Author's Note: These are a series of events and conversations that take place between Daniel and Betty following the events of "The Past Presents the Future" and before "Hello Goodbye." Knowing that three weeks pass between these two episodes, I firmly believe that the evening that Daniel called Betty to come into work at the beginning of "Hello Goodbye" was only one of the many times Betty and Daniel spend together as friends since Hilda's wedding.
Author's Note 2: Depending on my muse (and school work) I plan to continue on with this story. Also, this is unbeta'd, not to mention my first Ugly Betty fic, and the first creative piece of writing I have done in almost 7 years, so please be kind in your review. Thanks!
Enjoy!
Betty hangs up her phone, taking a deep breath. Daniel was right, she thinks to herself. It's an amazing feeling when everything is right in the world. She knows her family is happy and it's her turn to make herself happy too. In fact, this job offer couldn't have come at a better time.
She is so lost in her thoughts that Betty doesn't realise Daniel coming up behind her.
"Hey," Daniel almost whispers as her puts his hand on her shoulder.
Betty jumps and turns around to face Daniel unaware that she still has her phone in her hand.
"Oh, Daniel, I didn't realise you were there."
"Yeah, you looked like you were somewhere else." Then seeing the phone in her hand Daniel asks, "Was it someone from the office?"
"What?" Betty looks at the phone in her hand. "Oh, no, it was a wrong number."
"Oh, ok. Well, the dollar dance just ended which means the floor is open again and I was hoping you would do me the honour of letting me throw you around the dance floor once more?"
Betty smiles as Daniel puts out his hand, but drops it when she doesn't take it.
"Not that I'm not flattered, Daniel, but do you really want to spend all your time dancing with me? You know, there are a lot of Hilda's pretty single friends here who wouldn't mind a dance with you or an evening alone with you, if you know what I mean."
"As tempting as that sounds, I would rather have your company for the evening."
Betty mouth drops open and gives Daniel a stunned look.
Daniel, realising how that sounds, quickly adds "you know what I mean. I'm here as your date, it would be rude of me to spend the evening dancing with someone else, don't you think?"
Betty laughs in reply, "Well technically I disinvited you as my date. So you can dance with whomever you like."
Daniel once again puts out his hand. "I am," he replies with a grin.
Betty smiles and takes Daniels hand as he escorts her back into the ballroom.
Almost three hours later the reception has ended. Betty, now wearing Daniel's suit jacket, is walking down the street holding Hilda's bouquet. Daniel is walking next to Betty holding one of the centre pieces from the reception.
"Daniel, you didn't have to walk me home. It's not even that late."
"I know, but it was a nice night and I felt like a walk. Besides, you have the bouquet. How were you going to carry the centre piece too?"
"I should have just given the bouquet to one of Hilda's friends or made her throw it again. I'm so not planning on getting married anytime soon."
Daniel snickers and looks at Betty adoringly.
Realising the way Daniel is looking at her asks, "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing. I was just thinking about how that one girl with the red hair tried to jump over your back to get to the bouquet but you jabbed her in the stomach with your elbow. If you didn't want it why didn't you just let her get it?"
"Well I was going to, but it was the principle of the thing. I don't like girls who think they have to step on other girls do get a man."
Daniel laughs. "Well then, I'm glad you proved your point."
Betty smiles in response. "Thank you."
As they arrive at Betty's building, Betty takes off the jacket to hand it to Daniel. "Here you go. Thanks for letting me borrow it. I'm not used to wearing sleeveless dresses. It makes me feel a bit exposed."
Daniel takes the jacket from Betty and hands her the centre piece. "Well you look great in it. The dress I mean, not the jacket" Daniel clears his throat.
"Thank you, Daniel and thank you for coming today. It really meant a lot to Hilda for you to be there."
"It's no problem. I felt honoured to be invited. Like I told you before, your family is really important to me. I know you have all been through a lot when it comes to love, especially your sister. It's really nice to see her and Justin so happy. They deserve it."
"Yeah, they do. Well thanks again. I'll see you on Monday?"
"Oh yeah, I have an 8am meeting with ad sales in the morning."
"Sounds fun," Betty laughs as she turns around to walk up the stairs of her building.
Before she can put down her flowers to unlock the door she hears Daniel from behind her ask, "What are you doing for lunch on Monday?"
Betty turns around a little stunned. "Nothing, as far as I know. Why?"
"Oh, uuuh, there's this new sushi place around the corner from the office that I've been meaning to try. I thought I might go on Monday. Would you want to join me?"
"Uh, yeah. That sounds good."
Daniel lets out the breath he didn't realise he was holding."Okay!" He replies, a little too excited. "Uhhh, great. I'll see you on Monday." Daniel turns to walk across the street almost tripping off the curb.
Betty stifles a laugh as he walks away.
On Monday, Betty is working at her desk trying to come up with an idea for the concept meeting the following day while trying at the same time to figure out when she should tell Daniel about the job in London. She had planned on telling him at lunch that afternoon, but with the news of Wilhelmina in the hospital after being shot both he and his mom were up to their necks in yet another media frenzy.
Betty's desk phone rings and she quickly picks it up. "Mode Magazine, Betty Suarez here."
"Hey, Betty."
"Daniel, how are you? How is Wilhelmina?"
"The doctors say she is going to be fine. They're only concern is that she lost a lot of blood, but they were able to give her a transfusion and the surgery Friday night went well. They got the bullet and no major organs were damaged."
Betty gives a sigh of relief. "Daniel, that's great."
"Yeah, she's in a coma, but the doctors say that she should come out of it soon."
"That's really good to hear." Betty looks around to make sure no one is in hearing distance and whispers into the phone, "What about Tyler? Where is he?"
"He's staying with my mom for the time being. After the way Wilhelmina manipulated him, I almost wish he had killed her."
"Daniel, don't say that."
"I know. I know. It's just that...he could go to jail for something that he would have never had done if she would have just left him alone."
"Well what did your mom tell the police?"
"She said it was an accident. She didn't tell them that Tyler was there. I know it's crazy, but he doesn't deserve to spend the rest of his life in jail because of her."
"I know, Daniel. Hey, do you want me to come sit with you at the hospital?"
"No, I'm already in the car. I'm going back to my apartment to change then back to the office. We still have an issue to close out and we need to get started on our 100th anniversary issue."
"Well is there anything you need me to do in the mean time?"
"No, I'll be in shortly and I'm really sorry for missing our lunch today."
"Daniel, don't worry about that. I'll see you when you get in."
"Okay. See you soon."
Betty hangs up the phone. "Nope, definitely not a good day to tell him," she says to herself.
That same evening Betty is gathering up her things to head home. As she's shutting off her computer Daniel comes in.
"Hey, you're heading out?"
"Yeah, a mug of hot coco and my pink fuzzy slippers are calling my name."
"You want some company?"
"Uhh..sure. But don't you think you should be with your mom and Tyler?"
"I've been with them all weekend. I need some time to myself."
Betty gives him a strange look
"Okay, I need time away from them, but I don't really want to be alone. So what do you say? You want some company?"
Betty gives Daniel her patented smile "Okay, but I get to choose what we watch on TV."
"As long as it has nothing to do with family drama or murder, I don't care."
Betty laughs as she puts on her coat and walks out the door with Daniel.
Betty and Daniel are laughing outside Betty's apartment door. She opens the door to let them in. Daniel walks in holding a takeout bag.
Daniel looks around surprised, "Wow, I haven't seen this place since before you moved out. It looks great."
"Yeah, Mark and Amanda kept it up pretty nice."
"I'm sorry, but I still get a kick out of the fact that your tub is in the middle of the room. How did you do it when your family was staying with you?"
"Oh, trust me there were some awkward moments that I would rather not relive."
Daniel laughs, "Fair enough."
"Do you want to eat in the kitchen?"
"Please, do I look like the sort of person who eats their Chinese food in the kitchen? I'll grab a couple plates and some forks and meet you in front of the TV."
Daniel laughs and quickly follows Betty's orders.
Daniel sets out the Chinese takeout containers on the coffee table. He sits down on the couch and kicks off his shoes.
"How are Hilda and Bobby enjoying their honeymoon?" Daniel yells to Betty.
Betty walks over to the living room with the plates and forks. She sits down next to Daniel on the couch and start putting food on her plate while Daniel does the same.
"Oh my god, they are having so much fun. They are really enjoying the waterslides at the hotel or so Hilda tells me, but I honestly don't think they have left the room since they got there."
"Well can you blame them? I remember when Molly and I were packing for our honeymoon, I only packed her one dress. The rest was...well, there really wasn't much else."
Betty looks at Daniel with a serene smile on her face.
"What?" Daniel asks sceptically.
"Nothing, it's just...you haven't talked about Molly in awhile. It's nice to hear you talking about her again."
Daniel smiles and takes a deep breath, "Yeah, well, I guess I finally realised that it helps to talk about her. I loved her and she was a big part of my life and I know she wants me to be happy. Talking about her helps to remind me of that."
Betty nods her head. "That's really great to hear. But, remember Daniel that moving on doesn't mean you have to move backwards. You'll meet someone again who is beautiful, smart and loves you for you. You don't have to date women like Trista. If being with Molly taught you anything, it should be that you deserve better than that."
Daniel smiles at Betty and looks her intensely. "I know I do and I know I will."
Betty smiles back at Daniel. "Good." She takes a deep breath to end the intensity of the conversation. "So what do you want to watch?"
Betty picks up the remote to turn on the TV as the two continue talking long into the night.