Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. They belong to Cecily von Zeigesar and The CW.

First off, thank you for the wonderful reviews. It was more than I'd ever expected. Please enjoy. I hope the build up to this moment was worth it. . .

Chapter 4

"Are you ready for your freedom to end?" Nate asked as Chuck returned to the church. It was nearly time to get the show started. Returning from his conversation with Blair, Nate panicked when he found the dressing room that he had left Chuck in empty. Nate began looking for Chuck frantically but found Lily instead. After she told him where Chuck was and that it was best to leave him alone, Nate waited at the door patiently for his best friend to return.

"Absolutely," Chuck responded with an eager smile as Nate patting him on the back. There was no hint of the sadness in his eyes that Nate expected. It was if the weight of the world had finally been lifted off his shoulders.

Eric and the rest of the groomsman were waiting just inside the church for the pair to join them.

Eric pulled Chuck aside quickly as the pre-recorded music Blair had selected began to play.

"Since Blair doesn't have any brothers, I feel that this is my duty," Eric stated as he willed Chuck to indulge him.

Chuck looked at him expectantly.

"If you ever hurt Blair in any way, you will have to answer to me," Eric responded as he tried to keep a straight face. The twinkle in his eye was a dead giveaway as to how hard he was fighting the urge to burst out laughing.

Chuck also had to bite his lip.

"Lord help the man that Serena ends up marrying," Nate jumped in with a roll of his eyes to save Chuck. The three men all broke out in laughter.

"Ready?" Chuck asked as Lily approached. Lily beamed as she gave Nate's tie one last bit of straightening before she came to Chuck's side. He quickly offered her his arms as Eleanor joined the group to link up with Nate.

Chuck couldn't help but wonder if Eleanor was wishing that it was Nate that was marrying her daughter today instead of him, but he didn't allow himself an answer. Blair had made it very clear to her mother who her choice was. Eleanor nodded warmly towards Chuck as she began her walk down the aisle with Nate. Chuck and Lily waited an appropriate amount of time before they started their walk. Taking a deep breath, Chuck took his first step forward.

All eyes were on Chuck as he and Lily made their way down the aisle. He could hear whispers of surprise from the guests in attendance that the event looked as if it was going to happen. He was after all Chuck Bass, and although it had been years since he behaved in any way that was uncivilized, the reputation still preceded him to many. He was able to block out the eyes as he took in the decorations. It was the first time that he had seen the church decorated for the service and it looked amazing, exactly how Blair had described it to him.

Lily smiled at him as they continued their walk. They approached the front and Chuck leaned in and kissed Lily's cheek before she could sit down. She was caught off guard, but beamed up at him in pride as she took her seat. Chuck walked over to Eleanor and kissed her cheek as well before he approached the altar.

As he approached the front where Nate and the minister were waiting, Nate reached out to shake his hand. Chuck then turned to the minister and did the same. The minister began cracking jokes in an effort to keep the pair loose as they waited for the bridesmaids and groomsmen to start the processional. It had been the minister's experience that even the coolest cucumber would loose their cool in the moments before the ceremony began, but he was in awe of the young man's composure. Chuck was laughing effortlessly at the jokes, instead of the forced chuckle that most grooms gave. He didn't appear nervous in the slightest. If ever there was a man that was ready to be married, it was this one.

Finally the spring quartet began their music as the doors opened.

One by one the bridesmaids and groomsmen began to make their way down the aisle. The groomsmen consisted of Eric and other men to which had developed a rapport with Chuck while running the Bass empire. The bridesmaids were friends that Blair had made while attending college at NYU and later brought in to work with her as she built her clothing label.

"Chuck, I've been holding off on telling you something until this moment," Nate stated as Serena began making her way down the aisle as the doors behind her closed. Chuck wasn't able to concentrate too much on Serena as she walked down the aisle. He was so focused on the fact that his heart was behind the door preparing for her entrance on her father's arm.

Chuck looked at Nate as he waited for him to continue.

"The best man won," Nate responded sincerely.

"What are you talking about, Nathaniel?" Chuck asked as he looked at his friend in confusion.

"Even when she was with me, she always belonged with you," Nate responded, "You make her happy. You won."

"It was never about competing with you," Chuck felt the need to clarify, "I know I hurt you, but I had to follow my heart. I never did apologize for that. You were very gracious in letting her go. Thank you for that."

Nate nodded as he patted Chuck's back. "Last chance to back out," Nate stated as the wedding processional music began to play.

"Not on your life," Chuck responded as the doors open and Blair took her first step forward into his view on her father's arm. The sight of her in her princess cut bridal gown literally took his breath away. Even Cinderella would have been jealous of the dress Blair had created. He silently thanked himself for discovering the first sketches so that she could design this gown. Her beautiful auburn locks were flowing in loose curls that framed her face. She was stunningly beautiful. Her smile lit up the entire church. Their eyes locked and he held her gaze as she made her way towards him. She wasn't even walking; she was floating.

The walk seemed to take forever. He felt like running forward and grabbing her in his arms and hauling her forward so that they could get the show on with the road. She bit her lip to keep from laughing as if she could read his mind.

Finally she made her way to the end of the line. Her father kissed her before he reached out to shake Chuck's hand and then hand his daughter over to him. Chuck took a deep breath as their hands connected. He fought his emotions as he waited for her to gather her dress and take the few steps she needed to take her spot before the minister. He had planned to use that moment to tell her how beautiful she looked, but the words wouldn't come.

The minister began the ceremony but Chuck wasn't hearing the words. He was so captivated by her beauty that everything else around him faded away. He was thankful that she had won the coin toss to begin the vows because he wouldn't have known when to begin.

"Since I was a child, I have dreamt about this moment," Blair began. "I saw the church, the flowers, the bridesmaid dresses, and I even saw the maid of honor. The one thing I couldn't imagine was who the groom would be. Would he have sandy blonde hair or chocolate brown? That was all a blur until the day I fell in love with you.

She paused as she began to choke up a little. Chuck urged her on with a reassuring smile.

"You snuck up on me . . . like you always seemed to do. You were there for me when I thought that all of my dreams were shattering. You let me fall apart, and then helped me pick up the pieces and move forward. I don't remember the exact moment that I fell in love with you, but when I did I fell hard.

"I tried to fight it, fight the feelings you stirred deep within me. I tried to murder the butterflies, but I couldn't (Chuck laughed at the reference). My rational side kept telling me to run as far as I could, but my heart wouldn't let me. My heart kept telling me to stay and fight, even when I didn't think there was anything left to fight for.

"We've been through our ups and downs. We've laughed and cried together. I cannot image taking this next journey in my life with anyone but you. You are my best friend . . . the only one that I want to go to during the good and the bad. You are the one that I want to have children and grow old with.

"I know we'll continue to have our ups and downs, we're too much alike to not. There will be days that I'll hate you as much as I love you, but I want you to always remember this moment . . .the moment that I pledged myself to you, pledged myself to spend the rest of my life with you.

"I love you Chuck Bass, and I pledge myself to you and only you for as long as we both shall live," Blair finished with a shaky last breath. Chuck kissed her hands as he allowed her words to sink in. He knew that the words that he had written were not enough. He had to speak from his heart. The cards in his breast pocket were forgotten as he reached up to catch a fallen tear that had made its way down her cheek.

Chuck took a death breath as he gathered his thoughts.

"I woke up this morning with you lying beside and it hit me. This is how it is going to be for the rest of my life, and I couldn't be more humbled or in awe of the fact that you chose me. I've spent this morning reflecting on how we got to this place today, and I keep coming back to one simple conclusion. Somewhere along the way I died and went to heaven. That is the only explanation I have for the angel that has taken over my life.

"My life has been one long exploration. I wasn't looking for buried treasure or the meaning of life. I was looking for my reason to exist. I was looking for you without comprehending what it was that meant. I didn't realize it at the time, but I found my reason to exist when I was five years old. My life has been a little fuzzy, a little hazy. . . some chemically induced (Blair chuckled at the moment of humor as he gave her a sly little smile), but every moment I've spent with you is crystal clear.

"I lost my way for awhile. The days after my father died are lost. I don't know where I went or what I did, but I remember you, and those beautiful three words you spoke to me. I didn't want to hear them, but I did. You couldn't have realized it at the time, but you woke me up. You brought me back to life. I don't even want to think about what might have happened if you hadn't been there, and thankfully we'll never know.

He paused as he tried to gather his thoughts once again. He felt as if he was rambling and he had some key points that he needed her to hear.

"You make me want to be a better person. You make me want to be the person worthy of your heart. You say that we are equals, but really you are miles ahead of me. You are what I strive to become. Someday if I'm lucky I'll get there.

"Admitting my love for you wasn't easy. You know better than anyone how hard I fought it, fought us. Now I don't know why I fought for so long. Three words, eight letters, that's all it took and you were mine. It was so simple, but I had to make it so complicated. Now the words come so effortlessly. I am a man that is completely in love with you. Everything that I am is in love with you. I promise you that I will love you more today than I did yesterday, but not more than I will tomorrow.

"Today I begin the first day of the rest of my life as a husband to you. I love you, Blair. I always have, and I always will. Thank you so much for agreeing to be my wife. I couldn't ask for more in this world that to have you with me. I pledge myself to you on this day, to you and only you for the rest of our life," Chuck finished in a rush.

Before he could react, Blair was leaning forward, taking his head in her hands and kissing him fully on the lips. He found himself lost in the kiss. He didn't know how long the kiss lasted, but he heard the minister repeatedly clear his throat in an effort to get their attention.

Blair blushed as she pulled away. Chuck laughed softly as she looked at the minister with a guilty expression on her face. They both chuckled as the minister asked, "May I continue?"

Chuck nodded as he looked to Blair who was still blushing furiously. She had never looked more beautiful than she did in that moment.

"Rings please," the minister requested. Serena and Nate stepped forward and handed the rings to the minister before the returned to their spots. The minister blessed the rings before handing the first one to Chuck.

"I, Charles Bartholomew Bass, pledge to you, Blair Cordelia Waldorf, with this ring, my life, my love, and my faith in us. I will be faithful to you, and stand by you through all of life's obstacles for the rest of our lives," Chuck stated as he slipped the solid platinum band on her finger. The ring was inscribed with the words 'Our Three Words, Eight Letters . . .Always', and he'd have to be sure to mention that to her after the ceremony.

Blair wiped a tear that fell as she accepted the other ring from the minister.

"I, Blair Cordelia Waldorf, pledge to you, Charles Bartholomew Bass, with this ring, my life, my love, and my faith in us. I will be faithful to you, and stand by you through all of life's obstacles for the rest of our lives," Blair repeated as she slid a matching platinum band on his finger.

The pair joined hands as the minister took over.

"By the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of rings, Blair Cordelia Waldorf and Charles Bartholomew Bass, you have pledged yourself to each other before these witnesses and before God. It is my pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife. Charles, you may kiss your bride . . . again," the minister stated as the two beamed from ear to ear.

Chuck pulled her towards him and into his arms as he kissed her with everything he had. The church began clapping as the pair continued to kiss. He never wanted this moment to end. She was his. His life could truly begin.

I hope that you have enjoyed this journey as much as I have. I'm contemplating a few spinoffs of this story, but for now I have to add . . . .

The End.