This is a one shot I've been wanting to write for a while; Chuck's first birthday post wedding. Also I want to say that I chose May 19th as Chuck's birthday since that is the date that Dan used as the title to his paper about Chuck. I know there is a passport date that is also out there as January 19th but that's only visible by pausing and screen shooting the shot. The paper date is clearly shown by the writers and directors so that's the one I'm going with. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it. As always nothing belongs to me.
Serena Van der Woodsen entered the Waldorf penthouse. Chuck and Blair had been living there since their wedding four months ago. Chuck had presented his bride with no less than a dozen options of townhouses on the Upper Eastside all of which Blair had turned down. Nothing so far had seemed right which was the reason why they were still residing in her childhood home.
Serena walked down the hall and found her best friend in the living room surrounded by papers, her laptop open on the coffee table and a novel in her lap.
Serena tossed her handbag onto a chair and sat down next to Blair picking up a stack of papers before doing so. "What's the emergency, B?"
Blair looked up from her computer screen. "Chuck's birthday is in a month and I want to throw him a party."
Serena was leafing through the stack of papers in her lap. There were tent estimates, list of florists, and a map of the Central Park Conservatory Gardens along with lists of caterers, waiters and valets. She hesitated when she saw a page with the header "elephant rentals".
"Blair does Chuck know about all this? And elephant rentals? Really?" She raised her eyebrows at her best friend and sister-in-law.
Blair held up the hardcover book that had been resting in her lap. It was a worn copy of E.M. Forster's A Passage to India.
"It's the perfect theme." She was beaming over the top of the book.
Blair and Chuck had literally arrived back from their honeymoon only two months earlier after a whirlwind grand tour. They had been to France, Egypt, South Africa, Morocco, India, Hong Kong, Fiji, Brazil and so many more places. Chuck wanted it to be a trip of a lifetime and it had been. Blair was still talking about it.
"India was so magical when we were there. The Taj Mahal and the food not to mention the nights…"
"Okay I get it." Serena cut her off. "Blair this is all really sweet but you know Chuck doesn't celebrate his birthday. He's always been adamant about that. It's more your thing."
"That's bachelor Chuck this is happily married Chuck. He deserves it and besides I understand not celebrating it when you thought it was also the day of your mother's death but now that we know the Wicked Witch of the West is his mother and very much alive there's no reason not to have a party." She set the book aside and reached out taking the stack of papers from Serena's grasp.
Serena sighed sitting back into the couch cushion. "So Chuck is okay with all this."
Blair shrugged as she started to leaf through the papers. "Not exactly."
"Not exactly what? Does he even know?"
Blair found what she was looking for and pulled the sheet from the stack. "Not yet but he will."
She showed Serena the map of the Conservatory Gardens. "I'm thinking I'll have valet and drop off set up on Fifth at the Vanderbilt entrance. Everyone will walk down the stairs and step into 1920's India. Can't you picture it? It's so Chuck and me. It'll be beautiful."
Serena nodded. "Have you secured the space? A month is not a lot of notice."
Blair took a deep breath and looked at her best friend. "That's where you come in my dear friend. You are on the board of the Central Park Conservancy so I'm hoping you can pull some strings for me." She smiled at Serena and batted her eyelashes.
Serena held up her hands. "I don't know how much I can do. I'm newly on the board and it's May. The start of prime wedding season. What day of the week is it?"
"That's the good part. His birthday is on a Sunday this year."
Serena got up went over to her handbag and pulled out her cellphone. "B, I don't want you to get your hopes up. This is very last minute. Some people book two or three years in advance."
Blair got up and joined her best friend across the room placing her hand on Serena's upper arm. "Please S this is so important to me. It has to be this space. Tell them we'll make a huge donation. Whatever they need we'll give it."
Serena looked at her friend sideways. "They have been discussing a revamp of the English gardens but it's going to cost a million dollars easily."
Blair smiled and squeezed Serena's arm. "I'll call Thomas and have him cut the check today."
Serena shook her head and dialed. Typical Blair whatever she wanted she got.
Blair was in her office at the atelier three days later when there was a knock on her open door. She raised her head from the papers she was looking over and saw Nate standing there.
A smile spread across her face. "Nate this is a surprise. You never come by here. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Nate held up a very familiar cream colored cardstock. From where she was seated at her desk she could see the gold embossed elephant at the top. He stepped into the office. "Do you want to tell me what this is?"
Blair sighed and leaned her elbows onto her desk. "I think it would be obvious what that is. It's an invitation to Chuck's birthday party. Which I might add is going to kick off the summer social calendar in the grandest of ways."
Nate plopped down in the chair opposite her desk. "Blair does Chuck know about this?"
Blair shook her head. "I'm telling him tonight. I have a very romantic dinner planned and then a very special dessert if you know what I mean." She raised her eyebrows at him and he cringed. "Then when he's feeling relaxed and happy I'll tell him."
Nate shook his head. "This is a very bad idea Blair. He hates his birthday. You know this as well as anybody."
"He'll be fine. He doesn't realize how wonderful this is all going to be. Trust me once he gets used to the idea he'll love it."
Nate stood up. "He's going to hate it."
Blair sighed sitting back in her chair. "I know you think you know my husband better than I do but trust me Nate he'll come around and see things my way. He always does."
Nate knew there was no reasoning with Blair when she was like this. He slid the invitation into his inside jacket pocket and left her office. Blair picked up her phone calling Dorota to make sure dinner was coming together as planned. She had no doubt Chuck would be touched with all of the hard work she had put into planning a party just for him.
It had been a wonderful night. Chuck had arrived home by seven to find his beautiful wife waiting for him scotch in hand. Had he been less tired he would've realized right away that something was up. They sat together for about twenty minutes discussing their days. Then Blair had kissed him passionately as she helped him remove his jacket and tie.
He was just about ready to tell her they should skip dinner and go upstairs instead when Dorota entered and announced service. Blair had taken his hand and they sat down to a fantastic meal cooked by Chef Madhur Jaffrey from Chuck's favorite Indian restaurant Dawat.
They indulged in all of Chuck's favorite dishes; Keema Samosa, Ginger Cauliflower Soup, Zeera Aloo, Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Vindaloo, Tandoori Shrimp, lemon rice and Naan.
When they had finished they spent fifteen minutes complimenting and chatting with Chef Jaffrey before Blair led Chuck upstairs for dessert.
She ran a bath and they spent a half hour soaking together. Chuck asked Blair why he was the recipient of such and amazing evening. She had wrapped her arms around him tightly from behind and ran her hands down his damp chest to grasp his slightly erect cock and stroked him gently.
She kissed his neck and whispered in his ear, "Because you are the most loving, amazing, powerful man I know and I wanted to show my appreciation."
He laid his head back against her shoulder and turned to capture her mouth as she continued to stroke him. Within minutes he had flipped their positions as water splashed over the edge of the tub and he entered her in one long stroke.
Hours later they were curled up in their bed together. They had made love two more times and Blair decided it was now or never.
Her head was lying on top of his chest and she was listening to his heartbeat. Chuck was absentmindedly playing with her hair. She placed a kiss against the spot where his heart was beating slow and steady. She lifted her eyes to look at him.
"Chuck?"
"Hmm," he responded not opening his eyes.
She ran her hand over his chest up his neck and cupped his cheek. "Sweetie I wanted to talk to you about your birthday."
He opened his eyes halfway and looked down at her. "What about my birthday?" He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her body fully on top of his. He kissed her. "This is exactly how I want to spend my birthday. In bed with you."
She smiled sweetly at him. "Well I was thinking about a party."
He immediately groaned. "No. Absolutely no party. You know I don't like to make a big deal out of my birthday Blair. Save it for yours in November."
She sat up straddling his stomach as she pulled the sheet up to cover her naked body. "Please Chuck just hear me out." She spent the next two minutes running down the list of party plans. "Can't you see it in your mind?" She leaned over and kissed him gently. "It'll be so romantic and so beautiful. Please let me do this for you."
Chuck stared at her for a minute as his mind started to put two and two together. "I'm going to go out on a limb here and say this party is already pretty much planned and I'm also guessing that the one point five million dollar donation to the Central Park Conservancy I okayed the other day was really a way of you securing the Gardens as a venue for said party."
Blair looked affronted. "Did Thomas tell you about that? I told him to let me be the one to mention it."
Chuck sighed running a hand over his face and through his already messy hair. "Blair there is no way Thomas would ever clear a check like that without speaking to me first. He was worried about losing his job."
Blair's jaw clenched and she took a deep breath. "What are we back in 1950 when women had no say in the household finances? We're married that money is just as much mine as it is yours."
He placed his hands on either of her thighs and rubbed gently back and forth. "Cut him some slack. We've only been married a few months and he wasn't sure how to proceed. It was a lot of money. A sum of that amount should really be discussed between the two of us first but I assumed you were trying to help Serena out." He squeezed the top of her thighs. "Had I known it was for my birthday party I would've said no."
Blair folded her arms across her middle and pouted slightly. Chuck stared at her. She looked beautiful. Her chocolate brown curls were in complete disarray from their lovemaking and her skin was still flushed a gorgeous shade of pink. Her nipples were straining against the sheet she had pulled tight across her body. He realized that their marriage was going to be very one-sided if she looked like this even a quarter of the time.
He reached up and took her chin between his forefinger and thumb and squeezed gently. "You know I can't deny you anything. If you want the party we'll have the party."
Her eyes immediately brightened and a smile crossed her lips. "Really Chuck? You're not upset?"
He ran his hand down her throat and to the top of the sheet where he pulled it from her body. He reached up and cupped her breast running his thumb over her erect nipple.
"How can I possibly say no when you look this gorgeous and fuckable?"
She tilted her head and smiled down at him sexily. "So as long as I make all my requests naked you'll acquiesce?"
He smiled as he cupped her bottom lifting her up and positioning his now hard cock at her wet entrance. "You request anything while looking like this and I'll never say no."
He entered her and her head fell back as she gasped. Chuck realized she would most definitely be his downfall. Anything she asked for she would get. The rest of his life was hers to command of that he was sure.
Finally it was the night of Chuck's twenty-second birthday. Everything was going along perfectly to plan. Lily had graciously offered to oversee all the last minute details with Dorota's assistance. Blair had just finished dressing in a gorgeous custom made sari designed by India's number one designer, Manish Malhotra. It was a beautiful design of hand woven diaphanous silk in ivory. The border was edged with with a brocade pattern of gold, light blue and dark blue silk. Her shoes were custom embroidered to match the pattern on her sari. Her hair was pulled partially up with her curls hanging loose down her back. Weaved through her hair was a strand of diamonds set in gold. On each wrist she wore five thin gold bangles that tinkled together when she moved her arms. She looked stunning.
Chuck, wearing a linen suit in ivory with a tie that matched Blair's pattern and colors, was waiting at the bottom of the staircase. He watched her as she descended the stairs and he was literally left breathless. As much as he hated this whole idea of a birthday party all the discomfort was worth it to see her like this.
She approached him smiling. "Happy birthday Mr. Bass."
Chuck wrapped his arms around her kissing her lightly being careful not to smudge her lipstick. "You are the best birthday gift any man could ask for Mrs. Bass."
"You are really too easy to please." She pulled out of his embrace reaching up to push her arm through his. "Are you ready?"
Chuck sighed. "I wouldn't be doing this for anyone but you. You know that right?"
She nodded as they walked towards the elevator arm in arm. "Yes and I'm more appreciative than you could ever know."
He leaned over pushing the call button for the elevator and then kissed her cheek. "I'm hoping you're going to show that appreciation tonight once we're home."
Blair turned to look at him. "The two times this morning wasn't enough?"
"That was birthday sex I'm talking about thank you sex."
They stepped into the elevator. Blair patted his upper arm. "Whatever you want to call it you're getting it for being such a cooperative birthday boy."
He laughed softly as they began their descent. Even though he felt uncomfortable and anxious making Blair happy was worth it. He told himself that he would do whatever it took to make sure she had a fantastic time tonight.
It was a short ride to the gardens and they arrived as planned exactly forty minutes late. This gave most of the nearly two hundred invited guests time to get settled before the guest of honor arrived.
They exited the limo and Blair took Chuck's hand in hers and kissed his cheek. "I love you," she whispered in his ear.
And with that they were walking through the Vanderbilt gate and down the steps into 1920's India. Everything was just as Blair had planned it. There were gorgeous flower arrangements with orchids and lilies and around the room ferns and palm trees. The tables were set in rounds of ten and were covered in gorgeous linens and candles. At the far end of the tent was a dance floor and a replica of the Taj Mahal. Waiters were dressed as Maharajahs in jeweled colored costumes.
Chuck was impressed by the décor but before he could properly compliment his wife they were engulfed by well-wishers. They spent the next half hour mingling and greeting their guests until dinner was announced and everyone took their seats.
The meal was almost the exact same menu she had served to Chuck a month ago. The only real addition was a vegetarian option or two. The wine was picked especially for each course.
Chuck and Blair were seated at the head table along with Lily, Cyrus, Eleanor, Nate, Sage, Serena and her current boyfriend and Jack. Blair beamed as she looked around the tent at everyone. There was no doubt that the party was a huge success. She was beyond thrilled at how perfectly everything had come together. She was hoping that this would be the start of a new tradition where they celebrated Chuck's birthday every year. If the night continued as it was she was sure he'd have no qualms about doing it again.
After the last course had been served Nate got up and made a speech. He mentioned his and Chuck's many antics of years past and everyone laughed. Cyrus was next as he went on and on about life and the passage of years until the end when he said that he was proud to have Chuck as a part of his family.
Then it was Lily's turn. She stood and turned slightly so she could see Chuck clearly. She smiled at him endearingly as she began to speak. She talked about the lost boy he been all those years ago and the man he'd become since. She praised him for always being there for the family when it mattered most and finally she said that she may not be his mother by birth but he most certainly was her son by heart.
Chuck stood up with tears in his eyes and walked over to the only mother he had ever really known and hugged her. He then took the mic.
He took a deep breath and said, "I didn't want a birthday party. I have never celebrated it before. The day could come and go without any acknowledgement and that was fine by me. Then I married a beautiful, loving, headstrong woman who lived for giving parties," everyone laughed. He smiled down at Blair who was gazing up at him. "And just like everything else in my life she showed me how wonderful this could be." He reached down picking up his champagne glass. "I want to thank all of you for coming out here tonight to celebrate the day I was born. I also want to thank you for your generous donations to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust but most importantly I want to thank my gorgeous, amazing wife for turning my life completely upside down in the very best way possible." He lifted his glass into the air and staring down at his wife he said, "To my sweet Blair."
Everyone lifted their glasses and shouted, "To Blair," as they took a sip and applauded. Chuck leaned down and kissed Blair then pulling back slightly he brushed a stray tear from her cheek.
He kissed her again and then whispered, "I love you."
She smiled and nodded. "Me too."
The rest of the night had been magical. There was cake and more champagne followed by dancing. Chuck and Blair were never far apart the entire night. They moved around the tent chatting to guests and dancing until Blair complained that her feet hurt.
By the time they walked back up the steps of the garden and back out through the gate and into the limo it was two in the morning. They had left a fair amount of their guests with the open bar including Serena and her boyfriend.
They settled into the back of the limo and Chuck wrapped an arm around his wife as Blair laid her head against his shoulder. He kissed the top of her head.
She laid her hand against his stomach. "Did you have a good time?" she asked as she toyed with the buttons on his shirt.
He squeezed her even tighter to himself. "The best. Thank you."
She glanced up to look at him. "So we can do this again next year?"
He laughed softly. "Maybe on a bit of a smaller scale. Family and close friends."
She laid her head back down. "I'll settle for that. An intimate dinner party for twenty or so."
He kissed top of her head again. His wife ever the event planner and grand hostess.
Once they were home they both got ready for bed. Chuck was finished first and waiting for her sitting on the edge of the bed when she stepped out of the dressing room. Her face was free of makeup and her hair was hanging loose down her back. She was wearing the sheerest of negligees with absolutely nothing on underneath. It literally left him breathless.
She walked towards him slowly and demurely. He watched her never taking his eyes from her. She stopped in front of him as she pushed her hair back.
"Now it's time for your birthday present. I thought long and hard about what to give to the man who has absolutely everything and then I decided on me."
He placed both hands on her waist and pulled her between his legs. "While this is the perfect present I had a something else in mind."
Blair looked down at him shyly. "What? Do you want to…?" She raised her eyebrows and nodded her head. "You know…"
Chuck fought hard not to laugh at her. He knew she was implying backdoor action.
He shook his head. "No I'm not talking about that." He looked up at her with a serious look on his face. "Blair I want a son of my own."
Blair sighed as she reached out pushing her hand through his hair. "I know you do. It's just that we've only been married five months and I'm having so much fun alone with you."
He stared up at her. "I love you so much and even though it's only been five months it feels like it's been twenty years. We are so beyond our peers Blair and there's nothing that I want more than a child with you." He moved his hand to her non-existent stomach. "I want to watch as your body expands and accommodates my son. I want a chance to have a relationship with my child that I never had with my father."
She nodded. "I know. I'm just scared." Her eyes had filled with unshed tears.
He stood up pulling her into his arms. "I know you are but you're healthy and there's absolutely no reason you wouldn't be able to have a healthy child." He kissed her tenderly. "Please Blair. It's the one thing I want more than anything else in this world."
She wrapped her arms around him and clung to him. "Okay. Let's do it."
He pulled back a bit so he could look at her. "Really?" She nodded and he pulled her back kissing her passionately. "You have just made me the happiest man in the world." He picked her up and spun her around.
She laughed as he set her back onto her feet kissing her again. She pulled back and rested her hands on his shoulders. "I have one stipulation though." She gave him a gentle push back onto the bed.
He looked up at her. "Anything."
"I want to wait to start trying until after Fashion's Night Out in September. I have a feeling it's not going to take us very long to conceive and I don't want to be huge for that or Christmas."
He placed his hands on her hips and squeezed. "That's fine. We can practice till then." He moved his hands around to her back where he slid them down and under the very short skirt of her negligee. He cupped her bare bottom. "Just think by this time next year you could be a month or two away from delivering my son." He pulled her down and onto his lap.
"What if it's a girl?" She straddled his thighs.
He reached up sliding each of the thin straps of her bodice down along her arms and pulling it down completely to expose her breasts. "Then she'll run Bass Industries with an iron fist of that I have no doubt."
Blair kissed him and he slowly rolled them over so she was on her back and he was on top of her. "It'll be a boy. I feel it in my gut."
He made love to her sweetly and slowly and he was right. Blair was pregnant before Christmas and nine months later gave Chuck the greatest gift she could ever give him; his beautiful son Henry. And it was just the beginning of their grand story as a happy family.
A/N Just a note to let you all know I am planning on writing a multi chapter fic of Chuck and Blair's honeymoon. I see them as the Grand Tour kind of couple. So I'm writing each chapter set in a different country. Hope to have the first one done soon. Keep an eye out for that. Thanks as always for all the support!