A.N - AU where Chuck is 20 and Blair is 17.

Part 1

The river bears no empty bottles, sandwich papers,

Silk handkerchiefs, cardboard boxes, cigarette ends

Or other testimony of summer nights. The nymphs are departed.

And their friends, the loitering heirs of city directors;

Departed, have left no addresses.

Chapter One

The morning sun blazed over the Vanderbilt island drenching the new-mown grass and its various occupants in gilded light. The Vanderbilt family along with its many branches and a good number of their friends and associates were taking advantage of the balmy outdoors- the men engaged in a game of football, the women in the only slightly less competitive sport of sunning and gossip.

But right across this tableau of social merriment, a figure lay alone, reclining in the hammock that swung between a pair of pines. She had been reading A Lover's Discourse, firmly of the opinion that once she had mastered the deconstruction of love she would be cured of her own lovesickness, of her constant longing for a romantic grandeur that seemed only to exist in the world of Golden Age Hollywood. But this day even Barthes lovely prose couldn't satisfy her. Sighing, she dropped the book on her stomach and closed her eyes.

Blair Waldorf was bored, which was a rather dangerous condition, especially for those around her. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy the idle decadence of summer, and the private island right off the New England coast was certainly up to her standards, but the summertime indolence was causing her mind to drift off and wander, away from the present, and into the treacherous terrains of the past and future.

Suddenly, Blair had the strangest feeling of being stared at and opened her eyes to find a man walking right in her direction. Even now, as he reached her, his eyes travelled across her body, lingering at her chest and her bare legs in a way that made her decidedly uncomfortable.

"Little Blair Waldorf, not so little anymore," he sang, complete with a creepy grin.

Blair, annoyed that he knew her name when she seemed to fail to recognize him, asked in her bitchiest voice, "And who are you?"

"Call me uncle," he said, offering no other identification. But it was enough to trigger her memory and just as she was about to respond, the nephew himself materialized next to them.

Chuck Bass leaned against the tree and lit up a Gitanes as he looked between Blair and his uncle.

"I see you two have met."

"You didn't tell me Blair grew up too be so beautiful, Chuck," Jack said in a false chiding voice, "and you mention a lot of girls."

Chuck ignored this statement specifically because of its veracity. He had always found Blair distractingly pretty- but given that she was practically betrothed to his best friend, he found it in his best interests not to dwell on those thoughts.

Though there were times he slipped, he noted, looking at her stretched out on the hammock. Sometimes he was so keenly aware of her girlhood, her fragile softness, the rare display of skin, a lock of dark hair flowing in the summer wind and brushing her naked shoulder…

Distracting, yes, Chuck thought, tearing his gaze away, but not someone he had any intention of including in the conversations he had with his uncle.

"Jack is signing a deal with the Captain," he said instead, explaining his uncle's presence.

"When I last saw you, you were just a small thing, chasing after the Archibald boy," Jack continued, not taking his eyes off Blair.

"She's still pretty small and she's still chasing after Nathaniel, so I'd say not a lot has changed."

The book Blair was reading came flying at his head in response.

"Ow," he said rubbing his temple where the edge had hit him, "that could have seriously injured me."

"Quit being dramatic," she snapped, as she gracefully slid off of the hammock and stalked away from them.

After a split-second of deliberation, Chuck followed her.

"You know, I was expecting a better welcome."

"What's the point? I am sure you'll be gone in a day or two."

"No such luck, Waldorf. I am back in your life for good."

Blair paused and cautiously turned to look at Chuck. He didn't appear to be lying but then again, he was an accomplished liar. She would know. "After Tripp's wedding, you are moving back to the city?"

"Bart wants me to join him at Bass Industries."

"Chuck, that's wonderful!" she exclaimed, her anger forgotten as she regarded him. She remembered how much Chuck had once longed for this responsibility. Yet now, he seemed less than exuberant while delivering the news.

"I wouldn't count on it. Knowing my father, he has some trick up his sleeve. And not something that bodes well for me."

"Dartmouth kicked you out?" she hazarded a guess.

"You know me well," he said, with a bitter laugh.

"And if Bart wasn't able to to pay your way out of that mess it must have been a pretty serious offence."

"Even by my standards."

"So?"

"So what?"

"What did you do?!"

"Ah, that I am afraid is too scandalous for your ears. I wouldn't want to taint your innocence."

"I'll say it's a little too late for that, isn't it?"

Chuck looked at her, surprised, "Does that mean Nathaniel finally managed to-"

"Ugh, no. After his little indiscretion with S, I am torturing him a little longer. Anyway, I simply meant that I have already been privy to plenty of your exploits. It can't be any worse, can it?"

"Oh, you have no idea."

Blair wanted to press him further, her interest piqued, but was interrupted by the appearance of her boyfriend.

Nate Archibald bounded up to them, the epitome of athleticism and good breeding. Chuck, who always seemed best suited to exist in the dark shadows, should have hated this Golden Boy, who had since childhood lived a life which was the antithesis of Chuck's own. Contrary to all reason, however, this was his most lasting and successful relationship - the one person who had always trusted and accepted Chuck even while all of UES seemed to want his father's money but none respected it. Nouveau Riche, they used to whisper. And that was before Chuck grew up and made a mockery of his own reputation. Nate had never wavered from their friendship even when college had separated them.

Nate greeted him with a one-armed hug before slipping his hands around Blair's waist, pulling her close.

"Jack told me you're back. I can't believe you didn't call, man!"

"I thought I'd let it be a surprise," he drawled.

"Well, it certainly is a surprise. Sorry about Dartmouth, but it's good to have you back. And all of us, together again."

"Yeah, it certainly feels like old times," Chuck said, averting his eyes from them and looking at the sea in the distance. He had followed Blair blindly and she seemed to have led him straight to the private cove they used to access in summers past. A driftwood was lying innocently at his feet and he kicked it viciously, watching it crumble a little as it rolled away.

"Oh, speaking of old times, I know you just got here, but wanna play one of our classic games? I already have a target in mind. She's the worst, but she's also blonde and slutty so totally up your alley."

"If so, what am I doing in here and not in her? Lead the way," he smirked.

"Hey, Rachel is actually really nice. And you can't blame her for being a bridesmaid. Maureen picked her." Nate said, trying to be the voice of reason.

"I can and I will. She won't stop rubbing it in. Yesterday, she actually asked for my opinion on her dress pattern! As if!"

"How dare she," Chuck said, laughing.

"Don't encourage her, Chuck!" Nate said, shaking his head. He was glad to have his best friend back, but he always seemed to bring out the worst in Blair.

"Oh look, she's there," Blair pointed towards the girl, ignoring Nate.

"How do we even know this is gonna work," Nate said, making a weak last attempt to change their minds. "She has a boyfriend."

"Come on," Chuck said, walking backwards and pointing at himself, "it's gonna work."

And sure enough, they watched Chuck walk back into the house with her.

"Look, she's cheating on her boyfriend. Not really a nice person, is she?" Blair said innocently, looking up at Nate with her wide brown eyes.

"I guess not," Nate accepted, having discovered it was best to always agree with her. "Though sometimes good people make mistakes," he continued, taking her hand in his and looking penitent.

Blair, who had no wish to revisit her boyfriends past transgression just so he could assuage his guilt, snatched her hand away. Everytime Blair thought of his betrayal she felt unloved and ugly. All she wanted to do was never think of it again. So she erased the dark thoughts from her mind and smiled benevolently at him hoping it would shut him up about it.

It worked.

"Do you remember this tree?" he asked, looking up at the Willow they were standing under.

"It's where we had our first kiss," Blair said softly.

"I am glad we skipped the Hamptons this year." He leaned down and kissed her, his thumb grazing her cheek.

If Blair hadn't been distracted by the thought of her plan falling into place, she would have appreciated this moment with her boyfriend, sunlit and picturesque. But as it stood, she was rather distracted, and she quickly tore herself away.

"Okay, I am off to steer Rachel's boyfriend towards her room," Blair said, straightening her headband. "It's for his own good! He deserves to know the truth," she added hastily, incase Nate would decide to stop her.

"I would love to be your bridesmaid," Blair said graciously. "But it's too bad Rachel headed home early. I'll, uh, miss her."

Maureen smiled at her, "Thanks for stepping in, Blair."

"Yes, how kind of you, Blair," Chuck said, appearing just as Maureen turned to leave.

Blair beamed at him, happy that her latest ploy had worked, and also more than a little tipsy thanks to the free-flowing cocktails at the dinner party. Even she hadn't anticipated how soon she would be called upon to replace Rachel.

"Surprised you didn't go for the maid of honor position."

"Well, I would have to wrangle that away from Maureen's sister herself," she replied comfortably. For the first time since he had arrived, Blair found herself appraising Chuck. She had seen him on occasion in the past two years but looking at him now she felt the change was impressive. His cheekbones were...admirable and he had this new hairstyle which was rather easy on the eye. And his suit was impeccable. Blair just had the craziest urge to touch it. He had also grown taller.

"You've grown taller," she said, choosing to keep the rest of her observations to herself.

"That tends to happen." Chuck looked amused as he regarded her, and Blair wondered if he could read her mind. Embarrassed even of admitting to herself that she now found him attractive, Blair blushed. He was still Chuck, the sleazy manwhore, she reminded herself. Had he not managed to get laid less than an hour after getting off the ferry? (Never mind that Blair had orchestrated that herself.)

"I missed this," Chuck said, leaning closer to her ear.

"What?"

"This shade of your skin. Makes me wonder how far down the blush travels," he whispered, eyeing her cleavage.

"Ew," Blair groaned, pushing him away, "you are still as disgusting as ever."

"And you are still just as fun to rile up." And with that comment, Chuck walked away to join Nate at the bar.

Blair rolled her eyes at his words and grabbed a flute from a passing waiter. This was going to be a long summer.

A.N- Please review so I know you are reading this!?