Romance & Revenge Chapter 7: Coup Brews, a gossip girl fanfic

DISCLAIMER: DON'T OWN GG. I have no desire to lay claim to shit.

Author's notes: Just when I thought nothing could be longer than the previous chappie, this chapter comes. I had to merge two eps, 'The Blair Bitch Project' and 'Desperately Seeking Serena', in this one chapter. Since there really is no CB in the canon eps that I cover in this chapter, I had more liberty to bend the scenes and all.

Romance & Revenge
Summary:
[AU, 1.6] Chuck and Nate have a falling out due to Carter's scam, and Blair's now in the outs with Nate as well after learning that he loves Serena. Chuck and Blair then decide to get back at Nate by "pretending" to be a couple. But even the line of pretense can be blurred and erased.

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Chapter VII: Coup Brews

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During the Spring Break, Chuck had whisked Blair away somewhere tropical, a place that would not cross any of their classmates' minds to vacation in. Most of them had gone to Europe or Mexico or some other part of the US while Chuck had taken Blair to the beautiful white sand beaches of Cebu in the Philippines, away from the UES and the spies of Gossip Girl. Serena and Eric had come along too.

Chuck and Blair didn't really have a lot of alone time, since Serena mostly stuck to Blair's side while Chuck and Eric bonded. It was exactly what Blair needed to get the stress of the scandal out of her, along with them avoiding any blast by disabling any updates on their phones from Gossip Girl.

Blair got her period the day after the scandal broke. Since they became official after the pregnancy scare, they were taking their relationship slow. Surprisingly, that was initiated by Chuck Bass himself. Blair couldn't believe it at first, but she did feel butterflies upon realizing that inside, Chuck Bass was definitely an old soul romantic. Blair wanted to resume sex right after her period ended, but Chuck wanted them to wait. Blair didn't take that too well at first, since she really needed the sex for de-stressing. This caused Blair's insecurities to rise up, since she thought Chuck refusing to have sex with her was a sign that he was losing interest, but Chuck reassured her otherwise. So they compromised instead for a lot of oral and manual sex along with heavy petting. But hey, Chuck got his wish to see Blair masturbate.

Now classes were going to start tomorrow. Spring break was over; time to face the student body. Chuck hoped that the hype of the pregnancy scandal had died down by now.

"Charles." Bart appeared at the doorway of Chuck's new room. Since Bart and Lily were now engaged, they had decided to move in together along with all their children. "Come to my office. We need to talk."

Chuck followed after his father, wondering what his father wanted to scold him about this time. It was the only reason why he would seek out his only son. Chuck racked his brain and he couldn't think of what he could've done to warrant his father's lecture.

The Bass father and son entered the home office. Bart closed the door to ensure privacy while Chuck took a seat in front of the mahogany desk. Bart proceeded to his own majestic ergonomic swivel chair and took his seat like the boss that he is.

For a moment, Bart remained silent as he adjusted his position, letting Chuck internally sweat out the tension. Bart leaned back in his chair, crossed his leg over the other, and clasped his hands together on his knee. This was when Bart finally ceded the silence and spoke out. "Is there something you want to tell me, Charles?"

Chuck decided to keep his cool, but he was confused with this. Since when did Bart care enough about his son's life to know what was going on from his son instead of his P.I.?

Chuck shrugged nonchalantly. "What do you want to know?"

Bart straightened in his seat and leaned forward, resting his hands on the desk and clasping his hands together. Now he looked like he meant business. no more prying or fishing or beating around the bush. He was going straight to the point.

"Some… news has recently come to my attention. About you and Blair."

Chuck could only blink in disbelief. Did the news his father was pertaining to mean the pregnancy gossip? Or the rumor that Gossip Girl recently circulated about him and Blair already secretly engaged and planning to elope this summer? Wait, was his father subscribed to Gossip Girl?

"What about me and Blair?" Chuck decided not to jump into conclusions.

Bart cleared his throat holding his position to exude a no-nonsense, all-business aura. "I'm talking about the rumor that Blair is pregnant with your baby?"

Chuck squirmed in his seat. At least Bart seemed composed and not blowing his head off, so this talk might come out better than expected. Chuck gripped the armrest in place of a badly needed stress ball. "No, Father. Blair is not pregnant. It's just a false rumor."

Chuck felt awkward.

"Hmm…" Bart looked at him like he didn't believe his son. "When you say she's not pregnant, do you mean she's really not pregnant or you two have decided on an abortion?"

Chuck was about ready to bolt. Where did his father come off saying stuff like that? He finally understood what Blair meant when her minions came to the same speculation. He wanted to reach over the desk, grab his father's lapels, and scream at him to stop. "She had a false alarm." Chuck knew Blair might not like him exposing this unpleasant truth to his father, but the truth seemed like a better option to quell his father's inquisition. Chuck appreciated the concern, but he was uncomfortable sharing something this intimate about his life to his father.

Bart nodded silently, finally accepting the answer. "Alright then—"

"What would you do," Chuck found himself blurting out suddenly, interrupting Bart's sentence. "What would you do… if Blair were pregnant?"

Bart's eyes hardened in seriousness as he unclasped his hands, laid an elbow on the surface of the desk, and pointed a finger at his son to make sure his words got through. "You are going to do right by her by marrying her. You are going to take responsibility for the mother and child like a man."

Bart's eyes suddenly narrowed as he stood and leaned on the desk. "Is Blair pregnant, Charles?" His stance told Chuck that the truth was the ultimatum and the only answer Bart expected.

"No, Blair is not pregnant. She took the tests with me, they all came out negative." Chuck firmly said to dispel his father's sudden suspicion. "I just wanted to know what you'd do if it ever happened." Chuck murmured under his breath as he looked down at his lap.

Bart did not make any indication if he heard Chuck's mumbling. "If ever such circumstances will come about in the future, I want you to come to me about this, Charles. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Father." Chuck answered like a dutiful son. He didn't know whether to be relieved that he somewhat had his father's support in such a situation or be mortified that his father had this talk with him. Either way, he left the office feeling awkward.

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Chuck banged on the door. "Serena!" He shouted as he slammed his open palm on the wood some more. "You better be up already!"

"I am up already!"

Chuck turned around and glared as Serena, in her nightwear and bathrobe, came up from behind him, holding the hangers where her school clothes hung from. She pushed Chuck aside to open the door to her room and got in, placing her pressed clothes on her bed before going through the boxes for her shoes.

"Why aren't you ready yet?" Chuck was pissed off at seeing that Serena seemed like she had just gotten up when he was already in uniform and ready to leave.

"Well I'm getting ready already, aren't I?" Serena threw back at him in an irate tone as well. "I had to look for my uniform and I still have to look for my shoes! Not to mention my school things."

"Why didn't you prepare last night when I told you specifically that we had to be earlier than usual to get to Blair's? She doesn't like being late!"

"Well my stuff isn't unpacked yet! Now get out of my room, stop bothering me because I have to shower and you're making me late!"

Chuck scoffed. "I'm making you late? Blame your own tardiness! Just skip the damn shower or you'll be more late!"

Serena growled in anger as Chuck turned and walked away before Serena could retort.

"Eric!" Chuck shouted as he trudged down the hallway towards the younger van der Woodsen's room. "You better be ready unlike your scatterbrained sister!"

'I heard that!' Came the muffled shout from Serena's bedroom. Chuck just rolled his eyes in annoyance. The door in front of him opened to reveal Eric dressed for school already. They both headed down for breakfast.

"Only two days since we've moved in and you two already bicker like siblings." Eric commented with a seemingly innocent, yet teasing smile.

Chuck glared at him. "You are officially not my favorite stepbrother anymore."

"But I'm your only stepbrother." Eric still had that wide smile on his face.

Chuck playfully cocked an eyebrow. "Well then you better work hard to get into my good graces."

The two then entered the dining room where Bart and Lily were already seated.

"Good morning, Father," Chuck greeted.

"Good morning, kids." Bart greeted back as he turned away from his newspaper to spare a glance at the two boys.

Eric went to his seat while Chuck strayed to Lily's side, kissing her hand to butter up to her. Lily had shades on, complaining about a headache due to her frustrating talk with the wedding planner. Chuck still found a way to flatter Lily's haggard demeanor even as he took his seat. Eric shook his head with a laugh at seeing Chuck play his charm like a blossoming momma's boy.

"So, first day back at school, huh?" Lily started as she took off her shades, Chuck's compliment having worked on her. "Well, I must say you two are quite early for school. Where's Serena?"

"Taking a shower," Chuck answered as he helped himself to some breakfast. "I have to go meet Blair this morning so we can go to school together. Eric's coming with me."

Bart fixed his ice blue eyes at Chuck for a moment before he returned to reading the newspaper. "As my best man, I expect you to keep things smooth until the wedding."

Chuck glanced up at his father in surprise, dropping the piece of croissant he had taken off and dusting off his hands for crumbs. "Best man?" He could not hide his disbelief.

Bart folded his newspaper and set it aside as a smile lit up Lily's visage. Bart's face was not stern; in fact, it seemed softer, as if he was trying to hold in a smile.

Chuck couldn't help the swell of pride and happiness at his father's announcement, his father's announcement finally sinking in. "Uhm, I'd be honored, Sir."

Bart had a rare smile on his face. Chuck had never been the recipient of that expression. All he could remember were disapproving frowns or annoyed looks for the brief times that his father paid attention to him. Something inside Chuck's chest swelled at the thought that his father was entrusting such an important position to him.

"To family," Chuck raised his glass of orange juice for a toast, Bart, Eric, and Lily joining in to celebrate the merging of their family.

'Miss Blair… Miss Blair… Miss Blair!'

Dorota nudged her sleeping mistress before she budged a bit to reject the action from the maid. Knowing that Blair was awake, Dorota then proceeded to open the curtains to let the light into the room as Blair pulled off her sleeping mask begrudgingly.

"Ugh, what's happening?" Blair groaned, her voice still hoarse from freshly waking up.

"You have bad dream, and you're sleeping with your chocolate."

Blair saw the open golden box of chocolates and pulled it closer to her. "Lady Godiva, my only friend."

Dorota looked on disapprovingly, sensing that Blair was not going to be moving to get ready for school. She gave a few more nudged to Blair's shoulder that she shrugged off, still clinging to the chocolate box.

"Club bed is over! First day back to school!"

"I can't, Dorota! I don't feel very well," Blair added an adorable whiny pout to con Dorota into thinking she was sick.

But Dorota was not fazed, catching up on Blair's pretense. "Miss Serena come to get you soon."

"Call her and cancel! And cover my mirrors. I'm in mourning for my former life," Blair then pulled the covers over her head.

Dorota only shook her head, knowing that she wouldn't be able to drag Blair out from the bed. She then left the room and proceeded downstairs, right around the time that Chuck got off the elevator.

"Miss Blair not come down anytime soon," Dorota immediately informed him, knowing beforehand what he was about to ask even before he opened his mouth.

Chuck only smirked as he stood in front of the Polish maid. "I think I can do a better job at waking her up."

Dorota narrowed her eyes in suspicion at her ward's boyfriend. "Remember, Mister Chuck, God always watching."

Chuck's smirk only widened as he went past Dorota to enter Blair's room to take on the task that Dorota had been unable to accomplish: getting Blair out of bed to face the school day. He could see the lump of her figure under the thick duvet. It didn't move or make a sound, meaning that either she hadn't heard his entrance, or she was pretending not to take notice.

A naughty thought crossed Chuck's mind as mischief set in. He stood at the foot of the bed and then as stealthily as he could, crawled under the covers, startling Blair as he was suddenly on top of her. She squealed as Chuck laid on top of her, tickling her sides mercilessly.

"Ahhhh! Chuck! Stop!" Blair screamed in a high-pitched voice amidst giggles. Chuck was relentless as he tickled her sides, Blair struggling greatly underneath him for quite a while.

"You've been a very bad girl, not wanting to get out of bed—Ow!" Chuck suddenly felt continuous smacks as he rolled over in haste and ended up landing on the floor.

"Hey—" Blair gasped as she managed to fling her thick duvet away from her to see what had happened to Chuck. "Dorota!" She called out to her maid in a scolding tone.

The perpetrator of pain was Dorota. She had her trusty feather duster in hand as she stood over Chuck. She then continued to whack him with it.

"Ow! Stop! What the hell—"

"Dorota!" Blair held out a hand to grasp Dorota's hand and prevent her from further abusing her poor boyfriend. No such luck. Dorota's arm strength, developed from cleaning and household chores, was no match for Blair. When Dorota was persistent in her punishment, Blair decided to get in the middle of it. Literally. She got out of bed and threw herself on top of Chuck, effectively halting Dorota's attack.

"What has gotten into you?" Blair cried out as Dorota huffed in indignation.

"No naughty business! I not allow it!"

"We weren't doing anything R-rated, Dorota! He was just tickling me!"

Dorota threw her hands up. "I hear Miss Blair scream 'no, stop', I come to room and see shape under covers moving up down, bed shaking! What I supposed to think!" Dorota seemed terribly flustered as she spouted off her following thoughts in Polish which even Blair couldn't quite catch. When Dorota finished her indecipherable rant, she grabbed Chuck by the ear.

"Ow, ow, ow! I did nothing!" Chuck protested as he was forced on his feet as Dorota led him out of the room.

"You! Wait downstairs! And Miss Blair! You get ready for school!"

Finally, Blair regaled Chuck with her presence as she trudged down the stairs, still not up to going to school. Her appearance was immaculate as ever, she looked fashionable and chic, but what worried him were her new accessories. She had on large sunglasses to cover her eyes and she had a scarf wrapped around her head.

"Blair." Chuck stared at her as she stopped right in front of him. "You don't need to cover up." He wrapped his arms around her waist as he kissed her. "You're beautiful. Don't hide it. Flaunt it."

Blair couldn't hold back the smile threatening to erupt from his flattery.

"Now lose it." Chuck casually commanded. Blair deeply sighed, but gave in after a moment as she handed him her shades and her scarf, which Chuck gave to Dorota (standing nearby and keeping an eye on them for any funny business) to put away.

"Good girl." Chuck said with a smirk, which caused Blair to blush and pinch him. That innocent statement made her flashback to numerous romps in bed and other places or furniture.

Chuck took her handbag to carry it for her and held out his arm. "Let's go, shall we?"

Blair let out a groan as dread filled her once again at the thought of facing the public. "I'm giving homeschooling some serious consideration." Blair bit out as she and Chuck got on the elevator.

"Spring break has already come and gone since the scandal. Who knows? Maybe they've already gotten over it by now."

Blair looked skeptical as she laid her head on his shoulder. "You'd like to think that, wouldn't you?" Blair groaned again as she turned her head to press her forehead on his jacket. "I know for a fact they'll never let me hear the end of it!"

"So what?" Chuck retrieved his arm from Blair's hold and wrapped it around her waist, pulling her close to his side. "They're all just jealous of you. Those haters? They don't matter. I love you. Just keep that in mind when your spunk fails you."

Blair smiled. It was true. The mockery and disdain of the others couldn't compare to Chuck's professed love for her. Together, they could take on the entire student body and win. An army couldn't win against them; the entire student body certainly can't.

Blair felt a calm reassurance wash over her, akin to morphine rushing through her veins and soothing her system previously erratic with nerves and anxiety. She wrapped both her arms around Chuck's waist and looked up at him. "I love you too," she said before placing a gentle kiss on his jaw.

The elevator opened and they stepped out, neither relinquishing their hold on each other. Serena had made it to the front of Blair's building just as the couple were headed to the limo, so Serena also rode with them to school. Eric didn't seem to mind that he had been keep waiting for a while; they weren't going to be late for the first day of classes yet.

Blair decided to share her nightmare. Serena tried to placate the brunette's returning apprehension in facing school life. Serena talked about the other issues that had come up during the Spring Break that Blair had not been privy to, like Maya and Brody Jenner, Kati's family moving back to Israel, and of course, the merging of the van der Woodsen and Bass households.

"So, you're thinking this whole thing could've blown over by now?" Blair's voice was hopeful as she squeezed Chuck's hand, which she had been holding throughout the whole ride.

"Like I said," Serena reassured her best friend, "your three-week old scandal is ancient news."

After the GG blast on Blair's pregnancy scare, the hierarchy's stability was shaken and Blair's court brewed trouble and unrest. While Blair hadn't been ousted as Queen yet, thanks in part to her and Chuck's continued united front, her position was still in jeopardy.

Though Chuck's presence by her side strengthened her, Blair was still embarrassed. She groaned as she saw that the limo was nearing the school gates. When the limo stopped, Eric and Serena got out first. However, instead of following after them, Blair turned her head and pressed her forehead to Chuck's chest as she covered her face with his school blazer. "Ugh, I just want to skip class today."

Chuck, who had his arm around her shoulder, ran his hand over her upper arm and kissed the top of her head. "You know I've never been one to refuse a proposal to cut classes, but I'm not letting you run away from this. Sooner or later, you will have to step out in public." He kissed the top of her head again. "Don't worry. I'll be with you. I won't let them get away with talking badly about you."

Blair let out a whine again. "I still hate them! I don't want to see any of them! I know they'll all be talking behind my back, or whispering while staring at me as I pass by."

"Don't give them the pleasure of torturing you," Chuck firmly reassured her. He knew the student body would talk, and although he wasn't one to care about gossip about him, Blair was a different matter. She would not be able to just brush the whisperings aside.

Serena bent over to see what was happening inside. "What's the hold up? Eric's already gone off because he needed to meet someone before classes start."

"Give us a moment," Chuck called out to Serena, who shrugged and stepped away from the car door to give them privacy.

Chuck turned back to Blair, took her chin and tipped her face towards him. "You are the Queen. They're nothing. Now, let's get out there and conquer."

Blair then nodded. Chuck got out from his side first and walked around the back of the limo just in time to extend his hand to help Blair out of the vehicle. With a deep breath, Blair put her hand on Chuck's proffered hand and let him pull her out. As the limo door shut behind her, Blair tried not to be affected by the student multitude that was looking over at them. Chuck wrapped his arm around her waist and led her through the school gates. Blair held her head high even when many were whispering and darting their eyes to her, some even holding back guffaws unsuccessfully.

"Don't let them get to you," Chuck whispered against her ear, his tone seething with anger at the audacity of these insignificant people who dared to mock them. Serena walked at Blair's other side like a bodyguard. Both Chuck and Serena were showing the crowd that they were both on Blair's side.

Blair's jaw tightened as she held back the tears just at the back of her eyes. She would never give them the satisfaction of witnessing her shame. When the couple reached the small courtyard in between the buildings of St Jude's and Constance, Serena walked on ahead to immediately claim a table for the three of them. Blair smiled as she and Chuck reached the blonde.

Chuck and Blair settled into the table with Serena, both sitting close to each other and across from the blonde. Blair seemed to be nervous still as she held Chuck's hand tightly on top of the table.

"I'll walk you to all your classes, and I'll wait for you outside your room after," Chuck offered. Blair bit her lip to keep the smile from stretching too widely across her face. For a playboy who's never been in a relationship and an assumed commitmentphobe, Chuck sure had quite the gallantry of a medieval dark knight.

"I'd like that," Blair said, truly appreciating Chuck's staunch support for her.

"And I'll be with you during break." Serena added. "We'll have lunch on the Met steps."

The school bell rang, signaling the start of classes, and people began to head to their classrooms. Blair sighed with a wry smile as she stood facing Chuck, her hands gripping his lapels.

"My offer of skipping still stands, Bass."

"And my stand on not skipping is still on solid ground."

Blair's lips jutted out in a pout that Chuck found too cute. He chuckled, and as he fondly grinned down at her, he took hold of his scarf, swung it over his head and over her neck, transferring the scarf to her and using it to pull her face closer before he placed a firm kiss on her plump red lips. Chuck took a step back and then threw one end of the scarf over her shoulder, the silk now lightly wrapped around her neck.

"There," Chuck smiled at her before taking her into his arms, his mouth against her ears. "That scarf looks so much better on you. Especially after Christmas..."

Blair let out a laugh as she pushed against his chest. He stumbled back while Blair stepped back.

"I think I can find my own way to my class," Blair blew a kiss to him and proceeded to walk on her own. However, Chuck was far from being affronted. It wasn't that she was pushing him away, but she was letting him know that she could now make it on her own. And he was proud of her.

Blair then walked up to Serena who slung an arm around her best friend as they walked to their first class of the day.

"I know this is hard for you, B, but you can't let them beat you. You're Blair Waldorf, remember?" Serena tried to encourage Blair who was frowning over her cup of tea at her former posse of girls.

"Right… right!" Blair scoffed. "These are my steps and I'm not going to relinquish them without a fight." She took a deep breath. "Though, it would be helpful if maybe there was one more person in our crowd."

Both Serena and Blair tried to discreetly scan the crowd for anyone they could invite to sit with them.

"Only old people and children—" Blair gasped as the press of a kiss on her cheek cut her off.

She turned around to see Chuck smirking and settling down next to her. He seemed to have also brought Eric along.

"Chuck!" Blair happily exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a sound kiss.

"Okay guys, you're making us uncomfortable," Eric commented as he took his seat between his sister and Blair but about two steps below.

"Well, well, well, Eric van der Woodsen," Blair took notice, having been too concerned earlier that morning to take in the younger blonde's attire, "I see we have a blonde mini Chuck in the works." Blair had an eyebrow raised as she eyed Eric's scarf and tugged at the shoulder of the coat he had on, similar to what Chuck was currently wearing but different in color.

"You're trying to torture me," Serena glared at Chuck who chuckled at that.

"Oh hush, Serena. Eric's looking good." Blair tried to brush off Serena's concern over her brother adapting Chuck's sense of fashion.

"I can't believe it." Blair spoke out.

"I know," Serena replied, thinking they were still in the same topic of Eric becoming like Chuck, not aware that Blair was looking past them at the particular group of despised girls.

"Does Little J actually think she's anything but their lackey?"

All three looked at the blonde Brooklynite who approached Blair's previous minions.

Chuck scoffed, feeling anger rise in him, knowing that trailer trash blonde was the cause of their scandal. "For someone who tried to ruin you, she's pretty naive to think they're all equal now. Does she really think democracy will prevail by trying to oust the monarchy?"

Serena mumbled something.

"They what?" Blair's voice went up a notch.

"They're taking her out for dinner for her birthday tomorrow night," Serena had a sheepish look on her face, and Blair knew something was up. "A table reserved at Socialista."

"So Jenny Humphrey is officially being inscribed in the A-list," Blair's bitterness laced her tone.

"Wait, how do you know this?" Chuck turned to Serena in confusion. "My P.I. didn't even report that information, only the reservation."

"Because they invited me but I said no out of deference to you!" Serena was quick to explain as she looked to Blair, knowing she was the one she owed the clarification to, although Chuck was the one to ask. "I just thought I could have dinner with her and Dan and the whole family." Serena tried to be nonchalant.

Blair looked to her with a frown of confusion. "How do you manage to get out of everything unscathed?"

"Because I'm nice," Serena answered in a singsongy, preaching-yet-teasing voice. Chuck just rolled his eyes as Serena continued, "You should try it some time. Come on. Uhm… Compliment me, tell me my hair looks beautiful." Serena closed her eyes and posed coyly, giving Blair an opening to say some nice words.

However, Blair only frowned. "But… your hair looks disgusting." Blair was just being her frank self. "Did you even shower?" She wasn't trying to be funny; just pointing out a blatant observation.

"I don't think so," Chuck commented. "If she did, she wouldn't have been able to make it to your place this morning."

"Stay out of this, Chuck," Serena bit out, a bit incensed that Chuck guessed right. She turned her attention once more to her brunette bestie, laying a gloved hand on her cheek. "B, I say this out of love. But… your being a bitch is what got people still holding on to this scandal and taking jabs at you, okay? Be nice, and neutral, and things will go back to normal. You're the Queen B, so just let nature take its course."

Blair looked skeptically at the blonde's advice, but Chuck wasn't going to stay silent. "Blair doesn't need to pretend to be anything to fit in," Chuck turned Blair's face to him. "Just be yourself. Like Serena said, you're Queen B. You don't adjust to them, they adjust to you."

"Chuck, just shut up. Didn't I tell you to stay out of this?" Serena said irately as Chuck tried to contradict her words. Chuck was becoming thoroughly annoyed as he rolled his eyes at the blonde once more.

Suddenly, Jenny approached the four and greeted Serena. Then, surprisingly, she extended an invitation to Blair to Butter for tonight. Serena gleefully accepted on Blair's behalf. The whole time, Blair had a slight frown on her face, as if not really up to the idea. Chuck, feeling suspicious of the invite, glared at Serena's enthusiasm for getting Blair into the dinner without her consent.

"Very nice," Blair finally spoke as she raised her cup, deciding to just go along with the flow Serena managed to set up.

"Thank you!" Serena was all smiles as she raised her cup and they toasted for success.

"I don't see any reason for celebration." Chuck huffed as he crossed his arms, his surly expression far from happy. He didn't want Blair hanging out with the girls given the current situation, especially since the last time they did hang out, those same group of girls almost ran Blair out of the country to France.

"Chuck, this is a girl thing that you wouldn't understand. Trust me when I say that this is a good thing. This is a good development. This is the first step to making everything better." Serena countered, not about to let Chuck dampen their victory.

Somehow, Chuck wasn't convinced.

Being stranded at Butter on her own that night, caused Blair's timidity to snap. In place, fury and vengeance coursed through her. Jenny Humphrey one-upped her because Blair decided to try the nice card, as Serena suggested. Well, wrong move. And now Blair felt her inner bitch resurfacing. A scheme came up in mind, and Blair set out to well-placed call to start the churning of the scheme. She later on left and went back home to the Waldorf penthouse, intent on phoning Chuck. She took out her bluetooth earpiece which she rarely used and made the call to her boyfriend, the other end ringing twice before it was picked up.

"I'm guessing dinner didn't turn out to be as fab as Serena thought it would be if you're calling me this early."

Blair sighed in exasperation. "You're right." She plopped on to her bed. "They ditched me. Can you believe that? They ditched me!"

"I knew something was up. Serena's wishful thinking didn't go so well after all."

"Well, it's good that I had all that alone time to think for myself." Blair sighed happily as she twirled a strand of her hair. "Little J's going to pay."

"That's my girl," Chuck chuckled on the other end, pride evident from his voice. "Are you going to share the dirty deets?"

"Let's just say, her birthday will have a bang. I'm still working on it. Which is why I won't be in school tomorrow morning. I have somewhere to be."

"Well, you know where to reach me if you need a hand."

Blair giggled. "I think I want all the credit for this one, Bass. Just sit back and watch it all unfold."

"I can't wait to see how this takedown goes."

"So how about you? How'd the taste testing go with the wedding caterers?"

"It was going well until this unsigned package full of porn dvds and kinky stuff arrived for Serena. She blamed me for sending it. In front of Lily and my dad."

Blair frowned. "That's weird."

"I know. She pins the stupid prank on me when I have no good reason or motivation to pull one on her." Blair heard him scoff on the other end.

"Well, I have to admit, you do seem like a possible perpetrator, and she has good reason to suspect you given your track record, but I know you didn't do it. You'd come up with something not lame. I'll talk some sense into her."

"Makes sense because I sure as hell am not talking to her." Chuck's tone was grumpy.

Blair now cleared her throat, ready to change the subject. "So… Eric's not around there with you, is he?" Blair asked as she stood from her bed and locked the door to ensure Dorota was kept out.

"No. I'm alone in my room. Eric's out with a friend for a study session. They're working on their lit essays."

"You might to make sure your door is locked so there's no interruption." Blair was now on her way to her bathroom and locked the door there too, just in case. Then she settled into her bathtub, her phone is hand.

"Alright…" Chuck seemed skeptical. "What's up your sleeve for tonight, Waldorf?"

"Do you want to know what I'm wearing, Bass?" Blair's tone was now coy and seductive.

Oh, you know I'm always interested in what you wear, B. But sometimes, I'd rather know what you're not wearing."

Blair bit her lip in glee. Chuck had taken the bait. Seems like he was willing to go along with this.

"Well, I'm in my La Perla's. In a wicked shade of red."

Chuck groaned from the other end. "Mmm… Blair…" His voice was hoarse.

"Are you hard already, Bass?" Blair purred as she cupped her breast with her free hand.

"Fuck yes…"

It was now Blair's turn to moan as she closed her eyes and imagined Chuck naked, looking at her with eyes full of desire, his hands and lips trailing along her skin like a delicate breeze…

"Are you going to touch yourself?"

"Mmm…" Blair's hand trailed down her torso to her crotch.

"Are you going to use your toys?"

When Chuck and Blair made their sex compromise, Chuck bought her a few sex toys for her pleasure (though she had expressed that those were poor substitutes to the real package), a purple dildo around Chuck's size and a vibrator.

"But you have it…" Blair whined as she rubbed herself. For a moment, she almost forgot that she had made Chuck keep it because Dorota might find it in Blair's room.

"I'm sorry, baby," Chuck's tone seemed patronizing and teasing as he remembered he had the toys in his possession. "I promise we'll use it next time."

"Ooh…" Blair giggled at Chuck's playfulness, knowing she could count on Chuck to fulfill any sexual promise he made. "I'm looking forward to that." She let out a breath of air. "It's been too long since our last playtime."

"Mmm… You're right. So let's make this count, shall we?"

Blair bit her lip in excitement as she nodded, though he wouldn't be able to see it. "Nnn-hnn…"

"Now take off those lovely lace panties, Blair. I'll bet they're wet already."

Blair laid her cell phone next to a candle near the bath tub, leaving her hands bare (thank God for the bluetooth earpiece!). Blair got rid of her panties immediately and then took off her strapless bra. Once naked, she settled in a comfortable position in the tub and then cupped her womanhood, feeling the wetness from her slit.

"It's off. My bra too. Now," Blair's voice became sultry and low, naughty. "Tell me what you'd do to me if you were here."

Chuck groaned on the other end. No doubt he had his cock in his hand now. "I'd be running my tongue over your nipples, nibbling and pinching them until they're hard."

Closing her eyes, Blair's hands cupped her breasts and ran through her nipples until they were hard peaks, the rubbing sensation jolting tingles of pleasure through her body.

"And then, I'd go lower. What do you want? My mouth or my fingers?"

"I'd prefer your cock, but I'd take your fingers for now."

Chuck growled on the other end, feeling himself be more turned on by Blair's dirty talk. Hearing her speak like this, wanton, uncensored and uninhibited, meant she was absolutely absorbed in sex. "Rub your clit in circles, baby."

Blair focused on following Chuck's instruction. She rubbed her clit just the way Chuck would. Biting her lower lip, Blair tried to tamp down the volume of her whimper as she became more aroused.

Only panting and groaning could be heard from them for a while before Chuck spoke up in a breathless voice, "Now, use two fingers, baby. Push up inside that slick, tight pussy of yours."

"Ahhh…" Blair inserted two fingers inside her and started upping them in the same rhythm that Chuck uses on her.

"Fuck, B, I want you so bad right now."

"Oh Chuck… Fuck…" Blair picked up the pace of her fingers as her other hand slid down to press on her lit, heightening her pleasure. Blair continued to imagine Chuck going down on her. "I want you so much, Chuck. Fuck!"

Chuck grunted on the other end. "Are you close, baby? Are you close? 'Cause I'm about to cum, baby."

Blair's subdued cries were answer enough.

"Won't you come with me, Blair? Come for me."

That did it. Blair gritted her teeth together in an effort to stifle the scream that pleasure incited in her while she climaxed. She pumped her fingers continuously just as Chuck does, prolonging her orgasm. Meanwhile, Chuck moaned out her name repeatedly.

They were both panting for a while as they came down from their high. Blair spoke first when she had final caught her breath. "Chuck, I really need you to properly fuck me like only you can." Her voice had a cutting edge to it that was sharpened by frustration.

"How about we discuss this when the SATs are over and done with? This way, I don't distract you and you have more time for studying and reviewing."

Blair pouted, her lips sticking out. "Fine. But heed my words, Chuck Bass. We are having a sex marathon after the SATs because of this dry spell you've forcibly placed upon us! I need the destresser and the work out that sex provides!"

Chuck laughed out loud in amusement on the other line. Who would have thought that a day would come when he would be refusing sex and Blair Waldorf would be begging for it?

Serena had just had about enough. Chuck was going to get it. Although Blair had told her Chuck hadn't been sending those prank gifts, he had the audacity to deliver an envelope of drugs to her through Eric. Serena was now convinced her earlier suspicions were right despite Blair's words. She rushed up to their penthouse to give Chuck a piece of her mind.

Serena immediately saw Chuck when she had gotten to the top of the stairs. She wasted no time in telling him off. "What the hell is your problem?"

Chuck's eyes narrowed. "Specify the context."

Serena got out the small bag of coke and slammed it on Chuck's chest. "You disgust me, Chuck. How dare you involve Eric in something like this. No wonder you're friendless. I don't see what Blair sees in you when even your own father expects the worse from you!"

Chuck's jaw clenched. He hardened himself, though too late to block the hurt from Serena's comment. "Well you saw to that."

"Listen, if we're going to exist under the same roof, I am laying down some house rules."

"No need, Princess. Bart already kicked me out."

Serena's fury ebbed as her expression turned guilty, not expecting such a consequence when she angrily complained to Bart about Chuck. "What?"

"I'm moving back to my suite." Chuck sported a bitter smirk, trying to play off the whole thing. "Bart thought it would be best if the family… bonded without me for a while." Chuck then took his leave, walking down the stairs with a small travel bag that Serena had only noticed he was carrying.

As soon as the other line picked up, Blair was too excited that she started talking even before Chuck could get a word out. "So my scheme went perfectly! This is Jenny's most memorable birthday ever as she has been exposed as a trying hard, thieving social climber. And the girls ditched her to be with me here at Butter. Everything is on the mend and I am on the way to cementing my position as Queen."

"It was only a matter of time. Those girls combined have nothing on you, Waldorf."

Blair frowned. She was sure Chuck was happy for her, no doubt, but he sounded troubled and way too despondent. "What's wrong with you? Did something happen?"

"I'm on my way back to my suite."

"1812? Why are you heading back there? You moved in with the van der Woodsens."

"Bart kicked me out. Serena told him about the stuff she's been receiving from some anonymous sender, and she told him I was the one behind it."

Blair felt anger rise within her at hearing what Serena had done. She had gone way over by getting Bart involved and souring the improving relationship that Chuck recently had with his father. "I'm stopping by there. Don't go anywhere when you get there."

"No, don't. Celebrate the takedown with your minions. I'll be fine and I'll just see you tomorrow at school."

"No, you need me, so I'm coming over right now. I'd rather hang out with you, anyway. They can have my reservation. You stay put, okay?"

"I love you."

A small smile crept up at hearing Chuck's declaration. Beneath those words was an admission that he was vulnerable and hurting form his father's rejection. "I love you too, and don't you forget that." Blair replied. "I'll see you in a few." She hung up and headed back to her reserved table, telling the girls she had to take a rain check for tonight. She didn't deign them with an excuse and just walked away with a casual gait, her exit like a dismissal of hanging out with them. Blair was already gone from Butter when Jenny appeared with Nate to flaunt him off to the other girls and rub it in Blair's face, which Jenny wasn't able to do due to Blair's absence.

Chuck was sitting on a couch in 1812, his feet propped up on the coffee table while he had a glass of scotch in one hand, when the door opened and Blair breezed in, using her own key that Chuck had given her to enter without knocking. Chuck put down his glass and held out an arm to Blair who immediately hugged him as she sat on his lap.

"Are you okay?" Blair asked in a tiny voice as she tightened her embrace, her lips pressed against his neck.

Chuck let out a sigh of relief, as if some sadness inside him had been released with it. "I am now," he replied to Blair's query.

Blair smiled as she closed her eyes and savored their embrace. "I'm going to stay with you here tonight. Eleanor's away, and I'll just give Dorota a call."

"I'd like that. Thank you."

Blair pulled away a bit so she could give a kiss for comfort to Chuck. Suddenly, a knock from the door interrupted them. They both turned to the door, wondering who the late night visitor could be.

"I'll get it," Chuck said as he lifted Blair from his lap. Blair slid into the couch as Chuck got up to answer the door. He peeked at the peephole, his eyes narrowing at seeing who was on the other side, before opening the door wide.

"Serena!" Blair stomped to Chuck's side by the open door. "You have some nerve—"

"I'm here to apologize." Serena cut off. Blair stayed silent to let her talk, although her expression was still stern as she crossed her arms and stared at the blonde.

Serena turned to look at Chuck who was standing silently, wearing the same expression on Blair's face. "I'm really sorry, Chuck. I know it wasn't you who sent me that stuff."

Chuck remained silent, choosing to let Serena dole out her whole explanation and apology instead of interrupting her with caustic comments to get back at the ones she threw at him earlier.

Serena wordlessly handed an opened letter to him. Out of curiosity, Chuck took it and read the note written on the stationery. Blair also peeked at the letter. Her eyes widened, and she was sure Chuck had also come to the same conclusion.

"G? As in Georgina Whoregina?"

Serena didn't reply as she looked at Chuck and Blair with worry and apprehension, even fear.

Chuck noticed the high level tension from Serena. "Why don't I make you a drink?" Chuck offered as a sign of his forgiveness.

Despite the looming SATs, Chuck took it upon himself to handle the return of Georgina. He got his P.I. to dig up the current whereabouts of Georgina and what she was doing. But that did not mean he was safe from Blair dragging him to her review sessions and obsessing about beating Nelly Yuki, Blair's rival for her coveted spot in Yale.

Currently, Serena and Blair were sitting at a table, Blair once again bitching about Nelly Yuki.

"Nelly Yuki must be destroyed."

"Why do you keep saying her name?"

"Because, it's Nelly Yuki!"

Serena laughed as Blair once again referred to her rival using her whole name.

Across from them, Chuck just got out of the building, on his way to meet Blair and Serena to talk to them about Georgina. Chuck spotted them immediately and made his way towards them. En route to Blair and Serena, an unknown blonde stopped him in his tracks with a hand on his chest, intent on spurring up a conversation and maybe even more as she shot him a flirty smile.

Blair's mouth dropped open at the blonde's bravado to make a move on Chuck. "That slut is dead." She seethed. Suddenly, a bout of insecurity and doubt rushed through her that she'd been trying to tamp down.

Serena frowned. "Daniela Summers?"

Bingo. With that information in mind, Blair stood up and walked away, taking note of the name, now knowing exactly who the target of her takedown was. That whore would be out of the school and even the state soon, next week tops.

Meanwhile, Chuck irately brushed away the nameless blonde without a second thought and headed to his destination. Blair was now sporting a murderous look as she headed his way. Chuck was about to open his mouth to explain when Blair grabbed the lapels of his orange coat and pulled him into a torrid make-out session, right in the middle of the student crowd. Chuck was eager to match Blair's impassioned kiss, neither noticing the clicking of camera phones and the buzz they were creating among the students witnessing them. Serena could only groan and bury her head in her hands as she watched the two brunettes who did not seem to be ceasing their making out. Some had wisely opted to video it rather than take a snapshot. Some more material for Gossip Girl about her fave couple to rave.

After some time, Blair pulled away, both of them breathless. She had a seductively wicked grin on her face before she said her farewell, telling him she'll see him later when he picks her up to drive her home, and walked off the opposite direction to head inside Constance Billard's building, shooting a warning glare to the blonde who had dared to lay a hand on Chuck before. The blonde paled and darted off somewhere after being in the receiving end of the Queen's anger.

Chuck was still dazed from that kiss from Blair, even a bit aroused. He took a deep breath, unable to hide a smirk from sprouting to his lips before he took the seat Blair just vacated next to Serena.

Serena eyed Chuck warily. "You know, you two are eventually going to have to work out your issues."

"Issues?" Confused, Chuck turned to the blonde. "What issues? We're issue-free."

"Not according to B," Serena muttered under her breath, but Chuck heard loud and clear.

Now Chuck was concerned. "What? About that girl? I don't even know who that bimbo was and I'm not interested in the slightest. Blair's got nothing to be jealous about. That girl is far from my type. Blair should know because Blair Waldorf, specifically, is my type." Chuck said the last sentence with a knowing smirk.

Serena just sighed as she rolled her eyes. "Well, she's a bit doubtful, since you're apparently on abstinence watch."

On one of Serena and Blair's previous sleepovers, Blair had opened up to Serena about the whole truth of her and Chuck's relationship. She admitted that at first, they had decided to become a couple to get back at Nate, but that the pregnancy scare had made them face the realization that they had feelings for each other. And Blair had also talked about Chuck's firm decision on taking things slow in their newfound, confirmed relationship, thus putting a halt on their sex life.

"Yes, I told her I wanted to take things slow, but that doesn't mean it's a leeway for me to cheat on her. I'd never do that to her." Chuck seemed a bit hurt that Serena insinuated that Blair didn't trust him. Hadn't he told her he loved her?

Chuck had decided to not have sex for a while because he was serious about making their relationship work. With the onset of Blair's period (which meant no sex for a while), Chuck had had the time to re-evaluate their standing point. Their springboard for their relationship had been sex; they agreed on their status as a ruse for revenge. That wasn't the case anymore. Everything that had brought them together did not define or tie them anymore. Their romance wasn't a sham for them anymore; it had become real. They weren't together just to be cruel to Nate; they had both discovered real feelings behind their pretense.

Since Chuck had no idea on how to really be in a genuinely loving relationship and maintain it, he had to use Blair and Nate's relationship as a reference. He knew that Blair and Nate began as a couple when they both expressed their mutual feelings for each other, which was followed by dates and being partners in dances or parties, talking on the phone about their day, and other things. From what Chuck could see, sex had no place in the beginning stages of a relationship. If he and Blair were going serious, Chuck decided they had to overcome the friends-with-benefits part of their relationship.

"Well you need to reassure her that your heart and every organ of your body is devoted to her and only her." Serena gave him a pointed look. "Can you do that, Chuck?"

"I'll talk to her," Chuck gave his confirmation, taking note of it in his mind. But, he had another important issue to discuss with Serena besides her hot brunette best friend. Chuck took a deep breath to signal a change in topic. "Anyway, based on my exhaustive research, you're issue-free, unlike me and Blair apparently."

"Georgina."

"According to my very reliable sources, Georgina is nowhere near our fair isle…" Chuck then filled Serena in on Georgina's status in Switzerland, dating the prince of Belfort.

"Oh thank God!"

"Now you can enjoy the gifts she mailed you with peace of mind," Chuck added to Serena's relief. He decided to play around with Serena's sense of propriety. "And maybe… you can lend that first gift to me and Blair when we resume intimacy."

Serena didn't know whether she should be bemused or disgusted. It was half of each. "Oh shoot I've already thrown them out days ago so you're going to have to get your own."

Chuck only chuckled as Serena, with an open hand, pushed his face away. He took that as his cue to leave since he'd already delivered the news to Serena. "I didn't take you to be a prude, sis. Alright, see you when I see you."

Blair descended the steps of Constance Billard to find Chuck waiting at the courtyard in front of the school. He smiled at her as she approached him. Chuck wrapped his arms around her waist as they greeted each other with a chaste, PG-13 kiss.

"Come, I'll take you home," Chuck said, keeping an arm around Blair as he led her to the limo just outside the school gates.

"Okay, but I can't have dinner with you tonight because I have the girls over for an SAT review session."

"I understand," Chuck said as he opened the car door for Blair, "We can talk in the limo."

Blair paused, looking at Chuck with an uncertain and even apprehensive expression. For a moment, she seemed like she didn't want to get in, but she still did, stiffly and warily. Chuck slipped in afterwards. When the limo started to drive away, the tension was suddenly thick between them.

"So what do you want to talk about?" Blair's voice was small as she decided to initiate, gripping the handle of her bag.

Chuck turned in his seat so he could face Blair. His serious expression made Blair more nervous. "I want to talk about us."

Blair gulped. That sounded ominous. The 'we-need-to-talk' message was already imminent in itself.

Chuck had just opened his mouth when Blair decided to beat him to it. "Are you breaking up with me?"

Chuck was taken aback. He suddenly sported a confused frown. "What? No! What are you saying?" Dread suddenly filled Chuck. "Do you want to break up?"

It was now Blair's turn to be confused. She felt like the maelstrom of anxiety inside her had left her dazed and suddenly nothing made sense anymore, especially the direction of this conversation. "Well are you? Because when someone in a relationship says they need to talk to the other person, that's a headlight for breaking up!"

Chuck's frown deepened. Shit, he didn't know that. How was he supposed to know that? He'd never broken up with someone before! He rapidly shook his head. "No! That's the farthest thing on my mind, Waldorf!"

Blair visibly relaxed, but her eyes were still wide with nervousness at him. "Well, if you have no intention of breaking things off with me, then… what about us do you want to talk about?"

Chuck took her hands in his, prying her death grip on her bag. "You know I talked to Serena earlier, and she told me something."

Blair frowned. "Which is…?"

"Blair, I would never cheat on you. Yes, I may have a playboy past, but don't get me wrong. No slut or bimbo coming on to me can make me stray. I'm a one-woman man for you." He said with firm conviction.

Blair felt her heat melt and butterflies flutter in her chest as if Spring had come.

"You promise?" Her voice was low as she peeked at him under her lashes, vulnerable and unsure. The thought of Nate and her father loomed in her mind and tested her trust.

Chuck placed both of his hands on her face, his thumbs caressing her cheeks. "I don't have to promise because I know so." he placed a gentle kiss on her lips, like a confirmation of his declaration. "I love you."

Blair smiled as she returned a simple, sweet kiss. "I love you too," she murmured, barely an inch from his mouth. She felt her doubts and insecurities slowly melting away.

Chuck pulled his head away so he could look straight into Blair's eyes. "I want to explain why I'm adamant that we forego sex for a while."

Since Chuck's declaration of the three words, eight letters, Blair did not feel apprehensive at the moment when Chuck brought it up. She decided to let him speak his mind before she reacted.

Once again taking her hands into his, Chuck took a deep breath before he started. "Sex was a big factor of us hooking up at first. Since we're giving our relationship a real chance, I don't want us to bank on the amazing sex only. I don't want sex to be the crutch or foundation of us. I want us to take our time dating before taking that plunge into sex, the way it should've been if we'd done this right from the start." Chuck suddenly averted his eyes downward as he fiddled with her fingers. "I want you to be happy, and I try hard to make you happy, Blair."

"—I know you do." Blair interjected to give him the credit that he did not seem to give himself.

"But I don't know the first thing to being someone's boyfriend, and I might mess up. This time dating will give you a chance to decide if you really do want me and to be with me." Chuck shyly peered at her for a moment before darting his age back to their hands, unable to face her with his vulnerability, quite plain in sight in his countenance.

Blair wasn't the only one dealing with self-insecurity. She could see that beneath Chuck's swagger, he did not trust himself to be enough for her, to be worthy or capable of making her happy. Blair would know more than anyone, that this fear and insecurity came from Chuck's relationship with Bart.

Chuck had usually assuaged her insecurities when it bubbled up. Now, Blair recognized it was her turn to drive out his. She took out her hand from his and placed it on his cheek, tilting it so he could see the sincerity in her face. "You make me happy, Chuck Bass. So happy. Happier than I've been for some time now. And right now, I do know that I want to be with you. I'm lucky that I'm in a relationship with someone I love who loves me back.

A smile tugged at Chuck's lips. Blair's words seeped into his uncertain heart. Knowing someone have this much faith in him made him feel just a little bit stronger. It made him want to be a better person for her sake.

"And don't worry out messing up. Couples make mistakes, Chuck. They bicker and fight; it can't be helped. But if two people really love each other, they can overcome arguments and disagreements."

Chuck had no words to say, and he could only express the bursting love in his heart with a kiss. For Blair, that impassioned kiss perfectly conveyed to her how he felt.

Chuck was on the phone, talking to his P.I. when he saw Dan Humphrey on his way to approach him. Chuck still held a grudge against the Brooklynite, so his mood definitely soured when he knew for sure that the unwanted outsider was definitely headed his way to talk to him. He knew he shouldn't have involved himself with trying to cover for Serena last night. It was bad enough he had to converse with Humdrum Humphrey on the phone, now he had to come face to face with him.

Chuck held up a finger to Dan. "I'm gonna have to call you back." He spoke to the phone before hanging up and facing Dan. "Beautiful day you're ruining, isn't it?" Chuck vehemently addressed the Brooklynite.

"Do me a favor, please, and leave Serena alone?"

Did he really think he was coming off courteous and polite with his request? It definitely pissed Chuck off that this low-rent person really thought so highly of himself when he didn't even really know at the people he was judging. "It was Serena I was doing a favor for."

"All I know is that before Spring Break, everything was great, it was good. Now break's over, she's not quite herself, and-and I'm trying to think, what's a… change in her life," Dan snapped his fingers for effect, "oh, the Bass family moved into it."

At this moment, Serena swooped in. "Dan. Hi." She placed a hand on his cheek and gave him a kiss on the lips.

Blair was just behind her best friend. She took her place beside Chuck. "I'd appreciate it if you can keep your boyfriend away not only from me, but from my man too, Serena." Blair commented as she noticed Chuck's irate frown directed at the Brooklynite. The two girls had seen their boyfriends talking to each other, and no doubt it had not been a pleasant conversation.

Serena gave a warning look at Blair, who was unfazed. It was only a second before Serena's expression was all sunshine as she glanced at her boyfriend.

"Hey. How're you feeling?" Dan's attention was only on his blonde girlfriend.

"Good. My migraine's gone."

Chuck's head immediately shot up as he frowned at Serena and imperceptibly shook his head no. Serena caught Chuck's signal, and the shifting of Serena's eyes made Dan turn his head for a second at Chuck, whose face was now still and giving away nothing.

Blair saw the exchange between Serena and Chuck, and she could only raise her eyebrows catching the whiff of something afoot without her awareness.

"Migraine?" Dan was back at looking at Serena. "I thought it was food poisoning?"

"Well, that came after."

Dan frowned, his doubt showing clearly on his face. "What exactly happened last—"

"I already told him." Chuck interceded in an attempt to help Serena out of this pinch.

When Serena glanced to Chuck, Dan held up a hand to the side to indicate no interruption, and that Chuck stay out of this, all without averting his face from Serena. "I'm asking you."

Chuck rolled his eyes, and Blair took his hand to lead him away because even she was getting annoyed at the Brooklynite.

"What was that all about?" Blair immediately asked as she and Chuck were at a distance from Serena and Dan.

"Serena was out with Georgina last night. She asked me to cover for her to Dan because she got too wasted."

Blair's eyes widened in shock. "Georgina's here? In New York? Right now?" Chuck nodded to answer all the questions. "I thought she was in Switzerland?"

"Well apparently, my P.I. was wrong."

"Well you need a new one. Better, more reliable, and more competent!" Blair was pissed that they were handed useless and misleading information. Chuck paid good money to that P.I. and the idiot didn't even think to confirm if what he had found out was correct and accurate.

"Don't I know it," Chuck replied as he took out his phone to text his newly hired P.I. "I fired the guy last night and found a new one."

When Chuck and Blair both saw out of the corner of their eye that Dan had left, they both approached Serena who was left standing there as she stared at her boyfriend's back.

"Why didn't you tell e? I would've gotten you out of Georgina's clutches." Blair fired at once as soon as she reached her best friend's side.

"She just popped out of nowhere and dragged me along with her. I hadn't planned on being with her for too long because I was supposed to meet Dan, but before I knew it, I was too drunk to even make it," Serena let out a loud sigh. "This is exactly why I didn't want her to come back. She's been back a day already and look what's happening."

"If it's really that bad, why don't you just tell him about her?" Chuck said, offering a solution for Serena's mess.

"Yes. Just tell him about her, S. It will keep this from getting out of hand, and you rightfully clear Chuck's name."

Chuck smirked and placed a kiss on Blair's cheek at her thoughtfulness. However, Serena did not find it amusing. There was a momentary pause before Serena spoke out about the suggestion of coming clean to Dan about G. "I can't. I'll see you two later, okay?"

Serena then left Chuck and Blair standing there, both wondering if there was more going on with Serena than they were aware.

Chuck was riding in his limo, on his way to the SAT test center when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and he took it out, seeing the caller i.d. flash Serena's name.

"Chuck?"

"Yeah."

"Chuck, hey. I'm in trouble. Look, I think I can still make it, but please, go to Hunter and try to keep the doors open until I get there."

"What, hey—" Chuck pulled away his phone from his ear as he frowned at his cell phone when the dial tone replaced Serena's voice. Upon realizing that Serena had hung up on him, Chuck cursed under his breath. He did not have the connections to keep the damn doors open for latecomers. If he were given this heads up a few days before, maybe he would've found a way, but not at this moment when the SATs were about to start in less than an hour.

Chuck needed to find another way to cover Serena's ass and fast.

He decided to spare Blair the added stress that Serena was delayed and might not be able to take the SATs. Blair needed her 150% focus and she wouldn't be able to do that knowing her blonde bestie was not in the test center taking the same test with her. He would tell Blair about Serena's SAT pinch afterwards, whether or not she got in time.

Suddenly, a wild idea came to Chuck's mind. He immediately looked for the particular contact on his phone and made a call. He hoped his plan B could make it in time if Serena couldn't.

Serena absolutely owed him big time for this.

Blair, with her minions following close by, was sauntering into the test center when she saw Chuck. She broke away fro the group to approach her boyfriend.

"Hey, you." Blair greeted Chuck before she gave him a kiss in greeting.

Chuck narrowed his eyes in amusement as he took note of Blair's wide wicked smile. He felt a smirk curl his lips. "And what naughty deed has gotten you in such high spirits this morning?"

Blair sighed, mockingly sweet as she traced the lapels of Chuck's coat. "Let's just say, Nelly Yuki's misery couldn't be more perfectly timed. The universe favors me today."

Chuck chuckled as Blair's cryptic comment confirmed his speculation that besides reviewing, Blair had been busy throwing off Nelly Yuki's game. "I thought so." He wrapped his arm around Blair's waist as they took to walking further into the SAT test center.

"So, are you ready?" Blair asked Chuck as they waited at the back of the crowd who were signing up.

"Ready as I'll ever be, Waldorf." Blair felt tingles down her spine as Chuck's tone dropped low and he placed a seemingly chaste kiss on her cheek. It was a friendly reminder of his promise after the SATs.

Blair was also feeling coy and playful as she turned to stand in front of Chuck and brought their faces together. "I know you are," she giggled as she teased him with her lips so close to his but never making contact.

"Ugh, no more further torturing, please," Chuck groaned as he threw his head back to face the ceiling. Blair laughed out loud as she spared him from her tease and this time wrapped her arms around Chuck's torso as they both approached the registration desk. After getting her card from the man behind the desk, Blair glanced around for the familiar stature of her blonde best friend while Chuck took his turn to sign up.

Feeling a bit of concern at not seeing Serena nowhere in the vicinity, Blair decided to approach Dan for Serena's whereabouts. "Dan. Where's Serena?"

"Uhh, I dunno. But I bet Chuck does."

Blair frowned, not understanding what Dan was getting at. If Chuck knew where Serena was, he would've told her that earlier. "Chuck has never been Serena's keeper. But I'll ask him if he has any idea. Anyway, I'll try to save a seat for her."

"Yeah, I'll-I'll keep calling."

The SATs have officially ended, and Blair got out of her seat, craning her head in an attempt to spot Chuck and Serena, eager to know how they did and why Serena was late. She let the crowd pass her by before she attempted to move from her spot. She wasn't about to fight or push her way through the crowd of students beelining out of the room. Taking out her phone on a whim, Blair saw that she had a text message from Chuck.

Emergency at 1812. Already on my way there. Don't bring anyone. Your mom's town car is waiting for you.

A coquettish smile erupted on Blair's face. Maybe Chuck had a surprise waiting for her and had to set it up, which is why he had gone ahead. Hmm… He was giving her time to prepare. Blair had the perfect lingerie set in mind that she had to get into before she headed to 1812. She didn't think Chuck literally meant right after the SATs when he said they would finally have their "first time" sex as a couple.

Blair was headed out in the hallway leading outside the test center when Dan approached her, asking for Serena.

Blair found herself becoming concerned. Serena should've contacted any of them by now, telling them where she was so they could meet up and maybe discuss the SATs. Blair found it odd on Serena's part that she wouldn't still make herself known to her boyfriend who had ben trying to contact her since before the start of the SATs.

Blair decided to be polite for once and asked him how'd he do. Apparently Dan finished, but it wasn't his finest hour since he had a lot on his mind.

Blair whipped out her cellphone, finally letting her worry sink in and become real. "I'll keep calling." She held her phone to her ear as the ringing began.

Blair hadn't let herself panic when she took her seat. Serena had a tendency to be a latecomer at times like these. She must've overslept due to nervousness and cramming last night. Even when another person had occupied the seat Blair had been trying to save for her best friend, and when she didn't catch a hold of Serena's attendance, Blair hadn't worried. In her mind, there was no way Serena could miss the SATs. She was there somewhere. But now Blair was starting to doubt that Serena made it in time to take the SAT.

Much to Blair's disappointment, she was directed to voicemail. "Hey, S. It's B. Now I'm really worried. I'm gonna go home and change and then call me. Bye."

Blair spotted her mother's town car parked nearby and got in as the chauffeur held the door open for her. As soon as the car started on its way, Blair made a call to Chuck, who picked up immediately.

"Bass."

"Blair. Where are you now?"

"I just got in the car. I'm on my way home to change into something more appropriate."

"You have to get here now. I told your driver to take you to the Palace."

Blair mistook the urgency in Chuck's voice to be impatience for sex mixed with frustration.

"And I will, Bass. In time. I'll be quick to change, I promise. Anyway, did you happen to see Serena at the SAT?"

"Blair, you need to get to my suite now. It's about Serena."

If Blair could see herself in that moment, she would see that she paled in fear as she registered the tension in Chuck's voice.

"Did something happen? Oh my God," Different scenarios raced through Blair's mind. Did Serena get into an accident on the way to SATs? "D-do you know where she is? Is she alright? Oh God—"

"Blair, calm down. Serena's safe."

Blair let out a great sigh of relief. "Oh thank God!

"Just… you need to get here quickly. Don't tell Dan, okay?"

Blair was confused at the strange request, but she brushed the questions aside. "Alright. I'm on my way."

"Chuck?" Blair called out as she got into the suite using her personal key.

"Blair." Instead of Chuck greeting her, Serena was the one who appeared around the corner.

"S!" Blair did not know whether she should be relieved at seeing Serena was okay or peeved that she hadn't made herself known back at the SAT test center. Blair stomped over to the blonde, who looked uncomfortable and uneasy. "Where have you been? I was looking for you before the SATs and Humpty's going out of his mind." Blair rolled her eyes as annoyance crept inside her at the thought of the judgmental outsider. "He's probably freaking out without you in his sight. He's probably thinking you're losing interest and you're about to call things off with him with the way you've been avoiding him."

"I'm sorry," was Serena's vague response.

Blair let out a sigh, taking in Serena's hunched, defeated stance. "Come on," she took a hold of the blonde's elbow and led her to the bar where Chuck was sitting quietly, nursing a scotch and watching the two girls with intense eyes. That look clued Blair in on the knowledge that Chuck knew something about Serena's current state.

Taking a seat next to Chuck, Serena grabbed her tumbler filled with scotch and took a sip. This served as a subtle indication to Blair that something bigger was troubling Serena when she was drinking this early in the day, which her reformed best friend did not do anymore since her return from boarding school.

"Is this about Georgina?" Blair went straight to confirming her suspicion.

"B—"

Several knocks from the door cut off Serena. Perhaps wishing to avoid the conversation longer, Serena took off to answer the door before Chuck could make a move.

Blair looked to Chuck with raised eyebrows in question. Chuck decided to answer. "It is."

The two recognized the voice of Serena's Brooklyn-based boyfriend. The two heaved a sigh of exasperation before Chuck stood up to make himself known and to cover Serena's ass again when he caught the tail end of Dan's question.

"She was here." Chuck decided to answer for Serena before she blundered. Chuck and Blair stood in line of sight. Both sporting neutral expressions and giving away nothing even as Dan eyed them warily.

"W-what he means is, I was at home. Uh, my stomach started acting up again."

"Oh, okay. A food poisoning relapse?" Dan's tone clearly showed he didn't believe her excuse. "Look, if-if you didn't study enough and you freaked out, I can, I—"

"Well I told you I was sick."

A momentary pause came from Dan's end before he dished out his frustration and decided to be frank. "You paid someone else to take the SAT for you, and that's the best you can do?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the five-foot-nothing redhead claiming to be Serena van der Woodsen. I'm, I;m pretty sure that wasn't you."

Serena immediately turned around to glance backwards. "Chuck. What did you do? I told you to keep the doors open and when I got there they were closed."

"Yeah, they don't keep the doors open. I was thinking on my feet, just trying to help."

Blair hid her enormous surprise with a fixed expression. She would grill them later, when Humpty finally decided to get back to his low-rent place in Brooklyn and she could finally hear the story from Serena and Chuck.

Dan shook his head in clear disapproval. He decided not to get into it with Chuck and placed his hands on Serena's cheeks to hold her attention to him and reassure her too. "I'm not mad. Okay? I'm just worried. I've been so worried about you. Please. Help me understand what's going on here."

"Can we talk tomorrow? I'll call you. I'm sorry."

Dan stared at Serena's contrite expression. When silence loomed between them, it was clear he couldn't get her to open up right now. He darted a quick glance to Chuck and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry too."

Chuck took this as a cue and walked forward to shut the door. He had his hand on the panel when Dan held up a hand to Chuck's chest to indicate he did not need to be thrown out indignantly, that he would go on his way. Chuck let him have this so Chuck let Dan turn to walk away before he closed the door.

"Chuck, you went too far." Serena was quick to comment as soon as they were clearly ensconced in the privacy of the suite, out of Dan's hearing range.

"And so did you, sis."

This was when Blair decided to step in as she quickly made her way between Chuck and Serena. Blair pointed a hand to address the blonde. "First of all, you don't get to be judgmental and not to mention ungrateful when Chuck managed to find a way to cover for you in a seemingly impossible position. You owe him big time. I don't condone having someone stand in for you for the SATs, but I would prefer it any day rather than have you miss out on it." Blair crossed her arms. "Talk."

Serena's mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.

Chuck sighed as he decided he should start with the interrogation since obviously Serena was unwilling to initiate the conversation. He had a inkling notion that he needed to her to confirm. "Look, I feel foolish admitting it, but obviously I've come late to this party."

"English, please." Serena's tone was too despondent to even cast annoyance at Chuck's cryptic statement.

"What's Georgina got on you?"

"Chuck—"

"Dan I can understand, but what's so bad that you can't even tell me?"

Serena just turned away and walked away from Chuck and Blair, who both followed on her heels.

"What in the world is going on with you, S?" Blair frowned when she saw Serena grab her bag and coat lying haphazardly on the couch. "Where are you going?"

Serena only heaved a sigh as she walked past the two brunettes. "I'm going to get Georgina out of my life."

Chuck didn't block her from the door, letting her leave them behind without an explanation.

Blair threw her hands up in exasperation as she growled, before flopping on the couch. "You've got some explaining to do to me too, Bass."

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Next on Chapter VIII: Saving Serena

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A/n: How'd you like the Chuck/Bart scene at the office? The Cherena sibling banter at the start? HeheXD Originally, this chapter was supposed to be smut-free too, but I had to insert that phone sex. HeheXD Spur inspiration of the moment. LoLXD

In the orig ep, Chuck got someone to take the SAT for him, but I guess, since B is his girlfriend here, that she'd get him to take it himself.

So I was in a hurry to post this, so I didn't really take the time to go through the whole chappie to check for errors. If there are any, you can point it out to me and I'll correct it. Anyway, hope you take the time to leave a review.

And Chairleaders rock for trending "Team Chuck and Blair" on twitter! XD XD XD Keep up the boycott please! Rewatch previous GG episodes with epic Chair instead of the current crap. XP