(A/N: Thank you for reviewing my story, I hope you guys have liked it so far? I have a little idea for the next chapter, it may be a little short but I hope you guys enjoy it anyway. Review and comment, please!)
Flashback: All of their POVs as they ponder over their loved ones and what Paris could do for them. Simplicity.
"At last, Paris!" Blair whirled around, beaming.
"Enjoy it while we're still in civilisation, Nate's getting the rental. We'll be in some weird place for two weeks, damn." Chuck groaned, mostly at Blair.
Serena was silent, taking in the air of Paris' airport. It was something different she felt, every time she stepped in here. Once it was hesitation, another was apprehension, the previous was happiness, and this time, it was excitement. She could not wait to go into the countryside, and enjoy life for simply being life. No more pretence, no more of the Upper East Side world, but just the nice, French countryside. She liked the serene feeling of the countryside, it made her feel so relieved, made her treasure what she had and cherish every moment.
It was the first time Dan felt like this. He felt a sense of relief, without Gossip Girl watching his and the other UES' every move. He could almost taste freedom, it was teasing, it was so special. And he would be spending two weeks with Serena, more than enough time for him to plan his proposal perfectly. All that was left was to find a spot, somewhere that would hold special memories for them in the years to come. The place had to be somewhere unassuming, somewhere that was quiet, but most importantly, it had to be somewhere she would love. That would be his mission for this week, at least.
Vanessa spun around in disbelief. She was in Paris. A haven. The electricity in the air just shot through her and the atmosphere was fabulous. However, she was looking forward to being in the countryside, where she would feel more at home, and there would be no one to judge them but nature, which would see them at their purest selves. It would be a fortnight of discovery, where she could perhaps finally see Nate as who he was, without him needing to put up a show for his reputation. She couldn't wait much longer.
"Alright, I've got the keys! Let's go! Who's driving first?"
"Nate, you'll take the first couple of hours, I'll take over after. Chuck and his back probably won't hold, and I don't trust Serena with the wheel, nor Vanessa. Blair?"
"No, no, Humphrey, there's no way I'm gonna fall for that. You two can take turns. Come on, guys, load the luggage already."
As the group saw the car, there was a great difference in expressions.
"Nate! You got a Hummer? Wonderful! Ah, and I was actually worrying about how I would survive this drive in a van!" Blair let out with a squeal, happily throwing her luggage at Chuck.
However, Vanessa looked disappointed. "I thought this was about going back to the basics. How is a Hummer a basic necessity, I fail to see your point." She sighed, and let Dan put her luggage on the Hummer.
Vanessa took the front seat next to Nate, as Serena, Dan, Chuck and Blair piled into the back, somewhat unwillingly. "Chuck, can you please move a little? It may be a Hummer but it's nowhere large enough if you take up the entire seat!" "Oh, come on. I know you want to sit right next to me, there's plenty of space here, eh?" Once again, it was Chuck Bass at his best, sly and silky with his words, but every single girl couldn't help but fall for it and Blair Waldorf was no different. Except that for her, Chuck really meant it. He couldn't help it, he was under her spell as much as she was under his. Odd as it may have seemed, but they were the unlikely lovey-dovey couple.
"Hey, there are a couple of drinks in here, need some alcohol to relax, Abrams?"Chuck teased, knocking the cap off a bottle of whisky. Vanessa turned round, and gave Chuck a glare that spoke her intentions perfectly. Dan nudged him, and shook his head as he grabbed a soda from the fridge as well as light alcohol for Serena. Ever since she had been with Dan, Serena had been trying really hard to get rid of her unsightly past, including her heavy alcohol habits. Blair was amazed that a guy was able to do that to her friend, when she had been trying for years to no avail. Perhaps, what she was witnessing, was the great power of love that many preached about.
Amidst the noise and the awkward patches of silence, Serena was thinking hard. She could sense that Nate had favourable feelings for Vanessa, but she wasn't quite sure. He was a gentleman, perhaps she had mistook his actions somehow? Dan, however, seemed preoccupied somehow, but still managed to do the part of the attentive boyfriend, letting her lie on his shoulder as he looked out of the tinted window, pondering. He had always been quite the dreamer, but this was different. He didn't usually have that glint in his eyes, they were normally dreamy, less focussed but softer. Today, it seemed like he almost had Chuck's eyes. The look in his eyes suggested that he had an idea, but Serena didn't know what. And it bothered her, but she didn't want to disturb Dan and fell asleep on his shoulder.
Blair was the usual, noisy and commanding Queen B, making snide remarks about how Dan was paying much attention to Serena. She shot him sharp glares, telling him that he had better make his move soon. To her surprise, Dan merely replied with a polite nod, but she saw that he had a purposeful look in him, and let it go at that. Dan Humphrey had better think of something good. I don't want to see S upset, I don't think I can take that again.
Dan was trying to form a poem in his mind, wanting to sweep Serena off her feet with romantic lines that he knew she never could resist. However, all he had was, "I don't want this to ever be over, would you be mine forever" and for him, that was nowhere near good enough. It sounded too ordinary, too artificial to be certified 'Daniel Humphrey' and therefore he needed more. He needed some inspiration. Perhaps the trees might give him that, as he watched the trees rush by as Nate drove through the path in the woods.
Chuck had a one track mind, he knew what he was here for, he needed Serena to realise that Dan was the one for her. As much as he might have disliked the Brooklyn dude, he knew that Nate couldn't be the one for Serena. He was too much like her, he couldn't rein her in like Dan did naturally. They fit like two pieces of a jigsaw, he was calm where she was wild, he was creative where she was dull. And they were perfect, made for each other. He was sure that Dan knew that, he saw it in his eyes. But in Serena's he saw nothing but pure confusion, and he knew that wasn't right. He had to do something. And he had a plan all though out.
Vanessa sat there quietly, observing Nate's intently focussed eyes, those sharp eyes of his matched his chiselled features perfectly, and she chided herself silently for falling for him like so many others. She knew that this time, she had fallen hard. She just hoped she had fallen for the right man.
(A/N: I'm sorry that this may not be what many of you have expected, but it was what I though of and perhaps you guys can comment and tell me what you want to read. I will be busier during the weekdays but I'll try to post at least one chapter every day! Thank you and your reviews mean a lot to me, especially since I realise there is a glaring lack of D/S fanfics since it seems like Dan and Serena can never be together anymore but oh well. D/S were the best there was. Thank you!)