Blair delicately cut into her Belgian waffle before creating the perfect bite of it combined with fresh strawberries. As she brought the fork to her mouth with perfect grace and poise, she noticed a camera flash outside the window.

Perfect.

They had chosen to be seated at this table for this exact reason. Everything was planned and executed perfectly to achieve their goal. Blair may have lived far away from the upper east side for many years, but she had not forgotten a single thing when it came to social standing and reputations. Her thoughts of old memories were however interrupted by the company that sat across from her.

"So Blair, please tell me you are planning on staying longer this time. With all these short visits, it's so hard to get a good shopping date in! I always felt I missed out having only a son," Mary Vanderbilt complained as the son in question rolled his eyes.

Without missing a beat, Blair flashed her signature smile and replied, "Actually, we'll have plenty of time to shop now. My mother and I have decided that it's time I began to take over for her at the main branch of Waldorf Designs here in the states. I'm actually having most of my belongings shipped over later this week."

"Oh well thank goodness! I look forward to making these brunches a weekly affair then! I am however late for my manicure appointment so I'll have to leave you two lovebirds," Mary added with what she thought was a knowing smile as she collected her purse and left Tripp and Blair at the table.

Tripp waited until his mother was out of earshot to begin speaking.

"You know, she loves you. Thanks again for having brunch with us…and for giving me the honor of having the hottest date at last night's party," Tripp said as he sipped on his black coffee.

"It's no problem. You already know parents are my thing. They just love me," Blair added flirtatiously.

"Everyone loves you," Tripp corrected as he scrolled down an article on his phone before turning it to show her, "See, the press loves you. Honestly I couldn't ask for a better rebound after all the coverage about my divorce."

"Oh is that all I am to you? An accessory?" Blair asked with a fake pout.

Tripp's cheeks quickly turned crimson and in a fluster he quickly replied, "Of course not! You know you're the best thing that has ever happened to me."

Now it was Blair's turn to blush. She looked down at her plate shyly unable to meet Tripp's eyes. Honestly she had no idea where she stood with Tripp, they had flirted with the line between friends and dating for months ever since the divorce was finalized. A part of her wanted them to be more than friends and she knew Tripp would jump at that opportunity, but a small part of her, perhaps the same part that wished she was still lying on bed with Chuck, didn't care if she stayed friends with Tripp or not.

In trying to steer the conversation back into an easier territory, Blair looked up and asked Tripp if he was still free to come with her to apartment hunt again after brunch.

"Of course! There's no better way to spend a Saturday than listening to Blair Waldorf tell me she absolutely cannot imagine living in a place painted 'this shade of cool eggshell,'" he jested.

Across town, Chuck had entered his penthouse expecting a fuming Eva with 93358 questions about where he had disappeared to at their engagement party and why he hadn't come home. However, he found an empty penthouse much to his relief. To be honest, he had no interest in talking to or doing anything with Eva at the moment. He tried to ignore what this meant about his impending marriage by drowning it out with a glass of scotch.

A few hours later, as he was sitting in his home office with his 4th tumbler of scotch, his phone rang.

"Mr. Bass?"

"Yes, Andrew, no need for chitchat. Did you compile the file I asked for?"

"Yes, Mr. Bass. I've just emailed it to you now but I wanted to call to let you know I may be adding a few additional files this afternoon. It appears Ms. Waldorf is moving in with Mr. Vanderbilt…"

Chuck nearly threw his phone at the wall.

"I don't want a happily ever after anymore. I don't want to be a wife."

"Bullshit," he thought. How could she have said that to him and then move in with her supposed boyfriend just months into a relationship? Rushing into her fairytale ending as Blair always did. What was her excuse for not marrying him then?

"...it appears Ms. Waldorf has arranged for her belongings to be shipped from her London flat later this week and she and Mr. Vanderbilt have been viewing several apartments in the last few days…" Andrew continued on.

Chuck wasn't sure if it was the excessive alcohol, the restless sleep he had gotten the night before, or the words that were being spoken to him through his phone, but his world began to spin. He needed to take back control.

To gain control, he needed intel…more than his extremely well paid PI could provide. It was time for dinner with his favorite step sister.

"Yes, well email me the remaining files as quickly as you can. I'll be in touch," he said and hung up abruptly before grabbing his coat while texting Arthur to meet him downstairs.

Chuck strolled easily into the Archibald-Van der Woodson brownstone with full intentions of getting as much dirt out of his favorite blondes on Blair's new relationship as possible but stopped short in his tracks when he saw the objection of his obsession instead. Perched gracefully in a deep plum fitted dress in an armchair in the Van der Woodsen-Archibald sitting room was Blair Waldorf herself.

He stood frozen as they locked eyes until he was shaken out of his state by his best friend's voice.

"Chuck… I wasn't expecting you to even be able to walk after last night. What are you doing here?"

"...I just thought I'd drop by and check on my favorite blondes in the city. I didn't realize you'd have company."

"Favorite blondes that you didn't need to pay for more like," Blair interjected.

"Do I count as a favorite blonde too?" Tripp added with a laugh as he walked into the sitting room with a glass of Riesling for Blair.

Chuck swore under his breath as his initial plan was soiled but perked up as he realized perhaps this dinner could be interesting after all.

Author's Note - ooooof sorry for such a long delay everyone! Life has been crazy busy. Let me know what you all think. Haha I kind of started with Tripp as just a prop but he's growing on me.