We make our own fortunes, and call them fate. And what better excuse to choose a path than to insist it's our destiny?
Gossip Girl: 3x12


"How are you enjoying the party?"

Vanessa glanced up from her drink to see Chuck Bass walking towards her. He raised his eyebrows expectantly, waiting for her answer.

"It's great," she replied sarcastically. "Thank you for inviting me."

"Yeah, well," Chuck leaned against the wall next to her, lowering his voice. "The only reason you're even here—at what would otherwise be an exclusive gathering—is because I need you to keep an eye on Dan and Blair…which you won't be able to do by standing in this corner, so I suggest you get out there and mingle."

"No."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm not your puppet, Chuck," Vanessa snapped, "And I'm not going to spy on my best friend anymore!"

"Best friend?" Chuck repeated incredulously, "You were singing a different tune a few days ago."

"Maybe so," Vanessa admitted, "But things are different now. Dan and I…we've reached an understanding." She shrugged, placing her drink on the table. "And now, I think I should leave."

Chuck grabbed her arm, his eyes flashing with anger. "Wait a second, don't you even want to know why I'm hosting this party?"

Vanessa pulled her arm out of his grasp, and squared her shoulders. "First of all, you don't get to touch me. And second of all, no I don't care. Goodbye, Chuck."

He watched in disbelief as she walked away from him, nodding to Dan on her way out. Dan waved back to her, raising his glass in her direction.

Chuck scowled.

.

About an hour later, Nate finally made an appearance. He looked slightly disheveled—but stunningly handsome, as always. "Hey man," Nate slid into a seat next to Chuck, "Great party."

"You're late," Chuck announced, his words slurring slightly. "Where have you been? With Raina?"

"No," Nate said slowly, "Didn't I tell you? Raina is in Europe for a couple of weeks. Speaking of which, I heard you took off for a few days. Anything I should know about?"

Chuck frowned, "Raina is in Europe? For what?"

Nate hesitated, "Uh, you know. Just taking a vacation."

"Please, Nathaniel. We've been friends for years," Chuck shook his head, "I know when you're lying."

"It's nothing," Nate coughed, looking shifty. His hand shot out to stop Chuck from downing his glass, "Maybe you should cool it with the alcohol."

Chuck turned around pointedly to look at Dan and Blair, who were standing close together. They looked deep in conversation, seemingly oblivious to the crowd around them. "I don't think so," Chuck narrowed his eyes, his gaze darkening before tossing back the contents of the glass in one move.

"Where are you going?" Nate protested as Chuck slid unsteadily out of his chair and began making his way towards the staircase.

"I need to get something important."

.

"Blair."

Both she and Dan turned around to see Nate sidle up to them, looking apprehensive. "Hey Nate, you finally made it," Dan greeted, but frowned when he saw Nate's expression. "Is everything alright?"

"I don't know," Nate lowered his voice, "Do you know why Chuck is hosting this party? I mean, I know he just got back from being out of town..."

"I haven't talked to Chuck," Blair answered promptly, "And if I didn't have to be here for moral support, then I wouldn't have shown up at all."

"Yeah, about that...Do you have to flaunt your relationship in front of him?"

Blair's eyes widened and she immediately stepped away from Dan. "Wh-what? We're not..."

"Not in a relationship," Dan finished, averting his gaze from Blair's. "I don't know what you've heard, or what Chuck thinks— "

"You don't have to explain anything to me," Nate interrupted, "I'm not going to judge. I just came over here because I think Chuck is really upset. He went upstairs, and he's already drunk...Blair, can you do something?"

She huffed out an aggravated breath, "Why am I always the one that has to— "

"Blair, please."

She sighed, "Fine. Lead the way, Archibald."

"Wait a second," Dan protested, "You shouldn't..."

Blair touched his arm in a placating matter, "I'll be fine."

.

Nate led the way upstairs and they both paused on the landing when they saw Chuck's room was open. "Go ahead," Nate mouthed, "I'll wait out here."

Blair nodded, and walked slowly into the room. Chuck wasn't facing her, but he saw her reflection in the mirror and whirled around. "Blair..."

And even if she wasn't with him anymore, her heart broke a little at the desperation in his voice. "Chuck, what are you doing up here?" she asked quietly, "Everyone is downstairs."

"Blair," Chuck took a step towards her, "We both agreed...when the time was right, we would come back together. We belong together."

"Chuck— "

"Our destinies," he began speaking quickly now, his words fumbling over one another in his drunken state, "We are forever on the same path, Blair. You and me...we can build our futures together."

She shook her head, taking a step backwards. "Chuck, I'm sorry. You and I...we're not good for each other. Our relationship..." She trailed off, trying to find the right words. "It was toxic."

Chuck's eyes flashed and he was suddenly standing in front of her. "Don't say that, Blair. We had something...passion, love. The only thing that's ever been real is me and you!"

There were tears sparkling in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall. "I have to go," Blair whispered, turning on her heel and rushing out of the room.

"Blair!"

"Whoa," Nate stepped into the room, blocking the exit of the door so Chuck couldn't follow Blair. "Man, I think you need to take a deep breath and calm down. You're scaring her...you're scaring me."

"No, I need to go after her!"

"No, you don't!" Nate shoved Chuck into the room so he stumbled back several feet. "Enough is enough, Chuck."

"No one understands what we have!" Chuck shouted drunkenly, glass shattering onto the floor.

"Because it's not normal!" Nate shouted back, "Chuck, you have to see your relationship with Blair for what it truly was— "

"It was real," Chuck said stubbornly, "And there's no way I'm giving her up without a fight."

.

Dan walked around the house, the chatter of the dinner guests growing distant. He heard a footstep and turned around, "Blair?"

"Just me," Eric said, joining him. "Trying to get away from the crowd. You?"

"Looking for Blair...she disappeared a while ago to talk to Chuck, but I can't seem to find either of them."

"Oh, I think I saw Serena drag Blair somewhere," Eric pointed down the hall, "I think they went in there."

As Dan and Eric neared the door, they could hear both of the girls arguing. "You have always despised Dan," Serena snapped, "Tell me, Blair. Why are you really going after him? Is this some ill-conceived attempt to make me jealous? Did I do something to you that you're, I don't know, seeking retribution for?

"Hard as it may be to believe, not everything is about you Serena!"

"And not everything is about you, Blair! You use people for your schemes without caring about the collateral damage you leave behind." Serena's voice became pleading, "Don't do this to Dan. He's one of the good ones, Blair..."

"I know that," Blair returned indignantly, "You're the one who always took him for granted! Dan and I have a real connection, and it has nothing to do with you!"

"Oh really?" Serena said disbelievingly, "I'll believe it when I see it. "

"You are so full of it!" Blair shouted, "You never appreciate what you have, and now you only care because— "

Dan never got to hear the rest of the fight, because someone suddenly pulled him backwards and into an adjacent room. He blinked when the person turned the lights on, realizing it had been Chuck. Eric stood at the doorway, looking apprehensive.

"I bet you loved that," Chuck sneered, "Two unattainable Upper East Siders fighting over the boy from Brooklyn..."

"Chuck, you're drunk," Dan cautioned, "Let's not start something, okay?"

He tried to leave, but Chuck blocked his path. "Not so fast, Humphrey. Don't you want to know why I brought you in here?"

"What is it?" Dan asked warily.

"Do you remember when I got shot?" Chuck moved away from him, his fingers unconsciously stroking his scar. "Do you know why that happened?"

Dan frowned, unprepared for this turn in the conversation. "Wrong place, wrong time?"

"Well, sure...but I didn't need to get shot," Chuck looked thoughtful, "See, I was protecting something valuable that I didn't want to give up to those low-life thugs."

"Something valuable? Chuck, you have money to burn. I don't— " Dan broke off abruptly when Chuck reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box.

He opened the box gently, handling it with great care. "Blair's engagement ring," Chuck explained, "I was going to propose to her that day...but you ruined that Humphrey, with your impeccable timing." When Dan only looked bewildered, Chuck elaborated. "Jenny."

"Oh."

Chuck suddenly closed the box with a snap, and slid it back into his pocket. With a determined look, he began backing out of the room. "You may have stopped me before, but you won't get in the way again."

Dan and Eric exchanged glances. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm going to propose to Blair tonight," Chuck paused, "And she's going to say yes."