The bubble gum pink color of the carrier sling Serena had Sariah tucked into tightly hiding her whole little body from the outside world was turning a darker shade then it had been to begin with as the cool fast rain drops clattered down from the sky like the tears Serena had shed over first letting Dan go. Every time the explosions from the thunder and cracks of lightning accompanied the rain her twelve pound four month old squirmed and let out an even worse shriek. Twelve o'clock at night and Sari had been screaming for over an hour, but for Serena she felt like it'd been days without end. Serena couldn't take it anymore, she couldn't take the sound that she couldn't do anything to help. She wouldn't nurse, she refused to take the pacifier, she didn't need a diaper change, Serena didn't know what else she could possibly do. Without reason and without thinking she'd picked up the Chanel diaper bag, put Sari in her sling and rushed out into the storm to find a cab. That's how she'd gotten to Brooklyn to stand outside of the building of the Humphrey loft and look up debating her next move.

"Come on bug, please stop"

Serena's tired warn out voice nearly begged as she rocked the baby back and forth and stood back looking up at the building. Why she was there she wasn't sure, she'd gotten in the cab and did the talking without thinking. Serena was exhausted, she couldn't remember the last time she'd actually slept, the actual answer to that had been since the day she took the pregnancy test, that was the end of sleeping. Rather then actually complying with the young mother's wishes Sariah let out another blood curdling scream making Serena winced and walked an inch closer to the building and put her hand out to press the buzzer. She would have pushed it in if a sudden cluttering down the stairs and the swing and crash of the door slamming behind said person didn't make her drop and turn to face them. That's when Emerald eyes met warn chocolate brown.

"Dan"

Her voice didn't mask her exhaustion as they stood just looking at each other while their daughter screamed between them.

"Serena, what are you do…"

Cut off in sentence and in thought he was taken back as Serena rushed into him throwing her arms around his neck and clinging as close to his body as she could with their child between them. He couldn't decide where to look, at the mother of his child, or the baby that was completely shaded by the fabric of the sling.

"Come on, I'm not letting the two of you catch a cold. It's not safe weather to be outside in."

Dan whispered in her ear as she was that close to him and she allowed him to pull her into another brief hug, one hand on the top of her back and one on the small of her back as Sari was cuddled close between the both of them. She'd only stopped crying for that slight moment until Dan pulled away and led them into the building's safety. Serena hadn't even noticed his hand locked in hers tightly as though if he loosened his grip she'd leave. Rufus and Jenny must have already been asleep because the loft was dark and quiet all but the sound of Sari's whimpering.

"I can't… I can't get her to stop crying"

Serena said as she struggled to get the still small infant out of where she lay. That's when Dan's eyes fell upon the child he hadn't seen up close since she was sixteen weeks old. The photos Gossip Girl had snagged and posted hadn't served any justice to the little princess. Her eyes were clenched shut as she screamed but her fair blonde hair was curled and tangled with sweat. Her little fingers were curled into fists as Dan's eyes so tightly held gaze on how innocent and delicate both Serena and his daughter looked as Serena held tightly to her and rocked back and forth trying to comfort her.

"Do you want to… take her?"

Asking cautiously Serena held out the infant to him, when she looked at his eyes she suddenly saw the warn image in them turn light and brighter. Serena's heart was racing as she held his gaze for only a moment as he quickly took her up on her offer and slipped Sariah out of her arms.

It only took a moment for the little tears and cries to completely stop as Serena watched Dan walk back and forth with his daughter snuggly cuddled in his arms. She felt like she could finally breath like she hadn't in weeks. With her eyes still glued to them she laid down on the Humphrey couch where she could hear him quietly talking to their daughter.

"What did I tell you about giving your mommy trouble precious?"

Dan's strong and warm voice asked so full of hope and comfort as he looked down at his daughter. She'd doubled in size from the first and last time he'd held her, her three pound body had now gotten to around seven pounds. She was still tiny but she looked and felt so much more real now. With her nestled in his right arm his left hand traced the side of her face as he leaned forward just enough to kiss her forehead. That was when her tiny eyes popped open, the tiny coffee brown eyes with emerald and gold flecks. They'd changed completely from the dark blue they'd possessed but that had been a given that they would, he just never expected the shade of them to be the perfect combination like they were.

"It's ok Sari, Daddy's here now, Daddy's got you."

Dan started to murmur as Sariah's little hand suddenly reached for his finger and gripped it tightly. Everything about it made him smile, he couldn't help it. Both of his girls were suddenly with him, there was no better place for him. Looking back at Serena he could see the tears that were so suddenly slipping down her face as she watched the two of them.

"Do you have any idea how long I've waited for this bug? That's what mommy calls you isn't it? Well then I think that should say don't you? You're mommy and daddy's little bug. Yes you are, and your Daddy's perfect miracle also. Want to know why? Because you give daddy a reason to always see mommy. I thank you very much for that. I love seeing yours and your mommy's beautiful faces, because I love the both of you so much. Yes I do."

Tracing his steps back to the couch with the still completely mesmerized baby in his arms he took a seat on the couch beside Serena. Everything was completely silent as she leaned closer to him and put her head on his shoulder and looked at their little girl, Serena's hand making its way to pull back the light pink blanket Sariah had been wrapped in. Dan had to look away right after she did so just to keep his composure held tight, the Bonpoint onesie held in perfect cursive the words Daddy's Princess. There was no doubt in the fact that the statement was very true.

Feeling how soaked Serena's clothes were as she leaned against him, how wet she was from the rain was soaking to his shirt. He could also see how tired and drained she looked. Dan leaned down close to her ear and whispered to her.

"Serena, go take a bubble bath. Clear your head, Sariah and I are fine. You seem like you need to relax and unwind. You know where everything is, just go make your self comfortable. Do it for her and I ok?"

Serena's eyes lingered their baby for a moment before lifting her head off of his shoulder and nodded her head. She got up slowly not looking at them, he could tell there were tears still tracking down her face as she stood there. Then when she trued and actually looked at them he could see the tears, accompanied with the first real smile he'd seen in ages. Dan held Sariah up then in the position he could hold her little hand and make pretend she was waving to her mommy.