The wedding was exquisite and arranging it so that the reception was held at the Palace Hotel's garden was nothing less than expected amongst the elite. The bride and groom glowed with happiness that was only accomplished thanks to the well applied make-up, and the extra help from the well paid artists. Surely planning the wedding in a couple of months, to greet the spring, left little room for the bride to have gotten a natural tan. But it was no excuse for the orange skin tone that was becoming painful to look at.

Blair cringed at the thought, believing that the bride should have been far too embarrassed to appear in public. She herself only just returned to the party in the garden, having emptied out whatever she ate from the presented meal, and was looking for her company. Nate and Serena both managed to disappear, and with the masses on the dance floor with the now Mr. And Mrs. Shepherd, she went for another drink, waiting for the return of one of the two friends.

"Enjoying the party?" His voice was familiar to her, and her subconscious was quick to raise its defenses, noting his cocky attitude instantaneously. "I know I could make it better" he managed as he slid into the empty seat next to her. She usually managed to play along, knowing full well he was her boyfriend's best friend. Knowing he was at one time a best friend to her too.

"I'm not in the mood Chuck" She admitted as he plucked the empty flute from her hand and gave her another. "Have you seen Nate?" She asked, giving little effort to actually look at him as she did so. Maybe dancing would do her good, in the company of a loving boyfriend. The thought alone brought a smile to her expression

"He went to get some fresh air" Chuck mimicked smoking a joint. Typical, Nate was just being unavailable. Serena was off doing god knows who in what closet, and Blair found herself in desperate need of something far more intoxicating as she gulped down her drink. "You okay?"

"You think we could get something..." she motioned to her now empty glass "stronger".

"I have my connections" he stood up from his seat and offered his hand to help her. He led her into the hotel and around to the bar that had been closed off for the event. The staff wasn't available to manage it, and frankly it would have been too troublesome keeping the paparazzi out if they allowed their usual guests in.

Blair took a seat at the bar. She didn't even bother asking for a specific drink, knowing from all the choices she now had Chuck was sure to pick something good. Blue label maybe?

Chuck jumped over to grab a bottle of scotch and two glasses. A quick remedy in his case.

"So what's troubling you?" he poured her a glass and watched her study it.

She didn't reply, just took in a deep breath before taking a long sip of the drink, allowing the amber liquid to burn its way down to her empty stomach. Chuck watched a little too mesmerized by how her throat moved with each gulp, until she managed to finish the glass.

"Another?" he asked once she placed the glass down. He didn't wait for a response as he refilled her drink, and drank his casually.

"My parents are getting a divorce" she admitted. "My Dad's been fooling around with one of my mom's models"

The initial shock felt like it lasted forever, however only a few seconds passed before Chuck collected himself enough for a deserving response. "Blair," he said her name softly, reaching across the bar to hold her hand that still held onto the empty cup. "I'm sor-"

"He's gay" she continued and Chuck retracted his hand clenching it into a fist against the marble top at the new insight. "So now he's moving to France with his gay lover, and leaving me here"

"Do you want me to get Nate?" Chuck didn't know what to say. Blair was one of his closest friends. He wanted to be there for her, but ever since they turned sixteen it seemed as if Nate was her knight in shining armor, and he personally didn't have much control on saving her, other than through acquiring Nate to do so himself.

"Why bother" she waved her hand, dismissing the idea entirely "He's too busy being spaciously unaware"

Chuck couldn't help the laugh that escaped at how Blair mocked her prince of a boyfriend. He walked around the bar to sit in the seat next to her and refilled her drink. "Serena?" he finally managed to ask.

"Busy with Whorgina... probably entertaining their flaunts of men" She covered her glass so Chuck wouldn't pour anymore and contemplated where everyone in her life seemed to disappear to. "Everyone's too busy. My dad is with moving, my mom is having breakdowns, and I had to come to this bore of a wedding on my own"

"I'm not busy" Chuck said in almost a whisper but turned it around. "Let's just ditch this all together. Go upstairs, watch some Audrey..." He listed the possibilities with as much eagerness in his tone to get her to agree; despite how he detests her choice of movies at times.

She looked up at him from her empty glass and smiled back. He really did know her, and what she needed. Sure she could probably be doing a billion other things right now, but a movie sounded good.

"I'll even bring the bottle" Chuck added as he grabbed the bottle.

"You still have my dvd?" she managed as she got down from her seat but lost her footing. She had a little too much, but Chuck managed to grab hold of her.

"Maybe I should leave the bottle" he smirked as he helped her to the elevators, abandoning the bottle and wrapped his arms around her to keep her steady. "You feeling okay?"

"I guess" her vision was a little blurred but all and all, she seemed coherent enough. "I guess this is what being Serena feels when she gets home"

"Please, you'd need a few more ounces of alcohol to dumb down to her level" he scoffed, knowing full well how Serena could get whenever she went overboard. They got to the elevator and Blair moved out of Chuck's supporting hold to lean against the back wall.

"She might have fewer brain cells, but at least she can manage Nate's attention better than I can" Blair admitted sadly. "My mother's too..."

"Blair" Chuck said her name, trying again to reach her with a hand that felt numb at his side. He wanted to reason with her, that she shouldn't compare herself to Serena, when in truth he believed her to be the better person out of their group of friends.

"I'm not even that upset about them splitting up..." She quickly changed back to the more important topic at hand "But my dad" she let out a sob that broke her words as she continued. "He's going to move to France, and is leaving me behind. Just like everyone else"

"I'm here" Chuck promised, finally finding her soft hand in his. He stood in front of her and watched her tears flow for a moment before she looked up at him. He gave her his best smile, and she managed one herself. He reached up to wipe the tears from her cheeks; he deemed them unworthy to land against her perfect dimples.

She studied his soft gaze. She let on a soft smile as she studied his and his perfectly shaped lips. She leaned towards him once his hand found her face. Her mind screamed a billion words, but nothing reasoned enough to stop her. Amongst everything else, this felt right to her, to find comfort in him. So she kissed him. Closed her eyes and felt his lips against hers for a mere second that felt like forever. A forever she wanted an eternity of as she pressed herself to him and smiled once he reciprocated.

She was drunk. She was drunk. She was drunk. But Chuck Bass couldn't care for the excuse his mind was giving him to why his best friend's girlfriend was kissing him. His best friend, whatever his name was, didn't matter at this point. It was him and her in the elevator, until they managed to stumble out; with him pulling her towards the hallway and leaning against the wall beside his room's door. His hands slide down her sides and onto her thighs that he lift, allowing her to wrap her legs around him. He maneuvered expertly, getting the key out of his pocket, holding her against him by the small of her back as she wrapped her arms around his neck tighter and kissed him harder. The door was opened and she kicked it closed at entry.

Finally he got to his bed and leveled her down to sit on the edge. This was definitely not his first time. It was hers. He couldn't forget that. How could he. He teased her about the detail for what seemed like forever, and now, he would have the honors of deflowering the only possible sixteen year old virgin in their school. In their world, more or less.

"Blair" her name slipped his lips with gentleness that surprised him every time. He watched her beautiful body that now lay on the bed from where he stood. He could feel the arousal at just watching her smiled with lips he bruised kissing.

"Chuck" she spoke his name as she sat up at the edge of the bed and worked on his belt. He couldn't believe it, it wasn't possible. So he stopped her. Held her hands in his own, and stopped her. He kneeled down so that his eyes leveled with hers. His hands abandoned hers so that they held her face and kiss her again, taste her again, he would never get tired of this.

Blair was actually in shock. He wasn't letting her free him so he could just fuck her senseless, and it was beyond insulting. She didn't even know why she just wanted it over and done with. Maybe it was the alcohol, but he was who he was, and if he didn't want her, then no one could.

"Are you sure?" he asked. His forehead pressed against hers, his breathe mixed with hers, and his eyes closed, begging this was not a dream, that giving her the option won't merely stop their evening at what it was.

Every doubt in her mind was wiped clear. She kissed him again and again. Until he managed to push her back to lay fully clothed on the bed. He worked his own belt off and pulled his pants off. Blair felt it, him, against her thigh and didn't say a word. She just watched him as he watched her. He worked his hands up under her dress and delicately slid her underwear off. He reached her heels, taking them off in the process, before he moved back up and pulled her closer to the edge of the bed. He slid into her and she flinched in pain as a few tears formed in her eyes and trickled down her cheeks. He leaned over and kissed them away, moving his lips along her face and onto her neck. He waited another moment, feeling her unwind with every kiss, before he began a stable rhythm. She let out breathes that soon turned to pants and he picked up the pace soundlessly. He couldn't help but stare at her beautiful face and innocent eyes that urged for him to continue.

They didn't say a word. They didn't need to. They waited for release they managed to reach and collapsed into a blissful state. Chuck pulled up his boxers, but discarded his pants and shoes at the floor before climbing in next to Blair.

She stared at his ceiling. He wasn't above her anymore, and she felt pain, and pleasure, and haziness that she couldn't explain. His hand brushed her cheek and she turned her head into his palm. She now saw him again, and his face was nothing less than concerned for her.

She didn't want to talk, didn't want to do anything, but maybe sleep. So she leaned across the little space between them, kissed him again, before nuzzling her face into the palm of his hand and closed her eyes.