The Prize

Henry sat on a table by the far end corner of the room. He sat across from Blair who was watching the guests dance for quite some time now and drinking champagne with biscuits. The polo match is already done, and once the players got inside, they all clapped their hands for the great game and sportsmanship they did. Henry sensed that Blair has been quite silent ever since they have encountered Penelope Hayes – his former wife, and Charles Bass – a cousin of Ted who seems to have a history with Blair Waldorf. He then decided to address this silence in a good way.

"Are you alright Miss Waldorf?" He asked, and her eyes blinked as they looked at him, obviously he disturbed her revelry. She only smiled.

"Yes" She replied. "Of course" She added. He then nodded. He then sat next to her, on the empty chair beside her.

"You have been watching the guests dance," He said. "I have a slight speculation that you want to dance as well?" He asked with a smile as he offered her a hand. She looked at him and at his hand with a smile. She nodded slowly as he took his hand.

"I would love to," She said, and they both stood up. Henry led her to the middle of the dance floor, and he placed his hand on her lower back as the music played. They glided, and swung, dancing gracefully and being one with the music. Henry smiled at Blair who faintly smiled back as she looked straight in his eyes. Her face was beautiful, and her dress made her skin glow. There was mystery in her eyes that makes him tinge in curiosity. It's like he wanted to know everything about her. And Blair was unpredictable. One thing she's happy and the next thing, she's sad. It wasn't really a bad thing, in fact that's the reason why he wanted to know more of her. He wanted behind the beautiful face and eyes. He then pulled her closer, and his cheek rested on his cheek.

"I have thought of a prize." He said softly. He can feel her heart thumping, and her breathing.

"Mr. Schoonmaker, don't you think that we look a little bit intimate that the guests might talk about us?" She said with an airy laugh, although he sensed panic in her voice. He smiled, even though she could not see.

"I don't think so," He replied. Blair then sighed which made him smile. After a few moments, he said, "Do you want to know the prize I want to have?"

"What?" She asked. He then faced her and she was frowning. He then let go of her as he curtsied, which can only mean that they were done dancing. Blair nodded courtly and they went back to the side, but then Henry led him someplace else. "Where are we going?" She asked hastily as he held her hand and guided her. He led her to a small room that looked like an old bar. The old window panes were full of dust and the furniture were covered with white cloths. She looked around as Henry found his way to the bar.

"This doesn't look much but this is an old bar. We used to be here to sneak around and drink back when we were teenagers." Henry said with a laugh. Blair smiled as she went towards him. "Do you want some champagne?" He offered.

"Sure" She replied with a faint smile.

Henry then took out two champagne glasses and washed them with water. He cleaned them with a white napkin and after he did, he poured some French champagne on them. He handed the other to Blair, as she mumbled her thanks. He took a quick swig and laid the glass down on the island.

"So why did you take me here?" Blair said after she took a sip and laid the glass on the island as well. She removed the white cloth on the barstool and sat on it.

"I figured that the party is making you feel a bit tense." He shrugged with a lopsided smile. Blair smiled.

"You have been observing me too well Mr. Schoonmaker." She said as she arched her eyebrows matter-of-factly. He chuckled.

"Please, call me Henry." He replied. She only shrugged and she took the glass. She chugged down the champagne until it was empty. And he watched her.

"Well then Henry" She said, her mood changing. She was pleased with him, and it made her feel amused when she was with him. He knew that. He could see that. "What is your hidden agenda, if I may say so? You took me here, spend time with me in every way you can, now what do you want?" She asked with an amused smirk. Henry raised his eyebrows and shrugged.

"Well I figured that you know a lot about my life, I think it only seems fair if you tell me about yours as well." He said with a smile. She raised an eyebrow at him and shrugged.

"Is this the prize you want to have?" She asked. He shrugged.

"Maybe." Blair then chuckled.

"And what do I get in exchange?" She asked, still raising an eyebrow.

"Some inside scoop of my life since I know you have only read about me in the papers." He teased. Blair smiled as she looked down at her glass, thinking whether she should agree on this. And in a few moments, she looked up and nodded.

"Fine," She replied as Henry took the champagne bottle and poured some on her flute. "What do you want to know?" She asked.

"I want to know about Charles Bass." Henry then saw her frown as her eyes narrowed. And they held each other's gaze for a few moments before she laughed.

"Of all things about my life, why Chuck?" She said. Henry noticed how she acknowledged Charles Bass with his nickname, Chuck. Clearly there was something going on between them. He then shrugged.

"Why not?" He asked as he laid the bottle down. "I saw both of your expressions earlier when you have seen each other. It is very clear that you knew each other before you got here in New York."

"You do seem to know how to know privy information, don't you?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.

"It's alright if you do not want to talk about it…" Henry trailed off before she raised her hand.

"No" She said, and waved her hand. "It's fine. It does seem fair Mr. Schoonmaker."

"It's Hen…"

"Henry, of course" She said with a flirtatious smirk and blinked her mascaraed eyelashes. "Well, if you really must know…" She sighed as she began. "I met Charles Bass, or Chuck back in London two years ago. My family and I always go there every summer to visit my grandmother. We met at my grandmother's birthday party since all the society members in London were invited. The Bass family has been well-known for their fortune and their history of scandal and the society knew them very well, although sometimes, they were judged wrong. Still, they couldn't stop one of the most powerful men in London, Chuck's late father, Bartholomew Bass. And most people envied him even though he has been divorced and Chuck grew up without a mother, and a busy father building his empire." Henry nodded as he digested this information.

"Chuck was certainly different. I was sixteen at that time, and he was eighteen. There was just something about him that makes me feel drawn to him. And that's why I fell in love…"

July 27th, 1900…

Blair entered the ball room wearing her best dress. She was wearing an old rose pink colored dress that had layers of lace, origami and designed with flowers. She saw her father standing with her mother as they talked with her grandmother, Amelia Waldorf.

"Blair bear!" Harold Waldorf said once she appeared by their side. "You look stunning darling." He added as he pulled her close to his side and Blair grinned. "I think you're the most stunning young lady here…" He whispered and she chuckled. Her father was the best, although he neglects her sometimes. He let go of her and she went to kiss her grandma.

"Happy birthday grandma!" She said happily after she kissed her cheek and gave her a tight hug. Amelia with her elegant features and blue eyes just like Blair's looked at her with a great smile on her face.

"Thank you dear, but don't call me grandma" Amelia said. "I'm not that old yet." She winked and Blair smiled.

"I'm sorry Amelia." She replied.

"Amelia, your birthday is going to be a great one." Eleanor said with a knowing smile, and Amelia only nodded.

"Of course" She replied. "And thank you so much for throwing this lovely celebration for me, although it isn't really necessary." Eleanor held Amelia's hand with a warm look in her eyes.

"It is definitely necessary…" She replied.

"Amelia!" They heard someone say. A man wearing a neat tuxedo walked up to Amelia with his wide arms open, and Amelia hugged him tight. "Happy Birthday!"

"Oh thank you so much Bart!" Amelia said with a warm, sincere smile on her face. As Bart let her go and a young man went to Amelia as he hugged her and kissed her cheek.

"Happy Birthday Amelia" He said as he brought out a bouquet of flowers for her.

"Oh thank you Charles!" She said, deeply touched as she looked down on the bouquet of flowers that had lilacs – her favorite. "Such a sweet boy you have there, Bart." Bart smiled.

"Yes, I know" He replied. Amelia then turned to her family who were only watching behind her.

"Everyone this is Mr. Bartholomew Bass, and his son, Charles." Amelia said, and Harold and Eleanor smiled. "Bart and Charles, you know Harold, his wife Eleanor and their daughter, my lovely granddaughter, Blair."

"Pleasure to meet you," Bart said with a knowing nod. Harold and Eleanor gave them a courtly nod.

"Pleasure to meet you too," Eleanor said with a knowing nod while Blair only smiled at them.

"I was never really a shy girl at all." Blair said with a smile. "That night, I was sitting all alone in a table, and Chuck sat beside me. He asked if I was doing all right, and I said of course I was. He smiled and he held my hand. He told me that I was a beautiful girl, and he asked if I had lots of suitors. I only laughed at him. I told him I was never interested with men. I only find them attractive and nothing else. Some have high assets, but mostly dull and are full of themselves. He chuckled and he looked at me like I was the most amusing girl in the whole world. The truth was I never really knew anything about men except my father." Henry chuckled.

"But that all changed right?" He asked.

"Of course," She replied and gave him a nod. "He asked if I wanted to know what he thinks about women, and then I thought why not. I wanted to know more about men. And there was nothing wrong about that. So I said sure, and he said that women are beautiful, attractive, and are completely unpredictable. One thing you know what she wants and the next thing you don't. I didn't really find that amusing. I thought he generalized women too much. And so I asked him if he was ever in love."

"He said no, but he was now. I was speechless. I did not know if he was kidding or not, but he looked at me with those calm and sincere eyes, and I just got drawn into him. After that night, we started seeing each other more and more. He snuck up to my bedroom at my grandmother's home one night."

Blair heard someone knocking on her window. The curtain was drawn to a close, and for a moment, she felt scared. Who would knock on the window at this time? She was playing dress up. It was silly, but she was bored. And she wanted to look pretty for Chuck. So she tried on numerous dresses, and she loved all of them. But right now, was a bad time. She was only wearing her camisole, and she immediately went to look for her chemise to cover her body, but the knocking was heard again, and this time, it was louder. She then sighed. Whoever this was, or whatever it was, her chemise can probably wait. She went by the window and drew the curtains open. She looked at the window and saw Chuck. She gasped. What was he doing here? And she was only wearing her camisole and her underwear!

"Would you be a darling and let me in?" She heard him say through the closed window. She inhaled, unable to know what to do, but she opened her window and let him in. She stepped back and watched him sneak in.

"What in God's name are you doing here?" She said in a hushed tone. He only smiled at her as he stood up.

"I came for a visit." He shrugged. "I am terribly sorry if it was sudden, but father hasn't been home for days, and it has been lonely." Blair only smiled.

"It's alright." Blair shrugged as she turned and went to look for her chemise.

"What are you looking for darling?" He asked, walking towards her bed.

"My chemise" She said as she turned to see him sitting on her bed. It made her heart thump in excitement and in nervousness. What did he really want? He only smirked.

"But darling," She heard him say. "You look fine with just that."

"Oh don't be silly Chuck" Blair said as she gave up looking. And she turned to face him as she frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. "Don't you think that what you are doing could destroy us? If anyone knew you're here…"

"No one would know I am but you." He said as he stood up, and she watched him walk towards him and he finally stood before her. She met his gaze after he examined her body. Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. The thought of being a young woman absolutely made her feel excited, more mature than ever. But it also scared her. He then pulled her close in a tight hug. Blair sighed. Chuck made her weak. She find herself giving into him, to what he wants, because in the end, she also wants it as much as he does. She wanted him, and he wanted her just the same. "I am in love with you Blair…" He whispered into her ear. She can smell him. He was really here. It wasn't a dream.

He then kissed her neck before their lips met. He kissed her softly at first, but it turned like a strong urge of yearning. She was as hungry as he was, and she kissed him back.

With that story, Henry suddenly remembered his experience with Diana. That thought brought sadness in his eyes. How he and Diana's relationship ended was heart wrenching. He loved her truly; he wanted to end up with her. Unfortunately, she wanted to be free, and as much as he wanted to hold on to her, he must let her go. He must set her free. That's how love really is. It is full of sacrifices, no matter how much it consumes you.

"Our relationship ended because he could not kill his inner demons." Blair suddenly said after a few moments. Her eyes drifted down to the glass. "Chuck was the one who was misunderstood. He had his demons. He had his own problems especially when his father died a few months after that. He is often afraid to face his problems that he spends drowning himself in booze, keeping himself around with women, and parties. Gambling is one thing that doesn't consume him much and he feels like that will soothe his damaged heart. He never thought he was good enough to please his father and Bart was… extraordinary. Bart lacked expressing his love for his son, and that scarred Chuck's life forever.

"I had faith in him. But he seems to choose the wrong thing all the time that he ends up hurting the people who love and care for him and himself. I broke his heart, and I broke his." Blair said sadly, as Henry watched. He rested his hand on top of hers, and she looked up. He then let go of her as he approached her.

"I'm sorry if I had to ask…" He said. Blair pushed a smile on her face.

"It's alright." She said. He then tucked her hair behind ear. She looked so beautiful even if she was sad. She still loves Charles; he can feel that even though she would not admit it. And that experience made her feel guilty and it consumes her all this time, she couldn't simply let go of it.

"You should let go of the past Blair," Henry said softly.

"I want to forget about him, but it seems I can't." She said her eyes filled with tears. "He's here in New York, and it seems like he's doing well, he has moved on. While I'm here as well, stuck in the past, trying to find a new place to run away from it."

Henry was too overwhelmed to say anything. It was unbearable to see her sad as well. He then held her shoulders, and lifted her up until she was standing. He then cupped her chin with his hand and kissed her.