This is a one shot I wrote for Sabi. Her prompt was Henry's birth. Not sure this is my best work but I've rewritten and edited the hell out of it and do not feel I'm able to do any more. Thanks for the continued support of this selection of one shots. Appreciate all the reviews, follows and favorites. I swear I have the best readers. Also a big thank you to all my Twitter gals who helped to answer childbirth questions especially Ellen and Debra. It was so helpful. Hope you all enjoy it. As always absolutely nothing is mine.
Blair Waldorf Bass was absolutely miserable. It was August and New York was in the middle of a heat wave. Normally she and her husband would've headed to the cooler beaches of the Hamptons but not this summer. Instead she was pulling herself and her protruding stomach up the stairs of her Manhattan townhouse. Arthur had her elbow and was escorting her up the stairs. He had just spent two minutes helping her maneuver herself out of the limo. She was not happy about either situation at all.
Dorota pulled open the heavy front door and stared down at her employer.
"Miss Blair, Mr. Chuck is very upset that you go out today."
Blair took a deep breath as she reached the top step. "Oh is he? Well you can tell Mr. Chuck that I'm pregnant not an invalid."
She turned to Arthur. "Thank you so much." She patted the arm of the trusted chauffeur. "Mr. Bass and I will be leaving here at seven-thirty sharp."
Arthur gave her a curt nod. "I will see you then Mrs. Bass."
He glanced at Dorota who nodded once to let him know she'd take it from there. He went back down the steps all too happy to leave the very hormonal Mrs. Bass behind.
Dorota held the door wide as Blair stepped across the threshold. She rubbed her lower back. "I swear if this baby doesn't arrive soon I'm going to pull him out myself." Blair was forty-one weeks and two days pregnant; nine whole days past her due date.
Dorota patted her arm. "Baby come when he ready Miss Blair."
"Well I'm ready now. I can't handle much more of this." She was waddling through the foyer and down the hall towards the kitchen. "I'm huge. My feet are twice their normal size. I couldn't even get my Lanvin flats on this morning. My boobs are killing me, my back is aching and I look like a beached whale. Not to mention that I'm dying of heat exhaustion."
"Well I think you have never looked more beautiful."
Chuck had stepped out of his office just in time to hear his wife's tirade. Blair stopped at the entrance to the kitchen turning to face her husband. "Don't you dare lie to me Charles Bass."
He made his way down the hall stopping in front of her placing his hands on either side of her huge stomach. "You have never looked more beautiful than you do right now carrying my son and that is the absolute truth." He leaned forward placing a soft kiss against her lips.
Blair rolled her eyes, mumbled "Liar," and walked into the kitchen.
Dorota was already getting her a glass of water as she lowered herself into a chair. "My feet are killing me."
Chuck took the chair next to hers pulling it out and facing it towards her. He sat down in it, lifting her foot into his lap. He removed her shoe and began to massage her swollen arch.
Blair sighed. "That feels so good."
He smiled at her. "Finally something positive out of your mouth."
Blair took her glass from Dorota and glared at Chuck taking a sip. She set the glass on top of the table.
Chuck continued to massage her foot. "Blair I really don't want you wandering around the City anymore. You could go into labor any minute and I don't want you too far from home. We agreed you'd stay home unless you were with Dorota or me until the baby was born."
She shook her head. "We agreed on nothing. You dictated and expected me to do your bidding."
He lifted her other foot to massage it as well. "Blair, I worry about you. I can't help it. Please for my peace of mind stick close to home."
She sighed nodding her head. "Fine." She rolled her eyes taking another sip of water and then pulled her feet from his lap. "I'm going to go take a nap. I'm exhausted. I hardly slept at all last night." She stood up with some help from Chuck. "Your son decided to keep me awake kicking the whole night."
Chuck leaned in and kissed her. "Do you want me to tuck you in?"
She shook her head picking up her glass of water. "I'll manage." She started to waddle away and stopped when she heard Chuck's soft laughter. She turned her head to look at him. "What's so funny?"
He smirked at her. "You are literally barefoot and pregnant."
Blair looked down at her shoeless feet wiggling her perfectly painted toenails and then glared at her husband. "Ass." She turned her back on him and a chuckling Dorota and waddled out the door.
Two hours later she woke to find her husband entering the bedroom. He was loosening his tie as he crossed the room.
"Sorry I didn't mean to wake you." He sat down on the edge of the bed. "Did you have a good rest?"
Blair nodded laying a hand on her stomach. "Actually I did. He only kicked me once or twice that I remember."
Chuck laid his hand on top of hers. "Have I told you how much I love you lately?"
She smiled up at him from the pillow. "Not in the last few hours."
He leaned down kissing her. He then whispered in her ear. "I love you so much it hurts." He sat back looking down at her. "Thank you."
She looked at him questioningly. "For what?"
He took her hand and entwined their fingers together. "For loving me and giving me the family I've always wanted. You have no idea how happy you have made me."
She laid her free hand against his cheek. "I love you too."
He turned his head placing a kiss against her palm.
It was then that she felt a sharp pain that literally took her breath away. She gasped, "Ow."
He looked at her concerned. "Are you alright?"
Blair released a deep breath and rubbed her stomach. "Yeah. That was strong." She had been having intense Braxton Hicks for the past five days.
She took another deep breath and took his hand. "Help me up."
He did as she asked and she started to cross to the bathroom. "I'm going to take a quick shower and then we should start to get ready."
Chuck looked at Blair in complete confusion. "Get ready for what?"
Blair sighed turning to face her husband. "Tonight is the charity dinner and gala for the New York Historical Society. Don't tell me you've forgotten. I told Bethany to add it to your schedule last week."
"Are you out of your mind? We are not attending that gala Blair. You are literally moments away from giving birth. I asked your mother and Cyrus to go in our place this past weekend at brunch."
Eleanor and Cyrus had arrived in New York nearly five weeks ago. Eleanor was insistent that there was no way she was going to miss the moment her only child gave birth to her first grandchild. They'd been waiting in town ever since.
Blair felt her eyes begin to well up with tears. "Why would you do that? I'm completely capable of attending a dinner Chuck. Is this because you're embarrassed to be seen with me now that I'm big as a house?" A tear slipped down her cheek. "You find me unattractive. Don't you?"
Chuck quickly crossed their bedroom to stand in front of her. "Blair you are hormonal and not thinking clearly. You know how attractive I find you." He kissed her cheek. "I believe I showed you how much last night."
She gave him a watery smile. He reached out and wiped the tear from her cheek. "I don't want you pushing yourself. I want you to stay home tonight with your feet up and my arms around you. Let your parents attend the gala. Your mother was thrilled when I asked her. It makes her and Cyrus feel…"
He stopped as Blair gripped his arms in pain. She gasped and felt wetness between her legs. "Oh God."
Chuck looked down at the front of her dress which was wet. "Did your water just break?"
She nodded and began to cry. "I'm scared Chuck." She started to shake a little. "I've changed my mind I don't wanna do this. I don't wanna have a baby. We don't need a baby. We're good just the two of us."
Chuck pulled her as close as he could to himself kissing her temple as he wrapped his arm around her neck. "You Blair Waldorf are the most amazing woman I have ever known and there is nothing you can't do." He kissed her again. "You are going to be fine and our son is going to be fine. Do you hear me?" He pulled back looking into her tear-filled eyes.
Blair nodded her head as another tear slipped down her face. "But I'm really scared."
He took her hands and squeezed. "I know you are but I promise you I will be there right by your side the entire time. We'll get through this together." He nodded at her.
Suddenly she felt another contraction and took a deep breath gasping. "It hurts." As the contraction passed she took another breath and wiped her face.
Chuck kissed her. "Why don't you get a shower? I'm going to call Dr. Kerr and let her know you're in labor."
Blair nodded. "Call my mother too and Serena." She started into the bathroom and then stopped. "Don't forget Lily."
He smiled. "Do you realize we're going to finally get to hold our son?" Tears filled his eyes.
Blair started to cry again. "I know. I feel like I've been waiting my whole life for this moment."
Chuck approached her kissing her. "Me too. I'll be back in to check on you in a few minutes."
He wiped her cheeks one last time and left the bathroom closing the door behind him. He shouted for Dorota. He didn't want to leave the bedroom in case she needed him. He picked up his cellphone dialing Eleanor.
Three hours later they were in Blair's private suite at Lenox Hill Hospital. She was dressed in a beautiful vintage Christian Dior silk nightgown and robe in slate blue; the perfect color to welcome her baby boy.
Blair had a very detailed birth plan. She had spent the past two months making sure everything was in place. She even went so far as to interview anesthesiologists and their patients. In doing so she had decided on Dr. Michael Goldberg. They had arranged for him to have privileges extended to him at Lenox Hill.
Chuck had also made his wishes clear to Blair. He didn't want to see anything below her waist and he didn't want to cut the cord or watch his son make his actual first appearance into the world. Blair was in complete agreement with him. She had read many an article about men who had "seen" too much and she wanted to make sure that did not happen to Chuck.
Dr. Kerr who was examining Blair smiled up at the two of them. "Well Blair you are progressing nicely. You're four centimeters and completely effaced." She helped Blair lower her legs and pulled her nightgown back into place. Things should really start to move now."
The nurse had put in a call to Dr. Goldberg to check on his arrival time and was now back. She asked to speak to Dr. Kerr. They crossed the room to chat.
Chuck took Blair's hand squeezing it. "How do you feel?"
She smiled at him. "Okay."
Chuck leaned over and kissed her.
Dr. Kerr came back to them. "Alright we have a slight situation."
Blair sat up a bit straighter looking frightened. "What's wrong?"
Dr. Kerr held up her hand. "Nothing to get worried about but Dr. Goldberg is stuck in traffic on the FDR. He's not sure yet what is going on and is trying to get here as quickly as possible."
Blair started to panic. "No, no that wasn't the plan." She shook her head. "He needs to give me my epidural."
Chuck got up from his chair and sat on the edge of Blair's bed wrapping an arm around her. "It's okay Blair."
Suddenly a really bad contraction hit her. Blair leaned forward letting out a low moan. She started to take a couple of deep breaths and releasing them. Chuck rubbed her back. After a minute she fell back onto the pillow.
"That really hurt."
Dr. Kerr checked the monitor and Blair's vitals as well as the baby's. "You have a couple of choices Blair. You can use our anesthesiologist or you can continue what you're doing now and wait it out for Dr. Goldberg." She smiled at Blair. "I'll give you guys a moment to discuss it. I'll be back in a few minutes."
She left them alone and Blair started to cry. "This wasn't the plan. He was supposed to be here."
Chuck kissed the top of her head. He didn't like seeing her in this kind of pain. "Blair I think you should get the epidural now. I'm sure the doctor on staff here is great and knows exactly what he's doing."
She shook her head. "I did all the background checks and none of these doctors even came close to Dr. Goldberg on recommendations from patients. I think I'll wait it out. It's just rush hour traffic. It'll clear up soon."
An hour later and Blair had had enough. It turned out that there had been a horrible accident on the FDR and everything was shut down. Dr. Goldberg, who was in direct communication with Chuck at this point, was hopeful things were going to get moving. That was thirty minutes ago.
Blair's contractions were now every three to five minutes and they were becoming more intense. Though Chuck would never admit it to Blair he was in a complete panic. He hated seeing her in this much pain. It was literally killing him. He decided right there and then to never impregnate her again. He didn't care about the family plan they had discussed and the decision they had made to have another baby in three years. This was enough for him. He would never put her through this again.
Chuck summoned Dr. Kerr and let her know that Blair wanted the epidural now. Dr. Kerr thought that was a good decision and went to place the call.
Blair was lying on her side with her eyes closed. Chuck sat next to her rubbing her back. "They're calling the anesthesiologist now. He'll be here soon."
She nodded silently. He stared at her back. "Do you need anything?"
She nodded again. "Can you lay with me?"
He smiled as he laid down pulling her into his arms. He kissed the side of her neck and laid his hand on her hip.
She sniffled. "I was stupid. I shouldn't have waited for Dr. Goldberg. I could be pain free right now. This so wasn't the plan."
"I know," he whispered in her ear.
Her next contraction started and Chuck held her as she gripped the rail of the bed crying out in pain. When it was finished she started to cry. "I don't think I can do this Chuck."
He held her tighter kissing her sweaty temple. "Yes you can. You are the strongest, bravest woman I know and you can do this."
She turned her tear filled eyes to his. "I'm expecting one hell of a push present you know."
He laughed kissing her. "Oh I know."
Dr. Kerr knocked on the door once and entered. Chuck sat up and helped Blair roll over onto her back. "We have a slight problem."
Blair started to panic. "What? What's wrong?"
Dr. Kerr stopped in front of Blair's bed. "Dr. Yorke just went into an emergency C-section. He won't be available for at least another hour."
Blair started to cry shaking her head. "I can't do this for another hour. I can't. Chuck please…"
He wrapped his arm around her holding her. "What other options do we have?"
"We paged the on call anesthesiologist he'll hopefully be here in half an hour or less. You just have to hang tight till then. I'll be back in bit."
Blair glared at her retreating back. "'Hang tight'? Who the fuck says hang tight to a woman in labor? I want fucking meds."
Chuck had only heard Blair use the f word when they were in bed and she was talking dirty to him. He glanced down at her. "You are amazing." He kissed her.
Blair laughed. "Of course this would only happen to me. If it were Serena in this bed Dr. Goldberg would've been here waiting for her when she arrived and she would've been perfectly numb throughout this whole experience." She rolled her eyes.
Chuck rubbed her shoulder. "We are anything but boring, Mrs. Bass."
She started to respond when she felt another contraction and so it went for the next fifteen minutes until there was a knock on the door and Eleanor came in. "There's my little girl."
Blair immediately started to cry. "Mother, I'm so glad you're here."
Chuck got up from the bed kissing Eleanor on the cheek. She patted his shoulder and sat down on the bed next to her daughter enveloping her in her arms. "How are you doing?"
Blair shook her head. "I feel like my insides are being ripped out."
Eleanor glanced at Chuck. "Why hasn't she had the epidural yet?"
Chuck explained and Blair had another contraction. This time Eleanor dabbed her forehead and soothed her. When it had passed Eleanor glanced at Chuck. The poor guy looked like he was ready to faint.
She gave her daughter another squeeze and then got up. "Chuck, Lily and Cyrus are in the waiting room. Why don't you give them an update about what's going on in here and get yourself a cup of coffee? I'll stay with Blair."
Chuck tried not to look too relieved. He gave Blair a gentle kiss. "I'll be right back."
"Take your time. Mother will take good care of me." She touched his cheek and smiled.
Chuck stepped out of the room and closed the door. He leaned against it and took a couple of deep breaths. He had to pull it together. He didn't realize how unprepared he was for all this. He took another breath and headed down the hall and into the waiting room.
Cyrus and Lily were chatting quietly in the corner. They both looked up as Chuck entered the room. Lily jumped up giving him a hug.
"How is Blair?" She smiled endearingly at him.
Chuck shook Cyrus' hand. "She's amazing as always. I can't believe how much pain she's able to handle."
Lily rubbed his back. "Blair is strong. Why hasn't she had an epidural?"
Chuck launched into the whole story again. Lily could see the toll that all this had taken on him. She turned to Cyrus. "Would you mind going to get us some coffee?"
Cyrus nodded. "Of course. I'll be right back."
Lily took Chuck's hand and led him to a chair. He collapsed into it sighing. "What am I doing Lily? I'm no help to her. She's in excruciating pain and there's absolutely nothing I can do to alleviate it. I don't even know what I'm doing having a child with her. She didn't want to have a baby at first. She said she was too young and we hadn't been married long enough and I cajoled and coerced her until she finally agreed. What was I thinking? I know nothing about being a father. How could I? Look at my parenting role models they're horrible. A mother who abandoned me and a father who despised me, leaving me to be raised by nannies and governesses. What kind of genes am I passing onto my child?" He laid his head in his hands.
Lily squeezed his knee. "Charles you are going to be the best father. You have already proved that you are a better person. You have done the hard work to make yourself into the best kind of man and I know in my heart that you love Blair and that baby more than anything else in this world. There is no way you could ever do anything but right by both of them."
He lifted his head and looked at her. "What if I mess up?"
She nodded. "You probably will. Parenting is a learn as you go process. There are no rules or books. We all just do the best that we can. They main thing is love and you have more than enough of that. You and Blair are going to be wonderful parents."
He took a deep breath. "Thank you."
She smiled patting his knee. "That's what I'm here for."
He shook his head. "Not just for the advice but for being the mother I never had. I know I never told you but I appreciate it more than you know and my son is so lucky to have a grandmother like you."
Lily with tears in her eyes hugged him tightly.
"What's going on in here?"
Nate came in followed by Serena. Chuck wiped his eyes and stood up hugging his best friend and kissing Serena on the cheek. "You guys made it. How was traffic?"
Nate shrugged. He and Serena had been in the Hamptons and had packed up and headed back as soon as they had gotten the news. "It was horrible. Next time could you send the chopper."
Chuck laughed. "I never even thought about that."
Serena reached out taking Chuck's arm. "So how is Blair?"
"Good. She should be getting the epidural shortly and basically it's a waiting game. According to the doctor it's progressing as it should be."
"I want to see her."
He nodded. "She would love it. Just be prepared. The contractions are bad and she's in a lot of pain at the moment. She actually used the f word earlier if you can believe that."
Serena laughed. "She must be hurting."
Cyrus entered with the coffee. Chuck took it thanking him. He took a sip and passed it off to Nate. Then he and Serena headed down to Blair's suite.
Chuck opened the door and immediately they heard Blair laughing. "Mother, that's awful." She looked up and saw her best friend. "Serena you're here!" She held her arms out.
Serena glanced at Chuck. "She looks like she's in a lot of pain alright." She left Chuck in the doorway and rushed to her friend's side. They hugged and Serena crawled onto the bed with Blair.
Chuck then noticed the doctor on the other side of his wife's bed. Blair waved him over. "Chuck come meet the most wonderful man in the world. Dr. Yorke this is my husband Charles Bass."
Chuck stepping around Blair's bed shook Dr. Yorke's hand. "I'm assuming the epidural is in place."
Dr. Yorke nodded. "It is Mr. Bass and it seems to be starting to work. She just had a contraction with virtually no pain. I think by the next one she won't feel it at all."
Blair smiled at the doctor. "Isn't he wonderful? If I weren't already married I'd be asking you Dr. Yorke."
He laughed. "You're not the first pregnant woman to say that to me Mrs. Bass but you're definitely the prettiest."
Chuck took Blair's hand. He felt the need to remind her of his presence. He leaned down kissing her. "I'm so glad you're feeling better."
She nodded sighing contentedly. "So much better."
For the next five hours everyone hung out. Blair tried to rest as much as possible so she could push when the time came. Around two-thirty in the morning Dr. Kerr gave Blair another examine.
"Alright Blair you're nine centimeters. I think within the next hour or two you'll be fully dilated and you can begin pushing. Rest as much as you can because you're going to need your strength."
Chuck looked down at his wife. "I'm going to send everyone home." They had headed to the waiting room while the doctor had conducted her examine. Normally no visitors were allowed past nine o'clock but the Basses weren't normal.
Blair nodded. They had decided that when the time came it would just be the two of them to welcome their son into the world.
"Have them come say goodbye before they go."
He kissed her. "I'll be right back."
Everyone said their goodbyes and Chuck promised to call as soon as their son arrived. Finally the room was quiet. Chuck dimmed the lights and crawled in the bed cradling his wife.
He kissed her cheek and whispered, "I love you."
Blair didn't respond because she was already asleep.
Three hours later Blair pushed their son into the world.
The doctor handed him to the nurse. "He's a healthy boy."
Blair started to cry and Chuck kissed her temple. "You did it. I'm so proud of you."
The doctor cut the cord and the nurse wiped him off a bit and suctioned him. Blair and Chuck heard their son cry for the first time. The nurse laid the baby into Blair's arms. "Here's your son Mrs. Bass. He's perfect."
Blair immediately checked his fingers and toes. "He's so pretty." She was crying quite hard now.
Chuck looked down at the little bundle in her arms and was wondering what exactly Blair was seeing. He was wrinkly and covered in goo. Not exactly what he would call pretty but all that aside his heart was bursting. He never believed in love at first sight before now. He was immediately, hopelessly in love with his son.
Blair leaned down kissing his forehead as Chuck reached a finger out touching his hand. Blair glanced up at Chuck. "He's ours Chuck and he's wonderful."
He nodded. "Yes he is."
The nurse smiling at the new parents reached out for the baby. "I'm just going to take him for a few minutes Mrs. Bass. We need to clean him up and weigh him. Then we'll get him diapered and back to you."
Blair pushed on Chuck's arm. "Go with them. I don't want him out of our sight."
Chuck looked down at her like she was crazy. "Blair they're not leaving the suite."
"I don't care. He should have his daddy with him. He might be scared otherwise."
Chuck realized that his wife was extremely hormonal and sleep deprived not to mention slightly nuts but she had just given birth to his son and there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for her. He kissed her and got up and went over to where the nurse was taking care of their son.
An hour later they were cozy just the three of them in Blair's bed. She had breastfed and the baby had taken to her perfectly. Chuck had called everyone but told them not to come for a few hours. He wanted time alone with his family plus Blair was exhausted.
Blair and Chuck had discussed names at length before the baby's birth. Nothing had been decided. Chuck was currently holding their son and it was in that moment that he knew what he wanted to name him.
"Henry. He should be Henry."
Blair looked at her husband wrinkling her brow at him. "Henry? As in the name you chose when you were running away from me and your life to shack up with that…that woman?"
Chuck looked at her. "Yes Henry as in the name I chose when I knew I wanted to become a better man. A man worthy of your love; a man you could count on. A man who could love you completely; a man who could become the father he never had. It's Henry."
She felt a tear slip down her cheek. She pulled her eyes from his and looked at their son cradled so comfortably in her husband's arms. She leaned over and kissed the top of his head.
"Then Henry it is." She took his hand in hers. "Henry Charles Bass."
Chuck smiled at her leaning over and kissing her. He then leaned down and kissed his son's cheek. "Welcome to our family Henry."
By eight Dorota had arrived to help her Miss Blair do her hair and makeup and change into a fresh nightgown and robe. She cried when she first saw Henry and didn't stop fussing over him. Soon everyone else arrived and other than breastfeeding Blair didn't get a single moment with her son. But she was okay with that. As she looked around the room at her family she realized just how lucky her son was. He had been born into a family that would love and protect him always. They may not all be blood related but they couldn't be any more bonded than they were.
Chuck popped the cork on the champagne, pouring a glass for everyone and toasting his beautiful wife and handsome son. Blair took one swallow and set her glass aside.
She looked across the room at her husband and smiled mouthing, "I love you."
He lifted his glass mouthing back, "Me too."
She closed her eyes and immediately fell asleep content, happy and complete.
A/N This is in response to Anne who left a guest review for one of my other stories. Hopefully she's reading this. She asked me about my feelings on anon reviews and turning them off. First of all I appreciate all reviews even anon ones. I personally would never turn off the ability to leave an anon review. My only frustration comes from an anon or guest asking questions and I can't answer them. I do not like using this space for answering questions so in the future I will not be doing that. I ask if you don't have an account on Fanfic that you then please ask your question via Twitter. My name there is ShawnMarieH . Hope this answers your question Anne.
