The small blond haired girl smiled at her father walked into the room. She had long dirty blond hair and blue green eyes. He came into the living room and picked her up before kissing her on the head. She was a perfect combination of Serena and him. She put her arms around him and he placed his briefcase on the floor.
"Hello, Madeleine!" he whispered into her ear.
"Hi Daddy!" Madeleine replied.
"Where's Mommy?" Nate asked her after setting her back down on the ground.
"She's upstairs, in bed resting" Madeleine replied.
Taking his hand, Madeleine led him upstairs to the master bedroom. There was 7 month pregnant Serena. She still looked beautiful no matter what. When he walked into their bedroom, she was sitting reading a magazine. On the floor was a tea party set up with Madeleine's dolls.
"Hi Natie" Serena said with a huge smile. He came over and sat on the bed before giving her a kiss. "Hello" he said. She looked at him lovingly as he took off his shoes and loosened his tie. He slid next to her and put his arm around her shoulders. Madeleine continued to play on the floor with her dolls.
"How was your day?" she asked him. "It went well, had a lot meetings and met with clients" he responded.
Getting off the bed he went into their closet to change. He was overjoyed with the prospect of having another child. He really wanted to have a son, but would be more than happy with a daughter.
When Serena was pregnant with Madeleine, she did not show very much until she was 6 months along. This time, she showed much sooner but they had both decided not to find out the sex of the baby.
Coming out of the closet he proceeded down the hallway and into his office. Powering on his computer, he checked his emails and looked over the schedule for tomorrow. He had graduated from Colombia Law School and worked at Bass Industries as the lawyer and Chuck's second in command.
Serena had been modeling until she was 25 when she found out she was pregnant for the second time. She had chosen to take time off to raise Madeleine even though it meant losing some jobs to other models. Cover of Vogue, Vanity Fair, modeling for Marc Jacobs, Prada, Balenciaga, Chanel, and quite a few others.
On his 21st birthday while she was pregnant with Madeleine, she had been offered to do a practically nude photo shoot. Unsure at first, she went along with it. She looked amazing and in his office was the black and white photo of her. Returning to bedroom he looked in to see his daughter and wife on the floor. Serena was french braiding Madeleine hair. The little girl turned to see her father.
"Daddy" she said. She ran over to him and hugged him.
"Hi sweetie" he replied.
Serena smiled as she had Nate help her up from the floor. "How are you feeling today?" he asked. "Doing better and do not forget we have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow" she replied.
"Maddie, why don't you go play in your playroom with your doll house" Serena suggested. The little girl eagerly agreed and headed to the room connected to her bedroom.
"I missed you today" he said sweetly as he kissed her. "I look so big" Serena replied. Looking at the huge mirror in their bedroom. She was wearing a pair of black jeans and a blue waffle shirt. "I think you look beautiful no matter what" he said. "On Nate, you're too nice but I know you love it when I do not look like a whale" she replied.
"Well, it is different but inside you, you're carrying our baby. A beautiful combination of you and me" he told her. It cheered her up a little.
"I still can't fit into any of my clothes that I love" she said.
"Let's go check in on our daughter" Nate said.
Walking into Madeleine's green walled bedroom and into the side room they both peered in. There was Madeleine playing with her dollhouse calmly. She turned around "Hi Mommy! Hi Daddy!" she said enthusiastically. "Is Grandma Lily coming to get me later?" she asked.
"Yes she is, in half an hour" Serena replied. "Let's get you ready!" Serena told her daughter. "Come find me in a little bit" Nate whispered into her ear.
Madeleine followed her mother into her bedroom. It was a pale green with a white bed, matching bookcase, and desk. She had her stuffed animals and some of her favorite dolls. Photos lined the walls. Her parents, her best friends Audrey and Holly, and of course Mittens her kitten. Madeleine was given Mittens for her birthday and was currently curled in a ball sleeping on her bed. She was a gray tabby with bright green eyes.
"Come here honey" Serena called from Madeleine's closet. Madeleine came in to find her mom packing her sleepover bag. "I put in your green spotted pajamas and your sleepover kit with your toothbrush. And clothes for tomorrow. Do you want to pick Maddie?" "Yes, Mommy!" Madeleine replied.
Madeleine chose a blue tunic dress, blue and white stripped leggings, and her silver ballet flats. "I've picked my outfit for tomorrow" she replied. Everyone already knew she had Serena's carefree style. She was going to be attending Constance Billard School for Girls for kindergarten next year with Holly and Audrey, Blair and Chuck's twin daughters.
"You're packed and all you have to do is wait for Lily to come get you in fifteen minutes" Serena told Madeleine.
Madeleine was wearing an orange and white stripped long sleeve tee, a navy blue skirt, flats, and tights. When Lily came to pick Madeleine up, her granddaughter was ready to go.
"Mom, thank you so much for taking her tonight" Serena said.
"Serena anytime. She's an absolute pleasure. And how are you doing?" Lily asked looking at Serena's large stomach.
"Better, I've been resting for the majority of the day" she replied. Nate proceeded to walk into the foyer.
"Hello Nathaniel. How are you doing?" Lily said. "Very well, Lily. Work as usual and preparing for a new member of the family" he said putting his arm around Serena's waist.
"Well we better get going Madeleine. Are you ready?" Lily asked her granddaughter. Madeleine nodded as she grabbed her navy blue peacoat.
Madeleine walked over to her parents and gave them huge hugs and kisses. Grabbing her stuffed giraffe that she always slept with and putting it into the canvas sleepover bag, she was ready to go.
Madeleine took her grandmother's hand and was soon out of the door.
"Guess this leaves us with some time to ourselves" Nate whispered into Serena's ear. He kissed her neck softly.
He took her to the den and sat on one of couches. Serena snuggled close to him as he wrapped the blanket around them. They looked through the movies before making a selection. He pulled her as close as possible to him and kissed the top of her head.
Flashback
Nate and Serena were having dinner with Blair and Chuck when Serena's water broke. Blair had recently had her twins girls Holly and Audrey who had been born April the previous month. Serena only gave Nate a look and he knew.
"Sorry to leave in the middle of dinner, but Serena's water just broke" Nate announced. Serena winced as she began to feel the beginning of the contractions. Nate dialed Lily and Anne, while Blair led Serena downstairs and into their town car. Chuck said he would be there later after he checked on the girls.
Arriving at hospital, Serena was checked into a private room and was accompanied by Nate who held her hand the entire time. Those birthing classes were flashing in and out of Serena's mind.
"Breath babe" Nate told her. Serena inhaled and exhaled, repeating over and over. The contraction passed as Lily brought in Serena's doctor. "Let's see where you're at with these contractions" the doctor told her. Nate was still holding onto Serena's hand. She looked over at him and said "Do not let go". He nodded.
"Serena I want you to be ready to push shortly. The baby is in the right position" the doctor told her. A wave of contractions came over her and she held onto Nate as she pushed. "Serena, you are doing so amazing" Lily told her. Serena had been pushing for nearly an hour as she put her head back down on the pillow exhausted. "Come on Serena" Nate encouraged her.
"One last big push Serena, your baby is nearly here" the doctor told her. Within a few moment a small baby was in the doctors arms as he announced "Baby Girl! Congratulations!" Serena smiled as Nate looked over to see his beautiful daughter who had just taken her first breath into the world when they heard her cry.
"Alright Dad." the doctor motioned for Nate to cut the cord. He took a deep breath and cut where the doctor told him to. The nurse took the baby to weighed and measured her. 6lbs 4oz and 24 inches long.
The nurse handed Serena a pink blanketed bundle. It was their daughter as Nate came to look at her more closely. She had rosy lips, blue green eyes, a small amount of blond hair and a little nose. "She's perfect as can be" Nate said caressing his daughters small cheeks.
Nate took a quick picture of his beautiful daughter with her mother. "How about a name, you two?" Lily asked. Nate and Serena replied "Madeleine Anne Lilian Archibald". "Well isn't that perfect!" Lily replied. Nate kissed Serena and held his daughter for the first time. She was so small and precious, just the way he imagined she would be. "Hi Maddie" he whispered. Handing her back to Serena, he walked out into the waiting room. "It's a girl!" Anne hugged her son, "Let's go see her!" she said. Blair and Chuck were in tow along with Rufus and the Captain.
Everyone all walked in at the same time. "Popular little girl." The nurse commented, Serena nodded at her. Anne held her granddaughter and then handed her to Rufus and then last but not least Blair. "Serena, Nate she is the perfect combination of you two" Blair said. Chuck held his niece and said to Nate "Your daddy is not going to be able to help himself with spoiling you". Rufus held Maddie and looked over at Lily. "We have another one we can spoil" he said.
Handing Madeleine back to Nate. He held her and said "Hi pretty girl. You look just like your mom and I can't wait to take you home!"
Three days later, Serena, Nate, and Madeleine got into their town car and headed home. Serena looked over at Madeleine who slept peacefully in her carrier. As they arrived home and walked into the nursery that had been set up.
The pale green walls, the white crib and matching drawer and changer. The butterfly mobile that hung over the crib, the large M on the wall, along with some wall art. Some toys scattered around the room. A lavender colored rocking chair and it all seemed so perfect. The jogger and stroller in the corner.
The day was spent with visitors coming in and out of their home coming to visit Madeleine. When evening came, the new parents put Madeleine to bed. Luckily if she cried, her nursery was right down the hall.
Maddie had been a good baby and immediately fallen asleep and finally allowing Nate and Serena to sleep too. "Goodnight beautiful" Nate said. She came over in one of his blue button downs and kissed him.
"Perfect timing" Nate said sleepily as he heard the faint cries from the baby monitor. Serena climbed out of their large king size bed. Serena picked up her baby girl and kissed her softly on the head. "Hi beautiful" she sat in the rocking chair and rocked back and fourth while nursing and then changing her diaper.
"Hey" Nate whispered while watching her from the doorway. Serena's beautiful blond hair covered her face as she put Madeleine back in her crib. Nate pushed it aside so he could kiss her. Serena kissed him back and pulled away slowly.
Present
"Serena, let's go to bed" Nate said as the movie came to an end. She nodded as he led her into their bathroom for her to brush her teeth. He quickly changed into a pair of plaid pajama pants and a grey tee shirt. She came out dressed in his old Colombia tee shirt and a pair of boy shorts. He kissed her good night and she fell into a deep slumber.
The following morning Serena woke up promptly, showered and dressed for her 9:30 appointment. Nate was already in the kitchen with breakfast on the table and the cat fed. At 9:00 they took the town car and headed for her doctor.
"Let's take a look Serena. So your 30 weeks along, almost to 8 months now" the doctor said. "Could I have you lift your shirt so we can take a look?" the doctor asked. Serena did as the doctor asked. The doctor poured on the cool gel.
"There's your baby on the screen and it is developing just at the right stages" the doctor told Serena and Nate. "So the baby is about 3 pounds and you have around 9 weeks to your due date which is December 4th. When you're 37 weeks, I'm going to have you come in every week. I will see you in two weeks to check in again".
"Thank you!" Serena said. Leaving the doctor's office, Nate took her hand as they took the elevator. "You hungry" he asked. She nodded as they walked down the street to get a bite to eat.
Madeleine had woken to the smell of waffles in the air. Climbing out of bed, she found her grandma and Rufus at the kitchen table. "Good morning sweetheart, do you want some chocolate chip waffles?" Rufus asked her. She nodded as he put a waffle on her plate as Lily cut it for her and poured her a glass of orange juice. She took a bite and smiled, "Thanks Rufus" she said. He smiled back. "We are going to take you to the zoo after you get dressed before your Mom and Dad get you" Lily told her.
Going back to the bedroom, Madeleine folded her pajamas and got dressed. She went into the bathroom and brushed her long blond hair and brushed her teeth before putting it back in her bag.
She was quite mature for four years old. She loved to play, read, and had a vivid imagination. She was excited to have a sibling, even though she knew she would have to share her mom and dad. Next year she would go to Kindergarten with Holly and Audrey her best friends. Holly and Audrey had brown hair and brown eyes and looked just like Uncle Chuck and Aunt Blair. They were born a month earlier than she was but had quickly become the best of friends. She was taller than them and they both had crushes on Jeremy and Matthew Howard. They were the twin brothers who they went to preschool with. Madeleine had a crush on Charlie McCafferty. She of course told no one, out of fear that he would find out.
Putting on her shoes, she walked into the living room where Rufus took her to the zoo. She enjoyed viewing the animals, especially the giraffe and lion. At around noon, he took her to lunch and returned to the apartment before her parents came to pick her.
"Hi, Maddie" Nate said. She ran to them and they each gave her hugs. "I missed you Daddy!" he grabbed her overnight bag as she hugged her grandparents goodbye. She held Serena's hand as they walked home in the brisk fall air.
Madeleine found Mittens sleeping in her basket as they arrived home. Her parents let her be as they had started designing the new baby's nursery. She went to her playroom to draw for a while.
"Maddie had a good time at the zoo with Lily and Rufus. I'm just worried about spending enough time with her before the baby is here" Serena told Nate. They were sitting on their bed discussing the new baby's room and about Madeleine. "I think she'll be fine, we've explained what's going on" Nate replied. Serena sighed, she was becoming bigger by the day. She placed Nate's hand on her stomach, as the baby kicked. He smiled and said " Hi baby, it's your Dad.
Serena seriously disliked people touching her stomach unless it was Nate of course. At the shower Blair had thrown her, all of her Constance and Columbia friends had tried. It was not an enjoyable experience. He kissed her softly at first until his tongue found hers. They stopped when they heard a small knock. "Come in" Nate said.
Madeleine opened the door and asked to have a story read to her. Serena had Nate help her up as she took Madeleine back to her bedroom. Nate had some work to do for tomorrow. Serena read her a story before Madeleine fell asleep. Serena tucked her in for her nap. She went downstairs to call Blair. "So I'll meet you tomorrow for lunch" Blair said. "That sounds great" she replied.
Hanging up the phone, she sat on the sofa and picked up the pregnancy book she had been reading. She had not had any strange cravings so far during the pregnancy. She had found out shortly before her last show for Spring Fashion Week.
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