Author's Note : So, this is a fanfic set 13 YEARS in the future…..I know, crazy. It assumes that when the five months were up, Henry did indeed leave New York and Betty to continue his life as a father to his child in Tucson. He and Betty have not kept in touch, because she made him promise it would be a clean break for both of them.

Now, with a fan fic set so far into the future, the first two chapters will primarily be spent bringing you up to speed on everyone's lives for the past 13 years. So, there will be little dialogue and lots of descriptions. The story will begin to unfold here and there so just sit back and enjoy the ride, this will probably be around 10 chapters long.

As always, reviews are welcome and serve to inspire….but as long as you read and enjoy, I am happy.

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Betty tried to sleep, but the lightning and thunder kept waking her. She had never been a fan of thunderstorms, even as a child. She threw the covers off of her and climbed out of bed. She put on her glasses and her fuzzy slippers and walked from her bedroom out into the living room.

If there was one thing she liked about her apartment in the city, it was the view. She had a huge window in the living room and being on the fifth floor of her building had given her a wonderful view of the park across the street. He had told her once, never live on a floor higher than the fifth floor because that is as high as fire truck ladders can reach. Just something he knew.

She jumped slightly as lightning ripped across the sky. She spoke quietly.

"One thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three…."

BOOM!

She shivered. She had no idea why rainy nights always reminded her of him, but they did. Perhaps because it was his touch that she missed so much. She missed having someone to lean into when she sat on the couch to watch her favorite television shows and she missed his hands on her face, his hand stroking her hair and his comforting embrace when it thundered.

She shook her head. You would think after thirteen years, the memories would have dulled but they never did.

She turned and walked away from the window and went to sit at her desk. She pulled her planner out of her briefcase and looked over her appointments for next week. Her life had certainly changed since he left and she had always been thankful to Daniel for the distraction.

Meade Publications and specifically MODE, had gone through a major overhaul in the five years following Bradford Meade's death. Alexis and Daniel had put away the paint guns and agreed to run the company together. They divided the magazines into two divisions and each ran one. They ran the overall publishing company together with major input from the Chief Financial Officer [CFO and the Chief Information Officer [CIO. Claire Meade presided over the Board of Directors and the whole company ran like a well-oiled machine. Their circulation was in good shape although lately the internet and some electronic distribution channels had been giving them some cause for concern.

With the many changes, Betty had taken a more active role in the company. She started writing for the magazine right after Henry left and then two years later, she had taken over as feature editor at MODE, at twenty-five she had been the youngest in the industry with that title. She had loved her new job and her new responsibilities, it challenged her and kept her mind off of other things.

But, things really changed when five years later at the young age of thirty, she was made Editor-in-Chief of MODE. There were still days, after six years, that she had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming.

She started attending night and weekend classes, and got her Master's Degree in Marketing. And, she had moved, on Daniel's advice, to the city into her own apartment so she could be near the office.

But, even though she had made quite a mark in the industry in the last six years she thought it was mainly because SHE hadn't really changed a bit. She didn't set the fashion trends for the season but she made sure her magazine did.

She had a creative team that was the best in the business. Christina was her creative director and had been since almost day one after Betty took over. She was one of the first magazines to have weight requirements for its cover and feature models and while it was a bold move when she implemented it, Daniel had told her she had his support and soon after other top fashion magazines had followed suit. The models were still too skinny as far as she was concerned, but Rome wasn't built in a day.

Lightning whipped across the sky again and she was startled from her thoughts. She looked back again to her planner, she was having dinner with Daniel and Lindsay tomorrow night, the annual Bradford Meade Remembrance Dinner. She looked at her watch and frowned, it was almost one in the morning. She guessed she was actually having dinner with them tonight.

She got up from her desk and walked to the bathroom. She pulled a washcloth from the drawer and ran it under cool water. She wiped her face and ran the cloth across the back of her neck. She looked in the mirror.

She guessed she had changed in some ways. She, of course, no longer had her braces. Her hair was still the same color and basically the same style and length. She had let Hilda cut some layers on the bottom to give it a little more shape. She smiled as she adjusted her glasses on her face. She still wore her trademark red glasses although she did have contacts that she wore on occasion, even though she hated them.

Her fashion sense was basically the same as far as she was concerned. She had no desire to dress like the models in her magazine even though she appreciated the fact that she was in the fashion industry. She preferred to wear what she wanted to regardless of the trend of the day. In the beginning, her refusal to adapt to the trends was the talk of the industry but her ability to put out a top fashion magazine and employ the best in the industry had made her personal style legendarily unique and even admired.

In the past six years, MODE had won more awards in the industry than any other fashion magazine and she had won more than any other editor prior to her. Overall, the past thirteen years had been the best of her life, well, except maybe for the five months proceeding them.

She walked into her bedroom and climbed back in bed. She pulled the covers up around her and listened for the rain. It had lightened. She looked at the clock. Two. She needed to get some sleep.

She had a photo shoot in the morning that she promised Christina she would be at and then dinner with Daniel and Lindsay. She really liked Daniel's wife. They had met ten years earlier when Daniel had changed law firms for Meade. She worked for the law firm he had chosen as a pro bono attorney. She was all about a good cause and had won several important cases over the years. She was pretty but in a classic simple way. They had dated off and on for two years while Daniel got all of his wild ways out of his system and then he has asked her to marry him.

They had been married for five years, had a three year old son named Bradford and were expecting another in the spring. Being a husband and a father had changed Daniel in all the right ways.

Lindsay was constantly trying to fix her up with lawyers from her firm and while Betty had been on a few dates over the years, she let her work and her own family monopolize her time. She had experienced the love of a lifetime and even at a young thirty-six, she wasn't expecting lightning to strike twice. It wasn't that she wasn't open to the possibility; she had just never met anyone that measured up.

She closed her eyes and tried to sleep, letting the lull of the slowing rain and the hum of her ceiling fan finally calm her into sleep.

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Her cell phone woke her early. Too early.

"Betty Suarez."

"Mi hija, good morning."

"Hi, dad. What time is it ?"

"A little after seven, I thought you had work this morning."

Betty sat up in bed, grabbed her glasses and put them on, looking at her clock.

"I do, I'm glad you called. I guess I forgot to set my alarm."

"Did the storm last night keep you up ?"

He knew her so well.

"Yes, I guess so."

"Well, you shouldn't have to work on a Saturday anyway."

"Dad, we've been over this a million times."

"I know, I know. Are you coming over for dinner tonight ?"

Betty got out of bed, walked to the bathroom and turned the shower on.

"No, remember I have dinner at Daniel's tonight. It's the anniversary of Bradford's death and he always has a remembrance dinner for all the Meade executives."

"Oh, right, I forgot. Tomorrow night ?"

She smiled.

"Yes, tomorrow night."

"Okay, well be careful, it is supposed to rain all weekend."

"I will. I gotta go dad, I'm running late."

"Okay, see you tomorrow."

"Okay. Love you."

"I love you too, mi hija."

Betty disconnected the call and put her cell phone back on the nightstand. She walked to the bathroom, undressed and stepped into the shower.

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She walked into the MODE photo studio a little after nine and headed straight for Christina.

"I am so sorry I am late."

"The storm ?"

Apparently, everyone knew her too well.

"Yes. It woke me and I couldn't get back to sleep."

"Well, we are just getting started so you are right on time."

The photo shoot went off without a hitch. Christina and Betty had lunch together afterwards and then agreed they would see each other at the dinner party for Bradford later that night.

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Betty called and took one of the Meade cars to Daniel's that night. She still couldn't get used to having a car service at her disposal and only used it on special occasions but when she did, she had to admit, it was nice.

She walked up to the front door and rang the bell. Lindsay answered with Bradford on her hip.

"Betty! Come in, it is getting chilly out."

She moved aside and Betty walked into the foyer. Daniel came walking in from the den and reached out to take her coat.

"Here, let me get that."

"Thank you. Is everyone here ?"

"Nope, we're still waiting on James and Reid."

James was the Chief Financial Officer at Meade and Reid was the Chief Information Officer. Reid was new to the executive team as of last year and another person Lindsay had been eyeballing for Betty.

Daniel looked from Lindsay to Bradford.

"Doesn't he need to head to the bath and bed ?"

"Yes, I was just getting ready to take him upstairs to Katie."

Katie was their live-in nanny. Daniel and Lindsay spent a lot of time with Bradford and made sure they made time for family, but the reality was that their schedules were very erratic so a live-in nanny had been a necessity and a big help.

Lindsay looked at Bradford and he grinned.

"Come on, big guy, let's get you upstairs for a bath."

Bradford looked at Betty and held out his arms.

"Betty !"

Betty smiled.

"You want me to take you up for your bath ?"

He grinned and stretched further toward her.

"I'll take him up Lindsay."

Lindsay looked at her and frowned.

"Betty, you are a guest."

"I don't mind, really. Come here, you."

She reached over and took Bradford from Lindsay's arms and he wrapped his arms around her neck and gave her a big hug and then a kiss on the cheek.

She looked at Daniel.

"He's already got your charm I see."

Daniel and Lindsay both laughed as Betty headed upstairs.

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Later that night after dinner was over, all of the executives settled in to the den for an after dinner drink. There was a toast to Bradford and everyone took the time to reminisce about the man that had founded Meade Publishing. Betty always enjoyed whatever story Claire chose to share on these occasions and each year they had been different.

Daniel moved to stand at the fireplace and motioned for the room to be quiet.

"Everyone, may I have your attention please ?"

Everyone grew silent and all eyes were on him.

"While this night is always reserved for the remembrance of my father, tonight I also have a very important announcement. Two weeks ago, James came to me to let me know he would like to retire at the end of the year and I have accepted his request. He has been the CFO at Meade for over twenty-five years and he has been one of our most valued assets through these years of change. However, he now wants to spend some time with his family and his grandchildren. I would like to raise a glass and toast him on a restful and happy retirement. To James."

Everyone raised his or her glasses.

"To James."

Everyone turned to James to congratulate him. Betty was not surprised, she had heard through the grapevine that his request was coming. Daniel cleared his throat.

"Now, obviously, this leaves an opening for a new CFO for the company. Alexis and I have extended a job offer to a possible replacement for James and I should have an announcement to make at the Black and White ball next weekend."

He looked around the room, and everyone was focused on him.

"We decided to go outside of the company for his replacement to insure we have someone that can bring in a fresh approach to some of the challenges we are beginning to experience with emerging distribution channels in the industry. I have every confidence that the person we have chosen will accept our offer; however, at this time, I am keeping the name to myself."

Betty had not heard any names for replacements, but felt certain Daniel and Alexis would make the right choice for the company.

"So, again, please join me in congratulating James and I look forward to seeing you at next week's Black and White Ball where we will hopefully be announcing his replacement to you and the press."

Everyone began mulling around James and talking among themselves about this turn of events. After another hour, people started leaving and Betty made her way to Daniel and Lindsay. She looked at Daniel with a smile.

"So, no hints, on the replacement ?"

"Nope, no hints, you'll have to find out with everyone else."

"I trust you."

Daniel felt a twinge of guilt.

"I hope so."

"Well, I'm heading out. The rain kept me up last night and it looks like it might do the same tonight. It was a fabulous party. I'll see you Monday."

Daniel helped her with her coat and gave her a hug. Lindsay also hugged her and then she left. Daniel and Lindsay stood on the front steps and watched her get into the car. Lindsay leaned into Daniel and turned to look at him.

"Are you sure, not telling her is the right thing to do ?"

"No, but that was his condition. She'll be okay."

"I hope so."

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Henry sat on the airplane, going over some notes he had made before he left Tucson when the flight attendant came by to offer him a drink.

"Mr. Grubstick, can I get you something to drink ?"

He looked up with a smile and adjusted his glasses.

"Just water, please. No ice."

She smiled and left him to his papers. He was used to traveling in first class by now even though he still felt like it was a luxury he didn't need. Thirteen years ago, when he had left New York to move back to Tucson to await the birth of his child, his son, he had no job prospects in sight. But, shortly after arriving, he had received a call from the CFO at Maldonado Publishing, which was the leader in publishing travel magazines and based in Tucson. He had offered him a job in their accounting department as a senior accountant, apparently on the recommendation of Daniel and Alexis Meade, Meade Publishing.

He had welcomed the opportunity and had accepted the job without hesitation. He soon discovered that the CFO was going to be retiring in the next few years and had been looking for someone from the outside to come in and eventually take over the job. Apparently, that someone was to be him. His immediate reaction had been an overwhelming desire to call Betty to thank her and to have her pass on his thanks to Daniel and Alexis but he had made a promise to her and as hard as it was, he intended to keep it. So, instead, he sat down and wrote Alexis and Daniel a note thanking them for their confidence in him and the opportunity they had provided.

When he had indeed taken over the role as CFO at Maldonado Publishing five years later, he had received a plant signed by both of them.

The flight attendant returned to his seat with his water. He smiled and thanked her.

He had made quite a name for himself in the publishing world during the last eight years as CFO for Maldonado Publishing. By the time his mentor and boss had been ready to retire, the travel publication industry was slipping into the same uncertainties as so many other publication companies with the internet and other technology taking over as the primary distribution method of information.

But, Henry had been waiting for his moment and when he officially took over, he submitted an aggressive proposal to the Chief Information Officer at Maldonado and they put together the most comprehensive information distribution package the industry had ever seen. Once it was fine tuned, he contacted some buddies he had kept in touch with in college that had opened their own software company years before and he acquired them and brought them in to revolutionize Maldonado's distribution channels. For five years, the industry had been turned on its ear trying to catch up and Maldonado had become the front-runner in travel information distribution.

None of their magazines had suffered and, in fact, the combination of printed and on-line information actually had increased their subscription sales year over year ever since. He had won numerous publishing awards and financial awards over the last eight years and was named one of Tucson's most eligible bachelors last year. Something that still made him laugh every time his mother reminded him.

He loved his job. He loved everything about the publishing world that he had started in all those years ago. But, at the end of the day, he was just a regular guy, a dad and a son. And, no matter how much he had loved the job and the industry, there was one thing he loved more. His son. Will.

So now, eight years after taking the CFO position, he was making another change. He looked up when he heard the captain's voice come on over the airplane sound system.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are about forty-five minutes from landing, there is some weather in the area so I am going to go ahead and turn on the fasten seat belt sign at this time."

Henry finished drinking his water and put his papers away. He wasn't a fan of weather when flying and leaned his head back on his headrest and closed his eyes. After what must have been about thirty minutes, the flight attendant came on over the speakers.

"Ladies and gentlemen, at this time, the flight attendants will be coming through the cabin to pick up any remaining service items. We ask that you please stow any electronic devices you got out during flight and return your seats to their upright position in preparation for landing. We should be landing in New York in about fifteen minutes."

Henry opened his eyes and looked out the window. The lights of New York were everywhere and he could see rain hitting the windows of the plane.

"Mr. Grubstick ?"

He turned to see the flight attendant standing next to him.

"Is there anything else I can get for you before we land ?"

"No, thank you, I'm fine."

She picked up his empty water glass and napkin.

"Are you here on business ?"

He smiled.

"No, I'm coming home."

--- to be continued ---