Blair woke up when her bed moved, she stretched her arms out grabbing Chuck's hand before he could get out of bed pulling him back in. "Do you have to go so early?"
"You know I do," he said kissing her forehead as she opened her eye's.
"Doesn't mean I have to like it," she said and he smirked.
"Erik and I wanted to get an early start," he said squeezing her arms lightly. "That doesn't mean you had to get up as well."
"You move a lot when you get out of bed, I can't help it," she said smiling up at him.
"Sorry, I'll try to be stealthier next time," he said bring one of her hands to his lips.
"I'll still feel it, I know when you're not around," she said turning her face into his chest.
"You always did," he said chuckling. "Don't worry we'll be home early, hopefully with Nathaniel."
Blair leaned up for a kiss and watched as he got out of bed and headed into the bath, she knew this thing with Nate was harder for him. Nate had always been the bigger part of Chuck's life then most people realised, his best friend, the only person that saw who Chuck was, who accepted Chuck with his flaws and didn't judge him. She was guilty of doing that before she really got to know him as something more than her scheming partner. He and Nate barely spoke like they used to but Chuck always had the knowledge that he could pick up the phone and Nate would answer, now when he dialled the number it went straight to voicemail, to a reminder that Nate was missing.
Blair woke up nearly an hour after Chuck left and as she made her way down to the kitchen she past Serena's room, she couldn't help but sneak in to see how her best friend was doing, the night before Serena was so exhausted that after breaking down in Chuck's arms she finally got the sleep they all knew she needed. When Blair walked into the room however she was awake, already dressed for the day in a slim fitting dress, pulled back hair and pearl jewellery their mothers used to wear. She was sitting on the bed playing with Summer, the little girl had a book in her hands and was pointing to the picture trying to pronounce the words her mother was reading to her.
"Hi," Blair said standing at the doorway so as not to intrude in the family moment. Serena looked up at her and smiled, patted the space on the bed next to her and waited for her to climb onto the bed before continuing reading to her daughter.
When Summer turned her attention away from the book and on to one of her dolls Serena turned to Blair and leaned her head on her shoulder. "I miss him," she said and Blair's heart ached for her best friend.
"I know sweetie," Blair whispered watching Serena's perfectly made-up face for any signs of another breakdown. When Serena didn't even respond she asked "Why are you so dressed up?"
"I'm meeting Anne and my mom for lunch we have to discuss what to tell the press," she said quietly watching her daughter crawl to the end of the bed to find her dolls hairbrush. "People are asking questions, they can't understand how the van der Bilt heir disappeared and so close to his estranged fathers wedding, they started with news blasts this morning."
"His fathers getting married?" Blair asked raising an eyebrow, Chuck usually told her these things.
"Yeah she's well known in Australia and Nate was there for the wedding when he disappeared," Serena said keeping her eye's fixed on Summer. "He was going to come home."
"So he and his father are on good terms?" Blair asked.
"He agreed to be there, it's a start," Serena said. "I think his father upset him again though because he didn't want to be any part of it anymore."
"I remember before you got married," Blair mused.
"Nate didn't even want him in the same continent," Serena smiled. "It got better once he stopped the drugs, he was at the wedding and we even let him see Summer every once in a while, they were back on good terms I don't know what changed Nate's mind."
"Do you think he's back on drugs?" Blair asked.
"I don't know but it's possible, he would've told me that," Serena said. "I should get her ready."
Blair watched Serena pick out Summers clothes and take the baby into the bathroom to get ready for lunch with her grandmothers.
Blair made herself and Serena coffee and took it to the main room that Serena was just walking into with the tiny two year old in front of her looking every bit like Serena and Nate's daughter should, soft light blond locks, bright blue eyes and a tiny dimple in her chubby cheek. Serena dressed her in a simple white knee length dress, stockings and black pumps.
Blair watched Nate and Serena's little girl run around the room, watched Serena take a deep breath in and answer her phone, the hard woman speaking to her mother in law through the phone was a shadow of the free girl from a few weeks ago when Blair spoke to her. Not to intrude Blair watched the child and was reminded of Audrey, she missed her daughter so much. Chuck wanted to keep her away from the emotional torment of their home town but she wanted the three year old to be exposed to this life so when they move back it won't take her by surprise.
Summer picked up a frame from the coffee table in front of her and went to Blair with it. "You," she said pointing to the brunette in the picture that was definitely her. Blair smiled at Summer and the little girl took that as a clue to continue. "Ma," she said pointing to Serena's face and bright smile. Serena turned when she heard her daughter but when she realized what she was doing and that Blair had the baby she continued on the phone.
"Very good," Blair said congratulating the child on picking them out in the photo, it was of the four of them during their Columbia days. "Who's that sweetie?" she asked pointing to Chuck.
The little girls eye's lit up in recognition but then she frowned when she tried to say the name, "Uck," she said and huffed knowing it wasn't the right way to pronounce it. "Uck," she said again.
"Yeah Summ that's ... Uck," Blair smiled, she'd tease Chuck about his new nickname as soon as he got back.
"Dada," Summer said forgetting about pronouncing Chucks name and pointing to the last person in the frame, the one with his arms wrapped tight around her mother. Blair smiled at the baby and looked up worriedly as Serena froze, whispering a quick bye to Anne as the phone slid from her hands and stared at them. Summer cooed a little more then looked up at her mom and pointed again to Nate, "Da."
"Yeah baby, daddy," Serena said tears in her eyes as she bent down to scoop her baby girl up in her arms and hug her close. Summer hugged her mom then started squirming in her arms to be set down. "He's not supposed to be gone," Serena said sitting down next to Blair and putting her face in her hands.
Blair held her fragile best friend and hoped to God that where ever Nate was, he was safe. Summer looked oblivious to her mothers pain but Blair knew the child felt it worse then anyone else did. "What did Anne want?"
"She said something came up and rescheduled for tomorrow," Serena said squeezing her eye's tight before opening them to watch her daughter twirl in front of her and giggle at the dress when it flowed with her. "She'll probably come here later to discuss everything."
"Ok then you have nothing to worry about, they will find Nate before you have to deal with the press and he will be perfect and everything will go back to normal," Blair said hoping her friend could have the hope that she needs for this.
"But you don't promise," Serena said softly. Summer stopped spinning and sat on the floor trying to shake the dizziness from her head.
"What?" Blair asked not understanding what Serena wanted from her.
"When you know something's going to work out, when you believe it yourself you promise me it's going to be ok," Serena said and then she looked up at Blair. "You didn't promise."
Blair shook her head she didn't know half of the things her best friend might be feeling but she wishes she could take the pain away. Her promises meant more to Serena then a lot of other things did and she didn't realize it until that moment. "Sweetie I wish I could promise you that Nate will be home safe but I don't know, I really don't," Blair said holding Serena to her and shedding a few tears of her own.
"Dada," Summer squealed running to the opening door.
"Summer," Serena called running after the baby in her heals. "Summer baby come here, that's not daddy."
Dan Humphrey walked into the room and hugged his niece who scrunched her nose up frustrated with all the people coming to her house that were not her father, "I could've been but I'm not," he said shooting a look at Serena that Blair raised an eyebrow to."He'll be home soon, ok?"
Summer nodded as Dan hugged Serena and handed her over to her mother. Blair looked from Dan to Serena and sensed the tension, she was about to comment when Lily came rushing in.
"Gama," Summer called when she saw Lily.
"I'm so sorry Serena, I was running late so I asked Dan to bring me over," she said. "Hey Summer, Grandma's going to take you out shopping for a bit, we can go for ice-cream, how's that sound?" Summer nodded at her grandmother giving her permission to take her away.
"So I take it Anne called you as well?" Serena asked as Larisa handed Lily Summer's jacket.
"Yes she did and we both think you need some time without Summer," Lily said sternly taking the little girl from her daughter and Serena sighed and nodded her head.
"Bye baby, have fun with grandma ok?" Serena asked smoothing the baby's hair and kissing her cheek then she turned to her mother. "Not too much sugar mom."
"Whatever you say, I will spoil my granddaughter as I please isn't that right Summ," Lily asked and the baby giggled waving to her mom and aunt as Lily walked out with her and Dan but not before Dan looked back smugly at Serena one last time.
Serena turned to Blair and shook her head at her questioning face. "You don't want to know," Serena said wrapping her arms around her body.
"Oh no Serena that's where you're wrong," Blair said angrily. "Please tell me that while Nate is missing you and Dan are not going behind his back."
"No!" Serena screamed. "Of course not."
"S things between you and Dan have been weird for a while, don't think I didn't notice when we all got together," Blair said in a low voice. "I know Nate noticed S, he isn't as blind as you think he is, he pays more attention to you then anyone else ever has, so tell me what happened."
"B you have to know that I love Nate," Serena said her voice breaking slightly as she spoke and Blair glared at her making her flinch.
"When?" she asked, her eyes burning into Serena wanting the truth.
"It was before I found out I was pregnant," Serena said looking away from her best friend and down at her fingers, Blair took a deep breath.
"Is Summer Nate's daughter Serena?" Blair asked through clenched teeth, she was so angry at her best friend but she was keeping it in because she knew her friend was more then broken up about Nate being gone. If Summer wasn't Nate's daughter it will destroy all of them, she worried more for her god daughter then anyone else. "Answer me!"
A/N : Ok so thank you so much for the reviews guys, this story wasnt supposed to be put up but I thought what the hell it's been a while since I've had any insperation at all, I started so many fics but none of them have proper endings, I need to get back into this ...
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, It was prewritten and I didnt have dialogue in the beggining between Blair and Chuck but since City Lights Agleam requested it I managed to add some, in future chapters there is more CB interaction but this is primarily an NS fic so I apologise if I dont write them too well
There was some confusion about Nate's surname, no I didnt make a mistake and yes it will all be explained in the next chapter or the one after that so sorry about that
Please review and tell me what you think, I really appriciate it when you take the time to give me feedback
Until next time (^^,)
