Fan Fiction
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The Very Thought of You, Chapter 23
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The sun woke me up the next morning as it streamed in the window. I lay still long minutes, scared to open my eyes. The dream had been so vivid this time. It wasn’t bits and pieces as usual, but an entire evening, a day leading up to the evening, too. As I built up my courage, fortified myself against the inevitable intrusion of reality, a gentle hand slid down across my bare stomach as an arm draped itself over my side. A nose nuzzled next to my ear inhaled.
“Morning, T,” a groggy, feminine voice greeted me.
It wasn’t a dream. I wasn’t being tortured by fantasy; this was reality. The kisses that adorned my shoulder weren’t accompanied by a stubbly chin, but, now, a smooth one. I turned, facing Bette in all her bleary-eyed, morning glory. And grinned.
“Thank God,” I breathed.
“What?”
“I thought it would turn out to be a dream. All of it.”
“Not this time.”
I slid my arms around her, pulling her as close as humanly possible, trying desperately to commit to memory every little sensation and curve of her figure, the details of what waking up in her arms felt like. It was then I realized she was dressed and the smell of coffee wafted through the apartment.
“You’re dressed,” I pouted. “That’s disappointing.”
“Yet easily rectifiable.”
* * * * *
When we finally got to the coffee, it wasn’t quite as fresh as it might have been, but I still welcomed the energy it shot into my blood. I stared across the table at her. It was the most ridiculous thing, but even that distance between us seemed too great.
After emerging from our shower more wrinkled than we entered it, I tried to call Henry. There was no answer on his cell phone, so I left a message explaining I spent the night with my friend and would let him know later what I was doing. I was careful not to lie, though it seemed strange to even be calling him at this point.
We stepped out into the warm morning sun hand-in-hand, as we were meant to. The leisurely pace we adopted carried us through the day. Peace descended, a feeling of contentment, wholeness. This was what a fulfilled destiny felt like. How if felt to finally walk down the right path with the right partner. The gentle touches she used to direct me throughout the day reassured me and eradicated responsibility, previous commitments, guilt, and, indeed, any fleeting thought of the life I’d led the last thirty years. Everything in between times with her seemed to be imagined and felt like a long drawn out dream with the dull bits on repeat. Being with her was right, it was real, and it was all I wanted for the remainder of my life.
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Yes my friend, eternal gratitude is nice, but writing us another story would be even better. Now that Tina has experienced how great it is to be loved by Bette, there is no way she can ever go back to you know who…see I can’t even say his name.
Oh my goodness!!!!! NYG i love it please keep it up.
My comment for your last chapter applies here again…this was just beautiful…
Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If Tina desides not to stay, at least she did have a little bit of heaven for awhile. Will this take her through tthe rest of her life or will she need more like forever with Bette. thanks
“Love is resurrection, is life”…that’s possibly one of the most beautiful sentiments I’ve ever read (when I wasn’t forced to read it, in say, a literature class…) You’ve done a wonderful job capturing the love these two feel for each other, even after all these years. I do wonder what Henry is thinking right now, however. I don’t know too many husbands who wouldn’t call their wives non-stop looking for them if they didn’t come home one night!
Enjoyable story, a lot of “warm fuzzies”.. i just hope that Bette is not once again disappointed by Tina thinking and not feeling .. a wonderful, hopeful read…
OOooo I’m first!
Ah………… please let Tina have the courage to allow her heart to remain so full of love for the rest of her days. Henry will understand that she NEEDS to be with that criminally beautiful woman who owns her heart and has done for over 30 years! Kettle, this Pot thinks your writing is divine! I will be so sad to see this tale end.
If love was the tale of a single day, it would be this one!
Amazing I agree with everything Jo said, I hope Tina has the strength to tell Hendick its over so that she can live the life she deserves Love this story PPS
ok so I kinda got caught up…..now r u gonna drop a bomb here like letting henry “lose it” and “off” Tina??? or is she just gonna chicken out of everything then die with the thought of “what if”
I’m really lovin’ this story but will be so sorry to see it end! Thanks for sharing it and for posting so regularly.
Wow so Tina went for it. No bitchslapping this time from me. xD
Excellent post NY! I will be saddedn when the story concludes but the joys of FF is that you can re-read again. I want say something on how this is going to end based on an observation but I don’t want to spoil it.
Henry maybe a nice guy. But seriously….can anyone match that woman in a white tank top and yoga pants with her caramel tinted skin and curly hair cascading over her shoulders??? Oh, my !! No way. Great descriptions. Tina should grab the brass ring , she’s lucky that it’s come around again.
I hope the decades of incompletion are finally at their end. The past day or so for Tina and Bette has been fantastical… I’m hoping it becomes their every day reality. I know Henry’s an afterthought for Tina right now, but I worry. Tina hasn’t been able to see around the monolithic banality of her life for 30 years, and I suppose I’m just scared she’ll creep back into its shadow once one of her family contact her. There’s only two chapters left, though, so maybe not. Please not. Optimism? What’s that, now? ;) I’m trying to get myself ready to let go of the story. It’s going to be hard… Oh, and the preview for ep. 8? You weren’t the only one who had to keep watching it… Wonderfully written, as always. Thanks for the chapter, NY.
wow… I agree with what Kword75 said above. You related this day so beautifully it makes one not just think, but wish as well. Like many others, I too will be sad to this tale end. Knowing there’re just two more chapters ahead make me apprehensive, and I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop! And the worst part is, if you post the final chapter on the 23rd, I won’t be able to read it until a few days later! Argh! Going to be an agonizing few days, I’m sure! Anyway, thank you for this, dear NY :)
NY your writing is incredible. I have really enjoyed reading this story and adore the way you have told it. Yes, I do have a lot of hope – and not just in the fictitious part of the world. Sorry about calling Henry “Greg” in my last comment – definite brain fart – don’t know where that came from! I guess I don’t pay him much regard either. It doesn’t feel like the NC-17 scenes are “skipped over” in your story because you make it clear to us what has happened. Granted, as eloquently as you write, you can probably write beautiful love scenes, but it isn’t necessary for your story to feel complete. Bring on the last two chapters NY!
Heh, I took some cold medicine, had a nap, and re-read the chapter, including *all* of your author’s notes… Yeah, I think I’ll pay more attention next time, cos I feel a bit more hopeful now; no monoliths, no shadows, *way* less doubt. Still a wonderful chapter, and I’m still savoring the story. Cheers, NY
Loving it, now bring it on home NY….
Finally the positive we have been looking for. I can only hope that Tina stays true to her words and leaves Henry to be with Bette. Thirty years is a long time to wait, but some things are worth waiting for.
I am so sorry that real life took me away. Maybe I’m in a foul mood or perhaps it is the blues station I am listening to but I can’t help but think of Tina’s family. How are you going to wrap up telling Henry and the kids in two more chapters? I know it will end well, it must really. I’m just curious how you’ll do it but I do have the utmost confidence in you. Thanks again for the story, I do hope there will be more after this one ends.