Both women giggled, causing the girls on the bed to stir.  Noticing that the girls were waking, Tina spoke… “Alright girls…explain yourselves…”

Chrissy and Lizzy looked lost for a moment as they came to their senses, when they finally realized what their mothers were talking about, Lizzy spoke… “Chrissy… I am going to let you handle this one…”

“Geee…thanks sis…Chrissy rolled her eyes and then smiled as she thought of the fact that she now had a sister… oh yea, mom…we are going to have to give that back to Aunt Alice…I kinda took it out of her office this afternoon.”

“So you guys already knew?”

“No, not really… I mean, we obviously assumed that you guys were together at one point, but we didn’t know that you were together for 8 years or that we are sisters…nope…that was news to both of us.” Chrissy said, matter of factly. 

Lizzy piped in… “Yep, news to both of us!”

Bette grinned and shook her head… “Alright Misses smarty pants…dinner is ready. Under her breath, Bette spoke to Tina… Alice is going to get it.” Tina smiled..

“Oh great, I am starved!  Come on Lizzy.  Lets go get downstairs.”

The girls quickly ran down the stairs. Choosing seats on the same side of the table, leaving the seats on the opposite side free for Bette and Tina.  The girls all settled down for a nice dinner, talking about light and fun topics.  An experience which was enjoyed by all.  Bette and Tina couldn’t help but reminisce on dreams they used to have, of eating family dinners and laughing over trivial things. 

Sooner than everyone wished, dinner was over, and it was time to say good night to Lizzy and Tina. 

“Do you need any help cleaning up?” Tina asked, grasping for any reason to stay longer. 

“No, that’s alright.  Chrissy can help me.”

Chrissy spoke up… “Yea sure, Turning to Tina…hey Tina, are you and Lizzy going to come to brunch tomorrow?”

“Yea mom, can we go…please?”

“Yes Tina, you and Lizzy are more than welcome to join us.”

“Sunday brunch at the Planet…why does that sound familiar?”

“You and mom used to do that?”

Bette interjected… “Yes sweetie, Tina and I used to go to Sunday brunch with the girls.”

Tina hesitantly replied… Well, if we aren’t interrupting anything…”

“No no, not at all, you guys will add a little excitement.”

Chrissy spoke, “Yea, I am sure my Aunt Alice is going to die when she sees you…they probably all will.”

“Ok well, I think we can do that.”

“Oh and Jane will be there, so if you want to invite Annie, she can come as well.”

“Alright, well, do you want to meet us there?  Or…we could pick you up on the way.”

“Ummmm….yea you guys can pick us up.”

“10:00 ok?”

“Sounds perfect.”  Tina pulled Chrissy to her and gave her a hug, she kissed the top of her head.  “Good night Chrissy.”

“Good night Tina.”

Chrissy walked out the front door with Lizzy, giving Bette and Tina a few moments alone.

“Don’t worry T, it will be fine.  I promise, they won’t bite.”

“I am just afraid that they will be angry with me.” Tina stated apprehensively

Bette pulled Tina in for a hug.  “No, they could never be angry with you.  They understand…trust me, it will be alright.”

“Ok, I believe you.  Pulling back slightly from their hug, they looked at one another.

“Good night T.”

Tina moved in and gave Bette the lightest of kisses. 

“Good night Bette, sleep well.”

Bette touched her lips lightly as Tina walked out the door, putting her arm around Lizzy.  She turned and winked at Bette, and then turned they made their way back to their house. 

For the rest of the evening, Bette was in awe, reveling at the softness of Tina’s lips upon hers.  Today was like a miracle to Bette.  One moment believing that Tina was gone forever, and then finding out that her presence was still very much a reality.  She was amazed at how easy Tina made it.  How easy it was to say sorry and how easy it was to forgive.  How easy it was to explain everything that she had wanted to say for so long. 

Getting Chrissy to sleep was easy and soon, Bette found herself laying her head down upon her pillow, expectant of a good night sleep….

But that did not come….

As she slept, she tossed and turned, haunted with vivid nightmares of her last interaction with Tina before she left…

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There she was, sitting on the window seat when I came in.  I looked at her through the mirror and I knew, I just knew that she knew. 

Confirming my worst fears she said, “I know, I saw it.”

I tried to hug her, I didn’t know what else to do, but she shoved me away.  It was like she couldn’t stand my touch.  I didn’t know what to say.  My pathetic retort… “I’m sorry…”

She looked at me as if it was the most ridiculous and absurd thing she had ever heard.  And then she slapped me.  Perhaps trying to slap some sense into me.  I don’t know her reasoning, all I know is that she had every right to do it. 

In desperation I told her, “I love you”

But she couldn’t handle it.  she started hitting me… “Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you…”I tried to get control of her.  To calm her down.  But she was out of control.  She wanted to hurt me, and I deserved it.  I had fucked up everything.  We fell onto the bed in the midst of our struggle and I just needed to be close to her.  She was so angry with me but in my desperation, I needed to be as close to her as I possibly could. 

I pinned her on the bed and started to whisper acclamations of my love in her ears “I love you, I love you, I love you.”  I needed her to know that…regardless of everything that I did and everything that I fucked up, I needed her to know that I still loved her. 

Quickly I ripped her dress off.  I needed her to feel closer to me.  As I caressed down her side, closing in on her core, I restated, desperate for her to believe “I am sorry, I love you, you have to believe me.”

I had her pinned.  I tried to make her understand.  She flipped over onto her back and once again I tried to get her to stop.  I had to make her believe me.  I needed her to know that I had made the worst mistake of my life.