Title: "Como Fue"
Author: pineappleminivan.
Synopsis: A year later, Daniel reflects at Christmastime. A "what-if" soon to be made an Alternate Universe by new episodes.
Disclaimer: Obviously, I don't own Ugly Betty, I'm just borrowing the characters. If you find something in here you'd like for your own story, go for it; just credit me somewhere. Also: song lyrics used in this section are by the fabulous band called OK Go. The song is "This Will Be Our Year." Please get that song from iTunes, or on CD from the "John Tucker Must Die" Soundtrack.
Note: It's here! The end! Huzzah! Thanks again if you've actually read this far into the story. You know, I really enjoyed writing something dorky—thanks again! And while I don't write for the reviews, I would love to hear from you. So in closing, you're all awesome. And here we go…
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Daniel and the Suarez clan spent the rest of Christmas day in the house, enjoying each other's company.
"Hey, thank you for everything," Daniel said as readied to leave. He put his coat on over his pajamas, which had been supplied by Ignacio.
"What are you talking about?" Betty said. "You're the one that got my father out of the jail—and that dinner, the limo, I mean—" she looked at Daniel. "You know, this all has been wonderful, but I don't understand. Why are you helping us? Why me?"
Because I'm in love with you, obviously, Daniel's brain said. "Why not? Daniel said out loud. You—your family—you're all amazing. I've never met a family—I mean, I don't know." He stopped and looked at the ceiling.
"Hey, that's mistletoe, isn't it?" Daniel said.
"I don't remember any mistle—" Betty said before Daniel leaned in for a kiss.
Jesus, Daniel thought after they came back up for air. On top of everything else, she's an amazing kisser.
"There isn't any mistletoe in our house," Betty said, breathing heavily. "I took it down after a couple of… weird dreams I had about it."
They were still standing, inches apart. Betty laughed, and pulled him into another kiss. She smiled against his mouth.
"Have a merry Christmas, Daniel," she said quietly.
"I'll try," Daniel said, regretfully pulling away from her and walking out the door. He reached back for a quick peck on her cheek.
"See you Monday," he said.
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But Betty was able to act as if nothing happened over Christmas. He heard people ask her how her Christmas went, she replied, "fine, the usual."
She went about her work, undistracted. Daniel noticed that she sat up higher than before. But she didn't return any of his looks, e-mails, or messages left on her desk. She was as cool and professional as before.
And once again, it was killing him.
Mode was having a New Year's Eve party, and Betty and Daniel were going over last-minute details.
"Everything set up for tomorrow?" Daniel asked.
"Yes," Betty said, "Amanda and Marc have really helped pull this party off. It should be amazing. We have a couple of great local acts lined up, and OK Go should be on the stage at nine, and from where our building is we should have a great view of Times Square at midnight."
"Right, great," Daniel said, not really listening to what she was saying. She read from a checklist while he glowered at her. How can you be so nonchalant? Daniel interrogated Betty silently. I'm dying here. Give me a sign, something!
"Is there anything else?" Betty asked. He snapped out of his funk momentarily.
"No, that should be it," Daniel said. "See you at the party tomorrow?"
"Sure," Betty said, "It's a work function, so I should be in attendance," she said, smiling.
Daniel smiled. "Great," he said.
"Can I pick you up?" he said suddenly. He stared at the ground. Idiot, his brain said.
"You can if you want," Betty said, "but do you really want to be seen with me?"
Daniel looked at Betty, incredulously. "Do I—what?"
"This might bring down your creditability," Betty said, "that's all."
"Are you serious?" Daniel said, growing angry. "You still think that's what I am."
"Look, I'm tired of getting hurt," Betty said. "And now—"
"NewsToday accepted one of my pieces," Betty said quickly, the words now spilling out. "And now there's a position as a correspondent for here in New York, and its this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I don't know what to do and—"
Daniel took Betty by the hands.
"You know, this thing would go a whole lot smoother if you'd just tell me what's on your mind," Daniel said, running his thumb across Betty's hand.
Betty drew in a hitched breath. "But I didn't want to worry you, after you'd been so great to my family and—"
"I'm going to be honest, Betty," Daniel said, "I'm an idiot. I thought everything was about me."
Betty looked up, into his eyes. They were standing close now. The bustling magazine had screeched to a halt; most of Mode was watching this interaction from the other side of the fishbowl.
"You know, and I thought that I had to get stuff to feel good. I had to have money, I had to go to all these parties—I thought being editor of Mode would make me happy, you know? But it didn't," Daniel said.
"But you know when I've been happiest over the last two years? When I was helping you and your family. I guess there's something else to living, other than being just for yourself." He laughed quietly, but then frowned.
"But it kills me that it took so long to see it. It was right here, in front of me, and instead of seeing you, I was blinded by Sofia, by this crush that didn't have one-tenth of what I feel what I'm just standing near you," Daniel said.
He and Betty were standing even closer, nearly touching one another now.
"And yeah," Daniel said his low, quiet voice, "you know you need to take that job. You know you'll get it—NewsToday is one of our publications." He took her by the arms, sliding his hands up to her shoulders and linking his arms behind her back.
"And Betty?" He said, his voice low and gravely.
"Yes?" she said nervously.
"I do want to be seen with you, babe," he said, drawing her into a long kiss. Betty heard a gasp from outside Daniel's office.
Daniel and Betty turned to see most of the Mode office flabbergasted, standing frozen on the other side of Betty's desk. Marc had dropped a latte on the floor and it had exploded onto his shirt. Amanda had missed the explosion but had a raised eyebrow at the whole occasion.
"I knew it," she said.
"Oh now you didn't" Marc sniped. "Help me clean this up!"
"Ew! No," she said. "I said just get some water! Caffeine will give you wrinkles anyway."
From inside the fishbowl, Betty and Daniel couldn't hear what Marc and Amanda were saying; but they both had a pretty good idea of the gist.
Daniel reached for the intercom on the front desk.
"Is there a problem?" he asked the assembled staff.
The entire office sprang to life. Daniel looked back at Betty and smiled.
"Now, if I remember correctly," Daniel said, pulling Betty closer, "I think I was in the middle of congratulating NewsToday's latest star reporter. He kissed her again.
"Daniel, we have to work," Betty said against his lips, smiling.
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At the end of the day Betty stopped in. She had found her replacement—Amanda, who had proven herself with the party—and had already heard back from NewsToday.
"They said yes!" Betty squealed, jumping into a hug from Daniel.
"I knew it," Daniel said.
"So, I'll pick you up tonight, say, nine?" Daniel said.
"Make it eight," Betty said, "everyone wants to see you."
Daniel smiled. "Okay."
"And Betty, could you—" Daniel stammered.
"I mean, the—it's just that, there's, at Chappell's, the thing, I mean, I just was kind of wondering about—"
"The dress?" Betty said. She smiled and pulled Daniel down for another kiss.
"Wait and see," she said.
Daniel could have fainted with anticipation.
She kissed him goodnight and left the office.
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At the New Year's party, it wasn't a shock that Betty and Daniel were arm-in-arm that night. After all, everyone had seen or heard about the kiss.
And everyone wasn't all that surprised by Betty's mini-makeover. They worked at a fashion magazine, for God's sake. Makeovers were practically bi-monthly.
In fact, the only people that were truly surprised on this evening were Betty and Daniel. Neither could believe they had found somebody so wonderful who loved them back.
"Betty!" Amanda said, sidling up to the happy couple, "I have to know, who are you wearing tonight?"
"Just Justin," Betty said.
"I love it." Amanda said. "Where does he work out of? LA? New York?"
"New York," Betty said.
"Great! Get me his catalog. I'd love to see more of his work," Amanda said, flitting to another corner of the party.
Betty looked at Daniel and grinned.
The countdown to midnight started, and cheers exploded as the count the midnight expired. Daniel swept Betty backward dramatically and Betty laughed, kissing him.
"Happy new year Betty," Daniel said, brushing her face. Confetti was still falling as an impromptu chorus of "Auld Lang Syne" broke out. Only about half of the people singing knew the words, and it sounded more like a kindergarten recital than coherent music.
It was still perfect, as far as Betty and Daniel were concerned.
"Hey," Daniel said, "I think I left some files up in my office. Would you mind getting them for me real quick?" Betty looked at him incredulously for a moment, and then caught on.
"Sure, but I don't work for you anymore, so it's going to cost you," Betty said mischievously.
"You can take it out of my next paycheck," Daniel said, kissing her again.
The band had finally hit the stage and began to play a slower song.
The warmth of your smile, is like the warmth from the sun
And this will be our year, took a long time to come
Don't let go of now of my hand, now darkness is gone
And this will be our year, took a long time to come
Daniel looked and Betty and smiled. Neither said anything as they watched the band play their opening song. He reached for her hand and she let him have it.
Yeah we've only just begun.
Betty slipped from Daniels grip and mouthed "five minutes" before walking away.
And this will be our year, took a long time to come.
Daniel bit his lip, watching Betty walk away to the final strains of the song. He clapped when the band finished.
"Happy New Year!" the singer of the band shouted.
Daniel had to agree. This was going to be a very good year indeed.