A/N: So this is very different from any story I've written and I think it will be interesting to experiment with. It's a lot of angst and not much else, so if you're expecting a lot of romance and fluff I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND. It's very different from how I normally write DB, but it was kinda fun to write so I may continue. Canon until 3x18 or somewhere around there. If you give it a chance, more power to you. But I understand it's not going to be everyone's taste.
I'll be happy to answer any questions people have!
Also I don't have a beta so I apologize for the mistakes.
Two years after his divorce to Blair Waldorf, best-selling author Daniel Humphrey seen holding hands with young screenplay writer, Risa Rogers. A romance between the two has been rumored for weeks, but no real evidence had surfaced until recently. "He's my best friend. I love spending time with him and truly admire him as an artist" Rogers said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. But isn't that how all the best love stories start?
Dan stood at the W party with his date and tried to ignore the whispers of people around him. He had never been able to escape the gossip and rumors that followed him around in high school. After his first book was published his second year of college, publicity followed him as closely as success.
It wasn't that he wanted to hide his relationship with Risa. She had tan skin, green eyes, and a sleek caramel blonde bob. She always laughed at all of his jokes, which he hadn't decided was good or bad yet. She was adorable and carefree, and most of all she never made him feel absolutely miserable. It was never a matter of wanting to hide her.
"Humphrey,"
Her voice caused Dan to flinch and his hand dropped from Risa's back. In that moment, he remembered why he never made their relationship public.
"Waldorf."
"Is this your new assistant?" The saccharine tone in her voice made him nauseas.
"This is my girlfriend, Risa Rogers. Risa, this is my ex-wife-"
"Blair Waldorf," Blair extended her hand immediately and Risa hesitantly took it.
He could see a fear resting in Risa's eyes, because she'd heard the stories- of their relationship, their marriage, and of course, their divorce. "You didn't answer my question."
"No, Blair," he sighed with annoyance, "She's not my assistant."
Sometimes Dan tried to place the moment he fell out of love with Blair. He was often left disappointed when he couldn't find it. As she challenged him with her glare, he kept his jaw tight, but couldn't resist the smile that found its way to his eyes.
So maybe he never fell out of love with her. But somewhere along the way, things changed. They started putting work before each other constantly, to the point where she would throw a bottle against the wall just to get his attention.
They forgot how to make love, simply and sweetly. They'd fuck in the bathroom at a party or on the tile floor of their kitchen and when she'd come she'd moan "I love you," and he'd be sent over the edge. This was typically the result of a fight only minutes earlier.
Many say they shouldn't have gotten married so young, because what do twenty two year olds know about forever?
Blair moved back to the penthouse and Dan kept the apartment. He would've been happy to hand it all over to her, but Blair didn't want it. Neither of them wanted to be reminded of the memories they shared there- good or bad.
One could assume the only thing that kept them in contact was their two year old daughter, Ella. She was their pride and joy and sometimes they regretted the fact that they couldn't share her together, but Dan truly believed the divorce was what was best for all of them.
Two years. It took him two whole years to recover from their divorce. Every woman he met was some lesser variation of Blair who couldn't hold his interest for more than a couple hours. Risa was different. When a production company wanted to buy the rights to his book for a movie, they sent her stumbling into his office as an attempt to persuade him. She was invested in the story, he could tell by the way she described his scenes to him. Her vision matched his. When it didn't, she'd bicker with him until he saw her side.
They struck up an immediate friendship, and after a few months of working together, Risa confessed that she was attracted to him. Dan had laughed, because he thought they were both entirely aware of the connection they shared. She told him romantic feelings had surfaced, but Dan wasn't there yet. It wasn't until a particularly vocal altercation with Blair that he made a move.
Risa had offered to take him out for drinks because he seemed down and after the first three he threw caution to the wind and crashed his lips into hers. He had only moved further on since.
"I've heard a lot about you," Risa grinned and Dan was pleased that her confidence had seemed to return.
Blair rolled her eyes and glanced at Dan again. "All bad, I'm sure."
Staring back at her, Dan realized that Blair wanted Risa to agree. She wanted to know that Dan had been venting about her or sharing stories about fights they had. She wanted him to be thinking about her when they weren't together.
"Where's Ella tonight?" Blair asked, her red silk gown catching the light of the chandelier.
"With her grandparents," Dan cleared his throat and placed a hand on Risa's arm, "Now if you'll excuse us, I could use a drink."
They stood at the bar waiting for their drinks and Dan looked out at the party around him. Blair really did have a talent for planning these UES events. Everything was always elegant and classy with a touch of flair for the occasion. He felt a deep sense of pride as he watched her stroll through the ballroom to mingle with guests.
"She's beautiful," Risa said, interrupting his thoughts.
"Yeah," he let out a sigh, "She is."
"Are you okay?"
"Thank you for coming with me tonight," Dan ignored her question and continued. "I know it's overwhelming and Blair probably won't make that any easier, but I like having you here. With me."
Risa nodded and smiled, "You've accomplished so much at a young age. I'm glad I get to be by your side when you celebrate it."
Dan could remember when Blair used to be by his side to celebrate his success. Often times, she was celebrating her own. When his first book was released, Blair used it as motivation to pursue her own career goals. She took a job as assistant to the editor at W. After a year or so of proving herself, they installed her as a permanent fashion columnist. However, the more Dan's success took off, the more Blair felt like she had go further. The year before they divorced, Blair became W's official event coordinator.
Sometimes it felt like she was constantly trying to out do him, when Dan only wanted the best for her. He wished she would've focused more on their marriage than trying to make her name better known than his.
"I'm glad too," he grinned as a slow song began echoing throughout the ballroom. "Would you like to dance?"
Dan pulled Risa into his arms and his breath hitched when her fingers curled over his jaw. It didn't help that he could feel Blair's eyes burning into this back. He forced himself not to look over his shoulder at her.
"How's your new prison story going?" He asked to take his mind off of things.
"I'm still struggling with the love story, you know? Is it tormenting, all consuming? Or is it ironically sweet and romantic?"
Dan nodded, furrowing his brow at her question.
He opened his mouth to reply when Blair approached them from behind.
"Well aren't you two adorable," Blair said, clearly sarcastic. "Risa, would you mind if I share this dance with my husband?"
"Ex," Dan corrected her pointedly, "And that's not necessary."
"It's okay, Dan." Risa smiled calmly and took a step back.
He watched his girlfriend walk away as Blair found her way into his arms.
Dan rolled his eyes as he pulled her into an embrace.
"What are you doing, Blair?"
"How could you bring her here? To my party,"
He snaked his arm more tightly around her small waist and narrowed his eyes.
"Three things. One- if it's your job to plan parties, they're technically not your parties. Two- You know I need to keep an upstanding relationship with W. They've written features on both of my books, with a promised article about the movie. Three- Risa is my girlfriend. I'm allowed to bring her as a date."
Blair grabbed one of his lapels and yanked him down to her level.
"It makes me look stupid, to have you show up with some nineteen year old child."
Dan pressed his mouth to her ear, a gasp escaping her. "How do you think it made me look when you fucked Carter Baizen however many times during our separation?"
When he pulled away, Blair's gaze was locked with hers, her eyes hooded with desire. He quickly snapped back into focus.
"I need to get back to my girlfriend."
Blair ignored his comment. "We had some good memories here. Remember after your first book release party, when we stayed after everyone had left?"
Dan strained to remember anything past their wedding day.
"You laid me down on that bar, right over thereā¦" she trailed off, gauging his reaction. "I can still remember the feeling of the cool marble under my back as your tongue licked my-"
"Fuck, Blair." Dan dropped his arms and stepped away from her, shaking his head. "Don't do that."
He ran a hand through his hair nervously, faking a smile when Risa made eye contact with him. It was time to leave.
"I'm happy, okay?" he glanced at Blair once more time, "Let me be."
