The Mess I've Made

Chapter 5: Stolen Hearts

Author's Note: This is the final chapter in this story. I hope you've enjoyed it. This chapter is particularly cheesy so be warned.

Dan's heart was beating a mile a minute as he printed out the last few pages of his next book. What was meant to be a rewrite of INSIDE had turned into a whole other story, one that was more fact than fiction. He finished the ending with more than a touch of irony for he was finally able to write the happy ending he couldn't seem to attain in real life. Dan's alter ego Darren got his heart's desire while his remained unfulfilled. It was ironic that what he was happy to have months ago just wasn't enough for him now . Dan put the pages in his rucksack and made his way to Alessandra's office.

"I was beginning to think you weren't going to show," Alessandra said as she greeted him with a smile.

"I had to get this just right."

"Well, I certainly hope its as good as you say.

"I think it is," He said as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. Although, Dan was nervous about what Alessandra would think, it was Serena's opinion that mattered the most. He still hadn't gotten a copy to her and wasn't sure when he would. Whereas INSIDE contained snippets of his life, this book was much closer to what he had actually experienced.

Dan needed to make one more stop before he went home. The rest was up to time and fate.

Serena was still thinking about the conversation she knew she needed to have with Dan when the doorbell rang.

"Serena Van Der Woodsen?"asked the messenger.

"That's me."

"Sign here," He said as he handed her an electronic pad. She signed for the package and closed the door. It was from Dan. She had no idea what he could be sending her, but it was probably important. She opened it up and found a copy of what was probably his latest book. There was a small envelope with her name on it.

'Dear Serena,

This will be my final letter. You're probably sick of them by now. This was what INSIDE was supposed to be. I changed some names, but you know the story as well as I do. I know I promised we could be friends, but we've never just been friends. It's always been more than that, you and me. So, this is my final plea. If it's not enough I understand. What I put you through this year is difficult for anyone to forgive. Just remember, no matter what has happened that I've never loved anyone the way I've loved you and I never will.

-Dan'

Serena folded the letter and placed it on the table. It was all a lot to take in. She had so many thoughts going through her head. A part of her was afraid to read what Dan had written because the last one had hurt her so badly. She wasn't fully ready to read his version of who they had been and who'd they become, but she knew she had to.

For three days, Serena stared at the stack of papers that represented her life with Dan, and avoided reading them. She just wasn't ready. It was one thing to know how she viewed them, but she wasn't ready to read his version. She was still sitting there staring at the pile of papers when Charlie came in and sat down beside her.

"You've been staring at those pile of papers for days. What's in them?" Charlie asked.

"Dan wrote about us and I'm not sure if I'm ready to read it," Serena said as she bit her lip.

"I'm sure it's nothing like Inside."

Serena wrung her hands and said, "What if it is? What if it changes the way I feel about the past? I used to think he loved me once, what if ...what if he never did?"

Charlie laughed. "Are you kidding me? The man adores you. Granted he seemed kinda caught up in Blair, but that wasn't something that was ever going to last. From what Nate has told me you have a history that no one has been able to compete with. This book can't change that and it won't."

"I just wish I wasn't so scared."

"Just read it. There's a reason he wanted you to read it. Why would he give it to you if it was going to hurt you?" Charlie said before patting her on the back and leaving her alone. Serena knew that Charlie was right, but it didn't ease her nerves. So, she did the one thing she had been avoiding for days. She picked up the stack of papers and started reading.

Dan was pacing so often that he was sure he'd born a whole through the hard-wood floors. It had been 3 days since he had sent Serena his book and still no word. This was his last ditch effort. He told her he couldn't be friends. He'd thrown all of his eggs in one basket and had gotten nothing in return.

"You're an idiot, Humphrey."

"Pretty much," Nate said. He was worried about his friend. He knew about his grand gesture and he also knew how much it was going to kill Dan if he didn't get the response he wanted, but he also knew how much Dan had hurt Serena.

"Dude, you think its going to be easy for her to read this book after the last one? Give her time. You can't just expect her to come running into your arms and everything."

Dan sighed and said, "I know. I just don't know what else to do."

"Wait. You know how she is. She's probably afraid to read the damn thing. Come on, you can try and beat my DOOM record."

Dan rolled his eyes and set up the game. They played throughout the day and it was pretty late when the door of the loft creaked open. Dan turned around and saw her standing there clutching his manuscript. Nate put his game console down and grabbed his coat and left them alone. Dan got up and headed towards where she was standing.

"I read it."

"I figured," Dan said as he stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"Stolen? That's kind of a grim title for a love story," She said as she smiled that smile he loved so much. He inched closer and pulled the manuscript from her hands and placed it on the counter.

"I thought it was fitting," He said.

Serena smiled at him and said, "Always the pessimist. One of these days, I'll teach you to be optimistic."

"You always were an excellent teacher."

She walked closer to him and pulled him closer. "So, Selena and Darren got their happy ending, I think it's about time we had ours."

"Not an ending, a beginning," he said as he kissed her gently. He couldn't stop kissing her; her lips, her cheek, her eyelid. This moment was everything he had hoped for, but a part of him needed to be convinced it was actually happening. "Is this real? Are you really here?" He whispered in between kisses.

"I'm here. It's real. We should probably talk."

He grabbed her face and kissed her again. "Later. We'll talk later. Now, I just want to hold you."

Words were the last thing on either of their minds that night. They were both caught up in reveling in the joy of their reunion. Serena knew for the moment that she read the first few pages that all her fears were for naught. Dan was able to make her believe again with his words. Seeing everything they'd been through written in black and white made it hard to deny or to doubt any longer. They had both hurt each other in immeasurable ways over the last two years, but that did not change the fact that their love was true. Something always brought them back to each other and this time she wasn't going to run. She was tired of running from her destiny.

"What are you thinking?" Dan asked as he ran his fingertip along her spine.

"About us. The words you wrote. We really have overcome a lot."

"We have," he said with a self-satisfied smile.

"We're going to make it Dan. I know we will. I'm done running."

"So, am I. I guess we're both finally ready."

"I'm ready for our forever," Serena said as she kissed him softly.

THE END…