A/N: This story was written by various posters on the Instant-Connection forums. Whilst, a small portion of credit does go to me, it really goes to the other writers that got their creative juices flowing and out sprung this string story. Those contributers are: Benrydiva18, wdihtd, oscarcat729, nerakzb, Sarah, geeklove5, JustSomethingIKnow, and Dani. It will be sectioned off into 4 or 5 chapters just to make reading a bit easier.

Betty wakes up and feels the warm Arizona sun hit her face. She opens her eyes, gets out of bed and gets ready for the day.
Fir the past month, Betty has been just enjoying the relaxation and peacefulness of the Grand Canyon. Unfortunately today was the last day of her trip and would be coming back to New York the next day.
Meanwhile 341 miles south of the Canyon in the city of Tucson...

Henry was sitting at his mom's house, which he was now staying in until he found something else, eating breakfast, and his mind drifting as was inevitable onto Betty. A month ago she'd told him that she couldn't accept his proposal, and while she'd said she wasn't going to go to Rome with Gio, he didn't really know what to think anymore. He hadn't heard a word from her since they got back, and while he knew they'd agreed to have a clean break, he missed her desperately and would do anything to hear her voice again. But considering her reaction the last time he'd just reappeared in her life, he feel he could do anything about it. Meanwhile...

Back in NYC, Wilhelmina is enjoying her reign as EIC of MODE.
"MARC!" she calls. Marc runs in with his usual speed.
"Yes Wili?"
"Marc, call Bill and let's see what Daniel and the little runt is up to." she orders.
"Yes Wili." he says getting her cell phone and calling Bill.
"Yes. Uh Huh. Yep." his eyes widen. "Oh I see. Yes, I will inform her. Thank You. Buh Bye." he says hanging up.
"Well, what's going on?" she asks.
"It seems that Daniel is fighting for custody of Daniel Jr." he says with a scared look on his face.
"Really?" she asks. "Maybe we can turn this in our court..." she says with her "evil genius" face.
While this was happening...

Gio walks slowly along the streets of Rome. He had bought the first ticket he could find to Rome as soon as Betty crushed his heart. He couldn't stand being in New York without being able to see her.
At least she didn't chose Egg Salad over me, he mused. He wasn't looking and bumped into someone.
"Whoa! Sorry about that!"
"Gio?"
"Daniel? What are you doing here?"
"Daniel Jr. and I needed a break from his crazy family in France, so we took the private jet here. Where's Betty?"
"I thought she told you, she went to the Grand Canyon."
"With Henry?"
"No, by herself."
"I wonder why she didn't tell me. We got to go. Take care, Gio," Daniel says, flipping open his cell phone and speed dialing Betty's cell phone. Two rings and then...

Betty's phone rang and as she looked at the caller ID she wondered why he was calling.
"Daniel? What's up? '

Daniel said "Betty, what are you doing in the Grand Canyon/"

"How did you know where I was?" said Betty.

"I ran into Gio, and he told me"

"Oh" Betty said. What the heck are the chances of him running into Gio, she thought. "Well, I just 

needed time to think. My mother always wanted to come here, so I figured, why not. I am so confused on what to do, Daniel. I thought I might be able to try and forget Henry and him going to Tucson, but I can't. I love him so much Daniel, I just wish all this mess with Charlie and the baby, and us...well, and I just don't know what to do."

Daniel listened and he felt sad for his assistant who has helped him so much over the past 2 years. He said "Betty I can't tell you what to do, but I do want you to know that I will support you and help any way that I can."

"Thanks Daniel, I just need more time." Betty hung up the phone and was walking toward the sightseeing spot that overlooks the canyon. She thought to herself: Gosh, it's beautiful; I wish Henry was here to see this. I am sure he would love it. I am sure he would have some "just something I know" line he would tell me. She smiled at the thought, and then a tear rolled down her cheek.

Back in Tucson, Henry, attempting to get his mind away from all that is going on, searches through his bag for some reading material. All he is able to find is the first issue of HOT FLASH--the one with Betty's article. Despite the fact that the article had been edited so much that it no longer sounded like anything Betty would write, it still makes him momentarily happy to see her name. The happiness fades quickly, though. He sighs.

"Oh, well. It's better than nothing." He begins to read, when suddenly, the phone rings. He tries to ignore it, hoping it will be a call for his mother, and not some terrible call that will force him to enter back into the real world. It is to no avail, though. His mother enters the room with a phone in her hand.

"Henry, it's for you." She hands him the phone. "...it's Charlie."

Henry's heart sinks. What else could Charlie have to say to him? Hadn't she caused enough pain for him in the past year? He knew he couldn't blame her for everything, though. He takes the phone.

"Hello, Charlie. What's going on?"

"Henry, we need to talk."

"Um, sure. Why?"
"I can't tell you over the phone. Just come to my house, ok?"
"Ok sure, I'll be there in a few minutes."
Henry left the house confused and worried. What could she possibly need to talk about with him? Did she want to get back together with him? What it something about Nate? Was he ok? The thoughts running through his mind only worried Henry more as he turned into Charlie's driveway. Shortly after he rang the bell, Charlie opened the door.
"Charlie, is Nate ok?" Henry asked immediately, already moving to the nursery to find his son.
"He's fine Henry. I just... needed to tell you something."
"What is it?"
"Well... here it goes...

"Well," Charlie started. "I don't know how to say this. It's just I'm so confused and after all that has happened and such-"
"Charlie, what is it?" Henry asked, getting more nervous by the second.
"You're gonna hate me Henry. You will never talk to me or Nate again and it will all be my fault-"


"CHARLIE! Just tell me! What is it?!"
"It's not yours." she says softly. Henry's eyes widen and his mouth agape, at lost for words. "No. She did NOT say that after all this! I must have heard it wrong." he tells himself. He licks his lips, breathes in and out.
"Wha- What did you say?" He asks, tears brimming his eyes.
"It's not yours. Nate is not yours." she says louder.
Henry falls to his knees, and drops his head letting the tears flow, not knowing what to say, his world crashing down around him.
"No. no no no no no no no no no. It can't be! You took the test-"
"I lied Henry. It wasn't yours. Or Gabe's" she says. He jerks his head up.
"Then...Who's is it?!" He asks with clenched teeth. Charlie takes a deep breath, licks her lips and says it so soft he can barely hear.
"Gio"...