AN: Okay, to anyone who's still reading, thanks and sorry this took so long. I kept trying to go a different direction with this chapter and I kept coming back to the same place. So, I hope you enjoy it and there is only one more chapter after this. I promise it will be more timely, I hope :? Thanks for all the favorites and reviews!
Betty had seen more than one wedding planned from beginning to end. She'd even been involved in planning and carrying out weddings, but she had never experienced the chaos that accompanied the sudden announcement of her engagement to Daniel. She couldn't walk down the sidewalk without being hounded by some reporter for a few weeks. Her family bought dozens of wedding magazines and offered unsolicited advice on their own experiences. Claire made sure she got the last couple of years of Mode's wedding issue and hired the top wedding planner in New York. Marc and Amanda kept up running commentary on what she should NOT do, including the leopard print on the bridesmaid dresses that Hilda suggested and the top hats and canes for the groomsmen Claire suggested.
One day after going over more details with Claire during her work time, she was going to have to talk to Daniel about that again, she was attempting to edit several articles. Amanda walked in and sat on Mark's desk. "She is so lucky to have us." Marc said to Amanda after 'saving' Betty from another disastrous decision.
"Don't I know it, you should see what Daniel was thinking of getting her for her wedding day gift" Amanda said with a smirk as she glanced in Betty's direction to see if she was at all intrigued.
Betty looked up from her computer screen, with a raised eyebrow, but did not comment further. "It really is unbelievable how that man ever got this far with her." she said to Marc. "He really can be completely clueless about this kind of thing. But don't worry Betty, I set him straight."
"Okay, tell me." she said with a sigh. She knew she wouldn't get any work done until she knew what Amanda obviously wanted to tell her.
"I mean lingerie is a gift you give to him, right, preferably you'll be in it."
She smiled and rolled her eyes, "I got Daniel something slightly more meaningful than lingerie." she said in a way that was meant to end the conversation so she could get back to work.
"A video camera, so you can make your first sex tape?" Amanda guessed.
"No and eww! I got him a video camera so we can document our trip. I've never been to France." she said as she blushed at the images Amanda's idea conjured up.
"I know you're marrying him and all, but you do realize Daniel is a little kinky." Amanda said as though speaking to a naïve girl. Her blush deepened as she pondered just how kinky her fiance is. Maybe she would throw in some special lingerie, but she had no intention of telling Amanda.
She did have one friend who she suspected hadn't been completely lost to the insanity of planning her wedding. Although, her hope of sanity came crashing down the week after he proposed, when she got a call from across the ocean, "Hello Love! Tell me it's true!"
"Christina?" Betty asked as she checked her caller id again. "Tell you what's true?"
"I just saw the headline as I walked past a newsstand, You're engaged! I can't believe you let me find out this way." she said sounding utterly appalled.
"I'm so sorry Christina, it's been crazy. We weren't exactly planning on announcing our engagement yet, but Marc caught on and, well, the jerk went ahead and messaged all of Mode. We didn't stand much of chance at keeping it secret after that." Betty replied slightly exasperated.
"I'm sorry Betty, but I know a way you can make it up to me."
Betty could hear the smirk in her voice. "Oh yeah, how?"
"I'm designing your dress, a Christina McKinney Original." she said, and Betty sighed with relief. "If I had made out my checklist yet, I would check that off right now. Only a thousand more details to nail down in the next five months." Christina started doodling dress designs in a notepad as they continued to discuss all that was going on in the other's life.
That's why when she made it back to Ignacio's home in Queens with just over one week remaining before the "blessed" event, she slipped quietly through the back door. She cringed as she overheard the sounds of an argument in the front room and slipped over to Igancio who was preparing dinner at the stove. "Mija!" he whispered excitedly. This was the first time she had been home in a couple of weeks.
Hilda and Claire were currently playing 'nice' today, but it had been a long five months. Daniel had offered to pay for anything she wanted, but Betty had been to busy at work. She had recently been promoted. She could handle the work load, but planning a wedding on top of that proved to be a little overwhelming, she realized when she scheduled an interview at her cake tasting. Hilda was ready to kill her.
At that point Daniel had talked her into delegating some of the responsibilities to his mom and Hilda, which at the time had seemed like a good idea because she trusted their opinions. But both women had very strong personalities, and it had made for a long engagement.
"How's it going?" she whispered as the conversation in the living room got particularly loud.
"Maybe, with you here, they'll actually get something done at a normal decibel." Ignacio said.
"So, that bad, huh?" she questioned dreading her next statement, "Well I guess I better get in there." she said with a sigh. She pulled her shoulders back as if preparing for a battle and headed in to the living room.
"Here, take these. Maybe they'll go easy on you, if you come bearing food." he said as he handed her a plate of chocolate chip cookies.
"Thanks," she sighed again and headed in. "Hey guys." she said slightly unsure as two heads whipped around in her direction, both women instantly appearing calm with a seemingly serene smile as they approached her with handfuls of pictures and lists. All pleasantries forgotten, they quickly ushered her to the couch. On the coffee table set a diagram of the reception hall, complete with tables, chairs and what looked like a doodle of the band, Kiss, who she knew for a fact was neither attending, nor playing at the reception. Bobby must have gotten bored.
They got down to work and finished everything on Hilda and Claire's checklist, including the song list and seating chart amongst other last minute details. Both Hilda and Claire talking her through every little detail and repeatedly clarifying her decisions.
By the time she got home, she was exhausted. Daniel was sitting on the sofa watching the Food Network's Ace of Cakes. Betty plopped down next to him and sighed contentedly as she leaned on his shoulder. As soon as she realized it was a wedding cake special, she grabbed the remote and changed the channel with a huff.
Daniel cautiously smirked, "That bad, huh?" he questioned.
"I might need a reminder why this wedding is a good idea." she replied.
"We only have a little more than a week." he said hopefully as he laid a gentle kiss on her forehead. His attempt to raise her spirits seemed to dampen her mood further.
"I don't think I can take it. I love your mother and my sister, but they are driving me nuts!" she said exasperated.
"I have an idea. What if we went to the Justice of the Peace tomorrow and got legally married, just you and me. No seating charts or music or people making this moment between us into a frenzied activity for some photographer to turn into a picture perfect book for our kids to look at." Daniel rambled on as he watched Betty's face brighten up.
"I love you." she whispered as she leaned in to kiss him.
He leaned away, "So?"
"When have I ever said no to you?" she questioned back.
"I love you", he finally whispered back and leaned in to kiss her.
The next morning they woke up early and dressed up a little. They canceled their morning appointments and headed to the Justice of the Peace for a little 'til death do us part'. They quietly celebrated during lunch with champagne and lots of kissing.
When they got back to the Mode Claire barged into Daniel's office and turned on the television. "You need to see this."
She stepped back as Fashion TV started playing and Suzuki's extremely excited expression appeared on the screen. "You are not going to believe the scoop I have for you today, fashionistas. Former playboy and editor in chief of Mode magazine, Daniel Meade and his formerly ensemble-y challenged assistant turned svelte editor, Betty Suarez, were seen leaving the courthouse this morning hand in hand, both smiling. Rumor has it, his reformed ugly Betty has a new last name." The report continues in the background as Betty's phone rings. She looks down to see that it's Hilda and ignores it as she turns to Daniel with a worried expression destroying the serene look she has had since they woke up this morning.
She can tell it doesn't matter to him, he didn't really want to keep it a secret anyway. She smiled and looked to see Claire's response next. She was smiling and reached out to give Betty a hug. "You couldn't wait another week!" Claire says sounding only slightly frustrated.
In the background she heard Suzuki say almost sincerely, "Well it's about time. Detty has finally realized what we knew along. We, here at Fashion TV, wish you all the best." his smirk and pithy remarks were softer than usual.