Thank you so much for reading/reviewing! :) #HuluBringBackUglyBetty
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Neither one of them could find the words to speak for a moment as the shock overwhelmed them. Then Daniel finally found his voice.
"Betty?" he looked at her, indicating that this was not a situation to involve their children in.
"I'll get the kids settled in the playroom or something. Why don't you two talk in the living room?" she told her husband and kissed him soundly on the lips before leaving them behind. Part of it was reflex, but the other was a need for Maggie to see that Daniel was hers. She wasn't sure why she still felt threatened by the woman. After all, Daniel admitted he was only with Maggie because he couldn't be with her. But a child could change everything. A biological child would link Daniel to Maggie forever.
"Mama Betty? Did you hear us?" Nicky and Bella looked up at her.
"Hmm? Yeah, guys, what is it?" she asked them.
"We're hungry. Can we make spaghetti?" Bella asked.
"Of course! You know, that's your dad's favorite meal, too. And I think he could use some comfort food right now," she put on a cheery attitude, masking the apprehension that consumed her at the moment. "I'm pretty sure we have all the ingredients, but you guys can help me check after you wash your hands."
"Mama? That signorina said the bambino was Papa's. Is that true? Is Papa a cattivo padre like those people said?" Nicky asked.
"No! No, of course not, buddy. Your father is a very good dad. Don't ever let anyone tell you any different. He's talking to the lady right now. And whatever happens, we love you both and we will always be a familgia," Betty assured her son and daughter with hugs and kisses. "Now, let's see if we can find the breadcrumbs . . ."
Daniel walked in the door with the sleeping baby, a pack 'n' play, and a diaper bag just as soon as Betty and the kids finished looking for the ingredients.
"Babe, can I talk to you for a sec?" he asked Betty.
"Yeah," she answered, knowing their conversation would take a lot more than a second. "Nicky, Bella, why don't you go watch that new movie for a little bit? It's already set up for you."
The children ran up to the movie room while Betty and Daniel went to their bedroom with the baby. Daniel closed the door and locked it.
"She's mine from what Maggie said," he reluctantly told her.
"Oh my god . . ." Betty's stomach sunk and she felt the urge to throw up again.
"Maggie had this plan to have the baby and get publicity from it – the whole Meade heir thing," Daniel explained.
"Another Wilhelmina Slater in the making," Betty rolled her eyes. "Well, the old one anyway. She probably planned the pregnancy, too . . ."
"I don't think she went that far – she couldn't have. I always wore a condom," he assured his wife.
"At least that's something . . ." Betty sighed.
"She expects me to pay $10,000 a week for child support," he scoffed.
"$10K a week for a baby?! Is there a new Prada line I don't know about? Mami and Papi raised Hilda and me on less than $250 a week combined. I know there's formula and diapers and clothes and toys, but she's out of her damn mind if she thinks that's reasonable!" Betty reacted then realized she needed to calm down or she'd wake the baby.
"Yeah, but I guess Maggie figures I'm loaded so she can get away with it," Daniel assumed.
"If anything, you'd put the majority of that $10,000 into a trust fund or a college fund – even tuition for private school. Anything but let that freakin' bitch get her nasty hands on it," she commented, furious at the woman for even thinking of taking advantage of her husband and an innocent baby.
"I know, I know. Anyway, I told her the money won't happen – not in the way she was demanding it. Maggie threatened to hire a lawyer and a full-time nanny. She refuses to handle the pressure of raising a child and working full time without ever having time for a social life. I told her that was unacceptable. I'd rather raise Madelyn myself," he said.
"You actually told her that?" Betty questioned, half proud and half angry at her husband for not consulting her first.
"I'm so sorry, Betty. I know I should have talked to you, but I just couldn't let her do this. I had that life and it was no childhood – I barely saw my parents except for vacations and holidays or the occasional 'goodnight' or 'good morning'," he explained, staring at his daughter. "This is my child. And Maggie doesn't want this little girl – she wants her career and her friends."
"How could anyone be so selfish not to want a precious little baby? I just can't imagine that anyone would give her up so easily," Betty rhetorically asked, gazing at the little girl with her tiny eyes closed.
"Well . . ." Daniel trailed off.
"Well what?" she asked.
"Nothing . . . everything's fine! We're gonna get through this – no problemo!" he winked and gave her a thumbs-up.
"You're hiding something – you're giving me the thumbs-up again and telling me 'no problemo'," she caught him.
"Not hiding . . . more like was waiting for the right moment," he clarified.
"Daniel," Betty warned.
"Okay. Okay. Maggie told me that she'd give me Madelyn, no strings attached, as long as I gave her a million dollars . . . and make her head of the advertising department at Meade, with a no-firing clause and a share in the company," he reluctantly revealed.
"You said no, right?" she hopefully assumed.
A long awkward pause fell upon them while Daniel struggled to find words.
"Daniel?" she prompted.
"I-I said I'd think about it," he admitted.
"You what?! Daniel, you just agreed to consider buying your daughter - and giving Maggie a permanent position at Meade!" Betty exclaimed, only to accidentally wake up Madelyn.
"I know! I know! But what was I supposed to do? Let Maggie take her back and do god knows what with her while I took the time to fight for full custody? At least this way I know she'll be safe and cared for," he argued, soothing his daughter. "And either way, Maggie will find a way to sic the press on us – she has already . . ."
"Are you sure Madelyn's even yours?" Betty asked.
"Pretty sure," he answered. "Maggie told me she hadn't slept with any other guys around that time."
"Maybe you should get a DNA test?" she suggested. "I don't trust her."
"Does it really matter? I mean, so what if Madelyn isn't my daughter? She still needs a good home – who knows who the father could be if she isn't?" Daniel argued.
"The biological father deserves to know, Daniel," Betty insisted. "And I'm still processing this. How the hell can this be happening?! I thought we were through dealing with Maggie?"
"I know. I'm sorry, baby. We were just starting our lives together . . ." Daniel apologized.
"How did we not know about this earlier? If she wanted publicity, why didn't she leak it to the press earlier?" Betty questioned.
"She was transferred to Chicago before she found out. It wouldn't have had the same impact there. She came back to have the baby and get support from her father – only her father rejected her. He told her she had shamed her family," he explained.
"I'm surprised he hadn't told her that earlier," Betty scoffed.
"Betty," Daniel scolded.
"Sorry. I just see red whenever I think of that woman and how she's treated you," she excused. "I think I'm going to be sick."
"Don't you think you're being a little overdramatic?" Daniel said, skeptically. "Maybe you've been spending a little too much time having lunch with Marc?"
"No, Daniel. I'm serious!" she maintained and ran to the bathroom.
"I'm really worried about you. It's been a few weeks and you're still getting sick. You're going to the doctor first thing tomorrow," he said, putting Madelyn back in the bassinette of her pack 'n' play and following Betty.
"Tomorrow's Saturday, Daniel," she reminded him, wiping her mouth.
"I don't care. Something's going on with you and it's more serious than just the flu," he insisted.
"I'm not sitting in urgent care or the ER for eight hours just so they can give me some antibiotics," she scoffed, struggling to stand up.
Daniel helped her and handed her a cup of water.
"Fine. Then I'm getting our family physician. He makes house calls," he insisted.
"You have a family physician who comes to your house?" Betty asked incredulously as she brushed her teeth. "Isn't that expensive?"
"Yeah, so? It doesn't matter when you really need to see a doctor, right?" Daniel shrugged, making sure she was steady as she rinsed out her mouth. "And you really need to see a doctor."
"I guess not," she conceded, still not crazy about the expense. "Maybe we can get you two tested, too."
"Yeah, I guess there's no point in waiting to find out," he agreed. "She's so sweet. I can't get over how tiny she is."
"She's adorable," Betty sighed, her emotions conflicting with each other.
"Betty, you know this doesn't change anything. We're still a family just as much as we were before. And Maggie won't even be involved," Daniel assured her.
"You can't promise that, Daniel. Maggie is her mother. Even if we legally win this fight, she still has every right to be involved if she wants to be, unless we can prove her to be an unfit mother. She could decide to be in Madelyn's life at any point. That's what worries me. If she gets what she wants, she'd work in the same building. She's manipulative and conniving – otherwise she would have told you she was pregnant to begin with," Betty disagreed. "And the fact that she's willing to give up her child in exchange for money and a job makes her even worse."
"Okay, fine. Maggie might decide at one point that she has a heart. She still will have no right to take Madelyn away from us, though – not with the custody agreement I'm planning. And if you're worried about us – don't. I don't love Maggie – I never really did," he swore.
Betty nodded.
"Those aren't the only issues I have, though. Madelyn's your daughter with Maggie. If the DNA test is positive, you have a child with that woman. You and she created a life together. That's a bond that's hard to ignore, if she decides to start hanging around at some point," she told him.
"Betty, this is completely different. We didn't make or adopt this child out of love," he argued.
"It doesn't matter, Daniel. She's yours," Betty sighed.
"Baby, I don't know how else to convince you that everything will be okay. But it will be. You are my wife and I'm crazy in love with you – that will never change. Nicky and Bella are our children. And if Madelyn really is my child, she'll be ours, too. We'll be the ones bonding over her every day – not me and Maggie," he maintained.
"That's true . . . I never thought about it like that," she calmed down a little. "We should probably check on the kids. I promised them spaghetti for dinner."
"Betty, you don't have to make that for them, right now. You're sick," Daniel told her.
"I know, but I promised," she said.
"Why don't I make it while you take a nap, maybe watch some TV and relax with Madelyn. She's only a week old. She's pretty low maintenance, right now," he suggested.
"What are we going to tell them about her? They're already asking questions," Betty asked.
"That their dad might have had a baby with another lady before he and their mom got together?" Daniel suggested.
"I think that's a little too complicated. How about . . . They might have a new sister and she's visiting us for a while," she tried to come up with a simpler explanation.
"Yeah, that's better. Less confusion," he agreed and chastely kissed her lips. "I'll go make the spaghetti and come get you when it's done."
"That sounds perfect if you could somehow morph into Gabriele from that cooking show," she joked.
"Hey, your dad and Bobby taught us a few things. I can handle it. Plus, I've got two little helpers who used to hang out in the kitchen all the time," he argued. "And I know your other reason for wishing that and I'm officially offended."
Betty watched, amused, as her husband pretended to sulk.
"Ulch . . . You are still much sexier than he is, Daniel. I was just kidding," she rolled her eyes. "I'll even prove it to you later tonight, if I feel better."
Daniel's ego perked up again and he gave a satisfied smile.
"Just try not to burn anything – my sense of smell has been in overdrive lately," she requested.
"Great! Prepare for the meal of a lifetime!" he smiled and kissed her once more.
"That's what I'm afraid of," she teased.
"Hey! What happened to my favorite cheerleader? Have some faith in your sexy chef," he feigned offense.
Betty smirked.
"Go get 'em, babe!" she cheered, smacking his ass as he left.
"That's more like it," he grinned.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Pregnant?!" Betty and Daniel both exclaimed at once.
"Yes, judging by your symptoms and the results of your blood test, you are pregnant, Betty," Dr. Robertson replied.
"B-But we weren't even trying – I-I was on the pill?!" Betty stammered, perplexed.
"Yeah, I mean except for that one time after that party, we've been really careful!" Daniel added.
"One time is all it takes . . ." the doctor smiled, knowingly.
Daniel looked lovingly at Betty and kissed her cheek.
"We're having a baby," he pressed his forehead to hers.
Betty relaxed, relieved that Daniel was happy about the news. She was still overwhelmed, considering they had just adopted two children and Daniel might have a daughter with Maggie. However, it was a baby – a baby she and Daniel had created together out of love. The more she thought about it, the more excited she was.
"I hope he has your smile," she told Daniel.
"And your eyes," he said.
"Since this appears to be a happy accident, I will write you a prescription for your prenatal vitamins, some anti-nausea pills, and schedule an appointment for your first ultrasound," Dr. Robertson told the couple.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"You see that little dot?" the obstetrician said.
"What that right there?" Daniel pointed, his other hand holding Betty's.
"Yes, that's your baby's head," Dr. Sanders smiled. "And that, is the body. It looks like you're about ten weeks along."
"Awww . . ." Betty cooed.
"Wait, is that another head? Oh, my god – does our baby have two heads?!" Daniel asked, freaking out.
"Relax, Daniel. It's probably just another baby," Betty told him, then realized what she'd just said. "Oh my god – is that another baby? Do we have two babies?!"
"Actually . . . over here is baby number three," Dr. Sanders informed them.
"Three?!" Betty exclaimed.
"Triplets! You mean there are three babies growing inside of my wife right now?! That's amazing!" he exclaimed. "Wait – c-can she handle that? I-I mean she's so tiny. Will she be okay? Will they be okay?"
"Babe, I'm short - not made of glass," Betty reminded him.
"It's perfectly natural, Daniel. Your wife might have to go on bed rest during the final weeks of her pregnancy, but everything will be fine," Dr. Stiles assured him.
"I still don't understand – multiple births don't run in either of our families. And I've never been on fertility drugs," Betty reasoned.
"Actually, my great-great-grandmother was an identical twin, but her sister died of the measles when she was two," Daniel told her.
"Oh. You never told me that before," she said. "That's so sad."
"Yeah. I guess it never came up," he shrugged.
"Multiple births can occur regardless of family history or fertility drugs," Dr. Sanders replied.
"They're healthy, aren't they?" Betty questioned, afraid she'd consumed or done something that might have harmed them.
"Yes, the babies all seem to be developing at a normal and healthy rate," she assured her. "And in a few more months we can determine the sex."
Betty and Daniel smiled at each other.
"I'll let you two talk. See you at your next appointment," Dr. Sanders told them and left.
"Triplets," Daniel grinned.
"Apparently we're both very fertile," she laughed.
Daniel chuckled, then quieted and tenderly kissed her belly. She smiled down at him.
"You look happy," she observed, glad he wasn't freaking out.
"I am. I'm really . . . happy," he confirmed, bringing his lips to hers.
"I just thought with all that's been going on with the adoption and Maggie's baby, that you wouldn't be up for this, too," she admitted, toying with the hair at the nape of his neck.
"Are you kidding? Betty, this is amazing!" Daniel assured her. "I have five kids with the woman I love. How could anyone not be happy about that? Unless . . . Are you not happy?"
"No! No, I was just afraid you wouldn't be. I mean one more child right now was a big enough surprise alone, but three? It's going to be a lot to handle, Daniel. Not everything is going to be a trip to Coney Island or the zoo," she reminded her husband as they walked out of the office.
"I know that, Betty. I know that things won't always be perfect. But every day that I spend with you and our kids is better than spending a day without you or them," he took her hand in his as they continued to walk toward the town car.
Betty looked up at her husband coyly, amazed at how he could still manage to melt her heart.
"We've always been a team, right?" Daniel reminded her. "So whatever happens, we'll deal with it together. Whether it's the kids or Maggie . . . I know I've got you, babe."
"Aww . . . you remembered our song . . ." she leaned her head on his shoulder as they walked along.
"Oh yeah . . . karaoke at that pizza place," he mused as he helped her into the car. "God, that seems like it was a decade ago . . ."
"That's because it was," she replied. "I don't think either one of us realized that those lyrics really were perfect for us."
"We should go back there," Daniel suggested.
"What, now?" Betty questioned.
"Tonight. Mom can watch Bella, Nicky, and Maddie for us," he proposed.
"Daniel, your mom might have other plans. It's a little short-notice," Betty warned him.
"Are you kidding? The second I mention spending time with her grandchildren, she'll drop everything – trust me. Besides, after we tell her there are three more coming, she'll be so happy she'll probably offer to take Bella, Nicky, and Maddie for the whole weekend," Daniel replied, confidently.
"We'll see," she conceded a little.
"It's a date," he insisted. "Say it with me, baby."
"Daniel . . ." she protested.
"C'mon, Betty. We need this," Daniel coaxed, pleading with his blue puppy dog eyes.
"Okay. It's a date," she relented.
"Good," he teased her lips, then deepened the kiss. "You think Mom really will take the kids for the weekend?"
"If not, there's always my dad . . ." she answered, optimistically. "Only now I feel guilty."
"Why?" he asked.
"Because Nicky and Bella haven't been with us that long and already we need a break from them? What kind of parents are we?" she questioned. "Not to mention, poor Madelyn has been bounced around so much lately. And we still haven't determined who her biological father is yet."
"We're good parents, Betty - normal ones. We have to have a break every once in a while. And with everything that's been going on, I think now would be a really good time for one. It won't make us bad parents," he assured her. "This little break will make us better. Our attorney's already on the case and the DNA results won't be in until next week. There's nothing we can do about it."
"Okay . . ." she reluctantly agreed, still feeling guilty. But as Daniel kissed her again, it made the guilt fade for a little while.
