Author's Note: This is my first Ugly Betty fanfiction and first Detty! I told myself I wasn't going to watch the show, but my friend talked me into giving it a chance. I fell in love and was mad that they didn't at least showed the date. So this is where my fic is starting! I just hope that you all love this and please review, just to let me know if I'm doing things right, getting people right or you are just loving or hating it. Thank you :)

As much as I'd like the past not to exist
It still does
And as much as I'd like to feel like I belong here
I'm just as scared as you

Lost In Paradise- Evanescence (Off their self-titled Album)

Striking, blue eyes looked around the restaurant as his heart thudded in his chest. He felt like there was a swarm of butterflies in his stomach, but he shouldn't have. Daniel Meade didn't get like this, unless it was over one person and that person stood by the table with a shy smile. Her sleek, black hair straight with a slight wave, and her dress hugging her Latina curves. Something that he had been noticing, even when she wore the clothes that hid that.

"Betty, you made it," he stood, almost knocking his knees into the top of the table in his rush to pull out her chair for her.

"Hey, Daniel," she said, the smile never leaving her lips as she took the seat, "thank you."

"No problem, Betty," Daniel said as he returned to his place.

He couldn't keep his eyes off of her and was beating himself up, because he had almost let her go and that made him feel sick. He could feel his stomach tightening as if he needed to heave. He knew that he was going to be okay, though, because he planned on making things right with her.

"So how are things at Dunn?"

"It's amazing. I mean we've all been working hard to get this Magazine launched. I never knew how hard it was to even start a new magazine. There is so much pressure on you and the stress," she spoke, the enthusiasm flowing out of her body in waves.

He couldn't help but smile as she rambled on about everything that she has been doing, her mouth moving a mile a minute and there was the passion there; the passion she had been missing at Mode. He loved seeing her like this and he couldn't help that he felt something for her, the reason he had come to London. His mother was right, he loved her and yet he was afraid to ruin their friendship. Everyone was always telling him that they were both blind, this was after he let her go without a goodbye. He knew he had to make up for that and to show her just how much she means to him.

"Are you okay?" Betty asked as she cocked her head to the side.

"Yeah, yeah I am. It's just great to see your enthusiasm and seeing you so happy. I see that London has treated you well. You've already changed in so many ways."

"Daniel, you've only been here what, a few days?" She asked him, the blush covering her cheeks making Daniel chuckle at her.

"I know, but I can tell. You're just...I really don't know how to explain it, Betty," he said as he handed his menu to the waiter, Betty doing the same as he did.

"Your food should be done in a few minutes," the waiter gave them a curt nod and went to his other tables, but both Betty and Daniel were lost in conversation.

Betty rested her chin as Daniel told her what he wanted to do, how he wanted to actually work without his family name behind him. This was something that she could admire about him, he completely gave up his life to follow her. Of course, she couldn't believe it was because he loved her. They were friends, best friends at that. Besides he was handsome and could have any girl that he wanted, in fact he did at one point. Many of the women in the restaurant were looking at him, giving him appreciative glances and she felt a surge of jealousy. She had felt that before, when he was with Trista but she would never admit it. Of course she couldn't think that he liked her too.

"So I was thinking about looking for jobs in either advertising or an editor, but I know that I will have to probably start as an assistant for that."

"Well I know you can do anything you put your mind to, Daniel. You're a smart guy! I did question that thought when you were with Trista," she picked on him as the waiter came back with their food.

The dinner was filled with conversation between the two of them, never a dull moment or lagging conversation. The only time they really didn't say anything is when they were chewing on their food or taking a sip of their red wine. She could feel the envious glare of the other woman but she ignored them as she laughed at something Daniel told her about DJ and Alexis.

"I do miss your family. Especially your mom, she took me under her wing and I could never thank her for that. She was like a second mom to me. I remember when we had to dress her up like she was from Queens, just so she wold be able to see you and Alexis."

Betty smiled as she looked to him, "You're lucky to have her."

"I know I am and you know what, Betty? She thinks of you as a daughter," he spoke as his hand reached across the table and took hers into it.

He couldn't help but think about how small it was compared to his, but also how they fit together as if they were two puzzle pieces, both interlocking into place. The fact that Betty didn't pull away also surprised him and made him wonder if she had feelings for him, like he did for her. His thumb began to move back and forth over the back of her hand, the skin smooth and soft. He had captured her eyes with his and neither of them said anything, it was as if they were suspended in time. Everything seemed to freeze and the noise around them became background noise.

Betty could feel her heart speed up in her chest as she sat there looking at him, the butterflies beating around in her stomach. Their wings causing the flutter, there was no doubt a spark there but did either of them feel it? Were either of them willing to admit their feelings for one another. This was uncharted territory for them both, and it could mean so many things for them. They would be stepping over the border of friendship and into a place where they could lose that special bond or gain a new one. Each of them couldn't help but think what if it doesn't work out? The what if's fluttering around their heads but they pushed them to the back.

One thought that were persistent in their minds was that they were going to take this and run with it. See how far they would go, of course Daniel was thinking he wanted to take things slow. Of course he had known her for four years, but that was on a friendship level. This level was so much more deeper and delicate, a relationship needs time to grow and flourish. Neither of them were willing to rush into anything, because these feelings were so new and they were scared.

Slowly, Daniel brought Betty's hand to his lips and gave it a little kiss. This was to let her know that he was willing to do things are her own speed, that he was willing to be with her. He was hoping that she picked up on that, because he knows that life is short, he figured that with Molly. So, he didn't want to waste another minute, yet he wanted to make sure that she was comfortable with the relationship and the speed that it goes.

This was both exciting and scary and he couldn't help but wonder if he was reading her signals right. His thoughts were answered when she gave him a smile and squeezed his hand, her eyes giving him the answer that he wanted.

She was willing to try this, too.