Last time in the Bassverse: Blair arrived late to Chuck's award dinner with a mystery date, who turned out to be Nate. The drama amped up when Serena unexpectedly showed up—and promptly went into labor. Chuck volunteered the limo and our fearsome foursome were back together (for the first time). Chuck took Blair to Victrola and, on the limo ride home, discovered he was in love with her.

Those three words—the other three words—were right there on his tongue, though said organ was a bit preoccupied with worshipping her lips, her neck, her décolletage….

Chuck paused and looked at Blair, searching to see if he could see it in her face too.

Her lips were parted and color bloomed on her cheeks. But her eyes-those amazing eyes-were equal parts heat and awe…and something else he didn't dare name.

If he'd thought that acknowledging he was in love with her would help him manage the emotion, he was completely wrong.

He felt…more.

More protective.

More tender.

More enthralled.

More addicted.

He couldn't get enough of her. His hand wrapped around her thigh in a possessive caress that pulled her onto his lap.

Her arms came around his shoulders, entangling in his hair and pulling him closer.

All the while, his lips never left hers, kissing her deeply, then lightly, breathing little endearments against her lips.

She answered back with sighs and purrs, cries of bliss that grew stronger. She removed his bow tie and tossed it to the carpeted floor to join her dress.

His fingers slid under the thin straps of her silk chemise, coaxing them off her shoulders and sliding them down her arms.

She fell back into the buttery softness of the leather seat, pulling him with her, and suddenly they were on fire with urgency.

He threw off his jacket with one quick, fluid motion and then neither would settle for less than skin on skin.

It was frantic and powerful.

Her welcoming body and whispered "Please" were all the invitation he needed.

And then he was inside her…and the shock of their joining left both breathless from this power they had over each other, this overwhelming pleasure they could inspire….

But it was more than that. So much more. Tonight, of all nights, this was about more than chemistry; it was about this sacred connection.

It was about love.

Maybe he didn't know how to say it. Maybe he didn't know if she felt it too. But he could make her feel well loved.

He poured that love into every stroke, every touch, every kiss, every whispered word they exchanged.

He could feel her response in every sound she made, every breath she took and the way her body tightened around his like she would never let him go.

When he felt the waves of ecstasy go through her whole body, when she looked up at him with awe, he followed her into bliss.

The collapsed into each other like two stars that had collided and were lost in a cloud of stardust.

For a while, they simply held onto each other and tried to breathe.

Blair was the first to speak and the words came out hoarse and breathy. "You were right. When you said we should've met when we were younger."

"I'm glad we didn't," was his unexpected reply.

She was shocked. "Why?"

He sat up and pulled her back into his lap. "Because I was a mess in high school. I was angry…about so many things. You wouldn't have wanted to be my friend, much less anything more."

She started to argue, and he raised a hand in protest.

"It's true. And even by some miracle you hadn't been able to resist my charms," he sounded dubious, "I couldn't have handled it. I would have hurt you, and that's the last thing I would ever want." He kissed her forehead.

She looked down at their entwined fingers. "I don't care." She said it again, stronger this time. "I don't care about what came before, for either of us. It all led to this: 3 words, 8 letters. You and me."

He picked up one of her hands and brought it to his lips, if only to stop another 3 words, 8 letters from leaving his mouth. "Then don't let this evening be over. Come home with me tonight."

It was a very seductive offer. "Chuck, you know I want to say yes…."

"Then say yes." He was still holding her hands and doing that thing where he ducked his head and looked up at her with those mesmerizing eyes. It gave her an excellent view of that sensual lower lip that seemed to have perfected the pout.

Ugh. She would be strong.

Then he kissed her lips, her neck, her collar bone, her bare shoulders.

She gritted her teeth and steeled herself against the onslaught.

He moved to her ear, using that wicked tongue to sweep across her ear lobe and draw it into his mouth. Then he whispered more naughty things he would do to her with his tongue.

Blair cracked. "That's cheating!" she protested.

"Well, I don't have to do any of that if you don't want me to." How could he sound so innocent after having made her such an indecent proposal?

"Take me home, Bass, but you're going to have to smuggle me back in the morning."

"My pleasure."

"Oh, it will be," she assured, attacking his lips again. "And mine, because I'll be holding you to every promise you just made me about tonight."

"You can hold me to it. I can be very responsible."

"Speaking of, exactly how did you go from being that angry teenager to the business leader who just won an award last night?"

"I told you that starting Victrola helped. It took all my focus in the beginning, because I really had no idea what I was doing. My father put up some money; the rest came from my trust fund from my mother. I had a year to make it work."

"Didn't your father give you any other help? Any advice or consultation?"

Chuck shook his head.

"But he owned hotels and restaurants. Surely he could have provided some assistance?"

"I was on my own. It was like he wanted me to fail, but I wasn't going to let that happen." There was steel in Chuck's voice. "I was ready to open a second club within the year. Things went well for a couple of years, then my father died and I had to take over Bass Industries."

"Which you turned into an empire. Your father wouldn't recognize his company now." Blair couldn't keep the pride out of her voice.

Chuck squeezed her hand. "I haven't been a saint, though. I've made mistakes. I went into therapy," he confessed, looking over at her to guage her reaction. "I still see my therapist."

"I still see mine," she confided. "For help with my eating disorder. I went back after I came home from Monaco. We're damaged people, Chuck."

"Maybe separately. Together, we make sense."

"Do you really believe that?"

"I do. Blair, you've been the lightest thing that ever came into my life. I don't want to lose that."

"I don't want to lose what we have either. That's why we have to get this necklace issue solved. I don't want to have to hide anymore. I want us to be free to be together. Don't you want that too?" Blair held her breath waiting for the answer.

"Of course I do. It's just…complicated," he sighed.

"It doesn't have to be. All you have to do is trust me, let me help you."

He deliberately avoided her eyes. "I have some things to work out."

"It'simple, really." Her hands cupped his jaw and forced him to look at her. "Can you trust me? Are you ready to do that?"

He hesitated, wanting to say yes, wanting to tell her he loved her more than life itself….

"Think about it," she suggested. "In the meantime, let's not lose what we have right this minute."

"And what is that?"

"Tonight."

And just like that, they were once more wrapped up in each other and the night.

Blair frowned down at the Bass files on her desk at the precinct office. Thus far, they had offered up no answers as to where The Empress might be, and neither had Chuck. She had so hoped to convince him to trust her, to confide in her, to put an end to this coil.

But he'd been silent last night and through their early breakfast together this morning.

She took a sip from the travel mug of vanilla peppermint tea and let herself be lost in the memory of Chuck bringing it to her in bed that morning while she was wrapped in his silk robe.

Humphrey strolled in and dropped a newspaper on the pile of papers in front of her.

"Good morning to you too, Humphrey. What's this?"

"Check out the society page," he suggested.

Blair unfolded the paper and leafed through a few pages….then there it was: A large, fairly high quality photo of Nate, Serena, Chuck and Blair leaving the awards dinner.

"They're referring to your little clique as The Fab Four or The Breakfast Club."

She scoffed. "Please, we'd be a completely Non-Judging Breakfast Club. None of us has any room to judge."

"It looks like you're on a double date," he observed.

"In case you hadn't noticed, my best friend was in labor and we were getting her to the hospital."

"You were seen leaving the hospital early the next morning."

"What are you implying? Yes, we spent the night in the maternity waiting room, a public place."

"Blair, have you made any more progress on finding that necklace?"

"Not as of yet," she admitted.

"Well, I don't think you're going to."

"What? Why?" Blair was shocked and offended.

"I think you've lost perspective on this case. You're too close to be objective. In fact, you arrived here this morning in our suspect's limo."

"Are you spying on me?" She was horrified.

"I have eyes, and I happened to be looking out the window when you arrived."

"I have not, for one second, stopped investigating this case. I've been through his files, his financials…repeatedly. I've searched his townhouse with you." And without you, she added silently. "Have you forgotten that I'm the one who suggested him as a suspect?"

"That was before you met him, before you fell in love with him."

All color drained out of Blair's face and then she laughed. "You're crazy. I am not in love with him."

"What would you call it then?"

She remained stubbornly silent.

"You went away with him. You've been inseparable ever since. You're introducing him into your circle of friends…."

"It's called keeping a close eye on your opponent. You're a detective; you should know this."

"By keeping your lips on him? Face it, Blair, you have feelings for this guy."

"I may have feelings for him," she relented, "but that doesn't mean I'm in love with him."

"Methinks the lady doth protest too much."

"Look, I'm not a little girl here. I've had boyfriends. I've been married. I think I would know if I were in love with Chuck Bass."

"Fine, call it what you want. But how long do you think this not-in-love relationship will last?"

"What are you getting at?"

"Chuck Bass does not do girlfriends. I know you said that girl at the gala was his sister, but if that guy had any more sisters he'd be a medieval nunnery."

"Jenny is his stepsister!"

"I'm just saying that I've seen his files too. Do you think he's ever going to be happy with one woman for any length of time? He's never had a girlfriend or a long-term relationship, just an endless parade of women."

Blair was tired of listening. "Are you finished? I have a necklace to find."

"I can give you a clue where you won't find it: his office."

"What makes you say that?"

"We searched it this morning."

"Why wasn't I informed?" She was not amused.

"It was discussed and the general consensus was that keeping mum meant there was no chance Bass would be forewarned."

"Forewarned? Are you serious? I want that necklace found more than anyone!" The color was high in her cheeks.

The detective simply crossed his arms and looked at her.

"Well, did you find anything?" Blair almost held her breath waiting for his answer.

"Why don't you ask your boyfriend?" He turned on his heel and went back to his office.

Blair sneaked a call to Chuck to find out what had happened, but the call went straight to voicemail. Then she tried unsuccessfully to concentrate on the files in front of her. She finally gave up, packed up her papers and went shopping to clear her mind.

She had just found a lovely navy silk robe with tiny white polka dots at Turnbull & Asser for Chuck when her phone rang.

It was her mother, who wanted to meet up while she was home from Paris. Thinking it couldn't possibly be more awkward than her meeting this morning with Dan, Blair accepted.

They agreed to meet at Laduree in Soho for a late lunch. Her mother was already there, seated in the garden and perusing a menu, when Blair walked in.

Eleanor Waldorf's gaze flickered over her daughter. "You look different."

Blair immediately bristled. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that you look happy. Should I attribute that to Charles Bass?"

"How do you know about him?"

"Darling, everyone knows about him, but in this instance, I read about it on the society page of the Times."

Blair began leafing through the menu. "Well, I'm waiting."

"Waiting for what?"

"Your disapproval."

"Blair, he does have a reputation. Has since he was a boy."

"He's not a boy anymore," Blair retorted. "He's a brilliant businessman. He collects fine art. He's intelligent -."

Eleanor raised a hand and tried not to smile. "I'm sure he's very charming and interesting."

He was so much more than that. It infuriated Blair that people couldn't see it.

A server came and took their order. When he left, Blair was still looking irritated.

"I didn't mean to upset you. I just don't want to see you get hurt." Eleanor didn't add "again," but then she didn't need to.

"I know what I'm doing, Mother."

"I'm sure you do, Blair, but love can make people do foolish things."

"Love? Why does everyone think I'm in love with him?!" she demanded. "I've been in love before and this feels nothing like any of them did."

"Maybe there's a reason for that. Blair, when Nate left you for Serena, was it really your heart that was hurt, or was it your pride? Weren't you a little bit relieved? Nathaniel was never your intellectual equal."

Blair looked away.

"And your college boyfriend? Do you even recall much about him?"

Blair shrugged.

"And Louis…wasn't that more about the fairy tale than the man himself? It broke my heart to see the state you were in when you left him. I thought you had sworn off men since then."

"I thought I had too," Blair mumbled under her breath.

"So how did you and Charles meet? He was a few years ahead of you at school, wasn't he?"

"He's a…work connection. And yes, he graduated St. Jude's the year before started at Constance."

"And how long has this been going on?"

Since I met him. "Not long."

"Just one question and then I won't pester you anymore. Are you happy?"

There was no hesitation. "He's made me happier than I've ever been." Oh, dear God, was she in love with him?

Before she could consider the question, her mother was asking about Nate and Serena's new baby and the conversation was non-stop through the rest of their luncheon.

When Chuck Bass slid into the limo at the end of his long day, it only took a second to realize he was not alone.

"Blair!"

"Chuck, thank God you're here. It feels like I've been waiting forever," she huffed.

He wasted no time pulling her close for a passionate kiss.

"If this is a new feature of my car service, I very much like it," he murmured against her lips.

"Stop!" she barked, scrubbing her lips with the back of her hand. "I am not here to service you."

"Well, then, may I service you?" He was already on his knees with his hands halfway up her skirt when she slapped them away.

"No, there will be no servicing! We need to have a serious discussion." She primly pulled down her skirt.

"What's on your mind?" To Chuck's credit, he sat back in the seat and prepared to listen.

"Are you aware they searched your office this morning?"

"I could hardly miss it when I arrived this morning and a group of guys in very cheap suits were directing my secretary to open the safe."

"I didn't know this was happening. I can't even believe Humphrey got a warrant."

"I'm sure he called every judge in town before he found one who'd agree, but my secretary called my lawyer and Cyrus said it was all aboveboard. He supervised the whole thing."

"Did they…?" She was almost afraid to ask.

"Find anything? Seeing as how I'm still a free man, no. Having been repeatedly strip-searched by you, I don't think the NYPD poses a threat."

She was so relieved tears sprang to her eyes.

"Hey, what's this?" He wiped a tear away with his thumb. "Everything is fine."

"No, it isn't, Chuck. You know it isn't. Let me help you. We can get that necklace returned and be free of all this."

"What do you want for dinner?" Just like that, he was changing the subject.

"We have to talk about this."

"And we will. Just…not tonight. Can we forget about all this and just be you and me this evening?"

She sighed. "3 words, 8 letters. But will you please consider my help?"

His only response was a brief nod. "What do you think about Thai food?"

She surrendered…for now. "I could go for some chicken satay," she admitted.

Ninety minutes later, they were comfortably ensconced in Chuck's overstuffed leather sofa, with the remains of their Thai takeout buffet on the coffee table before them.

"I couldn't eat another bite." Blair sank back against Chuck.

"Not after that coconut ice cream we just shared," he agreed.

"It was the perfect ending to our meal."

"Maybe not. I have a gift for you." He started to pull a box from his inner suit pocket.

Her eyes lit up and a little smile crossed her face. "It's not my birthday."

"That's in November, but I didn't want to wait that long to give you this." He held out the gift in question.

It was a large square jewelry box, the kind that might be used to hold a necklace.

Was it… could it be? Her heart was pounding, racing, but she sat frozen, unable to move.

"Open it." He smiled encouragingly.

She still hesitated for a second more. If The Empress was in that box….this changed everything. It meant that he trusted her, that he was letting her in…and she wanted that with every fiber of her being.

It was still in his hands and he gently pried the box open…

Slowly…

Slowly…

There on the maroon velvet backing lay a dazzling array of diamonds set in blossoms and dew drops of white gold, punctuated with a central filigree heart. It was the Erickson-Beamon necklace.

A loud gasp escaped Blair's mouth as mix of emotions shot though her body.

"Oh, my God, Chuck, what have you done?" Her voice was equal parts shock, horror and anger.

The smile on Chuck's face fell.

"I thought you would be pleased…."

"Pleased?! We already had one stolen necklace to deal with; now we have two!"

"Blair, I assure you, I am completely entitled to give you this necklace."

"Thank God they haven't called me to investigate this one," she muttered under her breath.

"Why are you so angry? I thought you loved this necklace when you saw it at the museum?"

"I do love this necklace—how could I not? But I love -," she broke off on the last words.

She could not say the words, even though she was now thoroughly convinced they were true.

"Blair," he set the jewelry box aside and took her hands, "what were you going to say?"

How had this happened to her? How had it taken her so completely by surprise? Her lips parted, but no sound came out.

"Blair, please," he would beg if he had to, "please tell me how that sentence ends. I want to hear it from your lips." He tilted her chin up, forcing her to look at him, before tracing the outline of her lips with the tip of his finger.

So in the face of rejection and a possible felony conviction, in spite of her cynicism and hard won life experience, she looked him in the eye and with absolute certainty, she took the ultimate leap of faith:

"But I love you more."

To Be Continued in Chapter 13

Author's Note:

What an evil way to end this chapter. I am evil, aren't I?

You know who else is evil? Chuck and Blair! I had no intention of an ILY in this story, but oops, they did it again. They keep interrupting my writing with other plans they have as well. What's a girl to do?

Special thanks to my beloved reviewers: Kananox, vale1103, ChuckBlair8, Trosev, pianogirl1, purplebowties, Shrk22, Klarobass (very fitting that you were Review #100), and ChloeCharles.

Readers, I love hearing from you. Any theories on what will happen now that Blair has said those three little words?

Stay tuned!

Xoxo

P.S. Thanks for all the good thoughts regarding my root canal last week. Everything went very well and it's nice to be out of pain.