Disclaimer: I own nothing!

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"Blair, dear, I can't stress enough, the importance of this evening. The Archibalds are coming for dinner and Anne has been dropping hints left, right and centre about your future with Nate."

Blair tried to ignore her mother, popping a chocolate into her mouth and reading the New York Times.

"Think of how lovely it would be...you becoming an Archibald...they have an impeccable history...no scandals...they are the very essence of true Old Money."

Another chocolate flew into Blair's mouth, as she tossed it up and caught it.

"Blair? Are you even listening to me?"

"Of course, mother...something about Anne Archibald's impeccable taste in sandals..." Blair answered, not looking up from her paper.

"Very funny, dear," Eleanor resisted the temptation to roll her eyes, watching Blair eat a third chocolate, "you might want to watch how many of those you're munching on...you don't want to gain weight for the holidays."

Blair froze mid-chew, bringing a napkin up to her mouth and spitting the partially chewed candy into it, before tossing it in the trash.

"Speaking of impeccable taste," Eleanour continued, now that she had Blair's attention, "Anne was wearing her gorgeous Cornelius Vanderbilt ring the other day and she was going on and on about how it would end up on your finger...someday."

Blair gasped...Nate was actually serious about their future? She almost jumped up in joy, her eyes glowing with happiness.

Eleanor smiled in satisfaction at Blair's response, finally she was concerned about her future with Nate...and the prestige it would bring their family after Harold's ...indiscretions.

"Does Daddy know about this?" Blair questioned, her hands twitching in excitement as she pushed the box of chocolates away from her.

"Yes...of course, darling, he's thrilled...especially since the Captain and I are working on my IPO together...this is perfect for our business deal." Eleanor sighed, perhaps her business success would be enough to keep Harold's eyes from wandering...again.

"Oh, and Blair," Eleanor added before turning away, "I invited the van der woodsens since Lily has been actively endorsing my fashion line for ages...I thought it would be the proper thing to do."

Blair smiled in agreement, still thinking about Nate.

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Chuck woke up to his cell phone ringing loudly on his night table.

"Hello?"

"Charles? This is your father."

"Hold on one second, father." Chuck pressed the phone to his chest as he motioned to the two girls sharing his bed to get out.

Once they hurriedly left, Chuck resumed his conversation.

"Sorry, housekeeping was at the door."

Chuck could hear Bart sighing.

"Ben tells me you have a business proposal for me."

Chuck nearly choked in surprise.

"Uh- Well, yes actually...it's the perfect thing to loosen the top button of your portfolio."

"Charles, I can't begin to tell you how proud I am that you're finally taking an interest in something other than partying," Bart told him, his voice ringing with sincerity.

Chuck was too shocked to reply.

"I'm swamped for the next few days but I think I could come see the place after-"

Chuck interrupted, his voice bursting with excitement, "After? After is perfect."

Bart chuckled, "I'll call you when I can come."

Chuck hung up and dialed Ben's number but only got his voicemail.

"Victory part at Victrola is definitely on tonight."

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Blair sat straight up in her seat, her full attention on Nate.

"Soo...," she began, unsure of what to talk to him about...she was too excited since learning about the Vanderbilt ring, "I saw this beautiful dress and Bergdorf's today when Serena and I went shopping...we both loved it so we agreed that neither of us would buy it...you know, to be fair, right?"

Nate looked at her blankly, his shoulders slightly slumped, "That's great, Blair," he nodded distractedly while trying to listen in on their parents' conversation.

Blair nearly slapped herself...of course he wouldn't be interested in hearing about a dress...Nate was serious...so serious that he wanted to give her his family ring...a valuable heirloom. She nearly sighed aloud.

"Eleanor?" a voice called out from the other room after the noticeable ding of the elevator sounded.

"We're in the drawing room, Lily," Blair's mother called out before resuming her conversation with Anne.

Lily, Serena, and Eric entered the room a moment later. Lily headed over to a seat beside Blair's father while Serena and Eric sat in the chairs opposite Blair and Nate.

Blair noticed Nate perk up at the extra company and silently wished that she hadn't bored him earlier.

"Serena!" Blair cried out, "you're wearing the Valentino cocktail dress you bought today! It looks great!"

Serena looked down at her blue dress, with its plunging neckline and tight bodice. It was revealing, but managed to look anything but skanky on her...it was sexy.

"Thanks!" Serena gushed, "you're wearing one of your mom's designs, right?"

Blair looked down at her own dress...it was prim and uptight...she suddenly felt like a nun, all concealed and rigid.

"Yeah...I probably should have worn something else...but Eleanor insisted," Blair admitted before trying to hastily change the subject...she was already aware of how bored Nate was when dresses were the subject of discussion.

"So, that English assignment that Mr. Peters gave us -" Blair began.

"I'm such a horrible friend," Serena interrupted, "you should've bought that dress at Bergdorf's today...the Marc Jacobs one...it would have been perfect for tonight."

"Well," Blair began again.

"Oh, Nate you should have seen it, it was red...very Audrey Hepburn..." Serena continued. Blair was about to interrupt and tell Serena that she already told Nate about it but she noticed Nate's spark of interest.

"Really?" he asked, seemingly interested.

Blair's mouth nearly dropped in shock...what was going on?

"It would have looked amazing on Blair, it was tight with a small bow on the waist and a low, square neckline..."

Nate smiled, "it probably would've looked good on you too."

Serena smiled, "but not as good as it would've looked on Blair, trust me..."

Serena continued to go on and on about the dress while Nate smiled and complimented appropriately. Blair could hardly hear their words...Nate couldn't be bothered to pay attention to her...but when Serena talked about the exact same thing, he was entranced.

Finally, Eric cut in.

"Enough about the dress already!"

Serena and Nate shared a laugh while Blair looked up, devestated. She couldn't bring herself to listen to this so she stood up and excused herself.

Serena looked up questioningly while Nate continued to stare at Serena...his eyes twinkling in delight. Blair couldn't stand to look anymore.

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"The light of day doesn't do this place justice," Ben announced as he arrived at Victrola and sat beside Chuck.

"Excuse me, please don't sit beside me...you scare away the girls," Chuck scooted away as Ben laughed.

"Fine fine fine, what did I do to deserve such a thorny welcome?"

"Leaving. Now." Chuck sighed at Ben's attitude...he really did scare away the girls...

"Wait. Just one question...What happened with Farkas?"

Chuck sat up straighter...He completely forgot about Farkas...he was so distracted by Blair Waldorf...but he could hardly tell Ben that.

"I heard she has herpes."

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Blair sat in her hallway, restraining her tears. She couldn't cry...there was nothing to cry about. So what if Nate didn't find her as interesting as Serena...he still wanted to be with her..wanted to give her the Vanderbilt ring.

"Blair?" a heavily-accented voice asked.

Blair looked up at Dorota, trying to swallow but her throat felt constricted.

"Don't worry, Blair Bear, everything will work out...trust me," Dorota smiled, running a comforting hand through Blair's hair.

"I know, Dorota," Blair whispered, "but waiting for everything to work out hurts so much."

Dorota smiled in understanding, "your mother asked me to tell you that dinner is ready...you should join everyone at the table."

Blair shook her head weakly, "Can you tell her that I'm not hungry?"

Dorota nodded before heading off, her large bottom wagging as she walked away.

Blair put her face in her hands, nothing was going to work out.

"Blair?" a deep, male voice questioned hesitantly. Nate.

Blair looked up, trying to hide her anguish.

"Is something wrong?" he tried.

"No...I just should've worn something else...I don't feel comfortable in this dress," Blair shrugged...it was partially true.

"Well, you look beautiful," Blair's eyes softened, maybe he did care, "Is there something on your mind?"

Blair smiled, "no," she answered as Serena's loud giggle of laughter rang from the other room. Nate turned to the sound, smiling wistfully as Blair's own smile vanished.

"Is there anything you want to say?" she questioned, her voice darkening.

He turned back towards her, smiling innocently.

"No."

Blair grimaced. It felt as though he ripped her heart out. She would give up that Vanderbilt ring a million times over to have Nate look at her like he looked at Serena...to have anyone look at her that way.

"Nate!" Serena's voice called, "I need you! We have to do our impression of that guy we met at the Masked Ball for your dad!"

Nate smiled at his private recollection of some interesting guy he and Serena met at the Ball...when he was supposed to be looking for Blair. When the only boy interested in talking to Blair was...Chuck Bass...

"Go. Nate," Blair told him, "Serena needs you...I don't."

Before Nate could question what she was doing, Blair hopped into her elevator and closed the doors.

She got into a taxi that the doorman stopped for her, unaware that her father was watching from the window.

"Where to, Miss?" The taxi driver asked her, looking over his shoulder.

Blair closed her eyes. She wanted someone to look at her the way Nate looked at Serena...and the only person who had done that recently was the boy she hated more than any other in the world...but at this moment she wasn't looking for love and romance...no..she was looking for something else entirely.

"Victrola."

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A/N- I couldn't believe people actually liked the idea...I was totally not sure about it! Thank-you all for your reviews..and for taking the time to read my story!!!!!!

I need to write the C/B because the show is just not going the way I want it to...sigh

mystripedskirt- I get super excited when you review my stories because you're such a great C/B writer and I LOVE the stuff you write and it's great to see you compliment the stuff I write...I am sooo not worthy :D Thank you!!!!

princetongirl- Thanks for the review! I really appreciate it!

Literati and Naley forever- Thank you! ...well they are "star cross'd lovers"...but maybe I can fit a happy ending in... :)

pinkfanatic454- Thank you!!!! Here's your update!

pokey- Haha! Yeah I wasn't a huge Romeo and Juliet fan when I had to read it for school a few years back...but I like the Leonardo DiCaprio version...as corny as I may sound saying that. Thank you for reading and thank you for the compliment!!!!!

lamiss12- Thank-you for trusting me...she is going to Victrola as you can see, I hope this story goes the way you like...it probably will if you're the C/B fan that I bet you are :D Oh and thank-you for reassuring me on the Old vs New Money thing...I originally had East Side vs West side and I was going to change it up and make some of the characters from the West side instead...but then I was thinking...that's a little West Side Story...and these people are really wealthy...they are Upper East Siders lol and I can't mess with that.

:D - Haha! It's funny you should say that...I was originally going to make this a story where Nate was Romeo...(he fits the part) and Chuck was Mercutio and Mercutio would steal the girl from Romeo...but I figured that it would be easier if I just made Chuck Romeo without the sonnets and brooding.

RBDFAN- Thanks!

CSA5- Here you go! Thanks for the review!!