A little Too Late

Daniel Humphrey watched in disgust as the love of his life sat in the lap of another man, not just any man either but, none other than Nathaniel Archibald, his enemy. Serena sat with her eyes closed, her back faced to her best friend Daniel Humphrey, and she kissed her boyfriend passionately because she loved him so much, or at least she thought she did.

xXx

Serena Van Der Woodsen walked into the apartment in which over the years had got to know very well. She walked into the apartment to find Rufus Humphrey sitting down, with a facial expression that looked to be quite annoyed, because his son had been in his room for over two hours panicking about Serena.

"Hey Rufus, is Dan here by any chance?" She asked walking over to him pulling a seat to his right side, looking over at him tilting her head.

"Of course Serena you and Dan did have a date" Rufus spoke slowly thinking about what he said, he wasn't sure if Dan had asked Serena for it to be an official date.

"Rufus" Serena said giggling slightly at the ludicrous statement, Dan was her best friend. They were not going on a date. "Dan and I are only friends and that's all"

"Well," He said, he knew his son's true feeling of this girl but she obviously didn't "I've always suspected Dan's had abit of a crush on you. Because you have both been friends since what, first grade?" She nodded "Although you and Nate are the perfect couple" He added hastily not wanting to blow his sons cover.

Serena sighed dramatically she was tired of having to be perfect for everyone, that is except Dan who accepted her no matter what, her biggest flaw and all. And she hated the fact that she had to be perfect all the time and perfect for everyone, her having to stay perfect was too much and Nate seemed to make people expect more of her. Just then Dan appeared in the doorway, not realizing the conversation that had just taken place.

Dan smiled at the sight of the beautiful blond seated on the stool on the right of her father. "Hey, are you ready I have a special day planned for us." Excitement was nearly seeping out of his very being.

Serena nodded and smiled at him allowing his to pull her along with him and she gave Rufus a goodbye hug and a kiss on the cheek and walked out the door gripping tightly to Dan's hand.

xXx

Dan pulled his old beat up mustang, which he didn't get to use often, into the parking lot of the beach that was about a thirty minute drive from his apartment, and parked at the far end where he knew no one would disturb them. Tonight was the night he was going to tell her. Tonight was the night.

"Serena," He said extending elbow out to Serena for her to take, showing her the gentleman in him.

Serena loped her arm through the crook of his elbow and began walking with him. "Where are we going?" she asked eagerly. Serena wasn't one for surprises; she liked to know everything going on around her but with Dan she never knew.

"Here" He said smiling at her, watching her blue eyes light up at the sight of a picnic basket and blanket laid out in front of her.

She smiled at her best friend and sat down

"So," He began slowly his smile never faltering. "I've been meaning to tell you something and I'm not sure how you'll feel about it."

"Whatever it is we will still be best friends" She told him smiling her breath taking smile that reassured him of everything.

"Well," He began taking her hands into his slightly shaking own and took a deep breath "I've thought of you as more than a friend for a long time Serena, it's a feeling I can't seem to shake no matter how hard I have tried. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is, Serena Van Der Woodsen I'm in love with you,"

Serena's eyes widened in shock all these years she's never imagined her best friend liking her as more than a friend. "Okay," was all she managed to get out in all her shock, if she was more stable she would have let him down easily.

Dan frowned "Okay is not the response." He said getting up.

xXx

It's been three weeks since the event and Dan has refused to speak to Serena ignoring all her calls, texts, and emails. He ignored the demanding ones, the sad ones, and the pitiful ones. He even left through the fire escape when she came to his house. Serena on the other hand finally after all this time began to realize her true feelings towards Dan. She also broke with Nate she felt it was wrong to keep stringing him along if she had no feeling for him, sure she loved him but more like a brother. Today she went through Dan's fire escape to go his room, she was going to talk to Dan whether he liked it or not.

Dan jumped as he saw the girl that ripped apart his heart and stomped on every piece "What are you doing here?" He said acid dripping from his voice as he gave her the best cold stare he could manage without falling to pieces right in front of her.

She said nothing at all instead just grabbed his face and kissed him with all the passion she could muster. Dan quickly gave in arms wrapping around her waist as hers wrapped around his neck. He quickly realized what he was doing and roughly pushed her away from himself making her fall on his bed.

"Serena! I'm dating someone" He yelled

"Wh-what?" She said stumbling back trying not to believe him "who?" She stuttered, the words feeling unfamiliar and painful.

"I said I'm dating someone" He said ignoring her second question "I'm very happy with her, happier than I have been in a long time" He said, a honey slow smile spreading across his face. He refused to tell her who because he was afraid to hurt her

"Who?" She demanded, after all they have been through she deserved to know exactly took her Dan.

"Blair…" He said slowly looking down afraid to see her reaction.

"How did this even happen?" she questioned, "You, my best friend and Blair, my other best friend?" she shook her head as if she thought she could rearrange his words.

"Well…" He began slowly recalling that eventful night the memory flooding his thoughts.

Two weeks ago…

Dan sat at the stairs of the metropolitan museum on New Year's Eve while the freezing snow hit his back the snow was so cold he felt it through his thick jacket, but he knew that nothing could be worse than the pain Serena had caused him, the pain she inflicted on his heart. He felt a hand on his shoulder he turned surprised to see the girl that detested him, the last person he expected to be wandering around on New Year's Eve; Blair Waldorf.

"Cabbage patch..." She said addressing him as she usually did her mocking smirk never leaving her face.

"Blair," He said bitterly, not in the mood to fight back, he was in too much pain.

"What's wrong with you?" She drew "you usually roll your eyes or make a petty attempt to insult me back."

"It's Serena… I told her I loved her and she said okay" he grimaced the memory cutting into his still injured wound that Serena left.

"Well," Blair began for the first noticing how good looking he was; he didn't have the street stopping face that Nate had. Or the charming looks that Chuck had, he was his own kind of good looking and she loved how it looked on him, because she knew if anyone else tried to look like Dan Humphrey no one would be able to pull it off "She's stupid to have let you go" She mumbled quietly slightly shocked after the words left her mouth.

"What?" he asked utterly shocked by the sensitivity from the girl who was always so cruel to him

"I said she was stupid to let you go" She mumbled again annoyed that she had to repeat herself.

"Thanks," he said slowly admiring her face, the big brown doe eyes, her red full lips, her just being herself.

"Would you mind if I…" she began trying to figure out why she even wanted to ask what she was about to say

"Would I mind if what?" he smiled at her insecurity a real smile was on his face for the first time in weeks

"If I," She lowered her voice losing self confidence "kiss you." she finished whispering the last part as confidently as she could because she was well, Blair Waldorf.

He smiled and couldn't help but feel attracted to this brunette that was the complete opposite of Serena "No, actually I wouldn't mind if you kiss me, just like I hope you won't mind if I kiss you."

He leaned in and gently placed a kiss on her lips while his hands began to gently caressing her face. She found her arms sliding up his body and her hands meet with his hands and she locked their fingers together she paused to admire the softness of his hands, she then released his hands and slid her arms up to his neck sighing in contentment. He took the invitation and deepened the kiss. That's how they spent that New Year in each other's arms realizing that they liked each other and finalizing their relationship with another long kiss

Serena sat down realizing reality a horrified and painful look on her face "So I brought you together?" the words felt like a punch in the face

Dan nodded slightly "I guess you did. But, it's for the best she's amazing and she's really helping me get over you." He took a deep breath "I think I'm falling for her."

Serena sighed it was her fault but maybe he still had feelings for her, taking a leap at her only sliver of hope she quickly put a question together "What would you say if I said I loved you?"

Dan shrugged slightly, sighing as if the question was irrelevant and at that time frame it pretty much was, "I'd say you were too late."