Thanks for the positive feedback! I had a hard time deciding what to do here, so I hope you enjoy!
"Hey Blair?" Nate asked. "Can I talk to you for a minute? Alone?"
"Huh?" Blair snapped her head up. She had been stressing about Chuck the whole night. Why did he have that look on his face? And why couldn't she stop thinking about him? "Uh, yes of course" Blair responded. What could he possibly need to talk about? She followed him out of the ballroom. "Maybe we should sit down" he said. They sat. "Look Blair, you know I care for you, but this just isn't working out. I think this time around has proved that, we just don't belong together." Blair was dumbfounded. Was he seriously breaking up with her? At PROM!? "Nate" she started coolly. "You haven't cheated on me again, have you?" "No no of course not. I promise you, I did not cheat on you." He quickly responded. "Then why are you doing this?" She was distressed now. How could Nate do this to her? "Because" Nate began. "We both know that..." he stopped. "We both know what?" she demanded. "We both know that, you only have one 'one and only'. And we both know who that is." Blair was silent. She considered this statement. Had she really been wrong all these years? Most of her life had revolved around Nathaniel Archibald. It had all seemed perfect until...until CHUCK showed up. She breathed a sigh of relief. It felt good to finally be able to think his name. Nate smiled at her. He knew he was right. "So..." he started. "Are we good?" "Yea" she responded. "We're good". Nate kissed her cheek before he got up to re-enter the prom. Blair was left alone to her thoughts. After a few minutes, Serena came out. "Hey" she said. "What's going on?" Blair sighed. "Nothing. Nate just broke up with me". Serena didn't look surprised. "Aww sweetie, I'm sorry". "No actually" Blair thought for a moment, "it's ok. I am totally fine with it. Huh. I feel like, it's all finally over and I can move on and figure out what I really want". Serena smiled. "Well I'm glad to hear it! Come on, let's go back in. There are plenty of single guys here you know." Blair giggled. She already knew of a single guy she was VERY interested in, she just had no idea how to make it happen.
Chuck looked over to find Blair and Serena entering the prom together. Serena winked at him. Now was the time. He took a deep breath and sauntered over to the stage where the band would soon start to play. He slipped the singer a hundred and took hold of the microphone. "Excuse me everyone" he said into the mike. Everyone looked up at him. Blair was starring at him with a look that said "WTF are you doing?" He smiled at that.
"I have something important I need to say. As you all know, my father passed away around 5 months ago. A tragedy that left me feeling more alone and scared than I had ever felt in my life. The pain was hard to handle. So I did what I always do when life becomes hard to handle. I ran away. I ran away and drowned the pain away in drugs, booze and sex. I thought that those were the only things to make it better. Never even considering the possibility, that I could be hurting people in the process." He paused there and searched the crowd for Blair. He locked eyes with her for a moment before he continued. "In my life, I have never had anyone care for me before. My own father rarely even gave me the time of day, and there were very few who could be considered a friend. Which is why, when there was someone who cared for me, I ignored it. This person stood by me through everything, never judging me by my lapses in judgment during my downward spiral. She even got me home at whatever cost when I ran away from my problems. She is the reason I am the C.E.O. of Bass Industries today, for she was the only living person who believed in me. Even after I kept pushing her away, she always stood her ground. Until I finally pushed her off the edge. I was mean and cruel and selfish, and every other word out there to describe one of the world's most awful people. All she wanted was to be there for me, and I didn't even let her do that. It wasn't until she was gone, that I realized what I had done. I tried to apologize, but it was a weak gesture and she was right to throw it back in my face. I don't deserve to even be in her presence, and yet the pain of losing her has been the most horrendous thing I have ever experienced. Even worse than my father's death. Some good has come from it though. I realized the person I was, wasn't who I wanted to be. For 3 months now, I haven't once been drunk, I haven't even seen any type of drug, and most importantly, haven't even so much as looked at a girl". There was an astonished murmur through the crowd. "It is true. I have put my womanizing ways behind me. I couldn't enjoy another woman if I tried. The truth is, I have grown up allot in the past 3 months. The responsibility of running a company has also helped with this. And, I know now what I want out of life. I know who I want to be with." His eyes couldn't leave Blair's. He was only speaking to her now. "I have screwed up more times than I can count in the past. I have hurt you so much more than you deserve. You never deserve to be hurt. You should be with someone who will never hurt you, and will treat you like a queen and can be your Prince Charming. I don't know if I can be that for you, but I do know one thing. Since that first night in the limo, all of my thoughts have revolved around you. Something happened that night. It changed me forever. I was never quite the same after that night. And I know you have given me allot of second chances, all of which left you heartbroken. A while ago, you wanted me to tell you a certain 8 letter phrase. It ended up being you who said it, and I threw it back in your face. It took me a while to realize it, but now I know. I know that I can't live without you. I know that I am only truly happy if you are around. So what I am trying to say, and should have said a long time ago is..." Chuck took a deep breath "Blair Cornelia Waldorf, I am hopelessly and irrevocably in love with you. I love you".
Blair was speechless. This had to be a dream. No, this was not possible. Sure, she had dreamed this many times, but she never thought he would actually say those 3 little words to her. And in front of the entire school no less. Suddenly, all who were separating them backed away, making a path up to the stage. She knew what to do. "Chuck Bass. You are mean, arrogant, selfish, and you have broken my heart many times. And yet somehow... I love you too". At that moment, Chuck smiled, hopped down from the stage, and ran to her. He swept her off her feet and kissed her. "Do you mean that?" he whispered. "Yes" she whispered back. "Do you mean what you said?". Chuck laughed softly. "Do you think I confessed my love for you in front of the entire senior class and not meant it? Of course I meant it". Blair smiled. It took her a moment to realize that everyone was applauding. Chuck put her down. She saw Vanessa in Nate's arms and something clicked. "Was it your idea to have Nate go out with me, so I would realize that I was never meant to be with him?" Chuck smiled guiltily. "You did. So you have all been planning this the whole time. And I never knew". "Are you mad?" Chuck asked. Blair smiled again. "No, this is the most romantic thing you've ever done". Chuck grabbed her hand. "Then let's get out of here. We'll go to Tuscany, or anywhere else you want to go. We'll have the summer we never had". "There is nothing I would rather do" Blair said starring into his eyes.
As they rode the limo to the airport late at night, Blair rested her head on Chuck's shoulder. She lightly touched the Erickson Beamon necklace around her neck. Before she succumbed to the sleep that was threatening to take over, she realized that she knew, this was all she really wanted. And she wouldn't have it any other way.
Chuck wrapped his arms around Blair. Poor thing was already asleep. He hadn't been able to shake the happiness that had engulfed him ever since she said 'I love you' back to him. It was the first time he had felt happy in a long time, and he knew that this time, they were going to be ok.