Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. They belong to Cecily von Zeigesar and The CW.
Greetings all. In honor of the season premiere of the final season (sniffle, sniffle), here is the start of the next epic adventure of my Chair saga.
This story starts off about a year after "Uh-Oh" ended. Enjoy.
"Blair Cornelia Waldorf," the NYU university facility president read, "Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design, summa cum laude."
Blair took a deep breath as she started across the stage in her cap and gown. The largest cheer of the ceremony arose from the family section. Blair's eyes scanned the crowd to see her family had risen to their feet to cheer for her accomplishment. She shook the hand of the University Chancellor, received her gift from the university's alumni's president, and then accepted her rolled up certificate of attendance from the Dean of Admissions who winked at her in recognition before he then nodded in the direction of her stepfather, Cyrus. Blair whispered a thank you to the man for the part he played in her getting accepted to the university four years earlier before she continued across the stage.
As she turned to acknowledge her family, she beamed with pride. She knew her father was ready with his camera and long lens, which allowed him to zoom in for the perfect shot. As she scanned her family, her eyes locked with those of the one that meant the most, Chuck.
Chuck fought back tears as Blair's name was called. If it was possible, he was more proud of her accomplishment that she was. Finally, after four years, she was a college graduate. All her hard work and sacrifices she had made had led to this moment. All the adversity that they'd overcome together made this moment even sweeter.
Blair's radiant smile as she stepped across the stage after receiving her diploma stopped his heart for a moment. In his breast pocket was a special gift he intended to give her that evening, not an engagement ring as she still wanted to wait a little while longer, but still it was a special gift that he hoped Blair would appreciate. He'd wracked his brain for months to come up with something special enough to mark the occasion.
After the processional of graduates was reseated, the master of ceremonies wrapped up the commencement ceremony by announcing the graduating class. The graduating student body rose from their seats and tossed their caps in the air before they fanned out to find their families.
Blair ran straight into Chuck's outstretched arms and held him tight as he proclaimed how much pride and love he had for her in that moment. From behind she could hear the shutter of her father's camera as he was determined to capture every single moment of his daughter's big day, but nothing else mattered at the moment other than the joy she felt by being in her lover's arms.
"No more late night study sessions, no more long evenings at the library, no more worries about exams, I feel so liberated," Blair laughed as she emerged from Chuck's embrace to accept the congratulations from the rest of her family and friends that had attended the event.
"Now the real world comes calling," Serena chimed in, effectively killing Blair's happy buzz for a moment.
"Bring it on," Blair challenged, "I'm ready to take on the entire world if I have to." She began to laugh at the absurdity of her statement before she thought to amend it. "At least the fashion world."
"Blair, I have never been prouder of you than I am at this moment," her mother proclaimed as she engulfed her in a hug.
"That goes double for me," Cyrus added as he hugged both his women tight.
"Thank you so much, Cyrus, for everything you did for me four years ago," Blair smiled as she hugged her stepfather separately when her mother released her. "I may not have been the most grateful person when you first proposed this solution, but coming here was the best decision I ever made."
Chuck cleared his throat suddenly.
"Professionally, at least," Blair added as she turned to acknowledge him.
"I need more pictures of the graduate," her father announced, "Serena, Nathaniel, join Blair. This can be for the trio of graduates."
"That would make more sense if all three were actually graduating," Chuck muttered under his breath as Serena and Nate took their place on either side of Blair.
"I only have to take a few summer courses," Serena shot him a look.
"And I only have one semester left," Nate chimed in.
"Keep telling yourself that, Archibald," Chuck smirked evilly.
For Chuck's snide remark, Nate stepped in as close to Blair as he could with the rest that Blair would stomp on his foot, wrapped his arm tightly around her waist and planted a kiss on her cheek just as Harold snapped the photo. The trio began giggling at the loud growl of displeasure Chuck made at the sight. The giggling turned into full out laughter as Chuck snatched Blair away from Nate. Blair's laughter turned to a satisfied moan as he kissed her deeply.
"Have I mentioned how proud of you I am?" Chuck whispered against her lips as they began to sway gently back and forth.
"Not for the last thirty seconds," she smiled.
"I am so proud of you," he replied as he watched her smile widen, "So much so that there should be laws passed against it."
"If your hands travel any lower, I believe you'll run into one of them," Blair replied as she felt his hands travel slowly down her spine to her backside, "And Daddy is still snapping away. Is your hand full of my ass really a moment that you want to capture for all of posterity?"
"Is that an invitation?" he baited her as he tapped her posterior playfully.
"Yes, for much later this evening after everyone has left our penthouse," she replied as she untangled herself from his grasp as her school friends approached her with the idea for one more NYU girls' photo opportunity.
Roman stepped in quickly and used his knowledge of the front side of the camera to arrange the girls in the perfect pose. Harold went beyond crazy with the shutter, leaving Blair on the edge of mortification. Roman saw Blair's embarrassment and stepped in to get his lover's trigger finger under control by picking a playful fight with him in French. Blair gave him a grateful look as she and her friends planned for one final girls' night out before they all went out into the real world and the demanding schedules that were sure to accompany those waiting jobs.
"It's time for the photographer to step in front of the camera," Serena announced as she snatched the camera from Harold and pushed him towards Blair. "Family photo time."
All of Blair's parents stepped into the frame with Harold and Eleanor on either side of Blair and their respective partners at their sides. After a few pictures, Eleanor put out a hand to stop Serena from taking another photo. A hush fell over the group when she spoke, "Charles, why don't you get into this picture with us?"
"Did Eleanor just ask me to join them for a family photo?" Chuck muttered so that only Serena could hear. The shock in his voice was crystal clear.
"Yes, now get in there," Serena shoved him towards the group as Eleanor and Cyrus moved over a step so that Chuck could slide in next to Blair. Chuck was sure that the picture would show the absolute bewilderment that he felt from Eleanor's invitation into what was a family moment.
"Your mother invited me into a family photo," Chuck stated once he and Blair were safely inside his limo on the way to their penthouse. Somehow Serena and Nate had wrangled their way in with them. Had he not been still completely baffled by Eleanor's invitation, he would have fought harder for them to find their own mode of transportation.
"Why are you so surprised?" Serena inquired as Blair caressed his jaw affectionately, "She's been more civilized towards you for well over a year."
"There is being civil and then there is inviting me into a family photo op," Chuck told her.
"Perhaps Mother has finally come to terms with the choice that I've made," Blair theorized.
"Look at all you've gone through with Blair," Nate asked, "Eleanor knows that you are the one that Blair depends on. You're the one that got her through the darkness of a few summers ago."
"Nate's right," Blair chimed in as she kissed his cheek, "It was around that time that she started to make nice with you, Chuck."
"Getting the parents' approval; that's a pretty big step, Bass," Serena chimed in.
"Don't go crazy just yet," Chuck laughed, "It was one picture. She's not handing over Blair's hand just yet."
"Speaking of Blair's hand," Serena prodded him, "Where is that stellar engagement ring that we're all waiting for?"
"He's not there yet," Nate shook his head at Serena.
"Yes, he is," Serena insisted, "They both are. They both have been for so long that it's hard to understand why they haven't."
"It's not the plan," Blair chimed in.
"Forget the plan," Serena pouted, "Throw that stupid plan out the stupid window and propose already. I can't wait much longer."
Chuck laughed as he shook his head.
"You aren't proposing tonight, are you?" Blair whispered in his ear.
"No," he replied. It surprised him to find her lips turning into a slight pout so he felt the need to explain his reason for not proposing even when he had considered it. "Today is your day, yours, not ours. You've worked four years for this. You've earned it. The day I propose will be our day."
"Awe," Serena sighed as her head came to rest against Nate's shoulder, "Chuck Bass has turned into such a sap."
"Careful, Serena, there are a few choice words I could toss in your direction," Chuck cautioned her.
"Hey," Serena scoffed as if he'd actually insulted her.
"No more fighting," Blair announced, "Today is my day. You two siblings can squabble tomorrow."
"When Chuck finally makes an honest woman out of Blair, S, you and B will finally be sisters," Nate put together.
"And it's only taken him four years to put that together," Blair added.
"I'm not going to talk for the rest of the day," Nate shot back with a scowl.
"Is that your graduation present for me?" Blair replied with a snicker.
Nate shot her another look yet kept silent.
"What does the college graduate want to do now that all her guests have left for the evening?" Chuck smirked as he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind as she bid the last of her party-goers goodbye.
"I think we should start with the graduation gift you have been withholding from me," she told him as she spun on her heel sharply so that she could look him in the eyes, "You watched me open present after present from all my friends and family yet you never coughed up one of your own. You did get me something, didn't you?"
The adorable pout on her face that was brought on by the unimaginable thought that he could have not have bought her anything to mark the monumental day in her life melted his heart. "Of course I bought you something, it just isn't something I wanted to put on display."
"It's not more trashy lingerie, is it?" she frowned.
"Give me a little more credit than that," he chuckled, "That would be a gift for myself."
"It's not your little soldier, is it?" she continued to eye him with a skeptical look before she glanced down at his groin.
"I certainly wouldn't want to put that on display, for your sake anyways, but no, it's not our little soldier," he chuckled.
"Then what is it that you wouldn't want to put on display?" Blair inquired as she tugged on his jacket, "It's not sex toys, is it?"
"Stop guessing," he commanded her as he fought valiantly to keep a straight face, "You aren't even close."
"Then what is it that you wanted to keep just between us?" she pulled at his jacket again.
"It isn't something to be kept just between us, but it's something I need to show you first before we invite everyone else to see it," he insisted.
"Ew, you are talking about something sexual," she pushed him away abruptly, "I'm not making a sex tape with you tonight."
"That's still not a no, Waldorf," he chuckled. He'd jokingly proposed they make one during one of their rare lazy evenings together. She'd stammered at his suggestion but had yet to give him an answer one way or another. He'd been left with the conclusion that the offer was still on the table, but he had to sweeten the pot.
"It certainly is for tonight," she held her ground as she crossed her arms in front of her chest though even as she said the words she wondered at the possibility of such an endeavor. She'd been embarrassed by his offer at first, but now she was a tiny bit curious. She wondered if their lovemaking looked at incredible as it felt and there was only one way to know for sure. It was her prim and proper upbringing that still kept her from saying yes.
"As intrigued as I am at the prospect of directing you in such an endeavor, I have no intension of hopping into the director's chair this evening," he assured her as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the small, flat box he'd been carrying throughout the day.
Blair snatched the box out of her hand and lifted the lid, tossing it aside in her haste. What she saw on the bed of cotton caused her to frown, it was an antique brass key.
"What am I supposed to do with this?" she scoffed as she picked up the key from the box and waved it towards him dangerously, "Jab you in the heart with it?"
"If you do that, you won't ever find out what it might unlock," he replied.
"Get on with it, Bass," she challenged him as she waved the key in a threatening manner.
"That sounds like an invitation," he leered at her.
"It's an invitation for something," she agreed, "I'm just trying to decide what."
He decided he'd tortured her enough. "Pack your bags, Waldorf."
"What!" she exclaimed, "You're kicking me out!"
"Don't be silly," he chuckled, "You and I are heading out of the city for a few days."
"Why?" she stammered.
"You want to figure out what that key opens, don't you?" he chuckled as he took a tentative step towards her.
"This had better open the Taj Mahal of gifts, Bass," she warned him as his arms snagged her around the waist.
"Have I ever disappointed you before?" he chuckled.
"We'll see," she replied as she kissed his cheek before turning towards their bedroom to begin packing as he'd suggested only to find her designer luggage was already neatly arranged just inside their bedroom.
"Oh, yes," he chuckled, "I've already taken the liberty of packing for you. I guess nothing is stopping us from leaving this instant."
"I guess not," she smiled as she stepped into him, wrapping her arms around his waist, "Four years together and you still manage to surprise me. How do you that?"
"It's my whimsical nature," he grinned.
"Yes, one of your more endearing qualities," she laughed, "You're so full of whimsy."
"I keep you on your toes, don't I," he pointed out.
"You curl my toes," she amended.
"And I promise to do that and so much more this evening," he vowed, "But we'd better get going. We have a schedule to keep."
"Schedule," she repeated in confusion, "It's nearly midnight. How can we have a schedule?"
"You'll find out," he told her as he swept her into his arms and carried her towards the elevator.
TBC…