"Mr. Bass please. You must come back-"

"Charles. Listen to reason. For goodness sake stay in your room..."

"Mr. Bass!"

"Charles...!"

Chuck ignored the protests and complaints being thrown in his direction as he hobbled out of his hospital room and into the hallway. He had just called Serena to come to his room. She should be arriving shortly.

Grimacing and grunting as he made his way to the elevator, he pushed off the nurse that attempted to help him and guide back to his room. "I'm fine. Let me go!"

Standing before the elevator doors, he leaned against the wall and struggled to catch his breath. His body ached and he could hardly breathe from the pain in his stomach, but he needed to see her. He couldn't sit around wallowing in his own self pity when she needed him now more than ever.

The elevator signaled its arrival, and wobbling over to the front of the doors, he met Serena before she was able to step off the elevator.

"Chuck! What the hell are you doing? You need to be in bed!" she shouted as she tried to grab a hold of his arm in order to turn him around.

"Don't! I need to see her. Take me to her..." Chuck pleaded, his eyes boring into her with a sadness that was difficult to say no to.

"I-"

"Please, Serena. I have to see her."

Serena nodded silently, eying the nurse and Bart, both of whom had been standing back and watching the interaction between the two teens. Giving them a quick nod, they released the elevator button and watched the pair disappear into the elevator.

--xoxo--xoxo--

Blair had awoken from her horrible nightmare and had spent the past few hours too afraid to go back to sleep. Every time she closed her eyes she dreamt of her baby. It still shocked her that her baby was gone. Their baby. A baby that she had grown to love in the few days she had known of his existence. Now all her dreams and fantasies of raising the baby alongside Chuck, getting married and buying a home to raise their child, starting a family, with a dog and dear Dorota living with them. It was all shattered.

Serena had made her way to the room and spent the better half of the afternoon holding her and comforting her as she cried. Just cried.

She cried from the moment she awoke, to the moment Serena received a message from Chuck.

Chuck.

Simply hearing his name brought tears to her eyes. She was suppose to be strong. She was suppose to be caring for their baby. She wasn't suppose to weaken in the face of adversity. She was suppose to help Chuck and still stay strong. For the three of them.

No Blair. Just two. Only two. That is if Chuck will even want you anymore.

Sobbing at the direction of her thoughts, Blair flung herself against her pillow and began gently crying against the sheets. Too wrapped up in her own misery, she didn't hear the door to her hospital room crack open.

She didn't hear the grunts and heavy steps approaching the bed.

She didn't hear as her name was softly spoken.

But she felt it.

Felt it when the bolt of electricity coursed through her body as the familiar touch stroked her arm.

--xoxo--xoxo--

She told herself she was dreaming. Told herself it was just another cruel hand the fates had dealt her. There was no way Chuck was standing before her. Serena told her he was staying in the hospital for another day. There was no way he would be walking around, especially not to see her.

But as much as she willed herself to wake up, she knew in her heart of hearts that the man she loved was standing before her. Well not really standing. More like hunching forward and grimacing in pain. Eyes in pain mixed with love. Mixed with fear. Mixed with doubt.

If she hadn't been so miserable she would have smiled at the look on his face. He was as handsome as she remembered him. Maybe a little paler and thinner, but he was exactly the way she remembered him. It felt as if lifetimes had gone by since she'd seen him last. And yet here he was.

"Blair..." he whispered softly, plopping down on the bed beside her and taking her hand in his. Chuck was usually not one to be at a loss for words, but at that very moment he was rendered speechless. He had been hoping for the day he would see her again. See her beautiful face, her brown curls adorning her soft features. Her brown eyes so soft and full of love for him. Those plump lips always so lush and beckoning to be kissed. And now that he had her before him she was a ghost of the woman he had last seen. She was thin, thinner than usual. She looked pale and frail. He feared touching her, his hand only slightly skimming against her own. Her eyes were red rimmed and bloodshot, with dark circles framing once young and vibrant eyes. Her skin was white and chalky, not an ounce of makeup on her. And she looked heartbroken. Genuinely heartbroken and in despair.

She had never been more beautiful to him than at that very moment.

Blair heard him whisper her name and her eyes began to water. He was touching her, her skin searing at the gentle contact he had against her hand. His touch was so light, so fleeting as if he were afraid to touch her.

"Chuck...What are...How are...?"

"Blair I'm so sorry," Chuck's voice cracked as he pressed his hand against hers more firmly.

Blair's eyes shot up to Serena, who blushed furiously and exited the room.

"Sorry...?"

"I know. I know about what happened....because of me....the baby...."

And she was rendered speechless. She didn't know what to say. How to act. How could she possibly explain that she had been pregnant. That she had come running from France as soon as possible. How she had hoped to surprise him with the news. How she had dreamt that he'd be happy and that they'd live happily ever after like the romance stories she had always loved. How she had come home only to find him half dead. How instead of remaining strong she had broken down. How she had been so weak, she had destroyed and killed their child. How could she possible tell him all there was to tell him.

"No Chuck. I...I'm so sorry. This is all my fault."

Looking up at him, she met his eyes that were filled with unshed tears.

"I should have been there for you. I should have fought your mother. I should have kept you here by me and never have let you go. We shouldn't be here right now, like this," Chuck cried as he shook his head and rubbed her arm softly. "Baby...I don't know if you can ever forgive me."

Blair reached out and touched his face gently. The rough stubble beneath her hands a foreign feeling to her. Shaking her head through the haze of tears she fought the knot in her throat in order to speak. "There's nothing for me to forgive."

Chuck smiled at her and covered the hand she had against his cheek with his own.

There was so much pain, so many questions still left unanswered between them. The lingering doubts hung around them but neither decided to acknowledge it at the moment. The simple contact of their bodies was enough for them both. Neither one needed anything more. Neither one could have handled anything less.

It was enough for now.