AN: Cheers, my friends! Let me know what you think.
Part 11
Her eyes narrowed, her displeasure evident. "You lied to me."
Chuck's excitement waned. His hand fell from her chin. "I didn't—"
She stepped backwards. "Lying again, Chuck?"
"Look," he said urgently, stepping forward to close the gap she created between them, "I only did it because I wanted you back."
She did not seem to hear. She forged on with the same tone she had before. "You mean to tell me that I gave up Yale for a lie?"
"Blair." He took her by her arms, then pulled her forward. "I wanted to be with you."
She squirmed out of his arms and held up her hands to ward him off. "This is so typical!" she cried. "You only think of yourself. You're never going to grow up and not be selfish for once." Blair raised her phone and lifted it to her ear. She turned her back on Chuck.
Chuck strained to listen, but she ignored him completely and kept her voice low. She strode over far from the line to the confessional. Chuck followed. She whirled back towards him, her eyes flashing.
"I can't go anymore! They gave my spot to someone else."
He released a sigh of relief. She was right. He was selfish. He was selfish and vain and thought only of himself, because learning that she no longer had a spot in Yale just relieved him. At least she wouldn't have to go off to college with things so unsettled between them.
He shook his head. "You have to understand, Blair. I didn't do it just to lie to you."
She slipped the phone inside her bag. "Then why?"
He cupped her cheek, then smiled down at her, urging her with his eyes to believe him. "I love you, and I'm ready for us, for everything that can happen between us."
"So you're ready," she parroted back.
He nodded. "Completely."
"Well congratulations," she bit out coldly. "When you weren't ready, I had to put my life on hold for you. Now you're ready and I should do it again?"
He searched for something to say, something to convince her that it wasn't as evil as she probably thought. He loved her. He had told her that, and she believed him. Why couldn't she believe this was all about that love?
Her hand rose to cover her belly. Her eyes widened. "Oh my God!" she gasped.
He frowned, then read the suspicion in her eyes. He felt sick to his stomach, then shook his head. "No," he said.
Her eyes filled with tears. "Did you?"
"No," he insisted.
"I don't believe you," she whispered.
"I wouldn't do that, Blair."
Clearly, she remembered their night in the tub. He remembered it so clearly, when he slammed inside her so deep and released inside her. It was unplanned, but so right he never thought much of it afterwards. Now, her brain worked overtime, and she simply could not go on believing what she seemed to. "So that's how you were going to make me stay?" she demanded. "You knew I'd find out about your lie the moment we went back to New York and Bass Industries still treats you like the ridiculously spoiled little prince that you are."
The accusation hurt him. It was a punch in the gut the way she could so easily think he was capable of intentionally trying to get her pregnant, just to escape the consequences of his lie.
"I didn't do it on purpose, Blair," he said.
She shook her head. She quickly brushed her fingers over her eyes. "How can I believe you now?" Chuck watched in horror as she started pulling off her rings from her fingers—his mother's ring, her wedding band. She grabbed his wrist and placed the rings in his hand. "I don't want these anymore."
Chuck watched as she hurried out of the Duomo. Within minutes, he was racing after her. He ran out into the street but did not find her anywhere. He wandered the streets, looking for her. When he could not find her, he returned to Excelsior, hoping against hope that he would find her pissed off inside their hotel room. He would even welcome it if she started throwing stuff at him.
The hotel room was empty. Chuck hurried to the safe and punched in the code, then checked the contents. He heaved another sigh of relief when he found both of their passports there. At least she was still in the country.
His phone rang, and he quickly picked it up. When he saw her name on the caller id, he answered the phone immediately.
"Mrs Bass," he said softly. His hand closed over the rings. He wanted to see her. He needed to slip those rings on her fingers again. It was a complete waste not to be displayed on her hand.
"Chuck," she said. He closed his eyes upon hearing her voice.
"Are you okay? Where are you? Let me pick you up."
"No need," she told him. "I have a favor to ask you."
"Anything."
"I need you out of the hotel room," she said quietly. "I'm coming back to pick up my passport."
His chest tightened. "Let's talk, Blair. Don't just leave."
"There's nothing to talk about," she told him. "Just make sure you're not going to be there."
He waited in the darkness, inside the bedroom. The hotel room door opened and she padded inside. Chuck straightened, and watched as her silhouette extended as she reached for the light switch. She jumped in surprise when she saw him standing in the corner.
"You can't even do me a simple favor," she said. Blair walked into the room and proceeded to the safe. With jerky movements she pushed the code and tried to open the safe. It did not open. She huffed in frustration. She tried again, but the safe did not open. She glared at him. "Did you change the code?" she demanded.
Chuck shook his head. He moved behind her and heard her suck in her breath at his proximity. He pushed the code in and the safe was unlocked. She reached for her passport, but he took it in his hand before she could.
Pressed up behind her, Chuck found it easy to lean down and press a kiss on her shoulder. "Don't leave. Not like this," he pleaded.
Blair took her passport from his hand. "Divorce papers will be in the mail."
It was scary to hear the words. His arms wrapped around her and tightened. His lips moved to the nape of her neck.
"Chuck, let go."
"I'll let you leave if you don't feel anything for me anymore."
"I hate you so much for doing this. I'm not Nate, or Dan, or Serena, or anyone else in your life, Chuck," she said bitterly. "You don't get to manipulate me."
"You're not anyone of them," he agreed, his voice pleading. "You're my wife."
She squirmed in his arms, and it only served to make him tighten his embrace. "Not for long," she said.
His mouth opened over the skin of her neck, and his kissed moved to the back of her ear. His tongue darted to swirl around her earlobe. "Leave if you don't love me anymore."
He felt her jerky breath as he held onto her. Her hands grasped his arms. Her fingers dug into his skin. "That's got nothing to do with it," she replied. "You lied to me."
He buried his nose in her hair. "Do you love me?" He felt hot tears falling on his arm. He answered his own question. "Mrs Bass," he said, not dropping the name which had turned to an endearment, earning a shudder from her, "I think you do."
He had relaxed his arms around her, and she finally pulled away from him. She picked up her handcarry bag and walked out of the bedroom.
"Blair, please."
She stopped at the door, then turned to meet his eyes. "I've got too much self-respect to stay with you after this."
He stalked towards her, pulled her bag from her hand and tossed it to the couch. "I'm trying to be better for you!"
"You're a liar. If I'm pregnant because of your schem—"
He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him, and she stumbled right into his arms. His mouth delved down to capture her lips and to cut off her statement. Her lips parted of their own volition, and she rose on her tiptoes to surrender to his kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck.
"You love me," he said, raising his lips from her, looking down at her closed eyes. Chuck saw the tear tracks on her cheeks. He pressed kisses on her face, tasting the salt of her tears on hips lips. He breathed on her face, "And I did what I had to do to get you back. I don't care what I did. The end justifies the means."
She opened her eyes, looked at him sadly. "How utterly Machiavellian of you."
His lips curved. "We are in Italy."
She licked her lips, then slowly pulled away from him. She walked over to the couch and picked up her bag. She met his eyes, saw his confusion. She gave him a small, sad smile. "I deserve better."
She closed the door gently behind her, but even so, he flinched when it clicked shut. Chuck stood frozen in the living room staring at the closed door. The small LED on the knob blinked red.
A thousand curses erupted in his head.
She admitted she loved him, practically made love to his mouth just moments ago. And then she left. Just like that, she left. It made no sense, and for a split second he felt inexplicably angry with her.
Chuck stalked back to the bedroom and picked up his phone. He called Aeroporto di Firenze, checked the flight schedule, then fell back on the bed and glared at the clock on the wall. He urged time to stop, so that at least, even in his misery, she would not be able to leave, and they would be in the same continent.
He closed his eyes, then took a deep breath. He cursed. Chuck rolled out of bed and grabbed his coat. He checked his watch and strode towards the door.
"Get me a ride to the airport now," he demanded from the hotel concierge.
The man looked up in surprise. Chuck understood. The entire time he was staying over with Blair, he had been lighthearted and pleasant, completely charming without the smarm he often injected in his attitude when he was still a bachelor. Now, he had no time to be cheery. His wife was leaving him.
He was Chuck Bass.
No one left him unless he said so. Within fifteen minutes, he was seated in the comfortable car and speeding towards the airport.
He arrived at the airport, then raced towards the departure area. He breathed harshly, then picked up the speed of his stride. Chuck wandered through the waiting area for the flights to New York, but did not find her there. He walked to the attendant at the check in booth.
"I need to know if my wife has checked in."
The attendant smiled up at him. "I'm sorry, sir. I cannot provide that information to you, for security purposes."
"I just need to know if she's here."
The woman maintained her smile, then shook her head. Chuck growled in frustration, then roamed the airport searching for her. About an hour later, Chuck felt a hand on his arm. He turned and saw a pair of security personnel. He narrowed his eyes.
"Can we help you, sir?"
He probably looked like some deranged criminal searching and wandering around the airport for the better part of the hour. "I'm looking for my wife."
"Do you have a passport?"
"It's in the hotel," he answered.
"Go on, sir. No flight, no loitering around."
Chuck found himself escorted out politely. He breathed harshly as he made his way back to Excelsior. He dragged his feet on his way back to his hotel room. Chuck entered the hotel room and took off his coat, let it fall to the floor as he walked in. He kicked off his shoes and walked over to the fridge. He picked up four small bottles of whatever alcohol was available. He placed the bottles on the counter and unscrewed the cap of one. He gulped down the small scotch.
"Where have you been?" came the sharp demand.
Chuck whirled and caused the empty bottle to topple and roll off the counter. He took in her presence as she appeared from the bedroom. "Blair…"
Her eyes were splotchy and red, and it looked like she had been crying. "Where did you go?" she said softly now.
Chuck stepped forward, and she stepped backward. He shook his head. "Looking for you. I couldn't just let you go. Where were you?" he turned the question back at her.
She sniffled. "I couldn't just go."
This time, when he stepped towards her, she stayed put. He walked over to her and then picked up her hand and placed fervent kisses on her fingers. "I'm so sorry."
She opened her mouth, but only a sob came out. Blair threw her arms around his neck. "You're such a liar and I hate it."
His arms wrapped around her. "I know I am," he agreed. "I'm really sorry for that." Chuck pressed a kiss on her cheek.
"Don't lie to me again," she sniffled. "Because I'm completely stubborn and I won't even listen to myself when I say to stop loving you."
"I've never been so happy that you're stubborn," he murmured into her hair. She pulled him with her towards the bed and they fell onto the bed together. He met her teary eyes, and he requested, "Please stop crying."
"Stop making me cry," she parried.
"Okay." He raised her hand to his lips. "So will you stay married to me?" He held his breath as she kept silent. And then, when he thought he had run out of air, she nodded. He released his breath and slid his hand into his pocket, then brought the rings out and placed them back on her fingers. "You're never going to have a reason to take them off. Ever again."
She lifted her hand and looked at the rings, then placed her palm over his heart. She squirmed closer to him, then kissed his chin. "Don't make me regret this."
tbc
