A/N: Well, I realized that my last preview was way shorter than expected, but it was mostly thoughts/narration instead of dialogue, so I think that excuses it. XD This preview as said before – though hopefully this time with less confusion – is the preview to my last preview's story. So like, when I write the story for Idea 20, this preview now will be for the fic that follows it. *really hopes self is making sense* Anyhow, knock yourself out. Read & Review. Tell me what you think! ;D (Oh, and Idea 20 (the fic) ends with Chuck finding out about Blair & Jack on New Year's Eve, in case there was any confusion when you read this)

Idea 21 (Aquamarine)—SEQUEL TO "FLICKER" (a.k.a. Idea 20 fic), how Chuck & Blair recover.

The way his uncle had moved from the room with that thickly plastered smirk on his face, the same smirk that Chuck had prided himself so much in over the years, sent fiery chills down his spine. Blair had wavered by the doorway, afraid to leave in case it appeared as though she was going after to Jack, but also afraid to stay for the wrath Chuck was sure to unleash. They stood in that deathly silence for what felt like years, but in reality was only twenty minutes. It was the amount of time Blair figured Jack would have left in, so then she left. Chuck still hadn't looked at her, hadn't moved either and she needed to get away, unwilling to wait for anything he would do. Whatever it would be could not be seen as enlightening or something enjoyable to sit – or rather, stand – through. On her departure, within five minutes, Chuck called in to security to ask if the two had left together and when they confirmed the two had gone their separate ways with several minutes in between, he felt a slight relief come to him. That was when he collapsed on the floor, and soon after moved to the bed and slept for the rest of the day.

A week later he woke up to another dreary day. Even the clouds would not part for his poor fortune, and he found it hard to get out of bed again. Just like he had found it hard to get out of bed every day since he'd been bombarded with the news. Somehow the news had managed to make him feel above Blair in her weak state. He had not heard from her since he'd been informed, and it occurred to him that if neither of them made a move the possibility of them just drifting away and forgetting each other was highly likely.

This time she had wronged him though. And because of this, part of him thought he shouldn't have had to apologize or win her back for the things he had said and done in the first place. What she had done was so much worse. Jack was manipulative, evil, spiteful, and would do whatever it took to gain complete control over Bass Industries. And Blair had slept with him. Whether she had been aware of his true nature at the time or not did not really seem to matter. She had done it, and he would never forgive her.

"Chuck," Serena said in shock, abruptly as he stumbled into the kitchen. He knew the blonde had been aware of him moving closer to home, but she hardly thought he had spent the night back in his old room.

"Sis," he acknowledged with a wide gesture of his arm. "You're looking particularly shiny today," he said, continuing the attempt of maintaining his balance until he made it to the counter by the fridge. Serena glanced down at her short dress and noticed absentmindedly the small speck of sparkles in the middle of it. She sighed and shook her head, following her clearly hung-over step brother into the kitchen. No one else was home, thank God, but that didn't stop him from acting like a complete idiot with every move he made.

"H-How are you doing, Chuck?" she asked, rushing to his side to place his glass directly under the nozzle of the Orange Juice when it shifted as he looked up to her.

"Good," he said, after an extremely long moment. Serena sighed as he simply moved over to the kitchen table and proceeded to drink his juice. She was glad he wasn't stumbling anymore though, and if time were granted and her mother didn't come home soon – a fact she had been able to count on over the years – maybe she could get Chuck showered, dressed and looking presentable enough to go to school Monday morning. His suspension had just ended the week before, but if he didn't make some effort to return to classes, she knew graduation would be an iffy concept.

Serena went and sat across from him at the table. "And what are your plans for the day?" she asked, trying to sound as inquisitive and curious as possible. She had completely taken for granted what Chuck might have been going through during the death and aftermath of Bart Bass. She had been too stuck on her own complicated love triangle between Dan and Aaron. When Dan seemed the inevitable option, she had discovered they shared a sibling between their parents and everything had just gotten so…awkward.

Serena hadn't normally been one to come to Chuck's aid. He had never had any need for it, and the blonde always trusted that if he did, Nate or Blair (or both) would come to him and fix things. Nate seemed to be out of the picture since the reading of the will however, and there was definitely a rift between Chuck and Blair. Eric was almost certainly a no-go since Chuck always took it upon himself to be the 'older brother'. So, who else did he have?

"Lying around, preferably," Chuck said, interrupting her from her thoughts, and taking another sip of his orange juice. Strangely enough the glass was almost half gone, but his sips were slower than molasses and Serena wondered if he'd ever be finished. She half contemplated getting a drink herself.

"A shower and a change of clothes might be nice," she suggested, scooting closer to the table and resting her elbows on it with her chin in the palm of her hands. Chuck raised his eyebrows, but his face smoothed over soon after and he took another sip.

"I did both of those yesterday," he said, grabbing for a napkin and wiping away the yellowish mustache that had developed over his upper lip. "But you're welcome to join me should I decide to indulge in that privilege again today," he moved his eyebrows suggestively as he stood to his feet and deposited his now empty glass into the dishwasher.

Serena rolled her eyes. Same old Chuck. Perhaps he wasn't as far gone as she thought. Perhaps he didn't need any real type of attention. "I think I'll pass," she muttered, and it was almost as if she could feel him smirk when he moved from the kitchen to the hall leading to his room. Apparently he had decided to stay.

"Your plans, Sis?" he asked, pausing in the middle of the hallway, still facing away from her. "Since we're sharing of our lives today," he chuckled.

Serena eyes zeroed in on his leisurely stance. This was her opportunity to see if he really was as 'all better' as he appeared to be during the intake of his orange beverage. He was half turned to her now, and she knew she'd be able to tell if his demeanor suddenly shifted.

"Blair's coming over," she said, almost cockily. Instantly she knew. One of his arms dropped to his side, like it was limp, almost dead. She couldn't see the other one, but she assumed it had either done the same or it was clenching, spazzing in some way.

She was right.

He didn't say anything, just turned his back to her and continued to walk down the hall to his room. "Chuck?" she asked, realizing she couldn't see him anymore but needing to hear a response if he had one to give.

All she got was a door closing, loudly, so she could hear. It wasn't a slam, so she knew he wasn't mad at her but just overwhelmed with everything Blair. Overwhelmed and frustrated, she guessed. He was probably just trying to respond to her in some way, to let her know he had heard what she had said.

Serena sighed and rose to her feet, coming around the table to scoot Chuck's chair into the table. Then, she just stood there with her eyes squeezed shut, waiting for a miracle. A feeling of extreme disappointment washed over her when nothing was resolved a moment later after she opened her eyes. She looked up the stairs to where Chuck had gone and contemplated going after her. It won't do any good, she thought. Chuck and Blair are unfixable to anyone but Chuck and Blair.

Her hand swept through her hair and she came back around to her own chair, sitting back on it and placing her chin back in her hands with her elbows on the table. It was going to be a long day.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed it. I was going to include some Blair & Chuck dialogue in here, but I thought it'd just be too much, considering the circumstances and such. Heh. Oh, and Chuck thinking he's above Blair now…it's not entirely how I thought at the time, but kind of. Like, when I knew about JaB, it was kind of hard for me to really appreciate everything she was doing for Chuck, b/c I just wanted the secret to be out and dealt with. Heh. I moved past that eventually though, thank God. Lol. Remember, this is the preview to the sequel of the last preview fic…XD…*really hopes this makes sense by now* lol. Be sure to vote on the poll on my profile! It's for my next preview. ;)