(It's a shorter one, i know I don't usually do short but I need this chapter out of the way, I know some people are having doubts about this fic and the outcome. I promise you, this is a Dan and Serena fic all the way, through and through, don't lose faith. Remember, it's about the journey. Please review, I really need feedback so I can give the readers what they want. I already know where this fic is going and some of you will love it and some of you will hate it, but please stick with me, I think you'll like it )
Happy Birthday?
"Let's go to the park and you can get me a coffee" Serena suggested laying in bed on her stomach. She was spending most of her time there lately, just trying to rekindle that romance.
"I have to work" Dan declined her tempting offer with a grunt as he dressed himself, his hair still damp from his shower. "I'm sorry, but we're going out for your birthday dinner tonight" he reacted to her pout.
"Okay, I suppose that'll do" she sighed.
"It'll have to" he smiled opening some drawers. Serena stared at his bare chest as he pulled pants on.
"What?" he smiled seeing her eying him up and down.
"I'm glad we're back like this" she looked down at the ruffled sheets.
"me too" he agreed absentmindedly as he buttoned up his shirt. He went through to the living room and came back with a stack of papers, neatly collated and stapled together.
"When are you going to let me read your stuff?" she rested her chin in her hands.
"You've read tons of my stuff"
"Not the stuff I care about"
"Ouch" he smiled putting the stack of papers into his bag.
"You know what I mean!, I want to read your ideas, not about the accomodations at certain hotels in Spain"
"Ah" he made sure he had everything in his bag. "Well you can read the other stuff when it gets published" he turned into the mirror and put his tie on.
"Well that could be forever" she rolled back on to her back.
"It could be never" he corrected her.
"Okay, I'm leaving, would you lock up when you leave?" he asked tossing her his apartment keys.
"I'll probably still be here when you get back" she admitted toying with the key chain.
"Oh? yeah...okay" he opened the door and headed out. "Bye sweets"
"Bye...Luh you!"
"You too"
While Dan was gone Serena took it upon herself to clean his apartment. She planned on searching his laptop and reading some of his stories but it turned out that he took his laptop with him to work. She opened the fridge and threw out expired items. He didn't have much in the fridge, he was living off take out and coffee lately. Serena couldn't even remember the last time he cooked dinner for her, she missed his spaghetti more than she thought she would.
To the side of the fridge was Dan's photo collage, she noticed that Kris had been added, a picture of her was now covering the one of Dan and her. Without thinking Serena ripped it off and threw it in the garbage, she smiled seeing that picture of her and dad was still there and cute as ever. She brewed a cup of coffee and read through all the intriguing articles in her new copy of Vogue. After a little daytime talk shows she called Blair and let her know about the birthday dinner plans for later.
"Butter right?" Blair asked.
"Where else?"
"Okay, I'll see you at seevvvennnn" Blair's voice became higher.
"Why do you sound so happy?"
"I know a thing or two about the surprises awaiting you this evening, that's all"
"Do tell!"
"Sorry, sworn to secrecy"
"Fine!, see you at seven Miss Waldorf"
"See you at seven birthday girl"
When she was done talking to Blair it was nearly three, she collapsed back on to his king size bed, the smell lifted her mood entirely, laundry detergent and old spice, her favourites. She got under the covers and imagined what it would be like when they got back together and his bed was moved back into her apartment. Serena opened the drawer beside his bed and fingered through it. She knew it was rude to snoop but it was Dan, he was her best friend he didn't hide things from her and she was curious. There were a few copies of the New Yorker, a novel he was currently reading with the pages turned in, and some pens and paper for when inspiration hit him unexpectedly. There was the tv remote and a box of condoms, she wasn't surprised by that. There was something that caught her eye, the colours we're right and the bag was small, she smiled widely when she realized it was indeed Cartier. Holding the little box in her hand she wondered if it was for her birthday and he remembered the Cartier earrings she wanted. Temptation overpowered her and she couldn't help but open the box, she'd fake surprise when he gave them to her. A gasp came when she realized that the box didn't contain earrings but a diamond ring. Serena heard the door jiggle open and she threw the box back in the bag and ran and plopped herself on the couch in the living room, she still had time to grab her Vogue and pretend she was still reading it.
"Ha, you really didn't leave" he kicked his shoes off.
"I like it over here" she smiled widely.
"I'm going to change and then we can head out for dinner okay?"
"Okay!" she sounded excited and Dan laughed.
"You might want to change out of pyjamas, and maybe...I don't know Shower?" Serena laughed at his suggestion.
"Will you join me in said shower?" she smirked.
"Depends, do you want to make it to dinner on time or not?" he winked.
"Oh cocky are we?" she smiled devilishly.
"Just go!...come back as soon as you're ready" he laughed at her behavior.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
"You're in a great mood" Nate commented on how bubbly Serena was.
"She's drunk" Blair smiled in her best friend's direction.
"No I'm not!" she smiled again happy that she was with her friends and celebrating her birthday.
"I just don't understand what happened" Jenny was still trying to pry out information about Dan's break up.
"It's not important"
"He won't even tell me" Serena expressed. "I've been asking him steady ever since they broke up"
"Seriously, I just don't want to talk about it. Can we move past this?" the waiter came by and took their orders.
"Dan just tell me"
"Jenn, stop, I just want to celebrate Serena's birthday and talk about things that aren't my personal life okay?"
"What about that interview you had the other day? Did you hear back yet?" she continued.
"Umm..." Serena made a gesture with her hand to get Jenny to shut up.
"...Dan I'm sorry"
"Wasn't meant to be" he offered before remaining completely silent for the rest of dinner.
"So birthday girl, let's open presents" Jenny happily handed her a card that contained a gift certificate for her favourite boutique. "I figured shopping would be a good gift" Everyone had given Serena a present but Dan.
"So dessert or what?" Dan looked around the table, changing the subject. Serena smiled lightly. "I'm kidding!, Like I'd forget to get you a present" he handed her a card attached to a small Cartier box and Blair and Jenny gasped. Serena giggled and opened the card first.
Happy Birthday best friend, I hope you enjoy your present, I luh you forever and always Dan. She looked up and said "Thank you" she slowly opened the box wondering how she was going to fake the shock of an engagement ring. She couldn't believe Dan had realized that she was ready for this. Blair must have told him about them trying on dresses. When she opened the box her face was shocked.
"Oh" she smiled lightly.
"Those are the one's right?" Dan asked to make sure.
"..., yeah..., this is what I wanted" Serena inhaled and shut the box that contained beautiful diamond earrings, the one's she really wanted. How stupid could she be? he didn't even get down on one knee.
"Put them on" Vanessa urged.
"Ok...ok" she took off the pair she was wearing she placed her brand new one's on.
"They're so pretty" Blair stared at them. Small talk died down when the waiter came asking if anybody wanted dessert.
"It's her birthday, so I think we should get some cake" Dan looked around the table. Everyone nodded.
"Do they sing Happy Birthday at Butter?" Nate asked with a smirk.
Once they had cake they continued to sit and chat about which bar they should continue celebrating at.
"Let's pub crawl" Nate suggested.
"No let's..." Chuck was cut off by Jenny's sudden revelation.
"oh my god" Jenny tensed up.
"What?" Serena turned and that was when he stomach clenched. Kris had just walked in with a couple friends and sat a table just a few feet away from theirs.
"Okay are we good? let's go to the bar" Serena stood up.
"Wait is that..." Nate pointed. "Hey!" Nate waved when she noticed him. Kris smiled then looked down at the table trying to make this less awkward. Serena couldn't take her eyes off Kris, she was doing everything in her power to avoid looking at Dan. When they stepped outside a limo pulled up and Jenny and Nate got in.
"Dan!...Dan, wait" Kris came running out.
"Let's go" Serena put her hand on his shoulder urging him to ignore her and get in the limo.
"Can you just talk to me for a minute?" Kris asked.
"I'm kind of busy"
"Please, it'll be just a minute"
"...I guess" Dan turned to face her.
"...In private?" she asked seeing Serena was staring daggers down at her.
"Umm," he looked back at the limo. "Yeah...yeah" he pushed past Serena after telling her, he'd be a minute and followed Kris to the other side of the building. They stood for a moment, Dan's feet shifted absentmindedly while he wondered what she wanted.
"The last week has been hell" she said sadly.
"Tell me about it" he focused on the ground in front of him.
"Dan, I was stupid...I should have just said..."
"Don't" he shook his head. "It's over, you don't have to apologize now"
"I don't want to apologize, I want to fix this, I want to fix us. I should have known that what we have is special and I can't find it with just anyone, I should have just said yes"
"But you said no" Dan inhaled recalling the painful night that was anything but a distant memory.
"But I want to say yes. I was stupid, I freaked out, I overreacted and..., Please, I want to say yes now"
"s'Too late"
"No" she put her hands on his face desperately. Her lip twitched and her eyes filled with tears. "It's not" she whispered. "I can't be with anyone else,...I don't want to be with anyone else" her face became worried.
"Kris" Dan pulled away from her but the urge wrap his arms around her overwhelmed him. He knew he'd get over it but at this moment he just wanted to forget about that night and pretend it never happened.
"Ask me" she cried. Dan arms slowly found themselves around her waist.
"I should have never asked you in the first place" he laughed lightly.
"Yes you should have. You should have" she cried. "You were right, when you said all those things"
"It's too soon"
"No it's not, it's perfect. I love you" she kissed him.
"I love you too" it was a reflex, he was still mad at her but it was difficult when she looked so helpless.
"Listen, I want to be with you no matter what. I really hope the offer is still there"
"...,"
"Is it?"
"Yeah" Kris cried and Dan hugged her tightly.
Serena walked around the corner to see her bawling and Dan hugging her.
"What's happening?" Jenny asked Serena when she got back in the limo.
"She's crying. Dan probably told her that there's no chance of them getting back together" she said softly.
"I wish she'd stop already we've been waiting for nearly ten minutes...should we just leave?" Jenny asked Nate and Serena.
"No, we should wait" Serena said.
"Well can you go get him, I don't want to wait either. It's your birthday we should be partying" Nate expressed.
"Fine" Serena hopped out of the limo and walked around the building to see Dan still hugging Kris. She was about to call his name when she watched Kris lift her head up and kiss him. Dan kissed back making Serena's stomach turn. They we're both smiling now and laughing lightly, Dan kissed her once more and told her to have fun with her friends.
"You sure, can I just go home with you?" she asked.
"No you we're out with your friends, I was out with mine, go have dinner and give me a call when you're done okay?"
"Oh my god, I'm so happy!" she jumped up a little. "Can I tell them?"
"If you want" he smiled. "I'll talk to you later" he kissed her quickly and headed towards Serena. She ran back to the limo in a hurry hoping Dan didn't see her.
"What took so long?" Jenny asked when Dan slipped into the limo.
"Yeah, you get back together or something?" Nate joked.
"What if I just said we kind of..., just got engaged?"
XOXOXOXOXOX
The music in the bar was so loud everyone had to yell to understand eachother.
"S, COME DANCE WITH US!" Blair urged her to go to the dancefloor with her, Jenny and Vanessa.
"I don't feel like dancing" she leaned against the bar.
"Sweetie, don't think about it, not now"
"How can I not! How can she just...UH!" she looked over at Dan and Kris as they approached her laughing and having a good time.
"Hey, Serena would it be okay if we left?" he broke the circle of girls that surrounded her.
"Well...It's my birthday so..."
"I know it's just getting late and..."
"Go, just go" she didn't want to hear any excuses of why he wanted to leave so early.
"Okay have a good night, luh you" he hugged her.
"Bye" she didn't hug back.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Everyone but Dan and Kris sat in Nate and Jenny's apartment after Dan announced that he and Kris we're engaged. Kristen held her hand out with pride and showed everyone the ring that Serena found in Dan's nightstand drawer.
"Did that just happen?" Serena pointed at the door. "Did that bitch just shove her engagement ring in my face?"
"Pretty much" Jenny said apologetically.
"Wait, why's she a bitch?" Nate asked. Chuck rolled his eyes at Nate.
"Have you not been paying attention Archibald?"
"Say something to him" Blair urged Serena.
"Like what?" she sighed.
"Like you want to be with him" Chuck said.
"I already tried that remember? I don't care...I don't. I'm just upset that he didn't tell me, his bestfriend, that he was going to ask Kris to marry him" she sighed.
"Wait!, That's why they broke up?" Nate sounded shocked. "he proposed and she said no?...oh wow" Jenny giggled and put her hand on her husband's face.
"Nate how can you be so out of the loop?" Blair commented, they had been talking about it for over an hour now.
"What are you going to do S?"
"I'm..., well I'm going to have to do the only thing I can,...I'm going to be happy for him" she said bravely.
Have you ever loved somebody so much it makes you cry?
(Here's chapter 12!, Don't be mad! :P Review and let me know what you thought. Any questions can be sent by PM, Thanks for reading :) )
