Chapter 29

Hello everyone. I was very saddened to hear the horrible news about this terrible loss in the Ugly Betty family. We the fans of Ugly Betty will truly be forever grateful for Silvio. This show was visionary, and truly groundbreaking when it first aired, and it captured our minds, our passion, and our hearts. I was ten years old when it broke out onto our tv screens. I was in love from the beginning. While I may not have been able to relate to all aspects of the show, being a little white girl in the middle of the country in south central Indiana, but just like the other millions of viewers I saw something of myself in Betty, and it exposed me to new types of people and ways of seeing the world. Now that I find myself the ages that Betty was during the run of the show, it has become even more poignant to me as I discover just how much this show affected and influenced me, not only in my writing (obviously), but in my every day life. It is something I will forever carry in my heart. For all the girls who wore glasses, and felt like they didn't belong, but knew they had a voice to use, this show taught us that it was okay to be different and stand out from the crowd. It taught me how to speak up, and stand up for myself, and know that I have something to offer. Silvio will be missed, but this show will live on, and for his friends and family I am deeply heartbroken and saddened, and hope that they find a way to get through this and move forward with their grief. I hope he isn't in pain any more. So, in honor of him, I started this chapter in a dark place but tried to end on a lighter note, which is my way of saying that sometimes things seem overwhelming, and like life itself can be insurmountable, but it truly does get better. Sometimes you find it in a sunrise, sometimes in a stranger holding the door open for you, the simple gesture of a smile, the way a friend wraps you in a hug, the way a pet greets you when you come home, or the way the people you love the most surround you when you need them, no matter what it is there are moments in this life that are worth living for. If you are struggling, reach out to someone, and keep reaching out, you are not alone. If anyone ever feels like they need someone to talk to, there are resources for you. People do care, and you are worthy of life, and of being happy. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. My PM box is always open and even if it just helps to write it out, I will read it and try to reply. We are never truly alone in this world unless we close ourselves off from one another. Lets lift each other up. If you know someone struggling reach out to them, they may just need to see a friendly face. I have been there. I know what its like to struggle in that way, and I'm grateful that I made it through those dark times because I wouldn't be able to write my little story for anyone who wants to read it, and your support and reviews mean so much to me. Life may go on, but for all of us "Betty Heads" out there, we will always know what it was to be touched by this amazing show every week, and what it was that Silvio Horta helped bring to this world. I for one, would not be who I am today without it. This one's for you Silvio. May you find lasting rest in a place without pain. We love you, and we'll miss you. xXx

It had been exactly two weeks since Ignacio's heart attack, and it was time for him to move to a stroke center, where he would be able to start his physical rehabilitation. There weren't many options for him, his insurance wasn't the best and Medicare only covered so much. The family was doing better financially, on the whole, but it wouldn't be easy to cover these massive bills. The heart surgery alone was well over one-hundred thousand dollars, not to mention the two weeks in the hospital, and every time a doctor came in the room it constituted a separate visit and was billed, on top of his meals and any supplies used in his care. A hospital stay in a public hospital in America is pretty much the equivalent of the most expensive and worst "vacation" of one's life. With great insurance the burden is lessened, but unless you are well off trying to pay the medical bills is usually the thing that can take a family and completely ruin them financially, all because someone dared to be sick. Having lived in the UK for the last few months Betty and Daniel had almost forgotten what it was to truly pay much of anything for medical costs, even if it's simply a visit to the GP (or Primary Care Doctor in the US), in the United States it would still amount to a few hundred dollars between the visit itself and prescription costs. So when filling out his discharge paperwork Betty and Hilda both nearly had heart attacks themselves when Betty had the forethought to ask for a possible cost projection which was reluctantly offered, deferring to the insurance representative and all the general deflection tactics, but Betty pushed and now regretted having done so.

Daniel could tell something was wrong when he met Betty later that evening. He had been to dinner with Tyler and came to pick her up at Hilda's and take her back to the Meade house with him. She seemed distracted, and slightly pale. She could only seem to reply in grunts and one word answers. She had her arms crossed and though she returned his hug and let him kiss her, he could tell her mind was somewhere else. He debated about pushing her on what was wrong, but thought that if he didn't ask that might get him in more trouble. Halfway there she angrily huffed for what he counted to be the fourth time and decided he couldn't wait any longer, he hated seeing her like this.

"Are you okay? You seem… well kind of angry. Did I do something? Whatever it is I'm sorry. I'll fix it! Just tell me what I did wrong."

"What? No! No." she turned her head back to the window and watched other cars pass by. Daniel couldn't help but to feel some relief, maybe she wasn't mad at him, but her answer wasn't exactly providing answers.

"Then what is wrong Betty?" he reached over and touched her shoulder in an effort to get her to look at him.

"It's nothing, Daniel."

"Come on, it's me. You can tell me anything. That's what boyfriends are for." At that she turned to smile at him, and reached up to take his hand that was on her shoulder in her hands. It wasn't that she didn't want to talk to him, she was just afraid. In the past she had talked to him about her financial struggles with her family, and she knew that he would offer to help but she could never ask him to help like this. She was afraid of hurting him or angering him if she refused his help again. It was actually quite complicated with how new their dynamic was. In just over two weeks they had gone from best friends, boss and assistant, to lovers, to significant others and while she was over the moon and completely happy with these changes, she was afraid he wouldn't see it the way she did and simply think her refusal would be in essence a refusal of him, and it wasn't. Sometimes this knowing someone better than you know yourself thing could cause a lot of inner turmoil and heartache. Was it worth it? Perhaps, but it certainly didn't make things easier.

"I want to tell you Daniel. It's just" she looked at him, and his expression was so earnest. He looked at her with hopeful eyes, the way he had looked at her so many times, and it just made her want to pour her heart out to him "… look if I tell you, will you promise me something?"

"Anything, what is it?" he squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"If I tell you, you have to promise me that you will hear me out, in full, and accept my decision. Can you do that?"

Now he was worried again. This didn't sound good. He suddenly felt just momentarily lightheaded. He wasn't sure what was coming, but his heartrate was slowly increasing, growing faster. He gulped.

"Um, sure. I think I can do that." He answered tentatively. Betty let out a huge sigh, preparing herself.

"They are discharging my dad, and moving him to a stroke center so he can get his physical therapy done there."

"Well that's great news!" Daniel couldn't contain his excitement. She smiled and patted his hand in appreciation.

"It is! But I said no interrupting." She shot him a look which caused him to gulp again and stay quiet. "Of course I'm excited for him, but when Hilda and I were filling out his paperwork this afternoon I asked how much all this was going to cost us, and well, it's a lot. And by a lot I mean hundreds of thousands of dollars. Insurance and Medicare will cover some of it, but not all, and I'm honestly not sure how we're going to pay for this. I mean everybody's doing a little better, Bobby's family business does well, and Hilda has her salon, and I'm doing alright. Papi was working at the restaurant, but obviously he won't be getting that check for a while. I'm just really worried, and what am I going to do when we have to go back to London? There's just so much to do I can't possibly leave anytime soon, not before we figure this out. And I know what you're going to say Daniel. I know you're going to say for me to let you help get him into a nice rehab center, or pay for it, or whatever it is that you would say. You have to know how much it means to me that you want to help me and my family. I don't know what I would do without you, and I'm so lucky to have you in my life, but I can't let you do that for me Daniel. I just can't. I don't want you to be hurt, or angry with me. It isn't about you. I'm not rejecting the help because I won't accept the help from you. It has nothing to do with you. This is about my family, and my dad. He's too proud. I know you've helped us in the past, but we have to try to do this on our own. My father has never needed help more, but he needs to do this on his own too. It is our job, our responsibility. We have to try at least, before we can accept help. He has to be able to know that he tried to stand on his own two feet on his own before he has to reach out. Does that make any sense? Please don't be angry with me."

Daniel took his time answering. He placed his hand on top of hers that were holding the other.

"Look, I don't completely understand what this is like for you and none of us know what it's like to be in your dad's shoes right now, but I do know what it's like to want to stand on your own two feet. I know what it's like to want to do for yourself without anyone else's help. And I'm sorry that you were worried about me trying to help. I don't mean to push, but I do want to help you. I can't help it. I want to help you, and protect you, and be here for you. I wish I could make all of this go away. If I could snap my fingers and change it I would, but I can't. I wish you didn't see it like that, like I would just be throwing my money around because I can, I'd be doing it for you, for Ignacio, for your family. I can't think of a better reason for it, but I also understand that you need to try and figure this out on your own. I wish you would let me help, but I don't want to cause more problems or offend or embarrass anyone. So if that's what you really want, then I'll stop. Just know that all you have to do is say the word and I'll pull some strings, okay? Until then, or even if you never need it, please let me help you in some other way. I can't just sit around. There's got to be more I can do than buy food for everybody and try to distract you." He smiled gently at her, looking disappointed but hopeful.

"Oh Daniel, thank you. Thank you for understanding. I was so afraid you would be angry with me. I promise, if there's anything you can help with, I'll let you know. Okay? I'm not just saying it, I really mean it."

"Okay." He leaned in and pressed his forehead to hers, and they stayed that way for a few moments as the car pulled up to the house. "Come on, the ice cream is melting."

"What?" she asked him, looking confused. He smiled and reached down by his feet, producing a small shopping bag. She smiled looking back and forth from the bag to him.

"I picked up some sundaes on the way to get you." He smiled proudly.

"In the middle of winter?"

"To be fair, the snow has pretty much melted, and it's so warm by the fireside, I didn't think we'd mind too much." He winked at her, and she couldn't help but blush. She definitely picked a good one in him. He knew just how to cheer her up. They raced into the house, Daniel tickling her and causing her to laugh so hard she thought she might not be able to breathe. They did know how to bring out the teenage tendencies in the other, she didn't think she'd had this much fun with a guy ever, and she couldn't ask for a better lover, or a better friend. He was the whole package. When they made it to the living room where their lives had changed forever, he finally caught up to her again, came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her as she caught her breath and her roaring laughter died down into soft giggles. He buried his head into her hair then began planting kisses all along what he could reach of her jawline as she looked up at him, and moved onto the space behind her ear and down her neck. Suddenly he stopped and looked at her resting his head on her shoulder. The sparkle in his eyes was mesmerizing, and she could see the love pouring out from behind them for her. She never felt so happy.

"I love you." She practically whispered to him. He smiled slowly, beaming at her with pride and emotion, then broke out into a mischievous grin.

"Ditto!' then started attacking her with tickles again as they fell onto the couch.

"Daniel! Daniel stop!" she finally yelled out, trying to control her overwhelming laughter, he had been caught up in the moment too.

"What for?" he almost pouted at her.

"The ice cream!" she looked at him with an innocence that made him laugh.

"Oh yeah."

More to come my darlings. Much love to you all. You are never alone.