The funeral is held in a church, more like a cathedral, really, a few days after the death of Nate's father. Chuck knows they've been estranged for a long time now, but maybe that was what made the whole thing worse, that the Captain had overdosed on drugs , causing the fatal heart attack, before he could make peace with his son. And now Nate stood impassively before the body, his mother sobbing hysterically beside him. His family stood a few steps behind, lingering, all with somber expressions on their faces.

Chuck glances at Daniel beside him. He looks torn, conflicted.

"You okay?" he asks.

Daniel nods. "I. . .This is so surreal."

"It'll sink in."

They're sitting at the side quietly, both watching the people they love from behind. It's a chilly day, and Chuck figures it's fitting after all; the heavy gray clouds, the cold air, the dark sky. He feels terrible for Nate, and he's been thinking of things to do to help his friend like he'd once helped him, but nothing comes to mind. At least, nothing he could do with Blair watching.

"Brothers and sisters. . ."

He found her sitting alone at the front pew, her eyes so lost. It had begun to rain.

"Prayer suits you, Archibald."

She's staring blankly at the altar. "I don't know what to say."

"To who?"

"Nate." She sounds so damn lost it tugs at is heart, but this time, he's not letting it show. The few steps he takes closer to her echoes resoundingly in the church. "His father just died, and I don't really know what to do."

He wonders if this was how she'd felt when his father died, if this was how he made her feel.

"You don't have to," he replies reluctantly. "Just. . .make sure he knows you're there for him. And when he asks for you, then you'll know he's ready to. . .let you in."

Her eyes look up. He's taken aback at their softness.

"Let him remember you love him. But give him time."

"Thank you, Chuck," she replies uncertainly, and gratefully. She's obviously not mentioning the other night."He's going to need a friend like you."

"Well, he was there for me before."

That she was too didn't need to be mentioned; it was an unspoken understanding.

"I guess so."

"Plus, he has you."

"Have you seen him?" she asks, straining to see behind him.

He hesitates, even just to keep her for himself a little while longer. "Outside. With his mother."

Quickly, she sniffs and stands up from the pew. "Thanks."

"You'd probably want to wait a little though. He's still comforting her."

She gives a tight smile. "I'll have to find Audrey and Josiah anyways."

"Oh. Okay." He braves a smile as she brushes past him, and once again, he reminds himself that she loves someone else.

He visits Nate a couple of times, and it's always the same. Blair is always by his side with gentle, worried eyes, and he's always subtly touching her as if saying he appreciates her presence. It kills him to see that is friend is doing what he failed to do. And even if it's completely selfish(a trait he's never bothered denying), he wishes Nate would lash out on her or push her away. Maybe then she'd come back to him.

What the hell is he thinking?

"How are your children?" he asks, eyeing Blair in a cream-colored blouse. Her lips are pursed, a sign that she's displeased somehow.

"Audrey and Josiah were never much close to him," Nate explains. "I didn't let them. He sent gifts, money on their birthdays. . .That was it, though."

"They're just shocked," Blair tells him.

"Everyone is," he agrees. "The Captain was supposed to be clean, wasn't he?"

"He lied, no surprise there," Nate replied darkly.

"How's your mother?"

Nate shakes his head. "Honestly, I don't know how bad it is for her. I think she's doing as good as she can."

"And you?"

Blair holds his arm and meets Nate's eyes with a small smile. Chuck stops halfway to rolling his eyes in disgust, or to preserve his own feelings.

"He's fine," she answers for him. She's looking at Chuck as if he's a threat just by being there. The grief finally wore off enough, he thinks, because she could never forget that she'd told him to ignore her. Apparently, she 's back to hating him.

"Are you staying for dinner?" Nate asks him.

He glances at Blair. "I. . .don't want to intrude."

"You won't be, man."

"Don't force him, sweetie," she says sweetly. "Chuck's busy."

"Right. I can't stay anyway." Chuck clears his throat. She's made it clear enough he's not wanted, and it's nothing to stay for, unless seeing them together again counts. "Daniel's waiting for me, and we have plans."

"You sure?"

"Yes, Nathaniel," he replies, feigning exasperation. "But then again, it depends: what are you having for dinner?"

Nate laughs.

"Did you see Audrey?" Daniel asks him later on.

"No. Just Mr. And mrs. Archibald."

"Speaking of Mrs. Archibald, dad," Daniel starts to say. Chuck tries to stay calm and raises his eyebrows. "I know the two of you were at the theatre watching us."

"Would it help if I blamed her?" he teases.

"Not really. It doesn't really matter."

Chuck sighs in relief. "Did Audrey know?"

Daniel shrugs, telling Chuck it's a touchy subject, and pours both of them drinks. "You know, sometimes being a Bass is a curse."

"I agree." Chuck smiles faintly and thinks of Blair.

"Ever think of running away?"

"Believe me, I've done that my whole life."

The next time he sees her is at the Met, and it's an accident. She's wearing a slim dress, simple and casual, and she'd with Audrey. His heart starts getting faster at the sight of her, but when their eyes meet, hers are as cold and unforgiving as steel. He merely looks away and turns to something in front of him. At the corner of his eye, he sees her doing the same.

In a few minutes, he finds himself rushing out for some cold air to fill his lungs and clear his head. All he can think about is how much he regrets everytime he screwed up between them, that he could be happy if he'd done things properly.

"Get a grip on yourself Bass," he mutters harshly. "You're losing it."

TBC

Next chapter: Chuck gets drunk. And when people get drunk, they confess things.