Author's note: Thanks so much for your kind and encouraging comments! I really appreciate it. And just thanks for reading in the first place and giving my little fic a chance. Here's the next chapter. Its still pretty much expositional, characters introducing themselves to other characters, which I hope comes across relatively naturally since I always find these type of scenes quite awkward to write. Which is funny when you think of it, because it's such a simple thing. Anyway, on with the story!

Disclaimer: See first chapter.

2

Daniel was running late.

He'd been getting ready for his night out when Becks had called unexpectedly, something about his flight being delayed and having to kill a few hours, so he asked Daniel to go for a drink. Daniel had agreed, figuring he'd have enough time before the Suarez party and besides, it wasn't very often that he and Becks were both in the same city; his photographer friend was constantly on the move from one location to another.

But he'd failed to realize that the bar Becks picked was on the complete opposite side of Manhattan to the Suarez house. And then of course Becks had been late to arrive, which meant that they stayed later than Daniel had originally intended. When he eventually left for the party he landed in bumper-to-bumper traffic and by the time he arrived at the Suarez mansion, he was forty-five minutes late.

The house was flooded with light and warmth, sounds of the party drifting out into the mild night. As he made his way up the pathway to the front door, Daniel noticed that while elegant and clearly the home of people of wealth and some consequence, the grandeur of the house was tastefully understated. It had character and warmth. It wasn't ostentatious and coldly formal like his family home.

For a moment Daniel wondered how his father and Ignacio Suarez had managed to become friends. He'd never met the Suarez family but, if the nature of the house was any indication of the person who lived in it, then Ignacio was a very different man to Bradford. The housekeeper showed Daniel to the ballroom where the party was in full swing.

There were a significant number of people but the majority of them seemed to be close friends and family. Children were darting in and out of the large French doors that led to the garden, laughing and squealing, and no one seemed to mind. Daniel scanned the crowd, trying to find his parents. He was looking so intently that he failed to watch where he was going and a moment later had collided with someone.

"Oops, sorry!" A soft voice called out.

Daniel looked up to find himself face to face with a pair of rich, dark eyes. They belonged to a young woman who couldn't be more than twenty five.

She was dressed in a beautiful emerald dress which flattered the curves of her petit yet sumptuously curvy figure and brought out the richness of her olive skin. Contrary to the typical, sophisticated pinned-up style, her jet black locks hung loose in soft waves that swept her shoulders. He'd reached out instinctively when they'd collided to steady them both, so now his hands were lightly gripping her bare upper arms.

Daniel swallowed hard, surprised at having such a visceral reaction to this young woman. She wasn't even his usual type.

"I'm so sorry," She carried on speaking, her voice apologetic and warm. "I should have been looking where I was going."

"It's quite alright," Daniel found his voice at last, "I wasn't paying enough attention either. But there's no harm done," He dropped his hands back to his sides and gave her a smile.

"Well then," She smiled back pleasantly, "if you'll excuse me, I'd better take this call," She gestured to the phone that she was still half holding to her ear.

"Of course," Daniel nodded slightly, and stepped aside to let her pass. The young woman gave him an appreciative smile and was then weaving her way through the crowded ballroom again.

"No...I'm still here Jesse...I was just being my usual clumsy self and ploughed into some poor, unsuspecting man..." He heard her say into her phone before she was out of earshot.

Daniel chuckled slightly at her self-deprecating words. She didn't seem like the kind of women he usually met in these circles and Daniel hoped he would run into her again before the night was over.

Just then he felt a hand on his shoulder and Daniel turned around to see his mother, Claire.

"Daniel darling, there you are," She kissed his cheek. "We were beginning to worry you weren't going to show," She said.

"I'm so sorry Mom. Becks called unexpectedly and we went for drinks. He was late, which made me late. And then traffic was a nightmare..." Daniel trailed off.

"Why am I not surprised," The stern baritone of his father cut in.

"Hello Dad," Daniel said soberly, looking up at the imposing frame of Bradford Meade.

"Bradford, just for tonight can you put aside your differences," Claire ventured. "After all, this is the first time in a very long time that we're all together as a family. Let's not fight with each other."

"Alright Claire," Bradford's tone immediately softened as he addressed his wife, "you're right."

Bradford turned back to his son.

"Come on then. It's time you greeted our host, maybe salvage this poor first impression you've made."

Daniel swallowed hard over his father's jibe. It had been seven years, yet some things would never change. No matter how hard he tried, he would never, never meet his father's expectations.

"Come on darling," Claire said, gently taking his arm, "let's go meet Ignacio Suarez."

Daniel smiled at his mother and allowed her to guide him across the floor, while his father followed. Claire led them to a man about Daniel's height, handsomely greying, in a well turned-out suit. He was laughing warmly as he talked with a gentleman next to him. Standing near him was a man with his arm protectively around a pregnant woman. They both looked about Daniel's age. A more mature woman, with familiar dark eyes, was talking to them.

"Pardon our interruption Ignacio," Claire spoke.

"Not at all Claire," Ignacio spoke warmly as he turned to her. "We are all friends here and, after the past five years, you are practically family."

Claire smiled in appreciation and his father responded,

"You are very kind Ignacio and we wholly share your sentiments," Bradford said smiling and the two men shook hands. Daniel stood a little awkwardly until Claire remembered he and Ignacio had not yet met.

"Ignacio, I'd like to introduce you to our son," Claire looked at Daniel fondly. "This is Daniel."

Daniel stepped forward and offered his hand. "I'm pleased to meet you sir and happy birthday. I'm sorry I was late to your celebration," He added sheepishly.

Ignacio clasped his hand warmly. "Do not make yourself uneasy Daniel. You are here now and you are most welcome."

Daniel nodded his thanks. Ignacio's warm, friendly tone had him instantly relaxing.

"It is good to meet you at last, Daniel," the mature woman with the familiar dark eyes greeted him kindly. "Your mother has spoken of you often."

"This is my wife Rosa," Ignacio said, as Daniel and the mature woman shook hands. "And here is my eldest daughter, Hilda," He indicated the pregnant woman, who nodded in acknowledgement, "and her husband, my son-in-law, Bobby," He gestured towards the man standing beside Hilda, who shook Daniel's hand.

"My grandson Justin is also around here somewhere," Ignacio laughed slightly, "but where is Elisabetta?" He looked across the room quickly.

"She's my youngest daughter," He explained, turning back to Daniel, "she was here just a minute ago."

"She might be in the garden with the children Papi," Hilda piped up, "little Salina was asking for her earlier."

"Ah," Ignacio nodded thoughtfully, "the children are always asking for Betty."

"She's such a lovely, sweet girl," Claire added.

"At any rate, you will meet her before the night is over," Ignacio addressed Daniel once more. "I hope you have come hungry. Mrs. Suarez has arranged a small feast for us this evening. Come everyone, we must enjoy ourselves!"

Daniel was surprised to find he was having a good time.

Society parties were usually stuffy, boring affairs but the Suarez family was different.

They were warm, generous and sincere. The people they had here tonight were all people they genuinely liked and cared for, which made all the difference. Daniel had been having an animated conversation with Bobby, when Hilda called for her husband and Bobby had to excuse himself.

When Bobby went off with Hilda, Daniel rejoined his mother just in time to see the dark-haired beauty in emerald that he'd bumped into earlier heading their way. But it wasn't Daniel she came to talk to. Instead she greeted his mother while he looked on in surprise.

"Hello Mrs. Meade," the young woman said, giving his mother a warm hug which Claire happily returned. "I'm sorry for not greeting you sooner."

"It's quite alright dear. I can imagine you've had your hands full tonight. It's quite the to-do."

"It's a little bit much isn't it?" the girl laughed slightly. "I just hope I haven't forgotten to greet any of my aunts. But it is nice to have everyone together like this," She admitted.

"I know what you mean," Claire said, touching Daniel's arm, "I'm over the moon to have both my husband and son with me tonight. You haven't met Daniel yet, have you?" His mother said looking between the two of them.

At that moment the young woman finally looked over to him. Her eyes widened slightly in recognition and then her lips twitched, as though she were trying not to giggle. Claire, unaware of this exchange, proceeded to introduce the two of them.

"Daniel, this is Betty, well, Elisabetta Suarez; Ignacio's youngest daughter."

Daniel smiled. What were the odds? His mystery beauty was also his host's daughter.

"Betty's fine," the young woman said, shaking his hand in greeting.

He smirked slightly. "Hello again."

Claire frowned, confused. "Again? So the two of you have met?"

"Not exactly. We ran into each other earlier," Daniel explained, and watched in delight as Betty's cheeks flushed prettily.

"What your son means to say is that I almost knocked him over and into the flower arrangement next to him," Betty added, her cheeks still a pretty rosy hue. "I am so sorry about that," She said to Daniel.

Daniel just shrugged. "Like I said before, it was as much my fault as yours."

Betty smiled appreciatively but before anything else could be said, something on the other side of the ballroom seemed to catch her eye.

"I'm sorry," She said again, "you'll have to excuse me; my grandmother is calling for me. It was nice to meet you Daniel," Betty continued, smiling at him again. "Mrs. Meade I'll find you again later and we can catch up," She said to his mother.

"Absolutely dear, I want to hear all about what you've been up to lately," Claire said warmly.

Betty nodded in agreement and was then making her way towards the sweet looking old-woman who'd called for her.

Daniel continued to watch Betty as she greeted her grandmother and they had some sort of exchange. Betty nodded in response to something the old woman said before disappearing into the crowd again. When Daniel finally tore his gaze away from her he found his mother watching him with a knowing smile.

"What?" Daniel said, fighting down a flush of embarrassment.

"Nothing," Claire sipped delicately at her champagne and looked like the cat that ate the canary.

Daniel eyed his mother warily but Claire didn't say anything else and turned her attention to the rest of the party.

He really should have known better. Just as he was starting to relax his mother spoke again.

"You should ask Betty to dance later," She said. That wasn't too bad, Daniel thought. Then,

"Daniel you're so cute when you've got a crush. The two of you will have such pretty babies."

"Mom!"