The evening nurse cleared her throat.  “Sorry to interrupt.  I’ve brought a special little visitor who has been screaming up a storm about seeing her Mamas.”

Bette walked over and took Angelica from her.   “Thanks.”  To Angelica, “Hi, little Miss.  Hello, Boo.”  Bette cooed over her daughter, then turned to the nurse. “Could we have a few minutes alone?  I know Tina needs to be turned, but I need a few minutes.”

“No problem.  I’ll be back in fifteen.”

The nurse left and Bette walked back to the bed.  She placed Angelica on top of her other mother, letting Angie’s ear rest against Tina’s strong heartbeat.  Bette sucked in her lips as she pushed play on the iPod. Bette placed one hand on Angelica’s back and with the other hand, she held Tina’s cool, dry hand.  “Angelica, Mama Tee and I picked this song out for you.  We love you, baby.  We love you and you have a big family that loves you.”

Sweet Honey in the Rock, the DC-based women’s vocal group that Bette had loved for years sang their song sweetly. 

There's godlike
And warlike
And strong
Like only some show
And there's sad like
And madlike
And had
Like we know
But by my life be I spirit
And by my heart be I woman
And by my eyes be I open
And by my hands be I whole

There was no movement from Tina, no recognition of the song they had chosen to play for Angelica.  She simply lay in the hospital bed unmoving, unblinking.  But Tina’s mind heard the song and remembered.  Behind closed eyelids, Tina saw Bette’s sister, Kit, Dana, Alice, Shane, Carmen, and Jenny meeting Angelica for the first time in her mind’s eye.

Alice took Angelica from Kit’s arms and smiled down at her Earthdaughter.  “Hi there. 'Kay.”  She didn’t hold onto Angelica, but passed her to Carmen.

“Aw, so cute,” Carmen said and grinned at the family, then kissed the baby’s forehead before passing her to Jenny.

“Hi, little one. You are so beautiful...” but when Angelica fussed, Jenny handed her over to Shane. 

Bette watched Tina for any sign that the song, that this moment was getting through to her, but nothing.  Angelica began to cry and Bette gently massaged her back and bent to kiss her head and then Tina’s lips.

Tina remained in her illusion.

Shane grinned broadly.  She was amazed at the miracle of this baby.  “She has tiny feet.”

They say slowly
Brings the least shock
But no matter how slow I walk
There are traces
Empty spaces
And doors and doors of locks
But by my life be I spirit
And by my heart be I woman
And by my eyes be I open
And by my hands be I whole

When Shane handed the baby to Kit, Angelica’s aunt shook her head, also marveling at this little one who was so new to the world.  “Oh, Angelica. Oh, sweetie, you are going to have a very, very interesting life, you know that?--Because we are some very, very interesting people.”

Bette answered Kit and the group by saying, “This is your family.”

In the real hospital room, Bette began to cry and wiped her tears away and Angelica, so connected to her mothers began to cry, also. 

“Shh. Shh, shh, shh.”

You young ones
You're the next ones
And I hope you choose it well
Though you try hard
You may fall prey
To the jaded jewel
But by your lives be you spirit
And by your hearts be you women
And by your eyes be you open
And by your hands be you whole

Listen, there are waters
Hidden from us
In the maze we find them still
We'll take you to them
You take your young ones
May they take their own in turn
But by your lives be you spirit
And by your hearts be you women
And by your eyes be you open
And by your hands be you whole

“It's all right.”  Bette said to both Angelica and Tina and somehow, Tina heard.

END PART ONE

Dialogue from

the delivery room (Season 2, Season Finale)

the final scene of S2 (Angelica meets the family)