A/N: Thanx for the reviews guys, n glad u like Chuck's mommy :)

This Chap contains a few light spoilers for epi 11 so beware. It's a little short, sort of a prelude to the next when Nate appears, but um hope u enjoy it.

XXX

It was late afternoon and Chuck Bass was sprawled about his bed lazily channel surfing. He had rejected Herald's instructions and told him to inform his mother that he had no intention of leaving his room. He felt slightly guilty for the ditching of their plans and really the prospect of spending time with her was a fine thought indeed, but to do anything but gloom over the events of Sunday was not something he could manage just yet. It was settled in his mind that he was to watch TV and allow himself every few minutes or so, to replay the sight of her in Nate's dirty arms. He would replay her purring voice that he had foolishly believed reserved for himself, as it would goat on Nate the Great, the gentleman….the sleazy winker. There was nothing to compare his ill state to on the occasions when Nate's wink was the memory that played. He would scowl and either increase the volume of the television, or go on a channel speed surfing fury.

With the TV volume as high as it eventually became, Chuck did not hear the knocking on his door, and thus was surprised to see his mother's figure at the slightly opened doorway.

"May I come in?"

"No you may not; but you will anyway."

She only smiled and disappeared behind the door again before kicking it gently to widen, and entering with a large ivory tray in her arms. Chuck promptly got up to help her, placing the tray and it equally exquisite contents on his bed. He then turned to ask her intent for –when he saw her clearly for the first time.

"Mother, what are you wearing?" he tried, though unsuccessfully to keep the disgust out of his voice.

Ms. Hesse-Cassel merely laughed.

"What a snob you are. Your father would hardly appreciate—"

"—Wait, that's father's?"

"Of course. I attended Princeton, in case you have forgotten."

Chuck said no more. He wasn't sure what she meant by it or how he, himself felt about this. Certainly it was discomforting to see that his mother kept in her possession one of Bart's old Yale Sweatshirt, and perhaps even more so to see a woman who lived in cashmere and silk grubbed down in such an old oversized garment. He could not deny that all this made him rather uncomfortable.

Before Chuck had made up his mind as to how he was going to approach his mother about this, his cell growled sending reminder that he had just received a text message. He rarely ever text people, except… He suddenly didn't feel like reaching for his phone and it took a suspicious glance from his mother to convince him to go ahead and check what it was. He surprised himself by hoping that it was Nate; that perhaps he wrote to say his plans for Monaco were off.

He had no such luck. It was Blair:

Are you okay?

Chuck stared at the line, unsure. He didn't dare think–but he couldn't resist from doing so—that she worried over him. For a moment, if just that, he was sure that she…but he couldn't. Not even for that moment could he give himself such false hope. His soul and all its consequences had been blackened and bruised, and he could not—would not—put himself through it again. He would rather revel on the agony of a love that could be, than shame himself to such level. No matter her meaning, he decided in no time that he would write her back and ensure her that all was well. She doesn't need to know otherwise, he assured himself, he could not bear her feeling guilty. He smiled cruelly as he text her back, though its evil intentions were directed towards himself and not her.

"What did she say?"

"It wasn't—"

"Was it that bad?"

"No," Chuck glared at her half annoyed, though it wasn't really because of her nor was it directed to her.

"It matters only that she wrote."

Ms. Hesse-Cassel now offered a bread slice she had buttered to him, and he took a bite. She took the rest and for a few seconds they chewed in silence.

"Father is getting married."

Ms. Hesse-Cassel didn't react to this. Not openly anyway. As she began to butter another bread slice however, Chuck could see her creamy fingers trembling ever so slightly.

"How lucky," she said finally, "do tell me how old this whore is. Every couple of years he goes down an age group or two. Before you know it dear old Barty will compete with the boys in your class. Do keep a close eye on Blair for me?"

"Mother," Chuck felt sick whenever her name was mentioned. It being so in a context of a dark joke twisted his stomach farther. "That was unnecessarily."

"I'm sorry, I really am diamond. I should never joke in regards to…I should never joke period. I am quite dreadful."

"Quite. Only father could be more dull."

Ms. Hesse-Cassel whipped him with the overlong sleeve of her sweater.

Chuck smiled sadly to himself before looking up to see a new buttered bread slice directed at his mouth. He shook his head in protest, but Ms. Hesse-Cassel would have none of it. In the end his determined stubbornness and hers resulted in his having a disgusting butter mustache, one he would naturally share with his mother as he attacked her with kisses all over her face. She shrieked and tried her best to duck out of the way, but Chuck was too strong for her and managed to come out on top in that exchange.

In mock anger Ms. Hesse-Cassel removed herself from his bed and off into his bathroom to wash her face, giving Chuck a chance to return to Blair's text again, staring at her words, the words she had taken the time to think up and write. He watched them with a strange feeling growing in his throat, one he was far from ready to welcome there. He watched none the less, knowing that had she not wanted to know, she would not have asked.

It was a quarter past noon when Blair finally left her bed that Monday. She hadn't overslept, but her body felt weak and unresponsive; she had thought it best to miss school for the day. This was not to pretend however that no other factors kept her away. Blair was perfectly aware of what lay ahead, and though she dreaded, she was also curious as to how it would all go down.

Nate had phoned her earlier in the morning. It was an awkward call, though sweet in its own way. She almost smiled. He thanked her for what they had shared and in the same breath went on to inform her that Chuck was gone, that he had fled the country. He told her that Chuck had gone over to visit his mother in Monaco, and to greaten her bewildered estate, he also said that he was taking a plane later in the day to accompany him. Blair had little to no time to ask all the hows and whats that she longed to have answered before, claiming that he had much to prepare for, Nate said his goodbyes and hung up. Feeling frustrated and confused she pulled her blankets higher over herself and wished herself asleep, but it was to no vail.

XXX

Blair had lay there for hours sometimes crying and others just angrily watching the view outside her window. She could not understand why Chuck left…or rather; she didn't want to be able to. She just couldn't imagine that Chuck Bass would be much affected by her breaking their relationship, and on the rare occasion that he liked her enough to be, she refused to believe that his ego would allow him to concede in such manner. In her mind, to think that she could possibly cause him to behave differently would require arrogance of the highest most deluded kind. She did not dare to think—she did not want to think. But she couldn't help herself.

Her heart got the better of her and before she had time to reconsider, she had text Chuck. The wait that resumed as she waited for her reply was her darkest hour of the day. When her ringtone informed her of the reply however, it took her a good couple of minutes before she could muster up the courage to read it.

Why wouldn't I be ok?

One question: how did u fake ur virginity?

Blair's stomach hit the floor at these words. He knew, she thought blankly. He must have seen her and Nate going off... She buried her face in her hands at this and wept. Why? She wasn't sure. She convinced herself that it was fear; fear of a jealous Chuck telling Nate everything. At this she got up in search for her mother's sleeping pills.