Chapter 23

The elevator doors opened revealing a floor that neither was sure they would recognize had it not been for the familiarly shaped donut and tube tunnels greeting them as they turned the corner. The bright orange had been replaced with a vibrant blue that created a calming atmosphere but definitely had an air of sophistication to it. It was actually surprisingly refreshing. Wows could be heard muttered beneath their breaths. Daniel of course had known about some of the changes, his mother keeping him informed but he hadn't seen pictures and of course Betty had no idea what she was walking into, having given up thoughts of Mode a long time ago. Plant pots lined the shelves along the main tunnel, some with ivy cascading downwards and others containing small bonsai trees. It was honestly such a miss matched hodge podge of greenery that it worked and offered yet another spot of brightness. It looked like Mode had finally grown up too, moving into a more mature look that fit it much better than anything had before. A small part of her missed the bright orange, but even she could see that this was much better. Fashion is about reinvention after all.

They followed along the path heading towards his old office, never releasing their position with Betty's hand neatly fitting into the crook of his arm, both not wanting to admit it, but curious to see what had become of their old work space. They came up to the familiar corner of the building and stopped in their tracks. It was nothing like what it used to be. It was better. They knew right away whose office this was. It couldn't belong to anyone other than Marc St. James. His style was so obvious, furniture laid out and curtains hung up in a similar fashion to Wilhelmina's but with a definite male influence. The color scheme wasn't any one in particular and because of this it worked. If Betty hadn't known better she would think that her daring outfits had had some sort of influence on Mode's creative director's vision. Marc had moved up quickly through the creative department under Wilhelmina's direction and while she certainly moved along the process she had taken the time to really train him and hone his skills. If she wasn't careful, he could surpass her but she was careful to keep her heel on his neck to remind him who was Editor in Chief when he got too big for his britches.

"Wow, it looks like things have certainly moved forward here." Betty stated.

"Yeah, you know I think it works better this way." He smiled at her and she nodded in agreement.

"OH. MY. GAWD." They heard shouting behind them, and they turned to see who was making the commotion.

"I don't believe this! You dare show your faces here? After everything, you just waltz back in here like a pair of Pradas as if you own the place." Marc stood there, hand on his hip, smirking in that loveable 'worship me' way he had. Amanda stood next to him, hands on her hips too, the pair looking as if they could be on the cover of the magazine, posing for their photoshoot.

"Marc! Amanda!" Betty shrieked at them and they both acted as if they couldn't stand the sound but secretly they all knew that's the one thing that was missing in the office. There was still a bit of a Betty shaped hole that could never be filled in after she left. Not that she had any great influence on the magazine as a whole compared to its history, but for the people she worked with? It was hard to admit, but Betty's shoes had been hard to fill. After she left things were…boring. Nobody realized just how much she had done for everyone until they had started to accidentally walk into her office looking for her when they remembered she wasn't there and had to manage their tasks on their own. There had even been a bout of lookalike interns that made their rounds through the place, and none could ever come close to the vibrancy Betty had radiated throughout the halls of Mode.

"Chimichanga!" Marc shouted as he allowed her to wrap him in a hug, he reached up to pat her head.

"Wait, Betty. Hold on a sec." Amanda had begun circling the two, not hiding that she was checking Betty out. "Betty! You're hot! What happened?" she cocked her head to the side, then giggled and joined in on the now group hug. Marc's sounds of protest being the only thing that made Daniel clear his throat alerting them to his presence again.

"Oh, hey Daniel." Marc and Amanda said in unison looking over to him. "The beard is back I see?" Marc joked, letting Daniel know that he didn't wholly disapprove. He had to admit, this one was much better groomed and actually did look really good on him, resembling more of a constant five o'clock shadow than a proper beard. Marc suddenly squinted his eyes, looking back and forth between Daniel and Betty, and breaking out of the two women's hold on him.

"Wait a minute, why are you here? Oh god, does Willie know you're here?" he asked, eyes darting over to her office checking for movement. "You're not back back are you?" he almost looked hopeful, but it was only for a split second.

Betty and Daniel laughed a little, but Betty looked to Daniel for an answer because she honestly still didn't know herself.

"No, no, definitely not. I'm here to see my mom and pick up a few things." He shrugged, as if it were obvious.

"I thought you two were some big shots over in London? It isn't Christmas yet, so what are you even doing back in the States?" Amanda asked. Betty noticed the sparkling coming off of Amanda's left hand and used the unexpected excuse to change the subject. She suddenly reached out and grabbed hold of Amanda's hand.

"Hey! Grubby fingers! Careful!" she said, pulling her hand back protectively in a joking manner, not really trying to insult her, it was just more of their usual insulting banter that Betty knew actually meant they loved her.

"Amanda! Tyler proposed?! Why didn't you tell me when we last spoke on the phone?"

"He asked me Saturday night. I was going to tell you on the next one." She smiled at her looking down at the ring. There was no awkwardness now, Daniel having gotten over his half-brother and former fun buddy's romance long ago, especially as time passed and he realized more and more that there was really something there between the two. He was happy for them.

"Wow! That's great Amanda!" Betty exclaimed pulling her in for another hug.

"Congratulations Amanda!" Daniel hugged her next.

"Yes, yes, the blondie will marry the sexy mountain man, yay!" Marc was definitely over it, having heard about nothing else since the engagement. "That still doesn't answer the question, why aren't you in London?" He looked to Betty who now had a sad casting over her face as she straightened her glasses and tried not to cry again. She stepped back only to find Daniel had come up behind her, wrapping his arm around her pulling her in close again knowing she needed him. She leaned in and rested her head on his shoulder, not caring what conclusions the two gossips would draw. He cleared his throat and was surprised that he too had a small lump forming in his throat as he started to explain. He let out a huge sigh, preparing himself to break the news.

"Betty's dad had another heart attack." He looked down at her, asking her if he should continue with only his gaze, she nodded barely visible to anyone but him. "And during his surgery there were some complications, and well, he had a stroke."

"No! Not papa Suarez!" Amanda shrieked out. Marc looked shocked and saddened, tears starting to form just along the water line of his eyes. Amanda was already crying.

"He's alive!" Daniel reassured them to which they seemed to calm down. "He's got a long road ahead, for right now he doesn't have much use of his left side, and the heart surgery took its toll too, but he's strong. He has his family and friends," he looked over to them Marc having his hand on his chest relieved to hear part of the news, Amanda wrapping herself around him for comfort, "and he will be okay." He looked to Betty, and pulled her in a little closer trying to make her believe the words he was saying.

The small friend group was actually rather close to Betty's family, and with all the help Justin asked Marc for he ended up being around the family much more often than he ever thought he would, maybe even more so after Betty's leaving. He would never admit it, but Ignacio was somewhat like the Latino grandpa he never knew he needed, and Hilda had become somewhat of a sister to him. Aside from Wilhelmina and Amanda, Hilda was the closest female relationship he had now that Betty wasn't around.

"When did this happen? And why are we just now finding out about this? Why didn't anybody call me?" he was actually angry, a rare side to Marc. He acted enflamed over the smallest things, and was known to throw a hissy fit more often than he cared to admit, but this was actually something he was genuinely upset about. "Yeah, we would have been there!" Amanda backed him up.

"I'm sorry guys." Betty managed to choke out, "There was so much going on, and honestly this just happened the other night, so we haven't really had time to process it all." She said.

"The other night?!" Marc wanted to scream. Amanda looked angry, crossing her arms with a disgusted look on her face.

"Hey, if it helps, I didn't know about it until yesterday." Daniel said, trying to calm everyone down. Betty tried to laugh but the comment stung a little. She shrugged it off, he was right. She hadn't told him when she so easily could have sent a message.

"That… that actually does help." He seemed to calm down some. "So does that mean you flew across the ocean again to follow Betty?" he pointedly asked and both Betty and Daniel blushed. Marc was smart as a whip, not even jumping through scenarios, seeming to already know what had transpired with Betty flying over first. He would never let them know he could tell because Betty looked like she had at least changed once while Daniel was still wearing the slept in and wrinkled clothes he obviously had worn on the plane, preferring to let them look at him in amazement.

"Um, yeah." Daniel said quietly but determinedly. He smiled down at Betty who was already smiling up at him, the moment lasting a little too long for present company's comfort.

"Eww, gross. Look, we're going to let you two luvahs do whatever it is you came here to do." He started to push Amanda into his office, but turned around leaning against the doorframe, "but just so you know, the sex dungeon got turned into an office lounge, so…." He let his words trail off leaving Betty and Daniel red as beets but not moving away from each other. They turned to start walking away when they heard Marc's voice again behind them, "and Betty?"

"Yeah Marc?" they turned around again to see Marc with a more serious air in his countenance, Amanda hovering just behind him.

"The next time someone in your family has a medical emergency you better call me. I'll deny it if this is ever repeated beyond the four of us but your family was there for me when no one else was, so I don't know, I guess… I care… about them. Okay? Make sure someone texts me the hospital and room number." He looked at her, making sure his words sunk in, then turned around to disappear into his office. Suddenly Amanda had her arms around Betty once more. "It's good to see you Betty." Amanda said softly.

"It's good to see you too." She patted Amanda's arms that were wrapped around her chest. Amanda let go and walked in Marc's office. Betty smiled. At least some things hadn't changed.

…

"Oh hush, it's nothing. You know you're welcome to stay at the house any time you need to Daniel." Claire was reassuring Daniel and Betty that their staying at the Meade mansion was no problem. After Bradford's passing she found she was able to spend less and less time there, finding the memories too difficult, so she had bought an apartment in the city that she could escape to, and it was now her home more often than the house was. The mansion had been empty for a while, but cleaning crews and maintenance workers were kept on a regular rotation ensuring that the house was ready at all times if someone should need it. It was times like this she was glad she hadn't fought her initial instinct of selling the place. "Now, go down to the closet and find yourself some clothes. I still own Mode, so I'm sure they won't have a problem if a few things are signed out under my name. Betty you're welcome to grab whatever you may need." Claire reached over and patted Betty's shoulder. Her protests landed on deaf ears and it took Daniel reassuring her too that it would be fine and it was the least they could do for her. He would never tell her that he was afraid she'd have to start wearing some of her old clothes kept at Ignacio's if they didn't find her some more modern and fashionable ones. It wasn't that he hated them, it reminded him of the very beginning, but it just wasn't her anymore.

She sent the two down to the closet where Daniel was able to outfit himself with essentially a new miniature wardrobe. He grabbed a few shirts and pants ranging from casual to fancy, and everything in between, as well as a couple suit jackets that would easily pair with any or all. When Betty wasn't looking he snuck in a black suit, just in case but hoping he wouldn't need to use it. The thought of having a sort of mini runway show to cheer her up crossed his mind but thought better, it not feeling like the right time to act so playfully with the somber reason they were even there to begin with. Betty worried she wouldn't be able to find anything in her size, but pleasantly discovered that their small "real models" show had (along with other major key players) had some influence on the current fashion climate and there were now a couple racks of larger sizes hidden in the corner. She grabbed a couple casual dresses and a pair of shoes that matched as well as a jacket that paired with both. She also grabbed a plain black dress, in case, hiding it from Daniel. She also grabbed a silky robe that only took one touch for her to decide it belonged in her closet. She figured she could sleep in it that night if nothing else.

"Okay, I'm all set!" Daniel called out to her coming over to the women's side, arms full but neatly packed into two garment bags.

"Yeah, me too!" She had one bag, but it was stuffed to the brim, at first she wasn't comfortable taking these things, but then chastised herself for refusing the help and thought she had done well at finding what she needed, but tried to remain frugal.

"Ready to go?" he asked, offering his arm again.

"Yes! Do you think we could pick up a slice on the way? I'm suddenly hungry." She said rubbing her growling stomach.

"Of course! That cafeteria isn't very good, is it?" he asked joking. She scrunched her nose in agreement.

They walked out of the closet and said goodbye to Claire before leaving again. They stopped at the elevators and turned around, taking another look at how much things had changed, but both thinking it had certainly changed for the better. The heard the ding as the elevator opened, stepped on and watched as the doors closed once more to Mode.

That's it for right now. Definitely more to come! I still have a goal of getting a Christmas chapter up by midnight on the 25th, EST. Wish me luck! I was so nervous about writing Marc and Amanda in, I hope I did them justice? Let me know what you thought by leaving a review! xxXXxx