Chapter 3

Author's Note: I hope the characters don't seem too OOC but I want to show how they are finally growing up in this story. We've already seen bits and pieces of their maturity in previous episodes, I'm just speeding it up a bit. Btw, what is with these new episodes? I totally want new writers for the show.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement. This story is so much fun to write, if only the writers of the show could get their acts together.

Sillypandalover91 – Thanks, I'm so glad you liked that! I thought it was funny too =p

SKaylor95 – Thank you so much!

Roswell Dream Girl – Thanks!

Paranoidbychoice – Thanks you!

Caitlinc1991 – Thank you! Dair scheming is so much fun to write ;)

Lala – Thank you! They really do make the perfect team!

TriGemini – Thank you so much! The road to love will be hard for Chair and Derena but Dair is going to make them work for it in this story. Btw, the party scene was so much fun to write, especially the interactions of S and C.

7gifts – Thank you!

QueenBee10 – Thanks!

BimboBoop – Thank you so much! Chuck's redemption will happen in this story, just not as easily as he thinks it will be. He deserves all the suffering he gets. Thorpe's party will be pretty torturous for him ;)

Krazy4Spike – Thank you! I feel the same way about Chair on the show. I hope you like where this story is going.

LeftWriter224 – Thank you so much!

Chunky-pop – Thank you! I started writing this because the show was depressing and I needed to fix it. C and S need to learn the consequences of their actions and grow up. They also need to hurt like they made D and B hurt. I'm so glad you like it and want more =)

A True Dreamer – I'm sorry that you're disappointed but this will not be like my other Chair fic. C is going to have to work really hard to get B back while her friendship with D continues to grow. There will be lots of Dair moments so hopefully those will keep you coming back. Give it a chance =)

Disclaimer: I do not own Gossip Girl, or Ed Westwick – sigh.

XOXO

Blair arrived at the loft relatively early. She brought breakfast as well as their outfits. It took a lot of encouragement and some lighthearted teasing for Dan to wear the tux Blair acquired for him.

"I don't know about this, Waldorf," Dan said nervously as she deftly tied his bowtie. "I feel like a penguin."

"Only if that penguin is wearing Armani. This fits you perfectly, and we match," she told him in reference to his bowtie and cummerbund matching her gold dress.

"You don't think it's a bit much," he said as he continued to fidget. "It doesn't feel like me."

"One, stop fidgeting or the tux will wrinkle," she said as she ran her hands over his shoulders to straighten out his jacket. "Two, you look great. It may not be like your everyday look but you will fit in perfectly with this crowd. And three, I look amazing so nobody will looking at you."

"That you do, Waldorf," he said as he looked her up and down before devilishly wiggling his eyebrows at her, "That you do."

"Stop," she laughed as she playfully slapped his chest, "Now to do something with your hair."

"What's wrong with my hair?" he asked with a frown.

"You mean other than looking like you just rolled out of bed," she said as she took out a bottle of hair gel. "Don't you trust me?" she asked as she ran her hands through his hair and worked her magic.

"No part of any kind," he said, "I want to keep some authenticity here."

"Even if I wanted to part your hair it wouldn't stay," she said as she stepped back to admire her handiwork. "You clean up well, Dan. Take a look."

Dan checked himself out in the mirror and was impressed with what he saw. "I look like Chuck," he said with a slight scowl, "But it's just me."

"That's the best part," Blair told him as she stood next to him and looped her arm through his. "Now people will be able to see how great you are without your normally hideous wardrobe distracting them. Come on, we don't want to be late."

Dan watched as Blair methodically got her things together before she stopping at the door and motioning for him to hurry up.

"Let's do this," he said with a smile as he took her hand.

XOXO

Chuck's mind was reeling, he knew that Blair would be at the Thorpe party and was looking forward to talking to her. However, his confidence was in serious need of reassurance. He called Serena hoping to stop by the penthouse to maybe see Blair on her way out.

"Are you going to this party today?" Chuck asked soon as Serena picked up.

"Yes, I am, Chuck," she said. "But I don't have time to talk, I'm running late and still have to get ready."

"No worries," he said sensing his in, "I'm on my way over."

He hung up before Serena could tell him that Blair wasn't there, she was getting ready somewhere else, probably Brooklyn.

Serena had her hair and makeup done by the time Chuck arrived. She was struggling to zip up her dress when there was a knock on the door.

"Are you decent, sis?" he asked with a laugh as she opened the door and went back to struggling with the zipper.

"Turn around," Chuck said as he motioned with his hand.

"You're disgusting, Chuck," Serena said as she continued her struggle with her dress.

"I meant the zipper," he said quietly as he quickly helped her with it before sitting on the bed.

"Oh, thanks," she said sheepishly. "This whole thing with Dan and Blair really has me freaked. I'm trying not to get jealous but Dan was my first love, and I still love him. What if he and Blair start to develop real feelings for each other? I don't think I could handle it."

"I know how you feel," Chuck told her as he looked at his hands.

"Why is it that you have no trouble discussing your feelings with me or Nate but you won't talk about them with Blair?" she asked as she sat next to him.

"Because it's not the same. If I show Blair how I feel and she rejects me again, I won't be able to control what I do," he said. "And history shows it will be destructive to all parties involved."

"You need to grow up," Serena said as Chuck glared at her. "Don't look at me like that. You know it's true. We're no longer in high school, every decision we make has consequences, as we're now finding out."

"Have you already grown up?" he asked. "Because I liked you better before."

"Chuck, I'm serious. Blair's changed and I don't know if our friendship will ever be what it was. But I'm willing to try, no matter what. Even if she wants Dan," she couldn't help but flinch at the last part.

"Ugh," he sighed, "I hate that you are actually making sense. So, what are you saying? No matter what they do to try and make us jealous, we just take it. Because I don't do that."

"That is exactly what I'm saying we do. You have no idea how distraught Blair was when you flaunted Eva all over the place," Serena said accusingly. "That night you declared war on her she cried herself to sleep in my arms. Why do you think I made you guys sign that treaty? I secretly hoped you would beg for her forgiveness right then and there."

Now it was Chuck's turn to flinch but he remained quiet. Serena had remained silent on this topic long enough. She knew the only thing that would launch him into action, "If you don't start to change you'll see that you're slowly turning into Jack."

"How could you say that?" Chuck said as he stood up, horrified at what he was being accused of.

"Putting yourself over everyone else in your life with no regard for how they'll react or feel," she said as she raised her eyebrows and looked at him knowingly. "You should be horrified, Chuck. Don't become someone you won't want to face in the mirror."

"Stop pouting and fix this. Go to this party and show Blair that you want to be a better person for her. You said it yourself, I'm right," she gave him a shove out the door before closing it behind them. "Let's go."

XOXO

As soon as Blair and Dan entered the party she spotted Russell Thorpe.

"Mr. Thorpe," Blair said as she shook his hand, "My mother sends her deepest regrets that she was unable to join us today. There was crisis at the atelier that needed her immediate attention."

"I understand," he said with a smile, "Business must come first. And who is this young man?" he asked in reference to Dan.

"This is Dan Humphrey, my date," she said as Dan reached out to shake his hand.

"I think I just met your father, Rufus Humphrey," he said questioningly.

"That you did," Dan said as he scanned the room for them.

"They went upstairs," Russell said, "Your mother and stepbrother were having a rather heated discussion and wanted some privacy. If you'll excuse me, I see someone I haven't said hello to yet. Do enjoy the party."

"I'm guessing Eric didn't start something with Lily so it must be Chuck," Dan reasoned. "Do you want to find them? I probably should say hello to my dad."

"No," she said quickly, "You go. I have to say hello to some of my mother's business associates. Just make sure you come back."

"Of course," he said with a wink as he kissed her cheek, "What kind of date do you think I am?"

Meanwhile, the heated argument Chuck and Lily were having was about the deal he made with Russell.

"How could you go behind my back and do this, Charles?" Lily asked in a dangerously low voice.

"Go behind your back," Chuck retorted, "What happened to 'I'll sign the company over to you after you graduate high school?' You did this to yourself, Lily."

"You don't know what you're doing," she said, desperate to remain in control of the situation that was slowly unraveling in front of her.

"It's already done," Chuck said. "The board agreed to the sale and Russell signed a contract stipulating that as soon as I have the capital to buy Bass Industries from him I will. There is nothing left to discuss with you. Goodbye."

"Charles," she called after him but he didn't look back.

"Nice going, mom," Serena said. "Now you've lost two of your children."

"Better make that three," Eric said as he finally spoke. "I can only forgive you for so much, mom. But this time you really overstepped."

"Chuck," he called.

"What?" Chuck cried as he turned around only to soften his expression when he saw his stepbrother.

"Thank you for finally putting her in her place," he said. "If anyone could do it, it'd be you."

"Listen, Eric," Chuck said quickly, "I'd love to catch up with you but I need to find Blair. Let's plan lunch sometime this week."

And with that Chuck was gone. "Are you okay?" Serena asked as she put her arm around her brother.

"I'm fine," he told her quietly, "I think I'm going to go home though."

"Want me to go with you?" she asked.

"No, stay," he said. "I know you want to find Dan. I'll call you later."

After a quick hug he disappeared into the crowd as Serena scanned the room for her ex-boyfriend.

Little did she know she and Dan were crossing paths.

While Lily excused herself to regain her composure, Rufus was left on his own when he spotted Dan.

"You came," Rufus said happily as he hugged Dan. "Did you come with Serena?"

"No, I came with Blair," he told his father as he smiled at her from the balcony.

"Blair Waldorf?" Rufus asked with confusion as he saw Blair smile back. "Really?"

"It's not what you think," Dan said. "I'll explain later, I just wanted to say hi. What's going on with Lily? I heard she was arguing with Chuck."

"I'm surprised it took him this long to confront her," Rufus said sadly. "Lily has always had this way of micromanaging everyone around her without realizing the catastrophic ramifications her actions tend to have. What do you say we head to the loft? It's been a while since we caught up."

"I'd love to, dad, but I have plans with Blair after this," he told him. "But we'll meet up sometime this week. I'll call you."

Dan disappeared while Rufus was left alone again. "Some things never change," he said as he raised his champagne flute to the couple passing by him, smiling as they exchanged confused expressions with each other.

"Dan," Blair called as he walked towards her, "I want you to meet David Remnick. He's the editor," but was cut off by Dan.

"Of the New Yorker," he said as he felt his mouth go dry. "It is an absolute pleasure to meet you, sir. I've been reading your magazine since, well, since I could read."

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well," Remnick said. "Your piece in the 20 under 20 feature was one of my favorites. Ms. Waldorf tells me that you haven't obtained an internship yet. If you're interested, I'm sure I could find something for you to do with us."

"Am I interested? Yes," Dan told him with a nervous laugh, "Of course."

"Do you mind if I borrow your date?" he asked Blair before turning his attention to Dan. "I would love to hear what you're working on now. I'm always interested in what the young talent is up to these days."

Blair smiled as Dan and David sat on one of the couches and began talking animatedly. She spotted another one of her mother's business associates and made small talk with them while Dan impressed the editor of The New Yorker.

XOXO

On the other side of the party, Chuck was trying to shake Raina off without insulting her father. With the contracts signed that morning, Chuck knew he didn't have to remain diplomatic but he wasn't about to jeopardize his only opportunity at regaining control of Bass Industries.

"No one rejects me," Raina said getting too close for his comfort. "I expected more from Chuck Bass."

"As I told you in Australia, I already have someone in my life," he said as he tried to find Blair.

"The Waldorf girl," she said faintly, "Wants nothing to do with you. She's been avoiding you all day."

"That doesn't mean I'm going to stop trying," Chuck said with determination as he spotted Blair. "If you'll excuse me, enjoy the rest of the party."

"I've been trying to find you since I got here," he said earnestly when he reached her.

"Funny, I've been trying to avoid you since I got here," Blair said as she maintained her composure. "How is your date, Chuck? I saw you with Thorpe's daughter when I came in."

"She's not my date," he said. "I came here with Serena. We need to talk, Blair."

"No, we don't," she said coldly, determined not to get drawn back in by his charm. "I was just saying my goodbyes. Dan is getting my coat and then we're leaving."

"Why are you really here with Brooklyn?" Chuck asked her as he grabbed her arm when she started to walk away.

"No, Chuck," she said as she pulled away from him and looked over his shoulder to Dan, "You don't get to question me about this when I've seen you with Thorpe's daughter all night. When you decide to stop whoring around then maybe we can talk about what could be with us. Until then, use protection," she whispered in his ear as she caressed his face, causing him to shiver.

She walked away from him trying to fight off the tears she could feel forming. 'Damn that mother-chucker for saying exactly what I want to hear,' she thought to herself.

"Let's go," Blair said as Dan helped her get her coat on.

He knew that Chuck was still watching them so he leaned in close to her and whispered, "Do you think our plan is working?"

"You can bet your life on it," she said as she drew him in for a passionate kiss before leading them out to her waiting car.

Serena and Chuck walked towards each other as they felt their hearts breaking.

"I did not see that coming," Serena said as she sat down.

"Neither did I," Chuck replied sadly.

XOXO

They sat silently in the car until Dan spoke, "So. That was, what was that?"

"That was," she said slowly, "Unexpected. I don't know what came over me, I just decided to go with it."

"That's fine with me," he let her know with a grin. "Now that we've gone public so to speak, what are you going to say when they ask you about this?"

"Nothing," Blair said, "What Chuck and Serena think is happening is worse than what's really happening."

"And what will they think is happening?" Dan asked, intrigued at how cool Blair was playing it.

"That we're sleeping together," she answered.

"And why would they think that?" Dan coughed nervously.

"Because," she replied as she finally looked at him, "Aside from our little show back there, you are taking me home tonight. We are going back to the loft to watch your collection of classic French films."

"We are?" he asked.

"We are. That way when they ask what we did we can honestly say we were up all night having an amazing time. They don't need to know what film nerds we are," she said before adding with a glare, "And don't even think of telling anyone I called myself a nerd."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Waldorf," Dan said with a smile as he nudged her arm. "I know what you're capable of."

Please review to let me know if you want me to continue and what you want to see next.