A/N: This…is a wonderful moment in my life. A story of mine actually has more than 100 reviews! This has never happened to me before. You guys are amazingly supportive and wonderful. Really. So…

THIS CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO EVERYONE WHO REVIEWED.

Really. Thanks.

"Spotted: B turning a year older, but not necessarily wiser. Guess Chuck's the gift that keeps on giving. Blow out your candles, B; this'll be better in the dark. xoxo Gossip Girl."

1x08: Seventeen Candles

Blair played with her phone absentmindedly as she stared out at the city skyline, lips pursed in a frown. A familiar-looking person, whose name she couldn't place, passed the balcony. The girl wished her a happy birthday, and Blair nodded back. She turned around, resting her hand lightly on the railing.

She heard a rustling beside her. "Waldorf."

"Bass." She acknowledged, once again staring at her phone, tugging at her bottom lip with her teeth.

"You know, staring at that won't make it ring." Chuck whispered softly in her ear. She shrugged halfheartedly. "You know," he continued, "I know something that would make the time fly—"

She pushed him away. "You nauseate me." She sighed.

"Funny, that's not how it seemed in the limo…four times…or at my suite…" he trailed off, smirking. "In fact, I seem to remember some words to the opposite effect…"

"Eugh." Blair snorted, unimpressed. "That will never be mentioned again. Ever. If Nate finds out…"

Chuck looked disgusted. "All this talk about how you have to be with Nate or the world will end." He moved closer to her. "Face it. It's over."

Blair smiled maliciously. "You sound like a jealous boyfriend."

Chuck shot her a look of denial. "Yeah, right. You wish."

Several things clicked in Blair's mind as she saw the look. Her eyes widened in shock and she scoffed in disbelief. "No. You wish!" She wanted to laugh.

"Please." Chuck refused to meet her eyes, instead looking all over the balcony. "You forget who you're talking to."

"So do you." Blair shot back, refusing to back down. She regarded Chuck carefully for a moment. "Do you…like me?"

She watched as Chuck fought a rather obvious internal battle. "Define…like." He responded finally, carefully avoiding her eyes.

Blair was shocked to stillness, only finding her voice after a minute. "You're kidding." She said, disbelief weighing on every word.

Chuck responded defensively. "How do you think I feel? I haven't slept. I feel sick, like there's something in my stomach…fluttering."

Blair realized that he had mistaken her disbelief for disdain. She struggled to find her voice. "…butterflies?"

"Believe me, no one is more surprised or ashamed than I." continued Chuck, not paying attention to her comment. "It's like—"

He was silenced when she pressed her body against his and kissed him. She broke this kiss when oxygen became a necessity. "Chuck Bass," she breathed in his ear, "that might possibly the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me."

"Really?" he asked, mystified. He recovered quickly. "Are you ready for your present?" He asked, smirking.

She groaned, rolling her eyes. "You're so lucky that you're pretty, or your perversity would be an issue." She smirked at him.

He returned the smirk, also rolling his eyes. "Get your mind out of the gutter, princess. I meant your actual present."

He pulled out a black box, and she looked at him, unimpressed. "What is this? Our sex tape?"

He kissed her lightly, chuckling softly. "I thought I told you to get your mind out of the gutter."

She glared at him, taking the box, and opened it. Inside laid the diamond necklace, one of the items she had put on hold at the jewelry store.

"Chuck…" she was speechless, staring at it.

"Something this beautiful…" He removed the necklace from the box, clasping it around her neck. "…deserves to be seen on someone worthy of its beauty." He rested his forehead lightly on her shoulder as she stared at the now-empty box in her hand, thoughts racing through her mind. She came to a decision, and turned to face Chuck, staring at him for a moment. She laid her head on his shoulder and felt his body relax as he put an arm around her shoulders.

"If we are going to do this," Blair's voice was muffled by his shoulder, "we are going to do it my way." She turned her face up towards him. "No sleeping around."

"Understandable." Chuck replied.

"When I am angry at you, you will buy me expensive gifts. When we break up, you will make a public and heartfelt grand gesture before we get back together." She ticked off the options on her fingers. "Sky-writing, writing a song, sending me 1000 yellow daisies—all discussable options."

She felt his laughter as it shook his body. "Also understandable."

"You will accompany me to every function, brunch, and debutante ball that I am forced to attend." She finished, eyes sparkling.

"Of course." He said, still laughing.

She buried her head in his shoulder again. "Good." The word was muffled but audible.

She felt the phone, which had stayed forgotten in her hand, vibrating gently. She looked at Chuck, whose mouth opened to make a comment, and sent him a glare. "Don't even think about it, Bass." She winked, belaying her serious tone. She turned the cell phone off without looking at the message.

"So, in a few minutes, you'll be seventeen." Said Chuck, arm around Blair. "Feel any wiser?"

"I'm sleeping with you," teased Blair. "So obviously not."

"Funny, that's what she—" They were interrupted by a chorus of voices calling for Blair. Blair broke away from Chuck.

"Meet me in the second room on the right in that hallway." Blair whispered to Chuck conspiratorially, before darting off through the crowd.

Chuck watched her leave, and those around could have almost sworn he was…smiling.

I know, I know! It's a little short. I'm sorry, but these seem to be getting shorter and shorter

Once again, I must plea for anyone who would like to beta. Please?

Anyways, you know the drill. Pretty purple button, etc. 'cause you know, without you, I'm nothing. ;)