"Ugh, I can't stand seeing all these smiling people, holding hands... kissing..." Chuck vented to Serena over the phone as he stepped outside The Empire to take Monkey for his morning stroll.

"Don't remind me," Serena spoke with just as much disdain.

"I guess it is only natural that you and I both are anti-Valentine's Day," he stated as he realized that she too was alone on today of all days and also not by choice. "It hasn't exactly been a banner year for either of us in the romance department..."

"At least the person you love told you they feel the same and is willing to risk it all just to carry on a secret affair! Mine didn't even respond!" Serena snapped, growing irritated at her stepbrother. He and the woman he loved were still technically together, even if it was in secret.

"It's not like I can just send her an anonymous bouquet of peonies! It's not like that would raise questions or anything!" Chuck growled back, frustrated that there was next to nothing he could do for Blair on Valentine's Day and vice versa. "Well the good news is that at least this outsized, over-pouring display of affection will all be over tomorrow – the New Yorkers can go back to being their cold, callous selves. Hang in there, sis."

"Yeah, thanks Chuck... and you too," Serena stated with a slight smile, feeling some comfort in the fact that she wasn't the only one having to suffer this so-called holiday.

"Oooh I love them!" Chuck overheard a woman squeal on the sidewalk up ahead as he hung up his phone. He looked up just in time to see said woman receive a giant bouquet of flowers as she jumped into her lover's arms. Disgusted and frustrated, he quickly turned to head back inside, deciding he'd have a member of his staff walk Monkey today instead so he could avoid happy couples as much as possible.

"Oof, sorry!" a man apologized as Chuck collided with him by accident. "Have a good day!"

"I somehow doubt that," Chuck muttered under his breath as he continued back towards the entrance with Monkey whining. "Jasper, if you don't mind – take him for a walk, please and bring him back up to the penthouse when you're done," Chuck grumpily ordered as he handed the leash over to the first unoccupied doorman he spotted. "You'll be provided with a bonus."

"Yes, Mr. Bass," the man replied as he took the leash and watched his boss disappear inside, not quite sure what was going on but pleased to be getting paid a little extra for the day for such menial task.


Sitting on the patio at a cafe, Blair sipped her warm afternoon tea alone, watching happy couples pass by along the sidewalk with a slight smile on her lips. Young and in love... it was a feeling she knew all too well she thought to herself as she gently ran her fingers down her collarbone, delicately grazing the hidden chain on which she kept Chuck's Harry Winston ring close to her heart. Just then her slight smile disappeared, replaced with an expression of subtle sadness instead as she remembered she was unable to spend this particular day with the one she really loved.

"I told you it was her!" Blair suddenly heard a young woman remark in French to another as they exited the cafe. She couldn't help noticing the tabloid in the girl's hand – a picture of her and Louis returning from their so-called honeymoon splashed across the cover.

"But she looks so... sad," the other girl remarked in a hushed voiced. Blair knew they were obviously talking about her, despite trying not to be obvious.

"Of course our newest Princess is sad today! Don't you read real news?! Her Prince is away on business and she is left alone on Valentine's Day!" Blair's royal minder Simone spoke up to the girls, seemingly to appear from nowhere. "Now shoo! Let the Princess enjoy her tea in peace!"

"Yes, ma'am," the girls replied as they quickly went on their way, but not before taking another glance back at Blair.

"Merci, Simone, however you didn't have to do that... just like you don't have to follow me everywhere..." Blair informed her minder, muttering the last part.

"Of course I did – they were gawking! Peasants!" Simone declared with a bit of annoyance. "Besides, while establishing your precense around the city is important, you don't have to put up with that, especially on a day such as this, when you're alone without your prince... Come, I'll signal the car and escort you back to the palace."

"Fine, Simone, but let me use the powder room first," Blair sighed in annoyance. "And I think I can manage it on my own, thank you," she added as she stood up. The woman The Royals assigned to attend to her every need (or report her every move as Blair knew was their real reasoning) seemed to follow her everywhere. She could never get a true moment alone during waking hours.

As soon as she was alone and locked the door to her stall, Blair quickly pulled out a cell phone and began tapping out a text message.


"That was quick," Nate remarked as Chuck soon reentered the penthouse. "Where's Monkey?"

"Jasper the doorman is walking him – I couldn't make it to the end of the block without being disgusted by all the public displays of affection," Chuck remarked as he slid his coat off. "What are you looking at?" he curiously questioned as he spied Nate pouring over various tabloids.

"Just trying to get some ideas for content for The Spectator... looking through the competition's selected pieces for the day," Nate informed him. "I can't believe she actually went with him on the honeymoon!"

Glancing at the spread before Nate, Chuck quickly realized he was talking about Blair and Louis.

He awoke suddenly when he felt the space next to him growing cool. Glancing over at the clock on the nightstand, he noted it was already 6am.

Did she already leave? And without saying goodbye? He couldn't help wondering.

Was it all just a dream? He questioned to himself as he recalled the events of the night before: the wedding, the chase to find her, pleading with her not to go, her showing up late in the night, the pact they agreed to, the love they made several times to cement it...

Rolling over though, he took in her scent on the pillow beside him. No, she really was here. She did spend the night.

He had no sooner confirmed it all to himself when he heard her in the adjoining bathroom. Looking up and over, he spied her in the doorway, already dressed.

"Hey, sorry – I didn't mean to wake you," she gently spoke as she sat down near him on the edge of the bed and began to slip on her heels.

"It's alright – for a moment there I thought I had missed you or dreamt the entire night up," he confessed as he ran his fingers along her back.

"No, last night was very real," she slightly laughed with a shy smile as she turned to face him, leaning down to kiss him once more as he sat forward to meet her halfway. "I love you," she declared as their kiss soon broke.

"I love you too... Do you really have to go?" he questioned her once more, already knowing the answer but hoping she'd change her mind.

"Yes, Chuck... you know I do, but I'll back sooner than you realize – and I'll keep in touch," she reminded him as she held up the cell phone he had provided her with last night. "And I won't sleep with him," she added to put him at some ease.

Sitting up, he tightly wrapped his arms around her, not wanting to ever let go. She turned just enough to return his embrace with her own and they shared one more passionate kiss that neither of them wanted to end before Blair finally broke them apart.

"I need to get going – we're supposed to leave for the plane at 7am and if I'm not back by then they'll know I was gone all night," she reminded him as she got up to leave, but not before giving him one more quick kiss goodbye. "I'll see you soon, Chuck," she stated as she made her way to the bedroom door, refusing to look back for fear that she would change her mind.

As she waited for the elevator to arrive she decided she would stop and grab some of New York's finest coffee, using it as her excuse for where she had been that morning, should anyone wonder.

Just as the elevator was about to arrive, she heard Chuck's bedroom door open. Before she could look, she felt herself being spun around in his arms as his lips came feverishly crashing down on hers. Instinct took over and she couldn't help returning the kisses of the one she loved with those of her own as she wrapped her arms around his neck. As the elevator doors opened, she felt herself being walked backwards into it, all while her lips remained engaged with his own. They continued that way the entire elevator ride down to the lobby. She figured he would immediately have the security footage confiscated the moment she left, just to cover their tracks and be safe.

"Just something to remember me by," he smirked at her right before the elevator reached its destination. "I love you," he breathed as he gave her one more passionate kiss goodbye before the doors opened.

"I love you too," she sadly smiled at him as she slowly released his hand from her own while she stepped off the elevator, looking back once more to see him still standing there as the doors closed.

"How can you stand to look at these?" Nate wondered out loud, drawing Chuck's attention back to reality.

"It's easy – I try not to and I think Blair would appreciate it if you didn't post anything about her or her sham of a marriage in The Spectator," Chuck spoke to his best friend as he took a sip of coffee.

"I know and I'm trying my best to make sure we don't, but you know there's going to be times where I might have to... I can't be the only paper not running news about the American Princess of Monaco – especially when people know I know her personally and that we even used to date," Nate pointed out to him.

"All the more reason for people to understand why you don't publish anything about her," Chuck remarked. "You have a history, therefore it's a personal conflict."

"I really don't know how you're able to handle this though – some of these photos are really quite convincing, even for those of us that know better," Nate stated as he continued to look at the various tabloid spreads showing Blair on her honeymoon with Louis.

Chuck was just about to open his mouth to tell Nate to shut up when he was alerted to a new text message.

Happy Valentine's Day! Wish I was spending it there, holed up all day in the penthouse with just you and various dessert toppings, but know that I still love you regardless. Next year will definitely be better. Talk to you tonight.
Forever yours, B

Smiling as he read her text, he had completely tuned out Nate's incessant rambling over the pictures.

"This is how I handle it and know better than to believe what's in those papers," Chuck declared as he slid his phone over to Nate, showing him the text he had just gotten from Blair.

"Wow... good to know, I guess... so does this mean you're not coming to my party tonight?" Nate couldn't help wondering.

"Not if it means actually getting to talk to Blair. Texting just isn't the same," Chuck informed him as he took his phone back, quickly tapping out a reply to her text.

Happy Valentine's Day to you too, Beautiful. Wish you were here also – all the happy couples in the hotel aren't helping matters any. I look forward to making up for it next year. I'll be awaiting your call – can't wait to actually hear your voice.

Love always, C

"Hey so, about the party tonight... that cater waiter Lola I'm trying to see... said she can't come tonight because it's Valentine's Day and she's a cater waiter..."

"So obviously she's booked solid for the evening," Chuck finished Nate's train of thought, not quite sure why Nate was bothering him with this, especially after he told him he wasn't planning on attending the party.

"Yeah, so I called the catering company to see if I could get her to work my party but turns out, there's a note in her file saying she refuses to work any event hosted by me or The Spectator! Can you believe that?!" Nate finished, unsure of what to do next. "Any suggestions? You used to have game before you became a one-woman man."

Chuck couldn't help chuckling at that remark. If Nate only knew... sure he might be a one-woman man now, but that didn't mean he didn't still have game.

"Oh Nathaniel, it's simple really – if she won't work a party at The Spectator, just move it here to The Empire," Chuck suggested. "I'll even make the call myself."

"Oooh that's a good one! Are you sure? I mean, you don't mind?" Nate couldn't help asking, a bit surprised by Chuck's sudden mood change from wanting nothing to do with the day to graciously helping him host a Valentine's Day party.

"Not at all – you're helping keep mine and Blair's affair secret, helping you get a girl... it's the least I could do," Chuck admitted.

"So... does this mean you'll be making an appearance? It is high-school themed - grown women in school-girl uniforms... hey you still have your scarf around somewhere? Perhaps it could make an appearance," Nate grinned.

"Perhaps I might stick my head out for a bit, however my room is off limits," Chuck stated immediately.

"Right, absolutely," Nate agreed. "I doubt anyone would want to walk in on or interrupt your phone or Skype call with Blair... I know I wouldn't!"

"Heh, exactly," Chuck quietly chuckled to himself. "And regarding the scarf... depends if I can find it – last I recall seeing it was when Blair was practically living here and she got a little creative with it... for all I know she might still have it."

"I don't even want to know..." Nate declared as he began typing out an email to all the guests, informing them of the venue change for the party.


Blair smiled to herself as she once again read Chuck's text response while she paced around in her room at the royal palace. Thankfully, the suite she shared with Louis was large enough and contained two separate rooms, joined by a mutual sitting room. She had her own bed and her bathroom. She couldn't have requested a better arrangement.

She hated the situation she was in, and truly did wish she was back in New York already, especially after having to endure a several week long honeymoon with a man she didn't love. Faking it for the cameras every day was quite exhausting, however she was pleased to be back at the palace where she didn't have to pretend so often and could relax in the comfort of her own suite. And fortunately for her, they had no sooner gotten back from the honeymoon that Louis declared he would be leaving again so soon on royal business. He would be gone for several weeks.

Going through her closet, Blair paced back and forth in front of the lingerie section in hopes of finding something that rivaled her collection from back home. Because of the time difference, most everyone in the palace would be asleep by the time she called Chuck and she was hoping to perhaps video chat with him if they were lucky, making this Valentine's Day at least somewhat memorable for them both.

As she paced, her mind began to wander to the last time she had seen her one and only. The way he had kissed her in the elevator before she left. He was right, it had definitely been something to remember him by and it had helped get her through the weeks that had followed.

She quickly hailed a cab and instructed the driver to take her to the best coffee shop in town. As she sat in the backseat, she gently removed the Harry Winston diamond on the chain from it's place under her blouse. As she looked it over once more, recalling the promise Chuck had made to her the night before, she couldn't help tearing up and then letting the tears fall freely.

She had made a huge mistake in marrying Louis. It should have been Chuck. And while she did choose to spend the night with him, it should have been their wedding night last night. She should be leaving for their honeymoon this morning. She should be happy and ecstatic. Instead she was miserable, sad and frustrated.

As they began to approach the coffee shop, she tucked Chuck's ring securely back into her decolletage, dried her eyes and was just about to step out of the vehicle when she remembered her rings.

Can't risk being photographed without them, she mumbled to herself as she reached into her clutch and quickly slid them back on.

A yellow diamond, ack! That should have been one of the first signs that Louis wasn't the one for her. Chuck was right – the ring was hideous.

With rings in place and eyes and cheeks free from tears, Blair stepped out of the cab and plastered on the fake smile she would force herself to wear every day for the next year or so. It was a small price to pay, she told herself once more.

She had just about given up on finding the perfect lingerie set when she spied a red and black lacy number hidden amongst the others. Deciding it would be perfect for the occasion, and knowing just how much Chuck loved it when she wore red, she quickly slid it on and took a picture of herself with the phone he had given her.


Chuck was wandering around the party, trying to keep himself occupied until Blair called by letting people engage him in meaningless conversation. He had to admit, had he not been a changed man nor had a pact with Blair, the old Chuck Bass could easily hook up with half the girls at this party no problem. The thing was though, he had no desire to do any such thing. Nate was right, he had become a one-woman man and that woman was Blair Waldorf.

He had found himself drinking scotch at the bar next to a woman who was talking his ear off about something he really didn't care to hear when he finally felt his phone buzz in his pocket. Without even address the woman, he quickly slid off the barstool once he confirmed the message was from Blair and made his way to the bedroom.

When he was alone and finally opened the message, his jaw nearly dropped. Attached was an image of Blair in a lacy red and black number, posing ever so seductively. Below it was the message "I'm ready for our call whenever you are, Bass."

He quickly tapped out that he was and then waited for the phone to ring.

"Please tell me no one else has seen that on you," he remarked right away, not wanting to think about her wearing something so sexy, seductive and revealing around any other man.

"Just you, Bass," she giggled on the other end. "Just you... I take it you like?"

"I... adore it," he growled back, beginning to get hard just thinking about her in it. "May I ask why you're being such a tease though? It's no fun seeing you in it when I can't enjoy the whole experience in person."

"I know, Chuck, I know..." Blair lamented as she rolled over on her bed, regretting the fact that she couldn't physically be with him. "But you will soon enough – I should be able to make a trip home by the end of the month," she tried to assure him. "In the meantime though... I had another idea..."

"Oh? And just what is that?" he curiously inquired, wondering just what it was she had planned.

"I downloaded a video chat on here – go get your computer and wait, I'll message you in a minute," she instructed as she quickly hung up and positioned the phone on her nightstand by the bed. Once it was in place, she sent Chuck an invite from her new screen name that The Royals knew nothing about.

"That's better," she purred as they connected and the sight of Chuck filled the screen. "I've missed you," she declared as she smiled at him.

"You have no idea how much I've missed you," Chuck replied as he licked his lips, taking in the full sight of her getup on his computer screen, reaching out to stroke her image. The view of her, sitting in her bed, revealed that she was also wearing black lacy stockings attached by a garter – things he couldn't see in the picture she had sent him.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah... I had to pay a doorman extra just to walk Monkey today – going outside was just too depressing..." he sadly admitted to her.

"Sorry..." she quickly apologized, feeling bad for him, however truth was, she had felt the same way all day. "I promise, next year will be much different," she assured him.

"Yes, it most definitely will be," he uttered in response as he slowly reached down and began to stroke himself. The mere sight of her was already turning him on and he couldn't help but quietly moan as he closed his eyes and thought of her.

"Chuck... what are you doing?" he heard her question a moment later, realizing she had probably heard him groaning to himself.

"Take a wild guess, Blair – I haven't seen you in weeks and you're dressed sexy as hell... tell me, this time next year, what will we be doing," he instructed her as he laid back into the pillows and closed his eyes, waiting for her voice to guide his imagination.

"I'll do you one better, Bass and tell you what we'd be doing if I was there right now," she seductively replied, much to his great pleasure as she removed a chocolate covered strawberry from a nearby basket and took a bite of the treat.

"You know, Blair, if I were there with you, first thing I would do would be to lick that delicious strawberry juice off your lips," Chuck interrupted with a devilish grin.

"Yes, well..." Blair began with a slight chuckle as she attempted to resume what she had started. "Aside from assaulting you with desperate kisses from the moment we're first alone, I'd push you backwards onto the bed, much like you already are and straddle you as I quickly undid your tie and shirt... hey wait, is that... your old St. Jude's uniform?" she paused as she couldn't help noticing his current attire.

"Hm?" Chuck questioned, a bit annoyed to be suddenly pulled out of the fantasy. "Oh yeah... Nate's having a high-school themed Valentine's Day party – don't ask."

"Sounds... interesting," Blair stated with a raised eyebrow. "However... aren't you missing one crucial piece of your uniform?" she added with a smirk.

"Indeed I am... but last I recall... a certain devious brunette had possession of it," Chuck reminded her.

"That I did... but unfortunately some things I couldn't take with me," she sadly stated. "Chuck, check the bottom drawer of my nightstand," she quickly instructed.

Curious and a bit pleased at having heard her refer to the nightstand on the side of the bed she usually occupied when she stayed over as hers, he rolled over and carefully opened the drawer, shocked to find that the beloved scarf was really there.

"But how...?" he wondered, completely perplexed. He had searched his room numerous times over the past few years, including that drawer. Amazingly, he couldn't help noticing that her scent thankfully still remained on it.

"It was at my mother's, however I was able to sneak it out my last night there and return it to its rightful home," she grinned.

"Anyways, please continue," Chuck motioned as sat the scarf nearby on the bed, resuming his place and removing his tie and unbuttoning his shirt, wanting to get back to their fun.

"Right, um... let's see... I'd run my fingers through your chest hairs, just like I always do, working a hand up to your neck, tangling my fingers through your hair as I grind myself against you, teasing..."

"You don't need to tease much, you know – I'm already hard," he informed her as he brushed his hand against himself, letting himself pretend it was her instead. "And the whole time I'd have one hand stroking itself up and down the smooth skin of your back while the other worked its way up your thigh, gripping that lacy tight ass of yours... kissing you wherever my lips could reach," he muttered to her as he closed his eyes at the thought.

"Mmm... you would, wouldn't you," she replied as she laid back on the bed and closed her own eyes, listening to his voice as she let her fingers work their way along her body.

"You know it," he replied as his breath began to quicken. "Eventually I'd get tired of the teasing though and flip you on your back, taking control."

"Yes..." Blair breathed back as she knew all too well that would eventually happen. Gently, she slipped her hand below her pantyline, as she also knew he would slide a finger or two down below to make sure she was wet enough before he would slide himself fully inside her. "I'm definitely wet, Chuck," she moaned to him as she arched her back on the bed and slowly slid her legs open, giving herself some room to work with.

Curious, Chuck opened his eyes to watch her and slowly began stroking himself harder.

"Mmm... Chuck... I'm so ready..." she purred with her eyes closed, trying to pretend that her fingers stroking herself were actually his.

"Me too, baby, me too..." he uttered as he continued to watch and stroke.

"Mmm..." she continued to moan as she worked herself.

"Blair..." Chuck gently called to her, not wanting to pull her out of the fantasy she was in. "Blair, use three fingers... in as far as you can and then back out," he instructed as he tried to help her get as much of the full affect as possible.

"Oh god!" she cried out as she no sooner did as he told her. "Oh, god yes! Yes! Chuck!"

"Yes, just like that... just... like... that..." he moaned as he quickened his own pace with his hand, tightening around himself as he told his mind that it was her tight pussy instead. Having the scarf on the pillow next him with her scent still on it definitely helped. Watching her rub and grip her lacy covered nipples and breasts with her other hand turned him on even more. "Faster, Blair... faster... yes... yes..."

"Oh god... Chuck... ohhhh..."

"Almost there... you?" he somehow managed to breath, wanting to make sure she fully reached her peak before he did, as he was coming awfully close already.

"Uh..." she moaned as she continued to quickly work herself.

"Use your thumb, rub your clit as you go," he instructed her once more, knowing that should put her over the edge.

"Oh... my... god!" she exclaimed a moment later as Chuck quickly worked himself to climax as well, crying out her name over and over as he came.

"That... was... wow," Blair declared between breaths as she worked herself down.

"Yeah..." Chuck breathed as he laid there, completely relaxed before reaching over to the nightstand for some tissue to clean up his mess.

"I don't know about you, but that did me," she stated as she curled up on the bed, completely spent and now tired and worn out.

"You gonna fall asleep on me?" Chuck playfully asked as he too rolled over on his side, moving the laptop to the empty space next to him so he could still see her.

"Maybe," she yawned as she reached over and positioned the phone next to her in the bed.

"Goodnight, Waldorf," Chuck smiled at her as he watched her begin to doze off. He knew with the time difference that it had to be pretty late there.

"Goodnight, Bass," she uttered before falling asleep. "I love you."

"I love you too," he told her back as he reached out to stroke her hair on the computer screen. "Happy Valentine's Day, Blair."

"Happy... Valen... tine's..." she tried to say back but ended up falling asleep mid-sentence. Chuck quietly chuckled to himself, taking a screenshot of her sleeping self so he'd have it to fall asleep to after ending the call once he knew she was definitely asleep for good. The last thing they needed was for some maidservant to enter the room and see him asleep on her screen.

For the first time in weeks, Chuck was able to fall asleep much easier than he had been.


AU: Thank you everyone for the response to the beginning of this! Because of that, I have decided to go ahead and continue, however the rating has changed from T to M for obvious reasons. Big thanks to Mary (Scarlett2u) for reading over this and giving suggestions! As always, feedback (praise and constructive) is always welcomed! Next chapter a tragedy on the UES brings Blair to the states! Stay tuned!