Bette began to show her emotions and Alice moved closer, wrapping her arm around Bette’s shoulder in hopes to calm her down.

“I have no reason to go back and at least one reason to stay,” Bette said again, feeling more relaxed.

“At least one?” Alice smiled.

“Yes, one major reason…Tina,” Bette smiled in return. “Please, don’t tell Tee about any of this. I don’t want her to worry anymore than she already is.”

“You owe me a three-some, Porter, for all the secrets that I’m keeping for you,” Alice laughed and tousled Bette’s hair.

Place: Orange County, CA – Porter mansion

Year: Jan. 18, 2006 – Wednesday

On Wednesday they finished filming late and Tina came home, expecting Bette to be in bed already. She walked into their bedroom and found the bed vacant and cold.

“Bette…” Tina called loudly into the dim hallways but the house responded with dead silence. Tina walked around and saw that the door leading to the garden was slightly ajar. Tina checked in the garden but Bette’s favorite pavilion was empty as well.

Tina peered into the darkness and thought that she saw a figure in white walking towards the grove. She followed the vision and found Bette leaning against the sequoia tree, the one that witnessed the first kiss between her and Christina.

“Bette, what are you doing out here alone, in the dark?” Tina asked, coming closer and putting her arm around Bette’s waist.

Bette jumped at the touch but immediately relaxed in Tina’s arms.

“Do you still miss her?” Tina asked timidly, afraid to hear the answer.

“Yes, I think I always will, Tee. I’ve never gotten any closure, never told her about my feelings and that chance is gone forever. I know it’s not fair to you, baby,” Bette added, noticing the shadow that passed over Tina’s face, “You don’t need to worry about us. I just need to accept the fact that she is gone and it’s final.”

“And having me here, looking like her, doesn’t help to forget her, I guess,” Tina whispered bitterly, almost as if she was talking to herself.

“I think this is like my final goodbye to Christina,” Bette continued, gazing into the dusk of the grove and missing the look on Tina’s face this time. “Tomorrow is the day when I get a chance to go back…it will pass and then it will be three more months until another chance and by then the memory will grow weaker and at least I won’t get upset every time I think of her or hear her name. The only thing that keeps me sane is the knowledge that there’s nothing for me really to return to, especially without knowing how it will affect history, and also…” Bette looked at Tina and smiled gently, “You are here and it means that this is the place I want to be.”