A few days later, Ed approached Chloe Collins after school and leaned against the locker next to hers. She looked over at him with a glare, "Hello, Bass. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I heard you were trying to dethrone Emily Vanderbilt."

"I am," Chloe said with a grin, "Why, do you want to help?"

Ed snorted, "Not exactly. I just thought I would warn you and let you know that it's not worth it."

"Oh?" Chloe raised a brow, "And what would make you think that? I was the queen and that bitch stole my crown. She deserves to be destroyed."

"Ah, yes," Ed said with a teasing smile, "But you forget, Collins, that Emily is pretty much perfect. Any minor dirt you may be able to dig up on her is never going to compare to what will come out about you if you do this."

Her eyes narrowed, "What are you talking about, Bass?"

He smirked, "You think I don't know why you missed a full week of school after Thanksgiving break?"

Chloe's face dropped for a second, but she quickly regained her composure, "My family went skiing in Aspen. We go every year. Everyone knows that."

"Really?" Ed asked as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, "Because I have a picture from that week of you with the biggest outbreak of herpes of the mouth that I have ever seen." Chloe scowled and reached forward to grab the blackberry, but Ed pulled it out of her reach just before she could, "Ah, ah, ah. Sorry, Collins, you can't make this disappear that easily."

"What exactly do you want from me?" She growled angrily.

"I already told you," Ed said with his self-assured smirk still firmly in place, "Just leave Emily alone. You were just a placeholder. She was queen before you and now she is back to claim her rightful place."

"Why do you even care?" Chloe asked bitterly.

Ed looked away, "It doesn't matter."

Chloe's eyes lit up and she laughed, "Oh my God, you're in love with her. That is why you're doing this. You are head-over-heels in love."

Ed frowned, "The motives behind my actions are inconsequential. The fact remains that if you continue to plot against Emily I will release this photo and it will all be for nothing. No matter what you might be able to discover about Emily, when people see this, you will never regain the crown. The queen of Constance can't be a whore."

They glared at each other for a few moments before Chloe flipped her hair over her shoulder and rolled her eyes, "Fine, you win. I'll call off my search."

"Good choice," Ed said as his smirk quickly returned, "When are you going to learn, C, the Basses always win."

"Whatever, Bass," Chloe grumbled bitterly as she slammed her locker shut and walked off.

Ed chuckled softly to himself before he looked up and saw Emily standing at the end of the hall. His face immediately sobered when he saw the angry, hurt look in her eyes.

He walked over towards her and she immediately morphed her face into a mask of indifference and crossed her arms over her chest, "I just came to tell you that Theo and I are waiting in the limo. If you don't come out now, we are going to leave without you and you can find a cab or something to get home."

She turned around and walked off without waiting for a response or even to see if he would follow. But Ed quickly grabbed his bag and ran after her, "Emily, wait, let me explain."

"Why?" She asked, looking at him with what appeared to be indifference, "There is nothing for you to explain. We're not together. You can sleep with whoever you want. I thought you would have enough decency to avoid pursuing my worst enemy, but that is my own fault. I should have known better."

Ed grabbed her arm to keep her from storming off again, "No, Em, it wasn't what you thought. I was just-"

She lifted her hand to cut him off, "Like I said, it doesn't matter what I thought. Now drop it and stop causing a scene," She stood up straighter and lifted her chin proudly, "I really don't need a scandal on Gossip Girl right now."

When they reached the limo, Emily got in and sat in the farthest corner. Ed climbed in after her and sat by Theo, but throughout the ride he stared at Emily, willing her to look over at him even though he knew she would not discuss their issues in front of his brother.

As they rode the elevator up to the Bass penthouse, Theo could feel the tension and he would have laughed out loud if it wasn't so awkward. As soon as the doors opened to their apartment Emily hurried out and Ed rushed after her.

She stormed up the stairs with Ed close behind her, "Emily, please, can you let me explain?" He pleaded, but Emily continued to ignore him.

Blair watched them disappear to the second floor from her seat in the living room where she was helping Lexie with her reading homework. When Theo trailed in from the elevator she looked from the stairs over to him with a questioning look.

He shrugged, "I don't even know. Pregnancy hormones?"

Blair shook her head and laughed before she turned her attention back to her daughter. If Edward was anything like his father (which she knew he was), he wouldn't stop until he got Emily to listen to him.

…

Upstairs, Ed had managed to catch up to Emily before she could reach her bedroom. He grabbed her by the arm and spun her around, "Damn it, Vanderbilt, would you just listen to me?"

She sighed in frustration, "I already told you, you don't have to explain. I told you I don't need your help; and while I didn't think that would mean you would be working against me, I can adjust. I will just have to revamp my strategy," She paused and looked Ed up and down, "you may be a lazy perv, but you can take down a bitch better than anyone. Your alliance with Chloe may make it harder for me to maintain my throne, but I will come out on top."

Ed smirked, "Oh, I don't doubt it."

"Good," She said with a hint of suspicion, but she quickly shook it away, "So while I don't advise you to sleep with Chloe Collins since, well, you don't really know where that skank has been, you can do whatever you want. From what I hear, she's pretty experienced, so I'm sure she will show you a good time."

Emily made a move to walk away from him, but Ed grabbed her wrist, "You're wrong, I do know where she has been and even if I didn't I wouldn't want to sleep with her."

"Why? She's just your type; snarky, slutty, decent looking."

Ed shook his head, "That hasn't been my type since last summer."

Emily rolled her eyes, "Oh spare me the attempt at romance. I'm not buying it."

Ed scowled, "Well you should, because it's true. Ever since we were together I have not been able to stop thinking about you. With every girl, all I could do was picture you; comparing them to you. Why do you think I went to Washington? I missed you."

"No. You missed the sex."

"No," Ed countered, "That is what I told you. And while it was true, it wasn't the only reason for my visit. I missed you." He ran his hand through his hair, "God, don't you get it? I want you. I want you so much that I can't even think about other girls. And now that you're here, with me every day, I just-, I can't even see them. All I can see is you."

Emily's eyes were wide and scared, "You're lying."

He stepped closer to her and put his hands on her hips, "No, I'm not. I want you, Emily, just you. You're the only one. That's why I'm on your side."

"What?"

"I was only talking to Chloe today because I knew she was planning on trying to contact your parents and get the real reason you came back to New York."

Emily's mouth dropped open, "Oh my God. My parents would tell her everything. I would be ruined."

"I know," Ed said calmly, "Which is why I had to show her that pursuing you would lead to her ultimate social destruction."

"What are you talking about, Bass?"

Ed smirked, "A lot has happened since you've been gone, Princess. Little Miss Collins has become even more of a tramp in your absence."

Emily grinned and shook her head, "And you, of course, have the proof of this."

"You know me well."

"Thank you." She said softly as he leaned in and kissed her.

She couldn't help but grin as he slowly began moving them back into her room until he was able to lower her onto the bed. Even after she tried her hardest to push him away he was still helping her. Maybe he really did care about her.

…

"Daddy, can I get some street food?" CJ asked, tugging on this father's hand. The Basses were on vacation in Paris for a few weeks to spend some time with Blair's parents. Chuck and CJ were spending the day together; just the two of them and CJ was thrilled. Ever since the twins had been born it had become harder for his parents to dedicate a whole day to just him.

"No." Chuck told him as the continued to walk.

CJ stopped and tugged on his hand harder, "Please, Daddy? Just this once; as a special treat?"

Chuck sighed. He hated refusing, but Blair would be furious if she found out he gave their son dirty, greasy street kebobs. In the end, he gave in, "Okay, just this once. But don't tell your mother."

"Okay, I won't," CJ nodded eagerly as Chuck took out his wallet.

"Chuck? Chuck Bass, is that you?"

He turned as he handed the money to CJ and his eyes widened when he saw who it was, "Eva?"

She smiled as she came closer, "Hello, Chuck, how are you?"

"I'm doing well, how about you?" Chuck asked, before his attention quickly returned to his son who was getting rather far away. "Charles!" Chuck called, causing his son to pause and turn around, "There is a cart right there," He said, pointing to a street vendor that was much closer than the one his son was heading towards.

"But Dad, the one over there-"

Chuck shook his head, refusing to give in a second time, "No. You will get food right here, or not at all."

CJ pouted and grumbled under his breath as he followed his father's order and began walking towards the closer cart.

Chuck turned his attention back towards Eva while still keeping an eye on his son, "Sorry about that."

"You have a son," She said in disbelief.

"I do," He told her with a proud grin, "In fact, I have four sons."

Eva's mouth dropped open as her shock grew. Chuck still had his wallet out, so he opened it up and showed her the picture of his boys.

"They're beautiful," She said as she examined the picture, "And they look just like you. Except for-"

She began to point but Chuck already knew who she was talking about, "Harold," He said with a nod, "Yes, he takes more after his mother."

Eva smiled as he put the picture away, "So what brings you to Paris? Are you here on business?"

"Pleasure, actually," Chuck said, "My wife's family lives here."

Eva's eyes lit up, "You married a French woman?"

He chuckled and dipped his head, "Not exactly," He looked back up at her with his usual smirk, "I married Blair." He told her simply.

"Oh," Her excitement dimmed before she nodded her head, "Oh that-, that makes sense. You two did have a very strong connection, even when I knew you." She forced a smile back on her face, "Well, congratulations. You seem to be very happy."

Chuck's smile was genuine as he replied, "I am. I really am."There was a slightly awkward pause in the conversation before Chuck remembered his manners, "What about you?" He asked, "How are you?"

"I am doing well," She said, "I-"

"Daddy!" CJ came running back, carrying his food and interrupting Eva, "Dad, look, I got a kebob!"

"Mm, it looks like a heart attack on a stick," Chuck said with a look of disgust as he eyed the greasy meat in his son's hands.

Eva laughed softly, causing CJ to notice her for the first time. She kneeled down to his level and introduced herself, "Hello, my name is Eva."

"Hi," The boy said wearily, as he took a step closer to his father. When Eva stuck out her hand for him to shake he shied away even more and shook his head, "My mom taught me not to touch poor people."He said, hiding behind his father's leg.

Eva's eyebrows rose as she stood up and looked back at Chuck, "Charming," She said sarcastically.

Chuck opened his mouth to reply, but before he could, CJ took a hold of his hand again, "Come on, Dad, let's go. We don't want to miss the beginning of the show."

"Of course not," Chuck said with a soft laugh as CJ tried to pull him down the street. He turned his head towards Eva once more, "It was good to see you, Eva."

"You too," She managed to reply before CJ began tugging even harder.

"Dad, we're going to be late. Let's go."

His father chuckled, "Okay, okay, we're going." He began to follow his son, laughing at his eagerness.

Eva watched them go, noticing the mutual adoration in the pair as Chuck ruffled his son's hair and CJ looked back up at him with a large grin.

…

A few hours later, Chuck and CJ returned to the Basses' Parisian home. Since they spent so much time in the French city for Blair's parents and Chuck's business, they had recently purchased their own home there.

Blair was sitting on the couch with Hank reading a story when they walked in.

"Hi, Mom."

She looked up and smiled, "Hello, sweetie, how as your day with your father?"

CJ walked over towards her, "Great! We went to the park and then Daddy bought me some kebobs-," Blair frowned and glared at her husband for a moment before she focused back on CJ as he continued, "-and then we went to a play and got candy. We were almost late to the show because Dad was talking to some lady, but we made it just in time."

Blair's brows lifted, "A lady, huh?" She asked, turning her gaze back towards Chuck.

Chuck cleared his throat and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "CJ," He said still looking at his wife, "Why don't you take your brother upstairs and share some of that candy."

Hank's face lit up and CJ nodded eagerly, "Okay. Come on, Hank."

The two boys ran up the stairs while Blair stood up and crossed her arms over her chest, waiting for Chuck to explain.

He sighed and shrugged his shoulders, "We ran into Eva on the street."

"Oh?" Blair asked feigning indifference as she picked the book off the coffee table and put it on a nearby shelf, "And how is she doing?"

"Good, I guess," Chuck said, "I don't really know. We talked about you and the kids and then CJ was ready to leave. I barely even got to ask about her."

"That's too bad," Blair said as she stepped to walk around him, "You must be really curious."

"No, Blair, I'm not," He reached out and grabbed her arm to stop her, "Don't act like this. I already told you, I realized a long time ago that she didn't change me. She was just in the right place at the right time. I changed because of you; because of how I hurt you and how much I hated myself for it."

"I know," She said softly as she nodded, "I know, I just-, she is the only other woman you came close to loving."

Chuck shook his head, "She never compared to you. I love you, Blair, only you."

"I know," She said with a playful grin as she stepped closer to him, "You wouldn't have stuck me with four of your little brats if you didn't."

He smirked back at her and placed his hands on her hips, "You love those brats."

"True," She conceded, "But if you ever left me you know that I would use them to rob you blind."

"I'd never dream of leaving you," He said as he nuzzled her neck, "I don't think I would survive it."

"I know that too," She said while running her fingers through his hair, "Which is good, because I don't think I would either."

Chuck lifted his head and rested his forehead against hers, "I love you, Mrs. Bass."

"Hmm," Blair sighed, closing her eyes, "You would think I would get used to hearing that by now, but every time someone calls me that my heart flutters a bit."

He laughed softly and pressed a quick kiss to her lips, "Come on, Mrs. Bass, why don't we check on those brats of ours and make sure they haven't devoured that whole bag of candy yet."

"Okay," She agreed, but she didn't let him move away from her. Instead she leaned forward and kissed him again, "I love you too, you know."

"Oh, I know." He said with a smirk before he tugged on her hand, "Now let's go, the sooner we put those boys to bed the sooner we can get to bed ourselves." He growled playfully.

Blair couldn't help but laugh as she followed her husband up the stairs to find their sons.