Part 33

"The Wedding"

So the day was finally here: Dan and Blair's wedding. It was a good call to have the ceremony indoors instead of outside like they planned, because for the past week it had been snowing nonstop. The church they decided on was gorgeous. The walls looked like they never ended, with stainless glass windows letting in all colors of light. The pews had peonies, Blair's favorite flower, at the end of them with white lace tying them together. At the alter stood a wooden post for the priest to marry them. In short, the place looked beautiful.

I stood inside one of the private rooms with Blair, Serena, Lily, Elanor, and Audrey. Anxiety was building up in Blair like a volcano ready to explode. Not cold feet or anything like that, she kept reassuring us that Dan was the man she wanted to marry; instead she was overwhelmed with the fact she was actually getting married. This was the moment she had been planning for her entire life and she wanted it to be perfect. Every time we told her it would be perfect, she asked to see Dan, and every time we had to tell her no.

"Let me see him, just for a second, I'll know everything is okay then." Blair said, pacing back and forth in her room. "Or let me hear his voice through the door. I need to hear his voice." She was in such a panic, none of us were sure how to calm her down other than giving her what she wanted.

I cleared my throat, speaking up, "I'll go get Dan and he can talk to you through the door for a minute, okay? Nothing more than that." Clearly she wasn't going to calm down any time soon unless we got Dan to her somehow.

Blair reached out and gave me a hug, avoiding our faces touching, making sure our makeup wouldn't get screwed up. "I'll be right back." I walked out of the room and headed toward the room Dan was preparing in. As I walked to his room, I couldn't help but peak to see all the guests arriving – the pews were filling up rather quickly.

That's when I reached Dan's room; urgently I knocked on his door. That's when I heard a loud, "Who is it?" that sounded like Nate. "It's Jenny! Can I come in?" I quietly yelled back. That's when the doorknob turned, letting me inside.

There was Dan, admiring himself in the mirror, fixing his bowtie, while Chuck sipped on some scotch with my father. Nate, on the other hand, was grinning right at me. "You look beautiful." He said lovingly, welcoming me in to the room.

"What's up, Jen?" Dan said, turning away from himself in the mirror to look at me. "Everything okay?" He asked, sounding half worried.

"I know you can't see Blair, but she really needs to just hear your voice right now. I told her I'd get you to talk to her through the door." I said hopefully. The ceremony was happening soon, so if he was going to talk to Blair it was going to have to happen now.

Almost instantly Dan's face was taken over with worry. "Yeah, of course." He practically pushed past Nate while getting out of the room to follow me. We moved quickly, not wanting to waste precious time. In twenty minutes the wedding would start and all eyes would be on them.

When we reached the door, Dan knocked urgently. "Blair? Baby can you hear me?" It was kind of weird hearing Dan call Blair 'baby'. I know that's what couples do but it never crossed my mind that they talked to each other like that. It was actually pretty cute.

He gently pressed his body against the door, almost as if he was trying to hug her through it, waiting to hear her voice respond. That's when you could hear Blair respond desperately, "I can hear you. I'm sorry for bothering you, I just needed to hear your voice." For a moment there was silence. "I know it's silly but I miss you."

"I miss you too," Dan replied, "but in twenty minutes we won't ever have to be apart again. So just breathe, Blair, it'll be alright." His hand gently stroked the door; it was obvious he was missing her. "I can't wait to say 'I do'."

It was like you could feel Blair smiling through the door. "Me too." There was a moment of silence. "See you soon."

"See you soon." Dan responded before making his way back to his room to get out his last minute jitters.

Once Dan was out of sight I opened the door and entered back into the room. Blair had a single tear running down her cheek; luckily she was wearing waterproof mascara. The two of them made me so happy. The way they loved one another, the commitment they had for one another, it was admirable. Being like them were goals.

Elanor quickly grabbed a tissue and blotted the teardrop away. Her makeup was still in check, not that we wouldn't have time to fix it, so there was no reason to worry. Despite the tear, you could tell she was feeling a better. I think that calmed everyone else down. Knowing the bride is on edge makes you on edge as well.

At that moment Audrey started crying from her stroller. Lily went over and picked her up, starting to rock her slowly. "Don't worry, I'll feed her." She headed over to the big baby bag that was stashed away in the corner of the room. Even while crying she looked adorable in her little pink dress; she was going to steal the show for sure.

Serena stood up from her seat and walked towards me. "Jenny and I will start greeting people." Well I wanted to stay in the room and support Blair, but thanks for volunteering me.

We headed out to greet everyone. The church was almost completely full; it was suppose to be just family and friends... I guess Dan and Blair had more friends than I thought. Despite the number of people here, they were all recognizable. Obviously grandma and grandpa were here, sitting in the front pews. Surprisingly there was even Blair's ex-minion Penelope. I guess they must of made emends at some point? Regardless, there was a lot more people here than I imagined, I didn't even know where to start with greeting people.

That was when I saw Nate talking to someone, so I figured I'd just casually squeeze my way in to their conversation to make it look like I was trying. Once I approached though, I recognized who he was speaking to. It was his cousin, Tripp, wearing a very dashing suit and tie.

"Hi Nate," I smiled, giving him a quick hug. Putting my hand out I turned to Tripp, "Jenny Humphrey, I don't think we ever officially met." Though I'm sure he's heard my name just like I've heard his. Gossip gets around quick as it is, but adding the fact he's Nate cousin, he's probably heard my name from when we were an item.

Graciously he took my hand and shook it. "Nice to meet you Jenny, I'm Tripp van der Bilt." His smile was just as charming as Nate's. I bet a guy like that got in a lot of trouble smiling at girls with the way he was looking at me.

I turned to Nate, looking through the crowd of people. I seriously had no idea where to even start. "I'm suppose to be welcoming people, but honestly I don't think I even really know half the people here." Nervously I laughed, suddenly feeling like the outsider.

"You can thank Elanor for that," Nate said, turning his attention away from Tripp and towards me, "She invited the biggest names she knew to show off the wedding." And by 'show off the wedding' I'm sure she meant showing off the gorgeous dress her daughter was going to be wearing.

Chuck all the sudden appeared behind Nate, tapping on his shoulder. "Hey, Dan needs to speak to you real quick before he makes his way out here." Nate nodded and headed back towards the room. Chuck gave a slight nod to Tripp before turning to me. For a second he stayed silent, looking at me up and down. "You look beautiful."

Tripp grinned and looked me over as well, "You can say that again." He laughed, only to get a glare from Chuck. Not missing a beat Tripp kept going, "Hello Charles, long time no see."

Clearing his throat, Chuck took my hand. "Come on Jenny, lets get ready to walk down the aisle." The way he said it made it sound like we were the ones getting married, which isn't really a bad thing. I liked the sound of it.

Everyone in the pews settled down and got quiet as Dan approached the altar. Chuck and I hurried to the side door to get to the back room where Blair was waiting. First Serena and Nate would walk down the aisle (after months of back and forth I finally caved and let Serena be the Maid of Honor for Blair. Their history just goes back to so far, it only seemed right). Then it would be Chuck and me. After us was Elanor and Audrey, who she would be carrying in her arms for everyone to see. Finally, it would be Blair making her way down the aisle to her happily ever after.

Music began to play as Serena and Nate began their walk; my dad was playing his guitar while someone else played the piano. I had never heard the wedding march sound so delicate. My heart started beating like crazy, my nerves taking over me. I had no idea there would be so many people here, but as Chuck wrapped his arm around mine I knew everything was going to be okay. In sync we began our walk down the aisle. As we reached the altar I got in place behind Serena, now watching Elanor come up with Audrey. That was when the doors opened and Blair appeared.

I glanced over to Dan, who already was holding back tears. When I looked back at Blair she was staring at Dan, like there wasn't a hundred people watching her every step. Looking back at Dan I could see him mouth I love you to her. That's when the tears started falling down his cheek. I could only imagine the way he was feeling in this moment.

Blair reached the altar and took Dan's hands in hers. The priest began to recite the usual wedding speech, about loving one another no matter what and staying faithful. Honestly a lot of his words were a blur to me, because the entire time he spoke I couldn't take my eyes off Dan and Blair. She looked drop dead gorgeous, and I'm not just saying that because I designed her dress. She looked the kind of beautiful you can only be when you're truly happy. Dan on the other hand, well, I've never seen him look so debonair in my entire life.

They were perfect for one another.

It was now time for them to recite their vows to one another; Blair was the first to go:

"Dan, I wish I could say it was love at first sight, but clearly that wasn't the case for us. We didn't fall in love in the pouring rain, you never had to chase me down at the train station, or win me back with some grand gesture like hundreds of flowers. You didn't do any of the things I always dreamed a guy would have to do to prove he loved me. But that's not a bad thing, because I was living in dream before you came in to you life, and you showed me how much better reality is. You took my life from black and white to vibrant color. You, Audrey, you two are my happily ever after. I wouldn't trade our love for anything else in the entire world."

Dan took a deep breath, wiping away the tears that escaped. "I don't know how I can top that, but I'll try" he chuckled quietly, holding Blair's hands tightly in his:

"Words can't do justice to the way I feel about you; never in my life have I been so tongue tied. I stared down at a piece of paper for hours trying to find a way to say out loud how you make me feel. You're right, it wasn't love at first sight, but when I saw you, I knew there was something special about you. The way you talked, the way you walked, the way you stood your ground. There was no other girl who was as fearless as you. I would never admit it, but... it took my breath away. Then I got to know you. You weren't fearless, you had plenty of fears, but you never let them stop you. Once I got to see the world in your eyes everything changed. Now we have a child together and everything is changing again, but I know with you by my side we can do anything. I'm in love with you Blair. I'm in love with you and everything that we have."

Now it was time for them to repeat after the priest. "I, Dan, promise to love and cherish you, through sickness and health, till death do we part." Gently he placed the ring on to Blair's finger.

"I, Blair, promise to love and cherish you, through sickness and health, till death do we part." And she placed the ring on his finger.

"You may now kiss the bride!" The priest said in joy.

Lovingly Dan stroked Blair's cheek, placing his other hand on her hip. Blair took her arms and wrapped them around his neck, beginning to lean in. Dan's lips met hers, sharing a kiss so passionate it was giving me chills. Their lips parted only to meet again for one more kiss. Blair's arms unwrapped around his neck and Dan's hand left her cheek and took her hand. Grinning, they made their way down the aisle, heading outside to the limo waiting to take them to the reception.

*Line*

"The Reception"

Everyone at the reception was already sitting down, waiting for Dan and Blair to make their grand entrance. Chuck and I were seated at table #1 alongside Serena, Nate, Elanor, Lily, and Erik. My dad was up in the front, ready to introduce the new couple. Music started playing and the spot light went from my dad to the entrance. With a proud smile you could hear my dad say, "Now introducing, Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey!"

Hearing Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey sounded kind of weird, not because it was Blair but just the thought of Dan being married was weird. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled for him, obviously, but hearing my brother was a married man was a bit of a slap in the face. Time was moving, and we were all changing with it.

Smiling wide I looked over to Chuck, only to catch him staring down at his phone. This was ridiculous. In one quick motion I knocked his fingers off of his phone and took it. I couldn't believe that in the middle of the reception he was working on his phone. Honestly, I'm surprised it took him this long to start typing on it again.

"Jenny!" Chuck whisper yelled at me, "Give me the phone back. Now." It wasn't a request, it was a demand, and it kind of freaked me out.

"No." Was all I whispered back before returning my attention back to Dan and Blair who were taking their seat at the head table.

Blair looked like a princess in her dress. Not going to lie, part of me was jealous. How could I not be? She looked amazing. All eyes were on her and thinking the same things as me. I mean, I'm sure Serena and all the other girls here are feeling the same way too.

Nate caught the way Chuck was looking at me, those dagger eyes glancing down at my lap. Gently Nate put his hand on top of mine, leaning in to my ear. "He's just being Chuck. Don't let it get to you, enjoy your brother's big day."

That was very sweet of him, except it caused Serena to send me some dagger eyes of her own. I thought we were finally on the same page and being friends again, but I guess not? The way she was looking at me made me look away, removing my hand from Nate's. Which only gave Nate a concerned look on his face, but when he noticed Serena the concern went away. He knew we were getting a little too close for her comfort.

Within those moments Chuck was quick enough to steal his phone back and continued to text on it. I just sighed and gave up. Nothing was going to take him away from his phone... not even me.

"Well the ceremony was just lovely," Lily smiled, mainly talking to Elanor and Erik. "The dress turned out fantastic. I can't believe you and Jenny were able to make something that stunning. Everyone is going to be coming to you for their wedding."

Elanor smiled graciously, eating part of her salad before replying. "I couldn't have done it without Jenny." She turned her attention to me, "You really do have a remarkable talent."

"Thank you, that really means a lot to me, Elanor." And it did. Working with her took me out of the hell hole of school and Chuck ignoring me. It was a great feeling, yet at the same time it brought me down because after this month and a half break from school was over I'd be back to just being a student at NYU.

Time went by, people started dancing with one another, the tables got mixed up, Dan and Blair went around thanking people for coming and the gifts, and Chuck had disappeared. I definitely was going to have to talk to him. Before I could go on a hunt to find him, Elanor stopped me with a smile. "Jenny, I've been meaning to talk to you about something."

Out of anxiety I played with the ring on my finger. What could she possibly want from me? Did I mess something up? "Yeah, of course, what's up?"

"I wanted to ask if, well," Elanor stalled for a minute, "how would you like to come work for me?"

All the noise in the background faded. All the people, the music, it was like it didn't exist. I was completely absorbed in to this moment. "Work for you?" I said in disbelief.

"Yes, only if you're willing. I mean, you'd start out working with the rest of my staff but if you keep up the work you've done while working on Blair's dress, there could definitely be a possibility of your own line."

"My... my own line?" I could barely mutter out. "Yes. I would love to. I mean, I'd have to work around my school schedule, but I am so in." My entire body was filled with jitter. Elanor Waldorf just offered me a job, designing next to her, with the possibility of my own line. This was like some kind of a miracle.

The look on Elanor's face went from a smile to a slight frown. "I would need you full time, Jenny." Did that mean what I thought it meant? "Besides, why go to school for something you're already a pro at? You won't learn anything you don't already know."

For a moment I stood there. She wanted me full time? The hours just wouldn't work out for me to do both. But how could I say no? This was everything I had ever worked for, and it was being offered to me right now. My dad was going to kill me.

"I'm in." There was no fucking way I was turning this down. This was my dream, and my dad was just going to have to deal with it. I mean, I'm terrified to tell him, but he'll have to deal.

That's when I realized Chuck was missing again. "Can you excuse me? I just realized I lost my boyfriend." I looked around, over the crowd of a million people. "But we'll talk about all of this later, I promise. Thank you so so much."

"Good luck, dear!" She smiled as I walked away. I wonder if it was weird for Elanor to see me dating Chuck, just because of his whole history with Blair.

Eh, not like it mattered.

So I searched the dance floor, and I searched the extra food, and every other part of the dining hall, but he was nowhere to be found. I glanced out a window to see it snowing. Not too badly, it looked beautiful hitting the ground. That was when I caught a glance of Chuck out of the corner of my eye, walking around in a circle on his phone. This was enough.

I marched outside, instantly freezing; this dress definitely wasn't made for cold weather. "What the hell, Chuck?!" I yelled, marching over to where he was.

All I heard was him mumble in to the phone, "I'll have to call you back." Before he turned and looked at me. "Jenny, what's wrong?"
"What's wrong? My brother just got married, and you're outside on your phone working?" I sighed, resting my head in my hands. "You need to take a step back from all this working and take a break. Just enjoy the moment we're in, stop consuming yourself in something that can wait a god damn day."

"It's not the simple, Jenny." Chuck said, responding to a text. I grabbed the phone out of his hand for the second time today. "Give me the phone. This isn't funny."

"No. It's not funny." I sighed, taking a step closer to him, hoping this drama would stop. "Take it easy for just one day."

That's when something in Chuck Bass snapped. "Take it easy for a day? Are you kidding me? I don't live in your world, Jenny. I can't make one stupid dress and suddenly have everyone all over me. I've had to crawl and claw my way in to this business. Yes, I'm Bart's son, but that doesn't mean everyone suddenly wants to work with me. I've had to prove myself. Every day I have to keep proving myself." He yanked the phone out of my hand. "You don't know what you're talking about. Go back to your silly drawings."

And that's when something in me snapped. "Excuse me?! Silly drawings?!" I couldn't believe he just said, "I have been working my ass off since I was fourteen to make some kind of dent in the fashion world. Even with everything I've done, I've always ended up with nothing. All I was ever told was to go back to school. I worked my ass off making that dress. I work my ass off on everything I design. They aren't some silly drawings, they're who I am!"

"I think it's time we get some space from one another." Was all Chuck said as he slid his phone in to his pocket.

Like a fool I just stood there in disbelief. Was he saying what I think he was saying? "Are you breaking up with me?"

"Goodbye, Jenny." Chuck turned around and began to walk back inside.

"If we're over then we're over for good, Chuck! I won't just wait around for you!" Tears started racing down my face. Did he really just throw away everything we had? Was this really the end? Just two hours ago I was imagining what it would be like when we got married, and now he's gone.

We were over.

*Line*

"After The Party"

So there I sat on the floor, crying on Blair's shoulder. It was 11pm. Dan was struggling with putting Audrey to sleep. Tomorrow morning they would be on a flight to the Bahamas for their anniversary. I felt shitty for crashing their high right after their wedding, but I had no other place to go. There was no one else I felt comfortable to cry to. The only person who could understand the heartache of Chuck Bass was Blair.

"We're done. He practically left me for work." I cried out, trying not to speak too loud, but I wanted to yell it all out. "He just threw it all away."

Gently Blair stroked my hair, trying to get me to take soothing breaths with her. "I can't believe he would do this..." Her voice was gentle and caring. "Everyone thought you two could get through anything. We thought he'd changed."

I pulled myself closer to her, getting the tears to slow down. "If this was a movie... like the ones you love... what part would it be? Where are we? The part where we fight for one another," again, "and get to our happy ending?"

That was when Blair told me the realist thing I had ever heard: "Sometimes there are no happy endings, sometimes things just... end."

And I stopped crying.

*Line*

A/N: So what did you guys think of the big "season" finale? I'm so pumped for what's to come, and I really hope those of you who are still with me are just as excited as I am. Please let me know what you think in the comments below! Every response helps :)