Bette took a deep breath and looked over at Helena.   “I guess I should take care of that.”

“I thought you said that you were…”

But before Tina could finish her sentence, Bette cut her off… “I am single Tina – That being said, whenever the occasion arose, and we were both single…Helena and I have been known to pacify certain She cleared her throat… ahem…bodily urges.”

“Tactfully put Bette.”  Tina said, rolling her eyes playfully in an attempt to keep the conversation from turning serious.

“Yes, I always thought I had a way with words.” Bette said, joining in on the game.

Tina grinned… “Smart ass…what are you going to tell her?”

“That we are having a family reunion of sorts and that I will talk to her later.”

“Bette…seriously?  Come on, we both know Helena Peabody….you can’t honestly believe that saying that will work.  Why don’t you just invite her over here?  I am sure Lizzy would be glad to talk with her again.  They haven’t seen one another in a while.”

“Are you sure?  I don’t want you to be uncomfortable…”  Bette couldn’t help but show her compassion for Tina.

“Bette, it’s fine.  We ended on good terms and I have seen her since we broke up… I promise, things will be just fine.”

“Ok, then I’ll be right back.”

As Bette made her way over to speak with Helena, Tina was filled with two very conflicting emotions.  She could feel Bette let her guard down slightly as she wanted to make sure that Tina was comfortable with the situation.  She remembered how it felt to be loved and protected by the amazing Bette Porter. 

But her other emotion edged out the competition and won over the thoughts of the beautiful Tina Kennard.  This emotion was so strong that in the end, it would push her to fight for the one woman she had always loved.  As she saw Bette hug and kiss Helena on her cheek, she was overcome with a heaping dose of jealousy. 

If there was one thing in the world that Tina Kennard knew, it was the overwhelming strength of the Bette Porter charm.  She knew first hand how this amazing woman could pull anyone to her with a simple smile… If I were a betting woman, I would put money on the odds that Helena is here to claim Bette as her own.  And why wouldn’t she?  They are both single and stunningly beautiful women.  She grinned to herself… Plus, Bette is un-fucking-believable in bed…and Helena’s got talent as well.  I never would have pictured them together but…I guess it could work – except for a couple of things…Firstly, they both have extremely volatile temperaments.  They would surely kill each other if they were together for an extended period of time…and secondly (But most importantly), Bette CANNOT be with her  because if she is going to be with anyone, then she NEEDS to be with me.  Seeing her over there, talking with my ex, I am completely overcome with raw jealousy.  It is taking every ounce of self-control for me to not walk over there and passionately show Helena – and everyone else that Bette Porter belongs to me. 

But no, I can’t do that can I?  At least right now I can’t.  I have to control myself at least a little bit.  God, I have wanted to take her since I saw her hugging our daughter…after all, that is who Lizzy is, she has always been our daughter, even if Bette doesn’t know that.  God, there is so much to consider.  We have been leading two separate lives for so long.  And we have to consider our daughters.  I can see that they already love each other so much.  It would kill them if Bette and I got into some stupid fight and we separated them as a consequence.  I think they would hate both of us forever. 

But God, Helena is such a predator.  That is exactly how she talked me into dating her.  But, I can’t let her have Bette.  She is MY Bette.  And if I have to, I am going to fight like hell to have her back in my arms.  I Christina Kennard vow to fight for my woman, and for the family that we can have!

Meanwhile…

Bette smiled and walked up to Helena,  “Helena…well this is a surprise… Bette pulled Helena in for a quick hug and a kiss on her cheek.  She cautiously took the precautions to dissuade any notions that she wanted something more from the British bombshell which might have been assumed by particular onlookers. (Little did she know that it was this one particular action which motivated a specific blonde to get back what is rightfully hers…)

 “Helena, what are you doing here?”

“Can’t an old friend stop by to say hello?”

“Helena – “  Bette said this in a tone hoping to coax the truth out of her unexpected visitor. 

“Well darling, I am in town on business for the foundation and I wondered if we could spend some time together.  You didn’t answer your phone and I remembered you talking about your sister’s café and coming here for brunches…well, I thought I would take my chances… Helena glanced over to the table filled with Bette’s friends… “God Bette, what is Tina Kennard doing here?”

Bette could not contain the grin that spread across her face… “Family reunion…”

Helena had a confused look on her face… “Huh?”

“It is a long story but, basically, Tina used to live here before she moved to New York, and we were all very close.  Now, she is back in California, we decided to all get together and catch up.”

“God Bette, I had absolutely no idea that you knew my ex.”

“You have no idea…” Bette said under her breath.

“What’s that darling?”

“Oh, nothing – It’s just a very small world, that’s all.”

Bette was deliberately being vague with Helena.  Firstly because she was sure that Tina had told Helena some facts about their seven year marriage and it’s royal downfall, and as far as Bette was concerned, Helena Peabody didn’t need to hear more details of the fallen Bette Porter than was necessary.  Secondly, she suddenly became uncomfortable when Helena had referred to Tina as her ex.

Obviously, Tina had dated, and Bette knew about her and Helena before she got up to speak with the British Brunette, she seemed fine with the idea, but now the reality of her precious Tina being in the throws of passion with someone else was nauseating to the usually unfazed brunette.  She thought to herself…  God, how am I going to live so close to her and spend time with her, and then have to watch her enjoy growing old with someone else? 

Bette was already starting to see a major flaw in her plan to let Tina be happy with someone else.  Her love for the amazing blonde was still as overwhelming as it was the first time they had made love.  Bette was now realizing that regardless of all of her rational thinking, it was worthless to think because the strength of her love would prevail in the end.  Now it was just a matter of time before this love conquered her resolve to let the beautiful Ms. Kennard go. 

“Anyways Helena, let’s go – my daughter and Tina’s daughter are really excited to see you.”

“Well, we wouldn’t want to keep them waiting now would we?”

Bette led Helena over to the crowded table.  Tina stood up first.

“Hey Hel, what are you doing here?”  She said this smilingly, shelving her feelings of jealousy for the time being. 

(Bette noticed Tina’s use of a nickname for Helena…God, I bet that is what she called out in the throws of passion…oh God Bette, don’t torture yourself!)

“Well, I could say the same to you Tina – I didn’t know that you knew Bette.”

But before Tina could answer the question, they were interrupted by her extremely eager daughter.

“Aunt Helena…what are you doing here?”

Helena smiled,  “Lizzy darling, I could as you the same question.”

“These are my mom’s friends…oh, and this is Chrissy.” Lizzy said this, pulling Chrissy over and into the conversation.

“Yes Lizzy, I know Helena – I see her sometimes at my mom’s art openings.”

“Well, that is cool… She returned her attention to Helena, “Guess what aunt Helena?”  Lizzy said giddily.

Helena was floored by the obvious excitement in the eyes of the little girl that she loved.  “What?”

“Chrissy is my new best friend… She paused for a dramatic effect… And she is my sister!”

For the second time since she entered the Planet, the only word that could escape from the usually articulate Brit was… “Huh?”

She then turned her attention back to Bette and Tina who had been silently observing this exchange between their daughters and their former lover. 

“Tina…Bette…are they serious?”

“We know it’s crazy but…yes, it’s very true.”

“But Tina, I didn’t know that you even knew Bette and now…”

“Helena, it’s a long story and I will tell you later…”