Chapter 15-
True to her word, Georgina contacts Dan a week later. Just a simple text.
I need you to somehow get Chuck Bass back in New York.
Oh and how do you suppose I do that Georgina? It's not like we're friends.
Not my problem Dan.
But he doesn't have to worry, because Chuck does come back to New York. Serena decides a visit to New York with Darren in tow is in order, much to the chagrin of her mother. Lily calls Chuck and asks him to come back for an impromptu reunion.
He flies in the day before Serena does.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Blair walks into the Van Der Woodsen-Humphrey penthouse.
"B!" Serena exclaims as she rushes towards Blair with her arms outstretched.
Serena pulls Blair into a tight embrace.
"Good God S! Have you been taking lessons from Cyrus on how to suffocate people with hugs?!" Blair exclaims.
Dan walks in behind Blair with Paul in his arms.
Serena takes Paul from Dan's arms.
"I've missed you so much!"
Paul turns his face away shyly as Serena starts to smatter his head with kisses.
"Hey Serena" Dan says as he gives her a quick hug.
"Hey Dan! I'm so glad you guys could make it! You have to meet Darren!"
"Can't wait for the fireworks tonight" Dan says with a sideways smile.
"Honestly Daniel, I have no idea what you mean." Lily says as she comes up to Daniel pressing a small kiss to his cheek.
"Mom, you promised…." Serena starts.
"And I promise you have nothing to worry about." Lily says to her daughter patronizingly.
"So where is he?" Blair asks.
"He's flying in with Eric. They're flight should land soon." Serena says.
"Blair…." Blair turns around to see Chuck.
Chuck steps to her and takes her in a tight embrace.
Dan can't help but feel a little uncomfortable, but decides to take advantage of this tender moment and pulls Serena aside.
"Serena, I need your help" he says softly.
Serena looks at him with a sly grin, "She prefers Louboutins over Manolos and I don't think that hug means anything so you don't have anything to worry about. You're welcome." She says nodding her head towards Blair.
"No, no Serena, this is serious…. It's Georgina." Dan whispers.
Serena's grin vanishes. "Tell me everything"
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
After Dan tells Serena she agrees to help him.
Darren and Eric arrive about 10 minutes after Serena has agreed to help Dan with his Georgina problem.
Serena introduces Darren to everyone and he joins Serena on the couch.
Dan walks up to a window and crosses his arms as he studies the Manhattan skyline.
He's replaying his conversation with Serena in his head.
"How could you write that Dan?"
"I dunno, I was angry! I never meant for it to be published or for anyone to read it, it was more for me, to get all my anger out."
"How badly did you portray Blair?"
"I talked about everything she's done. All her insecurities, her eating disorder, that she wanted to be a powerful woman but it would never be realized because she relied on men to validate her, that the Blair Waldorfs of the world would always end up with the Chuck Basses of the world because they were cut from the same cloth and with them, familiarity would breed understanding which could be compensated for love… it's not a pretty picture Serena, really it isn't, I'm not kidding when I say I don't know if she will forgive me for this."
Serena nibbles on her lower lip, pensive.
"If we're going to do this Dan, we need to make sure we destroy Georgina. I mean it, I can't have her popping into Blair and Paul's life anymore, threatening to obliterate the happiness she's worked so hard to build for them."
"What do you recommend Serena?"
"We need someone who schemes naturally-"
"I've already told you, we can't involve Blair in this Serena!" Dan reminds her.
Serena rolls her eyes, "Chuck, Dan. I'm talking about Chuck."
"No, no… I don't want to involve him in this either."
"Like it or not Dan, Chuck is involved in this regardless if he helps us or not. You and I are not equipped to handle Georgina by ourselves. It's scary enough doing it behind Blair's back, so if we could enlist Chuck all it would do is help our cause, you know I'm right Dan."
Dan sighs and gives her a small nod in defeat. She's right after all, without Blair the only person they can rely on to effectively tackle Georgina is Chuck.
"So… You're living with Blair now huh?" Eric says as he comes up to Dan and watches the same skyline as Dan.
Dan doesn't look at him, "And Paul… I live with Blair and Paul. Really he's the whole reason we share the same address."
"Well that goes without saying." Eric says snickering.
Dan looks at Eric out of the side of his eye. "What? What are you getting at?"
Eric smiles and takes a sip of the champagne that's in his hand, "Nothing" Eric says as he swallows, "Nothing Dan, though I keep thinking next you'll be telling me she smells nice." Eric says smiling into his glass.
Dan turns around and watches Blair and Darren talking as they set the dinner table.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Dinner was amazing. Everyone is enamored by Darren, even Chuck. Rufus is just happy that Serena has found someone who can make her happy and ground her.
There were a few hairy moments when Blair was away and they would find Serena in some hotel room with white powder around her nostrils, incoherent and angry, some guy sheepishly ducking out the doorway.
Even Lily comes around.
Blair leaves that night carrying a sleeping Paul. Dan follows behind her, his hands full with left overs.
During the car ride back to the Upper West Side Blair looks over at Dan, "So what are you going to do? The great love of your life seems to be moving on. He seems like the real deal." She tries to sound like she's teasing him but it almost sounds bitter.
Dan continues to look out the window and watch as the rain hitting the window blurs the lights of New York, "I'm happy for her" he says softly.
They don't say a word to each other during the rest of the ride.
It's only after Paul has been put to bed and Blair is walking towards her room does Dan finally break the silence between them.
"She's not, you know." Dan says, keeping his back towards Blair.
Blair stops in her tracks.
Dan looks over his shoulder, "The great love of my life, she's not. She hasn't been for a while. There was someone else…. But that girl-"
Blair looks over at him with her eyes wide.
Dan stops. He shakes his head and turns and walks up the stairs and heads to his room and slams the door.
It's only after Blair hears the door slam does she take a shaky step towards her bedroom.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Chuck slides into the booth next to Serena. Dan looks across the table, still not sure if this is a good idea.
"Are you sure you want to do this Chuck?" Dan asks cautiously.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence Humphrey, I suppose you don't remember how Blair used to always ask for my help when during her schemes, I'm born for moments like this." Chuck purrs into his glass of scotch.
"Nothing personal Chuck, I just don't want to owe you anything." Dan responds.
"What makes you think I want anything from you?" Chuck sneers.
"There's always a catch with your Chuck." Dan retorts.
"Not this time. I'm just as eager to get rid of the crazy bitch as you are Hum-Drum. Especially when her crazy involves me." Chuck says smiling.
"Okay what do you suggest?" Dan asks.
Chuck sits back and grins, "Well, obviously it's not enough to get her to leave your book alone, so… let's brainstorm. What are Georgina's traits we can use against her?"i
"Well, she's crazy." Serena throws out there.
"And she's broke" Dan adds.
"She's also a mom… we could use her kid against her." Chuck throws out there.
Dan looks at Chuck firmly, "No. I won't use Milo against her. I couldn't do that to her, but most of all, I can't do that to him." Dan finishes remembering Milo and how he used to fall asleep on his chest. Dan can feel the familiar ache start to build in his stomach as he thinks of Milo.
Chuck takes a swig of his glass again, "The high road eh Humphrey? I'll give it a try, but I'm just throwing Milo out there as an option, in case nothing works out. I'm not exactly crazy about the idea either, but I can't have Georgina constantly within Blair's orbit. You might have to choose Humphrey, either your fake son or your real son, just letting you know now."
Dan leans back and looks at Serena. The way that Serena refuses to meet his gaze tells him that she agrees with Chuck. At least she has the decency to feel guilty about it.
"I should have known. This isn't going to work Serena" Dan says as he gets up from the booth. "I knew it was a bad idea asking Chuck. I can't and won't do that to Milo"
Serena grabs Dan's hand. "Please Dan, stay."
Dan wrenches his hand out of her grasp, "No! I won't do that. I'd rather her read it and spend the rest of my life making it up to her and Paul than do that. It would hurt, but at least I would still be able to look at myself in the mirror."
"Well, I suppose Blair and Paul will sleep well knowing that you though it was important that you ensure Milo's happiness rather than your own son's."
"Fuck you Chuck." Dan says curling his hand into a fist.
"Mmmmm, your language reflects your social standing Humphrey" Chuck says smirking.
"Chuck! Dan! Stop!" Serena exclaims bringing the attention of the café. She lowers her voice, "Dan sit! You asked for my help and this is my help! I don't want to hurt Milo, you know that, so we just have to make sure that whatever plan WE" she says emphasizing 'we', "put together is so good that it doesn't have to come to that, but like it our not Dan, if we destroy Georgina it's going to affect Milo."
Dan stands at the table, hands in a fist, jaw ticking. Finally he slides back into the booth, staring at the man who had been on the receiving end of so many of Dan's fist.
"Okay, so, we have she's crazy, she's broke, what else?" Serena says trying to get the conversation going again.
"You tell us Serena" Chuck purrs while focusing on the ice in his class.
"She likes cocaine." Serena offers.
"She's afraid of her parents?" Dan offers as well.
"Her parents?! Been there done that Humphrey, I forget how amateur you are at this. Really, using Blair's old tactics from years ago, no wonder you enlisted me." Chuck sneers at him.
"I'm going to take that as a compliment Chuck." Dan says sarcastically. "What do you suggest then?"
"Well, I paid someone to look into the sealed documents of her divorce with Phillip." Chuck says as he inhales the scent of the glass of scotch he fondles in his hand, "Phillip really wanted custody of Milo and he had a great case to get him, however, Georgina managed to get a very good lawyer who made sure she got custody. You know, children need their mother or something." Chuck says as he takes a sip.
"Or else they end up like you?" Serena says poking Chuck in the ribs.
"I wasn't going to say that or go that far, but sure why not? Anyhow, of course the judge being aware of how batshit crazy Georgina is made a caveat on the custody agreement. She can continue to have primary custody of Milo as long as she proves herself clean from all of her past recreational activities." Chuck says.
"So what are you saying?" Dan asks not sure if he likes where this is heading.
"Well, like Serena says, she loves coke. I'm throwing a party at the Empire, you know she won't be able to resist and she'll crash it. I can make sure of some illegal activity and cocaine at the party and will make sure she sees it. She won't be able to resist. Someone gets a photo of her doing a line and-"
"I already told you, I won't hurt Milo and taking his mother away from him…" Dan starts.
"Let me finish Humphrey. Jeopardy." Chuck ends slyly.
"Jeopardy?" Serena asks confused?
"Yes. We will have incriminating evidence of her breaking her custody agreement. Use it against her." Chuck ends.
"You mean blackmail?" Dan asks.
"If that's what you want to call it. But it's a way to use Milo against her and not hurt him. Because as crazy as she is, she does love him and is terrified of losing him. She'll fall to our demands. I'm sure of it." Chuck adds proud of himself.
Serena and Dan sit back thinking about it.
"It's good." Serena admits.
Chuck looks up to Dan. Dan just sits back not sure.
"It's good." Serena reiterates. "You're right, faced with the idea of losing Milo, she will cave and it's something we can hold over her head forever. And unless she breaks our agreement, Milo will never get hurt. It's brilliant Chuck!" Serena exclaims.
"Well, I was Blair's epic love, it's only natural I should be able to come up with something like this."
Dan can't help but feel as if that is an insult directed towards him.
Serena looks over at Dan.
"Okay" Dan finally says. "Okay, we go along with it, if she refuses, we have to come up with something else, a back up, okay? I won't be responsible for Milo being torn away from her."
Chucks phone starts to ring. Chuck looks down at it and Dan watches as Chucks eyes light up.
"It's Raina, well I came up with the main plan, I'll let you two think up a plan B." Chuck gathers himself and presses a small kiss to Serena's cheek.
Dan watches as Chuck presses the phone to his ear and exits the café smiling.
Serena turns back to Dan giving him a knowing smile.
"I told you he'd help us."
"I know" Dan says chewing the inside of his cheek. "I just can't help but think this might blow up in my face."
"You know Chuck isn't trying to sabotage this. He has no reason to-"
"No reason to? It concerns Blair, Serena! Of course he has every reason to let me hang on this!" Dan reminds her.
Serena smiles at him, "No, I don't think so. Didn't you see the way his eyes lit up when he saw Raina was calling him? He may always love Blair, but right now I think he's in love with Raina….. He's happy." Serena says biting her lip. "He's happy…"
Dan looks at her nodding and pays for Chuck's scotch.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Blair is sitting at the dining table sipping coffee as Dan reads the newspaper.
She looks out the window wistfully, "You know, I always loved Fall the best. It's coming, I can feel it." She says smiling.
Dan looks over at her with a grin, "Oh? Blair Waldorf is in tune with the weather?"
"No, not the weather, just fall." Blair says sipping from her coffee.
"Well, I suppose Chuck Bass's party to send off summer at the Empire is well timed, seeing as to how you can tell it's days are waning." Dan teases.
"Oh, Chuck's party! I need to go find a dress! Dan, can you make sure Paul makes it to school today and then drop him off at my mother's after school?" Blair asks.
"Sure, what should I pack up for his stay at Eleanor's?" Dan asks.
"Not to worry Humphrey, I'll have Dorota pack his weekend bag. He'll be back Sunday. Anyways, I know that if I let you pack for him he'd look like a lumberjack. My child just can't do flannel." Blair says condescendingly.
Dan chuckles as he gets up, "I'll go get him ready right now. You enjoy your cup of coffee and then have fun shopping. I do hope I can find a nice plaid cummerbund for tonight's soiree."
Blair rises giving him a knowing smile. "You're only saying that to get me angry, and fighting with you is beneath me. Fighting with you is beneath me, fighting with you is beneath me" she says as he walks away.
She's about to go put her cup into the kitchen when Dan's phone chimes informing there is a text message.
Blair is about to call after Dan and let him know he left his phone on the dining table when she realizes Georgina is the sender with an odd text.
Make sure he's there tonight. If not Humphrey it will be your head!
Blair feels annoyed. What the hell is Georgina doing texting Dan Humphrey? So Blair goes into Dan's phone, his passcode was way too easy, really 0-0-0-0? Please, it's like Humphrey wants her to snoop.
She doesn't get much from the prior messages. Just that Georgina is scheming and she's threatening Dan.
Blair won't have it.
Blair hums a tune as she gets ready for the day. A shopping spree, a party, and confronting Gerogina. It's like life is a little back to normal for Blair.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Dan and Blair do not see each other all day and show up to the party separately.
When Blair arrives she's intrigued. Dan and Chuck are talking in hushed tones in a corner. Since when have they been friends? She watches as Serena comes up to them and joins in on the conversation.
Blair's attention is momentarily diverted as she watches Georgina come in. Blair can't help but snort into her champagne flute.
Georgina looks on at Blair and nods her head at her and flashes a sly grin.
It irritates Blair and she finds herself searching for Dan, Chuck, and Serena again.
Unfortunately, they've finished whatever conversation they've been having and have scattered into the party.
Darren comes up behind Blair.
"Blair, have you seen Serena?"
Blair turns to him, "She was just in that corner talking to Chuck and Dan, but I can't seem to find them now. Have you tried texting her?"
Darren chuckles, "I suppose it really shows my age, I'm still not too savvy with texting."
Blair looks up to him and smiles warmly. She really likes him.
They both head to the bar together as he texts Serena.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Eventually Dan finds Blair.
"You look beautiful Blair" Dan says, pressing a kiss to her cheek.
"Happy to see there is no plaid in your outfit" Blair says, looking him over and nodding satisfied.
Chuck and Serena join them.
"Dan, we need to talk to you." Chuck says to Dan softly.
Dan looks at him and nods.
"Okay! What the hell is going on? Why are you two talking to each other? And Serena? What could you have to do with them?" Blair asks incredulously.
"I can't tell you Blair, but believe me, it's important." Chuck says.
Blair watches as Serena and Dan follow Georgina with their eyes.
"Something's up. And don't think you can lie to me, I know Georgina is attempting to blackmail you Humphrey, which I'm guessing you've turned to Chuck and Serena." Blair turns to Chuck and Serena, "No offense, but really Humphrey, if you had turned to me you wouldn't need those two to take down Humphrey, I can't help but be offended-"
"Dan, it's now or never." Serena says.
Dan nods to her and he follows Chuck and Serena as they walk towards Georgina.
Blair can't help but feel flustered. She marches after them.
She comes up to them as Georgina is looking over a phone with her eyes wide.
She looks at Dan, "You wouldn't!"
Dan doesn't meet her eyes and looks at the floor.
Chuck speaks up, "Oh but I would. Really Georgina, did you think you could mess with Humphrey and me and get away with it? You're out numbered and out of your element. I'm embarrassed for you."
Georgina notices Blair listening and a grin spreads across her face.
"Blair! I'm guessing they kept you out of this! Great! I'm so happy you're here. Now I can update you on what happened."
Dan turns around with an alarmed look on his face as he sees Blair.
"You must be so proud. They've managed a take down without you!" Georgina says shakily, "Though you must wonder why you were kept out of the loop."
"Georgina…" Serena starts.
"Don't worry. I'll accept your demands. It won't get published, but how can you all, as her friends, want to keep this from Blair? Enough with the secrets!" Georgina exclaims smugly.
"What is she talking about?" Blair asks.
Dan looks at her helplessly, Serena looks sad, and Chuck looks away, refusing to meet her eyes.
"Oh, come to me for the truth Blair, you know I'm always willing to tell you." Georgina exclaims.
"Blair, come on, let's go to the bar" Chuck says taking her arm.
Blair pulls her arm out of Chuck's hand. She looks at Dan, then to Georgina.
"I want to hear it." Blair says, not really sure if she wants to hear it.
"Have you read what Dan has written about you?" Georgina says smug.
Blair rolls her eyes. "So what? That was published years ago? I hurt Dan, I've moved on and really, you expect me to get angry about a work of fiction?"
"Oh you don't know! That's so cute!" Georgina exclaims.
Dan puts his head into his hands.
"Well let me fill you in Blair! There is a book that you don't even know of and you're mentioned in it… actually you've always been Dan's muse haven't you?" Georgina ends bitterly.
"Anyhow" Georgina continues, "this I assure you is a work of non-fiction,"
Blair looks at Dan uneasy.
"What of it?" finally blair answers. "We're a family now, I won't let you ruin that."
"Family huh? Why don't you ask Dan if you can read what he's written about you? After you read it, I'm sure you'll be happy that Chuck and Serena came up with his brilliant plan to blackmail me and keep me from publishing it. You DON'T want this book to be published." Georgina ends as she walks away.
Blair tells Serena and Chuck she's going home. She's tired, but that's a lie, she's exhausted and angry. Dan follows her and heads into the car with her.
"Blair… I am so sorry."
Blair turns to him slowly. "I want to read it" she whispers.
Dan nods.
When they get to the Brownstone he goes into this study and brings a stack of papers and pushes it into her hands. "I'm sorry Blair." He says not looking at her. Blair takes it to her study and shuts the door.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Dan sits in the hallway watching for the door to her study to open.
It's been 4 hours and he starts to worry. The book wasn't long.
The door opens and Dan gets up. Blair comes out and refuses to look at him. She walks past him.
"Blair please. It wasn't-" Dan starts.
"What humprhey?! Not true?! Cause we both know that's a lie !" Blair exclaims with tears. "I know my own deficits! But to have you portray them and leave them for everyone to read! Can you imagine what it would be like to have all your insecurities played out? Congratulations Humphrey! People will love it, maybe you should let Georgina publish it, the press will eat it up and you can finally have the sales to validate you as a writer!" She says as she stomps into her room.
Dan goes downstairs and goes into the kitchen. He makes himself a cup of tea and wonders how he got into this mess.
He should have erased the files on his computer and burned the copy he had printed out when Blair and Paul came into his life. He's not sure why he kept it.
He's so stupid.
He raises his head as Blair comes down the stairs, weekend bag in tow, filled with clothes. She pulls on her shoes and Dan speaks up.
"Blair, please, can't we talk about this?"
Blair looks at him disgusted and continues with her shoes.
"Why don't you calm down before you leave, please, just talk to me."
Blair slams the door and runs out of the Brownstone.
Dan sighs and crouches down.
He straightens out the shoes Blair had messed up in her rush to flee Dan and their home.
He needs to make it up to her, he's just not sure how he's going to manage it.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Two hours later Dan is in a cab with a manila folder in his hands. He's nervous as the cab pulls up to the address on the Upper East Side he had instructed the driver to.
He passes a few bills into the drivers hand and heads up.
He feels like the elevator ride up is the longest ride he's ever been in. He doesn't quite remember it ever taking this long to get up to Blair's penthouse.
As he walks in he hears Blair start to come down the stairs, ready to greet whoever is in her parlor at this hour.
"What are you doing here?" Blair demands as she stomps down the stairs gathering her robe around her.
Dan stands there looking at her.
"I'm not going to stand here and try to make you feel better about what I wrote. You're right, it was all true and I wrote it hoping to hurt you. And for that I am sorry." Dan starts, "However I wanted to remind you of the other person you were, the one that I liked best." Dan ends as he drops a manila folder on the accent table in her foyer.
She stands on her stairs and watches as he walks out. After he's left she walks over to the table intrigued.
She opens the manila folder and her eyes water as she reads the first lines, "In the film Sabrina, Audrey Hepburn said, "I have learned how to live…"
When she's done she puts down the folder and heads upstairs to change. She throws a trench coat over her pajamas, heads downstairs and hails a cab.
She goes back to the brownstone. Dan isn't there.
She hails another cab and tells them an address in Brooklyn.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Dan Humphrey is sitting in a chair chewing on his bottom lip as he reads a book.
He hears a familiar knock and watches as Blair Waldorf sheepishly pushes open the door and walks in.
Dan puts the book down and stands up.
They stand in front of each other.
Finally Blair speaks up.
"You know the first time I read that I was so happy. Louis and I hadn't been getting along and it felt like he had finally seen through all the layers of me and saw the woman I could be. The one I wanted to be… It really wasn't all that surprising when I found out it was you who had written that. Regardless of the fact that you are an AWFUL writer" Blair says with mock disdain, "you've always been good at observing people and seeing the best parts of them."
Dan gives her a small smile and brings her into an embrace.
Blair sighs into his chest. She had always loved how safe Dan had made her feel while she was in his arms.
She pulls away.
"So what are you planning for tonight Humphrey? I don't know how you can stand to be in this loft after stepping it up in the Upper West Side."
Dan smirks, "Are you hungry Waldorf?"
Blair just smiles at him.
She buys the pizza this time.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
They fall asleep together, on Dan's couch. It's a familiar scene and when Dan wakes up in the middle of the night, Blair is sleeping leaned up against his shoulder and the Blu Ray they had been watching has been over long ago.
Dan could reach over grab the remote to turn off the TV and Blu Ray player. But doing that might disturb Blair and Dan for whatever reason just doesn't want her to wake up. So he presses a kiss to her head and shuts his eyes, content.
Well, another chapter done. I hope you all enjoy it, and again, thank you from the bottom of this Dair shipper's heart for all the reviews. Really, whenever I read them it encourages me to write.