Title: Breakfast at the Basses
Chapter Title: I Know Who You Did This Summer
Author: Shelby
Chapter Summary: The end of the summers is here and the Bass family head for the Hamptons. Blair (Leighton Meester) walks in on Charlie (Emily Browning) and Lex (Tom Strruidge) in a rather compromising position. Her suspicions only further when Lily (Kelly Rutherford) finds them upstairs during a family brunch. Meanwhile, Max (Jackson Rathbone) decides to finally try and pay Andrea (Lucy Hale) a visit. Blair and Chuck (Ed Westwick) attend an exclusive White Party that ends in drama for the Original Gossip Girl Generation. (Chace Crawford, Taylor Momsen, Penn Badgley, Blake Lively, and Connor Paolo also star)
A/N: Once again the reviews were amazing, guys. I really hope you enjoy this chapter. Don't forget if you want to be on thefabfoursite emailing list then contact me. My email is starfgirl3529 yahoo . com (Remove the Spaces).
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The black stretch limo pulled into the driveway of the brand new, Bass mansion in the Hamptons. Blair had instructed the designer that she wanted it both modern and baby-proofed. Construction and interior design took a while to be completed, but was finished just before the end of summer. So they arrived in style and ready to have some fun in the sun.
"We've arrived, Mr. Bass. Should I call on the staff to fetch the luggage?" Arthur asked through the driver's inside window. Chuck, whom had been watching his wife bounce his youngest son on her lap, looked up at him. He nodded and sent his chauffer an appreciative smile. The Bass's employee then hopped out of the vehicle and came around to open the door for them.
"Here you are, Love," Chuck said, as he took Ephram's diaper bag from her. She offered a light grin as she put the baby in his carrier. Ephram was supposed to stay in it for the duration of the trip there, but of course he protested at the chance to sit in his parent's laps.
Blair waited for Chuck to get out of the limo and then handed him the baby. Ephram waved at her from his carrier and kicked his little feet. "Mommy's coming. Don't worry," she promised with a giggle. Her hand tucked a curl behind her ear as she departed from the limo.
"Mama!" Ephram shouted in excitement. She sighed and took him out of his carrier. Arthur hurried to take it from Chuck before they went inside. Their new vacation home was absolutely magnificent. Even the two older Bass's looked up in wonder as they entered the huge vestibule where the staircases were. Their baby seemed to like his new surroundings too. He became quickly excited as he tried to bounce up and down on his mother's hip.
"Let's get your bottles in the fridge," Blair told him. She knew where to go so her husband followed her. "Oh and wait till you see the playground outside all for you, Ephram." Her voice cooed in playfulness. Her baby heard the word play and clapped his hands.
"Are his bottles in here?" Chuck motioned to the baby bag. She nodded and took her son to the window. Her hands pushed back the curtains and revealed the sandlot and jungle gym.
"Mama luk!" Ephram cried. His big blue eyes widened and he reached to touch the window as if he could touch the swings. His father smiled as he walked over to them. He put his hand on Blair's back.
"Yes. That is where your mommy is going to play with you. Of course, as long as it's okay with you, my little one," she agreed. Her head nodded in encouragement.
"And Mad-ee?" he sounded. His voice turned into a whisper. It was still difficult for him to get certain words down. His tiny fists tapped against the thick glass.
"Whoa there, son," Chuck told him with a warm laugh. He grabbed his tiny fists and turned them away from the window. "And of course Madison can come to play with you."
"Yeah!" Ephram shouted. His little eyes wondered all around as they walked into the family room. A maid had already set up a play area for him on a blue blanket.
Blair sat down with him on it and spread out her legs, she was wearing shorts of course. Her husband kicked of his shoes as he sat down also. The baby began to crawl back and forth between them.
He stopped abruptly though and furrowed his brow. "Where Doe-Doe?" Ephram inquired. He had finally noticed the lack of his favorite maid. Well to him she was much more than a maid. She was his Doe-Doe. He pouted at his parents.
His mother smiled. "Dorota is at her new Hampton home with Vanya," she explained. And by new Hampton home, she meant their old one Chuck and Blair insisted the couple have as an anniversary present. It had too much sentimental value to sell and Dorota would love it even if primarily based on the Bass twins grew up there. She helped raise them after all.
Their son remained skeptical, but only for a few more moments. Then he shrugged his shoulders and grinned. His hands picked up a new distraction, some toy they had bought a while back, but he never had the chance to play with.
"He'll be happy when she watches him while we attend the White Party, don't you think?" Chuck commented. Ephram clapped his little hands and started to sing. Blair nodded and leaned in for a kiss. Just as their lips were to connect though, someone came between them.
"Kissy time!" Ephram chanted. His little hands shot in the air and he pecked each of his parents. They both chuckled and started to tickle him together.
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Max and Lex stood next to each other outside the Palace Hotel; both slightly leaned against the limo. The blue-eyed boy had made minimal adjustments to his style, even if it was summer. He wore a navy blue, Ralph Lauren suit jacket and a set of their black and white plaid pants. His colorful Bass friend however, was dressed in quite the opposite. Max had on summer pink shorts a sweater with a bowtie, and a lightweight jacket. But even with the contrast in couture, they still fit together as two Upper East Side best friends should.
Max checked his watch. "How much longer do you think her majesty will be?" he asked with a roll of his eyes. His hands stuffed back into his pockets in an irritable manner. They had been there for what felt like hours, waiting on his sister of course.
Lex smiled and shook his head. He was just happy to be invited to the Hamptons with the Bass family, particularly his girlfriend. "Well you know how you Bass's are, always dressing to impress," he responded.
"Oh how coyly cute of you to say, Alexander. Too bad it's the first time I've shaved in a week. My mother threatened to castrate me if I didn't rid of my scruff," Max snickered to himself.
"And the world would have been such a cleaner place if she had," Charlie remarked as she sauntered up to them. She looked absolutely stunning and far more Waldorf than Bass. Her navy blue dress was trimmed in white, had ivory buttons, and was very tight fitted.
Lex pushed himself off the limo and towards his girlfriend. He caught her in his arms and they kissed. "You look gorgeous, Lover," he breathed, forehead pressed against hers. She giggled, unable to break the lust, but also love filled gaze between them.
"As nauseatingly precious it is to watch you two in the bliss of young love, I ask that you refrain from sucking each other's faces until we reach the Hamptons," Max interrupted. They both turned to glare, but he only smirked back at them.
"Yeah, that'll happen," Lex scoffed. His voice oozed with sarcasm. It'd be hard enough not to attack her in the limo, literally. She just turned him on so much. They had been having sex nonstop since they started.
Max sighed, "So Charlie, shall we be picking up Andrea to take to the helipad with us or—?"
"I tried to convince her, but no. She told me she isn't going to the Hamptons until her family does tomorrow," she reported. Her eyes watched as the hope in her brother's darkened and then diminished.
His façade quickly returned though and he shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "Yeah, whatever. Archibald's can't party like we can anyways. It's a gift only bestowed on a lucky selected few," Max told them. His sister rolled her eyes, but he wasn't the least bit concerned about it. "Come on, let's go,." He nodded to them and climbed into the limo.
Charlie moved to the door, but stopped when Lex pulled on her waist. He enveloped her and pecked her lips. "Tell me what I've done to receive such a hot girlfriend," he commanded, voice seductive and smooth like always.
Her eyes looked him up and down. "Well I'm not sure. You look ridiculous," she teased with an adorable smirk. He chuckled and pulled her into another kiss. And then they got into the limo.
As she settled though, she decided to mention the weird occurrence that conspired back in the building. "I think the Palace needs better security, by the way. On my way down, some creep, older than dad, bumped into me. And then he said, 'Why hello Gorgeous. Don't you look like your mother.'" She wasn't sure why, but the man gave her an eerie feeling.
Max simply rolled his eyes at her though. "Charlie, everyone tells you that because you do and they all know our mother," he disputed.
She nodded, but shared a glance with her boyfriend that told him she still didn't feel right. Lex held her hand and kissed her ear. "Just forget about it. The world's full of creeps. Take your brother for example," he whispered with a light chuckle. His hand gestured to Max who popped the champagne.
The Bass boy looked to them confounded. "What?" he frowned.
Charlie took a flute of champagne and giggled. "Oh nothing…" The limo started and they drove away.
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Outside the Bass's Hampton home, it was a brand new day. Chuck, Nate, and Eric were at a game of croquet like always. They had tried to invite Dan over the years, but the original Brooklyn boy took one look at Chuck's outfits and couldn't keep a straight face. So it was just the three of them, plus Ephram who played over in the grass, but he didn't contribute much to the conversation.
Eric took a shot as he spoke. "So… are you two attending my mother's family brunch tomorrow?" Family was such a loose term with them now, but that was a good thing.
Nate shook his head. "I had to decline. Vanessa and I are meeting with the lawyers tomorrow," he responded. Both men turned to Chuck as he took his turn.
He chuckled, "Please, Blair accepted the invite even before consulting with me. Not that I mind going. Lily has been begging us to bring Ephram to see her." His voice was not its usual smug self, but only because he was deep in concentration.
Nate nodded and looked at his phone. He smiled at the picture Jenny sent him. It was of her and Madison at the beach. She had helped her daughter write 'Lunch?' in the sand. He texted back 'Yes.'
Eric stared across the yard though. "Am I the only one ho notices Ephram picking all of Blair's freshly planted flowers?" he asked with an amused smile.
Chuck's eyes widened and he threw back his stick. It hit Nate in the leg, but he didn't notice. The father swept up his giggling baby. "Ephram, mommy will blame daddy," he scolded.
Nate held his leg and glared while Eric continued to crackup. Times had certainly changed for the boys in the Hamptons.
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"Someone looks tense," Lex mused from the doorway. Charlie turned in her seat to look at him, her teeth still clasped on her bottom lip. He chuckled darkly and stepped through her doorway, within seconds, he fell down onto her bed.
"Luckily I'm here." His voice was deep and husky. Then he leaned in for a kiss. She closed her eyes as her lips accepted his and his body gradually pushed her onto her back. A pleasured moan escaped her lips and her legs parted to make room for his body. The material of her red colored tights caused immediate friction with his navy blue pants.
"Mhmm," Charlie finished. He leaned up and stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. The kiss was over, but the pent up passion still held, just like always.
"I noticed Dorota is not present, nor your parents. Tell me," he leaned down and whispered into her ear, "is that why you had me over here? Do you want me to make you scream my name in pure ecstasy, with the thought that we could be discovered at any moment lingering in your mind?" His hot breath hit against her neck and made her eyes roll back in her head.
"No-not exactly, but now that you mention it…" Her voice trailed off seductively and her perfectly manicured hands reached up to grasp the material of his shirt. They strategically undid the buttons and revealed his ivory colored, toned chest.
"It seems our perfect and pristine Queen wants nothing more than to have herself tainted by the corrupt King," Lex smirked. His blue eyes sparkled as he watched her stroke his chest, saw the hunger in her eyes. It was for him. He satisfied her like no one else ever could, not that he'd allow them to try. His lips kissed the corner of her mouth and her eyes flickered to his again.
"No," Charlie shook her head as she smiled, "not tainted, just ravished beyond her wildest, most erotic dreams." That was when her smile turned into her bed smirk. It was a cross between that of her mothers and fathers, but they didn't know that. She only knew to do it and he only knew to love it/become enthralled by it.
She then arched her back and hooked her arms around his neck. He closed his eyes and smirked. He felt her ruby lips suckle on his neck. She was leaving her mark on him, where everyone would see. They were the same in that way, extremely territorial and possessive. She marked her territory and before they were done, he'd mark his. It gave them an animalistic and raw buildup.
"Move your arms so I can relieve you of this retched shirt, love," he ordered. She went to pull back her lips do to that, but he stopped her.
"No, there is no need to do that. I'll take care of it, just unhook the claws from my neck." The moment he laughed at her eagerness, she bit down hard. He hissed, but smiled. Then he waited., but not for long. She lifted her arms and he ripped off her shirt.
"Lex!" Charlie's breath hitched in her throat and made her tone high-pitched. It was a brand new outfit. Then again, summer was almost over. And it wasn't like she'd wear it next season. It would be last season then.
"Clothes will be lost, but you shall not suffer," Lex returned. She giggled and fell back onto the bed. Her arms curved up above her head around the pillow. Her eyes twinkled with an innocent charm, but the vixen brewed underneath.
"Fine, but be warned, Alexander. My parents could return anytime. We are on vacation and no one has a schedule to uphold. Am I worth the risk?" Her eyes taunted him.
"Every second of it," he breathed. His lips came down on hers again. If only they knew, someone was bound to return before they'd ever be finished.
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"Bye girls, had fun!" Blair called to Isabelle and Kati as they drove away. She stepped into the vacation home and put down her shopping bags. She smiled wide still at what they contained. Ephram and Chuck would look so cute in their matching, purple swimsuits. She took off her hat and went up the staircase. But just as she was to turn down the hallway to her bedroom, she heard someone moan. Without another thought, she advanced down it. Had Max already moved onto other girls again?
"Maxwell," she said as she opened his door. But it was empty. She frowned. But then heard the noise again. Her eyes widened and she realized it was her daughter's room.
Blair stormed down the hallway and threw open the door. Charlie was under Lex as he kissed her neck. Neither wore anything, but underwear. "What are you doing?" she shrieked.
"Mom!" Charlie screamed her voice frightened. She pushed Lex off of her and they both attempted to cover themselves.
Blair grabbed Lex's clothes and threw them at him. "You, leave!" She then turned to her daughter. "And you—"
Charlie's face twisted with anger. She shot up and stomped over to her mother. "No, you need to leave and learn to knock first, mom! You and dad give Max all the privacy he wants!" she shouted. It wasn't fair. It was never fair.
Her mother's face fell some at the accusation, but remained stern nonetheless. She shook her head. "I think we need to talk, Charlotte."
"I'll just leave you two to it," Lex laughed nervously. He then moved to kiss Charlie goodbye, but her mother's death glare stopped him. "I'll see you later, baby." He barely kissed her on the cheek and then he was gone.
"Have you had sex?" Blair flat out asked after a long moment of silence. She just wanted to know, even if she wouldn't be happy about it.
Her daughter looked her straight in the eyes, but hers were without emotion. "No," Charlie lied with a straight face. It was a gift or curse from her father, depended on how one observed it.
But her mother saw right through it. Blair's eyes fell and for some reason her chest hurt. Charlie had always confided in her. Sure she kept things from Chuck, but Blair, she always trusted. And now, she clearly didn't. Her solemn eyes lifted to her teenage daughters'. "Well, I would hope that you would tell me the truth, eve if you thought I would be mad," Blair hinted. Her chestnut colored orbs practically begged her to do so.
And Charlie felt bad, but she wouldn't. She couldn't risk it, her and Lex. Charlie flashed a light, fake smile. She shrugged, "I have no reason to lie to you, mother. After all, it's not as if you and dad could really judge."
The comment did not settle well with Blair, but she only nodded. She had seen that defense system since she was little. It was a Chuck Bass specialty, only now performed by his daughter.
"Well regardless, I'll be in my room if you ever remember anything you want to tell me," she concluded.
"Whatever," Charlie returned in a casual voice. Then before her mother could utter another word, she shut her door.
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"I still don't quite fathom why I had to get up for this. Lily has brunches all the time," Max complained as he followed his parents to the door. If his sister was permitted to come late than why wasn't he? Or better yet, not have to attend at all.
"Sill-ee," Ephram giggled as he pointed to his brother. The littlest Bass had been the first one up that morning and decided it was his duty to play human alarm clock for everyone else in the house.
Blair smiled, "Have a little more Ephram Bass spirit, Maxwell. And call Lily grandmother or grandma. You know how much it hurts her feelings when you don't." It may have not been by blood, but Lily had been there like a grandmother since all the Bass children were born.
Before another word was spoken, the door opened. "Mee-maw!" the youngest Bass chanted. His arms flew out for the elder blond woman. His parents hated the way it sounded, but Lily adored the title.
"Ephram! Oh grandma is so excited you came to see her!" Lily cooed. She took him in her arms and he attacked her with sloppy, baby kisses. "Oh and look how big you've gotten," she laughed.
Chuck watched, like he always did, and shifted uncomfortably. He loved Lily like a mother, but that never stopped him from wondering how his own parents would have been with his children. And with Ephram, well he mainly thought about his father. Would he have yelled at and scolded the baby like he did Chuck? Would he have ignored him? Or maybe, just maybe, it'd be different. Perhaps even Bart Bass could have been softened by a mischievous little Max, doe-eyed and elegant little Charlie, or blue-eyed baby Ephram. He guessed he'd never know though.
Blair eyed Chuck. She knew he always thought the same thing when around the grandparents. She touched his arm softly and smiled with sympathy.
He returned it and they stepped inside. "You look wonderful, Lily," Chuck greeted. He kissed her cheek before Ephram pushed him away.
"No dada, my mee-maw," the baby informed him. He hugged onto Lily tighter and scowled at his father.
"Forgive the child, grandmother. Us Bass children are rather spoiled," Max interjected with a smug grin. He too pecked her on the cheek. As a reflex his hand came up and stopped his younger brother who had prepared to hit him.
"Some of that spoiling I have contributed too. But oh Maxwell, don't you look handsome? I'm sure your other grandmother will appreciate that haircut of yours too," Lily beamed.
The Bass boys had very different reactions to that statement. Max said, "Other grandmother?" His eyes were opened wide, practically fearful. Ephram though, clapped his hands and looked excited as their group entered the kitchen.
"Mother," Blair offered.
Eleanor looked up from messing with something on the stove and her face brightened. "Lily, you told me that wasn't them so that you could grab Ephram. Hello, Precious!" Eleanor smiled. She came over to take her grandson, but Lily shook her head.
"No, you held him the whole time at your brunch. It's my turn, Eleanor," Lily protested.
Eleanor shook her head. "Now Lillian Humphrey, that is not true. Give me my grandchild," she retorted.
Max watched in hilarity as he and his father poured themselves a drink. His mother sighed, "They really need to workout a system or something. This happens every time."
"… Eleanor, it was your decision to live in Paris, not mine. I cannot help it if I see him more. It still does not give you the right to hog him at my gathering no less," Lily continued.
"Hi everyone," Serena called as she entered with Dan. Both older women quieted for a few moments to say hello. "And my favorite nephews are here," the blond cheered.
Max took a step back. He knew that Blondie over there was a hugger. Serena only laughed though and took Ephram from her mother. It was easy to do since she skillfully caught them off guard.
"Serena!" Lily and Eleanor reprimanded in union.
She only ignored them and kept the baby to herself. "Hello Gorgeous boy," Serena hailed. "Oh B, I want to take him home with me," she whined.
"Funny Serena," Dan muttered. He had never forgotten what a handle the baby was from the last time they watched him. He had ended up with second-degree burns and a call to the cops had been made.
Blair glared at Dan, but then smirked. "Well Humphrey, now that Chuck is doing so much better and we can give into temptation, who knows? There may be another little Bass on the way before too long," she teased.
"Ugh B, I must save this child's ears!" Serena complained. She grimaced at the couple on the way out, but they only laughed. Lily and Eleanor chased after her since they still wanted the baby back.
"Bye mama!" Ephram waved. He certainly did not seem to mind, nor object to all the attention he received.
Dan chuckled and patted Chuck on the back. "I am happy you're doing better though, man," he said, completely honest.
"Thank you," Chuck nodded. They started a light conversation and Blair walked over to sit down by her eldest son. He had been a little too quiet for her liking.
"Lex and Charlie will be here soon. I'm sorry for making you come so early. I just thought that you would skip out on it if I didn't," she admitted.
Max only smiled and shook his head. "Its fine, mom. I'm fine. The Little Bass has more a chance of being smothered to death," he joked. She nodded her head in agreement and they both shared a giggle. However, when the men's conversation caught their interest, they looked up.
"Nate actually had to reschedule the lawyers appointment, but he said he still couldn't come. Apparently Andrea wasn't feeling very well or something. And Andrew—Well I'm not sure what's become of him, actually," Dan explained.
Max knocked back the rest of his drink and stood up. "I'm going to go and get some fresh air," he muttered. The door to the balcony slammed shut behind him.
Dan, who had no idea anything was up, simply smiled. "Well I suppose I should go and find my dad before we sit down," he told them before he went up the staircase.
Blair looked to the door and then Chuck. Her husband sighed, "I'll go and talk to him."
"Okay," she nodded. A smile came to her ruby lips. "And I'll go rescue our other son from being loved to death by three crazy women." He laughed and they kissed. On his way out the door, he heard her again.
"Mother, I told you he has fair skin! That lipstick stains him!"
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Charlie and Lex had finally arrived at the brunch, but noticed that no one was around. They were all out on the veranda, but the teens did not seem to care. She suggested that he accompany her upstairs to find a place to hang her coat. He had told her that he'd love to. Only, she wasn't wearing a coat when they arrived. It was summer and there was no need for one.
That was how Charlie and Lex ended up in Serena's old Hampton bedroom. Her hair was a mess from his hands running through it and he had lost his shirt. They still stood by the bed, but would soon fall onto it after enough foreplay.
"Mhmm. You're such a good kisser, baby," Lex murmured against her lips. They were having a full on make-out session. It would not be wise to play rough like usual in her grandmother's house.
"Where do you think I learned my skills? You were my first kiss after all. You're an excellent teacher. Now touch me," Charlie commanded. She moaned when he kissed her neck and his hands slipped into her skirt. His fingertips had just gazed over her panties when the door opened.
Lily stood there in shock. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but then pursed her lips. The two teens pulled apart just enough to look at her. Finally, she walked more inside and put a hand on her hip. "What is going on here?" she questioned.
Charlie didn't know what to do, but knew that she had to do something. So she moved forward, fear written all over her face. She was scared for her life or rather Lex's if her father found out. So what could she say to Lily to make it all better? She had no idea.
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"Grandma, please!" Charlie begged as she chased after the elder blond. Her explanation had held no weight, nor did it work. Lily knew what was about to happen, what had probably happened before, and was trying to find Blair or Chuck.
They reached the bottom of the staircase and Charlie grabbed her arm. Lily spun around, remorseful for the tears in her granddaughter's eyes. "Please, please don't say anything to my parents. You can't. Can't you just… just pretend this never happened?" she pleaded.
Lily sighed in a solemn fashion. She slowly shook her head. "I'm sorry, Charlotte, but you know that I can't do that. They deserve to know that you—"
"Can't do what?" Chuck asked. He and Max came in from the veranda. They eyed the scene, unsure of what was conspiring between the blond and the brunette. Her father looked to her at an attempt to read what she was thinking, but she turned away from him.
Lily looked from Chuck to Charlie, back and forth, again and again, until she couldn't hesitate any longer. Her eyes landed on Charlotte's one last time. Her doe brown eyes appealed to Lily as she mouthed please.
The elder woman turned away from her and looked to the man she now considered her son, Chuck. She sighed and said, "Well I didn't think I had enough room to set a place for Alexander, but since he dropped Charlie off… you know what? The more the merrier."
Charlie sighed in relief and closed her eyes. She felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. But then her eyes snapped back open so that she did not look suspicious. "Let me help you," the girl offered. Lily nodded and they walked into the kitchen.
Once out of earshot, Charlie touched her arm. "Thank you," she whispered.
Lily nodded, but did not seem pleased with what happened. "You're welcome, Charlotte, but I still don't feel right about it. I think that they should know you and Lex have had… that you are having…"
"We weren't going to do anything. We haven't, honest," Charlie swore. It was a lie, but Lily typically didn't see through them.
But in the current case, she wasn't fooled. "Sweetheart, my daughter is Serena Van der Woodsen. I know what I saw," Lily informed her. She then took the extra setting and left for the dining room without another word. Charlie didn't follow.
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Max waited until his father went back inside and then went down the steps. He walked over to where the Brunch area was setup. He took his seat and stared at the empty glass. No doubt the help would soon try to fill it with water or juice. With a few glances around, he pulled out his flask and filled the crystal with Scotch.
"Well you do live up to your name," a redheaded woman giggled. She fell down beside him and he slightly jumped. Quickly, he regained composure though and put the flask back in his pocket.
"I try my best," Max replied with a charming Bass smirk. His eyes raked over the woman. She was older than him, but not anywhere near the age of his parents. She wore a bright reddish orange dress that cut down low to show off her cleavage. Her hair was pulled back and she wore lots of gold jewelry, but it wasn't the expensive type. He looked back to her eyes with less enthusiasm than before. She looked nothing like Andrea did.
"I'm Jasmine, Lily's new event planner." She batted her eyelashes flirtatiously and offered her hand to his. He accepted it and then took a sip of his drink. When she noticed his attention started to waver, she put her hand on top of his. "Tell me, is the rest of your reputation true as well?" Her voice sounded just a little too hopeful.
His eyes zoned in on it and he chuckled far less smooth than usual. "That depends on what part you speak of," he mused. His hand slipped out from under hers and he brushed it casually through his hair.
She leaned closer and touched his chest. "Why don't I show you which part I mean? I'm off work in a few hours and the brunch will be over then," Jasmine suggested.
Max closed his eyes tightly at the feel of her against him. It had been the longest time for him to go without sex since he lost his virginity. He missed Andrea, but just the feel of the woman beside him made him crave satisfaction. And he tried to silently convince himself that if he blindfolded himself during it, then he could pretend it was Andrea. His eyes snapped open and looked into Jasmine's.
"I think—" he stopped mid-sentence. His eyes looked up to see his father. Chuck had a drink in his hand and gazed at the scene. He didn't look vey happy, even someone disappointed.
Max looked down for a moment and shook his head. He stood up and sighed. "It was nice to meet you, but I should go and find my sister," he lied.
Jasmine pouted with her brow furrowed. "But we were having so much fun. I promise that's all I'm looking for. That and a night with the infamous Max Bass," she breathed.
"Maybe some other time," he refused. Her face fell, but soon she put up a façade of a fake smile. She nodded at him in agreement. He walked away.
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"Ephram, you are such a messy eater. Mommy does not know what to do with you sometimes," Blair teased. She put the empty jar of smashed prunes on the counter and picked up a washcloth. Her baby boy sat on the counter in front of her, purple spread all over his face. He giggled and reached to touch her with his dirty hands.
"No, no, baby. This is a very expensive dress. Just ask your grandmother Eleanor. She designed it for mommy," his mother explained. She nodded towards her mother who stood nearby. Mrs. Rose prepared a bottle for her grandson as his mother attended to sanitary means.
"Gwamsee?" Ephram held up his arms and his eyebrows rose. That was how he addressed Eleanor so that he did not mix her up with Lily. Plus, she had protested mee-maw from the start, where as Lily did not.
"I'm afraid she's right, angel. I would be terribly upset. That is, unless your father is willing to buy her a new one," Eleanor told him in high-pitched voice. She ticked him and he broke into a fit of giggles.
"Mother, please be careful or he'll spit up all over you," Blair warned with a sigh. It was one of those things that Dorota was well aware of, but her own mother was not.
"Well we wouldn't want that," Eleanor responded. She immediately stopped. The baby pouted and opened his mouth as if to cry, but was once again content when handed his bottle. He went completely silent as he drank his milk. The elder woman stepped around the corner to cleanup some.
"Thank you," her daughter said. She then picked up her baby and held him close. He put one tiny hand on her left breast, but was too consumed in the now not so terrible bottle to take notice. The two women started an innocent conversation until Eleanor's original motives for it were revealed.
"Darling, I just think you should talk to Charlie about modeling for Waldorf designs is all. She is such a pretty girl and to have my granddaughter be the face of the line would be such good business," she explained as she poured herself a glass of wine. Charlie and even Max had actually done shoots before, but it was when they were much younger.
Blair opened her mouth to respond, but felt her husband come up behind her. Her wrapped his arms around her petite waist and kissed her cheek. They smiled at each other, but then he looked to her mother. "Charlie doesn't need to model, Eleanor. It simply isn't a good idea," Chuck told her, pointblank.
Eleanor scoffed, "How isn't it a good idea? Really Charles, your daughter is beautiful. The essence of perfect is meant to be on covers because it is what other girls want to be." Even with Cyrus, Blair's mother would always be Eleanor Waldorf in some ways.
He shook his head and stood up straighter. "Because, I don't want her self-confidence destroyed when some idiot jackass photographer or bitchy runway director wants her to be the size of a twig," he countered. Blair stayed quiet. She knew if she intervened then it would become another battle of her always taking one's side over the others.
"That's ridiculous. Charlie is already thin enough. Given some jobs may require her to lose a pound or two, but if she gained it back she'd still be stunning." She rolled her eyes and continued to act as if he were the one out of line. In her mind he was.
Chuck's temper reached its peak. He pointed at her and opened his mouth as if to scream. "See, that right there—"
"Chuck, stop it," Blair warned. She put a finger to his lips and shook her head. He didn't look happy, but finally he cooled down some and nodded. She knew why Eleanor's words had him so worked up. It was because when he thought about Charlie in that situation he automatically related it back to what happened to his wife in her teen years. They had made sure their daughter never went through that, built her confidence to even a state of cocky to keep her from it. And they had.
When her son-in-law did not protest again, she smiled and walked over to her grandson. "Ephram, don't you want your sister to model for Grandma?" she asked. However, the response she got was not one she expected.
"No-no," Ephram giggled and shook his head. Blair laughed and kissed his cheek. Eleanor turned to look at Chuck to see a victory smirk on his lips.
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Charlie walked into their Hampton home that afternoon in a bit of a foul mood. She had attempted to see Andrea, but was yet again rejected. Her best friend was avoiding her, again. All she wanted now was her nice soft bed and maybe a little Lex later. First, she wanted to rest though.
"Chuck, yes right there!" her mother screamed in the sound of a moan.
She froze at the top of the staircase and frowned. Oh God, no. That was not what she needed right now. She'd grab her pillow and sleep outside on a hammock if she had to. Quickly, she walked towards her room, but something wasn't right.
"Oh my God. No, this is joke. They aren't… in my room? Lex and I have… it can't be true," Charlie whispered frantically. She marched to her door, but her hand hesitated on the knob. She heard another moan and then cry from her mother. Well she could always burn her eyes out later, but her room was unacceptable.
Very gradually, she opened the door and stuck her head in. She expected to be disgusted or traumatized, but neither happened. Her father was not even in the room. But only her mother lounged on Charlie's bed, while she flipped through a magazine.
Blair looked up and smirked. "Haven't you ever heard of knocking?" It was a direct comeback to how Charlie had responded when Blair found her and Lex a few days ago. Her mother was teaching her a lesson when her father wasn't home.
The younger Bass girl rolled her eyes. "Okay mom, I get it. I'm sorry for telling you to mock. Now can you please not try and make me want to bleach my sheets for the rest of the month?" Charlie sighed with an agitated smile. She thought her biggest problem had been her parents in her bedroom and now felt completely relieved. That was her mistake.
She knew that when she met her mother's eyes too. Blair stood up and crossed her arms. With a serious voice she said, "Lily called."
Charlie's heart sunk to the pit of her stomach. This was not good, not good at all.
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Nate was talking on the phone with Jenny. He had been doing that a lot lately. Since she went through a divorce with her husband, she indubitably understood how he felt. She managed to make him laugh, but be serious when he needed it too. Thus how the subject of Andrea came about.
"Oh come on, Nate. It can't be that bad. Girls will breakup with their boyfriends all the time when they're in high school. How is she doing, any progress?" Jenny asked. On her side of the phone, she crossed the streets to pickup Madison from daycare. They were going to stay with Eric so that she could attend the White Party.
"I know, Jen, but it's different. She isn't doing well, worse each day in fact. I know that some of it has to do with the divorce, but this still doesn't seem normal," he replied. His hands browsed through old bills in the kitchen for a phone number he needed.
"Well you should try checking Gossip Girl. Maybe something else happened," she opted. Her child was luckily not old enough for her to have to resort to when Maddy was upset. The little blonde's biggest concern was if she got the swing she wanted on the playground and if Jenny would push her high enough.
Nate laughed, "I think I'm a little past the age for GG, Jenny." He shook his head at the idea. The sight had meant nothing to him for a while now and he preferred it stayed that way. There wasn't a point since his times Gossip Girl was gone. She had been replaced with whomever she passed the legacy down to.
"Fine," Jenny sighed, "but if you really do want to know what is going on with your daughter and she won't tell you, then it's either Gossip Girl or giving Chuck's P.I. a call, Nate. And one is a lot cheaper and less extreme than the other."
He pursed his lips. She had a point. And his daughter's welfare was very important. So he gave in and tiptoed over to Andrea's purse. He plucked her phone from it and clicked on messages. There was only one old one saved. It was from the night of the Baizen wedding. He clicked on it and read.
While one set of lovers make amends, another is soon to fall apart. King L has returned faithfully to Queen C, but I can't say the same for our Dark Knight. It seems M has been fooling around with another Princess in the kingdom. I'd watch out if I were you S, you've been marked with the Scarlett letter. Here's hoping A will cast the first stone. You know you love me.
XOXO,
Gossip Girl
"Oh my God," he breathed.
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Charlie stared at her mother, first unsure what to say. Then she shook her head as if defeated and sat down on the bed. "What did Lily say?" the younger brunette asked.
Blair sat down next to her. "Nothing," she lied. But she had her reasoning. She touched her daughter's back and offered a soft smile. "But, is there anything you want to tell me?" Her eyebrows rose in question when her daughter looked up to her.
Charlie shook her head, "Not if it's going to make my mother disappointed in me." It was one of the things she hated most. When her parents on rare occasion looked at her with regret. No child wanted to think they had letdown the ones whom loved them most. And she knew she must have too, otherwise there wouldn't be so much guilt buried in the back of her mind.
Her mother's eyes watered up some at the sight of her only daughter. She understood in that moment. Charlie actually thought that because Blair wouldn't be pleased, she'd be disappointed in not her actions, but her. It felt like déjà vu with Eleanor all over again, but she refused to let it continue. She tipped her chin up and stared lovingly into her eyes. "I could never be disappointed in you, Charlie. I'm your mother and I'll defend you until the ends of this Earth, even if you're in the wrong," she vowed.
Charlie felt the hurt in her heart go away. She didn't know why, but she was compelled to tell her mom. So she did, sink or swim. "I had sex with Lex," she admitted. Her eyes squeezed shut, still worried for the reaction.
"I know," Blair responded. Her daughter's eyes snapped open and stared in confusion. She did not even turn red or yell. No, Blair Bass kept her calm.
"If you knew then…" Charlie shook her head. She couldn't make sense of it.
"I wanted to see if you trusted me, if you believed that when I said I wouldn't be mad about it that you would come to me. And you finally did, with a push n the right direction, but we all need that sometimes," she revealed.
"So-so you don't think I'm a whore then or anything?" her daughter furthered.
"No," Blair responded before the thought could linger in her young's mind. She tucked a curl behind Charlie's ear. "At least you knew Lex loved you when you gave it to him. That's more than I can say for myself, although I won't complain."
Charlie giggled, "I'd rather not have details, mom."
"Me neither," her mother agreed. She then patted her lap. "Now, tell me that you are being responsible, safe."
"Yes," Charlie nodded. Her eyes fell for a moment and then she said something she knew needed to be said. Her hands grabbed onto her mothers. "Are you going to tell dad, mom? Because I'd really, really appreciate it if you didn't."
Blair stared at her for what felt like years. Her expression was not readable to Charlie so no comfort was brought. She did not know that her mother contemplated everything in her mind. The one word she thought of more than anything was stress. And that led to high-blood pressure, which Chuck did not need. No, she shouldn't tell him.
She shook her head. "I don't think it wise to tell your father. It's not good for his health, but then again how am I to keep this from him? I mean we have been married for so long and—"
At the sign of her mother changing her mind, Charlie started to cry. The moment her father found out he would never look at her the same way again. He'd get rid of Lex and only see a shameful daughter who gave it up too soon. "No mommy, you can't tell him, please," she begged.
Blair nodded and pulled her into a hug. "Okay, I wasn't going to. Baby, don't cry. It's okay," she soothed. Her daughter continued to request her to promise though over and over again. "I promise. And I only do so because I love you so much." She kissed her daughter's forehead and hugged her even tighter. It felt as if a part of Charlie was gone that she'd never see again, but all girls eventually lost that part of them. After all, she lost hers to Chuck Bass in the back of a limo. And she turned out just fine without it.
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Chuck lounged on the bed, a frown on his lips. His wife was in the bathroom, but for some reason he had a lot on his mind. He felt like something wasn't right within his family, mainly with his daughter. Lily and her had been weird at the brunch and later Charlie and Blair seemed to be the same way at dinner. He figured he might as well just ask his wife. She'd tell him if something were wrong. There was no doubt in his mind about that.
"Blair," he called and sat up. "Do you think something is going on with, Charlie?" The bathroom sink shut off and it was dead silent. He was about to ask again, when his wife came into the room. He threw her a questioning look.
She smiled apprehensively. Their daughter had sex, that was the something, but he couldn't know about that. But he was intent on it and she needed to distract him. Otherwise, her mouth may slip something she'd regret.
Chuck watched in further confusion, but slight captivation as Blair sauntered over to the bed. She bended down and pulled him into a kiss. "No talking," she commanded in a whisper.
He turned his cheek though at the kiss and then shook his head. "No, I think something might be very wrong. We need to find out what it is, Blair," Chuck furthered. He didn't know what had come over her. She was usually the first to want to know if something were abnormal in their children's lives.
She pouted, "You're going to hurt my feelings." Her hand undid a few buttons and she reached down into his shirt to caress his stomach. "Besides, all the working out you have been doing is really turning me on." The touch of her fingertips on his skin and her lips by his neck she knew were too much to resist. Her lips smashed against his. It was not the time to object, it was an impossible time to object.
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Max walked up to the Archibald's Hampton Estate. His P.I. had confirmed that no one was home, but Andrea, especially not her father or brother. For that meant trouble and he couldn't afford anymore of that. His fist knocked lightly on the door at first, but then more eager.
She must have not checked through the peephole, because when the door opened she smiled. Her lisp opened to give a friendly greeting, but then she saw him. Her whole exterior changed and her face fell. She crossed hear arms and thinned her lips. "Max, what are you doing here? Do you honestly think I would want to speak to you in person when I won't even pickup the phone when you call?" Andrea scoffed. If she were mean enough, then maybe he'd go away.
Max tried his best to ignore her cold exterior. He offered a light, nervous smile. "Well I was hoping we could talk, about our relationship," he explained. It was a very bad choice of words. He watched as her expression twisted to flat out pissed.
"Our relationship?" she asked in disbelief. Her finger pointed to her and them him. She shook her head. "We don't have a relationship, not anymore."
"Look, that was the wrong thing to say. What I meant was that I want our relationship back. I've really been trying to make it up to you, get in contact with you all summer." He offered his explanation the best way he could. Damn, why was he so unsmooth when he needed the charm most?
"Really? Because your sister found me just fine for most of it until I really did lock myself away, trying to rid of you in the process," Andrea retorted.
Max pursed his lips. His eyes looked to hers like a lost puppy. She went to close the door, but his hand stopped hers. "I knew that you wanted your space. After what I did—" he attempted again, but failed.
"You mean after you slept with Sarah, one of my best friends? Damn it, Max, just say it! Don't skip around it because you think the less you admit it aloud the easier I'll forget because I won't! I'll never forget! Do you understand me? Never!" Andrea shouted.
He felt pain when she attempted to hide the tears and wipe at her eyes. In s soft voice, he kept on. "I'm not asking for sympathy or even a romantic relationship, but just that we be friends again. You're one of my best friends, Andrea. I miss you. I need you," he revealed.
She was silent. Her eyes stared at him with something in them he did not understand. He figured they could have stood like that there forever. But they didn't because he spoke again.
"Look, maybe I could take you for breakfast before school on Monday, give you a ride there in my limo? That way we could talk and I can be there for you. This mess your parents have created, I want to help you through it," Max pleaded.
She closed her eyes and opened them with zero emotion left. "I only have on parent now, my father. As for our relationship, we don't have one, of any kind. I'm not even sure we ever did now. I'm not your girlfriend, your lover, or you friend. We're done, Max. Move on, it's what you're good at." The second her cold voice finished the door slammed in his face.
He pounded on it, but she didn't answer. But he stayed there until she called security and they told him that he had to leave. That was three hours past when he first arrived. It felt like it had been three years though.
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"Lex!" Charlie called as she stepped into the otherwise empty Sparks/Baizen Hampton home. Lex had been staying there some, after Blair and Lily caught them in compromising positions. She knew he was practically as frightened of her mother as her father when it came to their situation. Little did he know? Blair now knew that she was no longer a virgin, big thanks to Alexander Sparks.
She looked around downstairs, but couldn't find him. With a frustrated sigh, she climbed up the staircase. It was a rather large mansion, even if they were not of the Bass fortune. She opened her mouth to scream again, but then stopped when she heard him.
"Owe, bloody hell," Lex cursed. His voice echoed in the bathroom down the hallway. There was a splashing sound, another scream, and then a bottle of Vodka rolled out and hit the wall.
Charlie frowned, even further confused. She slowly walked towards it and picked up the bottle. When she rose again though, she saw him. He stood there in white pajama pants and a matching robe, but it was slightly parted to reveal his bare chest. Some sun had got to him that summer, but not much. He leaned against the wall in all his brooding glory.
"Well, aren't you a cheerful little fellow," she teased. Across from him, she practically sparkled with sunshine. She had on a summer, floral dress with her hair down and a white flower clipped in it. They seemed to be in direct contrast of each other.
"Never refer to Lex Sparks as little, Sunshine," Lex countered. He shook his head and then lit a cigarette. For some reason he was in a foul mood. He knew, but she didn't. Still, he was much more pleasant than he could have been had he not tried because he hated to mistreat her.
Charlie laughed and shook her head. "Okay, Lover, what's up? I leave you last night all excited and I'm suddenly at war with you the next day? Don't tell me we have already fallen apart." She was not the least bit serious, but the words still burned at the tip of her tongue.
"It's nothing you've done. Rather, something I've done for you," he sighed. His eyes flickered down as he pulled a washcloth from his robe pocket. He then walked over to her and took the Vodka bottle. The rest was poured on it, well the liquid that did not hit the floor.
"Lex, what are you—?" she started to ask, but the words died on her lips. Chestnut colored eyes widened as he pulled back his robe to reveal a bandage. His hands carefully pulled it back and she gasped. On his hip, were words written in permanent black ink, Charlie.
"I remembered," Lex smirked. Her reaction was worth the pain. She looked up to him, breathless. He chuckled, "I thought it was time to show who I belonged to. Thing of it as branding me if you wish." They had spoken of it back in Europe before he left. While he was gone he had been with other girls and he knew that hurt her. If it were impossible to bring up self-confidence issues in Charlie Bass he sadly achieved the impossible. But the tattoo was his way of trying to move forward, their way.
Charlie watched as he dabbed around the still red skin. She reached her hand to touch it, but didn't. Instead it just hovered over his flesh, her name. "How much did it hurt?" she questioned. Her eyes flickered to his and she bit her bottom lip.
He sighed, "Like hell, but nothing like I did when I was away from you." An expression, he saw very little of, graced her features. She even almost put a hand to her heart. He had truly touched Charlie Bass and n matter what anyone said, it wasn't in a corny way. She didn't do corny.
Charlie took his hands and got down on her knees. He felt the nerves not in his stomach. "Charlie, I don't expect you to--" Enough sense was in him to stop speaking. She didn't want to pay him back like some slut would. Her hands did not pull down his pants, nor did her lips go for his manhood. Instead, she placed a gentle kiss on the tattoo. He closed his eyes and smiled.
Then she stood up and took his hand. "Come on. You need to be taken care of; the Vodka attempt alone says it all. There is such a thing as rubbing alcohol, typically located in a medicine cabinet," she informed him in a playful tone.
"That's where it is! I kept trying to look in the kitchen for some reason since Georgina usually only used the medicine cabinets to stash her pills," Lex said. His voice was too eager for anyone who would be appalled at his statement. Although it saddened her some, she acted as if it were normal for his sake.
"Well now they we've found it, sit on the counter," Charlie instructed. He hopped up, but sat up straight so that she could clean it. Her dainty hands worked like marriage and he only winced due to the rubbing alcohol, which wasn't something she was able to control. She found a new bandage and began to put it on.
"Can you forgive me for doing things with other while I was away?" he asked. It slipped past his lips before he could stop it. Her movements stopped, but she did not look up.
"Is that why you did this?" she asked, voice cautious. She didn't want him to do it on a guilt trip, but if he had she wouldn't say that. But the hope remained that he had other reasoning.
Lex caught on and lifted her cheek. "No, but I can't really belong to you unless you accept that no matter what happened, I'll never belong to another like I do you." His voice was quiet, but with great impact.
Charlie smiled softly. "I forgave you the night you came back, Lex," she admitted. Then with a light laugh she motioned to his tattoo. "Sure it still hurt to think about, but I guess now we're both hurting."
"What famous lovers don't hurt?" he asked. Then his lips pressed against hers. He lifted her up onto the counter with him. The bathroom door shut.
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Blair smiled as she turned into Chuck. They were both on one pool chair, but she was practically on top of him so it didn't matter. He chuckled and kissed her hair. Ephram was asleep beside them, in the shade of course, but she still had kept a watchful eye on him.
Her eyes sensed movement and Blair looked over to see Charlie and Lex as they got out of the pool. Chuck turned to look too and rolled his eyes. Lex was in just his swim trunks and his daughter in a bikini as she clung to him. His wife then gasped as she noticed something he did not.
"Oh my god." She put a hand to her mouth. Chuck frowned in complete confusion and turned to look at Blair. "Are you looking at what I'm looking at?" Blair gasped. He shook his head and looked from his wife to his daughter.
"What the hell are you talking about?" he questioned with agitation. Blair started to laugh and shook her head. Charlie and Lex approached them, well the stack of towels next to them.
"Look at Lex's hip when he comes over here," Blair whispered quickly into his ear. Chuck shot her a weird look, but then Charlie and Lex were in front of them. Their daughter smiled and picked up one of the towels.
"Hey mom, Lex and I are going to go grab some lunch alright?" she told her while she dried herself off.
Blair nodded and then looked to Chuck. His eyes suddenly enlarged and he pursed is lips at Lex. "What's that on your—?" he started to say something, but his wife cut in.
"Yes sweetie, that's fine. You and Lex have fun." She motioned them off. Charlie and Lex pulled on the rest of their clothes and then walked inside. When they were gone Blair smacked his chest. "Did you see what was on his hip?" Her voice was giddy.
He wondered how she saw it as a good thing. "Unfortunately yes, since you had to point it out," he muttered. "Why the hell does he have "Charlie", our daughters name, in clear permanent letters, tattooed on his hip?" Chuck shook his head, good mood completely gone.
Blair shrugged, but kept the smile. "Maybe he wanted to make it final. I mean they are pretty serious," she pointed out. Chuck rolled his eyes again and scoffed. "Oh come on Chuck at least she doesn't have "Lex" tattooed on her." A smile graced her lips as he turned to her.
"How do we know that for sure? I mean the girl has done everything else I've forbidden. I tell her not to go out with Lex and she does, then she gets her nose pierced, then her belly button, and now you expect me to believe her boyfriend has a tattoo and she doesn't?" He formed a hard stare on his countenance.
"We just saw her in a bikini. I doubt she has one, unless..." Blair trailed off and blushed at the not spoken, but obvious suggestion. Her husband turned as white as a ghost and then fire engine red.
He pointed his finger at her and glared. "How could you even suggest a thing like that?" Chuck flipped. The idea that his baby girl had a tattoo… down there was… he hated teenage boys! They were the cause of all things wrong in the world. And yes, he chose not to acknowledge in that moment he had been one of the worst in his time.
"I didn't," she frowned. "You're the one who brought it up." Clearly, she was not about to let him start a fight over it. Her daughter was not marked and that was her only concern. Charlie may have disobeyed them in unique ways, but if she had a tattoo they would have seen it. Even if her daughter went completely out of character to get it around her female parts, Lex would lock her up in the bathroom first. Blair knew he was just as possessive and protective of Charlie as Chuck was of Blair, maybe even more. The Sparks boy respected and loved her daughter. She had known it since they were little, even when they didn't.
Chuck's scoff brought her out of her thoughts. He shrugged his shoulders and smirked, "Well who cares because that boy is getting it removed." That was his logic; he was Chuck Bass and controlled the world. If he didn't want his daughter's name on Lex's hip then it would be removed.
Blair rolled her eyes. He was such a child at times, or teen rather. Apparently the whole Because I'm Chuck Bass rationale was liable in his mind. Not that she wanted him to ever lose it. "Chuck, you can't force someone to remove a tattoo," she sighed.
He snorted a laugh as if she were the one suggesting preposterous conclusions. "If it's my daughters name, I can. She is named after me for one. So that gives me even more power here." He nodded with certainty and crossed his arms.
"What are you going to do, Chuck? Have him tied up and then hire someone to illegally remove it, without consent?" Disbelief ran throughout her voice.
He did not appreciate it one bit. "Maybe..." Chuck shrugged. He did have a lot of money and he certainly knew quite a few shady characters. Most of them owed him a favor too. His grin grew. Her suggestion, even though not given seriously, was possible.
Blair watched as he planned it out in his mind. She snapped her fingers and broke his daydream. "You're acting like a spoiled child who throws a fit because the babysitter took away his toy," she informed him. Her eyes stared directly into his as she attempted to get her point across.
He sighed and pouted his lips. If he were standing he may have stomped his foot. "I don't care. That tattoo is not staying there, Blair."
She failed, so she'd just have to tease him instead. "We'll see…" his wife trailed off with a knowing smile. Her husband had yet to acknowledge that telling Lex Sparks to do something that would distance him from Charlie Bass, was like telling Chuck to kill the Blair butterflies. It wasn't going to happen.
"No, we won't because it isn't going to be visible much longer," Chuck continued. It was like talking to the wall with him.
So Mrs. Bass decided to go about another approach. "I think it's kind of romantic he went through all that pain for her," she sighed dreamily. It wasn't very authentic behavior of her, but he was too worked up to see through it.
"Pain? Please, he won't know pain until I confront him about it," her husband retorted. And damn the little voice in his mind that suggested she was being charmed by someone years younger than him. It wasn't like she ever asked him to get a tattoo back when they were teenagers. Not that he would have done it. He hated needles. It was one of the reasons he tried everything but heroin when in a downward spiral.
Blair laughed in a mocking manner. "Oh yes, because I'm sure that won't cause a huge fight between you and Charlie or anything..." she drawled.
"I don't care. He is not allowed to have her name permanently on him. It's like he's staking a claim on her or something," Chuck bickered. And the sentence turned his stomach. He pictured a tiny Charlie with pigtails and a Barbie doll being stolen away by an evil, seventeen year old Lex. His eyes narrowed at the vision.
"Actually it's more like she branded him. Awe she really is more and more like me everyday," Blair chuckled.
Chuck scowled at her. "That's what I'm afraid of," he muttered. That was a big mistake, but by the time he realized that it was too late.
"And what is that supposed to mean Bass?" his wife snapped. She pursed her ruby lips while her chestnut eyes shot him a dangerous look. He certainly hadn't any complaints about the type of person Blair Bass was in bed the night before.
He was about to apologize, but then stopped. What was he, whipped? No, that would never happen to Chuck Bass. Yes, he loved her and they had three children, but it was about time he stood his ground more on stuff like this. "Exactly what it sounds like Blair," he smirked.
"Well at least Lex did something to show his love for Charlie. Since when did you ever do anything like that for me in high school?" The tiny tiff had taken a turn for the worst.
"You didn't date guys with tattoos," he pointed out. She was being ridiculous and impossible. It had suddenly become about them, not their daughter and her boyfriend.
Blair scoffed in a sarcastic manner. "How would you know? You never even asked me. In fact, you never did much of anything I wanted. Don't you think I ever got sick of that stupid scarf?" It was such a lie, but she knew it would tick him off.
A dark shadow came across his eyes. He spoke with a dangerous, foreboding tone. "Don't mock the scarf," he warned. It had been his golden rule for years, even for Nathaniel, who got away with a lot in their friendship.
Did he honestly think she was afraid of him? Blair flashed a bitchy smirk. "Stupid scarf, stupid scarf, stupid scarf..." she taunted.
His mouth fell open. How dare she? Quickly, he put up a front and flashed a smirk of his own. It was an infamous one she knew since their first meeting. "Well what about you?" he jeered.
"What about me?" Blair asked. Her left eyebrow rose and she clenched her teeth. He had better be careful or she'd put him on that nice new Hamptons couch for the night.
Chuck opened his mouth and took a deep breath. He was going to have fun with what was to come. "Stupid headbands, stupid headbands, stupid headbands," he mocked.
"How dare you?" she gasped. Her eyes widened and she put a hand to her chest. The headband was her fashion trademark. She still wore them! They were a part of Blair Waldorf-Bass.
"Stupid tights, stupid tights, stupid tights," he continued.
Oh it was so on. "Hideous bow ties, hideous bow ties, hideous bow ties!" she started to shout. Neither seemed to notice their youngest son wake up. He frowned at them, not too pleased with being awoken from his nap.
"Well... funny curls, funny curls, funny curls..." he struggled.
"Really? Are you really going to go and insult my hair, mister uses more gel product than man bangs Archibald?" she shot. Chuck's glare turned something fierce... she had gone too far that time.
He poked his finger into her chest and seethed. "I do not use more hair gel than Archibald! How dare you even suggest—"
"Aahhhh!" Ephram screamed. They both turned in shock to see him sitting up. He shook his head and covered his ears. "No!" He had clearly had enough.
Blair and Chuck both looked to each other. They were both embarrassed and amused. She laughed, "I suppose when your almost one year old son breaks up a fight you know you've been childish." Her hands reached over and brought the baby in between them.
Chuck smirked, "Yes, you have."
"Chuck Bass!"
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"Well Penelope looks like she's put on about twenty pounds. Must have been her third, pathetic divorce," Blair remarked with a twisted smile. Her eyes followed the now plump brunette as she crossed the yard. Her white dress clung to her in all the wrong places.
Chuck turned to look at his wife and smirked. He then reached across the table to take her drink. She looked up to him with a frown, but his grin only grew when he held it up as if to toast her. "Well they do say white makes you look big." He finished it off.
She rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Chuck, don't ruin my fun. That girl was an unfaithful minion during high school and if anyone deserves to go from Barbie to Bertha, it's her." Her eyes flickered to Penelope again and she snickered.
"I wasn't trying to spoil your enjoyment, darling. You're right. I doubt she dares to step on the scale these days," he commented. She turned to him with a proud smile and then scooted her chair closer. He released another warm chuckle and put his arm around the back of her seat.
"I knew there was a reason I kept you around," Blair told him lightheartedly. Her hand reached up to caress his cheek. Then her lips pressed lightly and concisely against his. When she pulled away, their eyes connected in an ardent gaze.
"The way you look at me, Mrs. Bass… it makes me want to ravish you on the table, right now," Chuck drawled in a seductive, low voice. Her cheeks flushed, but she did not dare look to see if someone around them had heard. His hands trailed down her arm and goosebumps formed.
"That would cause quite the uproar, Mr. Bass. Sex in public is one thing, but you take it too far when you have sex for the public." She kinked her eyebrows in an attempt to be cute. She failed in one way, but only in that he found it far more alluring than adorable.
He moved forth and pressed his forehead against hers. "Hmm… Screw the public. Well actually I'd prefer to screw you," he breathed. She tittered before their lips pressed together. They knew that others were watching and it was likely a photographer or two had snapped a shot, but neither cared.
"Why'd we bother coming to this trivial party, anyways?" Blair groaned. She pulled away from him and pursed her ruby lips. Now that they had arrived, it was not within the societal rules to leave so soon. Yeah, tell that to Mr. and Mrs. Bass when they wanted sex.
Chuck parted his lips to respond, but then noticed his wife not stared past him. She scrutinized her brow and nodded forward. "Why is Nate glaring at us?" Blair asked. Her eyes looked to Chuck's again. "Are you two in a fight or something?"
"No," he responded and shook his head. His body turned in his seat and sure enough the blond looked livid, butut why? They had done nothing wrong, recently. He sighed and stood up. "I'll find out what has Nathaniel's panties in a twist."
"Okay, let's go." She started to follow him, but he stopped her halfway.
"Stay here, Blair. I doubt it has anything to do with you," Chuck told her. He pecked her cheek one more time before he left here there in the middle of the yard. She sighed and crossed her arms. Her mind traced back to the playground days when boys would make No Girls Allowed Signs. Well Chuck never really didn't like girls, but he used to have Nate make them just to irritate her. "Ugh!" She stomped her foot. It was not fun to be left out.
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Dan noticed Blair alone in the middle of the White Party so he walked over to her. He then noticed what she had been staring at with a frown. Just a little ways across the green, Chuck and Nate appeared to be arguing.
"What's wrong?" he asked. Her eyes flickered to meet his for a moment, but then zoned back in on her husband and his best friend.
"I don't know," Blair admitted with a negative breath. But then her eyes widened. She watched as Nate gave Chuck a harsh push to the chest. Without another word, both her and Dan hurried over to them to break it up. Dan pulled Nate back while Blair got in front of her husband.
"You are such a fucking hypocrite, Nathaniel!" Chuck carried on. He spoke over Blair and around Dan as if neither were there. Both angry men struggled to get to one another.
Nate scoffed, "Really? And here I thought sleeping with other people's girlfriends in high school was your forte? His blue eyes narrowed into slits. He shook his fist, but was restrained by Humphrey.
Dan shook his head incredulously. "We are not seriously fighting about high school, are we?" He knew there would always be some bitter feelings there for the two, but not to the degree where they'd fist fight over it like a bunch of teenagers.
Nate shook his head and smirked sinisterly. "No Dan, we're talking about how his son screwed your daughter while he was dating mine."
Dan suddenly let go of Nate. He turned towards Chuck. "Wait, what?"
Blair sighed and shook her head. "Dan, Nate, Chuck, please…" she continued to try and calm things down. They were going to cause a scene so big that the New York Times would cover it. None of their careers, or Nate's divorce trial needed that.
"Stay out of this, Blair," Nate ordered. His tone of voice was far more harsh and disrespectful than he intended. He did not mean to direct his anger at her, but it happened.
Chuck moved forward, even more worked up. "You can't talk to my wife like that, if anything her opinion matters most. You did cheat on her with Serena back in high school!" He threw it up. They all knew someone would, given what the current conversation was about.
"Chuck!" Blair scolded. People around them had probably heard. She had been humiliated about it enough back in high school. There was no use to bring up a stale scandal.
Nate's wrath increased. "Yeah and now your bastard of a kid cheated on my daughter!" he spat.
That one did it for Blair. She lost it and smacked Nate in the chest. "Don't you dare talk about my son that way!" she yelled.
Dan rolled his eyes. "Well we can't help it if Nate calls it like he sees it," he muttered.
Blair turned towards him. She smirked in true bitch fashion. "Well then how about I call it like I see it too and say your daughter's a slut!"
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Serena was laughing amongst friends when the party started to fall silent. She was confused as to why at first, but then she heard it. Her head turned to look across the way. Blair was screaming at Dan. Chuck and Nate looked rather on edge too. She instantly ran over there.
"What is going on? Blair, stop this!" Serena shouted frantically. It was not everyday she saw Blair Bass act so improper in public. Her eyes flickered around the group when no one offered an immediate explanation.
Finally, her husband did. "She just called Sarah a slut," Dan informed her. His eyes then looked to Blair to glare again. Chuck stood slightly in front of her though, his eyes dangerous.
"Excuse me?" Serena shrieked. She turned to look at Blair with both shock and outrage. How dare she go and say something about her daughter like that.
Nate laughed sarcastically, "Well Sarah did sleep with my daughter's boyfriend, Serena."
"Please, Max probably took advantage of her," Dan retaliated. The two were nose to nose when Serena yanked her husband back.
Nate was not done though. "Well if that were true then he'd be just like his fath—"
Blair slapped him clear across the face. It echoed around the party. She then pointed to him and spoke in a livid, trembling whisper. "Listen here, Archibald. You get your story straight. Max and Andrea were basically broken up when Sarah and him slept with each other." The rest of the party did not utter a single word.
The blond was even more annoyed by his stinging cheek. The moment she shut-up he spoke without thought. "Well then that only makes Sarah more of a slut than you were back in high school," he remarked.
Blair saw what happened next as if it were in slow motion. Chuck pushed her behind him with one hand and his other flew forward in a fist. It smashed against Nate's jaw and he fell backwards. Then time sped up again.
Blair tried to pull her husband away, but he continued to scream at the fallen man. "We are through, Nathaniel! Do you understand me?"
Nate only stared brought his handkerchief to his blood lip though and stared. Serena ushered Dan away. The Archibald man pushed to his feet and stormed through the party. He needed a drink or preferably no more blood in his mouth. It tasted awful.
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Jenny walked around the corner in the house the White Party was being thrown at. She had shown up to witness all the commotion, but Eric convinced her to stay out of it. Then Chuck punched Nate and everything went to hell. But now everyone was gone, except for Nate. That was what the doorman told her at least. And he didn't lie. She entered the kitchen and saw him. Her body lingered in the doorway.
He was attempting to clean up his mouth, but failing. She waited for him to punch something in frustration or smash a glass, but he didn't. He did something she never expected to see. He fell into an almost a full breakdown, even tears began to form.
She decided that was her cute to leave. The last thing she wanted was for him to be embarrassed. But before she could sneak out, he looked up. "Jenny… um… I…" he stuttered, unsure of what to say. His hands wiped at his eyes to try and hide the fact that he had been crying.
"I just saw what happened out there and was coming to check on you. But since you seem okay, I'll leave," Jenny lied. They both knew that she knew he was far from okay.
"What's the point? You've already seen my breakdown," he scoffed. His hand dropped the bloody cloth into the sink and he slumped against the counter.
She hesitated for a moment, but then walked in. Her hand picked up the washcloth and ran it under lukewarm water. She brought it up to his lips and cleaned up the wound. "Things will get better. I promise," Jenny assured him. She put the rag back in the sink when she finished
He laughed bitterly. "How? My wife cheated on me, my children are falling apart, my best friend hates me, and pretty much just everything else has gone straight to hell as well!" His arms went up in the air and came back down to smack against his legs. It was as if he was giving up, but in reality that'd never be an option, not with his children in his life.
She was silent for a while, unsure of what to say. But then something came to her. She turned towards him and gazed into his beautiful, but tragic blue eyes. "Well, my husband cheated on me and left me to be a single mother, I haven't talked to my so-called best friend in years, Madison is at times more than I can handle, and there are days where I still don't want to get out of bed in the morning. But I do and you want to know why, Nate? Because you have to get up for your children, you have to keep moving, keep going. They need you, us. And the fact that you're doing that, just proves you're strong enough to make it through this," Jenny told him with complete honesty. She was not sure what had came over her, but she liked it.
He nodded silently. Both realized how close they were to each other. His hand reached up to touch her hair. "You look different," Nate noted.
She laughed halfheartedly. "That's because whenever things are getting better in my life the extensions fallout and I return to my natural hair color. Plus, Madison drew all over the walls with my eyeliner and I didn't have enough time to buy more before the party."
He smiled and said, "I like you this way."
She giggled, eyebrows raised. "Really? I think it makes me look like I'm sixteen."
"Don't all women want to look younger?" Nate shrugged. The moment was so light, fun. He wanted it to go on forever. She didn't make him remember the world that burned and crashed around him in that short period of time.
Her voice brought him out of his thoughts. She batted her eyelashes. "Guess I'm just different," Jenny remarked.
"Yes, you are," he smirked. They seemed to lean in for a kiss, but then he turned away. What was he thinking? The divorce was not complete yet and if Andrew or Andrea saw they'd… well he wasn't sure how they'd react, but he doubted it would be good.
He cleared his throat and stood up. "Sorry, can I give you a ride home?" Nate offered. He held out his arm, but only in the way a gentleman would.
"Yes please," Jenny returned. She flashed a fake smile and took his arm. Perhaps, it was for the best though, that they didn't cross the line. But boy did she want to.
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Chuck and Blair had rode in without a single word in the limo since it left the White Party. She wanted to let him cool down first. But still she brought ice to his hand, grateful when he did not refuse to let her care for him. And then when she couldn't take anymore of it, she spoke.
"I know this is the last thing you want to hear right now, but you need to call Nate eventually, Chuck. You two need to patch this up before it drags on for too long," Blair sighed. She was not happy with Mr. Archibald herself, but wise enough to know it was not a good time in his life. He had acted on impulse and that was it. Surely, he'd call and apologize later for his slut comment.
"Nate can go screw himself," Chuck scoffed and shook his head. He kept his gaze forward so that it did not soften by looking into her eyes.
She sighed, "He is your best friend."
"Not anymore. Did you not hear what he said about our son? What he said about you?" he furthered. The fire started to build in him again. He felt like he was being attacked because the words of Nathaniel had attacked his family. His emotions were on high, all over the place.
"This isn't about me and you know it. If that's what you're worried about, that he hurt my feelings, then yes he did, but I'm not that fragile. I'll survive. There is no use crying over spilt milk," Blair reasoned.
"Not worry about you? Please that's impossible," Chuck muttered. His eyes closed and he pinched the bridge of his nose. She smiled meekly and touched his arm. There was another way to try and get through to him so she'd have to use it.
"Chuck, how do you feel when you see Charlie hurt by Lex in similar situations as to how you hurt me?" Blair asked. Her tone of voice sounded as if the seemingly random topic was completely casual.
He laughed sarcastically, "Gee Blair thanks for making me feel worse… But you know, pretty damn bad. You've seen me in that situation. Let's not talk about it now," Chuck protested.
She kept on though. "So you don't think that perchance Nate is thinking a little bit that when I found out about him and Serena, I acted the same way Andrea is now? Because if I were a betting woman, I'd say he was. I'd also put my money down that he, just like you, is self sulking at home because he thinks its karma, but it isn't. The truth is that neither of you want to see your children hurt, especially your daughters. Do you understand what I'm saying, Chuck Bass?" Blair released a deep breath.
Chuck nodded, but his lips pressed firmly together. Then he sighed. "I suppose I could consider it." It was all he would say, even if he meant more. She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "That's all I ask," Blair told him. She just hoped that her assumptions about Nate were correct too. Or else it was going to be an even bigger mess.
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Charlie walked into her bedroom, way past curfew. Luckily, her parents had been otherwise occupied. She wasn't sure where her brother was and Andrea had ignored all her calls and texts. The only person she'd really hung out with was Lex, but they decided to have a night away from each other. They had played with fire all summer and it was time to let things cool down before her father caught flame.
She yawned, about to climb into bed with her clothes on, when her phone vibrated in her pocket. She smiled to herself as she retrieved it. Her first thought was Lex, but when she clicked on it, the contact was quite the contrary.
Andrea Archibald had sent the message. It read: Flashlight.
(Flashback)
A much younger Charlie opened her eyes to feel a bright light on her face. She frowned, but then realized what it was. Quickly, she climbed out of bed and went to her window. Across the way she saw the Archibald's residence. The bright light shined from Andrea's room to hers. It was their secret signal. Charlie flickered back to let her know she was coming. Then she climbed out the window, down the drainpipe, and landed on the ground. The young girl took off in a run and didn't stop until she reached her destination.
A ladder came down, one typically purchased in case of a fire emergency. She pulled on it once and then made her way up it. The window was open, so she let herself in. Inside the room, she saw another little girl, her best friend, curled into a ball on the bed as she cried.
"Andrea," Charlie breathed. She rushed over to her and climbed into the bed. They were both small and fit perfectly. The crying child turned towards her and hiccupped. The noise of angry adults downstairs screamed and banged.
"Th-they won't stop fi-fighting. And mommy told daddy one day she's going to leave and never come back. Wh-what will I do, Charlie?" Andrea stuttered while she sobbed. Her eyes pleaded the dark brown ones for answers.
Charlie wrapped her arms around her and held her tightly. She didn't know what to say, but tried her best. "It will be okay, Andrea. You'll always have me. We're sisters," she promised.
(End of Flashback)
Charlie climbed into the same Hampton, bedroom window. It was quite easier to do though with longer legs. She stood in the room and looked around. Andrea sat on the bed, eyes glued to her lap, and tears streaked down her cheeks. The only sound in the house was their breathing.
"I-I can't take the silence anymore. Help me, Charlie. Please," Andrea broke. Her best friend quickly rushed to her and enveloped her in her arms. The two got into the bed, just like they used to, and Andrea cried into her chest.
"It will be okay, Andrea. You'll always have me. We're sisters," Charlie promised. It was a repeated fact, but one that hadn't changed. One she knew never would.
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"Come on, Archibald. Just answer the damn phone," Max muttered. He stared down at it with an unnerving intensity. The wild party raged on around him, but he felt frozen in time. He just wanted to erase the past or forget it and start over. They were supposed to be together. Why didn't she see that?
He put the phone up to his ear to leave another message. But that didn't happen. Even her inbox now rejected him. We're sorry, but the inbox of Andrea Archibald is full. Please try your call again later.
"Alright, fine!" Max shouted. He threw his phone forward and it smashed against the wall. It was such a drunken, furious movement to make, but the alcohol in his system liked the feel of it. If she didn't want him then maybe when she did it'd be too late.
He shook his head and chugged down the rest of his drink. Then he pushed himself off the couch and stumbled down a hallway. He was on his way to fining a room to pass out it or a balcony to smoke a joint on, when he bumped into someone.
"Well, look who it is," Jasmine, the redhead from Lily's brunch, greeted. She wore skimpy dress to match her seductive smile. His body fell onto hers, her back pressed against the wall, but she only giggled in delight.
Her hands looped up around his neck. He felt her hot breath below his ear. Eyes closed, liquor set in, and she suddenly seemed to have exactly what he wanted… until morning of course. He smirked to himself as she whispered sweetly. "Is it later yet?"
He opened his eyes and pulled back to stare into hers. She wanted him, badly. She'd do anything for him, that he knew. It was sex. It was comfort. It was a regret he wouldn't have to deal with until in the morning. For the night, it was perfect.
"You know what? I think it is," Max confirmed with a nod of his head.
She grinned from ear-to-ear and took him by the hand. "Then come upstairs with me, Maxwell Bass," Jasmine instructed. Her hand pulled him towards the staircase, but there was no need since he was indeed following her.
He confirmed it when he said, "Lead the way."
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They say old habits die hard, but sometimes, it's the old habits that kill us. Whether we're trying to restart an old flame, or put one out, one thing remains, that at the end of summer, we're put to the test. Shall we start a new, or sulk in the shame of our past? The decision is yours, Upper East Siders. And I'll be here to watch you make it. Until then, you know you love me.
XOXO,
Gossip Girl
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A/N: Okay, I worked so incredibly hard on this chapter. It was twenty-four scenes! I even wrote five of them by hand in Saturday school today. It was crying when I got home. So if you enjoyed it and are still reading the story for the summer please let me know. I really would appreciate to see peoples take on the chapter and certain scenes and such.
