note : This fanfiction is AU; it's based on the original Gossip Girl characters, but has (almost) nothing with the original plot. I thought this would be interesting to write, but also something I would like read, so I decided to share.

This is a future fic, it'll have exactly 12 chapters. (I already have it figured).

Please review, it'll be appreciated.

Xx

12 Things About Dan And Blair

- Dan Humphrey is looking back on his life, and the importance of certain events/things that have a special meaning to him because of one person. AU.

Dan Humphrey has a life. He has a family, and by family he means a precious 15 year old teenage girl. Dan Humphrey is divorced.

His marriage with Lynette was a mistake before it even started. They weren't quite a match. Or maybe they were, but things just didn't functionate the way they should.

He doesn't know.

Things are complicated, and he leaves it that way because he doesn't feel like resolving them. Maybe it's the age, or maybe he's just not strong enough.

The only thing that keeps him sane, the only thing that keeps him smiling and the only thing that makes him think the life's worth living is that lovely creature that's becoming an adult now.

Her name is Heiley.

"Hey Heil." Dan a mouthful of waffles he was just making "You're late, luckily these are quite warm." he adds eating finishing his last piece in a bit.

She throws her stuff on the floor and stretches out on the sofa in the living room.

"Heiley? Is everything alright?" he asks worriedly coming out of the kitchen appearing right in front of her.

"I'm fine, dad." she tries to fake a smile "I'm just tired."

"And that," he starts, "would work...for somebody else. Maybe. You're lying like your dad my dear. Was everything school alright?" he continues.

"Yeah, it was good."

"What's the matter then? Feel free to tell me, I want to hear no matter how bad it is."

This was true. Judgemental Dan Humphrey was washed with age. He learned to deal with ANY, literally ANY kind of situation.

"I...I found your diary."

"You found my what?" he asks staring in disbelief. He didn't see this coming.

"You know that blue little notebook you keep on shelves in your room? Well, I found it. And before you start yelling it's not my fault that you're.." she stopped "or were, a writer a long time ago. Don't even try to pretend your scriblings aren't everywhere."

"Well...you might be right. I didn't mean to pass judgement on you at all."

Silence.

"So, are you...are you mad?"

He saw this coming. It was just a matter of time, but deep down he knew that his witty little daughter will figure it out sooner or later.

Heiley looks down unable to say anything. She looks slightly disappointed, but her curiosity is much bigger at this moment and she can't resist asking a question. Finally, she opens her mouth to speak :

"Who's Blair?"

xx

"...So she was in the picture before my mother?"

"Absolutely."

"I must admit the plot seems very interesting, I was quite intrigued. Too bad you never had time to finish it."

"I still remember everything. And I think it's time for you to hear it, if you want."

She hesitates for a moment, but then nods.

"I'd like to."

"Then make yourself comfortable 'cause this might take a while. I'll bring some waffles and we can start."

xxx

The first thing that reminded him of Blair : Pie.

"Pie?" his daughter was confused.

"Yes. I was thinking Cabbage Patch dolls but..."

"Cabbage patch dolls? Really, what were you, three?" Hailey replies with a slight dose of sarcasm in her voice.

"Maybe." he smiles for himself.

"B, I want you to meet my boyfriend, this is Dan Humphrey."

"Brooklyn in its shape. Nice to meet you,.." she replied still obviously mocking him "Oh wait, what was it again?"

Serena frowned and glared at her best friend.

Blair sighed.

"Fine."

"I'm Blair Waldorf." she tried again while unwillingly shaking hands with him.

"This is going to be fun." he murmured for himself making sure no one had heard him.

"Let's eat." Serena suggested breaking the ice between the two.

"Let's."

The next thing he knows is calling her "95 pounds label whoring ...packadge of girly evil."

He used to despise Blair, her actions were never understandable, and never, ever excuseable to him.

She was never fond of him either.

All until one Thanksgiving.

The day when his parents announced their divorce.

"Dan, I wish I was with you there." Serena was upset when she heard the news.

"I know..."

And he really did need her, but he had to understand. Something bad had happened to her brother in Ostroff and as soon as they heard the "news" she and her mother canceled everything else and came there to support Eric.

Staff took their cellphones, it had to be like that as long as they're there but Serena even remembered to call and say hi.

Only...he didn't have anyone to talk to when he needed someone so bad. Alison and Rufus went separate ways while Jenny flung out of the house without even listening to what their parents have to say.

A loud knock.

Dan opened the door with a noticeable lack of enthusiasm. But his eyes widened when he saw who was stending on the other side of it.

"Blair?" he looked up still visibly surprised.

She was in tears, was sobbing. She seemed quite embarrased for showing up like that but she managed to pluck up the energy and ask:

"Is Serena here? All I've been getting in the past hour or two is voicemail."

"She's not with me, she's in the Ostroff centre with Lily. Eric issues." he replied shortly. "Is...is everything alright?" he asked.

"It's a long story."

"I have time."

She had second thoughts about this, but in a few seconds she blurted out something like

"I guess it's acceptable, if you have pie."

Dan half-smiled, "Come in."

xx

"So you're making pie on your own?"

"I won't lie saying it's a tradition 'cause it's not. Humphrey men make good waffles but pies are not exactly our...area. Even with waffles, whatever we're cooking is going to work only if we like the person we're preparing it for. Simple trick -we put a lot more effort." he chuckled "it's weird" he ended measuring flour and sugar he needed to prepare this.

"Why are you making the pie then?" Blair asked the most logical, but then again so ambigous question leaving him staggered for a moment or two.

"I don't know. Maybe because I have nothing to lose?" he raised an eyebrow biting his lower lip:

"Can you pass me the cinnamon?" Dan asked like he completely forgot who she was. Strange, but even she forgot who she was.

"Here."

Her hand grazed his.

"Thanks."

xx

"My parents were not on good terms lately, we saw this coming. Just Jen sometimes likes to see she wants to see and I'd say I am a bit more...realistic."

She nodded putting a large bite of pie in her mouth.

"What about you?"

She gulped.

"Well my dad lives in France now. He's there with a male model named Roman. He promised he'll make it, but cancelled in the last minute." she took a deep breath "I guess I just wanted to spend one holiday with him around. I really miss the old times."

Somehow, it was easier this way. Opening up to a stranger from Brooklyn.

Except he was not a stranger, he was Serena's boyfriend.

"I'm sure they don't mean to do that to us...But yeah, from now on I'll call Thanksgiving a holiday when my parents divorced." he laughed with the irony of it all.

When they finished the meal they were sitting in silence for a minute or two.

"Did you like the pie, then?"

"Since you don't like me...It was surprisingly tasty. But don't get your hopes high, Humphrey."

"Are you feeling better now?"

"A little." she twinkled.

"Wait is that Cedric?" she pointed at the Cabbage patch kid standing on his shelf with books.

"Wha..how do you..?"

"Cabbage patch kid, seriously Humphrey? At least I'm keeping mine secre..."

"Wait wait so you do have yours?"

She purses her lips "No...I don't."

Dan gives her a slight smile and she's caught.

"Okay, okay...I might..Well at least I don't have a garadge door in the middle of the room, what excuse you might find for that one?"

"So what? Makes it more casual?"

"Casual how? I am adopting homeless people-casual? If yes I don't want to know where do you keep them."

"Says a girl with a Cabbage Patch doll."

"Ohhh please! Better shut up, Cedric."

"Your choice for books is quite good though." she turned serious, her attention now focused on the shelves in the room.

"Really? Thanks."

When did she turn so nice?

"Cabbage Patch is still owning though." she added and he tittered this time.

xx