A/N: Guys! I'm sososososoooo sorry for the hugeeee delay in this chapter; I just really struggled with trying to write something while GG was on its break. But here it is and I am thinking it's the last one of this story butt I may come back to it later I don't know! Your reviews have meant so much and I really appreciate all the lovely comments you've left me!

Alsoo just wanna say OMG to the Derena wedding pictures... I mean seriously would that not be the perfect ending for them after everything?! I can't wait for these next few episodes, got a feeling they're going to be Derenacentric!

Anyway guys, hope you enjoy not my best chapter which is a bit disappointing for me but eh!

Chapter 11

An hour or so had passed since Dan had left the penthouse after seeing Serena back in the arms of Jesse. He was lying on his bed staring blankly at the ceiling reliving everything that had happened over the past couple of days and wondering how it all ended up so messy. He wanted to kick himself for not telling her sooner how he felt because he knew he felt it as soon as he seen her again after 5 months. He sighed and turned onto his side and stared at the pictures that were on his bedside table, pictures from a couple of years ago, pictures of his dad, jenny and him, pictures of him and his mom, of him and Nate, and finally the picture of him and Serena at the cotillion. He wondered why everything had changed since then, why he changed, he used to be passionate he never used to care about what people thought of him and he was never afraid to say how he felt, especially when it came to Serena.

That's when it all clicked, he realised he was all them things because of Serena, she made him a better person, the person he so badly wanted to bring back out again. He knew he lost his way a bit this last year and was selfish and arrogant and only cared about himself and his book, but now, now things were different. Since Serena had been back he felt happier, lighter, he was writing nice things about the people in his life not incriminating things and regardless of whether people wanted to buy it or liked it he didn't care.

The picture of him and Serena at the cotillion told him something, it told him that if he wanted Serena so badly, that the only way he would get her is if he fought for her, not through letters and writing on paper, but through words and actions. He was nervous about telling her this morning, but not now, now he knew that she was what he wanted, what he needed and he wasn't going to lose her because of another guy.

He sat up as quickly as possible, grabbed his jacket and headed towards the door whilst dialling Serena's number into his phone.

Serena was so angry, so angry with herself for believing that Dan would have done such a thing to her. Yes he had changed over the last few months and lost himself but deep down Serena always knew he was a good guy and this letter was just proof of what she knew. She realised now that was the reason he slammed the door in her face after he saw her with Jesse, he still cared about her, it wasn't that she meant nothing to him but that she meant a lot to him.

She needed to explain herself to him, tell him that nothing happened between her and Jesse and that they were over and that she wanted nothing more than be back with the guy she was in love with and hadn't stopped loving for 5 years. She knew he had hurt her, but she was over it now whether or not people agreed with it she knew he'd changed and that he was going back to the person she fell in love with all those years ago. Every word he wrote in those letters was honest and true, she didn't know how she knew, and she just did.

Without taking anything with her she hurried towards the elevator door, she knew where Dan would be and she had to get there and tell him everything before it was too late. As she turned the corner towards the elevator, the doors had opened and someone had stepped out.

Dan.

He looked as in much of a hurry as she did, she figured he'd be coming back to get the rest of his stuff and probably to confront her. Even though her mind was on more important things, she couldn't help but admire how good he looked.

"Dan listen I need t0-"

"No Serena, right now you need to listen to me okay?" Dan said walking over to her with a stern look on his face. She knew what he'd say, how disappointed he was in her, how she hasn't changed and still pushes the people who care about her away, she wouldn't blame him for saying it. She nodded slightly and let him continue

"Firstly, I just wanna say that whatever happened between you and Jesse... I'm over it, I don't care all I care about is me and you and this moment right now. I don't even care if he's in there right now and hears everything that I'm about to say because the whole of the Upper East Side can know for all I care."

She didn't understand, if he wasn't here to shout why was he here? She couldn't take her eyes off him, his face was so strong, so full of determination that it was too hard to look away.

He grabbed hold of her hands and pulled them too his chest and spoke again, "What I did to you, with Blair is unforgiveable and I know that, but when you left five months ago I was a completely different person to what I am right now. When you came back I felt like I had a purpose again, like I wasn't just the power hungry writer from Brooklyn. You were the only one who ever believed in me Serena and the only one who ever seen the good in me when no one else did and every single word that I wrote in those letters were true." He said trying to steady his voice, he was desperate he needed her to understand everything he was saying to her.

"I messed up, I know I did but these last couple of days, I felt so alive and happy, and the only time I remember feeling that way is every time I've been with you. I can understand if you can't forgive me for walking out on you today and for everything else I've done to you, but I need you to know that I won't stop fighting for you, I will never stop Serena because you're the love of my life, always have and always will be."

She was crying, she couldn't believe what she was hearing, she had waited so long to hear those words from him and now she was and he was willing to fight for her, to wait for her for however long it took. But she knew she didn't want to wait any longer, they had been waiting for this moment for 5 years, this was it, the sink or swim moment they talked about last year it was happening right now and it was Serena who had to decide which path they were going to take.

Without saying anything, not one word she threw her arms around his neck and touched his lips with her own, she tried to say everything she wanted to in that one kiss, her cheeks still moist from her tears. Dan wrapped his hands so tight around her waist that they were nearing her stomach but she didn't care, she never wanted him to let go. Her hands rested against his cheeks and she knotted her fingers into his hair. She wished they could stay like this forever.

Once they broke apart they stood there with their foreheads resting against each other staring into each other's eyes. Dan was so overjoyed that he hadn't stopped smiling since they finished their kiss, he gently wiped away a remaining tear that was on her cheek and spoke,

"So this is it now, you and me... for good?"

She smiled at him and his questioning tone, realising he was still awaiting her confirmation even though she believed that kiss was confirming enough for her.

"For good, you're stuck with me forever, looks like we're growing old together Humphrey." She replied smiling playfully at him.

"I wouldn't want it any other way." He replied smiling and then leaning forwards for another kiss.