July 6, 2018, L'Atelier, New York
It was thirty minutes after seven when Blair arrived at 57th Street. After quickly reapplying her lipgloss and brushing her dark brown tresses, she lets herself out of the town car and thanks the driver for holding the door open for her. The Upper East Side has been her home from the day she was born until she had left town all those years ago. Now that she's back, she does not know how to put it but things seemed a little bit different for her. L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon is located in the Four Seasons Hotel where she was also staying. Upon entering the lobby, the breathtakingly high ceilings no longer hold the grandeur or magnificence she had once regarded the place but being there again makes her feel, if not elated then surprisingly just a little bit nostalgic.
The one shoulder, floor-sweeping chiffon she had on fits her perfectly, making her look like a Greek goddess. She climbs the hotel's highly-polished staircase in her Christian Louboutins; her movements are graceful as ever. She would have taken the elevator but she still wanted to take in the restaurant's dramatic entrance the way she remembers it.
As soon as she has arrived to the top, she views the restaurant at her right opening into the atrium. The atrium is exquisite, with a round frosted window and comfortable seating with small tables throughout.
She heads straight to the hostess station where a receptionist greeted her. "Your husband called us earlier to inform you that he might be running in a little late," the blonde woman situated behind the counter in front of her politely said.
He would have just called her about his delay, Blair thought as she searched for her phone inside her purse but she couldn't find it. She had been too preoccupied earlier buying furniture at Macy's, the Door Store and Ethan Allen with Serena that she had finished doing everything at six giving her only an hour left to change her clothes and prepare for the dinner date she has with her husband. She had dropped by at the old Waldorf Penthouse, rummaging through some of her clothes in her closet for something to wear. (Serena makes it a point to look after Blair's things every once in a while while she was away, sometimes she would send of her some of stuff to her best friend.) Blair had been so forgetful these past few days seeing that this is the third time that she has forgotten to bring her phone along with her.
"If you could please follow Alberto to where your table is located," the receptionist told her, interrupting Blair from her thoughts.
The main dining room is basked in gorgeous sunset shades, such as reds and golds, all emphasized against black tables and dark burgundy chairs. Alberto pulls out a seat for her while another waiter hands her the menu. She had always been assertive so she decided to choose what they will be having for dinner before her husband arrives.
"Is there anything else I could help you with, Miss Waldorf?" Alberto asks after Blair had given out her orders.
Blair shook her head but before the waiter could turn his back at her, she spoke. "No, actually there is something else. Please do call me Mrs. Bass from now on."
"My apologies, Mrs. Bass," the waiter politely said, then left.
Two minutes later the waiter had returned with a glass of water for her, leaving right after again to take the serving dishes from a table where a few businessmen had just left. She was about to get up to go to the ladies room when she heard a familiar voice call out her name.
"Blair!" She turned around, surprised to see him standing there. Obviously, she wasn't prepared to see him yet so she remained speechless. It wasn't entirely impossible for them to meet in this way but she hadn't thought that it would happen so soon.
"Fancy seeing you here," he enunciated each word in astonishment, matching the look of surprise on her face. He still looked the same but there was certainly something different with the way he carries himself, something in the way his eyes looked. She couldn't put her finger on it but she can tell that he's changed from the man she has known.
It took her about three seconds to regain her composure. "I didn't expect to see you here."
"How long has it been, Blair?" He asked, looking directly into her eyes.
But before she could even answer, a dark-brown haired boy runs up to her and starts tugging at her dress. "Mommy!" The little boy implored as he looked up smiling at Blair. "I was lookin' for you. Uncle Natie brought us presents!"
It seemed as if Chuck was staring back at his three-year-old self as he saw the little boy hugging Blair's figure. He looked questioningly at Blair when his uncle had suddenly arrived.
"Sorry for making you wait." The older Bass wrapped an arm around his wife's waist as he kissed the side of her face, eyeing Chuck at the corner of his eye. "I didn't realize that we'll be having some company here."
"He was just about to leave when he saw me," Blair explained as she buttons her son's shirt. "By the way, Chuck, this is Liam. He's my son."
"Our son, Blair." Jack corrected her as he threw his nephew a proud look while Chuck could only stand there, trying to process everything.
"I'm surprised that you brought him along but where's Alex?" Blair asked as Dorota suddenly turned up holding a little girl's hand.
"Mister Chuck!" The polish woman blurts out as she saw him.
"So I suppose that she is Alex," Chuck looks at the little girl who looks exactly like a replica of a three-year-old version of Blair.
"Yes, Alex is Liam's twin sister," Jack replied. "Liam, Alex, this is your…"
"This is your uncle Chuck," Blair finishes off Jack's sentence while both Liam and Alex just look at Chuck in wonder. "They're actually your cousins but I suppose it's more appropriate if they call you that."
Jack had wanted to have a romantic dinner with Blair after they have completely settled back in New York but he had also been worried about the possibility of Chuck seeing Blair and vice versa. However, seeing how surprised Chuck was at the sight of them together as a family, he couldn't help but rub it off a bit more into his nephew's face. "I'm sure Chuck would be delighted to join us for a family dinner. After all, it does not happen too often that we get to have a reunion like this."
"I guess we'll have to transfer to a table for 6 then," Jack then ordered the waiter.
"There's absolutely no need for that. Chuck's just about to leave," Blair asserted. "I'm sorry, Jack. I had no idea he'd be here tonight," she whispered to him.
Chuck stood a few feet away from them as he looked pensively at Blair. He thought that she has changed so much in the few years that she has disappeared from their lives – from his life. He has dreamt of the moment wherein he would see her again but never in a million years did he imagine this.
"That won't be necessary. As much as I'd love to join you ," Chuck saw Blair raising her left brow at him at his false pretenses. "I won't be able to since I still have an emergency meeting to go to with the board of directors of Bass Industries tonight," Chuck quickly said, declining Jack's invitation.
"We can schedule a family dinner some other time then," Jack proposed. "We're currently staying here for the mean time but we'll be moving into Blair's old home as soon as they are finished decorating the guest room for the twins. You are most definitely welcome to visit us anytime."
"Well, then, you better be leaving. I mean, we don't want to keep you away from your affairs any longer," Blair gracefully said to Chuck. She carefully watched his retreating form and in that moment, she wondered what could be going through his head after everything that has just transpired.
"I'm sorry, Jack. I didn't know I'd be seeing him again like this," Blair said as soon as everyone was settled in their seats.
He would have kept her away from going back to New York at all costs but he knew it would be unavoidable. So instead of convincing her to stay, he had agreed to accompany her with their children. It's not that he doesn't trust Blair but he admits that he's a little bit apprehensive about the odds of Chuck trying to pull off something once he sees her again. In addition to that, Jack also wanted to reassure himself that Blair no longer has feelings for his nephew.
"You haven't done anything to apologize for but we'll talk about this later. The children are already hungry so we should eat first. Have you ordered yet?"
"Only for the two of us," she replied. Alberto returned with the menu so that she could order more food for both Liam and Alex. Dorota had already left since she still had some errands to do even though Blair insisted that she should have dinner with them.
"I'm actually surprised that you brought the kids along," she said while taking the table napkin and placing it on Liam's lap. Alex copies her mother's move on herself.
"I didn't have a choice. Liam's missing his mother and you know how he gets when he wants you to be by his side all the time."
"Yes, possessiveness is a quality that you two seem to share," she doesn't say it in a condescending way that would offend him but he does not deny this. He is well aware of that fact but then he's trying to learn how to be considerate in the same way that she's trying to be more trusting with him.
"He's still a toddler."
"Well, that must have been quite a tantrum that he threw on you." She turns to her son and adds, "Liam, your father works very hard as it is. You shouldn't give him a hard time."
"Just let him be for now. He would only be like this for a while and before you and I know it, he'll be to busy growing up, going to college, dating girls around... maybe getting into fights every now and then…"
"Is that why you let him get his way?" Blair challenged, raising her left brow.
"Well, you're supposed to be the strict parent while I'm supposed to be the lenient one," her husband shrugged.
She laughs at his reaction, "You should know that you truly have gotten soft, Mr. Bass."
"I've always had a soft spot for you and our children. I'm not embarrassed to admit that." He placed his hand on top of hers as she smiled at him.
"You know, Alex too would be too busy being chased around by boys."
"That's never gonna happen. Not when I'm still around to chase them away myself," he said firmly as she laughs more at the stern look on his face.
The waiter has returned with Blair and Jack's appetizer as they continued their conversation over dinner. If anyone had told her that she'd end up marrying Jack, she would have scoffed and told them she'd rather be alone for the rest of her life than have anything to do with the devil himself. Life sure has a funny way of turning out for her because here she was now together with him and their two beautiful children.
April 6, 2010, 4:30 a.m., The Empire
"My! My! What a pleasant surprise. I knew from the moment you left with those sad doe-like eyes of yours that you'd come back wanting more," Jack Bass said as he saw the brunette standing in front of the black door of his suite. "But I didn't have any idea you'd be waltzing back into my suite so soon."
Blair Waldorf strode past him taking off her coat while he walked back into the mini bar and poured himself another round of scotch. She walked towards where he was sitting and spoke in a voice that's clear enough for him to hear, "I need your help."
He ignored the pleading look on her eyes and offered her a glass of vodka, gin and tonic that he had fixed for her instead. "Should we have a few more drinks?" She took the glass away from his hand as he closed the gap of space between them, pulling her closer to him with his arms around her waist. "Or do you think we could get started on me exploring your most sensual point right about now?"
He was about to kiss the back of her right ear as she flinched away from his touch, rolling her eyes in revulsion at his advances towards her. "I said I need your help with something."
He only smirked at her repulsive behavior towards him as he steadied his gaze on her face. "Didn't I tell you earlier I prefer a woman who wanna have sex with me or is this just your idea of foreplay?" He let his eyes fill in the sight of her as he continued, "So you see, you never fail to amaze me Waldorf. One minute you're ready to take your clothes off then the next you're here –"
Before he could even finish off his sentence, Blair spoke. "Trust me, Jack, sleeping with you is the farthest thing I have on my mind right now."
"Chuck just left. He's probably planning to drunk himself to oblivion all night since… Do you even think he'd hop on his private jet to another exotic country because he lost you?" He paused for a while to wait for her retort before finishing off saying his thoughts aloud. "It'd be probably harder to celebrate getting his hotel back but I'm sure he's just out there somewhere."
"That's not what I came here to ask either," she replied.
He could see the look of hurt and pain written all over her eyes. It almost made him sad to make her a casualty in his desire to destroy Chuck but Jack Bass is incapable of thinking about another person's well-being first before himself. "So this one's different from the first time around? You're not here to beg for my assistance to bring him back?" He implied, reminding her of that time when Blair had asked him to find Chuck and bring him back from halfway across the world. "Just so we're clear, I don't have any interest in you other than to sleep with you but since you clearly stated—"
"Fine. I know I should never have come here in the first place." She said as she turned her back from him to pick up her coat to leave.
Jack looked at her retreating figure and followed her. As he grabbed her hand, she looked up at him with the tears in her eyes on the verge of falling.
"Let me go. I don't think I could hold myself anymore so don't you… Just please don't," Blair yelled, losing her composure in that moment.
Jack stops her from leaving, "Take a seat and tell me what you came here for."
July 6, 2018, 8:00 p.m., Midtown Manhattan
"Serendipity in 60th street," Serena Van der Woodsen called out to the driver as she takes her phone from her purse to check any important messages. She pressed her phone against her left ear as she listens intently to a voicemail that came from Chuck: As soon as she heard what he had to say, she sent a text message to her mom. Chuck saw Blair tonight. I have to talk to him. After that, she had instructed the cab driver to take her to the Palace at the corner of 50th Street and Madison Avenue.
She was supposed to have dinner with her mother and the wedding planner to discuss the final details of her wedding ceremony which is due to happen next month. Nate Archibald had proposed to her eight months ago. They had an on and off relationship that lasted for years until Nate has finally decided to ask for Serena's hand in marriage while they were taking a walk at the beach during their short vacation at St. Bart's. Nate Archibald thought that it's the right time for the both of them to realize and embrace the fact that they are meant to spend the rest of their lives together.
A month earlier, Serena has received a phone call from Blair telling her that she would be bringing Jack and their children along to attend her wedding. Her mother and stepfather Cyrus had also been planning to stay in New York for a few months since Eleanor would be doing a series of fashion shows for her fall collection. Blair thought that it would be the perfect time for her to return so that she could reunite with her family and friends. Serena inquired her best friend about where she'd be planning to stay. Blair told her that she was going to make reservations at the Four Seasons but it was her father Harold who thought that it would be ridiculous for them to stay at a hotel since no one else is currently taking residence at the Waldorf penthouse. Her mother and Cyrus would move back into the Rose's brownstone apartment in Park Avenue.
Since Harold had given Blair the permission to renovate the rooms based on her family's needs, she had called Serena earlier that day to accompany her shopping for furnishings. Serena immediately agreed since she also had to buy furniture for the apartment that Nate has just bought for them. The apartment complex where they would be moving in after they got married is only a few blocks away from the Rose's. Blair had thought that her blonde best friend already had a lot in her plate with the wedding plans among other things. She suggested that Serena should just hire an interior designer and decorator but she thought that she'd be the right person to do the job. She would be doing it to make up for not being able to come back sooner to accomplish her maid-of-honor duties.
Chuck was probably on his third scotch that evening when the future Mrs. Archibald had arrived at the Palace bar. She took an empty chair beside him as he threw her a glance before taking another swig of his drink. "I never thought that it would come to this," she heard her stepbrother say with a defeated look on his face. Serena told Blair earlier that afternoon that Chuck still didn't have any idea that she's been back but her best friend didn't seem to be bothered by that so she left the matter alone.
Had he known before that this is how things would end up being, he would never have done the biggest mistake he ever did in his life. However, he could only fully realize this now, after seeing her again, as he tries to face the repercussions of his actions from the time when Blair has left him all those years ago.
April 5, 2010, 11:30 p.m., the Waldorf Residence
Chuck knew it would have to be her as he heard her footsteps enter the lobby. "Home so soon?"
"Please tell me Jack was lying," she pleaded. "You wouldn't betray me like that."
"Me betray you?" Chuck said defensively, holding the card he found along with the package containing the Matthew Williamson dress she had worn for tonight. "You're the one who just came after seeing my Uncle."
"I came there for you because I thought it was the only way that you can save your hotel," she told him. "I would've done anything to help you. All you have to do was ask."
"If I asked, it wouldn't have worked. You would've been too willing when Jack came to you. He would've known we were working together. I did what I had to, to win," he reasoned, trying to make Blair understand. Chuck's existence revolves around his father's disappointment in him. Bart always talked about how weak Chuck is and how he can't let his feelings get in the way of business. The Empire is something that would make him gain his father's approval; it's something that would make his father proud.
"No!" She wanted to believe that Chuck would never betray her, that all this was just a bad dream but this was as real as it could ever get because she could not bear to feel the rollercoaster of emotions building inside of her chest.
"I couldn't let my feelings cost me all that I have built," he said, not realizing that he's starting to sound more like his cold hearted father.
"Even if it means losing me instead," she said faintly. "All I ever did was love you."
"The worst thing I ever did, the darkest thought I ever had, you said you would stand by me through anything. This Blair is anything." He had thrown back the words she had confessed to him once.
"I never thought the worst thing you would ever do would be to me!" It was at this moment when Blair had realized that they would always use and trick each other in order to get something they think they need. Even if they can express their love in the most twisted, most unsettling ways; this was the time when it has to stop before this 'love' ruins them both.
"You went there on your own," Chuck regretted saying those words as soon as soon as he felt Blair's slap across his face before he could even take them back.
July 6, 2018, 10:30 p.m., Midtown Manhattan
"Tell me this isn't real, Serena, that she isn't back playing House with my Uncle," he said as he turned to her. "This must be some sick joke, right? I mean, it had to be. I would never be able to stomach the idea of her and Jack together."
Serena had wished she could tell him that this was the case but it wasn't. She had confronted Blair about her relationship with Jack on their wedding day a few years back. Blair was twenty-three years old when she had married Jack who was thirteen years her senior.
"Do you love him?" Serena dared herself to ask Blair a few minutes before the ceremony would commence.
Blair turned to her look at her closely, carefully choosing her words as she spoke. "Not in the same way that I loved Chuck. But I do love him, of course. I didn't marry him in spite of Chuck." Serena just stood in silence as she waited for Blair to continue what she's going to tell her. "He's good to me, Serena."
After everything that Jack Bass had done in the past, Blair couldn't blame Serena for doubting him so the taller blonde pushed to demand the truth out of her, "But are you in love with him, Blair?"
"I don't exactly know how or when it happened but it just did," Blair simply explained.
"Are you sure we're still talking about Jack Bass here?" Serena exclaimed in disbelief. "As in the scheming manipulative devious Jack Bass? Raven haired con artist? Satan? Devil incarnate?"
"I just fell in love with him, you know. It was as if the most inevitable thing that has ever happened to me."
April 6, 2010, 5:30 a.m., The Empire
When Blair had said her goodbyes to Chuck earlier, she hadn't meant that he would no longer be seeing her again but after she has done some thinking, she thought that it would be best for her to leave. Leaving would be the only way for her emancipation to begin. Chuck had consumed her, all of her. She lost parts of herself in loving him and now she has to find the pieces to bring herself back. She had loved Chuck so much, given him everything that she had forgotten to leave something for herself.
"I broke up with Chuck," she began to explain to Jack. "He was waiting for me at home. I suppose he was expecting that I could easily forgive him after what he did. But I just couldn't do it anymore. I'm done."
"I want to go somewhere far away from all this," Blair finally told Jack. She had contemplated on calling Carter Baizen for help but she didn't because of Serena. Blair knew so well that what Serena had with Carter was more than just a fling. Bree's family had left him off the hook so Blair knew that Carter was no longer in the West Coast. What she did not know was how he managed to leave unscathed from everything. If she had come to him for his help, she knew that he would not be able to hide it as a secret from Serena as soon as they find out that he was the last person she had contacted with before she left.
"You could have just easily used your AMEX to book a plane ticket to anywhere you want but that's not entirely it, isn't it? What are you planning to do?"
"I want to leave but I won't have any plans of returning for a very long time. When I do that, I don't want him or anyone, not even Nate or Serena, finding out where I'll be." There was no hint of desperation in her voice but only resolve. "This is the reason why I think came to you in particular for help."
"Why would you even think for a second that I'm going to help you?" It was just a question, not an immediate refusal at what she was asking him to do but he wanted to hear her answer to that.
"Because, Jack, I'd like to believe that there's still a human being underneath that whole façade of yours." She fixed her eyes into his as she continued to talk, "If you didn't want anything to do with me, you wouldn't have stopped me from leaving a while ago but you did so that means to say that you care about me."
"I destroyed your relationship with Chuck. The damage that I've caused you both is beyond irreparable so why the hell would you even think that? I never cared about you, Blair so don't delude yourself in saying that I do."
"I can tell from how little you were letting on. When you offered Chuck to trade me for his hotel, you could have told me the truth right after we've slept together. But you didn't. You didn't take advantage of me. When you could have just told Chuck the truth about what really happened between us on New Year's, you knew how it would destroy him because I was the only one who was keeping him together so you didn't."
Jack processed what Blair has just said before he could respond. "You can come away with me to Australia tomorrow. He would never think you'd leave with me."
"Do you really want to do this?" Jack needs to be sure that this is what she really wanted to do before he takes her away to another continent. "If you do this, then there is no turning back."
"I need to do this for myself. This is the only way," Blair's answer was said in conviction.
July 6, 2018, 11:45 p.m., Midtown Manhattan
"I need to how it all happened, Serena." Chuck declared before throwing a few dollar bills on the table.
Serena followed after his stepbrother as soon as she saw him stood up and walk towards the exit. "Wait! Chuck!" She yelled at him as she grabbed his arm. "Whatever you want to do tonight, it can wait tomorrow. You can't just barge in, knocking at their door, demanding for an explanation."
"Watch me," Serena heard him say as she followed him into the limo waiting for them outside the Palace.
Jack was already lying on the bed while going through some documents in preparation for his meeting with the potential investors tomorrow. Ten minutes later as he grew tired from reading; he placed the papers back into a folder and settled it on a table by his side of the bed.
"Do you think you can finish redecorating the guestroom soon?" Jack asked as he turned his attention to his wife who was rearranging her things in front of the vanity mirror. "Two days tops, perhaps?"
"I'm not sure about that but it's possible if we hire more people or if the walls won't have to be repainted," she responded as she took off her robe, slipping under the covers next to him. "Why do you ask?"
"I just want a more cozy environment for the kids," he said as she positioned her head to lie on his right shoulder.
"A two-bedroom suite costing $2000 a night at one of the most luxurious hotels in New York isn't comfortable enough?"
"It would be if it's just the two of us. Tell you what, why don't just skip repainting the walls? We're only staying here for a few more weeks anyway and then we'll have to go back to Melbourne."
"You're just probably worried about your son breaking everything if we don't leave any time soon."
"But don't you miss your old home?" He asked, running his fingers on her leg.
"Not so much since home to me is where you, Liam and Alex are," she responded, pulling herself closer to him.
"Blair, you practically spent most of your life in there," Jack said. "It would be a great idea for the kids to experience living in the same house where their mother grew up in."
"I know. I actually cannot wait for us to get settled back at home. It's just nice to see you think thoroughly about these things, you know."
"Then it's settled. We move back into the penthouse the day after tomorrow."
"It's perfect," she answered as she was about to kiss him when all of the sudden, the doorbell rang interrupting them. "It's late. Stay in bed. Don't bother finding out who it is, it's probably just room service."
"But you and I obviously didn't call to ask for anything," Jack stood to check who the unexpected visitor was at this hour while he left Blair in bed. Jack saw that it was his nephew along with Serena standing in front of the door of their suite through the door viewer.
"Good evening, Jack. Chuck and I were just - supposed to - leave." Serena said, trying to drag her stepbrother. "Chuck, let's go! Now's not the time to—"
"Serena." Jack, Chuck and Serena turned to look at the person who owns that voice. "Chuck. What are you doing here?"
"Chuck is drunk and –" The taller blonde tried to explain but Chuck managed to flee from her arms. "I really should have called Nate."
"I should have known at that time when I went to see you. You had her all along, didn't you?" Chuck said to Jack as he turned his head to look back at Blair. "But it doesn't matter now. I'm here to talk to Blair," he said fixing his eyes into hers.
July 2010, Melbourne Australia
Days turned into weeks, weeks into months and today, it has been now three months since Blair has left New York. Chuck Bass has just arrived at Melbourne after going to France to check if Blair could have been staying at her father's vineyard. As it turns out, neither Harold nor Eleanor has heard from their daughter. Chuck refused to believe that they didn't have any idea about Blair's disappearance thirteen weeks ago. He was certain that Blair's parents knew her whereabouts but they just did not want him to know.
He decided to swallow his pride to seek for his uncle's help so he went straight to the headquarters of Bass Industries in Australia where Jack would be.
"I'd be willing to give you anything you want – I don't care if it costs me everything. Just help me bring her back." He had never begged anyone for help before but he was willing to do so in order to correct the mistakes he had done before.
"You lost her the second you chose the Empire over her," Jack concluded as he looked at his nephew. "There is nothing you can do or say to take her back. She can never love you back, not anymore. What you did to her… it's unforgivable."
"This is all your fault! You need to take responsibility for what you did. Blair's gone to fucking God knows where! I need to find her. I need to fix this. You need to help me fix this!"
"I may have been the one who came up with the whole thing in the first place but it was your own decision, your own doing that put yourself into this mess. If you had only done things differently then she probably still would have stayed with you. Now all you have to do man up and face the consequences. Wherever she is, I'm sure she's better off without you."
July 7, 2018, 12:00 a.m., Midtown Manhattan
Serena stayed with Jack at the suite while Blair went with Chuck to the hotel's bar to talk. She had actually been surprised at how Jack had been civil towards his nephew when he allowed Blair to have a few minutes with him.
Blair thought that she should be the one to start the conversation after they have reached the bar. "I don't know what you wanted to talk about. I guess I should apologize first for not telling you about everything beforehand."
"You've changed so much, Blair. Seeing you now, it feels like this is the first time I've come to know you," Chuck observed.
"My life has changed for the better ever since the day I gave birth to both Liam and Alex. The whole experience of becoming a mother has changed my perception of how I should live my life. I could say the same thing for Jack. It changed us both." Blair said truthfully. She hadn't put much thought into what would happen if Chuck finds out about everything. It's not that they intentionally wanted to hide the facts from him. Jack would only talk about the business with Chuck whenever he came to visit New York. Nate and Serena thought it was best for him if he hadn't known while Chuck, on the other hand, had just been too busy running the company that his father left him with.
"I didn't even realize that it's been eight years. Eight fucking years, Blair, and I'm still stuck on you!" Chuck confessed as she listened patiently to whatever he had to tell her. "I even came to Jack for help to look for you when he knew where you'd been all along. You don't know how much it killed me to go to him. I never thought—"
"I didn't come to him to get back at you for what you did. It wasn't like that," she explained, cutting him off.
"It was Nate who actually convinced me that we should stop looking for you. He said you probably did not want to be found and when the right time comes, you'll come back to us, eventually. A few months after I gave up my search for you, Serena had told me you've enrolled at Oxford. I just wanted to drop everything else so that I could go see you but I lost the courage to win you back so I waited for you to return. Days, weeks, months and eventually, years have passed. I kept myself preoccupied with work, running the only thing my father has left me with. I thought I could forget you. I just hope that you could forgive me."
"I have loved you enough to forgive you a long time ago. I hope that you can love me enough to let me go," she said to Chuck before getting up to leave.
Blair kisses the top of Liam's forehead as the little boy shifts his position. She later on tucks a strand of hair behind Alex's ears as her little girl sleeps soundly in bed. After gently closing the door behind her, she sees Jack waiting for her.
He walked closer to where she had been standing. "I know I don't say it that much but I love you," he said as he presses his lips on hers. She doesn't have to say it back because he could feel it from the way she kisses him like that. He has her in his arms right now and that's all that matters.