A/N: I'm BACK! I've been gone a long time…totally MIA. I've been so swamped with end of the school year stuff and finals………Well, anyway, I had a bunch of stuff sitting and screaming at me to post. I just had to type up my completed updates…so this is chapter six. There are going to be nine chapters total, and two of the final three are already written so they should be up soon. If you recall this began just after I believe episode 1x13 or 1x12…so no reconciliation or Non-Judging Breakfast Club bonding…However, since the C-B-N triangle was so prominent near the end of Season 2 I had to use some of the canon stuff and twist it to fit my storyline so look out for allusions to season 2 in the next couple chapters. Now onto chapter six…Enjoy! R&R! Thanks! –Mac
Disclaimer: I don't own Gossip Girl.
Chapter Six
A Problem Arises
Blair and Nate entered Blair's apartment not long after leaving the Bass Industries celebration. They had stayed until the party had begun to clear out, leaving only when Chuck, Serena and the rest of the honored family exited as well. Blair was exhausted and in the back of her mind hoped Nate would call it a night soon. She had promised Serena brunch for the following day, and she already had plans to meet with her mother in the evening. Yet Nate seemed to be making himself comfortable, shedding his formal jacket and settling in on her couch. Feeling in no position to ask him to leave, she made no objection. Blair set aside her things and walked around to sit next to Nate. She was tired but that didn't mean she really wanted him to go.
"Are you going to take Chuck's offer?" Blair asked the question that had been on her mind since it had fallen from Chuck's lips.
"I don't know," Nate answered, "Working with Chuck, having him as a boss, that's not the most appealing thing in the world."
Blair nodded, "You were at least civil to each other tonight, and that was a step. You could probably handle working together if you really try."
"I have to admit, it's probably the best offer I've gotten so far," Nate replied, "I'll probably go in on Monday, see what he's willing to offer and then make a final decision."
"That's a smart move," Blair agreed. "Chuck was being completely sincere. He'll probably set you up with a good deal."
"Sure," Nate nodded, and then turned his body completely to face Blair. "Now let's talk about Chuck anymore tonight. I'm sure we can find something more appealing to do."
"Like what?" Blair asked playfully.
Nate grinned, "I don't know, but I think we'll be able to think of something with the right inspiration."
Nate leaned forward and kissed Blair lightly on the lips. He pulled back slightly to look her in the eyes. One of his hands reached up gently grasp the back of her neck, tangling slightly in her curls. The other slipped around her to rest on the small of her back, pulling her even closer to him. When he kissed her the second time, there was a new urgency and passion present that hadn't been there in his kisses before. It caught Blair off guard but she returned the kiss with equal fervor.
When they broke apart to breathe, Blair was gently panting. Nate had never made her feel so on fire in the past. Nate began to trail kisses down her neck and along the neckline of her dress. Blair sighed and closed her eyes against the sensation it created. The next thing she knew, Nate had pressed her down into the couch. His hands had moved to grasp the hem of her dress, and, as he went back to kissing her lips, he started to slowly pull up her dress.
Blair broke away to say, "I thought we were taking things slow."
"We are," Nate answered, "We were. I think we've taken things slow enough already. And I have no problem taking this slow."
His fingers lightly brushed against the bare skin of her thighs and set a chill up her spine. Blair let out a breathy moan and her hands moved to grasp his shirt. With her dress pushed up around her waist, he began to move his fingers along her skin again. Blair was in a state of mild disbelief—no one had mad her feel such an aching desire besides Chuck—
Blair bolted upright, moving slightly away from Nate and keeping his hands out of dangerous territory. He pulled back with a look of surprise on his face—which quickly morphed into a frown. Blair quickly pulled her dress back down to its appropriate length. She took a deep calming breath, hoping to steady her shaking hands.
"Is something wrong?" Nate asked, trying to catch Blair's eyes. She was staying perfectly still with her gaze focused on her hands.
"I think this may be too much, too soon," Blair answered quietly, "Not that I don't want to, I do. I just think I'm not ready for this yet."
"Okay," Nate nodded, running his hands through his hair, "Okay. We don't have to do anything you're not ready for."
"Thank you," Blair murmured. She finally looked up at him, "I'm sorry."
"No," Nate responded, "You have nothing to apologize for. I shouldn't have pushed. We'll take that next step when you're ready."
Blair nodded, "You're such a gentleman Nate."
"I try," Nate smiled, "I should go. It's getting late."
"Yeah, you're right," Blair said as she stood up to walk Nate to the door.
He grabbed his jacket and they headed for the door. Blair opened it for him and he stepped out into the hall. They stood in the open doorway silently for a few brief moments. Then Nate leaned in and placed a short, gentle kiss on her lips. Blair wanted to breathe a sigh of relief. This was the Nate she was accustomed to.
"Goodnight, Blair," Nate replied.
"Goodnight Nate."
As Nate headed down the hall to the elevator, Blair stepped back into her apartment and closed the door. After she clicked the locks into place, she leaned her forehead against the cool wood of the door. She had known there was a potential for trouble when she began her relationship with Nate. She just never thought the trouble would be with her.
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"There's a problem," Blair said.
She was in the middle of her brunch with Serena and had been dying to get her friend's advice. She wasn't sure she could trust Serena's opinion, as her romantic experience rounded out to a hundred nameless guys; the subject of Blair's questioning, and Lonely Boy Humphrey. Yet, Blair needed someone to talk to about the situation she was in. The only other person she might have been comfortable confiding in was Chuck and she was reluctant to involve him in a any issues between her and Nate, especially when he was likely to come up. So Serena would have to do.
Serena's eyes had widened, "What kind of problem? Did Chuck try to make a move on you? Did Nate and him get in a fight? Did Nate forbid you from seeing Chuck?"
"Thank you Serena for the wild speculation," Blair cut in, "But none of the above."
"Then what's wrong?" Serena questioned.
"I think I'm the problem," Blair answered.
Serena frowned when Blair offered no further explanation, "How are you a problem?"
"Last night, after the party, Nate came up to my apartment and things," Blair glanced around to make sure no one was listening in, "got a little heated."
Serena raised an eyebrow, "Really? So he wanted things to move a little faster finally. I'm still not seeing the problem."
"Well, I was surprised that he was being so forward and assertive. He was never like that before, not even the one time we…It was just different," Blair explained, "It reminded me more of…"
"No!" Serena exclaimed.
"I know," Blair agreed, feeling slightly ashamed, "I had one quick thought about him and I couldn't go through with it. I had to stop Nate and tell him I wasn't ready. I didn't want to lie to him S, but how is a person supposed to explain something like that?"
"You don't," Serena responded. "There is no need to cause unnecessary problems. Nate has enough insecurities when it comes to Chuck and you, don't add to it with such a nonissue. It was a nonissue, right? It was only one quick through, right?"
"Right, of course wait…how do you know Nate has 'insecurities' about Chuck and me?" Blair questioned.
"He told me B," Serena said simply "When you and Chuck were dancing, he told me he needed me to talk to him about something generic to keep his mind off the fact that, and I quote, 'Chuck has his hands all over her.' So I told him about the time Eric brought home his new boyfriend to meet my mom and Bart. He's not pleased that you're around Chuck, but he's not going to stop you because he knows you care about your friendship to Chuck."
"He told you that?" Blair replied quietly.
Serena nodded, "And I can see where he's coming from. You and Chuck were always close even before you began an intimate relationship. Nate doesn't want to lose you to that…again."
"He shouldn't worry so much…" Blair began.
"Honestly, B, Can you blame him?" Serena asked.
Remembering the flare of jealousy she felt watching Nate and Serena's interactions, Blair sighed, "No."
"What I'm afraid of is Chuck knows that Nate feels that way and will use it against him," Serena said. "Because that job offer was out of the blue."
"Chuck's not like—" Blair began to say, but when Serena looked at Blair pointedly, she corrected herself. "So, he is like that, but his offer was sincere."
"The offer may have been sincere, but he never specified what kind of job he was willing to give," Serena reminded.
"I don't think Chuck would do anything that cruel to Nate," Blair shook her head.
"Well you know him better than I do. And I may be a bias opinion," Serena shrugged.
Blair took a deep breath, "I'll speak to Chuck about it before Nate goes in to speak to him."
"That's probably a good idea," Serena agreed.
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After an exhausting evening with her mother, Blair called Chuck to meet her for drinks at the palace bar. A part of her called because she wanted to be sure that the whole job thing wasn't going to be just another area of strife between Chuck and Nate. And a different part of her called because he was the only person she could relax and have a drink with after a stressful day. She made her offer and he immediately agreed. From her mother's, Blair headed straight to the Palace. When she arrived, Chuck was waiting with a half full scotch already in front of him. She made her way across the bar to take a seat next to him.
"I hope you don't mind that I started without you," Chuck commented, holding up his drink.
"It's no problem," Blair waved it off. "I'll catch up."
"Your mother giving you a hard time?" Chuck asked, gesturing over the bartender.
"When is she not?" Blair responded before ordering her drink, "She makes me wish I could inhale an entire bottle of this stuff and still make it into the studio tomorrow with my head screwed on straight."
"I didn't know you were such an alcoholic, Waldorf," Chuck smirked.
"I'm not," Blair remarked dryly, rolling her eyes, "But if I was, I could definitely make a good case for blaming my mother."
"Hear, hear," Chuck replied, "I consistently blame my father for my rather self destructive habits, he disagrees. And oddly enough, we both agree that you deserve the credit for evoking my more redeeming qualities."
Blair blushed slightly and busied herself with sipping her drink. Finally she responded, "You're a good person Chuck, you just have to choose to act that way."
"Maybe you're the only person who's ever motivated me to be a better person," Chuck stated, downing his drink and placing the glass on the bar.
Blair wasn't sure how she should reply to that statement, so she didn't. Instead, she brought up what she had come to talk about. "So, about this offer you made Nate…"
"Like I said, it's a legitimate offer," Chuck responded, "Is he going to take it?"
"He wants to know what kind of position you're going to offer before he decides. He's coming in to hear your proposal and is going to make a final decision then," Blair explained.
"But you want to know now whether I am going to screw him over or not," Chuck concluded.
"Well, yes," Blair nodded.
"Blair, I will be completely honest with you. Bass Industries could use a man like Nathaniel. I've been keeping tabs on him—with his degree and some of the experience he gained while in California, he would be an asset," Chuck said, "I will find an open position worthy of his qualifications or I will make one."
Blair smiled, "You would do all that for Nate?"
"You forget Blair, he was the one who cut ties with me," Chuck replied. "If I ever thought there was a chance that we could be friends again, I myself would initiate the truce. Nathanial was always like a brother to me. It killed me that I hurt him the way I did. It hurts, but I don't believe he'll ever forgive me."
"I'm sorry, Chuck," Blair murmured. She knew she should feel ashamed by the part she played in their falling out, but the only things Chuck's short speech brought to mind were flashes of silk slips, fiery kisses and the backseats of limos.
"It's not your fault Waldorf," Chuck shook his head, "We both knew what we were getting into. And you and Nate are working things out now, so I'm not bothered by what did or didn't happen in the past."
Blair stared down into her drink. After a few moments she picked the glass up and drank what was left down. She pushed the empty glass away from her. Chuck ordered another round and they both sat silently swirling their drinks. Blair's thoughts strayed to the events of the previous night and her conversation earlier in the day. She frowned slightly—she didn't know what to make of the path her thoughts on either matter were taking.
"Is there something else on your mind, Blair?" Chuck's voice broke her out of her daze.
"What? No," Blair responded, shaking her head clear of the jumbled thoughts.
Chuck tilted his head to the side, "Why don't I believe you?"
"Because you have trust issues?" Blair suggested, hoping to draw him off topic.
"I'm not the one with trust issues," Chuck retorted, staring Blair down pointedly.
"Right," Blair replied, 'You're the one with commitment issues."
"Ouch," Chuck responded, "Harsh, but very nearly true."
"Nearly?" Blair raised an eyebrow.
"I won't commit to a person who is wrong for me in the long term," Chuck answered, "But the right one? I would in a heartbeat. Maybe that wasn't the case in the past, but now, I feel that is the truth. However, that's not relevant to my question. You look as if your mind is racing. There's something wrong, something else."
"There is something, but I don't feel comfortable discussing it with you," Blair shook her head, "Besides, it's not important."
"I beg to differ," Chuck replied, "That look on your face says it's very important. But if you don't want to talk about it. I'll leave it alone."
"Thank you," Blair said. "I appreciate that, especially when coming from you."
"I learned a long time ago that Blair Waldorf never does anything she doesn't want to do," Chuck shrugged, "To try to force her to would be a pointless waste of energy."
"Right you are," Blair agreed.
"I will say," Chuck began, "If it's a problem involving Nate, which I'm sure it is, then it will work itself out. Because you're an intelligent woman Blair and you already have the solution. You just don't know it yet."
