Disclaimer: I do not own "Gossip Girl."
Author's Note: Thank you for the awesome reviews! This chapter sees us finally with Serena! I hope you enjoy. Thank you for reading. :)
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Chuck took the shove in stride, without comment, eyes still fixed on the spot where the older Chuck and Blair had stood; Blair was doing the same—staring at the spot as if what had just occurred were incomprehensible.
Serena sighs, "Okay guys, it's not that shocking."
Nate nods, "Yeah, snap out of it. What'd you think being married was gonna be like?"
Blair blinks, looks up at Nate— and for one moment, that instant when their gazes meet, he can see that she'd let herself think of it with Chuck, only with him; and he looks away, knows she does too.
"So you're happy…" Serena continues, looking between Blair and Chuck, "It really isn't that odd."
Blair looks to Serena and she blinks again, licks her lips and draws in a deep breath, "Well, no," she says carefully and then shifts her gaze to Chuck slowly.
He feels it, the weight of her gaze, and looks over at her.
"Is it?" She asks him archly, eyebrows a bit high, her lips pursed, but there's a thread of uncertainty in her voice they can all make out.
Chuck swallows and pulls up a smirk that doesn't make it all the way to his eyes, "Of course it isn't," he answers her steadily. But the touch of panic is his eyes hadn't faded with the image of his and Blair's happy marriage; only cemented itself a little deeper.
Could they do that?
Could he become that?
And how?
"Let's go back outside," Nate says into the silence; sending Serena a look of worry.
Her reaction to what she had seen so far had been to be expected—turning into a version of her mother was precisely the future didn't want. But Chuck and Blair's reaction was not and it was making him anxious… but then again, when had Chuck and Blair ever done things as was expected of them?
Serena nods. "You… you wanted to see the other boy, B…" she says quietly, reaches for her friend's hand, "Let's go."
"I bet the pool house is around to the other side." Nate offers, tilting his head towards the doors, eyes on Chuck.
Chuck nods at Nate and then he shakes his head a little to dispel the mood as they quietly leave the house. The music outside is a tad livelier and the tents are bit more crowded. Colorful lanterns have been lit in preparation for dusk and they all spot Blair smiling and nodding with a cluster of women underneath the main canopy.
As they cross the patio and lawn, Sunny sees them. He stops in his play to wave at them and Chuck smirks as Nate waves back; Serena and Blair exchange a quick smile before they each bring a finger to each of their lips in a shh gesture. He shrugs at them and continues to run around after the soccer ball.
"Guess he got tired of tag," Nate says.
"Maybe he's playing both," Serena offers.
And then they share a quick grin, because they'd always done that as kids—played multiple games at one time and Blair had always—
"You can't play two games at once," Blair huffs, slicing right into their shared memory; and the two blondes grin wider, "You play one or the other, but if you play two at once then you are not participating fully in either." She continues as they round the bend and find the pool. It's long and gleaming with a diving board at one end; and they see a small building off to the side of it that must be their destination.
Nate laughs a little as Serena giggles at Blair's comment. The blonde gives her friend's had a squeeze, "Maybe he's just that awesome, B," she teases, "Able to fully participate in both!"
Blair sends Serena a skeptical look, but her gaze is drawn to the building they're approaching and the man standing the doorway.
Chuck had not said a word as they had walked; but now he stops and he watches. They could see the man, the older Chuck, and tell that he speaking, but he was facing inwards and they couldn't hear him.
"We could walk through him," Serena offers, biting her lip, "To get inside."
"I think not," Blair hisses, "That feeling is not pleasant."
Nate nods, "I bet that's what a ghost feels like."
Blair rolls her eyes.
Serena laughs a little, nodding, "Maybe… like in Casper when Christina Ricci's character puts her hand through—"
"He's moving," Chuck interrupts.
And Serena falls silent, shifting her gaze back to the building. The older Chuck has turned sideways in the doorway and he's motioning out.
"Well," Blair says, "Let's go then." And she walks towards it, pulling Serena with her, and slips inside without another comment.
Nate looks over at Chuck, "Come on, man. It's fine… this is like… a dream. Nothing to worry about."
Chuck looks over and meets his friend's gaze, finds the dark blue eyes intent and concerned; sees in those eyes the same thing he's feeling— that the more time they spend here, the less it seems like a dream, it's too detailed, too accurate, too flawed…
"Right," he says anyway and then they're moving inside. They move past the older Chuck, whose eyes are fastened on the small sandy-blonde haired boy in front him.
Harm's pale blue eyes are flashing and he's frowning at his father, "If Cash doesn't go, then I should get to stay from the next one!" He yells, "And Gracie too!"
Serena and Blair were standing just inside the room; they made space for the boys to join them as they quickly took in their surroundings and then they settled their eyes on the small boy and his father.
It wasn't a large space; but comfortably outfitted with a desk, a couple sofas, two bookcases, a coffee table, an armchair, plush rugs, and of course, cabinets that likely held pool equipment. There was a door that probably led to a bathroom and a counter that marked the beginning of a small kitchen area.
"Duly noted, Harmon," the older Chuck says to his youngest son, "But you will do as you are told. And Cash will do as he is. Now you go back to that party. Do not make me tell you again."
Harm glares, brows scrunched together. "Fine," he snits. "But it's not fair."
Chuck gives him a small, one-shouldered shrug as the boy stomps towards him, "Fair is relative."
And the little boy sounds like he actually growls as he leaves the room.
"He's never that abhorrent for his mother," Chuck continues almost to himself as his gaze follows the boy past the pool and around towards the party.
The room is quiet for the space of a breath and then a wry voice says, "Well no. She's Mom."
And they all swivel in the direction of the voice. He's spinning on the desk chair, a smirk planted firmly on his face and they gape at him. Mouth's actually dropping open, because it turns out that Cash Bass, looks exactly like his father.
"Cash," his father says, turning from the doorway to face the boy. His voice is stern and he shuts the door behind him without looking at it.
The smirk fades a little from the child's face and he sits up a little straighter. "Father."
Blair winces a little at the tone in the boy's voice. Beside her she can feel Chuck tense at it too; at the seriousness and the tension in the space around them. The room is silent and the four of them can do nothing, but stare at this boy— Chuck and Blair's oldest son.
"My god," Serena whispers and shoots her Chuck a quick look before fastening her eyes on Cash again; studying the resemblance.
He's wearing plaid shorts in white and varying shades of green, a white button-down shirt with a darker green vest to compliment his shorts, and soft-looking brown loafers. His dark brown hair is cut short and sticking up tufts at different angles as if he'd just run his finger through it.
And he has his father's eyes, almond-shaped and honey-colored. And his father's mouth pursed and tilted at a mocking angle. And his father's cheekbones and his father's jaw, sharp and defined.
"Chuck, man…" Nate breathes.
Blair licks her lips, pulls her hand from Serena's as she takes a step towards where Cash is sitting. There's a tennis ball in his hands and he's fingering the felt of it slowly.
The older Chuck takes a step to the side of the door and then he leans his back against the wall, crosses his arms over his chest as he casts his gaze in his son's direction.
Cash presses his lips together, meets his father's look. The anxiety in the room rockets up a notch and Serena and Nate shoot each other a glance full of worry. Chuck is staring at the boy as if he were an apparition—which in some ways, they supposed he was.
The older man stares at his son for another beat and then he arcs an eyebrow at him.
And just like that Cash's face twitches and he huffs, "Aw Dad!"
It's an exclamation that releases every iota of tension in the room. The older man pushes off the wall and narrows his eyes at the boy, but there's a smirk playing around his lips. "You are upsetting your mother."
Cash looks outraged, "She's upsetting me!"
"Is she now?"
"Yes. She insists that I attend…" his lips curl a little, "That cook-out she's organized."
"Yes, I'm aware." Chuck agrees.
"I won't do it. I've enough standing those lame-brained, louts when they aren't amassed in my back yard," he states; before shooting his father a quick scowl, "Handling my things, I'll have you know, in their careless, imbecilic games."
And Chuck sighs at that, his face relaxing as he brings a hand to rub over his face, "Cash—"
"Not to mention that Aunt Serena is getting divorced this summer— which means she will be coming and going at least seventeen more times this season. And I refuse to be subjected to those women seventeen times."
A smirk lights Chuck's face as he moves forward, "Subjected? What women?" He asks curiously.
Cash nods, frowning. "From the neighborhood. They pat me. On the. Head, Dad." He says it very slowly, as if to ensure his Dad gathers all the significant horror in the act.
Chuck's smirk widens as he sits down on one of the sofas across from his son. The boy rolls the chair closer, passing the tennis ball from hand to hand as he continues, "I am not four."
"We all must deal with frustrations, son."
"Sure. I'll deal with it at the last party; at the end of the summer."
"You will deal with it tonight and every night your mother decides to have an event in this house. You will not hide in here like a child." Chuck's voice is underlined with steel.
"I am a child." Cash counters.
Chuck considers him. "Alright then," he says carefully.
And they watch Cash tense at the agreement.
A beat passes and then Chuck continues, "Just so you know, children do not to spend three weeks out of their summer's working with me."
Cash's eyes go wide at this announcement and the ball slips from between his fingers. It falls to the floor and bounces its way over to Chuck, who leans forward and picks it up as his son sputters.
"Dad! That's not—! You can't do that!" He protests, sounding very young, suddenly. "I've been reading and studying all week to go to Bass with you! You said I could!"
"And I am still saying you can," Chuck agrees, "Only that it's dependent on certain factors."
"You're blackmailing me!"
"Negotiating."
Cash blows out a breath and runs his hand through his hair. Chuck bounces the ball back at him and Cash catches it.
They're silent for a moment and then Chuck says softly, "I didn't see Nigel out there."
"Nigel's in Egypt with his Father." Cash answers immediately.
Chuck nods, "Is this the problem?" He asks gently, "You'll have no one to play with?"
Cash looks supremely offended, "I'm twelve, Dad. I don't play."
His Dad nods, to his credit, understandingly. "Perhaps you could sit with Liam. As I understand it, he's unaccompanied this evening."
"He is?!" Cash sounds surprised at that, "I thought he'd bring Candace."
"She isn't here."
"Oh," he says as he thinks that over and then his face brightens, a smirk gracing his features, "Dad, I bet she's really disappointed. I should go over there and talk to her, you know, make sure she's okay." He says, his youthfulness making the words just a tad too earnest to be sincere.
And Nate laughs at that, elbows his Chuck in the ribs as he whispers, "Dude. He's like a mini-Chuck." But his friend doesn't respond, gaze fixed on the scene before them.
The older Chuck nods knowingly, smirking as well; he knows exactly what his son wants to talk to Candace about. "Certainly should. Tomorrow."
"Dad! Aunt Serena is—"
"Did she call today?" Chuck asks abruptly, "About bringing someone?"
"Yeah, she wanted Mom to get the guest room ready, said she's bringing a prospective client for you," he snickers a little, leaning back the chair, "Gracie threw a fit this morning; spent the whole day slamming things and yelling."
"She doesn't think it's true?"
"Nope."
"Well. It is. It's your aunt's job to scout prospective clients. If she says she's bringing one, then she is."
"She's getting divorced too." Cash says, dryly; tone implying a little too much.
Chuck frowns at his son, says, "Hm," a bit doubtfully, "Mind your tongue in that respect, Cash." The tone is mild, but the boy reacts.
He licks his lips, nodding, and says quickly, "Yes, sir."
There's a pause and then Chuck's expression clears as he changes the subject, "Party. Now."
And Cash huffs again. "It's ridiculous!" He cries, bouncing the tennis ball in his hands towards his Dad, "There's no point to it."
Chuck catches the bounce back that Cash tosses him, "Look, I acknowledge that your mother's events are at times…" he pauses, a smirk on his face again as he bounces it back, "Superfluous," he finishes carefully. But then he shrugs, the smirk widening to a smile, "But they bring her pleasure."
Cash sighs as he bounces the ball back. "They treat us like we're monkeys on display at these things. And I don't get it; none of the other kids get pinched or petted so much."
"We were a bit infamous in our youths," Chuck tells him quietly, "I'm afraid you and your cousins are a bit of a novelty."
"And Mom's always calling one of us over to meet someone."
Chuck bounces the ball back. "Sunny spilled his soda on Mrs. Wintray already. Accidently, of course."
Cash cringes, catching the ball, even as he grins and a twinkle appears up his gaze, "Bad move. Should'a gone for putting jam on her chair…"
The wide smile, the twinkling eyes, the disheveled hair all serve to give him a mischievous air and Blair breathes a laugh as she studies him; this would be her first baby.
"Yes, I advised him not to practice frontal assaults."
"He doesn't get it," Cash says with a laugh, bouncing it back. "Come on, Dad. Let me bail on this one."
"Sorry, kid. Get yourself to the house and dress up," Chuck pauses, waggles his eyebrows at Cash, "I have someone for you to meet."
"Dad!" The boy says it on a frustrated laugh as he bounces the ball roughly back at his father.
The older man laughs, reaches out and plucking it from the air. There's a familiar feel to the act, to the air around them, comfortable, like they'd done this a dozen times already—sneak to the pool to talk and bounce a ball.
"Let's just stay here, you and me! You can tell me what you did today!"
"Cash, your mother will have unspeakable torments ready for me when reappear if I don't join her at this gathering in a few minutes." Chuck tells him, bouncing the ball back gently.
Cash rolls his eyes, catches it, and then looks down at it in his hands.
"What about when Serena gets here, huh? And she looks around and sees the whole family. Everyone except you. Do you want that? And you know Sunny will tell her that you didn't want to come."
The boy looks up, "Okay that is blackmail, of the emotional variety."
"You're correct. Is it working?"
"No. Aunt Serena never makes me do anything I don't want to do. She'll understand why I didn't want to go to this thing. Quite frankly, Dad, I'm shocked you don't."
His Dad stares at him and then presses his lips together. And the air changes again, becomes charged, as if a challenge has been issued.
"I had a 3 and a half hour commute," Chuck says, "After a 9 hour day where I had to fit 13 hours of work in, to get here in time for this thing, Cassius. So you bet your little, loafer-loving self I don't understand."
Cash nods, perfectly calm despite the bite in his Dad's voice, "Ah, so this is one of those if I have to do it, you have to do it, moments."
"Exactly."
"Stellar parenting, Dad."
"Do you want me to write you out of the will, Cash?"
"Sure. Go ahead. Leave it all to Harm. The gardener."
Chuck cracks a smile at that, "He's an elephant trainer this week."
Cash throws his head back and laughs, "It's tiger trainer today! It's a circus you know, Gracie's going to be the gypsy queen."
Chuck shakes his head, smiling; and then he stands.
Cash groans and drags himself up from the chair; lets the tennis ball slip from his fingers. It lands with a bounce and rolls over to where the four of them stand, right through Serena's foot. She yelps and hops away.
"Ten minutes?" Cash asks hopefully as he walks up to his Dad.
Chuck drops an arm around his shoulders, "Thirty."
"Fifteen."
Chuck shakes his head, "Twenty-five."
"Twenty."
"Twenty-five," Chuck repeat firmly.
"Dad!"
"And that means, mingling. Saying hello and grabbing a drink and smiling."
They're at the door now and Cash looks up at his Dad, very seriously, "Nix the smiling," he says.
And Chuck nods once, "Deal." Then he pulls the kid in for a quick hug and they're gone; stepping outside and closing the door behind them.
"Well," Blair says into the silence a beat later, "That was…" she trails off.
Serena nods and then looks at Chuck; who's looking a bit shell-shocked. She pats him on the shoulder and sends Blair a grin, "You guys… you're good parents."
Nate nods, "Yeah, it's kinda… weird."
Chuck starts a little, sends Nate a narrow-eyed look, "Thank you, Nathaniel."
"Yeah, Nate," Blair adds, "Your confidence in us is overwhelming."
He laughs, "No, no! That's not what I meant!" But he's grinning and they can tell that it's at least partly what he meant.
"You know," Serena says softly, her gaze falling to the ground for a moment before looking up and meeting first Chuck's and then Blair's gazes, "I hope… this is real, for you two. It's—"
"It's not." Chuck hisses, gaze abruptly hard as he rakes it over all three of them, "It's not real. You really think I'd be that— that I'd turn out to be—" he cuts himself off, shakes his head and moves towards the door.
Nate reaches out, grabs his arm, "Hey man, don't—"
But Chuck brushes him. Serena watches wide-eyed as her brother stalks toward the exit.
"Yes."
Blair's soft word stalls him, but he doesn't turn around.
"I think you would," she continues, "Be that good."
And then she walks forward too, passes him without another word or a single touch. Chuck holds still for another breath and then he follows her out of the building.
When they're gone, Nate and Serena release simultaneous deep breaths. It startles them both and they look at each other, meet one another gaze and smile a little sheepishly.
She sighs. "They're so…" and she makes a hand motion, extreme, it says.
Nate nods, reading the gesture. "Yeah," he agrees and then he reaches out and touches the side of her head; his fingers rubbing her hair, "You doing okay?" He wonders gently.
It makes a lump appear in her throat and the back of her eyes burn, that gesture; but she makes herself smile and nod, "Yeah… I'm okay."
He stares at her for a moment and then gives her a small smile, his hand sliding down from her hair and skimming her arm, shoulder to wrist, until he finds her hand and takes it in his. "Nah, I don't think so," he whispers and gives her a squeeze.
She breathes a sad laugh and closes her eyes; and she's leaning forward before she's even thought about it and his arms are wrapping around her for the second time that day and it feels even more perfect this time; more soothing, more right.
He closes his eyes too, when she tucks her head under his chin, presses a kiss to the top of her head; even as he's telling himself that he has a girlfriend and they're stuck in some sort of other dimension where they're ghosts—so this is really not the time…
But it's hard to argue with way she fits in his arms or how the scent of her makes him ache.
"Do you think I'm terrible?" She asks him, voice small.
His hold tightens, "Never."
"But I… I have all these kids with different… different men… and I… I'm a mess."
"You're Serena," he says with emphasis, like that means something and she squeezes her eyes shut tighter, holds on to the way he says her name. "And we don't know anything that's happened," he continues, "And your kids are all amazing." He adds fiercely.
She nods against him, believes that; listens to the way he says it. "We need to get Sunny to show Blair that picture…" she say softly, pulling back, "See if we can piece all this together… get out of here..."
He nods, dropping his arms from her.
They just look at each other for a moment and then she offers him a small, sincere smile, draws in a deep breath and turns towards the door.
"Thanks for the hug, Archibald." She tells him a moment later when he opens the door for her.
He grins down at her as she slips outside, "Any time."
It's evening now, a gathering of stars visible faintly overhead. The moon is full, and bathing them in gentle light, adding fairylike ambiance to the party; and they both know that Blair had taken that into account when she'd planned what sort of party to have.
She laughs quietly at his comment, punches his arm a little as they, "You just like to feel me up."
He laughs too as they approach the tents, "Well, yeah." He agrees unrepentantly.
She rolls her eyes and they're almost to the side-patio when they hear a shriek coming from the party. Quick, alarmed glances and they're joining hands to run over there; they come to a full halt beside Chuck and Blair who are standing just outside the main canopy.
"What happened?!" Serena asks, but the question is answered almost before she's asked it.
Because standing at one end of the tent, is… herself. Wearing black Valentino flats and tight blue jeans with a bright coral top and an immense grin, is a woman who can be no other than her future self. Her hair is the same golden blonde it's always been, but she's styled it into a long, intricate braid with wisps of it loose around her face. She's just as tall and just as thin; and just as untamed looking.
Nate breathes a quiet wow, as Serena looks on with a sense of dread filling. She shouldn't look so free when she had three children, should she?
"You're here," Blair says quietly.
"And making quite the entrance," Chuck adds, sounding perversely amused.
And then Sunny is launching himself at her, at this woman; shrieking again and crying Mommy! So loudly he was heard over the music. A softer melody was playing now, likely in deference to the homecoming.
And the older Serena's laughing, running forward, scooping him into her arms and twirling him around. The guest's back away to clear the path for them as they watch with indulgent smiles on their faces and take sips of champagne.
But the woman with the bright hair and bright top and bright smile doesn't notice. "Sunny!" She cries, holding him tightly as she spins; his laughter a bubble of joy that lights up the festivities more than any music or alcohol could, "My Sunny-Sunshine!" She laughs with him, slowing down as they spin out from underneath the tents.
He giggles, lifting his face to the sky as they twirl more slowly; his joy so bright and infectious that Serena feels a smile spread across her face despite her misgivings, "Mommy! You're back!" He continues happily.
"I missed you so, so much, my baby!" She coos at him, slowing to a stop as she presses kisses all over his little face.
He laughs, squirming in her hold and she shifts to hold him with one arm, brings her free had to his face, brushes at his silky hair, runs her fingers over his brows and his nose and his little smiling mouth before tugging him closer to her for another quick hug.
And he giggles through all of it.
Serena notices then; as do Nate and Chuck and Blair, that Gracie and Liam are standing there— that Serena's spin had been calculated to bring her directly before her two other children.
They hadn't walked into the tent to greet her. And that was significant enough that they understood why the crowds had parted so easily. They were watching, waiting, for the gossip.
And they watch as she turns to her older children; watch as Serena's smile doesn't dim a single watt, but it shifts into a question only her family can see.
"Mommy's home!" Sunny announces joyfully to his siblings, "She's back!"
"I see that," Liam answers quietly.
Gracie doesn't respond, she stares at hr mother; her young face frozen in a heartbreaking mask of indecision. Her hair had been tied back at some point and without it framing her face and with the moonlight illuminating her features she looks incredibly young.
"My girl," her mother says sweetly, "Will you give me a hug?"
Everything stills for a beat, even Sunny. And then Gracie runs to her, buries her face against her mother as she whispers, "Mom."
Serena grin turns relieved and she lowers her face to kiss the top of Gracie's head, her free arm holding the girl close, "Oh honey," she whispers; and they can hear it in her voice then, sorrow.
A moment passes and her gaze lifts to Liam; her expression an odd echo of the one Gracie had just worn. Liam offers her a bright smile that doesn't come close to reaching his eyes. He steps forward and gives her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Nice to see you found your way back, Mom." He tells her, voice blank.
Serena licks her lips, swallows hard, the smile fading almost completely, "Liam—"
And then he's reaching for Sunny, taking the boy out of her arms, "Let Mom mingle, Sun, it's her party."
Sunny laughs as he's shifted into Liam's hold, "Mommy, will you play with me!? When the party ends!? And color!? And we can have cereal!?"
Serena's arm drops around Gracie now, so she's holding the little girl completely, both hands in the girl's hair. Gracie has wrapped her arms around Serena's waist and closed her eyes.
"Sure, baby," Serena whispers, voice tight.
Blair joins them then; her expression pinched, eyes dark. "Serena," the tone is hard, furious.
Serena jumps guiltily, gaze flying to Blair's. "I have a good explanation," she pre-empts.
And Liam takes his cue, "Come on Gracie, you and Harm can show me how exactly your gonna make this gypsy-queen, tiger-trainer thing work."
The girl pulls back then, looks up at her mother. Serena shifts and meets her gaze.
"Mom…" she begins, but trails off.
Serena bends down a little and kisses her forehead. "We're going to talk tonight," she promises.
And then Liam is moving away and she is following him.
The moment they're out of earshot, Blair takes Serena's arm in an iron grip and pulls her towards the patio.
The four of them don't even have to look at each other to know they're following where those two are going. Chuck and Blair lead with Nate and Serena right on their heels as the older Blair hauls her best friend across the lawn, past the patio and into the game room.
"You have a good reason?!" She hisses at her when they're away from the curious looks and murmured questions of the guests. "That's fantastic," she continues scathingly, "A brilliant testimony to give to the newspapers, blogs, and emergency services that will amass here for the bloodshed that will occur when my husband finds that Carter Baizen is in his living room."
Serena stares at Blair for a long a moment and then yanks her arm free. "I do have a good reason."
"No, you don't!" Blair snaps, "There is no reason good enough!"
The room is deathly still and in the silence of the future S & B's glares, Chuck turns to his sister and levels on her a baleful glare of his own, "Well, dear sister," he remarks, "You certainly know how to liven up a party."
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