Author’s extra note: As I read through all the FanFics, I am amazed that every story written about Tina and Bette, at some point, brings them back together. Even if Tina sleeps with someone, or Bette does…whether they are in a car accident, shot, beaten up…whatever, we all write our stories with them coming back to each other. To me, that says a great deal about the writing and acting that took place in the first season. I mean it only took one season of this show for us to be so incredibly loyal to this fictional couple. That also says a lot about us as women, as humans, and our loyalty to each other, as well as our yearning to love and to be loved in return. Its all about the love…its all about the joy! :)


TINA & BETTE

It was about 10:00am and Tina and Bette were on their way over to Alice’s so Tina could change her clothes. Their early morning breakfast of mangos, while watching the sun come up, had the affect of putting them both in their private little love bubble. They couldn’t stop smiling at each other and holding hands. Tina didn’t want to burst anything yet by talking with Bette about how she felt, because right now, at this moment, she just wanted to bask in the glow of being with the woman she loved. She knew that soon enough things would be different, but wanted to hold on for just a little bit longer.

They walked into the apartment hand in hand, prepared for Alice’s smart ***** remarks that were bound to have something to do with Tina being gone all night. Alice and Shane were sitting at the kitchen table arguing.

“No Al, drop it.”

“Come on Shane. Think of the service you will be doing for your fellow womankind! Think of the humanitarian awards they will give you!”

“Al stop, I’m not going.”

Tina looked from one to the other. “Not going where?”

Shane just shook her head and folded her arms. “Nowhere T, forget it.”

Alice had a big grin on her face. “No, don’t forget it Tina. I’m trying to convince her that she needs to go to Tucson.”

Tina and Bette both looked at each other confused. “Tucson? What’s in Tucson?” Tina asked.

“Sand, sand and more sand!” Shane hunkered down in her chair.

Bette, who just wanted to be with Tina, was losing her patience. “OK Alice, please explain.”

Alice grabbed the newspaper she had been reading and pointed to an advertisement. “Look at this. There are four single lesbians from Tucson, who placed an ad inviting LA’s single lesbians to…well, basically to come a calling! They’re even willing to rent a bus to drive them there. Between the four of them, they all have very different interests.”

Alice started reading through the descriptions the four women had written about themselves. As she read, she slowly raised her head and smiled at Shane.

“Oh Shane, I think this one is for you.” Alice pointed. “Look at this one…Mikki. Under her description of her favorite activities, it just says…When you are so good at indoor activities, I see no reason to take it outside.”

That got Shane’s attention. She sat up in her chair and craned her neck to see the ad. “Tucson, huh?”

Bette laughed. “Maybe we should call ahead and warn these women.”

Tina squeezed Bette’s hand. “Hey, that’s our little Shane your talking about.”

As the three friends laughed, Shane mumbled, “Well, if they are willing to pay for the ride and all…hmmmm.” With that, she raised her eyebrows and stood up. “Ladies…” Shane turned around and walked out, casually grabbing the paper on her way.

As soon as Tina went into change her clothes, Alice turned to Bette. “Well?”

“I don’t know Al. We had a good night…sort of, and a great morning, but I can tell that Tina is holding something in. I can feel that she is conflicted. We have so many things to talk about. I just hope she will give us a chance.”

Alice looked concerned. “Do you think she might not want to?”

“I think she does, I just think she has a lot of issues around me staying with Candace for six months before coming back to her. But to be honest, I would too if I were her. I can’t honestly say if I would even be here if the tables were turned. God Al. I want her back so badly, I just hope she will let us work through all those issues together.”

Before Alice could say anything else, Tina came out of the bedroom ready to go.

“So, where are you two off to now?”

Bette looked at Tina and smiled. “We are going to go sit in our secret English garden. There’s a pond and wild flowers and a little wooden bridge.”

Alice nodded her head. “Isn’t that the place you use to go Tina after the…”

Tina interrupted, “Yea Al, the same place.”

Bette looked at Alice and furrowed her brow. “You know about the garden?”

Alice hesitated. “Uh yea…Tina told me about it after the baby…”

Bette looked down at the floor. “Oh.” Bette thought how incredibly sad it was that her own wife couldn’t tell her about a place that was clearly so special to her, but had shared it with Alice instead. Just like the pregnancy test. I must have been totally unavailable to her, like on a different planet! Tears started forming in her eyes.

Tina gave Bette a worried look. “Bette…it’s just that you were…”

“I know T…I know. I was always at work.” Bette looked down again, took a deep breath and shook her head slightly. When she looked back up she was smiling. “Well, we all know about this beautiful place now.”

She held out her hand for Tina. “Ready?”

Tina still looked worried, but relieved as well. She couldn’t believe that Bette wasn’t mad about Alice knowing about the garden. She saw sadness in Bette’s eyes, but no anger.

“Yea, let’s go. See you later Al.”

“Bye you two, enjoy your garden, and remember…it’s all about the love, it’s all about the joy.”

As Tina and Bette left, Alice wiped her brow with the back of her hand. ‘Whew…that was close.’