When Blair Waldorf stepped off of the plane and back onto American soil, she inhaled and exhaled before striding with confidence toward the terminal. Paris would always be dear to her, but New York City was her home. She was an Upper East Sider through and through. As she glided through security and marched into the pickup area, she expected to see Dorota, but instead, a somewhat worn down looking Charles Bass waited for her, bouquet of pink peonies in hand. Blair's heart raced, he hadn't seen her yet and she knew she looked atrocious. Before her rational mind could kick in, Blair had turned and hurried away in the opposite direction from Chuck.
Chuck glanced up and across the array of Parisian arrivals from the same flight as Blair, scanning the crowd for a petite brunette. He wondered why he couldn't see her yet. She was normally the first person out, seeing as she had no discretion in her sense of self importance and would usually ensure she was the first passenger off of the plane, especially since she got so nervous when flying. Dropping his eyes from the influx of tourists and home-goers, Chuck stared at the screen of his phone absent mindedly as the minutes ticked past. He wondered if he had mixed up the times and Blair's flight had not in fact been until far later this evening. He considered leaving for a brief moment but stopped the thought in its tracks when he imagined Blair's reaction to seeing him there. She thought he'd get there after him and so had he until he'd decided that he would arrive in time to meet her at the airport- who said Basses couldn't be romantic. Chuck surveyed the area once again, the number of people who had gathered by the gate to greet the arrivals was dwindling. She'd have to be on the next flight, that would be in soon. Standing up, he smoothed the creases from his suit jacket and stroked the silky peonies he held. Chuck moved towards the bar area to wait for Blair. He sat down and ordered a scotch, watching as the bar tender poured the drink into a lesser glass than he was accustomed to.
Blair burst into the ladies bathrooms. Unsure of what she had just done. She pulled the door to a stall open and sank down on the lid of the toilet. Head in her hands, she breathed deeply. She hadn't been expecting to see Chuck and the image of him had sent her into a blind panic, her hair was all wrong, he dress was creased and her makeup had rubbed off on the long flight. Blair opened her handbag, pulling out a large makeup bag and all the items she required to freshen her appearance. She would not allow herself to look nasty upon her reunion with Chuck.
She combed her long, chestnut curls and readjusted the positioning of the gold headband she was wearing. Flipping the makeup bag open, she took out a powder compact and a large brush with which she applied the makeup to her face. She knew how much Chuck liked her Chanel perfume and mentally kicked herself for forgetting to take it with her from Paris. She had plenty at home or even in the airport stores but there was no way she could slip past Chuck again just to buy perfume, there was no time to mess around. Blair re-applied the rosy lipstick she had worn before dropping the items back into her bag. She removed her coat and brushed out her dress. A slim fitting black Dior, stopping just above the knee, the thin material clung to every area of her body and Blair felt suddenly very conscious of her flaws. Spritzing a dash of a lighter perfume, she maneuvered her way out of the bathrooms, busy with women either arriving or preparing to depart. She threw her shoulders back and moved with poise to where she had seen Chuck. When she reached the waiting area, he wasn't there. Blair's stomach dropped but the butterflies fluttered inside her again only moments later when she saw him at the bar.
He could smell her before she even said anything.
"Hello Stranger." Blair said alluringly, slipping onto the stool beside him and gesturing to the bar tender to make her a drink. Chuck turned to face her. Every inch of her was just as perfect as always. Her pale skin, contrasted against the harsh black of her dress; her doe-eyes framed with thick, dark lashes; her full lips turned up at the corners to form an impish grin. He smirked back at her, secretly inhaling the delicious floral scent she didn't normally wear. The bar tender placed a glass in front of her and she murmured a thank you before knocking it back with giddy ease.
"You're late." He informed her, pretending to peer at his watch.
"I'm sorry about that. Were you waiting long?" She gazed up at him through her lashes apologetically. He reached out and took her hand, stroking her soft fingers with his thumb before lifting her hand to his lips and placing a chaste kiss on her knuckles.
"Not very." He lied. Blair smiled and hopped up from the bar stool, reaching for her purse to pay for their drinks but Chuck put a hand up to stop her and placed a bill behind the bar. The bar tender nodded in thanks and Chuck stood, offering his arm to Blair. She took it without a second thought and they walked arm in arm from the airport bar.
"Would I be correct to assume the limo is waiting?" She asked. Chuck simply raised one eyebrow at her, as though the suggestion of anything else was ridiculous. She smiled in approval.
"How was your time away?" He inquired as they reached the sleek black car.
"Difficult." She replied simply, as Chuck opened the door for her to slide in, offering an understanding nod. "And Dubai?" She said politely. Chuck slipped in beside her.
"Tough." He answered, pulling the door closed on them and shutting out the rest of the world for a while.
The limo pulled smoothly away from the airport and they fell into silence. A few moments of comfortable silence passed between them.
Both reaching for their phones, their hands brushed together and they both turned to the other. Before either knew what was happening, their lips were locked. Kissing furiously. Blair melted into Chuck and allowed herself to be pulled into his lap without breaking their passionate kiss. She flung her arms around his neck and ground her body against his. Chuck felt all the blood in his body rush to his groin and desire pulsated through both of them. Blair's nails dug into Chuck's back, she groaned in frustration and arousal, too many layers of clothing separating them in their frantic rush to be with one another again. Waiting certainly wasn't going to work. Blair pulled at Chuck's belt buckle and he pushed her dress up past her thighs, running his hands along the smooth skin he'd bared greedily. Soon, they were both free of any garments that would have once been a hindrance to them. They paused, staring into one anothers eyes and silently, with barely acknowledged significance, their pact to go their own ways evaporated. This was right. Chuck and Blair. Blair and Chuck. Together.
The pair were slumped together, arms entwined, bodies facing each other. Blair felt blissful. Sex with Chuck had never disappointed, but there was something more than just the physical pleasure that her other relationships had lacked when they coupled.
"I love you." Chuck said, interrupting her train of though. "Always have, always will." He added as an after thought.
"I love you too." She responded with a natural ease. Chuck and Blair hadn't grown to love each other, the way many couples did. Their connection was instant. The powerful, magnetic chemistry that would always bring them back together wasn't average and they both felt privileged to have such a rare love.
"This wasn't really part of the plan, was it?" Chuck said, although regretting nothing that had transpired between them in the limo.
Blair stifled a giggle. "You can always count on me to misbehave."
Chuck pulled her close to him, his arms engulfing her. "Indeed." He agreed.
The limo gently came to a stop and the door cracked open slightly, causing both Chuck and Blair to bolt upright. In their moment of ecstasy they had tuned out the rest of the world. Chuck's chauffeur, Arthur, became visible and Chuck made a move to slip out of the vehicle, offering his hand to a somewhat disheveled Blair, whose hair was fluffed up in every direction. Although still summer, the crisp night air in New York nipped at Blair's exposed arms and she shivered with cold. Chuck noticed her discomfort and protectively placed an arm around her small frame. Blair happened to look to her left at the same time as a teenage girl with a knock off Louis Vuitton was snapping a picture of the couple. Blair sighed internally, the edge taken from her high. Even if Chuck and Blair had come to the conclusion that it was necessary to keep their relationship secret, the interfering girl had ensured that it wouldn't be an option.