A/N: Okay this is mostly Chuck's POV on some of this chapter. I know a lot of people were upset at the Season 5 Episode 10 episode in Secret Keeper and are probably confused on where its going. I've had a lot of my friends that were reading this before I posted it telling me that something big needs to happen for Chuck to wake up and see he's had the girl the whole time and I think this little outtake shows a lot of his emotions sort of wrestling each other. So I hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I only own Layla and lets all admit she's pretty awesome.

Season 5 Episode 11

Chuck walked Monkey along the sidewalk and spotted Louis standing there.

"Louis? What are you doing out here in the rain?" Chuck asked him.

"I hadn't noticed"

"I didn't realize that you and Blair had returned from Europe already"
"Been back for three weeks. I'm surprised you didn't know"

"One of the downsides of not having Gossip Girl these last few months. Any information would have to come Blair speaking to me directly which she hasn't."

"She's been busy"

"I'm very sorry she lost the baby. Is she alright?"

"Seems to be. Spends all her hours planning the wedding"

"Well I uh can't very well let you get sick before your big day. Come on I'll walk you"

"I'll be fine"

"Look I know we've had our differences but are you really going to pass up the offer of an umbrella on a night like this?"

"Thank you but shouldn't you be at a some scandalous party the night before New Years Eve?"

"I haven't really been in a party mood. I've spent most of my time with Sophie since I've gotten out of the hospital"

"I bet she's happy her father recovered. Layla as well. She must be over the moon. She sat by your bed side enough"

"She's been busy as well with her new man. She wont tell me who but between me and you I bet its Carter."

"Either way she has to be relieved."
"Yeah I'm sure she is."

They arrived at Blair's and headed up.

"Thanks for letting us up while we wait for my car"

"It's the least I can do after you saved me from that monsoon. I'll go get us some towels" Louis said then left the room.

"Louis" Chuck heard coming from the stairs. Blair came down and spotted him. "Dorota obviously became lax in announcing visitors"

"There's no need to reprimand the help. Louis invited me in"

"I should have known you'd manipulate someone"

"How can you blame me, You won't respond to my texts or my calls. Or to Layla's" He said adding the last part in a whisper.

"Well as you can see I survived without you and you without me. I'm sure Layla tended to your every call. You should go home to her and Sophie."

"That's it. I'm just cut out of your life without no explanation."

"My New York wedding is in less than a month. I have to keep my priorities in order."

"What happened Blair? What changed after the accident?"

"Did it ever occur to you that there's no such thing as an accident"

"It sure felt that way when the car hit the wall"

"It was the universe punishing us for what we did to Layla and Louis"

"Layla understood. She gets us. She told me to go"

"Well I guess you listen to her better than. If you aren't leaving then I will. Tell Louis that Bergdorfs stayed open late so I can finish our registery" Blair said and left. Louis entered the room with towels and handed one to Chuck.

"Thank you. Uh Blair said to tell you she's gone to pick out China patterns"

"At this hour?"

"I'm sure its just to avoid me"

"I wish that were the case but these excursions have become quite regular."

"Is that why you were out in the rain? Looking for her?"

"I just want to know what she's doing"

"Have you asked Serena or, this may be a wild guess, Layla"

"Blair's not sharing with either. She won't even let Dorota accompany her. To be honest I thought she was back with you"

"Well as you can see my presence only made her flee"

"I need to know my fiancé isn't having an affair"

"Well were both here." Chuck said then thought of someone else she may be with. "I best be going though. I need to get a present in my pocket wrapped for a special little girl"

"That's right Sophia's birthday is tomorrow."

"Yes it is. Thank you again" Chuck said and left.

After getting upset with Layla he decided to figure out what was going on with Blair. He had spotted Dan and he outside a town home and decided to report that back to Louis. He wasn't even sure why he was even helping Louis but he was.

He walked into Blair's and spotted Louis and Serena talking.

"Louis, Serena its nice to see you"

"Chuck, what are you doing here?" Serena asked knowing very well that Blair was avoiding him, she just didn't know why.

"I came to tell Louis that he is right. Blair is having an affair. With your Ex." Chuck said getting a confused look from his stepsister "I'm talking about Dan not the many men after."

"What are you talking about. Dan said he hasn't even seen Blair since she got back from Europe"

"He lied to you. Like he lied to me when he said him and Blair were shopping for Wedding things"

"You followed them?" Louis said irritated "You obviously have your own agenda where Blair is concerned."

"I had my driver take a picture."

"Just because Dan lied about seeing Blair doesn't mean that they're sleeping together." Serena said

'It's a private residence. Blair has a key. What else are they doing there" Chuck said.

"It does explain her absence" Louis agreed. Serena was not believing this at all.

"That's not proof. Which is what you guys need if you're gonna gang up and accuse her of cheating especially after everything she's been through" Serena said then turned to Chuck "And you, what are you even doing worrying about this when Layla is dating Carter again. Does it not bother you that she's with him because it should."

"Layla told me about them this morning"

"And that doesn't bother you that they have probably been together for a while and now she tells you"

"She's a big girl Serena"

"With the wrong man Chuck"

'Its all so confusing. Okay."

"You love Layla. You have loved Layla longer than when Blair entered the triangle. While Blair and Nate were being the perfect couple you were wishing that you had that with Layla. Think about that while you two are spying on Blair." Serena said and started to leave.

'Wait" Chuck said

"What?" she said

"Gossip Girl probably has a treasure trove of photos of her in her in-box which you probably get"

"Take them" Serena said shoving her computer at him "Just remember what I said."

Chuck just looked at her and handed the computer over to Louis. Deep down he knew she was right but he was already too late. He already lost to Carter Baizen twice.

Later that night at the party Chuck walked away from Layla and Carter. He didn't really even want to be in the same room as them at the fear it would make him ill which only made Serena's words circle in his head. He grabbed a drink and went into the corner where no one would really see him.

"Can we talk?" he heard from the one person he hated the most. Carter Baizen.

"What? You don't want to flaunt that you got the girl?" Chuck asked

"Please I didn't win Layla"

"She'd kill you if she heard you talking about her like some prize"

"Which proves my point"

"Which is?"

"You may be fooling everyone with this whole I love Blair bullshit but you are so bothered by Layla being here with me that I can you practically chocking me in your head. Something you've wanted to do since you found out I married her."

"It's crossed my mind a few times in the past few years"

"What are you doing to do about it?"

"I thought about poison but then my little girl would be upset that her 'Uncle Carter' is gone and since she almost lost me I won't do that to her."

"Not to mention Layla would kill you"

"There is that to consider"

"You are hearing yourself right"

"Serena has already yelled at me today so I really don't need you to as well"

"Layla and I may be together but you have the one thing that I could never get even before she and I were married. You have something pure. Something to hold on to"

"Her heart" Chuck responded and took a drink and spotted Louis, Nate and Dan entering a room. "If you'll excuse me I have business to attend."

"I'm not done with you " Carter said following Chuck.

At midnight Chuck watched Carter kiss Layla and she give him a faint smile. He turned to Louis and Blair. He looked back at Layla and spotted her talking to Nate. He headed back to the Empire and spotted a picture that him, Layla and Sophie had taken last year. Back when they were fighting about Blair kissing Dan. How things never changed. He poured two glasses like he was expecting Layla to walk through those doors at any moment to join him like she did everytime something was going on in their life. But that wouldn't be the case because she was with Carter. Somewhere he should be and not Carter. The elevator dinged and he looked up half hoping it was her. It was Blair, not that he wasn't happy to see her it just wasn't the one he was expecting. Which is when he realized who he really loved.