hey guys! I didn't like how the Dan-Blair story was played out at the end of season 4, so this my own version of how i would have like it to end. This is when Ben is still in the picture and Louis has not yet made a re-appearance.

The Humphrey-Waldorf Thing

Chapter.1: The Gift

Dan Humphrey was tired of looking at all the clothes in the woman's clothing store he was in. They all looked the same to him. How did women find what they were looking for? Or did they even find it?

He needed help. He was here looking for a gift for his mother's upcoming birthday. If Jenny had still been here, she would have helped him. If he and Serena were still dating, she would have chosen something with eyes closed! If he and Vanessa were still friends…. There were lots of 'if's' in his mind right now. He sighed, keeping the blue sweater that he realized he was holding in hid hand, back in its place, hanging it behind the red sweater which was exactly like the blue one.

If Blair was here with him, she would have laughed at his dilemma and even pointed out to him how different the two sweaters precisely were. That was Blair Waldorf, a 'dictator of taste', his own words for her. He smiled thinking of her.

Then he thought, why not call Blair for help? Surely, she might be free. After leaving her job at 'W', Blair only had to attend classes, which she didn't need to, because her minions did it for her. Blair would be a tremendous help in searching for a perfect gift for his mother. She was a girl. And she was his friend. He could at least ask her.

Thinking so, Dan pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed her number. The phone rang four times. Blair must have freshly painted her nails and must be calling Dorota to pick the phone for her. Dan smiled. He found Blair and her antics amusing. Funnily these were the same antics which he had earlier thought as stupid.

"Humphrey", Blair answered on the fifth ring. "To what may I owe the pleasure?" she continued. Dan smiled before answering. Blair always managed to make him smile. Or even amused or irritated for that matter. "I don't have all day!" Blair nearly shouted when Dan hadn't answered. "I need your help", Dan replied. "For?" she enquired. "Choosing a perfect gift for my mother. It's her birthday next week".

"Hmm….next week. Aren't you a bit late?" she asked Dan. "I know. I know. But here, everything looks the same to me. I seriously need help!" Dan said looking around the store." "And where exactly is 'here'?" Blair asked and screamed at him to get out of the place when she heard the same. "I, so, didn't expect this of you, Humphrey. Now, get to my place in ten". She snapped the phone shut. In answer, Dan rushed to hail a cab.

"Dorota!"Blair screamed. "Where's my lipstick?"She continued screaming. "Miss Blair" Dorota came with the lipstick in her hand, which Blair snatched and started colouring her lips, a pretty pink. Dorota looked on with a disapproving expression. "Why are you looking at me like this?"Blair asked, raising her delicate eyebrows at Dorota in the mirror. Before she could reply, however, the lift doors opened and Dan called, "Blair".

"Coming" Blair answered. "Is everything kept in my bag?"She threw at Dorota as she picked up her matching baby pink bag. "Yes. Miss Blair" Dorota tried to talk. "Not now Dorota. I have some serious shopping to do". She climbed down the stairs to find Dan Humphrey smiling at her. "Thanks Blair. I know this was last minute. And" Blair interrupted him, "Save it Humphrey. Like you rightly pointed out, you need help". She walked right to the lift.

As Dan was about to follow, Dorota appeared on the stairs. "Hello Dorota" Dan greeted her politely. Dorota merely looked at him. "Humphrey!"Blair called from the lift. Dan walked to the lift, still looking at Dorota. "Will you please flirt with Dorota later?"Blair said. "I was not flirting!"Dan exclaimed, looking at Blair, who had her lips pursed as if she was trying not to laugh. "Yeah. Later."Dan said, nodding to himself and pressing the button for ground floor, unable to keep himself from smiling.

"Um...Blair" Dan said uncomfortably, looking at her. When Blair had insisted that they take the limousine, he hadn't objected. But now when they wee standing outside 'Eleanor Waldorf's' boutique, he wasn't so comfortable. "Humphrey, c'mon" Blair said flicking her eyes at the door, which was being held open by the doorman. "After you" Dan said. Blair smiled and went inside followed by Dan.

The boutique was beautiful. He knew his mother would love anything which was created by Eleanor Waldorf.
"This way", Blair pointed to a door at the farthest end. When Dan didn't move, Blair whirled around, looking at Dan. "You know I can't shop here" Dan said. "Because?"Blair asked. "Isn't it obvious?"Dan raised his eyebrows. "Dan Humphrey" Blair said slowly, enunciating each word, walking towards him. "When you ask for my help, you take it". She took his hand and towed him towards the door she had pointed to earlier. She pulled the door open with the flick of a card which she had taken out of her bag and led Dan indoors.

"This is the place where your mother's perfect gift awaits" Blair announced. Dan looked around. There were rows of racks filled with beautiful dressed arranged in garment bags. "I know just the dress", she continued, walking towards the rack nearest to the big floor-length mirror. "What's your mother's favourite colour?" she asked.

"Er..."Dan fumbled. He thought what the point was. He couldn't afford anything from here. "Let me guess," Blair said, "You don't know." "No," Dan said. "It's wine, actually. She loves that colour." He looked at Blair, then said, "Blair." She held up a hand to stop him. "Humphrey. Do you know what room is this?" he shook his head. "It is the store-room, where all of my mother's creations, which are not sold at the time they are made, are kept. They are stored here to be brought out again when that fashion is in vogue. But that obviously takes time. Till then, everything here is affordable. Reasonable. Lovely!" her eyes sparkled as she finished her little speech and looked at Dan.

"Seriously?"Dan asked. "Seriously," Blair replied. "You want to help me look for the perfect wine-coloured dress for your mother?" she asked. "A dress designed by Eleanor Waldorf?" Dan asked, as if making sure that this was actually true. "Yes Dan," Blair replied, her lips twitching as she fought not to smile at the look on Dan's face. "You bet!" Dan exclaimed, his face breaking into a huge smile.

It was this smile that she had been waiting for. Of all the guys she knew, be it Nate or Chuck, Dan was the most genuine of them all. He meant everything he said. Sure, he lied every once and then. But it was mostly for Serena. And she understood that. She had lied countless time for chuck.

"It has to be here," she said looking at the tags attached to the garment bags, on which the name of the collection and the year were written. She pulled out a garment bag. This dress belonged to one of the most recent of her mother's collection, it had been a sell-out. But there were two dresses which had not been sold. As yet. She unzipped the bag carefully. She smiled when she found what she was looking for. It was a beautiful evening gown, a wrap-dress with a low neck. It had a glittering row of intricate embroidery at the neck. She remembered Allison, Dan's mother well. She was sure that this dress would suit her body, height and complexion. It would bring out the best of her.

"Dan," she said, looking for him but he had sauntered over to the other end of the room. "What are you doing there?" she asked. "Look at this," Dan said, holding up a shimmery silver strapless dress. "You picked it out?" she asked. "For you," Dan replied, walking over to where she stood and giving her the dress. "Me?" Blair nearly squeaked. "yes." Dan answered calmly. This was another thing she liked about Dan. He was always so calm and clear about everything. Okay. What was she thinking? Her. Liking Dan? Impossible. "Try it," he said and pushed the dress in her hand, taking the wine-coloured dress from her. Their fingers brushed as he did this and she felt something. Something very similar to an electric shock. "Is this for my mom?" he asked, awe evident in his voice. "This gown is beautiful Blair! She'll love it! You are amazing!"He exclaimed. Blair blushed. "Tell me something new," she tried to wave it off. Dan laughed. "Now go try the dress," he said. "Humphrey," she started to say. "now." He ordered. She narrowed her eyes at him. "You know where the changing room is," he continued, "or do you want my help to look for it?" "No," Blair snapped. She turned on her heel and stalked off.

Blair examined herself carefully in front of the mirror in the changing room. The dress hugged her body as if it was made for her. It flaired out at the waist and ended at her knees. She knew she looked good. More than good, actually. But would Dan think so too? When did what Dan think become so important? Whatever. Blair ignored this thought, flipped her hair behind and went out of the changing room. Dan was lounging on the stool which was kept for workers to make adjustments.

As she emerged out of the changing room, he saw her reflection in the floor-length mirror and his mouth popped open. Blair was pleased by his reaction. He then tried to get up and turn around in a hurry but ended up falling off the stool. Blair giggled.

"Sorry," Dan mumbled and straightened himself. "What do you think?"She asked innocently, pirouetting in front of him. "I think," Dan took a breath. "You look beautiful!" "Thank you Dan," Blair said sincerely. They were staring into each others eyes when the saleswoman entered the room, "Miss Waldorf, do you need any help?" Blair broke eye contact and looked at the saleswoman. "You are?"Blair asked. "Jessica," the saleswoman introduced herself. "Jessica, I'm taking this dress that I'm wearing and Mr. Humphrey here is purchasing the gown that he is holding. Could you gift wrap it for him?" "Yes. Of course," Jessica said moving towards Dan and taking the gown from him. Blair smiled at Jessica who hurried out of the room.

"You like the dress?" Dan asked Blair. "I love it!"She replied. Dan smiled at her. "And to think you worked at 'W' for all of one day!" she said, smiling at him. "It's not 'W'," Dan said. "Its you." Before Blair could react, Jessica appeared at the door. "Your package is ready". "Thank you Jessica," Dan said politely. "We shall collect it," Blair dismissed her. "Humphrey," she said to Dan. He looked at her. "I'm going to change," she announced and walked to the changing room.

Dan had a feeling she was about to say something else. He smiled to himself.