A/N: First off thank you for the reviews they really do make my day!! Okay so this is a pretty short little chapter that explains how the date came to be…The date is next though so stay tuned…Also the East River in January thing is a nod to the episode that I believe is titled 'In or Out' which happens to be one of my favorite episodes...anyway hope you enjoy!

The East River in January

Becks smiled at the receipt sitting in front of him. A receipt for a dozen red roses, he knew would be on their way to Betty's desk, hopefully arriving mere moments before he did. He undid the uppermost button of his shirt, put on a dab of his favorite cologne, and checked his hair one last time in the mirror before he set off.

It was finally Monday so his carefully calculated plan could be put into action. Daniel had suggested that instead of calling Betty he ask her out in person, he said it was more romantic or something, in the end Becks had agreed. While originally this plan seemed full proof, in hindsight not so much. He had left out one key factor when making this brilliant plan, his nerves.

As Becks stepped into the Meade building his stomach leaped into his chest and butterflies swarmed frantically about. If he had ever been more nervous in his entire life he couldn't recall at that moment. Taking a deep, calming breath he made his way to the elevator and pressed the button that read 28. All too soon the elevator dinged announcing his arrival. Taking another deep breath he made his way down the circular entrance to MODE and toward Betty, much to his chagrin with Amanda trailing him the entire way.

Once Betty was in sight he smiled despite himself. She had a way of warming his heart without words. Of course it didn't hurt that she seemed to be admiring the roses he had sent her.

"So do you like them?" he asked with a smile.

Betty whirled around to see Becks standing their smiling at her with a certain glint in his eyes, which she also happened to notice, were, if it was possible, even more incredible in the daylight. Shaking her thoughts he replied, "They're beautiful…did you send them?"

"Yeah, you don't have another secret admirer I don't know about do you?" He said smiling once again and making his way closer to her.

Before she could respond however a laugh broke their gaze. It was Amanda. "Wait, you don't actually like HER do you?" she questioned quite sure her ears were deceiving her.

Betty rolled her eyes but Becks saw the hurt there and it upset him. He suddenly felt bad that he was once like Amanda. "Yes I do. Do you have a problem with that?" he questioned the upset he felt clearly displayed in his tone.

"Uh…no." Amanda stated clearly shocked at his sudden hostility. And with one last look in their direction she was gone.

"Becks…thanks but you didn't have to…" Betty began slightly embarrassed.

"Betty look I know I don't know you too well and you don't know me too well either, but nobody deserves to be treated like that…especially not you." He said sincerely.

Betty smiled and began to blush, Becks couldn't resist smiling too. They held each others gaze for a few moments until Betty decided to speak.

"So ummm, why did you send me a dozen beautiful red roses?" she questioned looking into his gorgeous sky blue eyes.

"Honestly?" he questioned looking suspicious.

"That would be nice…yeah." She quipped.

"To butter you up."

"For what?" she questioned curiosity and hope getting the better of her. And then all of a sudden without warning Betty saw a shift. His cocky demeanor seemed to disappear and she would have sworn, had she not known this to be false, that he looked as though he had swallowed a very large pumpkin. Her like of him was increasing ever still by this display of…well…humanness.

He swallowed hard and began. "Well like I said just a minute ago we don't know each other too well and I was thinking that maybe…if you wanted too…that we could go out to dinner on Friday night…you know to get to know each other better." Apprehension and worry were etched into his face and his eyes displayed fear and hope. She smiled.

"You mean like a date?"

He merely nodded and looked down.

"I would love to." She stated shyly. His head shot up and his whole face shone with glee when she said this. He was even more handsome when he smiled.

"Okay well I have a photo shoot today. One I'm a little late for a photo shoot actually, anyway I'll call you later and we'll decide all the details." He stated as he walked away. And Betty could have sworn she heard a YES! as he left the building.

Glancing once more toward her flowers she noticed Daniel was in his office working, or at least pretending to. She knew he would want to know how it went so she ran in to tell him the news.

"So how did it go?" he questioned the moment she entered, apparently accepting the gig was up.

"Good…we're having dinner Friday night." She smiled, but Daniel who in working so closely with her had become a good friend saw the apprehension behind the smile.

"Still worried huh?" he questioned taking a seat next to her on the white couch in his office.

"A little, "Betty admitted. "I mean Daniel he's used to going out with models and I'm just a regular girl from Queens who hasn't been a size two in a very long time." she finished slightly exasperated.

"Betty I've been Becks. I've dated the models and after a while it's not enough, you want something with substance, something real, someone to come home to at night. Betty…Becks thinks he may have found that with you and I see you feel it too, so don't you owe it to both of you to give it a shot?" he looked at Betty who had tears in her eyes. Sometimes she found it very easy to believe that this man had graduated from Harvard due to his own smarts and not his Daddy's money. Now was one of those times. She pulled him into a tight hug and muttered something that sounded like thanks before getting up and heading toward the door.

"Betty."

"Yeah, Daniel?" she questioned turning around to face her boss and best friend.

"Who knows, maybe he'll make you want to swim across the East River in January." Daniel said with a smile. Betty returned the smile.

"Maybe." She said. And she returned to her desk and once again looked at the beautiful roses Becks had sent her. She smiled thinking of him. Friday CAN'T come fast enough she thought with a smile, and across town at his photo shoot Becks was thinking the exact same thing.

Hope you enjoyed it!!