A/N: Hey guys. This is a very rough start to something that I hope will end up with beautifulness, and H/B love as always. If you enjoy it, please let me know so that I can continue. And if you aren't into H/B don't read it. It's that simple. I'm sure there are enough fanfics of all ships for us all to live peacefully (enough). I should mention my stories are never betaed, so I apologize if I've totally botched something up. And all follow members of I-C, you are love. Enjoy!

Betty ran into her apartment building to prevent herself from being rained on anymore and moved her entire body in response to a shiver running up and down her spine. Clutching her umbrella in hand, Betty made her way to her mailbox. She sifted through her bills and junk mail and came across a light pink envelope simply addressed "Betty." Curious as to whom the letter was from and as to what was in it, Betty tossed the mail in her purse and decided she would read it after she took a shower, but before she headed back to Queens.

Since Betty had moved out, every Friday night Ignacio had asked her to stop by and stay for dinner. Before long it became routine and the Suarez family had "Free for All Friday's." Ignacio always made the main dish, and Betty would provide the dessert. Hilda, not being the best cook in the world, usually made sure that the house was tidy.

Betty stepped out of the shower and took a deep breath. Something about taking a hot shower after coming in from the cold rain always made her feel better. She then made her way to her closet to pick something nice out to where. Hilda had finally seen the error of her ways and broke things off with Coach Diaz before it spiraled out of control. And now, she was with someone new. Betty chose to wear jeans and a cute top to match her yellow rain boots. Betty ran a brush through her hair and was out the door before she got a chance to read the letter she had now left on the coffee table.

Sitting on the train, Betty realized she forgot to make dessert. She then got off on the next stop and went into the nearest bakery she could think of, Magnolia.

"Oh, is that the chocolate raspberry cake from Magnolia?"

"Charlie's not much of a cake person, so she just told me to pick my favorite!"

"Oh my god! That's my favorite."

The memory flashed through her mind and in an instant it was gone. Betty smiled remembering Charlie's birthday, of all things. She wished that things between her and Henry weren't so complicated. She wished she could see him again, talk to him; at least hear his voice. But now here she was half a year later still on her own and regrettably alone. Betty purchased the cake and then made her way back to the subway and ventured back into her childhood home in Queens.

"Dad! Hilda! Justin!" Betty yelled as she entered the door.

She waited for a response. Silence.

"Anybody home?"

Justin came running down the stairs and hugged Betty. "Aunt Betty! I like the look you have going on. Very bright!"

Betty rolled her eyes and returned the hug. "So, where is everyone at?" She asked.

"Grandpa is in the kitchen making meatloaf, and mom is upstairs on the phone with her boyfriend."

"Oh, okay. Well, I'll go see if dad needs any help." Betty stated as she mussed up Justin's hair.

Hilda came down the stairs not too long afterward. "Well, Ricky can't make it. He had some extra work to do in the office. Looks like it'll just be the four of us tonight."

The family of four was now finishing up their meal and casually talking about their week when they heard a slight knock at the door. Betty excused herself, and announced she would get it.

She opened the door, smiling from the stale joke her father had just made, and looked up to see the one person she had shut herself off from.

"Henry?"

"Betty." He said in a deep voice as he absentmindedly took a few steps toward her as if she was a magnet he couldn't help but be attracted to. He stood there smiling that smile that they both knew was reserved just for her and she couldn't help but return the favor.

She then remembered that this was Henry, and he wasn't there to pick her up for a date. Betty's emotions changed in a flash and she apprehensively pushed him back in the direction he came from so they were standing just outside. "What are you doing here?" She asked.

"Well, I thought you would have gotten my letter, but it's obvious you didn't. I told you that I was back in town for a couple weeks and I wanted to catch up, see how you were doing." Henry replied as his hand reached out to caress her cheek presumably out of habit.

"Wait. Is it a pink letter?" Betty asked and backed away slightly nervous from his sudden nearness.

Henry nodded.

"Oh. I was going to read it. I just got busy."

"Well, I stopped by your building and your neighbor, um, Jesse I think it was, said you always headed home on Friday nights, and…" Henry paused. "Well, I couldn't wait to see you."

Betty sat there thinking to herself how crazy, but wonderful, it was having Henry back in her life, even if momentarily. No contact with him for six months was unbearable. Of course she thought about him often. Ending things with Henry wasn't something she had wanted to do, but it just seemed like the only thing she could do, that would make things easier for everyone.

"Betty! Who's at the door?" The two heard Betty's father yell from inside the house.

"Oh!" Betty let out. "Why, don't you, um, come in?" Betty asked.

"I'd love too." Henry responded. "By the way, you look amazing. I love that sweater." Betty's cheeks reddened and she smiled.

"Dad, it was Henry at the door!" Betty announced and everyone's head jerked back in their direction eyeing the two standing there who kept shooting each other nervous glances, followed by smiles. Ignacio pointedly looked at Betty giving her a look that they needed to talk pronto.

"Betty. Kitchen. Now."

Betty looked over at Henry to see he was taken aback by Ignacio's reaction. She looked up at him and let him know she would be back, hopefully sooner than later.

Ignacio stood there leaning against the kitchen counter with his arms folded across his chest as Betty entered the room. "Betty. What are you doing? What are you thinking? You can't be dating Henry…again!" Ignacio started letting his concerns for his baby girl get the best of him.

Betty interjected. "Dad, he just showed up! Who said anything about dating, besides, he's just visiting. He's said that he was going to be in town for a couple weeks." Betty walked over to her father and enveloped him into a hug. "It's just Henry. I'll be okay." Ignacio smiled. With those two, it was never that easy.

She then entered the living room and Henry arose from his spot and pushed his glasses back up his nose. He looked to her for so much as a reaction as to whether he should clear out or if it was okay for him to stick around. "Betty! Look what Henry got me?" Justin nearly shouted, excitedly, barely giving the two a chance for any eye contact. He held up tickets to Hairspray. Betty's eyes lit up. Henry remembered that Justin's birthday was coming up soon. She looked past Justin to see Henry standing their smiling at her.

"Henry, you didn't have to do that." Hilda stated.

"I know." He shrugged. "I wanted to."

Justin started again. "Henry! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Henry smiled, and Justin ran upstairs to his bedroom.

It was now Ignacio's turn. "Henry, we were just about to have dessert. Why don't you stick around for a little while?"

Henry looked to his left to see Betty hopefully waiting for his response. "Sure. What are we having?" Before Betty's father could respond, Betty herself quietly chirped "Chocolate raspberry cake..." She hesitated. He finished her sentence for her "From Magnolia? That's my favorite!"

--

Henry, Betty, Hilda, and Ignacio all sat around the circular wooden dinner table finishing up their cake when Hilda asked Henry something that had been hanging in the air all night.

"So Henry, I don't mean to be nosy, but why are you back in New York exactly?" As she stuck a fork of cake into her mouth, holding the fork there trying to retain every last bit, waiting for his answer.

He quietly swallowed the tiny bit of cake he had just put into his mouth and brushed his face for invisible crumbs.

"I'm going to be working here for a couple of weeks actually." He started.

Ignacio eyed Betty but she didn't seem to mind. She was hanging on his every word, just happy to see him.

Henry continued. "The company I've recently started working for is starting up a new location here in New York, and I was overseeing their budget. I didn't anticipate that they would make me come along, but it's great to be back in the city. Maybe that's why they chose me for the position."

After another half hour or so, Hilda and Ignacio cleaned up the kitchen and headed to bed leaving the house quiet for Betty and Henry to really get a chance to talk.

Henry sat on the couch with his elbows resting on his thighs. "So…" He started.

Betty, who sat opposite him with her hands fidgeting in her lap, replied. "So…"

"I'm so sorry you had to sit through all of that with my family. You know how they are; always looking out for me."

He eyed her. He knew she didn't realize what she had just implied but it hurt to think that he was the bad guy in their eyes. She shortly caught on.

"Well, you know what I mean."

He nodded. "Betty, I really should be going. I've got to get back to my hotel."

Betty checked her watch. It was almost 10:30. "Oh. Wow. I didn't realize how late it was." Time had flown by since Henry had arrived. "Well, um. I hope everything works out with your company's new project, and…it was really great to see you."

They had both made their way towards the door. Henry was not about to leave things like this between them. He had to at least see her once more before he headed back to Arizona. "I know it's really last minute, but I was actually wondering if you wanted to get dinner tomorrow night."

Betty's heart didn't have to think twice about it, but her brain was one step behind. "Yes!"

"Are you sure?" Henry asked in disbelief.

"Yeah. That would be great."

Henry smiled, and backed out the door not tearing his eyes away from her until the door was closed and blocked his vision of his haven on the other side.

Betty leaned against the door, and wasn't sure whether she should be happy or terrified. She settled on not thinking about it, and decided to stay in Queens for the night.