A/N: This is the first fanfiction I've ever written. I'd like to thank Jenye for kindly being my beta, and for suggesting the title for this story. I hope you all enjoy this, and please feel free to review :)

It was with a great deal of trepidation that Dan stepped off the elevator and into the Waldorf penthouse. He had felt so sure of himself upon leaving the loft after he and Eric's conversation, but his confidence vanished upon stepping into the elevator, and he now felt a cold chill running down his spine. He hadn't really considered what might happen if Blair didn't feel the same way he did about their kiss.

As soon as he entered the penthouse Dan was greeted by the sight of a rather frazzled looking Dorota carrying a tray of food. It took her a moment to notice the new arrival. As their eyes met from across the foyer, Dorota's face displayed a combination of alarm and relief.

"Miss Blair not taking visitors right now." Dorota declared as she approached Dan quickly, still holding the tray.

"Can you maybe make an exception for me, Dorota? I really need to talk to her. It's, uh... it's important." Dan said, shifting back and forth on the arches of his feet nervously. He knew if he was to have any shot at talking to Blair about his feelings, he was going to have to convince Dorota first. She shook her head vehemently at him. She had a feeling she knew the reason Blair had locked herself in her room all week. And, while a part of her wanted for Blair to face the truth of why she had been so happy lately, she also knew that Dan Humphrey was probably the last person Blair wanted to see right now.

Dan sighed audibly as he tried desperately to think of an excuse he could give for needing to see Blair. But nothing came to mind. He never was a particularly good liar.

Why not just level with her? he thought to himself.

"Look, Dorota. I know you know about me and Blair sneaking around. She told me how you accused us of having an affair. And, the truth is... you were kinda right. There was something happening between us, but we were too afraid to face it. But then, last week..." He trailed off, not sure how Dorota would react to hearing about the kiss. She had always been quite protective of Blair, and he was a bit nervous she might come after him with a kitchen knife.

Dorota's eyebrows shot up as her suspicions seemed as though they were about to be confirmed. As Dan hesitated, fidgeting nervously, Dorota couldn't help but feel impatient to hear what had happened to drive Blair into her bed for a week. A minute of uncomfortable silence passed between them, with Dan doing his very best to look anywhere but at Dorota's eyes, as he tried to decide how much he should tell her in order to gain access to the upstairs and Blair.

"What? What happen last week with you and Miss Blair?" Dorota demanded as nicely as she possibly could, growing tired of waiting for him to finish his previous sentence. Upon hearing the housekeeper's commanding voice, Dan's eyes finally locked with hers, and he knew there was no way around it. He was going to have to tell her everything.

"We uh... we kinda kissed." Dan said quietly, instantly flinching away, still afraid that she might just attack him for having the audacity to kiss Blair. He knew Dorota had always liked him. But that didn't necessarily mean she'd be alright with him putting the moves on Blair. It felt like hours passed as he could see Dorota processing this new information, but really it was only a few seconds.

"About time." Dorota stated plainly, turning and walking towards the stairs. She stopped momentarily at the bottom of the stairs to look back at Dan, and nod her head in the direction of the stairs, signaling for him to follow. Though he was beyond confused by how calmly Dorota had reacted, he didn't need to be told twice, and immediately followed the housekeeper up the stairs and down the hall. As soon as they reached the door to Blair's bedroom, Dorota stopped and turned to Dan.

"Miss Blair is in her bed all week. She say she ill, but I know better. She is hiding from you." Dorota whispered to Dan, not wanting to alert Blair to their presence yet. She couldn't help but smile a little at the look of surprise that immediately sprang onto Dan's face.

"I do not know how Miss Blair feel about you. But I know this. I have never seen her smile so much before. Not even with Mr. Chuck. You are good man Mr. Dan. And you make Miss Blair happy." She paused for a moment, prepared to set in motion the plan she had devised as soon as she had heard about the kiss.

"Now, you take this." She declared, handing him the tray of food. Before Dan could say anything, Dorota knocked loudly on Blair's door.

Dan looked to the door quickly, as he could hear the faint sound of Blair grumbling sleepily for Dorota to come in. When he looked back to the housekeeper, she was nowhere to be found. He couldn't fight the amused smirk that appeared on his face, realizing she had given him exactly what he had hoped for, and more. After what Dorota had told him about Blair, he felt his confidence come rushing back, and was more than prepared to confront Blair about his feelings. Pausing only for a moment to take in one final deep breath, Dan twisted the knob and stepped into Blair's bedroom. It was a step he had been ready to take for quite some time.