AN: I'm hesitant about writing something really long, but I have a few ideas in mind that my mind refuses to let go of for a detty fanfic set after the finale. So this is the start of that story. I also wasn't sure about using the blog-entry as the first chapter, but I felt it went best with how I have the story in mind. I'm aware there's a blog-update fanfiction (which I loved!) for Betty's blog, and I have no intention of doing that specifically. This story will be a regular story, with an occasional blog- update (if it works better for the storyline) or even an occasional email to further the plot.

This is a Detty-romance story (for non-detty shippers). And I feel I must note my interpretation (which seems to be the unpopular one) that their dinner date is not in fact a date-date. I see it as a bit more then a friends-catching-up dinner, but not quite a date either. So..basically a sort-of-date without THEM realizing it's really a date :). I don't think either was quite ready to admit to the other or themselves (though Daniel might) that they had feelings that went beyond a close friendship. Anyway, enough of my rambling, on with the story :)

Warning: Massive spoilers for 4.20 'Hello Goodbye' and I have no clue what rating it's going to end up in.

Disclaimer: I don't own Ugly Betty etc. etc.

Look To This Day

The bliss of growth,

The glory of action,

The splendor of achievement

Are but experiences of time.

(Look To This Day – Kalidasa)

Some time ago I shared my thoughts with you on goodbyes, today I wanted to talk about beginnings. Or at least that was my intention when sitting down to write a new update for my blog. Somehow, when I decided to open with a part of Kalidasa's poem Look To This Day, I ended up with an idea about time instead. Lately I increasingly find myself needing more time in a day to get everything done. Something I have yet to share with you, my dear readers, is that I recently got the opportunity of a lifetime in starting up and help running a new magazine! Working for this type of magazine would have been a dream come true, but to help run it is something I would never have dared to hope for. At least not for another couple of years or so. The catch you ask? It's in London. So on top of starting my job straight away (which is everything and more then I had hoped and dreamed of!) I'm trying to deal with everything that comes with moving to a different country. The only bright side to having so many things to do during the day that I find myself wishing for more hours in a day, is that I don't actually have time to stop and think about what and who I left behind.

My amazing family for one, my friends and a few former neighbors. I miss them every day, but I don't have much time to think about it. It makes it easier. I've been moving so fast the last couple of weeks that I really haven't had much time for anything. The first edition of the magazine has to be done soon, people need to be hired, articles need to be approved, concept meetings, interviews, and we're still trying to find a good building for the magazine to start it's office at. Not to mention that I need to find a decent and affordable apartment really soon. The list never ends. Needless to say I have had no time to go sightseeing or even take a moment to take it all in and enjoy it. Now I don't want you guys to think this is me complaining about it. To be honest, I didn't even notice how fast everything was going until something happened. Or rather, someone happened.

From all the people I left behind in New York, leaving one person specifically behind hurt me the most. Not per sé because this person means more to me than say, my family. I consider him to be something like family. But I never got to say goodbye to him and that made it infinitely more difficult. I was under the belief that he hated me, because honestly I did not handle telling him I was leaving very well. Until I was on my way to pick something up for a friend at home during my lunch hour (apparently, being in a different country inevitably leads to shopping-runs for friends and family at home – buying them things they can't possibly get anywhere at home). That's when I literally bumped into this friend I never got to say goodbye to. Best friend actually. He followed me here to right that wrong and he's sticking around for a while. It's so wonderful to have my best friend here with me in London (even if it's probably only for a little while). It's like home is here with me now, in the shape of someone I can see and talk to every day. During my meeting I couldn't stop enjoying that feeling of happiness. That something as simple as a friend being here with me makes me feel like everything is going to be alright. I took a tremendous risk in accepting this job, and for the first time since arriving it doesn't feel like that big of a risk anymore. It also made me realize that things may have been going a bit too fast. Sometimes you have to stop, step back and enjoy the moment. Which is what I'm doing tonight as I'm having dinner with my friend. No working till the wee hours, but pure enjoyment of the moment!

This brings me back to the poem, one I've loved since the day I read it somewhere. I find it inspiring and it captures what I've tried to write out here in a live example so absolutely perfect. All my achievements, the growth I've gone through to get where I am now and the actions (or risks) I've taken, all of that doesn't take away that this moment is mine to enjoy. If I don't enjoy right now, then it will become just another memory not worth remembering. To make my personal achievement worth anything to me in the future – I'll have to enjoy it first right now. Three lines of the poem specifically speak to me.

And today well-lived, makes

Yesterday a dream of happiness

And every tomorrow a vision of hope.

That's what I want to leave you with, and that is my wish for you. May your yesterday be a dream of happiness, and your tomorrow a vision of hope.

Ps. I just realized that the aforementioned shopping run was probably a set-up so my friend knew where to find me. So in case she reads it, thank you Mrs. Meade! Do you still want me to send you that special tea-blend?