It was just after noon on Thursday when Blair was surprised to hear her husband's voice coming from the opened door of his study.
"Alright, I will definitely be there, thank you," she listened to him speak as she quietly crept near the door. While she came home from the atelier early to get ready for the next Fashion Week event this evening – a Michael Kors showcase she had gotten invited to with Serena - she hadn't expected Chuck to stop by on his lunch break.
"Mister Chuck, I have bag all packed with everything you request for trip," Dorota announced to him as she quickly stepped past Blair and into the study.
"Trip?" Blair questioned curiously as she rounded the corner and made her presence known to a caught offguard Chuck who stood still on the other side of his desk. "Are you going somewhere?"
"Thank you, Dorota. Please leave it just inside the hall closet by the front door so it isn't forgotten in the morning," he dismissed the help who nodded curtly before promptly leaving the room again, ignoring the calculating glare her other charge was currently giving her as she passed. "And yes, Blair – I'm going to Kusnacht this weekend."
"What? Why?" she quickly asked him rushing further into the room towards him, suddenly growing concerned as to why he would be going back to rehab. "I thought everything was okay? Did something happen today?"
"No, nothing happened. I swear, everything is fine," he assured her as he walked around to the front of the desk before leaning against it beside her. Her only response was a confused look. "It's been one month... since I've been out..." he tried to get her to remember and understand, however she still wasn't quite following. "I'm going for my monthly check-in with my doctors," he finally revealed.
"Oh my god, I forgot!" Blair gasped, covering her mouth in surprise as she realized he was correct. It really had been a month already. "Why didn't you remind me?"
"I guess it slipped my mind... you're occupied with Fashion Week right now anyway, I didn't figure it'd be an issue," he pointed out to her.
"When were you going to tell Henry?" she asked, curious as to if he had even stopped to think about telling their son.
Chuck breathed deeply as he turned his attention elsewhere in the room. He knew telling the boy he was leaving, even if it was just for the weekend, wasn't going to be easy.
"Chuck?" she pressed him to answer.
"I... I don't know... I was thinking I'd mention it tomorrow morning at breakfast or maybe before I dropped him off at school..." he meekly confessed, knowing it was a terrible plan.
"Chuck! You know you can't just do that to him! The second you tell him you're leaving he's going to get hysterical. Especially after I reminded him it's Fashion Week and he's been looking forward to spending all weekend with you while I wrap things up!"
"Why on earth would you tell him that? I told you when I first came back that I would be flying out once a month to check-in!"
"Well I didn't realize that was this weekend!"
"Jesus, Blair!"
"Oh don't blame this on me! You know he looks forward to Fashion Week because it means he gets to spend the entire weekend with just his father, no mommy around," she reminded him of their unofficial tradition. "And you can't just leave like that! Not after the last time! He was so attached to you when you first came home, scared that if he let go you'd leave again... things just started getting back to normal... you can't just spring something like this on him hours before you go!"
"Well I have to go, Blair – I'm sorry, but this is important and it's non-negotiable! It's something I have to do and if I recall correctly, I didn't exactly have a choice last time I left as someone kicked me out," he seethed. "Besides, the reality is that sooner or later he's going to have to get used to me coming and going again for work."
A moment of heated silence passed between them, both glaring at the other before he let out a sigh and began to speak more calmly, realizing his last comment was a bit uncalled for. She was only being protective of Henry, much like he would have had the tables been turned.
"I already made the appointment... we'll tell Hen tonight, I'll work out some deal with him to smooth things over... I figured I'd have breakfast with him, take him to school, swing by the office quick to check on things once more before the weekend and then be in the air by ten. It's just a check-in, Blair – I'll be back by dinner Sunday," he explained.
"Fine, Chuck," she quipped, still not thrilled at the way he had carelessly planned his upcoming departure. "But you get to tell him tonight, not me," she firmly declared as she began to leave the study, heading upstairs to decide just what she was wearing tonight.
Chuck closed his eyes in frustration and furrowed his brow. Releasing a deep sigh a moment later, knowing tonight was not going to be easy, he decided to head back to the office for the afternoon.
"Ms. Blair... if I may interject-" Dorota spoke up from the doorway of her charge's master bedroom, having spied the girl she practically raised casually lying across the duvet, flipping through a magazine.
"You most certainly may not," Blair snapped immediately, her focus staying on the spread before her.
"Mister Chuck is trying really – very – hard," Dorota continued, ignoring her female charge. "Trying to be... better man, better father... better husband."
"I'm aware, Dorota," Blair growled with annoyance. "Isn't there something you should be cleaning?
"All I say is, Ms. Blair, you have no right to be angry with Mister Chuck for taking care of himself, for doing right thing," Dorota made her point.
"I... I know that!" Blair exclaimed, exasperated as she finally sat up. "I know I don't, it's just... I... I forgot that was this weekend and I feel horrible about it... and well... now Henry's going to be all up set because I told him he was going to spend all weekend with his father... and it's all my fault..."
"So... fix it."
"And just how do you suggest I do that? Chuck has to make his appointment, I realize that. It's important. But Henry won't understand... and then dragging him around to my meetings... and there's the Kors Showcase with Serena tonight..."
"Show him it important to you too – fashion deals can be made from plane, Ms. Serena will understand. And Kors Showcase same every year," Dorota quickly reminded her, not missing a beat.
"While I would love to go with him, need I remind you – this meeting with Mister Chuck's psychiatrist and doctors isn't exactly a family affair, Dorota – you wouldn't take Leo to your gynecologist appointments. It's too personal and I'm sure there's things that will be discussed that Henry is far too young to know about just yet. Or ever..."
"So you convince young Mister Henry to spend weekend with third favorite adult in his life," Dorota pointed out, as if it were obvious.
Knowing exactly who Dorota was implying and the fact that she was clearly right, Blair reached for her phone and quickly made the first of several phone calls.
"S... I'm going to have to cancel tonight... do you know if your mother is available this weekend?"
Leaning over the large cherry-wood finished desk in his office at The Palace while he sat, Chuck racked every ounce of his brain trying to come up with some suitable way to break the news to Henry that he wouldn't be home this weekend, but kept coming up empty. No matter how he spun it, his son was still going to be hurt and upset... all the progress they had made together in the last few weeks... gone. He wished he could just take him with, however they all knew that wasn't an option. At least not without someone else coming to supervise Henry while he met with his doctors. Too bad Blair was busy with Fashion Week... while he didn't expect her to drop everything to come with him, knowing just how important weeks like this were to her, part of him couldn't help but wish she would.
There was no doubt about it. In order to win over Henry he was going to need Blair's help – this was one battle he couldn't fight on his own. Yet she was clearly upset with him now...
Looking around the room, his eyes landed on a picture of Lily he kept on the desk. And then the bracelet she wore in it caught his eye. It was the diamond Harry Winston tennis bracelet his father had given her as an apology trinket after he rose from the dead.
It was then that Chuck had an idea.
It was going on six o'clock by the time Chuck returned home after having left work to run an important errand. After having noted that Henry was happily playing in the gated backyard with Monkey while Dorota kept watch, he eagerly raced up both flights of stairs to setup the surprise he had planned for Blair only to stop dead in his tracks once he entered their bedroom.
"Blair? What are you still doing here? I thought you were attending the Kors showcase tonight?" he asked her, puzzled as he found her still in their bedroom, packing luggage. She should have left by now. "What are you doing?"
"I've decided that I am going with you this weekend," she announced as she surveyed the bag before her and then swiftly turned back towards their large walk-in closet.
"But what about Fashion Week? I know how important this week is to you, to your company," Chuck reminded her as he now stood in the middle of the room, carefully watching her, studying her body language trying to figure out just what she was up to.
"Fashion Week is practically over anyway and thanks to your brainchild of a pop-up show, Women's Wear Daily named my show one of the most refreshing highlights of the week! Really, my work this week is basically done," she informed him as she stopped in front of him, a pair of heels in each hand. "For the plane ride I've decided to wear that yellow floral print dress, you know the one – which shoes? Red or blue?"
"The blue ones," he stated without hardly thinking about it as he absentmindedly still held a small red Cartier bag in his hand. "But then don't you have buyers to meet with this weekend?" he continued to question.
"I do, however I figured I could just Skype with them on the flight over and let Jean-Claude tie up the loose ends," she went on as she placed the selected heels aside.
"You and me, on a private plane, with minimal staffing... you really think you're going to get much work done?" Chuck questioned with a smirk and a raised eyebrow. "It's been quite awhile since we last visited the Mile High Club..."
"Someone sounds over confident in himself," Blair played along as she continued to walk back and forth in the room, pausing just in front of her husband and carefully leaning to whisper in his ear. "It's not exactly a short flight, Chuck... I'm sure we'll find time for both work and play," she teased, her breath light on his skin, before pulling away to continue packing only to feel his hands suddenly around her waist firmly holding her in place.
"Oh we will," he uttered as he bit his lower lip in want, his eyes filled lust as they locked with hers.
"But seriously, Chuck, your battles are my battles and your recovery is important to both of us," she reminded him a moment later, her arms now loosely wrapped around him. "I want to be there with you this weekend. There's nothing more important to me this weekend than being there for you," she confessed.
"But... what about Henry?" he suddenly asked, remembering. "While I appreciated you letting him come for Family Day last summer, this particular visit isn't exactly appropriate for him."
"I've already made arrangements for him to spend the weekend at Lily's... he negotiated letting Monkey come with, promising to help Vanya take him for walks... among... several other... demands..." she told him. "You're having a strictly G-rated Lost Weekend with him next weekend, by the way," she added before turning away to continue packing.
"Of course," Chuck chuckled as he shook his head in disbelief. "I'll get in contact with Jeff and see about some Mets tickets... Can't say I'm surprised though, he is our child..."
"Ever the spoiled one," Blair sighed as she admitted it out loud. There was no doubt about it, they simply couldn't help spoiling their children.
"Speaking of spoiled..." Chuck spoke up, standing behind her now as she stood in front of her suitcase. "I may have gotten you a little something."
"Oh?" Blair paused as she quickly turned to face him. "That wouldn't have anything to do with that little red Cartier bag I couldn't help noticing in your hand now, would it?" she playfully grinned.
"Perhaps," he stated with a knowing smirk as he began to lead her over to the bench at the end of the bed.
"Well you know I'm never one to refuse a gift, however... Chuck, this time you really shouldn't have – about earlier... I checked, your trip was on the calendar... it's my fault for being so distracted this week and not being more attentive. I'm the one who should be saying sorry," she began to apologize.
"I'm not apologizing for earlier... at least not necessarily," he clarified as he passed the bag over to her.
"Then why...?"
"It's for everything else, the last six months... my behavior... my carelessness..."
"Chuck-"
"Open the one on top first," he insisted, interrupting her protests.
If there was anything positive he had ever learned from his father, one of them was the significance of and the effect an apology trinket had on a woman. Blair was no exception to that rule.
He watched in childlike amusement as she reached into the bag and pulled out the square red box. She gasped speechlessly as she carefully opened it to reveal a bracelet made up of three intertwined bands – one solid white gold, another solid black ceramic, and the third covered in more tiny diamonds than she dared attempt to count.
"It's the Trinity bracelet!" she quietly exclaimed in awe.
"Each band represents something different," he started to explain as he watched her from over her shoulder, carefully examining the piece. "Our past – friendship. Our present – love. And our future – fidelity. Forever," he concluded with a gentle kiss to her exposed shoulder.
"Chuck... it's... bold yet subtle, classy yet strikingly beautiful..." she gaped as she marveled it now on her wrist.
"Just like you," he added with a smile. She turned just slightly to lean into him, giving his lips a gentle kiss in gratitude. "Aren't you going to open the rest?" he questioned a moment later once their lips parted.
Curious, she turned her attention back to the bag in her lap and reached in to open another box.
"Bracelet... earrings... ring... necklace... Chuck! You bought the whole entire damn collection!" she couldn't help chuckling once she realized it. In one afternoon he had spent a small fortune on jewelry, simply because he felt as if he owed it to her.
"Your point?" he asked, completely unfazed.
"Chuck, you can't exactly call it an apology trinket when you bought me the entire collection!" she continued to laugh.
"Well originally I had planned on just getting you the bracelet but then when I learned that it was part of something bigger... I couldn't possibly pick just one piece," he answered with a shrug, causing her to roll her eyes in amusement.
"I love you," she happily sighed with a smile as she draped one arm around his neck, her other hand held lightly against his cheek as she pulled him close to capture his lips against hers.
"I love you too," he uttered against her as his lips soon brushed along her cheek.
Chuck sat back in his seat by the window, holding in his hands the morning's newspaper he had brought along for the flight, however he hadn't gotten far in his reading as he observed his wife sitting at the table just across the way, conducting business on her laptop via Skype with her assistant and various fashion retailers.
He relished watching her work, being the powerful woman he always knew she was. He had to admit, he couldn't be prouder of the woman she had become. While despite having a keen eye for fashion and trends, designing wasn't necessarily her strong suit when it came to running her mother's company, however when it came to the business and managerial aspect of the whole she-bang, that was where Blair Waldorf Bass thrived. Just like her mother before her, she ran and oversaw Waldorf Designs with an iron fist, eventually making it her own legacy and not just her mother's.
He then realized as he watched with a slight smile just how relaxed he was while flying this time. It was a completely different feeling from the last two times he had been on this jet, in this exact seat even.
The last time... he had been both an odd combination of hopefulness mixed with anxiousness. He was both hopeful for what could happen when he landed, yet at the same he was also terrified. That's right, The Great Chuck Bass was coming home, sober and scared, having no idea just what his new future would hold. While he had been looking forward to seeing both Blair and Henry, at the same time, he wasn't even sure if they were still his family, if he would even been permitted to see them, given everything that had happened the last time he was home. All he did know was that he was ready to do and say whatever it took to get her to at least consider giving him another chance, even if that meant becoming as desperate to the point of groveling.
And then the time before... he had boarded this very plane feeling lonely, hurt, angry and upset. How dare she force him into this? He knew it was the right choice to make – his behavior was only getting worse as he continued to spiral and it really wasn't fair to them – but still... she had forced and manipulated him into doing this once again. Whether she had been serious about the separation and the terms in the long-run... that he wasn't sure about it. He didn't want to believe it, but then again, he knew everyone had their breaking point so it wasn't completely out of the realm of possibility that this had been her reaching hers. But if that wasn't the case... he was determined to show her. Show her that he would do this, because he knew it was what she wanted and that it needed to be done. He hadn't decided just yet though if he was going to make a serious attempt at it this time, as his last stint in rehab turned out to be a joke. He figured he'd see how it was once he got there, choosing the most expensive and exclusive rehabilitation center in the world just to make a point. The fact that it was just across the way from France, where she would be spending at least a month this summer, was an added bonus just to spite her. But he did love her... and he wanted to get better. For Henry. For himself. For her. He hated how unhappy she had become and that it was all because of him... As he thought about it, he started to hate himself for that. Her happiness was his happiness. And now neither of them were happy.
"The offers are pouring in!" Blair nearly squealed as she approached the empty chair beside him, causing him to shake his head out of his reverie and back into the present. He genuinely smiled as she sat down next to him, glad that she was with him this time, happy at the progress they had made within a month.
"I just got off Skype with the last of the buyers that were available today... I just need to email Jean-Claude instructions regarding a few of the details that were discussed so he can get the paperwork off to our legal department and then it's sign on the dotted line and we're good to move forward!" She announced as she began tapping out an email on her phone.
"I'm sorry you aren't there to make the finalization in person," Chuck lamented as he sat the paper down and leaned in close to her, resting his head on her shoulder as he watched her continue to work.
"Don't be – I'm not," she declared as she continued tapping away on the keyboard. "You've been there for me all week, knowing how important Fashion Week is to me... Like I said last night, this is important to you, I want to be there with you for this. Chuck, you and I... we're a team. We support each other, it's what we do," she reminded him, hitting send on her email as she finished.
"I love you," Chuck sighed as he delicately kissed her shoulder before taking a deep breath, inhaling her scent, causing him to relax once again.
"I love you too," she spoke as she leaned over and kissed the top of his head, soon resting her own against his. "Are you nervous?" she couldn't help wondering as she had no idea what to expect.
"Not really," he spoke, his eyes closed as he contemplated dozing off. It was an eight hour flight to Zurich and they were still only over the Atlantic. "I've been doing well, so it should be a rather quick visit. They'll most likely do a drug and alcohol test just to be sure and we'll meet with my therapist..."
"Were you lonely there?"
Despite having met with a therapist regularly years ago for her eating disorder, she had never spent any time long-term in a rehab facility and wasn't exactly sure what to expect. The most experience she had ever had was when Eric had be at the Ostroff Center for a month after his suicide attempt... she recalled him saying it was lonely.
"Blair..." Chuck sighed, preferring not to have this conversation with her. "It's not like I was the only patient there during my stay... we had group sessions daily-"
"Sure, but I know you and I know you don't allow just anyone in, let alone some stranger you met in rehab... and you hadn't mentioned having a connection with anyone while there so..." her voice trailed as she waited for an honest answer. "Were you lonely?"
"Very," he confessed a moment later, snuggling further into her.
"I'm sorry," she quietly spoke, choking back a lump in her throat as the realization hit her. While they had been apart all summer, dealing with what had happened on their own, she at least had her mother, fathers, Henry and even Serena there if she needed someone to talk to, to confide in. Chuck on the other hand... had had no one. She felt the wetness start to prick her eyes as she imagined him cooped up in a small room, all alone for three months.
"Don't be," he quickly spoke once more. "Lily, Serena, Eric and even Henry visited me on the family weekends... and well, in the end it was worth it – I'm not lonely anymore," he pointed out as he kissed her shoulder once more before nuzzling his cheek against it.
Blair took a deep sigh as she relaxed in her seat, realizing that he was right. In the end, it had been worth it. They were together once more, happy, and united. If they hadn't had that time apart, who knows if they would even been here together right now.
It was just after midnight when they had landed near the rehab facility just outside Zurich, a car waiting to transport them the rest of the way. Chuck had been glad he had had the foresight to have a meal served on the jet as while it was the middle of the night there in Switzerland, in New York it was just after six in the evening. He had figured they would get checked in for the night, Facetime with Henry before his bedtime and then try to get some sleep themselves as Chuck imaged that tomorrow would be a mentally exhausting day.
"Mr. Bass! Pleasure to see you again, and from the looks of it, under good circumstances, yes?" the receptionist questioned as she spied him approaching and began immediately pulling up his file.
"Thank you, Lara," Chuck greeted her as he reached the desk, sitting his bag at his feet. "And yes, I'm checking in for the weekend for my monthly follow-up," he announced.
"All is well, I hope?" the woman pried with a friendly smile as she paused from her activity on the computer.
"Definitely," Chuck confirmed.
"Well you are in luck – the villa you occupied while here this summer is available for the weekend if you'd like to stay there? Otherwise we can arrange other accommodations-"
"The villa would be fine," he assured her as he looked around to see where Blair had gotten to. He couldn't help the slight smile as he watched her looking around the front waiting room, wide-eyed as she took in the beautiful architecture with the walls made out of glass providing a magnificent view of the outside landscape. Part of him couldn't wait for her to see the view of the lake from the villa he had stayed in.
"And you've brought a guest?" Lara inquired as she followed her attention in the direction Chuck was looking. "Is that-"
"My wife, yes," Chuck informed her with a smile.
"That is great news! I'll let Doctor Mueller know – he'll be pleased to finally meet her," she beamed as she made a note in the computer. Everyone there had felt badly for Chuck on family weekends as he anxiously waited for his wife each month, hoping she would come, only to be heartbroken, despite his best attempts at trying to not make it obvious. The fact that she was there with him now though, a month after his release, had to mean their relationship was on the mend. "Alright, here is the key to the villa – I'll have Ivan drive you over there," she spoke as she lifted a phone, placing the call for them. "You can go on back, he'll meet you at the side entrance," she directed him, buzzing them into the other waiting room.
Chuck called for Blair to join him, taking her hand in his as he led the way through the facility to the designated area where they met the man known as Ivan who promptly loaded up their luggage onto the golf cart, helping them into the backseat.
Blair was speechless as they rode along the path, taking in the sight of the stars and moon dancing across Lake Zurich at night. Being able to see the sky so clearly at night was one luxury the city could never offer.
"You stayed here? This whole summer?" she finally spoke, taking in the view once they were inside the villa and Ivan had left them with their luggage.
Chuck silently nodded in confirmation, suddenly finding himself lost in thought as he looked around the open space, noting that it appeared completely untouched since he had last been there.
"This view... it's amazing!" she exclaimed as she stood at the open glass wall.
"It was quite relaxing," Chuck agreed as he approached her from behind. "Which I guess is kind of the point of being here..." he uttered as he thought about it. "Give you the tour..." he decided as he took her hand and began to lead her around the space. "This is the main living space and over this way," he continued to lead her through the villa, "Is the kitchen and eating area... and then there's the bedroom... And then out this way," he led her back through the main room to a door just off of it and the kitchen, "Is a balcony that extends the entire back side of the villa here, over looking the lake. And then there's a community pool just a little further down the path," he announced as he led them outside into the cool fall air.
"I bet Eric was jealous," Blair couldn't help chuckling. "This is nothing like the Ostroff Center."
"No, no it isn't," Chuck quietly laughed in agreement as he wrapped his arms around her from behind while they stood there on the balcony together, overlooking the railing. "Let's just say, when it's one of the top-rated rehab facilities in the world... you get what you pay for."
"Did you spend a lot of time here?" she couldn't help wondering, having taken it all in. It was quite the space for one person to be spending three months cooped up in alone.
"In the evenings and early mornings, yes," Chuck admitted. "The rest of the day was mostly spent at the main facility in various therapy sessions and whatnot."
"It seems... very relaxing. Peaceful... tranquil even," she stated as she continued to take in the stunning view.
"Very," Chuck confirmed as he placed a kiss to her shoulder, holding her just a little tighter as he nestled his cheek into the crook of her neck. "We should probably get settled in for the night though as it's six hours later here and already almost one AM."
"Of course," Blair agreed with a nod as she continued to stand there, comfortable in his embrace, entwining her arms with his for just a moment more. "Movie before bed?" she suggested as she knew neither of them were actually tired just yet, their bodies and state of mind still on New York time.
"Sure," Chuck agreed, the same thought regarding time having occurred to him as well.
"I'll go do my nightly routine if you want to select one – my laptop is by the front door," she instructed as she broke free from him and began to head back inside.
Chuck had just unpacked and slipped into his silk pajama bottoms when he decided to go retrieve the laptop from Blair's bag out in the hall while she took her time in the bathroom conducting her routine nighttime ritual. As he made his way across the room, he couldn't help noticing the baby grand piano in the corner of the room. The same baby grand he had requested special when he first moved in here at the beginning of summer.
When his doctor had asked early on in his sessions about hobbies and talents, saying that sometimes it helped having something to focus on and keep busy with, Chuck knew he had to have the instrument brought in. He had been told as a child that it was one of his mother's dying wishes that he learn to play as she did and while he had a natural talent for it, growing up in hotels he never got to play it as much as he would have liked, save for occasionally sneaking off to play the ones in various hotel lobbies as a child. And of course he took every opportunity to grace the keys of the one at the Waldorf's. When they had began to search for a home of their own, one of his few requests was that it have space for a piano.
Not having touched the object in over a month, not even the one in their townhouse as he hadn't had a need to yet, Chuck casually strode over to it, running his fingers along the edges and eventually across the keys before sitting down and playing the first tune that popped into his mind.
Blair had just finished washing her face when she heard the faint sound of the piano out in the other room. Curious, with her robe draped over her silk slip she padded out through the bedroom, across the kitchenette and sure enough, spied her husband expertly playing a familiar showtune with ease. Quiet as not to interrupt him, she carefully approached, sitting down beside him on the bench. Temporarily lost in a world of his own making, he didn't even flinch when she rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes as she listened to him continuing to play the piece from memory until completion.
"Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again?" Blair questioned after a moment of silence once he had finished. "Can't say I've heard you play that one in recent memory."
"The library here is very limited on its selection of sheet music. The works of Andrew Lloyd Webber were some of the few available I hadn't already committed to memory," he simply responded.
"I've missed hearing you play," she smiled as she nestled in a little closer. "I've always enjoyed it, even long ago when you thought no one was listening... Chuck Bass, master pianist... who knew?"
"I wouldn't say master..."
"Fine, expert. But regardless... your level of talent... I don't know why you kept it a secret from almost everyone. It really is quite lovely when you do decide to share it."
"Playing an instrument... it's not exactly something people expect of me. Running a business on the other hand... is."
"But if it makes you happy... " her voice trailed. She knew full well he had followed in his father's footsteps, taking the reins of his family's business simply because it was expected of him and he had practically been groomed for business from the time he was a child. However she knew deep down that running a business, albeit being very successful, wasn't his passion. She firmly held to the belief that if he truly wanted he could have been a famed concert pianist if he wasn't so shy about his gift. His ability to play like he did and commit the notes to memory... it was awe-inspiring.
"You and Henry make me happy and I chose to share it with you both," he responded.
"My father taught him Heart and Soul over the summer, when we stayed there... he seemed to enjoy it," Blair announced. "Perhaps we should look into lessons for him?"
"He is old enough... I was about three or four when I first started," Chuck confessed.
"Did you decide on a movie yet? Because you've thoroughly put me in the mood to fall asleep to Phantom now," she stated with a grin.
"Only if you'll agree with me that Christine was a fool for choosing Raoul over The Phantom in the end," Chuck challenged her with a smirk.
"Alright, fine... but only because I know how much you enjoy role-playing as The Phantom," she reluctantly agreed as she rolled her eyes at him.
"Admit it, Christine choosing Raoul over The Phantom would be like you choosing Nate over me all those years ago," he made his case.
"The Phantom is quite alluring... and mysterious..." Blair spoke as she stood to retrieve her laptop, contemplating all the qualities in The Phantom that she found attractive.
"Don't forget cunning and handsome," Chuck added for good measure as he got up to follow her into the bedroom.
Blair woke the next morning alone in the bed, the satin sheets barely covering her nakedness, as sunlight dimly poured into the room from the hallway. As she lay there, wondering where Chuck was, she could faintly hear the sound of the shower running in the next room. Carefully, she trudged to the bathroom, pulling back the shower curtain with a smile as she caught the sight of a wet, naked Chuck Bass before her.
"Morning," he greeted her with a smile in return as he continued to wash his hair under the faucet. "Sleep well?"
"I did," she concurred as she stepped into the shower beside him, promptly picking up a loofah and lathering herself up with it. "And you?"
"The best sleep I've ever had here," he spoke with a smirk. "They delivered croissants and bagels for breakfast this morning," he informed her as he continued to rinse his hair. "I started a pot of gourmet coffee too... should be ready by the time we're done in here."
"Sounds delicious," Blair stated as she finished lathering herself and began running the loofah across his back. "When do we need to be over at... the main facility?" she questioned, not quite sure what the official term was for the place.
"Ten," he announced with a deep sigh, having felt her hands beginning to knead away at the muscles in his shoulders. He hadn't realized how tense he was in anticipation of today. "They want to draw blood early enough to have the results ready for my doctor before we meet with him after lunch."
"So in other words... we have plenty of time," Blair spoke, prompting Chuck to turn around to face her, a smirk on her face.
"Oh?" he questioned her with a cocked eyebrow and a smirk of his own, having a feeling he knew exactly what she was implying.
"You're so tense this morning, Bass... let me help relax you," she leaned in just close enough to whisper in his ear, her arms loosely around his neck having left just enough distance between their naked bodies to tease him.
Of course Chuck wasn't having any of that though as before she knew it, he had one arm wrapped tightly around her, pulling her to him as his other hand drew her thigh up and over his own all while his lips were upon hers in an instant.
They were fifteen minutes late arriving for Chuck's blood draw, however once the nurse saw Blair with him, everyone knew better than to question why.
"Are you okay?" Blair questioned as her and Chuck sat side by side on a small couch in the hallway just outside his therapist's office. She couldn't helping noticing the way his leg was rapidly bouncing as he fidgeted with his hands in his lap.
"Hm? Yeah, I'm fine," Chuck muttered, having been drawn temporarily out of his thoughts.
"Chuck..." she calmly addressed him, knowing better. He only ever fidgeted while waiting when he was clearly anxious about something. Gently she reached over and took his hand in her own, giving it a squeeze in assurance.
"Sorry... it's just... things get a little intense when he meets family," Chuck finally admitted with a sigh as he shifted his gaze from their now intertwined hands to her eyes.
"Oh?" Blair questioned him, curious.
"Yeah... last month, when Serena came... he ended up asking me to leave so he could speak with her as things got a bit emotional..."
"Serena met with your therapist?" Blair questioned, confused despite knowing she shouldn't be. She knew Serena had visited at least once, it would only make sense that of course she met his therapist.
"Well it is routine for family weekend for my therapist to meet with my family and she did come for a family day last month as Lily was unavailable at the last minute... she knew someone needed to be here... Eric was previously engaged... you obviously weren't coming... so I guess she took the initiative..." his voice trailed as he attempted to explain.
"Oh," was all Blair could muster, slightly taken back by the realization that Serena had indeed been there for Chuck in her absence. "Well... I'm glad she thought to do that," she quickly added so as to not immediately give away her mixed feelings on the subject.
"Blair, look... don't feel bad – I understand-"
"Chuck! Do come in!" his therapist merrily spoke up, interrupting them as he opened the door to his office and began to motion for them to enter. "I'm glad you made it back this month and I'm also very pleased to report that all your bloodwork came back negative for anything out of the ordinary. I take it things are going well?" he questioned as he held the door for them both.
"They are," Chuck immediately responded as he casually took a seat on the familiar couch in the office. Blair followed suit, sitting down beside him.
"And you my dear must be his wife, the ever elusive Blair. It's a pleasure to finally meet you!" his doctor happily exclaimed as he reached to shake her hand.
"Likewise," Blair replied as she sat back a moment later, attempting to make herself comfortable.
"I'll have you know, your husband has been an absolute pleasure to work with these past few months and he has received some of the most top-notch therapy in the world. He really has come a long way since he first checked himself in here," Chuck's doctor informed her at once. "I really am pleased with his progress and might I add, seeing you two here, together... I take it things have been going well since we've last met, Chuck?"
"They have actually. Better than well – great in fact," Chuck answered with a slight smile as he reached over and took one of Blair's hands in his own, showing a united front.
"That is good news – no temptations or setbacks?" the doctor pried.
"Nothing significant, no," Chuck confessed only to receive a raised eyebrow from Dr. Mueller in surprise. "I mean... nothing I couldn't handle."
"There was an incident at an end of summer party at the Hamptons, with an old classmate of Chuck's... but he resisted the temptation to drink magnificently," Blair spoke up proudly as she recalled the incident.
"And adjusting back into your lifestyle? How has the transition been?"
"Like I was warned, it's a constant battle – some days are easy, some are tough..."
"Going back to work was tough," Blair reminded him.
"Oh? How so?" his doctor pried.
"My uncle... I had foolishly left him in charge of the family business while I was away all summer only to return to it being in a bigger state of disarray than I could have ever imagined him making of it," Chuck clarified.
"That must have been stressful," Doctor Mueller agreed as he made a notation on his notepad. "How did you cope?"
"Normally... I would have had a scotch or two... or few... without even a second hesitation however this time... well, let's just say it helps having a wonderfully supportive wife who knows just what to say and do to take my mind off things," Chuck stated with a slight smirk as he glanced over at Blair beside him whose cheeks were slightly flushed from embarrassment by his implication.
"I see," the doctor responded with a raised eyebrow. "Just remember what we've discussed about substituting one vice for another though, Chuck. Sex addiction can be just as bad a habit as alcoholism."
"I can assure you, it's not like that," Chuck declared with a slight chuckle.
"Well, I do encourage you to continue to explore other coping mechanisms as I'm sure there may be times your wife won't be available to distract you from your urges," his doctor stressed as he continued to scribble on his pad.
"I understand," Chuck agreed, knowing he was right. He and Blair weren't together twenty-four-seven so there were bound to be times he'd have to face his temptation alone.
"Now, back to discussing your adjustment back into your lifestyle... you're both prominent figures of upper-class society in New York, yes?" Doctor Mueller asked receiving nods from both of them. "How have you found social events thus far? Do you find yourself at ease or has it been somewhat of a struggle?"
"It hasn't been too bad, honestly," Chuck admitted. "Aside from that one instance in the Hamptons... it doesn't bother me to witness others drinking and I've found most are accommodating, gladly providing non-alcoholic alternatives."
"If you don't mind me asking – since you've brought it up several times now - what exactly happened at the party in the Hamptons?"
"Well... I ran into an old classmate of ours from high school who at first was shocked that I was no longer drinking – he offered me a drink but I easily declined. But then he started asking about Nathaniel, seeming to be unaware of his passing..." Blair held his hand once more, giving him another squeeze in assurance as his voice had trailed and he clearly began to get lost in the memory.
"I see," his doctor acknowledged, imagining full well what must have happened. "But you did resist, yes?"
"I did," Chuck muttered as he still sat there, his mind now elsewhere.
"How? How did you resist the temptation and cope with it?"
"B-Blair actually came to my rescue," he confessed.
"I had witnessed the exchange from across the way and could tell something had unsettled Chuck so I decided to intervene and get him out of there. Much like he had earlier in the evening when I found myself up against some snotty PTA mothers," Blair interjected.
"Well, I'm glad to know that back at home, Chuck has someone like you for support, Blair," his doctor smiled at her. "I'm pleased to see things between you two have progressed this past month with your relationship clearly on the mend as I know when Chuck had left here a month ago he was unsure as to where he stood with you."
"Yes, well... when Chuck had decided to check himself in here at the end of May we weren't exactly in a good place," Blair was quick to point out. "I think a summer apart was good for us. You know what they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder," she nervously sung with a fake smile.
Chuck couldn't help slightly glaring over at her, hating that she had suddenly begun to put on her fake act. He could spot it a mile away.
"I suppose that saying is true... however absence can also send mixed signals as well..." the doctor stated. "At least Chuck had other family members to check in on him so he didn't feel completely alone in his journey... how is your sister doing, if you don't mind me asking?"
"She... seems to be coping alright, trying to make the best of the situation," Chuck informed him.
"Well, progress is progress..." Doctor Mueller stated. "I think speaking with her really did help with both of your situations – I understand your wanting to help, however I don't think she fully realized what her way of dealing with the grief was doing to you."
"I suppose only time will tell... honestly, I haven't spent too much time with her since my return, however I assure you, we can find other means for sibling bonding that don't involve reminiscing about the past over drinks," Chuck confidently told him with a smirk.
"Good, I would hope so," his doctor smiled in return. "Blair? Is everything alright?" he questioned her next, noticing her having grown quite silent since their last exchange moments before.
"I... I'm fine," she hesitantly spoke, a mix of emotions suddenly overwhelming her. "I'm just... a little... I don't know, surprised to hear how close you and Serena became after... everything happened, that's all..."
"Blair, I told you, she came last month because Lily couldn't make it and she met with Doctor Mueller here with me just like you are now," Chuck quickly tried to explain.
"I know but... I hadn't realized how often you two were going out together last spring..."
"I told you before, she too was a mess after Nate... Dan couldn't relate and you already had your hands full with myself and Henry... I didn't want to burden you further so I mistakenly thought I could help her as we were going through the same thing," Chuck reminded her.
"I know you told me that but hearing it now... realizing she had already been here with you..."
"Go ahead and say it, Blair – get out how you're feeling, this is a safe place," the doctor stepped in, trying to help her. "Admitting how you feel is the first step towards moving forward."
"I just... I feel... I feel... I need some air. It's suddenly stuffy in here," she announced as she quickly stood and made her way towards the door.
"Blair?" Chuck called after her, confused as to what had just happened. He quickly stood, apologizing to his therapist as he made his way out the door in search of her.
Thinking she'd retreat to the villa for the remainder of the afternoon, leaving Chuck to finish with his therapist appointment, Blair quickly began down along the hallway, trying to remember which way they had come. As she made it to the end of the hallway with a huge half glass window with a view of the property outside, she stopped as she noticed both left and right were dead ends. She would have to retreat back the way she had just came.
However as she turned to do just that, she noted Chuck approaching, having just spotted her as he stepped outside the private office they had been occupying with his therapist moments ago.
She knew she had no other option now but to admit her guilt to him. Seeing the look of genuine concern he now wore as he approached, she broke down as she crumpled to the floor, her back against the wall, as she recalled one of the many voicemails he had desperately left her over the summer. She wanted him to think she hadn't listened to any of them, that she had deliberately ignored him all summer, but the truth was that she had saved each and every one of them and replayed them often when the hurt and pain became unbearable. She would hope that his words were truly genuine and not just some line he was feeding her to get her to take him back.
"It's me. I... I know you're ignoring my calls and I get it. I screwed up. Badly. But... I love you, Blair. I love you so much... I know I don't deserve you, not after everything I've done... but I'm not me without you. Nothing feels right without you. And I'm sorry. I am so, so sorry... and I'm willing to do whatever – anything it takes – to make things right again. Because I love you and I need you. Look there's... there's this family weekend thing coming up, where family members are allowed to visit... my doctor says I'm progressing through the program quite well and I'm on track for completion... he'd love to meet with you... If you could just... be here... I'd really appreciate it. But if you can't... I understand. Maybe next month when you're in France, visiting your parents? God I miss you... and I miss Hen... he's going to be so big by the time I see him again... I know you probably don't want to talk to me but I can't stop myself from calling you... this program... it's tough. And some days... god, I just really need to hear your voice, even if it's just your voicemail recording... I love you, Blair... and I'm sorry-"
"Blair?" Chuck quietly questioned as he now stood in front of her. She continued to sit there though, sobbing, which prompted him to delicately slide down against the wall beside her, putting an arm around her and pulling her close.
"I just... I just needed to get some air... like I said, it was getting a bit stuffy in there, that's all..." she declared once more as she quickly rifled through her clutch and pulled out a tissue to begin dabbing her teary eyes with.
"Are you alright? What happened in there?" Chuck asked after a moments pause, having leaned over to kiss the top of her curls in comfort.
"Fine, Chuck – I'm... I'm feeling... guilty I guess..." her voice trailed as she attempted to look anywhere but at him.
"What do you mean? Guilty for what exactly? We've already been over-"
"Guilty because... because I'm the one that pushed you to come here, to finally seek help... and seeing this place, hearing from your doctor what you've gone through – what you're going through! God, I feel horrible! I should have been more supportive from the start! I should have answered your phone calls, I should have visited..."
"Blair..."
"Hell you knew I was in France part of the summer – I could have easily been here! Yet... I wasn't... because I was too upset at you... at myself... too hurt... too stubborn..."
"Blair, listen to me – it's not your fault. You have nothing to be guilty for!" he told her as he tried to hold her steady by the shoulders, despite her attempts at shaking him off.
"Nothing to be guilty for?! Even Serena knew you needed someone to be here for you when Lily couldn't make it, how crushed you'd be if no one came for family weekend! How detrimental it would have been to your recovery if you thought no one cared!"
"Yes, I admit, it would have stung greatly if no one came," he earnestly admitted after a brief pause, letting her words sink in before answering. "And yes, it also hurt every month when you weren't there, refusing to come even though it would have been so easy for you to and then when you ignored all my calls and never returned my messages... but I completely understand why you did it – I don't blame you, I probably would have done the same."
"No you wouldn't – we both know that no matter how angry or upset or hurt I make you... when push comes to shove, if I really needed you by my side... you'd put all that aside and be there for me. I should have done the same," she lamented. "And you never have and I know you never would cheat on me, like I did to you... to Louis... to Marcus... god, I'm a terrible partner..."
"No you're not, Blair," he spoke with a sigh, pained to have her think that of herself. "And I told you, I'm not happy about it obviously, but I don't consider what happened cheating - we were legally separated at the time... we weren't together. Just like we weren't together when you went off with Nate after Cotillion... and later on with Jack and then Carter..." he cringed at two memories he had purposely suppressed. "And... look at me, Blair – look at me," he nearly commanded as he held her chin his hand, forcing her to look him in the eyes. "I love you. I love your wit and that sharp tongue of yours, I love your intelligence and brilliance. I love how determined you get when you want something bad enough. I love how passionate you are about the things that matter most to you. I love how you always know just what to say in a situation. I love that unlike anyone else, you get me and understand me. You're the only one capable of finding a way to get through to me... you care so much for the people you love and you never give up on them. I love the duality of your personality – how one moment you can be the most loving mother and friend all while plotting the most destructive demise imaginable. I love that you're just as stubborn as I am..."
"But Chuck-"
"You are the mother of my children, having given me the family that I've always wanted and I love you so much for that," he continued, refusing to let her interrupt him. He needed her to hear it, to understand. "What's done is done and it's in the past. Like I said, I don't blame you and I don't want you blaming yourself. If anything, your stubbornness is what got me to realize I had to take charge of my life and get better. For myself. For you. And for Henry. So don't you ever feel guilty about pushing me like you did – as hard as I know it must have been, it was the wake-up call I needed to get my shit together, knowing I risked losing you and Hen for good."
"I love you too," she choked out as she nearly threw herself into his arms, sobbing once again as she took in everything he had just said.
"It's alright," he whispered over and over as he held her tightly to him, gently stroking her back in comfort to help calm her.
As much as he hated to admit it, this was exactly why he had been so anxious when they were waiting to meet with his doctor, having a feeling that something like this would happen, his therapist was just that good at getting to the bottom of the problem. At least now though, how she felt was out in the open and they could finally move past it in order to move forward.
After the brief interruption during Chuck's therapist appointment, once Blair had calmed down enough they returned to the office to wrap up the visit. Doctor Mueller had declared that because of how much progress and how well Chuck had done in just one month's time that they would meet again in two months for their next checkup instead of one. The rest of the afternoon they ventured off property for an authentic Swiss dinner before retreating to the villa for the rest of the evening. By the time Sunday rolled around, they were once again in a good place – the drama of last summer and Blair's guilt regarding her behavior towards Chuck locked away in the past like they both agreed.
Everything was going swimmingly until they began ascending the stairs of the jet on the tarmac when both their phones began to chime in unison. Blair halted immediately as she quickly read the notification.
Fashion Week has come to an end... just like one of my favorite former rivalries as our very own Queen B and Little J have teamed up to prove once and for all that they've buried the hatchet, giving us quite the show not just once, but twice this week stealing all the headlines. And while the clothes may be all the rage, the headlines I'm most curious about are both our Queen's sudden departure from her own victory party as well as her last minute absence from the end of the week long extravaganza's closing festivities. Could it have anything to do with that embarrassingly tight Waldorf Design's surprise finale dress? Oh, B... wherever could you be?
XoXo
"I can't believe her!" Blair gasped in shock as she read the blast and lingered on the photo of her taken earlier last week in the aforementioned dress from an unflattering angle that just so happened to capture that barely noticeable baby bump. "Chuck, do we have to go back? We could drop me off at the villa in France while you fetch Henry before rejoining me..." she turned to face him.
"I know you'd rather people didn't know we're expecting so soon after my recovery, but you do realize that you're going to have to start telling people sooner rather than later, right?" Chuck reminded her as he slid his own phone back into his jacket breast pocket and continued to usher her up the stairs and into the jet.
"Do we have to?" she sighed in frustration, really not ready to have to face judgment from her mother as well as the rest of society, not to mention the risk of hurting Serena's feelings. "I'd rather we stay in France... I could work from the atelier in Paris, you could work from home, video chatting meetings and using the jet at your disposal..."
"Blair," Chuck chuckled in slight disbelief as he proceeded to escort her into the cabin. "You know we can't do that – our families and our home are both in The City, not to mention Henry has school..."
"France has great schools too, and it's not like he isn't unfamiliar with the language," she quickly added as she felt his hand on the small of her back, leading her towards their usual seats.
As they sat down and got buckled in for take-off, Blair still incessantly rambling off her sudden pros and cons list as to why they should relocate to France, Chuck simply smiled as he continued to shake his head in disbelief at the woman beside him, knowing he'd be spending the entire flight talking her out of it and quelling her fear of facing the public back home. He knew they were meant be if he could still love her enough to also love this crazy, insecure side of her he had come to accept and expect over the years.
AN: Not gonna lie, I got stuck on writing the therapy session for this chapter so that was the hold up.
The Trinity bracelet and collection is a real thing - feel free to check it out on Cartier's website and it really does cost a small fortune but it is striking!
Next few chapters are all underway - the next one is a bit of fluff as we get Chuck and Henry's Lost Saturday as well as Blair and Serena have a tet-a-tet then after that chapter... the drama and angst begins to pick up! Hopefully the next few updates will be soon! One of the major climaxes of the story occurs at Thanksgiving so I'm hoping to have that chapter out around the same time... but we've still got a few chapters to go so we will see! I am back to part-time management now after having spent a year doing it full-time so perhaps with the now extra time in my week I might be able to make it happen!
For those who follow my work, I've also finished up A Royal Affair so be sure to check out that conclusion if you haven't already and I'm *really* trying to get Chairytale finished by the end of the year, however I have a habit of random story ideas popping into my head that I have to jot down and yeah... whatever I'm working on temporarily gets shifted to the backseat... there will be an update coming though!
As always, I know I suck at individually responding to reviews, but please know I do read and appreciate each and every one of them so thank you so, so much for all your comments and favorites/follows! Shout out to M (scarlett2u) for taking the time to Beta, despite everything I know she has going on - she's such a great friend to have in this fandom and if you haven't been reading her works you really need to go do so like yesterday!
Until next time!
XoXo