Pacing the room up and down, holding her belly, Tina sighed again She wasnt feeling just excited, nervous about the whole thing, about the baby, about the love making night, about Bette. She was just feeling happy, in a bittersweet way. Watching Bette laying on the bed, she smiled. She smiled thinking about the first months after the break up, those months when she could not imaging having Bette at her side at this exact moment. Not even a couple of days ago she could have imagined being like this now. Together. She knew, hoped that Bette would be with her during labour, but not like this. Well, she thought watching Bette laying on the bed, not like this for sure she repeated herself, nodding with a smile.
Walking to Bettes side, she tenderly whispered,

“Are you sure you ok?”

Opening the eyes, Bette nodded. Sighing, she tried to sit on the bed, but then, feeling dizzy again, she lied down.

“This is ridiculous!” She cried, hating feeling so weak.

Nodding, Tina smiled trying to comfort her. Removing a rebel lock from Bettes face, she said,

“Is ok Bette.. you want another orange juice?”

Shaking her head, Bette said,

“Its just a few stitches, why the ***** am feeling like this?” Closing her eyes, she rested the head on the pillow.

“I dont know…you know…you always get dizzy when you see blood…”

“I know… but…”Noticing Tina sitting on the bed, Bette opened her eyes again.

“You want to lie down?…you sure you ok?”

Nodding, taking Bettes free hand, Tina said,

“Yeah…I feel great”

Nodding, wanting to believe Tina, Bette placed her free hand on her belly. Resting her hands on Bettes, Tina sweetly smiled at Bette. Feeling another contraction, quietly breathing deep, opening and closing her eyes to calm down she added,

“Nice outfit, eh?”

Looking at Tinas hospital outfit, Bette chuckled pointing her scrubs

“You looked better without it,,,”she whispered, not believing the things she was saying in a moment like that.

Noticing the look on Bettes face, Tina smiled again. Holding her belly, trying to hide the pain she was feeling, she moved to rearrange the pillows behind Bettes head.

“Why dont you try to sit again?”She tenderly suggested. The words coming out slowly, hiding the pain, covering the fear.

Nodding, Bette sat on the bed. Smiling, taking Tinas hand, she stared at her for a long time.

“What?” Tina asked, amused by Bettes attention.

“Maybe you should call Helena” Bette said, the words coming out slow, painfully clear.

Holding Bettes stare, caressing her belly quietly, Tina waited a few seconds before saying.

“I…I…I already did…”

“You did?” Asked Bette, suddenly feeling very scared, her hands freezing.

“Yeah…when you were with the doctor”

Noticing, reading the look on Bettes face, Tina added,

“She is not coming…I told her about us…I… I will call her later”

Sighing, unaware of being holding her breath, Bette nodded. Caressing Bettes arm, ending on her hand, Tina looked at it. It was so long ago the last time she admired it, so long since she played with it. Shes always loved Bettes hands. It wasnt just their perfectly manicured nails, it was the strength they elegantly carried. They were strong hands carried with infinite grace. Since the beginning, one of Tinas favourite things to do while talking with Bette, walking on the street or just during some of those lazy afternoons reading or watching tv was to hold Bettes hands, play with them, caress the fingers, linking her fingers with hers…it was silly, childish, Tina knew but she just couldnt stop loving it.
And now, taking Bettes hand in hers, watching them together after so long, they looked strange, but good as always, although different. Like a broken beautiful vase after being glued back together.

“Are you sure about this?…about us?” Suddenly whispered Bette, breaking the memory trip Tina was in.

Looking up at Bette, slowly, thinking about her words. Tina moved closer. Placing a lock of hair behind Bettes ear, she caressed her cheek. Memorizing every curve, every spot, every wrinkle. Shaking her head, sighing deeply, she whispered,

“Am not…”Seeing the look on Bettes eyes clouding, how she was becoming paler, how her lower lip was starting to shake, she added, nodding “..But I know I love you..thats what matters…I do…and…I want to try “

Sighing, feeling as if her heart just stopped and started again, Bette tried to smile. Caressing Tinas hand she nodded. She didnt know what to say, she was feeling weak, fragile, happy and a bit lost. Then, while looking at Tina, she noticed her wincing. Holding her belly, Tina closed her eyes trying to breath.

“You should lay down…let me call Dr Wilson..” Bette said, stepping out of the bed.

“Dr Wilson is here” said a smiling Dr Wilson walking inside.

“Lest see how this I going…” (looking at Bette),”….glad to see you are back to life, Bette”

Helping Tina lay on the bed, Bette shyly nodded. Taking Tinas hand, she saw Dr Wilson peeking between Tinas legs.

“Ok…I think we are almost ready…”

“Now?” Asked Tina, fear painted all over her face.

“No…no, of course not! we can try over the summer if you prefer…of course now Tina…he is coming” Dr Wilson said, winking at Bette.

“Tee…you are going to be great…dont worry, ok?” Bette whispered, leaning down close to Tinas head.

“I dont know…I dont know…” Tina mumbled shaking her head.

“Tee, is ok…” Bette sweetly whispered tightening Tinas hand.

Watching a couple of nurses coming in, Bette gulped. Sighing deeply she shook her head trying to compose herself, then, with a forced smile plastered on her face, she kissed Tina on the lips.

“Is ok…you are going to be ok…” She lied wanting to believe her words. Suddenly, feeling an abyss opening in front of her she try to remember any pray. She was scared, but happy at the same time. This was it. The moment she has been waiting for. Trying to focus, she smiled again, moving lightly away from Tinas lips.

“Ok Tina..When I say it…I want you to push, ok?” Dr Wilson asked from behind Tinas legs.

Nodding, Bette whispered

“Ok”

Lightly shaking her head, Tina tightened Bettes hand.

“Tina…I want you to push now…Push!”


Shaking the head, Tina felt big fat tears running down her cheeks.

“Push Tee…push!!” Bette whispered, tightening Tinas hand. Pushing, Tina shook her head.


“Agggggghh !!!” she mumbled, feeling as if something was ripping her apart.

“Ok! good…” Dr Wilson said.

Nodding, feeling Tinas muscles relaxing, Bette tenderly kissed her forehead.

“Ok Tina, again…I want you to push harder now.” Dr Wilson commanded.

“No…no…I cant!!” Tina cried, trying to close her legs. She needed to breathe, to calm down, she needed time. Cleaning the sweat from Tinas face, Bette said,


“Tee…you can do it…just for a little longer….push Tee, push..”

Shaking her head, Tina mumbled,

“No…no”

“Tina, you have to push now…I need you to push!” Dr Wilson ordered.

Noticing the severe tone in the doctors voice, the look in her eyes, Bette whispered,

“Come on Tee…push!…Push!!”

“I cant, I cant!!” Tina mumbled, crying again.

“Push Tee, Push!! Bette ordered, tightening her hand just as she was resting her lips on Tinas. Feeling Bettes lips, holding her hand tight, Tina let herself go, pushing harder than she could imagine.


“Agggghhhhhhhhh!” She screamed breaking the kiss.

“Oh God!” Bette cried, feeling Tinas pain as well as her hand numb by Tinas hold

“Good, good…one more, Tina…just another one” Dr Wilson said.

Breathing, trying to compose, to find the strength, Tina shook her head. Bette, breathing too, nodded, trying to comfort Tina.

“Come on Tee!…one more!just one more…” She whispered, resting her forehead on Tinas cheek.

“Push Tee!push!!”

“I cant… I really cant!” Tina mumbled, breathless.

“Tina!” Dr Wilson said standing up “One more time!the baby is almost here…I need you to push…”

“No…no” Tina cried shaking the head.

“Ok…Bette?” Dr Wilson said nodding to Bette. Bette, moving closer to the doctor, still holding Tinas hand tried to smile, not knowing how to handle the situation.

“If she doesnt push we will have to go to the Or…”

Nodding, feeling panic eating her alive, Bette moved back to Tinas side. Caressing Tinas sweaty face, cleaning her tears, Bette whispered,

“Please Tee…one more time…just one…pleeease…do it for me…Please!!!?”

Opening the eyes, Tina turned to look at Bette. Holding her stare, as if time was moving slower, reading her scared look, noticing her trembling lips, Tina tightened her hand and then, grunting, she pushed.

“Good, good…a bit more Tina…you are doing it very well… a bit more…”Dr Wilson said.

Holding Tinas hand, noticing the effort, the pain painted all over her face, Bette quietly cried. Hearing Dr Wilsons words, she bit her lips, trying to stop the desire to hit her, to harm her. Hating her, she opened her eyes again to look at Tina.

“Here we are…just a bit more Tina…the last one…” Dr Wilson added.

Feeling as if life was running away from her, as if her members, her senses were slowly dying, Tina tried to push one last time. Hearing Bettes sweet whispers, she opened her eyes.

“Here it is…You want to cut the umbilical cord, Bette?” A smiling Dr Wilson said showing them the baby.

Nodding, unable to talk, Bette looked at Tina, who nodding, was quietly crying. Leaning down, Bette rested her lips on Tinas for a long time while the doctor was placing the baby on Tinas lap.

“How is he?” A trembling Bette whispered, afraid to touch the baby

“She is perfect!” Dr Wilson said.

Looking from Tina to the doctor and then to the baby, with a confused look on her face, Bette mumbled,

“She?”

Chuckling, Dr Wilson nodded.

“Yeah…apparently we have a teaser here”

Smiling, Bette bit her lip, trying not to break down crying. Looking at the baby she followed Dr Wilson instructions, and shaking like a feather, cut the cord. Deeply sighing, seeing Tina caressing the babys back, Bette felt her knees weakening, the view blurring.

Looking at Bettes face, Tina, quietly crying, noticed how all of a sudden she was becoming paler and paler. The colour on her face vanishing. Extending her arm, she whispered,

“Bette?”

Tinas words brought Bette back to reality, if only to see how the nurses were taking the baby away from Tinas lap.

“Bette?” Tina whispered again.

Nodding, Bette heard the words caressing her senses, the tender music of Tinas tone closing here eyes as she felt her body sweetly relaxing.