Chapter 7

Author's Note: I am so happy the writers on the show are finally getting their acts together =) Next week's episode looks amazing, finally that Chair jealously we all love, want, and need! And maybe some Dair action ;)

Jwoo2525 – Thank you! I really miss the Chuck and Eric dynamic as well. I basically miss how the characters were season one, they were so much better then. And the Empire just has too many bad memories that it has to be sold.

Krazy4Spike – Thanks for the details! They do have a lot more to say to each other before they can get on with their romance.

Bloodyhell95 – Thank you, that's what I was going for!

QueenBee10 – Thanks!

TriGemini – Thanks so much for the detailed feedback! The double date scene is fun, especially the buildup to it ;)

Rainy0vivian – Thank you! I agree, I love Dair's friendship but Chair and Derena will always be endgame for me =)

Vafolife123 – Thank you, thank you thank you!

D4s – Thank you! There is DS interaction in this chapter just for you, let me know how I did as I'm used to writing Chair or Dair ;)

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

XOXO

Gossip Girl here with an update on our favorite power couple. C and B were spotted over the weekend in Central Park. It appears that they are on speaking terms once again. C was left sporting a huge grin on his face as he watched his Queen walk away. Can we look forward to a happily ever after for these two or will they self-destruct once again? Look out Lonely Boy, your Queen might be in need of a savior from the other side of the bridge. As always, I'll keep you updated. You know you love me, XOXO, Gossip Girl.

"Miss Blair," Dorota said as she stepped into Blair's bedroom, "Can I ask question how you are?"

"You saw the blast," Blair said as she looked up from her textbook. "Sit."

"I miss much now that I no longer live here," Dorota said as she sat on the chaise. "First you and Lonely Boy now Mr. Chuck back."

"It's not like that, Dorota," Blair told her. "Dan is only a friend and I'm not really sure what Chuck is anymore. All I know is that he wants to try, and so do I."

She rummaged through her drawer to show Dorota the note he wrote her. "Here," she said, "What are your thoughts on this?"

After reading it over she looked up and said, "Only man in love would walk 70 blocks in freezing cold. Concierge tell me everything."

She laughed before saying, "I'm so torn. I want him back so badly but it's harder to forget the past than I thought."

"You don't need to forget to forgive," Dorota said. "That is what is hard part, the forgiving."

"That it is," Blair said as she stared in front of her.

"What do you want, Miss Blair?" Dorota asked, getting her attention once more, "Who make you happy? That most important."

"I want Chuck, I do," she said as if she were trying to convince herself, "But I want what we had. In my heart I've already forgiven him. It's the moving past everything that's happened that I'm struggling with. And I know I sound like a broken record but these thoughts are on a constant loop in my head."

"Miss Blair," Dorota said gently, "I take care of you all your life. And I never see you so happy as when Mr. Chuck with you. But you just say word and I block him from penthouse," Dorota said as she made fists and an angry face.

"Thank you, but that won't be necessary," Blair told her. "If you don't mind, I want to get back to studying. I have an economics exam next week."

"I bring you coffee," Dorota said as she stood up before kissing the top of Blair's head. "Everything will work out. You see."

XOXO

Blair was on her way to Dean and Deluca for lunch when she spotted Chuck in the lobby, waiting for her.

"Chuck," she said as she stopped in front of him, "What are you doing here?"

"I just came from a meeting and thought that I could catch you during your lunch break," he said.

"Oh," she said as she motioned for him to walk with her, "Who was the meeting with?"

"Sean MacPherson," he told her as they walked outside.

"His club used to be in the Empire," she said as they walked up Broadway.

"It was. He wants it back there so he's looking for investors to buy the hotel," he said.

"So you really are selling it," she said quietly, happy that she would no longer have to visit that place to see him in the future.

"I told you I was. There's too much baggage attached to it," he replied as they made eye contact. "I'm moving into one of the apartments at the Palace tomorrow, you should stop by."

"Sure," she said noncommittally as he opened the door to Dean and Deluca. "Do you want anything?" she asked as she placed her order.

"Let me," he said as he ordered a cappuccino and took out his wallet.

"Thanks," she said as she took a sip of her latte.

"How are you?" he said as they sat at a small table in the corner studying her face. He could see her dark circles under the concealer she used to hide them.

"I'm okay," she told him. "I hardly sleep because I'm so busy with Vogue and I've been studying for an economics exam but that's expected. I'm on my way to becoming who I want to be." 'And closer to going back to you,' she added to herself.

"That's good to hear," he said as he leaned forward. "How did the exam go?"

"I got an A, as I expected," she told him with a smile. "What's going on with you and Bass Industries? Serena told me that you were able to work out a deal to save it. Do I get details?"

"Of course you get details, you get whatever you want," he said somewhat shyly. "I'm working with Russell Thorpe and his daughter Raina. I sent the Captain the latest contract but I'm hesitant on signing it."

"Why?" she asked.

"Because I would get control of the company sooner but I'd have to give Thorpe 20% of controlling shares," he said. "I'm hoping that with the sale of the Empire and other holdings of mine that I won't need to do that."

"Are you selling Victrola?" she asked before she could stop herself from blushing. That place would always hold a special place in her heart.

"Never," he smirked, "We have good memories there."

"You could say that's where we started," she said avoiding his eyes.

"It is where we started," he said as he reached for her hand. "When are we going to talk about us again, Blair? I miss you every day and I know that you feel the distance between us as well."

"I need time, but I do want to be with you," Blair said nervously. "Are you still okay waiting for me?"

"For as long as it takes," he stated. "I won't let anything get between us this time."

"I'm happy to hear you say that. And to know you mean it is the best part. We do have a lot more to talk about but I need to get back to the office. Walk with me?" she asked as she stood up.

He smiled as he stood up and held out his elbow to her, which she took and held the whole walk back to Vogue.

XOXO

Serena hadn't seen much of Dan since their talk at the penthouse. She understood how he felt. For most of their relationship he was always the one who made the effort, even when they weren't dating he was still there whenever she needed him.

She remembered what his favorite coffee bar was and that he liked to hang out there in between his classes. She got there at about 10am and was on her third cup of tea when she saw him walk through the door.

"Dan," she called happily as she stood up.

"Serena," he called back as he walked over to give her a hug. "What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you," she told him sheepishly, "I wanted to talk to you."

"Oh," he said as he put his bag on the other chair. "I'll be right back."

He came back with a cup of coffee and said, "It's good to see you."

"Dan," she started, "This is all new to me. I don't know what I'm supposed to do here. All I know is that I want to be with you. Tell me how we can move past what's happened."

"I want to be with you too," he said, "But we owe it to ourselves not to jump in this time."

"We tend to do that," she said with a face. "And it never did end well for us when we did that."

"No," he chuckled, "Which is why I want to do everything possible to prevent it this time. How do you feel about that?"

"Happy," she squealed as she laughed like a four year old. "I'm not the only one who wants us to work."

"No, you're not," he said. "So tell me everything you've been up to. We have a lot of catching up to do."

"We do," she said as she touched his hand while they spent the entire afternoon catching up with each other.

XOXO

Blair and Dan met up for drinks at their usual spot. This time Chuck and Serena didn't interrupt them.

"I saw Chuck today," Blair told him, "He was waiting for me in the lobby of Conde Nast when I went to lunch."

"Is this a good thing or a creepy thing?" Dan asked trying to suppress his grin.

"Little bit of both, I think," she said. "It's nice spending time with him but I feel like we're in limbo with no plan to escape it. I'm struggling with just being his friend."

"Why?" he asked as he leaned forward resting his chin on his hand.

"Because," she started, "I'm still angry for the things he did last year but don't know how to bring them up to move past it without provoking an argument. And on top of all that I think I've forgiven him, but he doesn't know that yet."

"Maybe you need to hash out what happened," he told her, "And then put everything behind you after you tell him you've forgiven him."

"I know that you are making a sound case but I don't want any new arguments to drive us further apart," she said. "Ugh, this is so confusing."

"What does Chuck think about all this?" Dan asked.

"He's actually the one who brought up talking about everything," she told him. "I told him that I had to get back to the office and that we'll talk about it later."

"I know that Serena has been trying with you. Tell me about what's going on with you two," Blair demanded.

"I actually came here from seeing her," he said. "She was waiting for me at the coffee shop I like near NYU. We talked, and I think we are at about the same place as you and Chuck. Just with a little less aggression."

"Watch it," Blair snapped before smirking, "Continue."

"I told her how I feel, she knows that I'll always love her," Dan said. "It's like you and Chuck, I need to know that she's willing to fight for us, relationships aren't one-sided."

"That they are not," she stated. "At least they get it now. Let's just hope that they don't lose momentum when they see it's not as easy as they think."

"Shouldn't we be having this conversation with them?" Dan asked. "What we're saying is stuff that would help them."

"We should, but it's not up to us to help them. They need to navigate this on their own. Anyways, it's easier to talk this through with you before I talk with Chuck," Blair told him.

"Agreed. On a more random note, do you realize that the people we're in love with were our firsts?" Dan asked her.

"Yes," she said with a laugh, "That fact wasn't lost on me. And in a way we were their firsts as well. First real relationship that is."

They continued reminiscing about their relationships and their newfound friendship as they ordered dessert.

Dan and Blair continued talking until the restaurant closed and they took separate cabs home, eager to get to sleep for they had to be at their internships early the next morning.

XOXO

"Howard," Chuck said with surprise as the Captain approached him, "It's good to see you."

"When were you going to tell me about this?" Howard asked angrily as he pushed a stack of papers into Chuck's chest.

"What are you talking about?" Chuck asked as he looked at the papers.

"Where did you get the capital to buy Bass Industries outright from Russell Thorpe?" Howard asked. "Please tell me you didn't do anything illegal, kid."

"I didn't do this," Chuck said slowly, "I just sent over the contract Raina's lawyers drew up. Didn't you get it?"

"I did," Howard told him, "After I got this so that contract is moot."

"Is this document real?" Chuck asked with disbelief. "Am I finally in control of Bass Industries?"

"That you are," he said. "Congratulations, you are the sole owner of the company."

"Wait," Chuck called as Howard walked away from him, "I need you with me when I meet with the board. I'm calling an emergency meeting for this afternoon. We have a lot to catch up on before then."

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