A/N: Sorry it took me forever to post this chapter. This is the first chapter fic that I've attempted to write since graduating from school, and I must say, a full time job is not very conducive to writing fanfic. Such a predicament.

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Van Der Wooden Apartment

When the elevator chimed and the shining doors parted, Chuck Bass certainly didn't expect to see the scene that lay before him. Eyebrows raised and smirk firmly in place, he stepped into the Van der Woodsen apartment. "Well, well; isn't this cozy."

Serena was the first to react, her eyes connecting with his from her place on the floor, where she sat with her back pressed against the chest of Dan Humphrey and his arm wrapped loosely around her waist. "Chuck!" she greeted, sitting up a little straighter and offering him a smile.

From the other side of the coffee table, Nate nodded a greeting in Chuck's direction. "Hey, man."

Chuck afforded him the same greeting before taking the direct route to the mini bar, pouring aged scotch into what used to be his father's favorite tumbler and turning his attention to the group seated around the coffee table. They were surrounded by empty glasses, ones which he could only assume had been filled with the contents of the abandoned wine bottles that were now resting on the mantle of the fireplace, and day-old leftovers from a holiday party thrown by Lilly. Serena picked up a plate of Bruschetta, extending it in his direction. "Hungry?"

He lifted his eyebrows and gave a quick shake of his head. "Nourishment tends to kill my buzz," he replied dryly, turning to face Nate with a grin plastered to his face. "So how's Dartmouth?" he questioned, taking another swallow of scotch as he sat on the couch. "Have you managed to ditch that washout of a roommate you got stuck with?"

Across the room, Dan groaned. "Um, I can hear you."

He smiled. "I wasn't trying to keep my inquires a secret, Humphrey."

Serena glared in his direction. "Can you please be civil?" Sighing out of exasperation, she buried herself closer to Dan as she plucked a strawberry from a plate and popped it into her mouth. "Have you heard from Blair, by the way?" she questioned, lifting her gaze to meet Chuck's. "I thought she'd come over after Socialista, but she's not answering my texts."

He shrugged, swirling the remaining amber liquid around the bottom of his glass. "She's knows I'm staying here over the holiday break," he replied, his answer intentionally vague as he crossed a leg over his knee. "I doubt she'll be stopping by tonight."

Looking as though she dreaded his answer, Serena scowled at Chuck. "What did you do to her this time?"

It was predictable, Chuck thought, that Serena would assume the tension between Blair and himself was his fault, but he didn't voice this opinion. Instead, he simply looked up, giving his shoulders a gentle shrug. "Let's just say that I made Christmas come a little early this year for Blair."

Eyes rolled and groans passed through lips at the traditional Chuck Bass response. "Chuck!" Serena protested, simultaneous to Nate's, "Jesus, man do you always have to be so crass?"

Instantly, Chuck suddenly felt like he was back in high school. He grinned as a witty barb developed on the edge of his tongue, yet to be decided whether it would be hurled at his all too perky step-sister or his tragically tortured best friend, when the chime of Serena's cell phone diverted his attention. He picked it up from the table beside him, glancing at the screen before Serena had the chance to snatch it from his fingertips. "Well speak of the she-devil," he muttered, smirking as Serena opened her phone.

Help please. Corner of Hudson and Jane. Hurry. -B

Serena frowned, her forehead furrowed. "Blair wants me to come get her."

Nate narrowed his eyes. "Where is she?"

Tucking a long strand of hair behind her ear, she pursed her lips and absently replied, "Somewhere in the West Village."

Dan frowned. "Why can't she take a cab?"

Shrugging, Serena turned her attention back to her phone.

What's wrong? Can you get a cab to my apt? It's late.

Chuck leaned forward toward the coffee table, forgetting his intention to avoid the food as he grabbed a shrimp from the platter. "She's probably pissed because her lackeys went off to college and realized she doesn't actually reign over them." He chewed slowly, washing it down with the last of his scotch. "Tell her to come over. I'll make everything better."

Ignoring him, Serena checked Blair's response when her phone sounded it's arrival.

Please, S.

And for some reason, Blair's simple plea caused Serena's heart to skip a beat. She sat up straighter, glancing at Dan. "I think I should go get her." When he nodded, demanding no further explanation, Serena smiled. "Will you come with me?"

"Uh, yeah. Yeah, of course." Standing to his feet, he offered her his hand. Across the coffee table, Chuck rolled his eyes as Serena allowed Dan to pull her from the floor. "Taking Humpty to the scene of the big rescue, S?" he sneered, shaking his head as he reached into his pocket. "Well that's fine. That'll give Nate and me a chance to catch up."

Serena rolled her eyes when Chuck produced a blunt from the depths of his pocket. With a shake of her head, she picked up her coat, slipping it on quickly before retrieving her purse. "We'll be back in a bit."

Chuck grinned. "No need to hurry, sis."

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Cab, West Village

"Thanks for coming with me."

Serena had mumbled the words sleepily, her head rested against Dan's shoulder as the cab sped through the winding downtown streets. Dan shrugged, taking her hand and placing a light kiss on the top of her hair. "No need to thank me. I'm doing it for Blair," he answered in jest.

Serena giggled, elbowing him gently. "Is there something I should know about, Humphrey?"

And just like that, they fell into their old ways of playful banter. He nodded with faux solemness. "Yes, Serena. I've been meaning to tell you that Blair and I have been carrying on a torrid love affair." He shook his head as the cab came to a stop. "It's been eating me up inside."

She smiled, handing the driver a twenty dollar bill and opening her door. "I've always thought you two belonged together," she quipped, grabbing his hand as he stepped out of the cab. Peaking her head inside the car door, she added, "Hey, can you wait for us? We're just picking up a friend."

With a nod from the cab driver, Serena and Dan turned away from the car, their eyes scanning the sidewalk for any sign of Blair. "Do you see her?"

Serena shook her head, pulling out her phone. "She said this is where she was going to be."

They walked a bit down Jane Street as Serena typed a text to Blair, Dan's hand resting on the small of her back. "Maybe we should try walking down Hudson."

Serena's phone chimed at the arrival of Blair's reply, and she immediately shook her head. "No, she said she's standing in front of Bonsignour Cafe."

"Oh." Dan narrowed his eyes, turning to face the opposite side of the street. "But isn't that-"

She quickly looked up from her phone when Dan stopped talking, her eyebrows furrowed as she stared at him questioningly. "What?" she asked, her gaze following his line of vision to the light pooling beneath a street lamp on the other side of the road. "Is that her?"

"I think so."

They checked for traffic before crossing in the middle of the street, and when Serena's hand slipped into Dan's, he didn't comment on the slight tremor of her fingers. Instead, he simply squeezed her hand back, rushing alongside her as she quickly approached the tiny brunette sitting on the bench, her head bowed and her hand clutching the front of her dress. "Blair?"

Serena's voice was quiet, almost cautious as they approached, yet it startled Blair nonetheless, causing her to jolt as she looked up quickly, her eyes wide. At the sight of her face, her hallow eyes and her skin patched with rosy welts, Serena couldn't contain a gasp. "Oh my god, B. What the hell happened to you?"

Blair brushed off Serena's concern, idly fingering the marks she knew were forming on her face as she stood up on quivering legs. "Took you long enough to get here," she instantly complained as shivers wracked her body, but the barb of her insult fell short at the sound of the trembling in her voice. Dan shrugged off his coat and placed it around Blair's shoulders, thinking that it nearly swallowed her. She offered him a weak smile, rolling her eyes. "Well thanks, Humphrey. Do you have any idea how long I'm going to have to scrub my skin now just to get the stench of Brooklyn off me?"

Serena frowned, but ignored her comment. "Blair, what happened?"

She swallowed, growing tearful as she lifted her chin. "Can you just take me home, please?"

Serena shook her head. "But B-"

"I got mugged, okay?" she interrupted, her expression leaving little room for argument. "The asshole took my favorite Chloe clutch and my Winston choker. It's a tragedy. Can we just go?"

Swallowing through a lump of dread lodged in her throat, Serena reached her hand out to take Blair's. Immediately, Blair jerked away, nearly stumbling backward onto the bench before she caught herself, steadying her feet. Serena's concern multiplied, her eyes narrowed as they swept over Blair's petite frame. "But your dress, B," she murmured.

Blair looked down at the ripped fabric of her newest Nanette Lepore, knowing that the harsh glow of the street lamp made it impossible to hide the deep flush of her cheeks. "It's fine," she mumbled, her jaw fixed with pride when she looked up. "I have others just like it."

Dan had been silent up to this point, but felt compelled to speak up when he suspected that Serena was at a loss for words. "I don't think that's what she meant."

At his comment, Blair's head whipped around, her eyes wide and full of tears when they connected with his. "I know what she meant, Humphrey," she snapped. She immediately shook her head, regaining her composure after feeling a blush of embarrassment sweep across her cheeks. She shivered, clutching the edges of Dan's jacket closed before meeting their worried gazes. "Look, I texted you because I don't have any money for a cab or my house keys. Because I was mugged. If I had known you were going to hassle me, I would have texted someone else."

"Please, B, just-"

Blair closed her eyes at the sound of Serena's plea, the trembling of her best friend's voice suddenly too much for her to handle. As her eyes fluttered shut, her lids instantly pressed twin tears down her flushed, frozen cheeks. She sniffed, idly swiping the moisture away with fingers that had long since turned numb from the cold. "Please, Serena," she whispered. "Just ... please just take me home."

And the defeat in Blair's voice, the instant slumping of her shoulders, stopped any further questions that Serena might have had. Nodding, Serena held back her own tears. "Of course," she answered, her voice equally muted as the three walked toward the waiting cab.

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