Disclaimer: I don't own Gossip Girl, any of its characters or anything of that much value.
Summary: They play the game like it is a dance, both fearing the moment when the music stops. Its time for a waltz. Chuck/Blair following 2x08.
She is Blair Waldorf. She can do anything, supposedly. Going to a family dinner with Chuck and the rest of the Bass-Van der Woodsens should be easy.
But in that statement lays the problem. They were Chuck and Blair and nothing between them ever came easy. It was all fire and passion, and while it was worth it, it never came easy.
Of course she'd checked with Serena. If this really was a family dinner her best friend must surely know if something was going on. But unfortunately the blonde wasn't able to shed any light on the situation.
"Chuck invited you to our house?" Serena asked sounding almost amused at the idea.
Blair had huffed, "It must be some sort of plot. What did he say to you?"
"Nothing, honest B. He asked my mom if he could bring someone over but the way he asked we all assumed he meant Nate."
"Serena," she had whined at her friend's casual tone. Didn't she realise that something must be going on?
"What do you mean the way he asked, was he cocky? Or maybe he did that thing with his eye brow when he's scheming," Blair could've imagined it perfectly, Chuck setting the bait for his prey.
"No scheming eye brow, no cocky voice. He was sincere, well if you could ever apply the word sincere to Chuck Bass I guess. Maybe it is just dinner Blair. Nothing to get worked up about."
"Just dinner?" Blair echoed sceptically.
"Its just dinner."
Its just dinner, she tells herself as she puts on her earrings. Its just dinner, she repeats as she places the final touches to her hair.
She glares determinedly at her reflection in the mirror. "Its just dinner," she says firmly, trying to stop the chant in her head. It doesn't help.
Luckily Dorota has always had impeccable timing, "Miss Blair! Mister Chuck's car is come for you!"
She had expected him to send the limo to fetch her so when she reaches the limo she is surprised to see him there holding the door open for her.
"Waldorf, lovely as always."
Briefly she notes how good he looks in his suit, though he always does. Then she wonders if he is psychic or merely lucky because his light grey bowtie complements the silver trim of her dress perfectly.
It is too much. The scene is being set like the romantic movie in her head, but after the past two years Blair is much too suspicious of happy endings.
"Tell me what you're doing Bass."
"Its obvious, I'm picking you up at seven like I said." He motions for her to enter the limo.
"No, really tell me. What is going on here?"
"Look, just get in the car. It'll make sense eventually." He says, trying to placate her.
If anything the conversation just serves to confuse her more.
"Chuck, I need more than that. What game are you playing?"
"Why does it always have to be a game? Why can't I simply ask you to come for dinner at my house? It doesn't have to be a trap. Now will you please get in the car?"
His tone is maddeningly normal. As if it wasn't just two weeks ago they were both choosing 'the game' over whatever the two of them could be together.
"That's not enough, Chuck."
He holds her gaze for a moment.
"Fine. I'll tell you."
Once more he indicates for her to get into the limo. This time she complies. With one more searching glance to his face to see if he is giving anything away before ducking into the cool interior of the darkened limo.
As the car begins to move she prompts him.
"So?"
He takes a moment, as if trying to work it out properly.
"Isn't it enough to say that it was just time?"
"No. And as always I'm Chuck Bass will not cut it with me."
"Well maybe there is no explanation."
"Chuck!"
He takes a steadying breath.
"Because you are Blair Waldorf and though you hate to hear it I am Chuck Bass. We always get what we want, so why not this?"
"You said it. One of us is going to mess it up. It's still true just like it was two weeks ago."
"Maybe I want to try anyway," His eyes are dark and intense and Blair can't look away.
"Its not enough any more, just to pass you in the hallways and trade sarcastic remarks. I don't want to have to check Gossip Girl to know where you are every minute, because I want you with me. I can't see you in the courtyard at school, when your lips are that perfect shade of red, and not want to grab you and kiss you. I want you to be mine and I want everyone to know you're mine. "
Blair thinks she has stopped breathing, so intent on hearing every word he is saying.
"Maybe we're not ready to be that couple, holding hands, going to the movies. But I want more than just the game. We can be more, I know it and so do you. We're inevitable Waldorf, I'm simply making it happen sooner than later.
She sits back in her seat and slowly takes a breath. His words make her hopeful but she can't help being sceptical.
"You don't believe me," he frowns.
"It's not that I don't believe you, I want to. But you were right before. We can't do this now, maybe in the future…" she trailed off sadly.
"We can't change who we are, I'll always act like an ass and you'll always be a bitch. But I wouldn't want us any other way. One of us is bound to screw it up. I'm simply saying that I'm willing to try to put us back together if that happens."
It was almost enough. She needs one more reason to risk her heart again and she prays to God that he will give it to her. "And why would you want to do that?"
And then that soft smile appears again, "As if you didn't know Waldorf."
"I need to hear it."
He leans closer and unconsciously she does the same, till they are mere inches apart.
"I love you."
She is undone.
Mirroring the moment they shared their first kiss in the exact same place they are now, she closes the space between them and captures his lips.
Breaking apart only for a moment, a brief whisper in his ear, "I love you too Bass."
Author's Note: Hope you're liking it. More to come, there is still a dinner to get to!