Thank you again for all the wonderful responses - they're greatly appreciated, as always! Here's an extra long chapter. Enjoy! :)
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Betty was so relieved to finally be home. She didn't know what the hell had happened the last night, but it had obviously involved waaay too much alcohol . . . Never again! Now she knew how Daniel had felt when he had stayed at her family's and couldn't make it into the office. That's exactly what she had felt like doing, but no luck. It was the last day of Fashion Week and there was no way of bailing. The plane was no better.
Even in first class, she still found it difficult to sleep with flight attendants coming by with their carts, hot towels or trash bags every 30 minutes and her sister and Amanda nudging her every 5 to look at something in a bridal or fashion magazine. Why the hell they weren't hung over, she had no idea. They were drinking as much, if not more. Probably just more tolerant. Regardless, all she wanted to do now was go home, crawl into her soft, comfortable bed, and sleep it off.
She texted Daniel to let him know they'd arrived and that she'd call him later. Not that she didn't want to see him, but there was no point in him having to drag his ass out of bed at 4AM just to ride all the way home with her and watch her immediately fall asleep once she got there. She knew he had probably had a long night himself with the bachelor party . . . even though she would miss spending yet another night in his arms.
In terms of convenience, she was beginning to wonder if the whole living situation wouldn't be easier if they just shared one of their apartments. But she was too weak to even go into the logistics of that right now . . . and of course the other unspoken topic of the moment, which might inevitably negate the first thought anyway. She needed to clear her mind of anything but getting home and going to sleep. The rest she could deal with later.
Daniel waited for Betty at the baggage claim. She hadn't checked any, but he knew Amanda and Hilda packed everything but the kitchen sink. She insisted he didn't have to come, that it was too early in the morning and he would have just been out late at Bobby's bachelor party. But he wanted to be there. He had to be there. See her face . . . feel his arms around her . . . watch her smile . . . No matter how exhausted he was, he couldn't wait.
"Daniel?" Betty approached him, touched that he'd drag himself out of bed at this hour of the night after partying with Bobby and his friends. "What are you doing here? I told you not to worry about me."
"I thought I'd surprise you," he said, hoping he didn't appear too pathetic. God she looked amazing – even with her hair pulled back in a messy, falling-apart ponytail and jet-lagged expression on her face.
"You're the sweetest man I know," she smiled and happily captured his lips.
"I missed you," Daniel whispered as their foreheads touched.
"I missed you, too," Betty tightly held onto him. And she had – more than she thought was possible.
"Let's go," he suggested.
They walked over to Amanda and Hilda, who had just gotten all of their bags, and headed for the town car.
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"Hey, baby? Where do you want me to put your suitcase?" Daniel called from the kitchen, while Betty had immediately gone to change, after getting in. "Betty?"
He went into the bedroom and found her collapsed on the bed. Her blouse was half-over her head, revealing her navy blue cami. One of her strappy wedges was still on, the other haplessly thrown on the floor.
He smiled, proceeding to remove her remaining shoe and carefully sliding the rest of her top off of her head. He gently moved her onto her side of the bed and under the covers, then went to turn off the lights in the hallway. He finally slid into bed beside her, brushed a fallen piece of her hair back, and gently kissed her cheek. He wrapped his arm around her waist and contently drifted off to sleep.
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Betty woke to the smell of kung pao chicken and egg rolls. She rolled out of bed and into the kitchen to find Daniel taking out cartons of Chinese from a plastic sack.
"Hey, Sleeping Beauty," he smiled.
"Hey," she coyly smiled back. "So I guess in the version your mother told you, Prince Charming woke her with Chinese instead of a kiss?"
Her arms encircling his neck as she quickly pecked his lips. He chuckled.
"I was gonna wake you with both, but the food beat me to it, I guess," he shrugged and planted a firm but brief kiss on her mouth.
"Thank you . . . I'm starving!" she replied as they sat down and enjoyed their food.
"How was the rest of your trip?" Daniel asked.
"Good. I already have a draft done for the article and I think Dylan got some really great shots of everything. Everyone had a blast! Christina said to tell you 'Hi!' and 'It's about bloody time, you big oaf!' – whatever that means," she rolled her eyes and tried to play dumb.
Daniel chuckled and shook his head. Christina was anything but subtle. She and he had had their differences after Wilhelmina's baby plot, but he knew what a good friend she was to Betty. She was a good person, overall, and an amazing stylist and designer, so he never held a grudge once he found out her reasons for siding with Wilhelmina.
"Oh – Amanda was convinced she could make the guards at Buckingham Palace smile. She almost flashed them – insisting that would definitely get their attention. It took all three of us to drag her out of there before she actually did it. I'm sure it would've piqued their interests, but then she'd have been thrown in jail in a foreign country," she rolled her eyes and shook her head.
Daniel laughed.
"Speaking of flashing, thanks for the little present you sent me the other night," he casually brought up the subject, trying to feel his way around her thoughts, now that she was sober.
"Huh? What present?" she asked, her mind going blank. She didn't think she'd mentioned she got him anything. "Oh! That reminds me . . ."
She got up and opened her suitcase.
"I got you a little something . . . The storeowner made it himself . . . I had him wrap it in Styrofoam . . . And then, at the airport, I had to be taken aside and unwrap the thing when I went through customs. So I hope I packed it back right and it didn't break on the ride home . . ." Betty handed Daniel a cardboard box.
Daniel carefully unwrapped the box, amused at her concern over a simple souvenir. However, when he lifted up the Styrofoam, he saw why.
"Betty this is great – thank you!" he exclaimed, looking at the modernistic yet somewhat vintage-style black circular clock with Roman numerals and a light tan, distressed paper looking face.
"London is known for their clock-making . . . And I thought you could use a new one for your office," she knowingly smiled at him, blushing a little. "There's an inscription on the back . . ."
He slowly turned it over.
"'To Daniel: Time flies by when I'm with you. ~ Betty'" he read out loud.
He found it hard to speak. He awkwardly cleared his throat.
"Thank you," he softly said, taking her hand and kissing it.
"I'm glad you like it," she said, squeezing his hand.
She had gone back and forth over whether it was too cheesy of an inscription, whether the clock was too much of a reminder to both of them. But fortunately it seemed to be going over well.
"So that's what you were talking about when you mentioned the present, right?" she wondered.
"Actually, no," Daniel replied.
"What did you mean then?" she tried to rack her brain of anything else she might have shown or told him. Nothing.
"Well . . . you uh . . . you sent me an interesting video text a couple nights ago . . ." he carefully began.
"Ok . . . you wanna stop being cryptic and just spit it out?" she nervously laughed. What the hell was so horrible – other than the fact that she couldn't remember sending it to him?
"You flashed me, okay? Like full on flashed me," he spat it out.
"Oh. Wow! Oh my god! Was I drunk? 'Cause I don't remember that at all," she exclaimed. Holy crap! How did that happen? What the hell was she thinking?
"Yeah, you were pretty drunk. But don't worry, it was just a flash and it was on my phone not my computer so I didn't see that much," he tried to calm her down.
"Still . . . I don't know what came over me . . . Did I do or say anything else?" she meekly inquired.
"Uhhh . . . here –" he handed her his phone.
Betty watched herself in horror.
"Okay . . . so apparently I'm also in love with myself . . .?" she commented, thoroughly embarrassed.
Daniel's stomach did a flip. It was obvious she either didn't feel that way after all or wasn't ready to admit it yet. Either way, he couldn't let her know how he felt - if that really was what he was feeling. After all, he had thought he had loved a few other women before and he didn't – not the kind of love he was feeling for Betty, anyway . . .
"Can we please just forget about this?" she desperately requested.
Betty was mortified and could barely look Daniel in his gorgeous blue eyes. What he probably thought of her right now . . . So much for being respectable . . . at least it hadn't been in public and she had only sent it to him – she hoped, remembering Hilda's accidental slip of sending her risqué pictures meant only for Archie to a ton of other people. Wait – if she had done that, she knew she would've gotten a response . . .
"Sure," Daniel masked his disappointment, but he didn't want to push her into anything. He'd just relax and enjoy the ride, hoping she'd eventually feel the same.
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A few days later, Betty was on her way back to her office when she ran smack into someone.
"Oh! Sorry!" she exclaimed. "Mr. Dunne! What are you doing here, in New York? If you're looking for Daniel, he's in his office - which is straight ahead."
"Quite frankly, I was looking for you, my dear," he informed her.
"Me?" she asked, puzzled.
She had met with Lindsey Dunne in London about writing some online articles for his fashion magazine, on the side. But she had realized that it wasn't what she wanted to continue doing. She was going nowhere as far as her goal of writing for 'real world' people and having the chance to truly inspire others, so she ended up turning it down.
"Yes. I'm creating a start-up magazine that's similar to a younger person's New Yorker and I'd like for you to help me run it – in London," he smiled.
"You want me to help you run a magazine?" she repeated, flabbergasted.
He owned the biggest publishing company in London – it was as large and well-respected as MEADE.
"Yes, I believe you have the perfect voice I'm searching for," he replied.
"Wow! Really? You think I have the perfect voice?" she squealed.
"Yes, quite," he chuckled, amused by her high-pitched enthusiasm.
"Wait – did you say London?" Betty's mind finally caught up, as she let it all sink in.
"Correct. Is that a problem?" he inquired.
"Kind of . . . I mean, I wasn't prepared to leave the country. All of my family and friends are here . . ." she trailed off . . . and Daniel – especially Daniel. There was no way she could leave him.
She'd miss her family terribly, but Hilda and Justin had Bobby to look after them now, and Elena would be finishing nursing school soon and would be moving back to New York to be with Papi . . . They really didn't need her anymore. But Daniel . . . she couldn't stand being away from him for a week . . . this was her dream job . . . but it wasn't worth sacrificing what she had with him – even if she couldn't really define it at this point. No. She wasn't going.
"Mr. Dunne, I really appreciate the offer – I'm beyond flattered! But I'm afraid I can't accept it," she graciously and reluctantly declined. If only it weren't in London . . .
"I'm sorry to hear that," he replied and paused for a second. "Perhaps you might mull over it for a bit more? Give me a ring by Monday?"
"Of course. Thank you – I will," Betty politely answered, even though she told herself she still wouldn't change her mind with all the time in the world.
"Cheerio!" he waved goodbye.
"Cheerio!" she smiled and waved back.
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"Remind me to thank Daniel for getting my dress altered in time. Even with Amanda's diet remedy, I still think you'd be standing here for another hour, trying to shove me into it if it hadn't been let out. I don't get how I managed to gain so much," Hilda told Betty as she zipped up her gown.
"Hilda, you didn't gain but maybe 5 pounds and it didn't show – believe me. I'm the one who could probably stand to lose a few," Betty assured her.
"Aww . . . Honey, you're just fine! This isn't about Daniel is it? Because trust me, that man loves you with all his heart," Hilda replied.
"What? No! What? Did he say something to you? Did you start drilling him with questions, while I was talking to Papi and Elena?" Betty asked, annoyed.
Hilda could be so nosy sometimes. How the hell else would she think she knew? She was probably just jumping to conclusions again.
"No! He's never said anything to me and I've never asked. But I can see it in his eyes, Betty. Daniel is head-over-heels in love with you," Hilda insisted.
"You're delusional, and light-headed from not enough food! Plus, you've got romance on the brain," Betty brushed her sister's theory off.
"Deny it all you want, baby sister. But don't say I never told you so," Hilda wouldn't back down. "Yeah, well, even if you're right, there's no telling how he'll feel after we . . ." she trailed off.
"You mean you two still haven't . . .? Ay! Chica, what are you waiting for?" Hilda exclaimed.
"I don't know . . . the more I think about it . . . I'm scared . . ." Betty admitted.
"Whaaat? Why? It's Daniel – not some stranger. You guys have known each other for years. If anything, that should make it easier," Hilda wondered.
"Well it has, with everything else . . . it's just . . . I – I just know I'm not his type. Every other girl he's been with was a skinny toothpick. He's never had a problem with it, but then again he's never actual seen me naked either – well, other than a brief drunken video text flash . . . And then there's my lack of experience . . ." Betty trailed off.
"Sweetie, who was the one who wanted a relationship in the first place? Who was the one who tried to prove they had changed?" Hilda pointed out.
"Daniel?" Betty answered.
"Exactly. Daniel has been the one pursuing you! If he didn't want you, he would've left a long time ago . . . And if taking the next step scares him off, it's his loss! Because you are one sexy Latina diva and the best person I know!" Hilda reassured her sister, giving her a hug.
"Thank you, Hilda . . . Look at me – this is supposed to be about you and your wedding day and here we are talking about me and my problems," Betty dabbed her eyes, careful not to smear her makeup. "Okay . . . So! You've got something old – Mami's veil. Something new – your dress. Something borrowed – Elena's ring. What about something blue?"
"Oh my god! What am I gonna do?" Hilda panicked.
"Wait! I have the perfect thing! I had them in here to go with my change of clothes if I needed some later . . . Here!" Betty found her bag and pulled out a pair of small, light blue, butterfly stud earrings. "They've always brought me good luck,"
"Oh, Betty. Thank you!" Hilda said, a tear starting to come down her cheek.
"Careful, we don't want to have to do your makeup all over again," Betty smiled.
"Yeah, I think Papi and Daniel are gonna start yelling at us again if we don't get down there soon! The limo's probably here by now to pick us up," Hilda laughed.
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As Daniel watched Hilda and Bobby's ceremony, he couldn't stop staring at Betty. She looked so beautiful in her emerald green one-strap dress with her hair elegantly styled in sleek up-do, so happy and proud as she watched her sister on the happiest day of her life.
While listening to their vows: 'love, honor, cherish, in sickness and health, for as long as they lived' along with the touching vows Hilda and Bobby had written each other, he pictured standing up there with Betty. Because at that moment, Daniel confirmed to himself that there was no one else he'd rather spend the rest of his life with.
Betty noticed out of the corner of her eye that Daniel was staring at her. Was he thinking what she thought he was thinking? Was Hilda right? Maybe . . . no – it was just the angle he was sitting at. He was probably focused on Hilda and Bobby – as he should be – but she was in his line of vision. Right. That made sense – after all, it was their day.
She glanced at him again and happened to catch his eye. His smile was different somehow. She wasn't sure what it was but the way he looked at her . . . maybe Hilda was right. Okay, now she was being delusional. He was her boyfriend. He did have the right to stare – and it was probably just at her boobs after that embarrassing video she sent him.
Why did it even bother her? If he was in love with her – great. If not – that was okay too. They'd only been together a few months . . . The start of cheering and the feel of Hilda tugging to reclaim her bouquet snapped Betty out of her trance. She walked back up the aisle, arm in arm with Justin, with a smile pasted on her face. She didn't know why she couldn't stop obsessing.
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"It was really sweet of Hilda to drag me into one of the wedding pictures," Daniel commented, holding Betty close as they danced to another song.
"I think that was her way of thanking you for your contribution to the wedding planning. Plus, she thinks of you as family, anyway," she smiled.
"Really?" he was pleasantly surprised.
Although, he had spent a lot of time with them over the years – especially that one time he decorated the Christmas tree with them. He'd had a lot of man-to-man talks with Ignacio, spent some quality time with Justin – a great kid – and Hilda, while nosy and sassy, was very sweet. He cared about them, too.
"Mmmhmm . . . That's why I picked you – finally a guy my family truly likes," she teased.
"Is that so? Well, I'll have you know that that's why I picked you, too. You're the only girl my mother's ever liked, too. Her usual remarks when I date someone are, 'Let me guess – silicone, saline, and a napkin?'" Daniel mused.
"They are not!" Betty giggled.
"I'm not lying – she actually said it to a girl, once," he insisted.
Betty admitted to herself, knowing Claire Meade's blunt personality, she probably did.
"Hey, Daniel and AB – say 'Cheese'!" Justin came up to them with his digital camera.
He insisted on bringing it to the reception as back-up, because professionals 'mess up the obvious shots all the time and there are no re-shoots at weddings'. Daniel stood behind Betty and put his arms around her and they both smiled politely. Then he spontaneously kissed her on the cheek, causing her to grin and blush, making for a great candid shot.
"Thanks, you guys. The unexpected shots are always the best!" he exclaimed and went off to find Austin.
Daniel spun Betty around and started dancing with her again.
"After spending all night on the floor, you've still got energy in you, don't you?" she giggled. "Must be my partner – she gives me all the motivation I need . . ." he flirted with her.
Betty shyly smiled. Every time she was in his arms she felt safe and protected. He never missed a moment making her feel special. It couldn't be an act, because there were all of these beautiful, single women here and she noticed he hadn't taken his eyes off of her. She didn't know what she had been afraid of.
"What?" Daniel asked.
"Nothing. Just looking at you, thinking about how amazing you are . . ." she told him, resting her head on his chest.
"So are you, baby," he kissed the top of her head.
"Hey, you two . . . I hate to interrupt, but I need to steal Betty away for a few minutes," Hilda gently tapped Daniel on the shoulder.
"Sure," he told Hilda.
"I'm gonna go mingle a little," he looked at Betty, who nodded and left to assist her sister in the ladies room.
Daniel spotted Amanda standing alone and wondered where his brother had wandered off to.
"Heeeey! Wanna go in that closet – I'll show you all kinds of things . . ." Amanda stumbled into Daniel and pointed.
"Uh . . . that's the hotel lobby and no, I don't," he pried her off of him.
"Where's Tyler?" he asked.
"Fight . . . don't care . . . what does he know about fashion . . .?" she tried to loosen Daniel's tie. "Mmmm . . . let's get it on right here right now – just do me!"
Daniel laughed before pushing her off of him again.
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Betty walked back from helping Hilda and honestly thought after watching him tonight, she was truly ready. At least until she came into the main room and saw Amanda plastered all over him – and was he laughing? Her stomach plummeted and she could feel tears immediately well in her eyes as she ran out into the lobby.
That was it! Everything she had told herself was just fear and paranoia turned out to be true. He still wanted that skank! And she was supposed to be her friend! Amanda had supported her and Daniel's relationship all along, only to backstab her. Once again the beautiful girl won – just like with Jesse. Maybe she needed to forget about men and focus on something she could control, something that didn't tear her heart apart or toy with her emotions – her career.
She looked in the coat closet and found her phone. "Hello, Mr. Dunne? It's Betty Suarez. Yes. I've decided I would like the job, if it's still on the table. Great! In a month? Perfect. Thank you. Goodbye." Betty hung up, and felt somewhat better, but she still couldn't make the pit in her stomach subside.
She grabbed her coat, bag, and clutch and hailed a cab to her family's house. She couldn't go home, because Daniel had a key and would follow her – if he even cared, that is. She texted Justin so they'd know where she'd disappeared to and begged him not to tell Daniel if he asked – that'd she'd explain later. She knew she'd have to face him eventually, but that night, she couldn't bring herself to do it.
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Daniel scanned the room. Where was Marc when he needed him? Oh, figures - with that older client of Amanda's. He dragged her over to Marc and dumped her on him.
"Oooooh . . . you're hot too . . ." she told Marc.
"She's all yours," Daniel smiled sympathetically at Marc, amused.
"Thanks!" Marc sarcastically replied. "Maaanddyyy . . . I love you – I really do, but stop trying to give me a hickey . . . Ewww!"
"Hey, Bro, Marc. She driving you two insane, yet?" Tyler joked.
"Finally! Go take her home and let her sleep it off, before she upstages Justin's fabulous début!" Marc huffed at Tyler.
Daniel and Tyler looked at each other and laughed.
"Go!" he barked.
"Later, man. Word of advice – never tell your girl her see-through, self-designed gown isn't appropriate for a wedding," Tyler smiled at Daniel and left with a wobbly Amanda.
"Are we going to the closet?" she hiccupped.
Daniel went off to find Betty. She had to be back by then because he just saw Hilda talking to some of the other guests.
"Hey, Hilda, do you know where Betty is?" he went up to her.
"No, I haven't seen her since she left the ladies room – I thought she was with you," she answered.
"I can't find her," he shook his head.
"I wouldn't worry about it. She probably just got caught talking to one of our relatives. You guys have been glued to each other the entire night," she pointed out, smiling. "Why don't you go introduce yourself to some of them – I have a feeling it'll be yours and Betty's day soon enough . . ."
Daniel cheeks turned red and he grinned, sheepishly.
"You never give up . . ." he chuckled, amazed at how brazen she was.
"I just know what I know . . . and you, my friend, just got all embarrassed . . . but didn't deny it - proving my point," she patted him on the back, thoroughly satisfied.
"I'm gonna go find Betty. Again, congratulations," his kissed her cheek and left, avoiding having any more of his unspoken thoughts exposed.
He hoped Amanda hadn't blabbed about that certain shopping excursion they'd gone on during one of his 'lunch meetings', the past week. It wasn't exactly the right time yet – he hadn't told her he was in love with her, he didn't know whether she even felt the same and he knew he was probably jumping the gun, yet again . . . but he wanted to be prepared if and when the moment came.