Set after end of 3.21
Dan looked at her, and couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart. After the past couple of years, she was still the girl he had fallen in love with. Not to mention, he still loved her, with all of his heart.
He had set his sights onto something that wouldn't work when it looked like the marriage was there to stay, but right now, he didn't care. He didn't care about Vanessa, he didn't care about Nate and Rufus and Lily had already gone to hell in his eyes.
"Serena," he said, his voice soothing. She looked up at him, gorgeous blue eyes filled with despair. "Come here." He moved his arm so that its around her shoulders and she snuggled into his body.
"I just thought he'd be different." Her voice was quiet and she sounded absolutely miserable.
"I know," he murmured, tugging her closer. Her hand grasped onto his shirt, wrinkling it. "But you know, at least you can count on Nate." He hated the way the words came out, all sympathetic.
"I don't even know about Nate anymore. Sometimes, I don't even know why I'm with him. Sometimes, I-" She stopped, holding him tighter, rocking a little in time with the limo.
"Sometimes what?" His heart pounded and he wondered if she could hear it.
"Sometimes, I miss you."
"I've been right here."
She looked up at him, one hand going up to his cheek, grazing his stubbly chin. "Dan, I miss us."
"I miss us too," he admitted, his head inclining of its own accord. "I don't think I ever stopped loving you."
She leaned forward, eyes half hooded, every movement laced with hesitation and wonder. Her eyes fluttered closed and she pressed her lips to his, her body tingling from the explosion his touch gave me. Then as soon as it began, he pulled back. "What are you doing?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Serena, you have Nate and our family and-"
She kissed him again, trying to pour everything she felt into the kiss. "I don't care," she said, shaking her head and smiling at him. "Do I look like I care?"
The smallest of smiles broke out upon his face and he leaned forward, capturing her lips again. "God damn, Serena."
"Have you noticed that whenever I need you, you're always there?" she asked, and continued when he nodded. "Why?"
He touched his forehead to hers, and said, "Because I love you Serena. Always have, always will. Won't ever stop."
"Do you..do you want to be with me?" It came out quiet and filled with doubt and insecurities.
"Who wouldn't? You're amazing." His forehead wrinkled as he considered the consequences. "I don't care about our parents, but you're dating Nate and I'm dating Vanessa."
"I don't want to be with Nate."
"Do I look like I want to be with Vanessa?" The tiniest of laughs come from him as he pressed his lips to her forehead and drew her closer. "I want to be with you. We'll deal with it when it comes, alright? For right now, I think that we need some hot chocolate and you need some rest."
"Don't leave me." The words came out too fast, and at that moment, he realized how bad this whole thing affected her.
"Never," he promised, giving her a tiny squeeze. "I've always been here, always will be."
"Thank you," she said, burying her head into his neck and for the first time in weeks, relaxing.
Dan stared over the top of her head and unconsciously his grip on her tightened just a tiny bit. He wasn't sure why she was with him, but all he cared about was that she was, and for right now, that was all that mattered because he had always loved her and he's pretty damn sure he always will, no matter what.