Thanks so much for the responses to the last chapter! I'm glad you all enjoyed seeing Blair say what was on her mind…I know I felt better having written it. I'm looking forward to trying to redeem Chuck for Blair as well as for all you readers! I honestly love his character and think it's not impossible to bring him back :)
Also, Rose – I went to pm you but obviously couldn't. Anyway I just wanted to say there was no need to apologise! You weren't 'harsh', I just felt that your review really got to the heart of the Chuck/Blair problems that I was trying to bring up, and I wanted to make sure you knew I was on your side :) I'm definitely not done trying to make Chuck prove himself!
Hope you all like this chapter! Keep reading and reviewing, it inspires me to write and makes me smile every single time.
Blair looked at her mother's reflection in the mirror on her vanity as she sat, still running her fingers nonchalantly through her hair.
"What is there to talk about mother? I'm exhausted, can this wait until the morning?"
Eleanor sighed in frustration. If Blair was going to play this game, so be it.
"Blair, I don't have time for this. You know what I'm talking about."
Blair whirled around on her bench.
"If this is about Chuck, you can forget it. I know you think he's bad news but I can't cut him out of my life. He's my oldest friend and I need him. If that looks bad for you in front of the society ladies, I'm sorry, but that's the way it is."
She went back to examining her appearance, applying lip balm to her already glossy lips, and saw out of the corner of her eye her mother shaking her head. When Eleanor spoke this time her voice was softer and strongly insistent.
"Blair, I overheard the end of your conversation. Downstairs?"
This time Blair didn't turn around. She simply looked down and turned her attention to her nail beds.
"Well I don't know what you think you heard, but I'd appreciate it if you'd try not to eavesdrop on my private conversation nevertheless."
Eleanor took a few steps towards her daughter and stood behind her, placing her hands on her shoulders. She felt Blair shiver underneath her hands.
"Darling, I was going down to the kitchen to get a snack for Cyrus. As I got to the top of the stairway, I thought I could hear you crying. I didn't want to interfere so I turned to leave but… Blair, I heard you talking about your baby."
Blair hung her head and remained silent. Eleanor continued, her hands now gently playing with the ends of Blair's curls.
"If this is true… I mean….Blair, please, at least look at me!"
Blair suddenly stood, turning to face her mother.
"Why, mother? So I can see your judgement face to face? I've had what has turned out to be maybe one of the worst days of my LIFE and I do not need your disapproval on top of that!"
Eleanor paled.
"So it is true then? You're pregnant?"
Blair hastily smeared the tears from her eyes. They weren't kidding about those pregnancy hormones, she thought bitterly to herself.
"Yes, mother, it's true. Now go on; throw me out, call daddy, tell me I'm a stupid girl… do whatever it is you're planning on and get it over with. Please, I'm begging you, make it quick because I honestly don't know how much strength I have left to keep standing!"
She rushed over to her bed and crumpled into the sheets, her face in her hands as she wept. A few moments later she looked up in surprise as she felt Eleanor sit beside her and wrap her arms around her tightly.
"Oh, Blair… why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Blair scoffed openly through her tears.
"Are you kidding? Or do you genuinely not remember your not-so-nice words about Serena and her situation last week?"
She saw actual shame cross her mother's face.
"You really thought I would throw you out? Blair, I only said those things about Serena because…well because I was at the end of my rope with work, and honestly…because she's not my daughter. And you know Serena... scandal seems to follow her around. This just seemed like another thing on a laundry list."
Blair looked unconvinced.
"Oh, you know I didn't mean it! I love Serena! But she is nothing….compared with my beautiful daughter." Eleanor kissed the top of Blair's head as she held her.
Blair waited a few seconds, relishing the moment, before wriggling free and looking up at her mother's face.
"Mom, are you high?"
"Darling, that was only once, and it was a mistake. Who knew Aaron was so fond of leaving pot brownies in the fridge?"
They both giggled childishly at the memory.
"Honestly though… I've been so scared. But I can't wait for you to meet your grandchild," Blair smiled.
Eleanor looked dazed.
"This is unreal. Lily and I both becoming grandmothers, about ten years ahead of schedule." She paused, stroking Blair's hair down her back. "Chuck is the father, isn't he." It wasn't a question; she knew it. She suspected she'd known maybe even as soon as she saw him getting off the elevator earlier that night.
"Yes."
Blair slipped her legs under the covers, ignoring the fact that she was still fully clothed, and let her mother hold her in the calming silence as she dozed off to sleep.
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Serena opened her eyes sleepily as the sharp buzzing of her cellphone on the polished wood of her bedside table pierced her dreams.
"Babe, could you?"
She prodded Nate who reached his hand out in a daze to answer it. Serena's head flopped back down onto the pillow lazily.
"Hello? Blair?" Serena looked up, her eyebrows raised quizzically as Nate continued the conversation drowsily. "What time is it? I'll put Serena on, wait a sec."
"Hey, B." Serena took the phone as Nate collapsed once again. "Of course. Yeah, give me half an hour. Actually, make that forty five minutes. I'll see you there. Can't wait!"
Suddenly energised, Serena hopped out of bed as quickly as her ever-growing bump would allow and made her way to the bathroom.
"Going for breakfast with Blair. St Ambroeus."
Nate sat up slightly, poised to make up an excuse to get him out of it.
"You're not invited. Don't worry…get some more sleep."
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Serena's hot chocolate arrived complete with whip cream and pink marshmallows dotted across the top. Blair sipped her juice and raised her eyebrows.
"Oh come on, B. You're pregnant! You're telling me you're still worrying about your thighs?"
Blair gave her a pointed look.
"Whatever. You look stunning, as usual." Serena spooned a blob of cream and ridiculously wiggled it in front of Blair's face. "Come onnnn, you know you want some!"
Blair waved her away with a giggle.
"Easy for you to say! Pregnancy looks like it was made for you. I've never seen you look so beautiful, Serena."
Serena rolled her eyes with a smile.
"Blair, I'm not even going to bother. But you know I think the same of you. Now that you're open about your pregnancy you look amazing. Glowing, even."
Blair faked as if she were gagging on this cliché.
"Please, I've heard that about a thousand times already this morning from Cyrus."
"Well, it's the truth."
"Yeah maybe if 'glowing' is actually code for 'bloated and sweaty'." Eager to change the subject, Blair continued. "How are things with you and Nate?"
Serena beamed as she took another sip of hot chocolate.
"Amazing, actually. I can't even believe how easy it's been… we've literally slotted back into place. And he's been so great about the baby."
Blair shook her head in wonder.
"You're so lucky, S. I know you've had your problems in the past but… you and Nate are just perfect…so good for each other."
"You always say that! I feel like you're gonna jinx it!"
"I doubt it. I've seen the way he looks at you. You and this baby… you're his world, Serena." She paused, almost wistfully before adding, "I'm so happy for you both."
Serena watched Blair tapping the table with her nails absentmindedly and carefully took hold of her hand in her own.
"Blair, Chuck is the same with you… you know that. Maybe even more so."
Blair sighed.
"He told me he loved me last night."
Serena looked ecstatic.
"Oh my gosh, that's so great!" Seeing Blair's pained expression however, she reigned it in. "But if I know you two, there'll be some complex issues as to why you can't be together just yet?"
Blair chuckled a little under her breath.
"Not exactly. He practically asked me to move in with him again… and we did kiss yesterday. Only briefly… it was kind of in the moment at the hospital."
Serena nodded, trying not to overdo her excitement.
"Well you love him too, right?"
"Of course. But I can barely get my head around being pregnant, let alone being pregnant with Chuck's baby and getting back together with him!"
"B, I completely understand. Well.. just take things slowly. He seems to really want to make this work for you both."
Blair nodded.
"Anyway, change of subject. Where do you want to start today for baby things? I was thinking Bergdorfs?"
Serena grinned.
"Well I was thinking, first we could start with maternity clothes for you… since you've practically only just become officially pregnant, we need to get you out of last year's Marc Jacobs and into something that fits you a little better. What do you think?"
"Definitely. God, I missed you this summer!"
They both laughed, before Serena clasped a hand to her mouth.
"Blair, I can't believe I forgot! I need your approval…Nate and I have been thinking over names these past few days" – at this point Blair squealed a little in excitement – "and we think we have a winner…"
Blair's eyes widened with the anticipation as Serena paused nervously before eventually blurting it out:
"Aurelia Grace."
Blair waited a second to let it sink it.
"Aurelia Grace Archibald. It's so gorgeous, S! Fit for an Upper East Side princess." They laughed. "Where did you come up with it?"
"Just a bit of good old-fashioned baby-name-book reseach. It means golden, from the-"
Blair interrupted.
"Latin, I know. Serena, some of us actually paid attention at Constance." She beamed. "Anyway…that's irrelevant now. It's a beautiful name… to match a beautiful baby."