As expected, Chuck's alarm went off right at eight am. He quickly rolled over and silenced it, sitting up in bed instead of trying to sleep a little longer.

Today he was determined.

Determined to do everything right and make it work.

He had to.

This Groundhog Day he was experiencing had to come to an end.

He had started his day out almost exactly like he had yesterday – making sure Jenny got moving and left in time to catch Dan and Serena in a compromising position, blasting it to Gossip Girl; helping Georgina out in the simplest way he currently was able to; picking up Blair's ring; giving Serena some genuinely honest brotherly advice regarding how to handle things with Nate; and picking out the perfect attire and bouquet of pink peonies for his date with Blair on top of The Empire State Building.

As the time to meet her soon approached, Chuck made his way to the historic monument.

However, unlike past attempts, he decided he would not interfere with her throughout the day and instead wait as long as it took for her to come to him, knowing already that she was going to be late because Dorota would go into labor.

Waiting was harder than he anticipated though as waiting for other people was something Chuck Bass didn't normally do. But then again when it came to him and Blair, nothing between them was normal. They were always the exception to each others rules.

"You know she's coming," he tried to assure himself. "She'll be here."

Leaning against the railing, looking over the city, Chuck couldn't help but look out across the skyline. The sun was already beginning to set. It was going to be dark soon and the deck would be closing. He was just starting to wonder how late she was going to be and decided that he would take up post downstairs outside the main entrance if they forced him to leave when a voice spoke up from behind him.

"Chuck?" she carefully called to him, a hint of surprise in her voice.

Turning around to face her, he couldn't help his eyes lighting up with joy at the sight of her.

"You came," he spoke with a goofy smile that people rarely saw on him. He didn't care though, he was so, so relieved.

"You waited," she remarked as she took a step closer to him, her eyes full of hope.

"Of course – I had actually just resigned myself to wait all night downstairs if I had to... if that's how long it took," he admitted as he reached for her hand, taking it in his own and bringing it to his lips for a delicate kiss.

"I'm sorry I'm so late – Dorota went into labor!" she informed him, grinning excitedly.

"I had figured as much," he confessed, choosing his words wisely so as to not alarm her to the fact that he already knew.

"To be honest, Chuck... I wasn't going to show up – I was resolved not to... every bone in my body tried to slow me," she began to tell him. "Every voice in my head screamed 'Don't!'."

"But...?" Chuck pressed her to go on. He knew exactly what it was that had changed her mind, yet it felt like it had been so long since she herself told him.

"I didn't listen – I followed my heart because I love you," she finally admitted out loud not just to him, but to herself as well.

At that, Chuck couldn't stop himself anymore, pulling her close enough for him to close the gap between their lips, kissing her ever so desperately.

"I love you too," he whispered a moment later, nervously biting his lower lip once their lips parted, both their eyes closed as their foreheads leaned against each other, savoring the sweet moment. He needed this to last. It had to last.

"I can't deny that our path hasn't been complicated but in the end... love makes everything simple," she continued, throwing herself into his arms, her own arms now wrapped around his neck, holding to him tightly as he did the same around her waist, letting out a deep sigh.

This is happening, he thought to himself as they stood there, fully engulfed in with each other.

"Blair... I am so sorry for all the pain I've caused you," he began to apologize, fiddling with her left hand he had taken in his. "For... for treating you like property. I'm sorry I didn't tell you I loved you when I knew I did. Most of all... I'm sorry for all the times I gave up on us... when you never did. You never give up on the people you love... even when they don't deserve it."

"Chuck..." she gasped, taken aback by the sincerity of his unexpected apology.

"I know I can't take back everything that's happened, but I want to try and make it up to you, even if it takes me the rest of my life," he continued, his thumb now gently stroking her bare ring finger as he paused to decide his next move. His heart was racing. He knew this was it.

Carefully slipping his other hand into his pocket, he found the ring box and began to dip down to one knee. Releasing her hand from his to open it, Blair covered her mouth with both hands as she realized just what he was doing.

"Oh my god!" she quietly exclaimed, a rush of emotions suddenly overcoming her. She was excited at the fact that this was really happening. Shocked that he was actually this serious about them. Scared at the realization that this was such a huge step for them both and also nervous as to what a future together would hold.

Chuck took a deep breath, slowly exhaling before asking her the question he had so desperately been wanting to for what now seemed like ages.

"Blair Cornelia Waldorf... will you marry me?"

"Yes! Yes I will!" she exclaimed, smiling as a tear of happiness trickled down her cheek. Any fears or doubts she had had about them suddenly vanished. No matter what happened, they would be able to get through it, because as she had already told him - love makes everything simple.

Without wasting a second longer, Chuck rose to his feet again and eagerly helped her slide the magnificent Harry Winston diamond on her finger before their lips came crashing against each others as they passionately kissed.

"I love you. So much," Chuck told her between kisses. They hadn't notice the small crowd of onlookers who had gathered to witness the scene and were now happily clapping for the newly engaged couple while a few snapped pictures on their camera phones.

"I love you too," Blair spoke back as they momentarily pulled apart. Neither of them could stop smiling as they clung to each other tightly.

"So... hoping that you would show and accept my proposal, I had prematurely gone ahead and gotten us a table at Lyon," Chuck informed her as they strolled along the sidewalk in front of The Empire State Building together, arm in arm. "Care to join me for dinner and celebratory drinks?"

"As much as I would love to go eat with my fiance in public and show off the newest piece of my jewelry collection," she began with a slight chuckle, "Would you mind if we took a detour and stopped by the hospital? I would love to tell my mother and Cyrus... oh and maybe Lily's still there so we can share the news with her too?" she suggested with excitement, anxious to tell everyone they knew about their engagement. Truth be told, they were both a little surprised that it wasn't up on Gossip Girl already.

"Not at all," Chuck stated as they began to approach his limo which had been parked at the end of the block. "Whatever you want," he spoke with a smile as he helped her into the vehicle, sliding in beside her.

"Miss Blair! You back so soon?" Dorota questioned suspiciously, with a little bit of concern in her voice. But that soon changed as soon as she saw Chuck step into the room behind her young charge. "And you brought Mister Chuck too!" she happily exclaimed.

"Yes, I did Dorota," Blair proudly announced as she stepped further into the room. "Where's Ana?" she couldn't help wondering as she looked around and noticed that the newborn wasn't present.

"She go to nursery for now to sleep so mama can get some rest too," Vanya informed them all.

"Oh," Blair sadly remarked. Secretly, she had hoped Chuck would get a chance to meet the newest member of their unofficial extended family. "Perhaps it is for the better... as Chuck and I have some news to share with you all..." she sang excitedly. But before anyone could question just what their news was, she held out her hand with the ring on it for everyone to see. "As you can already see we reconciled our differences and Chuck asked me to marry him!" she happily squealed.

"Oh my goodness!" Eleanor and Dorota both exclaimed, with Eleanor rushing over to get a better look at the ring. "You've really outdone yourself, Charles!" Eleanor declared.

"Blair deserves only the best," Chuck confidently spoke with his signature smirk.

"Congratulations!" Vanya exclaimed.

"Come here, you two!" Cyrus demanded as he approached them both. "Welcome to the family, my boy!" he added as he enveloped them altogether in one of his infamous hugs. "Not enough!" he stated as he pulled them in closer. Blair could only laugh as she knew Chuck found physical affection from the small man to be awkward.

As they walked down the hallway a little while later in search of Lily, Serena and Nate, they paused as they found themselves standing in front of the big picturesque window to the nursery.

"There she is!" Blair stated as she pointed out little Ana to Chuck. "Isn't she perfect?" she spoke in awe.

Chuck simply stood there, a look of adoration on his face as he watched the newborn sleeping peacefully in her bassinet. He thought back to the previous day where he had gotten to hold her and remembered how she had snuggled so perfectly into his arms. He started to feel that same sense of longing again that he had felt then.

Blair couldn't help smiling as she watched Chuck watching Ana and the look of pure awe written across his face. Knowing exactly what he was thinking as it was exactly what she was thinking too, she gently leaned over and whispered into his ear.

"You're going to be a great father to our children someday, Chuck."

"You really think so?" he wondered as he turned his attention back to her.

"I know so," she assured him with a grin, her arms having wrapped around his neck and now pulling him towards her for a kiss.

"Charles... Blair... is this what I think it is?" they heard Lily's voice approaching them, prompting them to reluctantly break their kiss. "Are you two really back together?" Lily questioned with a hopeful grin.

"I'm pleased to say we are," Chuck informed her with a smile. "And in fact... Blair has agreed to marry me," he added as he held up their entwined hands, revealing Blair's ring to her and Rufus who was standing beside her.

"Oh wow! Congratulations you two!" Rufus declared as Lily gasped at the diamond on Blair's finger.

"My god, Charles! That must have cost a small fortune!" Lily couldn't help remarking.

"It's worth it," he simply said as he smirked once more. He knew he had outdone himself however for Blair, it would always be worth it.

"Well I could not be happier for the both of you," Lily smiled. "Congratulations," she told them as she leaned forward, giving them each a kiss on the cheek.

"Have you seen Serena?" Blair asked her, wanting to share the news with her best friend before she found out from elsewhere, like Gossip Girl.

"Or Nate?" Chuck added, wanting to tell his best friend also as well as check in with him regarding the whole Serena and Dan mess.

"No, I'm afraid I haven't," Lily regretfully informed them both.

"But hey, if you're hungry – we brought plenty of food!" Rufus announced as he help up two large bags full of takeout.

"Thank you for the offer, Mr. Humphrey, but actually... we have plans just the two of us for this evening," Blair stated with another smile.

"Alright, but if you change your mind – we'll be here!" Rufus told them as he began to head in the direction of Dorota's assigned room for the night.

It was well after eleven and two bottles of Dom later when Chuck and Blair left the restaurant and Blair nearly stumbled into the limo with him.

"You know, Waldorf... you're quite the tease when you're drunk," he commented as she began to assault him with kisses in the back of the limo.

"Who says I'm teasing?" she grinned devilishly as she pulled back just momentarily to speak.

"Blair..." Chuck laughed as he shook his head in disbelief. He was nowhere near as drunk as she clearly was. "Blair stop – you're drunk," he pointed out to her. "Stop," he firmly told her once more as he carefully yet forcefully pushed her back into her seat.

"So what if I'm a little drunk? I just want to make love to my fiance – what's so wrong about that?" she began to pout like a little kid, causing Chuck to have to stifle a laugh.

"I know and I get that – believe me, making love to you every night for the rest of our lives is all I want to do too, however... I'm trying to be a gentleman here, Blair," he informed her, again trying not to laugh at the way she was continuing to pout. "Yet you're making it incredibly hard to resist..."

"So don't," she simply whispered back, her lips now just inches away from his and her breath hot on his skin. "I need you, Chuck..."

"A gentleman... doesn't take advantage of a lady who's had more than her share of Dom," Chuck told her as he out-maneuvered her, his nose nuzzling against hers instead.

"At least let me come home with you – you have to admit, I'm in no state to be left all alone..." she playfully teased, not wanting to leave him so soon.

"I... suppose that would be alright... so long as you promise to behave and play nice," he cautioned her. He didn't want to take any chances of ruining this night and having to start all over again in the morning.

"Fine," she sighed reluctantly as she snuggled up against him. She was passed out in a matter of minutes.

With the help of his driver Arthur, Chuck was able to maneuver her out of the vehicle and carry her bridal style up to his penthouse, carefully laying her down in his bed. Having removed his jacket and his shoes, Chuck climbed in beside her, securely wrapping an arm around her, holding her to him as he rested his chin behind her shoulder.

"I love you, Blair," he whispered as he delicately planted a kiss on her exposed neck.

"I love you too, Chuck," she blissfully sighed in her sleep as she reached around herself and tightly held onto his hand that was resting around her.

"Please don't ever leave me," he quietly blurted out his worst fear as he closed his eyes and silently pleaded for the day to never end for fear that he would wake up tomorrow and all this would be gone.

"I won't, Chuck – I promise," she tried to assure him, despite her current state. "I'll never leave you again. I'll always be here when you wake up," she uttered as she began to drift back off to sleep. "I promise..."

God I hope so, he thought to himself, pulling her just a little bit closer and holding her a bit tighter as he too felt himself drifting off to sleep.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

AN: The alarm is sounding... but has the cycle been broken? Tune in next week to find out! =D