AN: Wow, the response to this has been amazing! I would totally have understood if all of you had given up on me and this story. I've been suffering through law school for the past few years, so writing of any kind besides briefs hasn't been possible. It was never my intention to abandon these stories though, and for those who have asked I plan on coming back to FE as well. The continued support for me and my stories really warms my heart so I wanted to thank you all SO MUCH! I decided I'd go ahead and post another chapter since you've been so kind with the reviews, and I've already kept you waiting so long. I'm working on the next one right now, and am hoping to keep cranking this out on a regular basis.

Chapter 9.

HISTORY

"History is a relentless master. It has no present, only the past

rushing into the future. To try to hold fast is to be swept aside."

- John F. Kennedy

Blair was surprised to run into Parker and Nate on the sidewalk in front of the brownstone. Nate seemed even more surprised, and looked at what to do when Parker barrelled toward Blair, and reached his arms up so she'd carry him in. He was sweaty and dirty like little children usually were, and while Blair had found such things disgusting in the past she simply loved the real feeling of her child. She'd never felt anything so normal or natural in her life, and she clung to him disregarding the fact that her new designer dress would be sullied by the time she arrived upstairs.

"Blair…" Nate smiled tightly at her.

The last time they'd seen each other was at Nate's wedding, and he had been beyond pissed to see her arrive with Carter. She still vividly remembered the scene from that day. Serena had tried brushing it off, Chuck had looked apoplectic, but it was Nate who surprised her by coming down so hard. He'd asked her if she would ever learn, and she'd been so stunned by the venom in his voice she hadn't been able to respond. Later, it had been Nate who'd showed her to her limo, stone-faced and uncompromising. It had been a blow to a friendship she thought she'd have forever.

"Chuck invited me. So, don't worry that you're conversing with the enemy… at least not tonight." Blair tried to keep her voice light and airy. Parker was still clinging to her, and she didn't want him to catch onto the tension between her and Nate. Still, it was hard looking at Nate and not seeing a traitor. Whatever her faults, she'd never turned her back on him.

Nate sighed. He was never one to play word games. "You were never my enemy, Blair." Before Blair could contradict him, which she likely would have, he saved her from embarassing herself in front of Parker by barrelling on. "Sorry if Parker and I stink, we just ran a marathon back here to make it in time for dinner. Serena hates it when I'm late for this stuff."

Parker giggled in Blair's arms. "Uncle Nate is always late. S is not happy." Parker shook his head for emphasis, and Blair couldn't stop herself from smiling.

"Then we better head up." Blair stepped onto the elevator, before Nate and didn't look back. She focused all her attention on Parker, and listened to him detail how fast he could run, how slow Nate was, and then made her promise not to tell S or his daddy because these were special secrets. Blair felt a welcome warmth creep over her that her son was confiding in her. When she peaked a glance at Nate she saw him smiling as well. At least he wasn't reprimanding her this visit.

Chuck looked up from his Blackberry surprised to find Blair walking in with Parker in her arms, Nate trailing behind them. He shot a look at Nate, but his best friend just shrugged and announced he needed a shower. Chuck still felt uneasy at the cosy mother-son scene that was playing out before him, but he knew he couldn't derail it. Parker always had this glow in his eyes when Blair was around. It was like his excitement over a new toy, except Parker bored with new toys quickly, and his fascination with Blair only seemed to be growing.

"You probably need a bath too." Chuck guessed, and Parker finally looked up from his mother. He frowned, and Chuck readied himself for a fight. Parker hated to take baths. Chuck usually had to bribe him just to get him in the tub lately. It was like he was adverse to being clean.

"Daddy," Parker began to whine, "I want to stay with Mommy. I don't need a bath." Parker's pleading chocolate eyes stared into Chuck's, and Chuck almost caved but Serena saved the day.

"Stinky boys don't sit at my table." She walked over to Blair, and easily scooped Parker out of her arms. Chuck noticed Blair frown, and worried she'd make a scene, but thankfully she held it in. "I'll give Parker a quick bath if you guys don't mind setting the table." She looked between Chuck and Blair briefly before disappearing into the back with Parker, and leaving them alone.

Chuck let out an amused breath. "She's not subtle."

Blair nodded. "Never her forte."

They just stood there for a moment, looking around, staring down, doing anything but facing one another. Blair could handle Chuck when Parker was there, but without that buffer she felt adrift. There were so many things she wanted to say to him, but they all got confused in her head and somehow turned to pure silence. Chuck didn't seem to be handling the situation much better.

"Thanks for inviting me… I really do appreciate this chance, Chuck." Blair hated this feeling, like she had to beg and scrape, but she knew she had to walk a fine line. Chuck's moods weren't stable, and she feared he'd change his mind at any moment. It would kill her to have Parker ripped away from her again. Seeing how amazing he was had only made her love grow.

"For Parker." He said this slowly, making sure she understood and she nodded.

Everything in Chuck's world was for Parker. If she forgot that for a second, if she let herself believe he might actually care about her own feelings… well she'd just end up disappointed. And disappointment was a dangerous road for her. She needed stability and strength. Two things she and Chuck did not excel at. Maybe they'd had a chance at that once, but –

"Blair!" Serena's bellowing voice called out, and Blair took off without a second thought. She was scared Parker had fallen and hit his head or hurt himself in some other way. He was so small and fragile.

Chuck was right behind her, and by the time they made it to the bathroom they found Serena drenched, and Parker dancing around in the tub singing and laughing. Blair stood stalk still for a moment, just taking it all in. Her little boy was filled with so much joy, and before she could stop herself she started laughing as well. She thought she heard Chuck behind her, but she was too mesmerized by Parker to turn around.

"Go ahead Serena, I can take it from here." Chuck waved a sopping Serena away.

"Ah you're too kind, Chuck. But actually he wants Blair." Serena watched as Chuck's face fell, and she quickly tried to dispel the tension. "You're off the hook. You get to stay dry. I'm going to change before dinner." Serena leaned in laying a big smacking kiss on Parker that made him giggle, before she walked out.

Blair still stood in the doorway. She was excited that Parker wanted her, but felt completely out of her depth. He looked like a little wild man in that tub, and she wasn't sure dancing on a wet surface was entirely safe. Parker looked pretty competant and Chuck wasn't freaking out, but Blair was nervous.

"Look Mommy!" Parker called out to her before he dumped a bucket of water on his head, and began giggling again. He had all kinds of toys floating around him, and Blair started to feel a bit panicked.

"Wow." She kept smiling, but her hands were trembling and her legs felt weak. She didn't know how to do this. She didn't know how to bathe her child, or what was safe for him and what wasn't. She'd missed all these learning steps, and now she was totally lost and inept.

Chuck stepped in closer behind her, and she felt him slide his hands over her shaking ones. He was such a tower of support in that moment that she wanted to lean back against him, and drink from his strength, but she wasn't sure how he would take that. They stayed like that for a moment, huddled close, hands connected as Parker twirled in front of them completely oblivious. Blair was torn. She wanted to hold her child, share in his joy, but she also wanted to stay there with Chuck, feeling a closeness that had been denied to her for so long. She wasn't sure why he was doing it, but she knew she needed it. She'd been ready to falter, and he'd held her up.

"Come on." Chuck freed her hands, and softly pushed her toward the tub. He nodded down at the mat Serena had been kneeling on, and Blair carefully eased herself down. Her dress was constrictive, and she had to shove it up to get it to cooperate. When she looked back up at Chuck he was smirking at her, reminding her of his 16 year old lecherous self. A small shot of pride went through her.

"I'll go check on dinner." Chuck started to leave, a showing of trust that Blair almost couldn't believe. Parker cried out to him at the last minute.

"No Daddy, you have to help me teach Mommy the song." Parker locked eyes with Blair. "Daddy and I made up our own bath song, and we're not allowed to tell it to anyone else, but since you're the mommy we can. Right Daddy?" Parker looked back at Chuck hopefully.

Chuck smiled. His son's mind seemed to work a mile a minute, and already he was doing everything he could to create the family unit he thought they needed. That worried Chuck, but he also figured it was normal. Parker saw his friends parents, even the divorced ones, and saw people coparenting. It clearly didn't make sense to him that Blair lived so outside of their world, and he'd already set his mind to righting that. Sharing secrets was clearly step one.

"Alright," Chuck agreed with a small amount of embarassment. He could just imagine what the BE board would think if they knew he came up with nursery ryhmes to get his son to take a bath. "Why don't you start?"

Blair was still kneeling in front of the tub. Her dress was half soaked from Parker's splashing, her hair flat from the heated bathroom, and her face completely dumbfounded. Chuck made up songs? She turned to look back at him while Parker started in on the meddly, and he looked a little sheepish. This wasn't the boy she'd known way back. This wasn't even the husband she'd left behind. He had transformed into someone completely different, and that felt a bit overwhelming.

"Come on Mommy," Parker demanded, "sing along with us. Daddy!" Parker shot his father a sharp command, and reluctantly Chuck started mumbling along. Blair knew he'd have been more enthusiastic if she hadn't been there, but even the small amount of effort he was giving was amazing. Blair tried to catch on, but her mind was racing far too fast for her to really pay attention.

Parker finally finished the song and frowned at Blair. "You're not as good as Daddy. You have to practice." Parker patted her cheek consolingly, like he was concerned for her feelings, before the moment passed and he began dancing around again.

Blair looked back at Chuck. "I don't recognize you." The words slipped out of her mouth before she could stop them, and she waited for him to shut down on her. He surprised her by smiling.

"You know there will be certain death if you ever tell anyone about this." His tone was light and teasing. Parker's antics had clearly put him in a good mood, and Blair just found herself staring at him. Parker splashed behind her, and Chuck stood before her, and it felt like something close to perfect.

"I…" Blair searched for something to say. She felt like she needed to say something, anything to not let this moment pass. Before she'd felt resentful that she had to thank Chuck for time with her son, but right now she just felt grateful. He'd given her Parker tonight, but he'd also given her a glimpse into himself.

Chuck cut her off before she could complete her thought. "Alright Parker, time to get out and get dressed." He handed Blair a towel for Parker. "I'll go grab the clean clothes I brought, and you let your mother dry you off."

Parker nodded dutifully, and pulled the plug on the drain like this was all a routine. Blair supposed it probably was. This family portrait that she'd walked into wasn't a rarity. Chuck seemed to share a good relationship with Nate and Serena, and Parker was more than comfortable in their home. This was the family Chuck had given him when Blair couldn't be there, when Chuck hadn't let her be. It still stung, but there was also something comforting in knowing that Parker was so well loved. He had something so normal and right here, something Blair nor Chuck had ever been given. Parker wasn't raised by a nanny, he had real family.

Parker hopped out of the tub, and threw himself into Blair's arms where she had the towel opened out. She wrapped it around him tightly and he twisted around giggling like it was a game. Blair played along for a moment, trying to dry him as he flopped around in her lap. This was her dream, doing this every night, listening to his happiness, sharing in it. A month ago she couldn't have truly imagined this moment. It felt too far away, but now here she was.

Chuck reappeared with Parker's clothes, and Blair finished up drying him off. It was so domestic it scared Blair.

"I wanted the other one, Daddy." Parker whined, clearly unhappy with his clothing choices. Chuck just gave him a look, and he reluctantly reached for his clothes and handed them to Blair. Blair just stared at them for a moment, before Parker nudged her. "You have to help me. I'm a little kid."

Blair laughed. There was nothing little kid about him. He was too damn smart. "I'm sorry. You'll have to show me how."

Parker nodded. "I will."

Blair felt Chuck watching them as she learned the ways of her child. Parker was very particular about everything. She had to put his shirt on a certain way, and when that was complete he insisted on looking in the mirror and told her in detail how he liked his hair combed, just like his Daddy's of course. Once Blair was done, Parker turned to her with a winning smile and free fell into her arms. It shocked her for a moment, and she nearly fell but Chuck was suddenly right there beside her holding them both up.

"Be easy on your mother." Chuck reprimanded, but his voice was warm. The magic of the evening had clearly weaved its way over him as well. "Now come on, before Serena kills all three of us for being late."

Parker made an 'eek' face, and scrambled out of Blair's arms before running into the other room. The entire way he screamed, 'not my fault'. Blair started laughing again, and when she turned to Chuck behind her she found him laughing as well. It was the first time she felt like they were actually parents, together, a real unit. It thrilled her, and she couldn't stop herself from reaching out to Chuck. Her hand touched his for a brief moment, before he jerked back. His mask went back up, and he looked away.

"I'm sorry." She immediately recoiled. She feared this would be the moment he pulled the rug. She'd stepped out of line, broken the rules, and Chuck couldn't allow that. She knew the way he thought. Knew the fear inside of him, because it lived in her too. Chuck didn't like letting people close because eventually every single one hurt him. She used to promise him she'd be different, but in the end she knew he felt like she'd failed him too. And maybe she had. A wave of sadness rolled over her, and she turned to head into the other room.

Chuck stopped her, "Blair."

She hesitantly turned back around. "I shouldn't have… I just got carried away. Seeing him… He's so happy, Chuck." Blair just kept talking, unable to stop herself. "I always prayed that my child would have that, that happiness, you know?" Chuck nodded, but said nothing. "You gave him that… thank you." Blair wiped a single tear from her cheek.

He just stared at her for a minute, warring with himself. The cold reserve he always fell back on was failing him. Parker left him vulnerable. "You gave him that tonight, Blair."

Before Blair could respond, or even let that sink in, Chuck was walking past her into the other room to greet the others. Blair took a moment to pull herself together, before pasting on a neutral smile and heading out as well. Everyone was already seated. Parker was clambering onto Chuck's lap, and there was a chair left next to Nate. She sat down silently, and took everything in. Serena was complaining about someone at the foundation. Nate was asking Chuck about going to a basketball game, and Chuck was distracted by getting Parker to eat his food rather than play with it.

"What about you, Blair?" Nate brought everyone's attention to her. "Any plans while you're in town?" The table went completely silent, and Blair glared back at Nate. Now was not the time to remind Chuck that she was sitting on the BE board, but Nate didn't seem to notice. Chuck surely did though. When Blair glanced toward him he was rigid in his seat.

"Spending time with Parker." Blair answered honestly. "That's all I want." She emphasized, chancing a look at Chuck again. He was looking back at her, and she waited with baited breath. She could see Serena doing the same thing out of the corner of her eye. He might not make a scene in front of Parker, but he could definitely take Blair down with a few well placed words. He didn't though. Instead he just nodded slightly, and turned talk back toward basketball.

Blair sighed in relief, and spent the rest of dinner keeping below the radar. Parker eventually got bored with his food, and headed over to Nate's gameboy leaving the four of them at the table. Serena brought over dessert, and the table got silent.

"This isn't at all awkward." Nate commented.

"Nate." Serena shot him a warning look.

Nate didn't heed it though. "Look, I just think we should all be honest and get it over with. We've been friends too long to be so…" Nate sighed.

Blair couldn't hold her silence any longer. "We used to be friends Nate, until some of us decided others weren't worth it." Her tone was biting, and she didn't dare look at Chuck. This wasn't even about him really.

"Blair-" Serena immediately tried to step in.

"No, Serena," Nate stopped her. "I think we should do this. You're pissed at me Blair, because I kicked you out of my wedding, but what could you really expect when you showed up with Carter Baizen. You know how we all feel about him. He's a bottom feeder, and he took advantage of Serena when she was at a low place. I don't know how you could do that."

Blair scoffed. "Serena was a big girl, Nate. You're just pissed she slept with him, but that isn't my problem. I came to your wedding as a friend."

Nate shook his head. "You came to my wedding to piss Chuck off, and you got what you wanted. That was our day Blair, and it suddenly became all about your drama again. I'm sorry but I was done with it. We have spent years living through this, cleaning up the messes you left behind. Serena didn't sleep for months because she was helping Chuck with your son, but you never seemed to appreciate any of it. In fact, you look at her like she's done you some big betrayal. Well, you should know she's the one person who's always tried to help you. She never let up on your cause, even when I begged her to stop. So, sorry if I don't see you as a victim Blair, and if I don't feel the need to apologize for protecting my wife and family." Nate threw down his napkin and walked away from the table, leaving a stunned Blair behind.

She'd never heard Nate say so much in her life. He was always the calm, easy going one. He stopped fights. He didn't start them. His words sliced through Blair, and she knew that was because he was partly right. They'd been there when she'd checked out the first time. They'd been there after the accident when Chuck had no one else, when Parker had no one else. Blair started to feel ashamed that she'd never once thanked them, not even in her mind. She'd hated them for being there when she wasn't, and she'd done her best to punish them. Bringing Carter to their wedding had been a low point, but she'd never imagined it had hurt Nate that much. Carter was meant to hurt Chuck.

"I'm sorry. I need to check on him." Serena got up as well, and disappeared into the back.

Blair sat there silently. She couldn't even look at Chuck who she was sure was judging her all over again. She wanted to defend herself, wanted to explain it all, but the words wouldn't come. She'd tried once upon a time, tried until she could barely breathe and Chuck could no longer look at her. Even now she wasn't sure he'd ever really let himself understand. Maybe it was too painful.

"I guess I shouldn't have come tonight." Blair hated admitting it.

"Nate said what he needed to. It's over now."

Blair jerked around to look at him. He was being too calm. Too reasonable.

"He hates me. I can't say I'm that fond of him. I guess it is over." Blair began to rise from the table, but Chuck reached out holding her hand down and trapping her. "Chuck?" She looked at him questioningly.

"You can't walk back into our lives, and think it's all going to be fixed in a day. It doesn't work like that, Blair. You know that." He removed his hand, but Blair still didn't move.

"Can it ever be fixed?" It was a loaded question, and Blair watched the play of emotions across Chuck's face. She waited for the shutters to go up, for him to shut her down again, but he didn't. He just stared back at her, a blank expression on his face. She didn't know what that meant.

"Parker loves you. He needs you in his life. That changes everything… at least for me." It was the most heartening thing Chuck had said to her in a long time, and she ached to pull him into her arms, but she held herself back.

She nodded, and looked away for a moment. She wanted to lay herself bare then, go for broke, but she was scared. If he answered negatively it would crush her. It would feel so final, and that tiny piece of hope she'd been carrying around forever would die. Still, she had to know, now when he was being so honest with her.

"Can other things be fixed, Chuck?" She couldn't quite bring herself to ask him outright.

He looked down, and she worried he wouldn't answer. Maybe she'd pushed too far for that night. In her estimation a few miracles had already happened.

"You mean…" He seemed to have a hard time saying it as well. "Us?" It was barely a whisper, but it was out there then, and the air crackled around them.

Blair nodded.

He looked behind them at where Parker was happily playing on the gameboy, completely unaware that anything was going on. He laughed at the screen, and then groaned when something went wrong. Chuck just kept watching him, and Blair couldn't look away either. He was the very proof of their love.

Chuck finally turned back to her. "I don't know." Blair was ready to accept that, and let it drop but Chuck surprised her by continuing. "Parker has this image in his head of what a family should look like, and that includes you. He asks me if you can move back in. If you're better. If you're gonna leave again. And I don't know what to say to him, how to explain any of it. I tell him that I think you're better. That I don't think you'll leave. That I don't know about the rest, because I don't. After everything happened I promised myself I would never let you back into our lives. I would never give you the chance to hurt him again-"

Blair protested. "I was sick."

Chuck nodded. "I know you were sick, Blair. I know. I tried to deny it. I tried to ignore it, but I couldn't. You walked around like a zombie. You could barely look at him, and I told myself it would get better. I told myself I could help you, and everything we dreamed would come true. I did everything I could for you, and you still left us. You ran off to God knows where leaving me with a fucking note saying it was too hard. You partied in Europe while I dealt with our infant child, and I was scared. I woke up every morning terrified. That I'd screw him up. That you'd never come back. I lived like that for months. And then suddenly there you were again, on our doorstep promising me you were all better, that you'd gotten help and wanted to be a family. Everyone told me to be careful, but I believed you. I loved you so fucking much I couldn't help myself. I handed our child over to you, because you said you could handle it-"

Silent tears were streaming down Blair's cheeks, and she reached out to cover his mouth. "Please, stop." She begged.

He removed her hand, and shook his head. "And then I came home to find my son screaming as his mother bled out on the ground in front of him. I have never been so scared in my life, Blair. And even then, even then I wanted to believe it was all some mistake, but I couldn't. You lied to me. You risked him. You tried to kill yourself."

Blair felt like she was right back there laying on her bedroom floor, blood oozing out of her wrists while Parker screamed in his crib. Her mind had been so mangled then. Nothing had made sense, and she was sure that was the only way out. She vaguely remembered Chuck arriving, screaming for help, the ambulence, the hospital. Everyone was there, and she couldn't stand any of them. Chuck kept coming in, begging her to talk to him, but she couldn't do it. She'd pushed and pushed him, and then one day he'd stopped coming.

"You gave up on me." Blair couldn't tide the bitterness in her voice. "You washed your hands of me, and stole our child."

"Yeah, I did what I had to do. You wouldn't get help, Blair. You wouldn't listen to anyone. How could I let you back into his life?" Chuck was as raw as she'd ever seen him, and yet she could feel no softness. All she could feel was the anger she'd been saving up for years, finally exploding within her.

"You deserted me. I was sick, and you took my son and sent me off to Europe like I was nothing. You told me not to come back. You were supposed to love me. The Great Chuck Bass. You failed." Blair jerked out of her chair, and was standing over Chuck then. She wanted to hit him. She wanted to spit and scream and finally relieve herself of the pain she'd held in for so long, too long.

"Me? I failed? I did every fucking thing I could for you. I offered to help you any way I could. Send you to any doctor, have any doctor come to you. You said it was an accident. You were fine. You wanted to come back into our home like nothing had happened. So yeah, I sent you off with your mother, and I promised myself I would never let you do that to me or Parker again, because you sure as hell didn't care about us. If you had you would have gotten help. You would have stayed. You left. It was always your choice." Chuck kicked back his chair, his voice raising by the minute.

Neither he nor Blair noticed Parker approaching them until Parker began pulling on Chuck's jacket. "Don't yell, Daddy. Everything's okay. Mommy's sorry." Parker turned to Blair with pleading eyes. "Say you're sorry, and everything will be okay." The desperation and fear in his voice undid both Chuck and Blair.

"Parker…" Chuck looked sick to his stomach. He reached down, and pulled his son into his arms, holding him tightly. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have yelled. Everything is okay." Chuck kept repeating that as Parker broke into hiccuping sobs that tore Blair apart.

"I'm sorry." She found herself whispering, unsure of who she meant it for. The son she'd left behind, or the husband she'd broken. She'd never been willing to see anything from Chuck's side. All she'd ever hung onto was the fact that she'd gotten better and he still refused to let her in. She still resented that, but now she understood. Chuck was afraid. She made him feel weak and vulnerable, unloved and not enough. Emotions he'd lived with all his life, and sought refuge from in her and their family. In his eyes, in his heart, she'd committed the ultimate betrayal.

Chuck met her gaze, something wordless and intense hanging between them. Nothing was fixed. In fact, Blair felt like maybe things were worse. They'd bottled so much up for so long, she'd forgotten what was hidden down there. She'd blocked those memories and hard truths, and it seemed like Chuck had as well. Now, here it all was, once again an immovable block between them. Chuck gave up on her, and she walked away from him. Maybe there was no way to fix that breach.

"Blair." Chuck called her attention back, and when she looked up she found him right in front of her. He was holding Parker out toward her, reverantly placing their child in her arms and she began crying without meaning to. He wiped her tears away quickly. "He needs to know everything is alright. He's scared."

Blair snuggled Parker close, and leaned her forehead against his. "No matter what happens Parker, I'm here. Everything is okay. I love you." Blair wasn't sure where she found the words, or how she knew that was what he needed, but the cloud lifted from his face and a small smile peaked out.

"Love you too." He whispered, and then twisted around to his father. "Can Mommy come home now?"

The question was left hanging between them when Nate and Serena reentered. They glanced between the three of them, clearing realizing something was going on.

"Did we miss something?" Serena asked trying to sound cheery for Parker.

Parker nodded. "Mommy's coming home with me and Daddy. Everything is okay now."

Serena's eyes bugged out, and her mouth hung open. Neither Chuck nor Blair would look at her. "Coming home with you?" Serena sent imploring looks toward both Parker's parents, but they remained silent. "Parker, maybe-"

"Mommy's belong at home." Parker was adament. He lifted his chin stubbornly, and speared his father with his gaze until Chuck finally looked at him. In some ways they were mirror images of one another, and every person in the room watched their silent communication. It was a war of the wills. Parker wouldn't look away from his father, and Chuck could never look away from him. Another minute passed, and the tension grew. Blair knew Parker would throw a fit when Chuck finally told him no, but she hoped her son wouldn't be too disappointed.

Finally, Chuck broke eye contact and hung his head. He sighed, and when he looked back up Blair saw a new defeat in his eyes. "Okay." His voice was so soft all ears stained to hear him. "Alright," he repeated a little more firmly. Then he met his son's eyes again, stil silently imploring, and Chuck conceded. "Blair can come home."

Serena gasped. Nate nearly choked. Parker clapped happily… and Blair… she just stood there. At first she was sure she'd heard Chuck wrong. Then she moved onto convincing herself that Chuck was just appeasing Parker so he wouldn't throw a fit. She landed there for a long moment, until Nate blew that all to hell.

"Chuck?" Nate was the first to speak. "You're sure?" Nate didn't sound disapproving, but he didn't exactly sound excited about the prospect either. For once, Blair couldn't blame him. This was all happening so fast.

"He's sure." Parker chimed in before his father could. He gave his uncle Nate a look, and Nate smiled back at him. "Mommy?" Parker called to her.

Blair finally forced herself to look across at her hopeful child, and her smile was instinctive. He was radiant with success, clearly proud he'd pulled all this together. His mind kind of scared Blair. It was like she and Chuck, but better. Parker didn't seem to have a mean, cold bone in his body, but he had the manipulating skills of a pro. Blair figured genetics sorted some things out all on their own.

Serena jumped in when she realized Blair couldn't.

"Hey Parks, why don't you let me and your Mommy and Daddy talk while Uncle Nate gets you some ice cream from Sheltie's. Your favorite." Serena smiled brightly, but Parker watched her warily. "I promise everything's gonna be fine little man. Just boring grown up talk."

Parker turned to Chuck, grabbing his face, and forcing his father to meet his eyes. "You promised, Daddy." Parker waited and waited, and Chuck couldn't seem to find his voice. "Daddy?" Parker's voice got smaller, tinged with fear.

That brought Chuck to, and he nodded. "Promise," he whispered. Chuck kissed Parker's forehead, staring into his sons eyes for a awed moment. Blair saw fear and pride, and so much love it caused her own heart to ache. Chuck finally released Parker, and nodded toward Nate. "Don't let him get too much sugar. Bedtime soon."

Parker groaned, but didn't protest. He was wise enough to realize he'd just one the biggest battle of the night, and didn't need to push his father further.

Once Nate and Parker were gone Serena turned to Chuck and Blair.

"Have you lost your minds?"