AN: So that took ages. I think this is a short one and I was wrestling with it a bit. I re-watched half of the entire series again to get back into it a bit (anyone ever notice how seriously snarky Betty can be sometimes?), and I now have plenty more ideas for the rest of the story. I actually made the smart decision to write them down this time too! However, I'm making no more promises, other than I'll keep trying :). If you see typos, feel free to message me. I didn't proofread this.
Disclaimer: Don't own Ugly Betty etc. etc.
Betty was floating. Floating on yellow clouds, surrounded by the most beautiful flowers, while swaying in the wind to the soft tones of 'Come away with me' from Norah Jones. She loved that song. The sun was shining. She couldn't see that, but she could feel it. Everything felt so good and calming. In the distance she could see other people and decided it was a good idea to float towards them. The tones of the music started changing the closer she got to them. The softness of the song was replaced by repeated irregular and disturbing drumming sounds. She was getting annoyed. The song was so beautiful, why did it have to change? The drumming sounds were getting louder and sharper.
Suddenly she shot up and looked around her in confusion until she heard knocking on her hotel room door again, accompanied by Daniel calling her name. 'Betty? Are you there?'
Casting a quick glance at her alarm clock she softly swore under her breath. 9:07am. Great. Yelling 'Hold on, I'll be right there' in Daniel's direction she jumped out of bed, made a frantic grab for her robe and dashed toward the door pulling on her robe in the process. 'I'm so sorry Daniel, Hilda called me in the middle of the night and it turned into this whole thing-', Betty nervously babbled as she opened the door.
'Let me guess, you overslept?', he laughed stepping inside and taking in the now actually messy hotel room. Half packed boxes everywhere. 'I'm guessing we'll be finishing the packing first then?', he questioned turning to Betty and finally getting a good look at her as she'd been hiding behind the door. His eyes widened when he noticed her bathrobe. 'You're not even dressed yet! That must have been some discussion, is everything alright with your family?', he asked concerned.
'Oh, uh..yeah..', Betty laughed, nervously fidgeting with her robe. Like she was going to tell him what the conversation had been about. 'It's just that Hilda keeps forgetting the time zones…', she trailed off, hoping that Daniel would assume that's what the 'whole thing' had been about.
'Ah, yeah that can be tricky. Get her one of those watches that shows both time zones. Helped me to keep track of it when Alexis moved to Paris…', he stopped, suddenly noticing she was fidgeting and not really looking at him. Why was she fidgeting? Was she nervous? Wait. That was Betty's 'I'm not telling the whole story' fidget. Now he was intrigued. 'Betty, are you ok?'
Glancing in his direction and quickly looking away again she decided simply changing the subject might be a better idea. 'Uhm..yeah, it's just….I'm not dressed yet…', she waved her hands toward the bathroom, 'just give me 10 minutes?'
'Oh! Yeah, sure. Maybe I can start the packing back up in the mean time? I mean, if you're ok with that?', he paused then realized she probably hadn't had breakfast yet either. 'While I'm at it, want me to order some breakfast up for you?'
'Oh, that would be great! Thanks Daniel', she smiled feeling slightly better already.
He suddenly smirked and joked, 'You know, I think I am turning into your assistant after all'.
She snorted and started laughing while disappearing into the bathroom. Suddenly everything felt more normal again.
After ordering Betty some breakfast and coffee for them both, he looked around the room and decided to just grab a box and start packing. When he reached the third box he realized she had a system. This really shouldn't have come as a surprise to him. He shrugged to himself. Oh well, if he'd screwed up her system, they would just sort it out when they were at his place. A knock on the door during the fifth box interrupted his thoughts and he quickly accepted the food and coffee, tipping the guy who brought it up royally as he left. Putting the food tray to the side for Betty he poured himself some coffee and took a big gulp. He hadn't had nearly enough coffee yet this morning. He made a face. The coffee tasted like sewer water. Hearing a very unladylike snort coming from somewhere in front of him he looked up.
'I forgot to warn you, the coffee here is awful.'
'Thanks for the heads up', he replied dryly, putting the cup away again. 'You realize that was more like 20 minutes right, not 10?'
She smiled mischievously and said, 'Yeah, I was sort of hoping you'd finished the packing before I got out'.
Surprised and momentarily stunned by her reply he acted without thinking, grabbing the pillow lying nearby and throwing it at her. It hit her square in the chest. For a moment she was equally as stunned…then all hell broke loose. Or rather an impromptu pillow fight of epic proportions, which was entirely too juvenile to ever mention to anyone else. Ever. Using what little furniture there was as protection they dashed around, hitting at each other with a pillow whenever they got close. Peals and rumbles of laughter could be heard from way down the hall and eventually a loud knocking interrupted their little war. The sudden stop left them panting and looking at the door, then glancing at each other. Suddenly a little embarrassed Betty got up and opened the door to find the hotel manager looking at her sternly.
He glanced around the room with a clear air of disdain. 'Is everything alright madam?', he enquired haughtily.
'Oh yes! Yes! Everything is fine. I'm sorry if we were too loud…sir. It won't happen again', she quickly replied feeling more like a child receiving a telling to than an adult. Quietly closing the door after the manager huffed once, bowed his head as minimally as possible and left, she turned to Daniel feeling more than a little embarrassed. She groaned, 'I can't believe that just happened! What if he kicks me out?'
He was grinning, making an effort not to straight out laugh at her. He was grinning! Slapping him on the arm, she squeeked, 'Daniel! Stop laughing, that was mortifying! I've never been told to keep it down before like that'.
His snorted disbelieving, 'Really?!', earned him another slap on his arm, only making him laugh harder again. After a moment of enjoying her obvious embarrassment he decided to give her a break. 'Relax Betty, it's no big deal. I've been told to keep it down in a hotel room tons of times before. As long as you give them a big enough tip on your way out they won't mention it again. Besides, you'd leaving today, who cares if he wants to throw you out?'
'That's true I suppose. And Ew! I really didn't need to know that', she grimaced. That Daniel had been told to keep it down in a hotel room before was more information than she wanted. What did one do to be told to keep it down anyway? Aside from having an innocent, juvenile pillow fight that is.
Putting the last things lying around in the one remaining box he threw her a quick look to make sure he didn't just undo this fun atmosphere with his comment. Assured that everything was fine he felt secure enough to tease her a little further, 'Not sure what you're implying there Betty? I was referring to these amazing pillow fights Alexis and me used to when we were kids. Where else did you think I became so good at it?'
She started blushing, regardless of being well aware that wasn't what he'd been referring to at all. Deciding to not let him get to her she gave him her patented 'I'm well aware that wasn't what you were talking about' look and smirked, 'What do you mean good? I was winning'.
He huffed. 'Not even close, unless you want me to prove it in a rematch?', he said reaching for the pillow again.
Raising her hands she cried out laughing, 'No! Stop! Besides', she waved at the packed boxes, 'seeing as you just finished the packing after all, it looks like we can go. You're sure your mother doesn't mind if I stay at the apartment?'
'Betty, I'm a grown man. It's not like I have to get her permission', he replied, making a mental note to discuss it with his mother before she decided to visit.
Suddenly excited again at the prospect of getting out of her dingy hotel room she clapped her hands and grinned, 'Al right! Then let's get going roomie!'
He may have been feeling insecure about their friendship when he got here, but after what happened he was pretty sure everything was going to be alright. They'd been very close friends before. However, not being in their old work setting anymore seemed to be taking away the last few restraints on their friendship by taking away the ever present 'boss/employee' part of it. He grinned back at her and grabbed a box. Yeah, they were going to be just fine.