Rated K

"Do you like it?"

"It's nice." The brunette nodded. "I like it." She gazed her sister's work over, the needlepoint she'd worked on using their knees while she read her classic, a Mark Twain. Bette was holding it up proudly, her smile wide, but Dot couldn't help the frown on her face.

Bette's features fell. "And?"

"What do you mean?"

"You want to say more, I can tell. It's nice, but-?" The blonde's hand fell to their lap as she raised her eyebrows expectedly, the project crumpled lightly in between her fingers. Dot's dark eyes ran over the flowers she'd etched in with her needle and thread and she shrugged lightly.

"It's nice."

"Dot."

"But your lines aren't symmetrical." The brunette said quickly. She took the needlepoint from her twin's hand and held it up. "And you didn't use the same colors here," She pointed with her chin. "-and here. And you should have." She waited a moment, but Bette said nothing. She finally glanced sideways and found the blonde with her gaze on the floor, biting her lip and mirrored eyes threatening to cry.

Dot was stricken. "What did I say? What's wrong?"

"You're so mean."

"I told you I liked it, Bette."

"You can't just give compliments, can you?" The blonde replied. She wiped her cheek. "You're just like mom."

Dot watched her, eyes wide. "Mom?"

"She did the same thing. She'd say it was nice or that I did well and then-" Bette bit a sob back. "And then she'd go and tell me it was horrible. And once I'd get upset she'd tell me she did tell me I did good. And she'd get mad like it was my fault. You're just like her."

The brunette looked back at the needlepoint in their laps. "Bette, I'm sorry, I am. I didn't mean to." She tried to reach for Bette's hand but the girl pulled away. "I guess she influenced me. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

"But you did."

"And I apologize." The blonde pushed her cheek into Dot's hand when the brunette placed her palm there, rubbing circles into her jaw. "I'm sorry, Bette."

Her sister laughed softly through her tears and Dot watched, puzzled. "You know, you take from dad a little, too."

Dot's hand fell away. "What do you mean?"

"You apologize. He always did, mom never did, even when she was wrong. He apologized when he left, do you remember?" Bette glanced at her. "He cried and he said he was sorry and we watched him walk down the driveway until he disappeared out of view."

"I remember."

"Thanks." The blonde murmured. "For apologizing, I mean. I know you don't mean to be the way you are." She laughed at the grimace Dot pulled. "Sorry." The brunette shook her head, rolling her eyes lightly.

Bette bit her lip. "Do you like it?" She asked, fingering her project.

"I love it, Bette." Dot said softly. "It's amazing." She traced her fingers over her sister's jaw and tugged on her chin until they were looking at each other and she kissed her softly, neck straining. "You're amazing."