Emily was a bright girl with an even brighter imagination. She dreamed of one day becoming a queen or perhaps a pilot or even a movie star, and possessed the necessary qualities to achieve any one of these ambitions. Her ability to lead had been noted by her teachers from a very early age, and her intelligence matched that of her learned parents. Her beauty, however, was unrivaled amongst her peers and it was widely speculated that Emily would break many a heart when she grew into womanhood. Her chestnut locks curled loosely down her back and her ruby lips had already captured the attention of the young boys her own age. Emily, however, was not interested in their attentions and had no time for frivolous things. There were adventures to be had. Every afternoon she would sneak off into the woods behind her house until she came upon a hidden meadow veiled in sunshine and fog and hidden by thick woods. It was there that she held court, and carried passengers to safety and filmed her award winning roles. Hours were spent perfecting accents and learning the proper way to carry one's self and building a propeller that was just the right size. Emily whiled away the time and when darkness fell, she hurried back home lest her mother scold her for being out too late by herself.

One afternoon, Emily was scripting her latest film when she was distracted by a rustling sound in some nearby trees. Setting her papers down, she set off to investigate, already forming the larger plot points in her head. It was most assuredly a band of misfits seeking to wreak havoc on an unsuspecting maiden. Little did they know that the maiden was in fact a fierce combatant who would have no trouble defeating them in mere seconds. Tucking her imaginary sword through her belt, she sifted through the thick brush in search of the noisy foes. Now Emily had created in her mind some of the most horrific villains and beautiful heroes while traipsing through the very same woods, but none of her musings prepared her for the sight she would behold, for while Emily scanned her surroundings for mischief-makers, a bewitching woman observed her. She had in fact been watching her for some time, unbeknownst to dear little Emily, taking note of the young girl's every move.

"Come out from hiding you rascals, you fiends! I shall triumph over you with my strong right arm! You'll never escape the clutches of this mighty warrior. Unhand your your victim and throw down you arms for you shall not pass without facing me!" She shouted and ranted as she trudged through the brush, swiping left and right, left and right, at the overgrown foliage blocking her way. It too was an unyielding adversary for it attempted to prevent her from seeking her target with every step. But the girl was tenacious and she crushed the obstacles beneath her feet with several mighty blows. "Aha! Take that you feeble devils, you wretched goblins, you cowardly buffoons! I shall discover the evil foes hiding away in these woods and when I do I will cut you all down and take your heads for a trophies!"

"BE CAREFUL YOUR WORDS FOR YOU KNOW NOT WHAT LINGERS HERE."

Emily froze upon hearing the heavy voice from the trees, glancing every which way, trying to pin point the source. Her bravura waning, she nervously called into the canopy above, "Who said that? Who's there?" She waited and waited, yet nothing answered and she began to wonder if perhaps her imagination had simply run away from her momentarily. After a thorough inspection of the branches above her head, she turned to head back to her meadow. Breathing somewhat easier, her eyes dropped to the ground to search for her path. When she raised them again, she screamed, startled by a woman standing before her, not two feet away. Silver hair and eyes shining, she was the most beautiful creature Emily's eyes had ever seen. But behind those glimmering orbs was something fiery, almost menacing, and it was fearsome to behold.

"YOU DON'T BELONG HERE, YOUNG ONE."

Perhaps it was the disdain in the woman's glare or maybe the condescending tone, but Emily gathered her courage once again and challenged the ethereal being. "Says who? I'm smart, and brave, and I have just as much right to be here as you do. Why shouldn't I live among the trees?" She clenched her hips and she stood her ground firmly, bravely...foolishly. The silver haired women's raging eyes widened as she seemed to increase in stature with each passing second.

"DO YOU CHALLENGE ME, SENSELESS GIRL?"

Fighting the urge to flee, Emily kept her feet planted. "Yes! Yes I do. I am a part of this wood and it is a part of me! Here is where my dreams live and I shall remain forever and there is nothing you can do about it!" She screamed until the rawness in her throat forced her to stop. Expecting the worst, she cringed, waiting for the woman to unleash her anger. Without warning, the woman shrank to her original size and took Emily by the hand, her rage having completely dissipated.

"VERY WELL THEN, AS YOU WISH. BUT DO NOT SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU." With her final words, she flung Emily into the air with such force that she was sure she would break several bones when she landed. But she never landed. She flew through the trees, branches whipping and scratching her face and limbs. Faster and faster she went until Emily could no longer make out images, only colors, and vague ones at that. Her head was aching and her stomach was churning, and finally, mercifully, she blacked out.

When she awoke, she had no idea what horrors and wonders awaited her.

...

Blair placed the wrinkled papers back into the mailing envelope. The rest of the story gave an account of Emily's initial adventures in a mystical land inhabited by monsters and magic. The first package had contained detailed character sketches of Emily along with several other characters including the nameless woman from the forest, though the woman's description hadn't quite matched her hostile portrayal in this chapter. Blair chocked it up to Dan's inability to make a decision and stick with it, though the story version of the woman was far more interesting to read about than the original sketch version. The Emily character was the opposite of interesting, at least to Blair's summation. She was cliché and far too precocious to be likable, and Blair had the sneaking suspicion that she herself had been the model for the girl. It was evident in the calculated and somewhat slanted treatment of her thoughts and desires. She was impolite and rather self absorbed, and Blair couldn't help but be just a tiny bit offended by the comparison. According to the date, he had written it shortly after graduating from NYU and several months after she left him for Chuck. It made perfect sense for him to liken her to an idealistic, spoiled child at the time, but it still stung. Despite the blow to her ego, she'd read this particular installment three times through and was quite looking forward to the next, that is, if she were to get another.

And she really wanted to get another. Having a character based on your persona was not something that happened to everyone and despite Emily's negative qualities, she was extremely flattered that Dan had yet again captured a piece of her and recorded it in the form of a fictional character. If Blair were being honest with herself, there were certain qualities that she recognized favorably within the young girl. She was strong and driven, both characteristics she admired in herself, and she possessed an above average amount of intelligence and common sense. In the story, when she first awakens after her journey, she finds herself in a tropical paradise. Rather than play in the sand as many girls her age would have done, Emily went immediately in search of fresh water, a nod to Blair's pragmatic nature. And even though she was her toughest critic, it was hard for Blair to admit to her flaws, but after several rereads, she was forced to condede she'd been rather precocious as a child. Dan had infused bits of her into his creation at a time in his life when he couldn't stand the sight of her, much less the thought of her and he'd still managed to make her the heroine of his story. If he was able to do that then perhaps he hadn't hated her as much as she'd let herself believe. Perhaps he'd been able to compartmentalize his feelings and hadn't let his anger at her taint his affection for her. It was a strange concept for Blair to grasp yet it made perfect sense. Most people would never allow the person who had broken their heart back into their lives in the way that Dan had over the last few months. Maybe he actually was capable of separating his feelings for her from everything else in his life. But was that a good thing? Had that been the reason he had so easily tossed Elizabeth aside that day and run off with her? The expression 'out of sight, out of mind' was playing on repeat over and over in her head and it was not a comfort to her. When Dan had been confronted with his feelings for Elizabeth again, he'd caved. Surely the same would be true of his feelings for Blair, but what good would it do them if he couldn't make up his mind? She was again reminded of the inconsistencies between his original sketches and the actual story so she glanced back through them and found the page dedicated to the unnamed woman. Inspecting it closely, she discovered something she hadn't noticed before. Dan had written a small side note toward the bottom of the page. It read 'theme: salvation'. More confused than ever, Blair closed the envelope and set it aside to let her mind forget the matter for a while.

Blair had made several attempts to contact Rose since receiving the package, but she hadn't been able to find a working number. She had managed to locate Mr. Phillips' phone number online and called a few times, but no one ever answered. Rose hadn't written a note or even signed her name but Blair knew the story had been sent by the spirited older woman. They'd discussed Dan's short stories during her time in Texas so it was clear that Rose was trying to send her a message, but at this point the meaning evaded her. The obvious answer would be to call Dan and see if he knew anything about it, but that wasn't really an option at this point. It hurt enough to think about him so she couldn't imagine having to hear his voice on the other end of the phone, laced with wariness and regret. It would be too much after their close encounter of the matrimonial kind. Her only option had been to write Rose a letter, so she'd done just that. It was concise and sweet. She inquired as to her health and wanted to know how Mr. Phillips was doing. Was she taking care of herself? How much time was she spending outdoors gardening and such because the Texas heat can be brutal and she really ought not to be out for very long. Oh, and by the way, there was a package...

She hadn't gotten a response yet. She supposed Rose probably just hadn't gotten around to it yet, or maybe she just wasn't up to it. It might have gotten lost in the mail. Regardless, it was slowly driving her mad and she had no time for madness. There were a multitude of things to accomplish this week and dwelling on the writings of Dan Humphrey played no part in her transforming her life.

She'd already taken care of one of the most difficult steps. The board hadn't taken her news very well but that was to be expected. However, she stood firm and eventually convinced them that this was the best course of action for the betterment of the company as well as her own. Waldorf Designs no longer needed Blair Waldorf in the driver's seat. The emergency meeting lasted for well over an hour and ended on an upbeat, but Blair knew that she had turned their world upside down. She felt bad about that side of things, but at the same time she was more convicted than ever that her decision had been the right one. Her heart was no longer in her work, perhaps had never been, and the company was suffering for it. She had looked them in the eyes and told them that there was no denying the fact that Waldorf Designs was stagnant. No one argued with her and thus the turning point. As she left that meeting, she had stopped in the middle of the sidewalk just to look around. The world was open to her again and the feeling was unmistakable. Freedom.

Her next steps were not so clear cut. She hadn't yet formed a plan for what would happen beyond her resignation, which was why she found herself in a cab this morning heading to a place she had only visited once before. It was a ways out of town, but that wasn't the reason she hadn't been back. The truth was, it felt strange to be there. She felt no connection to the place which bothered her exceedingly, but how does one form an emotional attachment to a headstone? The body beneath the earth had once belonged to her mother but now it housed nothing. It was an empty shell and the thought of her beautiful face decaying beneath her feet was revolting. These were not thoughts that she shared with other people for fear that they would judge her. Eleanor had expressed a desire to be buried rather than cremated because she had wanted to leave something of herself behind for her family to visit and from which to gain comfort. Blair wasn't sure that she could gain any sort of comfort from seeing the hard, packed earth surrounding Eleanor Waldorf's marker. As the driver pulled into the lot, she spotted a young couple holding one another and staring forlornly at a small grave.

It took her nearly twenty minutes to wind her way through the rolling hills in search of the right one, but she eventually spotted the tell tale landmark. The long branches of a gnarled tree hung over Eleanor's grave like a guardian. It had been the one bright spot that Blair took away from the graveside service because it seemed to serve as a protector. She took slow, careful steps toward the tree and stopped about 5 feet short of it and the actual grave. For some reason, she was having trouble making her feet move any closer. To complicate things further, her eyes started to sting. She didn't have any tissues, an amateurish oversight, but she was new to the grieving mourner role and hadn't come prepared. Her breathing became choppy and she found that she was struggling to keep in the sob that clawed at her throat. In an effort to get herself under control, she quickly pulled out the speech she had prepared out of her pocket and began reciting it out loud to...to no one, but her efforts were focused on the rectangular marker before her.

"Hello Mother, I'm so sorry I haven't been to see you before now. My life is very busy at the moment and I can hardly find time for sleep much less leisurely things. But that's not the real reason and I guess you probably know that. I'm not good with emotion, it makes me uncomfortable and this most certainly fits into that category. But the thing is, I need to talk to you. Desperately. I'm about to embark on some uncharted waters and I need to know that you're behind me. It may come as a shock to you that I have chosen to give up my current position at your company. I know how hard you worked to build the label and I know how much it meant to you so please don't think that is lost on me. I've seen it through some difficult times and some really wonderful times, but I think it's time for me to move on. I've left it in extremely capable hands who will treat it with the respect it deserves. They're people who share so many of your passions and can give it the care and treatment it deserves, something I was never able to do. I'm so ashamed to admit that to you now. My passions have always been elsewhere and now I finally have the opportunity to pursue them, but I can't do it without your blessing. I don't know how I'll possibly get it, but I need it. Mom, I need it." She paused to take a breath, and swipe at a couple of stray tears. "There's something else I need to discuss with you. It's really important and I need your advice. I've realized recently that I'm a...that I...that I have an effect on people, and not in a good way. I hurt them, I damage them and then they are not the same. I'm not sure what to do about it. And I'm doing it again, god help me. There's a man, a wonderful man, who loves me. But I'm afraid to let him get any closer to me because I've already caused him so much pain, and it appears that I'm headed down that same path again. He's good and kind and all the things that I aspire to be and I don't think I could live with myself if I turned him too. Now, I realize that if you were sitting here listening to me you'd tell me I sound ridiculous. You'd say to stop with the histrionics and dial down the melodrama. But the fact remains, I am no good for him. Maybe I could be someday, but that's the kind of unhealthy thinking that ruined me when I was younger. So I'm not going think that way. I'm going to take care of me and I'm going to leave him out of it. I think it's what you would do if you were in my situation. Isn't it?"

Blair closed her eyes and lifted her face toward the sun that was creeping from behind a cloud and let it bathe her skin in warmth. She wasn't a superstitious person and this certainly wasn't a sign, but maybe it was a harbinger of things to come. She would allow herself this one silly notion. As another cloud passed in front of the sun, she looked back down at the stone and took several steps toward it, finally kneeling beside the polished marble. She draped the gladiolas in her arms across the mound of the dirt that was still settling. It was covered in a light green fuzz which set the yellow of the blooms off nicely. Her mother would have loved them. Maybe there was something here she connected with and it had nothing to do with the coffin or any other mundane detail. There was something cathartic in being able to talk to her mother, unrestrained and free. It filled a hole that she hadn't been aware of until now. She could tell her anything, needed to tell her everything. She filled her lungs again and stood to brush the dirt from her clothes. It was time to go, she could sense it, but she needed to say one thing more.

"I miss you."

Blair returned home feeling a little lighter but also keenly aware of the solemnity of her decision to leave her mother's company in the hands of someone else. There was no doubt that she had done what was best, but before visiting the cemetery she had been pushing the ramifications of her decision out of mind. Now that she was finally able to face them, they seemed to be manageable and most importantly, they were worth the risk. Blair threw her bag on the console and immediately walked upstairs to get her laptop. She began typing calmly and quickly, and when she found the phone number she wanted, she realized she had left her phone in her bag downstairs. When she finally had it in her hands, that were starting to tremble in anticipation, she dialed the number slowly, carefully. As it rang, she took stock of all the important events in her life, much like Dan had with his rocks. The day she got into Constance, her first science fair win, the day Nate gave her his pin, her winning essay, the day she realized her dad loved her regardless of the ocean between them, her acceptance into Columbia, her internship with W magazine, the day Dan stole her away from the church; they were all there in one concise list that was begging for another entry. Her heart jumped as the voice on the other end of the phone said, "Columbia University Office of Admissions. How can I help you?"

That was the day Blair started collecting actual rocks. Technically she started that day in the stream when she and Dan had each taken a stone, but now it was time to add, to build on that one. Though it was late in the summer, she had been able to gain admission by going through various channels and pulling several strings. She knew that she had an in because she was a former student with almost enough hours to make her a junior. It didn't hurt that she had a substantial amount of money at her disposal either. She was able to secure a spot for herself within a week's time. One stone.

Classes began shortly after that and Blair had to retrain herself. It had been quite some time since she had been in the classroom. People always say how difficult it is to go back to school once you've left and there is a certain amount of truth to that. She registered for a full schedule because she was determined to get this done as quickly as possible. The rest of her life was waiting for her and she couldn't stand the thought of keeping it at bay so that she could have a leisurely semester. This meant late nights doing homework and studying for exams. This meant very little time for socializing and entertainment. This meant something other than Dan Humphrey could take over her mind for the time being.

Of course, he never left her, not entirely. Just as she'd hoped she got another story in the mail a week after the last one. Then she got another one, and another one. Each built on the last so much so that it was beginning to feel like a children's novel rather than a series of short stories. Each time a new one arrived, she dropped whatever text book she was carrying and immediately engrossed herself in Emily's world. After a time, she began to understand Emily, even sympathize with her. There was something so familiar about the way the girl delighted in her surroundings and cherished even the smallest details. Her eyes were opened time and again to new experiences, some frightening and perilous, others joyful and exciting, while yet some were simply peaceful and fulfilling. Throughout all of her adventures, the woman from the forest watched, sometimes stepping in, other times letting Emily fall and face whatever danger lie before her. But all the while she prodded Emily further along, keeping her going when she wanted to give up, giving her a harsh talking to when her selfish nature reared it's head, even disappearing when it seemed she was most needed, but always there, ever present. Blair's favorite passage so far came from the fifth chapter, which had taken up residence on her night stand. At the end of a long, grueling day, she would pack up her text books, take a hot shower, and collapse into bed with his words in her hands.

...

There came a day when Emily considered the possibility of ending it all. Her body was bruised and she was fairly certain her tangle with the sea serpent had caused a couple of broken ribs. Her bones were not the only thing damaged. Her spirit had been shattered, possibly beyond repair. She crawled into a crook in the roots of a nearby tree and wept. When the silver haired woman appeared, she shrank back from her, afraid of her reprimand and also her common sense.

"WHY DO YOU CRY, CHILD?"

"I'm so tired. I don't think I can continue on."

"HAS NOT YOUR TIME HERE BEEN MAGICAL? HAS IT BEEN FULL OF LIFE AND ADVENTURE? IS THIS NOT WHAT YOU WANTED?"

"It is what I wanted. I just didn't know it was going to be so hard! It shouldn't be this way, it shouldn't feel this way. I feel as if this entire world is plotting against me!"

"IT IS."

Then the silver haired woman took the girl in her arms and cradled her. The warmth emanating from them was enough to comfort the poor girl and gently cajole her into a deep, healing sleep.

"BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT ISN'T AS IT SHOULD BE. TRUE COURAGE CAN ONLY BE FOUND WHEN FACING FEAR."

...

Blair had always appreciated Dan's ability to turn a phrase and this particular excerpt was no exception. She'd been pulling from it on a daily basis, repeating it to herself during the day when her stamina wavered, when she was convinced she couldn't keep up with the twenty year old intellectuals in her classes. True courage can only be found when facing fear. It was a simple thought and she was sure she had heard similar sentiments before, probably many times over, but it had never spoken to her the way that his did. Surely it had a lot to do with the fact that she was under an enormous amount of pressure considering her recent career change. There were days when she doubted herself and her ability to actually do this and do it well. Blair would never settle for mediocrity, it wasn't in her nature. She valued excellence far too much to let herself be anything other than the best. She detailed all of this to Rose in her most recent letter. Although she had never responded, the letters hadn't been returned to her so she knew Rose was getting them. She wrote her at least once a week, sometimes twice, and filled her in on all the goings on of her life. She also provided commentary and a critical eye to Dan's stories.

Dear Rose,

Classes are killing me right now. I love it, I really do, but sometimes I wonder if I'm insane for doing this.

I got your package. Though I enjoyed reading it, I wasn't crazy about chapter six. Dan's made Emily lose all confidence and I am far too proud to ever allow that to happen. I know she's only loosely based on me, but I find it strikingly out of character for her to grovel at the silver haired woman's feet for assistance in defeating the sea god. I know it works for the overall narrative, but come on! I would never grovel. Not to anyone.

Anyhow, I hope you are feeling better. I would love to come visit sometime, but perhaps it would be better for me to wait until Dan leaves. I don't know. What do you think?

Love, Blair

After weeks and weeks of waiting, Blair finally received a clear, succinct response.

Blair,

I love you hon, but you're an idiot. Emily is not based on you. If you think that, then all of my efforts are wasted because you are not getting what I intended for you to get out of this. How do you not see it? The watchful eye, the guarded responses, the careful bestowing of her affection, and the wise counsel she gives; you are the silver haired woman. You're not the protagonist, but the savior of the story. The redemption. I hope you will go back and read it again with this knowledge and see what Dan sees, what I see in you. Good luck, honey.

Rose

P.S. Oh, and by the way, Dan left Texas a week ago.

It took a few minutes for all of it to settle in, but when it did one fact was evident above them all.

Emily was Dan.

A/N: I developed a recent aversion to lengthy author's notes but I feel this chapter requires one. First of all, thank you to all of the reviewers. You bring such joy to the writing process and I can't thank you enough for your feedback. Many of you like to keep me on my toes and I'm also grateful for that. This story has become more than just an entertaining way to pass the time for me and you've definitely held me accountable and forced me to treat these characters with the utmost respect. I do want to address something from chapter 9 here as it's relevant to chapter 10 and the rest of the story. As I stated previously, this story shifted gears just a tad after the end of the show. I was truly saddened by the show's treatment of Blair's character and since then I've felt an urgent need to give her the ending I feel she deserves. Hence the slight departure. It would have been so easy for me to write 10 chapters and tie it all up with a nice neat little bow and a wedding, but I felt that I would be doing Blair a major disservice. I weighed all of my options and considered it heavily, but ultimately made the decision to let Blair discover that fiercely strong, independent, outspoken, beautiful woman who is capable of anything. I won't say more on the matter as I don't want to give anything away, but I'm confident you'll be pleased with the end result.

P.S. I realize there was zero Dan/Blair interaction in this chapter which was necessary, but there will be a lot more in the next one ;) As always, reviews are so very welcome. I look forward to hearing from you!