AHHH so here it is, the Epilogue presented in two parts! I would have had it up earlier but sorority rush has been rough since I live in the house now and have basically practicing 24/7. BUT round 3 is today so only one more left to go! So I'm posting part one tonight and part two next week then hopefully I will be caught up enough with my class work to update another fanfic the following week. It's been a long journey more than two years in the making but we've finally reached the finish line. I hope you like the concept since it's what I eventually with it. I told the rest of their stories through weddings which was a little more dicey than I expected. Anyways, enjoy and seriously thank you for sticking around.
A note: I have photographs of Jocelyn's dress/bridesmaids, Serena's dress/bridesmaids, Jenny's dress/bridesmaids, and Blair's dress on my profile, you pretty much know the drill with that by now. They're under The Games We Play Extras. Also for anyone who's curious about the ages (I did this using a character from each group): Jocelyn's wedding: Jocelyn's 22, Blair's 20, Jenny's 18: Serena's wedding: Jocelyn's 25, Blair's 23, and Jenny's 21: Jenny's wedding: Jocelyn's 28, Blair's 26, and Jenny's 24. (Blair's is kinda self-explanatory: Jocelyn's 20, Blair's 18, Jenny's 16)
TO MY ABSO-FREAKING-LUTLY AHHHMAZING REVIEWERS: ana-12, xoxogg4lifexoxo, CBBW3words8letters, tvrox12, LitPrincess2787, SouthernBelle88, annablake, Taiyo To Tsuki No Megami, CarolinaGirl21, LovelyLydia, wrighthangal, GGfanficfan09 and smartin555. You stuck with it all the way through to the epilogue and I couldn't be more grateful. I don't believe there's a more wonderful set of reviewers out there! I love you guys!
And to my AMAZING beta ggff-fan I couldn't do this without you! Seriously!
Disclaimer: I do not own Gossip Girl
Blair looked at her reflection in the mirror and smiled. She loved the way the long dress flowed. Today would be perfect. The decorations were perfect, the dresses were perfect, the entire wedding would be perfect. She smiled as she felt a kick to her abdomen. The baby was so strong and getting livelier every day. She turned, hearing the door to the dressing room open to reveal Jenny. "Hey." She said with a smile at her friend.
Jenny returned her smile. "So what do you think of the finished product?" She asked gesturing at hers and Blair's dresses. Blair's a floor length red dress with a low cut bodice and thicker straps adorned with rhinestone detail and hers a strapless dress that flared near the waist and ended well below her knees, it had intricate detailing around the midsection.
"I think they're beautiful Jenny, you did a fabulous job." Blair replied earnestly, looking between Jenny and her own reflection in the mirror, "I saw Serena's earlier." Blair added, remembering the red halter dress that was form fitting on the curvy blond. "Jocelyn looks beautiful too."
Jenny smiled her thanks before looking around the room in confusion. "Where is the bride to be?"
Blair gave a slight lift of her shoulders, sending her curls bouncing. The bridal party had all opted to wear it down. "She went to find Kate and Justine. Kate's already dressed; her gown is beautiful too by the way." Blair spoke of the other bridesmaid's dress. It was similar to hers only not so low cut, more of a tank top style.
"Her dress took more hours than I want to count." Jenny spoke, speaking of Jocelyn's 'Waldorf Original' gown. She had slaved away over it for days on end but the dress had turned out perfectly so she was satisfied.
Blair walked over and hugged Jenny. She knew the younger girl was worn out after doing the dresses for the bridesmaids and the bride by herself in only a few weeks' time. Jocelyn was so fickle that she had changed what she wanted so many times they'd almost run out of time to get everything done. "Everything's turned out beautifully my little designer. I'm sorry I couldn't help more, I'm just not very artistic."
Jenny shook her head. "No, you're really not." Both girls laughed. Blair had tried to help where she could, the rhinestone placement had been her idea and while accessorizing and fashion knowledge were weapons in her arsenal, actual designing was something she was an abject failure at, though it seemed that the business aspect of the company was her forte above all else. Since she'd taken over control of Waldorf Designs, the company had shot to one of the biggest names in the fashion industry. It didn't hurt that she had the Bass name as well as her own now; she knew it held clout in the business world. While not quite the head designer, she had Jenny doing a lot of the official design work and things had been going brilliantly.
Blair pulled back as a tiny child came rushing into the room, her dark blonde curls bouncing free of her headband. "Mommy!" She cried running straight to Blair.
"Sweetheart, what are you doing here? Where's Daddy?" Blair asked lifting her little girl up into her arms. She could hardly believe that Ella was about to turn two, it didn't seem so long ago that she'd been pregnant with her. Ella shrugged the picture of innocence as she shook her short curls back and forth.
Blair's answer came in the arrival of an out of breath Chuck. "Eleanor Charlotte Bass! Running away is not something we do."
Ella frowned at the use of her whole name and looked as though she was about to cry, turning her head into Blair's chest and away from her father. Blair looked at Chuck pointed, hissing. "What was that? Remember we don't yell at our children unless it's really serious."
Chuck's features softened but remained stern. "I wasn't yelling. . ." He started but a look from Blair made him backtrack. "Okay, I was, but I just got scared. She just ran off."
Blair knit her eyebrows. "It's a church full of friends and family. Where did you think she was going to go?"
"Yeah it's a church this time. Next time it might be Central Park and then what? What happens when are little girl runs off somewhere we can't catch her?" He paused, watching Blair's face soften in understanding. "I don't want to lose her ever. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to her. I'm sorry, she wanted to see you and I said you were busy. The next thing I knew she was running."
Blair sighed slightly as she realized why Chuck was so angry. Lifting her daughter's chin to check for tears she realized that little Ella was sniffling but her eyes were still dry. "Do you think that you can apologize to Daddy for running off?"
Ella looked up at her mom, biting her lip slightly in a way that Blair did herself when making decisions before giving a curt nod. "I'm sorry Daddy. Don't be mad at me I love you."
"I love you too. And I'm not mad, I was just scared because I didn't know where you went." Chuck replied, placing a kiss on his daughters forehead. "Promise you won't ever do that again."
Ella smirked. "I promise, if you won't tell me I can't see mommy ever again."
Chuck sighed audible, backing down.
Jenny laughed darkly. "Ahh the terrible twos." She laughed harder at the look of death Chuck shot her.
Blair just shook her head at the two of them and snuggled her daughter. "I'm never too busy for you Ella."
Ella smiled holding tightly to her mother. "I know, that's what I told Daddy but he said I had to go sit with Grandma Lily."
"You should have let her be the flower girl." Jocelyn said, rolling her eyes as she marched into the room.
Blair shook her head. "She's much too young Joss or you know I wouldn't have had a problem with it. Besides I'm sure Justine will be just as perfect for you as she was for me."
Jocelyn crossed her arms with a huff. "If you think she's going to be so perfect, you go get her to put on her dress."
Blair sighed, balancing Ella on her hip as she reached into her reticule to call Kate. If she wasn't the Maid (or Matron) of Honor she might complain. "Kate darling, it's Blair, just bring Justine in here. Yes I'm sure." She then walked over to Jocelyn and placed a hand on the anxious bride's shoulder. "Don't worry sweetie, everything is going to be fine."
"That's easy for you to say. You've done this three times." Jocelyn said, her nerves that everything wasn't going to be perfect were beginning to get the better of her.
Blair smiled in response, keeping herself cool and collected. "Which is exactly why I know that everything will be perfect. You look beautiful, the church looks amazing, everyone's here. It's all going to be perfect."
Jocelyn placated as Blair turned toward her little girl. "Do you think you're ready to go sit with Grandma Lily?" She asked, her response was a bouncy nod. Blair gave Ella a quick kiss on the forehead before handing her to a waiting Chuck.
Jenny immediately stepped in. "You should be ready up front with Marcus, Nate, Eric, and Marcus's brother or did you forget that you agreed to be the bestman again?" She asked Chuck reaching for Ella herself. "I'll take this little angel to Lily."
Chuck relinquished his daughter to the waiting blond. "Be good for your Aunt Jenny." Chuck spoke to his little girl. It was no secret Ella had him wrapped around her little finger from the moment she came into the world. She was the spitting image of Blair, except for her eyes; she had his eyes, his mother's eyes. And the hair of course. It was the same texture as Blair's but it was dark blonde, something no one had expected. When they'd asked around they found out that both of their father's had been blond in their youth and it was something that sometimes skipped a generation.
"Of course Daddy." She said giving him a kiss as she went willingly to her Aunt Jenny's arms.
Chuck turned to Blair, kissing her lightly on her lips. "You my wife, look beautiful." He said as he pulled away, Blair grabbed tightly onto his tie pulling his mouth back to hers. She deepened the kiss quickly, snaking her arms around Chuck's neck and wrapping them into his hair. Their display would likely have continued for several more minutes if Jocelyn hadn't cleared her throat.
As the pair broke apart Jocelyn made a show of rolling her eyes. "I guess I get why you two are always pregnant. You can't keep your hands off each other." She said, not failing to notice that Chuck was still practically groping Blair.
"You look magnificent Forbes." Chuck said, tearing himself away from Blair and turning on his normal suaveness. "I should be going anyway, I was due at the front of the church ten minutes ago."
Blair gave Chuck a quick kiss goodbye and a whisper of a promise of what the evening would hold. Sometimes she had trouble realizing that all of this was real life, that she and Chuck were really married with their second child on the way. And after everything that had happened two years ago, Chuck and Marcus were actually friends now. It had taken longer with them than it had with everyone other than Serena who was still holding out; but when Chuck and Marcus had been left alone one night back in New York something happened that no one could quite explain and now while not the best of friends, there was a strange understanding and kinship between them.
As Chuck fled the room, Jocelyn did not miss the fact that he gave Blair's ass a squeeze but this time she kept her mouth shut as Kate walked into room carrying Justine's dress, and tugging Justine herself along behind her. Jocelyn watched the change that came over the eight year old's features the second she spotted Blair. "Auntie Blair!" She cried rushing into Blair's arms.
"Hello sweetie." She hugged the little blond before pulling back slightly. "Now what's this I hear about you refusing to put on your flower girl dress?"
A frown appeared on Justine's cherubic features as she spoke. "I don't want a new aunt. I want you to be my aunt not her." She said gesturing towards Jocelyn who was doing her best to look angry rather than upset.
Blair frowned. "Darling, I still love you just as much as I always did and I'll always be your aunt." She had never realized quite the effect that she'd had on the little girl until now. She didn't know how much Justine cared.
Justine just shook her head stubbornly, the smallest signs of a tantrum emerging. "But why doesn't Uncle Marcus love you anymore? Why is he marrying her?"
Blair brushed a lock of hair behind the girl's ear. "Oh Justine, Marcus and I will always be friends but he loves Joss now and I love Chuck. Do you remember when Chuck and I came to visit last spring with Ella?" Justine nodded reluctantly and Blair continued. "See, we'll always be in your life and now you get to have another aunt." She could see a little bit of the sparkle returning to Justine's eyes and turned her so they could both glance at Jocelyn. "Do you want to know a secret about Aunt Joss?" When Justine nodded adamantly Blair smiled. "She taught me everything I know about pretty much everything, boys, clothes, and of course headbands." She added with a wink even though she'd actually brought headbands to Jocelyn not the other way around.
"Really?" Justine asked with wide eyes as she gave Jocelyn an appraising look.
"Really." Blair affirmed nodding. "So do you think you're ready to get dressed and be her flower girl?" Justine nodded with a smile at Blair. "So what do you say to Aunt Jocelyn for the way you've been acting?" Blair knew she was pushing her luck but she was fairly certain that this would work.
Justine turned towards the blond bride and smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry Aunt Jocelyn, I didn't mean to be mean or anything, I just like Blair a lot."
"So do I." Jocelyn said with a smile. "And you can call me Aunt Joss if you'd like. It's what my friends call me, that is if you want to be friends." Jocelyn spoke as she extended a hand to the little girl.
Justine smiled, walking away from Blair and towards the pretty blond. "I want us to be friends." Justine looked at Joss's extended hand and instead gave her a hug, smiling. "You look very pretty."
Jocelyn smiled rather amazed. "Thank you sweetheart. Now do you think you might want to go put on the pretty red dress so that you'll match Aunt Blair?"
Justine nodded avidly and left with Kate to go get ready. Once they were gone, Jocelyn turned to Blair. "You know if I didn't love you I'd probably hate you. But as it is I can't even resent you regardless of the fact that Marcus's whole family adores you and hates me."
Blair walked, placing a comforting arm around her friend and smiling sadly. "They don't hate you, you just have to give it time. Besides you've already won Justine over, Kate will love you for that, and you are the love of Marcus's life; you aren't going anywhere." She assured.
"You say that but his Grandmother won't even talk to me and his parents don't acknowledge my opinion in anything." Jocelyn spoke frustrated, she had hoped that over time things would have changed but everything was exactly how it was when she and Marcus first started dating. Even his publicist wished she was Blair.
Blair stroked Jocelyn's hair gently. "Be your normal bitchy self to the Queen, she respects assertive women who aren't afraid to put her in her place. His mother hated me too and I didn't really know his father very well; so I can't be of much help there. But Kate is the key to Marcus's brother Jeffery and Justine will convince the other children. Just be yourself and they will all love you."
Jocelyn shook her head her frustration getting the better of her. "You don't get it. Even Marcus's mother compares everything about me to you. You said to give it time, I've given it two years. You were with Marcus for no more than seven months and I've been with him for more than two years but nothing seems to get them to realize that I'm not you. And don't think I didn't notice the fact that the Queen specifically asked to sit by you at dinner last night."
Blair sighed, unsure of how to explain to Jocelyn what needed to be said. "You don't know what Marcus was like before me. He wasn't the kind of person you would want to be married to. His whole family knew that, his family attributes the changes in Marcus to me. I gave them their Marcus back instead of the twisted guy he'd become. I think they are afraid that without me he'll eventually lose that." She paused seeing that while Jocelyn didn't like what she was saying, she seemed to understand it. "You don't need to get them to forget me or replace me with you, you need for them to see how wonderful you are on your own, you need them to see why Marcus loves you."
Jocelyn pulled Blair to her, hugging her. "I don't know what I'd do without you. You are the best maid of honor ever."
"I know." Blair replied with a smile. "You and Marcus deserve it." She looked at Jocelyn who was shaking slightly. "You aren't getting cold feet are you?" She asked, surprised.
Jocelyn shook her head. "No, of course not. I just want to get this over with. I want what you have." She said with a small smile at the brunette.
Blair returned her smile, only a little brighter. "Don't worry, you and Marcus are the real thing, just enjoy the wedding. After all, this is the just the first day of forever for you guys."
Jocelyn smiled at what was now a familiar saying of Blair's as Serena walked into the room. Jocelyn turned toward the door smiling as she saw the tall blond enter. "Oh brilliant you're here, I was worried." Serena had had been dealing with getting the men dressed and ready to go and there had been a few wardrobe malfunctions.
Serena rolled her eyes. "I don't know why I agreed to do this." She spoke sitting down. In truth she had known. The only one of their group that wasn't in the wedding was Dan and that was mostly because he was on a promotion tour for his book about what else, an outsider getting in. She knew he was a brilliant writer but she wasn't sure where his career would go after this, Dan was best when he was writing what he knows and he'd done that with this book. So without Dan there, if she wasn't in the wedding party then she would have been left out and that was still her greatest insecurity; she didn't want her friends to leave her behind. "Why did you ask me to be one of your bridesmaids anyway? Don't you hate me?" Serena asked as she looked at the pixie like blond.
Jocelyn walked towards Serena, a girl who she'd always thought was so different from herself, but she knew that they shared a lot of the same insecurities. "I've never hated you Serena. I didn't understand you when we were in high school and I hated your friend Georgina. But I never hated you. As for why I asked you to be one of my bridesmaids, it's partially because I want us to be friends and partially because I think there's something important that needs to happen today." At that she looked at Blair. "I think the two of you need to remember what you mean to each other."
Blair looked at Jocelyn shocked. "What are you talking about Joss? Serena and I are like best friends."
Jocelyn snuck a peak at Serena's face and noticed she didn't hold quite the look of outrage that Blair did and knew that her suspicions had been right. This had been something that she had wanted to do for a long time, ever since she talked to Jenny Humphrey on the day the rest of the group had graduated high school almost two years ago. "The 'like' is the part I have a problem with. Back when we were all in high school there was no 'like' about it. You two were the two best friends I knew. Yes I know things happened between now and then but you can't forget about that Blair. You two were practically sisters; don't let anything change that."
Blair was still shaking her head until she looked over at Serena. When she saw the look on Serena's face, the look of sadness and regret she realized that Jocelyn wasn't entirely wrong. There was something wrong with her relationship with Serena. "I love you, S, you know that right?" She asked almost pleadingly.
"Of course I do B." Serena responded almost too quickly. As both of the intimidating girls in front of her turned their gazes on her she sighed. "I know you love me, but Jocelyn's right. Things haven't been the same since I slept with Nate. Then you replaced me with Jenny."
Blair wasn't sure what to say, she had no idea that Serena still felt this way. It was Jocelyn who seemed to find the words. "Didn't anyone ever tell the two of you that you can have more than one best friend?"
Blair closed her eyes tightly feeling ashamed at her foolishness. It wasn't that she thought that she had to pick Serena or Jenny it just had seemed to happen that way. And then she didn't even realize what she'd done or what she'd forgotten. When she opened her eyes again there were tears in them. "Serena I had no idea." She walked forward and wrapped her friend in a hug. "I love you so much."
"I love you too Blair." She responded, returning the hug as her own happy tears appeared.
Jocelyn just smiled at the two girls before her, she knew that they would be okay, they all would. Jenny appeared in the doorway in that moment. "Did I miss something?" She asked, noting the tears.
Serena looked up smiling. "Get over here." She exclaimed expanding her arms to include others in the hug. "Both of you." She said with a pointed look at Jocelyn who eagerly complied.
"Thank you girls, for everything." Jocelyn spoke hugging them tightly.
"No, thank you." Serena replied in a whisper.
The ceremony itself passed in a blur of formalities for Blair. She couldn't help but smile at the look on Marcus's face as Jocelyn walked down the aisle. He was so in love with her, thought Blair happily. The only other part of the ceremony that really registered were the vows which were touching. The rest of the time she was lost in Chuck's eyes, as they held promises of what was to come later that evening while Ella was with Lily and Bart.
Following Marcus and Jocelyn out of the church Chuck leaned over to Blair. "Our's was better." He spoke with a smirk.
"Chuck!" Blair scolded playfully.
"What? I'm just telling the truth." Chuck said quietly as he placed a kiss next to her earlobe. "You can't honestly say you don't agree."
Blair rolled her eyes to cover the fact that they were already rolling back into her head from Chuck's actions. "Okay maybe I do, but you can't say that to anyone else."
Chuck placed another kiss along her ear. "Don't worry Mrs. Bass, you have my word."
Spotted: Queen J and Prince M walk down the aisle. Can I say I'm actually happy for them? I've posted pictures of the nuptuals. Any guesses who'll be next? S caught the bouquet so perhaps Lonely Boy will work up the courage to finally pop the question? Guess away my dearies but only time will tell.
Chuck looked at his reflection in the mirror realizing that this was the first wedding other than his own, he'd ever been in that he wasn't the best man for. Today that was Nate. It would be strange because Nate would be escorting Blair, who was once more maid of honor, Chuck would be escorting Jocelyn down the aisle, and Marcus would be doing the same for Jenny. Eric was going to be busy giving the bride away as Dr. Van der Woodsen was still MIA.
Chuck laughed at a 'kill me now' text from Blair; Serena had turned into bridezilla which had thrown all of them for a loop, normally she was so relaxed. He just shook his head as he shut his phone. Surprisingly, there'd been nothing from their old friend gossip girl today. Lately she was more obsessed with the set currently in college, like Jenny who was studying at Parsons, and Eric, who'd joined Nate, Blair, and Chuck at Columbia, but she tended to report on the recent graduates every once in a while; especially on big occasions such as this. It was strange, that it took almost two years after Gossip Girl's text about Dan being a coward for him to actually propose and another year before the actual wedding. Chuck had thought at the time that it would be enough to jar Dan to finally marry Serena but it was just now that he was realizing that it probably had the opposite effect. Dan was one to not do something just because someone said he was supposed to, besides he probably didn't want Serena thinking that he was only proposing because gossip girl had told him to.
Nate walked up beside him, placing a hand on his best friend's shoulder. "Where's the little man? Is he still hiding under Blair's skirt."
Chuck knew that Nate was referencing Evan's episode from last night in which he'd hidden underneath Blair's dress for the entirety of the rehearsal dinner and she hadn't told a soul. "No, he's with Marcus trying to master the art of keeping the ring on the pillow. I still can't believe we agreed to let him be the ring bearer. This has the potential to go horrible wrong."
Nate just smiled encouragingly. "Don't worry about it, I'm sure he'll do fine. Besides, we all know Ella will keep him in line."
Chuck nodded with a smirk, it was true, Ella was just like her mother, a perfectionist. He knew she wouldn't let Evan get out of hand which is why he and Blair had agreed to allow him to be ring bearer. Ella had grown to look more like Blair every day but she still had Chuck's eyes. He could hardly conceive of the thought that she would be starting school this fall, it was surreal how quickly the time had gone by; but Evan was further proof of that. He was turning into a little gentleman so fast. Once more the little boy had Blair's looks, her smile, her nose, her ears, and her curly hair; but also like Ella he had Chuck's eyes and that strange dark blond hair. They'd named him after Chuck's mother, changing the name Evelyn to suit a boy and coming up with Evan.
Chuck smiled then as Evan walked in the door, Marcus hot on his heels. "Look what I can do Dad!" He exclaimed as he proudly balanced the pillow with the ring on it.
Immediately Chuck swept him off his feet. "I knew you could do it. You are a Bass, and Bass's can do anything."
Even clung firmly to his father, acting every bit his age. "Dad, how come you're married, and Uncle Marcus is married, and Uncle Dan is getting married, but Uncle Nate isn't?" He asked. "Does he not love Aunt Jenny?"
Chuck laughed slightly shooting Nate an almost teasing though still sympathetic look. His son had developed a knack for asking questions that were better left unasked. "Well, Uncle Nate wants to marry Aunt Jenny, she's just not ready yet." Chuck said doing his best to be diplomatic. Nate had already proposed and Jenny had been adamantly against it. In fact she had gotten up and walked out of the restaurant, calling Nate a selfish jerk as she went.
Evan furrowed his brow. "How can she not be ready? Mommy said that when two people love each other they get married and then that's how they make babies."
Chuck's face blanched, he did not see this turning into a birds and the bees talk. Now it was Nate who was chuckling in the background at Chuck's newfound situation. It wasn't that it would be difficult when the time came for the talk with Evan, not like it would be with Ella, but he wasn't sure Evan was quite old enough to hear his take on 'making babies.' He also wasn't looking forward to the conversation about contraception when the time came; he was going to feel like a hypocrite. He and Blair were not exactly the King and Queen of contraception as evidenced by the fact that they had only been married five years yet had two children with twins on the way. "Aunt Jenny's younger than Nate and she's still finishing design school at Parson's. She's not ready to settle down yet." Chuck spoke, skillfully avoiding any mentioning of making babies, but what he said was true, Jenny was terrified of getting married, they all knew it. Nate was preparing to run for congressman and Jenny kept saying that she wasn't ready to be a politician's wife and have everything in her life scrutinized. He could see his son was about ready to ask another question so he interjected. "Are you ready to go with Eric back to where Ella and Mommy are?" He asked. When the child looked stubborn Chuck added. "You can ask Mommy all the questions you want."
At that Evan's brow furrowed again. "But Mommy's the one who told me to ask you."
Realization hit Chuck. Blair had set this up, of course. Evan wouldn't ask these kind of questions of his own accord, Blair was creating a little game out of this. "She did, did she?" Chuck asked a smirk already forming on his face as a plan formed in his head over how to get her back later.
Nate laughed again. "Sounds like Blair got you man."
Chuck nodded. "Yes Nathaniel she did, but as always revenge will be sweet." He had been planning to send Evan to the back of the church with Eric but now he felt the need to have a quick talk to Blair about using their son in games against him.
Nate just shook his head. "You two haven't changed a bit you know."
Chuck just shrugged. "You know I think I'll go take Evan to the girls. I'll be back." Nate gave him a stern look of warning but it did no good as Chuck walked to the front of the church, using side doors. Arriving at the ladies dressing room he knocked. "Delivery for Blair Waldorf."
Blair rolled her eyes as she looked at the other girls. "I should have known this was coming." She spoke her voice low.
Serena laughed, something that was difficult in her tight wedding dress. It was long, white, and outlined her figure perfectly. "Blair regardless of the fact that Chuck Bass is your husband, he's still Chuck Bass. You have to know by now that when you play games with him he's going to play back."
Blair just smiled grumpily. Of course she'd known there would be retribution for her actions she just didn't want to deal with them right now. They were Chuck and Blair and games, would always be part of their relationship. Granted now their games were generally sexual or playful as opposed to the vindictive, destructive games they'd once played; but the innocent ones were still there. Like today, she'd set up Chuck to have to deal with sex questions from Evan not to mention a difficult topic concerning their friend's relationship.
Chuck laughed, this was getting funnier by the minute. "Don't delay the inevitable Blair. Let me in."
"Better get it over with." Jocelyn said as she adjusted the neckline of the flowing rose colored halter dress in front of the mirror. For the first time, each of the bridesmaids was wearing the same dress. Blair rolled her eyes at Jocelyn but she knew the other girl was right.
Blair sighed, standing up with a wobble. "Geez no one said twins were going to feel like this." She grumbled aloud.
Jenny rushed immediately to her aid as Serena moved to open the door, waiting for Blair's signal. Blair nodded and Serena opened the door, revealing Chuck, with little Evan beside him. "Hello ladies." He spoke walking directly past them to Blair. He was about to say more when he noticed a look of pain on Blair's face and a worried Jenny beside her. "Are you okay? Is it the babies?"
Blair winced slightly. "I'm fine." Though as she said the words there was another tightening in her abdomen that caused the words to sound strained.
"You're not fine." Chuck said firmly, taking her arm and helping her sit down, kneeling in front of her. "Are you going into labor?" He asked knowing that Blair had done this twice and would know.
Evan rushed over to his mother, with Ella quickly following. "What's wrong with Mom?" She asked insistently.
Jocelyn saw what was going on and knew that the best thing she could do would be to take the kids somewhere else, somewhere out of the way. So she whispered to Jenny that she was taking them up to where the guys were standing in the vestibule. "Come on guys, we're going to go check on Dan." They were still protesting and asking questions as Jocelyn led them from the room but she was now beginning to be an expert at such things as she'd been around Kate and Blair's children a lot, knowing that it wouldn't be long before she too would be having children. She hadn't told Marcus yet but she thought that she was pregnant.
Serena and Jenny were left standing nearby, trying not to crowd Blair. Both looked immensely worried.
Chuck took one of her hands and placed his other on her face, brushing his thumb lightly on her cheek. "Are you going into labor?" He asked, this time softly.
Blair bit her lip slightly trying to hold back a scream of pain. She shook her head as she finally managed to speak. "No." She said with a slight jerk. "It's too early."
"Sometimes twins come early B." Jenny said taking a step forward. "And you're already at eight months. You had Evan just over eight."
Blair just kept shaking her head as what she was beginning to assume were in fact contractions hit once more, so painful she barely muffled a scream. "No." She said again.
As a slight scream finally broke through Blair's resolve Chuck stood pulling out his cell phone. "That's it, I'm calling Arthur and we're going to the hospital." He shot a reluctantly look at Serena at having to do this at her wedding but she just nodded understandingly; Blair and the babies' health were more important.
I'm not in labor. I command myself not to be in labor. Blair repeated in her head as she tried to breathe deeply. Her water hadn't broken, it wasn't too late, she could stop this. She would not ruin Serena and Dan's wedding. Blair's hand shot out and grabbed Chuck's arm as she leveled him with a glare that would freeze hell. "Chuck I said no!" She spoke forcefully as she took control of her body. "Besides, they've stopped."
Chuck looked at Blair warily, doubt and worry still present in his eyes. "Blair . . ." He started to speak.
But she of course interrupted. "I said I'm fine." This time she stood as she spoke, refusing help. "Though perhaps we should go ahead and get this wedding underway."
Each of the three wanted to protest more but they could see the look in Blair's eyes; she'd made her decision and she was more headstrong than any of them except perhaps Chuck, but for Blair even Chuck would fold. "Okay." Chuck spoke, anxiety clear in his voice. "I'll send Eric, Forbes, and the kids back here and we'll head to the front of the church."
Blair nodded relieved that Chuck was going along with this. As he left she sat back down, it probably wasn't a good idea for her to be standing.
Serena immediately approached Blair. "I do not agree with this Blair. You know I'd understand right? Dan and I both would." She was much more concerned for her friend that for her wedding.
Blair leveled her gaze on Serena. "It's already been decided Serena. Besides I wasn't lying before, the contractions really have stopped."
"So you admit they were contractions?" Jenny asked, taking a seat next to her.
Blair nodded rather gravely. "Yes, but I've got them under control and I'll keep them that way until after the wedding."
Serena just shook her head. "Promise me that if you feel more contractions during the service, you'll slip out and go to the hospital with Chuck."
Before Blair could answer Jocelyn opened the doors. "Ready girls?" She asked, giving a reassuring smile.
"Ready." Blair said smiling confidently as she stood.
Serena tried to take her arm, but Blair kept walking. "Blair Bass you did not answer my question!" She practically shouted after her.
Blair didn't even turn around, she just kept walking. "It wasn't a question Serena." She said with a smirk. "Now come on, you don't want to miss your own wedding. After all, it's the first day of forever and forever can't start until you walk down that aisle."
Serena sighed in frustration before slapping Jenny's shoulder as the younger girl was stifling laugher. "Has everyone forgotten this is my wedding?" She asked marching forward. "You'd think Blair was in charge. Who made her the boss of me?"
Jenny just laughed harder. "Have you met Blair Waldorf? She's the boss of all of us." Jenny said echoing one of Nate's trademark Blair phrases. "Now seriously, let's get this show on the road."
As Chuck arrived back and sent the others on their way, he answered the guys' questions, letting them know that they had about five minutes. Chuck wasn't certain what the guys had been talking about but he caught on quickly. Clearly there had been mention of Jenny.
"You know she'll come around eventually. She's just still got a lot of independence and rebellion left in her." Dan spoke placing a hand on Nate's shoulder.
Nate's eyes opened in wonder. "How did you know . . ." He asked trailing off.
Or perhaps, that wasn't what they'd been talking about. Thought Chuck as he looked between the two. Clearly Dan had picked up on the remnants of his and Nate's earlier conversation concerning Dan's little sister.
"She's written all over your face Nate." Dan replied. "You know for her it's protecting you from any drama or bad publicity she might cause you don't you? She doesn't want anything crazy she might do to sully your name."
Nate squeezed his eyes shut as though he was in pain. "You know I want to be married to her so much more than I want to be in politics."
"Of course we do." Chuck said interjecting himself into the conversation.
At that Marcus walked over, just looking up from his watch. "It's about that time." Marcus said, handing the men the flowers to be pinned to their suit.
Chuck looked to Dan to see how he was feeling and couldn't help but think that Dan looked dopey, like someone had given him drugs. "You going to be alright Humphrey?" He asked placing a hand on Dan's shoulder.
"Great." Dan replied with a huge smile. "I've never been better."
Nate just laughed as he began to lead Dan to the front of the church. Marcus on the other hand walked up to Chuck. "I was happy on my wedding day don't get me wrong but have you ever known someone that happy to be married?"
Chuck looked at Marcus and smirked. "I was that happy. If you didn't know me, you wouldn't have realized due to the determined look on my face in the photos but I was that happy; happier even."
Marcus nodded. "I almost forgot, Blair practically leapt into your arms at the end of the ceremony." Marcus spoke as they walked to the front of the church to stand next to Dan.
The wedding went beautifully. But Chuck spent the entire time scrutinizing Blair for the slightest hint of pain. If he'd seen her so much as wince he would have taken her to the hospital even if he had to carry her down the aisle. But the wedding went quickly enough and Blair was still seemingly fine. As soon as they entered the reception hall Chuck stalked over. "Okay, let's go now. The wedding was fine, but now it's time to take care of yourself."
Blair just shook her head. "I'm completely fine Chuck. I promise, the pain's stopped completely."
Chuck looked at her with narrowed eyes but couldn't help to think that she sincerely looked better. She was practically glowing. "Okay, but at the first sign of pain, we're going to the hospital. Deal?"
"Deal." Blair replied sincerely. Now that the wedding was over she would be able to leave guilt free if she had to go. "You know Bass, I hate to say it but ours was better."
The ice was suddenly broken as Blair repeated his words from a few years ago when Forbes married Marcus. "Of course it was Mrs. Bass. But look who's being improper now."
"I know, I know." Blair said with an eye roll. "I disapprove of my own statement, but I just couldn't help it. Nothing will compare to our wedding."
Chuck smirked. "Of course not. I'll go get us a couple drinks."
Blair was still smiling and laughing as Chuck walked back towards her with two cups of punch when she felt it. It literally took her breath away. "Shit." She spoke looking down then back up at Chuck.
"What is it?" He asked running forward.
Blair's eyes were wide as she spoke just as Chuck slid on the floor. "My water just broke."
Gossip girl here, oh what a lovely wedding for S and Lonely Boy. Seems like he finally got the idea and put a ring on her finger. Now all we have left is Little J and N, I hear he's proposing again tonight after she caught the bouquet today, perhaps she'll finally break down and say yes? I'll be the first to know, and you'll be the second. But in more exciting news, B's water broke at the wedding and we hear she's ready to deliver the twins. I'll post pics of the babies as soon as I can get my hands on them.
xoxo
gossip girl
Epilogue part 1 is complete! I know it wasn't the ideal place to stop but you'll see why I stopped there when I post the next chapter in a few days.
Reviews are always appreciated,
xoxo
kate