Chapter 12

Two weeks into the furnishing process, and Betty and Claire had nearly everything planned through. They would constantly be in contact over a little decorative item they saw and thought would be perfect or a fabric that had just the right cream tone for the couch. And Daniel stood on the sideline watched them picking out wall colours, a dining table with chairs, a couch with the perfect set off couch and two side tables that had just the right size for the room and couch. They would run everything by him and he had a few vetos, but nothing major. All in all he was fine with almost anything they wanted to do. And it really helped taking Betty's mind off of hard therapy sessions and the fact they still had to wait for their date.

Four weeks into furnishing his house and he found himself in the middle of his living room. Walls painted a soft off-white just like Betty said. And he had to admit she was absolutely right. It did complement the brick work perfectly. His mom currently in the corridor, telling the removal men where to put which piece of furniture. What these two women accomplished in just four weeks is astounding.

'What do you think? You like it?', Betty snakes her arms around his waist from behind him. Presses a soft kiss between his shoulder blades.

'Yeah, I really like it. I'm still kind of speechless that you and my mom managed to do this in only four weeks', he says, turning around in her embrace and snakes his arms around her shoulders. Kissing her on the tip of her nose.

'I don't know what excuse your mom had, but with my arm getting better everyday and me being able to steadily keep reducing the pain medication, we both know my motivation', she says mischievously. 'Well, and whatever it was, I'm just very grateful to your mom', Betty says, stretching up on her tiptoes.

'Yeah, me too', he whispers against her lips, kissing her deep and passionate for a few heady seconds. Getting a little carried away, Betty lets her hands wander over his back and under the hem of his shirt. He looks so sexy when he wears casual clothing. The jeans and sweatshirt hugging him in all the right places. Accentuating his best features. Her hand slowly slides into the back pocket of his jeans, grabbing his butt. Coaxing a throaty groan from Daniel. Who deepens the kiss even more, softly rubbing up and down her arms, before snaking his arms around her small frame and crushing her to him. When Betty whimpers into the kiss, the sound muffled by Daniel's mouth on hers, one of the removal men cleared his throat.

'Sorry, Mr. Meade, Ms., but this couch is really heavy', he says embarrassed, a blush creeping up his face and his eyes downcast.

'Oh, of course', Daniel says easy, Betty buries her blushing face in her hands. Embarrassed tries to step out into the kitchen. Making room for the men. Daniel follows her, takes her into his arms and buries his nose in her hair. She snakes her arms around his waist and hides her face in his chest. His deep chuckle the only sound she hears. 'You are so cute when you're mortified'

'Ha, ha, very funny Daniel. I can't believe that just happened. You see what you do to me?', she whispers accusingly.

'Yup, and I can't really say that I hate it', he chuckles, stroking her hair with his fingers.

'Betty, dear, tell me again, where does the ottoman go? Living room or bedroom?', Claire asks from the doorway to the corridor.

'That depends. Which ottoman is it? Is it the soft cream fluffy one or the soft grey brownish one with the kind of boho pattern?', she asks looking up at Claire.

'The boho one', Claire smiles.

'The bedroom, the other one goes in the living room', Betty says immediately.

'Perfect, thank you, dear', Claire says with a last happy look thrown in the couples direction.

That afternoon Daniel, Betty and Claire sit in his new living room. Looking around the house and taking everything in. Take out container in the kitchen. They just had Luigi's penne.

'This couch is awfully comfortable', Claire says, feeling the soft fabric under her hand, closing her eyes and leaning her head against the back of the couch.

'I know what you mean', Betty sighs content, looks just as sleepy.

'Mom, you should get home before you start falling asleep. It's not that I don't want you here. But maybe you should take a quick nap. I appreciate everything you did for me today', Daniel says concerned.

'No, no, I know you're right. This was indeed more exhausting that I thought. If you both don't mind I would go home and do indeed take a quick nap', Claire explains slow, eyes closing for a second.

'We don't mind, mom', Daniel stands up to bring his mom to the front door.

'Betty, dear, you look just as tired as I feel', Claire says with a small smile on her face, sitting down next to her for a few seconds.

'I know, the pain meds are kicking in as well. I'm definitely taking a nap now', Betty says exhausted, stretches out her arms and embraces his mother in a fierce hug.

'Despite all that, you seem better and stronger every time I see you', Claire whispers in Betty's ear, while hugging her just as fiercely.

'Yeah, it's been so much hard work and it still is for month to come, but I can see the light now', Betty sighs.

Claire holds her in front of her, softly rubbing her upper arms. 'Well, you have no idea how glad I am to hear you say that. Take a nap now, rest a bit. Let him be. You don't have to do everything you know?', Claire says, gives her a stern motherly look. And Betty can't help but choke up. She never thought, that one day she would find someone who was willing and who she wanted herself, to fill out the role as a mother to her again. But Claire wiggled her way into Betty's heart from the very start. You have to love this woman. She is one of the strongest women she ever met. And so caring towards her. A single tear spills down her cheek, that Claire wipes away easily.

'Thank you so much', Betty says full of emotion and she didn't need to explain. Claire understood.

'You're very Welcome', Claire says just as moved and takes her in a warm embrace again. 'So, you let him be? Take a nap?'

'Yes, I definitely take a nap. You don't have to worry', Betty says chuckling.

'Good then I can go. Goodbye, dear', Claire gets up to walk over to Daniel, gives him a quick hug and kisses him on the cheek. Turning around to Betty she adds 'Oh Betty, I don't know if Daniel told you, but next week all my children are on the same continent. Even the same city. We are having a family dinner next Friday. I would love to have you there'

'He told me and it's a date', Betty grins.

'Wonderful', Claire smiles and says her final goodbye. Daniel escorts her to the door, waves her off.

When he comes back into the living room he finds Betty laying on the couch, rolled up like an embryo already half asleep.

'Hey Betty', he says softly, takes a blanket out of the basket and tucks her in. 'Roll over, you know when you wake up your shoulder is going to hurt like hell, when you fall asleep like that'

'Mmmh', is all Betty can say, in her last attempt to roll over on her left side, she figured she had not enough strength. The pain meds she took only half an hour ago hitting her hard. When Daniel wanted to help her, she snuggled into his arms for a second. 'Don't go, you're so warm and I'm kind of freezing'

'Scoot over a bit and I stay til you're fast asleep', he murmurs into her hair. He rolls her over as careful as he could. He didn't want to cause her any pain. She scooted a bit further on the couch, making enough room for him. When he slips on the couch, spooning her from behind, she lets out a soft sigh.

'Mmh, I love you, Daniel', she sighs, takes his hand in hers and places it under her chin, snuggling further back into his chest.

'I love you too, Betty', he sighs, kissing her temple before burying his nose into her hair and taking in her peach scented shampoo.

When Betty woke up she didn't know for a quick few seconds where she was. Looking around her she remembered that Daniel finally moved into his new house. And obviously already started with unpacking his stuff. She saw all the little bits and bobs around the house. He must already be finished with the downstairs. All the boxes are gone. He's probably upstairs. Which caused her to think about how long her nap was. She got up and padded into the kitchen, got a glass with water and took a few sips.

When she quietly made her way upstairs she found him in his closet.

'Hey, how long I've been napping?', Betty says, trying to stifle a yawn.

'Not long enough?', he says chuckling.

'Sorry, still a bit sleepy I guess', she says sheepishly.

'It's okay, you only slept for an hour', he says, slowly walking over to her and taking her in his arms.

'Only an hour? But you already put away all your stuff downstairs. How did you manage that?', Betty asks shocked.

'Easy, I didn't bring that much. I threw out a lot of my old stuff', he bends down and gives her a quick kiss.

'Wow, I was wondering what happened to all the boxes from..., you know..., last time', she said small, looks down on her hands.

'We need to talk about this, right? About Molly?', he says strained. As if he feared that it would come up.

'I don't know. I mean, I was there, Daniel. I know how much you loved her and still do. I know how broken you were after she died. There is not much left to talk about', she said still not looking up to him.

'But that's it, Betty. Yes, you were there. You were the only one. Well at least the only one I would allow to be there. But you have to understand, that what we have is so much different, than to what I had with Molly'

'Yeah, I understand. Like I said, I know how much you loved her. Of course it's different', she says understanding.

'No, I don't think you understand. What we have is so much... more, Betty. Don't get me wrong, yes, I loved Molly and a part of me will always love her. But recently I can't help but think that Molly was a lesson for me to learn. That it was never meant to be more than what it was. Something I had to endure to grow from it. To become the man I'm supposed to be. To become the man, that's somehow good enough to be with you'

'Daniel, don't be ridiculous. That sounds so cruel. Why would someone..., anyone deserve to go through something so horrible. Just to learn a lesson?', Betty is shocked.

'I can only say it how I see it. How it feels to me. And when I'm with you, I feel so at home. I can talk with you, and laugh with you, and be speechless beyond words. You always get me. In a way no one else ever had. I have no secrets, I'm an open book, when it comes to you. You are the only one who can make me feel silly with laughter one moment and beyond turned on the next. You are so gorgeous and beautiful, and sexy and passionate, that despite my longing to finally be with you, I worry about being with you for the first time. I pride myself with the fact, that I can usually last pretty long. But with you, I fear I won't be able to. Every little thing you do drives me completely nuts, Betty. In the best way possible. I feel like a teenager again. I guess, what I'm trying to say is, that I never felt like this before. Not with Molly, not with anyone', he rants and makes her speechless along the way.

'I know that you love me. I don't doubt that. I never did, really. I just never imagined that this connection we have could be just as intense and special to you as it is to me. I never felt like this as well. I would never diminish the feelings I had for Walter or Henry or Matt. I loved every one of them in a different way. But I still loved them. But with you, I feel like there are no boundaries. It would be silly to not be myself. You would look right through it anyways. I love, that I can be me, without worrying what you might think about me. Because you already know everything there is to know. And you're still here', she says sweetly.

'No boundaries, huh? Except for one. Well, for hopefully only two more weeks', he chuckles.

'I told you before, I'm as good as new, my legs are stronger then before the accident and my arm is already so much better. I don't get why you still want to wait two weeks', she groans.

'Because I don't want to accidentally cause you any pain, which we both know I very well could. Yes, your arm is better, but it's still causing some pain. Especially when you overdo it. Like today. And then you have to take the strong pain meds which make you droopy and sleepy. I'm sorry, but I want your undivided attention when we're together for the first time. I don't want your mind or body be clouded by pain meds. Is that so mean of me?', he whines.

'Noooo, it's noooot. I get what you're saying. It's just that I'm so aware of everything you do or say. When we're together I feel like I can't notice anything or anyone but you. So, I really doubt that I won't be in the moment with you. But I guess, if that's how you really feel...?', Betty says, turning her last phrase in a question. Stretching out the last word. Looking up to him expectantly, eyebrows raised and waits for a reaction from Daniel before continuing her thought. And he gives her a sweet little nod. '... then I'm going to respect your wish and wait a little while longer', she sighs heavy.

'It's kind of comical how our roles are reversed. Since when am I the rational one, Betty? That's normally you in our relationship. Well, in every relationship', he chuckles.

'I really love you, you know. Like crazy. And if this thing would've happened under normal circumstances, by which I mean me not being in a freaking accident, we would already have so much fun together. For weeks, over a month even'

'Betty, you do realize we're together for barely two months right?', he says slightly delighted in the fact that Betty can't seem to wait any longer.

'Who said, that I wouldn't have jumped you the second you said you love me?', she dares him.

'But we said that we love each other after you had your second surgery'

'No, I told you that I remember what you said to me in the hospital. When I was waking up? You said you loved me back then'

'Wow, I guess it must've slipped out. I didn't even realize I told you back then. But come on, Betty. I know you. You make lists, and overthink, and contemplates every detail. And now you're telling me you would've just jumped me?', he asks doubtful. His eyebrows raised up, hands crossed over his chest. Which really makes his biceps pop. God, he looks so hot.

'Ok, maybe not that moment, but definitely within the first week. To be with you feels so right, so natural. Why fight it? And it's not like we had to get know each other first. I already know everything about you. Some might even say I know to much. But it doesn't feel like that to me. I know all your annoying little quirks and I love you for them. Not despite them. So, yeah, I wouldn't have waited that long to be with you. Is that so hard to believe?', she says exasperated.

'No, it's not. Cause I feel the same. But maybe it was good for us, that we couldn't do anything about it. So we wouldn't jump the gun, so to speak. It gave us time to really explore what we have. Talk about it, before doing everything at once?'

'I know you're right, but at this point I feel like it's all a big cruel joke from the universe. Like it loves to see us suffer like that', she grumbled out, snakes her arms around his waist and embraces him in a warm big hug.

'I know, but think about it? In two weeks, when everything goes as planned, we're here celebrating the whole weekend', he says, nuzzling her neck and making her giggle. Oh, how he loved that little sound.

'Sine when are you so good at giving pep talks?', she still giggles.

'Since you're Ms. Grumpy-pants', he says mischievously.

'I am not', she calls out and looks up at him. When she sees his raised eyebrows and pointed look, she had to admit to herself, that she kind of was lately. 'Ok, I am..., kind of..., lately...'

'Kind of? Lately?', he questions.

'Well, this is me horny and frustrated. You want peppy Betty back? Do something about it', she smiles challenging.

'I will, in about two weeks, babe', he says, placing kisses along her hairline. 'And believe me when I say that this Betty should look for a new place to stay, cause she will move out of our lives for good'

Betty shivers by the meaning behind his words. The sound of it so delicious. The thought almost torture. But she can manage two more weeks. Next week is the Meade family dinner and after that it's only going to be one more week of forced abstinence.