Disclaimer: 'Gossip Girl' belongs to Cecily von Ziegesar, Josh Schwartz and the CW. No copyright infringement intended.
Author's Note: As always, for Juliette.
The next morning, the girls woke up and each took a shower before dressing for a day of shop therapy.
Laughing, the blonde and the brunette came bouncing down the stairs and toward the elevator when a loud feminine voice called from the dining table as they passed.
"Oh, good morning, girls! Come, join us for breakfast."
Serena frowned and looked at Blair who only pulled the blonde away from their exit and to the adults.
"Good morning, Lily, Mr. Bass," Blair greeted.
"Bart," he corrected.
Blair nodded, unfazed by the normal, stoic tone of voice. "Bart," she corrected herself. "I hear congratulations are in order."
"Thank you," Lily smiled. "Sit. Eat," her tone welcoming but commanding.
Blair noticed four empty seats. Serena took a middle seat. Blair looked at the arrangement and took the empty seat between Serena and Bart. "Thank you. I hope it's not an inconvenience to have me."
"No worries, Blair. You know you are always welcome in our home," Lily replied, thankful to have her around to calm Serena.
"Good to know," she grinned and grabbed a croissant before starting up again to make friendly conversation. "How are you feeling anyway, Lily?"
"Much better now. The stress is off now that the family knows. And Bart and I went out last night. It was calming and relaxing."
"Well, you look refreshed."
"Eww," Serena groaned.
Blair rolled her eyes, exasperated. "I didn't say anything."
"But I still got a visual!"
"Excuse her," Blair apologized.
Bart smirked at his wife, who only nodded to Blair and tried to hide the blush.
And that's how the remaining two children found them.
"I hope you two didn't stay up too late playing those games," Bart said in greeting.
"Father," Chuck nodded in his own greeting and turned to his stepmother who still sported a red tint to her cheeks. "Good morning, Lily," he smiled and took the seat next to her, leaving Eric the seat between Chuck and Serena. "How are you this morning?"
"I'm wonderful. Thank you. I'm glad to have the whole family here."
The room lapsed into a tension-filled silence. No one bothered to mention that Blair wasn't actually part of the family. Of course Lily viewed her as a daughter because of all the years of friendship between the two girls. That wasn't the issue. The I'm-sorry-about-Tuscany was the elephant in the room that Blair refused to acknowledge, and by default, everyone knew better than to disrupt her movie.
People began eating; no one knew what to say. Between the unexpected baby and the brunettes' venomous relationship, every subject seemed unapproachable.
Serena grabbed her coffee cup and took a gulp. Before she could swallow, the taste hit her and she spit it out. "What is that?"
Chuck and Eric both flinched at the spit. Everyone turned to stare at her.
"It's decaf," Lily said calmly as she took a sip of her orange juice.
"Why?"
"Like you need anything stronger," Chuck replied.
She ignored him and stared at her mother.
Just then, a staff member came around, and Serena held her cup to the maid. "How about the real stuff."
The young woman turned to look at Mr. Bass.
Serena's gaze followed. "Bart?"
"All coffee is decaf in this home."
"Excuse me?" she said, flabbergasted.
"You're a competent woman, Serena, I don't need to repeat myself."
"You do need to explain yourself," she snapped.
"Your mother is pregnant."
The room went silence and Serena waited for more; for something that actually explained the coffee situation.
"Okay…"
No one followed up, which only made Serena more agitated.
"Still doesn't explain why I have to drink decaf."
"All of the caffeinated coffee has been disposed of," came Bart's reply.
"Why?!"
"I already explained."
"Why does her pregnancy affect my drinking?"
"I can't tell you what to drink, but this apartment will not supply anything your mother should not have."
Serena's face heated up in anger.
Eric put his hand on his sister's shoulder but it was immediately shrugged off.
"You can't do that!"
Bart stared at his stepdaughter, gaze unwavering. "It's already been done."
Serena huffed. "You're worse than the rest of them! You are controlling and manipulative. She may not know who you are, but I've known Chuck for over 10 years."
"Serena -," Chuck warned. "Stop it."
"What? It's true," she turned to him, daring him to deny it.
Chuck took a deep breath, but remained quiet.
"S, you know this isn't about that," Blair tried to point out.
"No?" came the sarcastic response. "The baby's not even born and look at him. God knows what he'll be like when it's actually born."
Lily immediately stood up and walked to the other side of the table, grabbing her daughter's arm and lifting her up. "Enough. If you have an issue with something concerning my pregnancy or my marriage, you come to me directly. You are 17; act your age."
"Take your own advice," she spit right back out. "Bit too old for this, no? And you're both screw-ups as parents. Three prime examples right here! Do you really think you both need to mess up another child's life?"
The room was filled with angry tension.
Wordlessly, Lily only pulled Serena out of the room.
The remaining four sat in silence.
Bart took a sip of his coffee. Chuck went back to his breakfast. Eric was sitting there in shock, rubbing at his wrist. Blair watched the women walk away and as she turned back to the table, she caught sight of Eric's nervous action.
A few minutes later, Chuck's phone went off. He looked at the caller-id. "It's Nate. Excuse me." And he left the table, practically running out.
It wasn't long before Bart's phone rang. "Excuse me. Tell Lily I'll be in my office," and he walked away.
Blair and Eric nodded and then Blair scooted over into Serena's abandoned seat, putting her arms around Eric. "You okay?" she whispered in concern.
"That was intense," his voice hoarse. "I've never seen her lash out like that. Sometimes she'd get angry at mom, but she's never argued with a husband or boyfriend so venomously. And it's already been four months."
"I think the pregnancy has her confused. Lily's track record is pretty consistent. This is not in the pattern. You're right: four months. Last night should have signaled divorce."
"But it's not! This might it."
"And that's good. It is. But it's…" Blair paused and sighed. "Serena's right. She knows Bart better than Lily."
"I doubt it," he said sarcastically.
"Well, she knows how he parent's."
"He's better than the others. He cares! I've seen it."
"But there are 16 years you haven't."
"People change."
"I know that."
The two sat in silence for a moment as Eric contemplated the situation.
"I think…this makes it permanent. Even if something happens in the end, Bart'll always be in our lives. And I think maybe that with Serena and Dan officially over this time, it's messing with her. Two extremes at once."
Blair raised an eyebrow. "Eric, maybe you should start acting your age and give Serena some of your wisdom and maturity."
"No thanks. Someone has to be sane for this baby."
.tbc.