A/N: I'm writing and updating in the middle of the 2020 pandemic. These days, writing is one of the activities that brings me joy, and sharing my work with others provides a much-needed release during uncertain times. Writing (and reading) gives us all a chance to escape the environment that we live in, however temporarily, in order to explore other worlds, time-periods, and themes. As always, I do not own any of the characters or concepts below, but merely utilize them as a creative outlet. Finally, a very big shoutout to my longtime beta, iloveromance, who in addition to making herself available for my drafts and early editions, does not seem to mind that I take long pauses between writing and updating. Given the current climate, I hope to write (and post) more frequently. As always, a special thanks to those who read and review.
Sunlight streamed in through the bedroom window, stirring Betty from her slumber. The blankets were pulled around her body to shield her from the winter cold. Maybe I should buy an electric blanket. She thought to herself. She turned over on her side, preferring to stay within the confines of her room rather than face the rest of her family. As Betty was closing her eyes once more, a splash of color caught her eye. Extending her right arm, she touched the petals of a beautiful lavender rose.
In the middle of winter, she pondered, inhaling the sweet fragrance. She had no doubt as to who it was from. With a small smirk, she placed the flower back on the counter. It'll take more than a flower to change my mind, she smirked, reaching for her slippers and bathrobe.
"Time for school." Betty called to Sally and Bobby, hearing two groans coming out from their rooms. Christmas break would be coming up and the Draper children were counting the days till their freedom.
Betty maneuvered her way to the kitchen, starting a batch of pancakes for the kids. The bubbling batter in the frying pan brought a small smile to her mouth.
"Morning, Mommy." Sally and Bobby called, chasing after Polly, who was anxious to be let out for her morning walk.
Betty pointed to the table, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Good morning."
Don's voice made Betty freeze up the tiniest amount, though a well-placed smile hid it well.
"Mommy, we need strawberry syrup." Sally explained, taking another bite. "Jessica and Ernie use it all the time and they say it's better than plain old maple."
"I'll be sure to keep that in mind." Betty muttered, eying Don out of the corner of her eye. "Did you want to eat anything before you go?" Betty asked, offering him a plate.
Don shook his head, kissing the kids goodbye. "See you tonight." he called to Betty, who said nothing in reply.
"Finish eating and get your backpacks." Betty instructed as Don's car pulled out of the driveway.
Betty Draper drove downtown to one of the local government buildings, where one Henry Francis did his daily tasks for the Republican Party. Touching up her makeup, she let out a quick sigh. She was going to have to tell Henry about her new arrangement with her husband, and she wasn't sure how he was going to take it. Their last conversation had been two weeks ago, in the confines of the Draper Lincoln. Henry had made his intentions known to Betty – he wanted to marry her and take care of her, no matter what the cost.
Betty walked up to Marjorie – Henry's desk secretary, and quietly asked if Mr. Francis was available.
Marjorie narrowed her eyes at Mrs. Draper as she slowly picked up the phone and whispered into the receiver. "He'll be with you in a moment." she said tersely, forgoing all effort at pleasantries.
Betty brushed off her attitude and took a seat on one of the chairs. Holding her purse in her lap, Betty quietly rehearsed what she wanted to say. She wanted it to be quick and painless, a get in and get out experience. If Marjorie's attitude means anything, I'm spending too much time here. Betty thought warily, her eyes watching the office door.
Betty sat up straighter as Henry came out, presenting her with a smart perfunctory smile – the same one he gave to all of his constituents. Betty stood to greet him, offering him her hand to shake.
"Would you like to step into my office, Mrs. Draper?" Henry asked.
Betty nodded her head, casting a final look at Marjorie as she walked into the office, allowing Henry to shut the door. Betty pressed her finger to her mouth to suggest a quiet tone.
Henry chuckled at Betty, pulling her fingers down and bringing them to his mouth one by one.
"Stop." Betty whispered, slowly backing away. "Not here. It's inappropriate."
"Do you want to get a hotel room?" Henry asked, reluctantly respecting her wishes.
Betty shook her head, her locks circling her face. "I have news – about Don and I."
"He's giving you a divorce?" Henry asked.
"Yes and no," Betty said hesitantly.
Henry offered Betty a seat on his sofa. "How can it be both?"
"Don said that he'd give me a divorce in the New Year."
Henry stood up and walked over to his bar to pour a drink, not bothering to pour one for her. "What does that mean?" he demanded, his voice rising.
"There are people outside of your office." Betty hissed, her eyebrows raising. "And some of them seem to have ideas about us."
"I had ideas about us – based on what you told me." Henry took a large swig of his bourbon and poured another.
Betty raised her left hand in defense. "Everything I told you is true. It's just that Don wanted to have one last Christmas as a family."
"Bull." Henry countered. "Is he or isn't he giving you a divorce?"
"He is – after thirty days." Henry looked at Betty to continue. "He wants me to stay married to him for one month – after that he'll give me the divorce, custody of the kids, and money to live on."
"I told you that I would take care of you and the kids – I don't want you to owe him anything."
Betty shook her head. "I have spent ten years married to that man. I have worked business functions for him, given up my career for him, raised his children, put up with his adultery, lies, and everything else. I want what is coming to me."
Henry scoffed. "Is he making it worth your while?"
Betty nodded her head. "He said he would – and I believe him."
"Of course you do." Henry said sarcastically. "Because he's never lied to you before."
"This is different." Betty insisted. "Don doesn't go back on his deals. He didn't make a promise to me as his wife, he made a business arrangement."
"And what sort of arrangement do you two have?" Henry pressed with a raised eyebrow.
Betty stood up and walked over to Henry. "I don't like what you're implying."
"And I don't like what I'm hearing."
"Separate bedrooms, separate lives. Nothing's changed."
"For both of you?"
"Yes."
"He doesn't want anything more in return?"
"He told me he didn't."
Henry shook his head. "I think you're foolish to trust him."
"I've known the man for ten years. If he tries anything – the deal's off."
Henry polished off his drink. "Sounds like you already made up your mind."
"Last night."
"Thanks for including me," Henry muttered.
Betty offered Henry a small smile. "I know that this is a lot to take in."
"It really is."
"I promise that it will be worth your while."
"Is that so?" Henry challenged, bridging the gap between them. Henry captured Betty's mouth with his, playing with the shoulder of her dress.
Betty let out a heavy sigh. This was the farthest that they had gone together, not once consummating the affair. "Henry." Betty stammered, gently pushing away.
"Too much?" Henry asked, trying to hide his disappointment.
"I'm sorry." Betty said softly. "I don't know if it's the office, or the fact that I'm still married or what, but…"
"We don't have to." Henry insisted, walking back to the bar and offering her a glass. "There's a lot of other things we can do together."
Betty tucked her hair behind her ear. "I'll try to see you whenever I can. Don works long hours during the day."
"Any chance that we could have a night date?"
A small smile formed on Betty's mouth. "Those might be harder to come by – but there's always a convenient excuse for anything."
"Then I'll have to settle for what I can get." Henry refilled his glass once more. "Tell me one thing though – do you still love him?"
"Henry." Betty crossed over to him, planting a kiss on his cheek. "After everything that he's done to me over the past ten years, I have no reason in the world to love him."
Henry reached for Betty's hand. "I promise to never give you a reason to not love me."
Betty sighed, massaging Henry's hand in hers. "I just hope I'm worth the wait."
"You know I'd wait forever for you," Henry assured her.
Betty closed her eyes. "I should go before we go any further."
Henry begrudgingly nodded his head, leaving a tender kiss on her forehead. "Call me soon."
"I will." Betty promised, picking up her purse.
Henry called to Betty once more as she started to walk away. "Promise me that I won't lose you to him."
Betty let out a breath of air. "I know exactly what I'm doing. In one month I will get a New York divorce and we can start our life together." Betty offered Henry a reassuring smile. "It's only a month."
"Only a month." Henry whispered as Betty closed the door behind her. He wondered if this was the last time that he would see her.
Betty curled up on the sofa, catching up on the lifestyle section of the newspaper. Carla was out marketing for the weekend while the kids were playing upstairs. The front door to the house opened and Betty called out without looking up from her paper.
"Carla you can drop off the groceries and go for the day."
"It's me, Betts."
Betty lowered her paper and looked up at her husband. "You're home early." she said, resuming her reading.
"Slow day." Don mused, not wanting to tell her the sad truth of his current state of affairs. "Where are the kids?"
"Upstairs," Betty replied, without meeting him in the eye.
Undaunted, Don continued. "Since I'm home early, why don't I take you to dinner tonight?"
Betty lowered her paper once more, narrowing her eyes at her husband. "I don't know if Carla can watch the kids."
"I'm sure Francine wouldn't mind." Don interjected, referring to one of Betty's closest friends, Francine Carlson.
Betty clicked her tongue. "What's the occasion?"
"No reason." Don said, resting on the edge of the sofa. "I know how much you like Lutucee, and the chef knows the Sterling's, so I could get us a reservation for tonight." Don offered her his classic smile.
Betty shook her head, her curls falling in her face. "Our agreement was to stay married, not to go out."
Don let out a small snort. "You have to eat, and I know how much you enjoy going there."
"I'm not in the mood." Betty said, returning to her reading.
Don took a step back. He didn't anticipate this reaction. He rarely counted on defeat, but given what was going on at work, he wouldn't be surprised if he was starting a losing streak.
"Suit yourself." Don replied, walking to the office.
Taking a seat behind his desk, Don rested his head in his hands. The past month had been close to hellish for him. First it was moving to the nursery after Betty told him that she didn't love him. Then Don found out that his advertising firm was being sold to rival firm McCann Erikson. Since he was under contract, he would be guaranteed a place at McCann, but the idea of working for someone else, of losing everything that he had accomplished was less than appealing. He picked up his Rolodex and grabbed the phone. He wasn't used to losing battles. He knew that if he couldn't get what he wanted one way, he'd find another.
"Yes hello, I'm wondering if you could cater a meal." Don said with a smile.
Betty perused her old modeling portfolio, feeling unusually sentimental about her time in the city, before she even knew Don or had the kids. A wide smile formed on her mouth when she came across her Heller Furs print ad – it was what led her to Don. She was so entranced by the old artwork that she didn't hear the first several knocks on her bedroom door.
"Come in." Betty said, not looking up from her portfolio.
Don pushed the door open with his elbow, carrying an elaborate tray of, spinach salad, foie gras, and chocolate cake.
"What in the world?" Betty stammered, pushing the portfolio to the side of the bed.
"You said you wouldn't eat with me, so I brought dinner to you."
"You didn't have to do that." Betty said, mesmerized as Don poured red wine into a glass, handing it to her.
"Enjoy your meal." Don nodded, turning his back to her and walking away.
Betty lifted the wine glass to her lips, taking a long, luxurious sip. Leaning back against her feather pillow, a light laugh emitted from her throat. It had been months since she had been to Lutece, and never without the responsibility of having to work for her supper alongside Don, entertaining his various partners and colleagues. I wonder if this meal comes with a price, she mused, wondering what her husband was expecting in return. Draining the contents of her glass, a satisfied smile formed on her mouth. I might as well enjoy the perks while I can, she thought, diving into her spinach salad.
Don read up on old client files by the nightlight in the attic. He was gathering information for what he was hoping would be the answer to his problems – his business problems at least. Don had always attempted to take his business relationships seriously – it was what made him who he was at Sterling Cooper: someone who could be trusted to get the job done, and give the client exactly what they wanted, even when they didn't know what that was.
Relationships that spanned several years were detailed in the documents; meals that were purchased, deals that were brokered, entertainment that was obtained. After finally getting accustomed to the British and their daily presence, he found out he was being sold to the highest bidder in New York – McCann Erikson. They had tried to lure him away once before over a year ago, and they had attempted to use Betty to do it. Don had rejected their offer based on the way they did business, having Betty model for one of their products in order to convince him to sign with them, and then dumping her when he refused to leaving Sterling Cooper. Don put the file aside on the bed. He never imagined going into advertising, working in an office job from nine to five every day. He closed his eyes. Some of his happiest years were at the car dealership, after he changed his name and stated over. Don had gone straight from the dealership to working at Heller Furs writing copy, and it was there that he met Betty, on one of her assignments.
It was instant attraction for him. Earlier she was a name on a ledger. 'Elizabeth Hofstadt', the woman assigned to the new Heller Furs print ad. But when he met her, she came to life for him. He wasn't the only gentleman in the office to notice her that day. The models were often ogled and admired from afar, and a few brave souls even dared to speak to them. Don was one of the employees who had a habit of fraternizing with the models, his charm and looks made him an easy sell for the ladies, who were often as taken by him as he was by them.
But this one was different, and that made him try all the harder. He introduced himself quickly, and she politely did the same, saying little more than her name. Don was quick to take the next step, which was inviting her to dinner. It was a chance to get her alone and get to know her better. He was surprised when she rejected him outright, without as much as a glance. All he could do was watch her walk away and continue her shoot, admiring her from afar, and with wounded pride. He observed her at the very end of the shoot, after the final pictures were taken and everyone was congratulated on a job well done. The model was asked to return the beautiful Russian Blue fox coat; he saw her beautiful eyes fall as she slowly removed the coat, one arm at a time. Her mouth formed into a small hurt pout that Don couldn't take his eyes off of. He was willing to do anything to make her feel better, to make her smile once more as she had done before. Seeing the coat folded and placed back in a box to be sold, he knew exactly what he had to do to get a first date with the beautiful model.
His project started the next morning, by talking to his boss at the fur company, known as Teddy the Greek by everyone who knew him. He made his unusual request right away and after being laughed at by his boss, he was told that the coat was already promised to a third party who was going to pick it up that same day. After more prodding and promising extra hours at the office, Don was given the third party name. It was a high society woman who was living on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, and it took Don exactly one hour to get to her, and another 30 minutes to convince her to relinquish the coat to him. He swore that he would never tell a soul how the coat came to his possession; he didn't care how he got it, or how he made the socialite feel – in the end they both got something that they wanted out of the deal.
It was more difficult obtaining Elizabeth's address, which was heavily guarded by Teddy, for what he described as 'professional reasons'. Teddy warned his employee about fraternizing with the models, and that if something were to go sour, Don would be held responsible. Don had responded with a speech about how enthralled he was with this woman who he had met only once, had less than a whole conversation with, and just wanted to see once more. He had described her as a life-changing person, and Teddy could see in his eyes that he was very serious about the model.
After receiving her address, Don sent a dozen red roses to the crowded apartment in which she lived in. He waited in the hall as she opened the card, and came out with the coat that she had grown so attached to. Elizabeth was rendered speechless, having never received such a fine gift from anyone before. It was clear that when Don gave Betty the coat, she gave permission to ask her out once more; and this time the answer was different.
A gentle knock stirred Don away from his thoughts. A smile formed on his mouth. She was even more beautiful now than she was over ten years ago, though she would never believe him if he told her.
"Are you busy?" she asked shyly, standing in the doorway.
"No, come in."
Betty seemed hesitant as she stepped forward. "I wanted to thank-you again for dinner. It was wonderful."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it."
"I did. I'm just wondering something."
"What's that?"
Betty stepped into the light. "I'm wondering what you're expecting in return, for such a kind and thoughtful gesture. Your gifts usually come at a price."
Don shook his head. "There's no strings attached, nothing that I'm expecting in return."
"Really?" Betty countered. "There's nothing you want?"
"If there were something that you wanted to give me," Don suggested. "I wouldn't say no."
Betty smirked at her husband. "Have a good night, Don."
"You do the same." he acknowledged, watching her go. The first day of their pact had begun, and though it seemed as though he made little to no progress, Don was already planning ahead to the next day. He had courted Betty for a few months before asking her to marry him, and knew full well that the heart of a woman couldn't be won in a full day. It would take time, and he was willing to devote as much as it took to get her to change her mind. His life depended on it.