A/N Thank you so much for the reviews guys, you make me blush! Virtual cookies for ChairBear and miazmija who recognized Blair's dress from Seventeen Candles! Chuck's outfit is the one he's wearing in the 'cherry' scene in Victor/Victrola.

This update took way longer than planned, school has been kicking my ass. But now I'm on summer break, with no job, so there will be quicker updates from now on (hopefully)

"So, Chuck," Eleanor cleared her throat and sent him an inquisitive look once they were seated in the limo, "What is it that you do for a living?"

Blair froze, and shot Chuck a panicked look that perhaps wasn't as subtle as one would have wished for it to be. As if having endured the horror of Cyrus chuckling and pulling the 'one-hug-is-not-enough' on both of them mere minutes ago wasn't enough. Her heart was pounding in her chest, but to her relief Chuck didn't seem faced at all by her mother's question.

"I'm in the real estate business," Chuck replied to her mother's question, and slipped his hand into Blair's and began toying with her fingers. Ignoring the pleasant tingles that flowed from her fingertips all the way to her gut, Blair straightened her back and concentrated on the conversation. If she was to find herself in situations like this during this weekend, then she assumed it would be best to pay attention to his stories. Though she wished he would stop that soothing motion he was making with his thumb on the back of her hand. It might be all for show, but his touch really proved that she had gone too long without a proper date.

"Actually, I'm more involved with the architectural aspects and the design of the buildings than the business deals." Chuck explained, and felt a strange feeling of pride for not stretching the truth that much. But this right here was why he usually avoided this kind of jobs. The background stories needed much more effort than they did for a casual date. There you could always steer the question in another direction. Seated in a small, enclosed space with your supposed girlfriend's family, that technique didn't work that well.

"And where is this business of yours located?" Eleanor replied, busy adjusting Cyrus' tie and smiling as the older man caught her hand in his and kissed it enthusiastically.

"Mother, that dress looks great on you," Blair interrupted her mother, "It is one of your own designs, correct?"

A smug look flashed across Eleanor's features, and Chuck could feel Blair relax next to him as her mother began telling her all about her latest line and the show during Fashion Week.

Blair nearly breathed a sigh of relief as her mother changed the subject, and made a mental note to make sure her and Chuck got their background stories straight. That way, if her mother and everyone else kept asking questions, at least they wouldn't be caught telling different lies. Chuck's story about the real estate business had surprised her a little; he must be used to telling appropriate stories in situations like this. She couldn't really say the same for herself. Up until now her life had been spared from making up relationship histories to keep people from realizing her date was hired.

XOXO

"You can let go of my hand now," Blair told him quietly as the two of them made their way through the lobby of the Palace Hotel, on their way to the ballroom rented for the occasion. "The touchy-feely thing has never been my trademark, people might get suspicious."

Chuck raised an eyebrow in question, but did as she asked him to. What she hadn't expected was the sting of loss she felt as he did. Though the feeling went great with the other feeling currently invading her senses. That being the feeling of walking towards your own execution. Blair could feel herself moving more and more slowly as they approached the entrance of the grand ballroom, nodding stiffly at fleeting acquaintances of her mother's as they passed by, and pretending not to notice their pitying glances. A few feet away from the doorway, she completely froze.

Chuck was walking beside Blair, ignoring the sudden and extremely uncharacteristic feeling of rejection, when she reached out and gripped his hand like a vice. Indecisive, much? He was about to give voice to the sarcastic comment burning on the tip of his tongue, when he turned his head around and looked at her. The distraught look in her eyes ruled out any kind of humorous remark.

"I'm not sure I can do this," Blair whispered.

Normally, he would have found a date's need for constant reassuring tiring and a great turnoff, but not this time around. "Of course you can," He replied and made sure her fingers were carefully intertwined with his, and then added, "And it's not like you really have a choice."

She didn't reply, and he had the chance to momentarily regret his attempt to lighten the mood, but then she pulled herself together and looked at him with a determined look on her face. It was impressing to watch, like a veil falling over her features and covering every sign of insecurity or pain. The only hint of anxiety left was found in her eyes, but he guessed one would have to look pretty damn close to notice it. And from what he knew about this kind of gathering, no one would look further than to her flawless make-up and elegant dress. The crème de la crème of society never did. He on the other hand did notice, and he couldn't help but wonder if she could mask any kind of feeling the same way.

Forcing her lips into a smile that she came nowhere near her eyes, Blair took a deep breath and then followed as Chuck pulled her with him towards the ballroom. The room was drenched in candles and pink roses, and the chatter surrounding them was the small talk of New York's elite. Women were in high heels, designer dresses and covered in diamonds or pearls depending on their age. Most of them on the arm of one of the men in classic suits, shiny shoes and with a successful aura surrounding them.

"I'll go get us some drinks," Chuck suggested, leaning in close to Blair. So close that his jaw brushed against her cheek. She nodded, her throat suddenly too dry to talk and the movement caused their cheeks to come in contact again. When he didn't move, but lingered, Blair pulled her head back a little to look him in the eyes.

It was a little like being hit by something blunt and heavy, Chuck decided as her eyes locked on his, that something in the air between them that made it hard to breathe. That something that made his mind swirl and cloud over. Surprised and annoyed by his own body's reaction, he somehow managed to pull himself together and winked mischievously at her before stepping away and heading for the bar.

Blair watched him walk towards the bar. Her heart was pounding in her chest and not only from nervousness but from something else. She let out a ragged breath. With a raise of her chin, a move she had perfected over years of training and that immediately told any bystanders that she was worthy of their attention and admiration, Blair looked out over the heavily decorated ballroom. She was looking in the direction of the big, glass doors leading out onto the patio when she spotted him. Nate. Standing with a group of men, laughing and raising his glass in toast to something that was being said. As he knocked back the last remaining drops in his tumbler, his eyes fell on her. Blair couldn't breathe.

She couldn't breathe, couldn't move, couldn't think. There he was, her Nate. Gorgeous as always, smiling, engaged. Not her Nate, she reminded herself firmly, not anymore. Poppy's Nate. The thought still made her cringe. She watched as Nate's expression changed from one of surprise to one of joy. He said something to his company, never breaking eye-contact, and then began moving in her direction. 'No', every fiber of her being yelled in distress. Not like this, not alone. But she remained frozen, and could only watch as Nate came closer and closer. His journey through the room constantly delayed by people shaking his hand, offering him their congratulations or patting him on the back. He was not more than five enthusiastic greetings away when Blair was rescued from their encounter.

"Blair!" Serena's voice cut through her haze as the blonde threw her arms around Blair's neck and hugged her tight, blocking Nate from her view completely. "Oh my God, B, it's so great to see you! When did you get here? I've missed you so much!" Serena exclaimed. Hugging her best friend tight, Blair took a deep breath, taking in the familiar scent of strawberry shampoo.

"I missed you too," Blair smiled, and could feel tears burning in the corners of her eyes. Forcing the tears away, she let out another calming breathe before letting go of Serena and stepping back to look at the blonde. "Look at you, S! You look amazing!"

Chuck was making his way back to Blair, drinks in hand, when he saw her freeze up and the mask of polite indifference slipping for a moment. Something inside of him froze. Speeding up, he was only a few feet away from her, when she was suddenly wrapped up in a cloud of blonde hair, blue chiffon and joyous shrieks. The best friend, he assumed, standing back to watch the reunion taking place in front of him. He also took his chance to examine the blonde currently smothering his date in a loving embrace. She was definitely something to rest your eyes on. If you liked to be temporarily blinded. Alright, this was getting ridiculous. There is a gorgeous blonde mere feet away, and he was complaining about her being too hot?

He watched Blair pull back, and smile at the blonde still with her arms around her neck. She looked relieved, and happy. He took it as his cue. "Ladies," He greeted as he walked up them and handed over the drinks he was holding, wrapping an arm around Blair's waist in the meantime.

"Serena, this is Chuck," Blair introduced them, "Chuck, this is my best friend Serena."

Serena tilted her head a little to the side as she took him in. Lots of practice made sure he didn't miss the quick one-over she gave him, before her expression molded into one of polite interest. "Nice to meet you," Serena smiled, and giggled as he took her hand and kissed it chivalrously.

"The pleasure's all mine," Chuck replied, "I've heard a lot about you."

"That's funny," Serena replied and gave Blair a look that made her breath hitch slightly before she continued, "I haven't heard a word about you."

"Have you kept me your dirty, little secret?" Chuck smirked, leaning in close to Blair's ear. Intrigued by this, up until recently, hidden masochistic side of himself. What other reason could he possibly have for getting so close to that tempting neck of hers? So close her perfume invaded his senses. But he needed to win the blonde over, and something told him that the 'smitten boyfriend' might be just what Serena wanted to see. "I like it."

Blair let out a huff at his words, but had no time to reproach before Serena broke out in a fit of giggles, "Chuck, do you mind if I steal your date away for a while?"

"Not at all," He replied, sending Blair a last heated look before letting go, and not faking it nearly as much as he normally would have. Blair smiled a somewhat shaky smile and mouthed a silent 'sorry' as the blonde dragged her towards the doors leading out onto the patio. He shrugged his shoulder dismissively. Once the two of them were out of his sight, he headed for the bar. He could really use a drink.

XOXO

"Blair Cornelia Waldorf!" Serena shrieked as soon as they were in a secluded corner of the patio, "Where did you find him?"

"I guess he found me," Blair replied, feeling bad about lying to her friend. But really, some things are not meant to be shared with others, not even your BFF. And the part of Chuck being the one who found her, and not the other way around, wasn't a lie. He had found her. Sure she had been the one who called him, convinced him to go with her and then paid him 6000 dollars for his troubles. But he started it.

"I can't believe you haven't told me about him!" Serena rambled on, and downed some of the bubbling champagne in her glass, "He is gorgeous!"

The sting of protective jealousy was unexpected and brief. "I guess he doesn't look half bad." Blair sighed, and Serena nudged her gently in the ribs, a giddy laugh escaping her lips.

"He most certainly isn't bad looking, that's for sure," The blonde laughed, but then her expression changed to one of sincerity. "I'm so glad you came, B. This wouldn't have felt right without you here."

"You mean it wouldn't have felt to watch my ex-fiancé marry Poppy Lifton of all people, without me here to witness it all?" Blair sneered, and immediately regretted her harsh tone when Serena's face fell. Serena reached out for her hand, and Blair had to force herself not to pull away from the touch. She didn't want pity or condescending glances, she couldn't stand them. She was well-trained in the pity department herself, no further additions necessary.

"I'm sorry B," Serena breathed, "I understand this must be really weird for you. But Nate is still one of our oldest friends, we grew up together and we need to be here for this." Blair scoffed at the nostalgic rant, but knew Serena was right. If only being the good friend didn't hurt as much.

"And besides," Serena winked, "You have Chuck now."

XOXO

When they returned back inside the ballroom a while later, Serena finally having run out of questions about 'Mr.-tie-me-up-tie-me-down' (the blonde's new nickname for Chuck. Blair was not amused. The image of Chuck and rope in her head was a little too…vivid, for her likings), and Blair having deftly avoided to really answer any of them, Serena excused herself to go find the restroom.

Blair spotted Chuck by the bar almost immediately, he was casually leaning against the counter on one elbow, a tumbler in his other hand. He was talking to someone obscured from her view by dancing couples. As she made her way through the room, the scene unfolded in front of her eyes. Chuck was talking to him. At this point she began to wonder if whoever deities responsible for this catastrophe of a wedding, still held a grudge or two against her? That until she realized the great opportunity she was presented with. Deities of the world, the game is on.

"Honey!" Blair beamed, the smile felt so fake she feared her carefully applied foundation might melt and fall off her face. Carefully ignoring to even acknowledge Nate's presence in the slightest, she slid an arm around Chuck's waist and nuzzled close to him. "I missed you," she purred adoringly in a show worthy of an Academy Award for best greeting-of-the-rented-boyfriend.

Chuck moved the tumbler to the one of his hands still resting on the bar, and moved his now free hand to rest low on Blair's hip. The chiffon of her black dress smooth against his palm. He pulled her closer, sensing the reason of her sudden interest in PDA.

"Nate!" Blair smiled, pretending to notice him only then. Her head still resting against Chuck's shoulder. "I didn't see you there."

(Blair Waldorf - evil deities of the world, 1-2.)

"Blair," Nate greeted her nervously. He was uncomfortable with the situation, Blair could tell, and it brought her immense satisfaction. She is forced to attend his wedding to another woman, and he is the one to be uncomfortable with the situation? Serves him well. Nate had never been good at hiding his emotions. When he had first started courting her (her mother's words, not Blair's) they're families had been going on and on about how he was so obviously smitten with Blair, she might as well have worn his heart on her sleeve. "You look great." Nate continued with a ghost of that boyish smile she adored playing on his lips. No, used to adore. Past tense - very important.

"I feel great," Blair replied in a wink. Alright, maybe she was overdoing it a little, but Nate had never been the one to pick up on subtle hints. "I see that you've met Chuck, my boyfriend." She continued, and made sure to accentuate the word boyfriend, diverting her eyes from her former husband-to-be to gaze adoringly at Chuck. His dark eyes were flashing in barely concealed mirth, but he kept his poker face intact.

"We bumped into each other a minute ago," Chuck told her, "But we hadn't gotten much further than the introductions."

"There will be time, I'm sure." Blair said breezily, and returned her focus to Nate. "Where is that fiancée of yours hiding?"

She should have known that getting too self-satisfied would come with instant retribution. She had barely finished the sentence before Nate was surrounded by the whirlwind that was Poppy Lifton, soon to be Archibald.

"Baby!" Poppy exclaimed, and threw herself at Nate, peppering him with kisses. When Nate squirmed and tried to wipe the lip-gloss of his face, Poppy broke out laughing, hanging from her grip around Nate's neck. The brunette was probably two cosmos past tipsy. Nate wouldn't be please by this breach of etiquette, of that Blair was certain. He had never been the one for obvious displays of affection. Always too worried about what people would say or think. And with people he usually meant his parents and their conceited friends.

When Nate didn't object, but only pulled Poppy closer and proceeded to shove his tongue down her throat, Blair felt like the world has just been turned upside down. Who was that guy who looked just like her Nate, but acted nothing like him? As the couple finally came up for air, the look on Nate's face (adoring and ridiculously happy), she felt something inside of her crack. Her self-preservation instincts kicked in, and she was only a breath away from running, when she could feel Chuck tighten his grip on her hip. A silent encouragement for her to stay and to breathe. He had a point. She was Blair Waldorf. She doesn't run and hide.

"I guess congratulations are in order," she smiled, and this time she was sure that she could feel her face crack, a spear of hurt piercing her gut.

"Thanks," Nate replied, a blush suddenly tinting his cheeks.

Poppy's expression brightened as her eyes fell on Blair. "Blair!" The brunette cried out excitedly, "How awesome of you to come tonight!" She stumbled forward and embraced Blair too in a suffocating hug. "And you brought a date with you, that's so cute!"

(Blair Waldorf - evil deities of the world, 1-3. Time-out.)

XOXO

She was muttering under her breath as they took the limo back to her mother's apartment later in the evening. When they exited the elevator and walked the stairs she was still doing it, and if it was possible Chuck might even have said that the infuriated mumbling intensified as they approached her bedroom. She had barely said a word since their little run-in with Malibu Ken and his way past tipsy fiancée.

When they entered her bedroom, Blair turned into a clothes-chucking, jewelry-spitting and cushion-throwing tornado. Chuck watched her in silent silence. These madwoman tendencies both amusing and a little scary. As she stomped out of the bathroom, he quickly took her place in the tiled floor sanctuary.

He returned moments later, the navy silk of his pajama pants pooling around his feet, he had to stifle a laugh. The bed looked like a fort a child would build on a rainy day. There were pillows everywhere. "Are you sure the pillows have enough room?" He drawled, and the smirk on his face broadened as Blair shot him a murderous look, adding more pillows to the pile she had created in the middle of the bed. She then proceeded to position herself on one side of the Chinese wall of cushions that she had created, and pulled the covers over her head with a huff.

She might have built a ridge in the middle of the bed, but Blair could still feel the movement of the mattress as Chuck got into bed. Suddenly the bed felt small, and not only because the pillows were taking up most of the space. He was moving around for a while, then settled and let out a content sigh. Blair was on edge. Did he fall asleep already? Just like that? She waited for a while, and then lifted her head to sneak a peek over the mountain of pillows. Chuck was on his back with his eyes closed. One arm slung casually over his abdomen, the other one over his head, underneath one of the only pillows left from her construction work. He looked…delectable, she decided as her gaze trailed his features. Like he would…

"Are you expecting a lullaby, since you're looking at me like that, or were you planning on turning out the light anytime soon?" Chuck's voice interrupted her trail of thought, his eyes still closed, and she felt her face go crimson red.

There was a jiggle in the mattress, the sound of a lamp switch flicking, and then the room was engulfed in darkness. Chuck could feel her move around, and then she settled with a huff. A chuckle escaped his lips. "Goodnight, Blair." There was few seconds of silence before she replied, sounding less annoyed than earlier.

"Goodnight."

XOXO

Thanks for reading!

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Camilla