Here's the next chapter in our little ditty. Thanks for everyone who replied last time and to my splendorific beta.

"We should throw Cyrus a welcome home party," Blair announced as Cyrus was sitting with Sabrina in his lap, bouncing her up and down.

"I don't need a party," Cyrus protested. "A nice dinner with you, Chuck, the children, and perhaps Serena and her family is all I'm going to need."

"Nonsense," Blair waved off his suggestion, "A big party with all the trimmings."

"Charles," Cyrus turned to his step-daughter's boyfriend, "Will you talk to her?"

"Blair, Darling, not everyone appreciates being the center of attention like you," Chuck reminded her.

"But I want to throw a party," she pouted.

"And you will," Cyrus said. "When the hotel opens and then your birthday and then the birthday of these little angels. I think that'll be enough parties."

"But I just want everyone to know how glad I am that Cyrus is home," Blair responded with her most charming smile.

"I'm sure they'll get the message loud and clear," Chuck assured her as he caressed her chin softly with his freehand while successfully balancing Sebastian on his knee with his other hand.

"I wish Daddy and Roman would get here already," she stated as she rose from her seat and began pacing. "My cake is best served warm and it's rapidly cooling."

"I must say how impressed I am at the wonderful cook you're becoming," Cyrus beamed. "I enjoyed dinner last night. I've never had macaroni and cheese with panko breadcrumbs."

"Thank you," Blair blushed.

"I was more partial to the dessert," Chuck smiled. "Blueberry coffee cake is always a good choice."

Blair raised an eyebrow, "Just the blueberry coffee cake?"

"That's all I'm going to admit to with Cyrus in the room," Chuck leered.

"Charles Bass!" Blair exclaimed as she blushed further.

"We're going to pretend that we haven't heard this conversation, aren't we Sabrina," Cyrus smiled.

"I hear a car," Blair turned to the window like a puppy that hears their master's car pulling into the driveway, nearly pressing her face against the glass to catch a look. "It's Daddy and Roman."

Blair raced out the door and launched herself into her father's arms before he was able to get his bearings. He was knocked back against the car.

"I missed you, too, Blair Bear," Harold laughed.

Blair hugged him tighter. "I missed you. It's been far too long. You should have come to New York."

Harold laughed, "I think you needed to recover and find your bearings without your father looking over your shoulder. Now, where are my grandchildren?"

"They're getting so big," Blair told him as she gave a polite hug to Roman before she linked arms with her father and charged towards Cyrus's home so show them off.

"Hello Cyrus," Harold greeted before accepting Sabrina from him.

"And hello, Little Girl," Harold greeted Sabrina, "You are such a beautiful little thing, just like your mother at that age."

"Hey, that implies I'm not beautiful at this age," Blair whined defensively.

"You're as beautiful as you were the first time you dumped sand all over me," Chuck said with a smile as he allowed Roman to take Sebastian from him.

"Quite the charmer, Bass," Blair wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Such a sweet little boy," Roman stated even though Sebastian was making his uncomfortable face and was moments away from crying.

"Oh, Roman," Blair disentangled herself from Chuck. "I'm sorry. Sebastian's not big on strangers."

Sebastian continued to make his pouty face even though he was now in the familiarity of his mother's arms.

"It's okay, Little Man," Chuck tried to soothe him, rubbing his back as Blair bounced him around, "It's just Grandpere Roman."

"I think someone needs a nap," Blair said. "I'm sorry, but he was up very early."

"It's alright," Harold said. "We'll be here a while."

"I'll put him down," Chuck offered, "You've waited far too long to spend time with your father."

"Thank you," Blair smiled. "We'll wait for cake and tea until you come back."

"Thank you," Chuck stated as he kissed her.

"You're looking much healthier," Harold proclaimed as he passed Sabrina to Roman, who didn't mind in the slightest at being in his arms. "What have the doctors been saying about your recovery, Blair-Bear?"

"Well, I'm cleared to resume all my activities," Blair smiled. "And I'm off my medications. But I still have a ways to go before I'm completely recovered."

"Well, all that is good news," Harold smiled.

"And I have more news. Chuck and I are going into business together," Blair smiled as she sat down on the couch with her father. "And we've purchased a brownstone for ourselves."

"I hope you aren't spreading yourself too thin, Sweetheart," Harold told her in concern, "With the twins, and your cafe in New Jersey, are you sure you'll have enough energy for another business venture?"

"I sold the cafe, Daddy."

"What?"

"I couldn't keep it after everything."

"But you loved that cafe," Harold reminded her.

"But I don't love the memories associated with it. And going into business with Chuck is a great opportunity for the both of us. We're doing it as a team, and I still get to run my own cafe in the lobby."

"You'll have to send pictures," Roman said. "We'll make sure to come visit."

"And this brownstone," Harold stated, "What is it like?"

"It's absolutely lovely," Blair smiled happily, "Spacious, private, it has its own backyard, an oversized kitchen, plenty of bedrooms upstairs for Sabrina and Sebastian to have their own rooms when they're ready and maybe room for more children if Chuck and I choose. It also has a luxurious apartment in the downstairs space for one Mr. Cyrus Rose."

"Cyrus, you're moving back to the states," Harold asked, surprised.

"Your daughter is very persuasive when she wants to be," Cyrus nodded. "I called a real estate agent to put the house on the market yesterday, and Blair's agreed to come back and help me pack when I'm ready."

"Roman and I will miss having you in Paris. It gave us a reason to come to the city more often," Harold replied. "But we completely understand your motivations for moving home. I must confess that I've had those thoughts a time or two."

Blair's ears perked up at the confession. She was just about to suggest that her father move home as well.

"But it's a fleeting thought," Harold added quickly.

"Uh, Cyrus, should I tell Serena and Nate that they'll need to find somewhere else to live next year, or are you going to keep the penthouse for now?"

"They can stay as long as they like," Cyrus told her. "I'm in no rush to sell the penthouse."

"But I think Dorota is looking to move on," Chuck stated as he entered the living room after putting Sebastian down. He was asleep before his tiny head hit the bed. "Nathaniel has said she's been muttering a lot in Polish lately."

"Really," Blair frowned. "I'll have to talk to her when we get home. I hope she's not unhappy."

"Sweetheart, I was hoping to be able to take a stroll with you this afternoon, just the two of us," Harold proposed.

"Of course," Blair smiled. "But first, we have cake and tea to consume."

"And she's kept me away from it long enough," Chuck groaned. He'd been trying to sneak a taste from the moment she began cooking, first the batter and then the crumbs.

"He's very impatient when it comes to sweets."

Blair went about dishing up the cake and tea as small talk was made all around.

-x-x-x-x-

"So Daddy, is everything alright?" Blair asked as they walked along the street.

"As long as my daughter is as happy as she appears, then everything is very alright," Harold assured her, "I just wanted to get you along to ensure that."

"I am happy, I promise," Blair smiled. "Chuck and I are wonderful. Our children are perfect."

"Are you and Charles discussing a future, beyond business associates and co-parents?" he inquired.

"I love him, Daddy. I want my life to be with him."

"Does he feel the same way?" Harold asked.

"He says he does," she nodded.

"And do you believe him?" he pressed.

"I do," she replied. "Finally, yes, I do believe him."

"Good," Harold nodded. "I know I've never been a big fan of Charles, but I can tell that he makes you happy and that he loves you. I know things were bad last year, but you and he clearly seemed to have moved past it."

"We have," Blair nodded. "He's a good man, Daddy, and he's a terrific father. He's so much better than he believes."

"Bart wasn't very big on making his son feel good about himself. I remember that much about Bart Bass," Harold frowned. "It's a shame that Evelyn wasn't around. I think he'd have been a different man if she'd lived."

"He would have been," Blair nodded, "But she's not. Chuck and I can no longer allow ourselves to look back. We've made mistakes. It's time to put all of that out of our minds."

"That's a little easier said than done, Blair-Bear," Harold told her, "You've always excelled at holding grudges, even with Roman. You still blame him for breaking up my marriage to your mother and moving to France."

"I do not," she stated defensively.

"Blair," Harold prodded. "It's okay to be mad about things that happened long ago."

"You loved Roman. It's not something that could be helped. If falling in love with Chuck has taught me anything, it's that you can't help who you love. I was supposed to be in love with Nate but that was just a fantasy. The Nate I wanted didn't exist."

"He's very lucky that we never lived in Israel."

"Nate? Why?"

"They shoot men who are untrue there."

"They do that in Poland as well," Blair laughed, "At least according to Dorota. And Daddy I am happy that you found Roman, but you're right, I'm not happy with how everything happened. You left me in New York."

"Even if I had tried to take you with me, your mother wouldn't have let me."

"I don't care," Blair shook her head, "It would have been nice if the gesture had been made. At least then I would have known you cared."

"I did care, Sweetheart," he told her, "If I'd thought you wanted to come with me, I would have taken you, but you were so angry with me at first."

"I wasn't angry at you," Blair shook her head. "I was angry at the situation. I didn't want my family to end up as screwed up as Serena's. I didn't want Mom to marriage hop like Lily. Daddy, you saw what it did to Eric and Serena."

"I did," Harold nodded. Realizing the conversation had taken a heavy turn, he knew it was time to change the subject. "How is Eric? Did he like my graduation gift?"

"Yes, but Lily won't let him drink it for three more years."

"Then he'll have to come and join us at the vineyard for a week before he starts Columbia. He's legal here."

"I'll suggest it to him," Blair nodded. "Maybe he can come back with me when I come to help Cyrus pack. He was saying he wants to be back in New York before the holidays."

"I think you and Charles are doing a great thing by having Cyrus come and live with you in New York. He's been much too lonely since your mother died."

"I know," Blair nodded, "And I'm so happy he's agreed."

"It's a good apartment?"

"Yes, it's wonderful and you and Roman will always have a place to stay when you come to visit."

"In the apartment?" Harold asked in confusion.

"At the hotel," she responded, "It's a short distance away. Chuck and I walk it every weekend with the children."

"That sounds wonderful," Harold smiled. "I can't wait to see it. Perhaps in November. I seem to remember someone's twenty-first birthday will be falling that month."

Blair smiled softly, "Mom and I always planned grand parties for that day."

"You can still have that grand party," Harold told her, "Whatever you'd like, I'll be sure to give it to you, whenever and wherever you'd like."

Blair hugged her father, "Thank you, Daddy."

=x=x=x=x=x=

"You're quiet," Chuck remarked as they lay in bed that night after the house had gone to sleep.

"Just enjoying the quietness," she smiled into the blackness, "This is the first peace and quiet we've had all day."

"How was your walk with your dad?"

"It was nice. He just wanted to make sure I was happy. I think he wanted to make sure your intentions were honorable."

"And did you assure them they were?"

Blair smiled in the dark and took Chuck's hand in hers, "Well, there are a few of your intentions that are less than honorable, but I glanced over those."

"Very kind of you," Chuck laced their fingers.

"What are you thinking about, Bass?" she asked as she traced rhythmic patterns along his hand with her finger.

"How humbled I am that you are including me in your family," he replied, "It's something I haven't really had for a long time, ever really."

Blair turned on her side and moved their hands so that they were in the space between the pillows, "You've had it longer than the twins have been alive and maybe a little longer than you and I have been together. Lily didn't just become your mother in name only. She loves you Chuck. You're her son as much as Eric is."

"It doesn't feel like it does with you," he replied, "At times it feels forced...uncomfortable. When I see you with Cyrus, it's so natural. There isn't even a hesitation, Roman is a little different, but it still feels like this one big family. True or not, sometimes I think Lily feels I'm more of an obligation."

"That's ridiculous," Blair replied.

"Is it?"

"Yes," Blair said in an annoyed tone of voice. "If it was an obligation she would've more than likely stopped talking to you after the debacle with Jenny. I'm willing to bet that Rufus asked her to. She loves you, Chuck and so does Serena."

"Yeah, well Serena loves everybody," he rolled his eyes through the darkness, "It's part of her bubbly blonde personality."

"How soon you forget her reaction to Bart and Lily getting married," Blair said.

"Well, that was before my brotherly charm won her over," he chuckled.

"She likes it when you call her 'Sis' now," Blair told him. "She used to hate it."

"Well, that's up for debate," he stated, "But she doesn't cringe when I say it, so it is progress."

"What was it she said when you lit up in her bathroom?"

"Our parents may insist on blending our families but we are not related. I do not share any of your DNA nor do I ever wish to."

"And you told her to get new hand towels."

"Which she never did," he recalled, "Perhaps a house warming gift in the making when she quits playing house at the penthouse and decides to be adult enough to buy her own home."

Blair giggled and moved a little closer to Chuck, kissing his shoulder, "This has been a great few days."

"But the real world is calling," he frowned.

"Our family in New York, the new house, and the hotel all demanding our attention. Plus I have to call Dorota and see what's going on."

"I'm almost afraid to find out the answer to all of that," Chuck stated hesitantly. "I can only imagine what habits of Nathaniel's are annoying her."

"Maybe she found his weed," Blair giggled again.

"And he probably won't share," he added, "That's always been his problem."

"Well, he didn't want to share me," Blair snuggled closer.

"Neither did I," Chuck smiled, enjoying her body warmth.

"So tomorrow we go back to New York," Blair summarized as she felt herself nodding off.

"Yes," he nodded, "I'll put the jet on standby first thing."

"I'm almost sorry Cyrus said yes to moving back," Blair yawned.

"Why?"

"I think living in Paris would be fun," she mumbled.

"We can come back anytime."

"I like that idea," she replied as she faded asleep.

"Me too," Chuck kissed her forehead before he closed his eyes too.

=x=x=x=x=x=

"This wouldn't have happened if you had listened to me," Blair snapped as she picked up her son to comfort him after he conked his head on the seat he was crawling around. It wasn't until Blair was rocking him in her arms that he began to wail.

"Blair, you can't blame me. Is Sebastian okay?" Chuck asked looking over Blair's shoulder.

"Like you care," she stated curtly, "You let these two crawl all over the plane after I specifically told you not to allow it."

"That's not fair," he responded, "I care about them as much as you do, but we cannot keep them in a protective bubble for their entire life."

"He bumped his head," she stated, "He could have a concussion, and we're at fifty thousand feet."

"We were both watching," Chuck reminded her, "He barely hit his head. He's crying because you're babying him."

"He is a baby," she snapped.

"Yes, but you can't always treat him like one," Chuck said. "If we act like it's the end of the world then so will he."

"And how do you know this?"

"I did a lot of reading when I was trying to find the three of you," Chuck reminded her.

"So, now you're Doctor Spock," Blair responded, "Fantastic, tell me Spock, what do we do if he has a concussion?"

"Blair, he did no more damage to himself than if we had knocked our own heads."

"But-"

"Stop," Chuck ordered. "He barely bumped himself. He's a crawling baby. It's going to happen."

"Well, I don't want it to happen. We are going to put bumpers all over the brownstone."

"You're being ridiculous," he told her as he bent over and picked up Sabrina who was looking at her parents with worry as she tugged at his trousers. It was evident that she didn't appreciate her parents yelling at each other.

"Don't tell me about being ridiculous. We're renovating two buildings. They could get seriously hurt."

"I'll buy them both cute yellow hard hats," he told her.

"You're making fun of me," Blair looked outraged.

"No," Chuck shook his head. "But, you have to realize that kids get hurt. Nate and I used to get cut and bruised all the time growing up."

"So, you're telling me boys will be boys?"

"Yes," he nodded, "And I'm sure you and Serena had your own cuts and bruises. In fact, I remember you falling and scraping your knees once trying to impress the two of us."

"You had your dad's car take me home," Blair remembered.

"Yes, and you were very brave," he told her as he risked kissing the tip of her nose. "You didn't cry once the entire time. In fact, I remember you being more worried about potential scars and ruining your favorite dress."

Blair sat down on the couch and pulled up the skirt she wore to point at her knee, "I kept picking at it and making it bleed. Dorota kept scolding me."

Chuck sat down next to her and ran a thumb over the scar on her knee, "And the dress?"

"Pressed and cleaned," Blair smiled. "Mom never knew."

"I've never truly noticed this before," he told her as he continued to caress the tiny imperfection tenderly.

"You're more interested in body parts north of my knee," Blair smiled.

"Now, that's not entirely true. I'm interested in your entire body," Chuck smirked as he continued to caress her knee softly as he leaned in to nuzzle at her neck, "And all of your scars."

"Even the ones you can't see," Blair asked.

"Especially the ones I can't see," Chuck told her seriously.

"I still fear you'll run out on us," Blair admitted, "I wake up some mornings, and you've gone to check on the twins, so you aren't in bed, and I begin to panic. It's only after I hear your voice on the baby monitor that I relax and allow myself to fall back to sleep."

"Blair, I know I haven't always been dependable, but I promise you that I am not going anywhere. After your surgery, I was sitting with you, and I promised you that I was done running away from us. I know you couldn't hear me then, so I'm telling you again. I'm not going to disappear in the middle of the night. You're stuck with me even if you yell at me for something stupid, and I storm out. I will come back. I will always come back," Chuck told her honestly. "You know, maybe we should talk about where this stems from. I know it's not all me and my crap."

"No, it's not," Blair nodded. "Some of it comes from my dad walking out. I have been in enough therapy to be honest about that."

"I know you love your father," Chuck began, "But what he did was horrible. No matter his relationship with your mother, he should have stayed for you. If not in New York, at least in the country. Even today, I do not think he knows how much he scarred you mentally. I'm not him, Blair. I'm not going to fall in love with someone else, male or female. I'm not going to put an entire ocean between us. I'm going to be there, every day, fighting to make this work."

Blair put a hand on the side of his face and leaned forward, closing her eyes as she touched her forehead to his. Chuck noticed a few tears slipping down her cheeks.

"When did you get to be so amazing?" she asked quietly. "It's like that immature, sex-crazed boy just evaporated one day and left this amazing man in his place. I don't think I ever realized it until it was staring me in the face."

"I still have days where I'm that immature, sex-crazed boy," he admitted, "But being a father tames those urges, especially the father of this little beauty. I want to be a good example for her and her brother."

"Because you've heard the old adage that girls look for men like their fathers," Blair teased.

"That's not funny," Chuck shook his head as he pressed a kiss to Blair's forehead. "She's going to find someone the opposite of me."

"Honestly, I think if she found someone like you, she'd be lucky."

"I'm not a good guy," Chuck shook his head, "I have too much baggage."

"You are too a good guy," Blair told him, "And we all have baggage. It's how you overcome that baggage that makes you a good guy."

"I ran and did drugs and slept with loose women," Chuck shook his head.

"And you got shot and came home to fight for your family. Despite all of that, and maybe even because if it, I still see an amazing man," Blair replied, "Look at yourself, Bass. Look at that little girl in your arms. Look how comfortable she is there and how comfortable you are with her. The fact that you're not proud of those things in your past, tells me that you're changing. You're becoming a better man."

"That's not the first time you've said something like that to me," Chuck remembered.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for the anniversary this past year," Blair said. "I poured some scotch and said a toast, but I poured it down the drain."

"I did too," he replied, "Scotch went right down the drain. It tasted awful, as everything always did."

"Maybe when we get home, we should take the twins and introduce them to their grandparents," Blair ventured.

"Have you taken the twins to Eleanor's grave?"

"Actually, yes, I have. Dorota and I went about two weeks ago."

"I haven't been to my parents' grave since that night I found that bogus locket," he admitted.

"I'll go with you this time," Blair said. "I would've gone last time, if you'd let me."

He nodded as he kissed Sabrina's forehead. Her little eyes pierced her father's, drawing a smile to his lips.

"They're good tonics for foul moods," Chuck smiled as he tickled under Sabrina's chin.

"Yes, they are," Blair smiled as she pressed her lips against Sebastian's head. "You know what else a good tonic for a foul mood is?"

"Waldorf, are you suggesting mile high sex?" he raised a curious eyebrow to her.

"Absolutely," Blair nodded. "But we need to lay these two down for naps first. I want no more bumps or bruises on this flight, unless of course they're collateral damage."

"Noted," Chuck nodded as he stood up with Sabrina in his arms. "I think I have an advantage. Sabrina's half asleep."

"Do you really think Sebastian is going to be okay?" Blair inquired as she kissed his head, where he'd bumped it minutes earlier. His tears had dried up, and he was smiling happily.

"Yes, I do," Chuck nodded. "He's a good, strong baby, remember?"

"I remember," she nodded.

"Let's put them to bed first," Chuck said. "Then let's get into bed ourselves."