A/N
This one's another Tibette story, but completely seperate from the show. Somehow it's ended up novel length, so hold on for the ride!
4 Weeks To Go
"Beeeettttteee pleeeeaaase" the blonde had whined to her best friend "you have to come with me. You were so busy with work when I picked the dress out, I need you at the final fitting. I can't have my maid of honour not see the dress before the wedding"
Well, what she had said was partly true. Bette had been suddenly busy at work in the weeks that Tina had set aside to pick out her wedding dress, however the part that the blonde didn't know was that her sudden extra hours had come at her own request. There was no way that she was going to stand and watch her best friend try and pick out the perfect dress for her wedding to that man. But now, now that she could hear that sweet voice in her ear, her resolve to make up a further excuse was quickly fading.
"Okaaay" she had agreed reluctantly "I'll come with you"
"Thank you thank you thank you!" Tina had exclaimed "You're the best friend in the world ever!"
And that was how Bette came to be sat in the front of the bridal shop, waiting for her best friend to emerge from the changing rooms. She had been practicing her facial expressions, hoping that she had managed to nail the 'I'm really happy for you' one in the ten minutes that she'd been waiting.
"Are you ready Bette?" called the blonde from behind the curtain.
"As I'll ever be"
The second that Tina emerged from behind the curtain, all pre-rehearsed facial expressions went out of the window. Her jaw dropped and her eyes widened at the sight of the blonde in the white strapless dress that fitted her form perfectly.
"Is it ok?" Tina asked nervously.
"Ok? T you look…incredible. More than incredible. Amazing, spectacular, astonishing…"
"Bette, stop, you'll make me blush!" the blonde protested.
"I'm serious" the brunette said, getting up to stand before her friend "you look perfect"
"And you would tell me if you didn't like it?" the blonde still sounded unsure.
"Have I ever lied to you?"
"No….see this is why I needed you to come with me"
"What, so I could check you out in your wedding dress?" the brunette teased.
"I suppose it's an advantage to having a best friend who's a lesbian"
"T, even if I were straight I'd be able to see how breathtaking you look in that dress"
A tear trickled down Tina's cheek and she pulled her friend into an embrace "You really are the best"
"Hows about we get you out of that dress before you get mascara on it and I take you for a coffee?"
"Make it a glass of wine and we have a deal"
The brunette chuckled and nodded, a familiar sinking feeling washing over her as it always did when Tina broke one of their embraces.
With the wedding dress safely back on its hanger and stored at the shop, the two women had made their way to a nearby bar and were sat at table with a bottle of wine between them.
"I can't believe it's only a month 'til the wedding" Tina said out loud, shaking her head.
"Time really has flown, huh?" the brunette mused sadly.
"Thank you for dealing with my mini meltdowns. You really have been a rock"
"What are maids of honour for?" Bette forced a smile.
The blonde reached out to take hold of her friends hand "I don't think I'd have been able to stay sane through these past few months without you"
"You know I'm always here T"
They sat in the comfortable silence of two people who have been friends for years, neither one pulling their hand away.
"You still looking forward to the big day? No cold feet yet?" Bette asked, breaking the silence.
"Bette" the blonde warned, pulling back her hand "please don't start on about Henry again"
"I didn't say a word"
"You didn't have to. I know you well enough to know when you're about to go off on one of your rants about him"
"I just want you to be happy" the brunette said softly, unable to meet her friend's gaze.
"Are you ok?" Tina asked, concerned at her friend's sudden change of mood.
"I'm fine" Bette looked up, a regretful smile on her face "I just…you know how highly I think of you Tina, and you deserve to be treated like a princess"
"Henry loves me. You don't think this ring is fit for a princess?" the blonde asked, holding up her left hand.
The brunette sighed "It's not about the ring, or any of the other gifts T, you know that. You're such an amazing person…I just want you to be with someone who appreciates you…who gets you…"
"Bette" the blonde held her hand up to stop her friend before she went any further "please don't do this. I'm marrying Henry ok. You mean the world to me, and I know I can't make you like Henry, but please just try to accept my choice"
"Ok" Bette shrugged in resignation "but if he thinks he's taking you away from me, he's got another thing coming"
The blonde had to laugh "He wouldn't dare try. Nothing's gonna change between us B. And you're gonna be right by my side on the big day"
Just the wrong side of you the brunette thought to herself.
"I guess I'll have to try not to steal your thunder" she said, trying to lighten the mood.
Tina smiled "Not to worry, I've got your bin liner all picked out so that you don't look better than me walking down the aisle"
"Not a chance. In that dress, nobody's gonna be able to take their eyes off you"
The blonde rolled her eyes "I'm sure you'll get your fair share of attention. There's bound to be a cute girl wanting to hook up with the hot bridesmaid"
Unfortunately, this hot bridesmaid isn't interested in anyone except for the drop dead gorgeous bride Bette thought.
"Do you have a date for the wedding? You know you can always add a plus one. What about that Jodi woman from work that you mentioned?"
The brunette shook her head adamently "No, no date. I'm free to be at your beck and call for the entire day"
"You sure you know what you're letting yourself in for?"
Torture thought the brunette.
"Why, you planning on turning into Bridezilla?" she joked.
"You'll tell me if I do, right?" the blonde asked worriedly.
Bette chuckled "T I don't think you're even remotely capable of getting that bad"
"Well at least I have you to keep me in check"
"I promise I'll keep an eye on you" or both eyes. At all times.
"And you won't let the bachelorette party get too out of control?"
"I make no promises with Alice involved" the brunette grinned.
"Bette! You're in charge, please don't let her do anything too crazy"
"Don't worry T, you're safe with me"