Blair made her way down the stairs slowly, her heels clicking against the granite sharply. Taking a deep breath, she stopped on the last step and finally met her eyes with Chuck's. He was wearing a somewhat casual suit and…she grinned.

A bow tie.

"I, uhm…forgot something. I'll be right back." Blair said abruptly, running up the stairs. She fumbled through her drawers.

"It has to be here somewhere." She mumbled, throwing aside post-it notes and Dior makeup. She knew she had it somewhere in her drawers. Although it had been a while since she had worn one, she knew that somewhere in her house there had to be one. It was the last piece that would complete her. After a minute of digging, she found it. She thumbed at the material and smiled. Looking in the mirror, she placed in perfectly amongst her curls.

Her navy headband.

Smiling in content, she made her way back downstairs. She smiled coyly at Chuck. He smirked. Her hand clung to the railing of the steps so hard that she thought it would crumble underneath her sweaty grasp. Eleanor stood awkwardly between the two, a small smile painted across her face. She knew it would only be a matter of time before her daughter and the dark knight reunited again. She just was surprised it had taken this long. There were heavy issues and feelings that had to be resolved, but Eleanor knew the two of them could push through anything. She was overjoyed for them.

"Return my daughter by midnight Charles. And take good care of her." Eleanor instructed. Blair shot a soft look at her mother.

"Really mother?" Blair murmured. Chuck smiled and looked down at the floor nervously as Eleanor shrugged.

"I will take good care of your daughter, Ms. Waldorf. And she will be home at twelve on the dot." Chuck said politely. Blair bit her lip to keep her from laughing at his kind gesture. After a few moments, Eleanor turned to leave.

"Have a good time you two. Be safe." Eleanor said. She patted Chuck's back and made her way down the hall.

"And no monkey business!" She added loudly. Blair bit her lip and laughed.

"Like we haven't fooled around under her roof enough times." Chuck muttered under his breath. Blair heard him and smiled to herself. She made her way towards him and linked her arm with his. The contact made him shudder against her hot skin. After gathering himself, Chuck made his way towards the elevator, keeping his arm against her's.


"Where's our car?" Blair asked, looking around her property. Chuck unlinked his arm with Blair's and smirked.

"We don't have a car." Chuck said simply. Blair cocked her head and gasped.

"Charles Bartholomew Bass if you expect me to walk all the way into the city in these shoes, than you must have either had a little too much to drink or are taking this 'I don't know you' thing a little too seriously." Blair practically screamed. Chuck smiled.

"I told you to dress down a little. But that's beside the point. We do have a mode of transportation. I would never make you walk, my princess." Blair rolled her eyes.

"Then where is it?" She asked, blinking furiously. Chuck took a few steps to the left and patted on a black seat.

The black seat to his motorcycle.

"You've got to be kidding me." Blair breathed. Chuck smiled and handed her a helmet.

"Hop on." Blair opened her mouth.

"If you think I'm going to even take a step towards that thing…"

"Oh I thought you'd like a motorcycle ride. You seemed pretty edgy when we first met." Blair rolled her eyes.

"Chuck, you can cut it out with this act. You know very well in that little brain of yours that this would be the last thing I'd ride on. So call a cab now." Blair rambled.

"Oh, so you prefer cabs over limos after your little stunt with a brooklynite, eh?" He stabbed. Blair scoffed.

"I thought we didn't know anything about each other!" Chuck shrugged. Blair muttered basstard under her breath and swiped the helmet out of Chuck's hands. She placed it on her head roughly before taking seat on the motorcycle and crossing her arms. Shifting her weight caused the motorcycle to start to tilt. She let out a dramatic scream and Chuck immediately grabbed her. Blair sighed of relief.

"Miss Waldorf, you need to be more careful next time. I want you to return you to your mother in one piece." Blair rolled her eyes for the millionth time.

"Just get on the freaking motorcycle and drive." She commanded. Chuck couldn't stop smiling at her. She was finally back to the old Blair Waldorf again: Bitchy, headband-donning, and demanding.

"As you wish, my love." He answered, putting on a helmet. He took his place on the motorcycle and guided her hands around his waist. She clung to him for dear life. The contact made the butterflies in his stomach flutter harder. The last time her arms were around his waist was two years ago. During their "friends with benefits" stunt. He could almost see himself looking in the mirror again, her head resting on his shoulder. God, he thought to himself, they hadn't even been dating seriously and he yearned for that. Any sort of contact. But inside he was just so hurt. Tonight, he would wash it all away. Even if it was only for just the night. He had her. Not Claire Carlyle or any other phony, fake Blair. It was pure and simply her.

"Don't drive too fast." She said softly. He smirked and reved up the motorcycle a few times, making her jump.

"CHUCK!" She screamed. He laughed.

"Okay fine. Just hold on." He instructed. He drove down the driveway and into the street, her grasp making it hard for him to breathe.

"If you grasp any tighter, I might have an asthma attack." Chuck yelled through his helmet. He felt Blair's grip loosen. He turned away from the highway entrance and decided to take the scenic route.

Blair peeked out of her helmet. She hadn't really opened her eyes since they pulled down the drive. She couldn't believe she was actually on a motorcycle. How middle class of her. However, being with Chuck came exceptions. She came to the conclusion that she'd probably only ride on one if she was with him. Ironically, he was the only person she could feel safe with. Defiantly not Serena, she thought. She had to laugh at that. The last time Serena drove anything was the golf cart in the Hamptons. After two holes, they ended up stuck in a chain fence. Never again, Blair said to herself. She hadn't really thought about Serena in a long time. Things had ended, rough to say the least. But deep down in her heart, Blair knew she couldn't stay mad at her forever. Maybe the Gossip Girl blasts were just what she needed to open her eyes. Although the blasts were hurtful and mean, they really turned out to be for the better. And maybe Serena had actually had a reason to do what she did. If the roles were reversed and it was Serena with Chuck, Blair probably would have done similar, maybe even worse. Even still, Serena didn't even mean for those posts to get out. In no way, shape, or form was Serena justified, but Blair couldn't help but to sympathize for her. She went through a rough year: her grandmother died, her father chose her half sister over her, and the love of her life chose her best friend instead of her. And all that time Blair wasn't even there for her. Blair felt a pang of guilt shoot through her stomach. Not only was Blair not being a best friend to Serena, but chose her ex and flaunted it in her face while she was suffering. Blair sighed and rested her head on Chuck's shoulder.

Tonight she had Chuck. Maybe it wasn't her Chuck. Maybe they weren't a couple, or even friends. But they had the night ahead of them, without complication or heaviness. Blair wasn't about to let that go.

She snuggled deeper into the crook of Chuck's neck, breathing in the sweet smell of Old Spice and cologne. God how she'd missed this. She felt so relaxed and safe. Her heart was racing inside of her, but she still felt a sense of calm. The aroma comforted her. She turned her head to face the city. Her city. Paris: the city of love. The lights shone on the water, displaying their blues, violets, yellows, and purples. In the distance, she could make out the Eifel Tower. Everything was so perfect. In Paris, she always felt happy. Her heart belonged to Paris.

And to Chuck.

The two combined was a mixture unlike any other. She had only been to Paris once with Chuck. It was the summer they had first been a couple. She drifted into one of her favorite memories.


"Haven't you had enough tormenting the French for a day? This is your city Waldorf." Chuck exclaimed, smiling. Blair rocked back in forth in his arms.

"You know I love to torture. Any place, any time. But you're right, this is my city. I ought to pay it more respect." She looked up at him.

"Where's your favorite place in the city?" Chuck asked. Blair laughed.

"That's like asking me what my favorite outfit in my closet is. I have so many!" Blair replied. Chuck held her closer.

"Well…" Blair started.

"What?" Chuck asked, looking her in the eye. Blair bit her lip.

"There's always been something I've really wanted to do." Blair started. Chuck kissed her forehead.

"Anything for you, my love."

"Wow Bass you are getting so soft! I cannot believe it. But this is corny, I must warn you. And a tad lovey dovey. Maybe too much for your taste."

"I'll do it." Chuck promised. She grinned.

"Okay. Actually, it's only a couple of blocks away. Come on." She wrapped her arm across his back and lead him towards their destination. Her feet were killing her from being out on the town in her three inch heels, but she was at ease in Chuck's arms. She never knew she and Chuck could ever be this way, but tonight it was just her, Chuck, and the city. Nothing was between them or distracting them. It was just them. It felt soppy and cheesy, but she felt like she was in a romantic movie. Her dreams were now her reality. She couldn't imagine being where she was with anyone else. Not Nate, not any other boy from her past. Just Chuck. She couldn't even believe that thought was in her head, but it was. And for the first time, she wasn't even ashamed about it.

They rounded the corner and in front of them stood a fence. On it hung thousands upon thousands of locks, ranging in size, shape, and color. Some had bows and things dangling from them, others were just simple locks. Blair walked over to a vendor on the street and purchased a single gold lock. It wasn't expensive or even that pretty. It was simple, which was the complete opposite of Chuck and Blair's relationship, yet it seemed fitting somehow. The man kindly gave Blair his black Sharpie. In her beautiful, ornate handwriting, Blair wrote:

3 words. 8 letters. Say it, and I'm yours. Chuck and Blair, Blair and Chuck.

She placed the lock in the middle and clasped it shut with a loud clicking noise. Chuck could tell she was not completely satisfied with the arrangement. He got an idea. He started to fidget with his bowtie. Finally pulling it off, he pulled out his pocket knife and cut the bowtie in half. Bending down, he tied the bowtie onto the lock. Blair grinned. Before Chuck stood up, she handed him something.

Her headband.

It was a wrap headband, so Chuck cut through it easily with his knife. He added that to the lock, tying it extra tight. He smiled in satisfaction as he stood up. Blair wrapped both of her arms around his waist as the two eyed their lock together.

"Who could of guessed you and I would be this damn corny, huh?" Blair murmured. Chuck laughed.

"It's perfect. It represents us. We're..shiny…and more importantly locked together forever. Nothing can break that lock." Blair looked into his eyes, praying with every ounce of her body that nothing could break them apart. He leaned in and kissed her lips passionately, sealing their fate.


But things would come between them. Things would try to break the lock. But Chuck had been right about one thing in that moment. That the lock could never be broken. It was always going to be there. Blair had tried to forget about her love with Chuck, but it was locked in place forever. There was nothing she could do about it. It might be complicated and hurtful at times, but it would always be there. In the end, it would all be worth it.

She stared at her city with complete content. She felt so free and alive riding with Chuck. She hadn't felt this way in a while, not even with Louis and certainly not Dan. The feeling boiled in her heart.

Happiness. Bliss.

She could already tell she would never want this night to end. It was just her, Chuck, and the city.


She just wondered what Chuck had planned.

"Here we are." Chuck announced. Blair peered at the small restaurant in front of her.

"Petit Verdot." Blair read. "Never been here before." Chuck turned and faced her.

"Since we're starting new, I figured that we should go to a place you've never been to before." Chuck hopped off the motorcycle, offering his hand to Blair. She got off clumsily, taking a few moments to gain her balance in her heels. Chuck helped her take off her helmet and then took off his. Offering his arm, Blair linked hers with his and the two walked up the steps and into their private seating area on the veranda. A waiter immediately poured them two glasses of red wine and set menus on the table. It only took Blair a moment to figure out what she wanted. She ordered the shrimp pasta and Chuck the steak, as always. After the waiter took their orders, Chuck and Blair were left, staring at each other.

"Okay, Blair. So what is…your favorite movie?" Chuck asked. Blair laughed.

"Bass if we are going to go along with this game, at least ask me questions you don't know the answer to."

"Have you ever been skinny dipping?" Blair slapped his hand.

"Good. Now I know there's still part of your old, sexually-stimulated self left in you." Blair commented. Chuck smirked.

"But yes if you must know I have been skinny dipping." Blair said confidently. Chuck raised an eyebrow.

"With my best friend, Serena Van Der Woodsen? You may know her."

"Small world. She's my step sister." Chuck joked. Blair gaped.

"You know the world just keeps getting smaller, doesn't it?" Chuck nodded in agreement. After a few moments of silence, Blair spoke.

"So now it's my turn to ask a question. What is your favorite part about Paris? The Eifel Tower, the Seine, the Louv…"

"You." He interrupted. Blair looked at him, speechless. She couldn't believe he said that. Last week they were fighting on top of the Empire and now this?

It almost sounded too good to be true.

His expression hadn't even flinched. It was like it didn't even hurt him or take any effort to say it. He loved her. Maybe too much.

"Chuck I…don't think this is a good idea." Blair said nervously.

"What isn't?" He asked coldly. She shuddered.

"Us pretending like the past year is non-existent." Blair said in almost a whisper. Chuck felt his insides boiling. All of those hidden feelings he had tried to shut off were turning back on.

"You think I am not still hurt? Every god damn part of me is broken Blair. It is like you took a baseball bat and personally smashed every window in my body. It physically still hurts to wake up every morning and look at myself in the mirror. Because not only do I hate myself for doing horrible things to you, but when you ripped me apart daily, I let you! I let you drain me of any happiness that I had inside me. Take advantage of me. Get to my heart. And I have never given my heart to anyone but you Blair. And it took me so god damn long to do that. You know that trust and love have never come easy to me, and you took advantage of that. You knew that no matter what you did to me, I'd still love you in the end. Part of me hates myself for being that way. But the soft part of me says that you're the love of my life and I'm supposed to forgive and love you. So I did that. And it got me NOWHERE!" Chuck raised his voice on the last word, startling Blair slightly. She felt tears prick in her eyes.

"You know those words that Gossip Girl used when we graduated? I was the coward and you were the weakling. Well now it's like we've done a whole 180. You are the coward and I am the weakling. I told you I loved you, and you still went and married that fucking prince that you didn't even love just so you could play fairytale. And then you run away from your fairytale and into the arms of a Brooklynite just so you could be safe. You never stuck up for what you knew was right, being with me. You were a coward Blair. You were a coward with Louis, you were a coward with Dan, and you were a fucking coward to OUR DAUGHTER." Chuck stopped abruptly, realizing what he just had said. The baby had never been brought up. It was always pushed to the side and forgotten, but he had been so caught in the moment he lost himself. He knew how sensitive that issue was to Blair, and he immediately wanted to take all of his words back. He wanted to be giddy and happy again like they were five minutes ago. He looked at Blair, who was on the brink of sobbing. Her bottom lip started to tremble.

"Blair…" He started, reaching for her hand.

"No!" She yelled, pulling her hand back.

"I need to be alone." She stood up quickly and pushed her chair back in before practically running to the river.


Please leave a review. I love suggestions and just love in general, so please do. I've been reading a lot of the spoilers stuff, but TBH have not really been too into it like previous years partly because I've sort of outgrown the whole OMG SPOILERSSSSS faze, although I still love them. Plus it's been so confusing and I just get lost reading my Twitter Timeline so I just ask around after the fiasco has died down. But it seems as though we will be getting our Chair back, and I for one couldn't be a more happy person. I'm sorry to cut the fluff in this chapter but I really don't see Chuck coming around all of the sudden and letting Blair back in his arms. It's going to take time and A LOT of talking. So stay tuned next chapter for the big talk and what happens after that.

XOXO, Becca

P.S: Let me know if you like the story cover! I worked hard on it :)