The In-Between Years

Author's Note: Most of the chapters are not consecutive and represent random moments in the five-year jump. But the next few chapters will be covering a period of time in chronological order. I'm sorry if this is confusing for readers.

2016

Serena paced back and forth on the hardwood floor of the loft that she lived in with Dan. It had been nearly six months since she had graduated college. She was working as an intern for a prestigious event organizer. But, often she was running personal errands for her boss. She wasn't even allowed to sit in on meetings. She was waiting for Dan to come home and she nearly threw herself into his arms as soon as he walked into the door.

"Hey, love the greeting, but what's wrong."

"I hate my job. I need to do more. But, right now I need you."

Dan held her and rubbed her back as he whispered words of comfort in her ear. He hated to see her so upset. He had just come from a frustrating meeting with his editor, but this was not the time or place to talk about his problems. His girl needed him and they both needed to forget their problems for the night.

"I have an idea. Why don't we go out?"Dan suggested.

"I guess, but I'm not really in the mood to do anything."

"I was thinking we could go to your favourite trattoria and maybe share a bottle of wine. It doesn't have to be a big deal. I just think we both need to get out of this apartment and do something else," he said.

Dan noticed the look of glee at her suggestion. What he didn't know that he had other plans up his sleeves. He let her use the shower while he took the small black box out of briefcase and slipped it into his jacket pocket. He had wanted to propose for the past few years, but he wanted them to be settled first. But, after nearly four years together, he felt like the timing was finally right.

Dan laid the jacket on the bed as he showered. Serena went to sit on the bed and sat on his jacket and felt something poking her, so she got up and searched the jacket and found the ring box. Her face lit up and she put her the ring back where she had found it.

She rifled through her wardrobe until she found the perfect dress. It was a short gold sequined dress. If she knew Dan, he was planning to take her somewhere more upscale than what he had just mentioned. He loved to go all out even if she didn't really care where he took her as long as they were together.

Dan got dressed quickly as she finished up her hair and make up and they both looked stunning as they left to hit the town. He had booked the restaurant for the night, so they would be the only ones there.

Serena was pleasantly surprised when he took her to the Trattoria he had mentioned earlier. The food was amazing and by the time they served dessert Dan had yet to propose.

"I was thinking we could go for a walk before heading home."

The two of them strolled hand in hand and Serena was beginning to get uneasy wondering when he was finally going to propose. She thought he would do it at the restaurant, but he hadn't even broached the subject yet.

They were standing on familiar cobblestone streets when Dan said, "do you remember this spot?"

Serena smiled and said, "of course I do. It's where you finally got the nerve to kiss me so many years ago. The night Jenny and Blair broke my brother out of Ostroff."

"We've certainly come a long way since that fateful night, but I've never stopped feeling the way I did that night,"Dan said as he dropped to one knee. He opened the ring box and said, "Serena Celia van der Woodsen I've loved you since I was thirteen years old and I won't stop until I leave this life. So, will you do this fool a favour and marry me?"

Serena had tears coming from her eyes and she pulled him up off the floor and wrapped herself up in his arms.

"So, that's a yes?"Dan said.

Serena shook her head and laughed, "of course it's a yes, you fool." He slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her on the cobblestone streets where they'd had their first kiss.