(Thank you so much for all the reviews. I can't thank you enough. It's the biggest compliment you can give me. I love you all. I have to thank a lovely person for her always 'ready to help' attitude. What a lovely sounding board to have. So I will be revealing mom very soon and I hope you all continue reading afterwards, and if not, i'm so fortunate that you took the time and the chance on me and this crazy idea I had. If things are confusing at the end please be patient, everything in this fic has a reason and it'll all come out. This chapter picks up where the last one ended...ENjOY!)
(She's his whole world)
XOXOXOX
Instantly Dan was taken back to a time of immense pain and betrayal. The two women before him wouldn't, or more accurately couldn't, even look at one another. While his ex-wife stared daggers at him, the other woman was clearly uncomfortable. He didn't know who to address first. Didn't know what sort of rift that might cause. Going with hospitality, he turned to his ex-wife's former best friend with an awkward smile.
"Wow,...How are you?" she looked, for the most part, the same. Her hair was shorter but she was still the same woman he used to know.
"Not bad" she answered quietly; though her uncomfortable stance told the opposite. The tension was palpable. Looking past Dan into the house, she clearly was hoping to just pick up her daughter and leave.
"Good...good...Um..." Dan struggled for words before two giggling nine year olds ran into the picture; easing the tension. A sigh of relief came as he watched his ex wife's scowl resolve into a beaming smile; Nicky was there. Nicky had always put a glimmer in her eyes. She was her treasure, her precious and only kin.
"Hi baby girl" Her smile was brilliant. Knowing how much she adored their daughter, Dan sometimes worried she would sue him for full custody. While he knew she wasn't that cruel, he also knew she hated sharing her.
"Mummy!" she ran straight into her arms and squeezed her tightly.
"You all ready?" she asked, not wanting to release her.
"Yepp" she smiled brightly as her mother reluctantly pulled away. "Can we go to high tea today?" she bounced around; excited for this Saturday morning.
"We'll see" She answered, though it was more assuring than anything. Dan knew that smile always meant 'yes'. Reaching out to collect her daughter's bag, she looked to Dan. "You're ridiculous" she said for Dan's ears only. He cringed knowing she would naturally assume he was seeing her sworn enemy.
"Bye Izzie!" Nicky hugged her best-friend tightly. In an awkward muted way, that was completely outside of her character, Izzie's mother said her good-byes and quickly left the scene. The second the door shut behind her, Dan was looking into the accusing eyes of his ex.
"Tell me you're joking." her lips were tight in an effort to keep Nicky far away from this conversation.
"Tell me YOU'RE joking." Dan began, at the same moment his ex looked down at their daughter and told her to find a specific dress.
"You know the white one with the little bow on the strap? maybe you could wear that to grandma's breakfast tomorrow?"
When Nicky was off on her mission Dan defended himself. "I know what you're thinking and you are WAY off base. Our daughters are friends. This is the first time i've seen her in years,...same as you"
"You're telling me that woman," she couldn't even say her name these days. "...would just let her daughter spend the night at someone's house without meeting her parents first?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm telling you. Nicky called me at school, she asked if Izzie could come home with us for a sleepover,...I had work to do, so I thought perfect, she'll be entertained and I can get some work done"
"Shutting her out,...so you're back to that?"
"I'm not shutting her out!,...I needed a few hours to work"
"You know if you're going to close the door on her...you should just bring her to me"
"I don't close the door on her" Dan said honestly "...I'm telling you the truth here. I haven't seen her in years."
"I know what you had with her..."
"Don't start,..."
"Dan, it doesn't matter what you say. I know what you had with her,...I just thought you were over it"
"Oh please. Are you ever going to let that go?" Dan looked down to see Nicky staring up at them, holding her dress. He immediately thought of how he felt when he watched his divorced parents fight. "Have fun with mom. I'll see you later" he pressed a warm kiss on her head and held the door for them.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Without her he cleaned until the apartment was immaculate. No one would ever guess he had a little girl who was partial to glitter and tea parties. He almost liked it better when the thick coat of girly surrounded him; at least he didn't feel alone then. It hadn't been more than four months since he had been divorced but he was still not used to the two women being gone for more than a day of shopping. He should have been thrilled that he could write in silence, he didn't have to poke his head out of his office to politely ask them to tune down the giggles so he could get work done. Dan would kill to hear those giggles today.
Nate walked into Dan's apartment to see him folding laundry; the majority of it pink. "Hey" he greeted his friend who was struggling to figure out what was the back and front of one of Nicky's dresses. "Did you ever think this would be your life?" Nate chuckled watching Dan's frustration.
"Divorced with a nine yearold daughter?...yeah" Dan joked finally figuring out the correct way to fold the mystery dress.
"You don't fold dresses Humphrey,...here, give it to me" Nate put it on a hanger.
"Her mom used to do this stuff,..I don't..." Nate knew he was flustered.
"You're doing fine" Nate assured him that he was doing a great job not only with the laundry but with Nicky in general. "You really are just fine. And if you need anything you know who to call. Now, do you want gourmet pizza or..."
"Nate I can't stay and hangout, I have a meeting in like an hour" he stood up, he could always do the laundry later.
"That's fine" Nate relaxed into a armchair. "I'll be here when you get back" he turned the tv on as Dan made his way to the washroom to jump in the shower.
"I'm sure you will be..." Nate loved lounging around his apartment, he always had.
When Dan got out of the shower he noticed Nate had finished folding all the laundry. "Thanks man"
"No problemo,...uh it makes me uncomfortable when I see you half naked...try and be more careful next time"
"It makes me uncomfortable when I get out of the shower and you're waiting to see me half naked..."
"Its understandable that you find me attractive but I just want to be friends..." Dan ignored Nate and headed towards his bedroom to change.
"I have to tell you,..I'm kind of freaking out over this meeting"
"Oh, don't be nervous,...you'll be wonderful" he smirked.
"...yeah, thanks for that...helpful"
Nate continued to flip through channels as Dan was changing. "you sure you don't want to just reschedule the meeting and watch movies with me? I have this sudden urge to watch Bruce Willis kick some ass..."
"Nate, do you have a home of your own?"
"Yeah but my best-friend is HERE" he smiled wide.
"Not for long" Dan came out of his room and did a quick spin in his suit. "How do I look?"
"...uh" Nate struggled for the words. "umm brainy,... brainy and wholesome" he smiled.
"Oh give it up already..."
"...But why?"
Dan's meeting went off without a hitch. The publishers loved him the twelve chapters he had completed and had them all begging for more. Some thought he was going to marry Natalie, others were sure he was going to end up with Emily and a select few were rooting for Britney to come back. Dan promised them all it would come out in time and it would be worth the wait.
Dan hadn't been in the door for ten minutes before his cellphone was buzzing in his pocket. A smile spread across his face. "Who's this?" Dan asked her as soon as he picked up.
"Nicole Humphey, can I speak to Daniel Humphrey please?" she sounded very proper on the phone. Dan attributed that to the fact she was raised with very professional parents, that always sounded polite and mannerly when they spoke on the phone.
"Umm,..he stepped out for a moment can I take a message?"
"Darn!,...," she giggled. "Can you tell him that I just wanted to say goodnight and tell him I love him?"
"He's actually right here. You can tell him yourself" Nicky giggled heartily, she loved when her dad was silly with her.
"Hello?...anyone there?"
"Oh, hi daddy, your assistant is really quite rude. You should fire him"
"I'm on it" he chuckled. "How was shopping with mommy?" he leaned on the counter.
"Good. I got some beautiful new boots"
"Nice" he nodded. "you can show me them tomorrow after school?
"Yepp!...I actually called early so that maybe...you would tell me some of my story..."
"Oh you did, did you?" he pulled up from the counter quickly and headed towards his office.
"MMhmmm, is that okay?"
"Of course, let me think about where I left off..." Dan walked into his office and opened his word document, then scrolled through until he found the point in his book where he left off.
"Once upon a time a guy named Daniel Humphrey was deeply in love with his bestfriend..."
"Fast forward daddy!"
"What? that's where we left off wasn't it?" he joked.
"NOooooooo, pull it together! Emily left you remember?"
"Right!"
Flashback
It had been nine weeks since Serena left and Dan still hadn't heard from her. Without Serena living in his apartment Dan spent many nights alone. He often wondered if most Yale students were too busy to go out and socialize. Weeks were packed with lectures, seminars, and writing workshops; hardly leaving him with the time to do anything else. Whenever Dan did have free time he took full advantage to call his dad and inform him that he was still alive and not flunking out. It wasn't the exciting lifestyle that he had envisioned for himself but it was Yale; the school he always wanted to attend.
Once or twice a week he'd run into Blair on campus and they'd arrange to watch a movie together on a boring Thursday night. Sad as it was, those Thursday nights became his highlight of the week.
"So Nate,...my place next weekend?" Dan asked while collapsing into Blair's awfully uncomfortable couch. For whatever reason they ended up there in her well decorated, but completely uncomfortable apartment. He remembered Blair saying something about how looks are more important than comfort. The first thing he thought of was a high heel, Blair's apartment was a high heel; looked good but not nearly as comfortable as Dan's 'sneaker' apartment.
"Nate is staying here next weekend" Blair claimed him.
"No, you got him last weekend. I need some Nate time"
"Oh,..." Blair burst into laughter. "...I wasn't aware" looking from Nate and then to Dan with an amused expression.
"Awa,...aware of what?"
"That you and Nate are boyfriends" her eyes widened making them large before she giggled at her insinuation.
"He's not my type. Too...booky" Nate piped up while opening a pizza box.
"This is like Serena all over again. We're just going to have to share Nate...and uh,...speaking of Serena..." he sat up on the couch.
"Shut it Humphrey. I haven't really talked to her either" Blair placed her wine glass on the coffee table.
"Why not?...you're her best-friend"
"I've talked to her... but not about you"
"It's been nine weeks..."
"It's embarrassing that you're counting it down" Blair laughed.
"I just want to talk to her. I want to know what happened and what made her leave"
"I liked it better when you were fighting over me..." Nate expressed his distaste for the current topic of conversation.
"she'll call when she's ready," Blair shrugged ignoring Nate.
"Yeah but still,...it's just strange for her to up and leave isn't it?"
"Guys! There's enough of me to go around..." Nate joked as if they were still on the topic.
"Ugh, you can keep him" Blair rolled her eyes."aren't your parents concerned with your sudden lack of interest in anything that will benefit your future?" Nate just dropped out of Columbia so he could continue to live the simple life, lounging around his apartment, playing guitar hero, lacrosse, bringing home a new girl every night. When he got bored with that, he'd visit Dan and Blair at Yale.
"Yeah but,...I just...I don't care?" a smile appeared on his face, Dan was often jealous of Nate's laid-back lifestyle. No worries, no responsibilities.
"You obviously do care or you wouldn't be hiding from Anne and the Captain in New Haven..."
"Who's hiding? I'm with my best-friends"
"Nate have you talked to her?" Dan opened a can of beer and handed it to his friend.
"I actually went to the movies with her last week" he spoke casually.
"What?"
"I went to the movies with her last week"
"No, I heard you. I didn't know you were talking to her though"
"Yeah, she called so I went"
"So you've both kept in touch with her and she's just completely ignored my calls?" Dan practically downed his can hoping it could dull the pain.
"She's not going to come back and tell you she's sorry, It's just not going to happen" Nate explained to Dan. "She thinks this is the right thing to do. If she does come back,...don't make it easy for her"
"Nate,...he's in love with her. He's not going to make her sweat it out. Did you sell the ring yet Dan?"
"Yeah..." he looked ashamed.
"Good. It wasn't healthy for you to hang on to it. She was scared Dan, just give her some time...i'm sure she'll come around and at least want to stay friends"
"It didn't mean we'd have to get married immediately. I assumed it would be a long engagement..."
"Dan..." Nate turned to look at Blair who was sitting beside Dan on the couch. "I'm sick of talking about Serena, can we just watch this movie?"
XOXOXOX
"I think that's as far as we're going tonight little girl" Dan realized it was ten pm.
"I still can't believe she left you without a good explanation!"
"Emily was a free spirit and that was one of the things I loved about her" he swivelled around in his computer chair.
"Did you ever learn why she left?"
"She was trying to figure out who she was and when I proposed she freaked out since she had no idea what she wanted to do with her life. Her future flashed before her eyes and she wasn't ready for that."
"What happened with you and Natalie after all that?"
"That's for another day. Nate and I will pick you up from school tomorrow okay?"
"My two dads!" she giggled.
"Please don't say that to people. it makes it sound like we're...together"
"Especially when they know you're freshly divorced" she laughed loudly.
"Shhh, your mom is going to hear you" he knew she was suppose to be fast asleep by now. He enjoyed bending the rules with her. "I will see you tomorrow. I love you forever and always, goodnight"
"Goodnight, daddy I love you"
"I love you too, sweetdreams baby"
XOXOXOXO
The two buddies headed towards New York prep school. They had just finished having a drink at a pub along the way and realized they needed to down the remainder of their drinks. It was that or deal with Nicky's attitude when they were late picking her up.
"There I am,...standing in front of...Blair and Serena" Dan explained the visitors he had the Saturday prior.
"In the same room? ahh" Nate chuckled. "Was it a blood bath?" Dan seemed to be alarmed by Nate's excited expression. It was as if he was waiting for Dan to tell him they had a cat fight in his livingroom in a pool of pudding or something.
"They didn't say anything to one another. They were both quiet and actually quite well behaved" Dan remembered a time where a screaming match would have ensued if they were forced to be in the vicinity of one another.
"How was ex wifey?" Nate smiled knowing she couldn't have been pleasant after that.
"She was,...for lack of a better word... a complete bitch, jumping to conclusions..." Dan shook his head wondering if she'd ever believe him. He knew it looked bad.
"I bet!" Nate and Dan walked side by side. "She broke up with beardo last night" Nate confessed.
"When did you see her?" Dan's head snapped up due to this new detail.
"Last night. We saw a movie and she told me that she needed to break up with him"
"Why?" Dan toned down his interest by looking away casually as if he didn't really care. He cared.
"Get this...," Nate paused as a smile took over his face. "He shaved!" laugher erupted in him.
"She broke up with him because he shaved?" Dan asked seriously.
"Yeah,...she told me she only likes him with the beard"
"You've got to be kidding me.," his eyes widened. "I had a beard for like two months while we were married and she never liked it"
"Well she liked it on that guy" Nate was now laughing quite loudly. People passed him on the street with confused expressions.
"she actually told you that she broke up with him because of the beard?" Dan was hung up on it. She wasn't the beard loving kind of woman.
"Yes! she said when he shaved she realized she didn't like him anymore"
"That is the most ridic..."
"Hey kiddo!" Nate greeted Nicky who ran out of the school. "how was school?"
"insuffer...ly?" she looked up at Nate and Dan questioning if that was correct.
"Insuf..?...," Dan's eyebrows raised. "insufferable?" Dan asked if that was the word she was looking for.
"Yeah" she nodded.
"That bad?...Boys being mean?"
"Wesley likes Izzie now"
"Oh no..." Dan commented hoping this new development wasn't going to effect Nicky and Izzie's friendship.
"Sounds like a boy we know" Nate looked over at Dan.
"Well if he likes Izzie then he doesn't deserve you" Dan put his arm around her.
"I don't like him! eww, she can have him" she looked over at her dad.
"Oh I miss the simplicity of grade school" Nate laughed.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXOX
Flashback
An empty box of pizza and about ten drinks later, Dan, Nate and Blair kicked back and watched a new release. "No one kisses like that in real life. It always leads to something..." Blair stared at the tv screen.
"What do you mean?" Dan looked over to see her studying the actors.
"You can't just kiss without it leading to sex anymore. Once it's been done you can't go back to just making out"
"I disagree"
"Sure when you're a virgin, kissing always stops at kissing but once you've done it,...there's no going back. Kissing like that,..." she gestured to the tv "...will always lead to more"
"You're wrong"
"I agree with Blair" Nate piped up.
"Kissing is fun..."
"Kissing is fun because you know what it's leading to. You know that she's willing to take her clothes off and the fun part is inevitable" Nate chuckled.
"Let's agree to disagree Nate"
"I'm not saying it isn't fun, I'm saying that if you put two experienced people in a private room and tell them to make-out they'll probably end up having sex" Blair was dead set on her opinion.
"No..."
"I wish I could do a study. I'm telling you Humphrey. Making-out stops being the beginning and end in high-school"
"Or middle school for some" Nate smirked.
"No,...You're just not romantic"
"Y'okay" Blair scoffed. "Hear me out. If you're in a private place, there's no one home...you're making out. You have hours. Are you going to just stop making out or are you going to finish the session you started?"
"What session? sometimes people just make out and then they stop" his body was now turned in his seat and he was ready to rumble with Blair Waldorf.
"If they have something to do, if they're running low on time, if someone interrupts..."
"I've made-out plenty of times without it going anywhere. Made-out, then stopped..."
"When you were a virgin" Blair smiled.
"She's right!" Nate giggled before turning back to the movie.
"I think you've been kissing the wrong people Waldorf"
"Hey! she kissed me"
"I rest my case" Dan laughed.
"and who exactly are you kissing Humphrey?"
"Waldorf,...I've never had any complaints" the cockiness was apparent in his voice.
"Oh really?" she scoffed.
" Yo, Flirty McFlirt flirts, kiss, don't kiss,...either way...shut up" The movie just started getting good and Nate was engaged in the screen in front of him.
"That was not flirting, you need to get your ears checked" Blair was the first to speak up. "I would never kiss him" she made a cringing sound. "His audacity disgusts me"
"Why because it reminds you of Chuck?" Dan smirked.
"No, it doesn't remind me of Chuck, you arrogant idiot" she glared at him.
"I think you just need a good kiss Waldorf,..." the courage from his multiple beers had clicked in. "I mean I can't be that bad...you kissed Nate" he smiled.
"I can hear you"
"I said it loud... but yeah,...anytime Waldorf"
"Anytime... in your dreams" she rolled her eyes.
"I'm watching...THE MOVIE!" Dan and Blair both laughed at Nate.
"It's not very good anyway" Dan commented.
"it's terrible" Blair yawned.
Nate looked back at them. "You know what? Fuck you film snobs!" Nate turned back to watch his film.
Dan and Blair laughed again.
When the movie was over Blair was practically sound asleep. Dan stretched and looked over at Nate.
"I'm exhausted, let's go Dan"
"What? you're going with him?,..." she leapt up off her chair, her fatigue symptoms caused entirely by the bad movie. "I have a guest room and I just had new sheets put on the bed,...I thought you were staying with me"
"Dan has an xbox..." was Nate simple answer to why he was going home with him.
"..." she rolled her eyes and stood up to see them off. "boys..."
"Nate, I'll be down in a sec...I have to borrow a few textbooks from Miss Waldorf"
"What textbooks? we don't have the same major..." she looked around.
"Aren't you taking Campbell's class?" Dan walked closer to her and her book shelf. Dan looked over to see that Nate was gone.
",...you don't have the textbook for that?"
"No, I do" he was standing less that a foot away from her.
"What are you doing?" her shoulders relaxed as she watched his eyes fall down to her lips.
"Proving a point" his eyes were hazy and Blair knew what he was doing.
"Don't you dare..." she stood frozen, starring down at his lips.
"Stop me"
"Don't even think about it" her voice hitched, she then swallowed not able to move.
"I'm not going to think about it, i'm just going to do it" he said as his lips pressed firmly against hers. It was the liquid courage that gave Dan the guts to start this but he didn't need any courage to continue.
Her lips moved with his once the initial shock died down. Soon Blair's eyes were closed and her head was titled. Dan's hand cupped her face and pulled her in for more. Their lips touched over and over until Dan was wearing more lipstick than Blair. When her tongue glided along his bottom lip Dan knew it was time to prove his point. Sitting down on Blair's couch he looked up at her.
"You want to watch another movie?" he asked. He looked ridiculous with a smear of red lipstick on his lower lip.
"What are you doing?" he eyed him carefully.
"I'm proving a point. People can make-out, then stop. Do you want to watch a movie?"
"No"
"Well I'm going to head out then. G'night Waldorf" he popped up off the couch and headed to the door.
"You're insufferable Dan Humphrey"
"Gooooooodnight" he smiled knowing she would never be able to forget that kiss.
XOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Present
Nicky stopped washing the window and stared right at her dad. "You kissed her!. Daddy that is so bad! she's Emily's bestfriend!"
"I know,...I know" he nodded. "You missed a spot" Dan pointed at the window.
"I think there are child labour laws against this..." she continued wiping off the fingerprints.
"There are also things called chores, kids do them...for money" he continued cleaning his window.
"My mom would have just given me the money..."
"That's the difference between mom and dad Nicooooole"
"Daddy who named me?" she enquired after she heard the way he said her name.
"I did," he smiled. "You mom had the worst names picked out. Nicole for a girl and Cole for a boy" he chuckled then looked over to see Nicky stopped with the windows. "Hey!,...get back to work"
"Fine but you have to tell me what happened after the kiss between you and Natalie"
"Okay,..." Dan thought about how he could make this part of the story PG13. In his book if definitely wasn't toned down for anyone but for his nine year-old daughter he'd try his best. Dan continued washing windows with Nicky as he told her the story.
"You have to know something first. Before I saw her again, I told Nate that,...I had a thing for her"
"You told Nate a secret?...you should have known he'd spill"
"Well the funny thing is,...Natalie told Nate the same secret about me"
Flashback
"Where's Nate?" Blair walked into Dan's apartment on a Thursday night. She was clutching on to a Starbucks cup.
"He met some girl on the way over here"
"So it's just you and I?" Blair asked.
"No, he's pretty charming, he'll probably score and be back here by eight." Blair didn't mask her distaste for the term 'score' "Sorry Blair just give me a second i'm sending an email,...Professor Campbell is going to be the death of me" Dan complained while looking over his email.
"He's not that bad if you look past the tweed jacket that he...never takes off" Blair's nose crinkled. Dan always smiled when she did it. It made her look young.
"You'll be surprised to learn it's not his choice of dress that bothers me. It's his pretentious attitude. He never has time to talk to his students. He gives me a C and then won't explain why. I mean... the guy has never been published. Where did he pick up the chip on his shoulder?" Dan looked up when Blair was quiet.
"He probably never washes it..." Blair was still hung up on the jacket. "Or maybe he has a closet full of them? think he owns more than one?" she asked, her eyes widening.
"Wait," Dan stopped her. "Are we going somewhere?" he asked looking at Blair's appearance.
"No..." she looked confused. "Movies and pizza right?"
"Did you just come from something?"
"Yeah Starbucks" she held her cup up with a confused expression. "Why?"
"Oh, it's just,...you look nice" he subdued the word.
"Oh,...thank you" she looked down at her dress. When she looked back up Dan's eyes were locked with hers. "About last Thursday..." she began.
"I'm sorry about that, I had more to drink than I thought and it gave me a little extra courage" he looked down at the floor in front of him. "I was still right though..." he smirked.
"No,..." Blair put her Starbucks cup down and removed her jacket. "you're wrong. Like I said before,...if two experienced people are left in a room together with unlimited time, and they begin to make-out it will go further"
"It doesn't have to" Dan cleared his throat realizing he was staring at Blair's breasts that were just peeking above her shirt in the perfect amount of cleavage.
"No, it doesn't have to but it always does...who knows what would have happened if you hadn't left..." her voice was breathy and Dan closed his eyes willing himself to stay away from her. The strap of Blair's dress slipped off her shoulder, Dan noticed and pulled it back up. He wasn't entirely sure how it happened but his lips were on hers seconds after that. Unlike the time before this was much more aggressive, it made last Thursday's kiss look like something that would be acceptable in Church. Soon Blair was pushing Dan on to the couch and kissing him with force. It wasn't long before Blair pulled away from Dan with a wicked smile. Confused Dan sat up.
"What?" he was breathing in and out harshly, his elbows propped himself up. Blair's eyes rested on the fly of Dan's jeans.
"Why on earth might that happen? oh,..." she smiled deviously "because you think you're getting something more than a make-out?...this is embarrassing..." a giggle escaped her lips. "I stop here...have fun though..."
"Okay, I suppose you're right" Dan took a deep breath.
"I'm always right" Blair adjusted her dress so that it fell properly.
"You kind of tricked me though" he stood.
"What ever do you mean?" a plastic smile spread across her face.
"You were being suggestive, and I think maybe Nate told you..."
"Nate told you!" her eyes widened.
"doesn't matter" he walked over and worked at her lips, top then bottom, then both.
As Blair tried to remove her shirt Dan pulled it back down and pressed one soft kiss against her lips. "Sometimes people just make-out,...then stop"
"No they don't..." she pulled at her shirt again when Nate walked in.
"What's up homies?" he looked blissful. Dan knew that he scored with the girl he met on the way over.
"Or someone interupts..." Blair said under her breath with a smile as she adjusted her headband and found her spot on the couch so they could enjoy a movie.
Tonight when Nate left, Blair said she needed to borrow books from Dan. She practically lunged at him and began kissing him, she was not about to give up. Dan grabbed her hands so she couldn't touch him as he worked at her top lip and then her bottom. His lips then rested on her nose "goodnight B" he smirked, she kissed him again and began pulling her shirt up, Dan took hold of the silk and pulled it back down his finger tips grazing at the skin above her skirt.
"..I'm willing to have sex with you Humphrey...are you sure you're a man?, your lack of interest in sex, paired with your writing style would suggest you have more estrogen pumping through your veins than testosterone"
"You're trying to trick me..." he stared at her. His lips swollen from Blair biting at them. Again Blair forced herself on him, she couldn't let him win. Blair was starting to think he was about to give in when one of his hands kneaded her breast during their aggressive kissing. Just as she began to pull down her skirt; Dan pulled away from her.
"You really can't be serious..." her shoulders fell.
"Oh but I am...Goodnight Waldorf" Dan sat at his desk and opened a document.
"..." her tongue poked her cheek and she stared at him for a moment watching him type as if she didn't exist. Without a word, she left. The door made a banging sound as she closed it. "jesus christ..." Dan popped up from the chair and rushed to the cold shower he so desperately needed. There was definitely testosterone pumping through those veins.
XOXOXOXOXOX
"So now you're kissing Natalie every time you see her?"
"Pretty much" he laughed. "We dated for a little while..." Dan smiled.
"You did!, I knew it!"
"Yeah, then Emily came back,...she came back when I was just falling in love with Natalie...but when Emily walked in the door I..."
"You really missed her"
"Yeah I did," he nodded recalling the euphoria he felt when Serena walked in the door.
"What about Natalie?"
"My heart belonged to Emily. If I chose Emily then my life could go back to normal. She was my whole world then. I was completely infatuated with her. I forgot all about the fact she declined my proposal and took off, I just wanted to be with her. I wanted to go back to old times"
"and you forgot about all the times you spent with Natalie?"
"I thought you didn't like Natalie?" Dan questioned.
"Well, I kind of like her now" Dan smiled.
"I was so in love with Emily but I really thought I loved Natalie too"
"I guess you had a dilemma"
"A big one" Dan nodded.
"What did you do?" Dan throughly loved that Nicky was so enthralled with his story.
"I went to Emily" he said honestly.
"Is Emily my mom?" she asked immediately.
"...Maybe"
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Present
Nate and Dan sat back in leather arm chairs as Nicky practiced her school presentation. The fifth grade project was a biography they had to present to the class and Nicky wanted to make sure everything was just right for when she was presenting on Tuesday morning. "are you ready?...you are? Okay" She wore a mini tiara on her head that was full of bouncy, brown curls that could only be a gene provided from her dad. Nicky was overly animated making Nate chuckle heartily at her mannerisms that must have come from her mom. Dan instantly thought of his wife when she came home from her bachelorette party wearing the very same tiara. It was a tiny little thing her bridesmaids bought her for the occasion. It was made of white gold and had some intricate Swarovski crystals encrusted in the lattice.
"I have to start with my name and then,...daddy..." she waved the air so he would focus his attention on her and stop chatting with Nate. When their eyes were both on her she continued. "...Then my likes and dislikes, and then I can talk about my family members..."
"Just start and Nate and I will help you along the way"
"My name is Nicole Humphrey," she said with complete pride before looking down at her paper. "I go to New York prep school and i'm in fifth grade" she held her hand out and wiggled her five fingers. "I'm nine years old and I live at..."
"Nic, the class doesn't need to know your address" Dan interrupted. "Just mention that you were born and raised in the city" he suggested.
"Okay" she went over to her "research" and put her "reading glasses" on.
"Pffftt,...What is she doing? Nate asked Dan with laughter.
"I have a feeling we're going to be here all night" Dan said dryly. "Nic, don't wear my reading glasses, it can't be good for your eyes"
"Okay, I'm almost done..." she stabbed the paper she was writing on with a period and jumped back in front of her dad and uncle.
"Glasses..." Dan held his hand out. She graciously skipped over and placed them in his open palm.
"Okay ready?"
"READY!" Nate and Dan yelled in unison.
"are you sure?"
"READY!" they both yelled again.
"Okay, My name is Nicole Brianna..."
"Why Brianna?" Nate looked over at Dan who just glared at his friend. "What? I can't remember.."
"Yeah why?" Nicky piped up interested.
"...It's a nice...name" Dan's eyes were still locked on Nate's.
"Oh!...," his memory suddenly kicked in "oh..yeah it's a nice name,...Well why would you name her that if you didn't..." he whispered.
"It wasn't my idea okay?" they both looked back at Nicky.
"Are you done?"
"YES!" they both looked right at her.
"I enjoy reading and writing, playing piano and violin, I also love swimming and soccer, but i'm a girly girl at heart."
"My dislikes include..."
Dan's hand flung into the air like he was in elementary school and had the answer to a question. "Yeeessss..." Nicky pointed at him.
"Isn't there a certain activity you like to do with your mom on Saturdays?"
"OH!,..." Nicky ran back to her "office" , which was actually just the dining-room that had been covered in her school stuff. When she came back she looked at her dad and uncle.
"This doesn't count yet okay?" she didn't want them to judge her on this preliminary presentation. "I'm working on it as I go so don't start telling me what is wrong yet"
"Okay, okay,...keep going" Dan urged.
"I have a lovely dog named Winston who is older than I am. I'm an only child. I don't know why..." she looked back down at her paper looking for her next point. Nate looked over at Dan wondering if he was going to jump in. "I always wanted to have a brother or sister but being an only child has it's perks..."
"You're an only child because you always stop once you create perfection." Dan smiled at her. Nicky smiled back before looking back down at her paper.
"My dad's name is Daniel Humphrey and he's an author and a publishing executive, " she looked up to make sure she was right, Dan nodded. "He says that I never met a word I didn't like,...and it's true!" Nate laughed.
"my mom's name is..." Nicky stopped when Dan's phone began to ring with a loud obnoxious bell sound; He pulled it out of his pocket.
"Daddy, you were supposed to shut all devices off before my presentation..." a toothy smile spread across her angel face.
"I'm sorry...Hold on" He got up realizing who was on the other end. Why would she be calling him?. "Hello" he answered.
"Dan..." she was sobbing. Dan's heart dropped into his stomach.
"Hey,...," he shut his bedroom door quietly and sat on the edge of his bed. "What's wrong?" just like it always effected him, her tears made him feel sick.
Nicky sat in the leather arm chair beside Nate now and interrogated him with questions. "Wanna play 'How well do you know Nicole Humphrey?"
"Uh...Yeah. I'm going to pwn this!" he got himself comfortable in his chair.
"Nuh uh! i'm going to stump you"
"Oh whatever..., start"
"When is my birthday?" she asked him in a growl with squinting eyes.
"Oh jeez,..." Nate threw his head back pretending he had to think long and hard about it. "October 16th" he smiled with confidence. "I'll never forget it. I took your mom to the hospital because your dad was in Jersey"
"Yeah...he didn't make it" Nicky said.
"No,I think he walked in ten minutes after you were born, but that's okay. Your mom..." Nate trailed off realizing he was going to trap himself if he finished that sentence. "Next question!"
"What is my favourite food?"
"Either pierogies from Veselka or your dad's spaghetti"
"Favourite dessert?"
"Umm apple pie"
"Nice job Archibald, who is my godfather?"
"Umm, that would be Nathaniel Archibald" he laughed.
"My favourite colour?" she picked up the pace.
"Umm,.." he studied what she was wearing. "...Pinnkkk?" he shrugged.
"Whomp,...whomp,...blue" she answered.
"Shoot, should have known" he recalled her room and it's very 'Tiffanys' blue walls.
"My favourite ice cream flavour?"
he studied her face. "Strraw,...uh..va...Vanilla?"
"No, I don't have one"
"What?, You can't ask me what your favourite flavour is if you don't have one. I was destined to fail"
"You should have known that I didn't have one. I don't criminate against ice cream" she smiled. Nate couldn't help but smile back she was the cutest.
"Discriminate" Nate corrected her.
"Where did I get this?" she showed him a tiny scar on her elbow.
"..." Nate closed his eyes recalling an awful memory. Nicky laughed at the effect it had on him. "I looked away for a split second" he stood up for himself.
"Because you were flirting with some woman!" she laughed.
"It doesn't mean anything. You could have fallen even if I was standing right beside you. It was not my fault"
"Tell my mom that" Nicky giggled.
Dan came back into the living-room and looked at Nate. His stance was strange, Nate stood and studied his blank expression.
"Daddy, please take your seat. I'm starting over" she pointed at the empty leather arm chair and took her spot in front of them.
"You know,...maybe you can keep practicing with Nate and..." Dan's eyes shifted, it was like he couldn't look at her.
"What's wrong?" Nate knew his best-friend well. Dan was upset about something.
"Can you watch her?" he said quietly holding on the back of his neck.
"What's going on?" Nate's eyebrows lowered. "Who was on the phone?" Nate asked with worry. Dan looked over at Nicky.
"I have to..." he pointed at the door.
"Daddy..." Nicky tried to get in on their conversation. "Where are you going?" her eyes were wide as she watched him slip shoes on. Even Nicky knew her dad was acting strange.
"I'll be back, I just have to do something" he smiled gently at her concerned face.
"What do you have to do?" she asked leaning on the arm of the couch. She and Nate both wanting to know the meaning of this sudden trip Dan had to make at nine pm. Dan pulled on Nate's shirt and took a few steps away from Nicky.
"Yeah,...yeah i'll watch her" Nate nodded once he learned who was on the phone and why.
"Dad..." Nicky's eyes were huge.
"Nic, let's go pick out a movie." Nate suggested in an effort to distract her. "Anything you want!"
"I have school in the morning" she knew she wasn't normally allowed to watch movies after nine on a school night, something was wrong. She looked back at her dad worried.
"No you don't" Dan said simply. "go ahead and watch movies"
"I don't have to go to school tomorrow?"
"No, just be good for Nate" Dan kissed her on the cheek. "I shouldn't be gone that long" he promised Nate before opening the door.
"Take as long as you need" Nate assured him he had everything under control with Nicky.
When Dan got into the car he used his palm to wipe his eye. He could never let her know that he was upset. The drive to his ex wife's apartment was not far, they decided that they should find apartments that were at least in the same general area of the Upper East side for Nicky's sake. When he parked his car he wondered if this was a bad idea. Would she even let him inside?
XOXOXOX
"Okay now that i've done all my editing, I'm ready to present the most amazing biography of Nicole Humphrey you will ever see!" she adjusted the tiara on her head. This time she had no paper, she memorized the entire thing and was ready to show it all off.
"I'm excited" Nate rubbed his hands together with mock enthusiasm. Before long Nate was in a trance. She was adorable; he could listen to her talk all day long.
"Any pointers?" Nicky asked.
"This might sound crazy but why don't you try your presentation in third person? Biographies aren't usually self written so why don't you pretend you're telling someone about 'Nicole Humphrey' instead of yourself."
"Hmm,...you might have a good idea Archibald"
"Why do you act like it's a rare occurrence?"
After giggling, Nicky went over to the dining-room and finished her presentation, she memorized the whole thing and it was time to show Nate the finished product.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Dan knocked on the door of his ex wife's apartment. There was no answer, he waited thinking about how he just left Nicky when she needed help with her with homework. That little girl had become Dan's entire world in the nine years she existed and he wondered how it was possible his ex wife could drag him away from her. He didn't owe her anything, they were no longer together and he had zero responsibility to be the one to comfort her at a time like this. When the door opened and he saw her face he remembered why it was an immediate reaction to be there for her; before Nicky existed, this woman was his whole world.
The tears on her cheeks were fresh, she hadn't stopped crying since the phone call. "It's okay" he pulled her into a hug. It had been so long since Dan had been close to her but it didn't feel strange; it was nice.
"This is so stupid..." she bawled.
"No it's not" he rubbed her back.
XOXOXOXOX
"Nathaniel are you ready?" she bounced back into his line of vision.
"Geez,.." Nate yawned and straightened up in his chair. "Why are you still so energetic?" he checked his watch.
"Why are you so tired? you woke up at noon and then watched cartoons until two and then you took a nap..."
"Well then you should be more tired than me...Alright,..." Nate got himself comfortable and began eating from a bag of potato chips he found sitting on the end table. "Action!" Nate yelled with his mouth full.
"Nicole Humphrey is a complex nine year-old girl, who looks exactly like her mother" her voice was clear, her head was up, girl was made for presentations.
"Oh, I like the third person,...thanks uncle Nate!" he patted himself on the back.
"SHHH!" Nicky needed him to shut up so she didn't lose her train of thought. "Born October 16th, she's a Libra. Her interests include playing piano, violin, and soccer but she's always been a girly girl at heart. One of her favourite past times is shopping. Every Saturday she and her mom go for tea and then spend the day scouring the four Bs, Barneys, Bendells, Bergdorfs, and Bloomingdales for sales,...or not for sales."
Nate laughed "Or not for sales? HA!"
"That's what my mom used to say to my dad" she smiled.
"Nicky's dislikes consist of frozen waffles, and when her peas touch her mashed potatoes. She hates mornings. If she had the choice she'd eat pierogies at every meal. Her favourite colour is blue and she loves apple pie. She has a dog named Winston at her mom's house" she smiled to make sure she was on the right track.
"Good job little girl" Nate smiled.
"Nicole's father's name is Daniel Humphrey, he is an author and publishing executive. Nicole's mother's name is..."
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Dan continued to hold on to his ex wife as she cried.
"He was old,...you did the right thing" Dan tried to reminded her that this couldn't be avoided forever. Winston was a dog, he had a shorter life span than they did. Not to mention his breed was known to live about ten years. Dan continued to sooth her the best he could. Pulling away from her, his thumbs wiped the tears that were parked on her cheeks.
"They didn't even let me say goodbye" she sobbed.
"Didn't you say anything to him before?" he frowned.
"No, I was putting it off to the last minute" she burst into tears again thinking about how she'd never cuddle with him again, she would never see his happy face again.
"Well maybe it was better this way" Dan pressed a kiss to her temple.
"He was just...a dog"
"He wasn't just any dog,..." Dan hugged her tightly, his hands folding over one another. "He was your baby" Dan smiled at his ex in the sweetest way that only made tears roll down her cheeks faster. "He was OUR baby" she cried harder now.
"he was the best gift you ever gave me" she said finally once she calmed down.
"nnn, I don't know about that"
"Okay he's the best thing you ever bought me"
"Nate told me to get you a pomeranian" Dan said dryly knowing she would find that funny.
"I'm glad you didn't listen to him" she smiled, then buried her face into his chest. They stayed like that for a long time until she pulled away. "Remember how sweet and little he was?" she frowned.
"I remember," Dan nodded.
"Do you remember when he used to guard Nicky?" she laughed a little while wiping her eyes.
"Yeah,..." Dan smiled. "Whenever we had anyone over, he stood right beside her"
"I thought he might be jealous of her. We did settle on not having any kids, he was going to be our only one"
"We changed our minds quickly" Dan smirked and looked up a photo. It was of Nicky at about three years old holding an icecream cone; Winston was licking it. "How are we going to tell Nicky?" he grabbed her hand.
"I think maybe,...I'll come over tomorrow and we can tell her together?"
"Yeah okay" Dan nodded.
"...Thanks for coming Dan. I think I'm okay now" she pulled away from him realizing she shouldn't have been that close to her ex husband. "Just wait one second..."
As she went into her room to find something Dan talked about contacting the breeders and getting her a new dog. "I can call them tomorrow..."
"No dog will be as good as he was" she spoke grimly. "Before you go, take these" she held out her wedding rings.
"Uh,...I don't want those" he almost laughed to stop himself from tearing up at the sight of them.
"Please? I can't have them anymore, I just have an uncontrollable urge to put them on every time I open my jewelry box"
"Okay" he nodded. She placed them gently in his palm and he heard the words of their vows, he felt his fingers fumbling to slide it on to her tiny ring finger, he felt sadness as he held them in his hand.
"Goodnight Dan" she smiled.
"Goodnight,...Blair"
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Three women, not including his sister or mother, had a profound impact on Dan Humphrey's life. Some gave him things, some showed him things and some left him with things. Some taught him lessons, some provided advice. All three gave him outlook on life, they all gave him inspiration, but one gave him a promise, the promise that she would love and cherish him till death parted them. That woman broke her promise to him just as he broke his promise to her.
Serena is the woman that made Dan believe in love at first sight. Vanessa is the woman that showed Dan it is possible to transition from friends to lovers. Blair is the woman that proved to Dan that you can hate someone and love them all at the same time.
Vanessa is the reason Dan puts up a plastic tree at Christmas. Serena is the reason Dan knows the difference between Manolo Blahniks and Jimmy Choos. Blair is the reason Dan can recite every line to 'Breakfast at Tiffanys'. Blair is the reason Dan is partial to cashmere sweaters, Vanessa is the reason he has a shelf full of poetry books he'll never read.
Serena is responsible for Dan's broken heart in college and Blair is responsible for the tattooed B and W over Dan's heart, and the little girl with the extensive head band collection.
XOXOXOXOXOXOX
Flashback
It was exciting and dangerous. Blair sat in the chair beside Dan as he had BW tattooed over his heart. The buzz of the machine was loud, Dan couldn't see what he was doing. But when he looked up at Blair she smiled and assured him that this was a good idea.
As the artist cleaned his chest off she leaned in and gave him a soft kiss. "It's beautiful" she commented. The artist got Dan to stand up and take a look in the mirror.
"Look at that..." he smiled. "Bruce Willis forever"
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Now I know you have tons of questions. They will be answered for absolute sure. There will be more flashbacks so please do not jump me just yet. There are two more chapters of this fic okee dokee? and at the end of those two chapters I have an ENORMOUS SURPRISE, that one or two of you will enjoy. I'm not convinced that too many people will be happy about my surprise but someone probably will be. Thank goodness I can say her name out in the open now. BLAIR BLAIR BLAIR, NICKY'S MOM IS !
That felt so good to get off my chest.
PM me if you have a question that can't wait. Otherwise it will be cleared up very shortly.
There are two more chapters :D With tons of explaining. I know you think Blair getting a tattoo is ridiculous but wait until the next chapter, you'll how it came to be and it's really not that crazy once you find out what made them decide to do that. The next chapter is a little sexy at times. Oh and Serena is in it! :D
Thank you Sarahbrowncolorado, for always listening to my ideas and telling me if I'm insane for a certain idea :) you're the best! xoxox
PLEASE KEEP READING! THERE'S SOOO MUCH MORE