Kinda skimpy on the replies last time. I am currently watching Gossip Girl and I gotta say, I'm liking Serena right now. Thanks to my beta. Reply!

Chapter 14

Blair's eyes opened slowly. She smiled when she noticed the rays of sun starting to stream through her window. She could almost smell the start of spring in the air. Turning to see who'd spent the night at her bedside she raised an eyebrow in confusion to see Eric.

"Eric," she said softly so she didn't startle him out of his sleep.

The younger boy's eyes opened slowly and he smiled at her, "Morning."

"What are you doing here?"

"Well, last night I was there when Serena, Nate, and Chuck were arguing about who was going to spend the night here with you. They all had those scary faces they make when they don't get enough sleep, so I volunteered to stay with you."

"Why? I would've been okay by myself."

"I know that and you know that but try telling the other three members of the Non-Judging Breakfast Club that. I wouldn't be surprised if all three of them stayed with you given the opportunity."

"Well, I won't be bound by the rules of this fine institution for much longer," Blair smiled cheerfully. "I get released today."

"I know. Any ideas as to where you'll be staying as you recover?"

"Well, I have been told I need to take it easy so that means I can't go back to work right away. For some reason that means I can't go back to my apartment."

"You know my mom would take you in a second," Eric smiled.

"Of course, she would," Blair nodded, "But she and Rufus have enough going on right now. They don't need to be taking care of two infants and a recovering gunshot victim."

"Survivor," Eric corrects her.

"Survivor," Blair conceded.

"You have never been a victim."

"Thank you. But, I can't force my presence on a grieving man especially given the way Jenny and I felt about one another. I can just go to the penthouse. Dorota can take care of us."

"What about her family?" Eric inquired, "Vanya and Ana? Are you sure Dorota can handle three children at once?"

"Perhaps not," Blair frowned. "Are we sure I can't just go back to my apartment?"

"Positive," Eric said. "We know you Blair. You won't take it easy if you're anywhere near your house. You'll be going down to the cafe to make sure Dan's doing things right."

"I'll just hire myself a nurse and nanny then," Blair shrugged.

"And stay where," Eric asked.

"Waldorf penthouse. Dorota can help me get settled and she can take care of the normal stuff while the nanny and the nurse help out with everything else."

"What about Chuck?" Eric suggested, "Sabrina and Sebastian are his children. Granted he's new at it, but he's doing well with them considering the crash course on babies he's taking."

"No," Blair shook her head. "We're not at that place yet. He'll feel obligated, and I don't want that."

"Obligated? Really? Blair, you've been as much a sister to me as Serena has since I was about four. I spent more time in your house than my own when my mother was going through her marriages so I feel comfortable in telling you that you're crazy if you think Chuck Bass sees you as an obligation of any kind. He is ass backwards in love with you. He has been for as long as I've known him."

"Perhaps if he suggested it, I'd consider it," Blair conceded, "But don't you even think about putting the thought into his head. I'll crush you van der Woodsen. Gunshot or not, you know I could do it."

"If he suggests it, it will be his idea," Eric assured her. "I don't meddle unlike my bubbling blonde older sister."

Blair smiled at him, "How are you Eric? I know how much Jenny meant to you as a friend and a sister. Fight or not, I know you must be hurting."

"It does," he nodded as the sadness filled his eyes before he put his head down. "She was my best friend for the longest time, but she'd changed so much in the last year or so. It was hard to even recognize her anymore. I just wish we'd been in a better place before she died. We weren't even speaking. I wish I had a little closure."

Blair reached out and put her hand on his, "That sibling thing you feel for me goes both ways you know. You ever need a sister other than Serena to talk to, you know where to find me. I hope you know that. Now that everyone knows where I am, I expect you to be my children's favorite uncle."

"I'll happily play the part," Eric smiled slightly. "They are adorable. If you ever need a babysitter for the night, I'd love to offer my services. Though I might require reinforcements. There are two of them and only one of me."

"I know exactly how you feel," Blair laughed. "They always have me outnumbered and running ragged."

"Now that we know where you are, you have a few more people to help out," Eric said. "And I love the cafe. I spent yesterday helping Dan with the night shift before I came here. I think I poured four pots of that Kona you sell in under an hour."

"Yeah the college kids like that when they have finals, midterms, or term papers," Blair nodded. "I never really realized how many people we have in our life that are so willing to roll up their sleeves and help out. Perhaps leaving Manhattan wasn't as necessary as I thought."

"It certainly would have saved Chuck a lot of heartache," Eric stated, "I'd never seen him as devastated as he was in your absence. We were all a little fearful as to what he might do if he hadn't found you when he did."

"What does that mean, Eric?" she asked as a sense of dread settled into the pit of her stomach.

"He got drunk a lot," Eric told her. "Nate didn't feel entirely comfortable leaving him alone for about a month before you were shot. We were afraid of what he might do if he was left to his own devices for too long."

Blair closed her eyes as Eric's meaning sunk in. She couldn't believe that her disappearance could drive him into that deep a despair, but this was Chuck. He did self loathing better than anyone.

"B, you weren't the only one who shut him out," Eric said. "Up until I realized what Jenny did, I wasn't all that into spending time with him. I avoided him. Serena was the first to let him back in aside from Mom."

Blair nodded slightly, but the guilt was not as easily pushed away.

"I'm not helping you, am I," Eric frowned. "My intention is not to make you feel guilty in any way. Chuck hurt you deeply. You were well within your rights to cast him out of your life."

"But not out of our children's lives," she replied.

"I can't argue with that," Eric stated.

Blair shook her head, "You make forgiveness way too easy, Eric."

"It's a gift. Serena's good at guilt, I'm good at forgiveness, and you are good at anything you set your mind to."

"Trying to lift the heart patient's spirits," Blair teased.

"Any way I can," Eric smirked.

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

Nate watched his best friend hold Sabrina and smiled. Chuck Bass was an adoring father. It would have been an impossible image to picture back in high school but now it seemed to be second nature to him.

"Hey," Nate greeted.

"Hi," Chuck said as Nate entered the nursery. "What's up?"

"Serena wanted me to tell you that we'll be leaving soon. We have to head to the hospital and discuss Blair's future living situation."

"Right," Chuck nodded.

"Any thoughts on that," Nate asked his friend.

"I want her to come home with me," Chuck informed his best friend.

"Then tell her," Nate encouraged him as Chuck rocked Sabrina in his arms. She was sound asleep in his arms and holding his finger tightly in her fist.

"I'll end up scaring her off," Chuck said. "She'll think I'm rushing, things and she'll run in the opposite direction. I can't deal with that again Nate."

"You don't know that for sure," Nate responded, "She may want to go with you, but not want to ask."

"No, I know Blair," Chuck shook his head. "If I try to swoop in and take care of her, she'll think I'm trying to control the situation and she'll accuse me of trying to work her so she'll forgive me for what happened last year."

"Jack or Jenny?"

"Jack. Since Humphrey is now considered a friend, Jenny is no longer cannon fodder."

"She'll work her way through that in time. She loves you," Nate stated.

"Love doesn't wash away all sins," Chuck shook his head in self doubt.

"You're not asking her to wash the sins away," Nate replied, "You're asking for forgiveness. There is a difference."

"What makes you so sure she'll forgive me," Chuck asked.

"Because she forgave Serena and me," Nate said. "At that point in her life what Serena and I did was the worst thing we could've done and she forgave us. She still loves us. And because of it, she found her way to you.

"Perhaps you need to find a way to forgive yourself," Nate suggested after Chuck sat quietly for a few moments as he studied his daughter's face with a pained expression.

"What if I hurt Sabrina or Sebastian like I hurt their mother," Chuck spoke as the tears filled his eyes.

"You know better," Nate told him without pause or question. "You know better because you know what it's like to be the kid whose father hurts him without thinking twice about it. You know better because you watched all of your friends be hurt by their parents and you couldn't do anything about it. You can do something about making sure your kids aren't hurt."

"I will protect you from that, Sabrina," Chuck whispered in her ear as he kissed her forehead softly so he wouldn't wake her. "You will know you what it's like to feel a parent's love, from both of your parents."

"Also, you're a better person than you give yourself credit for," Nate said. "You tried to take me home with you when you realized how much trouble my family was in. You helped save Serena from herself more times than I can count. And when it comes to Blair, you're there without question. You'll do the same for these children."

Chuck nodded as Nate's words sunk in, "You have your moments, Archibald."

"Yeah well, what can I say? I want you and Blair to be happy because you both deserve it."

"So do you," Chuck nodded. "So, don't let her go this time."

"I'll try my best but sometimes it's like nailing Jell-O to the wall."

"But there's always room for Jell-O, so just keep trying."

"Guys," Serena stuck her head in through the opening of the door. "Hey. Mrs. Katz is here. Are you two ready?"

Chuck felt torn. He wanted to be at Blair's bedside, but he also wanted to stay with his children. He'd never felt this torn before. Blair had always been his choice before. He understood what people used to say about priorities shifting when a person has children.

"Chuck, if you don't want to come, that's fine. Blair will understand," Serena assured him. "But we are talking about where she's going to go when she's released."

"I'm coming," Chuck made his decision quickly. If he could get her to come home with him, he wouldn't have to choose between his children or her.

"Nicely done," Nate whispered to Serena as Chuck said his goodbyes to the children.

"Thanks," Serena smirked.

x-x-x-x-x

Blair felt crowded as everyone filed in her room to discuss her pending release.

"Hey guys," Blair smiled at her friends. "You just missed Eric."

"Where did he go," Serena asked.

"Back to the hotel," Blair explained. "Lily wants him to pack up his stuff. I think your mom is heading home."

"Blair, we need to talk about your release," Serena stated as she brought up the topic before anyone else could. "If you want to go back to your mother's penthouse, I'll come stay with you."

Blair looked at Chuck. His eyes were conflicted.

"Serena, you don't need to do that," Blair shook head. "I'm sure you have a lot of school to catch up on."

"Don't be silly," Serena shook off her friend's concern.

Chuck opened his mouth to speak, but he couldn't find the words.

"And if you don't let me move in with you, I'm packing you and the twins up and taking you home with me," Serena said.

"I'm not moving into your mom's Serena," Blair shook her head. "Rufus deserves more respect than that."

"Then it's settled, I'm coming to stay with you," Serena announced.

Blair looked at Chuck. She could see that he wanted to ask her to stay with him, but his self doubt was getting in the way. She looked at him hopefully, but no words came. Finally she nodded in agreement to Serena's suggestion though nobody could ignore the disappointment on her face.

"Great. I'll call Dorota and ask her to fix up a room for me," Serena smiled. "Your dad's talking to the doctor right now and getting all the paperwork in order."

"Chuck, a word," Nate said as he motioned Chuck towards the hallway.

"Sure," he nodded and followed his friend out of the room.

"Did you temporarily lose your ability to speak?"

"What are you talking about?" Chuck snapped defensively.

"Tell me you didn't see the way Blair was looking at you," Nate shook his head. "She wanted you to ask her to stay with you."

"I-I," again Chuck couldn't find the words.

"What's the matter with you?" Nate hissed. "Spit it out. There is still time to change her mind. Ask her to stay with you."

"I will not push her," Chuck said finally.

"You are officially the dumbest person in history. You want Blair to stay with you. She wants you to want her to stay with you. Stop being chicken shit and ask her. It's not pushing, if it's what she wants."

"No, Archibald, the dunce crown still goes to you," Chuck growled as he turned suddenly to return to Blair's side. His look told Nate not to follow.

Serena was about to pick up the phone.

"Serena, can we have a minute," Chuck asked.

"Sure, Chuck," she nodded, "What did you want to talk about?"

"No, I meant Blair and me," Chuck motioned to Blair.

"Oh. Right. I'll be outside with Nate."

"Thank you," Chuck said as Serena exited.

"What is it, Chuck," Blair asked, her voice sounded annoyed.

"I wanted to give you another living option."

"I think living with Serena is best for all of us," Blair responded quickly. Her wounded pride was getting the better of her at the moment. She was so mad that he hadn't asked in the first place.

Chuck's face fell as he nodded in agreement.

"So, I guess I'll see you back in New York," Blair said. "Who's packing up the twins?"

"I am," he responded softly, "If you'd like we can take the limo back to Manhattan. Give the children a taste of what their life will be like from now on."

"No," Blair shook her head. "I am not raising my-our children to think limos are the only mode of transportation. Chuck, I took driving lessons after they were born. I have a license. I was going to get a car. They will not be depending on Arthur or whomever to drive them everywhere they need to go."

"You're going to drive in New York City," Chuck bit his lip to keep from laughing.

"Why is that funny?" she snapped.

"You have no patience, Beautiful. You'll run everyone in your path over."

"Well, be that as it may, I don't want Sabrina and Sebastian thinking limos are the only way to go. Sebastian is not getting his own car and driver when he turns thirteen like you did and I am not letting Sabrina be alone in the back of one with a boy unless they're married."

"I'm not letting Sebastian have his own limo, either, and I fully agree with your proposal regarding Sabrina," Chuck assured her, "But these children are Basses. Limos are going to be a part of their lives."

"You are aware that their last name is Thayer, right?"

"By blood they're half Bass," he responded purposely ignoring the reminder that she'd given their children a name other than their own. He could have tolerated Waldorf, but he was determined to get their birth certificates changed.

Thayer was not acceptable.

"Are you sure that you want to have us all in the limo," Blair asked. "I could just as easily take the train with Serena, Lily, Eric, and Rufus."

"Limo," he nodded his head.

"Okay," Blair nodded. "Serena said she packed up some stuff for me already. But I don't think the trunk's going to fit everything we need."

"We'll ship whatever else we need," he told her.

Blair nodded again, "I can get Dan to pack up everything we can't fit into the limo. Um, have you talked to Cyrus?"

"Yes," he nodded, "He's waiting until you feel well enough to have Eleanor's funeral."

"I know," Blair said. "But I was asking how he is. I can't bring myself to call him."

"He's holding it together about as well as he can," Chuck told her. "He's devastated, obviously, but his first question whenever I speak to him is how you're doing. He's very worried about you."

"I got really lucky with him," Blair said quietly. "I could have ended up with someone like Serena's first stepfather. God, that guy was creepy. I heard he's doing time at the moment."

"Made Snow White's stepmother look like a saint," Chuck recalled.

"Your father was with a lot of women while we were growing up but he only married Lily. Why do you think that was?"

"Because he had impeccable taste," Chuck responded. "He knew the difference between a fling and love."

"You actually did learn something from him," Blair smiled shyly.

"I learned many things from him. Not all of them were good."

"But this one was good," she smiled a little more confidently as she took his hand into hers.

Chuck nodded as he kissed her hand softly. "The very best he had to offer."