Even in death Georgina looked beautiful. She was older then the last time he saw her. But her pale skin was still perfect. Her lips full but with soft lines at the corners. The dark tumble of her hair was a contrast to the white silk lining of the coffin. Small hands, fingers bedecked with diamonds, were folded over the expensive lace shirt she wore.

Dan looked away from the casket to glance over gathering of people in the church. It was a typical upper east side event. All the rich and famous out in their beautiful, sparkling clothing. He had spent the last fifteen years removed from this sort of thing. But he couldn't skip out on this one. They hadn't parted on good terms and hadn't spoken in years but that didn't mean he wished her any harm. The plane accident was a certifiable tragedy.

His eyes stopped on a young man in the front row and his breath hitched heavy in the back of his throat. The teenager was sitting awkwardly in the pew, staring straight ahead with red rimmed eyes. The dark mop of his hair fell over his forehead, his lips pressed into a firm line. The striking realization hit Dan like a ton of bricks.

Milo. The memories of that sweltering summer in New York came rushing back. Cradling the small child he thought was his, the baby he was prepared to take care of even after he found the truth. The tiny little boy that he had loved. It had broken his heart when Georgina came and took her soon away. Eventually life had led him away to other pursuits. But he never forgot that small life that he had thought was a part of him.

His eyes shifted away as the minister begins the eulogy. It would be rude to stare when Milo was so obviously mourning the loss of his mother and his father.

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"Hello Mr Humphrey, this is Emma Woodson." An unfamiliar woman's voice came through the office phone. Normally his secretary screened his calls but when she was on lunch he always answered them himself. Felt like it kept him grounded some how while he sat in his high rise office building.

"What can I do for you, Miss Woodson?" Dan asked in a jovial tone while glancing over the paperwork in front of him. Quickly he set it in his to do box before moving on to the next item awaiting him.

"I'm from the New York children's protective service. I'm calling regarding Milo Sparks." The name set his heart into a leap. His hands dropped the article he was holding. Slowly he leaned back in his chair all other work forgotten.

"Um, okay," He responded slowly forking a hand through his air.

"As I am sure you know both of Milo's parents have recently passed away."

"I was at the funeral." He mouth felt suddenly dry.

"I understand this must be a delicate matter for you Mr Humphrey but as you are Milo's only remaining parent, his legal guardianship has now fallen to you." Her voice was quiet and filled with sympathy but that doesn't stop the shock that courses through him.

"Excuse me?" Dan got up from his chair, took a few long paces from his desk.

"I gather you barely know your son, Mr Humphrey. But it is our policy to speak with any remaining parents before the child is placed in foster care." He stood stock still in front of one of the large windows of his office. His name was on the birth certificate. He signed it the day Milo was born in the hospital, the same day he cut the umbilical cord. He had always assumed Georgina had it changed.

"Wait, you're saying I am Milo's legal guardian?" Dan asked turning to lean his back against the wall.

"Yes, Mr. Humphrey. That is exactly what I am saying." The social worker said slowly almost as if she was talking to a small child. This couldn't actually be happening. These sorts of things didn't happen to people like him. Actually no, correction, this was exactly the sort of thing that happened to him.

"What does Milo think about all of this?" Dan tried to picture the sullen, sad teenager he had spotted at the funeral.

"He seems to be coping well." She responded and he wondered just how much time she was actually spending with him. Losing two parents in a plane crash couldn't be an easy thing to deal with. And now the idea that he might end up living with a total stranger? Talk about having your life turned upside down.

"Can I meet him? Talk to him before this is all decided?" Dan asked during an exhaled breath. It was a lot to take in. He would need time to process this, to work it over and over in his head. But he knew some where deep under all his anxiety all that mattered was the boy. Milo needed to be taken care of.

"I don't see any problem with that. I'll speak with Milo and have my secretary phone you to arrange a place and time." Miss Woodson eventually responded evenly.

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Surprisingly he had never been to this particular coffee shop on the Upper East Side. It was exactly what he expected though. Glossy floors and high prices, too strong coffee and people on laptops ever where. He sat opposite the door with an untouched cappuccino in front of him. A stack of work waited on the table but he hadn't even looked at it. The knot in his stomach was too distracting.

At exactly eleven thirty the door swung open and revealed Milo walking along side a well dressed smart looking woman. He was in a dark suit and his hair was combed back to reveal features that were very Georgina. Dan quickly gathered up his work and tucked it away. He got to his feet as they approached.

"Mr Humphrey?" The woman greeted him and he forced himself to shift his eyes from Milo to her. He summoned up an awkward smile.

"Hello Miss Woodson," he greeted her in a smooth voice. At least he hoped it was smooth. The last thing he wanted her to see was how nervous he was. She smiled and placed a hand on Milo's shoulder who turned his dark eyes on her.

"Milo, I'll be just over there." She nodded to a booth across the room, "If you need anything at all then just say so."

"Yes, Ma'am." Milo's voice was quiet. She glanced again at Dan before patting Milo on the shoulder and moving away.

"Can I uh, get you a coffee or anything?" Dan asked as he slowly back sat down at the table. Milo sunk down into the chair across from him. A moment of quiet passed between them as Milo's inspecting gaze took all of him in.

"No, thank you sir." Milo responded eventually. Dan raised his brows and couldn't resist chuckling a little.

"You can just call me Dan." He smiled a little and cleared his throat. Silence passed as he lifted his coffee and took a sip. It was cold and way too bitter.

"I know you're not my father." Milo blurted out the words at last. It caused Dan to let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding in. The tension in the air decreased dramatically. At least he wasn't going to have to let that particular cat out of the bag.

"There was a while when I thought I was, when I wanted to be." Dan said quietly spinning his cup slowly between his hands.

"I know. My mother showed me the story you wrote about me in the New Yorker last year."

"You saw that?" Dan can't help but feel surprised. He didn't expect Georgina to even read it let alone show it to Milo. The story had been filled with the emotion of that summer, something he had never dared to write about before. A tale of a son lost and a father slashed to ribbons. His editor said it was one of the best things he had ever written.

"I used to write you, when uh, when you were younger. But she asked me to stop. Thought it would be confusing to you when you were older." Dan spoke up trying to force his mind into the present.

"I read the cards and the letters. She gave them to about two years ago. I think she kind of always wanted you to be my Dad." Milo shrugged a little and Dan leaned back in his seat. He had never thought, never even considered that Georgina would mention him to her son. After their few disastrous weeks in Rome that summer they had barely spoken. He had never published the book she had helped him write and he knew that annoyed her to no end.

Milo was looking away from him now, staring down at the table. He seemed different then his mother and yet looked so much like her. But the thing Dan saw the most was a boy, not quite a man, who found himself lost in the world.

"You don't have to make a decision now, Milo. But I want you to know that you can move in with me if you want. It's bound to be awkward at first but I'm prepared to muddle through it if you are."

"Thank you, sir." Milo responded with a deep breath.

"What are your other options? In terms of living arrangements." Dan couldn't help but ask. It would be easy enough to prove he wasn't Milo's father if he decided to go some where else. What would happen to Milo if it came to that?

"My grandfather in Switzerland. I've never met him. Or foster care."

"Heh. Two men you have never met or complete strangers. I don't envy you, Milo. But I'm here to support you if you need anything. Anything at all." Dan nodded knowing that the words were true as soon as he spoke them.

"If I came to live with you would you send me back to boarding school?" Milo asked briefly glancing up at him before diverting his gaze again. Ah, so that explained all the sirs. Of course Georgina would have sent him to the best European school she could afford.

"No, not unless that was you wanted. But you'd be more then welcome to stay here in the city with me. In fact I think the fall semester at St Judes is due to start in a few weeks. Its a good school. And there's an extra bedroom in my loft that would be all yours."

"Do you want me to come live with you?" Milo asked suddenly meeting and holding his gaze steadily for the first time the whole conversation.

"Yes, Milo. I do." Dan answered simply surprising himself at just how much it was true.

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Summer 2012

Italy

"You mean to tell me after all the work we've done you don't even plan on publishing it?" Georgina asked her voice laced with rage. He looked up from the illuminated screen of his laptop and sighed.

"I'm sorry Georgina, I just can't."

"It's because of her, isn't you? You're still in love with Blair Waldorf." Her voice was accusatory. He slumped back in his chair and didn't deny it because it was true. "Dan?" she grabbed a pillow from near by and threw it at him.

"We never should have come here together." He says finally. She lets out a huff and crosses her arms.

"You're right about that. Why I followed you to some ridiculous writers retreat in Italy is beyond me. I'm going home." It was a firm statement. It was also pretty obvious she expected him to stop her as she started throwing things into her suitcase. But her just sat there watching her storm around the room careless of the space and his things.

"You are a coward, Daniel Humphrey." She hissed out before turning and heading through the small door of their cottage. The door slammed hard behind her and he was alone.