The Thawing

Chuck never knew his heart could beat until he saw Her. Multi-chap about Chuck's first encounter with Blair. AU, CB.

Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue.

xoxo

The next morning, the scent of strawberries stirs Chuck from his slumber, and he opens his eyes to find Blair nestled close to him with her back against his chest. He's incredibly hot (and not just in the pants); the silk fabric of his pajamas is damp from being pressed against her all night. Blair's messy curls are dangerously close to Chuck's face and he suspects that the delicious, fruity scent is originating from her strands. Chuck quickly realizes his arm is draped over Blair protectively, and so he moves it gently, though with slight disappointment, as holding Blair Waldorf in his arms feels natural to him. Chuck sits up and swings his legs over the side of the bed before getting to his feet.

His movements awaken Blair, and she rolls over to face him. Chuck's breath hitches in his throat and he's frozen in spot, his eyes drinking in the sight before him. Sluts with heavy make-up used to be Chuck's favorite indulgence, but after this morning, there is no way he could possibly imagine going back to that. Blair's face has a natural glow, as if she's been sprinkled with dew, and there's a slight rosiness to her cheeks that Chuck could only attribute to the body heat created when they slept (her bottom did fit perfectly against his groin, after all). Blair's brunette locks tumble freely down her shoulders, the ends tickling the cotton sheets.

"Morning," she says shyly.

"Morning, Waldorf," Chuck greets her. "Sleep well?"

Blair shrugs with a small grin. "As well as I could have given the circumstances. Thank god for Labor Day weekend. I don't know what I'd do if Gossip Girl caught me doing the Walk of Shame all the way to school."

Chuck moves to his closet and picks out a shirt and pants. He detects a trace of nervousness in her voice along with the feeling of awkwardness, and he can't help but wonder if Blair regrets staying with him. "You can leave if you'd like. I won't blame you," Chuck says bluntly, trying not to sound like he cares too much. After all, everyone else leaves him, why shouldn't Blair?

Blair sits up in bed, the loose pajama top shifting on her small frame to reveal a peek of milky white shoulder. She sighs remorsefully. "Chuck… It's not that I want to, it's that I have to."

"You're Blair Waldorf. You don't have to do anything," Chuck replies flippantly, tossing his outfit on the bed and unbuttoning the top to his pajamas.

Blair averts her eyes carefully as Chuck throws the monogrammed top to the ground. "You don't understand. Casey's been in my life for over five years now. He's been with me through everything. He even transferred over the Atlantic for me, Chuck. I owe it to him to make this work."

Chuck rolls his eyes as he slips a wife-beater over his shoulders. "But do you love him?"

Blair doesn't reply right away, instead pretending to look for split ends.

"Well?" Chuck presses, putting on a purple dress shirt.

Blair slams her hands down on the bed. "Damn it, Bass! No - I mean yes! I… just leave it alone, okay?"

"Then there's your answer," Chuck states with a satisfied smirk.

"Because you know me so well," Blair snaps, crossing her arms over her chest defiantly.

Chuck wraps his Rolex around his wrist. "Exactly," he replies.

Blair opens her mouth to speak but doesn't. She takes a moment to search for the right words. "Okay. Say you do know me so well. What would you expect me to do if I told you Casey's band is performing in Brooklyn tomorrow night?"

"I'd expect you to dump his sorry ass and tell him that Blair Waldorf doesn't do grime," Chuck answers matter-of-factly.

"Well, you're wrong, Mr. Know-It-All. I'm going, as soon as I talk to Casey and make sure we're okay," Blair remarks triumphantly.

Chuck throws her a disbelieving look. "Is that so? I'm going to give you some advice then, Waldorf. I suggest you quit pretending to be someone you aren't for someone you don't even want to be with."

Blair moves to her feet and starts towards the bathroom to change back into her own clothes. "Pretending is what I'm good at," Blair says all too seriously, her expression stoic.

When she's done getting ready, Blair walks out of the bathroom and Chuck is waiting at the front door, his dark purple jacket in hand. "Let's go."

Blair stares at him with wide eyes. "We can't leave together, Chuck. There's no way. People will talk and Casey will find out and –"

"Relax," Chuck advises her firmly. "People are always going to talk, Waldorf. You'll learn that quicker in the Upper East Side than anywhere else in the world. You said you're good at pretending, right?"

Blair nods.

"Then put on a show."

Chuck and Blair leave in separate vehicles, each going to different destinations, but the only thing Penelope Shafai cares about is the fact that the pair exits the hotel at the same time. She quickly sends the picture to Gossip Girl and shuts her phone with a mischievous grin.

xoxo

Spotted: C and B leaving C's hotel. Either B's recycling outfits or she's recycling men, because that's the same dress she wore yesterday. Walk of Shame? Enlighten us, B. I'm sure your boyfriend would love to know.

xoxo

The next morning, Chuck takes his limo to the van der Woodsen penthouse. Lily opens the door in a rush, greeting Chuck with a kiss on the cheek and then hurrying out.

"Mom's going to breakfast with some guy," Eric informs Chuck from behind, causing him to turn around, startled.

Chuck furrows a brow. "Who's the guy? Please tell me she's not getting back together with Rufus Humphrey."

Eric shrugs. "I hope not, otherwise Serena and Dan are gonna have some serious issues."

"Not that I'd mind," Chuck says with a smirk. Of course, that's not completely true. Chuck's never really had problems with Dan Humphrey. They're definitely polar opposites in literally every aspect of their lives, but Humphrey always knows when to act like a friend.

Now that he thinks about it, Chuck realizes he's just as good at pretending as Blair is…

"Chuck, hi!" Serena greets him, her tone chipper.

"Hey, sis," Chuck returns. "I hear you're scheming?"

"Right," Serena says pointedly. "So, I've been thinking about tonight, and I know that Blair doesn't really want to go to that show."

"Obviously," Chuck drawls. "Playing groupie isn't very flattering for someone like her."

Serena puts her hands on her hips. "Come on, Chuck," she chastises, "You can't blame her for wanting to fix things with Casey. He's all she knows."

"Yet you have no problem helping me break up their relationship," Chuck shoots back with a smirk.

Serena shrugs, smiling. "Of course I don't. You two belong together. She just doesn't see it yet, which is why I'm trying to be the Sherlock to your Watson. You know, 'show her the light' and all that good stuff."

"I think you meant the Watson to my Sherlock, S," Chuck replies, amused. "I can see why Brown didn't work out for you."

"Shut up, Chuck. I said what I meant," Serena retorts, hitting him on the arm playfully. "After all, who was the one that orchestrated you two's encounter at Bergdorf's?"

Chuck holds his hands up as if to signal defeat. "Fine, fine. I'll let you have this one, but the next Jessica Simpson you pull, I'm never letting you forget."

Serena grabs Chuck's hand and shakes it. "Deal."

"So, what do you have for me?" Chuck inquires, taking a seat on the couch.

Serena sits on the sofa across from him. "Okay, well I told Blair we were all going to Casey's show. Including you. I -"

"What? I don't want to go," Chuck interjects. "I was thinking more along the lines of massive electrical blackout."

Serena shakes her head. "No way, Chuck. No diabolical plots. This isn't an episode of 24. You're going and that's that. I told B if she wanted Dan, Nate, and me to go that she'd have to agree to you coming, and she did."

Chuck sighs. "Well, tonight's not going to be nearly as climatic as I thought it would be."

"Oh, I doubt that," Serena says. "Thanks to Gossip Girl there's probably going to be more drama than even you would like. Just don't act like an idiot."

xoxo

Chuck's limo pulls up to the van der Woodsen penthouse and picks up Serena and Chuck. After the two get in, the limo picks up Nate before finally taking off towards Blair's place.

"I thought Dan was coming," Nate remarks, gazing at Serena with admiring eyes.

"He's meeting us at The Underground," Serena answers nonchalantly.

Chuck snorts. Serena is far too into herself to see that Nate pines for her like Perez Hilton for Zac Efron. It's kind of amusing; Nate follows Serena like a lovesick puppy while Serena gushes over Dan and his intellectualisms that Chuck is ninety-five percent sure she doesn't understand. He tries to imagine Serena with Nate and almost laughs at the thought. They'd be the perfect couple sans brains. Maybe Chuck would help his friend out after all of these issues with Blair are over.

Right now, however, Chuck's got more pressing issues at hand, like how he's going to stop his jaw from falling to the ground because Blair is getting into the limo now and the way she looks... well, she never ceases to amaze him. Her gray Stella McCartney pants are slouchy and loose but her purple Lanvin tank definitely clings to her upper curves in a way that makes Chuck's mouth water.

"Hey, B," Serena says to her friend as Blair slides to the far back end of the limo.

Blair settles into her seat and smiles warmly at Serena. "Hi, S. I'm so glad you're coming with tonight. I wish the show wasn't in Brooklyn. Just the idea of that place makes my skin beg for a shower."

Serena rolls her eyes. "It's not that bad, Blair."

"Yes it is," Chuck jumps in. "You're going to have to be quarantined afterwards."

Blair parts her lips in shock, as if she actually believes him. "You're probably right, Bass. I should have worn my hazmat suit," she says quite seriously.

Chuck smirks, entertained. "I'll delouse you."

"You're disgusting!" Serena exclaims as Nate scolds, "Aw, come on, man."

Chuck swears he can see Blair bite back a grin and his heart flutters, thrilled.

xoxo

The limo pulls up at The Underground around eight o'clock. The venue is a dingy, hole-in-the-wall type place that Chuck would assume is a crack house if he didn't know any better. Dan is standing outside, leaning against the brick wall in wait, and Serena runs up to him and throws her arms around his neck, kissing him as Nate and Chuck exchange annoyed glances.

Blair steps onto the curb hesitantly and crinkles her nose at the brick building. "The things I do for love," she says absentmindedly.

Chuck looks at her skeptically and Blair clears her throat as if to start a new subject (which is exactly what she does). "So, I guess there's only one band before Casey's goes on. This can't be too bad, right?" Chuck smirks as a tall, lanky kid with stringy black hair walks past Blair and checks her out before heading into the venue.

"Spoke too soon, huh Waldorf?" Chuck asks.

Blair compares the group she is with to the eclectic group of Brooklynites around her. Surely Valentino and Prada do not mix with Converse and Manic Panic. "I didn't realize ninety percent of the crowd would consist of goths that look like they came out of Night of the Living Dead," Blair retorts sharply. "You kind of look like you could fit in, though, Humphrey."

Dan rolls his eyes. "I'm flattered, Blair, really. Thanks."

The group heads into The Underground and it's truly as if they're in a different world. The inside is full of people, none of whom seem like they would recognize a designer label even if it were plastered across their shirts. Chuck can count at least six flannel shirts, and in this moment, he swears to never take his Italian suits for granted again.

The first band is called King James ("What a sweet fuckin' name! It's totally 'cause of LeBron!" Nate gushes), a rock-rap group that Chuck would gladly pay off to assure the world never hears their music again. During their set, Serena rests against Dan, who has his arms wrapped around her perfectly flat stomach as he nods to the music. Nate is ecstatically trying to catch on to the lyrics and Chuck has a feeling he's going to be hearing a lot more of King James in the future, namely from the CD that Nate already decides he's buying.

Chuck turns to look at Blair, and to his surprise, she's already staring at him. "Can I help you?" Chuck asks with a smirk.

"Yes. Fast-forward through this mess," Blair shouts over the music, shifting on her feet impatiently.

After half an hour, the first band is over and there's a short intermission before Smack comes on. Chuck and Nate head over to the bar and the former bribes the server into selling him drinks without question of age. The two return to the group with a scotch for Chuck, a beer for Nate, Perriers for Serena and Blair, and an Irish coffee for Dan.

"If it weren't for the music, the interior design, and the people who look like they dressed in the dark, I might not despise this place," Blair comments inattentively.

Serena laughs. "It's not bad. I'm kind of having a good time." She smiles at Dan, squeezing his hand.

Chuck watches Nate go towards the merchandise area and smirks. "I can't imagine Nathaniel would complain."

After ten minutes, the lights dim and Casey is the first of the band to walk onto the stage. Chuck sneaks a furtive glance at Blair, and to his dismay, she's watching Casey in adoration as the he steps to the side of the lead vocalist and puts his guitar strap around his shoulders. Chuck knows that Blair isn't lying when she says she cares about Casey; how could she not when they've dated for so many years? He just wishes it were easier to get her to own up to what she's really feeling.

Smack begins playing and Casey's fingers move wildly along the guitar strings. Images flash in Chuck's head involving those digits and a certain brunette and his fists instinctively clench. Something's gotta give, and soon, because the last thing Chuck wants is for Blair to think that doing something like that with Casey is going to fix whatever deep-rooted issue the couple has.

Before Chuck knows it, the set is over and the lights turn on once more. Blair ushers the group over towards her. "Casey wants us to come backstage. We don't have to stay long. I just have to make an appearance. Sound good?"

"Sure, B, whatever you want," Serena says jovially.

Backstage, musicians from both bands are lounging backstage, with girls from the crowd evidently handpicked to be "friends" with the guys. Blair rolls her eyes judgmentally at a blonde whose skirt is so short you can see the lines under her ass from tanning. There's a half-smoked joint in an ashtray on one of the coffee tables and Chuck smirks as Nate eyes it hungrily. Chuck didn't think that going backstage at a Brooklyn show actually entailed partying and booze and illegal drugs, but he's not complaining.

The drummer from King James offers Nate a hit of the joint and the blonde obliges happily before passing it to Chuck. "That's disgusting," Blair snaps as Chuck starts raising the joint to his lips.

"Don't knock 'til you've tried it, Waldorf," Chuck replies lazily. He doesn't take the hit, though; instead, he passes it back to the drummer.

"Hey babe," Casey comes up to Blair from behind and kisses her neck. Wiping his sweaty brow, Casey's eyes meet Chuck's and they are crazed with adrenaline, excitement, who knows. All Chuck knows is that he hates the rocker. "I'm so glad you came to support me. It means the world to me."

Blair looks at Chuck apologetically before turning to face Casey. "You're welcome. You did an amazing job." She rests her hands on his chests and stands on her tiptoes to kiss him on the lips. "Your heart's pounding out of your chest. Happy to see me?"

"Always," Casey replies, brushing her arm softly.

Chuck doesn't care to see this interaction and so he turns his back to the couple, choosing instead to engage in conversation with the slutty blonde with the ass tan lines.

Maybe this will show her, he thinks mischievously.

"Chuck Bass," he introduces himself to the girl. "I'm not with the band, but I'm heir to a billion dollar fortune."

The blonde's interest is suddenly piqued. "Oh really?" She moves closer to Chuck and he can smell the booze on her breath. "I'm Kelly. I don't usually go for dudes that don't play music but for you, I'll make an exception."

Blair's voice suddenly cuts in the conversation. "Excuse me, Kelly, but wherever did you get that dress? I could have sworn I seen it on a second-hand rack somewhere."

Chuck tries to hide a smirk as Kelly snorts in disbelief.

"Can I talk to you for a sec, Blairbear?" Casey cuts in quickly.

Blair visibly winces at the use of her father's nickname for her. "Of course, love," she acquiesces before allowing her boyfriend to take her by the hand and lead her into a second room.

"God, what the hell is her problem?" Kelly asks.

"You, obviously," Chuck remarks carelessly. "You know, on second thought, I'd rather pay for quality escorts, not cheap whores. Good luck on the musician hunt, Kelly."

Chuck leaves Kelly open-mouthed as he turns on his heels and makes his way over to Serena and Dan. Serena's oohing and aahing over one guitarist's rendition of "Nothin' On You" and Dan tosses Chuck an exasperated glance.

Smirking, Chuck comments, "Give a kitten some yarn and she'll play, Humphrey." Out of the corner of his eye, Chuck sees Nate gesturing towards Chuck. Come here, Nate mouths soundlessly. "Excuse me," Chuck says as he gets up from the couch.

When he reaches Nate, Chuck opens his mouth to speak but Nate puts his index finger to his lips. Two voices – Casey's and Blair's – can be heard arguing back and forth behind the closed door.

"He's Serena's brother, Casey! I'm not going to tell her who she can and cannot bring. That's insane!"

"I don't give a damn, Blair! I'm fucking sick of this! I came all the way over here for you and yet you've gone mad for some pompous jackass?!"

"I don't want, Chuck! I want you! How many times have I told you that?"

"Too many times and yet you've meant it not once! I've seen the fucking Gossip Girl blast, Blair! What in the hell were you doing at his hotel?!"

"I went over there to yell at him for being a dick to you, Casey!"

"Oh, so you stayed the night just to tell him that? Bullshit, Blair! You have no business being around him! I do everything for you, Blair! Everything! Do you think Chuck Bass would want to deal with a chick that sticks her finger down her throat? Fuck no! But I do because I love you!"

"You're acting insane, Casey! I told you that you have nothing to worry about!"

"I don't fucking believe you! Everything you're telling me contradicts what you've been doing! You don't think I notice the way you look at him? You don't think I didn't notice how jealous you got when that bitch was talking to him? Enough of the lies already!"

"FINE! I kissed him last night, okay! I kissed him and that's all and I told him it could never happen again! I – Jesus, Casey, what the hell is wrong with you? Your eyes, they're - "

That's when they hear it. The undeniable crack of skin against skin. Chuck wastes no time in opening the door and he stops in his tracks when he sees Blair, her trembling hand cupped to her left cheek. "Chuck, it's – "

"No. Do not tell me it's nothing," Chuck demands, his eyes gleaming coldly as they dart towards a shocked Casey.

"I didn't mean it, Blair. I swear, I – " Casey doesn't finish his sentence because before Chuck can make it to him, Nate does, punching the Casey square in the face.

Casey falls down in a heap. Wanting his turn, Chuck kicks Casey in the stomach with his Italian loafers. Certainly not the most effective weapon but he'll take it. Crouching down, Chuck stares the fallen musician straight in the eye and asks, "What the hell are you on?"

At this point, a crowd begins forming at the door and Serena rushes in with her hand to her mouth. "Oh my god, Blair!" She runs to Blair's side and pulls her into a hug, almost crying herself when she feels her friend heave with sobs.

Casey gets to his feet and Chuck leaps back cautiously. Wiping the sweat from his forehead with shaking hands, Casey says, ashamed, "It was an accident. An accident." He backs away from Chuck and Nate and pushes hurriedly through the crowd without answering Chuck's question.

Suddenly, Kelly's husky voice rings out. "He used cocaine. With me. It wasn't much but he was a newbie."

Blair pulls out of Serena's embrace and her mouth falls open in utter shock. Cocaine? "I… Serena, I think I'm going to be sick."

Chuck raises a brow, concerned, as Serena brushes Blair's hair back. "Shh… B, it'll be okay. Come on, let's get out of here." Serena puts her arm around Blair's shoulder and Chuck leads them out of the door, followed by the Nate and Dan.

Chuck's limo pulls up in the back of the venue. Dan opts to walk back to his place leaving Serena to get in, followed by Blair, and then Nate. Chuck looks around to make sure Casey is nowhere near the vehicle and then gets in, shutting the door behind him. Blair is sitting miserably in the corner of the seat. She jerks her knee away when Serena tries to put a comforting hand on it.

It's a silent ride; no one really knows quite what to say, although Chuck certainly has a few choice words for Casey. He seriously contemplates killing him for a second, but then where would Blair be?

Nate and Serena don't really want to leave Blair but the look in the latter's eyes tells them to leave her alone. "I'll come over tomorrow, B," Serena says sadly before getting out of the limo, Nate following (as usual, Chuck notes).

Yet again, Chuck and Blair are alone in his limo together. Chuck doesn't know what to say, but lucky for him, he doesn't have to because Blair whispers, almost inaudibly, "You're right. I don't love him. I cared about who he used to be, but he's not the same person anymore."

Chuck tries with everything he's got not to punch a window out, because when Blair turns to face him, he sees red. Her cheek looks sore and is already starting to bruise. His eyes drop to her right arm, where he can see additional bruises where it looks like Casey had been grabbing her.

Self-consciously, Blair raises her hand to her cheek. "Do I look like awful?"

Chuck shakes his head. "No, Blair. You look beautiful." He gestures to her injured cheek. "May I?"

Blair hesitates before nodding slowly, and Chuck gently lowers her hand. He inspects the handprint that mars her flesh with hard eyes. "Has he ever…" Chuck trails off.

"No! Of course not!" Blair denies, shaking her head vehemently. "He's never done anything like this before. Ever. He's used ecstasy before, back in Paris, but never cocaine. I… I don't even know what to do." She drops her head sadly, wringing her hands together.

Chuck's face grows dark. "You're not thinking of seeing him again." He says this as more of a statement than a question.

Blair closes her eyes with a sigh. "No, Chuck. But… no one understands me, okay? Not Serena, not my mother, not anyone. Casey was the only thing I had keeping me connected to my old life."

Chuck inches closer to Blair. "Then start a new life."

Blair looks at him with teary eyes. "I don't know how."

"We'll figure it out," Chuck says quietly, pulling her into him and not quite caring that her tears were ruining his Armani shirt.

Blair's hands fist his shirt as if she's holding on for dear life. "Later?" she asks, defeated.

Chuck kisses the top of her head tenderly. "Later."

xoxo

Hope you guys liked it! Sorry about the slow updates. It's crunch time for finals unfortunately (and leave it to me to find Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for PC just in time lol). So... I didn't really expect this chapter to turn out this way, but I'm really pleased with it and it's safe to say Casey's not going to be much of an issue anymore! One question... do you think the story is going too slow or do you like the pace? I don't want to rush the relationship but I don't want to take too long, either. Thoughts? & once again... thank you so much for the reviews!