A/N: I made a few changes to the last chapter (nothing major, just a few minor ones) but you might want to check it out. Also, I would just really really like to thank all of you who take the time to review this story. I might get 50 story alerts accompanied by only one or two reviews so I just wanted to give a special shoutout to those of you who take the time to review. I love you guys and you are totally the reason that I keep writing.

xoxo Kate

Disclaimer: I do not own Gossip Girl or its characters

Rated: T mostly for language. This one isn't really M but it is a pretty high T lol.

Blair was still reeling from the fact that she hadn't recognized her own handwriting but it made since now, she would have written stuff like that. As she thought about it, Blair realized there were a lot of things that she didn't remember about middle school. So much had changed in eighth grade. She and Nate had become serious and she had grown apart from her other friends. As she looked at the next picture, Blair couldn't help but miss the way things use to be with her and Chuck.

Blair stormed into Chuck's suite so angry she could barely see. That of course might have been in part because of the tears that were clouding her vision. "Chuck, we have to take down Gretchen Fairchild. I'm talking major social annihilation!"

"Merry Christmas to you to Waldorf." Chuck said with a smirk.

Blair stood there furious. "Christmas tomorrow is not going to be very merry for anyone if someone doesn't help me do something about that little twit."

Chuck sat up from the position in which he was lounging on the couch, he could tell that Blair was in full vengeance mode and he knew better than to try to dissuade her. "Okay, okay, sit down and tell me what the poor unfortunate girl did."

"POOR. UNFORTUNATE. GIRL. Chuck, how dare you speak sympathetically about her when I am clearly livid at her." Blair said angrily.

"Calm down Waldorf, I simply meant that the girl is poor and unfortunate to have incurred your wrath. Would you like some scotch? It will help calm your nerves." Chuck said as he swirled the caramel colored liquid in his glass.


Blair turned up her nose a little, she had of course had wine and champagne and occasionally a martini or a mimosa at a party but hard liquor was something entirely different. What the hell, her night couldn't get worse, right? "Okay Bass."

Chuck raised his eyebrows. He definitely hadn't expected her to take him up on the glass of scotch but if any girl would do it, it was certainly Blair. He stood and poured her a glass. He considered pouring a little bit of bottled water into it as a dilutant but it was a smoother scotch so he thought she could take it straight."Sip it, don't gulp. Now tell me what the girl has done to deserve social annihilation."

Blair swirled the liquid as she had seen Chuck do before tentatively taking a sip. She was surprised by the smoky taste but wasn't a big fan of the bite. She tried her best not to flinch at the slight burn. So this was hard liquor. After another sip she spoke, "That girl had the audacity to show up at my Christmas Ball last night without an invitation. She was all over Nate, then she proceeded to spill fruit punch all down my winter white dress, ruining it. She did it on purpose. I know that she has always had her eye on Nate and it's high time she learned her place."

Chuck watched Blair impressed as she drank the scotch without more than a minor flinch, he didn't take scotch that well his first time. In fact, it takes most people experience with hard liquor before they begin to take a shinning to scotch and years after that before they begin to enjoy the taste. "What do you have in mind for Miss. Fairchild?"

Blair smirked and took another sip of scotch. "I was hoping you could help me out with that. We always do our best scheming together."

"That we do, that we do." Chuck said with a nod of his head.

The picture had been taken when she and Chuck had arrived at the Van der Woodsen's Christmas Eve dinner together later that evening, ready to set in motion their plan against Gretchen. For the life of her, she couldn't even remember what they had done to the girl but they certainly did knock her off the social ladder completely. She laughed when she saw the caption Chuck had written. I'd scheme and plot with you any day of the year, Waldorf. On this photo she had simply written Christmas 2004.

The next photograph instantly made her sad. It was one of just her and Chuck the day after they had graduated middle school. Serena had held a huge bash that night to kick off the summer in the Hamptons. This was a photograph she had taken of herself and Chuck in the back of his limo on the way there; but she knew without looking that her hand writing wouldn't be on the back.

"Thanks for the lift."Blair said grinning. There was still about an hour before they reached the Hamptons. Chuck was going to drop her off at Serena's before heading on to his own summer home and joining them at the party that evening. Nate was unfortunately going to miss it because he was on a sailing trip with his grandfather.

Chuck looked over at her. "Please, like I would let you ride the jitney all the way out here. That thing is beyond disgusting, I don't understand how Serena, Kati, and Iz are doing it."

Blair smiled. "I know. You totally saved me when you stopped and offered me a ride at the jitney stop. The other girls are probably angry at me for abandoning them though."

Chuck rolled his eyes. "Hey, I offered the limo to them as well, they can't complain."

"I know, I know" Blair continued. "They wanted the 'real' Hamptons experience."

Chuck got out two glasses and a bottle of scotch. "What do you say we toast to being above the 'real' Hamptons experience?"

Blair smirked. "I'd say, hand me a glass."

Thirty minutes later they were both dissolving in fits of giggles as they had consumed quite a bit of scotch. "You know it's a shame Nate couldn't make it." Blair said leaning back in her seat.

Chuck let his head fall back against his head rest and he closed his eyes. For the past half hour or so he had been able to pretend that Blair wasn't Nathaniel's girlfriend, something that he shouldn't be doing. "Yes, well I'm sure Nathaniel is enjoying his sailing expedition."

"I know." Blair said with a frown. "I'm just really going to miss him. We've never been apart for this long before. He's going to be gone a whole two months."

Chuck looked over at Blair. "You'll survive."

Blair was taken aback. Chuck didn't usually use that tone of voice with her; with other people sure, but never with her. "Well you don't have to be a jerk about it."

Chuck rolled his eyes. "Yes, I'm so sorry I'm not as much of a gentleman as Nathaniel. It's such a shame he couldn't be here instead."

Blair narrowed her eyes. They never fought, ever, and when they did it was generally about the best way to destroy someone. But Nate, Nate was something they never fought about. She was with Nate, Nate was Chuck's best guy friend, and Chuck was her best guy friend. There was nothing to argue about. "Nate is a gentleman and I do wish he could be here instead. Nate really is the perfect boyfriend you know." Blair smiled forgetting that they had been arguing and getting lost in thoughts of Nate. "Being his girlfriend is everything I always thought it would be."

Chuck turned his head. They were starting high school soon and things were going to have to change. He couldn't keep this up; listening to Blair talk about Nate like he was some kind of Prince Charming hurt more than he was willing to admit and that's all she talked about anymore. "Good for you."

"Why aren't you happy for me Chuck?" Blair asked, sitting up.

Chuck groaned. "I'm just tired of hearing about Nate. That's all you talk about anymore Blair; Nate, Nate, Nate."

Blair glared. "Well if you dislike my company so much why did you invite me to ride with you in the first place?"

"I invited you because I miss my best friend." Chuck roared, surprising her. "What happened to the Blair that used to want to scheme and plot, the girl who could talk to me for hours about everything and nothing? Now all you want to talk about is Nate, girl drama, and clothes."

Blair started shouting right back. "You know what happened Chuck? I fell in love. That's right, I love Nate. We always knew that I loved him but now I'm in love with him. He is everything I've ever wanted and I love him. So yeah I wanted to share that with my best friend, the person I've always shared everything with; so sue me."

"We are not best friends; not anymore. I don't even know you. You know, you've turned into exactly what everyone else always thought you were, a shallow spoiled princess." Chuck said, lashing out.

Blair listened in shock as Chuck told her exactly what he thought about her. "Since you think so highly of me, I know you'll understand when I say that after I get out of this car I don't want to see you again. I now see exactly what everyone else always said about you too. You are nothing more than an arrogant, perverted, Basshole; a complete disappointment to everyone who tries to believe in him."

Chuck always had to have the final word and so he said the thing that would hurt the most. "I'm a disappointment. Please. You're the disappointment; to Eleanor and Nate. But I mean, it's so easy with Serena around isn't it? They always know exactly what they are missing out on by being with you."

Blair sat there shocked so Chuck simply inclined his head before turning towards the window. After a few moments Blair did the same.

Chuck had dropped her off that day without a word and they didn't speak at Serena's party; honestly, she didn't even remember seeing him there. As rare as their fights were, one of them always called later the same night and apologized because they couldn't stay mad at each other; he didn't call that night and neither did she. They didn't speak for the rest of the summer and in all actuality they rarely spoke their entire freshman year. Both of them had said things to each other that could never be taken back and worse than that they had said the things that they knew would hurt the most. And they were both too stubborn to be the first to give in. Blair flipped over the photo and saw Chuck's hand writing twice. In the center it said, I never told you how sorry I was for what I said that day. Then at the bottom, The Day I Lost My Best Friend.

Blair couldn't stop the tear that slipped from her eye as she put both pictures in the album and tried to pay attention in class.

After first period Serena walked up and handed her another set of photos. At first Blair didn't look at them. The last one had made her so sad that she couldn't and she knew what some of the next pictures would be of.

"Aren't you going to look B?" Serena asked excited.

Blair shrugged her shoulders. "I'll look at them in my next class."

Serena smiled. "Come on B! I want to see what you think of them."

Blair rolled her eyes but smiled and was about to look at the photos when the bell rang.

"Ugh." Serena groaned. "Sorry B, gotta run."

As Blair walked in to her calculus class and took her seat, the first thing she did was start looking at the pictures. The first one instantly made her frown. It was a picture of the four of them; Chuck, Blair, Serena, and Nate, at the Sheppard Wedding. There was about a year and a half separating this photo from the last one and Blair realized that this probably had a lot to do with the fact that other than recognizing that the other existed; Blair and Chuck had rarely interacted at all when in each other's presence. He became the snarky playboy everyone had always thought he was and she the bitchy ice princess she was supposed to be. Of course, she was also the perfect girlfriend. When Nate had finally arrived in the Hamptons that summer she had told him she loved him and given him her pin. Things between them were ideal until this photograph; not that she had any idea that something was wrong for another six months. That's when Blair realized that the night of the wedding was probably the first time she and Chuck had spoken to each other alone since their fight immediately after eighth grade.

"Bass." Blair said as she walked over to where Chuck was standing alone. She didn't know where Serena and Nate were but she was Blair Waldorf and she didn't just stand around by herself. So she went to the only other person in the room that was her age, even if she did despise him.

"Waldorf, what can I do for you this lovely evening?" Chuck said tilting his head in acknowledgement. It was beyond rare for Blair Waldorf to approach him. It seemed to be a consensus between the two that regardless of the fact that they had known each other their whole lives, they were going to act simply as acquaintances. For him it made things so much simpler.

Blair took a sip of her drink. "Well, I don't know where Serena and Nate are and . . . "

"You were wondering if I would find them for you?" Chuck finished her sentence.

Blair smiled. "That is exactly what I was hoping you would offer."

Chuck rolled his eyes. "Okay Waldorf, but only because I'm bored."

That was all that was said but it began a new era of sorts for them; it broke the ice. Of course, Blair knew now that Chuck had seen Serena and Nate that night but she also knew that speaking to him then had gone a long way in making them friends again. Thinking back made Blair realize that part of their friendship was still lost and most likely it always would be; however, there was at least something to build upon. She flipped over the photo to yet again see only his hand writing. In the center Chuck had written How I went more than a year without you in my life is something I will never understand. and at the bottom he had simply written The Sheppard Wedding.

Looking at the next picture made her so sad she wasn't sure what to do. It was a photo of her and her father and she knew exactly when it was made because the airport was in the background.

Chuck groaned as he heard knocking at the door. He nudged the blonde who was in the process of removing his pants off of him, as he called out. "Who is it?"

Blair had been knocking frantically on the door to Chuck Bass's suite. She was perfectly aware of what she was probably interrupting but she really didn't care. When she heard Chuck ask who was at the door, she didn't hesitate to answer. "Chuck, it's me Blair. Please open the door."

The girl hadn't really stopped trying to remove his pants so at the sound of Blair's voice he muttered. "Get up and put your clothes back on."

"But we were just getting started." The girl said, putting on her best sexy face.

Chuck tossed the blonde girl's clothes at her. "Tasha, get dressed and go." Then loudly enough that Blair could hear, "I'll be right there, give me one minute."

"My name is Tamara." The girl hissed as she pulled her dress over her head.

Chuck glared but Tamara did as he said and walked towards the door. When she opened it she shot Blair a look that clearly let her know how she felt about being dismissed for her.

"Come in Waldorf." Chuck called as he pulled his shirt over his head. He didn't know why Blair was here. To his knowledge she hadn't been in his suite in two years, unless it was for a party. He checked outside, it was still daylight, what was she doing her? As he stepped out of his bedroom into the living room he spoke "What can I do for you Waldorf? I'm all up and ready to go since you just sent my afternoon appointment . . . " but trailed off as he saw her. Blair looked like complete hell. His snarky sarcasm faded to concern faster than he had sent that girl running when he heard Blair at the door."Sit down; I'll get you a drink."

As Chuck turned to go to the bar, Blair reached out and caught his arm. "No, I . . . I . . . I just need someone to talk to."

Chuck looked at Blair. He looked at her in a way that he looked at very few people; as though he was really looking at her, not who everyone else saw when they looked at her. He didn't look at the perfect soon to be queen of Constance; he looked at Blair Waldorf the girl. "Okay."

Blair shuddered after a few minutes under Chuck's intense gaze before nodding her head slightly as though they had come to some sort of an agreement. Like maybe he had looked inside her, saw that she needed him, and now they were agreeing to put the past in the past. So as they reached this hypothetical agreement she spoke softly, "Okay" Before allowing Chuck to lead her to the couch.

As they sat, Chuck pulled a handkerchief from his suit pocket and handed it to her. "What happened Blair, what's wrong?"

Blair who had still been holding his gaze suddenly looked away. She looked at the table, towards the bar, out the window, down at the ruby ring that had been a gift from Nate; anywhere but at Chuck. While she was still looking down at her hands, one of them twisting the ruby ring on the other, she spoke. "My dad left my mom . . . for another man." As she finished her statement she looked up at Chuck's eyes which were now wide with surprise. "My dad is moving to France with Roman; his plane leaves in a couple of hours. This has been going on for months now and I had no clue." Tears were starting to form at the corners of her eyes and her voice was beginning to shake.

Chuck reached out and brushed a tear that had escaped with his thumb. "I'm so sorry." He knew that was all she needed him to say.

Blair bit her lip trying to stop the tears from falling because she knew that if she started she wouldn't be able to stop; not for a long time. "I'm sick Chuck."

The words made his heart plummet as they left her mouth. His first thought was that she had cancer like the girl in that Mandy Moore movie; that she was dying like his mother.

She tentatively continued. "I'm making myself sick. I . . . I thought that I was better, that I was okay but I'm not."

Chuck suddenly grew inexplicably angry. Blair was making herself ill; why on earth would she do that? As his nostrils flared and he worked to control his voice, Chuck spoke measured words. "How long has this been going on Blair?"

Her chin was trembling with the effort that it took to keep the tears from falling. "Since the summer after eighth grade."

'Shit' thought Chuck. That was nearly two years. Chuck said the only word he could manage to choke out; which was probably added by the fact that it was the only word he could think. "Why?"

Blair was starting to shake all over; but she answered his question. "Mom always loved Serena more; wished that I was more like her. She never thought that I was as pretty as Serena and she was always telling me that I needed to watch my weight."

As Blair spoke Chuck's hands balled into fists. He could kill Eleanor Waldorf for making Blair think that she was anything less than perfect. At the same time, he felt the first pangs of guilt. She had said the summer after eighth grade and he had perpetuated some of those very ideas that day in the limo when he had virtually ended their friendship.

Blair continued. "And I'm not stupid, I see the way that Nate looks at Serena. She outshines me, she can't help it."

Once more, Chuck's fists tightened but this time it was Nate he wanted to punch. Nate was stupid for thinking Serena was nearly as pretty as Blair. However, inside of him there was another little stab of guilt; guilt because he knew what Nate and Serena had done at the Sheppard Wedding, he had seen them.

"That plus everyone keeps leaving me. My Dad's leaving for France and Serena, Serena left without so much as goodbye. My mom must be right, if I was pretty enough they wouldn't leave, if I was worthy of being loved they would stay." Blair said as the tears finally began to pour down her checks.

Blair wasn't here because she needed him to say all kinds of clichés. She didn't come so that he could tell her that everything was going to be okay when there was a damn good chance that everything wasn't going to be okay. She simply needed to know that she wasn't in this alone. So Chuck reached out and pulled her to him. "I'm here." Chuck ran his fingers through her hair as he held her to him and let her cry, not caring that her mascara was ruining his shirt. "I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."

At first Chuck couldn't tell what Blair was saying, only that she was trying to speak to him. "What did you say?"

Blair pulled back slightly; just far enough that Chuck could hear her. "Promise me. Promise me that you aren't going anywhere, that you won't leave."

Chuck pulled her back to him. "I promise Blair. No matter what, I'm not going anywhere. You will always have me."

After holding her for what could have been hours but was really only about thirty minutes, Chuck glanced at his watch. "What time did you say your dad's flight was leaving Blair?"

Blair used his handkerchief to wipe her tears. "Seven pm."

Chuck tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "You're not saying goodbye?"

Blair shook her head. "No. I'm too angry to face him right now."

"Get up." Chuck said standing abruptly.

"What?" Blair said, staring at him dumbstruck.

"Get up." Chuck repeated taking her hand. This time she complied and Chuck called his driver to bring his car around. They were on the street corner about to step into Chuck's limo before Blair managed to get Chuck to tell her where it was they were going. "The airport."

Blair immediately turned around and headed back towards the Palace. "No way Chuck, no way."

Chuck ran around and blocked her path. "Blair we don't have time for this; get in the limo."

She shook her head. "I already told you; I refuse to say goodbye to that man."

"That man is your father Blair and you adore him." Chuck said, placing his hands on her upper arms to keep her from running.

Blair surprised him by shouting. "My father is abandoning me Chuck! HE is abandoning ME. Therefore, I don't have to say goodbye if I don't want to." She finished stubbornly.

Chuck took only a second to collect his thoughts. "You're right Blair, It's completely your decision as to whether or not you are going to say goodbye. But if you don't, if you let him leave without hugging him; you are going to wish you had every day until you see him again. Trust me, I know what it's like to have parents that you can't see or hug."

Chuck heard Blair's sharp intake of breath before she spoke. "Get in."

They had made it to the airport just in time to catch her dad and she had hugged him as tightly as she could. Harold had insisted on a photo being taken and made Chuck promise to email it to him. Now Blair flipped the photo over, almost not wanting to see what Chuck had said; but she of course looked. The promise I made to you that day still stands. Was written in the center, there was nothing in the bottom corner.

Mrs. Hamilton raised her hand. "I second the motion." Chuck grinned at her. "Now I believe we simply go around the circle and answer Yay or Nay. Mrs. Hamilton you're first."

Suddenly the door to the board room slammed open. "What in the hell is going on here?" Jack roared as the board room door smashed into the wall. "Who called this meeting without notifying me?"

"Well, Jack, we were just about to take a vote on the outcome of the morality clause. I honestly didn't think it was necessary for you to be here for that since after the vote, your involvement with the company will cease." Chuck said with an arrogant smirk.

Jack's eyes narrowed. "You've got that wrong nephew."

"Do I?" Chuck said raising his eyebrows. "I think that is for them to decide." Chuck added gesturing towards the members of the board.

"That's fine by me. I highly doubt they've decided to reinstate an irresponsible high school student as CEO of Bass Enterprises, as they are all intelligent people." Jack said with a smirk. "Let the voting begin."

A/N: Hope you enjoyed. Reviews are always appreciated.