A/N: So, this is the last chapter, short and sweet. I would like to thank each and everyone of you for reading this story, reviewing this story, etc. I will never be able to express in words how grateful I am for it all, but thank you, thank you, thank you. I certainly hope this final chapter won't disappoint, and that you'll all follow me on my future endeavours in the Gossip Girl world. Enjoy and please leave me with one last review should you have the time!

Twelve

August 2023

"Chuck!" she shouted as she barged through the church doors, out of breath.

Traffic had been terrible and so she had had to run most of the way there. She tried to reach someone, anyone at the wedding, but out of common courtesy, they had all turned off their cell phones for the ceremony. Ultimately, she had been twenty minutes late and as she stood there and took note of the empty church, she knew she had been too late.

The idea that someone besides her had become Mrs. Chuck Bass hurt her more than she could imagine, and she know knew how Chuck must have felt that day watching her walking down the aisle, ready to marry someone else, someone who wasn't him.

She crumpled to the floor, as the tears started to pour down her face. She had never been particularly religious, but she had to ask. Dear God, why? The wedding had probably been beautiful, she realized then, a perfect, fairytale wedding, one that should have been hers. She hoped Chuck would truly be happy with Eva. It was the only thing she could wish for now. Maybe she and Chuck weren't meant to be together after all.

"The worst thing you've ever done," a voice started up from behind her, and she didn't turn around at first, confident that she was imagining it. "The darkest thought you've ever had, I will stand by you through anything."

She stood up then, slowly, cautiously, before turning around, only to find Chuck sitting in the last pew, tears in his eyes too.

"And why would you do that?" Blair whispered, almost unable to believe that he was actually there.

He stood up and walked over to her then, and with every step he took, the more anxious she became, the more real this all felt to her.

He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, cupping her face, and answered, "Because I love you."

The tears only kept coming at his words, rendering her speechless. They were tears of joy though, knowing that Chuck had been unable to go through with the wedding himself.

"I couldn't do it Blair," he told her what she already knew. "I couldn't marry someone who wasn't you."

He pulled her in then, holding her close, taking her in. He had missed her so much.

"You're getting my tux all wet," he said finally, when the silence had been a little too long to bear, trying to lighten the mood.

Blair laughed, pulling away from him at last, and said, "So, what now Bass?"

"Well," Chuck started, taking her hand and getting down on his knee, reaching for the ring that was meant to be hers, and hers only. "I think there's only one thing left to do Waldorf."

She smiled, her heart racing at the vision before her. She had always dreamed of this day. It was happening several years later than she had first predicted, but she didn't even care, because more importantly, this day had finally come.

"Will you do me the honour of being my wife?" he asked, as expected.

She grinned.

"Well, I don't know Chuck," she teased him, not failing to notice that the ring in his hand had been his mother's.

"Oh come on Waldorf," he urged, getting off his knees to confront her. "We've been dancing around each other for years. Stop teasing me."

Her face grew serious then as the memories came flooding back to her, all the pain, the hurt.

"Yes," she answered him finally, causing him to pick her up and spin her around. "But you're wrong."

He stopped twirling her around at her words, setting her down on the ground once again.

"Wrong about what?" he wondered, a mix of curiosity and fear swimming in his eyes.

"About this being the only thing left that we have to do," she told him, smiling. "Bass, this is only the beginning."

And he really couldn't argue with that.

December 2024

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…"

She couldn't believe that this day had finally arrived. She was about to become Mrs. Chuck Bass, and nothing had ever felt more right. Blair glanced around the room then to observe the people who were witnessing this special day. This was how she had dreamed everything would end, or rather begin, with everyone being happy.

Her mother was sitting with Cyrus, a genuine smile on her face with the knowledge that her daughter had finally found true love just like she had. Next to her sat her father and Roman, still as happy together as ever, and beside them, Dorota and Vanya were happier still, as were their two children.

Serena stood by her side, as beautiful as ever. Her husband, Dan, was whispering something into their little girl's ear, causing her to grin, nodding in agreement at whatever her father was telling her. "Why yes, father, Auntie Blair does look especially gorgeous today," Blair could almost hear her say.

Nate stood by his best friend, looking as handsome as ever, looking as anxious as ever. Blair didn't blame him. His wife, Jenny, who was sitting in the front pew, was huge. Anytime now, and their twins would arrive.

Next to her sat Eric and Jonathan, who had reconciled about a year ago. Elliot had been heartbroken by Eric's decision to reunite with his ex, but he had come to understand why. You never forget your first real love, you never really get over them. Luckily, Eric and Elliot were still friends, and that, was truly wonderful to Blair.

And beside them, even still, closest to the aisle, sat two of the most important people in her life, Jack and Belle. He caught her eye then, as did Belle, and the three shared a knowing smile with one another. Belle's reaction to her getting married again was what had worried her the most, but even at such a young age, she seemed to understand that this was the happy ending her mother had been waiting for.

When she had broken the news to her about her engagement to Chuck, Belle had simply been silent for a moment before asking her, "Is he your happily ever after?" She had nodded, unable to say much, too scared to say much. Her daughter said nothing still and merely hugged her, reminding her, "I love you mom." "I love you too sweetie," she had answered, thanking the heavens then for blessing her with such a wonderful daughter, wise beyond her years.

"Blair," a voice hissed suddenly, interrupting her thoughts. "Are you going to say 'I do', or are you going to leave me hanging here?"

Chuck looked so genuinely worried over her non-responsiveness that she could have kissed him then and there.

"Sorry," she whispered, before giving him some peace of mind. "I do."

"And do you…" the priest started, only to be interrupted by her soon-to-be husband.

"Yeah, yeah," he answered, wanting to jump ahead. "Can we just skip to the part where I get to kiss my bride now?"

The priest sighed, throwing his hands in the air in frustration, in defeat, and nodded. Why the hell not?

"You may now…"

But they were kissing already, as their closest friends and family broke into a thundering applause. Little did Chuck and Blair know that they had all been waiting for this day just as long as they had.

As the bride and groom ran out of the churchf towards their waiting limo, their honoured guests not far behind, Jack found himself unable to move, at a standstill. Watching Blair leave with someone else, be happy with someone else, should upset him, should anger him he knew, but for some reason, he felt an inexplicable peace in having heard them being pronounced husband and wife.

Blair and Belle's happiness were his number one priority, and he knew that today, his ex-wife had finally ended up with the right Bass. He simply hoped he would find the one he was meant to be with someday.

"Dad," Belle spoke up from beside him, her hand in his. "Do you think I'll find my prince charming one day?"

"Of course you will princess," he assured her, before taking on a more serious tone. "But not until you're at least eighteen, got it?"

"Got it," she promised him, her eyes wide with feigned innocence.

"Good," he answered, satisfied with her response. "And you better not be crossing your fingers behind your back. I mean it, Belle Serena Bass."

Damn it! She could never get anything past her father (or her mother for that matter), but secretly, Belle liked it that way. She wouldn't expect anything less. What child of Jack Bass and Blair Waldorf would?