This oneshot takes place while Bette and Jodi are celebrating their six-month anniversary. Tina has long since ended things with Henry and has begun to date women again. She is in denial about having feelings for Bette. Disclaimer: I do not own Bette, Tina, or any part of the L Word.
Just Friends, Part Three
(Bette and Jodi are in Bette's room. Bette is sitting on the bed while Jodi is pacing.)
Bette: (signing) It's just so fucking crazy.
Jodi: (signing) Our whole relationship has been crazy.
Bette: (signing) But this…? (sighs and pulls Jodi towards her) We have only been seeing each other for six months.
Jodi: (signing) Time doesn't matter to me. I know that I love you and I think that you love me.
Bette: (sighs) You know I do. (pauses, thinking hard) People will judge.
Jodi: (signing) I have stopped caring what people think of me a long time ago.
Bette: (signing) I have a child with another woman who is still very much in my life.
Jodi: (signing) You know that I love Angie and I would like to think that Tina and I have become friends.
Bette: (sighs again) You really have thought this through, haven't you?
Jodi: (signing) I know what I want.
Bette: (smiles, kissing Jodi) Okay, let's do it. Let's getting fucking married.
Jodi: (smiles) Let's get married.
(Later on: Tina is at The Planet with Alice and Shane)
Shane: So, Tee, you never did tell us how your date was last night?
Tina: (shrugs) It was… fine.
Shane: (pressing) Do you see yourself in a relationship with her?
Tina: No. She's not really my type.
Alice: (slams her coffee on the table) What are you talking about, Tina? She is definitely your type. I mean she's hot, she's artsy. What's not to love about her?
Tina: (shrugs) I don't know. I'd rather be with someone more like…
Shane: Bette?
Tina: No. Of course not. I mean… Bette is with Jodi and when we were together we were miserable together, we hated each other. Now… we're actually on speaking terms again.
Alice: (nods) Good because Bette is happy with Jodi and while you two were the golden couple, I think falling back in love with her could be… chaotic?
Tina: (laughs) Golden couple?
Alice: (smirks) Yes. Golden couple. You were everyone's ideal relationship.
Shane: You were mine. I mean I would have given anything to be like you and Bette. You guys weren't huge on the fucking… well you did fuck a lot. I mean Alice and I walked in on you two a couple times…
Tina: (nudges Shane) Is there a point to this?
Shane: (smiles) Of course, but I really envied your communication. The dreams and goals you had for your relationship.
Alice: (laughs) Not to mention how good Bette said the sex was.
(They all laugh, but then sober up)
Tina: (sighs) I guess its in the past now.
Alice and Shane: Yeah.
(Helena, Jenny, Max, and Tom enter and head towards Tina, Alice, and Shane)
Tina: Hey guys.
Everyone: Hi.
(Helena looks at Alice expectantly while Jenny begins texting on her phone. Max and Tom are sitting a little bit farther away from everyone, talking quietly)
Alice: (notices Helena's stare) What?
Helena: (gestures to Alice) Well, you're the group gossiper. I thought you would know why Bette sent us a text message at the crack of dawn, asking us all to come to the Planet for lunch.
Tina: (surprised) Bette texted you?
Helena: (equally shocked) You didn't get the message?
Tina: No…
Jenny: (not looking up from her phone) Check your inbox.
(Tina, Alice, and Shane all pull at their phones)
Tina: Oh.
Shane: 'Come to the Planet for lunch. I want to talk to you.' Now this is why I should check my phone more often.
Helena: I hope everything is alright.
Tina: Do you think it has to do with Jodi?
Tom: (looks away from Max) According to Jodi, their relationship hasn't been better.
Max: Is Angie alright, Tina?
Tina: Yeah, she's fine.
Alice: Then what's wrong with Porter?
(Bette and Jodi enter. Jodi approaching everyone while Bette goes off to fetch Kit)
Jodi: Hey everyone.
Everyone: Hey.
(Jodi and Tom quickly begin to sign to one another while Bette approaches with Kit in tow)
Kit: What's going on, baby sis? I have to get back to work…
Bette: Kit, this will only take a second.
Alice: What's going on, Porter?
Bette: Well… (Bette takes Jodi's hand) We have some pretty exciting news.
Tina: What?
Jodi: We're getting married.
(The group falls silent, everyone staring in shock at Bette and Jodi)
Bette: God, don't all speak at once.
Tom: You two are getting…
Tina: (finishes) Married?
Kit: (takes a seat next to Shane and Jenny) A second? Girl, this is going to take much longer than a second.
Alice: What… what…
Shane: (glances at Alice and then turns her attention back to Bette and Jodi) Normally, I would comment on Alice's lack of speech, but seriously what? When… how… how did this even happen?
Bette: (smiles) Last night.
Jodi: (glances at Bette) I proposed.
Kit: But you two have only been seeing each other for six months? Shouldn't you… I don't know… wait a bit?
Bette: I know that I love her so why wait?
Kit: Girl…
Bette: Listen, I know its crazy.
Helena: Crazy? That doesn't even seem to begin to describe what this is.
Shane: Yeah. Bette, I love you to pieces, but seriously? Maybe you two should wait a little bit…
Bette: Look, I didn't tell you all so you could try to talk us out of it. Our decision is final, but I would really like it if you could all be supportive.
Max: (smiles) I think its great. I mean, you two are great together.
Jenny: (nods) Yeah.
Jodi: Thanks.
Tina: So… when is the big day?
Bette: Four weeks.
Shane: A month?
Alice: What the hell?
Bette: Listen, I know its rushed, but we decided why wait?
(Everyone stares at each other and Bette sighs)
Bette: Well, we have to go to work. Phyllis wants us to talk to her daughter about being a lesbian or something.
Alice: Well, tell Phyllis I said hi.
(Bette and Jodi leave, Tom and Max going with them)
Alice: What the hell?
Jenny: Did any of you see this coming?
Shane: I sure didn't.
Helena: Is Bette completely crazy? I mean, she's not exactly big on lifelong commitment like that.
Alice: No kidding. I mean, she didn't even marry… (Alice glances at Tina) This isn't like Bette.
Kit: Girls, maybe we should be happy for them. I mean, Bette is happier then I have seen her in a long time and that's all thanks to Jodi.
Helena: Kit, are you honestly happy that they're doing this?
Kit: To be honest no. I would rather they wait, but…
Shane: They're both grownups. It's their lives. We really can't do anything except for accepting it.
Helena: Maybe you're right, Shane. Meddling could cause some serious problems.
Jenny: But meddling could have maybe saved another marriage.
(Everyone looks at Shane)
Shane: Are we seriously bringing that up? This is about Bette and Jodi. Not about my fucked up mistakes.
Helena: Tina, you're being awfully quiet.
Tina: I think its… great.
Alice: That's good then. (looks at her cell phone) Fuck. Papi wanted to see me for a little bit.
Helena: Papi called you?
Alice: (smirks) Not for sex. It's for Our Chart. (stands up) Well, I'm off. Have a good day, Lesbos.
Shane: (stands up) Well, I'm off too. I could really use a good drink right now. Want to come, Jen?
Jenny: Sure.
Helena: Are you two kidding me? It's two o'clock in the afternoon?
Shane: (smirks) Well, it's five o'clock somewhere. I'll catch you guys later.
Jenny: Bye.
(Alice, Shane, and Jenny leave)
Kit: Now if you two ladies excuse me, I have some customers to deal with.
(Kit walks off)
Helena: So Tina, can I ask you something?
Tina: Sure.
Helena: Are you really okay with everything going on?
Tina: To be honest, no. I'm just so bummed about everything.
Helena: Eh, don't be so hard on yourself. If someone I was still in love with was getting married…
Tina: (interrupting) Still in love with?
Helena: Yeah!
Tina: I'm not in love with Bette!
Helena: (nervous) Oh. No. No. Good! Yeah, me neither.
Tina: (talking fast) Helena, I'm uncomfortable with Bette marrying Jodi because she was my ex-partner and its hard for me. Not because, I'm still in love with her! Clearly I have feelings for her, but feelings don't mean love! I mean, I still have loving feelings for Bette. Yeah! But, I have continuing feelings of love, but that doesn't mean that I'm still in love with her. I have sexual feelings for her, but I do love her… oh! Oh my god! Oh my fucking… why didn't you tell me?
Helena: We thought you knew!
Tina: (shocked) We?
Helena: Yeah, we all know! We talk about it all the time! I mean, god, Alice and Jenny gossip about you two almost everyday and I know Shane has a bet with Max on when you two are getting back together.
Tina: You all know? Does Bette know?
Helena: Oh no, Bette doesn't know anything.
Tina: What about Jodi?
Helena: No, Jodi doesn't have a clue.
Tina: Oh, I can not believe you didn't tell me!
Helena: Well, because we thought you knew! It's so obvious! God, that would be like telling Alice, "Hey, you talk a lot." Or telling Shane, "Hey, you're a player." Or telling…
Tina: Okay! I get it.
Kit: (walks over) Get what?
Helena: Tina, didn't know that she was still in love with Bette.
Kit: Baby girl, how could you not know that?
Tina: You knew too?
Helena: I told you. Everyone knew.
(Several days later: Bette angrily storms into her house, Tina following, just as annoyed)
Bette: I can't believe you fucking did this, Tina.
Tina: I'm sorry. I was so preoccupied with my own feelings, I didn't think about you.
Bette: How could you not fucking tell me?
Tina: I don't know, okay? Everything happened so fast!
Bette: And it never crossed your mind that perhaps I would have liked to know what was going on? I mean, even Helena knew before me. Why was I the last to know?
Tina: I'm sorry.
Bette: Oh, you're sorry. Tina, why didn't you call me when you had to take Angelica to the hospital? What was honestly going on in your mind that you couldn't even let me know that my daughter was sick.
Tina: I was thinking that you couldn't…
Bette: Couldn't what?
Tina: Couldn't marry Jodi!
Bette: Why the hell not?
(Tina quickly moves towards Bette and takes her face in her hands and kisses her. The kiss lasts for a couple seconds, but to them it feels like it has been going on for several days)
Tina: (whispers) That's why.
(Tina exits, leaving Bette staring at the closed door)
(Next morning: Tina, Alice, Helena, and Shane are having coffee)
Alice: And you just kissed her?
Helena: And then what?
Tina: And then I left.
Shane: Fuck Tina.
Alice: This is some fucked up shit, you know that right?
Tina: Mhmm.
Helena: What are you going to do if…
(Bette walks in and immediately sees Tina, turning around and leaving)
Helena: If that happens.
Tina: (puts face in hands) Oh fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck. I did not want this to happen. Bette and I were just getting along so well and now I had to go and fuck it all up again.
Shane: You couldn't lie about your feelings, Tee. You had to tell her.
Alice: Are you on crack? Bette is about to get married to Jodi. This was not a good thing.
Tina: Thanks, Al.
Alice: Sorry, Tee.
Helena: So what are you going to do, Tina?
Tina: I don't know. I just don't know.
(Four weeks later: Bette and Jodi's wedding day)
(Alice is with Tina)
Alice: Are you sure you want me to go, Tee?
Tina: (smiles sadly) You have to go, Al. You're Bette's best man.
Alice: I share that with Shane. I'm sure I can get out of it.
Tina: (shakes her head) No. I want you to go. Someone has to tell me how it went and you are the only one who will probably give me the most detailed answer.
Alice: (hugs Tina) I love you, Tee. You know that right?
Tina: I love you too, Al. Now go have fun.
(Alice smiles sadly before leaving)
(An hour passes)
(Tina is staring out her window)
Tina: (whispers) I wonder if they're married yet.
Bette: I didn't get married.
(Tina turns around and stares in shock at Bette who is standing in her hallway, wearing a wedding dress)
Tina: (shocked) Why the hell not?
(Bette walks over to Tina and kisses her. After a couple seconds, they break away)
Bette: (whispers) That's why.