Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. They belong to Cecily von Zeigesar and The CW.

"Blair, Beautiful, wake up," Chuck whispered as he reached out to silence his alarm. She was still sound asleep in his arms. She'd slept peacefully through the night, and he surprised himself by getting a few hours as well. He hated himself for having to wake her, but he knew she'd hate him more if he allowed her to continue sleeping without making allowances for a proper goodbye.

"Chuck," she mumbled as she hugged him closer to her.

"I have to get up," he told her softly as he tried to pry her arms free from his body.

"No, you don't," she shook her head slightly as she held tight, her lips nipping at his chest as she began to wake up.

"How about we take a shower together and then you can help me dress and pack," he suggested. He knew she had every intention of hanging on to him until the last possible moment.

"No," she shook her head, "I'm not doing anything that helps you leave me."

"Blair," he scolded her gently.

"I know, I know. I'm not making this easy," she sighed as they stood up and slowly made their way to the shower were they paid extra special attention to each other's bodies as they lathered each other up.

"I know you know I love you," he told her as they held each other close as the water cascaded down their bodies to wash away the suds, "This isn't an end for us. We're still in the beginning of our life together. We may be a half a world apart, but my heart is staying here with you where it belongs. Keep it safe for me."

"Of course," she nodded, "As long as you do the same with mine."

"Always," he vowed as he captured her lips in a soft kiss. He felt the warmth of her tears as they began to flow down her cheeks. He broke their kiss and began chasing each tear away with his lips as he continued to profess his undying love for her.

They eventually found their way out of the shower and back into bed as they made love one final time.

Blair tried to put on a brave face as they made their way to the elevator, but as he pushed the button to call the elevator her brave face crumbled.

"Know that I have complete faith in us," he told her as he cradled her head in his hands as he wiped a few tears that had fallen down her cheeks, "I wouldn't risk this separation if I didn't believe we could survive it. This will make us stronger."

"I don't want us to be stronger if it means you have to leave me," she pouted ever so slightly as she wrapped her arms around him tightly, her grip so fierce it was making it difficult for him to breath.

"I'm not leaving you, not permanently . . . never permanently," he whispered just before his lips caressed her softly. "We'll be together soon, and I'll be home for good before you know it."

"Not soon enough," she continued to pout.

"Trust in me, trust in us," he suggested, "We've promised each other a forever, and we'll have that."

She nodded slightly.

The elevator chimed its arrival. For the first time Blair felt it was the foulest sound she'd ever heard. Normally the chime was to announce his arrival, but now that it was his departure. She wanted to reach into the electrical circuits and rip it out.

"I'll call you as soon as I get settled," he assured her as he tried to untangle himself from her arms without success.

"Before you get settled," she told him, "Getting settled implies unpacking and relaxing. I won't wait that long."

"I'll call you as soon as I get to my apartment," he amended, "We'll test out our video conferencing equipment to ensure that it's working properly."

She nodded in agreement.

"If you need me, I'm only a phone call away. I promise you I will always be available for you," he vowed as he ran his hand along her spine as he tried to remember every last little detail he could.

"And you have to promise that you'll be home for your birthday, our anniversary, and Easter and Memorial Day and every trivial holiday that we use as an excuse so that can celebrate and . . ."

"You have my word," he cut off her adorable ramble as he held his finger to her lips.

"I need you to be on your best behavior," she demanded, "No Geisha girls for you."

"You have nothing to worry about," he chuckled lightly, "My body is incapable of betraying you. We both know that. The same goes for you, no infatuations with cute professor's or Michael Kors assistants."

"I promise," she vowed.

"I love you," he proclaimed.

"I love you," she nodded.

With one last kiss, he quickly broke free of her arms and stepped onto the elevator. He couldn't turn himself around until he knew the doors were closed. He couldn't bear to see what he was sure would be the look of total agony on her face.

"Chuck," Serena stated sympathetically as he stepped off the elevator, tears welled in his eyes. He called his stepsister the previous day, nearly begging her to come take care of Blair after he left. He didn't want her to be alone on this day.

"See to it that she gets this," Chuck requested as he handed her a handwritten note he'd been crafting over the week as he prepared for his departure.

"Of course," Serena nodded.

"Thank you for agreeing to do this," he responded with a grateful tone.

"It's what best friends do for each other," Serena waved off his gratitude. "Have a safe trip and hurry home."

"Take care of her, please," he demanded as she caught him off guard with a hug.

"Don't worry," Serena reassured him, "We'll get her through this."

Chuck nodded as he left the lobby and stepped into the awaiting limo as Serena stepped onto the elevator and prepared herself for what she was sure was a heartbreaking scene. Sure enough she found Blair collapsed on the floor, sobbing hysterically.

"Oh, B," Serena sighed dramatically as she picked Blair off the marble floor.

"He left me," Blair stated, her eyes frantic as she clung to Serena.

"Chuck hasn't left you, not for good," Serena assured her, "We both know he's coming back as soon as he's able."

"Move, Serena," Blair shoved her away. "I can catch him at the airport and stop him from leaving."

"B, listen to yourself, look at yourself," Serena shook her, "You have to get a grip. Chuck's right. You've completely forgotten who you are. You need to learn to live without him. He consumes you in a way that is no longer healthy. You have to pull yourself together. This may very well be the hardest thing you ever do, but you'll be a better person for it, and your relationship with Chuck will be that much better because you'll be his equal not his arm candy."

"I'm not his arm candy," Blair sobered up quickly.

"Then pick yourself up and start acting like the Blair Waldorf we all know and love. Recognize that he's gone, only for awhile and move on." Serena scolded her gently. "You have other things in which you can focus on right now, your friends and school work. You want to be a designer, right?"

"Yes," she nodded slowly.

"Then put all this energy that you're wasting on obsessing about missing Chuck who has been gone for all of five seconds and channel that into your school work."

Blair nodded as she dried her eyes.

"Now get into your bedroom, change your clothes, and gather your purse. I'm taking you for a surefire pick me up, shopping," Serena announced.

Blair nodded as she disappeared into her bedroom.

Serena remembered the note that Chuck had given her and set it on the hall table next to Blair's handbag. Surely she'd see it when she grabbed her bag or at the very least when she returned that evening.


Blair burst to the penthouse after a marathon day of shopping and pampering. Serena had insisted they get facials, manicures, pedicures, and body massages before they'd embarked on an epic shopping adventure. She was loaded down with packages from all her favorite boutiques, but somehow still managed to wrestle her cell phone out of her bag to read Chuck's text message that he was in his apartment and waiting anxiously to speak with her. She quickly unloaded her belongings, inadvertently knocking the envelope Serena had left for her earlier to the floor.

"Chuck," Blair gasped breathlessly as she plopped herself down in the leather chair at his desk where the video conferencing equipment had been set up by Eugenia earlier that week.

"Hello, Beautiful," Chuck greeted her, relieved to see a smile on her face instead of the mess of tears he'd expected. "Am I calling at a bad time?"

"Don't be silly. How was your flight?" she asked as she touched the screen to trace the outline of his face.

"Nothing special," he shrugged.

"And your apartment," she prompted.

"Adequate, but missing your personal touches," he responded as he turned around to take his surroundings. He hadn't taken much time to take it all in as he was anxious to see her. He wouldn't admit it to her, but he was seriously reconsidering his plan. Boarding the plane and realizing he'd be flying by himself brought him back to the time in the not so distant past when he saw himself alone with no family or friends.

"I slipped in a portrait of myself into your suitcase when you weren't looking. Be sure to put it by your bed so I'm the last thing you see before you go to sleep and the first thing you see each morning," she told him. He chuckled softly. She'd tried to be sneaky, but he'd watched her slid the framed picture in between a pile of his clothes as she helped him pack.

"Did you do anything exciting today?" Chuck inquired curiously.

"Don't even pretend that you didn't send Serena to rescue me," Blair rolled her eyes.

"I just didn't want you to be alone today," he explained, "I know how hard this is going to be on you."

"It's hard on you too," she replied, "And I didn't make it easy for you to leave this morning. At least I have my best friend to cheer me up. How are you going to get through this?"

"Work," he told her simply.

"Is that going to be enough?" she asked skeptically.

"Yes," he nodded. "You didn't answer my question though. Did you and Serena do anything exciting today, beyond the facials?"

"How did you know I had a facial?" she raised her eyebrow towards him curiously, "Did you get your PI to start following me again?"

"Of course not," he rolled his eyes, "That ending well over a year ago. You're glow tipped me off. You always have this certain glow when you and Serena get facials. I can see it through the screen."

"Facials, manicures, pedicures, massages, and shopping," she listed, "I found the most exquisite blue gown for the Bass Christmas Gala. It might be a little last season by then, but I still had to have it. I can't wait for you to see me in it."

"And I can't wait to help you out of it," he chuckled softly. "Sounds like a productive day. Pampering and shopping, what more can a girl ask for?"

"I'm not going to answer that question," she informed him as she glanced down at her watch. She had a ton of homework she'd put off to spend every last possible second with him before he left.

"You have work to do," he concluded as she frowned slightly.

"Unfortunately," she nodded.

"I have things to do myself," he nodded. "Sleep well, Beautiful."

"You too, Handsome," she smiled. "I love you."

"I love you," he responded with his own smile.

They both sat quietly for a few moments in front of their video-conference equipment after they'd ended their communication. Though they were a half a world apart, they could still feel each other's presence.

Blair took a few moments to reign in the tears she felt ready to escape. She was determined to make the most of this time apart from Chuck. She'd force her professors to find a letter grade above an 'A' with her level of dedication she would put into her studies. Her school friends would see a new side to her beyond their once a week nights out. If figuring out who she was meant she and Chuck could be together sooner, she would do whatever it took.

TBC . . .

Reviews are welcome. I'm sending out the invites.