This was a one shot requested by my Twitter friend bevelinyada. Hope you all enjoy it. As always I own nothing.
Charles Bass, CEO of Bass Industries and billionaire several times over was sitting crossed legged on the nineteenth century Aubusson carpet in the living room of his prewar townhouse that he shared with his wife and fourteen month old son. Chuck had been known to take down entire companies in an afternoon, purchase two city blocks of real estate before breakfast and fire the most incompetent of employees over lunch but when it came to his son he was at a complete loss.
Henry Charles Bass was an exceptional child from the minute he drew his first breath. All his milestones in life so far had come early; rolling over, smiling, laughing, crawling, walking and talking. His first word was "mama" followed quickly by "mine", "no" and "bye bye". Soon he was saying all kinds of words including just last week when he started to call Dorota "Dodo". However the one word Henry refused to say was "Dada". Chuck had tried everything from bribing to begging. Last weekend he had spent an entire day alone with his son taking him to Serendipity and to the park to feed the ducks hoping it would be the push Henry needed to say it.
Blair feeling her husband's pain had even started to cajole Henry. She also spent many a moment showing her son his father's picture and repeating "Dada" over and over hoping he would mimic her. So far they'd had no luck. Henry, in true Bass fashion, was not going to do anything he didn't want to do.
So it was that Chuck found himself on the floor with his son next to him playing with blocks on a rainy Wednesday afternoon. He had decided to come home early to spend time with his family.
Henry, with the help of Chuck, was building towers. He would then take his toy cars and smash them into the towers knocking them down. Every time a tower would topple over he would squeal and clap his hands. Then he'd say "more" wanting Chuck to help rebuild.
This went on for about ten minutes until Blair entered the room followed by Monkey. The dog immediately ran to where they were sitting on the floor and began to lick Henry's face. Henry started to laugh and squeal "Monkay".
Chuck glanced at Blair. "Really? When did he start saying the dog's name?"
Blair looked guiltily at her husband. "Yesterday." She rushed over and joined them on the floor wrapping her arm around Chuck's waist and giving him a squeeze.
Henry at this point had fallen onto his back, still giggling, as Monkey continued to nudge the toddler with his wet nose.
Chuck sighed. "I give up. He's never going to say it."
Blair gave him a sympathetic look and kissed his cheek. "I highly doubt he'll go off to college unable to say daddy. He'll say it when he's ready."
"That's easy for you to say. He's been saying 'mama' since he was nine months old," he pouted.
She decided that Monkey and Henry had had enough bonding time and she reached over picking her son up off the floor and placing him on her lap. Monkey realizing the game was over plopped down next to his master laying his head on Chuck's knee.
Chuck reached out a hand petting his faithful companion. "At least someone in this family loves me."
Blair suppressed a giggle rolling her eyes at her overdramatic husband. "I think I showed you plenty of love this morning or have you forgotten." She leaned over and kissed him.
He glanced sideways at his beautiful wife. "Maybe I need a refresher."
She kissed him again. "Well maybe I'll have to do that for you tonight." She started to kiss him again a bit more passionately this time.
Suddenly Henry was pushing on her face. "No mama." He was frowning at his parents.
Chuck and Blair both looked down at their disgruntled son and laughed. Chuck ruffled the toddler's dark brown locks. "Heaven forbid all the attention isn't on you."
Blair squeezed her son to herself kissing his cheek. "Whether he says it or not there's no denying he's your son."
The Basses spent the rest of the day in each other's company. Chuck and Blair even cancelled a dinner date they had with Nate and his new girlfriend. Neither one of them wanted to leave their home and happy family.
After putting Henry to bed Chuck and Blair spent the next couple of hours together. Eating dinner and then watching a movie. They were in bed by ten Chuck looking over the Asian markets' morning numbers and Blair reading a New York Times bestselling novel. By ten-twenty they were in the throes of lovemaking and by eleven-thirty they were asleep in each other's arms.
Chuck and Blair were suddenly awakened at three-thirty in the morning by Henry's blood curdling scream. He usually slept through the night so this was completely out of the norm.
Blair sat up panting. "Oh my God Chuck, what's wrong with him?"
Neither one of them had ever heard their son scream like that. Chuck was up and out of bed in a flash. Before Blair could even get out of the bed he was out the door and down the hall.
He pushed his son's door open with his heart pounding, frightened of what he was going to find. He immediately saw his son standing up in his crib with tears streaming down his cheeks. Chuck started across the room looking all around. There was no one else there (his greatest fear) and everything else looked to be in order.
He went to the crib lifting his son up and checking him over. Henry was still sobbing. Chuck rubbed his back shushing him.
"What's wrong Henry?" He kissed his son's sweaty cheek. "You're safe."
Henry clung to his father. He was crying and mumbling "Dada" against Chuck's shoulder. Chuck in his state of fear was oblivious. Blair then entered the room tying her robe.
"Is he okay?" The look of fear on her face was heartbreaking. She rushed to them.
Chuck shook his head. "I don't know. I can't see anything wrong but he won't stop crying. Call Dr. Shaw."
Henry's pediatrician, Dr. Shaw, was on twenty-four hour call for the Basses. He was paid handsomely for his availability.
Blair rushed out of the room to get the phone. Chuck took Henry to the changing table to change his diaper. He tried to lay Henry down but he clung to Chuck even tighter so Chuck sat down in the plush, over stuffed rocker gently rocking his son trying to calm him.
Blair came back into the room with the phone to her ear. She looked at Chuck. "Is he running a fever?"
Chuck shook his head. "I don't think so. I think he's just warm from stress."
Blair continued to talk to Dr. Shaw and then hung up. "He's on his way over."
It was then that Blair heard her son say "Dada." She looked at Chuck. "Do you hear what he's saying?"
Chuck pulled his son from his shoulder and Henry still crying although much softer said it again, "Dada." He was hiccupping and trying to catch his breath but it was clear as anything.
Chuck felt tears fill his eyes as he smiled at his perfect, beautiful son. He hugged him pulling him tightly to his chest again. "Dada's here Henry and you're safe."
He looked at Blair who was wiping a tear from her cheek. He beamed at her. She crossed the room sitting on the arm of the chair and wrapping her arm around Chuck's shoulder.
"He knew his daddy would protect him." She kissed the top of Chuck's head.
The doorbell rang and Chuck stood up and started to pass Henry to Blair but he wouldn't have it. He clung tighter to Chuck. "No dada."
Chuck was certainly not going to refuse his son at this point and carried him downstairs with him to answer the door and let Dr. Shaw in.
Ten minutes later, after a thorough examination, Dr. Shaw put away his stethoscope and smiled at the Basses. "He's completely fine. I think from what you've described this may be Henry's first nightmare. They usually begin around one year of age. These are not uncommon and the best thing to do is sooth him and help him get back to sleep."
Blair nodded. "So he's perfectly fine."
Dr. Shaw nodded sliding on his coat. "Absolutely fine Mrs. Bass. I recommend a cup of milk and a cuddle and then back to bed."
Henry had finally allowed Blair to hold him and Chuck walked Dr. Shaw to the door shaking his hand and thanking him profusely for his time.
Blair headed to the kitchen where she warmed a cup of milk for her son and met Chuck at the main staircase.
"I don't know if I'll be able to get back to sleep now."
Chuck kissed her temple wrapping an arm around her waist as they started up the stairs. "I know that was scary."
She nodded. "What if it happens again? I don't want him being afraid." Blair never wanted anything bad or unpleasant to ever touch her son.
"I think he should sleep with us tonight." Chuck mumbled as they reached the top of the stairs.
Blair stopped looking at her husband in shock. "Wait are you suggesting? We break your rule about no children in our bed?"
He shrugged. "I just think for tonight it wouldn't be the worst thing."
She smiled at him. "Our son finally says the magic word and he has you wrapped around his little finger. Who knew Chuck Bass was a big softie."
He kissed her. "Now you do."
She laughed thinking to a wedding long ago and a similar conversation. They entered their bedroom and Blair settled Henry into the center of their large bed as Chuck went to use the bathroom. Blair took the cup from Henry setting it on the bedside table and lay down next to her son pulling the duvet over the two of them.
After a minute Chuck exited the bathroom and headed to the bed.
Henry held out his arms. "Dada bed."
Chuck smiled at his son as he crawled in next to him. He kissed his son and pulled him to himself. "That is never going to get old."
Blair leaned over kissing both her boys and then reached over and turned off the light.
Chuck hadn't slept so soundly in a long time. He knew his family was safe and all within arm's reach. He was awoken at seven to his son patting his face and whispering "Dada". Chuck decided that there was no better way to wake up than that. His life was basically perfect.