Chapter Two
Paris Sweet Paris

'la ville de l'amour
l'amour s'il vous plaît me trouver'

It would be the second time Blair left New York for Paris because of Chuck Bass. She wasn't sure how long ago it was when she left with Serena for the first time; but then again, she wasn't sure about a lot of things now. The thought of being a mother horrified her; eliciting nightmares that plagued her sleepless night. She couldn't do this. Yet none the less, she was leaving New York for Paris in order to escape the pressure of New York, Gossip Girl and Chuck finding out he was about to be a father.

So here she was, at Manhattan Regional Airport, about to board a plane that would take her to France once more. The ghost of the Blair before, the Blair that was once about to leave for Paris with Serena just a few years ago still haunted her as she walked the linoleum floors, passport in hand.

Except it seemed different this time; as if the Manhattan civic around her were staring at her. When was she suddenly such a pariah? Pregnancy was a normal part of life, right?

Not if it's Chuck Bass's baby, it isn't, a grating voice dictated at the back of her mind. She dug her fingernails into the sweaty palms of her hand, willing the elevator doors to open faster. The crowds around her were beginning to grow, along with the intensity of the stares. Her toned abdomen suddenly seemed to swell twice the size, her head burning with the unremitting gazes of those around her. Hallucinating. Or an emotional break down; probably being both. It was true - she really didn't know anything anymore. Just as the lift doors swung open, revealing an empty elevator, a voice rang out from behind her. It took a moment for her to realize the voice was calling her name.

"Blair?" the familiar voice spoke out from. She turned around on her heel and there stood a shell-shocked blonde. Jenny Humphrey.

"Jenny? What are you doing here?" Blair blurted out the questions, her voice, flustered by the ordeal, suddenly becoming hard to find.

"Long story short, I was supposed to meet Nate after he got back from some really dull political meeting in Ontario, or I think it's politics anyway. Well, whatever the crap is he's doing nowadays. Then it turns out that he's called back, this time to Asia. I mean, why the hell are the Japanese wanting to talk to some American politician for? I don't know! So I trek all the way to the frigging airport for him to call me, all remorseful and stuff, saying he's got to go to Japan all the way from goddamn Canada. I mean, sure, they're cool enough people, but I'm so sick of march all the way to this stupid Regional Airport or whatever it's called, just for him to ring and apologize…"

Blair had zoned out of the elevator talk, only half-listening. Even as a good friend of hers, she really wasn't interested in Nate's political life story coming from his irate girlfriend. She had bigger issues.

"Blair? B? Earth to Blair Waldorf!" Jenny snapped her out of her trance; Blair was still mulling over how to escape New York (and Jenny) without her little enigma being figured. "Are you okay?"

Blair looked up neglectfully and smiled; her attempt feeble.

"Of course I am, J. What did you think? Why would I not be okay?" She laughed nervously; ironic really. She had stammered through it all - an instant giveaway sign to Jenny who eyed her apprehensively. The blonde girl wasn't convinced, proven by the fact that she continued distressing Blair with more queries.

"Where are you going anyway?" she probed. "I know you left Chuck ages ago, but why are you disappearing out of the blue so suddenly?"

The mention of Chuck's same instantly sent her into a uneasy reverie of thoughts about the pregnancy scenario. She really couldn't do this.

"Uh…"

Damn. She had evidently been caught red-handed, Jenny's prying eyes narrowing with suspicion as every minute went by.

Improvise Blair, she thought to herself callously. Improvise.

"To see my mom," she blurted out impulsively.

"B, your mom lives in New York? Why the hell would you need to visit your mom via plane?"

"I mean, to see my dad. Yeah, that's w-what I…uh…meant." Not compelling.

"Oh really?" Jenny raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"It was hardly a question because Jenny was far from stupid; hardly the dumb blonde typecast she was often labelled as. Prejudiced pricks; they could have warned her beforehand that she wasn't so easy to convince.

"Yeah…" Blair tailed off.

"I don't believe you, B."Blair sighed. "Okay, I'm not."

"Where are you going then?"

She had to give in; there was no use in hiding it. Jenny was only going to find out sooner or later. "I'm going to Paris, J, but whatever you do, do not tell Chuck. I'm begging you. Blair Waldorf is begging you not to tell him.""Why?" Jenny demanded, sceptical. "Why shouldn't I tell him, B?""Jenny, you're my friend!""And he's my stepbrother! He's your true love, Blair, why doesn't he deserve to know?"

Blair wavered, her mind blank.

"It doesn't matter."

As she turned to leave, the younger blonde gripped her shoulder, forcing her to stand still.

"Blair, tell me.""No."

"B…""Jenny, I can't." There was the pleading again."Why not?" The girl was resolute, Blair had to give her credit for it. It was impressive.

"Because it's…clandestine."Jenny's gaze dropped to Blair stomach as she intuitively and thoughtlessly guarded it, as if she was protecting it from Jenny's quips and stipulates. Protecting it. But before it dawned on her that she was protecting her unborn child, she realized that Jenny had realized. Damn. She endeavoured in trying to pull it off as if she was smoothing down the shirt that had ridden up in the chaotic push of tourists and New Yorkers leaving and arriving from their planes. But a sceptical, unconvinced Jenny had guessed it already.

"No," Jenny sighed. "Blair, tell me it isn't true."And all Blair could do was burst into tears like that, cry as sunk against Jenny in the lackadaisical hug Jenny had offered who was still shaking her head in disbelief. Blair didn't care though; she should let the tears fall like they had when she first discovered she was pregnant in the bathroom.

She truly didn't care about anything anymore.

Bass Residence

"Did you know, Bass?"

Chuck jumped in astonishment at the sound of the penthouse door being slammed open and an ardent, furious blonde stalking in, either forgetting or ignoring the mannerism of knocking on a door.

"Have you ever heard of knocking, Humphrey?" he grumbled to his company, Jenny Humphrey, while sipping scotch from the bottle in his hand.

"Shut up," Jenny seethed, standing before him with her hands on her hips. "I asked you a question."

"And would you be so amiable as to repeat it again?" he griped mordantly.

She emphasized her next words sullenly; every syllable spoken profoundly. "Did you know?"Just three words sounded like venom. "About what, sis?"

Now for Round Two. Even more of an amused Chuck and an irritated Jenny. Though he was still inquisitive about what his stepsister was banging on about.

"You did know, didn't you?"

The words were no longer laced with frustration and vehemence, but dejection on Blair's behalf.

Damn Chuck Bass, she thought acrimoniously. Her stepbrother really thought he was something didn't he?

Chuck's smirk began to fade as he noted Jenny's sudden change in attitude. Maybe this was something deserving of his time.

"What is it, Humphrey?"Jenny briefly forgot about that day's events, perplexed by Chuck's evident concern. Since when did Chuck Bass care? Maybe she was more of a stereotype than she originally thought. He did have a soft heart when it came to some - particularly Blair, whether they were together or not.

She wondered how he would take the news. She worried about how he would take the news.

"About…Blair," her voice faded as her confidence diminished. She was scared for Blair; she knew the brunette couldn't raise a baby on her smirk was long gone and his anxiety was so clear it was like he had the words written on his forehead. This was the first time she was able to read Chuck like a book.

He must still love her.

She was glad - for Blair and Chuck. They were perfect, even with their flaws. They needed each other; Blair predominantly.

"Jenny…" He snapped her out of her reverie.

"Yeah? Oh, Blair…uh…The thing is…she didn't want me to tell you this. I'm doing it on her behalf as well as yours Chuck-"

"Just get on with it," his tone wasn't stark. He just wanted to know what had happened to his took a deep breath. Here goes nothing.

"Blair's pregnant, Chuck."

Chuck just sat there in silence, staggered. No; he was hallucinating. Jenny and her 'news' weren't really there. Were they?

"M-mine?" he spluttered, ignoring the bottle of scotch as it fell to the floor from his kick in the teeth, the glass splintering as it was submerged in a sea of deep amber.

Jenny nodded slowly, willing Chuck to not hate Blair for it. It wasn't her fault. It was both of theirs.

The sound of the clock hands ticking in the background was a cadence that suddenly felt like strident sirens in his head. Jenny just stood there, watching him carefully as a he sat motionless.

"I'm sorry, Chuck but I had to tell you-"

"Just go, Jenny."

She sighed again, nodding hastily and heading towards the apartment's hallway door. Just as she was about to close it against the mahogany frame, he stopped her/"Where is she?"

"Blair? She's gone, Chuck."

"Where is she, Jenny?" his words seemed fierce, spiteful, demanding. "Where?"

Jenny vacillated. "Gone to Paris. Same place as before, Chuck. Go find her; she needs you."She gave him a last look before closing the door and her stepbrother was left in the solitude of his penthouse all over again, watching the shattered glass as if it was a lifeline.

Suddenly he felt like going to Paris.

AN: So many reviews in just one chapter? That's such an amazing shock for me! Thank you so much everyone who has taken the time to review, criticized constructively, rated or read because it's you that keep me inspired. Do you like the update? Let me know! As for questions, let me know in a review or message. I'll try and get round to answering them. BWyn, you'll have to find out later in the story as to why Blair left so suddenly, but the last straw was mentioned in Chapter One (Chuck's drinking habit). There's more to it though. Ziah, the AU elements of the story are very minor. There's no radical changes whatsoever. A negligible change for example is Jenny and Blair being friends rather than enemies and some of the relationships and couples differ to the TV show storylines. Think Jenny and Nate, they're together. I love 'em! ;) But then again, nothing big will alter. If you have anymore questions PM me or let me know in a review, I'll try and answer them.

Oh, and as for all of you asking whether Chuck is going to be there for Blair and the baby, I think you know the answer already! ;)
He may be the devil in disguise, but he's got a soft heart really, especially when it comes to B! :D
And in case you're curious, the French at the beginning of the chapter is translated to 'the city of love' being Paris, but that's probably pretty obvious :)

OH AND MOST IMPORTANTLY: JENNY AND CHUCK NEVER SLEPT TOGETHER. THEY'RE NOTHING MORE THAN STEP-STEP-SIBLINGS (because technically they're not step-siblings, I guess.)

REVIEWS KEEP ME MOTIVATED! KEEP 'EM COMING! ;)

Slaying the Dreamer x