Title:Water

Author: Luna/Nobuko89

Pairing/Character(s):Chuck/Vanessa

Spoilers: Season one and two

Summary: Chuck is temporaly disowned and moves in with Vanessa.

Disclaimer: I own nothing though I wish I owned Ed Westwick.

Chapter two: Scotch and Winter

i

Chuck woke up alone and hung over, though the second he was used to, but waking up on his own always made him edgy and restless, and that drained sensation that overtook him, the one that made his chest tight in an uncomfortable way that had nothing to do with him not getting laid for over four weeks. Not at all, Chuck´s preference for a warm body next to his when he slept was more than just a rich spoiled boy´s whim, it was a need. Had always been a need, since Chuck could remember, sleeping on his own was to frightening to even consider. Maybe it had something to do with the lack of motherly love in his life, that he paid girls (Brunettes, blonds, redheads, twins, the list could just go on and on), blackmail and even lured them into his bed, even if they didn´t necessarily had sex. Chuck only relaxed and was able to fall sleep with the background sound of the strange (or not) girl´s soft breaths. The only lullaby he had ever known.

So, if he was alone...

Where had homo-Humphrey´s friend left to?

Ah... true, poor people needed to work, he remembered vaguely before a series of strong yet pausated knocks called his attention.

Chuck opened the door, expecting Vanessa but not dissapointed at all when a prim Blair Waldorf stormed into the loft. Her chiseled jaw and determined expression made it clear she was mad.

Good.

Because mad Blair was beautiful, desperate and so much fun Chuck was already willing to take on whatever game Blair would offer.

ii

Vanessa sat down too grumpy to be impressed by the incredible view that Bart Bass´s office had. Sure that if her headache failed to kill her then the person sitting in front of her and sipping casually his coffee would. "So, Mr. Bass what is it you wanted so urgently to talk about?" She played dumb, suppresing the need to smile. Heaven bless Dan! Who would have thought all those times he had pestered Vanessa into reading those dumb poor girl/rich boy novels (though only with the intention of making fun of them later) would prepare her to deal with a stone faced Mr. Bass. He was probably hiding his horror at the possibility of his only son spending the night in a Brooklyn loft, and god forbid if anything but silk or satin touched the younger Bass´s skin.

Rich people were so ridiculous. Her head throbbed and a shock of pain forced her to close her eyes as she awaited Bart Bass´s answer.

"I´ve been informed that my son´s staying with you. I have a favor to ask from you. In fact this could benefit you greatly since I intend on rewarding your efforts."

Oh, here came the part where the wealthy dady tried to bribe the "commoner" girl into leaving his son alone. This seemed like the cliche kind of movie scene she would erase if she was the director. The one when the girl left in tears.

"You don´t need to offer money in exchange Mr. Bass. As long as you accept Chuck back or at least support him financially I´ll be more than pleased to kick him out of my house."

"Interesting." Breathy voiced monosyllabic misterious answers were in the Bass genes, it seemed.

"So we´re agreed?"

"No, because you see, I don´t want my son to leave your home just yet."

"So... let me guess, you want me to humiliate him or maybe sabotage his bar so he fails and comes back to you defeated." She feigned a smile

"Creative" Bart said not one bit indignied.

"I know Blair Waldorf, and I´ve witnessed enough of her´s and Chuck´s evil plans which have ended up on ruining reputations, tormenting a fifteen year old and assaulting a dear friend of mine. So as a former victim of your son´s schemes I think I´m entitled to tell you than instead of punishing a selfless and smart dessicion you should support it."

"I disowned Chuck only so I could know for sure wheter he was willing to risk everything in order to follow his ideals and insctint. Like I once did. I want him to learn how to make things work without relaying in anyone but himself. That´s why I want him to keep on living with you, so through this extreme experience he can grow into a better and mature man."

"I´m not a tool and this behavior just serves to show what a sucky parent you are" Vanessa knew that maybe she was messing with the wrong man, Dan had told her to what lenghts Bart Bass was cappable of going. But the constant hammering in her head just fueled her anger at her powerlessness (again) in a UES game.

"you are pawn" Blair´s voice played in her head like depressing background music.

She wasn´t a pawn, she didn´t want to be anything. Not to people like them at least.

The man in front of her seemed unbashed by her recent critic.

Vanessa rubbed her eyes in an effort to get Blair´s voice and the hammering pain to fade from her head.

Not working, but the movement called Bart Bass´s attention and he finally snaped out of his living statue state.

The man´s searched Vanessa´s determinated expression and without his eyes leaving her face handed her a check. "That´s just the beggining. If you keep me well informed on my son´s whereabouts I´ll give you the triple."

Vanessa folded the check without looking at the numbers.

"Weekly." He added after she stood up silently.

Vanessa ripped the check into tiny bits that fell onto Bart Bass´s desk and oficine floor. "I don´t want or need your money. And Chuck? he will make that speakeasy work. Because he cares, because unlike you he´s got a concience and his word does count for something. And though I barely know him, only and absolutely in order to protect whatever delusional respect he has for you I won´t say a word about this to him. Goodbye Mr. Bass It was umpleasant to meet you and I hope we never see each other again" She left, Dan´s voice complaining in her head about UES negligent parents and the negative effect it had in their offsprings.

iii

"Mr. Bass, ummm may I ask what are you smiling about?"

"That girl that came today, she reminded me of Misty."

"Oh."

Lucy had been Bart Bass´s secretary for more than nine years, and she had never seen her boss smile so much. She restrained the curiosity to ask about the late Misty Bass, knowing such imprudence could cost her the job.

Her boss chuckled and kept that grin on his lips. Lucy´s back chilled with fear for that was not a pleasant sign, he looked in her opinion sinister.

iv

A chubby woman that Vanessa was sure she had seen before stopped her at the door of her building.

"You can´t go up. Miss Blair ordered to be alone while she and Mr. Bass have the talk" the woman said with a weird accent. Swedish maybe?

Blair, to say she hadn´t expected the vengeful brunnete to show up would be lying but Vanessa hadn´t certainly thought Blair would come this quick.

Thank god, if Bart´s paternal love had failed to solve Chuck´s home situation then Blair´s jelousy would.

She´d be Bass free in just a couple of minutes, they were probably packing. Vanessa smiled joyfully. And the throbbing pain dimished.

But her calm moment was short lived as an obviously enraged Blair Waldorf exited the building. Alone.

Why? Why didn´t she take him?

In a fair world Blair would understand Vanessa helping Chuck out was nothing but a selfless act of mercy towards another human being and she wouldn´t shoot Vanessa a glare that pretty much promised a slow and painful death. And of course Vanessa wouldn´t even think about smirking and enjoying the other girl´s anger.

Disgracefully it was an unfair world they lived in, one which would witness both females fall in love with the same man.

v

It was a pity Miss Blair who pictured her life as a movie and the girl who dreamed of making movies (Like Miss Jenny had once babbled about) had no knowledge of how much they had in common and disliked each other so much. Dorota thought, Miss Blair deserved a friend who was worth of trust and did not bring so much sadness into her life. But Dorota also knew that the dressing style of the brooklyn girl was what miss Blair would call "something even Britney Spears wouldn´t wear."

Dorota always hid her Britney records from Miss Blair.

"Dorota!" Miss Blair called from inside the limo where she was already making herself a cosmopolitan.

"How did things go with Mister Chuck?"

"Lots of screaming, mostly mine, but not in the pleasant way. He rejected my help, says he´s ok where he is. And... urgh! He makes me so mad." Miss Blair´s eyes took that crystal quality that a long time a go, when things were simpler, would only have taken Breakfast at Tiffany`s and a visit from Mister Archibald to get rid of. "Why is this happening to me Dorota? What could I have possibly done in my last lifetime to deserve being deserted by my friends and Serena won´t return any of my calls. I forgave her when she slept with Nate. And she gets mad for what? A silly dress she offered to me!." She was getting histerycal now. "The girls won´t talk to me and even Nelly Yuki turned agaisnt me. Nelly Yuki! I made her, if it wasn´t for me she´d be still weeping over that Brad guy. But figures they´d just run over to Serena because sunshine leaks from every orifice of her flawless body. Ugh, did that sound as gross as I think?"

"Yes, miss Blair,"

"You´re all I´ve got now Dorota, so you´re gonna help me."

Dorota shivered, Miss Blair´s eyes (no longer moisty) held that glint that signaled the beggining of one of her plans. "With what Miss Blair?"

Miss Blair smiled with dark mirth and Dorota feared the revelation of her task. "We´re going to steal that dress"

Whether if agreeing to help the young girl she had dearly raised was right or wrong. Dorota was far to attached to Miss Blair to leave her alone in her vendetta against Miss Serena. But one thing was for sure next time Miss Blair´s blond frienemy dropped by the penthouse Dorota would serve her non diet drinks.

vi

Vanessa found Chuck still in his saten pijamas looking so out of place reading what looked like a playboy magazine in the middle of her living room, that the sign pulled a grin from her lips. "Morning" she greeted and he answered by nodding his head slightly in her direction, his laid back attitude plus the casually elegance he mastered made Vanessa feel instantly uncool.

They had breakfast silently together. And once they were done, Vanessa feigned a cough to keep him from getting up and leaving, this one´s on your honor Dan.

"You know, you ougth to help with the dishes. It´s the polite thing to do, besides I cooked."

"Cereal doesn´t require coction." He stated petulantly. But started to clear the table nonetheless.

vii

"Chuck bass is staying at your house?" Dan googled at her, in that cute way that never failed to make Vanessa smile.

"Umm.. did the part where I won an award and have been offered a scholarship slipped past you?"

"Sorry," he looked down ashamed, only to bolt his head up at her again "Really Chuck Bass?"

"Yes, Chuck Bass" She repeated for the ninth time in the whole night. They were eating pizza in Dan´s bedroom, both sitting on the floor, next to his bed. Like old times.

Dan tried, apparently, to talk again but Vanessa placed her palm against his mouth to silence him. "We´re not gonna spend the night talking about vicious, spoiled house guests of mine" She ordered and only took her hand away when he nodded in agreement.

The next two hours passed by in laughter and meaningless chat.

"I should head home" She said, her hair horrendolously out of place. The result of a wild pillow fight. Dan still trying to catch his breath, lifted a hand to call her attention. And said in between breaths. "Wait, stay. I mean you can´t just sleep in the same house that Chuck Bass."

"My place has more than one room, besides I think he´s been sleeping with Ruby."

"But, emm... Ruby´s a ... I mean she has a girlfriend."

"Yeah, and that hasn´t changed. When I asked she said it was a secret." Vanessa shrugged. She didn´t really care.

"Weird." Dan concluded.

"Whatever, It´s to late. Why don´t you stay over. I´ll braid your hair and you´ll do my nails. And Cedric can photograph us dancing in underwear." He offered, while gesticulating to the cabbage patch doll.

Vanessa bursted in fits of laughter.

Once both regained composture Dan announced "I think I know what you need."

Vanessa arched an eyebrow. Was he...

Stop it she scolded herself internally.

"Your hair´s all messy. It needs to be brushed." Gently he sat behind her on the bed and smoothed the curly locks of ´d always liked her curly hair, he remebered when he met her, on the playground an autumn evening. Her dark curls were unmistakable amongst the crowds of blond girls.

Before Vanessa to Dan, girls were mindless annoying beings that existed with the solely purposse of being avoided.

But that Autumn evening...

He´d been avoiding the big groups of girls that were running dumbly around. And his eye caught a tiny figure that was staring up to a big three. How he´d reached her, he didnt remember. But when she turned around and those big cristal eyes met his.

He knew.

Even at that young age. He´d thought, she´s the one I wanna marry.

And he´d had everything planned. They´d grow up, fall in love, travel the world and be together. He´d loved her since the moment their eyes clashed to each other, binding their lives forever. Or so he thought

Until she broke his heart and betrayed his trust.

"This is a excuse to just play with my hair, isn´t it?" Vanessa´s voice pulled Dan out of his reminescense. Making him suddenly aware of their closeness, of the coconut scent that came from her hair and neck.

He knew she was smiling.

Dan didn´t have the chance to answer and in that moment Jenny bursted into his room.

"Oh, my god, oh my god." She repeated exitedly, a wide smile plastered in her face.

"What happened?" asked Dan, secretly grateful for the interruption because the memories and the moment itself had been turning torturous.

"Blair stole back Serena´s dress."

"What´s the deal with that dress?" Vanessa asked slightly irritated.

Jenny gaped at her, shocked, and Vanessa lamented fully how shallow had the UES turned Jenny.

"It´s not any dress. It´s a Marc Jacobs one of a kind dress. He made it inspired in movie legend Audrey Hepburn. It was sold to the best bidder. But the japanese man who bought it...

"Why would a man buy a dress?" Dan inquired. Jenny shot him a look and Vanessa grinned.

Jenny continued. "Anyway, the man who bought it decided to give it to the best looking and charming NY young woman. And guess who won?"

"Let me think, I know I read this on your diary."

"Shut up, Dan."

"Poppy Lifton" She revealed, eyes wide.

She looked at Vanessa like she expected the curly haired girl to know who the hell Poppy Lifton was.

"But!" There was more? "Poppy had a severe hospital condition."

Dan drew closer to Vanessa and whispered. "They said it was ghonorrea" Vanessa shook in silent laughter.

"So she gave it to Serena. Who offered it to Blair but then had a change of mind and decided to keep the dress to herself. And Blair..." Was this ever going to end? "but Serena stole it back and now gossip girl reported Balir is in possetion of the dress. The ball is three weeks away. Anything could happen! There´s a bet going on regarding who´ll show up in the MJ dress. Isn´t this exiting." She said in a shrilly voice and then as her cell phone rang she squealed and left the room.

"I can barely wait to go" Dan said drily while feigning a yaw. "No, wait I´m not invited"

Vanessa threw a pillow at him.

vii

The following two weeks flew by and Vanessa saw very little if anything of Dan. He´d gotten back to his Serena´s shadow mode. It was for the better, she convinced herself mentally, she had to save money for her short and end the basic concept and script. Plus. she had to work.

So leaving aside the exitement of working in a new filming project, her life had become quite uninterestic.

At least living with Chuck had become easy. He turned out to be very civil and well behaved. There were though isolated situations in which he did things that left Vanessa either perplexed or (somehow) irritated. Like making breakfast for her, or trying to help her move heavy things, or the horribly awkward times he tried to make small conversation with her, I mean they had gotten along (to much for her comfort) the first night he´d moved in but that night Vanessa had been emotionally unstable and the alcohol had made her forget about who she was being friendly with.

So lately she just tried to avoid contact with him.

A small bowl of cherries was set in front of her, she looked up from her woking desk to find Chuck who said "Your sister sends them"

"Should I poison test them?" She joked, then got back to ordering some of Dan´s photos she was considering to include in her short. Vanessa knew for sure that she looked busy with papers and photos scattered in her desk and her head bowed while looking thoroughly at photos of Dan laughing, Dan pensive, etc.

She looked busy... So why was he still standing in front of her desk? Just leave already.

She felt Chuck sitting next to her. "Didn´t know you were this obssesed."

"It´s a project I´m working on." She said shortly, her words slighly coloured by irritation.

"Every newcomer director needs an alias." Chuck commented casually.

He´s bored, he spent all the cash he had in repairing that speakeasy. He only leaves the loft to supervise his inversion or hang out with a guy named Eric. And you ignoring him all the time? Not the nicest thing to do. Vanessa remebered Ruby´s words and looked at Chuck, he still looked like the pompous moron she despised, still well kept and wearing those eccentric clothes. But his eyes gave away how miserable he truly felt.

She might as well give it a try. "Yeah, I haven´t thought about it yet. Any suggestion?"

"Well, you always stroked me as a Trixie."

Vanessa snorted. Still unsure of which photo to choose

"Trixie McChesty."

So much for symphaty. She finally glanced at him, "I´m trying to become a director not a porn star."

"Both are decent jobs"

A few minutes later he added "I always thought that if a grew up to be a porn star I´d rename myself Baron Hotcock Von Hugenstein." He said faking wistfulness..

Vanessa scoffed, "You wanted to be a porn star?"

"Doesn´t everyone?"

Vanessa tried to imagine a younger Dan wanting to be a porn star. And shook her head because that was just not something Dan would think. "It´s kind of inaccurate. The name I mean"

"How would you know?" Chuck asked defensively.

Vanessa bit back a giggle, "Because you´re not a baron."

A chuckle scaped his lips and then added crossly "I could buy that title if I wanted to."

Vanessa rolled her eyes while he made comments about how a Baron was way better than being a Duke or Lord.

She sank again in her work, nodding from time to time and grinning when he said something funny. She threw a paper ball at him when he referred to Dan as a moralist ass with an inferiority complex.

So when he got up, grabbed her arm and not ungently dragged her to Ruby´s room she was too tired too struggle.

Once there, he let go of her and pulled from under the bed a white box. "This is it." He informed, holding a clear blue dress.

"Mmmm...So you like dresses, good for you. I have a job to finn-"

"You said you´d try it on."

"I didn´t say that."

"You nodded and said sure." Oh, crap. She had said it. But at the time she hadn´t been paying attention. Chuck had a resolute look, arguing would lead nowhere she decided.

"Fine, I´ll try it." She said, snatching the dress from his hands. "Get out."

Once he left the room Vanessa put on the material was very rich and heavy and doubtless expensive. It felt cold against her skin and she did up the laces. Finally she straightened up and shook out her hair. "Done," she half yelled.

Chuck entered, he looked startled. "It suits you," he said.

"It´s not my style really" she said, unsure

"Just look at the mirror," he said, gesturing towards the vanity table next to the bed.

Vanessa went up to it and looked at herself. And blushed. She had never understood how girls like Blair Waldorf could spend so much money on clothes, but now she did. Money was no object if a dress could make you look like this. The beautiful heavy fabric reflected the light like water and the deep violet shade suited her skin color. The dress clung in all the right places and fitted so well Vanessa had to congratulate whoever had made it. Not that she cared. She twirled in front of the mirror and watched the skirt flare out.

"Wow," she laughed.

Chuck was sitting on the bed watching her. She could see him reflected in the mirror. And the intensity of his stare made her nervious. "Well, I tried it. Though I don´t think it´ll fit you. You have wide shoulders."

Chuck snorted with laughter. "It´s not for me. I borrowed it from Blair´s wardrobe."

Suddenly Vanessa wanted the dress off her. She looked again at the mirror, did Blair look this good in the dress?

"Why?"

"There´s a sort of war going on regarding this little Marc Jacobs dress. I want her to lose"

Vanessa groaned "Not the dress talk again. Jenny pestered me all day about it. Says I´m the only female figure she can talk to about this." And then registered Chuck´s words. "Why´d you want her to lose? Weren´t you... I mean Dan told me you fight a lot... But..." she sighned, this wasn´t her business. She didn´t care.

"She won´t acknowledge what we are but when she realizes I´m the only one who can give everything she wants. Then she´ll say it." He had this miserable look on his face that made Vanessa feel desperately sorry for him, but what could she say?

He´s been through so much, you shouldn´t be so harsh with him.

Stupid Ruby.

Silence stretched unconfortably around them.

"If I learned anything this past years is that girl trouble can succesfully be solved with a coffe and a walk around the park." Vanessa offered, after all she needed a break.

"Fine." Said Chuck, eyes scanning her face.

"umm...let me get changed and we´ll be ready to go"

He nodded and exited the room.

Viii

"You could make an snow angel since you´re already on the floor." Vanessa´s voice from above Chuck´s head was harmonized with amusement.

"Funny," Chuck rolled over onto his back. He glanced at Vanessa who had ice crystals caught in her black curls and her gray eyes matched the frost blue winter sky.

"Yes, a lot." Vanessa laughed "I mean I´m surprised you haven´t got a fractured rib or something".

Chuck got up as gracefully as he could. "Park and coffe hasn´t made me forget how upset I am about Blair." Chuck held out a hand to Vanessa, who took it rather reluctanly. "Now, I choose where we´re going."

"Which is?"

"A surprise" he said in that tone and Vanessa fought the urge to laugh, as she had remembered one of Dan´s recent imitations of Chuck´s throaty voice.

They took a cab to the UES, where Christmass lights flashing emerald and garnet through the snow-spangled air

"Beautiful" Vanessa whispered.

"Yeah, no way to forget just how close Christmass is."

"Christmass" she groaned. "I haven´t bought any presents."

"Here it is." Chuck said, leadind her into a hotel she dimly remembered. After taking the lift to the tenth floor and Chuck slided a magnetic card to open the door.

A huge space opened up before them. It was an elegant room, all sparkling teak wood and dark oak and polished brass. A long bar ran across one wall, and behind it were shelves lined with row after row of liquor bottles: red Irish Gin, Italian wine, the best German beer. A tall glass vodka bottle the height of a man stood to one side of the bar and Chuck stared at Vanessa as she peered curiously around.

A tall woman stood behind the bar counter, wearing a shimmering silver top, and pouring a thin stream of pink liquid into a glass held by a fat bussiness man in an orange robe who sat cross-legged at the bar. As Vanessas´s eyes adjusted to the dimness she realized two things. One: that the bar was, aside from the bartender and a few waitresses, inhabited solely by men; there was not a girl to be seen. Two: that the girl behind the bar was not wearing a shimmer silver top after all; in fact, she was not wearing any top. She was clothed solely in her long glimmering wig and a pair of gold hotpants.

"Welcome to the cave," said Chuck indicating the bar with a sweep of his arm.

"What the hell" Vanessa exclaimed, taking a step back. "Why did you bring me to a men only bar?"

"Loosen up a little, Humphrey´s not around." said Chuck. He grabbed hold of the back of Vanessa´s coat and steered her firmly towards the bar. Finding an empty pair of stools next to the plump man with the pink cocktail, Vanessa sat down into a seat while Chuck leaned over the counter. "Beca" he said. "Drinks, over here."

The topless waitress turned around. "Charles!" she said, obviously pleased to see him. She hurried over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I haven´t seen you in ages. You´ve grown up so much"

Vanessa felt her patience wearing thin "How long have you been coming here"

"Believe it or not, my father used to conduct business deals here," said Chuck, accepting the barmaid´s kiss with the air of one to whom all homage is due. His eyes flicked expertly down the bar. "Right, then. One Scotch on the rocks," he said. "And..." He shot an analyzing look at Vanessa. "One Bloody Mary"

The bartending topless girl grinned. "Umbrella?"

"Sure. A violet one."

She winked at him. "Anything you want. And clever you, you got here before the show this time."

The show? thought Vanessa. Her eyes darted to the side and lit upon a small stage towards the shadowy end of the room. There were several tall poles set up on it, and far behind them was a small group of musicians. All men, as well. The one with the clarinet looked disturbingly like Rufus.

Dan had made her see enough bad movies to know what the poles were for. she slowly, disbelieveingly turned her head towards Chuck, who was rummaging in the pockets of his coat with an air of great unconcern. "Chuck" she said, restraining her anger "Is this a strip club?"

"Yup," said Chuck, and tossed a handful of cash on the counter. "That should hold us for a few rounds."

Vanessa tried to get off the tool but Chuck´s hand over hers stopped her. "Just a couple of toasts. I really need this." I dont want to be on my own tonight.

Vanessa sighned, she felt twenty years older than when she had woken up in the morning. And nodded "Just one toast" She clarified.

"Did you say a toast?" The silver-haired barmaid was back with a scotch in one hand and a red drink in the other. She set them down in front of Vanessa and Chuck and smiled. "How about a toast to the best looking couple I´ve ever seen? She´s quite a catch Charles. Finally a girl who shares your love for alcohol and promiscuity. And she´s hot too" When the barmaid winked at her, Vanessa winked back.

Chuck looked taken aback by her reaction but instead of making a comment he just ordered more drinks.

IX

Vanessa with the help of a neighbor, carried an inconcious Chuck to Ruby´s bed.

"What happened?" inquired Runy who was finishing her make up, she had a performance tonight.

"He got drunk." Vanessa explained. Then thanked Greg, and the blush on the guy´s cheeks went unnoiced. Greg left and Vanessa sighed.

"So he passed out?" Said Ruby who found the situation funny.

"Actually, he was awake but then in the cab he started to call me Nanny Hammilton and got to affectionate so I had to hit him inconcious."

"Good," Said Ruby who didn´t really pay attention. And before she walked out the door added "I´m not coming until next week, so, I guess I`ll see you... Then "

Vanessa waved goodbye and then went to her own bedroom. She needed to rest.

X

The bed dipped low as another body got in Vanessas´s bed, but she was way too deep into slumber to notice.

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Next Chapter: Vanessa and Chuck Fight, Dan makes a choice and Nate has a brief appearence.

Did you like this chapter? Then review! I`d love to read which part you liked the most.