A/n: Here's the new chapter, the story will be differing from the show from this point on, and in regards to this story the "tornado girl" storyline didn't happen, Daniel put Betty in charge of checking the magazine before shipping, but everything went smoothly, also he met Molly ,but doesn't have feelings for her. I hope you all had a good Christmas and New Years, enjoy the new chapter.

-Pessimistic Romanticist

Special thanks to my beta -L-Lawliet'sGirl-BabyBluewinx-

Thanks to :Historianic , anne ,AndromedaAiken , englishstudent01 ,didi6 , -L-Lawliet'sGirl-BabyBluewinx- and abovetherim for reviewing the last chapter

Disclaimer: I own nothing when it comes to UB, I'm just happy to use the characters in my plots.

Chapter Six: Second Date

Betty was typing up a story for her writing class when a buzz from her computer signaled an instant message. She clicked on the pop up window and smiled when she read the message.

" Have dinner with me tonight?" The IM, which was from Daniel, said. The Mode retreat was over and he was on his way back to Manhattan.

"Yes." Betty typed back then went back to her writing.

Daniel and everyone else at the retreat had gotten their cell phones and blackberry's taken away, so they could be free of outside influences to develop fresh and new ideas. Daniel had been smart and had snuck his phone back to use to it to text Betty, when they were supposed to be thinking alone.

She had chastised him in the beginning since he was supposed to be taking the retreat seriously, but he was spending most of his time away from the group, talking to her. That worried her a little bit , it was obvious they liked each other, but if whatever had changed between them led to a relationship, she didn't want it to interfere with their jobs.

She knew first hand , and by observance , that work related relationships could be messy, especially if they ended badly. But she was getting ahead of herself, they'd had one date, and tonight they would be going on their second date. She found she was both excited and a little anxious. While their text conversations hadn't been awkward at all, she'd be spending time with him face to face after not seeing him for three days.

She shook away her fears and insecurities and went back to her typing, which was interrupted by a response IM from Daniel.

"7:00 pm ok?" The message said.

"Yeah, where are we going?" Betty typed back.

"It's a surprise." The message said , with a smiley face attached.

"If you don't tell me where we're going , I wont know what to wear?" Betty texted in reply.

"Wear whatever you feel comfortable in." Was Daniel's cryptic reply.

"Ok.I have to get back to work , I'll see you tonight." Betty said when she saw a curious Amanda approach her.

"See ya tonight." Daniel replied. Then Betty closed the IM window just as Amanda appeared next to her.

"What are you doing? I'm so bored, with the senior staff gone, so there's nothing to do." Amanda said invading Betty's personal space by peering at her computer.

"Working. Why don't you go bother Marc." Betty said taking a break from her writing and working on some research for the Mode website.

"I can't, he's been acting really weird since he and Cliff got engaged." Amanda said nonchalantly.

"You're his friend, you should find out what's wrong?" Betty suggested.

"Have you met Marc, he doesn't...share things like that, I'm sure he's just having some wedding jitters, he'll be fine. ok , I'm going to go now." Amanda said then walked away.

Betty shook her head at Amanda's random behavior, you'd think she'd be used to her now roommate's behavior, by now. The rest of the day went by quickly and before she knew it , it was five thirty, so she headed home . She got back to the apartment, she wasn't surprised to see Amanda dressed and ready to go out. Amanda usually left the office at least an hour before Betty, so she could get herself ready for whatever party or club she'd be going to that night.

" You heading out?" Betty asked as she entered the apartment, though she already knew the answer.

"Yeah, there's this hot new club opening tonight." Amanda said putting some last minute touches on her makeup.

"Have fun." Betty said hoping she'd leave soon, so she could get ready for her date with Daniel.

"I always do, don't wait up." Amanda said giving Betty one of her looks then walking out the door.

Betty sighed in relief, she had been worried that Amanda would be home , when Daniel came to pick her up and she wasn't ready to let anyone know what was going on between her and Daniel, especially before she herself knew, so she was relieved that Amanda was starting her night early.

She put her things down and went over to her closet , looking around for something to wear. Daniel had said comfortable, but that could mean a lot of things. She wished he had been more specific, she searched through her closet and finally settled on an outfit that was both cute and that she was comfortable in. She set the outfit on her bed and set aside the shoes she would be wearing with it, she then took a shower.

After her shower, she put conditioner in her hair , that left it shiny and curly, she then pulled it back in a stylish ponytail. She glanced at the clock and saw that it was 6:45pm , so she got dressed. Though Betty didn't wear any make up she put a little eyeliner, barely noticeable, and applied a bit of cherry lip gloss to her lips, the last touch was her B necklace, and before she knew it , it was seven and she heard a knock on her apartment door. She took a deep breath ,to calm her nerves, then walked over to the door. She opened it and Daniel smiled when he saw her.

"Hi." She said shyly, losing a bit of her nerves.

"Hey." He said giving her a hug that was between friendly and romantic.

"Let me get my purse , and we can go." Betty said breaking the hug. She grabbed her purse, phone and keys then walked back over to Daniel.

"So where are we going?" Betty asked after she locked her door and they walked down her hallway.

"It's a surprise." Daniel said with a grin.

"Tell me anyway." Betty said attempting to give him a puppy dog look.

"That's not going to work, your going to have to wait till we get there." Daniel said opening the door for her as they exited the building.

"Fine, but it better be a good surprise." Betty said giving him a joking smile. Daniel just smiled back not saying a word.

They got into his town car and drove for about twenty minutes before they arrived at their destination. The way there seemed familiar, but not enough to pin point where they were going. And when they arrived at their destination, Daniel didn't let her look out the window.

"I said it was a surprise, so you can't see till we get inside." Daniel said pulling out a blindfold.

"Do I have to wear that?" Betty asked at the same time wondering what he was up to.

"Yes." Daniel said.

"Fine, you're lucky I like you." Betty said without thinking , and started to blush.

"It's ok... I like you too." Daniel said seeing the embarrassed look on her face. He handed her the blindfold then helped her tie it as she put it over her eyes.

He checked to see if she could see threw it and after deciding it was fine, he led her out of the car and into a building and to a elevator. They arrived on their destination floor and walked over to a door. He pulled out some keys , which she could hear , and opened the door.

"Ok, you can take off the blindfold." Daniel said after leading her inside the door.

Betty took off the blind fold and was shocked and surprised at the sight in front of her. They were in Daniel's apartment ,but he had set up a two person dinner table with candles , food and a bottle of wine. There was also soft music playing.

"Daniel..." Betty started but Daniel interrupted her.

" I thought we'd have a quiet dinner here so we can talk without any distractions and with complete privacy , I need you to know that's as far as my motives go." Daniel explained.

" Daniel, your past doesn't worry me, I know you're not that person anymore and all of this, is very sweet." Betty said kissing his cheek.

" I'm glad you like it." Daniel said being the one to blush this time. He was surprised at the effect a peck on the cheek , from her, had on him.

"Come on, the food smells great." Betty said grabbing his hand in hers and walking over to the table.

Daniel pulled out her chair which made her smile , then took his own seat, after removing the silver covering that were over the food. Under the coverings was roast beef , mashed potato's , and a side of peas and corn. Daniel anxiously waited for her to take a bite , relaxing when she smiled after tasting it.

"Do you like it?" Daniel asked.

"Yeah, it's delicious." Betty said smiling.

"I made it." Daniel confessed.

"I didn't know you could cook." Betty said surprised.

"Most people don't." Daniel said, in a way letting her know just how different he wanted to do things with her.

"Well you're better then me." Betty joked making him smile as he finally dug into his own food.

"Yeah I've tasted your cooking." Daniel said referring to a dinner he had at the Suarez's.

"Hey!" Betty said faking upset and playfully hitting Daniel.

"Ow, that hurt!" Daniel said.

"I didn't even hit you that hard." Betty said laughing.

She was relieved that the evening was going so well. She had been worried for nothing, there was nothing awkward about their second date. They continued to eat and chat like old friends. He told her about the retreat in more detail and how he had noticed Wilhelmina's odd behavior around Conner. Conversation then moved to the next issue of Mode , then to their individual families as they each had a glass of red wine.

They sat there talking till the candles burned down to the end of the wick, leaving them in semi-darkness . Daniel got up and turned on some more lights, making them both see what time it was. With work the next morning it was time to end their date. Betty, despite Daniel's objections helped him clear the table, then grabbed her coat and purse.

Daniel locked the door of his apartment then walked with Betty to the elevator. They both stayed silent as the elevator descended ,but the silence wasn't awkward, they both just were thinking about the success of their second date. He opened the door for her , then they both headed over to the town car and got inside. They drove twenty minutes and arrived back at Betty's apartment, walking her inside and up the stairs, stopping at her door.

"I had a great night." Betty said flashing him one of her smiles.

"Me too, we should do this again." Daniel said shyly.

"I'd like that." Betty said becoming shy herself. Neither knew what to do next, they both had agreed to take things slow, so neither wanted to rush things.

"Goodnight, I'll see you tomorrow." Daniel said giving her a hug.

"Yeah, goodnight." Betty said.

He loved the way she felt in his arms, and would have held the hug longer, but he didn't want to freak her out by holding it too long, so he broke the hug . He flashed a smile before watching her enter her apartment before turning around and walking away. He heard the door reopen and heard her call his name. He turned around and she kissed him quickly on the lips.

"I'll see you tomorrow." She said then went back into her apartment, not believing that she had just done that.

Daniel smiled then walked down the hallway a big smile written all over his face.

A/n: So what do you think, sorry for not updating till now, but I ran into a little writers block then inspiration kicked in. Not sure yet where to go next, so suggestions, reviews, constructive criticism, would be greatly appreciated Thanks for reading,. this is my last week of vacation then it's back to university on the 20th, but I'm only in school four days a week which gives me an extra day for the weekend , so I'll try to update each weekend, if my school work is a lot then it'll probably be every other week.

-Pessimistic Romanticist