AN: So, I'm sure you all hate me right about now. This has gone way too long without an update, but real life, real sickness, and a nasty case of writer's block delayed me. I don't think the next chapter should take this long to come out, but I do appreciate the patience. As always your feedback has been above and beyond. I love hearing what you guys think, as well as your ideas of where it's headed. I hope you enjoy the next chapter. CB = LOVE. ;)

Fake Empire

Chapter Nine.

Some things we don't talk about
Better do without
Just hold a smile

Blair made it through the main course before she could no longer take the nasty looks from Evelyn, and uncomfortable silences between Bart and Chuck. The rest of the dinner party seemed happily oblivious, but Blair wasn't, and she felt smothered by the Bass family and their disfunction. Her own family could never be considered perfect. There were far too many cracks in their family portrait to label them as that, but at the end of the day she could honestly say they loved one another. Chuck's family was different. The undercurrents between all of them could not be considered love or anything close to it. There was control, anger, disappointment, an overwhelming sense of bitterness from all three, but even the smallest trace of love didn't seem to exist, especially not tonight.

Blair splashed some water on her face, and carefully reapplied her make up until she looked presentable. She wanted to make a run for it, but she couldn't bare to leave Chuck there alone. She took a deep breath, straightened her dress out, and opened the bathroom door. She was surprised to find Bart Bass standing just outside, saying goodbye to one of his guests. The minute he saw Blair he said his final farewell, and then turned to her.

"Do you have a moment, Blair?" His tone was pleasant enough, but Blair was wary of any kind of interaction with him. Still, she couldn't refuse him, so she nodded and followed him back into the empty den. Everyone else was still enjoying dessert in the dining room.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" He asked, as he walked around the wet bar, and poured himself a glass of Scotch.

"I did. Thank you, Mr. Bass." She took a seat before him on one of the stools, and tried not to fidget. Her nerves were going crazy, and she wanted nothing more than to run out of there, but Bart Bass was a man who commanded your attention, and Blair stayed frozen in place.

"You know, in all the time your father has worked for me I never really got to know you. He's always told me such glowing things about you though. You're at the top of your calss, on schedule to become validictorian, and Harold tells me you're planning to attend Yale, and follow in his footsteps to law."

Blair blinked. She couldn't believe he knew so much about her, and the uneasy feeling inside her grew stronger. This was not idle chit chat, this was leading somewhere, and Blair was afraid she was headed right into a trap. Still, she didn't move.

"I fear my father has bored you with all of this. He's very doting." Blair tried to play it off with a shy smile, and a wave of her hand, but Bart's intense gaze didn't waver.

"There is much to be proud of. Charles didn't even come close to validictorian, and I'm afraid he barely lasted a semester at Harvard. Your father is lucky man to have such an accomplished daughter. I envy him." Bart's words were direct and to the point, a complete cut down of his own son.

Blair frowned, she couldn't help herself.

Bart slung back the rest of his drink, and watched Blair over the rim of his empty glass. "You've become very close with my son."

It wasn't a question, but Blair nodded anyway.

"You care about him." Again it was a statement, and Blair felt a blush coming on. She nodded again. "I can't say I'm displeased with this, a good girl like you, with your background might be just what my son needs. Do you understand what I'm saying, Blair?" Once again he was being very direct, but Blair was lost.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Bass, but I don't." She hated feeling so in the dark, but Bart wasn't making any kind of sense. He went from praising her, to putting down Chuck, to talking about their relationship. Blair still felt like there was a trap just around the corner.

Bart attempted a smile, but it fell flat on his thin lips. It reminded her so much of Chuck that she lost all concentration for a moment. Evelyn was easy to see in her son, the dark hair, the dark eyes, that mysterious air they both shared. But Chuck was obviously a combination of both of his parents, because his charisma, his power, that obviously came from his father, and Blair felt hopefully adrift and inexperienced in this interaction.

"I am glad that my son has you in his life, Blair. And I intend to support this relationship…" He gave Blair a meaningful look that she could not have misinterpreted.

Before Blair could manage a response someone walked into the room, and both Blair and Bart turned to find Chuck. He looked between them warily, before coming over and standing beside Blair.

"Isn't this an interesting meeting…" He met his father's eyes in a challenge, but Bart didn't back down. It felt like an intrusion to watch them like this, but Blair realized neither even cared that she was in the room. This would be the sum of all their interactions, a contest, a game. There never seemed to be a winner.

Bart finally broke the silence. "I was just congratulating Blair on her bright future. You should take note of her successes Charles." He didn't give Chuck a chance to respond. He walked back into the main dining area leaving them alone together.

Blair tried to avoid Chuck's gaze. She could feel him watching her but she was afraid he would be upset with her, or worst of all, suspcious of her speaking with his father. She knew better than anyone that in Chuck's eyes Bart Bass was the enemy. And Chuck hated his enemies.

"Did he bother you?" Chuck asked, and Blair forced herself to turn towards him. She was surprised to find genuine concern in his eyes, but lurking right behind that was something else, something darker, and that stole all the breath from her chest.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. She wasn't even sure what she was apologizing for. Perhaps that she had agreed to speak with Bart, or that she hadn't defended him even when everything inside of her had been screaming at her to do so. Or maybe it was simpler than all that, maybe she was just sorry that Chuck even had to have Bart as a father. Whatever it was, Chuck understood, because a small smile graced his lips, and he reached out to touch her hand that was resting on the bar.

"Did he go on and on about what a magnificent failure I am?" Chuck laughed, and it was a bitter sound that gave Blair chills. He walked around the bar, pulled out a glass, and filled in to the brim. It was the same Scotch his father had just imbibed, and it scared Blair how alike they were. "The biggest disappointment of his life." Chuck mock toasted to himself, and drank back as much as he could stand, before slamming the glass back onto the bar.

Blair startled, and slid back away from him. He stopped for a moment, and their gazes locked. She wasn't afraid of him, but there was fear there, and he had to see it. He refilled his glass, and then walked away from her into the back room. Blair immediately got up and followed him. She hated being the one to always chase after him, but he needed her, and she wanted to be there.

"Go back inside, Waldorf." He snapped the minute she stepped onto the balcony with him.

"No," she refused just as quickly. She sat down on the chair behind him, and slid off her shoes so she could wrap her feet beneath her. He turned around and scowled at her, but he didn't ask her to leave again. "His opinion doesn't matter, Chuck." It was a hollow platitude and they both knew it.

Chuck laughed again, at her, or maybe at himself, Blair didn't know. "His opinion is the only one that matters. Don't you know that by now?" He looked at her, and all she could see was the deep oozing wound inside of him. It seemed he would never stop bleeding, and for the first time in her life Blair knew what it was to truly hate someone. She hated Bart Bass. She hated that he had broken Chuck, and left him the way he was. She wanted nothing more than to fix him, but she was smart enough to realize she never could. The only person who could heal these wounds, was the one person who would never do it.

"Come sit with me." Blair patted the seat beside her, and she could tell that Chuck wanted to refuse her, but something stopped him. He turned around, and slid in beside her, raising his arm so she could scoot in close, and they could fit more comfortably. She grabbed his drink from him then, and placed it on the ground beside her out of his reach. Alcohol was only exacerbating him tonight, and she wasn't sure how much worse it would get before they could finally escape.

"What did he say to you?" Chuck asked again, and the vunerability in his eyes killed her. Her face fell, and he read her reaction immediately. "That bad." He swallowed hard, choking on the pain that his father always seemed to inflict. "He probably wishes you were his kid. Who wouldn't with the choice."

"Stop it," Blair demanded. "This self pitying crap isn't you. He's just a man, Chuck. No more than me or you."

Chuck jerked around to meet her eyes again. He smiled at her, but it was a cruel smile, and Blair tensed up in his arms. "And Eleanor is just another woman?" Blair couldn't respond. "Just what I thought." He tried to get up then, but she held onto him and pulled him back to her.

"Fine, you're right," she conceded. "But it shouldn't matter. I'm amazing, and you're amazing and-" Chuck laughed, and Blair smiled back at him. She'd finally gotten the reaction she was looking for. "All your father really said was that he was glad we were friends." It wasn't exactly the truth, but it wasn't a lie either.

Chuck stared at her for a few moments, sizing her up. "That's all?"

Blair nodded. "That's all."

Chuck squeazed her shoulder, and leaned in close to place a soft kiss on her forehead. "I wish I believed you." He whispered into her hair, before standing up, grabbing his drink, and walking back inside. He turned back to her once he was right inside the door. "Let's get out of here."

"Okay," Blair agreed. She knew it might seem rude to Evelyn, and just give her more ammunition in her' 'I hate Blair' campaign, but Chuck needed to be out of there, and Blair needed the escape as well.

Chuck went back in and announced that Blair needed to be home, and he would be escorting her. Surprisingly, neither Bart nor Evelyn protested, and they were out the door within five minutes, headed towards Victrola. Blair unclipped her hair, and shook it out. Relief flooded her almost immediately. She'd felt so suffocated in there with the Bass's, like she was a museum piece they were appraising.

"Is that awful girl going to be there?" Blair asked as the limo pulled out into traffic, and they headed towards the club. She was almost tempted to roll down the window, and let the fresh air in. Almost, but she'd be too messy by arrival if she did, and she couldn't have that.

"She's always there." Chuck shrugged. There seemed to be no love loss between him, and Dan's snotty friend Vanessa, but she didn't bug Chuck the way she did Blair either. "Humphrey is coming as well. Don't attack him."

Blair glared. "I hate Humphrey."

"I don't know why. He's harmless, like a gnat. When you've had enough of him you just bat him away." Chuck pulled a flask out of his pocket, and took a long swallow of whatever he had stored. His features evened out afterward, and he relaxed back against the seat. For the first time all evening he didn't look miserable.

Blair tried to calm down as well. She could handle Dan Humphrey. She was just sick of him writing about her in his column. His clever little names for them were fooling no one, and Blair did not enjoy being the center of salacious gossip. Still, short of murdering him it seemed nothing could get him to shut up.

Blair spent the rest of the ride in silence, pondering the weird evening she'd just had. The conversation with Bart had shaken her. He had been polite, pleasant, even flattering towards her, but she knew there was more than that there. His 'support' confused her. On the surface it was clear that Bart believed she was the right kind of person to be in his son's life, Blair couldn't even refute that point. She was a good girl, with a bright future ahead of her. But she wasn't naïve enough to think that was all there was with Bart Bass. He had an endgame, and that made Blair nervous, because she had somehow gotten herself tangled up in it if their conversation could be any indication. And then there was Evelyn… Blair didn't even want to contemplate what her thoughts were, she just knew they were unkind.

The limo stopped, and Blair and Chuck climbed out and headed inside. Vanessa was the first face they were greeted with, and Blair frowned.

"Nice to see you too, Blair." Vanessa winked at her.

"I'm sure," Blair shot back.

Blair spotted the others at a table in the back, and bypassed Vanessa quickly. Chuck stayed behind for a minute, and Blair glanced back at them trying not to be conspicuous. Chuck had been restless all night, and Blair was worried he was going to go a little too crazy to make up for it. Victrola was always fun, but Chuck had no limits and that scared Blair.

"You survived." Nate smiled at her widely when she sat down, but she didn't smile back. She was still pissed he'd deserted her. "Did my parents ever ask about my absence?" He grimaced at the thought of his controlling parents, and Blair's irritation cooled. She could absolutely relate.

Blair shook her head. "Your father was too busy trying to kiss up to Bart to even miss you." She told him, and he smiled, very pleased with this information. "I need a drink, where is our waitress." Blair turned around just as Dan, Chuck and Vanessa arrived at the table. "Please tell me you're not our waitress."

Vanessa laughed. "What can I get you princess? Non-alcholic of course, because I hear you're not of age." Vanessa smiled wide, and Blair felt her blood pressure rise. They were two seconds from nasty words flying when Carter stepped in.

"Let's just pretend it's for me, V. Get her some champagne." Carter used his most beguiling grin, and Vanessa's ice melted a little. She nodded, and headed away from the table before Blair could snap at her some more. "You really have to work on your manners, Waldorf." Carter teased.

"I don't like her." Blair was still on edge from dinner, and that slutty waitress was not helping matters. Neither was the fact that Dan had sat down beside her, and Chuck was across the table. This was not a seating arrangement she was comfortable with.

"I think she's cool." Serena piped in as she sipped some of her drink. It was red, and was lined with orange slices, and cheerries. "She has this amazing tattoo on her back. I'm thinking of getting one myself."

"Eww, no." Blair shook her head. "You couldn't pull off a tattoo, S."

Serena frowned at her. "I could. I'm going to get a butterfly." Serena smiled proudly, and Nate smiled back at her.

"So, pedestrian." Chuck said before Blair could protest further. "At least be original, Serena." His tone was censurous, and Blair knew Serena wanted to snap at him, but she was already a little too looped, and naturally wary of him. She wisely kept her mouth shut, and the conversation moved on.

"Humphrey." Blair turned towards him sharply, and he looked like he wanted to groan. "Get your facts straight if you're going to write about me. I was not here two nights ago, and I certainly would not dance on a stage… ever."

"Pity." Chuck grinned at her, and she had to force herself not to smile back.

"I'll post a retraction just for you, Blair. I thought my information was good." Dan sent a pointed look at Carter that Blair most definitely caught.

"Your delusional fantasties are becoming tiresome, Carter." Blair warned him, but he ignored her annoyed tone, and smiled. He was consistant with his games, and Blair wasn't sure what to do about them. Chuck would shut him down occasionally, but more often than not he would brush Blair off and say it was just Carter. Blair was getting sick of just Carter. He needed a hobby or a girlfriend, something to keep him more occupied.

Vanessa returned with Blair's champagne, something stronger for Chuck, and a beer for Dan. Then she pulled up a chair, and sat down, completing Blair's night from hell. Why did every female she hated have to be near her? She was being punished for sure.

"Can we help you?" Blair smiled sweetly at Vanessa, and Vanessa mocked her by returning the gesture.

"I'm on break. Dan wanted me to hang out. Deal with it." She told Blair succinctly, and then turned towards Dan and Chuck. "The back room is booked until eleven, but I set up the dancers you asked for. Svetlana is pissed at you, Bass. Said you didn't call her." Vanessa smirked.

Blair's stomach twisted, and she grabbed for her champagne. She took a sip, but it was unsatisfying, so she grabbed Carter's Gin and Tonic, and took a long drink. Carter shook his head at her in a disapproving way, but no one else noticed. Vanessa was still blathering on about some film project she was involved in, and asking Serena if she'd be interested in making a guest appearance, because Serena had star material. Blair wanted to gag.

"So, Blair." Vanessa turned towards her, a mischevious look in her eyes. Blair gritted her teeth. "I hear you have aspirations of being a dancer her. I could put in a good word for you." Dan, Serena and Nate laughed at this, Carter smiled, and Chuck rolled his eyes.

Blair was going to explode.

"I have better things to do with my time than parade around here, and hang out with people like you." Blair completely snapped. Vanessa looked taken aback for a minute, but before she could say anything Chuck interceded.

"Your breaks over." Chuck told her with a look, and Blair knew she hated walking away from an argument, but Chuck scared her enough that she did anyway.

"Fine. I'll talk to you later, Dan. Serena." She nodded at them, and ignored the rest of them, even Nate. Blair wondered about that, but was too happy to be done with Vanessa to even ask. She'd pry later with Chuck.

"You really excel at being a bitch, Blair." Dan turned towards her the minute Vanessa left. He was obviously upset she had snapped at his little friend. "What exactly is your problem? You can't possibly be that much of a snob."

Blair opened her mouth to respond but Chuck interrupted before she could.

"You're wearing out your welcome, Humphrey," he warned. There was a fierce scowl on his face, and his usually expressionless eyes were filled with anger. Dan just stared at him, mouth agape for a moment. It was rare Chuck Bass ever reacted with so much emotion.

Blair smiled. "I'll second that. You worry about yourself, Dan. And I'll worry about me. Feel free to leave at any time. I seriously doubt anyone here would miss you. I mean we barely notice you in the first place. Right, S?" Blair smiled maliciously. She knew she'd hit her target with Dan. He had a major crush on Serena that anyone could see. Turnabout was fair play. He'd attacked her first.

Serena frowned. "Blair…"

"What did I say that wasn't true?" Blair returned, looking between an embarassed Dan, and an uncomfrotable Serena. Neither one of them said a thing. "Exactly." She finished off her champagne, and stood up from the table. "I need another drink."

Blair walked away from the table, or rather strutted. She liked coming out on top, and with someone like Dan Humphrey it was usually guaranteed. She felt a small pang of guilt for hitting him with his Serena crush, but she brushed that aside. He had come after her, and said hurtful things first. She owed him no loyalty. Still, by the time she reached the bar she wasn't feeling nearly as good about her victory.

Blair sidled up to the bar, doing her best to lose herself in the loud music that blasted throughout the club. It was a slow, sultry number, and Blair closed her eyes to move to the beat. She wanted to forget her altercation with Dan, forget that weird dinner with the Bass's, forget that ever present ache in her chest that she did her best to ignore every time Chuck was in the room. For a few minutes the music aided her in this quest, and she pretended she was somewhere else, being someone else, uninhibited, free of all her troubles… happy.

She felt him the minute he came up beside her. His side brushed against her, and his arm slowly slid around her waist until it was resting on her hips. She glanced at him through half closed lids, and found him watching her intently. She didn't say anything, and neither did he. He pulled her around, until she was in front of him, and both his arms were bracketing her. They were dancing, slowly, feet barely moving, bodies touching at nearly every point. Her body was humming with pleasure as she looped her arms around his neck, and let her eyes close again. He moved her with the beat, and she gave herself over to him, feeling safe, and wanted.

Desire was a heady thing. Blair had known very little of this variety in her life. It consumed her, making her blood sizzle, her body come alive, and her heart beat so fast she thouht it might seriously jump out of her chest and make a run for it. She wondered if Chuck had any idea what he did to her, if she made even the littlest effect on him. She would never be sure, his face remained impassive, his hands soothing.

The song came to a close, and he pulled her even closer to him, moving his arms higher up so he was holding her in his arms, secure against his chest. Blair laid her head on his shoulder, and her eyes remained closed. She briefly wondered if the others were watching them, but quickly decided she didn't care. Her feelings for Chuck weren't something she could control. She loved him. She loved him. The thought made her smile.

"What?" He whispered, and she felt his warm breath against her neck as he bent down to talk to her.

She opened her eyes, and met his for a brief moment. "Nothing," she smiled. Admitting it to herself, and telling him were two different things. She doubted those words would ever leave her mouth, and she'd do her damnest to make sure they didn't. He didn't need to know how much influence he had over her, even though she had an inkling that she had some influence of her own. Eventually she would test that, but not tonight. Tonight she just wanted to enjoy him and forget the rest of the world.