A/N: You owe the Mexican Revolution for this chapter - I either study that or get on with this…I stand by my choice ;)

P.S - I'm completely ignoring the whole Daniel left for London thing although he did give Willie Mode but now he sits in Bradford's chair.

Daniel was putting the finishing touches to the plans for his New Year's Eve party, in other words he was capping the limit on Amanda's credit cards - last time he left her in charge of party planning.

He was so excited that this would be their first party together as a newly engaged couple, so excited that Betty was in the door and sitting in front of him with a broad smile on her face before he even realised she was there.

He knew that look.

He sighed and folded his arms as he leaned back in his plush leather chair, a much comfier fit than his old Mode chair he thought.

"What?" he asked her.

She opened her mouth in mock offence, "Well good morning to you too! What do you mean, 'what'? Can't a friend just pop by for a little chat and, oh I don't know" She held a cream cheese bagel towards him, still smiling proudly, "your favourite bagel."

"Two things are wrong with this picture. One you never just pop by and two you're smiling way too much and your voice is going all girly and cutesy. That means you're after something."

He smirked at her as she frowned realising that even though she hardly saw people from home these days they all seemed to know her far too well. Daniel triumphantly snatched the bagel from her as Betty got round to why she was really there.

"Okay so I may be after a little favour, tiny, barely even a favour because I know you won't mind."

"Ugh, make that three things wrong with this picture."

"What? I haven't said anything yet!" She protested.

"No but this bagel is awful. You better up your bribe." He was still grinning at her, he loved nothing more than winding Betty up.

"I'll tell you where Amanda has hidden a shiny new credit card."

Daniel scowled, he realised his new wife would certainly keep him on his toes. "Deal."

"Well…Hilda had this idea and I'm not really sure it's a smart move but I thought 'what the hell?' Things can't exactly get any worse, can they? I mean, he's your friend too so I don't see why you wouldn't…"

"Uh…why are you so nervous about asking me something? You don't usually get this worked up."

"I'm not worked up I'm just trying to explain to you why I think…"

He laughed at her. "You've been rehearsing this haven't you? Stop rambling and just spit it out."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, Daniel fleetingly worried she was about to ask him for a kidney or something equally as huge.

"CanyouaskGiotoyourpartytomorrownight?!"

"In English?"

She sighed as though frustrated that he hadn't understood a perfectly clear request.

"Can you" she pointed to him, "ask Gio" she didn't know it but a little smile spread across her face, "to your party" she showed him some classic dad dance moves with her arms, "tomorrow night?"

"Oh…"He was avoiding eye contact, or as Betty knew it, hiding something.

"What's wrong? I thought you and Gio were friends now?"

"We are yeah, but...I don't know Betty maybe it isn't such a good idea. He was so cut up about last week and…" He trailed off towards the end not sure whether or not to continue.

"No point in hiding it Daniel just say what you have to say."

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and cleared his throat. "I hate to be blunt about it but…I already asked Gio…" again he paused before continuing "and he said no."

He was watching her hesitantly as a look of sadness swept across her face. The words were left unspoken but she knew exactly what Daniel had neglected to mention. Gio had asked if Betty would be there before he declined. Both of them sat in silence for a moment as this ugly little truth hung in the air between them.

An awkward moment passed between them before Betty suddenly stood up and in a rather high, falsetto voice mumbled something about it not being a big deal and thanked him anyway.

"See you tomorrow." He called after her as she bustled from the room waving her hand absentmindedly behind her.

Damn it, he'd forgotten to ask about the credit card.

………

New Year's Eve was decidedly Betty's least favourite holiday. Nothing quite like happy couples all around you kissing as they bring in the New Year to make you feel like an old spinster.

Her instinct begged her not to go but being the new Betty she wanted one last night with her friends before she jetted off back to London. Gio was not going to ruin this one for her. She decided on one of her favourite outfits, a figure hugging, one shouldered coral dress that always made her feel a million dollars. Teamed with some shiny gold heels, she was ready to take on 2029.

Together with Hilda, Bobby, Justin and Austin she walked confidently towards the doors of the trendy new club Daniel had hired solely for Meade and associates to celebrate the new year. Once inside Justin and Austin decided to immediately hit the dance floor while Hilda and Bobby went to fetch drinks, leaving Betty to go and greet their host. Alone. Why did she always end up alone?

Suddenly she felt rather uneasy and exposed in a sea of attractive young up and comers in the magazine business. More noticeably, they all had dates. Betty was cursing herself for yet again refusing to listen to what her gut told her when she stumbled into an already tipsy Amanda who was wearing heels so high that Betty's was almost level with her over exposed bust.

"Buy a girl a drink before you head straight for dessert Suarez." She said, pointing towards her ample cleavage.

Choosing to ignore her Betty asked where Daniel was.

"Probably wandering around with a calculator trying to work out how much this party set him back. But never mind Daniel! I'm so glad you came Betty because I invited someone who, I think you'll really want to see." Amanda motioned over Betty's head, signalling that the very person she had to meet was right behind her.

A small spark of hope shot through Betty and a wide smile spread across her face as she turned around expectantly.

It was a shame she missed the mischievous glint in Amanda's eyes.

"Oh…Matt." She didn't even try to disguise her disappointment for there was no point. It was written all over her face, the spark gone from her eyes.

His reply was a simple "hi".

Another uncomfortable silence. They seemed to have a lot of those now.

"So, I tried to call you after what happened the other night." Betty stared at him blankly offering no explanation to her sudden absence that night.

"Any reason why you didn't return that call?" Their was a sadness in his eyes that Betty recognised instantly. It was the look she often saw in the mirror, the look of someone who had so much yet never had what they truly wanted. Guilt coursed through her as she realised just how unfair she had been to Matt that night, and indeed at that moment where she was still not really making an effort with him. Remembering her resolution to be a new Betty she offered him an apology.

"Oh Matt I'm so sorry about all of that. It's just with everything that happened with Gio that night," He made to interrupt but she cut across him, " no, no nothing terrible or anything we just have a lot of…history, as you put it. He caught me a little off guard, that's all." Understatement "Since then," she searched around the room as though hoping an excuse would jump out of the dancing crowd, "I just haven't felt up to talking to anyone. Just needed some alone time."

"I understand." He nodded and smiled as she stood there feeling horribly ashamed ofthe way she'd treated him. It was then that she decided to make the last night of 2028 all about Matt. Would she rather it were Gio beside her to celebrate a new year? Absolutely. But she owed Matt this one and so, pushing Gio to the back of her mind, as far back as he would go at least, she asked Matt if he wanted to dance.

Much to Betty's surprise the night passed by in a whirlwind of laughter and dancing and for the first time in more years than she could remember she was genuinely enjoying herself. Even thoughts of Gio had taken a back seat for most of the night. Matt, however, was the real shock of the evening as he gradually became much like the old Matt she once knew. Awkward silences were replaced with comfortable pauses often punctuated by exuberant laughter.

Then it came to that time of night where everyone began to countdown the seconds until the new year.

10...9...8...

Betty and Matt stood in the middle of the dance floor beside Hilda, Bobby, Amanda, Daniel, Justin and Austin. They were all challenging each other to see who could scream the numbers loudest - Amanda won, hands down.

7...6...5...

Suddenly the group seemed to naturally break apart into couples, leaving Betty and Matt alone as part of their own little couple.

4...3...2...

Betty and Matt had stopped counting now. Memories of times gone by flooded their minds as they stared intently at each other. Was this really going to happen?

1!

The noise of fireworks from outside could barely be heard above the din of cheering, party poppers and cries of people wishing each other a happy new year.

Unlike most couples it had happened after the end of the countdown. Just after midnight Betty threw caution to the wind and did something she rarely did. She made the first move, tilting her head and snaking her arms around his neck. Their lips met tenderly as the two were lost in a private moment amid the chaos that surrounded them. It didn't last long, and as they pulled apart Betty was shocked by her boldness. Matt wore a rather goofy smile looking like it was Christmas all over again as he reached out to draw her back into his embrace.

She wasn't quite sure why she did it but she fell willingly into his hug. No regrets.

Until she saw him.

Standing only a few feet away from her with a completely void expression was Gio. As their eyes met he lowered his gaze and hastily made his way back through the crowd.

Betty tore herself from Matt's arms but wherever he'd gone, he'd gone quickly for he was no longer in sight.

People were beginning to close in to chant the traditional Auld Lang Syne and Betty seized the opportunity to lose herself in the mêlée.

She raced towards the door as fast as she could just in time to see him retreating down the street. Realising she would make no real progress in her sparkly gold heels, she yanked them off and tore down the street after him.

"GIO! WAIT!"

Then he did something she never expected he'd do.

He stopped and turned to face her.

A/N: I think we'll leave it there for today dear reader :)