Thank you for the welcome back! :) I was feeling nostalgic and started watching old episodes and found my old mvids. (I uploaded them to YouTube under brennanluvsbooth if anyone's interested.) Anyway, I hope the cast reunion in June sparks some talk of a TV movie or even a comeback on a network or streaming service. Thank you to everyone who continues to read and review this story! :)

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It was a month later and Betty's first few days in London were so busy she'd barely had time to think of anything but work. However, when she did have a few moments to herself, Daniel was the only thing on her mind.

"Still thinkin' about your boyfriend?" Gio assumed, coming over to her table at the new branch of his deli.

"He's not my boyfriend," Betty insisted.

"Methinks the lady doth protest too much," he smirked. "I told ya there was only one man for you."

"What?! No you didn't. You meant Henry – didn't you?" Betty recalled.

"I meant Daniel. You cut me off before I could finish," Gio corrected her.

"Why would you think that?" she asked.

"C'mon, Suarez. Deny it all you want, but you know you'd walk through fire for that guy – even if it was just to get a bagel. Remember how you dragged me along on that wild goose chase for one of those dumbass high-tech wheelchairs? Or wasted an entire afternoon dodging his nephew's grandparents? Or made sure he didn't find out you were still dating Egg Salad? Every time I saw you it was 'Daniel this' or 'Daniel that'," he remembered.

Betty rolled her eyes.

"And I could tell you were his girl, too – right after he banned me from the building just because you said I was 'buggin' you'. What boss would do that? And why did he care so much about whether you were with Egg Salad or not? I'm surprised you finally had the balls to leave him for London – and that he let you. But maybe someday you two will get your shit together," Gio mused.

"Gio, it wasn't like that. He was my boss, and we were friends," Betty maintained.

"Nope. Still not buyin' it. Like it or not, deep down you know he's your guy – no one else ever stood a chance," he claimed and went back behind the counter to serve a customer.

Betty shook her head. Gio was delusional. And it was obvious that Hilda and Claire had been wrong, too. If Daniel had had any ounce of feeling left for her – friend or otherwise – then why the hell hadn't he returned her calls or texts? Why hadn't he come to her party? Or stopped by her apartment, if he'd wanted to talk privately?

It was over. Those four years they'd spent building a relationship so unique and so special she, herself, couldn't completely define it . . . he'd thrown them all away. And for what - because she'd be in another country? This was the 21st century. All he had to do was pick up the phone or open up his laptop and she'd always be there for him. And if he really needed her, she'd be on a plane so damn fast he wouldn't have time to blink. Didn't he know how much he meant to her? That she wasn't leaving him, no matter how far apart they were?

God, she missed him! His voice, his smile, his laugh . . . even the annoying way he teased her or called her five times in the middle of the night because he was too drunk to remember where he'd left the same phone he'd been talking to her on. She missed everything about him – good and bad. She'd give anything just to see or talk to him one last time.

Her thoughts were interrupted by her phone ringing. She put down her coffee and immediately picked it up without even looking.

"Daniel?" she answered, hopefully.

"Aaaannnhhh! Wrong answer! It's the fabulously handsome and fashionably savvy Queen of MODE!" Marc greeted her. "You're talking to the new creative director – suck on that!"

"Marc! That's great – I'm so happy for you!" Betty squealed then quieted as it occurred to her that something was wrong with that picture. "Wait how did this happen? Did Wilhelmina quit or something? She insisted on having both that job and co-EIC with Daniel. What changed?"

"After her coma, she claimed she needed more personal time and that life was too short . . . blah, blah, blah," he explained. "Who cares?! I'm Queen of MODE!"

"Wow!" Betty said, taking it all in.

"And what's with the greeting? Poor Pinky, don't tell me you're still hung up on Brainless?" Marc questioned.

"If you're asking if I still miss Daniel, then yes," Betty answered.

"Ulcch . . . Please! I never understood the weirdness that was you two - except knowing nothing about fashion and everything about carbs," he dismissed. "But you're sad, and I'm feeling generous, so I guess I can give you a couple of crumbs."

"What are you talking about?" she asked, confused.

"Didn't I tell you already?! The pathetic publishing poseur went packing. Oh, and check your email - your luvah left you a message in a mag. Don't forget to stay off the scones – the last thing London needs is another Big Ben! Byeeee!" he hung up.

"Wait – Marc!" Betty tried to get him back, but it was too late.

Did Daniel really quit MODE? Why? Had Wilhelmina blackmailed him? If that was the case, she needed to go back to New York and help him. She clicked on her email and downloaded the pdf Marc had sent her. Maybe whatever it was would explain more of what had happened. She carefully read and analyzed every word. Seeing a good friend in a different light? Wanting that friend to be more than just a friend? Love? Was Daniel really talking about her? About them? He couldn't, right? Not after the way he'd left things. And what change had he made to keep her in his life? Shutting her out? Frustrated and confused, she closed the screen on her phone and headed back to work.

"Bye, Gio!" she waved.

Not two seconds later, her phone rang again. This time she checked the caller ID.

"You do know that it's Wednesday afternoon here, right? A work day?" she answered, annoyed. She wouldn't stop calling her about Daniel.

"So did the son of a bitch call you yet?" Hilda asked.

"If you're referring to Daniel, then no - for the tenth time in two hours, he hasn't called," Betty replied. "I thought you'd be sleeping. Aren't you and Bobby and Justin going to be busy getting your new apartment ready, today?"

"We are, mamita. I just wanted to check on you," she excused.

"Hilda, I appreciate the concern, but I'm fine. And I promise you will be the first to know if Daniel calls, texts, or whatever - but don't hold your breath. Oh, and Marc just told me he quit MODE," she said.

"Daniel? Wait – what?!" Hilda exclaimed.

"I know!" Betty agreed. "I'm really wondering if Wilhelmina had something to do with it. She just promoted Marc to Creative Director."

"That bitch has always had it out for Daniel. There's no telling what she'd do!" Hilda replied.

"Do you think I should come home? Maybe he's in trouble? If something's happened to him and I didn't at least try to help, I'd never forgive myself," Betty confessed.

"Honey, relax. We don't know what happened yet. And anyways, Daniel's treated you like shit ever since he found out you were leavin'," her sister pointed out. "Until he explains himself, I don't think you should give that man the time of day – much less fly back here to save his sorry ass."

"Normally, I'd agree with you, but Marc sent me something Daniel wrote that makes me feel like I have to forgive him – that is if he's really saying what I think he's saying. I'll tell you about it later. I've gotta call Claire and see if she knows anything! Give my love to -" Betty told her before running into someone.

"Betty?" the man said.

"Oh! Sorry!" she apologized, then raised her head and realized who it was. "Daniel?! W-What are you doing here?"

As her heart skipped a beat, she could already hear Gio saying, "Told ya so, Suarez".

"I had to see you. I called Gio's sandwich shop and he told me where you usually were around this time," he explained.

Damn that little weasel . . .! Betty silently cursed her friend. He knew Daniel was there and he didn't tell her! Only, she couldn't help but smile with a roll of her eyes. She'd kill him and thank him later.

"What?" Daniel asked, curious of the expression on her face.

"Nothing," Betty covered.

She wanted so badly to throw her arms around Daniel and tell him how much she had missed him. Only her head told her to restrain herself. She was still pissed and hurt. She deserved an explanation, first.

"So . . . why now? Is everything okay?" she asked, as they walked up the steps of the National Gallery. She felt Daniel's hand on her lower back, guiding her the whole way. He was always looking out for her.

"I stepped down from my position at MODE," he answered as they sat down on the landing.

"Did Wilhelmina blackmail you or something, because we can fight this -" she insisted.

Daniel looked at her endearingly.

"No! No, Betty, it's okay. It was my decision," he calmed her down, and began to tell her the details.