A/N: Enjoy!
Everyone in the Waldorf penthouse made their way to the dining room. Eleanor sat at the head of the table, next to Richard. Blair unwillingly sat on Richard's left with Nate on her other side. Carter sat beside him and also next to a protective Eric. Sharon sat stiffly. Even though Eric was between them, she still felt Carter's gaze on her. She turned to Evan, who was waiting impatiently. Next to him sat Chuck. He hated sitting next to children but decided it was better than having his heart broken again.
Dan sat next to him. Serena would have surely killed Chuck if they sat next to each other. The rest of the table was filled with either Eleanor's "friends" or business associates. Everyone was in their own conversations. Blair ate her caviar in quiet. Nate leaned toward her. His lips a few inches from her ear.
"How about after brunch, we have some fun?"
Blair almost choked on her caviar piece. She looked at her mother to see if she had noticed. Fortunately, her mother was in a deep conversation with Richard. Blair turned to Nate.
"Do you honestly think that that is proper table conversation?"
Nate smirked.
"Come on Blair. We've been sort of distant lately. We need some fun."
Blair sighed.
"Sure. After brunch?"
Nate smiled and placed his hand on Blair's thigh. Blair looked around to see if anyone had noticed. Again, everyone was far too busy in their own conversations to take notice of the young couple. Nate kissed Blair's cheek.
"After brunch."
He turned back to his meal. Blair looked to her left. She looked passed everyone until she saw Chuck's eyes looking right into her. His looked hurt. She felt her heart break. She turned back to her food.
Chuck watched her. He needed her. Chuck Bass actually needed someone, but he couldn't have her. It was obvious he wasn't allowed to talk to her now. Ever since Nate had implied if he did, he would be found dead in a dumpster in Queens the next day. He turned back to the meal in front of him. He sighed and ate some of his veal. He felt eyes on him. He turned to look at his right and saw little green eyes looking at him.
"Can I help you?"
Evan just kept looking. Chuck rolled his eyes and sipped his champagne. He looked back at Evan.
"Look, it's not polite to stare."
"I know."
"Then would you quit it?"
"I will, but you have to do something for me."
Chuck raised an eyebrow. He couldn't help but smirk. Young kid already knows how to get what he wants. Now where have I seen that before?, he thought.
"Alright. What?"
"Do you know who that guy is?"
"Which one?"
"He's sitting next to Eric."
Chuck peered over to where Evan had described. He almost cringed at seeing Carter less that five feet away. He turned back to Evan.
"Unfortunately, yes. That's Carter."
"Do you know why he's here?"
"He just got out of prison."
Evan's jaw dropped.
"A guy from prison is here?"
Chuck tried to contain his laughter. It just amused him how little could excite a child.
"Yes."
"What did he do?"
Chuck was about to answer, when he remembered that night. That night still haunted him from time to time.
It was the summer, July seventeenth two thousand and eight. Chuck, Serena, Blair, Eric, Kyle and Nate were sitting at a table in the restaurant on the cruise ship they were aboard. Everything had been fine for the past two weeks, but not today. No, Jenny and her new friend Sharon had invited Carter Baizen to come on aboard. Everyone was on the edge ever since Carter had come back. And what made it worse was the fact that Carter and company were at the same restaurant as them and their table was relatively close to theirs, but they were still far away from each other. Blair sat stiffly. Chuck squeezed her hand gently. She took a sip of her seven up and got up from the table.
"Excuse me. I must go to the ladies room."
Chuck watched as she walked away. Everyone else went back to their dinner conversation. He ate some of the spaghetti he had ordered. He checked the time on his gold Rolex. It had been twenty minutes since Blair had excused herself. He knew girls took a long time in the bathroom, but she wouldn't take this long. He turned to Serena.
"Serena, could you go and check on Blair?"
Serena looked at his face. His eyes were worried. She nodded her head.
"Sure."
She got up from the table after giving Kyle a quick kiss. Chuck would never admit it, but he actually like Serena with Dan instead on Kyle. Kyle was a nice guy and all but it was just weird seeing Serena with him. Kyle was after all Dan's best friend. Chuck raised an eye brow. Where had he seen this before? He went back to his meal. He tried to reassured himself that Blair was alright and that she and Serena had probably just stopped to pick up some drinks from the bar.
Suddenly, his phone rang. He looked at the caller ID. It was Serena. He sighed and put it next to his ear.
"What is it Van der Woodsen?"
He tried telling himself that she was probably just calling to let him know that Blair had just run of lip gloss and they had gone to the gift shop to get some more. But the heavy breathing coming from Serena's voice didn't help.
"Come to the ladies room, right now!"
She hung up. Chuck quickly got up. What could have happened? He looked up quickly at the table Carter, Jenny and Sharon had been sitting at. Where was Carter? He started to fast walk. He didn't even have time to explain what was going on to the others at the table. Even though he was walking as fast as he could, in his mind everything was going to slow. Was Blair in danger?
He reached the door of the ladies room. He took a deep breath before walking in. Nothing could have prepared him for what he saw next.
Blair was pinned up against the wall. She was trying to push Carter away from her. Serena was trying to get him off her as well, but she was no match for Carter. Tears were streaming down Blair's face. Chuck's fist clenched and he walked over to the scene. He pulled Carter off Blair and took him across the washroom without letting go of his collar once.
Serena had put an arm around her friend, trying to comfort her. Blair shook as she sobbed onto Serena's shoulder. Chuck glared at Carter. Carter did nothing but smirk. Chuck stepped closer till they were eye to eye.
"What the fuck man!"
Before Carter could do anything, he felt the pain of Chuck's clenched fist hit his jaw. Carter grabbed his jaw, the pain was much too unbearable. Chuck, who was still glaring at him, punched him again hard in the stomach. Carter fell to the ground and hitting his head on the wall as he descended toward the floor. Chuck punched him again before finally looking down at him.
He had never felt so angry in his life. How could he do that to Blair? He knew Carter was a bad guy but this was just too low. Chuck gathered some spit in his mouth and spat on Carter's shirt.
"Don't you ever touch her again!"
Chuck turned around and saw that Blair and Serena were no longer there. He started walking out of the washroom, leaving Carter on the ground. Chuck stepped into the hallway. He saw Serena and Blair standing a few feet away. Serena had her arm around Blair still and was saying something to calm her down. Blair's face was washed with fear. She was still crying. Chuck walked up to them. Blair looked up as he approached. Serena let go of her friend so Blair could go to Chuck.
Blair fell into Chuck's arms and started crying even more. Chuck had his arms around her and stroked her brown curls. She grabbed onto him. He held her closer. She was far to weak after trying to fight off Carter Baizen.
When Blair had finally calmed down a little, Chuck put his arm around her and she rested her head on his shoulders. Serena was on her other side. They excused themselves from dinner early and went back to their suite. Chuck held Blair all night as she cried. There was nothing he could do.
The next day, Chuck had tried to convince the ship's officer of what Carter had tried to do but there hadn't been that much evidence and it had seemed that the officer was on Carter's side. But Chuck had promised Blair that he would get Carter thrown in jail, no matter what. And a few weeks later, just as he had promised, Carter was arrested at JFK airport. No one saw him again for six years.
"So what did he do?"
Chuck snapped back and turned to Evan, who was eagerly waiting to hear why Carter had been arrested.
"He, um, stole a pack of Skittles."
Evan rolled his eyes before turning away. Chuck let out a little sigh of relief. He wasn't exactly the type of person who could tell exactly what had happened to a six year old, well at least not without scarring the kid for life.
Next to Chuck, Dan and Serena were having their own conversation. They didn't really have time for many of those earlier with all these people trying to congratulate them and ask questions about the wedding. They were just glad to have each other's company. Serena leaned toward Dan.
"Is Jenny going to be home?"
"No, she's still at Hazel and Penny's. Why?"
Serena sent him a naughty smile. Dan almost dropped his fork. Serena giggled.
"You know why?"
Dan smiled back.
"Fine, we can have some fun."
Serena smiled.
"Now, back to Blair and Chuck."
"How can you go from talking about one of the most intimate ways of showing love to the king and queen of evil and the Upper East Side?"
"Because, I'm awesome like that."
Dan smiled and grabbed Serena's hand. He gently rubbed the top of it with his thumb. They couldn't wipe their smiles off their faces.
Soon after half an hour more, Eleanor suggested that the guests grab something to drink and head down to the living room. Of course the older guests followed her, while everyone else stayed seated in the dining room. And everyone meant Blair, Carter, Nate, Dan, Serena, Eric, Evan, Sharon and Chuck. Serena stood up.
"I'd hate to leave but me and Dan have some last minute wedding stuff to get to."
Blair got up and gave her friend a goodbye hug.
"So you and Dan are going to be working on last minute wedding preparations?"
Serena blushed.
"Yup."
Blair giggled and gave Serena another hug.
"Well have fun."
"Don't worry, we will."
"Serena, as much as I love you I don't want to know how much fun you and Cabbage Patch have."
Serena giggled.
"Bye B."
Serena grabbed Dan's hand and the walked into the elevator. Blair watched as they walked away. Pure love in their eyes. She sighed and turned back to the people still in the dining room. Carter and Nate were deep in conversation about the latest lacrosse equipment. Not Blair's style. Eric, Sharon and Evan were grabbing their coats and putting them on. Blair walked up to them.
"Leaving so soon?"
Eric looked at her.
"Uh yeah. It's been awkward if you know what I mean."
Blair and Eric quickly looked at Carter. Luckily he didn't see the two. Blair looked back at Eric.
"Don't worry. He'll be gone before you know it."
"I'm not worrying about him. I'm worrying about Sharon. I don't know what he'll do, or when he'll do it but I'm ready for anything coming my way."
Blair smiled.
"You really are a nice guy, Eric."
Eric smiled.
"Well we all knew that. After all who did I take to the prom during her junior year?"
Blair rolled her eyes.
"You need to get over that."
"And you need to get over that voice you keep talking to that says Chuck isn't the one for you, but let's face it. You two love each other."
Blair sighed.
"Well it's just not that easy."
Eric nodded his head. Sharon and Evan came over to where the two were standing. Eric put his arm around Sharon. She gave him a gracious smile. Evan looked at the two of them.
"I knew you wouldn't be worried too long."
Sharon's face grew confused.
"What are you talking about, Evan?"
"Chuck told me everything."
Blair raised an eyebrow.
"Chuck?"
Evan looked at Blair.
"Yeah Chuck. He told me that Carter was in prison."
Sharon froze. Blair kneeled down so she was at the same level as Evan.
"And what else did Chuck say?"
"He said that he went to prison for stealing a packet of Skittles. Can you believe he stole the colours of the rainbow?"
Sharon let out a breath of relief. Blair and Eric tried to hold their laughter. After quick hugs and goodbyes, the three were gone leaving Chuck, Carter, Nate and Blair. Nate looked at his watched and smiled naughtily before going up to Blair. He kissed her. Chuck tried not to vomit as he watched from afar. Blair looked into Nate's eyes. He smiled.
"I think it's about time we get going."
Blair sent him a small smile.
"Um sure. I'll just grab my coat."
He smiled and gave her a quick kiss before she disappeared to her bedroom to get a trench coat. she grabbed Roberto Cavali metallic trench from her closet. She put it over her outfit. Something didn't feel right. She shook off the feeling and grabbed her Armani handbag and proceeded downstairs. Nate was waiting for her in the dining room. Carter at his side. Blair gave Nate a small kiss. Nate smiled at her.
"Hey sweetie."
Blair just smiled. Nate spoke again.
"I hope you don't mind, but could we drop Carter off first?"
Blair plastered a smile.
"Of course."
Nate beamed and started toward the elevators. His arm around Blair's waist. Carter followed. Blair quickly glanced behind her and met Chuck's eyes as she walked away. She quickly turned back around before tears would come out of her eyes.