Blair wakes up on the morning of the wedding to find Dan propped up on one elbow, his hairs sticking out everywhere, his eyes heavy-lidded, staring at her in an intense kind of way that makes her blush.
"Good morning," Blair says sleepily, smiling because their day has finally arrived. It's their wedding day.
"I must really be crazy about you," Dan says, his tone serious, "because I find you fascinating even in your sleep. I could write sonnets about the way your lashes lie against your cheeks."
"Ridiculous sonnets." Blair swats at him, smiling. "Hyperverbal sonnets. No one wants to hear about my lashes."
"Good morning to you too, almost Mrs. Dan Humphrey." Dan laughs, a hearty chuckle, and Blair loves the way he laughs. It makes her feel warm down to her toes. Blair reminds him again that she's not changing her name, that her name in itself is a brand and 'Humphrey Designs' doesn't have the same ring.
"You'll always be Mrs. Dan Humphrey to me, of the Brooklyn Humphries. We're a clan held in high esteem. Very high society."
Blair laughs. Dan leans over and kisses her and then pulls back and smiles.
"It's going to be a crazy day," he says quietly, "so I wanted to tell you something before the circus begins."
His tone is serious again. Blair blinks and hopes Dan doesn't trigger the waterworks now because she doesn't want puffy eyes. She hopes Dorota has some cucumbers chilling in the fridge. He takes her hand in his and gives it a squeeze.
"There are so many ways I could say this, Blair Cordelia Waldorf, but the simplest is this. I love you. We started out enemies a long time ago then we became friends and I fell in love with you and that love never stopped. Even after all these years. I'm so glad we're here today. I'm so glad we found each other again."
Blair wants to curse at him for being so sweet and wonderful because the tears are running down her cheeks and she sniffs as she watches his face.
"I love you too, Dan."
She wishes she had his way with words, but she doesn't, and all she can do is give him as much as he's given her, or, if possible, more. Every day. For the rest of their lives.
They share a sweet, long kiss and Blair tangles her fingers in his hair and pulls him closer and hears Dan groan, then she pushes him away. She doesn't know if anything will ever slake her thirst for this man, but there isn't time at the moment to indulge in delicious morning sex, so Blair reluctantly breaks the embrace and tells him they need to get going.
Dan says he has some errands to run, and he'll see her at the Frick, and Blair feels sad that she won't see him until they're walking down the aisle towards each other, towards their new life. She asks what he's up to and he tells her he has to have some secrets, and she'll find out soon enough. Then he's in the shower and Blair grabs her dressing gown and heads downstairs.
Cyrus in sitting at the kitchen island when Blair walks in, drinking a cup of tea. When he sees her he leaps up and grabs her, engulfing her in a giant bear hug. He and her mother had flown in a couple days ago and were staying at the penthouse, along with her dad and his husband. They were your typical modern blended family and they had spent one evening drinking scotch and playing cards and having a good time, Blair watching Dan charm everyone in the room with his stories about Hollywood starlets and their demands, Cyrus laughing and slapping Dan on the back in a fatherly manner. Blair remembered how she had resented Cyrus when he and her mother had first started dating, and now, as he hugged the breath out of her, she knew him to be a kind, loving and supportive man who has treated Blair has his daughter all these years. His face is sagging a little more, he has more of a paunch, but he's still Cyrus, her step-father, and he still has a way of making Blair feel loved.
Her mother is still asleep, always one to get her beauty rest. Retirement has treated her well and she has been regaling Blair with stories about her volunteer work and her latest vacation with Cyrus. She tells Blair that she is proud of her, that she's done amazing things with Waldorf Designs, and that now she's found love.
Dorota rushes through the kitchen like a whirling dervish and reminds Blair that the hair and makeup people will be there soon, says something about breakfast being on the table, then disappears down the hallway. Blair walks into the dining room to find a breakfast buffet set up for everyone. She grabs a bunch of grapes and starts nibbling them.
It's hard not to think about her other marriages. Her failed attempt at becoming a princess was drama to the last minute, Blair still pushing away her feelings for Chuck. Then there was her marriage to Chuck, and Blair remembers a moment on their way to the marriage minister, staring out the window of the taxi, and she'd been sidelined by one consuming thought.
This is a huge mistake.
Instead of listening, Blair had gotten out of the taxi and walked up the stairs to the government building and married Chuck. Instead of following what her heart was telling her, she had tried to pretend Chuck was what she wanted and that she was happy.
Now she was standing on the brink of her third attempt and all Blair can feel is happiness. Blinding, consuming, overwhelming, stupendous happiness. Finally, finally this feels right. Dan feels right. They feel right.
This is right.
There is no regret, no concern.
Dorota breezes through and tells her that Serena has arrived then rushes off to take care of some last minute detail.
If Serena had glowed in general, pregnancy has made her a goddess. She is dressed in a beautiful flowing gown and rubbing her swollen belly as she sits waiting for Blair in the livingroom. She hasn't seen Blair yet and her face has a faraway look, almost bringing her to the level of angelic. Blair clears her throat and Serena turns and smiles, and it lights up the room as usual.
"Hey," Blair says, grateful to see her friend.
"I know you aren't having any attendants," Serena says, looking a little nervous, "but it's your wedding and I thought you'd like someone here to help you get ready."
Blair smiles warmly and throws her arms around Serena, pregnant belly and all.
"Thank you. I would really like that."
The rest of the morning is a whirlwind of activity. Blair sits patiently while her hair is filled with product, curled and styled. She doesn't move while her nails are buffed and shaped and covered with polish. She works to relax the muscles in her face while the makeup artist applies foundation, blush, mascara and all the trappings that will make Blair go from beautiful to breathtaking.
She slips into her gown and it's form-fitting, accenting her curvy figure, silk and tulle, and Blair loves how the dark fabric looks against her skin. She hears Serena take in a breath and she tells Blair that she looks stunning.
Dorota pokes her head into Bair's room where all the preparations are taking place and barks out a one hour warning.
The hairdresser returns and pins a single white anemone into Blair hair. She turns and looks into the mirror and sees someone she doesn't entirely recognize staring back at her. Serena is right. Blair looks stunning, a beautiful bride. Everything is perfect.
Dorota shoves some food into Blair's mouth, telling her no one needs to be married in the hospital after collapsing from a lack of eating, then the whole entourage is rushing out the door to the waiting cars. Serena holds Blair's hand the entire way to the Frick.
"This is real, isn't it?" Serena says to Blair. Blair nods. Yes, it's real. This is forever.
They're escorted to a bathroom that's been converted into a temporary dressing room and Blair sits down on a chair, her feet hurting a little from the strappy black heels she's wearing. Then she waits.
The guests start arriving. Serena pokes her head in and tells her about each group.
Rufus and Lily. Serena says her mom is wearing a diamond necklace that belonged to Cece. Rufus looks nice. He said to say 'hi' to Blair and he'll see her at the reception. Serena adds that Rufus told Lily that he's excited to have Blair as a daughter-in-law. Blair smiles. She's always liked Rufus.
"And," Serena adds, "this makes us kind of sisters."
Blair smiles. Yes, it kind of does.
Eric and his latest boyfriend. He looks really tan, must be that California sun. His hair is spikier than the last time Serena saw him. Serena tells Blair that she misses her little brother.
Nate is with Serena the next time she pokes her head in and he waves and tells Blair she looks amazing. Blair smiles and waves back.
Dorota, Vanye and the kids arrive. Serena says Dorota still looks a little stressed, but happy. Vanye says hello.
Next its Natasha, Blair's assistant, sitting alone and looking a little nervous. Blair had asked her to come since she'd been a wonderful assistant, and she would love to have her there. Blair is happy to have someone from her life in Paris here as well.
Her mom, Cyrus, her dad and his husband arrive together and Serena tells Blair they all gave her a big hug and Blair's dad congratulated her on the pregnancy. Blair tells Serena she'll probably get a nice present of trendy French baby clothes soon. Her dad is thoughtful that way. Cyrus asked how she's doing. Eleanor looks regal as ever. Blair expects nothing less from her mother who always knows how to dress for any occasion and look dignified. She could look dignified on a dude ranch.
Some writer friends of Dan's. A friend from California. Finally Serena pokes her head in and tells Blair that she thinks all the guests have arrived and it's time.
Blair takes a deep breath. She has butterflies in her stomach. Here she goes. Down this path again, and she thinks about Chuck and how he told her to marry Dan, how he told her that she had always loved Dan Humphrey and she needed to stop denying it. That nothing mattered beyond that. She didn't invite Chuck to the wedding. It would be awkward and strange, and she thinks he wouldn't have come anyway. But Blair mentally sends out her thanks to him as she stands in the hallway, about to walk down the aisle into the arms of the man she loves with every part of her being. If Chuck hadn't ripped open the truth and made Blair face reality, she may have never realized what she needed to do. She may have lost Dan.
The music starts and Blair steps forward, her mouth dry. She sees everyone's head turn around and their eyes are on her. She takes another step, trembling a little. Then another. Step by step, she somehow manages to make it to the front of the room. She turns to see Dan standing in the doorway, his eyes locked with hers.
He is wearing a black suit, a nice black tie and a stylish black and white plaid shirt, and Blair smiles. Plaid. His hair has been cut and gone are the unruly curls with a wiry gray hair sticking up here and there. It's shorter and styled and he looks handsome, so amazingly handsome. Blair watches as he walks towards her, taking in the angles of his face, his sharp jawline, the warmth in his eyes. He finally arrives next to her and he takes her hands in his.
"Hey," Dan says softly, so softly that no one else but Blair can hear him.
"Hey," she answers back.
"You look amazing," he says, glancing up and down, taking in her hair, her dress.
"So do you."
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
Blair is ready.
TBC