A/N: 03.02.2022
Welcome to part 2 of the unofficial "When it Comes to Dana Tan…" trilogy. Now, about why this is happening: for those who don't know, I am not the biggest shipper of Terry and Dana. I don't hate her at all and thought she was a fine character, but, like SO MANY others, I always thought Max was a better fit for Terry. Clearly evident: I've been writing Terry and Max stories for about 10 years. But I digress. These stories came to me because... how WOULD Dana react to the news about Terry and Max? Well, who better than Chelsea to confide in! Let's find out, shall we?!
Synopsis: After years of being away, Dana returns to Gotham to visit Chelsea. And get the details of a certain couple's wedding she purposefully missed. Post-"All This Time".
Happiness & Regret
Dana arrived at the rooftop restaurant, Highview, which was on top of the Gotham Golden Plaza. She stared out at the city, marveling at how little had changed in the four years since she moved out. Still, the city seemed a little bit safer now. More than likely, Dana deduced, that was because Batman now had a crime fighting partner in Nightrunner.
Dana turned from the window and saw Chelsea approaching. Dana smiled and stood up. Chelsea hastened her step and engulfed Dana in a fierce hug.
Chelsea let out an excited, hush squeal. "Oh, my God, I've missed you!"
Dana cooed, "Awww! I missed you, too!"
They separated and Chelsea looked Dana over, "Damn, you look good!"
"Right back at you!"
They sat down and ordered. "So, what made you visit?" Chelsea asked.
"I got a job with a real estate developer," Dana answered.
"After you got your degree! Congratulations!"
"Thanks. Same to you!"
"Thanks," Chelsea replied. "By the way, what made you go with graphic design?"
"Found a talent for it," Dana shrugged. "Kinda like you did with guidance counseling."
"I laugh at how I ended up being right back in high school, despite all my pledging I'd never go back. Cruel irony. Dealing with some students, I sometimes stop and think… 'were we really that bad?'"
"You were," Dana sneered. They laughed.
"So, tell me about the job," Chelsea said.
"It's just renovating a building," Dana replied. "Because I knew the city, they wanted me to look into it. So far, so good."
"So, you'll be coming back more often!" Chelsea smiled, happily. "Schway!"
"For work, Chels!"
"Work. Shopping. To-may-toe, to-mah-toe."
Dana giggled.
They talked for a while, along with eating lunch, discussing whatever came to mind. Chelsea was careful not steer into the Terry and Max territory unless Dana did first. Dana had a similar mindset as she scanned the city, not really focusing on any one thing. Just remembering the city as a whole. And the boy she used to love.
After they finished eating, Dana decided it was time to tackle the issue head-on. At least, as close as she could come, since she was talking to Chelsea and not who she probably should be talking to.
"Chelsea?" Dana asked.
Chelsea looked up.
"How… are they?"
Chelsea leaned her head to the side, "'They'?"
"Terry and Max."
Chelsea froze. She swallowed nervously. "Oh. Uh… um…"
"Please," Dana begged. "I… just wanna know. Are… they happy?"
Despite knowing this subject would come up eventually, Chelsea wanted to deflect this conversation so badly. But she couldn't help it. The look on Dana's face compelled Chelsea to answer. She let out a resigned exhale. "Yeah. Yeah, Dana, they're… they're happy."
"Happier… than he was… with me?"
"Dana!"
"Please?"
Chelsea exhaled, "Why are you making me answer this?"
"I just…" Dana exhaled. "I get… why it happened. Why they… happened. I… honestly thought she had a thing for him back in high school. And vice versa."
Chelsea opened her mouth then exhaled, "I… can't confirm whether they did or didn't. Because… I honestly don't know if they did then."
"I don't even think they knew for sure." Dana folded her arms, leaning forward and resting her elbows on the table. "I used to have a fear… in the back in my mind that they… hooked up while me and Terry were together."
"That never happened!" Chelsea reassured, immediately.
"I know, I know. I know them better than that. I mean… just… felt like they had it easier… they could realize how they felt about each other… once I wasn't there."
Chelsea stared at Dana, having no idea how to respond to that.
"They date long before…" Dana stopped. "…ya know… getting engaged?"
"Dana…"
"Okay, okay. But… how long did it take them to finally even get together?"
"A while. Wasn't until, like… I think it was junior year of college? They fought it as long as they could." Chelsea shrugged. "Partially… because… they never wanted to hurt you."
Dana paused. "What?"
"Yeah. Max told me later. Individually, they were worried how'd you react. They… didn't want you to think that what you were worried about had ever happened. Ya know, that they were a thing before you and Terry ended things. Again, that never happened!"
Dana sat back. "All this time… and they were still worried about me?"
"You're not a bad person, Dana," Chelsea declared. "And it's not like you and Terry had some bad break-up. You just… didn't work out. He doesn't hate you, neither does Max."
Dana sat back, feeling tears coming to her eyes. She let out a quick giggle. "Here I thought… they didn't even think about me anymore."
"You were Max's friend. Terry's friend before you guys were official. They don't abandon people like that. You know that."
"I know. I… just lied to myself. To make myself feel better, I guess." Dana looked out of the window. "Maybe… one day I can see them."
"Maybe."
Dana looked back at Chelsea. "But you didn't answer me. Is Terry happier than he was with me?"
Chelsea exhaled, "Dana. You have to know the answer to that. They're married."
Dana nodded, "Yeah. Y-yeah, I knew. Tell me the truth about something else."
"Please, don't ask whatever you're about to ask."
"Sorry." Dana stopped. "Do you think… at any point… Terry and I could've made it in the long run?"
Chelsea sat back, studying Dana for a while. She shrugged, "Yeah. Maybe."
Dana looked down, sadly.
"But… and here comes the harsh truth… you didn't. And, honestly… with how Terry and Max are now… I'm… kinda glad you guys didn't."
Dana looked down, sorrowfully.
"Dana, you gotta see it from my perspective," Chelsea said, desperately. "They're so… in sync now. They… have so much… I don't know how to explain it."
"They just work."
Chelsea sighed. "Yeah. And it's great to see. They're, like… it makes me believe that the whole marriage thing is actually worth it because they make it work. They don't… go around singing Disney songs but… they're happy. Like you said, they just work."
"I knew they would," Dana admitted. "I knew if they ever got together… they would just… work. I guess it's one more reason why it was so easy to break up with him. I knew… eventually… he would be fine."
Chelsea then cautiously asked a crucial question, "You don't… want Terry back… do you?"
"No, no," Dana said, immediately but softly. "It's not that at all! I'd never, ever do that to either of them."
Chelsea let out an alleviated exhaled, "I have to admit I'm relieved."
"I understand. No, I… I broke up with Terry at the right time for the right reasons and I'm happy for him. Just… damn, he's so happy! I knew it before I even asked you. I saw the wedding pictures everyone posted. Just… the smile on his face! And, of course, he should be. Who's more awesome than Max?" Dana looked away. "She's… every guy's dream."
"Dana…" Chelsea said, concernedly.
"And… Max's face. The look in her eyes. I… I don't know if I ever looked at Terry like she does. Or him at me. Just… the smiles… how in love they are."
"Dana. You're doing this to yourself, you have to know that! It's not like you and Terry weren't actually in love or anything. It just didn't work out! And it's not like you were in Terry and Max's way or anything. This is just life."
"I know…" Dana exhaled. "I just… I see how happy they are and… I guess I regret it 'cause I don't… have that… yet. But 'regret' isn't the right word. I guess…" She winced. "I'm… actually… kinda… very… jealous."
Chelsea scoffed but smiled a bit.
"Is that bad?"
"Are you kidding? I don't even want Terry and I'm jealous!" Chelsea exhaled. "Max's face when she walked down the aisle. How they looked at each other… God! What I wouldn't give to find someone to look at me like that!" She looked Dana over, "I really do get how you feel. But the best part is you're not getting carried away with it and don't let yourself. Terry and Max are the same schway people they were when they were in high school. I can attest to that. And, at no point, do they hate or even remotely dislike you, Dana. They just… don't want you to think they're pressuring you into talking to them or anything. And you don't have to. At all. I think you should, but that's not my call. Seriously, you don't have to. Do what's best for you. But… remember who they are. And who you are."
Dana smiled at her. "Why are you so wise, Chelsea?"
Chelsea smiled back. "I just love my friends and want them to be okay."
"You are such an MVP."
"I do my best."
"I'm really glad you stayed in all of our lives, Chels," Dana declared.
"Wouldn't have it any other way," Chelsea replied. "Look, I get it's hard for you… but one day… you really need to talk to them."
Dana considered that and nodded. "Yeah. I will." She looked at the city again. "One day…"
A/N: The ending is kind of inspired by the song "One Day" by MONSTA X. They are a really good group. I'm a huge music fan and K-Pop is one of my favorite genres. So, Chelsea has Dana's mind considering things. Will there be a resolution? Well, check out part 3... right now!
