AN: As I said I would try, here's the next chapter, up before the end of the weekend =D
This one was actually pretty fun to write and until I rewatched it for reference, I had almost forgotten this episode happened! As you can imagine, the next couple of chapters are going to get a little dark, as Bart's accident and the aftermath of that is coming up (only for Blair's downward spiral arc to almost immediately follow Chuck's), so I guess you could say this chapter is the calm before the (long) storm.
And once again, I blended and mixed in storylines from other episodes (and made mention to ones that I skipped over, like the visit to Yale, as the canon of that can easily fit into this story's timeline without needed to be rewritten).
Enjoy!
Everyone knew Chuck was no fan of Dan Humphrey but after a recent turn of events, his dislike of the Boy from Brooklyn had increased ten-fold.
He was a bit surprised (not to mention suspicious) a few weeks ago when Humphrey showed up at the Van der Bass penthouse not looking for Serena but for Chuck himself. Especially after it had just been a few short weeks since the major social take-down Blair, Serena and himself had bestowed on the boy. However, he had fed Chuck some line about wanting to break out of his comfort zone and experience new things - specifically requesting "The Chuck Bass Experience." Blair was busy with fashion week and Serena for Eleanor's upcoming fashion show for the infamous fashion week, not to mention they had been trying to take things slow, leaving Chuck bored and to his own devices for a few days so he decided to indulge the Brooklynite.
Their first night out was innocent enough.
Chuck took him to an exclusive club that only those of status could get into – a big step up from the usual digs they all went to on occasion. Dan was in awe of the service Chuck received just by dropping his name. Chuck had gotten him drunk and high – something he was sure Humphrey had never done before – before kicking him out of the limo just outside Brooklyn (as Chuck would never venture all the way across the bridge without good reason), sans shoes of course.
Which was why he should have known the outsider was working an angle when he showed up at the club to see him the next night, asking Twenty Questions and nearly begging for more.
When Humphrey started asking him about his childhood and his father, Chuck quickly excused himself to go talk up what he thought was a cheap blonde prostitute sitting at the bar – while he would never cheat on Blair, regardless of the current physical sexual state (or lack of one) in their relationship, he figured maybe if he got Humphrey laid the stalker-in-training would leave him alone. To his surprise, though, the woman was just some man's girlfriend wearing an extremely trashy dress.
If Blair were here, she would definitely have some witty remark about the tacky ensemble, he remembered thinking to himself.
Just as the woman's boyfriend was about to start something with him, Humphrey had stepped in, knocking the guy out first. Unfortunately though, it landed them both in jail.
While they sat in the holding cell, waiting for bail to be posted, Dan lamented his father finding out while Chuck pointed out that at least his father cared – Bart never did. His biggest regret was Blair finding out and being disappointed, especially after he had gone so long without getting in trouble like this. In a moment of weakness, he admitted all this to the Brooklynite and more – going into detail as to why he believed his father always hated him, his theory being that it was his fault his mother died.
Despite their past differences, Chuck really thought that maybe him and Humphrey had come to some sort of common ground – Nate did speak fondly of the Humphrey's and Serena kept going back to Brooklyn time and time again... maybe there was something he missed in his initial judgment of Dan.
But then when he was told his lawyer had gotten him out and Chuck went to retrieve his belongings from the check out desk, they mistakenly gave him Dan's things instead. One of which was a sheet of notes on a rough draft for a story about "Charlie Trout." Chuck was furious – the Boy from Brooklyn was nothing more than a rat, using him as source material for a story. While he had offered moments before to see if his lawyer could get him out too, Chuck changed his mind and quickly returned to the cell to inform Dan that anything he had confessed was merely a lie and to let him know that he was onto him and his stupid story.
Humphrey had brought using people to a whole new level.
Which is why he was shocked when he walked into his father's office at The Palace a few weeks later to see Bart being all chummy with The Rat.
And offering to take him to a Rangers game Tuesday night.
The exact same Rangers game he had turned Chuck down for earlier that morning over breakfast when he had so eagerly presented his father with the tickets.
"Chuck... what are you doing here?" Bart questioned as his son approached.
"I'm sorry sir – I told him you were in a meeting..." Bart's assistant apologized, rushing in behind Chuck.
"I stopped by to get your schedule cleared Tuesday night for the game," Chuck informed him. "But apparently you already have date," he glared at Humphrey. "What are you doing here?"
"I, uh... I'm recently interested in the construction business," Dan lied. "I... I thought maybe your dad could show me the ropes." Feeling awkward by Chuck's intense, angry stare, he quickly dismissed himself. "But I was just leaving so... yeah... Thank you Mr. Bass."
"Really, father? Dan Humphrey?" Chuck sighed once Dan had left, feeling a bit hurt that his father would rather spend time with a low-life social outsider like him than with his own son.
"Chuck, he's just a friend of Serena's who was looking for a little career guidance..." Bart started.
"Save it, father... I get it," Chuck said, feeling upset and turning to leave.
"Chuck..." Bart called after him, but with very little effort of actually following after him.
Chuck just kept walking til he got to his limo where he poured himself some scotch as he instructed Arthur to take him home. On a whim though, he did pull out his phone and demanded his PI do some tailing on Humphrey. He had a hunch the Brooklyn trash was up to no good.
Blair was livid. It was bad enough that the little meeting with the influential Yale donor Mrs. Boardman that Serena insisted she tag along on ended up being nothing but humiliating, but to top of it, she was now spending her evening babysitting a pretentious freshman.
"Is my mom gone?" Blair heard the girl call out from her room in the suite.
"Yes..." Blair called in response, not taking her eyes off the copy of InStyle she found lying around. "So, what kind of movies do you like? Something where the animals sing or..." her jaw nearly dropped at the sight of what the young teen had changed into. "Oh sweet heaven!" she gasped.
"So Muffy McDonough has been bragging about how she's going to lose her virginity as she landed a date with the Lacrosse captain – they call him the DE-Virginator!" the girl explained.
"Oh. My. God." Blair exclaimed in horror. "Stop your mouth from moving!"
"But now that I finally have a night away from mom and dad, we'll see who's first – I'm saying TTFN to my you-know-what," she continued.
"Or... maybe we'll see how your mom feels about your little clearance sale number, Lohan," Blair quipped, grabbing the girl by the arm.
"Please... I heard you talking about getting into Yale – Dean Baraby is like my uncle, so help me or I tell him how you took me to a club and got me wasted!" the teen threatened.
Blair was at a loss for words.
NO ONE challenges me like that! She screamed in her head.
Before she could respond though, the girl – Emma she recalled her name being – was already on her way to the door.
"I got a credit card and fake ID, and I want Bacardi and a boy," Emma demanded, opening the door. "This body is open for business," she stated as she walked through it.
Blair quickly took off running after her. This was going to be a long night.
"Well, you finally did it!" Blair stormed into Serena's room. "You just absolutely made sure that I'll never get into Yale!"
"What are you talking about?" Serena questioned as she flipped through photographs on the bed.
"You know Little Emma?" Blair started. "Turns out she's less "Holly Hobby" and more "Jenna Jameson!""
"Can you speak plainly, B?" Serena asked in annoyance.
"She's determined to become a woman on my watch," Blair explained. "And if I don't help her then she's going to character assassinate me to the Dean!"
"I don't understand – I thought she liked ice cream and magic?" Serena wondered.
"Next time, S, leave the scheming to the experts – meaning Chuck and me!" she instructed. "What... what is all this?" she snapped.
"Pictures from summer camp long ago," Serena gushed. "Aaron dressed up as Cecil the Caterpillar... I bumped into him outside The Palace."
"The guy gave you a ring pop when you were six, S... move on!" Blair rolled her eyes.
"It was licorice and I was eight!" Serena firmly stated.
"Ancient. Unimportant. History!" Blair yelled back. "Focus, Serena – you got me into this and I AM NOT losing Yale because of that little tart's libido!"
"Why don't you just occupy her for awhile? Take her to the charity gala and when you get there just explain you didn't know how lame it would be and when it's time for her to go home, you'll be off the hook," Serena suggested.
Blair mulled it over for a moment but before she could decide if it would work she heard a voice pip up from the doorway.
"So! I just checked Gossip Girl and I'm thinking we hit Socialista before Beatrice!" Emma said, announcing her presence.
Blair shot her a glare before turning back to Serena. "See what I'm dealing with?"
Serena sighed. Seeing the young teen in that dress, she didn't realize just how bad it was until then.
"Emma... I was thinking," Blair turned back towards the teen. "Where is the glory in bedding down with some dirty, Manhattan hipster who's probably filming you on a nanny cam? You really wanna make Muffy jealous?"
The girl eagerly nodded. Blair had piqued her interest.
"Have your flower plucked by one of the elite," Blair informed her.
"And... where would I find someone like that?" Emma questioned curiously.
Blair turned to Serena, smiling.
As if on cue, Serena chimed in. "Luckily, we know the place! But... you're going to have to pay a visit to my closet first." Serena informed her.
Emma squealed in excitement as she ran over and opened Serena's ginormous closet and began rummaging through it.
Blair smiled in relief, mouthing a silent "thank you" to Serena.
Maybe this evening wouldn't be so bad after all... she thought.
"Well... just what do we have here?" Chuck asked curiously as he entered the main room of the Van der Bass penthouse to see a young little thing in a small pink dress walking across the room from the hallway he shared with Serena. "Allow me to introduce myself," he said, sauntering over to the girl. "I'm Chuck-"
"Bass! Oh my god!" she exclaimed, shaking his hand. "I read about you on Gossip Girl! You're like the devil!"
"Finally – some truth in advertising..." he smirked. "Headed out are we?"
"Serena, Blair and I are going to the Gala," she informed him. "I hope you're coming?"
"Well I'm all for company on a Friday night – especially knowing Blair would be joining – but the only thing I like that aged is my scotch," he told her.
"What?!" she questioned in disbelief. "It's all old people? Blair told me it was all hot guys..."
"Sounds to me like you've been taken for a ride," Chuck snickered, wondering just what Blair was playing at with this poor girl.
"Well... how about you take me for a ride instead?" she boldly came onto him.
Curious as to what she was up to, Chuck decided to play along. He knew Blair would most likely come looking for the girl soon enough anyway. "Looks like you've just hooked a Bass," he remarked as he offered his arm to her, leading her towards the elevator.
"You look beautiful, Blair," Serena complimented her. "Can we go now?"
"Patience love – the sooner we get there, the sooner the jig is up," Blair reminded her. "I'll go check on our vestal virgin."
Moments later, Blair came running back into the room.
"She's gone!" she yelled.
"Who?" Serena questioned.
"Who do you think! Emma!" Blair cried in frustration.
Where the hell did she get to so fast? Blair wondered.
"Wow! A real limo! This is so perfect!" The girl gushed to Chuck, taking it all in. "By the way, my name is-"
"Let's not ruin it with your talking," Chuck requested. In all honesty, she had done nothing but talk his ear off ever since he agreed to giving her a lift and frankly he was quickly growing tired of her already.
"Fine," she quipped as she boldly inched closer to him. "Let's get to business then."
Chuck began to feel a little uncomfortable. He had plenty of women come onto him before over the years and even though he was unofficially back with Blair, he was still used to having to ward them off much like he had for the past year. However this one was coming on quite strong for someone who was supposed to be under Blair's watch.
"How old are you, anyway?" he questioned her.
"Old enough," she replied as she attempted to kiss him, only for him to turn away so that her kiss landed on his cheek instead.
"Nuh uh-uh," he whispered.
"What? Am I doing something wrong? Is there something specific you'd like for me to do?" she frantically asked him.
"It's not that, dear," Chuck began to explain. "It's just that... I'm technically with someone," he admitted.
"What? You?!" she said in shock. "That's not what I read on Gossip Girl..."
"Well, Gossip Girl doesn't always have all the facts," he informed her.
"This is stupid then and a waste of my time!" she stammered. "Driver! Please stop the car!" she demanded, quickly exiting.
"Text him!" Blair barked at Serena.
"I texted him six times already – just like with yours, he hasn't responded!" Serena yelled back.
"Well text him again!" she yelled as a mix of emotions came over her – fury, rage, worry... jealousy and even a little bit of hurt. "Before he screws her and ruins any chance I have at getting into Yale!"
"I put out an APB on Gossip Girl with Emma's picture on it – every girl in Manhattan will be on the look out," Serena calmly explained.
Just then they heard the familiar ding of the elevator.
"Chuck!" Serena called out as she saw him round the corner of the hall. Blair stopped pacing around the room and marched right up to him.
"You! What did you do with her?!" she screamed at him, giving him a push in anger.
"Hey to you too," he remarked, giving Blair a playful little push in return. "For your information, she assaulted me – demanded I deflower her..."
"Really Chuck?!" Blair continued to yell at him as she felt a pang of hurt hit her. "Limos and virgins... just your specialty!"
"Just so you know... among the very few things I hold sacred, the back of the limo is strictly ours," he was quick to inform her. He couldn't help but notice Serena squirm at that admittance. "Once she realized I wasn't going to let her ride the stallion she bolted – last I saw her, she was hailing a cab downtown."
Blair let out a quiet sigh of relief, knowing that Chuck hadn't regressed to his old ways.
"Hey, Iz just texted me," Serena chimed in. "She said the bartender at 1 Oak said an E. Boardman just used a credit card there."
"Ugh, she didn't waste anytime – come on!" Blair insisted, grabbing Chuck by the hand and heading towards the elevator.
"I can't go – I have my mom's thing," Serena reminded her.
"What?! No! You're coming – you owe me!" she yelled at Serena as she let go of Chuck and turned to drag Serena off the couch and towards the elevator. "Both of you!" she stated, snapping her fingers on her free hand in Chuck's face to get his attention to follow.
"Fine..." she heard him mutter under his breath.
"Don't sass me, Bass – if it weren't for you, she wouldn't have left the penthouse without me in the first place!" she snapped at him.
"I don't see her!" Blair called out over the loud music.
"I'll talk to the bartender," Chuck declared as he headed off in the direction of the main bar while Serena and Blair proceeded to maneuver around the crowded room.
"There she is!" Serena exclaimed as they spied Emma chatting up some guy in a booth off in a corner.
"Looks like you got nailed, just not in the way you wanted!" Blair quipped at the teen as she stood to greet them.
"Just give it time – Serg and I were just about to move the party over to his place," she informed them.
"Serg?" Blair asked with a raised eyebrow. "Honestly, how tacky are you?"
"Okay, you guys – let's go," Serena insisted. She was desperate not to be too late to her mother's gala.
"Serena!" a guy called out to her. Blair and Serena both turned to see who it was. Emma took that as her opportunity to make a break for it.
"Wait! No! Out of my way... get back here!" Blair called out as she struggled to chase after her. "Stop her! Emma!" she yelled as she watched her turn and make an exit with whom she could only guess was Serg.
"Serena, I lost her out front in a crowd of identical couples!" Blair sighed as she found Serena. "Their cab is probably halfway to Serg's by now... if she even waits that long!"
"She's not answering her phone either..." Serena replied sadly.
"Well congratulations, S... for ruining my future! Again!"
"Me?!"
"I'm sorry – who came up with the idea of me babysitting my way into Yale?"
"You wouldn't have had another chance with the Dean if it hadn't been for me!"
"Oh, right... you're such a celebrity! Miss Van der Woodsen – your pillows are being fluffed in the VIP section!" Blair mocked.
"Kitten, please... calm down," Chuck said upon his return as he tried to talk Blair out of making a scene. While he didn't get a chance to witness Blair and Serena's epic cat fight outside the Dean's home at Yale during their recent school visit, he sure heard plenty about it from each of them and knew it was a sore subject still for Blair. "I found her table."
"You're a little behind, Chuck – she already left," Blair informed him.
"I asked the bartender – he said she's over there in the corner booth," he pointed out to the girls.
"E. Boardman?" Blair gasped as they all three slowly began walking towards the table in question. "Elizabeth... that's not Emma- that's her mother."
"And that's... not her father..." Serena noticed.
"Oh my god..." Blair could hardly contain her excitement as she quickly whipped out her phone to snap a photo of the woman all over a man that wasn't her husband.
Chuck smiled. He could see the wheels of blackmail turning in that pretty little head of hers.
"Thank you, God – so much! I won't let you down!" he overheard Blair praying.
He couldn't help but chuckle.
"Hey, Blair..." he attempted to get her attention. "Serena's went to see if maybe the doorman knows our virgin vixen's guy," he informed her.
"Why? Who cares when there's blackmail to be had," she teased him with a smirk as she ran a finger along the lapel of his jacket, knowing he'd always be up for whatever scheme she had in mind. "I've found my golden ticket!"
"Blair! No!" Serena exclaimed as she returned. "That little girl's mother is having an affair – no wonder she's acting out!"
Blair sighed. "Serena! Open your eyes – this is practically a sign from God!"
"That family needs help!"
"Well no argument there – they're even more screwed up than all of ours!"
While Blair and Serena were arguing, Chuck felt his phone vibrate, letting him know he had a missed call and new voicemail. Attempting to block out the noise enough to hear it, his eyes widened in horror at the message left by his PI.
"Chuck? What is it?" Serena stopped arguing with Blair for a moment when she noticed the look on his face. Blair quickly turned to see what was the matter too.
"Sis... you're going to want to hear this..." Chuck informed Serena, passing her the phone to replay the voicemail.
Serena wore a look of confusion as she listened to Andrew Tyler explain that Dan was working an expose about Bart for Vanity Fair and in doing so, he uncovered quite a scandal involving arson.
"Chuck... I don't understand..." Serena told him.
"It could ruin us, Serena - me, my father, you, your mother, Eric... we'll all will be marred by this if that piece of trash reveals it and it gets investigated – which you know it will be."
"Oh my god!" Serena gasped as it clicked in her head.
"Tyler said Brooklyn was last being tailed on his way to the gala," Chuck informed her.
"My mom's texting me now, wondering where I am... Look, Chuck – the guy's name is Serg Gronance, his father plays tennis at your dad's club... I'll stop Dan, you keep Blair on task."
"Go - I recognize the name and can easily get the address," he assured her. "Come on, Blair – let's go."
"I'm going over there," she told him, pointing in the direction of the Yale donor.
"Do whatever you want, Blair, but please – save Emma first," Serena pleaded with her.
"Ugh, fine..." Blair sighed reluctantly. "We'll go save Little Red Riding Hood from the Big Bad Wolf, but after that it's Bulldog, Bulldog – Rah, rah, rah!"
Chuck shook his head in disbelief trying not to bust out laughing as he watched her. She had no idea just how humorously entertaining she was at times. With an annoyed look, Blair playfully smacked him in the arm with her clutch, which only caused him to laugh a little more.
Serena rolled her eyes at them. "I'm trusting you," she warned as she turned to leave.
"Any bright ideas?" Blair turned to Chuck.
"As a matter of fact... I do have one," he confessed as he offered her his arm. She pretended to act disgusted at first, only to surprise him with a grin as she gladly accepted. She was happy things between them seemed to be falling back into place.
Smiling back at her, he led them through the crowd towards his limo waiting outside.
"Emma, open up!" Blair called as she banged on the door of Serg's apartment. "We know you're in there!"
"Go away!" Emma whispered loudly through the door. "Serg is in the bathroom and when he gets out there's going to be one less virgin around here!"
"You do have to admire her determination..." Chuck stated. Blair glared at him for that remark as it wasn't helping any. "What? You do..."
"I can't let Muffy lose hers before me – she beats me at everything!" the teen whined.
"Tell her to check Gossip Girl," Chuck muttered.
"Emma! Do you have your phone?" Blair quickly asked. "Check Gossip Girl – it's important!"
"Look, I already told you – nothing's going to-" but as Emma looked at her phone, she began to throw a fit. "WHAT?!" she screamed as she swung open the door. "It says "Muffy's Muff Gets Stuffed"! Does that mean..."
"That little Muffy took her first steps as a woman? Afraid so," Blair informed her.
"She lost her virginity AND her Gossip Girl cherry on the same night!?" Emma exclaimed in anger. "But how did she get on Gossip Girl?!"
"It pays to have connections..." Chuck subtly remarked.
"Emma... come here little princess..." they all heard a man's voice call out. Blair pushed past Emma and immediately ran into the apartment to put a stop to all this.
She soon wished she hadn't been so hasty.
"Ack! Oh my god!" Blair screamed in shock. Chuck quickly came to her side, curious as to what she had seen. To their surprise, there was Serg, baring all, with a freshly shaved and fully erect schlong. Chuck couldn't help but laugh at the idiot.
"I feel violated!" Blair declared as she turned and buried her head in Chuck shoulder. He gently rubbed her back trying to ease her sudden discomfort. "I'll be out in the limo," she soon decided as she stormed out of the apartment, pulling Emma with her. "Come on!"
"Piece of advice, lose the tulip," Chuck suggested to Serg before he turned to follow after Blair and the teen.
"You might be upset, but believe me – this is isn't how you want to lose your virginity," Blair tried to comfort Emma as they pulled up to the Palace.
"Really? Which venue would you suggest?" Chuck inquired, curiously. "Perhaps..." he smirked at her as he subtly patted the leather seat of the limo.
She rolled her eyes at him, refusing to answer that question in front of the young girl.
"Aren't you done?!' Emma cried. "You won! You, Muffy, my mom... I'm the only loser!"
"You still don't get it..." Blair tried to calm her down. "Having sex for the first time shouldn't be part of a competition to beat Muffy the Lacrosstitute! It should be with... with someone you love," Blair told her, forgetting who was in their present company.
For the second time in this conversation that he had initially found boring, Chuck's interest was piqued as he turned to give his full attention.
"Was... was your first time with someone you loved?" Muffy genuinely wondered.
Chuck patiently held his breath as he eagerly waited for Blair's response.
Blair paused for a moment before giving her answer, hesitant at first, knowing he was probably listening. "Yes... it was," she admitted as she turned and looked over at Chuck.
She wasn't expecting him to be staring at her as intently as he was. She gave him a shy smile as she gently reached over and squeezed his knee. She noticed a smile form on his lips as well as he reached down and covered her hand with his own, giving it a gentle squeeze in return.
They both knew it wasn't the three little words they had tortured each other over several weeks earlier, but they both knew the subtle confession would make due until either of them were ready to say them.
"Besides, Emma," Blair said turning back towards her. "There are better ways to get your mother's attention."
"I told you, this is about Muffy-"
"Oh please! I wrote the book on distracted, self-centered mothers – my mom has never met a single one of my teachers. She regularly forgets my birthday and she only comments on my appearance when she has something to criticize," Blair confessed. Chuck hated that she had brought all that up as he knew how much it pained her to talk about it.
"But... you're perfect..." Emma told her. Neither one of them noticed Chuck nodding in agreement.
"True... and that's why I finally realized that it wasn't about me... the same way it's not about you," Blair comforted her.
"My mom always says that when we come to the city that we're going to hang out, do mother-daughter things...it never happens," Emma softly confessed.
"So... tell her that," Blair encouraged her. "And... can you try to avoid the Serg's of the world?"
Emma smiled. "Thanks you guys, and by the way – that guy was pretty gross!"
"Yeah... just a little," Blair agreed. "Come on, let's get you inside," she suggested as Arthur opened the door.
"Wait for me?" Blair paused, turning to Chuck before she got out.
"Always," he smiled at her as he tipped his glass of scotch in favor.
"Do you realize what time it is?" Emma's mother commented as Blair and Emma entered the suite. "And look at that dress! Do you really expect me to believe you went to the movies in that?!"
"Mom, please don't – this isn't her fault," Emma began to protest.
"Bed, now... Now!" her mother barked at her.
Emma sighed as she gave Blair an apologetic look before heading into her room.
"Mrs. Boardman, look, before you say anything you'll regret-" Blair started.
"What was your plan? Take my daughter clubbing and hope she'd plead your case to the Dean?" Mrs. Boardman quipped. "I have some bad news for you, Miss Waldorf – from what I've seen, you're not Yale material."
"Oh, you haven't seen anything yet," Blair went into blackmail-mode. "Tell me, did you have a nice time with your Brenmhar friend?"
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Here, let me lend you my phone – you'll be needing it to make a call to New Haven..."
"Mom, this isn't Blair's fault!" Emma declared as she emerged from her room once more.
"I told you to go to bed!"
"Blair was only trying to help me!"
"You're lecturing me?! No wonder I don't want to spend any time with you! Bed! Right now!"
With that Emma huffed back to her room, slamming the door behind her.
"You were saying?" Mrs. Boardman turned her attention back on Blair.
"Just..." Blair hesitated. The blackmail didn't seem worth it anymore. What she just witnessed hit too close to home. "Your daughter is a great girl... you should pay more attention to her – soon it will be too late." She decided she'd save her blackmail on Mrs. Boardman for later in case it came in handy. She needed to get out of there right away before a flood of memories swept over her mind.
"So... how'd it go?" Chuck inquired as Blair slumped into the backseat of the limo.
"Her mother was there," Blair simply stated, staring off vacantly.
"Ooh, your opportunity for Blackmail - fill me in on what I missed?" he grinned. He knew she was one of the few that could epically deliver a blackmail threat, he was just sad he had missed it in person.
Instead of answering him though, he noticed her lean forward, with her elbows on her knees as she buried her face in her hands. He immediately grew concerned.
"Blair... What's wrong? What happened?" he pressed for an answer as he quickly but gently shifted from the side seat to the back bench next to her, putting an arm around her, pulling her into him.
"It was horrible, Chuck," she began to sob, turning to bury her head in his chest.
"How is that possible? The blackmail go awry?" he questioned, confused.
"It don't go at all," she sobbed. "Her mother is horrible – the things she said to her... it was almost like an out of body experience, like I was watching my mother berate me for the millionth time."
"Blair..." Chuck sighed. He wanted so desperately to make the pain stop.
"I know, I shouldn't let it get to me... it's not like Eleanor's ever around much these days..." Blair said as she pulled back to wipe the tears from her face. "It's just... seeing it from that perspective... I don't ever want to be like my mother,"
Chuck nodded, he knew how she felt – he didn't want to be like his father. "I know... and you won't," he assured her, kissing her on the top of her chestnut curls.
Blair sighed as he held her in his arms.
"Chuck?"
"Yes, Blair?"
"Thanks... for everything tonight," she told him.
"Anytime, Waldorf," he smiled.
He had wanted to ask her about her confession to Emma just a little bit ago in the limo and hopefully recreate a sacred memory they shared, but as he held her tightly, gently running his fingers through her hair, he decided that perhaps tonight wasn't the right time.
"I meant what I said earlier, by the way," she spoke up. It was almost like she had read his mind.
"Hm?" He wanted to be sure they were talking about the same thing.
"When Emma asked about my first time... I meant what I said," she clarified as she looked up to face him.
"I know," he said as he smiled down at her and softly kissed her on the forehead. "I wish I could say the same thing, however... my first time was quite different than most peoples..." he added.
"Yes, Chuck – I know... your Italian au pair," she rolled her eyes.
Really it was quite disgusting when you thought about it – any normal parent would have called the police when they found out, but Bart instead congratulated him on becoming a man at such a young age.
"You know, I was bit upset and jealous when I thought you had had your way with her earlier tonight... in our... sacred spot," Blair admitted as she looked at him with her big doe eyes.
"Oh yeah? I hadn't noticed," Chuck teased.
She playfully slapped him in the arm again as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Chuck, just shut up and kiss me already," she demanded as she pulled him towards her.
He was none too eager to oblige her request, passionately returning her kiss as he slowly began to slide a hand up her thigh and under her skirt. She didn't seem to be bothered by it.
"Arthur – why don't you drive around the city for a little bit," Chuck instructed his driver as he turned back towards Blair with a devilish grin on his face.
Aside from one lone night after Blair's birthday party just over a week ago or so when they had decided to make an exception to taking things slow, they had gone without satisfying each others physical needs for far too long – this was long over due, Chuck decided.
The next morning, Blair woke up in Chuck's bed at the Van der Bass penthouse to find herself completely alone with no sign of him anywhere. Curious, she checked her messages.
Sorry u had 2 wake up alone. Needed 2 see Nate this morning – BBL! XOXO
-C
She smiled to herself as she got up to go climb in bed with Serena across the hall. Things appeared to have resumed between her and Chuck.
"Figured you'd be back at the family manor," Chuck stated as he walked in on Nate packing. He glanced around at the room, noticing it nearly empty. "What is this? The new minimalism?" He questioned in surprise.
Nate continued to pack without answering.
"What the hell is going on?" Chuck wondered, his voice full of concern.
"What do you think? I told you we were in trouble..." Nate quipped.
"I didn't think it was this bad..." Chuck confessed. "Then again if it drove you to Brooklyn I guess I should have known..."
"Brooklyn's over," Nate interrupted. "I'm going to stay with my mom for the holidays."
"Don't be so dramatic, you're coming with me – you can either stay in my suite or crash at the penthouse with Serena and me," Chuck declared.
"No, I'm not," Nate argued as he hoisted his duffel bag over his arm and proceeded on his way.
What's gotten into him? Chuck wondered.
"B... it's time to get up – there are other schools besides Yale... like Princeton!" Serena coaxed her awake with talk and tea.
"Princeton is a trade school!" Blair pointed out, pushing away the tea. "There is only Yale!"
"Well, regardless... I am proud of you for not succumbing to your basic instincts – Hey! Even though you might not get into Yale, this will make sure you won't go to hell!" Serena attempted to joke.
"Ha, ha, S..." Blair said sarcastically, clearly unamused.
Just then her phone rang.
"Hello – Blair Waldorf's phone," Serena answered it. "Why yes, Dean Baraby – she's right here actually..." Serena said as she handed off the phone to Blair.
"What?! No..." Blair argued as she tried to push the phone away. It ended up in her face anyway. "Dean Baraby..." she greeted him. "What a surprise... yes... uh huh..."
"Omg! S!" Blair came running out in the main room. "You'll never believe it – apparently Emma told the Dean that I am the one person she would most like to have dinner with!" she squealed in excitement.
"Oh my god, B! That's great!"
"And he said that Yale needs someone just like Blair Waldorf," she gushed.
"Oh, B! I'm so happy for you!" Serena cried as she gave her best friend a hug!
"I can't wait to tell Chuck!" Blair remarked.
"Speaking of which... you two snuck in kind of late last night... and obviously you spent the night... does this mean...?"
"Yes, S... I'm afraid so," Blair grinned as she confirmed to Serena that her and Chuck were in fact officially back together and finally gave into their physical urges.
"Oh thank God!" Serena exclaimed. "Chuck was so tightly wound he was starting to get on everyone's nerves around here!"
"Well, that shouldn't be an issue anymore," Blair smirked.
"Eww, B..." Serena grimaced. "Hey, I got an idea – since Yale is also back on for you, let's spend the afternoon looking through the course catalog!"
"Chuck! You'll never guess what happened!" Blair exclaimed as she burst into his room moments after she heard him return and close the door across the hall.
"What's that?" he wondered as he moved over from where he was lounging in thought on the bed, leaving space for her to sit down next to him. She quickly began to fill him in on her phone call earlier with Dean Baraby when they heard a knock on the door.
"Yes?" Chuck called, curious as to who it could be since Blair was already there.
"Can I come in?" Bart asked as he opened the door to address Chuck.
"I can't stop you..." Chuck sighed in response, looking over to Blair quizzically. What his father could possibly want with him right then was beyond him.
"Blair... nice to see you again," Bart acknowledged her presence. "If you don't mind, may I please have word with my son? I believe Serena's still in her room..."
"Of course," Blair obliged, giving Chuck a quick kiss as she scooted herself off the bed. "Pleasure seeing you again, Mr. Bass," she turned to Bart as she walked past him.
"Bart, dear," he corrected her. He figured as close as she was with Serena and how close he was aware she was growing with Chuck, they could do without the formalities. Especially since Bart suspected she might just become family someday.
"Bart," she nodded in agreement.
He closed the door behind her before he continued.
"Seems you two have made amends since the events that transpired just before summer..." Bart attempted to show interest in his son's life.
"It would seem so..." Chuck remarked as he tried to distract himself with the book he had been reading before Blair joined him.
"That's good," Bart continued, only to sigh as he noticed Chuck trying to ignore him. "Look, son... I came to apologize," he admitted.
That got Chuck's attention.
"Apologize?" Chuck questioned in surprise. His father never apologized for anything. And least of all to him.
"I never – never – blamed you for your mother's death," Bart began. "I read that short story that your friend, Dan Humphrey, wrote about you and your mother... I had no idea you felt that way... It's my fault," he confessed as he made his way across the room, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "I know I've had trouble being close to you, but it's not for the reasons you think..." he then noticed a picture frame on Chuck's dresser that contained a photo of his deceased wife. He didn't realize Chuck had kept a photo of her. Bart briefly recalled the day that particular photo was taken – it was outside The Palace, in the courtyard, just before the first annual Bass Industries charity gala nearly twenty years ago. They had just recently learned she was pregnant with Chuck. "Every time I look at you, I see her..."
"You miss her..." Chuck commented, noticing his father was lost in the picture.
"You have no idea," Bart admitted. "I've made some terrible mistakes in my life... but I don't want to make another – I want to know my son..."
The confession completely caught Chuck off guard. He never in a million years would have thought he'd be having this conversation with his father. And at his father's request no less.
"So... any interest in going to that hockey game?" Bart questioned, hoping the offer was still open.
"I, uh... I suppose I could clear my calendar," Chuck replied, fighting back a bit of shock.
"Sounds good, son, I look forward to it," Bart smiled as he went to stand up. "We'll talk more then... I actually need to head into the office for a bit this afternoon – the investors called an emergency meeting for this last minute business acquisition that we're trying to finalize, but I should be home in time for dinner... tell Blair she's welcome to join us."
"Will do, father," Chuck assured him as he watched him leave the room.
He smiled. He couldn't believe his father was finally making an effort to spend some time with him. Maybe Humphrey wasn't so terrible after all... however that didn't mean Chuck still had to like him.
AN: And there we have it - the calm before the storm! Next chapter is the Snowflake Ball and Bart's accident with a glimpse of the beginning of Chuck's downward spiral.
And again, as always - thanks for all the reviews/comments and follows/favorites! I know I say it every chapter, but I really do appreciate it and look forward to reading the reviews!