”I love her, Bette. You know that. And you know there’s no one else, even if somehow someone can briefly catch my attention. Even that Tycho episode was just a … um … momentary thing,” Diane started, and stopped again.

Bette answered quietly when Diane looked like she was stuck. ”Diane, honey. I know. And I’m sure Jules knows, too. But if you didn’t answer her last night, don’t worry about it. The heart will know, and your gut will tell you, when it’s time.”

Diane bit her trembling lip so firmly Bette was afraid she’d draw blood. ”If it’s the legal issues that’s worrying you, be assured that, thank goodness, things are so much easier, in terms of the law, for all of us now. I told you that there are thousands of laws … About inheritance, insurance, children, etc., that are clearer than ever when it comes to marriages between women,” Bette continued.

Diane nodded. Bette fell quiet, understanding from Diane’s silence that there was something else bothering her.

”It’s not about the laws, or the various other, albeit important, aspects to a marriage, Bette,” Diane continued. ”It’s about me. And whether I’d make a good wife for her.”

Diane bit on her lip again to keep it from trembling. Bette opened her arms and Diane stepped closer automatically. Diane sighed as the strong arms of the brunette enveloped her in an assuring embrace.

”Diane. Honey, you are an amazing woman. And, as Tina and I have told you and Jules many times, yours and Jules’s relationship is a very special one, too. You’re both incredible people and it’s no surprise that you and Jules have this one-of-a-kind relationship to match. These things are hard to figure out, Diane, even in the most special relationships. But you just have to believe that you and Jules have more than a decent chance of making it work in a marriage, alright?”

Bette drew Diane away from her, and held her by the shoulders, gently wiping the tears that fell from her friend’s sky-blue eyes. ”There’s no need to rush, Diane. This is the most important thing you will ever do, so take your time. When it’s time, something will tell you that it’s time. When it happened to me and Tina, I felt like the stars had literally aligned … I was aware of all the signs leading up to that moment. And on that special night there’d been so much love in the room pouring in our direction from everyone, giving the night an even more beautiful, magical feeling. Our house was finally done, and we were at a point in our relationship that also felt like it had been solidly rebuilt. I saw Tina standing in front of me and knew this was where I was meant to be forever. It was time to dedicate myself to her for eternity.”