A/N: By popular demand, I am continuing with this fic, giving more plot and the backstory to why Betty is in this predicament. I know a lot of you are confused with why Betty is in Rome AND engaged to Henry. It will all be explained in this chappy, so don't worry. So I hope you enjoy!

Flashback is in italics.

Thanks to Erin who is helping me with this fic and as usual, much love to my peeps over at I-C, where the NLA is based at and resides. Don't worry! We WILL get our fix! (lol)

Enjoy!

I wake up and I feel the warmness of the day, the sounds of the hustle and bustle of the markets below. I roll around not seeing the man I want to, but the other, walking out of the bathroom. I wish I was in Tucson right now, planning a wedding, but I have to keep up with this act, so he can be satisfied. I really don't want to crush him.

"Good Morning." Gio says, a smile on his face. It seems that ever since I told him that I was going with him, he seems to be always smiling. I know I have made him happy, and it is going to be hard to do this to him. I was never a heartbreaker, and I really don't want to start.

"Good Morning." I say back. He comes over and kisses me on the cheek.

"I'll let you get ready then we can start the day. I have been told of this great bakery down the street." he says.

"Ok. I'll meet you down in the lobby?" I ask.

"Uh huh. Just don't take too long Eater." he laughs, as he leaves the room. I get out of bed, put on my clothes, grab my purse, backpack and cell phone. I scan the screen and I see a new message:

How many more mornings do I have to wake up and not see you here next to me?

I press the "Reply" button and I respond:

Not that many, I assure you. I'm gonna call later today. I miss hearing your voice. It's driving me crazy!

I send the message and I put the phone in my pocket, and go down stairs, where Gio is waiting.

"Ready?" he asks.

"Yep." I say. He holds out his arm and I reluctantly link mine with his, walking out of the hotel.

We walk down a few streets and into the little bakery, with breads and sweets in the window. We order some pastries and Gio looks around at all the different kinds of bread, probably thinking about which ones would go well with his sandwiches. The food tastes good, then we exit, Gio with full bags of different minds of bread and we walk around the town, looking at a few of the sights. Gio starts to walk into yet another bakery and I stop him.

"Listen, I'm just gonna go into the phone booth and call home k?" I ask.

"Ok. I'll be in this bakery. Just come on in when you're done." he says walking in.

I get into the phone booth, dial the international code, then dial the oh so familiar number. I am getting impatient hearing the phone ring over and over. It feels like an eternity waiting to hear his voice. I hear the phone click over and my heart beats faster at the sound of his voice.

"Betty." He says in that voice that it only for me.

"Henry, it's so good to hear your voice."

"Ditto. It's utter madness here. No matter how many books I read to prepare myself for this, I still didn't think that taking care of little Nate would be this hard."

"Don't worry, sweetie, you will be fine. How is Nate and Charlie?" I ask.

"Charlie is still healing but she is getting better. I think she still is a little shocked by my sudden leave of absence then back again," he laughs "But she'll be fine. Even though he is a struggle at times, my son is the best you could ever imagine." I hear that he is proud of his son in his voice, I know he will do fine.

"I can't wait to meet him. He sounds like an angel."

"Me either, so I have both my angels with me." he says. I blush and I smile. I love it that he thinks of me in that way. With Gio I'm just The Eater.

"Well, I should go. I don't want to waste any more minutes, so I can still text you every night. But...I should be getting back to Gio."

"In speaking of Sandwich Boy, how did you get out of his grasp to call me?" he asks.

"He's in his hundredth bakery today, looking at more breads. You would think he's running a bakery, not a sandwich shop." I laugh. He laughs also.

"God, I miss your laugh and you." he says.

"I miss you too Henry. I'll be home soon, don't worry." I say playing with my engagement ring on my wrist in the bracelet, just picturing and waiting for the day when i can wear it where it really belongs.

"Ok. I'll let you go now. I love you." he says. I still get butterflies every time he says that to me.

"I love you too. Till then."

"Till then, milady." he says before I hear the click of the phone. I hang up and join Gio in the bakery (who has even MORE bread than he did before.). He purchases the bread, run back to the hotel to drop off our (his) purchases for the day, then to a restaurant in the area. After filling ourselves with new foods (and more food talk with Gio), we get back to the hotel and get into bed. I close my eyes, thinking about how I got into this predicament…

"I know what to do." I say, snapping out of my dream. I see the people around me, me lying down with the ball right next to my head.

"Betty, you ok?" I hear Henry say. I look at him. He looks so concerned. I look over at Gio, who also seems worried.

"Yeah, I'm fine, I think." I say standing up and clearing the crowd. I try to walk but I feel dizzy. Gio and Henry stop me.

"You should go lie down. You are in no condition to play." Henry tells me, helping me walk.

"It sucks that we didn't get to see that awesome swing we worked on." Gio says. I look over at Henry, trying to stay calm and not let his minor jealousy take over. They take me to a nearby ambulance, and they sit me down, getting a cold compress for my head. They are looking at me, waiting, I know.

"So," Gio starts. "You said you knew what to do."

"Maybe." I said, keeping the cold compress on my head.

The speakers had some feedback and the voice of Suzuki came over:

"Will MODE's left fielder, please return back to the field." Gio stands up.

"Well, looks like I have to get back out there. We'll talk later ok?" he says, putting his hat back on and running back out to the field. Henry looks over at me in that way.

"Ok, Betty, tell me what's going on. You know you can tell me anything." he says.

"Well, I know what to do now. It's weird and slightly complicated , but I think it will work out in the end. For the both of us." I say with a small smile. His eyes widen in surprise.

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?!" He asks.

"Well yes." I say, my smile widen.

"BETTY! That's great!" he says, then pulls my face to his and softly kisses me. I break it off.

"But.."

"But…" he says, his grin fading. I take a deep breath.

" I have to go to Rome first." I say. He stands up.

"What?" he says.

"Let me explain this." I say. "Sit, please." I ask. He sits back down at the bumper of the ambulance, and I take his hands in his.

"Henry. You know that I love you and I would LOVE to right now just go away with you and be your wife at this moment," he smiles at the mention of us being married. "But, I need time for him to just be happy for now. It's only one month. I just can't break his heart. Just not yet." I say pleading with him.

"But you just can't pick one and the other."

"I'm just picking one. I am choosing you, its just that I can't hurt him just yet. I want him to not be so hurt when I let him go. I know that he is going to be hurt, but maybe after we spend some time, he can see that I am all for you. Then we can finally have the lives we have been dreaming of. Our fantasies coming true." I say, looking into his eyes. I can see him smiling in his eyes, his victory dance in it.

"Ok. I don't know how I am gonna handle this." he says.

"Me either, but you and I know that when I come back, I'm all yours." I say. He smiles, then looks down at my still bare finger.

"So you can't wear the ring?" He says disappointed.

"Well," I say the wheels turning in my head. "Maybe not on my finger…" I look around the ambulance and I see a small string. I reach for it, I loop the ring in it and I put it around my wrist. "But, I can still wear it." I say smiling. He kisses me.

"Betty Suarez, you know how happy you are making me right now?" he asks. Putting his arm around me.

"That's Betty Grubstick you mean." I smile.

"I really like the sound of that." he says, with that smile on his face, the smile that's only reserved for me. Our faces come closer to kiss, when the crowd goes wild, for the end of the game. I get the cold compress back on my head and We talk about the latest MODE gossip he needs to be catching up on. As Gio comes back and puts his arms around me, all I can think of is how Henry will be holding me everyday for the rest of my life, and seeing the look he gives me when Gio is not looking…

-BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP-

I hear the alarm sound and I get out of bed and take a shower. Today is an early day, when we are going to visit most of the touristy spots. He seems so happy during breakfast and when we exit the hotel to visit. I just keep wondering.

How I am gonna tell him, I do not know.