I would like to first thank everyone that has taken some time to read my story, and secondly I would like to apologize for the delay in updating a new chapter.

So the chapter is now finished!

Hope you enjoy.

Blair's day had been very ordinary. She was awake by the clasp of her son's body against her mattress, which had become a habit that would only take place when Chuck was gone. She lied flat on her stomach and covered her head with her pillow, trying to gain some more precious minutes of sleep. Her son moved smoothly to her side, and rested his head right below her arm pit; the warmth of the tiny body gave her a sense of peace, and she felt like she could drift into a heavy sleep again – she couldn't be more wrong. After a couple of minutes, Henry started to feel bored and began to move on the bed; that did the trick, Blair was awake. The smell of fresh brewed coffee and pastries reached her sensitive nostrils, and as she processed this new information, she started to feel more and more awake. The day then proceeded with normality: breakfast, work, meetings, quick lunch, meetings, headache, and home.

The only abnormal thing was that she was supposed to go to her best friend's penthouse that evening to discuss the plans for the coming birthday party of her son. She hoped that she wouldn't be graced with Humphrey's presence, even though she was most absolutely sure that her hopes were in vain. Serena had good intentions and she really could use the help, however she would never admit such; she just had to be gracious and try to ignore his unfortunate presence. Thinking about it, this must be the first time that only the three of them would "hang out". They would meet to party's that they had both been invited to, with their respective spouses; to dinners that would also entertain other people in their circle of friends; but never would they sit, just the three of them, to chat. Blair had the feeling that this evening would be plain awkward.

When the time was right, she put on a simple spotted black dress that she combined with a pair of black with red bottom Louboutin shoes. She tried to pull a summer casual look that would transpire peace of mind and tranquillity, even though she had none of these feelings inside. Dan Humphrey's presence would always be a constant reminder of a heartache that was long left in her past, but not entirely overcome. As she looked at herself in the mirror for the final approval of her outfit, she found herself breathing deeply as she tried to calm down her nerves.

This is ridiculous! If he has a touch of sensibility he will not enforce his presence to me.

She knew that her hopes were just a long shot, but that's the reason they call it hope. She left her penthouse with Henry; he would stay with his grandparents tonight, allowing her mother more time to plan his party and maybe, even to enjoy herself a little bit. The visit to Eleanor's was very quick and after saying goodbye to her son with two kisses, she was off to Serena and Dan's. Somehow and for some inexplicable reason, she felt nervous. Her heart was beating at an irregular pace, and she had butterflies in her stomach…and not the good kind; she couldn't feel at ease.

When the driver pulled over by her friend's building, she couldn't find the strength to open the door. She just stood inside the car and gazed at the front door with a feeling that something was about to happen, if it would be positive or not she couldn't put her finger around it, but deep inside she knew that something would change. The moment this thought was formed she felt like laughing at her own stupidity and ungrounded anxiety, but she couldn't pull herself to do it; instead she just sighted and pushed the door open.

The elevator ride passed in a blink of an eye as Blair was absorbed by her own thoughts. The machine stopped with a "ding" and the doors opened, giving her access to her friend's penthouse. She took in the black and white photography's of urban landscape that adorned the walls – Definitely Humphrey's idea! – And there he was, standing in the middle of the living room with a couple of books in hands. It had been a while since the last time she had seen him in his own apartment, there had always been some sort of excuse for them to avoid each other's presence in such a personal environment. If it was an invitation for coffee at Blair's Serena would come alone, more than aware of how unwanted her husband's presence would be; If it would be an invitation for a chat at Serena's, Dan would be out because of some random excuse. Blair was fully conscious that he wanted her out of his sight as much as she. But today there he was, in the middle of the living room. A warm feeling rushed through her body at the sight of him, mainly because there was something about how he dressed that reminded her of a long lost Dan – his Brooklyn self. Being at home for Dan meant being relaxed, being a little more of himself and not entirely a product of fashion, moulded by his wife. For that reason he would strip from the formalities of being a published author and husband to one of the hottest Manhattan socialites, to accommodate his new status to the person that he was. Over the years he had developed a taste for brands, that could not be denied, but he would refuse to allow himself to drawn in his class' standards of consumerism; his way of feeling at shore was to let himself disconnect from that world at home, and some occasional vacations. Blair took in the sight of him in a pair of jeans and a Ralph Lauren's Wool Crewneck black sweater that allowed her to see the shape of his abdomen at a whole different light.

She cleared her throat as she stepped out to make her presence noticed to him. Mission accomplished.

"Oh! Good evening Bass, I didn't see you there!" stated Dan without a hint of excitement in his voice.

"I just arrived", Blair lied "is Serena here?"

"Yeah, she is just finishing getting ready…she was away until a couple of minutes ago", Dan placed the books down and moved towards her, "here let me help you with those!" he said as he gestured towards her light jacket.

"Thank you!"

He walked away to hang her jacket somewhere and the whole house fell into silence. They had been cordial to one another, which was not at all common, but the act fell far from being sincere. Blair stood in the middle of the living room observing the pictures, in special one of Serena's and Dan's faces laughing very close together to what it seemed to be a self-taken picture. They looked so happy…so at ease…so in love, she felt a bitter pang in her chest – she had nothing like that with Chuck.

"B…you are here!" Serena shouted from the top of the stairs as she rushed down the steps to hold her in a tight embrace. She directed a genuine smile to her friend, "come…sit down and let's plan the best birthday party of the Upper East Side!"

Blair could only smile at her friend's enthusiasm. It was a relief that she didn't have to carry that extra task all alone for a change and, even though Blair would probably not admit it out loud, she was extremely grateful for her help.

"Have you seen Dan?"

"Yes, he went to hang my jacket somewhere"

"DAN!" Serena shouted gently to the emptiness.

"Wait…is he going to be part of this?" Blair asked her friend quizzically, truly dreading her answer.

"Of course…we need some male insight to prepare a boy´s birthday party!"

I was right to have a bad feeling about this!

Soon Dan joined them in the living room sitting in a relaxed manner, across the two friends. Serena started to explain her plans to both Blair and Dan, but only one of them listened. Blair studied his face carefully, not entirely sure as of why was his presence so enticing, and yet annoying to her. His eyes were glued on his wife with a caring expression only associated to those who are in love. A bitter, poisoning thought immediately crossed Blair's mind, Chuck hadn't looked at her like that for a very long time.

Dan hadn't changed much over the years. His features had aged slightly, completing the transformation of a boy to a man. The shadow beard that he had grown casted upon him a more serious, mysterious even, look.

As she studied his face and how the years had affected him, his eyes locked with hers. The brief seconds in which they held each other's gaze, seemed to have lasted a whole eternity. However what she saw in those eyes that were now directed to her was definitely not what she had seen before. They shifted from the loving stare that he was casting upon Serena, to a cold gaze filled with, what Blair could only describe as hate. She felt a knot tighten her throat and the unpleasant cold in her stomach returned. It was a well-known fact that they nurture pure dislike towards one another, but feeling his hate towards her had upset her more than she would have thought.

Who does he think he is to look at me in that way?

Serena talked and talked, but Blair had not paid attention to a single word from her monologue, even though her focus had now switched to her friends visage.

The rat should be more than thankful to God for having landed him a catch such as Serena. Oh, if only she was not in love with you…you would have the same fate of Francois-Marie Arouet, exiled for displeasing the royals – your presence suffices the penance!

"So…what do you think B?" Serena asked raising her eyebrows in expectation. In that moment, looking at her friend's expectant face, Blair felt remorse for not paying attention to what she had been saying. Obviously Serena had put quite a lot of thought into her son's coming party, and all Blair did was sit there stare at Dan and then wonder in her own inner rage.

"Sounds just…perfect!" Blair declared, hoping that she had not just agreed to a carnival of crudity. Serena's expression went from expectant to a bright smile of satisfaction.

"Well if I may," Dan said it turning his attention to Blair, as if he was asking for her permission which she conceded with a light bow of her head. Her expression was everything except encouraging; one of her eyebrows was slightly raised while her lips were pursed with a minor inclination to the side. Nevertheless Dan disregarded all the signs, "…I think it's a lovely idea, but isn't it a little bit too uptight for a little kid? I mean, he is only turning 6 after all and this sounds more like…a Blair pleaser than anything else!" Dan looked again at Blair with an expression that had nothing but disdain in it, "No offense!"

"None taken!" Blair spat.

"And what exactly do you suggest?" Serena asked.

"Something more…hmm…Henry! Something that he will actually enjoy, and have fun with. He does love horses, why don't we do something outside? It is summer after all!"

"And since when do you know the likes of my son?" Blair questioned with arrogance in her voice.

"Oh! Dan and Henry are buddies!" Serena explained with a smile "Whenever Henry stays over, or you ask us to pick him up from school…well Dan is the one who always fetches him." Serena looked lovingly at her husband, "It's actually cute to see them both chatting on the couch, while watching cartoons."

With that, Serena bent over the tea table to place a quick kiss on her husband's lips. Normally Blair would have turned her head away or protest at their display of affection, but right now she was frozen. Dan Humphrey was friends with her son and she had never noticed! The occasional phone calls to Serena with "please"…"take Henry"…"remember that time"…"I need some time alone with Chuck!" and "You are the best!" had led to an unlikely friendship between her friend's husband and her child. She could not believe that she had never realized any sort of camaraderie between them, had she been that blind by her dislike of him to ignore or even, reject any positive trait that he might possess? So many things flashed through her mind at an abnormal speed. She was simply stunned by this little revelation, as she always believed that Humphrey would dislike anything that she related to her.

He watches cartoons with my son…and, not even his father does that with him!

She had to bite her tongue, this man in front of her; a man that in the past had been her best friend and lover, a man that she had hated for the last years…might not be the villain that she imagined.