Eight o'clock, on the dot, the alarm went off. Yet Chuck got up immediately, turned it off and decided to start his day.
Anxious to get things underway, understanding now that certain things needed to happen and play out, Chuck decided to help speed things along already, making some espresso for Nate and Jenny, whom he knew was still there.
"Morning Sunshines," he announced as he stepped into Nate's room with the tray of drinks.
"Hey uh, Jenny's just on her way out actually... she just uh, crashed here... for the night..." Nate once again spoke quickly, trying his best to assure his roommate that nothing happened.
"Save it, - I know nothing happened," Chuck reassured him as he helped himself to a seat on the edge of the bed.
"I'm... gonna go get dressed," Jenny declared as she quickly scrambled towards the bathroom.
"Be careful, Nathaniel – you and Serena are on thin ice. All it takes is for someone to tap their foot for it to crack," Chuck warned yet again. He knew he wasn't supposed to interfere with the course of events when it came to matters that weren't his to solve, yet he couldn't help giving his best friend some sort of warning.
"And what exactly do you know about relationships?" Nate questioned yet again.
"More than you would realize," Chuck confessed as he pulled out his phone to check and confirm what time Harry Winston opened – he was going to make this happen today.
He was just about to head out, having gotten the confirmation that Blair's ring was ready for pickup when in walked Georgina.
"Well, well, well... Georgina Sparks," Chuck spoke as he approached her in the foyer. Truth be told, he had been expecting her.
"Da," she responded in Russian. "Nice hotel by the way... for the Upper West Side that is..."
"Let's get to the point – why are you here?" Chuck asked, despite already knowing her current predicament.
"I need help," Georgina spoke immediately. "I'm scared."
"I can see," he replied as he gave her a once over. "Let me guess – you're pregnant, you haven't told the father and the Russians are after you," he simply stated, much to her amazement.
"Wow! Um... yeah... how did you-"
"That's not important," he interrupted her as she was the last person he wanted to swap stories with. "Look, I'm actually on my way out, but if you want, I'll walk you down to the front desk and hook you up with a keycard to one of the suites, alright?" he informed her as he began walking her towards the elevator with him.
"Thank you," she sighed gratefully with relief. "Thank you so much, Chuck!"
"Don't worry about it," he assured her as the elevator finally arrived.
He could only hope his good deed towards Georgina would have no baring on the outcome of his day when it came to matters regarding him and Blair like intervening with Nate and Serena's little problem did before.
Chuck had just re-entered the penthouse from picking up the ring when his phone notification went off. Pausing in the foyer to check it, he couldn't say he was surprised to see that it was the blast about Serena and Dan, however, noticing Nate standing in his bedroom, the door wide open, Chuck had to hide a slight smile at the fact that the day was playing out exactly how it originally did in that regard.
"Can you believe this?!" Nate exclaimed, having noticed Chuck returned and was also looking at his own phone.
"Sorry," Chuck genuinely apologized. As much as he wanted to prevent Nate from finding out, he knew he had to let it happen.
Not having much else to say on the matter, he decided he'd raid his closet once more, trying to find the perfect suit to wear as he already knew what Blair was going to be wearing for the day.
As he took his time trying to match the perfect tie, he soon heard the clacking of heels across the foyer. Looking out into the penthouse, he noted that it was in fact Serena, most likely there to try and explain her actions to Nate.
"Hey, Chuck... have you seen Nate?" she nervously asked him as he now leaned against his bedroom's door frame.
"I don't know where he currently is but I most certainly know where you've been," he informed her, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
"Chuck-"
"Before you go and use whatever line you've prepared... think hard – Nate knows who he loves and who he wants so unless you can say the same... look him in the eye and tell him that," he cautioned her. "Otherwise... stop playing games."
"Chuck, I'm not playing any games," Serena started but then stopped as the elevator announced its arrival.
"Then just be honest and upfront," he simply told her. "Sure he'll be upset right now, but in the end... he'll appreciate it in the long-run. Trust me," he tried to assure her.
Again, he knew he wasn't supposed to interfere but maybe... at this point in the day... giving her some words of wisdom and advice couldn't hurt, right? Maybe they could still work through their issues without breaking up.
"Thanks, Chuck," Serena genuinely told him as she turned towards Nate.
"Courage, ma soeur," he encouraged her as he returned to his room, giving her and Nate their space to talk.
He knew he didn't have much time left if he was going to meet Blair in Brooklyn. Having finally watched the movie the other day, he thought perhaps he would try the self-aware approach with her first. While it hadn't ended the loop, it did seem to go over pretty well with Andie MacDowell when Bill Murray tried it. And that was before Bill Murray's character realized all the other things that Chuck had already come to realize so he figured it was worth a shot.
"Mister Chuck! What are you doing here? You must go! Miss Blair on date and purposely avoiding you and Empire State Building!" Dorota snapped as she saw him quickly approaching them just outside the Humphrey's loft in Brooklyn later that afternoon.
"Good to see you too, Dorota... still very pregnant I see..." he quipped, much to her annoyance, as he stalked up towards their car, duly noting that she had in fact not had the baby yet. "And I'm aware she's on a date, Dorota – that's why I'm here-"
"What are you doing here, Chuck? I thought you were trying to Affair to Remember me today," Blair snapped as she stopped in her tracks, turning to confirm for herself that he was indeed there. "Are you... are you following me?" she couldn't help wondering, annoyed. How else would he know she was Brooklyn? And arriving there at the same time she did.
"I didn't follow you... today," he quietly added the last part under his breath. "Blair, something is going on," he tried to tell her as he gently held her by the arm, preventing her from storming off.
"Hey, man, we're on a date – let go of her," the boy from Columbia spoke up, growing concerned. He knew Chuck was her ex and that whatever was going on between them was complicated.
"Just give me a minute," Chuck demanded as he shooed the guy away.
"Chuck, what the hell?" Blair wondered, agitated. While a detour to Brooklyn wasn't originally part of her plan for her date today, neither was a run in with Chuck who had clearly sought her out instead of waiting for her to decide their fate like he said he was going to last night.
"Blair, I need your help," Chuck started once more, desperate for her to understand.
"Of course you do," she stated, unwavering in her annoyance.
"I've been reliving the same day, over and over," he tried to explain.
"You mean you're experiencing deja vu," she corrected him.
"Not exactly... I mean I am experiencing the same day, over and over – the exact same things keep happening and no matter what I do, I wake up the next morning and it starts all over again," he clarified.
"I see..." she spoke after thinking his words over for a moment. He anxiously awaited her answer, hopeful that she would have some sort of insight into his problem. "Let me call The Ofstroff Center, perhaps I can recommend someone for you," she finally decided.
"What? No, Blair! Put the phone away, I don't need that kind of help!" he declared, her solution not what he was expecting. "Look, I know it sounds crazy, but I'm telling you the truth," he gently spoke, having taken her hands in his, desperately needing her to understand.
"Prove it," she demanded as she jerked her hands out of his.
"I know you're here to chew out Jenny Humphrey, for sending out the blast about Serena and Dan..." he quickly informed her.
"Almost anyone that knows me would know that's why I'm here – obviously it would be my responsibility to give her the smack down she so deserves for messing with Nate and Serena," she was quick to point out. "Try again."
"Um..." Chuck quickly tried to think of what else he would know from reliving the same day over and over again. "Dan and Rufus should be arriving momentarily," he blurted out.
They stood there, staring each other down for a moment, his eyes hopeful that she would see while hers were full of impatience, when a cab no sooner arrived with both Dan and Rufus spilling out.
"Uh, hey guys, what brings you all here?" Dan couldn't help wondering as he approached the four of them, curious as to the silent standoff going on between Chuck and Blair while Dorota and Blair's date looked on.
"You got lucky!" Blair declared as she threw her hands in the air. "We are in Brooklyn after all, outside their loft... it was bound to happen!" Frustrated that he had been right and determined to avoid him and his stupid ultimatum, she quickly set her sights on Dan who had started chatting up Dorota. "Well at least I can give you a proper smack down," she squealed as she smacked Dan upside the head causing Chuck to emit a small chuckle. Dan never saw it coming.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Dan screamed in shock.
"Don't screw up Nate and Serena!" Blair yelled back at him.
"Nothing happened, Blair..."
"So says Serena, but I know her and I'm thinking she left a little something out..." Blair pried.
"Alright..." Dan confessed."Blair, say life is giving you signs and you're ignoring them because you're afraid of the thing that they're signaling you to do. But... but then you think... what if these signs are here for a reason and ignoring them just makes me a coward?"
"Kind of like how I know you've been avoiding The Empire State Building all afternoon but with no such luck. All signs have been pointing you to it today and you know it. You're just being stubborn because you're scared of what could happen. Like I was with Tuscany... and then being able to tell you I love you," Chuck spoke up, now standing right behind her. Perhaps maybe Humphrey could help her see what she was doing. "You know we could be happy together. And the very thought scares you. I know, Blair, because it used to scare me too."
"I am not you! And I'm not scared!" Blair stated, aghast that he would dare make assumptions like that about her. Even if they were right. "And signs are for the religious, the superstitious and the lower class," she quipped, turning her attention back to Dan. "I don't believe in them and neither should you!" she told him as suddenly off in the distance something caught her eye. "Oh god..." she gasped as she realized it was the Empire State Building she was looking at in the skyline.
"Miss Blair?" Dorota questioned, concerned.
"Damn you, Chuck Bass... damn you to hell," she remarked, giving Chuck a frustrated shove as she realized what Dan had just said was also another sign. "Maybe you're both right..." she sighed, resigned to accept the fact.
"What? Huh? When did we start talking about Chuck?" Dan wondered, completely confused and having been out of the loop regarding the ultimatum Chuck had given her.
"So is this a yes?" Chuck asked her a moment later, completely ignoring Dan as him and Blair stared each other down once more, their eyes both silently wondering for them.
"It's... It's I don't know, Chuck... things have been so complicated with us lately..." she began, making excuses as she buried her face into his chest, confused as to what to think.
"Well if you need a little more time to think it over... perhaps you can do so at the hospital – Dorota's water is about to break," he announced with a slight smile, knowing he was right and thinking that perhaps it would finally confirm to her that he wasn't crazy, he really did know what was going to happen, his arms having found their way around her, holding her to him.
"What?" she questioned, baffled as she looked up at him.
"Miss Blair! Come quick! My water break!" Dorota shouted from next to the town car, a look of both fear and excitement on her face. It was finally time.
"How did you...?" Blair suspiciously wondered as she tried to understand just how Chuck knew that was going to happen.
"Come on, we need to get her to the hospital," Chuck ordered as he released her from his hold and they approached the maid together. "Here, take my limo – there's more room," he stated as he and Dan both escorted Dorota as she waddled over to the vehicle and helped her in.
"I'm sorry, Cameron – this date was not how I had planned at all," they overheard Blair admit to her date.
"I completely understand," the boy assured her with a sad smile. "I'll take the car home," he informed her as he turned to leave.
"I'll call you?" Blair called after him, hoping that maybe there was still a chance he was interested after all that had just happened.
"If you want, but I really think you should take some time and reconsider all those signs you've been avoiding all day – clearly you haven't given up on him yet," Cameron pointed out as he pointed over towards Chuck. Blair turned around and couldn't help a smile as she watched Chuck selflessly help Dorota.
"Maybe if things don't work out," she offered up, however they both knew it was over between them. Cameron had been a nice distraction this past week but deep down, she was still too hung up on Chuck to even bother making it work with anyone else.
"Maybe," he smiled back at her before ducking into the car.
"Blair, come on – this baby isn't going to wait much longer!" Dan called over to her, bringing her attention back to them.
"Lennox Hill Hospital, please, Arthur, and step on it!" Chuck ordered his driver through the partition in the car after he climbed in behind Blair, putting himself between her and Dan.
They sat side by side on the back bench, Blair attempting to coach Dorota beside her as Dan sat on the side bench to Dorota's other side, taking charge instead. Chuck watched, with a careful smile, the woman he loved in action.
"Dorota, she's beautiful!" Blair exclaimed in awe as she watched the new mother hold her baby while Vanya, now a doting dad, looked on beside them.
"Anastasia... it's a beautiful name!" Cyrus declared as he looked over the newborn with a smile.
"Can I hold her?" Eleanor eagerly asked, just dying to get a turn. "I know... I know it's so soon but she's so pink and perfect and oh! Who knew babies could be so astonishing?" she wondered.
"Miss Eleanor..." Dorota laughed as she gently passed the baby off to her charge.
"In fact... Dorota and I were talking," Vanya spoke up, looking to his wife for the go ahead.
"Miss Eleanor... Mister Cyrus... would you be Ana's godparents?" Dorota anxiously requested.
"Would we?" Cyrus confirmed with a grin as he watched his wife hold the little angel in question.
"Paris, Smarish... I am never letting go of this precious creature," Eleanor responded as she delicately spoke to the baby.
Chuck sat off to the side in the room, curiously watching. He had seen babies here and there with their parents, being pushed around in prams around the park, along the sidewalks and in stores, but he had never personally been this close to one willingly.
And it intrigued him.
The miracle of life, being born, conceived, at least in this case, by love. While in the version of the day he previously experienced with Blair they had discussed and made plans to have a family together, seeing the look of awe on her face and the immense joy Dorota and Vanya were sharing... it further cemented that decision for him. He wanted that and he wanted it with no one but her.
"She's got Dorota's eyes," Chuck couldn't help remarking over Blair's shoulder as she was now holding the baby while he sat beside her.
"And her hair color... perhaps we have another little Polish tyrant on our hands," Blair joked with a smile as she leaned down closer to the child. "You're going to be in charge just like your mommy and have daddy wrapped around that little finger, aren't you?" she cooed as she gently stroked the little girl's cheek. The baby suddenly gripped Blair's finger causing Blair to gasp in surprise as Chuck quietly chuckled in amusement. Babies were definitely something!
"Mister Chuck, would you like to hold her?" Dorota eagerly asked him as she watched the two interacting with her daughter. She was thrilled that both Mister Chuck and Miss Blair were still there, together. Perhaps witnessing the birth of a new life would help the young couple realize that anything is possible with love.
"Here Chuck – your turn," Blair stated as she shifted herself, preparing to pass the baby off to him.
"I... okay," Chuck accepted as Blair began to place Ana in his arms before he could formulate an excuse as to why she shouldn't.
"Just be sure to support her head," Blair leaned over and whispered in his ear, knowing he greatly lacked experience with babies but not wanting him to feel embarrassed in front of everyone.
"Thanks," he quietly spoke back, grateful for her help. If anyone knew how awkward he was feeling right in that moment, it was definitely Blair.
"Hello, Ana," he spoke to the newborn, trying to relax as much as possible even though he was extremely nervous he might drop her. Surprisingly though, he found himself quickly growing at ease as he sat there with her in his arms.
"Aww... Chuck! I think she likes you," Blair gasped as she witnessed the newborn snuggle into him. Caught up in the moment, Blair naturally rested her head on his shoulder as she continued to watch the tiny child in his arms with a smile on her lips.
"No girl can resist Mister Chuck's charm," Dorota laughed with a knowing smile as Vanya, Cyrus and Eleanor all gave a slight laugh as well. "Not even Ana!"
"Well... I don't know about that, Dorota... as it seems one girl can..." Chuck's voice trailed as he practically whispered that last part, his gaze slow turning away from the now-sleeping newborn in his arms to the woman who was carefully watching beside him.
Blair didn't seem at all fazed by his words though as she didn't respond in any way – audibly or physically that is.
"I... I think she fell asleep," Chuck carefully spoke, afraid of waking Little Ana if his assumption was indeed correct.
"Here, I take her," Vanya offered up as he quietly approached and relieved Chuck from the child, delicately holding his new baby girl, both of them joining mommy on the bed.
As he continued to sit there, Blair still close beside him, Chuck remembered that they needed to talk. And it sure wasn't going to happen here in the room, what with her mother and stepfather present and the new family basking in their new found happiness.
"Excuse me," Chuck abruptly stated as he suddenly stood to his feet. Blair shifted in her seat to look up and see just what he was doing. "I... just need to step outside for a moment. Dorota, Vanya – congrats," he spoke to them directly before making his way out to the hallway.
Trying to think of what to say, what to do, he began to hurriedly pace back and forth just outside the room. He had just reached inside his jacket pocket and felt the ring box still there when he heard the door open. Turning around, he saw it was her that had exited the room, just as he had hoped.
"Chuck, what's wrong? Why did you leave?" Blair inquired, unsure of his sudden change in behavior. One moment everything seemed fine, he – The Great Chuck Bass – had become The Baby Whisperer, and then the next thing she knew he was rushing out of the room. Knowing him, she could only assume he was starting to become overwhelmed by emotion. Something they both knew he struggled with.
"Nothing's wrong," he quickly tried to assure her, not wanting to worry her or scare her away.
"Then what is it?" she questioned curiously.
"It's just... being in there, holding little Ana... I realized just how badly I want that," he admitted with a gulp. Sure it was something they had talked about before but until just now he never realized just how much he really wanted a family of his own. Of their own.
"Want what exactly?" Blair questioned, wanting to make sure she followed. "A baby?!" she wondered, shocked. She had always assumed they would all eventually become parents someday but to hear Chuck actually say it out loud... that was something new and surprising.
"No, well... yeah, eventually," he admitted. Sure, a baby would someday be part of the plan, but he wasn't just thinking about that. He was thinking of the bigger picture. "But not just that – that," he stressed as they now stood in front of the door, peeking in the small window together, watching Dorota, Vanya and Ana happily together as one. "That kind of love and happiness and... and joy..." his voice lingered as he realized he couldn't recall ever really knowing real joy. "I want... with you."
"Chuck..." Blair sighed sadly as she turned her gaze away from the room, averting her eyes from him as well. She knew now just what he meant.
"Blair, that could be us – I know it!" he exclaimed as he turned his attention back towards her. "I know it," he repeated again, taking her hands in his. "I lived it once – we were happy together. Making plans for our future..."
"Chuck, please..." Blair began to nervously protest. If anything, it had been a confusing day to say the least.
"I love you, Blair," Chuck started as he carefully reached for the box in his pocket and slowly began to descend to one knee. "And I'm sorry for ever doubting us... and for all the pain I've caused you. I know I can't take it back but I want to try and make it up to you, even if it takes me the rest of my-"
"Chuck, Chuck please, stop," Blair cut him short, knowing just what it was exactly he was about to ask. "Don't," she pleaded at nearly a whisper.
"Don't?" he questioned, lost as to why she didn't want him to continue. "But Blair, I thought-" he spoke again as he returned to his feet.
"Exactly – you thought," she interrupted him once more. "Which is why this will never work," she continued as she motioned to them.
"What are you talking about? We were happy once before!" he tried to remind her, still lost as to what was happening. "We can be happy again – I know it!"
"So says you! How do I know you're not making that up? Have you heard yourself today?! You almost sounded crazy!" she pointed out to him.
"What's so crazy about the truth, Blair? I love you, I know you love me too. We were happy!" he tried once more.
"Do you know that though, Chuck? How?" she demanded to know, leaving him at a loss for words. "Aside from getting caught up in the moment in there with you," she said as she pointed back towards the hospital room that Dorota and Ana were assigned for the night. "Tell me, what exactly have I done today that has indicated that to you?"
"I... you..." Chuck started only to stop again as he tried to think. He knew from all the other days he had experienced that she still had feelings for him, but what happened so far today that made it undeniable for them both?
"You gave me that ultimatum last night and yet before I could come to a conclusion and give you an answer by the appointed time you showed up instead, insisting on this and that... you didn't give me the chance to make my own decision, Chuck!" she barked him, hoping that now he would finally understand what she was getting at.
Racking his brain, he realized he had made a crucial mistake. She needed to come to conclusion herself.
"You... you have this need to control everything and everyone! And believe me Chuck, if anyone gets it, it's me, but... you can't control everything! I've come to realize that and while I'll admit that yes, I do love you, until you realize that yourself... we can never be together! Sometimes you just have to let things play out on their own..."
He sighed as he realized she was right. When he had spoke to the screenwriter again he thought that when he had said certain things couldn't be helped and to let them happen he had been merely referring to his meddling in the affairs of Nate and Serena. He didn't realize that the same logic also applied to him and Blair. And in doing so, he had pushed her today. Pushed her by trying to convince her what was going on with him, trying to convince her that they were meant to be together... and once again, it had failed.
"I'm sorry, Chuck..." she spoke again, gently caressing his cheek for a moment as they both looked at each other with pain in their eyes. "Maybe someday..." he heard her mutter as she walked past him and back into the room where her mother, Cyrus, Dorota, Vanya and Ana were waiting her return.
"Damnit!" Chuck exclaimed to himself once the door had shut again. Angrily, he stalked down the hallway to the nearest elevator.
He had to admit, he was a little surprised to see Jenny Humphrey sitting on his couch when he walked into the penthouse.
"What are you doing here?" he questioned her, getting straight to the point. Even though he knew it didn't matter what he did at this point in the day, there was no way he was going down this path again.
"I was looking for Nate but he's not home so I figured I'd wait," she simply replied.
"I really don't think that's a good idea," Chuck informed her as he walked over to the bar and poured himself a glass of his usual. "I last saw him at the hospital. He was talking things through with Serena. Assuming they're able to work out their issues... it would probably be best if you weren't here when they returned."
"No, I know. I just... I just wanted to apologize. To both of them actually," Jenny confessed as she stayed seated on the couch, not making any indication that she would be leaving soon.
"Apologize?" Chuck curiously wondered as he took a seat on the couch opposite of her. "Like for today?"
"Yeah... but then not just for today but for everything – specifically... for kissing Nate on his birthday and keeping him away from Serena when I knew better, for continuing to pursue him when I knew I shouldn't have... and for... other... stuff..." her voice trailed as she continued.
"Hm... interesting," Chuck thought to himself.
While he had apologized to Blair for all the pain he had caused her over the years in general, the idea of apologizing for specific instances that hurt her the most... it hadn't really occurred to him. And the more he thought about it the more he realized he never did sincerely apologize to her for the way it all went down with his uncle when it came to trading her for the hotel. And if he was really being honest with himself, if he had just told her he loved her back when he first realized it... it would have prevented them both from a lot of pain these last few years.
As he got up to retreat to his room for the night, leaving Jenny alone to entertain herself as he didn't dare attempt to play host with her, he decided that sincerely and specifically apologizing to Blair was just one more thing he had to ensure he did when he tried to get it right again.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow he knew he was going to get it right as he now understood.
AN: So close! Guess we'll just have to wait and see until next week if Chuck finally gets it right ;-)
Thanks so much to each and every one of you for all your reviews and comments as well as for all the new followers to the story! The response is very much appreciated! If you follow my work (or if you haven't but like what you've read so far) be sure to check out some of my other stories - A Royal Affair just updated last week, New Beginnings will have it's second chapter posted in the next few days and I'm planning on putting some time into Chairytale this week =D
Until next Monday,
XoXo!