AN: Thank you to everyone who has read, reviewed, and alerted this story. As we near the end I hope you've enjoyed the journey I've put Carter, Blair, and Chuck on. I've wrestled with the decision over who Blair should end up with in this story, partially influenced by the comments. But someone reminded me that when I write, I should be writing a story that is influenced by my decisions, and not solely on what my audience wants. That said I hope you'll enjoy the next few chapters as I wrap up this story.

When Blair Waldorf schemed, the world stopped. It didn't really matter whether it was sunny and bright, or cloudy and dreary that day because Blair didn't care. So immersed in her own thoughts that she barely heard Serena's entry.

"B!" Serena nearly yelled, waving a freshly manicured hand in Blair's face. She cowered slightly when Blair turned to glare at her for a moment-quickly replaced by a serene smile.

"S! I didn't hear you"

"No doubt about that," Serena said jokingly "Were you thinking about Yale again, B?"

Blair nodded mutely, and Serena sighed, "Blair, you've really got to stop dwelling on the past. NYU is a good school. It's not like you'll be withheld a future just because you went there instead of Yale"

"I don't belong in NYU, S. I belong in Yale. And Carter took that from me"

At the sight of the anger in Blair's eyes, Serena withdrew immediately

"You're right," she told her best friend earnestly. "So what's the plan?"

"Well," Blair started, "I think it's pretty impossible for me to have slept with Mr. Ellis considering he's gay. And if Yale knew that..."

"They would welcome you back with open arms" Serena finished.

"Yes," Blair grinned, but her smile faltered, "the only problem is, how do I tell them Mr. Ellis is gay?"

"Can't you just ask Mr. Ellis for a favor? Get him to tell them and they will have to believe you"

Blair sighed, "That's just the problem, S. Even if I can convince Mr. Ellis to tell them he's gay, there's no telling whether or not he'll mention how I used Chuck-" at this, Blair winced slightly "-and then everything would be ruined again. And if I tell them Mr. Ellis is gay, they'll think that I'm pathetically making up excuses and I'll be farther from my goal"

Serena pondered this for a moment, but her few minutes of thinking couldn't top Blair's endless hours of considering every angle and strategy.

"You'll come up with something B," Serena told her brightly. "You always do"

"Thanks, S" Blair said with a half-hearted smile, her mind elsewhere.

…

Serena never learned her lesson. Back in her party girl days, the countless hangovers and constant reek of vomit should have convinced her to stop, or at least slow down, her erratic behavior and drinking. But Serena never learned her lesson. And that was the only reason why she was standing outside Chuck's door once again.

She knocked hesitantly, afraid of what her step-brother would be like behind the closed door. Blair had mentioned their conversation briefly, and those few sentences were enough for Serena to be worried.

Her worries were confirmed when a distraught, disheveled, and utterly disgusting Chuck Bass opened the door. His eyes were bloodshot, his hair mussed, and the smell emanating from the room was enough to make Serena wish she hadn't had those croissants with Blair for breakfast.

"Sis," he drawled "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Chuck," Serena returned uncertainly, attempting to peer around his imposing figure "Are you-are you alone?" She squeaked out, her voice coming out at a higher pitch than normal.

Chuck smirked at her, "Not right now, but if you wanted a show you could have shown up last night. The things those girls can do-"

Serena only shook her head, her blonde hair flying wildly around. "I do not need you to finish that sentence. I'm here to help you with Blair" she told him with determination.

"Why?" Chuck mocked, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared down the blonde "Because your plan worked so well last time?"

"Blair and Carter are broken up," Serena pointed out.

"Because he made a mistake-about time I might add-not because I was trying to win back Blair"

"They broke up because Carter was feeling insecure about your gifts and Blair was feeling suffocated by his over protectiveness. And Blair told him that he wasn't you. That was the reason they broke up" Serena grinned triumphantly.

Taken aback by this new information, Chuck opened the door wider, inviting Serena inside. Breathing solely through her mouth, Serena cautiously made her way inside, scanning the room carefully before choosing a relatively clean looking brown couch on which she perched, staring at Chuck expectantly.

"She still wants nothing to do with me," he told her with a sigh, sitting across from Serena.

"Well," Serena's voice rang with jubilation. She had finally come up with a scheme grand enough to be thought of by Blair. She believed she deserved a pat on the back. Just not from her stepbrother, thank you very much. "I have another plan"

"Your last plan didn't go so well," Chuck pointed out again.

"Trust me Chuck, you'll be able to win back Blair after this"

"And what do you propose I do?" he inquired, leaning forward on his elbows, ignoring the incessant pounding in his head.

"You're about the only one who can give her what Carter took" Serena told him with a cryptic smile.

"Yale?" Serena threw him a pointed look. As if it were preposterous to think otherwise.

"Yale." She confirmed.

…

They hadn't listened. Ironic how they listened to the lie, and not the truth really. But it didn't matter how ironic this was, because the end result was the same.

He had hurt Blair. And lost her as well.

The former thought was enough to make him want to scream. The latter thought drove him to another bottle and a few random women.

Ever since that night the Yale admissions rep had dismissed his plea, Carter had been wallowing in his own personal pity party. He hated Chuck Bass, he hated Serena van der Woodsen, and he hated Blair Waldorf. The first for just being Chuck Bass, the second because she meddled in their affairs too often for his liking, and the third because she had made him fall hopelessly in love.

Love. Wasn't that what had driven him to do this? His love for her?

Wait, what? How could love had driven him to take away the one thing that meant most to his beloved? No, Carter knew that what he had done was pure selfishness. Carter wanted Blair Waldorf to be his, completely and wholly, without Chuck Bass lingering in the back of her mind.

What was that saying? When you play with fire, you're bound to get burned? How was it then that Chuck and Blair had always managed to escape the fire unscathed, while he was left nursing his wounds?

Too many questions, he thought with a frown, taking another long pull from the bottle. Too many questions without answers.

…

Carter may have thought that Blair and Chuck escaped the fire unscathed, but the truth of the matter is, the two of them had burns of their own. But unlike Carter's, their wounds had healed. They say time heals everything.

Their wounds were the hurt inflicted upon each other, each comment and glare, each scheme and manipulation, which they somehow managed to pull through. And when they were together, they were healed. Not as if their wounds had mended, but as if they had never been there in the first place.

…

"Hello, am I speaking to Blair Waldorf?"

"Speaking," Blair managed to find her voice.

"Ms. Waldorf, I wanted to apologize for the rash decision on our part. We should never have jumped to hasty conclusions and revoked your application. If you are so inclined, Yale would be ecstatic to have you join us for the fall semester."

Her heart nearly exploded from shock, and Blair sat down quickly, fearful that she would faint. And Blair Waldorf does not faint.

"When did this happen?" she asked breathlessly, still unable to form coherent thoughts.

"Just a few hours ago. Your boyfriend explained everything. You're a very lucky girl Ms. Waldorf"

Blair stared at her phone in shock. Carter? What had he done? "Yes, well I suppose so" she mumbled.

"Well then, is it safe to say that you will be gracing our halls come fall?"

And just as suddenly as she was shocked, Blair suddenly fell back into reality. Yale had been her dream for as long as she could remember. She still had the tiny Yale sweater her father had given her for her fifth birthday, its worn blue threads tucked away lovingly in her closet. Yale had been the reason she had entered into that business deal with Carter, no matter what reasons had followed. And Yale had been in her grasp before Carter had yanked it away unceremoniously.

But despite all of this, despite the image of her walking throughout Yale's hallowed halls come fall, Blair came to realize that she didn't want to go to Yale. A school as prestigious and ambitious was a perfect fit for Blair Waldorf. But when that school had rejected her not once, but twice, the second time under false pretenses, it didn't seem that Yale was worthy of Blair Waldorf after all.

"I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to decline my acceptance" she said with finality.

The person on the other end sputtered and stammered, and Blair ended the conversation quickly after. There was no use in dwelling on it.

Heaving a sigh, she caught sight of herself in her vanity mirror. Her chocolate brown hair shone, thanks to a recent gloss treatment, and her skin was clear and glowing. The lily green dress she wore accentuated her tiny waist and the halter neckline emphasized her skinny arms. Blair no longer saw the perceived rolls of fat and bloated stomach. She saw herself for what she truly was. Beautiful.

And it had taken giving up her dream to achieve this state of mind. How ironic, she thought with a sigh. In all honesty, giving up Yale hurt. But the incredible feeling of self-worth that now coursed through her veins surpassed that hurt.

Serena had been right. NYU was a good school. And no, Blair Waldorf didn't belong there, but she no longer belonged at Yale either. But maybe, just maybe, Blair could hold out for another semester. If she was truly unhappy she could always apply somewhere else for spring semester. Columbia. The thought popped into her head spontaneously, and she smiled. It was close to home, nearly as prestigious as Yale, and definitely worthy of Blair Waldorf. Harvard also popped into her thoughts, but was quickly dismissed. Blair may never wear bulldog blue again, but that didn't mean she was going to defect to Harvard.

She was giving up her dream of Yale once and for all. She didn't need Yale to be Blair Waldorf. She didn't need Carter, Chuck, or Nate to become Blair Waldorf either. And Blair Waldorf could depend on herself for her own success.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard the faraway ding of the elevator. Thinking it to be Serena, Blair jumped from her perch and rushed down, eager to share the news with her friend.

But the person coming out of the elevator, peonies in hand, was most definitely not Serena.

…

"Hi,"

"Hi,"

They stood there, awkward greetings exchanged, staring at each other for what seemed like an eternity.

"So," Nate started "was there a reason you came here?"

"I think Chuck and Blair are going to get back together," Serena divulged with a smile.

"That's…great" Nate replied, making a mental note to talk to Blair later "you came here to tell me that?"

"Well yes. No." Serena shook her head, flustered. "Can I come in?"

Nate raised his eyebrows at her, but stepped aside, allowing her entry.

She had walked in a few steps, before turning around abruptly. "What I meant to say is, if they can be happy, why can't we?"

"We're not Chuck and Blair," Nate pointed out with a chuckle

"I know, and that's exactly my point," Serna told him, eyes glowing "If Chuck and Blair can work things out, why can't we?"

"I don't know," Nate answered honestly.

"Do you still love me?" Serena pressed.

"I don't know," Nate repeated, ignoring the expression that crossed her face.

"Well I still love you, and if you still love me I truly believe that we can make this work."

"How do you know?" Nate asked curiously.

"Look at Chuck and Blair. I'm going to say it again, because apparently you don't listen too well Archibald. If they can overcome all that they've been through, so can we"

A moment of silence passed between the two.

"I lied," Nate said in earnest "I still love you"

…

"What are you doing here?" Blair asked, not wanting his appearance to ruin her good mood.

"Is that any way to thank your saviour?" Chuck mocked "I would have thought you'd be throwing yourself at me in gratitude"

"My saviour?" Blair wondered aloud, her face screwed up in thought.

"You," she said in wonderment "you told Yale"

"I did," he replied with a smug smile.

"So as you can see, Blair really isn't at fault here"

"I see, Mr. Bass. So what you're saying is, Blair never slept with Ellis for that speech"

Chuck nodded, "But what I don't understand is, how did she end up getting that speech?"

Chuck frowned. He knew it would come down to this, but he hadn't really wanted to divulge this (false) information.

"Well, Ellis, as you don't know, is gay."

"Really, Mr. Bass? And how do I know you're telling me the truth instead of trying to protect Ms. Waldorf?"

I'm Chuck Bass, was on the tip of his tongue, but he restrained himself. "Because," Chuck cringed "because I kissed Ellis in order for Blair to get that speech"

Peeking out from the corner of his eye, Chuck registered the shock on the other man's face "For Blair, I'd do anything," he said solemnly, because it really was the truth.

Chuck grimaced. That declaration sounded so unlike him, and thought it was true that he'd do anything for Blair, the deception she had inflicted months ago still stung.

Chuck relished the astonishment that played across her face as he finished his story.

"You see?" he told her "I love you Blair"

"I don't know what to say," Blair told him honestly. She truly didn't. Just moments ago she had been savoring the fact that she was free of all her ties-and now Chuck Bass came crashing back into her life, into her heart. Her fingers ached to touch him, and she realized that Chuck was sorry, truly sorry. He wouldn't have gone through this much trouble if he wasn't sincerely apologetic. And instead of running away, or lining up a few girls to make her jealous, he had tried to win her back.

"You don't need to thank me with words" he replied smarmily.

And there was the old Chuck, she thought as she rolled her eyes. "I just told Yale that I was declining their offer"

Chuck's eyes grew wide "You did what?" He did not go through this much trouble, and with certain risk to his reputation, he might add, so she could stay at NYU.

"Any school that believes I would whore myself out for a speech doesn't deserve me." Blair told him with finality "No," she told him with a smirk "I'd only whore myself out for hotels"

Chuck sucked in a breath sharply, and Blair turned to him quickly, his expression softening when he noticed the teasing glance in her eyes. "I truly am sorry," he told her again, as he had been doing for the past few weeks.

"I know," Blair closed her eyes "And honestly, I'd just like to put this behind us and move forward"

"Together?" he whispered, and Blair opened her eyes, suddenly aware of how close he was.

"Together," she affirmed, taking his lips in hers.

…

"We still need to talk," Blair reminded him as they walked hand in hand, hair tangled and clothes wrinkled.

"We'll have plenty of time to talk later," Chuck told her with a smirk. But truth be told, he was afraid that their conversation would include more yelling than actual talking. Right now, their relationship stood on a precipice. Blair had forgiven him, but they still hadn't opened up to each other and actually talked. They had given into physical wants rather than giving into each other and simply talking about what happened. It was the calm before the storm. They were happy, but it was the brief happiness that preceded a fight that would leave them shattered and more broken than before.

So he held onto this brief happiness, in the hopes that it would last longer than he hoped.

…

It was quite an embarrassment, really, that Carter Baizen, a grown man in his own right, was subscribed to Gossip Girl. But while she was usually a nuisance, a source of conflict, Gossip Girl had her uses. Right now, however, Carter wanted to thank her.

Spotted: A glowing C and B exiting the Palace, hand in hand. Seems like B got over the other C fairly quickly, no?

He couldn't believe it. It was barely a week since Blair had declared that she was over them both-that she didn't need either of them. Seemed she got over that idea because she'd moved onto Chuck faster than Carter himself had moved on from girl to girl.

"Fuck!" Carter yelled, throwing his phone against the nearest wall, where it shattered and slid to the floor, remaining in pieces.

He knew it. He should have never tried to manipulate Blair into coming back to him. If he hadn't been so obsessed with trying to better Chuck, he would have noticed that Blair had come to love him. She had never vocalized it, or even written it. But she had shown him, in everything that she did, that she loved him. It may not have been the all-consuming, passionate love she had for Chuck, but she loved him in her own way.

…

As he stepped under the harsh glare of airport lights, his suitcase trailing behind him, a flight bound to England his first destination. He hadn't left, hadn't run away. Instead, he followed the plan as if he and Blair had never broken up, leaving for England instead of running to Prague like he had intended at first.

This proved that he'd grown up. That he wasn't the same Carter Baizen as before, and he hoped that sooner rather than later, Blair would realize this change. And the fact that he was willing to let her go if she never realized this only solidified the fact that he had changed. Blair had changed him, whether she cared to acknowledge this or not.

He was letting her go, because he knew that she eventually would end up with Chuck. And try as he may, he couldn't try and worm his way in between them.

But he would always hope that she'd find her own way back to him.

…

Spotted: A stoic C leaving for England. No, not B's current C, her former C. Confusing? I wholeheartedly agree. Our first instinct was that C was running away-God knows he's done it enough times-but my sources prove me wrong. C is heading a new development-one that a certain Bass has invested considerable amounts of money in- and in Europe, of all places! Better say your goodbyes B, looks like this C is going to be gone for a while.

Blair sucked in her breath as she read the Gossip Girl blast. She hadn't expected Carter to leave, well she had, but not to England. Instead, she expected him to run away as per usual. It was tantamount to the fact that perhaps he had changed.

Was she wrong in letting him go? Her and Chuck were unbelievably happy at the moment, but they still hadn't discussed what had happened that night. They tiptoed around the subject, substituting kisses and caresses for actual words and phrases.

His hands found her waist, kissing the nape of her neck as he murmured a greeting. And in that, Blair knew that she had made the right choice. With Carter, her response was ecstatic at first, but eventually waned to a half-hearted kiss. With Chuck, they were never half-hearted, every touch igniting a fire within her very core. She blushed as she turned around, her cheeks stained scarlet against the pale of her skin.

"Something wrong?" Chuck inquired as he kissed her fervently.

"Nothing," Blair said, smiling against his lips "It's nothing" she said firmly, pushing all thoughts of Carter out of her head.

tbc