Yay. GG is back on. Okay before I thank the usual suspects I have to address something that a few of you have brought up. I do not plan on putting Jack in this story. I have no desire to write a pedophiliac would-be rapist who harbors an unnatural obsession for his nephew's soulmate. As far as I'm concerned, Jack is somewhere in the Australian Outback being roasted on a spit for sleeping with a tribal chief's virgin daughter the night before her wedding.
Thank you for your replies and thank you to my amazing beta.
-x-x-x-x-
"What is wrong with Coney Island?" Blair asked.
"It's in Brooklyn," Chuck made a face of disgust. "We spent the first twenty years of our lives avoiding Brooklyn, and now you want to bring them there?"
"Chuck, I've recently discovered that things in Brooklyn aren't so bad."
"I know you and Humphrey have some weird friendship type thing going on but I am not going to willfully subject our children to that."
"Well, I don't think a boat ride in the harbor is appropriate when they're this young."
"There has to be something we can agree on," Chuck frowned.
The phone rang and Blair got up to answer.
"Keep thinking. I'll want a suggestion when I get back."
"Yes, dear."
Chuck vaguely heard Blair say hello to whoever was on the phone and then he heard the clatter of the phone hitting the floor. He looked up and saw Blair leaning against the end table with both of her hands on it.
He got up and went into the living room. Picking up the phone he anchored Blair to him by the waist.
"Hello? Who is this?" As the person on the other end explained the situation Chuck held Blair tighter. "Yes, I understand. Thank you."
Blair looked up when Chuck hung the phone up shaking her head slightly, "I can't."
"This is good news, Blair. They think they've finally caught the guy that hurt you and killed your mother. You just have to take a look," Chuck told her gently. "You don't even have to be in the same room as him, and I'll be right beside you."
"Do you know why he shot my mom?" Blair asked. "Because she wouldn't give up her wedding ring. Her ring is gone. She should have been buried with it, but that miscreant took it and did god only knows what with it."
"Blair, he could do this to someone else," Chuck told her not letting go of her. "He took your mom from you and nearly took you from all of us. Do you know how lost I'd be without you right now? You said it yourself, the last words we had between us when you were shot was a fight."
"I just can't," she told him tearfully.
"I know you're scared but you have to. For your mother…for our children."
Blair put a hand to the side of Chuck's face as she looked at him hopefully, "You'll come with me."
"I'll be there," he nodded.
Blair wrapped her arms around him and held on, "I love you."
"You are the bravest woman in New York," he told her as he held her close, "I know this is your worst nightmare come to life, but by doing this, it's the first step towards putting this behind us."
Blair just nodded against his shoulder. She didn't think she could speak right now.
"I'll call Dorota," Chuck said.
"No," Blair whispered. "Call Lily. I want them with their grandmother today."
"Good idea, Beautiful," he smiled as he kissed her cheek softly.
"I'll go get the children ready," Blair responded.
"You stay here," Chuck said. "I'll get them ready. You just have a seat and work on calming yourself down, okay?"
Blair nodded with a weak smile. He was so irresistible while taking care of her. "Make sure to ask Lily if she wants the twins there, or if she's going to come here."
Chuck nodded as he made the call to Lily. After a short conversation, it was determined that Blair and Chuck were going to take the twins to Lily's on their way to New Jersey.
Blair was sitting on the couch with her arms resting on her knees when Chuck returned, "They're packed up. Lily's going to have Serena watch them with her. She sends her love and wants us to have dinner tonight when we get home."
"I don't know what kind of company I'll make tonight," Blair looked up.
"It's a standing offer," Chuck assured her as he kissed the top of her head.
Blair nodded, "I'm scared."
"I know," Chuck nodded as he caressed her shoulders softly, "But know that I will protect you."
"That's never a concern," she smiled. "I know you will."
"Do you remember the first night you found out I was having nightmares?" Chuck asked.
"Yes," Blair nodded.
"You lay with me and made me talk about it before you decided you were going to stay in the same room with me so that I'd be okay and I'd know you were okay. Before I fell asleep you told me it was okay to turn out the lights because you'd still be there. It goes both ways, Blair. I'll always stay with you."
"The worst thing I've ever done, the darkest thought I've ever had," Blair nodded.
"I will stand by you through anything because I love you," Chuck finished. "And if I've never apologized for my original response, I'm doing so now. I should have pulled you into the car with me."
"The proper response would have been for you to tell me that you love me too and then pulled me into the car," Blair corrected him, "But you were distraught with grief, so I'll let that slide."
"Thank you," Chuck said with a smile. "Blair, everything that happened back then-"
"Not today, okay? I can only handle one life changing event per day right now."
"All right," he agreed, but he made a mental note to come back to that topic another day. He needed to properly thank her for being at his side. He knew he hadn't made it easy on her, but she was at his side, holding him up, being his support when he thought he'd had nothing left to live for. It was because of her that he didn't drink himself into oblivion, yet he never told her so.
"We should get going," Blair said in as steady a voice as she could manage as she took Chuck's hand.
Chuck kissed her hand and then guided her towards the children that were waiting patiently in their carriers near the elevators.
-x-x-x-x-
"You're being way too quiet for my liking," Chuck said to Blair as they drove toward New Jersey. They'd dropped the children with Lily, who had hugged the stuffing out of both of them before she let them leave.
"I just want to get this day over with," Blair admitted. "I don't want to have to think of him ever again."
Chuck put his hands on her shoulders and brought her back against him. She relaxed against his chest, feeling his heart beat in time with hers and brought her legs up so that her feet rested on the seat.
"Do you want to talk?" he asked quietly.
"No," she shook her head.
"I'll be here when you do," he reminded her.
"I know," she nodded covering the hand on her shoulder with her own. "Just being here is enough right now."
After a few moments of silence, Blair broke through. "I wonder what his name is. How old he is . . . why he did it."
"Don't," Chuck said. "Don't make human. It just makes it harder."
"But I want to know what made his life so horrible that he had to burst into my cafe with a gun and then pull the trigger when my mother resisted."
"Blair, listen to me," Chuck said. "Wondering about this guy gives him a power he doesn't deserve and it's the power to make you feel some kind of empathy for him. Don't let him do that."
"I guess I'm just looking for closure," she sighed.
"You'll get it when he's punished."
"Or when I get taken off restrictions," she smirked as the familiar surroundings transported her back to 'that night'.
"Did I thank you for my birthday present the other night?" Chuck smiled.
"I believe thank you was shouted out in ecstasy a few times," she giggled, "Along with my name and a few dozen curse words and praises to God."
"I'll have to return the favor soon," he whispered.
"I will see to it that you do."
When the limo pulled up outside the police station, Blair's jovial mood shifted immediately. Her hands began shaking again as she reached for the door.
"Let Arthur do that, Beautiful," Chuck told her as he captured her hand and kissed it.
"I can do this," Blair stated as she took a deep breath as the door was opened from the outside by Chuck's faithful driver. "I can be strong and face my attacker and identify him and then put him out of my life."
"I'm with you every step of the way," Chuck said as they got out. He took her hand in his. "I'm not going anywhere."
Blair nodded, "I know."
At the entry to the precinct, she took another deep breath as Chuck opened it and escorted her inside.
"Excuse me," Blair said the to officer at the front desk. "I'm looking for Detective Vance."
"Ms. Thayer?" the officer inquired. When Blair nodded he continued, "Have a seat. I'll let her know you're here."
"Thank you," Blair stated as she turned towards the seats. Upon seeing the dingy quality, she decided to remain standing.
"Sit on my lap," Chuck offered with a smile.
"I'm not in the mood for what pops up," Blair stated with a slightly playful grin.
Chuck smirked at the humorous response as he caressed her shoulder softly, trying to give her an extra boast of courage she needed to get through the next few minutes.
"I'm so nervous," Blair confessed with a shaky breath.
"I've got an idea. After we're done here, instead of going right home, how about we go have lunch or something and then take a walk. We could find a pond and feed ducks."
"I like that idea," she smiled, "Not so much about lunch as I don't think my stomach will have settled enough to keep anything down, but feeding the ducks could be fun. We should drive back to New York, get the children at Lily's and take them with us."
"Your wish is my command," Chuck smiled.
"How many wishes do I have left?" she inquired curiously.
"No limit," he told her, "My goal in life is to make every one of your wishes from this moment forward come true."
"My own personal genie," she laughed. "I could get used to that."
"If you want, I'll get the outfit," he teased.
"I think I should get the Barbara Eden outfit," Blair smiled.
"I definitely could go for that," he moaned as the sight of her in the Jeanie costume popped into his mind.
"Behave yourself, Chuck," Blair warned. "People overhearing this conversation might not realize that we live together."
"Ms. Thayer, Detective Vance," the woman stated as she approached them. "We spoke at the hospital a few months ago."
"I remember," Blair nodded as she and Chuck took turns shaking the woman's hand.
"Now, I'll be taking you into a viewing room. Your friend will have to wait outside the door. I'm sorry, but that's procedure."
"But-" Chuck started. He stopped when Blair squeezed his hand.
"That's fine," Blair nodded. She shot a look at Chuck that told him that she'd be okay.
"I'll be right outside the room if you need me," Chuck assured her as he kissed her forehead softly.
"I know," she responded as she caressed his cheek softly.
"This way," Detective Vance showed them the way.
Just before Blair entered the observation room, she took yet another deep breath and kissed Chuck's cheek before she stepped in, clutching a picture of her children in her hand that she'd brought for courage.
Chuck leaned against the wall and waited. It took about ten minutes before she came back out and walked right into his arms.
She had tears streaking down her cheeks, and she was shaking.
"She did wonderfully," Detective Vance smiled as she reassured Chuck.
"Was it him?" he whispered into her ear.
"Yes," she nodded.
"Okay," Chuck said. "Okay. Let's go home."
"I have a few papers for you to sign, Ms. Thayer," Detective Vance spoke up, "And you will most likely be called to testify at his trial."
Blair nodded numbly as she and Chuck followed the woman to a desk. Blair sat down and Chuck stood behind her, his hands on her shoulder.
Blair scribbled her name where indicated. She inadvertently wrote 'Blair Waldorf' instead of 'Blair Thayer'.
"I'm sorry," Blair blushed.
"It's alright. I can go get another copy. Was Waldorf your maiden name?"
"Yes," she nodded, "But Thayer isn't my married name . . . it's complicated."
"But Thayer is legally your name?"
"Yes," Blair nodded.
"For awhile," Chuck added silently in his head.
Detective Vance left for a moment to get another copy of the paperwork.
"I can't believe I did that," Blair sighed as she looked at her signature.
"You were Blair Waldorf for almost twenty years. It's understandable. Do you remember when we were in third grade and that kid that Nate used to called Toilet Brush Head started calling you Blair Waldork?"
"Yes," she nodded, "I ran home to my father crying. I wanted to change my name right that moment."
"What stopped you?" Chuck prompted her.
"My father said it was such an honor to be Blair Waldorf and that the name held a prestige that nobody could touch."
"He was right," Chuck kissed the top of her head. "I hope one day Sabrina is as proud to carry the name Bass as you were to carry the name Waldorf."
"She is going to be such a daddy's girl," Blair smiled. "I can tell already."
"I certainly hope so," he smiled.
"What would you say if I decided to change my name back to Waldorf?" she inquired.
"It's your decision one way or another," Chuck told her. "I'll love you no matter what last name you choose."
"And if I chose van der Woodsen or Humphrey?" Blair smiled.
"I'd point out that you would just be changing your name to something else in the hopefully not to distant future."
"And what would that be," Blair asked.
"Bass," he told her.
"That would require a certain ring on my finger," she smiled as she looked to her left hand.
"When we're ready, it will be there," he said.
Blair kiss his lips lightly when the detective walked in, clearing her throat to announce her presence.
"Sorry to interrupt," the detective said. "Here you go."
Blair took special care to write her legal name. "Are we free to leave?"
"Absolutely," Detective Vance smiled.
"Thank you," Blair said as she stood up and took Chuck's hand. "Take me home."
"Gladly," he smiled.
"And Ms. Thayer, you did wonderful," Detective Vance assured her, "Your boyfriend should be very proud of you."
"I am," Chuck assured her, "I always am."
Blair could feel herself blush as they left the squad room.
-x-x-x-x-x-
"You see those Sabrina," Blair whispered to her daughter. "Those are ducks. When I was little, your grandpa says I called them 'quack-quacks'."
Sabrina's eyes were dancing as she watched the mallards waddle around them.
Sebastian didn't seem nearly as interested as his sister as his eyes scanned the skies around them.
"Your brother seems to have taken after your dad in this respect," Blair said. "He doesn't understand why I spend so much time out here feeding the ducks. He just does not understand their soothing quality."
"That's not true," Chuck chimed in, "Watching you is very soothing. I just don't need the ducks."
"Yeah, well you better start praying that your way of soothing yourself when we were teenagers does not manifest itself in Sebastian. Because while Bart never made good on any of his threats, I will send Sebastian to military school."
"If I don't beat you to it," Chuck added, "Sebastian, you and your sister will be perfect angels. If you step out of line as I did, you will be in military school so fast your head will be spinning."
"And what about Sabrina?"
"I'll send her to nuns," Chuck said.
"Hear that Sabrina," Blair laughed, "Daddy sounds serious, so you'll do well to behave. I wonder why Bart never sent you to nuns."
"It's the eleventh commandment. No Bass shall ever cross the threshold of any Catholic church. Lightening will strike it and set the place aflame."
Blair laughed out. Sabrina and Sebastian followed her lead.
"Are you feeling better, Beautiful?" Chuck inquired as he studied her relaxed posture. He'd massaged her shoulders nearly the entire ride from New Jersey, yet the tension didn't seem to dissipate until she held Sabrina in her arms.
"Yes, I am," Blair nodded. "It's just the reminder that I almost wasn't here for this is the most upsetting, to say the least."
"I know," Chuck nodded, "But we are here and know not to take this for granted. We are both very blessed."
Blair put Sabrina down on the blanket so that the little girl faced the lake while her brother was on his back looking at the sky. Then Blair climbed into Chuck's lap. "I really, really love you. You know that, right? Sometimes it feels like I don't say it enough."
"I know how you feel," he assured her as he kissed her cheek softly as his arms ensnared her waist. "Though I will not begrudge if you want to say it more often."
Blair laughed lightly, "I will do my best."
"I love you," Chuck whispered into her ear. He felt her shiver as his warm breath coursed through her body as he began nibbling softly. "Are you cold?"
"No," she shook her head as she felt her eyes roll back inside her head.
"Am I giving you a funny feeling," Chuck teased.
"Don't go too far," Blair warned.
"I won't," he assured her as he began caressing her shoulders as his lips began to flow across her neck, up to her cheeks. She turned her head and he took immediately advantage and kissed her deeply.
"See, I told you they'd be making out, Nate," Serena's voice reached them before their friends did.
Chuck and Blair were completely oblivious as they continued to make out.
"How long do you think it would take them to notice if we took their kids?" Nate inquired.
"Touch them and die, Archibald," Chuck growled as his lips continued to move against Blair's
"Well, that worked," Serena said as she plopped herself down and picked up her godson. "Hey buddy."
Blair groaned in disappointment as Chuck pulled away reluctantly.
Nate sat down next to Sabrina and lifted her into his arms.
"We could babysit tonight," Serena offered, "If the two of you want to pick up where you left off."
"Can't," Blair sighed in disappointment.
"Still on restrictions?" Nate inquired.
"I have a doctor's appointment first thing next week," Blair nodded, "I'm going to broach the subject."
"Don't rush yourself," Chuck warned her. "We're not in a hurry."
"Maybe you're not," Blair smiled.
"Oh ew," Serena made a face.
"Get over it," Blair scolded her best friend. "And if I can get passed the two of you going at it in my bed, you can certainly get over me and Chuck going at it in our own bed."
"Didn't you and Chuck go at it in Nate's bed last year once?" Serena scrunched her face in confusion.
"WHAT?" Nate exclaimed.
"Serena!"
"More than once," Chuck mumbled.
"Oh God, I-I need to shower and burn all of my clothes," Nate put Sabrina down and hopped up. He ran out of the park.
"That was a secret between you, me and Chuck," Blair looked at her friend sternly as she picked up her daughter.
"I'm sorry, I thought he already knew," Serena replied.
"Yes, because I'm in a real hurry to tell my ex-boyfriend I had sex in his bed," Blair rolled her eyes. "I, unlike Nate, tend to want to keep my sex life to myself."
"Sorry," Serena mumbled yet again.
"I wonder if this means he won't be replacing my bed in my apartment?" Blair thought out loud.
"He already ordered it," Serena said. "You might have to buy him some new clothes though."
"Got you covered, Beautiful," Chuck whispered into Blair's ear.
"You better call Dorota and make sure that Nate doesn't start the burning of his clothes inside the apartment."
"He's overreacting," Serena rolled her eyes, "He'll probably be back in a few minutes after he calms down."
Who let the dogs out…
"What is that?" Serena inquired as the Baha Men song interrupted the quiet afternoon with the ducks.
"Dorota," Blair explained as she pulled her cell phone out out of her bag. "Hello?"
"Miss Blair, Mr. Nate is throwing all clothes out of his room."
"Put them in a garbage bag and donate them to charity," Blair rolled her eyes. "Whatever you do, don't let him burn them."
"Yes, Miss Blair," Dorota said. "Miss Blair, he muttering something about you and Mr. Chuck violating his space. Should I worry?"
"No," Blair laughed, "It's a long story. Not worth mentioning."
"Alright Miss Blair. How babies?"
"They're wonderful, Dorota. I'll bring them by soon, okay?"
"Yes, Miss Blair, can't wait," Dorota responded eagerly.
"Kiss Anna for me," Blair instructed.
Serena was still snickering about Blair's choice of ringtones for her trusty maid. "Why did you choose that song?"
"Dorota chose it for me," Blair replied. "She thinks she's my watchdog, so she thought it fit."
"She did like to bark at me when we were younger," Chuck said fondly.
"All the times she tried to teach us Polish," Serena reminisced.
"All the times she yelled at me in Polish," Chuck shook his head.
"You deserved it," Blair told him.
"I certainly did," he agreed as he brushed a piece of hair behind her ear.
"Like the time you and Nate put vodka in the punch at the MADD fundraiser Eleanor had," Serena smirked.
"That was Archibald's idea. I merely provided the liquor," Chuck laughed.
"But it was your idea to take the donation box from the school fundraiser for the new library and give it to the streetwalkers in Times Square," Blair reminded him.
"They needed the money as much as the library did, and I learned far more from them than I did at the library," Chuck told her smoothly.
"And why is it that you let him touch you?" Serena asked.
"Because he's so good at it," Blair laughed. "They obviously did their job well."
"That's so gross," Serena exclaimed.
"Serena, we have two children. Chuck touches me. Get over it," Blair rolled her eyes.
"I'll touch you tonight, if you'd like," he spoke hotly against her neck.
Another shiver coursed through Blair's body at the thought.
"Besides, I don't make faces and comments when Nate makes innuendos about you two, do I?"
"No, but you did with Dan."
"Because that was Dan," Blair replied. "Nate actually makes sense to me."
"But you two are friends now," Serena said. "Would you still make the faces and comments?"
"No, but I'd still wonder why."
"I'd still make the faces and comments," Chuck chimed in.
Blair elbowed his stomach lightly in scolding.
"Ow," Chuck said. "What was that for?"
"Humphrey's a friend and a fellow parent. Technically, he's also your step-brother. I do not want Sebastian and Sabrina thinking it's okay to be mean to family members."
"Point taken," Chuck conceded. "I'll behave."
"Good," Blair nodded. "I'll reward you later, I promise."
"But I can still be mean to Jack, right?"
"If you ever see him again, I expect him to be shot on sight, so yeah you can be mean to him."
"He's the exception to every rule."
"Have there been any pervy uncle sightings?" Serena asked.
"No," Chuck pressed a kiss to Blair's shoulder. "And if he knows what's good for him, there won't be."
"Last I heard, he was staying put in Australia," Blair chimed in, "But the longer he stays away the better off we all are."
"Hey, why don't we do a girls' night soon?" Serena smiled. "Maybe go get ice cream at Serendipity and see a movie?"
"Not tonight," Blair shook her head, "But maybe another night soon. Tonight I need Chuck to take care of me. This day has wore at my nerves. I couldn't sit still through a movie."
"When you can, you know where I am," Serena smiled as she bounced Sebastian a little bit. "Nate and I can still babysit tonight, if you want to be alone. You may still be on restrictions, but if I know the two of you, you're finding a way around that."
"What do you think, Beautiful?" Chuck prompted her.
"No, but thank you, Serena," Blair shook her head and then looked at Chuck. "I'd love to be alone with you, but I want them under the same roof."
"Okay," he nodded.
Sebastian picked that moment to sneeze.
"We should get them home," Blair reacted.
"I should get going too," Serena said giving her godson to his mother and standing up. "I'm gonna go home and help Dorota bag up Nate's clothes."
"Tell Nathaniel to send me the bill," Chuck responded as Blair transferred Sabrina to his arms as she accepted Sebastian.
"Will do," Serena said as she walked away from the family.
Blair cuddled up with Sebastian, "Ready to go home?"
"With you, always," Chuck responded as he guided her in the direction of where the limo was sure to be waiting for them.
x-x-x-x-x
"I know what you're doing."
Chuck looked up to see Blair in the doorway of his office.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Chuck responded innocently.
"You're lying," Blair told him.
"I can't help myself," Chuck told her as he gave up trying to cover up his current project.
She knew him too well.
"I like to think we've come a long way since our days of plotting the downfalls of whatever enemy we thought we had when we were younger. Chuck, revenge doesn't solve anything."
"New Jersey has the death penalty," Chuck reminded her, "I'm simply looking to ensure that justice prevails."
"How very biblical of you, Chuck," Blair said.
"What do you expect from me, Blair?" Chuck sighed, "This is who I am."
Blair got in between Chuck and his desk and sat herself on top of it. She planted her feet on either side of his legs with the heel of her shoes hanging off the edge, "Revenge is pointless. It doesn't fix anything, and it won't bring my mom back."
"Blair, he almost succeeded in taking you away from me. He deserves to pay for that."
"And he will," Blair brushed her fingers down the side of his face. "But let the courts decide his punishment. Please don't let the need to get even override your common sense. We need you to be here with us."
Chuck closed his eyes as he allowed her words to penetrate his thick skull. "I almost lost you," he repeated as he opened his eyes. The rage was gone. All that remained was the pain he felt by the mere potential of losing her.
"You didn't," Blair reminded him. "You got me back."
"He needs to pay for what he did," Chuck whispered. "He hurt you. He took your mother away from you."
"He will pay for what he did. I've talked to the DA. There's no deal. He has nothing they want. He will never breathe free air again."
"But he'll still draw breath, and your mother won't," he replied.
Blair closed her eyes and turned her head away, "It won't bring her back."
"I know," he nodded into her shoulder.
"And it won't bring you any peace," Blair turned back to him. "A life for a life isn't the way to bring yourself any happiness."
"You and the children do that for me," he smiled slightly.
Blair put arms around his neck and pressed her forehead against his, "Then let us continue to do that. Let the police and the DA handle this. Come home with me now and forget about work until Monday."
It took a few moments, but Chuck began to nod in agreement.
"C'mon," Blair slid off the desk and took his hand in hers as she led him to the door.
As they walked down the hall, Chuck put his arm around her neck and pressed a kiss to the side of her head, "Thank you."
Blair turned and smiled at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She knew she'd said all the right things and she truly did mean the words, but there was a part of her that agreed with Chuck, and she didn't know how to reconcile the conflicted emotions inside herself.
"Let's go hug our children," Chuck suggested, "Let's be reminded of what's good in this world."
And just like that, her inner turmoil was resolved.
She'd be the better person because of her children. They made it all worth it.