More Than Another Pretty Woman

CHAPTER ONE

A/N: This is one scene I don't usually "mess with" because I feel like their "special night" was already pretty perfect. But I'm going to "tweak it" a bit and see what happens to our favorite couple!

"So...how's it going over at MYW, Betty? Are you learning a lot from… HER?"

Betty couldn't stand to see Daniel so broken. His loft looked like a bomb had gone off. Or a hoarder was hiding out. Or both. There were empty pizza boxes, and assorted other empty food cartons everywhere. Not to mention the man himself. He was unshaven, wearing a ratty bathrobe, and looked (and smelled) as if he hadn't showered in days.

"After what that woman did to you, Daniel, I couldn't keep working for her!"

"You quit?" When she nodded, "Mmhmm." his smile lit up, and he held up both his hands. "Is this okay?"

Betty laughed, "You're really into this high five thing, huh?"

After a moment, yet another Fashion Buzz TV "juicy" piece of gossip, talking about how Sofia was seen, dancing the night away at some club or out on the town with a billionaire movie star appeared on the screen.

Betty ran quickly over towards the TV and tried to turn it off, but she wasn't fast enough and Daniel grabbed the racquet she had almost hit him with and threw it, narrowly missing Betty in the process. She saw it coming, and ducked, just in time, but still fell down.

Daniel's eyes widened and he ran over to her, picking her up, "BETTY! Oh my God, I'm so sorry! Are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

"I can't believe you quit your job for me. What are you doing for money?"

She smiled, "You're looking at the former "Chip Chick" at La Hacienda restaurant in Queens!"

He laughed, "Chip chick? Former, huh? You quit a lucrative job like that? Did you...at least make good tips?"

She shook her head, "Not really! Besides, you know what a klutz I am! I ended up dropping plates and having to pay for them, so...I didn't really make enough to make it worth it to work there!"

Daniel chuckled, nodding, "I feel terrible that I encouraged you to take the job working for HER, then you ended up quitting to show your support for me."

"I couldn't possibly work for that...woman. What she did to you was

terrible! I can't believe I used to look up to her! I mean...I wrote a paper about her?! Now that I know what she's really like…"

"Never meet your idols, huh? Thanks, Betty. Maybe I can call my father and see if there's another magazine you could work at. Believe it or not, he actually offered to fire her after what she did. He said...I was still his son and she hurt me. It surprised the hell out of me to hear him say that. But I told him her little stunt would sell a lot of magazines."

Betty pulled him to her and hugged him, then pushed him away, making a face, "Um, I'm sorry, Daniel, but...you really NEED to take a shower! Go ahead, PLEASE! And I'll...get a dump truck and clean up in here. I'm taking you out. You can't stay here, hiding out forever!"

"You're right. I know I can't." he turned his head to sniff his robe and made a face, as he headed to the bathroom, "I'm going to take your advice and go get that shower. Then I'm going to burn this damn robe!" he started to take it off, but realized he was naked underneath, so he went inside the bathroom, then stuck his hand outside the door, throwing the offending robe to the floor, before he shut the door, turning on the shower.

Betty laughed, shaking her head as she began picking things up, and trying to straighten up. A half hour later, Daniel emerged, still dewy from his shower, a towel wrapped loosely around him, and freshly shaven. The difference in his appearance was startling. "DANIEL!"

He smiled, holding up one hand in front of himself, "You're not going to try and hit me with that damn racquet again are you? I told you, I didn't mean to throw it at you, I swear!"

She laughed, "No! I'm fine. You just...surprised me. You look...great! A LOT better. You smell better, too!"

He laughed, "Thanks! If you could smell me from there, I'd be really worried!"

"I could when I first got here. Please don't let that happen again! Or going out, getting so drunk you order "crotch socks"! I mean...nobody cares, Daniel! I know you're hurting. But…"

"I know what you're going to say. Get over it, right? I hear you. I know you're right. I just … hate that the player got played! She hurt my pride. That I'll get over. But this time...well, I let her get to me, make me think...maybe SHE was...I don't know...different. Maybe she actually cared about the real me. How the hell did I know, I wasn't dating the real HER? The more I think about it, now I'm pissed off!"

"Good! You should be! It doesn't do any good to bury your head in the sand. Or your thousand thread count Egyptian cotton sheets that you've been crying on and spilling...what is that? Never mind! I don't want to know! Where are your clean sheets?"

"Betty, stop! You don't have to make up my bed for me, okay? I'm not a child! I'll do it. Did you clean up in here?" he looked around, seeing there were no empty food cartons and trash lying around in his bedroom.

She shrugged, "Somebody had to! It was a pig stye! Now, how about putting some clothes on? You can't go out like that unless you want to get a job at Boylesque! I'll straighten up downstairs a little while you get dressed. I'm taking you to a normal restaurant that serves fruits and vegetables!"

"Fine, but I'm buying. You're unemployed, thanks to me, remember?"

"You didn't need to remind me." she was hoping he would think of some way for her to come back to Mode. Not that she wanted him to fire Amanda or anything. That wouldn't be fair to her.

If she hadn't quit working for Daniel in the first place, she could have protected him from Sofia! She blamed herself for not being suspicious of Ms. Reyes all along. If she hadn't put the woman on such a pedestal, Betty would have seen through her scheme to humiliate poor Daniel!

Finally, almost an hour later, he came downstairs, looking around to see his kitchen and living room almost spotless. He shook his head, "If you ever want to work as my maid, you're hired! How the hell did you clean up so fast down here?"

She glanced at her watch, shaking her head, "It wasn't that fast, Daniel! You take longer than any girl I know getting dressed!"

"Haha! That's for damn sure! She's got you pegged, buddy! Hey, Daniel! And...this must be the famous Betty I've heard so much about, right? This guy talks about you all the time,little lady! Nice to finally meet you in person."

Betty blushed, "You, too, Becks. I'd know your voice anywhere. I think you were in Africa that one time you called. I heard growling in the background!"

Becks raised his eyebrows, "Nah, that was just some model I was dating. We broke up, though. So, I'm available, now. Listen, if this guy ever gives you a hard time, you just let me know, okay, Betty?" he put his arm around Betty, who giggled, biting her lip.

Daniel pushed Becks away from Betty, "Alright, alright That's enough! Leave her alone, will you?"

"How's it hanging, brother! I heard...well, what happened! Glad to see you're not hiding under your bed in the fetal position like you did that time I stole Marilyn Dibner from you in our Sophomore year at Harvard! You should have seen him, Betty! He was a mess!"

Becks patted Daniel's arm and held out his to Betty, "So, where are you taking us tonight, Danny boy? Somewhere that has a nice, big juicy steak! I've been in Mumbai for the past month and I could...eat a cow!"

Betty giggled, and Daniel rolled his eyes, "Very funny! What brings you home?"

"You! I got an SOS from your biggest fan! Shelly said you were...pretty much a basket case and told me what that crazy be-otch did to you on some damn talk show, no less! OUCH!"

"Who's Shelly?"

"His little sister. She sort of...has a crush on me. Ever since we were in college and she tried to get me to take her to her senior prom."

Becks shrugged, "Hey, you could do a lot worse than my sister, dude! At least she never tried to get you to propose to her! First of all, will you please tell me what the HELL were you thinking, proposing to some chick you just met two months ago? Haven't I taught you better than that?"

Daniel sighed, "Take it easy on me, okay? I was NOT a basket case! I just...got back from Rio!"

Becks raised his eyebrow, assessing his longtime friend, "Then where's your tan? I call bullshit, dude! You were right here, in the bedroom the whole time, weren't you?"

"Fine! Whatever! Let's go!"

"I was thinking Michael Jordan's. They're known for their steak, so...that should make you happy, Becks. Betty, is that okay with you?"

She shrugged, feeling as if she was a third wheel. She stretched and faked a yawn, "I don't know. I'm pretty tired. I think I might let you two catch up. I'll see you around, Daniel. Good to meet you in person, Becks."

"Oh, no you don't! I think this belongs to you, Daniel. And I need a date, too, so…Betty has to come along. I don't share." Becks opened the door wider and Amanda walked in, flashing open her coat to reveal a very short dress. "Oh-la everybody! I'm here, so now we can get this party started!"

For a minute, Daniel was worried she had on even less under her coat, and his eyes widened, but he shrugged when he saw she was at least dressed, "Fine, whatever!"

"I tried to get you a date with Giselle, Daniel. But her "people" said it was too short of a notice. She was already booked to go out with some ball player!"

Betty's eyes lit up, "Oh, that's a great idea, Amanda. Just think, if they became a power couple, people would call them 'Gisanelle!"

"Ooh, I like that! Marc was talking to Wilhelmina about something sneaky as usual, and they kicked me out! I wanted to make sure you weren't here, hiding out like Becksie said you might be! I told him you were in Rio, but he didn't believe it.

Wait, Betty, sorry but I can't let you come with us looking like that. This look might be all the rage in Queens, but if we're going somewhere nice, and I'm going to be seen with you in public, we need to make a pitstop at The Closet first! Maybe you can borrow something from Braveheart that doesn't look like a balloon animal!" she held out Betty's blue puffy coat, making a gagging motion.

"Hey! Be nice to Betty, Amanda! I am coming back to Mode you know and..."

"Let me guess, you want Betty back as your assistant? Big surprise! Fine, Daniel, but since I'm now way overqualified as a receptionist, I'll need a raise."

"That sounds fair." He grinned at Betty, who looked relieved.

He really didn't like the idea of going out as a foursome. He just wanted to go out with Betty, and have a nice, quiet meal. But with Becks and Amanda along, it was going to mess everything up. And Amanda wanted to try and do some stupid makeover for Betty? She didn't need that crap!

He picked up her coat and helped her put it back on, "Betty looks fine just the way she is. Leave her alone, Amanda. I tell you what, why don't you two go ahead and save us a booth and we'll meet you there? You can get started drinking. Here, it's on me." He handed Becks several hundred dollar bills.

"Okay, fine. But be good. Don't do anything I wouldn't do! Are you sure this guy can be trusted alone, Betty? Do you need me to chaperone?" He put his arm around Betty.

Again, Betty giggled slightly. She knew Becks was being silly and cheesy, but...who cared? The guy was a total dreamboat!

Daniel made a face, put his hands on Amanda's shoulders and led her out, pulling Becks away from Betty and handing him off to Amanda, "Right! Betty needs a chaperone from ME?! You're the player, not me, Becks! Get lost! We'll meet you there later."

As soon as they left, Daniel sighed, and plopped on a chair, turning on the television in the living room. Betty made a face and grabbed the remote, "What do you think you're doing?"

"Watching the game! The finals are on tonight!"

"So? Since when do you stay home on a Friday night, watching television? If you don't want to go to the restaurant, there are bars with your silly games on, you know! They're called sports bars! As long as you eat actual food."

"No kidding! I just didn't want to go out with those two idiots! And you don't need...any stupid crap from The Closet!" he stopped, looking at her, switching off the television and crossed to her, "Unless you really do WANT something from there.

It's up to you. We can still go out, maybe get some French food. Do you like escargot? I didn't like the way Amanda was giving you such a hard time before. You look fine the way you are, Betty."

She looked down at her dress. Hardly 'fancy' enough to be seen out on the town with Daniel she thought. "Thank you, Daniel, that's sweet, but if you don't mind, I would like to stop at Mode. I don't want to feel like I did at Madison Six that time with Vincent Bianchi. I'll call Christina. Who knows, maybe she has one of her own designs there that will actually fit me."

"Okay, no problem-o. You came here and waited around for me, cleaned up after me, and got me out of my funk. If you want to get dressed up to go out, I'll wait for you, Betty. It's still early." he smiled, checking his watch. "You're right; I need to get out. Who knows, maybe the paparazzi will follow us. They can call us...Baniel or…Detty!"