Truth, Blair, or Consequence

Story Title: Truth, Blair, or Consequence

Story Summary: It is a toss up really. He never quite knows what option to choose, no matter how old they get. Dan/Blair. AU. Collection of oneshots.

Genre: Romance/General


Chapter Focus: Prompt 27 of 1000 Theme Challenge, "Almost Paradise"

Chapter Rating: K to K+

Word Count: … I forgot to count


Author's Starting Notes: Of all the non-canon couples, Dan/Blair is definitely my number one. I love their chemistry and beauty. Truth, Blair, or Consequence will be a collection where I will put pieces I have written about this darling pairing. This first one is being posted due to Seven Days of Updating, and I should warn you that this is fluff. Read and review.

Time Stamp: Posted December 27, 2008


Almost Paradise (#27)

He has never felt more alive than he does in that single moment. His hand on her back, her laughter ringing in his ears like a thousand violins. It is heaven, as is every moment with her. She sparks an interest in him no woman before her has ever been able to. She smiles, and the light around them grows dim. She blinks, and no brown liquid ever looks as enticing. She breathes, and not a single intake of oxygen seems as appealing. What is it about this girl that captures him? What makes her so special, so breathtaking, so Blair?

Is it the way each and every curl in her hair is set at precisely the same angle, cascading down like spilt coffee off a dining room table onto the cream carpeted valley of her shoulders? Is it the velvet, honey-like texture of the thin layer separating their bodies on the dance floor? Is it the way her plush, red lips speak his name like it is her dying phrase, her very last word on this Earth?

"Dan," she whispers. Urgency fills her tone, and it has nothing to do with the music playing behind them. "Dan," she says again. He has to remind himself to breathe.

"What?" he finally stutters after gaping at her for what seems like an eternity. He can tell from the look of her face that it really has been a while; also, that she enjoyed the attention. Her eyes dance gaily.

"Do you want to sit down? You seem a little breathless," she notes. He wants to say something cool like 'only around you, babe' or 'you haven't seen breathless yet', but all he can find in his extensive vocabulary seems to be four letter words.

"Okay," he agrees.

She takes the hand in his and pulls him to a table. She stands patiently next to a chair. He learned earlier that Blair refused to sit unless in a gentleman's presence. Ever since then, he has pulled out her chair every time they were together. She sits when he does, and together they enjoy the little slice of heaven they are given during those fleeting moments.

He watches her again, unable to pull his eyes away.

She's flushing. Her skin rosy and childish with the new shade added in. She ducks her head to try and hide, but knows it is no use. He can always find Blair, find anything and everything about her as well. Maybe if they had known each other as children there wouldn't be so much standing in their way. They collide perfectly in a pattern that feels too natural to be anything other than true love. They are a brilliant composite, like a well-pieced-together novel.

Both need exploration, adventure, trust, yearning, achievement, climax, and - ultimately - a conclusion. Never too much of the last, or it just doesn't work out. It is a good thing they will never conclude. One cannot stop what one never really began. Together, they skipped a step, straight to the middle, almost as if they had peeked at the Spark Notes before reading. He does not mind. The middle always has been his favorite part.

"Stop that," she orders. She is still not used to the amount of attention he bestows upon her every time they are alone. It is as if she is the only one there, and, if he looks away, she will vanish.

"I'm sorry. You're gorgeous, Blair. You're just… amazing," compliments the young man. She flushes a little more.

"You're going to spoil me, Dan," she warns him.

"Like Mommy and Daddy didn't already," he mocks. She smiles good-naturedly.

"Fine, then. In that case, I get to shower you in compliments as well," she tells him.

"Take out the 'in compliments', and you've got yourself a deal." Maybe he has something witty in him after all.

She laughs, tossing her head back smoothly. "When did you get so clever?" she asks, laughter still in her expression.

"Some time between our last meeting and today, I suppose," he says.

"Well, inform me next time. It's not lady-like to laugh at company," she declares.

"It's a good thing I'm not looking for a lady then," he comments.

"You aren't? A man then?" she wonders. He chuckles.

"Let me correct myself, I'm not looking for a lady, because I've already found a woman," he explains, "A woman who is not only beautiful but intelligent and talented as well."

Blair gasps exaggeratedly. "Who is this woman? Daniel, are you forgetting to tell me something?" Blair questions mock fearfully.

"Yes, Blair, I've found someone else to hide with in corner spaces on Thursday nights," he informs her gaily.

"But, think of all we've been through," Blair pleads. Dan shakes his head.

"I'm sorry, Blair. I just love my little cuddle muffin so much."

Blair bursts out laughing at that. "Cuddle muffin? Way to lose all realism, Humphrey!"

He laughs along with her. "I ran out of ideas, sue me," he says with a shrug.

"I could if you wanted me to. I wouldn't suggest it though. Wouldn't want to lose the loft, now would we?"

"Never! Then where would we go on those nights when we can't get a reservation here?"

"There's a motel a few blocks East of here," she mentions.

"Motels are tacky. Even for us Brooklyn dwellers," he scoffs.

"You know, I really love this place," she tells him, gazing off at the little spot.

"Yeah, it's gorgeous," he says nostalgically.

"And peaceful," she adds quietly.

"Not to mention has great food," he piles on.

"It's like paradise," she continues. He nods emphatically. He wants to say something more, but is cut short by the all-too-familiar ring tone. She gives him that face then. There is this look she gets when their time is growing short. Her eyes dull just a tad, her nose scrunches, and the perky grin drains from her face. He hates seeing it, but he has gotten used to it… sort of.

She reaches for her phone, glances at the screen, and pushes out of her seat. She glides over to the side by the door and, just like that, his Blair is gone. The girl he flirts with, dreams about, and loves with all his heart dissolves into the girl the world she lives in has told her to be.

Their normal waiter comes pass, dropping the check down with his typical frown.

"Chuck?" the waiter asks. Dan nods.

"Another Thursday is really over," Dan sighs.

"Don't worry, man. You're little paradise getaway will be waiting for you for next week," the waiter assures, "Then again, it isn't really paradise if you can't get away from it all. Looks like this place is almost paradise."

Dan frowns. That's what everything seems to be with Blair.

He sighs, saying, "Yeah, almost paradise."

Suddenly, he doesn't feel so alive anymore.


© Everything written above belongs to me (FF user, Paint Me a Symphony). If somebody is out there pushing this as their own, they are lying. I may not own Gossip Girl, or its characters, but I do own this.