A/N: I'm sorry it has taken me so long to update. I was really busy and then the second half of this chapter just wasn't coming together for me, but here it is. Also, I've decided on an ending point for this story, but there is most definitely 100% going to be a sequel!

…

Celia knocked loudly on Lexie's bedroom door, "Hey, Princess, open up!"

Her and Lauren laughed as they heard the squeal from inside the room and seconds later the door flew open. "Cece!" Lexie screamed before jumping into the older girl's arms, "You're here!"

Celia set her back on her feet and she grinned up at the older girl happily before she noticed Lauren standing behind her, "Oh, hello Lauren, you're back too!"

Lauren smiled, "Hi, Lexie."

The three girls moved into the bedroom and sat on Lexie's bed. "So, did you miss me?" Celia asked once they were settled.

Lexie nodded enthusiastically, "It gets so annoying when it is just me and all the boys. But there is another girl who lives here now. Her name is Emily and she is really nice. Ed put a baby in her tummy, so now she lives with us."

Celia and Lauren exchanged a look and tried to suppress their laughter at Lexie's simple explanation. "Yes, we heard about that. I'm glad you got some back up against those pesky boys," Celia told her, "Besides the addition of Emily, what else has been going on around here since we have been gone?"

Lexie adopted a serious expression that almost caused Celia and Lauren to break out in giggles once again, before she took a deep breath and explained, "Well, Theo got into trouble again and Mommy and Daddy got really mad. And Ricky has a new girlfriend." Celia and Lauren's eyebrows shot up, but Lexie didn't notice as she explained, "I went into his room and they were kissing," Lexie made a disgusted face and continued, "When they saw me he was really mean and yelled at me to leave, but Mommy heard him and she made his girlfriend leave and gave him a very long lecture," She shrugged, "I guess she didn't want another girl with a baby in her tummy. They were on his bed and Daddy said that sleeping in bed with a boy is how you get a baby."

Celia and Lauren shared amused grins over her head, "Yes, that's exactly how it happens," Celia agreed, "Your Mom was smart to yell at your brother."

Lexie went on to tell them how Theo and Ed were fighting because all Ed did was hang out with Emily now and how Ricky was always making fun of Fitz because he never had girls over. The two older girls found it harder and harder to maintain straight faces as they listened to the latest events in the Bass household told through the eyes of its youngest member.

…

Downstairs, CJ and Hank had followed Blair into the kitchen and sat at the bar while she stood behind it and sorted through the mail.

"So, Mom," CJ began hesitantly, "How are things going?"

"Great," She said quickly, barely taking the time to look up at him, "Why do you ask?"

"Well, you just seem to be kind of…stressed."

"Stressed?" Blair said with a slightly crazed laugh as she set the mail down on the counter, "Why would I ever be stressed? I mean, besides the fact that I had to go down to St. Jude's today again because Theodore can't keep himself out of trouble. He will be lucky to make it to graduation. Add onto that his tension with Edward and Edward's impending fatherhood and even I have to wonder how I've managed to remain so calm. And don't even get me started on the constant bickering between Sebastian and Fredrick and Fredrick's determination to get in a girl's pants because thirteen is apparently way too old to still be a virgin." She paused and took a deep breath, "I'm sorry, I'm just-"

"Stressed," Hank finished for her, "And that's understandable. But you don't need to worry so much. I'm sure Theo and Ed will work out whatever issues they have. And I know we haven't been around, but from what I've heard from Ed and from everyone else it really seems like he has grown up and him and Emily are going to be just fine."

CJ nodded, "Yeah, and don't stress over Theo. Graduation is only weeks away. He has made it this far, the school isn't going to expel him now. They've put up with his antics for so long, they want to see him graduate as much as you do."

Blair smiled and shook her head, "I guess you're right."

"And as for Ricky," Hank continued, "I'll talk to him. I'm sure once I-"

"No," CJ interrupted, "I'll talk to him." Hank opened his mouth to protest but CJ quickly explained, "You've only slept with one girl, the girl you are now marrying, and you waited until you were sixteen to do it. Ricky isn't trying to emulate you. He isn't going to give two shits about what you have to say."

"Charles! Watch your language." Blair scolded.

"Sorry," CJ rolled his eyes, "But it is true. I'll talk to Ricky and see if I can't get him to think a bit more before he takes action."

"Thank you," Blair said looking fondly between the two boys, "To both of you. I really appreciate you making such an effort to help out."

"But there is more." Hank said, reading her expression.

Blair sighed and busied herself wiping imaginary crumbs off of the counter, "It's just your father. He has been working so hard lately on this new project. He barely sleeps and I know he never even takes time to eat at the office, but he still comes home every night right on time for family dinner and spends a good deal of time with each of the kids afterwards. He is running himself ragged trying to do his job and maintain the expectations I laid out for him. I feel like it is my fault. If I wasn't so demanding with him, it might be easier for him…"

"Mom, Dad loves being with the family. He doesn't do that because you force him to." CJ told her.

"I know," she said, "But he's not as young as he used to be. I worry about him."

There was the sound of a throat clearing from the doorway and all three heads turned around to see Chuck standing in the entryway.

Blair's eyes widened, "Chuck! You're home."

Chuck smiled softly, "I am." He had overheard the last part of their conversation and while he didn't appreciate Blair calling him old, the sentiment behind the statement was admirable.

He walked into the room and kissed his wife firmly on the lips, not caring that his sons were sitting awkwardly nearby. When the broke apart Blair stared at him completely speechless and Chuck smirked down at her as he gently stroked her cheek, "Hi."

"Hi," She whispered.

"How was your day?"

She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch, "Okay. I temporarily bailed Theo out again, but we have a meeting with the headmistress tomorrow."

Chuck shook his head, "Can't do it."

Blair's eyes snapped open, "What do you mean you can't do it?"

"We'll have to reschedule it for Monday," He told her, his smug grin still firmly in place, "Because you and I are going away this weekend."

Blair still looked confused, "What are you talking about Chuck?"

"You said it yourself, I've been working way to hard lately and you are obviously extremely stressed. I think it is time that we took a little vacation to the cottage."

Blair shook her head, "As much as I'd love that, we can't, Chuck. We can't just leave Lexie and the boys-"

"The children will be fine," Chuck assured her, "Dorota will be here during the day and we have two excellent babysitters right here." He said, gesturing towards Hank and CJ.

"Chuck, they just got home. They don't want to spend their first weekend back in the city stuck watching their younger siblings."

"Actually Mom, we really wouldn't mind," CJ interjected, "What else are we going to do? Go to the clubs and pick up girls?"

Hank nodded in agreement, "Yeah, at this point any plans that don't involve picking out flower arrangements or table cloth patterns sounds good to me."

CJ laughed and lightly shoved his brother, "I told you that you should have convinced Cece to elope."

Blair's mouth dropped open in shock at the very suggestion of elopement, "CJ! How could you even suggest such a thing?" He shrugged and she turned to Hank, "And don't get to excited, Harold, the wedding plans are going to really start picking up very soon."

Hank groaned and CJ clapped him on the back, "Yet another reason why I'm glad Lauren wanted a smaller wedding: Her and her parents have taken care of almost all of the planning. I barely have to participate in any of it."

"I still don't understand why they wouldn't let us help out a bit with the ceremony." Blair huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Her parents are old fashioned, Mom," CJ explained, "The bride's family is supposed to pay for the wedding and that is what they intend to do."

Chuck raised a brow, "Be that as it may, I hope you have made sure that Lauren has been able to have everything she wants, even if it is beyond whatever sort of budget they may have set up."

"Don't worry, I have," He assured them, "For example, the reception hall Lauren picked out was way too expensive, but after I spoke with the owner there was a mysterious cancellation and in order to fill the slot he was willing to give them a discounted rate that was just within their price range."

Blair smiled proudly, "Good. It's her big day; Lauren should get to have everything she has ever dreamed of."

"Speaking of which," CJ said with a knowing smirk forming on this face, "You know that her family thinks her dress is from Eleanor Waldorf Designs, right?"

Blair tried to appear innocent as she replied, "They may have jumped to conclusions when I said we would provide the dress, but Eleanor Waldorf doesn't do wedding gowns."

"I know that, but when I tried to tell them Lauren shut me up before I could get the word out."

She waved her hand dismissively, "Yes, well, it's not a problem. I just put in a call to my old friend Vera Wang and she was happy to create a gown for Lauren. It really was no trouble at all."

CJ rolled his eyes knowing that Lauren's parents would flip if they knew that his mother had gotten Lauren a dress that cost literally tens of thousands of dollars.

Chuck reached out and took Blair's hand, giving her a slight tug, "Come, Blair, you have plenty of time to talk about the weddings when we get back. Right now we need to go pack."

Blair didn't budge, "What about your project? Can you really just abandon it for a weekend?"

Chuck sighed and stepped towards her, snaking his arm around her waist, "The deal is pretty much done. I'm sure my team can close it out without me help."

Blair still hesitated, looking back at her sons, "But…"

"Go, Mom," CJ said, "You need a break. And we'll be fine here. I'm sure Hank and I can handle the brats for a few days."

"Fine," Blair gave in, taking a step closer to her husband, "I guess it will be nice to spend some time alone at the cottage, just the two of us."

"Mmm," Chuck agreed, pressing his lips to hers, "I can hardly wait," He leaned in close so his mouth was right by her ear before he whispered, "To spend hours and hours in bed completely naked with my lovely wife."

Blair reeled back and slapped him on the shoulder, but she was a laughing in a way that she hadn't in weeks and that was enough for him.