A/N I own absolutely nothing, not Gossip Girl and not Elliott Smith (whose lyrics are my inspiration for each chapter)

Chuck had always been a master at observing people. He relished in his abilities to see through people's masks and therefore play up their weaknesses. But for the first time in his life, he wished that he didn't know how to read people. Lily was throwing a charity gala in the Palace Ballroom and the creme de la creme of society was there, including Nate and Blair. Chuck had resolved to let go of his beloved if Nate made her happy. To the untrained eye Blair was euphoric and dripping with love. But, Chuck Bass knew Blair Waldorf better than anyone else and all he saw was a girl trying desperately to be happy within her new life. She wanted stability and an easy relationship, but the price was her happiness.

Blair could feel Chuck watching her, and she was apprehensive of what he saw. She knew that he could always see through her disguise and that was the absolute last thing that she needed right now. Nate was sweet and caring but her relationship with him lacked passion. Despite what she had said, there were no sparks with Nate. He was vanilla ice-cream: sweet but bland at the same time. She wanted excitement and adventure and as much as she wanted her happy ending, it was starting to lose its appeal.

While Nate and Blair danced to a slow waltz, the perfect-looking couple, Chuck decided that he needed to pay his dear old sister a visit. "Sis, how wonderful to see you?" after years of "friendship" Chuck's smirk still had a tendancy to scare Serena.

"What do you want, Chuck?" his name spilling from her lips as a curse. She knew exactly what he wanted but she relished in torturing him.

"I was wondering if you've been paying attention to your supposed best-friend. She seems to be on the verge of a breakdown again. But, I'm sure that you're doing all you can to help her, by the way how is the European boyfriend of yours? I'm surprised he's not here, lately you can't have one without the other."

"Let it go, Chuck. Blair is happy right now, don't screw it up by planting doubts. She is enjoying a drama free relationship, I know that's hard for you to understand so just leave her alone." Serena was tired of the drama between Chuck and Blair and her bestfriend seemed happy. Sure she wasn't as happy as the week after the VanDerBass wedding, but she was satisfied with her rekindled romance and Serena was not going to let Chuck ruin it.

"Obviously you're blind. She is barely holding it together. It's written all over her face, surprising how her best friend can't see how unhappy she really is."

"Just stop Chuck! She's not your girlfriend, you have made that point crystal clear. So, stop obsessing over her, she's not yours and that's your own damn fault." Serena walked off towards the happy couple and left Chuck stewing in his stupidity.

She was absolutely right, it was his own fault that she had run back to Nate. He should have figured it out sooner, they had done this once why not once more. It was hard for him to believe that maybe Blair was happy, he just didn't want to see it. Could his perception of her be blinded by his broken heart. Why wouldn't she want something easy? He had put her through enough pain to last her a lifetime, now he had to accept the consequences of his actions. Shaking his head he retreated to the Palace penthouse a lost little boy. He had told Blair earlier that Nate and Blair's reunion reminded him of his role, now he truly felt that it was the only position he would ever hold. He didn't deserve a happy ending, but it was all that he wanted. No that wasn't true, all he wanted was a happy ending with Blair.

Blair watched Chuck retreat from the gala without his mask of indifference. For a fraction of a second, she dropped her own mask and displayed her sadness. But she couldn't deal with that now. He needed time to accept his faults, once he grew up she could be there for him again. Right now she needed comfort and Nate offered that in spades. So while her heart was with Chuck, she was determined to stay with Nate for the time being.