Story: Abigail means father's joy
Author: Ana
Pairing: Chuck/Blair
Disclaimer: I don't own Gossip Girl.
Summary: And now when every new baby is born its first laugh becomes a fairy. So there ought to be one fairy for every boy or girl. . AU CB DS
New chapter everyone, and you find out what's going on. Thank you so much for all the review, I really like them. I have half of the next chapter of 'You make me feel funny' but I have a lot of school work so I don't know when it will be up. Hopefully before end of this week. Enjoy!
„ A lie keeps growing and growing until it's as plain as the nose on your face."
Pinocchio, Disney movie from 1940
Remember, troubles are always lurking in the shadow.
The rest of they lunch date went good in Abigail's opinion. The adults were getting along well with a little help from her. But then came the bad news.
'Will you be visiting your friend tomorrow too?' She asked, hoping for another meeting.
'Oh, I'm just coming to get her. She and Kayla are going home tomorrow.' Blair felt a little sad at the thought of not seeing the girl again. 'Besides whoever you are visiting will be released soon too anyway.'
She may imagined it but Chuck seemed to tense after hearing her words.
'So, I won't see you again?' She pouted feeling similar. 'I like you.'
'I'm sure Blair likes you too, honey.' Chuck began, knowing it was going to be hard. Sometimes he just felt so tried with all of this. 'But she has her own life. She has work and other responsibilities, we have them too, right?'
'Yes, dad.' Abby mumbled looking down.
'I'm sorry.' The brunette whispered, feeling guilty. She didn't mean to upset her little friend.
'It's ok.' He calmed her. 'We're thankful for the time you spent with us, yes Abby?'
She nodded but still didn't tare her gaze away from the table. Chuck sighed and took her on his lap, gently stroking her hair.
'Thank you too. I think I'll go now.' Blair said, afraid that she might say something to make it worse.
'Bye.' He gave her an apologetic smile when his daughter failed to acknowledge her.
She nodded and rushed out of the cafeteria. She wasn't sure what she felt or why didn't she propose another meeting. Sure, she could find some time during her work leave. Maybe she was too much of a coward to get attached like Abigail did apparently.
You couldn't seriously think our Queen will back down that easy.
She didn't know what made her come but here she was. Entering the hospital for the fourth day in a row. She couldn't sleep all night because of the image of Abby's sad eyes were haunting her.
Blair considered trying to catch her yesterday when she came to pick up Serena and the baby but after all didn't do anything. How could an eight years old child make her feel so intimidated? She was so worried she really hurt her feelings when she walked away that day.
So she decided to come here today and try to find her. She remembered the number of the room her relative was supposed to be staying in and walked to the stairs. With a beating heart she neared her destination and spotted the door were slightly opened. Thinking it would be better to check if she is there first, she took a look inside.
What she saw made her feel something she wasn't sure how to call. Sadness? Worry? Sympathy? Or a little of everything.
The path to the end never runs smooth…
Chuck looked at his sleeping daughter with troubled eyes. He hated it when she wasn't happy. After everything she, no they were through she deserved it more than anyone. They were in it together, he beside her in every single step.
It was horrible and he made it his goal to spend his life making up for all the bad memories. He loathed watching her in pain and he had to, so many times. That's why he never refused her anything that was within his reach.
He rubbed his eyes tiredly and leaned down to stroke her cheek. She was so little and she was his everything. It was so unfair. He knew he would give up anything. His business, money, all he had for it to end. But he could do nothing. He was Chuck fucking Bass and he couldn't do anything to help his baby.
She stirred and he smiled when she opened her dark eyes. He swore she would always see him smiling. She didn't need his trouble.
'Hi, daddy.' Abigail mumbled sleepily.
'Hi Princess.' He replied kissing her forehead. 'How are you feeling?'
'Good. My head doesn't hurt anymore.' She smiled a little and slowly sat up in her bed.
He sighed with relief. Yesterday was awful; she had a headache and was feeling sick all day. They told him it was because of the meds but that didn't change anything. She was hurting and he hated feeling useless. Just like he hated all of it. The hospital, the fact that innocent kids fell ill and dying. God, he couldn't even think about death and his girl in one sentence.
'That's great, sweetheart. Are you hungry?' He asked standing up.
She nodded and he started to gather her clothes for the day. They were here already for three weeks this time and like always he lived here. The room was rented since their first stay and it had an extra bed. He didn't dream about leaving the hospital when Abigail was in the place.
For once, money turned out to be enough and he hadn't had any problems with taking care of it. His place was by his girl and the company was doing well without him. He has been training his substitute for years to make sure of it.
When they were here and Abby wasn't feeling bad, she was walking around in her normal outfits and they ate in the cafeteria downstairs. It was her wish to live as much as at home as she was able to.
'So, who are we today?' He started they morning ritual with a grin. He knew how she loved it.
'I'm not sure. What do you think, daddy?' She played along though she always knew exactly what the choice was.
'Hmm, maybe Belle?' He proposed holding up a brown wavy wig.
It was in this moment that he heard a small gasp from the door and looked there discreetly, seeing that the girl didn't notice anything. He saw Blair turning around to walk away and put the hairpiece away.
'You think honey and dad has to go out for a moment, okay?' He explained wanting to catch the woman before she left.
'Kay.' She replied, too caught up in what she was doing.
He went out and spotted her by the stairs.
'Wait! Blair!' He yelled running towards her.
She stopped and seemed to wonder if she should turn around. Finally she did and he was by her in a second.
'What are you doing here?' He questioned curious. He didn't think they will see her again and his daughter wasn't so sad over it anymore. He didn't like the thought that she was used to it.
'I felt bad after leaving the other day and wanted to see Abigail again. She told me the room number and I…' She silenced biting her lip nervously.
Coming here, she had in her head a lot of bad scenarios but not one even close to what happened. She was a coward again but when she saw this adorable little girl sitting in this big hospital bed with no hair on her head, she just wanted to run. And she did but he spotted her before she could escape and preferably try to forget it. Not that she would be ever able to.
'You saw Abby's the sick one. Not anyone from her family like she told you. And you got scarred when you saw she's bald.' He concluded calmly.
'Yeah.' She whispered, hating herself. He was probably mad at her, thinking she was repulsed by his child.
That wasn't the matter, of course. She could never feel this way. She was so sorry it happened to them. But when she saw it… she just panicked, she guessed.
'It's ok.' He said, motioning for her to sit on one of the nearby chairs. 'You just couldn't deal with it so fast. No one ever can.'
'Still, I'm sorry. I should have come in.' She apologized taking a seat next to him.
'I don't blame you. I can't deal with it sometimes.' He sighed leaning his head against the wall and closing his eyes for a moment.
'If I can ask…' She began unsurely. He didn't look like he wanted to talk about it.
'Abigail has leukemia.' He moved his gaze to her.
'I'm sorry.' She murmured, knowing it didn't really change anything.
'It's not your fault.' He shrugged looking ten years older. 'We found out when she was five. She had chemotherapy and then transplantation. I thought everything was finally going good but three weeks ago the marrow was rejected. So, here we are again.'
'Oh.' She breathed, grabbing his hand in a comforting motion.
He looked down at her movement and gave her a thankful smile. It was nice to tell someone about it. Nowadays he only talked to the hospital staff.
'Is she going to be ok?' Blair asked, not really wanting to know. She had to but it frightened her.
'They say you can't lose the hope.' He replied smiling without any joy. 'But I know they just don't want to tell me outright. Maybe it's better, this way I can still fool myself.'
'You can't stop believing.' She responded wiping away a lonely tear that escaped her eye. He didn't need it now.
'I don't. I'll never stop believing that my girl will be okay. It's just so hard sometimes to…' He stopped leaning down and putting his head in his hands.
She saw his shoulders shake slightly and without giving it a second thought, scooted closer. She hugged him then from the side and he turned to her after a moment and hid his face in her curls, crying silently.
They sat like that for a few minutes before he broke their embrace and quickly composed himself. She didn't look at him, not wanting to make him feel uncomfortable.
'Thank you.' He whispered and she moved her stare to him and caught his small smile.
She gave him one back. 'It's nothing. I wish I could do something more.'
'Yeah, I do too.' He sighed and stood up. 'I have to go back to Abby, want to join me?'
She looked unsure and he understood she needed a moment to think it through. They both knew if she agreed now, there would be no way back. He wouldn't let her and she herself would never want to hurt the little child who didn't deserve it.
'Yes, I do.' She nodded, making her own best decision in her life.
He smiled happily, knowing his daughter would be delighted. She had an awesome contact with her and he himself could really use a good friend. He didn't have a doubt that it was a beginning of a great friendship. She didn't seem like someone who runs away at the sight of a trouble.
but will it be a happy one?
Abigail got dressed alone and waited impatiently for her dad. Where could he go? He didn't usually leave her alone for too long. She was going to explore it better when he entered back with Blair in town.
'Blair!' She shouted with excitement. Then she remembered where they were. 'I'm here because…'
'It's fine, honey. Your dad told me everything.' She stopped her and smiled to show she wasn't upset.
'Oh.' The youngest mumbled. 'I'm sorry I didn't tell you the truth.'
'It's ok, I understand.' She assured her. 'Now from what I saw you were choosing the look for today.'
'We were doing that, yes.' Chuck said, going back to the table with the wigs.
He has started buying them when her hair began to come out. He didn't need it to see her as a most beautiful girl in the world but he was aware that without them she would feel uncomfortable among other people. So, he decided to make it fun for her and bought a lot of different ones.
She could be whichever Disney Princess she felt like at the moment. Abigail loved Disney movies. Complete DVD collection was here and at their apartment. She had also many dolls displaying the movie's characters and colorful books with her favorite fairytales. She had a vivid imagination and he loved watching her play with many imaginative friends.
'Decided yet?' He asked looking at her.
'I want to be Abby today.' She answered and he grabbed the one with long curls, just the color of his hair.
They smiled at each other and Blair watched carefully. He helped her put it on and kissed her forehead helping her down form the bed.
She stared around the room and spotted a picture that helped her understand. The photograph showed Chuck and Abby when she was around four. She had dark locks identical that were present on her head at the moment. They were waving to the camera from their place next to big pyramid, grinning widely.
'Are you coming with us for breakfast?' The girl grabbed her hand and she nodded tearing her gaze away from the picture of a father and daughter without a care in the world.
Only time will tell…
tbc