Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. They belong to Cecily von Zeigesar and The CW.
Dorota was anxious for a report from ballet class the next day. She'd fretted since Charlotte left the house two hours earlier regarding the hair bun she'd fashioned for her young charge. She was so worried that it would fall out again and she'd be booted out of the Bass household, despite Blair's insistence that her job was safe.
"Hi, Dorota," Charlotte was her usual chipper self after returning from her successful ballet lesson. She'd been the star of the day, spinning and plieing with the best of them. She even earned a compliment from her instructor. She was more than happy to share her good fortune with her housekeeper.
"Dad, can I stay home during Charlotte's next lesson?" Brice moaned.
"We'll see what we can do about that," Chuck responded cryptically.
"Mister Chuck, you're assistant call," Dorota handed her boss a message.
"Why didn't she call my phone?" Chuck pulled out his phone. The screen showed several missed calls and messages from his assistant. He'd turned the ringer off so as not to disturb Charlotte's class.
The children ran off to do their own things while Chuck went to his office to call his assistant.
"Hello, Mister Bass," his assistant was always eager to irritate him, "How good of you to check in."
"Eugenia, I'm sensing some sarcasm in your tone. I might be incline to put that in your next performance review," he countered.
"You're no fun," Eugenia laughed.
"What's with all the calls and messages?" Chuck asked, "Did Bass go bankrupt today?"
"Hardly," she snorted. "I received a call from County Lockup. Isn't that where your scum of an uncle is currently making his residence?"
"Until his trial and sentencing," Chuck confirmed.
"Apparently he's making enemies," Eugenia replied, "He was injured today."
"Will he be okay?" Chuck didn't feel much in the way of sympathy towards his uncle.
"Sounds like it's some cuts and bruises," Eugenia replied, "Nothing serious, but he's request an audience with you."
"Must be ready to deal," Chuck sighed.
"Deal?" Eugenia asked curiously, "What could you possibly have to offer that miscreant?"
"A slightly less turbulent existence in confinement," Chuck countered, "The prosecutors are going for broke, and they have a solid case. He's likely going to jail for the rest of his life. I offered him minimum security in exchange for him telling me what his agenda had been here in New York."
"Why would you do anything for him?" Eugenia asked.
"We want to close the door on that part of our lives permanently," Chuck responded, "I'm not offering him much. Just enough for our own peace of mind."
"Well, he's a fool if he doesn't take the offer, but this is Jack Bass we're talking about," Eugenia sighed, "I'm just glad he's finally gotten what's coming to him."
"I wish Serena hadn't had to pay any price because of him," Chuck sighed heavily.
He heard Eugenia typing on her keyboard.
"Blair and Lily's flight landed a few minutes ago," Eugenia replied, "They should be navigating traffic as we speak. They should be home soon."
"Never soon enough," Chuck sighed happily. It had been hard to kept the news a secret from his children. It was clear at breakfast they all missed her immensely.
"What are you going to do about Jack?" Eugenia nosed into his business.
"Let him sweat it out for a few days," Chuck replied.
"Be careful, Mister Bass," Eugenia gave him a teasing scolding before they ended their call.
Aiden came darting into the room with a book and hopped into Chuck's lap. "Read, please."
Chuck opened the book and began reading to his son. Like the day before, just as Chuck was finishing the narration the elevator chimed.
"Go see who that is, Buddy," Chuck set him on his feet and patted his bottom.
Aiden went running. He paused just as he ran into the entryway. "Mommy!" his voice echoed through the penthouse.
Blair was able to put down her bag just before her son launched herself into her arms.
"My sweet boy," Blair hugged him tight, "I missed you so much."
"Missed you more," Aiden squeezed her tight around the neck.
"Did you have fun with Daddy?" Blair picked him up and carried him into the living room where she set him on her lap.
"Yep, I brushed horsey," he responded proudly.
"I know," Blair tapped his nose, "Daddy told me."
"He read me Peter Pan," Aiden added, "I want sword to fight Captain Hook."
"Not yet, Buddy," Chuck laughed and joined the pair on the sofa. His arm went around his wife's shoulders and guided her lips to his, pouring as much passionate into the kiss as was appropriate with their young son in such close proximity. "We missed you."
"I missed all of you too," Blair caressed her husband's chin.
"Mommy, wanna go to park," Aiden inserted himself into the moment.
"You do?" Blair kissed his cheek, "Then we'd better go to the park. How about I unpack first and say hi to your siblings?"
"No," Aiden pouted, "Park now."
"You are so cute," Blair tapped as his pouty bottom lip, "It won't take long, Peanut."
"Okay," he conceded after a few moments of staring his mother down. Aiden scooted off his mother's lap and ran to retrieve his siblings. He wanted to get to the park as quickly as possible.
"I missed you," Chuck dove in for the kiss he wanted to give her the moment he laid eyes on her. Blair was pinned to the sofa in moments, enjoying the feel of her husband's arms around her.
"Missed you more," Blair smiled, tracing his lips with her finger. It amazed her how much she felt like a giddy schoolgirl at the moment. She loved this man. She never took their feelings for each other for granted.
"How is it possible to forget how beautiful you are in the few days you were away?" he returned her smile.
"We video chatted every night I was away," Blair reminded him.
"Doesn't do you justice," he kissed the corner of her mouth.
"Such a sap," she pushed on his shoulder to allow herself to sit up. The children would find them in a moment, and the less compromising the position the better.
Chuck growled in disappointment at having to release her.
"I'll make it worth your while later," she sent him a wink when their two oldest children came running into the room and pounced on her. Barty added a happy bark in greeting.
"Did you bring me presents?" Charlotte asked.
"Of course," Blair laughed.
Charlotte darted into the entryway to retrieve her mother's bag and the presents inside it certainly held.
"You are my daughter," Blair kissed her cheeks before digging in her bag for the gifts she and Lily selected specifically for each child. Their foray into town on a gift hunt had been a welcomed distraction after checking on Serena at the rehab facility.
Each child was appropriately thrilled with their gifts, but more so to have their mother home.
"How's Serena?" Chuck asked after the children ran to retrieve their shoes for their afternoon in the park.
Blair released a heavy sigh. "Rehab is what she needs, but I don't know if she's ready to do the work. Her doctors say she's not willing to address the real reason she spiraled. Until she can face her miscarriages and failed marriage, what good is treatment going to do her?"
"At least it's a step in the right direction," Chuck replied.
"I don't know how much good it's going to do," Blair frowned, "I'm afraid we're going to be in for a vicious cycle of spirals and rehabs. As much as I love Serena, we can't let our children watch it happen time and time again."
"There isn't much we can do at the moment," Chuck replied, "We have to support Serena right now and cross our fingers. Hopefully somewhere within her ninety day stay, she'll be ready to face her darkest demons."
Blair held up her crossed fingers, "I will always support Serena…"
"But," he prompted her.
"We can't let our children watch Serena spiral up and down," Blair replied.
"We'll deal with that decision if we have to," Chuck gave her a reassuring smile, "We both want our children to be around positive influences. We also need them to see that people deserve second chances when they earned them. You gave me one."
"You had incentive to change," Blair replied, "What does Serena have waiting for her when she leaves rehab…divorce papers? You heard Dan at the intervention. Their marriage is over."
"She has her family," Chuck replied, "We will be anxious to welcome her home and support her in any way we can."
"I hope that's enough," Blair nodded.
"Let's go, Mommy," Aiden darted into the room and tugged on Blair's skirt, "Park time."
"How do I say no to this little cutie?" Blair allowed herself to be pulled to the elevator.
Aiden pressed the button without waiting for his siblings to catch up. He would have left his siblings and father in the dust if Blair had let him. Instead he anxiously jumped up and down until everyone was in the elevator.
It was an afternoon and evening of simple pleasure for the Bass family. With the children tucked in, Blair and Chuck retired to their bedroom for some adult time but were interrupted by a phone call.
"It's Eric," Blair looked to Chuck's phone with a perplexed look, "It's late. This can't be good."
Chuck answered the call with trepidation.
"Congratulations, Uncle Chuck," Eric excitedly answered the phone.
It took Chuck a moment to translate his brother's news. "Eric, does that mean?"
"Five pounds, six ounce baby girl, and she's perfect," Eric replied.
It took Chuck another moment to recover from his surprise. He could hear his brother chuckling on the other end.
"That's precisely the reaction Magnus and I were going for," Eric stated, "The adoption has been in the works for a few months. We didn't want to share our news until everything was official. The judge still needs to sign the papers for it to be completely official, but Mags and I are taking Penny home tomorrow. We're hoping your family will join us for a welcome home celebration."
"Of course," Chuck responded, "We wouldn't miss it for the world. Congratulations, Eric. We can't wait to meet her."
"What was that all about?" Blair asked when Chuck tossed his phone on the nightstand.
"Eric and Magnus have a daughter," Chuck responded.
"They what!" Blair gasped.
"Apparently it's been in the works for awhile, and they didn't want to share the news until it's official, but our children now have a cousin," Chuck explained.
"Oh my god, that's wonderful," Blair proclaimed with a jubilant smile and then another thought occurred to her, "Oh no, how is Serena going to do with this?"
"We'll deal with that when the time comes," he touched her chin, "Right now, let's go back to 'that's wonderful'."
"Eric and Magnus are going to be the best parents and this little girl is going to be so loved," Blair gushed. "What's her name?"
"Penny," he replied, "They're bringing her home tomorrow."
"She sounds adorable already," Blair smiled. "Oh, I can't wait to meet her. We'll need to go shopping in the morning. We'll want to show this little girl how spoiled she gets to be as a van der Woodsen."
"We'll make sure she's appropriately spoiled tomorrow," he chuckled, "For right now, how about you show me how spoiled I am having my wife back home."
"I should almost punish you for such a lame line like that, but I'm just so happy to be home and in your arms," Blair wrapped hers around his shoulders and began biting at his Adam's apple. "I missed you so much."
"Likewise," he surprised her by pinning her to the bed and kissing her senseless.
TBC…
