IF YOU THINK I NEED YOU/CH 2

Betty got Daniel to sit down outside the ladies room on a chair while she went in to check on his mother and Christina.

"Oh, bloody hell, Bet-ty! What's goin' on with Daniel and his sister?"

"How did you know about that?"

"Please, three women have come in and out of here, claimin' that Daniel was yellin' and carryin' on, and Good Lord in Heaven! Daniel?"

Betty jumped, "DANIEL! You do realize this is the ladies' bathroom?"

He stood in the doorway and pointed to his mother, who was passed out on the bench, "I wanted to let you know I called the town car to take my mom home. Also, I'm bleeding. Can I get a cold cloth? Hey, Christina."

"Hello, Daniel. It looks like you've had quite an evening! I thought my night couldn't get any worse after getting a drink spilled on me when I can't bloody drink myself! But I see I could have had much worse! What happened to you? And what's it got to do with your sister? She was in here before when I helped your mother inside."

"She came to get Daniel to help his mother."

"And that made him angry? Did you hit a desk with your face?"

He winced, as his face was starting to swell, and he put his hand on it in pain, "Sort of. I...texted Amanda to get you another outfit from The Closet, Christina."

"Thank you. I'm not sure I have anythin' in there that will fit me, especially right now, when I'm the size of a lorry! You took a guess? I thought I was the one who could guess people's size."

He grinned slightly, shrugging, "Well, I am the Editor-in-chief of Mode again, which is a Women's fashion magazine, after all. I should know a little about fashion."

"Oh, aye. And bein' at Player probably didn't hurt. What did you get up to there, again? Showin' women in the workplace without their bras? Who's daft idea was that?"

"Betty's!"

Betty made a face, hitting him on the arm, "OW! Geez! I'm already in pain! Oh, shit! What do YOU want?"

He turned to see Alexis walking towards him and left the bathroom doorway, walking away from her towards the elevator door, "Get away from me! I have nothing to say to you!"

"Danny! Come on! I am sorry! I had no idea you were even with Lucy!"

"Bullshit! You did, too! I told you I was with her. Hell, I introduced you, remember?"

"I mean, I knew you two…'hooked up" but I didn't think it was serious! She and I only slept together once, when we had both been drinking. We knew it was a mistake and neither of us ever talked about it. I was so mixed up back then, I was hitting on girls all the time, trying to prove to myself and Dad that I was "man enough" or whatever. But I had no intention of hurting you. Look, I'll do whatever the lawyers think as far as signing over parental rights to you for DJ."

She could tell he was still extremely furious with his sister, so Betty tried to run interference, rushing out the door, just as Amanda rushed in with a huge poncho, knocking into Betty and causing her to fall, "Here! There wasn't an actual tent downstairs, so this was the best I could do, Christina, sorry! Hey, Alexis.

What happened to Mrs. Meade? Oh, is she...dead? Did she die from old age? Hey, Daniel. What are you doing hanging outside the ladies room? You know I don't do it there anymore? I mean...not that I ever did. Betty, why are you on the floor?"

Betty rubbed her head, "OW! Amanda! Watch where you're going! Mrs. Meade is...not feeling well. Daniel called for her town car to take her home for the evening. And Christina had someone spill something on her dress, that's all."

"Thank God! I was afraid this was going to be like that terrible baby shower you tried to throw for your hunky-dorky ex's baby mama where she popped out the little gremlin at the end! Yikes! What a horror show! Sorry, Christina, I'm sure your baby will be easy to come out. Although it is ACTUALLY Wilhelmina's baby, so...maybe `just in case, you should hire a priest and do exercise! It wouldn't hurt to do that, anyway, since you're so fat!"

"She's not fat, Amanda, you know she's pregnant! And I think you mean an exorcism!" Alexis quipped, rolling her eyes at the silly blonde. She would have normally teased her little brother about ever having slept with such a ditz, but since he was still looking at her with daggers at the moment, and she couldn't say she blamed him, she figured she needed to make nice.

"Betty, are you alright?" She started to help the girl up, but Daniel scooped up his assistant, as if she was his prize in the Cracker Jacks, that he wasn't willing to share, "Betty's just fine. I texted Ralph to come up and get Mom home okay. I'm going to make sure Betty gets home safely in her new place. I'll speak to my lawyers about my son and be in touch. Goodnight!"

He rushed away, leaving all the women staring dumbly after him. He hit the button and as soon as the elevator doors closed, Betty overcame her shock at his actions and started kicking, "Daniel! Put me DOWN! I'm fine! What are you doing?" She rubbed her head, and straightened her dress after he finally snapped out of it and complied with her demands to set her down.

He shook his head, "Sorry, I just had to get out of there! My head felt like it was spinning! I'm sort of freaking out here. Are you sure you're okay? Amanda conked you pretty good on the head. What is it with you and doors, anyway, huh?"

"Shut up! That one wasn't my fault!"

"True. Does it hurt? Should I kiss it better?" he teased, stepping closer to stand over her. He took her hand off the top of her head and kissed it gently.

She swallowed, "Daniel? Do you ...need to talk?"

"About what?"

She hit his chest lightly, "About what? The price of gas! What do you think? About...everything! What that pretty lawyer told you tonight, finding out that you aren't DJ's biological father, and your sister IS...you have to be really upset. Talk to me. I know you're really mad at Alexis. You have every right to be angry."

"I am. I'm furious! I was so happy when I first found out I hadn't really lost my brother. After two years of thinking Alex was dead, and finding out he wasn't, I was thrilled! Even though I was mad and disappointed that she didn't trust me enough to tell me what she was going through and why she had the operation...I got over it. I eventually warmed up to the idea of having a sister.

But NOW! I mean...how do I even TELL DJ? Oh, hey, I'm sorry, buddy, but it turns out for some reason your mom lied or just didn't realize that I'm actually not your dad after all. I'm only your uncle. Your Aunt Alexis that you spilled chocolate cake on the other day? Yeah, she is your real father! He's only a kid! How is he supposed to process that? Especially right after losing his mother? Hell, I can't even deal with it!"

"Maybe we can figure something out with the lawyers. A way to keep DJ with you. Alexis said she's willing to sign over custody."

"That makes DJ sound like a puppy or something! I just got used to the idea of being a single dad. And I was really liking it. He looks up to me; I actually have someone's respect for a change, instead of being the big screw up! I love feeling needed. I guess I get why you don't mind me or your family always depending on you so much. It's such a rush, being dependable, being a responsible adult.

No cracks, I know I'm a grown adult, and it's true I may have acted like a five year old in the past. But DJ needs me now. He's such a great kid! How can I tell him I'm not…not really his dad?" he covered his face and felt her taking him back into her arms again.

"Daniel, I don't know how yet, but we'll figure this out, okay? You ARE a wonderful father! DJ is a lucky kid. He loves you very much. And like I said, his grandparents must not be all that perfect or he wouldn't have run away to a foreign country just to find you! He had no idea if you would be a nice man or not. He took a chance just to get away from them and start over.

So I'm thinking Lucy's parents might not be all that great as caregivers. And how does a thirteen year old kid figure out where you are, how to get here in the US where he doesn't speak the language that well? He's brilliant! And clearly desperate to find you! Maybe his grandparents know who you are and are going to ask for money?"

Daniel brightened up, "You really think so? I mean, that would actually almost be a good thing, right? Either way. For my case. If they did, it would prove they shouldn't have custody of DJ, plus...I'm rich, so I could pay them off if necessary. If that's all it took to keep DJ. It would be worth it."

"I guess so. But I hope for DJ's sake his grandparents haven't been mistreating him."

"Of course! I know. God, maybe I shouldn't be a father. You're right. I'm being a selfish jerk as usual. I should be thinking about what's best for DJ. Nothing else."

"You are NOT a selfish jerk, Daniel! This situation would make anyone a little crazy! You're right; it's not going to be easy trying to explain to a little boy. But he already understands that Alexis used to be a man, right?"

"Yeah. He didn't even seem all that bothered by it. I guess because he's French. Maybe it's more accepted there, I suppose?"

"That's good! So, it really shouldn't be that much more of a leap to explain that when she was Alex, HE was with DJ's mom and um… 'voila'!"

"Voila!, huh? Great! Okay, I know. Why don't YOU explain it? It sounds like you've got the whole birds and bees and birds that used to be boy birds and are now girl birds thing down pretty good, there, Dr. Betty! Or should I say Dr. Ruth?"

"Very funny! I didn't say I was an expert in child psychology. Or sex! Maybe your sexy lawyer friend could help you explain it?"

He smirked as he put his arm around her in the back of the car, "I'm sorry? Was that jealousy I heard in your tone, Betty? I still can't believe you actually offered me a 'mercy jump' earlier!

That was so unlike you! A few weeks working at Player, getting to be the R motorcycle chick, has you acting all badass, suddenly? I feel like I've corrupted you!"

She stuttered, her face beet red, "Are you joking? That's not funny! I'm not! I wasn't! That's not at all what I meant! You're not...you didn't understand…I would never. I mean …um…I wasn't talking about...

ME…doing that! I just thought SHE wanted you." Okay, now he was making her very nervous. He had to be teasing her again. But he didn't act like he was teasing.

He took her glasses off and handed them to her, moving closer and closer to her until his lips were a hair from hers, and nodded, as he brushed back a strand of her hair, "I see. You thought that Holly woman wanted me and that made you … jealous?"

Betty tried to grab her glasses back from him, "Daniel! Stop it! Stop flirting with me! You know you're just trying to distract yourself from feeling anything, so you do what you always do...grab a woman, apparently ANY woman will do right now, even me! You use sex like your mom does having a drink or some people do cigarettes! Well, excuse me, but I am NOT a cigarette or a shot of Scotch!"

He sighed, running his hand through his hair, "Fine! Maybe you're right. I suppose maybe I do...do that. And I sure as hell don't want to treat you with disrespect. God knows you don't deserve it. But if I admit I might have been flirting on reflex, because I was upset, then you have to own up to the fact that you really WERE jealous!"

Her face continued to be warm and flushed, as she tried to shake her head and deny his accusation, but deep down, she couldn't lie to herself. Was he right? Was she? There was something about seeing Daniel fight for his son that made him so attractive. Even more so than usual. He deeply loved DJ and it was obvious. This side of him made her...tingly.

"Betty?" he moved directly opposite her and held her arms, looking into her eyes (even though he had placed her glasses in his jacket pocket so he appeared slightly out of focus).

"Well, I guess...it is sort of...charming...or sweet, to see you so determined to fight for keeping DJ. I guess it sort of made me..hot."

He raised his eyebrows, and grinned, "Did it?"

"Mhmmm…A little. It was really sweet. I do want to help you keep your son!"

"Thank you. I appreciate that. And...you're very cute when you're ...hot. Hot for me, huh? Wow, that's...that's...um...we never … really...you know, went there, did we?" he seemed suddenly tongue tied since she had called his bluff on his flirting.

He felt as flustered as he had when he had those crazy fantasies about her coming onto him after Renee put the thought in his head that Betty was in love with him. But she had to go and run out to that idiot dorkwad and kiss the guy!

He made a face, "And maybe I was a little jealous of your ex. I admit, it bugged the shit out of me, seeing you run out and kiss that stupid Henry! Especially after you were just teasing me like you did about having a crush on me!"

She shook her head in exasperation, "Daniel, you know you're gorgeous, alright? If I seriously got all jealous every time some girl wanted to jump you we'd never get any work done! And right now, we need to figure out what to do about you keeping your son.

So let's stop this flirting, both of us and get to work, deciding how we can keep him! Deal?" She held out her hand and he merely looked at her like she was nuts, so she sighed, and rolled her eyes, putting both her hands up for him to 'high five' her, "You really are five sometimes, you know that?"

He grinned, "Fine. I'll stop flirting on one condition, Betty."

"What?"

"Kiss me."

"What? Why? Why would I...you want me to…do that? That's the opposite of NOT flirting! Daniel, I am NOT offering you a 'mercy jump' right now, okay? You misunderstood me! I just thought she...um..that Holly was…"

"I get it. You thought she wanted to offer me a mercy jump because she felt bad about being the one to tell me I'm not technically DJ's father. But Betty, she doesn't know me. She's a stranger."

"Well, right. But…"

"But in the past, that wouldn't stop me from hitting on her? From sleeping with her, right?"

"I guess not." He wasn't wrong. It wouldn't have. At least not in the past. As far as she knew, however, him finding out or at least thinking that he was a father had 'slowed his roll' when it came to sleeping around.

"Remember when you made me watch a bunch of those silly chick flicks with you?"

"Hey! I watched the ones you liked! Even the scary ones!"

"Right! Well, the movies I like are good! But, whatever. That one, the old one with Meg Ryan, where she and the little funny guy are just friends for a long time even though he tells her at first that men and women can't be friends because sex always gets in the way of friendship.

I mean...of course I know it was just a silly chick flick, so they're all supposed to end that way, but they...ended up together. I was just wondering. Is that...us? I mean, we make each other laugh, and we talk about our girlfriends and boyfriends to one another."

"It was just a movie. Like you said, a chick flick. They all end up together in those. It's not real."

"No, but we are. You are. You really are always there for me, Betty. I just think...maybe if we kiss, there won't be so much wondering, it could cut the tension between us. It's sort of making me...distracted."

"I see. But what if it just makes things...more distracting?"

He smirked, "Like if we give in to one kiss, we won't want to stop? Well, you might be right. But...I'm willing to promise I will. I just need to know. What kissing you feels like. Then, I promise, I'll be a good boy and concentrate on business. Come on, Betty. One kiss."

She closed her eyes, "You're ridiculous! Fine! This is totally silly! We have way too much to worry about right now to be doing crazy stuff like this but…" his lips cut her off in mid-thought. And the second they met hers, all her thoughts completely vanished, too.

His lips were so soft and tender, they melted into hers, but his tongue was doing all kinds of crazy things inside her mouth, pulsing and exploring. While his hands seemed quite busy, running through her hair, then touching her body, giving her just enough of a taste, of the thought of what having more of him might be like. Why had she admitted to the man that he made her hot? Clearly, it had fed his ego just enough to want more. To prove to her how hot he could really make her if he wanted to!

Daniel couldn't believe how intense kissing Betty felt. Her lips were soft and full and amazing, and her tongue danced along with his, blending perfectly, matching him in desire. Her hips and breasts were both full and he couldn't wait to get her out of those stupid clothes she wore, only to tease and frustrate him.

He wasn't that stupid. He knew she had a curvy, very sexy body under that crazy clown wardrobe of hers. The woman refused to show any cleavage and he got excited just thinking about how amazing her breasts really were.

Okay, clearly this was a huge mistake. It did just make him want her more. One kiss? Why the hell had he promised her he would stop? Maybe SHE wouldn't want to, either?