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The next few weeks were extremely difficult. Betty wasn't sure what to do or how to act to make Daniel feel better. He didn't hold her at night anymore. When she tried to hold him, he pushed her away. He was distant and wouldn't talk much except about work related subjects or typical necessities like food or where his tie was. All that she could think of was to be as positive and chipper as possible and try to think of things he loved to do or places he loved to eat to coax him out of his depression.

"Hey, babe!" Betty cheerily greeted Daniel with a chaste kiss, after leaving him to himself for an hour or so to do some shopping. "Guess what?! I found a really great charcoal grill at the hardware store and it can be delivered on Wednesday – which will be perfect! Papi wants to have a family barbecue this coming weekend and he wants your mom, Tyler, Amanda, Marc, and the baby to come."

"Betty . . ." Daniel began.

"I also made reservations for Michael's tomorrow night – I know how much you've been craving his spaghetti and meatballs. And Bobby, Justin, and Drew said they'd love to come over and try out the basketball court this afternoon. Bobby and Drew have been working on Justin's skills and Bobby says he's gotten better. Maybe you guys can help him out some more?" she rambled on.

"Betty," he tried again.

"I bought you some new shoes to try out on the court. Oh! And have you tried that new Bluetooth speaker I got you – you can take it anywhere – even while you play -" Betty continued, nervously.

"Jesus, Betty will you stop coddling me, already?!" Daniel snapped. "I'm not a freakin' invalid!"

She dropped the pint of ice cream on the island, startled.

"Damn it, Daniel! I was just trying to make you feel better and have some fun! You've been moping around for weeks now and snapping at everyone at work. People are starting to notice something's off. The press is even commenting on it, speculating I coerced you into dumping Maggie and getting engaged. You won't talk to me. You won't hold me or let me hold you. It's like I've done something to you and I know I haven't! You know what? I'm sorry I even tried!" she exclaimed, frustrated, and continued putting away the groceries.

"No, I'm sorry, baby. I truly am. I shouldn't be taking it out on you – or anyone else. It's my problem," he apologized and got up to help her. "If anything, you should be pissed at me."

"What?! Why?" she wondered, softening.

"You know exactly why, Betty!" he exclaimed. "Do I have to come out and say it?!"

"Daniel, it's just going to take some time. I'm not mad – I'm just frustrated because I can't seem to do anything to help you and on top of that you're pushing me away. If you feel like I'm pressuring you, that's the last thing I was trying to do. I've been trying to get you to relax and take your mind off of it," she explained, massaging his shoulders and placing gentle kisses on his neck as he leaned over the counter with his head in his hands.

"I know. I know . . . It's just . . . the more you try to cheer me up or comfort me, the more pressure I feel. Could you just start treating me like normal? Yell at me when I put the empty milk carton back in the fridge or forget to set the alarm in the morning. Jab me in the ribs when I fall asleep during the financial meeting at work?" he asked. "Just call me a dumbass once in a while instead of being so freakin' nice all the time?"

"Okay," she agreed. "Dumbass."

"Hey – when it's called for," he lightheartedly objected, turning around and kissing her.

Betty giggled and kissed him back.

"You know, this works better for me, too," she admitted in between kisses. "If I had to play nice with your incompetent, snarky, bimbo of an assistant again, I was going to scream and kick her out of the building."

"Is she really that bad?" he questioned, nibbling her ear.

"Worse than Lexy-Like-Sexy," she confirmed.

Daniel chuckled.

"You were so jealous of her," he mused, focusing his attention on the space between her neck and shoulder.

"Mmmmm . . . I was not. I could just tell she was trouble because I was thinking with my head," she insisted.

"Betty, you did a mock impression of her and wouldn't stop giving me those judging looks of yours until I got rid of her," he argued.

"Okay, so she got to me. I was your assistant for three years and I thought you had finally realized what a good assistant should be. And she was definitely not a good assistant," she reminded him and pulled his lips back to hers. "Plus, she called you an old man – she obviously wasn't very smart."

"No . . . you were . . . You were the perfect assistant in every way . . . shape . . . and form . . ." Daniel told her as she continued to tease his lips. "Mmmm . . . Betty . . . I'm not trying to jinx anything . . . but I think we may . . . have lift-off . . ."

"Daniel, the guys will be here in a couple of hours – the great room is a mess," she halfheartedly fought him off.

"Betty? Please?" he pleaded.

"Okay . . ." she relented.

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"Wow . . . that was . . . oh my god . . . wow . . ." Betty said, out of breath as they finally collapsed on the tile floor.

"Yeah . . . I can't even begin to . . . that was amazing . . ." Daniel agreed.

"I've never done it in a kitchen before . . . I swear I'll never look at the island or the fridge the same again!" she giggled.

"Me neither!" he chuckled. "I've never felt like that before . . . so in sync - like we knew what each other was thinking. Maybe it's because I'm finally with the right person – someone who loves me as much as I love them."

"Well, you're half right," she told him.

"What do you mean?" he asked, apprehensively.

"I love you more," she corrected him with a slow ardent kiss.

"I don't think that's possible," he smiled and gazing into her eyes as he toyed with a lock of her hair. "Thank you . . . for putting up with me."

"It was definitely worth the wait . . ." she assured him. "More than worth it."

"I'm glad . . . It was for me, too . . ." he agreed, kissing her shoulder. "So. Knowing this is what you're stuck with the rest of your life . . . any regrets?"

"Only that we didn't figure this out six years ago – actually ten, if you count when we first met," Betty answered.

"Yeah . . . but maybe ten is too much. We didn't exactly have our lives together at that point . . ." Daniel contemplated. "Maybe eight."

"Okay, eight," she agreed. "Can you imagine the looks we would've gotten if we actually had been together back then?"

"Marc and Amanda probably wouldn't have been able to do their jobs they'd be so busy making fun of us," Daniel scoffed.

"They did that anyway, though," Betty pointed out.

"True . . . We would've been really good together," he mused.

"We are really good together," Betty reminded him.

"Very true . . . You wanna go again?" he proposed with a hopeful gleam in his blue eyes as he lightly traced her silhouette with his finger.

"Seriously? A third time?" she raised her eyebrow.

"If you don't want to, I understand. I know you were probably exaggerating for my benefit," he told her, disappointed.

"Daniel, I meant what I said. That was the best sex I've ever had and it was because I was with you," she assured him.

"Yeah, yeah . . . former playboy, I get it," he replied, sighing.

"No, I mean you – the real you that no one else knows. That's why it was the best . . . because I got to be as close to you as two people can get . . . because I got to show you how much I love you . . . and because I felt how much you love me," she clarified. "I got to know you in a way I've never known you before and see you at your most vulnerable side. And it was also the most fun I've ever had with anyone like that. So you don't ever have to ask me that question, Daniel. Of course I want to be with you again. I can't get enough of you!"

"Really?" he asked, incredulously.

"Yes!" she giggled and began kissing every inch of his well-defined body when the doorbell rang.

"Shit! I forgot about the guys coming – and they're early!" Daniel exclaimed, scrambling to throw on his pants. "Go! Go get dressed – I'll answer it!"

"Okay!" she agreed, grabbing her clothes off of the kitchen floor and running up to the bedroom.

"Baby, wait!" he ran up to her and devoured her lips one last time.

"Go! Hurry!" she said after gaining her composure, and playfully smacked his ass.

"You know I always secretly liked when you did that all those years ago," he revealed with a sexy smile.

Betty giggled.

"Go!" she commanded.

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"Hey, Mamita!" Hilda greeted her sister as she popped her head in the doorway of the bedroom. "Looks like somebody was busy before we came . . ."

"Hilda! I didn't know you were coming!" Betty exclaimed, happily surprised.

"Yeah, well, the boys were gonna have some fun, so I figured why shouldn't I?" she explained. "Rosie's with Bobby's parents. They kept beggin' to have some time with her, so . . ."

"That's good," Betty smiled.

"I told Daniel he looked like a grinning idiot," Hilda laughed.

"Hilda!" Betty berated.

"What?! He did! His eyes were all glazed over and he was so cheery it was disgusting. You guys totally did it – it was all over his face," she excused.

Betty rolled her eyes and sighed.

"Sooo . . . how was it?" Hilda prompted.

"I'm probably going to be really sore tomorrow. Daniel slammed me against the fridge at one point and I hit my head, but damn, it was amazing," Betty admitted, unable to hide a smile.

"Like always, right? God, you guys must be like rabbits!" she assumed.

"Actually . . . that was our first time – well, times," Betty confessed. "We tried before and . . . I think the expectations were just so high – I mean we've felt this way about each other for six years . . . It didn't happen . . . And it's been really tough for both of us."

"You know, Bobby and I went through the same thing before Rosie was conceived . . ." Hilda revealed. "I think he was afraid of havin' another baby and then losin' it again . . . that it was somehow his fault that we'd lost one before."

"Hilda, you know it was out of your control. Neither one of you were to blame," Betty told her.

"I know. And he knew it, too. It just took him a while to take the leap of faith that everything would be okay . . . and if it wasn't, we'd get through it together," she said. "Anyway, I just thought I'd let you know that I've been through it, too. You're not alone."

"Thanks," Betty squeezed her sister's hand.

"C'mon. Bobby wants us to get the stuff to make lasagna for dinner," Hilda said, pulling her up.

"Hilda, neither one of us can make something that complicated," Betty objected.

"Relax, Chica. Bobby taught me all there is to know – it's his favorite meal. And besides, he'll be here to help if we screw up," Hilda assured her. "FYI, you'd better learn how to make your man's favorite dinner, too. You can't eat out all the time."

"Maybe Daniel and I could both learn something," Betty agreed.

"First thing before we do anything in that kitchen – where's your mop and the disinfectant? We are goin' all over that place 'til I feel like I can eat in there again!" Hilda half-joked.

Betty giggled.

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"Hey, you," Betty greeted Daniel as he came into her office the next day and locked the door. "I thought you had that meeting with the advertiser? Is something wrong?"

"Only that I've gone all afternoon without doing this . . ." Daniel captured her lips so passionately she had to steady herself by leaning against her desk.

"Don't tell me you blew off the meeting to kiss me," she muttered into his lips.

"They postponed," he explained. "I should thank them."

"Daniel . . ." she giggled, shoving his stomach. "You're terrible!"

"Really? That's not what you said this morning . . ." he flirted, his hands roaming over her ass.

"Daniel!" she berated, her eyes widening.

"I believe your exact words were: 'If all men were as good as you, the world would be a happier place,'" he quoted.

"I knew that would go to your head!" she groaned, burying her head in his chest.

"I've heard I was good, but coming from my biggest critic makes me actually believe it," he joked.

"Well, believe it – and I meant it in all aspects – not just sex. But before you continue to wear that smug smile on your face, remember your biggest critic is telling you to shut up, because egotism is a major turn-off," Betty smirked, toying with his Gucci tie.

"Well, that's the last thing I want to do," Daniel smiled, his eyes dancing as he leaned in. Their lips barely touched when there was a knock at the door.

"Daniel, I know you're in there and I know what you're doing," his mother's voice spoke on the other side.

"The statement that has killed the mood more times than I can count . . ." he grumbled, and reluctantly opened the door.

"Mom," he greeted her. "Thanks for making me feel like I'm back in high school again."

"You can't blame a mother for wanting to have a little fun with her son. Especially when I have so little to look forward to in life," she played the guilt card.

"Oh come on, Mom! You have two grandchildren, a ton of money, and a successful company to run. Stop trying to guilt-trip me," Daniel complained.

"I merely dropped in to officially congratulate you two on another successful issue. Thank god you took your head out of your ass and finally dropped that horrible bitch of a woman! She was no help to your first issue at all – not to mention your social life."

"Mom! Claire!" Daniel and Betty simultaneously exclaimed.

"I'm speaking the truth. I could tell she was a fake from the moment I met her. But I didn't utter a harsh word, did I?" Claire pointed out.

"No, you didn't," he unwillingly admitted.

"However, I wish you and Betty hadn't caused an all-out field day with the media. But I suppose any press is better than none . . ." she digressed.

"Claire, I apologize again for causing you any trouble," Betty told her.

"Betty, there's no need. I'm so happy for you two," Claire smiled and hugged her.

"Thank you," Betty smiled.

"So do I hear wedding bells any time soon?" Claire grilled the couple and caused and awkward silence to fall upon the room.

"Mom!" Daniel exclaimed.

"It's a common question to ask of my engaged children," Claire defended.

"We have talked about it," Betty told her, looking back at Daniel for help.

"We've only officially been engaged for a few weeks," Daniel excused.

"And you've been in love with each other for six years. By all means, take your time. I'll be in the nursing home by the time my grandchildren are born, but perhaps I'll recognize them on my good days . . ." Claire manipulated.

"She's good, isn't she?" Daniel shook his head incredulously at Betty and ran his hand through his hair.

"She and my dad should team up," Betty joked. "We should prepare for this weekend."

"Mom, if anything happens, you'll be the first to know," Daniel promised.

"Definitely! We wouldn't be together if it wasn't for you offering me this job. Thank you, Claire," Betty told her.

"Yeah, as much as I hate you meddling in my love life, I'm glad you did," Daniel admitted.

"All I want is for my children to be happy. And Daniel, you were happiest when Betty was in your life," Claire replied. "The same goes for you, Betty, I might add."

Betty stared at the floor, still embarrassed that Claire Meade could see what was going on between them before they did.

Daniel put his arm around Betty's waist.

"I guess you're right. Even before I fell in love with you, Betty, I always felt better when you were around," he agreed.

"Even when I yelled at you for doing something stupid or insensitive?" she questioned, skeptically.

"Especially then . . . Maybe it was just knowing that you cared enough to try and make me a better person that pushed me to keep going every day," Daniel mused. "Mom? Could we use the jet in a couple of months?"

"Daniel, what are you thinking?" Betty wondered curiously.

"A wedding in Capri . . . our closest family and friends flown in on the jet," he suggested.

"Really?" her eyes lit up like it was Christmas morning.

"Yeah," he said.

"I think it's a wonderful idea," Claire agreed.

"But is there enough time? I mean there's passports and a marriage license and someone to marry us and invitations and the venue and flowers and food and my dress – I have to find one and the get it altered – and – and -" Betty's mind was reeling.

"Sweetheart, if this is what you two really want, I will make some calls," Claire offered.

"What do you think?" Daniel asked. "Mom can help us out with all the plans and maybe Christina could make your dress?"

"It sounds perfect – I'll have to ask Christina and I'm sure Hilda and Justin and Papi will want to help out as well. Is that okay?" she asked.

"Betty, this is our wedding – of course it's okay," he assured her.

Betty hugged him tight.

"Thank you," she told him, trying not to cry.

"I just love making you happy," he replied modestly.

"As long as this is what you want, too," she said. She wanted to make sure he wasn't just doing this for her benefit.

"It is. It's where I was planning on proposing to you before. This is even better," he reassured her.

"Let's do it," she told him.

"You're in?" he asked, raising up his hand.

"I'm in," she confirmed and high-fived him.

"High-fiving for wedding plans? Apparently it's a new generation ritual," Claire skeptically remarked, observing her son and future daughter-in-law.

"It's just our thing," Betty explained gazing affectionately at her fiancé.

"That and lots of hugging," Daniel added with a loving smile.

"Hugging I understand," Claire said and held out her arms to the both of them. "I'm so happy for you."

"Thanks, Mom," Daniel said.

"Thank you, Claire," Betty told her.

"Well, I will get started on those calls, and you kids go home and celebrate," Claire smiled a knowing smile and left.

Daniel wrapped his arms around Betty and didn't let go for a long time.

"Are you okay?" she asked him, slightly worried.

"Yeah, I'm just really glad you're back in my life for good," he explained, tenderly kissing her forehead, allowing his lips to linger.

"Me too," she pressed her forehead against his. "I love you so much."

"I love you, too . . . more than anything," he told her. "Let's go home."

"Okay . . . wait – we've got dinner reservations," she reminded him.

"Then let's eat – because I can't wait to get you home again!" he playfully squeezed her ass.

"Daniel . . ." she berated.

"C'mon," he coaxed, taking her hand as they headed out of her office. After a moment, he whispered in her ear with his sexy voice, "Have you ever done it in an elevator?"

"Daniel! Are you freakin' kidding me?!" Betty objected.

He gave her a look that clearly showed he wasn't.

"Oh my god, you're incorrigible!" she shoved his chest, and fought the urge to give in to his suggestion.

Without saying a word, Daniel grabbed her and pulled her into the elevator. Betty pushed him off and hit the button for the first floor. He hit the stop button and cornered her. He began teasing her lips, then grazed her teeth with his tongue before deepening the kiss. As Daniel's hands began working their way up her skirt and his lips were on her neck, Betty knew she'd lost the battle.