so i decided i was going to turn this into a story. English is not my first langauge, and honestly i dont care. most of this was written on my blackberry. Second chapter is being worked on but hell if i know when it will be done and posted
"It's your choice Chuck, either you take me down and your girlfriend and best friend with me or you walk away." the words of Bart Bass played into Chuck Bass head.
Chuck was about to turn his father in for his illegal oil trade, when Bart walked in with his threat. Bart had said Nathaniel Archibald, or Nate as he has known had been lying to get his new line of credit. Has for Blair Waldorf, Chuck's girlfriend/fiancée; she was throwing the fashion show for her new line of school uniforms that night. Bart's plan for her would be to throw a fashion show for Poppy Lifton's line and have all the fashion editors and everyone else go there. For Chuck, it was lose-lose.
Chuck started to pack the things he needed. He just wanted the things that could keep him off the radar for a few years. He thought of his time with Eva, how easy it was then. The last thing he packed up was the pictures, one of him and Blair, one of him and Nate, one of them together and one of the whole group. He slowly looked at the last pic; he would miss everyone in it, and 'including the Humphreys' he thought.
"Arthur, bring the limo.," he said to his loyal driver through the phone. He took one last long stare before slamming the door to all of it. The elevator ride was slow has it went down level-by-level, guest and employees zooming in and out past him. A few tried to talk to him but he did not want to hear it. The bell dinged signaling that he had reached the main level he made his way out of the elevator and to the limo out front.
"Where to mister Bass?" his most trusted employee asked after letting Chuck into the limo.
"Airport please," Chuck looked around his limo, he swear he can smell Blair here, "and fast."
Arthur nodded and drove off. Flashes of memories hit Chuck; some of Blair, some of Nate, some of both, at least all ones that have happened here. He did not want to leave it but he had no choice. He could not see the man that always stuck by him go to prison like his father had and he couldn't watch her struggle after she had made it so far. He had promised them both that he would be here forever but he just could not.
Arthur had opened him the door and Chuck slowly made his way out, he was fighting an internal battle on if he should call them before he left or not that he did not even notice Arthur drive off or that he made his way inside the airport. He couldn't even take the Bass plane or helicopter, he knew she would try to track him down with the rest of the Non-judgmental breakfast club with her.
"Where to sir?" the woman behind the counter interrupted his thoughts.
"Amsterdam, one way." he said reaching into his pocket, hand brushed against his phone when he reached for the cash and id he needed to buy the plane ticket for his escape. he'd go to Amsterdam, get a fake id under a fake name and address and go to Thailand from there and do it over again, and who knows from there where he'd go and do the same thing over and over again until even he didn't know if Chuck Bass was his real name or if he ever lived in New York.
He could have sworn his phone went off while he got lost in his thoughts again. He reached of it, but he had no notification on it. 'Maybe it was a sign' he thought but then his thought went back to her and her 'signs'. Her signs that made her marry a prince and date Humphrey; signs are not something he trusted in at this moment. He looked at his watch, 10:05 he read knowing that the fashion show is almost over. His fingers ran over the phone again, he had to call her. Thankfully, she let it go to voicemail; she must have put the finishing touches on the end of the show.
"Blair, I love you. I always want you to remember that, I am leaving soon, and I am not sure if or when I will be back. Please carry on without me, be the Blair I always knew. The gorgeous, smart, scheming, Queen B that I fell in love with years ago. If I do come back, I want you to know nothing and no one will stop me from coming back to you. And remember I'm not Chuck Bass without Blair Waldorf." with that he clicked the end button on his phone. He could stay for hours and talk to the voicemail and try to explain himself but his time was short, plus the longer he stayed the more he would try to talk himself out of leaving. But he had to make sure she was taken care of, that she was safe. He had less than 20 mins before he was supposed to board and he needed it to be fast. He pressed 3 on his speed dial and listen to the thing go to voice mail.
"Nate, just one thing before I leave," He sighed trying to hold off his tears. He was Chuck Bass, Chuck Bass doesn't cry, right? "please take care of her, be there for her, be the person to her I can't be." Chuck Bass doesn't cry, he silently repeated again and again. 'Maybe the next person I be will' he thought.
He clicked the red end call button on the phone and ran off to the nearest bathroom to dispose of it. He ducked into a stall holding the phone at eyesight before he let it drop. It was almost as if it went in slow motion, he saw her name flash across the screen with her picture under it before it slid into the toilet and shutting off completely. This time he couldn't hold the tears back knowing she probably heard what he said and was panicking. He wiped away his tears and made his way out of the bathroom and onto his flight. He took one final look before he left New York for good.
"Good Bye Chuck Bass."
It's been 7 years since he left, but now he was on his way back.
"Hello?"
"Hi, is this Arthur?" Chuck spoke into the phone. He hoped his driver still kept the same number and profession for that matter.
"Chuck Bass?" Arthur coughed out on the other end. He was probably drinking coffee driving someone else around.
"The one and only."
Arthur imagines his former employers smirk at the end of his sentence. "I thought you were dead."
"I'm alive and well, and on my way back to New York's Upper East Side. I was actually wondering if you still had the limo." He said not wanting to explain himself just yet. That was for the Spectator, if it still existed.
"I do."
"Good, Meet me tomorrow around 9 where the Bass industries use to land. In addition, I would like to hire you full time. Let me know if it possible when you pick me up. Oh and don't tell anyone. It was nice talking to you again."
The line went dead before Arthur could even answer. Of course he would pick him up, and probably end up working for him again but he wondered what just happened. He remember the way Chuck use to like to scheme, maybe this was one played on him by someone, but then again no one had Chuck's voice. For the first time in years, Arthur could not wait to work.
A lot had happened to Chuck in the last 7 years, or was it Dan Moden, or Eric Simons, Or Mark Counts, or whoever else he tried to be; no, he was sure it was Chuck Bass, and he was only sure due to her. He couldn't forget Blair Waldorf if he tried.
He just got the news of his father's real death. Chuck barely followed anyone from the UES since he left. He didn't know if Serena was married, Or his Nate still owned the Spectator, if Dan was still a Brooklynite, or if Blair was happy but he did follow his dads sorrows the last few years.
It started three years ago when Lily left him to go back to Rufus, three months pregnant with Rufus's child. They had been having an affair for the past year and their secret was finally out. It probably didn't help that Bart was the one pushing for the fertility treatments for him to have a child again, but it lead the elder Bass on a destructive path, much like Chuck's path before he had opened Victrola and that night. The night that started his and Blair's love affair.
The hookers, that he was now frequenting made Bart turn to drugs and he slowly started to lose control of his company with Lily gaining full control about six months prior to Bart's death, but her gaining the company wasn't what killed him. The death of a drugged up hooker two months prior was the final straw. The company decided it liked the pairing of Jack Bass and Lily has owners instead of some drugged up, horny, middle-aged man going through a crisis weeks ago. Bart hung himself two weeks ago, and Chuck couldn't have been happier. He was hoping to regain all that he lost.
The limo drive was mainly quiet the next morning, with Arthur doing most of the talking. Arthur knew Chuck wasn't going to say anything until he was able to speak to the press. Chuck had asked him for a ride to the Spectator, Arthur had to tell him that the Spectator moved to the recent success in the past few years. Nate was still the driving force behind it, all of his hard worked paid off, and Chuck couldn't be happier. He was glad that he was about to let the paper get the news out on him.
"I'm here to see Nathaniel Archibald." He said to the young blonde women behind the desk. She didn't even look up with her reply.
"Do you have an appointment?"
"No."
"Then you can't see him, Mr. Archibald is very busy." She replied with her head still down.
Chuck laughed at the young lady, sure he changed and people probably thought he was dead but if she knew who he was she'd be in awe. He ignored her reply and continued to walk to the wood door that read 'Nathaniel Archibald' in bold gold print.
"Sir, you can't do that." She said getting up and quick following him. Chuck turned the knob right when the lady grabbed him. "Who do you think you are?" she huffed. The door was already ajar and Nate could see who this man was.
"I'm Chuck Bass." The trademark smirk plastered on his face. He saw a slight bit of recognation on the blondes face, her mouth hung slightly opened with his words. She most of heard about him.
"Chuck?" Nate had gotten out of his chair and made his way to the man that had been his best friend. "It's ok Cathleen." He said dismissing the blonde and grabbing the man into a tight hug. Nate didn't need to ask questions to verify this man, he knew what his best friend looked and sounded like and he knew that there would be no one who can ever imitate him. Tears filled Nate's eyes has he held his friend tightly.
"I wanted to give you my story." Chuck said to Nate, who unlike Nate was trying, but failing to hold back tears.
"So you left without scheming?" Nate asked after listening to this man for god knows how long. He had Cathleen cancel his work appointments. Nate canceled all of his plans just to catch up with Chuck and to begin to form his story for the papers next week. Nate had made his receptionist book a hotel room to hide Chuck in until next week release. He didn't want anyone to find out.
"Nathaniel, that's enough about me, why don't you tell me about you and the gang?"
"Well Serena and Dan got married, even after knowing that Rufus and Lily where having a baby."
"I guess that's two biological siblings they share now." Chuck mused. "and to think she never wanted to hook up with me due to our relationship." Nate held back a laugh at Chuck's thought. "How about you?"
"I'm married, 4 years in October. One six year old step daughter that I adore very much, and twins on the way." Nate smiled at the thought.
"Nate married? I would have never guessed. Is it someone that I know?"
The smile on Nate's face changed, he had to choose his words wisely. "Uh, you might." He breathed out. He didn't elaborate and he hoped Chuck wouldn't push the question further. To his luck, Chuck had changed the subject.
"What about Blair?" That was the real reason Chuck was here. He knew she still had to be alive and either in New York or Paris. He hoped Nate had any information.
"She's good," Nate paused again to think about what he would say next. "She married Jack after you left."
Chuck just felt like he was slapped hard across the face. He should of known that she wouldn't of been single and that Jack would try to take something he had. They only had been partners a short time, he knew Jack couldn't be trusted. "I thought I asked you to take care of her." He said angrily. He hated the thought of her with anyone, let alone someone so disgusting.
"Relax, ok. It was a month after you left. She had something to tell him and wanted to give back your ring. I'm not sure how it happened but they went off to Vegas and tied the knot." He could tell by Chuck's expression that the story didn't help him relax, just made him annoyed. "They annulled it a 9 months later. 'He wasn't Chuck Bass' she kept saying." Chuck thought he could tell a slight bit of jealous in Nate's voice but he wasn't sure. Maybe he was just imitating Blair. "They actually became friends and she kept the ring." Nate finished his story.
"That would make sense." Chuck's face soften, "The one time I saw her she was still wearing it but on her finger instead of the chain."
"When did you see her?" Nate asked, something seemed off in his voice. Chuck could tell something was off but he ignored it.
"She didn't see me but exactly a year after I left. I just wanted to make sure she was ok and I had heard she was in the Paris office. I attended an event that was in her honor for a few minutes just to see her. She was beautiful." Blair's image on that day popped in Chucks head. He was glad he went to see her. "Did she have a baby with Jack?" He asked Nate.
"Why'd you ask that?" Nate said avoiding the answer.
"Dorota and her where leaning over this baby basket at the event. I didn't know if it was hers or Dorotas, but now I remember she had gained a little weight. I left probably 15 minutes after she was introduced so she wouldn't see me, part of me thought it could be mine." He spoke the last sentence quietly.
Nate tried to change the subject again. "What about you, did any of these people have kids?" he asked gesturing to the many ids Chuck had.
"No," Chuck swallowed back. "I always knew who I wanted to have my child." Chuck was silent for a minute but he had to know the rest of her story. "Did she remarry?"
"Yes." Nate said, feeling like he plunged a knife through his friend's heart. "She's also pregnant."
They both winced at the last bit of information, Chuck felt like his heart was ripped out and Nate felt like he was the one who ripped it out. They stayed silent for a bit longer this time.
"Do I know him? Is she happy?" Chuck whispered.
The intercom of Nate's phone saved him, Cathleen might have just saved him.
"Mr. Archibald your wife is on her way up. She's not to happy that you missed lunch with her and Charlize today. Is there anything you'd like for me to tell her?"
"Tell her not to come in." Nate said in a panicky voice. He forgot about lunch with her. 'shit' kept saying silently.
Chuck didn't seem to care about Nate's actions. He was still hung up on Blair. "It doesn't matter anyways, like she said a million times, There is no Blair Waldorf without Chuck Bass. I bet you she'll leave him after the article is published."
"I doubt that." Nate practically hissed at Chuck. He knew Chuck noticed that.
"I don't, She always leaves and comes back to me. You should know she did it to you once before. She did it with the prince, she did it with Humphrey, She always does."
Those words rang in Nate's head for a minute. He was right though, Blair always left whomever for Chuck. "she's happy, Chuck." Nate simple stated. Nate got up and walked over to the window, he had to cause some space between him and Chuck. He wasn't sure what Chuck would do with the information Nate knew.
Chuck opened his mouth to say something, he knew Nate knew a lot more then he was saying but he didn't want to ruin his friendship. But he just listened to the noise outside, Cathleen was trying to keep Mrs. Archibald out of Nate's office. And she was failing might he add.
"Mrs. Archibald he's very busy, he asked me to keep everyone away."
"But I'm not everyone, I'm his wife." Her heels clicked on the floor and she walked towards the door.
No, it couldn't be. Chuck shot Nate and poisonous glare and he saw the look of defeat written all over him. "So this is why you didn't want to answer my questions."
"Who's more important than Blair Archibald?" She hissed turning the handle.
"Chuck Bass." He answered. He took her sight in. She looked about six months pregnant, but it looked well on her. Her hair dark with a few golden highlights thrown in, her lips, much like the rest of her was still perfect.
She stopped when she heard his voice. The last time she heard the voice was when she got engaged to Nate, she kept his voicemail playing it over and over again since the day he left. It was the reason she got married to Jack, hoping she could change him to be more like Chuck. When she realized no one was like Chuck is how she let go. She stopped wearing the ring, she changed her daughter's last name, and she let herself love again. She fell in love with the person who knew Chuck just as good has she did, she fell in love with Nate.
"You always said you wanted to be Mrs. Nathaniel Archibald." Chuck smirked but it wasn't his usual smirk. She can notice the sadness in it.
"I-I-I thought you were dead." She said staring at the floor, she couldn't make eye contact with him or Nate.
"Pregnancy looks well on you." Chuck eyed her from head to toe.
"Th-thank you." She stammered out, she acted as if she had seen a ghost. "Did you guys catch up?"
"Yes, we did." Chuck got up and started to make his way towards her. He notice Nate stiffen up, as if he was about to see Chuck make-out with his wife. "I'm going to let you guys talk. Send me the article Nate, I'd love to read it while I'm in hiding. And Blair," he was standing in front of her, he moved a piece of her hair out of his way. He noticed Nate was ready to attack him if he tried anything. "I'm glad you're happy." He said kissing her cheek lightly. He felt her stiffen up now, he could feel her blood rushing to the area his lips brushed against. "We'll keep in touch and talk later." He said before making his way out the door to call Arthur.
They stood there for about 15 minutes before she finally spoke.
"You didn't tell him about Charlize did you?"
"No, but I'm sure he'll know when he sees her." Nate walked over and rubbed his wife's back trying to be of some comfront to her.
"Andrew, I need you to find out any information about Mrs and Mr. Archibald. And Yes this is Chuck Bass." Chuck said talking to his old PI. If he was planning a takedown, he wanted the right info.
R&R
