So this is where the momentum of the story picks up! I hope you all enjoy this Dair-filled chapter :) Thanks for reading!
Tuesday felt empty without Blair. With so many days in a row of having seen her, Dan felt the lack of her deeply. He missed her snarky insults and the scattered sweet moments where she would say something kind. Even if he had just seen her yesterday. He didn't really count that anyways since she had rushed off before he could get a word in edgewise.
So he was relieved on Wednesday, after class, to be sitting with her drinking coffee. They were talking about all the places Blair wanted to take him to in France. Well, she didn't say that exactly but he felt like it was implied. He hoped.
"I'm telling you, they have the most gorgeous chateau. There is nowhere else like it. The gardens are so beautiful. This time of year there's peonies and dozens of other flowers. It took them over four years to renovate but I think it was worth it. Honestly, it's the most beautiful place in France. You should see it. " Her face was animated as she spoke of her father's chateau.
Okay that had to be a hint, right? It's not like her Harold Waldorf's chateau was some sort of public museum he could just visit by himself on a whim. It meant she would take him... Pathetic, he knew. Deciphering everything she said like this. But these thoughts were more and more frequent since Sunday night. When he had almost kissed her. He pushed the memory out of his mind.
"With the Blair Waldorf seal of approval stamped so boldly, I don't know how I could possibly not see it."
"Exactly!" Her face was triumphant. He chuckled at her clear lack of noticing his sarcasm or her choice to ignore it.
"What are you doing this weekend? Maybe you can take me to one of your many favorite places? I actually really want to see Versailles. I mean, it's getting ridiculous I've been in Paris for three weeks and haven't yet."
"Sure, I suppose I could spare a Saturday to enhance your experience abroad." She stated it as though she would be doing him a huge favor. "You can pick me up at 8, it takes an hour on the train to get there."
"Sounds perfect." He grinned happily and watched her finish the last of her coffee.
"I should head to class. I'll see you Friday." She stood to get own her way.
"See you Friday, Blair." They tossed their empty cups in the waste bin and headed their own way. Dan couldn't stop the stupid grin from spreading across his face.
Saturday morning, he arrived promptly at 8 AM as instructed. Blair opened the door and stood before him smiling. She wore a floral dress and had her hair half back. Her feet were clad in a pair of patent ballet flat which he was relieved to see so he wouldn't have to hear her complain about heels hurting her feet all day. He didn't want their day cut short by anything.
She grabbed her bag and asked, "Ready?"
They headed for the train station with Blair leading the way. 15 minutes later they had boarded and were headed for Versailles. She sat next to him, chatting about the spots within the palace they had to see. She also talked about the movie Marie Antoinette starring Kirsten Dunst.
"Personally, I think her performance was overrated." Blair was saying.
"Not everyone has that natural authoritative air about them like you do, Blair."
She nodded, "True. It just comes naturally to me. I would be a great ruler." She said with certainty.
An hour later they stood before the Palace of Versailles. Dan marveled at the sight with the palace's overwhelming presence making them feel smaller than they were.
"Where do we start?" He asked after they bought their tickets.
"This way." She led him through, stopping here and there so they could take in the beauty and notice all of the intricate details. The gold trim, the chandeliers, the intricate artwork. It was even better than he had imagined.
In the hall of mirrors, he saw her reflection surround him. "Having fun?" She asked.
He could only nod in response. It was the best day he had in a long time. Sometimes, her arm brushed up against him. Making him want to reach for her and take her hand. Every so often she would turn to him, peering at him as though to make sure he was having fun.
The timing finally felt so right between them. He knew he couldn't just let things fall into a platonic state. He was certain if he made a move she would reciprocate. Feeling emboldened by his thoughts, he grabbed her hand as they walked through the gardens. At first, her hand didn't respond and he wondered if he had made a mistake. His heart rate quickened and he wondered if he should just drop it. But then, he felt her fingers clasp around his and his relief was palpable.
The rest of the day was far more magical in feeling with her hand in his. The act of holding hands was incredibly underrated, he decided. He never wanted to let go. They didn't speak of it or of what it meant. It just was enough to feel her gripping him as they walked around a beautiful place.
Now on the train, headed home, she rested her head on his shoulder. Clearly exhausted from the day spent playing tour guide. But he couldn't let the day end now. "Dinner?"
She sighed a yes into him. "Where?"
"How about that place with the string lights by your apartment?"
"That place is fancy, not very Brooklyn for you Humphrey."
"Then that's perfect." He rubbed her hand.
She insisted at stopping at her apartment first to grab a coat and put on heels. Once she was ready, he noticed it looked like she touched up her makeup even though she looked beautiful before. Once in the restaurant, she looked even more stunning under the string lights. She was poured a glass of rosé, which he was realizing must be her favorite wine, from the bottle they ordered for the two of them. She sipped it carefully, looking up at him.
"I'm beginning to see how you left behind New York. I can't imagine leaving here."
"Right? It's just so different but in the best way." She smiled at him. "Do you know yet? How long you'll stay?"
"I didn't make definite plans. For now, I'm only supposed to stay on for a semester. But I don't know, I felt like doesn't every writer write his best works in Paris? I figure I can just focus on my writing if I want to stay longer."
"I think you owe it to your writing then to stay more than a few months." She said in a definite tone and he hoped she meant more by that as he sensed she did.
"Plus, I have this tour guide here and she's given me the biggest list of sights to conquer and it'll basically be impossible to cover in the span of one season. I'll have to stay until at least fall to get through the first half.
"Your tour guide, who is exceptionally knowledgeable I must add, agrees." She gave him a coy smile. "You don't miss New York yet then?"
"How could I when I have a bit of New York sitting right across from me." His words seemed to please her.
Over the course of dinner, they discussed Versailles more and some lesser known gardens in Paris that Blair loved. He wanted to see everywhere she mentioned as long as she would be with her.
As they walked out of the restaurant he turned to face Blair. His confidence boosted by the three glasses of wine he had at dinner he said, "I don't want tonight to end."
"Me neither." She said with no hesitance. Clearly, the wine or just the day had dissipated the tension that was there before. "My apartment is close if you want to go there and... have wine or something."
Dan nodded and she led the way. Every inch of him felt alive with anticipation of what might happen next. They didn't speak on the way there as they were both too wrapped up in their own thoughts. So once they were inside her apartment, he couldn't wait any longer. As she turned towards him after closing the door, he walked over to her, carefully. He leaned in close enough to feel her breath and then he gently put his hands on each side of her face. He heard her breath catch and then he pressed his lips to hers, feeling her respond instantly. He sighed into her in relief. Pushing her gently against the door, he deepened the kiss.
Three years since he had kissed her and it was even better than he remembered. The room spun as they kissed. They only broke apart to breathe again, she looked up at him with her eyes wide and smiled, knowingly. They began kissing again and she pulled him towards the bedroom, bumping into walls and furniture as they went along.
He gently fell onto on the bed and he felt the familiar feel of her silk satin sheets. Pushing her towards the head of the bed, he pulled off clothing layer by layer. Until it was just skin against skin. He breathed her in. With her, it just felt so right. Like it hadn't been three years since the last time. Like no time had been lost.
Afterward, she nestled into the crook of his arm. He kissed her atop the head as she drifted to sleep. Once she was fully sleeping, he whispered to her, "I love you, Blair."