AN: A million thank yous for the awesome feedback. I'm working on the next chapter now, but I wanted to go ahead and put this one out there. Hope you're all enjoying the progression!
Chapter 10.
INSANITY
"One ought to hold onto one's heart; for if one
lets it go, one soon loses control of the head too."
- Nietzsche
Serena looked between Chuck and Blair waiting on an answer. She loved them both dearly, and she supported their efforts in being a family with Parker, but the idea of Blair moving back in seemed ludicrous. Two weeks ago, Chuck could barely say her name, and now he was ready to move her back in, see her every day, and share his son with her. Serena didn't believe it, and she very much feared they were setting themselves up for a fall. Chuck and Blair had always been this way, so impulsive. They'd gotten married a month after Blair announced she was pregnant even though both their families had reservations. Serena herself had even been concerned, but they'd jumped in headfirst.
"Did you hear me?" She pressed.
"You're screeching, Serena. How could we not hear you?" Blair's voice was tight, and she was holding herself so rigid Serena thought she might crack and break into a million pieces. At least she wasn't jumping on this. That meant there was still hope.
"You cannot move back into the penthouse. Parker is a kid. You don't have to say yes to his every whim, especially crazy ones like this. You two will fight and he'll see it, or worse you'll kill one another." Serena was desperate to get through.
Chuck had remained silent until that, but he finally seemed to come out of his reverie. "It's done. I promised, Parker. We've managed to be civil, and we'll continue to do so. End of discussion." Chuck had this resolute expression that scared the hell out of Serena. When he got like this she'd never been able to talk him back down, and she'd never once seen him break a promise to Parker.
"Wait…" Blair looked panicky, and Serena zeroed in on her. "You can't just…" Blair was shaking her head. "I can't just move back in… Serena is right. That's…" She couldn't seem to manage to finish a sentence, and Serena felt for her. Blair was stronger than ever, but she was still fragile and this kind of change had to be overwhelming.
Chuck's face transformed into a sneer, and Serena was scared of what was coming. Blair noticed as well, and took a cautious step back. Something she'd said had set him off, and both women knew that was not a good thing.
"Are you worried about Carter? Once again putting him ahead of our son?" Chuck's anger was barely leashed, and Serena reached out to still him. Once he blew there was nothing she could do, but he wasn't over the edge yet. Carter seemed to be a hot button for him though, just as he was for Nate. Serena sincerely regretted ever bringing that man into their lives.
"No, Chuck." Blair was spinning. It was as if the world was happening around her, but not too her. From the second Chuck had said she could move in with them she'd been dizzy with fear. The idea of going home, of being a family. It was unreal. A pipe dream she never imagined she'd have, and now here it was. Not perfectly wrapped or exactly what she wanted, but so damn close she was scared if she touched it it would disappear. A mirage to drive her insane again.
Serena stepped in. "Chuck think about this. Parker is excited right now, but he doesn't understand the reality of this situation. You do. You're not ready for this." Chuck said nothing, and Serena kept grasping. "What about Georgina?"
Serena regretted it the second it came out of her mouth, because suddenly Blair straightened up, her face cleared and something else came out in her. Serena recognized that look. It was war. Blair hated Georgina. Hated that she was with Chuck. Hated that she had a ring on her finger, and detested that she ever got to be near Parker. Serena was waving a red flag in front of her, and she realized it too late.
"Georgina is not Parker's mother. I'm his mother." Blair snapped, before Chuck could respond. "Chuck is right. We can do this, and we promised Parker. I'm moving home, and if you don't like it Serena then don't visit." Blair was venomous.
"You know I'm behind you being with Parker, but this is just-"
Chuck cut her off again. "It's done, Serena." Serena opened her mouth to protest again, but something in Chuck's eyes stopped her. He wasn't going to budge on this. Even if Blair had said no he would have found a way.
He wanted this.
The revelation stunned Serena into silence.
"Blair," Chuck turned toward her all business. "Of course, there will be ground rules. No Carter ever in my house, around my son." He waited for Blair to respond, and she simply nodded. "I don't trust you alone with him for now, so until… further notice, when you're with Parker either myself, Mrs. Bainbridge or other trusted family members will need to be around-"
"Chuck," Blair protested, "he's my son too."
"This is the deal, Blair. If you don't like it get a lawyer, and take me to court, but we both know you're not the ideal parent." Blair bit her tongue to stop from responding, and Chuck softened a little. "I'm not saying forever, but… I need to trust you."
"Fine," Blair agreed. "What else?"
"Don't disappoint him." This was the final decree, the most important, and Serena watched as the final pieces fell into place. "Alright. I'll arrange for you to move in tomorrow while Parker is on a play date, and we can have a dinner tomorrow night. Parker will enjoy that. You'll also have to meet Mrs. Bainbridge, and she can go over his schedule with you."
"Alright." Blair was sinking back into unreality. Tomorrow she'd be home living with her son and her ex-husband. "And what about Georgina?" Blair said her name through clenched teeth.
Chuck shrugged. "What about her?"
"You're engaged." Blair reminded him, and it pained her to do so. She hated that viperous bitch.
"Georgina doesn't live with me, and she doesn't run my life. Don't concern yourself with her." Chuck said this with such ease and confidence that Blair had to smile. Whatever Georgina was to him, he didn't love her and he surely wasn't worried about her reaction. That brought some satisfaction.
"You're both crazy." Serena mumbled under her breath, but neither was listening to her anymore.
Blair went home after saying goodbye to Parker, and prayed Carter would be sleeping. She lucked out when she came in and found he wasn't even there at all. That gave her a chance to start packing without explaining to him what was going on. He would rage at her. She knew that, and she was fairly sure she deserved it. She'd dragged him down this path with her, promised they'd wreck Chuck and win big money at BE, and now she was moving in with the so-called enemy. Blair couldn't let her affection for Carter cloud her though. Parker was first and foremost, and this was best for him. It was best for Blair too.
Carter came in the next morning looking disheveled but handsome, and stopped short when he spotted the bags.
"Are we switching hotels?" He looked confused.
Blair took a moment to steel herself for this. Finally she decided there was no time like the present, and approached him slowly. "Actually, I'm moving out alone."
"What?" Carter looked at her like she was crazy.
"Carter… I don't want you to think that this is something that…" She stopped. There was just no easy way to say this. "I'm moving in with Parker. It was decided last night."
Carter looked poleaxed. He stumbled back, knocking one of her bags down until he reached a chair, and slid onto it. He stared up at Blair, before brushing his hands over his face a few times, and then finally looking up again.
"You're crazy." It was barely a whisper.
"I want my son." Blair was prepared to be brutally honest, but she didn't want to do that right now. Right now she wanted to get over to the penthouse and move in before Parker got back. Then she wanted some time with him to really settle in before Chuck got home. If Carter made this into some big drama she'd miss out.
Carter shook his head. "Liar."
"Carter-" Blair tried to sound stern, but he wouldn't let her get away with it this time.
He shook his head. "No, Blair. No bullshit right now. You don't just want your son. You want your family. You want Nate and Serena. The Basses. You want to be Queen once again. I just can't believe it took me this long to see it. Coming back here was never about revenge."
Blair started to tell him he was wrong, but when she looked into his defeated eyes all the fight went out of her. She couldn't lie to him or herself any longer. "I thought I came back for revenge. I really did." Her voice broke, and she looked away before he could see her crying. He'd been her support for so long, and it hurt to lose him.
"Admit it," he demanded. "I need to hear you say it."
"I want it all back, Carter. I want my baby and my friends and family, and …" Blair hesitated.
"And…" He snapped, spearing her with his eyes, forcing her to say the one thing she wasn't ready to admit.
"And I want my husband." There she'd finally said it. She wanted Chuck back. She wanted her marriage, her penthouse, and her title. She was Mrs. Bass. She was the mother of his child, and hopefully future children, and anyone who tried to deny her those things better get out of the way. She'd come back here to fight, she'd just been wrong about what she was fighting for. She didn't want to destroy him. She wanted to be with him.
"Ex-husband. He has a fiancé now, remember?" Carter was trying to hurt her, and she knew that, but she took the bait anyway.
"I'm his wife. I always will be, and Georgina or anybody else can't take that. I never meant to hurt you Carter, and you've been pretty good to me, but-"
Carter rolled his eyes. "Spare me the swan song. This will crash and burn, Blair. You and Chuck always do. Maybe you'll get him back. Maybe he'll even marry you again, but eventually it'll all go to hell. That's in your nature and in his. You can't help yourselves."
Blair shook her head. "I'm better now."
Carter jumped up from the chair, and stormed toward her. She tried to step back, but he yanked her arms forward, and roughly shoved up the bracelets she wore. There on her pale white skin were jagged little scars, a reminder of what she'd done to herself. Carter rubbed them for a second, before looking up at her.
"He'll always see these. You can't escape them. You're damaged, Blair."
Blair jerked her arms away from Carter, and pushed her bracelets back down to hide the scars. She hated those reminders, and she hated Carter in that moment for doing this to her.
"Don't push me, Carter, or I'll make sure Chuck knows all about your plans. And we both know he's more powerful than you." Blair dug in the knife, striking at Carter where she knew he was most vulnerable.
Carter sneered. "I go down, you go down. You think he'll be happy about your sabotage plans, working with Jack, sneaking around. Whatever good will you've curried acting like mother earth will evaporate." Carter snapped his fingers. "Poof. Gone."
Blair smacked his hand out of her face, and advanced on him. She began shoving him in the chest until he was the one cornered against the wall.
"Don't you even think about breathing a word of that to anyone. I've been good to you Carter, and I've cared for you, but if you screw me over then Chuck will look like child's play. I'll come after you." Blair threatened, and she meant it.
"Fine, sweetheart. My lips are closed, but what about Jack Bass?"
Blair swallowed and looked away. She knew he would be a problem, but she couldn't let Carter see her sweat now. "I'll handle him, and you'll get your money from the deal. Don't worry."
Carter nodded. "Better think of a way out quick, Waldorf. Or that dream family you're building up in your head won't last for long." Carter headed toward the door then, but turned back at the last second. "You could have been so much more."
Blair stared back at him. "I already am, Carter."
He walked out then, and once Blair was sure he was gone she sank back onto the bed. That had been more awful than she'd thought, and Carter had raised a good point. Jack was going to be a major problem. She considered fessing up to Chuck, but they were on such shaky ground. She decided she would have to find a way to get Carter his money, get Jack put down, and then somehow sort out the stock. She knew trust wouldn't come easy for Chuck, but if she could extricate herself from BE maybe it would begin.
Chuck stared out his office window, and watched the storm clouds gathering. It was going to rain again, which somehow seemed fitting to Chuck. He wasn't sure if he'd made the biggest mistake of his life last night, or if he'd taken the first steps toward giving Parker the life he deserved. He could have said no. Even if Serena thought he was incapable, he knew he wasn't. He set out rules and limits for Parker, but he never bothered with the unnecessary. He was rich, so when Parker wanted a new toy he got it. Chuck left it to Mrs. Bainbridge to teach him to appreciate it, and as far as he could tell Parker was no more entitled than any other kid his age. He could have said no to Blair coming home, maybe Parker even expected that outcome, but something had stopped Chuck.
Seeing Blair with Parker, watching that grow, it made something twitch inside him. It wasn't an entirely pleasant feeling, but it wasn't awful either. Chuck had grown up without a mother until Lily came along, and he still remembered how nice it had felt when she'd come into his life. She'd laid down more rules at times, utterly pissed him off at others, but she'd cared. When he needed someone to talk to without judgment Lily was there. And in truth, there were some things you just needed a mother for. Chuck realized that around age thirteen, and forced himself to forget when he finally banished Blair from his life. He couldn't ignore it now though. Parker needed Blair. He needed her smiles, and her warmth, and that special awed look she always got when she looked at him. Chuck didn't have to like it, but he did have to embrace it.
There was a knock on his office door which surprised him since Madison always announced his guests. He was about to page his secretary when Lily walked in. He forced a pleasant look onto his face, and stood up to greet her. They cheek kissed, something Lily always insisted on, and then she surprised him by reaching out and hugging him. Chuck had allowed very few hugs in his life, and this one felt as awkward as all the others, but he allowed it for a protracted minute before finally pulling away, and reseating himself. Lily took the seat in front of him.
The strain in their relationship was clear.
"I'm sure you're wondering what I'm doing here." Lily began in her starched, authoritarian voice which told Chuck she was prepared for battle.
"Yes, actually," he returned, "since you've sold off all your BE stock." He wanted her to know he wasn't going to forget or forgive that anytime soon.
She smiled wearily. "Perhaps not my best idea, but I did act with your best interests at heart." She speared him with a look, daring him to contradict her, and when he didn't she continued. "Serena tells me you're having Blair move in with you… is that your best idea?"
Chuck laughed. He couldn't help himself. Leave it to Lily to get right down to the point.
"Remains to be seen. Parker is thrilled." Chuck stood up, and walked over to poor himself a drink. It was barely mid-afternoon, but if he was having this conversation he needed Scotch.
"I'm sure. He thinks all his dreams are coming true. Mommy and Daddy in the same house. Happily ever after… You and I both know this is not a fairytale, Charles." Chuck poured her a drink, and handed it to her. She took a quick sniff before putting it down. "I think you should reconsider."
Chuck immediately shook his head. "I promised him. I don't break my promises."
Lily stood up, and walked over to stand in front of Chuck. She waited until he met her eyes to continue. "I think this one time it would be in his best interests as well as your own. I'm all for Blair easing back into Parker's life, but I'm not sure she has any place in yours."
"You break on promise, and then you break another. Pretty soon I'll just be another person in his life who's failed him. And I'd be the worse, because I know what it feels like. I know what it means to need someone to count on, and to not have that. Parker will always have that with me. When I promise him something I come through." Chuck's voice stayed even, but Lily didn't miss the passion in his eyes.
She smiled at him, unable to help the pride pouring through her. "You're the father we all wish we'd had, Charles. And I am so thankful for that, but… Can you really sustain a happy home life with Blair living there?" Lily wasn't trying to be cruel, but she also wasn't backing down.
Chuck didn't answer at first. He knew Lily was coming from a good place, but he still didn't want to delve into his reasoning for any of this. In truth, he wasn't sure. Blair could fall down again. Hell, part of Chuck was even counting on that, but even then he couldn't just turn her away. He couldn't deny Parker the chance at something more than Chuck himself ever had.
"I spent my whole life wishing that Bart would love me-"
Lily interrupted him. "He did. He really did." Her eyes implored Chuck to believe her.
Chuck nodded. "Maybe. But he never put me first. He never thought about what I needed, not once. It was always about BE or you or some other important thing that ranked high above me. I was his son, but I wasn't his priority. Until you, Serena and Eric came along I didn't even know what a family should be, and even then it wasn't perfect. Bart wouldn't let it be. I had a mother, a brother, a sister, but I never had a real father. Parker has a chance at that. I wish that I was enough, but I'm not. I see it every time he's around Blair. Maybe it's not a fairytale, but I have to try to make it a family." Chuck walked away from Lily then, and headed over to stare out the window again. He couldn't bare the pity he was sure he would find in Lily's eyes.
She followed him, and put a soft hand on his back as she stood behind him. Silence reigned between them for a few minutes, something easy and familiar. Lily always seemed to know when to push and when to retreat with him.
"Alright," she finally agreed. "I can see your mind is set, and I guess I even understand why. Just promise me that in doing all of this for Parker you won't forget yourself."
Chuck laughed. "When have I ever done that?"
Lily smiled at him fondly, and brushed her hand across his cheek. "I don't think you want me to answer that." She walked away, before Chuck could protest and began to gather her things. "Well, I can tell Serena I did my best, and walk away knowing you have it all under control."
"I'm glad." Chuck slid back behind his desk, and had already started rifling through some papers when Lily spoke again.
"Just one thing." Chuck looked up then, waiting for her to continue. "What are you going to do about Georgina? Doesn't seem like she fits into the Normal Rockwell family portrait."
Lily left before Chuck had the chance to answer, and he felt that was for the best. He still hadn't decided what to do about Georgina. The wedding was months off, so if he did change his mind he had time. It was time he'd spend watching Blair, and seeing how stable and ready she actually was. If all went well then Georgina's future place in his life might have to change, but he didn't feel the need to think about that right then.
He glanced down at his watch, and decided he would leave the office early. Parker would be arriving home from his play date soon, and Blair should have already begun moving in. He'd asked Nate to help her out so he could avoid it himself, but now he was eager to see his son. He told Madison to hold his calls for the rest of the day, and headed out into the building thunderstorm. With any luck he'd make it home before the sky fell down.
Blair walked into the guest room she'd decorated, and couldn't believe it looked exactly the same. In fact, the entire penthouse looked the same. Chuck hadn't changed a single thing, and that both thrilled and terrified her. This place held so many good memories for her, but it also held the bad ones. She passed by the main bedroom, the one she'd once shared with Chuck, the one she'd nearly ended her life in and shivered. She held a natural aversion for that area, and quickened her pace to get down the hall and into Parker's room. Parker's room had changed. It was fit for a five year old, and not a small baby. She felt a sense of loss, but quickly pushed it away. If she focused on the past, she would never find her way into the future.
"Blair?" She heard Nate calling for her from downstairs and frowned. Chuck had mentioned in his email that Nate would be helping her out, but when the penthouse had been empty save the security man positioned outside, she'd assumed she was home free.
She walked down the stairs slowly, and greeted Nate with a tight smile. "You really didn't need to come babysit me." She regretted the words and her tone the second she said it. Nate tensed up, and what could have been a pretense of cordiality turned into something else.
"Chuck insisted." Nate didn't say it cruelly, but Blair still felt the blow. No trust. "Did you get everything in okay? You found the room?"
Blair wanted to roll her eyes, but she stopped herself. "Since this used to be my home I found my way around just fine. Your concern is truly touching."
Nate shook his head, disappoint echoing across his face. "You really think this is going to work if you keep your claws out like that? Chuck won't react well. Parker won't either. He's used to a happy home. No yelling or fighting. Chuck's made sure of it." There was clear censure in his tone.
"And you think I'll ruin all that?" Blair challenged him.
Nate looked at her earnestly. "I really hope not. I don't think you'll mean to, but then you never do. Despite what you think, Blair, I never blamed you for before. Serena and I weren't choosing sides-"
Blair scoffed. "Please, don't rewrite history."
Nate had to grit his teeth, before continuing. "Take your own advice. Whatever the circumstances, Chuck was left alone with an infant child. He was wrecked, and we did everything we could to help him, to help Parker. In case you missed it, we love your son. He's one of the best things in our life, and we'd do anything for him."
Blair's anger came alive inside of her, and she started a fight she really didn't want. It was too late though. Nate wouldn't back down, and she couldn't.
"You think I don't love Parker? He's all I think about. He's all I've thought about for years while you and Serena helped Chuck keep him from me." Blair started to storm up the stairs, sure this had to end now before she said something unforgivable and Nate ran to Chuck.
"Stop running away, Blair." Nate followed her to the bottom of the steps, and waited for her to face him. "I know you love Parker. He's easy to love, but loving a child isn't enough. You have to stick around through the hard stuff. And to be honest I'm not sure you will."
Blair felt tears welling behind her eyes, but she blinked them back. "And I'm sure you're taking every chance you get to whisper that in Chuck's ear."
Nate sighed. "It wouldn't do any good. It never has where you're concerned. Chuck makes his own decisions, and he wants you here. I don't know if that's good or bad. I'm praying it's good. Parker needs you, and Chuck…" Nate smiled sadly.
Blair softened, and stepped a little bit closer to Nate. She needed to hear this. "And Chuck what?"
"Never mind. I shouldn't have started this. I apologize." Nate started to walk away, and Blair almost let him, but her curiosity, her need, wouldn't let her.
"Nate!" Nate stopped, but didn't face her. "Chuck what?"
Nate slowly turned around. He looked regretful, but he'd always been the honest one, and Blair knew he wouldn't stop now.
"Chuck loved you, and maybe he could even love you again. I just hope you're ready to stay this time."
Before Blair could respond the door opened behind them, and Chuck walked in. He looked between them curiously, picking up on the tension. He looked to Nate first, but when his friend looked away he focused on Blair. Blair couldn't look away. She knew she should for self-preservation, but Nate's words just kept ringing in her head. He could love you again.
"Did I interrupt?" Chuck finally broke the silence.
Nate put on a jovial smile, and shook his head. "Not at all. Blair's all moved in, and Mrs. Bainbridge called and said they'll be a little late returning home because of the storm. I should head back to work." Nate patted Chuck on the back, before throwing up a hand in goodbye and exiting.
"You're home early." Blair cringed at stating the obvious. She also worried he'd think she was questioning him coming into his own home, and that was even worse. Everything was so tentative.
"I thought it would be good for Parker, and maybe easier if we just… get this all over with."
Chuck discarded his jacket on the couch, and dropped his phone on his desk nearby. Blair watched him go through his ritual and almost smiled. He was changed, but still the same.
"Carter and I broke up." Blair wasn't sure where that had come from, but she knew she needed to tell him. She just hoped the mention of Carter wouldn't spark his anger like it usually did.
"Did you?" Chuck tried to act indifferent, but Blair could feel the tension. "Why? His presence finally became to unpalatable for you to take."
Blair shook her head, a rueful expression on her face. "He finally realized there was no future with me. I know you hate him, but…" Blair stopped herself. She wanted to say Carter had cared for her, she wanted to explain it all. It seemed like a slippery slope though, and she knew Chuck wouldn't take kindly to any of that.
"But…" Chuck pushed, unable to help himself.
"He was good to me, and I used him. I never loved him, Chuck. I just… I was alone, and scared and… I felt empty without Parker, without you-"
Chuck raised a hand to silence her, the expression on his face pained but hard. "Don't. I can't say I'm sorry you're rid of him, but I never asked to know the details of your relationship. As far as I'm concerned Carter is out of our lives, and we can never discuss him again."
Blair nodded. "There's the BE stock…" She knew mentioning it was a risk, but leaving it the unspoken elephant in the room seemed dangerous as well. "He was my partner in that."
"I checked, the stocks are all in your name. He has no legal claim to them." Chuck was getting agitated. He took his cufflinks off, and nearly threw them across the room, before he rolled up his sleeves.
"I still owe him money, and I intend to pay him. He won't leave the City until I do." Blair wanted to be as honest as she could with Chuck without mentioning her side deal with Jack. She still wasn't sure how she was going to extricate herself from that.
"Tell him to name a price, and I'll pay him. I want him gone, Blair. I never want to hear his name again." Chuck started to walk away at that, clearly done with the subject, and done with Blair.
She should have let him go, but her pride was prickling. He was already trying to manage her, put her in a box and keep her there. If she let him do that now, he'd think he always could, and then the future she wanted would never happen.
"I'm here for Parker, Chuck. You don't get to run my life. I didn't break up with Carter to make you happy. I did it because it was the right thing, because it needed to happen. And I don't need you paying off my debt. I can handle that myself. I'm not selling my BE stock either." She wanted to be clear. He could make of that what he would.
"So, you intend to live in my home with my son, and make my life hell at work? How do you think that's going to work? You really think that is what is best for Parker?" Chuck shook his head, pure disgust on his face. "Lily was right. This isn't going to work."
Blair began to panic, and rushed toward him before he could disappear into the back office. She reached for his arm, and held him in place. He turned toward her, an impatient scowl on his face. She'd seen him like this before, and she knew it was nearly impossible to reach him, but she had to try. She'd made a misstep, and if she didn't correct it fast he'd have her shipped to the Palace before dinner.
"I don't intend to make your life hell at all Chuck. Maybe I came into the BE stock for the wrong reasons, but I'm done with that. I put everything I had into acquiring those stocks, and … and I'd like to see that through, but fairly. I'm not out to get you. I thought I was… I thought I wanted to hurt you the way I've been hurt, but that's changed. I couldn't do that to Parker… or you." Blair pleaded with him to believe her.
Chuck paused a moment, his eyes bearing into her own. She wasn't sure what she saw in him. Confusion, conflict, this never-ending hurt she wasn't sure she could ever fix. She felt all the same things, and she knew it would be easier for him to just walk away.
He finally nodded, quick and short. "Alright. I still intend to pay Carter off though. I don't trust him."
Blair didn't like it, but she understood it. "Or me around him."
Chuck shrugged. "No, I don't. I can't worry that he's going to be lurking around every corner while you're out with Parker. I want to trust you Blair, and this will make it easier."
Blair knew she had to accept that. "Deal."
She put her hand out to Chuck, and he was just reaching for it when the door flew open and Parker came running in. He spotted them immediately, and barreled right into Chuck's legs. He was talking a mile a minute about his friend Dustin, and all the cool toys he had, and how Mrs. Bainbridge wouldn't let them play outside because of the lightning. Then he looked to Blair, and asked if she would let him play outside. She shook her head, and he continued on with his story without missing a beat.
"Sounds like you had a productive day." Chuck responded when Parker finally had to take a breath. "Hello, Mrs. Bainbridge. You can take the rest of the day off. Parker's mother and I will be home with him."
Blair's heart spiked at the mention of being Parker's mother. Coming from Chuck's mouth it meant everything.
"Oh, yes, Mrs. Bass." Mrs. Bainbridge went right up to Blair. "The little Bass has told me so much about you. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." She pulled Blair's hand into her own, and warmly shook it in greeting.
Blair smiled back. "Oh, I'm not Mrs.-"
Before Blair could finish protesting the use of Chuck's last name, Parker jumped in. "Come on Mommy, I want to show you my room and all my toys." He started dragging Blair off before she could protest.
"Nice to meet you." Blair called back after her.
Mrs. Bainbridge turned to Chuck then. "He's a very happy little fellow today."
Chuck nodded. "Seems to be. As I said in the email, for now I want you to be around when Blair is with Parker, and of course report back to me any strange people she brings around my son."
Mrs. Bainbridge nodded. "Of course, Mr. Bass."
Mrs. Bainbridge exited, and Chuck was left alone in his living room. Everything looked the same as it had this morning, but Blair was upstairs now. She was living just down the hall from him, playing Mommy to their child. It was overwhelming, but what scared him the most was that it somehow felt welcome. Like this place had been waiting for her. He just couldn't make the mistake of doing the same.
He walked upstairs, and silently watched Blair and Parker from his son's doorway. Parker had spread out nearly everything he owned, and was making Blair inspect each toy one by one. Blair was giving all the appropriate responses, and Parker's face was lit up like a Christmas tree.
Chuck stilled when Parker grew serious, and climbed into Blair's lap.
"Are you going to stay with us forever now?" Parker was doing his best to imitate Chuck's business face, but there was too much emotion in his brown eyes to hide. He was hanging on every word Blair said, every movement she made. He was living for her right then, and Chuck wanted to intercede, but held himself back. He needed this answer as much as Parker did.
"Forever." Blair promised solemnly, and wrapped Parker in a tight hug.
Parker snuggled into his mother's shoulder grinned before catching sight of Chuck. His smile grew even brighter when he spotted his father, and Chuck smiled back at him. It wasn't a fairytale, but it was definitely a family.