Bette arrived home that night completely worn out. Her afternoon with Candace had drained her emotionally, and she didnt know if she could handle seeing Tina after today. Bette walked into the house glad to see that Tina was not home yet and she threw her stuff down and went to the bedroom to change. After she was done she became anxious about seeing Tina. Would she know? Has she already figured it out? Bette began cleaning the house, hoping it would take her mind off of Tina and Candace for the time being and vowed that she would talk to Tina tonight. She decided there was one other person she needed to talk to first so she grabbed her cell phone and walked back to the bedroom.

Bette was pacing back and forth with her cell phone pressed to her ear as she explained the events of today to her sister. One hand was holding the phone and the other was alternating between waiving in the air and running through her hair. Bette had called Kit because she needed some advice, but Kit was not being as sympathetic as last time.

NO KIT, I DIDNT DO ANYTHING WITH HER.

That is not the point and you know it.

Kit.I dont know what to do.

Bette I cannot believe after everything youve been through in the past few months that we are even having this conversation. Dont you learn from your mistakes?

I thought it was over Kit. I thought I had gotten past it.

Then why are you ranting and raving like you saw Tina with someone else instead of this Candace woman.

Bette sat down out of frustration and looked at the ground. Sometimes Kit can be a real pain in the *****, thought Bette as she tried to rationalize her feelings for Candace. Her voice softened and she suddenly remembered that Tina might have come home and she could be in the next room. Bette hoped that if Tina was, she didnt hear anything she was saying.

Kit, I cant explain it. You just dont understand.

I dont understand? What dont I understand? A totally inappropriate attraction to someone who you should not even have feelings for in the first place? An attraction to someone who suddenly makes you feel more alive than you have in your entire life but every bone in your body tells you they are the wrong person? An attraction to someone who makes you feel like you dont even know who you are anymore? Yeah Bette, I understand.

Bette had an idea about what Kit was talking about but she decided to let it go. She was about to start talking when Kit interrupted and lectured Bette in a way she never had before.

Look Bette, I dont know what the ***** is going on in that head of yours, but it has got to stop. I dont know why you are trying to ***** up a good thing, but if sincerely, and I mean truly deep down in your heart you believe that Tina is not the one for you and Candace can make you happier than I have seen in the last seven years then by all means go for it. But dont expect me or anyone else for that matter to understand what you are doing and why you are doing it. Im not saying you should force yourself to stay in the relationship with Tina if its truly making you unhappy, but you need to think long and hard about what you are talking about. And if in the end you want to be with Candace then I think you are making a ***** decision. Why would you want to be with someone who had the audacity to hit on you AFTER she knew you were taken? Playa or not, there are some lines you just dont cross. And if someone is taken its supposed to mean they are off limits. Your relationship with Tina and your whatever you want to call it with Candace are two separate things, and there is no correlation between them. Dont break Tinas heart because you have a sudden need to jump in bed with Candace. If you dont love her you need to let her know and handle that on your own FIRST, and then you can go and do whatever it is you want with HER.

Bette was growing more and more angry with every word and she could feel the hostility and rage coming out. She had all this pent up anger because of her indecisiveness about Candace and she decided to take it out on Kit, even though she knew she would regret it later.

***** you Kit.

***** me? Oh ***** no Bette. ***** you. ***** you for not having the balls to look yourself in the mirror and make a God damned decision.

Bette felt tears welling up in her eyes as she listened to her older sister and she knew deep down she was angry because Kit was right. Bette didnt have the courage to truly come clean with herself and make a decision about what she wanted. Kit started speaking again, and this time her voice was softer and Bette could tell Kit was not mad at her, she was just talking to her like this because she was trying to get through to her.

BettelookIm only saying these things because I am the only one who will. I am your sister and I love you, but this time I dont have any sympathy for your problems. When Tina first gave you another chance she told you to think long and hard about what you wanted, and I thought you had done that. But its obvious you just went for the quick solution, and maybe its because you thought things would just be better that way. But now that the honeymoon stage has worn off, again, youre seeing that you cant just run away from your problems. This thing with Candace is not going to go away unless you make up your mind to do something about it.

I know.

I just have one question for you Bette. Seriously.

What Kit? What else do you want to know?

Why do you always want what you cant have?

I dont know.

Bette didnt know what else to say and the tears that were flowing down here cheeks were preventing her from being able to speak. She hung up with Kit a few moments after that and she just sat and stared at the door, almost catatonic in her appearance. Tina arrived home a few minutes later and walked back to the bedroom and upon seeing Bette in this state, grew very worried and rushed to pull Bette into her arms.

When Bette felt Tinas arms around her she knew that Kit was right, her main attraction to Candace was that she couldnt have her. Candace was her object of desire, while Tina was her object of affection. She looked into Tinas eyes and saw the unspoken questions, and she knew if she kept this up with Candace, that she was only going to destroy Tina. With one last look into her eyes Bette stood up and told Tina she needed to go out for a while. Tina didnt say anything and let Bette go, silently telling her she loved her.

Bette got into her car and before she could talk herself out of it, drove to Candaces house. She sat there with the engine off thinking about everything she had been through in the past few months. She couldnt believe how turned around her life had become and it was all because of a lapse in judgment on her part. While she knew she had feelings for Candace, she also knew they would pass as the days went on. Bette made a promise to Tina long ago that she was the only woman for her, and while she broke it once, Bette was not going to do it again. She got out of her car and slowly walked up to Candaces apartment.

Candace opened the door and gave Bette a surprised but happy smile. She motioned for her to come in and Bette followed her into the living room. Candace offered her a seat but Bette declined, knowing that she wasnt going to stay long.

What is going on Bette?

Bette looked down and as tears formed in her eyes she knew that she was finally making the right decision. She didnt know why she had let Candace have such a hold on her, but as Bette stood there trying to find the right words, everything about their situation was becoming clear to her. She looked up and felt a tear run down her cheek but she let it fall. As she spoke, her voice was steady and soft and she knew that no matter how much she was going to hurt after this, that Candace would be hurting even more.

I just came here to tell you that I thought about what you said today, and I finally know my answer. Its Tina. I love her Candace, and whatever we have, or had, it will pass. I dont know why I let things get so out of hand but I want it to stop. Im sorry that I hurt you and Im sorry that I let myself be like that with you. But its over. I cant keep going back and forth between you and Tina because its killing me. Who knows if we were even supposed to be together, but I just cant find out. You have no idea what Ive been through in these past few days, and Im sick of it. I will never find anyone else like Tina, and that is something Im just not willing to compromise. Im sorry.

Candace sat there listening to Bette tear her heart out but she didnt say anything. She didnt speak, she didnt move, she didnt even cry. It wasnt her style. Candace looked at Bette with pain in her eyes and Bette understood what Candace was feeling. Bette looked at Candace and for once she didnt feel the overwhelming urge to kiss her or touch her. Instead, she felt bad for her. Bette knew she had strung Candace along while she figured things out with Tina, and she hated herself for it. Candace stood up and gave Bette a long, hard look before moving to open the door. She held the door open with one hand and stuck the other hand in her pocket.

Bette stood up and slowly moved towards the door. She couldnt look at Candace as she walked towards her and Bette had almost reached the doorway when Candace asked her one more question.

Are you happy?

Bette looked at Candace with sadness in her eyes as she answered her. This time the sadness wasnt because she was never going to see Candace again, but instead because she was hurting someone she truly cared for. Even if the romantic feelings would subside, Bette knew Candace would always be in her life somehow.

Yes.

Well I guess thats that. Goodbye Bette.

Bette didnt say anything as she walked past Candace and out the door. As she was walking back to her car she didnt turn and look back, and she didnt even try to imagine Candace watching her as she walked away. Instead she got into her car and drove home where Tina was waiting for her. Bette walked in and saw Tina sitting on the couch with a blanket wrapped around her legs, reading a book. Bette smiled as she stood there looking at Tina and she knew that in her heart she had made the right decision. This is where she was supposed to be, and this is where she could never leave. Bette had known all along that Tina was the one for her, since the moment she met her, and Bette knew that she only allowed herself to have feelings for Candace because she was feeling scared and insecure about her relationship with Tina. Not scared that it was over, but scared that it was all she would ever have. Bette now realized it was all she would ever need. Bette moved over to the couch and Tina looked up at her with uncertainty in her eyes.

Hey babe. Where did you go?

I went to see Candace.

Tina sat up and put the book down. Bette could tell that Tina was angry, and she sighed as she sat down next to her. Tina didnt say anything and let Bette continue without interruption.

I went to see her to tell her its over. Forever. Im sorry if Ive been distant these past few days, but I had so much on my mind. I thought I was slipping back into the same state of mind that I had before all this started with her, and it scared me. But then I thought about that night when you found out about me and Candace and how painful everything was. I thought about the weeks that followed and how empty my life is without you. I love you Tina, and Im sorry that I even cheated on you in the first place. These past few months have taught me a lot of things, but the most important thing that I learned was how much I love you. I was stupid to think that I could go on without you in my life, but I see now that I must have been crazy. You are my everything Tina, and I am yours forever if youll have me.

Tina looked at Bette with tears in her eyes. She knew that Bette had unresolved feelings about Candace, and that it had caused her so much pain over the past few days, but she never thought Bette would actually admit them to her. Tina reached for Bettes hand and held it in hers. Tina used her other hand to slowly reach for the wedding ring that Bette was wearing and at first Bette thought Tina was mad so she clamped her fingers together in a fist. Tina pulled on Bettes fingers gently and Bette finally relaxed her hand allowing Tina to take off her ring. Tina held it up and looked at the inscription and gave Bette a small smile. She turned the ring so that Bette could see the inscription as she asked her one question.

What does it say?

Bette didnt even have to look at the ring to answer her. It was the same thing that was engraved on Tinas ring and it was a phrase that Bette believed had kept them together through this trying time. She kissed Tinas hand softly, and looked into her eyes as she spoke.

My heart is yours always.

Tina leaned in and gave Bette a loving kiss on the lips. Bette felt the tears fall again and Tina gently wiped them away with her hands. Bette looked into Tinas eyes and she had never felt so loved before. They sat there on the couch for the rest of the night, just holding each other and occasionally kissing each other softly. They fell asleep on the couch and the next morning Bette awoke for the first time without that nagging feeling in her stomach. She looked down at Tina who was still sleeping and she couldnt believe she almost pushed her away again. Tina was still holding Bettes ring in her hand and she gently took it from her and put it back on her hand. Bette knew she was going to be late for work but she didnt care. She had lost sight of everything that was important to her and she was going to spend all the time necessary making it up to Tina. It would be late into the morning before Tina woke up and when she did she smiled seeing Bette look at her so tenderly. Their lives were whole again and Bette knew that if they could get through the past few months, there was nothing they couldnt get through together.









**Authors Note** I know its been a long journey and I really appreciate everyone who took time to stick around and see how it ended. I cant thank everyone individually, but I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to read my little story. But there are a few people in particular who I just wanted to say a personal thanks:

Allykat: Thanks for the warm feedback. Its nice knowing people like you are reading my stories. And yes sometimes it really sucks being a grown up.

BTLuver: Your feedback is always positive and I know you are a true B/T fan at heart. Your enthusiasm for this couple has really been an inspiration. Thanks again for all the wonderful support.

Hotpepper (AmandaMG): First I just want to say I love your 5 year Anniversary in their home series! Your support has been great knowing this was a pretty suspenseful fic for you. Thank you for sticking it out.

Kabby: Thanks for hanging in there with me. Youve been great through all 3 stories and I just wanted to say thanks a bunch for that.

Katey471: You are truly a phenomenal writer and to have someone like you appreciate my stories makes them worth writing. I love each and every one of your stories!! Thanks again for taking the time.

Luv4All: I cannot say enough about your wonderful praise. Warmest thanks from the bottom of my heart.

Lyra: Thanks for taking the time to leave such heart felt comments. They are touching and I can tell you put emotion into them. I hope this story was worth it for you. And don’t forget: it’s just fanfic =)

Prozacprincess: No one could write How Tina Must Have Felt better than you. Its a great story and I hope my story did Tina justice in your eyes. Thanks.

Techgal: I hope my stories werent too emotional for you. I really appreciate you taking the time to read and I truly appreciate all your lovely comments.

Seven: My wonderful critic. Thanks for taking the time to give me constructive feedback. You helped me in my writing process and I hope the story was everything you expected. Thanks for reading.

To all the writers: You are all truly amazing people and I am in the company of very talented people. Keep up the wonderful writing and these next 8 months will fly by!!