I loved all the replies I got last time. I am thoroughly sickened by GG these days. Stop with the obstacles already. I am so very glad my beta is back from vacation. I look forward to hearing what you all think of this chapter.

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

Chapter 26-

Blair stood up on her tiptoes and scanned the crowd that surrounded her. Aha!

"Eric," she waved her hand to get the younger boy's attention.

Eric looked up and then made his excuses to the group of classmates he was talking to before he headed towards Blair.

"Congratulations," Blair hugged him. "Do you feel smarter now?"

"Just relieved," Eric stated with a sigh of relief. "It's over."

"Now you get to do it all over again with college," Blair teased.

"Can't wait," Eric shrugged nervously. "It can't be any worse than high school, right?"

"You're asking the wrong person. I did one year and then I dropped out to have children and own a café."

"Do you ever think of going back?" Eric inquired as Blair fixed his tassel that had gone askew.

"No," Blair shook his head. "College is about finding out what you want to do and I already know what I want to do. I want to be a good mom, make my business a success, and spend the rest of my life with your brother."

"All you ever talked about growing up is going to college," Eric reminded her.

"You'll understand this when it happens to you," Blair said. "Having children changes things."

"That it does," Chuck slipped his arms around Blair's waist. "Congratulations, Eric."

"Thanks, Big Bro," Eric smiled.

"Lily still monopolizing the twins?" Blair asked as she turned towards the three woman that were cooing in the direction of the children who were giggling in response.

"Along with Serena and Dorota," Chuck nodded. "I've been sent over here under the guise of getting Eric to come out with me for a celebratory lunch while they get the party ready."

"I thought you talked Lily out of that," Blair frowned.

"I thought I did too. Sorry Eric," Chuck said.

"I expected as much," Eric conceded, "Her heart is in the right place."

"So, can I crash lunch with you or am I expected to go to the penthouse and help out with the party?"

"I think you're expected at the party to provide your expert opinion on party favors."

Blair sighed, "I'll take the kids with me. You enjoy yourselves."

She gave Eric a hug, "Did I mention I'm proud of you?"

"Yes," Eric nodded. "Thank you."

"Don't eat too much or your mom will kill us," Blair warned them.

"You are the best big sister," Eric responded as he hugged her tight.

"Aside from Serena," Blair added.

"No," Eric shook his head. "But don't worry, I won't tell her."

"I love you, you know that, right," Blair smiled. "And I think I might kill you for making me cry."

"We'll be back soon," Chuck told her as he kissed her temple gently.

"Behave, Bass," Blair cautioned him.

"No strip clubs, got it," Chuck smirked.

"No female strip clubs," Blair amended.

"Someday, I'm going to take you to a male one," Chuck laughed. "They do have the best chicken marsala."

"Do they even have chicken marsala?"

"Yes, they do," Eric nodded.

"You are such a bad influence on him," Blair shook her head at Chuck. "See you soon."

-x-x-x-x-x-

Blair looked at Serena as she held one end of the banner while her friend held the other, "Is this level?"

"I don't know. Dan, is this level?" Serena called over her shoulder.

"No," Dan laughed at the horribly aligned banner. "Serena either your side needs to go up about six inches or Blair's down. You two work it out."

"Three inches each way," Serena and Blair responded in unison.

"Works for me," Dan said.

Both giggled at their like mindedness.

Blair finished adjusting her end and turned in time to see Serena step off the stool she'd been using. Dan gave Blair his hand, "Miss Thayer."

"Waldorf," Blair corrected him.

"You went back," Dan asked.

"It was official last Monday."

"What made you change your mind?" Serena inquired.

"I am a Waldorf. It doesn't matter what name I use. Thayer is what I used when I was running from my problems. I'm not running anymore. I'm Blair Waldorf, and as Chuck pointed out, I should be proud of that."

"Well, I for one am thrilled," Serena hugged her best friend.

"Me too," Blair nodded.

"Does this mean you're changing the café name?" Dan asked.

"No, that's still going to be Thayer's."

"Keeping a memento of the past doesn't hurt, I guess," Dan replied.

"It's good to have that reminder of where I've been," Blair nodded. "And where I can go."

"Good for you, B," Serena smiled.

"And speaking of the café, when do I get to put an original Daniel R. Humphrey book on my shelves," Blair looked to Dan.

"When I find someone to actually publish my work," Dan grumbled. "This getting published thing is a lot harder than it seemed a few years ago."

"How about some obscure printing press?" Blair ventured. "I'll loan you the money and you can pay me back when it's discovered by some fabulous publishing house."

"Let me go the conventional way first, but I might just take you up on the offer if I can't get any fish to bite."

"Deal," Blair shook his hand. "So, is Lily still doing the doting grandma thing?"

"She's just trying to get out of doing the decorations," Serena replied. "My mother loves to plan parties, but isn't all too keen on setting them up or cleaning up after."

"Blair, your children are simply too adorable for their own good," Lily exclaimed as she and Dorota approached with a child in each of their arms.

"Where's Jonathan?" Dan asked.

"Mr. Jonathan fall asleep, Mr. Dan," Dorota said. "He and Anna kink out."

"That's conk out, Dorota," Blair smiled.

"Right, Miss Blair," Dorota nodded.

"Never in a million years could I have guessed one year ago we'd have so many babies in this house," Lily responded, "But I wouldn't trade any of these adorable cheeks for anything."

"So, how many people are coming today, Lily?" Blair asked.

"I lost count," Lily replied, "All of Eric's classmates, from what I've gathered, and anyone they felt like including."

"So this place will be busting at the seams," Serena concluded, "Did we hide all the valuables?"

"We don't have that much time," Dan quipped.

"You two are horrible," Lily scolded.

"Lily, think of Serena's thirteenth birthday party," Blair reminded her.

"I really did love that vase," Lily sighed.

"My point exactly," Serena chimed in.

"But on the plus side, there really isn't that much out that I have a sentimental attachment to anymore," Lily replied.

"Yes, my father took care of that," Dan added glumly.

"How is Rufus?" Blair asked Dan.

"Getting better. The doctors were willing to let him out for this, but he didn't think he could handle it seeing as it's something Jenny will never experience."

"At least he's admitting that he didn't think he could handle it," Blair replied. "That's a positive sign."

"I guess," Dan shrugged. His eyes were beginning to tear up at the mention of his sister and the celebration that she should have been included in.

Serena noticed immediately and put her arms around him.

"Are you sure you're up for this?" Serena asked softly.

"Yeah, Eric and Jenny may have been fighting, but she'd want me to be here for this because they were best friends once upon a time."

"Hey, I thought this was a party," Nate's voice said from the hallway. "I hear no music or fun of any kind."

"You're a little early," Serena told him as she grabbed his wrist to look at the time. "This is what a party looks like before the guests arrive. I know it's a foreign concept for you."

"Ouch, that seemed a tad harsh," Nate winced.

"Lily, did he ever pay for the vase he broke?" Blair smirked.

"Nathaniel, you broke my vase!" Lily exclaimed.

"I was thirteen and high," Nate said.

"What!" Lily shouted.

"Okay, forget I said anything," Nate responded quickly, "How much do I owe you?"

"That vase was an heirloom."

"A lot," Blair nodded.

"The family estate is loaded with heirlooms that I'm sure nobody will miss. Come for a visit and take whichever you'd like," Nate offered.

"That's very generous, Nathaniel," Lily replied as she shook her head in disbelief.

"Didn't you and Chuck used to play that trade the family knick-knack game when we were young?" Blair asked.

"I have got to stop telling you and Serena things," Nate groaned.

"Was that considered pillow talk?" Dan inquired.

"No," Blair responded quickly, "Archibald wasn't much good at pillow talk."

"Mother in the room," Lily reminded them.

"As if this is news to you," Serena rolled her eyes.

"I'd like to keep a few mysteries," Lily told her.

"When do the guest of honor and all his guests arrive?" Nate inquired.

"Soon, I hope," Lily said. "I'd like him to get here before the guests."

"I'm sorry Cece won't be here," Blair said.

"She sends her love," Lily replied, "And she wants pictures of her great grandchildren to brag to all her friends."

"How is Cece?" Blair inquired.

"She's alright. She's just getting on in years and doesn't like to travel as much as she used to. I promised we'd visit soon. I told her we're waiting until you can fly."

"Is that really the reason?" Blair asked skeptically. Her recent conversation with Chuck regarding Cece's health began replaying in her mind.

"Mom, is Grandma alright?" Serena asked.

"Your grandmother is just fine, I promise," Lily replied, "And you can see for yourself soon."

"Why don't I believe her?" Dan mumbled softly so that only Serena and Blair could hear.

Serena and Blair nodded in agreement, but decided to let the conversation drop for the moment as Blair's phone beeped. Chuck had sent her a quick message that he and Eric were on just arriving at the building.

"Good, Eric's here," Blair announced. "They'll be up soon."

"The caterers have finished setting up."

"Maybe we should take the babies upstairs," Blair suggested.

Blair took Sebastian from Lily and followed Dorota upstairs to the nursery as everyone else waited eagerly for the new graduate.

-c-c-c-c-c-c-

"Do I have to act surprised when I step off the elevator?" Eric groaned.

"I doubt it," Chuck shook his head. "So, how does it feel to be a high school graduate? After all, now you're qualified to get any job you want that involves a paper hat."

"Just what I always wanted, to start a paper hat collection," Eric laughed, "Any advice as to where I should apply first?"

"I hear the McDonald's down the street from Constance is hiring," Chuck teased.

"I've always wanted to work there. I hear they have an excellent managerial program," Eric laughed.

Chuck laughed, "Only do it if you want to give Lily a heart attack."

"Seriously, I need some advice," Eric responded as he sobered up. "I have five college acceptance letters staring me in the face and no clue which one to take."

"Whichever one you choose to accept will be lucky to have you," Chuck told him.

"That's a cop out," Eric called him out. "I want your advice."

"I'm not the best person to give advice on colleges," Chuck told him, "Blair is the one you should be asking."

"She's going to tell me Yale," Eric responded.

"She might surprise you," Chuck replied.

"Actually, I'm more worried about her decision," Eric said.

"What do you mean?"

"She doesn't want to go back to school."

"What do you mean she doesn't want to go back to school?" Chuck's eyes went wide in surprise. This was the first he was hearing of it. He knew NYU was out, but Columbia had accepted her. He'd always anticipated her going back to college when the children got a little older.

"That's the conversation you walked in on before."

"Really?"

"She said she's happy with what she's doing now."

"She's a full time parent," Chuck replied, "That's never going to be enough for her."

"She's also a business owner," Eric reminded him, "You know, Chuck, eventually she's going to want to go back to the cafe."

"Over my dead body," Chuck shook his head.

"She started that place," Eric said. "Did you really think she'd give it up?"

"She can continue to manage," Chuck responded, "From a distance. I don't want her to go anywhere near that place ever again."

"And who do you think she's going to be okay with doing the day to day? Because if you have Dan in mind, you're delusional. He nearly drove her under just handling the books."

"No, forget it," Chuck shook his head, "She is not getting anywhere near that cafe ever again. Conversation closed."

"This is Blair, remember," Eric reminded him, "The conversation will never be closed until she has her own way."

"Not going to happen," Chuck continued to shake his head, "I will never cave on this."

"Neither will she," Eric told him.

Chuck leaned back against the wall of the elevator and sighed. He needed to talk to Blair.

The doors opened and the boys stepped into the penthouse.

"Hey, it's about time," Serena greeted Eric with a hug. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, I just want to talk to Blair," Chuck stated as he caught Blair walking towards them with a gorgeous smile on her face.

"What's wrong?" Blair asked as she caught the serious expression on his face.

"Privately," Chuck said taking her arm and ushering her up to his old room.

"What's wrong?" Blair inquired as she was spun towards him abruptly. She didn't like the look on his face.

"You wanting to go back to the cafe is what is wrong," he growled.

"This is a surprise to you," Blair raised an eyebrow. "I was always going to go back."

"No," Chuck shook his head. "You nearly died in that place. Your mother did. That place is bad news."

"You're one to talk," Blair exclaimed. "You kept that damn hotel after all the pain and heartache it caused us. I haven't said one word even though I'd rather you sell it."

"So if I sell my hotel, you'll sell the cafe," Chuck offered up a quick compromise.

"Chuck, I put that place together on my own," Blair said. "I built it. It's something I did without help from anyone else. Can you understand how important it is to me?"

"Can you understand that the night you were shot I was on my knees in that place because I saw your blood on the floor along with chalk outlines?"

"That was one night," Blair responded. "I spent countless others on my knees scrubbing those floors until I could see my reflection in them. I'm not going to let one horrible night ruin all of my hard work."

Chuck leaned heavily on the desk against the wall, "I don't want you to think I'm not proud of you or what you built. You did it on your own to provide for our children. But please understand that I never want to get a call from anyone ever again telling me you've been shot."

"I understand that feeling better than you realize," Blair replied as she stepped towards him and caressed the back of his neck softly, "But please Chuck, I need to follow this through."

"Sell it to me. I'll keep it up and running. You can use the money to open a new cafe closer to Manhattan."

Blair shook her head, "I'm keeping it. But, I will consider the cafe closer to Manhattan idea, okay?"

"No, not okay," Chuck shook his head as she pulled her hand away.

Blair sank onto the bed and sighed. "I don't like that you still own the Empire. You don't like me owning Thayer's. But I do have a better compromise."

"We sell them both and move to Iceland?"

"Funny," Blair shook her head. "But you're partially right. We sell them both and buy the run down hotel on the edge of Manhattan. It has a restaurant in the lobby that hasn't had a customer in two weeks."

"So I transform the exterior, and you get to have your own cafe," Chuck stated.

"It's the best of both worlds," she smiled. "You're getting bored with the Empire anyways."

"How did you know that?"

"I know you," Blair said simply. "Besides, this gives us both a fresh start in business."

"And Humphrey?"

"I think he needs to face his demons," Blair said. "So, I'm making him move home."

"How long have you been sitting on this idea?"

"Serena and I went looking for an actual home for our family a few weeks ago when we stumbled upon it. It has a lot of potential, Chuck."

"And you can turn your first profit," she added, "I know you'll sell the Empire for so much more than you bought it for... best your father."

"I've already bested him," Chuck responded, "I'm a better father than he could have possibly been."

"Does that mean we'll do it?" she inquired. "You sell the Empire. I sell Thayer's. We buy this hotel, together, and we transform it into the must see destination in all of New York City."

"Let's do it," Chuck nodded.

Blair shot off the bed and into Chuck's arms, "This will work. I know it will."

"I have no doubts," Chuck squeezed her.

"I don't think anyone's here yet. Do you want to share our news with the family?"

"Let's keep it to ourselves for a couple days. This should be Eric's day."

"I hope I can keep it a secret," Blair giggled. "This is so exciting. The first Waldorf/Bass partnership."

"The second," he told her. "Our children are the first."

Blair gave him a kiss, "You're perfect."

"Not true," he shook his head, "I'm looking at perfection. I come nowhere near it."

"I really want to ignore the doctor's advice for a few hours," she sighed happily.

"We'll fool around tonight," Chuck said. "We'll come as close to breaking the rules as we can without actually breaking them."

"When did you start following the rules?" Blair asked.

"When the consequence of breaking it is a potentially fatal heart attack," Chuck reminded her.

"I love you," she smiled as she kissed his cheek softly.

"I love you," he responded automatically. "We should join the family downstairs."

"Okay," Blair nodded. "By the way, did mention that I managed to get access to the penthouse floor of the hotel while Serena and I were there? The east one has an amazing view."

"Scouting out potential new love nests?" he chuckled.

"Yes, please, Chuck, it's perfect. It's everything I've ever really wanted in a view. With our attention to detail, it will be the perfect expression of our relationship."

"We'll see. I don't really know that I want to raise the twins in a hotel. It's not the best way to grow up."

Blair nodded, "Yeah, I guess. But I don't want to live in my mom's old place either. I think after Serena and Nate don't need it any longer I might talk to Cyrus about selling it."

"So, where shall we live?" Chuck inquired. "If I sell the Empire, we'll be homeless."

"Well, there was one brownstone that had some potential," Blair mused as she and Chuck made their way downstairs. "It'd be nice to live in an actual house."

"Is it close to this hotel of ours?" he inquired.

"Yes," she nodded.

"Then it might work," Chuck nodded.

"There you two are," Eric said. "Everything okay?"

"Everything is perfect," Blair nodded as she gave him an eager smile.

"What's that look?" Eric inquired. "The two of you didn't just get engaged did you?"

"No," Blair shook her head, but her smile was still as eager as ever. Chuck could see she was dying to share their news. She wasn't going to make it ten minutes without telling someone.

"Go ahead and tell him," Chuck encouraged her.

"We're going into business together," Blair smiled.

"What?" Serena said.

"We're buying the hotel we spotted when we went out house hunting," Blair explained.

"The one with the little cafe in the corner of the lobby? Blair, that's great."

"And we're buying that brownstone down the street," Blair added.

"That's even better. You can have Cyrus move into the basement," Serena suggested.

"I am not sticking Cyrus in the basement," Chuck said.

"It's a basement apartment, Chuck," Blair laughed. "And I think he'd love it. It would be perfect for him."

"You still haven't talked to him about returning to New York," Chuck reminded her, "Don't you think you're putting the cart before the horse?"

"But if he sees that we've put a lot of thought into it and that we truly want him here, he'll be easier to convince."

"Alright. We'll go talk to him as soon as we close escrow," Chuck nodded.

Blair wrapped her arms around his neck and as she leaned in she spoke, "Anyone who doesn't want to see me make out with Chuck, leave now."

Serena and Eric quickly scrambled out of the room. Serena was squealing, "Ewwww!"

"At least she's consistent," Chuck laughed just as Blair's lips closed in on his.

Blair smiled as they parted, "We'll iron out all the details tomorrow, okay? Let's go enjoy ourselves with our family."

"Sounds good. When are you telling Humphrey?" Chuck asked as they walked into the main room.

"I don't think I have to," Blair motioned to where Serena was standing. "I'll worry about his reaction tomorrow. Let's start the dancing."

"Anything to have your body pressed against mine," Chuck told her as he pulled her in close.

"Good things come to he who waits," Blair smirked.

"Trust me, I know."

-d-d-d-d-d-d-

Chuck nodded his thanks to a bartender as he was served. He and Blair left the party so she could check on the children. They had agreed to meet at the bar as he wanted something to drink a little stronger than the watered down punch Lily was serving.

"It's Chuck, right," a black woman said from next to him as he sipped a glass of wine.

"It is," he nodded politely.

"I thought so," she nodded. "I've seen your picture in the paper a lot. You're better looking in person."

"You look familiar as well," Chuck replied, groaning inwardly at the thought that he might have hooked up with her at some point. "Have we met before?"

"No, but I've been in the papers as well. Most of the time I'm pictured with my father. I'm Raina Thorpe."

"Ah, I get to meet a villainous Thorpe in the flesh," he sighed in relief. A business adversary was better than a former fling. "How is business these days?

"It's wonderful," she smiled. "And I hear that you've recently taken over the reins at Bass. I would've thought you'd been doing that a lot sooner."

"Long story," Chuck said.

"I'd love to hear it."

"Another time perhaps," he offered.

"I mean it, Chuck," she cooed, "I'd love to hear it, perhaps upstairs in my room."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Chuck declined.

"Hey, there you are," Blair interrupted them. "Sorry I took so long. I was trying to convince Dorota to take a break and enjoy the party for a little bit, but she won't budge. She says she's having a fine time looking after all four of the babies."

"Babies!" Raina exclaimed as she scanned her eyes between the pair as Blair put her arm around his shoulder and caressed it softly as she kissed his cheek.

"Haven't you heard," Chuck laughed, "I'm a father now."

"A very good father," Blair corrected before she looked at the other woman. "Aren't you Raina Thorpe?"

"How did you know that?"

"You wore one of my mom's dresses to some big banquet in Chicago last year. She used to keep a scrapbook of people who wore her dresses. It's nice to meet you," Blair offered her hand. "I'm Blair Waldorf."

"The Blair Waldorf?" Raina replied, "As in Eleanor Waldorf?"

"The very same," Blair nodded.

"I thought you'd disappeared off the face of the earth. Your picture was plastered across the front of every paper for weeks."

"That was his doing," Blair responded as she caressed Chuck's cheek softly.

"What can I say? I was desperate," Chuck smiled at Blair.

"Anyway, I was sorry to hear about your mom. She was very talented," Raina said.

"Thank you," Blair nodded politely.

"Are you ready to return to the party?" Chuck inquired as he pushed his glass away as he wrapped his arm around her waist and brought her in close, "Because I for one could skip the rest of the evening."

"I think if we try to pry Sebastian away from Anna right now, we are going to have two very upset babies on our hands," Blair smiled. "But I haven't danced with the graduate yet so I am going to go find him."

"I'll come with you," he offered.

"Are you planning on dancing with him too?" she teased.

"No, I'll find Lily and dance with her. I think she might be feeling a little lonely. It's the first big party without Rufus around."

"That's very sweet of you," she smiled.

"It was nice to meet you, Raina," Blair added as she turned towards the woman. She had to admit she'd been jealous when she first saw Chuck sitting next to her at the bar, but as she got closer and studied his posture, she quickly realized he wasn't the slightest bit interested.

"You too," Raina nodded and then walked the other way as Blair and Chuck walked back towards the elevator to return to the party.

"Everything okay?" Chuck asked.

"Perfect," Blair smiled.

"I hope my talking with Raina was okay," Chuck stated quickly. "I didn't approach her. She approached me."

"We're good," Blair assured him. "I'm not worried about you, Chuck. I know you're committed to our family."

"I love you, Waldorf," Chuck smiled at her.

"I love you, too," Blair smiled back and then her eyes caught sight of someone she never expected to see again. "Oh my God."

"What?" Chuck replied as his head whipped around in the direction she was looking.

"Okay, so right before I found out I was pregnant for sure, Serena and I went out on a double date with a couple of guys. One of them turned out to be a prince."

"And that is relevant how?"

"He's coming this way."

"The prince?" Chuck added nervously. First a Lord, now a Prince. How the hell was he supposed to compete with that?

"Yes," Blair rubbed her forehead. "How did he even find me? I haven't heard from him since the last time I turned him down for a date after two weeks of him asking me every single day."

Suddenly Louis's eyes locked on Blair and he stepped towards her with a renewed purpose.

Blair began to panic next to Chuck.

"Please, please believe me when I say I went out with him only out of loneliness and to keep myself from panicking over my test results for at least one night," Blair said to Chuck.

"I do, and I'm sorry you ever had to go through any of it by yourself," Chuck pressed a kiss to her forehead with a sigh, regretting not running after Blair that day Dan came in swinging.

"I'll get rid of him quickly," Blair assured him.

"I have a better idea," Chuck said as he pulled Blair to him and gave her an earth shattering kiss.

Blair was so completely taken off guard by his gesture that it took a moment for her to respond.

"My knees are weak," she confessed when she pulled away slightly. She was blushing and as radiant as she'd ever looked.

"Is he gone?"

"Is who gone?" Blair asked.

"God, I love you," he laughed as he looked around to see that the only people in the bar were those tending to it. Her prince had clearly received his message loud and clear. She was taken.

Blair smiled at him and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Did I ever mention how glad I am that you let your hair go back to brown," Chuck tugged on a curl lightly.

"I just can't pull off blonde," she smirked, "My IQ is simply too high."

"I'm telling Serena you said that," he teased.

"Then I'll tell Serena about the time you and Georgina got busy in her bed," Blair smirked.

"How did you know about that?"

"Georgina gets very chatty when she's high."

"Yet another reason to not repeat that mistake," he groaned.

"Something I've always wondered about," Blair said. "Was she really your first time?"

"No," Chuck shook his head.

"Who was your first then?" Blair pressed.

"Is this really a conversation you want to have right now?" he groaned.

"Yes," she nodded.

"It was the nanny," Chuck admitted quietly.

"That last one you had," Blair asked as she searched her memory. "I always thought she was nailing Bart."

"I think she took some perverse pleasure in nailing both of us."

"That's a little twisted," Blair replied.

"Well, Bart did hire her," Chuck reminded her.

"Okay, I realize we've never had the nanny conversation and before everything went down, I was not going to hire one. But if the time ever comes when we do need to hire one, she's not going to be under sixty."

"Agreed," he chuckled.

"And she'll look sixty," Blair felt the need to add.

"Deal," Chuck nodded. "You know, we could just hire Dorota. Cyrus is probably going to stay in Paris full-time now, unless you manage to convince him to move home, and once college is over, Serena and Nate won't need the penthouse anymore. Dorota could come work for us."

"We'll cross that bridge when the time comes," Blair sighed, "I'm not ready for anyone else to raise my children, even Dorota."

"Okay," Chuck nodded. "We've been speaking a lot about Cyrus today, but have you actually talked to him lately?"

"I called him yesterday while you were at work," Blair admitted as the two wandered out to the balcony. "He tried to put on a good face but there was something in his voice that made me worry about him. I don't like that he's living over there all by himself."

"What can we do about that?" Chuck inquired as he ran his hand along her bare shoulders to ward off the chill in the air.

"Insist that he move back," Blair replied.

"You think that would work?" Chuck asked.

Blair shook her head, "No. He wouldn't want to live in the penthouse again. He got married there. I caught him standing in the living room a couple of times before he left. I think he was just remembering the wedding."

"Maybe he wouldn't want to live in the penthouse again, but if you were serious, I can have the Brownstone basement apartment renovated first. He could be close to you and the children and I believe Aaron is still doing the artistry thing in Brooklyn, so he'd be close by."

Blair leaned her head on Chuck's shoulder, "I'm half afraid to ask because deep down I'm always going to think he blames me for what happened to my mom."

"You are not at fault," Chuck assured her, "Cyrus certainly doesn't see it that way. It happened. The man responsible is in jail and will be for a very long time, if I have anything to say about it."

"You promised," Blair reminded him softly while she continued to look out at the darkening city skyline. She didn't have to elaborate. Chuck knew what he'd promised.

"I promised not to use my influence to enforce the death penalty," Chuck replied, "But he deserves to be in jail for the rest of his life, and I will see to it that he gets exactly what he deserves."

"Okay," Blair nodded. "I want to dance once with Eric, and I know you want to dance with Lily. But then, can we go home? It's been a long day."

"Absolutely," he nodded.

"C'mon," Blair took his hand and pulled him into the main room of the party. She spotted Eric over by the food talking to a classmate. "I don't see Lily."

"I do," Chuck nodded. "She's over there with Serena. You might have to do two dances with Eric. I'm not getting out of here unless I dance with both of the van der Woodsen women."

"Just watch your toes with Serena," Blair giggled, "She's a horrible dancer."

"I remember," he groaned.