Bette and Tina broke apart reluctantly.  Tina softly touched Bette’s face wiping away her tears with her thumbs.  “Ok Peggy, let’s go.”

Hand in hand they left the airport after going through customs and all the security checks. 

Tina and Bette couldn’t take their eyes off one another during the ride to the hotel.  Bette had become shy and Tina had gone into her protective mode.  She had found her Bette and nothing was going to separate them again. 

As they arrived at the hotel, Peggy explained that she had taken the liberty of getting Tina and Bette their own suite so they could have some privacy.  “Thank you Peggy.” Tina said with a smile.  She looked at Bette to make sure she was ok with this.  Bette simply smiled and nodded.  After saying quick goodbyes and making arrangements to meet for dinner tonight, Tina and Bette made their way upstairs grateful to just be together.

The suite was one of the finest the hotel had to offer of course.  Bette was taken back but Tina just laughed “only the best for a Peabody.”

“Have we known them for long Tina?”  It was a simple question but it saddened Tina as well.  She had hoped that seeing her would bring Bette’s memory back but that had not happened. 

“Yes Bette, you met Peggy when you were trying to secure a collection for the CAC.  An art center you worked for several years ago.  You struck up a friendship that has meant a lot to us over the years.  Peggy sees you as a daughter and our daughter Angelica is like her granddaughter.” 

“Tell me about Angelica.  She is so beautiful in my dreams and the pictures I’ve seen.  I’ll bet her laugh puts a smile on my face.  I have a special relationship with her don’t I?” 

“Yes you do Bette.  But before I tell you about Angelica, can I kiss you please?”

“Yes please.”  Tina smiled at this response.  It was what Bette often said. 

Tina slowly walked up to Bette.  She reached out with her hand and lovingly stroked the side of Bette’s cheek.  Bette closed her eyes and leaned into Tina’s hand.  This felt so right.  This felt so safe.  Tina traced Bette’s bottom lip with her thumb and slowly leaned in to do what she had longed to do since seeing Bette at the airport.  She kissed the love of her life.  It started out slowly as each sought to experience the other but as it went on, Bette brought her hand up behind Tina’s neck to draw the kiss deeper.  When the need for oxygen overrode the need to reconnect they broke for air. 

“Wow that was amazing!  Have we always been this good?”

“Oh yea!  We have had this crazy connection from the first day we met.  We haven’t always wanted to admit it but yea it has always been there.  Thank you, I don’t think I could have waited much longer.  I have missed you so much.  Hold me Bette.  Please just hold me for a while.”

Bette led them to the couch and sat with her arms around Tina for what seemed like forever.  She felt safe with this woman and now understood in part why her dreams had been filled with this beautiful woman.  Tina was her soul mate.