This is for all those readers who waited so patiently…This takes place after my last sequel; Hope you're not disappointed. Please I love reading your reviews Be Kind Review!

Ignorance is Never Bliss

It had been another confusing battle between what was the gentlemen like thing to do and what was considered proper. Blair never gave him that sort of opportunity to decide what sort of man he would be around her and that was a hard thing for him to measure. Even if Serena had played his heart for a fool so many times he couldn't help but choose to keep coming back for the brutal torture that Blair made of him. What was it about her that kept making him return for more? Was it her fragility? Her passion? Or maybe the fire behind her soul that seemed so constant behind those chocolate brown eyes of hers that could not be replaced by anyone else. No matter the choices that he made in the last couple of days Blair Waldorf had been the only constant force that made sense in his life.

Any last signs of humility were thrown out the window as he waited patiently for the sound of the car stopping and the sound of his heart to stop rushing through his ears. So many times he's wished to be brave and make his way for her to just thrust her away from the UES and claim her as his own. Even if Blair wished to deny her feelings he could not and his heard would not spare his feelings from bleeding into the pages. What better thing was there for him to do then indulge into what the heart wanted?

The bright yellow dirty cab comes to a halt throwing Dan's pen against his page and butchering the words love and tussled curls. He can't help but curse under his breath at his now ruined page and considered that his anger was not for the cabby but at his own woe for not being able to speak up to Blair. Why was he making such a coward of himself? He could not tell just yet but as he'd reach for the twenty in his pocket he couldn't help but let the last moments of courage work their spells on his psyche as he handed over the bill. Pushing the notebook into the breast pocket of his jacket he would make his way out of the cab into the blistering cold rain and try his best to forget about [b]her[/b]. That would prove to be rather difficult now that he was standing right at the Palace for a party for the Van Der Woodsens' in which he suspected she would be of all placed. It only made perfect sense and it wounded him the fact that he would only be able to see her and pretend.

Meanwhile inside Blair would be sitting with a dry martini in between her fingers in a long silk turquoise couture halter dress, silver heels and her long brunette curls hung high above her shoulders. She was a bit glum at this moment sitting in a long maroon chaise with clawed feet and relaxing just bored looking over the other party goers in the hopes of some entertainment. Everyone else was watching how she seemed to just sit there in a state of un-comfort ability and unsure what would be her next move. No matter the case her mind couldn't stop racing about one lonely boy among the others she'd fallen for in the past. Now he had consumed every hour of her psyche and she could think about nothing else. Even the distraction of Chuck Bass was less then thrilling which was a shock to her.

Moving slowly to sit up she'd try her best to catch her balance against the chaise and try not to fall to have Nate at her side. He could seen how unhappy and drunk she was but everything seemed so spoiled how could she have made such a mess to prove Ben wrong? He was supposed to be here and gone but he was a leech she wasn't able to flick away and it made it even more annoying that he was right. No matter how much she denied the thought her and Dan were not friends there was something under the surface. Even Dorota was becoming more and more suspicious at her own foolish attempts to quell her own frustration with herself.

The whole Van Der Woodsen brood was there minus Dan and Rufus it was almost whole and Lily wanted to appease the last bit of dignity in her household she had left. A toast would be said by Eric was blindly frustrating to Blair that he wished them all to be friendly with one another and join in a private family party and always would remain the best of friends in the end. Those dark brown eyes looked from bored to disgust with herself maybe because she couldn't bare her own disappointment in turning him away and he was supposed to be there for her. Where was that demanding nature that she had known Dan to grasp so hard to even while he was with Serena he'd been annoyingly optimistic was she once again unworthy of such love? Leaning gently across Nate she'd give him a light smile trying to give her approval for his help and a nod in thanks as she'd wiggled away from his form.

"Thanks, I just need to lie down."Blair would give a nod toward Nate in respect for his kindness and a wish to get away from the crowd of people that were now concentrating on the exchange between Nate and Blair.

Making her way toward Serena's room she'd let out a heavy sigh as she tried to balance herself through the hall and turning her chocolate eyes over the art in the hallway in the hopes to get some fresh air aside from the blinding stares of the Van Der Woodsen guests. Finally able to make her way toward Serena's room she'd head straight for her bedroom taking a seat and relaxing. She just hoped that she could conclude the best course of action or maybe even take the next step for her to avoid any contact with an pronouncement of her association with Daniel Humphrey. She can't help but stare at her blackberry noticing that she had several messages from Dan and she was trying to keep herself from even wanting to apologize. She wished to apologize for every moment and every minute that she'd been apart from him because she was afraid that there was something more. One Kiss had made a difference and now it was a difference that she couldn't deny in the end.

As the elevator ascended up toward each floor he couldn't help but pocket the only evidence that he wished to think that showed he a sign of feelings for her. His fingers tapped against the leather bound journal in the attempt to remove his thoughts from the moments he'd spent with Blair and the sweet kisses that they shared. It plagued his every thought maybe he should find a better means to change his mind and consider the loneliness in becoming a wall flower condemned to the outskirts of the Van Der Woodsen party.

At the ding of the elevator there would be sound of familiar voices leaving Daniel to be greeted by Eric and his father's tender embrace. It shocked him into becoming a bit stiff and playing up his new UES persona. In the last four years of contending with Blair Waldorf he'd known when to give a stoic smile that even the Queen B would be proud to see. In a twitch of recognition he'd grab for Eric's hand maybe a bit stronger than he would have liked but ; many of his emotions are clouding his judgement. All he can think of is her, where before so much of his thoughts had been plagued by her golden friend. It was in her faults that he was beginning to fall for the untouchable Queen and to have her to not shutter from his touch had made him see things for it's infinite possibilities maybe a Queen could have her pauper and keep up her good face at the same time. Maybe.

"Someone's had his wheaties today," Eric would kid playfully as he'd l squeeze his hand gently before letting it relax on the side," Your sopping wet man if you want to drop your coat off you can and I'll get you something to drink."

"Yea…thanks.:" he'd say rather distracted as his eyes glanced from his father and then to Eric as he'd slowly move to take off his coat handing it over toward one of the many attendants removing the leather bound book, pocketing it into his breast pocket and then settling to the side waiting for Eric to get him a drink. His fingers would drum over the swollen breast pocket that contained his book and the pages that professed his adoration for the one and only Blair Waldorf. Part of him wished that he had ripped those pages from the binding and the other half of him wished to carry it on his chest like his own scarlet letter. He'd gladly right the A on his chest if she'd give him a shade of her ruby red lipstick to mark his coat with but that may be a little dramatic even for the Queen to handle.

It's Serena that breaks his brooding over the subject of Blair Waldorf and he tries his best to give his best smile. Serena turns her smile to almost a pout, after a couple years of dating the two were able to read their emotions (Dan more than Serena) and she could see something was a matter.

"Oh please don't tell me that you're in a sour mood too? Seems both you and Blair have caught the same sour note tonight and she hasn't been charmed by any of us. Even Chuck not showing up seems to have made things worse…can you please talk to her for me? I know it's a lot to ask but she listens to you…odd as that is." Serena would bite the edge of her lip in the hopes that Dan would be so accommodating but before he can even protest Serena is thrusting him toward her bedroom taking no and's or but's about it making it a very awkward moment.

"Serena…please…I think I'm the last person Blair wants to see if she's moping after Chuck." His words are sour and twisted with envy that maybe Blair had so quickly returned to her sacred Bass worship leaving him a lonely pilgrim wishing to reach out for those lovely brunette curls.

"Oh don't be so modest …you'll cheer her up in no time and then you both can return to your prospective corners ignoring each other for the whole night." Serena would gently shove Dan playfully into her bedroom where Blair would be sitting comfortably on the edge of the bed trying to gather her thoughts and staring gently at her phone. Letting out a sigh of frustration as she'd notice Dan and Serena shoving their way into her meditation as she'd gently move to stand in her long teal dress only to feel wobbly and the urge to fall over but as always she maintains that perfect composure.

"What are you doing here?" her sculpted brows narrowed in confusion and frustration but there isn't the same spite in her words she'd usually maintained with him. Until recently she really wished that she could just fall straight into his arms and consider the repercussions of it all later.

For now they had to play a part leaving Serena not to wonder as she gave them each a smile and scolded them before shutting the door leaving the two confined in her room," Play nice."

"Nice to see you too. Pining after Chuck are we?"Dan would ask as he'd shove his hands into the pockets of his dress pants as he rocked on his heels in his own frustration.

At the sign of Serena's heels clicking away she'd take a couple steps forward toward him noticing the anger in his voice and the first time she shutters a bit as she rocks forward. Dan would bring his hands toward her waist to keep her steady as she rocks .

" I'll have you know I haven't been even thinking about him tonight. Why would I be?" shaking her head as she'd turn dark eyes back toward his."If that's what I really wanted, I would be with him now wouldn't I but instead I'm here stuck with you. Did Serena send you to speak to me?"

She's dancing around the words because really she is considering what she really should say in the end what she really feels. It's always been a dance between these two, a battle of wills to see who would be the heavy hitter and each time they were left still standing. Each battered and bruised by one another's words but it was those doe eyed dark eyes that were giving away her feelings betraying her true feelings for him

"What is this Blair? Are you even going to give me an explanation for the last couple days? Just let me know if it's Chuck and then I can walk away feeling we weren't exactly fooling ourselves here. ."a heavy sigh pressing across his lips as his fingers held on tight toward her small waist."You can at least give me that can't you?"

"Humphrey…don't. I don't know what this is but…I was talking to that horrid man Ben and he got me thinking…about whatever it is we are doing. Dan you can't possibly think that whatever this is could work can you?"She stays completely still watching him carefully in the hopes that he wouldn't let go of her.

"Blair really …I think we could if it meant that we could take a leap of faith. Maybe we've been hiding this in a means to ignore what's really there…and that doesn't mean we have to give this up."Dan could see the hurt in her voice maybe he'd been too harsh with her on approach but it doesn't excuse her ignoring him for so long.

"Look whatever we are doing Dan, we have to consider that everyone is going to be watching us with daggers in hand ready to pull a Caesar on us for hiding it for so long. Can you blame me for getting a bit squeamish? After all it's between the two of us. Who would ever conceive of Dan and Blair; Blair and Dan? "her hands moving to be placed upon his shoulders to keep her balance and so she can look straight into his eyes.

"What about us? Shouldn't we be thinking more about what is better for us then caring what everyone else will think? I'm over this whole idea of class and proper society that should have gone away like the rules of courtly love. All I care about is that your happy Blair and if that means sneaking around pretending we hate each other to get small moments of time with you I can do that but just be honest with me when we're alone and together like we are now. "his words are sincere and hit straight toward her heart but Blair still feels considerably perplexed where this leaves them.

"You may not care about what other people think about you but I do when it comes to my reputation. I'm a Waldorf after all and with that name come certain obligations. I don't know what exactly we are doing here, maybe we are skirting around the bigger picture but we have to consider our role and the people we may hurt if we are not careful. You would do that really?" she's just surprised that Dan would even consider hiding away his feelings in public it'd be very different from declaring his emotions like he's used to doing when he pines after Serena." How about we come to a conclusion that if whatever we are doing doesn't work out we'll be sure to not tell a soul. Deniability is our best asset Humphrey and if that means being able to steal away a bit of time together then I can handle that if you can…just until we figure out exactly how we feel."

"I think I can do that if you can." Dan would finally smile understanding that if he'd been put in the same position that Blair had been with Ben he might have run for the hills too,"Just don't be too harsh on my ego in public I have a reputation to hold up to too you know?"

He can't help but notice that smile and the way that she seems to light up even in the dim light of Serena's Bedroom he just wants this moment to never end. It's when he smiles in turn that only helps to further his pride that he'd been able to maintain a feeling of relaxation. This whole night he'd been dreading seeing her that maybe she'd moved on back to Chuck so soon after Chuck released his grasp from Raina but no she cared. Cared more than he expected her to and in that small moment of silence he brings a hand to brush away a loose curl from her face and run his fingers gently down her cheek in a lovingly innocent manner. So long had he been ignorant of how he felt for her and that over the years it had not just been Serena who bound them but they'd fallen into a common bond long ago when he had decided to rush to her side at Eleanor's photo shoot. He could understand the loneliness behind those dark doe eyes and see the same nature; it was then that he had forever sealed their friendship trying to be at her side and vice versa in the coming years.

"Mind if we seal it with a kiss?" Dan would ask playfully as he'd lean in gently pressing a needy loving kiss toward her pale puckered lips in the hopes she'd reciprocate.

"For heaven's sake Humphrey you're all talk and no action. "She'd pronounce with a frustrated gasp as she'd pull him into a hungry kiss sealing both their fates once and for all. Even though throughout the past couple years they strived to fool themselves into thinking Serena had united them in love for her, really they had been denying what was under the surface their true attraction for foreign films and art had led them into one another's arms. Sink or Swim they were going to have to figure out where this would leave them.

Seems a Queen can have her pauper and still keep up a good face in the public eye but for how long until the aristocracy begs to know the truth of her sorted affair? Keep to the shadows, learn your accents and disguises well B or else suffer the wrath of your peers who will be quick to give you the axe if they find out their sweet Queen has been fooling them all along. Be wary lonely boy; no one knows better revenge then a Bass straight out of hell. XOXO

~Till Next Time Readers~

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