MERRY CHRISTMAS, DARLING/CH 2
Betty threw the covers off and started frantically rummaging through her large suitcase, trying to decide what to put on that didn't necessarily look like she had been fussing about what to put on, or "trying too hard". Something casual...but flattering. Jeans, maybe?
No, she wouldn't have been sleeping in jeans. Shouldn't she at least pretend like she wasn't panicking, that she was totally calm and collected about the notion that the man was headed here tonight, right now after all these years of keeping him at arms' length? Arms that crossed the Atlantic ocean!
Still, if they went out anywhere, she would have to change out of her sweatpants anyway. Not that it was particularly a good idea to go out...well, anywhere right now. She glanced out her window and noted the predicted snowfall had indeed begun.
The patter of the rain falling had changed to a silent snow. It was beautiful, and instantly put a smile on her face. But she wondered how Daniel would do being snowed in at her father's house. It sounded as if he was perfectly comfortable spending time with her family, with or without her there.
Since when did Daniel come over every other Tuesday for tamale night? Why didn't anyone TELL her the man was practically a member of the family while she was gone?
Before she knew it, she heard voices downstairs. Male voiceS. Her father was obviously talking with Daniel amiably, laughing as if they were old buddies. He was here-already! She rolled her eyes, looking at her hair, a total mess, of course!
She searched for her brush in her overnight case, and pulled her hair up in a slightly less messy high ponytail and got out some lipstick and mascara, put on her jeans and grabbed a casual but flattering sweater, and just as she began putting it on, there was a soft knock as the door opened and she saw startled blue eyes, "OH! Sorry!"
He closed the door, and backed out as he saw she was still dressing, "I'm really sorry, Betty! I swear I'm not a peeping Tom!"
"It's okay. I'm decent now. You can come back in." She quickly finished putting on her sweater and hurried to open the door, pulling him back inside for a warm hug, "DANIEL! I missed you so much! It's so good to see you again!" she whispered in his ear.
He held her tightly for what seemed like forever, touched by her words and display of affection, then reluctantly held her out by her arms, and tenderly brushed back a strand of hair as he smiled at her, "You sure are a sight for sore eyes! I missed you, too! You look absolutely beautiful, Betty. Where are your glasses? Can you see?"
She smiled, "I got Lasik this summer. I got tired of my glasses falling down all the time."
He touched her cheek, "Wow! You look...GREAT, Betty! Even more gorgeous than I remember. How have you been?"
She tried to keep things casual and light, shrugging, "I'm good. You know, busy, busy. How about you? Did I hear Justin correctly that your mother is retiring?"
He nodded, and followed her to sit down on the end of her bed, next to her, watching her intently, "You did indeed hear correctly. She IS retiring for New Year's. She and her husband are going on a trip around the world basically the whole month of January.
She'll be stopping off in Paris to see Alexis and DJ, of course. I think she HAD planned to stop in London to see you, but I'm sure she'll still find a way to keep it on her itinerary now that you're here. So...you're here. You ARE here to...stay?"
She bit her bottom lip and nodded, "Yes, I am. Is that...okay?"
He grinned, "Okay? You mean with me? Of course! Why wouldn't it be? I'm not likely to stamp your passport and send you packing back to the UK! I want you here...to stay. As long as that's really what YOU want."
"It is. Very much." she tried not to let him see how flushed her cheeks were as he merely touched her hand lightly.
His voice was raw with emotion as he picked up her hand and intertwined his fingers with hers, "It's very much what I want, too. It's what I've been praying and hoping for the last ten years! But...what about your job? I told you, I never wanted to be the reason you give up on your dream, Betty!"
She smiled as she leaned closer, their foreheads touching as she whispered, "I didn't give up on anything. I just decided it was time for a NEW dream! One that doesn't keep me an ocean apart from everything and everyONE I...miss and...love." She patted his cheek, then moved away, embarrassed.
He nodded, lightly touching her chin to face him and smiled, "I can't stop staring at you, sorry. I just can't get over the fact that you're really here, Betty! Hey, get your coat. I have somewhere to take you. Come on!" He suddenly pulled her up, and she went to her closet, pulling her coat out.
As he helped her into it, he leaned down, his breath on the back of her neck causing her back to tingle all the way down to her spine, "Do you still have your puffy blue coat or did you send it to Marc as a keepsake since I made him shut down his website?"
She laughed, but shoved his arm lightly, "Shut up! I still can't believe you never TOLD me about that! That was so embarrassing!"
He shrugged, smiling, as he touched her hair, "I thought some of those outfits were actually kind of cute! I really liked a lot of your butterfly belts!"
She rolled her eyes, "Whatever, Daniel. What is it you have to show me out in a snowstorm?"
"It's not a snowstorm YET! Anyway, that's sort of the point. We need to hurry up to go there before it's too late."
They slipped outside into his waiting town car without disturbing her family, so they could keep their privacy from Betty's well-meaning but somewhat nosy family. Once they had been driving for a few minutes she turned to him, "Where are you taking me?"
He grinned, pretending to twirl his imaginary side mustache, "To my evil lair to finally have my wicked way with you, of course, darling!"
She rolled her eyes, shoving his arm lightly, "Hilarious, Daniel!"
He leaned towards her and whispered, "You think I'm joking? I've been waiting a VERY long time to get you alone, young lady!"
She laughed as they talked easily about each of their plans for the holidays with their families. The driver stopped suddenly, pulling over to allow them out, "Here we are, sir."
She looked around for the first time noticing where they were. Her hand flew to her mouth as she bit her bottom lip, her eyes watery, "You...remembered? It's been so long!"
He took her hand and held it gently, "There are some things you never forget, Betty. That was the best date of my life! Come on!" He helped her out of the car and she stood, looking out at the city she had left behind ten years ago.
As he wrapped his arms around her waist, standing behind her, he leaned down and whispered, "I come here a lot. Remember what you told me? That you'd come here...at five-thirty in the morning. I think part of me kept hoping we'd keep that promise we made that night to each other."
She turned to face him, placing her hands on the sides of his face, trying desperately not to cry (and failing miserably), "Daniel...I'm so sorry I never did! I should have! I missed you, too. I'm such an idiot! I really didn't know. I thought you had forgotten all about me and I knew I was the one who left, so it was my fault."
He shook his head, and took one of her hands, kissing her palm, as he dipped his face closer, "You're not an idiot. Well, okay. Maybe we BOTH are idiots. But we can't do anything about the past. All we can do is make sure that from now on...we spend Christmas together.
And...New Year's, and Valentine's Day, and St. Patrick's Day, and what's next? Well, anyway, every single holiday, then repeat next year, and the year after that, over and over, until we're both old and grey. No cracks about me already being there! I AM ten years older, but...you always said I ACTED like a five year old, so...maybe that will even us out a little, right?"
Her eyes grew wide, "Daniel Meade, did you just...was that a proposal?"
He grinned, shaking his head, "God no! I mean...not yet, anyway. That would be totally ridiculous! Me...proposing to you before we had even had our first kiss, right? Completely silly! There's no way I'd do anything that crazy! Especially not on your first night back to the US!"
They both laughed, somewhat awkwardly. Then, as he continued to lean down closer to her slowly, she stepped away, putting her hand up, "What are you doing?"
"Kissing you, of course! We have a LOT of catching up to do!"
"KISSING ME? Here? Now? Just like that?"
"Just like that? Do I really need to remind you how long we've known each other, Betty?" He rolled his eyes impatiently, pulling her tiny frame towards him, crushing her body into his, kissing her deeply and passionately, gradually sliding his hands over her back.
When they both finally came up for air, she let out a breath, her eyes wide, "OHMYGOD!"
"My sentiments exactly! That was...uh...about ten years worth of desire, passion, and lust, I'd say, wouldn't you, Miss Suarez?"
She nodded, "Uh huh! Pretty close!" she whispered, as she leaned her forehead against his, then placed her hands flat against his chest, feeling his firm muscles under his coat.
"Daniel?"
"Yeah?"
"I feel like I'm gonna need to kiss you again. Is that...okay?"
He gave her his lopsided grin she had been missing so much, "I probably wouldn't put up too much of a fight."
"Good. I just need to see something. For...scientific purposes. I promise, this won't take long."
"Take your time, Miss Science Wizard! I'm not planning on going anywhere. You're keeping me plenty warm."
She stepped back towards him, sliding her hands quickly up his arms and forcefully pulling his collar down to crash her lips into his, then running them through his hair as she deepened the kiss.
After several minutes, he smiled, not breaking their connection, "What did you need to 'see, huh? In case you're wondering, I think I might pass out soon if I don't get to lay down!"
She laughed, "Lay down? Is that a come on?"
He shrugged, "Only if you interpret me asking you to come and trim my Christmas tree as me coming onto you!"
"Well, yeah, I think that's exactly what that means! How big is your tree?"
He chuckled, "What? How big? That's kind of a personal question, Betty. How big does it NEED to be for you to help me trim it?"
She shoved him, blushing, "You're so bad, Daniel! You really think I'm going to come to your place to 'help you TRIM your Christmas tree"? How naive do you think I am?"
"Calm down! I promise I'm not trying to kidnap you, Betty! I just figured...it would be nice to ride out the storm together. Alone at my place, that's all. I thought we could catch up.
You know, watch the snow, light a fire, have some cocoa and watch Christmas movies cuddled up together on the sofa. Nothing too crazy. Mostly stuff we've already done a thousand times before. Just...with lots more kissing. If you're into it."
"Okay. I'm into it."
"Really?"
"Yes. I think that sounds...fun, actually."
"Which part?"
"All of it."
"Yeah?"
"Yes. Especially the kissing part. I think possibly getting stuck in a snowstorm with you sounds...pretty cozy, actually. Oh, should I stop back by my dad's place or do you have some pajamas and an extra toothbrush I can borrow?"
He raised his eyebrows, smirking, as he texted his driver to come pick them back up, "Yes to the toothbrush, and I have shirts, sweatpants and shorts, of course, but as far as the PJ's are concerned, I'm not sure mine would fit you...in the right places! But no worries...we'll figure something out."
As they slid back into the back seat, she leaned her head against his shoulder, sighing, "It's so good to be back home for the holidays!"
"It's amazing to have you home again." He put up his hand and she intertwined her fingers with his, as they leaned towards one another for a soft, tender kiss and handed her a small red box, "Merry Christmas! I got this...a long time ago and never had the guts to give it to you."
Her eyes widened and he smiled, "I promise, it's not a ring, don't look so scared!"
She shrugged, "I'm not scared. That was very thoughtful, Daniel!"
"Are you going to open it?"
"If you want me to now."
"I do."
She excitedly began tearing the paper and saw a blue velvet jewelry box in front of her containing a beautifully delicate, intricate white gold butterfly necklace, trimmed with diamonds.
Her breath hitched, as she stared at it in awe, "Daniel! It's so beautiful! Thank you!"
She turned to wrap her arms around his neck and kissed him.
When she turned back around he took it out of the box, "Do you want me to help you put it on?"
She nodded excitedly, "Yes, please! Thank you SO much for this, Daniel! I LOVE it!"
He grinned, greatly enjoying that "Betty" enthusiasm he had so missed in her absence over the years, "I'm so glad you like it. I seem to remember you liking butterflies a lot."
She turned back around, offering him the back of her neck. After he had placed the necklace on her and fastened it, he leaned down to kiss the side of her neck, nuzzling her tenderly.
Her mind buzzed as his attentions grew more intense and she found herself moaning in delight. "Daniel! OMG! That feels...amazing!"
He pulled her side to face him and stroked her cheek as he gruffly answered, "I figured it was only fitting, since you really have turned into a beautiful butterfly in every way possible."
"So have you, Daniel!"
He laughed, "Me? Um...thanks! But, please don't get me a necklace! It wouldn't make my eyes pop!"
She rolled her eyes, shoving his chest lightly, "No! You know what I mean! You're so sweet and kind and you've always been a beautiful person on the outside with a huge heart, but you didn't always ACT quite so beautifully when I first met you."
"No. I know what you mean. I was a big jerk!"
"Sort of."
"I was a self-involved, egotistical, spoiled, lazy, entitled man-whore!"
"True. But on you, it looked good!" she smiled.
He laughed, "Right! But thanks to you...I outgrew my crappy behavior and just like you became gorgeous on the outside to match your inner beauty, I sort of started acting better to match my outer good looks. Is that what you meant?"
"Exactly! I don't have a gift for you, though, sorry. Well, I do, but it's in my suitcase."
"You coming home is the best present I could ask for, Betty!"
Her eyes sparkled as she squeezed his hand, "I might have a few ideas of things I could...DO to…"
"Make me a very happy man? I'm sure you could! Come on, let's get home. The snow is starting to pick up. Let's hurry up and get inside. Max, please be careful getting home yourself! You're not far, right? Thank you for the ride tonight!"
"No worries, sir. I'm just around the corner and down the street. I could walk if need be. But I should be able to get her parked safely underground in no time. Goodnight and Happy Holidays, Mister Meade. Miss Suarez. It's so good to have you back!"
"It's good to BE back, Max! Thanks! Happy Holidays, to you, too!"
Once they were safely inside, he lit the fire, and handed her a big sweater to put on, putting on sweats himself and making them some popcorn and cocoa, as promised. He patted his sofa, holding out a quilt, and smiling, "Come on. I don't bite. Much. You wanna pick a movie? Ladies' choice."
The fire and his company were a welcome relief from her nervousness about all that lay in store now that she was back. Yes, she was fairly certain she could find another job and she had plenty of savings and excellent references from her previous employer. But more than anything, her friendship with Daniel is what she had feared losing most.
That she had waited far too long and he wouldn't want anything to do with her anymore, that he would have moved on with some skinny model or starlett and she would never really get the chance to at the very least, apologize for leaving him in the first place.
To find out that the opposite in fact was the case. He seemed to miss her terribly and to have been thinking of her still QUITE fondly! She felt as if he wanted to move things along immediately. Although she wanted him, too. And she had thought numerous times about showing up unannounced and doing something sexy or suggestive to try and make up for her stubborn nature, her jet-lag caught up to her and she found herself being lifted and carried into his bed.
Daniel was chivalrous and after tucking her in, he went back to sleep on the couch, dropping a kiss to her cheek, "Goodnight, Betty. I love you so much! Merry Christmas, my darling girl!"