Summary: This story is set in the future. The prologue takes place just before they are to start college. The bulk of the story takes place 6 years after that. This story was inspired by the song "Case of the Ex"

Dan is with someone else. Everything in his life is perfect until Serena takes him up on an offer he made long ago.

Pairing: Dan/Serena

Prologue

6 Years Earlier …

It was like an image from an old black and white film: two lovers on the train platform saying their final goodbyes. It was a heart-wrenching scene that would touch even the coldest of hearts. Dan and Serena clung to each other one last time; neither of them ready to let the other go. They were on the cusp of a life changing moment in their lives. For two years they had other to reach out to when things got rough, but now they were headed on different paths. Despite their proclamations that they could handle the long distance, Serena knew that the odds were not in their favor.

Dan was headed for Dartmouth. The first of many dreams had come true. Serena was sure that he would be someone great. In her opinion, the world deserved to know the real Dan Humphrey and she was willing to let him have the time he needed to become the person she knew he could be. Serena on the other hand, was off to Europe to try her hand at the glitz and glamour that seemed to come so easily to her. She didn't have a plan like her friend Blair or dream that she was passionate about like Dan. But, she knew that she was happiest when she modeled. The only other time that she felt any sort of content was when she was with Dan. Thanks to Dan's goading she'd agreed to put herself out there and reach for what amounted to her very own dream or at least dream job. Last week, she'd been informed that she would be sent off to Europe where she'd be living with three other girls in an apartment in France. A part of her was excited for this new adventure, but it also saddened her because she wouldn't have Dan to share it with.

Serena smiled up at him, grateful that Rufus had let her see Dan off to school. She knew he wanted to say goodbye to his son, but she just couldn't help but be a little selfish since she knew he had a lifetime of moments of Dan ahead of him while for her this might be her last one. They'd spent the better half of an hour trying to delay the inevitable.

"So, I guess this is it?" Serena said.

"I'm gonna miss you," whispered Dan as he gently touched his forehead to her.

"I'm scared Dan. I'm scared that without you, I'll become that girl I used to be."

He ran his fingers along her cheek and said, "No, no you won't. You're strong Serena; stronger than you give yourself credit for. You just needed to believe in yourself. Can you promise me something?"

"Anything," Serena replied.

"If you ever feel weak or need someone to talk to, call me. Just call me. I'll be there, Serena."

"I, I, uh promise Dan. Why do I feel like this is the end?"

"Nah, this isn't the end, it's just the end of the beginning."

Serena smiled through her tears and said, "that sounds nice. Oh, Dan. I don't think I can do this."

Dan held her close for a moment, rubbing her back as she cried into his shoulder. "Shh, its gonna be okay. We're gonna be okay." He lifted her head so that she was looking him in the eyes. "Do you wanna know why, Serena? Because we have love. Always and Forever. No matter what happens, I'll never stop loving you."

Serena clung to him and closed her eyes as he peppered her gentle face with sweet caresses. She wanted to savour every last touch and hold it close to her heart. She was going to need the memory of his love to get her through the loneliness of not seeing him every day. Dan kissed her softly one last time. It was barely more than a brush across her lips yet it made her quiver fro more. She beckoned for him not to stop; to keep going. She wanted him to brand her with his touch so that she'd have one last reminder that clung to her skin. The kiss deepened and she could feel the familiar sensation that had her swimming in pure emotion. It was heady and intoxicating. It was the touch that was pure Dan. A touch so titillating it had her begging for me each and every time. Eventually, the kis came to an end and her eyes fluttered open. The emotion she saw in his eyes was enough to break her heart. In his chocolate brown depths the fear and anxiety that she felt were mirrored in them. She simply wrapped her arms about his neck and lay her head on his shoulders. The sound of the train arriving forced them to part at last. Serena watched with tears in her eyes as he boarded the train. She stood on the platform long after the train had departed. She was alone and unlike Dan, she knew that they would not survive the distance.