U – Ugly Betty

A/N – Yes, yes, ok I know it's a stretch...you try coming up with a character for U! Plus I had already used B for Bradford; if you think this is pushing it, wait 'til you see X!

She hated to say it, but she admired that stocky little girl, look at the miracles she had managed to work with Daniel Meade. She had shown considerable strength of character throughout the years she had worked at Mode, had never been swayed by the dark side, no matter how tempting. She had proven her loyalty and integrity a thousand times over and she had managed to keep close ties with her family while still advancing in her career, something Wilhelmina herself had been unable to achieve.

Granted, she would never be splashed across page 6, would never be as notorious as Wilhelmina Slater, but that didn't matter to her, she was happy enough taking pride in her work and being recognised by her peers. Wilhelmina had been sorry to see her go, although she would never admit it to anyone but Marc.

When she had visited Mode UK, she was surprised by the sudden urge that crept up on her to check up on the fashion disaster that was Betty Suarez, she had been even more surprised at the girl's eager acceptance of her lunch offer.

As she sat across from her now, she smiled inwardly at how comfortable Betty was in her current surroundings, compared with the unease she had displayed when they had last been placed in this scenario, when she had tried to poach her from Daniel.

"Do you miss it?"

Betty nodded, "Sometimes, and then sometimes it's like I forget I was there at all, it feels like someone else was that awkward person struggling to fit in."

Wilhelmina smirked "Well, it's clear you've carved out your niche here. If it's any consolation you left a very big space to fill back at Mode." Betty smiled at the compliment. "I mean literally, the ass print you left on your chair was huge."

Betty choked around the mouthful of latte she had just taken. "Master of the backhanded compliment as always Wilhelmina."

The two women looked at each other, both strong characters in differing ways, both with a grudging respect for the other. "Why did you want to see me anyway?"

Wilhelmina shrugged. "Daniel's gone, Amanda's gone, you're gone, Marc's always out of the office. I guess I just wanted a reminder of how it used to be. Why did you agree to see me?"

"Same reason I guess. I heard about you and Connor." She said, indicating the shining diamond band on Wilhelmina's finger. "Congratulations, I guess."

Wilhelmina smirked. "Funny how few people seem genuinely pleased for us. And what about you, Claire tells me Daniel followed you out here?"

Betty screwed up her face. "Yeah, can we not talk about that? Daniel is and always will be, like a brother to me."

"Well any fool can see that, Claire's just been diluted in alcohol for so long it's addled her mind."

Betty dipped her head, hiding a laugh, she didn't like laughing at other people's misfortune, but she had missed the ongoing rivalry between those two. The cheque arrived and Wilhelmina's brows shot up when Betty snatched it up before she could. "I'll get this, it's nice to be able to afford some of the finer things now. You know, you guys never really paid very well."

Willie smiled. "Well this has been...an experience." She stood from the table. "Something tells me our paths will cross again, Betty Suarez. You should be proud of yourself." With a curt nod she moved for the exit.

"Wilhelmina."

She turned to look at Betty who was leaning back in her chair, looking at her with a strange expression, almost smug. "You know you were wrong."

"Excuse me?"

"You once told me you couldn't have it all. That I should pick one; career or love. Look at you now, Editor-In –Chief and quite a huge rock on your finger. You were wrong, you've got it all. I think this might be the first time since I've known you that I can see you as someone to aspire to."

Wilhelmina stared at her, letting the words sink in. She did have it all, she had never been happier and, if she was honest with herself, the fact that Betty had just likened her to a role model was more than a little touching. Not that she would show it, she hadn't changed that much. She lifted her mouth in a smirk and twitched a brow towards her.

"Took you long enough."

Betty smiled as Wilhelmina spun around and left the restaurant, she saw her slip into a black limo.

Inside the limo, she smiled at the man sat next to her as he leaned over to kiss her. "How was your lunch?"

"Fine." Still smiling widely at her husband, the man who helped her have it all.

"Who were you meeting?" Connor asked her, leaning closer, unable to take his eyes from her.

"An old friend." She looked through the window at where Betty still sat, only the back of her head visible. "A very smart, old friend."