Lyon, France
It was a beautiful day and Roman asked Blair if she wanted to go to the market with him to pick up some groceries and anything else they may need. Blair really enjoyed Roman's company and told him she would be happy to go with him. She wanted to stop at the pharmacy after the market to see if she could get something for her stomach. She had been nauseous all morning and she vomited after breakfast and it wasn't on purpose. She felt better now but she wanted to get some medicine in case it came back. She and Roman walked through the market selecting various items that they would use to prepare their meals for the week. When they left they walked past a food vendor who was frying Boudin Noir and the smell immediately made Blair sick. She had to run into a public restroom so she wouldn't vomit in the street. That fact alone made her even sicker. When she came out Roman had a worried look to his face when he asked her if she was alright. "Blair ma cherie, you look pale. Let's get you home and into bed." That sounded wonderful but she wanted to stop at the pharmacy first to see if she could get something that would help her stomach settle. Roman took her to the pharmacy and she explained all of her symptoms to the pharmacist to see if he could recommend something. The pharmacist thought about it for a minute and began asking her questions. He wanted to know if she was nauseous constantly or did it come and go? What was she doing right before she got sick? Was anyone else in the house sick? Had they all eaten the same food? Blair and Roman answered the pharmacists incessant questions and when he was finally finished he told her he had something for her. He left them briefly and when he came back he handed Blair a 7-UP, some crackers, and box containing multiple pregnancy tests. Blair's mouth dropped open and her eyes widened with shock as she looked back and forth between the pharmacist and Roman. She managed to sputter out a very unconvincing, I'm not pregnant and both men gave her a sympathetic look and the pharmacist asked her when she last had her period. Blair couldn't remember but she did remember that she had not had it since she came to Europe and that was, "OH MY GOD!" over eight weeks ago. Blair started to hyperventilate and the pharmacist handed her a paper bag to breath into. They managed to calm her down and her breathing returned to normal after about a minute. Roman was holding her and rubbing her back saying the nicest most supporting things he could. Telling her that a baby is a blessing, she's going to be a great mother, Valentino started a new maternity line, she could have Gucci make her a beautiful stroller and get an amazing Prada diaper bag. It was very sweet but it wasn't helping. Pregnant. She was in shock. She couldn't believe it. She should be cursing that motherchucking Basshole but she knew the minute the pharmacist said she was probably pregnant that she wanted it to be true more than she had ever wanted anything. A baby... Chuck's baby. Roman asked the pharmacist for a referral and it was just their luck that his brother was supposedly the best OB/GYN in Lyon. He called him for us and we set up an appointment for the next day. He told Blair that the tests he gave her to take home were very accurate and she could find out for sure before tomorrow. He also added a bottle of prenatal vitamins to her items and sent her on her way telling her to take one every day because she needed the folic acid for the baby.
Roman took Blair home and put the groceries away while she went to the bathroom to take the test. Her father had been helping out an old collegue on some big tax case and hadn't been around much for the past week so it was just the two of them. Roman was more like a friend than a parent and she was so grateful that it was him that was with her. She could not imagine asking her father to sit with her while she waited for the results of her pregnancy test. She opened up three of them and peed on them all one right after another. She put the caps on, wiped them off and carried them into the kitchen. Roman just looked at her as she placed them next to each other in the counter and they set the timer for 5 minutes just like the box said. The box lied. Not even a minute later each one showed a definite bright red plus sign. It was like a loud chorus of clowns singing, "YOU'RE PREGNANT, YOU'RE PREGNANT, YOU'RE PRE E EGG NANT!" Roman came around the counter and gave her a very big hug. Blair focused on trying to describe her feelings and the main one that kept screaming at her was elation. Roman began preparing dinner going on and on about her needing protein and apologizing to her about the fact that she could no longer have wine. Blair didn't care. All she cared about was the baby inside her and the appointment tomorrow that would tell her that her baby was perfectly healthy, how far along she was and when she was due. She knew she had to tell Chuck but she decided to wait until after the appointment so she could tell him what the doctor said. Her father called while she and Roman ate dinner and said that negotiations had broken down and he was so sorry but he had to go to Paris for a couple of days. Blair felt relieved. She would rather live with this news for a few days before her parents got involved. She decided to read in bed and turn in early. She was so tired. Roman told her that being tired was normal, said goodnight, and told her to get some rest. She drifted off to sleep with her book still in her hands thinking only of the child that was growing inside her.
Empire Hotel, Penthouse
It was early afternoon when Chuck's phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and saw that it was his P.I. calling from Lyon. "Hello" "Hello Monsieur Bass it's Jean Pierre. I have some news that I thought you would want to hear before I sent you my report." Chuck took a deep breath afraid of what was going to come out of the man's mouth. "What is it Jean Pierre?" "It's Mademoiselle Waldorf. I followed her this morning as usual only she didn't look well. She went shopping with her stepfather and after she left the market she ran into a public restroom where I believe she vomited." Chuck stilled instantly. Blair's bulimia could not be back. "Then her stepfather took her into the pharmacy to speak to the pharmacist and I was able to position myself to hear their conversation. Mademoiselle Waldorf told the man her symptoms and he gave her a can of 7-Up, some crackers, and a box containing several pregnancy tests. Mademoiselle Waldorf appeared shocked and then the man asked her another question at which point Mademoiselle Waldorf began to hyperventilate and the man gave her a bag to breath into and she got better. He then arranged for her to see a doctor, added a bottle of vitamins to her items and sent her on her way." Chuck started to smile, the first real smile he had since she left and then he began laughing. In his mind he could see the entire scene playing out in that pharmacy. Blair must be beside herself. He had to get to her. His punishment be damned. It had been 8 weeks. She would just have to think up something else that could last for another 4. Baby trumps ultimatum any day of the week. "You said she is seeing a doctor tomorrow. Did you manage to find out what time." "Yes Monsieur Bass, it is at 10:00 a.m." "Thank you, I will be there by tomorrow morning. Please stay with her until I arrive" Jean Pierre agreed and they hung up. Chuck called his pilot to ready his jet and went to pack. He stopped by the safe, grabbed his passport, took out a little black box and tucked it into his coat pocket before he left for the airport. He didn't know if he was more excited about finding out she was carrying his child or getting to lay eyes on her for the first time in over 8 very long weeks.