A.N: This is of course the major turning point of the story. Everything is coming together and we are going to be at the end soon. I am not writing chapters in this fic for Dare Devil per say. So the chapter here will be Handmaiden's Tale (1.06).

I decided against writing a sex scene and rather went suggestive with a brief description. There is some heavy flirting and sexual tones from Chuck per usual.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gossip Girl, any of the locations, places, people, or things that are mentioned in this story. There are plenty of real people and locations mentioned none of which belong to me.

Chapter 13b

She was beautiful. But I knew I was being far too obvious with her after her reaction in the limo earlier today. All of my attention surprised her. I needed to tone down the eager to please puppy act. I was watching the makeup artist paint her face and the hair stylist do her hair but I could care less about that. Her smile instead grabbed my attention. I felt proud that I was able to do something to bring that smile to her face. The manicurist was currently working on my manicure. Just then, Blair looked over at me and smiled brightly in my direction. I winked in response. We were only moments away from the first shoot of the day. Marc's people had booked various sets around the city and we were going to be here for a 10-15 hour day. There was a chance that it might leak on Gossip Girl and Eleanor would find out by the end of the day but right now Blair was as excited as I have ever seen her.

I would like to say that I had Nathaniel's blessing on sleeping with Blair. I had all week to get it. Every time it was on the tip of my tongue, I stopped myself. He just kept mentioning how he wanted to get back with her and how much his mother loved Blair. I knew I should stay away from her but the shoot was set and in a contract. Moreover, if Tuesday was an indication there was no way I was going to keep my hand off her for long. However, Jenny made it clear that I would need to be more hidden if Blair and I wanted to find time at school. Blair decided that she only wanted one night that much was clear and while I wanted to change her mind, I was not hopeful. So I decided to go about this with Blair hopefully knowing the shoot will give us the perfect cover. If Nathaniel asked, I would tell him we spent the day at the shoot together and I was too tired after the long day of work to answer his call and if he came to my suite, I would lie and say I went home with a model. I told myself the onetime event would not be a betrayal of my friendship to Nate. I was grateful for my miniscule morality which meant my guilt was not devastating.

"We are moving in five!" the assistant to the head photographer yelled out. Juergen Teller who had done all of Marc's advertising since 1997 was head of our shoot so I knew that Blair knew how much money and seriousness the brand was placing in this ad(1).

The first shoot was taking place at the Plaza Hotel. By using New York as the backdrop in these photos, we were supposed to be recreating iconic scenes or locations that we truly 'New York'. We were at the Plaza Hotel in the front of the building taking in the direction of Teller huddled around a coffee table. We were able to get the front of the building closed to pedestrians but for only twenty minutes. It was the tightest time slot for a shoot today and needed to be perfect. Blair was supposed to be crossing the street walking my direction with purpose and confidence but in a rush. We were supposed to inspire the film 'The Way we Were'. The first three takes were rough and Blair's facial expressions were not displaying the right emotion. I could tell Teller was becoming discouraged and his stress was reflecting in Blair. I asked a pause and Blair walked over to me. (2)

"Blair, pretend that I am standing here with your favorite macaroons and you need to cross that street to get to me," I teased her trying to lighten the mood but now she just look even more stiff. I rubbed her shoulders.

"You are beautiful. When you smile, you light up the city. So smile for me," I told her and she looked me with a smile on her lips that was growing but her nose scrunched up briefly in annoyance. It was a childhood habit that Blair tried very consciously to rid herself years ago. I gave her a quick kiss on her nose unable to not find it remarkably nostalgic and sweet as memories of much simpler times ran through my head. Blair, above all was one of my oldest friends before my clever rich bored façade took over. Even then her smile light up my world.

"Wait my camera! Now!" Teller yelled. I looked up wondering what he was talking about until I realized he meant us.

"A kiss, we need a taxi in front of the building. Move that in now. You stand here and Blair you walk to him on the same side of the street. Let him grab you and kiss you. I need the fan, lightly, lightly okay…. Chuck hand on her waist," he directed us in our way. "Perfect. Closer and can you two kiss?" he asked and I let Blair answer yes. "Opened mouth…. Closed mouth. Okay this is great. We are continuing with this but in variations. Suits jacket on and off and one with Blair leaning on the taxi. Another one with her sitting in the taxi facing the me with the door open and legs hanging out and Chuck was facing the me," Teller was in his mood shouting off his direction. Blair was following everything to a T. We were having fun in the moment and I love how often I was able to kiss her in public on a New York street even if it was just for a camera. Before I knew it, we were in a car moving to the next shoot.

"I think that went well alright," she said but it was more of a question than a statement.

"Of course it went well," I respond. In the back seat of the SVU, while one of the assistant told us about the next shoot and the outfits. I wanted so badly to hold on to her and kiss her again but I did not know if it was okay to do in front of all these people off camera. She was sitting as far as possible from me her body tense again. I knew better than to cross that imaginary line in the sand.

The next shoot took place in a close off section of the Whitney in the guise of replicating the scene from Manhattan. (3) Blair was set to be looking at art and I was a couple steps away looking at her. Blair was in her element now in one of her favorite museums. I could tell she was excited over replicating famous New York movies especially some of her beloved films. I stared at her posing my jacket thrown over my shoulder casually examining her facial features at she looked at 20th century American art. All I wanted from her was just to be close to her. It was that simple. Betraying my emotions and the direction of Teller I walked causally up to her slightly to her right leaning my hand against the wall as she looked at mid-century sculpture. I heard the camera snapping and she turned to look at me aware I was closer. Her smile was genuine. I wanted to store this in my memory forever.

She was soon in her element in between her takes ordering people around, laughing with the stylists, and engaging one of the most famous fashion photographers in conversations about the photographing commercial versus couture. She was bossy, bratty, confident, and brilliant. For each of those traits, I admired her. I loved it when she took charge of a room in a matter of moments so quickly she could have asked them all of the assistants and interns to salute her and they would. Some people took over a room with laughter and humor like Serena would but Blair did with it intelligence and confidence. It was rare to find in a woman so young and so sure, of who she was.

When we finally broke for lunch, she thanked me for thinking of her for the shoot.

"As if there is anyone else that would look this good next to me," I admitted with a wink. "Or that I can stand for these many hours," teasing her to backtrack my words just in case.

We were at the home base eating lunch sitting on a sofa in what was usually a waiting room. The hairstylist who was arranging Blair's hair into a very messy volume up high for the next scene said, "You two are adorable couple and it's so awesome that ya can do this together. How long have you been dating?" she asked.

I thought Blair would freeze up but instead she laughed and said, "We are only together on Thursdays and every other Monday. We cannot be this nice for more time to that," I laughed along and agreed.

As day wore on and as we grew further comfortable with each other, I knew that tonight was going to be the night that Blair and I were finally going to have do what were flirting around for weeks. In a moment of free time when she was getting ready for another shoot I made a call to the staff at the Palace to ensure a room would be ready for tonight. I was grateful that no dignities were in town when I was informed that the Royal Suite was open tonight and I made sure it was ours. The room was legendary and I knew Blair was going to be impressed. There was a private elevator, personal chef service and the French décor was perfect for her taste in furnished with silks and gold. It lavish and dripping in expense, which was perfect for her. The bathroom had an amazing oversized soaking tub that made my imagination run wild.

"Your hair is so messy in these shoots. It looks like bed hair," she said as she ruffled my hair further. We were alone now finishing our lunch leaning back on the sofa as we waited.

"I am supposed to be wolfishly handsome like this," I said with a sly wink.

"Like a wolf stalking his prey?" she asked. She moved closer to me on the sofa leaning into my body now. We found ways to touch each other as the day progress. Small ways but need was present. I imagined if I were her boyfriend this is what this found feel like. Boyfriend, ha. A whole day with Blair was making me confuse my fiction with my reality.

"I suppose if you are the prey," I told her as pulled her close to me. Sitting like this in a room filled with people willingly to do whatever we asked as we were beginning to make our mark on the city that stood at our feet made me wonder about the power we could have.

"If I am, you still need to catch me," she teased.

"Here I thought I already had you" I joked back. The carefree and easiness of the moment was not lost on me.

"No one has me," she warned. I chuckled and she smiled.

Around two after we made it to the third shoot. It was the one Blair was waiting all day for. Tiffany's and Co. Rather than mimic the famous scene of Audrey looking into Tiffany's the shot was going to depict the two of us in the store lavishing 'shopping' while someone peered at us from outside. Blair was lying down on the counter with only black bra and red shorts with pearls and diamond draped from her body and thigh high boots. Her hair was wild and large. I was sure there were hairpieces in there and her makeup was dark and a sexy red lip. She could barely move since the jewelry was all purposefully placed on her body covering her chest, upper arms, and ribcage with skin peeking out. There was hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth laying on her skin. Her makeup was dark and alluring and I was set to hold a handful of jewelry in my hands as if I was letting it fall to her body. She looked so fucking hot. I wanted her in that moment then and there. I wanted to fuck her on a bed of diamonds and pearls and I did not care if Audrey Hepburn rose from the dead herself to watch from that window.

It was in that shoot that Marc Jacobs finally came to the location in order to see the progress of the day. His presence shook up the room and suddenly everyone was on their best behavior for the boss. Jacobs was probably the busiest man in all of fashion as the creative director of Louis Vuitton as well as his own namesake empire. Here he was with a huge smile on his face and jovial personality that was instantly likeable. As someone who is constantly bored with others I found him to be a creative genius and overall an interesting man. I was worried that Blair would tense up.

"I've seen the rough shots back at the office. They are amazing. I really must ask that you two sit for me while I work on my next line," he told us as he walked on to our scene. I helped Blair sit up making sure that none of the pieces dropped. "There is something alluring and pulling in the photo that you two take. I have been looking over sighting of the two of you going back a year and I found a blog that is almost dedicated to you, Blair. Gossip something,"

"Gossip Girl, the bane of my existence, "she joked.

"I could imagine. I thought the media hounding me was bad. But you two seemed to be very important in the Upper East Side," he said complimenting us both.

"Our last names and such," I shrugged it off thinking back to my father's comment last week. I felt Blair squeeze one of hands while Jacobs chuckled.

"Yes having Bass's son on this is going to be interesting to say the least. I saw on that Gossip site that the style that the both of you have is outstanding. People already seem to want to be you so let's hope they want to be you in my clothes," Jacobs said as a true businessman. Blair blushed lightly at the praise.

"Well I hope you saw how often I wore your line," Blair complimented. "And how often he wears purple," she teased me. I chuckled.

"The color of royalty," I added.

"Well you two truly look like royalty. There was a great photo of you two at your father's brunch Chuck. Usually white next to white is too innocent but there was something dark even still in you both. Well besides the black eye you were sporting," he joked with us revealing his intensive search of Gossip Girls. Things I knew Blair wished people would never know but a google search of her name made that a fantasy.

"Don't worry he deserved the black eye," Blair said making Jacobs laugh aloud.

"I am sure he did. I am serious about the sketches. I am going to hang out for a few more minutes and watch the shoot. If you need anything let me know."

We changed our positions for our next shoot. She was sitting on the counter her legs wrapped around my waist and she leaned all the way back until her head was falling off the counter until she was looking upside down at the camera. I then took one of her legs and positioned her leg on my shoulder to make sure the Jacob's boot was on display. As sexy as the scene had seemed in my head we instead spent most of it laughing mixed with Blair's threats if I dropped her she was kill me.

Before we knew it, we were on the last shoot of the day. The last scene we shot was in the Palace Hotel in what is known as the Gallery Room (5). It was Blair's favorite room when we were children and she would constantly try to sneak away whenever she could. Growing up in a hotel, you know all its secret and hideaways but Blair was never interested in playing hide and seek here. No, she would always come here to stare at the huge 7x7 images of Audrey, Marilyn, Grace Kelly and other Hollywood classical beauties. The rich wood paneling on the wall and the dark rich wood with the ornate fireplace alongside some of the glamourous women the world has known might seem out of place but not to Blair. When we were growing into our teen years, she told me once the room amassed what she wanted to portray old Hollywood with a traditional look that knows no era; timeless. In the shoot, Blair was pushing back my chair with her heel as I sat staring up at her my hand moving up her leg where the dress spilt apart. Blair then pulled at my bowtie pretend to pull it off me softly in her direction for the camera. One image only had her bare leg hanging off a chase an exclusive ostrich leather heel on display as walked into the scene. Another had her laying under the photo of Marilyn at my feet. We were both supposed to be looking at the camera but I could not help but continue to take glances at her. The tension and heat that was coming off both our bodies was real and was everything Teller wanted.

We ended close to eight as we watched Teller do some preliminary editing as he show us the dark filter he was planning on using and went deeper into message he wanted to convey. He picked out a couple dozen favorites from every shoot. Every one of them showed the undeniable lust. Blair redressed in one of the gifted dresses from the shoot and kept the dark makeup on. She looked years older than I have ever seen her and I knew she was going to have everyone's attention. Being in the Palace I invited her dinner at one of the restaurants in the building and we were seated immediately. We discussed school, the shoot, our parents, and other things. The conversation was not only easy but enjoyable. I told her about Jenny's blackmail bringing out the bitch I adored.

"She did what?" she asked her eyes going wide and fierce with anger.

"She tried to blackmail me. She has a photo of us from Tuesday," I explained to her as I sipped on the white wine.

"She told you think yesterday and you are just telling me now? Chuck, she has a mean streak in her. Why do you think I let her be a minion. Game know game," she said and I could tell she was getting worked up. I regretted even mentioning the situation to her. I wanted this night to remain fun and carefree.

"It's gonna be okay. No matter what she does she risk losing your favor which she would not do," I tried to let her see my reason.

"Chuck, but if the picture gets out Nate is going to find," her voice go low as she became paranoid looking over her shoulders.

Clenching my fist under the table I asked "Do you still care what he thinks. Blair I can't have you and then you go back to him. It... it isn't right. Not if he is my best friend." I was trying to hold the anger back.

"No, I mean for your friendship with Nate. You said he wouldn't forgive you for this. I am only concerned over that," she exclaimed. I examined her closely trying to determine if she meant what she said.

"Okay. I will handle it tomorrow at school," I finally said. A smile came upon her face.

"The sooner the better. So... the truce is over and you need to tell me now are we or aren't we going to having sex," the confidence poured from her as she took a bite from our shared cheesecake. I had to catch my breath as she caught me off guard. If I was not hard before I definitely was now. Nevertheless, I had one more hand up my sleeve that I wanted to play.

"Of course. But I want to show you something first," I told her and she looked surprised.

"I did not know you had so much self-control Bass," she told me.

"Self-control is key how else I am going to be able to please you again, and again, and again," I shamelessly flirted. It was her turn to raise her eyebrows in surprise.

"I did not think you would have put this much effort into scoring a one-night stand," she joked.

"I want it to be special for you," I admitted and I fought a blush at my own words feeling suddenly silly for trying too hard.

"Well I am sure it is going to be a night I won't ever forget. Thank you for this Chuck. You really are a good friend," I kept the smile on my face as my insides were boiling in anger. All she wanted was one night with a friend. I needed her to see me as more than that.

The day was everything I spent the night dreaming of. It was perfect and Chuck was even more than perfect. I knew Cr. Cohen did not want me using that word but I could not help it. Sitting in that limo I stared out into the city enjoying the comfortable silence that we were both enjoying. There was no question where the night would leave us so if he wanted to prolong the inevitable then I was okay with that. I thought I was would be nervous with the knowledge that in a few hours tops I would be losing something I held so dear to me but I was not; rather I confident and sure. I was certain that one night with Chuck and I was going to be shake this need for him out of my system. All the weeks of stolen kisses were leading up to this one event. I was not completely sure how we were going to go back to being just friends. A part of me hoped that we could at least have benefits from time to time. Chuck excited me but he was not boyfriend material even if he was willing to date. He was a confirmed bachelor. I knew what happened on his Lost Weekends and this weekend would be no different. We drove away from Mid-town into the Lower East Side the city was vibrant and full of life on this Thursday night.

"Where are we going?" I finally asked breaking the silence and I turned to find him looking at me. I wondered how long was he staring at me. I did not even feel his gaze. How often did he stare and I not notice.

"My business proposal. I am only a week away from revealing it to my father. I wanted to show you tonight. I thought it would be a fabulously way to celebrate since you were so vital in the idea," he shared. The genuine honesty that he shone through was apparent and I had to blush at the praise. I scooted closer to him.

"It was all your idea Chuck. You are so much smarter than you give yourself credit for," I told him. "So, much smarter than your father gives you credit for," I paused knowing his father was who he always aimed to please. He pulled me to him touched his forehead against mine. He leaned into kiss me. A knock on the glass interrupted us and he smiled at me sheepishly as if to apologize for interruption. He exited the limo and held out his hand for me to follow.

"Welcome to Victrola," he said as he guided me to the door and the door attendant let us in which even a question. (6)

I entered the location. It was dark but sexy. Women were dancing on stage moving to the music and singing along. Patrons either sat with friends drinking or enchanted by the women on stage. In the air, you felt the sexual bravado fill the room. No one was ashamed to be here. Rather the atmosphere provided the feeling once you entered that your sexuality should be on full display. I threw myself into the feeling. My walk became a saunter, the light roll of my hips moved in tune with the music. The dark makeup that I would have never applied that was done at the shoot only made me feel like a siren really to call for a mate. Chuck pulled me to him as he guided us across the room to our VIP section. His hand on my back that always provided me comfort moved lower touching my backside in an overtly possessive way. In any other place or time, I would move it away but I gladly accepted it filled with the knowledge that tonight, if only for tonight, I was his. We were seated at a table with a chilled 1952 Dom waiting (7). The oldest vintage I have ever come across.

"I thought we should celebrate," was all he said. The host popped the bottle for us and quickly left.

Raising my glass to his, I toasted "To an amazing day and what should be an amazing night."

He toasted and smirked. "Packing on the pressure, Waldorf," he joked.

"I mean you talk the talk so much. I am expecting multiple orgasms," I teased. His eyes darken and his jaw stiffened.

"That's all? Well, be ready for more than that. I am planning to ensure that you forget your own name and thoughts and instead focus only on the desire and need you will have for me. I won't be done until all you can see is me, all you want to touch is me, until you are dying to taste me, until you deaf to all other noises than the ones we make, and the smell of us is thick in the air," he whispered in my ear. My mouth went dry and suddenly that calmness I was feeling in the limo earlier was gone. I was blushing head to toe and he pulled away with a satisfied smirk. I knew he was getting me back for my tease so I stood up quickly throwing reason away. He looked surprised and concern as if he had pushed me too far.

"Not going anywhere," I said calming him. "I just want to slow you my moves," I said pointing with my head to stage in front of us.

"You wouldn't," he challenged.

"I will. You are such a tease Bass. Now you are going to see how it feels," I told him before I marched onstage.

I danced for him, only for him. No one else there mattered. His eyes were glued to me. I never felt so alive and so free. The moment I rejoined him he was unrecognizable to me. He grabbed me and kissed me roughly and I knew we were leaving. Pulling away he started to walk to away but I stopped to grabbed the vintage Dom. It was my favorite and I needed some liquid courage. I was gigging as we exited and entered right into the limo. There was one look from him questioning if I wanted this and I nodded yes. We needed no other words.

There in the back of Chuck Bass's limo I lost my virginity. It was not the way I planned it but he was right all I only saw him as we coupled for the first time. All I heard was my own heart beating in my ears as he kissed me roughly. All I ever wanted to feel was this full and complete. Whatever pain I thought I would feel was removed from his gentleness. By the time, we left the limo we were a beautiful sticky mess. Our body wet from sweat and the champagne that we drunk off each other bodies. Dom has never tasted so good.

She was still in the shower after kicking me out after yet around round of sex. It was almost three in the morning but I felt still consumed by my lust for her. I knew I could never get her out of my system. I dried my hair watched her through the glass lathering soap on her skin. She looked at me and smirked. Giggled she told me to leave knowing if I stood we it was going to be counterintuitive.

I wrapped a towel around my waist and grabbed my phone. It had died in the long day we had and I flipped it opened to see if there were any posting about us. The rumor mill had discovered had somehow gotten a photo of us at dinner and questions were ablaze as to where we were at school. Gossip Girl was nothing if not clear in her wording that she believed us to be together. Nate had called me a couple times and left a dozen texts. I opened Blair's phone to see that Eleanor, Serena, Dorota, Nate, and her minions had called her repeatedly. Debating deleting them, I decided to only delete Nathaniel's calls to her. It was petty but jealously was never something I could control.

Sitting up on my bed, I took a cigarette out of my mother's Chanel case and leaned back to smoke only watching the door of the bathroom waiting for her. We were in a suite I had rented for tonight for her. I hand set up candles and drapery just the way I knew she would have wanted. The candles went to waste. Blinded by my lust for her at Victrola I never called the Palace to send someone to light them up. Still she loved them giggling when she entered the room. She lite the ones closest to the end tables before we had went at it again. She was a goddess matching my every move somehow seducing me in her own way. When she came out of the shower, it was in a white terry robe. Her makeup removed. She decided against washing her hair so it was dry and still had some curls that had not gone flat yet. She still looked sweet and innocent. I was amazed how beautiful she was underneath it all. I informed her I had previously arranged for Dorota to send her clothes and whatever beauty supplies she needed. She came to sit on my left against the pillows. Grabbing the Chanel case, she rolled her hands over it.

"This is beautiful," she said admiring it running her hands over the large diamond encrusted Cs. "Vintage?"

"Yes, it was my mother's," I explained. She must have seen me carry it for years but I never admitted that to her.

She made a little 'o' with mother as she opened it and placed one in her mouth. She pulled on it without lighting it to test it the flavor. She leaned over and lite her with my cigarette smoking it effortlessly rather than coughing as expected. I was impressed.

"When did you ever learn smoke?" I asked her. Seeing her like this was new. I placed an ashtray on my thigh for her and I to use.

"Umm. I love 1950s Hollywood movies. Audrey in How to Steal a Million taught me ages ago. Plus Serena likes to light up when drunk," she explained. I laughed. "This is nice though. Smooth," she commented on the exotic cigarette. I nodded but let the silence take over the room. Blair it seemed wanted to talk. "Your mother, I've seen photos, she was beautiful." I knew she was expecting me to comment. I turned my head away from her not wanting to do this now. My feelings were already raw after spending so much time with Blair and after finally being able to be with her. After finally being able to make love to a women and pour those feelings into that act I was emotional raw and open in a way that was new to me.

"Yes, she was." It was all I said and I all I was willing to say.

"You have her eyes," she tried again. My breath hitched and I gritted my teeth.

"Blair what are you trying to do?" I asked her confused as to why now after a decade of friendship she wanted to know about my mother. Honestly, I was annoyed at her for ruining this moment. She knew my mother was off topic.

"I just wanted to know more about her, about you," she explained. I could not help but roll my eyes. My lack of control, self-sabotage, or just hurt that she only wanted to use me for her own pleasure made words spew from my mouth.

"You wanted one night and I gave you that right? You the pleasure you were seeking that Nathaniel could not supply or maybe I gave you the revenge you wanted against him for hurting you. You don't need to pretend as if you want to get to know me further then the size of my-"Blair's hand pressed into my mouth squeezing my lips together her eyes pleading with me to not say anything more that would hurt her further. The anger that I was feeling poured out of me leaving me with guilt.

"Don't ruin this for me, Chuck," she whispered out and I nodded softly but it was too late. This was who I was. I ruined things and people.

She leaned back against the headboard and took the cigarette off the ashtray. A few tears were silently streaming down her face. I leaned back toying with my mother's case that begun all of this wanting another cigarette if only to stop the pain I felt for causing Blair pain for messing this night up. Nevertheless, it was officially Friday and I guess with that came a new reality.

"Blair," I paused not knowing what to say. "I just..." I trailed off again. "You are one of the most important people in my life. I wanted to make today good for you. Let's just forget the last couple of minutes," I said. She gave me a forced smile as she stubbed out the rest of her cigarette. I knew there was no going back so tried to go forward. "Blair, my mother died in childbirth. I…" The weight of the words was too much and I turned away from her. Letting her see inside of me was not going to convince her to love me. Instead, she would only see the weak boy I truly was. Overcome with anger, I threw the case away letting it crash to the wall and tumbled onto unlit candles the Turkish cigarettes flying out. Blair flinched at my outburst besides me. The silence ticked and knew her special night was over. The illusion was ending.

"Don't mind me. My emotions are wacky right now. Today was great thank you," she said trying to diffuse the situation and pressed a chaste friendly kiss to my cheek as if she thanked me for a bite of my lunch.

I pulled her close to me tucking her head under my chin still refusing to make eye contact with her. I could not let her see the pain that her innocent kiss cause me. I did not want to see what I was doing to her. Going from a lover's kiss to only a friend was too much to bear.

"No regrets?" I needed to ask to make sure. She did not answer. She just wrapped her arms around me holding me tight to her. The silence was telling and I bite my lip wondering what had I done. Did she already regret this? I turned the off light on the end table off to hide the tears that came to my eyes. I could pretend to be her Prince Charming but instead I was stuck playing Cinderella, the person pretending to be what they were not. I took a deep breath. The darkness of the room becoming cold a far cry from the romantically lite room I made love to her in only an hour ago. I slid down into a laying position holding her close as we laid together in the silence. Each passing second we felt further and further apart even as we held each other.

Waking up to discover it was 7:30, I knew I needed to face the world again. All the phone calls and texts I avoided yesterday suddenly felt like bricks weighing me down after the whirlwind of last night. Chuck was holding me close to him and he laid there in the nude, his towel falling off in his sleep. I stared at him and took all of him in. He tried so hard for last night to be sweet for me. Suddenly it felt like I could not breathe. I pulled myself away from him going to the uniform that Dorota had sent in the closet. Quickly I was dressed and got out of there not bothering to apply makeup that Chuck had arranged for me to have. Instead, I took the overnight bag with me without opening it since last night.

Last night, before everything turned sour, I was so happy. I do not know why I tried to pry about his mother. I knew he hated when people mentioned her. I just wanted to know something about him others never knew. Something that made me different from the hundreds of other women he slept with. But when he lashed out instead I knew I was never going to know him the way I wanted to. I wanted a piece of him to take with me. However, all I found was hurt and anger. I wanted to care for him the way he did after the Ivy Mixer, and the Kiss on the Lips Party and every other time before and in between that. He was never going to let me do that. He gave me all that he was willingly to give. When he asked if I had any regrets I only had one. I was sorry that I only asked for night. I was crazy to think one night was ever going to be enough. But Chuck never gave more than one night. He never let anyone get that close to him. Because of the past weeks, I thought he would let me. I thought I broke his walls but I was foolish. I never even made a dent. The mask he wore was going to be on the next time I saw him. He held me close to him and I wondered if anyone would ever make me feel like this ever again. Was this his special gift to the world, to screw women so well that we are fucked up forever?

Placing the sunglasses on my face that I wore the day before I hurriedly hit the elevator button needing to escape the fantasy I created from last night. I was alone as I rode down unable to think of nothing but Chuck: his sweetness, the gentleness, his cocky attitude, and his broken face when I asked him about his mother. He made yesterday perfect for me. I never felt so safe, so beautiful. Suddenly I could not breathe. I grabbed onto the elevator railing clutching my chest grateful for the private elevator that the expensive suite had. Taking one deep breath in I realize it was not my lungs that hurt it was my heart. My heart was breaking because I was walking away from Chuck. Chuck whose arrogance, sweetness, kindness, powerfulness, and most of all his understanding of me won his way into my heart. I fell in love with Chuck Bass. Completely whole-heartedly in love with Chuck Bass and the thought of finding this and losing it so soon brought tears to my eyes. The door of the elevator opened up to the lobby and I was almost at the entrance of the hotel ready to leave when I turned back around.

1 Juergen Teller work is raw and overexposed. He often shoots for Marc Jacobs and has shot many of his celebrities' campaign. My imagination is not as raw and edgy as his is so no doubt not to his level would not be to his level.

2 The Plaza Hotel with their amazing entrance is one of my favorite New York locations. It is the where Chuck first tells Blair he loves her. Kinda my way of recapturing that moment in a meta way. It is also the location of my favorite scene in the 'Way We Were'. Therefore, I thought it was perfect for the first location of the shoot by attempting to recreate that moment. There is an entrance on Grand Army Plaza st. and a similar entrance 59th across from Central Park. This is of course Mid-town.

3 The Whitney moved to the Lower East Side in 2014 but at this point, the museum is still in the Upper East Side. The movie that I am trying loosely to replicate here is Manhattan by Woody Allen.

4 Tiffany's and Co. is on 5th Av. is the one I believe that the movie Breakfast at Tiffany describes however I am not really a hundred percent sure that one. Since the 5th avenue Location is their corporate office and located in the Upper East we can say, it happened there.

5 The gallery room in the Villard mansion located in the Palace Hotel in the same area in which the Brunch took place. It is as described with 7x7 images of six glamorous women in an ornate room 900 square foot room. It is on the smaller side of a venue in the Palace but I thought it was so unique and different. It screamed Blair. Also the Royal is a very expensive three-bedroom suite in the Palace. The most interesting feature I read about was that it has a barbershop chair in the 'his bathroom' for a personal barber.

6 Victrola is of course Chuck's investment in Gossip Girl. It is actually a real burlesque club known as The Box. Form the picture online I seen it seems to be actually the way Chuck describe a clandestine high-end location. From the outside, you would never guess what lies beneath. The inside seems to be two floors, the second with a balcony that has what appears to be a fresco painted around the balcony. There is an elaborate carousal style horse above the bar. Overall, it is ornate, high-end, and off the radar.

7 Vintage Dom from 1952 would be hard to find and cost about $1500 a bottle. There are older ones but I felt likes 50s era suited this chapter.

A.N: Chuck was sickeningly sweet in this chapter. I needed him to be a little too eager to please Blair in the beginning. This is new for him and they are in high school so I am trying to think back to what a 'high school relationship' would be plus a billion dollars. I think Chuck would cater to all of Blair's materialistic needs not to buy her affection but to see her smile plus he is just as materialistic as she is. He also wanted to give her the fairytale night he thought she wanted. I needed him to put all of himself making himself vulnerable but quick to feel attacked/used.

Don't hate me for the way it ended. Blair needed to come to terms with her feelings. Her level of denial is such a part of her character as well as the drama behind it. I always found her rescuing him after his father's death to be the moment when she really discovers the depth of her feelings for him. Since I am not killing off my favorite UES father (after Cyrus), I wanted Blair to confront Chuck's fear of his mother's death. I needed her to see the hurt on his face to understand him. Even still, my Blair has not realize how bare and open he was for her through the day, not yet at least. As people suspected the Chanel case is back and not in the best way for Chair. Oh, Chuck, you shouldn't carry things so close to your heart.

I needed to take them to Victrola and let that limo scene happened. There really was no other option in my mind. Which is why I introduced so early.

The Lost Weekend will mainly be Nate and Serena POV's, our sidekicks playing the major roles but there will be more surprise POVs [guess right and make my day]. This will allow everyone to see what everyone else has been doing behind all the Chair drama. We will learn more about Nate/Serena, Dan/Serena, and see Eric for the first time in a long while. Also finally see Nate side in this whole mess and finally the Nate/Chuck showdown. It is going to be essential to the coming events to understand why when we come back after the lost weekend how the characters are doing and how things have changed. I promise surprises, strippers, exotic locations, handcuffs, Coney Island hotdogs, Big Bad Bart, and some awesome (and not so awesome) best friend moments.

See you for The Lost Weekend.

(It might be a while until I update since I am behind on my writing plus I am trying to iron out some final plot details for the ending of this fic)