Ok I'm loving this story which seeing as I'm writing this should be a given but I'm feeling the love and I know how it all ends.
Thanks to my reviewers: midnight1987, LoVefan0813,Xira34,Mcabello, Melissa37,JackSam, abovetherim and Chica De Los Ojos Cafe. As always.
And I fear that some of you are hating Henry but I promise I'm making him likable but the next two chapters will focus on Betty, Anna and Daniel and a trip to the zoo.
6
Slumping back into his couch Daniel glanced out his loft window to the darkening world outside. He should still be at MODE but slowly as the day drew on after Alex left he found himself wanting to get away, so to his surprise and Betty's he called it a day and went home.
As he attempted to get his mind around his work he found his mind wondered in a direction that of late had become too familiar, he was thinking about Betty and Anna. He couldn't and didn't want to understand why it bothered him so much when that accountant Henry strolled in with Betty and took Anna to Christiana, once Alex left Daniel would look up at Betty every now and then watching as she carried on with her work. At first he was sure his uneasy feeling was because he let him self forget that he had important work to do and Anna had disturbed that.
But as he watched Betty smiling again and he couldn't help but smile him self he found that the real reason was he didn't like Henry in her life… but after shaking his head he corrected himself, it was Anna's life he didn't like Henry in.
He couldn't believe at first that he would care about children at all but Anna had been such a breath of fresh air in his hectic life that he found he enjoyed having her around… feeling pride swell deep inside when she pointed things out or she completed something and wanted to show off. That's when it hit him he like the feeling of being a father figure… hell he liked the idea of being a father and that should have worried him but then again a lot of his behaviour should have worried him but he found that he couldn't as long as Betty was around.
He never wanted to admit that a woman would change him and after Sofia he wanted to prove that even more but with Betty it was so easy to change that he liked what he was becoming and with Anna he loved it.
But that raised a problem, of course Betty was his friend but she still worked for him and he couldn't just start feeling like he had any say in how her daughter was brought up or even who her mother chose to have lunch with… at which he had to reason the only reason he didn't like the thought of Henry being back in Betty's life was because of everything that guy put her through.
Sighing and sitting forward Daniel rubbed his face roughly in hopes of clearing his mind and keeping it from straying.
Smirking Daniel lifted his eyes to find one of his newest pictures facing him, Betty had thought to bring in pictures of Anna as a baby and after Daniel all but dragged her for lunch the pair sat looking over the past six years of Anna Azure Suarez from birthday's, first steps, Halloween, Christmas and thanksgivings. It was when they reached Anna's third Halloween Daniel saw how she was dressed up like a butterfly just like her mother had been dressed, Daniel asked if he could have a copy and quickly placed it in a beautiful silver frame to hang on his wall.
Knowing he was losing a battle he sighed and dragged himself up and grabbed his cell phone and strolled over to the large windows to look out and the night life of the city. Clearing his throat he hit speed dial and lifted the phone to his ear trying to not let each ring make his nerves jump.
"Hello" flinching as the chirpy voice echoed in his ear Daniel swallowed hard "Betty" Daniel started before he heard movement.
"Daniel… what's wrong" Betty's voice was tinted with concern causing Daniel to smile despite himself.
"Nothing… don't worry I'm not going to ask you to run around or anything" Daniel assured hearing a sigh of relief. Rolling his eyes Daniel grinned folding one arm across his chest.
"I was just wondering… if you and Anna wanted to join me at the movies and then something to eat" Daniel asked feeling his nerves tightening up and his jaw clench, it wasn't like he was asking Betty out on a date… at least he was using the reason they was just friends to control the uneasy feeling he was getting in his stomach as he waited for Betty's answer.
"Oh… I'm sorry I have plans… I have a date in fact" a giddy laugh made Daniel's heart sinks. Gulping down a breath Daniel watched his reflection in the glass and wondered what exactly was he doing, standing here on a Friday night alone feeling his heart dropping after his assistant told him no.
"I'm just waiting for the baby sitter for Anna" "what!" Daniel exclaimed and cleared his throat before looking away from the image and turning.
"Well, I can't take Anna and I called a baby sitter for her because my family have gone to help Hilda celebrate and clear the beauty stuff away and it was too late to get Anna to them" Betty gushed causing Daniel straighten.
"No what I mean is why are you getting a baby sitter when I'll look after Anna" the words just flowed out before Daniel had a chance to stop, waiting all he could do was listen as Betty breathed down the phone.
However he didn't expect the laughter he received "but Daniel it's Friday night and I can't expect you to drop your plans or date to look after Anna" Betty told sending a stab of pain into Daniel's heart as he heard her say date. Frowning Daniel thought it was a little strange that he didn't even think about getting a date for tonight or even want to go out but of course that was because of the crash and the fact that he was still recovering.
"Betty I don't have a date… I was going to work but I was too tired and I figured a night in would be best, but a night looking after Anna would be a great thing for me" Daniel stated slumping into a seat as his words replayed in his mind. A small voice from his play boy years screamed at him questioning what he was saying but a much louder voice was urging him on. The part that had enjoyed those moments spent with Anna and Betty and no matter what Daniel had the strange and new feeling to cling to those moments they made him feel something that he hadn't felt in a long time.
"Daniel if you have to work I can't expect to just drop all that for me" Betty began to protest causing Daniel to grin. No matter how hard Betty tried to be strong Daniel could always hear the change of tone to her voice and he knew he was winning.
"But I just said that I didn't want to and I would only be sitting around loft with nothing to do only boring myself stupid besides" Daniel swallowed hard at the next words finding a lump in his throat was making it hard for him to say it "we're friends" Daniel knew it wasn't the fact that he was ashamed of his friendship with Betty in fact some days it was all he had to get him through the day.
What made it hard for him to say those words was the fact that it had been too long since he had a true friend and as unmanly as it was he still got chocked up by the fact that such an innocent and sweet person like Betty would want to be friends with some one like him.
A few sighs later Daniel knew he had won "ok… as long as you don't mind I mean the baby sitter will be here soon" "no I don't mind… I'm coming right now to pick her up" Daniel injected before Betty had the chance to change her mind.
"Ok… I'll ring the baby sitter and then tell Anna… thank you Daniel" the last three words made Daniel's heart skip a beat that for the love of him he couldn't understand. It wasn't like Betty hadn't said thank you to him before but it was that heartfelt thank you's that always made his heart skip a beat before speeding up.
"Great see you in ten minutes" and with that Daniel hanged up and sat looking at his cell phone wondering just what he had gotten himself into. Something was changing and instead of running he was smiling and feeling something he had never felt before… he felt like he belonged.
Standing and hurried to his bedroom punching the speed dial of his drive Daniel couldn't wipe the smile off his face, just enjoying the feeling of belonging… belonging with Betty and Anna.