Thanks for reading and for the great comments - it's really appreciated! I don't think our couple's story is over yet - might just be the calm before the storm . . . Enjoy! :) (Or get out the pitchforks and burritos again, lol! :P)

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A week later, Betty lay curled up in a ball, post-coital with Daniel – well, if she could even completely define it as that. Half an hour had passed by without even uttering another word, just a simple backwards nod to him reiterating she was okay - a lie she refused to admit. She had no idea what had happened.

She'd never experienced so much discomfort during their lovemaking before – or with anyone actually. Stabbing so bad she had to ask him to stop – what was wrong with her? The sharp pain had subsided not long after they had separated, leaving her only with some mild soreness, however the embarrassment had ceased to fade.

She was sure Daniel's ego had been scarred as well. She couldn't bear to look at him – not after what had happened. It's not that she was blaming him – she wasn't at all. Daniel had always been sensitive to her needs, never pushing her farther than she felt comfortable with. As she clutched the satin sheets even closer to her naked body, she knew something wasn't right.

She hated to even fathom the possibility that it was . . . nope not going there. Anything but that – what happened with Hilda was the last thing she'd wish on anybody. And she refused to believe that there could be a remote chance something similar was happening to her. They were just too rough this time – that was all.

Daniel felt like hell. The last thing in the world he intended to do was physically hurt Betty. But he knew he had. He was an idiot for not catching on sooner, not being able to distinguish her signals of pleasure from pain.

They were both so good at reading each other, but the one time it mattered the most, he had failed. And now she refused to talk, insisted she was fine - that it wasn't his fault . . . but he wasn't convinced it was true. She wouldn't be shutting him out if it was, balled up in a fetal position with her back towards him, like he was the last person on the earth she wanted to be near.

All he wanted was to hold her, talk to her - make everything all right. But he knew that obviously wasn't what she wanted right now. She was probably humiliated, as well - needing space, time alone. Despite his better judgment, he was going to let her have it.

"Babe, I'm gonna go downstairs and take care of some more of those boxes," Daniel quietly got up and searched for his jeans. As she slowly rolled onto her opposite side to face him, Betty could tell from his guilt-ridden expression that he felt she was blaming him. "Wait. Please . . . just stay with me?" she pleaded, unable to stand him thinking that way. "I wanna talk . . . if you're up to it," she requested. Daniel abandoned his search and apprehensively climbed back into the bed.

"I'm so sorry, Daniel. It was all my fault. And I know what you must have been thinking when I couldn't look at you afterwards . . ." Betty apologized, taking his hand. "No - I'm the one who's sorry. I never meant to hurt you, Betty," he brushed her hair back.

"I hate knowing I'm the one who's causing you to be in pain. I love you so much . . ." he professed, cradling her face in his hands before planting a remorseful kiss on her slightly quivering lips. "Baby, I don't know what's wrong with me . . ." Betty looked up at him with fear and frustration in her eyes. All Daniel could do was hold her tight as she softly wept into his chest.

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"It's getting late . . . are you sure you're up to this?" he worried. "Daniel, it's 7:00 on a Saturday night – unless we've miraculously aged fifty or sixty years, I think it's pretty early still," she argued. "Maybe we should see Dr. Andrews or go to the ER?" Daniel suggested. "I doubt she makes house calls and I don't want to spend eight hours in the waiting room when I'm fine, now. I've got an appointment with her in a few weeks. I'm good – honest," she insisted, noticing she was getting a skeptical look from him.

"Now that you're starting work at that ad agency, we really need to get the rest of this done this weekend. And it's a nice distraction, considering I don't think we need to try anything for a while . . ." she grimaced. "Besides, I've gotta find where I stashed those potential dresses for the launch party," she insisted. "But that's like two weeks from now?" Daniel commented, not understanding the rush.

"I know, but if I can't find them, I'll have to go out and buy new ones. And I have no idea where my Louboutins your mom gave me are," Betty told him as she rummaged through boxes. "I just don't want you to take any risks – especially not with the baby, and me having that business trip for a few days," Daniel expressed his concern. "Could you please at least call the doctor?" he bargained.

"I'm going to miss you . . ." she pouted. "I'll miss you too, but it's the price I have to pay for taking those three days off for our honeymoon – flying to Ireland to help try to land this account," he reminded her. "Mmm . . . then I guess it's worth it . . . And you will do great!" she convinced him. "Thank you – I hope so," he nervously rubbed the back of his neck just thinking about it . . . Wait - she was once again throwing him off the subject.

"And . . ." he prompted, clearing his throat. "And . . . if I have any more problems, I promise I will call Dr. Andrews," she compromised, sealing the deal by pecking his nose. She affectionately patted his softened stomach and smiled. "I'm letting myself go – aren't I?" he digressed, as he captured her hand. "Daniel, do you honestly believe all I care about are your rock-hard abs?" she snickered.

"Well, kinda – they're one of my best features . . ." he sheepishly defended himself. Betty shook her head in amusement as she lifted his t-shirt and lowered herself for a better view. "You have a very . . . sexy . . . stomach," she insisted, seductively kissing a trail from his still very flattering waistline up to his equally appealing chest. Daniel felt his breath catch.

"Betty . . ." he half-heartedly protested. "But if you're not satisfied with it, why don't you find a gym? A couple days a week and I'm sure you'll get your six little friends back in no time," she obliviously teased his bottom lip before returning to her hunt for clothes. "Do you have any idea of the effect you have over me?" he asked, following behind her, encircling his arms around her waist. He grazed his teeth along her exposed shoulder, causing her to let out a contented moan.

"A little," she tilted her head back, smiling deviously up at him. "You're insatiable," he grinned, capturing her lips from above. "Only when it comes to you . . ." she returned the grin. "And . . . for the record, you started it . . ." she pointed out, spinning around. "What? How? You were the one trying to de-clothe me," he countered.

"Only because you were whining about losing your abs," she matter-of-factly stated, poking his belly. "Next time I'll just let you sulk . . ." she playfully threatened, sauntering back to the boxes. "I was not sulking," he objected, despite the twitching corners of his mouth. "Keep telling yourself that, babe," she snickered.

"Oooh! Found 'em!" she squealed, holding up a shoebox. "Well, the shoes anyway . . ." she elaborated. "Good. I'm sure the dresses are around here somewhere . . . Oh, wait! I think I remember temporarily putting a couple of garment bags in the hall closet," he recalled. "Now you tell me," she rolled her eyes and went to the closet. "Yep. They're in here. I'm gonna go take them upstairs," she replied, zipping them back up. Daniel exhaled an uneasy sigh and hoped she really was okay.

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"Thank you so much for coming, Christina! It's nice to have someone with me to give an honest opinion," Betty said, hugging her friend in the high-end bridal store's dressing room, preparing for her fitting. "Well, I'm off fer a few days an' what better way to spend one of 'em than with my favorite London editor," Christina shrugged. Betty smiled and shook her head. "Stuart an' little William send their love, by the way," Christina added.

"Aww . . . that's sweet. I can't wait to see them again – it's been almost two years, hasn't it?" Betty recalled the bittersweet memory. Christina nodded. "And I'm sorry I couldn't have you in the wedding party, it's just since it'll be a small ceremony, we knew if we had more than one person standing up for each of us, we wouldn't have very many guests," she apologized, with a slight laugh.

"Oh, don't worry about it, Betty! I'm just happy ye two kids finally figured it out," Christina dismissed her concern. "I still can't get over Daniel bookin' a castle – or buyin' that monster of a house fer ye . . . Daniel Meade a domesticated romantic – never thought I'd live to see the day . . ." Christina mused as she zipped up Betty's gown and began lacing up the corset.

"He's definitely a changed man . . ." Betty agreed. Just the thought of Daniel made her smile. "What do you think?" Betty asked in reference to the ivory-colored satin strapless dress with subtle beaded metallic embroidery, chapel pick-up train and champagne-colored sash that draped around her waist, tying in a long bow in the back.

"Oh, Betty - it's beautiful! You look absolutely gorgeous! If those gangly anorexic bitches at MODE could see ye now, they'd be eatin' crow – if they ever ate . . ." Christina beamed with pride at her once fashion-impaired friend. "Thank you! . . . Do you think Daniel will like it?" Betty timidly wondered. "Like it? Daniel's eyes'll be poppin' out of his skull the minute he sees ye – an' if they don't, he's a bloody idgit!" Christina assured her.

"I hope so," Betty sighed contentedly. "You're glowin'," Christina noticed. "It's all because of Daniel," Betty beamed. "Are ye sure about that? After our conversation last weekend, I wonder if maybe a wee little one isn't helpin' ye along, as well?" she questioned. Betty nervously hesitated. She had never been good at lying. ". . . Daniel's made me happier than I've ever been with anyone," Betty dodged the subject.

"That answered my question, alright . . ." Christina looked like the cat who swallowed the canary. "Christina . . ." Betty protested. "Oh, relax, Betty - I won't tell a soul! Honestly, I don't understand what the big deal is. Ye and Daniel are gettin' married – Oooooh . . . That's the reason why, isn't it? I'm so sorry, love –" Christina jumped to conclusions.

"No – that's not it all! Daniel proposed before we had any idea," Betty corrected her. "Daniel doesn't even know this – but I figured everyone would assume that – especially the press in New York. To them, I'm still his clumsy assistant; they'd think he just felt obligated and that I was a gold-digger who dragged him out of his cushy job to play house with me in London," Betty explained her reasoning.

"Yer probably right - the press is full of nasty little buggers who twist everythin' to land a story. Have ye even told yer family yet?" Christina asked. "No. I didn't think it'd hurt if Papi thought he had one grandchild who was conceived in wedlock – or at least not realized not to be until then. Plus, Justin and Hilda have never been the greatest at keeping secrets," Betty rolled her eyes.

"No argument there," Christina light-heartedly agreed. "Okay - all done. Ready?" Christina asked, knowing Fiona, the woman who did alterations, would be waiting. Betty nodded and hit the call-button in the private dressing room, before Christina helped her walk through the long hallway to the alteration room. As Betty stepped onto the pedestal, she felt the room move for a few seconds.

"Are ye okay, love?" Christina worried. "Yeah, I'm fine! Just had to get used to standing on this thing," Betty feigned perkiness. "Alright, then! I see the beautiful bride is ready," an older, brunette woman came into the room. "Appears a bit of the length will have to be taken up, however the rest of the dress is fitting properly," Fiona replied as she studied Betty in her gown.

"Try like two feet!" Betty joked. Christina snickered along with her. Fiona smiled. "At least ye'll have on yer heels," Christina pointed out. "I have them on now!" Betty reminded her. "Oh - right," Christina laughed as the seamstress finished pinning Betty's gown. Betty winced. "Sorry – didn't mean to prick you," Fiona apologized, noticing Betty flinch.

"No – no it's not you – I . . . I just felt this sharp pain in my stomach," Betty uneasily responded, rubbing her midsection. "Are you alright, dear?" Fiona asked, putting down her pins and standing up. "Oh, Betty – I think ye need to go to the hospital," Christina suggested. "No – thank you. I'm fine – really," Betty insisted until she sensed another cramp ensuing – this time working its way up her shoulder.

"Ow! God! Oh, god – ow!" she grimaced, doubling over in agony. "Okay – we're gettin' ye out of that dress an' into a cab right now!" Christina commanded. Betty swallowed the lump in her throat and meekly acquiesced as they helped her into the dressing room.

"Ye want me to call Daniel fer ye?" Christina asked as she aided Betty into the cab. Betty shook her head. "He's already on the plane – you wouldn't be able to reach him . . . And – aaahh . . . And I don't want to freak him out if this turns out to be - mmmm . . . Nothing . . ." Betty explained in between groans of discomfort.

"Besides, I don't want him worrying about me. This new job . . . ooohh . . . is a really big step for him – he's nervous enough . . . owww . . . as it is . . ." she added, desperate for Christina to respect her wishes. "Oh, alright, love. If yer sure ye want to leave Daniel in the dark . . . I suppose I won't stop ye. But I know Stuart would kill me if I didn't tell him right away . . ." Christina cautiously warned.

"I don't even know anything yet . . . aaaah . . . and I wouldn't hesitate if I didn't know . . . oooww . . . what this account means for him. Whatever this is, I can handle it," Betty maintained, trying to withstand the pain. "Oh, Betty. Ye always think of others befer yerself. Ye need to let Daniel take care of ye fer a change. After all the crap ye pulled him out of over the years, ye deserve to be a little selfish fer a change – logical at least," she frankly told her. Betty gave her a hurt look.

"Sorry - me an' my big mouth. I didn't mean to be so harsh – I just care about ye, that's all. I'll leave ye alone – it 's yer choice," Christina apologized, patting Betty's hand as the cab arrived at the emergency room drop-off.

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Daniel anxiously shifted in his first-class seat on the plane. It was taxiing after landing at Heathrow and he couldn't wait to get off of it and home to Betty. Texts and a few calls had kept him from going crazy worrying about her . . . missing her . . . but it was no substitute for the real thing.

And it had been one of the worst business trips he'd experienced, mainly because he hadn't found his footing in the ad industry yet. His superiors assumed with his experience as EIC of a magazine that negotiating an ad account would be nothing for him.

However, they failed to take into consideration that he wasn't very familiar with the terminology or the Irish language barriers. He had a hard enough time understanding the British sometimes. Grabbing his bag out of the overhead compartment, he continued to rehash the previous events in his mind.

Between his awkwardness and the unforgiving attitudes of his clients, his co-worker was unable to smooth things over and Daniel had managed to cost the agency their account - albeit a small account, but nonetheless, their account.

Thankfully, he wasn't fired . . . yet, anyway. But he felt like it was his first day at MODE all over again - all eyes on him, expecting him to know what he was doing, yet he didn't have a clue. Throwing his duffel bag into the trunk of the town car, he raked his fingers through his hair and got in.

He had just stood there in that conference room spouting out one dumbass comment after another, continuing to dig a hole so deep he couldn't climb out of it if his life depended on it. He wished Betty had been there – she could always find a way to pull him out of the messes he made.

Was that it? Did he screw up because he knew he didn't have a crutch to fall back on anymore? Maybe he couldn't do this alone . . . He longed for one of Betty's pep-talks. Or better yet, just to forget about everything that had happened the past two days and focus on all that was good in his life – Betty, their unborn child, their wedding, their new life and home together . . . Those were things to take his mind off his new job.

Slinging the bag over his shoulder and thanking the driver, Daniel began walking up the path to their front door. God, he couldn't wait to see her smile, hear one of her positive lectures . . . even when his life was falling apart, she always made everything better.

As he entered the foyer, he was surprised to find Christina on her way up the stairs with a bag of sour cream & onion potato chips and a box of tissues. He thought she'd be back home with Stuart by now. Maybe she and Betty needed more girl-time or something.

"Movie night?" Daniel wondered, approaching her. "Jesus, Daniel! Ye bloody scared me to death!" Christina jumped and turned around. "I'm sorry," he chuckled. "It's good to see you again," he hugged her. "Oh, ye too, ye big oaf!" she got over her shock and cracked a smile. "Betty upstairs?" he guessed.

"Yeah – but Daniel . . . there's somethin' ye need to know . . ." Christina tried to prepare him, but wasn't quick enough. Betty carefully hobbled down the steps in her gray sweatpants and Daniel's maroon Harvard crew t-shirt. "I'll leave ye two alone fer a bit," Christina muttered, excusing herself from the room. Daniel nodded, barely noticing Christina's absence. His eyes were solely focused on one woman.

"Oh, Betty! You have no idea how great it is to be home . . . see your beautiful face . . ." he caressed her cheek. "Hey, little one . . ." he quietly cooed, bending down to kiss Betty's stomach. She shuddered and suppressed a sob. Her reaction left unnoticed, Daniel lovingly embraced her, inhaling the scent of her hair.

"Daniel . . ." Betty gently tried to get his attention, trying to hold back her tears. "I had the most horrible three days . . ." he mumbled into her cheek before nuzzling her neck. "Being back here with you two makes me feel better already," he smiled tiredly. Betty gradually pulled away from him.

"Daniel . . . th-there's something I need to tell you . . ." her voice wavered as she apprehensively looked into his innocent blue eyes. How could she even say it? How could she break this man's heart after he had been so wonderful to her, so excited about being a father . . . she took a deep breath before managing to form the words. "I–I . . . l-lost our baby . . ." she sputtered, her chin quivering as the words came out.