Title:Of Me... Chapter 2 Author: TMerlin [ Send a Private Message ]
Copyright: Some Showtime, some me. Content Rating: PG-13 Disclaimer: N/A Author's Note: Thanks a lot everyone for reading this new story. It's so great to see all the comments. Thank you very much for taking the time to share your thoughts with me, and even send me PM's. The comments are invaluable- they're really the only external thing one gets in return for sharing a story, and it's quite a thing as an author when you check the site and see such wonderful comments. I have to say that with this new story and this first chapter, I don't think I've ever made any of you cry before, at least not in such numbers and to such an extent. It's amazing for me to hear from you that the chapter was a good read, that you enjoyed it, but that it provoked such emotion is a thing in and of itself. Anyway, after Valediction, I'm glad that at least a bunch of you continue to read my stories and actually return for more. I hope this next chapter is enjoyable, even though Kleenex won't be of great necessity. I've tried to develop the plot, to prepare for the upcoming chapters, and I hope the exposition that I tried working in ain't too corny in the dialogue. I certainly hope you all manage to stay awake for the ride!
Jackiee1 - thank you for reading and commenting. I hope the hear is uplifted at some point.
Van - hey Van. This one is not wrenchingjust one small part maybe. Thanks for commenting.
smiley - thanks a lot for your comments and for reading. I don't think you'll have a problem reading this chapter at work. I'm glad that the detail worked as you describe. That's great to see. Bette happy? Well, not this coming Sunday on Showtimethat's for sure.
BetteAndTinaForever - greetings madam! My goodness, given all the tears on the last one, I hope this one isn't anti-climactic for you. Thanks a lot for reading and taking the time to post a comment. Happiness? Hmmmm. For Bette? Hmm. Kleenex anyone? Sunday's episode is just around the corner after all!
vam - hi vamthanks for the flattering comment. It's hard for me to believe that the writing actually caused some tears to flow. I hope this next one isn't too uneventful for you. Thanks for continuing to read and comment.
Mad Maggot - hey you crazy maggotthanks for reading and thank you for your very generous comments. That's really nice of you. I'm really happy to read that it worked in the way that you described. I know what you mean about the friends not being strangers- at times I've found that frustrating about the show.
missyang - hallo missyang- super, I'm so glad you like it that much. Thank you very much for your kind words. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
gogk - I actually didn't imagine that the chapter would provoke such emotionI thought it would just have a sorta somber effect. I'm really impacted by the comments and that it actually worked in the way you say. Thanks for reading and commenting. I hope you like the next one too and that you keep reading.
onthebrink - thanks onthebrink. I appreciate your comments and I thank you for reading. Hope you continue with it. Let me know what you think of the next one.
dedpreztourist - wow dedpreztourist, thanks! I always hope the writing will take readers on some sort of enjoyable ride, but I'm really happy it was as you say. Hope you like the next one.
Phoenix - thanks Phoenix, that's nice of you. I appreciate your comments and thanks for reading on. I continuedhope it works. Let me know.
Fresa - I decided to continue- thank you. I'm glad that the writing touched people in that way, though I can't say I enjoy bringing people to tears! Thanks for your comment. Hope you like the next one.
fergz1 - thanks very much for that fergz1! I don't think you'll find this next one too painful, but I hope you like it. Thanks for reading and commenting. Look forward to getting your comments on the next chapter.
2005fanforever - thanks 2005fanforever! It's nice to see you again. You're too kind, but I thank you for the comments. I appreciate you continuing to read and taking the time to share your thoughts. Hope you enjoy the next chapter too.
ld18 - thank you Id18. Tina sure is getting nasty on the show. I really hope there's some light at the end of the tunnel. I appreciate you reading and commenting. Hope you like the next chapter.
bettyvhall - wow bettyvhallthanks for those kind words. I hope you enjoy this next chapter too. Thanks for reading and commenting. I don't know if the broken woman is going to find happiness in the big lonely city, but let's hope she finds it on the show soon.
adway - hello adway and thanks for the compliments. I'm really glad that all that emotion actually came through in the writing. It's great to see you say that. Thanks for reading this story and sharing your feedback. Hope you like this next chapter too.
amazonlvr - hi amazonlvr. I'm really glad that was a good read for you. This next chapter tries to lay a foundation for the upcoming plot and has some exposition. That man-thing with Tinajust makes you wanna scratch your head and wonder. Hopefully, it'll all make sense one day on the show, because I ain't too sure I understand myself- not about her having feelings, but it's not even clear the extent of the feelings and how she got there.
azmama - thanks azmama, it's nice to see you again. Thanks for your very generous comments. I'm really glad that the writing conveyed that much emotion for the readers. Tina on the show I is pretty frustrating. I hope this next chapter doesn't make my Tina too odd or annoying. It's hard actually to explain her.
dixirella - hello again dixirella. That's really nice of you, thank you. I hope this next chapter manages to keep you eager for the next chapters. Thanks for reading and continuing to comment. Much appreciated.
arkansas jo - hmmmsorry Arkansas jo. I hope this next one is at least a little enjoyable for you. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment. Sorry about all the sad stuff.
tylo - damn tylo, thank for the comment! Hope this next chapter works for you. Thanks for reading and commenting. The other story? Which one? Did you like Valediction at all?
Lamentamini - howdy Lamentamini! Ah.liar liarI know you didn't cry! Ha! (Kidding.) I'm so happy to see the writing had an impact. I hope you don't fall asleep on the monitor during this next chapter though. Let me know what you think.
Marti - Marti, it's always so good to see your comments. Thank you so much for continuing to read and comment. You're very kind, thank you. It's great when I hear back that the writing actually evoked an emotional response like that and/or that people enjoyed it as they say. It makes a world of difference to have comments to revert to as an author. The scene with Kit taking Angelica actually caused me to pause as I wrote the wordsjust pause and think. I really hope the show gives Bette something to smile about soon. Thank you again for continuing to read and comment. I appreciate it.
deathstar - hey deathstar.how's Lord Vader? Thanks for your comments. That's great to see. I'm really happy it worked as you describe. I am continuing and hope that you manage to enjoy this next chapter. Let me know.
Biased - thank you biased. I'm glad Bette's feelings came across. Thanks for reading and commenting. I am continuing and hope that you continue to like it.
B - that's very kind of you B, thank you. Thanks for reading and sharing that positive feedback. I hope you continue to follow the story. Let me know what you think of this next chapter.
bonaire girl - hello bonair girl, and thanks so much for the commentary. Wow, I'm pleasantly surprised that the writing provoked such a responseI hope you continue to read. Thanks for posting and I look forward to getting your thoughts on the next chapter.
slipperynipple - hello slipperynippleI made you cry? No way man. I'm really taken aback that people actually cried and that it didn't just make people feel a little sad. Thanks for reading and commenting. The next one shouldn't make you cry too much and I hope you like it.
2sweet2bhurt - Thank you for your comments 2sweetbhurt. I really appreciate you reading and taking the time to share your thoughts. I really didn't think that the chapter would touch a chord like that, particularly that it would convey what you describe about the real life issues. I'm surprised it worked so well in the way you describe. I hope you continue to read and that you enjoy the next chapter. Let me know what you think.
Summary: Bette and Angelica face their new lives, and their family and friends face the new reality. Total Views: 4804 times.
(Shane went to see Kit that evening at the Planet. Despite recent events, Kit found solace at work. She couldn't be alone, and she couldn't share this with anyone else in her life, because they knew Bette and Tina. Shane was the only other exclusive member in a very small club, an inner circle that was privy to Bette's life now like no other group and no other person. She trusted them and they love her to the point that her trust would not be betrayed. It was hard for them to imagine what could ever challenge that notion, regardless of how they felt about the tearing asunder of the family they loved.)
SHANE- (To the bartender) "Hey Lacey, where's Kit?"
LACEY- "In the back office Shane. Need a drink?"
SHANE- "Nah, I'm good thanksmaybe later." (She walks to the back office; the door was open.) "Hi Kit. Can I come in?'
KIT- "Hi Shane. Yes please, and close the door." (Shane sits.) "Everything went ok at the airport, I take it?"
SHANE- "Yes. Well, I know she caught her flight and it landed and she's at a hotel. I know that we said goodbye at the airport. Did it go ok? Yeah, it went fine, but I rarely see Bette cry and I don't make a habit of it myself, but there we wereso, yeah, it was 'ok', but I'm with Al on this onethis is so fucked up."
KIT- "I had her back in my life for such a short time really. You know, as a sister and a friend. It was from around the time her and Tina were gonna start a familythe good old days. She became more active in my life at that time and I in her's, as well as Tina's, and my life seemed to get better. She had such loveshe has such love in her life, and nowI just don't understand. But I guess when these things happen the people on the outside never really do understand. All we see is something that just doesn't seem natural to us- these people who we saw together, who we saw as belonging together, a part of one another and really a part of our lives 'together', they're torn apart and I guess in a way we lose something too."
SHANE- "I really can't believe the past several days and weeks. It caught me by surprise. I guess I was caught up in my own shit so much I hadn't noticed how much trouble they were having."
KIT- "You and me both Shane. I mean I knew things weren't perfect. Butdamn it ShaneI wish, I just wish they could see what I see, what we see, when we look at them. Maybe then they'd realize how crazy it all is. Maybe they'd realize what they're throwing away."
SHANE- "When the shit hit the fan last year, after Bette and Tina broke up, Bette really paid for itthrough the teeth. She broke Tina's heart and I almost still can't believe it, but she made one of the biggest mistakes of her life and then she foughtcome hell or high watershe fought to get her back. The thing is, I knew then, even that first time they saw one another and Tina threw the table at her here at the Planet, I knewI just knewthey still loved one another. Now here we are full circle. Suddenly there are problems and we find out that Tina's gone outside the relationship, not cheating, but whatever the hec it is, and not only that, but she's dating some guy. Kit man, we must have really not been paying attention, because I'm floored when I think about all that's happened. I thought I was going to lose it after what happened with Dana, and I thought somehow that everything else being stable would help, you know? Bette and Tina were kind of like a foundation for me. Now I'm learning it's been rocked to its core. And unlike before, I don't knowI don't have a deep feeling of assurednessI don't know Kit. I can't believe they don't love each other anymoreI just can't fathom it, but I'm not sure whether their relationship as lovers is gonna just be a part of our collective scrapbook from now onour little history, the whole lot of usthe 'what once was' of Bette and Tina."
KIT- "Well, that'll be a hell of a scrapbook to pass on to Angelica one day. I don't know what scares me morenot ever seeing Bette and Tina together again or not seeing my sister in that little girl's life anymore.or not being in her life myself as much anymore."
SHANE- "We're all a part of her life I think foreverthat's not gonna change. I don't see Tina changing that."
KIT- "Well, I don't know Shane. Everything else has changed, so mysteriously and so harshly, who knows. In any case, even if you're right, it's like Bette herself said to mebasically, it's a question of how we'll each be a part of her life. It would have been one thing for Bette to continue raising her Shane, but now, what's she going to be to her? An auntie? I'm mean that's ok for you and me, but Bette? She was a mother to her for almost the first year of her life, and now she'll be relegated to what? Auntie Bette.what did she call herself the other day? Oh yeah, the artsy lesbian influence in Angelica's life. Shane my friend, we should've knocked some sense into them when we had the chance. NowI just don't know what we're going to do. I miss her so much already Shane."
SHANE- "I know, I do too. I'd give up this little clandestine role I get to play while she's away, and the Saab, in a heartbeat, if she'd just come back. I wonder how Tina is doing after what happened."
KIT- "Shane my eyes are all dried up with all the crying I've been doing at losing my sister. I don't give a rat's ass how Tina is doing. I love her like a sister, but I'm afraid of seeing herI'm about ready to give her a piece of my mind like she has never seen. It's taking all my strength to not do that."
SHANE- (She smiles at her) "Give her a piece of your mindlike a big sister would?"
KIT- "Not like a sister Shane, like her "Joan friggin Crawford" mammaI'm about ready to beat her senseless. You know, if I didn't care about her so much, I would truly not give a rat's ass. I would have tried to get Bette to dump her sorry ass a hec of a lot sooner, but that's the thingI do careI love that woman, truly love her like a sister. And she's the best thing that ever happened to Bette. She really iswasoh for fuck sakesI haven't needed a drink this badly since daddy died." (She looks at Shane and the worried look on Shane's face.) "Don't worry baby girl, I won't give in to that demon so easily."
SHANE- "Better not, or you're gonna learn the real meaning of 'Joan friggin Crawford' the hard way!"
KIT- "Hey little girl, don't you go talking to your seniors that way!"
SHANE- "Oh yeahI forgotyou're even older than Bette!" (They laugh and continue talking until closing time.)
(In the Big Apple, the next day, the New York morning light broke the serenity of Bette's sleep like a bird disturbing the calm waters of a cool lake. She opened her eyes and looked at the window trying to adjust her sight to the light. She kept looking around, trying to convince herself she wasn't in a dream. She looked at the clock a little past 7 amjust enough time to get ready at a comfortable pace and make it in time for the 9 am meeting.
Her discipline, learned in the academic world and developed in the professional one, took overtook over her thoughts and her actions. She had to walk the walk and talk the talk of Bette Porter today, museum directortoday and every day, thought Bette. She showered and prepared. Bette dressed in a classy, pin striped power suit and her prized cuff links. Her hair was down, but there was an air of power emanating from this fine form. She was dressed to impress but those looks could kill. She headed downstairs after a quick breakfast and coffee and exited the building. Bette stood there for a moment in awe of the City that now stroked her senses with its bustling and familiar sounds, and then she jumped into a cab the doorman hailed for her.)
TAXICAB DRIVER- "Where to?"
BETTE- "945 Madison Avenue, at 75th Street."
TAXI DRIVER- "The Whitney Museum of American Art?"
