When Tina walked into the house, the first thing she noticed was the half empty tequila bottle and shot glass sitting on the living room table. Well, talking was out of the equation! From the looks of it, Bette would be lucky to be able to stand, let alone talk.

Tina went into the bedroom and sure enough, Bette was there. She was still fully dressed and face down on the bed, out cold! Tee went in and took off Bettes shoes. She had quite a struggle removing her slacks and shirt because she was getting no help at all from sleeping beauty, who in fact showed not one sign of consciousness during the whole ordeal. Finally when she was down to just her underwear, Tina covered Bette up and knelt down to kiss her cheek. Phew! She smelled like a distillery!

What are we going to do Babe? I cant stand these feelings that flood me every time I think of you and Candace. I know you love me, but am I enough for you? Will I ever fully trust you not to cheat on me again?

Bettes response was a snort followed by loud snoring. Tina couldnt help but smile. She still loved this woman so much.

Obviously talking was going to have to wait, so Tee got undressed and got into bed. She lay there awake for a long time listening to the snoring and thinking about everything Kit had said. She didnt want to throw love away. She wanted it back, like it was in the beginning, filling her heart totally. They needed to work out all these problems and discuss where they were going from here. Was there a family in their future? Certainly not at this point in time! You couldnt bring a child into a relationship that could break apart at any time, nor could you use that child as the glue to hold the relationship together. It wasnt fair to any of them, the child especially. No, the only way they could have the family they had dreamed of was if their relationship was solid, and it would take some time and effort to achieve that.

Finally feeling like she might be able to sleep, Tina rolled to her side and spooned into Bettes cold back. As her body warmed Bettes, she knew that this was where she belonged, and she would fight body and soul to keep what was hers. That being her last conscious thought, Tina she fell asleep.

Hours later she awakened in the same position. Neither of them had moved. The only change was that the snoring had turned into peaceful easy breathing. Tina gave Bette a kiss on the back of her neck and quietly got up. Acquiring a tube top and pair of shorts from her drawer, she went into the bathroom. When she came out, she poured herself a glass of juice and went outside to sit by the pool.

~~

Bette slowly came to. She had been having a wonderful dream where Tina was holding her, but knew it was only that, a dream. She had successfully chased Tina off yet again. And all the drinking last night might have numbed the pain, but in the cold sober light of morning, it had returned, stronger than ever. Surprisingly, her head didnt feel too bad, just very foggy. She didnt remember going to bed and must have passed out while getting undressed since she still had her underwear on. God, her mouth tasted like *****! Time to get up and figure out what the ***** she was going to do now.

After taking a shower, dressing and scrubbing the ***** out of her mouth, she felt somewhat better. Damn, she needed coffee. She filled the pot and got a glass of cold juice to drink while waiting for the coffee to brew. Glancing out the window to check on the weather, her breath stopped in her chest. Tina was there, face down on a lounge and wearing next to nothing!

Bette finished the juice and went out to the pool area. Staring down at Tina, she heard the soft even breathing and knew Tee was sound asleep. She couldnt help herself, and falling to her knees, she started at Tees shoulders and covered every bare inch of Tinas skin with her tongue and lips. Bette felt the goose bumps rising on Tees skin as her mouth left an area and the wind gently blew across that damp spot. She knew exactly when Tee had emerged from sleep, but since there was no protesting, Bette continued her gentle exploration.

Tina had been having the best dream and then suddenly, she realized she was awake and she could still feel those wet caresses. She didnt want to move for fear they would stop. Finally, unable to take it any longer, she rolled over. But even that didnt stop the amazing tongue massage she was receiving. It merely continued on her front side, though never quite reaching the areas she needed massaged. When those lips reached her ear and then traveled up and across her face, Tina lost her cool and embraced Bette, bringing her lips in for a searing kiss.

When she finally let Bette come up for air, Tee said, Well this is a much better reception than I received last night.

Sorry love, I was sure I had driven you off again. I didnt think you would come back this time. I tried to drink myself into oblivion.

Well, I think you succeeded. I had a ***** of a time trying to get you undressed.

God, I dont remember that. I dont even remember you coming home.

I guess not, you were passed out and snoring to beat the band!

I dont snore!

Oh, ok. Then you were passed out and just pretending to snore.

Smartass! Come on in the house. The coffee should be ready by now, and we need to talk. That is, if you are ready to.

Tina followed Bette into the house thinking how right Kit had been. Bette really was giving her all to try to work out their problems and it was she who had done the running yesterday. She was just so damn afraid of being hurt again.

After getting their coffee and retiring to the couch, Bette said, Im sorry Baby. I know what Candace did to us was wrong, but I was just so damn guilty for what I had done, both to you and her, that I couldnt see it at the time. I did the unspeakable to our relationship and the guilt I felt for that was tearing me up. I know how much I hurt you and I feel it every time I see the distrust in your eyes. It never leaves your eyes. I saw it at the hospital and again here last night. I know I am still hurting you every day.

I also felt guilty for what I had done to Candace. I allowed her to think there was something between us and there wasnt. I was just trying to escape the emotional turmoil that I had brought into our lives. Instead of working with you to correct our problems, I ran from us and used Candace to try to forget. Then, when I knew how badly I hurt you, I tossed Candace away like yesterdays trash. It was my fault that she retaliated with that lie, because I hurt her. I wasnt even thinking yesterday of the consequences of that lie. I was just trying to get past it all, to put it behind us. And in doing so, I again hurt you. The one person I had promised to never hurt again.

I thought about what you said last night. I am angry with Candace for how little respect she shows the HIV virus and the people who actually have it. I am also angry with her for using it against us. But I dont want to carry on this war. I want it to be over with. I want us to try to put our lives back together. I love you Tina, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want you to be able to look at me again with the love and trust you used to have in you eyes, knowing I will never do anything again to put our love in jeopardy. I promise you Baby that I will come to you and talk about anything that is even slightly wrong in my life. I will never run away, or put anyone between us again. I just want you, to love you, to be with you and to have you with me, always! Do you think we can do that? Get back what we had before I ruined it?

Bette, Im the one who should apologize. Last night, I was the one who ran away, who didnt stay and deal with the problems. I just couldnt take that she used that disease against you, and you seemed to forgive that so easily. But, I talked with Kit last night, and I realized how much you have changed, how much you are really giving to this relationship, and how much I have pulled back from it. I want us to get our marriage back on track. I love you and I promise not to run from our problems either. I know we can work everything out as long as we communicate with each other. The only thing I dont think I can take, is Candace in our lives, as your friend.

I dont want her as a friend Tee, I just needed to apologize for the way I treated her. If we run into her, I wouldnt ignore her, but I dont want to get together for drinks and dinner or anything like that, and I certainly wouldnt seek her out. We have plenty of friends already, friends that have stood by us through everything. The only thing I really need in my life is you. I love you completely and totally.

I love you too Bette, with all my heart. I know we can make it work this time. But I need to ask you one more thing.

Anything Baby.

Are you ever going to finish that tongue massage you were giving me?

That would be my pleasure! Bette reached out and pulled Tina into her arms. Starting with her right shoulder, she slowly kissed and sucked her way around Tees neck, while sliding her hands beneath her tube top and rubbing her ***** into rock hard points. Her hands then traveled down into Tees shorts and caressed the smooth skin she found there. Placing her lips at Tinas ear, she whispered, I cant wait to taste you, without those damn dental dams in the way. It has been so long. Tinas answering moan sliced right through Bettes center.

All of a sudden, Bette pulled back from Tina and with a look of shock on her face, asked, Tee, where is your underwear?

Took you long enough to notice Porter!