Hey all! I would've updated last week, but I was at my dad's and he was having wireless internet woes and now I'm in the middle of a move. Anywho, hope you like and thanks for reading!
Daniel's breath caught in his throat as he looked at Betty on the other side of the threshold, phone in hand, brown eyes staring up at him in surprise. His heart was racing and it was then he remembered he'd come up the stairs rather quickly.
"Hey Betty," he released a deep breath, momentarily avoiding her gaze. "Mind if I come in?" She nodded, stepping aside and closing the door behind him.
Daniel turned back around to face her, watching as she crossed her arms.
"Betty, I'm sorry," he began, hoping that was a good start. "I didn't mean to yell at you earlier. All the things I said- well…it didn't come out the way it should have. If it sounded like I was mad at you, I wasn't. I'm just frustrated with our situation. I got so used to us being together almost everyday, and then all of a sudden, things were different," he paused. Betty uncrossed her arms, nodding slightly.
"I thought I'd be able to do it, but I can't. I miss you so much, Betty," Daniel stepped closer to her, placing his hands on her shoulders and looking into her eyes.
"I know. I miss you too," she admitted.
"Being apart from you like this…not being near you is too much. I don't want to have to do it anymore. Because I've fallen in love with you. I love you, Betty," he professed, his clear blue eyes giving away every emotion he felt in that moment.
"You do?" she felt tears spring to her eyes and tried to blink them away. He nodded, feeling a grin spreading across his lips. "I'm in love with you too. I don't wanna fight it anymore," tears slid down her cheek.
Daniel held her face in his hands, quieting her cries as he brought his lips to hers in a slow, passionate kiss. Daniel savored every second of that kiss, having yearned to touch her lips for so long, and somehow afraid that he'd wake up any second.
Betty pulled him closer to her, unsure if it was the lack of dinner or the kiss that had her feeling dizzy. Either way, she didn't want him to stop. He pulled away briefly, leaning his forehead against hers.
"I missed those lips," he whispered, making her smile. "And this…" he dipped his head, trailing soft kisses down the nape of her neck.
"Hmm," she closed her eyes involuntarily, letting out a sigh.
Daniel slowly walked her backward until her back met the wall, kissing her eagerly. His hand slowly slid up her bare leg, finding its way between her thighs. Betty softly moaned against his lips as his fingers delved into the moisture beneath her panties. She'd never wanted anyone more.
"Let's go to the bedroom," Betty told him between kisses, her brown eyes telling him all he needed to know. She took his hand, leading him to her room.
He walked the few steps separating them slowly, peeling the blazer off of her as she did the same for him. She loosened the belt supporting his slacks, her small hand craftily gliding under his boxers. She rubbed the length of his manhood, causing him to bite his lip as his pants fell to the floor. Daniel stopped kissing her momentarily, holding her close and losing himself in her eyes.
"I missed you so much," Betty told him between kisses, relishing the feeling of his lips.
"I missed you too," he leaned his forehead against hers. "I just wanna show you how much," he said in a breathy whisper. He wrapped his arms around her, gliding his hand up her backside and tangling his fingers in her long tresses.
They continued undressing each other, sweat the only thing separating them as they collapsed unto the plush mattress. He grabbed both of her hands, pinning them down on either side of her head as he dug deeply inside of her. Waves of passion surrounded them as the night faded away…
Betty's eyes popped open with a start, darkness greeting her.
She felt Daniel's soft breath tickling the nape of her neck, his left arm draped over her. What time was it? She turned toward her alarm clock, vaguely remembering it being knocked over in their rush to get undressed.
She grinned slightly, then touched her belly, the dull pain reminding her why she'd woken up in the first place. She was starving.
Betty gave Daniel a glance, her eyes adjusting to the dark. He looked so peaceful. She wondered if she could maneuver herself away without disturbing him. She somehow was able to do so, carefully slipping away from the bed.
Grabbing her robe, she quietly walked into the kitchen. 4:48 according to the microwave.
Her stomach made an audible growl. "Okay, get the picture. Don't have to make a scene." Betty whispered to herself, patting her stomach. After eying the peanut butter, she grabbed a loaf of bread and spotted some strawberry jelly in the fridge. Comfort food.
"Where'd you go?" Betty slightly jumped at the sound of Daniel's voice. She turned, seeing he was a few feet behind her.
"Wow. Someone walks quietly," she grinned.
He walked closer to her. "Hmm…look who's talking," Daniel smiled down at her.
She laughed at him and the hair sticking up all over his head. She tiptoed, kissing him gently. "You hungry?" she asked, biting her lip.
"I'm always up for pb&j," he replied, watching her turn to grab two more slices of bread.
Daniel looked at her for a moment, a lopsided grin plastered on his face. Betty noticed he'd gotten quiet and glanced back at him, halfway done with his sandwich.
"What is it?" she wondered, making Daniel's sandwich with way more peanut butter than jelly. Just the way he liked it.
"Nothing," he shrugged, moving closer, wrapping his arms around her from behind. He kissed the top of her head, letting out a sigh. "Just…this is nice is all." She finished his sandwich and secured the lid on the jelly. "I know," Betty beamed, turning to face him, "I feel so safe in your arms."
"Good. Cause I'm never letting you go." He lifted her up off the ground, tiptoes grazing the floor as they kissed.
A bit later they sat cuddled on the couch, Betty's feet curled under her and Daniel's propped up on the footstool as they devoured their pb&j's.
"This is like, the best sandwich ever. My compliments to the chef," he told her as he took his last bite. Guess he'd worked up an appetite.
"You're welcome dear," Betty took a sip of her water, letting her gaze linger on him as he wiped at his mouth with a napkin. "When did you know?" she wondered, turning towards him a bit more.
Daniel's blue eyes focused on her, looking a bit confused. "When did I know what?" he drank his milk.
"When'd you know that you loved me?" It was a random question, just popped into her head when she was making sandwiches. She was definitely curious though.
"Hmm," he sat his glass on the side table, searching his brain for an answer. It was a simple enough question, but Daniel wasn't sure how to answer. "I'm not sure…" he trailed off. "Oh." Betty tried to hide her disappointment, until she heard him speak again.
"I can't remember a time when I didn't love you. That sounds corny. But it's true," Daniel grinned, seeing Betty blush. "I've loved you for a long time. Before we thought Matt died. I just didn't know it yet. I guess I started noticing my feelings were changing a little after Molly died."
"What do you mean?"
"Well…I felt like I needed you more. You were the bright spot in my day. I didn't want to do anything without you. It registered with me how much my happiness was dependent on yours. But when I started to think about it, when had that not been the case?" Daniel paused, glancing over at her. "I'm not making much sense am I?" he chuckled. "No. You are. I understand completely. It's sweet," Betty smiled at him.
"You really helped me become a better person. You called me out on my crap. But at the same time, you made me feel like I could do better. I loved you for that. Even if it was just..."as a friend" at the time," Daniel gazed at her lovingly as she ran her free hand through his locks. "You were the first genuinely good person I'd ever met. Part of me always wondered what it was like to be loved by you. So completely."
"Well you don't have to wonder anymore," Betty replied softly, kissing his cheek.
"What about you? When did you fall in love with me?" he raised an eyebrow curiously.
"Hmm. I think I realized I was falling in love with you on the 4th of July. The night you serenaded me on the roof. Also known as the night you cut your finger trying to show off," she laughed and so did he. "I think something was in the air that night. But I knew things were changing during Hilda's baby shower. I just wasn't ready to admit it to myself. Partly, because I was still letting go of Matt. But I think deep down, I kinda thought-" she paused, glancing away.
"What?" he asked.
"I guess a part of me thought you could never feel the same way. About someone like me..."
Daniel looked at her incredulously. She suddenly looked very timid, the look on her face reminding him of her first days at Mode. He lightly touched her chin, turning it towards him to see her eyes. "Betty...that's nonsense. Why would you think that?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. I guess...even though I've changed a lot on the outside, I'm still a little insecure about some things."
"I wish you weren't. You're beautiful to me, inside and out. I'm the one who thought you'd never feel the same way about me. Don't you get it, Betty? I'm the lucky one here," he poured his heart out, bringing her hand to his lips and gently kissing it.
Betty felt tears spring to the corner of her eyes and bit her lower lip to keep them at bay. That's why she loved him. She leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She allowed herself to get lost in his eyes for a few moments while they sat nose-to-nose, memorizing small details of his face.
"You're so sweet. But I think we're both lucky," she told him with a smirk.
Daniel smiled, pressing his lips to hers and kissing her passionately. And when he pulled away slightly, uttering the three words she knew she'd never grow tired of hearing, she felt her heart speed up a bit and took a deep breath to control the butterflies in her stomach. "Let's go to bed," he suggested, standing and holding his hand out for her. She placed her small hand in his, a comfortable, perfect fit. Nothing had ever felt so right.
Things in this chapter went from romantic to freaky then back to romantic, but that's what happens in real life. Does to me anyway, lmao. Plus these two have been apart for soooo long. It was coming. I think this maybe could be the end of the story or I could do a wrap up. Let me know in your review! Thanks for reading!