Thank you for all the replies. For all those of you who have put me on aunthor alerts and story alerts I'd appreciate your feedback. Thank you to my awesome Beta. In case I haven't told you guys, go read her stories. kaela097

Chapter 7

"So, how's business," Serena asked her best friend as Blair found a few quiet moments to have a conversation. Between running her very own café and tending to two infants, these moments were rare.

"Not bad and I'm actually getting pretty good at cooking. Who knew?"

Serena smiled, "You've always been good at whatever you set your mind to and you know it."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence. How was your New Year's?"

"Good. Dan, Eric, and I had dinner with the parents before we went out for a while. Dan wasn't in the best of moods. Vanessa hasn't returned his phone calls in about a week."

"What is her damn problem? She couldn't find a more responsible guy than Humphrey," Blair said in an annoyed tone of voice.

"Oh my God. Blair, are you feeling okay?"

"Fine, why?"

"You just defended Dan," Serena told her. "Are you sure the sleep deprivation isn't having an adverse effect on you?"

"Look, I know Humphrey and I haven't ever gotten along, and I will never forgive his sister for a lot of things, but Vanessa has a guy she can count on and she's throwing him away. She's being stupid."

"I happen to agree with you," Serena said.

Ring-ring

"Oh Blair, let me call you back. The house line's ringing and nobody's home but me."

"Okay. But don't call until tomorrow. I've recently discovered that Sabrina is possibly the world's lightest sleeper, even more so than Chuck was. I have to turn off the ringers on the phones and put my cell on vibrate or her little lungs get quite a workout."

"Okay. I'll call you around four. Bye B," Serena said as she hung up. Then she picked up the house line. "Hello?"

"Lily?"

"No, this is Serena. Who's this?"

"This is Allison. I'm-"

"Dan's mom," Serena finished. "I remember. Rufus and Dan aren't here. I think Rufus is at the gallery, and I don't know where Dan is."

"I really need to," Allison broke off in a sob.

"Allison, are you alright," Serena asked in alarm.

"It's Jenny," Allison explained tearfully.

"What about her," she hadn't actually cared, but the woman's tone had her curious.

"There was an explosion and she-she," Allison started to sob hysterically.

"Hello, anyone home," Lily's voice called out.

"Mom! Mom, get in here," Serena called, her voice nearing a hysterical level herself as the word 'explosion' sunk into her skull.

Lily's heels click-clacked rapidly down the hall, "Serena? What is it?" She arrived in her daughter's room and looked around. "Okay, you're alright. So, what's going-"

"Allison's on the phone. Something's wrong with Jenny," Serena held out the phone to her mom.

Lily took the phone and put it to her ear, "Allison? What's wrong? Dear, I can't understand you. You have to calm down."

"I'm calling the gallery," Serena said picking up her cell phone and dialing.

Rufus picked up on the second ring, "Hello?"

"Rufus, it's Serena. You need to come home. Allison's on the phone and something's wrong with Jenny. Mom's trying to calm her down but she's not having a lot of luck."

"I'll be home as soon as I can. I'm alone at the gallery right now. It could be awhile before I can get away," Rufus told her. After the shenanigans from a few months ago, he was done catering to his reckless daughter's mood swings.

"Rufus, close the gallery and come home now. Allison's hysterical and before she broke down she said the words Jenny and explosion in the same sentence."

"I'm on my way," Rufus responded a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach started to take hold. There could be something seriously wrong with his little girl.

"Okay. I'm gonna try and find Dan," she told her stepfather.

"Thank you," he said.

-x-x-x-x-

"Hello?"

"Nate, it's me. Is Dan with you?"

Nate raised an eyebrow at Serena's blunt question, "Uh yeah."

"Well, then why the hell isn't he picking up his cell phone?"

"Jenny had tried to get in touch with him a few hours ago, and he wanted to avoid her calls. He put his phone to silent."

Serena sighed, "That might actually have been Allison. Look, just put him on, okay?"

"Sure," Nate said. He held out his phone to Dan. "It's Serena for you. She sounds upset."

"What's up, Serena," Dan inquired after he snatched the phone from Nate

"Come home," she ordered. "I can't explain this to you over the phone. And you need to grab Eric from school. He stayed late for a science project."

"Sure, I'm on my way. Are you alright," Dan inquired.

"I'm fine. You just need to come home, Dan."

"Okay, I'm walking out the door," Dan assured her as he hung up. He threw the phone back to Nate as he snatched his schoolbag.

"What's going on," Nate asked.

"I don't know but it sounds bad. Serena wants me to grab Eric before I go home. Talk to you later, man," Dan said as he nearly ran into Chuck who was stepping out of the elevator. "Chuck," he acknowledged with a polite nod.

"Humphrey," Chuck said as they passed each other. "Something I said?"

"Something Serena said," Nate said as the elevator doors closed.

"An update on Blair?"

"I don't think she'd be calling Dan home if it was Blair," Nate said. "So I take it you haven't had any luck?"

"Do you have any idea how many towns, cities, and outlying areas there are in New Jersey?"

"Quite a few, I gather," Nate responded.

"That state is a mess. There's a town in Central Jersey that's actually surrounded by another. She picked the perfect spot to disappear. I can't get one whiff of her delectable perfume."

"You want me to take another run at Serena," Nate inquired. He had the feeling that Serena knew more than she was letting on. He'd confronted her once with no results, but he'd take another crack at her if Chuck asked.

"No. Thanks but I know you want her back and this might screw that up."

"Why would you say something like that? I'm with someone else. Serena is the furthest thing from my mind."

"You're still the worst liar in the world," Chuck shook his head as he went to the bar to pour himself a drink to dull the ache in his heart.

"No, it's called loyalty," Nate said. "End of the day, remember?"

"You're loyal to me over her," Chuck sighed as he finished Nate's thought.

"Always," Nate nodded. "No matter how badly we both screw up our relationships with women."

"We both are atrocious when it comes to women," Chuck snorted.

Nate laughed and then grabbed the remote and turned the TV on. He landed on CNN and was about to change it when he noticed what was on the screen, "Oh my God."

"What?"

"That's Hudson," Nate said.

"Little J's Hudson," Chuck inquired with a lifted eyebrow.

"Shit," Nate murmured lowly before grabbing his phone and dialing Serena.

"Hello," there were tears in Serena's voice.

"What's going on Serena? It's all over the news. There was an explosion in Hudson. Is there something wrong with Jenny?"

"Just tell me Dan hasn't seen it because Rufus doesn't want him finding out before he has the chance to tell him."

"Find out what?" Nate pressed. "Serena, tell me what's going on?"

"Jenny's brain dead," Serena told him. "Allison is a mess. She wants Dan and Rufus to come up. We're all going."

"Brain dead," Nate repeated, "What does that mean, Serena?"

Chuck looked up at Nate's words. His friend was usually clueless, but surely even he knew what the phrase meant.

"It means we're going to say good-bye."

"She's dead," Nate choked out.

"Technically, no. She's being kept alive by machines until the doctor turns them off," Serena told him.

"I'm coming with you," he informed her.

"You don't have to," Serena stuttered out.

"I'm on my way," he told her again as he stood up. "You guys need someone who isn't family to be there with you to make sure you sleep and eat."

"Thank you," Serena responded just before a sob broke out.

"I'll be there soon," Nate said before they hung up. "Can I-"

"It's downstairs waiting for you," Chuck told him. He'd already called for the limo to be waiting outside in anticipation of Nate needing to use it. "Tell Lily if she needs anything to let me know."

"Jenny's dying," Nate responded numbly as Chuck walked him to the elevator.

"I know Man," Chuck said as he hit the call button. "You gonna be able to walk to the limo or should I go down with you?"

"I'll be okay. Oh. Dan said he brought you something. Serena gave it to him to give to you."

"If you or Serena need anything, let me know," Chuck told him as the elevator doors opened.

Nate nodded numbly as he walked into the elevator and pressed the button for the lobby.

Chuck sighed as the doors closed, and he went into his bedroom. A brightly wrapped present sat on his bed.

Chuck carefully unwrapped the box and opened it slowly. Inside lay a mask that is half devil-half angel. A note rested under it.

A reminder that while you show the devil to most people, I count myself among the few that know that you have an angelic side and while I may be mad, I'll never forget that fact.

Chuck's hands shook slightly as he read the handwritten words. He felt tears forming. It was a gift from Blair. He felt a sense of hope he hadn't in a long time. She still saw the angel in him when all he felt was demonic.

He still had a chance.

0x0x0x0

Serena was sitting on the couch with Eric while her mom packed and Rufus was talking to Dan.

"Serena, what's going on," Eric asked anxiously.

"Are you sure you want me to tell you? Because once I do, there's no going back."

"Yes, I absolutely need to know. What is Rufus telling Dan?"

"It's Jenny," she began. "There was an explosion in Hudson today."

"Is she okay? Was she nearby?"

"Eric," Serena shook her head. "Maybe Mom should tell you."

"Serena," Eric looked horrified. "She's not, is she?"

"Yes," Serena nodded as tears engulfed her again.

"Oh my God," Eric gasped. He threw his arms around his sister who immediately returned the embrace. They both looked up when they heard a loud wail from down the hall.

Serena hugged Eric tighter. Her gratefulness of her brother being safe and sound took on a whole new meaning at the moment.

-x-x-x-x-x-

Serena walked the hall again of the hospital where Jenny had been taken after the explosion. Eric was sitting with Dan down the hall and Nate had gone for coffee. Her mom and Rufus were with Allison and the doctor talking about options. Apparently some of Jenny's organs were still viable. She looked at her watch. It was four in the morning. She debated and then pulled her cell phone out. She dialed a familiar number and waited.

"Hey, it's me. I know you're probably sleeping right now but I just need to talk and just get everything out to someone who doesn't have anything to say. Right now, that's your voice mail. I guess I should start with why I'm calling. Jenny's dead. She got into environmental protesting and today there was an explosion and she's gone. Right now she's being kept alive by machines but she's gone," Serena said her voice choked by tears.

"I can't get over the guilt that I feel. If I hadn't set her up, she wouldn't have been sent back to Hudson and she wouldn't have been at the protest.

"Nate told me it's not my fault. That everyone needed to know what she did. Maybe he's right but I could've done it in a better way. I didn't have to expose her the way I did.

"I really need to talk to you, so please call me back when you get this message. I love you, B. I miss you," Serena finished before she hung up.

"Serena," Nate's voice came from behind her.

"How long have you been standing there," she jumped as the familiar voice rung in her ears. His voice sounded angry.

"Long enough," Nate responded, "Does Chuck know you're in communication with Blair?

"Yes," Serena nodded. "And don't pretend he didn't tell you. You're a lot of things Nate. Subtle isn't one of them. Your friendly conversation the other day was anything but."

"Chuck never told me," Nate responded honestly. His surprise was genuine. He truly had no idea.

He couldn't believe Chuck kept this from him.

"I thought you would've been the first one Chuck told. I was surprised you two didn't double team me when he confronted me."

"And we would have if I'd known," Nate responded, "I can't believe you've been in contact with her this entire time. How has Chuck not forced her location out of you? Come on, Serena, this is Blair and his child we're talking about. Even you could not be cruel enough to keep a father away from his child, not with your daddy issues."

"I haven't known the whole time. She called me around the middle of October. He didn't find out until right after Christmas. He tried to get her location out of me but after everything Blair and I have been through I refuse to let my telling Chuck where she is be the reason I lose her and don't you throw my daddy issues around so lightly Nate. You have some daddy and grand-daddy issues that I could get into."

"She's got to be giving birth at any time. Chuck deserves the right to be there," Nate stated. "And let's keep things civil."

"She already gave birth. Do we have to talk about this now?"

"Does Chuck know he's a father," Nate continued to pepper her with questions.

"Yes, I told him. He has a picture of them," Serena said.

"Them?"

"Oh me and my stupid mouth," Serena groaned as she sat down. "Why can't I ever just shut up?"

"Them," Nate repeated as he waited for clarification.

"Twins," Serena admitted. "A boy and a girl."

"Oh my god," Nate stated as he quickly planted himself in the seat next to her. He felt himself faint at the revelation.

"I am not saying another word. I've said way too much already."

"At least give me their names," Nate tried to pry the last bit of information out of her.

"Sabrina Rose and Sebastian Nathaniel."

"Sabrina?"

"You know our girl and Audrey."

"Sebastian," he added in bewilderment. He could recall no Hepburn movie with a Sebastian as a main character.

"Cruel Intentions," Serena smiled. "Do you know anyone better suited to be a real life version of Kathryn and Sebastian than Blair and Chuck?"

"Blair as Kathryn? She's not nearly that heartless."

"True. But Chuck as Sebastian? One girl brings down all of his walls in one fell swoop," Serena smiled. "Sound familiar?"

"I suppose you have a point," Nate conceded.

Serena smiled and then looked down the hall. "We should get back."

"Yeah I guess we should."

They started to walk down the hall when Serena turned to Nate, "Georgina. She'd make a great Kathryn."

-x-x-x-x-x-

Blair put her cell phone down numbly. She couldn't believe it.

She hated Little J more than anyone else in the world, but she'd never wish this on anyone.

She let out a shaky sigh and stared down at her sleeping babies. She wanted to tear her hair out and sob at the thought of being in Allison and Rufus' position at the moment.

"Life changes when you have children," she spoke softly as she bent down and kissed each child's forehead lightly.

She picked up her phone again and hit the speed dial for her best friend.

"Hello," Serena's voice was laced with sleep.

"Sorry, did I wake you?"

"No, don't worry about it. I told you to call me as soon as you got the message," Serena stated sleepily.

"Where are you?"

"On the train heading home. Eric's with me," Serena said. "But he's knocked out."

"How are Rufus and Humphrey handling everything?" Blair inquired as she pushed a tear out of her eyes.

"They're not so great," Serena admitted. "We wanted to stay but Mom sent us home to start working on a reception so we'd feel useful. Nate's with us too. But he's looking for food."

"I just cannot believe any of this," Blair responded, "I'm numb."

"You're not the only one. Dan hasn't said anything other than yes or no since he found out."

"What can I do for you? What do you need from me?"

"You're doing it," Serena assured her friend. "Just by being there and listening when I need you to, you're doing more than you know. I know it can't be easy for you to hear this stuff especially since you're a mom, too."

"It's every parent's worst nightmare," Blair agreed.

"Dan and Rufus are really beating themselves up over the last conversation they had with Jenny," Serena said. "Rufus especially thinks that if he hadn't told Allison what Jenny had done, she might not have been in Hudson at that point in time."

"Everyone is going to beat themselves up, but it's not going to change what's happen."

Serena nodded, "I know. Get my mind off of this. Tell me about my adorable niece and nephew."

Blair smiled, "After hearing about Jenny, I want to lock them up in a bubble so that they never get hurt or feel pain. But on the happier side they are so adorable. They have everyone that comes into the café wrapped around their tiny little fingers. Sabrina coos on command. Sebastian blows these cute little bubbles."

Serena had to smile, "Gorgeous and manipulative parents. I think that's it."

"Very funny. I happen to think it's just because they're adorable. I took them to the pediatrician yesterday. They're already in the top one percentile for development for infants in their age range."

"So they're brilliant and they're beautiful? They take after their mom," Serena teased.

"And their father," Blair added with a slight bit of hesitation.

"I'm glad you said it, so I didn't have to," Serena said. "Blair, can you just-"

"No," she said immediately. "I can't call him. I pick up the phone nearly every day, but something is stopping me. I don't want to get hurt by him again. My heart can't take it."

"Right," Serena said. "Look, I better go. I can see Nate coming back."

"Call me soon when you get a few minutes alone and we can talk more if you need it," Blair offered.

"I will. Bye, B."

"Bye, S."