Disclaimer: I own nothing except a great love for CB and the many inhabitants of the UES
A/N: And here's another long-winded one for ya. B wants to know what became of her babies? Thanks again for all of the amazing love and reviews. Glad you guys are having fun with this. It's still a joy to getting it all out…if only I could live on CB love and not have to work the world would be perfect and just right…but alas. Hugs all around. Lynnie damn those computer fairies anyway thanks for watching out. :kiss:
Chapter 11
There he'd said the words. He waited for her reaction.
The slight crack in the icy demeanor that she'd slid behind only movements before, armoring—protecting herself, seemed to shatter completely right in front of him. The flat line of her mouth curved ever so slowing into the shakiest of smiles as his words started sinking in. She threw her arms around him, much like that long ago December night before he'd gone away, disappearing on her. "Thank you. Thank you." She repeated over and over again.
Chuck gathered her close, breathing her in. For the first time since he'd confronted Eleanor in the hallway…since he'd left his girls earlier, Chuck felt a real smile stretch across his face. A smile and sweet relief. She'd been scared about the girls. She didn't hate them…he'd told himself many times that the very idea was ridiculous but all he had to do was think of his relationship with his father…and good sense, as well as, years of knowing Blair Waldorf and how her mind worked, would go right out the window.
"Where are they? It was too early. I remember when I went into labor, they were coming too soon." She pulled back, her eyes searching.
"They were perfect. Kat spent the first two months in NICU and Evie as well those first few days, but they were so beautiful, Blair. Utterly perfect." He told her.
"Kat and Evie?" She asked.
He frowned, "Yea, Serena said you'd decided that you picked the names… Katherine and Evelyn."
"Yes, I did. And you've seen them. They're okay?" She frowned at him, still smiling and confused about everything, "When did you get back? I thought you'd just written us off when you didn't respond to my letter and then you did call and…and you didn't say anything."
Chuck remembered the night she was talking about. He'd been feeling lower than ever and he'd known that it was graduation day. Blair and the others would be walking across the stage without him. He'd celebrated with two willing bodies and a seemingly neverending supply of booze. Still feeling empty and wondering what his friends were doing, what B was doing, he'd called her. "I should've said something. I just had no clue what you needed to hear…I—I."
He cleared his throat, looking away from her. "As for your letter. I never got it, Blair."
Now she was back to glaring at him, her nails digging into his hand. "What do you mean you didn't get it?"
"Let's just say that there were matters with my uncle that needed handling and I took care it. It's a long story. And not what I really wanted to talk about right now. Kat and Evie, remember?." He kissed her hand until she relaxed.
As if she could possibly forget. Their daughters' names worked like magic, bringing that soft look back into her eyes. Hell maybe he'd been going about it all wrong, these past few years. Maybe it wouldn't have been his kiss that would've brought her back. "Kat and Evie. You call her Kat."
"Of course…"
"I want to know everything. What are they like? Who do they look like? Who's with them right now?" She demanded, and there went those damn nails again. He'd have to book her an appointment at Bliss at the first opportunity.
"Dammit, Waldorf, nails."
"Sorry." She said absently.
"And slow down. They're with Lily, right now. They take after both of us…and they're quite the schemers already. Mostly Evie…but Kat can hold her own. She'll sneak up on all comers before they know what hit them."
Blair bit her lip, trying not to start crying again, as Chuck talked about their daughters. The pride and love in his eyes. She'd missed so much already. The first five months of their little lives. Kat and Evie. Blair sighed, reaching up to brush an errant curl from his forehead. He was still letting his hair go long instead of cutting it. Hmm. "So, Bass. Tell me what they look like already…what do you mean takes after us both. My eyes…yours?"
"Yours. They mostly take after you, though, Serena insists she see more of me…especially when they're up to something." He smirked
"So little schemers. Two of them. With your smile?"
"Wait," He shifted, and pulled out his wallet. "You can see for yourself. This was taken a few months ago." Chuck flipped to the photograph Dorota had snapped of him and the two little girls on their first day of kindergarten. They wore their uniforms of white blouses and plaid skirts. Evie wore her dark hair loose around her shoulders with only two shiny barrettes holding it in place, while Kat insisted that Dorota do her hair up in twin French Braids. A smile playing at the edge of his mouth, he handed it over to Blair.
She stared, a frown replacing her earlier smile. Blair pinned him with confused brown eyes, "What is this?"
"It's old…from September. They did school portraits and I have them in my office. That was their first day."
Her eyes dropped back to the picture in her lap, he could see her gulp as she studied their children. He waited feeling his own smile, wide and silly as he waited her mirroring expression. But Blair didn't smile. She didn't laugh or even cry. Something like horror settled across her features. Softly, she said, "No. This can't be right."
"Waldorf…" He said, trying to get her attention, but she didn't seem to hear him. "Blair."
"My babies…this can't be right. I don't understand."
"Blair," He hooked a finger under her chin and brought her eyes back to his face. "Talk to me. What's wrong?"
"Where are my babies, Chuck?" She demanded, pulling away from him. "Were you lying before? Did they die? What are you playing at here, Bass?"
"I'm not playing at anything. That's Evie and that Kat. Look at them, Blair. Can't you see us? Look at their faces."
She did. She looked. Blair shook her head, "No, no. It's only December. My babies…were just born." She trembled and Eleanor's words came back to him. They hadn't told her anything. Not about the girls and not how long Blair had been gone from them.
"No, baby." He said, his voice soft. She stiffened at first when he wrapped his arms around her, trying to quell her shivering form. Slowly she leaned into him. "I'm sorry, but it's the truth."
"I don't understand." She didn't cry again, but buried her face against his chest, repeating the same three words, until they looped in his head. All that he could hear.
"I know. Ssh." Chuck climbed onto the bed with her, holding Blair and not sure just what the hell he was supposed to do now. Five months. She'd thought she'd been gone for just five months. Missed only that little while.
~ஐ~
Hours after talking to Serena and finally diving into Nate's pile of molding, waterlogged folders, Dan found himself in a rental car and cruising the streets of New Jersey. Well not exactly the streets. More so one blue-collar neighborhood, in particular.
Eyes still bleary from his late night, Dan had stumbled onto the right file after looking through six others. The case file on Bart Bass' first building, reported an accidental blaze and one fatality. Originally the body had been listed as John Doe…but more than seven months later the remains long ago buried was finally listed in the case file as Richard Franklin.
The homeless man's identification didn't come from family all those months later. No, he'd left his family behind years before. The ID came from a fellow bum who'd spent a freezing night in the drunk tank and talked about everything from all the wars he'd never fought to his friend who took shelter in the wrong building on the worst of nights. At first officers had laughed it off, thinking the bum was spinning another of his stories but someone took him seriously…taking the time to follow up. Informing Franklin's "loved ones" of his demise. And that had been that. Case closed.
Franklin had a name for his unmarked grave. The man's estranged family carried on without him as they'd already been. And Bart Bass settled with the insurance company.
Dan pulled the rental to a stop—squinting out at the address for one house in particular. Blinding white blanketed the lawn and sidewalk…at every other house on the block piles of fallen snow had been shoveled or darkened with gritty footprints. This wasn't the case at the Franklin place. He double-checked the address. He'd tried to call but the telephone number in the file was more than twenty years old and long since changed. The operator hadn't been very forthcoming with a new contact number.
He knew he should've waited. It was Christmas Day for godsakes. Chuck or Nate probably should've been told but he figured Bass had enough on his hands and Nate would want to be with both of his friends. Besides that…Dan didn't want to wait. After days with absolutely nothing and then this dropping into his lap, he couldn't wait to dig in.
Burrowing further into his coat. Dan climbed out of the car and started up the snow-covered path. He grimaced as snow immediately leaked in between his socks and shoes.
He should've waited but he'd gotten this crazy feeling after reading the file that they were on the right track with this. The lead needed to be checked out, why not today? He wanted to be able to go back to his little sister with good news. Let her know that they'd caught the person responsible for setting the fire, almost costing her life and still quite possibly having ended her career.
Dragging in a deep frosty breath, he stomped his feet as he stepped up onto the landing, trying to rid himself of the freezing snow soaking through his socks and clinging onto the hem of his blue jeans.
Either this would pan out or it wouldn't and they'd try like hell to find a new lead. Dan raised his hand, hesitating for the briefest of moments before knocking.
~ஐ~
Serena walked ahead of Blair's parents, forcing herself to look ahead and not throw in her commentary to their ongoing argument.
"Time and again you contradict me and take that boy's side." Eleanor accused.
Harold sighed, bone-tired from lack of sleep and getting into it with his ex-wife yet again. "Not a boy. Not anymore, Eleanor. He's worked hard and I respect the job he's done raising my granddaughters. I thought you did, as well."
"He's done a wonderful job with them, but that is besides the point, Harold." She said.
Serena rolled her eyes, arms crossing her chest. She wouldn't turn around.
"And for the record. I'm sure that Dorota's been doing the lion's share of rearing those little girls." Eleanor added.
Enough was enough, jaw tight and anger flooding her Serena was gearing up to let Eleanor have it when B's Dad bet her to it.
"You don't stop, do you? What was last night about? I thought you wanted peace but you're ready to start it all up again." Harold shook his head, "Fine. Do that and he'll win again and yes Dorota is a strong presence in the girls' lives. As are Lily and Serena. They've had to be for the fact that their mother…your daughter has been in a coma for the past five years…unable to be a mother to them…now what was your excuse? You were just as absent in Blair's life…"
"Who ran off to France to be with another man?" Eleanor retorted and then shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Stop. Stop. That was uncalled for on my part…but you were wrong, too."
"Not this time. And for the record I'm not taking anyone's side. No one except our daughter's." Harold told her, incensed over her previous words despite her regret.
"Well, then you should be on my side, as well." She said, "You heard what the doctor said."
He nodded, "Yes and I saw our daughter when he walked into the room."
"So did I. They were fighting." Eleanor almost shrieked as if this proved her point.
Serena quickened her pace. She couldn't listen to anymore. She returned to the almost empty waiting room far ahead of them and their escalating argument. "That woman is unbelievable." Serena vented to the room at large.
Nate looked up from the magazine that he'd been so inattentively flipping through. Taking in Serena's look of disgust, he was getting to his feet but stopped as she threw herself in the chair beside him. "Who's unbelievable? What happened?"
"Eleanor happened." Serena made a face, "It was horrible."
"Blai…"
"No, sorry." She reached out for his hand. "B's okay. Mostly. It's just I got in there and we were talking…like everything was normal and she's asking me to fill her in on what she missed of the fall semester."
Nate blinked, his brow furrowing in confusion, "Sorry not following."
"Yale. Nate. She thinks that I just wrapped my fall semester…at Yale! As in she was thinking that it's still 2009. Chuck's probably in there with her now." Serena aimed another disbelieving glance at Eleanor as she walked in with Harold. And they appeared to still be going at it. Serena couldn't hear their now lowered voices, but Eleanor was red-faced and Harold looked frustrated and mightily pissed. Good, cause so was she. "She didn't tell B that Chuck was out here, like the rest of us. Worried about her. Blair thought he was still off doing God knows."
"Poor Chuck." Nate sighed.
Falling silent, Serena looked at him with raised brows. "What do you mean 'poor Chuck'. More like poor ."
"I'm just saying that he's changed." Nate said, unknowingly echoing Harold's earlier sentiment.
"I know that."
Nate pointed out, "Well, Blair doesn't."
"They were fighting when we left." Serena smiled suddenly, her words drawing a grin from Nate.
"Back to their old dance already." He shook his head.
"We'll see." They settled into a companionable silence. Each picturing the tumultuous reunion between their best friends and the long road ahead for all of them. Serena's expression sobered as she remembered her earlier conversation with Dan. Dinner. No, she'd said drinks. Maybe she'd tell him to come to her place for dinner. Nothing romantic….and they'd have Alex for a chaperone. And she could pump him for information.
Serena glanced over at Nate and said matter-of-factly, "So I talked to Dan earlier. He filled me in on the James Bond routine that you three have been playing at…" She didn't miss a thing as Nate stiffened, alarm flashing across his tense features for a split second before he covered it with mild confusion.
"What?"
"You heard me. Dan told me exactly what's going on." She forged ahead with her bluff. "I called him on all the cloak and dagger crap…don't think I haven't noticed. You guys have been acting weird as hell since the fire…and you guys don't even like Dan…well Chuck doesn't or didn't…"
Eyes narrowed, her ramble of words clicking for him, Nate started to relax. "Dan didn't tell you anything. Nice try, Serena."
"So then you admit that you three are up to something. You're actually working…together." She wasn't sure what to think of that idea. "You three making a joint effort…it has to be the fire. Start talking, Archibald."
"Let it go, Van der Woodsen." He shot back.
"No. I want to know what's going on. It's the fire. It has to be and I understand your involvement…you're with the police…but what's the deal with bringing Dan and Chuck into this." She demanded, "Is this dangerous?"
"What wrong? Are you worried about Dan?" He shot her a knowing look.
"I'm worried about all of you. You'd better tell me something or I'm going to be thinking the worst. You already gave me nightmares last year." She told him, remembering the night of his shooting.
She'd fallen back into bad habit…busy with work and Alex. Serena hadn't been out in months, so when Carter stopped by to drop a sleeping Alex off from a visit with the Baizens, she'd let Carter stick around for a drink. He'd ended up staying most of the night…in her bed. Serena had lain awake beside Carter's slumbering form, regretting yet another slip slide back into his bed. Or rather her bed this time. Then Chuck called, just after two in the morning to tell her that Nate had been shot.
They hadn't known how badly and Serena remembered thinking about how she couldn't have stood the thought of losing another friend. She'd met up with her stepbrother and Vanessa at the emergency room, where they'd learned that Nate's wound hadn't been as serious as they'd originally believed. But still the very thought of it…Nate had actually been shot. Someone had pointed a gun at her friend and pulled the trigger. If that bullet had nicked an artery…gone anywhere else…he could be in the ground.
Serena felt the fear of losing one of the people closest to her all over again remembering that night and the hell of the past five years. She glared at him. "Dammit, Nate. Just tell me what's going on."
"There's nothing to worry about. Promise." He threw an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, placing a quick kiss against her blonde tresses. "So. You and Dan. Again."
"Yes. Me and Dan. We're friends again." She said.
"I'll bet."
"I'm serious. We're even meeting later for drinks or dinner. Not a date. Just hanging out."
"Right because you're friends." He teased, "Guess you wouldn't mind if I tagged along. Since we're all best buddies now. Oh, you could join us for a round of soccer. Just another one of the guys. Yea, I definitely see that, Serena."
"You can come. That way I can grill the both of you about what you've gotten yourselves into. Chuck's got his hands full with B right now….so I'll be more than happen to badger the two of you until I know the truth." Serena warned.
"Sorry, you'll have to talk to Chuck."
"That's what Dan said," She worried her bottom lip, frowning slightly. "Is Chuck in trouble?"
"No." Nate answered quickly.
"I want to help."
He shook his head, "Absolutely not."
"Why not? If it's not dangerous." Serena said.
"I'm not going to argue with you about this anymore. I'm not telling you anything and neither will Dan."
So the boys were presenting a united front against her. She didn't like it one bit. Serena hadn't been lying about letting Chuck slide for the moment but Nate and Dan were fair game. She'd struck out with Nate so far but Dan would definitely be coming over for dinner. She'd get him on her turf and get all the answers she wanted. "Whatever," Serena rolled her eyes, pretending to give up. She relaxed, stealing the magazine he'd been staring at earlier, and tried not to smile when she spotted the look of relief cross Nate's features before he seemed to think better of it, appearing suddenly engrossed in the action across the room.
Serena looked up in time to see Blair's mother throw up her hands before storming from the room.
"Where do you think you're going?" Harold demanded.
She didn't look back or toss an answer over her shoulder. Harold looked poised to follow but dropped back when she hurried down the opposite direction from Blair's room. He went over to sit with Dorota.
Eleanor kept going. Didn't stopped walking until she was on the elevator. She'd resisted every instinct that demanded she rush back to her daughter. That she get back to Chuck and Blair before he ruined everything.
She'd just spent five years in hell, remembering all the times she'd put her work and her own priorities above her daughter. Harold earlier barb about Dorota playing 'Mommy' to Blair had found its mark. Things were different now
Her daughter was back. The girl had opened her eyes and called out for her…Eleanor. Sure she'd reached for her father as well. The first words Eleanor had heard from her beautiful daughter had been "Mom."
She ran a hand down her face. Eleanor didn't want to lose her again and she would. She'd exaggerated her confidence earlier with Charles trying to convince him not to say anything, but the moment he opened his mouth about Evie…Eleanor knew that she'd lose them all once more. Blair. Blair's little girls.
~ஐ~
Hands clasped tightly in her lap. Fiddling with the stiff sheets covering her legs. If she could've she'd have gotten up and paced the room. Instead she lay there, listening. Her ears missing nothing as Chuck talked to Lily.
It was going to happen. Joy and fear warred inside her. She glanced down at the picture she'd stolen from his wallet. Kat? Yes, he'd pointed out the little girl with french braids as her little Katherine. Her fingertips skimmed the huge smile and the curve of her ears. She—they had Chuck's ears and her chin. She gazed back and forth at the almost identical faces, spotting all the ways they'd come from her and Chuck.
What would they think of her? She didn't know them. Anything they liked to do or what they wouldn't eat. Blair's mother had never bothered learning those types of things. She'd left it to Harold and Dorota.
She felt the beginnings of that earlier panic starting, as it all became real to her again. The time passed. Everything missed with Kat and Evie. And Chuck. Her friends. She'd missed college. Five years. She'd had a plan dammit. Of course the twins hadn't been a part of the original plan but once she'd decided to keep them, Blair had been determined to do it all with twins in tow. And Serena and Lily had promised to help. And she'd just known that her own mother would come around to her way of thinking. But all her planning and wondering hadn't mattered.
So caught up in her whirling thoughts and escalating worry, Blair didn't hear Chuck finish his call with Lily. She didn't realize that he was watching her until he called her name, his voice soft, edged with concern, "I think I had the same look on my face the first time they let me hold Kat."
Forcing herself to focus on him, that voice and his eyes, she felt grounded. "What look?"
"Like I thought everyone was utterly insane for thrusting that tiny thing…person at me. She wasn't as big as anything." He absently glanced down at his hands, smiling, remembering. "She seemed so small…breakable. She fit right into my palms. Imagine, Chuck Bass knocked on his ass by four pounds of female."
"It was bound to happen." She scooted over, making room for him to climb back onto the bed at her side.
"B, listen. I know you're scared."
"Terrified. This wasn't supposed to happen, Chuck."
"I know." He wrapped his arms around her, accepting her slight weight pressing against him as she leaned close.
The picture still cupped in one hand, Blair frowned, "I didn't want them at first. I kind of felt like they were picking up where you'd left off. Destroying me from the inside-out." When Chuck didn't move, didn't speak, she said, "I tried to pretend that they weren't real…that they didn't exist…which wasn't all that easy given all the time I spent bent over the toilet." Focusing her eyes on the dark television screen, she told him the things that she'd wanted so badly to confide months…no, it was years. Years before. For her it could literally have been yesterday. "It was like old times…only I really couldn't stop…how insane, right? All that fighting and resisting the urge and…I wanted to hate that new life inside of me…it was stealing my control and it threatened everything that I had left."
"God, Blair." He buried his face in her hair, "I've wished so many times that I'd never left. I couldn't stay though…"
"I know."
"No, you don't. I was barely holding on and I didn't want to bring you down with me once it all went to hell." He told her, "Even with all the chaos in my head, and how much I just wanted to destroy everything and everyone in my path…I couldn't stay…couldn't let you see…"
They both fell silent, thoughts buried in their shared past and lingering fears and uncertainties.
"Five years is a long time, Chuck." She turned, until they were face-to-face, "They won't know me. I'll just be some stranger."
"Not even possible, Waldorf. Do you honestly believe that any of us would let that happen? That I wouldn't make damn sure that they knew how smart and beautiful their mother was…is." He assured, his eyes studying her face and mouth curving, "How that sweet mouth could distract the most foolish of men from a tongue sharp enough to cut a lesser man into ribbons. Or that pert little as…"
Now she smiled, rolling her eyes. "Chuck! Focus."
"Right. Sorry. Let myself get distracted I suppose." He dragged his gaze from her mouth, trying not to concentrate on all the things that he'd been missing. He wanted to taste her. Would it feel the same as he remembered? Would she taste the same? Too much too fast, Bass, Chuck reminded himself. "Don't worry, Blair. Perspective found."
"You're forgiven." She recognized the look in his eyes and had to force herself to breath again, when he didn't lean forward those bare inches to close the distance between them. Her heart beat faster, but it wasn't due to panic of any kind. Her face ran hot when he glanced at the monitors over her shoulder. The stupid monitor giving a play-by-play of every single flutter she was feeling.
Smug bastard, she shook her head at his knowing smile. He didn't say anything but quirked a brow.
She'd have shoved him off the hospital bed, if she thought she could scrounged up enough energy, instead she settled for glaring at him. Oh, but just wait until she was back in shape and in her Louboutins. "Chuck, the girls."
"Hey, don't blame me. That was all you, Waldorf." He jutted his chin forward, motioning to where the monitor continued betraying her.
Only she wasn't turned on this time…not that much anyway, Blair told herself, forcing herself to breath normally. Chuck was being an irritating, self-assured ass. And how she'd missed him. This time she told her own traitorous libido to simmer down and focus. "Please, Chuck. Kat and Evie. Talk to me."
Resigned, he sighed softly. She was right. The girls would there soon enough, and besides that, he and Blair could bait and dance around one another later, "All right, what do you want to know?"
"Everything." She breathed.
"Think smaller…" Chuck said, "Hmm, don't expect to hear those words again anyti…Ow."
"Sorry. Guess it slipped. You were saying." She motioned with a quick flurry of her hands.
"Fine." He rubbed absentmindedly at ribs that still smarted from his fight with Humphrey.
Blair felt herself relaxing into him, leaning close as he finally gave her what she wanted. She listened in rapt fascination as he told her about their daughters. Evie's refusal to eat anything except rice or corn for almost two months straight. And before that her affinity for orange food and nothing else. Kat's newfound enthusiasm for soccer that past summer after hanging out with her Uncle Nate. Evie hadn't been impressed, while her twin badgered Chuck to let her play on a team with other children their age. Evie could stand in the front of the mirror for more than an hour, singing every song in her repertoire…at the top of her lungs. Apparently, their kid was far from tone deaf…but she was also very loud.
Chuck told her about their movie night and weeks of requesting the same damn move until he could recite it line-by-line if pressed, but he refused Blair's smiling request that he prove it. "I don't think so, Waldorf."
She hassled and cajoled, trying to guess which movies he'd watched with them.
"Blair, don't you think they're a little young for the misadventures of Holly Golightly."
"I suppose." She offered an exaggerated sigh, "What about 'My Fair Lady'? Or 'The Sound of Music.' Please tell me you haven't been making them watch those idiotic gangster movies that you used to force me to sit through."
"Force? The way I remember it was a trade off for hours of Audrey…without complaint or innuendos. Not easy."
"Yes and you were never able to hold out very long were you?"
"I don't recall any complaints from you." Chuck smiled, his lips brushed her ear, drawing a soft groan. He wasn't sure if it was from the brief contact or memory evoked of things passed. "As a matter of fact…we never actually made it through one of my films."
"You didn't seem too bothered about that as I recall." She retorted.
He said, "You proved to be quite a distraction, Waldorf. Who needed Cagney and Bogie when you provided such an exquisite and highly pleasurable…alternative?"
"We're going off task again, Bass." Blair whispered, but her words held little of the earlier fire and determination. She let her forehead rest against him, her hand curving against his jaw. Their eyes caught, and she could see that old fire in his, the same that had pulled at her that first night in the limo. And just like that it suddenly felt as if no time had passed at all from that first night when he'd given her an out…letting her back off .
"Are you sure?" His voice had been so soft and he'd looked at her in the limo and earlier on stage with the same fire that she'd needed and never got from Nate. She remembered their last night in the limo. Laughing with him, torturing him until he'd taken control from her…promising to love her long into the night once they made it back to the Palace. Only they never made it back.
Bart died and it all fell apart.
Looking in his eyes now…she forgot the rest and remembered only the best of what he'd made her feel on those nights in the limo.
"Blair," He leaned forward that last bit, brushing her mouth in the softest of kisses. And Blair reached out, burying her fingers in his hair, yanking him closer—wanting more.
"All right, Chuck. Time's up. I want my best friend…Oops." The couple on the bed reluctantly separated, turning to see Serena in the doorway with Nate at her side. Behind them, her mother watched, her disapproval clear in her eyes.
Chuck stared back at Eleanor as if daring her to comment. When she didn't he moved away from Blair but didn't vacate his position on the bed at her side.
Nate stepped forward, claiming Blair's attention as he spoke, "You were right, Serena. They definitely look like they're on the verge of another 'fight'."
She rolled her eyes, beckoning the first boy she'd cared about to her side. "Hey. Come here."
Eleanor relaxed as her daughter embraced her first boyfriend. She looked back to Chuck who was watching Eleanor closely. Given her daughter's reaction, he obviously hadn't said anything about Evie or the adoption. After a moment he just looked away, smiling at Blair and their friends. She pushed away from the doorway and went to stand on the other side of the hospital bed.
Blair glanced around the room, taking in all the different changes in everyone. Even the little things she'd glanced over about her mother and Serena earlier. Chuck had told her about Serena's little boy. With Carter Baizen of all people…they definitely had much to catch up on, she eyed her best friend, who still sparkled, brighter than anyone Blair had ever known.
The glint of gold on Nate's hand caught her attention. Nate was married. She studied him again, recognizing a new strength and confidence that hadn't been as apparent before. There was also something edgy in his eyes. Some new worry even as he smiled down at her.
Blair reached out for her mother's hand and was surprised by the strength of the woman's grip on her, her eyes shining.
"Mom." Blair smiled at her and then frowned, looking towards the door. "Where's Daddy?"
Eleanor cleared her throat, "He's coming, sweetheart. He just stayed back to call Roman. Be sure that he got settled okay at the hotel."
Blair's eyes swept the room again. Meeting those of the people she loved. She could still traces of worry in their manner and smiles. Chuck hid it better than the others but it was there nonetheless. She wondered at their fears. Anger seeped in, she'd literally be in the dark for the past five years and wanted no more of it. "Mom there's something that I wanted to speak with you and Daddy about…all of you actually."
"What's up, B?" Serena frowned, her eyes darting to the monitor every now and again.
"Wait. I'll get your father." Eleanor said, avoiding looking at Blair or Chuck. Had he told her?
"That's okay. I'll tell him later. Look, I don't want any of you holding back on me again. Especially, you and Daddy. I know you're worried that I'll flip out or something and sure there's a lot I've missed but not telling me that I've missed out on the past five years of my life…kind of a big deal." As if in after thought, she added quietly, "Or that Chuck was here."
Forcing herself to meet her daughter's eyes, she weighed her options. She could just get it all out now. Take a chance that she would be forgiven. Eleanor opened her mouth to say the words, to tell Blair the whole truth…but couldn't. Instead she said, "I didn't want to hit you with all of it at once. And as for Charles…you and he weren't exactly on the best of terms when this all started." She felt those eyes boring into her skull as if through a physical assault of the senses. Eleanor resisted the urge to look his way. He could do it right now. Tell Blair everything. She waited for it…expected it but Blair's voice was the one that she heard next.
"Nonetheless, no more holding back. I've missed way too much as it is…"
"Blair is insisting on knowing 'everything' all at once." Chuck said, his voice light and teasing on the surface of things.
"Fine. Maybe not everything, but the highlights, definitely. Okay?" Blair demanded, looking from her mother's guilty expression and sweeping across the other faces in the room. They all nod and murmur their agreement to her edict.
"Good. Now that being said. S, Carter Baizen, Really?"
"My sentiments exactly."
"Shut it, Chuck." Serena said, "And clear out. I wanna sit with B. You've been hogging her for over an hour."
"Don't overdo it, Blair." Eleanor leaned over to kiss her daughter's cheek. "I'm going to give Cyrus a call. You enjoy catching up with your friends." She hurried from the room.
Reluctantly, Chuck ceded his place to his stepsister and could see nothing more than pure delight in either woman as they hugged one another. Serena played with her best friend's hair which fell past the middle of her back. "Jeez, B, you are in dire need of a haircut. Still looks good, though. You know you have Dorota to thank for that…"
"What I do know is that you're stalling?" Blair accused, "Spill…"
"You first…Dan says 'Hi, by the way.' He asked me to pass along a message and to tell you that you were right."
"Of course I was." Blair said matter-of-factly.
"What was he talking about?" Serena demanded.
Blair shrugged, "I have no idea but I'm hardly ever wrong…So it's a given."
"You're totally lying." Serena accused.
"And you're still stalling, Van der Woodsen. Carter Baizen. Talk or do you want me relying on Chuck for details." They both glanced over at Chuck and Nate who'd lowered their own voices and appeared engrossed in their own conversation. Blair studied them with narrowed eyes and resolved to find out what the hell that was about at the first possible opportunity. In the meantime, she had blondie in her sights. "Spill."
"Wouldn't you rather hear about Yale? My job? Alex…"
"I can't wait to hear about all of that especially your little boy, but first I want to know what possibly could've possessed you to hook up with Carter. You do remember what he did to Nate, right?" Blair said, "You were as upset as I was…"
Of course at the time Blair's anger had had more to do with covering up how upset she'd been over Chuck. How much she'd missed him after he'd just taken off after that disastrous cotillion. Yet another night when he'd just left for parts unknown. Nate had finally confided the reasons for his animosity towards Carter and what the other man had tried to pull months before. And she'd been genuinely upset about Nate…concentrating on ways to get back at Carter Baizen rather than missing a certain Basshole. And telling herself all the reasons she should be glad for his absence and trying not to regret her hasty fall into her ex's bed. She'd gone in expected that fire…wanted what Chuck gave her but all she'd done was mess everything up. Granted she'd had more than enough help along the way that night.
"I know, Blair." Serena rolled her eyes, "Look let's just say he caught me in a weak moment. Carter can actually be very sweet when he wants to be…don't look at me like that. Look who you picked. Besides I was more or less drunk off my ass on Stoli that first night and we just kind of went with it from there for a few months."
"Months?!" Blair squeaked, then lowered her voice when the boys looked over. "You had a relationship with him."
"Kind of."
"Wow." She said and just like that she wanted more. "Okay. Now. Alex. Start talking. I am a sponge and you people are just being stingy with details."
"Not about Alex. Did Chuck tell you what Alex and your girls did to the poor mall Santa?" Serena asked, her smile promising all the details that Blair could want.
Off in their own world, Chuck and Nate spoke in hushed whispers…the excited escalating tones of Blair and Serena's conversation offering enough cover to let talk without worrying.
"You talk to Humphrey?"
"No, but I dropped the files off with him last night." Nate told him, "He said he'd give me a call if he found anything. Listen, Serena knows."
"What?!" Chuck hissed out. His eyes swept back to Blair and Serena, but neither had moved or seemed particularly interested In anything beyond their own conversation. He stared at his stepsister and then back at his best friend. "How? Wait, don't bother. Humphrey. Son-of-a –bitch."
"Actually, he didn't tell her anything. She started connecting things on her own." Nate told him hurriedly, "With the fire and then you and Dan suddenly hanging out. Guess she got suspicious."
"Nathaniel, for the last time, Basses and the Humphreys of the world don't 'hang out'. Now what did Serena say to you?" Chuck demanded.
"Nothing about Bart. She says she wants to help."
"Not happening. We've discussed this. Nobody else knows. Just you, me and Humphrey." He shook his head, "That's it."
"People have died, Chuck. Whoever this arsonist is…he's killed. If the fires are connected to Bart we likely won't be able to bury it again. Then Serena and the world are going to know."
"I'll deal with it. But I don't want her involved until the person targeting me is found." He said.
"And Blair? What about her little speech?" Nate glanced at the girls, who suddenly burst out laughing. He turned back to Chuck who was regarding him as if he'd lost mind.
"Some things can wait. On that Eleanor and I are in agreement."
Nate appeared unconvinced. "So now you and Blair's mother are seeing things eye-to-eye."
Chuck made a face, "Scary thought, but yes. Look, until the situation has been dealt with I don't want any of the family in the loop. So far this guy's been targeting my investments. I don't want him suddenly deciding to come at me through Blair or Serena or the girls…No, we keep this to ourselves. For now."
"And your private war against Eleanor?"
"At the moment." Chuck said, "Our truce stands."
"All right, Archibald. You're up. I want all the details on this 'green' wedding you let Punky…sorry, Vanessa talk you into." Blair called out. "I'll bet Anne loved that."
Nate turned to the two best friends whose eyes were both fixed on his face, Blair's brimming with humor and Serena's expression apologetic. For days he'd been working his ass off to distract himself enough that Vanessa was pushed firmly to the back of his thoughts. When all he wanted to do was to hold on to his anger, rehashing the details of his wedding day was one of the very last things that he wanted to be doing right then.
"Come on, Natie. I promise not to make fun." Blair said, "Done correctly…a 'green' wedding can be just as tasteful as any other. Anne would've accepted nothing less. Now, get on with it. I want details."
"I'll loan you the DVD." Nate said, only half serious. "Really, Blair, what's there to know? We met up at the church with a hundred or so of our nearest and dearest. Said our 'I do's' and flew off to Maldives. The end."
"Wow, I could've sworn there was more to it. You'd think after months of planning and compromising one thing after another with your mother that there would've been more." A new voice said from the doorway. Her eyes locked with Nate's for the briefest of moments…her smile tight and nervous. "Hey, Blair. I'm really glad to see you awake."
"Vanessa. Thank you." Blair smiled, thinly. Her eyes focused on the byplay between husband and wife. Trouble in paradise? Nate definitely didn't seem as if he'd been expecting his wife to pop up at the hospital. He didn't appear happy to see her at all. Instead of rising to greet his wife with a kiss or smile, Nate's expression had gone dark. She cleared her throat, bringing the other woman's attention back to her. "This is such a surprise, Vanessa. You didn't have to…really."
"Actually, I came with Lily and the kids." Vanessa said, "Chuck, they're waiting for you in the hallway. And Ca…ur Alex's father dropped him off a few hours ago, Serena. He's here, too."
Blair didn't hear anything else after that. Her eyes caught and held Chuck's. The earlier laughter and light gone from hers, replaced by worries and anxieties that she'd temporarily allowed herself to be distracted from. And his, Chuck's eyes were full of promises.
~ஐ~
"The name's Eric and I just wanted an update on my sister." He repeated into the telephone receiver. "Our parents called me earlier and told me about the heart attack and her finally waking up. I've been trying to get a flight back home but you can imagine how that's working out today…"
The dark-haired woman standing before him motioned for him to move it along. Her eyes were narrowed and full of warning.
"Yes, I know what you mean." The nurse responded, a smile in her voice. "Waldorf, wasn't it"
"That's right. Eric Waldorf." He told her, "I'm catching the train back, but probably won't be back in the city before visiting hours are over. I wanted an update but couldn't reach either of my parents."
"Would you like me to patch you through to Miss Waldorf's room?"
"No! I mean no. That's not necessary. I wanted to surprise her if I could." He said. "I just wanted a better idea of how serious things are…last I heard the docs were still running their tests."
"One moment please, sir." The line went silent before Christmas music switched on.
He covered the mouthpiece, grinning. "She put me on hold."
Georgina fought the urge to roll her eyes and returned his smile. She still needed the idiot and like as not the more time she spent with the guy, the more she realized that there was something very off with her new partner. Something that made even her uneasy. Something…evil hiding behind those good looks and pretty smile.
They both had their agendas. Vengeance at the very top for both of them but the fires…they seemed to fascinate him. Make him hot. She was sure that she'd had the best sex of her life, the night he buried Jenny Humphrey's boutique to the fucking ground. Despite herself, her smile widened as she remembered how rough he'd gotten and just how many times he'd made her come.
Yes there was definitely something she'd miss about him when they finally parted ways. And part they would.
"Where'd you go earlier? You weren't here when I got back." Now that she wouldn't miss either…the clinging and questions.
"Told you I had errands to run. We've still got a few more big plays to make." She said, aiming to soothe.
"Mr. Waldorf, are you still there?" the nurse's voice came back on the line. "Hello?"
"Yes, I'm still here."
Georgina listened to her accomplice's side of the conversation, watching every facet of his expression. Earlier when she'd called in 'sick' for her shift, she'd been surprised and oddly relieved to find that Blair hadn't kicked it just yet. Sure Chuck would've been miserable for a while but then he'd move on like he never could with B just hovering there not dead but not here. No, this meant she could follow through with her plans…let them both get a taste of the lives they wanted before she ripped them apart from the inside out. Maximum damage.
Hmm, maybe she and her lover weren't so different after all. He enjoyed watching flames lick and devour, while she was less literal in her brand of destruction.
He looked up at her nodding as the woman spoke, his eyes telling Georgina all that she needed to know…B was definitely back in the game. Good.
"Was there anything else you needed? Are you sure you wouldn't like me to patch you through to your…wait I think I see your mother. One second, sir." The nurse said.
He disconnected just as he heard the damn woman call out for Eleanor Waldorf. "Shit."
"What? What happened?" Georgina demanded, crowding him.
"The little bitch's mother was hanging around. Nurse was calling her over."
Georgina thought for a moment, and nodded. "Okay. Okay. That's fine. We gave her Eric's name. It's plausible that he'd call the hospital, checking up on, B. We're covered."
"Good." He set the phone aside and reached for her. Pulling her against him and taking her mouth in a bruising kiss. Teeth nipping sharply and fingers biting into her arms.
Hmm, loverboy just might outdo himself from their previous romp. Win-win for Georgie. She closed her eyes, hands tugging at the hem of his shirt. Blair was still kicking…her plans were firmly in place…and mind-blowing sex was just moments away. What a Christmas.
~ஐ~
"Sorry…he was just there. We must have gotten cut off." The nurse frowned down at the phone before letting it settle back in its cradle.
"I'm sorry. Who are you talking about?" Eleanor glanced up, distracted from her own phone call.
"Your son…"
"My son? I'm sorry you must hav…"
"Eric Waldorf. He called checking on his sister. He wanted an update." The nurse said, appearing more and more uncertain as Eleanor regarded the woman as if she'd grown a second head. She started wondering if she'd done the wrong thing when the woman's expression softened.
"Oh, Eric. Yes, of course." Eleanor nodded.
"He said that he couldn't reach you or his father and wanted an update on Miss Waldorf's condition. That was okay, wasn't it?" the young woman asked.
"Yes. Just fine. As a matter of fact, I'll call him myself." She motioned to her phone. Eleanor smiled at the woman and went back to her conversation with Cyrus.
As quickly as she could swing it, Eleanor said her goodbyes to Cyrus. Yet another reason she was so grateful to have that wonderful man in her life. He'd talked to her. Helped her calm down. He hadn't agreed with the steps she'd taken five years before and he'd stayed with her after her career tanked. And somehow they were making their transatlantic relationship work. She told herself that she traveled in her business anyway…she was just based out of another country. Truth be told, she missed him and New York. Now with Blair awake and having met her granddaughters…going back to London to live and work seemed impossible.
Eleanor ran a hand down her face, feeling increasingly exhausted. Cyrus had begged her to come home for the night. But as Cyrus loved saying…"Not Enough!" She wanted to come home to New York dammit, but that would mean giving up all of her hard won progress in London. Damn Charles Bass, anyway.
She wanted her life back.
~ஐ~
Vanessa and Nate left the room soon after Chuck went to collect the girls. When her best friend started to leave her as well, Blair shook her head, grabbing her hand, "Don't you even think of abandoning me, S."
"Ow, B." Serena cringed at the surprisingly strong hold the brunette had on her. At her words, Blair loosened her grip but not by much. "Come on, Blair. You and Chuck are going to want the room to yourselves for this."
Blair looked up at her, face two shades paler than it had been seconds ago. "Serena, you try setting foot out that door and I…"
"Fine. I'm not going anywhere." Serena said, "But you're going to want to chill out. Unless you want to freak them out."
"Oh, God." Blair said, "I am. I am going to totally freak those little girls out and they won't want to come near me again. They'll hate me or think I'm some insane person. I don't want them to hate me…S!!! Help."
"I'm trying. They're kids. Yours and yes it's scary as hell being confronted by this person that came from you…but you're the Mommy, they love you already. So calm your nerves, B. Look. Pretend they're the girls from the steps…looking up to you for approval and guidance. You never let them see you sweat the hard stuff…well, kids are pretty much the same…well not really, but you get my point." Serena rambled and then let out her breath in a long rush. "Long story short…they basically idolize you already."
Expression still worried, Blair nodded and let the other woman go. "Okay. You're right. I can do this, but, Serena?"
"Yes."
"Can you stick close? Just for a while."
"You got it, but then I'm leaving you and Chuck here with your girls. I'll be just down the hall telling Alex about his cool Auntie B." Serena said, "I'm not going anywhere."
They both looked up as they heard the door open. Chuck came in and on either side of him, Blair recognized the little girls from the picture. Their daughters. Their little faces were so much alike and deadly serious as they openly inspected everything about her.
Chuck fought the urge to smile as Serena managed to finally disentangle herself from the brunette's clinging hands. He felt as nervous as Blair looked when she'd first caught sight of the threesome standing just inside the door.
He glanced down at the tiny hands wrapped around his. He had flashes of the previous night and how much it'd taken for the girls to warm up to Eleanor. But they didn't even look at him…no nervous glances or pleading eyes telling him to be the adult and take over. Their eyes were all for Blair.
Serena met her stepbrother's eyes and smiled. She quietly left them all and Blair didn't notice a thing. She seemed to be in her own little world, cataloguing everything about the two little girls on either side of Chuck. Unlike the photograph they both wore their hair down around their shoulders. Little green headbands that matched their dresses, their sole adornment. She studied them, trying to tell one from the other…she'd thought she'd had it from that damn photo seeing them in the flesh was completely different.
Blair waited for the panic to settle in and bog her down but it didn't come. She was too happy, her heart full. Briefly her eyes broke away from them to meet Chuck's before shifting back. "They're so pretty, Chuck. They're beautiful."
Her words seemed to break some kind of spell that had held them all immobile. To Chuck's surprise, both girls tugged their hands away from him and walked over to Blair.
"Hi, Mommy." One of them said, offering her mother one sweet smile.
"Hi." Blair whispered.
"You're pretty, too." The other reached out, running a hand across the ends of Blair's brown locks. "And we're so glad you finally woke up…it was kind of boring watching you sleep all the time."
Evie. That had to be her Evie. Outspoken and impulsive. And the other, her quiet, contemplative little Kat. Oh, the damage they'd wreck when they grew up. They were both so pretty…they'd be absolute stunners in another decade or so. Chuck clearly had no idea what he'd taken on. She was still amazed at that thought. Her Chuck or at least the boy he'd had been barely responsible enough to take care of himself and she wasn't even going to think about what his idea of taking care of himself had been. It didn't matter. Nothing did except the fact that he'd stepped up and taken care of their daughters when she couldn't.
"I'm glad too…Evie." She took a chance. Blair was sure that parents of twins mixed up their offspring frequently. They wouldn't hold it against her if she got it wrong…not the first time, right? She waited but no one corrected her or looked at her as if she were the village idiot. "Kat. I would really, really like it if I could hug you guys. Would that be okay?"
Evie shrugged as if to say, "why not." The little girl braced both hands on the edge of the bed and was about to attempt heaving her small body up beside with Blair, but Chuck beat her to the punch. Lifting Evie first and then Kat onto the bed at their mother's side.
"You guys have no idea how happy I am to finally meet you." She didn't waste any time gathering them close to her, brushing her face again their shining dark heads. Hidden from their eyes and Chuck, to let go of the hot tears that had been begging for release since she'd realized all that she'd lost out on. But the five years gone weren't the reason for her tears. She was happy. With their small arms wrapped around her she was too damn happy to let worry and regrets over things beyond her control to ruin this time that she finally had with her daughters.
Minutes passed and she held on to them, rocking them, crying harder. Their tiny hands patted her back, rubbing in some circles aiming to soothe.
She felt, rather than saw Chuck move closer.
He offered a reassuring smile when Kat looked up at him but she didn't look scared. Her brow was furrowed with worry, "Mommy's sad."
"I don't think so. She's just so glad to see you and Evie that she doesn't know what to do with herself." He stroked the child's hair. "Isn't that right, B?"
"Chuck Bass, I don't think you've ever uttered truer words." Blair pulled back, offering them all a watery smile. "I didn't mean to scare you, though, Kat. You either, Evie."
Kat told her, "You didn't scare us…Grandma cries like that when she hears a song she likes. I told her that if it made her so sad then she shouldn't listen to it anymore but she said was crying because it was so pretty."
Blair frowned at that. Her mother had said that.
"I didn't think it was pretty. It was slow and boring." Evie informed her mother. "Grandma Lily said I'd like it when I get older but don't think so."
Lily. Of course.
"As you can tell, the girls aren't really connoisseurs of the classics. Not yet at least."
Evie cast a doubtful look in her direction. She apparently didn't like it now and wasn't planning on changing her mind anytime soon.
"Well, Chuck…your Dad. He was telling me earlier about some of the stuff you guys like to do. Maybe when I get out of here, we can do some of it together." Blair offered.
"Well, Dorota says it's too cold for us to ride our bikes in the park now…" Evie said.
"And she would be right." Blair told them, remembering the falling snow from earlier in the day.
Kat bobbed her head, "Yea. Dorota says we can start going again when it gets warmer but we still can't take our training wheels off. I can't wait. Then we can go feed the ducks again, too. You can come if you want."
Blair smiled, the picture forming perfectly in her mind. She done it dozens of times with the older woman and she was happy to know that Dorota hadn't stopped but had kept one of their "things" going with the girls. "I'd like that. In the meantime, have you guys been ice skating before?"
"Yes, with Uncle Eric. And sometimes with Grandpa Harold and Roman. Daddy doesn't like to go, though." Kat confided, "He fell that one time and…"
"Your mother doesn't want to hear about that, kitten. She wants to hear about you and your sister."
"That is true, Kat, but first Mommy would love to hear the story of Bass on his a…" She cleared her throat, grinning as she dropped off at the last.
"Ooh..oh. I wanna tell it. I tell it better, Kat." Evie insisted and jumped right into it before her sister could protest. "Okay, we were supposed to go with Grandpas Roman and Harold but Cat…not that one," She pointed at her sister, "but the cat Cat got really sick and he was puking all over the house…in France, Mommy, not here."
Resigned, Chuck stepped back and let himself tumble back into the chair as surely as he had fallen right on his ass last Christmas. Nothing more than his dignity had taken a beating but these days he left the ice skating to Eric and the grandfathers. Sighing, he watched his three girls together. Finally together, cuddled close and laughing. The lines of strain and worry fell away from Blair's face and body. She wasn't afraid. Not anymore. The girls adored their mother and now she could see.
At that exact moment, Blair looked up and met his eyes, as if she could tell exactly what he was thinking. Only now did he truly let go and let himself breathe. She was awake. The spell that had taken her away broken and his family was intact. It was perfect.
~ஐ~
Serena checked her watch. Vanessa had already left by the time she'd managed to get away from B, and Nate made his regrets, saying his mother was expecting him for an early dinner after spending the afternoon with the Captain. Harold and Eleanor finally allowed themselves to be convinced that Blair was being left in capable hands for the time being. And they left to spend time with their significant others. So while Chuck and his family enjoyed their time alone. Serena and Lily squired Alex around the hospital. Stopping by for a quick visit with Jenny and updating her on all of that had been going on.
The girl said she hadn't spoken with her brother since earlier in the day when Serena asked. And he wasn't answering her phone calls. Earlier, she'd been too wrapped up in Blair being awake, but the more time passed, the more worried she was getting. She'd have to call Nate. She didn't like being kept in the dark any better than her best friend, and the silence from Dan's end was starting to get more than a little scary.
"Sweetheart, are you okay?"
"Hmm, yeah. I'm fine. I'm just fine." Only she really wasn't and she worried that the same could be said for Dan.
ஐTBCஐ
A/N: Long-winded stinker, aren't I? Lol, I just couldn't stop writing…I was tempted to cut it somewhere but I didn't want another Chapter going by without B meeting her babies. So Chuck has all of his girls. Georgie's plotting deep dark things with her loverboy. Poor NV don't know how to deal with their crumbling relationship and regrets. Eleanor back and forth she goes again and again. And Dan? S is worried. Does she have reason to be? Hmm. All right. Will update as soon as possible. For now hope you guys liked this. As always let me know what you're thinking. Nothing but love guys. :D
Courtneyஐ