Hello loves,

this is my first story I'm publishing here. So please be nice.

I'm starting off after Hilda's wedding and Betty never got the job offer. I was always very disappointed, that we never got another Season. I would've loved to see, what the Creator Silvio Horta had in mind for them. Sadly we will never know that, for sure. But still, thirteen years later, I'll come to this amazing place and reread my favourite stories about Detty. And I will probably always do that.

So please, keep in mind, I'm very knew to this and English is only my second language. I hope you will enjoy this little piece.

Bye my fellow readers

Chapter 1

'Hey Daniel, I'm going for lunch, do you want anything? I could bring you something on my way back?', Betty stood in the doorway to Daniel's office. Filling in as his assistant again was great. She missed working with him so closely. As much as she loved being an editor, she can't help but feel that they don't see each other that often. And they barely spend time together. Hilda's wedding was the first time, that they did that again. It almost felt like four years ago. And they are so much closer ever since the wedding. Spending nearly all of their time together. It's great.

'Where are you going for lunch?', looking up at Betty, Daniel has a small smile grazing his face.

'I'm going to the sushi place you love to meet up with A-Bomb. I could bring you back that sesame sushi you like so much. Or these wasabi deep-fried ones. It's your pick. Choose your poison', crunched up look on her face.

'You hate sushi, why are you going?', Daniel chuckles.

'Hey, they have really good noodles. I'm getting those. And since when do I have to defend my food choice?', she's crossing her arms over her chest, mock serious look directed at him. His laugh brilliant.

'You don't. And I wasn't trying to set you up for it. Eat your noodles. I'll like the sesame sushi, if that's ok', he says warm. Smile open and infectious. And it's looks like these one, that let Betty question the whole four years of friendship. This is new. It's flirty and he never looked at her like that. And the flutter in her stomach for sure was new as well. Lately she feels like a teenager with a crush, whenever she's around him. Which is weird, cause they are best friends. Aren't best friends off limit? Why did her heart decide to mix up all of her feelings, lately? Well, not all. Only the ones for Daniel. But is it really a mix up or maybe they just grown. Yes, that's it. Her feelings for him are just growing. Wait, what? What am I admitting to my own subconscious here? That I have feelings for Daniel? Bad, really really bad. I should get a grip, before doing something stupid. And why is he giving me that deadly half smirk. What is happening? Oh, I love that smile. No don't, shut up, shut up, shut up. Damn subconscious.

'Alright, wasabi it is. I'll be back in about forty-five minutes.', she called over her shoulder, walking back to her desk and grabbing her purse. I need to get out of here. I'm falling for Daniel, which is a bad idea, cause he would never look at me like that. Though the looks he's giving you lately are an indication that you might be wrong about that, don't you think so, Betty? And now her subconscious is in conversation with her. And sounds suspiciously similar to Mrs. Meade. Great, Daniel's driving her into insanity.

'Hey, I said sesame', Daniel calls out, standing up and walking over to his office door. He is so buff. He works out so much lately and it's really paying off. She sees his bulging muscles even with the dress shirt on. His sleeves rolled up, he crosses his arms over his chest. Making them bulge even more. Oh, what a delicious sight. What would she give to be in those arms. Biting her lower lip, she looks into his eyes for a second, sees recognition in them. Shit, he knows. He knows I just checked him out and liked what I saw. Time to play it cool, Suarez.

'See, I have my own tricks to make you work out more. I don't need to cancel your towncar and lie to you', she throws him a lopsided grin, showing off her brilliant white teeth. Am I flirting now? So much for playing it cool. You're making a fool out of yourself.

'You pay for that', he threatens, his voice low. Gives it this sexy raspy quality, that makes her shiver. His eyes are a more dark stormy cobalt blue. How intoxicating. She could watch them change colour like that all day. His half sided smile so pleasantly sensual she fears to melt on the spot. But they are still in the office. And they are still Daniel and Betty. And as much as she loves their flirty banter, cause she does. She really does. That he reacts like that to her flirting with him. It gives her a weird sense of reassurance and appreciation. She needs to get out of here. They can talk about this after hours. With no cameras and no outsiders around. Yeah, she would very much like that.

'You promise?', she whispers biting her lip and backing away from his office slowly. Throwing a last hopefully somewhat flirty but brilliant smile over to him, she turns around and promises herself to talk to him the next time they're alone.

Looking on his watch, Daniel has no idea what's going on. Betty went to lunch about one and a half hours ago and still wasn't back in the office. This is not like her at all. He tried to call her at least ten times in the last ten minutes, but would only reach her voicemail.

Calling her one last time he heard her voicemail picking up, 'Hey, you reached Betty Suarez. I'm sorry, but I'm not able to take your call. Leave a message and I call you back later', he heard the beep and left one last message.

'Hey Betty, I had no idea you would get the noodles and sushi directly in Japan. I thought you meant the sushi place here in Manhattan. If you had said a word I would've given you the Meade Jet. But really, please call me when you get the message? Or one of the last nine I left on your voice mail. I'm just worried here.' Ending the call he looks down on his phone. Her contact on the display. Four years ago he would've never thought, that the quirky unfashionable assistant his father forced him to hire would become the most important person in his life. But here he is. He went through so much, with her beside him. He can't imagine his life without her. The thought alone to painful to entertain. So he better not think about what could've happened to her. He is probably paranoid. She will probably stumble her way over to her desk in no time, apologizing for running late, til he tells her to stop or she has a real reason to apologize for. But when he looked up, through the fishbowl window for a few minutes there was no Betty stumbling in. Minutes seem like hours. The time slowly ticking by.

'Wow, where are you right now with your thoughts? You haven't notice me for fifteen minutes, dear', his mom says, smiling mischievously at him while making her way over to his desk.

'Huh? Oh sorry, I had no idea you were here. I'm just worried. Betty is out for nearly two hours. She wanted to be back an hour ago', his wistful look goes out of his office. Staring at her desk as if he could summon her back.

'Betty is a grown woman, I'm sure she's alright', Claire said calm.

'I know, I know. It's just..., she would've called if she realized that she ran late. This is not like her at all. Something doesn't sit right with me', his hands start to fidget with his phone. He is so worried. If something happened to her, he could never forgive himself for it.

'Oh dear, you are a little...'

'Daniel...', Amanda bursts into his office, her face pale, shocked, overwhelmed and frantic. 'It's the police on line two. It's Betty...', Amanda sits down in one of the chairs in front of his desk. Nibbling nervously on her fingernails.

And Daniel's world falls over. Police, line two, Betty - that's all he could think about. When the police calls it's nothing good. Something happened to her. He was right. But she can't - she would never...

'Daniel...', Amanda presses on.

Oh yeah, right, line two. Looking down on his white office phone, he sees the red light blinking. Picking up the receiver he takes in a deep breath. Arming himself for whatever message awaits. 'Hello, this is Daniel Meade'

'Hello Mr. Meade, I'm Officer McMillen. Ms. Suarez wasn't able to tell us who we should inform. But I saw that you tried to reach her multiple times, so I decided it would be most appropriate to call you. I'm very sorry to inform you that Ms. Suarez was involved in a car accident. She was brought over to St. Vincent's emergency room.'

Daniel couldn't breath. His heart stopped beating. He doesn't understand. Why was she in a car accident. The sushi place was in walking distance. She would've never taken a cab. And then it dawned on him. Of course she would. If otherwise she would run late. God damn it, Betty. Allow yourself to be late one time.

'Sir? Are you still there?', the police officer calls over the phone.

'Yes, uhm, yes of course. I'm still here. Sorry, can you tell me how badly she was injured? You said she couldn't tell you anything?', Daniel tried to control his raspy voice. Tears prickling behind his eyes. His mom stands beside him now, her hand warm and comforting on his shoulder.

'I can't tell you much. I'm sorry. It was an accident that involved five cars. Three other victims had brought to different hospitals. It was an intoxicated truck driver who caused the accident. We know that much. And that her cab and especially the back seat took the biggest hit. She had cuts and bruises and was unconscious when we arrived. The doctors have to confirm the rest. I'm very sorry.'

'It's not your fault. St. Vincent was it?', Daniel asked again.

'Yes, we will be in contact if anything else comes up. And you are always welcome to contact the NYPD, just ask for Officer McMillen. I will answer all your questions.'

'Thank you, Officer.', Daniel crashed the receiver down. He immediately jumped up, grabbing his jacket and running out of his office. Amanda and his mom right beside him. 'Amanda, do me a favour, forward all my calls to Marc. Tell him what happened. I'm going to be out the rest of the day. And don't worry, I let you know what's going on when I have a better picture, ok?'

'Sure', she still walks beside him, her small hand grasping for his arm. 'Daniel...'

He holds in his tracks, looks impatiently at her. 'What is it, Amanda?'

'When she comes out of this? Stop being stupid', she gives him one serious look, nods, turns around and runs off into the direction of Marc's office.

Closing his eyes for a second, he allows himself to take a few deep breaths. When she comes out of this. That's what this is all about. Is it when or if?

'Dear, we should get a move on', his mom brings him back to the moment.

'Yes, of course', shaking his head, he follows his mom down to the towncar.