The morning's sun woke the two sleeping lovers from the depths of sleep. Rolling over and spotting his ex in his bed Dan got a sense of déjà vu, wasn't this just like that well remembered night almost two years ago. Back then Dan had been angry that his sister had taken a picture of the sleeping duo when nothing had happened except one kiss but this time he had done something, something inexcusable when he had a girlfriend waiting for him across the river. However Dan hadn't done anything with any girl in well over a year, since he decided that Blair was his one true goal, even now when he was with Blair they hadn't managed to get round to doing anything further than getting extremely worked up. Almost angered that he had let himself go for Serena in a way that had never worked with his actual girlfriend Dan turned his back on the dozing blonde and allowed his thoughts to go into overdrive.
Meanwhile Serena was gradually allowing herself to remember the night before, or at least early that morning. As the memories came back to her she touched her soft skin at the nape of her neck, the crease of her elbow, all the places Dan had gently touched her with his fingertips then. Never in her life had Serena felt so guilty, twice now she had taken Blair's boyfriend and slept with them but Dan was her life, her orbit. Even Jenny Humphrey had got it right, when two people were mythic, epic, invincible, they always come together or they combust, there were no two ways about it with the inevitable. With a deep sigh she turned her body towards the man she loved and wrapped her arms around his turned back. Knowing that now was not the moment to say anything Serena just crept her hands around to his chest and placed her head tentatively against his shoulder. As the blonde hair that she was so well known for slunk down his bare arms he couldn't help himself from turning around and holding her against him as gently as he would any angel.
"Serena…" he started, attempting to find the words but all failed when he noticed a couple of stray tears escaping her closed eyes. Raising one finger he wiped them away as they started their graceful tracks down her elegant face. "Shh…" he rocked her backwards and forwards, lowering his face to hers and leaving his nose faintly touching her forehead. "What's the matter?" he asked, truthfully wondering why she was so upset, had she not loved it as much as he had?
Managing to open her eyes carefully Serena pried her eyes away from Dan's face and took in the room she had gathered to know so well. Very little had changed since she had first come into this room that night in her junior year. Back then the candles had flickered casting their shadowy glow against the outline of his jaw and his hair and his mouth. That night, when they had come so far from their beginnings and so close to the ultimate loving act she had truly seen that Dan was the first guy to honestly look at her and to have liked what they had seen. It was the first time she had truthfully regretted giving herself up so much earlier, if she had known Dan was waiting for her would she have stopped Nate at the wedding reception? Right now, looking back at the old Serena she had to hope that she would have done. Did it matter than Dan was technically not her first? When he hurt her and left her or he kept on helping her even when she was a bitch to him, that was when she realised that he was her first emotionally. Whatever thoughts had stopped Blair from admitting she was in love with Dan they certainly weren't ones that denied he was special and amazing because even Serena had realised that from the very first date, from day one.
Sitting up Dan pulled Serena up with him. Looking at her with just the thinnest of his t-shirts on and little else he couldn't help but remember his adolescent days. In the days when being attractive trumped all else he had idolised this girl, her hair like a halo around her head and her skin glowing like the sun. When he was down she would raise him up. Not even Jenny, nor Vanessa, or his father could stop him from wishing this girl was his and then they had spoken, had saved his sister from Chuck and he couldn't help but fall for her harder.
Everything about their relationship had been an adventure. Having sex for the first time and finding out that waiting for her was the best decision he had ever made. Telling her that someone on this planet loved her for who she truly was, even with any faults she had and regardless of any problems they faced. Even losing her and getting her back, setting her free so she could be with Nate, all of it was something that Dan would always love. One day in the future he didn't want to be like his father had been, ignorant and proud, too proud to keep hold of those he loved, the one woman who would ever be his truest love. Did it matter than Serena was his stepsister? Not to him it didn't. Did it matter that he was with Blair? There was always confusion with relationships but how could she truly love him when she hadn't even been able to sleep with him? At least Serena had always showed how much she wanted him, Blair hadn't been.
Not being able to lose her ex again Serena got up and grabbed her dress, pulling the t-shirt off and throwing it on the ground she stepped back into her garment. Walking over to Dan she indicated he should zip her back up. "I love you Dan but you're still with Blair and I'm still her best friend. I meant what I said after the wedding, I always have loved you and I always will do but I want you to be happy…however that is achieved." Getting up with a struggling stride and walking out it was all Dan could do not to run after her and smother her in kisses but he managed. Watching her go he lay back on the bed and sighed, he had to choose and whatever he did managed to decide would hurt people he loved.