Jamieerin: Hi, thanks for your review! To answer your question, the reason why Chuck visited Blair at work was because he still clearly had feelings for her. And you're right; the Gossip Girl blast helped give him that push too! Yes, he was mad at her for making Eva leave and yes, he may have manifested that anger by both taking over Columbia and bringing Jenny back to New York, but it was ultimately her whole speech at the beginning that really opened his eyes. So I hope that clarifies things for you!

And just on a general note: I personally like where the show is going with Blair and Dan's relationship, but I intend on keeping them solely as friends in this fic! Putting that aside, I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Spotted: S and her current flame swapping spit in Café Habana. Word has it that D and B are to make an appearance as well. We all know that a forced double date is awkward as it is, but something tells me that these four will bring awkward to a whole new level. XOXO Gossip Girl

After reading the latest Gossip Girl blast, Dan suddenly felt sick to his stomach. It was bad enough having Blair rip apart his self-esteem earlier that day, but enduring a whole lunch with Ben and Serena was something he knew he could not stomach.

He was just about to bolt out of the restaurant, when Serena locked eyes with him from across the room.

"Dan! Hey!" Serena greeted, walking towards him to pull him into a hug.

Dan was momentarily caught off guard when the familiar scent of her shampoo suddenly pervaded the air.

He swore Serena felt the same thrill that ran down his spine, as both lingered in that position, each refusing to be the first to pull away.

It was only when Ben let out a nervous cough that Serena finally peeled herself off of Dan.

"You…um, don't mind if I brought Ben, right?" Serena asked quietly.

"No, 'course not," Dan replied quickly, as he gave Ben a brusque wave. "Ben, nice to see you…for, what is it? The tenth time today?"

"I'm going to say eleventh," Ben said warmly, as he got up to pat his roommate on the back.

"So where's Blair?" Serena finally asked.

"She's not coming," Dan answered bluntly, before grumpily taking an empty seat.

"Why? I just spoke to her this morning," Serena said in disbelief. "How is she? Is she OK?"

"Blair is…Blair," Dan muttered tersely.

"Right…" Serena said slowly as both she and Ben exchanged nervous looks.

Lunch had not turned out as delightful as either Serena or Dan expected. While Serena felt uncomfortable with the forced nature of their conversation, Dan, on the other hand, was busy trying to stop himself from hurling at the sight of Ben and Serena together.

He thought her early morning breakfasts with Ben at the loft would be the extent of his agony, but seeing them now in such close proximity made Dan feel almost invisible.

In fact, during the five long, torturous minutes Serena and Ben spent flirtatiously wiping sauce off each other's faces and swapping suggestive glances, Dan swore that they had completely forgotten about him. It was only when he cleared his throat that the blonde couple realized they had company.

"So…ugh…you guys like your food?" Dan asked, making a weak attempt at a conversation.

Having already grown weary of his disconcerting formality, Serena briefly sighed before doling out an answer.

"Yes, I do," she said, flashing a tight smile at Dan's direction.

Ben, on the other hand, nodded his head a little too enthusiastically—probably out of pity, Dan decided.

His hand was already reaching into his pocket to pay for lunch, when he felt a considerable chunk of his hair being tugged aggressively from behind. "Ow!"

"I can't believe you forgot to call me!" Blair's voice boomed, as her angry form slid into the seat next to Dan's.

All three looked back at Blair in disbelief, mouths hanging in unison.

"B?" Serena asked bewilderedly, being the first to break the silence.

Blair's indignant expression quickly softened, when she noticed her best friend sitting across from her.

"Hey S!" She greeted cheerfully, pulling Serena into one of their signature hugs.

"And Ben, hi! This must be the tenth time I'm seeing you today!"

"Eleventh, actually," Ben replied, passing a playful wink at Dan's direction.

"Ok, Blair, what on earth are you doing here?" Dan finally exclaimed.

"Well, as far as I know, you owe me a Cuban sandwich," Blair said in a deadpan voice, still refusing to face Dan.

He was about to grill her even further, when Blair motioned for the waiter.

"Hi, we'll have another round of mojitos and just a Cuban sandwich for me," She told the waiter, batting her eyelashes politely.

"Oh and he's paying," She said dryly, as she gestured towards Dan.

Dan gritted his teeth but nevertheless found the strength to flash a forced smile at the waiter, who, like Ben and Serena, was awkwardly looking from Blair to Dan in apprehensive silence.

When the waiter finally left, silence quickly ensued. Blair stifled a laugh as she surveyed each of their reactions. Serena was biting her lip, Ben was coughing nervously, and Dan was still staring at Blair in stunned silence.

However, it was only when her gaze fell on Ben's tightly draped arm on Serena's shoulder that an idea popped up in her head.

"So, how's W, you two?" Serena asked lightly, unsure of whom to look at exactly.

"Fabulous!" Blair replied instantly, before Dan could even open his mouth.

"In fact, spending time with Cabbage Patch over here hasn't been as unbearable as I thought it would be."

"Oh, gee, thanks, Blair," Dan muttered sarcastically.

Serena tried to stifle a laugh. She suddenly felt foolish for thinking that Dan and Blair were having some type of affair, when their body language alone was so obviously platonic, if not highly incompatible.

Unsatisfied with Serena's reaction, Blair noisily edged her seat closer to Dan and with both hands, she grasped his solitary grey tie.

Dan's body instantly tensed as Blair's small fingers interlaced with the thin fabric of his tie.

"Don't you just love how Humphrey's been dressing way better lately?" Blair mused, finally locking eyes with Dan, who was still staring back at her in disbelief.

"Like, look at his tie. It totally…" Blair bit her lip suggestively, "Brings his eyes out, don't you think?"

She didn't give either Ben or Serena enough time to answer, as she played with the knot on his neck, never tearing her fiery eyes away from him for even a second.

"B-Blair, you hate my clothes," Dan reminded her, as prickles of sweat slid down the curve of his neck.

"Hated. Past tense, Humphrey."

Dan was about to pull away completely, when he caught sight of Serena's expression.

She appeared to be seething with jealousy strewn all across her face. Her eyes were furiously narrowed at Blair, and Dan couldn't help but notice that Ben's arm had mysteriously disappeared from her shoulder.

However, it was only when Dan locked eyes with Blair that it finally dawned on him what she was up to.

He knew it was awful but he nevertheless took pleasure in the way Serena gritted her teeth.

For a second, he swore he saw Blair flash him a mischievous smile visible only to him.

She, in turn, took the instant softening of his eyes as confirmation, as she pushed her body a little closer to his and waited patiently for him to rack his brain for something appropriate to say.
"Well, I guess you must've rubbed off on me then, Waldorf," Dan said as he reached out to rub Blair's bare shoulder affectionately.

"Blair!" Serena exclaimed, causing everyone to look back at her questioningly.

"I have to powder my nose. Come with?" She bit out, already digging her nails on Blair's arm.

Blair gave Dan a small wink before sauntering off with Serena.

"What the hell was that?"

"What the hell was what?" Blair asked innocently.

"You're not dating Dan, but you can't keep your hands off of him?"

"I'm not dating Dan. And even if I were, why do you care?"

Serena quickly averted her eyes away from Blair. "B, I'm just looking out for you."

"That's a lie. We both know that your little interrogation scheme has plenty to do with your unrequited love for Dan Humphrey.

"It's not like that—"

"Then what is it like, Serena? Because from what I can tell, it's either you still have feelings for Humphrey or you simply can't wrap your head around the idea that maybe, just maybe he's actually moving on."

"Look, I-I…have to go," Serena stammered, already turning her back towards Blair.

"Of course, you do," Blair muttered to herself.

She didn't even bother to watch her best friend say a quick goodbye to a confused Dan, before pulling Ben out of the restaurant with her to leave.

Dan swirled around to see Blair approaching their table. His face was still scrunched up in confusion.

"What did you two talk about?"

Blair coolly slid into her seat, refusing to meet his gaze just yet.

"I just told Serena something that should've been said to her a long time ago."

"Right…"

"So I guess it's just us now, huh?" Dan said as he surveyed the empty table. "How's… the sandwich?"

With her eyes still glued to the table, Blair bit her lip as she tried to find the right words to say to him.

"Look, Dan…I'm sorry about what I said earlier. I don't think you're pathetic for waiting for Serena. It's actually…sweet."

When Blair finally summoned the courage to look up at him, every odd little knot in her stomach had suddenly come undone as Dan's face broke out into a warm smile.

"You know, you're not the only one who messed up here. If I recall I said some pretty nasty things to you too."

Blair shook her head. "No, I needed that. You're right. I have to stop pretending that everything is fine when it's not. I've had 20 years to do that. And ironically, the only other person who has ever called my bluff…was Chuck."

Blair's face instantly fell, as she tried to blink away her tears.

"Are you OK?"

"No," She said simply. "I thought I was, but…seeing him today—that was almost unbearable. Like all the weeks that had passed by since that night didn't exist, like he was still the same person who stood before me at the hospital. Maybe he has changed, maybe he really does mean what he said, but that doesn't change anything, does it? He can change all he wants, but he can't change the past."

Blair buried her face into her hands, letting her words sink in for the first time.
"I'm just sorry that I snapped at you. I should've known that when it comes to exes, you'd have some great insight. There's a reason why they call you 'Lonely Boy' after all."

"And just like that the claws come back!" Dan exclaimed in amusement. He put a reassuring arm around Blair and pulled her close to him.

For a short moment, Blair relished in the warmth of his body. She tried her best to suppress a giggle when she felt the thin fabric of his grey tie rub against her cheek.

Almost reading her mind, Dan let out a grin.

"I knew something was wrong when you started admiring my tie."

"It's such an awful tie!" Blair exclaimed in between giggles.

Dan feigned indignation as he jokingly narrowed his eyes at her.

"So does this mean that you'll drop the 'Ice Queen' act and finally open up to me then?"

"That depends. Are we friends?"

Dan furrowed his brow in thought. "You know what? I dare say we are, Waldorf."

"Good," Blair said with a huge grin on her face, as she slowly broke away from his embrace.

"Oh, and Dan?"

"Yes, Blair?"

"This is the best sandwich I've ever had," Blair blurted out, before both she and Dan threw their heads back in laughter.