Bette was jolted awake by a deafening clap of thunder as it rattled through the mountains. Her heart beating furiously from the sudden intrusion on her slumber she turned over to seek out the comfort and warmth of Tinas body but found her to be absent.

Bette sat up and peered around the quiet room, there was no sign of her partner.

Tina She called out

There was no answer. The soft patter of rain began to fall on the cabin roof and lightning momentarily illuminated the room. This only served to heighten Bettes concern, for some reason she was now convinced that Tina was out in it. Extricating herself from the sheets Bette pulled on jeans and a sweatshirt before heading out to the living area. Dark and heavy storm clouds had chased away any sign of daylight, it looked more like a northern winter than fall in Southern California. Bette turned on a couple of lamps to take the edge off the dimness.

The car keys and her cell phone were where she had left them on the kitchen bench. Bette looked out the window to see the Saab still in the drive. She picked up her cell and called Tinas number. Within two seconds she could hear Tinas phone ringing in the bedroom, sighing heavily she slapped her phone shut and placed it back on the bench. Where was she? Maybe she was out on the jetty? Surely she would have come in, it was really coming down out there. Bette wandered out to the verandah to see the empty jetty. Rain was falling so heavily now that the mountains were obscured from view by low cloud.

Bette resigned herself to the fact that Tina was most probably fine and she had no option but to wait for her to reappear. The worst thing she could do now was go demanding to know where Tina was every minute of the day like she didnt trust her.

Shutting out the driving rain, lightning and thunder, Bette moved to the kitchen and proceeded to open a bottle of wine. Just as she finished pouring herself a glass the front door opened and closed. Popping her head around the corner, she was relieved to see Tina standing at the entrance, head down kicking off her soaked runners.

Good run? Bette did a lousy job of suppressing a smirk as she raised the wine glass to her lips and took a sip.

Tina looked up through damp strands of hair which mostly stuck to her face and grinned.

Yeah, I kinda got caught out She laughed looking down at her soaking clothes I went a little further than I intended and the storm moved in faster than Id anticipated She was still struggling to catch her breath having pressed hard for the last fifteen minutes to make it back to the cabin. She pushed the wet hair back out of her face and smiled at her partner. There was something odd in Bettes expression and she held Tinas gaze in such a way that it made the blonde a little uncomfortable.

What? Tina frowned self-consciously

Youre such a mess Bette smiled, shaking her head

Yeah, well Tina threw her hands up and shrugged

Go get out of those wet clothes and Ill pour you a glass Bette offered as she turned back to the kitchen.

Moving into the bathroom Tina quickly stripped out of her wet running gear. She was relieved to step into the steamy confines of the shower and wash the chill out of her bones. The storm had moved in fast, she had been caught off guard and paid the price. The temperature must have dropped 15 degrees in a matter of minutes and the noreaster must have shaved a further 5 degrees in wind-chill. Tina had set out in a t-shirt and yoga pants assuming that the weather was as predictable as LA, some 5,000 feet below. Pushing hard all the way home with the cold air burning in her lungs Tina felt sure that she had learnt her lesson.

The steaming water cascaded relief into her skin. Tina had been determined to not let Bette see just how much she was hurting, sure that a lecture would follow. It was a brave front that masked her pain as she entered the house. She wished she had taken Bettes lead and dozed away the late afternoon too.

However, the run was essential and Tina knew it, she needed to burn off a little energy and sitting around the cabin just wasnt going to cut it. Bettes post breakfast confession had blindsided her and she needed time to herself, time to think and adjust. For the first time in months she felt really alive, more than that, she was jumping out of her skin. Words failed to describe the raw energy that was ricocheting around under Tinas skin, she was buzzing.

The run had certainly done its job, she returned to the house, shivering, soaked and spent. Looking up to see Bette watching her kick off her waterlogged trainers made her heart skip a beat and this reaction flooded Tina with warmth. For months there had been nothing but a cold numbness. Tina felt little in her interactions with her partner and that filled her with such fear. Tina couldnt wrap her mind around her own reactions or lack of, when it came to Bette. Bette was amazing, she was ***** as *****. No one else had ever made her feel a fraction of what Bette could with a single glance or lingering touch. Then in one awful moment Bette was banished from her heart and Tinas desire for her lover was no more. The connection was severed and Tina found herself drifting in a no-mans land.

An involuntary shiver passed through her slender frame and Tina quickly pushed those memories out of her mind, that was the past and she was determined that it would not dictate their future.

She was finally free to love her wife. Eyes shut against the stream of water, a smile spread across her face as Tina entertained the notion of loving Bette Porter with body and soul.