Disclaimer: Don't own.

A/N: Well, I'm back! I know it's been too long, but I've learned the hard way that the moment you say that school isn't kicking your ass is the moment it begins to do just that! :( I hope that you're all still reading, because I intend to see this story through to the end. This chapter features a lot of Bart, in what I think is a kinder light. You might all begin to see something of a humanization to him that we haven't really seen with regards to Chuck. And thank you to Mrs. Cohen and 86kay, who got me moving on this one! And to all of my reviewers, without you I wouldn't have much of a reason to put this up! (The show certainly isn't offering any inspiration, if you know what I mean…) But, anyway!

Chuck was a good boy at the office. He had gone to great lengths to ensure that he got through all of the work that Bart had dictated to him that morning. Luckily, most of it wasn't as hard as he had imagined it to be. The most important part of the job was 'knowing the players' as his father often warned him when he was younger and the man was trying desperately to get Chuck to show a glimmer of interest in his birthright.

Now, Chuck was beginning to see the truth in that lesson. One of his biggest problems was that he didn't know who he was working with and what means he could use to charm and persuade them. Luckily, his gift for getting woman to drop their panties also happened to work in the business world (metaphorically speaking, of course). He could usually figure out what these men were after within two minutes of conversation and exactly how to speak to them.

Bart was now watching him like a hawk and periodically complaining about having to do it. It annoyed them both to no end, but it also ensured that Chuck was making very few mistakes.

Serena had volunteered to babysit Liliana for the day and called in sick for work. Everyone knew that she just wanted to escape from the reality of her life, but no one chose to comment on it—not even Chuck, who was just grateful that Blair wasn't going to talk his ear off about when and if he would have to pick up Lili from whatever place they dropped her for the day.

They all entered the penthouse together: Serena, Liliana, Chuck, and Blair. The ride in the elevator was agonizing as Chuck began to actually play out what the hell could possibly happen in the next few hours. He realized that he had never been with this particular group of people in an isolated environment. He didn't know how to properly interact with them or how to be around them…especially Lily. He didn't know how to interact in this family.

The doors opened in Lili practically leapt out of Chuck's arms, taking off into the foyer, until she was called back by a disapproving Blair.

"Darling, your coat."

The child pouted as she returned to where the adults were standing. "I wanna see Grandma and Grandpa…"

"Yes, we could all see that by the way you were so willing to sustain a head injury. Don't jump down like that," Chuck reprimanded. It took him a moment to be astonished by how much like a real parent he sounded. Getting the fuck out of this world was top priority. The kid cracking her head open was none of his business. Right.

"Sometimes your concern leaves me breathless, Chuck." Blair helped her daughter out of her coat and handed it to the help. Then she knelt next to the little girl. "But your father happens to have a point. You're way too smart to fall on your head and end up brain-damaged. Trust me, you wouldn't be too happy about it either."

"Would it make me ugly?" Liliana asked, she folded her arms tightly, as if trying to ward off the possibility.

"I don't think that's possible, baby," Serena said, looking amused for the first time that night.

"Serena, Charles, and Blair." Lily appeared from the sitting room with a graceful smile on her face. "It's so lovely that you could all make it."

Chuck noticed that Serena and Blair exchange a good-natured eye roll and presumed that Lily probably greeted them that way every time they showed up for dinner.

"What about me, Grandma?" Liliana demanded, a pout on her small face.

Lily held out her arms and bent a little. "My most important guest for last, darling. Come give me a hug."

The child complied and Lily pressed a kiss to her head. "Where's Grandpa?"

"He's in his office working. You should go surprise him."

Lili crinkled her nose. "Working? I'll go get him." They watched with indulgent faces as the little girl ambled up the stairs, before Lily turned to them again.

"I've decided that I'm better off having her go get Bart. She's has better success pulling him away from his work."

Chuck shrugged. "I think it's a Waldorf trait." Prompting Blair to slap him on the shoulder.

"And I suppose her Bass trait would be the inability to behave?"

He smirked at her and Serena rolled her eyes. "Can you guys lay off the playful banter for a little bit? There are other people in the room, you know."

Chuck was slightly taken aback by her harshness and didn't really know what she meant by her remark. "We know people are in the room, Serena, but thank you for affirming our suspicions."

"Just making sure."

Lily, who apparently didn't like where this was heading, clapped her hands gently and gesture behind her. "Why don't we all grab a drink while we wait? Charles, you'll have your usual, I presume?"

Being addressed by the woman who was supposed to be his stepmother made him strangely nervous. This time, he wasn't at a party where he could mingle and move in and out of conversation. He was surrounded by the people that knew him best and had expectations. Any strange behavior would be noted by all of them. He coughed awkwardly.

"Yeah, the usual…" Lily gave him a warm smile and then led them to the sitting room, following closely by a subdued Serena. Blair walked at his side, sending him a curious glance, as if she had sensed his discomfort. But she didn't comment on it.

As they moved past the stairs, the thought occurred to him: Bart's safe. If any information was to be had, that was where it would be and he needed to get it as soon as possible.

He thought about going in there without Bart's knowledge, but he wasn't sure whether Bart would have changed the combination within the last ten years and a new marriage to boot. And if this wasn't even the same universe, he could quite possibly have no idea what the combination was. Briefly, he wondered if Bart wouldn't just give him the information if he asked. The man had gone so far as to taunt him for the sentimental streak Other Chuck had displayed by getting rid of his files on his wife; he might actually be proud that Chuck now wanted to dig into Blair's past again. He brushed aside the trickle of shame that cropped up at the thought.

"Lily, I need to discuss something with Bart for a moment. Would you excuse me?" he asked charmingly.

Lily inclined her head. "Of course, Charles." He was getting the impression that she really quite liked him by the way she was smiling. The thought made his heart beat a little faster, though he didn't know why. Society wives usually found themselves very taken with the young Bass heir. This was just different.

Blair, unfortunately, was not so convinced. She had a speculative look in her eyes and caught his hand as he stood up. "Chuck…this isn't time for business."

It was like she sensed that something was off, that he wanted to do something that she wouldn't like. He had a feeling that it was always this way between them, but he could barely comprehend the possibility.

"I won't be long," he promised, pulling away without looking at her. If he looked at her, he would never make it up the stairs. He hated that it merely took the sound of her voice to feel like he was attempting to make a huge betrayal. It wasn't the case; he just needed to know.

He knew the way to Bart's office. It was a path he had taken often, whether he had gone willingly only to be brushed aside with a curt dismissal, or if Bart had summoned him to lecture him on what a failure of a son he was. Never once, had he left satisfied, or any better off than before. He hoped that tonight would be a first in a world of firsts.

Lilliana was sitting quite commandingly on Bart's lap when Chuck reached the doorway. She was puzzling over something that clearly had her grandfather amused.

"But, why can't you just tell them to, Grandpa?"

"Because deals don't work that way. There has to be compromise, or the relationship won't be healthy."

"But you have more money."

"Yes." The two were so engrossed in the conversation, that neither noticed their audience. Bart shifted the little girl slightly so he could look down at her. "I do. But to make more, you have to ensure that people can trust you."

"So you cop—compro…"

"Compromise. You make them think that it's a fair deal."

The child's ears perked up at this. "But you can play tricks on them…can't you, Grandpa?" she asked slyly.

Then Chuck heard a sound that he had never heard in his life: Bart Bass' outright and honest laughter. It was unrestrained and entirely new sound that left Chuck shocked. Bart was pleased with his otherworldly child in a way that Chuck himself had never been able to bring out in his father. It left him burning inside, creeping into his skin and refusing to go away.

"Daddy!" The delighted girl's voice called, finally seeing him standing there. Bart looked up, the vestiges of his amusement dissipating.

"Are we ready for dinner?" he asked, obviously wondering why Chuck had come up to find them.

"Actually, I needed a word," Chuck said more aggressively than he had originally planned, looking pointedly at Liliana. "Lili, why don't you go see Mommy downstairs?"

"I've seen her lots today…" she protested, sliding off of her grandfather's lap.

"I know, but I have to have a talk with Grandpa alone." He was trying valiantly to keep the impatience out of his voice. "Downstairs, kiddo."

With a pout, she left, refusing to look at Chuck, who felt halfway apologetic for his tone. But there was nothing he could do about it now.

Bart, however, seemed to notice the change in his demeanor. "Why were you so short with her?" He looked honestly perplexed by it, and Chuck scoffed. Anger, newly formed, was bubbling up and acidic. Since when did Bart give a damn about trifling things like children?

"We wouldn't want her getting in the way of business, would we, Dad? I'm just employing what I learned from the master." His voice was heavily sarcastic. It was the scene: Bart, with his daughter, looking at her and not his fucking papers for once. Taking enjoyment and not annoyance out of the fact that she had interrupted his work. Now he realized that Bart didn't just tolerate his granddaughter, but took an interest in her, and let her make him laugh. Things he would have never done for Chuck.

Maybe it wasn't Bart, like Chuck had thought all of this time. Maybe it had been him.

"If you have something to say, Chuck, just say it," Bart sighed. Chuck could see that he was getting bored with the attitude and it only served to exacerbate his anger. He didn't really know what to say, or how to make this feeling go away. He wanted it to go away, because it was the last thing he needed to deal with along with all of the other stuff that was pressing on his mind. He didn't need to put his relationship with Bart under a microscope along with everything else.

"Liliana is my kid. So please spare me any of the little parenting tips you want to share with me without having ever put them to use on your own time. I'm doing just fine."

"You don't sound fine." Bart dropped his pen on his desk. "You haven't seemed fine for the past two or three days and I'm curious as to why." Chuck shrugged, keeping his eyes on the mahogany desk. "At first, I thought it might be Mr. Baizen's unprecedented return to town or your latest impasse with Blair, but now it seems…"

"Seems like what?" Chuck challenged softly.

"You aren't yourself. Why? Why are you acting like—"

"Like what?" Chuck demanded. He wanted to hear Bart say it, what he knew was coming. And Bart didn't disappoint.

"Like a child." There it was. The same words he had always used to describe Chuck. The same condescending, disgusted tone. But he had to wonder why this Bart seemed so surprised…

"Don't I always?" Chuck said lightly. He was always good at covering.

Bart finally looked at him, his full attention on his son. Chuck realized that he had raised his father's suspicions now. "You know how you act. You don't need me to tell you. Or do you?"

"What I've thought about myself never mattered much to you, Dad. So I'm asking."

Bart grew impatient. "Why now?" He frowned at him, appraising the reluctance of the man in front of him, the waves of impulsive anger that would be so much more commonly found in a younger person. "Haven't we buried all of this? What the hell has gotten into you?"

Shit. Chuck cursed himself, forcibly calming his temper. It didn't matter when Bart had become Mr. Family Man. This wasn't real and he needed something from Bart. He wasn't going to get it when he was behaving like this. He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"God, nothing. Nothing. I'm just on edge…because I need…I need…" he swallowed, looking at his father. "Carter Baizen needs to go, Dad. And I need to see what you have on him. Everything, because—"

"You're missing information from when you trashed all your files on Blair." Bart finished for him. "I had a feeling that was a problem last night. But what I'm wondering is why you would need information from the past, things you experienced and undoubtedly remember."

"It doesn't have anything to do with my memory!" Chuck snapped. "And considering you were taunting me on the phone last night, I'm not sure what kind of reaction you expected."

Bart favored Chuck with a little smile and turned his back on him, walking over to the window and surveying the outside. Chuck didn't move, just stared at his progress, wishing he could tell what Bart was thinking. "I was just reminding you that things happen…and you shouldn't take anything for granted."

"But Carter—"

"It's in the past. You let it go, but you never forget that it happened. You don't let it happen again."

He was silent after that and Chuck was afraid to speak. He didn't want to say the wrong thing, and he was every bit as lost as he had always been when confronting his father. He needed the words…just this once. But they wouldn't come.

"I'm not giving you those files, Chuck."

"W-w-what? Why?" Chuck sputtered. He couldn't understand it. Why was Bart choosing to be so difficult? Was this just to torture him? But then, Bart turned around and his son could see none of the expected malice in his face, only barely concealed concern.

"Because…she'll find out. Blair will find out that you've dug up information on her again, and you'll put your marriage on the line. Women always discover the worst things, the ones you try the hardest to cover up. It's something you should learn, son."

In the face of his response, Chuck felt more puzzled than he had been the entire four days of being trapped in this alternate reality. "Why do you care whether I put my marriage on the line?" The question lacked all the anger that he had contained before, and Bart seemed to sense this, so he gave him an answer.

"There was a time…when I thought that you would never grow up. You never had a care beyond what you were doing that night and you were a selfish hedonist. And a large part of that was my fault, completely. I didn't try to be a part of your life, because every time I looked at you, all I could see was her." Somehow, Chuck knew exactly who Bart was talking about as he stood breathlessly, listening to things that he never imagined Bart saying. "Blair changed you. She made you see the best of yourself in the way that I should have. And Chuck…whatever you want to do…it's not worth the trouble. Don't lose all that you have for it. It will never be more important."

"Dad…I won't," the words came out almost gently. It was unnerving to have an actual conversation with Bart, and he wanted to know so much more. He was hungry to know more about this life.

"Oh come on, Chuck! I'm not blind. Something's been affecting you, and it isn't just Carter Baizen. You've been covering all this week for something. But even you can't hide it all the time, and I don't like what I'm seeing."

Chuck scoffed. It was all becoming so clear to him now. "You mean the 'old me', right? The person I was…"

"The person you were before you got on that plane to Tuscany."

Tuscany. The word burned his ear like a sudden spark. He repeated it to himself, trying to get the feeling again. There was so much familiarity in that word, that place, and yet, he couldn't grasp it. Its significance was lost on him. Bart was watching him seriously.

"I've said it once and I'll say it again. Forget about Carter Baizen and let Serena work out her own mess with him. Keep Blair and yourself out of it. Especially if pursuing it means that you have to betray your agreement with her, for whatever reason."

Chuck's throat had gone too dry through the course of this discussion. There were too many things to try and figure out. Too many loose ends. Above all, there was this love for Blair that seemed so incredible that even Bart, the reigning monarch of indifferent fathers, had taken notice. And Bart was thankful for Blair's influence in Chuck's life. What had Blair done to him? If it was him, that is, though it was seeming like it more and more…

"We have to get downstairs, we've kept them waiting far too long," Bart said, glancing at his watch with a heavily released breath.

"But—"

"Charles," Bart started, cutting across him. "If you really need what you're looking for, then you already have all of the access that you could possibly want. You know that."

Whatever the hell that could mean, Chuck wasn't sure. But the information that he was looking for was feeling marginally less important. When Bart had been speaking to him, he had felt as if he was on the brink of something…something he really could use. Something that would get him out of here for good.

The problem was…he found himself becoming increasingly fascinated with what he couldn't have. In real life, could he and Blair ever become something? And there was Nate, there would always be Nate, no matter what happened. And if he got back, would he remember everything that had happened here? Could he stand to live in a world where he was utterly alone, knowing that through one of his best friends, the only girl on the planet that he respected, made him more complete? Could he stand to be without her?

And here and now…did he love her?

They walked in silence, Bart never was one for mindless chatter, and he obviously felt that he had said his piece. And Chuck was slowly drowning in his own mind, too much so to speak.

"There they are…" Lily said with the veneer of playfulness that showed just how tense she was. It was apparent that the women in the room thought they had argued upstairs, only Serena looking like she didn't really care. Blair had that smile on her face which she normally employed when she was smiling for everyone's benefit but her own. Chuck hated that smile.

"I hope we didn't keep everyone waiting," Bart said politely. "Hello Blair," he nodded at his daughter-in-law and turned to the other girl. "Serena…will Daniel be joining us this evening?"

At this, Lily's eyes flashed warningly at her husband and Blair shook her head covertly at Bart. Chuck almost laughed when Liliana looked at her mother and mirrored the action with considerably more obviousness, though she didn't know what was going on. Serena tried to brighten to her usual, sunny self, though her eyes were slightly red and Chuck had the sneaking suspicion that she had dissolved into tears after he had gone upstairs. "Oh…no, he's…he has a lot of work to do at the moment, and…he just couldn't come."

"Ah," Bart muttered, ending that line of questioning when he saw that it was dangerous, crying-girl territory. "Well, why don't we…" he gestured towards the dining room and everyone stood immediately, not wanting to linger.

Chuck felt a small hand slip into his own and saw the Lili had scrambled beside him as they moved to the table. "Daddy," she whispered, the loud way that children do when they think they're being quiet. "I wanna sit next to you. Can I?"

"Yes," he whispered loudly back. And all he could think of when he lifted her down in the chair next to his and she placed her napkin on her lap was that….she was wonderful. And he was finally beginning to understand where she came from.

The dinner passed with Liliana talking continuously about everything she had done that day and the day before. Chuck could swear that he could have recited most of what she said word-for-word because she had already told him exactly what she did the moment he got home from work. She glowed under an audience and her vibrant precociousness had them very amused, though the adults tried to mask it because they didn't want the little girl to think they were laughing at her.

Chuck allowed his mind to wander, trying out the word again, hoping it would jog some strange past-future memory that he could use to figure out what was going on. Tuscany. The plane to Tuscany.

"Are you alright?" Blair murmured. Her voice was so sexy and worried and her lips brushed against his ear. He almost shuddered with desire. How had it come to this?

Her hand squeezed his and he finally answered her. "I'm fine."

"Bart didn't—"

"No." He knew what she was insinuating. "Actually, he was sort of helpful…"

"Helpful how?"

"Mommy! Daddy! Are you even paying attention?" Lili was glaring at them with aggravation that caused the rest of the table to laugh, even Serena. Chuck shook his head at the kid. Of course, Blair's daughter would resent it if the world wasn't hanging on her every word.

"We heard the story already, darling," Blair reminded her daughter. "You told us on the way to dinner."

"Yes, but now I'm telling it better. You have to listen!"

"Alright, alright," Chuck said calmly, trying to avoid a colossal temper tantrum. "Tell the story, we're listening."

"Okay, so then Dorota came back from the laundry place and saw…"

"Details, Bass," Blair said again in his ear before pulling away again, definitely a warning for later tonight. He would have to circumvent that somehow. But he could think of a way…oh, he could definitely think of a way.

They all gathered for coffee in the sitting room at the end of dinner. Liliana was nearly asleep in Blair's arms, her head lolling contentedly on her mother's shoulder as the women discussed Eleanor's upcoming spring line. Chuck sat next to them, trying to keep up with Bart in a conversation about a possible client. It sucked and was feeling a lot like Bart was testing him, but that was how he usually felt when talking to Bart.

The conversation paused for a moment when Serena's phone began to ring. The blonde looked down at the name of the caller and something flickered across her face. Chuck couldn't tell you what it was, but he felt Blair tense beside him when Serena excused herself and walked away to take it.

One moment later, Lili was being dumped in his lap. "If you'll excuse me, I need to use the bathroom."

Chuck knew for a fact that everyone in the room knew that she was going to eavesdrop on Serena, but nobody said anything about it. Lili shifted to a comfortable position in his arms and closed her little eyes. He held her closer.

Blair appeared a few minutes before Serena did, and Chuck knew her well enough to tell that she was troubled.

Lily and Bart were oblivious. "Blair, I'd been meaning to ask you again if you can't make it to Mrs. Washington's 80th birthday tomorrow evening. I know you declined initially, but I can still make room on the guest list for you and Charles if you have the time now."

"Oh…no, I'm sorry Lily, I'm just working on this case at the moment, and it's taking up most of my time…"

"You don't need to explain, dear. I understand. I believe Serena will still be joining us, won't you, Serena?" She directed the question to the blonde as she entered the room, who stopped short.

"Mom…I don't know, I'm really not—"

"Your name is on the guest list, Serena, just try to make it please."

Serena nodded distractedly. "Sure, Mom. Look, I hate to do this, but something came up and I just have to go now…"

"Is something wrong?"

"No…I have something I need to take care of…I'll see you tomorrow night." She didn't wait to be excused, but hurried off to the elevator and departed without another word. Bart and Lily exchanged glances, stunned by the abruptness, but Chuck was quite pleased.

"I take it she's not staying with us tonight? I've gotta say, the evening's looking up!"

"Chuck…we should be going, too," Blair said, gathering Lili back into her arms. "This one can barely keep her eyes open."

"'Mmm fine," the child protested faintly.

"Well, it was lovely to see all three of you," Lily said, standing up to walk them out. Bart trailed back with Chuck.

"I suggest you end whatever Blair has planned, Chuck. Let Serena deal with her own crisis."

"I'll handle it, Dad," Chuck hissed, stepping into the elevator with Blair and a sleeping Lili. "Dinner was wonderful, Lily. Thank you."

"You're most welcome, Charles. We'll see you next week."

They both nodded agreeably, smiles on their faces until the elevator doors closed.

"So what's the reason behind that adorable furrow in your brow?"

Before answering, Blair checked to make sure Lili was truly asleep. "Serena's meeting Carter in a hotel room tomorrow night, which is probably why she didn't want to commit to the party."

"A hotel room? Well that leaves my suspicions to rest…"

"Not mine. I'm going to find out what Carter has on Serena tomorrow night and that's final. If you want to tag along, you're more than welcome."

Chuck looked away, thinking of Bart's words. "Haven't you ever considered just letting the whole thing go? Maybe it's Serena's mess to clean up…"

"Serena's mess is my mess, Chuck," Blair responded firmly. "I'm not allowing her to blow up her life. And why are you all of the sudden so against this? A few hours ago, you were more than happy to give me a hand."

"That was then. I just don't know if we should be getting entangled with the likes of that scum all over again…"

Blair stepped closer to him, giving him a hot, sideways smile that made him smirk in delight. "It's what we do, Chuck. By the time we're through with Carter Baizen, there won't be enough of him to buy a plane ticket." She leaned up and gave him a slow, open-mouthed kiss. "And I kind of like the idea of 'entanglement.'"

A/N: So, will Chuck help Blair out…and maybe get a little more than he bargained for in the process? More to come! Sorry again for the delay…please drop a review and tell me what you think!