Chapter Two
A/N: Just a warning: Betty and Henry are going to be a little snarky to each other in the beginning. A little out of character I know, but I blame the cheesy historical romances I've been reading lately. Enjoy!!!
6 Months Later
A little angel was tugging on his hand…..
More precise, his daughter Madeline was pulling him up the already crowded street, her dark eyes scanning the huge new city they were in. Henry pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose as he breathed in the New York air again after four long years. Four years of being a new father, four years of trying to make peace with Charlie….
And four years without HER.
Henry had convinced himself after he'd left New York and Betty that she would be fine. She was beautiful and caring and her broken heart would eventually heal. She would find someone else. Someone to love and that would love her in return. Henry swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat as Madeline's turned back from looking up at the skyscrapers surrounding them giving Henry a sunny smile.
"Daddy, this place is big!" Madeline exclaimed as she shivered in her coat, "And really cold too." Henry laughed as he scooped her up in his arms, pulling her little body against his.
"Yes it is sweetie, and we've got plenty of time to go and look at everything." Henry said.
"Daddy, I'm hungry. Can we stop somewhere and get something to eat?" Madeline asked. Henry nodded and they headed towards on of the many delis New York had to offer. Henry glanced at the sign as Madeline tried to run ahead of him:
Gio's Genius Creations
Henry stopped dead in his tracks as Madeline looked at the menu, trying to find any small words she knew how to read. Henry looked around the deli, taking in the small tables, the warm earth tone paint on the walls, and finally his eyes centered on Gio himself behind the counter, in the process of creating what looked like a veggie sandwich for either a way-too-thin secretary or one of the MODE models. Henry took Madeline's hand, whether for strength or comfort he didn't know, and made his way to the counter. Madeline tugged on her father's hand as she spied a game in the corner of the deli.
"Daddy, can I play the game?" Madeline asked. Henry walked over to the machine and looked at it. It was a rather standard joke game called "True Love". You put in a quarter and pulled the handle and the different answers would light up whether you had found your true love or were supposed to keep looking. Henry smiled down at his daughter's head as he fished a few quarters from his pocket.
"Ok Maddie, you stay right there while I look at the menu." Henry said. As he handed her the money a young girl approached them. Henry realized with some surprise this was Gio's younger sister Antonella. She smiled at Henry, apparently not recognizing him from years ago.
"I can watch her while you look over the menu." Antonella offered. Henry smiled and thanked her as he walked up to the wooden menu. He looked over the wide selection of sandwiches. Henry had to admit Gio was pretty clever with his menu, making not only standard Club and Double Decker sandwiches but also Signature sandwiches found only at his shop. Henry glanced over the kids' menu, finding a Super Duper Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich that Maddie would enjoy. He stood in line, his eyes roaming over the menu until one sandwich made his breath catch in his throat.
The Betty Bombshell
Henry swallowed hard as he stared at the writing, unable to tear his eyes away from the name. As he waited, he heard Maddie laughing behind him. He turned with a smile, and then froze as he noticed someone else with Maddie and Antonella.
Betty…
His palms began sweating as his eyes drank in the sight of her. She was crouched down next to Maddie, laughing as she fed her quarters into the machine. Betty had cut her hair shorter, the ends just skimming past her shoulders. Henry could see her braces were now gone, but her red glasses were still a part of her. She had lost weight, but was still the most completely gorgeous woman he'd ever seen. He looked at her as she spoke to Maddie.
"I think this machine is only broken for me." Betty laughed, "You've gotten it to tell you more than I ever could. This thing always tells me to keep looking."
"Can I help you?" Gio asked without looking up.
"A….kid's peanut butter and jelly on wheat and an egg salad on white." Henry said, looking back towards his daughter.
"My daddy should play this, it's really fun." Madeline said.
"Well let's get him over here." Betty said as she looked over Madeline's head.
"Egg salad!" Gio said, "no one's ordered egg salad here since….." Gio looked up just as Betty's eyes found Madeline's father.
"Henry…."
"Egg salad….."
"Daddy, come over and play this game, it's really fun!" Madeline's excited voice broke over the adults. Henry cleared his throat as he looked from Gio to Betty, his eyes finally settling on his daughter. Recognition finally dawned on Antonella as her eyes lit up with understanding.
"Omigod, you're that guy!!! The guy from the play, the one who I sat with when my brother….." Antonella started, before Gio cut her off.
"Antonella, go clean off those front tables." Gio said sternly. Antonella huffed, but quickly stomped off to the dining area. Madeline looked at Henry puzzled as Betty straightened.
"Betty, you look great….wonderful actually." Henry said. Betty nodded at Henry as Madeline turned back towards the game.
"Henry." Betty said nervously, "You look….well. What are you doing back in New York?"
"I decided to come back. I wanted to start a new life with Maddie and I missed the city." Henry said. Gio walked out from behind the counter and stood next to Betty, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. Henry's throat went dry as he watched Gio holding Betty to him.
"Well we're glad to have you back, egg salad." Gio said, "Let me go get those sandwiches for you." Gio walked away, leaving Betty and Henry standing together.
"She's very pretty." Betty said after a moment, nodding in Madeline's direction.
"Her name is Madeline and yes she is." Henry said tersely. They both watched the little girl play the game for a moment until she turned around to both adults. She pulled a quarter from her pocket and handed it to Betty.
"Here, try it now. It should work." Madeline said, smiling up at her. Betty smiled back and put the quarter in the machine. Betty pulled the lever and watched the colored lights spin around the screen. After a moment, the screen flashed brightly and the message popped up:
Your true love is here and waiting for you
Betty laughed and hugged Madeline in delight as Henry watched on silently.
"You must have the special touch Madeline. It's never done that before." Betty said. Gio walked towards Henry with a paper deli sack.
"Must be because I'm here." Gio said with a grin. Henry's face drained of color as he looked at Betty. Betty mustered a smile as Gio stood next to her and held up his left hand.
"Been married six months." Gio said, "finally took the machine long enough to recognize me." Henry's jaw clenched as Betty's eyes met his.
"So how's Charlie?" Betty asked.
TBC……………