The hard work was finally over for all of them. They had all studied hard, and played even harder. Four years of college was completed and each of them had their degree. Four years had passed and they had all been forced to grow up for different reasons. Serena had to take responsibility for the Poppy Lipton disaster. She had to prove to Lily that she had learned from her mistakes. Blair had to prove to herself she could live without Chuck, without her Mom's credit card daily. She had to prove to herself that she could live.
Eleanor had arranged a party for all five of them, Serena, Blair, Nate, Chuck and Dan. Yes, even Dan was surprised by that one. Of course, it was a black tie event, with waiters and even a host. Blair had chosen a simple black Donna Karen dress. The whole night, she felt Chuck's eyes on her. She tried to ignore it knowing what was coming next. She and Serena had decided this would be the perfect time for them to explain their plans to their family and friends. Blair found it hard to keep the big secret. She was so excited she nearly let it slip several times. Serena had persuaded her that keeping it until the party was easier because then they could tell everyone at once. Waiters were circulating drinks and Eleanor had just giving a toast to the graduates.

Blair had listened to her mother's toast with tears in her eyes. She knew she needed to get away from this life but she was not sure what she wanted. Yes, she had lived on her own but it was a posh apartment in the center of New York with Serena. Now they were taking off to stay in hostel's that carried an unknown number of diseases. She had argued this point several times with Serena, but her argument was that they both needed to experience a new side to life. A life without the privileges of The Upper East Side. One where Jimmy Choo and Tiffany's were not visited more often than the dentist. Blair was still a bit worried about what exactly staying in hostels entailed but she knew it was time to grow up. She kissed her mother on the cheek and took center stage at her party.

"When it was coming close to the end of our exams, Serena and I were talking about the future. Neither of us knew what to do with ourselves, so we made a decision. We are going travelling for three months." Blair announced to the shocked audience. Only Lily and Eleanor had known of the girls plans.

"We are going to Europe; we want to see something other than shoe shops and parties. We are leaving in three days, to head to our first stop. Germany" Serena continued.

Chuck stood at to the side of the crowd staring at Blair. He could not imagine Blair in Germany. The thought of Blair drinking out of the stein brought a smile across his face. He had only ever seen her drink Champaign and Cosmopolitans. He was still extremely worried about her. Serena knew how to take care of herself; she had done the whole travelling to find herself before. Blair on the other hand, had never even flown coach before. Germany was going to be a whole other kettle of fish for Blair. She caught his eye and was confused by the smirk over his face. Guest wanting to know all the details of their plans surrounded Serena and Blair. Chuck raised his glass towards Blair and winked at her. He turned around and walked through the crowd. Blair lost sight of him.

Blair knocked lighting on his door, and opened it walking in. He was sitting at his desk using his computer. He quickly shut the lid, and turned round to face her. She shut the door behind her and sat on the edge of his bed, fixing her legs underneath her, pulling her dress round until her legs were no longer visible. Chuck leaned back in his chair smiling at her "I'm still trying to picture you in Germany. That is going to be, something all right. Take lots of photos for me."

"I'll even send you some back of the German Maids" Blair chuckled "Might enlighten you."

"No I might enlighten them."

"Chuck" Blair exclaimed rolling her eyes "Anyway what were you looking at before I came in?"

"I can't tell you that, it's a present for you but it hasn't arrived yet and I am not ruining the surprise." Chuck smirked "You just have to be patient."

"Oh Lord I am getting a German Maid, aren't I?" Blair exclaimed dramatically.

"No, if there were German Maids in New York, they would not be leaving my hotel room."

"I think you have a multiple personality disorder. Thirty seconds ago you were being really sweet and then you go back to sluttly Chucky"

Chuck laughed "Sluttly Chucky?" He asked raising an eyebrow "That sounds like a movie you would find on the Internet"

"No a movie you would look for on the Internet" Blair corrected him

Chuck nodded in agreement and laughed. He got up and walked over to the bed. He sat down on the bed, close enough to her that their legs were touching. Neither of them spoke, but they both felt the electricity that flowed through their bodies. He reached his arm round and pulled her closer to him. Somehow this felt right to both of them. Blair rested her head against his chest. She began to wonder if going away was the right thing to do. Her and Chuck were finally in the right place, it would maybe work, but she really needed to get out of New York. She had to see something other than the Upper East Side. She needed to escape from the falseness, and the rumors. She wanted to be unknown if even for three months. She could be anybody but Blair Wardolf.

"If I asked you to, would you stay?" Chuck whispered in her ear

Blair was taking back. This was not what she expected to here from him. They had made it half way through the second year of college before they broke up. She didn't expect them to last that long. They had been trying to be friends since then. It was hard for both of them to adjust, Blair through herself into her studies, and Chuck avoided her completely for months. He knew it was his fault. He couldn't tell her what she needed to hear, and even know he was struggling to find the words. Blair sighed and looked up at him "No, I need to do this Chuck. I need to get away from it all."

"I had to ask." Chuck replied "I knew you would say no, but still I had to ask."

"I'm kind of glad you did. At least I know on some level you still care about me."

"You doubted that?" He mumbled into her hair "Wow I really did mess up didn't I?"

"A different girl in your room every night doesn't exactly scream I am thinking about you" Blair answered quitely "I stay here more than you realize and I see the girls creep in and out."

Chuck was silent for a long time. He just held her tight in his arms. He didn't want to let her go, but he knew she was no longer his to hold on to. He tried to find a way to justify his actions and realized there was no way too. He kissed her head and whispered "Be safe" into her hair. "And just for the record, I wished every one of them was you."

"You think that makes it ok" Blair suddenly shouted "Don't you dare say that to me. You didn't want me. They could have been me but you didn't want me. You did this"

She got up and walked across to the door. Chuck followed her and grabbed her by the wrist. He turned her round to face him. She felt the fury build up in her. Then the irony hit. Now he was fighting for her. Now he was giving her what she wanted, when she didn't want it anymore. It had hurt but she accepted that her and Chuck were not meant to be. They were meant to be in each other's life, but they were not meant to be each others life. She turned round and looked at him "Chuck you let me go, you can't change that now. It was a high school thing, we're twenty three now. It's time to let go."

She twisted her wrist out of his grip and leaned up to kiss him on the cheek. He closed his eyes and didn't move. There was so much he could have said. There was so much he wanted to say but instead all he did was sigh. He kept his eyes closed till he knew she was out of the room. He opened them again and flipped open the computer. The screen said click to purchase ticket to Germany. He hit the off button and threw his head back against the chair.