...Chapter Nine...
...The Two Bombs That Nate Dropped...
When Chuck's limo got to Brooklyn, he carried Natalie all the from the elevator to the bed in the guest bedroom. As Chuck was watching his sleeping beauty, Rayanna walked up and hugged him.
"Ray... she's so beautiful."
"Yes, she is." Rayanna paused. "I'm sorry."
He looked at her, raising his eyebrow. "For what?"
"Not including you in her life. You had the right to know and the right to be there and because my fear of rejection, you missed out."
"Ray, it's okay. I'm not going to miss out on anything in her life anymore." she nodded. "From the moment I saw her, I knew she was my little girl. Aside from her looking like me... I could just feel it." he paused. "Let's go in my room, so she don't wake up." they walked into Chuck's room.
Rayanna sat down. "I don't know how many times I can tell you that I'm sorry, because I really am."
He sat down. "I know... I forgive you, Ray."
She looked at Chuck in his eyes. "Do you? Can you look me in my eyes and honestly tell me that you forgive me?"
Chuck smiled, put his right hand up. "I, Chuck Bass, totally and completely forgive you, Rayanna Leslie Malone."
"Aww... Chuck." she frowned. "Never speak my middle name in my presence."
He laughed. "My bad." he gave her a kiss, then looked at her. "Ray, stop apologizing, okay?" she nodded, then he was kissing her some more. A few minutes later, his phone rang. He groaned, then pressed the speaker button. "Hello?"
"Chuck, where are you?"
"Georgina... hey." he paused. "I had that meeting in Jersey."
"How did it go?"
"Good, they want to expand Bass Industries - there and I have another meeting in Boston."
"That's good. So, when are you coming home?"
"Tomorrow."
"Okay... I love you and I know you won't say it back." Chuck looked at Rayanna, as she looked at the ground. "But, I just wanted to let you know. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Goodbye, Georgina." Chuck hung up his phone and as he was about to kiss Rayanna, she turned her head. He backed up with a confused look on his face. "What?"
"This is wrong. You're engaged to Georgina and even as vile as she is... cheating and lying to the person that loves you, hurts." Rayanna studied the mixture of shock and hurt on his face. She sighed, because she didn't want to do what she was going to say next. "I love you, Chuck, with all my heart... but I can't and won't be labeled as the other woman." her eyes started to get watery. "Go back to Georgina. I can tell she really loves you."
Chuck stared at her incredulously. "Ray..."
She looked away, so he couldn't see her tears falling. "I'll go find somewhere else to stay."
A few minutes later, Chuck left. Rayanna collapsed on the bed, sobbing. A half an hour later, she called a cab and got her things together. When the cab arrived, she had the bell boy carry the luggage, while she carried Natalie. Rayanna ended up getting into a four bedroom- two bath penthouse, in a hotel a few blocks from Blair's place. She paid cash and it was semi furnished with a few couches. She laid Natalie on one couch, while she was on the other.
For the next few days, Rayanna ordered new furniture, bed sheets, stuff for the bathrooms, and kitchen things from IKEA and hed everything delivered to her new home. Plus, Blair and Serena would help Rayanna decorate or buy a few things that they would need.
It was a Friday morning, Rayanna was awake around nine am. She was on her laptop searching on the internet for some new TV's to order, when Natalie walked in with a sad look on her face.
"Hey, Baby Girl, what's wrong?"
"Where's my daddy?"
"He's over at G-Ma's."
"Is he mad at me?"
"No... no. Come here." Natalie walked over and Rayanna picked her up, sitting on her lap. "Baby, I promise you... Daddy is not mad at you."
"Then why isn't he here?"
"Well, me and Daddy just needs a little time apart right now. But, Honey, you did nothing wrong and Daddy is not mad at you, okay?" Natalie nodded. "How about you go get dressed and put your shoes on... while I call Daddy."
Natalie's frown turned into a cheesy smile, then she ran into her room, screaming "Yay!"
Seconds later, Rayanna got on her phone calling Nate. After the second ring, he answered his phone. "Ray? I'm glad you called. Listen..."
"No, you listen." Rayanna said, cutting him off. "The only reason for this call is because of Natalie. Talk to her and do not tell her about what's going on between you, me, or Haley... she will not understand."
Nate sighed. "Fine... when can we talk?"
"What's today?"
"Friday."
Natalie came back into the room and Rayanna chuckled. "Well, then... never. Here's Natalie."
Rayanna gave her the phone and she said "Hi, Daddy."
"Hello, Peanut... how are you?"
"Fine. Where are you?"
"At your grandma's place."
"When are you coming over?"
"I don't know... soon."
"Okay. I love you, Daddy."
"I love you too, bye."
"Bye, Daddy."
Rayanna took her phone and ended the call, then sighed when she saw the sad look on Natalie's face. "What's wrong, Baby Girl?"
"I miss my Daddy."
Rayanna gave her a hug. "I know you do." she pulled back to look at Natalie. "How about me and you go get some ice cream and have fun at the park?"
"Can I have two scoops?"
She smiled. "You can have anything you want."
"Yay!" Natalie yelled, in excitement.
Rayanna stood up. "Let's go."
A little bit later, Rayanna and Natalie got two scoops each of ice cream, eating them on a bench at Central Park. Both of them stayed there for a few hours, then went back home.
Rayanna unlocked the door and Natalie went in first, then yelled "Daddy!"
She quickly walked inside and saw Natalie in Nate's arms. "What are you doing here, Nate?" she asked, while putting on a fake smile in front of Natalie.
"We need to talk... it's very important."
"I'll be the judge of that."
Nate frowned. "Please."
"Fine." Rayanna rolled her eyes. "Hey, Natty... can you go play in your room for a little while? So, me and Daddy can talk."
Natalie nodded. "Okay." she pointed her little finger in Nate's face. "Don't leave, Daddy."
"I won't." he smiled at her, then Natalie kissed him on the cheek, and ran into her room.
"Nate, you have five minutes."
He nodded. "There's two things I need to tell you. I don't know how, but I'll just come out and say it." he paused to take a deep breath. "Haley's sick."
"What do you mean, Haley's sick?"
"She told me yesterday... she has cancer and the doctor's didn't catch it fast enough, and it's been spreading rapidly." Rayanna slowly sat down on the couch, letting all this information marinate in her brain. "She's dying, Ray." She sat there in shock as her eyes started to get watery. "And the other thing was, Haley made a will and she wants you to have full custody of Jake."