Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Author's Note: Thank you all for those who are still reading this, I hope you like this chapter. And for those who celebrate it Happy Thanksgiving.

Moving Forward?

Blair watched as they passed the Earth, it was all white, that woman, Dora, had been right. Her Mother had not been growing things, had not been nurturing them perhaps even this entire time. She could barely believe that.

"The Earth is…" She trailed off unsure of what to describe it as.

Eric glanced back at her and then the Earth before returning his gaze to the direction they were traveling, "Dead. Nothing has grown for months. The sun cannot even cause it to melt for the ground is frozen."

"My Mother did all of this?"

"She could not get you back from Charles. He wouldn't even let her in the Underworld. None of us."

Blair pondered that for a few minutes. Chuck had not only kept her from the rest of the Gods and Goddesses but he had shut himself entirely off in order to keep all away from her. So perhaps Nathaniel had been trying to help out. "Nathaniel?"

"What about Nathaniel?"

"Even he could not go into the Underworld?"

He glanced back at her and shook his head, "Blair I hate to be the one to tell you this but Nathaniel did help Charles…or he had something to do with this."

"He gave Chuck permission."

"I suppose so."

She sighed, "So it was only my Mother?"

"For what?"

"Who was trying to get me back?"

"I believe Serena spoke with Nathaniel, however she's been in one of her homes on Earth; she is not on Mount Olympus."

Blair wasn't sure what to make of that. So did my Mother finally make Nathaniel send you to get me?"

Once more the messenger Gods eyes gazed upon Blair this time with shock in them, "No, Charles sent for me and told me to wait for you."

Blair didn't know what to say, she knew what Chuck had told her and though she believed him she still wanted to be positive. She wanted to have it confirmed that he had done something so unselfishly with nothing for him. As soon as that thought came to her a warmth spread throughout her, he really did care about her, entirely.

She let herself be lost in that thought for just a few minutes before the glory of Mount Olympus could be seen. The lovely green drove all other thoughts from her as she realized just how much she missed it.

Soon enough the two of them landed before the palace where, in Blair's mind, all of this had started. As they walked inside she found that she was having a hard time cursing that day.

"Blair?" She looked up to see Nathaniel on his throne looking at her quizzically.

Before she had a chance to respond she heard a familiar voice that she was sure she would never forget, "Blair!"

Turning she saw her Mother, as lovely as ever, rushing towards her with her arms wide. Blair and her Mother embraced and held each other tightly. "Mother."

"My dear, I have missed you most terribly."

"And I you."

Eleanor moved Blair a little ways away from her so she could look her in her eyes, "Are you intact? You have not been desecrated?"

Blair thought briefly about how close she and Chuck had been many times and that even now she wouldn't mind having him there with her. She cleared her mind of all those thoughts and instead shook her head, "Mother I am fine."

"Good. Otherwise Charles would not have been happy for too much longer. Come, we will leave, there is much for you to tell me."

"Eleanor."

Blair and her Mother turned towards Nathaniel, "If you expect me to thank you Nathaniel you can think again. I will however say thank you to you Eric, you have brought my daughter back to me."

"You're welcome. Eleanor, there is something…" Eric began saying but stopped when he looked at Nathaniel.

Nathaniel was shaking his head, "Eleanor you have your daughter back. Right the Earth, it should not suffer since you are not."

Her Mother glared at Nathaniel and he cringed, "I do not go back on my word, just as I wouldn't take something that wasn't mine."

"I was just saying that the people on Earth need this weather gone. Allow the sun to help melt it."

"Do not speak to me about what I should do. Come Blair."

Blair looked over at Eric and gave a small smile to him and then glanced at Nathaniel who was frowning but quite obviously not about to say anything else. She then followed her Mother out of the palace and began to move towards Earth.

"Mother, you froze the Earth?"

Eleanor did not speak until they reached Earth and examined the area that they were in. Still silent she began moving back towards their home. Though Blair had only moved on this path going to and coming back from the festival she still recognized it though it was still covered in white. Blair had been hoping for the green grass, the beautiful flowers. At that moment she remembered what she had been given and glanced down and noticed that her flowers, the ones from Chuck, were still beautiful even though the cold air was hitting them.

She was silent as she followed her Mother back to their home. As she crossed the threshold the feeling she thought she would have, the feeling of contentment and comforting was not there. Startled she wondered if perhaps it was because it was a white, barren land and it was not quite home. Though the flowers around the house were still quite beautiful.

"Darling," Eleanor took Blair's hand and led her to the couch, "now you must tell me everything that has transpired."

"I am quite curious as to what happened up here as well."

Her Mother looked around and nodded, "It is quite simple; once I discovered you were gone the nymphs and I began looking for you. I could not find you at all. I then remembered you telling me of the God who spoke to you, Aaron, so I went and paid him a visit. You were not there and so I went to Trip, when I still could not find you I went to Nathaniel." She paused for a minute her look darkening before she continued, "I searched the palace and I spoke to him and he pretended as though he knew nothing. He was trying to get me to come back to Mount Olympus or move forward. A trade he called it." She frowned at that before continuing, "Serena did not even know where you were. I was beginning to think that I would never find you again, but then Dan came. He had seen Charles taking you, and though he was a fool for not speaking about it otherwise, I knew where you were."

"Dan saw me and did nothing?" Blair could barely believe it, sure she wasn't Serena, but shouldn't he have realized that something wrong was going on. But if he had intervened then she would have never been down there with Chuck. A shiver escaped her as she realized that she was grateful Dan had said nothing.

"I know. It is awful he said nothing; and though I wanted to punish him, he gave me news of you, so I let it go. It was then that I went to the Underworld but Charles had forbidden Charon to allow any to cross over. Neither I, nor any of the other Gods and Goddesses who tried to speak with him were allowed."

"Nathaniel and Charles both plotted?"

"I'm honestly not sure on any specifics, but that isn't the point now is it? They were both very wrong and since Nathaniel would do nothing and it seemed as though you were lost to me forever…"

Her Mother trailed off and looked out the window. Blair followed her Mother's gaze and saw the still white earth outside. "So you let the Earth die?"

"In a manner of speaking, of course it isn't dead, more…sleeping. I felt an immense loss when you disappeared and by doing what I did they felt it as well."

"You are going to return it aren't you Mother?" Part of her love for the world above was the green and colors, not a world void of everything.

"Of course, and you are very welcome to come along and help me with it, if you wish."

Blair looked at her Mother in surprise; it was the first time she was including and showing that she was more than just a little girl to her Mother, "Yes. I would love that."

At that moment Eleanor looked at the flowers Blair still held in her hands, "Where did you get those flowers?"

Blair was unsure how to answer it without giving too much of her feelings away, feelings that she wasn't entirely sure of just yet. She looked down at the most beautiful flower she had ever seen and shrugged her shoulders, "From below. Things grow there…they are just different."

"I did not recognize the flowers…you were able to take them? He did not stop you?"

Blair remembered the last time she had seen Chuck, the sadness that was in his eyes, still thinking of that hurt. He had hidden it away, but it was there. "No, he did not stop me. He realized I needed to leave."

"He let you go?"

She could tell her Mother was skeptical and it was then that she realized she didn't want to talk about that last time she had seen him, not yet at least. "Shall we go and wake up the Earth?"

"Blair."

"Mother, I am back with you, is this not a celebration?" And though she said the words she had no feeling of celebration at the moment. But surely that would come, wouldn't it?

Eric watched as Blair and Eleanor left Mount Olympus. He was still puzzled over everything that had happened within the short time span since Chuck had spoken with him. He had been surprised after everything that had happened that Chuck had sought him out. Eric had been sure since he had no longer been allowed in the Underworld that he would never see Chuck nor Blair again; so it was to his complete surprise when Chuck had sought him out.

Eric had been on the outer edge of Mount Olympus just sitting and thinking. Nathaniel had just come back to Mount Olympus and he was sure that he was telling Eleanor something to placate her. Nothing would placate her, she had frozen the Earth, and Dan could not even get the sun to help out. Though he figured Dan did not agree with what Nathaniel and Chuck had done.

There was something different about Chuck when he had tried to get Blair back the first time. He had a throne for her, it was obvious that he had to have wanted Blair for his Queen, so why could he not simply to talk to Eleanor. Eric shook his head at his own ridiculous thought, it was Chuck, and he did what he wanted to without any care at all in regards to others.

As he sat there lost in his thoughts he felt a slight rumble of the Earth. Quickly he stood and looked behind him, to his surprise and shock Chuck stood in front of him.

"Chuck! I don't understand. Why are you here?"

The look that was on Chuck's face for far too long confused Eric, it was…sadness. But before he could ask him about that Chuck spoke, "Come and get Blair. Return her to her Mother."

"Wait, you said that you were going to keep her."

Chuck glared at him, the sadness abruptly becoming anger, "If you want to return Blair to her Mother then I suggest you come and get her."

And before Chuck could say anything else he disappeared.

Eric hadn't been sure what to think about Chuck's short visit but he knew that he had to try. So he went down to the Underworld still completely surprised when Charon let him in. What really surprised him was when he had walked into the throne room and found not Chuck walking down the stairs but Blair. Chuck was letting Blair go. No one had forced him; Chuck had done it on his own.

He figured Blair would be running out the moment she had seen him, instead she asked for a minute. He had gone back in only to see her eating some seeds from a fruit of the Underworld. He would have thought Eleanor would have explained about that to Blair already, everyone always knew about that.

But he figured that if Blair didn't know and had eaten then Chuck would have just used that as an excuse, but he didn't. So why had Blair eaten those seeds? He wasn't sure but a part of him wondered if it was because she wanted to stay with Chuck.

No one wanted to stay with him; he didn't want anyone to stay either. Not longer then a visit at least.

And yet that was exactly what had happened, he had her stay, much longer than anyone else and the much bigger part of that was him letting her go. He wasn't throwing her out, he was letting her go.

And Blair, though she had come with him and he could tell the excitement from her he could also sense that she wasn't as happy as one would be after escaping a prison.

So maybe…

He let his thoughts drift for just a few more minutes before he decided that regardless of what either Chuck or Blair were feeling he needed to tell Nathaniel. Once someone ate the food of the Underworld they would have to stay under there for eternity as the Fates had made it. But if she had just eaten the seeds would that rule still apply?

With a sigh Eric made his way quickly to Nathaniel's throne room.

As he entered the room he noticed Nathaniel was once more in his throne. He wasn't doing much other than staring off into space, of course Eric realized that Nathaniel probably was thinking through lots of different things, but he wasn't really worried about that right then.

"Nathaniel."

Though he had barely spoken Nathaniel had looked over to Eric, "Eric, you're still here?"

"I had things to think about, and I appreciate the solitude that places here can provide."

"Is the Earth still frozen?"

"I suspect Eleanor and Blair and enjoying their reunion, but I am sure the Earth will unfreeze quite soon."

"Should she not have done that first?"

"Considering how long her daughter was kept from her, I would think that she would want to spend the time with her daughter first and then take care of the Earth. But worry not, Eleanor will follow through, she does not lightly say things."

Nathaniel glared at Eric before shrugging, "Is there something you wished to speak to me about?"

Eric thought through everything again and he realized that he would need to tell Nathaniel because that was an unfortunate rule that was made. The Underworld was different from Earth and even Mount Olympus, Gods could visit either and eat from both without any retribution, but the food of the Underworld was forbidden. It was a different place, something outside, another realm. Chuck and the others such as Charon and the judges were able to eat and come up to Mount Olympus and the Earth and there was no problem, but if say he had eaten the food down there he would have to stay there. He wasn't entirely sure what it would do, it was just something that everyone knew. And no one was willing to test.

So perhaps the food didn't have any kind of real power? Maybe it was just a story?

Quickly he knew that it wasn't the case, the Titans had that and one of them had been stuck in the Underworld and was not able to leave.

Perhaps it was because they were not the Gods of the Underworld, which might have made all the difference.

"Eric."

Startled Eric pulled himself out of his thoughts and looked at Nathaniel, "I apologize."

"No need. What is it you wish to speak with me about?"

"It is about Blair."

"Blair is with her Mother, I do not see a reason to speak of her again. And I'm sure Eleanor will keep anyone from her."

"It is also about Charles."

Nathaniel sat up a little straighter, "Chuck? What about him?"

"It is something that happened in the Underworld."

"What happened?"

"Blair…" Eric trailed off for only a moment before he finished, "she ate some seeds."

Nathaniel stared at Eric shocked, "Blair, Eleanor's daughter, who we just took from the Underworld ate food of the Underworld."

"Yes, I do not think she knows that I saw her. But she did. She ate some seeds, so now we have to tell Eleanor and have Blair be…" Eric paused he was going to stay trapped but he didn't think that was the right word.

"In the Underworld?"

"That is the rule."

Nathaniel stared back in front of him before shaking his head, "We do that and we'll have the frozen Earth, everyone will die and…what will be the point?"

"She can't just live up here."

"You said that she ate some seeds? She did not eat more?"

"Not that I'm aware of, but I didn't see her down there before now so I'm not quite sure."

"Go and find out from Chuck. Do not let him know about the seeds that Blair ate, but just find out if she did eat anything while she was down there."

"And Eleanor?"

"We will wait for the Earth to thaw out before anything is said."

Eric frowned; he didn't want to keep this from her and Blair but he knew that Nathaniel had a point. "Alright I will go and speak with Charles and let you know what he said."

"Good."

And with that Eric left.

Chuck stared at the door unsure of what he was going to do. She still hadn't returned and though he knew that was going to happen it didn't mean that it wasn't hurting any less. It was a feeling that he wasn't quite sure of what to make of it.

His heart hurt.

Was it his heart?

It had to be. He didn't know he could feel loss like this, he had never wanted to feel this and now he had.

And what caused it to hurt so horrible was that he knew he wasn't just going to take Blair back down here again. And he knew that taking another female would do him no good. Though they had not been together his thoughts were consumed with her. It was as if everything he breathed, every thought he had all was her.

He knew he had told her to go but a part of him had hoped she would come back. He realized that she wouldn't; she didn't want to be there. So even though he was well aware of that knowledge it still hurt when it hit him hard.

Chuck moved and sat down on one of the seats across from her room. She was now everywhere and he wasn't sure what he was going to do.

At that moment he realized that Eric was there to see him. He almost decided to ignore Eric but curiosity got the better of him. Without another thought as to the reasoning behind Eric's visit he moved down the stairs to speak with him. A small part of him hoped that Blair wanted to come back or she was sending a message; but he knew that wasn't the case.

"Eric."

"Chuck. How are you?"

He ignored the question, "What do you want?"

"You are letting us in here again?"

Chuck wasn't sure what that meant, was Nathaniel testing him or had Eric merely wanted to come and speak with him? "Is that why you came down? For a test?"

Eric shook his head, "I come on Nathaniel's orders."

Chuck nodded that made sense, "What?"

"He wants to know if Blair ate anything while she was down here."

Chuck stood there silent, if she had eaten something he could have kept her down there. It was law that anyone who ate would have to stay in the Underworld, but Blair never ate, she had no desire to be down here. No desire to be with him.

"She ate nothing." Just as she wanted nothing to do with him.

"Are you sure?"

"I am quite sure."

Eric pursed his lips and looked down before nodding slowly, "Alright."

"Do you know something you're not telling me?"

"Nathaniel is just…curious. He wants to make sure…that everything is taken care of."

Chuck shrugged his shoulders, "You could have asked Blair. I'm sure she would have told you."

A look of doubt crossed his face before he answered, "We are just being thorough. Besides Blair and Eleanor are going to thaw the Earth."

Ignoring that look on Eric's face, he replied, "Than I'm sure Nathaniel will be happy."

"I am sure more will be happy with that. It has been a long time since green has been seen on the Earth."

He wasn't sure what Eric was getting at, perhaps for Chuck to admit that he had been wrong in taking Blair? Maybe that was what Eric wanted Chuck to say, but curiously Chuck wasn't sure what he would say. Was it wrong to take Blair the way he had? He knew that he shouldn't have, though with any other female he might not care as much. But he still didn't feel that it was wrong for her to be down here with him.

He shook those thoughts, they were not going to help him continue and leave Blair alone. If he kept thinking about her then surely he would do something that he shouldn't do. And that would not be a good thing, if he did something else to pursue her…she would only reject him again. It didn't matter what he wanted Blair didn't want it. "If that is all, then I suggest you return to your green Earth."

Eric opened his mouth to speak but then closed it and moved towards the doors. He had opened the door but turned back to Chuck, "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"You are trying my patience; I wish to be left alone."

A concerned look crossed Eric's face but he only nodded and disappeared through the door.

Chuck sat down on his throne; of course it wasn't helping him much since her throne was right next to his. He didn't think he could destroy it…perhaps he would have it moved into her room.

If he had gone to Eleanor would she have permitted him near Blair? He didn't find that likely, the odds were against him. Surely Blair would find someone up there, if her Mother ever let her out of her sight again.

He knew that he needed to stop thinking about all of these things; it wasn't doing him any good. He needed to be doing something, anything.

His thoughts drifted to the idea of another female companion, but he realized that the ache in his chest wouldn't let him wander far down that road. He cursed Blair realizing that he would never be able to go back to how he was before. She would move forward, not affected by her time down here at all, while he would never be able to move on.

At that instance he almost destroyed the throne right then and there, but as his eyes turned on it he saw one of the details he had put on there.

The flowers.

The one she had picked right before he had taken her. He had noticed how she seemed too lit up when she had seen it down here. He had overheard a bit of her conversation with Serena at the party in regards to flowers, and that one was for her. He knew it, and she seemed to agree. That was why he had left the flowers for her to take back with her.

Then he realized that there was something he could do. She didn't have to know it was him; she would surely put her own conclusions together. He stood and left his palace; he knew that he would need to move fast.