'Chuck.' Grinned Blair as she saw him approaching. 'You actually came.'

'Of course. I wouldn't miss this for the world. Audrey's so excited.' Blair kissed her husband lightly on the lips, taking his hand in hers and leading him towards the front row of the theatre.

'Everyone's already here –you made it just in time. The curtain goes up in two minutes.'

'Daddy!' shouted Tristan Bartholomew Bass, running towards his father at the speed of lightning.

'Hey little man!' laughed Chuck, swinging his son into his arms and receiving a harsh look from Blair. 'We have to sit down now though, your sister's about to come out.' Chuck placed his son down on his seat and sat next to him, holding his small hand in his and waving at the surrounding Van der Woodsen-Humphreys.

'Mommy, sit next to daddy.'

'With pleasure.' Smiled Blair, sinking down next to her husband.

***

'Audrey was amazing.' Squealed Jenny, hugging Blair tightly. 'Don't tell my niece I said this, but she stole the show.

'Didn't she?' grinned Blair, feeling remarkably proud. 'She was funny, and she really became the character. I think she might have a real future in acting.'

'Definitely. Nate and I were so impressed.' Smiled Jenny, sipping at a glass of champagne. 'Remind me to thank Dorota for looking after the girls, Nate and I are incredibly relieved that we actually get to enjoy a party.' Blair and Chuck were, of course, hosting the after party for the musical. It was basically just an excuse for parents to boast about their children.

'Oh, of course. But she's more than happy to do it. Have you seen Serena? I have to go compliment Lola on her performance. She really does have a beautiful singing voice. Plus, she never told me what she thought of my outfit and I'm feeling very insecure.' Blair left Jenny to go search for her best friend, but bumped into her mother instead.

'Darling, Audrey was so wonderful. Cyrus and I were so very proud.' Eleanor hugged her daughter tightly, squeezing her thin body.

'I know. I swear that I saw tears in Chuck's eyes.' Giggled Blair, letting go of her now supportive mother. 'Excuse me for just one second mother, I must find Serena, but Audrey was looking for you. She's over there with Chuck.' Blair pointed in her husband and daughter's direction before continuing to look for Serena.

'Blair.' Lily Humphrey interrupted her search, standing in front of her in a beautiful Marchesa gown and Balenciaga heels.

'Lily! Oh my goodness, you look stunning!' Lily laughed, waving off Blair's compliment.'

'Blair, no one looks stunning at my age. But your daughter is very talented. You know how interested Willow is in theatre. Well, she thought that Audrey stole the show. Not that Lola wasn't adorable and lovely.' Lily corrected quickly, never wanting to offend her beloved granddaughter.

'Thank you very much Lily.'

'You and Charles must be so proud.'

'Oh we are. Lily –have you seen Serena anywhere?' asked Blair, her brown eyes still scanning the crowd.

'I think she's by the bar with Ashton.'

'Thank you Lily. By the way, I meant what I said. You look beautiful, Rufus is a very lucky man.' And off skipped Blair in the direction of Serena and the first born Humphrey.

'S. I've been looking all over for you. Hi Ashton.'

'Hi Blair. How are –'

'Do you mind if I steal your sister for a moment.' Interrupted Blair, already dragging Serena off to another corner of the room. Most people would have been offended, but Ashton was used to Blair's bizarre need for Serena. And she was more than glad to have gotten to know every single detail of all the bizarre relationships in her family.

***

'Robert, they're my life now. You're going to have to accept that.' Hissed Ashton Humphrey-Jones, entering their shared apartment. 'I mean, God!' I grew up with a father who left when I was two years old and a mother who drank herself into oblivion to try to forget him. And now I have parents who love me and five brothers and sisters. How can you ask me to not spend every waking minute with them?'

'Ash, it's been seven years. Seven years and all you do is obsess over them. 'Look at your schedule!' he exclaimed, picking up her Filofax and leafing through it. 'Tuesday: lunch with Serena and Dan, Dinner with Mom and Dad. Wednesday: Shopping with Blair and Serena, Baby-sit Willow. Thursday Breakfast at Le Pain Quotodien with Jenny, Lola's first birthday party … and the list goes on! Ashton, they've taken over your life.'

'Robert, for eighteen years I had to raise myself. Yes, my adoptive mother loved me, but she was understandably heartbroken and couldn't take care of herself, let alone me. I spent eighteen years with myself. They have made my life so much better, and I love that my calendar is filled with the names of people that I love. And who love me.'

'Ashton, I'm just worried about you.' He sighed, putting her planner back down on the glass table.

'Well don't be.' She reassured, walking towards him. 'I'm finally happy. And I finally have people in my life who care about me.'

'You know, I've always cared about you.'

'Yes.' She grinned, flashing Lily's trademark smile. 'Yes, I do know that.'

***

'That party was exhausting.' Sighed Blair, collapsing into bed next to her husband.

'But Audrey was so happy.' Beamed Chuck, remembering his little girl's grin as Manhattan's elite threw compliments in her direction.

'I know. And she really gave the most wonderful performance. So did Lola. God. Serena and I have the most talented children on earth.' Chuck laughed, pulling his wife into his arms.

'I was so proud of her.' Stated Chuck, kissing the nape of her neck, which he knew from experience, was oh-so-sensitive.

'Me too.' Agreed Blair, trying to stifle a moan. 'Chuck, I'm really tired.'

'Mmhmm.' He hummed, slowly kissing his way down her pale body.

'And I'm not really in the mood.' Her protests sounded weak, even to her own ears. Just as he was sliding her silk nightgown up her body, he stopped, leaving her incredibly worked up.

'If you insist.'

'Don't you dare stop Bass!' she yelled, pushing his head back down towards her navel.

'As you wish.'

***

'Blair.' He sighed, stepping out of the yellow cab. 'I knew I'd find you here.' She stood in front of the display window, her face pressed against the glass.

'I had a case of the mean reds.' She mumbled, looking into the dark store.

'Blair, it's one in the morning. Tiffany's not even open. You need to come home.'

'No.' she protested, pressing her hands against the clan glass before turning around to face him. 'I've been such an idiot. I thought that all this time you'd changed, that we were something. What you did in that room was humiliating.' She growled, stepping towards him angrily. 'After four years of being there for you, of supporting you, picking up after your father's death. How could you introduce me to that woman as your –friend? We live together Chuck.'

'I'm sorry Blair.'

'Not enough!' she yelled, using her stepfather's trademark expression. 'Is that all I am to you? A friend you fuck?'

'Of course not.' He replied, taking a cautious step towards her. 'Blair, I love you.'

'Three little words. Say it, and I'm yours.'

'I –I –.'

'Thank you. That's all I needed to hear.'

Blair felt dizzy. He was bending down on one knee and she forgot how to breathe.

'Do you like me Bass?'

'Define like.'

She couldn't think. She felt frozen with shock and was vaguely aware of the words 'Oh my God.' escaping her lips.

'The worst thing you've ever done, the darkest thought you've ever had. I will stand by you through anything.'

'Blair. I can't bear for you to think you're just a friend to me. Truth is, I can't call you my girlfriend anymore, because you are so much more to me.

'Because I love you.'

'Well, that's too bad.'

He's pulling out a box from his pocket, and all she can see is that perfect shade of Tiffany blue.

'In the face of true love you don't give up. Even if the object of your affection is begging you to.'

'We're Chuck and Blair. Blair and Chuck.' Blair can feel him slipping an engagement on to her finger, but she can't even see it due to the tears that are blurring her vision. 'Marry me.' Blair loves that it's not even a question.

'Don't you understand? I don't want you going anywhere. I couldn't bear it.'

'Yes.' She sighs, and as his lips meet hers, she knows that she's never been more sure of anything in her entire life.

'I'm sorry.'

'It's ok.'