Disclaimer: I only own the story specific characters I created. The originals belong to Cecily von Zeigesar and The CW.

Justin and Eddie made plans for the four of them to have dinner together the Friday before Abby's baby shower. The soon to be new parents had some good news.

"Your father is a miracle worker," Abby gushed after they put in their drink order with the waiter. "He's got us moving into an apartment just a few blocks from Cedric and Genie next weekend. I didn't think Justin and I would be able to find anything close to his parents that was even close to our price range."

"Maybe he got the friends and family discount," Eddie offered.

"Dad doesn't do that," Charlotte rolled her eyes, "He probably found a building where the landlord gives consideration to military families."

"Either way, with a bit of luck, Justin and I should be moved in just before Molly joins us," Abby rubbed her belly.

"You must be getting so excited," Charlotte smiled.

"I don't know who is more excited, me or Genie," Abby laughed, "She's so anxious to have a grandchild."

"I know someone else excited for the newest member of the family," Charlotte gave her boyfriend an adoring look.

"And he's been calling me every day to check in," Abby grinned.

"Sue me for being excited," Eddie chuckled. "I know someone even more excited than me. He calls me at the office so he's not bugging his wife."

"Really?" Abby lifted a curious smile in her husband's direction, "He's already calling me about once an hour."

"A lot can happen in an hour," Justin defended himself.

Charlotte and Abby went on to discuss their new apartment and the need to decorate the nursery first thing. Apparently military personnel were good with moving, because Abby and Justin's furnishings they currently had in storage would be delivered as soon as Abby and Justin signed the lease paperwork. Charlotte was clearly in awe.

"Even Eugenia isn't as efficient as the military appears to be," Charlotte marveled.

"Oh, I don't know about that," Abby smiled, "Yeah, we'll have our belongings delivered, but you can bet that my saint of a mother-in-law will have hired people to have it all organized and unpacked by the end of the day."

"She's not wrong," Justin laughed, "Mom's already coordinating things. She's hired her own army to get the apartment livable by the end of the day."

"She's a miracle worker," Charlotte smiled. "Are you excited for your baby shower tomorrow?"

"Excited and a bit nervous," Abby admitted, "I'm not really a girly girl, so I'm worried the games Genie is planning will be a bit to cutesy for me."

"They're not," Charlotte assured her, "Genie and I worked hard to make sure they fit the mommy-to-be's personality."

"Good," Abby sighed in relief.

"What are the daddy and uncle-to-be doing tomorrow?" Charlotte asked.

"Your dad has arranged for us to have a box at the Madison Square Garden, where the Rangers are playing the Bruins," Eddie stated.

"That's hockey, right?" Charlotte asked.

"Very good," Justin chimed in.

"It was a fifty-fifty shot," Charlotte chuckled, "I knew it was either basketball or hockey. Baseball is in the off season, and the Giants and Jets play elsewhere."

"I give you props for knowing that much about sports," Justin teased.

"I played sports in high school," she reminded him.

"Lacrosse and show jumping," Justin replied, "Not exactly the standard sports."

"Well, Dad has season tickets to all the sporting events. I'll admit I haven't gone to a lot of events, but I've tagged along on occasion," Charlotte told him.

"I'll give you a hundred dollars if you can tell me how many blue lines there are in hockey," Justin baited her.

"Are you sure you want to bet with a Bass?" Eddie baited his brother, "They're usually pretty good at that sort of thing."

"I should go easy on you because you're about to have a baby and moving into a new apartment," Charlotte smiled coyly.

"Oh don't," Abby chimed in, "Put him in his place."

"It's been a while since I've been to a hockey game, but my uncle did his best to teach me the rules when I did go. I paid attention," Charlotte stated, "The correct answer is two blue lines."

Justin was a bit perturbed, but also impressed by Charlotte's knowledge of hockey. "I really should have listened to my brother," he chuckled.

"How about you buy dinner, and we'll call it even," Charlotte replied, "I'll just order the lobster and caviar and wash it down with some Dom Perignon."

"Sounds cheaper to pay you off," Justin dug into his wallet and tossed several bills in Charlotte's direction.

"Pleasure doing business with you, Justin," Charlotte snickered as she grabbed the cash and stashed it in her purse just as their waiter came to take their order.

The women continued to talk about the baby shower the following day, and the men pretty much sat back and let the girls bond. Both men recognized that the four of them would likely be spending a lot of time together. It was important for Charlotte and Abby to be close.

"Justin and I have something important to ask you," Abby announced as dessert was served.

"Oh," Eddie raised a curious brow.

"Justin and I were hoping you'd consider being Molly's godparents," Abby smiled.

"Me? Really?" Charlotte was visibly stunned. It made sense to have Eddie as godfather. He was Justin's brother, but she'd never even thought she'd be an option.

"Yes, Charlotte, you," Justin chuckled, "You've always been family, and you and Abby have been hitting it off. We want our little girl to have the best options we could think of if something were to happen to either of us. It's a big decision, so we don't expect you to give us an answer today."

"Yes, absolutely, yes," Charlotte told them, "I would be honored."

"Char, this shouldn't be a spur of the moment decision," Justin told her, "It's different for us than it was for your godparents. For Nate and Serena, it's mostly a ceremonial position, but Abby and I are both in the military. Yes, we're stationed in New York right now, but that could change at the drop of a hat. If we were to get deployed at the same time, you and Eddie would be expected to step up and take care of our little girl, and if God forbid something happened, we'd need you to raise Molly."

"Are you worried that Eddie and I might break up?" Charlotte asked.

"No," Justin shook his head, "We realize it's a bit of a unique situation. Yes, you and Eddie are dating, and it's obviously very serious. Abby and I talked over all the possible scenarios. Even if something happens and you two did decide to go your separate ways, we'd still want you both as Molly's godparents. We'd just have to designate a priority godparent."

"Like Justin said, we want you both to think it over," Abby replied, "It's a big decision."

"We'll talk it over," Eddie reached for Charlotte's hand and brought it to his lips with a smile.

Charlotte bobbed her head as she took a few bites of her desserts. The conversation drifted to other topics, but Charlotte was still focused on Justin and Abby's offer of being a godparent to their daughter.


"I'm going up to say hi to my parents," Charlotte told Eddie when they returned home. Emie greeted them with her usual excitement.

"Are you okay?" he grasped her hand as she turned to push the button to her parent's floor. "You've been a bit quiet since dessert."

"Yeah," she gave him a reassuring smile, "I just wanted to talk over a couple things with my mom about tomorrow's party."

"Okay," he gave her a light kiss as Emie joined her in the elevator.

Blair and Eugenia were hard at work coordinating for tomorrow's event. The event planner they'd hired had already come to decorate.

"Wow, this place looks ready for a party," Charlotte smiled as Emie raced into Blair's arms to soak up some attention.

"I should hope so," Blair smiled, "We want Abby to have the best party possible. We haven't been able to honor her as much as she deserved. She and Justin practically eloped, so we weren't able to give her a bridal shower or bachelorette party."

"So you're making up for all of that with this one party?" Charlotte plopped down next to Eugenia, "Anything I can help with?"

"We're putting together the party favor bags for the guests," Blair was shoving some designer hand lotion into a bag.

"Man, those are going to be some sweet gifts," Charlotte looked into one of the completed bags. There were several different scents of hand lotion, Bulgari earrings, organic facial masks from Japan, perfume from the best French perfumery, a Hermes scarf, gift certificates to Blair's favorite day spa, and a gift certificate for CB Fashions.

"Your mother called in a few favors and got all these," Eugenia replied.

"Really, Bulgari donated rose gold, mother-of-pearl and diamond earrings that are probably worth a couple of thousand dollars a pair," Charlotte responded after she pulled out one of the boxes to examine them.

"We didn't say that," Blair snorted, "Some of these are samples. Others are for future services rendered. The earrings are a special treat."

"Mom, remember this is for Abby. She's not a girly girl like some of the women we invited. I promised her we weren't going to have the girly games and such," Charlotte cautioned her mother.

"And we're respecting her wishes," Blair assured her, "The games are the fun variety, not the girly ones she's worried about."

"Good," Charlotte sighed in relief, "And you promise if she gets too uncomfortable, you'll pull back, right?"

"Yes, we promise," Eugenia replied, "The last thing we want is to stress her out."

"Good," Charlotte repeated.

"What's with the protectiveness?" Blair continued to shove items in bags, pausing every few moments to give Emie some attention.

Charlotte released a heavy sigh. "I need some advice."

"Okay," Eugenia and Blair responded in unison.

"Justin and Abby asked Eddie and I to be Molly's godparents," Charlotte replied.

"They did?" Eugenia smiled, "I'm glad they finally got around to it."

"You knew they were going to ask me?" Charlotte asked.

"Of course," Eugenia replied, "They asked me for my opinion. I thought it was a great idea. Molly will be lucky to have you and Eddie as godparents."

"I thought so too, but then they pointed out how much more potential responsibility there would be considering their careers. If they're deployed at the same time, Eddie and I would have to take care of Molly," Charlotte replied, "And God forbid something happen to them…"

"Sweetheart, I realize it feels like a lot of responsibility, but you're talking about hypotheticals that likely will never happen," Blair grasped her hand.

"Justin and Abby said they thought through all the scenarios, like if Eddie and I went our separate ways, but it still feels like a lot of pressure on us to stay together," Charlotte admitted.

"Sweetheart, being a godmother is a big responsibility, but it's also rewarding. You get to have a hand in raising a child. When Mags and Eric first asked us to be Penny's godparents, it was the best feeling in the world. They trusted us to be there for not only Penny but also them when they need a helping hand. You'll get to spoil Molly in ways that Mom and Dad just can't," Blair smiled, "As a parent, you have to set an example for your child. As a godparent, you get to do all the fun things. You can take her shopping and teach her to flirt and put on her make up."

"Char, Justin and Abby wouldn't have offered if they didn't believe you were a worthy choice," Eugenia chimed in, "In all probability, you wouldn't have been asked if you weren't dating Eddie, but you've always been part of our family and you always will be no matter your status with Edward."

"I really want to do this," Charlotte replied.

Blair recognized something in her daughter's expression, "Sweetheart, do you have the baby itch?"

"It's so silly," Charlotte admitted, "Eddie and I aren't even talking about weddings or babies or any of that. A few months ago, I was so sure that I wanted to wait a couple of years before I ever thought of walking down the aisle. Now things feel different. I feel different, but I don't want to pressure him into having to propose."

"Talk to him, Sweetheart," Eugenia advised her, "Eddie is an understanding man, and he loves you. He'll understand if your feelings are different than they might have been."

"What if he feels differently now?" Charlotte frowned, "I mean, when we talked about it before Christmas, he talked about not getting any younger and wanting to settle down like his brother and friends, but maybe he has different feelings now that we're living together."

"Wait, back up," Blair halted her daughter, "You and Eddie are living together?"

"Oh my god!" Charlotte gasped as she quickly covered her mouth with both hands, "You can't tell Dad."

"Sweetheart, telling your father is the last thing either Eugenia or I would do, but why didn't you tell me?" Blair assured her.

"We just decided it a few weeks ago, but we really didn't have to do much to make it official. Most of Eddie's belongings were already in my closet," Charlotte stated, "We just didn't want to make a big deal of things right now."

"Because of your father," Blair frowned. "Char, it's time we take off the kid gloves where your father is concerned. We've coaxed him along gently so he wouldn't fly off the handle, but you're not a little girl anymore. He needs to see that."

"Is he in his office?" Charlotte bit her lip.

"Did you want me to be with you while you talk to him?" Blair asked.

"No, this is between me and him. I'm an adult. He needs to see that, which means taking responsibility for my actions, all of them," Charlotte made her way to her father's office.

"I thought I heard your voice," Chuck rose from his chair to greet his daughter. He'd done his best to stay out of the way of the party planning ladies by curling up with a good book. "How was dinner with Abby and Justin?"

"They've asked me and Eddie to be Molly's godparents," Charlotte replied, "It's such a huge responsibility. I had to talk to Mom about it."

"It is quite the responsibility, but I believe in you," he kissed her forehead.

"Dad, we need to talk," Charlotte motioned for him to have a seat as she took hers in another chair.

"I have a feeling I'm not going to like this," Chuck frowned.

"You might not, but it's time I start taking ownership of my decisions," Charlotte inhaled deeply to calm her nerves, "I know that my dating Eddie has been a bit difficult for you, but you've kept your feelings to yourself because you know Eddie makes me happy."

"I want you to be happy, Char," Chuck assured her.

"Good, and being with Eddie makes me happy," Charlotte smiled, "Eddie and I made a pretty big decision just before we returned to the office, but we've kept our news quiet because we didn't want to rock the boat or upset you. I'm realizing that in doing so, I'm not being honest with you."

"What's this decision?" Chuck glanced at her hands, worrying he might find a ring.

"We're living together," Charlotte stated.

"Living together," Chuck repeated.

Charlotte could see her father's face changing color. He was ready to boil.

"Before you blow your top, you need to hear me out," Charlotte told him, "You and Mom have raised me to be someone who is willing to trust their heart when they find someone they feel is worthy of them. You know Eddie, Dad. You know what a kind and generous man he is. You know he treats me well, and I love him. You also know whether you want to admit it to yourself or not, that we have an intimate relationship. I'm not going to apologize for that. So, whatever you have in your head about me being your little girl and needed to protect me from everyone and everything that can possibly hurt me, you're going to have to make your peace with the fact that I've grown up. You couldn't protect me from skinning my knee or getting my heart bent or broken when I was younger."

"I sure as heck tried," he grumbled.

"And I love you for it," she replied, "But you have to start respecting my choices. No more of these private investigators following me around, running background checks on everyone I meet."

"Char, I love you, but you have been sheltered your entire life from people with unsavory agendas. What happens if someone enters your life with the intent to do you harm?" Chuck pressed.

"You have to trust that I will sniff them out," Charlotte told him.

"Like you did with Devon," Chuck stared her down.

"Fine, throw him in my face," Charlotte threw up her hands, "Yeah, I trusted a guy that was mobbed up, and he may very well try to use our past relationship to embarrass me or further whatever agenda he and his pimped out cousin have. I will deal with that."

"It's been handled," Chuck told her.

"That's exactly what I'm talking about!" Charlotte shouted, "You do these things without consulting me. You just take care of it without allowing me to have any say. For all I know you had him tossed into the Hudson with some cement shoes."

"I'm not that guy, Charlotte," Chuck looked genuinely hurt she could ever think he'd do anything so horrible.

"I know you're not," Charlotte spoke after taking another deep breath, "But you say these things, like you've handled it, or you've got it covered…maybe that comes from how sheltered I've been I don't even know what you mean."

"The story Devon and Heather were trying to sell has been permanently cancelled. I made it clear to any media organizations if they publish anything from either of those individuals that I will tie them up in a slander case that will have them in courts for decades and bleed them dry of every penny," Chuck replied, "Any chance to sell the story will prove unfruitful."

"Dad, even if the story came out, what were they going to say?" Charlotte challenged him, "I was a consenting adult in a monogamous relationship with a man with an unsavory family that I rarely ever interacted with. Eddie's ex has fallen on hard times and has pimped herself out for money years after she broke up with him. Yeah, those are embarrassing things that would have hurt to come out, but I would have dealt with it and moved on."

"They said there were pictures and video," Chuck stated.

"They were lying," Charlotte replied, "Dad, I was never stupid enough to allow for anything to be captured on digital media. I'm not my godmother."

"And Eddie?" Chuck challenged her.

"I can't believe he would partake in anything like that either," Charlotte responded confidently.

"Look, Char, I know you think you know Eddie, but he has a past. We all do. I've done a lot of unsavory things that if they came out would be embarrassing to our family," Chuck replied, "I've paid a lot of money and done a lot to make amends to those I hurt during my wayward youth."

"And I know that about you, Dad," Charlotte replied, "Eddie is not you. He was raised by two grounded individuals who raised him right. He wasn't corrupted by teenagers with horrid upbringings or morally bankrupted nannies. You had a horrible upbringing, but you've overcome that. That upbringing made it difficult for you to trust people. Look at your relationship with Mom. It took you years to let your guard down just to simply have a relationship with her. I am not you. My upbringing was wonderful. Yeah, I might trust people too easy, but I'll take that over what you had every day, even if it means I run the risk of having my sex life splashed across Page Six of the Post."

"I can't let that happen, Charlotte. Not to you, not to your brothers," Chuck held firm, "I never want to see any of you hurt like that. I've seen what that kind of hurt can do to people."

"Fine, but at least trust me to make the right decision about who I decide to date, who I want to live with. You know, Eddie, Dad. You trust him. You made him an executive in your company," Charlotte pleaded with him. "He's so good for me, Dad. He makes me see things outside of the world I grew up in, and he protects me. He doesn't want to see me hurt any more than you do."

"You're my daughter," Chuck spoke forcefully, "It is my job to protect you."

"It's also your job to see that I'm happy," Charlotte stated, "Let me be happy, Dad. Let me have the kind of relationship with Eddie that you have with Mom, the one of unconditional love and support."

"So, I'm just supposed to be okay with you shacking up with a man," Chuck groaned out.

"You're supposed to be respectful of my decision," Charlotte told him, "If you want to hate Eddie, fine, I can't stop you, but you will respect him and my decision."

"You know I can have him blackballed from any decent job in New York," Chuck growled.

"Yes, you could," Charlotte stated, "I also have the choice to leave New York with Eddie and cut you out of my life. Is that a road you really want to go down?"

Chuck felt like he was about to be sick.

"I know you'll take time to process this news," Charlotte sighed, "If you want to blow your top, go for it. Threaten everything under the sun. Take away my trust fund, fire me from Bass, but just know all of that is not going to accomplish anything other than a whole lot of people losing a lot of respect for you, me being first in line."

Chuck visibly slumped in his chair. Charlotte's threat was simply something he'd never be able to live with. He loved his daughter more than life itself.

"Fine," Chuck said finally, "I'll respect your decision. I'm not going to pretend that I'm happy about it, but I won't make things difficult for you or Eddie."

"That's all I ask," Charlotte told him, "I hope eventually you'll be okay with it because I know Eddie will want to do the honorable thing and ask for my hand if and when the time comes. It will mean a lot to me to have your blessing."

Chuck swallowed hard on the thought. He remembered back to his own nerve-wracking trip to France to ask for Blair's hand from both her father and mother. He knew when the time came, he would swallow whatever reservations he had and give his blessing wholeheartedly. He had to.

Chuck found himself nodding his head.

Charlotte inhaled deeply. She'd taken a big step into adulthood today, one that was probably a long time coming.

"I love you, Daddy," Charlotte replied, "And I love all that you've done for me and Brice and Aiden and Mom. You've given us a great life, and you have no idea how much I wish you'd been gifted the same childhood I had. You will always be the first man I've ever loved. Never forget that."

Chuck had tears trailing down his cheeks as he rose up to give his daughter a hug, holding her as tight as he dared.

"I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow," she kissed his cheek, "No stink eyes in Eddie's direction."

Chuck nodded as she left his office. He wasn't surprised when Blair entered his office just as Charlotte was leaving. She'd likely heard the entire conversation.

"I'm not ready for her to grow up, Blair," Chuck admitted, "I'm not ready for her to have a serious boyfriend or have s..s..sex or live with a boy or marry a boy."

"I know," Blair wiped the tears trailing down his cheeks, "But you've already accepting it for your son. You'll accept it for your daughter, or Charlotte is right, there is going to be a line of people that are going to lose a lot of respect for you."

"I've been the most important man in her life for twenty-two years," Chuck broke. "It's a hard title to give up."

Blair hugged him tight.

TBC…