Betty? Are You There?[Bella/Daniel/Betty]

[Arabella Hart]

Bella went to the bridge. She wanted to send a wave to Betyt, but at first, the site of the stars captivated her. In all her times flying, she'd never got to come out here and see the stars. "Wow..." After a fw minutes htough, she cleared her head to go about her task.

Though she could not fly a ship, she knew how to send a wave. Hopefully they weren't far apart so they could talk back and forth for a few moments. Twirling the right nobs and pushing the few buttons, she spoke. "Betty? Betty love? You there? There without Alec" Then she waited. Her grandmother was rarely in the kitchen and it was after dinner, so she definately would not be. Betty was usually alone as everything was cleaned up after the last course.

[takeyouaway]

Betty had run into the kitchen. Tears of happiness filled her eyes. Pressing the button, her daughter's face filled the screen. Well, not her blood daughter, but daughter none the less. Touching the screen, she smiled. "Bella baby! Oh baby it's so good to see you!"

Happiness seemed to be in behind those blue eyes. Happiness Betty never saw often. But Bella was stubborn and wouldn't let it out for everyone. She already knew that. "Baby girl, where are you?"

[Arabella Hart]

Bella was about to give up. And today was the day she needed to talk to her. But before she could switch it all off, her mother's eyes looke dup at her, tears in her eyes. Touching her fingertips to Betty's, tears filled her own eyes. "Hey mu." Bella had claled her that since she was young. She had picked it up from a passing straanger and it meant 'mother'. "I've missed you."

Pulling her hand back, she sighed, looking around. "On a ship. I have a job. And I'm coming home for a few days."

[takeyouaway]

Betty was happy for this moment of connection with Betty. "Everyone here misses you, but none more then me." Grabbing the near by stool, Betty sat. She heard Jacob behind her, smiling, saying it was ok that he was there. He kept all secrets. "Jacob says hi darling."

Betty beamed. Bella had a job and that made her happy. "Oh honey will this one work out? Are they helping out with you coming? With the job?" Her voice had lowered slightly. Jacob was making sure there were no eavesdroppers, but with Laline's maid, you never knew.

[Arabella Hart]

Bella leaned forward again, eager to talk. "yes, I think it will. Oh Betty, this place feels like I could belong. I mean, I'v emet someone here. And they want to do the job. And I can actually help someone on here where my grandfather worked with those files. And then I'm bringing someone as my husband to throw my grandmother off." It had been a fwe days since they had talked, so Bella was excited.

Biting her lip, she smiled. "Someone here will pretend to be my husband. A new bit of the plan. So I can't be matched up you see? And there's a companion here and an older gentleman who was raised Alliance, so they can be his parents. We will be up two days before, so I can spend some time with you and get all the stuff at a pawn shop-the rings." Bella hoped Betty took this all in with her quickness.

[takeyouaway]

Betty's head swam as she heard Jacob choking. Seeing panic on Bella's face, she waved her hand. "Jacob. He's looking out and won't say a word to anyone-not even Alec if you don't want." Actually, this new development made it easier for Bella to leave. A moment with a spouse was common here, so she could just slip out with this boy. "This will work out best. I love it."

"Ok you say you've met someone? one, isn't it soon being on there? Or is he elsewhere? And two, what about Alec? I thought you loved him still?" Betty was also burning with questions.

[Arabella Hart]

Bella bute he rlip a little harder and tasted blood. She felt like a child being scolded. "Mu, it's not too soon. The feelings are real." Bitterness crept back into her tone. The same from ealier, but for someone else. "Alec no longer matters. He hasn't for a long time. He's the one who left me Betty. Not the other way around like averyone believes. He's the one who needs his head on straight. Everyone needs to see I do not love him anymore. Even you."

Bella covered her eyes in frustration and hurt. She didn't know what to do.

[danieltam]

Daniel headed up towards the bridge where he saw Bella talking to who he assumed to be Betty. He saw Bella in some degree of distress. He put his arm round her to try and comfort her. "Hey, what wrong? You ok?" He had completely forgotten that Betty was watching them on the screen. All he cared about was making Bella feel better.

[takeyouaway]

Betty felt bad for getting Bella upset. Sighing, she rubbed her temples. "Nyen ching-duh....I'm sorry. I just meant, you had so much history and were so good together. You were so hurt after it all. i thought you still loved him."

But she stopped before she could continue her thoughts. A young man came on the screen. He seemed to be comforting Bella. That brought a soft smile, but she wiped it away, clearing her throat. "Hello. I'm Betty. You must be the one being Bella's husband?"

[Arabella Hart]

Bella let her hands remain. "Betty, I thought I was in love once. He wasn't the man I htought he was." Her voice was calm, even. it was the truth. Leaning into Daniel though, she felt better. "Betty, this is my boyfriend, Daniel." Looking at Daniel, she came from behind her hands. "Daniel, this is my mu. My second mother, Betty."

[danieltam]

Daniel felt really awkward upon hearing Bella talk about love. She must have been talking about Alec. He knew that they had gone out but he never knew that she felt so strongly about him. He looked up towards Betty, "Hi. Yeah I'm the one thats gonna pretend to be her um.......husband." It was still a difficult notion for him to get his head round, and will probably continue to be so even when they get to the ball. Daniel didn't know what to say. Bella still seemed pretty upset. "Don't worry. Its ok. I'm here for you."

[takeyouaway]

Betty nodded. She watched Bella with intent eyes. Sighing she felt bad. "I't snice to meet you. Don't worry. It takes time to get used to these plans." She watched a moment longer, then smiled. "Daniel, will you look out for her?" Then she touched the screen. There was a noise that wasn't Jacob. "Bella baby, I have to go. Please know I love you. And send a wave when you land. If everyone is in the kitchen, or just in case, yell that the meat went bad so you had to go get more." Betty touched the button and turned. She went back to the menu just as Laline came in. She already missed Bella intently.

[out-sinclair estate]

[Arabella Hart]

Bella looked as Betty disappeared. She wished that Betty could have stayed. "I love you too mu." Collapsing back, seh shook her head. "I'm soryr about that. I dunno what you heard, but Alec really was nothing. Everyone blows it up. I was only fifteen." She knew that may not make it better, but it was true. SHe was young and caught up in it all.

[danieltam]

Daniel looked to Betty when she spoke to him. "Don't worry. I'll look after her." He gave a little smile to her before turning his attention back to Bella. He was still sceptical about Alec. He was more worried about what would happen if Alec should suddenly decide to want her back. "I believe you when say you no longer feel anything for him. I just hope that he feels the same."

[Arabella Hart]

Bella nodded. She knew he had no feelings left. "He broke up with me. There's nothing there." Pulling back from him, she rubbed her eyes. "I wante dyou to meet her quickly before I saw Mal and then you helped your mom. I didn't want this all to happen." Getitng up, she didn't want anyone near her right now. Her bag was abandoned on the other side of the room. Picking it up, she fiddled with it, not wanting to leave, but not knowing what to do.