Chapter 11

April 1991

Bart Bass was not a very affectionate or emotional man. He was business-minded and logical, but he had a soft spot for his vivacious, pregnant wife. The woman was his opposite in every way; where he was cold, she was compassionate; where she was tender, he was impersonal and reserved.

When she approached him with a strange request, he was helpless to resist her. Wrapping his arms around her swollen waist, he asked again, "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Catherine has been my friend since we were teenagers; we've always been like sisters, anyway," She explained.

"Yes, I understand that," He released her with a sigh, "But helping someone change their identity? It's almost criminal."

"No, it's compassionate," She corrected. "Her ex-husband is not stable. She feels like she and her 5 year old daughter are in danger. Doing this for them could be life-changing, if not life-saving."

"You are an angel," He kissed her forehead. "I will find Catherine a place at Bass Industries and make sure that my most diligent security team keeps an eye on her."

"Thank you, darling," She smiled. "We resemble each other so closely anyway that no one will question that she's not actually my sister. Could you please arrange to have new identification and passports created for Catherine and Alexandria. They will no longer be Bradfords; as of today, I have a sister and a niece, and they are Fishers."

"The things I do for you," He chuckled, and rubbed her belly. "You are going to make a wonderful mother."

She smiled down at her bump, "I can only hope that Charles knows how much he is loved already."

XOXO

August 29, 2019

Chuck spent thirty minutes picking out the most beautiful bouquet of Calla lilies he could find. He didn't expect to be so nervous, but this visit was long overdue.

Stepping off of the elevator, he took a moment to collect himself before walking into the living room.

Lily looked up from her place on the couch and gently set her glass of white wine on the coffee table in front of her. She quickly stood to her feet, and the most warm and welcoming smile spread across her face. "Charles, darling," She said sweetly.

"LIly," He greeted, handing her the bouquet and walking willinging into her open arms.

"Oh, Charles, it is so good to see you," She pulled back and looked at him with the fondness of a mother reunited with her child.

"I have to apologize," He began, looking down at his hands. "My absence was inexcusable. I am so sorry that I didn't check in." How does one apologize adequately for the egregious act of abandoning his family?

"The past is in the past," She smiled. "I'm glad that you are here now, and that you are safe." She grasped his hand in her own and looked him solidly in the eyes, "Just please don't shut us out again. You don't know how loved you truly are. Family is the most important thing in the world."

"You are truly a saint, and I don't deserve you."

"Oh, please, I have done nothing that any other mother wouldn't do for her children. I love you."

He smiled at her and took in her appearance. She looked older, but shouldn't he have expected that? The little crow's feet at the corners of her eyes were more pronounced and the fine lines dancing across her forehead were a tad deeper. She had worry lines outlining her mouth, and her hair had the faintest hints of silver strands hidden in the blonde. Did I do that to her? Are these wrinkles because of me?

"If you have time, I would love to stay and talk," He asked sheepishly, hoping to make up a little for lost time. "There's something that I really need to tell you."

"Of course, darling. I always have time for my son." His heart melted, and he promised himself that he would never go so long again without seeing the woman who'd always treated him as her own.

XOXO

After several hours with Lily, Chuck felt lighter and more optimistic than he had in a long time. She had taken the news surprisingly well. Of course, she had been shocked. It's not every day that you learn that everything you thought you knew was actually a lie, but she agreed to help him make the transition to Bass Industries New York branch as smooth as possible.

Now there was only one more person to talk to: Blair. This was the conversation he was dreading most. The way he'd left her on the dance floor was selfish, and she deserved to hear the truth from his mouth. He just wasn't sure how she would react.

He paced outside the elevator for nearly an hour before he decided to go up. Had the doorman not recognized him, he would have called security. The man before him seemed to have something weighing heavily on his mind, and he didn't dare disturb him.

Chuck had considered bringing Blair flowers, too. Were peonies still her favorites? But he had decided that it was rather tasteless and presumptuous to bring flowers to another man's fiance, so he came empty-handed.

As the elevator slowly climbed floor-by-floor, he started to regret his decision to not come bearing gifts. Blair loved gifts, and they tended to put her in a more agreeable mood. He wiped his sweaty palms on his slacks as he watched the number slowly pass on the screen above the door.

Ding. The door finally slid open, and he stepped into the foyer.

"Mr. Chuck," Dorota said hesitantly. "Ms. Blair not expecting company."

"I know, Dorota, and I apologize for the intrusion, but I need to talk to her," His eyes pleaded his case, and Dorota had always had a soft spot for the troublesome boy in front of her.

"Okay, but if she not want see you, you must leave," She said sternly.

He nodded in understanding and headed up the stairs before the maid could stop him. He was immediately bombarded with strong memories from long ago. He had to stop to catch his breath when vivid memory after vivid memory invaded his every sense.

"Tell me what we'll do in Tuscany, Chuck," She settled her chin on his bare chest.

He pulled her mouth to his, fusing their lips together in another ardent kiss. In the week following their reunion after his father's wedding, they hadn't spent more than a few hours apart. They had rekindled their relationship with fierce and intense passion. When he finally pulled away, he said, "You mean besides taking you repeatedly on every surface in the suite?"

She giggled and playfully nipped at his neck, "Of course, but what else? We have to go outside sometimes."

He untied her robe and pushed it from her shoulders slowly, "But do we really?"

He shook his head at the memory of her infectious laugh and sexy squeal as they had initiated sex for the third time that day. He had never met a woman who matched his libido quite like she did. To this day, eleven years later, leaving her alone on that helipad was still one of his greatest regrets in life.

There were so many ifs in his life. If he had told her that he loved her….if he had gone to Tuscany with her….if he hadn't told Nate that it was Carter she was seeing at Cotillion… The ifs haunted him.

In another world, they were married and happy. She was pregnant with their first child - a boy. But in reality, he was standing on the landing of her stairs after a ten year absence terrified that she would hate him forever. Heartbroken to see another man's ring on her finger. She doesn't belong to you anymore, he had to remind himself. If she ever belonged to you.

Nearing her bedroom, he stopped when he saw her silhouette in the lamplight. She had on a sweet little chemise that showed a good amount of her toned thighs. He knew he shouldn't watch her and his presence was a crude imposition that was beyond inappropriate, but he was frozen in place. She's not indecent, he told himself to alleviate the guilt. His eyes traveled the expanse of her back and the curve of her hips. He could vaguely make out the roundness of her breasts, and he choked back a groan at the innocent yet seductive picture she painted for him. He watched intently as she slowly ran a comb through her mahogany curls and pinned her hair back with a small barrette. He could almost feel the silky strands on his fingers. Slowly she stood and pulled a navy shift dress over her body and entered the bathroom.

When she returned to the bedroom and sat at her vanity, he took the opportunity to knock on the door and announce his presence.

"Chuck?" She looked up in complete shock, "Wh-what are you doing here?"

"Blair," He swallowed. "I- I was hoping we could talk."

Normally she would've kicked him out immediately, but Landry's visit had piqued her curiosity. She still couldn't control her emotions around him and the bitterness she felt toward him seeped into her response, "Why? I've already talked to your wife." She spoke the word in the same tone that he had used when she threw him a celebratory brunch all those years ago.

Stop trying to play the wife.

When you called me your wife, you made it sound like the ugliest word in the world.

He knit his eyebrows together in confusion, "What are you talking about?"

"Alexandria came to see me this morning," She was baiting him now. "We had a nice chat."

He knew the smirk on her face well. It was the smirk that she got when she had the upper hand. "Dammit, Landry," he cursed. "Listen, Blair…"

When she saw his jaw tighten, she started to feel bad for messing with him. Landry had told her that he'd been through hell, so maybe she should cut him some slack. She sighed and quietly said, "She told me about her father and how you saved her life."

He nodded, "She saved mine first. She was there for me when I felt hopeless. When I didn't have anyone."

That statement hurt Blair deep in her soul, and she wanted to shout that he had her and Nate and Lily and that it was through his own selfish decisions that he was left alone. But she had to remember that this wasn't about her. Not yet anyway at least. She needed to let him speak before she allowed her emotions to get in the way. "Come, and sit," She motioned to the sitting area with two plush chairs and a small table in between. "Would you like something to drink?"

"No, I'm fine. Thank you." Why is this so painfully awkward? He really wanted a scotch, but his need to remain clear-headed outweighed his need for alcohol. "So now you know why Landry and I married. It was merely a marriage of convenience."

Blair immediately started to shake her head in disagreement, "Come on Chuck. You can't lie to me. There's more there than 'convenience.' Maybe I haven't seen you in years, but I still know you."

He gave her a slight grin and said, "Yes, you do. Landry and I are very close. We bonded over mutual issues, and she has always been there for me. She's never judged me for my past. She's good to me, and I don't deserve her."

She lowered her eyes to where her hands played with the hem of her skirt. She knew it wasn't any of her business; she knew it was inappropriate, but she couldn't stop herself from asking, "Are you faithful to her? If it's not a real marriage...I mean, you're Chuck Bass…" She felt her cheeks redden as the words came out of her mouth and she regretted them before she had even stopped talking.

She was surprised when he laughed, "I am Chuck Bass, but I'm 28 year-old Chuck Bass. I have a little more control now, but, to answer your question, Landry and I have an agreement. We are available to each other whenever the other needs it." He shifted uncomfortably. For some reason, he felt like he was betraying Blair with his answer.

She nodded without looking at him, "Why did she say that you don't like for her to wear red?"

Without hesitating, he responded, "I think you know the answer to that. There's only one girl I want to see in red."

Her heart beat wildly in her chest and she dared herself to look up at him. It was a mistake. She saw the same look on his face the night he had asked her if she was sure after she'd danced for him at Victrola. A look that revealed emotions and desires that she couldn't bring herself to even consider.

Unable to hold his gaze any longer, she cleared her throat and yelled out, "Dorota, a glass of wine!" She turned back to Chuck who had relaxed his face into a more neutral expression, "Landry told me that there's more to your story. Parts that were for you to share?"

He shook his head, "My story actually starts with Landry's story. Did you notice how her last name is the same as my mother's maiden name?" She nodded and he continued, "It turns out that her mother and my mother were best friends here in New York before my father moved to Australia temporarily to open that branch of Bass Industries. When my mother got word that Catherine and Landry were on the run from Greg, Landry's dad, they hatched a plan to help Catherine find refuge in Australia."

Blair caught on pretty easily, "So Catherine started working with Bass Industries under the alias of Catherine Fisher?"

"Yes," Chuck confirmed, "Catherine and Landry are actually Bradfords, but they changed their names in an attempt to stay hidden from Greg. Landry grew up thinking that my mother was her aunt. It was entirely coincidental that we met when I applied at Bass Industries in 2013. She told me stories of what she could remember about my mother, even though Landry was only 5 when she died."

"Small world," was the only response Blair could manage.

"It gets even smaller," Chuck said. "When I was stabbed, I lost so much blood that I required a transfusion from a family member. Catherine told me that she contacted Jack, but I realized that that was impossible because he's hepatitis positive."

Blair looked confused, "Ew, so you're related to your wife?"

Chuck gave her a look of disgust, "What? No, everything I told you about Landry is true. Catherine didn't tell me the truth about the blood transfusion, until we said our final goodbyes when she died of cancer in 2017."

Blair raised her eyebrows, completely lost on the direction that his story was going.

Chuck took a deep breath and looked at Blair pointedly, "Blair, what I am about to tell you has to remain quiet. Lily and Landry know. That's all. I told Nate and Serena about most of my story, but I didn't tell them this."

She sat closer to him and tentatively reached for his hand, "I promise I won't betray your trust, Chuck, but you're starting to scare me."

He relished in the feel of her hand in his and squeezed it tighter just to feel her skin a little longer, "Blair, the blood transfusion was from my father."

"He had donated to a blood bank? Or kept some in reserve just in case?"

"No, Catherine called him. Blair, he's alive. My dad is alive."

Her mouth fell open and she couldn't form a response, "Chuck, I was at the funeral. I saw the casket be lowered into the ground."

He pulled his chair closer to hers and said, "Blair, I know it's hard to believe, and I still don't have all of the answers, but it's true. I have spent the past two years searching for him, and I found him."

It all slowly started to make more sense to Blair, "That's why you're back in New York."

Chuck nodded his head in affirmation, "Someone tried to have him killed. I'm thinking a competitor of Bass Industries. If I can find out who wants him dead, then I can bring him back to New York. Blair, I could actually have a real relationship with him."

She saw the wetness start to pool in the corner of his eyes, but she dared not comment on it. Chuck had always struggled with showing emotions, and she didn't want to make him feel any more uncomfortable than he probably already did.

Memories of his father's funeral flooded her mind:

The worst thing you've ever done, the darkest thought you've ever had, I'll stand by you through anything.

And why would you do that?

Because...I love you.

Well, that's too bad.

He had been so broken that she didn't think he'd ever come out of the shadows. The time she'd found him on the rooftop had been the single most terrifying moment of her life.

I'm Chuck Bass...no one cares.

I do. Don't you understand? I'll always be here. I don't want you going anywhere. I couldn't bear it. So whatever you wanna do to yourself, please don't do that to me.

She reached for his other hand and squeezed them both gently but firmly to make him believe her words, "Chuck, no matter what happened between us in the past, I know what this means to you. I want you to know that what I said after the funeral is still true: I'll always be here for you and I'll stand by you through anything."

He felt his emotions getting out of hand. Her deep brown eyes brimming with tears implored him to believe her. He could see the worry written all over her furrowed brow. It warmed his soul to know that she still cared, after everything he'd put her through. "Blair, I…"

"Blair, darling, I thought dinner was at…" Louis stopped when he saw his fiance sitting in the dark with another man. "What's this?"

Blair quickly wiped her eyes before turning to her fiancé, "Oh, Louis, I must have lost track of time. Chuck just…"

Chuck cut her off, "I just stopped by to apologize for my rudeness at the reunion. My wife and I had gotten into an argument before we arrived, and I am afraid that I was not nearly as cordial to you and Blair as I should've been."

Louis shook Chuck's hand, and said, "No apologies necessary, I assure you."

"I should be going," Chuck said as he pulled on his coat. "It was nice to see you again, Louis."

"You, too, Chuck. Tell Alexandria I said hello."

"Of course," He turned back to Blair. "Thank you for accepting my apology."

She smiled at him and felt a pang twist at her heart as she watched him leave.