A long time ago, we used to be friends

Just remember me when you're good to go'.

The hot sun slanted against the perfect green of a wide lawn, reflcted off the deep blue of a large swimming pool. Chuck leaned back against his sun lounger, spiked lemonade in hand and dark glasses tilted over his face.

He and Carter had celebrated their first night in the Hamptons in style. Chuck hadn't bothered making excuses before slipping out of his mother's housewarming party - an excuse to pick up more admirers, more like - and she'd neither noticed nor cared that he was gone. He doubted she'd start noticing till Blair arrived.

She was somewhere in the depths of their large house working off her own hangover.

Nate and Serena were arriving later that day - he had no doubt they were still in bed together at the moment. He entertained himself imagining their morning; his best friends separately never failed to amuse him, and together they reminded him of a pair of golden retrievers. They'd probably wake up to feed each other whatever was in the refirgerator, have messy sex on the kitchen counter and flop to the floor exhausted before starting the whole thing again. Lily was skiing with her latest husband - she'd taken Eric with her, for a change - so they had the van der Woodsen penthouse to themselves.

Chuck could practically picture them lounging on the floor, Serena's long legs, Nate's messy hair and one shirt between them. We should really get ready. Mmm. I'm hungry. Half an hour later. We should really get ready. Mmm. I'm hungry. No, they wouldn't be here till late afternoon.

He glanced up as Carter sauntered in, looking equally worse for wear. He dropped onto the opposite lounger with his own sunglasses.

"You sure know how to pick them," he sighed as he flexed his back.

Chuck spared him a glance. "Are you referring to the blonde or red-head?" he enquired. Though in truth, last night was still a bit of a haze. Definitely a sign of a good time.

"I'm not sure," the other man mused. "I think it was a blonde knocking at the door just now." His eyes fell on Chuck's drink. "I want one of those."

Chuck knew his friend. "Carter," he ground. "Did you let her in?"

Carter reached out and took Chuck's lemonade off him with a slight smirk. "Was I not supposed to?"

Chuck barely had time to swear before a shrill voice cut through the tranquility.

"Chuckie!" Oh, shit. She flung herself onto his lap, this girl whose face he didn't even remember, and smothered his look of disgust in kisses. "Miss me?"

"No."

She laughed, and even Carter winced at the sound. "You're such a joker!"

"He's hilarious," Carter muttered as he got to his feet. Even annoying Chuck wasn't worth this. "Ok, blondie. Party's over." She pouted and tried to kiss Chuck again; Carter groaned under his breath.

"But it looked like such fun."

And that was definitely not the blonde speaking.

At the unamused voice both boys spun round - and there, by the door, stood Blair Waldorf. Arms folded, hair immaculate in a white headband. She did not look impressed.

Carter swiftly put down the lemonade, moving to greet her.

"Sis." He recovered his shock as he wrapped her in a hug. He was a good bit taller than her, eyes blue rather than brown - but they had the same dark hair and intelligence. "What are you doing here? I thought I booked you for the Jitney this afternoon."

She gave him a look. "And I'm sure you didn't want me interupting your hangover, but Blair Waldorf does not take public transport. I had James pick me up."

At that, Carter's eyes narrowed. "I fired James." Blair had told him the sleazebag kept hitting on her.

"I know," she smiled sweetly. "He works for me now. And he was all too happy to reduce his fee after you dismissed him so unfairly."

Chuck couldn't stop his smirk as Carter glowered in disbelief. He went to push the girl off his lap so he could greet Blair properly. Blair spared her and her skimpy bikini the briefest of glances, acidic, and the blonde grinned and scurried off; but Chuck was already taking in Blair as he moved to take her hand.

She looked good.

Hell, she looked gorgeous. Those same wide brown eyes and dark curls, but the slip of a pre-teen he remembered her as had been replaced with slender curves tucked neatly into a deep blue sailor's dress cinched with a white belt. Skype dates and phone calls over the years had definitely not been sufficient. He made a mental note - over-dressed for the Hamptons. Serena would probably arrive in a bikini. And he was rather looking forward to seeing Blair's.

"Bass." Her own greeting was cool.

Wickedly, he went to kiss her hand. His lips pressed against the smooth skin as he grinned down into those eyes. "Long time no see."

She gazed back up at him for a moment, before she withdrew her hand. "I told James to take my luggage to the East Wing," she informed Carter, already turning.

"Those are Chuck's rooms," her brother pointed out. Lazily, though - he was never one for solving dispute. Only provoking it. And they all knew who's side he'd be on anyway, stolen drivers notwithstanding.

"Although," Chuck added smoothly, "I'd be happy to share." He caught Blair's eye once again.

Carter rolled his own.

"He can take the West Wing." The brunette responded as though Chuck hadn't spoken.

"Now, now, Waldorf-" Chuck went to catch her arm. He really had missed her.

But from the slant of those familiar eyes, clearly the feeling was not mutual. "You have lipstick on your face." She smiled coolly and disappeared into the house.

Chuck smirked as he watched her retreating figure. Jesus was it good to have her back.

"Blair!"

Serena positively leapt on her best friend, all golden hair and exuberance as she smothered her in a huge hug. As predicted, she was already in her bikini. And, Blair noted, tousle-haired from sex. There was a post-coital glow if ever she'd seen one.

Still, she hugged Serena back just as tight. She'd had minions in boarding school, but never a best friend.

Serena nudged her waist. "Blair-bear, you're looking far too thin," she informed her, mock serious.

Blair rolled her eyes back. "Ha ha."

Serena laughed properly, but she lowered her voice as she added, "Seriously though. What do they feed you in that place? You need a Dorota." Blair smiled back, wide and fixed. She hadn't touched the food in Canterbury Accademy's cafeteria since her first day. And even then it had ended up down the toilet. "Or better yet," Serena was adding brightly; "Ice cream!" The blonde had already proceded to drag her to the door.

"Serena," she protested. "I haven't even unpacked yet!"

A pair of blue eyes swept the room. "Your bag's empty." Like that decided it.

"But I haven't colour coded the-"

"Can I come in?"

Blond number two was at the door, and Serena was already flinging it open. Luckily, by the time Nate had envelopped Blair in a hug, Serena had forgotten about the ice cream.

"Guys, it's already five. Margarita time!"

Nate laughed, and Blair realised then how much she'd missed the sound. So she managed to keep her protests to a minimum as she let Serena push her into a bikini and drag her down to the pool.

Blair in a bikini was as delicious as Chuck had imagined.

She was as pale as Serena was brown, and as he admired the way the deep green material clung to the slope of her small breasts, the backs of her thighs white and slender, he decided that not seeing her for so many summers was a downright travesty. He admired the little bows on her bikini, too,

and not just because they made him fantasize about tugging them loose. They were so Blair. He'd never had lust overwhelm him with quite so much fondness. But, he decided, he wasn't complaining as he watched her help herself to another margarita.

He knew she was perfectly aware of his gaze.

She'd made a play of not talking to him as Serena kept her occupied with margarita after margarita - but she was tipsier and in a far better mood now, and he caught her wrist as she slipped past him, pulling her down on the sunbed with him.

"Bass," she protested as she landed on his bare chest. She pushed herself up, wriggling to his side instead. He leaned forwards so that his arms brushed hers, and the two of them lay on their stomachs, watching the shadows lengthen on the pool.

Serena giggled drunkenly in the background (Nate and Carter were attempting to play a card game, much to her delight), and Blair reflected that the dark was nowhere near as terrifying right now.

"So," Chuck drawled in the comfortable quiet. "How was boarding school?"

She sighed. "Boring."

He tilted his head at her. "Really? No wild tales to tell?" She gave him a look. "Boyfriends?"

Blair's skin prickled a little. She knew why he was asking. And it wasn't fair - because she knew what the answer would be if she asked him the same thing. "Wouldn't you like to know."

He nudged her, then, shoulder leaning into hers. "Yes."

She looked up into those eyes, dark gold in the setting sun. Mocking her, perhaps, but his expression was serious. She sighed again. "Plenty of dates. No boyfriends."

"Good dates?"

She could feel his smirk. "They ended well," she answered silkily. "Quite satisfying."

The smirk stopped. He was holding her in place now, even as she squirmed to get free. "Satisfying?"

"About as satisfying as yours," she bit. "I'm sure. And why shouldn't they have been?"

His eyes narrowed. "Because that's not you." She'd never give in that easily after one date.

"Because you know me so well-"

"Yes," he said bluntly. "I do."

So she relented and rested her head against his shoulder. The bare skin was hot under her cheek. His fingers grazed hers, tracing the tops.

"I missed you," he murmured into her hair, and she felt the shiver flicker up her spine. But for once, it wasn't an unpleasant one.

"I'm sure," she scoffed, half-hearted.

"You have no idea how dull things were without you," he assured her.

She glanced up at him, and there was suddenly a challenge in those eyes. "So, what? Are we going out now that I'm back?" Wasn't that what everyone expected? She shifted the warmth of her body closer, heated skin brushing his. More importantly, she knew, what Evelyn would expect. "Has mother dearest told you to seal the deal before Hamptons season ends?"

He watched her silently, and his mouth twisted a little. So did hers. "Do I get to seduce you tonight?" he murmured. His fingers slid up her arm as he spoke. "That would definitely speed things up."

She slapped him lightly, but left his fingers where they were. They were too warm to move away.

"I'm tired tonight."

His fingers threaded a pattern on the soft skin of her shoulder, reaching up to tangle with her hair. His thumb ran over her cheek. He was apologising, she knew. They were silent as the murmur of voices blended behind them and the pool lights eased on.

"If you really wanted me," she murmured drowsily, "Then I'd expect you to fight for me." Her eyelashes fluttered closed as her head pillowed in his arm. He was so warm and smelt of scotch and home.

"You mean give Evelyn a show?" There was quiet approval in his voice.

She was already asleep.

Blair liked charades - always had done. She would play along as long as it entertained her to do so. But Chuck knew it wasn't just a show his mother wanted.

He knew she had long-term plans.

She'd never truly be content until Blair had the Bass family ring on her finger and they could parade her in front of the Bass Industries board. She needed her son to usurp her husband, and for that she needed a good reputation and old money. She needed the board members to see that her son was committed. And who better than to society's tragic orphaned darling? Blair and Chuck being together would give her the Waldorf legacy on a plate. Something she'd been itching to get her nails into ever since she and Eleanor had first met.

Blair was perfect.

He gazed down at her in the dim light. He could make out each perfect ridge of her spine, the pefect paleness of her skin under the pool's shadows. He exhaled as he ran his fingers through her hair, her cheek warm against him. She was perfect all right.

Carter prowled over, finally sick of the failed card game attempt. Nate was trying to tug Serena somewhere - they both fell, all long limbs, and lay tangled on the floor kissing in between hysterical laughter.

Carter was, of course, well aware of the Bass-Waldorf union that everyone thought was inevitable. And he knew it wouldn't hurt his own plans, because it didn't matter how much money Eleanor and Harold had left them in their trust funds - they were still orphans. Money didn't last forever without a constant supply from the parents.

And the Bass family had money. Getting close to them could be advantageous.

The question was whether he trusted his supposed best friend with his sister. He looked down at them now, Blair sleeping so peacefully on him as he played with her hair. Except this was Chuck Bass. And for all the front that she put on, Carter remembered six years ago all too clearly.

He gave Chuck a look. The other boy had stopped playing with her hair, though he kept his hold on her as he regarded Carter back.

"Bed time."

Carter scooped her up, out of Chuck's arms. She stirred in her sleep - a faint whimper of protest - before dropping back against her brother's chest. Sighing, Carter carried her up to her room.

Chuck stayed in the silence.

When Blair woke up, it took her a moment to realise she'd managed a nightmare-free sleep. The room was still partially dark, and she recognised the faint snores of her best friend from next to her, golden hair splayed across the pillow. Slowly, she dropped her own head down too, and snuggled back into Serena's warmth. Home.