I hope everyone is having a great weekend! I would've posted this earlier, but the hotel I stayed at this weekend didn't have wifi :( So sorry about the delay!

Thanks again to my beta, Ellie, for her wonderful guidance and to the Airborne Toxic Event for their song "Sometime Around Midnight" which is where the title for this chapter comes from.

Chapter 8 – "Sometime Around Midnight"

"Oh, Ms. Serena, little Aidan is such a beautiful baby," Dorota cooed as Serena held her new born, Aidan Alexander Humphrey, in her arms.

The delivery went smoothly and Dan had even managed to stay conscious this time around. After only a couple of days in the hospital, Serena and her bouncing baby boy were back at home.

"Oh, thank you, Dorota," Serena smiled, leaning back against the headboard of her bed.

Dan strolled in the bedroom. Since little Aidan arrived, a permanent grin had been plastered on his face.

"How's my little guy?" Dan beamed.

"Oh, he's just fine." Serena smiled as Dan kissed her tenderly on the lips.

There was a knock on the door downstairs and Dorota hurried to greet the visitor.

"Grandma!" I could hear Bella squeal. After a few minutes I heard my mother's familiar footsteps as she entered the room, a black garment bag in hand.

"Serena, Dan, congratulations, you two!" My mother greeted, shaking Dan's hand and grinning warmly at Serena.

"Oh, thank you, Eleanor," they both replied.

"I think this is my cue to take Aidan," Dan muttered as Serena handed him the baby. He disappeared to the nursery down the hall and Dorota slipped into the room in his place.

"Sweetheart, what are your plans for tonight?" my mother asked.

"Well… I just plan on relaxing with Bella until she falls asleep, maybe drink a little champagne," I answered.

"But what about the ball, Ms. Blair? You've worked so hard planning it!" Dorota exclaimed, as she moved to my side. I was the chairwoman for the annual New Year's Eve charity ball. It was the biggest fundraiser of the year; the city's various youth centers depended heavily on the donations received by the society members attending the lavish bash. I'd been planning this event for six months: coordinating the decorations, the catering, the guest list, everything right down to the napkin rings on the tables.

"It's not exactly like I can go now," I huffed.

"Why not, B?" Serena asked.

"Why not? Serena, my marriage disintegrated and was splashed all over the front page of every newspaper in town only a few weeks ago!" I replied, shocked at her ludicrous question.

"Besides," I sighed, "With you out of commission, I'm not about to go waltzing in there by myself."

"Well… about that…" Serena hesitated.

"Oh, S… what did you do?" I glared at her as she tried to smile meekly.

"Blair, don't be so dramatic! We've been talking," my mother started, motioning to Serena and Dorota.

"Fantastic! The three of you have been talking about me behind my back," I snapped, crossing my arms across my chest.

"Ms. Blair, we all want you to be happy! Even Mr. Dan help," Dorota explained.

"Humphrey! Even Humphrey was in on whatever ridiculous plot you all have been planning," I scoffed. I was going to strangle Brooklyn.

"It's not ridiculous! It's romantic! And you're going to love it!" Serena declared, grabbing my hands.

"Oh… I highly doubt that," I sighed. "But… please… do tell me what plans you've come up with." I rolled my eyes at the three traitors before me. Plotting behind people's backs was my thing, not theirs.

"I may have brought up to a certain stepbrother of mine how hard you've worked on the preparations for the ball, and he may have thought the two of you should go together," Serena giggled.

"Oh, no! Please tell me you're kidding!" I begged, already gathering what Serena, Dorota, and my mother had been up to.

Things had been so surprisingly calm between Chuck and me since our Christmas kiss. We'd sat side by side in the waiting room until Aidan was born. He'd come by the house everyday, under the guise of visiting his new nephew, but he usually ended up spending most of his time with Bella and me. But he'd been so, dare I say… adorable with Aidan. The first time Serena offered to let him hold the baby he declined, until Serena insisted. He'd looked utterly terrified, almost like he was afraid he was going to break him.

"You're not going to hurt him," I insisted.

"I… I don't know how to do this," he admitted quietly. He suggested I take the baby, but I shook my head.

"You're doing fine. You just have to make sure his head is well supported," I assured him.

Chuck adjusted Aidan slightly in his arms. "Like this?" He asked, gazing down at the tightly bundled baby.

"Perfect," I told him, and my heart skipped a beat as he raised his eyes to meet mine and smiled.

But then I had felt a twinge of that old pain again. Seeing Chuck so delicately care for a newborn baby only reminded me of what could have been all those years ago. Those dreams of a child with Chuck's grin returned, leaving me restless at night. The thought occurred to me that I should just tell him the truth. Maybe telling him the truth was the key to finally getting closure. But what good would that do? What good could possibly come from revealing to him a secret that only Serena and I had shared for the last ten years? Whatever this was, this thing between us, it could crumble once he learned I'd hidden the truth from him for so long.

"Hello! Earth to Blair!" Serena waved her hand in front of my face, bringing me back to reality.

"We've got to get you ready! Only a couple of hours until Chuck arrives!" Serena declared hopping off the bed.

"What? I can't go to the ball with him!" I insisted.

"But, why not Ms. Blair? You've always liked Mr. Chuck, even in high school. And Mr. Chuck is much nicer man than he was then," Dorota proclaimed.

"You knew? You knew I liked him in high school?" I turned towards my maid, taken aback by her comments.

"Of course! You thought I no see you sneak him in your room back then, but Dorota knows all and sees all. I have eyes in back of my head," Dorota clarified, a proud smile across her lips.

I sat silent for a moment, before continuing my argument. "But… my divorce won't be finalized for six months! It would be unseemly to go out in public with another man, especially one that didn't officially come to ask me to be his date tonight."

"Darling, don't worry about what everyone will say. The fear of what they would say about me after your father and I split kept me from going out for months! I don't want that for you. I want you to be happy. I feel like it's my fault that you were hurt in the first place." Tears welled up in my mother's eyes.

"Mom, what are you talking about? Nate's affair and the divorce isn't your fault." I stood up in front of her, clutching her hands in mine.

"I pushed you in to that life, Blair. Since you were five years old I filled your head with ideas about Nate and the Vanderbilt ring. I let you make the same mistakes that I did." A sad tear rolled down her cheek and I pulled her in for a hug.

"Mom, I made my own mistakes. I don't regret them. If I didn't make those mistakes I wouldn't have Bella." I brushed away a tear of my own that had managed to escape. It had taken us years, but perhaps now my mother and I finally understood each other. Maybe it took repeating her mistakes for me to truly understand her.

"Charles… Charles is good for you. You two suit each other well. It's like Charles is your Cyrus." My mother grinned. Cyrus and Chuck were nothing alike, but perhaps he was my Cyrus. Cyrus had brought out a different side to my mother; he was her second chance at happiness. I didn't want to get my hopes up, but perhaps somehow, despite my guilt over my secret, Chuck could be my second chance.

There was a knock on the bedroom door and Serena told the guest to enter.

"Sorry I'm late! Traffic was horrendous!" Lily apologized as she shut the door behind her.

"You were in on this too?" I laughed. Was there anyone in my life that hadn't been involved in this little date scheme?

"Of course, dear! Now let's get you ready for the ball!" Lily beamed.

"But… I didn't pick out a dress, because I didn't think I was going. I have nothing to wear!" I paced around the room frantically. Of course I had a large walk-in closet full of designer gowns in the guest room, but none of those would do.

"Well then I guess you're lucky that your mother created a one of a kind dress just for you!" My mother unzipped the garment bag she'd come with and revealed a stunning wine colored, chiffon masterpiece. The embroidered bodice had just enough silver detailing to make the dress festive, but it wasn't over the top. The ruffled hem would show off my legs, an asset that I knew drove Chuck wild.

"It's been sewn to your exact measurements, so it'll fit like a glove." My mother moved to stand behind me and placed the dress in front of me.

"It's… gorgeous." It truly was a work of art.

"Did you bring the shoes, Mom?" Serena asked her mother.

"Yes." Lily revealed a bag from Bendel's that she'd been hiding behind her back.

"First we do hair!" Dorota proclaimed.

My doubts seemed to melt away as the process of preparing for the ball began. Every curl was perfected, every inch of my skin moisturized, make-up was carefully applied, and finally after what seemed like an eternity I slipped on my perfect dress and my new strappy, silver Jimmy Choos.

"Ms. Blair! You look like angel!" Dorota declared, wiping tears away from her eyes.

"Stunning!" Lily cheered.

"You're going to knock Chuck off his feet," Serena chuckled.

"Mommy! You look like a princess!" Bella exclaimed. I hadn't even seen her sneak in, but there she was, cuddling Holly, her kitten, close as she gazed up at me.

"Awww, thank you, baby." I kissed her forehead.

"There's just one thing missing… a necklace! You need a necklace!" My mother announced, as she looked through my jewelry box Dorota had brought upstairs from the guest room.

"What about this one?" Serena asked, picking up a diamond necklace Nate had given me for our first anniversary.

"No, not that one." I shook my head. The girls suggested a few others, but all of them were from Nate. I just couldn't wear his jewelry anymore, not with Chuck.

"Ms. Blair! What about this one? You only wore it once a long time ago," Dorota asked, carefully holding the Erickson Beamon necklace up for me to see. I'd never been able to get rid of that necklace, in all the years that Chuck had been gone from my life. I'd kept it hidden away in its box at the bottom of my vast collection of jewels. He would recognize it instantly.

"Perfect," I told her, as I gave Serena a knowing smile. Other than Chuck, she was the only one who knew what that necklace meant to me.

Blair was probably furious when the girls announced our plan to her. Blair didn't like being out of the loop, especially when it concerned her. I knocked on the door to Serena's penthouse and felt those old butterflies in my stomach. We'd never done this, not even all those years ago; we'd never been to an event alone together. We'd never been on a date. Hell… I'd never really dated anyone before in my life.

"Chuck, come on in. Blair's not quite ready yet, but she should be down in a minute," Dan greeted, Aidan in his arms, as he opened the door for me.

"I figured." She was a perfectionist after all.

"Have a seat." He motioned over to the living room where Drew was watching cartoons on TV.

"Hi, Uncle Chuck!" He greeted.

"Hey, buddy," I replied, sitting next to him.

"So, listen, Chuck… this is kind of awkward for me. You and I have had a rocky past, but Blair… Blair has become… well she's become my friend. It's a fact she and I will both deny, but I care about her. So if you hurt her…" He started.

"I won't," I answered simply. I never wanted to cause her pain, ever.

"Chuck!" I heard the pitter patter of footsteps on the staircase as Bella rushed to me, Holly in her hands. She jumped in my lap and grinned up at me.

"Happy New Year, Bella!" I told her.

"Happy New Year, Chuck!" She replied.

Then I heard the laughter and giggles of the four women with whom I'd plotted and planned for this night as they made their way down the staircase to join us in the living room.

"Ms. Blair be down in moment," Dorota informed me.

"She looks like a princess!" Bella told me excitedly.

Then she appeared at the top of the staircase, her brown hair down in those perfect curls I loved. She was a vision in a wine colored gown that showed off her creamy legs. She made her way down the stairs, smiling at me with every step. I got up off the couch, setting Bella down gently, and made my way to meet her at the bottom of the stairs. Then I saw it… the diamond necklace I'd given her for her seventeenth birthday. Those butterflies fluttered anxiously in my stomach, because after all these years she'd kept it. She'd kept a small reminder of me through it all.

"You look… breathtaking," I proclaimed when I was finally able to find the right words.

She blushed a little. "Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself, Bass."

Then Dorota hurried to the hall closet to retrieve one of Blair's coats to wear out in the frosty New Year's Eve air. She started to help Blair put it on, but I took it from her hands, thanked her, and helped Blair myself.

Aidan fussed in Dan's arms, so Serena came to Dan's side and took him in her arms.

"Someone's hungry," she commented. Then she turned to us, "Have a good night, you two!"

"We will," I assured her as I offered Blair my arm.

"Have fun, Mommy!" Bella called after her mother.

"I will, baby! Dorota, don't let her stay up too late," Blair reminded her beloved maid as we headed downstairs, arms still linked.

Arthur opened the door of the limo for us when we got downstairs and we headed to the ballroom at the Palace. I couldn't keep my eyes off of her the whole ride over, afraid that if I looked away I would wake up and realize this was all a dream. But her hand in mine felt warm, felt real. After a longer trip than usual, due to the crowded city streets, we arrived at the Palace, where the paparazzi snapped pictures of the mayor and his wife, along with the other numerous socialites that were arriving in their own limos and town cars. Blair drew in a deep breath. She was nervous; the two of us arriving together would be a scandal. I started to think that maybe she didn't want this… maybe we should've just done something more private for New Year's. But then she turned to me and smiled. She leaned in closer to me, my head tilting instinctively as our lips met.

When she pulled away I told her we could go somewhere else, just the two of us. I only wanted to be with her. I'd be content to stay right here in this limo, with her lips on mine.

"No, this is perfect," Blair told me, smoothing my hair down where her fingers had just been. Then I heard Arthur at the door, opening it for us. I climbed out first and then extended my hand to Blair. The photographers went wild at the sight of us. We'd be all over the society pages the next morning. I must admit I did feel a certain amount of pride knowing that she'd be on my arm for the whole world to see.

"Mr. Bass!"

"Ms. Waldorf!" The various members of the press all begged for the perfect snapshot. And Blair and I gave it to them. We posed perfectly, my arm around her waist, her arm on my back before we headed inside.

"I'll take your coats," the staff offered as we got closer to the ballroom. The notable members of society gaped at us as we entered the room. Blair had done an exquisite job with the lighting and décor; it was like a scene out of one of her favorite old Hollywood movies.

"Blair, you look gorgeous." Kati, Isabel, Penelope, and Hazel quickly appeared, their husbands trailing behind them, complimenting her on her dress and necklace.

Then it seemed that all of New York was making their way over to us, offering their compliments to the both of us.

A woman I didn't recognize, kissed Blair's cheek

"Blair, you look stunning! Is that one of your mother's originals?" she asked.

"Oh, thank you, and yes, it is," Blair replied.

"I simply must call you next week! I'd love to have a full interview with your mother for the February issue." She commented.

"That's Margaret, she's the new editor of Vogue," Blair whispered in my ear. After that more and more people, many from the fashion world I didn't know, greeted us both. It seemed that we weren't the scandal we thought we'd be. Nate and Blair's impending divorce was old news; the gossip mills had new and more exciting stories.

"Did you hear? Carter Bazien walked in on his girlfriend and his chauffeur!" Penelope informed Blair as we all sipped drinks and chatted. Blair faked it well, but I knew she was tired of their petty gossip.

"Dance with me?" I asked, as I sat my drink down and offered my hand to her.

"Of course, excuse me, ladies," She informed her minions as she took my hand and I led her to the center of the dance floor.

I'd forgotten how good of a dancer Chuck was, as it had been ten years since we'd danced on this very same ballroom floor at cotillion. We twirled around; our right hands joined together, my left on his shoulder, his left resting on the small of my back. I hadn't felt this good in such a long time, but I still felt that horrible nagging in the pit of my stomach. Tonight was perfect… he was perfect… and I was a liar. I lied to him every moment I didn't tell him the truth.

"Chuck, promise me whatever happens between the two of us, you'll never just pack up and leave again." I rested my head on his shoulder.

"I have no intention of going anywhere, Waldorf, unless you're coming with me," he answered, placing a kiss against my neck. I couldn't help but smile when he used my original moniker. Here he was, promising to stand by me. That's all I'd ever wanted from him. But my doubts and fears continued to play over and over again in my mind, tears started to well up in my eyes. How would he react if I told him the truth? Would he be angry? Would he revert to his old habits and find solace at the various bars he used to frequent? Would this second chance at happiness I was hoping for fall apart at the seams? My head ached at the various horrible scenarios running through my mind. I had to get out of there, I had to get away.

"I don't deserve you," I told him quietly. I pulled away from him and turned away.

"Blair!" I heard him call after me as he tried to grab my hand. But I managed to squeeze between the couples that crowded the dance floor more quickly than he could.

I rushed into the hallway and headed for the elevator. I had no idea why… it's not like there was a room upstairs I could return to. Chuck was the only one I knew who maintained a permanent residence here; the remodeling of his suite was just completed a week ago. But before the heavy doors could close, a panting Chuck appeared and slipped in.

"You made me promise that I'd never run away again, and here you are running away from me," he commented, pressing the emergency stop button and moving closer to me. Fantastic... I was now alone with him in a tiny, confined space. I backed up against the mahogany paneling, allowing my tears to stream down my face freely, tears that had been stored away a decade ago.

"Blair, please tell me what's wrong," Chuck begged, cupping my face in his hands.

I was so tired of holding back the truth from him. If the two of us had any chance together at all… I needed to tell him the truth. Now was the time… the time to tell him exactly what I'd wanted to all those years ago.

Everything was fine… it was better than fine… at least until Blair had run away from me on the dance floor. This time I wouldn't give her time to get away from me like I had the night of cotillion. The truth was, I would follow that woman to the ends of the earth if I had to.

"Blair!" I called after her as she disappeared in the crowds of happy couples on the ballroom floor. I ran after her as she bounded towards the elevator, her sparkling silver heels clicking all the way. I was completely out of breath as I jumped in the elevator behind her. I made some comment about her running away from me as I pressed the emergency stop button. I would keep her in here all night, claustrophobic as she was, if I had to. I needed to know what the hell was going on.

"Blair, please tell me what's wrong," I pleaded, holding her face in my hands as she pressed her body back against the paneling of the elevator wall.

"Why are you here?" She asked, tears streaking down her cheeks.

"What do mean? I'm here to be with you," I told her, dumbfounded at her question.

"No," she pushed away from me. "Why? Why are here with me after all these years? Why not back then? When I needed you the most!" she shouted.

Was she seriously asking me why I'd left? I left because of her! When I'd searched for her after cotillion and she'd been with Nate, it felt like someone had literally stabbed me through the heart. I couldn't stand to stick around and watch their perfect, little fairy tale life play out in front of me.

"Why did I leave? I went looking for you at cotillion! I wanted to apologize! But when I found you… you were heading into a room and kissing Nate!" I snapped back.

She let out a loud sob and shook her head.

"It was a mistake! I was angry! He was there… but I didn't really want him… I wanted you! I went to your suite that night to talk to you! To be with you! But you were already gone! I even went to your father's room looking for you and he showed me the note you'd left!" She cried, more angry tears falling down her tear-stained face.

I was stunned… I couldn't speak. She'd wanted me… she came looking for me. It all made sense now.

I'd landed in Monaco, drowned my sorrows at the resort bar, and woke up the next afternoon with a splitting headache. Then it occurred to me that I hadn't called my father when I'd arrived… he would be pissed. I dug my phone out of my pants pocket; there were dozens and dozens of missed calls and voicemails… all from her. I was so angry… so bitter… so jealous of my best friend that I deleted them all without reading or listening to a single one. I wouldn't reveal our little secret and ruin her "epic love story" with her perfect Archibald prince. I quickly found my father's number on my contact list and waited for him to answer.

"Chuck? Are you alright?" my father answered.

"I'm fine," I huffed.

"Son… are you in trouble? The legal team will get you out of anything you've managed to involve yourself in," he grumbled.

"No… it's not a legal issue. I just can't stay there anymore… I'd rather stay here," I explained.

"I'm not exactly pleased… but if you think it's best and you can behave yourself better than you do at home… I'll allow it," he commented.

"Thank you, father." I laid my pounding head back on the soft pillows.

"The Waldorf girl came to see me. She was looking for you. She seemed rather upset…" my father began.

"Father… I don't ever want to talk about Blair Waldorf again," I told him sternly. She'd come in person to make sure I wouldn't tell Nate about our little secret. Well… she had nothing to worry about because I had no intention of ever speaking to Nate or her again.

My father respected my wishes and never mentioned her again. But that didn't stop Serena from calling constantly for a few weeks after I'd left, pestering me to call Blair. But then her requests stopped… and she never asked me to contact Blair again. How could I be so dense? She'd wanted me… she'd picked me… but my mind had been too clouded by scotch and jealously to realize it. I pulled her against me and crushed my lips against hers. She responded for a moment, but then pulled away.

"After you left… and didn't return my messages… after the holidays… I… I found out I was pregnant," she confessed, wrapping her arms protectively across her body.

I felt a lump rising in my throat. She'd needed me… and I wasn't there for her. She'd been carrying my child… our child.

"I miscarried…" She stared down at the ground at the admission.

Moisture started to cloud my vision. Visions of a little girl with Blair's dark curls came to mind. She'd had to deal with that loss without me. I'd abandoned her when she wanted me… when she needed me.

I moved towards her and pressed my forehead against hers. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry," I told her, wrapping my arms around her tiny waist. "If I'd known… I would've been on the first plane back to you."

"I thought… I thought you left because you didn't care about me. I didn't know you'd seen me with Nate… I wanted to talk to you so bad. I wanted you to tell me everything was going to be okay when I found out I was pregnant. But then when I lost our baby… and you were still gone…I just went on with my life. I pretended everything was fine, when inside, I was falling apart," she told me, her tears wetting both our faces.

"Blair… I stayed away and didn't return your calls because I couldn't bear for you to be with him. I… I loved you… I've never stopped loving you," I replied, allowing a single tear of my own to fall.

She brought her lips to meet mine, pulling away only long enough to tell me she loved me too. Once I'd finally told her those three little words, I couldn't stop telling her. I told her over and over again as I kissed her lips, her neck, her cheeks. She wrapped her legs around my waist and I carried her over to the button panel of the elevator, pressing the button for the eighteenth floor.

After all these years, as the clock struck midnight, we were finally truly reunited in my suite.