Sprinkles and Confetti - A Birthday Surprise

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURALEE AND HEATHER! ok so I had started writing a birthday story for Lauralee but wasn't able to finish it in time, but since it's Heather's birthday today...I'm posting this story for both of you. Happy birthday. Love you both so much! I wish you a lot of love in this year ahead. :) 3 Best wishes!
So this story shouldn't be that long. Max maybe 7 chapters. I already have the first 3 done. So...I'll post the first one now. The 2nd in a few hours and the 3rd in the morning. And the rest as I get them done.
LOVE YOU! Hope you enjoy.
So this first chapter is a bit on the down side, but it will start to brighten up as it goes :)

~Hiba

For entertainment only!

Chapter 1 - Absolutely NOT!

Daniel sighed as he stepped on the elevator to head to MODE. Today was his birthday. He always hated his birthdays. They would always start out good, but something bad always, always happened. Like whenever his parents got into fights when he was younger, or when his dad yelled at him that he was doing something wrong, or when his brother punched his arm making him hate how old he was because that was how many punches he would get. At least now said brother was his sister who was in Europe at the moment.

The last year though his birthday had been...not sucky, to say the least. He'd actually had a really great birthday. The reason for the sudden change was... he sighed.

Betty.

She had made him feel special on his birthday. Like he mattered. She was actually one of the few...well the only one beside his mother that made him feel like he mattered. She was amazing like that. Except now they were no longer friends.

Ever since she came back from her cross-country trip and took the job with the Evil Mode Bitch, they hadn't spoken to each other. He felt miserable. He was happy that he had DJ. DJ made him feel important. He liked being a father.

Daniel was actually happy when Betty had first come back to Player. He loved being a team with her even if it was...at Player. He figured with her by his side he could get through anything. But his heart wasn't at Player. It was Mode. Though he refused to admit that to anyone...or himself for that matter, Betty saw right through him. She knew he missed MODE and being EIC there, especially when she caught him scanning through THE BOOK making notes and suggestions to make it better.

When he decided not to take back MODE she quit Player and went to work back at MODE.

He felt stinging in his eyes as he subconsciously pressed the button to the MODE floor. He wondered how Betty was now. He hadn't seen her in two months. He felt that ache in his chest again...which was reoccurring every time he even thought of Betty. He hated that.

He'd sent DJ to spy for him a couple of times saying that he didn't see Betty there which confused him to no ends. He'd tried to call Betty's cell a few times but he would chicken out worried that she would scream at him. He didn't know what was worse a disappointed Betty or Betty not present at all. He really missed her.

She always made him forget the crap that was going on around him. Her smile just brightened his day. His chest tightened when the elevator stopped at the MODE floor. As the door opened he felt his heart stop. It looked so different. Cold and heartless. He found himself subconsciously walking through the tube. He saw Amanda at the desk looking sad. It scared him to see her look that way. He was scared to continue through.

As he was about to continue walking he stopped. He couldn't do it. He was honestly scared to see how the rest of MODE looked. So without thinking another second he turned back around and darted for the elevator.

When Daniel made it to Player he was pleasantly surprised to see DJ and his coworkers shout happy birthday and throw confetti at him. He was even presented with a birthday cake. Daniel hugged DJ. He would be drowning himself in booze and sex without his son. He didn't want to even think about where he would be right now if he didn't have DJ.

As Daniel hugged DJ, he felt his eyes blur. "Ey, Papa, what's wrong?" DJ asked as he noticed his father's eyes.

Daniel shrugged "It's nothing, DJ."

"You're bad liar, Papa" DJ said with a smirk. Daniel looked to DJ with a smirk himself, but sighed "I know."

"You miss Betty, non?" he asked knowing how hard it was for him to work somewhere without her. "She was funny. I miss Betty, too" he added.

Daniel didn't respond to his son's question, but just went to his desk and saw a can of silly string on top. He smiled thinking about the time Betty came back and DJ sprayed her with silly string. He sighed. He picked up a packet of confetti he saw on his desk. For some strange reason it reminded him of Betty.

"Papa" Daniel was snapped out of his thoughts and looked to DJ who was standing in front of his desk. "What's up, bud?"

"I love you, papa"

Daniel felt stinging in his eyes. He got up and walked around his desk and hugged his son. "I love you, too, DJ. I'm sorry I'm so...upset. It's just...Betty is...I just..."

"You love her?" DJ's remark left Daniel stunned. There was no way. He couldn't love Betty. She was just his assistant. Well she was his friend. Former friend. Former everything. He didn't need her. If she wanted to work with the evil witch of the west side she could do whatever the hell she wanted.

"Absolutely not!" Daniel remarked, some bitterness in his voice. DJ just looked at him. He knew his father was just hurt and felt betrayed.