Author's Note: Woah. What else can I say? Gossip Girl has gone INSANE! But I absolutely love it! Tell me what you thought of the last episode, I want to hear everyone's opinion! And thank you all soooooooo very much for the reviews! I'd also like to say sorry for anyone who read my last author's note that might have revealed a little too much about the other episode. gleechild brought it to my attention that not everyone likes to have anything revealed to them about the following episodes, and if I've ruined it for everyone, I apologize. In saying so, I hope this chapter makes up for any upset readers! Thanks everyone for reading! Enjoy!

Chapter Thirteen
"Let me wrap myself around you
Let you show me how I see
And when you come back in from nowhere
Do you ever think of me?
Your heart is not able
Let me show you how much I care
I need those eyes to tide me over
I'll take your picture when I go
It gives me strength and gives me patience
But I'll never let you know
I got nothing on you baby
But I always said I try
Let me show you how much I care."
-The Killers

Because of all the confusion and chaos that came with keeping Serena and Nate in the semidarkness, and the energy it took up to try so desperately to keep her feelings toward Dan in check, and still save up some time for school, Blair was finding herself somewhat distracted. And on the Thursday morning following her double date with Dan, Nate, and Serena, she noticed her birthday was fast approaching. It was the following day.

This shocked her.

Sure, Blair had forgotten other people's birthdays before, but never her very own birthday. And to top it off, no one had mentioned anything to her about her birthday either. She hadn't really been hanging out with Kati or Isabel lately, so they really hadn't gotten a chance to ask her what she wanted, or if she was having a party. Even her mother, who had birthed her, and usually paid for her parties, hadn't asked what she was doing or what she wanted. It all seemed very strange and upsetting. Had they all forgotten? Did no one care enough? But, no one at all?

And then and idea came to her.

They were planning a surprise party behind her back!

No one had even mentioned her birthday to her, which had to mean Serena had already told them, or had already invited them to it. No one had asked her what she would like as a gift, which meant her mother and best friend had probably worked together to send out a list. They had probably even snuck on Blair's computer or followed her around to see what stores she was going to and what clothes or shoes or jewelry or bags she was interested in. They were all really good at not being suspicious too, so much so that she wondered if she was wrong, but she knew it had to be true. What else would explain the fact that no one was talking about her birthday at all?

The idea of a surprise party made Blair smile to herself all day.

Visions of giant suites at The Plaza, banquet halls, clubs, maybe the whole top of the Empire State Building, decorated and catered, just for her. Instantly, she began to think about what she would wear. Black- no!- She'd buy that new square-neck dress that cinched tightly at the waist and fluttered just above the knees. In a color that would make heads turn. A color that was so surprising everyone would stare at her and tell her it was her best color, that she looked dazzling. Serena would be green with envy. Nate would fall for her all over again. Dan would want to take it off of her just so he could- No, she stopped herself. Shut up!

While riding up the elevator to the penthouse that Thursday afternoon, she idly wondered if Dan was actually going to the party. Probably as Serena's date, she mused.

The lift stopped smoothly, and swept open onto the marble foyer she knew so well. Waiting beside the table in the front, though, were two Louis Vuitton suitcases. This made Blair's eyebrows knot and her stomach drop. Was her father home? Was this about the divorce? Or was he just home for her birthday? Her heart fluttered in her chest and she scurried into the hall.

"Daddy!" she called out.

Eleanor appeared in the foyer, her passport in her hand, "Why on earth are you calling for your father?"

Blair looked around, eyeing the passport, "I saw the suitcases and I thought..." she trailed off.

"Those are mine," Eleanor told her, rummaging through her purse on the foyer table. "I have to go to Paris for the weekend."

A lump formed in her daughter's throat, "This weekend?"

Eleanor looked at her as if she was acting strangely, "Yes, my flight leaves in an hour or so."

"Wh-What? Why?"

"A representative from Chanel wants to meet with me and talk about a collaboration," she beamed. "Isn't that great?"

Blair licked her lips, "When will you be home?"

"Monday night."

She stared at her mother, silent.

"I told Lily you'd be alone and she said she'd keep an eye on you and call everyday," Eleanor told her. "You'll be okay alone, won't you? It's nothing new."

Blair nodded, realization sinking in.

This was part of the setup.

Act like you forgot Blair's birthday.

Okay. She could play along.

She cleared her throat, pouting a little, "But why this weekend, Mom?"

"This is Chanel, Blair. And what's so special about this weekend?" Eleanor gave her daughter a strange look and latched her bag closed. "We'll have dinner on Monday night if you like."

The elevator opened and a man in a pressed suit came in, he smiled at Blair and Eleanor and said, "I'm looking for Eleanor Waldorf."

"I'm Eleanor Waldorf," she replied.

The man nodded, "Peter sent me up," he said, referring to the doorman. "He told me you needed help with your bags."

Eleanor nodded, "Yes, those are them right there," she pointed to the suitcases. After looping her bag over her shoulder, she gave Blair a brief hug and a kiss on the cheek and then walked over to the elevator with the driver. "Have a nice weekend! I'll check in tomorrow."

As the elevator closed and hummed to life, Blair stood frozen in the foyer.

They're going all out to make me think they forgot, she mused.

That same Thursday night, Dan had another strange dream concerning Blair.

In it, she was dressed in her Victorian-Marie Antoinette attire, but she was smiling, sitting in a row boat. Dan was dressed in some kind of blue army uniform and he was rowing the boat across from her. Blair was holding a parasol over her shoulder, twirling it softly as she leaned back, allowing it to dapple small slivers of sunlight and shadow across her face. Her free hand trailed in the water, making small ripples in the surface.

"You'll get radioactive poisoning," Dan told her.

For some reason, and even though it wasn't, Dan's dream self believed the pond they were in was the pond in Central Park, polluted and filthy.

Blair slowly took her hand out of the water and sat up, "But Serena and Nate don't mind."

"What do you mean?" he asked, confusion making his dream-self anxious.

In response, she nodded several feet away from the boat, where Serena and Nate were bobbing in the water, locked in a heated embrace. Dan watched in morbid fascination as the two kissed passionately, limbs entangled, hands in hair, mouths trailing everywhere furiously, not sinking at all. He looked at Blair, who shrugged.

Dan grew angry, "Just because they did it doesn't mean you should."

"I don't want to do it because they are," she said, looking genuinely hurt, her doe-eyes falling and her eyelashes fluttering. "I like it."

"I like you," Dan said.

Blair's smile returned and she leaned forward, taking one of Dan's hands off of the oar. He kissed the soft flesh above her knuckles and she blushed. Without thinking, or even questioning it, Dan's kisses trailed up her arm, her shoulder, her neck, and her cheeks until he reached her mouth. The oars were left forgotten, as Dan and Blair's kiss grew more passionate. He gently leaned her back in the boat, but her skirt was riding up and she latched a leg around his back. The boat rocked precariously but they took no notice.

"That's not fair!" Serena's voice shouted, making them pull apart. "He's mine!"

Blair sat up, angrily retorting with, "You lost your chance!"

"She's mine!" Nate said as well.

"You lost your chance too!" Blair said, throwing her arms around Dan, pulling him closer to her, holding him tight.

Even Dan's dream self liked the way it felt to hold Blair. It was like he could protect her, shield her from all the elements and all evils. She seemed to fit properly against his chest, within his embrace. It wasn't as if their bodies were made for the other, but it felt right, and there was nothing awkward in it. He loved holding her, and he loved her wanting him to hold her.

Suddenly, in his dream, the sky turned an angry, storm-ridden gray, and the world around them darkened. Thunder clapped loudly overhead, making Blair jump. Thick drops of freezing rain began to fall on them, but Dan continued to feel perfectly dry. Dream-Dan didn't mind the rain, but Dream-Blair did. She threw her parasol into the water and it slowly sank from view. Shielding herself with her open palms, she looked up at the sky, as if searching for an improvement in the weather.

"I'm going to get soaked!" she said desperately.

Serena spoke from her spot in the water, "Come in here with us!" she smiled. "You'll be dry!"

Without pausing, Blair stood up and jumped into the water. However, instead of floating like Serena and Nate, the water rose past her neck. She went under completely, clutching at the surface of the water for something to keep her afloat. Sputtering and crying, trying to save herself, Dan heard her choking, saw her sinking. He tried to stand up in the boat but his legs wouldn't allow him. He tried to dive off the side of the boat, but some unknown force was preventing him from doing so. So he watched, in dismay and anxiety, as Blair cried for help, begged for a savior. Finally, she slipped under the water. This time, however, she didn't resurface.

Fear and panic rushed at Dan with such an intensity that he almost felt sick.

"Help her!" he shouted at Serena and Nate, because he couldn't. "Go save her!"

Serena shrugged, "We can't."

"Why not?!" he demanded. "You're right there!"

He was so afraid that Blair would die, so afraid that she was already dead, that he felt his impatience and anxiety reaching catastrophic levels. Why weren't they doing anything? How could they be so selfish when Blair needed them. He was growing desperate, desperate and angry. He couldn't lose her. Couldn't bear to lose her in the depths of a pond that she shouldn't have jumped into from the beginning.

Nate spoke this time, "No one can save Blair Waldorf."

"No one?" Dan whispered.

"Well," Serena said. "One person can."

Dan's heart lifted.

It was him. He was the one person that could save her.

Feeling relieved, he asked, "Who?"

"Blair Waldorf."

"Why isn't she saving herself, then!?" he shouted.

Serena gave him a dubious look, "Darling, did you ever think that maybe she never wanted to be saved?"

Dan woke up from this dream, muttering to himself.

He had to stop and think for a moment before he realized he was muttering, "She does- She does," over and over.

The darkness of his bedroom surrounded him, making his fear increase tenfold. He lay there, listening to the sounds of the traffic outside, and to the sound of his own breathing. Even as he tried to calm himself down though, he felt his heart begin to speed up, faster and faster. A sickeningly realistic fear that Blair was really in trouble entered his mind. Sure, it had only been a dream that she died, but what if it was really a vision of some kind? What if his subconscious was trying to tell him something? You're being a moron, he told himself. Nothing's wrong with her, she's probably sleeping in her bed right now. But he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, that she was in pain, or dead. Call it intuition, realistically call it paranoia, Dan felt like he had to call her. He knew that he would not be able to fall asleep until he called her.

He scrambled for his phone in the dark, finally finding it on the floor next to his bed. Guided by the phone's own light, he found Blair's number in his call log and pressed SEND. He didn't care if she was asleep, didn't care that it was nearly three o'clock in the morning, didn't care if she would be angry, or if she wouldn't answer at all. He had to try to talk to her.

Ring.

He had to know she was okay.

Ring.

Had to grasp the reassurance that she was alive, even if a simple dream had told him otherwise.

Ring.

He had to hear her voice.

Ring.

Maybe she isn't going to answer, he thought sadly.

Ri-

"Hello?"

The voice was groggy, clotted with sleep, scarily polite, and raspy, but he knew it was Blair. He smiled to himself, loving the sound of her voice before it was perfectly tuned for the rest of the world. He loved her weakness, he loved the vulnerability and humanity he got from her, the things no one else could know or hear. Did Nate hear this groggy voice? Did Serena know that Blair was so out of it in this sleep-addled state that she was actually polite upon being woken up? He didn't care if they knew- He knew, and that was all the mattered.

"Blair," he said, his voice nearly coming out in a sigh. "It's Dan- I know I'm calling you really late, but I just had this dream, and in it you died and I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

Silence followed.

He then realized how stupid the whole thing sounded.

He went on, "I know it's stupid, but I had to- I'm sorry for waking you up."

"It's fine, honey," she said, her voice proper and kind.

Dan laughed to himself, she just sounded so polite.

"I'm fine," she told him.

"That's good."

She went on, "Listen, Daniel, I love you and all, but I need to sleep- big day tomorrow."

Dan wasn't sure what she meant by 'big day' but he figured she was just out of it. The thing that had really gotten his attention were the three words that had come before the rest of the statement.

I love you.

How did she mean that?

Did she mean she loved him as a friend? As someone to have an affair with? As someone she wanted to date?

"I'm hanging up now," she told him. "Good night," and the phone clicked off.

Dan put his phone on the night stand and sat up in bed. He knew she was out of it, and half asleep, but she had said it. Was her grogginess allowing her to say things she normally stopped herself from saying? Or was this just her talking nonsensically in her sleep? Dan didn't know. He didn't care either. She had said it and now he couldn't think straight, no matter what context she was using it in. Whereas he had called her, in hopes of being able to get back to sleep, he realized he would now be up all night. He was wide awake and his mind was working furiously, there was no way he was going to fall back asleep now.

Why did I call her in the first place? he asked himself. Oh right, because I needed to make sure she was okay. God, why do I care that much?

Daniel, honey, you are attached.

Dan realized this, and slowly, right into the spaces of his dark, empty room, he knew it was true, and he said, "Shit."

"Blair? I woke you up, didn't I?"

Yes, she had.

Blair cleared her throat, "Yeah-"

"You should be up already," her mother scolded. "You're going to be late for school."

With some trepidation, Blair realized it was her birthday. Why was her mother yelling at her when she should be wishing her a happy birthday? She was annoyed and pissed off that she had been woken up for this. It wasn't like she had planned on going to school. Actually, she had wanted to stay home, sleep in, have a nice brunch for herself, then go to Barney's and buy her dress, and then she'd pamper and beautify herself all day. But her mother was interrupting already, and she was in a different country.

Blair lied, "I'm awake, I was just waiting for my alarm clock to go off."

"Yes, well, I need you to do me a favor darling," Eleanor barreled on. "I need you to be home tonight at seven."

A smile crept across her lips, it was for the surprise!

Innocently, she asked, "Why?"

"Renee is sending over some documents from Bendel's that I forgot were coming," she said. "It's very important so make sure you get them, okay? Just put them in my office."

"Okay," Blair replied, playing along. "Whatever you say."

Eleanor said, as if Blair was acting strange, "Are you all right?"

"Yes, I'm fine!" she said brightly.

"All right, well, I have a meeting now so I'll be going."

Blair nodded to herself, "Okay, Mom, bye."

She hung up and snuggled deeper into her bed, smiling. She was going to have her surprise party tonight! Everyone was doing it all for her, and no one was going to ruin it for her tonight! She giggled to herself and began absently flipping through her phone. In her call log she noticed that she had received an incoming call from Dan at nearly three o'clock in the morning. She furrowed her eyebrows, trying to recall this. Had she spoken to him? The call log didn't say it was a missed call so she must have answered. But what did he call her for? What had she said that she now couldn't remember?

Figuring Dan was already awake for school, Blair texted him.

Blair: Did you call me last night?

Within minutes Dan had replied.

Dan: Yeah. Don't remember?

Blair: No.

She waited for Dan to reply, but even after about ten minutes of sitting in her bed silently, he didn't.

Blair: Care to explain why, Humphrey?

This time, he replied.

Dan: I just had a dream that you died. Wanted to make sure Chuck hadn't snuck in and strangled you in your sleep.

Blair felt her lips turning up in a smirk.

Blair: Haha, how cute. Daniel, I didn't know you cared.

Seconds later, she received a text back.

Dan: There's a fine line between caring and paranoia, Blair. ; )

Blair: Says you.

Between the end of lunch and the beginning of the following period, Dan came across his sister, standing in front of her locker, trying to keep a bouquet of pink and white balloons from escaping the metal confinement.

"Jenny," Dan said with a grin on his face as he watched her struggle and fight the party decorations. "Need some help?"

The both of them managed to fit all of the balloons into the small space, albeit messily, and then snapped the locker door shut before any other helium-filled escapees could get out. Jenny huffed a little as she straightened her jacket and adjusted her bag on the crook of her arm. Dan looked her up and down. Though she tried so hard to fit in with Blair and the other Upper East Side girls that went to her school, Dan could see through her efforts. He knew that her bag was her most prized possession, a real Marc Jacobs their mom had splurged and gotten for her, for no reason- well, probably because she felt so guilty for leaving them all to 'paint' in Hudson. He also knew that she had made her skirt and blouse, modeled after designer clothes, and eerily close to the real thing. It made him sad to see his sister try so hard, to meticulously apply make-up after what Serena and Blair did without care, desperate to be a part of a crowd that she hardly even understood or knew. Did she really want to be a bitch clone like all the rest? Was she embarrassed by her Brooklyn roots? She's trying to hang out with Blair, Dan reminded himself, so it's not that bad.

Dan glanced at the closed door, almost expecting the balloons to push it open, and said, "May I ask why you're wrestling so many of those things into your locker?"

Jenny huffed a little, as if the war with the balloons had left her a little more mussed than she would have liked. She fixed the strap of the tank-top underneath her blouse and then pulled down the hem of her shirt so it came over the top of her skirt.

Flicking her bangs from her eyes, she said, "It's Blair Waldorf's birthday."

Dan was so surprised that he was almost tempted to say, Excuse me, what?

"I was going to give these to her this morning," she continued, shrugging. "But according to Serena, Blair didn't come to school today."

Swallowing, Dan simply said, "Oh."

"Yeah, and it totally sucks because Serena and the rest of Blair's friends- you know like Chuck and Nate- don't even remember it's her birthday," Jenny said, eyes wide with sympathy. "And I overheard Kati talking; she said Blair's mom left for Paris yesterday too- for some fashion thing," she shook her head, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Everyone forgot it was her birthday."

Dan's heart dropped through the shiny linoleum floor below him.

Jenny did not notice.

He wondered how something like this could have happened.

She said, "Doesn't that suck?"

"Ye-Yeah- A lot- How do you know all that anyway?"

She shrugged, "The facts spread, Dan."

They're gossiping about Blair's misfortune, he thought bitterly.

"Are you okay?" Jenny asked. "You look kind of sick."

Dan cleared his throat and quickly tried to liven up his attitude, "No, I'm fine-"

He couldn't think of an excuse for his odd behavior, though, because the bell rang.

Blair felt herself relaxing as her hair dresser, Phillipe, barked orders in French, causing assistants, make-up artists, and receptionists to scurry and fret. The smell of expensive hair products filled her nose, making her shoulders loosen up. Also, the personal masseuse that worked deep-tissue while you waited, that was a big help too. The whole of the bright, ultra-exclusive salon was relaxing. With its high ceilings and peach colored walls, she always felt like it was springtime at Phillipe's. A cup of fresh French vanilla coffee was placed on the table in front of her, by an assistant who was shaking, probably from being so afraid of the French tyrant of a hair dresser/manager. Blair smiled and took the coffee, sipping it slowly. She even loved how everyone was terrified of Phillipe. Whereas other clients sometimes cowered at his voice, Blair talked back the same way. They exchanged witty banter and joked with one another, making Blair his favorite client. She wasn't afraid of him and he actually liked this quality in the petite brunette.

"Blair," a pretty assistant, who actually had extremely long lavender hair, smiled at Blair. "If you're ready I can shampoo you now."

Leaving her nearly-full coffee cup on the table, she made her way to one of the sinks and sat down. After leaning back and adjusting her neck comfortably, the lavender-assistant began to douse Blair's hair with luxuriously warm water. Allowing herself to let go and close her eyes, Blair tried to imagine how she would react at her party. Should she act blase? or should she weep tears of joy? She hadn't decided, but either way, it would be amazing.

Cool shampoo was worked into Blair's scalp, and she nearly purred in delight at having her scalp scratched and massaged. The wonderful smell of the twenty-dollar-a-bottle-shampoo swirled around her and she found herself smiling a little. The day was going perfectly. After lounging around and dozing off in her bed for a few hours, she had gotten up at nearly ten and enjoyed a breakfast of a parfait and a croissant. After some time she called Phillipe and he cleared a space for in the early afternoon, even though he was booked. And after watching a bit of How to Steal a Million, she had left and arrived at the salon within thirty minutes. It was all so nice and ideal, but she was starting to get a little anxious. No one- Not one person- had wished her a happy birthday. Isn't that a little drastic? she wondered. And then she had received a text from Jenny Humphrey while she was waiting, and another from a boy who had had a crush on her Freshmen year. That was it, and it was freaking her out a little.

The lavender-assistant finished washing Blair's hair and dried it off a bit, before leading her to Phillipe's chair.

"Eez my booteefull floweur ready?" Phillipe asked, gliding over in all his European beauty.

She smiled at him, "Of course."

"Good," he gave her an air kiss on both cheeks. "Go!" he barked at the lavender-assistant, and she scurried away. "'ow are you mon belle?" he asked Blair, adjusting the seat to his height.

She beamed, "I'm good- It's my birthday."

"No!" Phillipe gasped. "C'est vrai?"

"Oui," she giggled.

Coyly, he replied, "Should we zing for you?"

"Do so, and I might just have to stab you with your own scissors," she smiled coquettishly.

"Ah!" Phillipe laughed. "I abzolutely adore your tongue! So sharp!"

That's one way of looking at it.

"Why don't we 'ave Jillian do your make-up as well? Oui?" he asked. "Special birzday present, from moi!"

Blair smiled, deciding it would be a very good day indeed.

That's true, but not for any of the reasons she would expect.

Dan wasn't sure how he could fix Blair's birthday for her, but he spent all the rest of the school day thinking about it.

He wanted to hurt someone when he thought of the fact that Blair's own mother had forgotten her birthday. Serena had forgotten, her own best friend, and her supposed boyfriend as well? What was wrong with everyone? He guessed it was because her mother was so busy with her fashion line, and Serena and Nate were so wrapped up in each other. But what about all of her other friends? Why hadn't they remembered? And her father, had he remembered? He didn't know, and he didn't care, he was going to fix it for her.

Should he get her an amazing gift? Or should his present come more form the heart?

What did one get the person they were having an affair with?

Someone's phone began to ring in his math class, it was an annoying cat's meow and he was glad when the teacher told the kid to shut it off.

What could I- he didn't even have to finish his thought.

He knew.

At five after seven, when Blair's mother's Bendel documents arrived, she felt a little disappointed. Here she had been hoping the package would be some kind of note, telling her to go to some preplanned destination where she would walk in and everyone would yell 'Surprise!' But, no. The package was a regular mail-carrier envelope with a Bendel's stamp on the corner. She tossed it onto her mother's desk and paced in the living room.

When eight o'clock rolled around she grew anxious and, truth be told, a little desperate.

She texted Serena.

Blair: Hey. What are you doing?

It took some time for Serena to respond.

Serena: Nate and I were going to catch a movie- Want to join us?

"WHAT!?" Blair actually screeched into the silent living room.

Serena and Nate were going to see a movie? They were going to ignore the fact that it was her birthday, hang out, and then ask her if she wanted to tag along- when Nate was her boyfriend? No thanks. Anger boiled up inside, spreading and pulsing like a volcano about to erupt. Her palms grew sweaty as she clenched them, one around her phone. Calm down, she told herself. Maybe this is part of their surprise plan.

She waited until nine o'clock.

No one called her.

No one texted her.

No one tried to get her to a surprise party.

No one had remembered.

Blair's confidence turned to anger and it erupted like Mount Vesuvius.

She pulled back and chucked her phone against the pristine white wall across from her. It made a dark black scuff mark, and her phone's screen cracked down the middle, but she didn't care. She let out a guttural noise in the back of her throat and kicked the couch. Finding it rip in sick satisfaction upon contact with her stiletto heel. Her mother deserved it if she couldn't even remember her own daughter's birthday. Everyone deserved hell for not remembering her birthday! With nostrils flaring, heart racing, eyes bulging, anger mounting, Blair's thoughts worked overtime.

They had forgotten her birthday. Everyone had. Her parents, her best friend, her other friends, her boyfriend, Dan... They didn't care enough to remember. Everyone else's lives were far more important- She was so unimportant- So unloved.

At half past nine, Blair found herself hunched over her toilet.

She alternated between shoving her finger down her throat and sobbing on the bathroom floor until ten o'clock.

And then she collapsed on her bed in tears.

The elevator opened onto the cold foyer and Dan looked around.

The penthouse was virtually empty.

He knew Blair was home, he had spoken to the curious doorman, so he quietly walked up the stairs. When he reached her room he didn't bother knocking, he slowly opened the door and smiled at Blair when she looked up. Her hair seemed like it was supposed to be in a bun or chignon of some kind, but it was falling out and around her face. She was dressed in a perfectly fitted dress, cinched to show off her tiny waist, cut to reveal enough leg and enough decolletage. It was all made of a brilliant turquoise blue that seemed to be a color picked just for her. And he knew she would probably look completely radiant, were she not crying. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her mascara was dripping down her splotchy cheeks. She sat up when he walked in, her eyes sparkling with tears.

"All dressed up with nowhere to go?" he asked, walking over to her.

Blair melted right in front of him, and he saw it.

But she couldn't help it. Here she had been sobbing hopelessly, thinking everyone had forgotten about her, and now he was walking through her door, dressed in a suit and tie, looking all caring and sweet.

"Dan," she practically sighed, save for the tears choking her voice.

He gave her a lopsided smile and said, "I have a present for you."

Blair stood up and walked over to him, unable to keep a smile off of her face. Someone had remembered! Someone cared! And it was Dan.

With a slight theatrical gesture, Dan moved a hand, that had previously hidden behind his back, into view. Squirming inside his hand, with the most beautiful blue eyes, was a tiny gray and white kitten. It had a blue bow around it's neck and it was looking around the room with bright curiosity. Upon seeing Blair, it started to make soft mewing sounds and tried harder to get out of Dan's grasp.

Blair's heart melted a little more.

"O-Oh," was all she could manage to get out, and it was tripped by a sob.

She couldn't even take it anymore, she slowly closed the distance between her and Dan and encircled her arms around him, hoping to get closer to him than she ever had before.

"Thank you," she sobbed happily. "Thank you so much."

He kissed the side of her head.

When she pulled away from him she began to pet the kitten, "Is this really for me?"

He nodded, "If you want her- I have all of the stuff you need to take care of her downstairs."

She hugged him again.

"You might want to let go of me and clean the make-up off your face though, Blair," he said teasingly. "I have one more surprise for you."

Blair had been on the roof of the Met many times before, but never when it was closed, and never at nighttime, in November. But that's just where Dan had taken her. After using a back service entrance, a security guard had smiled at them and said something into a walkie-talkie. In moments a lanky teenaged boy met them and led them through the museum, muttering the whole time.

"Dan, you better be grateful for this," he said. "I could get fired."

Dan met Blair's eyes and smiled, squeezing her hand in his.

She wasn't sure what he had planned, but she was practically bubbling over with happiness and excitement.

Finally, the boy took them to the door of the roof.

He turned to Dan and said, "You can stay as long as you want, as long as that's at least an hour before opening. Got it?" Dan nodded. "Here are the keys. Bernie will be downstairs for security until opening, if you're not here by the time his shift ends then he'll come up and get you out."

"Okay."

The boy disappeared down the stairs behind them, and Dan smiled at Blair, unlocking the door and leading the way outside. Blair walked onto the roof as Dan held the door for her, tears springing to her eyes again. The fact that he had done all of this to make her birthday special made her heart wrench with guilt and adoration. Laid before her was an empty roof, save for a thick blanket, set up towards the ledge. On it was a bottle of champagne, two plates with all the proper cutlery off to the side, glasses, flowers, and a cooler beside the blanket, filled with food and a small cake. There were extra blankets that Dan had grabbed in case, laying beside the cooler. After all, it was November. But standing in the cool night air, they both found that it was quite warm for a month so close to Christmas. Not only did the climate make everything perfect, but it was also to do with the view. Looking over the ledge, Blair gazed at the Manhattan skyline, twinkling in the inky night sky. It took her breath away, even after living in the city for a lifetime, but the moon was so big and the stars were so bright, she couldn't help but lose her grounding.

Shaking her head, Blair managed to whisper, "Dan, how did you do all of this?"

He took her hand and led her to the blanket, "Let's just say someone owed me a favor," he grinned as she dazedly lowered herself onto the blanket, looking at everything in awe. "I'm sorry I couldn't come up with anything fancier- I only found out it was your birthday this morning," he shook his head as he sat down. "I wish I had known."

"Dan," she looked at him, smiling. "This is absolutely perfect."

He smiled softly, his eyes locked with hers, "I'm glad you like it."

Reaching over, he opened the bottle of champagne and filled two glasses. He handed her one and noticed the solemn look that had taken over her face.

"Can I tell you something?" she asked.

He took her hand and gave it a squeeze, "Of course."

She swiped at a stray hair that was blowing into her eyes and blinked furiously, trying not to cry, "Everyone forgot my birthday today- I mean, your sister and this guy remembered- But my parents and Serena- and Nate..." she looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears. "They all forgot."

"Oh Blair," he whispered, putting his glass down to stroke her cheek.

"And you, you're making the day so wonderful."

The guilt began to build, like cells multiplying. It felt cancerous, as if she couldn't stop it, couldn't prevent it, it was irreversible. Dan cared so deeply for her, and here she was just using him. But she wasn't. Not anymore, she knew. It was something else now. Even if she did ultimately hurt Serena and Nate, it had turned into something more. And she wanted him to know that.

Looking longingly into his eyes, she softly said, "I love you."

Dan was taken aback. He hadn't been expecting that.

Without even considering it, he said, "I love you too."

She leaned in, and so did he, and they met in a soft kiss. Dan cupped Blair's face, pressing against the spot bellow her ear with his index finger. She moved herself closer toward him, deepening the kiss. Dan surrendered to her, finding himself moving into the rhythm of the kiss with more intensity. Suddenly Blair felt very warm, but comfortably so. She was growing antsy and she clutched at Dan's hair, becoming impatient. He didn't mind the small pain, only felt himself wanting her more, growing anxious too. Kissing wasn't enough anymore, and they both felt it. The need to be closer, to be together, was growing faster and stronger, and it was making their hearts race.

Blair pulled away from Dan, keeping her eyes locked with his. They loved each other and he cared about her, he was showing that by this whole surprise. Because of this, and because she trusted him, she knew she could give herself to him, in fact, she couldn't think of anyone else. She began to undo the buttons of her dress and allowed it to slip off of her shoulders. As she worked Dan's jacket off of him she shivered in the wind, but as soon as Dan's shirt was off their bodies were pressed together and the warmth returned. They lowered themselves onto the blanket and faded into new territory under the light of the moon.

Author's Note: Could my writing be cornier? I highly doubt it. I didn't want this chapter to be too raunchy, but I didn't want it to be squeaky clean either. It was more about the romance then the physical stuff. I hope you're all happy with it, and I hope you all enjoyed it! It was probably the longest chapter I've ever written on fanfiction, and I hope it will be well received. The recent episode of Gossip Girl certainly pushed me to finish writing this. I think Blair and Dan talked more than ever before in recent episodes! Ah! Next chapter is coming soon! As always, reviewing is appreciated and your honest opinions are always the best.