As Tina looked over the city, Bette slipped away back to the car. She grabbed the picnic gear. When she got back to Tina, she was sitting on the grass, Knees to her chest and her arms wrapped over her legs.

“Aherm… Ms Kennard…. I thought that you maybe a little hungry…. So I have provided a picnic for our eating pleasure.” She said as she walked over and sat next to Tina. As she opened the basket, she looked up and watched Tina’s reaction. “What do you think?” Bette whispered.

Tina looked up and smiled warmly. I think its beautiful.”

Bette unrolled the blanket and placed it beside Tina. Patting it lightly, asking Tina if she wanted to sit on the woolly chequered rug. To which Tina shuffled over and sat right next to Bette.
Whilst Bette started to unpack all the contents out of the basket. 2002 Merlot, an assortment of cheeses, a fruit platter for appetizers. Chicken salad and a 2003 Chardonnay or water for main and for desert was a surprise…

“Bette. Can we leave the cheeses for after dinner?” Tina asked as she looked over the assortment of foods and drinks.

“Sure thing.” Bette replied, as she pulled out knifes and forks from the basket.

They sat there, quietly eating what Bette had provided, whilst over looking the beautiful city streets.

The meal was delightful. Bette and Tina sat on the rug, their stomachs full and their conversations where small

“I think we’ll leave the desert for later.” Bette giggled as she looked over to Tina, who was lying down looking up at the darkened clouds and rubbing her belly in appreciation. Bette opted to do the same. As she laid back, her hands lightly placed on her stomach, she stared absent mindly at the dark clouds. Her mind in a totally different solar system.

“Bette?” Tina whispered.

“Yeah Tina.”

“I’m scared.”

“Scared of what?”

“Us.”

“Why are you scared of us?”

“Because I dont know what us is.” Tina sat up and stared at the picnic basket that was placed between her and Bette.

“Well what do you want US to be?” Bette questioned, still looking at the sky.

“Thats the thing…. I dont know what I want us to be…” Tina moved the basket from the rug and shuffled over closer to Bette. She lightly placed her hand over Bette’s, to which Bette slightly jumped. She looked deep into Tina’s eyes.

“You can make us what ever you want to make US.” Bette slowly sat up and entwined her hand with Tina’s. “And us can be a slow as you want us to be.” Bette smiled warmly, looking into Tina’s shy eyes.

As if on cue, the clouds started to produce rain. Yet Tina nor Bette acknowledged it. Bette couldn’t peel her eyes away from Tina’s. That certain sparkle had come back into Tina’s eyes and it was so enticing to Bette. Bette cupped Tina’s cheek and asked “So what do you think we are?”

Tina put her own hand over Bettes, which still cupped her chin. “We are…Bette and Tina.” she responded proudly.

Bette looked towards the sky, finally realizing that it was raining. Putting her hand up towards the sky and catching some of the little water droplets and bringing them back to eye level.

“Tina do you want to get going, since its raining and all?”

Tina looked up to the clouds, and then back to Bette….”Can we stay a little longer?”

“What ever you want…I’m just happy being here…. with you.” Both women lay back down on the damp rug, just watching the rainfall onto their bodies.

“Hey Tina, you wanna here a joke?”

“Is it about blondes?”

“Maybe…”

“All right, well tell it anyway.”

“Okay. A man was mowing his front yard when his attractive, blonde, female neighbour came out of the house and went straight to her mailbox. She opened the mailbox, looked inside, slammed it shut, and stormed back into her house. A little later, she came out of her house again, went to the mailbox, again opened it, and again slammed it shut. Angrily back into the house she went.

As the man was getting ready to edge the lawn, the blonde came out again. She marched to the mailbox, opened it and then slammed it closed harder than ever.

Puzzled by her actions, the man asked her, “Is something wrong?”

She replied, “There certainly is! My stupid computer keeps telling me I have mail!”

After the joke Bette cracked up laughing, until she felt a hand hit her arm. She looked over to Tina.
“Bette that was so not funny!” Yet Bette knew by the smile on Tina’s face that she was laughing inside.

“Sure it was…. I know your laughing on the inside Tina.” Bette poked Tina in the ribs. To which Tina grabbed both Bette’s wrists and held her captive.

“You think thats going to stop me…I laugh at you…Ha…. The gods are on my side.” Bette proudly pronounced in her best manly God voice.

“Uhh so you are the one, who help produce the rain?” Tina giggled, whilst still holding Bette’s wrists.

Bette struggled, trying to get her wrists free. “Indeed I did. I was hoping that you would wear a white top.” Bette smiled wickedly, to which Tina let one of Bette’s hands free to hit her once again.

“Your such a player.” Tina announced.

“A player of what? Ms Kennard?” Bette started to poke Tina just below the ribs, with her free hand.

“Hey no fair, you know where I’m ticklish and I dont know where you are.” Tina started to tickle Bettes side, to which Bette started to squirm.

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

Tina stopped poking Bette and just looked at her…How the rain made Bette more beautiful, it glistened the features that she already had become acutely accustomed too. Bette’s perfume invaded Tina’s nostrils; the sweet smell was almost like an overpowering potion.

“When I mean a ‘player’ I mean that you…uuhhhmmmm…” Tina didn’t really know how to explain what a ‘player’ meant to her

She re-arranged her position, straddling Bette’s legs, so she could look down on the woman who had made her world so adventurous and eye-opening…A woman that she had an attraction with and from the first day that they met each other, they knew somehow that they would stay in each others lives.

“Bette. Just kiss me.” Tina stated.

Bette leant up on her elbows, looking deep into Tina’s eyes. “Are you sure Tina?”

Tina came closer, just a breath away from Bette’s lips… “I’ve never been so sure of anything in my whole life.” Gently placing her lips on Bette’s, Tina felt the warmth that Bette always managed to produce from her body. Pulling back after a few seconds, Tina opened her eyes and found she was looking straight into Bette’s closed eyes…. breathing out slowly, Tina started to get up off of Bette….

“I think we should get going…. I assume your starting to get cold?” Tina questioned as she began to pack the wine glasses back into the basket. Meanwhile Bette hadn’t even opened her eyes. She hadn’t even heard Tina’s request. Slowly opening her eyes and looking toward the cloudy sky, she smiled…. She smiled because Bette knew for once that her life may not be cloudy…But bright and blue…. Looking over at Tina, she saw that Tina was nervous, packing the picnic back in the basket.

Taking one of Tina’s hands, Bette tugged on it, making Tina look at her…. “Tina…. Its okay.”
Pulling her hand out of Bette’s grasp, Tina continued to pack the basket… ” I know.” she replied. ” Now c’mon lets go, before we both catch colds.” Tina stood up and waited for Bette, who had no intention of getting up…Bette kinked her head to the left, looking at Tina…. “What are you so afraid of?”

“I’m not afraid Bette…. Can you please just take me home.”

Bette got up off of the rug, pulling up into a pile in her arms; they started to walk back to the car.

“What about the candles?” Tina questioned…As they walked through the burnt out candles…

“Just leave them…. You want to go home didnt you?” Bette snapped… “I’m sorry Tina, that was out of line.”

Tina stopped walking and stared at Bettes back…wondering how the ***** did she end up here.

Meanwhile Bette continued to walk back to the car and opened the car boot. Shoving the picnic rug in the back, then turning to see where Tina was…Finding that she was still standing in amongst the candles, Bette walked back up to her.

“Whats wrong?”

“Nothings wrong.”

“Yes it is.”

“No its not.”

“Then why are you acting all funny all of a sudden?”

Tina sighed…”I dont know…Its all so new…. and I dont want to get hurt.”

Bette took Tinas hand; kissing her palm gently Bette replied…”I could never hurt you Tina Kennard…. You are to special to hurt.”

After Bette’s statement, Tina’s shoulders had lifted…. She loved hearing Bette’s earnest voice.

“Okay.” was Tina’s only reply….

As they walked hand in hand down to the car. Tina couldn’t help but wonder…Am I really making the right decision? She quickly glanced at Bette’s face, then the hand that she was holding, it wasnt only her hand, but her heart alsoLooking back at Bettes face, seeing how stern and strong it was, yet Tina knew she was as fragile being and was just as scared as she was Smiling slightly Tina knew then, that she had made the right decision….