Helena arrived before Bette  so she seated herself at a small table by the window.   Helena was always prompt, in fact early most times and Bette was habitually late for everything.  It didn't seem to bother either of them; they were familiar with each others habits and overlooked many of those they didn't like.  

"Well, how's my girl doing, hmmm?"  Helena asked as she gracefully stood up and pecked Bette lovingly on the cheek.

"I'm good.  You'll be happy to know that I'm off to the gym after we have lunch". 

"Well, cut my legs and call me shorty" grinned Helena. Bette raised her eyebrows at her friend's humor and softly laughed.    When Bette sat down, they both turned toward the window and stared at the rain tapping the large windows in syncopated rhythms.

They shared a light meal and easy conversation until Bette noticed tears welling in Helena's eyes. 

"Hel?" she questioned softly.   

Helena looked directly at Bette and the tears began to fall.  "I'm sorry for doing this during our lunch together.  It's just so hard sometimes to keep going without Darby.  I'm always wondering what we would be doing ifyou know, she were still alive.  I know we had our share of problems but what I wouldn't do to have her back again.   Helena's shoulders slumped and her eyes became despondent.

Just then Helena's cell phone rang.  She looked at the caller id, rolled her blurry eyes and cleared her throat.

"Hello Mummy" she sang sweetly.   Her eyes rolled slowly while listening to the voice on the other end.

"Ah, just having a bite with Bette" she stated plainly trying to release the lingering agony that was still clutching her heart.   . "OK, hang on." handing the phone to Bette.

"Peggy, how are you?" Bette questioned playing with the remaining sunflower seeds and mushrooms left on her plate from lunch. "Well, I don't know about that, you know I'm still taking my time here.  Have you forgotten? The last time you had a brilliant idea, your daughter rejected my efforts and sent me a packing!"  Bette smirked.

 Helena looked directly at Bette and playfully rolled her eyes.  She couldn't believe how much she had come to adore the woman across the table from her.  From the time Bette moved to LA and they became reacquainted, they spent hours taking aimless walks together in silence.  Occasionally, soft delicate sniffles or loud, outright sobs were heard.  Those walks were less frequent now but when they did occur, the silence was sometimes broken with hearty laughter.   Helena felt terrible seeing Bette in so much pain and often cringed at the horrible beginning they shared before establishing a valued friendship. Bette was no doubt getting better emotionally and resuming a new life, but it had been a long and painful road for her.  Returning to the moment, Helena raised her eyebrows, refocused her thoughts and tuned in again to the phone conversation that Bette was having with her mum.

"We'll see Peggy".  I'm not promising anything right now.  Alright will do, you take care too" Bette replied, handing the phone back to Helena.

"So mummy wants to set you up aye?"  Helena asked revealing a mouth full of perfect white teeth.  "She knows not to try anything with me."  Helena snapped.   "Besides, she has no taste in women.  She proclaimed to be gay for one year and now she knows everything???"  What's that about Bette?

Bette just laughed at the words and phrases Helena was now incorporating into her vocabulary. 

 "Well, yes she does want to set me up on a date.  I don't think I'm ready for all of this.  You heard that I didn't commit to anything." Bette replied.

"And sweetums", Helena said while tenderly taking one of Bette's delicate hands in hers. "Please  know that you don't have to be 'ready' for anything".  There is no timeline for this sort of thing.  The only reason I'm dating again is because I love sex too much to be alone.  How crass is that?  You would think that I would have some respect for Darby in that regard.  But I pretty much disassociate myself with the person and just enjoy the act.  It's pretty sad actually.  Helena returned her eyes to the window and stared at the rain pouring down.

"Hel, you're allowed to enjoy your life.  I know about the timeline theory, but I think two years is sufficient time to allow yourself some fun Hel.  It's okay."  

 "Why can I tell her that but I can't apply it to myself?" Bette curiously wondered.  "Hey, are you going back to work now? "

"Yeah, I need to tidy up my office a bit. It looks like a tornado hit my desk and I have a ton of rubbish to discard.  Then I'm going to head over to Lauren's for awhile to well, you know" she said flashing a lightening quick smile.

Bette's thoughts turned to Lauren. She and Helena had been seeing each other for a couple of months now.  Helena pulled no punches and informed Lauren of her current situation upfront.  In the past, Helena always had an agenda when it came to relationships and hunted women purposefully as though they were her prey.  By the time the poor damsels knew anything, her captive were tightly bound and begging for mercy while Helena went in search of her next victim.  It was a never-ending cycle until Helena met Darby.  Darby was good for Helena and took no shit; although Helena did test her on occasion.  Helena fully respected her and loved her like she had no other.  Like most couples though, they had their share of problems and miscommunication and tried their best to overcome them.  Most dealt with Helena's working style.  Like Bette, she was dedicated beyond belief and suffered from being a workaholic.  Darby loved Helena's company and had been known to be upset when Helena wasn't available for her.  Upon Darby's death, Helena wrestled with the unfairness of life and gave in to the fact that sometimes life simply is what it is.  On the other hand, Lauren and Helena were basically good friends with benefits. Their relationship was built on a mutual understanding.    Sometimes Helena couldn't wait to be alone after spending time with Lauren or with anyone for that matter.  Well, with the exception of Bette. 

Helena interrupted Bette's thoughts.  "Please ring me if you need anything Bette, anything at all okay?