Author's Note: There is an error in the first chapter of the story. When Daniel says that Wilhelmina's surgery on Friday night went well, he should have said Saturday night as that was the actual day she was shot. Sorry for the error.

Author's Note 2: If anyone has any ideas or suggestions for the story, please let me know. I have a few conversations I want to tackle but I'm worried it won't be enough to take up three weeks.

Tuesday morning Betty arrives at work throwing her purse on her desk and heavily sitting down in her chair. She puts her head down on her desk using her purse as a pillow. Suddenly, without a cup of coffee is placed in front of her. She looks up as she feels the warmth of the takeout coffee cup on the back of her hand. She sees Daniel standing on the opposite side of the desk holding his own cup of coffee.

"What's this for?" Betty asks looking up but not picking up her head.

"I owe you for last night. I didn't mean to keep you up so late." Daniel replies looking a bit sheepish.

Betty finally sits up straight and takes the coffee. "It wasn't your fault. I'm the one that decided on watching "It." Man, I forgot that that movie was three hours long."

Daniel laughs. "Yeah, well we talked for another couple hours after that. Thanks again by the way for letting me hang out."

"You know, Daniel, you don't have to keep thanking me for spending time with you. We're friends, right? That's what friends do. Besides believe it or not, I actually do like spending time with you."

Daniel smiles a bit wider, "Thank you. I like spending time with you too. Speaking of spending time together, I still owe you a lunch. You have time today?"

"Oh, I can't. I have a lunch meeting with someone for a potential feature for the 100th anniversary issue. A woman who was born on the same day and year Mode was launched. She's had an amazing life and has been a subscriber to the magazine since she was 13."

"Oh, ok. I should probably drop in at the hospital anyways to check with Wilhelmina's doctors. In fact, I better get going I had to reschedule my meeting from yesterday."

Daniel turns around and begins slowly walking out the door as Betty begins getting her work station ready for the day. Suddenly, Daniel turns around and asks, "What about tonight for dinner? Are you free?"

Betty a little shocked replies, "Uhhh...yeah, but I thought you were going to see your mom and Tyler tonight?"

"Oh that's right. Do you want to join us?"

"You don't think that would be a little awkward with everything that's going on?"

"No, Betty, my mom loves you and she trusts you. Besides she knows I told you and I think she would really enjoy the company. She's been a little isolated since Saturday and I know it would do her some good to see a friendly face."

"Oh, Daniel, of course I'll come, but Tyler won't mind?"

"If Tyler is going to be part of the Meade family, he's going to have to realise that Betty Suarez is part of the deal."

Betty blushes, "Daniel, that's really sweet."

"Well, it's the truth. I'll have a town car pick us up from here at 6."

Betty nods.

"Great. See you later," Daniel finishes as he walks out the door.

Later that evening Betty and Daniel are standing outside the Meade home. Clair answers the door surprised.

"Betty! I didn't realise you were coming," Claire says as she moves aside to let them in.

Daniel quickly answers for Betty, "Yeah, I thought it might be nice to have a friendly face around. I know how down you've been the last couple days with everything going on."

"Oh, well Betty, you are always welcome here."

"Thank you, Mrs. Meade. I wasn't too sure if I should come or not."

"None sense, Betty. You are like family. Here, let me take your coat. Tyler is in the family room if you would like to join him. I'll tell Consuela to add another place setting to the table."

Betty and Daniel take off their coats and hand them to Clair who takes them and heads towards the kitchen. Daniel puts his hand on Betty's back to usher her towards the family room.

As they are walking Daniel leans over to whisper into Betty's ear, "By the way, I meant to tell you, you look great in that dress."

"Thank you," Betty responds with a smile

They enter the living room where Tyler is sitting on the couch looking intensely at the glass of seltzer water he is holding in both hands.

"Tyler," Daniel says loudly to get his attention.

Tyler jumps looking towards the entry way.

"Oh, Daniel," He says while getting up and walking over to Daniel to shake his hand. "I didn't realise you were here"

"Yeah, we just got here. How are you doing?"

"Honestly, I'm a little on edge. I can be in handcuffs at any moment," Tyler replies taking a deep breath. He finally notices Betty is standing next to Daniel looking at him concerned.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't even realise..." he says realising that he has said too much.

Daniel looks between Tyler and Betty realising that they have never had a proper introduction.

"Oh, Tyler, you remember Betty? She's one of our associate editors at Mode and my former assistant and she's also a friend of the family."

"A very close friend of the family," Clair corrects Daniel as she walks into the room. "Don't worry Tyler, you can trust Betty. She's on our side," Clair finishes as she stands behind Betty and puts her hands on her shoulders.

Tyler smiles and shakes Betty's hand. "I'm sorry, I didn't realise. I mean my mom has mentioned you before, but..." Tyler says shyly.

"It's okay," Betty interrupts him. "I understand. All of this is a lot to deal with. I just hope you know that I understand the situation. I mean, I've been there before. I mean I haven't shot anyone one, but..."

Tyler looks at Betty confused.

"I think what Betty means is we've all been manipulated by Wilhelmina at one time or another," Daniel says coming to Betty's rescue.

"Right!" Betty yells points at Daniel. "That's what I meant."

Tyler laughs in spite of himself. "Uhhh...thanks, I think," he replies.

"Why don't we all sit down? Dinner should be ready in 10 minutes," Clair says ushering everyone to the couches in the middle of the room.

Betty sits down first while Daniel sits down right next to her putting his arm behind her so it rest on the back of the sofa.

"So, how long have you two worked together," Tyler asks looking between Daniel and Betty.

Betty looks at Daniel and replies, "What is it now? Almost 4 years?"

"Yeah, but the first 3 years, she was my assistant. She was promoted to associate editor about a year ago," Daniel says.

"Is that when you two started dating?" Tyler asks.

Betty and Daniel look at each other shocked and at the same time reply, "no no no we're not dating."

Daniel finally realising how cosy they look with his arm behind Betty pulls his arm away and scoots over a little towards the opposite end of the sofa.

Daniel clears his throat and responds, "No, we're not dating."

Betty shakes her head, "No, just friends."

"Good friends," Daniel quickly clarifies.

Betty nods her head in agreement.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to assume. It's just that when I was modelling for Mode I always saw you in Daniel's office talking or eating lunch together," Tyler says.

"Oh, well I guess, I was just so use to hanging out in his office when I was his assistant. It's been a hard habit to break." Betty responds.

"Yeah, and I like to bounce ideas for covers off of Betty whenever I get the chance. Guess I'm just use to having her around." Daniel says softly as he looks over at Betty.

Betty looks back at him blushing slightly.

"Don't let them fool you, Tyler. They are completely dependent on each other, but Mode would fall apart without both of them there," Clair declares.

"Well I don't know about that." Betty responds with a smile.

"I do. Daniel would have been lost without you there his first year as editor-in-chief and I once caught you hiding out in his office during your first few days as editor," replies Clair.

Daniel laughs. "Yeah, I have to admit. I don't know what I would have done without her. Guess I should thank my dad for that."

"What do you mean?" Tyler asks confused.

"His dad hired me to be his assistant. Daniel didn't even know anything about it till I introduced myself to him," Betty answers.

"Did you not like hiring your own assistants?" Tyler asks Daniel.

Daniel smiles responding, "No, I did..."

"Yeah, he did. As long as they were tall, skinny and looked like a cover model." Betty says interrupting him.

Daniel looks at Betty and laughs. "I was an idiot, okay. I admit it."

Betty laughs in response.

"Uhhh..I still don't get it," Tyler says looking confused.

"He liked to sleep with his assistants." Claire chimes in.

"What does that have to do with your dad hiring Betty?" Tyler asks Daniel.

"His dad hired me because he knew he wouldn't sleep with me." Betty answers for Daniel.

"Because he's blind?" Tyler asks checking out Betty.

Betty blushes. Daniel looks at Betty then back at Tyler angrily.

"Well she looked a lot different back then." Daniel responds.

Betty, hurt by Daniel's comment, looks at him.

Daniel realising he has hurt Betty's feeling tries to clarify, "I mean...I was such a dog back then. I only went for supermodels. I was shallow and stupid and went for the obvious."

Daniel looks back at Betty and smiles. Betty smiles in response.

"Mrs. Meade, dinner is ready," Consuela announces from the entry way.

"Are we ready to eat?" Clair asks standing up.

"I am!" Betty answers excitedly, standing up.

Daniel laughs as he stands up and puts his hand on Betty's back to usher her towards the dining room.