Disclaimer: I don't own Gossip Girl and never will. Otherwise, Chuck would have gone to Tuscany with Blair and not listen to a word his total ass of a father said to him.

Author's Note: Hey! So, enjoy! This starts right after they get back together. :)

Songs I Listened To While Writing This Chapter: Just Let Go by Mae, Starlight by Muse, Say (All I Need) by OneRepublic

"There is so much that I could give to you.
Just say you want me to.
I know these roots could break the ground,
And in the meantime our leaves will turn.
But rest assured,
We'll get through anything.
Are you, are you falling for me
Like I'm falling for you?"

- Mae, Just Let Go

Chapter One: A Private Talk During The Reception

In the mix of the swaying couples on the dance floor, Chuck Bass and Blair Waldorf were making out with each other without a care in the world. They were no longer denying their feelings for each other. They knew something was there. Could it have been love? Neither knew nor cared at the moment.

Chuck pulled away giving out a, "Mm." He could tell Blair was confused since she frowned up at him. Chuck smiled down, in a way that was so un-Chuck like, at least in Blair's opinion, and said, "Let's take it slow this time. Do it right."

"Chuck Bass is a romantic?" Blair scoffed, amused. "Who knew?" She raised her eyebrows with that smirk of hers she knew Chuck loved.

With a smirk, Chuck whispered, "Now you do." Blair's mouth hung open out of shock. She felt a chill down her spine. "That's all that matters."

The two stared at each other for a second, smiles etched in place, making them look like fools in love. Finally, Blair let her one arm fall to her side and led Chuck off the dance floor, still holding one of his hands.

Once they were away from everyone else, Blair pressed Chuck up against a wall and kissed him with all the force that she could muster. Which actually was a lot. She started to pull him into the room where she and Serena had talked before the ceremony when Chuck's lips left hers. "What happened to taking it slow, Blair?" He smirked down at the brunette.

"I don't know." Blair sighed. "It's just...I've missed this, you know?" Hesitantly, she added, "You and me." It seemed as though it had been really hard for her to admit. Chuck understood perfectly why.

Which is the very reason why it took him a moment to reply, "Me too." That earned him a kiss from Blair in response.

"So..." Blair leaned in towards Chuck, her lips slightly brushing against his. "If I asked you..." Another kiss. "...could we stay..." This time Chuck kissed her. "...in here..." A longer kiss. "...until the reception ended?" Blair appeared to have lost her breath. She didn't care though. She kissed Chuck again, shutting the door behind them.

For some reason, Chuck pulled away as he drawled out, "Blair..." He frowned at her, as if in pain. He really seemed to be struggling to restrain himself. Only because he found her to irresistible, whether he liked it or not.

"Please..." Blair moaned. She craved for him, the way she that she used to. She could tell that he wanted her too.

Blair wrapped her arms around his neck,pressing her lips even harder against Chuck's. It seemed as though Chuck was finally giving into her demands. He kissed her back with the same amount of intensity as she had, if not more.

Somehow he managed to stop himself from going any further and pulled away. "Blair..." he said. "I really did wanna take this slow." Seeing Blair's frown, he quickly added, "At least, for us that is."

Because honestly, how long were they gonna hold out for? Neither seemed to want to wait now.

Blair pouted, and then sighed. She smiled as she realized that it was a good idea after all. "Really?" It was an understatement to say that Blair was shocked Chuck Bass could be romantic. Then again the guy was full of surprises.

"Of course." Chuck paused, noticing Blair's uneasiness. His frown remained on his face as he stared at her. "Why? Did you think I was lying?"

Blair lowered her eyes, ashamed of thinking Chuck could have been. She slowly looked back up at him, sighing, giving a smirk. "Well, you are Chuck Bass, after all..."

Chuck laughed at that. "True." He slid his arms around her waist, pulling her to him. "But I wasn't lying, Blair." Blair realized he was telling her the truth, completely taken aback. What was she supposed to say now?

"Good." Blair pressed her lips against his briefly before she went over to sit on the couch. She sat cross-legged, which to Chuck, seemed very unlike her. And yet, he didn't question her about it and simply joined her. He wrapped his arm around Blair, never wanting to let go of her again. She leaned into Chuck, so that she could feel the warmth from his body. Suddenly, her whole body felt hot. She was losing her breath.

Blair felt like she was in love. Except how was she? She didn't know. And how was she going to tell Chuck that?

I am NOT going to tell him that!

"What are you thinking so hard about, Waldorf?" Chuck's voice brought Blair back to reality. His eyes were focused completely on her, amusement shown on his face. "You're so quiet. Since when does Blair Waldorf have nothing to say?"

Blair simply shrugged, trying to hide how nervous she suddenly was. "There's nothing to say."

Chuck raised an eyebrow at that. "You sure about that?"

At a complete loss at what Chuck was trying to say, Blair frowned at him.

What the hell?

"Well, what am I supposed to be saying exactly?"

Only, Chuck didn't have an answer for her. He merely shrugged. "I don't know." He sighed. He really was hopeless with this relationship stuff. He had no idea how to talk to Blair now.

Great.

That's when guilt suddenly flooded Blair's mind when she realized she had never apologized for what she had done to Chuck with Nate.

Did she really need to? Chuck must have known why she did it, right? She had been upset and hurt and well, at the time, she had missed Nate. So, if everything was okay why did she feel so bad about it? Why did she immediately have to say she was sorry for that long ago mistake?

She thought she loved Chuck. That's why. But that part she was keeping secret for now. Once her heart agreed with her head she would tell him. "I'm sorry I ever went back to Nate."

"What?" It seemed like that was the last thing Chuck ever thought would come out of Blair's mouth. Well, the second. Luckily, she hadn't said what he had been worried she would say. He had come close to slipping it out himself during his best man's speech. Chuck wasn't sure if he was fully ready to declare those kinds of feelings. Or if he ever would be.

Feelings.

They were the only thing that frightened him.

Blair shook her head, with an understanding smile. "I get it now. That's why you were like that when I came to you at the bar." She took a deep breath. "You thought you were my second choice."

Now Chuck was truly baffled. Had he missed something? "Well, wasn't I?" Had Blair really missed him this whole time as much as he had missed her?

Sighing, Blair placed her hands in between Chuck's much larger ones. "No. You weren't." She glanced at the floor, her face feeling hot and probably turning red. God, how is it only Chuck could do this to her. "I..I thought you were, at first. But...well, one day I realized how you've always been there for me and how Nate hasn't been as much. You make me feel good about myself."

Blair couldn't help but add, "Well, usually. When you're not being a total ass." Chuck raised an eyebrow in response.

"Oh, right. Sorry. Cheap shot I guess." Blair giggled. "Anyway, I also realized when I'm with you I can be my true self. Only with you." She smiled up at Chuck, not once losing his gaze. "You've always been there for me."

Chuck actually looked guilty now. He somberly added, "Except for..."

"The one time," Blair finished, losing his gaze when she stared down at the ground. "Yeah. I know." She appeared to be gloomy and Chuck found that he didn't want her to be so he decided to try to cheer her up again.

"I'm sorry too." He took Blair's hand and started rubbing it, keeping his eyes there. Chuck wasn't sure if he could look her in the face while saying this. "For what I did," he added.

Blair smirked, catching his eye. "You know, you did already apologize..."

Chuck shrugged, smirking back at her. "I know, but I didn't actually say the 'sorry' part, did I now?"

Even though she knew damn well Chuck did apologize sometimes, Blair decided to tease him. "I'm amazed. Since when does Chuck Bass ever say 'I'm sorry'?"

"I always have. It's just certain people I say it to."

Blair perked up at that. "Lucky me, I guess." She gave him a chaste kiss on the lips. "So...what are we gonna do now?" She had asked innocently enough, but Chuck knew what Blair had meant and wanted with her devilious smirk.

Laughing, Chuck bent his head and whispered, "Come here." Blair eagerly obeyed him. They made out for a little while, not sure how much longer they would be together that night. Finally, Blair pulled away for air. She laid her chin on Chuck's shoulder. "I think I could get used to this."

"Really?" He had never totally heard Blair say something so positive about their relationship in the past. She had always made it out as though she thought they had been a mistake. Like Chuck had been a skeleton in her closet that Blair wanted to erase forever. And now here she was, in his arms, without a care in the world. God, how much things had changed.

"Mm-hmm." Blair seemed to be anxious about Chuck's reaction to her little confession. She raised her eyebrows in question. "Is that okay?"

Chuck slowly nodded. "Actually...yeah."

Wow.

Blair laid her head back on Chuck's chest and her arms were around his neck. Meanwhile, Chuck had his own arms wrapped around her and kissed her forehead. Blair sighed, peacefully.

That's when Chuck asked the stupid question he knew would be sure to make Blair laugh and instantly ruin this very rare peaceful moment between the two of them. And yet he still asked it. "So, what are your plans for the summer?"

Blair didn't laugh, but instead gave Chuck a look of suspicion. Still, she answered the random question. "Hmm, well, I was planning on visiting my father in France for a little while since I promised him I would. Then probably stay at the Hamptons for a bit once I get tired of Europe." She stared at him skeptically. "Why?"

Looking quite noncommitted to the current topic, Chuck shrugged. "Just curious, is all." But Blair didn't seem to be ready to budge off the conversation yet. She knew something had to be up.

"Chuck...I know you. What it is it?"

Chuck sighed, but gave in. He knew she would have gotten it out of him eventually. "Well, not that it's a big deal or anything but I was figuring since my dad is allowing me to take his private jet to Italy this year on business and you're going to France..."

"Yeah...?"

"Well, I'm going to Tuscany next week and I was wondering if you might want a ride to Europe."

Blair gave out a gasp. "Chuck, wait...Are you asking me to go to Tuscany with you?"

How romantic!

"I, well..." Chuck sighed. "Yes, Blair."

"Wow," Blair stared at the ground in shock. "I don't know what to say..." She shook her head, coming to her senses. "Of course I'll go!" She kissed him and smirked. "So much for taking it slow, Bass."

Chuck avoided her eyes, looking slightly uncomfortable. "It's not that huge of a deal, Blair."

"It is to me." She grinned up at him. "I think we're gonna be okay this time. I can feel it." Blair stared off dreamily. Was Chuck actually her prince charming? Whether he fit the part totally or not?

Well, he is handsome and rich. And a complete gentleman when he wants to be. Why not?

So what if it wasn't part of that silly fairytale movie of her life she had been writing in her head. So what if it wasn't Nate who was her male lead in it. So what if she was breaking all her own rules and expectations of being a Waldorf. At least she would have Chuck.

"You sure?"

Blair shook her head with that same grin. "It's like I told you, Chuck. I know you, you know me. I don't expect you to change. Even though, you kind of have already."

Chuck acted oblivious to her words. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Did he really not notice that he was? Or did Chuck really just not like change?

"Yes. You have, Chuck." Blair smirked, looking as though she was on the edge of laughter. "'Take it slow'?, ' Do it right'?, 'Come with me to Tuscany'?'" She shook her head. "Those don't sound like typical things coming from you. Face it, Bass. It seems you have changed."

Chuck smirked back, regaining his natural confidence. "Well, I blame you then."

"Oh, right. It's my fault." Blair rolled her eyes with a smile. "Well, I'm honored to be playing even a small role in your little personality transformation." She sighed; her expression now different. "But seriously, Chuck, you've been changing before today. I realized it yesterday actually while we were helping Serena out. I guess I just didn't want to admit it."

Chuck appeared to be shock but recovered quickly, his smirk returning. "Well, you've changed a lot, Waldorf. And I am proud to say I was the cause of it." He beamed, waiting for her snappy retort. Only, she didn't have one for a change.

"Well, thank you," was all she came up with. She had said it coolly but Chuck could tell she was joking.

His smooth response back: "No problem." That got Blair to relax a bit.

After that, she kissed Chuck until she realized that music could no longer be heard. Blair figured it was time for her to leave. Chuck tried to protest, but she shook her head. She kissed him, and then began to head towards the door. After all, this was the Palace Hotel. Chuck lived here. He didn't need to come along with her.

Only, a hand grabbed her arm from behind. Chuck. "Wait. At least let me give you a ride home."

"But--"

"No 'but's', Waldorf. I'm not taking 'no' as an answer."

"Fine." Blair sighed, taking Chuck's hand. Chuck seemed to be relieved she wasn't pushing the matter further.

Truthfully, Blair really wanted things good between her and Chuck again. She wanted this second chance with him. And now she was getting it. At that moment, Blair Waldorf realized she really could have be in love with Chuck Bass.

Author's Note: Did you like it? I hope so! :)

Also, Blair's line, "Well, I'm honored to be playing even a small role in your little personality transformation." was based off C and B's conversation in ep. 2. of G.G. In other words, the first moment I realized the pair had chemistry.

xoxo, ggfan1516 formerly hpchick1516

AKA

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