The next day Siobhan stood in front of the old brownstone in Manhattan, her kids were deliriously happy. They would be closer to all the big shows and She had to admit that it would be an easier commute into work. It was the first house the realtor had shown them and everyone had fallen in love with it on the spot. It had Six bedrooms, two living rooms and a full basement the former owners had used as a family/recreation area. It was big enough that Carina and Abigail and Austin could each have their own rooms, and with all the space in the basement she could put up a few walls and have some guest rooms.
"So when does it close?" turning she smiled at Daniel.
"In a week, The owners were going bankrupt, so I got it at a steal"
"how much of a steal" Daniel asked and she could see the worry on his face.
"its in good condition don't worry, but it was originally listed at a million"
"Damn Siobhan!"
"And I got it for half that price." She said smugly. "They wanted out fast and I negotiated, put on my pouty face and said my kids really wanted this house."
She smiled as Daniel laughed "Wow, I know better then to cross you"
Shaking her head she looked down at her watch and sighed. It was after three, The kids would be arriving at the loft from school. "come on I need to get home, the kids should be there soon"
"well… I kind of told your mom that I was taking you out to celebrate" he said and blushed.
"But, I just got the house, when did you arrange this?"
"While you were sighing the paperwork" Laughing she smacked his arm, he was blushing again and it was doing funny things to her.
"Fine, but I want to be home in time to tuck the little ones into bed." She said and tucked her arm in his.
"I wouldn't miss that for the world."
They'd gone to a fancy SOHO restaurant, then he'd dragged her to a bar for dancing. At eight they laughed as they came up the elevator. She'd had more fun with him then she thought she would have. He'd spun her around on the dance floor and told her stories of how Betty had to teach him to salsa over the phone.
"You were in love with her weren't you?" she asked and as soon as the words were out of her mouth she regretted them. He suddenly looked very serious.
"I think at one point I might have been, but everybody that knows Betty is a little in love with her" he replied and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Sorry, it wasn't my place to ask" she stuttered, "Its just you talk about her so much"
"Its okay really" he said and smiled at her "Betty was just the first person to put me in my place and show me I could be a better person. Before her I was just Daniel Meade the playboy, and when she walked into my life I was thrown for a loop. Yeah I guess I do love her, but not that way, we are best friends"
"Well I'm glad that she helped you to be who you are, because I don't know if I would have like Daniel the play boy" she said and stepped off as their elevator came to their floor.
"Siobhan" Daniel said and took her hand stopping her. She looked up at him, she could see the emotion in his eyes like he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. "Look, I…. you know after you move out, you can still come over anytime you want, the kids can come and hang out and you can come to me for anything"
Tilting her head she smiled at him again. It amazed her just how much of a giving heart Daniel had. He surprised her every day. "Thank you, I really appreciate that. And you are more then welcome to come to my New and very awesome house anytime you want."
"yeah" he said laughing and walked with her to the door, never letting go of her hand.
Daniel hefted another large box up to the second story of Siobhan's house, finding Anna and Amies room fast he dropped it and huffed. That was the last one for upstairs. Taking a breath he looked up and down the hall, he had sworn the girls were in their room. Walking down the hall he looked in each of the rooms until he came to Austin's room. Opening the door he laughed as everyone popped out and said "SURPRISE!"
"what's this?" he asked and looked around taking in the big bed and blue curtains.
"Well, Austin decided that he didn't want his own room , and the boy's room was still big enough for the three of them," Carina started
"So, we thought we would give you a room of your own" Abigail finished shyly.
"Really" he asked genuinely surprised.
"the kids like having you around and I know we tend to bring our work home most days." looking over he noticed that Siobhan was in the room. "So when the kids suggested this we pulled some of the furniture from the attic down. It needs a bit of cleaning about we thought it would work"
"you guys didn't have to do this." he said and he could feel a sob creep up his throat.
"Yes, we did" looking down he saw that Austin and Tyson were now standing right in front of him "You gave us a house so now we give you one"
"Thank you" he said and scooped the boys into a hug, soon all the kids come over to hug him.
"the surprise is not over yet!" Turning he saw Paula standing in the hall way. She walked over to him and grabbed his hand and continued to pull him down that hall. "While you were at work today, something very special showed up at your loft."
"what is it I didn't…." Stopping at the top of the stair he finally let his tears come, Standing there with Henry , Little Daniel Suarez- Grubstick and her whole family was Betty. He took the stairs two at a time and scooped her into a big hug "Betty"
"Daniel!" she said and rocked with him back and forth "I missed you"
"I missed you so much too!" leaning back he looked her over and smiled "you look great"
"So do you, I think I left you in great hands" smiling at back at her he looked up the stairs and smiled wider at Siobhan
"I think you did too"
After dinner that Paula and Ignacio made together, Daniel sat with Betty in the family room. She looked so good. She was glowing as she feed her son. "I still can't believe you named him after me"
"Well why wouldn't I?" she asked and smirked at him. "you're my best friend."
"You could have named him after Henry" He said and leaned over to rub the four months olds head. "he's beautiful"
"I wanted to name him after you, you gave me my start and if it wasn't for you I would have never taken a chance on Henry, I'd probably be in queens still with Walter."
Sighing he smiled, "Well crap, you've just stolen my idea for when I get married"
They both laughed and when she offered to let him hold his God son. He nodded and held out his arms. Looking down at this little boy made his heart ached for his own. He knew he had lost something good when he found out DJ was not his, but sitting here holding little Daniel made him feel like he was missing something.
"So tell me how things are going at MODE" Betty asked and leaned her head on his shoulder
"great Willimina has been so tame that we hardly know she is in the building"
"Really, that's different… she's not dying is she?" Betty asked and he laughed softly.
"Not that I know of. Amanda and Marc are the same, they still make those video blog's, and steal things from the closet when they think no one is looking"
"I miss it here" she said, looking over at her Daniel sighed, they all missed her too. He wanted her to come back so bad just so that he could call her whenever he wanted, and talk to her about his feelings for Siobhan and the kids.
"So how is Siobhan doing." she said and then pinched him hard "By the way that's for not calling me when her house burned down!"
"Ouch Betty!" he said and chuckled "Besides she reminds me of you when your mad so I didn't call, she didn't want me too"
"Well at least I know she takes care of you"
"yeah she does, and her kids are wonderful do you know Carina plays hockey? I swear she is the coolest teenager I know!"
"Really what else" Betty asked seemingly excited to hear about it.
Daniel told her about taking the kids to school and how he thought Alex was going to grow up to be a nudist. How Carina and Abigail always brought home straight A's and What Anna and Amie had been in their school productions. "And the twins, you've read the Harry Potter books right? They make the Weasley twins look tame"
"wow it sounds like you've had a really busy time with them around" Betty said and smiled at him. He could see the gleam in her eyes, she had sat there and listened to what he said, and he didn't even have to tell her how he felt about Siobhan.
"Betty, I don't know if I can handle this" he said and cleared his throat "I don't think I will be okay now that they have moved out."
"Oh Daniel" she said and took the baby from him putting him in his car seat. Turning back around she pulled him into a hug. "It will be okay, and its not like you'll never see them, the kids gave you a room in the house for heavens sake!"
"I know but I've just gotten so used to having them all living with me. The loft will be so empty now." Daniel leaned over and put his head in his hands "I don't know what to do."
"tell her how you feel."
Looking up he looked into Betty's smug face, "you set this up?"
"No, not really." she replied and Daniel leaned back and laughed "I knew what you needed, you needed someone like me to take care of you. Someone who would welcome you into their family."
"And you just happened to know I would fall in love with her?"
"No, well I was hoping. But I was really just hoping she would take care of you like I did" Daniel put his arm around her shoulder and leaned over to kiss the top of her hair.
"What would I do with out you?" he asked.
"Die old and lonely" Betty said and he laughed, God it was good to have her back, even if it was just for a little bit.
Siobhan stood in her new kitchen smiling, they had spent the whole day unpacking and bringing things over from Daniels loft. Daniel, she thought. It was going to be different not waking up and seeing him in the mornings. She had gotten so used to him being around. She had forgotten what it was like to have a man in the house, She missed Emanuel still and while she would always love him she knew it was time to move on.
"well, Siobhan we have to be going" turning she saw Betty standing in the door way putting on her jacket.
"So soon, it feels like you just got here?" she said and walked over to pull her friend into a hug.
"The baby is getting tired, Daniel said we could stay at his loft tonight since its late and Queens is a long drive"
"Well you have to come back by before you leave"
"Can I tell you a secret?" Betty asked
"Anything" Siobhan said and leaned over.
"I'm back for good" Standing back up straight Siobhan gaped at Betty.
"Really!"
"Claire called me and said they had an opening at their political Magazine for a junior editor position."
"Oh my God Betty!" Siobhan said and hugged her again. "have you told Daniel?"
"No, I want him to find out when we have the big meeting on Monday. So don't say anything okay" Nodding her head she fallowed Betty out to the front hall and hugged everyone else goodbye.
"you know Daniel I'm sure we can get to your house just fine, why don't you stay here" Hilda said and Siobhan could see the look on her face, she was up to something.
"Well I don't want to impose" he said and looked over at Siobhan,
"Daniel, I have lived in your home for almost three months, you are more then welcome to stay when ever you want, you even have your own room" She said and crossed her arms.
"Fine" he smirked back at her and then turned to his other family "I'm sure Betty still has her keys, just let your selves in. use anything you want."
"good now go to bed you look like crap" Justin said as they all left.
When the door closed behind everyone Siobhan leaned up against it and sighed. "I am so glad they came to visit."
"So am I, I really missed Betty." Pushing off the door she nudged him in the shoulder.
"So the kids are asleep, Nate is on the cot in the basement and Mom is asleep in my room" she said and smiled widely,
"I'll get the ice cream and meet you in my room if you hook up the DVD player."
Monday morning could not come soon enough for Siobhan she was practically bouncing in her chair. The whole way to the office Daniel had nettled her about why she was so fidgety and when she wouldn't tell her he put on his puppy dog face. She had refuse and he had stomped into his office mumbling something about friends telling friends everything. Looking down at her watch she smiled, in twenty minutes they would head to the meeting for all of the EIC's. Hearing her phone ring she picked it up,
"Daniel Meade's Office"
"Hey its Betty, Is he still all moody?"
"yes, he's been pouting in his office all morning" They laughed and she quickly hung up when Daniel came out.
"what's so funny?" he asked as he put his suit jacket on.
"Nothing just talking to one of the girls in Accounting she wanted to know if I could come out for lunch, but I told her you had to be at a meeting, and I needed to take notes." She said and stood to fix his tie.
"Fine don't tell me what its about" he said and stomped off. She laughed and fallowed him, "Big baby"
When the walked into the conference room Siobhan quickly sat down and pulled out her note pad.
"Now, I have called this meeting because as you know Valarie from Politics' Today is taking a job at the White House" Claire said and the whole room clapped for the Young woman who was leaving. "I have hired some one who I think will do big things for this company and the Magazine. Please welcome Betty Suarez- Grubstick"
Siobhan didn't even know she was holding her breath as she waited for Daniels expression, but when she saw his face light up and him shoot across the room to scoop his best friend up she let it out and laughed. It was good to see him so happy, and while she knew he had been happy with her and the kids around, she also knew he would be even happier with Betty home.
