Chapter 23 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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" Don't say we aren't right for each other, the way I see it is… We aren't right for anyone else."
The Cutting Edge

Blair didn't understand why that night sleep insisted on evading her. She tossed and turned and finally sat up, wrapping herself in her robe and staring out at the rising sun.

She'd had a horrible dream. Just horrible. So horrible that it took over all she knew and the same thought came to her over and over.

In the pit of her soul, she knew the truth – like she knew she was avoiding it for the sake of her sanity. But the truth was as monumental as anything.

Nate was not coming back. Nathaniel Archibald was dead.

She had dreams of him as a little boy with tussled blond hair and a shining smile. And the moment she saw him, she knew he was gone.

She couldn't prevent the tears from coming to her eyes. She had loved him once. In all of her childhood innocence, she had loved him, cared for him, been devoted to him. Not in the way she loved Chuck; it was a different love. A love of things that were simple and idealistic. It was the love of a little girl with shining brown eyes and a hopeful smile as she looked at him, thinking him the greatest thing ever. And now he was gone. She wondered if Chuck had gotten to say his goodbyes. She wondered many things before the ache in her chest became unbearable.

She cried, because he would never see his beautiful daughter grow up and call him Daddy and bring boys home and parade in dresses. He just would never see it, and it broke Blair's heart. It really did. Her heart also broke for Chuck. If he didn't forgive himself now, she didn't think he ever would. And if he never forgave himself, he would never be able to make it back to her.

So she dressed in her thick riding gear, because the wind was still violently cold, and she beckoned Dorota to watch Melanie while she rode out. She needed to breathe fresh air, needed to get away from the confines of the ornate house and just find a lonely place to forget.

The sun was barely peaking when Hera galloped out into the fields with her on top, and both females expanded their lungs to enjoy the freedom of the ride. She went straight to the place she loved, the placed he had first brought her to. A place to over look the sea.

Because beyond the sea was where he was at. Healing, recuperating, getting ready to make it back to her. And she would know. She would know by the way his eyes would change back to their warm caramel color that he was ready for her once more. Until then… He was broken.

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The men stopped at a standstill as the white man, holding another white man in his arms stood before them, jaw squared and eyes resolute.

"I'm Chuck Bass!" He cried to them. "Holder of the blue card, I am hereby given protection under universal law, treaty of 2013 which states –"

"I know what it states, white man," the leader responded, standing on a tank with a thick turban on his head and a half-burnt cigarette in his hand, his dark eyes covered with sunglasses.

Chuck swallowed, his eyes still dark.

The man studied Nate's body, and then looked back at Chuck and how Chuck was not letting go of him.

"He's dead," he stated, pointing to the body, but Chuck held Nate even closer.

"He's my brother, and I intend on honoring him," Chuck responded, and the man took off his sunglasses.

"You're not a soldier," he commented, almost interested.

"Few of us are," Chuck replied.

"Let me see this blue card," the leader asked skeptically. "Because if you don't have it, I can shoot you where you stand."

Chuck's decision had to be swift. Drop Nate's body on the floor and reach for his card, or tell them he would show them when he could. The leader saw his momentary hesitation and shouted orders in a foreign language and quickly, another one of his soldiers brought forward a large white blanket. The two men placed it on the floor before Chuck. Chuck stared down at the blanket, and then back at the leader.

The leader said nothing, simply nodded. Chuck gulped and slowly, with care, placed Nate's body on the blanket, the still seeping blood quickly stained the stark paleness of the sheet. Chuck was covered in blood. With trembling, wet fingers, he reached into his pants and slowly pulled out his life-saving pass.

He held it high above his head as the men stared on, almost in awe.

The leader studied him for a moment, then slowly looked down at Nate's body and nodded, taking a drag of his cigarette.

"Why is it so very important that you go home, white man?" He asked Chuck.

Chuck studied him right back, his heart beating erratically, but calmness still filling him. Near numbness.

"My family…" Chuck answered. "I need to get home to my family."

The man smiled slightly and nodded. "I will take you to your people," he finally acquiesced.

Chuck let out the breath he was holding and slowly nodded. He bent down to pick up Nate once more, and the man shouted at him.

He jumped off his tank and walked resolutely to Chuck. Chuck stood back, honestly unsure of how to respond. So he waited, his eyes never leaving the man's face.

The leader shouted more things to his men, and a few more blankets were brought out. The men began to wrap Nate's body tightly as Chuck stared, open-mouthed.

"Were I come from, when a man loses his brother in war, he must carry his body until he finds his destination in order to find happiness later on in life," the man explained to Chuck. And in less than a minute, Nate was officially mummified. The men looked at Chuck, and Chuck nodded, grunting as he picked up Nate's rolled up form.

The leader nodded and motioned for Chuck to walk.

He was pretty sure he would pass out before he reached any sort of destination, and the happiness later in life would be for naught because he would be mummified also. But at long last and under the desert sun, they came upon a clearing and, sure enough, there was a camp. He stopped, his legs shaking, his feet sinking into the desert sand, and his back begging for relief. He stood for the longest time, anticipating the trek home. The trek that would take him back to Blair, still feeling destroyed. For her sake, he needed to be whole.

He paused, and with his eyes squinting in the hot sun, he nodded.

"Chuck Bass… You're forgiven," he whispered to himself. "Now go home to your wife."

The leader was standing next to him and nodded, pointing the way. "We cannot go further. Hopefully they can help you."

"Hopefully one day this mess will be over, and you can go where you please. We'll all be card holders," Chuck said.

"Wise words for one so very young," the leader nodded. "May Allah give you sons, desert white man."

Chuck opened his mouth to protest, but the man swiftly turned and joined his troops. Chuck turned back to the camp, his soul elated at the thought of finally getting some rest and relief.

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He couldn't believe they'd floated so far away from everything, here in the middle of this wasteland where nothing was to be found. It was time they threw in the towel, admitted defeat, and headed home.

Home. New York was so very far away.

Xavier closed his eyes and rubbed his temple. It'd been months since he'd actually written a good story. A really good story. He missed the thrill of writing, of chasing leads and meeting deadlines. He missed it as much as he missed home, because that was home.

He heard commotion outside of his tent and his stomach froze. Not another meeting with the foreign troops, he hoped – last time a man had ended up injured! He scrambled up and grabbed his hat; his lips were already chapped by the desert sun as it was. He stumbled outside and saw a few of the other reporters moving towards the front of the camp. He followed them and, there in the distance, sure enough, was a man.

"The troops stopped at the treaty's edge and brought him along – he looks white!" One of the men said to another.

Xavier squinted against the light, and it looked like he was carrying a bag over his shoulder – a long bag.

"He's carrying something –"

"A bomb!" Another panicked.

"It's not a bomb, Julius – for fuck's sake!"

"It's something, alright," Xavier said.

"He looks like he's going to pass out –"

"We should help –"

"Remember what happened to Otto last time someone stepped out of camp alone?"

"Let him get closer."

Xavier squinted and walked closer to the edge of camp, his eyes following the man. The man came closer, closer, and then his eyes met Xavier's. Xavier froze.

"Holy Mary, mother of God…" Xavier whispered.

The man, at seeing the recognition in Xavier's eyes widened his own and then collapsed into the desert's sandy floor.

Xavier, without thought for himself, jumped up and ran to the man while some of the others cried out for him to stop and the remainder followed him.

Xavier reached the fallen man and nearly jumped back when he saw that the bag was actually a body bag. Stained and cracked with dried blood.

"Do you know him?"

Xavier reached out and took the living man's shoulder and let out a breath.

"He's Chuck Bass," he announced, and the men around him gasped.

"Holy shit!"

"He has a body with him!"

"He's nearly dehydrated!"

"Get him inside, pick him up – grab his legs –"

Chuck moaned, opening his eyes slightly and taking in the man before him.

"Fifty dollar man…" he whispered to Xavier, and then he fainted.

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She didn't realize that she'd been out most of the day, talking to the remaining villagers and helping a few with their harvest. Hearing the phrase Lady Bass never got old, but it tugged at her heart because Lord Bass was still very much missing and very much somewhere out there.

Next to her, Hera whined and stomped her foot impatiently. She knew that back in the horse stall awaited soft oats and a warm bed.

"Soon, girl –" Blair assured her and patted her neck.

The air was not as cool as it had been recently, so the villagers were out and about enjoying the good day around them. She sighed, looking around, when something caught her eye.

It was Jonas. riding his horse as fast as the animal would go, like the devil himself was behind him. Her stomach froze, and that was when she knew something was very wrong.

"Mrs. Bass!" He shouted, and she ran to meet him halfway.

"What is it?" She demanded, looking up at him.

"Invaders, up the north end – too many to count!" He cried, and her body went rigid as she looked behind.

"On horseback?" She asked.

"Yes!"

She looked back at the group of villagers that had gathered behind her, and then turned back to Jonas.

"Get everyone in the house!" She cried and smacked Jonas' horse.

He leapt forward and started shouting orders as the villagers went into action, some crying, some screaming. Blair's heart was in her mouth as she jumped up on Hera, who sensed some real adventure and eagerly followed Blair's hectic lead.

"Sarah – get Tobias!" She was shouting orders left and right. "No, Lisa – leave those! In the house, everyone, c'mon! To the basement!"

She rode back to the home, passing some villagers, and found Kevin running out of the house, his eyes wide as he stared at her.

"Blair –"

"Invaders, get everyone inside, down in the basement!" She cried, and Jacob came running out of the house with Dorota, who held a happy Melanie in her arms. "Get her inside, get everyone in the basement!"

Jacob's eyes were wide as he nodded, ushering the people inside, trying to remain calm. Blair met Jonas' eyes and the man quickly threw her a rifle, which she caught as best as her lessons had taught her. Kevin, for his part, was looking at her a bit strangely.

"Put that down, Blair – you'll hurt yourself!" He cried.

Blair easily cocked the rifle and threw her hair back, a fierce expression on her face.

"It's not me I'd be worried about," she snapped, and his eyes widened slightly. "Move!" She cried to him. He shook himself, and she swore that for a moment she saw ardent disappointment in his eyes that she was not a delicate flower.

"Blair!" Out of the house came Polly, pushing her way through the crowd, her eyes wide and worried. Blair had let her stay with them under strict instructions, and she spent most of the day doing nothing more than designing outfits.

"Ruby! Ruby's gone!" She cried.

"What do you mean?" Blair demanded.

"S-she left an hour ago to pick her wild flowers by the small hill!" Polly was pure hysterics, tears were streaking down her face and she was shaking.

"Kevin, take her!" She demanded of the man, and he quickly took Polly by the shoulders and held her back.

"Where are you going?" He asked worriedly.

"I'll get Ruby –" Blair replied.

"It's too dangerous –"

"Don't worry, dear. I'm loaded!" She snapped and kicked Hera. The animal lurched forward and followed Blair's command as she went behind the ruins and over Ruby's favorite hilled area that blossomed with rare but beautiful wild flowers.

"Ruby!" She cried and, from behind a hill, the small head popped up and Blair sighed in relief. She galloped the horse towards her. "C'mon – we have intruders!"

Ruby instantly dropped her flowers and she reached out so that Blair could lift her up, sliding the girl behind her just like Chuck had taught her. She turned the animal and swiftly headed to the house. When they came behind the ruin, she paused because the intruders were already ransacking the village, pilfering all the goods they could find. Blair cursed and turned Hera, intent on going towards Jonas' cabin, where they could hide in her safe spot.

"Lady Blair!" Ruby whimpered behind her and, as she turned, she saw two men galloping behind her with malicious smiles on their faces. Her heart beat fast, and she urged Hera forward. If she could at least enter the cabin before them, she could wait for them inside and shoot them, like Jonas had taught her. But then again, she'd be farther from the house. It didn't matter, she had to save Ruby, and she had to save herself.

She focused and, when the cabin was in sight, she turned the horse and dumped Ruby on the ground. "Into the cabin!" She cried. Ruby nodded, tears marring her little face as she ran inside. Blair jumped off Hera, took her gun and her bullets, and slapped the horse.

"Get home!" She told the animal, and Hera pitched forward, kicking dirt behind her. Blair stared at the two men and, once she made sure they knew where she was going, she slipped inside of the house. Ruby was huddling behind Jonas' small stove.

"Into the bedroom closet – now!" She ordered, and Ruby scampered up.

Blair ran to the large oak gun rack and slid her small body behind it. She placed her elbow on the wood to steady her shot and leaned in, aiming at the door. Her face was hidden among crap Jonas had left all over, but she had a clear view. A clear shot. Her heart was pounding. Never did she think she would ever be doing this, never. But here she was in the wilderness, and it was time to show the world exactly what Blair Waldorf-Bass was capable of. She wasn't a simpering little flower; she was a tough girl who could do this. She took a breath. She didn't need to kill them. She just needed to make sure they wouldn't kill her or Ruby.

She waited quietly and patiently, with trembling fingers and an even more shaken soul. She could do this. She could.

And then the door was kicked opened. She jumped slightly, then willed herself to be calm, to wait for the perfect moment. She had two bullets. Two. She had more in her pocket, but reloading could mean her death. She had to be good – the best she'd ever been.

There in the door stood the silhouette, and she clicked the gun back as silently as she could. She aimed for the man's legs. A thigh to make him go down.

"You in here?" He asked, large and brawny. A thick German accent. Germans close by? She took a breath, closing one eye for accuracy like Jonas had taught her.

Aimed. Shot.

The shot raked through her body, making her lurch back. She quickly regained composure and aimed once more. There was another man behind him, who moved with lightening speed as the first one fell to the ground screaming. There was blood all over his waist. Shit. She'd shot his waist.

Aim better.

She cocked the gun once more, and her eyes strained to catch a glimpse of the other man.

"You won't have such an easy time with me!" The man cried, hiding behind the door.

Blair swallowed, but kept her aim straight. That was when the man started running around the cabin, and Blair's heart leapt. She turned quickly and her eyes widened when she heard another door bang open and closed.

She stepped back and took in the space.

Back door.

Fuck.

She kept the gun before her, never taking her finger off the trigger, her heart hammering in her chest, her boots silent on the worn floor boards. The room was semi-dark and was messy like Jonas himself. She gulped and gasped when a hand from behind grabbed her arm and another her throat.

She let out a strangled garble and began to struggle in earnest. The man pulled her gun off and it skittered across the floor, landing by the kitchen. She gasped, needing breath and, with all of her might, elbowed him and scrambled away from him when he lost his hold on her momentarily.

She ran towards the door, past the dying man on the floor, but his hand reached out and caught her ankle. She yelped, eyes wide as the other man, now recovered from her stun attack, grabbed her. She attempted to punch him, attempted to hit him, but he was larger and stronger and easily got the upper hand, dragging her to the couch in the living area. Her thoughts running a mile a minute as he threw her down on her ass and loomed over her.

"Oh, pretty…" he whispered, nearly salivating.

"No!" She cried, kicking at him and screaming. "No!"

And that was when Ruby popped her head out. "No! Lady Blair!"

Her little fists tried to punch the man that was holding her down.

"No, Ruby! Hide, Ruby!" She cried.

"Get off her, you horrible man!" Ruby cried, and the man, annoyed, pushed the little girl back, making her stumble and land against the wall. Blair turned her face, her body held down by the man as his horrible hands were on her.

"Ruby, get in the closet! Close your eyes, cover your ear, and I want you to sing, sing out loud until I get you – ok?"

Ruby's eyes were wide and fearful, but she nodded, doing as she was told. Blair' hard eyes turned to the man.

"You don't harm her," she spat.

"Too green for my likes," he responded, and then proceeded to lick her nose, making her gag. "You, on the other hand, are just right…"

And his hands were on her pants, yanking as she struggled and scratched him. Annoyed, he pulled his hand back to smack her. She braced herself for the pain, but then a loud shot was heard.

She screamed.

He stopped, looked down at his chest, and then slumped on top of Blair.

Blair screamed more and pushed him off her, still shaking, staring at the man on the floor. She quickly turned to look at her savior, and her eyes widened. Her breath left her body.

"C-clara?" She stuttered.

The young girl, dressed in a thick brown coat and hat, was holding a shotgun before her, her eyes dark and hard.

"You should know that I had Chuck drafted… Even after he saved me..." She dropped the gun next to her, but continued staring at her eyes. She nodded to the man on the floor. "Now we're even."

"I –" Blair's eyes were wet and teary.

"Take care of him," she nodded and, just as quickly as she came, she left, her shadow disappearing from Blair's life.

Blair let out a cry of relief and slumped to the couch, rocking slightly back and forth. She'd almost been raped. Clara had saved her. She'd had Chuck drafted.

Blair closed her eyes tightly and pressed her cold, shaky hands to her face.

A low moan shook her out of her thoughts. The man she had shot was still writhing on the floor. She gasped, stood up, and ran to the bedroom. She yanked the closet open and took a crying Ruby in her arms, calming her down. Calming herself down.

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He oddly wondered why the world was so very hot.

So very hot.

What happened to his air conditioner? He didn't understand.

He blinked and swallowed.

Where was he? Had he passed out in Taiwan again? Where was Jacob? Why wasn't he on a pillow-top mattress?

So many things made no sense.

He groaned and stood up slowly. He looked around; he was in a tent. A crappy one at that. He gulped and looked down at himself. He was disgusting, full of cracked and dried blood, and smelled of it, too.

The tent was invaded by a tall ma,n who looked straight at him.

"Oh, good, you're awake – you've been sleeping for like ten hours, I was afraid you wouldn't wake up," he said.

Chuck took him in, slowly nodding as he recognized him. "Am I still in the desert?"

The man handed him a bottled water, which Chuck took gratefully.

"Yes, all of us are stuck here for God knows how long," he snapped.

He sat down before Chuck and scratched his beard. "I must admit, you're the very last person I expected to find here."

"Likewise," Chuck nodded, after gulping back half the bottle of water and finishing the rest.

"Your friend… He's decomposing…" Xavier said cautiously.

Chuck's jaw hardened, and he nodded. "I'm taking him to Scotland to lay him next to his wife."

The man nodded, still studying him.

"I heard of your engagement… I presume you're now married –"

"To the woman you conned?" Chuck finished for him, his gaze cool and collected.

Xavier gulped and nodded.

"Then, yes," Chuck tossed the empty bottle on the floor. He stood on shaky legs. "I need a land line. I need to get back home."

"We have land lines, but no ones gets out here. We have to walk nearly thirty miles to get to an alliance station –"

"For me they will," Chuck stated confidently.

"How do you figure?" Xavier demanded. "We're the press, we hardly get anything –"

"Well, like you said, Mr. Stockon. I'm Chuck Bass, and I'm going home."

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To be concluded :)

A/N - As you can see the next chapter will indeed be the last. Thank you!