Blushing, Bette turned around and shrugged her shoulders. "Sorry," she whispered. "I wanted the water to be ready in case you wanted some tea."

"Really?" Tina asked shyly. "You were going to make me tea?" Tina blushed even brighter as she inwardly kicked herself for basically repeating what Bette had just said, only in question form.

"Well..."

Seeing Tina standing in the kitchen of their home, all of a sudden Bette felt like she was stumbling over every word before it left her mouth.

"Yeah," she finished, cringing inside at how idiotic that sounded. She had no idea what happened to the confident caring woman who without hesitation had invited Tina to come home not twenty minutes earlier, because now that Tina was standing in front of her, that woman was no where in sight.

"That’s sweet of you Bette. Thank you." Seeing the package of Sleepytime sitting on the counter, she smiled. "I’d love some."

"You would?" Bette asked, then inwardly moaned. ‘You, are a moron’, she told herself.

"Absolutely," Tina gave Bette her best goofy grin.

Grinning back, Bette nodded her head. "Okay, tea it is." Turning around she reached for the box of tea.

"Why don’t I put Angelica down while you are doing that?"

"Oh...really?" Bette asked, hesitating. "Now?"

Confused by Bette’s reaction, Tina nodded her head. "Yeah, I want to get her settled back in for the rest of the night. She woke up as we were leaving Henry’s, but the car ride lulled her back to sleep."

"Aw..." Bette’s eyes got all misty. "She always did fall asleep in the car."

Tina smiled as she watched the memories pass through Bette’s eyes. "Yeah, well fortunately that is still the same."

Taking a step towards Tina, Bette whispered, "Can I watch?"

"You want to watch me put her down?" Tina whispered back.

Reaching up and softly caressing the top of Angelica’s head, Bette nodded. "Well I haven’t been able...I mean...it’s been so..." Stumbling again, Bette looked into Tina’s eyes for understanding.

A wave of guilt passed through Tina as she watched Bette watch their daughter with such awe. "Of course you can," Tina said gently. "Where would you like me to put her?"

One lone tear slowly made its way down Bette’s cheek as she looked at Tina. "In her crib."

Tina’s eyes widened in shock, the enormity of what she had been depriving Bette of fully hitting her in the chest. "You still have her crib up?"

Nodding, the tears coming down with more frequency now, Bette whispered, "I couldn’t take it down. I hoped...."

She didn’t have the fortitude to finish the sentence. "...you know?"

Reaching up with her free hand, Tina wiped away some of Bette’s tears. "Oh Bette...I am so sorry."

Shaking her head, she wanted to reassure Tina. She hadn’t said that to make Tina feel guilty. She knew now that guilt wasn’t going to help anyone. "You’re here now....you are both here now." Leaning forward, she gently placed her lips on top of Angelica’s soft curls.

It was almost as if Angelica knew, even in her sleep that someone important in her life was close by. With droopy eyes, she lifted her head off of Tina’s shoulder and tried to focus on the face smiling down at her. Even in its blurry state, she could see all the dark curly hair...could feel that smile...and she remembered the love and comfort that face brought. Reaching up with her arm, she softly placed her small hand on the soft cheek and rested it there, causing a moan to escape the woman’s lips. Then, Angelica dropped her head back down onto Tina’s shoulder, falling right back to sleep. And, as her little fingers kneaded the familiar skin, she saw a clearer version of that same smile playing with her in her dreams.

Bette stood totally still, paralyzed by what had just happened...was still happening as she reveled in the feel of her daughter’s fingers. Carful, not wanting to dislodge the first physical link she’d had with her daughter in months, she whispered...

"Oh T...did you see that? She recognized me!"

Tbc