(Sorry i'm taking so long to update these days. I just have a lot going on. Read and review please :) )
(How do you know?)
Flashback
In Junior year of college they all went to Miami for spring break. Blair of course tried to convince her friends that France or Dubai would be a much classier place to spend their break. In the end she lost the battle and they were surfing, swimming and sun bathing on the Atlantic coast.
One of their nights was spent watching some live entertainment at an amazing beach bar. Serena was dancing with anyone that would have her and she really was in her element when it came to the margaritas and the music.
"What's your name?" a guy with a mic pulled Serena on to the stage.
"Serrrrrrena!" she smiled brightly.
"WOOO!" Blair held her hand up towards her friend.
"Where you from?" the guy asked Serena.
"MANHATTAN NEW YORK!" Serena yelled. The crowd went wild especially her friends. Serena went back to her seat which was apparenly Dan's lap. Her arm laid loosely around his neck as she nodded to the beat of the beat of the music. The drunken state she was in allowed her to press her cheek flush against Dan's. Serena and her long blonde hair could have had any guy in the place but she chose to spend her night right there with Dan.
"You having fun?" she yelled over the music as she ran her hands through his hair.
"Of course" he nodded. Chuck laid back in a lounger and looked very entertained by the live entertainment. Blair was considerably drunk and laughing more than usual with Chuck. Nate and Jenny were making out like they just met.
"...Empty!" Nate pulled his lips off Jenny's to show her his beer bottle was indeed empty and he needed another.
"Oh me too!" Jenny showed him her martini glass.
"What do you guys want?" Nate asked standing in front of Dan and Serena. Serena was in the process of telling Dan a secret.
Once they had figured out what everyone wanted Nate and Jenny went to place their orders.
"They always confuse me" Nate said as he and Jenny made their way to the bar hand in hand.
"What do you mean?" Jenny asked looking back at Serena who was now kissing Dan's cheek and laughing as he was telling her some long winded story.
"I never know what their status is"
"Oh come on Nate. They're destined" Jenny reminded him. "Can you even imagine them ending up with other people?"
"...No, I can't" he realized she was right.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Present
"You're all done" Andrew played with Serena's golden locks as they laid together on her bed. She had just finished her thank you cards and was now relaxing. She felt a flutter of butterflies in her stomach as Andrew climbed up on to the bed to lay with her. "What a crazy shower" he laughed.
"It was really nice...would have been nicer if my mom or dad bothered to show up but still"
"Well Dan's parents were there" Andrew knew how important it was to her that his parents were supportive.
"I haven't seen Dan in days" Serena sighed.
"Why's that?" he asked still playing with her hair.
"I don't know" she spoke quietly. "I haven't seen him since the shower. He called and asked if I was okay yesterday" she almost laughed but only in an effort to keep herself from tearing up. Andrew leaned into Serena and kissed her so lightly she barely felt it. His hands made their way to Serena's stomach and he started talking to the baby.
"I wonder if you'll have pretty hair like your mommy" he said making Serena laugh lightly. She was the only one who talked to her baby and now Andrew was doing it. "I think it's time to meet you, any day now girl" he rubbed her stomach lightly.
"April 10th" Serena sighed thinking about her due date.
"She'll be late" Andrew laughed. "First babies tend to be later. Does she have a name yet?" Andrew looked up at Serena.
"Not that I know of"
"Well, can I throw Madelyn back on the table?" Serena thought for a moment thinking about how she told Dan to name the baby.
"I thought Madelyn was for your baby?" she smirked.
"People thought she was my baby at your shower" he smiled insinuating quite a lot in one simple statement.
"That's true" she leaned in and kissed him. "We'll keep that one on the back up list" she closed her eyes and sighed comfortably when Andrew wrapped his arms around her.
Present
Dan was sitting on his couch with a New York Times newspaper. He was doing a the crossword puzzle but found himself writing names anywhere there was space. Girls names, baby names, any name that popped into his head. This process was harder than he assumed it would be, he suddenly had respect for his parents naming Jenny and himself. Daniel, was a family name that was important to both his parents and Jennifer was his mother's grandmother's name. They all had significance, but the only names that were significant to him were Jeremiah, Rufus and Gordon, none of which were suitable for his baby. Serena once told him that her name didn't have to be significant, they'd make their own tradition and maybe one day someone would be named after her.
"What do I do with this" Nate burst into Dan's apartment with a sample cup from the hospital and slammed it on to the coffee table in front of him. Dan just finished writing an L and looked up.
"Umm..." Dan didn't have a chance to talk before a distressed Nate continued. A smirk spread across Dan's face hoping Nate was asking a rhetorical question.
"I mean,...oh god" he put his hand on his forehead. Dan bit his lip sympathetically knowing it wasn't the traditional urine test he was worried about.
"Fertility clinic I'm guessing" he sympathized with his friend in a uncomfortable smile.
"What was your first clue? At least I got to bring it home, they wanted me to do it there..." he looked like he was going to pass out. "Dan,...I don't..." he shook his head. "I don't..." he shook his head not wanting to finish the sentence, "...do that, I don't do that"
"Never?"
"Not with this" he held out the cup then rubbed his bangs to the side.
"Well what do you want me to do?" Dan laughed.
"Do you have any advice?" Nate's blue eyes peered into him and Dan felt bad for actually having no words of wisdom.
"Never had to do it..."
"Oh right..." Nate nodded with malice for his friend that certainly wasn't in the same boat. Dan laughed at Nate's vicious stare.
"Don't laugh. I went to see Chuck and all he did was laugh" his face fell.
"Well, it's kinda..." Dan chuckled finding humour in Chuck rolling around on the floor.
"Don't laugh! it's not funny. I could have serious issues, this is not funny" Nate became increasingly offended.
"It's a little funny" Dan tilted his head to the side hoping Nate would realize how humorous it was to see his friend having a freak out.
"No, it's not! you can't see the fear that starts with this!" he paced around. "This is just the beginning. What if it goes beyond this and something is wrong with Jenny? Not to mention that if there's something wrong with me it's game over" he made a gesture with his hands crossing over each other quickly.
"Think it was pot?" Dan made a joke.
"..."
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding" he apologized for being insensitive. Nate just glared at him.
"Oh my god...what if that's it?" he suddenly started rubbing his temples. "I'm probably infertile"
"Well, you don't know that" Dan said honestly. "You don't until you...fill up that cup" Dan bit his lip trying his best to be serious.
"Fill it up?" Nate's eyes widened. Dan started to laugh again at his friend. "Don't laugh!" Nate pleaded. "This is stupid" Nate threw the cup on to the couch Dan was still sitting on.
"Nate calm down. Do you want to have kids?"
"UH yeah..." he rolled his eyes.
Dan picked up the cup and handed it to him as he cleared his throat. "good luck" he smiled.
"not fair" he said under his breath grabbing it from Dan.
"Life's not fair" Dan went back to his newspaper.
Nate shot him a look of annoyance. "Do not tell me that life's not fair when you are not in my position!"
"I'm having a baby with a girl that is not my girlfriend!" Dan stood from the couch leaving his newspaper on the cushion. "I feel so distant that my mind can't even wrap around the fact there's going to be a baby"
"Oh boo hoo!, i'm going to go cry for you"
"Oh come on" Dan rolled his eyes. "I'm in a terrible situation right now. I feel more like an uncle than a..." Nate cut him off.
"Do not tell me that you're in a worst situation than I am. My wife cries her eyes out every night while the girl you knocked up prances around without a care in the world"
"So what, Serena isn't allowed to be happy in case it hurts my sister's feelings?"
"You're brutal"
"No, I know you're struggling but that doesn't mean Serena and I should act depressed. Nate, she's my sister. Do you honestly think I don't care? of course I care but that doesn't mean I'm going to mope around and Serena isn't either" Dan relaxed against the couch before thinking about how he could apologize, he knew that he had high class problems compared to Nate. Nate sat down beside Dan.
"I'm scared" Nate finally said, he looked away as if he was ashamed. Dan knew Nate wasn't worried about giving a sample, he was worried about the results. Dan and Nate were close friends, friends that pretty much told each other everything but this was getting a little too emotional for Nate and he wanted to take back his last statement.
"...So am I " Dan admitted reluctantly.
"What are you scared of?" Nate looked at his friend.
"How can I be a dad if I don't have the slightest connection with my own baby? I always thought it would come naturally. I mean, look at my dad" Dan made an amused sound thinking of how paternal his dad was. Nate nodded understanding his friend.
"I thought I'd feel something, but I feel..." he looked up at the ceiling.
"Like an uncle" Nate helped him.
"Yeah, I'm happy and I'm excited. I Can't wait to see her... but I don't know if I...love her" Dan thought of how bad that sounded and he was thankful Serena wasn't there to hear it. "Well not the way a dad would"
Nate had a hard time believing it seeing that Dan's photo board was covered in sonograms and still had the baby shower invitation tacked up. He knew in a matter of weeks there would be pictures of a baby up there.
"I think you're worrying too much"
"I hope so"
"I think it's because you're not around all the time. You're not with Serena and you're kind of an outsider right now" Nate explained that he shouldn't worry so much.
"If I tell you something will you promise not to tell anyone?"
"Of course"
"...Kris is making me ask if I'm allowed to go see Serena"
"Whoa" Nate's eyes widened.
"I have to ask her if i'm allowed to call her...if I'm allowed to visit her..." he knew how dumb it was, but keeping Kris happy made his life easier.
"That's you're problem right there" Nate shook his head amazed that Dan was okay with that.
"I don't want to get a phone call from Andrew when she's born Nate. I don't want to hold her and feel nothing"
"You won't" Dan felt a sense of calmness wash over him as Nate's simple words reassured him that his fears were nothing but paranoia.
"That's your flesh and blood, you'll feel something,...I don't even know if I'm even going to be a dad" Nate stared at the floor. Dan frowned feeling terrible for Nate.
"You will" Dan patted him on the back for reassurance. "But you really have to do this" he reminded Nate of the task at hand. "For piece of mind"
"Yeah" Nate took a deep breath. "Thanks" he stood.
"Hey Nate?"
"Yeah?"
"We're both going to be dads"
"..Damn straight" he gave Dan and fist pound.
XOXOXO
The next week Chuck and Blair hosted brunch at their apartment.
"I believe we're missing people" Chuck mentioned looking at Dan and Serena who just walked into the apartment.
"Jenny and Nate had an appointment, they should be here soon" Blair said solemnly hoping that these results weren't going to be the kind that would have them pass on brunch.
"How are you?" Dan asked Serena as he poured himself some coffee.
"I'm good" she said cautiously as she sat at the table. "I'm just hoping Nate and Jenny got good news"
"Me too" Dan nodded.
For about twenty minutes Dan and Serena listened to Chuck and Blair bicker about wedding details. When the elevator chimed from the foyer Dan stood.
"i'm abundant and plentiful!" Nate smiled like he got a good report card when he walked into Chuck and Blair's. Jenny laughed at her husband's bluntness as she followed behind him.
"Uhh...eww" Dan commented with a laugh as he hugged Nate. "I didn't need to know that but...congratulations" he gave him a pat on the back.
"Then what's the issue?" Serena looked up at Jenny.
"they're not really sure. But they didn't find anything wrong with us" Jenny smiled as Serena got up and engulfed her in a hug. "it's nothing serious"
"That's so good to hear. I have to go meet Kris now but i'm really so happy for you!" Dan put his jacket on. "Thanks for brunch Blair!...Good luck! be fruitful and multiply!" he hugged his sister tightly before leaving. Serena was given the honour of a wave, a wave
Continuing brunch without Dan was kind of strange, they were used to being a group of six not five.
"If you get pregnant within in the next few weeks they'll be born the same year!" Serena got excited.
"I know" Jenny nodded.
"Blair get on it" Serena turned to her.
"You'd like that wouldn't you? Me pregnant on my wedding day..." she glared.
"Join us"
"Yeah, maybe when you two are on your second, I'll be on my first okay?"
"Second?" Serena snorted. "I think i'm done with the whole having my bestfriend's baby thing" Serena nodded.
"I didn't mean with Dan. I heard you and Andrew are really heating up" she smiled happy for her.
"Well,..." Serena smirked. "We did go out for dinner the other night."
"I still can't believe he's okay with you being pregnant, isn't that something guys run from?" Jenny questioned.
"Not Andrew. He loves her" Serena smiled touching her belly. "He actually asked if he could be in the delivery room yesterday"
"And you said?..." Blair asked.
"I said yes. It's not like my mom is going to want to be there"
"What about Dan?" Jenny took a sip of her coffee.
"I don't think he wants to. As of right now I feel like he'd be okay with a phonecall to let him know she's here"
"Serena, that's not true" Jenny shook her head.
"That's how I feel. I hardly talk to him anymore" she frowned a little. "He's so distant"
"Do you think maybe it's because Andrew is always there and he doesn't want to impose?" Blair questioned.
"I guess. But he said he wanted to go to ultrasounds and check ups and...he's been to one. Andrew's been to them all, and he goes to birthing classes with me, he's read all the books. Dan buys me cheesecake and calls me once every three days to see how I am, even though he's right down the hall"
"Serena,...Kris, wants Dan to ask her if he's allowed to visit you" Jenny told a secret.
"What?" Serena's jaw dropped.
"he has to ask permission" Jenny sighed repeating herself.
xoxoxox
Dan and Kris sat on separate couches as they watched the movie 'How do you know?' Kris rented it on her way home from being with a client. As the opening credits came up, Kris talked about how she thought it would be perfect for them because she loved Reese Witherspoon and he was partial to Paul Rudd's humour.
Dan soon realized that this was a typical romantic comedy, he was sure he hadn't laughed once, but he looked over at Kris who was rolling around with laughter. He couldn't help but smile seeing his girlfriend in hysterics.
Let me ask you something, how do you know when you're in love? Dan yawned but continued eating his popcorn.
I got a way. Whenever this one thing happens I know I'm done. I'll tell you but it's personal and I don't want anyone making fun of me for it. ...I figure I'm in love with someone when I wear a condom with the other girls, ok? Dan inhaled a piece of popcorn and nearly choked to death, he wheezed and coughed until the kernel was no longer in his lungs.
Holy crap, I'm in love.
XOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
( Review please :)