For Love or Legacy
Here's a summary reminding you all of the overall storyline:
It takes place four years after the end of season three, but I changed a few things. The hotel thing still happened, Chuck and Blair still separated, he still got her into Columbia, he still told her to meet him at the top of the Empire State Building, but she didn't miss him because Dorota wasn't pregnant or having a baby or married at the time so in turn, the Jenny thing didn't happen. After she met him, they decided to figure things out together with no labels, but Blair got pregnant and attempted to broach the subject of children to Chuck and he shot her down. She was shattered and left to Paris where she somehow lost the baby. Four years later she returned to New York for an interior design contract only to discover that Chuck had a four year old daughter named Cate. This devastated her and she decided to hurt Chuck by making him lose an award he was after for his new hotel, The Legacy. What she just found out is Cate is Jack's biologically. Chuck for his part, thinks Blair got with Jack. He went after her four years ago only to find her kissing Jack then went back again when Cate was two to find Jack around Blair again. In present day, Chuck is getting back at Blair by giving her no choice but to work for him designing his new townhouse. He's threatened her with destroying her company/career if she doesn't do as he says. Through all this there's been a constant push and pull with now even Lily and Eleanor teaming up to try to get them together for Cate's sake and so they both could heal. There's also Nate and Serena. Nate is trying to prove himself at The Spectator and for once, trying to ignore what he feels for Serena, finally accepting that he will never be enough for her. Serena has just graduated and gotten her degree in public relations, but she's lost. She doesn't know what she wants to do with her life or who to turn to.
Other notes, there's also Andrew 'Drew' Parker, Blair's good friend from Paris whom she's known for years. He was staying at the Waldorf penthouse with Blair, but Chuck hates him, hated how in close quarters they were and sold him the penthouse he was originally going to move into with Cate until he and Blair saw the townhouse.
And Miranda Holbrook whom Nate has been interviewing for the Spectator. She was found "Not Guilty" in her husband's murder and Nate has been getting her side of the story. She seems to want more from Nate than a mere interview though. Serena hates her and refers to her as the "husband murderer."
And who can forget, Gretchen Mason, Chuck's general manager at his new hotel, the Legacy. She would love nothing more than to get her hooks into Chuck. She's even told Cate to pretend to be happy around Chuck so he could be happy thinking she was happy.
Finally, some state of relationships: Serena has severed ties with Blair for deciding to leave NYC without any thought of what that would do to her, leaving once again. Chuck has ordered Serena to keep a distance from him and his daughter. He's angry she gave Blair the combination to his safe which allowed her to find out Cate is adopted and that Jack is her biological father.
Now on to the previously on:
Previously on FLOL:
A bad storm hit NYC. Serena talked with her father and her father explained to her why he'd disappeared from her life all those years ago, but Serena wasn't sure how to feel or if to forgive him or what to do with what she was told. Jack reappeared. He blackmailed Blair into asking Chuck to sign over the Legacy hotel to her. If she didn't go through with it, Jack promised to have court papers filed from Cate's biological mother contesting the adoption. Cate's bio mom who is named Nicole Walker never gave up her rights. Lily is on her way back to NYC and is worried for Chuck and Blair. She can sense something is wrong. She contacts Eleanor and they are both surprised that the other hadn't been keeping tabs on the "kids." Lily had been in Milan with Rufus visiting Jenny and Eleanor had been in London finalizing a deal to have her clothes sold at Selfridges. They both agree to head back to NYC. Nate decided to go along with what his grandfather wanted. He would keep his distance from Serena if his grandfather would get Serena another shot at the PR job with Congressman Brady in California. He felt horrible about his decision, but knew it was the only way for Serena to be happy. He was also worrying about the pictures Page Six had of Serena exiting his building in nothing but a shirt. Nate was last seen dialing Page Six's headquarters. Chuck was frantically searching for Blair since she went missing at the airport and missed her flight back to France. His former PI Hues informed him that Jack Bass was back in the city and Chuck felt sick, knowing that Blair had to be with him. Serena got a call saying she got another shot at the PR job. She was so excited she dialed Nate to tell him but he didn't answer so she left a voicemail. Chuck located Blair after contacting all of his properties and reinstating his former PI Hues. He called BI and all his hotels after dialing Cate's new nanny and ordering a lockdown at the townhouse so Cate could be safe. Blair found herself drenched in rain as she got to the Legacy and Jack's words washed over her. She realized she loved Chuck, had never stopped, but that only brought more misery when Chuck showed up and stood mere feet from her. She tried to seem cold though she was breaking and demanded Chuck sign away the Legacy in return for her not telling Jack, Chuck had his daughter. At first Chuck was livid then realized this was all Jack's doing and begged her to drop this, but she refused, maintaining her story. She asked him to "Sign."
Chapter 21
Blair took in a few ragged breaths, willing herself to gain control, but Chuck's voice echoed in the quiet room and not even covering her ears with her tightened fists could drown it out.
The begging, the apologies...
Don't do this, baby. I love you, don't do this.
She felt more than she saw him draw near. His heat invaded her space, completely enveloping her as she clamped her eyes shut trying block him out.
"Don't do this," he repeated, his voice a wobbly rasp as he gripped her wrists and pulled them down, forcing her to listen. "We can start over," he said as her eyelids fluttered and she met his intense amber gaze, "Come on, Cate is waiting for us at home."
Cate
Home
Blair's chin trembled as her eyes filled at all that could be, but knew it wouldn't. She wanted to hold him, she wanted him to hold her. She wanted to tell him about Jack, about his plans, about the past, that she forgave him, that she loved him...
God, how she loved him.
She wanted to tell him everything, but she couldn't. There was something bigger than this. It was bigger than them.
Cate
He'd never forgive himself if Cate were taken away and she'd never forgive herself either or what's more— him if because of her, if because of what she was being forced to do he stopped it and Cate was ripped from them both.
She couldn't take that chance, not even if the odds were a fraction of a percent. There was no way she could gamble with Cate's life.
Once these papers are filed they won't be able to be taken back
Jack's words came back to her and it gave her the push she needed to block everything else out. She swallowed hard, tilted her chin and pulled out of Chuck's grasp.
"Sign."
XOXOXOXO
Serena shifted her carryon as she knocked on Nate's condo door, "Nate?" she called out and when she didn't get a response she went into her bag for his spare key. He'd given it to her for emergencies and she was sure this didn't qualify as one, but she needed to see him.
"Nate?" she called out again, dropping her soaked umbrella and walking into his apartment. Everything was dark and she slid her hand against the wall to hit the switch which bathed the room in light.
The open concept kitchen and living room was deserted. He wasn't there, unless—
Her stomach clenched as she dropped her bags and walked over to his bedroom door. She thought about knocking, but couldn't do it. If he was in there and wasn't alone...
She gripped the knob and turned, striding into the darkness.
It was empty.
She let out a breath she didn't even know she'd been holding and sat down on his bed.
"Get a grip, Serena," she chastised herself. If he had been there with another woman— no, she corrected herself, with a woman. 'Another woman' implied way too many connotations and it wasn't her place.
"Ugh," she groaned, flopping back onto his bed. If he had been there with another woman she didn't have any right to say a thing, much less barge in as she had. How would she have even begun to explain or apologize?
She sighed at her lunacy and glanced at the clock on Nate's nightstand. It was late, but not that late. Maybe he'd gotten caught up at the Spectator, she reasoned. He hadn't answered any of her calls which gave her pause, but she brushed it off. She'd just wait for him.
She wanted to tell him all about the call and the second chance Congressman Brady had given her. Hopefully he'd be back soon, because if the weather behaved her flight would depart first thing in the morning.
She kicked off her shoes and grabbed one of his pillows, intending to just get comfortable while she waited, but his scent engulfed her and her eyes drooped. Before she even knew what was happening she was asleep.
XOXOXOXO
"Lil, calm down. There is nothing they can do."
"We're supposed to be in New York, not in Boston," Lily snapped as Rufus pulled her away from the gate agent.
"You can see for yourself it's pouring out. This storm has affected most of the East Coast. We're lucky we got this close," he told her. "Don't you remember all that turbulence?" he asked.
Lily knew her husband was trying to reason with her and she knew he was right, but she didn't have to like it, "Rufus, something is wrong. I know it," she said, trying to get him to understand what she was feeling, the desperation. She hadn't felt anything like it in years, not since she'd found Charles lying in a pool of his own blood just after Blair had gone. He'd consumed so much alcohol he'd stumbled and had crashed into his shower's glass door and had hit his head.
Gratefully, it had appeared worse than what it was. He'd required stitches, nothing more, but she'd never forget the sight or what she'd felt— and she was feeling the same thing now.
"Fine," he sighed, rubbing her shoulders. "All the planes are grounded here, but if you feel that strongly we can try to call a car service. We can be in New York in a matter of hours."
Lily smiled and leaned in, dropping a light kiss on his lips, "Thank you," she said, looking down at her watch, "but I won't ask you to do that."
She took a breath and calmed herself. He was right. She was being rash and overreacting. Regardless of whatever was going on, she wouldn't be able to help until the morning. And as it stood, it was late and she wouldn't make him drive most of the night just to please her.
He frowned at her sudden change, "Are you sure? I can just—"
"No, let's find a decent hotel for the night. Hopefully the weather clears and we can take the morning flight out to New York."
He smiled and nodded, "Wait right here. I'll go make a few inquiries," he said and she let him go, going into her bag for her cell phone. She had to talk to Eleanor. When she'd spoken to her earlier she had agreed to grab the earliest flight out of London.
She pulled the phone up to her ear and heard the call ring out, not even certain of the time difference, but she didn't care. When the call was sent to voicemail she bit her lip in frustration because it was still full.
She wasn't a fan of texting, but she sent one out anyway. She was sure it took her far longer to send than it would Serena, but she managed to get it out.
Eleanor, by now you must know about the storm and I'm sure your flight back to New York will be delayed. I'm stranded in Boston, but I'll be getting to the children sometime tomorrow. Call me back. Hopefully I'll have an update by then.
She hit send with a nod before she pressed her lips together and wrote out another.
And for goodness' sake clean out your voicemail inbox! If not for our children, for your potential clients!
She hit send again on her screen then looked up as Rufus approached.
"Let's go," he said, "I've booked us a room at the Boston Park Plaza and they've offered us transportation to the hotel."
"Wonderful," she tried to smile. All would be well. She had to believe that.
XOXOXOXO
Chuck just stood there, glued to the spot where Blair had been just moments before she'd fled, vanishing from his sight. He could hardly draw a breath. He felt as if he'd been in some sort of accident or a horrible wreck where he was left wondering if he was even alive— but he was.
The gouging pain that was carving itself little by little into his chest was proof enough.
He flexed his fists painfully and that's when he realized he still held his ballpoint pen in his hand, the very pen he'd just used to sign this hotel away with. He opened his hand and it clattered to the floor.
It isn't her. This wasn't her!
His mind kept screaming those words at him which was the only thing that was keeping him sane. This was all Jack. He knew it in his gut and he knew it in his heart that now was pumping erratically.
Still, that knowledge did little to stop the anger that was starting to fester inside of him.
Why hadn't she confided in him? Why hadn't she trusted him?
Why the hell had he let her walk out?
He turned towards his closed office door and took a squishy step, but stopped himself. He would gain nothing going after her if he didn't get to Jack first. He had to stop this at the source.
He quickly went inside his soaked suit jacket and reached for his phone, dialing his PI.
"Hues," he grated into his phone.
"Jack Bass," his newly reinstated PI replied quickly, already anticipating his request and Chuck nodded.
"Get me what I need."
"Done," he answered right back, but before his PI could cut the call he stopped him.
"Blair," he said with a difficult breath.
"What do you need me to do?" Hues asked.
"Keep close tabs on her," he told him, his tone conveying the severity of the request which wasn't a request at all. It was a demand, a need. "If she even gets a paper cut I want to know."
"Understood," his PI replied, but he hesitated. "And if I should run into a place where I have to choose fulfilling one over the other—"
"Her," he answered back forcefully and without question. "Always her."
XOXOXOXO
"I don't care if you have to pull a bunch of legal jargon out of your ass, but I need this done."
"Blair—"
"Remember, draw it out, but not too much. I don't want him getting suspicious."
"Blair—"
"I've explained the parts of the agreement that I need buried, so bury them— deep."
"Blair!"
"What?" Blair was startled out of her pacing and turned to Drew who was sitting in one of the two chairs in his living room which incidentally were the only pieces of furniture in his entire penthouse besides the bed she'd dragged him out of more than an hour ago.
"I think I've indulged you enough and I've dragged Isaac into this too— my apologies," he said to his lawyer who was sitting in the other armchair with a laptop resting on his knees.
"It's fine, Drew," the young, dark haired man replied. "It's not the first time I've been summoned at an odd hour by a beautiful woman and I'm sure it won't be the last."
Drew scoffed then said, "You're taking this surprisingly well when it's—," he went to look down at his wrist then rolled his eyes since he must have remembered he didn't have his watch on and was still in a robe.
"It's nearly four thirty in the morning," Isaac supplied before he nodded and said, "I'll agree to most anything that ends with me and a bottle of Dalmore 1973."
Drew's eyes narrowed, "1981," he corrected.
"1969, then," Isaac replied with a grin, making him look far younger than his thirty-four years, "I know you own all three."
"Fine," Drew grumbled, "1973," he agreed, then turned to Blair, "This hour is costing me an estimated eighteen grand and I still don't think I fully understand what you've been going on about."
"Drew," Blair sighed, taking a deep breath that trembled as she exhaled, "We've been over this, Jack is blackmailing me and I need this done."
"That's just it," Drew rose, "Why are you going along with it at all? I can help you—"
"You are," she stopped him. "You're helping me the best way you can, with Isaac," she said, and gave the lawyer a quick smile. She had to keep talking. If she stopped, it'd sink in everything she'd said to Chuck, completely destroying any chance they'd had left which would fracture her piece by piece— and that wasn't an option. Cate's wellbeing depended on her getting this done.
"Blair—"
"Please," she begged him, her control slipping. "If you love me, if you care about me at all, then you'll do as I ask. It's for Cate," she pleaded, hating how pathetic she sounded and even more with an audience present, but she had no choice. She was running out of time.
"Alright," Drew gave in, "But at least get some dry clothes on," he said, gripping her upper arms and she sucked at her teeth. She hadn't realized just how cold she was until his warmth made contact.
"You're pure ice," he said with a frown of concern, pulling his robe off and placing it over her shoulders.
She shook her head before her teeth could start chattering, "I'm fine," she told him, motioning Isaac's way. "Now where were we exactly?"
XOXOXOXO
Nate groaned, grimacing in discomfort as he sat up with a paper plastered on his left cheek. He squinted, pulling the paper off his face and letting it fall where it may as he looked around, or tried to. He had the worst crick in his neck, but that was nothing compared to the pounding headache he was suddenly aware of.
What time was it? He looked over towards his office window and saw it was morning as he tried to remember the events of the night before. Why had he spent the night there?
He turned in his chair, but his movements were slow then he tried to stand, but sunk back into his seat when it all came back to him.
"Fuck," he swore as he reached for the nearly empty decanter sitting on his desk. It was only a matter of time before his grandfather called or paid him a visit. He still wasn't sure of the exact time but he knew the moment the latest Page Six issue hit the stands his grandfather would come sputtering, spewing anger and fire.
He'd had no other choice.
He couldn't let them print those pictures of Serena half dressed. She'd been hurt enough, plus just the thought of any others gawking at her exposed skin didn't sit well with him at all if his white knuckled grip was any indication.
He tossed his head back and drained the rest of the whiskey, leaving the decanter empty. He'd drank so much he didn't even feel the burn for which he was grateful. He needed to numb all his senses for what was to come.
He'd traded the release of the Miranda Holbrook exclusive in return for them not publishing Serena's pictures. It'd been worth it, but he was sure his grandfather wouldn't see it that way.
It could even cost him his job, but he didn't give a damn. Let the old man fire him. As long as Serena was safe and happy, he didn't care.
He went to reach for his phone, needing to see if his grandfather had kept up his end of the bargain with the congressman. He wanted to hear Serena's excited voice, but he had to stop himself when he remembered.
He'd made a deal. He had to keep his distance.
"Fuck," he cursed again and stood, going in search of another mind numbing drink to remove the bitter taste in his mouth that clenched his gut painfully. He almost doubled over in a heave, but he knew the ache had nothing to do with his hangover and everything to do with what he'd be missing from here on out.
Her
XOXOXOXO
Chuck knew he was dreaming. He was certain, so certain he'd stake his entire net worth on it, but that knowledge didn't help nor could it stop the images that were playing in front of him.
At first, he wasn't sure of where he was exactly. He just knew it wasn't grounded in reality. He spun around in a circle. It was as if he were shrouded in a mist before the fog cleared and everything around him came into focus.
He was surrounded by trees and it was eerily silent, not even a chirping bird or a stray pigeon could be heard. He spun around again, trying to get a sense of direction, but gave up and started walking until the trees cleared and his feet hit concrete.
His eyes darted back and forth, instantly realizing where he was.
Central Park
But yet it wasn't. This was a dream, he kept telling himself. If he needed to be any more sure then the lack of people was assurance enough. Not a single soul was about, not strolling, not jogging, not lounging, not real, he told himself again before sound finally reached his ears.
Laughing, that's what he heard first then the entire park seemed to come alive. He heard the birds cooing, he heard balls bouncing, children squealing, the sounds of a bike being ridden, all without a source. The place remained deserted, before finally movement caught his attention.
He turned, standing in the middle of the walkway where three figures appeared several yards away. He frowned, confused until recognition set in and his mouth parted.
He watched Bart and Elizabeth walk down the path each holding the hand of a little boy who was no more than three years old.
The scene made no sense to him, but he stood rooted to the spot in shock.
"One, two, three!" Elizabeth shouted as she and Bart swung the boy into the air, making him giggle and themselves laugh.
"More, Mommy, more!"
"You're going to have to ask your father, Charlie," Elizabeth laughed, but Bart had already turned away, speaking into his cell phone with the antenna pulled up.
The little boy looked up with disappointment, making Elizabeth's lips purse, "Bart, you promised."
"I need to take this," he clipped, his smile from earlier a distant memory.
"You always need something that doesn't involve us, what about what I need? What about your son?" she prodded when he went back to his conversation.
"Elizabeth, quit the theatrics," he barked, making the little boy flinch and start crying.
"Look what you've done," she accused.
"What I've done? You're the one who left," Bart retorted and before Chuck could blink Elizabeth disappeared into thin air.
She was there one moment, then gone the next. Chuck panted looking left and right, but there was no trace of her.
This isn't real, this isn't real, he tried to tell himself again frantically. Bart wasn't even wearing a suit! This was just a figment of his imagination.
"Daddy?" The little boy sobbed, "I want Mommy."
Bart didn't even spare a glace, he kept walking until he too disappeared.
The little boys cries grew and tore at something he didn't even know he had inside of him, making him realize he too was shuddering.
He moved then, he had to. If only to assure the boy he was better off, but as he got closer the sight changed and Cate was standing there sobbing instead.
"Daddy?" she cried, "I want Mommy," she hiccupped before looking back where Jack suddenly stood next to Blair.
"Blair?" he said, before Jack pulled her away, "Blair!" he shouted, sprinting after her, panting, his heart thudding.
"Daddy!"
"Chuck!"
"Blair!" he yelled as he was yanked from the nightmare violently, making him roll off the couch and onto the floor with a loud thump.
"Shit," he cursed, blinking rapidly, completely disoriented. He tried to sit up, but ended up falling back before he could finally lift himself off the floor with a confused frown.
He was in his office at the Legacy.
What the hell had happened?
He looked around, saw the sun shining in through the window then pulled his shaking wrist up to check the time.
It was after eight in the morning! His frown quickly turned into a brooding scowl. How the fuck had he fallen asleep?
"Gretchen!" he yelled, trying to recall the last thing he remembered, but it was all hazy, "Gretchen!" he yelled again, then went to his desk, though it wasn't his desk anymore, now was it?
He gritted his teeth then reached for the phone, dialing the hotel manager just as she walked in through the door.
"You bellowed?" she said cheerfully, but he wasn't in the mood. He swiped at his sweat slicked brow then slammed the landline down forcefully as he came around his desk to stand a few feet away from her.
"What happened last night?" he asked and she frowned, her smile dying.
"I don't know what you mean," she replied.
"Cut the bullshit," he said, not up for the innocent act. "The last thing I remember was asking you for a couple of aspirins," he told her, "What did you give me instead?"
She started to fidget and her eyes filled, "I thought I was helping. Blair left, you seemed so agitated. I thought you needed rest so I gave you something to help you sleep instead."
He knew she'd given him something. It was the only explanation for him blacking out like he did, but to hear it confirmed spiked his ire to dangerous levels and had him lashing out without reserve, "I don't pay you to think about me," he barked, making her flinch, but he didn't care. Where was Blair? What had he missed while he was out?
"I'm so sorry, Chuck, I—"
"It's Mr. Bass," he corrected her, not sparing a thought for the tears slipping down her cheeks.
"Mr. Bass," she nodded in a small voice, "I'm truly sorry. I only wanted to help. I know now how foolish I was, please forgive me," she begged, but he barely listened.
"You're dismissed."
"Are you firing me?" her lips trembled, but he couldn't deal with this now.
"Just get the hell out of my sight," he said and when she didn't immediately move he snapped at her, "Go!" he yelled and she fled.
He didn't feel the least bit guilty. He didn't feel anything at all. All his thoughts and emotions were tied elsewhere and in knots. Once he was alone he turned then rushed into the attached bath to change out of his damp suit. He had to get to Blair or Jack, he had to do something!
XOXOXOXO
Blair fingered the document in her hand, tapping it nervously as the elevator rode up to the Plaza penthouse. It reminded her eerily of that night so many years ago, meeting Jack much like she was now.
It was a different hotel of course, her anxious mind pointed out, but everything else felt the same.
It's not the same! She forcefully reminded herself, despite the circumstances what she was doing was nothing like before. This had nothing to do with Chuck and it had nothing to do with her. This was all about protecting Cate and that's all that mattered.
"Sleep well?" Jack grinned as she walked in and he lowered his copy of the New York Times onto the coffee table. Her legs felt like lead as she entered, but she managed to stride in as if she were coolly unaffected.
"Let's not pretend that's a genuine concern and get down to business, shall we?" she said and he reacted as if that were a grievous affront.
"It's completely genuine," he argued and what was insane was that she was sure he was convinced of that delusion which made her shake her head incredulously.
"Genuine?" she remarked, arching a brow. "There's nothing genuine about you. You don't care, you don't feel," she reminded him, "Love is a maudlin sentiment, remember?"
He'd told her that once, the first time they'd met. She'd been too inebriated to hold up her guard and he'd seen everything then as if she'd verbalized every secret she held.
Her eyes were hard and her chest was rising rapidly, awaiting his no doubt biting reply, but he completely confused her. Instead of lashing out or lashing back, he only looked down and pulled the contract out of her hands.
He signed on several lines, turning pages as he went. She wasn't paying attention. She was still trying to play catch up with how he'd reacted when he spoke, "Cute, thought you'd get this by me?" he said and she stiffened as her stomached dropped.
He'd found the damn clause!
"I told you as long as I got what I wanted, I'd stay away from them," he said and she let out a somewhat relieved breath. He'd only found the first clause. In addition to the one she'd ordered buried, she'd asked for another clause, one that would keep Jack physically and legally away from Cate and Chuck.
"To you, words are just words unless money is involved," she said to him. "You can't fault me for wanting some sort of insurance."
"I said I wouldn't go after them if I got what I wanted and I meant it," he said, and the bite in his tone was back, and it was weirdly reassuring.
"Yes, well, expecting you to keep your word is like asking a snake to betray its own nature," she replied in kind, straightening her back with the confidence she'd been lacking.
He looked at her, his lips a stiff, thin line before he looked down, ripped the page containing the clause out and crumbled it before going back to finish.
A knot of worry and anxiety formed in her stomach because the first clause had failed and she was deathly afraid he'd find the second. In reality it wasn't much, but it'd give Chuck something back and that's all she wanted, Cate safe and for Jack to pay in some way for what he was doing.
And that's exactly what would happen if she could only pull this off, but as she studied him and watched him she knew that wouldn't be happening. He was reading too slowly and signing too carefully. She had to do something!
"You know, I wish I could understand even a portion of what's motivating you because I've always been at a loss," she started, and that was actually the truth though what she was about to say made her stomach churn, "So why not enlighten me?" she goaded, "Cate is Chuck's daughter. No one could ever dispute that to me," she stated, "but you, you're the reason she exists, your blood runs through her veins. How could that mean nothing to you?"
She watched almost in slow motion as his hands stilled on the papers and his head turned and tilted her way. In truth she had to admit she was curious about his response, but while that wasn't her main goal, to distract him was, it became it once their eyes met. She hadn't known what to expect or how he'd ultimately react, but in every outcome she'd pictured in the split second after the words were out, she'd never imagined this.
His lips parted and his eyes lost their edge. She'd never seen them do that before. There was nothing hard there, nothing cynical or bitter, no anger or spite. Her own head tilted trying to figure out just what that look meant exactly, but before she could it was gone as if it had never existed, as if she'd made it up.
Was she now hallucinating as well?
No, she knew she wasn't, but his reaction was quick, instant, like shutters had come whipping down. The coldness was back and glaring, piercing back at her from his arctic blue depths.
She awaited what would come next, braced herself for his response, but he once again turned away leaving her nonplussed.
Her brows felt like they were in a permanent crease.
What the hell was that? What the hell was going on?
His incessant scribbling brought her back into attention before he shoved the contract back at her, "Here," he said, after it was all signed, "as always, it's been a pleasure," he said with a cynicism that would have stung, but she was so slow on the uptake that it missed its mark and she didn't respond.
He'd signed it?
He didn't find the other clause?
"Was there something else you wanted?" he asked with a quick sordid eye shift towards the bedroom and that snapped her out of it, making her stand quickly.
"No," she rapped, not wanting to betray the small victory she felt, "we're both done here," she said, before quickly rushing out of what she hoped would be the last encounter she would ever have with Jack Bass.
XOXOXOXO
"It's great to be home, isn't it?" Rufus smiled, dropping their bags onto the floor as they walked out of the elevator and into the penthouse.
Lily frowned as she fiddled with her cell phone just as her husband pulled it out of her hand, "Rufus!" she protested as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and led her into the living room.
"Lily, everything is going to be fine. After the night we had and the early flight, we're home now," he said, pulling her down onto the couch with him, "breathe."
Lily sighed, settling down, "I wish I could share in your enthusiasm, darling, but until I can speak to one of the children I won't be able to relax," she said, snatching her phone back just as the maid came into the room.
"Oh, good, Carlotta," Lily smiled, "How are you?"
"I'm great, Mrs. Humphrey," Carlotta smiled, "How was your trip? And Miss Jenny?"
"Jenny is wonderful," Lily smiled, welcoming the momentary distraction, "She's working hard and learning so much from Donatella, isn't she Rufus?"
"She is," Rufus agreed with a smile, "The change of scenery did her well. We're both very proud of her," he said as Lily pulled away and stood.
"Carlotta," she veered the conversation, "Is Serena home? I can't seem to get her to answer my calls."
"No, Mrs. Humphrey," the maid denied, "Miss Serena left yesterday, said she had a flight heading to California scheduled for—" the maid stopped to look down at her watch, "twenty minutes from now."
Lily pursed her lips in disappointment, "How about Charles? Have you heard anything from him recently?"
"I'm sorry, I haven't," Carlotta apologized, "Last I heard, Miss Serena and her brother weren't on speaking terms."
"What? Why?" Lily insisted, but the maid only shrugged helplessly and Lily dismissed her, dialing Charles again only to get the same result— his voicemail.
"Lily, really, calm down," Rufus stood, "Chuck and Serena get into it every now and again, but it always gets resolved."
"Rufus, you're not listening to me," Lily insisted more harshly than she'd intended, "I told you something is different this time, something is wrong," she shook her head, "You're just not getting it," she pulled away, dialing Chuck's townhouse as she walked towards, then into her master suite.
If her mind hadn't been racing, guilt would have consumed her for the way she'd railed into Rufus, but she couldn't help it. She'd failed or outright ignored her children too many times before and she refused to be that sort of person again. Something horrible was going on and she needed to know what that was.
"Good morning, Bass Residence," an unfamiliar, cheery voice greeted her, pulling her out of her thoughts and making her frown. Charles must have hired a new staff.
"Yes, Good morning," Lily said, attempting to infuse her voice with some optimism, "Is Charles in?" she asked outright, anxious to speak with him.
"No, I'm sorry, he isn't," the woman replied, "Can I take a message? I'll see to it that he gets it as soon as possible."
Lily's brows creased some more. If Chuck wasn't in, was Cate with him? "By any chance, is Catherine there?" she asked and was met with a silent pause.
"I'm, I'm sorry," the voice stuttered, "I'm not at liberty to discuss my employer's whereabouts or that of his child," she said then apologized again, "Forgive me, but whom may ask is inquiring?"
Lily sucked in a breath, worry and annoyance mixing to make a hazardous and combustible combination, "If Catherine is there, could you be so gracious as to hand her the phone?" she said kindly, but her tone became lethally sharp.
"Grandma?"
"Cate, go to your room," she heard the voice order and Lily's mouth parted in outrage.
"Put my granddaughter on the phone right now or I promise you today will be your last day employed by my son or anyone within the five boroughs!"
"But that's my grandma!" Cate sniffled and Lily heard the phone clatter before the woman responded again.
"Mrs. Humphrey?" the voice said with uncertainty.
"Yes," Lily retorted, "Lillian Humphrey, formerly Bass, presently on the cusp of blasting your entire existence into a tenebrous black hole," she spelled out, out of breath and done with the entire situation.
"No, I— uh, Cate, please don't cry. I'm— I'm sorry, Mrs. Humphrey. I'm Leah Daley, your granddaughter's new nanny. I didn't mean to cause all this. I was only following orders. Mr. Bass explicitly stated that Cate was to remain at home, no visitors or calls until he returned. In fact, no one is allowed to visit or leave the premises at all, even deliveries are being turned away."
Lily's anger quickly dissipated only to be overwhelmed by the anxiety that had been plaguing her for the past twenty-four hours, "Please, just, hand the phone over to my granddaughter," she asked, knowing that it was unlikely that this Miss Daley knew any of what was going on.
"Grandma?" Cate sniffled again.
"Hello, sweetheart!" Lily said, and it was such a relief to hear her tiny voice that tears sprung to her eyes.
"Grandma!" Cate exclaimed as the sad little sniffles vanished, "Are you back home? I miss you!"
"I am home," Lily's heart clenched as she tried to continue speaking past the massive lump in her throat, "I've missed you, too, darling, so much."
"Are you coming to see me?" Cate asked excitedly, "Maybe when you get here Daddy will be back with Blair!"
Lily swallowed hard as she blinked rapidly.
Charles and Blair?
She cleared her throat trying to get a hold of herself. This was the first she'd heard of her son and Blair and she had to know what Catherine knew, "Oh, really?" she tried to respond casually as to not alarm her granddaughter with her worries, "Did your father go out with Blair?"
"Uh uh," Cate responded, "Blair was going back to Paris today and it was the worstest!" she said as Lily heard her little voice droop then perk up, "But Daddy promised to get Blair back. She's never going to leave us again. I know it!"
Lily floundered at this news and at her granddaughter's enthusiasm. She wanted to be happy, ecstatic even. This is exactly what she wanted. What she and Eleanor were hoping for, but she just knew something was decidedly off.
She had to speak with Charles.
"Grandma?"
"Yes, sweetheart," her granddaughter startled her back into focus, "That's absolutely wonderful news!" she exclaimed, hoping she sounded cheerful, "Why don't you tell me all about it later, hmm?" she asked, quickly trying to come up with her next course of action, "I promise I'll be by to see you today."
"Yay!" Cate screeched and Lily tried to smile.
What in the world was going on? And who could she go to for the answers?
XOXOXOXO
Serena glanced at her reflection in the mirror of the plane's restroom. She tousled her hair, reapplied her lip stain then washed her hands. She knew she was stalling. She even went into her bag to pull out her small travel sized perfume bottle. She made a production of refreshing herself and gave a spritz here and there. When she could no longer find anything else to do she gave up and went back into her bag for her cell phone. She'd turned it off after leaving Nate's empty apartment.
He'd never made it home.
All night.
She felt a horrible twinge in her chest as the phone's screen lit up and that twinge became a full blown ache when she saw the only missed calls she had were from her mom.
He could've spent the night anywhere, her mind tried to reason. He could've slept in his office, or spent the night at Chuck's.
Yes, that was probably it, she tried to tell herself while ignoring the missed calls from her mother and dialing Nate's phone again.
She waited, but only silence greeted her followed by Nate's voicemail.
Her stomach sank completely and her nose started to prickle and burn as she tried to keep any tears from forming.
She shook her head and sucked in a ragged breath.
She was being ridiculous, worse pathetic. It didn't matter where he'd spent the night or if he was too busy to answer her calls. Nate was one of her closest friends. He didn't owe her anything. What did she have to do so that could finally sink in?
"Focus," she told herself in the mirror as she returned her phone to her bag and dropped it in. She'd finally gotten back the opportunity she'd longed for. Nothing else mattered. Not anything.
Not anyone.
Not him.
XOXOXOXO
Chuck hurriedly entered the Plaza Hotel, hair still dripping from his quick shower as he held his phone up to his ear.
"You're certain he's here?" Chuck asked, nodding to one of the security personnel he'd paid off to grant him access to the penthouse suite without alerting his uncle.
"He has not exited. The only one in or out so far was Miss Waldorf who visited him a little over a half hour ago," his PI replied, making Chuck's fist tighten and clam at her mention.
"Blair," he swallowed, "You've got eyes on her?" he said, forming it into a question, though they both knew it wasn't one.
"I do," Hues replied, "She's currently with her maid, awaiting the departure of the Hampton Jitney.
Chuck frowned, "Why would she be going to the Hamptons?"
"I'm not sure, Sir, would you like me to make contact?"
Chuck blinked and shook his head. He hadn't realized he'd voiced that question aloud, "No, just keeps tabs on her. Notify me immediately if she tries to leave the state or heads back to the airport," he said, then ended the call before he could hear a reply as the elevator dinged.
He thought he'd catch Jack unaware, but the man was all smiles as Chuck walked into the suite.
"Nephew," he smiled, toasting a drink his way, "It's been entirely too long."
Chuck stood there, glancing at his uncle for the first time in more than four years, noting the small differences, the beard and a couple of wrinkles here and there.
It was curious.
He thought the moment he finally came face to face with him again, he'd be anxious for Cate, terrified of what would happen next, but he was none of those things.
He was calm.
He was resolute.
For the first time since he'd awoken that morning his heart was steady.
This man wasn't insuperable. He wasn't a God, he couldn't dictate fate, and if such a thing did exist, he sure as hell wouldn't allow him to steer the course of his again.
"Jack," he said, without hesitation.
"Can I offer you anything? A drink, a seat, or a towel?" he said wryly, pointing towards his damp hair.
"I'd never take anything you offered again," he replied and Jack smirked.
"Too bad our lovely Blair can't say the same," Jack remarked and Chuck faltered, taking a hard step in his uncle's direction before he could stop himself.
Jack's smile widened, unaffected, "So to what do I owe this most welcomed visit?"
"Let's not pretend you don't know why I am here," Chuck retorted, closing the distance until just several feet separated them, "There's only two reasons and you're well versed in both," he said, laying it out. He hadn't been sure throughout the years if Jack knew what he'd done, if he knew about Cate, but the moment their eyes met he knew there was no doubt.
"Blair and Mia," Jack nodded, bringing the cup up to his lips, but before he could make contact Chuck slapped the glass out of his hand, shattering it and staining the rug.
"Her name is Cate," he grated, hearing his daughter's birth name struck a horrible nerve, "Catherine Bass and she's mine."
Neither of them blinked, Chuck's heart rate sped and the tension filled the air to a near choking degree.
Jack's blue eyes shifted, allowing a moment to go by before he finally replied, "I'm not here for her."
Chuck flexed his jaw, eyes narrowing, "Blair's mine too."
"Even after what she's done?"
"What you forced her to do, you mean?"
"The choice was hers alone."
"Hers?" Chuck gritted out, "You didn't corner her, force her to make some impossible decision?"
"There was nothing impossible about it," Jack replied, "Must we go through this again? There were two doors, she alone picked which one to unlock," Chuck knew whatever it was, had to have been grave, but hearing it out and said so easily as if the choice held no bearing had him lunging for the man, but his words stopped him.
Something clicked.
In a way he was right.
What was he doing? Had he learned nothing? He refused to do this again. He refused to let the remnants of his eroded history take shape and repeat itself. He could have the hotel and everything in it. He didn't care as long as he had them.
Cate and Blair.
He went to turn away, intending to rush out, but he needed to hear this first.
"You bartered my daughter for a piece of real estate," he said, not questioning it because he suddenly knew there was nothing else in the world that would make her do what she did than that.
"A quite costly piece of real estate," Jack replied and Chuck tightened his fists.
"This is the last time that we'll meet," Chuck said and he meant it, no matter what he had to do. "But tell me before I go, what the hell do you get out of it other than the obvious?" he asked, "Why me? Why her? What sort of pleasure do you take in any of this?"
XOXOXOXO
Nate moaned, squinting and stretching his sore muscles as he tried to think on why his head was pounding so badly.
"Shit," he rubbed his eyes as his office came into focus, "That's right," he muttered, forcing himself to rise despite his aching limbs. He looked around his office, everything except his desk was neat and in its place as if he hadn't spent the night and— he looked down at his watch — most of the day there.
He couldn't believe it was already afternoon. How had he fallen back to sleep? His stomach rumbled, then did a horrible flip when he thought about food, making him swallow hard. He looked down at the empty decanter and whiskey bottles on his desk and the feeling worsened. He leaned over and grabbed his trash bin and swept it all in with a loud clink then a crash as the decanter shattered. He didn't care if everything broke. He didn't care about anything, he told himself as his hand stilled and belied that thought.
His phone was sitting there on his desk.
He went to reach for it just as his assistant Courtney Wells entered, apologizing, "I'm so sorry, Mr. Archibald, but I've been knocking for several minutes with no reply."
She had? Maybe he hadn't heard it past the drumming in his head, "It's okay, Courtney, so where's the fire?" he asked, already knowing the source of the blaze.
"Your grandfather has left three messages already. He told me to relay to you that if you fail to return his latest call within the hour he would be by in person."
The stomach flipping intensified and he nodded quickly trying to keep everything down, "Anything else?" he asked tightly.
"Yes," said the honey blonde hesitantly then looked down at her notes, "A host of, um, news sources contacted us for a statement. They want to know why Page Six published a story our paper was promoting for a month as an exclusive. They think there's a story there," she rushed, "I told them no comment, but the calls keep coming," she sucked in a breath, "I tried my best deflecting, still—"
"Courtney," he stopped his flustered assistant, "it's fine," he said, not wanting to step into the shit storm that was coming his way just yet. "Continue telling them no comment and...take a late day break or— clock out early, whichever you prefer," he said then motioned to the door, "Thank you."
She parted her lips in confusion, "I— oh, alright, thank you, Mr. Archibald."
He nodded, but he didn't even notice when she exited. He sank back down into his seat and reached for his phone, gripping it tight as he plugged it in because it had died.
When the phone finally lit he saw he had a bunch of messages and voicemails, but he tapped the screen to put his phone on speaker and only played the ones that mattered.
Serena's happy voice filled the air and he smiled, despite himself.
Nate, Fitz, where are you? he heard her squeal, making him laugh.
I have to get to California as soon as possible, but I want to see you first. Call me back!
He must have sat there and replayed it a dozen times before he could manage to stop himself. She seemed so happy. That was exactly what he wanted, right?
Just one more time, he swore, playing it again.
Nate, Fitz, where are you? he laughed again.
Fitz
She hadn't called him that since they were kids. He still remembered clearly the first time she had. They'd been eleven or twelve, he thought as his smile faded.
"Nathaniel, you promised you'd come watch me practice for the fall play," said a bright-eyed pre-teen Blair.
"Nate, my father's in Europe. I hacked his email account and gave Mariana some time off. She's going back to Lisbon for the week," interrupted Chuck as unapologetically as ever.
"You know your tutor hates when you call her by her first name," Nate pointed out, just wanting to talk about anything other than what had happened only hours before.
"She only pretends to," Chuck boyishly smirked, making Blair scoff.
"Nathaniel," Blair tapped her foot, "we'll be late."
"Nate, come on, we have the entire suite to ourselves," Chuck said, pulling on his left arm, but Blair grabbed his right.
"He's going with me, Bass."
"No, he isn't, Waldorf," Chuck argued, "He has all the time in the world to watch you flub your lines."
"Chuck," Blair scowled.
"Blair," Chuck's eyes narrowed.
"Nate!" Blair shrieked.
"Enough!" yelled Serena, making them all turn her way.
"You two are exhausting. Did you even ask Nate what he wants?"
"S?" Blair frowned.
"Don't, S, me, Blair. You're blowing me off just to pull Nate away from Chuck."
"I am not," Blair huffed.
"And you," Serena said, pointing Chuck's way, "You only sent your tutor away to stop Nate from going with Blair."
"I did not," Chuck griped, rubbing the back of his neck, "I couldn't care less what that dark haired dictator does with Nate, but I draw the line at her taking up all of his time. I called this week first."
"Well, he's —my— boyfriend."
Chuck's eyes turned from a warm amber to a heated brown, "I've already given him my condolences."
Blair's lips parted, "Nate!"
"That's it!" Nate yelled back, fed up, "Serena's right," he said, finally finding his voice as he looked over to Serena, feeling better by the moment. "Neither one of you asked what I wanted," he exhaled deeply.
"So what do you want?" Blair folded her arms.
"Yes, tell her, Nate, so we can be on our way," Chuck said, giving Blair a sidelong look.
"A break," Nate retorted, in a tone he'd never adopted before with either of them.
Blair swallowed hard, "From me?"
"Yes, no," he shook his head, confused at the thoughts and feelings barreling through him, "from everyone," he clarified, looking pointedly at Chuck.
"What did I do?" Chuck asked.
"Nothing," Nate shrugged, "I just, I—"
"Nate's grandmother passed away this morning," Serena cut in, her voice drooping sadly.
"What?" Blair said in a small voice, "Grandmother van der Bilt is gone?"
"She— wow, I," Chuck raked a hand through his hair, "I'm, I'm sorry, Nate, Grace was the only van der Bilt I tolerated."
— Whack —
"Ow," Chuck grumbled as Blair swatted his shoulder.
"You're so insensitive," she spat while dabbing the corner of her eye after she'd swiped Chuck's pocket square, "I'm so sorry, Nate," Blair said, walking up to wrap her small arms around him, "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked and Nate only shrugged again, making her shake her head, brushing the thought away, "It's okay, I'll give you all the time you need," she said, pulling back, "we both will, right, Bass?"
Chuck rolled his eyes at her, then sobered, "Yeah, whatever you need."
"Thanks, guys, I appreciate it," Nate said with a sigh of relief, "Chuck, do you mind giving Blair a lift home?"
There was a silent, heavy pause before— "Hmmm, a limo ride with Blair Waldorf?" he said, darting her a look, making her fidget.
"Nope, no way, I'll have your maid call a car service," Blair said, flustered, "there is no way I'm getting into a moving vehicle with Chuck Bass. I'd be a sitting duck."
"Well it is hunting season," Chuck smirked.
"See?" Blair complained, tugging at her sleeve.
Nate rubbed his head, just wanting the noise to stop, "Chuck, knock it off, please," he begged and Chuck gratefully relented.
"Come on, Waldorf," he said, tugging on her arm and making her leather flats skid on the floor.
"No, Nate!" she called out, but Chuck continued to pull, "You'll be perfectly safe, I promise," he said.
"When have you ever kept any promises?" she demanded as he pulled her towards the foyer.
"Never, I've never promised anyone anything before," he said, and Nate watched Blair stop her struggling and tilt her head before they both disappeared from view.
"I, uh, I should get going too," Serena said after a moment, "You know I told my mom I'd meet her for lunch at Caravaggio down the street.
The relief Nate had felt just seconds before turned into pure panic at being alone, "Can you stick around for a few more minutes?"
Serena looked hesitant before she sat down beside him on the Persian rug covered floor next to the coffee table, "I thought you wanted a break from everyone?" she asked.
"I thought so too," he shrugged.
"I hope you know I'm really sorry about your grandmother," she said, lightly bumping his shoulder with hers.
"I know," Nate nodded, forcing away the tears. His grandfather forbade them, like he forbade so much else, he thought, making his fists tighten, "I'm just so tired of him," Nate scoffed, "He walks around, gathering sympathy now like he cared about her when he hardly gave her the time of day when she was sick."
"Nate—"
"No," he refused to listen to her because he wanted to stew in his anger, it was the only thing he could manage now, "I'm tired of him, and my mom and dad, them too. They go along with whatever he says and I'm sick of it. I won't do it anymore, I won't—"
"Fitz," she took his arm and he startled, turning her way and catching her deep blue gaze.
"What, what did you just call me?"
"Fitz," she shrugged, "Nathaniel Fitzwilliam. You're tired of being Nate and you want to drop William so— Fitz. Why don't you just be Fitz right now?"
Nate sniffled and rubbed his watery eyes, "If I'm Fitz, who are you?"
"I'm here."
His phone buzzing brought him back with a bone deep sense of disappointment, reminding him that despite the years he could only ever be Nate.
XOXOXOXO
"Keep up."
"I said, keep up," Blair ordered as she dragged a lone suitcase behind her.
"But Miss Blair," Dorota huffed, trying to keep up, "Why the hurry?"
"You know we have to leave," Blair panted, picking up her pace at the disgustingly crowded Port Authority on 8th Avenue.
"Where we go?" the maid continued to prod as Blair looked back and forth and continued to walk, "And why the clothes?"
"Quiet!" she ordered, the exhaustion both physically and emotionally catching up to her, "I told you before we have to go. I don't want anyone knowing where we're going," she sucked in a breath, gearing up for a rant, "If we're no longer here Jack can't use me to hurt Chuck again, and before you say it, no, I can't trust his word that this morning was the end of it. Also, and most importantly," she exhaled tiredly, losing her momentum, "if I'm gone I can stop hurting Cate."
Blair stated those facts, trying to stay the course, but the way the Dorota was looking so anxiously back at her had her frail resolve crumbling.
"But Miss Cate cry if we go."
Blair's throat ached, trying not to let out single a sound at Dorota's unexpected response. She looked away, grateful for the sunglasses she was wearing which concealed the tears she was fighting against.
"Miss Blair—"
"Let's go," Blair replied roughly, leading her up to the line to pick up her pre-ordered tickets, "I don't want to be seen in case I'm being followed."
"Mr. Chuck find you, always," the maid argued and Blair shook her head, still trying to shake off the image of Cate's tears, "He won't want to," she rubbed her arms, suddenly so cold despite the trench coat she wore as Cate's image was replaced with Chuck's and how awfully she'd hurt him, "Regardless, I, I took precautions."
"The clothes," Dorota said, looking down at her casual clothes instead of her usual uniform.
"And more," Blair murmured, adjusting her hat as she plastered on a smile and walked up to the ticket booth.
"Hello, I'm here to pick up my tickets," she said, deepening her voice as she handed over an ID.
"Great, I'll have them for you in just a moment," the middle-aged man replied with a smile, giving her ID a cursory look before printing them out, "Here you go," he said handing them over with a receipt and the ID back, "Have a wonderful day and enjoy your trip, Mrs. Rose."
She heard Dorota gasp behind her before she smiled tightly and thanked the man, then grabbed the maid and dragged her with her.
"Not a single word," Blair warned before she took the most crowded route to get to the bus that would be taking them out of the city.
XOXOXOXO
Chuck exited the Plaza hotel, swearing an oath under his breath at how utterly fucked his family tree was. He didn't understand it, most certainly never would, but it didn't stop him from asking why.
It had all become so clear to him the moment he had held Cate for the first time which confused him all the more. He would do anything conceivable for that little girl— And the impossible? He'd damn sure make possible, anything, if he thought it'd only make her smile. Why hadn't anyone with whom he shared blood felt even a fraction of that for him? Why had they'd helped make his life a veritable hell on earth?
"Goddamn it," he swore again, angry that he was letting his father's brother take him down that path again, a path that only led him to ruin.
It no longer mattered, he reminded himself. He didn't need any of those answers. What he needed he would soon find.
"Where is she?" he asked, once he'd redialed his PI as he entered his limo. He needed to see her, touch her, look into her eyes so his own could focus.
"Hues?" he demanded when the PI didn't immediately respond, "Did she take the Jitney up to the Hamptons?"
"Sir, I— I, Mr. Bass, I lost her."
The feral need to retaliate, to devastate that he'd tamped down in the presence of his uncle spiked and he swung his fist high, connecting with a loud bang.
Pain flared as the limo's partition accidentally lowered and Arthur questioned him.
"It's fine, keep driving," he ordered then banged the button again as he went back to his call.
"What do you mean you lost her?" he asked calmly, too calmly for how dangerously close he was to being unhinged.
"I had eyes on her, I swear I did," Hues insisted, "I was across the street from where she was standing, waiting to board the Jitney," he explained, though Chuck cared nothing for it. He wanted answers, but he allowed him to continue speaking, "The bus stopped, everyone got on and I thought she did too. She wasn't anywhere in sight once the Jitney pulled away."
"Long story short," Chuck barked into his phone, his patience gone and he feared the grip on his sanity was next.
"I realized quickly she wasn't on the bus, Mr. Bass, and I immediately started my search," he promised, "I reached out to my contacts and hacked her bank account, credit accounts, I even I had someone track her phone, but the last place it pinged to was here, in Manhattan. She must have turned it off or ditched it."
"Get to the end," he said with an acrid taste in mouth. He shouldn't have stopped, he cursed himself. He'd stopped at the hotel bar before exiting, needing to take the edge off after essentially letting Jack get away with everything he'd wanted. He knew he'd made the right decision, the only decision, so why the hell had he felt the need to numb the feeling he had of that choice? He'd lost time he couldn't get back.
"When I looked into her accounts her recent purchases were jarring," his PI said as the blood slowly drained from Chuck's face.
"Tell me," he asked, before what he felt had the power to dissolve him in place.
"She bought two bus tickets, two plane tickets, two train tickets, and ordered a car," he said, then took in a nervous breath, "Mr. Bass..."
"She's gone."
A/N: It's a Limoversary miracle! I seriously thought I'd never get this chapter out, even thought about not even continuing at one point, but I knew I owed it to everyone who is still reading to see this through to the end, and I will. I swear it. I know you all might be mad at me for the incredibly long wait and for where I left this chapter, but I promise I won't keep CB apart for that long. Life has been so hard on me this entire year, one thing after the other, I won't get into the details but I'm hoping getting this out will put me back into the groove of things. I don't like nor want to keep all you waiting for updates, contrary to what some of you might believe and I really do apologize for the long wait. Life and work just really get in the way for me. Anyway, enough of that and despite where the chapter ended, what did you think of it all?
Please review and let me know that you are still out there despite how horribly I've been able to update.
P.S. There's one pic posted on my photobucket page to go with this chapter if you haven't already seen it yet on my twitter account (follow me for exclusives! chrys1130 just like on here). It's of Chuck's dream. It features Bart, Elizabeth, and tiny Chuck in Central Park. Link to my photobucket page is on my fanfic profile as well as the link to my twitter where you can follow me and see it as well.
Until next time! (which I will try to get out within a month)
XoXo Chrys