When he entered the bridal salon, he expected a great squash in the doorway, the brides rushing in pell-mell, families assembled near one of those tremendous mirrors, waiting to see the dress, staff everywhere mincingly smiling to their customers even though it was evident that they hated brides who couldn't make up their mind for hours.

This is Upper East Side, people, women, especially when it's about their wedding day were most definitely not a piece of cake.

But when Dan actually looked around, it felt surprisingly serene.

He mildly smiled at the approach of a younger woman who was smiling politely.

"Can I help you sir?" she asked in the same manner.

"Yes, um, actually I came here to see...Blair Waldorf?"

The woman was visibly taken aback by what he just said, or just plain unprepared for this moment. Suddenly, everything was a lot more clear.

"Mr Grimaldi! God it's such a pleasure meeting you! Oh my God. I..." she winked at him stopping for a second. "I'm know it's none of my bussines but what about tradition? You can't see the bride befor..."

Contemplating her now like that, she acted like one of those soap opera characters, or hopeless romantics in romantic-comedies.

Dan almost expected this girl to ask if he has some friends or relatives to "bond" her with. Yes, he'd expect her to be THAT delusional. And all that came so sudden, for someone who seemed very calm and sedate at first.

"No, wait." he said articulating very carefully. "I'm not her...fiancee. Tell her that Dan Humphrey came to visit." he proclaimed sharply.

After few seconds in silence, she soon started to ramble on.

"Oh...pardon. Well I knew there was something wrong about that hair.." she slightly chuckled.

She coughed. "I mean, if you don't mind me saying, you know, I expected Prince Louis to be a little..." she said as she was trying to carefully choose the words thinking how to put this. "less hippie, and more...classy" she ended after she turned completely serious and professional. Realizing what she just said she apologized, red-faced and muttering :

"That was very unprofessional, I'm really sorry. Of course, make yourself comfortable, I'll be there in a minute."

"I don't like to be kept waiting." he furrowed a brow trying to act harsh.

"Can't mess with the Muppet hair." he added dryly even though she was already gone.

Somehow, despite her behavior Dan managed to find her likeable in a way. She was a lot less "stiff" from what he expected. And he really hates snobs.

So he did what she ordered, and sat on one pinkish sofa in the corner.

This place reminded him of spa-center. The atmosphere was so relaxing, and feeling the pleasent smell, a mixture of vanilla, champagne and roses made him sleepy and somehow bewitched.

He could swore he also heard classical music somewhere in back.

Just when he closed his eyes ready to fall asleep a woman called :

"Mr..Humphrey, she's ready." she announced sheepishly.

What does that mean, she's ready? She can't be in her wedding dress, can sh...

Of course she's in her wedding gown you idiot.

He stood up and followed the petite lady.

xxx

"It was about time Humphrey!" she shot him a cross look. "Where were you?"

He had no idea what she just said. He just stood there, feeling at his wits end, like a 8 year old child. His hands were shaking, he swallowed hard, and his pulse immidiately quickened, his sight still focussed on the ground.

He's in a great flutter.

Finally, he plucks up the courage and looks at her, straight in the eye, after what seemed like such a long period of time.

That was it.

That was the end.

Holly...

There was no words to describe how amazing she looked.

Blair was standing there, in front of the mirror, doing something he would mark as...calmly checking her image in a true Dictator-of-taste style, intenting not to miss any detail.

On the other hand, Dan simply stood there in enthralment. As if his mind suddenly shut. He was speechless. Her so simple, yet so wonderful dress that suited her perfectly. With no make up on, her hair freely falling on her shoulders.

She turned around slightly more nervous then before, somehow finding the grit to ask :

"So, what do you think?" she voiced trying to sound casually but could swore she felt the strange heaviness after saying each word. "..about the dress." she shot him a coy grin.

He gulped.

She half-smiles at his slack-jawed surprise.

"I...Blair...you..." he tried still astonished.

He can do this.

"I..."

He was very well aware that the more time he spent rambling the more his ...(man was it a crush?) ..(or was it...was it by any case LOVE) or whatever he felt in that moment was showing.

Yet he couldn't. He just couldn't.

So he just kept his mouth shut, his sight now focused on her, on her figure, her smile. Flawless aspect, every part of her bare, porcelain skin made him get a shivery feeling, just like her facial expression made him teary-eyed. Everything was plain beautiful, but hurt so much at the same time. The same thoughts, same old questions passing through his head again.

Is she happy?

Blair was now in anticipation. She moved closer nervously adding :

"What...? I know it's not the nicest version, but when we add..the bouquet of peonies, and, of course, make-up, and fix the hair It'll..."

When he felt her insecurity about this, that gave him courage to finally start talking. He made a step forward saying this in a clear tone, even though each part of his body was still trembling under impression. Especially when he became aware of how close to each other they stood right now.

"You look perfect." he beamed

"Dan..."

"I.." he said in a whispering voice.

They were so close now that he could almost feel her breath, the smell of her perfume, her hair, and he couldn't go through this again. Her eyes lingered around his mouth and his neck.

No. Not again.

This was the reason she had been avoiding to read his book for so long. What feared her the most.

He carresed her shoulder and Blair found herself slightly jolted by the sudden gesture.

She closes her eyes for a second, just like she's living a dream. And just for a moment she wishes they're in the world where no one else matters, only the two of them.

Blair has been through all this before.

That's when something like a flashback suddenly hit her.

*flashback*

*Blair's head*

"But just so you're secure in that knowlege...what did you have in mind"

"It meant nothing...less than nothing,..right?" "Yeah, that's right."

"I'm not friends with Dan Humphrey."

"A friend of mine."

"Dan and I have a real connection."

...

could it be...

She remembers the Pink party. The "staged" moment they shared. It was staged, then again their lips touching felt so real. So right.

She closed her eyes then just like she did at this very moment, and everything comes back to her now.

She couldn't stand this preassure anymore. Somewhere, deep down she wanted to feel the same thing she felt that night when he came all the way from Brooklyn to see if there was something between them. She remembers that moment quite plainly.

He grabs her, they kiss and kiss so slowly and deep that her stomach clenches.

They are drinking each other with such a dedication, like they're working on something that must be done with promptness, but to gain nothing else but the sheer intimacy they're feeling now.

At that very moment, she knew.

She knows, and she will know.

But she decides to deny.

xxx

A/N : Hope you enjoyed this, I know you've been waiting for it and I hope it was up to your expectations. I have so many ideas after this chapter that I'm afraid I'll start living in the world of this fanfics. Previous chapters definitely need some polishing/serious refining but I decided to leave them like that for now, especially because I really respect and appreciate your reviews.

And hey, review! xoxo