A week had passed and Blair was back in the city. Louis had been called off for a week or so, but Blair was under constant surveillance.
Serena had been staying in her room across from Blair, but they really hadn't seen each other much. They were cordial when they accidently bumped into each other in the bathroom, but there was never time for any serious conversation.
Blair had only been home two full days and Serena had been spending most of her time at the Spectator.
On the third day of Blair's return, a party was being hosted at the van der Woodsen's. Blair knew she had to be there so the Upper East Side didn't catch on that something was wrong, but honestly she didn't even know what the party was for. She had spent most of her time in bed, plotting
"Oh my gosh Nate," Serena was saying as she stepped into the elevator, arm in arm with her friend, "Why am I so nervous?"
"Well considering the way the last big event we all attended turned out," Nate answered, "I can't really blame you."
"I know," Serena agreed, "I just really want to talk to Blair. I've been so worried about her, but she probably won't even look at me."
"Well you know she's not allowed to see Chuck, on Louis's orders," Nate said, "But I guess she did manage to call him once. And Blair assured Chuck she doesn't want him to buy her off of Louis."
"And you're sure you can't tell me what you and Dan have talked about?"
"Yep, sorry," Nate said quickly, "He requested confidentiality since you had it."
"You really should consider an 'Ask Nate' column for the Spectator," Serena said as they stepped into the penthouse.
Lily approached them instantly.
"Serena! Nate!" she said happily, kissing them on the cheek, "How are you?"
"Good," Nate responded, "You look great, Mrs. Humphrey."
"Flattery will get you nowhere, Nathaniel," she grinned, "Don't think I haven't noticed my daughters hours getting longer and longer."
"What can I say?" Nate responded, "Serena is a key part of the team."
Lily smiled proudly then walked off to greet the next guest.
"Your mom thinks I'm forcing you to spend ten hours a day in the office?" Nate asked, gently guiding Serena through the crowded room and towards the bar.
"I'd rather her think you're a jerk of a boss than her know I'm avoiding things," Serena told him, "You know how she is, she'd try to make me face my problems like an adult."
"Oh well in that case, I'm glad to be your scapegoat," Nate grinned, "But now would be a good time to face one of those things."
Serena followed Nate's gaze to where Dan was, entering the party.
"You know, I think I need to change my shoes," Serena said, "I'm gonna go see if my mom has something that matches."
Nate shook his head as Serena hurried up the stairs. She started pacing in the room upstairs and barely had time to think before she heard footsteps in the hall.
"Seriously Nate, I just need a couple minutes," she called.
"Well the good news is, Nate knew you wanted to be alone."
Serena whipped around to face Dan.
"What are you doing up here?" she asked instantly.
"I think we should talk," he said, stepping into the room, "Last time didn't go so well."
"Yeah, last time I found out you ruined Blair's wedding and you got pissed because I was at Nate's," Serena said angrily.
"Come on Serena, what was I supposed to think? You were in his bed in some kind of sexy silk thing. And he was half naked when I walked in," Dan exclaimed quietly, eyes wide as always when he was making his point.
"Nate is one of my best friends," Serena shot back, "Are you going to tell me Blair never stayed at the loft. Or that Vanessa never slept over when you guys were just friends?"
"Not in my bed!" Dan replied, "And besides, you and Nate have history."
"We all have history with a lot of people, but that doesn't mean we have to rip each others clothes off every time we're alone in a room."
"Yeah but Serena," Dan countered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, "It was you and Nate."
"So specifically because it was Nate and me alone together you just assumed we had to have had sex?"
"You have to know that's what it looked like," Dan urged, "Even someone who didn't know the two of you would have drawn the same conclusion."
Serena scoffed and looked away.
"Serena, I'm not trying to insult you," Dan explained, "I wasn't even thinking straight that night. And it's not like you and Nate haven't lusted after each other since you were fifteen!"
"Dan, you're really not making this better for yourself by rambling on," Serena spoke calmly now, "I'm not even upset about you thinking Nate and I would hook up, cause yeah, we always did have an attraction. But that's not it, it's you."
"What, Serena, what is me?"
"I told you I loved you," Serena urged, "And whether or not you still think so, that means a lot to me. So the fact that you think I would jump into bed with Nate just because you don't love me back, tells me I was right about you. At some point you changed your mind about me and you stopped believing in me."
"Serena, it's not like I thought you were going to hook up with a bunch of random guys," Dan replied, "I know you wouldn't do that now."
"Oh thanks," Serena said sarcastically, "That means a lot. And why do you even care anyway! What is it to you if Nate and I sleep together?"
"Hey, sorry to interrupt," Nate said, joining them in the room, "Someone needs you Serena. They're waiting in your room."
Serena and Dan held each other's gaze for a few more seconds, before she broke it.
"Thanks, Nate," Serena said, leaving the guys and heading towards her old room.
She opened the door to the bedroom and saw her best friend lying in a heap on the bed.
"B."
Blair looked up and across the room Serena could see the red in Blair's eyes as if her will to stay strong was losing against her instinct to cry. Serena scooted onto the bed and pulled Blair into her arms.
"I'm so sorry Blair."
Blair instantly pushed herself up in the bed and returned Serena's hug.
"I've missed you so much," Blair mumbled, "Oh, S. It's been awful. I didn't have a single conversation with my husband on our entire honeymoon!"
The two stared at each other for a few seconds, then burst into a fit of laughs.
"Oh Blair," Serena smiled, "I know it's not funny."
"But it is," Blair replied, "How did things turn out like this? If Georgina hadn't taken that damn video!"
Serena tensed and her smile faded. She knew that Blair still had to have a bit of grudge against her. Serena knew she could end it. Blair needed her now, but she wouldn't forget about the video. Without Chuck to protect, Serena had no reason to take the blame.
But then she pictured Dan. The look of terror on his face when Serena had discovered the truth. Deep down she knew she'd cause him pain by telling Blair. She could now fully understand why Blair couldn't break her pact with God and why Chuck used to let Blair think he was still a bad person.
They loved each other enough to put the others happiness first.
"You know I'm here for you Blair," Serena replied finally, "And we're going to beat Louis. Think of all the people who have failed at destroying us."
"Thank you Serena," Blair answered, "You know I may not be around much so when I am, I'm going to need to be with you."
"Come on," Serena grabbed her friends hand and pulled her back towards the party, "Let's have fun. Pretty soon we'll be together everyday again."
"Yes," Blair agreed, "But we make the schemes and decisions together."
"Of course," Serena smiled, "And you know together, we could pay the dowry. My family, yours, Chuck, Nate. We would do it for you."
"As a last resort," Blair smiled, "I love you, S."
The two shared a hug as they entered back into the party.
Across the room, Dan wasn't pleased. He hurried towards Blair as Serena walked away, and he pulled Blair back to the bedroom.
"What are you doing Humphrey?" she demanded as Dan closed the door.
"You have to let me explain," Dan told her, "I'm sure Serena made it sound worse than it was. I didn't know she was going to take the blame. I thought if everyone believed it was Georgina no one would get hurt."
"Oh my God," Blair said quietly, realization crossing her face, "It was you."
"Uh, what was?"
"The video! You send it to Gossip Girl!"
"I'm sorry, didn't Serena just tell you that?" Dan questioned.
The realization on Blair's face quickly turned into pain and the tears were back in her eyes.
"Look Blair, I'm coming to explain to you – "
"Only because you thought Serena already had!" she shouted, "You knew I would never suspect you, so you thought you could destroy everything and no one would know."
There was a long pause.
"I forgave her," Blair said quietly, thinking of Serena, "so she protected you."
"Why wouldn't she?" Dan asked, "If you have moved on, what would be the point of bringing it up again?"
"What would be the point!" Blair shot at him, "You've been awful to her recently. Why wouldn't she want me to turn on you? Even if I had screamed at her and told her to go away, she would have protected you."
Dan pretended Blair's comments weren't effecting him.
"You forgave Serena," Dan said, "Why was it ok when she was the one who humiliated you?"
"Because she was right," Blair yelled at him, "At least if Serena had done it, she would have done it for me."
"What haven't I done for you?" Dan shot back, "I have been there for you. I always did what I thought was best for you."
"Yeah Dan, you were a great friend," Blair agreed, "But I thought you were just doing what any best friend would do. But that's not why you sent that video. Serena talked directly to Chuck and me to try to help. What you did was out of jealousy."
"Blair, you had to know how much I cared about you. Why else would I be the only one you turned to?"
"Ok fine!" Blair said, "I knew Nate would blab the second Chuck looked at him. I knew Serena would do whatever it took to get Chuck and I back together. You were the perfect mix. You were there for me and I didn't have to worry about you telling Chuck, cause I knew you didn't want to see me with him. I couldn't have made it without you and fine, I – loved you. As a best friend. But what matters Dan, is that I'm not in love with you. And what you did was not all about my happiness. Serena was right. I shouldn't have asked you to help me run away. I didn't even think about how bad it would hurt her. We've both done awful things to her throughout this whole mess, and all she has done is try to help and protect us."
Without another word, Blair slipped out of the room, leaving Dan alone with his racing thoughts.