Chapter 8: This means war
Summary: What if Chuck and Blair had both got married to different people and had kids? What if after being divorced years later they met again? How would things be?
A/N: I can't stay away from this story for too long right now I think I'm inspired lately. The last chapter had to be my favourite so far and hopefully when I read back on this one I'll feel the same way. Well I just got to say… where all my reviewers have gone? My last chapter only got two so I hope that people aren't bored of the story. By the way I know I said Nate's wife would be unexpected but I couldn't write the person I had been thinking into that storyline so she will be most likely expected. Anyway here is the story so…
Blair and Chuck sat at the kitchen table at her place on Thursday morning working on the court case. So far William had tried a number of things to make Blair seem like an unsuitable mother… Chuck had caught all of them. They now sat trying to plan out there war plan and they needed to act fast. As soon as the court summon came through in the post this thing truly started. Chuck really wanted to help Tiffany and Blair but he also wanted to do this for his own selfish agenda. He wanted to spend time with Blair. He would try and get closer to her and help her all at the same time. He also loved Tiffany she was so much like Blair it was unbelievable. She was very intelligent for her age and quite the little trouble maker.
"So I have Tyler and Mike on this. Tyler will keep us updated on anything William is planning and Mike will keep digging up past dirt on the Van Der Bilt family. Nate's past with drugs will defiantly be a hit below the belt for them" Chuck explained to Blair.
"But we need more than past dirt we need stuff from now we need anything recent we can get" Blair tried to tell him "His past is the past it isn't strong enough evidence. Believe me I've seen a few custody battle's myself where past drug abusive parents get the child" she argued.
Chuck sighed "The best option for that would be an inside person but we don't have one" He told her.
Blair sunk against the seat and perked up again when she heard a familiar voice.
"I believe she does" Said the voice of Tripp Van Der Bilt.
"Tripp and Maureen what are you doing here I thought you were in Vermont?" Blair asked and got up to greet them.
Maureen hugged her "We heard about William and Tripp was already packing the bags for the flight back" She laughed.
"How do you know we can trust them Blair?" Chuck asked thankful but at the same time suspicious.
"Because they helped me the first time" Blair explained to Chuck "Tripp and Maureen have been nothing but supportive" She smiled.
"I don't think Nate should be anywhere near Tiffany. He is under the control of Grandfather now. I was there once and it nearly tore Maureen and I apart. When I got away from him I felt nothing but relief to be able to do things on my own. I don't want Tiff to have to be under the pressure Grandfather puts on" Tripp explained to Chuck.
"Right well I guess we do have someone on the inside" Chuck smirked "But if you do help us from the inside you need to keep it strictly to Nate. William will catch on to quickly otherwise. He always played you and Nate against each other he'll do it again if you go near him" He told Tripp.
Blair nodded "I agree with that. William is sneaky. He'll play you against Nate and you won't even notice its happening. I hate that manipulative psychopath. He was probably dropped on his head at birth" she told them.
Maureen laughed at that "Well isn't it a good thing it won't be Tripp on the inside it will be me. I'm less obvious than Tripp is and we can't very well send Megan and Tyler in since there 7 years old and probably not a great source" She told her.
"How are the twins?" Blair asked. Megan and Tyler were born two years before Tiffany and very sweet children.
"Becoming quite the trouble makers, spending too much time with there aunt when they were born" Tripp told her and Blair smirked "So what's the plan?" He asked and Blair and Chuck started explaining the plan.
Later on that day Blair and Serena were having lunch. Tiffany and Molly were sitting at a separate table beside them and Blair couldn't help but think of them being a mini her and Serena. She just finished telling Serena about her morning and Serena looked up from her plate.
"I can't believe you actually like Tripp and Maureen" She told her.
"S I know what happened between you and Tripp will make things awkward if you ever run into each other but they were there for me the first time I had to fight for Tiffany. I was reluctant the first time as well but he proved himself" Blair explained to her best friend.
"No, No it's fine I was just shocked is all. You and Tripp never seen eye to eye even when we were all younger and you, me, Chuck and Nate went to Nate's family country house and you and Tripp always argued" Serena told Blair laughing "Plus I got over the Tripp things a long time ago. Nothing would make me go back there I'm happy with Dan. But I don't want to hold a grudge. Life's to short" Serena explained and took a bite out of her lunch.
Blair smiled at her "When did my bubbly blonde friend get so wise?" she asked.
"When she got married had twins and is getting ready for another" Serena giggled and Blair joined in "So is the planning going good? Do you think that the odds are in your favour?" Serena turned serious.
"The planning is fine but do I honestly think the odds are in my favour. No I don't. William Van Der Bilt is a sneaky and horrible and with him helping Nate I'm in for a lot of trouble" Blair said sadly looking away from Serena and down at her plate pushing the food around.
Serena put her hand over Blair's and Blair looked at her "It may be difficult B but you will get custody, Chuck will not let Nate get Tiffany. I can assure you" Serena looked at her best friend who now had tears in her eyes.
"I don't want to lose her S. she's the only good thing that came out of my marriage. She's the best thing that's happened to me in years" The tears ran down Blair's cheeks and S sat beside her friend wiped her tears and hugged her.
"You won't lose her B, I won't allow it. Maybe I could talk to him B convince him this is a bad idea. I know the old Nate Archibald is down there somewhere. His grandfather has made him this heartless person but Nate was never like that. If I talk to him maybe he'll see sense" Serena said to Blair.
Blair shook her head rapidly "No, talking to him could make things worse. I don't know how but it will. I know William is behind all of this. Nate wouldn't win. His record isn't the cleanest. When I get the document for the court hearing I bet it will be William Van Der Bilt suing for custody of my daughter" she sighed and pushed her plate away.
Serena pulled the plate back "Blair you need to eat don't let the stress get to you" She told her.
"No I haven't let the stress get to me, but if I eat that now it will be coming back up and I do not wish to go back to them days were I'm leaning over a toilet bowl with my fingers down my throat" Blair explained to Serena "The only reason this isn't getting to me is because I have to stay strong for Tiffany. Plus a relapse in my bulimia could be an open door for William" She said sadly pushing the plate away.
"Then how about something light, a piece of toast that could be easy to keep down?" Serena asked scared about bring up the days when she helped her friend with her bulimia. Blair nodded and Serena ordered it for her the she turned back "How would your bulimia be an open door for William?" She asked.
"Bulimia might be a sign of me being unstable and not fit to look after my own daughter, he would definitely use it against me" Blair said as she looked over at her daughter who was laughing with Molly.
"Molly I need your help with this OK. Ryan has been drawing over my books every time he gets the chance just because I kicked him where it hurt. You need to help me get revenge" Tiffany complained throwing her hands up in the air for dramatics.
"I don't do revenge get Drew to help you" Molly smiled at her "You both have the same idea's if you didn't have different family's I'd say your twins" Molly told her and nodded "And then you would be just like me and Austin" Molly smiled.
Tiffany rolled her eyes "Oh how I would love to be like you just for a day" Said Tiffany sarcastically. One of the many things her mother had taught her since the day she was born.
Molly didn't pick up on the sarcasm and smiled brightly "Really? You really are my best friend you know that Tiffany?" She told her.
Tiffany had smiled at this. In Chicago she had only one friend because she didn't like any of the other girls but now she had three best friends and Molly was the sweetest of them all. Even if Tiffany did think she was a little slow "You're my best friend too Molly and you will be my best friend till were like our mothers" She hugged her.
Molly giggled and hugged her back "Pinkie promise" Molly said holding up her little finger.
"Forever and ever and ever" Said Tiffany wrapping her little finger Molly.
Both girls smiled at each other before bursting out in giggles. The little brunette and blonde were the image of Blair and Serena as children. They finally calmed themselves down also trying to stop any more laughter coming. Soon they couldn't help it and burst out laughing again. When they left to go up the town with there mothers after lunch there hands had been clasped together the entire time. They had been inseparable until it was time to go home.
Chuck came home from one of the longest meetings of his life to see the babysitter looking around the house. She looked worried and anxious and Chuck knew for a fact it would have something to do with Drew.
"Sarah is everything OK?" Chuck asked taking off his jacket and hanging it up.
The girls head shot up. She was new to babysitting for him considering his old babysitter was… well old. The other babysitter had retired and this other girl just started today. He knew Drew would have something planned for this evening that would just drive her insane.
"W-well I ca-can't seem to f-fi-find…" The looked really nervous and Chuck felt sorry for her.
Chuck put a hand on her shoulder "Just tell me what's wrong. I promise you it is probably something Drew had planned since he found out he was getting a new babysitter" Chuck explained.
"I-I- I can't find him. N-no one has seen him a-and… I'm sorry" Sarah looked down biting her lip.
Chuck surprised her when he let out a laugh "Clearly you didn't ask Gwen, our maid. She's knew Drew since he was a baby and she knows all his hiding spots. She helps out with Drew when she can he can be a handful" Chuck smirked "Come with me" He said as he went down the hall that lead to Drew's room. Chuck opened the door and walked in. Sarah walked in behind him nervously because she had checked the whole room already. Chuck opened the closet door looking in and then closed it again. He then walked over to the door that led up to Drew's playroom. Sarah had also checked up here. As Chuck entered the playroom he walked over to the toy box.
"He couldn't possibly fit in there that box is filled to the top" Sarah told him in disbelief. The fact that the toy box was full was why she hadn't checked.
"I'm sure you checked his closet and noticed it had toys at the bottom which it usually doesn't" Chuck said. He opened up the toy box and there was Drew trying to stop himself from allowing a smirk come on his face. Sarah breathed a sigh of relief that he was still inside the house and Chuck lifted Drew out "Andrew Bartholomew Bass I thought I told you giving every babysitter I've hired this past month heart attacks is not why I pay them" Chuck told him and Drew burst out laughing. Chuck turned to the babysitter "I'll get Gwen to write up the places Drew likes to hide and any places that he might hide that isn't usual. Unless you don't plan on coming back like the last four" Chuck smirked.
"No now that I know it was planned I'll still be coming back, and I'll need that list" The girl laughed still completely in shock that a little 5 year old such as Drew could move most of the toys in his toy box out and hide in it in that short space of time that she was in a different room getting his clean pyjama's the maid had left out.
"Well that's good to know" Chuck said. After he paid the girl and she left he got Drew ready for bed and tucked him in "You are not allowed to try and give this girl another heart attack OK. I'm lucky she stayed this time unlike the last four" Chuck told him.
"I was just seeing if she was strong enough to look after Drew Bass" Drew smirked at his father.
"Oh you were? Well clearly she is and I will be telling Gwen to tell her what to watch out for when it comes to you" Chuck laughed.
Drew's face them turned into a pout "Why can't Martina still look after me when you can't take me to work?"
Chuck sat down on the bed beside Drew and sat him on his knee "Is this why you have been torturing all the other babysitters?" he asked and Drew nodded "You like playing games with Martina didn't you?" He asked and Drew nodded again "Well Martina is too old for the games you like playing now and we had to get someone new who is fit to look after you when you can't come to my office or if I can't do work at home. Sarah will be able to play all the games you like to play. You'll get use to her. Martina didn't want to leave because she loved getting to spend time with you but she was just too old. Understand?" Chuck asked.
Drew nodded and smirked "And Sarah's hot too".
Chuck shook his head "What have I been teaching you?" He asked rhetorically and laughed. He tucked Drew into bed and kissed his forehead before heading for his home office. Where he was thinking about Blair's case and not only the case but about his plan to get her back. He still loved her but he needed to know that she still loved him.
Tripp was walking down the street when he heard his name being called. He knew the sound of the voice as soon as it had travelled to his ears. He turned around to face his grandfather and walked over.
"Grandfather what are you doing in New York?" He smiled acting as if he didn't know the reason he was there.
"I could ask the same thing, I thought you were in Vermont with Maureen and the kids?" William asked him. He could already tell that he knew.
Tripp's face turned as hard as stone "Grandfather why are you doing this? What value does it have to you? You don't even acknowledge her because she's a girl and you're still living in the 19th century. Give up this charade and leave Blair and Tiffany alone. Blair will not allow you to turn her daughter into the monster you turned her father into" He told him.
"Tiffany is Nathaniel's daughter, he has every right to see her" William said coldly.
"And he also has every right not to" Tripp told him "When the judge makes his verdict what do you think he's going to give it to you or Nate just because Nate is getting married. Blair was cheated on by Nate not to mention he threatened her a few times when she had started planning her move back to Manhattan".
"I'm not giving up this case Tripp and nothing you can say will stop me" William explained "Nathaniel needs her and as his daughter she has to be there for him".
"You mean for this stupid campaign? You will destroy her like you did with Anne; she won't be able to stand up for herself because of you. She'll be quiet and stand in the background? Tiffany wouldn't want to be like that. She's a happy child, living with Blair makes her happy" Tripp told his grandfather.
"She'll learn to be like that. Children should be seen and not heard. I wouldn't want her ending up like Blair anyway" William said.
"Because she doesn't back down to you. She can stand up for herself and she'll put that confidence into Tiffany and Tiffany will be able to look after herself. Blair has already started telling Tiffany that people don't tell her who she is she tells them. Confidence is already in her. Leave her alone" Said Tripp and he walked off.
William was about to walk off when a voice stopped him.
"Maybe I can be of assistance" Said Maureen. William looked at her and they both walked to the limo.
As Tripp got into his own limo he noticed the plan was already in motion. Maureen had entered his grandfather's car. The one person who could easily lie to the great William Van Der Bilt was Maureen.
Blair heard a knock on the door as she went to get her and Chuck a coffee since they had been making more plans all day. She opened the door to see a man standing there in a suit. She opened the door wider and he looked at her.
"Are you Blair Waldorf?" The man asked.
"Yes" She said.
"You're being served" He said then handed her a folder and walked off.
Blair opened the folder she had been handed and pulled out the court documents. She knew what it was. She wasn't surprised that is was about the custody battle. She was shocked that it had been Nate actually fighting for custody. She thought it would have been William and then he would have given Nate the custody but it wasn't. She went to close the door when she noticed Nate himself was standing there.
He smiled at her "Hello Blair. It's been a long time" He said.
She forced a smile "Sadly not long enough" she said though clenched teeth just as Chuck came to see where she was and seen Nate.
"I just wanted to tell you I told you we weren't going to let you take Tiffany. You are going to lose so you may as well give up now Blair" Nate told her cockily.
"Over my dead body" Blair said venom laced in her voice.
"Well I don't think that will be necessary because when I get Tiffany I'm going to take her far away from me like you did to me" Nate smiled a sarcastically sweet smile.
"You won't get your hands on her you want to know why?" Blair returned his smile with her own but did not try to remove the venom in her voice.
"Enlighten me" He said sarcastically.
"Because I might just kill you first!" Said Blair as she went to hit him but Chuck decided to stand in and hold her back "Let go off me Chuck!" Blair said as she struggled still trying to get at Nate.
"Calm down Blair he's trying to get a reaction out of you. If you hit him it will seem like you can't control your temper" Chuck whispered so only she could hear. She calmed down instantly.
"Chuck I should have known you'd make your move as soon as Blair set foot back in the Upper East Side. But Blair I'm surprised you caved so easily. Really I am" He told them.
"Actually Chuck's a friend and if you hadn't made me lose all respect for you then you would have shared custody with me but you sicken me. I don't want my daughter anywhere near you" Blair tried to keep her temper down.
"Well I hope you enjoyed each other while you can. But a word of warning Chuck she does get boring eventually" Nate laughed.
Chuck glared at Nate and said "As Blair said were just friends but if I was with Blair I'd appreciate it unlike you. You were stupid to cheat on her".
"Well at least I didn't sell her for a hotel" Nate bit.
Chuck felt anger build up in him because of Nate but guilt because he knew what he had done was worse than Nate cheating on her, he had treated her like something he owned. Chuck didn't say anything but he was shocked at what Blair had to say.
"At least he had the decency to apologise, you didn't. You cheated on me three times… that I know of. Chuck made a mistake but he's still a more respectable man that you. So you have no right to bring up what he did" Blair took a deep breath and then looked Nate in the eye again "Now go away, because Tiffany will be home soon and I don't want her seeing your stupid face. Might give her nightmares" She said as she slammed the door in his face. When Blair turned around she noticed the look of guilt on his face "Don't listen to him, I meant what I said. You are more respectable than he ever has been" She said.
"What I did was worse. I treated you like something I owned instead of how you should have been treated" Chuck said with guilt "I'm really sorry" he told her.
"You were forgiven a long time ago Chuck. You don't have to apologise" Blair told him and then she smiled "Now you have to tell me more about what I'm getting myself into this Friday when I come over for messy Friday" She told him lightening the mood. They both laughed.
As Nate entered the limo he ran his hands through his hair.
"How did it go?" Asked the girl he was going to be married to in less than a week.
"This could be a tough fight, Chuck's involved" Nate said wrapping his arms around her and kissing her neck. Trailing kisses over her shoulder and to her exposed cleavage.
"Leave it to me" said Jenny "Chuck Bass' mind revolves around Drew so I'll have him gone in no time. Believe me he won't get in the way of us getting your daughter. Maybe later on we can get my son too" She smirked.
"Excellent" Said Nate before kissing her and telling the driver to drive them to the hotel.
A/N: I really hoped you like it. It is the longest chapter I have done yet and I know Jenny is most likely expected but I couldn't write the other person in any other way. Please leave me a review and tell me what you think and sorry it took longer than I expected it to but I'm just glad I got it up. Please review. Love Ya. XOXO.
-Emma