Disclaimer: I do not own Gossip Girl or its Characters.

Chapter 12: Surprises and Schemes

"Serena! Ben!" Blair yelled surprised, jumping off Dan's lap going over to hug her best friend. She could feel her face redden in embarrassment. Serena seemed to shake herself out of her shocked state. She thought she would be okay with Blair and Dan, but the first time seeing them together like that was a little overwhelming.

"Hey Blair" Serena hugged Blair. She watched Dan stand up and straighten his clothes. He nodded at her while not meeting her eye. A classic Humphrey avoidance look. Serena suddenly remembered Ben next to her.

"Dan this is..."

"Ben. Yeah I know. I met him the other day." Dan nodded. His tone wasn't cold but it was welcoming either. Blair turned and gave Dan a look. Dan rolled his eyes. Just because he was going to let him stay there didn't mean he had to be all warm and fuzzy. Blair changed the subject.

"Did you decide to take Rufus up on his offer Ben?"

Ben hesitated uncomfortably looking at Dan.

"Yeah…if Dan is okay with it."

Dan felt everyone staring at him, especially his new girlfriend.

"Yeah man. I mean it's the last we can do." He tried desperately to sound sincere.

Dan felt more than saw Serena and Blair take a breath. He decided if it made them happy he might as well go along with it especially since Serena was being a pretty good sport about him and Blair, he could be flexible too right?

"Come on Ben. I'll show you to the extra room." Dan said leading a nervous Ben back to his dad's old bedroom. Blair found herself falling more in love with Dan. He had handled that situation so well and it made her proud of him. Serena just smirked at the smile on Blair's face as she watched Dan leading Ben out of the living room.

"I had no idea." Serena broke into Blair's thoughts.

"What?" Blair looked at her confused.

"You are so in love! I thought you guys just liked each other, but what that looked like, and what I walked in on was way more than just like B."

Blair felt herself blush more.

"Serena! SHH!" Blair scolded. She looked over her shoulder where Dan and Ben had just left to make sure they weren't near then grabbed Serena and pulled her into the kitchen. Serena looked around at the kitchen.

"Holy shit! You cooked for him?" Serena gasped looking around at the mess in the kitchen.

"How do you know? He could have cooked!" Blair whispered trying to clean up the mess now that it was brought to her attention.

"B, first of all—Dan is a neat freak and cleans as he cooks. Second, you are the only one who uses an ice cream scooper to pour the pancake batter. And now your cleaning?"

Blair froze. That was out of character for her. She turned and glared at her best friend's cleverness.

"Fine, I did. But how else was I going to butter him up to let Ben move in! And by the way S you could have given Dan and me some more time."

Serena scrunched her face in disgust at the thought.

"I'm sorry. Ben had to drop off his stuff. Plus he has an interview in a half hour and then after we were going to go out for lunch and talk. I mean we talked a little already and I feel that it's going in a good direction." Serena said. She couldn't help but beam a little of the chance of being with Ben.

"Good. Now I can stop hearing you play that stupid mope song you have been playing 24 7."

"Hey it's a good song!" Serena defended.

"It's a pathetic song that makes me feel sad."

"Well it makes me reflect."

Blair rolled her eyes.

"So you are really serious about Dan." Serena whispered. She looked up a little to make sure the guys were still in the bedroom, and then looked back at her best friend.

"Just because I cooked for him doesn't mean anything." Blair answered swiftly. She didn't really want to have this conversation with Serena, mainly because she was Dan's ex even if she was her best friend. She knew that she more than like Dan. She was pretty sure that she was falling in love with him, and might already be. Damn Serena for knowing her so well.

"B, who else have you cooked for besides yourself?"

Blair knew she had a point. Suddenly the guys came back giving Blair the opportunity to get out of the conversation. She could help herself, and went over and hugged Dan. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. Serena smiled at Dan and Blair, but felt an odd sense of sadness. She was moving on with Ben but Dan was Dan. Dan use to be her Dan. She took a deep breath pulling herself out of her daydream and looked at Ben who was already watching her. He was searching her for signs of trouble at the scene in front of them, but lucky for Serena she was good keeping a poker face. She smiled at Ben seeing relief fill his expression. She nodded her head for them to go and he nodded back in agreement.

"Thanks again Dan." Ben walked up, holding out his hand to Dan. Dan released Blair from their embrace but kept one arm around her, as he reached out and took Ben's hand and shook.

"Sure. Good luck on the interview." Dan smiled. Ben nodded and smiled back.

"Thanks."

Blair parted from Dan and hugged Serena goodbye and Dan was nice and hugged Serena goodbye too.

"We will see you guys later I'm sure." Serena smiled closing the door.

"Bye." Dan and Blair said together.

"Well that wasn't awkward or anything." Dan said sarcastically looking at Blair.

XXXXX

Juliet was stressed. When she had decided to study abroad in England she thought it would be a new beginning but so far it had been a train wreck. Her apartment was worse than her old one in New York, she was swimming in debt, and she swore her English professors hated her, which had only resulted in low grades. If thinks did not look up she was going to have to go back home to the States. Something she did not want to do.

If only Ben had come with me. She had asked Ben when he was released to go to England with her. It would have been a fresh start for both of them, but he had turned her down, saying that he needed to find his own new beginning. At least he was home to look after their mom. Before Juliet left her mom had begged her not to go, but Juliet couldn't tell her mom when exactly she needed to leave the area for a while.

"Would you like anymore coffee?"

Juliet looked up startled at the waiter who had woken her from her thoughts. She smiled.

"No thank you. I'm ready for the check please."

The waiter nodded, turning back towards the counter towards the register. Juliet took a deep breath and looked around her. Even though London could be rainy and cloud it had other qualities that made it quaint and lovely. The country was drenched in history and culture that gave it that charming feel. Juliet stretched and yawned. She had been studying for hours and could literally feel her back starting to permanently stay in the hunched over position.

"Your check miss." Her waiter returned.

Juliet smiled and bent down to reach her purse when she heard a familiar voice that sent chills down her spine.

"I'll take that."

Juliet turned around to find Chuck Bass standing in front of her.

"What the hell? Chuck?"

The waiter looked confused and a little frightened but graciously accepted the money for the check and the gracious tip Chuck handed him, before leaving quickly.

"Hello Juliet." Chuck smiled slyly. "I thought you would have been harder to find."

Juliet couldn't form words at first. She had just gone from being terrified to angry and now to insulted. There were too many words she wanted to use, but she suddenly remembered their surroundings and decided against it. After Chuck paid the waiter he sat down across from Juliet.

"What do you want Chuck?" Juliet asked coldly.

"I come in peace Juliet. There is no need to be upset."

Juliet looked him up and down with her glare still attached.

"I don't care if you are here in peace Chuck. I want nothing to do with you, Blair, Serena, or even Nate ever again."

"I understand that, and believe me I would usually oblige you in your request, but matters have taken a turn in New York and I need your help."

"I don't care about anyone in New York Chuck! I want to be left alone!"

"Don't you care about Ben? Your brother? The one you sabotaged and schemed to get out of prison?"

Juliet looked at Chuck surprised.

"Of course I care about Ben, but he has nothing to do with your friends and New York. He is actually taking a job up north with a cousin of ours."

"I have information that says otherwise."

"Well your information is wrong!" Juliet leaned in slightly.

"I assure you that it is correct. Your brother has decided to stay in New York. I believe Serena is in his good graces again."

Chuck knew he hit a nerve when he saw Juliet's eyes bulge and her cheeks flush. She started to shake her head.

"No. I talked to him a week or so ago and he was going to stay with our cousin."

"Then he lied to you." Chuck simply stated. "He is living with Dan Humphrey in Brooklyn I believe. I know that Rufus offered him his old room."

"You're wrong." Juliet whispered this time.

"I can offer you pictures. I came prepared." Chuck offered pulling out a file. Juliet looked up startled by the evidence but took it.

"Ben." She whispered in disappointment as she looked at the pictures of Ben and Rufus talking to Blair and Dan on the front steps of the loft building. But with the next pictures anger swelled inside her as she saw Ben entering the loft with Serena.

"Those were just sent to me. Wasn't too long ago." Chuck said observing her. She looked up at him. He looked too pleased with himself.

"Why do you care about my brother and Serena? And why the hell would you care enough to fly all the way to London to show these to me?" Juliet was angry but she was more upset at the moment by Chuck. She knew he had an endgame and his own scheme. Chuck eyed her carefully and then leaned forward.

"Those first pictures of Ben and Rufus were not taken with them in mind. I have been having Blair followed for the past month."

"Okay…?" Juliet was confused.

"Blair and I haven't been together for some time, both of us agreeing that now was not our time, but that hasn't stopped her from forming a dangerous bond with Humphrey."

"What do you mean dangerous?" Juliet was interested now.

"It seems that Blair and Brooklyn have formed a friendship that has…" Chuck had to make himself form the last part, "…turned into more."

Juliet could see anger and desperation in Chuck's eyes something she wasn't use to seeing, but she was even more impressed that Blair and Humphrey had hit it off.

"But I don't understand why that would bring you all the way to me."

"You can say anything you want to your brother about Serena, but he won't leave her if he is in love with her, which I think he is, but what if Dan and Serena were to find their way back to each other again?"

"Blair would be yours and Ben would be free." Juliet said almost to herself. "Although you have thought this out well, all I have to do is just sit tight and Serena will mess everything up on her own, and my brother will see her for who she really is."

"I thought that already happened once. You would think your brother would stay far away from her family after what they put him through." Chuck teased.

"Sometimes we need to be reminded and if Ben wants to pick Serena again and get burned it's his own fault."

Chuck didn't like where this was going. He thought Juliet would have bitten by now.

"What if he doesn't? What if he and Serena stay together?" Chuck asked leaning back in her chair.

"They won't. Serena will mess everything up like she always does." Juliet replied smugly.

"Are you willing to bag your brother's future on that? What if the affects from this relationship with Serena will be more dangerous than before? Then you will forever regret this day if you turn me down. Would you be able to live with yourself knowing you could have put an end to it now?"

Juliet felt sick. She had promised herself no more scheming. She didn't like who she had become back in New York and what scheming had done to her, but the thought of her brother ruining his life when she had the opportunity to stop it, was too much. Juliet looked up at Chuck.

"What's in it for me if I help with the Dan and Blair part?"

Chuck's mouth curled into a smirk.

"I will cover your college and living expenses."

Juliet was shocked, but kept her poker face in front of Chuck.

"Contract?" She asked.

"In my briefcase already signed. All it needs is your signature." Chuck patted his black leather bag leaning up against his chair.

Juliet nodded in agreement and Chuck gladly pulled out the document. Juliet read over it and sighed.

"Why me Chuck? You could have done this on your own."

Chuck hesitated before he answered.

"I need someone as dedicated as me, and Blair can never know I was part of this. Even if she learns you were the one who broke up Serena and Ben, the fact that Serena will find her way back to Dan will be in her nature. Blair will be broken hearted and I will be the one there to put her back together. Just like you know Ben doesn't belong with Serena, I know that Blair belongs to me."

Juliet could hear the anger but also the fear in Chucks words. She knew he was desperate.

"So I will be the one on the outside?"

"Yes. I will have ways for us to meet, but yes no one will know my involvement."

Juliet could live with that. Besides she would be coming back to London after all was said and done.

"Okay I'm in. Just one more question. How do you know Dan will go back to Serena?"

Juliet could see that she had angered Chuck. His posture straightened and his coat before answering.

"Dan doesn't really love Blair. He doesn't get her like I do. I know how Blair operates, and I know that the one person she is jealous of is her best friend. In some ways she feels less than Serena and envious of the attention she gets. All Dan has to do is show Serena compassion when she and Ben break up and Blair's insecurities will do the rest."

Juliet wasn't shocked that Chuck would use Blair's insecurities against her but still it made her feel a little sad for Blair. What was more interesting thought was that Chuck Bass was threatened by Dan Humphrey.

"Okay."

Juliet took the pen from Chuck and signed her name and then handed him his copy.

"You will leave on the morning flight to New York." Chuck said pushing a plane ticket across the table to Juliet. "I will leave tonight on my jet. When you get to New York there will be someone there to collect you and take you to your new apartment."

"Thank you." Juliet said taking the ticket.

"No thank you Juliet. It's been a pleasure doing business with you."

With that Chuck turned and walked out the front door and into his limo, and Juliet found herself going back to New York City to rescue her brother once again.

XXXXX

There it is! I'm so sorry it took longer this time! I had family up for the weekend and then Monday was crazy with work. I feel like the story is getting deeper but don't worry Blair and Dan fans you will get to see a lot more of them together as Chuck tries to come between them! So what do you think? What affect will Juliet have in coming back to New York? Thank you everyone who has read and is following! Please keep commenting and telling me what you would like to see happen!