Title: Bass Family Brood
Chapter 15: Squeeze
Author: Ellibells
Summary: Post season 3; Bass brood growing up which is based upon my original fic Mr Chuck and Mrs Blair Bass. Chair are married with a full brood of children including Teddy and Evie who are original characters from my Mr Chuck and Mrs Blair Bass: Part 2. Bass Brood central with NJBC… Fluffy, humour, protective Daddy's, fluff, more babies and pure Bass family fun! "And where do you think you are going dressed like that, Evie Grace Bass?"
A/N: My by records, it has nearly been 4 months :/ I know! I'm such a bad writer! I kinda lost inspiration for this story but thanks to a few encouragements from MissTink1987 and LY33, you both kicked my writing bum back into action so thank you :)
I've been very busy trying to get into uni and getting my a-levels and don't even get me started on the Chair/Dair thing. I may barf if anyone mentions the 'D' word again… So I got all Chair depressed but I am back with fluffy, happy family Chair and hopefully in the next, I will be back in the swing of things :)
THANK YOU to everyone who is still reading this! Means so much! And thank you for all your previous reviews! Enjoy.
"Darling! Wake up! It's morning!" Roman eased with excitement in his voice as he sat on the side of Evie's bed, tempting her awake with the smell of fresh muffins.
"Hhmm-" was all she could make out as she tried to open her eyes to find blackness in front of her.
Realising that her eye mask was still stuck to her face, she frowned and pulled it away to be graced with the sight of a cheerful Roman.
"I've never know someone so difficult to wake!" The older man laughed, offering his hand so Evie could sit up.
"Is everyone receiving this lovely wakening this morning or just me?" She smiled sleepily as she slipped a red grape into her mouth from the tray of food Roman had offered.
"Non non! Only for you, mon cher!"
"Can I ask why?" she questioned.
"You haven't seemed your normal self since you arrived and since you slept in, I thought I would stay and wait for you to wake...or ease you awake myself!" he laughed.
Oh, he was so very French Evie thought.
Smiling at his kindness, she frowned and sat up a bit more.
"What time is it?"
"Dix..." he answers without haste.
"Which means, mon cher, that we are already behind in shopping. You promised Lullah that you would pick a dress with her?"
"Oh my- I feel so bad! Give me ten minutes and I will meet you downstairs." Evie almost shouted in panic, not wanting to let her sister's kindness be wasted.
"Of course. Go!" Roman kissed cheeks and left her to get ready.
"Am I too late?" A voice came from behind Lullah and she turned to meet the familiar voice.
"Eve! I thought you weren't coming?" She admitted with a relieved look now gracing her features.
"Why wouldn't I be coming?" She frowned with a small smile at her sisters efforts to seem unaffected by her lateness.
"Well you slept in and well- I thought Roman was covering for you not wanting to come with us..." She shrugged.
"I've been looking forward to this since yesterday. I wouldn't just pull something like that when I want to spend time with my sister." Evie smiled honestly, taking Tallulah's hand and squeezing it a little.
"Evie! You made it! How are you feeling?" Blair asked as she walks towards her girls, kissing her eldest on the forehead and standing between the two girls.
"Better now I'm here".
"Then what are we waiting for? Lets go!" Blair chirped, pulling the girls along into a flurry of materials.
xoxo
"Isn't Teddy supposed to be spending the day with us?..." Lex asked as he walked beside his father.
Chuck had suggested to the boys that they spend the morning on a walk around the vineyard and through the acres of garden that surrounded their grandfather's home before going and watching some movies.
Chuck was not at all surprised when he woke up to find Teddy had taken the decision to head into the city with the daughter of Harold and Roman's next door neighbour. Teddy had met her on a few occasions when visiting his grandfather and they seemed to get on really well, in a way Teddy had never reacted to a girl in fact. What could he say? His eldest son enjoyed the simple pleasures in life such as fashion just like Chuck had as a teen.
"He followed the girls into the city with Clara? From next door. You don't mind spending the day with your old man do you?" Chuck shrugged as he watched his son smile.
"Of course not."
"How is school?" Chuck offered as they set off walking side by side.
"Good. I really love my classes; English lit is my favourite at the moment." Lex replied as his father nodded with a smile.
xoxo
As Teddy spent the day canoodling with the neighbour's daughter, Evie finally made it into the city with Roman and her Grandfather who soon broke off and as promised, Penny spent the day with her Grandpa and Roman doing anything and everything that had any relation to ballet.
The remaining Bass', Chuck and his youngest son spent the day together catching up. A rare occasion, but one both of them valued more than either of them cared to mention. They spent their morning continuing to walk the vineyard before finding refuge from the winter weather in the house and settling down for a film.
"Evie!" Lullah called from the changing room.
With a few seconds Evie appeared in front of her sister who stood in a midnight blue, sequin incrusted dress.
"What do you think? Good enough for New Years?" Lullah asked seeking the approval from her sister.
"I think it looks really cute. You should get it. In fact, let me get it. My treat." Evie smiled only to elicit a squeal from her younger sister before graciously receiving an overexcited hug.
"You are the best! I'm gonna come shopping with you more often!" Lullah cheered before rushing back into her cubicle.
"What's all the noise about?" Blair smiled warmly as she entered the changing room to see Evie smiling honestly, something she hadn't seen in a while.
"I just told Lullah I would buy her that dress, she got a little excited!..." Evie replied soundly.
"Oh you don't have to spend your money, sweetie, that's what your father's credit card is for!" Blair winked as she rubbed her daughters arm affectionately.
"No. I want to, but thanks anyway." She answered strongly. There was not a lot she had done for her sister in the past, and it wasn't out of ignorance or hate but out of lack of opportunity to do things with her younger sister.
Evie had always struggled to bond with Lullah and maybe it was because they both had such strong personalities and they just clashed but now more than ever, she felt Lullah reaching out to her and Evie wasn't about to reject the sentiment, she wanted to know her sister, in the way sisters should.
"If that's what you want." Blair nodded graciously before kissing her eldest daughter on the head, Evie glad of the attention.
"I'm proud of you, you know. You're so strong, all my children are but you my Sweets, you really are a chip off the old block!"
Blair loved all of her children equally but seeing the hurt Benjamin had caused Evie lately and everything she was going through, it hurt Blair to see her daughter push people out.
At one time Evie would go to her mother with anything but as her children grew and grew, Blair felt like she was losing them, Evie especially.
It was like yesterday she was trying to juggle a five, four and a two year old and it seemed like an impossible mission and it wasn't uncommon for Blair to wish the days of dirty diapers and screaming children away but now, standing with her two daughters shopping like it was second nature to them, she couldn't have been more wrong when she had wished they would grow faster, if anything she would give anything to have kept them tiny and innocent for a while longer, but she was a mother of no regrets and she knew every one of her children would turn out well rounded and happy.
"How long have you been there?" Lullah frowned at her mother as she walked out of the changing cubicle and into a calming silence between her big sister and her mother.
"Only a few minutes." Blair smiled as she tilted her head in gesture to leave.
"Did you get want you wanted from the other store?" Lullah raised her innocent brows as she watched her mother nod pleasingly as she deliberately but subtly moved the Agent Provocateur bag behind her legs and out of sight, knowing the only reaction from her children if they knew what she had purchased would be squeals of disgust.
"I did indeed!" The eldest brunette confirmed.
"Now what do you girls say we treat ourselves to lunch and then go crazy in Louboutin?"
"I say, lunch and shoes are on you, mommy dearest!" Evie announced as Lullah laughed heartily before following her sister to the checkout, their mother in toe as she smirked with adoration of their playful nature.
xoxo
Eventually when they had no more room in the limo to accommodate any more shopping bags, including the arrival of Teddy and his lady friend, the girls traveled back to the chateau swinging in and out of conversation with the young French girl for the duration on the journey.
Once back at the chateau, in time for supper, they walked into the house to be greeted by a silence only to find an exhausted Penny collapsed against her father's chest as they both slept innocently in front of the fire.
No one woke them for the moment and instead Teddy went to his room to deposit his bags while Evie and Lullah did the same in theirs as Blair went off in search of the wonderful smell she was experiencing, not before snapping a quick picture of her two cuties cuddled up asleep.
"What is that gorgeous smell?" Blair laughed sweetly as she entered the kitchen, her eyes immediately setting upon her youngest son and Roman prancing around the kitchen.
"That, mon cher, is a tasty surprise!" Roman cheered as he dipped his little finger into the saucepan and licked his finger before nodding in approval.
"You are a very fast learner, Alexander. C'est magnifique!"
"Merci!" Lex smiled back before turning to his mother with a welcoming hello.
"Did you have a good time shopping?" He asked his mother, as polite as ever.
"We did indeed; I even got you a new jumper." She added, hand on hip as she lent against the breakfast bar.
"Thanks, mom!"
"It's quite alright. Did you and your father have a good day? I know Teddy blew you off for Clara but I hope that didn't deter your plans?" Blair asked softly as she wandered towards the cooker in an attempt to steal a little taste.
"Not at all. We had a really good day. We went for a walk, watch a DVD and played some video games." He smiled, tapping his mothers hand away as she attempted to stick her hand in the mixture he was concocting.
"I don't think so, Mom. You will have to wait until dinner is served!" Lex laughed as his mother scowled.
"I am allowed one taste! Mother of the house gets special treatment!" Blair demanded.
"We are not at home; therefore, you do not get special treatment!" Lex shrugged as his mother scowled deeper before accepting defeat.
"I will remember this, Alexander!" His mother promised playfully before departing from the kitchen.
Lex was left, genuinely scared at what she may do.
Looking for another form of entertainment, Blair went to join her husband and baby on the couch, snuggling in next to her husband as he continued to sleep, careful not to wake him or their daughter abruptly.
xoxo
Meanwhile, Lullah and Evie were snuggled up on their bed that they had to share for the duration of their stay.
"Thanks for buying me that dress today." Lullah offered as they watched their movie.
"It's alright. It looked cute, I couldn't resist." Evie responded kindly dropping her head against Lullah's shoulder.
"I'm sorry that we've never got along?..."
"Why would you say that?" Evie's ears pricked up, sitting straight and turning to face her little sister.
"It's true! You've never liked me!" Lullah defended with a solemn shrug as if she was accepting of it.
"What are you talking about! Of course I don't like you! You're my annoying little sister Lu! But I still love you. We've just never had the chance to spend time together, that's all." Evie promised, awkwardly trying to turn the attention away from herself and onto another subject as she began to play with Lullah's hair.
Tallulah was laughing now, allowing Evie to tangle her fingers in her long hair.
"I've always been jealous of you, you know?" The younger Bass admitted nervously.
"Why would you be jealous of me? My life is a mess!" She answered in shock.
"You're so pretty and clever and mom and dad are always praising you for something. Why do you think I am always so overdramatic about things?" Lullah explained, confused at herself for being so honest.
Of course Lullah could blame her outburst and constant moody behaviour on puberty but to be quite honest, it had never been about that, most of the time anyway.
She saw her sister grow up into this beautiful woman who everyone adored; she was exactly like their mother and the way Blair looked at her, the way she wished her mother would look at her.
Lullah was far from the cleverest in her family and didn't consider herself to be pretty, why wouldn't she want to be like her older sister. All she had ever wanted was approval.
"So all the dramatics are for attention?" Evie frowned at this development as she watched Lullah shrug.
"Lu? You're a beautiful, if anything; you are a prettier and younger version of me! All the Bass' are good looking, even Teddy, but tell him I said that, his head is big enough!"
When Evie saw her sister laugh, a real laugh, it was worth every word.
"And not to mention your boobs! You're three years younger than me and you have a better pair than I do. Mine are tiny!" Evie giggled with seriousness as she went to cup Lullah's breasts playfully.
"Eve!" Lullah squealed as she slapped her sister's hands away, only for it to result in a play fight.
Rolling around on their oversized bed, the girl screamed and yelled as they took turns to pin each other down, tickling their way to freedom before being hit with a pillow.
Laughter truly erupted when they felt the bed dip behind them and before they knew it, Teddy was on top of them, grabbing a pillow and joining in the brawl.
"Aahh! My hair!" Lullah cried as her ponytail disintegrated into a loose mound on the side of her head while Evie laughed and hit her with a pillow.
"Wait, wait!" Teddy stopped them, one hand in the air with a pillow in the other.
"Don't you remember in the Hamptons when Lullah accidentally let on about her weaknesses?..." Teddy raised his eyebrows at Evie who grinned wickedly in understanding.
"Ohhh... you mean when we tickled her neck and feet until she nearly passed out for laughing so much...?" She teased back as Lullah saw red and began to edge off the bed discreetly.
"Guys..." She warned as she tried to stand, a pillow in her hand just in case.
"Yeahhh?..." The two older siblings answered in unison.
"Go!" Lullah tried to yell in distraction but Teddy only took the opportunity to jump off the bed and guard her exit path as Evie took the bed.
It was inevitable what was coming but Lullah ran anyway. She squealed in laughter as Teddy rugby tackled her to the bed, Evie going for her neck while Teddy went for her kicking feet and when that failed, opting for her waist.
"Mercy! Mercy!" The younger Bass yelled in defeat trough the giggles as Teddy and Evie continued their ministrations with enjoyment.
"Hahaha! I'm literally gonna pee my pants if I keep laughing!" Evie pulled away as Teddy feel against the plush mattress with the remnants of his laughter.
"Ew! Go to the toilet Grandma!" Teddy called as Evie did just that, rushing to the bathroom and on her way, hitting Teddy a final time with the pillow.
"Paybacks a bitch!" She called behind her as Lullah and Teddy continued to recover, laughing as they went.
xoxo
"Evening sleepy head..." Blair stroked against Chuck's temple as he began to stir from the noise upstairs.
"Hmmm... you're back." Chuck noted, prying his eyes open as he registered Penny still asleep in his arms before licking his dry lips.
"I am." Blair smiled, placing a soft kiss against his newly wet lips.
"What time is it? What's all the noise about?" He pondered groggily after accepting the kiss with a small groan of appreciation.
"It's six and the children are upstairs having fun bonding apparently?" She shrugged as she went to brush Chuck bangs from his face.
"I'm glad to hear it. Did we miss supper?" Chuck smiled sleepily as he stroked Penny's back to rouse her, knowing if he didn't wake her, neither of them would be getting much sleep this evening. If their baby wouldn't sleep, neither would they.
"No, you woke up just in time. I didn't want to wake you but I couldn't resist watching you, you both looked so innocent!" Blair laughed lightly as she teased.
"How could you think any less?" He replied playfully, reaching for her lips as she accepted the offer.
Just as they pulled away, they were greeted with the sight of Penny sleepily rubbing her tiny eyes.
"Mommy?" Penny sighed, reaching out for her mother who graciously accepted the outreached arms and hugged her little girl softly.
"Did you have a nice sleep, baby?" Blair asked and Penny only nodded against her chest.
Chuck couldn't help but adore the scene before him as he watched his smallest girl continue to wake slowly and his beautiful wife accept her maternal duties so naturally.
"Mommy's little girl!..." Chuck mumbled as he went to stand before giving Blair and Penny a kiss on the head.
"Pfft! I have photographic evidence that suggests otherwise!..." Blair winked at her husband who shook his head playfully.
"I'm going to go freshen up." Chuck gestured as he made his way to the stairs.
"Don't be too long. And could you call the children down too?" Blair asked sweetly as she continued to rock her youngest baby awake.
"Of course, dear." Chuck nodded obediently with a smirk playing on his lips as he began to climb the stairs.
God he loved his life.
xoxo
It had been nearly three days since Evie had looked at her phone. The moment she had texted Mia and Zach to make them aware of her trip, her phone had been switched off. She didn't want them to talk to her, convince her to stay, she needed time to think, not to think.
She was in the bathroom while she listened to Teddy and Lullah calm down from their pillow fight in the other room. She noticed her phone lying amongst her makeup bag.
Pulling herself from the corner of the room after washing her hands and splashing her face with some water, she picked up the phone and inspected it.
She was addicted, hooked to her phone 24/7 but the past few days without it, she felt free, light and calm. More calm than she had in a long time, more rested. Pressing and holding the button to turn her phone on, she waited and was pleasantly surprised that she only had three alerts waiting for her. One from Gossip Girl which she graciously deleted before reading, no doubt it was about her. A second from Mia wishing her a safe flight and that she get home soon because she needed her best friend. Then a final text. It wasn't pleading, it wasn't much but it was from Zach.
I know you need time but running away won't make this go away. I am not going anywhere. I will wait for you, I love you.
-Zach x
Squeezing the phone between her hands, she clenched her eyes closed and sighed deeply. He was right.
"Evie! Supper is ready!" Lullah called from the other side of the door, snapping Evie from her thoughts.
She turned her phone off once again, throwing it back where she found it before leaving the bathroom.
"I'm coming…" She called back as she was greeted by her sister waiting for her in their bedroom.
"You okay?" Lullah frowned, curious as to why Evie was looking flustered.
"Yeah. Of course I am." She nodded with a solemn smile before taking Lullah's hand.
A gesture Lullah was definitely not used to but she let it happen. When Evie squeezed her hand tighter, Lullah squeezed back.
Even though no one would tell her the full story of what happened on the night of Cotillion, she knew that her sister was hiding something and she wanted to be there. So she held on tight.
A/N: Sister love y'all! The idea behind this chapter…me and my sister! We never got on when we were younger and as we got older, we got closer and now we are best of friends. Even though she lives alllll the way in London, when she does come home, we are thick as thieves.
I really wanted to share a bond that was missing with Evie and Lullah and even though Evie is struggling to move on from what happened with Ben, the good that is coming from this is finding common ground with her sister and her family again. Oh and the boob thing? My family are weirdly close, as in, i'm gonna grab your boobs and arse for the banter! Oh the times me and my sister have! She's older as you may have guessed and we usually take turns to be the bum and boob grab victims….too much info…yeah…got that!
Hope you enjoyed and I hope it was worth the wait? Probs not but meh! I'm back in business! If you are still out there, I wanna hear from you :)
Also, I am in the midst of writing a new multific, Love Me If You Dare (based on the french film), so get your eyes peeled for that :) Thanks peeps!