The Gift
A/N: Hey everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Ok I need to get this off my chest! I had an anonymous reviewer say they couldn't finish!! If that reviewer has come back just to take a sneak peek or something I would like to say I am soo sorry for making you cry, that was not my intention! I am glad you enjoyed the story up until last chapter though! I really am sorry though! Ok so onto this chapter. I think you all will like it! Now I have some bad news, I am starting up school again on Monday, don't even let me start ranting about that, and this means I probably won't have updates as quickly!! I know isn't that sad!! I think sooo!!! Except Monday is Gossip Girl which means there will be Chuck/Blair scenes....maybe Monday isn't so bad after all!!! Nope still pretty bad besides Monday night! I will just daydream about that during classes on Monday!! Also a little mention! The town that I have used for their hometown is Mahone Bay and it's actually in Canada, but we are going to pretend it's in New York. So Mahone Bay equals hometown in New York! Haha! Ok now onto my special thanks! Courtney aka Bloomer(I know I call you that to much, but it's your nickname and I love it!) I would like to thank you for always answering my questions and reassuring me on things! Thank you so much for being the beta for this chapter and I am sure there will be many more to come!! Also, special dedication goes to Jackie and Cher for this chapter!! Some CB lovin for you lovely ladies! And to all the girls at FanForum you are all lovely! And also to the reviewers!!! You all are so awesome *hugs and kisses*!!! Ok this is turning into a rambling session!! I hope you all enjoy and please review!! I'm off....
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Bum bum bum bum bum
This is my winter song to you.
The storm is coming soon,
It rolls in from the sea
My voice; a beacon in the night.
My words will be your light,
To carry you to me.
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love....
-Sara Bareillies featuring Ingrid Michaelson
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He woke up early. He usually wasn't an early riser, simply for the fact that he never had a reason to wake. He woke up this morning for the simple fact of hoping Nate would have granted him with her presence. He noticed he was turn to his side, he guessed he'd been fidgety in the night. He took his time to turn over hoping his body would find a smaller body wrapped up in the bed sheets. He turned and he was met with emptiness.
He sighed into his pillow, wanting to close his eyes again and try and go to sleep so he could once more pretend this was a dream. He had wanted to believe Nate and Nate had failed him. He raised his body up, knowing he would have to go to work, because there was no way he could stay in the house.
He put on his robe, the one that Blair had given him last year for Christmas. He hadn't worn it in a few months, but figured he needed something around him that reminded him of her. Walking down the long hallway was torture for him. The hallway had pictures everywhere of them. He had told her he didn't want pictures everywhere, but of course she had gone against him. He looked at each one remembering everything about them. The one with Serena and Dan, the one in their hometown of Mahone Bay, and of course their wedding picture.
He stared for a moment. He remembered proposing to her and the smile she had shown him. They flew out to elope, because she told him she didn't want to wait to be Mrs. Bass. He had agreed and they left, without a word to their friends. They found a small place to marry, a chapel where the preacher had agreed to do it on short notice. Yes, he could remember the day like it was yesterday.
When he saw her walk down the aisle he couldn't of been more nervous. The butterflies had formed and he couldn't get them to stop fluttering. The one request she had was that she had to have a wedding dress. When he saw the wedding dress on her he had been in a daze. She was absolutely stunning and no one in his eyes would ever be quite the beauty she was.
He walked away from the picture not wanting to shed any more tears. He knew he would though and he was pretty sure from now on he would at least shed a few every night. He walked to the kitchen where he hadn't been in a couple weeks.
Blair always made the breakfast. Once he had tried to make her breakfast in bed, but failed miserably with two burnt batches of pancakes. From then on she always did the cooking. He looked around trying to figure out something that he could possible eat. He went to the cabinets where he hoped there would be some good cereal choices, Special K, Kashi, and Whole Wheat brand. He rubbed his hand against his face. On the list of many things to do he now had to go to the grocery store.
He was brought out of his thoughts by a sound coming from the door. He looked and walked slowly over to see what was happening. He saw the doorknob turning and that's when it happened. He saw her. He saw his wife all buddle up with bagels and a newspaper. He blinked a couple of times to make sure this wasn't a dream.
"Honey, you're sure up early. Do you have a big meeting today?" She asked him.
He stared for a moment not responding to her questioned. He didn't know what to do, so he did the only thing he wanted to do. He took quick strides over to her and lifted her into the air and twirled her around. When he put her back on the ground he kissed all the places on her face.
She was surprised. She didn't expect that kind of greeting after all of their fights lately. Once he stopped kissing her face she looked at him. He looked genuinely happy to see her. She didn't have time to ask any questions though because the next thing she knew, his lips had captured hers in a deep and caring kiss.
He kissed her wanting to take in the moment. Their apartment door was still opened and hoped that no one came by to see their make out session. He really could care less though because he had his wife in his arms. He parted his lips from her because he really just wanted to stare at her for the rest of eternity.
She still had her eyes closed. She had never had a kiss like the one he had just given her. She felt his forehead connect with hers and she knew she had to be dreaming. Never had her husband been a romantic. She liked this change in him.
"What was that for?" She asked breathlessly.
He shouldn't have had to respond to that if he'd been a good husband to her, but he wasn't one. He was just an average one. He didn't do anything to make her love him more; no he did quite the opposite.
"I love you, you know that right?" He had to ask because he needed her to say yes. He needed it more than anything.
"Of course," he looked at her with questioning eyes. "I love you, Chuck Bass," answering not knowing what was going on with him.
She wiggled out of his grasp to go put the newspaper and bagels up. He walked right behind her, not wanting her to be out of his sight. She took out a bagel and handed one to him.
"You like plain right?" She asked.
He nodded not really caring about a bagel. He couldn't wrap his head around it. It had all been a dream, everything had been a dream. He let out a chuckle. He couldn't believe this.
She looked at him. "What's wrong?"
He smiled at her and then took his hands and grabbed her face and kissed her forehead. "Nothing. Everything is fantastic."
She had no idea what was going on, but she was secretly worried for her husband. Work, she knew it was getting to him. She nodded to him in disbelief.
"So what time do you want to go pick out our tree?" She licked the cream cheese off her index finger.
He turned his head to look at the living room. There was no tree. Their living room was plain.
"We haven't gotten our tree have we?"
She looked at him. "Honey, are you okay?" She reached up to feel his forehead.
"I'm great. I just had the weirdest dream, but I'm great now. I mean I have the most beautiful wife right here with me and.." he couldn't finish the sentence because he took to nibbling her neck.
"Okay?"
Her head was going back from the kisses he was giving her. She wasn't sure what was going on, but whatever it was she liked it. She had never seen him being so willing towards her. She liked this change and she hoped it could and would last.
"Hey," she turned towards him. "I was wondering if this was yours?" She asked holding up a key.
He paused the kissing and looked up at the key shown in front him. He knew he probably looked like a deer caught in headlights. He knew this key well, the key that Nate had given him. He wanted this to go away.
He gulped. "Yea."
She stared at him. "I really think you need some sleep." She laughed.
He noticed the paper she had brought in earlier and quickly looked at it. He read and was floored. December 22, 2008. Three days. He had gotten the three days back. He looked to see her eating her bagel and enjoying it. He thought he could handle these three days, but now he didn't know if he would be able to look at her.
He thought it had all been a dream. He thought the accident, Nate, and simply everything had been a dream, but he was wrong. He took breath, knowing he needed to ready himself for what was going to come. He had three days to show his wife how much he truly loved her and somehow he knew it would be harder than expected.
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She was on the couch reading the paper when she noticed her husband come out of their room fully dressed. She didn't know what was going on with him, but she could tell he was tense. She smiled at him when he came to sit down next to her on the couch.
"Sweetie, don't you have work?"
He turned to her taking her small bare feet on his lap. "I decided to take off."
Blair looked up from the paper in amazement. "Chuck Bass is taking off from work?"
He smirked knowing he deserved that. He would usually never take off from work unless it was important. In their previous years of marriage they would sometimes play hooky and not show up to work for days. They hadn't done that in so many years he couldn't remember the last time they did.
He looked at his wife who was so into the paper he wasn't sure he could get her away. "Blair," he started.
She looked up at him giving the okay for him to continue.
He needed to think of something fast. In his mind he knew he couldn't have her be here for the third day. He needed to think of a place where she couldn't be hurt, where she would be safe.
"Where have you always wanted to go?" He had no idea where the questioned had come from.
She blinked at him thinking he was delirious. "Uh, I don't know. Paris maybe," she said not knowing where she had always wanted to go.
He thought about this. It seemed like a perfect choice. They would be out of the country, thus not having the problem of coming home whenever they wanted.
"Pack your bags." He told her while getting off the couch.
She looked at him suddenly. "What-"
"Get up, we're going."
He took off into their room. She got up off the couch reluctantly and followed him. "Wait, Chuck I don't want to go to Paris though. It's almost Christmas and I want to spend it here with you." She said grabbing a hold of his sweater.
He looked down at her. He had always liked their height difference. He could always look into her eyes and melt. Right now looking at her he saw all she wanted to do was be with him. He kissed her lips.
He broke away. "Please, I want to get out of the house."
She looked into his brown eyes. They were a deep brown color and that's when she knew he was being serious.
"You can pick a place. Anywhere but here." He tried pleading with her.
"My pick?" She questioned.
He thought about this for a moment before nodding. "You pick and we can do anything you want. That's the deal, we do what you want."
She took her head back and looked at him to make sure he was serious. She nodded her head telling him she liked the idea.
"I think I have an idea."
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They arrived at the train station and he couldn't of been more aggravated. She had informed him that she wanted to go to Mahone Bay, their hometown. He had tried to tell her to think big, but she told him that is where she wanted to go. He had granted her that knowing that he had to prove to her how much he loved her.
She dragged him up to the ticket booth and showed him the sign in all of its glory. There it was the Mahone Bay sign. He looked at her making sure this is really where she wanted to go. She didn't back down.
"Where would you two like to go?" The man behind the ticket booth asked.
"My wife and I would like two tickets to Mahone Bay."
Blair grabbed his hand and entwined their hands together. She smiled at him. He smiled back not wanting to make her mad. He needed this to go well and this was the first step to do what he thought would show how much she meant to him. They walked to the gate where the train would soon come to take them to the place where Chuck hoped they could stay more than three days.
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"Oh my gosh, it hasn't changed one bit." Blair said once they walked out of the train station.
They walked out and it was snowing, something Blair loved. She never got to see any scenery in New York, it was all tall buildings and people everywhere, but here she knew they could relax and maybe become the couple they used to be again. She wanted that more than anything with her husband.
Chuck looked around. She was right, not one thing had changed at all. He looked down to find the main street where they used to go every day. It had many antique shops and eatery places. He remembered Blair dragging him to her favorite shop, Mariposa's. She would drag him there every day and point out something new she wanted.
"You could say that," he replied to her early statement.
She looked down after his statement. She wished he would loosen up while being back home, but she knew there were to many memories of his past to consider here. He had all of his father's memories here and she knew it would be hard for him, but she hoped he would do it for her.
When she had arrived home this morning she had seen her husband. It wasn't that she didn't see him every day; it was that she had seen her old husband. The one that would look at her like she meant the world. As of lately she had thought she was just another girl to him, he proved her wrong though this morning. She hoped he would continue the love he had shown her, that's all she really wanted.
"Come on," he said while picking up their bags.
He knew she liked being back here. Once they got married he had dragged her off to New York so he could start working for his father's business there. He realized he had always controlled the relationship in some ways. He didn't want to do that anymore. He wanted to take his time and truly remember how they used to be, he wanted her to see him how he use to be.
"Chuck," she looked up at him.
"Yea," he said while looking down at her by his side.
"Thanks for coming here. I know you didn't want to." She said with a soft smile.
"Anywhere with you."
She smacked him hard. "Ok, stop with the cheesiness."
"It's called being a romantic," he laughed with her.
"Whatever Mr. Bass"
"Same Mrs. Bass."
Yes, she had truly missed her husband. She wrapped her arms around him while they walked down the main street of their hometown acting like they were eighteen again and hopelessly in love.
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They entered the only hotel in town. It was a tiny bed and breakfast. When Blair was little she had always dreamed of her honeymoon being here. They might have been ten years late, but she couldn't help be happy that Chuck had decided to stay here for their little trip.
"Blair Waldorf, it is a pleasure to have you back in town." The owner, Mr. Curlington said.
Blair smiled at him seeing her husband annoyed by the use of her former name. "It's actually Blair Bass." She said while scooting closer to her husband.
Mr. Curlington looked at the two and smiled. "Charles Bass, the son of Bartholomew Bass. How is he by the way?"
Chuck looked down he hadn't spoken of his father in a few months and he knew being back in town he would have too.
Blair took the lead sensing her husband's discomfort. "He's not with us anymore," she said while rubbing up and down her husband's arm.
Mr. Curlington looked sympathetic. "I'm so sorry Charles."
Chuck shook it off. "So Mr. Curlington what's your best room?"
Mr. Curlington had never had that questioned presented to him. "Well, I would have to go with room 12. Now Charles, it's pretty pricey."
Chuck laughed. "Will take it."
Blair rolled her eyes wishing Chuck would not make this about what was good and what wasn't it.
"Here is your key and I hope the Bass's enjoy their stay." Mr. Curlington smiled at them.
They made their way up the flights of stairs and entered their room. Blair looked around and smiled. It was absolutely just what they needed. It had a king size bed and one bathroom with a huge tub, very intimate in her opinion.
She saw Chuck look out the window and let out a grunt. He hated being here and all she wanted was for him to open up to her more. When she thought about bringing them back here she thought that this would give them the opportunity they needed to get back to where they once where. She wanted this so badly. She wanted to save her marriage; she had to know if he wanted to as well.
"Chuck are you upset about being here," she asked from across the room.
He turned his head to look at her; she looked so child like asking the question almost as if she was afraid to speak to him, and this tore him up inside. He walked over to her slowly and took her hand in his.
"Of course not. This place just brings up some stuff. That's all." He said while releasing her hand and going over to their suitcases to unpack.
While he went to unpack he saw Nate sitting on the bed. He jumped. Nate just smiled and waved. Chuck stared at him. He looked over to Blair who was still in the same spot looking at a picture. He needed to get out of here.
"Why don't we go out," he probably said a little more jumpy than he wanted.
She looked at him and nodded. "Yea just give me a couple of minutes," she told him as she exited the room to go use the bathroom.
Once he heard the door close, he looked to Nate.
"So how are things going?" Nate questioned.
"What are you doing here?" He tried to say as quietly as possible so Blair wouldn't hear.
"I told you, I go everywhere with you practically. Remember, angel here."
He gave Nate a look. "That's pleasant." Chuck said with sarcasm.
"Hey man you're lucky you're even getting a second chance."
"Why's that?" Chuck snapped.
"Hello, you weren't a good husband." Nate answered.
"I am a good husband." He defended himself, maybe a little to loudly because the next thing he knew Blair screamed from the bathroom.
"Chuck, who are you talking to?"
He looked at Nate. Nate just shrugged. "No one. Are you almost ready?"
"Where are you taking her?" Nate asked.
"Uh, I'm not sure yet. A certain angel," he said making air quotes around angel, "interrupted my thoughts."
Blair walked out of the bathroom to see her husband talking to the air. She looked at him questionably.
"Chuck?"
He jumped upon hearing her voice. He looked back to the bed to find no Nate and only Blair in his presence.
"I think not going to work has affected you," she looked at him while grabbing her coat.
"I think your right."
She laughed while opening their hotel room door to make their way out into the town together. He looked once more to the bed and found no Nate. He knew Nate would probably be watching him this whole time to ensure he was worth the risk. He hoped that he was, because looking at his wife right now he knew he could never lose her again.