Disclaimer: I only own the story specific characters I created. The originals belong to Cecily von Zeigesar and The CW.
Charlotte woke the morning after her date with Eddie to sunlight streaming into her room. She was completely baffled by the source. She knew the blinds were shut when she went to bed.
"Rise and shine, Sleepyhead," she heard her youngest brother's voice from the foot of her bed.
If anyone else had entered her bedroom in the morning, she'd have started the day with doling out a severe tongue lashing, but Aiden had been coming into her room first thing in the morning since he was a toddler. Sometimes it was just to jump into bed with his big sister to get more sleep, and others it was to have her read a good morning story to him. It had always been their time together.
"What time is it?" she sat up and stretched her arms dramatically.
"Nearly nine," he replied, "You nearly slept through breakfast. The housekeeper you hired has an authoritative flare about her like Dorota. She nearly tackled me to the floor when I said I was going to wake you."
"She's growing on me," Charlotte laughed, "Do I smell coffee?"
"Mocha soy latte, just how you like it," he held up a cup he'd made special for her.
"You're the best little brother in the world," Charlotte reached out for the cup and took a healthy gulp.
"Don't let Brice hear you say that," Aiden chuckled, "Don't want him getting jealous."
"He's an ocean away," Charlotte waved away the warning, "And he's not bringing me coffee."
"Better get dressed. Mom and Dad will be down shortly for breakfast," he advised her, "By the way, have I told you how much I love the set up of your kitchen. It all just flows so well."
"You've mentioned it once or twice," Charlotte pushed away the bed covers and slipped into her robe before pushing her brother towards the bedroom door. "I'll be out in twenty minutes."
"Make it fifteen or my quiche will be overdone," he stated.
"Done," Charlotte spun on her heel and headed towards her bathroom. She spotted the dress she'd worn the previous evening hanging where she'd left it. The memory of the previous evening put her in the best of moods.
Having dressed in record time in leggings and her favorite Columbia t-shirt, she floated into the dining room where her housekeeper was putting the finishing touches on the four place settings.
"Thank you, Dani," Charlotte smiled, "The table looks great."
Her housekeeper nodded and went to the entryway to greet Charlotte's parents when the elevator announced their arrival.
"I still can't get over our baby girl having a place of her own," Blair was bantering with her husband when she entered the dining room where Charlotte was sipping her coffee and going through the Sunday paper.
"Hi, Mom," Charlotte rose to hug each parent.
"Hi, Princess," Chuck hugged her, taking note of the wet hair she'd pulled back in a binder, "Sleep in this morning?"
"Been working long hours," Charlotte replied, "The CEO is a total hard ass. He's enforcing this insane deadline on the entire department."
"Sounds like a complaint to bring up with the Chairman of the Board," Chuck laughed.
"Chuck, you're supposed to be easing our daughter into her position," Blair backhanded her husband, "Fix it."
"It's okay, Mom," Charlotte chuckled while her father rubbed at his shoulder where Blair had made contact, "I'm actually almost done with my assignment. I've even offering my services to a few of my overwhelmed co-workers. No takers just yet, but I'm sure when the deadline comes closer my services will be in higher demand."
"That's my girl," Chuck kissed her forehead.
"Is Aiden in the kitchen?" Blair asked.
"Isn't he always?" Charlotte nodded.
"He loves your kitchen," Blair replied, "He suggested we remodel our kitchen to mirror your layout."
"It is due for a refresh," Charlotte snickered when her father groaned at the prospect of their penthouse going through another round of renovations. He'd barely survived the last one. He even moved the family to The Plaza until the repairs were complete because he couldn't stand the constant noise.
"Our kitchen is just fine," Blair reassured her husband, "Aiden can come down here and cook if he can't work in our kitchen."
"I'll happily accept his skills," Charlotte chimed in, "It beats hiring my own chef."
Aiden came in carrying his dish.
"Smells wonderful, Aiden," Blair kissed her son's cheek when he set their breakfast on the table.
"Quiche Lorraine," Aiden announced. He immediately cut into his creation and handed each family member a piece.
"We haven't had a Sunday breakfast together in ages," Blair placed her napkin in her lap, "If only Brice were here…"
"He's here in spirit, Beautiful," Chuck grasped her hand and brought it to her lips.
"He'll be back for Christmas," Charlotte added.
"He'd better if he knows what's good for him," Blair huffed.
The family released a chorus of laughter in reply and went about their breakfast, discussing the happenings of their lives since they last broke bread together. The familiar flow of many meals together showed in the way they bantered and laughed.
"You're wasting Daddy's money at CIA," Charlotte kissed her brother's cheek to congratulate him on another successful meal. "Learning anything new and useful yet?"
"It's mostly a review for me so far," Aiden admitted, "I have learned a few new tricks."
"Any time you want to cook for me, you're more than welcome to use my kitchen," Charlotte offered.
"Dangerous offer, Big Sis," Aiden responded, "Have I mentioned I love your kitchen?"
"A few times," Charlotte laughed, "It's still a standing offer, so long as I'm a beneficiary of your creations."
"Deal," he extended his pinkie to her to seal their pact. Charlotte linked her pinkie with his.
"You three and your pinkie swears," Blair laughed, "Are we still going to the park?"
"That's the plan," Charlotte nodded, "Though it's not as fun since Brice took Barty with him to France."
"You need a puppy," Aiden told his sister.
"How about dad gets you one?" Charlotte suggested.
"Oh no!" Blair protested, "I'm not going through all the obedience training again. I refuse to lose more shoes. I don't care how cute the puppy is."
"Awe," Charlotte and Aiden both moaned. When Brice moved permanently to France, he took his dog with him. It had been hard on both Charlotte and Aiden to stay goodbye to their beloved companion. Brice regularly sent pictures of the aging dog. He was clearly loving life on the vineyard. Brice even said he'd regained the bounce in his step.
"I'd be more than willing to lose a few shoes if I found the right dog," Charlotte replied.
"Maybe you, Aiden and I can go dog shopping after you finish your assignment," Chuck suggested.
"You're going to get me a dog for finishing my first assignment for Bass?" Charlotte raised a curious brow.
"It's a thought," Chuck smiled.
"So tempting," Charlotte laughed, "However I think we're past the days when you buy me things after an accomplishment."
"Since when?" Chuck snorted, "I believe I bought you this penthouse when you graduated from Columbia only months ago."
"This penthouse is the last gift I will accept…until I get married, then I want my own place in the Hamptons," Charlotte stated.
"Sweetheart, shoot a bit higher," Blair whispered in her ear, "Ask for an island in the Rivera."
"Oooh, that sounds much better," Charlotte's eyes widened with intrigue, "I want an island in the Rivera for a wedding gift."
"How about an archipelago," Aiden chimed in.
"Why don't I just buy you the moon and be done with it?" Chuck laughed.
"Come on, Daddy, let's go to the park," Charlotte linked her arm with her father and pulled him along. Blair and Aiden were only a step behind.
"You seem to be in an unusually good mood," Blair noted the radiant smile on her daughter's face when Aiden and Chuck decided to sail boats across the pond. "Does your good mood have anything to do with a certain date you went on last night with a certain gentleman caller?"
"How the heck could you possibly know I went out with anyone last night…Eugenia," Charlotte put together the answer to her question before her mother could get a word in.
"Charlotte, you have nothing to be embarrassed about nor am I going to talk you out of your decision to have dinner with Eddie," Blair assured her, "You are a grown woman who is capable of knowing what she wants. Just be smart about this. We've known Eddie nearly his entire life. Your father is extremely fond of him and sees him as a key player in the continued success in the company…just as he sees you."
"We're adults, Mom," Charlotte replied, "We can have dinners outside work and still remain professional at the office. Whatever does or does not happen between us, I would never want to jeopardize his future at Bass."
"Now that the warning is out of the way…how was the date?" Blair asked.
"Remember the date Daddy took me on when I was fifteen?" Charlotte asked.
"The one where you told me he took you to West Side Story, but instead it took you for a walk in the park and told you about my adventures in pot?" Blair asked.
"That date has always been my benchmark of what a date should and could be. Last night was better. It's the first time I've ever been able to say that," Charlotte admitted. "When I'm with him, I feel things I've never felt for anyone…not even Devon. He challenges me and makes me want to be a better person."
"Sounds like you're more than smitten," Blair smiled.
"When we kissed…I've never felt so…cherished," Charlotte replied, "Mom, I'm falling for him, hard. This is so crazy. I've known him my entire life. I've always had a crush on him, but what I feel now is so much more."
"By no means am I an expert in relationships," Blair began, "What your father and I have defies all logic. We shouldn't have worked, especially the way we first began, but those things you feel for Eddie and the way he challenges you and makes you want to be better…that's how I felt when your father and I started on this wonderful ride which will last the rest of my life."
"Mom," Charlotte's voice waffled, "I'm scared."
"Giving your heart to someone always is," Blair replied, "You have to be able to trust him enough to keep it safe. You need to figure out if Eddie is that person."
"I think I already know," Charlotte admitted.
"Take it slow, Charlotte," Blair put an arm around her daughter's shoulders, "If he truly is the one, then you have a life time to experience everything together."
"You and Daddy have always been the model for the relationship I've wanted, and it's not about the physical relationship you have. You two really love each other and support each other no matter what. How did you get there after everything you first went through?" Charlotte asked.
"We both had to learn to trust each other and trust that all the nastiness in the past was over," Blair replied.
"That's all it took?" she asked.
"With everything we went through, it wasn't as easy as it may seem," Blair responded, "It took work and some tears, but now we'd put our life in the other's hands without hesitation. The physical intimacy is an added bonus, but the trust we have is what really makes us work."
"When do I tell Dad?" Charlotte asked.
"When you're sure it's necessary," Blair stated.
"And if it already is?" Charlotte asked.
"Wait a few more months," Blair laughed, "Let me work on him a bit."
"Deal," Charlotte laughed along.
Aiden and Chuck returned from their sailboat excursion.
"Penguins or carousel?" Chuck asked his daughter.
"Carousel? What am I five?" Charlotte laughed.
"You like the carousel," Aiden chimed in.
"Yes, I did," Charlotte nodded, "When I was five."
"Come on, where's your youthful exuberance?" Aiden teased.
"If you want to ride the carousel, all you have to do is say so, Little Bro," Charlotte wrapped an arm around his midsection.
"Let's do it for old time's sake," Aiden suggested, "We can send pictures to Brice. Let him know the fun he's missing."
"Maybe we can entice him to come home," Blair thought out loud.
"I hate to break it to you, Beautiful," Chuck linked his arm with his wife, "I think he's going to make France his permanent home."
"Shh," she hushed him, "He hasn't made anything official yet."
"Unless we can create a booming wine industry here in Central Park, he's staying in France," Chuck replied.
"Get a move on it, Bass," Blair scowled at him, "It takes awhile for those trees to produce the necessary fruit."
"I'll see what I can do," he chuckled.
When the family returned to Charlotte's penthouse, there was a bouquet of flowers sitting in the entryway and a plethora of questions ensued. Charlotte ducked them all by proclaiming she had work to do.
"You almost got me in trouble," Charlotte answered her phone when Eddie called her a bit later to make sure she'd received the flowers he sent.
"How did I do that?" Eddie asked.
"My dad saw the flowers," Charlotte replied, "I wouldn't be surprised if he's on the phone with his private investigator right this very moment."
"Pretty sure I can convince my mother to call off the dogs," Eddie responded confidently.
"Thank you for the flowers. They're beautiful," she replied.
"I had a good time last night," he stated.
"Me too," she bit her lip, nervously worrying it between her teeth.
"We should do it again…soon," he added.
"Definitely," Charlotte agreed.
"How about something a bit low key to celebrate meeting our deadline next weekend?" he suggested. "Does Charlotte Bass own a pair of jeans?"
"What exactly do you take me for?" she laughed, "Some snobby rich girl? I've have you know I have an entire section in my wardrobe devoted to jeans and t-shirts. My mother may not like the comfort of jeans, but I sure do."
"Good," he responded, "The place I'm taking you to is extremely casual. I'd hate for you to stand out."
"Can't wait," she responded.
"I've got a bit of work to do so I'll meet our deadline. Are we on for lunch tomorrow?" Eddie asked.
"Definitely," she replied.
TBC…