Does anyone miss Gossip Girl or is it me? Thank you to all those who replied. My beta rocks!
"You need to be more discrete," Chuck said as he studied a menu.
"What on earth for?" Nate scoffed, "It's Dorota that should be discrete."
"We were taught better manners than getting it on in full view of the help," Blair frowned at Nate. "Though God knows you tried to persuade me otherwise."
"We pay the help to be discrete. If they have a problem with that, it's their option to walk away."
Serena slapped Nate upside the head. "That's exactly the problem. This is Dorota. She deserves better than that."
"She's a maid."
"She practically raised all of us."
"She's more than that and you know it," Blair told him sternly. "She practically raised all of us."
"Well, there isn't anything we can do about it now," Nate replied.
"You might apologize to her," Chuck suggested.
"Fine, first chance I get I'll apologize, but she's already made her decision to move on. What's done is done."
"And when Cyrus decides to hire someone else to keep the penthouse clean, you might keep your activities behind closed doors," Blair suggested.
"Fine, I'll keep the door closed next time," he sighed unhappily.
"Thank you," Blair said. "Also, no going at in in the living room."
"What!" Nate exclaimed, "Come on, you've got to give me some place outside the bedroom to work my magic."
"Magic," Serena rolled her eyes. "I promise Blair. The bedroom is the only place Nate will be getting lucky."
"With you anyways," he rolled his eyes.
"You are not to bring random girls into the penthouse," Blair ordered him. "If that's what you want, move out."
"And where exactly would I go? Chuck sold the Empire. The new hotel isn't due to open for at least another month."
"And, by the way, you two are not allowed to play grab ass in the elevator; together or apart," Chuck said.
"Why don't you just tell us where, when and how we can have sex," Nate suggested sarcastically.
"We've told you the where. You can have it whenever you want," Blair said. "As for the how, I think I'll let Chuck take care of that."
"Oh the possibilities," he rubbed his hands together in excitement.
"No thank you," Serena shook her head. "While I'm sure there are a few things you can teach us, I'll pass."
"I don't know, S," Blair giggled, "Perhaps you should allow the professor to teach. Maybe Nate would benefit, and in turn, so would you."
"Oh ew," Serena winced. "This is by far the most disgusting conversation I've ever had with you guys and I'm including the one I had with Chuck when confessed that he couldn't get it up and I made the mistake of accidentally suggesting Blair as sexual Drano."
"Sexual Drano, when was that?" Blair laughed out. "Was I of any help?"
"The night of the blackout when I pretended to be Lady Marcus," Chuck said.
"So then probably not," she frowned, "I'm sorry. Had I known your predicament, I might have been more accommodating."
"After everything, I think if I'd told you, you would have cut it off."
"I'm sure that's not true," she laughed, "It's too much fun to play with."
"Ew, gross," Serena cringed.
"More fun than mine," Nate asked.
"Oh, god yes," Blair exclaimed.
"Hey!"
"Thank you," Chuck pulled Blair in for a kiss.
"No making out at the table," Serena scolded them as she threw a piece of bread at them.
"Grow up, Serena," Blair muttered. "We kiss. It happens."
"It's like watching our parents make out," Nate cringed.
"But so much fun when you're on the receiving end of these beautiful lips," Chuck replied as he pulled Blair to him again.
Blair put one around Chuck's neck and a hand on the side of his face as they kissed again.
"So much fun," Chuck murmured.
"I know what's more fun," she whispered as she pulled away.
"Good things come to she who waits," Chuck teased her.
"She won't be waiting for long," she raised her eyebrow suggestively.
"No, not long at all," Chuck shook his head with a soft smile.
"God, get a room," Serena groaned as she threw another piece of bread in their direction.
"What a marvelous idea," Blair sighed.
"And S, stop trying to instigate a food fight," Chuck scolded as he picked up a piece of the thrown bread and threw it back at her.
"Guys, c'mon, this isn't Animal House," Nate reminded them.
"Could you have picked a more dated reference?" Blair teased as she threw the other piece of bread in his direction.
"Probably, but it was the first one that came to me," Nate threw a piece of bread at her.
"Are we really going to do this?" Chuck inquired as he looked around the table at all the potential ammunition they had at their fingertips.
Serena was the first to drop her bread and put her hands up in surrender. Blair followed suit and glared Nate in surrender.
"Too bad," Chuck sighed, "I would have loved to see how Serena wore the pasta."
"Maybe another time," Blair patted his hand.
"Promise?" he chuckled.
"Sure," Blair nodded. "Maybe when we all have dinner together at the new house."
"Are you sure you want to do that to our new maid, whoever she may be?"
"Perhaps we'll rent out a room somewhere," Blair replied as she amended her original response. "I don't want my new home to take on such a mess."
"How excited are you to be moving into your very own home tomorrow?" Serena inquired.
"Very," Blair smiled. "It's all come together so perfectly. The apartment's all ready for Cyrus. He'll be moving in soon. The nursery and the master bedroom are perfect. I can't wait to sleep there tomorrow night."
"Have you tested out the bed yet to ensure that it will stand up to the workout you two will surely put it through?" Nate inquired.
"That is none of your business," Blair told her ex-boyfriend. "Unlike you, I like keeping my sex life private."
"Come on, we're all friends here," Nate baited her.
"Back off, Nate."
"Someone is grumpy tonight," Nate snickered.
Blair kicked Nate in the shin.
"Ow!"
"Serves you right, Archibald," Chuck laughed out.
"Let's just order," Serena cut in.
"God, that's going to leave a bruise," Nate complained.
"Consider it payback for the bruise you left after cotillion," Blair smirked.
"What bruise?" Nate looked at her in confusion.
"The one on my leg from when you dug your knee into it."
"He still does that," Serena groaned in sympathy.
"What is this; pick on Nate for his lack of sexual prowess and manners night," Nate looked pissed.
"Appears to be," Blair grinned.
"I'm with Serena," Chuck said. "Let's order."
"Order for me," Blair requested as she stood up and kissed his cheek softly, "I'm going to call Dorota to check on the twins."
"Alright," Chuck nodded.
-x-x-x-x-x-
Blair and Chuck were about to leave the penthouse for the last time when Chuck stopped and looks around.
"What's wrong?" Blair asked as she rubbed his shoulder gently.
"I shared a lot of misery and worry with these walls not so long ago," Chuck replied as he looked at her with a small smile. "Not to mention self-hatred."
"Chuck," Blair shook her head. "That part of our life is over."
"I thought I'd be sadder that it's gone," Chuck admitted. "It was supposed to be my legacy, but all it ended up being was my misguided attempt to best my father."
"Look at me," Blair turned his face to hers. "You did best your father but not just in business. You bested your father as a human being."
"This was our first real home together."
"I know," Blair put her hands in his. "But, it's time to move on. We can't stand still anymore. This place was good for us when we were childless, and when we were just figuring out to be co-parents. I was still recovering, but now it's time for a bigger place."
"The only time I've ever even felt like I had a home was when you were here with me."
"Well, you still have a home," Blair smiled. "You have one with me and our children. It's the same way for me. You and the twins are home for me, Chuck."
"I've never been more excited about moving in my life," he admitted, "Exercising all these demons is an amazing feeling."
"Do you want a minute?" Blair asked motioning around them. "I can meet you in the lobby."
"I'll be right down," he nodded as he kissed her softly.
"I love you," Blair smiled as she got into the elevator.
"God, I hate this place," Chuck groaned as he looked around.
Then what are you still doing here?
Chuck looked around, half expecting to see his father because he could swear that he just heard his voice.
"I'm losing my mind," Chuck shook his head as he tried to shake the sound of his father's voice.
This place is a reminder of all the things you did to drive your family away. You're well rid of it.
"To hell with it," Chuck threw up his hands as the image of his father filled his mind. If he was going crazy, he might as well have this conversation first. "You were such an asshole. I cannot believe that I actually felt the need to prove myself to you even when you were alive."
Stop trying to prove yourself to me. Prove yourself to your family.
"That's the thing about families," Chuck snarled, "You don't have to prove yourself. Love is supposed to be unconditional. All my children want is to be loved. That's all I wanted, but you were too selfish to give me that. You were a horrible, angry man, and I'm better without you influencing my life."
But I'm still here and as long as that's true, I'm still influencing your life. Let go, Charles. I was a bastard. You deserved better. You know that and so you'll do better.
"That's the first thing you've ever said that made sense to me, and it comes after you're dead. You're just my conscience getting the best of me, a figment of my imagination, not even real."
Suddenly the image he saw before him vanished and he was alone as he was before.
Then you should really listen because it's coming from inside you. Goodbye Charles.
"Goodbye, Bart," Chuck stated as he took one last look around and then stepped on the elevator to meet Blair in the lobby.
Blair was waiting for him as she leaned against the wall. She smiled at him, "I turned in our keys. You okay?"
"I'm fantastic actually," he told her as he pressed her up against the wall more firmly and kissed her soundly.
"Wow," Blair said when they parted. "What was that for?"
"Because I love you," he told her. "Do I need another reason?"
"Never," Blair smiled. "You ready? Lily's meeting us with the children at the Brownstone in about twenty minutes."
"I've never been more ready," Chuck told her as he grasped her hand and led her towards the glass doors that led to the limo waiting outside. He said a few goodbyes to the familiar faced employees he passed, but never looked back.
Blair snuggled close to Chuck as they sat in the limo. She picked up his hand and leaned her head on his shoulder,
"You're quiet."
"So are you."
"Just tired. I was up early packing the last of the twins' things," Blair said. "But you're introspective. Bad things happen, Bass, when you get introspective."
"It's just weird saying goodbye to that place," Chuck played with her fingers. "I thought we'd be there for a while longer."
"We are a little ahead of the regularly scheduled program," Blair agreed.
"Too far ahead?" he inquired.
"No," Blair shook her head. "We're exactly where we're supposed to be."
"Are you excited for our first night in our new home?" he inquired as he raised an eyebrow, "Or are you too tired to celebrate?"
"I'm sure I'll find my second wind," she laughed.
"You were up before the sun packing the last of our things," Chuck said. "No pushing yourself. You're not cooking dinner tonight. We can order out."
"Bossy. I like it," Blair smirked.
"It's going to take a little getting used to not being able to call up room service whenever we don't feel like cooking," Chuck smiled.
"We'll figure it out," she assured him, "And I like cooking, so that won't happen all that often."
"If Eleanor could hear you now," Chuck shook his head.
Blair laughed, "I think she'd be as horrified as she would have if she'd
seen the way I was sitting or rather lying on the couch after her wake."
"Did you talk to Dorota?"
"Yes, she packed up the rest of my things and Cyrus' and had them sent to the house. She said Serena still won't look her in the eye."
"Has she made a decision about which of the two jobs offers she's going to take?"
"She did," Blair nodded as a bit of sadness was reflected in her eyes. "We have a new head of housekeeping at the hotel."
"I'm sorry," Chuck said. "I know you were hoping she'd work at the Brownstone."
"I think this will make her happier."
"Do you really think that?"
"I don't know," Blair shook her head. "But let's hold off on hiring a maid for a few weeks just in case she changes her mind, okay?"
"We can just hire a temp," Chuck nodded, "I don't want you to feel as though you have to clean the entire brownstone all on your own."
"I did clean my apartment when I lived in Jersey," Blair reminded him.
"Which was about the size of our new bathroom," Chuck responded.
"That's going to be fun to use to soak in at the end of long days," Blair smiled at him.
"Together of course," he added.
"Of course," she smirked. "I talked to Cyrus. He said the sale's going forward quickly and that he should be back in the states soon."
"Which I'm sure excites you to no end."
"It does," Blair smiled. "Do you want to come with me to Paris to help him pack, or am I going solo?"
"I suppose that depends on when you'll be going to Paris and how long you'll be staying," Chuck replied.
"Not longer than a couple of days," Blair said. "I'm just going to help him pack up my mother's things."
"I suppose we could sneak away for a weekend," he proposed, "Perhaps we should see if Lily could watch the children for the weekend."
"An entire ocean away from our children," Blair looked at him questioningly. "Are we ready for that?"
"Probably not," he laughed, "But we'll have to do it eventually."
"No, we don't," she gasped.
"Blair," Chuck looked at her seriously. "We can't take them with us everywhere we go. At some point we need to do things without them."
"It doesn't have to be now, does it?" she inquired. Her eyes showed she was nearly panicking at the thought. She could feel her heart hammer a little harder.
"We'll talk about it again at another point in time," Chuck kissed the top of her head. "We're almost home."
Her relief was immediate as their home came into view. What was once a look of panic was now one of glee.
Blair charged towards the front door with childlike enthusiasm. It was all Chuck could do to keep up with her. He grasped her hand just as she was putting the key into the lock.
"Hold on there, Waldorf," Chuck told her as he snatched the key from her, unlocking it quickly and turning the knob. Before she knew what was happening, he had swept her off her feet and carried her inside their home.
"Put me down," she laughed a she tried to squirm out of his grasp. "We're not married. That's a married tradition."
"Just practicing," Chuck kissed her as he walked into the living room and set her on her feet as his eyes settled on the coffee table. "Does Lily have a key?"
"Yes, I gave one to her for emergencies," Blair nodded as her eyes trained on what his were locked on to. "And that's her purse. Lily?"
"I thought I heard you two," Lily came in from the kitchen. "I was just putting some things in the kitchen for you. Eric and I stopped at that bakery down the street. This is a fantastic neighborhood. Rufus and I should look into buying some real estate here. He'd be far more comfortable here than at the Palace."
"How is Rufus?" Blair asked as she took a seat on the couch and wiggled around a little finding a comfortable spot. "Eric says he'll be released soon."
"He's doing very well in treatment. We've actually been going to therapy together. He's beginning to open up about Jenny's death and how it's affected him. It's a tiny step, but it's a start," Lily proclaimed.
"That's great, Lily," Blair said. "You know Serena and I looked at a Brownstone about a block from here. It needs a lot less work than this one did and the top level is studio space. The former owner was an artist."
"I'm calling my real estate agent as soon as Rufus gets out of treatment. He could use a change of scenery."
"And I think it also has an apartment in the basement if Dan doesn't want to go back to Brooklyn," Serena said as she entered, having heard the tail end of the conversation with Nate behind her. "We come bearing pizza."
"Just what my heart needs, artery clogging pizza. I'll go get the plates," Blair headed for the kitchen and grabbed the plates from the kitchen and set the dining room table while Nate put the boxes down.
"You know when two people move into a new home they usually have boxes and boxes of stuff to unpack. All you seem to have are a few suitcases," Serena observed.
"It pays to have money to hire people do to all that for them," Chuck responded.
"Dorota said to tell you that the rest of the boxes would be here by Monday," Nate said as he took a seat at the table. "I thought Eric was here."
"He's upstairs," Lily said. "I'll get him."
"I'll get him," Blair said. "Eric! Food!"
"Blair," Lily looked at her surprised.
"It works on Dan."
Sure enough Eric charged down the stairs moments later with the baby monitor in his hands which he promptly handed to Blair.
"Cool, pizza," Eric grabbed a plate and sat next to Chuck. "Twins are asleep."
"Thanks Eric. You can leave after lunch if you want," Blair said. "See if you can salvage the rest of your Saturday."
"No thanks," he shook his head, "I think I'll take my own tour of your new home. It could very well take me all day. This place is huge. You should provide guests maps so they don't get lost."
"You're always welcome here," Chuck said putting a hand on his shoulder. "And if you want, feel free to draw up those maps."
"One question, where is the shopping mall, the east or west wing?" Eric eyes brightened in amusement.
"That would be Blair's closet," Chuck laughed.
"Funny," Blair said dryly. "So, Dorota has officially accepted the offer to be head of housekeeping at the hotel."
"I'm sorry, Sweetheart," Lily responded, "I'm sure you were hoping she'd want to come work here instead."
"I'll be okay. I'm more worried about what the penthouse is going to look like when Dorota doesn't work there anymore."
"Hey, Nate and I are not that bad," Serena stated defensively.
"Now that we've finished the interview, are there any questions you'd like to ask about the job," Chuck pretended to be interviewing Blair for a job.
"Yes. Why did the last housekeeper quit?"
"Because my step-sister can't control her vocal chords while she's in the throes."
"I'm not hearing this," Lily groaned as she suddenly disappeared into the kitchen.
"I hate you two," Serena pouted. "I still can't make eye contact with Dorota."
"That's not our fault," Chuck laughed.
"Can we change the subject, please?" Eric asked. "The last thing I want to discuss is my sister's sex life."
"Hear, hear," Serena agreed. "Can I get a tour of this place? I haven't seen it all put together yet."
"Tours will begin in approximately thirty minutes," Chuck did his best tour guide impression. "Be sure to purchase your tickets prior to the start of the tour. Admission is a reasonable thousand dollars per person."
"I think your definition of reasonable is a bit different than the rest of us," Nate shook his head, "Billionaire Bass."
"Lily, tour time. Are you coming?" Blair called as she got up.
At the end of the tour, Lily was raving about the decorations. "The nursery is the cutest thing I've ever seen. I cannot wait to see what you do with their bedrooms when they get old enough to have their own rooms."
"Wait, what about your room?" Serena spoke up as they began heading downstairs.
"Sorry, not on the tour," Blair informed her.
"Not fair," Serena protested.
"Sorry. A bedroom is a private sanctuary," Blair shook her head.
"I saw your room when you lived at the penthouse. I was in your room at The Empire."
"This is different."
"You have a stripper pole, don't you?" Serena guessed.
"Mind out of the gutter please," Blair gasped.
"And mirrors on the ceiling," Nate added.
"Don't push your adolescent fantasies off on me and Chuck," Blair rolled her eyes. "Chuck, they're being vulgar."
"Archibald, I can assure you that there are no stripper poles, mirrors on the ceiling, or any other sex devices," Chuck glared at his best friend. "Our bedroom is private, for the two of us."
"Thank you," Blair kissed him. "Now, did everyone receive their invitations to opening night at Sebastian's?"
"Of course," Serena stated, "You sent them by private messenger. You must have employed Chuck's PI to track us down. I was leaving my gynecologist when I was approached with the envelope."
"I thought I was being summoned to court," Nate added.
"Wouldn't be the first time," Chuck shrugged.
Serena giggled and then cleared her throat at the look Nate sent her.
"So, does that mean you're all coming?" Blair asked. "Lily, will Rufus be able to attend?"
"I'll ask him at our next therapy session," Lily assured her.
"Eric, you're quiet. You did get the invite, right?"
"I got it," Eric assured her. "How he found me at that club, I don't know, but I got it and yes, I'm coming."
"Club?" Lily inquired as she eyed her son curiously.
"Chicken marsala?" Chuck inquired.
"Okay, someone please tell me what the deal is with this chicken marsala," Lily demanded.
"Lily, trust me when I say that there are some things a mother shouldn't know," Blair said. "Anyone want some tea?"
"Charles Bass, where have you been taking my son? Not someplace illegal, I hope."
"Lily, that hurts," Chuck told her.
"Mom, it's nothing bad, at least nothing too bad," Eric spoke up, "It's just a strip club."
"STRIP CLUB!" Lily exclaimed. She looked between the pair in confusion.
"A male strip club," Eric explained.
"Charles Bass, what the hell do you think you're doing taking my little boy to a strip club," Lily gasped.
"Lily, calm down. We were just having some fun," Chuck said.
"Fun?"
"Mom, it was harmless," Eric defended. "It's not Serena making Dorota quit by going at it with Nate everywhere and anywhere."
"And I think that's my cue to go into the other room," Serena got up.
"Eric," Nate looked pissed.
"No, I'm not a little boy any more. I'm eighteen. I deserve to have a little fun every now and then. I'm not going to raves and doing lines of coke with random strangers. I'm not coming home completely bombed off my gourd. I went to a strip club with my brother and let off a little steam. There is nothing wrong with it. I get good grades, and I stay out of trouble. In case you've missed it, I have a sense of direction."
"It's not that I don't think you have direction but you're still very young."
"Blair was in Victrola when she was younger than I am right now and Chuck owned the place for crying out loud," Eric reminded his mother. "And I won't even go into what Serena was doing."
"Hey, don't drag me into this," Serena exclaimed as she came back in.
"I'm sorry," Lily said to her son. "But you're my baby and I worry about you because of everything that you've endured. I just want to protect you a bit more than I did Serena."
"I don't need protecting. I need to be treated like all your other children. I've earned that right," Eric replied.
"You've more than earned that right," Lily nodded. "And I apologize."
Blair slapped Chuck's shoulder as Lily went to hug Eric.
"What was that for?" Chuck snarled.
"For introducing your brother to that," she replied.
"It wasn't the first time I'd been there," Eric admitted.
Everyone looked at Eric in surprise.
"Elliot and I got fake ids and went a few times," he explained.
"Who-where did you get fake IDs"" Lily folded her arms.
Blair exchanged a look with Serena and then Nate and Chuck.
"Does that really matter now, Lily?" Blair asked.
"Yes, I want to know who would give my under aged son a fake ID," Lily demanded.
"He probably got it from Penelope's older brother," Serena admitted. "And by the way, I told you to stop snooping in my room, Eric."
Eric merely shrugged in reply.
"Did all of you have fake id's?" Lily inquired.
"Still do," Chuck admitted proudly.
"Me too," Blair nodded. "I say that because I know that you can't ground me considering I am a mom and not one of your kids."
"Don't be so sure," Lily narrowed her eyes.
"Well, I don't live under your roof anymore," Serena pointed out. "And I have one too, and so does Nate."
"And so does Dan," Blair decided to chime in.
"I don't believe this," Lily shook her head. "Eric, I want yours."
"Mom," Eric protested.
"You still live under my roof," Lily reminded him.
"Lily, I'm going to speak on Eric's behalf," Chuck spoke up, "You can take his id, but he'll just get another one."
"It's true," Nate said. "My mom found mine and I just went and got another one. This time I hid it at Chuck's."
"And I don't know what you're so upset about," Serena spoke up, "You surely had one."
"And I was pregnant at your age," Lily replied.
"Been there," Blair chimed up.
Chuck smirked, "Lily, Eric's an adult now. You can't control him or what he does. He'll be at school soon and in a dorm."
"Actually, I was wondering if I could move in with Serena and Nate," Eric said.
"No," Serena, Lily, and Blair said together.
"Wow. Stereo," Nate nodded.
"It was just a thought," Eric shrugged.
"And if it was just Serena, I'd be fine with it," Lily said. "But after hearing why Dorota quit, I don't want you seeing things you shouldn't.
"Mom, I know Serena's not a virgin," Eric said.
"Great. Don't mind me. Humiliation's really good for my coloring."
"Then keep your business in your room, van der Woodsen," Chuck responded.
"We could try it," Serena said.
"We can talk about this more later," Lily sighed. "We still have time to sort all of this out. But for now, I think we should leave Blair and Chuck to relax in their home on their first night here."
"Like they're actually going to relax," Nate laughed.
Blair slapped Nate upside the back of his head as she shoved him towards the door.
"Ow!" Nate exclaimed.
"Keep the commentary to yourself," she scolded him.
"I still say you two have a stripper pole in your bedroom," Nate said.
Blair kicked him in the shin.
"Ow! Stop trying to damage me," Nate whined.
"Stop saying stupid things then," Blair demanded.
"He can't help it," Chuck said before whispering in Blair's ear, "It's all the weed."
"Enjoy your new home," Lily stated. "We cannot wait for the housewarming party that is sure to come."
"Perhaps they'll forget to lock their bedroom door," Nate whispered in Serena's ear. "And I can prove they have that pole."
"Keep it up, Nate, and I won't forget to lock my door," Serena said.
"I thought they'd never leave," Blair announced once she and Chuck had been left alone.
"Twins and then our room," Chuck smiled.
"I'll race you," she smirked as she took off before he could respond.