168 Hours

It takes one week, one phone call, and one life-threatening illness for Blair to realize she can't hide her feelings for Dan forever.

Important to note: (Spoiler alert) This story takes place after Louis leaves and includes spec.

Wednesday

12:03 PM, Charles Place

"So frisky today," Chuck purred into Blair's ear as the brunette pushed him towards the bed.

Blair didn't respond. She merely stepped towards him, eyes flashing as Chuck fell back against the mattress' edge.

She wasn't frisky; in fact, Blair Waldorf was downright furious. After all, who the hell was Dan to kiss that slut? Nobody gets over Blair Waldorf that fast.

Ripping open Chuck's Armani shirt with unprecedented fervor, Blair straddled the billionaire and bit at his lower lip ravenously.

If Dan Humphrey wanted a battle, he'd get one.

1:14 PM, the Loft

"I can't believe you ordered pancakes for lunch. You are one walking carbohydrate."

Dan looked at the pretty auburn-haired girl curled up on the couch and forced a lopsided grin. "I know. It's so damaging to my womanly figure," he joked halfheartedly.

Karen was everything a pre-Waldorf Dan could have asked for. She was intelligent, funny, and filled out her denim shorts better than Jessica Simpson as Daisy Duke. Still, there were a few departments in which Karen was lacking. Namely, she wasn't Blair.

But after the ill-fated kiss, after the running back to him, Dan couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't sit and be a pawn in Blair Waldorf's game of life. And as much as he liked – no, more than liked Blair – there wasn't much Dan could do until Chuck was a nonissue.

That was up to Blair alone.

With the cat-eyed Karen smiling playfully from the couch, Dan shook his musings away and went to sit beside her.

"So, what do you wanna do?" Karen asked.

An image, the first photo sent to Gossip Girl of a newly reunited Blair and Chuck kissing, flashed in Dan's mind, and jealousy coursed through his veins.

Hand entangling itself in thick, red hair, Dan brought Karen's lips to his own.

After all, if Blair could move on, so could he.

2:38 PM, Charles Place

Blair pulled the sheets close to her chest as she turned away from a napping Chuck. It was surreal to realize she was back in this familiar situation. Of course, it had been Blair's decision to stop whatever she had with Dan, because being with Chuck? It was easier, more predictable.

And she loved Chuck, she did. Anyone with eyes could see that. What kind of love it was at this point, Blair wasn't sure. The sex was great and they could tell each other anything, but there was a certain degree of intimacy that was lacking.

With Dan, Blair could spout her knowledge of Voltaire and he'd know exactly what she was talking about. With Dan, she could eat a slice (or three) of pizza and not worry about what he'd think. With Dan, she was…

She was centered.

Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, Blair got up, sheets still wrapped around her. The gold sun-dress Blair had worn early was in a heap on Chuck's floor. Picking it up, Blair silently slipped out of the bedroom and into the bathroom.

She could hardly recognize the reflection in the mirror.

3:58 PM, the Loft

Nearly two hours had gone by, and Dan was none the closer to sealing the deal with Karen. Even as he rested on top of her, him shirtless and Karen donning only a lace bra, something just didn't feel right.

Drawing back, Dan ran a hand through his hand and looked down at Karen apologetically. "I can't," he admitted.

Karen scooted back to the other side of the couch and sat up. A hand coming across her chest, she tilted her head, hurt. "What? Was it something I did? Something I said?"

"No, no, no," Dan told her reassuringly. "Look, Karen. I – " A cool breeze from the open window suddenly made Dan acutely aware he was half-naked, and he reached down to pick his and Karen's garments from the floor. Tossing Karen's to her, Dan continued, "I'm sorry, and I mean really sorry, but I don't think I'm ready to do this."

Knitting her brows quizzically as she slipped her t-shirt over her head, Karen asked, "You mean right now? I mean, I won't pretend I'm not disappointed, but –"

An ocean of guilt washed over him but, Dan took a deep breath and interrupted her anyways. "No, Karen. I mean, this." He gestured back and forth between them. "Us. It's nothing you did at all. In fact, I'm probably stupid for doing this, it's just – it's just I've…"

"Got feelings for someone else," Karen finished, suddenly understanding. She blinked, tears forming in her eyes, and turned her head away from Dan. "I think I should go."

Dan was unsure of what to say, so he settled with simplicity. "Yeah, I think that's a good idea."

4:40 PM, Barney's

Blair browsed through racks of new shipments direct from Vivienne Westwood herself. Indeed, there was nothing better to quell racing thoughts than a little retail therapy.

Behind her, Serena was gushing over a pair of beige satin shorts. "B, do you think I could pull these off?"

Blair turned around and smiled, rolling her eyes. "You know very well you could pull off anything, parachute pants included."

"M.C. Serena?" the blond laughed, her infectious giggle prompting Blair to do the same.

Despite having been friends since childhood, Blair was relieved that she and Serena were on such good terms these days. See, after Dan had informed Serena that Blair was the one he wanted, the Blairena friendship had been expected to implode.

But the pair had shown them all.

Serena had licked her wounds and prowled after Nate, succeeding because she was Serena van der Woodsen and that was her claim to fame. Similarly, after going back to Chuck in order to right all that was wrong in the Upper East Side universe, Blair had found that apologizing to S for any digressions was much easier.

And so, there they were, shopping at Barney's like The Kiss never happened.

Glancing at Serena out of her peripheral as she tried on a pair of Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses, Blair wondered if the blond would ever have gotten over it if Dan was still in the picture.

AN: I have most of the story written but I'd like to see the reaction to this to know if I should post more or not. Thanks for reading, guys!