Author's Note: I wrote all this Ugly Betty stuff a long time ago! This one is kind of short. Sigh...I still miss this show.

They were walking along the South Bank after dinner when it finally happened.

"Daniel, why didn't you say goodbye?"

He had been waiting for the question for hours. He had been practicing the answer for even longer. However, now that the moment was here, Daniel felt his heartbeat quicken and his mouth go dry. He turned to look at Betty, noticing that the relaxed air she had maintained all evening was gone. In its place was all the tension and distrust of a hurt best friend.

"I was afraid I would say something stupid to try to make you stay." He said, unable to completely keep the nervous tremor out of his voice.

Betty huffed at him as she turned away. "That's your best excuse? You really hurt me."

Desperately, he grabbed her arm, gently turning her back towards him. How could he make her understand?

"Betty, I never want to be the thing that comes between you and your dreams. You have so much to give. So much talent…" His voice was beginning to wobble fearfully again. "I care about you too much to stand in your way."

He couldn't say any more. Maybe he had already said too much.

As Betty stood there, looking into his eyes, Daniel began to believe that, as always, she was reading the full meaning behind his words even though he hadn't expressed it all out loud. Without saying anything, she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his middle, leaning her head against his chest. Instinctively, his arms wound around her tightly, his face against her hair. Brave, rash words of love and a future flew around in his head, but he held them in. For now, this was enough. Holding her was enough. The rest would follow in its own time.