Count Dracula's Apology

AN: I know this is only supposed to be a one-shot. I'm trying to type it up quickly. There will just be one more part. Sorry. lol

For entertainment only! :P

"So, where are we going?" Betty finally asked after five minutes of silence into the drive in the town car. He looked to her "I know where we can get the best Halloween candy."

She smiled. "Sounds good to me"

He looked at her for a few seconds as if he wanted to talk, but then just looked back ahead. Betty glanced at him curiously. "So...do you trick or treat a lot?" she asked trying to make conversation.

"No, actually"

She nodded and looked back ahead. "What about you?" he asked.

"I usually go with my nephew, Justin."

"Oh ya...I saw him when I stopped by your house. He knew a lot about me and MODE"

Betty laughed "That's Justin. He adores MODE."

"Who knows, maybe someday he'll be working there." Daniel noted in observation. "Oh, he would love that."

They both looked at each other and smiled. Betty felt so strange being with Daniel like this outside of work. She wasn't quite sure how to act with him. They hadn't really talked before, so she felt a little awkward. The costumes sort of helped though. "Sr. Dracula?"

He smirked. "Ya?"

She laughed shaking her head. "Never mind" She just laughed again. "What?" he asked curiously.

She looked at him and smirked. "I was just thinking how funny it would be for you to come to work just as Dracula. Omigosh, and talk to Wilhelmina. That would be so funny. I would love to see that."

Daniel laughed. "Do you think that would even intimidate her at all?"

Betty giggled. "No, honestly, she might find that as some sort of challenge." Daniel laughed. Betty looked at him with a smile. He looked down and then out the window. He felt like a child. He wasn't quite sure how to talk to her. It wasn't that she was so different or anything, he just wasn't sure what to say. He wanted to ask her so much about her life and know more about her but he didn't know where to start. In his 33 years of life, this was the first time he had no clue how to talk to a girl. He charmed lots of them, but talking, actually talking, that was different. Betty looked at him and then looked away.

She looked back at him "Daniel?" "Yep?" he said looking to her again. "This is kind of weird" she said honestly. "What is?"

"Us...we can't even talk to each other?"

He looked down embarrassed. He looked back up at her "I know...I'm sorry. I'm just; I'm not really good at this."

"At what? Talking?" she asked amused. "Didn't you go to Harvard? I'm sure you're smart enough to have conversation."

He smirked finding her bluntness refreshing. "You're right. I just...listen, I don't really uh..." he looked away "I'm sorry, Betty. I want to talk to you, I just don't know what to say." He said feeling somewhat embarrassed to admit that to her. She looked at him in surprise. "Why not? I'm not that weird."

He laughed looking at her. "Well, if you want to talk so much, why don't you?"

"I guess we sort of are now, aren't we?" she said with a giggle. He laughed. "I guess so."

She shook her head in amusement. "Um...so how are things going with your father?"

He shrugged and looked away "they're okay, I guess. He frustrates me"

"I think he just wants you to be your best. He may have a weird way of doing that, but..."

Daniel looked at her "Betty, listen to me, I'm really sorry about why my father, well, why he said he hired you. I hope you don't think less of me for that." He sighed "although, I really don't have a lot of good character built up anyways."

She smiled looking at him. "Daniel, it's not really your fault. Your father...I mean, I did feel bad why he wanted to hire me like that, but I don't think it's bad. I like working with you. You and Christina are the only reasons why I...well...want to give this a chance."

He smiled nodding "great. I hope that we can have a great team together."

She smiled bright "We will!" He smiled bright "Sweet! I like your enthusiasm!"

"I like your smile!" she said not realizing she said it aloud. Her eyes went wide and she looked down biting her lip. He smiled a little brighter. She didn't look up unable to believe that she just said that. She felt like a stupid girl. He wanted to laugh. She looked so cute all embarrassed and blushing. He looked out the window. Betty finally looked up seeing the smile on his face as he looked out the window. She smiled and looked out of hers. He glanced at her quickly shaking his head.

About 10 minutes later they were dropped off in a neighborhood with HUGE houses, kids running around in their costumes with excitement and elaborate Halloween decorations ornamenting the already decked out houses. "Wow, where are we?"

"This is a neighborhood not too far from where my parent's mansion is."

Her eyes went wide. "You have a mansion." "That's kind of a stupid question. You have a publishing empire." she said in realization.

Daniel laughed. "It's nothing."

"NOTHING?" she looked shocked. "I mean...I don't really think it's that great. I..." he looked down putting his hands in his pockets. "Sometimes I wish I didn't have so much. Maybe I'll be less of a jerk."

Betty was surprised by his confession. She placed her hand on his arm "Daniel, lighten up. It's Halloween" she said wanting him to forget everything that seemed to have this box around him and loosen up. He smiled "You're right."

"Come on" she grabbed his hand and pulled him along to the first house with a huge pumpkin lantern on the lawn. "Aren't we a little...well, old to do this?"

She stopped and looked at him. "We're not old!" she said as if he said the moon was going to fall from the sky. He laughed. "Well, you're not. You're 22."

"Okay...you're not old. Even if you are you uh well, you're gorgeous, so it doesn't matter"

He smiled big. "You think I'm gorgeous?" he said leaning next to her. She shoved his shoulder. "Look, we're going trick or treating. You're the one that brought me here. Stop being so pessimistic" she grabbed his arm and pushed him in front of her. He laughed in amusement. "You're feisty"

She rolled her eyes. "Keep walking"

He smiled and walked up with a bunch of kids. He looked back and saw her standing to the side. "What are you doing? Come here"

"Nope! You go to the first house yourself."

"Why?"

"Just go!" a little girl dressed up as a ninja rang the doorbell next to him. After she did she smiled up at him. He smiled. The door opened and all the kids said 'trick or treat'" Betty giggled watching him thinking this was absolutely hysterical to watch. Daniel Meade, rich playboy, trick or treating amidst a bunch of kids. That should be in the papers or on that stupid fashion buzz nonsense. After a minute Daniel walked over with a grin. She smiled. "Have fun?"

"Yep...why didn't you come?"

"I'll come in the next ones." He nodded "alright" they walked to the other houses having fun getting lots and lots of candy. They went in a couple of houses that were made into haunted houses. Betty giggled hysterically when Daniel jumped because a fake spider landed on him. She couldn't believe that she was seeing this ridiculously funny side to Daniel Meade, the suave 'charming' guy he was known for being.

When they walked out of the house, she tried to hold her laugh. He pushed her a little "Alright, stop laughing will you? Geez. I'm not scared of spiders." He said "it just...was dark and...SHUT UP, BETTY!" he said over her giggling.

She laughed harder. He narrowed his eyes and folded his arms across his chest. She held her laugh in looking at him. "Oh, stop being such a baby. That was funny. You made all those kids laugh. And me" she said amused by his silliness. A small smile made its way to his face. "I didn't know I was so funny." he said starting to walk. She followed him "maybe I should be a clown instead of run a magazine."

She giggled. "Daniel, why are you so...negative all the time?" she asked finding it really just sad now. He looked at her "I'm not really that way. I just, when I'm with you, I feel..."

"What?" she asked curiously. "Well, I feel like I don't deserve anything that I've gotten."

She looked at him in surprise. "Why do I make you feel like that? I thought we were having fun." She said a little disappointed that she was making him feel that way. He placed his hand on her arm "no, it's not you...we are having fun. I just, man, I really do suck at this" he laughed at himself. She looked at his eyes in confusion.

He sighed running a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry. Your smile and cheerfulness make me think someone like you deserves what I don't even care that much about."

She looked at him with a sad smile and took his hand pulling him along. He looked at her strangely. "We are just going to have to change that attitude Sir Dracula. When I'm around, you're going to smile and I'm not going to talk to you or do anything for you unless you do. Got it?"

He smiled "got it."

"And you are just going to have to work hard at being an editor in chief because I'm sure you'll be really good at it, even if you don't think so." They stopped at the next house. "I know you can do it." she said letting go of his hand and looked at his eyes. He smiled thankful for her just being so nice. He was such an idiot for almost making her quit.

AN: okay guys. I'll get the next part up tomorrow morning/afternoon. sorry.

Hope this part is ok... :?