Mother's Day is this Sunday in the US and so this one shot came to me this morning and I just felt the need to write it. I'm in a bit of a melancholy mood today so the whole thing is fluff and sweetness. Each year is a Mother's Day in Blair's life. This is set in my "White Lies and Dark Secrets" universe. Happy Mother's Day to all my readers who are celebrating on Sunday. Hope you all enjoy. Nothing but the original characters belong to me.
2014
Blair Waldorf Bass tied the sash of her robe above the now noticeable bump of her stomach. She rubbed her hand over it gently and whispered, "Only three more months my darling."
She entered the dining room to find her husband sitting at the head of the table reading the newspaper. The minute Chuck heard her enter the room he put the paper down and jumped up from his chair rushing over to her.
"Good morning." He kissed her lips gently and rested his hands on either side of her slightly protruding stomach. "I was letting you two sleep in."
Suddenly Blair felt the all too familiar movement of her baby. "Do you feel that?" She put her hand over Chuck's and moved it just a centimeter or two to the right.
Chuck waited breathlessly but felt nothing. He had been waiting patiently to feel his son move to no avail. The doctor said it could be any time now. He shook his head. "I don't feel it."
Blair kissed his cheek gently knowing how badly he wanted to be a part of this. "Soon." She stepped out of his embrace and towards the table. "What's for breakfast? I am famished."
He held her chair out for her as she sat down. He placed his hands on her shoulders leaning over and kissing her temple. "All your favorites; strawberry crepes with fresh whipped cream, croissants, hot cocoa, fresh squeezed orange juice and bacon." She had been craving bacon for the last month or so.
She eyed her husband suspiciously as he sat back down in his vacated seat. "What's the special occasion?"
Chuck looked at her as if she had two heads. "It's Mother's Day, Blair." He arranged his napkin back onto his lap and picked up his cup of espresso.
Blair shrugged. "In case you've forgotten, dear husband of mine, I'm not a mother yet."
He reached out taking her hand in his running his thumb along the back of it. "You are carrying our child. You are loving him and nourishing him and keeping him safe until he can be brought into this great, big, beautiful world. You Blair Bass are as much of a mother as any woman out there pushing a pram today."
Tears were filling her eyes. She leaned forward as much as she could and met his lips in a searing kiss. When they parted she rested her forehead against his. "I love you." A tear slipped down her cheek and she brushed it away. "Damn hormones making me all weepy and sentimental."
He kissed her gently one more time. "I like weepy and sentimental Blair." He had started calling this side of her "his soft Blair".
She sat back in her chair wiping at her cheeks. "As opposed to bitchy and screaming Blair."
He knew better than to agree. "I like all of you and your many different moods. It's bitchy Blair that gets things done. Don't forget that."
She smiled at him as Dorota entered the dining room bringing in a large tray of food.
2017
Blair slowly roused from the deep sleep she had been in. A kick high on the left side of her huge stomach is what had started to bring her around. She laid there quietly breathing a few deep breaths trying to get somewhat comfortable which was nearly impossible being eight and a half months pregnant. As she breathed she noticed the scent of her favorite flower.
Slowly she opened her eyes and was met with no less than twenty bouquets of pale pink peonies arranged in various places around the room. Each bouquet held at least ten stems. The scent was heady.
The next thing she became aware of was a slight weight around her neck. She reached up and fingered what she could tell was a pearl necklace. Lowering her arm she noticed a pearl bracelet on her wrist. She gasped when she saw it. The pearls were natural and had a pale pink hue to them. Between each one was a diamond. She fingered the diamond clasp and knew without looking that this was the work of Mikimoto. She was sure the necklace was a perfect match. It had to cost a fortune.
She realized she was dying to use the bathroom yet another side effect of being pregnant. She slowly and carefully rolled herself from the bed and up onto her feet and headed into the bathroom panting slightly. It took a lot of effort to get up to a standing position these days.
After freshening up she pulled on her robe and slid into her slippers and headed downstairs where she was sure to find her husband and three year old son. They were both early risers.
She slowly made her way down the stairs and into the marble foyer. The sun was streaming through the windows and she could tell it was a beautiful spring morning. She glanced around at her tastefully decorated home. She didn't think she had ever been happier. She had the perfect husband and marriage a beautiful son and a second baby on the way. There wasn't anything more she could possibly want.
She made her way down the hall glancing into the various rooms looking for Chuck and Henry. When she heard her son's squeal of delight and her husband's deep laugh she knew exactly where it was coming from.
She pushed the swinging door to the kitchen open and stepped through. The sight that met her eyes was priceless. Henry on a stool standing next to his father both wearing one of Dorota's floral aprons she wore when prepping meals. The marble countertop was strewn with flour, milk, egg shells, bowls and measuring cups.
Both of them looked up at her as she entered. Henry's face, already beaming, became even brighter.
"Mommy! We're making pancakes!" He hopped off the stool and darted around the counter wrapping as much of his arms around his mother as he could and it wasn't much.
Blair rubbed his back and pushed a hand through her son's hair. "So I see my darling." She smiled at her husband. His hair was disheveled and he looked slightly crazed. "How's it going over there?"
Chuck ran a floured covered hand through his hair. "Wonderfully well." He sighed. "Your son wanted to make you breakfast and who am I to deny him anything."
Henry started to jump up and down next to Blair. "Daddy broke the eggs wrong. He put the shells in the batter. Dota calls that oopsie."
"That was supposed to be our secret." Chuck gave his son a faux stern look and Henry giggled again.
Blair took her son's hand in hers and led him back to his stool. "The great Chuck Bass doesn't know how to crack an egg."
He turned to face her and wrapped his arms around her leaning in to kiss her. He pulled back moving a hand to her stomach. "I know how to do the really important things." He kissed her again. "How are my girls this morning?" He rubbed her stomach gently.
"Happy and active." She placed her hand over Chuck's and moved his hand high up on her belly where they could feel their daughter kicking. "She hasn't stopped this morning. I think it's going to be soon. I feel it."
"I can't wait to have her here with us." He kissed her deeply.
Henry started to bang his wooden spoon against the counter. "Is kissing time done yet?"
Blair pulled back from her husband and wrapped her arms around her little boy from behind. "Not yet my little prince." She started to cover his face with kisses. Henry laughed and Blair's heart soared at the sound of such pure happiness.
An hour later and with a lot of help from Blair they had finished a wonderful breakfast of pancakes and fresh fruit. Thankfully the weekend housekeeper would be arriving at any moment and they would have none of the cleanup.
Blair was just about to say they should go upstairs and get ready for the day when Henry announced that he had a special gift for her and went running out of the dining room.
Blair glanced at her husband. "You already gave me the pearls. What else have you done?"
Chuck held up his hands. "I have nothing to do with this one. It's all him."
Henry reappeared carrying a wrapped package. He rushed over to his mother's side and handed it to her. "Open it Mommy."
Blair ran her hands over the brown paper that was decorated with her son's handprints in bright colors. She started to unwrap the box very carefully.
"Just rip it Mommy."
Blair looked up at her son. "It's too pretty to rip." She carefully removed the paper and set it aside. She wanted to save it as a reminder of how small, sweet and innocent he was at the moment.
She opened the box and gasped. "Oh Henry, it's beautiful." She held up a wooden bead and painted pasta necklace. She felt tears form in her eyes as she slid it over her head and pulled her curls from it. She adjusted it and it fell below the pearl and diamond necklace she was wearing. Anyone else would've found it absurd to be wearing the extremely expensive necklace with one that was worth absolutely nothing at all. But to Blair the gift that was lovingly made by her child was priceless. Not even rare pearls could compare.
She enveloped her son in her arms and kissed his cheek. "Thank you so much. I love it my darling."
Henry smiled up at her touching his creation gently. "I think it's prettier than Daddy's." He ran a finger over the pearls.
Blair looked at her husband who shrugged nonchalantly. She smiled. "I love all of my new pieces and I plan on wearing them both to Grandma Lily's for lunch later. Why don't you head upstairs and brush your teeth and Daddy and I will be right up to help you with your bath."
Henry hugged his mother one more time. "I love you Mommy."
Blair gave him a squeeze. "I love you too my sweet boy." She gave his bottom a swat as he turned and started to run out of the room.
"Hey what about me? I helped make breakfast." Chuck gave a look of disappointment to his son.
Henry stopped short and turned back and ran to his father. "Sorry Daddy I forgot." He hugged his father and ran out.
Chuck shook his head taking a sip of his orange juice. "Shown up by a three year old. A two hundred thousand dollar necklace and he finds some wood and macaroni prettier."
Blair stood up and went to her husband who pushed his chair back and pulled her onto his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "How about we get him ready and send him with Julia for a walk in the park and then I thank you properly for my beautiful gift?"
He kissed her. "That sounds like a very good idea. Something I know my son can't best me at."
Blair laughed softly as she kissed her husband.
2038
It was Blair's first Mother's Day without her children. Ned had left in the fall for Oxford University, Cordelia was at the Sorbonne in Paris and Henry was in Dubai overseeing construction on a new hotel for Bass Industries. She had Skyped with all three of them and then had brunch with Serena, Lily and her mother.
She had just returned home feeling melancholy about her empty nest when she was greeted by her husband in the hall.
Chuck knew how hard the last few months had been on his wife. Ned was the last of their three children to leave and it had been an adjustment period. Some of it had been fantastic like being able to make love on the dining room table fantastic. But some of it was not so great like today when she was used to being with one if not all three of her babies.
He approached her wrapping his arms around her waist. "How was brunch?"
Blair shrugged. "Good in spite of my mother feeling the need to point out my newest flaw. I knew she'd see it."
Chuck kissed her throat where the offending fine line had appeared. "I love you and every one of your so called flaws. She's Eleanor Waldorf and there's no changing her now."
Blair rolled her eyes. "You'd think I'd be used to it at forty-seven but I'm not." She took his hand and they walked into the living room and sat down together on the couch.
"I'm thinking maybe she should move back to New York. She's going to be seventy-eight in a month and I feel like since Cyrus passed she's lost." Blair hesitated a moment looking up at her husband. "I was thinking she could move in here with us. We could convert the fourth floor into a suite for her with bedroom, living room and bath. Put in an elevator so she doesn't need to use the stairs." She hesitated for a moment. "I don't like her living alone so far away from us." She had been meaning to speak to Chuck for a while about this but had held off fearing what he'd say.
Chuck sighed pulling Blair into his embrace and kissing her gently. "She's your mother Blair whatever you want we'll do."
He knew deep down inside having Eleanor here was just as much for Blair as it was for her mother. Plus it would give Blair a project to help fill her time during this transition in their lives.
Blair hugged him. "You are the most incredible husband in the world. There aren't many men who would allow their mother-in-law to move in with them." She kissed his cheek. "Thank you."
"Two Waldorf women living under my roof; I better prepare myself."
She laughed and taking his hand pulled him up from the couch and led him upstairs where she proceeded to show him how thankful she was for having such a wonderful husband.
2047
Blair was having Mother's Day tea with her beautiful daughter at the Four Seasons. It was something they had done the last two years following Cordelia's wedding and move back to New York. The two of them met for tea and then joined the rest of the family for whatever else was planned.
They had just finished when Cordelia pulled an envelope from her handbag and slid it across the table to rest in front of her mother.
"It wanted to give this to you before we met up with everyone else."
Blair smiled at her daughter as she picked up the envelope. "You're so sweet darling." She slid her finger along the flap and opened it pulling out a card. The front was decorated with flowers and butterflies. The word "Grandmother" was written in flowery script.
It took a moment to sink in and when it did Blair gasped and looked up at her daughter. "Are you…you're having a baby?"
Cordelia crying now nodded her head. "I'm pregnant. I just found out on Friday and I was dying to call you but I thought this was more of memorable way to tell you."
Blair jumped up from her chair wrapping her arms around her daughter. "Oh my sweet Cordelia this is the best Mother's Day present ever." She kissed her cheek and took the seat right next to her daughter. "When are you due?" She clasped her daughter's hand tightly.
"Not till December fifth."
Blair immediately pulled out her phone and started glancing at the calendar. "That's perfect so we can plan a trip to Paris and Italy this summer to get your full layette. Your father is going to be over the moon." She glanced up when her daughter remained quiet. "What's wrong? Is Michael not happy about this?" Blair was never completely fond of her son-in-law.
Cordelia shook her head. "No he's thrilled." She cleared her throat and twisted her napkin in her lap. "I'm scared. What if I'm not a good mother? I'm not always the most even keeled person you know."
Blair smiled indulgently at her little girl. "Oh Cordelia, what woman hasn't been scared? It's normal to feel that way. I remember being pregnant with you I was so frightened. Even though we already had Henry it was different because you were my daughter and I was so scared that I'd do something someday that would cause you not to love me. And while we have had our share of disagreements I think we have a pretty good relationship." She squeezed her daughter's arm again. "You, Cordelia, are going to be a fabulous mother. How could you not be? You're a Waldorf woman."
Cordelia met her mother's gaze and took a deep breath. "You're right and I have learned from the best."
They both started to laugh.
Blair felt overwhelming joy as they left the restaurant. Henry had already given her two grandsons but there was something about her daughter becoming a mother that was even more special. It was a full circle moment for Blair and it filled her with a fountain of emotion.
2078
Blair had spent the day surrounded by her children, grandchildren and her first great grandchild. They had all gathered at the Bass family home where they had taken her to brunch and then a stroll through the park and finally back to the house where they had tea.
She knew that they had all made a point of being here because they felt sorry for her. Chuck had passed away four months earlier. He had had a massive heart attack and died instantly. He was there one moment and gone the next. Now the children worried about her being alone for any length of time. It was why she still had full time help and two nurses who took shifts spending the night.
Finally everyone had left except for Cordelia and her first born and only daughter Eleanor. Everyone called her Ella for short. Blair and Ella had always been close. She had recently taken over the day to day operations of Waldorf designs.
Blair using her cane, she had had enough of the bloody wheelchair, walked over to her favorite chair and sat down.
Cordelia came into the living room sighing. "It's just us Mom. I'm exhausted. What about you?"
Blair smiled at her daughter. "Not really. You wouldn't let me walk most of the day."
Ella sat down on the arm of her Grandmother's chair. "Mom is just looking out for you Gram."
Blair patted her granddaughter's leg. "I'm not completely handicapped yet my dear." She turned to her daughter. "Cordelia, could you go into your father's office and get the box labeled with Ella's name on it out of the safe for me. There's something in there I want her to have now."
Cordelia got up. "Of course Mother."
Blair watched her daughter leave the room and turned to her granddaughter. "So tell me all about this new beau I heard you're seeing. Is he worthy of our Eleanor?"
Ella started to gush all about her new boyfriend and Blair listened until Cordelia came back into the room carrying the box Blair wanted. She set it on the coffee table in front of her.
"Open it up and hand me the two black leather cases." Cordelia did as her mother asked and handed them to her. Blair opened the larger of the two and ran her fingers over the light pink pearl necklace inside.
"Ella your Grandfather gave these to me the Mother's Day before your Mother was born. They have always meant so much to me." She glanced up at Cordelia. "When did I last where these? Do you remember Cor?"
Cordelia felt tears begin to well up in her eyes. Her mother's memory wasn't what it used to be. "Yes at Daddy's birthday party last year. Remember you wore that beautiful Chanel dress you love so much."
Blair smiled faintly and rolled her eyes. "Yes now I remember. Your father looked so handsome. He was wearing the light pink bow tie I had just picked out for him." She was lost in the memory for a moment.
Ella put an arm around her Grandmother's frail shoulders. She was so tiny. Blair was brought back to the present. "That was a nice day." She shut the lid and snapped it shut. She handed both boxes to Ella.
"I want you to have these now." Ella started to protest but Blair held up her hands. "Please don't argue with me. What good do they do an old woman like me? They'll look much better around your neck than my wrinkled one. Just be careful with them. They're rare and currently insured for a million dollars. Don't leave them lying around somewhere."
"Gram I don't know what to say?" Ella was fighting tears.
"Say thank you and go home and get some rest. I know you have a busy day tomorrow with the buyers. If I feel up to it I may pop by the atelier to see some of the new sketches."
Ella bent down and kissed her Grandmother's cheek. "Thank you so much Gram. I love you."
Blair patted her cheek gently and smiled at her. "I love you too. Now get out of here. Oh and invite that young man over for tea sometime soon. I want to meet him."
Ella smiled at her. "I will Gram." She kissed her mother goodbye and left the room.
Blair stared at her daughter. "What's wrong Cor? I know you and I can see you have something on your mind."
Cordelia took a deep breath. "The boys and I were talking and we feel that it may be time to think about selling the house. It's so big and you're all alone here. You could move in with me."
Blair smiled indulgently at her daughter. "Cordelia if you think I am leaving this house you are out of your mind. This is the house where your father and I built our life together and it's the house I'm going to hopefully die in."
Cordelia shook her head. "Don't say that Mother."
"Cordelia I'm ready. I miss your father too much. I'm sorry I don't want to be here without him. My heart literally aches with the loss of him. I don't know how to be here without him and quite honestly I don't want to learn." Blair wiped at a tear that had slipped down her cheek. "I have spent nearly my entire life loving that man and I don't know how to be any other way."
Cordelia nodded silently as tears fell down her cheeks. Blair reached out taking her hand. "I so wish you had known a love like that Cor." Cordelia had divorced her husband years before and never remarried. "It was hard sometimes but so worth it."
Cordelia squeezed her Mother's hand gently. "I did know it Mother. I grew up seeing it every single day."
Blair nodded and smiled. "We were lucky weren't we? To have him in our lives."
Cordelia got up embracing her mother. "Yes we were."
It was the last Mother's Day they spent together. Six months later Cordelia and her brothers laid her mother to rest next to their father in the Bass family plot. When they started to clean out the huge townhouse they found a huge box labeled "Mother's Day" in the hall closet on the third floor. Inside was every handmade and special thing they and their children had ever given her. Including the necklace and hand printed wrapping paper Henry had made her and the card that Cordelia had given her to announce her first pregnancy.
None of them could bear to throw the box away so Cordelia became the custodian of her Mother's most precious possessions.
They spent the rest of the day reminiscing about their perfect childhoods and their parents' perfect marriage. It was a good day.