I want to apologize for the lack of Dair I have had so far. I am honestly trying to be realistic and also trying to build up other aspects of the fanfic. To all the DB shippers who are still hanging in there, thank you so much. However, this chapter should please you immensely. I hope.

After deserting Chuck's, the new and upcoming foursome ventured back to Nate Archibald's. Usually it had always been Nate, Serena and Blair taking off and embarking in scandalous activities but they'd seen no issue with taking Dan Humphrey's hand and leading him into their world of trouble. As they danced along the city streets, a few girls from Constance snapped a photo of them that was quickly sent into Gossip Girl. It was Dan's second night on the social scene and he'd already been raising so many brows. At any moment, he was sure his luck would come crashing down and he'd shortly fade back into oblivion.

The Archibald manor was the epitome of old money and class. It was decorated with dark wooden floorboards, antique furniture and a large fireplace to match. Dan and Serena ended up sprawled on the fur rug while Nate and Blair had taken their spot on the couch, looking over their blonde friend and her new companion. There was a twinge of jealously in Blair's stare, gazing down at a blissful Serena and her mystery man. With all her heart, Blair longed to be happy for her friend. She wanted to believe that this wasn't just another frivolous relationship and Serena's fickle heart might have actually liked Dan. He wasn't another jock, in dire need to get into Serena's pants and have another notch on his belt. He was intelligent, charming and thoughtful. Though she'd dare not say it aloud, Blair wasn't convinced Serena was worthy of him.

"I'm tired," Blair hummed softly to Nate, tearing her eyes away from Dan and Serena, "can we go to bed?"

Nate hesitantly followed Blair's lead. He had his only conflictions. Serena being all over Dan did make him jealous, there was no denying that, but he had done a lot to deliberately push her into his arms. It was masochistic, it was stupid, and it was Nate.

"Sure, sweetie."

"Seriously? Fine, don't be too loud." Serena winked at the couple, despite being very well aware the two had never had sex. Part of it was to throw Dan off and another part was to seem like she was perfectly okay with Nate and Blair's being together. She laughed and quickly turned her attention back to Dan. He was cute. Sure, he wasn't Nate, but he'd suffice for the time being.

Blair held onto Nate's hand, feeling the ruby ring he'd given her rub against his skin. It was a reminder that they still had each other and their history, yet there was a tension between them Blair increasingly found hard to ignore. Would having sex resolve it? It was a thought that had crossed Blair's mind but many doubts still lingered.

They walked up the staircase and once they were out of earshot, Nate pushed Blair against his bedroom door. He sweetly kissed her lips, placing his hand on her cheek and holding onto it. Blair walked backwards and Nate guided her with his tender touch, both falling back onto his bed and holding each other in their arms. It wasn't long before articles of clothes began falling off, with Nate shedding his shirt and Blair removing her dress. He was in nothing but a pair of briefs and she wore lingerie that resembled a corset. With confidence, Nate held himself on top of her and kissed down her neck. Her hands ran down his tanned biceps, holding onto them and pulling him in closer. No matter how near they were, the distance remained.

"I can't do this," Blair said as Nate's lips moved off hers and onto her neck, "I'm not ready."

The truth was, Blair had no idea if she was ready or not. She just knew she wasn't ready to give herself to Nate.

The two fell asleep together, with Nate cradling Blair in his arms. Only Blair had stayed with her eyes wide open, waiting for him to fall unconscious before sneaking off.

Dan and Serena had winded up in one of the spare rooms. In a similar turn of events, Dan was in a position where he could have had sex with Serena. She wanted him and he could see the look in her grey eyes. Nothing was different; Dan told himself he denied the chance out of fear of rushing too far into it. Their first time had to be perfect, his first time had to be perfect. They had to connect on an emotional, mental and physical level. Serena had been disappointed but was enticed by the fact that a guy had said no to her. There was another factor in play that neither was aware of. In the back of his mind, all he could think about was Blair.

Dan had left the spare room, taking a moment to admire a sleeping Serena before slipping out. She was stunning and her laugh was infectious but there was something missing. His smile faded as he quietly shut the door and headed down the staircase. The Archibald manor felt so cold and he imagined this could have been a reflection of the Archibald family.

A shadow in his peripheral vision caught his attention with large curls cascading down her slim back Dan knew it to be Blair. The door was wide open and he stepped through, making a subtle amount of noise to catch her attention without completely giving her a heart attack. He took a seat beside her, nervously looking down and wishing he'd put his pants back on. Both were in rather comprising articles of clothing, at least in Dan's opinion. All he had on was a t-shirt and his pair of boxers while she wore a see through robe on top of her one-piece lingerie. Dan made an effort to not let his eyes linger and look at her legs that seemed to go on forever.

"You know it is impolite to sneak up on strangers," Blair quietly spoke with a smile.

"I was starting to think we might be friends."

She smiled at his naivety and he smiled for the sheer fact that she was.

"Friends?" She shot back, chewing on the corner of her lip. "Hardly. I suppose you can at least be an acquaintance, Humphrey."

"I'll take what I can get, Waldorf."

"I am guessing you can't sleep either," Blair assumed, glancing to her side.

With Dan's eyes directed out onto the garden, she took it upon herself to look at the boxers he wore. It made her slightly more comfortable about her own attire, while also attracting her.

"I can't, I have too much on my mind," Dan soothed in an aloof tone before turning to face Blair, "I just… do you ever think about the thing you wanted, that you always wanted, that you knew you never doubted for a single second, and then realize it was all wrong for you?"

Despite Dan's question being complete and utter word vomit, it resonated with Blair and she gave a soft nod in response. Especially these days, she'd become dubious of everything she had hoped for.

"That's what I am scared of."

It was all Blair could say. What she didn't say was how Dan had voiced her inner feelings. Without even trying, he understood all the confusion she harboured because he too was as lost as she. It didn't go without recognition.

"I am afraid one day I am going to wake up and realize that I don't love him anymore. I am afraid that I am going to be accepted into Yale and arrive there and find out it is all wrong for me."

Dan was taken aback by how much Blair Waldorf had just revealed to him. They weren't even friends and yet she had confessed thoughts she'd never tell Serena. There was no bar between them. She had nothing to prove, nothing to hide and nothing to fear. That had been apparent from their very first encounter.

"I… I don't necessarily think it is a bad thing. You know?" Dan looked for confirmation in Blair's eyes as he continued to speak. "I think life is weird and unexpected and nothing is certain. I'm young, you're young and we're just trying to figure out what all this means. Save the melodrama, the angst and the heartache. It's all part of the ride."

There was a brief pause before Blair widened her lips to say, "I like you, Dan. I like the way you think."

The proximity between Dan and Blair was close. At any moment, he could lean over and touch her lips. He wanted to, she wanted him to. He had never wanted to kiss someone more in his entire life. The thought of her being spoken for didn't cross his mind, nor did Serena. All that existed in that moment was Dan and Blair and their unspoken connection.

He gently placed his hand down on top of hers, giving it a small squeeze. To his surprise, she didn't move it away. His breathing quickened and without thinking he turned his head in to at last kiss her.

It was all perfect timing. Their lips pressed together with a delicate amount of force. She responded by nimbly licking his bottom lip, urging him to continue the kiss. Their noses grazed softly together as both their bodies were pulled closer together. There was an ample amount of passion they exchanged, combined with an innocence that both Dan and Blair had held on to. Their eyes were shut, absorbed in the kiss. There was no fighting feeling to abruptly pull away and make it end, rather let it go on. Her other hand fell on top of his, squeezing it before their lips naturally pulled apart. There chemistry between them had ignited and it wasn't about to be put out.

Chapter 5 and DB have FINALLY kissed. I can't wait for you to see how it all plays out in the next chapter. Let me know your thoughts and I'll try take them into account as much as I can.