A/N: A little long and it takes a while to get into this one I think but I do hope you keep with it…

Obviously you'll be replacing the (dot) with a .

Betty's dress : http://www(dot)monsoon(dot)co(dot)uk/Evening-Dresses/Maritius-Dress/invt/65229637&bklist=icat,5,shop,women,dresses,eveningdresses

Amanda's dress : http://www(dot)monsoon(dot)co(dot)uk/Evening-Dresses/Tiffin-Dress/invt/65235153&bklist=icat,5,shop,women,dresses,eveningdresses

One uneventful plane ride later, well uneventful if you just ignored the "mild" turbulence which honestly didn't have Betty clutching for the rosary beads her Papi liked her to have with her on every trip, and she was home. The city felt strange to her because London was where she belonged now but New York always had that special something about it, that something you just can't quite put your finger on but you can feel it. The feeling of being back home.

Hilda wanted her to call her when she got to the airport so that Bobby could come pick her up but after last years…incident…she thought a cab would be the safer option. Although she politely told Hilda she didn't want to trouble anyone.

It was around 7pm when she finally arrived at the familiar front gate. For a moment she stood there just taking it all in, remembering times gone by, savouring the moment before she would be attacked by several (she lost count after number 5) nieces and nephews all excited to see their aunt Betty.

She walked through the front door, prepared to be sabotaged but all she was greeted with was an empty room with some balloons and the traditional welcome home banner they always brought out for her return.

"Hello?"

She heard a bunch of pans rattling as they fell to the floor followed by shuffling as her old Papi came out to greet her.

"Mija!" he cried, throwing his arms wide welcoming her into his embrace.

She threw her arms around him and squeezed him tightly, so happy to see him again.

"Where is everyone? Normally I can't get through the door for you guys." she chuckled lightly presuming they were hiding and just waiting to jump on her or had gone out to get food and drink for what would be a night to remember.

Her father's face was serious now as he frowned.

"Sorry Betty, it's just me and you. They've all gone out to see Austin's latest production-opening night, you see."

"Oh" she said, trying not to sound too disappointed. Why was she even disappointed? Seems she failed to realise just how much she loved her usual big welcome home.

"They know how you don't like a fuss."

"Yeah I hate that…" she trailed off towards the end, slightly down-hearted.

He wasn't going to ask her, for he wanted nothing more than to spend the whole night catching up with his daughter , but seeing the disappointed look on her face at her rather lukewarm welcome he thought it might cheer her up.

"If it isn't too much trouble mija, I'd like to ask you to do something for me tonight."

"Name it dad"

"You know how Daniel usually invites me along to that charity dinner of his…the um…you know the one that…the uh" he couldn't bring himself to say it.

The one for cancer

"I know the one." she smiled sadly at him, not being able to say the word out loud herself.

"Well he invited me along again this year and I turned him down because you were coming home tonight. But," he sighed heavily, " I feel guilty for not being there. Like it's an insult to your mother's memory."

"Dad…" Betty cut across him but Ignacio raised his hands to stop her.

"I want you to be there for her Betty."

"And leave you stuck here alone? No way dad! You gave up tonight for me so I'm not going to turn around and walk out on you."

"Betty every year Daniel asks you to come too and you're never here for it. He even moved it forward by a week, as far forward as he could move it, in the hope that you would come. You never make enough time for him anymore and I know he misses you. Please do this for him, for me and most importantly for your mother."

Betty stared at him, mouth agape. She really didn't have an answer for him and realised that it would give her the chance to catch up with old friends, friends she rarely had time for anymore. But still she was determined not to leave him. She opened her mouth to argue once again but he moved forwards, grasped her hands in his and silenced her with one word.

"Please."

If she was lost before, she certainly couldn't find a response after that.

"Ok" she whispered quietly and turned to go get ready.

As she touched up her make up and searched for the perfect outfit her father's words about not making time for Daniel echoed in her mind. She thought of what she had become; a complete workaholic who only saw her family for a week at Christmas time and didn't really have any friends to speak of back in London. That is what had become of the once social butterfly known as Betty Suarez. It was something she had never admitted to herself before but as she stared in the mirror she could see it, the years of hard work etched into her furrowed brow, no smile and all sparkle gone. Ambition had completely consumed her and left her successful but very much alone at the age of 46.

Shaking her head she woke from her reverie and pushing those horrible thoughts to the back of her mind she slipped on a luxurious silky blue gown, with a brightly colour sequin embellished bust detail. She decided against doing anything to her hair, allowing it to fall in curly cascades which stopped just past her shoulders. With one last glance in the mirror she slicked on a glossy nude lip-gloss, grabbed a pair of gold heels and headed for the stairs, shoving on the shoes as she descended.

"You look stunning mija" Ignacio thought she always did but tonight she truly was a vision. Age and hard work had not withered her beauty and she looked every inch the image of success. Radiant.

"Thanks Papi" she said as she reached over to kiss him on the cheek before being broken apart by the cab driver honking for her to hurry up.

She dashed out the door as Ignacio waved after her and just before she shut the door he hastily added that he'd told Daniel she'd be there. Betty laughed quietly to herself knowing that even if Daniel didn't know she was coming, he'd make room for her.

She told the driver the address and they began to speed towards her destination, Betty sitting in the back still smiling inwardly at the thought of seeing old friends and happy that she could do this for her mom.

New Year was still over a week away but she had already make her resolution, right there in the back of the cab, that from now on work came second and tonight was the start of the new Betty who, ironically enough, was the old Betty.

Stepping out into the cool night air there was a palpable feeling of anticipation and excitement. She proudly walked up the front steps into a large, elegant hallway, decorated with chandeliers, antiques and white marble. Quite breathtaking.

As she looked around the room and became all too aware of her blatant lack of partner and hastily went to find Daniel to keep her company - apparently he preferred to take his mom to this event rather than a date.

His familiar posture and sharp silvery grey suit stood out amidst a sea of black tuxedos and Betty rushed as gracefully as she could across the room to see her old friend.

She crept up behind him and covered his eyes with her hands while crying out the traditional "GUESS WHO?!"

Daniel laughed as he pulled her hands away from his face and turned to look at her.

"Betty it's so good to see you!" he exclaimed, lifting her by the waist and twirling her around in a tight hug. "You look wonderful."

"Thank you" she blushed. "It has been far too long Daniel. I'm sorry the only contact we seem to have these days is via email and normally it's all work, work, work! I promise you I'm going to change that." She smiled up at him, delighted that he was just as happy to see her as she was to see him.

Suddenly a bell chimed, echoing in the cavernous entrance way alerting the guests to take their seats for dinner.

Daniel held out his arm to Betty which she accepted graciously and he led her towards a very important looking, yet empty table.

"Here we are Betty" he said, pulling her chair out for her.

"When did you become such a gent?" she giggled.

"All down to the love of a good woman Betty." he laughed.

Startled by his reply Betty's face whipped up from her napkin, smile gone.

"Woman? You're dating again?" she enquired, perplexed for Daniel had never really been serious with anyone since Molly…the odd fling and his usual casual thing with Amanda but that was nothing new!

"Yeah, someone you may remember actually," he replied with a cheeky smile, "Here she is."

Amanda Tanen who looked as flawless now as she did when Betty last saw her a few years back, strolled towards the table in a sexy little mink coloured dress that still managed to be effortlessly classy. She just stood there hand on hip, yawning exaggeratedly with her left hand. "Oh I'm soooo tired tonight." She cast a sneaky glance towards Betty.

"Amanda!" her voice came out rather falsetto in her surprise at the new love of Daniel's life. "It's really good to see you again."

She got to her feet and made towards her to hug her but instead Amanda held out her hand to Betty.

"A little formal but ok…" said Betty shaking her hand. Her left hand. Who shakes with their left hand?

That's when she saw it, glistening on her ring finger. A huge hunk of diamond, a single stone with a platinum band. Betty's eyes widened in shock as she squealed "CONGRATULATIONS!"

"Finally Suarez! I thought I was going to have to wrap my hand in a taco for you to notice." She brushed casually past Betty to take her seat beside Daniel.

That's when Betty noticed the two other empty seats at their table.

Settling herself back down in her seat, she couldn't help but feel a little pain at the thought that Daniel and Amanda, two friends she always imagined would share bachelorhood with her, had now found each other. She couldn't be happier for them but a little monster of the green variety was dancing around in the pit of her stomach.

Would she be the only one to end up completely alone?

As the couple sat canoodling beside her Betty glanced around awkwardly, not really sure where to look. It was only when she saw Amanda's hand move from the table and slip underneath it that she felt she had to intervene.

"So," she began, a little too eagerly, "will your mom be joining us tonight Daniel? Or Marc and Cliff? God, it's been so long since I saw all of them too. You know, much as I love London I do feel like I'm…" She stopped mid sentence noticing that their attention had been drawn away from each other and from Betty. She followed their gaze and there he was.

The first time she had seen him in 18 years.

Giovanni Rossi.

He wasn't alone.

A/N: Dun dun duuuuuun! Like I said, a little slow but I did give you Gio :)

Also I may mess up the ages a little. I'm taking Betty as 26 and Gio as 28 in London Calling which makes them 44 and 46 now. But please do forgive me if I slip up somewhere or with any other characters.