"In the face of true love, you don't just give up... even if the object of your affection is begging you to." - Chuck Bass
***
The reception, held at the Palace Hotel, passed in a flurry of cake and dancing and crab cakes. Blair danced her first dance with Chuck, danced once each with her father, Roman, and Nate, who lead her through the Macarena with surprising agility. But after that, Chuck monopolized her for the rest of the night, spinning her around the dance floor and dipping her low like he was meant to do just that for the rest of his life.
As the end of the night loomed closer and Cristal champagne buzzed guests began to congratulate them and then take off, Blair was still wrapped up in Chuck's arms. She was starting to get nervous and anxious and antsy about their impending night together. She tried to fight her nerves by tucking her head into Chuck's shoulder and closing her eyes. She might have stayed like that for forever if she hadn't felt someone tap on her shoulder.
Blair turned around to find a glowing Serena in front of her. She looked breathtaking, as usual, like a painting or something, in a flowy royal blue dress.
"I'll give you two a few minutes," Chuck said, kissing Blair lightly on her cheek before rushing off to find Nate. The waiters were already cleaning up everything, towels in their hands, their once bountiful trays now completely empty and unseen. The only few people around were some of the men and women who had clicked at the singles table and were chatting and flirting, oblivious to the emptiness surrounding them. Just like Blair was. She hadn't even noticed that people were leaving. When Blair was around Chuck, it was like the entire world just fell away behind them. Like in the movies, when the camera blurred out everyone but the main couple as they kissed in the rain as the sun was going down. Yes, it was exactly like that.
"So," Serena began, taking Blair's tiny hands in her own and holding them like only best friends could do. "How do you feel?"
How could she possibly explain to Serena how she felt? How could she possibly explain to anyone what was going on inside her? She felt like a bottle of champagne, all bubbly and crazy, like she could explode at any possible moment. She felt light; all the hardships she faced seemed like so long ago and were suddenly obsolete. She was hopeful and worried and anxious and basically every other feeling about the future, about what lay ahead for Chuck and her now that what seemed like the hardest part was over with. She felt giddy because the whole night Chuck had made it a point to call her Mrs. Bass, which reminded her of the ending of Pride and Prejudice, one of her favorite movies of all time. But most of all, she felt happy. Uncontrollably, unconditionally happy.
Serena didn't miss the huge grin that lit up Blair's face.
"I'll take that as an 'I'm wonderful, S, thank you for asking'," Serena said, pulling Blair in for a tight hug. "God, I'm so happy for you. But, I have to admit, it was a little strange earlier seeing you standing up at the altar with Chuck. I mean, if you'd asked any of us five years ago where we though Chuck Bass would be now, it certainly wouldn't have been married."
At Serena's mention of Chuck's past, Blair could only laugh. She knew that Chuck wasn't the same man he was five years ago, and she accepted that. There was nothing she could do to change the past. All she could do was look forward to the future.
"Probably on the floor in an opium den somewhere," Blair said, still unable to stop smiling.
Serena laughed. "In Bangkok. With, like, a million thai hookers that feed him and make sure he bathes and…you know."
"Thanks for the mental image, S," Blair teased.
"Oh come on, B," Serena said. "When you think about it, your marriage is going to kind of going to be like that. I mean, Chuck won't have thai hookers to take care of him so that leaves you to do the job. But, no offense, you're not exactly the Betty Crocker type, Blair."
"None taken," Blair said, tucking a strand of Serena's hair behind her ear. "Besides, I am extremely capable of taking care of Chuck in my own way."
Serena shook her head in mock disgust. "Ew, B, did not need to know that."
Blair just grinned. She had her best friend here with her, and her husband, and, God, it felt good to think of Chuck as her husband.
"Speaking of that," Serena said, a slow smile creeping onto her face, "the party is winding down, and if you and Chuck want to have some alone time, I can make sure everything gets taken care of here."
Blair laughed at Serena's emphasis on the word 'alone'. Serena, who was definitely a lot more experienced than Blair when it came to sex (although being with Chuck had upped Blair's ante quite a bit), acted like a giggly five-year-old whenever they talked about it together.
"Thanks, S," Blair said, squeezing Serena's hands in hers. In a lot of ways, her relationship with Serena was very similar to her relationship with Chuck (minus the kissing and the sex part, of course). Serena was her best friend, and no one else could ever fill that position, just like she could never love anyone the way she loved Chuck. Throughout high school, Blair and Serena's on/off friendship had been more gossip-worthy than any romantic relationship. Just like Chuck, one day she would hate Serena so much she wanted to kill her, and the next she would be completely and totally in love with her, pigging out on take-out and watching old movies. They'd gotten better at trying to keep their dynamic like the latter now that they were fully-grown, mature adults, but they still fought. Because that's what best friends do.
Just then Blair felt a light touch on her lower back, a touch that sent insane chills throughout her entire body. She didn't have to look to know it was Chuck.
"Ready to go, Mrs. Bass?" Chuck asked, leaning close to her ear. He'd been talking to her like this all night, really close, like he didn't want anyone to know what he was thinking but her. Every time he did it, her heart skipped a beat. She wasn't sure if that was healthy or not, but at least if she died, she would die happy.
"Why yes, it just so happens that I am," Blair said. "Just let me say goodbye to Serena really fast."
Chuck pulled her in for a quick kiss. "I'll have Antonio bring the limo around."
"B," Serena said when he was gone. "It's your wedding night. You don't have to say goodbye to me."
Blair smiled and pulled Serena into a hug once more. "You're still my best friend, S. Besides, if you hadn't talked me into it, I would never have married the basshole anyways. So, really, you're the reason I'm here."
"Yes, Chuck had nothing at all to do with it," Serena laughed, breaking the embrace.
Blair raised an eyebrow. "No sarcasm allowed at my wedding."
"Technically," Serena said, glancing at her Cartier watch, "your wedding was over four hours ago. And, hey, you, my friend, are not the boss of me. At least, not anymore."
"Still love me, S?" Blair asked, cocking her head a little to the side.
Serena didn't hesitate for a moment before hugging Blair one last time. "Always, B. Now go find Chuck, you crazy, married woman."
And even though Blair wasn't the boss of Serena (presently), and Serena wasn't the boss of Blair, this was one order that Blair was all too eager to obey.
***
When Blair left the hotel, Chuck was there waiting, leaning against his limo in an eerily familiar position.
Blair's heart skipped a beat. It's like when he said he loved me for the first time.
"Your carriage awaits, Mrs. Bass," Chuck said, hand on her lower back as he helped her into the limo, and then followed her in.
When the door shut behind them, Blair realized it was the only time all day it had just been her and Chuck. When she had woken up this morning in Chuck's suite at the Palace (she had moved in a few months ago), Chuck was still asleep and he looked so relaxed that she didn't want to wake him, so she had left a note saying she would see him later at the church, love Blair. All morning had been spent with Serena getting her hair and nails and makeup done, with nothing but a quick phone call from Chuck telling her that he loved her and he was spending the morning golfing with Nate. After that they'd gone to the church, where Blair's mom and Serena had helped her get ready. The first time she'd seen Chuck the whole day was when she was walking down the aisle. Then there was the reception, where Blair got to be surrounded by all the people she loved.
Of course, she adored spending time with all these people. She loved being pampered and laughing and joking with Serena about what married life would be like. The ceremony had been everything she could have asked for and then some, and the reception was perfect and fun and she had loved dancing with Chuck and saying thank you to every single person that had been present.
But it was this moment that she had been looking forward to the most. The moment when their marriage would feel real for the first time, when there was no one but the two of them and how they felt about each other and why the day had happened in the first place. When it was just Chuck and Blair, Blair and Chuck, when Blair could let down her hair and kick off her shoes and just be with him.
And that's exactly what she did.
As the limo started to pull away, Chuck pulled Blair into him so that she was sitting on his lap. She felt a tingly warmth start to creep up through her entire body, all the way from her toes. She was pretty sure that not wearing a seatbelt in New York traffic probably wasn't the smartest move, but she didn't care. Not even a little bit. At least she would die happy.
"You want to know something, Blair?" Chuck said, leaning his head into the crook of Blair's neck. She closed her eyes and let herself fall into him. He smelled like scotch and cigar smoke, one of her favorite scents in the entire world.
"Hmm?" Blair said, running one hand through Chuck's hair. It was surprisingly soft.
Chuck caught her hand in his own, and she opened her eyes to look at him. He was staring at her and Blair was overcome with a sense of déjà vu. It was strange that right here, in the back of the limo, was where everything had started. If only she had know that night that this is where Chuck would take her. If only she had known that breaking up with Nate wasn't the horrible tragedy she had made it out to be. If only she had known that losing her virginity to Chuck wasn't the worst mistake of her life, but the best thing that could ever happen to her.
Blair stopped thinking about it. None of it mattered. She was here with him now, wasn't she? There was no use getting hung up on 'if onlys' .
"For the past two years, I have been thankful every day because you didn't give up on me," Chuck said. "Even when it was hard, even when we hurt each other, when we hurt ourselves, you wouldn't let me quit. You knew more about what I wanted than I did. You saw past the games and the lies and the scheming, and you saw this. You knew all along that we belonged together. Sometimes I wish I had known, too."
"Shh," Blair said, lightly intertwining her arms around his shoulders and pulling him close to her. "You did know, Chuck. It was hard for me to accept the fact that I was in love with you at first, and it was even harder for you. But you did know. You wouldn't have kept coming back to me if you didn't."
Chuck pulled her in for a long kiss, and Blair felt hot and tingly and happy all at the same time. She was pretty sure that if she were dynamite, this was about the time that she would explode. She wasn't sure if she could wait until they got to wherever they were going (Chuck had refused to tell her, although Blair was pretty sure he was just driving in circles and taking them back to the Palace). Chuck's hands were on her back and her sides and her breasts and his tongue was inside her mouth and it was all so much at once that she could hardly stand it. She tugged on his tie, working the knot expertly, when Chuck pulled her hands down.
"Easy, killer," he said, his mouth less than an inch from hers. "We're not even home yet."
Blair ignored him and returned to trying to get his clothes off. "Last time I checked, you were a fan of limo sex, Mr. Bass."
Chuck encircled his fingers around Blair's wrists, but continued to kiss her lightly.
"Don't make me have to ground you," he said.
Blair laughed. "Only if I get to ground you, too."
"Hmmm," Chuck said between kisses. "That sounds like the best form of punishment."
They continued to kiss (but no further, to Blair's chagrin) until the limo lulled to a stop. As unladylike as it was to admit it, Blair couldn't wait to get up to their suite where they could rip each others clothes off and make love over and over again, not reappearing in public until Serena or Nate of her mom or someone had to file a missing person's report. But just as Blair's hands closed around the door, Chuck stopped her again.
"Just one thing first," he said.
And then Chuck tied a strip of black silky cloth over her eyes.
"Chuck," Blair started, not sure what he was doing.
"Just trust me," she heard him say into her ear.
Then she heard a clicking sound and Chuck was helping her outside the door, one hand in hers, one hand on her lower back. Once they were outside, Chuck lifted her into his arms with one quick motion.
"Where are we going?" she asked, the sounds of New York suddenly seeming unfamiliar when she couldn't see.
Blair felt when Chuck started to walk, his feet moving in a steady rhythm against a hard surface.
"Chuck!" Blair said when he didn't answer. "Where are we going."
"Shut up, Blair," Chuck said, and Blair could hear the smirk on his lips. She knew him that well.
Usually no one who valued their life told Blair Waldorf to shut up, not even Chuck Bass, but today she would make an exception. She was, in fact, not Blair Waldorf anymore. So she shut her mouth and laid her head on Chuck's shoulder, soothed by the even rhythm of Chuck's steps. She had absolutely no idea where they were, and no clues to speak of, except for the fact that they got on an elevator where someone said, "Good evening, Mr. Bass. Mrs. Bass," which Blair thought must have been very amusing for them to say, considering she was blindfolded, barefoot, in a wedding dress, in Chuck's arms, and in an elevator. Then again, stranger things had happened between her and Chuck.
It seemed like forever until Chuck's movement finally stopped. When she heard him fumbling with a key, she knew that they were home. She expected him to take off her blindfold or put her down or something, but he didn't.
The door opened and he was carrying her through. He was carrying her over the threshold, a tradition that seemed strange to Blair just because it was normal.
"You know," Blair said as they walked through. "I may be the first person to ever do that blindfolded."
She heard Chuck laugh before he set her down gently. Her feet hit the softest carpet.
"Stay here for a second," Chuck said, and once again she found herself obeying. She tried to get a sense of her surroundings, even with her temporary blindness. Blair didn't like not knowing every little detail of her life, and since Chuck didn't show any signs of coming back anytime soon, she decided to figure it out herself.
Wherever they were wasn't the Palace. She could tell that much. She could tell by the way the carpet felt on her toes and the way the air smelled sort of like spring water and hydrangeas. And she didn't know how she knew it, but the room just felt bigger, airier, lighter, in a way. She could hear Chuck shuffling around the room, but other than that she had no idea what he was doing. It was all very cryptic.
Just when Blair thought she couldn't take one more second of it, she felt Chuck's hands untying the blindfold.
And then she could see.
"Oh my God," Blair said, one hand reaching to cover her mouth.
She was in an apartment. But not just any apartment. It was enormous, with a spiral staircase in the middle that probably lead to even more room. There was a living room with a fire place and beautiful furnishings that looked straight out of an interior decorating magazine. There were doors everywhere, and Blair wanted to go look behind them all, but she couldn't because A) she wouldn't know where to start and B) she was gripping Chuck's hand so tightly that she couldn't possibly pull away.
The most beautiful thing of all was that there were candles. Everywhere.
"Is this…" Blair started, turning to Chuck.
Chuck grinned, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Yes."
She had lived with Chuck in his suite in the Palace for over three months, and she had loved every second of it. But she had always sort of wanted something more, something new that they could start together. It was Chuck's suite, Chuck's hotel. Everything about it held Chuck's past, some it of good, some of it bad, most of it definitely not PG-13. And while moving in with Chuck had been a huge hurdle in their relationship, she sort of wanted to prove that they could move on from the past. And having their own apartment seemed like a way to start a future together.
She'd never said anything to Chuck. She hadn't wanted him to think that what they had wasn't enough. But he had known all along what she'd wanted. Once again, Chuck Bass had proven that he knew her better than anyone else did.
"Do you want to see the rest of it?" Chuck asked.
Blair's lips twisted up into a sideways smile. "I want to see one room in particular, actually."
And then before Blair could say anything else, Chuck picked her up and carried her to their new bedroom in their new apartment, and when that wasn't enough, they spent the whole getting to know every room like the back of their hand in the place that held their future together.
