Title: All That Glitters

Authors: Sara And Lizzie

Rating: T for language, mild sex

Disclaimer: We don't own Gossip Girl. Obv.

Summary: Four years after they graduated from Yale, Blair is engaged. Chuck is in Europe. On his 26th birthday, faced with the choice of staying in Europe or coming home to run Bass Industries, Chuck learns of her engagement, and goes home to win back the only thing he ever really wanted.

Author's Note: Couldn't resist.

REVIEW.

Do you think about me now and then, cause I'm coming home again. Maybe we can start again. – Kanye West

He was at a crossroads. Which was fucking pathetic, because people with the kind of money and power he had weren't supposed to be smoking cigarettes nostalgically staring at a fucking skyline, wondering if they could go back to what they had left behind, or if it really was too late. It was his twenty sixth birthday, or at least it would be in six minutes when the clock hit midnight in London. For four years, he had worked with the European branch of the company. Fucked around, and drank away the days. Twenty six, and faced with the decision he had known was coming since he was eighteen. Come back to New York and be groomed to take over Bass industries, or take his inheritance and remain in solitude. Four minutes left to decide.

Polishing off his tumbler, Chuck lit a second cigarette off of the first and winced as he inhaled. He hardly ever smoked anymore, but he could remember how it smelled when she did, how it tasted on her lips, how it mixed with her perfume. Three minutes to decide his entire fucking future. And really, he didn't care about the company. It all came down to her. He was afraid to go home, because she was at home, and what if she didnt want to see him? Chuck Bass had never been afraid of anything in his entire life except for losing Blair Waldorf. Two minutes. On the roof deck overlooking London, he wrestled with himself against the chill of fall. He felt a vibration in his pocket, and thinking it was the call from his father, he pulled the phone out slowly. Serena.

"My long lost sister." He said gamely into the phone. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"She's getting married." Serena blurted out. Few things truly shocked Chuck Bass, but this was one announcement that sent his entire world reeling; he swore London stopped for a moment. "We didn't know if we should tell you," Serena continued, "But she's not happy, Chuck, she's up here engaged and she looks miserable and I know you still love her, and I just thought, we just thought, that you should know." He hung up the phone worldlessly both infuriated and relieved that someone had made the impossible choice for him. His phone buzzed again and this time he knew who it was.

"Happy birthday." his father said.

"I hope you got me an outrageously expensive gift. I'll be home tomorrow to open it."

"I'm glad to hear it, Charles." Bart said. "I'm really proud."

"You will be." Chuck promised, hanging up the phone. "And so will Blair." he said into the night. He poured another scotch from the bottle he had brought to the roof, and drained it. He poured another, and then one more, afraid to stop drinking. God knows what a clear head would do to him now. One of the girls who had been making eyes at him inside the party in the building below suddenly appeared on the roof in front of him. Chuck blinked a few times, but couldnt remember her name.

"It's officially your birthday." she purred, stepping close to him. "Let me give you your present." Her lips crushed on his, but Chuck pushed her away.

"I already got my present." he told her.

"What could possibly be better than what I could give you?" she demanded.

"A second chance." Chuck said. "I have to go." He jogged towards the door, towards New York, towards Blair.