Chronicles of Chuck Bass

"Chapter Two"

A/N: I promised myself I wouldn't write an authors notes, but I needed to - in this chapter there is a reason why Nate is so OOC, it'll all come out later I promise 3

When Blair heard her phone ring the minute she walked into her home, her heart nearly dropped. Placing her things carefully onto the table near the door, she looked it behind her as she quickly crossed the room to answer it. "Hello?"

"How did things go tonight?"

Blair smiled upon hearing her sister almost, best friends voice. The woman that had married her ex boyfriend from high school almost a year ago and had become even closer to her than they ever had. With a little bunch of joy in her lap, guessing that the baby and her were bounding, she and Serena seemed to form a bong that was even more priceless than anything.

Easing onto the sofa, Blair pulled off her earrings and adjusted the phone to be more comfortable position. "They went okay, I imagine, given the fact that I sat across from Chuck, all hot and bothered like a female dog in heat the entire time. Isn't that just pathetic?"

"NO," Serena answered softly, not trying to mask the smile in her voice. "Considering that you still love him, I don't think it's pathetic at all."

Blair released a long, deep sigh. "I never said I still loved Chuck, Serena."

"You didn't have to. I heard love in your voice the first time you told me about him. And if you'll recall, you were rather upset that Nate invited him to our wedding reception knowing perfectly well that Chuck is his best friend."

Blair sighed, remembering that time. "Only because we'd been divorced less than a year and I didn't think I was ready to see him again……you remember Lilly's funeral and me flying out of there like a bat out of hell."

"But you did see him and you survived."

"Yes, but just barely. And now that he's back makes it harder, especially since he mentioned tonight that he's moving back to Paris and wants me to do an exclusive interview with him."

"That's a generous offer. Are you going to do it?"

"I don't know. Financially, it's a great opportunity since a lot of magazines are just dying to get their hands on his story, but I don't know if I could handle being around him long enough to actually do it?"

"If he's moving back to Paris you'll be around him anyway, won't you? The two of you are bound to run into each other occasionally."

"I can deal with occasional sightings. What he's proposing is for me to do the interview at his town house. A good solid interview will take a week to complete, especially with the angle I plan to use. I can't imagine spending a week alone with him, Serena"

"Where is his town house?"

"The heart of Paris."

"Umm, then there's a good possibility we might become neighbors. Chuck offered Nate a good position at a branch in Paris today. I'd love for him to take it as well."

Blair smiled happy for the bachelor she never thought would ever marry. Not only did he have a wife he loved completely, but he also had a son he simply adored. Not wanting to talk about Chuck much longer, at least not anymore tonight she changed the subject. "So how is my darling godson?"

Serena laughed, "Well right now he's right here on my lap getting ready to shut his eyes. He just got done watching a football game with Nate and Dan while me and Vanessa had a chat or two."

Blair shook her head grinning. Dan Humphrey and Vanessa Abrams-Humphrey were the last people she ever thought would become friends with her, or more like just talking buddies but ever since the divorce from Chuck she decided to mend the broken fences. "Does Nate and Dan honestly think a three-month-old baby can understand football?"

"Evidently he does since they've been at it since the fame started. Surprisingly, Nicklaus didn't seem to be bored and is still awake." Serena sighed happily, "Of all my accomplishments I think having Nicklaus is the greatest, he's such a wonderful baby."

Blair shifted slightly in her seat as old tinges of longing rose up within her. Since Nate and her had been together, she never would have thought that Nate would have been the one to be tied down, he always seemed distant when she talked about it with him but now that he had Serena it was different. Blair always knew deep down he didn't love her, that all his love was for Serena and even though it took Blair some time to get over it, she finally did but was still sadden that Serena had everything she wanted to have. Serena always got what she wanted first. She had grown up looking forward to the day she would marry and have a child of her own. While married to Chuck she had wanted his baby more than anything, but he had staunchly refused to talk about her going off the Pill.

"Blair?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't worry. Things will work out. I believe there's a reason Chuck is moving back to Paris."

"There is. He wants to find himself."

"Oh? And where do you fit into all this?"

"I don't fit anywhere Serena we've talked about this."

"What about the interview he wants you to do?"

Blair released a deep, lingering breath as she remembered Chuck's words. "The interview is strictly business."

"What are you smiling about?" a deep, masculine voice asked from across the table.

Chuck quickly wiped the smile from his face as he looked into the curious gaze of Nathanial Archibald, the man who had been his best friend for god knows when. If Chuck succeeded with his plan, one day Nate would be more along the lines of a brother-in-Law since Serena and Blair were basically sisters anyways. He had an awakened that morning with a smile on his face after a night spent having hot, vividly sensual dreams about Blair. And now it was close to noontime and he was still smiling. He doubted Nate would know the real reason for his jovial expression. After all, Blair was like the man's sister.

"No reason." He muttered, looking down at his watch. He then glanced around the restaurant. "What time will the men be here?"

"Soon enough. They had to swing by the airport to pick up Freddie., which is just as well since it gives us time to talk."

Chuck allowed himself a minute before reluctantly looking at Nate. He had an idea just what Nate wanted to talk to him about but decided to play dumb instead. "What are you talking about?"

"Blair, your ex wife!"

"Chuck leaned forward and placed his hands on the table. "What about Blair?"

"I want to know what your intentions are Chuck, or more like Serena wants to know."

Chuck shrugged. "What make you think I have any?"

"Mainly because I know the two of you went out to dinner last night." Chuck frowned at this. "Serena told me and just a few minutes ago you had that same stupid-looking smile on your face that I sometimes get on mine when I'm thinking about Serena."

Chuck smirked softly. "And you assume my thoughts were on Blair?"

"Weren't they? Don't like Chuck."

Chuck pulled his gaze from Nate knowing the truth was in his eyes. Feeling agitated that he was under cross-examination, he answered "Yes."

"Then I want to know what your intentions are, Serena and I don't want to see Blair hurt again."

Chuck frowned as he tossed down the scotch, flinching slightly as it burned his throat, and then signaling for a refill. "You're not her father, Nate, nor are you mine thank god." he said angrily after he'd gotten his second drink.

Nate's expression hardened. "No, I'm her brother, her friends but id you'd prefer I could go ask her father to ask the question."

Chuck tossed down another swig of scotch. That was the last thing he needed, he thought grimly, feeling the hot liquid settle firmly in his stomach. Harold Waldorf was a hard man to deal with when it came to his daughter. Chuck still remembered the day Chuck had asked for Blair's hand in marriage. It had been like asking for a piece of the Red sea. He had to all but prove his worthiness. Harold, Roman, Eleanor and Cyrus had felt that he and Blair were rushing things and should wait at least another year before considering marriage. But Chuck wouldn't hear of it. He wanted Blair and since she had bee determined to remain not having sex with him until their wedding, he'd no intentions of waiting another year. There were only so many cold showers his body could take.

Chuck leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes before rubbing his tempers. Dear heavens, he didn't need this . Especially not now. "Why are you giving me grief, Nate?"

"Because I don't want to see Blair get hurt again dammit, if Blair gets hurt that means me and Serena will be on the rocks again and I can't have that."

Chuck opened his eyes and met the hard, cold-steel ones of Nathanial. He started at his best friend without flinching, sometime most men wouldn't be able to do. "I made a mistake, man. I love Blair. I always have and I always will." He smirked softly after remembering how many times Blair had repeated those words to Nate.

"Then why did you let her go?"

Chuck winced at the hardness he heard in Nate's voice. He couldn't help but remember how he had lost both of his parents and how after he had been in the world completely alone but not alone since he had some many people around him that cared so much for him. He'd made mistakes and he was still paying the price for them.

"I let her go mainly because I was too stupid to appreciate what I had and too afraid to completely give my heart to anyone again." he said softly.

Nate leaned towards him; from the look in his eyes Chuck knew the explanation he'd just given hadn't been good enough. But Chuck refused to be more specific. He owed Blair an explanation before giving it to anyone else.

"I always liked him Chuck, you know that." Nate said in a tone of voice that indicated he was not taking the conversation lightly. "Mainly because deep down in my gut I felt you loved Blair senseless, although things didn't work out between the two of you for whatever reason. She got her life back together after you left her and I don't particularly relish the thought of you returning to town messing it back up. I'd rather you conclude this business with the Paris branch of Bass industries as quickly as possible and go back to New York.

Chuck kept his anger in line. After all, Nate was only trying to protect Blair. "I won't hurt her, Nate, never again."

"You've said this once before." Nate accused.

"Yes but everyone is entitled to make mistakes - you should know you made plenty in the relationship you had with Blair. Like she gave you, everyone is entitled to a second chance." He met Nate's stare. "And I'm asking that you give me that. Both Blair and I made mistakes in our marriage, and we both gave in to the divorce too easily. When push came to shove we forgot about the vows we'd made that said for better or for worse. We should have stayed together and worked things out, but we didn't."

"And now?"

The two men stared at each other for a long moment before Chuck finally said in a throaty whisper as something sharp and blunt swirled around in his heart, "And now the main reason I've moved back to Paris is to get my wife back. I love her, Nate and I hope I can convince her that I've changed and to give me another chance. These two years without her have shown me just how wrong my priorities were. She was the best thing that ever happened to me and in my own selfish and self-centered way, I put my wants and needs before hers. I'm ready to do whatever I have to do to regain her love." Chuck saw belief, then acceptance, in Nate's blue eyes

"So" Nate said as he leaned back in his chair and took a sip of his drink. "I imagine you must have a plan because you're definitely going to need one."

Chuck nodded. "Yes, I got a plan."

"And you think it's going to work?"

Chuck nodded again. "I pray on god and my dead parents graves that it does."

Nate gave him a slow smile and said. "I pray to god it works for you too."