“What a night,” Alice chuckled nervously. “I’m so sorry…you guys probably want to be alone. I should go too.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Tina smiled at her, surprised that she didn’t feel jealous anymore. “You can sleep in the guest room. Everything will be better in the morning. Nice to meet you, by the way.”

They retired into their respective bedrooms and Bette stripped to her tank top and panties while Tina went to the bathroom. They met in the middle of the bed, wrapped in each other’s arms and Tina whispered with content, “Finally…”

“I was thinking about this moment the whole day,” Bette replied, equally happy.

“You did?”

“Mmm-mm…” Bette’s eyes were closed and she tightened her arms around Tina’s body.

“So, what happened to Alice?”

“I think she misunderstood a perfectly innocent situation and jumped to conclusions before asking…I’m not sure though. She is going to talk to Dana tomorrow and I hope I’m right.”

Tina stayed quiet for a moment, then she sighed and said, “Bette…I need to tell you something. Earlier tonight I went to your place because I couldn’t wait any longer and I think I made the same mistake as Alice. I saw you two hugging and I misunderstood a perfectly innocent situation, jumped to conclusions and ran to get advice from Helena. I felt vulnerable and insecure because it is still so hard for me to believe that you love me…or how happy you make me. I was afraid that something will happen again and take you and this happiness away from me.”

“Oh, honey…you don’t have to worry,” Bette moved away a little to look at Tina, still holding her. “There’s nothing going on between me and Alice…not anymore. Nothing and no one can stop me from loving you and nothing can take me away from you.”

“Never again I will doubt you or your love…please, forgive me,” Tina pleaded, once again ashamed of her actions.

“There’s nothing to forgive…I don’t know what I would do if I’d found you in Jenny’s arms,” Bette said quietly.

“You wouldn’t jump to conclusions and run away as I did.”

“Maybe not…but I would end up in jail probably for killing that twisted little weasel.”

“You would kill for me?”

“I would die for you,” Bette replied seriously, looking into Tina’s eyes. The moonlight was making Tina’s face look luminous and divine and Bette almost forgot to breathe, enchanted by her lover’s beauty.

Tina moved deeper into Bette’s arms without another word, surrendering her body and soul into her lover’s eager hands and hungry lips, aching for her love and her passion. They made quiet unhurried love throughout the rest of the night, knowing that they have the rest of their lives for more.

~~~~~~

Tina slowly opened her eyes in the morning and found herself alone in their bed. It was still very early but she was awakened by a quiet chatter coming from the kitchen. ‘Bette and Alice are probably making breakfast,’ she smiled happily and stretched, feeling her muscles sore in all the right places.

She quickly brushed her teeth and went down to join her lover and their guest in the kitchen, only to find herself face to face with a gorgeous brunette who looked slightly familiar but wasn’t anyone she knew.

Before Tina’s face could register her emotions at seeing a stranger in her kitchen at 8 am, Bette came from outside, carrying a bag of breakfast goodies from the Planet. She placed them on the table and went straight to Tina, kissing her on the mouth. “I see you’ve met. T, this is Dana Fairbanks, Alice’s girlfriend. Dana…this is my girlfriend, Tina Kennard.”

“Nice to meet you,” Dana’s smile was shy and her handshake was soft.

“Oh, sorry I didn’t recognize you right away without your clothes on…I mean, without your tennis clothes on,” Tina blushed and went on, “I’m a huge fan…huge, huge fan.”

“Thank you…” Dana was blushing as well and Bette had a hard time to keep herself from smiling as she began making coffee. “Sorry for the intrusion but I couldn’t sleep last night after Alice called me and I just had to find her. I ran into Bette at the Planet and she brought me here.”

“Where’s Alice?” Tina looked around.

“She’s outside on the patio, pacing around and preparing herself for a serious talk,” Bette smiled and patted Dana on her shoulder with encouragement. “Just tell her what you told me at the Planet…it’s going to be okay.”

When coffee was almost ready, Alice walked quietly inside, “Let me have my morning coffee and then I’ll be ready to talk…I’ll be ready for anything.”

All four of them went back to the living room and Bette and Tina settled together on the sofa while Alice and Dana sat down on two big chairs. The silence was getting more uncomfortable and Bette unconsciously wrapped her arm around Tina, drawing her closer.

Dana couldn’t stand it any longer and she got on her knees in front of Alice and said quietly but with a lot of emotions, “Al…yesterday was all a big misunderstanding. There’s nothing going on between Lara and me. We are friends and that ‘secret lover’s meeting’ I had with her yesterday was about you.”

“What do you mean?” Alice blinked a few times, trying to understand what Dana was saying to her.

“Lara is a wonderful chef and we were planning your surprise birthday party. The surprise is spoiled now but I’d rather you know about it than to have you thinking that I was cheating on you. I love you, baby,” Dana finished affectionately and moved forward just as Alice slid down from her chair right into her girlfriend’s welcoming arms.

Tina had an overwhelming desire to applaud but she restrained herself and instead put her head on Bette’s shoulder, content with the happiness all around her.

After their reunited and happy guests left, Bette and Tina found themselves alone again. Bette stretched her arms above her head and smiled at Tina, “Alone at last…and it’s Saturday. There’re no more friends to rescue or evil ex-girlfriends to throw out…what should we do with our free time, honey?”

“Follow me…I have a plan,” Tina smiled seductively, leading Bette back into the bedroom. “I hope you have enough strength left because I’m not letting you out of my bed for the rest of day.”

“Promises, promises,” Bette laughed, following her lover without protest.

“And I intent on keeping them all,” Tina whispered into Bette’s ear before pushing her onto the bed.

Epilogue

Whistler, Canada, 2007 (a year later)

Tina knocked on Bette’s suite at the hotel and whispered through the door, “Bette, I know we’re not suppose to see each other before the wedding but I need to give you something…please, open the door, baby.”

The door opened and a strong hand grabbed Tina’s shirt and pulled her inside. Before Tina could say another word, Bette pinned her to the door and kissed her hard.

“I don’t care about the rules,” she panted after the long and sensuous kiss, taking Tina into her arms and holding her tight. “I want to hold you tonight and Helena can go to hell if she tries to stop me.”

“I think Helena is rather busy with Dylan at the moment,” Tina chuckled, melting into Bette’s hot body. “I don’t think anyone would care what we’re doing tonight, as long as neither of us are running away.”

“T, are you sure this is what you want?” Bette bit her bottom lip and looked into Tina’s hazel eyes. “This is serious…this is forever…at least for me.”

“This is forever for me too, baby,” Tina looked back, unwavering and sincere. “You said you love me, right?”

“Yes, T…I love you with all my heart.”

“And I love you more than anything in this world,” Tina replied, taking Bette’s hands in hers and placing them over her heart. “It’s true, isn’t it? Our love is true and eternal, isn’t it?”

“Yes…” Bette whispered, mesmerized by the tenderness and love she saw in Tina’s eyes. Those emotions were so strong that Bette felt surrounded by them and it felt good and comforting.

“Well, if it’s true than what else matters? This is me and you, Bette…me and you, together forever, just as it should be.”

‘Okay…lets do it,” Bette smiled, kissing Tina’s fingers. “Tomorrow I will be the luckiest woman alive but tonight I just want to be simply Bette who loves Tina and I want to show you just how much.”

~~~~~~~~

“Who said that romance and hot insatiable sex die after the marriage?” Tina asked, rolling on her back with an effort, her body sweaty and exhausted after another intense orgasm.

“Well, we’re not married yet but I can safely promise you that anytime you need it, any place you want it…you’ll have it,” Bette smiled. She turned on her side and looked at Tina, “By the way, what did you want to give me earlier? Or was it just an excuse to get me into bed?”

“Oh…I have a wedding gift for you but I wanted to give it to you tonight. I hope you like it.”

“I’m sure I will.”