Disclaimer: It's been a while but I'm back haha. :) As per usual, I still own nothing! Enjoy! :)
Chapter 22.
"Hey, uhh, Serena. It's me, umm, Dan. We umm... we need to talk. I - I need to talk to you. I'll be waiting for you... I'll be at Central Park. I don't exactly know if you'll even show up but just know that I'll be waiting for you, for uhh... For however long it takes. There's something you need to know, something I need to tell you. Uhh... so, that's it. Umm.. bye." Beep.
No matter how hard she tried, still, her face broke into a smile upon hearing Dan's voice for the fourth time. She had been with Eric, visiting their parents at the penthouse and they were having so much fun, with the rest of the wedding planning and everything - Serena's excited since a lot has already been discussed and she was scheduled for dress fitting sometime within the month. Her dress will be a Waldorf exclusive, being made just for her, so it makes her all too excited to see what Blair made for her.
So, it was just when she got back to her place that she noticed that Dan left her a message. She didn't listen to it immediately, but instead, she listened to the message after showering. Her mind goes back to years before, at the ballet, after she ended it with Colin Forrester as she heard a pretty similar message coming from Dan.
'Hey Dan! I don't know where you are right now but I just got back to my place and... I was wondering if we could meet... I - Sorry, umm... Anyway, I'll wait outside for you. Would it be cheesy of me to say 'for however long it takes'? Bye.'
She had called him then, to tell him that she chooses him, that she loves him, that she wants to be with him. But Nate had showed up that night, before Dan arrived; hence, her still not choosing between them that night - even though she had already picked Dan.
And now, hearing that message... What was he going to tell her? Was he going to tell her how kissing her at Nate's party and the one before that was just a mistake? That he regrets that it happened? Because, for her, no matter how hard she tried, even though she knows she should, she can't make herself regret the kiss because when his lips touched hers and her hands found its way around his neck and his hands gripped her waist and he pulled her closer to him - it felt right, felt like forever.
Or was he going to tell her what she wants to hear? That he already broke up with Georgina and that he still loves her and he never stopped? That he will do everything to get her back? And he doesn't even have to try that hard... She still loves him and she wants to be with him again, try to fix everything and go back to being the Dan and Serena that she imagined they would be when she told her mom way back in high school about her and Dan being forever.
Well, might as well get this thing over with. She's never going to get answers to her questions if she doesn't go and talk to Dan so, might as well head to Central Park. She grabs her coat draped on the couch before grabbing her purse and her phone.
She's in the process of putting on her coat as she was opening the door but suddenly, she stops, stumbles back a few steps due to shock to see a figure standing outside her door, fist raised, ready to knock.
"Dan!"
He immediately shifts in his spot, averts his gaze on the ground.
"Dan, what - what are you doing here?"
"I know I said I would wait for you at Central Park so I went there and waited for you but then I realized that there is a big chance that you wouldn't show up and I just - I couldn't wait any longer."
"What? Dan, I was just about to go -"
"I love you."
"Wha - what?" She staggered back a little - as if the words had pushed her to stumble.
"God, I love you Serena."
"Dan..."
"I know this probably isn't the best time to say this to you but I just - Serena, I just I can't keep it any longer.."
"But Georgina..." Serena trailed off, immediately thinking about the brunette who is Dan's girlfriend.
"I broke up with her."
"You and Georgina broke up?"
"Yeah. Because I realized - I finally admitted to myself that I love you. I still do. I never stopped, I never will." He claimed, grabbing both her hands, pulling her a little closer to him. "I love you Serena van der Woodsen. Always have, always will."
Her breath hitched as soon as those words left his mouth. Always have, always will. Just like what she told him at Blair's wedding to Louis many years ago. Does he mean the same as she did when she uttered those same words to him?
"Dan, I -"
"I know you think it's too soon. And it probably is but I just - god, Serena. I know I've hurt you so much. I know I have a lot to make up for, but I - I'm prepared to do anything. I will do everything to win you back. I know... I know I've made heartbreaking mistakes over the years and I just keep on hurting you and I'm just.. I'm sorry."
"Dan..." She whispers, feeling a little too overwhelmed by the situation. It wasn't like she didn't hope something similar to this would happen because even Eric knows she's thought about this every once in a while. But standing there, right now, as the words fly out of Dan's mouth, she just can't help but feel a little overwhelmed.
"Serena, please..." Dan takes both of her hands in his, looking at her longingly, lovingly and it's the same look he's given her many moons back - that 'no one's ever looked at me the way you just did' look - and she starts to believe in him, in them, in forever.
'I like the way I feel when he looks at me... Like - like I wanna believe in myself.'
"I love you. I knew I loved you since I saw you at that party where everyone thought my name was Matt and we talked about Hello Kitty of all things - which, I know you don't remember." He feels more confident when he saw her try to hide her smile. "I love you because you were the one that asked me out on a date and told me that I can't be worse that the guys you know. I love how independent you are. I love how you put your best friends' happiness before your own, even though it hurts you so much. I love you because you wanted a 'Dan Humphrey' date rather than dinner on a five-star restaurant. I love you because even though you have every reason to hate me and to never want to talk to me ever again, you still forgave me."
She lets out a strangled giggle and she squeezes his hands lightly.
"I've always loved that little laugh of yours. I love you, Serena. I just - I love you." Dan smiles nervously at her. "I love that when I see or do something that amazes me, you are the first person I thought of calling - even when you were away and I thought you hated me. I love that every time I ride the vespa, or see chocolate covered strawberries at the store, I think about you. I love how seeing you smile makes my whole day. And I'm sorry."
His hands went up to touch her cheek, to wipe away the tears threatening to fall from her eyes and he gives her a weak smile which she returned.
"Serena, I'm so sorry for everything. I'm so sorry for hurting you, for cheating on you..."
"Dan.."
"No, Serena let me say how sorry I am, please." He continues once she nodded. "I'm sorry for cheating on you, with Georgina of all people. It's not one I'm proud of. I'm sorry that even though she's the reason why we broke up, I still had the nerver to date her - I never should've done that. I didn't even love her. And I'm sorry - Serena, I'm very sorry that I let your father get into my head, that I let him bribe me into leaving you. I thought it was what was best for you. He told me that I didn't deserve someone like you, that you deserve better than Dan Humphrey. And I'm sorry that I didn't fight for you, for us. But I'm going to fight now. For you, for us. I don't care if your dad doesn't accept me, or if Blair doesn't. All that matters to me is you, that you accept me back, that you'll forgive me entirely and that you'll take me back. I would do everything. Please, Serena, just give me a chance."
They just stood there, not saying a word for what feels like hours - but really just a few minutes. And with every minute that Serena doesn't utter a word, Dan feels his confidence slipping. Maybe she doesn't want this. So he simply lets out a deep sigh.
"You told me that you and I are forever. I still believe that. I know it's true because you are the love of my life, Serena and I don't know - I guess I'm just hoping I'm yours too."
'I know this may sound crazy or selfish or like I'm living in the past or something. But you were the love of my life, Dan. And I don't know - I guess I just thought I was yours too.'
And with one final longing look at the blonde - the love of his life - before finally letting go of her hands and turning around to walk away.
"Dan, wait."
It was muttered so softly he's not even sure how he heard it. But he did and when a soft hand wrapped around his wrist, he's pretty damn sure he heard her right. He turns around to find her smiling softly at him.
"Serena..."
"I still believe in it too. You are the love of my life, Dan. And I love you, Dan Humphrey. Always have... Always will."
She lets out a somewhat strangled laugh and he does the same. He takes a few steps to close the distance between them before wrapping his arms around her while whispering I love yous and I'm sorrys and he feels her arms wrap around him as well and he lets out a sigh and kisses her hair repeatedly.
"I love you. I love you. God, I love you Serena."
He pulls away for just a bit so that he could see her face and she's smiling - and god, she's so beautiful. He cups her face in his hands before leaning in and pressed their foreheads together. He's looking deeply in her eyes and she's got tears in her eyes so wipes them away before closing the distance - their lips meeting in the middle.
She smiles into the kiss and tangles her hands into his hair, tugging at it to pull him closer. Their lips met again and again - showing each other how much they love one another. And when air was finally necessary, they pulled away, smiling at each other.
"I love you."
"I love you too, Dan."
.to be continued.
A/N: So, here you guys are... Chapter 22! I'm really really super sorry about the delay of posting this new chapter. I wanted it to be perfect and I think it turned out pretty well, I don't know. What do you guys think? Anyways, another reason for the delay is because we just had our final examinations so I was busy with school and academics and all that, but that's all over now so hopefully, I'll be able to post a new chapter sooner.
Also, this sorry is far from over. Just so you know. :) And, don't worry I will NEVER abandon this story. Unless, it is marked as 'Complete', it is guaranteed that a new chapter is coming. There might be some delays but I WILL FINISH THIS STORY!
And also, I didn't have a chance to check this for any spelling or grammar mistakes, so if there are any, I apologize for it. I just finished this and I wanted to post it immediately because I know this is probably waaaay overdue. Haha.
Again, I apologize for the delay. But I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Yay! Dan and Serena are finally back together! What do you guys think? I'd really like to hear your thoughts and whatnot, so please, kindly leave a review. Like I always say, they are very much appreciated and loved.
I'm working on the next chapter so watch out for it. :) xx