Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. They belong to Cecily von Zeigesar and The CW.
"Chuck, will you please help me?" Blair inquired as they dressed for dinner. Their family would be over any minute and she was struggling with her decision of what to wear. It had been nearly a week since Chuck realized that Blair was pregnant, and everyone he encountered noticed how happy he appeared to be. The pair didn't want to favor one person over another when they told their happy news, so Chuck proposed a family dinner.
Blair had been going through her wardrobe since she return home two hours prior. Her pregnant stomach was making most of her clothes difficult to fit into, and she didn't want to go maternity clothes shopping until after they began telling people. She could only imagine what type of chaos that would be stirred if photographs of her shopping for maternity clothes made the rounds before anyone had been told the news.
Chuck stepped up behind her and began zipping up the dress that she had finally deemed appropriate for the occasion while his lips ravaged her neck. Her hair was swept up exposing the nape of her neck to him which might as well have been an invitation as she knew he couldn't help himself. She was practically daring him.
"You look beautiful," Chuck whispered against her ear as he managed to pry his lips away from her skin.
"Do I look pregnant in this dress?" she inquired as she studied her appearance in the mirror.
"You are pregnant," Chuck pointed out as he caressed her stomach through the material of her dress with as amused smile on his face.
"Yes, but I don't want to look pregnant until after we tell everyone," she explained as she relaxed against his embrace. Caressing her stomach had always been a turn on for him, but she was still getting used to the affectionate touch he was using now.
Chuck was glowing in happiness at the prospect of being a father. She saw it in his eyes every time she looked in them. There was also a twinge of fear that she guessed was associated with what had happened to his mother. There was going to be a conversation that they would need to have in the not to distant future, but for now she wanted him to enjoy this joyous time in their life.
"I should go check on the caterer to see how things are coming," Blair announced as she pulled away.
"Let me take care of that," he requested as he stepped around her quickly. He had disappeared from the room before she had a moment to protest.
Blair chuckled with amusement. He hadn't been joking when he told her that she wouldn't need to lift a finger for the rest of her pregnancy. Every detail that she normally took care of in their home suddenly went to him. He helped her dress each morning and undress each evening. He made sure that he was home before she was each evening, waiting on her hand and foot. It would have been irritating if he hadn't looked so adorable.
He insisted on her bathing each evening as a way for her to relax from any potential stress she had felt during her day at the loft. Their bathroom was set up with dozens of fragrant candles chosen because of their claim of stress relief. The bath itself was overflowing with bubbles. He never joined her despite her repeated requests, instead he sat beside the tub and read to her as she relaxed against the porcelain.
They'd been reading to each other since the first year of their relationship. Always it had been poetry or some famous piece of fiction, but suddenly he began reading children's fairytales to her. She'd looked at him in surprise when he first uttered the line, 'Once Upon A Time', but she said nothing as she let him continue as she lost herself in stories she was remembering from her childhood.
As she studied him as he read to her, she could see the excitement in his eyes as he narrated the story, as if he was hearing them for possibly the first time. It brought a tear to her eyes when it suddenly occurred to her that he probably was. He'd never had a consistent adult presence in his life other than his cold, distant father, so it wasn't too much of a leap to believe that he hadn't been read to at bedtime as she had been either by Dorota or her father.
Chuck returned moments later to announce that the caterers were on schedule.
"I found a few new stories to read to you," Chuck announced with pride as he pulled her into his arms and held her close. It was as if he was reading her mind. He'd said that every night that week. She was going to need to ask Eugenia this evening if Chuck used his lunch time each day to go to different bookstores around the city.
"Really," she prompted him as her arms came around his shoulders, "What will you be treating me with this evening?"
"Something about a princess and a frog," he responded. He hadn't remembered the title of the book, but the synopsis on the back cover had intrigued him. It sounded so much like the two of them, the beautiful princess and the slimy frog that eventually would turn into her handsome prince. Blair merely smiled as she pulled him close for a kiss.
Nate had been the first of their guests to arrive for dinner that evening, followed closely by Serena. He wanted to have a few moments alone with Chuck before the rest of the dinner party arrived. Serena had pulled Blair in the opposite direction as Nate walked into Chuck's office at his friend's urging.
"Were you right?" Nate asked after requesting a drink from Chuck's private collection of scotch. Nate knew Chuck rarely ever drank any of the liquor in his home, only when he requested it. Chuck never let him drink alone, so Nate was surprised when Chuck poured him a drink, but didn't pour one for himself.
"Yes, I was," Chuck confirmed as he smiled brightly as he handed his best friend the glass.
"That's fantastic!" Nate exclaimed as he slapped his friend's shoulder before accepting the drink, "Congratulations."
"Thank you," Chuck responded with a happy grin.
"How long until you add your new addition to the family?" Nate inquired as he took his first sip of the amber liquid, enjoying the feel of the alcohol as it slid smoothly down his throat.
"Blair's three months pregnant already," Chuck responded as he leaned against the mahogany desk, "This still doesn't seem real. I've been living in a dream world since the moment she confirmed it."
"She looks incredible," Nate noted. It was the first thing he noticed about Blair when she greeted him that evening. She was glowing with happiness. There was a slight pain in his heart at the realization that he never would have been able to give that to her, but he was working through that pain. Chuck was her heart. He'd accepted that when she'd requested that he finally let her go on her wedding day. "I don't know if I've ever seen her look as radiant as she is today, which is hard to believe because she was breaktakingly beautiful on your wedding day."
"I remember," Chuck responded as he picked up his platinum framed photograph of her in her wedding dress. He had two identical portraits, one at his office at work, and one on his desk at home. His breath caught as it always did for a moment as he looked at the picture. It wasn't the picture that caused the reaction, although she still looked like an angel, but the memory that the picture inspired which was the moment he saw her for the first time in her gown on her father's arm. "And you're right, pregnancy agrees with her."
"Agrees with both of you," Nate amended, "You look really happy, Man."
"I am really happy," Chuck added, "A family of my own with Blair is something that I've always wanted. Things are going to be so much different for this child then when they were when we were growing up. This child will be giving all of the love, attention, and support that he or she needs from both of her parents."
"I know, Man," Nate assured his friend as he saw his eyes darken with the memory of what he went through with his father. "You are not Bart."
"Did you know that my father was actually excited to be a father when my mother was pregnant with me?" Chuck asked as his eyes moistened with the unshed tears that were building in his eyes.
Nate looked at his friend in confusion.
"Lily told me on my wedding day," Chuck explained, "Both he and my mother wanted to be parents. I guess losing her was as hard for him as the thought of losing Blair would be for me."
"Blair is going to be okay," Nate assured Chuck when the tears began building even further.
"I don't want to allow myself to even go to that place," Chuck stated as he began struggling to find the right words as he fought off the tears. He knew that if he let himself start, he wouldn't be able to stop himself and he'd been doing so well. "But if the worst does happen, don't let me get to that place. Don't let me turn into Bart."
"I won't," Nate assured him.
"Thank you," Chuck responded, his voice grateful.
"Which do you want, a boy or a girl?" Nate asked, hoping to shift the conversation from the sober tone it was taking.
"Naturally, I want a healthy child first and foremost, but I'm hoping for a girl," Chuck smiled brightly, "I want a little Blair running around, with the perfectly curled pigtails and the crisply pressed dress."
"Remember the little white gloves she used to wear," Nate laughed.
"I remember every little detail," Chuck assured him.
"You were always in love with her, weren't you," Nate realized.
"For every day that I can remember," Chuck nodded.
"And now here you are, married to her and expecting your first child together," Serena announced as both she and Blair stood in the doorway. Blair quickly went to his side and kissed him. The tears in his eyes dried instantly as he held her for a few moments. Serena waited patiently for Chuck and Blair to separate before she went to hug him as she wanted to.
"Congratulations, Chuck!" Serena squealed as she hugged him tightly.
"Thank you, Sis," Chuck smirked.
"Chuck and I want the two of you to be godparents," Blair announced. She knew Chuck had already asked Nate, but she wanted to formalize it by asking both of them together.
"Of course," Serena responded as Nate shook his head in agreement.
"A new adventure for the non-judgmental breakfast club," Blair announced as Chuck's arms went around her waist and pulled her close, "Parenthood." He kissed her once more as they heard the elevator chime to announce the arrival of the first of their guests.
"Eugenia, Cedric," Blair stated as she greeted their first guests warmly with a hug, "Thank you for coming this evening."
"As always, thank you for having us, Blair," Cedric stated as he kissed her cheek in greeting. There was no formality needed anymore. Chuck and Blair had dinner nearly once a month with his assistant and her husband.
"I brought you something," Eugenia stated as she held out a bright yellow bag with blue and pink bunnies on it.
"Chuck," Blair scolded as she looked at the platinum baby rattle that was inside the bag.
"I didn't tell her," Chuck responded defensively as he scowled playfully at his assistant as Blair produced the rattle for him to view.
"No, he didn't," Eugenia assured Blair, "I guessed. I caught him researching children's stories online one day when he was supposed to be working. Congratulations, Blair."
"Thank you," Blair stated, "But you have to act surprise when we tell everyone tonight."
"Of course," Eugenia laughed.
Nate promptly reminded Cedric that there was a Yankee/Red Sox game on that night so the three men disappeared into the den to watch some of the game coverage as they waited for the rest of their guests to arrive. At random intervals Cedric would call out as Nate and Chuck would groan in disappointment. Clearly the Red Sox were winning, which thrilled Cedric, who was a lifelong Red Sox's fan.
Blair began asking Eugenia certain questions about what to expect during her pregnancy, as she was the person she felt most comfortable asking that had actually experienced pregnancy. When more guests began to arrive, Chuck and Blair left their discussions with their friends and began playing hosts to their party.
"Before we all sit down to dinner this evening," Chuck began once everyone had arrived, "Blair and I have gathered you all tonight so that we can share very happy news with all of you. Blair is three months pregnant with our first child."
Everyone in the room squeal in delight.
Lily quickly embraced her adopted son, absolutely thrilled at the prospect of becoming a grandmother for the first time.
Eleanor was a little more tentative in her response and hug for Blair, but Blair could see that Eleanor was happy with the news as evidence by the fact that she hugged Chuck as well. Eleanor blushed as she produced a small blue box.
Blair opened the box promptly to see a platinum charm bracelet that she remembered her mother wearing when she was younger.
"It was a gift that Harold's mother gave me when I was pregnant with you. Your father and I want you to have it," Eleanor explained as Blair looked at her in confusion.
"He doesn't even know yet," Blair stated as she became even more confused as she studied the bracelet closely. There appeared to be several new charms added that she couldn't remember.
"We figured that was going to be your news when I got this invitation. Your father would like you to call him as soon as possible. He's waiting up for your call," Eleanor explained, "He was so excited about the possibility. He sent the new charms overnight from Paris."
Blair nodded with an amused grin, "After dinner."
"We can wait, Blair," Serena assured her, "You should call your dad."
Blair nodded as Chuck pulled her into his office so they could take a few private moments. Chuck quickly dialed her father's phone number and put the call on speaker, which her father answered immediately.
"Congratulations, Sweetheart," Harold stated as soon as he answered the phone.
"Thank you, Daddy," Blair stated as she wiped tears from her eyes.
"Is Charles with you," Harold inquired.
"Yes, Daddy, he's right here next to me. We have you on speaker," Blair stated as Chuck hugged her from behind as he tried to comfort her as the tears began to flow more freely. Her hormones were in full effective as she sniffled.
"Congratulations to you too, Charles," Harold stated.
"Thank you," Chuck stated as Blair clung to him.
"Roman and I will be coming soon to stay in New York, so that we can be there for the birth of our first grandchild," Harold stated as the excitement filled his voice.
"I can't wait," Blair stated as tears fell harder.
"Take care of them, Charles," Harold requested, his voice thick with emotion.
"With my life," Chuck assured his father-in-law.
"I'll let you get back to your dinner party and the celebration that I'm sure you're having," Harold stated, "We can talk more in a few days. Start all of the arrangments. I love you, Sweetheart."
"I love you too," Blair stated as the call ended. Blair was crying hysterically as she spun in his arms and threw hers around his shoulders. Chuck knew not the panic. He knew that she was really happy, and that her hormones had taken over her usual composure. He continued to hold her and let her cry herself out. "I'm being ridiculous right now."
"You're being pregnant," he corrected her as he wiped her tears.
"You have six more months of this," she stated as she turned to try fixing her makeup by using the mirror on one wall.
"I look forward to every minute of it," he assured her as he laughed softly.
"I apologize in advance for anything crazy I say or make you do," she replied.
"It will be worth it when we told our child for the first time," he assured her.
"Our child," she repeated as she smiled happily. Chuck knelt down, raising her dress hem so that he could kiss her bare pregnant stomach. Blair began giggling. "Chuck that tickles."
Chuck continued to caress her stomach with his lips.
"We have a penthouse full of guests," Blair reminded him as her fingers found their way into his hair.
Chuck groaned as he forced himself to pull away and lower the skirt of her dress back down. "We'll finish this later."
"Yes, we will," she agreed as the lust she felt at the moment filled her voice. "I love you, Chuck."
"I wish there was some word that went beyond love that I could use," Chuck stated as he kissed her deeply, "Love gets used to casually. What I feel for you is anything but casual."
"I know," she assured him, "And I know that you aren't casual with the word."
"I love you," he responded as he kissed her once more before they returned to the party that had ensued in their absence. Nate had found a bottle of champagne that had been chilling in their fridge since Chuck had closed a recent deal at the office a few months prior. He and Blair had forgotten about the champagne as they headed straight for their bedroom to celebrate the best way they knew how, in bed with each other.
Nate quickly handed both Chuck and Blair glasses of champagnes much to the horror of Serena as she snatched the glass away from Blair as quickly as he'd handed it off.
"Nate, what is wrong with you!" Serena gasped, "Pregnant women can't drink alcohol."
"That's the problem," Chuck added dryly as he handed his glass of champagne back to Nate, "His mother didn't know that rule."
"Funny," Nate snapped before his eyes softened as he looked at the extra glass in his hand, "Aren't you drinking in celebration?"
"No," Chuck shook his head, "Blair, can't drink, so it's the least I can do and give it up along with her."
"That's so thoughtful," Serena squealed.
"He's not giving up much," Blair added, "He rarely drinks anymore anyways."
"I'm beginning to notice," Nate stated as he polished off his glass before he began on Chuck's, "What happened to my boy? Drinks like a fish. Has an appreciation for single malt scotch?"
"He's there somewhere," Blair observed as her arm went around his shoulder to rub it affectionately, "He still drinks when he has a tough day at the office."
"I've just found a better outlet for venting my frustrations," Chuck grinned devilishly as he looked to Blair.
"Please stop before Nate makes you finish that thought," Serena groaned. Blair and Serena never discussed Blair's sex life at Serena's request, but she had a feeling that Nate and Chuck didn't have the same silent agreement. Blair began laughing at the disgusted look on her best friend's face as she felt her stomach begin to rumble with hunger.
"Dinner, your child is hungry," Blair whispered into Chuck's ear. That sent Chuck into action as he directed everyone into the dining room where the caterers were finishing setting up the meal.
TBC. . .