"Of course I do."

"Then why push her in the other direction?"

"Because." Tina said irritably.

Helena waited expectantly.

"Because she looks at Jodi the way she used to look at me," Tina finally admitted. "Do you see the way Bette smiles at the mere thought of her?"

Helena sighed in defeat. "Fine. You're right. Bette shouldn't be with you and you should stop pining after your ex."

Tina rolled her eyes.

"So what happened with Kate?" Helena asked, changing the subject.

"I made a move."

"And?"

"And she caught on that I'm not ready."

"Smart girl."

"Smarter than you?" Tina teased.

Helena laughed. "I was a little more willing to ignore the warning signs."

"What about you? What happened with Catherine?"

"About that," Helena began hesitantly, then decided not to discuss it. "Let's not talk about it."

"That bad?"

"Oh, it could get worse," Helena hedged.

"But you're okay?"

"We're going to be fine." Helena reassured her.

Tina smiled, nodding. "Thank you, Helena."

"For what?"

"For coming by. For being a friend."

Helena smiled at her. "You stuck with me even after all your friends hated me before. I think that speaks plenty."

Tina smiled as Helena extracted her hand from Tina's to spread the newspaper. Tina watched her for a moment, before picking her mug up from beside her, and nursing it in her hands. "Bette gave me a key."

"You're house sitting. Of course you need a key." Helena reminded distractedly.

"No," Tina shook her head. "She didn't know I was going to spend the night here."

Helena glanced at her. "After she changed the locks?"

"Yup."

"She gave you keys?" Helena asked, intrigued. "Like, lend you her set, or..."

"Gave me my own set of keys." Tina told her.

"This is an interesting turn of events," Helena noted.

Tina sipped her coffee. "I know."

"So what are you going to do?" Helena asked curiously.

"Honestly? I think I'm going to wait this out."

"Don't be an idiot."

"What?"

"How many signs do you need, Tina?"

"She's with Jodi."

"And that stopped her from pining for you when we were together?" Helena asked.

"That's different."

"Why?" Helena pressed, partly curious, mostly teasing, testing to see if her friend would confess that their relationship had lacked emotional depth.

Tina glanced at her. "I hate that you're such a good poker player."

"Tell me." Helena cajoled.

Tina sighed. "Because she knew I loved her more than I could love you."

"So you think Bette would give up her soul mate for someone who challenges her?"

"I ripped her heart apart," Tina reminded Helena. "Has anyone else forgotten that part?"

"No," Helena shook her head. "We just know she's a lot more forgiving that you give her credit for."

Tina exhaled. "Are you done?"

"Just one last thing," Helena admitted.

"Go on."

"What does it mean to micromanage and overstate?" Helena asked.

Tina paused, the words put together oddly familiar, before she recognized them as her own, used to describe Bette in that message to Jodi. Bette's girlfriend. Whom Bette had followed to the other coast. "Where did you---"

"Bette asked me if she should feel frightened that you know her that well."

"And you said---?"

"That she shouldn't be afraid to know someone knows her that well." Helena said simply, starting to stand up. "Do you have coffee?"

"Whoa," Tina grabbed Helena's arm, and pushed her back down to her sitting position. "What did Bette say?"