''I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you…''

''You don't know what you are saying.. You are crazy…''

''I am not! I know that what we have is special and that no one will ever love you like I do. I know you, real you, not the mask you like to wear and who you pretend to be.''

''Chuck…''

He got down to one knee and presented her with the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. It was perfect and she loved it. She also knew her mother would never forgive her if she found out she had anything to do with him. Eleanor was disgusted with the new money Bass family was and she would never forgive her daughter if she had anything to do with Chuck…

''I'm sorry… I can't marry you… I love Nate…We are finally in a good place. My mother and Anne are getting our engagement party organized. We will marry at the end of the senior year and go to Yale together.''

He closed the ring box and got up.

''I'll see you in ten years when you wake up and realize you married an illusion, and not a man. In ten years you will be miserable and lonely because you made a mistake. You deserve each other. You are the same. He is in love with Serena and he will never have guts to fight for her and you love me but you will never be brave enough to be who you really are. You are so afraid of your mother and trying to do all she wants so you would get a bit of her attention. You will marry a man who never knew you and never dared to know you. I hope you'll be happy in charade you are making…I'll be waiting for you to be brave. Because I really love you…''

And with that he left her life. He packed his things and continued his schooling in Europe. He promised to never come back and he was very persistent in keeping that promise. Blair and Nate got married in the ceremony UES would talk about for years and all was perfect. They went to Yale and all the students were interested in new school royal couple. Nate continued with his bachelor life and she took her school serious. She graduated with honors and buried herself into work. She worked at an publishing office as an editor and he was working in his grandfather's papers. He was trimming him to be editor and chief. Their mothers waited for the news of the heir but there was none. Little did they know that the young couple barely talked to each other after few months of marriage. No one knew how lonely and empty she felt. She was an ornament. Pride and joy of Vanderbilt-Archibald family. She felt like very expensive dog. Family wanted her not for her qualities, but pedigree she had. She was a nice trophy wife, excellent person to breed with. She would be the mother of Archibald heir and Serena would be love of his life. She knew that most of Nate's business trips were lies. It was just a lie so he could spend few days with Serena. Blair was shocked when she realized she stopped caring. At first she would spend her nights crying herself to sleep and now… she was happier when she woke up alone. She was sick and tired of that, but too afraid to leave it all. Her mother almost slapped her when she told her she wants to leave her husband and she is not happy. Of course, in her mother's eyes she was not woman enough to keep her man and she is not pregnant. After all this time she is not with child. She and Nate went to an benefit and they met with Lilly and husband number…who knows. She mentioned that Chuck is in Brazil and thinks about buying a property there.

''When will he visit? It has been a long time?''

''I have no idea Nate. You know him. He swore he will not step here ever again unless…''

Blair felt uneasy…. Why wouldn't he come….?

''Unless what Lilly?''

''I still have no idea why he left. I know he was very sad, angry and broken the night he left. He just packed his bags and left. He said he will come back when she changes her mind…''

''She? Who is she?''

Blair felt uneasy… She had no idea how little or how much Lilly knew about them. He lifted her head and looked at Lilly. She gave her a knowing look.

''I have no idea who that girl was, but Burt and me always had a feeling about one girl.''

''I can't believe there was a girl to brake big bad Bass… Oh, my God! Did you hear this Blair? A girl broke Chuck and drove him away from us. I wonder who she is and what she has to make him so drown to her even after all these years. Hm…''

''Nate, I'm sure you wouldn't know how to appreciate that girl anyway… You like very…specific… girls. Nice to see you Lilly.''

She turned and left the conversation…. Lilly was intrigued even more by this what she witnessed. Now she was sure that Chuck and Blair had something pretty serious going on at that time. She would get to the bottom of this story.

When they got home, Nate went to his study to talk to Serena and she went to the bedroom. Dorota helped her change and noticed something is wrong.

''Miss Blair… You have that thinking about Mr. Chuck sad look.''

''We met Lilly at the benefit. She mentioned him. She said he will not come back untill I change my mind.''

''You should call him and see him… We know you could use some boy time..''

''Dorota!''

''Miss Blair, I know how lonely and frozen your marriage bed is…If you married Mister Chuck, your bed would be on fire and your stuff would never be able to enter any room without knocking. You would have six children and fight about everything making up wherever you were at that moment… Don't give me that look. I remember the time I couldn't enter my kitchen safely…''

''I remember it too….''

''You are young and not happy Blair… Just do it… Find him and be happy…. Who cares about people talking if you are in the arms of the man who wants only you….''

She would spend sleepless nights thinking about the night Chuck asked her to marry him. Should have she said yes? Would it be different? Should she call?

And now, there she is… She is twenty eight, married to Nate and lonely as she has never been. She is dressed in her mother's new original dress, putting on new jewelry her mother in law choose for her and Nate gave it to her as his present. She smiled at him and thanked him very politely. She had to. The room was full of people and journalists. She knew he could never pick anything for her without help. She knew how little he knew her. She faked her smiles, talked to people she couldn't stand and the evening went as se expected it to be. After guests left she came up to Nate.

''I have something to ask from you..''

''Yes, I suppose it is our anniversary and you can ask for anything….''

''I wouldn't go that far… I'm asking you to move into the guest room. Dorota will move your things and when you come back from Serena's go there… Good night Nathaniel.''

Nate was looking at her with his mouth wide open. SHE KNEW ABOUT HIM AND SERENA!

She got into her room and Dorota started moving his things to the guest room. She took off the dress and jewelry and went to the bathroom. When she got out, her husband's things were moved to the other room and Dorota was changing the sheets. She got to bed and took her laptop with her. She found HIS e-mail and sent him a simple question….

''What will it take for you to come back?''

The reply came in the very instant….

''Three words…Eight letters… And promise of you forever….''

She felt something like kick in the gut… Dorota was right… He was right… She still wanted him… And he wanted her. She already made clear to Nate she knows it all. Is it time for Nate to know it all too?

''You have it…. When will you be here?''

Reply was quick.

''In a month… I have things to handle here… But, you can come and visit… Rio is fun this time of year…''

Oh, she knew how fun it was. She could picture him with all these samba dancers and she was furious and jealous.

''Oh, I believe it's fun….''

''Green is not your color Waldorf…or do you prefer Archibald now?''

''Shut it Bass…''

She looked at the mirror and realized she is smiling. After a decade of frowns she is smiling with her eyes too. They continued writing to each other almost all night. It felt like someone turned back time and she was seventeen again. He even got her to dish pretty juicy gossip to him about Nate and Serena. She was amazed how little it felt wrong to make fun of her husband and his affair with her best friend.

''Blair, do you want out of that marriage?''

''Yes, but our families would never allow that…''

''Why?''

''Because in the eyes of the world we are perfect and in love…''

''If you want out, I'll get you out… I promise…''

''I know…''

''Just say the words…''

''Yes, I want out…''

''You'll be out…''

It was five in the morning…. The night flew by like an hour….

''Chuck…Do you think you could call…? I would love to hear your voice…''

Her phone rung…

''Hello, Waldorf…''

Damn you Motherchucker….