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Another month had passed by and Betty and Daniel were continuing to grow closer every day. Kisses on the cheek extended to anywhere they felt like at the moment. Touching was also free reign, although they hadn't crossed the ultimate intimacy line yet. Sleepovers became habit rather than accidents, which led them to deciding to move in with each other – into a 5-bedroom 5,000 sqft. penthouse mansion in Upper East Manhattan complete with a basketball court.
Betty knew it was fast, and even though they hadn't officially put a label on themselves, she and Daniel had already voiced what they wanted for their future. They claimed moving in together at a new place so quickly was merely for convenience. The market was really great and they had gotten a good deal on the property and didn't have to wait to move in. If they had taken their time, they might not have found something as good at that price.
However, this home was also a gigantic unspoken step toward their future. Betty didn't want to push Daniel any further than he felt comfortable going. And if not labeling their relationship and not admitting what moving in together meant, then she'd go along with it for a little longer. Normally, this would be a warning sign to get out. But Betty knew Daniel too well for that. He wanted what she did. He just didn't want to screw anything up for fear of losing her again. That was the last thing she wanted, as well.
She stared out the window that night at the beautiful lights of the city as Shawn Mendes' 'Ruin' played in the background. It was one of the songs that had played the night of the launch party while she and Daniel had danced.
"Hey, baby? Have you seen the scissors? I found one more box hiding in the kitchen," Daniel asked walking over to her. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her neck. "You okay?"
"Yeah . . . just really listening to the words of this song again," Betty answered, turning to face him.
"I thought I recognized it," he said, paying attention to it. "You wanna dance?"
"Sure," she gave a bittersweet smile.
As they held each other close she realized Daniel had been right. When his arms were around her, it truly did feel like home. They had gone through so much pain, maybe now they could finally breathe.
"I love this view . . . the lights of the city are so beautiful. And looking at the stars above shining bright . . . It gives you hope, you know? Like anything's possible here," she mused.
Daniel grinned, seeing her content with the simplest things.
"What?" Betty asked as the song ended and John Legend's 'All of Me' began.
"Nothing . . . just . . . I love you," he continued to grin.
She looked down and then back up at him. It was the first time in a long time that he'd said those words and not been upset that it was true.
"I love you, too," she smiled timidly and held him tight. They stayed like that for a long time before breaking.
"I just remembered that I forgot to do something," he said.
"What?" she asked.
"You'll see," he cryptically remarked and picked her up.
"Daniel, what are you doing?" Betty giggled.
"I forgot to carry you over the threshold," he answered opening the door.
"Daniel, that's for newlyweds who move into their first home," she told him, touched that he wanted to be romantic.
"So? We just moved into our first home," he argued as they went outside.
"I guess you're right," she agreed.
"Okay, now it's official. So, what do you think?" Daniel asked after he carried her back into their apartment.
"It looks amazing now that the furniture's been arranged and there aren't boxes everywhere . . . It's perfect," she answered and gave him a sweet kiss.
"You have to see the bedroom now that there's actually room to walk in it!" he carried her up the curved staircase to the master suite and playfully threw her on the bed.
"Daniel!" she playfully protested.
"What?!" he innocently asked and jumped on the bed with her, which caused it to collapse.
"Whoa! What the hell?!" he yelled.
"Eeek! Oww . . . Damn it, that hurts!" Betty exclaimed. "Daniel, I thought you had the movers put it together before they left?"
"It was only a bed, I didn't think it'd be that big of a deal," Daniel shrugged.
"Did you bother to read the instructions or look it up on YouTube?" Betty judgingly asked, rubbing her hip in pain.
"No . . . It's a bed, not a rocket ship. Headboard, footboard, those thingys on either side . . ." he excused.
Betty rolled her eyes.
"Well, Bob the Builder, you obviously missed something or we wouldn't be on the floor and I wouldn't have a sore spot on my hip that will no doubt turn into a bruise the size of Columbus tomorrow," she snarkily countered.
Daniel appeared as though he was about to correct her on the Ohio city.
"And 1, if you think I'm wrong about Columbus, I'm not. It's a common misconception based on pro-sports teams. And 2, if you still try to argue with me, I'm friends with Bow Wow and he's not so 'Lil anymore. Not to mention, he's kissed me," she stopped him.
"Jesus, Betty! Do you have to get so pissed about a freakin' bed? I honestly thought I had it put together right," he huffed and rolled his eyes. "And when the hell did Bow Wow kiss you?!"
"I'm sorry, babe. It hurts like hell and I'm taking it out on you," she apologized. "I was exaggerating about Bow Wow – we flirted a little in the elevator at MODE and he kissed my cheek. It was when we did that fashion show for real women."
"Oh," he sighed, relieved.
"I know you tried in your own sweet, stubborn way," she placed her hand on his chest. "I'll find the manual. Maybe we can fix it together so we don't have to sleep on the couch."
She attempted to get up and winced in pain.
"Baby, are you sure you don't need some ice?" Daniel softened.
"I'll be fine. This is just more motivation to get into a comfortable bed," she brushed it off.
"Here, let me be the judge of that," he insisted.
Betty pulled down the side of her yoga pants so he could see.
"Wow! You definitely need some ice. That's gonna leave a mark," he confirmed. "Does it hurt when I touch it?"
Betty grimaced.
"I'll take that as a 'yes' . . ." he assumed. "I'll be back."
A few minutes later, he had an ice pack wrapped in a kitchen towel.
"Better?" he asked after a few minutes.
Betty nodded.
"How about now?" Daniel asked, taking away the ice and gently kissing her wound.
"Much," she smiled at him and brought his lips to hers. "Ooh. Your lips are cold now . . ."
"I'm sure you can find a way to warm them up . . ." he flirted and proceeded to tease her lips with his own. "I'll call someone from Macy's tomorrow . . . Meantime, I can move the rest of the pieces against the wall and we can sleep on the mattress."
"Good idea," Betty agreed and drew his lips back to hers again.
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"Hey," Daniel greeted after awakening her with gentle kisses on her cheeks and eyelids.
"Hey," Betty slowly opened her eyes to Daniel's gorgeous blue ones.
"I love this . . . I mean, people do it every day – I've done it before . . . but it's different with you . . . a million times better," he confessed.
"For me, too," she agreed.
"And wow! Best. Sleep. Ever!" Daniel exclaimed.
"Because I stopped having those nightmares about my bunny being decapitated and kicking you in the middle of the night while I was fighting the assassin?" she teased.
"That, too. But I was talking about the mattress," he explained.
"I told you we picked the right one - one we can adjust separately," Betty replied, nuzzling his cheek. It felt a little rough, like sandpaper, but she didn't care. She liked the fact that waking up next to Daniel had become part of her daily routine.
"We must have tested every single one in the store for one that we could both agree on. That sales guy probably thought we were crazy!" he chuckled.
"I know he did when you started jumping up and down on them. What are you five?" she teased.
"Says the woman who still worships her ratty old pink bunny," he countered. "And besides, you were doing it, too!"
"Only because you made me!" she excused. "And my bunny and I have been through a lot together."
"You had fun. Admit it," he grinned, playfully pinning her down.
"Okay, I did," Betty, reluctantly caved.
"See," he smirked and captured her lips.
She pulled him into her, grasping the hair at the nape of his neck. He moved his lips down her neck and over her shoulder, then down to her belly. As he lifted up her t-shirt he heard it growl.
"I think your stomach is trying to tell me something," Daniel joked.
"Oh my god, that's embarrassing!" Betty giggled.
He chuckled.
"I think it's adorable. My girlfriend has a talking tummy," he grinned and kissed it.
Betty froze for a moment.
"That's the first time you've called me that," she said, pleasantly surprised.
"Yeah, well, I thought it was kinda obvious. We're together all the time, we bought a home. I guess I just didn't want to say it out loud . . . It's stupid, but I thought maybe I'd wake up from the dream . . ." he revealed.
Her heart melted.
"I have to pinch myself sometimes, too. But babe, this is real . . . and it's better than I ever imagined," she assured him.
"Me, too," he smiled, and reached inside the nightstand drawer. "I wanted to give you this. I know you like cute things . . . I thought it might go with our new home."
"Aww . . . a butterfly key chain to put my house keys on . . ." Betty gushed and gave him one of her signature hugs. "Thank you!"
"There's, uh, there's something else on there," he nervously prompted her to look.
Betty picked up the keychain again and noticed there was a ring – a 5 carat princess cut diamond ring with smaller diamond chips encircling it and a smaller diamond on both sides of the main stone. The platinum band had sideways diamond v-shapes on both sides of the smaller stones.
"I-Is this what I think it is?" she stuttered.
Daniel nodded.
"So . . . will you?" he asked.
"Will I what? You have to say it Daniel," she coaxed.
"Will you make me the happiest man alive?" he tried again.
"By doing what?" she prompted.
Daniel sighed in frustration.
"Betty, this is ridiculous. You're kinda ruining the moment here," he huffed.
"Sorry . . ." she apologized. "I know what you're asking me, but saying the actual words won't break the spell."
"No, I'm sorry. You deserve better than this shitty proposal. I don't blame you for saying 'no'," he apologized.
"I didn't say 'no', Daniel," she corrected him. "I just haven't said 'yes' yet . . . Maybe we need to wait until you feel more confident of our relationship."
"Wait, are you mad at me?" he asked, confused.
"No, Daniel. I'm disappointed," she told him. "When you called me your girlfriend and gave me the ring, I thought we were making progress. We agreed that this was real and that labels wouldn't hurt anything. But then you couldn't say 'wife' or 'marry' when you asked me. And under normal circumstances I wouldn't care, because I'd know. But I don't."
"Betty, you know how I feel about you. And I do believe in you - I believe in us. It's fate that I'm not so trusting of," he insisted.
"Daniel . . ." Betty attempted to interject.
"Here, just try the ring on – you don't have to make a decision yet," he told her and slid the ring on her finger.
She couldn't stop staring at it. It was gorgeous. More intricate and unique than the ones he'd chosen for Sofia Reyes all those years ago. Not that they weren't nice, too. But this ring was more her style and knowing Daniel specifically chose it for her made it special – even if she wasn't sure whether she would continue to wear it.
"I can leave if you two wanna be alone," Daniel joked after a few minutes of watching her.
"Very funny," she rolled her eyes and lightly smacked him on the arm. "It's beautiful."
"I'm glad you like it . . . I wasn't sure if you would or not," he replied. "But it was beautiful and one of kind – like you."
Betty blushed and shyly looked down at the comforter before gazing up at him again.
"Daniel, you've always had amazing taste in jewelry," she told him.
"Yeah, well, it's just that I've had it for six years, so . . ." he trailed off.
"You-You've had this for six years?" she said, incredulously.
"It's been in my wallet since I decided to go to London . . . I, uh, I just couldn't seem to let it go . . ." he confessed.
"Oh my god . . . Daniel . . . that's so sweet. I can't believe you did that," she felt the tears forming in her eyes. "I'm sorry . . . I didn't realize . . . You don't have to say anything else."
Daniel gently dried her tears.
"No, you were right, I do. Betty, I want this more than words can say. I want this house . . . I want our careers together . . . I want the four kids we talked about . . . I want to be with you and only you for the rest of our lives," he confessed, taking her hand in his. "That's what this ring symbolizes – a promise. It's a promise to give you that life and a promise to make it official. I love you more than anything in this world and . . . I want you to be . . . my wife."
"Thank you. I know that was really hard for you," she caressed his cheek and tenderly captured his lips.
"Nothing bad happened . . . yet, anyway . . ." Daniel joked.
"Baby, you can't keep doing this to yourself. We're going to be fine – more than fine," she assured him. "Just because it didn't work out six years ago doesn't mean it won't in the future. Look how far we've come – we started a magazine, we stopped being mad at each other . . . at ourselves. We're getting married, we moved into our dream home -"
"Wait – you said we're getting married . . . So is that a 'yes'?" he wondered, his blue eyes hopefully looking into hers.
Betty gave him an endearing look. He was so adorable when he was confused and vulnerable.
"Yes. Yes! Of course it's 'yes', silly!" Betty exclaimed.
Daniel grinned and hugged her fiercely. She'd never seen him so happy before. She herself had never been so happy. He attacked her with kisses, causing her to giggle like crazy, and she knew in her heart it was the right time for both of them.
