Disclaimer: I don't own Gossip Girl or Eddie boy's pants.

AN: I don't know how you'd picture the Baizens but I've always pictured Mr. Baizen as an Al Capone, mafia-type personnel.

6. Morbus

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"Blair," they said in unison.

He chuckled and she stood up straighter, wondering where exactly this conversation was heading. She knew what happened before Blair left, in fact she beat herself up over it constantly. Every time she woke up in the middle of the night and found Nate snoring next to her, she felt a twinge of regret. But she'd pushed away the guilt a long time ago, and no one (not even her ex-best friend or suddenly curious stepbrother) was going to make those feelings resurface. She loved Nate, and she was content with their relationship. What she didn't understand was how her past relationship with Blair affected Chuck.

"How are you acquainted with both Carter and Blair?"

"Oh you know Chuck, similar social circles and all, no biggie" she said dismissively.

"That's bullshit Serena, seriously?" He asked, crossing his legs. From his new comfortable position on the couch, she could tell that she wouldn't be getting out of this conversation that easily.

"You know Chuck, can't you just get your P.I. to do this?"

"Under normal circumstances I could resort to that option...but why would I rely on secondhand information when the primary source is sitting right here? Who better to tell me the stories or should I say facts? After all I could always threaten one of the B.E. brats myself but what would be the fun in that? So tell me Serena, how do you know them?"

"I've known Blair since middle school and then I met Carter through her whom I dated in high school-" she began.

"Met Carter through Blair? I don't follow?" He asked, looking at her like she'd just grown two heads.

"Oh my god Chuck! Do you seriously not know they're related!"

Chuck almost jumped out of his seat, but grasped the edge of the chair firmly. This was too good to be true.

"Related? But they look nothing alike, and Carter-"

Serena shook her head furiously.

"Chuck you are so stupid! Did you even look at Gossip Girl when you were in high school? Better yet, how thoroughly did you research this company?"

"I was there for half of Nate and your's senior year, excuse you. I had no intentions of shallow gossip posted on a frilly little website. Plus Carter's three years older than Blair, makes snarky remarks about her, and I've never seen them around each other before! So I just assumed..."

"No! You've got this all wrong! Carter's family adopted Blair when she was about 7 or 8. Well I mean sorta I guess...she didn't take their last name and got to keep her money and some other technicalities-" Serena tried to explain.

Wow I actually have the upper hand in a conversation. Who's the blonde now? Boom!

"Adopted," he asked, suddenly intrigued by all the new details Serena was feeding him. Now this was something he could possibly work with.

"Blair's parents both died when she was small. She had no immediate family to take care of her and apparently 'Baizen Senior' and her father were acquaintances. Long story short, Blair had potential and Mr. Baizen...how do I put this lightly...wanted to make sure it didn't go to waste," she continued.

"So basically he used her to enhance his public image because his idiot son was clearly unfit to represent the family name in the proper light. Following in Angelina Jolie's footsteps I suppose..." He muttered, trying to make sense of it all. Chuck started tapping his foot nervously, it didn't go unnoticed by Serena.

"Wow Chuck, such strong feelings towards your business competitors. If I didn't know any better I'd think you actually cared," she teased.

"Indeed. Anyway, that's a sweet little sob story, but that still doesn't explain the silence and hostility I get from them whenever I mention your name."

"I'd rather not talk about that," she admitted, hoping and praying that this was the end of the conversation!

"Please save me the burden of having to scroll through hundreds of gossip girl pages. Humor me."

"I hate this story," she almost whined. What she'd done was terrible! But she wasn't the same person she'd been them. She'd gotten help and she was still with Nate. She somehow always knew that Blair never belonged with him, she just couldn't picture them ending up together! Of course that didn't excuse what she did, and now Chuck would know too.

"Well," she began reluctantly, "this all happened during December of Senior year. Almost right before you showed up actually. Anyway, Blair and Nate had been dating since Freshman year-"

"Wait Blair and Nate!" He interrupted her! He couldn't believe that his best friend and Blair (Carter's secretary? Sister?) actually were together at some point. Kind of unimaginable really. They were two very different people.

"I know right! So yeah Blair and Nate were together and I was dating Carter at the time-"

"I still can't believe you and Carter-"

"Yes Chuck I know! Shocking! Let me finish my story please! So yeah basically I really liked Nate and I knew he sort of liked me too. We hung out more than he and Blair did anyway. We went to parties together and I knew there was this connection between us from the start. One day Blair and I went to a party and I ditched her to hang out with Nate. We were all drunk...even Blair! And before you interrupt me, yes I know, that's hard to believe too! Anyway Nate and I lost track of Blair was, she was dancing with this creep. One thing led to the next and we ended up...you know...together in one of the rooms upstairs."

"Gasp," Chuck mocked, but in all honesty he was interested to hear where this story was going.

"Ha ha! Anyway, apparently the creep was trying to get with Blair. That's a story all on its own! So he barged in on Nate and I and Blair saw and we panicked. We fixed ourselves up as quickly as possible, but it was too late. Pictures of us all over each other from earlier at the party were all over Gossip Girl. Carter showed up, saved Blair from the creep, and that literally was the end of it all. It was the last time I saw either of them until now. All I know was that Blair disappeared and showed up about 3 years ago. There was a blast. I don't know I wasn't in a good place back then with our parent's wedding and all. But that's all I know."

"Wow Serena, now I know where the saying 'hit two birds with one stone' comes from."

She threw a pillow at him in response, but he dodged it skillfully.

"That's not funny, you know I love Nate! I know there's no excuse for what I did, but I don't really regret where I ended up because of it," she defended. Blair didn't want Nate, she reasoned and she knew it was true. Serena needed Nate, he was her lifeline.

"What do you mean by disappeared?"

"She just didn't show up at school. Kinda just vanished, I don't know I assumed she just went to some boarding school that's what some of the teachers were saying."

"I met you like right after that incident, you didn't seem too distraught," he recalled.

"Wow Chuck! What were you expecting me to do? I was a blissfully ignorant & troubled teenager! I'd just assumed she was angry and dealing with this whole thing very childishly. If that's even a word?"

"Coming from the girl who screwed both her and Carter over," he retorted. But he knew that Serena had gotten help with her addiction and reckless behavior, and that she wasn't quite the same person she'd been when he met her. But that still didn't answer all his questions. Why did Blair leave? What had Carter done in that time period? What the actual hell was going on?

"So maybe that's why she 'can't leave,'" he wondered aloud.

"Why she can't leave Baizen Enterprises? I don't know Chuck, I think that's more between her and Carter. All I know is I don't want to stick around there any longer," she figured that telling him all she knew would've been sufficient.

"No," he yelled (almost too eagerly) "I need you to stay. Whether it's to rile up Blair or get some more information out of her or Carter. I don't care."

"Chuck I think they know we're siblings," she yelled, pointing out the obvious. They wouldn't trust her!

"Maybe but I don't think they care. In fact I think they expect us to hate each other so just play along. I mean they also know my father's Bart Bass, but I just fed Carter some bullshit about wanting to branch out on my own, away from my father's 'shadow'..."

"I don't know Chuck I just feel like we're making this all too complicated. B.E. isn't that big of a deal. Just tell your money hungry father to let one competitor slide," she suggested. Maybe her brother had other intentions in mind.

"You know very well I can't do that Serena."

"Because of another person whose name starts with a B?" She winked. She should be able to tease him as well.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he stated adamantly.

"Of course," she agreed.

"That'll be all. Text Nate and tell him that he's welcome to come back up. Next time tell him to actually make plans with his grandfather when we have business to deal with, rather than wallowing in the lounge."

She scoffed, but Chuck paid no mind. He took the leash from the door by the elevator and whistled for Monkey to come (who was very happy that he was going on another walk today)

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Blair was sooo not in the mood to go to Sunday brunch and sit around while Mr. and Mrs. Baizen pestered her with questions about her life and the firm.

But they had insisted and Carter was more than happy to oblige to his parent's wishes.

Her phone buzzed.

Carter: Ready to go see mommy and daddy dearest?

Blair: Of course! It's been so long!

Carter: I can't tell if you're being sarcastic over text…

Blair smiled, and returned her attention back to the mirror to inspect her appearance. She wore a red, belted Valentino on top of her favorite black (lacy) tights. The dress hit mid-thigh and was short sleeved. 'Kind of scandalous' for December, but she didn't mind. After applying another shade of lip gloss she was ready to go!

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Brunch at the Baizen's never went smoothly. In fact it was utter chaos. People were usually late, clients were often times invited and mixed up with family members, and if that wasn't enough Josephine (Mrs. Baizen's beloved Siamese cat) liked to stir up trouble as well.

Normally brunch would be served outside, in the patio. But given the harsh December weather, they decided to eat in the common room. Much to Caroline Baizen's disappointment.

"I just love the fresh air," she'd once said when it started raining and she wouldn't budge.

Today, Blair and Carter thought they'd be the last to arrive, but to their surprise…no one else was there. Josephine purred when she saw Blair and rubbed up against her.

"Oh you two made it," Mrs. Baizen shrieked, "I was so worried the weather would stop you!"

She made her way over to them and pulled Carter, and then Blair in for a big hug.

"Oh nonsense, it's barely snowing! And nothing could keep us away, you know that very well," Blair smiled and lied through her teeth.

"Rain or shine," Carter added sarcastically.

She frowned.

"Very well then! Come come, let's all have a seat. We'd love to hear how work is going, isn't that right sweetie?" She smiled cheerily and nudged her husband who was reading a newspaper at the table.

He set the paper down, glanced at his two 'children', and let out a disappointed sigh.

Mr. Baizen was a lawyer. He'd been practicing family law for the past thirty years and before that he'd done corporate law for ten. He was short in stature and had a head full of gray hair. Unlike his wife who had bleach blonde highlights and was convinced she was still twenty-two. They were quite an odd pair.

For a seventy-year-old man you wouldn't expect much, but he definitely was one of the most intimidating men Blair had ever met (and that had nothing to do with the huge scar he had on the left side of his face).

Anyway, both Blair and Carter knew very well that Mr. Baizen wasn't the least bit interested in hearing about their jobs because he didn't exactly support their real estate business. He only partially funded the project because apparently it was, "the only way to keep his kids off the streets."

"I see your numbers have been up," he managed, before pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"Umm yes. We're doing well. It's going fine, thanks for asking," Carter eyed his father suspiciously.

"Yes I think it's going great as well. B.E. has really been prospering this quarter despite it being a slow year. We've got our hands on some profitable properties." Blair smiled (after all this was practically her company, she had to vouch for it).

"I'm glad to hear that you haven't tarnished my name in the real estate world," Mr. Baizen continued while buttering his toast.

"We-" Blair began, but Carter motioned for her to stop.

They were originally going to pitch an expansion idea to Mr. Baizen and even suggest merging with his law firm for some future projects, but he felt like this wasn't the right time to do so.

"That's really great you two! I'm excited that this is working out," Mrs. Baizen smiled again, and popped a strawberry into her mouth.

Blair grimaced.

I think if Mrs. Baizen smiles one more time her face is going to break.

They made mindless chatter throughout the rest of the meal. It was a perfectly good waste of time, if you asked Blair.

Afterwards Mrs. Baizen was originally going to show Blair her new greenhouse, but Mr. Baizen asked to have a word with her instead.

"Have fun taking about roses with your mummy," Blair whispered and sent Carter on his way.

They stepped into his study, and she had a seat before Mr. Baizen could even say anything.

"Drink?" He offered, while he poured himself some brandy.

"No thank you, you know very well I don't drink," she smiled politely.

"On special occasions?"

"Rarely, not even then," she persisted.

"You know," he began, and took a seat across from her, "I'm really proud of you Blair. You've shown real progress. Heck! Even Carter's shown some potential thanks to you. Glad to hear B.E. is getting back on track, honestly."

He raised his glass in appreciation and Blair smirked.

"Mr. Baizen I appreciate your gratitude. But Carter's always had it in him, after all this is his vision and I'm just helping him fulfill it. We both know that. And let's be serious we have this conversation every few months. You know very well that I haven't been the same person you brought home three years ago."

He sighed, scratching his head.

"I know, I know Blair. I'm very glad you've grown up to be the capable and responsible girl I've always known you to be. The potential I once saw is still, luckily, there."

"Then give me the chance to prove myself! Let me go back to school! Carter can handle the firm on his own for a while," she pleaded. She couldn't even tell if she was begging him or yelling at herself anymore.

"No he can't," Mr. Baizen yelled, a little too loudly!

"Mr. Baizen you can't be serious, I know how little you think of your son but I didn't actually think-"

He cut her off, "Blair B.E. needs to grow. And it can't continue expanding if you're not there helping Carter."

"I don't understand," she muttered, "why now?"

"Because I'm sick," he stated simply.

Her brow furrowed, "Wait-what I don't understand?"

"I have Pancreatic cancer Blair. I can't work anymore. I'm going to have to leave my law firm and even though there's enough in my will for you and Carter to live comfortable lives…I don't want you relying on that money."

Blair gasped. She couldn't process what was going on, but most importantly she couldn't help wondering why was he telling her this and not Carter.

"Why isn't Carter in here? When are you going to tell him," she demanded. His own son had the right to know.

"He doesn't need to know just yet. Don't worry," he assured her, "I just need you to promise me you won't tell him and continue working."

She nibbled on her bottom lip, deep in thought. This was wrong.

"I promise," she finally mumbled reluctantly.

AN: Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and it answered maybe...one of your questions? This is sort of a filler chapter. I need to start filling up some of the holes in order to get this show on the road! I know a lot of you want to know what happened when Blair was gone, where she went, etc...but (spoiler) I want her to tell Chuck that & I don't think they're at that point in their relationship where she fully trusts him. I mean they've kissed like twice and that's about it! lol! Anyway I'm not really sure where I want to go with this story. This is about where I had it mapped out to, so the next update will probably be in a week or so maybe 2! But not longer than that! Any significant GG things you'd like to see incorporated? I'm up for suggestions!

Thank you to all my reviewers you guys are amazing or should I say molte grazie ;)!

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