This my first ever attempt at writing fanfiction, and Derena is my favourite pairing on Gossip Girl so i figured I'd write for them. This story continues from 5x16, with the difference being that Dan came back to the hospital after Cece died. I really hope people like it.

Summary:

Serena decides to let go of Dan and move on, enabling him to be with Blair. Derena/Dair/Scarter

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the storyline

Somebody That I Used To Know

He saw her just sitting there, staring lost into space. The corridor was quiet, and she was alone, and he could tell that she really needed someone so he walked over. Serena looked up as he approached.

"What are you doing here" she said, eyes looking up at him with surprise.

He sat down next to her, "I wanted to see if you were okay". She looked down at her feet. "So how are you doing?", he said.

"How do you think. My grandma is dead. I also just found out that Charlie is actually some random actrees who my crazy aunt hired to pretend to be her daughter," she said, her voice filled with emotion, "her real names Ivy by the way and my real cousin wants absolutely nothing to do with me, my family and the Upper East Side"

He could see she was feeling broken, and wished there was something he could do. "Serena," he said "I . . ."

"No", she said pushing him away, her voice suddenly strong, "You don't get to do that anymore. You don't get to be that guy for me. I don't need you to be that guy for me"

Those words struck a chord inside of him, he wanted to be that guy for her, he liked being that guy. She was in pain and he hated seeing her like that. He couldn't understand what the problem was.

"I'm just trying to help. We're friends right. This is what friends do." He moved closer to her, but once again she pulled away, standing up this time. He looked at her, confusion written all over his face. There was a barrier between them tonight that hadn't been there before and the steely look in her eyes let him know that she'd closed her walls to him and it made him afraid but he wasn't sure why. His only guess was that it had to do with the fact she'd told him she loved him, and he hadn't exactly given her the response that she wanted. He joined her off the bench.

"What's going on," he said "Is this . . . is this to do with what happened at the wedding, because I know I didn't say this before, but I still care about you.

She shook her head at that turning to the side, refusing to meet his gaze.

"Serena," he said, "can you just look at me for a second?"

the urgent tone in his voice caused her to finally make eye contact, "You're one of my closest friends and I don't wanna lose that"

She stared at him before saying

"Dan, we're not really friends are we"

"Yeah we are", he replied

"No we're not. If we were, you wouldn't have spent today and the past couple of weeks chasing my best friend. You would've been here with the family, with Cece as she died, like I was, like your dad was, like even my fake cousin was"

At this Dan hung his head. He couldn't deny that Blair had been his focus, nor that she shouldn't have been. He and Cece hadn't exacttly started off being the best of friends, but she was definitle unique and he'd begun to appreciat that, and he was disappointed in himself for not being there for her at such a time.

"If we were friends," Serena continued, "we would talk to each other and not just when we run into each other at the penthouse, or when you come over to see Blair, or when Blair schemes to get us together. We'd make time for each other"

As she's saying this she begins to tear up, and Dan realises just how poor a friends he's been to her, and how much he's taken her for granted.

"and, I've tried Dan, but you're not interested. The only thing you care about right now is getting Blair. When was the last time we had a real conversation. And it's not even about just me, when was the last time you hung out with Nate or anyone but Blair. That is why I don't want you here right now trying to look after me, because that is the job of a friend, which you're not"

And with those words Serena turned and walked away, taking all his pride and dignity with her. He thought about running after her but he couldn't bring himself too. She was right. He leant back against the wall. She was right about everything, and with that conclusion he knew he had a lot to think about.

Tears began to fall down Serena's face as she walked away from Dan, and she wanted to turn back to him and allow him to comfort. She'd lied when she said that she didn't need him. Of course she did. He'd always been her rock, her safe place to go to when everything was going wrong. But she knew she was in the right here, so she kept going. She needed to stop depending on him because she clearly was no longer his priority.

She walked out of the doors of the hospital desperately craving the fresh air. She thought back to when she saw Blair kiss him earlier. It had been the right thing to do to give Blair the go ahead with Dan, she wanted them both to be happy.

"If you love someone let them go and if they come back to you then you know it's meant to be." She remembered one of the few pieces of advice that her mother had given to her.

It was after graduation, when she'd become engaged and Serena was mourning her failed relationships, her relationship with Dan in particular.

In that moment, standing outside the hospital, Serena realised she'd never let Dan go. Yes, she may have dated other guys, but the thought had always remained in the back of her mind that eventually they'd work it out and end up together. It was only know that Dan was in love with Blair, that she'd begun to accept that things might not work out that way.

"I need to move on", Serena decided, and she knew it wouldn't be easy but if she were to cope with Dan and Blair being together it was necessary, for their sake just as much as her own.

"Serena", voice cut through her thoughts, and she turned to see the last person she had expected.

"Carter?"

There Carter Baizen stood, decked out in a pair of chinos, a grey t-shirt and a leather jacket.

"It's been a while," he said with a slight smirk until he noticed the tear tracks down her face.

"Are you okay" he questioned.

She didn't know if this was the universe's way of saying they agreed that she needed to move on and live her life or what, but Carter was definitely a sight for sore eyes.

Wiping her eyes and smiling she replied, "I will be"

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