Back at classes now so I can't update quite as much. I'll still try my best. P.s: Thank you especially to iALLIEgator, lisset, V, Joy and musicbean2 for your motivation. I adore your kindness and constructive reviews. I will endeavour to publish chapters for you. (It's smut time.)

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Jealousy makes the heart grow fonder

I dreamt last night our love return'd,

And, sooth to say, that very dream

Was sweeter in its phantasy,

Than if for other hearts I burn'd

For eyes that ne'er like thine could beam

In Rapture's wild reality.

She'd kept her distance from him after that night, making sure she avoided any possible run-ins on his ground. She'd convinced herself that it was a mistake, perhaps even a lurid dream. He couldn't possibly have meant it in any case. She was drunk and jealous and so was he. She'd have bet that he might have said anything to get some kind of rise out of her. If only she'd not asked him to kiss her.

Blair was ambling towards Columbia with Serena's arm in hers. She was all too mindful of her friend, who was stealing sly glances at her, looking for any signs that she might break and tell her what had happened. She'd obviously been bursting to ask her something all morning and Blair could hazard a good guess as to what that might be. She wanted to avoid the confrontation for as long as was physically possible.

"Shall we stop for macarons and coffee, S?" She tilted her head to one side when Serena looked about ready to explode with curiosity. "I could really do with breakfast before we get there." She laughed nervously.

The girls entered the Laudrée pop up on their way to college, welcomed by the delectable scent of the fresh almond pastries. Blair gazed at the array of colourful macarons on display. She eventually decided upon a pistachio one. The delicate shade of pale green matched her Marc Jacobs mini skirt and she simply couldn't resist the aesthetically pleasing combination.

"B, are you going to tell me what happened? I saw him follow you out of that bathroom. Do I need to be worried?." Serena took a sip of her coffee as they stepped out onto the busy street; she gave Blair a knowing look.

"I told you, nothing happened at all. He just wanted to… make sure I was okay after I fell." Blair hesitated; she knew Serena would have noticed. "It was only polite."

Serena raised a questioning eyebrow. "Right. Okay, so that's why you had to stagger your exits." She scoffed.

Blair huffed. "Really, S. Nothing remotely seedy happened. We had to do that for appearances sake. His girlfriend was there. I may be many things but I am not a home wrecker." Blair winced at her own, lacking excuse.

"Whatever you say." Serena conceded, picking up their pace a bit as she gave her gold watch a worried glance.

"So I think we should accept Hamilton House as our chosen sorority." Blair quickly changed the subject from Chuck. "It's the most exclusive on the campus." She said it as though it were an obvious choice due to the fact. "Perfect for society princesses, such as ourselves." She grinned.

Serena smirked and curtseyed before her. Blair was fully aware that her friend wasn't half as bothered about joining any kind of college sorority. But that didn't mean she couldn't be coerced into it one way or another.

"We have to go and receive our keys first of course." Blair sighed dreamily.

"You talk like I know what you mean." Serena chuckled. Blair was too lost in her plans to take much notice.

"Oh don't be ridiculous, of course you know what I mean." She scolded, shaking her head at Serena.

She began to babble enthusiastically to the bored blonde beside her about Hamilton House and how they would become members, the black limo parked across the street never even coming into her line of vision.

XOXO

So this was what he had amounted to. Stalking Blair Waldorf on her way to college. He'd have been ashamed of the fact if not for the beautiful sight of her as she hurried to Columbia, Serena in tow. They were obviously late; she had that funny little skip in her step that he recognised from each time he'd made them late to whatever party they were attending. Sometimes he would prolong his getting ready time just to witness her nervous walk. It was really rather adorable, more so from afar. She'd had none of it when he tried to mention it to her once, insisting that 'Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass were never late and every body else was merely early.'

As he sat in the tinted security of his limo, he was free to appreciate the sway of her backside in the tight, sequined skirt she wore. When she had sadly moved out of his sight, he'd asked Arthur to take him back to the Empire unenthusiastically.

"How was your meeting?" Eva gushed, her face bright and happy when he walked through the elevator doors and back into his suite. She was dressed in a floral summer dress and her blonde hair was pinned back from her shoulders. He held his hand out to her, rubbing her shoulder softly.

"Wonderful. Everything went just as planned." Guilt crept into his being. He felt wrong touching Eva.

She beamed whole-heartedly. "I'm so glad, Chuck." She threw her arms around him. He breathed in the scent of her hair, she smelled good, but not as he was accustomed to. Her scent was too sweet.

"I ordered us some breakfast." She informed him, extracting herself from his grip and gesturing towards the table where she'd set out two plates and a variety of different dishes.

"Thanks. I'm starving." He moved to sit down, pulling her chair out for her first.

As they ate in silence, he pondered over his feelings for her. He'd told her that he loved her when they were in the store. That wasn't true. Not in the way she deserved at least. He did love her for saving him, for showing him the worth of his life. But he wasn't in love with her. Eva definitely was worthy of much more than him. She was good, honest and kind and he was a voyeur, watching Blair secretively from his limo.

He took a long drink from his coffee cup and stood, walking towards the floor to ceiling windows. Chuck observed the city as it bustled and he couldn't help but wonder why she hadn't tried to contact him after that night. Blair Waldorf wasn't exactly the type to let anything go. He couldn't comprehend the silence from her end.

Chuck spent most of the day checking Gossip Girl for news of Blair. She'd been accepted into Hamilton House and Serena hadn't, the fault of some girl called Juliet- her mistake, as if Blair Waldorf would do anything without her sidekick. He wanted her to call him, tell him about her day at college. It was conversation with her that he longed for. Eva didn't interest him in the same way as she did. Even when Blair spoke of trivial things, they were fuelled with passion and he craved that firey determination that only she possessed.

XOXO

When Blair got home, she saw Serena's shoes lying at the bottom of the stairs, and they were knocked over as though they'd been kicked off. Blair had stayed out with her Hamilton House sisters instead of going for the planned 'first day progress' dinner with her best friend and the guilt was eating her up. She'd been pressured into staying with Juliet when what she'd really wanted was to talk to Serena. She crept up the stairs quietly, taking her shoes off so that the clack of their heels didn't give her up.

Blair had successfully got into her room and locked the door behind her, dumping all of her stuff on the vanity beside her. She made a quick sweep of the room to make sure Serena wasn't waiting to ambush her and crawled under cool covers of her bed. She didn't bother to change into her pyjamas or take her makeup off because she hadn't any classes the next day.

XOXO

Chuck paced the length of his living room over and over. Having been unable to sleep at all, he'd re-dressed and left the bedroom where Eva rested peacefully. The soft hum of her breath had become irksome to him and he'd needed to get away. Grabbing his coat to protect him from the night air he took the elevator down to the hotel bar for some dutch courage before he headed out.

"Usual." He barked at the bartender who gave him a wide-eyed glance before turning to fulfil his request.

"Here you are, Mr Bass." The man placed the crystal glass down in front of him. He'd hadn't had anything to drink all summer when he'd been travelling with Eva, but now the pull towards alcohol was stronger than ever. He uttered something in the way of thanks towards the barman, who was stood to the side, washing some glasses and watching him cautiously out of the corner of his eye.

Chuck watched the ochre liquid swirl in the bottom of his glass, his eyes following the whirling pattern. It dawned on him why he couldn't sleep. He just needed to see her again. Knowing that she was okay, knowing how she felt was all he needed. Throwing the rest of his drink back he slammed the glass back down and rose from the bar stool. Stalking out of the Empire and into the night, he didn't bother to call Arthur, it wouldn't take him long to get there.

When he arrived outside her building he was less confident in his spur of the moment plan of action. He wavered in his decision and almost allowed himself to turn back like the coward he wanted to be. Instead he briefly squeezed his tired eyes and shook himself out of the pathetic desire to retreat. He stepped inside and the warmth of the grand building welcomed him. He liked to let himself believe that it was a sign that he'd done the right thing. In truth, he of course knew it was just the central heating system, but who was going to deny him.

When he arrived at the penthouse suite, Chuck stood in the darkness of the Waldorf foyer. He couldn't believe his luck- she'd not changed the access code since he'd last been here. His eyes made out the spacious rooms before him despite the darkness. Light poured from the landing upstairs and he knew it was one of those now or never moments that heroes faced in movies. He resisted the urge to crack his knuckles before ascending the winding staircase in pursuit of a familiar bedroom.

He stood on the carpeted space outside of her room. Eleanor and Cyrus were away so no one would come out and find him. He let his mind drift across potential scenarios. Perhaps she'd think him insane for coming to her room in the middle of the night. Perhaps he was, he realised with sudden disillusionment. What actually was his plan anyway? He hadn't any idea if he was honest with himself. While he stood, gazing intently at the door handle to her room, his mouth twitched and he pondered over what exactly he was going to do when she woke up and found him there. Her reactions were always volatile, especially so if he woke her. The realisation that he'd made a huge mistake hit him like a tonne of bricks and he started to back away from her door.

But something overtook his body and he marched back towards the room with purpose. Throwing care to the wind, he yanked on the handle to the door. It was locked. He recoiled from the traitorous door denying him access from her. She'd never locked it before; honestly he didn't even know that it did lock. With his trip's fate sealed by her seemingly new cautiousness, he huffed and sloped back down the stairs.

XOXO

Her eyes flew open when she heard someone trying to get into her room. Panic flooded her instantly. Her sleep had been interrupted by unwanted dreams so she'd been alert within seconds. She quietly slipped out of bed and grabbed for the closest blunt object to her then silently unlocked the door. She knew that investigating suspicious sounds by herself was hardly the wisest of choices but she didn't want to wake Serena and put her in harms way.

XOXO

When he heard someone move upstairs on the landing, Chuck sucked in an alarm stricken breath. He quickly stepped away from the elevator and into a dark corner. He saw Blair emerge from the landing, brandishing a bottle of hairspray. If he hadn't been aware of himself he definitely would have chuckled at the image of Blair Waldorf, ready to take on a fierce intruder with a can of extra strong hold styling spray. He watched, not daring even to breathe, as she padded, barefoot towards the elevator. He noticed her eyes widen in fright as the elevator bell dinged, then when the doors opened and she saw nobody her shoulders fell again. His heart aching, he wanted to come out from his hiding place and assure her that no one was going to hurt her, but he could only imagine what would happen if she knew it had been him all along. Instead he kept his eyes on her until she took one more glance around the foyer for good measure and then tiptoed carefully back up the stairs. He heard her re-lock the door of her room and left quietly, feeling torn in different directions. His heart told him one thing, but his brain the opposite.

XOXO

When she heard the elevator bell sound once more Blair's heart rate quickened until her chest was thumping uncontrollably. She was secure in her room now but she was absolutely convinced someone had been in her home uninvited. She rushed to the window that looked over the street, getting ready to dial the police as soon as she had an accurate description for the person who had been in her home. When she saw him come out of the building she gasped, staggering backwards briefly before regaining her composure and pressed her face against the window to make sure she'd seen correctly.

"Chuck?" She murmured, utterly confused. She saw him look up at her window so she stepped back into the darkness where she knew he wouldn't see her watching. She couldn't make out his expression well in the dark but as he slinked off into the black night she sunk onto the edge of her bed. She was totally shaken up. Her stomach was twisting and her heart was pounding. Why was he there? What did he want from her?

XOXO

Chuck woke up on the couch in his suite, his phone buzzing aggressively in his jacket pocket. He groaned and pulled it out of its confines, barely stopping to acknowledge who was calling him.

"Hello?" He grumbled into the receiver.

A soothing French voice rang through the other side. "Morning, Chuck. I wanted to see if you were okay. When I woke this morning you were sleeping on the couch so I left to do some errands."

He rubbed a hand across his face and stifled a yawn. "Fine." He answered in a sleepy voice. "I had a late meeting and didn't want to disturb you." He lied seamlessly. "Enjoy your day, I suppose I will see you in the evening?" He spoke as though it were a question but hung up the phone before she'd had enough time to respond.

Chuck ran a hand through his disheveled hair, grumbling as the previous night's events trickled gradually back into his broken memory. At least she'd not seen him. Every cloud, he thought and smirked to himself.

He went into the bathroom and splashed cold water into his face, feeling the stubble on his cheeks brushing against his palms. The cool sensation snapped him out of his drowsiness and he proceeded to shower and redress for the rest of the day.

XOXO

Blair woke up with her face stuffed into her pillow. When she lifted her head, she was confronted by imprint of her makeup from the night before. It would have been funny if she didn't already have an embarrassingly large quantity of tear and mascara stained pillowcases at the dry cleaner. Luckily she remembered that she didn't have any classes to attend for the day so she reluctantly hauled herself out of bed and moved slowly to the bathroom, climbing into the inviting shower and losing herself in the spray of warm water. Showers were always the best place for Blair to think. She rehashed what had happened through the night in her sleep-addled brain and recalled two things. Chuck had been in her home and he'd left without trying to make his presence known.

Her mind still somewhat hazy, Blair bundled herself up in a towel and went back to her bedroom. She sat on the corner of her vast bed and hugged the towel around her frame. Dorota knocked on the door and Blair unlocked it. She wasn't overly fussed about Dorota seeing her in a towel. She was her maid, but she'd been more like a mother to Blair than Eleanor ever had.

"Morning, Miss Blair." Dorota said as she bustled into her room, carrying a tray. The scent of strong coffee flooded Blair's nose and she felt herself drawn to it. Dorota smiled knowingly and poured her a large cup. Blair stood to accept it, wedging the bath towel under her arms securely as Dorota went to work changing her bed sheets. Sometimes Blair felt funny having everything done for her but that was the life of an Upper East Side princess and it was how she'd grown up. In honesty, Blair knew she wouldn't be able to make a bed as well as Dorota. She probably knew Blair's preferences better than Blair did herself.

"Long night?" Dorota asked as she pulled the cases from the pillows.

"Could say that." Blair's muffled voice came from inside the coffee cup as she took long sips.

Blair walked towards her closet, leafing through her huge array of dresses nonchalantly until she came across one she'd not yet worn- a Saint Laurent Tweed sequined mini dress. She chose matching knee high boots and a black cape to keep herself warm then walked back into her room. Dorota had already changed her bed and had left to do something else, so she laid her outfit choice down on the covers and grabbed her robe, hastily tying it at her waist. Her fingers went to hold the soft silk of the sleeve, how comforting it felt against her skin. She'd always been indulged with finery since she was a child.

Blair had finished three gargantuan cups of coffee by the time she was ready to leave the penthouse. She grabbed her purse and skipped down the stairs. Serena was at college so she'd have to patch it up with her later on. She had other, more pressing things to deal with first. Sliding into her town car, she ordered the driver to take her to the Empire hotel. She had a Bass to interrogate.

She felt uneasy as the hotel's large doors loomed in front of her. The Empire's doorman was giving her a peculiar stare and she frowned at him.

"Problem?" She snapped, frustrated by the perplexed expression on his face. He shook his head quickly. "As I thought." She huffed. "Now are you just going to stand there or are you going to open this door for me?" She felt anger and discomfort brewing in the pit of her stomach. The fool finally opened the door for her and mumbled something of an apology. She wasn't fussed about him really. He had every right to be bemused about what Blair Waldorf was doing at the Empire. But still, doormen who had once served her daily ought not to look at her with such prying eyes. Traitors. She thought with an edge of bitterness.

She knew that Eva wasn't here; she'd seen reports on Gossip Girl. Blair pulled the key card to his penthouse out of her purse, wondering if it would still even work. When it did she had been pleasantly surprised, but it also meant that she couldn't escape having to face him now. She stepped into the elevator and repeatedly pressed the close button until the doors slid shut, leaving her alone, away from the nosiness of Empire employees. She pushed herself up against the cool glass of the mirrored walls and shut her eyes. It wouldn't be much longer until the elevator had climbed all the way up to the top floor, then the doors would open and she couldn't back out. Her hands were shaking. The emergency stop button looked incredibly inviting.

XOXO

Chuck sat on the sofa in his suite, scrolling through emails on his laptop and drinking strong, black coffee from a large cup. He was grateful for the time alone. Eva was good company, but every man needed his alone time. That was until he heard the ring of the elevator bell, announcing the arrival of who he assumed would be Eva. He didn't look up from his email when he heard the click of heels on the floor. It wasn't until he heard her clear her throat that his head snapped up and he quickly shut the lid of his laptop. He stood to greet her.

"Well, this is a surprise." He cocked his head to one side and moved towards her, offering to take her coat.

Blair slid the cape off of her shoulders and handed it to him, her eyes still locked intently on his. Their fingers brushed together and he felt like he'd been electrified. He wasn't entirely sure he understood what was about to happen but any attention from her was welcome either way. He took the cape from her, it was warm and it smelled strongly of her. He laid it gently across the arm of the couch and then gestured for her to sit. She chose the corner farthest away from where he had been. Grinning inadvertently, he sat as close to her as was possible. He felt her shift uncomfortably and had to bite his cheek to stop himself from laughing.

"Forgive me if this seems rude, as it is always a great pleasure to entertain you, but is there a specific reason that you are here, Blair? Other than for my divine company of course." He knew he sounded ridiculously smug and lecherous but he couldn't help himself. He could smell her and at once he felt inebriated by her presence.

"Yes. There is a reason, Charles." He loved it when she called him Charles.

"Well don't let me stop you from getting to the point. Coffee?" He offered, already pouring a cup for her.

"I've already had three." She said, reaching to take her fourth cup anyway, he observed how jittery her hands were as they closed around it. "Couldn't sleep last night, you see. I heard a noise downstairs and I know there was someone in my home." There was blatant accusation in her tone.

If it had been anybody else, they likely wouldn't have picked up on the fact that he'd momentarily frozen. She would have. She knew. He was sure. "Have you checked the security cameras?" He asked, a betraying squeak in his voice, as he busied his eyes with looking into the cup he held.

He heard her sigh and put her half drained coffee down on the glass table with a pointed slam. "Cut out all the innocent crap, Bass. I know it was you." She paused for a moment while he gathered his thoughts on the exposure of his late night visit to her penthouse. He felt his jaw twitching and pressed his lips together. "Oh and there's no use lying, I saw you leaving my building and who else would know the elevator code?"

He finally looked up at her, her expression was full of questions that he knew he didn't really have an answer to. "So I wanted to see you, sue me."

"You didn't even see me, Chuck. You freaked me out and then left." She blurted it all out quickly. "If I hadn't seen you I would have called the police. You're lucky you're so terrible at being sneaky." He saw her supress a giggle and he smirked. She visibly relaxed then. "At least invest in a beret." Her advice made light of the otherwise awkward situation.

"Look. I'm sorry. I genuinely am. But I needed to talk to you. I made a mistake." She interrupted him before he had time to continue.

"I know. I feel the same way. Last week shouldn't have happened. It's not fair to… Eva." The way she spoke her name made it sound like a bad word.

"Ouch. I wasn't going to say that anyway." He put a hand across his heart in mock hurt and glared at her accusingly. She just looked away and tucked a stray hair behind her ear, shifting in her seat.

"Oh. You weren't?"

"Obviously not." He had to stop himself shaking his head at her. "Nothing involving you and me is a mistake." He had been joking before but now he needed her to see the sincerity in his eyes so he dared to tuck his index finger under her chin and bring her face up to his. He felt her ease under his touch and he was filled with immense pride that he still had that effect on her. Lord knew she still had it on him.

She looked lost for words and nodded in response. He moved his finger from under her chin and paused hesitantly before taking her hand in his. He knew it was wrong; Eva could walk in at any second. But it felt right. He didn't know how else to explain himself.

"Chuck." She whispered, he heard the pain in her tone and her eyes dropped to the floor again.

"Blair." He reciprocated her anguish and lightly stroked the soft skin over her knuckles with his thumb.

Every fibre of his being wanted to pull her to him and claim her again. Unfortunately he knew that any serious moves had to come from her end. He'd broken the trust so he didn't get to make the decisions.

"Did you really mean it?" He began. "I mean. Do you really forgive me for everything I did to you?"

She nodded meekly and bit into her bottom lip. "But it doesn't change anything." Her voice cracked and he knew she was fighting back tears.

"Look at me. Please." He waited until she locked her gaze onto his. "It does. It changes everything." He searched her sad eyes. "I promise you that I can earn your trust back if you'll just let me." He was begging her now.

"Chuck." She said his name forlornly and a tear spilled down her cheek.

"Please don't cry. I hate it when you cry." He wiped the tear from her soft cheek and she turned her face unintentionally into his caress. "I hate making you cry." He admitted.

She eyed him carefully for a few moments. Suddenly in a whirl he felt her lips crashing over his and kissing him harshly. He felt passion, agony and grief through her kiss and returned it encouragingly. His arms wound around her waist, never breaking the lock of their lips and he pulled her onto his lap. Her legs settled either side of his and her hands tangled in his hair. The taste of mint and coffee on her tongue invaded his mouth and he delighted at the feel of her body, grinding up against his in hungry desire. He felt her fumble for the buckle of his belt and she grasped his hardening cock through the thin material of his pants. He hissed into her mouth and pulled her hands away, holding them tightly in his grasp.

"Not here." He said in a ravenous voice he'd never before heard himself use. She nodded against him and he lifted her into his arms, carrying her swiftly to the bedroom. He knew that he had to make it last, that he couldn't let it be over in seconds as it so easily could have been.

He lay her down onto the soft bed. He'd had the maids change all of the sheets in the morning so there was no evidence of the other woman to be found. He positioned himself on top of her and he ran his hands up and down her body, reacquainting himself with her sheer perfection. Her fingers moved to undo his shirt with haste and he let her pull it from his shoulders, lifting her so he could reach the zipper at the back of her dress. She turned away from him allowing him to unzip her. He kissed her neck, inhaling the perfume she wore and bathing in the glow she exuded.

Soon her dress lay discarded on the floor, along with his shirt and pants. He cupped her breasts through the filmy black bra, which concealed them from him. Reaching behind her he unclasped each hook slowly. Exposing the glory of her pert breasts to him. He peppered soft kissed from her jaw right the way down to her navel, eliciting soft moans from her the further he traveled. He'd almost let himself forget what she tasted like, how it felt to be with her.

"Please." She sighed.

One word. One word from her delicious lips was all that he needed to tear the panties away from her body and plunge two fingers into her hot, wet core. She gasped hard at the sensation and the little mews escaping her throat were ammunition for him to move his head in-between her legs and replace his fingers with his tongue. Sharp, rhythmic pants left her chest as he circled her throbbing clit with his tongue. Her taste was something else all together. He re-explored her, feeling how tight she was and relishing in the obvious fact that he was still the last person she'd slept with. When he moved his head away, she hummed in protest but shortly his lips were back on hers, moving rhythmically against her mouth. Her hand moved to his boxers, slipping her hand inside the front and grasping his rock hard manhood. She gave it a few, torturous strokes and then broke away from him to whisper enticingly into his ear.

"I need you. Now."

He complied with her request, taking his underwear off in a flash and positioning himself at her entrance. He thrust into her. He settled inside her as she readjusted to the feel of him. He saw her eyes roll back in her head and he knew it wouldn't be much longer until it was over. Her centre tightened around him and a guttural moan fell from his lips. He wound his arms around her waist and thrust in and out of her, feeling himself coming closer and closer to his climax. When her walls tightened even closer around him he could no longer control himself and came inside her. He lay atop her as they rode out their orgasms together and then collapsed to her side.

XOXO

As she lay beside him, heavily panting for breath, she realised she'd not felt like this in a long time. Content. She rolled back onto his chest lazily and pressed kissed onto his cheek, across his jaw and eventually her lips touched his. He responded lightly. The urgency was gone and it was as though they'd never left each others side and they were simply long time lovers sharing a kiss. But the stark reality of what had just occurred became apparent when his seed began to drip out of her, running down her thigh. She shot up and ran to the bathroom. He followed her idly, observing her as she turned the shower on and stepped inside, pulling her hair out of the way of the water she washed herself. She knew he wouldn't be capable of resisting the perfect opportunity to join her. She was right. He stepped in behind her and his hands replaced hers, gentling massaging soapsuds onto her skin. He paused as he washed the insides of her thighs and she felt herself relax into the solidity of his chest behind her.

"I hope you know you're perfect in all ways." He whispered into her ear. It was barely audible over the crash of the water against the floor of the shower but she smiled happily and turned to kiss him.

"I'm not. You make me feel it sometimes though." She murmured, pulling briefly away from his lips.

"Only you don't realise it." He countered, feeling his way down her spine and resting his hands on the small of her back as the water cascaded over them both.

XOXO

She was in the living area and he was probably primping his hair, she thought with a smirk, when the elevator chime sounded and Eva walked through. She looked at Blair with a mix of horror and surprise- Blair stopped breathing.

"Eva." She recomposed herself smoothly and offered her a tight smile. "I'm just here picking up something I left behind a long time ago." She explained, lying effortlessly. "Have you found it yet, Charles? Your girlfriend is back." Blair called out to Chuck who she was afraid wouldn't yet have realised Eva's return. She knew he'd catch on, he was intelligent.

The two women were left standing awkwardly in the main area for a few too many minutes, making pointless small talk while Blair waited for her cue to leave. Guilt crept up inside her at what had happened. This wasn't her, she didn't do this. She'd played a lot of games with a lot of people, but this- cheating- wasn't one.

When Chuck at last emerged, Blair hadn't expected him to have managed to maintain the cover up she'd invented on the spot quite so well. He handed her a surprisingly heavy luggage bag and she smiled at him gratefully, pondering what could possibly be inside. She didn't actually think anything had been left behind there when she'd ordered that Dorota pick her stuff up as she couldn't possibly face Chuck.

"Thank you, Chuck." She muttered. "I'd better be leaving." She added, turning to go.

"You're welcome." He said coolly. She knew he was acting but it still felt odd.

"Goodbye, Blair." Eva said. Her tone was so genuine and kind that Blair felt all the more sick at her actions. She shouldn't allow herself to feel guilty towards Eva. She was, for all intents and purposes, her enemy.

With a lot to consider, Blair walked back towards the elevator and stepped inside. The doors closed quickly, but not before she saw Eva reach up to kiss Chuck. Her stomach flipped and she baulked at the sight and threw herself against the wall when the doors had shut. When she stepped out into the street, the fresh air hit her heavily and she clambered into her car, ordering her driver to take her home immediately. She didn't know what she'd thought would happen, but to see him kiss her made her want to scream and cry. She was jealous and she couldn't do anything about it. She had hardly expected him to throw Eva aside on the spot and declare his love to her, but he could have at least waited until she was out of the building he'd just had her in. To try and take her mind off of it, Blair opened the bag he'd given her. Inside she found a photo album that she recalled buying for them but never filling. She assumed initially he had just been returning it to her as pretense. Something willed her to open the pages and when she did, her heart thudded. It was filled to the very last pages with photos of them that he'd kept. Blair's eyes brimmed with tears and she cried for what she'd gained and lost all in a few short hours.