Helena felt Tina's presence before the blonde sat down beside her at the edge of the outdoor patio/deck. They sat in remarkably comfortable silence, reaping the benefits of a beachside home, before Helena finally spoke up.

"Where'd Bette take Angelica?"

"Angel wanted to show her artwork to her Aunty Shane," Tina replied. "And maybe drop by to see Kit, so we have the house to ourselves for a little while."

"That's nice."

Tina hesitated at the tone of Helena's voice. "I'm guessing we're going to do more talking, less fooling around, then?"

Helena allowed herself a small smile, before glancing at Tina. "Did you know that Julia told Bette about asking you not to go to the wedding?"

Tina shook her head.

"Any idea as to why she would do that?" Helena inquired. "After explicitly telling you not to tell Bette?"

"I don't know."

"She's deliberately driving a wedge between herself and Bette." Helena noted. "Why would anyone do that?"

"She's doing the same thing you are." Tina glanced at her. "Are you breaking up with me?"

"Don't tell me you didn't see this coming," Helena said lightly.

"Why?"

"The same reason Jules couldn't let Bette marry her."

"That's not what happened."

"Isn't it?" Helena pressed. "You're so adamant that Bette should have married Julia but you know there's a reason why you so willingly complied with Julia's request."

"It wasn't a request." Was Tina's lousy excuse for a reply.

"Tina. You can only keep up this pretense of just being Bette Porter's friend for so long."

Tina frowned. "That's not true."

"Really? Because I watch you with her and it's almost as if the past few years never happened."

"Almost." Tina pointed out. "Because some of those things can't be changed."

"You're still in love with her."

"Yes. But you know this." Tina countered. "You knew from the start I still love her, that I'll never stop."

"That's different. That was abstract. This... The past few days: this is very real."

Tina shook her head in frustration. "Why is every fight we have about Bette?"

Helena sighed, and turned to gaze at the ocean. "I would have done anything to make you happy."

"And you do." Tina said gently. "Helena I know what we have isn't perfect. But when I say I love you, you have to know that I mean it."

"I'm not saying you don't," Helena said gently.

Tina shot her a glance.

"I just think I'm a poor second to what you really want."

Tina shook her head. "Don't do that."

"What?" Helena asked cautiously and not without puzzlement, unaware she'd done or said anything out of line.

"Don't tell me what I want." Tina said quietly. "You can't begin to know what I could want."

"Of course I do. You've wanted the same thing that you've wanted before."

"And what, pray tell, would that be?" Tina asked snidely.

Helena looked at her. "Please don't make me say it."

"Helena." Tina said quietly, but not without an edge. "Bette and I have discussed this over and over the past few years. We know where we stand, and why we can't be together. Just because you and Jules have suddenly become privvy to the reasons why Bette and I can't just walk out of each other's lives doesn't mean those reasons are true and valid in general."

"But they are true." Helena pointed out. "That's the trouble, isn't it? Protest all you want, but it doesn't make them any less true."

"Bette and I aren't at a place that we can just pick up where we left off."

"Maybe you're not supposed to."

"Helena, I love you, so don't take what I'm about to say the wrong way;" Tina shook her head. "But you're mentally ill."

"For wanting you to be happy?"

"For thinking Bette left her non-wedding to be with me."

"Again you don't seem to realize just how much she still loves you."

Tina groaned. "Love is love. Trust and commitment, these are things necessary for love to make sense."

"Love doesn't have to make sense, Tina. You know that better than anyone." Helena reminded. "You've been masquerading as best friends for too long."

"I do love you, Helena."

"I know," Helena said reassuringly. "But you know how you always said that you would never make the same mistake with me that you did with Bette?"