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

"No, you guys go on home. I can handle this, there's hardly anything to clean," Betty told Ignacio and Justin.

Her apartment's first ever Independence Day extravaganza had been a success. Just the right amount of guests, just the right amount of food, and plenty of laughter. She was becoming quite the party hostess if she could say so herself.

"I can help Betty with this stuff, it's no problem," Daniel told them, walking across the room. "See? I have all the help I need. You guys go ahead…thanks for the flan, Papi," she hugged them goodbye, telling them to let her know when they made it home safely.

Betty closed the door behind them, leaning against it and releasing a tired sigh. Cool blue eyes rested on her. "Don't tell me you're tired," Daniel said jokingly, grabbing a half-full garbage bag and throwing trash inside.

"Oh yeah, I'm wide awake," she replied cynically, pushing the sleeves up on her shawl and glancing at a few dishes in the sink.

"Betty, just chill out. I can clean up," he told her, noticing she looked overwhelmed.

"It's my apartment. Besides, you don't really know how to clean up," she yawned, picking up trash here and there. He feigned offense, "excuse me…I'll have you know that just because I didn't clean up too much growing up doesn't mean I don't do it now. I'm getting better."

"Sure you are," she replied in disbelief, continuing to clean. "You know what, just sit down," Daniel started to lead her back to the couch, "I'll show you what I mean."

"Daniel, you don't have to do that," she started to argue. "I want to…plus it's the least I can do after that amazing meal," he gently pushed on her shoulders, forcing her to sit on the couch. "Just relax," he advised her, turning around with a smirk on his face.

Her gaze stayed on him for a few moments, observing how he put away the rest of the trash and placed a few glasses in the sink. "Wow look at you. You are good at this," she told him with a smile.

"See? What did I tell you? I'm well rounded," Daniel glanced back at her, winking playfully and just as quickly retracting his hand from the sink. "OW!" he winced in pain, blood seeping from his finger.

"What is it?" Betty rose from her position on the other side of the room, quickly coming to his side.

"I think I…might've cut myself on that knife right there," he replied slightly embarrassed, holding his hand under cool water.

"Oh gosh, Daniel," she rolled her eyes, heading to the bathroom to get a cool cloth and her first aid kit. "That's what you get for trying to be cute," she reappeared a minute later, carefully examining his index finger.

"I wasn't trying to be cute," he mumbled in reply, wincing at how disgusting the cut looked. "Yes you were," Betty reassured him, sticking his hand back under the cool water.

"How's it look? Am I gonna need surgery?" he asked, his face showing worry.

She shook her head at him. "You're such a goofball. How were you ever a womanizer?" Betty held his hand in hers, wiping it with hydrogen peroxide.

"Hey! Now I'm getting offended. You're the worst nurse ever," he told her, amused blue eyes watching her laugh.

"Why do I have to be a nurse? Why can't I be the worst doctor ever?" she raised an eyebrow at him as she put some antiseptic on his wound.

"Doctors don't have this much time to bandage people up. Plus you're far too kindhearted. Definitely getting a nurse vibe from you," Daniel smirked.

She grinned at this, carefully wrapping the gauze around his finger. "Aww…aren't you sweet. You're just trying to butter me up so you don't have to pay your bill," her brown eyes glanced back into his playfully as she finished up.

"I wouldn't do that…" he replied grinning. "There we go…all done," she examined her handiwork.

"Thanks Betty," he said. "No problem. Just promise me you'll stay away from sharp objects for awhile, okay?" she patted his shoulder, closing the first aid kit.

"I'll try my best. I guess I still need to work on my well-roundedness," he said.

"Maybe just a little," she returned the kit to the bathroom, hearing the familiar sound of firecrackers in the distance.

"Oh… I wish I could see them," she glanced out the window.

"Well we can, let's go to the roof," he suggested, watching as she grinned.

"What?"

"Yeah, come on. We'll have a better view from up there," he smiled, judging by the look in her eyes that he'd won her over.

"Okay," Betty replied excitedly, grabbing her keys and leading the way out the door, with Daniel close behind.

"I haven't been up here since the party we had last year," Betty commented ascending the final step.

"Wow…I'm surprised no one else is up here," Daniel glanced around quickly.

"Me too. I don't know why I don't come up here more often. Definitely gives a great view of the firework action," she breathed in the humid air. "Sure does. I just realized its been a few years since I've actually seen the display," he said, gazing into the distance.

"Really? Well I'm glad you thought of it," she smiled at him, pausing when a familiar song floated through the air from an apartment window nearby.

"Wow. Someone's partying to slow jams. I recognize the song…but who is this?" Daniel asked curiously.

"Selena," she grinned, nostalgic, "man, I love this song."

"Oh that's right," he gazed over at Betty, grinning to himself at how lost she seemed in the lyrics. "Would you like to dance?" she snapped out of her thoughts, turning to him in surprise.

"What?" she asked, looking into his eyes to make sure he was serious. He was.

"You said you love the song…we should dance to it," he held out his non-bandaged left hand, smiling. He really was something else. Betty placed her hand in his and the other on his shoulder. Daniel rested his hand on the small of her back, pulling her closer to him as they began to sway to the music.

"I could take you in my arms, and never let go…

I could fall…in love…with you….I could fall in love…with you, baby…

I could only wonder how…touching you would make me feel…but if I take that chance right now, tomorrow will you want me still?

So I should, keep this to myself, and never let you know…

I could fall…in love, with you (I could fall in love with you)

I could fall in love…with you…"

"I think I see why you love this song so much. It's nice," he smirked. She nodded, "yeah it is."

"This song reminds me of college. My roommate loved this song…her boyfriend used to try to serenade her with it…he was an awful singer but, it was a cute gesture," she told him, continuing. "I always used to wonder back then if anyone would ever love me like that…I wasn't exactly the hottest girl on campus," she laughed lightly, meeting his eyes.

"Well that's because we make the mistake of judging a book by its cover. I know I did when I first met you," he said, "you know I'm really sorry for that, right?"

Betty saw the guilt was over his face at that statement. "Daniel, that was years ago. And yes, you've apologized many times for how you behaved. I forgave you, remember?"

"Yeah, I remember," he replied. "We've both come a long way since then, haven't we?" He stared down at Betty, watching her nod in agreement.

"We're both more mature," she said with a grin. He smirked, "very true," his eyes grazed over her. "And I have a fashion sense now," Betty added.

"Well, you've always had a fashion sense…it was just unique. The only difference now is that your outside matches what's inside," she looked confused by his statement. "What I mean is…now everyone can see the confident, intelligent, beautiful woman that I've known for so long. She's just been hiding behind lots of colors and patterns," Daniel explained.

She smiled up at him, touched by his sincerity. "That's sweet," she held his gaze, "you're not still trying to get out of paying your bill, are you?" He laughed, shaking his head, "oh of course not. I wouldn't dream of such a thing."

"Sure," she glanced to her right, having forgotten about the fireworks. "You do realize we're dancing to nothing now right?" she pointed out, still swaying with him to the non-existent music.

"Really? This is my favorite song," he said. "What song?" she laughed at him, then paused as he started singing.

"Stars shining bright above you, night breezes seem to whisper I love you, birds singing in the sycamore tree…dream a little dream of me…" Daniel's voice met her ears. Betty didn't know which she was surprised about more- the fact that he was singing to her or the fact that he wasn't a bad singer. Actually he was quite good…

Betty felt a grin tugging at her lips, and stared up to meet Daniel's steady gaze. "You're just full of surprises tonight, aren't you?" He chuckled, staring as the welcome breeze swept around the two of them.

"Well, I've got to keep you on your toes," he smiled at her.

Betty wasn't sure if it was the margarita she'd had earlier, the fact that they were dancing on the roof, or something else, but in that moment, she wanted nothing more than to mold herself into Daniel's arms and let him hold her as they swayed to the lyrics. The urge left just as quickly as it had come, but the fact that she'd thought that at all was…different…

"…say nighty night and kiss me…just hold me tight and tell me you miss me…while I'm alone and blue as can be…dream a little dream of me…" he spun her around, interrupting her chain of thought and making her giggle. Betty turned back into his arms, the faint scent of his aftershave and deep blue eyes making her head swim all of a sudden. The grin that had been constant on his face slowly faded when he realized how close their faces were.

"Unfortunately, those are the only words to the song I know," he broke the moment of silence between them, turning her back around to put some distance between the two.

Betty smiled, the flush on her cheeks unapparent in the dim lighting. "Well it was still nice. Let me know when your album is coming out," she finally removed her hand from his, ending the trance they were under.

"You'll be the first to know," he glanced down at his bandaged finger, the throbbing pain now more obvious than ever.

"You wanna go back inside? Looks like we missed most of the fireworks," she suggested.

"Yeah. I probably need to head back anyway…we've got a long week ahead of us at work," he added, opening the roof door for her. "Okay," she nodded, walking down the stairs.

Daniel glanced back at the spot they were dancing in just moments before. "Daniel? You coming?" she asked from below.

Daniel shook his head, as if trying to rid it of the thoughts stuck within. He'd have to dissect his feelings some other time.

"Yep, right behind you," he replied, shutting the door behind him.

So what do you guys think? Please let me know, I'd love to hear your feedback, thanks!