A/N: Thank-you so so so much. You're all incredible and I appreciate each and every one of you that continues to read. I know i'm not giving this 100% anymore but i've always wanted to at least give this fic some closure. I'll continue until it's done but I can't guarantee these last couple chapters will be of quality. I just don't have the time to focus on it anymore. I love to write but this fic has been going on much too long. I never wanted it to end up like this but it is what it is. Thank-you again :)
ISN'T SHE LOVELY
FROM: THE FIGHTING TEMPTATIONS
BY: STEVIE WONDER
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
PRESENT
"Give me a boost!" Blair demanded.
"No!" Nate crossed his arms.
"I've searched everywhere else, this is the only place I haven't looked," she whined.
"My mom is expecting me at a family dinner tonight. I'm going to tell her about Nina so i'm a little freaked out,"
"Anne will be thrilled," Blair said with a scoff.
"How do I say it though?"
"Just say you're having a baby and then fill in the details after she jumps up and down in celebration,"
"I don't know. I don't know," he ran his hand through his hair.
"Help?" her head tilted innocently.
"Like I said before, I'm not assisting you in your plight of crazy," he shook his head. "I've been worried about your mental health ever since you forced Dan to go to that first meeting in LA,"
"Nate, he needs to get it out of his system. He needs to explore this or he'll always wonder if he passed up the greatest opportunity in his career," she explained, eyes still on the top shelf of the closet.
"You mean, you'll always wonder?" Nate smirked.
"That too," she mumbled. "Is it so bad?" she asked rhetorically. "I need the closure and so does he,"
"I just hope it all works out, truly," he grabbed his jacket and began to put it on, Blair grabbed hold of the spare sleeve.
"One boost and you can go!" she smiled big.
Nate sighed and crouched down with his right hand laying in his left palm. Blair lifted her foot but Nate yelled.
"I don't think so!" he pulled away from her five inch stiletto.
"I need the extra height," she whined.
"Give me a break," he shook his head.
"Fine!" she kicked her shoes off and stepped on to his hand. He raised her up a little and she rested her elbows on the shelf. Her eyes zeroed in on exactly what she was looking for.
"Bingo!" she clawed the little blue box towards her and popped it off the shelf.
"He's going to know you found it,"
"Does it look like I care?," Nate lowered her back down and laughed.
"Don't tell him I helped you,"
"And give you credit? of course not," she clicked the box open and was silenced.
"What?, they're not in there?"
Blair blinked rapidly, "These are new," she looked up at Nate with big curious eyes. "He got the matching set," she rested her hand over her heart, trying to calm her excitement.
"Okay, now you really can't tell him I helped,"
Blair lifted the engagement ring and wedding band out of the box and carefully placed them on her finger. "I thought he had to ask you first," he chuckled.
"I'll take them off when he gets here," a devious smile spread across her face, she snapped the box between her fingers and trotted down the hall.
"Yeah and if you forget, I had nothing to do with it!" he pointed. "He gets in tomorrow right?"
"Yes," she didn't take her eyes of the diamond.
"Wanna do dinner or something?"
"Nate, I haven't seen him in two weeks," she sighed. "Nicky is going to my moms tomorrow night and we aren't leaving the bedroom,"
"That's uh,...too much information,"
XOXOXOXOX
FLASHBACK
"are we planning this shower or what?" Eleanor walked in.
"Ugh," Blair groaned. "Can we do it tomorrow?" she laid so she was spooning with Dan.
"I thought we were going to go through the details today," Eleanor began pulling his glasses out of her bag.
"We were. We had a long day. I don't feel like it now,"
"Are we going to do the gender reveal with balloons?" she continued.
"No!" Dan said. "I don't want to know," he said seriously.
"You're being ridiculous," Eleanor said.
"Blair, don't you want to know, dear?"
"She does know," Dan laughed.
Eleanor's face lit up.
"She's not telling you," Dan shook his head.
"And why not?"
"Because if she tells you, you'll tell Cyrus and Cyrus will tell someone. Probably my dad and he can't keep a secret for the life of him so i'll find out eventually and that's what i'm trying to avoid,"
"You two are just impossible,"
"Oh eww,..." Dan ran his hand up Blair's leg.
"Stop!"
"How long has it been since you shaved?, you're leg feels like a wooly mammoth," he continued to push his hand up her pant leg.
"It's only been two days!" she said, "stop it!" she pulled from him.
"That is not only two days!" he begged to differ.
"I didn't have time today!"
"Well why didn't you have time all week?" he laughed.
"Daniel!" she tried to kick him away.
"It's like a teddy bear," he ran his hand up her leg over and over.
"I'm going to kill you! Let go!" she tried kicking him.
"I like it. Nice and natural," he teased her, still stroking her leg as she strained to get away from him.
"Uh stop..." she whined.
"Uh stop..." Dan mimicked her and Blair couldn't help but laugh.
"Was that supposed to be me? that sounded nothing like me,"
"If you could only hear what you sound like, it's probably more annoying than that," he explained, "Uh Daniel stoooppp!" he continued to mimic her.
"Let go!" she laughed. "You're going to give me a leg cramp!"
"No i'm probably going to start a fire," he deadpanned.
"STOP IT!" she was crying with laughter.
"A fire in your pants..."
"Daniel my mother is sitting here!" she teased.
"The two of you are absolutely ridiculous," Eleanor pushed her glasses up further on her nose and looked down at her list. She tried to fight off a smile when she noticed they were now kissing.
"You're so cuuute," Dan said in a taunting voice as he kissed her cheek.
"Shut up," she kissed him on the lips.
XOXOXOXOXOX
Blair had outdone herself again. The apartment was covered with balloons and silver trays of bite size food and desserts. She chose a sophisticated black and white colour scheme which worked well since no one but herself knew the sex of the baby. Soon the apartment was filled with friends, family and coworkers. Blair was busy in the kitchen making sure Dorota and the caterers were doing everything to her standards when Dan arrived with Bri.
This had been a very extravagant shower and she wasn't sure how to act around such people. She looked down at her dress and worried it wasn't fancy enough.
"Bri!" Blair rushed over and gave her a hug. "Come with me!" she led her into the bed-room and revealed three dresses. "Which ever one you like the best," Blair explained.
"Oh I don't think i'll ever be able to decide. They're all so beautiful,"
"Well just pick the one you like the best right this moment because the other two are yours," Blair smiled.
"Oh I couldn't possibly,..."
"You can and you will," Blair insisted. "I want you to have them,"
"Blair this is Stella McCartney,.."
"So?" Blair said simply.
Blair gave Bri some privacy and as soon as she was dressed she exited the bedroom only to be bombarded with questions.
"How are you feeling, dear?" One of Eleanor's friends rubbed Brianna's arm.
"Oh I'm great," she smiled uncomfortably.
"Is it weird?," a girl asked Brianna before she barely made her way into the living-room.
"is what weird?" she asked politely.
"I mean the moment when the child is born and you give it to someone else after you carried it for so long?"
"It must be weird!" another chimed in.
"I don't think I could do that," another stated.
"Well, It's not my baby," Bri smiled uncomfortably.
"Brianna, you can sit right here," Eleanor gestured to the chair after she noticed she had been standing for quite some time. Random strangers touching her belly and giving their well wishes. Blair watched from afar, her line of vision obscured by balloons. Nina grabbed Blair by the arm and told her to sit down and start opening the mountain of presents. Blair smiled at her guests and took her seat beside Bri before someone shoved a present in her face.
"You're carrying up high, what does that mean?" one of the women asked.
"I think that means it's a girl, right?"
"No that means it's a boy," another stated.
"Blair open this one," another gift was shoved into her hands.
"Oh thank-you," she bared her teeth and ripped at the paper. Once she had revealed the soft, white onesies Celina from Blair's office started laying them across Bri's stomach. Blair looked over and placed a wrapped gift back on the floor in front of her. "Bri , can you take over? i'm just going to get a drink?"
"Are you sure? We can just wait,"
"No, no, keep it going,"
There was no one but staff in the kitchen, Blair took a seat at the island and poured herself a glass of champagne.
"Shouldn't you be hand-cuffed to a chair right about now?" Dan said when he found her sitting by herself.
"You know the good thing about not being pregnant at your own shower? you can drink!" she showed him the glass of champagne in her hand.
"Blair,..." he rolled his eyes. "What's going on?"
"It's just weird,.." she said dismissively, pulling from him and getting out of her seat.
"Why is it weird? people came here to shower with you with presents, thus the title,"
"I just don't want to do it anymore, ok?" she sighed. "Can you give Bri her present? I want to lay down,"
Bri had finally finished opening the presents feeling like it was her duty since Blair had walked off and everyone kept handing them to her. She could finally relax and just enjoy Dan and Blair's baby kicking her in the ribs.
"This one is for you," Dan brought it up to her.
"For,...me?" she looked confused.
"Yes," he smiled.
Brianna reluctantly opened the box. When she pushed back the wrapping paper she gasped. "Oh wow,..." She was at a loss for words when she saw the Birkin bag. "This is,...wow. This is too much," she shook her head.
Dan titled his head to the side and raised his eyebrows before rolling his eyes and chuckling. Brianna was much too modest.
"Is it though?" he smirked looking at her bump.
"Really, i'm uncomfortable. The watch, the massages, the facials, manicures, pedicures, the dress!...i'm very uncomfortable and I don't know I can accept all of this,"
"Bri, you're growing our baby, we are forever in your debt," Dan laughed.
"That's not true..." she shook her head.
"Accept the gifts. We would be the ones feeling much more uncomfortable if you didn't accept them," he explained.
"Thank-you," she said genuinely.
"Do you want something to drink?" he asked.
Blair looked over to see Dan in deep conversation with Brianna. He was smiling at some story she was telling him. Blair felt a twinge of jealousy when Dan brought her another drink and sat right back in his seat beside her. It was like it was where he belonged. Suddenly Bri made a funny face and Dan's hands were pressing on her belly in an effort to feel the baby. He laughed when he was sure he found a foot and tickled her side gently. "That's crazy..." he commented. Blair crossed her arms. "Right here," Bri held Dan's hand tight against her side and he laughed. "Hello," he said in a sweet voice.
Blair began ripping down decorations and popping balloons, "What on earth are you doing?" Eleanor asked.
"The invitations specifically say from eleven till three," she explained simply while grabbing another balloon. Eleanor sighed and rused over to her son-in-law.
"Daniel can you go talk some sense into your wife?, you do it better than I do,"
"What's wrong now?" he asked as he slumped against the chair he was sitting in.
Blair finished popping the balloons as Dan approached her. "You want some help?" he asked sweetly.
"Are you sure you don't want to sit with your baby mama?" Blair sneered.
"...uhhh...what?" Dan's face contorted. "You realize she's your baby mama too right?" he blinked at her logic. "Why are you upset now?" he tilted his head.
"You sat with Bri,...," she sniffed and couldn't finish her sentence. "all afternoon,"
"Blair,..." Dan pulled her into a tight hug and ran his hand over the back of her head. "I was sitting with Bri because she has our baby inside of her," he smiled and reminded Blair.
"I know that!,...I obviously know that," she sighed and pulled away from him. "I just thought this was going to be a party for me, and yet...I had to throw it myself and,...everyone was so busy with Brianna that I felt like no one cared about me,"
"We're not having a baby so we can throw parties, Blair,"
"No. I just thought this was going to be fun and it wasn't. It was exactly the same as the woman at the store,"
"Like I said before, it does not matter how this happens. You're going to be a mommy," he pressed his forehead against hers.
"I know," she smiled through her tears but couldn't stop, she moved in and cried on Dan's shoulder.
"I'll tell you what,..." he held her face in his hands gently. "What if I throw you a party after the baby is born?"
"After?"
"Yes. A Blair and baby party. But you can't be jealous of the attention the baby gets okay?" Blair laughed a little and wiped her eyes.
"That might be nice,..." she sniffled. "But they all have to wash their hands and bring me notes from their doctors,...a clean bill of health"
"Of course. And they'll all wear dish gloves and we'll put the baby in a hazmat suit,"
"Think they make them that small?" she lit up.
"God,...I hope not" A smile played on Dan's lips.
Blair laughed. "C'mon baby mama, let's get you a drink,"
Blair laughed again and snuggled into him. Eleanor walked by and winked at Dan.
XOXOXOXOXOX
Blair walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "What are you doing?" she asked while resting her chin on his shoulder.
"These are cute," he commented on the sweet elephant and lion stuffed animals, velvety soft with precious faces. Blair had been in nesting mode and it seemed like everytime he came home something was different about the nursery. Last week it was drapes, this week it was pillows and stuffed animals. It was a relief. When Bri entered her seventh month of pregnancy, Blair hadn't so much as picked out a blanket. The room was practically empty except for the round crib they almost gave away.
"You should be sleeping," she kissed his shoulder. "Long day tomorrow," she reminded him.
"I can't sleep," he admitted while scrubbing a hand over his face, stroking down his five day old stubble.
"Why not?,"
"Can't turn my brain off," he answered.
"Something bothering you my sweet?" she asked adoringly, then pressed a kiss on the back of his neck. "That novel is your best yet," she encouraged him.
"No, it's not that. I just keep thinking about how soon it's not going to just be the two of us,"
"It's been the two of us for years,...it's time to expand the Waldorf-Humphrey family," she smiled.
"What if i'm not a good dad,..." he shrugged.
"I'm not even going to go there with you," Blair scoffed. "You'll be a good dad because you're a good man," she put her hands on his face. "C'mon, back to bed. You'll need your rest if you plan to charm all those publishers. It's exhausting, I should know,..."
XOXOXOXOXOXOX
Blair was relaxed under the covers waiting for Dan to come home from his last publishers meeting. He was in Boston and would be home around ten but she didn't think she could stay awake that long. After a work day that started at six am, she had finally handed in the look-book and made her way home around seven pm. She didn't even have dinner before she kicked off her heels and got into her bed, fully clothed. It wasn't long before she drifted off into a light slumber. A smile spread across her face as she felt her arm be caressed. When her eyes opened she saw Nate smiling at her.
"What?" she was mildly alarmed as she sat up. "You're creeping me out. I thought you were Dan," she let out a light sigh and rubbed her eyes.
"I just talked to Bri,..." he smiled widely at Blair. "She wants you to come to the hospital now,"
"Oh my god," she pushed the covers off and sprung to her feet.
"Ready to go?" he laughed.
Blair was making little screaming sounds and Nate couldn't stop laughing. She was so cute and excited like a little girl on Christmas morning. "hurry hurry," she jumped up and down. "Oh Nate...Ohhhhmygod," she covered her mouth.
"Oh my god," Nate held his hands together and pressed them against his face.
"Can we go?" Blair was antsy.
"You have a pillow mark across your face," Nate laughed.
"Does it look like I care? I'm going to be a mom today!" she jumped around.
"How fast can Dan get here?" Nate questioned.
"Call him right now, i'm sure he can't be too far."
"DAN!" Nate couldn't hold in his excitement. "you almost home?"
"It's showtime!" Nate yelled.
"No way!" Nate could practically hear him smile. "Can I talk to Blair?" Nate looked over at her frantically looking through her bag.
"She's a little busy,"
"Nate let's go!" she ordered him. "Come on," Blair pulled on Nate's hand.
"Your husband?" Nate held the phone out to her. She grabbed the phone out of his hand eagerly.
"Humphrey!" she screamed.
"Hi!" the volume of her voice was to be expected but it still surprised him.
"Hurry! but don't hurry! The last thing I need is for you to get into an accident. Just follow road rules but don't dilly-dally!"
"Roger that,"
When they arrived at the hospital Blair busted into the lobby doors, pulling Nate by the hand.
"I'm going to stay down here," Nate took a seat in the lobby.
"Why?"
"I'm going to greet Dan and then i'll come up after you have your prince or princess,"
"Thank-you Nate," she hugged him. "and umm,...do you want to know what it is?" her eyes filled with happy tears.
"Uh,...do you trust me?"
"I do," she beamed.
"Ok, what are you and Humphrey bringing home?" he crossed his arms lightly over his chest.
"A little girl..." her eyes shined as she told the first person after months of keeping this nearly impossible secret.
"Wow,..." he swallowed overcome with emotion and pulled Blair into a tight embrace. They both closed their eyes and held on. After a beat he smiled "What the hell is Humphrey going to do with a girl?" he said dryly as he pulled away. Blair laughed and gave him a push.
"I love you Nate. Keep it a secret for me?" she pulled away.
"Of course," he nodded. "What are you doing? go see the birth of your baby, don't miss it," Blair turned quickly and ran to the elevator in silk pajamas lugging a huge bag of necessities that made her wobble all the way down the hall.
XOXOXO
Blair burst into the room making everyone on the other side jump slightly. "Hi Blair,..." Brianna's hair was lightly crumpled but she looked relaxed and taken care of.
"Hi sweetheart," Blair wasn't sure she had ever smiled so much in her life as she bent down and kissed Bri on the cheek, then discarded her bag somewhere not really paying too much attention to where she left it.
"Where's Dan?"
"He's coming..." she sighed while attempting to fluff up one of Bri's pillows.
"He may not make it quite in time," The doctor announced to the women.
"What do you mean? I thought this could take hours," Blair's eyes widened with worry.
"I kind of labored at home for awhile,..." Bri confessed with a cringe.
"What?" Blair tried not to sound upset but she felt like Bri had violated her wishes.
"I thought it was a false alarm!" she explained.
Moments later Blair was standing by Bri's side, her hand covering her mouth in anticipation. She noticed she was holding her breath at times.
"Any moment now," the doctor said. A text message chimed on Blair's phone
Just ten minutes away - Dan
Blair didn't have enough time to be truly disappointed. The nurses were encouraging Bri and Blair looked over and smiled at her in such a way that she knew Blair would be forever grateful. "How are you so calm?" Blair was in complete awe. "You are an expert at this!" she encouraged.
Then without another word she watched as a whirl of activities surround her. For a moment if felt like everything was in slow motion. It was the most surreal moment of Blair's life. She never imagined she'd ever have to do something like this but now in this moment she was so happy they made this decision and wouldn't have to wait any longer. Blair's hand clasped over her mouth once she could hear crying.
"It's a girl!" the nurse smiled and Blair was unsure what to do with herself as she stood frozen like a statue. A nurse carried the baby to a warming station under a bright light. She was pink, and responsive and perfect. Blair wasn't sure what to do. It was hard to make the connection right now as she watched the baby get swaddled up in a blanket. Before the nurse could hand her to Blair, she realized Blair was too busy buried in Brianna's shoulder hugging her and thanking her. "thank you,...thank you, thank you," Blair smiled at Bri who teared up with how sincere Blair was.
"She's my first girl," Bri smiled sweetly at Blair.
She is my hero. I am forever in her debt.
"Thank-you,"
"You're so welcome sweetheart," The nurse headed straight for her, and she dropped her hands from her mouth. The nurse that was evaluating the baby gave a happy response finding her Apgar score was a perfect ten.
The nurse in the bright pink scrubs spoke to the baby as she lifted the bundle straight up vertically a hand holding on the back of her head. "Let me see if I can find your mummy," Blair's eyes locked on her tiny face, her eyes finding the bright lights too harsh she struggled to open them. "Is this yours?" the nursed asked rhetorically in the sweetest voice.
"...Yes," Blair sniffed and ran her thumb under her eye. "That is mine," she confirmed and walked closer, dropping her hand from her face she put her hands out to receive the most amazing gift that Brianna and Dan could ever give her. The nurse squeezed her arm. She couldn't even really get a good look at the baby. Her eyes were too watery.
"Oh Bri..." Blair walked over and kneeled down placing the baby in her arms so she could get a look at the baby she carried for nine months. After about a minute, Bri could see Blair eagerly wanted to take her baby back so she made an excuse about how the baby wanted her mom.
Blair went to a nurse. "My husband should be here any minute. Would it be okay if I just,..." Blair gestured to the door.
"Of course you can," the nurse said with a nod.
"I can?" she didn't know if she should believe her. No one ever let her take Connor anywhere and this freedom was foreign. "She's okay?" Blair asked.
"What do you mean?" she was moving blankets around and cleaning the area.
"um,..there's nothing else to check? she's okay?" she stroked the soft blanket in her arms.
"She scored a ten, She's perfect honey," the nurse said assuring her.
The words 'perfect' rocked Blair to the core, her lip twitched and she muttered "Thank you" the best she could.
"Everything all right,...?" the nurse asked, resting her hand on Blair's back. It wasn't everyday that a woman burst into sobs after hearing that her baby was healthy. Blair's emotions were so all over the place right now, she was crying happy tears for her perfectly healthy baby girl, but she was crying sad tears for Connor who was taken from her. It upset her that she was even thinking about the tragic events of that night today but she was a mother after-all and today she really missed him. This baby had the health he should have had, this baby should have been grown inside of her like he did.
"Yes everything is fine," she wiped her eye. For a moment Blair just stared at her baby, then she walked into the hall. They assured her again that the baby looked perfectly fine and that she could take her out of the room. "Hi," she smiled down at her. Her finger tips brushed her cheek softly as she walked up and down the hall in complete happiness. "You're so beautiful," Her lips must have kissed that babies head a thousand times before Dan arrived. She was ready and had Dan's hospital bracelet in her pocket and she was getting more and more anxious for his arrival. "I can't believe you're here," she cooed kissing her sleeping baby again. The babies eyes were tiny crescents, she was slightly swollen in the face but her lips didn't lie. Those lips shaped so much like her own were definitely a trait she inherited from her mom. She lifted her hat to see her hair and smiled. Blair peppered kisses all over her face. All over her impossibly tiny nose that wrinkled with her touch, all over her cheeks and all over her adorable chin. "I can't wait for you to meet him," she whispered, blinking and trying to keep the tears from soaking the blanket. "He's the best,"
Blair looked up when she heard footsteps she just knew it was him, they were urgent but stopped when he saw her. He froze in place when he saw his wife holding the tiny bundle. "here he comes," she whispered at her baby. His smile was so amazing Blair would never forget it.
"Is that ours?" he asked in a soft voice, not moving a muscle. Even though Blair was so over the moon she made a snide comment to be funny. "No, this is the random baby I scooped up on my way past the nursery" she blinked.
"Oh the sarcasm!" Dan put his hand on his chest. "If I'm as good at reading your tone as I think i am,...i'd say that's our baby" he pointed.
"Yeah," she sniffed as an entire new wave of emotions hit her. Happy tears hit the blanket that kept their brand new baby warm. She never thought she'd get this and now standing here in this hospital hallway she had everything.
"Come here and meet her," she said quietly.
"her?" his smile was so genuine Blair laughed. "HER?" Dan expressed his excitement.
"Shh," Blair smiled gently while looking down at her little baby. "you'll wake her up" she whispered and gestured for him to come over.
"I'm guessing the name game is going to last a month,...What am I going to do with a girl?" he approached closer and peered down."Oh my god..." he clapped a hand over his mouth when he saw her and looked away quickly. "Blair, that's ours," he confirmed just looking at her face. She laughed.
"It was incredible, I'm so sorry you missed it" Dan walked over he wanted to tell her how happy he was to see her for the first time in Blair's arms and not someone else's.
"Wow," he moved the blanket to get a better look at her face. "I always thought babies all looked the same but I don't feel that way anymore. Blair she looks just like you,"
"You think? " Blair wiped her eyes, then pulled back her little hat to show the barely there hair that was definitely not blonde like Brianna.
"Well, I should hope so" Dan chuckled peering down to get a good look at her. "I'd hate to return her to sender. Can I hold her?" Blair gave him a slight eye-roll at his question, as if he really needed to ask. She lifted her arms up and placed her right in Dan's ready to cradle hands. Blair dreaded the moment she would have to hand her off to someone else but giving her to Dan felt like an extension of herself, she wanted him to hold her.
"Hi," his face was nothing but adoration for this little baby.
"Can you believe it?" she asked not taking her eyes off her.
"No," he said simply while staring down at her. "This is so weird" he held her tiny hand.
"Dan?"
"...Yeah?" he didn't look up from the baby and continued to study her face. Blair caressed his shoulder gently so he would make eye contact with her. "Yeah?" he whispered with a slight eyebrow raise. Blair gently leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. Dan reciprocated pressing his lips firmly to hers. Blair's hand went up and held his face as Dan starred at her lips. The baby made a noise and they both looked down at her. Blair was amazed at the energy she felt between them. Obviously it was not the first time two people came together and had a child but it was oddly bizarre and at the same time wickedly amazing that here they were together with their baby in between them. For once in their lives this was something they shared equally. The thought that he was the only other person in the universe that was as connected to this child as her, was overwhelming. Blair looked to Dan again, and he instinctively pressed his lips against hers.
Eleanor and Cyrus walked into the hall first to find Dan and Blair caught in a true moment of intimacy. Before Cyrus could yell a comment, Eleanor held her hand out hushing him so Dan and Blair could kiss just a little longer. Blair pulled away from Dan's lips noticing they weren't the only ones in the hall. "Oh,..." she gulped noticing her mom and Cyrus.
"What do we have here..." Eleanor smiled and clasped her hands together.
"Mom!," Blair held her hands out and hugged her mother tightly. "Cyrus!" she hugged him too.
"A girl!, " Eleanor exclaimed not being able to hold it in.
"Thank! God!..." Nina ran down the hall stopping in front of her best-friend and giving her a big hug. "Give her to me," she demanded while looking at Dan.
"I don't think so..." Dan scoffed and swung his arms away from Nina. Jenny rushed down the hall with a huge smile on her face.
"Hey Jenn," Dan looked up before looking back down at the baby.
"Oh my god," She walked up close and got a good look as Blair watched her proudly. "She's so beautiful, she's so beautiful," she repeated. "Awh!-Daaann," Jenny inhaled sharply and lifted her hand and wiped the corner of his eye.
"Did I just hear someone say girl?" Nate approached from down the hall with his hands shoved casually into his pockets. Dan shook his head at Nate and they both laughed.
"What am I going to do with her?" Dan asked.
"Love her," Eleanor said before reaching into Dan's cradling arms with a sense of entitlement. He just smirked at Blair as Eleanor "snatched" the baby away from him.
"Mom!" Blair expressed her distaste for taking over. In Blair's opinion Dan should have been allowed to hold her as long as he wanted to.
"It's ok. I'm going to see Bri," Dan let Blair know before he went off to the hospital room where Bri was.
"Okay," she gave him a kiss before looking back to her mom disapprovingly. "He barely held her," Blair sighed watching Eleanor beam with happiness and lean in for several kisses. "Oh pfft, he can hold her anytime!" she commented.
"You're here!" Brianna smiled brightly when Dan knocked and walked in. Lifting her arms into the air, Dan buried his head in her shoulder with a big hug.
"Yeah I got pulled over for speeding,..." he smiled sheepishly. "Good job!" he smiled. "Thank-you. She's beautiful," he said genuinely.
"You're hilarious..." she laughed. "You thank me for the one thing I have nothing to do with," she blew air through her teeth. "Thank your wife!"
"well,..." Dan chuckled. "She's got some cheeks. Must've been those cupcakes," he winked and Bri brought a finger up to her lips to remind him that was a secret. "Do you need anything?" he asked rolling up his sleeves.
"No, i'm fine," just then Chris walked into the room with a tray of Starbucks.
"Heeyyy," he smiled and shook Dan's hand. "You got a name picked out?" he asked.
"Not yet, no," he shook his head. Just then an announcement was made about visiting hours.
"How does this work? am I a visitor?" Dan asked confused.
"No you can stay," Will explained that they have accommodations for them as he handed his wife the Starbucks she had been missing. "The baby is the patient so she gets the room," Bri explained, "but if you two want to go home and come back, she can stay with me, it's all up to you,"
"I feel like I didn't do my homework. We just didn't want to do anything premature and then she came early so...,"
"You don't have to explain anything to us," Bri smiled then looked over to see Blair make her way into the room. Her arms were crossed and she looked a little stressed.
"If I can't sleep here then,...then I won't sleep," Blair said quickly entering the room. "I'll just sit here..." she gestured to the chair. "I don't want to leave her. I can't leave her,"
"You don't have to leave hun," Bri explained the whole thing to Blair and they said they would be back after they said goodbye to everyone. When Dan and Blair walked out into the hall more people had arrived. Rufus was now standing and waiting to have his turn holding the baby.
"Oh you look like your mommy," Rufus said as Eleanor handed the baby to him.
"Does she ever," Eleanor peered over. "Blair looked just like her as a baby"
"Five more minutes until visiting hours are over," a nurse let them know.
Everyone congratulated the couple again before heading out. Rufus handed the baby back to Dan and Blair felt her lip shake, "Dan,.." she called him over.
"Think you can hold her for a sec?" Dan asked Nate.
"You trust me?"
"Yeah man," he placed the baby in Nate's arms was was pleasantly surprised that he supported her head without needing to be reminded.
"What's up?" Dan asked Blair.
"Here,..." she stopped halfway down the hall when they were alone. She snapped the hospital bracelet on Dan's wrist and looked at hers and his together. A flood of tears came to her eyes by the sight of them.
"Blair Waldorf, stop crying..." Dan hugged her tightly.
"I...I can't help it,..." she steadied her shaky breath.
"You know what I was thinking?" he asked as he drew relaxing circles on her back, Blair closed her eyes and took in the scent of his collar. Dan kissed the top of her ear and nuzzled the side of her face. "It's like,...everything was leading up to this. As if we were destined to have her right now, this year, this day. Like she was just waiting. We were waiting on her. Specifically her"
"You're not helping with the crying thing," she pulled away and continued sniffling. Dan smiled and pulled her back into his embrace. "I'm so upset you weren't here,"
"You know, seeing you holding her and not anyone else was exactly what I wanted," he pulled some strands of hair out of her face.
"I don't mean to be rude but they're going to kick me out of here in like a minute and I don't think i'm allowed to take her with me," he lifted his arms and handed the baby to Blair.
"Thank you," she gave Nate an air kiss and Dan hugged Nate goodbye.
"I guess we have to name her" he whispered."But I think,..." he looked at the wristband. "Baby girl Waldorf-Humphrey, sounds really cute"
"Ermm,...no" she laughed not playing along. "Have you given any more thought to Marigold?"
"Yes I have,..." he smiled. "I've decided that it is the worst name in the history of names and you can name her that just as long as you're aware you'll be raising her alone,"
"Harsh!" she chuckled. "So then Audrey...?" she gave her baby an eskimo kiss while eying Dan.
"Blair Waldorf, please tell me you didn't drag around the name Marigold so Audrey would sound better by comparison,"
"Well did it work?"
"A little,,...because Marigold is the most heinous name I ever heard and anything sounds better. I'm sorry Audrey is not going to fly..."
"Hmph, then she has no name"
"She doesn't need a name tonight," Dan said as they entered the hospital room. A nurse came in and checked on the baby quickly and told them if they needed anything then they could just call for her.
Blair didn't want to put her down so she and Dan laid propped up on the bed and just watched her sleep.
"I'm completely dumbfounded that she's here. Came from practically nothing and poof,"
"Yeah I don't see it that way at all," Dan laughed. "I don't think i've ever filled out so much paper work. It's easier to buy a house,..hell it's easier to immigrate i'm sure,"
"But you'd do it all over again?" Her big doe eyes starring at him.
"In a heartbeat," The baby stirred lightly and her parents starred at her as if she might do tricks, her eyes opened just barely but they both let out sounds of amazement.
"Hello," Dan cooed. "We've been waiting a long time for you,"
XOXOXOX
Nina couldn't stop wiping her eyes. "are you okay?" Nate asked.
"I'm just so happy for them you know?"
"Wow, Nina McAllistar has feelings. You're not the emotionless skank I thought you were,"
"I'm not a skank you asshole!," the tears stopped as she gave him a shove. "Yes, I have sex! I have a lot of sex but I don't sleep with men for money.I don't sleep with married men, I don't sleep with men that are in relationships, I don't sleep with men who are involved with another woman at all."
"Well still,..." Nate began.
"I don't have sex because I need an ego boost or when I'm vulnerable and need to feel close to a male. I don't have daddy issues, I'm not interested in male attention to give me confidence. I have confidence, I like sex. I have sex when I want to have sex because I LIKE SEX!. Is that so hard to believe? you of all people should be able to understand the concept! Do not call me a skank ever again if you want to keep your tongue,"
"People call me a man-whore..." he offered instead of apologizing.
"That is because you WERE literally a male whore..." she deadpanned.
"I'm not married or involved with anyone."
"OH. MY. GOD. In your dreams..."
"C'mon, I'm pretty good..."
"Not according to Blair..." she trailed off.
"Give me a shot,"
"As if! You can't be serious right now," she rolled her eyes.
"I don't sleep with men who learned to tell time six months ago"
"That was a misunderstanding! I had a lot to drink!" he said. "C'mon! You yourself said its just sex. I have the required equipment...use me. Give me a spin," he unbuckled his belt and dropped his pants.
"No,..c'mon put those back on," she closed her eyes and put her hands firmly on her hips.
"You've always wanted to know who's bigger, me or Dan..." he used as a bargaining chip to get her to look.
"I don't know if i want to know that badly," she continued to look away. "and I only saw Dan for a quick second,...and wait! you're the one that wants to know but Dan won't drop trow just so you can have your answer,"
"Open your eyes Nina!"
When Nina opened her eyes she starred at him blankly. "Jesus Christ. What the fuck is this?" she jabbed at his chest.
"What?" Nate was dumbfounded. Never has a woman ever reacted this way to his naked body.
"Do you wax your whole body? You look prepubescent. You look like an olympic swimmer. As for the size,..." she looked a little closer.
"Bigger than Dan?" he asked genuinely curious.
"Umm,"
"bigger? just say it..." he closed his eyes hoping for the best.
"Do you want the good news or the bad news?" she asked.
"bad..
"He's bigger,"
"...ok, the good news?"
"I can work with it,"
"Really?"
"What can I say? i'm feeling festive!" she shrugged.
"Alright!" he stepped closer. Nina pulled away
"Buy me a drink first Casanova,"
"Who's Casernova?"
"...Buy me several,"
XOXOXOXOXOX
Blair pushed her hair behind her ears as she leaned down. "Hello, hello," she lightly cooed at the baby who was making the slightest fussing noises. "..Good morning sweetness," she cradled her with a light bounce in her step. "I guess I should change you,..." she bit her lip wondering if she could do this on her own. She looked over at Dan who was still sound asleep and wondered if she should wake him to help her. She watched as Dan tackle the first one the night prior and she did read a few baby books. After a few minutes of struggling, crying and trying to be as delicate as possible with her, she picked up her baby proud of her first attempt by herself. "One down, two thousand or so to go?" she asked her baby with a little laugh. "Audrey?," Blair tried. "Don't tell your dad,"
"Good morning..." Dan stretched seeing the sunlight around Blair's hair.
"Now you wake up? not when I was struggling while changing her, but when I'm done?" she bounced her baby.
He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. "Hi," he said cheerfully watching the baby yawn. "Uh that was probably the cutest thing i've ever seen in my entire life," Blair laughed and kissed him good morning.
"Any more thoughts on a name?"
"Beth,..." Dan offered.
"Boring"
"Katherine? Like Katherine Hepburn?...i'm trying here,"
"Holly?" Blair offered.
"No,...don't do this to me. I already vetoed it,"
"Katherine sounds so old," she pouted.
"No it doesn't. It's classic and we can call her Katie,"
"Oh god! Veto!"
"Audrey Waldorf-Humphrey?..." Dan sighed with distaste.
"Audrey Brianna Waldorf-Humphrey!" she corrected.
"Well in that case!"
"Fine, no Audrey, no Holly..."
"Olivia?"
"Are you suffering from brain damage? we're not naming our baby after one of your exes"
"I forgot all about that," he scratched his chin."Caroline?" Dan suggested.
"I like it but my grandmother's name was Caroline and my mother hates her..."
"Elise? like your grandma?"
Blair sighed sadly, "My second cousin born three weeks ago was just named Elise,"
"Okay I have one more name and I've been keeping it to myself all this time because i'm terrified you'll hate it and pull it apart but I think it suits her,"
"Let's hear it"
"Okay but before you rip it apart, it's an Audrey character..."
"Suzy? Joanna? Eliza? Gabrielle? Regina? Karen? Sabrina? is it Sabrina?,...I hate Sabrina..."
"...Are you done?"
"..yeah"
"Nicole,"
"From 'How to steal a million'?" she asked.
"Yeah," he nodded with triumph.
",...Maybe we could try Eliza?" she asked.
"Umm if you want," Dan nodded.
For the rest of the morning Dan tried to think of other names but there was nothing he liked as much as Nicole. "So you still aren't a fan then?"
"I just don't think it's special enough," Blair admitted as she packed up her bag. The hospital staff told them they could leave that afternoon if they wanted to and Blair couldn't wait to leave.
Nate poked his head into the room just then, "You wouldn't believe how many people I just walked in on today,"
"You could have just asked which room at the front desk," Blair sighed.
"Where's the fun in that?" he laughed.
"My you seem chipper this morning," Blair laughed. "Did you and Nina end up going to the bar last night?"
"Nina and I? what? no,"
",...she told me you were going to go and get a drink,"
"oh right. Yeah we did that and then went straight home to bed. Not together,...obviously,...so does this little nugget have a name yet or what?" he asked to change the subject.
"Not yet,"
"Blair we have to name her before we leave," Dan sighed.
"Dan likes Nicole," Blair scoffed.
"And Blair likes Audrey!" Dan scoffed louder.
"I think Nicole suits her," Nate starred into her car seat.
"Why are you being such an ass?," Blair said. "You always knew I loved the name Audrey!"
"How is it fair that you get to name our child without any input from me?"
"Audrey is a beautiful name,"
"Audrey is so blah I can't stand it!" his eyes widened.
"Hey Nic!," Nate ignored his friends and smiled at the baby.
"Blair, Audrey Waldorf-Humphrey, is such an ugly name!" Dan stressed.
"I don't want her to have a hyphenated name"
"Uh,..." he was caught off guard. "Blair,..." he rubbed his forehead. "I don't...," his wife was stubborn and he didn't want to argue about something so trivial in their lives from now on. "I'm sorry but i'm not going to let her just be a Waldorf...I know it sounds patriarchal and totally..."
"What?" she interrupted him.
"You want her last-name to be Waldorf? you don't think that's at all offensive to me? I want it to be Waldorf-Humphrey,"
Blair scoffed at him. "You really are dense sometimes!" she rolled her eyes. "I just want it to be Humphrey!" she explained.
"Oh,..."
"Guys, not to bother you during your debate but Nicky is making this adorable face..."
",...That's it," Blair's eyes lit up.
XOXOXOXOXOXOX
"Oh no what did she do to you?" he saw Nicky in a tulle ballerina skirt. He scooped her up into his arms, she whined a little. "I know it's awful..." he said as if he was agreeing with her.
"It is most certainly not awful,"
"She looks like a doiley,"
"She looks like a princess!," Blair corrected.
"What a traditional Thanksgiving. I'm fairly certain the pilgrims dressed like princesses as well," he smirked.
"Hi baby!" Nate took the baby from Dan.
"Be careful, Winston is extremely protective," Dan laughed.
"You a guard Dog Winston?," Nate gave him a scratch under his chin.
"Happy Thanksgiving!" Eleanor and Cyrus walked in with a couple bottles of wine. "Where is that precious creature of mine?" she asked.
"Right here!" Nate handed her over to her grandma.
"Is she not the most beautiful baby you have ever seen?" Eleanor gushed and Blair smiled happily.
"You done good," Cyrus smiled with his hands out prompting Dan and Blair to laugh. "When are you going to have more?"
"I was just going to ask the same question" Eleanor looked up at Blair.
Blair ignored them and announced that dinner was served so they should all take their seats. Nicky was passed around the table throughout dinner, she slept silently prompting everyone to comment on how well behaved she was. "If she's this easy, you should definitely think about having another," Eleanor started again.
"One is good" Blair smiled.
"Not enough" Cyrus commented pressing a kiss to her head once it was his turn to hold her.
"Definitely not enough" Eleanor pitched in still entranced by the precious baby sleeping in his arms.
"Mom, she was just born. You can't be happy with her for the time being?" she was starting to get annoyed.
"Of course I can. But I don't see why you wouldn't go through the process again,"
"i'm a firm believer in stopping once you create perfection" she looked at Dan who nodded.
Once dinner was over, they hung out in the kitchen and drank coffee with their desserts. "Your mom and dad used to hate each-other," Nate told the bundle in his arms once he pried her away from Eleanor. "I guess they don't hate each-other anymore" he smiled looking over at Blair who was resting on Dan's shoulder.
"I never hated him..., I strongly disliked him" she laughed.
"Blair, you know,...you always wanted a sibling," she said quietly, it was practically a whisper.
"Mom, can you give it a rest?" Blair practically collapsed on to Dan's shoulder in exasperation.
"Blair, I just don't understand,...you have all the means, you have the time,"
"Mom, can I talk to you outside?,"
Once they were outside Blair began, "I'm sorry. I know you always wanted a sibling. I know you were always jealous of daddy's family. I know you always wished you had more than one kid. I know you wanted Dan and I to multiply as quickly as Aaron and Laura but we can't, and we aren't,..."
"You've proven you can," she gestured to the window to show her that Dan now had the baby in his arms.
"You make it sound so simple," she shook her head. "It was not simple. It was hard. It's something I never want to do ever again,"
"Blair,..."
Blair cut her off, "Mom, she's it for us. We shouldn't have gotten her in the first place." she said simply.
"We have her because we wanted her. Not because she has to be someone's sibling, not for her grandparents, she's for us and we're not testing our luck. We've been given this amazing baby girl and we're humbly going to love her as much as we can, and that's it" she looked over to see Dan nuzzling her with his nose and smiled proudly. "That's it," she smiled.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Thank-you.