One thing I did change from the show is that The Captain was never arrested and indicted for embezzlement. The Archibalds are still a very wealthy, prominent family. I hope that you enjoy this story. Please, if you're reading, leave me a review and let me know what you think. Good or bad, the feedback helps feed the muse.

I miss you
I miss being overwhelmed by you
And I need rescue
I think I'm fading away

December 4, 2013

Storm clouds loomed heavy in the dull gray sky, the threat of rain imminent, as Chuck Bass stepped out of his chauffeured car and entered the Tokyo branch of Bass Industries. He rode the private elevator up to his office and found a pile of messages on his desk along with his daily schedule, coffee and a copy of the New York Times.

After skimming his schedule and finding it unusually light, he reached for his coffee and unfolded the Times, perusing the usual fare found within. Once he was caught up on all of the important details of the world, he flipped to the lifestyle section and fumbled the cup in his hand. Staring back at him were two faces he knew as well as is own. It was Blair and Nate under the bold headline ENGAGED.

Blair Cornelia Waldorf and Nathaniel Fitzwilliam Archibald, members of two prominent Upper East Side families recently became engaged. Blair is the daughter of fashion designer Eleanor Waldorf and Harold Waldorf. She is a 2009 graduate of Constance Billard School for Girls and a 2013 graduate of Yale University. Nathaniel is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard "The Captain" Archibald. He is a 2009 graduate of St. Jude's and a 2013 graduate of Dartmouth. Blair is currently involved with numerous charities and Nathaniel works with his father in the family business. The happy couple is planning a June wedding and will reside on the Upper East Side after they are wed.

He turned in his chair and stared out the window, the weather choosing that exact moment to turn nasty; lightening flashed and rain poured down violently. The newspaper still on his lap, he fixated on Blair's face wondering how things got could have ever gotten to this point.

"Bass!" Blair giggled when he dipped her theatrically on the dance floor. "Don't drop me!"

"Come on, Waldorf," Chuck replied, lifting her back upright with ease. "Have a little faith in me." Pulling her in closer, he brushed his lips against hers.

"Chuck Bass, are you flirting with me?" Blair asked playfully, batting her eyelashes.

"Depends," he shrugged. "How soon can we blow off this wedding and get naked?"

Two years ago that type of comment would have automatically resulted in acerbic barbs traded between them, but she wanted him almost as frequently as he wanted her. "Soon enough, but I want to keep dancing." She snaked her arms around his neck and threaded her fingers through his hair. "Is that okay with you?"

"Do I really have a choice?"

"No," she grinned wickedly.

"That's what I thought," Chuck replied with a smirk and twirled her around the dance floor, making her laugh. "Is this how you would want to do it?" At the confused look on her face, he continued. "The wedding I mean. What's your dream wedding like, Waldorf?"

"I've never really thought about it," she said and looked away.

"Bullshit. You're a girl with grand fantasies, Blair. You've never once considered what you want your wedding to be?" The look in her eyes gave it away. He knew her too well.

"Why are you asking?" she asked suspiciously.

The laugh rumbled softly in his chest as he pulled her even closer and nipped at her earlobe. "Just answer the question. Would this wedding be your dream wedding?"

Blair pulled back and scoffed. "Please. Did you see her dress? Hideous. The number of bridesmaids was completely pretentious and they didn't even spring for top shelf booze. They shouldn't be allowed to call themselves Upper East Siders."

Chuck smirked and ran a hand gently down the side of her face. "That's my girl. So we know what your wedding wouldn't be…what WOULD it be?"

"I don't get where you're going with this, Bass."

"Humor me."

"Well…I want our wedding to be the event of the year; with our engagement splashed across the front page of the lifestyle section in the Times. There would be a tasteful number of bridesmaids and groomsmen, a grand ballroom with an elegant dinner and top shelf liquor. And it will be the biggest fuck off to everyone that said we'd never last."

The warmth that surged through his chest hearing her describe their wedding made him inexplicably happy. After the tumultuous times junior and senior year, they'd been solid and happy for the last two years. He'd definitely thought about making it forever, wanted it to be forever. He looked deeply into her eyes and smiled as she started blushing, as though she just realized her Freudian slip. Either way, it was good to know she was on the same wavelength.

"Chuck, I…" she began, but he cut her off with a kiss.

"That's what I want, too," he whispered against her lips.

The bright smile spread slowly across her face. "Good. Now, what was it you said about getting naked?" she asked coyly.

Chuck grabbed her hand and half dragged a laughing Blair off the dance floor heading for his limo.

Completely blindsided, Chuck huffed out a breath and tossed the paper haphazardly onto his desk. Rising to his feet, he paced calmly towards the wet bar and poured three fingers of scotch into a crystal glass, downing it in one swallow. The familiar burn that was typically a comfort failed to provide anything of the sort. Pouring another glass, he lifted it slowly to his lips and stared at his reflection in the mirror. Rage coursed through his veins as the bile rose to his throat and he sent the crystal glass flying into the gilded mirror. His lips twisted into sneer from the sound of shattering glass and added a few more glasses and the decanter of scotch to the wreckage. "Fuck!" he raged. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!"

"Mr. Bass?" his assistant asked hurrying into the room. "Is-is everything okay?"

Chuck turned slowly and coolly walked back to his desk as if he hadn't just been fighting with barware. "Clear my schedule for the rest of the day." He shrugged on his coat and scarf, grabbed his briefcase and strode to the elevator, leaving a stunned assistant in his wake.

Sulking in the back of the limo may not have been productive, but at least it was honest. His chest was tight, like someone strapped a vise to his heart. How could things have gotten this serious between Blair and Nate? The last he'd heard they were casually dating and he hadn't been worried in the least. He figured they would fizzle out quickly because, just like prep school, they weren't right for each other. How could they fucking be getting married?

The interior of the limo suddenly became smaller and smaller and the air was clogging his lungs. He needed out and he needed out now. "Stop the car!" he yelled to the driver.

"But Mr. Bass, it's raining."

"Stop the damn car!"

The driver did as instructed and pulled over. Chuck opened the door and stepped out into the cold, rainy day. His cell phone buzzed in his pocket and he saw he had a new text message.

GG: Good evening, Upper East Siders! Gossip Girl here. For those that haven't bothered picking up a newspaper, you may be quite surprised to learn that Blair Waldorf and Nate Archibald are betrothed. I thought those two were finito back during their prep school days. I wonder what poor Chuck Bass thinks now that his former lady love and his best friend are getting hitched. I sure wish he'd come back stateside. The UES just isn't the same without The Bass.

His face scrunched up in disgust. He couldn't escape that nosy bitch even in Tokyo. Shoving his phone back into his pocket, he continued his trek through the downpour, wishing that the rain could wash away the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Blair Waldorf was living the life that most girls dream about. She was thin and beautiful, had her very own deluxe penthouse that had been a gift upon graduating from Yale, a gorgeous fiancé, and, the piece de resistance, she had the Vanderbilt diamond ring sparkling on her finger. Currently, she was surrounded by glorious engagement gifts that kept pouring in once the article ran in the New York Times. If there was one thing Blair Waldorf adored, it was being the center of attention.

Surveying the pile of gifts, she noticed a small, exquisitely wrapped package that she missed earlier. Grabbing it up, she looked for a card, but didn't find one attached. The package was so beautiful that she almost hated to tear into it. Carefully she removed the bow and paper then lifted the lid off the burgundy box. Blair peeled the tissue paper away and gasped when she saw the gift. It was a gorgeous, hand-painted Limoges box with a blue Tiffany & Co. box on the top. With careful hands, she opened the lid and felt the tears well up in her eyes when the strains of Moon River twinkled through the air. Only one person came to mind after she opened the gift and it was the last person she should have been thinking about.

She discovered a white envelope taped inside of the box lid and her fingers fumbled with the card. Her breath hitched upon opening the card and reading the handwritten note:

Congratulations, Waldorf. I hope your life is everything you want it to be. I'm just sorry things didn't work out the way we planned.

-CB

"Chuck," she whispered as the tears streamed silently down her cheeks.