Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. They belong to Cecily von Zeigesar and The CW.
This story starts a few months after the events of 'Life's Unexpected Surprises' ends. This is going to be a short and sweet story. Approximately five chapters. I love my fluff.
"Come on, Charlotte, time to go to your friend's birthday party," Blair called out for her daughter as she was pulling on her warmest spring coat. Of course one of her daughter's little friends would choose to have a birthday party on what was turning out to be the coldest day of the spring just a few days after all Blair's winter wear had been put away for the season. Thankfully it wasn't an outdoor party.
"I'm ready, Mommy," Charlotte announced herself as she appeared in the entryway dressed in her favorite little red dress with matching hair ribbon. On her feet was a pair of ruby red slippers that would have made Dorothy from 'The Wizard of Oz' proud.
"You look very pretty, Sweetheart," Blair smiled as she kissed the top of her daughter's head, "Where's your present for your friend?"
"Oh, I forgot," Charlotte stated as she darted back towards her bedroom to retrieve her gift. She'd gone on a special shopping trip with her mother and godmother to pick it out, and she was so proud of it.
Charlotte returned to the entryway with an expertly wrapped box in her hand and slipped into her red wool coat with Dorota's help. Blair couldn't hide the smile that escaped. Her daughter was inheriting her fashion sense, as she was always perfectly put together.
"Have fun at party, Miss Charlotte," Dorota stated.
"I will," Charlotte replied as she and her mother stepped onto the elevator. It was on the ride down to the lobby of their building that Charlotte had a thought, "Mommy, when is Daddy's birthday party?"
"Sorry, Sweetie, but Daddy doesn't celebrate his birthday," Blair explained as the elevator stopped and the doors opened. She grasped her daughter's hand and walked with her to the waiting limo outside.
"How come?" Charlotte gasped. Not celebrating a birthday was unfathomable to the spoiled princess. Each of her birthdays had come with a gigantic pile of gifts and a party for her to soak up all the attention. That someone would actually not want to celebrate a birthday seemed impossible.
"Remember how Daddy's mom died the same day he was born?" Blair asked gently as she ushered her daughter into the limo after receiving a sympathetic smile from their long time driver, Arthur.
"Yes," Charlotte frowned.
"And remember how sad Daddy gets on the anniversary of when Grandpa Bart died?" Blair added.
"Yes," Charlotte nodded.
"Well, Daddy gets sad on the day his mommy died too. He doesn't celebrate his birthday because that is the same day she died," Blair explained, "It's not a happy day for him."
"But he doesn't want presents?" Charlotte inquired with her innocent doe eyes opened wide.
"He doesn't need presents, Sweetheart," Blair smiled softly as she tugged at one of Charlotte's curls, "He has everything that he needs. He has you and Brice and Aiden and…"
"Mommy," Charlotte chimed in happily.
"That's right," Blair replied, "So, we don't celebrate his birthday. We celebrate all the other days of the year instead."
"But I want to buy him a present," Charlotte pouted.
"You can buy him a Christmas present," Blair stated.
"When's Christmas?" Charlotte inquired.
"It's seven months away," Blair quickly did the math in her head.
"That's a long time," Charlotte pouted, "When is Daddy's birthday?"
"Less than a month," Blair replied. She'd looked at the calendar earlier that morning and realized she had best be preparing herself for the change in his mood. Past experience told her that the closer to his birthday it got, the quieter and moodier he would get. It was all kept behind closed doors so their children were oblivious, but Blair knew that would change as the children got older.
"I want to buy him a present," Charlotte proclaimed yet again, "So Daddy has to have a birthday this year, and we can have cake and ice cream and balloons and streamers and hats."
"Slow down, Sweetheart," Blair chortled at her daughter's enthusiasm, "Daddy isn't going to have a birthday just because you want him to. You don't want him to get mad at us for having a party for him, do you?"
"No," Charlotte frowned, "You talk to him, Mommy. He'll have a birthday if you ask him to."
"I don't think so, Princess," Blair replied as she tapped her daughter's nose, "But I'll try, okay?"
"Okay," Charlotte replied as she began mentally planning out her daddy's party in her head. She had no doubt that her mother was going to be able to convince him. Midway through her party planning, another thought popped into her head. "What do I get Daddy for his birthday?"
"One step at a time, Charlotte," Blair giggled as she hugged her daughter as their limo pulled up to the building of Charlotte's friend.
"Someone has a birthday coming," Blair cooed in Chuck's ear as they lay in bed, enjoying the rare quietness of the early morning. All three of their children were still sound asleep, so there was nothing forcing them out of bed. Her finger was tracing random patterns into his chest.
"Like every other year, it's okay if we skip that day," Chuck told her as he remained on his back though she felt him tense at her statement.
"You say that every year," she shook her head in amusement as she began planted open mouth kissed up and down his abdomen, "I haven't listened to you yet. I'm certainly not going to this year."
"Blair, you know how I feel about that day," he groaned as he tried to resist her advanced. It was pointless as he had no willpower when it came to her, but he tried anyways.
"And you know how I feel about it," she murmured against his skin, "Yes, your mother died that day and it's okay to be sad about that, but you were born that day as well. That deserves to be celebrated."
"I'd rather celebrate the day I was reborn when I told you I loved you for the first time," he replied.
"You and I already celebrate that day," Blair told him pointedly, her teeth scraping against his nipple in a scolding manner, "The children are getting to that age where they are starting to understand that Daddy doesn't have a birthday. They want to give you the kind of party that they get every year. Charlotte even wants me to take her shopping for a present for you. She says she's been saving her allowance to buy you a worthy present."
Chuck groaned in reply. He hadn't been aware that Charlotte was saving her money. They'd been giving their children an allowance since Charlotte was four. Mostly Charlotte spent her money on accessories for her dolls. It never occurred to him that she could be saving her money to spend on him.
"Chuck, the children want to make this day special for you," Blair added as she stopped her assault to bat her lashes, "Please let them. It will mean so much."
"To them or their mother," Chuck inquired as he entwined his fingers into hers, "I'm fairly certain that one of our children is completely oblivious to the fact that it is my birthday."
"Because he's a baby with no verbalization skills," Blair replied, "But if he had the ability, he'd be wanting to wish you a 'Happy Birthday' just like the rest of us."
"Fine," he caved, "This one year, we'll celebrate, but don't get too excited. This is not going to set any precedent. Think of this as the Halley's Comet of birthdays. It happens once every seventy-five years."
"We'll see about that," Blair stated as she tapped his chest as she pushed the bedcovers away.
"Where are you going?" Chuck asked as he grasped her hand before she could get out of bed. She wound him up, now she had to follow through.
"I'm going to check on Aiden," Blair replied as she wiggled free from his grasp, "It's not like him to sleep this late."
"Hurry back," Chuck replied as he relaxed back against the soft mattress and stared up at the ceiling. A few moments passed before a long groan escaped from the back of his throat. He dreaded the date his birthday drew near when it appeared on the calendar. Blair had understood over the years. Her celebrations had been limited to a simple dinner and sexy lingerie. With his children thrown into the mix, there was no telling what the day could bring.
"Someone wants his daddy," Blair stated as she returned to their bedroom with her wide-eyed infant son in her arms. She placed Aiden on Chuck's chest.
"That's a switch," Chuck stated as he curled up with Aiden in his arms. Unlike his two siblings, Aiden was a 'Momma's Boy'. Usually given a choice, Aiden preferred to be in his mother's arms over those of his father, but there were days when Daddy's would do.
"I should get in the shower," Blair stated, "Charlotte and Brice will be waking soon. Charlotte wants to go shopping, and Nate is coming over to take Brice for the day. You get Aiden all to yourself."
"How did I get so lucky?" Chuck smiled as he rubbed his son's back as a small puddle of drool pool at his shoulder. Blair saw the drool and quickly retrieved a towel from the bathroom for Chuck, though he didn't appear to mind. He'd worn all sorts of bodily fluid over the years courtesy of his children, and drool was the least of his worries. "What are we going to do today, Aiden?"
"While you two chat, I'm going to shower," Blair announced.
By the time Blair was out of the shower, Chuck had two additional bedmates, Charlotte and Brice. Brice's dog, Barty, was adding his own soundtrack at the foot of the bed as the older two jumped all over their father as laughter filled the room.
"How long was I in there?" Blair laughed as she took in the scene. Both children were aware that Aiden was in their father's arms, so they didn't jump directly on him, but Chuck was being bounced all over the bed. Aiden was laughing at the ride he was being taken on courtesy of his older siblings.
"Long enough for these two to coordinate a sneak attack," Chuck laughed along with his children as he held his youngest son tight with one hand and the bed linens with the other.
"Okay, you two, enough jumping on Mommy and Daddy's bed," Blair announced as she caught Charlotte mid jump and returned her to the floor before she snagged Brice. "You two need to get dressed. We all have busy days ahead of us."
Charlotte and Brice let out a chorus of groans at having to leave the bedroom. They liked piling on Daddy because he never retaliated with anything more than a good tickling. With Aiden in his arms, even that wasn't an option.
"You left me defenseless," Chuck laughed as he sat up with Aiden still against his chest. His son had been toying with going back to sleep until the surprise attack of his siblings. Now he was truly wide awake, "Not only did I have my hands full with Aiden, but all I had to cover my lower half was that comforter."
Blair burst out laughing as she handed him his robe at the end of the bed before she reclaimed Aiden. "It's not anything they haven't seen before. They walk in enough without knocking."
"We need to resume our privacy lessons," Chuck replied as he wrapped the robe around his body and tied the sash tight.
TBC...
I don't recall them ever mentioning when Chuck's birthday is, so I'm taking creative license here.
I hope you enjoy. Let me know what you think. Constructive criticism is always welcome.
Shout out to my beta Lori2279 for all her help.
