A/N: Well, I have gotten no reviews for my first part. *whimper-cries* This is truly disheartening…*always gets at least one review* *sigh* I mean, I have come to realize that most people either only love CV as a couple or they hate them interacting at all…*crumbles*…well, I am one of those people who simply likes them as buddies, though I'm not going to lie. That 2x20 hook-up was hott. Lol. *thinks it might have something to do with the fact that EJ are dating in real life XD* Regardless, when it comes down to it, I am just for CV buddy-buddy…if that is any comfort to those of you who despised the previous chapter so much that you refused to review it. *dramatic sigh* Regardless, this chapter is all CN, though I suppose V may be mentioned on occasion…*clears throat* well, anyways. On with the story. Please review! =D

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Ch.2—Persistent Reunion

He had smiled to himself on over-hearing the lovers' quaint and somewhat subtle conversation. He had a feeling, well, had one earlier, that things were going to work out between himself and the Archibald. He had decided to hate him for trading him in for Humphrey, but he had decided—regardless of Blair's claims—that he and Nate went farther back than just habit. And he smiled on arrival of that shining face once more.

"By the way, I'm glad you stayed too." He was smiling cheekily, and he knew it, but Nathaniel seemed only to smile in response and duck his head down for a brief moment, appreciating the opening offer for reconciliation.

"Thanks, man," Nate swung his arm around to hug Chuck, but was held captive with a press to his chest. Something told him he should have thought twice before attempting to hug his best friend.

"Let's uh—get drunk instead." He laughed. They both did. And somehow, through it all, they side-hugged each other and made their way to Chuck's infamous limo, knowing only the best liquor came from that particular domain.

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An hour or so later, and before the two bonding brothers had gotten too drunk, Nate popped a question Chuck had not been too prepared to answer.

"So, how's it going with you and Blair? Last I saw, she wasn't biting your head off!" A mock-smile slipped across his features. Chuck smiled in a bit of swift nervous tension.

Twice in one night? What was going on?

He breathed softly.

"Chuck?" Nate prompted, a bit worried now. "Is something wrong?"

The near silent boy poured some more liquor into his empty scotch glass. "No, the opposite in fact." He smirked. "Everything's fine, and she is not biting my head off, hasn't bitten it off in awhile actually."

Now was Nate's turn to smirk. "Well, that sounds good…" he held out his glass to be refilled by Chuck's skillful hand.

"It is," he nodded assuredly, but today of all days Nate appeared to have become observant.

"Well, if that's true…then why do I sense an uneasiness in bringing up the topic?" he quirked an eyebrow, and Chuck sighed testily at him.

"You sense things now?"

Nate held back a snicker/chuckle. "Apparently," he took a sip of his freshly refilled liquor glass.

"Well," Chuck swirled the amber liquid around, "if that's so…would you mind telling me why Vanessa had to mend anything tonight?"

Now it was Nate's turn to sigh in resignation.

Silence.

"Look, I won't bring up anything more, if you won't. I just got you back, man. It isn't exactly the time for deep discussions."

Nate looked to him, smiling mischievously. "It's not?"

Chuck's face shouted PANIC, but he kept the majority of his thoughts and feelings to himself. "Not if you want to get through this night alive it isn't."

His blonde counterpart laughed, and covered a hand over his mouth at the comment. "Oh, I see, I see. So, when Blair stopped biting your head off, she gave the skill to you and now you're inflicting it on me?"

Chuck shook his head at him, smiling. "No, I always had the skill. You're just now realizing this?"

Nate laughed aloud at that one, and there were several long moments of snickering before the quiet laughter finally ceased.

"But seriously," Nate resumed, "We're on good terms now, and we've always been able to talk about everything before. That includes girls."

Chuck laughed.

"Look, if it's because I used to date her…just pretend I didn't…"

His eyes flicked to Nate's. "But you did."

Nate opened his mouth to speak, but he was cut off beforehand.

"—and even if you hadn't," he sighed, "things are just really complicated right now."

The young Archibald nodded. "Is that what you told Vanessa?"

Chuck's eyebrow's narrowed in half confusion, half amusement. "How did you—"

"It's an interesting subject matter where you're concerned," he shrugged. "You have to admit, Chuck and Blair? Who saw that coming?"

The young Bass smirked. "Probably the same people who saw you gallivanting all over Brooklyn."

Nate smiled. "Alright, I'll give ya that."

"Good," Chuck settled into a comfortable smarmy expression, "Because I was going to take it there regardless."

The two laughed, and it was good. It was nice. It felt warm and it had been missed. It had been missed for awhile.

"But—"

Chuck sighed, finally accepting his friend's relentless behavior. "We're waiting."

Nate's eyebrows furrowed. "Waiting?"

"Waiting."

"But I thought—"

"I couldn't say it. She couldn't say it. So…"

"You're waiting." He said it like a statement, but he didn't believe an ounce of his own words. Chuck nodded though. Who was he to contradict the blonde if he wasn't coming straight out with it? The blonde sighed. "Well, I guess that's all there is to it then, huh?"

He still nodded. There was so much more to it than that obviously, but if he delved into all the specifics now, they would never see the light of day again. So, he nodded, but he said nothing. Let Nathaniel believe what he wanted. It wasn't like he actually dwelled on this matter every other second like he did. God, just thinking about the word Waldorf sent his mind whirling.

"There's more isn't there?"

Chuck sighed, still nodding, while Nate smirked.

"Care to fill me in?"

The brunette glanced up from where his gaze was pinned to the floor and focuses in on those baby blues piercing through him.

"Not exactly."

He was playing with his glass again, and Nate was still smiling at him, and Chuck was thinking how this was nothing like he expected this day to be. He didn't even see Blair, and regardless of the fact of them 'waiting', he thought he'd still pay his respects to her on her favorite holiday ever. It was bad enough that he hadn't made it to her birthday party, or even sent a text or called her when she'd turned eighteen. Sure, he had been busy with Humphrey and his father—lame ass excuse though.

Sigh.

"Thinking about something interesting?" He's still looking at him, and Chuck realizes just then that he can't sink into a world of his own when there are people still paying attention to him.

"No," he answered, and Nate seems to be taken in surprise by that response. "Just thinking."

"Hmmm," the blonde hummed, acting amused. He was anything but. Well, perhaps that wasn't true. He was a little amused, but he has quickly grown tired of this game, and is almost tempted to drop the 'Blair' issue all together, except for the fact that he's honestly curious about what is or isn't going on between them, and so he presses on. "Chuck—"

The brown-haired, brown-eyed boy interrupts him before he can even really get started. "Yes, I told you that I had fallen in love with her at my father's wedding. No, that hasn't changed. But a lot has happened since that day, and I just don't want to screw it up."

Nate nodded softly.

"That's why we're waiting for sometime in the future. I want to be sure I don't screw things up, because when I get together with Blair for real, I don't want to end up hurting her again."

The blonde boy offered just a hint of a smile in his best friend's direction, and Chuck knows that's the only blessing he's going to get, and really the only one he wants. He's tempted, though, to bring up the Vanessa issue, since Nate was so insistent on drilling through what was going on between him and Blair…but there's been so much deep talk already, all he really wants to do is get drunk.

So, he poured more scotch into his glass, and into Nate's, and he keeps filling them up and they keep drinking, talking about God knows what for God knows how long, and it's just like old times. Except now instead of Nate ignoring the fact that he's dating Blair and instead blabbing on about Serena, Chuck is thinking and talking non-stop about Blair, who he can by all means have without thinking twice…but chooses not to, because he wants to do it right. Because Chuck Bass is in love with Blair Waldorf, and he doesn't think this type of thing just happens every day, especially not to him, and so when he makes it official, he wants to do it right. And he never thought he'd be thinking about this so much, especially not today, but he supposes it fits the bill. It's Thanksgiving, and there's probably nothing that Chuck could possibly be more thankful for than Nate Archibald & Blair Waldorf. The two things he's had all along.

"So, Nate…about Vanessa…?"

He figures he'd ask, while it's passing through his mind at least. But his blonde best friend is already in the midst of a fit of giggles, and he knows nothing decent or honest or trustworthy will really come from drunken giggles.

Ah, well.

Happy Thanksgiving.

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A/N: Okay, so I don't know how awesome this is. I don't know if it ended amazingly. I didn't really know where I was going with this whole fic to be honest, but I've written now and this is how it will stay. I hope I get some reviews for this! I certainly have been meaning to write it for awhile. Please review!