"Jenny? Jenny!" Blair called out backstage as she rushed around the model's prep area seeking out her blonde protege. It was Tuesday night already and after a very successful pop-up show, Blair couldn't have been more pleased with the eager crowd they had drawn. It was rumored that the entrance was swamped with people still waiting to get in despite the show scheduled to start soon.
"Blair, look," Jenny motioned for her to join her as she peeked out from behind the curtain, surveying the audience. "Kendall and Kylie came," she pointed out, a bit excited.
Blair merely rolled her eyes.
"Probably for your collection... or the lingerie line," she declared in annoyance. As much as she wasn't a fan of people who were only famous for social-climbing, Blair knew it was important for her business that the faux-celebrities like the Jenner/Kardashians be there and approve. Having Jenny's edgier designs draw in the younger crowd definitely helped. "I checked with Laurel and everything is all set for the main collection and the lingerie line – is everything ready on your end?" she checked before declaring everything a go. "J by Waldorf is the first to go, getting the crowd's interest and pumping them up, segueing into lingerie – naughty, followed by nice - and then closing out with the main collection, so whenever your girls are ready we can begin."
"My models were just finishing hair and make-up last I checked. They should be just about set," Jenny confirmed as she continued to people watch. "I thought you said Chuck was home with Henry?" she suddenly asked.
"He is," Blair spoke without looking up from her clipboard as she checked off a few more items from her preparation list.
"Are you sure? Cuz I'm almost positive that's him," Jenny stated, causing Blair to peek out the curtain with her.
"Where?" she demanded to know, now curious and confused.
"Over there, talking with the head designer of Turnbull and Asser," Jenny pointed out to her.
Blair furrowed her brow in confusion as sure enough, there was her husband in a suit by said brand, warmly conversing with Dean Gomilsek-Cole, the man who most likely designed it. From the looks of it she guessed they were probably discussing how Chuck had chosen to accessorize it. She'd be shocked if he didn't come away from tonight with some type of gift from them in the days to come as it was well known that Turnbull and Asser was his go-to for casual suits, whereas he much preferred Armani for more formal occasions.
As if he could sense her eyes boring into him from across the way, Chuck looked over and sheepishly smiled at her, giving a small wave in greeting.
Annoyed, Blair quickly motioned for him to come to her. She needed to know just what was going on and where their son was. Slipping off the side of the stage, she quickly met him.
"I thought you were home with Henry," she immediately grilled him, getting straight to the point.
"Hello to you too," he greeted her first.
"Hi," she spoke, annoyed that he was clearly stalling when they both knew she was short on time right now. "Now, where is our son and why aren't you home with him?"
"Because I know how important this show is to you and if it's important to you, then it's important to me," he calmly explained as he ran a finger down the length of her arm, capturing her hand in his when he reached it. "I wanted to be here for you, and besides, our son is busy spending the night with Ana, Leo and Christopher. Did you know... I think he might have a little crush on Ana. He insisted on taking a small bouquet of pink peonies with him tonight," Chuck laughed as he recalled the encounter with his son earlier that evening when they had stopped by the florist.
"Already pimping your son out at the age of five, are we, Chuck?" Blair playfully toyed with him.
"Vanya was more than happy to watch him for the night – it's not like he already had any other plans than spending the night with the kids seeing as how I can hear Dorota barking out orders backstage there," he pointed out as he attempted to peek around the side of the stage for a glimpse of the familiar housekeeper.
"But how did you get in? I didn't put your name on the list as I figured you weren't coming and no one came back to ask me..." she started only to stop herself. "Wait, nevermind – let me guess... 'I'm Chuck Bass'?" she questioned, attempting to do her best impersonation of her husband delivering his signature line only to receive a slight chuckle from him in response.
"As tempting as it was to use it and knowing full well it would have worked... No, I didn't," he admitted.
"Then how...?"
"I'm Lily's Plus-One," he answered non-nonchalantly. "William was on call-on tonight and had to take off so she asked me if I wanted to join her instead."
"I see," Blair simply replied as she watched him fidget with his hands.
"But you know..." Chuck spoke a moment later, leaning towards her, carefully whispering. "I'm sure I could probably ditch my date afterwards... that is, if you wanted to get out of here with me... say maybe we go back to my place?" he slyly suggested. "My son is gone for the night and I hear my wife might not be back til late..." he added with a smirk.
"Chuck!" Blair gasped in mock surprise as she playfully smacked him in the arm with her clipboard. They both quietly shared a laugh before they were soon interrupted.
"Ms. Blair! Ms. Laurel say it almost time – you still need to change, yes?" Dorota declared as she poked her head out from backstage.
"I'll be right there, Dorota!" Blair called back with a roll of her eyes. "You know, I think she enjoys being in charge more than I do at times..."
"Somehow I don't think that's possible," Chuck laughed before lowering his voice. "I happen to know for a fact that you relish at being in control," he whispered in her ear.
"True, but you also know that on occasion I am more than willing to hand over that control to a certain someone... under certain special circumstances," she seductively whispered back, her breath hot on his ear as her scent invaded his senses.
"I wasn't joking earlier," he slowly responded as he resisted the urge to take her right then and there, fashion show be damned. "My place. Later tonight."
"I'll see you after the show, Chuck," she declared a second later, giving him a peck on the cheek, patting it quickly before turning and rushing back stage, leaving him standing there, perplexed.
She couldn't help the happy smile that had spread across her face as she headed straight for one of the changing rooms, hurrying to slip into one of Waldorf Design's latest.
She had almost made it when she heard an unexpected voice speak up.
"I must say, the pop-up show last night to win back press from Jacobs was a stroke of genius – just whose idea was that?" Blair heard her mother question as she spied her speaking to Laurel and Jenny.
"It was a joint effort," she spoke up as she approached the trio. "Excuse us, ladies." Blair then carefully led her mother aside, curious as to how and why she was there. "Mother? What are you doing here? I thought you were in Paris."
"I was, however after hearing all the buzz about the pop-up last night, I took the Red-eye and came to check on you," Eleanor declared as they walked along together.
"I think I've proven I'm quite capable of running a show during fashion week..." Blair pointed out to her. She had been running the company for nearly the last seven years and had watched her mother's fashion shows from backstage ever since she was a child. This definitely wasn't her first rodeo.
"It's not the show I'm worried about darling, it's you," her mother clarified as they both halted.
"Mother?" Blair wondered, confused as to just what she could possibly be worried about.
"I heard that a certain Bass is back, yes?" Eleanor got straight to the point.
"He is," Blair shortly confirmed, not wanting to get into this discussion with her mother right now.
"And? It's one thing for him to be back in town but allowing Charles to move back in so soon after everything that's happened? Do you really think that's best for Henry?"
"What's best for Henry is to know his father isn't going anywhere again," Blair snapped suddenly, annoyed that her mother was sticking her nose in her marriage.
"And what of the separation papers you had your father draw up last spring? He did sign them, no?"
"He did, mother, but it's not what either of us actually wanted. It was merely a test I needed to put him through... some 'tough love'-"
"You two and your tests and games... and manipulations! In order for a marriage to work and be happy and healthy... Blair, you've both got to stop!" her mother declared as she threw her hands in the air. "You're not children anymore! When will it finally end between you two? When it's the end of you both?"
"Mother-"
"Your fathers and I all love you dearly and we can all see you both clearly love each other, but these games and tests you play on each other... it's not good, Blair! One of these days one of your little 'tests' as you call them is going to backfire and both of you are going to end up hurt as well as anyone else who gets caught in your crossfire! What if it's Henry? Is that what you want for him? Because I surely don't want that for my grandson, or you for that matter! God, Blair, I know you spent a lot of time around Lily growing up, but you don't need to follow in her footsteps and be divorced multiple times before you're thirty! Thank god you only have one child right now instead of two..." Her voice trailed as she finished her rant.
Thankfully she didn't notice Blair carefully wrapping her arms around her mid-section, holding to her unborn child who fortunately was still a secret to most.
"Mother, Chuck and I have talked and... things are different now. Very different," she eventually spoke after taking several deep breaths to calm herself, stopping from saying something too harsh that she knew she couldn't take back.
"They better be, at the very least for your sake... or have you completely forgotten last summer? I don't ever want to see my daughter that heartbroken again! You were so distraught..."
"I was not!"
"Of course you were! You spent almost the entire time you were in Paris at the atelier!"
"Working, because I was there for business... running your namesake..."
"Sure, but obviously you were doing it to distract yourself from everything that was happening – you hardly went out anywhere while there, I had to practically twist your arm numerous times to join us for dinner in the city... and not once do I recall you visiting that little cafe I know you enjoy oh so much... what was the name of it again?"
"Café de Flore," Blair spoke matter of factly.
"That's it! Café de Flore… and my grandson told Cyrus how little time you both actually stayed at that lovely villa you own while you were in the country, choosing to spend the majority of your time at your father's vineyard when you weren't in Paris..." Eleanor continued to pry.
"Traitor," Blair muttered under her breath, however she knew full well Henry had only told Cyrus what he did while expressing his excitement over all the things he got to do with his grandfather he only ever saw during summer and sparingly the rest of the year. Unlike her mother and Cyrus, Henry didn't see his Grandpère all that much.
"Well I must admit, he does look a lot better these days... better than he has in months, actually," Eleanor remarked as she peeked out into the audience at her son-in-law now seated beside his stepmother and stepsister.
"Chuck is doing so much better than he was when you saw him last spring, mother. He's in a much better place now. We're in a much better place," she firmly assured her. "You'll see."
"Well I do hope so," Eleanor quipped back.
"Ms. Blair! Dress is waiting! Show must start soon! You must get changed before show begin!" Dorota urged her as she fast approached, ushering her charge off to a nearby fitting room.
Furious at her mother, Blair nearly tore off the ensemble she was currently wearing in a fit of rage.
How dare she say such things, Blair thought to herself as she quickly slid into the strapless cocktail dress that served as a surprise secondary finale dress to be debuted when she stepped out onto the runway, joining the models and crew to take her bow in front of everyone. In her haste however, she struggled to make to pull the zipper over her lower back.
"Suck it in," she commanded herself, nearly holding her breath as she attempted to work the zipper some more, slowly pulling it up. Without thinking, she quickly and almost violently pulled it up the rest of the way, only for it to suddenly break at the top.
"Shit!" she quietly shrieked, realizing what had happened, that she had failed to notice that her bust must have grown an inch or so since they last measured her. "Shit, shit, shit!" she frantically swore as she tried to look in the mirror behind her, attempting to survey the damage and how it could possibly be repaired.
"Jenny!" she called out in a panic, desperate for help. "Jenny! Come quick, I need your help!"
"What is it, Blair?" Jenny quickly asked as she dashed into the changing room. "Oh, wow!" she exclaimed once Blair turned around and showed her the damage. "Um... okay, I can make this work... let me just pull out my emergency kit..." she announced as she crouched down and opened up the small black bag she had been toting around back stage with her all night. "Okay, hold still... how did this happen? We just fitted you last week!"
"I don't know... I was distracted by something my mother had said... the zipper got stuck and I pulled," Blair simply explained, not wanting to go into too many details. Jenny didn't need to know the specifics right now she decided.
"Right..." Jenny skeptically muttered as she held a pin between her teeth. "I take it Chuck's excited?" she questioned a moment later as she focused on sewing Blair into the dress.
"Excited about what?" Blair quickly shot back. She couldn't know, could she?
"He does know, right?"
"Know what?"
"That you're pregnant."
"What makes you think I'm pregnant?" Blair instantly shot back.
"Blair, I've been fitting you for these designs for years now. I remember where you filled out when you were pregnant with Henry," Jenny reminded her. "Right here," she stated as she gently pressed a hand to where her baby bump was just barely starting to show. Only those that knew could tell. "And in your boobs... which apparently have grown just over an inch in the last week – no wonder the zipper broke!"
"Jenny, you can't tell anyone!" Blair nearly cried, fearful of what everyone might think should the news get out right now.
"Chuck doesn't know?"
"He does... but he's one of only a few. We're not exactly telling everyone just yet," Blair informed her as she tried to keep her voice down, unsure of just who may be standing nearby.
"Why?" Jenny questioned, confused as to the secrecy.
"Well for starters, not everyone – my mother apparently being one of them – doesn't exactly think it's wise that I've taken Chuck back so soon already... can you imagine what they'd say if they knew we were having a baby so soon after him getting out of rehab?" Blair attempted to explain.
"Since when do you two care what other people think of you both?" Jenny challenged her as she continued to focus.
"Well there's... other complications surrounding this pregnancy as well..." Blair's voice trailed. She wasn't about to tell the girl that there was the possibility that she just might be an aunt.
"I see," Jenny replied, realizing Blair wasn't going to tell her anymore than that. "So I take it by select few... Chuck knows, Lily knows, Serena knows... does Dan know?" she wondered, curious as to who she could at least gossip with since clearly for whatever reason Blair didn't want it becoming public knowledge just yet.
"Serena doesn't know yet," Blair quickly interrupted, wanting to make it clear so that Jenny wouldn't accidentally say something in front of her anytime soon. "At least... not that I know of... although I think she might suspect... and my mother doesn't know and I don't know about Lily... Chuck and I haven't really told anyone yet... Oh! Dorota knows too, but that's only because she's Dorota," she rambled, however she refused to tell her that Dan did indeed know for fear that if she were to congratulate him, he might let their little secret and her one indiscretion slip and she couldn't have that. No one else could know.
"Why haven't you told Serena?" Jenny questioned, curiously.
"I... well you know her and Dan have been trying... unsuccessfully," she reminded her, hoping to use their common knowledge as a viable excuse. Jenny nodded in acknowledgment. "Well, I don't want her to get upset – here she is, trying with no luck and then here's me, my husband fresh out of rehab and we're having another baby which we weren't even trying for. You can see how that might upset her," Blair stated at once.
"Alright, alright. So you, me, Chuck and Dorota know. Got it, B – you're secret is safe with me," Jenny assured her as she patted her on the back where the zipper was. "And you're all set!"
"Thank you, Jenny! Thank you so much!" Blair expressed her gratitude, quickly turning around and giving her a friendly hug. "And please! Against my better judgment, given things that happened long ago in the past... I'm trusting you. Don't disappoint me, Little J," she added as she went to make her way out of the fitting room to take her place just off to the side of the runway.
"I promise, B – I won't!" Jenny called after her as she was left to clean up her supplies.
Blair couldn't have been happier with the way the show went.
The audience loved Jenny's new collection, the reporters all diligently scribbling down notes faster than Blair could ever recall.
The lingerie line took everyone by awe – it was sensual and sexy yet still classy and tasteful. She had Chuck to thank for his input on that one and was anticipating several of the buyers contacting her for it in the days to come.
And then there was the main collection, filled with a fun tropical print made of purple, green, gold with a hint of orange against white and similar pieces in colors to contrast. It worked for pieces both for spring as well as summer and was much more pleasing than the floral print they were originally going to use.
By the time Blair took the runway for her bow the audience was already on their feet, giving a thunderous response.
Chuck couldn't help the smile on his face while clapping as he watched his wife revel in her glory and success. She was glowing and he refused to pass it off as just an effect of her being pregnant. As she looked over towards him, he gave her a nod of his approval, his love for her obvious in his eyes. She returned his look with a radiant smile of her own.
As soon as she could slip away, she carefully stepped off the runway and headed directly towards her husband who was chatting it up with a man standing behind him while Serena and Lily had struck up a conversation with Anna Wintour who was seated beside them.
"Hey," Blair interrupted Chuck as she slid a hand along his shoulder, making her presence known.
"And here is the woman of the hour," Chuck announced as he turned and wrapped an arm around her waist, drawing her to him while giving her a light kiss on the cheek. "Blair, this is Pedro Lourenco. He's the creative director of a brand we're both more than familiar with-"
"La Perla!" she exclaimed, eager to shake the man's hand as she knew she recognized the name. "Pleasure to meet you, Pedro."
"And you as well Ms...?"
"Bass. Waldorf-Bass if we're being professional though," she clarified as legally her last name was hyphenated for business purposes, however normally she just went by Bass.
"Well Ms. Waldorf-Bass, as I was just telling your husband, your ideas for the new lingerie collection... I apologize that I can't stay and discuss much with you right now but you can be sure to hear from us soon as I am very interested in several of those pieces. I'm thinking maybe a collaboration for a small collection?" he informed her.
"Of course! And thank you!" Blair responded, trying her best not to come off as too excited despite the fact she could hardly contain herself. "The contact information is all there on the program sheet – I look forward to hearing from you," she told him earnestly, shaking the man's hand once more before he went to leave.
"That went well," Blair remarked, almost starstruck. "Chuck, you do realize what this means, don't you?" she questioned as she just made a realization.
"That I'll be gifting you your own lingerie collection from La Perla come spring?" Chuck spoke as he turned towards her.
"No... not that... you've survived your first Upper East Side event since being back!" she announced, beaming. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine actually... although I'd be pressed to say this doesn't exactly count as all anyone wants to talk about are clothes," he pointed out.
"Oh my god! B!" Serena squealed as she took notice of her best friend. Blair momentarily stepped away from Chuck just as Serena pulled her in for a hug. "The show was amazing! I can't wait to get my hands on several pieces from both yours and Jenny's lines and the lingerie collection... B, that's all everyone is talking about! You really blew them away!"
"Thanks S, although I do owe part of it's success to my muse," she jokingly teased as she glanced over in Chuck's direction. "Being with a certain reformed playboy for over a decade, I've learned plenty from experience about what works and what doesn't when it comes to lingerie..." she informed her best friend with a smirk. "Not to mention finding that perfect balance between what features men enjoy and prefer and what women are willing and happy to wear on a regular basis... Really I just took pieces here and there from my own collection and made it my own," she explained.
"Well I was planning on investing in several of those pieces but now after hearing they were somewhat inspired by my step-brother's preferences... perhaps I'll pass...," Serena uncomfortably teased.
"Oh, S," Blair laughed, amused. She still found it funny just how uncomfortable Serena was when it came to any discussion of her sex-life with Chuck, despite how many years it's been.
"Blair, darling – wonderful, wonderful show," Lily spoke, joining them once she finished her conversation with Anna Wintour. "I'm sure you'll have plenty of buyers to choose from. Jenny, dear, your pieces were fabulous as well! Eleanor, you must be so proud!"
At hearing that, Blair quickly turned around to see her mother standing there behind them on the runway, Jenny beside her.
"I must say, I am quite impressed," Eleanor happily beamed as she moved to step down and join them. Chuck reached out to assist her. "Why thank you, Charles. Surprised to see you, by the way," she remarked, a bit surprised by her son-in-law's chivalry despite the obvious tension between them, however she knew she shouldn't be as Bart Bass had at least raised his son to be a perfect gentleman in public.
"Likewise," he said in turn, having helped his mother-in-law to steady herself.
"While we've been approached to do lingerie in the past for Victoria's Secret, a whole collection and including it in the show is something I had never dared to do... but as usual, you continue to surprise me, my dear," she praised her daughter. Blair couldn't hide her smile at her mother's approval.
"Hey, Blair – a bunch of us are heading back to the atelier for an after party, you in?" Jenny asked as she continued to stand nearby on the runway.
"I suppose I could make an appearance..." she decided after looking to Chuck for an answer, but he simply nodded in response, not seeing why she shouldn't go. It was her victory party after all.
"Chuck, are you coming too? I can have someone pick up something non-alcoholic..." Jenny suggested, not wanting there to be any cause for problems between her boss and her husband for the evening as Blair could be a real bitch at work when she and Chuck were at odds with each other.
"Sure," he agreed, knowing Blair would most likely want him there anyway.
"Well hey, B, as much as I would love to join in your victory celebration, I need to get going – Dan's waiting at home," Serena announced to them all.
"Tell him I said to drag his ass out for the night!" Jenny declared, annoyed that Serena was missing out all because her brother decided to be a lame shut-in.
"That's alright, Jenny... Dan doesn't need to go anywhere he doesn't want," Blair added without even looking over her shoulder at the girl. She had successfully managed to avoid Dan since The White Party and wasn't ready to break her streak just yet.
"Besides... I'm ovulating!" Serena quietly squealed just loud enough for Blair, Lily, Chuck and Jenny to hear. Jenny clapped her hands in delight, having been waiting forever to become an aunt, while Chuck merely rolled his eyes as Blair secretly prayed that maybe this was the month for Serena so Dan could finally move on and leave her alone.
"That's wonderful, dear!" Lily exclaimed, thrilled at the prospect of becoming a grandma again.
"Well good luck with that tonight," Jenny declared with a smile before she turned to leave. "Blair, I'll see you back at the atelier!" she called over her shoulder, retreating backstage.
"Shall we?" Blair turned to her husband with a smile.
"Of course," he smiled back as he offered her his arm.
The two of them strolled together towards the coat check room. While Blair was momentarily distracted as she put on her coat, Chuck had just enough time to collect his own jacket in addition to a surprise he had for her.
"Before I forget, these are for you," he announced, garnering her attention to present her with a modest bouquet of her favorite – pink peonies.
"Chuck, you shouldn't have," she gasped in mock surprise as she gratefully accepted them. Honestly, she was thrilled and as much as he spoiled her, she never grew tired of it.
"You're right, I should have gone with the bigger bouquet like I wanted, however it wouldn't have been easy to hide during the show," he stated as he led them along towards an exit, grinning as he imagined the struggle he would have had had he gone with the larger option.
"Well they are beautiful," she spoke as she inhaled the wonderful scent of her favorite flowers.
"As are you," he uttered, holding open a back door for her where Arthur was waiting with their beloved vehicle. "After you," he instructed, holding the door open for her and helping her in as the driver stepped aside momentarily, closing the door behind them both.
"Chuck, you don't have to go to the after party," she began to speak once they were settled inside.
"Do you not want me to go?" he questioned, curious as to whether it was a matter of her not wanting him there or just her being protective.
"It's not that I don't want you there it's just... there's going to be alcohol and while I doubt it'll get too wild, you never know who might bring what..." she tried to explain without going into too much detail. "I don't want you to feel tempted or pressured or anything..."
"Blair, I'll be fine," he was quick to quell her fears.
"You say that, but remember last time? You allowed yourself to have just one drink at whatever that charity benefit was we attended and that one drink led to a chain of over confidence which eventually led you back into old habits..." her voice trailed.
"Blair," Chuck spoke more firmly this time, taking her hand in his. "I'll be fine – I promise," he stated with a gentle kiss to her hand as if to seal his promise. "By now everyone that will be there knows I'm not doing that stuff anymore and besides, Jenny said she'd send for a non-alcoholic alternative which you'll be needing as well," he reminded her as he eyed the slight curve in the midsection of her runway dress.
"I guess you're right..." she sighed in relief, knowing he was right. There would be other options there aside from just alcohol. "We don't even have to stay for that long, just enough for me to give a toast and congratulate everyone on a job well done..."
"If that's what you want," Chuck remarked, a bit surprised she didn't want to stay out longer and bask in the full glory of her success and the praise of her minions – both personal and professional.
"To be honest, I'm a bit exhausted... these last few weeks - especially this past week – would be tiring for anyone. Add on to being... what? Four months pregnant? I just want to get some rest before the onslaught of meetings with buyers happens," she admitted as she snuggled into his side, her head coming to rest on his shoulder as he slid an arm around her, drawing her close. "I'm convinced that burst of energy you're supposed to get during the second trimester is a myth – I never got it with Henry and I sure don't feel it this time around either," she yawned as she closed her eyes.
"Oh I remember the last time," he commented with a slight chuckle, remembering how exhausted she was from the beginning. At one point he and Dorota both feared that she was taking up permanent residence in Club Bed. Fortunately her doctor was able to recommend some natural remedies to help give her some energy.
He could soon feel her starting to doze off against him. Kissing the top of her curls, he decided their appearance at the after party would be very brief as he started thinking up excuses to make to everyone as to why they couldn't stay long.
"Congratulations!" Everyone cheered the second Blair set foot in the upstairs of Waldorf Designs with Chuck right behind her.
"Thank you, thank you," Blair greeted them all as Chuck helped her slide out of her coat, handing it with his own off to one of her helpers nearby. "I couldn't have done it without the help of everyone here," she added for good measure as she stepped further into the atelier.
"A toast!" They heard Eleanor announce just ahead of them, motioning for someone to hand her daughter a drink. Jenny quickly rushed up, two glasses of clear sparkling water in her hands as she passed one off to Chuck and handed the other to Blair. "Charles I understand, but give Blair the good stuff!" Eleanor quipped as she noted the drink in her daughter's hand, acting almost insulted. Jenny stood there like a deer in headlights, not entirely sure what to do.
"Mother," Blair gasped, shocked at the scene her mother was about to make.
"It's your celebration, I get the modesty, but there's no reason you shouldn't enjoy a toast at your own party," her mother declared as she motioned for another drink to be brought.
"Mother, it's fine," Blair quietly hissed, trying to avoid the scene.
"Oh?" Eleanor questioned, her eyebrows raised in suspicion.
"Here, Blair," Jenny spoke up, having quickly returned with a new glass in hand so fast Blair hadn't even noticed she was gone. "It's sparkling white grape," she whispered to her as she handed her the new drink. With an understanding nod, Blair accepted it all while continuing to glare at her mother.
Noting the exchange, Chuck rolled his eyes. As embarrassed as he knew she was over the circumstances surrounding this pregnancy, she was going to have to start telling people - her mother especially - and soon, before she definitely started to show.
"To my daughter! And all you fine, fine people here for sticking beside her, helping to keep the Waldorf Legacy alive and thrive!" Eleanor spoke. "I couldn't be more proud of the success you've continued to have with this company," she added as she tipped her glass.
"Thank you, mother," Blair acknowledged despite being a little miffed that her mother had taken her toast. "And might I add - to Jenny as well," she announced, turning around to face the girl that was definitely more than just her head designer. "As much as I hate to admit it, without her assistance over the years, I fear we may not have continued our success after my mother stepped down, so thank you as well... Little J," she said with a smile, tipping her glass to the girl in question.
"Thanks," Jenny shyly accepted, not wanting to take too much credit for the company's success, despite knowing that she was in fact a large part of why it was still thriving all these years. Being granted her own line under the Waldorf Designs label several years ago was huge for her career as a designer and just the fresh, edgy addition that the company needed to make a comeback as at the time it was starting to become known solely for Blair's teen uniform line, much to Eleanor's dismay.
As the after party started to pick up, Eleanor quietly approached her daughter, pulling her aside, leaving Chuck to his lonesome.
"Where's Blair?" Jenny questioned a moment later as she spied him standing off to the side, sipping on his flute of sparkling water.
"Her mother wanted a word," he muttered as he tilted his head in the direction his wife and mother-in-law had gone. Jenny looked over and noted them conversing quietly off to the side. "Congrats by the way," he added as he took another sip.
"Thanks, although you know it was all Blair," she was quick to point out.
"Don't demean yourself – while Blair knows business and what's fashionable, everyone here knows that when it comes to pulling out the visions in her head and making them a reality, you're the real talent there," he informed her. "Even Blair knows that – she sings your praise often."
"Well thank you," Jenny beamed, shyly smiling at the fact that her talent was indeed recognized and valued and by Blair and Chuck no less. "And I guess congratulations are in order for you as well."
"Oh?" Chuck curiously wondered, unsure of just what she was referring. "I guess you're right... nearly four months sober and my first public after party..."
"Well that too, but I meant about... the baby," she whispered the last part just in case anyone was eavesdropping.
"I suspected you knew something," he confessed, curious as to how she knew. She in turn cocked her head, also wondering how he knew she knew. "That was a nice save with the sparkling white grape," he added, informing her that he was onto her.
"Oh, right," she responded, realizing that of course it had been obvious to him what she had done.
"She confides in you?" he couldn't help asking. While he knew Blair was close to Jenny in a professional manner, he hadn't realized they had grown close personally as well.
"It's not like that," Jenny assured him. "She didn't even tell me you were back, remember?" she reminded him as he recalled their awkward encounter almost two weeks ago. "She had a fashion emergency and I-"
"Not to be rude, but... I should probably go check on her," he interrupted, his mother-in-law huffing away from his wife having suddenly caught his eye. He had a feeling something had just happened between the two. Jenny nodded in agreement as she too noticed Eleanor, clearly frustrated, walking away from Blair. Chuck quickly took off in Blair's direction.
"Blair... if I didn't know better I would think you're hiding something," her mother called her out as she led Blair away from Chuck and several others she had been conversing with.
"Whatever are you talking about, mother?" Blair demanded to know, hiding her curiosity as to just what exactly her mother suspected.
"You, turning down a glass of Dom? And for a toast, no less?" Eleanor questioned. "It is highly suspicious... is there something you want to tell me?" she wondered as she eyed her daughter up and down, her focus drawn to Blair's waistline. "That dress is looking a tad tight... especially in the bust and midsection – are you sure they fitted you correctly? Perhaps you need to hire some new seamstresses-"
"For Christ's sake, mother!" Blair exclaimed in a hush tone. "Just stop it! I'm not a child anymore, and yes, perhaps the dress is a little tighter than it should be but I didn't have time to change it! Did you know we had to change all the fabric and even some of the styles weeks before the show? There wasn't time," she lied, hoping her mother would buy it, not ready to tell her the truth that she was in fact pregnant, given her comments earlier that evening.
"Alright, fine, but why no Dom?" Eleanor pressed her, dropping the subject of the too-snug dress. "Everyone knows it's your favorite, you've never been one to turn it down so quickly."
"Like you said, I was being modest," she lied once more. "Chuck's not drinking anymore and out of respect for him, I'm choosing not to as well." She hoped her mother would accept that reasoning.
"Well if that's your choice, then fine," Eleanor huffed after she paused to think it over, staring her daughter down in the process, trying to get a read on her only to give up. She knew Blair was hiding something, however if she wasn't ready to tell her then she wouldn't press it at the moment. "Just don't let Chuck Bass dictated what you do – you may be a Bass now, but don't forget, you were a Waldorf Woman first," she added before turning away.
Blair rolled her eyes in annoyance, believing her mother had no clue.
"Have I told you how incredibly ravishing you look in that dress?" Chuck's voice spoke up from beside her a moment later.
"No... but I'm about ninety percent positive that ravishing me tonight is going to be the only way you'll get me out of it," she responded immediately, a playful smirk having formed on her lips. "Jenny had to sew me into it," she began to explain as she noticed his raised eyebrow, questioning her to go on.
"Everything okay?" Chuck questioned, a hint of concern in his voice.
"Just my mother... being my disapproving mother," Blair sighed as she took the glass from his hand and kicked back the liquid in the flute, secretly wishing it were something stronger.
"How so?" Chuck wondered as he curiously watched her, surprised at how quick she took and finished off his drink.
"She, like countless others, disapprove of me taking you back... says she's concerned for Henry... thankful that we only have one child to drag into our mess instead of multiple... comparing me to Lily..." her voice trailed as she looked around to see where the non-alcoholic beverages were being kept and attempted to calculate just how carefully she could get her hands on one without drawing any extra attention to herself.
Perhaps if I say it's for Chuck no one would think anything of it... she thought to herself, distracted.
"I'm sorry," Chuck humbly apologized.
As relieved as he was that she had taken him back fully, he hated that she was having to deal with the judgments from everyone for doing so, especially from her mother although he'd be lying if he said he didn't expect her mother to be one of their harshest critics.
"It's fine, she'll get over it eventually... some day... I was just so worked up earlier by her remark about us only having one child – pregnancy hormones I'm sure - that I got flustered while changing and broke the zipper on my dress... apparently my breasts have grown an inch or two in the last week," she added with a slight laugh.
"I could have told you that," Chuck retorted as he lustfully eyed the objects in question which were just barely kept in her dress, tantalizing him as he began to wonder just how easily they could spill out if she wasn't careful with her movements. "Perhaps it's time we rechristen the limo?" he leaned in and whispered, his voice grown husky.
"Chuck..." Blair playfully gasped at his suggestion. "We can't do that tonight!"
"Why not?"
"Well for one, we have to pick up Henry on the way home and second – I'm afraid there's currently no way to get the dress back on all the way once it's off..." she reminded him as she once more glanced down at her ever-growing bosom.
"You can wear my jacket," he spoke without thinking as he bit his lower lip in want, his attention once again drawn to her barely covered bust. For a moment he found himself suddenly very turned on by the thought of her wearing his suit jacket with nothing else covering her naked torso.
Realizing now was not the time to be having lust-filled thoughts about their own private after party later that evening, he shook his head, coming to another idea completely. "You mingle, enjoy your party – I'll come find you in a bit," he decided a moment later, accepting the fact he was going to have to speak with his mother-in-law sooner rather than later.
"Where are you going?" she curiously asked, wondering just what it was he was up to.
"I'm making some more amends," he announced as he turned to see just where her mother had gotten to.
"Chuck... while I'm pleased you and Jenny are now on speaking terms once again, you can't possibly think one conversation with my mother-"
"Just... go mingle," he insisted, giving her a quick kiss before he rushed off, having spotted his target, leaving Blair standing there, empty flute in hand and speechless.
"Charles, dear," Eleanor greeted her son-in-law as he approached her.
"Eleanor," he spoke, commanding her attention from the group she had surrounded herself with. "May we please speak... in private somewhat?" he requested, remembering his manners. While they may technically be family, his mother-in-law always commanded some respect from everyone else.
"Of course," she agreed, allowing Chuck to lead her elsewhere.
"Look, I know I screwed up big-time last spring, but you need to know, I'm trying to make it up to her and I'm not going anywhere-" he started only to be cut off.
"I'm glad you sought help – Heaven knows, with the lack of parenting your father did you've probably needed it for years - however if you ever up and leave my daughter and grandson like that again so help me God-"
"Let me make this much clear," he angrily hissed, interrupting her this time. "I love your daughter - and it goes without saying my son as well – more than life itself, but before you so callously accuse me of walking out on my family might I suggest you get your facts straight. She was the one to change the locks on me and bar me from entering," he attempted to set the record straight, leaving Eleanor stunned for the time being. "That's right, I didn't leave – she kicked me out."
"Well she did mention it was a test of tough love..." Eleanor remarked, realizing that maybe perhaps she didn't have the full story.
"It was," Chuck confirmed as he continued to look her dead in the eye. He didn't care how intimidating he was coming across in that moment. He needed to get it through to his mother-in-law that it wasn't her place to judge Blair and the choices she made. "And as much as I hated her at the time for doing it... her tough love worked. I realized what I risked to lose and told myself I needed to be better, that I needed to get better... because she and Henry both deserve better."
"But you signed the papers..."
"I did," he confirmed once again. "But only because I knew it was what she wanted at the time."
"You agreed to a trial separation," Eleanor continued to state.
"Yes, and she agreed to give me another chance," he reminded her. "We were separated all summer and it was probably the worst, loneliest three months of my life that I've experienced in recent years," he confessed. "But I went through rehab, I finished the program, I've learned things... I'm staying sober this time."
"And why is that, Charles? How can you be so certain?"
"Because I love your daughter and I love my son and any other children Blair and I may have," he added. "I know now what I risk to lose, what it's like being forced to be without them. It's not a life I want."
"Well, I'm glad you realize that because if you can't be the man and father they both deserve then you need to let her walk away and move on," she declared. "I honestly don't know what it is my daughter is so in love with when it comes to you, but I do know she's miserable without you and despite whatever issues arise between you two, you still manage to make her happier than anyone else she's ever been with. The man you were when you two first got married compared to the man you backslid into last spring... I, along with many others, were starting to question which was the real you and which was all just an act... Clearly Blair believes you've changed for the better over the summer or she wouldn't have been so quick to take you back, let alone allow you around Henry... make the rest of us believe, Charles," she sincerely told him as she looked him in the eyes.
"Oh I intend to," he lowly spoke, accepting the challenge.
"Chuck, there you are..." Blair's voiced chimed as she approached, having watched the interaction between Chuck and her mother from across the room. "We should get going before it gets too late - Henry has school in the morning and I'm sure Vanya and Dorota want to get their children to bed as well," she excused them.
"Very well then," Eleanor sighed, a twinge of disappointment in her voice. She knew there was something going on with her daughter and she would be willing to place a bet on just what it was exactly – it was unlike her to leave a party, her own for that matter, so early. They had only been there for roughly a half hour, if that.
"How long are you in town for?" Blair questioned her mother as Chuck helped her slide into her coat.
"Indefinitely – I don't really have any urgent plans back in Paris," she responded.
"Well we will speak more later then, mother. Perhaps for tea?" Blair suggested out of courtesy.
"Of course," her mother accepted the offer, leaning in to kiss her daughter on the cheek. "We'll be in touch, dear."
"Eleanor, a pleasure as always," Chuck remarked as he tugged on the collar of his own coat, pulling it into place.
"Likewise, Charles," she replied, watching them both carefully. "Prove me wrong," she spoke quietly to herself as her daughter and the man she reluctantly accepted as her son-in-law proceeded down the stairway together, his arm carefully around her waist as she rested her head on his shoulder. She could only hope Blair knew what she was doing and that Chuck once again could be the man her daughter deserved.
AN: Fashion Show chapter! This and the previous chapter were originally one big chapter (hence Chuck attempting to make amends with people in both chapters), but like I said, I ended up breaking it up into 2 parts due to length.
So, Jenny now knows that Blair is pregnant and Eleanor has arrived on the scene and not only is she skeptical of Sober Chuck but she's onto Blair's little secret as well...
In regards to the fashion show, I imagine J by Waldorf to be a bit edgier than something Blair or Eleanor would normally go for, incorporating more of Jenny's look and style into the clothing and being something completely different that would appeal more to a younger crowd like the Jenner/Kardashians. The dress Blair wears and breaks is similar to the Printed Sarong Dress that was available a few months ago in the Gossip Girl Party mobile game (yes, there's a mobile game... and yes, I'm totally guilty of playing it!).
I can't guarantee how soon the next chapter will be up as it still needs some work and I only have the first half of it somewhat finished - there is a bit tension between C&B (although not nearly to the degree as to what's to come) as well as Chuck's first monthly check-in with his doctor (any requests/suggestions on what you'd like to see transpire during that visit?) - however I do appreciate all your lovely feedback, both positive and constructive so please keep them coming! Thank you as well for all the new follows/favorites and as always, a shoutout to M (scarlett2u) for taking the time to Beta for me and to bounce all my random story ideas off of =D
Until next time!
XoXo