Chapter 8

She made only very slow progress. After another week she finally felt a tingling sensation in her feet and legs again. Due to intense physical therapy. And the fact that her spine is recovering from the surgery and injury. Well, took it long enough if you ask her.

All her cuts and bruises were nearly gone. The big bruise of her left body side were nearly healed as well, which left only her right shoulder and wrist and her legs. And the shoulder pain was now under more control. They figured out a pain medication that wouldn't make her so droopy but would still help her deal with the intense pain.

The only silver lining in all this was Daniel. Ever since their kind of talk he came in everyday before work. Brighten her morning, cheer her up and give her one or two pep talks for the day. Throughout the day he would send her sweet or funny texts. And after work he would come by again, sometimes with dinner and sometimes with an amazing dessert. If she would have a particular hard day with physical therapy and her moods were dark and depressive, he would bring Chili cheese fries.

She was looking forward to this weekend, cause yesterday, Daniel couldn't come in. He had to make sure everything is in line. Next month issue was going to the printer yesterday, which would clear his weekend, before he starts with the new issue on Monday. She was practically bursting. The thought of showing him, that she can sit on the bedside on her own? He will be so happy for her.

A knock on the door pops her little bubble. And when the door opens she sees him. Finally.

'Hey, the issue is out?', she asks excited. Her left arm stretching out to him.

'Yes, it's out, I'm all yours for the weekend', he says mischievously, and steps into her one armed embrace.

'Sounds amazing', she mumbles, and pulls him down by his sweatshirt for a kiss. 'Mmmh, I missed you yesterday. You won't believe what we worked on this week'

'I thought you would give me all the news via texts', he pouted.

'I was so excited, that I decided to hold it back and tell you today. I wanted to see your face when I show you', she beams up at him.

'Okay, shoot', he says excited.

'Mmmh, I don't know, maybe you need to convince me. I can't give out information to just anybody.'

'Oh, now I'm just anybody?', he bends down, kisses her passionately, rakes his hands through her hair and takes her breath away. 'Like this?'

'Yeah, exactly like that. Except now I think I would like to do that a little longer. I don't feel like talking or showing off now.', she pulls him down again. And they didn't come up for another glorious five minutes of making out.

'Show me please? I wanna see', he whines.

'Okay, drum roll, please', she looks at him expectantly and he drums with his hands on her bedside table. She chuckles a little, before deciding to go in with the big guns. Betty slowly but surely lifts up her left leg, moves it over to the bedside. His eyes are getting huge. Mouth wide agape. The drum role completely forgotten.

'You have your feeling back in your legs?'

'No, not completely. Five days ago my feet started to tingle and since Wednesday it's my whole legs. Oh and look at that', she lifts up her other leg, moves it over the same way. Steadies her upper body with her left arm on the bed and scoots over to sit on the bedside.

'Tadaaaa', she's waving her left hand in front of her body. 'I know it's not much, but I feel so much better being able to do this. It doesn't feel so impossible anymore', she says in a small voice.

'Don't I know that. It's hard to get your legs back. I know what I'm talking about. And I had both my arms to support myself. So be proud of yourself. This is huge. You'll be jumping around in no time', he says proud, kissing her on the lips one short firm time. 'So, what's on todays agenda?'

'If you're up to it, I would like to take a walk. Hailey said she could provide us with a wheelchair so I could get out of this building', Betty toyed shyly with the hem of his shirt. Looked up to him through her lashes. His lopsided smile mischievous. His hands softly ran over the outside of her upper thighs. Dipping his head low he plants a quick sensual kiss on her lips.

'What do you mean if I'm up to it. Of course, where's the wheelchair. I'll take you out of here, asap', he goes back into the corridor, looking for Hailey and the wheelchair.

Hailey was one of the nurses Betty got to know better. And decided she needs to write a blog about. The work they do everyday is absolutely stunning. The empathy and care they give others is astonishing to Betty. And Hailey was the one who walked in on one of Betty and Daniel's make out sessions and promised to keep their secret. Hospital policy isn't so flexible, even when you're a Meade. She said to just give her a heads up and she makes sure to keep the other staff away from her room. What was it that she said? Oh yeah, that she could never stand in the way of love. She's a sucker for it.

Daniel comes back, with Hailey and a wheelchair in tow.

'Your chariot awaits, Ms. Suarez', Hailey jokes, While Daniel carefully helps her into the wheelchair. Kneeling in front of her to put on her shoes placing her feet on the little plates she cups his chin in her hand.

'What would I do without you, huh?', she says lovingly, smile soft.

'No need to ask yourself that', he pushes up and kisses her gently. 'Let's get you out of here.'

'Thank you, Hailey. Your the best', Betty calls over her shoulder.

'Oh, your both are too sweet together. If you were any cuter it would be sickening', she gushes, puts her hand over her heart. 'Have fun. Enjoy the sun, Betty, you can sure use the Vitamin D'

Walking through the little park behind the building felt amazing. The sun was so warm on her skin.

'Wow, it feels like summer is only a few weeks away', she sighs, eyes closed face tilted up towards the sun. Soaking in as much as she could.

'I know, it will be so much easier for you, when summer is here. T-Shirts and tops will fit easier with your fixation.', he muses.

'Yeah, but they said that they can probably remove it in three and a half weeks. If I keep up with my recovery that is. And if my bones keep healing the way they do. But then theres going to be a lot of physical therapy for my shoulder. And thinking about it makes me a little worried', she sighs.

'Hey, one day at a time. Think about how easy it will be if you can use your legs again. It's good that it's one thing after the other. Imagine you would have to gain both back parallel. That would be torture', he reasons.

'You're probably right. One day at a time. Oh, by the way, my family wanted to come over for lunch today', she says as casual as she can muster under these very new circumstances. The thing is, his mother knows, she kind of interrupted them and they didn't really hid the fact that they are together now. But her family, decided that it would be best if they would take turns with Betty's friends. Just like before. In the mornings it would be usually Daniel and sometimes Claire. Lunchtime was usually Hilda or her Papi, and a few times even Amanda and Marc. Justin would visit her directly after school and the evenings were sometimes her Papi, when he had no time at lunch to come over, but regularly Daniel. So the complain she had, that she and Daniel had no time to themselves turned out to be unfounded. But it also resulted in the fact that her family has no idea that Daniel and her are dating now. Because they never met and she may has forgotten to tell them, on purpose. It's not that she fears what they might say. She knows that they will be happy for her. It's just, Hilda will turn all noisy big sister on her, Justin will walk around and yell from the rooftops that he was right, Bobby wouldn't care, and Papi, well he probably predicted this either. So, this was for Betty. She knows that she has to tell them one day, well today. But she thought for a little while she could just enjoy herself. And well, dating is the wrong word. They were together, without the dating. Cause she couldn't really go anywhere, and really doesn't like to have a date in the hospital cafeteria. That felt just wrong. But that was hopefully changing soon. Well, after her recovery. Or maybe sometime through her recovery.

'Okay, great. I think it's a week ago that I saw them. It be great to see them again', he says oblivious to what Betty was referring to.

'Yup, that's what I thought. It be a great opportunity to tell them the good news', she says more obvious.

'What good news? Oh, your legs, right', he says, walking over to a bench to sit down. Moving the wheelchair in front of him, fastening the brakes.

'No, not my legs. They already know about them. Your the only one who didn't know, because I knew you would be so excited for me. And I really wanted to see your face when I show you', she says sheepishly.

'Then what good news?', he asks and takes her hand in his, kisses her palm softly before intertwining their fingers.

'Ok, how about the good news of us being together? I thought of it as good news', she says in a mock shocked voice.

'Wait, you haven't told them yet?', now it's his turn to be really shocked.

'No, I wanted to have this for my own. At least for a little while. Because I know Justin would just walk around saying I told you so, while Hilda would ask me all sorts of annoying questions or make raunchy comments'

'I get it. My mom hangs around my office everyday just to ask about you. She loves you, probably more than she loves me. But the constant questioning if everything is alright because I'm a bit earlier in the office then the day before or the threat of disowning me if I blow it with you is a bit annoying', he looks up at her, sees her scrunched up face. 'It's alright. Get it out of your system. It's hilarious. And if it wouldn't be so annoying I would laugh my ass of as well', he gives her his lopsided grin that makes her weak in the knees. And she bursts out laughing. It is hilarious.

'I'm too damn lovable', she giggles.

'Yes, you are', he grins.

'But come on, your mom doesn't love me more than she loves you', she smiles mischievously at him and draws him closer by his hand. Leaning forward she wounds her hand in his hair at the back of his head. And before kissing him whispering against his lips, 'I would've said it's a draw'

Lunchtime they were in her room again. Awaiting her family. Daniel paces nervously around her bed.

'Seriously, why are you so nervous. Didn't you say that you're on a first name basis with my dad and had a talk with him the day of my accident. He can be very perceptive when it comes to this. He's probably expecting it. Justin says we should get a room ever since Hilda's wedding and why should Bobby or Hilda care? All they want for me is to be happy. And I am, deliriously happy. Believe me, they will be happy for us.'

'I kind of wished you would've told them without me. Like a week ago, without me being here', he's tense and if he isn't stopping pacing anytime soon, should make a nice donation to the hospital.

'Come here for a second', she waves him over and he obliges. Sits down on her bedside. Cupping his chin she looks him straight in the eyes. 'Stop worrying, I'm so happy to be with you. You are the kindest, sweetest and greatest guy I know. They will be so happy for us. Just like your mom. So stop wearing out the floor of my room or you have to make a nice donation.', she kisses him seductively, teases his lips for a second before deepening the kiss further. Her hand driving through his hair, grasping as much as she can.

'I so told you so, AB. I knew UD had the hots for you', Justin says matter of factly in his all so present sophisticated attitude. Makes them both turn their heads to the door.

'So you finally told her, Daniel. Well, welcome to the club. I'm telling you being with a Suarez woman is not easy, but you should be fine. You hang around long enough to know better. You will get the hang of it pretty soon', Bobby claps him on the shoulder. 'It's a good thing you already have my number'

'Ay, what is that supposed to mean?', Hilda whacks her husband in the back of his head.

'Exactly that, baby', they argue for a little while in the background, before making up with a few passionate kisses, Betty wished she never would have to witness.

'It was about damn time, Daniel. Welcome to the family, mijo', Ignacio cups his face, smiling at him with pride, before turning to Betty.

'You'll definitely do as a brother-in-law. So much better then all the other idiots she dated before', Hilda argues now with Betty.

'Ay, that's kind of mean, you know. Weren't you the one who said that Walter is going to be the best that's ever going to happen to me?', Betty calls out. But Hilda doesn't even listen to her. Her attention is on Daniel.

'But I'm telling you the same I told them. If you ever hurt my little sister. I'll come at you, chop up your cajones and make a nice hot soup with them, comprende?', Hilda looks at Daniel. One finger buried into his chest to make her point.

'Uhm, yeah, uh, sure. Understood', Daniel stutters.

'Welcome to the family', Hilda throws her arms around him and crushes him to her for a quick hug.

'Thanks, I guess', Daniel mutters.

'Ooooh, mami, he's buff', Hilda whispers loudly behind her uphold hand and then adds, 'And he's a good kisser'

Which causes another round of arguing between Hilda and Bobby.