In Shining Lights, Holding You Tight

Story concept: Betty has her high school reunion and it's the night before Christmas. She really doesn't want to go, but someone convinces her to. The only thing that will seal the deal is if that person comes along...

AN: Alright guys, this is going to be a short Christmas-ish story part of the Ugly Betty Advent Challenge. I'm guesstimating 6 chapters, but ya, who knows with me. lol

Enjoy. Let me know what you think...

For entertainment only! :P

Chapter 1

"Daniel! I am NOT going!" Betty said leaning forward in her chair.

"But Betty, you have to go" he said rocking back and forth in his chair looking at the screen.

"No Daniel! Why? It's so stupid! Why the heck would I want to go to some stupid 'party' where everyone practically made fun of me and didn't care I existed?" She stated really not caring one bit about the stupid high school reunion she was invited to.

"Because, you're the freaking most amazing person I know and you deserve to rub it in their faces!" he said dropping his chair forward and looking at the screen trying his best to convey his sternness in his eyes. Betty felt the heat rise to her cheeks. She smiled staring at the screen for a few moments. Sure Daniel said stuff like that all the time and yes every time she felt butterflies, but she started to feel those butterflies tenfold, more and more every time they talked. Especially when she saw him, her heart would race like a hummingbird and she would lose her breath and those butterflies, they weren't just tenfold they were thousand-fold. She didn't know when this started happening. They have been friends for so long. It felt like just yesterday when she walked into MODE.

"Betty, Betty... helloooo?" he said waving his hand in front of the screen. Betty snapped back. "Oh, um...sorry."

"What happened? I lost you there for a minute." He said looking at her curiously. He missed seeing her face right in front of him. Why did she have to be all the way across the ocean? He hated that she lived there. He wanted to be there! Better yet he wanted her to be here! He really hated that he had to go back to New York to take care of Meade. Sure he went to visit her a lot and they talked on the phone every night and Skyped every day, but it was nothing like being with her seeing that smile without knowing that he would not be able to see it the same the next day.

"Daniel. This is stupid. The reunion is the night before Christmas! I don't want to spend it around cold selfless people. I mean who in their right mind would have a stupid high school reunion the night before Christmas? Who does that?"

He laughed at how dramatic she always was. He smiled "Come on Betty."

"Why do you want me to go so bad?" she asked really not understanding why he was making such a big deal out of this.

"Betty, look how far you've come. You're the EDITOR-IN-CHIEF of a top selling magazine in LONDON, you're only 28 years old, you're freaking gorgeous, and you've won, oh what is it? ...Four awards for your incredible writing! You HAVE to go!"

Betty was smiling from ear to ear; she couldn't believe he said all those things. She sighed. If she went to this thing she wouldn't see her family. Or him! She had to leave the next morning because she had this one opportunity to meet with this woman that dedicated her life to educating girls in Sudan for a story.

"Dannnn-ieeel" she said in a pleading voice

"Don't 'Daniel' me!"

They both smiled. "If I go...I won't get to see you or my family. I have to leave the next morning." She said sadly.

"OH! I KNOW! OH MY GOD DANIEL! I will only go if you go with me! You have to! Or else I WILL NOT GO!" she said folding her arms across her chest looking at him with a convinced look. He smiled. He would love to spend time with her. Of course he forgot that she would have to leave the next morning. So she wanted him to go with her? He would be her date. Date? He smirked wanting to tease her.

"So...Betty, did you just ask me to be your date?" he said with a flirting grin. She instantly blushed. "well no, not really...I mean...uh, I guess you will SORT OF be my date, Daniel, but...I mean, we're not, you're...it's just, uh...I just really want to see you" she started stammering her face turning redder with each comment. He smiled thinking she was way too adorable. It was times like these where he really wished he was there because right now he would give her the biggest bear hug ever, she was so cute all flustered and blushing.

"Relax. I was just messing with you. I would love to go with you"

She smiled bright "Really?" she asked her heart starting to race... why? She had no idea. "Of course, I've got to be there for my best friend."

She smiled. "...and, I really wanna see you." He said looking down away from her then glancing back shyly to see her sweet face. Betty felt like her face was on fire. Daniel looked absolutely adorable all shy...and he was so cute and sweet. She needed to stop! Why the heck was she thinking like this? This was Daniel she was thinking about.

"I want to see you, too" she said feeling butterflies everywhere. He looked up at her with such a charming smile she thought her heart would explode.

"Great, so uh...we're going then?" he said feeling his heart race suddenly.

"Yeah, I guess we are!" she said with a bright smile! He smiled "great, so uh...I guess I'll see you in six days?" he said feeling his heart race at the thought of seeing her again and being able to hug her. It had been four months since he'd last seen her and that was way too long for his sanity.

"Okay! Yay!" she said happily, her smile so bright he felt like he was seeing a star. "I miss you" he blurted wincing somewhat at his admission.

Betty looked at him in surprise. Why was he so cute? It really was so hard not to find him charming. She felt those butterflies and hummingbirds again. "I miss you, too, Daniel" she said wishing he was right next to her. She wanted to hug him, feel his tone back under her hands and smell his intoxicating scent and just see him.

He smiled and she could have sworn he was blushing. "Alright uh...I'll uh...pick you up at the airport?" he suggested.

She smiled and nodded "Sure that would be great. Thanks Daniel. I can't wait to see you. Thank you"

"For what?"

"Well, for going with me and telling me all those sweet things and uh...missing me" she said looking at him shyly. He wanted to kiss her so bad. It really sucked. They were friends for six years now, best friends, and every second he wanted to hug her, kiss her, tell her how much he adored her and couldn't stand being away from her for too long, but he would chicken out. One would think that New York's once playboy extraordinaire could tell the person he didn't want to live without how much he wished they could maybe be more than friends. That thought scared him, because what if something happened and would ruin their amazing friendship. He couldn't handle not being friends with her. She was way too important to him.

He took a chance and said something that he knew would change something between them. "I miss you every second I'm not next to you, Betty" he said feeling the nerves in his body jump at his declaration.

Betty looked at him with a surprised, admiring look in her eyes. She felt like she would faint right about now. She thought it was about due for that.

She smiled "I love you!" His eyes went wide.

"I mean uh...oh God, I just. Crap!" She panicked and slammed her laptop shut. "Oh God! Oh God! No, no, no, no! I did NOT just do that! Please tell me I didn't just say that!" she dropped her head on the desk. "WHY ARE YOU SO STUPID BETTY?!" she wanted to scream. She couldn't believe she said that. Crap! How was she going to see Daniel now? Oh no! She just ruined EVERYTHING!

AN: please let me know what you think? Do you like it so far?