Disclaimer: Don't own em, just write about em.

A/N: Yay! I was able to get this chapter done! So appreciative of all the reviews and story alerts and stuff. The wonderful reviews make me want to update sooner, but my schedule is insane. You all may be a bit upset after this chapter, but it'll get better ;-) Also, if there are any typos, I apologize, it's late but I wanted to get this up. Thanks for reading!

Betty froze in place, looking at herself in the full-length mirror, running hands down the sides of her form-fitting dress. She'd been doing that for the last fifteen minutes, between nervously pacing her apartment and glancing at her watch.

She was as frazzled as she'd ever been, reminding herself to breathe deeply and that this wasn't a big deal. Of course, that couldn't have been further from the truth, because it was in fact, a very big deal. It wasn't everyday that you went out to dinner with your ex-boyfriend who was as of last week assumed to be dead. Unless of course you were a lead character on Days of our Lives, she thought cynically, jumping slightly when she heard him knocking at the door again.

"Here goes nothing," Betty said to herself, grabbing her purse and unlocking the door. It creaked slightly in protest as she pulled it to her, the air from the hallway bringing the scent of his cologne into her apartment.

The sight of him nearly knocked her off her feet. It shouldn't have, being that she was expecting to see him there, but it did. His warm brown eyes stared down at her, happiness exuding from every inch of his face.

"Hi Betty," Matt greeted her after a short sigh, his right hand resting on her doorframe, his left holding a bouquet of roses.

"Hi," she finally let herself smile, and felt her nervousness dissipating. "These are beautiful," Betty told him, holding the dozen roses in her arms.

"So are you. I missed you so much, Betty," Matt said, stepping forward and lightly touching her cheek. She closed her eyes momentarily, pushing the guilt she felt away when the memory of Daniel standing in that very spot, lightly touching her cheeks flooded her mind.

"Thank you. I've missed you too," she rested her hand over his, taking a step back. "Let me just put this in a vase and then we can head out," she cleared her throat and turned with a smile, doing as she said.

Matt stuffed his hands in his pockets, glancing around her brightly decorated place, realizing it looked as if he'd never left. Betty finished filling the vase with water and turned back to Matt. He was grinning at her, that wonderful smile she'd missed so terribly was hers to enjoy smiled back, placing her hand in his and closing the apartment door behind her.

But one thought plagued her as she walked with him into the warm summer night, the cool breeze blowing her long tresses over her shoulder: why didn't she feel as happy as she looked?

Daniel crushed the cool beer can in between his fingers, lazily sitting it on the coffee table beside the couch. The aluminum tipped over weightlessly, falling easily to the floor to join the two other cans already there. He released a thick breath and closed his eyes, throwing an arm over his face and stretching out on the couch.

Daniel knew he was a pitiful sight to behold- drowning his sorrows in cheap beer, lying about as if he had nothing to live for. He'd even taken out his still half-eaten pint of chunky monkey ice cream from weeks before, finishing it in record time. Even he knew it was pathetic.

He'd been feeling a bit optimistic after he talked to his mom a few days ago, but wasn't feeling up to anything at the moment. The week had come and gone pretty quickly. Not only was he tired from the meetings he'd had this week, but emotionally drained more than anything. It was difficult for him to put what he was feeling into words. Needless to say, he'd been in much better moods.

Knock-knock-knock. Daniel slightly turned toward his door, glancing at his watch. Who could be here at…oh. It was Friday at 9:21 and he was lying on his couch. "Nice, Meade…" he muttered under his breath, getting up from the couch and slowly walking to the door.

Knock-knock-knock. "Who is it?" he cleared his throat, running a hand through his hair.

"It's me. Betty." He felt his heart rate increase in a millisecond, and he quickly began gathering a few items off the floor, including the beer cans that had just joined the mess.

"Okay. Just a minute…" he placed as many items as he could into the trash, his eyes doing a quick sweep of the room before he turned around to face the door. He unlocked it hastily, opening it wide so she could come in.

"Hey." Daniel leaned against the door, smirking as she stepped over the threshold. "Hey," she greeted, taking in his appearance.

"Sorry about the mess. I would've straightened up more had I known you were coming by," he closed the door, stuffing his hands in his sweats.

"It's okay…I should've called," Betty apologized. "I just needed to talk. It couldn't wait until tomorrow," she sat her purse on the table adjacent to the couch, leaning against its spine.

"What? Is something wrong?" he frowned, walking closer to her.

"No. I just miss you," she told him, brown eyes gazing into his, casting their spell easily.

"I miss you too, Betty," he answered, watching as she moved closer to him. She rested her hands on his broad shoulders, running her hands down the front of his shirt slowly.

"I talked to Matt. About us," she began.

"You…did?" Daniel felt himself tense up. She nodded, tracing the seam on the end of his cotton t-shirt. "What did he say?" he wondered.

"He knows how much we care for each other. How much we need each other…"

"Make love to me, Daniel. I just want to forget about everything and everyone else. I need you. I love you," her breath was hot on his neck as she nibbled on his earlobe. He let in a sharp breath when he felt her hands slip beneath his sweats, exploring the flesh underneath.

"I love you too..." Daniel gazed down into her soulful eyes, crashing his lips down on hers hungrily. He pulled her closer, picking her up swiftly and placing her on the kitchen counter. He reached underneath her sundress, easily sliding her panties down her legs. He kissed her neck, and she roughly tugged his sweats and boxers down, wrapping her legs around his waist.

Daniel entered her slowly, relishing in the familiarity of her walls surrounding his shaft. She moaned as he grabbed her hips, moving her rhythmically as he delved deeper inside of her. Betty's moans intensified as she arched her back for him, biting her lower lip...

Daniel opened his eyes suddenly as the beeping phone brought him out of his dream. He breathed deeply, trying to calm his racing heart and reached for his cell.

A text message from Alexis: 'Mom told me about everything. I know you're going through it right now, but know that I'm only a phone call away if you need to talk.' Daniel set his phone aside, letting out a groan of frustration, rubbing his temples. "No more beer and ice cream for me," he thought aloud, standing from the couch and heading for the shower.

"Wow...that's crazy. Did you like being a bank manager?" Betty twirled her spaghetti expertly around her fork, taking a small bite. Their evening had gone well so far. Betty had to admit, the conversations between the two of them had always flowed easily...it was almost like he never left.

"It was okay. Boring, I guess...but okay. It's not in my future career plans..." he chuckled, his expression turning more serious as he held her gaze. "I'm hoping that my future still includes you," Matt began, reaching for her hand. Betty glanced down at his hand resting on top of hers, a sight that at one time made her heart race with excitement and butterflies go crazy in her stomach. But in that moment, she felt neither of those things.

"Matt…" Betty slid her hand away from him and rested it on her lap. "There's something you should know..."

Matt looked concerned, worry etched on his familiar features. "What is it?"

"You were gone…for a long time..." she took a deep breath.

"Right..." he nodded, urging her to continue.

"A lot of things have changed since then. It doesn't seem like it to you right now, but...it has..."

Matt let out a sigh, studying her face. This was starting to worry him. "What are you trying to say?"

"The thing is...Daniel and I…we…we're not just friends anymore." Betty swallowed hard, preparing herself for his reaction.

"Wait. What? You and Daniel?' he looked shocked, then glanced back down at his empty plate, shaking his head. Matt closed his eyes, feeling something like anger, betrayal, and hurt all wrapped into one. But it hit him-

He had no right to react this way. Everyone thought he was dead for goodness sakes. Of course things had changed. He really shouldn't have been surprised. He had after all, accused them of sleeping together at one time. After he and Betty had reconciled, Matt had this lingering feeling that Daniel felt something for Betty, never the other way around though. Maybe he'd been in denial all this time he was away, really thinking that something like this wouldn't bring them closer together. Daniel had gone through the exact same thing with Molly not too long ago. Who better to help her through the ordeal?

"Matt, I'm sorry. It's just that-"

"Don't apologize, Betty. You just caught me off guard. I have no right to be upset with either of you," he told her, relief evident in her posture. "I understand how that could've happened," he shrugged, admitting it out loud.

Betty looked down at her half-eaten pasta, clearing her throat. "I never meant for it to happen. It just did," she brought a hand to her forehead.

"Look," Matt leaned forward, motioning for her to put her hands in his. "I know I turned everybody's world upside down a week ago, and what you just told me complicates the hell out of things, but the entire time I was away, you never left my mind," his brown eyes gazed into hers.

"It gave me time to think, you know? How stupid I was to go off to pursue some 'passion' of mine when I'd already found what I was passionate about right in New York. You. I never stopped loving you, Betty. And I'm not saying this to pressure you or because I expect anything, I just know now how important it is to tell people how you feel when given the chance."

Betty felt the fresh tears sting her eyes, and she found herself blinking them away. "I never stopped loving you, either. I'm so glad you're here." her eyes glistened as he brought her hands to his lips.

Matt grinned, caressing her hands. "Me too."

Okay, I know, I know lots of Matt & Betty...but I'm trying to imagine myself in Betty's situation. I definitely wouldn't wanna trade places with her. Or would I? *smirks mischievously*

Please review, they mean a lot to me!