First off: THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the reviews on the last chapter. It was full of emotion and I was emotionally drained after writing it. So thank you for all of the positive reviews. I know this chapter is WAY over due, however I haven't been happy with the past few drafts of it, and the holidays messed up me finishing the chapter. So for those that are still reading, THANK YOU! It isn't exactly how I wanted it to flow, but I don't want to keep you all waiting. I promise things are going to get VERY juicy soon. Anyways, I still don't own UB or Gio. PLEASE leave reviews if you love it, hate it, want me to stop writing it, etc! Oh, and the song I based this chap. off of is "Pain" by Three Days Grace.

Chapter 4 - Pain

Every thought and every dream had been scattered across the floor in the dark apartment, drained to the very bottom and forgotten about like his heart. The pile had grown through the days and weeks, numbing down the time that had seemed to pass. The days after his confrontation with Betty and his pandora box of feelings that were re-released led Gio to be incapacitated, unable to move or think. That was when the drinking started, a beer a day just to mellow him out. But days turned to weeks, awakening from his semi-coses state of mind. Despite his going through the motions, he was at least functioning.

And those weeks slowly turned into a few months. The warm weather - gone. Instead the crisper weather of winter was spiraling forward, making its presence known with each gust of wind that lapped upon everyone's faces. Fall had past along with the vibrant colors that decorate the trees with its jewels, erasing the reminder of the girl that had stole his heart. Replaced now is the darkened skies that never cease to go away, the grey feeling of being in-between the storm and the brightness outside.

And more so, he couldn't have been more grateful for his growing friendship with one Daniel Meade. Family is one thing, but Daniel was the only bridge that somehow connected him to Betty, and he knew the whole situation. Gio figured he also knew both sides of the story, was able to really understand everything that happened, unlike Marco and others who only heard the limited details Gio decided to share.

Was he over it? No. He had given his heart and soul from the second he said he wanted to be 'The Guy'. It was baby steps and he was doing better. The anger he had felt only months before when he last saw Betty had died down. Marco had been kind enough to clean the broken glass from the picture she gave him. Now it had a new home at the bottom of his desk drawer at the deli, probably to never be looked at again. But he couldn't part with it, it was holding onto the memory. The looks, the kisses, the touches.........

Gio sighed as he leaned back in his office chair, rubbing his hands across his face. It was these painstakingly slow days near the holidays that let his mind wander to the dark corners he had hidden within himself. He wouldn't let go of the never-ending pain that cut away at him. He walked to the bathroom to rinse his face, bring him back into the reality. The cool water feeling refreshing and bittersweet against his skin.

"Pull yourself together Rossi," Gio muttered to himself as he leaned over the sink, both hands on each side. Looking up, he saw his intruder. The knowing look, the frown upon his face, the instability of breaking at a moments notice, the lack of any emotion that was behind the brown eyes that seemed to mock him in these moments.

His phone vibrated in his pocket, making him slightly jump before grabbing it. Seeing who it was, he picked it up quickly.

"Hey Ma," he said as he quickly walked back to his desk while looking at a picture of the family, a slight smile touching his face.

"Giovanni! I'm tied up at work today, I hate to ask this of you but can you pick up Antonella from school after you are done with the lunch rush hour this afternoon?"

Gio grimaced, he hated going back to the school after everything that happened the previous year. "Sure," he said reluctantly, "I'll swing by when I get a chance, she'll be studying like usual?"

"Yes sweetie. I'll call the school and tell them to let her know that you will be picking her up and to NOT go leaving with some of her friends," she said before her voice got a little quiet. "Are you coming to dinner tonight? We never see you anymore, I was going to make your favorite......."

He chuckled gently, oh how his mom was trying to get him with food. "I'm meeting up with a friend for drinks in the city."

He heard the frantic mumblings of italian coming through the phone, which he knew was coming. He only listened with half an ear, ".....never spend time with the family! Oh if only your nunno Anotonio........ worried sick..... so frail, circles under your eyes....."

"Ma stop! I'm fine, really! The holidays are around the corner, the deli has been busy, and I just want to catch up on some sleep. I'm fine, really. How about I come by tomorrow for dinner, will that make you happy."

He heard her sigh, never a good sign from the Rossi women. "Fine, make sure to invite Marco! I'll try getting all the family over. But listen Vanni, I have to run. Enjoy and remember Antonella! Love you."

"Ti voglio bene Mamma," he replied in Italian before closing his phone shut. He looked at the clock and realized how close of time it was until the lunch rush. And Fridays tended to always be busier. He needed the day to go by, he needed the night. He walked to the front of the deli to see Marco helping with orders that were already coming in. The phone rang and Gio picked it up.

"Gio's Deli, talk to me."

"Yea, can I get a reuben sandwich and a BLT, hold the B, the T, and bread?"

He rolled his eyes, "Sure Amanda, for Daniel?" He was used to these phone calls now from Amanda.

"He's turning into her I swear, with the eating. Why do I need to call these orders in anyway? Haven't seen you here at Mode in a while sandwich guy, any chance you'll deliver today?"

Gio stifled at the mere close mention of Betty. "You know the drill, Marco will drop them off. Can you actually pass a message on to Daniel? Just tell him 8, he'll know what I mean."

He heard Amanda smirk, "I LOVE mysterious. Can you let me in on the secret? I'm good at not telling people things. Well, no I'm not but still!"

"Goodbye Amanda," was all he said simply before hanging up the phone, her protests coming through the other end. He looked up to see Marco watching him from the corner of his eye. Gio knew it was unfair to constantly send Marco out to the Meade building, but he wasn't ready. "Not one word," was all he said as he grabbed a cloth and started wiping down the counter, ready to make Daniel Meade's sandwich.

"I wouldn't DARE Gio," Marco said in an accusatory tone. "I'll make sure to send your love to........"

"Don't," he said in a deep, threatening voice as he turned to face him, finger pointing right at him.

"I was going to say Amanda, MAN! Lighten up. It's been months, just let it go. Thank goodness we are going out tonight with Daniel. You need tonight," Marco said while adding under his breath, "and a new set of balls, this is ridiculous."

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Lights flashing. Bass banging. Drinks flowing.

There was one mission that Daniel and Marco had: Get Gio to loosen up, a smile on his face, and getting his A-game back. The plan started with dragging him to the hot club, Exit, where the party never ends until 9 the next morning. After that, they were winging it. Daniel showed up at Gio's apartment at 8PM sharp with a bottle of tequila and limes with Marco trailing right behind him with some food. Shot for shot they went until the bottle was kicked, called the town car, and headed to the club. They breezed past the bouncer who nodded his head at Daniel and they walked right in, an air surrounding them. The intrigue leading to many people wanting to find out just who they were and why they were there.

Here they were, hours laughing at the bar, clearly enough drinks in them but not stopping. Marco was chatting it up with a cute little blonde that had come over to them earlier in the evening, leaving Daniel and Gio to fend for themselves. Which was fine. Gio was never more grateful for just a fun night out with the guys.

"Dude, this has been zee best night in a looooonnnnggg time," Gio said slightly slurred, the amount of alcohol finally starting to get to him.

"There is no better way to get a woman out of your head than to drink it up and find another," Daniel said calmly.

Gio raised his glass and clinked it against Daniel's, "Touche, truer words have never been said."

"Are you doing better? Is tonight helping?"

Gio sighed as he looked out into the crowd dancing as another hip-hop song started blaring through the speakers. "It's been a lot of fun. I can't begin to thank you for dragging me out of the darker side of life I've been living in."

Daniel clasped a hand on his shoulder. "Anytime man. I know I'm close with Betty, but you have really become a good guy friend for me. Look out for one another you know?"

"Yeaaa....." Gio said while lingering, taking a swig from his drink, not caring that he knew he was already drunk. He was numb to the pain, there were no feelings, just living with the moment, the pulsating feelings around him. "I think I wanna check out the dance floor and get my groove on," he muttered as he swept his eyes across the dance floor, checking out the scene in front of him.

Daniel next to him downed the rest of his drink and placed it back on the bar. Gio turned to Marco who was already right behind them with the girl he had been chatting it up, ready to dance it up. They walked down to the center of the dance floor and figured out their first set of targets. All inhibitions were out of the window for Gio, he was drunk enough to just do what felt good for himself. He walked right up to a pretty brunette he had been watching move all night and started to dance with her, glad to see she reciprocated back. The moved in sync, synchronized as if they had been doing this for years.

He closed his eyes and allowed other senses to take over. His heart was beating madly within his chest with each beat that came out of the speaker. Her skin was silky soft underneath his touch as he held her close to him. Her nails digging slightly into his back was sending shivers up his spine. Her breath was gently hitting his neck and the sound was so erotic to him. Gio opened his eyes and looked her over one more time, the dark wavy hair that seemed to just flow with her each and every moment as her skirt seemed to twirl around her. Her brown eyes full of desire. "Betty....." he whispered quietly to himself, not going unnoticed by the girl with piercing blue eyes.

When the song ended, Gio walked over to Daniel who had just finished dancing when a piercing, excited scream came from their left. Daniel turned and muttered an "Oh crap" before Gio got a chance to look at what the commotion was.

"DANIEL!" a girl screamed as she ran up and wrapped her arms around him. "I had NO idea you were going to be here!"

"Sorry about this Daniel, someone had one too many margaritas," Hilda said as she walked up to them.

"Margaritas! I'm not drunk s'all," Betty said before she started laughing hysterically.

"How many has she had?"

Hilda thought for a second before responding, "Umm, at least 4. It's been slightly a rough day for her. Oh hey Gio! I didn't see you there."

Uncomfortable would be an understatement of the year to describe how he felt at that exact moment. That high feeling he had, disappeared. "Hi Hilda, hello Betty," he said to acknowledge her presence there. Betty looked over at him quickly with a quick intake of breath. The last time they had chatted it had not been pleasant, resulting in both of them crying in the comfort of their own solitude.

Daniel broke the quick silent moment, "What's been going on Betty, is everything okay?"

Betty took Hilda's drink and took a long sip. "I'm moving out of my apartment," she stated simply, giving a lopsided grin.

"Why?"

She started laughing before turning to Gio, "Karma's a bitch and apparently I'm on its crapper list."

"What big words coming from the writer," Gio drawled out, unable to hold back on his tongue. At those words, Hilda and Daniel slowly stepped away and started dancing with one another, knowing not to mess with drunk people.

Betty's face turned into a scowl. "Listen GioooOOOO!!" she started to say while walking forward, losing her balance in the process. Gio's strong arms caught her and kept her from falling down. They looked at one another deeply. "Dance with me," she said huskily, and he went on instinct instead of what he knew he should do.

It was as if the past few months hadn't happened and that they were back to when they were the happy couple that they briefly had been. She smelled intoxicating. "I get it now," was all she stated simply as he twirled her and pulled her close.

"What do you finally get?" he responded as he tried to bite back the sigh he wanted to let go from how good it felt to be dancing with her.

She stopped moving and looked him straight in the eye. "Unrequited love." Gio turned his face, he did NOT want to hear about how she moved on from him. He studied her face intently before she continued. "The need for a rebound guy."

"Listen Suarez, I don't need to hear about your love lif......"

She shoved him gentle before rubbing her hand up and down his arm. "I'm glad you weren't my rebound guy Gio." She giggled then before bringing his face down to hers. "I'm always liked you," she whispered before letting her eyes wandered down to his lips. Time stood still in that one moment and his drunken state wanted to kiss her so badly, to re-live the feelings she brought up in him. They seemed to gravitate to one another and he saw her eyes fluttered closed and she swayed slightly, her drunken state slowly taking more control of her. It was the push that he needed.

"I.....I can't B," was all he said before he turned away and ran. The scene was eerily familiar to him, except the roles were reversed and they weren't in a school gym. He got outside and jumped into the first cab that was available. He muttered his street address and the cab took off. He felt his phone ringing and knew it was Daniel or Marco checking up on him. He was too drunk to care, and too angry with himself to talk to anyone else. It was too close a call and he was shaken. Gio always believed that a drunk man's words was a sober man's thought. Betty woke up feelings inside of him that he had dug away the past few months. He was still in pain, and that was the worst. But one thing was daunting on him.

He was scared he wouldn't be able to say no a second time.

PLEASE leave reviews for anything you want to see changed, if you loved it, if you hate it, etc!