“If you throw your little brother in the pool one more time I’m putting you up for adoption.”

“You said that last week.” Her oldest son answered back holding his younger brother over the pool menacingly.

 “Well this time I mean it.” Dom yelled back into the backyard as she swung her front door open there stood her college girlfriend gorgeous as ever and still carrying an old fashioned medical bag.  A very thick and shiny black leather bag complete with a gold buckle on the strap, it was very professional and very quaint.

“Oh god look at you, I bet you haven’t had a vacation since… God knows how long?”

“If you’re referring to your youngest child that would be five years old, and the answer is yes. The last time I took time off intentionally was to deliver your son.”

“Well don’t just stand there like a stranger come in and give me a hug.” Bette stepped across the threshold and embraced her friend easily finding comfort in her long and warm arms. “It’s so good to see you here.”

Bette smiled into her hug, “It’s good to be here.”

“Oh God, get off of me before your girl thinks I’m flirting with you.” Dom said sweetly and shoving Bette further into to the house as she peeked her head out front. “Where are they? In the trunk?”

“L.A.” Bette said picking up her bag and heading back into the house towards Cilia and Dom’s room. She’d just set one foot on the first step when she heard Dom yell out, “What did you do?”

……………………………………………

Tina walked into The Planet and seeing Alice and Tasha seated talking about something that seemed to be irritating the both of them. That was until Angie interrupted them and squeezed in between them to climb into Tasha’s lap.

“Hey Zo, where’s Mommy?” Alice turned to look just as Tina weaved her way through the last table to get to them. Tasha was a little disturbed about being interrupted but she was also grateful, she didn’t know how much longer she could keep arguing with Alice in a hushed tone. She hated more than anything to argue in public and Alice knew that but still she insisted that they not cancel breakfast with Tina.

“Come on baby let’s go get some Star Pancakes.”  Tasha stood up and took Angie with her to the line at the counter and Alice just sighed as she rolled her eyes away from Tasha. Tina could tell they’d obviously been at it for a while now, Alice looked tired.

She wanted to say ‘Hi’, ‘Hello’, ‘Good Morning’ something to get Alice’s attention, but she seemed to be quickly taken to another world. Tina picked up Alice’s coffee and drank some.

“I don’t know how I always end up being the asshole in this situation?” Alice finally said out loud.

“What’s wrong?” Tina asked putting Alice’s coffee cup down and tucking her hands into her lap.

“Tasha wants a new motorcycle. She wants to fix it up herself and shit. Which is just insane.”

“Tasha loves bikes. You’ve known that for a very long time Al.”

“I know, I know but she wants to like… sup it up and make it like a fucking bullet. That’s insane!”

“Al it’s what she loves to do…”

“I know that Tina, ok I get it. But… she already… has enough dangerous shit in her life right now. And if she is at all serious in trying to start a family with me she has to realize that she will not only be bound to me but also to our children.”

Tina nodded her head in understanding and to a degree she understood exactly where Alice was coming from but she also couldn’t help but to feel for Tasha. Bikes and speed were what made Tasha happy and it was also one of the things that attracted Alice to her. So for Alice to find fault in her hobby now was a contradiction in their initial union.