A/N: Sorry for the wait I was just unsure of how to continue but hopefully it will be winding down with the next couple of chapters. A special thanks to those of you who reviewed, hope you enjoy this chapter! A bit of a time jump here but nothing major.

Phase Nine

At first it had been easier for Blair to just bring her stuff to the Empire for the nights after all there was one of her and two of them. But after one too many mornings spent in grief when one of the boys accidentally moved one of her things or would use one of her many lotions it was silently decided that their mornings would be less hectic if their nights were spent at the Waldorf penthouse. It had also become another option once Serena unofficially moved to Dan's loft.

It was also a plus that Dorota was more useful to Blair than the help at the Empire… and that she understood just what was going on between the three them. So a new large dresser could be found within her room as well as a good portion of her closet was transferred to Serena's now mostly empty closet.

"Miss Blair!" Dorota called from downstairs it sounded urgent but Blair was determined to finish preening before going downstairs. Finally swiping one last coat of mascara on she deemed herself presentable. Chuck was barely dressing, while Nate was still taking a shower. Despite the fact her two boys were basically living with her she was determined to not become one of those girls who let themselves go the minute they began kind of/sort of/technically living with their significant others.

"Ugh what is it Dorota?" She called as she walked down the stairs before spotting the last person she would expect waiting for her in the sitting room.

"Mother!" She almost stumbled on the last stepped but thankfully her grip on the banister stopped that from happening.

"Blair, there you are!" She was soon surrounded in a hug which went as quickly as it came.

"I didn't know you were coming to New York." She would have been prepared had that been the case.

"Ah well I wanted it to be a surprise, plus it was a last minute thing there's an issue with my upcoming fall collection, you know how that goes." Blair did know, despite the fact the Waldorf summer collection had barely been released it didn't surprise her that her mother was already very busy with the next season's line. It had been something she had been all too aware of since she was little. "Besides I would expect a happier homecoming , I haven't seen you since Christmas."

She chanced a glance up the stairs and noticed no one was coming yet, she knew they would have to eventually. Chuck had business to attend to and Nate was scheduled to tea with his mother, they couldn't just stay up there hidden from Eleanor all day.

"Oh of course I'm glad you're here, I was just surprised." She tried to hide her grimace, it's not that she didn't want her mother here but she hadn't really planned on having to explain her relationship this early in the morning especially not to her mother.

"Well good and it looks like I made it just in time for breakfast." Blair followed her mother towards the table already set up with food and plates. "Were you expecting company?" Her mother questioned as she looked at the three place settings.

"Actually mother…" Before she could get it out, she heard them coming down, rambunctious as ever.

"Nathaniel just because you don't understand the appeal of an ascot doesn't make them outdated." Chuck was obviously annoyed and his tone was harsh.

"Chuck not even my grandfather uses those things." She could hear the teasing lilt in Nate's voice, and giggled internally. Those two acted like children sometimes, yet with one pointed look from her mother her internal giggle was silenced.

"Well Archibald's were never known for their fashion sense were they." Before Nate could reply they came into view and finally saw her mother, which quickly silenced them both.

"Blair I should have known it would be these two, boys how are you?" A chorus of fine and good, resounded as Blair fidgeted nervously she knew her mother misunderstood what was going on. "Now tell me where is Serena?" Her mother began looking around as if the blonde would appear out of nowhere.

"It's just us Mother Serena is off with Dan." She almost wished Serena would just pop out from under the table.

"Oh I see dear, well come now lets not keep standing around." Quickly they took their usual seats with Blair at the head of the table while Nate sat on her right and Chuck on her left facing each other. Dorota had quickly come out and set another place for her mother at the other end of the table. They began to eat awkwardly, with her mother only making light conversation.

"So, did you three plan to spend the day together or something?" She watched them like a hawk as she waited for an answer. Blair wondered why her mother couldn't be like everyone else and go have a lie down while she adjusted to the time difference. But her mother was a business woman and time is money!

"Actually no I have business to attend to." Chuck stated before he sipped his coffee.

"And I have to go meet my mother." Nate added, they both looked at her questioningly, Blair simply nodded her head, this was a conversation she would rather have alone with her mother. Taking the hint both boys stood up and kissed her on the cheek before they bid her mother goodbye and headed out.

"What was that all about?" Blair sighed she knew her mother was only playing at being so oblivious. She felt rebellious and nabbed another croissant despite her mothers narrowed gaze.

"What are you talking about?" Blair's answer didn't please her and finally Eleanor pushed her food away and discarded the pretence of a civil breakfast.

"Why were they both upstairs Blair?" Her mother never could play coy for long.

"Ugh, mother what do you think?" She began fiddling with the pastry wondering why her mother couldn't just… accuse her or something at least then Blair could just admit to it instead she was going to be forced to explain.

"What does that mean?"

"They spent the night here." There she admitted it out loud to someone, to her mother.

"Blair! Really what will people think you guys aren't children anymore and sleepovers are just not ok!" She wanted to shove it in her mothers face that this had been happening for over a month now and despite rumors of Blair cheating on both boys no one had come to the conclusion that they were all just together.

"Trust me mother I know we're not children."

"Well then I trust that this will never happen again." Blair barely contained the urge to roll her eyes, she was an adult she could do as she pleased it was a little late for her mother to be trying to impose rules on her.

"Well I can't say that, in fact it will happen again and it will happen a lot."

"What are you getting at Blair?" She sighed in annoyance, was this relationship really that outlandish that her mother couldn't even consider it an option?

"I… I didn't want to tell you like this I figured that I wouldn't even have to tell you anything until it reached your ears through the gossip mill. I suppose this is better though, Mother I want you to know that I am in a relationship one that is a very happy and a very stable one." She wanted to make that clear, make sure she understood this wasn't some passing fancy or experiment they were involved with, they were committed to each other.

"Well ok with which one is it then?"

"That's the thing mother it's with both of them."

"What do you mean she fainted?" Nate looked at her like she must have been joking.

"Well just like I said one minute she's holding an inquisition the next I'm calling Dorota for some smelling salts." She's trying to keep calm, she had sent out a SOS text stating they meet her at the Empire immediately, thankfully they had obliged.

"And then you just left her?" Nate just couldn't stop looking at her as if she had pushed Eleanor in front of the subway or worse into a subway.

"No! Well Dorota's there she knows what to do, I just… I mean I told her and then I when she fell back onto her chair I realized I didn't even know if that was okay with you guys. I mean I basically just forced you guys to come out of the closet with me and oh god, I don't know I couldn't stand there and have her say anything about us I wouldn't allow it I mean who is she to judge! And she will she'll judge because" Before she could continue Chuck was kissing her, it was quick and soft and as soon as he appeared he disappeared.

"Good you really have to calm down Waldorf." Chuck stated before smirking and taking her hand in his.

"Blair it's fine… I mean it's going to come out one day." He trailed off as he took her other hand in his.

"That's just the thing I mean I know that I don't care if anyone finds out but I realized I never asked you guys if you expect this to be public knowledge?" She knew that they lived in a world were your name meant everything and reputation meant even more, she knew how personal and business mixed far to much within the elite and having such a scandalous relationship could ruin future business transactions, or possible political careers.

"The way I see it is that it's just one of those things everyone will know about but no one really speaks about out in the open. Sure people will gossip behind close doors but no one will dare confront you with it." Chuck assured her, and she had worried more about his reaction since he was so business oriented.

"I mean it's not like we've lived like hermit's the past month we go out, we attend events no one questions why we arrive or leave together." Nate was right even Serena thought that the three were just getting closer as friends.

"Okay, your right, your both right… maybe I should check on my mom?" Nate laughed as she blushed lightly.

"I think so too and maybe this time we should accompany you." She didn't argue with Nate, instead she just pulled both boys behind her.

"Okay but if she becomes hysterical were getting out even if we have to use the service entrance." Chuck made a face at that comment.

"If we must." He relented as they entered the elevator.

"So both of you are… agreeable to this arrangement despite how it may be perceived as within society?" Blair could see that her mother attempted to keep the look of horror off her face.

"With respect Eleanor neither of us could care less about what others will say." Blair inwardly sighed she almost wished her mother would have yelled at them the moment she saw them all three together. Then at least she wouldn't have to be dealing with this awkward meeting. As she sat with Nate on the settee with Chuck standing beside them while Eleanor sat in the love chair across from them.

"Even your family Nathaniel."

"Despite what my Grandfather may want I have no political aspirations." She tightened her grip on his hand. Finally her mother just stared at her as if willing her to submit but Blair wouldn't allow it and just stared back."

"Very well, I can't do much of anything I suppose without causing a scandal myself, but I do believe it's best if I just leave New York and not visit until you've settled everything Blair." With a sigh her mother retired upstairs presumably to schedule a flight out.

"Hmm… well it could have gone worse." Nate was right, her mother could have become hysterical and thrown things about like that horrible night when Blair's father had left her.

"Yes and thankfully no one needed to use the service elevator."

"Thank god for small miracles." Blair smirked.

"So how does lunch at the Empire sound?" Chuck asked as he offered her his arm as she stood.

"Perfect." She replied as they began to walk out of her apartment. Sure the Empire wasn't the Waldorf apartment but it would always be a sort of a haven to them.

A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, please review!