Authors Note: I'm sorry it took so long! and the worst part is chapter 11 isn't even set up yet, so expect a small delay. I've had a massive pain in the butt cold that couldn't kick till today so now that it's gone i'm back to writing!! and YOB and ARTS will be up soon! and a new story (don't be dissipointed but it's not DS it's NV). if your an CB shipper go read the story Misty by Tutorgirl92 (If I can excuse her for making me read her Luke Peyton gag story then you can read that because it's perfection.) thank you Calie for going through it :-D and Lauren for letting me annoy the heck out of you. :-)

The Palace had always had a fake feel to it, especially around Christmas time. Maybe because it was especially fake for Serena at Christmas time. Everything was so plastic and formal, Dan knew Serena hated it. At least she had the year before. If he closed his eyes he could still see how happy she'd been the days leading up to Christmas as she'd arrive early to the loft just to put random ornaments she'd bought on the tree. Her childish smile, her bright laughter, everything about last Christmas made him miss her just that much more. Standing in the elevator even sent him through a vision of memories, how they'd pressed all of the buttons one time just so they could make out. She made him do things he'd never done before; things he'd probably never do again.

Finding the tiny bracelet in the gallery seemed to be a sign that he did need go see her, just like he'd wanted to. It was also a sign that she was thinking about the year previous just like he had been. Everything had been magic that night, and it remained that way every time following. Just being around one another made everything better and he missed everything being like that, he missed holding her, touching her and kissing her. At least now he had an excuse to go and see her. Bringing her the bracelet was an excuse to see her beautiful self again.

As he came closer to the doorway he noticed it was already slightly open. The plain champagne colored walls peeking out, every bit of it was familiar. Raising his hand he knocked on the door lightly, and when she didn't answer he pushed it open a little bit. She was Serena, she was likely laying on her bed listening to her iPod rather than running for the door. Everything inside was just as he remembered it; every bit of the inside of the suite was familiar to him.

"Serena?"

He called out; he could hear voices from the TV as he got closer to the room. The flat panel TV was visible even before he approached the doorway, re runs of Project Runway and the box sets of Lost spread out on the floor. He laughed to himself thinking 'typical Serena'.

"Serena, what are you…"

The image that was in front of him cut his words off completely. Dan stood shocked and unbelieving having to blink his eyes a few times. Could he have been dreaming? Maybe he'd been in an accident and hit by a car.

His eyes were glued to the lump in her middle. The bump was most definitely evident under the light pink tank top and the baggy sweatpants. His mouth was slightly agape and he wasn't sure if he was even breathing anymore as he walked closer to her, her thin body with just the slight basketball shape protruding out of her.

She didn't even have to be awake to look at him, she didn't even need to confirm it to him. The reason for her bubble was him, and he was completely sure of it. Everything in him felt completely frozen as he took in the whole image of her. He took in everything; the way her hand rested gently on top of her rounded stomach and how perfect her flawless frame looked with the little bump. Every bit of the image made him fall more and more in love with her. Then he noticed the photo that was beside her sleeping head.

Reaching out to take it carefully without waking her he brushed his finger over the shiny black paper, right away, as soon as he looked at it he could make out the image. It was the baby that was inside of Serena. Then his eyes hit the side of the paper and it confirmed what he already knew. 'Baby Humphrey, note: Hi mommy! I'm a girl!' Dan was going to be a father; he and Serena were going to have a little girl.

Putting the paper back down beside her he put his hand on her shoulder gently. He wasn't sure he should wake her, carrying around more than herself had to make her so much more tired. But for some reason Dan needed to wake her, to make it certain that she was just fine; that they were just fine.

"Serena, Serena… wake up"

Warm and gentle his voice whispered to her, he still felt like he was living in a dream. As her emerald eyes blinked open slowly he backed off a little letting her stretch her arms above her head and twist slightly, she still had yet to notice exactly what was taking place.

Her eyes were hazy and she was still in a dream like state, she could hear his voice and see him but dreams had been like that for about as long as she could remember. She blinked her eyes open and shut them a few times thinking he would just disappear when she did so and she'd be left by herself with their baby. She'd go back to telling the little bump promises she knew she couldn't keep, stories from the past, and watching Lost. But when he didn't disappear right away she began to panic and reach for her quilt, even though she knew there was no way he couldn't have already seen.

"Dan? What are you… why are you?"

She lost the fight to pull up the quilt as he already had them held down tightly under his hand, his eyes were already torn from her and resting on the baby bump again. She looked at him and her eyes filled with regret. He looked so peaceful and so content just looking at the bump in her stomach,

"I don't… I don't think I should be the one explaining here"

Never had she ever heard a more sure-of-himself tone come out of his mouth. She felt more than guilty as she moved over on the bed giving him room to sit down. She could tell as his eyes were locked so contently on her tummy that he wanted to touch it, as though he couldn't believe it was real. He sat down stiffly and she rested her hand on top of his on her sheets. Right at that moment he seemed to soften as his thumb began to rub her finger.

"I can't believe you could do this to me Serena. I mean, we fight about not telling each other things but this isn't just some thing Serena. Your pregnant… you're go-, no, we, we're going to have a little girl. I'm gonna be a father Serena, and I'm not learning about any of this till now? Do you have any idea what this feels like? Why have I come late to this story, Serena? I feel like I've missed so much already. When did you plan on telling me, anyway? Did you even plan on telling me at all? You know what? Maybe, no, no. You shouldn't answer that because I'm not too sure I want to hear your response to it. How could I have been so blind? How could you keep this from me? Damn it Serena! "

She started having flashes suddenly, flashes of being with him in the elevator as he tried to act tough and break through the ceiling. It made her tense up more then she'd already been. Serena removed her hand from where it had been with his right away and wrapped it protectively around the place her little girl occupied. This was why she hadn't wanted him to know about her. If he couldn't put his animosities away for her, how was he ever going to do it for their child? Whether he liked it or not their daughter was going to be born into the UES life, and that was what had wrenched them apart time and time again.

"She's mine too Serena, she's mine too."

His voice was weaker now and showed all of the raw emotion that he'd been trying so hard to hide. She could see then all the mistakes she'd been making, the mistakes of hiding his child from him. She couldn't look at him, her gaze shifted down to her stomach. She'd known since laying with him that day that he deserved to know, but, she'd also known that she needed to give him a life he couldn't have if he was stuck with her and a child.

"Dan I'm so Sor…"

He stopped her and put a finger to her lips, she could tell it was the last thing he wanted to hear about right now, her apologies. She decided to just shut her mouth and live in the moment. It was then that she decided to take the chance, when she reached for his wrist everything felt like it was falling into place. She only had to guide his hand, and he led them easily to rest on her stomach. Everything was silent as he stayed fully focused on her stomach and their hands, resting on something that it took both of them to create.

"I can't believe I'm not dreaming right now"

Everything felt so unreal and so dreamlike as his eyes traveled up to her face and they both met in a tearful, surprised gaze. There still weren't many words exchanged as she instead let her tears wash down her face. Rather than sitting beside her any longer he laid down and pulled her into his chest. Soon as her head hit his chest her hands gripped into his shirt and she started to sob as he rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head.

Lifting her chin with his hand he made it so that she had no other choice but to look at him with her saddened eyes as his other hand brushed away her tears with his thumbs.

"Serena, we're having a baby"

All she could do was nod her head. As his hand that had been brushing at her tears traveled a line back down to her stomach, there was no way for her to hide her smile. This was the way things should have been after she'd taken the pregnancy test, not now that she was seventeen weeks pregnant. She loved the look he had in his eyes, it was bright, calm and proud, like he'd accomplished something. The same adorkable smile he'd had on his face Christmas morning one year earlier.

They'd fallen fast asleep in Serena's bed, both sets of their hands resting comfortably over their child. The sun in the sky had gone to sleep for the night and the full moon was in position high in the sky over Christmas Eve night. It was a storybook setting, one made only for the movies, it had seemed before tonight. The day had gone from painfully upsetting to a surprise that forwent many. Neither one of them had expected to be laying where they were this Christmas Eve.

Dan was the first one to wake up in the evening, the blonde still contently sound asleep on his shoulder. He thought he'd dreamt it all up, wishing for the perfect Christmas. It was far evident when he opened up his eyes and there under his hand was the tiny bump that would in fact soon call him Daddy. 'Daddy', a word that scared him, shocked him, and at the same time made him proud. He was having a baby, a daughter, with the girl of his dreams. His father was going to kill him, but he couldn't linger on that. Right now the only thing that mattered was lying on his arm fast asleep and the precious little girl inside her that would forever unite them.

As he stared at her, he could see their future in his head. Christmas, when their little girl's face would light up in excitement at the thought of Santa Clause bringing her all the toys her little heart desired. Easter, when he'd wake up more then ready for an egg hunt around wherever they were living. Halloween, she'd insist on dressing like a princess and drag the young couple from house to house never wanting to stop. Birthdays, where she'd be excited to turn a year older but he and Serena would wonder where all the years with their baby girl had gone. Mothers' Day, when he and his little princess would get up extra early just to cook the one they loved breakfast and remind her of all the wonderful work she'd done every day. He could see it perfectly. Everything he ever wanted was in arms reach, and as he sat here and watched her sleep, he knew nothing in the world could be more perfect.

She started to move a little, and by the time he tried to soothe her back to sleep, her emerald eyes were staring into his. He could see the hope, love, care, and excitement in her eyes, but he also saw doubt and fear, and that was something he wanted to take away, he had to take away. Because more then anything he wanted to be there, he wanted to be with her and their daughter.

"So, it wasn't a dream?"

Her sleep-hazed voice asked as her eyes gazed into his. Serena had slept; she'd actually peacefully slept while his arms were around her. Completely at peace and content for the first time in months, if only her whole pregnancy could have been or would be like this then everything would be great. She wasn't about to let bad things push themselves into her mind as she watched the smile on his face brighten and felt him lace his hand with hers.

"It was about as much of a dream as this is a lie."

Dan replied as he rubbed a slow gentle circle on her stomach and sent tingles thought Serena's body. She couldn't believe that this was actually going on. That he knew they were expecting a child. After months of hiding it everything felt right and almost perfect.

"I need a shower"

She complained as she started to sit up from her position in his arms as he helped her too. She could have gotten very used to having him around as he walked her to the bathroom and kissed her forehead.

"I'm gonna get you something to eat, the two of you need to eat."

With the word 'two' his face lit up and he started to ramble as she watched him with a warm smile and shook her head, would their daughter have his rambling disorder? Would she look just like him? All the questions and thoughts were so exciting to her now as she watched him walk away and she closed the bathroom door slowly to turn and catch herself in the mirror. She ran her hand over her tank top as she smiled down at her stomach.

"Merry Christmas little bug"

As he walked around her bedroom listening to the sounds of the shower water he still felt like he was sitting in a dream; living out 'It's A Wonderful Life'. His head could not get around the fact that he and the one he loved more then anyone else were in fact having a child together. Of course there was a part of him that was still hurt with her over not finding out until she already knew the baby was a girl, but he put that aside of her and their daughter.

Sitting down on Serena's bed it all made sense to him now, the size of the tiny bracelet. Of course it was too small, it was too small because it wasn't meant for Serena's wrist. He picked up the piece of platinum jewelry and turned it over in his hand. That's when his eyes came across the inscription 'Humphrey' that was written most delicately. Brushing his finger over the cool metal he smiled to himself and lay back reaching for the sonogram photo. Dan's eyes were so glued to the image in the picture, he didn't even hear the bathroom door open or shut. When he finally looked up there she was, standing in all of her beautiful perfection wrapped in a single cream-colored towel.

His eyes were then stuck on her as if it was the first time he'd ever seen her. Only this time was much different; he wasn't only infatuated with how gorgeous she was. It was everything about her that he loved, the baby that was growing inside of her was just proof of that.

"Hi"

She whispered out of lack of a better word coming to mind. Her hands trembled as she held on lightly to the towel. The look in his eyes as he looked up at her told her that nothing else mattered in that moment other then the three of them. It hadn't actually been a mistake to tell him she just wished that she'd told him sooner.

"Hi"

Returning her greeting he stood up off of her bed and made his way directly across from her. He was so tempted to reach out and touch her wet skin, to run his hand through her damn golden hair. Every bit of his feelings for her were still in tact and always had been, in the elevator he hadn't shut them off he'd just turned them down and tried to numb himself so the aching didn't hurt him so badly anymore. Distracting himself hadn't helped; every bit of him was in love with her. Now that they were having this baby all he wanted was to be part of their lives.

Her facial expression changed suddenly from the happy slight smile on her face. There was suddenly worry and confusion written in mass array all over her features and he moved closer to her, putting his hands on her arms, suddenly worried.

"Serena, what's the matter?"

Dan panicked and Serena shook her head and started to tell him not to worry. There was in fact nothing to worry about as Serena lifted her hand from her side and slid it under her towel on her stomach. With a shocked look on her face her free hand grabbed his hand and pulled him closer without saying anything. As his hand connected with the flesh of her stomach he too felt it. The hiccup like feeling that came every once and a while. That was their little girl telling them that she knew that for once everything was right. Not even born yet and she already took after her father it seemed. Serena and Dan's eyes were locked with one another with surprised smiles on their faces.

It was the first time Serena had felt it, bug being rowdy and kicking. It was a feeling without question that she loved, that they both loved. Without words he'd suddenly lifted her up and started to carry her back to her bed as she squeaked and threw her arms around his neck. Everything was for the night where she wanted it to be.

The clock beside the bed read twelve forty five, Dan wasn't going back to the loft tonight was one thing for sure. There wasn't anyplace he'd rather be anyway. He laid her down on her bed still in her towel and pulled her sheet up around her so she wasn't cold.

"We don't need you two getting sick."

She smiled at him and didn't bother to protest any as she lay down. It was his hand on her stomach that brought the unremovable smile to her face. She could feel how carefully he was gently rubbing her stomach and by the light of the lamp she could see the look on his face. It was so full of love and surprise still, the whole bit told him just how much he already cared for their child. It was quiet for a while as they just lay there in silence, just taking it all in. It was Serena's shifting that suddenly broke the peace of the room as she pulled the towel to bunch up over her chest and pulled the sheet down right under her belly.

"How about you have a chat with your daughter? She's a pretty good listener."

His eyes that had been locked on hers finally tore away and looked down at the small bump under his hand. Almost everything was just the way he'd always hoped it would one day be, with just a few minor adjustments to it.

"Sounds like she's taking after her Aunt V already"

They both expressed a small laugh at the thought of the people that would soon inhabit their daughter's life already having an influence on her. Little did Dan know half the people who were going to permanently be in his daughter's life had known before he had himself. Adjusting himself to be more comfortable as he loomed over her stomach, he took a deep breath before beginning to speak.

"Hey Bug"

Looking up right away they met in a confused gaze that was soon erased by her eyes noticing he was looking at the necklace around her neck. The one he'd retuned a few weeks prior, he'd put two and two together between the nickname, the baby, and the day. Knowing Dan, he was coming up with a new warning label to put on Jitney bathroom doors. Her gaze softened from shock to a smile as she nodded her head and he resumed his conversation.

"It's um… well"

Hesitating on getting the words out he continued to glance every once and a while between her face and her stomach trying to get the right words. It wasn't every day that he said the word 'Daddy' addressing himself for the first time.

"It's Daddy…"

After a long conversation with his daughter, telling her the rules and about her mother all before she was born, both Dan and Serena had had salty tears coursing down their cheeks. The snow had begun to magically fall outside of the big bay window around two in the morning as Dan had finished up his talking and crawled his way back up beside Serena pulling her into his chest and falling asleep with her tightly snuggled into his arms. It had really become a merry Christmas.

"Run baby run, don't ever look back, they'll tear us apart if you give them the chance…" the lyrics from Dan's cell phone that ran out shrilly held both irony and suddenly hate. Without a second thought he flung out his arm trying to hit the phone to push it onto the floor and make it stop ringing. It all didn't go according to plan as the phone fell but continued to squeak out its tune. Serena started to stir in his arms as the alarm woke her up. For the third time in a row his cell phone let out the obnoxious song and her emerald eyes blinked open.

"What was that?"

She mumbled out only half coherently as she snuggled into him tighter, her whole body pressing tightly against his for warmth.

"It was nothing, don't worry about it"

Dan's half awake voice mumbled out he kissed the top of her head and rubbed her cheek with his thumb affectionately.

"Merry Christmas Serena, and to you princess"

Slipping his hand down her side he rested it on her stomach and sent shivers down her spine as once again he made a pact in his head to boycott the next 'We The Kings' concert when they came around again. If only his damn phone would shut up.

"Since it's not 'Speed of Sound' or 'Yellow' I know it's clearly not Jenny or Rufu… what the hell am I doing?"

Jumping up suddenly with the cream colored sheet wrapped tightly around her she looked like she was ready to cry. He hated seeing that look in her eyes, because Dan knew he was the one that had put it there.

"She's calling you to wish you a merry Christmas. She's calling her boyfriend to wish him a merry Christmas because that's what good girlfriends do. You should not be here with me and you know what, I want you out Dan, you need to get out."

Her voice was pitchy and broken as she turned her back to him and headed to try and find clothes to throw on.

"Serena no, Amanda and I… we're over. I have you and our daughter to think about. You two are all that matters to me."

As quickly as he could he jumped out of bed and headed over to her grabbing her shoulder gently and

turning her to face him. He could see the shine of tears streaking down her cheeks as he did so. It made him twist in hurt.

"Dan stop it!"

Her voice raised a little as she violently pulled her shoulder forward, away from his touch. Serena's voice sounded like it was pleading with him, begging him to not make her make difficult decisions that she didn't want to make.

"Don't tell me to stop it, I want to be with you."

He grabbed her again, this time two hands round her waist and pulled her into him. He looked at her wide eyed and waited for her response, how could a day that had started so well so far going so wrong in a matter of moments.

"Well I don't want to be with you."

She couldn't look at him as she lied to him, every bit of her was shaking as she said the words and threatened to sob harder, something she knew she would do once she finally got him to leave the room. She wriggled out of his embrace, still not looking him in the eye, thinking she was doing the right thing, but deep down the cold she felt when wrenched from his body told her otherwise.

His face was bewildered and confused as he studied her body language and wished that she'd just give into him and stop pretending.

"Serena, I love you"

Grasping at straws he stood back away from her not wanting to cause her any stress, it wasn't only her that he worried about anymore, his daughter was also with them even if they couldn't exactly see her. He was a father now and he had to do what he could to protect his little girl. Even if meant dealing with Serena's mood swings.

"Well Dan, I don't love you, and, I suggest if you ever want to know this little girl you get out of here and you don't say a word of anything that happened tonight till I figure it all out."

Her words broke his heart and he felt like she'd just smashed it to pieces. But he couldn't argue with her. He picked up his cell phone as he retreated to her door half of him miserable and the other half pissed off. This was no merry Christmas.