Title: The Other Man
Author: Shelby
Summary: "I know your husband hates me. I can see it in his eyes. Don't try to deny it, Blair," Chuck spoke with a wronged pride. He was the other man, but jealous and possessive to the core. Chuck/Blair
A/N: Thank you so much for all the beautiful reviews that have been left through the duration of this story. I'm so sorry this update took so long, but I have been greatly lacking in motivation. I hope you enjoy the last chapter. Let me know if you would like an epilogue.
XOXOXOXOXO
Chuck and Blair had shuffled around each other since they woke up. They returned to the cabin almost in complete silence. Neither was sure exactly what they were to do. Chuck didn't want to push Blair and scare her away. Blair was doing all she could to let herself break free of her fears. Neither could deny to themselves that their previous night felt more right than anything else had in a very long time.
"What should mommy do, Rhett?" Blair asked her son when Chuck stepped into the hallway to make a call. She looked to the baby with a slight worried pout on her ruby lips.
Rhett didn't respond of course. Instead he sort of swayed forward some and then back into her hands she held him up with. His brown eyes sort of bulged as he met his mother's. He giggled breathlessly.
She couldn't help but spare him a soft smile. She sighed, "If you understood you'd want mommy and daddy together, wouldn't you?"
Blair nodded, "A real family, that lives together, and... loves each other." She paused, her throat feeling dry as a wave of emotions seemed to hit her at full speed.
She shook her head and spoke defensively with tears in her eyes. "I never meant for everything to be so screwed up, baby. Mommy didn't want to close her heart, but it just happened," she told him.
Rhett frowned, his tiny brow furrowing. He wasn't quite used to seeing his mother's face so pained or her voice trembling.
Blair brought him into her arms. She wiped at her eyes and tried to regain composure. "I—I feel like I've been on a rollercoaster with your daddy. I wanted to blame him for all my hurt, but I can't. I wanted to hate him, but I can't," she revealed.
"For so long I wanted to turn back time and change things, but now that I have you—I could never do that. You are worth all the hurt, baby. Do you understand that?" Blair asked, eyebrows rising. She stroked her baby boy's cheek and then kissed his forehead.
"You will one day. I promise. You're my little savior... your daddy's too," Blair breathed. She stared down at her baby then, much more intensely, but with a serene sense as well.
"It's funny." Blair whispered, "You can't even talk and I think you're telling me exactly what I'm supposed to do."
XOXOXOXOXO
Later that night, not much else had been said. Chuck did notice a change in Blair though. It worried him some. Was she contemplating how to tell him last night was a mistake? He wasn't sure if his heart could take it.
He sighed and came out of the bathroom. He had taken a shower and even dressed in his pajamas before exiting. Chuck looked over to where she lied on the bed. He noticed she was wearing a much more revealing nightie than she had previously on the trip. He smiled, admiring her petite form, the gorgeous curve of her back.
Then Blair rolled over. Their eyes suddenly connected in a powerful gaze. She wanted him to come to her and she hoped he would.
Chuck stayed where he was for a moment. Then he took a risk and moved forward. He lowered himself onto the bed and lied down beside her. He put his hand on top of her open palm between them and stared at it, praying she wouldn't pull away.
"Rhett's in bed," Blair said suddenly. Her voice was a little shaky and she cleared her throat before speaking again. "He sleeps perfectly, just like you."
Chuck smiled at the compliment and lifted his eyes to her. "You're just a protective mother, Blair. One day, you'll sleep well again," he promised.
"I did last night," Blair revealed. It slipped past her lips before she could stop it. Quickly and almost in a panic she sat up and held her knees to her chest.
Chuck had to sit there for a few moments before he realized what had happened. The moment be did, he scooted next to her. Chuck watched as she trembled on the verge of tears.
"Blair," he breathed. He shook his head and touched her shoulders. "Please don't cry. Whatever I did, I'm sorry."
Blair shook her head and closed her eyes. "That's not why I'm crying. You haven't done anything," she cried.
"Then what?" Chuck pleaded. He tucked a curl behind her ear and wiped at her cheeks. "Tell me why you're crying, baby."
Blair wiped at her own tears. Hesitantly she lifted her eyes to his. Every part of her was terrified, but she had to do it.
"Because—because I'm still in love with you, Chuck," Blair breathed. She then started to cry again and shook her head. "But I'm so scared. If we mess up and my heart freezes over again, Rhett will be hurt by it."
It took Chuck a moment. He stared at her and wondered for a moment if his ears had deceived him. When he heard the rest, he knew they hadn't. He felt his heart begin to cry in relief and tears came to his own eyes. He brought her into his arms, rested his forehead against hers, and locked their gaze.
"Blair, I swear if you give us another chance at love and a family I'll never let that happen to you again. I will spend my life making it up to you. I can't live without you or without Rhett. I've never loved anyone else like this, but you two," Chuck swore. He felt himself grip onto her hands tighter and tighter with each word. He had to make it happen. They were his life now.
Blair was unable to react right away. She stared at him, mouth falling slightly agape. He seemed so much stronger than her now. He was so sure. She couldn't understand how he could even love her after some of the things she had said to him, some of the things she had done. They were both guilty now, and she felt the weight more than ever.
Her silence made Chuck very anxious. He got up from the bed and walked over to his bag. He knew what he did next would either end well or terribly wrong. So he took out the small box, closed it in his hands, and came back over.
"Let me show you how much I love you. Do you see this, Blair?" Chuck asked. He held up the ring box, inside was her engagement ring he had planned and wanted to give to her until everything went wrong.
Her eyes widened and she gasped. "Ch—Chuck, when—when did you get that?" Blair stuttered. Her heart was swelling, but dropping to the pit of her stomach at the same time.
Chuck's hands were shaking as he opened up the box. It revealed the gorgeous ring. It sparkled in the moonlight. Looking up to her eyes again, he put the open box in her hands.
"After our time in Tahiti, before everything went wrong. I bought a mansion to, in Manhattan and everything we need. I was ready. I talked to my dad about it. I know what I want. I wanted to make it all right, but then I screwed it up again," he released a shaky breath and nodded, "But I still want all of this, Blair. I swear on my life that I want and love nothing more than you and Rhett."
Blair felt as if she may faint with all he told her. He never mentioned Bart, but now he had told her of speaking with him about her and Rhett. More tears flowed down her cheeks, but for a different reason. She closed her hands around the box and leaned forward, capturing his lips in a very passionate kiss.
Chuck kissed back, his chest heaving up and down. When they finally broke, he waited with anticipation for what she would say.
"I—I messed up too. We can't keep going back there, Chuck. I love you too much for us to keep hurting. God, I love you," Blair promised. What had been so hard to say before now oozed from her lips as if it were the only word she knew, the only truth she was certain of in the entire world.
He buried his face into the crook of her neck and tried to catch his breath. His heart was beating so fast now, he thought that he might have a heart attack. Everything was almost surreal. Relief of such great form had washed over him.
Blair gripped the ring box tight, but put her arms around Chuck. She held him close and kissed the top of his head, then his lips. "We can do this," she whispered, much more certain sounding than she ever thought she could be before.
"We can," Chuck agreed, nodding his head. He then looked up and kissed her yet again. "We can," he repeated in a whisper. And they would. Both were certain of it.
XOXOXOXOXO
Blair looked at herself in the mirror one final time. She was just about to pick at something, but then stopped herself. Chuck had told her she looked beautiful that morning and she did. With an almost gleeful smile she slid her purse on her shoulder and turned around.
"This was a wonderful trip," Blair remarked, nodding her head. She examined the now empty cabin one last time. Then she bent down onto the bed and picked up the most important thing she brought with her.
"Are you ready to go home, Rhett?" Blair cooed to her baby boy. She still couldn't get over how adorable he was. They were both matching, dressed in red like the true New Yorkers they were. There was one currently missing from their party who matched as well.
Rhett laughed breathlessly, excited to see so many large smiles from his lovely mother. He kicked his little feet and saw no need to look around the room. Whatever was going on, he found to be quite all right.
"Let's go," his mother sighed. She then opened the door and carried him down the hallway. Carefully stepping down the stairs, they exited the train. She looked around, found the direction she needed to go, and then headed that way.
"Ooh," Rhett cooed. He struggled to turn his cheek so that he could see the sparkly object on his mother's hand.
Blair looked down and examined the rather large, but classy ring. She then nodded at the baby. "Right now daddy and I are taking things slow, so it's only a promise ring, but one day you will here mommy say engagement. Perhaps it can be one of your first words," she teased.
Rhett gave her a look as if he knew how absurd that suggestion sounded. When she only laughed more, he formed a big, toothless smile.
Blair stopped and raised him up. She kissed him on his nose and then made it so he could see forward. "Let's see if we can find daddy," she told her son.
Her eyes looked around and found him instantly. There Chuck Bass stood, leaning up against his limo, hands in his pockets. It looked so right, so natural.
"Chuck," Blair breathed. She then held onto Rhett tight and hurried over to him. Immediately she attacked him with a kiss, her body falling onto his front and his back pushed further into the limo.
He chuckled and kissed her back. "Mhm… just those few minutes we spent apart practically killed me," Chuck revealed when they broke for air. He stroked her cheek, tucking a curl behind her ear.
"Oh we missed you too," Blair swore. She lifted Rhett so their baby was between them. The moment he saw Chuck, his feet began to kick and he got all excited.
Chuck brushed back some of his son's dark hair and kissed the top of his head. "Wait till you see our new home. You have a room fit for a Prince," he whispered.
"Well then I hope we have a bedroom fit for a King and Queen," Blair smirked. She got just the reaction she wanted too when his eyes lifted to hers, somewhat surprised.
She giggled, "Please Chuck Bass, like you weren't thinking the same thing. Now how shall we ride off into the sunset and to our castle?" Her eyebrows rose.
Chuck stepped forward and motioned back. "By limo of course," he paused, "though a private jet and another limo may be involved."
Blair laughed again, shook her head, and pulled him into another kiss. "I wouldn't have it any other way," she whispered.
Then she nodded towards Rhett. "Besides, this kid needs to get used to the good life. Basses only have the best," she acknowledged.
"And you will too. Even before you're a Bass," Chuck returned. He then kissed her again as the driver came around and opened their door.
"After you," Chuck offered, motioning inside.
Blair looked at it, but then back to him. "You know," her eyebrows kinked, "It did all start in a limo."
"And now it will again. It's not the end, Blair. It's just the beginning," Chuck said with certainty.
"Our beginning… all three of us," Blair confirmed. She then took his hand and they both got in. Chuck, Blair, and Rhett instantly felt in their element. All was right and they were on their way home. And now that they had banded together, no more obstacles could stop them.
XOXOXOXOXO
A/N: So how was it? Worth the wait, I hope. Also, would you like an epilogue? Let me know by clicking that cute, little blue button.