hi everyone. :) this is my first shot at GG, and so i'm pretty excited. i'm a chair shipper, but lately, i find myself cheering on nair. don't hurt me. :) anyway, i'm not new to the world of GG nor to the world of FF, so i like reviews and feedback.

disclaimer: i own nothing. the lyrics included are labeled with a number and included at the end of the story. they belong to their owners and are merely borrowed for short clips and story progression.

love!

All they had was this: passion. The problem with that was it had the tendency to burn out. For awhile the sparks would fly, combine, display a wondrous and promising light until it burnt out and ended in flames that were too hot to touch.

This was the exact opposite of the cool breeze, the frozen air she suffered from when she found herself suffocated by the doting boyfriend of the past three years. Unhappy wasn't the word she would use, because Queens are never that. They are merely … restless. It didn't help that their self-titled Breakfast Club had collapsed and the only two who remained in the UES was the dysfunctional, but picture perfect pairing of Blair Waldorf and Nate Archibald.

Serena had found that life better suited her on the coast and without so much as a goodbye, left for California. And Chuck Bass? No one knew. He had vanished into the night as he so often did. The days became weeks, then months, and finally years. Private investigators yielded no news, and the search seemed futile.

It didn't stop her from addressing his invitation by hand, crafted gently and with care well into the night with an included message should he need any further information.

This would be the wedding of the century and the news of it spread far and wide, faster than the invitations did. It was by his television screen that Chuck Bass heard the news, and while they say that you shouldn't shoot the messenger, it didn't stop him from throwing the TV out the window. Another one was delivered immediately.

After all, who dared to argue with a rock star? Especially one so mysterious as he, the lead heart-throb of the latest teen sensation, Bad World, better known as BW. He had named the band with the intentions of it being known as its initials, as they stood for something far bigger than fame.

Love.

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"Blair, why do we have to supply our guests with three different appetizer themes?" His voice was low, matured from that of the seventeen year old that he used to be. Even Nate had grown, his shaggy hair trimmed back to settle neatly against his permanently tanned face.

It was years of restraint that came that serene smile on her petite, fox-like features as Blair looked towards her husband-to-be. "Everyone needs choices, darling."

That's why it took her two months to pick a wedding dress color, and another three to select an actual dress. You wouldn't believe how many shades of what could be considered white there were.

"I know, but this many?" Wrinkled brows collided together, giving his confused and mildly frustrated expression more form. "You're single-handily causing all of Manhattan to become obese."

The problem with Nate is that he didn't realize when a line had been crossed. Blair had recovered well from her initial eating disorder, but it was a painful reminder that would unconsciously spark a reaction.

With a spine that sat straight suddenly, she'd glare at him. "You choose."

That tone made the golden-boy realize that he had said the wrong thing, and always looking to avoid the fight, he'd smile. "Aw, Blair, you're far better at picking these things than I am."

"Then stop questioning everything." Irritation had found its way into that sentence, making it sound more scathing than she had intended.

Silence settled between the two before Blair gave in – it was a thing she did only for Nate.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. This wedding is just… it's starting to stress me." A waning smile was offered to Nate, her best attempt at an apology.

His long legs carried him across the room in no time where he was able to embrace her, and like all times before this, she'd settle against him. Everything seemed easier, even if they did have their moments. This was why she loved him.

"I love you, Blair Waldorf."

"Soon to be Archibald, sweetheart." And even though she knew, deep inside she –knew- that she loved him, it was hard to say.

If Nate noticed, he said nothing and instead brushed a stray strand away from her face. "That's right. I've got some business to finish. Dinner, tonight?" A grin, one that she could never say no to.

And so she didn't, giving him the smile and a nod. "Of course."

As she watched him leave, she'd keep smiling to herself as she turned back to finish addressing the numerous envelopes in front of her. Sure, she could have paid someone to do these for her, but it was easier to gloat about her landing the mayor of the city when she took care of everything herself.

A stray invite remained on her lap, carefully hidden from her fiancée. It probably wasn't a good sign that she was already hiding things from him, but when they related to Chuck Bass, she was the best at hiding things.

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(1) shakin' hands -- nickelback