Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. They belong to Cecily von Zeigesar and The CW.
"Hey, S," Blair greeted Serena with a hug upon arriving at the rehab facility and shown into one of the visitor lounges. Serena had been waiting in eager anticipation for any news from the outside world. The facility didn't have so much as a television, so outside news was quite valuable.
"I'm so happy to see you," Serena returned the hug before offered one to her brother, "I've missed you guys so much."
"We all have missed you too," Eric assured her, "How's therapy going?"
"I hate it here," Serena flopped down on one of the sofas and brought her legs to her chest, "The staff is nice and all, but everyone is so depressed."
"Isn't the point of this place to work through what has everyone so depressed?" Blair asked.
"I guess so, but no one has a sense of humor here. I make one joke and everyone scowls at me," Serena huffed.
"Since when are you funny, S?" Blair teased.
"Awe, there's my Queen B," Serena hugged Blair again, "I've missed your snarkiness."
"I brought you a care package," Blair handed over a basket of beauty supplies and other items she thought Serena could use during her stay.
"Thanks, B," Serena took the basket, "Did the staff already go through it?"
"They had to make sure there wasn't any contraband," Blair nodded.
"And I brought cupcakes from that bakery you love," Eric produced a box for her.
"What's wrong?" Serena realized the intended reason for the gifts.
"Why would anything be wrong?" Blair asked.
"You only bring me sweet treats when something is wrong," Serena stated, "Is it Dan…Jack?"
"It's neither of those," Blair assured her.
"Then what?" Serena set the box aside, "Don't kid glove me. If something is going on at home, I need to know about it."
"Magnus and I have some news," Eric began after trading a look with Blair.
"Is everything okay? You two aren't having problems, are you?" Serena asked.
"No," Eric shook his head, "You know how we've been going through the adoption process?"
"Yes, last we talked you were approved. Did they pull your approval because you're an unconventional couple? If so, you can bet they'll have a fight on their hands. Chuck will slap them with a discrimination lawsuit so fast they won't be able to say due process," Serena replied.
Eric took a deep breath to begin the little speech he'd prepared, "Mags and I went through the entire process because we already knew someone looking to give their child a good home. She gave birth about a month ago, and Mags and I just completed the paperwork to legally adopt her. Her name is Penny."
"You've…" Serena stammered out with tears welling in her eyes, "You…have a…baby?"
"Yes," Eric swallowed hard before handing her a picture.
"How long have you known about this?" Serena asked Blair.
"We didn't tell anyone until we brought Penny home," Eric chimed in, "There was always a chance her birth mother would change her mind. We didn't want to put everyone through that pain, especially you."
"Because I'm so damaged," a tear fell down Serena's cheek.
"Because you're still grieving your loss," Blair shifted so she could put an arm around Serena's shoulders.
"Why does everyone insist I'm grieving?" Serena snapped at Blair.
"Because we are too," Blair wiped at her own tears, "The pain your feeling has to be ten times worse than what we are, but we're still feeling the loss too. We all know how much you wanted a child of your own."
"You have no idea how much it hurts," tears began to stream down Serena's cheeks, "The only way to get through the day is to forget it ever happened. Don't you get that?"
"You're right," Blair wiped at more of her own tears, "I can never, ever understand what you're feeling. I nearly lost Aiden, and the panic of those terrifying few hours can still wake me up in a cold sweat at night. I don't know how I would have been able to get through the days, but you were there for me.
"You let me vent my fears and frustrations. You visited me nearly everyday I was on bed rest, cheering me up and telling me everything was going to be alright.
"I can't return the favor, but I can be your shoulder to cry on. It's okay to be sad, S. It's okay to be angry, but you have to let yourself feel something or you're never going to truly be happy again."
"What do I have to be happy about?" Serena challenged her, "My marriage is over. Jack's in jail for the rest of his life. Everyone in my family has someone else…"
"You still have us," Blair cut off Serena's rant, "No matter what, you always have us, all of us, me, Eric, Chuck, Lily, Magnus, Charlotte, Brice, Aiden, Penny. We're your family, and family is always there whether you want us to be or not."
"I'm so lost," Serena broke down in painful sobs in Blair's arms, "I don't know what to do anymore."
Blair let Serena cry herself out, shedding her own tears along with her.
"We'll figure it out, S," Blair brushed away Serena's tears with a tissue, "Once you're ready to leave here, we'll help you find whatever it is you're looking for."
"You won't be alone," Eric chimed in, "We'll all help."
Serena looked towards the picture in her hand. "She's adorable, Eric."
"She's going to love being spoiled by her Aunt Serena," Eric replied.
"Can I keep this?" Serena eyed the picture again.
"Of course," Eric nodded.
"I'm going to make it something to look forward to," she tucked the photo into the basket for safekeeping.
"Any idea how much longer you're going to stay here?" Blair asked.
"Until the doctors think I'm ready to go," Serena replied, "Unless of course, you guys are thinking of busting me out. I'd be fully on board."
"You're not ready, Serena," Eric piped up.
"I hate when you play psychologist on me," Serena scowled at him.
"Hazards of the day job," Eric replied.
"S, I've talked to Chuck. When you're ready to leave here, you are welcome to stay with us until you find yourself a new place," Blair offered.
"I don't know if that's such a good idea," Serena glanced towards the floor, "I screwed up pretty bad when I took Aiden to the zoo after an all night bender. Chuck was pretty mad at me."
"Yes, we both are," Blair agreed, "One of the reasons you're here is because you want to get better, back to your life, right?"
"Of course," Serena replied.
"And you're never going to do something so stupid as to take my son somewhere when you're high, drunk, hung over or strung out ever again, right?"
"Never again," Serena vowed.
"It's going to take some time to regain our trust, but our children love you…we love you," Blair stated, "You deserve another chance, and we're prepared to give it to you."
"Thanks, B," Serena hugged her tight.
"It's time to start facing your demons, S," Blair told her, "I know what I'm asking of you is hard. It will probably be the most painful thing you will ever do, but you owe it to yourself. You're not going to get better if you just forget the children you lost."
"I know," Serena wiped at the tears tumbling down her cheeks.
Blair hugged her again.
The pair spent the rest of the afternoon with Serena. Serena played tour guide and showed them around the facility, introducing them to nearly everyone as they went. It was quite clear to Blair and Eric how popular Serena was, especially with the straight males they encountered.
"She's going to come back to New York with one of those boys following her like a puppy," Eric chuckled on the flight back to Manhattan.
"She always does," Blair snickered, "I swear she could pick up a man in a convent."
"Dan left for Africa yesterday," Eric turned the conversation serious, "Do you think I should have told Serena?"
"I don't know what difference it would have made," Blair shrugged, "She already knows her marriage is over."
"Mom and Rufus are having a hard time right now," Eric admitted.
"I expected they would," Blair nodded, "They're each pulled in the direction of their children, having to pick opposite sides of the battle."
"There are times when I just want to wash my hands of Serena and her antics," Eric frowned.
"I know the feeling, but for better or worse, she's family to us both," Blair replied, "You never stop fighting for family."
"Hopefully she'll never stop fighting for us," Eric added.
"Hi, Mommy," Aiden greeted his mother with an eager smile when Blair returned from her quick trip.
"Hello, my sweet boy," Blair picked him up in a hug. She definitely needed one of his hugs after her trip.
"Missed you," he hugged her tight around the neck.
"I missed you too," Blair kissed his cheek and then returned him to his feet, "What did you and your siblings do today with Daddy?"
"I play baseball," he motioned like he was throwing a ball.
"Sounds like fun," Blair laughed at the cuteness on display. "Where is Daddy?"
"Daddy out," Aiden explained.
"Out?" Blair inquired, "Where did Daddy go?"
"I don't know," Aiden shrugged his shoulders before running off to entertain himself.
"Hello, Mrs. Blair," Dorota scurried in to greet her long time boss, "How was trip?"
"It went about as well as expected," Blair handed off her belongings for Dorota to put away, "Aiden said Chuck is out. Where did he go?"
"He took Miss Charlotte to Bass for meeting," Dorota replied.
"He never mentioned he had anything scheduled for today," Blair replied.
"Ms. Eugenia call with emergency," Dorota explained.
"Couldn't have been much of an emergency if he took Charlotte with him," Blair pointed out. "Where's Brice?"
"He take Barty for walk," Dorota stated.
"By himself?" Blair gasped.
"Mister Nate come over," Dorota put her boss at ease.
"Good," Blair sighed in relief, "Did Chuck say when he was going to be home?"
Dorota shook her head from side to side.
Blair pulled out her phone and fired off a text to her husband. She knew Aiden and Brice would be hungry soon as it was nearly dinnertime. She'd just pressed send on her message when the elevator chimed. She'd hoped it was her daughter and husband, but had to settle for her son, his dog, and her ex, Nate.
"Hi, Mom," Brice greeted her with a hug, "How's Serena?"
"She misses you," Blair returned the hug and then petted his pooch, who was nearly as excited to see her as Aiden had been, his tail wagging back and forth while Blair rubbed him down.
"I'm hungry," Brice announced.
"Once Dad and Charlotte get home, we'll eat," Blair tapped his head, "Go put Barty's leash away."
Brice darted off with Barty on his heels.
"Are you joining us for dinner, Nate?" Blair accepted the kiss to her cheek he offered.
"It's what was promised to me earlier," Nate laughed, "Chuck got called into the office but didn't want to leave Aiden or Brice home with just Dorota. He bribed me with dinner since he didn't know when you'd be home."
"Thank you for taking time out of your busy work day to watch my children," Blair responded graciously.
"Happy to do so," Nate responded, "I love those godchildren of mine, and it gives me a valid excuse to duck out of work early on a summer day."
"There's the Nate I know," Blair laughed, "Any idea what the business is at Bass?"
"Just that it was an emergency meeting called by a member of the board. He didn't seem too concerned about it," Nate shrugged.
"Did the boys have fun with their favorite uncle?" Blair asked.
"Oh, yeah," Nate nodded, "We built forts in the theater and then watched some animated movie Aiden liked. I think the boys might like to go camping."
"We're talking about getting Brice into Wilderness Buddies," Blair stated, "Chuck's a bit hesitant, says it's not something Brice would be interested in."
"Doesn't really seem like a necessity for a city boy like Brice," Nate agreed.
"It's more about socializing with other boys his age," Blair explained.
"Isn't that what baseball is for?" Nate asked.
"We want him to be well rounded," Blair responded, "He and Billy are as thick as thieves, but he doesn't spend much time with other boys his age."
"Unlike Charlotte, who has dozens of friends," Nate translated, "Brice is more like Chuck. He sees the importance in having one true friend."
"He can still have other friends," Blair replied.
"Good luck getting him to go," Nate chuckled.
The elevator chimed the arrival of her husband and daughter. Chuck must have just received her text, "Oh our way."
"I see," Blair greeted him with a kiss while Charlotte launched herself at her uncle. "Everything okay at Bass?"
"Mostly," Chuck sighed, "Locksley has announced his retirement."
"He's almost eighty," Blair reminded him, "I think he's due for some downtime."
"He's the last holdover from Bart's regime," Chuck replied, "He's also been one of my biggest pains in the b-u-t-t, always the naysayer when I want to take Bass in a new direction."
Charlotte giggled when she put together what her father was spelling.
"You've been griping about the man for ten years," Blair rolled her eyes, "You should be jumping for joy."
"Internally," Chuck gave her a sinister grin, which he knew was a turn on to her.
"We have two hungry children," Blair glared at him, knowing he was intentionally trying to get a rise out of her.
"Three," Chuck motioned towards Charlotte, who was talking animatedly with her godfather about the fun she'd had at Bass while her father was busy with his meetings.
"Four," Blair motioned towards Nate.
"Four," Chuck laughed and turned his attention to his daughter and best friend. "Charlotte, gather your brothers for dinner."
"Come with me," Charlotte pulled on Nate's hand.
"She has her uncle wrapped around her little finger, much like her mother a few decades ago," Chuck laughed.
"Maybe she can knock some sense into him," Blair laughed with her husband on the way to the dining room, "I never could."
"He didn't know what was good for him," Chuck pecked at her lips while they waited for their family to join them.
"Did Charlotte have fun at the office?"
"Oh yes," Chuck nodded, "Eugenia put her to work, answering phone calls at the office. She was answering them like a pro when I came into the office to retrieve her."
"She's going to take over your company one day and leave you in the dust," Blair laughed.
"Don't I know it," he chuckled.
TBC…
Almost ready to wrap this up. One chapter to go.
