes and tell her. The more she thought about it the more frustrated she got. She truly believed in monogamy so she wondered why she lost control and threw away all of her moral beliefs. She spent the rest of her week off locked up in the house sorting through her feelings and she had come to some conclusions. Somewhere along the way she knew that she and Tina had quit communicating. It didnt justify her actions with Candace but she knew that part of her discontent was due to their lack of communication. She realized that being with Candace was an act of desperation to not have to deal with the problems that were going on in her life. She knew she felt like she had to control everything in and around her life and somewhere a long the road she lost control of everything to some degree, her mind, her body and her life. She had found some answers but she knew that she was going to need some help to figure out how she could have let things happen the way they did. She called and made an appointment to see a therapist. It was a hard pill for her to swallow to make that call because she had hated going to therapy with Tina but she knew she had to talk to someone in order to make sense out of everything that happened. After she hung up from making the appointment she called Kit to let her know that she was doing okay and had actually figured a few things out. When Monday came around Bette was glad to go back to work. She spent all of her waking hours that week at the gallery. She figured that every hour she spent at work meant less time for her to be at home thinking about Tina and wondering if she was doing okay. By the time that Saturday evening rolled around Bette was exhausted so she gathered up her things and headed towards the house. She knew that she should stop and get her something to eat but she just wanted to get home and take a shower and get some sleep. She had just stepped out of the shower when she heard the doorbell ring. She thought about pretending she wasnt home but she knew that who ever it was could see her car in the driveway so she quickly dried off and put on her robe and went to the door to see who it was. Bette lifted the shade to check to see who was at the door and she was shocked to see Tina standing there. She quickly opened the door to let Tina in to the house.

Hi Tina said.

Hi Bette said.

I hope you dont mind that I came here Tina said.

Bette wasnt sure what was going on and she didnt know whether Tina had her memory back so she wasnt sure how to react.

No baby I dont mind at all Bette said.

About that time Bette saw Julie walking towards the house carrying two suitcases.

I had to come Tina said.

Bette moved out of the way to let Tina in to the house and then to help Julie get the suitcases in the house. Tina walked around the house looking at things and touching them.

Bette, she wanted to come home. No, she needed to come home Julie said. She hasnt remembered anything yet but she has been driving her self crazy trying to remember parts of her life and she has asked about you many times. I tried to call you to warn you we were coming but I havent been able to reach you.

I have been working endless hours trying to keep from thinking about Tina Bette admitted. Thank you. Thank you for bringing her home.

Bette hugged Julie and told her to make her self at home. She then went in search of
Tina and found her in their bedroom sitting on their bed.

Baby, are you okay? Bette asked.

No Tina said. I still cant remember anything about my past. Will you help me to remember?

Bette walked over and sat down on the bed next to Tina and she pulled her in to her arms and held her tightly in a hug.

Sure baby Bette said. We will remember things together.

TBC