BACKGROUND

After finding out that Bette cheated on her, Tina goes to Alices place, and asks if she can stay there for awhile. The following night, hurt and confused she goes to Oscars house. She cries on his shoulder for comfort and they end up sleeping together. Tina does this out of anger and revenge, but they decided the next morning that they will be friends and not let this one time thing ruin their friendship. Bette tries to contact Tina, but she refuses to answer her calls or see her. Bette tries to get her back by calling, sending flowers, and standing outside Alices house for hours but to no avail.
Bette turns to Candace for comfort and ends up sleeping with her again.
Tina finds out that she is pregnant with Oscars baby and they decide to have it and raise it together as friends. Tina is happy, her wish for a child came true, but sad that she does not share that joy with Bette. She decides to keep the pregnancy a secret from Bette.

Episode 1 (six months after Provocation night)

Bette wakes up in the middle of the night, she still has not grown accustomed to her new bed. The apartment that she rents now is smaller than the house she used to live in with Tina. She turns to the woman next to her, her dark skin glowing in the darkness of the night. She is not used to another woman in her bed either. She slips out of bed and goes to the balcony, wondering if Tina is sleeping now.
It has been six months since that awful night Tina left home. It has been three months since she last saw her. The last time was at her lawyers office, where Tina seemed so cold and distant. They signed the Agreement to divide their properties. As Tina signed the papers, Bette looked at her hurting Please talk to me Bette said. Im sorry replied Tina. The only thing I care about is to sell the house, nothing more. Bette The house is soldonce we sign all the papers, good said Tinas attorney. Now we can settle everything and be done with it.

Bette gave Tina everything she wanted. Tina kept one of the cars, half of the proceeds from the sale of the house, and half of their savings. That was more than enough for Tina. She did not really need all of that, but she claimed it any way because she was angry at Bette and also because she knew that she will need all and more to raise her unborn child.
The pregnancy was not showing at that time and Bette had no idea that the love of her life is carrying a baby inside of her.

Now Tina is already six months pregnant and there is no possibility of hiding her condition, luckily her constant rejection of Bettes efforts to see her or talk to her succeeded and Bette has given up all hopes of getting Tinas consent for any contact.

Bette woke up in the morning, Candace was already up, Coffee? said Candace. No thanks replied Bette. Only Tina knows how to make my coffee just right she thought. Im late for work, James can not handle the CAC by himself, not even for an hour. Candace laughed, yes, I have to go too. She looked at Bette getting out of bed and then said softly, Please dont push me away Bette, I know that everything is very difficult for you, but I..I want you in my life. Bette looked at her and sighed YesI know. Knowing that the woman in front of her is exactly what she needed since she lost all hope of getting Tina back.

Tina woke up at around 5:00am, the baby was kicking, she smiled with joy and rubbed her tummy, You are a dancer, arent you? said Tina to her unborn child. She got up and finished a the last of the paper baskets she made for the children at the Center. Ever since she left Bette, she has been volunteering at the Center. She decided to keep herself occupied there despite the pregnancy, and it turned out to be a great decision. She avoided any strenuous activity and still managed to help Oscar and the group with many things. Oscar was great, he cared for her, always asking if she is alright, getting food for her, accompanying her on doctors appointments, etc. She knew that he will be a great father and the fact that they got along so great as friends made her very happy.

Tina heard Alices voice at around 8:00am, good morning mom said Alice. Gosh what are you on batteries or something? Last night when I went to bed you were still up and now your are up again? When did you go to sleep? At around 1:00am said Tina.. The baby was kicking most of the night and I did not sleep well. I can see you are going to have your hands full with this baby said Alice. Yep, you will be my number one babysitter teased Tina.
Alice: Going to the Center?
Tina: Yes and then to look for an apartment, Oscar said that there were a few in available in his area.
Alice: What? That is out of the question! she yelled. you are staying right here until the baby is born. You need someone to be with you. What if you go into labor in the middle of the night?
Tina: Ill be fine, Oscar will be minutes away.
Alice: NO, and that is my final answer, you are staying right here!
Tina Okay, OkayI know you only want me here because I will have to make you the babys Godmother. They both laughed.


Bette was in her office when Candace walked in, Hey, how you doin? She said in a thick Brooklyn accent.
Bette: Once from Brooklyn always from Brooklyn, she laughed.
Candace: Yes, she laughed with her. Dont make any plans for tomorrow evening, I am taking you somewhere.
Bette: Okay, where are we going?
candace : “I”ll tell you tomorrw” she replyd and walked out.

A few minutes later Kit walked in hey baby sister, whats up?
Bette: Ohfine Kit, what are you doing here?
Kit: Just checking up on my little sister, is there something wrong with that?
Bette: No nothing, Im just a little busy.
Kit approached her and sat on the chair on the other side of Bettes desk. Yes, I can see that you are very busy. Kit pointed to the writing pad on Bettes desk. On Bettes white pad was written the name TINA hundreds of times.
Bette wasnt consciously aware that she had done that. Her hand wrote Tinas name on every space of her pad. She quickly took the paper and threw it in the trash can.
Bette: I cant help it, I know that there is no chance, but I miss her so much.Did you see her lately? Did you speak to her?
Kit: Nope, not recently, I called her many times, but she just said that she is okay and she wants you to leave her alone.
Bette: I see.leave her alone, she repeated the words.
Kit: Girl, what you need is closureto put this whole thing behind youand you never will if you dont close this thing once and for all.
Bette: What do you mean?
Kit: I mean go there and tell Tina that you want to talk and then just let her go.
Bette: Just let her go? I did not let her go, she left.
Kit: Yes you did Bette, you said goodbye by ***** up, you had an affairthat apparently continuesI saw Candace leaving your office.
Bette: So, what the ***** am I supposed to do now? Go to Alices house and tell Tina, nice meeting you, have a nice life?
Kit: Well, yes, something like that. She said, as she reached out to hold her sisters hand. Just let her go.
Bette stared at her desk, Kit got up and left. After Kit left, Bette started to cry. She picked up the phone and dialed Alices cell number.
Hello said the voice on the other side.
Bette: Hi Alice, its Bette, how are you?
Alice: Im finefine.. and you?
Bette: Im okay.listen Alice I really need to speak to Tina. Is she still at your place?
Alice: No, she is not. But really BetteI dont knowshe doesnt want to talk to you.
Bette: I know Alice, Im not trying to upset her, I just need some closure.Is she with the girls?
Alice: I dont know Betteshe is fine, do not worry about her. I will come by your office tomorrow, well have coffee together.?
Bette: Alice, what is going on?! Bette said in anger No one will tell me anything. I have called Shane and she did not want to talk about it, I saw Dana at the club for lunch and she refused to discuss anything that is remotely connected to TinaWhat is this? Are you guys my friends too or not?! Bette was almost yelling.
Alice: Listen Bette, I feel for you, I really do, but I have to respect Tinas request not to talk to you about herwhat do you want me to say?
Bette: Nothing Alice, nothing, thank youhave a good daysee you tomorrow.
Alice: Yeah, you too.
Bette hung up the phone. She was determined to see Tina TODAY.
Where would she be? she thought. Ah, ha!! Oscar she whispered. Bette pressed the intercom and said, James get me a number for Oscar Garcia please. He works at the Teen Center downtown.
James: Sure Bette he quickly replied.
A few minutes later he entered her office, Sorry Bette, I could not find his home or cell number, but I did get the number for the Center, would that help?
Bette: Yes I think so, thanks James.
She picked up the phone and dialed the number Teen Center answered a woman.
Bette: Hi, may I speak to Oscar Garcia please?
Woman: Let me see if he is here.
Bette heard the woman asking someone on the other side, Tina, is Oscar here? No said the voice ***** be back later at around five.
Bette froze, she recognized the voice, it was Tina!! Her Tina!!
She put the phone down without saying a word.
Bette: She is there, Tina is there!
Alice had told her that Tina no longer volunteers at the center. That is why she never thought of looking for her there. Why would Alice lie?
Bette left her office and rushed downtown hoping Tina would still be there when she arrived. She drove fast and felt butterflies in her stomach. Twenty minutes later she arrived at the Center. She saw Tinas car parked outside. Good, shes still there she thought. Bette walked into the center, a woman in her early fifties stood at the counter cleaning it. Bette looked at her and smiled.
Hello, said Bette, trying as hard as she could to sound casual. Is Tina still here?
Yes replied the woman with a big smile on her face. She is right there. Pointing to another room, she is handling some paper work.
Thank you said Bette and went towards the room. She paused before entering, taking a deep breath, she walked in. She saw Tina sitting behind the desk concentrating on one of the papers in front of her. She is beautiful. Tina eyes were squinting as if she was solving a mystery.
Bette: Hi T she said softly.
Tina raised her head, surprised to hear the familiar voice.
Tina: Bette.what are you doing here?
Bette: I had to see you.I need to talk to you.
Tina sat there speechless.
Bette: It is so good to see you. She said with a sigh.
Tina: I dont think we have anything to talk about Tina was trying to sound confident as she wondered if Bette noticed her pregnancy while she sat behind the desk.
Bette: Please Tina, I think I deserve at least five minutes to talk to youI just wanted to tell you a few thingsPlease ..its been so long.
Tina: A lot of things have changed since
Tina did not finish her sentence when Oscar walked into the room. He stood by the door shocked to see Bette there. He stood for a moment, then said, Tina, are you joining us for the meeting?
Tina: Yes, Ill be right there. She said as she stood up. Her stomach was noticed by Bette. She was already six months pregnant and showing.

Bette froze, she felt as if she was about to faint. Youre pregnant? she said almost with no voice. Tina didnt say a word.
Bette: What??? How?? Bette found it difficult to breathe.
Tina: Oscar and I are having a baby she said in a confident voice.
Bette looked at Tina, then Oscar, hew jaw dropped, she felt as if an arrow struck her heart as her eyes started to tear.
She turned around and ran to her car. She sat in the car griping the steering wheel so hard her fingernails leaving marks on her hands. The tears started running down her cheeks.
Shes having a baby, shes having a babyohwhat have I doneshes having a babyshes having a baby she said it so many times, the words lost all meaning as she drove back to her apartment.
She entered her apartment, shocked, angry and filled with agony, she began throwing anything she could grab and broke every piece of furniture in site.

TBC