AN: First off: I'm so sorry that I messed up names but let's face it: If I call him Garcon or Nate, it's the same thing, isn't it? I hope you don't mind.

Another thing that seems to be a problem for some is the Blair calling Chuck her warming bottle and take him into her bed: Yes, it's unrealistic for times like this story plays in BUT remember: Blair lived alone with Harold and he didn't tell her a thing about man/woman sleeping together. She didn't know the facts of life then. Chuck on the other hand obviously does BUT there was a reason he hold himself back. Not just the witched servants around them but also the fact that he didn't want to take that innocence from her.


Blair sat on an ottoman in the middle of the big library and was lost in Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. Chuck sat in a comfortable armchair by the window and watched her. He didn't even pretend not to stare, but she wasn't willing to talk to him about it either.

Blair smiled gently and a little tear made its path down her cheek when she finished the book. She rose and put it back in its place.

"So you liked it, Blair?" Chuck asked

"Yes, I did…uh…" Blair didn't really know what to call him so she stuttered and waited for him to speak again.

"Chuck. The name is Chuck," he nodded.

"Well, I did like it Chuck," Blair assured him.

"Good." Chuck nodded. "May I ask you something?"

Blair eyed him carefully, but nodded.

"Why did it upset you so much what those things said earlier?"

Blair's eyes felt from him to the floor. "I'd rather not talk about it."

Chuck nodded.

"May I ask you something as well?" Blair quirked an eyebrow at him.

"Please do." Chuck returned.

"Who is Elle?"

Chuck's jaw clenched. Then he smirked.

"I'd rather not talk about it."

Blair smiled in return.

Suddenly the first thunder sounded on the outside and the sky turned dark within seconds.

"Oh no." Blair looked out concerned. Chuck on the other hand didn't even bother to look out, but continued to stare at her.

"You don't like thunderstorms, huh?" Chuck asked playfully.

"No I don't. " Blair shook her head.

"You're save here. Don't worry." Chuck assured her. He wasn't very good in giving optimistic speeches, but right now it felt like being right.

"Can't…. can't we just take a nap until it's over?" Blair asked unsure.

"A nap?" Chuck laughed. Blair's face fell and tears welled up in her eyes. She'd embarrassed herself, she felt ashamed.

Chuck noticed and gulped. 'Damn it, why did you laugh at her? Idiot!' He rose from his chair and offered his hand.

"Come on, let me bring you to your room. You can take a nap until it's over." Chuck said nicely.

Chuck brought her back to his mother's room and wasn't surprised that a certain cupboard, a chair, and some smaller item's were already gone by now. The next thunder came along with lightning and the glass of the window vibrated. Blair hesitated while Chuck was already inside and held the door open for her.

"Chuck, I can't be in here. I'm too afraid. I'm sorry." Blair said as a tear ran down her cheeks.

Chuck sighed but nodded.

"Well, so come with me then. "

He led her in some floors higher in the castle until he stopped in front of a heavy wooden door. It was locked and Chuck took a key from his pocket to unlock it.

"Why is the door locked?" Blair asked curious.

"Because I prefer to chose my company for my bedroom. I hate peeping toms. Now come on." Chuck said as he nearly pushed her through the door of a much darker room. It only had an gazebo at the very end of the room. And it was a big room. The wall were colored in a blue that looked like the ocean. Blair liked it. The furniture was made of dark wood which made the room look even darker.

Chuck lit up some candles which were placed in stubs on the wall. It made the room look nicer. Suddenly something caught Blair's attention. It was placed on a small table in one corner of the room. It looked like a huge cheese cover made of glass. It was a rose. And it levitated below the glass. Some of the petals lay already on the table. There were only ten, maybe a bit more left at the head of the rose.

"What's this?" Blair asked curios and pointed at the mysterious glass bin.

Chuck's jaw clenched.

"It's part of the curse," he stated tersely.

"What does it do?" Blair took a step closer.

"It faded," Chuck said.

"Nothing else?" Blair wondered.

"Nothing else," Chuck returned.

"But why is it so important that you keep it in here? That's why the door is locked, isn't it?" Blair demanded to know.

"Look, all those questions you have start to bore me. Maybe I should have left you in that dungeon," Chuck hissed.

Blair froze in her place. She didn't know what she had done wrong. Wasn't it okay to ask questions to understand things better? At least that was what her dear father always told her.

Blair's face fell and she lowered her gaze.

Chuck didn't mean to get angry and to upset her, but he would not explain all parts of this curse to her. Otherwise she'd either start to think to high of herself or worse, try to get away as soon as she could. For some reason he didn't know why, that thought made his stomach turn.

"I apologize. " He heard himself saying those words and was as surprised as she was. "I didn't mean to upset you. I'm just not the chatty type of man."

Blair shook her head but still didn't look at him. "I apologize. I shouldn't have been so curious. Sorry."

Chuck walked over this his bed and threw over the covers of one side. Then he patted the spot and Blair came closer.

She bit her bottom lip, but decided that there was no point in being afraid of him. He hadn't hurt or attacked her so far – why should he start now?

She kicked off her shoes and lay down. Chuck tucked her in before he walked over to the other side and turned down onto the covers.

"You're going to catch a cold." Blair frowned.

Chuck smiled. "You're concerned."

"I care about people." Blair defended herself.

Chuck turned on his side to watch her. Blair quirked an eyebrow at him but smiled.

Neither of them saw that one of the rose petals had found magically its way back to the rose's head.