Title: I Bid You A Sweet Adieu
Author: BookCaseGirl (Abby)
Date: August 6, 2009
Rating: T, though M could also be fair game in any chapters that follow.
Classification: There really isn't much of one; a mixture of everything.
Summary: Sequel to Bittersweet Welcome! Six months later, Chuck and Blair are finding that some things will stand in their way of being happy and staying together successfully. As with any stab at their relationship, there are many hurdles to leap over.
Author's Note: I think I'm starting this basically on time. I really want this to be shorter and quicker...Nothing to linger over my head when I start school in September. So I'm hoping this will be about ten chapters and done in two or three weeks (probably closer to two). That set aside, I know I said I would be doing a sequel to "Brightness in the Shades of Gray". Well, geez, that was finished forever ago, and I still haven't written one. I want to try and do that soon as well, so keep a look out! Happy reading (:
Disclaimer: If I owned Gossip Girl, I don't think I would really feel the need to write FanFiction. Too much time would be spent on ferocious procreating of Chuck and Blair (;
This is not beta'd. Sorry for mistakes.
Even though it was only late September, it was bitter outside. Blair pulled her navy cashmere coat tighter around herself as she pushed her way through the revolving door that led to the lobby of Bass Industries. When she reached the front desk, she handed the suited-up man her 'Family and Friends' visitor pass and stepped through the metal detector (even normal business buildings invested in such things as metal detectors. Or perhaps it was only Chuck's rarely seen overprotection coming through).
Stepping into the elevator, she spotted a familiar face. She smiled at Dan Humphrey – in a crisp chocolate brown suit – and he nodded back, hands folded in front of him in a businesslike manner.
Years ago, it would have seemed absurd that Dan worked for Chuck. He was adjunct to the company, and they only brought him in for legal matters since he was – quite possibly – one of the best lawyers in New York. Now, it wasn't as absurd that good 'ole Humphrey Dumpty from Brooklyn was running with their crowd more and more. He was attached to Serena all of the time, so they were basically a packaged deal. Therefore, Dan was wordlessly accepted into their close circle of friends – no more mocking, though there was still the occasional cold shoulder if he attempted an entrance into a conversation.
"So, how are you, Dan?" Blair didn't even have to coat her voice with fake sweetness anymore, that was how normal seeing Dan was now.
"I've been better," he said, clearing his throat. He had a scruffy look about him – his face was covered in hair that was about half an hour past five o'clock shadow and his hair was combed, but looked as if it hadn't seen gel in several days.
"Are they having problems?" she whispered worriedly. Chuck never talked to her about anything that was going wrong within the company because he didn't want to worry her and upset her to the point of breaking. She wished he would just trust her and the fact that she was stronger now, but he always pacified her.
Dan eyed her cautiously out of the corner of his eye and she glanced down at the twiddling thumbs on her hands. Before he could answer her – not having an answer did nothing to resolve her worries – the doors opened, revealing the seventh floor, where Chuck's office was located.
She strode in ahead of Dan – she was the girlfriend, and that had to make her infinitely more important – and closed the door behind her. She saw Chuck at his desk – chair facing the window – with a phone glued to his ear. Hearing the door close he turned around and shot her a look a surprise. Without saying another word, Chuck hung up the phone. Blair almost felt bad for whatever person was on the receiving line of that dial tone.
"I have a question that I want you to answer honestly, Chuck," Blair stated, looking him straight in the eyes and trying to bore into his soul – for some reason it didn't seem as effective today.
"Yes?" he asked, raising his eyebrows amusedly, as if she were a child asking him something completely futile and unimportant. Blair hated it when he patronized her because it made her feel small and measly – two things of which she was certain she was not.
"Are you in trouble?"
"What sort of trouble?"
"Is the company in trouble?" she bit out, pacing for a few beats before sitting down in a chair across from him. On any other day it would have felt like she was a naughty client coming to visit Mr. Bass, the CEO for a 'special conversation' that involved little to no clothing. Today, however, it could not have been more serious.
"Why does that matter, Blair?" Chuck answered her inquiry with one of his own. He knew how much that pissed her off, yet he still did it. He was fighting her off, dancing around the inevitable. That was just what he did.
"Because I'm...Well, I'd like to think I'm important in your life!" She exclaimed, throwing her hands up into the air.
He sighed and shook his head impatiently, tongue darting out to lick his lips as he stared agitatedly at the wall behind her.
"Blair, you are, alright? But, I always keep business and...private matters separate, therefore -"
**********
"Dammit, if your business is going down the fucking drain I think I have a right to know Chuck!" Her voice rose several octaves and he looked up at her in astonishment. Overreact much?
"Jesus. Everything's fine. Don't get your panties in a bunch, Waldorf," he muttered under his breath, fiddling in the bottom drawer of his desk to avoid her burning gaze.
Before he could really comprehend what was happening, Blair was kneeling in front of his face, her eyes drawing his gaze to meet hers. She grabbed his hand and he felt something snap deep within him. If it had been his choice – perhaps if he had had more self control and self preservation – he would have stuck it out and done nothing to blow his cover.
Those eyes, though. So doe-like and innocent. All she wanted to do was help. And even if Chuck spoke to her, it didn't mean that he needed to accept help from her. He was strong and independent – if he weren't, then the company wouldn't have accepted him so long ago – and didn't need Blair Waldorf's help this time. He just didn't.
"Tell me what happened," she murmured, head leaning down to pepper the top of his hand with kisses as her eyes peeked up at him through slightly hooded lids.
"We're losing accounts," he whispered breathlessly, unable to believe how it actually sounded coming out of his own mouth. "Which means we're losing money. We're already twenty thousand dollars down." Chuck shook his head in despair, looking out the window because that was so much easier to do than to look into the eyes of a comforting Blair. If he looked at her, he would break; that just was not something he could do at work.
"Can't you earn that back? Gather more investors?" She asked hopefully, a smile spreading on her face and her eyes widening in fake encouragement and happiness.
"No one wants our money anymore. Everyone's tried every damn thing, but nothing fucking works anymore. I just..." he took this opportunity to look back at her. "...I don't know what to do anymore. I'm at a loss and...Christ, I need..." he rolled his eyes in defeat. "I need help, Blair," Chuck's voice broke as he finished his choppy speech and he looked at her once again. Her own eyes were rimmed with tears and she pulled his face to hers, kissing him.
As salty tears mixed together on their lips, Chuck tried to believe that it would be okay. This was what Blair was good at, wasn't it? She solved problems. The woman could fix anything. Even if she didn't know a whole lot about Bass Industries, Chuck trusted her. He loved her and she loved him, and their dual power could ward of any doom that loomed over them.
End Note: This was a short beginning...Sorry about that. I only included Chuck and Blair's POV in this chapter...It felt more comfortable to me to start out that way. In the next chapter, though, Vic shall be back (: Maybe even Adri? I'm not so sure yet haha. I hope everyone thinks this is a good start; I'm excited to keep going! Oh yeah, lemme know about the title...Does it work or is it just too...blah?