A/N: The readers asked and I delivered. Yes, this chapter was already written. There is an epilogue coming at you that will be submitted on the 24th.

Summary: "I love you so much."Because if Chuck's words didn't come true, at the very least, he would know. She had loved him until her last dying breath.

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine. The imprisoned Richard and innocent Blaine are my only creations and all thanks go to comewhatmay.x who accepts my crazy ideas.

It hadn't been the feel of a knife slipping through her breastplate. The truly excruciating torment had been that of her husband's weight, crushing the life out of her as he brought her to the ground. She had been staring determinedly at the ceiling, knowing that her life was slipping away and she would die beneath the sadistic weight of her tyrannical husband.

That was what had initially tortured her.

So while Richard's impatient fingers wrapped around her throat as she started bleeding out on the floor of their penthouse, she couldn't help but marvel at the fact that this was definitely not how she saw herself as going. When she had gone on that first date and felt that vibe from his strange personality, only to come home to curl at Chuck's side, she had not foreseen this. Even when her mother had pushed her into a loveless marriage, she had least not seen this. She had not foreseen being resorted to a quivering, weak mess.

She had not foreseen being murdered by her own husband.

But then suddenly, everything was alright. Suddenly she thought she heard the familiar sound of the elevator and she didn't feel suffocated anymore. She felt safe and protected because as she looked up, it wasn't Richard, or even the ceiling, that was obscuring her view.

It was then that she knew she would be alright.

"The ambulance is on its way."

Blair looked up, feeling a comforting pressure on her chest, and knew that at least in Chuck's mind, that was the reality.

He was so focused on the blood that was staining her front that she reached up to smooth strands of hair that had fallen on his forehead. He finally looked into her eyes.

"I love you so much."

Because if Chuck's words didn't come true, at the very least, he would know.

She had loved him until her last dying breath.

"Don't say goodbye to me," Chuck warned. "You are not allowed to leave me."

She curled her fingers around the hair at the nape of his neck, finally at peace that Blaine wouldn't grow up alone.

"I love you," he said, but darkness was starting to crowd her senses. It was a comfort to feel so at peace.

But then she wasn't anymore. Chuck's hands weren't grounding her and she felt so alone and in a split decision, she decided. This time, she wouldn't be weak.

She wasn't done fighting yet.

Pain cut through Blair's chest as gasped out in discomfort. She saw her own breath gather in the facemask delivering oxygen to her and she knew that she wasn't on her floor anymore. Blair struggled to sit up, but her body felt weighed down, like she was underwater with weights tied to her limbs.

"She's regaining consciousness."

Suddenly, Blair was vastly afraid. She was in a moving vehicle with unfamiliar people and they weren't comforting her at all,

"Chuck?" Blair tried to speak.

"Can you tell us your name?"

One of the paramedics was leaning over her and all she could think was how she detested their condescension. They were acting as though she were some weak lost cause.

She was far from it.

"My name is Blair Waldorf," Blair said through the mask. "And you will speak to me with a tone of respect when you're saving my life."

When she first got the call, Serena refused to believe it was real. Her phone slipped from her hand as Dan shook her, his voice muted as he asked what the matter was.

Realistically, however, Serena should have known all along. She should have seen the signs. How subdued and cut off her best friend had been. How she had only seen Blaine a grand total of five times in the past three months. None of it made any sense.

Chuck's even shorter temper.

So when his name flashed across her caller ID, she hadn't initially wanted to pick up.

Instinct took over.

"Get to Lennox-Hill right now."

Serena didn't even have to ask for Blair's room. The moment she stepped into the hospital, she spotted Chuck immediately.

"Sir, you're going to have to calm down."

"Chuck?"

She had never seen him like this. She remembered him in Paris, when he was paired with a cane and jeans but that was different. She had never seen him so disheveled before.

"They won't let us see her," Chuck said tersely, walking brusquely past her before his eyes landed on Dan.

"What is he doing here?"

"You said to come to the hospital," Serena defended weakly.

"I didn't mean to bring the Dregs of Dumbo with you," Chuck retorted. "Do you even realize what is going on here?"

The truth was, Serena hadn't wanted to admit it to herself. But the truth was staring at her blatantly in the eye.

Chuck Bass was the only one who would threaten to have the entire ward fired over Blair Waldorf.

Blaine liked his Aunt Serena. She was fun and she was light. Sometimes she would come over even when he knew his mommy was sad. Right now she sat next to him in a blue room on a blue bed with strange paintings like with a woman with white hair.

Right now, Aunt Serena didn't look so fun and light. She had that look about her that his mommy used to get. The look she used to get when Uncle Chuck would leave. But Chuck wasn't an uncle like Uncle Nate was an uncle. For some reason, it just seemed different. Uncle Chuck acted more different around his mommy than Uncle Nate did. Uncle Chuck sort of acted around mommy the way Uncle Nate acted around Aunt Serena.

But that was confusing. He didn't understand it.

Serena stroked his hair back with a sweet look about her that made Blaine even more confused. There were loud voices that carried up the stairs and he had never heard Chuck sound so angry.

"When can I see my mommy?" he asked. Serena looked down at him and embraced him.

"I don't know," she answered. "There are some things that need to be sorted out first."

"Where is she?" he asked. "Isn't she here?"

"No," Serena said sadly. "She's not here."

The voices downstairs were harsh and Serena closed her eyes, the way Blaine did when he wanted to block out his parents' yells.

"They sound mad."

"They're just scared," Serena said. "Sometimes when people get frightened because they might lose someone, they get angry."

"My mom..."

"Your mom is going to be fine," Serena stressed. "She's going to be fine."

"Is that why you're up here with me?" Blaine asked.

"Downstairs is a conversation for adults," Serena said. "For people who are deciding what's going to happen."

"What's going to happen?"

"Chuck wants to see your mother," Serena said. "As much as you do."

"Don't you?"

"I do," Serena said. "I just don't know what good it will do yelling about it when it's really not their decision."

"I don't understand how you could let this happen."

"Me? I think the blood on my shirt is a testament to the fact that I did not let this happen."

"And Blaine? How could you submit her child to this?"

"I got there as fast as I could. You want to blame someone? Blame the bastard who did this to her in the first place."

"You were supposed to get her out of there."

"I did my best. Blaine's safe, isn't he?"

"He was covered in blood when he got here."

"It wasn't his."

"And whose fault is that?"

"It wasn't mine either. And truly, your care for your daughter is underwhelming even my expectations you had for her."

"Don't insinuate that I don't care about her."

"Could have fooled me. She didn't exactly have the most nourishing childhood. And who exactly was the person who introduced her to Dick?"

"Don't you dare blame Richard on me."

"I'm not. But you have to accept the fact that she was stabbed four times in the chest. You need to be realistic."

"Are you telling me my daughter's going to die?"

"I'm telling you that Dick's headed off to prison as we speak. But it's a little too late for that, now isn't it? The damage has been done."

"Then what's going to happen to Blaine?"

"Blair and I have already discussed it."

"He's staying with me."

"I am not going to let that happen."

"Blair was prepared that something like this was going to happen. She knew she couldn't leave him so we made a plan."

"You are surely not suggesting that Blaine would be with you."

"I was more of a father to him than his biological one ever was."

"That doesn't mean anything when it comes down to blood."

"You're right. Because right now Blair's blood loss is so severe she's getting several transfusions as we speak. The doctors won't even let us see her. It was Blaine's father who did that to her. So tell me how meaningful blood is. Blair knew the reality."

"Which would be?"

"That he was more of a monster than I could ever be."

"Blair's judgment was impaired."

"Even you couldn't convince her to leave him. Right now, Blaine's life hangs in the balance, along with his mother's. He could be an orphan. Do you know how to deal with that?"

"Where's Blaine?"

Serena was relieved that Dan had offered to go get coffee. Though if she didn't know any better, she would have suspected that Chuck's docile nature would have more to do with doctors sedating him than being that naturally calm.

She was surprised at first to see Chuck deigning to sit on the ground, but as he cradled his head in his arms, she knew the gravity of the situation.

"I took him to Eleanor's first."

She knew that Chuck wasn't in the mood for conversation, but she needed to know. Right now, her best friend was hooked up to a dozen machines and no one knew if she would last the night or not.

"But I got here as fast as I could."

"Does he know?" Serena asked. "What's going on?"

"You mean did I tell him that his sadistic father attacked Blair with a switchblade?" Chuck snapped. "No. I made the executive decision not to tell him something that could possibly scar him for life."

"That's not what I meant," Serena said shakily, unable to control herself. Because the reality was she hadn't known what had happened until that exact moment.

"Then why don't you tell me, Serena?" Chuck asked. "What would you have done?"

"Where's Eleanor?" Serena asked instead. Chuck rolled his eyes with complete contempt. But she knew what the true problem was. The true problem was that Chuck was falling apart.

He just refused to let anyone else see it.

"I told you," he said with frustration. "She's at home with Blaine. I thought it best he recover before he sees his mother's mangled breastplate."

"Stop it, Chuck," Serena said, attempting to hold back tears.

"Do you want me to lie to you?" Chuck asked. "Like I've been lying to everyone for the past four years?"

"You should have told someone, Chuck," Serena said.

"You knew," he seethed. "You knew exactly what was going on, yet it suited you better to ignore it. Just like Eleanor."

"Don't," Serena warned.

"Why not?" Chuck asked. "It was a hopeless situation. Blair refused to report him. What did you want me to do?"

Tears welled up and wavered in Serena's eyes, but Chuck ignored them. They were just weakness.

"You just saw what you wanted to see," Chuck uttered cruelly. Serena looked away from him to see a doctor approaching.

"Is one of you the family of Blair Waldorf?"

Chuck cut off Serena immediately, getting to his feet. "I am."

"You're the husband?" the doctor asked cautiously.

"No," Chuck sneered. "The husband is the one that thrust a piece of metal four times into her chest."

The doctor looked to the ground. Everyone knew he was Chuck Bass and everyone knew he was getting into that room no matter what.

"So you're the..." the doctor trailed off, "brother?"

"Whatever," Chuck said, leading the doctor away from Serena's earshot. "Tell me."

"Blair is in critical condition," the doctor said, "but she's been stabilized."

"I want to see her," Chuck answered, taking every piece of good information he could get.

"She's still unconscious," the doctor said. "You won't be able to talk to her."

"I didn't say I wanted to talk to her," Chuck snapped. "I just want to see her."

"I'm afraid that won't be possible," the doctor said.

"What's stopping you?" Chuck asked.

"Blair will still be under for several more hours," he replied. "I suggest you go home and get some sleep."

"I'm not leaving her," Chuck vowed.

"It's still against regulation for you to see her, Mr. Bass," the doctor answered. "I'm sorry."

A shaft of light spilled through the dark room as Blaine shifted on top of the smooth covers. His eyes opened and he knew immediately who sat down on the bed with him.

"Hey, kid."

Blaine sat up, bleary eyed.

"You and Grandma were fighting."

"I don't wonder where your mother gets her sharp tongue from," Chuck said, though all humor was gone from his voice.

"Am I the reason you were fighting?"

"No," Chuck said severely. "No. If there's one thing you need to understand that if this happened for a reason, it's my fault."

"You didn't do anything," Blaine said in disbelief.

"I could have stopped it."

"Stopped what?" Blaine asked. "Is something wrong with her? I heard you talking..."

"Your grandmother appealed to me not to share this information with you," Chuck said. "But I can't ignore it."

"Where is she?"

"Your mother's in the hospital," Chuck said. "She's in critical, but she's stable."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that she's okay," Chuck said, "but she got hurt."

"You didn't do it to her," Blaine knew.

"Of course not."

"Then it's not your fault," Blaine said, knowing his mommy would be proud of him for being mature.

"Maybe you're right," Chuck smiled. But it wasn't the normal smile that he usually had. It didn't look real on his face. Blaine hugged Chuck around the arm. Chuck really did smile then, tousling his hair.

"Do you want to see her?" Chuck asked. "Your grandmother was against the idea, but I think..."

"I can see her?" Blaine asked, glad that Chuck hadn't gone back on his word.

"Not right now," Chuck said. "But her doctors said we can in the morning."

"I don't want to wait," Blaine said, crossing his arms.

"Neither do I."

"The hospital called."

Serena was sure that Chuck wouldn't want to talk to her that morning, but she then scolded herself. Of course Chuck wasn't thinking of her and her feelings. His mind was in a whole different place.

Sometimes, she hated Chuck. She hated how close he was to her best friend. How he knew her better than Serena herself. How much he loved her.

She knew she was jealous to a degree, but upon that realization, she was surprised. And a little frightened. She shouldn't be jealous of Chuck Bass. But she knew that wasn't the truth of it.

She was really jealous of what Chuck and Blair had. Even now.

Even now as her best friend lay slumbering with bandages wrapped around her, she was jealous.

"They said she can have minimal visitors today."

He still wasn't looking at her, just drinking something from a suspicious looking mug.

"Eleanor?" Serena questioned.

"It doesn't seem likely," Chuck answered tactfully. But she could hear the ire in his voice.

"You should go," Serena offered, wanting to placate Chuck though she knew it wasn't hers to offer. He cast her a scathing glance and she knew he was thinking the exact same thing.

"When I go in," he stated, "I'm taking Blaine with me."

"What?" Serena asked. "You just said you didn't tell him what happened."

"I didn't give him all the gory details but he knows Blair's hurt," Chuck said. "I know what it's like to have your parents just slip away and I won't do that to Blaine. He doesn't deserve it."

Serena knew that was the end of the conversation as Chuck got to his feet. She knew he had just become the head of the family.

"Where do you get off speaking to me that way? What's wrong with you?"

"I can't let you be around our son like this anymore. You're not stable."

"Not stable? You invite men around my son and you're telling me that I'm not stable?"

Blaine watched his mother's eyes snap open with relief.

"You should go in."

Blaine looked inquiringly at Chuck's position at the door.

"Aren't you going to?" Blaine asked, uncomfortable that he didn't have protection, though not sure why he would need it.

"I will," Chuck answered distantly. "You first. She's your mother."

Blaine watched his mother pull herself up with difficulty, out of her waking dream. Blaine looked back at Chuck, who gave him an encouraging nod. The door clicked behind him and he ran towards his mother, now that Chuck's eyes weren't on him.

"Careful," his mother said, her voice tired as he jumped onto her bed. He saw her hand clutch her chest momentarily before her eyes reached his again. He hugged her and he felt her body go stiff before reaching around his back to return the embrace.

"Are you alright?" she asked seriously.

"I missed you," he said instead. She smiled but it wasn't the normal smile that she used to wear, when she would flick her dark hair over her shoulder and the clicking of her expensive heels could be heard.

"Blaine," she said. "I just want to know that you're alright. What happened that night..."

"It's okay," Blaine said. "Chuck was there. I was safe."

"You know that there was something that you needed saving from."

"Father," Blaine said.

"Yes..." she answered. "Your father. But we're safe now."

"Are we going to live with Chuck now?" Blaine asked with interest.

"Why would we do that?" she asked seriously. "I thought you stayed with your grandmother."

"We did," Blaine said. "But he's my dad. Isn't that what you said?"

"I did," she replied. "But only when your father wasn't around, remember?"

"You said we're safe now."

"We are," she nodded. "I just don't know what's going to happen now."

"Are you safe, Mommy?" he asked, lying beside her.

"Yes," she said. "Now that that I know you're alright."

"I'm fine," he said. "Chuck saved me."

"Yes," she murmured. "He saved all of us."

Chuck watched them through the glass. Eleanor still had yet to make an appearance and Serena was probably just sulking about. But for now, he would just look. He smiled slightly as he watched mother and son embrace.

He still waited.

"You know you can go in now."

Chuck didn't turn at the doctor's voice.

"I know," he answered. "I just want to give them a minute alone."

"She was asking for you."

When Chuck turned in surprise the doctor was already walking away and the urge was too strong.

He had to see her. Even so, he waited. He waited until the stress of the previous night lured Blaine to sleep. He knew the boy being conscious would prove for questions he knew the both of them weren't ready to answer yet.

His put his hand to the handle and stepped inside the room, feeling Blair's eyes on him immediately.

"Hey."

He was relieved at the sound of her voice, which was not full of rejection or refusal. She stroked Blaine's hair as he lay on her lap and Chuck closed the door behind him.

"Are you going to actually enter the room?" Blair asked, her sense of humor apparently still about her. He smiled, realizing that for some reason, he seemed to be nervous. There was nothing standing in his way of her any longer, save for her critical health.

He didn't know how to act.

Still, he took a tentative step forward.

"Chuck," Blair said. "Please."

And it fell back into place because she was just so alive and there in his arms that he felt as though he could breathe again.

"He's tired."

Blaine stirred at the sound of his mother's soft voice. He didn't really remember her use a tone like that before.

"No, don't move him. He just needs to sleep."

"You shouldn't tax yourself."

The familiar dark voice was a comfort. A voice that he heard many times going to sleep. Where he felt safe because in his bones, he knew his actual father was danger.

"Tax myself? He's just sleeping."

"That isn't what I meant."

"Leave him."

"Blair."

There was a pause as Blaine felt sleep overcome him. It was nice to feel safe.

"We don't have to talk about it."

"Talk about what?"

"Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"I understand if you don't want to talk about this here..."

"There's nothing to talk about."

"Don't say that. Don't... don't you dare say that. Do you know how scared I was when I ran in there? You could have—"

"But I didn't. Everything is fine."

"I would have killed him."

"We're not talking about this."

"I could have."

"Stop it, Chuck."

"I wish I was strong enough."

"I said stop it."

"I can take care of you. You know I can."

"That wasn't what it was about."

"You wouldn't leave some sadist for me?"

"What about Blaine?"

"You know I love him. I take care of him. Like you."

"That's not what I meant. Richard would have—I'm sorry I couldn't have risked my son's life for you."

"You know that's not what I meant. You know I would have protected the both of you. You know I will."

Silence, and Blaine marveled at the strange dream.

"I'm scared."

"He won't hurt you anymore."

"I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't-"

"I came. I came for you. You know I would have never let anything happen to you. I just wish I wasn't late-"

"You saved me, Chuck. You did."

"Not before he got to you. I got there and I saw that knife in his hand and I just... I saw red. I didn't know-"

"You saved me."

"I wish it was enough."

"It is. I'm fine."

"Four times, Blair. He got that thing in you four times before I could stop him. And all because of me."

"Chuck."

"What? We both know that it's my fault."

"First you're saying how I should have left him for you and now you're blaming yourself."

"I know you were fighting about me."

"Your ego knows no bounds."

"What else could it have been? He knew that I loved you. He knew I was a threat. So he tried to kill you."

"Loved?"

"That's the problem you're having with this scenario?"

"Loved?"

"Love. You know that I'll never stop loving you."

"I wish..."

"What?"

"I wish that I wasn't so mangled."

"You're beautiful."

"Four times. You said it yourself."

"You're beautiful. And you can tell me that you love me too, you know. He isn't around anymore."

"I love you too."