Dan loved Blair more than he did anyone else

You don’t have to be a Dan and Blair shipper to admit that this might have been true. Her heart was always with Chuck but from season 1 he was always there for her.

She was horrible to him but he still comforted her after her mothers photoshoot. She was the only one he didn’t write a bad word about in his book, his opinion about her was the best despite everything. Whenever Serena and Vanessa did something he would cut them off but wouldn’t with Blair because he would always try to see her in a good light afterwards.

He has obviously done his fair sure towards her and everyone else but I do think he loved her deeply, even if it was in a friendly way and not necessarily romantic. His ‘love’ for Serena always came off as more of an infatuation whereas with Blair it was more of a genuine appreciation for her. She did end up softening up to him but I don’t feel like she ever really loved him back.