AN: Okay, first of all, I am so very sorry to all who have been waiting so patiently for me to update this fic. Some of you know that I started up classes again and am already overwhelmed with work and other commitments.

I am warning you now that by the end of this chapter, there will be no limo sex. Before you go sharpening your pitch-forks and wooden stakes, let me explain. This chapter is HUGE for both Chuck and Blair (separately and together) and therefore I am splitting 1x07 into TWO chapters—you guessed it, Victor and Victrola. "Victor" will be the first half of the episode and focus mostly on Chuck, but will include Blair as well of course. The next chapter, "Victrola" will mostly revolve around Blair, with Chuck too obviously. And yes, that is when the limo sex will occur. Make sense? Hate me yet? I thought this would be more fair than making you wait any longer…without further ado:



Victor…

For the first time in a long time, Chuck Bass was genuinely excited about something that he had accomplished on his very own without the help of anyone else—namely his father. As much as he didn't care to admit it, everything he ever had was given to him: his wealth, his education, his freedom—these things did not belong to him, not really.

In his life, there were only three things he could ever remember wanting. The first was his father's acceptance and approval. The second was a girl by the name of Blair Waldorf. The third was a missing link that has now finally been realizing—a place of his own creation.

Victrola was his greatest fantasy realized. The ambiance of the place sent chills down his spine. He had done this on his own. He had taken an idea and watched over it like a newly laid egg until it hatched and became a reality. Or in this case, a Burlesque Club.

It was business investment he was sure his father would approve of, not to mention an outlet for him and the rest of Manhattan's elite to visit and find an escape. An escape away from the stress of society and the unattainable level of perfection the world expected of them because they were rich.

It was the Chuck Bass version of Peter Pan's Neverland; a place where absolutely anything and everything was possible—a place where he could actually possess the things he desired most, the things that his money couldn't buy him.

Bart and Blair were the two most important people in his life, the ones he wanted to believe in him so badly it made his chest ache. If he could convince his two toughest critics that Victrola was an idea worth investing in, than maybe they'd realize that he was something worth investing in too.

And maybethen Chuck would know that it was possible to have it all.

He pulled out his cell phone and sent Blair a quick message.

Need a ride?

To which she responded comically fast:

I've got legs, Bass.

He laughed and texted back:

For days, if I recall. I can pick u up.

Chuck absently strummed his fingers against the leather seat of his limo, which was already in route to Blair's penthouse. He knew how this girl worked, she would never turn down the chance to ride to school in style.

What's in it for me?

What was in it for her? Anything, everything, the world. If she wanted it, he would find a way to get it to her.

Me of course. B there in 5.

With a smile on his face, he hit the "send" button.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

"Morning Arthur" she smiled demurely as Chuck's driver opened the door to the limo for her.

"Good morning Miss Waldorf" he greeted as the young lady slid inside.

Arthur closed the door and chuckled to himself. He knew the young Mr. Bass long enough to be able to sense a change in his behavior. And he had a very good feeling that a certain classmate of his had all to do with the young man's visible happiness. She was special, this one, he could feel it.

The second the limo door closed shut behind her, Blair barely had to chance to address Chuck before he caught her lips with his.

"Mmph" she squealed in shock before relaxing and melting into his kiss.

There was something different about the way he kissed her today. In the past, no matter how much frustration or passion was infused in his lips, his kisses always seemed to lack a type of confidence that someone like Chuck prided himself in. There was always a sense of hesitancy or doubt in his kisses, like he was sure at any moment she'd pull away—or worse, disappear for good.

It was like he was never unconscious to the knowledge that no matter which way he spun it, he could not disassociate her from being Nate's girl. That's where the guilt came from; with every stolen kiss or caress, still the fact remained: she was his best friend's girlfriend.

But today, Nate did not seem to exist in their perfect little universe. For the first time, Chuck kissed Blair like she was his—without an ounce of fear or inadequacy.

"Someone's in a good mood" she appraised in an airy voice as she pulled back from him.

"It's a big day" he replied, a smile on his lips "I've got something to show you."

He took her hand as he said this and the action left Blair completely dumbfounded. It was almost as if the two of them were…

"Is this something in your pants? Because if that's the case, I've already seen it" she teased, doing her best to calm her nerves.

He smiled again, laughing quietly before lifted his other hand to her face and running the pad of his thumb across her cheek.

"No, it's definitely not that. Unless you want to ask Arthur to take a detour…but I know that you hate being late for class. What I want to show you will only take a few minutes" he explained.

She leaned into his touch without thinking, loving the attention he was showing her. Nate never touched her like this anymore—like she was precious to him.

"Okay Bass I'll bite. What is it you want to show me?" she asked.

"The past few weeks, I've been working on an investment opportunity for Bass Industries. I've been smoothing out all the kinks and figuring out the schematics of the place, and I'm finally ready to show it to my father" he said.

This was not what she was expecting. Since when was Chuck interested in anything but partying and women?

"Wow, that's great Chuck. I'm happy for you" she told him.

"Thanks" he said, almost blushing "I'm pitching the proposal to my father later, but I wanted you to be the first one to see it."

"Me? Really?" she asked, unable to hide her shock.

"Really" he echoed, tilting her head up and slanting his lips over hers once again.

In many ways, this was the most confident Blair had ever seen him—and yet, he was so warm at the same time. He wasn't cocky or arrogant; just genuinely happy. His good mood was palpable and Blair found herself excited to see the project that kept Chuck so distant from her the past week.

"So tell me" she requested against his mouth "what is this investment opportunity anyways?"

"It's a surprise" he told her.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

The second she laid eyes on the two scantily glad women barreling by them, a light seemed to go off in her head.

She should have known.

"You want your father to invest in a strip joint" she noted, making little effort to hide her judgment, "how Midtown."

But the unwavering smile on his face made it hard for her to hide her own.

"A Burlesque club" he corrected, pointing at her.

Blair continued to size the place up as he spoke.

"A respectable place where people can be transported to another time; where they can feel free to let loose. No judgment. Pure escape" he rasped in a voice so seductive Blair was convinced that not even Bart Bass would be able to resist his charm.

"What happens at Victrola stays at Victrola" he purred.

She made a face at that. The name sounded tacky to her, but she wasn't about to rain on the boy's parade over something as trivial as a name.

"Well, it does have franchise potential" she mused, turning to face him "Chuck Bass, I do believe that all your years of underage boozing and womanizing have finally paid off. Truly, I am proud."

"And you are my toughest critic" he pointed out with a smile "Well, second toughest."

"So, do you think your father will go for it?" she asked, half-nervous to bring up the elephant in the room. She knew better than anyone how rocky Chuck's relationship with his father was—perhaps because it mirrored her relationship with her own mother to a tee.

But Chuck was unfazed.

He dramatically whipped out the latest copy of the New York Observer, which happened to be donning a cartoon drawing on the man in question.

"It is exactly the kind of innovative thinking upon which the Bass Empire was built. It is the perfect thing, I've been waiting for this" he confessed.

Her eyes continued to roam over the place. Yes, she decided, she liked this place. There was something Old Hollywood reminiscent about the atmosphere. She had never been there before and yet she felt at ease, safe within its walls. Of course, whether that was the club itself or the fact that Chuck was still smiling at her with such adoration was anyone's guess.

"Well you've won me over" she told him, reaching out to squeeze his hand in encouragement.

"I guess that means the battle's half won" he said.

She spared a glance at his watch and sighed.

"We are so late, are you coming?" she asked, not feeling bad in the slightest that she'd be late to homeroom.

"Gotta pitch it to Bart" Chuck replied, hugging his briefcase to his chest "Take my limo, I'll walk."

"You're going to walk?" she asked incredulously.

He shrugged, feeling too foolish to voice the fact that if this meeting goes the way he plans, he'll practically float to school.

"Suit yourself" she told him.

With a final wink, Blair turned on her heel and sauntered out.

But Chuck wasn't ready to let her go.

"Victory party" he called out after her "Here. Tomorrow."

"I wouldn't miss it" she promised.

"I'll send a car" he said.

"Don't be nervous, he's gonna love it" she called back, a last ditch attempt to calm his nerves.

It worked. He had her confidence and for Chuck, that meant that he had the world. With Blair believing in him, Bart would have no choice but to believe in him as well.

He took a deep, proud breath as he looked around at what he had accomplished. There was only one thing left to do.

It was time to go see the boss.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Walking in on his father kissing a beautiful blonde woman when his secretary claimed he was in a meeting was not a shock.

Realizing the beautiful blonde was Serena van der Woodsen's mother was.

"Father?" he asked, announcing his presence.

"Chuck" his father grunting in his usual, disapproving tone.

The brunette merely stayed by the door and smirked as he watched the two adults act like a couple of teenagers who got caught fooling around on school grounds.

Chuck did not hesitant in pointing out to Lily the patch of skin on her chest that was still exposed. She fixed the button with as much dignity as she could before leaving the office.

In his own twisted way, Chuck could not help but admire his father for his latest conquest. Sure, the old man had his share of twenty-something flings and supermodels, but bagging a van der Woodsen? That took some serious game—and he should know from his own failed attempts at wooing the woman's daughter, not that that matters anymore.

He's found someone a little more substantial since then and he had no plans of giving her up.

"Not much future as an actress" he said, trying to joke with his father like he had seen other sons and fathers do in the movies.

But of course Bart was having none of it.

"You don't say anything to Serena. You don't say anything to anyone. Lily would like this to play out a certain way" he explained.

From the look in his eyes and the concern in his voice, Chuck automatically sensed a change in his father.

"So you're…serious about her" the boy concluded, testing out the words on his lips. Chuck had only known his father to be serious about one other woman and she passed away seventeen years ago.

Bart didn't respond, naturally, but the pregnant pause said everything he refused to.

Then it hit Chuck. He was in love. His father was in love.

There must have been something in the water if the two Bass men both managed to strike gold in the same year. What else would have explained the notorious womanizers' sudden preference for monogamy?

"What's with the business formal? Are you being…arraigned for something?" Bart asked condescendingly.

Chuck cleared his throat, putting all thoughts of love and Blair on hold for the time being. It was showtime.

"I have an investment idea I think is utterly unique to your company—something Avant-garde, yet nostalgic. It is the perfect was for you to loosen the top button of Bass Inc, like you've been wanting sir" he explained.

And then the unthinkable happened: Bart's stone cold exterior broke in half and a rare smile lit up his face.

"I am so please" he announced.

Chuck nearly pinched his own arm. Was this really happening?

"You are?" he asked, disbelief etched in his features.

"Are you kidding me? Do you know how long I've waited for you to care about something other than partying?"

Despite the backhanded complement, Chuck managed to laugh.

He knew that Victrola would be the start of a new beginning—one in which he would be the hero of his story and no longer a villain. For so long, he had stood in Nate's shadow, envious of the other boy's relationship with his parents and gorgeous girlfriend. And for so long, he subconsciously dreamed a dream that one day he could become the golden boy everyone adored.

Today, dressed in purple pinstripes, Chuck Bass was becoming that man.

"You should come see the place" he told his father, scrambling to get out his written proposal "It sells itself."

"Um, I have some meetings, but after…" Bart trailed off.

"After's great! After's good" Chuck agreed, grabbing his father's hand and shaking it profusely, wanting to etch this moment in his mind for the rest of his life.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

After a less than pleasant run in with Nate and Jenny in the courtyard, Blair decided to meet Serena for lunch for some seriously needed girl-talk.

"I must say" the blonde began "Dan has been surprising good at everything we've done."

"Which is…everything?" Blair asked eagerly.

Normally, it killed her to talk to her best friend about guys because it only served as a constant reminder of how much sex she was not having. But lately, she was becoming more and more interested in learning what she could from Serena. There seemed to be a light at the end of her virginity tunnel and when the day finally came for her to lose it, Blair wanted to be as prepared as possible.

"No! But feel free to ask any personal questions" Serena giggled.

"But you've talked about it, right?" Blair asked, refusing to let it go.

"No mom, we haven't!" the blonde said exasperated.

"Need I remind you that this is your first real boyfriend, S; and in relationships, you talk about stuff" Blair told her.

"I know, but I don't know, sometimes talking about it or planning it can ruin a good thing you know?" Serena asked without thinking.

"I would know" she replied quietly.

Things with her boyfriend could not have been stranger since he stood her up at the ball. While she tried her best to accept his lame apology and act more or less unaffected by the whole situation, she knew deep down that a lame box of chocolates was not going to fix everything this time.

If Nate really wanted to make it up to her, he'd have to find a better way to do it and soon.

"Well, as long as you're not worried" Blair told her.

"Well I'm not, but I don't know, he might be. Is it possible for the guy to want to slow things down?" Serena asked.

"Only the guys we like" Blair said, remembering the way Chuck held her hand in the limo that morning.

"But with you" she continued "I can't imagine why."

Serena rolled her eyes.

She must have thought Blair was teasing her, but the truth was that Blair was being dead serious. With Nate it seemed like he'd put off sleeping with her as long as possible, and yet it only took one drunken night for him to sleep with Serena. Clearly, the blonde was more desirable than she was. She'd never be as sexy or carefree as her best friend and that's just something she'd have to deal with.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

While it was no where near the most compromising position his father had found him in to date, on this particular day it was the worst possible scenario he could imagine.

"Chuck?" Bart's voice blared echoed through the serene hallway of Victrola.

Chuck had momentarily considered going to school after his brief meeting with his father, but ended up deciding to just blow off class and spend the day at Victrola instead.

He had the best intentions to start with, making sure the fire dancer in the bathroom was approved by the fire department and that the bar had all of its liquor licenses in order, but he was only human and eventually decided to cash-in on the other benefits of owning a Burlesque club…like the attractive women.

The one currently planted on his lap had just successfully demonstrated the tasteful art of knotting a cherry stem with her tongue when Chuck first noticed the elder Bass standing in front of them.

"Dad" his voice came out sounding far too young, considering his current predicament.

He tossed the stem over his shoulder before hastily pushing the woman off of his lap.

"I uh" he stuttered, clearing his throat and fidgeting with his watch nervously "I didn't think you'd make it."

Chuck smiled as he said this, trying to vain to keep up the same vibe from earlier in the office.

"And you want me to pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into an excuse for you to be around booze and women?" Bart said, cold-stoned.

"No!" Chuck denied, on the verge of panic "No. Did you read the proposal? It shows a much bigger picture" he explained.

"I came down here because I saw the effort you made. You want to impress me with your commitment to something? Try getting a few A's in school or maybe even a part-time job" Bart told him.

No, no, no, no, no. Chuck kept repeating it in his head like a mantra. This was not supposed to happen. This was not what he worked so hard for—for his father to discard his project…to discard him without so much as an explanation.

"Hell, even a girlfriend would demonstrate some sort of maturity on your part" Bart added "Of course, for that to happen you'd have to learn to care about someone other than yourself for once. Perish the thought."

With that, Bart turned around and left.

Chuck stood still, completely stunned by what had just happened. His father didn't even enter the club. He just walked out. And just like that, his dream of having his father's approval, of having Blair…

"No" he whispered, refusing to let his father just leave without a fight.

He ran after the older man, but by the time he got to the door, Bart was already at his car. His son watched on as the older man put his arm around a young Asian woman's waist and escorted her into the backseat.

Who the hell was he to talk to him about commitment? Wasn't he the one who was supposed to be in love with Lily van der Woodsen?

Chuck's hand balled into a fist.

Fucking hypocrite.

He couldn't think of a better time to order his first Bellini of the day.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Back at home after school that day, Blair just finished sliding on the pale green dress her mother made for her when her phone started vibrating.

"Hey Chuck, how it go with Bart?" she asked as she appraised herself in the mirror.

"It didn't" he bit out both words distinctly.

When Chuck spoke slowly like that, it only meant one thing. He was drunk.

"Oh no" Blair sighed, turning on her best friend mode "What happened?"

"Nothing" he said "He came, he insulted me and he left. He didn't let me give him a tour or explain my ideas. He just left."

"I'm so sorry" she said, recalling how excited he was this morning. There didn't seem to be a shred of that person left on the other line.

"Have you been drinking?" she asked, although she already knew.

"Since about 11:30. My head feels like it's about to explode" he drawled "So much for the Bass family tolerance."

"Oh Chuck" she sighed.

"I want to see you" he told her "Can you come over?"

Blair glanced down at her left hand, where she was currently donning her ruby ring on her ring finger. The second her mother planted the idea of Nate wanting to propose in her head, Blair immediately slid on the ruby ring and began fantasizing about the Vanderbilt heirloom. She knew things with Nate were pretty awful, but she was suddenly hopeful about things looking up.

But now Chuck needed her…what was she supposed to do? There was no way she could think clearly about Nate with his best friend always muddling around with her head and not to mention her heart. It was tempting; with Chuck, it was always so very tempting.

She twirled the ring around her finger.

"I can't" she sighed at last.

"Why not?" he asked, unable to hide the hurt in his voice "I miss you. Just for a little while, please."

The need in his voice nearly pushed her over the edge; which is why she knew that telling him the truth was going to be difficult.

"I want to, but I can't. I'm with my mother. She's helping me pick out a dress to wear to the Archibald dinner tomorrow night" she explained.

She could practically feel Chuck's grip on his cell phone tighten.

"What dinner?" he asked in a dark tone.

Fuck.

"The one celebrating the union of our parent's two businesses—Eleanor's and the Captain's. Remember?" she asked, biting on her lip "I'm sure one of us mentioned it to you."

"Are you sure that's the only union you'll be celebrating?" Chuck sneered.

"Of course" she answered quickly—too quickly "I mean, well, the other day Ann may have mentioned the Vanderbilt ring to my mother in passing…"

"May have?" he asked, unable to hide his disgust "Jesus, Blair."

He knew for a fact that marriage to anyone was the absolute last thing on Nate's mind. He also knew that the Captain's recent money and possible drug problems probably had more to do with this upcoming dinner than anything else. Nothing screams traditional UES business man more than having your seventeen year old son get engaged to his high school sweetheart—especially if that sweetheart happens to be a Waldorf.

"Why are you getting upset? We went over this Chuck. We're not together" Blair told him quietly, most likely trying to avoid her mother's eavesdropping habit.

"I know that! Don't you think that I would fucking know that by now? You and Nathaniel have been betrothed since you popped out of your mothers' wombs—before that even!" he antagonized.

Blair flinched when she heard him slam something down hard.

"I will never be good enough for you or my father and no matter what; and whatever the fuck I try to do to change that is worthless. I don't know why I bother, I should just keep pretending to be the asshole everyone thinks I am so the next time I fuck up, I won't feel so fucking bad about it" he snarled.

"Chuck, it's not like that…" Blair began.

"Don't" he warned "Don't talk to me like you give a shit about me. I hate liars Blair. Enjoy your perfect life; god knows I'll never have a place in it."

The click on the end of the line informed Blair that she had just been hung up on.

Throwing the phone on her bed, Blair immediately began to rip at the high collar of the Mayflower dress her mother made her.

"Dorota!" she called.

"Miss Blair?" Dorota asked as she ran into the room "Is something wrong with dress?"

"It's too tight, I feel like I'm suffocating" she complained "Help me get it off."

If Dorota noticed the fresh tears that shone in Blair's eyes, she certainly didn't mention it.

That's what maids were for.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox


TBC. Please review!