Chuck took Blair to an elegant little Mediterranean restaurant for lunch on the request that she was starving. They didn't talk much on the way there and about the same as they ate. Blair didn't know what to say or that she wanted to say it and Chuck simply had no desire to speak, aware of the potential damage his pride was left under if he did. So they sat in silence surrounded by unspeakable beauty until Blair, after her 2nd drink, finally drew enough courage to ask:

"What the hell was that about Bass?"

Chuck's eyes locked into hers, staring at her like a pair of stones; cold and hard. He said nothing.

"I thought a girl had to be over 50 or 200 pounds before she got rejected by Chuck Bass. Don't you have a heinous reputation to uphold?"

"What's heinous is your choice of beds to hop. Quite a leap you made Waldorf. I had felt honor for having taken your precious virginity you know. Now however, there is hardly any pride to be had. I don't regret any of our sack sessions, rest assured of that, and I don't pretend to ignore that I helped along your new skank status, but I'm sure as hell not gonna touch you after screwing my best friend."

Blair winced, but her eyes only hardened.

"You seemed more than ready at first."

"Yeah well, I needed a taste before my gag reflexes acted up."

"Very amusing Bass, but if you really think that I was going to let you actually touch me, then you're a deluded moron."

"You were undoing my pants Blair. I can't imagine an ulterior motive."

Blair blushed at this but did not turn away from his gaze or look any less hard.

"Are you jealous Bass? Jealous that Nate and I made love, that we don't just fuck? Are your butterflies agitated? Perhaps it's them that are acting up."

Chuck matched Blair's sarcastic grin with his trademark smirk.

"Made love? Is that what you call premature ejaculation these days? It must have been fun Waldorf. I mean here you are, less than a week later, with your hands reaching for his best friend's—"

"Oh shut up Bass. I was not planning to have sex with you."

Chuck's smirk just widened and he said no more.

The limo ride home felt a great deal longer than Chuck anticipated. Blair with her sleep dept being what it was soon fell asleep, although her uneasy mind kept her from being truly at peace. Chuck was glad of this as he now had the leisure to stare at her as he pleased. While he had come to recognize her as the most desirable female in his acquaintance, he couldn't help but note that at the moment she looked about thirteen. Maybe it was the childish look on her face, childlike in its unassured countenance. Or maybe it was the way her skinny arms flailed about lazily and carelessly. Perhaps it was how her lips muttered in silence; like a youngling whose thoughts were jumbled and would never come out as they ought. He watched in utter fascination, fascinated that her sleeping fully clothed figure would excite him so. He really had missed being able to look at her as much as he pleased. He really loved the sight of his scarf resting around her delicate neck.

Upon the car reaching the Hesse-Cassel manor, Blair was somehow jolted awake, and sat up slowly, very clearly from an unsatisfactory nap. She seemed a little dizzy, stumbling when she walked and Harold, after greeting them at the door, took hold of her to help, but Blair pushed him away angrily stating that she was fine. Chuck sighed loudly and went over himself to hold her straight and up the stairs as Harold guided them to her room. Once inside, Chuck settled her on the bed and was about to leave the room when.

"Bass"

Chuck turned around to find Blair sitting up on the bed, appearing to be completely rejuvenated and currently shirtless. He took a second too long to enjoy the sight of his scarf resting between her black laced cleavage. Blair only smirked and rid herself of her bra.

"That was a pretty sad attempt to get laid Waldorf. You must be really desperate."

He turned around again, but before he had reached the door Blair had tackled him down. She sat on his stomach, pinning his arms down with her knees. She smirked again, looking remarkably Bass-like, and put her index finger to his lips.

"I am desperate."

She slid down on him and without a care for his shirt, once again reached down to undo his pants, her fingers working faster this time. Chuck would have stopped her again, but in her kiss she whispered over and over again that she wanted him. He knew her want was equal in meaning to desire, and only sexual desire at that, but he was at least sure that this want was greater for no one other than him. He gave in, letting straddling figure undress him, ride him, and with a near shriek collapse onto his chest. She remained there, her breasts crushed against him and their legs entangled, when her sleep dept caught on again. Before Chuck had registered her post-coital figure, she fell fast asleep, her arms remained locked around his neck. Taking only a few seconds to enjoy their new disposition, he sighed deeply and picked her up and carried her to the bed pulling the covers over her.

He watched her sleeping face again, noting the difference. She had almost a smile on and her arms, though spread, remained in place. However, her lips still moved in silence…well not so much anymore. Chuck could hear her voice, however tiny it was, and the one word she uttered over and over again: Serena. He watched her in confusion but she said no more. He was unsatisfied but finally tore himself away from the bed and made his way to the grand windows to close her curtains, cutting off the sunlight. He then quickly dressed and slipped out the door.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Charles, what are you doing?"

Chuck did not turn to look into his mother's face. He didn't need to feel guilty for what he was doing. She was the guilty one, and yet he could never hold contempt for her. He could only feel angry and get the hell away. He had only himself to blame.

"Charles please. Whatever happened, whatever you think…maybe it could be salvaged?"

"How do you salvage yourself from being used?"

"Charles…"

Ms. Hesse-Cassel closed the door behind her and went to join her son where he now sat on his bed, glaring at whatever he saw out the window. She hugged his head to her chest and cried for him. Her romantic nature was deeply disappointed, sure, but it was the subtle appearances of vulnerability in his face that tore away at her. It had been a long time since she had last seen it.

"Mother please."

But Ms. Hesse-Cassel shook her head like a child and cried harder.

"Mother, you're ruining my enjoyment of your cleavage."

"Do—don't be gross Cha-Charles," she said setting him free and using her hands to wipe away at her tears.

Chuck rolled his eyes, but used his sleeve to pat her cheeks dry. She gave him a sad smile before ruining his work with a fresh batch of tears. He sighed and set to work again, wondering if she would ever grow up and that perhaps his father wouldn't have left her for Van der Bitch if she had.

"Harold told me your plane leaves past midnight. There—there is no reason for you to leave so soon…"

"There is."

"Please Charles."

Chuck got up again and placed the last few things sprawled out on the bed into his bag. Only then did he look directly into the tear streaked face of his young mother. She gave him a sad smile and reached for his hand which she squeezed and brought to her lips for a soft kiss.

"You give me no choice Charles Bass."

Ms. Hesse-Cassel then, with one last hug and a kiss on each cheek, left her son's room. She quietly closed the door behind her and using a fine silver key, locked it. Then, giving the ivory doorknob an affectionate squeeze, she echoed herself.

"You give me no choice."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Blair was informed by her maid on her awakening that a party was underway at the manor at the very moment. She wasn't sure if she wanted to attend, but there was an overwhelming desire in her to please Ms. Hesse-Cassel and attending her party and paying a complement or two would be a start. It was an hour later when Blair, showered and dressed, was finally out the door and being escorted to the part of the manor where this event was being held. Upon her arrival to the courtyard her maid was dismissed by the hostess herself, who then gently grabbed onto Blair's wrist.

"Miss. Waldorf, a word please?"

"Yes of course."

Blair followed her to the side of the building and up a stone staircase to an empty high porch overlooking the party. She watched the blond's back in bewildered silence, waiting for her to turn around. When she had, and the lady's pale eyes fixed into her own dark ones, and she almost wished she hadn't.

"I always feared for my son, Miss. Waldorf."

Blair's face burned red, but she said nothing and awaited the tongue lashing she was sure this would lead to.

"I always feared that one day he would fall in love with a beautiful careless creature. She'd blond in my mind you know. Blond and very pretty…and very silly. It pained me to think that one day his heart would break over a worthless tramp who loved nothing but herself. A tramp who in her fickle-hearted ways demolished what was already so fragile in him."

Ms. Hesse-Cassel now moved closer to Blair, whose breath was caught in her chest.

"You see Miss. Waldorf; I always feared that the myth was true. That my son would fall for a replicate of his mother.

Ms. Hesse-Cassel's eyes now burned into Blair's.

"I gave my son too little credit. He chose a far superior woman."

Ms. Hesse-Cassel now moved a little closer, and Blair felt her fingers close around her wrist.

"Blair, I know that deep down you know your heart and ultimately will remain loyal to it. I salute you and ask only that you venture there tonight and discover the fate of my son."

Blair then felt a cold object placed in her palm and her fingers forced closed.

"Whatever you decide Blair; there was no one more worthy."

Blair looked to see that Ms. Hesse-Cassel's eyes were fixed on what rested around her neck.