Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. They belong to Cecily von Zeigesar and The CW.
I apologize for the delay. I had this ready to post yesterday, but was unable to sign in to my account to do so. Enjoy.
"You can not be serious!" Blair exclaimed as they walked hand in hand down the Champs de Mars towards the Eiffel Tower, "You've never actually been to the Eiffel Tower. How is that possible!"
"My father was always too busy to take me whenever we came to France on business trips, and I never wanted to go with any of my nannies," he explained as the Eiffel Tower appeared larger and larger with each step they took towards it. "Even from an earlier age, I knew that experiencing the Eiffel Tower should be done with someone special, someone that I loved. Until now, I have never been love, so you see the problem."
Blair and Chuck had arrived in Paris three nights ago and had experienced all of the usual sights. The Lourve was their first destination in which Blair insisted on seeing the famed Mona Lisa painting for the fifteenth time. The second day was spent shopping at all of the famed Parisian stores, using Chuck's money of course. Their third and final day in Paris was the day they would be meeting up with Nate, but Blair demanded that they visit the Eiffel Tower before the agreed meeting time. It was on their walk that Chuck had confided in her that he'd never seen the Eiffel Tower up close. Blair's jaw had dropped in surprise.
"Chuck Bass is a virgin!" she exclaimed. Several tourists looked over at her and began chuckling. They were obviously American and understood exactly what she had said.
"Say it a little louder," Chuck snapped in a hushed tone as he began to blush, "And you know damn well that I haven't been a virgin since the sixth grade."
"You're blushing!" she laughed, "I don't think I've ever seen you do that!"
"Blair!" he groaned. His eyes were begging her to stop her teasing and lower her voice.
"I'm sorry," she responded as she bit her lip in an effort to keep from laughing, "But I just cannot believe that you've never seen the Eiffel Tower. It's almost a prerequisite for people who live on the Upper East Side."
"When have I ever conformed to the whims of the UES snobs?" Chuck rolled his eyes.
"Are you calling me a snob?" she gasped in mock horror.
"I would never call you a snob," he responded defensively. He hadn't caught the playfulness in her tone, and he thought she was genuinely offended. "I. . . Blair. . . I'm," he fumbled. He couldn't get the apology out quick enough . . . or apparently at all.
She bit back a laugh as she enjoyed watching him squirm.
"Waldorf, are you messing with me?" he realized upon catching the familiar glimmer in her eyes. She nodded her head. "You can't do that to me right now," he began laughing, "My nerves are raw. My emotions have never been more exposed than they have been for the past ten days."
"Has it been ten days already?" she mused as she kissed his cheek.
"Ten blissfully wonderful days," he nodded as he captured her lips in a passionate kiss.
"Ready to become de-virginized?" she teased as she pulled away.
"Only if you promise to be gentle," he winked as he smirked devilishly. The both began laughing as they continued walking.
When they approached the tower, Blair instructed Chuck to purchase their tickets and then they stepped on the elevator to take them to the second floor. Blair quickly pulled him towards the western view, which was her favorite because of the view of the Seine River. Chuck gasped upon first glance. The sight of her and the backdrop of the river was breathtaking. He fell in love with her even more in that moment. He was thankful he had waited so long for experience . . . to share this with her for his first time. It made the moment even more special.
After taking an hour to see all of the different views from the second floor, Blair suggested that they catch the elevator to the top. Chuck paid the attendant five hundred euros to allow them to ride themselves. Blair's eyes widened as she saw him hand the man the money as it was the equivalent of seven hundred US dollars, but he didn't even flinch.
Chuck was nearly in tears when they stepped off the elevator, his breath catching as they were able to take in the view of Paris. He tried to decide when he ad become so emotional. . . when he had finally allowed himself to love Blair he concluded. She saw the moisture in his eyes and pulled him into her arms to kiss him.
"Blair," he gasped as he pulled away breathlessly. She smiled warmly as she pulled him towards the rail's edge so they could have an uninhibited view of the city. As she leaned up against the railing, he came behind her, putting his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him, his chin resting on her bare shoulder.
"So, what do you think of your first time?" she whispered after many minutes of complete silence.
"I wish that my other first time had been this magical," he whispered into her ear. A shiver of passion flew through her body as she turned in his embrace to kiss him, their bodies molding into each other.
"I love you, Blair," Chuck stated as he pulled away just a fraction of an inch, "I'm glad I waited to share this with you. It wouldn't have been as wonderful with someone else."
"Chuck," she whimpered into his lips as he recaptured hers for another soulful kiss. She have never felt as much passion and love as she did in that moment. She prayed with all her might that this feeling would last for the rest of her life. She knew the memory would. It would be impossible to ever forget this moment.
The chirping of Chuck's phone interrupted them. He groaned as he pulled his phone from his pocket while trying to keep Blair close with his other hand. It was a text message from Nate. He was texting to confirm that Chuck was going to meet him.
Chuck pulled away from Blair reluctantly and texted his response. "We have to leave," Chuck announced as he told Nate that he would be at their designated meeting spot in thirty minutes. Blair nodded as he extended his hand to her, kissing it gently as they walked back to the elevator. He paid the same elevator attendant another five hundred euros to have a private ride down. Blair chuckled softly at the realization that she would have to get used to this. He didn't hesitate to throw money around whenever he wanted to get his way.
"Whatever happens, Blair," Chuck began as they slowly approached Nate. He was turned away so that he hadn't yet seen them. "Know that I love you."
"I love you too," Blair responded as she gave his adjoined hand a reassuring squeeze.
"And I will not let Nathaniel stand in the way of us being together," he needed to add.
"I know," she nodded as their eyes locked, "I feel the same way."
Nate turned at that moment and saw them approach. Confusion was evident in his eyes, but there was no anger or hate in them. Chuck took that as a promising sign.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't surprised," Nate stated as he approached the pair, motioning towards their adjoining hands.
"We don't want to hurt you, Nathaniel," Chuck began, "But I can't fight this anymore. My feelings for Blair have only gotten stronger since I first told you I loved her."
"I take it you finally told her," Nate chuckled softly in awkward amusement.
"Yes," Blair nodded softly.
"Is this what you want, Blair?" Nate asked as he looked deeply into her eyes.
"Very much," she nodded.
A glimmer of sadness appeared in his eyes as he saw the look of complete assurance in hers. There was not one ounce of regret or hesitation in them. Nate knew instantly that he had to do the honorable thing and let Chuck have his shot. For as much as he loved Blair, she wasn't his anymore. . . she hadn't been since he messed it up by sleeping with her best friend.
Chuck was an important part of him. The past year in their relationship had killed him. With all of the awful things that were happening with his family, his father going to prison, the money being tied up by the federal government, the crap with his grandfather . . . losing the childhood relationship that he had with Chuck was the hardest. They were brothers in every way that mattered to him.
"Okay," he nodded.
Chuck and Blair looked at each other in surprise.
"We didn't expect you to be so calm about this," Chuck admitted, "We thought there would be a lot of yelling and name calling and punches thrown."
"I've had my chance," Nate rationalized. The trio didn't know if he was speaking to them or to himself but he continued, looking directly at Blair. "I've had two chances actually, and both times I couldn't make you happy. Chuck, it you can do it, you're a better man than I am. I have to accept that."
Chuck was suddenly speechless. He had never in his life considered himself to be a better man than his best friend, certainly not at this moment where he was essentially stealing his best friend's girlfriend. Then Nate did the one thing that Chuck didn't expect, he hugged him. Chuck froze in his friend's arms.
Blair broke the ice when she began giggling. It was a silly schoolgirl giggle that none of them had heard since their elementary school days together. Chuck and Nate looked at each other their lips curled up slightly in amusement and then broke out laughing. Soon both Chuck and Nate were doubled over, laughing so hard it hurt. Chuck stood to hug her, pulling her to him without hesitation as he picked her up off her feet and began swinging her around. They both knew that they had more hurdles to jump, but this was the most important one. Nate was an important part of both their lives, and he had given them his approval.
TBC. . .
