A/N: Sorry this update has been to delayed, I've been really busy with a family function and under the weather just a little, my laptop has been off for the past couple days so I could rest. With it on, I'm go go go but I needed time out. Thank you to all of you for lovely reviews, they're uplifting and greatly appreciated. On with the show...well story...

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own Ugly Betty or anything to really do with the production and writing of the show. I'm an avid viewer with an overexcited imagination. Please refrain from suing me!

The resort that they were staying at was an hour out of New York, extremely exclusive and very beautiful; he knew Betty would appreciate the place, perhaps more so than he did. He glanced at her as they were led to the reception, her face was bright with excitement, her eyes darting around the place in every directions. Twice already he had to steer her clear of danger because she wasn't watching where she was going, oddly enough it didn't bother him.

'Mr Meade,' the receptionist smiled broadly at them.

'I reserved the west wing,' Bradford stated.

'Yes sir, I have it all here for you. You're the first of your party to arrive,' she was still smiling broadly.

'Fantastic, thank you,' he smiled quickly at the girl before facing his children. 'Now Alexis you're on the north side, and Daniel, you and Betty at the end of the hall, the room that overlooks the lake,' he glanced at Betty. 'I thought you would enjoy that.'

'Thank you Dad,' he replied feeling Betty squeeze his hand.

'Glad to see you two getting into the swing of things,' he glanced at their joined hands before handing him the key. 'Remember, the family will be here in two hours, figure out your plan of attack by then.'

'Quick question,' he asked scratching his chin. 'When is Alexis's date getting here?'

'With the family,' Alexis replied. 'He's a close friend of Aunt Muriel's son Robert.'

'Right, so they already know your date, it's mine everyone's worried about,' he wasn't happy about this anymore.

'I would be more worried if you'd brought that blonde bimbo from the front desk again, at least Betty knows how to interact with other people instead of just wanting 'alone' time,' Bradford glared at him. 'I have enough confidence in Betty to know she'll be fine, it's you I'm worried about; this year you actually have to face the family and God knows how that's going to go!' Bradford stormed towards the elevator. 'I'll see you in two hours!'

'Well, that went well,' Betty smiled weakly. 'What are we going to do for the next two hours?'

'Daniel here is going to make sure the luggage gets to our rooms,' Alexis grinned. 'We, dear Betty, are going to the spa!' With a flick of her hair, Alexis dragged a startled Betty from the foyer.

He chuckled to himself before directing the bell boy to the next elevator. Alexis had taken a strange liking to Betty, the aftermath was yet to be determined, but it was good for Betty. It meant she had another friend at MODE, friends were important; and he knew that all too well. He directed the bell boy to Alexis's room before his and Betty's; spending the weekend with Betty didn't sound bad at all, it was the whole, spending it in the same room that was getting to him. It was a decent sized room, he was sure that Betty would be enthralled with everything; glancing at the bed he gulped, it was big enough for the two of them, but would she want to share the bed or would he get the couch?

He paid the bellboy his tip then walked out onto the balcony, spread out before him was a beautiful iced over lake, around the edges were tables and chairs for the guest but what caught his attention was at the far end. Sitting on the edge of the bank was a small hut-like building, the vines had grown over the roof and sides, almost obscuring it from view, but it completed the picture for him. He loosened his tie and began unpacking his suitcase, making sure to leave enough space for Betty's things. After pulling on some jeans and a polo shirt, he made his way downstairs to the hotel bar and waited out the remaining hour.

'I can't believe how gorgeous this place is!' A familiar voice shrilled from the foyer.

He strolled into the foyer with a smile plastered on his face. 'Aunt Muriel,' he greeted the woman. 'Uncle Fredrick, Robert...and?'

'Dean,' Robert answered. 'He's Alexis's date. And where's yours? Up in the room awaiting your return?'

'Daniel!' his aunt burst. 'Look at how you've changed!'

'He hasn't changed that much,' Robert mumbled.

'Of course he has, look he greeted us this year!' Her hands clasped his face. 'Did you bring that snooty girl from last year again? Or did you finally find a nice girl?'

'Actually...' he was cut off by his father.

'Muriel, Fredrick! You're early,' his father smiled at his family. 'How are you Robert? No date? And this must be Dean, nice to meet you Alexis has been talking about you.'

'Bradford, it's so good to see you in high spirits, what with Claire being in prison and all,' Muriel replied sadly. 'That poor woman.'

'Yes, well we're all coping,' Bradford replied. 'I think Daniel has had an easier time with it.'

'Why would you say that?'

'He's had a wonderful woman by his side through the entire ordeal,' if he wasn't mistaken his father actually looked proud. 'Ah here they come now. Alexis your date has arrived.'

'Hello Aunt Muriel,' Alexis kissed their aunt. 'Good to see you looking so well, how's the diet going Uncle Fredrick?' Alexis was at ease with the family, probably because he'd never had much to do with them. 'Thank you for bringing Dean with you,' she kissed her date.

He noticed that Robert was staring at Betty and smiled. 'I'm so sorry,' he stepped up beside Betty. 'Aunt Muriel, Uncle Fredrick; this is my girlfriend Betty. Betty this is my aunt and uncle, that's Robert and Alexis's date Dean.'

'Nice to meet you all,' Betty smiled weakly. He could feel her trembling slightly next to him.

'Your Daniel's girlfriend?' Robert asked incredulously. 'What there were no models?'

'Actually Robert, I gave them up,' Daniel grinned. 'Nothing compares to Betty,' he smiled down at her, placing a hand on the small of her back.

'Well, I think she's delightful, at least the woman eats!' Muriel exclaimed. 'Can't trust a woman that doesn't eat, even Alexis eats. That last woman, what's here name...Amy or something, never ate a thing!'

'Well, how about we let you get settled in, everyone else should be arriving in half an hour,' Bradford cut the conversation short. 'Betty, can I have a word?'

'Sure Mr Meade,' he watched her slip instantly back into assistant mode.

'Daniel and Alexis too please,' Bradford nodded towards the bar.

They followed Bradford into the bar, Betty mumbling something about Amanda which only made him chuckle. Alexis looked a little apprehensive, well now that her date was here it was hard not to be. Bradford Meade accepted nothing but the best for his children and unfortunately, he knew that this weekend was his father's way of checking out Dean and Alexis knew that.

'What did you want Mr Meade?' Betty sat next to him.

'You need to relax, I thought I said to use the last two hours going through the plan together,' Bradford began. 'Daniel you're not helping Betty at all, she was floundering out there.'

'I don't know what you saw Dad, but Betty did great, Aunt Muriel loves her, its Robert we're going to have trouble with.' Daniel argued. 'Besides, talk to dearest Alexis about the last two hours.'

'What? If we're going to pretend that they've been together for months then we should all act like it, so Betty and I had a bonding session. Something we can talk about, giving us a little history, besides, I needed to wax and well...Betty did to.' Alexis defended herself. 'If anyone's failing it's you Dad, you've got to act like you like Betty.'

'I don't have to act, I've liked the girl since the moment I met her!' Bradford confessed. 'Alright, we all just need to relax, Daniel be more lovey with her.' Bradford excused Daniel and Betty before rounding on Alexis. 'Now Alexis, about Dean.'

He took Betty by the hand and led her away from his father, Bradford Meade had certainly been changing in past few months. He'd never been so forward in their lives, especially his; Betty was still beaming from his words. Her face fell however when another shrilled voice called to him.

'Daniel!'

'Aunt Francis!' He cried faking his enthusiasm.

'Oh my dear, this is the first time I've seen you in years! And who is this?' She glanced at Betty.

'This is Betty, she's my girlfriend,' he introduced them.

'Define girlfriend Daniel,' the man behind Francis chuckled.

'We've been dating for nearly six months now, Uncle Gary,' he grinned, his hand playing with the hair at her nape.

'Six months!' Gary chuckled. 'Watch out Daniel, you might be getting serious.'

He heard Betty suck in her breath. 'You never know Uncle Gary,' he winked. 'You just never know. But, we've got to get going, Betty's yet to unpack, Alexis stole her from me when we got here for some spa time.'

As he walked away with Betty, he could hear his aunt's words, 'Oh isn't that lovely, Daniel found himself a proper girl.' He wasn't surprised that the family took to her so well, she was after all completely different from anything else he'd brought and they'd downright hated them. Reaching the room, Betty started to relax, he wasn't sure if it was because they'd be behind closed doors and they could act normal, or if his family was just too much for her.

'So, that's the family?' she asked walking into the room.

'There's one more family to come,' he winced; he hated the last family; all flash and no substance.

'Oh?'

'Yes, the second oldest son, he's as arrogant as he is round and he will look at you with distain because he was the only person to ever think my playboy ways were fantastic,' he stated. 'But remember Betty, whatever he may say to you, you are better than him. You are beautiful and intelligent; remember that because he can become callous and hurtful.'

'Thank you Daniel,' she gave him a watery smile before pulling him into a hug. 'I'm so sorry, it's just all a little too much.'

'I understand, I've known them my entire life and I still avoid them, they're over the top sometimes,' he kissed the top of her head. 'We'll survive.'

'How did you survive every other year?'

He pulled away from her and walked to the window. 'I started by bringing random women up with me, past couple years I've been bringing Amanda; we only left the room for dinner.'

'Oh, I see,' Betty started pacing near the bed. 'So I presume they all expect us to stay here...'

'No,' he replied sternly. 'No you're here because I don't want to be like that this year.'

'So I'm good enough to play your proper girlfriend but heaven forbid they should think we have sex!' He guessed he looked as shocked as she did with that statement.

'Betty,' he took a step towards her. 'I have more respect for you than to parade you around like my personal sex toy; no, they can think what they like, they can think we're having sex right now for all I care. But Betty, never think that again, you're better than that, that's why I asked you to come.'

She dropped onto the edge of the bed. 'But, they're thinking it aren't they? Why is Daniel here with her this year, why isn't he shacking up with one of his regular beauties?'

He strode to where she seat and knelt in front of her. 'I don't care,' he smiled at her, brushing some hair out of her face. 'Let them think that, just know that I chose you because I wanted you to be with me this year; ignore what they say, stop worrying about what they think and just be you.'

'You're getting the hang of this boyfriend thing,' she laughed softly.

'Well, you're a great girlfriend,' he lent up and kissed her lips softly. 'Come on let's get you unpacked and ready for dinner, the other will arrive at dinner time.'

'Alright,' she grinned letting him pull her up.

He pulled her flush against him before wrapping his arms around her, hoping she knew how much she meant to him; something inside started asking if he knew how much she meant to him, but he ignored it. That was something he could deal with later, right now; getting Betty relaxed and happy again was his goal. Together they unpacked her suitcases, he laid out a nice pair of jeans and this satin halter she had brought with Alexis on the bed and went out onto the balcony. The cool night air caressed his face, the sound of running water a soft reminder that Betty was showering. Betty was showering in the next room, naked and wet...he shook his head trying to dislodge the thoughts, there were not welcome in his head. Betty was his friend, best friend in fact, she was doing him this huge favour...he was not allowed to think about her like that. But he had, why was that?

Oddly enough, dinner passed without a hiccup, the last remaining member of Bradford Meade's family was yet to arrive, and if all went well; he and Betty would be up in their room getting ready for bed when they turned up. It was one less evening of critical analysis, of pondering questions about why he'd suddenly gone straight-laced, all questions he was glad no one had asked. The answer was more terrifying than the question itself. Why had he gone straight-laced? Simple: Betty Suarez.

He and Betty made their way to bed shortly after dinner, excusing themselves out of the after dinner drinks, claiming a heavy workload through the week. Everyone seemed fine enough that he had fallen for his assistant; his Aunt Muriel found Betty to be the most charming thing alive and insisted that when they got married, she'd pay for half. Betty had laughed about it the entire way to their room, describing the wedding in intricate details just to make him laugh. This was what life was for, moments like this with people like Betty. But as soon as that door opened, he froze; was she going to ask him to sleep on the couch, or with her?

'Are you ok with us sharing the bed?' Betty yawned. 'Because, I'm too tired to make up the couch for you, plus its freezing.'

'Oh, uh...sure, I don't mind,' he shook the mental image of what sharing a bed with Betty could mean if this fake relationship was real.

'Great,' she sighed.

He watched entranced by her as she began to strip in front of him, walking her way towards the bathroom, he got full view of her semi-naked body before it disappeared behind the door; only to remerge in a brightly coloured over-sized shirt. She climbed into bed and looked at him.

'Come on Daniel, I won't bite,' she laughed staring at him.

'Oh right, sorry, zoned out,' he hurried undressed and slid in next to her. 'This feels a little weird.'

'I'm not having sex with you to make it feel less weird,' Betty retorted.

He laughed; trust her to break the ice. 'OK, might have helped, but I get the point.'

'Jesus Daniel,' Betty sat up and faced him. 'It's me, Betty. This should feel weird, but it's what we've got to do unless you want to make up the couch?'

'Alright, going to sleep,' he smiled at her. 'I could have at least gotten a goodnight kiss.'

He heard Betty sigh and move, but he had no pre-warning to her lips gracing his. It was soft and swift; he only had a second to grab the back of her neck and kiss her back before she was pulling away. She looked down at him with her hair falling in front of her face, 'Happy?' she mocked him. He wanted to say no and kiss her again, but his head nodded yes. He felt her sink back into the bed, her head inches from his shoulder. 'Here,' he stretched out his arm, beckoning for her to snuggle in. 'You said it was freezing.' She settled her head on his shoulder with an arm resting across his stomach. He stared at the ceiling deciding now would be the better time to sort out his thoughts; no one to interrupt him, except for the deep, methodical breathing coming from Betty that was lulling him to sleep.

A/N: Sorry it's so long...it's taken me all day and many breaks. Twice at the gym and two tv shows to complete. Hope you like it!fyre-anjel