IMPORTANT: So I'm still super busy, my classes are drowning me in homework this semester :( but I still intend on writing. I'm going for one update for each fanfic a week *crosses fingers that I can do that* lol

Disclaimer: I do not own Gossip Girl or its characters

Rated: T mostly for language.

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Serena's eyes widened as she saw her step brother walk into the courtyard of St. Jude and Constance Billard at lunch time Monday. She hadn't seen him since the wedding reception, no one had. Most people had assumed that he had taken off again; hopped a plane to Monaco or somewhere in the Caribbean. Even Gossip Girl had been speculating as to where Chuck would run off to this time; she had even started the layout for a Where in the World is Chuck Bass? Game. Serena had secretly hoped that he might have chased after Blair to England but clearly that wasn't the case.

As Chuck walked into the courtyard he noticed all eyes turn to him; as phones were taken out and pictures were snapped. Why his arrival was such big news he had no idea. He had been shut himself up in his old suite at the Palace and turned off his phone the moment he had left Blair at the landing pad. He hadn't wanted to be bothered by any of his friends or that blasted Gossip Girl and the thought that Blair might text made him want to destroy his phone all together because if she did he would break down and that wasn't allowed. She did what she had to do and now he had to move on. Soon enough he noticed his step-sister among the gawkers and sauntered over. "Sister, would you care to inform as to what all of these infernal people are staring at?"

Serena shot him a look of utter astonishment. "Do you really need to ask me that Chuck?"

"Obviously I do Serena or I wouldn't bother asking. Now would you please answer the question?" Chuck said completely serious. He had no idea what had all of these people so awed about seeing him. Sure he was Chuck Bass but he graced their presence daily so he had no clue what all of the fuss was about today.

Serena had to think for a minute about what to say. Her mouth opened and closed a couple of times in the process.

Chuck smirked. "Why on earth are you gaping like a fish Serena? Just tell me what the hell is going on!" By the end of Chuck's statement he was a little agitated. He didn't know what everyone's problem was.

At that Serena just said the first thing that came to her mind. "Everyone's wondering what the hell you are doing here, at school, in this state, hell even in this country."

Chuck shot Serena a confused glance. "And why is that? I don't have any reason not to be here."

Finally accepting the fact that Chuck was actually being serious Serena actually answered without further prompting from him. "Umm I don't know Chuck; maybe they all thought that you would run off like you usually do or at very least shut yourself up somewhere for a while. Haven't you been reading Gossip Girl at all Chuck?"

Chuck shrugged. "I turned off my phone."

"Well turn it back on!" Serena practically shouted.

After shooting his step sister a look that said "you're f'ing crazy" Chuck pulled out his phone and turned it on. Immediately it started buzzing, as he had known it would. There were 45 missed text messages and 15 voicemails, Nate Nate Jenny Dan Serena Jenny Nate GG GG GG Serena Dan Dan Jenny Dad GG Lily Dad Eric GG Jenny Serena Nate Serena GG GG etc. He scrolled quickly through them all but he couldn't but feel a clinch in his gut that not a single one was from Blair. Chuck rolled his eyes as he looked through the Gossip Girl posts. "What is all of this nonsense? Where in the World is Chuck Bass? What the hell? I am late for school and suddenly I've skipped the country?" He read aloud in a mocking voice the post that he assumed started this mess. "Gossip Girl here. Any guesses on where the enigmatic C has disappeared to this time? I have a feeling we won't be seeing our favorite playboy for a while now since B stomped on his heart and flew off to England." Chuck looked up at Serena. "Seriously, what is all this crap?"

Serena's eyes were wide once more. Chuck was acting like this was all no big deal. Blair was gone and Chuck was acting as though it was just a regular day on the Upper East Side. She was about to shake some sense into him when Jenny walked out of Constance with Nate and spotted them. Her eyebrows shot up and she quickly hurried towards them; with Nate close behind as he realized where his girlfriend was headed.

As soon as Jenny reached Chuck she flung her arms around him. "Oh my God, Chuck, I'm so glad you're still here!"

Chuck looked down at her baffled as Nate came up and patted him on the back. "Glad to see you're still with us man."

Chuck shot Nate the same perplexed look. "What is with you people?"

Jenny and Nate looked at each other, then at Serena, before focusing their attention back on Chuck. Jenny was the first to speak. "We were just worried about you. I mean we all lost her but I guess we all just assumed that you would be well devastated."

That was the first time Chuck had really taken in their appearance. Jenny looked like she hadn't slept in days. She was wearing absolutely no makeup, which only illuminated the puffy redness of her eyes that clearly indicated she had been crying, and her hair was back in a messy bun. Plus she was wearing a SWEATSHIRT with her Constance uniform. Nate looked like he had slept in what he was wearing. Everything was wrinkled and his hair was a mess; parts of it sticking up randomly. He wasn't even wearing his uniform; something that Chuck was sure would get Nate in trouble later in the day. He studied Serena, wondering why she didn't look as disheveled as the other two and realized that she never put much into her appearance so it was more subtle. However, there were small signs like puffy eyes which she had concealed with her makeup. As Chuck was about to comment he noticed Humphrey walking across the courtyard. Even he looked unkempt, with his wrinkled Oxford and tie simply slung on. "Guys she didn't die. In fact according to Gossip Girl she is living the life she was always meant to. Look the latest post says that she's meeting with the Queen."

Dan had a similar reaction to everyone else when he reached the group. They had all been prepared to deal with Chuck Bass. Every single one of them knew what it was that they were going to say to him to help him forget her. They were ready for his attempts at self-destruction, his lashing out. But this was something that hadn't once anticipated because Chuck Bass seemed perfectly fine. This is something they weren't prepared for in the slightest.

Finally Serena snapped. "I don't get it Chuck, why aren't you lashing out, running away, destroying things?"

Chuck looked as though she had just asked him why he wasn't making out with Dan Humphrey. "I already told you Blair is clearly doing fine and I just don't see what the fuss is? So what my ex-girlfriend got married and moved away. I'm moving past it."

Nate glowered at Chuck. "We both know that she wasn't just your ex-girlfriend Chuck."

Chuck glared right back. "I could say the same for you Archibald."

Jenny stepped between the two boys before things began to escalate. But as she did Nate shouted at Chuck. "Damn it Chuck she was the love of your fucking life. You don't just get over that, I would know."

Jenny looked up at Nate, the hurt evident in all of her features. She knew that on some level Nate still loved Blair but hearing him say that felt like someone was ripping her heart out. Nate saw as her face crumbled and immediately tried to take it back. "Jenny, that's not what I meant. I'm over Blair I swear."

Taking a step backwards Jenny locked her jaw trying not to cry. "That's sure as hell not what it sounds like." Then she turned and walked quickly back towards Constance.

"Jenny, wait! Please. At least talk to me." Nate called after her. However Jenny didn't slow her pace. As he looked back towards the group Nate was deciding whether or not to run after her or try to take care of Chuck who clearly needed more help than any of them thought. Serena and Dan were both glaring at Nate while Chuck simply looked at him with raised eyebrows. "I don't have to explain myself to you guys." He yelled in frustration.

Dan who was trying to hold back the anger and judgment that he was feeling didn't quite succeed as he spoke with a voice that showed his emotions were barely under control. "No but you do have to explain yourself to my sister." His fists were clenching and unclenching as he tried not to fulfill the promise that he had made to Nate when he and Jenny started dating that if Nate hurt her he would kick his ass. Serena stood by him rubbing his back trying to keep him calm. Their group was falling apart without Blair. She had been the glue that kept them all together and without her their relationships were crumbling.

"I know." Nate said looking down. When he looked back up he noticed that in the mess over what he said, Chuck had disappeared. Turning to Dan and Serena, Nate said in a voice that was beyond confused. "Uh, guys, where's Chuck?"

Serena and Dan's eyebrows shot up as they realized that while they were talking Chuck had disappeared.

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Chuck smirked as he walked down the hallway of Constance. Sometimes his friends were so dense. As soon as there had been a minor distraction they hadn't even noticed him slip away. He didn't understand why they couldn't all stop making such a big fucking deal out of everything. There was no point falling apart, it wouldn't change anything.

But as Chuck stepped into the Library, Nate's words resonated inside his head. She was the love of your fucking life. You don't just get over that. Chuck felt his insides start to knot as his defenses were beginning to shatter. NO Chuck shouted inside his head. This was not happening he was not going to let this destroy him. He was barely maintaining his hold on his emotions as he found what he was looking for near the back of the library.

Jenny was sitting in the exact spot he and Blair had discovered her and Nate earlier in the year, but this time she was sobbing. He walked over and held out one of his monogrammed handkerchiefs. "What to you say we blow this joint?"

Jenny looked up, surprised at first to see Chuck but after a moment of thought she realized she wasn't that surprised; they were friends. So she nodded and accepted the handkerchief; also allowing him to help her to her feet. "Where to Bass?"

"I don't know. Where would Blair take you?" Chuck asked looking straight into her eyes.

At that Jenny actually laughed. "Retail therapy."

"Barney's it is." Chuck said as he took her arm and walked with her out back to his limo.

Queen B's only been gone two days yet it seems like everyone here's falling apart. N and J seem to already be on the rocks apparently N referred to B as the love of his life and even indicated that he wasn't over her. S and D look like total wrecks as well. Seems like the only one who isn't falling apart is C. Strange things are happening quickly on the UES and I'll be here to make sure you don't lose track.

xoxo

gossip girl

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As Blair walked into the Queen's sitting room she couldn't stop her stomach from clenching. But she stayed strong for Marcus, being sure to follow all of the proper protocol. She curtsied and said all the proper greetings; waiting patiently for the Queen to tell them to be seated.

The Queen looked Blair up and down as though to appraise her appearance. "So this is the young American tart my grandson married. They were right you are quite pretty if not gorgeous."

Blair's senses immediately went into overdrive. Her body automatically responded to what it recognized as a threatening situation. She could feel the hairs on her neck and back stand up strait and a cold chill ran down her spine. Blair could feel the blood pounding in her veins as her blood pressure began to rise. Normally, this was the kind of thing that she lived for but this was different; this was the Queen of England. She looked at Marcus who looked absolutely petrified and completely caught off guard. So Blair simply smiled and said. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you." She thought perhaps the Queen simply needed to warm up to her.

"Well quite standing there like idiots, sit down." They immediately followed her directions. "So, Blair is it?" Blair nodded. "I must confess I had great hopes for my grandson Marcus. Hopes that did not involve him marrying some trollop from New York City." The Queen said with obvious distaste.

Blair fought to maintain her sense of propriety. Snapping at the Queen was not the best way to win her over. She looked over at Marcus as he began to speak.

"Grandmother, why on earth are you saying such things? You don't even know Blair." Even though Marcus was making an attempt to stand up for Blair, it was clear that he was still terrified.

The Queen shook her head and glared at Blair. "Charles was the same. He was besotted with Diana from the beginning. I've lived through what having a social climbing commoner as a Princess does to the family once before and it nearly tore us apart. This is even worse because this time the little harlot is an American to boot. "

Marcus was infuriated by this point and Blair was doing her best to keep him calm; which was a difficult task when her natural instincts were screaming at her to do what she does best and tear the old bat down. Marcus's nostrils flared as he did something he had never done before and outright talked back to his grandmother. "For once you really don't know what you're talking about. Blair is extraordinary."

"Oh look she's dim witted too." Snapped the Queen. "Must you always speak for her Marcus." She said glancing at Blair once more.

Grace Kelly, Grace Kelly, Grace Kelly Blair repeated the mantra in her head as she tried her best not to lash out at the Queen. "I'm sorry. I simply didn't think that you would appreciate what I had to say."

Blair swore she saw the Queen smirk as she began to speak again. "Well I don't see why I wouldn't, I haven't said anything that isn't the truth. You can't deny that you are no more than a mediocre American girl, who's trying entirely too hard to work her way up in the world from her lowly origins; plus I smell new money all over you. You just don't have what is necessary to be part of this family."

Suddenly everything Blair had been holding back came pouring forth all at once. "Excuse me." She said in a tone that meant anything but.

Marcus placed a hand on her arm and spoke. "Bla . . ." but he didn't even get her whole name out before she reached up a hand to stop him. When Marcus immediately backed down, the Queen raised her eyebrows. Marcus never let anyone tell him what to do; other than her of course.

Blair turned her attention back to the Queen. "You have insulted me in every way possible yet you clearly don't know me at all nor have you made any good attempts and researching me. I had assumed you would have had a team of investigators working on that. You question my breeding yet my linage dates back as far as your own and quite honestly the money held by my family and the others of my social circle likely greatly outweighs that of your court." By now the Queen's eyebrows had almost disappeared into her hairline in surprise at the Waldorf girl's outburst. "On top of that you have insulted, my looks, called me nothing short of a whore, and insulted my intelligence. The way you have treated me in this short period of time is comparable to the actions of a high school girl. So next time you think to belittle me for mediocrity, perhaps you should first look at yourself." Blair took a breath as she finished. She couldn't believe that she had just said that to the Queen of England.

The Queen was speechless from the shock that someone had had the nerve to actually stand up to her.

Blair stood and Marcus stood with her "Now if that's all, I think I'll be leaving" Then she began to back out of the room, as was customary. Right as Blair reached the door she saw the Queen stand and heard her speak.

"Blair, tea tomorrow afternoon at two. Don't be late."

Blair nodded however she could barely withhold the triumphant smile from appearing on her face. She curtsied one final time, before backing out the door, where she let the smile appear as she turned to Marcus. "We did it." She said, sounding every bit the giddy high school girl that she should be.

Marcus smiled. "You did it. I did nothing." Blair continued smiling at him and he extended his arm. "Come on, I think it's high time for a tour of Buckingham Palace."

Blair raised her eyebrows. "Do we . . . Live here?"

Marcus laughed. "Not right now but quite possibly in the future. After the tour, we can head over to our home. It's not quite Buckingham but it's definitely suitable." Marcus said with a smirk.

At that, Blair took his arm and allowed him to take her on the tour.

News update from England! This picture was sent to me by a palace insider. Looks like B is actually pretty happy in dreary old England, with boring old Marcus. On a more interesting note, from what I hear the Queen underestimated the value of our B and B had to set her strait. Sorry Queen E, ruling England is nothing compared to being the monarch or the aristocracy on the UES. Cheers B looks like you've already mastered English Court.

This coupled with all the craziness here following B's departure leaves me wondering, has B's exit ended our games, or has a new level of play simply emerged?

xoxo

gossip girl


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A/N: I hope you all like this new update :) Reviews are always appreciated.