It was clear that Harold wasn't overjoyed to see the Archibalds – he'd never been Nate's hugest fan, Blair remembered – and she was glad now that he seemed as keen to get rid of them as she was.

Eleanor was not.

She didn't appreciate her husband showing up when he felt like it. She'd sent him to France for a reason. And she wasn't foolish enough to think that he'd returned home to solve their financial problems. If anything, he'd no doubt brought more. Blair was too blinded by her daddy to notice that distinctly guilty look in his eye. What had he done now?

Blair was happily chirping away to him as they sat on the sofa, like she didn't have a care in the world. Like Eleanor hadn't heard the water running just moments earlier and seen the odd pale sheen to her face. The girl was a mess, she reflected. The sooner she got her off her hands the better.

"So." Harold smiled as he ruffled her hair. (Like some kind of puppy, Eleanor thought. He always had seemed to see Blair as a pet rather than a responsibility.) "What were the Archibalds doing here? I haven't seen them in a while." He glanced at his wife; "I wasn't aware you and Anne were still friends."

"I don't think we should start listing all the things you aren't aware of."

Blair chose to ignore her mother's acerbic response. "It doesn't matter," she said swiftly, and she couldn't stop her faint smile. "What matters is that you're back now."

"If you must know," Eleanor sniffed, "Nate and Blair are considering reuniting."

Harold froze. He glanced, quickly, at his daughter. "Is that true, Blair Bear? I thought you'd both moved on. Isn't Nate-"

"Serena's a phase," Eleanor cut in icily.

Blair shot a brief glare at her mother. "No, she isn't. Nate and Serena are going to be married. I'm not getting back together with him."

Eleanor's eyes narrowed back. "Anne and I have both agreed-"

"If Blair doesn't want to marry Nate, Eleanor, then it doesn't matter what you and Anne have agreed." Harold's tone was mild as ever; and Blair gazed at him with absolute relief. She knew Harold would be on her side. She knew he'd make everything better.

Eleanor frowned, surprised her husband was actually putting his foot down about something. Or expressing an opinion. As if he actually knew anything about his daughter's life or what she needed. What they all needed. Harold had already proven himself incapable of dealing with things like this. If it wasn't for his poor decisions in the first place -

"In fact, Blair, I'm glad to hear you're not seeing anyone else at the moment." Harold smiled. Blair paused - had her father not seen the papers? She guessed Manhattan news didn't reach him in France. Well, she was going to have to bring up Louis sooner or later; she'd been hoping to do it without her mother present, but she supposed it was now or never.

She took a breath. "Actually, daddy-"

"Because I think I've found you the perfect match. And he asked me – well, he asked for my permission. To marry you."

Eleanor dropped her head in her hands. Oh, God. She knew it. It was the Humphrey boy. Who else would have asked? And who else would Harold have been stupid enough to actually think was a perfect match? He was going to be the death of her. She just knew it. How could he have made such a mess of things? Now she would have to get the fool to go back to the Humphrey boy and tell him he'd actually made a mistake. That he would not, under any circumstances, be marrying Blair.

"Daddy." Blair paused. "This...man. Dark hair? Awful suit?"

Harold chuckled slightly. "No, he was very well dressed."

Had Humphrey bought a new suit? Impossible. Or – she suddenly stilled, hopes soaring. Could he? Could Louis have already asked her father? If he had, then this was a done deal. Then she didn't even need to worry about Nate any more. She couldn't have asked for anything more perfect.

"I think I know who you're talking about."

Harold glanced at her, and he was relieved to see that she was smiling. Perhaps this wouldn't be so awful after all. Perhaps Chuck Bass wasn't as bad as they all said and his daughter really was in love with him.

"And you'd say yes?" He was smiling now too. This would all work out fine. Blair would never even have to know-

"Who on earth are you talking about?" Eleanor demanded. She hadn't bothered keeping tabs on her daughter unless Nate was concerned – what other suitor could there possibly be?

Harold chuckled, exchanging a look with his little girl.

"Chuck Bass. He asked to marry Blair – and I said yes."

Blair's smile froze right off her face.


Blair closed her bedroom door as she listened to her mother screeching at her father downstairs. She was still convinced she must have misheard.

Chuck Bass?

Chuck had asked her father if he could marry her?

That was what he'd been up to all this time. He needed a society wife, obviously. Perhaps he was trying to close a deal. But then - why her? Surely there were hundreds of well-behaved, upper class girls who'd fall into bed and then marriage with him. That was what she didn't understand. Had he honestly thought she'd be an easier target because she knew him? And then she went a little cold as she wondered if he'd thought she'd be easier to manipulate. And she had been, hadn't she? All that trash about their memories – and last night -

And icy fury gripped her. No one made a fool of her.

But it was far worse than that.

The Basstard had ruined everything. Harold had stammered, confused at how suddenly upset she was, that he couldn't very well say no now. He'd agreed upon it.

Eleanor was in the middle of telling him just how much of a fool he was. With any luck, she'd get him to go back and explain that no marriage would be happening. If not, Blair was pretty sure her mother would do it herself. But it was still horribly embarrassing. If this got out – if Louis found out – well, then she was going to kill Chuck Bass.

She pressed her flushed cheek against the cold pane of glass, gazing out at the trickle of rain on the streets below. Her mother would sort it. Even if it was only to help her own agenda – Blair was still grateful.

But she didn't like feeling stupid. Even stupider than she'd felt last night. Chuck had thought that she would be easily manipulated, and he'd been right. That was what she couldn't get out of her head.

Well, he was going to pay. She was going to get out of this mess and she was going to finish him.


Blair was busy plotting Chuck Bass' demise when she heard the front door slam. She paused, listening; only her mother would slam the door like that. Was she on her way out to annihilate Chuck? Blair hoped so. Eleanor dealing with him was far better than Harold - her father would probably be nice to him.

She glanced up in surprise as her bedroom door opened and Harold himself appeared. He looked weary, she noticed. He sighed as he sat down on her bed with her.

"I'm really sorry, Blair bear. I thought this was what you wanted."

How could her father have been so wrong about her? Chuck must have got to him. Reeled him in with same crap he'd tried on her; only Harold would actually have believed it. "It's ok," Blair assured him. "I know how manipulative Chuck Bass is. The man's a born liar – it's not your fault."

Harold nodded, almost awkwardly. "I...is he really that bad, darling?"

Blair pulled a face. "He's worse."

That seemed to make the man pause. "So you don't – you don't feel that way for him? At all?" He blurted on before she could answer, "Didn't you used to be friends?"

Blair rolled her eyes. Why did everyone keep reminding her of that? "Years ago, daddy. When I was too young to realise just how awful he is."

Harold paused again.

Blair glanced over at him. "Has mother gone to sort him out?"

Her father cleared his throat. "Ah, no."

Blair frowned. "Then-"

"I told her I wouldn't be changing my mind."

For a moment, his daughter could only stare. "What? Why?"

Harold exhaled, and she didn't think she'd ever seen him look so old. "Blair. I really do think you should marry Chuck."

She stilled. "Are you joking?" He had to be joking.

"No." He sounded tired and surprisingly firm. "Blair...I think that he'd be a good match for you. He's wealthy, successful – he comes from a good family – and I think he'd be able to take care of you. He - he really does love you."

"Are we talking about the same person?" Her voice was barely controlled; as if Chuck was even capable of loving her.

"I know his reputation," Harold murmured. "But I think – you'll be surprised."

He'd told Eleanor the truth – had no choice – and that was why she'd stormed off. All you ever do is cause more problems. Now we can't even marry her off to pay off the other debts you've run up.

He had no intention of telling Blair the truth, though. He wasn't sure he'd be able to handle the look in her eyes when he told her he'd essentially traded her for two million dollars. And who knew – maybe she could like Chuck. Maybe he wouldn't treat her too badly. Maybe if Harold ever found a way to pay off his other debts, he could help arrange a quick divorce for her.

Blair was studying him in disbelief. "I don't understand." Her voice was very small. "How could you possibly think that?"

He looked at her was struck by how young she suddenly looked, curled up on her bed. He felt guilty, then. How could he just hand her over to a monster like Chuck Bass? But he knew he didn't have a choice.

"Blair," he said, very softly. Softly because he knew that this, above everything else, would get to her. For some reason it always did – perhaps she was too used to Eleanor's constant yelling. Gently, he laid a hand on his daughter's hair. "I want you to marry Chuck. It really would make me happy."

She stared up at him, and he saw the look in her eyes. Why was he doing this to her? Why was he asking this of her? "Please, darling. Tell me you'll at least consider it. I want you to be happy. This is what I want."

He tucked her hair behind her ear and left her staring after him in uncomprehending horror.


Serena was woken in the middle of the night by a downright disgruntled maid holding out the telephone for her. She frowned as she took the machine from the woman, dismissing her as she raised the receiver to her ear. Her voice was still thick with sleep.

"Hello?"

"Serena?"

The voice was a whisper on the other end, but she recognised it instantly.

"B?" She sat up, more awake now. "B, what is it? Is something wrong?"

There was a pause; and then Serena realised that she could hear faint muffled sobs on the other end.

"Yes."

The other's girl's voice broke down the line.

"Blair, what happened?" Serena cradled the receiver like she could somehow reach out and hold the girl on the other end.

"Everything is horrible," Blair whispered. "And I don't know what to do."

"Ok," Serena soothed, trying to calm her down. "Ok, talk to me. Tell me what happened." She was never in this position – she was never the one making Blair feel better.

"I – I have a choice. Except it's not really a choice. Or – maybe it is-"

"You're not making any sense," Serena pleaded. "B, what's going on?"

There was a deep, shuddering breath on the other side. "What would you do? If someone wanted you to do something, but you know it might ultimately end up hurting them?"

"I-" Serena paused. She was suddenly thinking about Eric, as ever; Eric who'd always wanted to be a part of her life, who she'd always kept at arm's length for fear of hurting him. Eric, who she and her mother had always tried to protect. So much it had made him lonely enough to take his own life. "I'd do it," she whispered. "Whatever makes them happy. Because you don't know what might hurt them. Not for definite."

There was silence on the other end.

Then another breath.

"Ok."

Silence.

"Ok."


Chuck had been holed up in his suite all day, and Carter felt it was high time he came out. Particularly given the meeting he'd just come from.

"So. Guess what?"

His best friend was still in his pyjamas and stank of alcohol. Carter really didn't know what his problem was.

"I just saw Harold."

And at that, he had Chuck's attention.

"He got Blair to say yes." He smirked, slapping the other man on the back. "She's going to marry you."


The sun was sinking over the Manhattan skyline, red in the cold dusk. But it went unheeded by two dark heads. Two dark heads bent over a polished coffee table in a luxurious living room, engrossed.

"So he's obviously managed to convince Harold he's a worthy suitor."

Georgina had decided not to tell Blair about seeing her father in Gimlet. Firstly, because she herself shouldn't have been anywhere near there, and she didn't want to have to explain herself. But also because she didn't really want Blair to know the truth she'd found out. Harold had gambled his own daughter.

"Probably convinced him he can provide for me," Blair scoffed. "And played on the childhood factor." Chuck, after all, was probably the only guy - apart from Nate - that Harold almost knew. All Blair could think was that the Basstard must have found some way to charm her father. (It had crossed her mind that perhaps he had some kind of leverage over him, too. But what?) "Perhaps he told him he could solve his financial problems."

Georgina paused from the list she was making. "Do you think he could?"

Blair tilted her head thoughtfully as she scanned her own paper. "Not unless he sold everything he owned." Her eyes gleamed with the potential of this idea. If there was some way she could gain control of some of his properties...

"That's the Empire Hotel and Gimlet. Officially. Plus five illegal joints and numerous holdings on the Upper West and East Side." She looked up with a smirk. "And that's only in Manhattan."

Georgina seemed excited by this too. Blair had come to her with one request: help me take him down. She'd finally told her everything - and Georgie had been only too eager to help. Finally. Finally, Blair had come to her senses. Finally, she would have the chance to destroy Chuck Bass once and for all.

And as his wife, Blair would have the most perfect opportunity ever.

"Now, back to why he needs a wife..."

"He obviously wants to appear legitimate for something. Some kind of respectable firm."

"What about Bass Industries?"

Blair paused for a moment. "His father's company." But why would Chuck want to impress Bart? Not for the sake of impressing him in itself; she knew that much. "Perhaps he wants something from the old man," she mused. A cut of Bart's will? That would need investigating.

"So presumably," Georgie added, "Not acting respectable would sabotage whatever that plan is."

Blair frowned, ever so slightly. How could she not act respectable?

"I'm not talking crazy, like off the rails." Georgie rolled her eyes. "Just enough to make him look bad."

Blair smirked a little. Yes, that would need some consideration too. Oh - she was going to enjoy every second of this. She was going to destroy him. Chuck Bass was going to regret the day he'd ever decided to pull her back into his miserable life.


"What's that?"

Chuck tossed the piece of paper down wordlessly and Carter squinted at it, frowning.

Then he let out a snort. "Dinner? Eleanor Waldorf is inviting you to dinner?" He was practically beside himself. "Oh, this is too good."

Chuck just gave him a look.

"So," Carter smirked. "Where's your suit?"

"I'm not going."

Carter was still grinning, but his eyes were suddenly hard. "What do you mean you're not going?"

Chuck's lip curled. "You really think I want to go to dinner with her parents? Please," he sneered. "Kill me now."

His best friend ground his teeth. "I just might." He glared up at him. "This is exactly what we want. I can't think of anything more perfect than an invitation to eat out with the Waldorfs. A few weeks ago her mother probably would have crossed the street if she saw you coming. So why the hell are you being like this?" He got to his feet, throwing the piece of paper at Chuck. He'd had about enough of this. "Don't mess this up. Not now." He shook his head; "Not when we're so close."

He stalked out, leaving Chuck to glower coldly after his retreating back.


Eleanor and Harold were arguing again. Of course.

Blair surveyed her reflection. The truth was, now that she actually had a plan – and a plan for revenge, the best kind – she felt more like herself again. Humiliated, yes. But now she had anger to focus on rather than her mistakes. And Blair Waldorf did anger like no one else. Real anger, real loathing were slow burning and satisfying, the thought of vengeance a sweet, delicious thrill that made her eyes dance and her skin glow.

There was still the issue of paying back the money – but for now she could focus on destroying Chuck. And perhaps being his wife would give her access to his funds. Wouldn't that be so perfect? If he lost it all because she'd used it to solve her own problems? After all, if there was one thing Chuck Bass was good at, it was making money. And Blair intended to squeeze him for every drop.

She smoothed down her navy dress, adjusting the lace collar. This was the reason Harold and Eleanor were arguing – Eleanor had invited Chuck to dinner.

She'd disappeared to France the day that Blair had agreed, calling them both useless and announcing she wanted nothing more to do with them. She'd been back a week later, after she'd calmed down, with a steely light in her eyes that told Blair she had a plan. No doubt she'd been doing her own evaluation of Chuck's assets and had come to the decision that he might be able to help them too.

Harold, oddly, had been the one to protest about the dinner.

Blair hadn't actually seen her supposed fiance since they'd become 'engaged'; and since it had just been her and Harold in the country, no move had been made to publicise or even officialise the match. Blair was willing to bet Eleanor would soon change that - depending on how this dinner went, of course.

They were supposed to be leaving for the restaurant to meet Chuck in five minutes. Blair neatly adjusted her curls, satisfied that she looked perfect, and then went downstairs to move her parents out of the door.


A/N - Sorry this is a shorter chapter; CB interaction to follow! Thanks so much for your reviews :)