Chapter 2

Huge thanks to my beta once again for her advice and inspiration and for her line. I hope everyone enjoys this chapter and just know that I like Vera Bradley.

Blair leaned out of her window and inhaled the crisp fall air. The little town around her was beginning to wake up, and she had come to truly enjoy the experience of watching it.

She closed her eyes and breathed in deep, smiling when the scent of the first pot of coffee hit her nostrils. It mingled with the scent of freshly baked scones from the small teahouse down the hill and the smell of cupcakes coming out of the oven in the shop across the street. Maybe she'd pick up some of both later on that day, she thought as she padded back inside. While her own cooking was getting better, sometimes she didn't want to wait the time it took to make something before indulging in something sweet, especially with her hormones as out of control as they were.

She smiled in amusement as she thought of herself hysterically crying over the end of a movie she'd watched the previous weekend and then five minutes later she'd been laughing herself silly over some sitcom.

She heard a muffled thump and opened the door before stepping out into the hallway and then heading down the stairs. Passing through what used to be a diner she opened the front door and picked up the papers that had just been delivered. She bypassed the local paper and went straight for the Post, wanting to see if Chuck had put her on the front page again.

She wasn't naive. She knew that the 'hunt for the missing heiress' that had been going on for the last two months was being spearheaded by her ex-boyfriend. She was just glad he wasn't making the knowledge that she was pregnant public, if, of course, he even knew. She just prayed that Serena had kept the knowledge a secret.

She kicked the door closed behind her and the dumped the papers onto the counter that ran alongside the wall. Putting a hand through her newly blonde locks, she sighed as she took in her surroundings.

It was a big space that Blair had no idea what to do with it. She was Eleanor Waldorf's daughter so a clothing store would be the most logical, but it would also make it entirely too easy to be found.

She'd lay odds that Chuck had eyes everywhere just waiting for a new clothing store to open. So no, she definitely couldn't open a clothing store.

So what to do with her building?

The street already had more than enough furniture and antique stores. She really couldn't see herself selling frou-frou things like that god awful woman Vera Bradley designed.

She crossed her arms across her chest and frowned in thought. Maybe what she could do was open up a book/music café. It would be something to attract a younger clientele base. That's what the street could really use considering most of the shops were geared towards an older generation.

Blair unfolded her arms and rubbed her palms together as she began to mentally design the space around her.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Nate stepped out of his room before stopping short at the sight before him. He sighed as he put his bag down and approached the couch where his friend had passed out yet again.

Looking around he noted that there were no bottles of alcohol, which was a surprise, just piles of files and pictures of Blair and even in his sleep Chuck clutched a picture of their ex-girlfriend.

"Blair," Chuck moaned.

Oh God, not again, Nate thought to himself. The last time he'd been in the vicinity of Chuck having a dream about Blair it had gotten a little uncomfortable for the both of them.

So Nate did the only thing he could think of. He reached behind Chuck and yanked the pillow the other boy's head was resting on away, causing Chuck's head to drop onto the armrest of the couch.

"Ow," Chuck groaned. "What the hell? Nate?"

"Morning," Nate said nonchalantly. "Sleep well?"

"Until my wake up call, yes. What's the matter with you?"

"You were saying Blair's name in your sleep again. The last time that happened, you and I shared a whole new level of closeness that I never want to repeat."

Chuck grumbled under his breath as he sat up and put the picture of Blair he'd been holding aside.

"So, I take it you haven't had any luck," Nate motioned to the piles around them.

"I keep waiting for Serena to tell me that Blair called her and after S told her how badly we all want her to come back, Blair caved and is on the next plane back here."

"Serena's waiting for the same thing," Nate told him. "I can barely get her to attend class."

Chuck nodded as he arranged the pictures and files in neater piles.

"I was actually hoping you could talk to her."

"About?"

"Not giving everything up just because Blair's not here."

"I doubt I'm someone she wants to talk to," Chuck said. "Why don't you talk to her yourself when you find time away from your busy social calendar?"

"I have talked to her. Lily's talked to her. Eric's talked to her. We think you might do more good."

"The last time Serena and I were in the same room together, she threw Blair's engagement ring at me and told me that I should sleep with that because as far as she could see I wouldn't be sleeping with Blair anytime soon."

Nate sighed, "Okay, fine. You don't want to talk to Serena. How about you talk to me?"

"About?"

"The weather, baseball," Nate stated sarcastically. "Or how about Blair? You're not the only one who's worried about her. I'm worried too. I care too. I know what you're going through."

"Really? Is Blair carrying your child at the moment?"

"No, but you're not the only one who loves her."

"Don't you ever compare what I feel for Blair to what you felt for her," he hissed through clenched teeth.

"I don't want to spend my life with her anymore but that doesn't mean I don't love her."

"Be honest, Nathaniel. You never wanted to spend your life with her."

"That's not true and if not for a night at Victrola, if might be my kid she was carrying right now."

"That's enough Nate," Lily said calmly from the doorway. "Aren't you going to be late for class?"

"Yeah, I am," Nate said after a moment of tense staring between him and Chuck. He left after he grabbed his bag.

Chuck avoided his step-mother's stare as he pretended to read a report.

"I'm not leaving Charles," Lily told him after a moment. "I was disappointed that you didn't come to dinner last night."

"Did you really expect me to?"

"I said I was disappointed," Lily put her purse down and sat on the couch. "Not surprised."

Chuck glanced up and then looked away again. Lily's sympathetic smile was not something he could handle on so little sleep.

"How are you?"

"Great," Chuck responded sarcastically. "I mean why wouldn't I be? Blair's run off pregnant and no one knows where she is. My PI's have turned up nothing and did I mention? Dorota calls every other day crying, blaming me because Miss Blair hasn't called her."

Lily frowned at him, "Well, I hate to be the bearer of more bad news but I wanted you to know that Jenny is going to be visiting soon."

"So, this is your way of telling me not to drop in on you anytime soon?"

"That's not the only reason I came over. I have no problem handling things at Bass for the time being but the board does want to know if they're ever getting you back."

"I tried to work in the beginning, you know that," Chuck said.

"I know. But I also know that sitting here every day staring at pictures of Blair isn't going to do anyone, least of all you, any good."

Chuck closed his eyes, "I can't do anything but think about her and wonder where she is, Lily."

Lily nodded, "Nate's right, you know. Serena's the same way right now."

"Serena wants me badly injured right now. If I tried to talk to her we'd both come away bleeding even worse than we are now."

Lily nodded again and stood up. "I should be going. Jenny will be arriving soon."

Chuck nodded, "Take care, Lily."

"You too."

Lily had almost reached the elevator when Chuck spoke again, "One more thing, Lily. Blair's gone because of the raccoon-eyed miscreant. I don't need that reminder. Keep her away from me."

"Done," Lily said quietly.

"Thank you."