Chapter 25 or "Such A Simple Thing"
Hello my darlings! I had intended to write and publish a Christmas chapter, and if you were looking forward to it I am truly sorry, but unfortunately I was sick over the holiday and find myself still slightly under the weather, but I did manage to write a new chapter. I'm actually happier with this route. I had a hard time deciding which way to go with it, and bounced three ideas back and forth in my head, but when I sat down to write this is what poured out of me. Fair warning to the more sensitive readers, but this is still a more maturely themed chapter, along the lines of the last section of Chapter 24. If so inclined or curious the subtitle and line in the chapter is inspired by a Ray LaMontagne song of the same name, available on youtube. Check it out! It's beautiful, though not as aligned with this chapter as another of his songs titled "Forever My Friend" and honestly the second song embodies their whole relationship both canon and of my own creation. I do not own the rights to the songs, or these characters. This is also another longer chapter.
The wind howled just outside the window, a faint whistling could be heard as it passed through miniscule openings between the panes of antique glass, occasionally rattling as a large gust passed by, ever so gently making the curtains set off to the sides rustle in response. The faint glow from the room shone on the still falling snow, and the night grew darker as the evening hours turning into midnight. The fire crackled as the flames died down working its way through the fuel it was originally given, the newly joined couple quite forgetting to tend it as they made love over and over again, sprawled across the floor in front of the hearth. The passion felt between them created enough warmth certainly to build a type of fire of their own, years of friendship, connection, and love pouring through their motions, but the sexual tension had only been building for a few months and it surprised them both how easily they fell into one another. They couldn't believe they had been dodging it for so long, but both happy to finally realize what they had been missing. It was beautiful and breathtaking in its physical manifestation, but did nothing to keep the chill out of the room as the winter storm deepened its rage, Jack Frost making his appearance for the first time this New York winter.
The couple lay there holding one another. Daniel on top of her, gently pressing his weight into her, trying to catch his breath from their last session, in which he had felt comfortable enough to show her some of his more blush inducing skills. His head lay on her chest, as she gently stroked his hair, gently shushing him as his panting died down to a heavy but normal pattern, the both of them sweaty and fulfilled, and it wasn't the fire making their bodies glow as only a couple who were meant to be could after joining in such a way. This session had been focused on her pleasure, something he had vowed he would do right showing her just how much happiness he wanted her to feel at this moment, showing her how much he cared for her. She had her legs wrapped around his waist, as he half knelt before and into her, stretching out his legs as he settled into the embrace. She kissed his forehead and lay her head back breathing heavily as her chest rose and feel, and he buried his face into her, pressing kisses into the space between her breasts, even in his exhaustion wanting her to know how much he loved her, and now being able to show her physically (as he did best, it being his primary love language) he took every opportunity to kiss or caress her as he had so often wanted to do since that day he came to the realization that his life would not be complete without her. As he had once cheesily said she was a force, a positive one, like sunshine, and he was glad to have her radiance shining down on him. He felt honored that this amazing woman, and his best friend would allow him to show her in this way what she meant to him, and even if they woke up in the morning only to realize what a huge mistake it had been (it wasn't) or if it turned out to be a dream as they would awake on that couch on opposite ends he would relish this precious moment, and never take it for granted for one moment.
She didn't quite know everything she was feeling but overall the feelings of intense joy and love were coursing through her like waves as she came down from a tipping point in ecstasy she didn't know was possible. It seemed overly "fluffy" and highly romanticized even though she had been a participant, believing such things were only possible in corny romance novels and romantic comedies, but she knew now that there really was something to it, and as cheesy as the lines were she truly did feel complete and loved and safe. It was something she had never known. Every time she had been with an ex-boyfriend couldn't even compare to the heights she and Daniel reached together. It really did feel like they were made for each other, and their deep connection meant that they instinctively knew what the other would like and when they weren't sure they were comfortable and felt safe enough to ask, knowing that neither would intentionally hurt the other though at times there had been an odd arm placement, or hair pulled or tugged a little too tightly, or an uncomfortable elbow or knee somewhere in the mix, but even at this they could laugh and simply change position and still keep the momentum going. It really was incredible.
As they lay there, still in that position Daniel turned his face towards the now almost completely snuffed out fire, embers glowing red, he kissed her chest once more and he rose to sit up. He looked down at her and smiled in a way she had never seen before. It was beyond happiness and contentment, even joy and elation didn't quite capture the intense vibrations of emotion he didn't know he was pouring into the look. It quite literally took her breath away, the love evident behind his eyes. It was an expression resembling fulfillment, but that still didn't give justice to what this contained. There were no words as she watched him move over to the side of the fireplace and grab a handful of logs to build up the fire again, and she watched as he kneeled grabbing the iron poker to stir up the flames, and she relished the look of him, his hair and body shining in the glow from the physical exertion. It had certainly been a work out. She rolled onto her side and propped herself up on an elbow and wrapped the blanket around her, suddenly cold at the loss of his warmth, bringing it up to her chest. He looked over to her and smirked as she watched him tend the fire, careful to keep his distance from the coals or any flying small embers. She loved the smell of the burning wood and breathed in deeply not realizing she vocalized her enjoyment of the mix of the scent of the fire and his musk that she could still smell on her skin. If she closed her eyes he could still be in her arms. He smiled at the sound, watching the fire stir up again as the new logs caught and began to burn brighter.
"Are you cold?" he asked her, gently, his voice still being low and gravelly as it always was but with an air of something she couldn't name beneath it. She knew it was meant to be a joke and smiled in response, but knew it was also real concern from him. These little gestures and moments meant more to her than she ever expected they could. Any bit of concern he showed her contented her soul, knowing that he cared even from simply asking if she was cold. Her comfort and by extension happiness was his top priority and motivation and even through such a simple question she could hear it, and she could feel it.
She suddenly had an image of them, standing outside of a small house the location of which she wasn't sure, but they had their bags and a moving truck behind them as friends and family stood around carrying various boxes and bags as the couple was obviously moving in together, and had enlisted help with their move. Laughter rang out as they set boxes down inside the house and then suddenly jumped to the two laying on a mattress on the floor of their new bedroom, eating Chinese takeout while they watched their tv set up on the floor on the wall opposite, an old classic movie on. That vision faded into another, seeing the two wrapped up in one another again hidden away in a faraway hotel on a beach, rings on their fingers, laughing and smiling as they toasted to their wedded bliss, "Mrs. Meade" he said goofily pouring her more champagne and she answered "Why thank you, Mr. Meade" their giggles ringing out beyond the fading of the vision. The image jumped to her lying on a couch similar to the one in this study, as she lay in his arms and they both rested their hands on her growing stomach, joy radiating from their faces as he looked at her in wonder and she looked up at him, happiness glowing around the couple. It jumped again to an image of them in a large kitchen, flour everywhere as spoons, splattered eggs, rolling pins, and baking pans scattered around in a mess of epic proportions. Betty watched on, laughing loudly, while Daniel wearing a rather unmanly apron chased an olive skinned brown haired blue eyed toddler around the kitchen island the child screaming in laughter as he shouted "No daddy!' while Daniel made animal noises occasionally gruffing out "I'm gonna eatcha! Rawr!" and catching the child in his arms raising him up above his head spinning round and round as he brought the child's forehead to his, feet flying in the air and bringing the boy down into his arms for a hug kissing his cheeks and nose "om nom nomming" and he had promised their son he would., the image fading out as the laughter rang on in her mind.
Her eyes glassed over as the tears threatened to fall once again. Never before had she had such an intense vision. She felt it in her soul that it wasn't a vision at all. These were glimpses of their future if they wanted them. He heart was so full, feeling every emotion so intensely that it threatened to break at the seams. She had never wanted anything so badly in her life. Her experiences of children had been confined to Justin, and from moments like Henry bringing his son to their breakfast only to shout at a lady that he wasn't her child, and while she was nowhere near ready to be a mother in this moment she knew that when the time was right this would be what she wanted. It wasn't like when she had that pregnancy scare with Matt. This had felt like it was right. She realized that the reason she had reacted so poorly in that initial scare wasn't because the idea of being a mother scared her, it was the idea of being a mother to Matt's children that didn't suit her. She knew now that the only person she could ever see herself bringing another life into the world with was Daniel. She didn't want it now, or tomorrow, or even necessarily in the near future, but when the time was right? She would in a heartbeat. She looked back over at him, waiting patiently for an answer to his question.
He could tell that she had disappeared into her thoughts again as he saw her face take on a loving and purely happy expression, then noticed the way her eyes glassed over as she caught his eyes once more. He smiled at her, happy to wait for her to tell him. He was extremely calm. This was what he had meant when saying that everything felt right in the world. This was what he meant, he knew it. She smiled back at him, and he couldn't help but to look her over as he looked at the way she propped herself up to watch him, the blanket falling over her curves, and his mind went back to the image of his dream on the plane. He wanted to pinch himself to check if he was dreaming again, but he knew this was no dream. He was here. She was here. They were together in every sense of the word and for now they needed no verbal confirmation or label.
Knowing they loved each other was enough for him. It had been worth it. All the anguish, stolen glances, lingering touches, the move to London, the total humbling of himself at her feet as he started anew with his life and with her, even the drunken kiss, every moment had been leading to this. At first they had seemed more like siblings in their support of one another as she had been so young when she started working for him, but this was no young poncho wearing girl, this was a fully formed, intense, feeling, and mature woman before him. He was no longer the playboy, the manwhore, or the young boy trapped in a grown man's body searching for and seeking his father's approval. He was a completely new man, through his experiences, and yes in some sense the two had grown up with one another, but it wasn't necessarily a growing up more like a growing in to one another. They were on the cusp of their transformations when they met and like the butterfly effect they had been each other's catalyst and cocoons along with their life experiences that shaped them into these fully formed beings that could only emerge and take flight with one another. She had taught him how to love, and love unconditionally, and know that he was worthy of being loved in return. She had changed him, forever, and he didn't think he would ever be able to make her understand the profound effect she had on him. She taught him how to take risks and if you really wanted something, you have to fight for it. She had taught him how to be the man that he hoped was truly worthy of her.
She didn't speak, and as patient as he was he wanted to know what was running through her mind. He had been lost in his own thoughts too, and now wondered how she was feeling, not out of concern but curiosity. They had both been so quiet. He finished fussing about with the fire and moved towards her, lying next to her, propping himself on his elbow to face her and look at her.
"I was a little cold." She finally answered him, her voice small but loving. She looked at him, a small concern forming in her brow. "Aren't you?" she said gesturing to him as he was still very much naked and she was hogging the only blanket they had.
"No. I'm plenty warm." He said, his back facing the fire. Between the flames and her he found that he was entirely warm, not caring if the wind was coming through the window. He didn't need anything but to be here with her. "Are you warming up now?" he asked gently.
She pulled the blanket up a little higher but still left him a generous view of her décolletage, and looked at him her lips curving at the edges.
"Much warmer now thank you." She said as she moved towards him, feeling the heat radiating off of him.
He leaned in to kiss her, gently this time, not needing much behind it to convey his feelings, they were so palpable. They parted slightly and he watched her as she closed her eyes breathing him in.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked, genuinely curious.
She blushed slightly, smiling wider, but her eyes were still closed and she let out a small giggle trying to decide how best to form her answer. She opened them and looked up at him, smiling even wider.
"I'm thinking about how happy I am!" she almost yelled it and if she had been in a different position she would have clapped and yayed like she had done so many times in the past. He felt a wave of joy rush over him as he couldn't contain his laughter at her excited reply. "What?" she laughed at him, their giggles never failing to awaken the others.
"Nothing! I was just thinking the same thing!" he said in a voice almost as excited as hers was, though not nearly reaching the same decibel. "I'm so freaking happy I feel like I could do somersaults or I don't know, skydive! I feel like I could run marathons! I want to punch the air! I want to shout it from the rooftops! I mean I've been happy before, but not like this. I've never felt this way before, Betty!"
"I know! It's like, what were we waiting for?" she almost yelled again.
"Exactly! And by the way, that was absolutely amazing what you did there." He winked at her.
"You weren't so bad yourself." she winked back at him, still giggling.
"I mean seriously, Betty, who knew?" he truly did seem to be in awe of her. He knew she had a fiery Latina passion, but this was way beyond anything he could have ever imagined coming from her. She used to be so shy! Yes she had really come out of her shell at Mode and even more so at Dunne, but even he could tell she was still largely reserved, even for someone who shouted and shrieked and clapped and danced as often as she did. She really did save everything for moments like these when she could really let herself unravel and come alive and bear it all. He was honored she had bestowed this gift on him. He was starting to see why she had attracted such handsome and charming men, who ended up pining for her and he laughed when it suddenly dawned on him that he could be considered one of them who fit that description, but again it spoke to Betty's utter brilliancy as a human being. She really was like the sun, people gravitated towards her and she still hadn't a clue just how amazing she really was. He vowed to himself he would do everything in his power, for as long as she would have him, to try and prove to her what she meant to him and to those around her. If only she could see herself the way I do.
"Why thank you Daniel. I have to tell you that that was amazing for me, too. I've truly never felt so loved and cared for. You took my breathe away." She ended her sentence in a whisper, and her cheeks colored as she felt that warmth rush over her again. "Thank you, Daniel."
"What for? I'm honored you would let me show you how much I care for you this way. Really, I mean, wow. Just wow. Do you have any idea how amazing you are?" he reached over and cupped her cheek in the way he had been doing all day. It was his little way of saying 'I've got you. I love you, and I'm here.' He didn't know how that gesture made her feel. It was as if everything in the world faded, and it was just them, and he was her safety, her shelter, her home. She was home when he held her this way, such a simple thing, and yet profound. "Betty, I should be thanking you!" He made her look at him so he knew she heard him and understood. He thought she could, but would never take it for granted that she did. It would be his life's mission, truly.
"Oh, Daniel." Was all she could say before placing a tender kiss on his palm and held his hand to her, leaning into the simply profound gesture. "I just never thought this would happen. I mean a part of me always hoped. I mean, maybe not at first, not for a long time really, but something started to change and I didn't know it, but once it was there it just grew and grew and now I don't know what I would do without you. I never thought a guy like you could love a girl like me."
Daniel sighed and smiled at her lovingly with a small hint of sadness behind the look.
"Betty, I told you this before but I'll say it again. I cannot live without you. I cannot imagine my life without you in it. I know exactly what I would do without you. I'd die a slow sad death as a lonely man because my whole world would be gone. You're everything to me. And I've told you this before too, and I don't think you ever really believed me so I'll say it again. You are beautiful. You're stunning! You're this gorgeous goddess I swear to god. I would hope that after what we've just done you would get a hint at how amazing your body is, I mean good lord woman what you do to me! Do you know how many times I had to go splash cold water on myself to calm down or was grateful to be able to go pickup coffee so I could get my heart rate down when I would catch you crawling around on the floor looking for something around your desk? I swear you have no idea how many times I almost said to hell with it and kissed you senseless and just took you right there on the spot! I don't know how else to prove it to you, Betty. You are beautiful in every sense of the word, inside and out. You really are like the sun, and I truly cannot live without you."
She was almost ready to cry again at his touching speech to her. If she didn't believe it before, she was at least starting to get an idea just how high of an opinion he had of her. She took her time answering, but did place another kiss on his palm as a way of thanking him. She was the one who had to get her heartrate down now.
"Well then, I hereby give you permission to 'take me' anytime you see fit, within in reason and propriety of course." She added, trying to be stern but her laughter cut through causing him to laugh at her, but he stopped to wiggle his eyebrows at her, both being a goof and sexy at the same time and she didn't know how he managed to pull that off. "As you wish." He quoted hoping she would get the reference. Her roaring laughter alerted him that she did and he joined in. They quieted down after a while and waited a few minutes as they settled back into a contented silence, Daniel finally breaking the moment again.
"I think maybe I should go get us some comfortable clean clothes." He rose up from the floor, and looked down at her smiling as she watched him. He went over to the pile of clothes they had left and found his pants slung over one of the arm chairs, slipping into them with a little jump and stepped around the opposite side of the coffee table to the fireplace in search of his shirt. He found it and turned the sleeves right side out again and threw it on, leaving the front open. Barefoot he stepped back over to her and bent down to place a kiss on top of her head and said he would be right back. She couldn't help giggling at him as he whimpered when his bare feet touched the cold wooden floors just off the side of the rug and gave a little jump as he prepared himself to move faster to the rooms to find them both some fresh clean clothes to wear.
Betty lay back onto the pillow, sighing happily as he exited the room and turned the corner headed back to the foyer to head up the stairs. She could still hear him moving around as he cursed quite loudly about how cold the stone and marble floors were that he had to move across to get to his destination. When he had moved past the point of hearing him, she closed her eyes smiling. She just couldn't believe it. This is what it was like to be in love with your best friend. She couldn't think of anything better. This was true happiness. This is what being loved unconditionally really felt like, and not in a familial sense, but by someone who was your better half, the person who made you whole. As if the universe created you for one another. It happened so quickly and yet it didn't. It was slow, it had built up for a long time and reached heights she hadn't dared to imagine existed for fear she'd never reach them. This was perfection. She could almost be content to live in these moments for the rest of her life forgetting the rest of the world.
She gasped, her eyes wide open. She remembered her family, and her father, and felt guilty for a moment. How could she be so happy with everything else that was going on? It almost didn't feel right. Then she thought of Daniel, and how he had showed up for her and her family. How he interacted with them was beyond amazing, almost as if the day he helped them decorate their Christmas tree he had become part of the family and she smiled again knowing that her family was happy for her. Her conversation with her father had brought such peace to her mind and parts of her soul that had been in so much anguish and her sister had her back no matter what. It was obvious Justin was on board, and even Bobby seemed pleased to see Daniel show up for her. Claire was beyond okay with it, being part of the very beginning helping the two realize just what was going on between them. Even Marc and Amanda seemed to be okay with it. She giggled to herself remembering all of Marc's comments throughout their time at Mode about Daniel and Betty being "luvahs" and leaving the room so they could "make love" and of course her being labeled as "Daniel's Girl" though she tried to convince Daniel that she wasn't being called that though she knew very well she could have been and probably was behind their backs.
She smiled thinking if only they could all see them now, well okay maybe not that would be really weird, but still, if only they knew how spot on they were, and they knew before either she or he could see it. Now it seemed obvious, and she could almost mentally slap herself for not realizing sooner, but it seemed to have needed to happen this way. It needed to grow and develop, and they needed time to adjust to a new dynamic and new city, and to their new versions of themselves. These were the versions that were meant to be in the end. It could have just as easily gone another way, they could have forever been separated by an ocean and never see each other again. He could have still come to London, but they wouldn't have seen much of one another if he had been working elsewhere, at least at first, and they needed time to work their way towards being more than friends. This was how it was supposed to happen for them, she was convinced, and now that they were here she felt a satisfaction that she hadn't known needed tending. She was completely and wholly happy. It was a great feeling. Everything was right in the world.
Well, what did you think? There's still more to come! I'm hoping I can bring the next chapter into a more humorous nature, but we'll see what happens. Please leave a review, I've been missing your lovely voices and am really curious what your thoughts are. =)