A/N - So I'm sure that I have no readers left and I am sorry for just abandoing this story but the absolute EPIC disaster that Dair ended up being on the show was enough to kill any inspiration that I had for this story. I hate that the writers took what could have been the best pairing on the show and completely destroyed them because they couldn't let go Chair. Anyway, enough of my rambling. Here is the next chapter of Uphill Battle. I have the next couple of chapters roughly planned out in my head so hopefully I'll get something on paper soon. Hopefully I sitll have some readers left and if I do, I hope you'll review.
As always, I own nothing. If I did, that series finale would have been very different!
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Blair sighed as she stared out the window at the house her town car was currently parked in front of.
She didn't even really know what she was doing here. OK, that was a lie. She knew why she was here. Her hand rested on her now very pronounced baby bump. She was here because of Dan. She was here because of how supportive he had been since the moment she had told him she thought she was pregnant. She was here because of the look of complete joy on his face the first time they heard a heartbeat and the way he couldn't resist kissing her hard when the doctor pointed out their two babies on the sonogram screen. Their babies. Blair's hand ran gently over her stomach again. Their son and daughter. They were the other reason she was here. They deserved everything that she hadn't had growing up. Sure, she had had money to burn and every luxury life could offer, but Blair was secure enough in herself now to admit that she hadn't had what one would call a happy childhood and the moment the doctor confirmed that she was carrying her son and daughter, she swore that she would do whatever she had to give them the family she had always craved when she was a child.
Sighing again, Blair stepped from the car and tightened her coat around her as the cold wind whipped her hair around. She slowly made her way toward the door and she took a breath before reaching to press the door bell. She actively tried to keep her face impassive when the door swung open and she found herself face to face with none other then Jenny Humphrey.
"Blair?" Jenny face registered complete shock and Blair couldn't really blame the younger girl. Really, the last thing she must have expected was to open the door on a random Tuesday and find Blair Waldorf of all people on her front step. "What are you doing here?"
"Do you think I could come in. I'm freezing and pregnant." Blair tried to check the bitch in her, but couldn't help it, because really it feels like it's 20 degrees out and she's pregnant and Jenny Humphrey is staring at her with her jaw hanging open.
"Oh sorry." Jenny pulled the door open further and stepped aside to allow Blair in. Blair gingerly stepped over the threshold and looked around as Jenny closed the door and turned to look at her. "Blair, what's going on? What are doing here? Is it Dan? Is he OK?"
"No, he's on his deathbed." Blair rolled her eyes. "Because of course I would get in a car and drive all the way to Hudson if he was hurt. Honestly Little J…" Blair cut herself off, trying to check herself, because she didn't come here to get into with Jenny Humphrey, but the young blonde just knew how to get under her skin.
"Fine, Blair." Jenny crossed her arms over her chest with a scowl on her face. "Then why are you here?"
"Dan and I are having twins." Blair's face softened as she rested her hand on her bump.
"Oh my God!" Jenny's eyes widened. "Two?" Blair couldn't help but smile as she looked down.
"Yeah. A boy and a girl." She looked back up at Dan's sister.
"Well, Blair, you should get off your feet. Come in and sit down." Jenny motioned toward the living room but Blair shook her head.
"No, I'm not going to stay long. I just needed to talk to you and I wanted to do it in person." Blair took a breath and Jenny nodded silently, looking confused. Blair couldn't really blame her. "Look, Little J…" Jenny stiffened a little at nickname, but Blair just shrugged. She would always be Little J, that was never going to change. "Look, I know that you and I never going to be BFFs, there's just too much crap between us for that but you're Dan's sister…" She rested her hand on stomach again. "And I know that regardless of how you and I feel about each other, I know that you're going to love these kids because they're Dan's."
"Of course I'll love those kids, Blair." Jenny said earnestly, albeit still a little confusedly.
"The reason I came here is because I want to put an end to this stupid bickering." Blair said after a moment. "I want us to learn to be civil, for Dan's sake and for these babies. Dan misses you. He'd never admit it to me, but I know that he does. And while I love Serena like a sister, you are my children's aunt and they deserve a chance to know you. They deserve a chance to have a big family around them, with people who love them." Jenny opened her mouth the respond but Blair just shook her head and kept on going. "I'm not saying that I've forgotten what you did, because I haven't and I don't know that I ever will, but you and I are going to be family in about 6 weeks. I just wanted to know that you will always be welcome in our home and I will try to keep my distain to a minimum…" Blair threw that last part in and smirked a little when Jenny gave a sarcastic laugh. Both women were quiet for a long time before Blair rolled her eyes.
"You can speak now, little J." Blair barked and it was Jenny's turn to roll her eyes.
"Blair, I know that this couldn't have been easy for you." Jenny's tone turned serious. "And I know that you certainly don't care really about I think or feel, but I'm really glad that I'm going to have a chance to be a real part of my niece and nephew's lives…" Jenny trailed off and Blair shifted a little uncomfortably.
"Well, like you said I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this for…" Blair inhaled at the sharp pain in her stomach. "I just, um…." She felt another cramp and then looked up at Dan's sister. "Little J, I need you to get me to the hospital. Now!"
"What, Blair, what's wrong?" Jenny rushed to her side.
"I think I'm in labour because I'm pretty sure my water just broke."
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Dan burst through the doors of the hospital, looking around widely. He needed to find Blair. He needed to find Blair now. He had no idea what the hell she had been doing in Hudson (she had told him that she was going shopping for the babies) but when Jenny had called him and said that Blair was in labour and he had to get here now, he tore out of the coffee shop he had been in. Hell, he was pretty sure that he had all but knocked an old lady over.
"Dan!" Dan looked up at the sound of his name and saw his little sister rushing towards him.
"Jenny, what is going on?" Dan hugged her quickly. "Is Blair OK? And what the hell was she doing in Hudson?"
"She's OK. She's scared and she wants you. But she's OK." Jenny squeezed his hand tightly. "And she's here because she came to bury the hatchet before the babies were born. She came because she wanted your son and daughter to know every part of their family, even the ones that she's not so thrilled about." Jenny gave him a small smile before she pointing towards the double doors down the hall. "Go. She's in room 102."
"Thanks Jenny." Dan hugged her tightly before setting off down the hall, but he stopped quickly to look back. "Dad and Lily, Serena…"
"I'll take care of it. Just go." Jenny waved him away, already reaching for her phone and Dan nodded, turning and practically bolting toward Blair's room. His beautiful brunette girlfriend looked up with a slightly scared smile when he turned the corner.
"You made it." Tears filled her eyes as she held her hand out to him and Dan crossed the room quickly, entwining their fingers and lifting her hand to kiss the back.
"Of course I made it." He leaned down to brush his lips over hers. "Do you think that I would be anywhere else. There is nothing that could have made me miss this moment." Blair smiled for a brief second before another contraction tore through her and Dan winced a little when she all but cut off the circulation in his hand.
"OK, Miss Waldorf! How are we doing?" They both looked up when the doctor came into the room, a reassuring smile on his face. "Oh I see we have company." His eyes landed on Dan. "You must be Dan. I'm Dr. James." He held his hand out and Dan shook it, the look of confusion on his face must have been obvious because the older man smiled again, glancing at Blair. "Blair informed us from the second that we admitted her that under no circumstances were these babies allowed to be born until you arrived. Your wife is a very determined woman, so I'm not surprised that she got her way." The doctor smiled again before moving to the end of the bed and lifting the sheet to begin his examination. Dan turned back to Blair and made a point of ignoring the pointed look she was giving him. He knew what that was about. So he hadn't corrected the doctor that technically Blair wasn't his wife. He was committed to her. She was committed to him. Maybe they didn't have a piece of paper, but they were together. A family. That was all that some random doctor from Hudson needed to know.
"You're wife, huh?" Blair murmured under her breath so that only Dan could hear as he moved next to her again and he shook his head as he looked down at her. "You know… Ahhhh!" Blair let out an ear shattering scream as another contraction overtook her and she all but broke Dan's hand this time.
"OK, Blair, you're fully dilated." Dr. James looked up at the two of them. "It's time to push."
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"Oh my God. I can't believe how tiny they. How perfect." Blair gazed down at the tiny bundle in her arms, swaddled in pink, before looking over to where Dan was cradling their son, with a matching look of awe splashed across his face.
"Thank you." Dan finally pulled his eyes from his son and slowly looked up at her, tears shining in his eyes and Blair felt her heart swell. "Thank you for giving me these two beautiful children." Dan moved gingerly, his eyes locked on his son, and he slowly sat down next to her on the narrow bed. "I love you."
"I love you too." Blair rested her head against Dan's shoulder as she looked between her two children. Her children. It almost didn't seem real. She was a mother. She was responsible for moulding these two perfect little people.
"You're going to be an amazing mother." Blair looked up at Dan a little surprised. Really she shouldn't have been. He knew her better than anyone ever had or ever would. Of course he could read her like a book.
"They're lucky that they have you as their father." Blair gently ran her fingers over her daughter's soft cheek.
"Jenny told me why you came here." Dan said after a moment and Blair looked away, gazing down at the little boy in Dan's arms. "Thank you for doing that. I know it couldn't have been easy for you."
"They deserve a chance to know their family… and whether I like it or not Jenny is their family." Blair said with a slight air about her and Dan shot her a look, forcing her to smile. "Look, it's like I said to her. Little J and I will never be besties, but she's your sister and you love her so I'll just have to learn to deal." Blair looked down at her babies again for a moment before looking back at Dan. "I was so lonely as a child, Dan. I mean, my parents were never really around and, yes, I had Dorota and Serena and the Van der Woodsons were always great about including me, but all I ever wanted was a real family. And I won't let my kids grow up feeling that way."
"You have a real family now, Blair." Dan leaned forward to brush his lips over hers. "This right here. The four of us. This is our family."
"I love you Dan Humphrey. Thank you for not giving up on me. On us." Blair kissed him again before smiling and gazing down at her daughter again, who was sleeping soundly, her perfect little cherub face relaxed in sleep.
"Knock, knock!" They both looked up as the door opened and Lily's head poked around it. "Can we come in?"
"Of course." Blair nodded and smiled as Lily, Rufus, Serena, Nate, Eric and Jenny all filed into the room, arms loaded down with balloons and flowers and presents.
"Oh Blair! They're so beautiful." Serena gushed as she flitted between Dan and Blair.
"Do you think that I could possibly hold my granddaughter?" Rufus stepped forward and Blair looked up at him with a smile.
"Of course." She gently handed her daughter off the her grandfather and she couldn't help but feel a pang as she watched the two of them, wishing that her own parents were here. Of course she understood. Her mother and father, along with Cyrus and Ramon had all planned on being her for the due date, but that wasn't for another six weeks. Still it was disappointing.
"By the way Blair, I spoke with your parents and they are all on the next flight. They'll be here as soon as they can." Lily spoke up and Blair looked up at the older blonde with a smile. "They said that they can not wait to meet their grandchildren."
"Thank you, Lily." Blair reached for her hand and Lily squeezed it gently.
"So, have you decided on names?" Nate asked.
"Yes, what did you guys decide?" Serena piped up. "I've been trying to get Blair to spill for weeks but she wouldn't let a single name slip."
"Well…" Blair leaned forward to rest her hand on her daughter's tiny arm, where she was snuggled securely in Rufus' arms. "This is Audrey…"
"Of course." Eric laughed a little.
"You didn't let me finish, Eric." Blair threw a small smile towards Serena's brother. "This is Audrey Serena Humphrey." Serena's eyes widened in shock as a gasp escaped her lips.
"And this is Ethan Nathaniel Humphrey." Dan said, placing a whisper of kiss on Ethan's forehead.
"What?" Nate looked stunned as Serena all but tackled Blair in the bed.
"Whoa, OK, S. Seriously, I just pushed two babies out of me. Not so rough." Blair laughed a little as she hugged her oldest friend. "There was something else." Blair pulled away and looked at the assembled group. " Seeing as you're all here. We might as well do this now." Blair turned to Serena. "S, Dan and I want you to be Audrey's godmother."
"Oh my God, Blair." Tears filled Serena's eyes as she threw her arms around Blair again before hugging Dan tightly. "Of course, I would honoured. Thank you."
"And Nate, obviously, we want you to be Ethan's godfather." Dan turned to his friend and Nate smiled, reaching out to shake Dan's hand.
"Thank you. I'm touched." Nate moved to hug Blair gently, but tightly at the same time. "I am gonna kick ass at this."
"I'm sure you are." Blair smiled at high school sweetheart and for a split second pondered how far the two of them had come together and how grateful she was that he was a part of her life. "And Eric…" Blair turned to the youngest Van der Woodson, feeling her heart tug a little. She would have blamed the hormones, but the truth was Blair had always had a special place in her heart for Serena's little brother. "We're hoping that you'll agree to be Audrey's godfather?"
"Are you serious?" Eric looked at the two of them in complete and total shock before nodding and hugging the both of them. "I don't know what to say except thank you."
"Um, and I haven't actually had a chance to discuss this with Dan yet…" Blair threw a glance in his direction. "But I'm sure you'll be on board." Dan looked at the others with a shrug and Blair took a breath. "Little J, I would like you be Ethan's godmother."
"Me?" Jenny looked floored and Blair noted that everyone, Dan included, was wearing similar expressions.
"I meant it, when I said that I wanted you to be a part of their lives. I meant that." Blair paused for a second before slowly looking up at Dan. "I'm sorry I didn't talk to you first. It just kind of hit me out of no where when I was looking at him."
"I think it's a great idea." Dan smiled as he leaned down to kiss her. "I wanted to suggest it myself, but I didn't want to upset you." Blair smiled a little as Dan rested his forehead against hers. "Thank you." He kissed her one last time before looking up at his little sister. "So, what do you say Jen?"
"I would absolutely love that." Jenny nodded, her eyes shifting to Blair. "Thank you."
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Blair's eyes fluttered open and she looked around the empty room groggily. She didn't remember falling asleep but clearly she had needed it. Her expression softened when her eyes landed on Dan, who was sitting in the chair next to the bed, with both Audrey and Ethan nestled securely in his both arms, whispering softly to them.
"Now I want you to know something about your mom. She can be a tyrant. There's no getting around that. And there will probably be times when you'll want to pull your hair out and demand a maternity test because you're sure that there must have been a mix up at the hospital and there's no way that she actually gave birth to you." Blair scowled a little at his words. "But she's also got the most amazing heart that I've ever known." Blair's expression softened. "And she's strong and she's fearless and she loves you so much. And we are so lucky to have her."
"Hey…" Blair whispered and Dan looked up with surprise.
"Hey, how long have you been awake?" Dan glanced down at the babies and Blair could have sworn she saw a blush creep over his cheeks.
"Just a second." Blair let the white lie roll off her tongue with a small smile. "Did everyone leave?" Dan nodded.
"Yeah, you were pretty exhausted so they took off." Dan paused for a second before nodding towards the table by the window and Blair followed his gaze to see a huge bouquet of flowers and two huge teddy bears. "Those came while you were sleeping."
"Who are they from?" Blair asked, sitting up in the bed, but the look on Dan's face gave her the answer. "Chuck."
"Well, I didn't read the card, but it looks like his hand writing and besides, who else other than Chuck Bass could have a bouquet like that delivered a mere few hours after you go into labour from half way around the world." Dan stood up and gently placed Ethan and Audrey back in their basinets. "Look, why don't I go grab a cup of coffee and let you read it." Dan moved toward the door but Blair's hand shot out to grab his.
"No. Don't go." Blair gripped his hand tightly. "We should read it together." Dan was quiet for a moment before nodding and brushing his lips over hers.
"OK." Dan moved across the room to pick up the box and moved to sit next to Blair on the bed. Gingerly, Blair opened the envelope and pulled out the card, staring down at Chuck's familiar script.
Dear Blair and Dan
OK, Blair wasn't going to lie. She was shocked (and proud) that Chuck had included Dan in his note. Truth was, she had expected Chuck not to acknowledge him at all (and had referred to him as Dan and not Humphrey or Brooklyn).
I heard from Lily that the two of you are expecting twins. That is surprising, but surely happy news. But if anyone is able to handle it, it's the two of you. Congratulations to the both of you.
I hope that someday I will have the pleasure of meeting your children.
Chuck.
Blair looked up from the simple, yet sweet card, and saw that Dan was wearing a similar expression to her own. He smiled, brushing his lips over hers before looking down at their sleeping children.
Blair heaved a contented sigh as she snuggled comfortably into Dan's arms. This is what she had been waiting for. This is what she had spent so long searching for and somehow she had ended up finding it in Brooklyn.