Chapter 1: A Disappearing Act

3 months old…

"We're sorry Mr. Humphrey, but there's no record of a Ms. Sparks anywhere in our system. Perhaps she's staying at a different resort?"

"No, no, this…this is where she said she would be. Thanks anyway," Dan sighed as he hung up with the resort manager. Four weeks after Georgina originally said she'd back, and she was nowhere to be found. Her parents had no idea where she was, nor did the NYPD. She was originally reported as a missing person on October 22nd, 2010. The Upper East Siders could care less about her disappearance, but Dan was worried. What kind of a mother abandons her baby with a guy who isn't even her child's biological father? Sure, Dan had signed the birth certificate, but the paternity test had been faked by Georgina scheming attempt to escape an angry Russian woman. Even though Milo wasn't his, he loved him with every ounce of his being.

Dan blew all the hair out of his lungs and ran his hands through his dark, curly locks. He glanced over into where Jenny's room used to be in the loft. That was officially Milo's room, as made clear by the boat paraphernalia plastered on the walls. The mobile was spinning over the crib while a peaceful Bach tune was lightly filling the air. Dan quietly padded over to the nursery and peered into the crib. Milo was on his side, mouth wide open with slow, quiet breaths escaping his little body. A little drool began to dribble down his chin, causing Dan to chuckle. Like father like son, he thought to himself. He leaned over and kissed Milo on the forehead, then made his way to the living room. He sat down on the couch and pulled his computer onto his lap. Just because he has a son, doesn't mean he can't attend school. A hefty 18 credits a semester definitely tired him out, but the sooner he graduated, the sooner he could find a steady paying job and focus more on his son.

He tried to focus on his paper about modern England vs Victorian England, but the past few days had been such a blur, he couldn't focus on his school work. After the police filed an official missing person's report, everyone bombarded him, begging to buy him groceries or babysit, Chuck even offered to set up a tuition fund for Milo. But Dan didn't want anything from anyone; he wanted to do this on his own with as minimal help as possible. Lily and Rufus were already paying for his tuition at NYU and they owned the loft, which meant he could put all his money made by submitting pieces to Vanity Fair and cater waiting towards Milo. He minimized the word document in front of him and opened a web browser to look up daycares nearby.

He had scrolled through about three pages worth of Google searches when his phone buzzed and lit up with a Gossip Girl e-blast

The Upper East Side's biggest villain has gone rogue! A weekend at the spa has turned our very own Georgina Sparks into a missing person. But if she's anything like S, this isn't really news. But what about Lonely Boy? Will he keep the little rascal that isn't even his, or will he ship that baby out for good? XOXO

Dan slammed him phone back into the couch before returning to his daycare search. His phone lit up again with a call from Vanessa. He sighed and answered it, tucking it between his shoulder and ear as he continued his search.

"Hello?"

"Dan, did you get the e-blast? Don't listen to anything she has to say. She doesn't understa-"

"Vanessa, relax. I got the e-blast and I'm…holding on, okay? I'm fine,"

"You don't sound fine, you sound worn down. Do you need me to come over or maybe just take Milo for the night?"

"Vanessa, I'm fine. I just…need to write this paper and be with myself for a while. I have so much baby planning stuff to do before Milo wakes up and before class on Monday. I appreciate you calling, I really do, I just-"

"I get it, Dan. We're all here for you, okay? We're just worried,"

"I know, I know. I just want to do this on my own, you know? Like prove that I'm an adult I guess,"

"You've proved that to me by dealing with all the Upper East Siders, trust me. Just take it easy okay? And please don't be afraid to ask for help,"

"I won't. Thank you,"

"For what?"

"For being there for me without being overbearing,"

"Anytime, Dan. Get some sleep,"

"You too, Vanessa,"

They hung up and Dan set his phone down. He had emailed a couple daycares whilst on the phone with Vanessa. He felt a surge of motivation to finish his paper after that e-blast from GG. Two paragraphs in, Milo started to cry. Dan closed his laptop and returned it to its rightful spot on the coffee table. He half jogged into the nursery where Milo was laying on his back, squirming and sniffling.

"Good evening, stud. Did you have a good nap?" Dan asked as he lifted Milo onto his shoulder. He supported Milo's neck and smiled as his bounced the baby back and forth and paced around the loft. It seemed to entertain him for a while, before becoming fussy again. Dan checked the clock in the kitchen, where it read 5:33pm.

"Milo, you're right on time for some dinner and somehow, you're never late for this. Just like a true Humphrey," Dan smiled as he set Milo into his baby bouncer seat. Dan prepared bottle as quickly as he could before Milo had a meltdown. He picked Milo back up and began feeding him. Milo grabbed the bottle with such vengeance that you could have sworn he was starving. He paced around slowly as Milo made his way through the bottle. Dan couldn't believe how lucky he was to have such an amazing human being in his life. And there was nothing, not even Gossip Girl could do to take Milo away from him.

A knock on the loft door broke Dan out of his trance, as he slowly made his way toward the door, careful not to stir Milo too much. He opened it to find a delivery guy at the door.

"Hey, I uh didn't order anything tonight?" Dan said confusedly toward the delivery guy.

"Well, I have a prepaid delivery for some Chinese food for a Dan Humphrey,"

"That's me…hey, do you mind telling me who ordered this?"

"Someone named Vanessa? She just said you were really hungry and she was worried you'd forget to eat,"

"Well, she is not wrong. Thanks," Dan said as he propped Milo on his shoulders while he took the Chinese food and bottle in the other hand.

"Have a good night, and good luck with your little one,"

"Ah, thanks," Dan sighed. He really didn't want people' sympathy. He just wanted everyone to believe in him. Dan finished burping Milo and placed him back in the bouncer. Dan slowly bounced him with his foot and dug into his lo mein. He knew this was gonna be a long, but worthwhile road.