AUTHOR'S NOTE: As promised I am back with an update. Thanks for the feedback from everyone. I think this chapter will put a lot more in perspective.

You Were Mine

Chapter Two.

POWER

"You can have power over people as long as you don't

take everything away from them. But when you've robbed

a man of everything, he's no longer in your power."

- Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Chuck Bass sat in his office that towered above the city he loved like no other. He'd been all over the world but this was the one place he called home. It was the place he'd found a family, created one, and lost one. He didn't let those thoughts haunt him much anymore. He was twenty nine years old and the ruler of his own world. He owned controlling interest in Bass Enterprises, ran it with a stern hand, and was a respected member of the business community. Hell, he wasn't just a member he was the King and everyone knew it. Some hated him for it and others begged for just a moment of attention. Chuck barely paid attention to any of them. He hated ass kissers almost as much as he hated traitors. He had plenty of both in his life.

Bart Bass had taught his only child many things growing up. Chuck had learned that when you lost someone, like he had lost his mother at the tender age of 5, you didn't mourn them. You put them away, far back in your mind until you barely remembered them. You numbed out the pain and found other things to occupy yourself with. Chuck started with booze, moved onto drugs, and languished with conniving women. He controlled his vices now instead of them controlling him. Another lesson from his father put to good use. Bart had imparted many other tricks over the years to Chuck. Some would call them scars he'd inflicted but Chuck never saw it that way. His father's hard love approach had prepared Chuck for the inevitable pitfalls of life. When Chuck got knocked down he wasn't shocked like most people when these things happened. When he fell in love he knew it would fail and it did… spectacularly. Chuck knew even now as he reigned high above his Kingdom that one day he would fall. He would make one wrong decision and everything and everyone would fail him. Perhaps it was fatalistic to some but to Chuck it was reality. Nothing in life was meant to last.

There was only one thing Chuck held sacred and above all the muck that swam around him. Parker. His four year old son; his salvation. Parker hadn't been planned. He'd snuck up on Chuck at a most inopportune time and Chuck hadn't been ready. He'd never been ready for Parker though. His son was a ball of furious energy. He walked before he crawled and when he finally decided to speak it was nearly fully formed sentences that came out. He was amazing and to Chuck he represented everything that was good and right in the world.

Chuck didn't practice hard love with Parker. He sometimes wondered if he was doing his son a disservice. He knew Bart had felt that way when he was still alive but Parker had been the one aspect of Chuck's life that he'd kept total control over. No one made any decisions about his son but him. He decided who spent time with Parker, what food he ate, what movies he watched – he did everything for his son and he was far prouder of that than he was of any of the so called brilliant business decisions he'd made for BE. Parker was his entire world and everything else was just the trimming, the buzzing he sometimes put up with.

"Mr. Bass." His secretary beeped in and Chuck turned away from his view to answer it.

Today was an important board meeting. Chuck was gathering all the major stock holders to vote on a new venture he'd put together. He'd decided that he wanted to buy a city block downtown, bulldoze the current buildings and create a new super retreat for the rich and famous. It was still in the planning phases but if all went well today it would move into development. Chuck was really psyched for this project. He'd found the land himself and with a little input from his trusted business associates he'd come up with his current plan. It could bring Bass into a new realm of success and that was what Chuck wanted more than anything. He wanted his last name synonymous with his triumphs not his fathers.

"Yes, Madison," he answered trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice. It was more than likely Georgina pestering him with more wedding plans. The event was nearly five months away and he could not have cared less about what she did with it. If it were up to him they would have gone down to the courthouse and gotten it over with. He'd done the big white wedding once and it had turned out to be a total farce. Georgina was determined to make their wedding the society event of the year so Chuck had little choice but to go along with it.

"Jack is here and would like a moment. Are you available?"

Chuck sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He was already getting a head ache. In the recent months since Bart's murder Jack had really come through for Chuck. He'd put aside all his petty jealousies and acted as Chuck's right hand through the complicated process of transferring Bart's assets. At first Chuck had been wary of his uncle. Any fool could see that Jack always operated from a place of self interest. Chuck wasn't turning a blind eye to that nor was he turning his back in Jack's direction anytime soon. Jack would just as soon support him as stab a knife in his gut. But for now Jack was a tool he was using.

"Send him in," Chuck answered after a pause. He turned his chair around so his back was to Jack entering and watched the storm clouds build outside of his window. His pampered board members would not appreciate coming in in this rain storm but they would have to deal. He wasn't pushing back this decision any longer.

"Charles!" Jack's loud booming voice filled the room but Chuck still didn't turn back to face him. It was always best to keep Jack on his toes. If he got too confident with you he tended to step out of line. Chuck didn't have time to remind him who was boss this week. "Got a minute…" Some of his bravado waned and Chuck smiled to himself.

Slowly, Chuck turned his chair back around and faced Jack. His uncle stood just inside his door and smiled wide when Chuck finally graced him with his attention.

"You ready for today, kid?" Jack loved reminding Chuck that he was senior but Chuck was beyond caring. He owned Bass. He ran Bass. Jack was his employee. As far as Chuck could tell all the balls were in his court. Jack could have his petty nicknames if he needed them.

"I'm always ready," Chuck told him coolly. Jack nodded and rushed towards Chuck at the desk. He checked himself at the last minute and slid back into one of the chairs in front of the desk. Jack seemed more hopped up than usual and Chuck had a sneaking suspicion he was using again.

"Right, right of course. This is a great deal. I was going over the proposal and there is no way they'll turn you down. You'll have them all eating out of your pocket." His words were rapid fire and Chuck simply nodded in agreement. Jack was in ass kissing mode and Chuck was easily bored.

"Mr. Bass?" Madison's monotone voice buzzed back in and Chuck was grateful for the reprieve from Jack's pathetic (and unneeded) pep talk.

"Yes?" Chuck answered and motioned for Jack to be quiet.

"Ms. Bainbridge is on the phone."

Chuck's heart stumbled for a second before he could get it back under control. Ms. Bainbridge was Parker's nanny and she very rarely bothered him during the day unless there was an emergency. Chuck jerked up the phone quickly and instructed Madison to put the older woman through.

"Is everything alright?" He asked immediately. He glanced in Jack's direction and saw his uncle watching him with rapt fascination. That worried him a bit. He felt like he was always on display with Jack. Any weakness his uncle would jump on and that worried Chuck. He knew he could handle whatever Jack threw at him but if Jack even thought about using Parker Chuck would have to find a more permanent means of getting Jack out of their lives. Australia wouldn't be far enough this time.

"Oh, yes Mr. Bass. No major emergencies on my end. I called because I told the little one I would. We've spent the morning in the park and he's insisting that he be brought by your office for a visit. We're just around the corner but I wanted to make sure you were in before we popped by."

Ms. Bainbridge was a 63 year old English woman who was cultured, competent and amazing with Parker. She treated him like he was one of her own grandchildren and Chuck felt good knowing his son was with a woman who could give him the emotional support Chuck had never received. Parker seemed to love her and Chuck was confident that his son was getting all the care any young child should. At times Chuck wondered what the lack of a mother did to Parker but unfortunately for his son the pickings were slim. His own mother was out of the question, and while Chuck enjoyed his time with Georgina he didn't trust her anywhere near his son and she didn't seem inclined to change that arrangement anytime soon.

"I'll let security know you're coming up. Thank you, Ms. Bainbridge." Chuck hung up quickly and turned back to Jack. He wanted him out of there before Parker arrived. Jack liked to pretend he was a doting uncle with Chuck's child but the less exposure the better in Chuck's mind.

"The little guy coming up?" Jack smiled wide, too wide. "I'll stick around. I haven't seen him in a while. I bet he's getting big." Jack tried to bait Chuck into a conversation about his child but Chuck didn't bite. He didn't discuss Parker with many people.

"Don't you have things to do before the meeting, Jack?" Chuck dismissed him coldly. Anger spiked in Jack's eyes for a minute before he smothered it again and forced a congenial grin back onto his face.

"You're right. Another time then." Jack headed towards the door and Chuck turned his chair back towards the window. He imagined Parker was coming through the lobby right then and going to all his favorite guards and getting his usual treats. Parker loved visiting Chuck at BE because everyone spoiled him with attention and candy. Chuck didn't even bother discouraging his employees. Parker just had that affect on people.

"Chuck?" Jack called out again and Chuck closed his eyes in frustration. He stayed silent waiting for the man to continue. "Don't overwork yourself, kid. You're on top of the world. Nothing can bring you down now."

The door clicked and Chuck knew he was finally alone. Jack's little pep talk was suspicious and got Chuck's guard up. His uncle was planning something. Before Chuck could contemplate this further his door was thrown open again and he barely had time to turn his chair around before Parker was running into him and climbing onto his lap. Chuck smiled down at his son and wrapped him in his arms.

"Big hug." Parker demanded and Chuck laughed and squeezed his son tighter. "Good enough." Parker settled down in Chuck's lap and immediately began grabbing at everything on his desk. He scribbled something on Chuck's calendar while Chuck focused on Ms. Bainbridge.

"He's been a terror all morning." She sent a teasing look at Parker and he smiled brightly back at her. His sunny disposition was always a shock to Chuck. He never would have thought that he and Parker's mother could have created such a child. Neither one of them were ever what you could consider cheery or even happy most of the time.

"I'm perfect and you told me so." Parker said right back but never lifted his head from doodling on Chuck's desk. Chuck usually came away with some very interesting paper work after these visits. Bart used to hate it when Parker would come by. He loved his grandson but the office was not a place for children in Bart's opinion. Chuck didn't much care what his father or anyone else thought. Parker would never feel neglected or unwanted. If Chuck got one thing right in his life it would be that.

"Go ahead and take a break, Ms. Bainbridge. He can stay with me for the next half hour. Then I'll need you to pick him back up." Chuck barely noticed when the woman exited. He was riveted to the picture his son was drawing. "What is it?" He asked like he always did. This was their game and Parker would be disappointed if he didn't play along.

"A bird." Parker grinned like a Cheshire cat.

"I don't think so. Birds don't have four legs." Chuck told him sternly.

Parker giggled. "A cat."

"Cat's don't have such long noses." Chuck did his best to look very disapproving. It was hard not to crack a smile though. Parker liked it when his daddy played make believe and Chuck liked to make sure that no one else ever saw him make such a fool out of himself.

"Daddy!" Parker giggled. "You guess now."

Chuck made a big show of examining the picture. Then he sat back and scratched at his head and made all the funny faces that made Parker smile. Finally, when he'd played it up as much as he could he sat forward again and guessed.

"A horse?"

"You're a genus, daddy." Parker told him exuberantly and threw his arms around Chuck's neck. Chuck ruffled his soft brown hair and settled him back down on his lap.

"Genius," Chuck corrected. Serena said it did Parker no good to go on pronouncing things incorrectly. Chuck didn't really see the issue with it but Serena was supposed to be all knowing with this type of stuff so Chuck tended to take her opinion over others. "You've been hinting a lot lately." Chuck eyed his son.

Parker avoided his probing gaze and jumped off his lap. He headed over to the window and smashed his face against the glass. Parker loved the view almost as much as Chuck.

"I like horses," he whispered in his little boy voice. This was his 'sweet' voice. He only used it when he was really trying to butter Chuck up before going in for the kill.

"I know you do. You talk about them all the time." Chuck continued to watch him wondering when he'd finally drop the bomb. Parker liked to finesse a situation. He wasn't like Chuck in that way.

"I really, really like them, daddy. Grandma Lily really likes them too. She takes me to see them all the time and she said that…" His voice trailed off and he turned back to the view again.

"She said what?" Chuck pressed trying not to smile.

"She would get me one if you said it was okay." He said this really fast and Chuck almost couldn't understand him. But he got the general gist. "Can she daddy? Please." He drew the word out until it was long and whiney and threw himself back onto Chuck's legs, wrinkling his suit and no doubt smudging the material. Chuck had given up a perfect appearance during the first week of Parker's life. He liked getting Chuck dirty and Chuck didn't have the heart to scold him for it. Kids were meant to be messy and fathers were meant to put up with it.

"I'll think about it," Chuck allowed. In truth he and Lily had already had many discussions about this. He wasn't sure Parker was old enough to start riding a horse yet. He was still a bit away from his fifth birthday. Lily insisted it would be fine and the trainers would take good care of Parker but Chuck was overprotective and wasn't ready to take that leap quite yet. Eventually Lily and Parker would wear him down but he needed a little more time to get used to the idea.

"Daddy." Parker gave him a stern look that meant he was not pleased with that answer.

"Parker." Chuck gave him the very same look.

The two Bass boys faced off against each other until Parker finally sighed and slid back down in Chucks lap. He mumbled a petulant "fine" before going back to doodling on Chuck's desk. It was another horse and this time Chuck did laugh.

"Mr. Bass." Madison's voice came through again.

Parker climbed up on the desk quickly and grabbed for the phone before Chuck could reach it. Parker loved to pretend like he was the boss and order everyone around. Chuck just couldn't imagine where he'd gotten that little quirk from. Some things were just born into you he supposed.

"Bass, here." Parker kept his voice as level and 'businesslike' as he could manage.

Madison clearly had to stifle a smile as she responded. "Your sister is here and would like an audience with you. May I send her in?"

"S!" Parker squealed childishly and jumped off the desk quickly. He raced to the door and threw it open before Chuck could manage a 'send her in'. Serena was waiting on the other side of the door with a big smile and open arms. Parker bulldozed into her and she lifted him into the air swinging him around a few times for good measure.

Chuck rolled his eyes at Serena's antics. She said Chuck spoiled the boy but she was just as bad. There wasn't anything Parker couldn't con his aunt out of and Nate was just as bad. Chuck was happy Parker had them though. Sometimes business kept him away and Chuck liked that Parker had a second family he could turn to. Ms. Bainbridge was great but Chuck wanted more for his child and Serena and Nate provided that in spades. They loved and doted on him like he was their own.

"I was so surprised when they told me you were in the building. I had to rush right up." Serena told Parker as she carried him back into Chuck's office and shut the door behind them. Parker stayed glued to Serena's side and Chuck rolled his eyes at both of them. "Oh you're just jealous because your baby loves me." Serena teased and Parker giggled and gave her a big kiss on the cheek for good measure. He loved making Chuck 'jealous'.

"I'm terribly envious," Chuck agreed.

"You can share me," Parker told them magnanimously.

"I don't know if I can." Serena giggled and began peppering her nephew with kisses. He squealed and she continued with the game. Chuck allowed it for a few minutes but the game became tedious and he interrupted their little love fest.

"You're early for the board meeting." Chuck acknowledged and Serena let Parker slide out of her arms. He rushed back over to the window where a helicopter could be seen just above allowing Serena and Chuck a bit of privacy.

"I come baring… news." Serena decided on her words carefully. Chuck's eyebrows immediately rose. This did not sound promising. He glanced back at Parker behind him and found him still following the trail of the copter.

"Spit it out, Serena." He growled. If this had something to do with his proposal today he was really going to be furious. He had already gone over this with Serena, Lily and Eric and they had all agreed to vote with him. Serena had been more reluctant because he was closing down some homeless shelters but he'd compromised and promised to find future placement for those he displaced. If her conscious was getting the best of her again he was going to kick her out on her ass.

"You need to remember your son is in the room, Chuck." Serena stepped in closer and dropped her voice to a whisper. She watched Parker carefully to make sure he wasn't picking up on the sudden tension in the room.

"Serena, I won't say it again." He was gritting his teeth. He just knew her new do gooder shtick was going to fuck up his life eventually. He'd funded her damn foundation what more did she need from him. "Get it over with," he demanded. He liked his bad news up front and quick.

"Blair's in town."

Her name landed like a thud around the room. Chuck jerked around to make sure Parker hadn't heard and let out a relieved breath when he saw his son was still occupied. Blair. He still couldn't process what Serena had just told him. He hadn't seen Blair since Serena's wedding and it hadn't been a happy occasion. She'd wanted to see Parker and he'd been contemplating it until Carter arrived on her arm to the wedding. As far as he was concerned Carter proved that his ex wife was still crazy and she nor her boyfriend were getting anywhere near Chuck's child. If she was coming back now to contest custody again she was going to be in for a rude awakening.

"What the fuck is she doing in town, Serena. If you're going behind my back again-" The threat was implicit in his voice. His sister had betrayed him once before and it had taken him months to let her back in. He hadn't done it for Serena but for Parker and he wouldn't be as forgiving a second time.

"No, Chuck." She swore and he saw the honesty in her eyes. Serena was a terrible liar. He relaxed a bit then and waited for an explanation. "My mom just called me and told me. She just dropped it on me actually." Serena was clearly frustrated with Lily. "Chuck you might want to sit down you're not going to like this."

"I can't control where Blair visits but she's not going anywhere near him." Chuck nodded towards Parker.

"No, Chuck you don't understand-" Serena tried to explain but Parker bounded back over to them before she could. "Parks can we have another minute?" Serena put on her best begging smile.

Parker wasn't buying it though. "Daddy can we go up to the restaurant. I want a cold hot chocolate and some of those biscuit thingies that Aunt S loves. Remember?" He turned to Serena looking for back up.

"Parker-" Serena was going to bargain with him that much was clear.

"Sure. Daddy has a meeting soon so we'll go now." Parker jumped up and down excitedly and pulled on Chuck's arm ready to get going. Chuck followed him and turned back to Serena at the door. "We can finish this later when we're alone."

"Chuck!" Serena called out to him panicked but he didn't heed her warning and headed with Parker towards the elevator bank. She grabbed her purse quickly and hurried after them. If God forbid the worst happened she knew she should be there to… help the situation along and protect Parker.

Serena had almost caught up with them when the elevator doors opened and everything seemed to go into slow motion. There was Blair Waldorf in the flesh and right beside her was Carter Baizen. Everyone in the office took immediate notice. They all knew about their bosses high profile wedding and even more scandalous divorce. Audible gasping could be heard, Serena included. Chuck noticed her next. One minute he was listening to Parker jabber on about the special biscuits and the next he was locking eyes with his ex wife and her lover. Chuck jerked to a stop and that alerted Parker to the change in the atmosphere. He glanced around him and then briefly looked back at Serena. He smiled at her and she tried to smile back but she couldn't manage it. His world was about to explode again and it broke Serena's heart. Finally, the inevitable happened. Parker spotted Blair. It took him a minute to place her face to the one in the photographs Auntie Serena kept but once he did he dropped his father's hand and took off full speed ahead. Chuck reached for him but only grasped air. It was like a train wreck and no one could look away.

"Mommy!" Parker yelled out.

Blair seemed almost as stunned as everyone else and it took her a moment before she stooped down and put her arms out. Her son crashed right into them and she held on for dear life. Serena picked up speed nearly running down the hall until she was beside Chuck. He was frozen in place, a look of pure horror on his face as he watched his son clutch his long departed mother. Serena knew that Chuck had convinced himself that Parker didn't need Blair but this scene told a different story and Chuck looked like he wanted to puke. Serena knew the feeling. This could not have been scripted more poorly if someone had tried.

"Hi, baby," Blair whispered and leaned back to look at her child. Parker leaned back as well inspecting her in kind. Their eyes were a nearly identical shade of brown and they currently mirrored one another. He inspected her face, and her hair, and her clothes. Everything about her was under intense scrutiny. She did the same with him. She ran a loving hand through his hair and he reached up and clutched hers in kind. They were like animals in a zoo to each other, a complete rarity, a complete joy.

Carter hung back a bit and looked between the scene unfolding with Blair and her son, and the one in front of them with Chuck Bass and Serena van der Woodsen. Serena's mouth was wide open and Chuck's face was turning to stone. Blair couldn't have planned this more perfectly if she'd tried.

"Parker." Chuck's voice acted like a command and Parker finally released his mother and turned around to look at Chuck. The look on his father's face was something the little boy had never experienced before and he raced back to him quickly. "Go with Serena back to my office."

"Daddy-" Parker began to protest but Chuck cut him a look that immediately silenced him. That was the look that came out when Parker was very close to being reprimanded. Chuck didn't use it much but Parker knew what it looked like and respected it. The little boy glanced back at Blair for a moment, a smile hanging on his lips before he let his aunt guide him away.

Chuck, Carter and Blair were left standing there. Chuck ordered the gawking employees to get back to work and they disappeared as quickly as they had appeared to watch the drama unfold. Blair straightened herself out again and Carter stepped up beside her, resting a steadying hand on her back. Chuck watched them with a horrified intensity until he could look at them no more.

"You're not welcome here, Blair." His voice was void of all emotion. It never failed to amaze him what seeing her did to him. One minute he was perfectly fine and the next he was filled with so much rage he wanted to punch a wall. He would never give her the satisfaction of knowing she got to him though so he kept his cool. "I'll call security if you and that bastard aren't out of my sight immediately."

"Chuck Bass the almighty." Carter sneered at him.

"My patience is running out," Chuck growled. Blair had lost her fucking mind again if she thought she was getting anywhere near his son with Carter Baizen in tow. He had made himself perfectly clear the last time and he hadn't changed his mind. Parker was better off without people like them in his life.

"Mine already did, Chuck." She spoke to him for the first time and he was surprised at the strength in her voice. She almost sounded like the girl he used to know. "And I have every right to be here. You called a board meeting didn't you?" Her eyes locked onto his and it felt like she was literally sucking the air out of his lungs. She was deadly to him. He could never forget that.

"That doesn't concern you," he snapped.

"It concerns us," Carter informed him with a satisfied smirk. "Blair and I own a hefty chunk of BE stock. I would have thought someone would have informed you. Guess you're not as on top of things as you'd like to think." Carter took a sick pleasure in the dismay that came into Chuck's eyes.

"Impossible." Chuck dismissed him but the doubt lingered. Chuck had controlling interest in BE and as far as he knew none of their major stock holders were selling out. Why would they? Chuck had BE at the top of its game. "I'm calling security." He reached for his phone but Blair stopped him.

"Carter and I have been acquiring stock here and there for a few months, not enough to really matter. But then I came to town and saw Lily. I explained how desperate I was to see my son and how I just knew you wouldn't let me. She felt bad for me and agreed that the only way I could get you to come around to my side of things was to play your game. So, here I am darling, playing your game. Carter and I have voting rights now."

Her words didn't make sense for a minute until they finally did and Chuck had serious thoughts of killing Lily. She'd become so emotional and sentimental since his father had been murdered earlier in the year. Chuck had put up with her interference in his life because he cared for her but this was crossing every boundary. He'd have her running for her life before the day was over he decided. Exiling her to somewhere in Europe sounded like a fantastic plan. It had worked with Blair after all.

"Nothing to say?" Blair smirked cruelly.

A terrifying calm swept through Chuck. He'd always known she'd force the issue again eventually and he'd been prepared for that. He'd even agreed to marry Georgie so when this time came he'd have a unified front to present in court. Perhaps she wasn't coming at him legally yet, but she would eventually. He was ready for her. He always had been. She would never catch him off guard again and she would never hurt their child. Never.

"Game on."