Like I am going to try to do now…as much as it pains me, as much as I have feelings for Tina.  I just don’t want to hurt her.  God, my first reaction to seeing her was to pull her into my arms and refuse to ever let her go.  But rational thought took over and I released my grasp.  She has forgiven me, and I have forgiven me, she has forgiven herself and I have forgiven her but, there is still this part of me that says that we are through.  Now, if I am being fair, that side of me has withered considerably throughout the events of this morning but still, the doubt remains.  She deserved so much more than me.  I am unworthy of her brilliance.

Bette was disturbed from her thoughts by the sound of someone entering the Planet.  She looked from the crowd of people at her table to the entrance…

“Oh shit…”

Tina heard this sudden expression from Bette and turned her attention to her in hopes that she could find the source of Bette’s discomfort…

Bette Porter…I thought I might find you hear…” The familiar british accent rang through their ears but before Tina had the chance to look up, Lizzy beat her to the point…

She yelled… “Aunt Helena!”

Now Bette was even more surprised, she looked at Tina who was clearly becoming more and more uncomfortable with her current situation. 

“Fu…” Her outburst of profanity was halted by Bette throwing her hand over her mouth.

Bette winked… “Children…”

“This is not good…this is so not good…” Tina was obviously nervous to anyone who could read her body language…

“I take it you know Helena?”

“Remember that year long relationship I told you about?” 

Bette couldn’t help but burst into a fit of laughter.  She and Tina were obviously equally nervous about seeing Helena here and now but the situation just seemed like a karmic joke…

After she got her laughter under control, she spoke quietly to Tina… “Looks like we will have to compare notes sometime…”

“Oh God…here we go.”   Tina ran her hands through her hair.  She was clearly getting more out of today than she had ever bargained for.  Normally, she would be nervous that she was seeing one of her exes, particularly when it was in front of Bette, but knowing that Bette was in a similar situation made her feel more and more comfortable. 

And seeing Bette’s fairly calm reaction to Tina’s admission of Helena being her year long relationship was yet another sign that Bette had changed…that she had mellowed and that she was willing to roll with the tides.  To not try and change the past, but to look to the future with hope. 

TBC…