Have you ever?

by Faryn Queens

Dan and Serena are best friends, roommates and, on occasion, friends with benefits. Flashbacks

26. Me or her?

( Hey! :) Thanks for the reviews I know you're all very hung up on Dan and Serena being with other people and many of you are concerned that i'm going to end the fic with them getting together and just give up there. I can tell you that I would never do that to you. If they get together you'll see them together. I won't end it there. I hope you like this chapter, it's a little choppy and I wrote it quickly but please review

(Me or her?)

For the next few days people walked in and out of Serena's apartment constantly. At all hours of the day and night there was someone else coming over to see the baby and ask if she needed help with anything. It was nice to have the assistance but it was starting to overwhelm Serena. She loved having her friends and family over but the moments she enjoyed the most was when she and her baby were having some alone time. Serena was amazed at how well she adapted to motherhood in less than two weeks. In less than two weeks, Dan's photo-board was filled with baby pictures. In less than two weeks, Kasey came to visit.

"There's my boyfriend!" Kasey squeezed Dan tightly when he opened the door. Kris hurried over to see who was causing the racket. Soon she realized the noise was created by a very beautiful, outgoing blonde who was holding Dan's head in close proximity to her breasts. Kasey was dressed like she was ready for a business meeting. All professional in black and white but the hot pink stilettos provided a glimpse of her personality.

"Kasey, how are you?" Dan said once she eased up on the death grip.

"Excellent! I have to go to a meeting but I had to stop by first. Okay, I freaked out when I saw those pictures! I just knew it!...who's this" she pointed at Kris being distracted by the woman who was crossing her arms behind Dan.

"I'm his girlfriend" Kris had perfected the bitchy attitude by now. Jealousy ran viciously through her blood whenever a woman showed any type of affection with Dan. What bothered her the most was that Dan didn't seemed fazed by Kasey's behaviour. He'd normally ignore this kind of attention.

"Well, nice to meet you...Girlfriend..." Kasey rolled her eyes slightly not sure what was going on here. "Let me see that baby!"

"I'll be right back and then we can go grocery shopping" Dan told Kris before walking Kasey across to Serena's apartment. He could tell she was not amused, she'd been trying to get him to go shopping with her all morning but he was getting distracted with one thing after another.

"So what happened since I saw you last? You're living in different apartments? I mean you didn't explain why in your email, so...why?" she asked confused. "Oh, right..." she bonked herself on the head "you have a girlfriend,...why!" she grabbed his arm. "Whhhyyyy?" she asked again, her eyes widening with wonder.

"She used to be by fiance..."

"What?" Kasey looked like she was in physical pain.

"It's a long story,...I...I moved out a while ago" he didn't want to talk about Kris with Kasey, he knew she wouldn't like the idea. "Wait out here, let's surprise her" Kasey agreed and stood in the hallway, but she still had questions.

"Hey, you should lock your door" Dan walked in Serena's apartment to see her yawning and folding some pink blankets. She never did so much laundry in her life. Dan wondered why she didn't hire someone to do these things but that would only bring up another argument about how she doesn't want to be her mother and she can handle things on her own.

"I know but people just keep coming in and out and I always forget" she yawned again. " I probably got three hours of sleep last night, and look at her now" she motioned to the nursery. Dan peeked in and saw the twelve day old baby sound asleep. With a little chuckle he smiled at Serena.

"You're supposed to sleep when she sleeps" he reminded her.

"When I sleep she doesn't want to sleep" Serena sighed with a soft smile. Even though she was tired from getting into this new routine where her world revolved around someone other than herself, and her days consisted of feedings and changing instead of lunch dates and shopping, Dan knew she was absolutely content with the change in her life.

"You should have called me"

"No, I'm just not good at running on less than six hours of sleep like you" Dan was a morning guy, he would have made breakfast and gotten completely ready by the time Serena had crawled out of bed. "I'll get used to it" she smiled.

"It's the coffee" Dan explained making Serena smile. "Andrew wasn't here to help out?" he asked casually as he sat down and started helping her fold more pink laundry. Dan would be lying if he said Andrew sleeping at Serena's didn't bother him. But he didn't have a leg to stand on when he was living with Kris.

"He's working long days for me now" Serena reminded Dan that Andrew was now working with all her clients and filling her place while she was on MAT leave. "He's sleeping at his apartment because needs the rest so he can be pleasant to my...vocal clients"

"Oh right" Dan nodded. "Those twelve hour days used to kill you even on a full eight hour sleep"

"Yeah well Andrew doesn't have to work it in high heels" Serena laughed

"So how do you feel about visitors?" Dan asked.

"More?" Serena sighed. "I'm exhausted, who wants to visit?"

"Forget it Kasey, she's exhausted!" Dan yelled towards the door.

"KASEY?" Serena jumped up from from the laundry to hug her friend when she opened the door slowly and a huge grin spread across her face.

"Hi best-friend!" she kind of did a dance with Serena, Dan watched them amused. "It's been so long." she pulled back and looked around "I miss this apartment! I miss Friday nights!" she held Serena's hands and looked around nostalgic for party nights.

"I know!" Serena agreed that they had the most fun when they were in college. "What's new? You're working for W now right?"

"I am! And i'm late for a meeting already but Dan called me and I just had to come over and see the most beautiful baby ever created" Serena giggled knowing Kasey would definitely be Baya's number one fan.

"She's sleeping, i'll get her"

"No, don't wake her up for me"

"She needs to wake up anyway. I need her to sleep tonight" Serena went into the nursery and came back with a small sleepy baby in her arms. Kasey gasped as Serena kissed her cheeks trying to wake her up. "Someone wants to meet you" Serena cooed. Baya was stubborn and refused to open her eyes. Dan explained the story behind her name as Serena tried her best to get her eyes to flutter open.

"she's an angel" Kasey took the baby as Serena handed her over. "You guys" she beamed with happiness. "How did this happen?" she whispered looking between both of them knowing there was no way they planned this.

"...Tequila" Dan said comically as he slipped his hands into his pockets.

"Oh my god...you did not" her jaw dropped.

"Yeah,..." Serena smiled at her baby who she couldn't imagine life without.

"Well, it doesn't matter how she got here, she's precious and perfect" Kasey smiled at Serena hoping she knew that the shock in her voice and face wasn't judging her. Dan now leaned over and kissed the baby trying to wake her up.

"Wake up" he continued to press kisses on her eyes but she continued to sleep with just the slightest of fidgets.

"She's saying 'leave me alone' " Kasey said seeing her eyes flutter a little. Kasey stayed way longer than she should have and listened to the entire story of how they got to this place. She really was late for her meeting now. On her way out of the apartment she gave Dan advice just like she always did "its possible to be best-friends and a couple, remember that"

"She has a boyfriend" Dan said as Serena put the baby back in the nursery.

"I don't care. You're Dan Humphrey. Don't tell me she wouldn't rather be with you. It's been a long time but I still know Serena, she doesn't look at any man the way she looks at you."

"Well, you haven't met Andrew" Dan said confidently. "Thanks for coming over Kasey" Dan hugged her before she could say anything else. When she was gone Dan thought for a moment just before Blair and Jenny burst in.

"Where's the baby?" She held her hands together tightly hoping for some play time.

"She's sleeping" Dan told her.

"Serena do you need a rest? Jenny and I will take her out with us" she called out.

"Umm..."

"Yeah let's take her to,...uh...umm..." she held her hand out trying to figure out what she wanted to say. "uh..." her mind was blanking.

"Spit it out" Blair giggled at Jenny.

"Bergdorfs,...What is wrong with me?" Jenny rolled her eyes.

"I'd say pregnancy hormones but I think it might just be a Humphrey thing"

"It's just a Humphrey thing" Dan smiled at Blair and his sister.

"Well whatever it is, I hope Baya doesn't catch it" Blair cooed when Serena walked over with the baby. "Can we take her shopping with us S? it'll give you some time to relax" Blair asked while taking hold of one of her tiny hands. Serena wondered what on earth they wanted to do with a twelve day old baby on a perfectly good shopping day. It would only slow them down.

"I suppose" Serena shrugged handing Baya over as Jenny held her hands out eagerly to hold her niece. "will you be stopping at Bendels too?" she asked in a longing way. Dan knew she wanted to go with them, she hadn't been out of the house in days.

"Serena, why don't you go shopping with them?" Dan suggested. "Actually,...yeah. You go shopping with them I'm taking the baby" Dan decided just then. "I have some errands to do"

XOXOXOXOXO

More surprised than anything Dan watched Kris coo and smile at Baya as they walked through the grocery store. After about ten minutes of shopping the baby was fast asleep in her Burberry carrier that was perched in the top of the shopping cart. Dan smiled when he heard the gurgly sounds of women who were oooing and awwwing over Baya.

"How old?" a girl completely smitten with the baby asked.

"She's twelve days old" Dan said proudly. "it's her first trip to the grocery store"

"She's precious" one woman said.

"First baby?" another asked.

"First one" Dan smiled.

"Goodness, you look amazing for having a baby twelve days ago" the women commented to Kris who added some things to the cart.

"Actually..." she smiled uncomfortably.

"She's wearing spanx" Dan said instantly embarrassing Kris.

"Why would you say that, you jackass" Kris smacked him in the back as they continued through the store.

"I thought it would be funny" he smirked.

"It's not funny" she scowled. Everything had been going smoothly until Dan made that comment. Kris was pushing the cart and smiling at the baby. Dan was really happy to see her seem so content with taking the baby out. He never expected to see her so maternal, he enjoyed it while it lasted. After his comment she stopped pushing the cart.

Dan picked up a can of formula and read the back to make sure it was the right one. "Ouch, i'm going to have to get another job" Dan said after realizing the price.

"I thought Serena was breast feeding" Kris mentioned.

"She's trying" Dan answered still studying the ingredients. He looked up to smile at another woman who just let out a sigh when she saw the baby. Dan was beginning to realize that babies being 'chick magnets' wasn't a myth.

"she's beautiful" the woman commented casually once she realized she wasn't discrete in her leering.

"Oh thank you" Dan smiled, Kris rolled her eyes at how proud Dan was of her.

A minutes later she had woken up and Dan knew she was hungry by the funny noises she was making. He was finally getting the hang of what each sound usually meant.

"You sound like a little lamb" Dan leaned down and kissed her on the head.

"Why did we even bring her?" Kris looked around embarrassed as Dan searched for a bottle. People were looking up to the source of the noise. Newborn baby cries filled the better half of the store and people were getting distracted.

"What you would have rather me left her at home?" he asked finally offering her a bottle.

"Her mother is there"

"and her father is grocery shopping" Dan said simply tilting the bottle up so she could feed better. "Why can't we just pretend to be happy family for a quick shopping trip? why is that a big deal?" the crying subsided.

"Because she's not my family,...she's a reminder that our relationship has been glued back together. I don't want to have this family with you. I want to have my own family with you, she's not part of that" Kris looked saddened. "she's the one and only reason we're fighting, she's the reason we..."

"she's a baby" Dan said sternly enough but not loud enough for anyone but Kris to hear him. "It's not her fault she exists, she's completely innocent in this. If you're mad at anyone be mad at me" he spoke quietly for the other shoppers' sake.

"Well you know i'm mad at you already. I guess it would have killed you to take a simple precaution" Dan couldn't believe she was giving him the safe sex talk in the grocery store. "People do it all the time, if you put in the tiniest of effort, you probably won't knock somebody up...Or you know,...don't sleep with your best-friend only weeks after you break up with your girlfriend"

"We talked about that,...don't even..." Dan closed his eyes with frustration. He couldn't believe she was starting this again.

"What happened to the Dan that would run out to a store in the heat of the moment if he didn't have a condom? huh? That Dan didn't exist that night...and with a woman that has been around the block a few times..."

"You've attacked Serena enough don't you think?"

"Well she's not innocent either, you know a woman her age should be on the pill if she's willing to just jump into bed with..."

", she was on it"

"Yeah okay,..." the sarcasm was thick. "Dan, she's not part of my world. She's something from your past that you can sort out without me. Your past mistakes will not change our happy future"

"...Well, I'd like you to show a little compassion, she is my daughter after" Dan thought about what Kasey said.

"Yes, but she's not my responsibility,...I'm not her mother and I don't want to be her mother"

"Well, she doesn't want you to be her mother. She has a pretty good mom already" Dan said.

"If you talk about her again, i'm leaving the store" Kris said sternly, her eyebrows challenging him.

"...Why do you have to be soooo dramatic?" Dan shook his head wondering if she'd ever stop being so childish.

"If you talk about Serena again...I'm going to pack my things"

"Maybe you should" the words flung out of his mouth, he couldn't say them fast enough.

"Excuse me?"

"Pack your things. I think we need a break. I'll just...call you later" Dan knew he couldn't keep dancing in circles with Kris. It wasn't working, no matter how many times they tried to work out their problems, it was never a real fix. He needed to end this as soon as possible.

"Yeah, that might be for the best...a break does sound good" she smiled lightly. "Call me at eight?" she asked sadly.

"Yeah eight sounds fine"

After Dan and Kris said their goodbyes Dan's jaw was tight, he was so fed up with her. As he watched her leave the store he thought he'd feel relieved to see her go but he knew that he'd have to see her later that night and he wasn't looking forward to it.

"My my my, look at that tiny little thing" An older man smiled at Dan, the kindness in his elderly face absolved Dan's frustration in an instant. "Don't blink or you'll miss it" he gave Dan a piece of advice.

"I'm trying not to" Dan smiled.

XOXOXOX

Kris knocked on Dan's door. He was keeping it locked whenever he had the baby. "Hey" she smiled and leaned in for a light kiss. Dan received the kiss but didn't return it. He called her over with a purpose and he knew this wouldn't be easy. When he was alone he talked himself into telling her that he was done with their relationship but now seeing her he felt like giving up.

"Oh you're still babysitting" Kris pointed at the carrier sitting on the floor.

"I don't know if I'd consider it babysitting since she's mine" he laughed lightly. "She's sleeping in the other room" he mentioned.

"I thought we'd be alone" she said quietly. "I have some good news" she smiled, Dan hated to see her like this. She was being the same Kris he fell in love with but he couldn't just ignore what he was feeling again. "I just got back from the travel agent and our trip is planned out, I hope you're brushing up on your Español" she leaned into him.

"Kris, I need to talk you" Dan said solemnly while taking her hands in his.

"What?,...what's wrong?" her light eyes searched his dark ones.

"I can't go to Spain" his lips barely moved.

"Why?" her eyes were large.

"I have work and...responsibilities,...I can't" Kris eyed him carefully.

"Okay, well that's okay. I can get them refunded" she nodded but he knew she was upset.

"Want something?" he offered her a drink, realizing it was going to be really hard telling her that he wasn't in love with her anymore.

"Coffee?" she asked if that was okay as she took a seat on a stool.

"Yeah" he nodded going to the cabinet.

Dan picked up a mug and Baya started crying, he put it down and walked past Kris who stopped him.

"Its good to let them learn that you aren't going to pick them up whenever they cry"

"She's twelve days old, she cries out of necessity" he continued to push past her.

"Leave her, it'll give her independence" she tugged on his sleeve.

"No" he shook his head and removed her hand from his clothing. "It doesn't work like that, studies actually say it has an opposite effect"

"Studies? What studies?"

"Studies done by the institute of child psychology"

"Dan?"

"What?, What exactly do you want right now?" she was still crying and Dan was getting frustrated that Kris was keeping him away.

"I feel like ever since she was born that you've been neglecting me" Dan rolled his eyes at her.

"Then just go Kris, i'll call you later to talk" he walked into his room to pick up the baby. "What's wrong?" he asked her. "why're you sad?" He put Baya over his shoulder and rubbed her tiny back in an effort to soothe her.

"Fine" she got up."But, you're choosing, between me and her" Dan laughed lightly bouncing his baby up and down lightly until she relaxed.

Dan sighed. This was it, his cue.

"I'm serious" there wasn't an ounce of joking in her voice, she was serious and Dan was confused.

"That's insane,...you want me to choose between you and my daughter?" Dan blinked not able to fathom what she was asking of him and ready to tell her what had been on his mind for the last few days.

"It's not between me and your daughter, it's between me and her mother, choose. I need you to choose between me and Serena. I can't live like this anymore. All you ever do is defend her, you know how that makes me feel. I'm just trying to build a life with you, I'm committed. I've put everything I can into this relationship and it just gets harder and harder" she started to cry when she saw him offering a pacifier to the baby.

"Dan,...choose between me and Serena, Please" she was desperate.

"wow" he just nodded seeing she was serious and needed an answer. "okay" he agreed still rubbing Baya's back.

"So?" Kris smiled believing the choice was easy. Dan looked up at his photo board, amongst the multiple pictures of Baya, there was one of Serena and that gave him the backbone he severely needed.

"You know I thought this would be harder to say..." he took a deep breath. "I can't choose you. You have to understand that"

"What?" she blinked. Dan took a deep breath and commanded himself to not walk over and comfort her.

"I've known Serena ten times the time I've known you. She's my best-friend,...she's the mother of my daughter. You can't expect me to choose you" he said softly.

"I see" Kris nodded. "Well I just wasted a lot of fucking time!" she yelled and Baya started to cry loudly.

"Kris, you can't expect me to cut her out of my life." he spoke angrily.

"This was a mistake,...that we even tried to work this out was just stupid" she was pissed.

"Yeah" Dan agreed.

"I should have known..., my life with you has been nothing but a fucking soap opera" she was a mess of tears and sniffles as she gathered her bag and jacket.

"Ok just go now" Dan pointed to the door angry she was resorting to yelling and swearing. She opened the door and began to leave not without one last statement.

"Have a good life with your whore and your basterd child"

"OH, thanks for that!" he yelled sarcastically at her unnecessary statement. "that's just beautiful, what a blessing!" he yelled to make sure he heard him. Baya shook in his arms and cried louder now.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry" Dan kissed the top of Baya's tiny little head. "I wont yell ever again" he promised her as he paced her around his apartment until she calmed down.

XOXOXOX

Andrew showed up at Serena's apartment in a tailored suit, Serena sighed realizing she was running late and wasn't ready for the gala they had to attend for work.

"Hi babe" Andrew came in and pressed a chaste kiss to Serena's lips as she quickly put on earrings. "How's the bambino?" he asked with a smile.

"She's at Dan's. I'm going to go over and pump for a while before we leave" Serena scurried around looking for some things she needed to bring to Dan's for the night. Andrew was a little taken aback. First, Serena looked stunning. Her hair and makeup was perfection but she was still in her robe. Second, he wondered why she had to go over to Dan's to do that.

"You're going over there to do it? why can't you just stay here?" Serena tilted her head to the side "You don't need Dan,...I can help you, you know?" he caught on.

"Yeah,...I just,...I want Dan" she admitted quietly. Andrew felt like she just punched him in the stomach, he just wasn't good enough for moral support.

"You sure?,...I mean it's not like he can say anything or do anything that I can't,...I'm capable"

"Oh Andrew I know sweetie. But..." she couldn't really think of a reason why Andrew couldn't sit with her while she tried to fill a bottle for her baby. "You're wearing a really nice suit..." Andrew's eyebrows raised. "Okay,...yeah okay" She sat on the couch and Andrew sat beside her and smiled, Serena felt unbearably uncomfortable and she hadn't even started. Taking a deep breath she smiled at him uncomfortably.

"Do you want me to get you anything?"

"No,..." she shook her head and looked up to see him staring at her. "I'm just going to go over and try and feed her"

"Don't you need to pump so Dan can feed her tonight?"

"No she can have formula later, I'm just going to try and feed her now. I just can't seem to provide enough for her anyway, it's fine. I'm just going to go over and try to feed her quickly before we leave" she grabbed her nursing pillow and scurried across the hall.

"Serena, we're going to be late..."

Serena knocked on Dan's door, it was locked which was rare but when he had the baby with him he always made sure his apartment was secure. "Hey i'm going to try and feed her, will you help me?" Serena said quickly when he opened the door holding the baby.

"Uh yeah" he nodded somewhat confused about how eager she was to get in his apartment and close the door. Dan followed Serena over to his bedroom.

"I broke up with Kris" The words came out so blunt it sounded like a joke. Serena felt awful but a weight lifted off her shoulders and she felt relieved and almost excited that she would have her old Dan back.

"Really?, it's not just a fight?" she tried to conceal a smile that was starting to appear.

"No, I'd say the ship sailed this time " he said.

"Oh,..well i'm sorry" she touched his arm. "Just,...why?" she asked throwing a pink blanket over her shoulder concerned.

"...," Dan smiled slightly and rubbed his bottom lip. "Uh...I like Blondes" Dan kissed the top of Baya's head and Serena smiled carefully. "Serena,..." he opened his mouth to tell her what he and Kasey had been talking about when Serena's hand went up to touch Baya's face.

"Yeah?" she rubbed her baby's back gently.

"...Bedroom or living-room?" he asked quickly deciding this wasn't a good time.

"Bedroom" she climbed up on to his bed and got her pillow all comfortable, Dan handed the baby over and sat by her side right where she wanted him.

"I'm getting really frustrated" Serena expressed to Dan as she handed the baby back over after a good attempt.

"Well maybe it's just not in the cards"

"You have everything you need?" she ignored him and looked around.

"Yeah,...I have everything" He half thought she'd drop her plans with Andrew upon finding out he and Kris broke up and he was indeed single. But she didn't.

"Okay, have a good night"

"...yeah" Dan nodded.

"be good for daddy angel. " she kissed her again before leaving. "Dan?"

"Mhmm?"

"Luh you!" she yelled from the hall.

"I love you..." Dan trailed off before shutting the apartment door.

Around one am Dan heard people stumbling down the hallway. He opened the front door and saw Serena unlocking her apartment door, Andrew was standing behind her and causing her to giggle by kissing her neck. Dan closed the door and pretended he didn't see that.

XOXOXOX

Three days later

Serena woke up on the couch. She told herself she was just going to rest her eyes for a minute but that minute turned into an hour long nap. Looking at the clock she groaned. The sound of silence calmed Serena, she knew Baya was still sleeping so it was probably a good idea she napped when she did. The doctors told her to sleep whenever the baby is sleeping. Standing up she noticed something strange, the baby carrier by the door was gone. She quickly went to the nursery and her stomach knotted slightly realizing the baby was not in her crib. She walked over to her bedroom wondering if she had put her in there, her heart started to beat faster. A panic feeling started to creep into her as she ran around her apartment to check the door that was unlocked. "...across the hall, she must be across...the hall" she had to calm herself so she could breathe properly. There was no answer at Dan's door, there was also no answer at Nate and Jenny's. Everyone was still at work. She hyperventilated and paced the hall as she called Dan.

"Dan Humphrey" he answered his cellphone.

"Dan..."

"Whoa, what's wrong?" he laughed at how desperate her voice sounded.

"Were you home already?" her voice was shaky and teary.

"What do you mean?"

"Did you come home early today?..!" she demanded.

"No,...i've been at work all day, what's wrong?" her voice was quiet and he couldn't understand the mumbles.

"Where are you?" she asked.

"I'm driving home, i'll there in five minutes"

"I just,...oh my god" Serena sobbed with her hand covering her mouth.

"What?...What?" Dan started to freak out. "Serena, what is going on?"

"I fell asleep and when I woke up,...oh my god" she face was panicked, and she started to hyperventilate as she paced the length of her apartment explaining that she fell asleep, that the door was unlocked and that she can't find their two week old baby.

"Call Andrew" Dan said calmly.

"Oh!...he has to have her right? he has to!" Serena's hands were shaking. She was thankful Dan was thinking with a clear head because she certainly wasn't right now.

"Just call him, i'll be there in a minute"

"He's not picking up" Serena paced back and fourth when Dan walked in the door. "I called five times and it keeps going to voice mail" she dialled again.

"Where was she?" Dan asked.

"she was sleeping in the nursery" Serena cried. "I just shut my eyes for a minute and I fell asleep..." Dan walked over to her knowing she was blaming herself.

"Call him again" Dan said calmly grabbing her hand. When it had gone to voicemail again Dan knew they needed to call the police. It had been an hour now and he knew you needed to act fast in missing children's cases.

"If he doesn't show up in the next few minutes we're going to have to call the police" Serena burst into tears. Three more phone calls and still nothing. Serena was starting to hate Andrew's voicemail that said 'You've reached Andrew B, please leave a message'

"Dan, there's so many people that live in this apartment,...everyone knows I have her. Mrs. Connolly is a psycho..."

"Serena, Mrs. Connolly is just a grumpy old woman,...Andrew probably has her. Call him again" he urged.

"Pick up!" Serena yelled into the phone before dialling again. "PICK UP!" she yelled again before running to the bathroom to be sick to her stomach. Dan followed after her.

"It's okay,...he has her. I know he does" he held on to Serena tightly, she was shaking like a leaf. "Just sit here,...its fine" he pressed a kiss to her forehead and brought her down out to the living-room to sit on a couch. He filled up a glass of water for her and handed it over.

"You really think he has her?" the tears in her eyes were heartbreaking as he took it from him.

"I know he does" Dan said confidently before he walked into another room to make a 911 call. He couldn't sit there and wait. Just before he finished dialling, Andrew walked in the door with a Burberry carrier and a happy baby.

"Oh my god" Serena sighed with relief and ran over.

"What did I tell you?" Dan said to Serena with a steady voice. His heart started beating in a regular rhythm.

"Whoa, who died" Andrew noticed their faces. Serena crying and Dan brooding. Serena harshly ripped the carrier out of Andrew's grip.

"Come here" she pulled her baby out of the carrier and held her close.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Dan walked towards him. "You just take her?,...you think you're allowed to do that?"

"I was thinking,...I'd let Serena sleep and pay attention to Baya. I just took her to do some errands"

"If you take her out of this apartment again, i'm calling the police" Dan walked over to Serena who's' eyes were closed and and relaxed as she cuddled her baby.

"You're overreacting my friend"

"I'm not your friend!..." Dan turned back with a squint. "...and no, i'm not overreacting" Dan shook his head not believing how Andrew could think this was okay he walked closer to Andrew and tried to contain the anger he had towards him right now. "I don't know you!,...Do you understand that? I have no idea who you are,..Serena barely knows you. DO NOT, take my daughter out of this apartment"

Andrew looked offended by Dan's sudden authority. From Andrew's point of view he was a much better dad to Baya than Dan was.

"It just seems a little harsh is all, I walked in and saw Serena taking a nap and thought I'd just give her a little time to relax" he still didn't see a problem with taking her. "I saw Nate and Jenny with her in the lobby yesterday"

"Jenny is my sister! Nate is my best-friend!" Dan rubbed his eyes wondering how he could make this clearer for Andrew. "Those people are her family,...You are nobody..."

"Serena,..." Andrew looked for back up but she didn't say a thing, she looked at her baby and cuddled her, so relieved. "I'm sorry, I should have left a note so I wouldn't worry you, okay? Next time i'll leave a note" he put his hand on Serena's shoulder.

"Are you deaf?" Dan's jaw tightened his hand went up. "There will be no next time. Don't take her to the park, don't take her out of the building, don't take her off this floor, don't take her out this door"

"I'm sorry but you're really being ridiculous" Andrew nearly smiled. "I took her out for a couple hours, it's beautiful out. I was doing a good deed. I let Serena have a decent nap"

"Andrew,..." Dan stared at the ceiling. "I will call NYPD if you so much as take her down to the lobby with you to get the mail" he let him know he was dead serious. Andrew looked like he was going to laugh.

"Dan, can I talk to Andrew alone?" Serena asked holding the baby up to him. Dan sat with Baya as Serena walked Andrew into her bedroom.

Serena sat on her bed and Andrew sat down beside her as she requested with a pat of the comforter.

"First of all,.." she smacked him upside the head. "You made me sick to my stomach!"

"I'm sorry" he rubbed the side of his head with a soft smile.

"I literally threw up! it's not funny, and i'm not okay with it"

"I wasn't thinking, I just thought it would be a good opportunity but Dan is being a little extreme don't you agree?"

"..." Serena bit her lower lip.

"Serena come on, she was gone a couple hours"

"and it felt like days!" he didn't understand her distress.

"I decided to let you sleep.."

"It doesn't matter. You're not her parent" Serena said softly. "You don't get to make those decisions. Dan was right"

"Right about what? Serena, I won't take her out without telling you but I'm not going to abide by that ridiculous rule. If I had told you I was going to take her out you would have let me" Serena thought for a moment about it and realized that she wouldn't have been okay with that either.

"No,...I don't think I would have" she told him. Andrew's face fell. "I don't know you that well" She said, Andrew's eye brows lifted not believing her. "I mean, I do but,...I don't" she shook her head. "When I thought she was gone, my imagination took me to the worst place possible and the thing that kept registering over and over again was that I was the one that brought you into her life and I barely know you. I know exactly how Dan feels and it might be for the best if you don't move in right now"

"I didn't plan on it for months..."

"I mean,...it might be best that you don't sleep here anymore either"

"...Okay" he said reluctantly. "I'll just get my stuff" he stood up.

"Do you wanna go to lunch tomorrow or something?" Serena asked.

"Umm..."

"Andrew, let's just start over and take it easy okay?" she smiled. "It's been two months, we don't have to rush anything"

"Okay" he nodded. "Bye Dan, I'll see you around" he put his hand out for Dan to shake it but he denied him. "I get it,...i'm a kidnapper oooo scary" he walked out of the apartment before Dan could say anything else.

"I'm sorry" Serena rested her head on Dan's shoulder.

"Don't be sorry, I'm mad at Andrew not you" he kissed her on the cheek and looked down at the baby.

"I'm sorry I freaked out and was sick..."

"I felt just as sick" he confessed.

"Well, thanks for acting calm" she closed her eyes as he rubbed her shoulder. Serena sat there with Dan for a few minutes. Baya was sound asleep, she opened her eyes to find Dan staring at the baby affectionately.

"Have you ever,..." Dan looked up from the baby. "loved someone so much you don't even know how to describe it?" he laughed a little. "I can't even,...ummm" he just stared at her. "I think of it as almost an addiction" he looked confused even though he was the one who was speaking, his words didn't even make sense to himself out-loud. "I just can't imagine ever being tired of her,...but I can't describe it,...at all"

"I couldn't describe it either"

"she's two weeks old and I can't live without her" Dan laughed at how absurd the thought was. "I uh,...sat down to write something about her the other day"

"You did?" Serena smiled brilliantly.

"Yeah, but...like I said,...it's hard to describe"

"I think the the greatest loves in life are the hardest to describe" Serena said without taking her eyes off their perfect little baby.

"I think you're right"

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

KRIS IS GONE! AHHHH! I promise this was her exit, she will not be coming back. Andrew is still in this picture but I think you'll enjoy that he doesn't live with Serena anymore and their relationship is going to be very slow going after he scared the bejesus out of Serena. More drama to come because Dan HATES Andrew with a burning passion now. And you could already tell that Andrew does not find Dan charming. Can you sense the tension between Dan and Serena? and before I get reviews saying "If they both have feelings then why don't they just get together already" what fun would that be? Dan and Serena are both afraid of what will happen if they give in. Serena really likes Andrew too, remember that, she thinks he's amazing but she can't deny her feelings for Dan.