Chapter 7 of In Love & War
The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.
Author: Isabelle
Summary: Post 1.13. Chuck Bass left New York after he lost Blair and Nate in one day. Years later, a deep economic crisis has left the world broke, and the only family in the UES with money left is the Bass family and its sole heir: Chuck Bass. Eleanor convinces Blair to marry Chuck for his money, but all the feelings Blair left buried a long time ago start to surface when she realizes he's not the man she thought he was. CB. NV.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, not Gossip Girl, not any quotes/lyrics used.
Rating: PG-15
A/N – A special thanks to the ever lovely Tatiana for her BETA.
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"One man loved the pilgrim soul in you, and loved the sorrows of your changing face."
W.B. Yeats
Blair felt the air knocked out of her when the second bomb fell. She knew she was screaming by then, not because she was in any pain, but because her fear consumed her and she felt she would die right there on the carpet.
She waited a few seconds, but no other bombs fell. She scampered to her feet to find Jacob crouched in a corner, looking as scared and terrified as she was.
"Miss. Waldorf… Are you ok?" He gasped out.
She simply nodded; she didn't trust herself to speak. She felt shaky and unstable, stumbling against things as she tried to hold on. She felt her inner ear ringing uncontrollably as she tried to make sense of what was happening.
Then her worry came.
"Mom! Dorota!" She cried, closing her eyes and blinking because she was seeing stars.
"Miss Blair!"
"Dorota!" She went towards the voice and fumbled until strong arms went around her and held her up.
"Miss Waldorf!" A male voice was at her ear and she was sure she was melting at the feeling of being held up and pressed against a strong male chest.
"Dorota! Mom!" She was crying out, trying to get away from the unfamiliar arms as she heard Dorota cry out to her again.
"Miss Waldorf, calm down – I've got you," the man said.
She blinked and looked up finally, seeing a vaguely familiar face that she couldn't place and didn't care enough to at that moment. She just needed to save her mother and Dorota.
"I'm Kevin, Kevin Gilbert – your fiancé's associate," he explained, still holding her up.
What? What was he talking about? Why was he talking – where was her mother? Fiancé? Chuck!
"Chuck! He was leaving – he's out in the streets!" She cried to him urgently.
"Where's your mother?" He demanded. She finally pushed him off her, stumbling a bit as her sight was still hazy.
She walked towards the back of the suite where her mother's room and bathroom were. "Mom! Dorota!"
"Miss Blair!" And Dorota was in front of her, holding her as she shook.
"Dorota!" She held her fast.
"An attack, Miss Blair!" Dorota's eyes were wide with fear.
"Where's my mother?" She demanded.
"She's stuck. I can't, Miss Blair!" Dorota looked close to tears.
Blair pushed past her and tried to get into the bathroom. The door had fallen off the hinges and was stuck, preventing the entrance or exit of anyone into the bathroom.
"Mom!" She ran to the door, fully aware that Mr. Savior was right behind her.
"Blair!" Eleanor's voice was wild with fear. And she started crying. "Blair I can't get out! Oh, take me out! Call Harold!"
Blair pounded at the heavy wood, but it was wedged in good.
"Let me," Kevin offered, gently pushing her away as she stared at him, wide-eyed. He pushed his shoulder against the door, but it was wedged solid tight.
"Blair! Blair, I'm scared, I can't get out!" Eleanor was pleading on the other side.
"Mom, it's ok – we're getting you out – stay away from the door, Mom – stay away!"
"No, Blair – get me out!" She wasn't listening to her, and Blair began to panic.
"No, stop!" She told Kevin. "Stop it! If you push it in, it'll fall on her!"
Kevin stopped pushing just as Jacob stumbled in, holding a napkin to his head. He was bleeding slightly – a wound which Dorota took to be serious because she let out a cry.
"Is Mrs. Waldorf alright?" He asked.
"I don't know!" Blair cried, panicked still. "We need an axe or something!"
And that's when a black coat came running through the door. It was Chuck, and Blair let out a cry of relief she didn't know she was holding in.
"Chuck!" She cried and, before either could protest or think if it was proper or if they wanted it, he had lifted her into his arms. She held on to him tightly in relief as she buried her face into his neck.
"Are you ok? Are you alright?" He asked quickly, pulling her back and looking over her. He was touching her face and pushing her hair back to study her. His eyes were dark and concerned, and all she could do was nod and let out a sigh of relief as he stood before her, her small hands holding on tightly to his upper arms.
"My mother, Chuck – my mom!" she showed him and he let go of her to stare at the door. Then at Kevin.
"Gilbert," Chuck stared at the man, still confused as to his presence.
"Bass," Kevin responded, none too happy about his presence.
"Blair!" Eleanor continued her pitiful sobbing on the other side of the door.
Blair pressed her ear against it. "Mom! Mom, it's ok – Chuck's here, we're getting you out."
Chuck studied the door. "We need to push it in." he stated, studying the frame. Kevin nodded in agreement.
"I tried, it's hard but we'll push." Kevin stated.
"Eleanor?" Chuck said into the door.
No answer.
"Mom?" Blair asked, her small hand on the door.
"Blair?" her mother's voice was small and vulnerable now and Blair hated it.
"Mom, listen – listen to Chuck. We're going to get you out, ok? I promise." Her voice faltered because she still couldn't believe there were bombs falling.
"Eleanor…" Chuck started. "I need you to get in the tub, ok? Get in the tub and we will get you out."
There was silence. "Mom?" Blair knocked. "Get in the tub, please get in the tub."
"I'm going!" she snapped at them from the other side which made Chuck smile and Blair noticed.
"Are you there, mom?" Blair questioned.
"Yes! But I have clothes on!" Eleanor informed her.
"Good!" Blair smiled. "Just a minute, ok?"
Chuck and Kevin nodded at each other and began pushing the wood as hard as they could. Dorota, Jacob and Blair joined in and after a few minutes of pushing, grunting and sweating the door gave in and it fell forward.
"Mom!" Blair scampered in and found her mom in the tub. Naked, holding her knees to her chest.
Blair looked around and grabbed a towel and quickly placed it over her mother's shivering frame.
"I was waiting, Blair," she told her. "I got in the tub."
Blair cried and held her mother. "It's ok, Mom. It's ok."
"I had no clothes." Eleanor informed her though Blair saw her pile of clothes on the floor next to the tub.
"It's ok." Blair whispered to her as Dorota crouched next to her.
"Here," Chuck handed her a fluffy white robe which Blair took gratefully and together her and Dorota were able to place it around Eleanor's frame thought she wouldn't move from the tub.
"I'll get her," Chuck leaned in and before Blair could protest Chuck easily lifted Eleanor put and carried her outside. Blair ran after him, trying to keep up with his steps as he deposited her on the bed.
"He's so nice," Eleanor smiled happily at Chuck once she was on the bed.
"Oh mom," Blair scooted to her and held her close, patting her hair. Chuck turned to look at Kevin, giving the man a nod of thanks and the men exited the room leaving the girls be.
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"What are you doing here?" Chuck asked, still out of breath and shaken at the entire situation.
Kevin ran his hands over his tousled blond hair and gapped at him. "I-I was coming to pay a visit when the first bomb dropped… and then I heard her screaming so I came up…"
Chuck was still breathing deeply. "Thank you."
Kevin nodded, not saying a word. "How did this happen?"
Chuck shook his head, still deathly afraid of the entire situation. He had to get Blair and her mother out of here.
Kevin noticed the wedding dress hanging from a corner and Blair's veil untouched.
"The wedding…" he stated.
"It's Friday." Chuck nodded, absently, still racking his brain. "Jacob!"
Jacob, still holding a napkin to his head, came to him nodding.
"See if we can get out of here before our window and take care of that cut," he instructed as the man nodded and scampered off.
Kevin turned to him. "You got a window?"
Chuck nodded, glancing at the man. "I have to get them out of here."
That's when Blair came to them, still shaken with red-rimmed eyes and mused hair.
"Chuck, what's going on?" she demanded and he'd never seen her look so very frightened. He walked to her and studied her.
"Are you ok?" he asked, studying her.
"No! No, I'm not ok!" she snapped, frazzled. "Why are there bombs? The war hasn't been announced, what's going on?"
Chuck took a tentative step to her and gently took her arm. "C'mon – sit down."
He sat on the couch and grabbed a bottle that hadn't broken in the explosion, pouring her some whiskey on a shot glass. She took it gratefully and gulped it down. Kevin watched her.
"Rest now, Miss Waldorf." Kevin assured her kneeling in front of her. Blair put her glass down and without looking at Chuck demanded another shot with her hand. Chuck smirked and gave her another one.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
Kevin was taken back. "I-I'm Kevin Gilbert, I'm an investor for Mr. Bass' –"
"What where you doing here?" she countered before he could finish.
"I – I wanted to stop by and invite both of you to lunch –"
"Thank you." She stated and gulped back the second shot, looking much more at ease.
Kevin watched her drink as she wordlessly handed Chuck back her glass.
"You're very welcomed, Miss Waldorf." He smiled. "It's just nice to have a lady once more in the city."
"Well, we're leaving," she reminded him.
And Chuck finally nodded. He's been so very busy finding ways to legally kill Kevin that he'd missed the words coming out of Blair's mouth.
"We're getting married tonight," Chuck stated and this made Blair's head snap up to meet his eyes. "With all of this going on we have to get out of the city as quickly as possible."
"Chuck –"
"Don't you think its best, dear?" Chuck's eyes never left Kevin who had suddenly begun to seethe.
Blair blinked and then realized what was happening. There was a power-struggle between the two of them. Between the two men who had saved her. One was standing next to her, strong and silent but able to mouth off at any given moment. The other was on bended knee and for some reason this bothered her.
For all that was worth this man knew she was in love and engaged to the other man and that left an unsettling feeling in her stomach – like something was definitely wrong with this picture.
"Yes…" Blair stared at the man before her. "Yes, I think its best."
Kevin's eyes hardened and Blair saw it – without her knowing she reached out and grabbed Chuck's hand which she felt squeeze around hers.
"Can we talk, Chuck?" She asked, glancing up at him.
Chuck quickly pulled her up and nodded to Kevin as he took her to her private bedroom. He closed the door behind them and stared at her.
"What's going on?" she hissed, her eyes were still wide. "We need to get out of here."
He nodded, taking her in. Her hair was a mess, she was still shaking and a deep part of him wanted to just hold her and assure her that everything would be ok. That he would take care of them all; that he would get them all out. Yet in the back of his mind he realized he couldn't fight the world to save them.
"If I can get a window out for tomorrow we will get out –"
"No, Chuck – I don't want to spend another night here, I don't," she was trembling and without thinking he reached out and placed his hands on her shoulder.
"I will try all I can for us to get out earlier, ok?" he said gently, like he was schooling a child.
She looked up at him and for the first time since the entire thing happened she realized this was Chuck talking to her; her childhood friend, her plotting partner, the boy who listened to her prat on about Nate, the guy she lost her virginity to, the guy who held her when he wouldn't hold any other girl… this was him.
That thought, for some reason came as a comfort to her because she knew this man. He may look different, more grown up, they may be together in these crazy circumstances but he was still Chuck and she knew Chuck Bass.
She didn't now why but this made her loose it; maybe it was all the tension of the fact that they were getting attack, that they didn't know what the hell was happening and here he was promising to protect her. It was such a relief after protecting everyone for so long…
So she leaned into him and placed her head on his shoulder and his arms went quickly around her, holding her to him.
"We need to get out before –"
"Sir!"
They instantly pulled apart as they heard Jacob's roaring voice coming from the other side of the door. Chuck quickly opened the door and stared at Jacob, beckoning him for information.
"It's been declared, sir. The war." Jacob looked pale and anxious and Kevin was gone, Blair noticed.
"Fuck…" Chuck whispered, running his hands over his hair.
"What does this mean – what does this mean for us?" Blair demanded.
"And the window?" Chuck demanded of Jacob.
Jacob gulped. "They've pulled all windows. If we cross… it'll be on our own with no escort."
"Fuck!" Chuck began to pace, back and forth, back and forth.
"Call Julius, call Pyro – call anyone you fucking have to!" Chuck roared. "Get me an escort; get me an escort – now!"
Blair stared incredulously at Chuck as he paced and Jacob nodded, nearly running out of the room.
"Chuck…" Blair walked to him. "What does this mean?"
He finally stopped and stared at her. "No escort. The US government is not granting an escort to cross the Atlantic… if we cross it… we can potentially be attacked."
"Potentially? Potentially!" Blair cried, flailing her arms. "Why didn't we leave before? Are we trapped?"
"We didn't leave before because we had no escort until Saturday, leaving before the escort would leave us in the same predicament we are now," he stated and she sat down, taking in this information.
"You're going to have to make a decision here, Blair…" Chuck said slowly. "I'm going. I'm going tonight."
Her eyes looked at him as he said these words.
"You're welcomed to come… continue with this or you can stay here." Chuck looked pained because in reality he wasn't going to leave her behind but the thought of placing her in even more risk by doing the journey over the sea felt even worse.
Either way she was at risk. She could've been seriously injured today and the fact was that Scotland would be the safest bet… well he had to get her there.
Blair stared at him. She had two choices… stay in New York and try to survive as bombs fell around them with no one to protect them and the city became a war zone… or go with him. Risk the seven hour flight to London…
"How do we get to Scotland?" she asked quietly.
"I have connections in London – once there we take my boat to Scotland." He stated. "My place can only be reached by boat… there are no cars there, Blair."
She stared at him. "Chuck what is wrong with Scotland – why don't you talk about it?"
His jaw twitched. "I think it's best you just see it. I can't explain it."
"Is it safe?" she finally asked.
He nodded slowly. "Safest there it is. I've made it safe. I knew this was coming."
Blair gulped and looked down, her heart was beating, her chest felt tight and she wanted it all just to be ok. To go as planned when they would all be safe. In the end it was always her choice – he was letting her have the choice.
"Dorota!" she cried.
Chuck stared at her, confused as she stood and called her maid.
"Dorota!"
The ex-maid came out, confused. "Miss Blair?"
Blair took a deep breath. "Help me get ready… we're getting married now."
Chuck stood with her. "Blair –"
"Find a priest, find a pastor – find… just find." Blair was shaking.
"No." Chuck said with finality.
What the hell was wrong with him? Here she was willing to speed things up just to get out with him… no. This was wrong, he decided.
"No." he repeated as she studied him.
"We'll get married in Scotland… just pack your things…" he said tightly and stormed out.
Blair stood rooted to the spot, staring after him confused, relieved, and almost impressed. He wouldn't force her. She was thinking he would force her, make her marry him before he even helped her. But he didn't. He didn't force her. He was… willing to wait.
She wasn't willing to consider why at the moment she felt even more compelled to marry the man. It was probably all the excitement of the day, the fact that in a few hours she would be leaving New York… with her fiancé.
"Miss Blair…" Dorota said quietly and this shook Blair out of her thoughts, she turned to face Dorota. "He a good man, Miss Blair."
Blair didn't say a word because really, what could she really say except nod? Because thinking about it was all too much right now with a war happening, with bombs dropping, with trans-Atlantic flights and a sick mother… it was all too much.
One didn't find love in the time of war.
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He hadn't smoked in years but he found himself desperately needing a blunt. He sat on his couch, next to one of the fallen laps in his room as some of his men removed the luggage from his room.
He could ask Jacob to get him a blunt but the man was too busy trying to see if they could get some rogue escort that would charge him an arm and a fucking leg – much more than he'd usually be willing to pay. If it was only him traveling he wouldn't have bothered but now he had Blair and her family with him and it just complicated things.
Women, in general, complicated thing. Actually this woman in general complicated things. He hadn't seen her in years – in nearly a fucking decade and now he was all covered with her. He thought about her, smelled her, saw her – it was fucking ridiculous.
When the bombs had gone off he had felt his stomach drop, he had made it out of the limo and he had started running as fast as his feet could carry him. He had run the four blocks to the building and was more than grateful when the elevator was working and he had been able to get upstairs.
All he had seen in his mind was Blair trapped somewhere, bleeding and dying and that had driven him insane. He couldn't breath – he could just run and save her.
When he had seen she was alright he hadn't waited for her to push him off he had just grabbed her to assure himself that she was alright. And having her in his arms, with her small hands grasping back at him had made him feel alive and rejuvenated. Her desperate eyes when her mother had been trapped had done him in.
He was all going to hell. In a hand basket. Because after all these years Chuck Bass was feeling something for Blair Waldorf once again.
Kryptonite.
His thoughts were interrupted when Jacob announced none other than Kevin Gilbert once more. Chuck fought back the urge to shoot the man but before he could contemplate what this meant Kevin entered – still in all his regal goodness.
"Bass," Kevin greeted, Chuck simply nodded – pretending the man had no name.
"What can I do for you?" Chuck ground out.
"I thought it best to contact my father and he's agreed to allow me to provide you an escort to London." Kevin stated all high and mighty.
Chuck slowly stood. "Thank you, but I can take care of this myself."
"Hiring rogue bounty hunters is hardly appropriate for this situation, especially having Miss Waldorf and her mother –"
"Gilbert." Chuck ground out, interrupting him. "You do not have to trouble yourself to seek out the well being of my fiancé; I will make sure she's taken care of."
"I understand, but I think you should let her see the options before making this decision on her behalf." Kevin stated and Chuck truly wanted to kill him.
Of course, the situation became more complicated when Blair walked in behind Kevin and had clearly heard his last statement.
"What's going on?" she asked.
Chuck stepped towards her. "Nothing, you're all packed?"
"I offered you both an escort to London, to ensure your safe arrival – it'll be a pleasure Miss Waldorf." Kevin's attention was now 100 percent Blair and Chuck hated it because he was exactly the type of white-bread that Blair would fawn all over.
Blair looked him over and then back at Chuck.
"We weren't able to get another escort?" She asked him and Chuck had to fight the urge to dance triumphantly around Kevin.
"I'm working on it –"
"They'll charge you millions of dollars, Bass – don't be proud," Kevin ground out.
Blair's eyes widened. "No, Chuck – please, he's offering."
He wanted to rip Kevin's head from his body. No, he had to calm down. That would be bad for business. Old Blair wouldn't have cared that it would cost him a few millions to get her safely across but this new Blair was well aware of money and she wouldn't let him spend that money – he was as sure of that as anything.
"It's settled then," Kevin smiled. "I presume then the wedding will be postponed?"
Blair looked at Chuck, willing for him to answer and Chuck did the only thing any red-bloody American male would. He placed his arm around Blair and pulled her to him, showing Kevin his territory.
"Temporarily, Gilbert."
Kevin glared back at Chuck, Chuck glared back at Kevin and Blair seethed between them.
"How long before we leave?" she interrupted them.
"How about two hours?" Kevin suggested.
"I can do two hours." Chuck snapped.
Blair sighed.
"Thank you, Mr. Gilbert. Chuck and I appreciate your concern for our well being."
Blair looked at Chuck; his jaw was twitching his molar off.
"Don't we, darling?" she snapped at him.
"Yeah, appreciation is seeping from my pores."
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To be continued
A/N - Dont worry, you'll find out next what is happening with Scotland. :P
