“Brandon…” Blair blinked, exasperated. It had been about six months since she had last seen him. “What… What are you doing here?”

“Umm… I was… This sounds really cheesy and stuff, but my car broke down.” He pointed to her driveway, where the Chevy sat. Blair bit her lip, unsure. She was still mad at him for cheating on her, twice, but she figure she should be the bigger person. She allowed him entrance.

“I think I still have that tee-shirt you let me borrow and Alicia’s brothers pants from when he was here a few years ago…” She reminisced on the quick one night fling she and David, Alicia’s older brother, had had before he left for the army.

“Thanks. I’ll go take a shower, if that’s alright.”

“That’s perfectly fine.” She pursed her lips in an awkward smile at him. “You know where the bathroom is.”

“Thanks. And Blair-” Blair stopped him. He looked like he was about to apologize and that was the last thing she wanted.

“Brandon. Please, right now is not the time.”

He sighed, pursing his lips at her and headed to the bathroom. Blair sighed and flew back on her couch, exhausted. She heard the water run and took it as a chance to check her phone.

One text, from Dex. She opened it and read it. “Blair. Please. Let’s talk in the office tomorrow. I have a lot of explaining to do.”

Blair groaned, tossing her head back. She had no idea what to do. She accepted Chris’s date, Brandon was in her house, and her boss was… Well, being himself. His bossy, demanding, loving, exaggerating, crazy, funny, cocky, sexy, sweet, smart, adorable self and she was getting whiplash from the sudden amount of testosterone in her life.

She grabbed a pillow, screaming into it like a fifteen year old girl. “God, dammit!” she yelled, absurdly frustrated.

Deciding that this was an appropriate time, she went into her cabinets, grabbed some wine, and inhaled it. The sensation burned her throat. She winced, clearing her throat and washing the cup.

She groaned, unsure of what to do. Brandon was probably gonna be there a while… He always delayed on calling a tow-truck because he usually had to talk to his insurance company and they were assholes, to say the least. He had usually called Blair whenever his tire was flat or he ran out of gas. It happened way more often then necessary, but Blair was always there for him. He would probably be there until tomorrow.

Blair looked at the time. It was nearly eleven already. She bit her lip. Alicia was out by now and at home with Johnny. She sighed and dialed her friend’s number.

When Alicia picked up, she said, “Hello?”

“Alicia?” Blair said timidly.

“Hey, Blair! What’s up?” Alicia asked.

“So… Um… Funny story… Brandon’s back.”

Alicia must have been stunned, because she was quiet for a minute. “What do you mean he’s back?” she said after a moment of silence. “That good for nothing asshole is there? With you? In your living room?”

“He’s actually in my bathroom, showering.”

Alicia scoffed. “Blair, are you fucking insane? He cheated on you!”

Blair groaned. “I know. And I feel terrible…” She paused. “He told me why he’s here, but I’m not a hundred percent sure I believe it. I just… Ugh. Don’t even know what to do…”

“Well, he’s there for something. How much you wanna bet his whore dumped him for another STD-ridden jock? Oh, he missed you.” Sarcasm dripped from her voice.

“Tell Blair hi for me! Hi, Blair!” Blair heard Johnny say from the opposite end of the line. She couldn’t help but smile, until she heard a door slam, indicating that Alicia was mad at Johnny still.

“What did he say?” Alicia asked. “Why is he there?”

“Well, umm… He said his car broke down.” She heard Alicia groan and could almost see the blond rolling her eyes. “I mean, I sort of believe it. You know how he is… His car is always breaking down.”

There was a long pause of silence. Blair furrowed her eyebrows together. “Alicia? You there?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah… Hold on. I think we have guests…” Blair waited until Alicia said, “Do you know anyone who drives a white Honda civic?”

“Uh, no.”

“Okay. Lemme go downstairs.”

Blair head a door shut close. “Alicia? I need help. What do you think? Did his car really break down?”

“Yeah, Blair. And I’m a virgin. He says his car broke down, but he just wants to fuck…” Alicia’s voice trailed off as Blair chewed nervously on her thumb nail.

“…you. Blair, sweetie, I gotta go. Gotta take out the trash.” She hung up so quickly, Blair couldn’t even say goodbye. She groaned tossing her head back.

“Hey, Blair,” Brandon said after Blair had taken a few moments of silence and peace and worry. She looked up. “Um… Can we… Can we talk?”

“Look, Brandon,” Blair said, scratching her the back of her neck. “There’s nothing to talk about.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “You cheated on me and that’s that. There’s nothing else to the story.”

“Except that I never got to properly apologize.” She gave him a flat stare. “I know I asked for a second chance and I completely understand why you won’t give it to me. I deserve it. I hurt you twice and that’s the last thing I ever want to do, but you have to hear me out.

“That night was the worst night of my life, or so I thought. And ever since then, I’ve been dreading every moment living, every second breathing, because I was doing it without you in my life. You are the reason I am up all night, thinking and pondering thoughts about the future we would have had. You were right to walk out on me. I don’t blame you. If I were you, I would have done the same, but Blair, I miss you.

“I miss you, and I love you, and I can’t imagine a world without you. I haven’t slept with anyone since that night. But that’s because I can’t imagine being without you. Blair… You mean everything to me and it pains me so much to know that I hurt you. To know that I’m the reason you’ve been heartbroken. And that’s the last thing I want. All I want is for you to be happy.

“And I really want a second chance with you… Or a third chance… I’m so sorry, Blair. I never wanted to hurt you and it was a mistake and I regret every moment of my stupidity. I really miss you, Blair… Please. Take me back.”

Blair bit her lip, actually considering it. But she didn’t love Brandon anymore. She loved Dex. All she wanted was Dex, even if he didn’t want her. She wasn’t going to get back with Dex, however, and she most certainly wasn’t going to get back with Brandon. She wasn’t stupid enough to make the same mistake twice.

Just as she was about to reason with herself and Brandon, there was a knock on the door. Brandon looked at her desperately, but Blair held up an index finger, wondering who could be knocking at this hour.

She opened the door and was face-to-face with-

“Dex?” she gasped. His light brown eyes searched Blair’s face. She bit her lip so hard, she could taste metal, reminding her of the first time she worked for Dex and she had caught him and Alicia having sex on Alicia’s priceless Porsche.

“Blair. I need to talk to you and it can’t wait for tomorrow. I really need you to listen to me. I’m so sorry and you don’t understand how I feel right now. You don’t understand this ‘spell’ I’m under. You don’t understand how bad I feel right now and how I wish I could mend your broken heart and how much I lo-” Dex stopped abruptly, leaving Blair curious. She had forgotten about Brandon.

“Um, hi?” Dex said awkwardly to Brandon. “I’m Dex Richards. And you are…?”

“Hi, Dex. I’m Brandon. Blair’s fiancé.”

Blair widened her eyes in shock. “Ex-fiancé, Brandon. I never said yes.”

“But you never said no,” he said hopefully, albeit his frown would say differently.

Blair sighed. “Look, Brandon. I will never stop loving you.” Dex grunted and Brandon smiled smugly. “And when I say that, I mean, I love you. I’m not in love with you anymore. I’ve fallen out of love with you with the help of someone very close to me.” She turned to Dex, who was looking at her softly but his lips showed a beaming smile. “I still want to be friends with you, however.”

“I get it… Well, if I can’t be married to you, at least you’re in my life… Um… You two look like you want some alone time, so… I’m gonna head up to the guest room.” Blair and Dex watched him walk off and Blair sighed in relief, until Dex spoke up. God, how he worked her nerves.

“What was that about?” he demanded.

“His car broke down. What was I supposed to do? Leave him in the freezing rain?”

“Obviously not, but shouldn’t a tow truck have come by now?”

“Just trust me, okay? And what’s it to you anyway?” Blair frowned. Dex’s forehead cresed and he groaned.

“What’s it-? Blair. I’m crazy about you. I can’t stop thinking about you. I miss you. I need you.”

“What about Dianne? Looks like you need her too!”

“What on earth are you talking about?” he asked, baffled.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. When we were in the hospital and you and Johnny went for a ‘walk.’ I saw Dianne pressed up against you. Why didn’t you push her away?”

“Didn’t… I did! I pushed that psycho bitch off of me because you were the only one on my mind. I’m crazy about you, Blair! Can’t you see that?”

“If that’s the case, why didn’t you ever ask me out?”

“Because I was scared!” he said loudly. He grabbed Blair by the shoulders, his angry glare turning soft and welcoming, along with his velvety voice. “I was scared.”

“You were scared? But, why?” Blair asked, her heart melting, despite all her brain’s fights. Her decision of not taking Dex back-her stubbornness-disappeared with a roll of thunder.

“Because, Blair, I didn’t want you to reject me. I can handle any woman turning me down, but I could never feel complete without you. The first day you walked in my office, despite all of my attractions towards Alicia, I knew there was something special about you. Underneath the frumpy dresses and stiletto heels, I knew there was something about you that would drive me crazy. Little did I know that I would fall in love with you.” He smiled softly at Blair.

“Blair, I don’t know how you did it, but you are making me fall head over heels in love with you. You’re the reason I wake up every morning, happy. The reason I breathe and live and do anything at all. But I’ve taken you for granted so far and I don’t want to. You’re too special to take for granted. Blair, you’re my sun, my moon, my sky, clouds, stars, and air. You get on my nerves sometimes, but it drives me insane and I just can’t help but wonder how you did it. You are the reason I want to settle down and have a family. The reason I’ve stopped seeing other women. The reason that nothing is good enough for me without you because you make it perfect.

“Blair, I want to be with you, forever and always. I want you to be my wife and have my kids-”

“Well, well, well… Look what we have here,” a raspy voice said. Blair’s tearful eyes looked over to her door, where the voice was coming from. “Blair and Dex… Well, Dex. I have some news for you!”

“Dianne. What do you want?” Blair asked, giving Dianne the amber death glare.

“Oh, I just want to tell Dex a little something if you don’t mind… Dex, remember how you said you would want Blair to be the mother of your kids?” Dex nodded slowly, seeming curious, and looked at Blair suspiciously. She gave him a sheepish look. “Guess what! She is! Blair is pregnant with your baby!”

Dianne looked like she had won a million dollars.

“Oh, and that’s not all. Get this. She has a date with her OB later on this week.”

Scratch that. A billion dollars.

Blair gasped, having forgotten about Chris. “Oh, my God…”

“That’s right,” Dianne said with a smirk, “don’t think I’ve forgotten about your date.”

“I have to cancel it.”

Dex looked at Blair, his face pained. “Blair. You were going on a date with someone else?”

“Only because I thought you and crazy psychotic bitch were back together. And besides, you never asked me out, so I figured that it would be okay if I go on a date, but it was a huge mistake.”

“No, Blair. You of all people should know mistakes don’t happen on purpose.” Blair flinched, remembering how she had said those words to Brandon. “Look, I gotta go… I’ll see you in the office.” He was about to walk out, when he looked as if he’d forgotten something. He walked over to Blair, got on his knees, and said to their baby, “I’ll always be here for you. I love you.”

Blair couldn’t help but think that there was double-meaning to Dex’s last words as he walked out. Her suspicions were confirmed when he winked at her when he left, Dianne in front of him. She smiled girlishly at him and walked up the stairs to bed. There, her thoughts roamed over Dex and what on earth his plan could be.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dex drove himself and Dianne to his house. “Can you believe her?” Dianne asked.

Dex, mentally rolling his eyes, responded, “No. No, I can’t.”

He smirked to himself as Dianne talked on and on about them and their future as he thought about Blair and the baby. His baby.

He wanted to throw Dianne out of his car, not caring if she was run over or raped, and go back to Blair. He wanted to kick Brandon out. He wanted to marry Blair, and not because he’d impregnated her, but because he wanted to be with her and only her, forever and always, because he loved her.

Now, if only if he knew whether or not she loved him too.