Clair spent the night at her friend's house. The irony to be bigger her friend lived in Brooklyn and even though it was nothing like the Upper East Side nor there was the luxury she was used on, she always felt nice and comfortable to go there and feel like she was part of the nice and loving family of her friend. She didn't tell her why she was there, nor she asked her why she wasn't going back home. Instead they had the usual talks about boys, school, going out…
When her friend fell asleep, Clair googled the name of her father. It was so pathetic and lame to check her father on the Internet, but if Blair wasn't in the mood for almost 20 years to tell her a single word, then she had no other choice. Wikipedia gave her a short bio, where he was born, which school he attended, college, when he wrote his first book…Nothing special. There wasn't even a picture of him, even though Inside was a very popular show a decade and a half ago. She checked Google images and there he was. She was staring at the pictures that were at least twenty or thirty years old. There weren't many recent pictures of him.
Young Daniel Humphrey resembled a lot like Dylan…and her. She thought she was over reacting and imagining things, but she did saw her face in his, her eyes in his. She knew that she didn't look like Chuck Bass and she was happy. People were often saying to her that she looks like Blair a little bit, but she never agreed with that. All of a sudden everything made sense to her. She was never good enough for the Basses, Chuck always had critics for everything she was doing, Blair was having a hard time to make her wear dresses…
Dan was sitting in his back yard by the small pool, drinking his light beer and trying to put in his head that his life has changed for 180 degrees. He had another child. He had a daughter. Not with anyone, but with Blair Waldorf. Not with anyone, but with the love of his life. The same girl he decided to forget after she ran after Chuck Bass. The same girl who came one day with teary eyes to cry on his shoulder, even though he was married and had a two year old baby boy. Till that day, he and Blair were absolute strangers for about eight years. She was trying to reach him, but he was always managing to run away from her and his old life. He published his second book, and it was a real low kick to her and everyone on the Upper East Side he knew. He assumed that she would want him dead after the second book. He never got her reaction. The second book was even bigger success than the first. People always wanted to read more about the dirty secrets from the lives of the rich snobs. He never got the satisfaction he thought he'll get after the publishing of it. He ended up being angrier and even more depressed than ever. The only thing that was keeping him alive was the book tour. By the age of 25 he was already worldly known author, had lots of money in bank, and it seemed that girls finally started noticing him. Most of them didn't want him for more than few dates. Even one night stands were ending up girls leaving him with no intention to call him back. He was absent and depressed and nothing seemed to cheer him up.
Then he met Elizabeth and she was full of understanding and caring and she didn't run away from him even though he was exuding depression and melancholy. She was not Blair Waldorf but wasn't hard on the eye either. So one thing let to another and by the age of 28 he was married and had a baby. They were living in the loft, far from everything, being focused on their new little family. For two years they lived calm life - Dan was writing, Elizabeth was working as a city tour guide, they were taking Dylan to the park or were spending summers in the quiet country side upstate…
…Until the day when Blair Waldorf Bass knocked on his door.
They were no longer kids, the heartbreak was almost forgotten and their lives were changed. Then he opened the door and she was there…
-Can I come in?
- No. I'm not alone…
She just put a piece of paper in his hand and left. It was an address from some hotel where she was hiding to avoid Chuck. He knew perfectly well that he wasn't supposed to go. He was almost positive that he won't go…
- I thought you won't come – She said trying to sound as if she didn't cry. It was almost midnight when he knocked on the door in the rented suit.
- I shouldn't be here. You look terrible – He didn't lie. – So many years later and I'm still tricked by your tears. What's wrong? – His cold voice didn't mean that he didn't care about her. He was just trying to convince himself that he didn't.
-Everything. – Long pause. Tears. Staring into his eyes. – I'm trapped in a loveless marriage. It seems that we can't have children. The doctor says it's Chuck, but he refuses to accept the truth. Blames me for it...I don't think he wants children at all...
-Sorry to hear that.
- I have no one. No friends, my mother is on a vacation for the past five years…
- You chose the life you dreamed of…
- Even you act cold…
He didn't know what else to say, and just when he thought it was a mistake running after Blair Bass once again just because she was crying…Blair hung her arms around his neck, crying and squeezing him. At first he was standing stiffed afraid to put his arms around her…but…
Then he put his arms around her, she stopped crying after a while and they kept standing in a tight embrace for some time. No words, just a long hug. Blair was the one who broke it and looked into his eyes. Then a kiss. And another. And another, until they were in bed and Chuck and Elizabeth were just names in their lives...
He sighed and stood up from the chair after sitting still in there for three hours. He knew he had to go back to New York.
The next morning Clair came back to the penthouse. Blair didn't go to work that day and didn't sleep the entire night. She was trying to reach her daughter, but when Marie Clair Bass didn't want to be found, nobody was able to find her.
- You came home – Blair stood up and went closer to her.
- From this day on, we do not talk! – Clair said, looking at her with disgusted face
- Clair, let me explain…
- What? – Clair yelled.
- Everything…- Blair whispered.
- You know, I should be happy that he is not my real father – She was trying to keep the tears in her eyes. – Actually I'm happy. This finally explains lots of things. There is only one little problem. I don't have a last name.
- You have – Blair said with shaky voice.
- No. I don't. I am a bastard who had luck to grow up in a famous and rich family, but we all know I'm just an unwanted child of Brooklyn moody hipster and a spoiled rich bitch – Her mother's slap on her face sort of woke her up.
- I'm sorry…Clair – But she was already running upstairs. The slamming of the door of her room echoed in the house.
….
- This…was a mistake – Dan finally let Blair out of his arms. His voice brought them back to reality after several hours of mind blowing sex with mix of lust, anger, hate and love.
- Chuck is cheating on me – She said calmly. – I don't need proves, I just know – She said more to herself.
- So once again everything is about you, isn't it? Blair I have a wife and a baby at home. This was a mistake.
- You have a baby? – She sat up and looked at him surprised.
- Yes, two year old son. And I didn't marry her to cheat on her with…people.
- I'm not people. I'm Blair. – She sounded vulnerable and irritated.
- I don't know what he's done to you this time, but you sound worse than ever. I feel bad for you. – He knew that she knew that his lame tries to insult her were just pathetic.
-Are you happy?
- Yes. - He turned his head to the wall.
- Liar. Happy people don't avoid eye contact.
- Let me put it straight for you. – He got out of the bed and started dressing up. – I am 29 years old. I traveled the world promoting my books that were written because of you. You have fucked me up so badly that even after almost ten years I can't find peace, ok? I have a child and…I am going to dedicate myself to him. I will not, remember this, I will not come to look for you ever again.
- Oh my God… - Blair was observing him carefully, not buying anything he was saying – You don't love her at all. – A small smirk spread on her face.
-This has nothing to do with my wife. I love her. Not the same way I loved you, but I care for her. She is the mother of my son. I…
- Hyper verbal again, but you aren't making any point. - His words started stinging her soul and she wanted to put him down.
- Don't call me. Don't look for me. I can't and I won't be there for you anymore, Blair. I was for a long time, and you were just blind to see that I was dying in front of you. Royal wedding, vows, epic love with that asshole that is your husband, baby loss, trust issues… I will not pass through that shit again. I am tired of writing heartbreaking biographical books, I'm tired of hoping and I am tired of you. You are a sick masochist and you will always stay that way. I can't have the luxury of a broken heart once again.
His monolog was getting louder and louder. And then he slammed the door and she remained all alone. It took her half a day to understand his words and take them for granted. She took a shower and left the hotel.
Nineteen years later she was expecting him any time soon to show up in the foyer. And he did. But he wasn't there for her. He was there to see his daughter.
Nineteen years later Dan Humphrey and Blair Waldorf were standing opposite each other in her foyer, like they did many times before. He was still handsome, she noticed. Wearing long coat and dark clothes, combined with two days beard and slightly long curls, he was still pulling the look of the young Brooklyn hipster. He was still handsome. Seeing him after so long practically left her speechless. She knew that Marie Clair looked like him, but it wasn't till that moment when she realized that she was a spiting picture of her father.
Almost two decades later they were standing mute opposite each other, both unable or unwilling to say the first word. Maybe their nerves were working, maybe they were both stubborn, maybe they didn't have anything to say to each other anymore…
The silence was interrupted by loud steps. Marie Clair came down stairs, dragging a huge suitcase and a bag behind her, not lifting her eyes to the stranger in front of her mother, she was just trying to get out of there as fast as she could. It made Dan peel off his eyes from Blair, but the girl didn't look back. She was having a hard time dragging the suitcase and the bag to the elevator. Just when she was about to press the button, he finally spoke.
- Clair...
She brushed the hair off her face and finally looked at him. Except for the few wrinkles around his eyes, he looked the same like the pictures she was googling the previous night.
TBC