Chapter 13 – Home

"See something you like, Waldorf?" he murmured sleepily, noticing that she was sitting up in bed, intently watching him.

Blair merely smiled at him. "I was just waiting for you to wake up so we can go home."

So we can go home. God, how he loved the way that sounded.

"How much did you have bribe the nurses so you could stay in my room, by the way?" she teased.

"I bought the night nurse off with $50. She should've haggled, though, I would have paid her much more," he replied with a shrug.

"Well, the nurse who was in here earlier looked none too pleased with you, Bass."

Chuck sat up, swiftly dropping a kiss onto the curve of her shoulder. "I'm Chuck Bass," he said smoothly.

She swatted him away playfully before becoming serious. "How did you sleep?" she asked quietly.

Chuck noticed the change in her demeanor, and pressed his lips to her shoulder once more, resting his chin on her shoulder as he responded. "Best sleep I've had in weeks, Waldorf," he assured her.

"And your face?"

"Smarts, but I'll live."

"Good," she replied with a small smile.

"Ms. Waldorf?" a nurse spoke, entering the room. Her eyes went from Blair before landing disapprovingly on Chuck. "Are you ready to go home?"

"Yes!" she nearly shouted.

"Wonderful," the nurse replied without enthusiasm, looking down at her clipboard. "The paperwork is all done, I'll just go get your personal belongings and we'll have you out of here in no time," she said, turning on her heel and scurrying out of the room.

"Excited there, Waldorf?" Chuck asked with a slight chuckle.

"I just want everything to go back to normal," she said quietly, looking up at him with doe eyes. "I just want to go home."

Chuck nodded in understanding before standing up from her bed, stretching his arms over his head. "I had Dorota bring you something to wear. I know you'd be infuriated at the idea of wearing yesterday's clothes," he said, noticing her questioning gaze.

"Since when is Dorota on your payroll?"

"It's a recent development," he replied with a smirk, handing her an evergreen cable-knit sweater and a pair of designer jeans.

"Thanks, Bass," she said with a small smile before pulling the hospital gown she was wearing up over her head, revealing a black lacy bralette underneath.

Chuck's eyes widened and he gulped at the suddenness of her actions, overwhelmed by the sight of her smooth, white skin after such a long absence.

"See something you like, Bass?" she teased, before deftly pulling the sweater over her head before standing up to pull on the jeans over matching black panties. "Tongue-tied?" she continued after a moment after he continued to stare at her.

Chuck shook his head and cleared his throat. "Only you can leave me speechless, Waldorf," he returned softly.

"Ms. Waldorf, I have your things," came the voice of the nurse and she once again entered the room, finally forcing Chuck to pull his eyes away from Blair, who was still smirking at him. "And you are all ready to go," she continued, without looking up from her chart.

"She's a delight," Blair said scornfully, grabbing the bag of her clothes with two fingers and held it far away from herself, her nose wrinkled in disgust.

Chuck rolled his eyes and took the bag from her, tucking it under his arm. "You are such a snob sometimes, you know."

"I am not," she clipped back haughtily

Chuck smirked back at her and grabbed her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. "You are. Come on, let's go home," he said, giving her fingers a squeeze and small tug, urging her to follow.

She smiled at him in return, following him eagerly out of the room, to the elevator, and then to his waiting limo, where he held the door for her, ushering her inside before dropping in behind her on the soft, black leather seats. She leaned back gratefully and closed her eyes, inhaling the rich scent of the freshly cleaned leather. Blair loved the feel of the leather - buttery soft and luxurious - a much-needed change from a hospital bed.

They rode in a comfortable silence, and Blair slipped across the leather seats to move closer to the window, taking in the well-known sights as she watched the world pass by her. She turned to look at Chuck, who was already watching her in turn. She reached out a hand and grabbed his forearm. "Come here," she said softly, pulling at him gently.

He obliged and slid closer to her, placing his arm around her shoulders. "What are you thinking about?" he asked softly. "You're quiet."

Blair didn't answer at first, and pressed a kiss against the stubble of his cheek. "You need a shave, Bass," she teased softly, before kissing him again, closer to his mouth.

Chuck felt his breath hitch at the feel of her lips. "You didn't answer my question, Waldorf."

"I want you to kiss me," she replied, her lips inches from his.

"Blair—"

"No," she interrupted softly. "You tell me you love me, you want me to live with you, but you haven't even tried to kiss me. Kiss me."

"Blair, I –"

"Just kiss me, Chuck," she demanded.

He obliged, and suddenly he found her lips against his. Her lips were soft and plump, just the way he remembered. He kissed her gently, pulling away after a few moments.

She smiled up at him, placing her palm against his cheek. "I've been waiting for that."

"That's nothing, Waldorf," he replied with a smirk.

"I know," she replied quietly.

Chuck could hear the nervousness in her voice, despite her best efforts. "Should we talk, Blair?" he asked.

"About what?" she asked too quickly.

"Us."

"Probably," she murmured softly.

At that moment, the limo stopped in front of The Empire. Blair went to open the door immediately, but Chuck grabbed her hand and once more laced his fingers with hers. "Hey," he started, "Once you get settled in we'll talk, ok?"

She nodded quickly. "Ok," she responded, once again moving towards the door, but his fingers held her.

He pulled her back into him, and placed his lips on hers once. It was quick, and gentle. "I do love you, Blair," he said when he pulled away from her.

"I know," she whispered back. "We'll talk. Later." She smiled nervously.

Chuck frowned, confused at the sudden change in her demeanor, as she pulled her hand from his, ducking out of the limo and onto the street. He followed her and immediately grabbed her hand again. She didn't fight him, and held his hand as they walked through the lobby and into the elevator. At the penthouse, the elevator dinged and Chuck automatically put his keycard into the waiting slot. The doors opened, and he felt Blair tense. "Are you alright?" he asked quietly.

"I'm not ready," she answered quietly.

He stepped back into the elevator, letting the doors close again. "Ready for what?" he asked.

"Sex," she replied quietly. "I know what I did earlier, and –"

"Don't," Chuck interrupted. "I know. You're beautiful, and perfect, and as much as I want you…I know. We won't. It's ok."

"Is it?" she asked quietly.

Chuck ran his fingers through his hair. "Can we get out of this fucking elevator so we can actually talk? I'm not going to maul you, Waldorf," he replied, exasperated.

"I just didn't want you to get the wrong idea," she said softly.

Chuck ignored her statement as he slipped his keycard back into the slot, the doors opening more. "After you."

Blair walked into his penthouse and immediately felt at home. This was home. Chuck was home.

Chuck immediately took a seat on the red couch in the middle of the room and motioned for her to sit beside him. "Come sit, Blair."

Blair obliged, tentatively, sitting a few inches away from Chuck. "I'm here."

"Why are you suddenly afraid of me?" he asked quietly.

"I saw how you looked at me. I did that on purpose…but I shouldn't have. I don't regret kissing you. But I don't want you to get the wrong idea," she said softly, hiding her face into her hands.

"What is the wrong idea?"

"I just can't…right now," she offered lamely.

"Do you think I'd ever push you to do that? Because I wouldn't," he responded, feeling himself flush slightly at her insinuation.

"I shouldn't have teased you, I'm sorry," she said, shrinking away from him.

Louis would've hit her if she said 'No,' it dawned on him, and he felt a sudden coldness fill his belly.

"Hey, look at me," he said, wrapping his arms around her. Her eyes met his after a few moments. "Don't be sorry. You haven't done anything wrong. I've already told you that I would wait."

"Will you? Or will you take a mistress, too?" she asked coldly.

"I'm not him, Blair."

"Answer me," she demanded.

"Never," he answered, bewildered. "How could you ever think that?"

"Louis did," she said solemnly.

"Yes, and Louis is garbage. I love you, Blair. Probably more than I love myself. I would never…" he trailed off. "I don't know how you could even think it."

"You also love sex," she argued.

"I do. Your point?"

"If you can't have it with me…"

"Fuck, Blair," he said heatedly. "Are you testing me? Because yes, I love sex, and I love you, and I love having sex with you. But I only want you." He quieted. "You, Blair. Just you. I only want you. So stop testing me."

She flinched at his raised voice, but relaxed at his words. This is Chuck, Blair. Not Louis. "I'm afraid I'm not enough. I never have been." She wondered where her words were coming from. She never spoke about her insecurities – but suddenly they were flowing freely from her mouth.

"Not enough?" he questioned. "You're kidding, right?"

Blair didn't speak, but simply shook her head.

"You're everything, Blair," he said quietly, placing a gentle hand on her cheek.

Relaxed slightly at his touch, she wound her fingers through his hair, tentatively, pulling him close. His forehead rested against hers and they were both breathing heavily until their lips met. Chuck pressed further, his tongue begging for hers. She obliged and their tongues met as they kissed, tasting - savoring each other. Chuck broke the kiss, his lips moving down to her throat. "Tell me to stop and I will," he murmured. He had to prove to her that she could trust him.

"Stop," she whispered, almost painfully.

Chuck immediately pulled away from her. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

"Do you love me?" he asked.

"You know I do!"

"Do you want to be with me?" he asked.

"Yes," she answered quietly.

He smiled before softly pressing his lips against hers again. "Then I'm yours, and I'll wait," he murmured, breaking their kiss.

Xoxo.

The next morning, Blair awoke to bright sunlight streaming through the windows in Chuck's room. She winced at the brightness and flipped over to face the other side of the bed, which she was disappointed to find empty. There was an indentation on Chuck's side of the bed, indicating that he hadn't been gone long. Rising from the bed, Blair found a spare robe hanging in Chuck's closet, and she pulled it on and tied the belt. The robe was much too large for her, reaching almost to her ankles, the sleeves so long they covered her hands. But it smelled like Chuck, and that thought made her smile.

Satisfied, Blair opened the French doors of the bedroom to look for Chuck. He was neither in the living room, nor the kitchen, but there was a fresh pot of coffee waiting on the counter. Pulling out a mug, Blair poured herself a cup of the dark brew and took a quick sip, feeling herself immediately begin to wake as the hot drink slightly seared her tongue. Cup in hand, Blair walked down the hallway and noticed the closed door at the end – Chuck's office. She smiled and opened the door without knocking and slipped inside.

Chuck was seated behind the polished mahogany desk, swiveled in his desk chair so he was facing away from her. "I'm aware of that, Holmberg," Chuck said with a hint of agitation in his voice.

Blair stilled her movement, realizing he was on the phone.

"I know, Holmberg," Chuck once again spoke tersely. "I know what the board said. I don't care. I've had some personal matters to take care of."

Blair's smile left her face when she realized who Chuck was talking to.

"I know. Look, it's not like I abandoned the company. I have trusted the board to do what they think is best, and I'm still very much aware of what is going on at Bass Industries. I just need a slight leave of absence to take care of some personal matters."

A long pause.

"No, not rehab, Holmberg. I said it was personal, didn't I? That means 'none of your business.'"

Chuck had been ignoring his company, his legacy, all for her. Blair felt slightly nauseous. She was screwing up his life as well as her own. Every time she had fallen apart, he had come to her side without question, ready to put her back together piece-by-piece. And she was repaying him by forcing him to choose between her and his future. She felt selfish and loathsome.

"Yeah, Holmberg. I got it. I'll be back in as soon as I can."

Chuck finished his call, and slammed the receiver of the phone down, causing Blair to jump slightly. Chuck let out of deep exhale and opened his eyes. "How long have you been standing there?" he asked when he saw her.

Blair tried to force a smile onto her face, "Not long," she said cheerily.

He immediately saw right through her. "So, the whole thing, then?"

Blair nodded ruefully. "The whole thing," she affirmed, continuing towards him, and taking a seat in the luxurious leather chair across from Chuck's desk."

"I know what you're thinking, Blair, and I want you to stop. This is not something I want you to worry about."

"Chuck, but Bass Industries – that's your legacy, your future! You can't just squander that away!" she cried.

Chuck gave her an odd look, which she couldn't quite decipher. "I'm not squandering away anything, Waldorf. I'm not the only person who works at Bass Industries. I'm letting someone else take the helm for a little bit. Look, I really don't want you worrying about this or overthinking it, like I know you are."

She couldn't let him ruin his future for her. "Go to work, Chuck," she replied softly. "I'll be all right without you for a few hours. In fact, I might go shopping with Serena today."

Chuck sighed but relented. "I'll go for a few hours, ok? Just a few."

"Good Bass," she said with a smile, standing up. "I'll go call Serena."

She turned her back on him and began to make her way back to the door. "Blair?" he called to her softly, before her hand had reached the doorknob. Blair turned to face him with a questioning gaze. "If Serena's busy, I want you to stay here, ok?"

Under normal circumstances, Blair would have been infuriated by Chuck's request, but there was something about the tone of his voice and the genuine concern in eyes that made her nod her head in acquiescence. "Ok, Chuck," she replied softly before turning the knob and leaving him alone in his office.

Blair found her phone and sat down primly on the couch in the living room, a fresh cup of coffee on the table in front of her. She promptly found Serena's information and called.

"B!" Serena shouted into phone.

"Hey, S," she replied, biting her lip and choosing her next words. "I know we fought and at all…But I was wondering if maybe we could go shopping today or something?" Blair's words rushed out all at once.

"B!" Serena squealed. "God, I'm so glad you called. Look about that fight – I'm so sorry, B. You were completely right about everything. And yes! I'd love to go shopping! Bergdorf's and Bendel's? I'll pick you up at Chuck's in an hour-and-half?"

"Sounds great, S. I'll hop in the shower right now."

"I can't wait to see you, B!" Serena shouted before hanging up the phone.

Blair smiled at her best friend's enthusiasm, and made her way back to Chuck's room to take a shower. Finding a fresh set of The Empire's best fluffy white towels, Blair turned on the shower, before stripping and stepping inside, relishing the feel of the hot water on her skin. She showered quickly, and was almost done with her routine when she heard a knock at the door. "Chuck?" she shouted over the steady drum of the water on the ivory tiles.

"I'm leaving, Waldorf. Just wanted to say goodbye," Chuck returned.

"Hang on! I'm almost done," she replied, finishing up quickly and turning the shower off, ringing the excess water from her chestnut hair before wrapping a towel around her frame. She found Chuck waiting on the edge of the bed, freshly changed into a gray wool suit, a white dress shirt, and a lavender bowtie, completed with contrasting pocket square. She smiled at the sight of him. God, he's handsome.

He was staring at her, his dark eyes huge as they stared at the sight before him, Blair's slim form wrapped in a fluffy white towel, her milky skin glistening with fresh water droplets, and the scent of his body wash on her skin. Realizing he was staring, Chuck's eyes snapped back up to meet hers. "Yeah, I'm leaving," he repeated, slightly distracted.

"You're staring," she said quietly.

"Sorry," he stammered. "You're just…You're gorgeous," he replied softly. "Now are you going to say goodbye to me or not?"

Blair smiled at his words and closed the distance between them, leaning down and taking his face into her hands. She pulled him close and pressed her lips gently against his, immediately feeling sparks ignite beneath her skin. She gave him several soft kisses before pulling away. "Bye, Bass," she said with a smile.

Chuck smiled back, standing and buttoning his suit back before wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her into his arms. "Bye, Waldorf," he murmured into her wet hair. "Call me if you need anything, ok?"

"I'll be fine, Bass. It's just a few hours," she chuckled.

"I know," he said, pulling away from her. "Tell that sister of mine that if she doesn't take care of you, I'll be out for blood. Oh, and one more thing," he said, fishing his wallet out of his breast pocket and pulling out a credit card. "Lunch is on me."

Blair grabbed the card greedily between her fore- and middle fingers. "We are going to get the most expensive bottle of wine on the menu, I hope you know."

"Whatever you want, my love," he said with a chuckle. He kissed her once more, on the cheek, before turning and leaving her.

She realized within moments that this was the first time she had really, truly been alone in months. Louis had always been present, suffocating her, controlling her every move, laying his hands on her when she didn't comply with his exact demands. Then there was Chuck, ignoring his own life and responsibilities to take care of her, to keep her safe. Serena had been a terrible hostess, but Blair hadn't been alone then there, either, not really.

Suddenly, she was alone, and it made her nervous. She busied her hands, applying her makeup subtly, limited to the products that she had left in Chuck's bathroom the last time she had stayed there. Her wardrobe was also limited, but she found a royal purple dress and a pair of black tights adorned with a small herringbone pattern that worked well-enough together. Just as she was finishing pulling on her tights, she heard a knock at the front door of the suit. Blair's spine immediately stiffened and she walked to the door, soundlessly on her tip toes, before peering through the peephole. Of course, it's just Serena. Relax, Blair.

Relaxed, Blair flung open the door. "Hey, S. Come in, I'm just finishing up. I need to find a pair of shoes," she said with a smile.

"All right, B," Serena replied easily, returning Blair's smile as she plopped down on the couch, her feet propped up on the coffee table.

Blair eventually found a pair of black Alexandre Birman's in the back of Chuck's closet, and she slid them on and grabbed her bag before returning to the living room to find Serena texting away, a smile lighting up her face. "That's quite the smile, S," she said wryly.

Serena looked up from her phone. "Sorry, B. Carter," she explained. "You ready?"

"Yeah," Blair replied, grabbing her gray peacoat from where it hung in the coat closet. "Oh, and I hope you're hungry, lunch is on Chuck," Blair said with a smirk.

"Le Bernardin?" Serena asked with a smile and the raise of an eyebrow.

"Sounds good to me," Blair replied, following Serena out the door.

Xoxo.

Half-an-hour later, Blair and Serena were seated at Le Bernardin, a bottle of chilled Montrachet between them, and the caviar having just been served. "So, I guess we have a lot to talk about, B," Serena started.

"Yeah, I guess so," Blair mumbled, taking a large sip of her wine, savoring the flavors of pear and apple, and the minerality that paired so well with the salinity of the caviar.

"So, B. What's going on with you and Chuck?"

Blair sighed and leaned back in her chair and sighed deeply. "I don't even know what to tell you, Serena. I barely know what to tell myself."

"What does that mean?" Serena asked, spreading some caviar onto a cracker.

"He asked me to move in with him," Blair said quietly.

"What!?" Serena nearly shrieked, drawing the attention of the other patrons nearby.

"Serena, keep your voice down," Blair seethed under her breath.

"Sorry, B. But, what? He asked you to move in with him? B, that's huge. What did you say?"

"I'm living there, aren't I?" Blair replied smoothly.

"So, you guys are together then?" Serena asked.

Blair paused. Were they together?

"Wait. So, he asked you to move in with him, but he can't even call himself your boyfriend? Wow, typical Chuck," Serena said, rolling her eyes.

"It's not him, it's me," Blair said quietly, her eyes unable to meet Serena's.

Serena narrowed her eyes at Blair's statement. "Go on, B," she encouraged.

"Serena, I'm afraid to have sex with him," Blair whispered.

Serena put down the cracker she had just raised to her mouth and took a large gulp of wine. "You're afraid? Blair?"

"I don't mean like that. And it's not him. I love him, and I want him, I do. I just…I can't," Blair said with a shrug. "I don't know what's wrong with me."

"Have you told him this?"

"I told him I'm not ready. Which I guess isn't a lie," Blair replied. "The way he looks at me sometimes, it scares me."

Serena smiled. "He loves you, B. He always has."

"I'm afraid he's ruining his life for me," Blair blurted out, suddenly.

"What?" Serena asked with wide eyes.

"I had to force him to go to work today. I don't know how long it's been since he's gone. But I'm sure it's been weeks. I overheard him on the phone with Pete Holmberg this morning. The board doesn't seem too pleased with him. And it's because of me, S. It's my fault." Blair felt tears shining in her eyes, but held them back.

Serena smiled brightly. "Oh, B. Stop being so dramatic. Chuck has run that company so well over the past few years and he deserves a break anyway. And it's not your fault - he's a grown man who makes his own choices. And B, you understand that that means he chose you over Bass Industries, right?"

Blair thought for a moment before arguing back, "I don't want him to ruin his future."

Serena rolled her eyes. "You both are absolutely infuriating. You don't think that you're his future? God, B. Wake up. The man adores you."

Blair thought for a moment before a smile lit up her features. "I guess you're right, S. Sometimes you are surprisingly astute. I will need you to get back to me on the sex thing, though," she continued, her voice lower.

Serena chortled. "I promise to think about it and get back to you, B." Serena's phone began to ring on the table. "Sorry, it's my mom – I better take it," she said rolling her eyes. "I'll be back in a moment.

The man adores you. Blair smiled softly, taking a small sip of wine. She was so deep in her thoughts she didn't even see the brunette take Serena's seat.

"Hello, Blair," the woman spoke.

Blair jumped, startled from her thoughts. "I'm sorry, can I help you?" she asked, having no recognition of the woman in front of her. She felt the pinprick of nerves, immediately uneasy at the strange woman's presence.

The woman simply rolled her eyes. "I'm Estee," she responded simply.

Blair's eyes darted back and forth, looking for Serena, who was nowhere in sight. "I'm sorry, Estee, I don't believe we've met," Blair said, plastering a smile to her face, masking her unease.

"Oh, we haven't," said Estee with a brilliant smile.

"Who are you?" Blair asked quietly.

"Ask your boyfriend," Estee responded, before rising and disappearing as quickly as she had appeared.

Serena repapered after a moment. "Who was that, B?" she asked quizzically.

"No idea. She seemed plastered, though. I mean, really? It's not even 2 PM," Blair forced a chuckle.

Blair remained quiet throughout the rest of their lunch, and drank more than her half of the bottle of wine, before begging off from their shopping spree. She was too tired, it was too much, and yes, really, it had been a lot of fun. She wanted to go home. She wanted to talk to Chuck. She wanted to know who the hell this Estee was.

Serena dropped her off at The Empire with a worried look. "Do you want me to come up? We could watch Breakfast at Tiffany's?"

"Rain check?" Blair asked. "I really am tired. I think I overestimated my strength." It wasn't necessarily a lie, she reasoned. And who the fuck was Estee?

"Ok, B. I'll call you later?"

"Sounds good, S," Blair said enthusiastically. Fake, fake, fake.

Blair made her way up to Chuck's suite, immediately discarding her shoes. She felt sick to her stomach. She didn't turn on any lights on in the suite, but simply made her way to the bedroom where she discarded her dress and tights, changing into a pair of Chuck's silk boxers and an oversized Columbia sweatshirt she found in his closet. Of course he has a Columbia sweatshirt.

She walked to where Chuck's trusty decanter of scotch sat, and poured herself a healthy glass, before walking to the window and perching herself on the large sill, her knees drawn up into her chest as she watched the winter sky of New York change from sunshine to a light gray, signifying the setting sun.

It was just before the sun had completely set, giving itself over to the night, that she heard the click of the lock at the front door. "Blair?" Chuck called out. He turned on the lights, and saw her immediately. She quickly chugged what was rest of the scotch in her glass. "Baby?" his voice was questioning, confused.

"I just have one question, Chuck," she said coolly, setting the empty glass down on the sill.

"What is that?" he asked, clearly confused.

"Who the fuck is Estee!?" she nearly shouted.

"When did you see Estee?" he asked uneasily, his voice tense.

"At lunch. She ambushed me," she replied coldly.

"Blair, it isn't like that, I swear - "

"So that's why she told me to ask my boyfriend who the hell she was? Fuck you, Chuck," she said, averting her eyes from his.

"Blair, I'm not sleeping with her! Louis is," he replied heatedly, exasperated. "I have pictures if you don't believe me," he added, quieter.

Blair looked up, back into his eyes. She knew he was telling the truth. "I believe you," she said quietly.

"Good," he said softly. "Because it's true. Stop doubting me, Waldorf. Did she threaten you? Are you all right?"

"No, just told me to ask you who she was. This is not over, is it?"

"I'll keep you safe, I promise," he murmured.

"Make him go away, Chuck," she said quietly, returning her gaze to the New York City skyline. "I need him to just go away." After a long pause she spoke again, "Fix me another glass?" She motioned to her empty tumbler.

He nodded, grabbing the glass and pouring them both a large glass of scotch. Chuck sat down on the floor below, his back pressed against the wall. "Come here," he said, gently pulling on her ankle.

Blair obliged, sliding from the windowsill and down onto the floor next to him. "I'm afraid to have sex with you," she said quietly. She was just drunk enough to admit it to him.

"What? Why?" he asked quietly.

"I don't know, really," she answered simply. "Serena said I should talk to you. And why are you choosing me over Bass Industries? That's your whole future."

He gave her that same indecipherable look from earlier. "That company isn't my entire future, Blair," he said quietly, looking away.

She nodded. "I don't think I trust anyone anymore. Except you," she continued.

"Then why are you afraid?"

"There were a lot times when he touched me…When I didn't want him to. I never said 'no.' But I didn't want him to…" she whispered, trailing off.

"I'd never hurt you like that," Chuck replied brusquely.

She shook her head. "I know that, Chuck. I don't know how to explain it. I don't quite understand it myself. You know, I did try to seduce you. Then I panicked," she replied with a sullen chuckle.

Chuck didn't respond, just simply draped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his chest with a gentle kiss to her forehead. They sat like that for a while, Chuck holding Blair close to him, hoping to comfort her, keep her safe, as they occasionally sipped scotch from crystal tumblers against the dying light of the day. Sometimes words just weren't needed.

Xoxo.

On the Lower East Side, Louis Grimaldi sat anxiously on the Ikea sofa in Estee's cramped one-bedroom apartment. The Lower East Side was far from what he was accustomed to, both on the Upper East Side and in Monaco, but Estee was good in bed and didn't talk back, so he would deal with it - for the time being. He had sent her on an errand hours ago, and he was getting impatient, and angry, as he waited for her to return. God, he needed a drink.

Finally, he heard the click of the lock, and Estee swung the door open to her apartment, her hands full of shopping bags.

"I sent you on one simple errand, Estee, not on a shopping spree," he growled at her.

"Sorry, Louis," she said with a sweet smile. "Thought I deserved a present. Why did you want me to do that anyways?"

Louis smirked. "Just wanted to plant a few seeds of doubt in Ms. Waldorf's mind," he replied easily.

"Why?

"Why are you asking so many questions?" he seethed back at her.

"Just curious," she mumbled.

"Well, if you're so curious, Estee, it is just one part of a greater plan," he replied.

"And what's the greater plan, Louis?" she asked.

"Isn't that obvious? Chuck Bass destroyed my life. I've lost my title, and my family has all but disowned me. So, I'm going to destroy him."

"And how are you going to do that?"

"Easy," he replied with a smirk. "I'm going to take Blair Waldorf away from him."

AN: Y'all still with me? I appreciate everyone who's still reading, favoriting/following, and reviewing. It makes me smile. I had a bit of trouble writing this chapter so hopefully it is up to snuff. Please review for me? I'll consider it a birthday present (: