Thank you for all the replies. Kaela097 my splendorific beta, you rock as my editor and a writer. For all those who haven't listened to me yet, go read her stories!

Enjoy!

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Chapter 13

Chuck ran down the hall towards Blair's room. He was vaguely aware of people telling him to slow down and that Harold was behind him but all he could hear was Nate's voice echoing in his head.

Get down here.

That had been Nate's only explanation to him when Chuck had picked up the phone at Blair's apartment.

Please let her be okay, he prayed as he turned the corner and saw Nate leaning against the wall opposite Blair's room.

"Nathaniel," Chuck shouted down the hall.

Nate pushed himself off the wall and stood in the hallway.

"What happened?"

"Where's Harold," Nate asked.

"He's coming," Chuck motioned behind him. "Blair. Right now."

"She had a nightmare and when she woke up, she asked me where her mom was."

"And," Harold asked as he finally caught up.

"I tried to call you before I told her anything, Harold," Nate said. "She wouldn't let me. I'm sorry."

"She knows," Chuck concluded.

"Yeah. The doctor's in with her now. She was half hysterical. I wanted to make sure she didn't pull a stitch or anything."

"I'm going to call Serena," Harold said. "She's probably jumping out of her skin."

"There's a balcony at the end of the hall, I'll be there in a minute," Nate pointed. "I want to talk to Serena, too."

Harold walked back down the way he came and Nate turned to Chuck, you looked like he'd seen a ghost as he was as pale as Nate had ever seen him, "You okay?"

"You scared the hell out of me," Chuck growled at him.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to go into it over the phone."

"Next time make sure the words 'she's alive' enter the conversation," Chuck told him.

Nate nodded. "I called you for an important reason."

"To take ten years off my life," he guessed.

"She asked for you," Nate told him.

"What?" Chuck stared at him, his eyes wide in surprise.

"After I told her, when I was trying to calm her down, she told me she wanted you," Nate said. "So, you gonna stay out here and lecture me or are you gonna go in there and be with her?"

Chuck shook his hand and nodded, "Thank you. Go talk to your girl."

"Go talk to yours," Nate shot back with a wink before he walked after Harold.

-d-d-d-d-d-

Chuck entered Blair's room as the doctor was leaving. He saw her curled up under the covers by the edge of the bed, her brown curls somewhat matted to her face by her tears. Knowing how upset she was he approached her cautiously. The chair Nate had been sitting in was pulled close to the bed, probably so that he could talk to her in low tones while she calmed down. Chuck sat down next to her.

"Blair," he reached out and pushed some of her hair away from her face. "Can you hear me?"

"Chuck?" she moaned as she reached for his hand instantly without opening her eyes as if it were her lifeline.

"I'm right here, Beautiful."

"My mom," she said in a heartbreakingly quiet voice as she gripped his hand in hers and rested them both on the mattress near her chest. She still hadn't opened her eyes.

"I know," he whispered as he caressed her cheek softly, wiping away the tears that had begun to fall again.

"She didn't even get to meet her grandchildren."

"But she'll be watching over them along with my mother," he told her gently. It was the only thing he could think of to say at the moment. He didn't know if it would be a comfort to her or not, but it was the best he had.

Blair's eyes finally opened and she looked at him, "Do you really believe in things like that?"

"Children change your perspective on a lot of things," he told her. "And when you're with me, I can believe anything."

"I almost wasn't with you. If that bullet-"

"Don't," he said. "Don't say it. I don't ever want to think about 'what almost' or 'what could have happened' again. You're here. That's all that matters."

"I don't know how to get through this. I'm not strong enough," she let out a heartbreaking sob.

"Yes, you are," he told her adamantly. "You were strong enough to start your own business while you were pregnant with twins. You were strong enough to get me through the worst time in my life. Don't ever think you're not strong enough."

"I'm not," she shook her head. "I can't do this anymore."

"Yes, you can," he held firm. "And you will. Sabrina and Sebastian need you. I need you."

"I hate this feeling," Blair admitted. "I hate knowing she's never coming back, Chuck."

"I know," Chuck said brushing a kiss across her forehead. "I am so sorry."

"Does this pain ever go away?"

"Not completely," he told her honestly, "But you find a way through it. And if you're lucky enough, like I was, there is a light at the end of the tunnel guiding your way."

He paused for a few moments before he added, "I'll be that for you if you can let me."

Blair closed her eyes, "She was on your side you know."

"What?"

"My mom," Blair opened her eyes again. "She was on your side. She thought I should take them and come home or at least tell you where I was."

"Only because I asked her to," Chuck replied, "She wants you to be happy. Somehow I was able to convince her that I could make you happy despite what I've put you through."

"I think it was more than that. She was very insistent that children should have two parents."

"They'll have two parents," he assured her.

"I know," Blair said. "Serena's been telling me since I told her I was pregnant that once I told you I wouldn't be able to get rid of you no matter how much I said I wanted to."

"She's smarter than she looks," he chuckled slightly.

"It's weird isn't it? We were both shot before our children were a year old," she watched him carefully. His eyes spoke the question as to how she could have known. "Dan let it slip when we were cleaning up one night."

"I'm fully healed," he told her, "And you will be soon enough."

"Would you have ever told me," she asked. "If this hadn't happened and I just came back one day, would you have told me?"

"When we found our way back to each other, yes I would have told you. Eventually I'll tell you the entire story."

"Entire story?" she repeated in confusion.

He hesitated. She deserved to know how he was shot, what he'd been fighting to hold on to, but nobody, not even Nate knew that part of the story.

"Not tonight, okay," he said gently. "When you're well, I'll tell you."

"Okay," Blair nodded. "What else did my mother say to you?"

"She said you loved me."

"Has that fact ever been in doubt?"

"Every once in a while," Chuck admitted.

"No," Blair shook her head. "I may not have always liked you in the last few years, but I haven't stopped loving you."

"Good to know," Chuck smiled.

"Will you stay with me until I fall asleep?" she requested.

"Of course," he nodded.

"Thanks for coming," she said closing her eyes.

"You're more than welcome."

"Talk to me about your first meeting with our children. Your voice will keep me calm and should help me fall asleep. "

"Okay," Chuck smiled. "Well, it happened the night after your surgery. Serena and Nate dragged me out of the hospital and back to your place. After Serena sent the baby-sitter home she took my hand and pulled me down the hall because she said the meeting was long overdue. I didn't want to do it yet-"

"Why not," Blair interrupted sleepily.

"Because I wanted to wait for you," Chuck told her. "I wanted it to be your decision."

"I would have brought you to them the moment you found me," she told him. "You deserve that."

"Thank you," he told her. "Where was I?"

"Serena was dragging you down the hall," Blair told him.

"Perhaps drag is a strong word," Chuck interrupted.

"Okay, she was pulling you down the hall," Blair said.

"That's better. She pulled me down the hall into the nursery and introduced me to your children."

"Our children," she corrected him.

"Our children," he agreed softly. "Is this helping you fall asleep? You seem pretty awake to me."

"It is," she nodded slightly.

"The moment I set my eyes on Sabrina, I smiled for perhaps the first time in months. She is the most beautiful little thing I've ever seen."

"Little boys are already staring at her," she smiled. "Her social calendar is going to be filled."

"Over my dead body," Chuck said. "Maybe I should start telling her 'limos are bad'."

"And Sebastian," she prompted him, "What did you think when you saw him for the first time?"

"We are going to have so much trouble when he hits his teens. I can see in his eyes he has my mischievous streak."

"Is that what you're calling it?" Blair laughed.

"You have no idea how much I missed hearing that," Chuck smiled as he closed his eyes to savor the sound. "I hope Sabrina has that."

"She does," Blair nodded. "She has the most adorable giggle."

"Do you know when I loved hearing that giggle the most?"

"If your answer has anything to do with a limo ride during our junior year, I don't want to hear it."

"No. It was after we graduated from high school. You giggled when I started to repeatedly tell you I loved you."

"It took us so long to get to that place. Can we ever get back there?"

"We'll certainly try," he told her.

"We're better together than we are apart."

"I've always thought so," Chuck smiled at her. "I held them. They are the warmest and most cuddly little people. I never wanted to let them go."

Blair smiled. "I need you to do something for me."

"Anything."

"When we b-bury my mom, will you hold my hand?"

"Always," he nodded as he kissed her hand softly.

"Thank you," she sighed as her body finally relaxed enough for her to fall asleep.

"Sleep well," he whispered as he continued to caress her hand rhythmically and lulled her into a deeper slumber.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Chuck stuck his head into Blair's room and smiled, "Sorry, I thought I'd be back before you woke up."

Blair smiled tiredly at him, "It's okay. I figured you went to get something to eat."

"I did. The café serves a good breakfast."

"You went to my café," Blair raised an eyebrow.

"Actually I went to your apartment and Serena insisted on us eating together before I came back."

"Oh," Blair frowned at him. "Are you going to stand there all day or are you coming in?"

"Close your eyes," he told her.

"What?"

"Just close your eyes," he reiterated.

"Why?"

"It's a surprise," he told her. "You'll love it, I promise."

Blair gave him a suspicious look but closed her eyes, "You know it's not nice to tease heart patients."

"Amusing," he stated dryly.

Blair heard the door open wider and then click close. She heard Chuck moving around and then she felt something placed on her lap and then the bed dipped a moment later.

"Okay, open your eyes," he told her.

Blair opened up her eyes and gasped happily. Sabrina was sitting on her lap looking at her mother with adoring eyes and Chuck sat on the edge of the bed holding Sebastian.

"Oh my god. How? I thought children weren't allowed in here," she asked as she put her arms around her daughter, not daring to lift her just yet.

"I told your doctor it might help with your recovery, and he gave us twenty minutes," Chuck explained. "You can hold them but-"

"I know. I can't lift them yet," she said. "I think this may be your best surprise ever, Bass."

"I don't think it beats the one I got this morning."

"What do you mean?"

"I was helping Serena get you some more pajamas and things and I opened the drawer under your bed."

Blair froze for a second and then looked at him, "You found the Erickson Beamon necklace?"

"I did. I'm surprised you didn't throw it into the river or leave it as a parting gift for me."

"I wanted our daughter to know what wonderful taste her father had."

"You were that sure it was a girl?"

"Oh yes," Blair nodded.

"Why?"

"After all the misery and sleepless nights you gave the fathers of the Upper East Side, to have a daughter would be the only truly fitting punishment. Right Sabrina," she cooed to her daughter. "Now Daddy gets to worry about you."

"And how do you explain Sebastian?"

"Over zealous sperm," Blair smiled. "Besides, twins run in my family. Every couple of generations, a set of twins happens."

"Yes, your mom told me your great-grandmother was a twin."

"I see you and she had a rather in-depth talk," Blair said.

"I'm sure she felt sorry for me," Chuck said. "I looked like hell when Eleanor first came to see me after you left."

Blair nodded and then looked at him, "Did you sleep last night or did you stay up all night watching me sleep?"

"Why?"

"Because you have lines under your eyes and I'm about to ring the front desk to pick up the bags that have collected with them," Blair nailed him with a look as he avoided her eyes by playing with Sebastian. She carefully leaned over and put her hand on his knee. "Hey. Please tell me you're sleeping."

"I'm sleeping," he said dutifully.

"Okay, now I know you're not sleeping. You can't even lie decently."

"I've had some things on my mind," he said quietly.

Blair didn't know how to respond to that so she scooted closer and took Chuck's hand while he anchored Sebastian to him and looked at her in confusion. She put his hand over her heart, "I'm here."

"Blair-"

"No. You said last night you didn't want to think about what almost or could have happened."

"It's not as easy to keep things away from your mind when you're sleeping," he told her as he felt the steady beating of her heart.

"I know," she nodded. "But I am here. Talk to me."

"About what?"

"Anything. Why don't we start with what's bothering you? Tell me what's keeping you awake at night."

"It will sound stupid," Chuck mumbled.

"Tell me anyway," Blair encouraged.

"I don't want to sleep because I know I'll see what happened to you," he admitted.

"But when you're awake you can see that I'm getting better," she told him as she squeezed his hand.

"And when I go to sleep the fact that I very nearly lost you forever seeps in and plays with my mind."

"How can I help?" she offered.

"Don't get shot again," he told her.

"Don't worry. That is not an experience I'm looking to repeat. But what I mean is how can I help you sleep?"

"I don't know," Chuck shook his head.

"Chuck, our children need one fully functioning parent right now. I'm in here, so that means you have to do it. But in order to be a functioning parent, you need sleep."

"I'll do my best," Chuck nodded.