A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews! I really mean it when I say each and every one counts a lot in helping me write the next chapter. Most of you want a happy ending for CB, so I'll see. . .

"Nathaniel," he greets his friend grimly, forcing a smile. He glances at Blair pointedly. "I didn't know you were coming."

Nate grins. "Honestly, neither did I."

"Really?" he cocked an eyebrow and took his seat. "And the Mrs. Archibald looks lovely this evening."

Her lips curve irresistibly. "As always."

"So hey, how've you been?" Nate asks when they take their seats. "It's been a long time since we last got together like this."

"Well, you know, with the crises and all that, it's pretty busy. But Bass Industries is doing better than I expected and we should wear this storm out."

"That's great. It's a good thing people always run into the law for me then," Nate replies with a smile.

"Speaking of running, guess who I bumped into a few moments ago?" he asks with a smirk. "Audrey."

"Is she spending the night?" Blair asks with a frown.

"You worried?"

"No."

He cocks an eyebrow and calls the waiter to order his dinner because apparently, Nate and Blair had ordered earlier before he came. "And your finest scotch."

Blair rolls her eyes. "Why don't you drink something else?"

"I like scotch."

"We don't have to argue before the food comes, do we?" Nate asks lightly.

"We could. . ." Chuck smirks thoughtfully. "But then what fun is there in that?"

He looks at her from the corner of his eye again, and he's pretty sure she's trying to ignore his doing so. Each time Nate's and Blair's hands slip under the table, he imagines them entwined, and it makes him sick. Thank God his scotch arrives soon. He's going to need it.

"Chuck's right, Blair," he hears Nate say in an undertone. "You look great."

And he's going to need a hell of a lot of it.

Chuck clears his throat. "So Nathaniel, what do you really think about Daniel and Audrey dating? Blair told me you weren't so. . .pleased."

"It's not him that I have a problem with, actually. It's just. . .well, he's a Bass."

He cocks an eyebrow at Blair, who hides behind sipping her drink.

"Audrey's smart enough," she tells them, smiling. "Imagine if you had twins and she'd had to choose between two of them."

Chuck smiles, watching the light in her eyes. "She wouldn't stand a chance."

"Need I remind you she's part Waldorf too?"

"Maybe we should spy on them."

Nate laughs. "Never underestimate Waldorf women. You should've seen the look on her face when she got a B plus on her paper. Then when Josiah lost her credit card for a few days. . ."

"I'm sure I wouldn't have wanted to be him," Chuck finishes with a grin. "Poor guy."

"Hey, if it weren't for us both of your lives would be so much less interesting," she scolds teasingly.

"True," Chuck agrees. "And I'd probably be dead."

Nate furrows his brow and turns to Blair. "What happened?"

"I almost jumped off the roof. After my father died," he explained, grimacing a little. He never really much likes talking about it. "She stopped me. And by the way, I was drunk."

"And high," she adds. "On drugs and sex."

He smirks, because she remembers. "I never did thank you for that."

"Would you really have jumped, though?" Nate asks him.

Chuck drinks his scotch thoughtfully and tries to replay the scene. He was drunk, and singing and teetering off the edge, watching the lights below curiously. Then he'd heard a voice, Jack's, and then hers. And it was her voice that had stopped him, because he could've jumped before she came. But he couldn't do it with her watching.

"Maybe."

He steals another look at her. This time, she looks uncomfortable, and yet, he thinks, she hides it so well. The only thing that shows it is her eyes. For a moment there, she meets his, and it's just for a short time, until she looks away consciously. But it's enough to seem like a year for him.

He doesn't seem to have much of an appetite for Foei Gras, even if it is his favorite. Nate and Blair seems happy with their dinner, chattering away so he feels left out sometimes. They look so happy and contented that it makes him regret the last few years before they got married all over again.

Just like he does every night.

. Ring.

Nate and Chuck dig into their pockets to see if it's theirs, as Blair frowns and looks into her purse.

"It's mine," Nate announces. He presses his phone against his ear, and touches Blair's arm lightly before walking into the corner of the room.

"Looks like it's just you and me," he tells her lazily, to hide the fact that his heart is beating faster and faster. He blames her for always looking so fucking beautiful.

She rolls her eyes. "Doesn't interest me at all."

"You know what we can do in less than five minutes?" he asks, cocking his head.

She cracks a smile. "You're disgusting."

"Never stopped you before."

"I was young and stupid, Chuck."

He gives her a ghost of a smile and drums his fingers on the table quietly, thinking of something, anything to say. Nate is still talking on his phone, a little furiously, making motions with his hands.

"Why'd you bring him?' he whispers. His eyes bravely look into hers.

"We came from a PTA meeting."

She's forgotten he can tell when she lies. "Is that really it, Blair?"

"Of course."

"Or is it because you don't trust me?"

"I don't trust you, but no, that's not it. I told you, we came from a meeting."

"You're lying."

"I—"

"That was my partner," Nate tells them both, coming back to the table. Chuck can see the relief on Blair's face, and looks away, his jaw tight. "He says he wants us to have a rundown of all the evidence and papers for out trial next week." He smiles apologetically. "I have to go."

"Now?" Blair demands. "Can't he do it by himself?"

Nate shook his head. "I'm sorry. But it's either today, or on Friday, sweetheart."

Blair pouts(Chuck keeps his smile to himself). "Fine. As long as Friday is clear."

"What's so important about Friday?" Chuck muses, nursing his drink carefully.

"It's our anniversary, " she tells him, a little cheerily.

He regrets asking in the first place.

"Twenty one years," Nate adds.

"That's. . .that's great," he replies sullenly. "Congratulations."

Nate leans over Blair with teasing lips, and he instinctively reaches out for his scotch again. He can't help but overhear their whispered conversation, though he wishes he didn't.

"Promise you'll be back as early as you can?"

"I promise."

"Then you have my permission, Nate Archibald," she says with a coy grin.

He kisses her quickly. "I love you," he tells her and straightens up. "Another time, Chuck?"

"For sure." He can't believe how easily those words were said.

"Could you do me a favour and make sure she gets home safely? New York isn't that safe anymore, especially late at nights."

"Don't worry, Nathaniel."

So when Nate leaves, she decides to order some dessert, a classic chocolate cake she's always adored and had room for. It's amusing to see her eyes light up when the waiter brings it over, and how she tries to eat in small bites because he's there. Prim and proper, as always, he thinks reminiscently.

"You don't have to eat like that, you know," he tells her softly. "It's just me, anyways. I've seen you in worse."

She scoffs and smiles. "You're paying this you know."

"Gladly."But he takes comfort in the fact that she's made her bites bigger; he doesn't want her to feel like she needs to be perfect around him. "You have something on your chin—"

He leans forward and pulls his hand out from his pocket to flick it off her chin, but she stops him.

"It's okay, I got it."

"Okay." The disappointment is clear as crystal in his tone.

"You don't have to bring me home," she says firmly. "Really. I'm an adult now."

"I wouldn't want your husband blaming me if you end up in some dark alley," he says with a smile. He knows perfectly that she's capable of taking care of herself, and yet, he just wants a little more time with her. "It's one ride, Blair. No harm can be done."

"That's what you think," she mutters.

"What?"

"Nothing.

"Let me take you home, all right? The limo's waiting anyways."

She hesitates. "Just call me a cab."

"Blair—"

"You've paid for dinner, Chuck, and I can take myself home." He knows when to give up when it comes to her.

"Fine. I'll call you a cab."

He makes a call on his cell for his driver to hail a cab, watching her absentmindedly as they wait awkwardly. It comes sooner than he would've chosen.

"So goodnight, Chuck." She looks up at him; he's surprised that she's smiling. "Despite your presence, I had a good night."

"So did I."

TBC

The greatest pain that comes from love is loving someone you can never have.
-Anonymous