Sorry for the delay, I'm back at school and I have crazy amounts of work. So here it is the LAST chapter! Following this we'll have a two part Epilogue but this is the OFFICIAL end. Thanks to each and every one of you for staying with me over the past two years. This was my first fanfiction (not the first I've completed but the first I started) and it's kind of like my baby so as sad as I am to finish it up, I'm happy to see it completed. It's been a crazy ride, thanks for everything and don't forget to vote in my new poll! Also if you're interested the dresses that the girls wear in this chapter are featured on my profile under The Games We Play extras :)
To my awesome, amazing, completely indescribable reviewers: ggff-fan, CarolinaGirl21, LitPricess2787, ana-12, smartine555, Taiyo To Tsuki No Megami, GGfanficfan09, CrazyBitch10, LovelyLydia, SouthernBelle88, CBBW3words8letters, UnwrittenGirl, freaky-chick-108, annablake, and tvrox12. I love you, I love you, I love you!
Special thanks to ggff-fan for her awesome beta work, you rock!
Disclaimer: I don't own Gossip girl or the show wouldn't go off during the summer!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Spotted: Chuck Bass exiting the Palace Hotel this morning. We knew you couldn't say away for long C. Welcome home. Now the question begs, why isn't he at the Constance Billard - St. Jude Comencement Ceremony starting in exactly five minutes? In other news did anyone else see the cover of Vanity Fair featuring B and M? There are even some shots of J in with the article. Here's a short summary of what I've read: B and M are officially no longer married, in fact it legally never happened, they had a quickie annulment. The marriage was "a mistake" and she still has feelings for an ex (C I presume). Yet B and M remain friends, she even introduced him to his new girlfriend. So that explains what B, M, and J were doing in the park together yesterday. Hmm, I'll be keeping a close eye on this one kiddies it seems a little too sugar coated, for now enjoy your Graduation. Congratulations you're officially adults.
Blair exhaled roughly, feeling all of the air fly from her lungs. She'd ducked into the bathroom so that she could absorb the gossip girl blast in peace, away from all the photographers. The Vanity Fair article had hit the shelves this morning and the paparazzi had been up and raring to go the moment she walked out of the Palace. As if that wasn't bad enough, she now had to deal with this gossip girl blast.
You already knew he was back, this isn't news to you, this shouldn't hurt, she told herself as she stared at her reflection. But of course it did still hurt. Before, she could continue to tell herself that Chuck wasn't actually back in the City, just out of the hospital -even though she knew differently. But now, she couldn't do that. Gossip girl was rarely wrong. If she said that Chuck was back, Chuck was back; and he hadn't come for her. Still this was better than nothing right? He'd come home which made him a lot closer to her than he was when he was in North Carolina. Slowly, she placed the graduation cap on her head, fixing it in front of the bathroom mirror just as Serena rushed in the door.
"Come on B, we're lining up." Serena said, walking over to the sink where her friend was standing. She saw the perfectly formed mask on Blair's face instantly; it didn't take a rocket scientist to know what was wrong. So as she took Blair's hand and led her from the bathroom she asked a question that she knew might break that mask. "I saw the blast. Are you okay?"
Blair swallowed, forcing the chance of tears back. "Yes." She spoke, even finding that it was true. She was okay. She wasn't great, she wasn't fine, but she was okay. "But I just feel like he should be here." She finished just after they reached the place where the rest of the group was standing.
Jenny had been waiting with the graduates so that she could make sure that Blair was okay. "I know. So do I." She felt Nate squeeze her hand as she spoke and knew she'd said the right thing.
"It does seem wrong without him doesn't it?" Nate said with a slight frown. "Especially if he's back in the city."
Even Dan seemed to have something to say about Chuck's absence. "It's Graduation, you'd think this was the day that Chuck Bass had been looking forward to his whole life. No more school, no more grades, no more homework."
Dan's comment was actually able to draw a small smile from Blair. No one knew it, but Chuck really didn't hate school, homework maybe, but not school itself. "Plus it's his birthday." She added quietly.
Everyone other than Nate looked at Blair strangely and it was Serena who broke the silence that followed Blair's astonishing statement . "It is?" Serena asked, her mouth open slightly in surprise. Sure she and Chuck were never particularly close but surely she knew his birthday though as she thought back certain that she must know it, she couldn't name the date.
Nate just nodded. "Blair's right it's his birthday. May 18th." He confirmed.
"How come he never told anyone?" Jenny asked softly, a cautious note to her voice.
Blair shook her head, not sure what she should say but then she remembered that they were still the Non-Judging Breakfast Club, they shouldn't have secrets. "Chuck doesn't celebrate his birthday. His mom died on his fifth, you know she never really got better after the pregnancy. She was always sick and I think Chuck blames himself to some extent. The only thing he does to commemorate the occasion is to light a candle at St. Patrick's. Other than his dad, Nate and I are probably the only two people who even know." She was about to open her mouth to say more when a teacher rushed over and shooed them into line. Dan and Nate went to the left with the boys, and Serena and Blair to the right with the girls while Jenny and Eric went to find Jocelyn and Marcus who were supposed to be saving them seats.
Walking directly past their gesturing parents, Jenny spotted Jocelyn and slipped in the aisle with Eric quickly behind her. She risked a quick glance back to see what Lily, Bart and Rufus's reactions were and couldn't help but frown. She knew they'd be upset at her and Eric for choosing not to sit with them but she had no idea that they would look quite so infuriated, or was it worry that was lining their faces? She nudged Eric quickly, "Look at our parents. Your mom looks like she's about to have an aneurism. They all look worried. I don't get it."
Eric looked at Jenny strangely. "We're sitting with Marcus, of course they look worried. They probably didn't even know he was in town." He muttered back at her.
Jenny pondered that for a moment. It was true, upon Blair's return the parents had discovered part if not all of the situation that had occurred between Blair and Marcus, which would be a likely cause of their current distress. "Lily must not have seen Vanity Fair yet." She spoke in a whispered voice before adding. "But they look like they think we're up to something."
"We are up to something." Eric said before running a hand through his hair. When Jocelyn had called him this morning he'd been surprised to hear from her. They were really nothing more than acquaintances but upon her request, he and Jenny had met her and Marcus for brunch while the four graduates did their own thing.
Jenny sighed. Eric had a point but this was nothing that the parents should be concerned about. She was strangely unafraid of Marcus now. He didn't even seem like the same guy anymore. Besides, they were up to something good. She turned to Jocelyn. "So we're leaving graduation with you guys right?"
"Precisely." Jocelyn said with a smirk. As soon as Chuck had called her yesterday and told her his plan she'd been wondering why of the six of the group he'd told her to involve Jenny and Eric. They were the youngest and she knew them the least; but the moment she spoke to them at brunch she realized what Chuck must have known all along; these two were manipulative. They made the best scheming team she'd seen since Chuck and Blair. Jenny was as much of a plotter as Blair had been at that age and Eric's intelligence balanced her out perfectly. Besides, their lack of involvement in the Graduation that was occurring made helping her that much easier for them. After all, she was going to need as much help as she could get to pull off Chuck's plan.
Jenny shrugged slightly. "I'm still surprised that he isn't going the grand gesture route. That's much more like him. Usually when Chuck fucks something up he goes all out trying to fix it. I'm talking jewelry, roses, songs…the works."
"Yeah but this time he didn't really screw up." Eric said pointedly as they all stood while the graduates entered to Pomp and Circumstance. Once the music died down he added. "Chuck's not looking for some kind of reconciliation, he just wants an appropriate reunion. One that doesn't include paparazzi, since they seem to be intent on following Blair everywhere right now."
Jocelyn smiled with a slight nod. "The kid's right. From what Chuck's said to me, he just wants Blair, that's it."
Without even realizing what she was doing, Jenny found herself snapping at Jocelyn. "I still can't believe you've been in contact with Chuck for days and you've kept quiet about it."
"Chuck asked me not to say anything, what was I supposed to do?" Jocelyn asked, finding herself on the defensive. There weren't many people who could put her there but Jenny appeared to be one of them.
Jenny shook her head before speaking in a hushed voice. "You should have told Blair."
Jocelyn made a strange face, appearing slightly surprised. Jenny was about to ask why before she realized that Jocelyn wasn't looking at her, she was looking at Eric. Flipping around to face her friend Jenny narrowed her eyes. "What?" She hissed at Eric who had his eyebrows raised.
"Are you saying that you would have told Blair?" He finally whispered, just loudly enough for Jocelyn and Jenny to hear.
"Of course." Jenny responded back instantly. "She's my best friend and this is the love of her life we are talking about."
Eric raised his eyebrows further, looking doubtful. "Because you've never kept secrets with Chuck before."
"That's different." Jenny replied quietly, but uncertainty filled her voice. Even as she spoke she had to admit that that wasn't entirely true. She and Chuck had hidden their fling from everyone, including Blair, she'd kept the letters a secret from everyone too, and way back when Chuck was hunting for something to take Marcus down, she'd known where he was and hadn't told Blair because he'd asked her not to. "Okay fine, so I would have done the same thing." She finally admitted with a shrug before sitting back to watch the rest of graduation, crossing her arms as a message to the other two that she was done talking.
Jocelyn leaned forward slightly around Jenny to meet Eric's gaze before whispering a quiet "Thank you." As the first of the speeches began.
Walking out of the auditorium a little over an hour later, Jenny linked her arm with Eric's. "I'm sorry for earlier." She spoke softly, not particularly wanting Marcus or Jocelyn to overhear as they followed them a block or so to where Jocelyn had parked. The blonde had taken to driving ever since she'd gone to college.
"Don't apologize to me, I'm not the one you snapped at." He said, glancing ahead at Jocelyn. "Besides, I know why you were angry in the first place . . .she doesn't."
Jenny looked at Eric, strangely. "What are you talking about? I was just being a self righteous hypocrite saying that Joss should have told Blair."
Eric shook his head slightly. "Yes, but my point is why were you being a self righteous hypocrite?"
Jenny's brow furrowed. Eric was right, why had it bothered her so much that Jocelyn hadn't told Blair the truth. After all, as Eric had pointed out, she'd kept things from people for Chuck before.
Eric could see that Jenny was having trouble sorting out her own feelings so he decided to help her out. "You're jealous."
Now Jenny truly did look confused. "Of who, Blair?"
"No, of Jocelyn." When Jenny still didn't seem to get it Eric continued. "You're jealous because Chuck's always come to you in the past when he needs help with something or has a secret."
Jenny laughed. "No I'm so not."
"Oh yes you are." Eric said pointedly. "And I mean, it makes sense. You're used to being the girlfriend's best friend, not to mention that you and Chuck have been intimate together; so it's only natural that he would go to you for advice. I'm sure it seems like he's passed you up for a better option."
Jenny winced at Eric's mention of their intimacy, it wasn't something she liked to think about, let alone discuss. It had almost cost her her relationship with Nate and it was something she'd rather forget altogether. Though she listened while Eric spoke and as he finished she found herself closing her eyes as realization overtook her. "You're right, I am jealous." Then after a pause she added. "Do you really think Jocelyn's a better option than me?"
Eric just rolled his eyes, preparing to explain his theory. "No. You know Chuck and Blair as well as anyone. His past track record has proved that Chuck does go to you because you are Blair's best friend and the two of you do have a bond; but this Chuck doesn't remember that. This Chuck remembers a time when Jocelyn was Blair's best friend. After all, when Serena was at boarding school in a lot of ways Jocelyn was her only girl friend. This Chuck thinks of Jocelyn like our Chuck thinks of you."
Jenny nodded, understanding exactly what Eric was getting at. He really was the smartest of all of them. "So you think Chuck still hasn't found a way to get his memory back."
Eric shrugged. "I don't know. If he has, it has to be recent. Jocelyn said when he first called a few days ago he hadn't."
Once more Jenny found herself nodding. She thought as much but this time she was hoping that Eric disagreed. Then another more disturbing thought hit her. "You said that this Chuck thinks of Jocelyn like our Chuck thinks of me, do you think he's been. . .intimate with her?"
Eric tilted his head to the side, considering the possibility. "I don't know. It's not outside the realm of possibility but back then Chuck was much more promiscuous. If they ever did sleep together I would wager that it didn't mean anything to either of them. They certainly didn't do it for the reasons that you and Chuck did."
The conversation was quickly going somewhere that made Jenny uncomfortable but it was her fault so it was up to her to get out of it and the only way she knew to do that was to change the topic to an equally interesting subject. "So do you think this plan of theirs is going to work?"
"That depends." Eric spoke plainly once more. "The goal is of course to create confusion. Jocelyn and Marcus will help with that and then you have us. . ." He spoke trailing off knowing that Jenny knew the plan as well as he did. "That should do the trick."
Jenny gave a slight shrug accompanied by a sigh. "I don't know, it just has so much potential to go wrong." She said, furrowing her brows.
Eric frowned. "I know. If anyone has forgotten anything at home then the whole plan is ruined. Everyone was supposed to bring their stuff over to our apartment this morning because after the reception everyone is supposed to get dressed and go to Gramercy Tavern for dinner before heading to Nate's for the party."
"Right." Jenny replied slowly. "But if things go according to plan, Blair won't be going to dinner with us."
Eric nodded. "You know, I've just realized that this isn't much of a plan at all. We are rather playing by ear and that's dangerous when it comes to this group. Maybe we should discuss something more concrete."
Jenny ran a hand through her newly cut locks, surprised when her fingers ran out of hair so quickly; it was almost down to her waist before she'd cut it for Graduation. "That's kind of what I've been getting at." Jenny related her new plan to Eric.
"We could work with that." Eric said with a nod that quickly turned into a smile. "In fact, that's almost too simplistic to fail."
"Let's go tell Marcus and Joss of the change." Jenny said, picking up her step to catch up with the older pair. Already she was feeling so much better about this whole thing. For the first time all morning she felt like she could breathe. This could work.
Nate groaned as he walked up to where most of their group was standing. "Is this thing ever going to end?" He asked as he tentatively wrapped an arm around Jenny's waist.
Jenny looked up at Nate and smiled reassuringly. She could feel that he was a little nervous. This was their first day publically back together and things were still kind of touch and go. "I don't think it's that bad. Think about our parents, it is an absolute wonder that this is all they've insisted on." Jenny said gesturing around the room at the formal reception.
Blair nodded in agreement. Granted, she didn't actually have any parents there; Roman and Harold had been coming but they'd gotten stranded in France due to some Volcanic Eruption that had sent so much ash in the air that it had grounded all air travel, so she valued parents a little more than the rest of them since hers couldn't be there. "True, they are letting us go to dinner without them, Bart's even footing the bill."
Serena smiled. "Speaking of Bart, I would give money to see his face one more time when Marcus walked into the room a few hours ago. That was priceless."
"I know! Remember when we thought Bart only had one facial expression?" Eric spoke, completely serious. "Apparently, shock does not in fact look the same as disappointment, anger, and happiness."
Marcus laughed along with the rest of the group, almost not believing that this was happening. These were people whose approval he'd been craving the entire time he was involved with Blair and now all of the sudden they seemed to accept him. "I'm glad to be of at least some service."
Jocelyn gave Marcus's hand a light squeeze. "You know we should probably start getting ready soon if we want to make our eight o'clock reservation."
"Too bad it doesn't look like anyone is nearly ready to clear out." Dan said as he walked up to the group from a conversation with his parents who were surprisingly getting along well today even though his mom had brought her new fiancé with her. "And you heard all the parents earlier, we have to stay until this is over."
Almost as if by magic the room began to clear out as people drifted towards the exit. Most of them probably had dinner plans of their own that they had to get ready for. "Looks like it's time to go get ready." Blair said only ten minutes later.
Serena turned to catch Lily's eye, looking for some sign that they were dismissed. The second Lily gave a nod of consent they scattered, the girls heading to Serena's room and the boys to Eric's.
Just over an hour later, Blair stood in front of the mirror, smiling as she straightened her dress. The light pink silk fell perfectly from her waist, disguising any baby bump that might chose today to make its presence known. The faux sweetheart neckline accentuated her growing breasts perfectly, adding to the overall effect of the garment. She'd spent the past twenty minutes arranging her mass of curls on the back of her head but on a whim she tugged the pins out, allowing the chocolate waves to tumble loose.
"I don't know how you do it?" Jocelyn spoke as she approached her, their reflections standing side by side.
Blair looked at her curiously. "Do what?"
"Look so perfect all the time." Joss said with a slight shrug as though she was attempting nonchalance.
Blair couldn't help it, she laughed out loud. "Me, perfect?" She said incredulously, "I spent my entire young adult life trying to be as perfect as you."
Jocelyn just shook her head. "I try to be, but I'm not. Truth be told I was terrified most of junior and all of senior year that you were going to wake up and realize that if you snapped your fingers you could replace me as Queen."
"I realized that myself sometime at the end of junior year; but I didn't want to take Queen from you. Especially after Serena left, you were my only real friend other than Chuck and Nate." As she spoke, Blair slipped her hand through Jocelyn's and gave it a slight squeeze. "And look at us now, trading guys and moving on."
Jocelyn leaned over, placing her head on Blair's shoulder. "And yet I'm still envious of you."
Blair shook her head. "I just don't get it Joss. You are every girl's idea of beautiful. I mean look at yourself, and that dress! I couldn't pull off that dress even if I wasn't pregnant."
Jocelyn found herself smiling as she looked down at her own dress; she did like her selection for the evening. It was an off-white lacy dress, silky smooth with a deep V-neck, crossover tulip skirt, and a pleated sash at the waist. It made her feel confidant; but she was supposed to be the confident one, the one in control. She shouldn't need a dress to make her feel that way. These were all things she'd spent two years teaching Blair; but at the same time, Blair was the only one she'd ever allowed to see her vulnerable; so being so open with her wasn't completely out of character. She probably would have said more but Jenny walked up, placing herself in the frame.
"Blair's right, you look beautiful. The dress looks as though it was made for you." Jocelyn looked as though she was about to protest when Jenny continued. "Trust me, I designed it."
Jocelyn's eyes widened. "That's not possible; I got it at the photo shoot for Vogue. It's a Waldorf Original." She said sparing a quick glance at Blair to test to see if she'd gone too far. She knew about her mother and didn't want to bring up any unpleasant thoughts when they were supposed to be celebrating.
Blair smiled at Jenny. "I didn't know you were designing entire dresses by yourself now."
"You would if you'd take over the role of CEO for Waldorf Designs." Jenny said almost teasingly. It seemed like the perfect opportunity and she couldn't let it go to waste.
Blair shook her head slightly but she her smile remained. "I'll think about it." Then she turned to Jocelyn who was looking confused. "Jenny used to intern for my mother, doing much more than her share of the work from what I heard. After the accident she was promoted, so to speak."
Jocelyn nodded and looked at Jenny impressed. She'd thought upon meeting Jenny that something about her commanded respect but she hadn't been able to put her finger on it. Now she thought she could. It appeared as though Blair had trained Jenny as Jocelyn had trained Blair, add that to Jenny's high profile boyfriend and a talent for design and you ended up with an impressive individual. "I don't admit this often Jenny but I'm impressed and I'm honored to be wearing one of your designs."
Jenny smiled even as she watched Blair slip away towards where Serena was standing. "Thank you. From you that means a lot."
"From me?" Jocelyn said, adequately shocked.
Jenny furrowed her brow slightly. "Oh come on, you have to know that all through middle school I idolized you and Blair too, of course. I wanted to be the two of you."
Jocelyn couldn't seem to comprehend it. It seemed so long ago that she'd been really looked up to. College was different. She wasn't Queen of anything anymore. Granted life was still fabulous. She was the leader in her group of friends, a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Women's Fraternity, and had every indication from a reliable source that she was in line to be tapped for the Skull and Bones at the end of junior year. But there was something about the rush that one gets from being at the top of the social hierarchy that you can't get anywhere else. "Things change."
"Not that much." Jenny said with a shrug. "You know gossip girl still calls me Little J out of respect for you."
Jocelyn smiled sadly. "I don't even know what's wrong with me today. I guess being at Graduation and then that reception just showed me that you can't go back again. Has Blair officially crowned you yet?"
Jenny shook her head slightly. "No, but I don't think it really matters. I've basically run the school these past six months anyway."
Joss laughed. "Don't kid yourself Little J, it matters. It always matters. She'll probably do it tonight at Nate's; that's when I did hers. Somewhere that everyone who matters will be present and see it and know that it was final." After a pause, Jocelyn spoke again. "You know, I think I know what's really been bothering me today. It's not just that I miss the thrill of being Queen, I think I'm jealous of you."
This time it was Jenny who laughed. "Funny then that I realized earlier today that I'm jealous of you. What do you have to be jealous of me about?"
"Your relationship with Blair." Jocelyn answered honestly. "She and I were like that once, a long time ago. What I don't understand is how you could be jealous of me? I'm an outsider in this group."
At that Jenny actually snorted. "Chuck called you. For almost a year, it's always been me that he's gone to when it comes to Blair and I don't know, it kind of hurt my feelings."
"Don't let it. He told me himself that he called me because I was someone he remembered, someone he knew he could trust without a shadow of doubt. I would think he would call Serena but it sounds as though from what Chuck actually remembers they weren't that close anymore" Joss replied, voicing her suspicions. She and Blair were never as close as Blair and Serena. Sure Joss and Blair had a lot in common, they saw eye to eye on a lot of things and were probably more alike, which meant they were also both a lot like Chuck; but Serena and Blair were like sisters. As she finished she turned to Jenny and straightened the large black bow on the younger girl's dress. "Is this one of yours as well?"
Jenny smiled as she ran her hands along the black fabric, following it as it flushed outwards. "Yes, I didn't design it for the company though, just for me. As for Serena and Blair, I don't think things have been the same since Serena and Nate slept together, even though they mended their fences. Then last fall, Serena betrayed all of us because she was jealous and trying to cause a disaster. Blair forgave her but I don't think she ever forgot the disloyalty."
Jocelyn had to fight back several memories of Blair at that moment. Now was not the time for a stroll down memory lane. "Blair always was ferociously loyal to her friends; she could never understand why someone would betray a friend. It's one of the things I came to admire about her."
Jenny nodded, unsurprised by the older girl's respect for Blair. It was difficult not to have respect and admiration for Blair, even if you didn't like her. "I don't think Marcus is a bad guy. He's done some bad things but I think he has a good heart and I think with you, he's finally learning how to use it." Jenny spoke, surprising herself. "I don't think you're crazy for getting involved with him."
Surprised at the abrupt change of subject, Jocelyn was nevertheless pleased by Jenny's comment. She knew that a lot of people around here thought she was nuts, especially Serena, to know that someone other than Blair might see what she saw in Marcus gave her a warm feeling inside, and she found herself pulling the young girl into a hug. "Thank you."
Pulling away, Jocelyn spotted the clock in the back ground and gave a small gasp. "Shit Jenny it's already seven thirty. We've got to go."
Jenny nodded and just as she did, she noticed something else. Blair's handbag was sitting on the ground, this could be perfect. She gave a quick secretive smile to Jocelyn before giving a light kick to the bag, sending it scooting it under Serena's bed. After exchanging a scheming look with Jocelyn, Jenny hurried forward and slid between Serena and Blair. "We've got to go or we are going to miss our dinner reservation." She spoke linking her arm with each girl and walking them towards the exit. As they walked, Jenny knew it was her responsibility to keep Blair distracted long enough that she forgot her bag. So she turned to Serena. "I see that you are the only one who chose to wear a dress that I didn't help create?"
Serena smiled and gave a slight shrug. "It's DVF, do you like?" She said with a quick gesture at the tight black and pink dress that accented her curves.
"I love it!" Jenny exclaimed as they walked down the steps where they immediately saw the guys waiting in the living room. Jenny laughed at the realization that they were playing Halo; they must have been ready for a while. Hurrying everyone along and exclaiming that they were going to be late, Jenny did her job sliding over to Nate, Serena, and Dan as everyone exited the elevator.
Nate looked at her with a smile. "You're riding with us right?"
"Of course." Jenny replied before giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. "I just have to go tell Blair something." Turning away from Nate she backed up to where Blair was near the back. "Where's your purse B?" She asked quietly, she knew that it wouldn't work if Nate, Dan, and Serena heard since they hadn't been informed of the plan.
Blair placed a hand to her forehead in realization. "I left it in the bedroom! I knew I was forgetting something. I'll be right back." She spoke before turning and slipping away.
Jenny smiled, the only other person who'd seen was Jocelyn who returned her smile before gathering Eric and Marcus and hurrying them along as well.
Ugh, how could I be so forgetful! Blair thought to herself as she hurried up the stairs in the Van Der Woodsen-Bass apartment. They were going to be late and Gramercy Tavern wouldn't hold their reservation for long. She looked about the room frantically. Where the fuck was her bag? She was starting to get frustrated as she got down on her knees to check under the bed. FINALLY, she thought, spotting her black clutch just under the bedding. Grabbing the bag, she fled from the room, maybe they'd still make it on time.
When she arrived in the lobby, Blair noticed immediately that it was empty. She shrugged, they must be waiting outside; but when she walked out the door, she was startled to find that there was no one there. Glad she had her bag now, Blair slipped out her phone and dialed the one person she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt would have their phone on and waited for him to pick up.
"Blair?" Marcus asked, doing his best to sound confused. "Is everything okay in the other car?"
They didn't know they'd left her. If Marcus thought she was in the other car, then that car probably thought she was riding with Jocelyn and Marcus. "I'm still at the apartment."
Marcus had to hold back a chuckle, their plan had worked perfectly now Blair would have no choice but to take his car. "What? How did that happen? I thought you were riding in the other car? I'll have Joss turn around and come get you."
Blair shook her head slightly ready to laugh. This was so like something that would happen to them. "I assume that they thought I was with you guys, I had to run upstairs and grab my purse. But you guys don't need to turn around, I can just hail a cab and meet you at the restaurant."
"I have a better idea." Marcus said, doing his best not to sound too excited. "Roland is still at the hotel I'll just give him a call and have him pick you up." Blair considered saying no but in her pause Marcus spoke again. "Don't argue Blair, I insist. After all it's our fault you got left behind."
Blair found herself smiling as she relented. "Okay fine. Besides I'd like to see Roland." Marcus had rehired Roland the day that he'd sent her home to New York; Roland was the one who'd driven her to the airport, but she hadn't seen her old friend since.
"Brilliant. We'll see you soon then." Marcus said before snapping his phone shut and immediately dialing Roland. "Yes, it's time. Blair's waiting out front." As he closed his phone once more he looked at Jocelyn and Jenny. "It's up to Chuck now."
Blair smiled brightly as Roland opened her car door. Immediately she wrapped her arms around him. "It's good to see you."
Roland returned both her smile and her hug. "It's good to see you too, Princess."
Blair shook her head slightly, still smiling, as she allowed him to help her in. "I'm not a Princess anymore." She spoke teasingly.
"To me, you will always be a Princess." Roland spoke just before he closed her door. He was so happy he could hardly stand it. When Marcus had informed him of the plans for tonight he could hardly believe it and right now, he was bursting at the seams to tell her what was going on but he knew he could not. That was up to Chuck. He started driving immediately, talking amicably with Blair along the way. His goal for the moment was to keep her as distracted as possible since they were going in the opposite direction of the restaurant that she thought they were headed for; however, it wasn't long before she realized something was up.
Blair looked out the window, noticing that they were passing the Met, what the fuck? "Uh Roland, where are we going?"
Roland glanced back at Blair through the rearview mirror. "Relax, Princess, everything is exactly as it should be."
Blair couldn't deny that terror was beginning to fill her. Of course she thought Roland was her friend but he was still under Marcus's employ, what if Marcus was having her kidnapped? This was her worst nightmare come true and now Roland was speaking in riddles. "Stop the car and let me out immediately!" Blair cried, knowing that she was nearing hysteria.
Roland almost laughed. "I'm not kidnapping you. Just sit tight for five more minutes and we'll be there."
Blair began to squirm in the backseat trying not to panic. She'd try the door handles but she knew this car model, the backseat doors only opened from the outside. With nothing left to do, she sat still, crossing her arms over her chest. When the car stopped her jaw dropped open. "What are we doing here?" She asked, her voice filled with worry and awe.
Roland got out of the car and opened the door. "Go inside and find out. I'll be waiting out here." As he spoke he smiled reassuringly and he could tell that it calmed Blair.
Her heart was pounding as she looked at the building before her. It was a building that she hadn't been inside since February, a building she never thought she'd be inside again. It was her childhood home; the one she'd sold after her mom died. The situation no longer felt particularly fishy, she trusted Marcus now and she definitely trusted Roland; so she turned to the driver and gave him a slight nod before turning and walking towards the grand glass doors of the building.
"We've been expecting you Miss. Waldorf." The doorman spoke, as Blair walked through the doors of her building once more. Surprise hit her as she realized that Mr. Jamison was still the doorman, for some reason she thought that things would have changed while she was gone; yet she couldn't spot a single difference.
Blair smiled at the doorman in wonder as she continued to walk forward. Passing the doorman's station Mr. Fredrickson smiled as well. "I've already buzzed you up Miss. Waldorf."
Serena looked down at her watch frustrated by the traffic. "We're going to miss our reservation."
Dan squeezed her hand. "Too bad Chuck isn't here. We all know he'd just whisper a few words in the hostesses head and all would be forgiven."
Nate smiled, Dan was so right it hurt. He missed his best friend. He'd forgiven him for what happened with Jenny probably before he'd forgiven himself and now he just wanted his friend back. "None of us ever had the kind of persuasive power that Chuck possessed."
"Chuck was always the one we went to when we really needed something to get done. He'd always know how to handle the problem." Serena spoke, a certain sadness in her voice.
Jenny had been sitting there quietly so as not to spill the secret she was helping to keep too early but she couldn't hold it any longer. "Stop it. Just stop it." Everyone's eyes flew to her immediately. "You keep talking about him like he's dead. Chuck's not dead."
Nate pulled Jenny closer to him. He could see that she was upset. "Hey it's okay. I mean we know he isn't dead we just don't know that we're every going to get our friend back."
Jenny shook her head, knowing she was about to spill their secret when she saw Gramercy Tavern ahead. Thank God. She thought to herself as she climbed out the car. The plan was for everyone to tell them together. She didn't want to be responsible for the backlash by herself. Rushing in to the restaurant she found that the rest of their party had already been seated.
Nate was the first to notice who was missing. "Where's Blair?" He asked looking across the table at the other car load, noticing that there wasn't even an empty seat; clearly she wasn't coming. "What the fuck is going on?" He asked looking from Joss and Marcus to Jenny and Eric realizing that whatever this was, it was connected with Jenny's erratic behavior in the car.
Serena and Dan walked into the back room just in time to hear Nate's questions but neither had anything to add. Eric knew it was supposed to be him who said the next part but all of the sudden, he lost his words. He had this elaborate speech planed about what had happened but now he could only say three words. "She's with Chuck."
Nate, Serena, and Dan's jaws dropped. As they looked at the rest of the group they realized quickly that everyone except for the three of them had known. "Explain." Dan spoke, being the first to manage words.
Jocelyn nodded, she was up. "Chuck contacted me a few days ago, asking me to look out for Blair and help keep her away from the suite so that he could search it for help regaining his memory. The next time I spoke to him he asked me to arrange a way for him to see Blair completely by herself. He had this whole plan worked out, he told me to involve Jenny and Eric, said that they would help out."
Realization hit Dan like a truck. "Chuck has his memory back."
"We don't know that." Spoke Jenny softly, even though it pained her because really she wanted Chuck to remember everything so that he and Blair would be okay again.
Dan nodded looking around at everyone else, his face perplexed. "You really don't see it?" He asked waiting to see if any of the rest of them might catch it. When everyone gave negative responses Dan laughed a little. "The old Chuck Bass hated you Jenny, I think we all remember the Kiss on the Lips Party and he barely knew Eric, he didn't remember that Eric was ever his step brother. For him to have indicated that Joss should include them he would have to trust them or at least know what those two are capable of." He said gesturing towards the two younger members of the group.
Serena looked at Dan with an awed expression on her face. "You're right. You have to be right. For him to have thought about them, he'd have to actually know them!" The smile on her face was so bright. It was as though everything was finally falling into place. Jenny and Nate were back together, she and Dan were great, Chuck and Blair would get their happily ever after, she was even happy for Marcus and Jocelyn and she didn't actually like either of them.
"Oh. My. God." Jenny said, shaking her head as a smile formed on her face. "Oh my God." The tears that were suddenly sliding down her face weren't tears of sadness because she was fairly certain she'd never been happier. And then she was laughing and crying and everyone was laughing and crying and it was all like it was supposed to be; or it would be, soon.
There was nothing she could do but smile as she stepped into the elevator. She would say that she had no idea what was going on but her heart was saying otherwise. Her heart was telling her that she knew exactly what was happening. As the elevator doors opened she smiled at the familiarity of everything. It all looked exactly as it had the last time she'd been here; but there was a vase filled with fresh pink peonies on the table in the foyer. Walking forward she couldn't help but laugh as happiness began to fill her. The deed to the apartment was on the table in front of the flowers. "Chuck." She called out, laughter still filling her voice. Her heart soared as Chuck stepped into view at the top of the stairs.
"God you're beautiful." He spoke the second his eyes landed on her. His entire body was filled with so many emotions, all of which he wanted to show her, to experience with her. He had to or he would never manage to fill the Blair Waldorf shaped hole in his heart.
Blair smiled as knowledge of their current circumstance seeped in. Her heart slammed against the walls of her chest in excitement, as it screamed that he had remembered; he had to, why else would they be here in her house. But Blair Waldorf's brain had always managed to overrule her heart. It was that fact alone that prevented her from leaping into Chuck's arms and caused her to ask questions she would otherwise have left for a later time. "I know that you paid off Newhouse, it was fairly obvious." She spoke, completely off topic from what she wanted to say.
Chuck's eyebrows rose, that was not quite the reaction he had expected. Blair's walls were up, he mentally kicked himself for being surprised about that. He shrugged at her statement, he didn't really care if she knew about his deal with Newhouse, after all, he'd done it to help her. "Well, Newhouse was easy to buy off and I wanted to make sure your plan was successful. Was it?" He asked, although he already knew the answer from Tyler.
Blair rolled her eyes. "Please Chuck don't play ignorant. We both know you already know how it went. That being said you should fire Andrew Tyler. I realized he was following me three days ago."
Chuck actually laughed at Blair's suggestion. It was funny that she had finally caught Tyler, perhaps she was being more observant since she was on the look out for media or perhaps Tyler had gotten too complacent with his assignment. "That's almost good news actually. Since he kept himself hidden from view for almost an entire month, I think his job is safe."
"You've been having me followed for a month?" Blair asked, her mouth dropping open. Even if Chuck remembered now, he certainly hadn't a month ago. That meant he started having her followed before he knew anything.
Chuck simply nodded. "Since the first day you visited me at the hospital."
At the mention of the hospital, Blair was uncomfortable and felt the need to change the subject once more. "What are we doing here in my old house?" She asked, her hands still resting on the deed.
Chuck smiled slightly, swaggering down the stairs. "I bought the apartment when you sold it. I couldn't imagine anyone living here other than you and I thought that if you ever came home you'd need somewhere to go. All I wanted was for you to come home."
"How do you know that?" Blair asked her voice shaking slightly, "Because I can assure you I didn't know so it wasn't something I've told you."
Chuck smirked slightly as he reached the landing and instead of answering her question he gestured to the deed. "Under the papers for the apartment you'll find acceptance letters from Yale and Columbia."
Blair's eyes widened as she moved the apartment papers to the side. Just as promised there were letters of acceptance from both schools. "But. . .how?" She asked in wonder. "I didn't apply anywhere other than Oxford. I thought it would only give me false hope; more reason to be angry at my circumstances. I didn't even know that you knew."
"Of course I knew Blair." At this Chuck smiled, rather proud of himself. "I never gave up hope Blair, not until that last letter. So I applied for you."
Blair's eyes were still open in amazement, her lips slightly parted. "Thank you, for everything." Her earlier attitude was gone, her defenses beginning to lower.
Chuck ran a hand over his hair, tousling what was once perfectly coiffed before speaking in a low voice. "I'm the one who should be thanking you."
Just as Blair was about to step forward and ask the question she was almost dreading she saw something else under her own acceptance letters. Picking up three sheets of paper she found acceptance letters from Princeton, NYU, and Columbia for Chuck. Her eyes looked up to meet his. "You're planning on staying in the city."
Chuck nodded, almost nervous about everything he still had to tell Blair. "Before I became a little unhinged, my father and I discussed it and decided it would be best if I stayed here or just across the turnpike at Princeton to begin learning the business."
"But you still applied to Yale for me, knowing that I would be several hours away?" Blair asked, fully aware of the kind of sacrifice that was for Chuck.
Chuck nodded once more. "Yale was your dream Blair. If it was what you wanted, you deserved the option. Plus there's always the Bass Jet."
Her mind was still telling her to hesitate, to take things slowly and figure out whether or not he remembered before jumping in; but her heart was pounding and pleading with great desperation for her to surge forward and throw her arms around his neck. So she compromised, taking a tentative step towards Chuck as she spoke. "Do you remember?"
"What do you think?" Chuck asked, a slight smirk appearing on his face once more.
Blair shook her head slowly as she spoke. "That you remember everything, but I don't know how it's possible." Her mind was still telling her heart that it was wrong, speaking in such a loud voice that her heart couldn't quite drown it out.
When Chuck spoke again the smirk grew as he allowed himself to adopt the mannerisms of a time he'd once forgotten. "You know they say if you love something you should set it free." Though instead of backing up as he had done the first time he said the words he was slowly walking forward. "Though if I remember correctly a wise woman once claimed that if you hate something you should slam the door in its face."
Blair's jaw had slipped open as comprehension filled her; he remembered…he really remembered. And with two quick steps he was in her arms and she was laughing. "You're really back. How? How did you do it?"
Chuck didn't answer, instead he just nuzzled her neck as he gripped her tightly. He inhaled deeply absorbing her scent before he told her of one more obstacle that they were going to have to overcome. He never wanted to let her go. As greatly as his body was crying out for him to press his lips against her waiting ones, he didn't because it wouldn't be fair to her. He would be kissing her under false pretenses. He wasn't afraid of losing her; he knew now that that was impossible. Nothing they ever did would be enough to separate them. Perhaps because they each knew that the other would never intentionally cause them pain. So it wasn't losing her he was afraid of; it was taking advantage of the moment, of Blair, when there were still things, terrible things, that she didn't know.
"I mean I thought you were in New York days ago but I wasn't certain until the Gossip Girl blast came this morning." Blair spoke, still holding him tightly, almost not believing he was really in her arms.
Chuck pulled away just enough to look at her, a confused expression on his face. "How did you know? I was so careful."
Blair rolled her eyes. "First mistake, you were staying at the Palace. I saw you once at the bar. Second mistake, Andrew Tyler is not even inconspicuous when he follows people around; even Dan Humphrey knew we were being tailed. Third mistake, you contacted Jocelyn."
"Forbes told you?" Chuck asked cutting in out of surprise by their old friend's betrayal.
Blair simply shook her head. "Of course not. But Jocelyn's eyes widened a little too far when I needed to come back for my charger and later when your name came up she got too quiet. So I put the pieces together around the time I found out you arranged for the Vogue shoot, something that was completely unnecessary."
Chuck smirked. "You can't deny that it was a good idea though." Blair smiled slyly and Chuck added. "It wasn't that I thought you needed me . . ."
Whatever Chuck was going to say, he didn't get to finish as Blair interrupted. "I always need you." She spoke softly before placing her hand on the side of his face. She hadn't failed to notice that Chuck had yet to kiss her and she knew there was something holding him back. He shouldn't be able to keep his hands off her, she knew that she was having a hard time restraining herself. Not wanting to come out and ask what the problem was now she resolved to probe around and find out. "I still don't know how you got your memory back." Blair chided as she led him to her favorite settee.
"Don't you?" Chuck asked with a curious tilt of his head as he sat down, pulling her back flush against him. She shook her head as though she was at a loss. "It was you." He supplied finally.
Blair turned from her position until she faced him. "You mean me giving you the iPod." She spoke in a correctional manner.
Chuck shook his head. "No. The iPod helped, but in the end it was simply you." Looking into Blair's eyes, he saw wonder, love, and a desire to understand, so he continued. "As you've already surmised I went to the Suite at the Palace on Saturday while you were at the photo shoot. That's where I found the deed and the acceptance letters. But that didn't help me to remember. It wasn't until I was going to sleep on the pillow that you'd been sleeping on that it happened."
"What happened?" Blair asked, her voice soft, probing.
Chuck smiled slightly as he leaned forward and inhaled her once more. "I smelled you." He pulled back again. "I smelled you and it all came rushing back."
Blair felt a shiver slide up her spine as Chuck spoke and her heart filled with everything she had been missing. "God I love you. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't remembered."
Chuck smiled the smile he reserved for her alone as he brushed his fingers along her jaw, her face melting into his hand. "You'll never have to find out."
"Promise." Blair spoke, reaching her hand up to cover his.
Chuck flipped his hand, lacing his fingers through her own as he brought her hand to his lips. "I promise."
Blair leaned forward , pulling herself into his lap, her lips inching closer by the second. Chuck shivered as her fought the urge to press his lips against hers. He was losing the fight when he felt a sudden surge of love for her that made him strong enough to pull away. "Wait." He spoke, placing a hand on her shoulder to steady her.
She'd been assiduously ignoring the abnormalities in Chuck's behavior. The Chuck she knew would have already had her clothes torn to shreds or if they were important enough he would have delicately removed them, but the point was the same, Chuck would have already been inside of her, he wouldn't have been able to keep his hands or his lips off her own. Yet today, on the day of their reunion Chuck was completely avoiding touching her anywhere that might have been construed as inappropriate. She could no longer ignore or deny it; there was something off with him. "What's wrong?" She asked, her voice soft, compassionate perhaps there was something wrong with him, what if something had changed?
Chuck leaned forward and placed his forehead against her own. "I have to tell you something." Chuck could feel his heart pounding against his rib cage, he didn't want to do this, he didn't want to cause her pain, the simple thought of doing so was causing excruciating pain for himself.
Blair heard the raw pain in his voice and was consumed with worry. What could possibly have him so anguished? "You can tell me anything." She spoke her voice sincere because it was the truth. No matter how bad it was she could take it, they would survive, they could survive anything.
Chuck closed his eyes and swallowed, his throat raw. When he spoke again his voice was low, but quick. He had to get it out before he changed his mind. "In my first letter to you, you probably remember me mentioning an attempt to move on and get over you."
And just like that Blair knew what Chuck was about to tell her. Her first instinct was to laugh, something she knew she would do as soon as he had finished but she resolved that she owed him more than that. From the sound of his voice, Chuck's conscience was eating at him about his night with Jenny and she knew from experience that he needed to tell her himself before she could absolve him of his guilt or else he would forever feel as though he'd betrayed her, as though he'd gotten off easy. "I remember. But I forgave you for that a long time ago." She spoke, her words true.
Chuck nodded as he took her hand in his, flipping it over and tracing the lines on her palm before placing a kiss on her wrist. "The person I slept with was Jenny." His eyes were still closed and Blair had yet to say anything but he could feel her shaking, so it was with great trepidation that he looked up from her wrist and met her eyes. What he saw there was the greatest surprise of his life. The shaking he'd felt in her wrist and assumed was crying was actually silent laughter. "I'm serious." Chuck spoke, his tone almost angry that she wasn't taking him seriously as he was determined to do this right.
Blair couldn't help but smile as a not so silent laugh escaped. Chuck was beginning to look agitated at what he assumed was her disbelief of the situation, so she knew that she had to say something. Taking the hand that Chuck wasn't currently holding and placing it against his face. "Oh Chuck, I know you are."
"What?" Chuck asked jerking back slightly. "Then why are you laughing?" Realization hit him, she'd already known which could only mean that Jenny had told her. "Jenny beat me to it?" He asked his voice containing a mystified quality.
Blair nodded slightly. "By a couple of months actually." She chuckled.
Chuck's eyes were wide. "And you let me agonize over it anyway?" He asked, slight indignation filling his senses at Blair's seemingly stoic face as he spoke.
"You needed absolution and I couldn't give it to you any other way." She spoke a smile lighting her features.
Chuck just shook his head. "I should have known you knew when Nate came home and punched me after he found out at the wedding but I wasn't thinking. That is when you found out isn't it, the wedding?"
Blair gave a noncommittal gesture. "Yes and no." She paused but continued when she saw the confused look on Chuck's face. "Jenny told me at the wedding but I've known since Christmas."
Chuck's eyes shot open. "CHRISTMAS? You've known since Christmas? Why didn't you say something? Or for that matter confront me about?"
"I overheard Jenny tell Dan and then I heard you telling Serena." Blair said with a slight shrug. "I don't think I was ever mad. I was surprised at first, yes, but never angry. I think I felt grateful that you'd both had someone to comfort you. I was worried about both of you and that you were there for each other was actually almost a relief. I didn't see a point in bringing it up."
Chuck just shook his head in wonder. "It's been killing me ever since but Jenny had begged me not to tell her secret. She wanted to be the one to tell Nate and I didn't want to hurt you when we weren't even together. . ."
Chuck likely would have continued for another couple of minutes so Blair decided to save him the trouble and finish any remaining pardoning him for what he considered to be a mistake. "I know, Jenny told me everything and like I said before I forgave you for that a long time ago. In all actuality there was nothing to forgive."
"You're an angel." Chuck spoke leaning forward, placing both hands on either side of her face. He brought his lips in to place a single kiss on her lips, one that could only be considered chaste.
Pulling back she spoke, her lips moving against his. "I'm no angel."
Chuck smirked his lips touching hers once more. As he pulled away he spoke his voice low. "You're my angel."
Blair kissed him again, this time allowing the kiss to deepen. Kissing him now was different than kissing him in the hospital. That had been almost experimental on his part, this kiss was filled with the passion and love that only resulted from sharing a history like theirs. Pulling away she looked into his eyes. "I'd settle for just being yours."
Looking desperately into her eyes Chuck saw everything he'd missed when he'd lost his memory, and everything he'd missed when she was married to another man. "You are mine. And God Blair I hope you know I'm yours."
She nodded, snaking her arms around him. "I know. We're Chuck and Blair, Blair and Chuck. We could never belong to anyone else."
Chuck sat there drinking her in, her sight, her smell, the feel of her under his fingertips. His hands grazed down to her stomach where he could feel the bulge. He looked down at his fingers. "And we're having a baby."
Blair found herself smiling. She could hear happiness in Chuck's voice and it was all she could ever want. Her biggest fear was that Chuck wouldn't want her to keep the baby but she could tell simply by the placement of his hands that the thought hadn't even crossed his mind. "We're having a baby." She repeated in affirmation.
Chuck's eyes returned to hers, filled with all of the love he possessed. "You're incredible. You did this all on your own."
"Actually, it required quite a bit from you." Blair said with a coy smile on her face.
Chuck shook his head with a smirk. "That's not what I meant and you know it." He paused, his fingers tracing lines on her belly. "You've dealt with this by yourself the entire time I've been gone."
Blair just smiled softly as she leaned in and placed a kiss on his lips. "Happy Birthday." She spoke, her voice as soft as her smile. "I'm sorry I don't have you a gift, I didn't think I'd be seeing you today."
Chuck shook his head. "You've already given me the greatest gift anyone could give. I have you, I have my memory, and you, you beautiful woman are carrying my child. There's nothing else I could want."
Blair's soft smile broke out all across her face at Chuck's happiness. "You don't know how glad I am to hear you say that. I didn't know how you'd feel about the baby."
Chuck felt angry indignation slide into his conscious at the thought that there was still a part of Blair that might doubt him; but he wasn't angry at her, he was angry at himself. "Anything that's a part of you I would love." He spoke looking into her eyes, needing her to understand more than he needed to breathe. "And this baby is a part of us. It's something we created together, a symbol of what we mean to each other. I haven't stopped thinking of baby names since I realized what you meant to me, which by the way was before I remembered."
"It's a girl." She spoke quietly, imparting him with knowledge she'd only learned a few days ago herself.
Chuck couldn't help the unguarded smile that filled his face. "In that case I have a proposition." Chuck paused, watching as Blair tilted her head to the side, ready to hear what he had to say. "What do you think of naming her Eleanor after your mother? We could call her Ella."
Blair felt the tears spring to her ears before she could get a word out. She didn't try to stop them as they slid down her face and she wrapped her arms around Chuck. "Oh, Chuck. I love you. I love you so much."
Chuck rubbed her back as he held her close, never wanting to let her go ever again. "I love you too Blair and I want to marry you and have as many children as you want, I'd be okay with an entire houseful if it's what makes you happy." He was babbling and running out of breath and all he wanted to do was kiss her, when he said something he'd promised himself that he wouldn't. "Go to Columbia." He paused, surprised at the words that had slipped from his lips, as well as the desperation he heard present in them. "Please." He found himself uttering.
Blair pulled back to look at him, he was hers all hers, how could he think that she could bear to be away from him ever again? "I couldn't leave if I wanted to and I don't want to."
"But Yale was your dream Blair." Chuck spoke, ashamed at what he was asking her to give up.
Blair just shook her head. "Yale was my dream. Dreams change." She gave a shrug. "Now all I want is you. Of course I'll go to Columbia. I was even thinking I might defer for a semester or even a year to be with you and . . . Ella. I don't want our children being raised by nannies like we were. As much as I love Dorota, her love couldn't replace my mother's."
Chuck nodded resolutely. "If you defer, so will I. As for the kids I wouldn't have it any other way. They will never doubt how much their parents love them."
Blair's heart soared as she leaned into Chuck. "Marry me . . . right now."
"You don't want another big wedding?" Chuck asked his voice questioning. He didn't care himself but he wanted her to be happy and if she wanted the big church wedding again it was hers. Anything she wanted, it was hers.
Blair shook her head. "I just want you. We could go somewhere tropical and bring the people that matter with us. That's all I want."
Chuck smiled. "We'll get it all sorted out tomorrow. For tonight, I think we need to get properly reunited." He spoke, leaning forward and kissing her, his tongue flicking across her lips asking for permission to enter. As she granted him such, he deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue into her mouth. Without warning he rearranged himself, taking her into his arms as he stood, carrying her with him bridal style up to her bedroom.
Blair moved her kisses to Chuck's neck so he could see as he climbed the stairs but when they reached her room she gasped aloud. It was the most romantic setup she'd ever seen, complete with rose petals and candles. "It's beautiful."
"Yes you are." Chuck said looking down at her as he walked to the bed, gently laying her down.
Blair reached out to him, pulling him down with her, where they slowly, agonizingly removed each others clothing piece by piece; placing kisses on each patch of newly bared skin as they proceeded. They were reacquainting themselves with one another's body in a way that was completely different from anything either of them had experienced before. Everything was a rediscovery of something special and tender. Chuck fluttered kisses along her jaw as she tightened her hold on him. "I love you Chuck, so much it hurts. I'll never stop."
"I love you too Blair." Chuck said kissing her deeply. He pulled back slightly to look in her eyes as he whispered his next words against her lips. "Always have, always will."
THE END! Oh my goodness. Granted I still have my epilogue to post but this is a crazy moment for me. I hope you've enjoyed this fanfic as much as I've enjoyed writing it. Reviews are of course appreciated. And the four girls' dresses are all on my profile if you want to check them out.
Thanks again guys!
xoxo
kate