Bette approached her, but only when she was sure no one was paying attention. She had a reputation to keep up. Everyone had their eyes on Alice and Angelica as Alice blew out the candles on the cake, able to forget if only for a moment, her emotional devastation.

"Thank you for being there for Alice," Bette said. "You've been a friend to her when she needed someone to lean on."

Helena was taken aback at Bette's gratitude.

"She's going through a rough time," Helena replied. "And I'm able to give her support right now. I know you and Tina have other things on your mind." She nodded over to Tina just as Alice passed the baby back to her.

"Yeah. We do."

Bette knew Helena was referring to Angelica. But the list of things they needed to work through included so much more than the beautiful little creature that had entered their lives.

"We're in a small circle of friends Bette. As uncomfortable as that has the potential to be, if we can be civil to each other, I think it would make it easier on Tina and Alice."

"Civil is all I'm capable of right now Helena. And you can be sure I'm only doing it for Tina and Alice."

"Of course," Helena replied. She wasn't really aware of anything she had done to incur Bette's wrath, although Bette seemed convinced she was behind her being fired from the CAC.

"The direction of the Peabody Foundation was changing; it really had nothing to do with your application," Helena began an explanation for the denial of Bette's request for funding. God she couldn't believe that was over a year ago already.

"Helena, please," Bette stopped her from continuing. "If we have any hope of moving forward, it's best you don't engage in a litany of reasons I have to be annoyed with your presence in my life."

Helena wanted to protest, but decided silence was her only ally.

Tina started making her way back into the kitchen.

"I'll take her for a while, Tee," Bette suggested as she reached for the baby.

"I'm good," Tina replied, shifting Angelica to her opposite hip. "I just wanted to make sure you two are okay."

"Fine," Bette said curtly.

"Couldn't be better," Helena concurred.

Two months later

"Bette, I insist," Helena stated flatly. "I have the resources to help you with this. It's not just about your adopting Angelica, it's about the rights of all of us to parent our own children."

"So you're doing it for you then," Bette replied into her cell phone as she accelerated down the 405. Helena could get under her skin like no other human being could.

"Bette, can you accept help once without making it a chore for me to offer the assistance?"

"Alright. Thank you Helena. I'm sure any lawyer you've retained is among the best, and I do appreciate it."

"He'll meet you an hour ahead of your scheduled interview at Children and Family Services.

"Is there anything we should bring?" Bette asked.

"He'll call later today or tomorrow if there's anything he needs you to do ahead of time," Helena replied.

A silence followed.

"Thank you Helena. I really do appreciate this. I know this is not something you have to do."

"You're welcome. That baby is yours Bette. Biology has nothing to do with parenthood."

"Let's hope the Department of Social Services holds the same view at around this time tomorrow."

Later that week

Helena opened her front door to be greeted by an obviously upset Bette Porter.

"Is Alice here? She said she'd be here tonight," Bette spoke quickly as she looked past Helena into the house - truly an architectural marvel.

"No, she left about 20 minutes ago to get ready for her date," Helena replied. She stepped aside to allow Bette to enter. "Bette, what's wrong?"

"I can't talk to you about it."

"You're not getting back in your vehicle and driving in this condition," Helena said. "Come inside. Is it Tina? The baby's fine?"

"The baby's fine. It's Tina who's lost her mind," Bette responded. "She's punishing me in the worst way she could think of. All she did was draw me back in, so that she could make me hurt in the same way I hurt her."

"Bette, slow down, Tina's not that kind of person," Helena assured her.

Bette paused. She looked at Helena and spoke with next to no emotion.

"She's having an affair."

"Don't look at me," Helena replied defensively.

"Helena, I know it's not you," Bette said. "It's with a man." She almost spewed the last word out like it was poison.

"Tina is sleeping with a man?" Helena was in total shock. "But she loves sex with a woman"

"Helena please, now is not the time to tell me how much Tina loves sex with women," Bette said. She found she was constantly putting up barriers for Helena to abide by. "Though you'd never know it from how many times we've been together since the baby was born."

"I have sensed some frustration with you two lately," Helena said, trying to be supportive.

"That's an understatement," Bette said as she paced around the room. "She hasn't shown any interest in me in months. And she can't stop judging me for not supporting her in the style to which she has become accustomed."

"I wasn't trying to buy her affection Bette," Helena offered. "But I wasn't going to change how I live either."

"It shouldn't matter what we have," Bette said. "All I want is a little affection; I don't think that's so wrong. And now it turns out she's been getting her affection elsewhere. Thank God she wasn't sleeping with me while she was sleeping withhim." Bette's voice was escalating as she let her emotions carry her away.

Helena took Bette firmly by the shoulders.

"It wasn't your failure that brought this on in Tina," Helena said. "You're a desirable woman with so much to offer someone."

Bette's breathing slowed and her eyes met Helena's. And she realized that Helena had actually been going out of her way to be a friend the last two months. But she didn't need a friend right now. She was glad Alice hadn't been here.

"You don't deserve to be treated this way Bette," Helena said quietly. "You've done your penance."