Author's Note: The writers have always played around with Chuck's insecurity with Blair and Jack (2x15-promo, at least, 2x25, 3x07, 3x17, 3x18, 4x07, 4x21), but they never really explored it. It's bad enough that Blair got off scot-free, but I was also disappointed to see them tease Chuck's insecurities on several occasions later on, but never putting his insecurities into words. Now that Jack has sort of been redeemed, I can't see them ever dealing with this storyline properly. Sigh.

Disclaimer: I really don't see why I'm still putting this up, but I thought, "Why not?" So yeah, I don't own anything. Still.


Chapter 7

"So, I heard your uncle set you up to lose the company. That sounds pretty dirty to me. Remember the bet we made about Jack? It looks like I win!" Serena sat down next to Chuck on a bench downtown. She put on a smug face, but inside she felt sympathy for Chuck. However, she knew that if she showed any sympathy, Chuck would read her immediately and he wouldn't move back in with the van der Woodsens. She had to play her cards right.

Chuck turned away from his step-sister angrily. "Just leave me alone." he muttered. Throughout the whirlwind of actions that had occurred over the last few days, their bet had never even registered in his mind. On top of everything else, he really didn't need the extra stress of dealing with the van der Woodsens right now.

Grinning, Serena played with her Constance Billiard tie. "Mom and Eric will be really surprised to see you back." This wasn't exactly true, because Serena told them that Chuck was thinking about moving back in with them yesterday. She didn't see the harm in telling a little white lie. "You know, living with us can have its advantages." she told him slowly and calculatingly.

The boy rolled his eyes. "I assure you, you can easily be replaced."

"I highly doubt that. Anyways, it has other advantages. Like, oh, getting your company back." Serena hid a smile as she took in Chuck's expression.

"How can it possibly help get Bass Industries back?"

"Well, you know how Jack is your legal guardian and therefore has control of the company. What if he wasn't?"

At this, Chuck stared hard at the blonde beside him. "What does that have to do with anything? The problem is that he is. As long as Jack has control, I'm screwed."

"Well, consider yourself un-screwed. My mom told me a very interesting piece of news." She paused for effect. "It turns out that she adopted you."

Chuck was shocked. "What? When?"

"Before Bart died, my mom and he agreed to adopt each other's children, to make it more of a family. She didn't mention it before because she forgot about it until yesterday." Serena crossed her arms and stared up at the sky, waiting for her step-brother to respond.

Chuck pondered this information for a few seconds. Finally, he conceded. "I suppose I'm going to have to speak to Lily about this."

His step-sister smiled widely. "I can help you pack your bags."

xoxo

"Charles! We're so pleased to have you back." Lily exclaimed when Chuck walked through the door, with Serena behind him.

Chuck wasn't in the mood to act like they were a family, and he made sure Lily knew this. "The only reason I'm here is to save Bass Industries from my uncle. You'll have to excuse my reluctance to pretend we're a big, happy family."

Lily faltered for a second, but she was expecting this. "Oh, I understand. I called Jack over here a few minutes ago, and he should be here soon. After he finds out about the company, I doubt he'll stay here any longer." Chuck looked relieved.

Just then, Jack walked through the door. Lily silently cursed his bad manners and put on a sunny disposition to greet him. "Jack! We were just talking about you!" She walked over to him and smiled. "What time is your flight?"

"Oh, I'm not going anywhere. I have a company to take care of, after all." Jack grinned, glancing at his nephew. Chuck looked at him with an unreadable expression.

"What company? Do you mean my father's legacy? Hmmm… It seems that it's no longer yours to control." Chuck answered in a toneless voice.

Before Jack could respond, Lily cut in. "My son will have complete control of Bass Industries as soon as he turns eighteen. You may as well go home now, Jack. There's nothing you can do here anymore."

"I can't believe you guys." Jack started to laugh, but abruptly stopped once he realized nobody else was joining him. " You can't be serious. That's mine… I waited all my life for this… It's not yours to take!" His eyes took on a whole new personality. He didn't even appear to notice anybody else in the room as he grabbed Lily's neck. "You can't have it. It's all mine!" He didn't notice the look of terror on her face, but the others did. Serena moved to stop him, but Chuck stepped in front of her.

The young man stepped in between his uncle and Lily and took Lily away. Then he punched Jack as hard as he could. The older man staggered a bit, but stayed upright. "It's over." Chuck told him. Nobody knew how over it really was.

Once Jack left, Eric came up to Chuck. Chuck wondered when Eric had entered the room, because this was the first time he saw him that day. Eric put his hand on his big brother's shoulder. "I'm glad you're home." Eric told him quietly. Chuck smiled at his younger brother. For the first time in forever, he felt like he was home.

xoxo

Later that night, at the party, Blair immediately found Chuck and touched his arm. Chuck whirled around to find his girlfriend smiling up at him. He grinned and kissed her softly. "How do you like the party so far?" he murmured.

"It was pretty boring until I found you." Blair answered, fixing her bowtie. She marveled at how his bowties always seemed to match her dresses. "I'm glad you moved back in with the van der Woodsens. Have you made up with Lily yet?"

Chuck's smile disappeared. "I'm working on it."

"I'm so happy for you." Blair said happily. The couple talked and kissed for a while until Nate waved Chuck over. Chuck reluctantly slipped away to join his best friend at the bar.

Chuck and Nate filled each other in on their activities over the last few days. Suddenly, Nate saw Serena walk past them. "Just a second, man. I have to do something quickly," he told Chuck. The young man jumped off the stool and ran to catch up with his blonde friend.

"Serena!" He called her over. Serena walked over to him, looking uncomfortable. Nate appeared not to notice. "So, what did Blair say when you talked to her about it?" Serena fidgeted and refused to meet Nate's eyes. "Serena. You did talk to her, didn't you?" At Serena's silence, Nate heaved a loud sigh. "We had a plan, remember? I held my end of the deal. Now you have to hold yours. Talk to her."

"I know, but—"

"No buts. Talk to Blair right now. She's at the party. Go look for her." With that, Nate gave her a gentle shove and walked back to Chuck. Serena glared at his retreating figure resentfully. Nate was so unfair!

xoxo

Scanning the room for her best friend, Serena was getting annoyed. She wanted to be anywhere else than at the party at the moment. This conversation was going to be brutal. Once she spotted Blair near the refreshment table, she stalked over to her. Before Blair even noticed Serena's presence, the taller girl was already moving her aside from the other guests. She ignored Blair's protests as she moved Blair a little farther away from the other guests at the party. Serena was so focused on Blair, she didn't notice that Vanessa just arrived near the refreshment table and was eating chocolate cupcakes.

Blair was still protesting after Serena let go of her. Serena was tired of keeping it a secret, so she just blurted it out. "Blair, I know what you did on New Years Eve." she told the smaller girl. She crossed her arms and looked almost angry. Blair glared at her.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Blair said, not meeting Serena's stare. She turned and attempted to leave. "Now if you'll excuse me, I want to say hello to the other guests at the party."

The blonde, however, wasn't in the mood for games. "I know about you and Jack." She called to Blair just as she was about to leave. Blair froze.

She turned around, looking terrified. It felt like all the blood had drained from her face. "How did you find out?" she managed to whisper.

Serena looked away for a few seconds. "I followed you two up from the Palace Bar. I thought something strange was going on, and I was right." At Blair's indignant face, Serena shook her head. "I know I probably shouldn't have invaded your privacy, but we have bigger problems to worry about right now. What are you going to do if Chuck finds out?"

Blair shook her head violently. "Chuck won't find out. Jack already left the continent. Nobody else knows. I won't tell him, and you'd better not either."

"Well, actually, I told Nate." Serena squirmed uncomfortably at Blair's look of anger. "But, B, it doesn't matter if we won't tell. This is the Upper East Side. Word gets around. Trying to keep a secret here is like trying to swim away from a hurricane. Besides, it's not like you chose a very private place to betray the boy you love. He lives in that building, you know."

She knew the last part was a low blow. Blair's eyes widened in shock. "I can't believe you just said that." She whispered tersely.

Serena wanted to comfort Blair, but at that moment she was still too angry that she was actually having this conversation to care much. "B, just tell me one thing: Did you sleep with Jack or did you stop before it got that far?" At Blair's silence, she got her answer. The brunette looked completely defeated. Again, Serena felt the urgent need to protect her. "Please listen to me. This will get out eventually. It will be less painful if you tell Chuck yourself. If he hears it from you, you can offer an explanation that Gossip Girl can't. He also has to give you some credit that you came clean instead of him finding out some other way." Blair was far from convinced. Serena sighed. "This is the best way to go. Why won't you just tell him?" Both girls were so preoccupied in their conversation, they didn't notice Vanessa sneaking away.

The reply came in a barely audible whisper. "I don't want Chuck to hate me."

As she took in Blair's facial expression, Serena softened towards her best friend. "Oh, B, Chuck could never hate you. You know that."

"I don't know anything anymore."

Serena gently took both of Blair's hands. "Promise me you'll tell him. Nate is throwing a party next week. We planned that you could tell him there, alone. It may seem hopeless, but you two have gotten through more obstacles than any couple I've ever seen before. I believe you can get through this."

The brunette turned her head away. It was easy for Serena to say these things when she didn't feel either the guilt or the betrayal. Serena would certainly feel differently if she found out Dan had slept with her Aunt Carol. She would raise hell and leave Dan as a squashed cabbage leaf. How could Chuck ever forgive her for this?

On the other hand, she had a sick feeling that he would find out eventually. She remembered how Nate had lied for over six months about cheating on her with Serena. After all that time, it wasn't just the act itself; it was all the lies and broken promises that destroyed the relationship. Chuck would be even more upset if he found out that she had kept it from him for so long. No, if they had any chance of getting past this, waiting was not an option.

"Promise." Serena repeated, staring seriously into Blair's eyes.

Blair sighed, feeling like a prisoner being sent to the gallows. "I promise," she finally answered.

This was one promise she didn't know if she could keep.

xoxo

Vanessa took a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she opened them, the unsent text she had typed for Gossip Girl was still there. This was it. This was the revenge she had been craving for. This was the line that she was about to cross. Somehow, revenge didn't feel as sweet as thought it would. With this piece of information, she had the power to ruin relationships and make people feel miserable, and it would be their own faults. She wasn't responsible for any of it. She was only the messenger. It wasn't her fault that other people decided to screw up their lives.

Yet it all felt so dirty. They were happy. Blair was only hiding a secret that was in the past. Letting her secret out would cause a lot of unnecessary pain. It would also destroy her relationship with Nate. Was all of this really worth it?

On the other hand, Chuck had a right to know. Vanessa tried to pretend that this was the main reason she should tip Gossip Girl and not because she wanted revenge. Besides, it wasn't as if Chuck would believe her if she told him herself. He would probably believe Gossip Girl.

The Brooklyn girl turned over her phone again and again, trying to decide what to do. This wasn't who she was. She was above this. At the same time, Vanessa was tired of trying to keep her morals while everybody around her did whatever the hell they wanted and got off scot-free. She was always on the outside, and she was so sick of it. Doing this wouldn't put her on the inside, but it would show everybody that she wasn't a person they should mess with.

This is wrong, Vanessa thought. This isn't the person I want to be. But will it really change who I am as a person? Blair and Chuck have this coming. Why shouldn't I be the one to serve them their punishment? But I want to like myself. Can I really like myself if I do this? I don't know what I should do!

Finally, after ten more minutes of trying to figure out her conflicted emotions, Vanessa nodded to herself. She knew what she was going to do.