A/N: This is the final chapter of my 'Birthday Story'. I thoroughly enjoyed writing and sharing it with you all. I have another 'Betty'-centric anthology in the works, so please stay tuned. Reviews and feedback are always appreciated.

"Kids hurry up, your father will be here any minute." Betty poked her head out the bedroom door to give Sally and Bobby another verbal warning. Turning back to the mirror, Betty admired her neat and classic outfit, a sleek black cocktail dress, perfect for a night out on the town. Betty reached for a silver hairpin to fasten her bun.

Henry always told her that he liked her hair up. Though Betty felt differently, she was willing to give into his request in an effort to keep peace. Henry had already done so much for her and the children, and tonight they were finally going to have a night out alone to celebrate her birthday.

A lot had changed for Betty in the past year. Betty pushed stray wisps of hair behind her ear. It started with Betty finding Don's dark secret, the one he had kept from her from the moment they met – a false identity, and a first wife to go along with it. Don had explained it away well enough – switching dog tags with a fallen soldier so that he could get a new life – but it didn't take away the sting that hit Betty. She asked Don for a divorce after Henry promised to marry her, and he gave in – not knowing what else to do.

Betty perused her jewelry box for the perfect anecdote to her outfit. Pearls, she thought with a smile. Henry loves pearls, he considers them 'classic'. Betty thumbed through her collection, eying the champagne colored, princess length necklace. She gingerly lifted it from the setting, holding the strand to the light. Each pearl was perfectly rounded, considered the most valuable pearl shape in the world. Betty held them around her neck, wondering if they would be inappropriate to wear tonight considering who bestowed the jewels to her. Henry doesn't have to know that they came from him, she thought quietly, connecting the clasp in the back of her neck. If he asks, I could tell them they were a gift from my father, or from a modeling job.

Betty closed her jewelry box before she was tempted to change her mind. She recalled the day Don gave her the necklace, during a surprise birthday party a few years before – before she knew who Henry was, before she knew who Don Draper was. Everything was so simple then, she mused. Her parents were around, things weren't tense with her brother William, and she seemed to have the perfect marriage with Don.

"Shoes," Betty said out loud in an effort to keep her mind on her pending dinner date with Henry. Betty settled on a simple pair of black high heels, something that wouldn't detract from the outfit. She walked over to her dresser for the final touch – the perfect perfumed scent. She lifted a bright crystal blue bottle – a Christmas present from Henry – that contained a hint of jasmine and vanilla. Spritzinig her neck and wrists, Betty was pleased with her appearance and was confident that her husband would be as well. Betty was used to being praised for her beauty by men and women alike, it was something that she had grown to cherish – to rely on, especially as she aged.

Betty eyed Sally from her bedroom mirror and beckoned her to come into the room. "How do I look?"

"Nice," Sally said politely. Out of all of the Draper children, the divorce had been the hardest on Sally. Baby Gene was still too young to know what was going on – for all intensive purposes, Henry was his father figure, and Bobby held onto his dream that his parents would get back together once again. As long as he saw both parties, he was fine. Sally seemed to know better, to know more about what was going on. Sally was no longer keeping faith in a reconciliation, but rather attempting to adjust to two homes and a new step-parent.

"Are you and Bobby done packing for the weekend?" Betty asked, putting away her makeup. "I don't want your father to have to come back to the house because you forgot something,"

"Everything's packed," Sally promised. "Where is Henry taking you tonight?" Sally had been adamant about not calling Henry 'Dad', and Bobby was more than willing to follow suit. Gene, who slowly mastering a small vocabulary had called Henry 'Da' on more than one occasion, much to the chagrin of older sister Sally.

"The opera, and dinner at the Savoy," Betty said, standing in one graceful motion. "Your father will drop you and Bobby off tomorrow – I expect both of you to be on your best behavior."

"Yes ma'am," Sally promised with a small wave.

Betty's heels clicked down the hall as she ducked into Henry's home office. Seeing that he was on the phone, Betty stepped back into the hallway to check her appearance one more time. To her dismay, she seemed to have traded one workaholic husband for another. Like Don, Henry was ambitious, determined to go further with his political career – which meant latching onto the ideal candidate. Henry spent his work days campaigning, fundraising, making speeches, and travelling throughout the Northeast, leaving Betty at home alone with the children once more.

The sound of the doorbell indicated that her date night was ready to begin – but not without talking to her ex-husband. Betty checked her hair once more, scolding herself for bothering to care what her ex thought of her. You spend too much time talking about him, Betty's friend Francine Hanson noted one afternoon, after a lengthy discussion on how irresponsible Don was when it came to collecting the kids for his designated weekend.

Smoothing her dress one last time, Betty opened the front door. Don Draper opened his mouth to speak but promptly closed it, unsure of what to say.

"Come on in," Betty gestured into the hallway, calling to the kids upstairs. These days the only times Betty and Don saw each other was when the kids were going from one house to another. They were past the court-appointed meetings, with Don receiving ample visitation and weekend visits with the two older children. Baby Gene never participated in overnight visits, given his young age.

"Did you want to see the baby?" Betty asked as Henry continued his conversation in the other room. Don nodded his head, following Betty up the stairs and into the nursery.

"He's grown," Don admired, holding the toddler.

"He's started walking," Betty explained. "He's got Bobby and the dog as coaches." Betty poked her head out, confirming that Henry was still occupied.

"You look amazing, Betty," Don complimented, handing the baby back to Betty. He looked at the necklace around her neck, nodding his head.

Betty tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thank-you." Betty instinctively touched the pearls, feeling her neck warm up. "Henry's taking me to the opera," Betty added, making polite conversation. The silence was making her nervous. How is that I can't be in the same room with him without losing control, Betty asked herself, afraid of what the answer was, what she knew it to be.

Don ducked into his pants pocket and produced a silver box for Betty. "Happy Birthday," he said with a small smile, handing her the package.

Their hands touched for an instant as Betty grasped the parcel. "You didn't have to," she said softly, lifting the lid. Betty's mouth formed an 'O' as she gazed upon a lovely blue bird pin. "Thank-you," she murmured, closing her eyes to keep them from welling up. She had seen the pin before in one of the local New York shops. She had pointed it out to Henry as they walked by the window one day in the hope that he would surprise her with it for her birthday. She had attempted to hide her disappointment when Henry presented her with a silk scarf at the breakfast table that morning.

"I saw it and thought of you."

Betty looked up at Don and nodded her head. Could he have known, she thought to herself. "It's lovely." She quickly closed the lid on the pin. There was no way she could wear it tonight – she couldn't bear it, and the thought of having Henry see it and ask where it came from – it would be too much. Betty placed the box on the dresser. "Do you have plans with the children?" she asked, in an effort to change the subject.

"Bobby and Sally wanted to go to the new toy museum."

"They'll love it," Betty agreed. "They miss seeing you."

"I miss them too," Don followed Betty's glance to a family picture hanging on the wall – it was taken shortly after Gene was born.

Betty sighed, echoing Don's unspoken sentiments and regrets.

"How are you?" Don asked quietly.

Betty turned to him, taken aback by his question. "Good," she whispered. "I'm happy." Betty struggled to not wince as she said the words.

"You finally got what you wanted then."

It hurt Betty to hear him say the words. This is why we retain lawyers, she thought, to keep from being alone. "Are you, happy?" Betty asked softly.

"We've both made mistakes," Don admitted. "I'm working on getting past them."

So am I, Betty wanted to say. "I hope you do," Betty acknowledged. "I truly mean that."

"Thank-you." Don touched Betty's shoulder. "I hope he knows what he has."

"He does," Betty breathed, closing her eyes, reeling from his touch.

Don moved his hand down to his side. They gazed at each other for what seemed like an eternity, soaking in their presence.

"Betty –" Don opened his mouth to break the silence.

"There you are." Betty and Don quickly turned to see Henry Francis standing in the doorframe. Henry crossed over to Betty, placing a kiss on her cheek. "Sorry for running late," he apologized. "A politician's day is never done." Henry laced his arm around Betty's waist, tightening his grip. "Don," he acknowledged with a small nod. "How are you?"

"Fine," Don nodded. "Just checking in on the baby."

Henry nodded his head. "Have you two sorted out the details for picking up the children?"

"Sunday evening," Don explained. Don glanced at Betty, who seemed tense in her husband's arms. "I'm going to go check on the kids." Don walked out the door. "Happy Birthday."

Betty let out a breath, saying nothing, not even looking at Don for fear of crying.

Don walked down the hall, running into Sally standing in the hallway. She gave her father a big hug. "I missed you."

"I missed you two Salamander," Don said, rubbing her hair.

"Did you get to see the baby?" Sally asked, expectantly. She had instructed Bobby to stay in his room while their parents were in the nursery.

"I did," Don grinned as he instructed her to take her overnight bag downstairs.

Henry and Betty lingered in the nursery while Don helped Bobby and Sally load the car.

"I trust you two had a chance to catch up," Henry said, turning to Betty.

"Umm," Betty agreed.

"Glad to see that you two can be in the same room together." Henry let out a laugh. "It took years and a cross country move for my ex-wife and me to speak to each other without a lawyer present."

Betty moved out of Henry's embrace, taking one last look at the baby.

"It almost seems that I was interrupting," he smirked.

"What?" Betty asked, clenching her fists against her sides.

"Just making a joke," Henry laughed. "I don't have to worry about you two do, I?"

"No," Betty said firmly, following him out of the room.

"Good. I have one more thing to check in the office – I'll meet you downstairs."

Betty nodded her head, walking down the stairway.

"Bye Mommy," Bobby and Sally gave their mother a quick hug.

"Be good for your father," Betty kissed each one on the forehead. She looked up to Don. "Have a good weekend."

"You too," Don seconded as the kids crowded next to him. Don instructed Sally to take Bobby to the car. "Take care, Betts."

"You too." With a heavy heart, Betty watched Don close the door behind him.

"We should do date nights more often," Henry said, coming up behind her. He took Betty's hand in his.

"Maybe we should," Betty agreed. "As long as work isn't an issue for you."

Henry laughed. "I will always make time for you."

"Good." Betty offered her husband a smile. "Are we finally ready?"

"Yes we are." Henry took Betty's arm in his, looking at her pearl necklace. "I don't think I've ever seen you wear that before," he admired. "Where did you get it?"

Betty paused for a moment, quickly choosing which story to utilize. "My first modeling job," she said proudly. "My mother told me to buy something special to remember it by, and I saw these pearls in a jeweler's window – I couldn't say no."

"You should wear them more often – they suit you," Henry complimented.

Once the sitter arrived, they walked down the hall, turning off the lights. Betty took one last look at the bedroom. She had started a new life with a new partner. So why does he still have a hold on my heart, Betty asked as she braced herself on the banister. Henry closed the office door and placed a perfunctory kiss on his wife's cheek.

"What in the world are you thinking about?" Henry asked.

"How lucky I am to have been able to start over with you," Betty said quietly. "Did you imagine that your life would be like this?"

"No," Henry mused. "In some ways, I think it's better than what I ever had in mind – I found you."

Betty nodded her head, feeling guilty for not feeling the same way about Henry. How long can I keep fooling myself – keep fooling him? Betty started down the staircase, tracing the railing with her fingertips. We both made mistakes, I'm working on getting past them. Don's words echoed through her mind. What if I'm making a mistake now? Is it too late to go back, is there anything to go back to? Betty adjusted her hair once more in the hall mirror. Betty never imagined herself bitter and divorced from Don. The man was the love of her life, and for all she knew he still could be. The question that remained was if she could ever admit that to herself.

"Did you get another birthday present?" Henry asked, distracting her from her thoughts.

"What?"

"I saw a little gift box on the bedroom dresser."

Betty tugged at Henry's arm, urging him to hurry. "A gift from Francine," she said quickly as they to the front door. "She's a very good friend."

"I'm glad," Henry said, seemingly pleased with the explanation.

Betty locked the door behind them as they walked to the car.

"Are you happy?" Henry asked, opening the door for her.

"I am," Betty said softly, patting his hand. "I really am." It was easier to lie than to admit the truth, or to allow her doubts to take over. It was still her birthday, and that should entitle her to one night of fantasy, away from the unpleasant reality that was becoming more and more obvious. There was always tomorrow for that.