A/N: Hi guys! Thanks for the reviews!

Summary: When the unexpected happens, the one man Betty pushed away ends up being the one she needed all along.

Takes place after the events of "Back in her Place", so early January 2010. Hilda doesn't lose the baby in my story (I thought that was so random...)

Daniel knocked lightly on the front door of her apartment for the second time, hearing shuffling on the other side.

"Go away," he heard her mutter from the other side.

"Come on, Betty. Open up please," he asked.

"No!" she yelled this time. He let out a deep breath, reaching for the key Hilda had given him earlier that day. "I hope you're decent," he warned, sliding the key in easily and opening the door.

She sat up from her couch on the far side of the dark room, startled. "What the HELL?!" Betty was visibly upset, throwing the blanket off of her and standing, wondering how he got in, then spotting the small piece of metal in his hand.

"Why are you here? I told you after the service I wanted to be alone," she put her hands on her hips. Daniel's eyes drifted to the tissues next to the sofa, pictures she and Matt had taken together, and the bottle of wine on the ground. His gaze studied her, the worn down look in her red eyes, brown locks pulled into a messy ponytail and she was wearing what looked to be one of Matt's shirts.

"I know you did. I thought I wanted to be alone after Molly died, too. I know now that I wouldn't have survived without you there," he admitted.

She locked eyes with him momentarily, breaking contact. "Well that was you. This is me," she exclaimed.

"I know, but-"

"You don't know anything! Not about me. Not anymore," she shouted. "We've talked for what? Five total minutes in the last month? Don't act like you want to be my friend again all of a sudden!" she interrupted him, turning on her heel and leaning against her dining table.

He let out a deep sigh. She was right- their friendship certainly had suffered the last several weeks. But it went both ways.

"Betty, just because we've both been busy doesn't mean we're not still friends. Now I care about you and about what happens to you…don't shut me out," he told her, taking a step in her direction.

"Leave me alone," she said sternly, her brown eyes dull, void of the happiness he was used to seeing there.

"Betty, I know what its like to lose someone you love. Just let me help you," he pleaded with her, hands on her shoulders.

"Oh shut up, Daniel! Just shut up! You didn't even know Molly!" Betty yelled, eyes ablaze with anger as she pulled away from him. Daniel felt like the wind had been knocked out of him, so he took a step back to gather himself.

"What?" he said almost inaudibly, hearing a small, cynical chuckle escape her lips.

"There's no such thing as love at first sight, Daniel. You fell in love with her in what, three weeks? No you didn't. Because you weren't in love with her. You were in love with the fantasy, the idea of it all. But I guess I'm the only one that can see that," she said, picking up her near empty glass of wine and downing the rest.

Daniel stood motionless, feeling the tears creep into his eyes. He certainly didn't have a response for that...especially since it was coming from Betty. In an instant, all the memories of losing her came rushing back to him, as did the absolute misery he felt afterward. He turned away from her, placing a hand on the doorknob. She'd hurt him…her words hurt him in the worst way possible.

But that's what she wanted. She wanted him to leave, she wanted to push him away. Daniel wasn't going to let her win this one.

Instead of opening the door he secured the lock on the top, facing her again. Surprise struck her tear-filled gaze as she stood staring at him.

"Are you done?" he asked her, stroking his beard.

"Am I done what? Get out of here!" she yelled, pointing at the door behind him.

"Are you done trying to hurt me? And No. I'm not leaving," Daniel defiantly took a couple steps toward her.

She tried to blink the tears away from her eyes, but without success as a few slid down her cheeks silently.

"What do you know about love, anyway? Hmm?" he asked her, loosening his tie. "You accused me of falling in love with a fantasy, really? You shouldn't throw stones in a glass house, Betty."

She slapped him then. Hard. The loud sound hung in the air of her small apartment, and he faced her again.

"You feel better now?" he asked, ignoring the sting on his left cheek.

"You jerk. Just go away!" Betty was almost screaming now, and she pushed him in the chest. He lost his footing a bit, but recovered nicely.

"Why? So you can sit here in the dark?" he asked calmly, swallowing over the lump in his throat. She shook her head furiously. Betty stared into his blue eyes, unwavering.

"I hate you!" she pounded her fists against his chest, starting to cry. "I hate you for this!" she continued to cry, and Daniel took hold of her wrists as she lost her resolve. The broken woman in front of him finally collapsed in his arms, as he pulled her closer to him.

"Shh…it's okay," he soothed her as she sobbed, holding on to him for dear life.

Daniel carefully walked her over to the couch after several moments. She numbly drug her feet behind, using Daniel as a support. He sat down with her, gently gliding his hand along her back.

"He's really gone," Betty whispered, burying her head in her hands and allowing more tears to fall. "It's my fault," he heard her mumble.

"No it's not. Don't say that," he pulled her closer again.

Betty moved her head away from his tear soaked shirt and looked up at him. "I should've made him stay…" she shook her head with regret.

"You had no way of knowing something would go wrong with that plane. Look at me," he leaned forward, gently pulling her cheek toward him. Daniel looked into her bloodshot eyes, the pain she felt evident within them.

"This is not your fault, Betty. Don't dwell on what may or may not have happened…it was out of your control. You have to believe that," he tried to reassure her. She looked away from him, raking a hand through her messy locks.

"It's not fair. It just isn't…" he heard her say softly. "How am I gonna do this Daniel?" her brown eyes seemingly searched his for some kind of answer.

He let out a large sigh, feeling his heart breaking for her. "It's gonna be a long road, Betty. Some days are going to be harder than others and things are going to get rough before they get better. I can't guarantee that you'll feel fine in a few weeks, because I don't know. But I can guarantee that I'll be right beside you...everyday, every step of the way. You don't have to go through this alone. We'll get through this. One day at a time, okay?" he felt her lean into him and he wrapped his arm securely around her, calming her as she cried.

"I'm not going anywhere, Betty. I promise."

Daniel wasn't sure how long he held her in the dimly lit room, rocking her ever so slightly as her cries turned into quiet sniffles. After awhile, he moved his arm from around her the tiniest bit, realizing she'd finally fallen asleep. He leaned to his left, gently laying her on the couch and moving her legs on top of his lap.

Daniel leaned his head back on the soft cushion in fatigue, closing his eyes momentarily.

Tired blue eyes opened again as he glanced down at her, feeling a tug at his heart. He reached over and brushed the tapered brown strands off her face, her skin still moist from where the last tear had fallen.

"I'm so sorry, Betty..." his voice was nearly inaudible as he felt the emotion rising in him. He ran a hand over his tired features and leaned against the cushions once more, trying his best to get comfortable as fatigue overwhelmed him.

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