Disclaimer: I don't own Gossip Girl, just the specific story I choose to bring the characters into.

A/N: I was so busy these past few weeks but finally able to post this chapter (: Due to the chaos I wasn't quite on top of replying to reviews. Apologies! Happy reading ~

Honey you are a rock
Upon which I stand
And I come here to talk
I hope you understand
Yeah the spotlight shines upon you
And how could anybody deny you?
I came here with a a load
And it feels so much lighter
Now I met you
You're the one that I wanted to find
-- Coldplay

Chapter Six:

November 24th, 2011.

The sky was black and grey above her as she leaned against the grain limestone, stars sparkled like trapped jewels and sped into distances she could only imagine. Inside, the hotel room buzzed with handfuls of friends and Blair was who she needed to be among them, hiding away all her indiscretions. Nate and Serena had disappeared from her side minutes earlier and upon finding herself free of their watchful careful gaze she had eagerly escaped to the terrace, vodka bottle in hand.

Mesmerized by the lights of the city she undid the cap and took two large vulgar gulps, instantly her bones warmed as the breeze pulled at the loose tendrils around her face. For a moment she wondered how the sky looked above Chuck as he slept, how the aura of Paris guided his dreams - and then the moment was over and she was left in her finery, a strand of pearls at her throat and a bottle of true love at her waist. Alone.

"Blair?" She didn't bother turning as the door shut behind him. "Blair ... what are you doing out here?" She offered a forlorn glance at Mark as he rested his elbows on the railing, tilting her head to the sky "admiring the stars." She didn't care what he thought; she didn't care what anyone thought anymore. She could see his breath, white wispy clouds of vapour rolling out of his lips, a reminder of the winter cold.

"Tess is looking for you" he said; she could feel the heat of his eyes on her skin and a rush of satisfaction as she swallowed another mouthful. They stood in silence side by side, both exempt from the rowdy bliss of celebration. Blair felt no obligation to her friend's older brother and yet she offered him the bottle, their eyes met, his blue irises glowing in the dark, and he accepted her offer without question. Swallowing a fair amount and shaking his head as the bitter liquid made its way down his throat, "geez," he sputtered "That's strong."

She nodded once, taking it back as his hips rested against the railing. "Shouldn't you be filming me," she said bitterly "where's your camera?"

His gaze turned to the living room, "I didn't think you'd want your secret escape to be documented."

She laughed, rolling back on the balls of her feet "And what makes you think it's so secret?"

"Well ..." he trailed off, his ears were tipped pink, and she knew what he meant and he said nothing else on the subject. In that split second the way his tousled brown hair looked under the gleam of the stars above, whether it was the alcohol or simple acknowledgment, Blair was appreciative of his beauty - in the way only acquaintances could be.

"I'm not always like that" She cringed thinking back to the events of the morning, the impression she must have - not that it mattered.

"I know" he breathed, "Don't worry about it."

"I wasn't" she whispered, her voice gently carried away by the wind. Taking another swig she pushed it into his open palm, "Okay." And the conversation was ended, he was hardly a friend but she found herself resting her head on his shoulder, inhaling the overpowering scent of soap and fresh pine.

There was a click as the doorknob twisted and Tess poked her bleach blonde head out of the living room, indie rock radiating from the center of the chaos. Automatically they slid apart with guilt on their faces as if there was anything to be seen aside from two people and a near empty bottle.

Serena pushed past people in a state of panic, searching frantically for the familiar brunette locks and five inch heels in the crowd. She had turned her back for a moment to converse with the head chef and now as a procession of waiters with sprinklers preceded two cooks carrying a seven tier pink and black fondant cake, the girl in question was nowhere to be found.

"Blair?" She called, cupping her fingers over her mouth for distance "Come out come out wherever you are!" Everyone was watching. Waiting. Nate shook his head in bewilderment as he emerged from the bedroom. No he mouthed, she's not in there. Serena grimaced, tripping over herself as the line of people set the cake cautiously on its table and a loud chorus of happy birthday began. She turned slowly, eyes narrowed, praying ... and before her was Blair.

Her hair about her shoulders in soft waves, a bright blue silhouette dress singed at the waist with black printed flowers along the hem and silver heels with white trim on her feet. The panic that pressed at her moments earlier dissolved into excitement as she pulled her best friend into a tight hug. "Happy birthday B!" She whispered into her ear, Blair pulled away from her grasp a meek smile returning the enthusiasm.

She knew it was coming, the big entrance the fabulous cake and if it were not for Mark and Tess she would have hidden in the shadows until the display was thoroughly complete. Unfortunately she had been found and dragged inside just as they set it on the table. Surrounded as she was by her classmates and friends, the candles all about them flickered and morphed shadows of black and yellow on their faces.

She took a deep breath, feeling the air as it filled her lungs and the automatic smile twisting her lips. Someone had initiated the song and she grit her teeth as seventy people looked at her with expectant eyes and beaming jovial claps of encouragement.

She blew out the candles, one for each year of her life (which covered the face of the cake) and realized at that moment how accomplished she should have been feeling. Instead she was glad it was over as she cut into the baked good and posed for pictures. Nobody would know she wasn't really smiling, no one would ever know that she wasn't really bursting with ardor. Every year she expected to feel different, as if a portion of her would shift. Waiting with bated breath until it was realized no such feeling would descend upon her; always waiting.

Taking a piece of cake into her mouth she slowly chewed on the fork, Serena was talking but it was foreign and quiet in comparison to the overhead hum of the gathering. She wanted her vodka back and a corner to huddle into.

Chuck had been pacing for an hour - the carpet beneath his feet looked a little worn and trampled with the movement but he couldn't help it. Thousands of miles away from him was his lover, and a few miles away from his lover was his apology, and it all collapsed into the hands of one rather idiotic assistant who's career rested wholly on the completion of this task to his employers liking.

He was stressed at this thought, of the million ways she could have grown to hate him in the days since he had seen her last. Not knowing whether or not she would forgive him - if she still held enough compassion inside herself to take him back into her heart as if he had never left. It was rather cold and distant outside her graces, far away from her touch, her lips, and he did not like the cold, he had never been fond of it.

The thought of her naked before him, wrapped in a bed sheet was enough to stir him from his sleep that night, disoriented and drowsy as he had risen from the mattress. Sipping at a glass of water he had watched the stars above him as they twinkled, the city below glowing dimly in comparison. He hated to be where she was not and yet he was always going where she could not follow.

How Serena managed to hear the doorbell over the extreme noise level was enough to astound Blair but evidently she had, as Nate guided her by the elbow towards the carpeted hallway to greet whoever had shown up way past the hours of tastefully late - not that such a rule even existed when Blair Cornelia Waldorf threw a party. You were either early or on time, there was no room for socially acceptable late or otherwise.

The disgust at this possibly large faux pas and its existence within the four walls of her birthday party, diminished upon finding Chuck's assistant slinking against the wall. Her eyes narrowed, a hiss and dismissal at the ready for whatever second hand apology or speech Erin was instructed to unleash.

"Ms. Waldorf," She raised her palm in a gesture of silence and looked away, both Nate and Serena frowned at her rude action and smiled pointedly at the small boy who's attire suggested he had been at some informal place - perhaps his home - before showing up at their suite. "What did he say to tell me that he told you?" She sighed, biting her lip and rolling her eyes at the two most irritating and pushy people she could ever know.

"Nothing, he just -" Erin's left hand reached out from behind his back and suddenly an extravagant bouquet of pink and red roses appeared, gripped firmly by his freckled arm "wanted me to give you these."

Smiling modestly he transferred the flowers to her hands before turning to Nate who disappeared into the crowd to show him to the door. Serena focused on Blair as she regarded the card, her lips in a thin line as she plucked the card from its silver stemmed clasp. From the folded paper a key slipped out and dangled by a blue ribbon that had been tied to the corner of the object.

She was utterly perplexed. In Chuck's elegant scrawl he had printed Happy 20th birthday my love and below these customary words there was an address carefully printed that she couldn't recall in any form. Pulling the ribbon from its secure hold on the card she handed it to Serena, brows furrowed as the metal fell into her palm awkwardly.

"What is it?" Serena questioned, curiously taking the card in her hands and skimming its contents. "I don't know S," Blair replied, cradling the metal and shifting her weight in thought "I think he bought me something big."

"Key big" Serena clarified.

Blair nodded swallowing loudly, unsure of how to take this present and its cryptic messages that made no sense. In typical Chuck fashion they always mounted to more than she could figure."Key big," she affirmed.

"Well B," Feeling Serena's arm as it hooked into her elbow "Let's go find out."

It was colder than she had taken notice as the three friends slipped out of the party that had been put under the watchful eyes of Elise and Tess and skipped downstairs into the awaiting town car. It had begun to snow just as they drove away from the lobby, white flecks dancing to the pavement under the orange glow of the streetlights as she settled anxiously into the leather seat.

Serena grasped Blair's hand, squeezing it lightly. She glanced up at Nate and he smiled, evidently as interested as his friends by the scrutiny in his eyes directed at the card in Serena's fingers, doubtful of its supposed magnificence. She wondered suspiciously if he knew something by the tense crinkle of the skin around his eyes as his gaze moved from the paper to the window and back again. It was silent around them and the only audible sound was the crunch of the tires as they passed over freshly fallen snow.

Minutes later the car stopped and everyone piled onto the sidewalk clumsily, Blair's eyes moved from the ground floor of the building all the way to the top, holding a gloved hand to the top of her hat as to not lose it to the dirty pavement. Snowflakes melted on her eyelashes as they made their way to the front door. Serena checked the panel for the correct apartment number while Nate and Blair held onto each other for warmth as the snowflakes increased in speed and size. An older doorman watched them lazily before getting to his feet and jaunting over to the group.

"May I help you?" He bellowed in a low authoritative tone.

"Actually," Blair chipped "I was given an address-to this building it seems." She looked over at Serena who handed over the card, stepping beside her best friend as the man took in the information.

He looked up with renewed interest "Ms. Blair Waldorf?" he asked, as though he had known her his entire life. She nodded, speechless at his inquiry and the sound of his voice as he spoke her name.

"Welcome to the Hamptons Harold, come with me" there was a gush of air as the front door was unlocked and opened. Serena and Blair walked briskly ahead of Nate as the doorman ushered them to an elevator, pressing the top floor once everyone had stepped into the lift.

"Mr. Bass told me to expect you tonight," he offered while they rode up.

"For what?"

"A viewing of the apartment" he answered with a laugh as though her question was the silliest most preposterous question of his career. She did not look up at her friends, afraid of what their glances would convey. Apartment? Chuck had bought an apartment for her?

"I see," and then the doors opened and the man stepped into a marble entryway. It was glorious, just the sight of the mudroom as her heels clicked against the stone floor towards the doors which opened into an enormous flat with bay windows. It was empty save for a few sculptures and paintings that she recognized from the suite lining the white walls, empty canvases to be filled. A grand staircase led up to a second floor.

"How many rooms?" She heard Serena ask as Nate walked into a hallway away from her gaze as she took everything in.

"Five, four and a half baths and maid quarters."

Blair moved out of her best friends grasp and ran towards the living room, the bathrooms, upstairs into the bedrooms, over to the bay windows, into the dry showers and maid quarters. She smiled. It was theirs and he had committed to this beautiful apartment that was away from his hotel, his suite, closer to NYU. They could build their life together. This was a promise he had made and kept, hopefully the first of many.

She was so happy it was pouring out of her.

Chuck reached for his cell as it rang on the table, flipping it open and pressing it to his ear.

"I love you" she exclaimed breathlessly, and he felt calm wash over him once more.

"I love you too."

"It's snowing" She said gently, "It's beautiful."

"You're beautiful" his voice was gruff, "Happy birthday Waldorf."

"Thank you." He could hear her struggling to hold back tears and his empty arms ached to hold her.

"It's yours to decorate"

"It better be" she laughed.

"Don't go crazy with it though."

"Am I ever anything but tasteful and modest?" She parried.

"Tasteful yes" he agreed, "Modest on the other hand ..."

"Chuck!"

"What? You are incredibly modest dear."

"I know I am" she stated haughtily, "Which works out perfectly since I happen to be madly in love with a very dashing man."

A/N: You guys are amazingly great! Questions, comments, general feedback?