Tina’s mouth opened subconsciously. Her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest.  Her eyes never strayed from the black box in front of her. In the center of the velvet box set the most beautiful ring she had ever seen – real or fake, movies or reality.

The white gold band was interrupted by three glistening stones. Two smaller sized princess cut diamonds on each side of a much larger heart shaped stone that entranced her.  She must have been staring for too long because she suddenly heard Bette’s soft voice beckoning to her. "Tina? Baby?"

Tina shifted her line of vision away from the box and centered on Bette’s deep, dark, mesmerizing eyes. She couldn’t remember how to breathe. Her chest moved noticeably with each inhale and exhale.

Bette exhaled a long breath slowly.  "Tina, you have been my entire life for 12 years, even when I didn’t know it, you were the sole person that I desired. You inspire me to be a better person. I am nobody without you.  You are the reason the sun shines, the reason the stars glisten in the sky above me.  I can’t exist without you. I have tried and I failed miserably."

 Bette took a deep breath then reached out and grabbed Tina’s hand.

Tina, still somewhat paralyzed, gulped. She was struck with such anticipation. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She never thought Bette would ever propose to her…at least not like this. This is what happened in movies and in fairy tales, but not her.

"Tina Rose Kennard," Bette continued, "will you do me the privilege and the incredible honor of marrying me?"

Bette stared genuinely into Tina’s eyes and slowly watched Tina’s mouth shift into her signature goofy grin.

Tina launched herself forward to catch Bette’s lips. She kissed Bette furiously, with a different type of hunger than she’d ever had before.  She needed this moment to last forever. Her heart was pounding so fast – she had never been this happy.

Bette felt Tina’s overload and smiled into the kiss as best as she could. She could tell Tina was bursting with elation. She removed her hand from Tina’s and began combing her hand through Tina’s silky blond tresses. Bette absorbed Tina’s energy with their kiss and began guiding Tina to a slower pace.