A/N: Yay Update!!! So anyways, this chapter is exploring the various relationships we have going on right now in the story and how they are currently feeling. The next chapter (it was originally one chapter but it got too long) will be a series of short conversations as the NJBC says good bye and gets ready to go home to NYC. Just a note, remember that this story started before season 2 and we didn't know how Chuck's mom died at that point and I said that she died of cancer when he was a kid. Hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN GOSSIP GIRL

Rated: T mostly for language.

Serena tucked herself tightly against Dan's side, alerting Dan that there was something bothering her. It wasn't often that she was needy. "What's wrong?" He asked as he ran his fingers through her hair; his voice concerned.

"I'm worried about them." Serena said, her voice muffled slightly by Dan's chest. This was the closest that she had felt to him in a long time; they had certainly gone through a couple of rough patches, but their friends always seemed to pull them back together again. But tonight it wasn't them she was uncertain about; it was Chuck and Blair. The two of them would be separated again tomorrow afternoon and she wasn't sure that they would be able to handle being apart after having time together like they had.

Dan continued stroking her hair. "Me too. They've been through a lot. They deserve to be happy and they've never been given that chance."

Serena nodded almost imperceptibly. "I still don't understand how Chuck's going to get out of here undetected. They are leaving from the same airport and both planes are going to land in London Heathrow at the same time; where Chuck will transfer planes and Marcus will pick up Blair."

"I know, it worries me too." Dan said softly, speaking the truth. He really didn't know how Chuck was going to go unseen by both Sergio and Marcus. It was nearly impossible. "At least Harold had sense enough not to book them on the same flight to London because that really would have been undoable."

"Yeah." Serena said, tightening her hold on his chest.

Dan knew that there was more. Serena was holding onto him like a child would hold onto a parent when they were scared of a thunderstorm. He wasn't sure what to do at first; but then he realized what was wrong. "I'm going to miss her too."

Suddenly Serena was crying and she couldn't stop herself. She knew that her tears were soaking Dan's chest but she couldn't seem to stop.

"Shhh, shhh, it's okay." He said soothingly. "It's okay to be upset. She was your best friend for years. If you weren't upset about leaving tomorrow, I would be more concerned."

Serena gave a small laugh. Only Dan would think to say that. "I love you." She said looking up; her eyes meeting his own. "And I can't begin to think what I would do if it was us."

In response, Dan leaned forward and kissed her softly. "Me either."

Blair looked over at Chuck from her place at the vanity. They had just gotten out of the shower together and she had a feeling that they would be resuming the activities that they had partaken in there in a few moments; but first she really wanted to talk to him. So as he walked towards her from where he was sitting on the bed she held up a hand. "Wait a second."

Chuck sat back down slightly confused but willing to listen to what Blair was going to say. He knew that this night was going to be just as difficult as the last night they were together before the wedding and he was more than willing to do whatever she wanted. After all, she was giving up her life and her friends once more to protect him.

"I'm not going to say this isn't hard for me to say because it is. I've thought about it for a long time and I know that it is the most selfish request that I have ever made." Blair said glancing towards her reflection in the mirror. She couldn't quite look into Chuck's eyes as she was about to say what was on her mind. She was going to ask him to give up everything for her without hesitation. He wouldn't really have time to consider the decision before he made it; the planes left tomorrow. "I was wondering if you would . . ."

But Blair didn't get to finish her sentence as Chuck interrupted. "Yes. Whatever you want, my answer is always yes."

Blair whipped her head around to look at him; she almost laughed but instead she sighed. "Chuck, you don't even know what I want yet. You can't just go around saying that to every request I make."

Chuck shrugged. "Sure I can. No matter what you wanted me to do I would do it. So I can actually say that my answer will always be yes." He actually thought that Blair had learned that by now. Her happiness was always more important to him than his own.

"This time might be different Chuck." Blair said slightly frustrated by the fact that Chuck was willing to commit to doing this when he hadn't even heard what she wanted. She didn't want him to feel obligated to do it if he didn't want to once he knew.

Chuck rolled his eyes. "Fine Blair, tell me what you want and then I'll decide." He knew that it didn't really matter. There was nothing that he wouldn't give her.

Blair bit her lip and looked at him. "I was wondering if you would consider staying in London for a while. And before you say yes, I'm going to list the pros and the cons so don't interrupt." She said quickly as she continued talking. "If you did I think Roland would find a way for us to see each other. But that's the only good part. There is only a chance that we would get to see each other at all. Most of your time would have to be spent under the radar waiting around for me never knowing when I'd be able to see you. You would be leaving our friends, school; your family. Your dad would be furious and that could jeopardize all of the hard work you've put in to impress him . . ."

Blair looked as though she intended to keep talking so he raised his hand. "You don't have to continue trying to convince me not to do it. How about I think about it and let you know in the morning?"

Blair nodded. After all that's what she had wanted. She wanted for Chuck to really think about this decision and decide if he could do it; he would be giving up so much.

At Blair's acquiescence Chuck stood from the bed and walked over. "But for the time being I would like to use the time we have together, if that's all right with you."

Blair's answer was clear as she pulled him to her for a kiss. She wanted him to say yes, to come to London but she also knew that it was the most selfish request that she had ever made. She was asking him to give up having any kind of a life just to be a small part of hers. So if this was their last time together for a while she was going to make every moment worth it.

Nate looked down at Jenny, curled tightly in his arms. It felt as though she was holding him like he thought Blair was probably holding Chuck right now; as though she was afraid that at any moment he might disappear. It scared him because it led him to believe that there was something wrong. "Is everything okay Jen?" He asked softly. His greatest fear was that he had hurt her in some way. He couldn't handle doing that to her, not again.

"Yeah." She answered quietly as she looked up at Nate. The guilt over what she had done and the fact that she might be pregnant had been eating away at her over the past week. Nate had been the perfect boyfriend ever since they had had their big blowout. They hadn't had a single problem since; but somewhere in the back of her mind she knew what she had done. Maybe he was still in love with Blair, maybe he wasn't. It didn't matter because he hadn't acted on it. She didn't even love Chuck like that, yet she had slept with him simply because she was upset and drunk. She had slept with her boyfriend's best friend and that was inexcusable; after all, she was the one who had crucified Blair for doing the same thing. Only what she had done was worse than what Blair had done. Not only was Chuck her boyfriend's best friend, he was her best friend's boyfriend.

Jenny could tell that Nate knew there was something bothering her and there was a large part of her that wanted to tell him so that she didn't feel guilty anymore because the fact was there was no more running from it; she might be pregnant. Not only did she want to tell Nate and get it off her chest, she knew that she should tell Nate, he deserved to know. She knew that if he knew that she was pregnant he would do the right thing but it was so dishonest of her to let him believe that she was pregnant with his child when that might not even be the truth. She opened her mouth about to correct herself and tell him just what was wrong with her; at very least she needed to tell him that she might be pregnant, the rest could wait for later or possibly he never had to know about the rest. That was the other part of her, the part that was screaming that everything could be just fine. She might not even be pregnant and if she was she could always let Chuck take care of things. Then she simply said "Yeah, I'm fine." Repeating herself because the second part of herself had won out.

Blair was still breathing heavily as Chuck rolled off of her. He was still next to her, propped up on his side as she rolled over and placed her hand gently on his face. She rolled to face him, propping herself up as well. Blair leaned her forehead against his before uttering one word, a word that she knew would make him do what she had asked him to do before. "Please." She said as she leaned her body into his, molding hers to fit the contours of his own and snuggling tightly in his embrace.

Chuck automatically wrapped his arms around her as she fitted herself to him. He could tell how scared she was of losing him again. Along with that, he couldn't help but be thankful that she had given him an option in his decision. He always would want to be where she was but she had shown that she knew just how hard this would be for him, just what he would be giving up if he chose to do what she requested of him. As much as he respected her for it, he also knew how disappointed in him his father would be if he gave up everything for a girl. "It's okay." He said as he held her to him and felt as hot tears started to trickle from her eyes. "Everything's going to be okay." He whispered lowly.

Chuck was saying all the right things but it didn't seem to help, she only cried harder. "I'm sorry for what I asked." She whispered.

"Don't be." Chuck said as he rubbed her back. He thought of something that perhaps would soothe Blair and lowly began to sing.

Hush now baby don't you cry
Rest your wings my butterfly
Peace will come to you in time
And I will sing this lullaby

Blair felt herself relaxing into Chuck's voice. He hadn't sung to her since she had arrived and his voice was truly calming. Somehow it, along with the words that he was singing told her what his words had been unable to do; everything was going to be okay. Even if he didn't come to London to try to be with her, they would survive this.

Know though I must leave, my child
That I would stay here by your side
And if you wake and I am gone
Remember this sweet lullaby

As Chuck sang to her quietly, he could feel the tension leaving Blair's body and the tears slowed but did not stop. He continued to sing, doing his best to comfort her with a lullaby that his mother had sung to him when he was a child.

And all love through darkness
Don't you ever stop believing
With love alone
With love you'll find your way
My love

Blair could feel herself beginning to fall asleep but as she did she began to shake. She wasn't sure why it happened but she couldn't make it stop.

Chuck immediately noticed Blair shaking against him and was worried. What if everything wasn't really going to be okay? Was it possible that she had really had so much that she couldn't handle any more? He really didn't want to be away from her, but could he really relocate to a city where he would have to stay locked in an apartment all day?

The world has turned the day to dark
I leave this night with heavy heart
When I return to dry your eyes
I will sing this lullaby

Blair's last thought as she fell asleep was that in his lullaby Chuck said that he would return to dry her eyes. At least she had that; at least she knew he would still be there in the morning, even if he couldn't be there forever.

Yes I will sing this lullaby
Oooooohhh

As Blair's breathing slowed and her shaking ceased Chuck sighed with relief. He hated that she was so upset tonight. He was sad too but she seemed to be having a breakdown. He looked down at her sleeping form nestled tightly against him and knew that he couldn't leave her. No matter where she was he would follow her, no matter what that meant for him. He loved her and he would give up everything for even the smallest chance at being with her. She needed him and Chuck refused to fail her this time.

A/N: I know the formatting was a little different; I hope you still liked it (the next chapter is even more different). The song was Lullaby by Josh Groban (but the UNC Clef Hangers [Anoop Desai sang with them in college] do an awesome arrangement of it)

Reviews are always appreciated,

xoxo
kate