Chapter 4
Author's Note: Thank you all for the great reviews, they mean so much and give me great inspiration to continue. This chapter was really hard to write, I actually rewrote it many times before I felt it was right. I hope you like it!
Twilighted4eternity – Thank you so much, I'm glad you liked it!
QueenBee10 – Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Taiyo To Tsuki No Megami – Thanks so much!
AMxoxo – Thank you! Your comment made me very happy =)
Disclaimer: I still do not own GossipGirl – sigh.
"What?" Chuck spoke into his phone, annoyed that the ringing could wake Blair.
"Good morning to you too, Chuck," KC said with a clipped tone.
"You better have a good reason for waking me up this early," he demanded as he saw the clock read 7:45 a.m.
"I've been trying to reach you for days. Do you have any idea how much damage control still needs to be done because of your stunt with Eva and that foundation you set up?" KC ranted, "You may have pulled the plug on it but the press hasn't forgotten. And now the Gossip Girl blast about you and Blair."
"Don't go there, KC," Chuck growled at her.
"How can I not?" she retorted, "Going from one girl to another is fine as long as you keep on moving. You're getting soft and losing focus on what's important."
He had heard enough, "I finally understand what's important, and Blair is at the center of it."
"Snap out of it, kid" she said, "This makes you look flakey and it's bad for business. The Empire is severely under booked for the holidays and no one wants to stay at a hotel owned by a boring, indecisive guy in love. They want to stay at the hotel of Chuck Bass, bad boy of the Upper East Side with the hedonistic lifestyle they all wish they could live."
"Well," Chuck started, "I haven't been that boy for a long time now. I'm a better man and that's all thanks to Blair. But since you want to see the old me so badly, you're fired," and with that hung up on her and turned his phone off. He put it on the nightstand and nestled back next to Blair.
She pretended to be asleep but he could hear the change in her breathing, "I know you heard all of that," he said as she slowly opened her eyes.
"Should you have done that?" she asked as she turned to face him, "What did she say that made you fire her?" Blair sat up as she pulled her knees to rest under her chin, ready to listen.
"I don't need my employees telling me how to live my life. I pay them to deal with my choices, not make them for me," he said. "I have to focus on helping Lily with Bass Industries and keeping Jack as far away from us as I can."
"Chuck," Blair pressed, "What did KC say to make you fire her?"
"It's not important," he said.
"Yes, it is," she insisted, "We will only work with complete honesty. Don't shut me out." She reached out to touch his face, "Whatever she said, we'll get through it, together."
"She told me that the Empire is under booked for the holiday season and massive damage control needs to be done to fix my image," he said the last word with disdain when Blair cut in.
"I know how much the Empire means to you," she said as she struggled to meet his eyes, remembering what he was willing to do to keep it before, "It would be devastating if all your hard work was destroyed because of," she was thinking, 'Me,' but was cut off by Chuck before she could say it.
"Don't say it," he snapped. "I'm sorry," he said softly, "You are what is important to me and I told KC that. She doesn't understand how essential you are to me; I could survive losing the Empire but I wouldn't survive if I lost you again," he told her as he kissed her shoulder.
"The Empire will survive an under booked season." Before their conversation could take a more serious turn, Blair's phone started ringing.
She picked it up when she saw it was Nate, "Nate, so good to hear from you," she answered, giving Chuck a look of relief that their talk was cut short, "How are you?"
"Good, good," he said slowly, "Is Chuck with you? I've been trying to call him but it kept going straight to voicemail."
"He's right here," she told him as she handed her phone to the man next to her.
"Nathaniel," Chuck said, "how can I help you? Okay, calm down, I'll be right there."
"Is he okay?" Blair asked, worried about her friend.
"He will be," he said as he got up, "I'm sorry to leave so suddenly but Nate went to tell Serena he loved her last night and walked in on her and Dan. He wants me to meet him at the Palace. It sounds like he's been drinking all night."
Blair scrunched her nose in disgust at what he walked in on before saying, "Go, you're a good friend, one of the many reasons I love you."
He kissed her before leaving to tend to Nate, "I love you, too."
XOXO
"Alright, I'm here," Chuck announced as he entered the suite, the empty suite. He walked to Nate's room and saw his friend lying on the bed with a bottle of scotch.
"Who do you think you are?" Chuck joked, "Me. Give me the bottle," Nate only gripped the bottle tighter as he took another swig.
"Come on, this isn't the way," Chuck started but was cut off.
"What? Are you really going to tell me not to try to drown out my troubles? You're one to talk. How many times have I found you like this?" The tone in Nate's voice was pure malice as he continued to drink the scotch.
"And do you remember what you would do?" Chuck asked as he sat on the bed.
"You would get the bottle away from me," which he was finally able to do, "You would make sure I got something into my stomach, and you would stay with me until you were sure I wasn't going to die of alcohol poisoning. Come on, we need to get you into the living room."
Chuck struggled to get Nate to his feet and had to all but carry him to the couch before ordering room service.
"Now," he said, "tell me what happened."
"It happened like I told you," Nate slurred, "I love Serena and went to tell her but I found her with, with, with him," he stammered as he slumped onto Chuck's shoulder.
"How many bottles did you get into?" Chuck wondered aloud as room service arrived.
"Hey, wake up," he nudged Nate as he reached for the pasta. "Can you feed yourself or do I have to help you?"
"I got it, man," Nate said as he reached for the fork in Chuck's hand, missing it completely and poking Chuck in the face.
"Sit back, Archibald," he said as he fed Nate. "Now try to keep this down. We want as much of that scotch soaked up as possible."
Chuck got up to push the cart away when Nate grabbed his arm, "Thank you, you're a good friend." He started to doze when they heard the elevator ding.
"Blair bear!" Nate exclaimed when he saw Blair enter the suite before promptly passing out again on Chuck.
"Well then," Chuck said with raised eyebrows as he stood up and gently moved Nate to greet Blair.
"How is the patient?" Blair asked quietly as she gave Chuck a kiss.
"He's okay for now. I was able to get him to eat something but I still want to keep an eye on him throughout the night," he told her as he sat in the armchair and pulled her onto his lap.
"I remember Nate and I having to do this for you and Serena," Blair said as she look at Nate passed out on the couch and sighed, "I can't believe how much we've changed since then."
"What do I owe this lovely surprise to?" Chuck asked as he held Blair to him as she kissed his nose.
"I have an idea for the Empire that I wanted to run by you," she said as she looked at him with nervousness.
"I'm all ears," he said as he rubbed her back.
"Well," she started, "The Empire needs a jump start and I was thinking what better way than with the party of the year at the end of the year."
"New Year's Eve, that's brilliant," he said with a smile, "What did you have in mind?"
"Saints and Sinners Ball. It will be decadent yet elegant and all of New York will be begging for an invite," she said as she continued, "I have it all planned in my head and I know just who to bring in to make it happen. Do you trust me with this?"
"Always," he said as he leaned in to kiss long they were making out, interrupted only when Nate began coughing to get their attention.
"Nate, how are you?" Blair asked as she got off Chuck's lap to sit next to her ex.
"I've been better, you know," he said squinting his eyes, "Do the lights need to be this bright?"
"I got this," Chuck stood up to turn off the overhead light before turning on the lamp next to Blair and sitting on the arm of the couch.
"Did you talk to Serena?" Nate asked both of them.
"I did," Blair told him, "and she and Dan feel awful. When did your feelings for Serena return?"
"When Juliet broke up with him," Chuck piped in, "I told you that bitch was crazy. Be glad that she found someone richer than you to leech off of. You're better without her."
"Nate," Blair looked at him knowingly, "When was the last time you were single, really on your own?" For as long as she had known him they were together and then he always had one relationship after the other.
"I don't like being on my own," he mumbled as he looked at his hands.
"I know, it's hard to be on your own," she said as she took his hands in her, "But sometimes its necessary."
"Are you two really the people to be giving that advice?" Nate asked skeptically.
"We are the best people to be giving that advice," Chuck said, "Look at us. Trust me when I say you do not want to go through all that we did if you don't have to."
"There is someone out there for you Nate," Blair said affectionately to her ex-boyfriend before smirking, "You just have to make sure you are available when she shows up. On that note, I have a ball to plan."
"I'll stop by tonight," Chuck told her, kissing her on the cheek goodbye.
"Bye, Nate," she said as she kissed his forehead and disappeared into the elevator, waving at them as it closed.
"You two seem happy," Nate said, "Try not to fuck it up this time. There's only so much Blair can take."
"You don't need to tell me; I'm lucky Blair took me back after what I did to her this time. I'm making sure this is it," he pulled out his mother's engagement ring to show his friend how serious he was.
"You bought another ring?" Nate asked.
"No," Chuck shook his head, "This was my mother's."
"Wow, Blair's going to love that," Nate yawned and got up before sitting down again. "Go to her, I'm sure she'll be waiting. Just help me to my room first. And can you get me some water and aspirin? I'm going to have one bitch of a hangover when I wake up. Oh, and can we keep it between us that you had to feed me?"
"Absolutely, do you have any idea how that would make me look?" Chuck laughed as he helped his friend down the hall.
XOXO
Chuck met Blair the day before her birthday, when she was on her way out to put the jewelry she wanted on hold.
"There is no need for that this year," he said. "I never needed any help giving you what you want," he smirked and pulled her to him for a long kiss.
"No, you never have," she agreed with a smile, "But Eleanor, she's a different story."
"Not this year," Chuck told her with mischief in his eyes. He had been working with Eleanor to plan the perfect birthday for Blair and it took all of their combined energies to keep her from controlling it.
"What are you up to, Bass?" she looked up at him threateningly as her eyes narrowed, "You and my mother have been very secretive about my party plans. I want it to be perfect."
"It will be, you just have to have faith in us and wait, Waldorf," he said, "Allow me to take your mind off it for a while."
They were on Blair's bed when Chuck leaned back for some air, "This brings me back to high school. I forgot how hot it was just making out with you for hours in your bedroom."
"And just imagine how hot it will be when we do more," she said with a devilish grin as she went to unbutton his shirt before he stopped her.
"Blair," he moaned, "you are going to be the death of me. Just a little bit longer, patience, Waldorf."
"Ugh," she cried, "It's a good thing I love you," she said as she pulled him to her once more.
XOXO
He was sitting on the edge of her bed with a bouquet of pink peonies when she woke up.
"Morning, beautiful," he leaned down to give her a kiss.
She wrapped her arms around his neck to deepen the kiss when she realized that her bed was covered in boxes. Her face lit up as she looked around.
"Which box is to be opened first?" she asked as she sat up.
"This one," he told her, gesturing to the largest box.
She wasted no time in tearing off the paper and lifting the lid. Inside was a beautiful, maroon silk dress with a large black bow over the back.
"Your mother and I designed this for tonight. She also designed my outfit. We will complement each other perfectly," he said as he raised his eyebrows before gesturing to the next box.
This box contained shoes, black patent leather pumps with a bow at the heels, "You know I like for you to match. And now for this one."
He was far too happy handing her the present so she was skeptical as she slowly opened it. Lingerie, of course it was lingerie.
"You really do like purple," she said as she gently examined the corset with matching bikini and garter belt, "Does this mean I get to have my way with you tonight?" she asked with a devilish grin.
"If you play your cards right," he smirked before kissing her.
XOXO
They were walking down 58th Street when Chuck stopped them in front of the Duxiana store.
"Why are we here, Chuck," she asked, slightly annoyed, "I already have a bed."
"You do," he said with a smile, "but we don't."
He held up a small keychain and said, "Keys to the Kress apartment, its ours."
Blair didn't know whether to be excited or mad. She loved that apartment, it was across from the Met, but she also wanted to have a say in where they would live and when they would move in together.
However, when she saw the look on Chuck's face turn from anxiousness to sheer terror, she grabbed the keys and smiled.
"Well," she said impatiently, "what are you waiting for? We have a lot of decorating to do," and with that she grabbed his hand and entered the store excitedly.
Blair chose the most expensive bed in the store, of course.
Chuck made sure it would be in place at their new apartment that night so he and Blair could properly christen their new home.
They called it an early shopping day to get ready for the party, together.
XOXO
Blair's twentieth birthday party went off without a hitch. Everyone of importance in New York City was there.
At the end of the night, she and Chuck were talking with her mother and Cyrus in the kitchen.
"You looked so beautiful tonight, dear," Cyrus said sweetly as he clasped Blair's hands, "Chuck did a wonderful job planning for you."
"Hey," his wife cut in, "I planned this party as well."
She tried to look annoyed but she couldn't, it was obvious her daughter had found the love of her life.
"Chuck," Eleanor said, "you really did a fabulous job tonight. I am so happy that you and Blair have finally come to you senses about each other."
"Mother," Blair exclaimed.
"Oh, please," Eleanor sighed, "You two should call it a night, go home to your new apartment. I'm so looking forward to decorating it with you, darling."
Eleanor and Cyrus' gift to Blair was furnishing her new apartment.
"Thank you," she said as she and Chuck stood up.
They all hugged, even Chuck and Cyrus, much to the Waldorf women's amusement, before retiring for the night.
XOXO
Chuck was practically vibrating with excitement as he waited for Blair to return with the lingerie on. The bed was the only piece of furniture in the bedroom, and he was sitting at the foot of it, holding a small box in his hands.
"Another present?" she asked from the doorframe, "You were the only thing I wanted this year." She sashayed her way over to him, stopping when his hands rested on her hips and he just looked up at her.
"Wow," he breathed, "How did I get so lucky?"
"Because I love you. And you loved me first; I've always known I would end up with you. Now, what's in the box?" she giggled as she nipped at his ear.
He opened it to reveal a diamond choker. "Chuck, this is too much. You've already given me so much," she said as she fingered the necklace.
"I could never give you enough," he said softly as he moved her hair to put the choker around her neck, kissing her shoulder.
"Perfection," he stated as he moved her to lie on the bed. "And I plan on showing you just how much I love you all night long," he said as he slowly began undoing the corset, wanting to remember every moment of their lovemaking.
Hours later they lay in each other's arms. "Blair, thank you for loving me," Chuck said as he pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head.
"You are the only woman I've ever made love with. Even before we were officially together, it was never just sex with you." She smiled as she nestled closer to him.
"Today was absolutely perfect, and I loved all my presents," she said as she looked up at him, content to be in his arms.
"But all I really needed was you. This, right here, is all I need to be happy. Make me happy the rest of the night?" she asked playfully as she straddled him.
He kissed her neck in response, whispering in her ear, "I plan on making you happy every night, I love you," before he flipped her over to love her all night long.
Please review, the more detailed the better. Lots of love to those of you that faithfully review each chapter 3 I know a lot of you have story alerts but have yet to review, please don't make me beg. Any kind of review makes me really happy and gives me the inspiration to write faster =)
P.S. Google the Kress apartment at 1020 Fifth Avenue – its breathtaking!
