Disclaimer: I own nothing except a great love for CB and the many inhabitants of the UES
A/N: So here's the next chapter. It's super long and would've been way longer if Wifey hadn't spoken some sense. Meaning I'd still be writing on and on otherwise and you wouldn't be able to read it. So yay Wifey. Please forgive any mistakes or grammar faux pas that I may have missed in my mad rush to get this posted. One more day a new ep. :yay: Again your words and thoughts always mean a lot to me. Love you guys. Much love to all my girls and big kiss to my Wifey and our Baby D.
Chapter 18ஐ
Hands shoved in his pockets, Chuck watched the floors zoom by on his ride back up to Blair's hospital room. He wondered how Serena was faring with Blair and her three Dads…and Eleanor. That woman was coming back to New York. God help them all. Chuck still wasn't sure how he felt about her news.
Blair would love having her mother in her life. He was grateful for having Lily to turn to. Lily and Dorota both, actually, during those moments when he hadn't a fucking clue what the hell he was doing. He was glad for that first year that they'd still lived at the Van der Bass apartment.
Between taking over his father's company, Blair's coma, and being responsible for those two innocent little babies. More than once his father's doubts and Eleanor's words over those first few months of Kat and Evie's lives, would loop in his head. Making him unsure of every step. Making him doubt and second guess until he was sick of himself.
His father's final absolution, putting his beloved company in Chuck's control had gone a long way, healing old scars and insecurities but Eleanor's words would rip them anew. He hated her for that. For keeping him away from Blair. For Evie being away from the family that loved and wanted her for those first few months of her life. He hated for the firsts in his daughter's life that he'd missed. Everytime Kat had done something new…smiling or okay so maybe she'd just been passing gas, but she'd looked up with those sweet brown eyes, the sweet smell of milk and baby powder on her soft skin. He'd hold their oldest daughter, awed and hurt because he couldn't do the same with their little Evie.
Blair would hate her mother if she ever knew. It'd break her heart to know how Eleanor had taken and how she'd given up all hope. A part of Chuck wished like hell that she'd go back to London and never come back, but he knew that would hurt Blair just as much as the truth would.
The elevator dinged, opening onto Blair's floor. He maneuvered around the others in the crowded elevator and could've sworn that one little old lady pinched him on the ass but when he looked around she seemed overly focused on cleaning dirt from beneath her nails.
He shook his head, trying not to smile.
Chuck started walking down the hallway and spotted Blair's doctor coming from her room. His first instinct was to call out. Now would be the time to have that conversation that he was dreading. Telling Blair's doc about McCarty. The truth roped his throat like a noose. He started to call out to the man as he headed off in the opposite direction.
"Hi, Daddy."
"Hi, Daddy. Bye Daddy." He heard the steady patter of running feet, more than one pair and they were coming up behind him quickly. His head whipped around and he barely got a look at two determined faces as they raced past him, their long brown curls flying in their wake and Dorota quick on their heels.
Poor Dorota raced after them, "Girls, we say no racing inside, remember. You could fall and hurt yourself."
"But it's fun." Evie called out over her shoulder, not a pause in her stride as she tried to keep up with her big sister.
"Not inside, girls." Dorota tried again, her breathing labored and expression, long suffering. "You are young ladies and young ladies do no…"
Neither of his daughters listened. Kat whooped in triumph, grinning from ear-to-ear while Evie stuck on her tongue, crossing her arms.
"You cheated." Evie accused. Chuck was too far away but he was sure he saw that jaw firm into a stubborn line and he just knew she was glaring a hole into her sister's forehead.
Kat wasn't fazed, she merely shrugged. "You looked. You shouldn't have. I won." She told her sister in a calm, even tone. One that her twin never seemed to have mastered.
Dorota interrupted before the girls could really gear up. "Kat. Evie. No more fighting. You don't want to disturb your mama, do you?"
The brewing war of wills, deflated just in that instant as they both shook their heads, dark curls framing their almost identical heart-shaped visages.
"Come. She probably already hear you." Who on the floor hadn't? "She'll be happy to see you." Dorota opened the door and ushered the two girls inside.
All the while, Chuck just stood there, not sure if he should be laughing or not.
"And they're all yours. All three of them" Another voice came from behind him. "Four counting Dorota. All that estrogen under one roof. God, at least I didn't have it that bad. I only had to deal with Mom and Serena."
Chuck turned to see his brother, shaking his head and grinning. Holding on a garment back across one arm and the squirming armful that was Alex as the little boy made his bid for freedom. The little boy tried shimmying down and out of Eric's hold.
"Yes, I seem to recall those early days."
"Sweet relief when you and Bart moved in. Seriously."
"Here, let me help you with that." Chuck made the grab for the small, squirming body as Eric tried to hold on to both the little boy and the garment back. "Got him. What's up Alex, my man?"
Alex didn't smile his usual greeting for his Uncle Chuck, instead he ordered, "Put me down. Wanna go wit Kat and EB."
"I'll take you."
"Wanna run, too." The boy said.
"All right, but you'll get in trouble with Dorota."
Now the boy grinned and nodded. "Put me down." He said again and beginning squirming in earnest, until Chuck set him on his feet. He ran off, following the path that his older cousins had taken, leaving his uncles to follow at a slower pace. Dorota stepped back into the hallway, raising an eyebrow at the laughing child.
She scooped him up and carried him inside with her.
Chuck slowed his step, "Have fun on the drive over?"
"Picture what you just witnessed in a confined space…in mid-day traffic…the day after Christmas." Eric said.
"Hey that's just a regular day…Uncle Eric." Chuck turned to his brother, eyeing the garment bag. "That for me."
Eric nodded, "Yup. As requested. A change of clothes. Your shaving kit. And I left those briefs and reports from your secretary in the limo."
"Eric, my good man. You are a lifesaver."
"I know." The younger man laughed, his expression sobering as he studied Chuck. "Listen. I, uh, I was actually wondering what type of condition I'd find you in this morning."
Chuck merely looked at him. Uncomprehending.
"Serena was out for blood last night. More specifically. Yours." Eric said, only half joking. He'd been worried half the night, wondering what was happening with his sister and the man who was his brother in everyway but through blood. Sometimes, he felt almost, if not more close to Chuck than Serena and most definitely with his own mother. He was family no matter what. "I was worried." Eric admitted.
"No need, Eric. Sis and I came to an amiable agreement. Found common ground, if you will." Chuck told him.
Eric was quiet for a moment. "You want to talk about it?"
Fuck. Not E, too. He didn't want to spin a web of half-truths with his little brother now, too. Instead he answered, "Not right now. But I promise. One of these days soon. You, me and Nathaniel are going to get sodding drunk off our asses and I'll tell you all about it."
"You sure?"
"For now. I'm sure." Please understand, Chuck willed silently.
He hated the very idea of hurting the younger man. His brother. His family. Eric, Lily, and Serena had knitted together surrounding him and supporting him when he'd wanted to push the world away. After he'd shoved away, everyone that he'd ever cared about. Everyone who'd ever given a damn about him. Once he'd come home, they didn't hold it against him. They stood by him while he ousted his traitorous uncle. They'd helped him with premmie Kat, once he finally got the go ahead to bring her home from the hospital and they were with him during the hardwon fight to track down Evie and get her back where she belonged.
Damn he didn't want to be keeping secrets from his brother and if anyone tried coming at him through the younger man, Chuck knew he'd been apt for violence.
Eric didn't demand the truth as his sister had done. He merely shrugged. "Just give me a call and I'll be there. Drinks on you, of course."
"Of course."
"So I take it from the pile of work that you had your secretary amass and the extra clothes…that you'll be spending another night in Blair's room."
"You'd be right." Chuck quickened his step, suddenly anxious to shave the dark stubble from his jaw and slip on something that wasn't wrinkled beyond all redemption. He could shower in Blair's postage stamp of a bathroom. He was smiling when he walked into the room, but wariness crept up on him when he saw that it was just Blair and Serena. Or at least it had been before Dorota and the children descended.
Blair watched him, her expression unreadable. But then she smiled, scooting over on the bed. Her expression becoming pained, she brought a hand to the soft curve of her ass.
"What's wrong?" The fresh surge of lust took a backseat to worry. Chuck shoved the garment bag back at his brother and hurried over to her.
"Nothing. I'm perfectly fine." She told him.
Serena snorted, earning a death glare from Blair and a look of pure interest and speculation from Chuck.
"Sis. Something I need to know about?"
She answered after a pointed look from Blair that completely belied the shake of that blonde head. "Nope." Serena said, trying not to smile.
"See. Now come sit down beside me." Blair moved again, only more gingerly this time, leaving him space for him. The room filled with the sound of activity and laughter from the girls who played with their little cousin. "Oh my God." She pulled Chuck down beside her and out of her line of vision and then she was reaching across him. "Eric!!"
Chuck tried to lean back as far back against the pillow as he could as the two proceeded to sandwich him between them, tears and smiles passing between them.
"It's good to see you, Blair." Eric pulled. "You just have no idea."
"Maybe an inkling. But it's good to see you, too." She ruffled his blond hair. "God look at you. You got tall. How'd you get tall? Are you wearing lifts or something?" She laughed, "God, you were always cute but look at you."
"Blair, I'm still gay, you know." Eric joked, "But keep the flattery coming."
She was glad to see him, but it was as bittersweet as everything else.
Another testament of lost time. He wasn't her little Eric anymore. Serena's sweet little brother, constantly underfoot. He'd had a late growth sprout, as tall as his Amazon of a sister. Well not quite but his shoulders were broader and pale blond bristles covered the line of his jaw in a light beard.
Blair didn't realize that she'd been squeezing Chuck's hand until he squeezed back in one…two quick pulses. She smiled at him, bringing his hand to her mouth for a quick kiss. She didn't miss the looks exchanged by Serena and Eric. Or the one that had passed between Chuck and Serena. Blair poked him in the side. "So, Bass. Where's Natie?"
"I honestly haven't a clue." Sure he was probably riding with Humphrey to the Palace or stopping at the hotel first for his things. Chuck couldn't be very sure.
"Listen, B. Catch up with Dorota. Talk to Eric and the girls. I'm going to get cleaned up."
Blair watched him for a moment, then she nodded. "I wasn't going to say anything, but that might not be such a bad idea." She wrinkled her nose at his unusually unkempt appearance, plucking at the wrinkled fabric of his dress shirt.
"Your candor is appreciated as always, Waldorf." He brushed a quick kiss across the soft plane of her cheek, then nuzzling his stubble covered jaw, gently scrapping. "Be good, okay? Dorota, tell B about your new boyfriend. He works for the Afflecks."
"Oh, really?" Blair's attention went to her maid's reddened cheeks. "And here I always thought you had a crush on Arthur." Dorota's eyes widened and she glanced away, just not quickly enough for Blair to miss the telling look in her eyes. Ohmigod. Arthur and Dorota. And she'd missed it.
Chuck grabbed the garment bag up and hurried for the bathroom before Blair could get distracted from her little interrogation.
"Miss Blair, you no want to hear about that. Very boring. The girls want to show you…they read your favorite book. Well, they make up story from pictures…but they know some words, too." He heard the maid say as she gathered her charges and pushed them at their mother. Panic lost out to the pride in her voice as she told Blair, "They are top of their class."
"Their kindergarten class." Chuck couldn't resist calling over his shoulder, grinning. Dorota made it sound as if they'd skipped grade school and were working on their Senior thesis.
"Advance curriculum, Mr. Chuck. My girls…very smart." He could almost feel the glare searing the back of his spine, her accent becoming more pronounced as it was wont to do when she was feeling irritated with him.
Laughing he let himself into the little closet that doubled for a bathroom. He glanced around and made a face at the poor excuse for a shower inside. Chuck was definitely going to have to see about at least getting her moved to a bigger room…something if she was staying…if they were staying until Chambers and company cleared her transfer.
~ஐ~
Nate glared at the back of Dan's head, as the other man stared outside, his nose all but pressed up against the glass. Their cabbie was as quiet as she'd been over the past hour and a half, content—for the moment—with the two hundred dollars that Nate had shoved at her. Granted the cabbie hadn't been jazzed about driving all the hell over New Jersey with no clear destination in mind and Nate was sure that she would hit them up for more cash before they made it out of that backseat.
What the fuck had he let himself be talked into? Nate wondered not for the first time since embarking on their fruitless mission for the surviving family members of Richard Franklin. He couldn't believe that Chuck's father wouldn't have covered his tracks and just moved the entire damn family to the other side of the world. Still, Humphrey had a point. This had to be the missing link…Dan hadn't been attacked for nothing yesterday.
"This is it. I'm sure of it." Dan banged lightly against the door, laughing in triumph.
Nate wasn't impressed, "Yeah, really? You're sure."
"Definitely."
"Okay. But you said the same about the past three houses…"
Dan glanced around. His excitement dimming somewhat as he tried to concentrate. The latter hours of the previous day were still fuzzy as hell, but he tried to push past the haze. He looked at the other houses, sidewalks shoveled neatly…as a matter of fact…they were all neat and clean of the blanket of snow that he remembered his boots crunching across, as he tried getting into the house from the file…that house? He was almost sure of it. His eyes fell on the wreath on one of the neighboring door and then to the van parked pulling in to the driveway across the street. Bumper stickers littered the back end, one proclaiming that "My cat's smarter than your Honor Student Congressman." Did he remember that from yesterday? He did…didn't he?
The woman getting out of the van glanced at the cab and it's occupants with a curious expression.
"I'm going to talk to her." Dan said, reaching for the handle.
"What?" Nate stopped him. "What do you mean 'talk to her'?"
"Exactly what I said. Look all this aimless driving around has gotten us nowhere so far. I'm pretty sure that this is the place."
"It looks deserted." Nate said.
Dan frowned. "Who shoveled the sidewalk?"
"The neighbors."
"Look, let me talk to her and then I promise we're out of here." Dan said, turning to get out and finding the space where the woman had been standing empty and the front door of her close just closing. "Come on…you can flash your badge."
"Yeah, so it can get back to my Lieutenant and Miller that I was out here with you. No thanks." He said but found himself starting from the car as well to follow Dan who was already out of the car without a backward glance. Nate paused turning to the cabbie, "We won't be long. Stick around and there's another hundred in it for you."
The young woman thought it over before holding out her hand.
"No way. Not until we come back out."
She looked him over, her dark eyes filled with interest. "Fine, but I want half now and maybe we can hook up later for a drink."
Nate found her cute enough with her cap of shirt, spiky brown hair and full lips. Chuck's earlier words echoed in his ears of leaving behind self-pity and indulging in the "pleasurable distraction" of meaningless sex. He felt tempted by the momentary lure. But he needed more than a distraction from the disaster area that his life had become. He knew Chuck meant well but he'd been blind not to notice that his best friend…the original playboy of the UES hadn't exactly been practicing what he was preaching in quite a longtime.
Nate cleared his throat, "Just the ride tonight. Thanks." He flashed the wedding band that he still hadn't taken off. At least the thing still had some uses. He grabbed fresh bills from his wallet. Before handing them over, he tore the bills in half.
"Hey!" She stared at him open-mouthed as he literally dropped half of the bills into the palm of her hand.
"Stick around and the rest is all yours." He pocketed what he hadn't given her and left to follow Humphrey who was already standing outside the screen door. He shook his head as he got closer and caught the tail end of the bull Dan was feeding to the incredulous woman looking at them.
"…our old college roommate, Charlie Trout. I could've sworn that this was the address." Dan pointed to the house across the street. "I left the paper with the address back our hotel."
The woman raised a brow, giving them another "once over." "Your hotel. I see." She looked back and forth between the two young men, her eyes speculative and the tension seeming flow from her as she seemed to feel more comfortable. As if they represented less of a threat.
Nate went with it, threading his arm through Dan's, inconspicuously grinding his foot into Dan's when he started to pull away. "He's so forgetful. I told him three times to grab the paper off of the nightstand. Men." Nate smiled boyishly, trying to appear as harmless as possible.
She smiled at Nate, waving off Dan. "Of course. Charlie Trout, did you say?"
Fighting the urge to roll his eyes, Nate smiled toothily. "Yeah, good old Charlie."
"Is he…uh." She motioned back and forth between Nate and Dan. "Did one of you date this Charlie Trout?"
Dan sighed, leaning forward as if in confidence, "Actually, he" He tipped his head toward Nate, "and Charlie have quite the colorful history. But we've put that behind us and we're all great friend again. Right, honey?...Honey."
"Right. Great friends." Nate said trying not to grit his teeth, "That's part of the reason why this visit today is so important. Reconnecting and all…"
Dan coughed, covering choked laughter.
"And of course we don't have the paper with the address and going on his memory has gotten us nowhere. Charlie said that he was staying with his cousins the Franklins."
"Hmm, now that's strange."
"Not the Franklin house, is it?" Nate cursed silently.
The woman frowned, "Actually, the Franklins have owned that house forever but no the strange part is that no one's actually lived there in almost five years. The old woman got too sick to be able to stay their on her own and her damn children were off living their own lives by then. Last I heard, they put her in a home up in Buffalo."
"Wait this is the house? The Franklins?" Nate asked, stepping away from Dan, forgetting their ruse for the moment.
That distrust began seeping back into her expression, "Yes, it is. Strange coincidence. Your friend Charlie…he's staying with folk with the same name. I don't think I know anyone else around here with that name and I know pretty much everybody." She latched the flimsy lock on her screen door and aimed an accusing look between them. "You two are about as much of a couple as me and my cat. What the hell are you two playing at?"
Dan held up his hands, "No games. We honestly are looking for the Franklins."
"I think you two ought to leave before I call the police." She said, "You two are up to nothing good. Charlie Trout." She harrumphed at the last.
"But…" Dan started forward.
Nate interrupted, "That won't be necessary. We're leaving. Thank you." He and Dan walked away before she had the chance to change her mind about calling in the NJPD.
"Wait. She was going to tell us." Dan trudged away from the door, keeping up despite his desire to turn back around and demand all the answers that the woman could give them.
"She's not going to tell us anything else." Nate told him, "Charlie Trout? Dan, really? You couldn't come up with a better cover story?"
"You were certainly running away with it, honey." Dan grinned, reaching out to pinch Nate's cheek in a playful manner.
Nate swatted at his hand and slipped back into the cab. "At least the trip wasn't completely wasted. We got confirmation that this was the house you found yesterday."
"Which I already assured you of."
"Sorry, but your memory of yesterday's events has been less than trustworthy. Come on, we'd better get you back to the Palace and get you settled." He reached into his pockets for the torn bills as Dan slammed the door shut. Nate leaned forward and held out the bills for their driver. "Thanks for waiting."
"No problem," She said, politely. Her eyes meeting his in the rearview mirror. The flirtatious light in her dark eyes was gone and in its place was pure speculation as she looked between Nate and Dan.
Oh…that was great. Just fucking great. First the Franklins' neighbor pegged them for a couple and now the hot cabdriver who'd wanted to "have drinks" or provide that "pleasurable distraction" Chuck had spoken of, was looking at him as if he'd imagined the entire flirtatious exchange.
Smiling, he said, "Listen. About what you said before. Drinks definitely sound like a good idea."
She looked away, seeming fully intent on the stretch of road ahead.
He heard Dan's smothered chuckle and glared at the other man.
Dan shrugged. He mouthed. "Your fault."
"Um.." Nate was at a loss as he turned back to her. Trying to meet the dark eyes, studiously avoiding his in the rearview. "Actually, about what you saw before…"
"Hey, I see and hear a lot of crazy shit in this cab. You don't have to explain anything to me." Her mouth curved into a smile, but she still didn't meet his eyes. "You and your boyfriend have a right to your lives. I'm a strong believer in that." She told him. "And cutie that you are, I'm just not into threesomes. Sorry."
This time Dan couldn't hold back the laughter choking him and it filled the cab. The driver shrugged and turned up her radio, leaving Nate to settle back against the seat. Well, damn.
~ஐ~
Freshly shaven and hair still damp from his shower, Chuck felt a million times better once he stepped out of the bathroom adjoining Blair's hospital room. He'd exchanged his clothes from yesterday with those that his brother had picked up from the apartment.
His girls looked up, approval in their eyes.
Kat nodded.
"Much better, Daddy." Evie smiled, giving him the A-Ok sign.
His eyes went to his other girl. Her brown eyes looked him over, missing nothing of his appearance. "I don't know, sweetie. There was something disreputable about Daddy all wrinkled and stubbled." Blair's mouth curved, her eyes dancing as they met his.
"What's disrep…hmm." Kat frowned, ever curious.
Sexy. Brooding. Smirking. Chuck Bass. Blair didn't say any of that. With concentrated effort she forced herself to look at from that face. He waited as expectantly as the girls. She looked at Kat. "Disreputable…and I promise…Mommy will explain in a few years."
She'd never really been able to talk to Eleanor when it came to boys. Though for years they'd both had it all planned out. Nate and the Vanderbilt were the "happily ever after" that she'd written out for herself. Eleanor had been content to have Blair out of her hair while she buried herself in Waldorf Designs and her social circles.
Blair had no intention of letting her relationship with her daughters ever becoming like the one she had with Eleanor. Granted she'd let them have their own lives and wouldn't be overly interfering but she'd be better than Eleanor had been. It was already better. She couldn't ever remember curling up beside her mother…reading to her or having her do the same. It was her second waking day, and she was already ahead by miles.
"Can't we know now?" Evie said.
"Yes, Mommy. Tell us all now just what you meant." Chuck came to sit down beside her. The twins, listened intently from their spots at the foot of the bed. Chuck lowered his voice, "Tell you what, Waldorf. Why don't you just whisper it in my ear and then…"
"Tell you what, Bass…why don't you wait and in a few years we can have a talk with the girls about the birds and the bees and disreputable young men."
Serena and Eric both snorted, laughing and Dorota wrung her hands, looking back and forth between Blair and Chuck.
"B, guess you and Chuck didn't have that talk yet. He's declared the girls single for life." Serena informed her best friend.
"He did, did he? Interesting." Blair shook her head, "Good luck with that one, Bass."
"Luck will be wholly unnecessary. Trust me." Chuck gritted his teeth, his jaw flexing.
His expression was so cute and obstinate that Blair couldn't resist teasing the notorious womanizer and now father of not one but two daughters. Karma was quite the bitch when she wanted to be. He was thinking ahead, making plans for an all out lockdown and the girls weren't even out of kindergarten yet. God, this was certainly going to be an experience and a half, she smiled inwardly, contemplating the future and raising their little girls. Together.
No matter what they decided about being together or not being together. They were both responsible for making decisions and protecting their little Kat and Evie. That was one bond never to be broken. The very idea warmed her, filling up a place that had been so empty during the span of her pregnancy. Surrounded by her family and his, but missing…him.
Meeting his eyes, she wondered, "So what's the plan, Bass? Are you going to lock them in their rooms or…no wait. I know, have Dorota playing chaperone and bodyguard?"
"Well…" Chuck murmured.
"Oh my God. " Blair laughed, "Um, you do remember how these two were…um.." She lowered her voice, not wanting to invite another questions from the twins. She finished, "conceived."
Apparently she hadn't spoken low enough to escape a scandalized, "Miss Blair!" from Dorota, which had the Van der Woodsen siblings falling into a fresh bout of laughter.
Blair rolled her eyes, meeting her maid's narrowed eyes. "What…come on. Theirs wasn't exactly a Virgin birth."
"Far from if I recall correctly," Chuck's hushed tones poured over, sexy and smirking, making her shiver. "And boy do I …in vivid detail."
Her eyes darted back to his, and read the memories of that night. Their night together in the limo after the Snowflake Ball. Blair's breath caught in her throat.
Eric interrupted, smiling despite his words. "Guys dial it back, will you?"
Blair cleared her throat, pretending for all she was worth that if they had been alone, that she wouldn't be all over him. And by the look in his eyes, the Basstard knew it quite well. Fine. "Remember it well do you?"
"Yessss." His smirking answer tickled her ear.
"Seriously, you two. A room. Get one. Now."
Ignoring her best friend, she turned on Chuck, triumph warring with desire. "Good then you understand my point."
"No." He retorted. "You just made mine. They won't be riding alone in the backs of limos with randy little boys. Dorota…"
"Seemed to have no luck in keeping you from sneaking into my room at odd hours of the night."
"Well, what can I say…Dorota always did have a soft spot for me." Chuck said.
"Actually, Miss Blair leave orders that you…"
Eyes wide, Blair swung around to face her maid who appeared instantly contrite under the heavy weight of her mistress' brown eyes.
Chuck latched on, pinning Dorota with his own stare, rife with speculation and laughter, "Miss Blair ordered that I what…"
"Nothing." Dorota stammered, smiling nervously as Blair motioned for her to zip it and Chuck urged her on. "Pssh…nothing?" She offered.
"Yes… nothing is right." Blair said.
Chuck ignored her, "Now, Dorota. Let's not forget that you work for me now. I pay your salary these days. Not your precious 'Miss Blair'."
The change in the maid was instantaneous. The meek, differential expression and her normally placid demeanor fell away as her head shot up. Eyes blazing. Finger pointing in Chuck's direction. She started firing off at in her native Polish tongue.
Fuck. Waves upon waves of irate, insulted Polish rolled over him, reminding him of his intentions to brush up on the language…a decision he'd made the very last time that the woman had decided to take out a piece of his hide.
He held up his hands in mock surrender, he glanced at the twin girls who'd been watching the byplay between them all like some great tennis match—their brown eyes bouncing back and forth, comprehending little of t he very grown up conversation. They did, however, understand when Daddy crossed Dorota and they were loving every second of the fallout. Their Uncle and Aunt right along with them. "Now, Dorota."
She didn't stop, instead she paced, ranting to the heavens. "Miss Blair." and heated glances in his direction thrown in every now and again.
"Nice work." Blair flashed him a self-satisfied glance. Her eyes widened now and again at the maid went on.
"What's she saying?" He demanded.
Blair cleared her throat, "You really don't want to know, Bass. Hmm. Um. Dorota. I'm sure that's not what Chuck meant at all and he's very sorry. Aren't you, Bass?" She elbowed him.
Rubbing his side, Chuck nodded, "Of course."
The plump, red-faced maid pinned him with a hard glare, "You pay for salary but I work always for Miss Blair."
"Noted." He said, after Blair elbowed him again.
Then and only then did Dorota smile at him again, hiding behind that placid and differing mask. The woman was a hardass of the first order. "Good."
With the entertaining show that their Daddy and Dorota had been putting on for the so obliviously over, the girls piped up. Or Evie did claiming her parents' attention as she latched on to one of the few things about the adults' conversation that hadn't gone completely over her head.
"We're getting a room? Where? Are we going to visit Grandpa Harold again in France." The girl said.
Her sister's eyes went wide and then she smiled, "I call the window seat."
Chuck rolled his eyes. Damn and here we go.
"Nah-uh."
"Yea-huh." You got to seat there last time when Daddy took us to…" Kat turned to Chuck. "Where was it? You 'member…with the ladies in the colorful robes."
Blair raised a brow at that.
"Simmer down, Waldorf. It was Kyoto and I took the girls with me before school started." Chuck said, "I had business and wanted them with me. Evie, why would we fly to see Grandpa when he's here right now to see us?"
Evie tapped her mouth, thinking on it before nodding. "Okay…but what did Auntie S mean…"
"Auntie S was being silly, weren't you Serena?" Blair said.
"Better silly than inappropriate in front of the K-I-D-S." Serena retorted, lightly.
"And you and inappropriate are old friends." Blair responded, her tone overly sweet.
"Ladies, please." Chuck said.
Eric sat on the sidelines with Alex, who'd yet to do more than climb from his mother's lap to his Uncle's, peeking around at Blair with wary, but curious eyes. She offered him a genuine smile, waving and he buried his face in his Uncle's neck.
"Can we stay here tonight, too?" Kat asked. If they weren't going on a trip, then a sleepover would do.
The child's words reminded Blair of her own ideas on the subject the night before. She turned on the man beside her with pleading eyes, "Chuck."
"Good idea." Evie agreed, evidently over her earlier disagreement with her sister which was their way. Fight now. Play later. Play now. Fight later. Join forces against Daddy when they wanted their way. He knew the routine well enough.
"We'll be really, really good.
"Good girls…young ladies." Kat nodded, inspired by the light scolding from Dorota earlier in the elevator.
"And lots quiet." Evie promised, "Please, Daddy."
"Please. Please. Please."
All three of his girls smiled, their eyes demanding that he make it happen. He began to waver, "I don't know…I might not be able to get around the docs. You saw your doctor earlier when they found me in here this morning. Adding the girls into our little sleepover might rock the boat a little much."
Serena's brow furrowed and she met Blair's eye. "I don't know, Chuck. Maybe B can put in a good word or two with Dr. Will."
"Enough, Serena."
"Who's Dr. Will?" Chuck was asking.
"It doesn't matter. I'm sure that between us we can do some fast talking and get some extra beds…ooh…no…tents and a sleeping bag." Blair clamped her hands in excitement. "Serena can stay, too and Dorota…"
The maid made a pleased sound. "Oh, Miss Blair."
But Serena didn't sound very excited.
"Come on, S. We'd have a good time. We can do one another's nails and hair and watch movies."
The girls were all for that.
Chuck shook his head, "Be serious, Waldorf. This is a hospital. Not one of your annual slumber…"
"Soirees..they weren't slumber parties…they were soirees." She interrupted.
"Sorry. You know what I mean, though." Chuck said. "You can soiree to your heart's content when you get home."
Blair's heart stuttered at his words. Or that word. Home. So casually spoken. What home? With him and the kids? With her mother? "Um, well."
"Yay. When do you come home, Mommy?" Kat wanted to know, the wheels already turning in her head as she picked out and plotted all the things she'd show her mother once they got back to the apartment.
"You can sleep in our room." Evie said.
Blair didn't look at Chuck. She felt no stiffening or sudden tension in him at the implication of her coming home with them. What if she was wrong, though? Blair cleared her throat, "Um, well. Daddy and I will need to discuss a few things before we settle on anything."
Now she felt the tension, leech into him as he swung his head around and he frowned at her in confusion. "What's to discuss?"
"Well, earlier when my mother and I were talking…"
Serena cleared her throat loudly, almost as if in warning.
Blair was too intent on the change…the darkening in Chuck's expression as he waited for her to continue. Even Dorota shifted uncomfortably as if she knew what was coming. "It was just…she told me that I was always welcome to stay with she and Cyrus at their new apartment…if I wanted."
"Uh-oh." Eric murmured, and the adults in the room all fell quiet, as if waiting.
For what Blair really wasn't certain. Except, Chuck was doing that clenching his jaw thing which both annoyed and turned her on. Something was definitely up. "Um, guys. What?"
"So your mother…she asked you to come stay with her, did she?" Chuck voice was low and she didn't like the dangerous glint in his eyes. What the hell was going on with everyone?
"Yes, she did. But only after I told her that we hadn't really talked about it or decided anything." Blair defended her mother.
Eric was on his feet. "Kat. Evie. Why don't you guys come with me and we'll find…um…"
"Gift shop." Dorota was moving as well. "We can get surprise for your mama."
"I should come with you. Let's go Alex."
"Stay." The little boy shook his head, watching with rapt attention at the glaring match that had broken out between Chuck and Blair.
Eric shook his head, "Trust Uncle Eric. You don't really want to see this."
The room cleared out with the two estranged lovers barely being aware.
Chuck broke silence first, "So are you saying that you want to move in with your mother?"
"Of course that's not what I meant or said. Don't put words in my mouth, Basshole."
"Sorry, but that's what it certainly sounded like to me."
Blair's smile was anything but sweet, edging into lethal as she said "Good thing we're in the hospital then, isn't it. You can ask Dr. Will to check your ears for you."
Another mention of this Dr. Will. What the hell? Was she talking about that old fart Reeves who'd taken care of her after being admitted for the heartache. Or was she talking about Chambers…yes he remember seeing William on all the sheepskin lining the guy's office. Since when had Chambers gone from being Sir Ridiculous as she'd dubbed him the day before to Dr. Will.
He was going to ask, but her next words drove all thoughts of everything but her as she look up at him with that furious expression and guarded eyes that hid so many insecurities. She hugged her arms around her middle, making him want to replace them with his own.
"What are you doing, Bass?" She asked quietly, "Are you intentionally picking a fight so that I won't want to move in with you?"
Chuck scratched his ear, "Are you picking a fight so that you don't have to move in?"
"I asked you first, Bass."
"Answer me and I'll return the favor, Waldorf."
"Schoolhouse rules. Chuck!"
That was more like it he thought as she was back to glaring at him. He couldn't have helped his next actions even it he'd wanted to. It was as natural to him as breathing or smiling at her. His mouth curved and he cupped her cheek. "Fine. Here's my answer. Do I want you to come home with me?" He leaned forward and brushed his mouth against hers in the softest of kisses. "More than anything. Come." He opened his eyes, their noses grazing and her eyelids drooping and drugged.
"Hmm? Guess there's only one thing to be said in the face of that kind of request." She whispered.
"Yeah?"
Blair nodded. She pulled him close, hands buried in the hair at the nape of his neck. Her kiss wasn't soft but demanded. Unsatisfied by the tiny taste that he'd teased her with.
"Slow down, Waldorf."
"Not on your life." Blair told him.
Chuck pulled back despite her best efforts to hold him to her. "Hey. I'm not going anywhere and we've got all the time we could want now. Okay."
"Yes, but why waste any of it. The kids'll be back soon enough with Serena and the others. We can let Dorota practice being chaperone after that."
"Good point. She's got a lot of areas to improve on. They're not dating ever. No cotillions. No movie dates."
"Poor Chuck. We'll get through it…let's enjoy them for now. Enjoy this for now."
Chuck nodded, "I always knew you were one smart lady."
"I don't know about that. I got involved with you, didn't I?"
"Best move you ever made."
"Are you going to stop talking at any point and kiss me again because quite frank…" Blair words melted away, swept into oblivion by the gentle lap of Chuck's tongue, inviting her to savor that remembered taste of him.
God, but she'd missed this. Stop thinking so much and enjoy she commanded herself…kids…Serena…anyone coul…hmm. What had…it didn't matter. Nothing matter except the man wrapping her close.
~ஐ~
She was tired of her own company and with Serena's words playing a loop in her head and echoing in every corner of the house, Vanessa ending up on her sister's doorstep. Ready with a long overdue apology and looking for a shoulder to cry on.
Vanessa couldn't help laughing when her sister ended up echoing Serena's sentiments. Well minus the slap across the face. Vanessa's sister told her to come clean with Nate. If they had any chance of trying to come back from this disaster then she couldn't hold back. She'd have to tell him about Carter. Her insecurities. His grandfather.
By the time, Vanessa arrived at the Brownstone later in the day, she felt better. Her burden not completely gone but less than that suffocating weight that had seemed to have taken up permanent residence on her chest.
She didn't even blink twice when the text messages came through from Carter, wanting to know where she was. Vanessa didn't them without answering. Without even feeling tempted to answer him and allow herself to be seduced back into his bed. Another side effect of the truth coming out, that strange lure Carter seemed to have was losing it power over her.
Feeling better about herself and what had to be done, Vanessa let herself into the brownstone. She dropped her keys into the dish. She sighed, feeling the emptiness of the house settle in around her. It wasn't the end of the world she told herself.
"Late night?"
Vanessa's head came around, the nerve she'd been working up for the better part of the day shrank away to less than nothing. "Nate."
He leaned in the entranceway, the dormant fireplace cold and empty behind him.
Nate had arrived at the brownstone less than a hour earlier. Prepared to give Vanessa the silent treatment. Prepared to let her know just how much he hated her for breaking their love into a thousand pieces. His plans had been for nothing. When he'd arrived to the empty house, he'd felt the vicious swipe of jealousy across his chest.
His first thoughts had been that she'd spent the night with her boyfriend, whoever the bastard was, but then he remembered the Lieu and Miller's early morning visit.
That one thing shouldn't have made him feel better—except it had.
"I was at my sister's." Vanessa said
Her words making his knotted insides further loosen and offer relief that Nate didn't want to feel. He glared at her, "Is that code for 'just finished fucking my boyfriend'. I'm still learning these things, so you'll need to break it down for me."
"Nate, I was at my sister's. Here you want to call her…" She started to reach for her cellphone but thought better of letting him get his hands on it. With the way her luck had been going lately, Carter would take that exact moment to send another one of his text messages. Her hand settled on the cellphone in her pocket as if it would vibrate any minute her "nuisance" conjured by the very thought or suspicion. Nothing happened, though.
Nate was watching her as if he didn't know what to make of her.
"Call her." She repeated, glancing pointedly at the cordless phone sitting beside her housekeys.
He shook his head, backing away when she grabbed up the cordless phone and held it out to him. "You know what? At this point…it doesn't even matter. I don't give a damn where you were…who you were with, Vanessa."
"Nate." She sighed, "I don't want to fight with you."
"I'm not looking for one. I just came to pick up the rest of my stuff." He said, motioning to the bags sitting at the foot of the stairs. He'd brought down every single bag that he'd packed after first moving in with Chuck. Those bags had been her misery and her solace. Partly gone and broken away from her but still there. He hadn't been able to leave her, not really. Now he was there to finish it.
Nate watched her eyes flash to his luggage. Damn he should've just left right out the minute he'd gotten all of his shit from upstairs. But somehow he'd stayed. Not waiting for her. He wouldn't have done that, but he'd ended up in the livingroom. The scene of his unwarranted assault on Dan.
Before he'd heard her key in the front door, he'd been standing in front of the cold grate of the fire place. Nate wasn't sure how in the hell long he'd just stood there, looking into the empty space. He'd pocketed the silver spoon that he wouldn't let her rescue from last night's flames. The damn thing hadn't melted a bit. Sure it was black with ash and soot but a good cleaning would make it shine as it had before.
Too bad the same couldn't be said for his marriage. For his heart.
With Serena and her sister's words ringing in her ears, Vanessa dragged her eyes away from the bags to Nate's face. It was really done. They were over. Why bring Carter in now. What was the point? Serena wouldn't really tell him…she couldn't. They were already broken beyond repair and the blonde wouldn't really want her old friend hurt anymore than he already was.
Nate cleared his throat. "I moved out of Chuck's…I'm at the Palace…so if you happen to any more early morning visits from the people I work with…don't send'em to the apartment."
"Is everything okay? With work I mean…they really surprised me turning up like that…" She said, her thoughts slipping from their personal hell. Happy for the distraction.
At first she was sure that he wouldn't answer. "Everything's fine."
"They asked about Dan? And the mugging…did you ask your friends to look in things."
"Not really. Guess they're doing it on their own. I'd better go." He turned on his heel and hefted as much as he could carry at once, straps hanging over his shoulders and white-knuckled hands fisted around handles. Nate started around her still form.
Not bothering to turn and watch him go, Vanessa closed her eyes. Don't Go. Don't Go. Dontgodontgodontgodontgo. She silently begged. She prayed. She waited for the sound of the bags to hit the floor or the deadbolt being disengaged.
"Nate." She whispered, her voice paper-thin and unrecognizable to her own ears. Don't go. Please. She wanted to say. She fought the words to make them come. Her eyes squeezed shut she listened to the harsh sound of their breathing filling up the silence in the room. "I'm sorry. You have no idea how sorry." She said.
His voice was thick when he said, "Yeah, me too." He cleared his throat, once…twice. "I'll contact my lawyer once he gets back to the city with his family. You'll get to keep the house…and I'll make sure you're taken care of…"
Oh, of course. Leave it to him to bring it down to the almighty dollar. God, she didn't want anything from him. She could just hear his grandfather, telling Nate just how right he'd been about her after all. "If you could hear yourself right now..."
Silence fell between them for the briefest of seconds. Vanessa's breath clogged in her throat as she waited and then he was doing it. He was moving. The tread of his footsteps carrying him away from her. Vanessa turned around, watching as he started to leave. "Nate, wait. Don't go." There she'd said it. Relief didn't come with her words because she knew what needed to be said next.
He turned to faced her, expression wary. "What are you going to apologize again? Do you really want empty words? Do you just want to hear me say that I forgive you…because believe me…forgiveness is the last thing I'm feeling, Vanessa."
"I know." It hurt but she could accept that. Maybe he'd never be able to forget what she'd done. Let alone forgive. But he should know it all. Vanessa dragged in a deep breath. "We still need to talk."
"God," Nate rolled his eyes, remembering his earlier conversation with Dan outside the hospital. "What the hell is going on with people today? I don't want to talk. We've said everything there is to say…or rather…I did all the talking and compromising when you went off and brought someone else into our marriage."
"If you don't want to talk that's fine…but listen. I need to talk to you. I need to tell you…"
"That you're sorry. Yeah, we covered that."
"Would you stop interrupting me and let me tell you?" Her shoulders squared and intentions in her eyes, Vanessa took a step forward. "You want to hear this…"
Or maybe he didn't but she had to tell him. Here went nothing.
~ஐ~
Even after years of having Kat and Evie in his life, Chuck was always learning something new when it came to them and being their father. Case and point. When you were rock hard and wanted nothing more than to be making love to the woman who owned you body and soul, that was probably about the time when the heat of the moment would be doused in the cold, harsh reality of time and place.
Only it wasn't his daughters' small tones that piped up. Chuck wasn't sure how much time had passed. The world around them had no longer mattered, ceased to exist beyond Blair's hands buried in his hair and relearning the taste and feel of one another. A forceful clearing of the throat broke into their bubble of place out of time.
They ignored it, too wrapped up in one another. Too much to make up for.
It was Dorota's scandalized "Miss Blair" that finally forced the couple to come up for air.
Chuck closed his eyes, his forehead against Blair's. God, he'd forgotten what particularly bad timing the woman had. He supposed the habit could be taken as a point in his favor years from now. Operative words being "years from now."
Catching her own breath, Blair met Chuck's eyes and mentally willed her beloved maid to disappear. Five more minutes. Ten at most. That was all she needed. That would do for now.
"Blair, really." Eleanor's voice had them both groaning and rolling their eyes.
He pulled away first, making a slow withdrawal as he turned to see a mostly different welcoming party than the one that'd walked in on their sleeping forms, curled into one another that morning.
Cyrus and Harold both had one of the twins, the older men looking winded as if they'd just sprinted down the hallway with Evie and Kat on their backs. Chuck was more than certain that this was the case. Dorota, censorship and a warring softness in her expression, was trying to cover the twins' eyes from their parents' "lively" display.
"Oh, to be young again." Cyrus said, his eyes dancing merrily. "Leave them be, dear. As the great scribe so aptly put it, 'Absence from those we love is self from self—deadly banishment'."
"Darling, really. Now is not the time to be spouting poetry or…" She looked back at Chuck and Blair who'd were sitting up, hands unconsciously creeping together, fingers threaded and joined. "Or displays like the one we just walked in on."
Chuck couldn't help the smirk curling his lip. "Sorry, if we offend delicate sensibilities. We were just celebrating and I suppose…we may have gotten carried away." He shrugged, his expression and manner casual. From the corner of his eyes his tracked every nuance of Eleanor's expression. He spotted the immediate wash of curiosity at his words.
"Celebrating?" She murmured, her eyes sweeping back and forth between the couple and their joined hands. "Mind sharing with the rest of us…"
"Well, it's nothing really." Blair shrugged, ignorant of the undercurrents flowing between Chuck and her mother. "Mom, I know we were talking earlier about the possibility of my moving in with you and Cyrus after I get out of the hospital."
"You did?" Harold's eyes narrowed at that, shooting to Eleanor's face. She held his gaze, but had to look away, focusing on nothing and no one beyond her daughter's unguarded enthusiasm.
"Yes," Blair nodded, "But Chuck and I were talking and we thought that it would be better if I moved in with him and the girls."
The girls whooped excited to hear that they'd have their mother living with them. Their reaction making Blair feel even happier than she had over the past twenty minutes, though being with Chuck was different all together. The fact that these two children seemed to so readily accept her…to love her…was a high, an elation that she'd never known. Her shoulder brushing against Chuck's and the warmth of his hand wrapped around hers, Blair was beyond happy. She frowned surveying the people standing before her. They were all there…the people she loved most in the world. Well except Natie…and wait. Where was S.
"Eric, where's Serena?" She asked.
"Oh," Eric looked up blinking his eyes as if his thoughts had been consumed by something else entirely.
Blair frowned wondering if all was well with the younger man. Had he and his boyfriend had a fight or something? What could've put that troubled look in his eyes? "Hey, is…"
"Serena had to go." Seeing Blair's curious eyes on him, Eric tried to play it off. He smiled but it wasn't long before scrutiny fell on him from Chuck. "She said there was something that she needed to take care of but she'd call you tonight and she'd spoke to see you after work tomorrow." He stepped forward, "Listen, I need to head out myself."
"Okay," She hugged him back as he wrapped his arms around her, surprising her still with the differences in this new, grown-up Eric. "I'm really glad you came."
"Me, too."
"You'll have to bring your boyfriend back with you next time. "
"Consider it done." Eric pulled back and looked to his brother, "Chuck, walk me down."
The words were that of a casual request but Chuck was getting a far different vibe from the younger man's nervous behavior. Chuck saw that Blair wasn't in the least fooled either and she nudged him inconspicuously and motioned for him to follow Eric. Bossy woman. "I'm coming. Be right back, okay?" He squeezed the hand still tucked in and his and left her with a quick brush of his mouth across her smooth cheek.
Blair watched the two disappear from the room, only half-aware as Cyrus and her father settled the girls at the foot of the bed. They were talking excitedly to their grandfathers', telling them of the plans they'd made for their mother's first day back home. Roman was fiddling around with the television, searching through the channels, while Dorota and her mother settled on either side of Blair's hospital bed.
Eleanor cleared her throat, "So, you and Charles are moving in together."
"Don't start, Eleanor." Harold said, not looking up from his conversation with the twins and Cyrus.
She glared at the back of his head, "I wasn't starting anything. I just want to be sure that she's thought this through. You two can't just jump right back in where you left off."
"Mom, that's not what's happening here."
"Well, that's what it seemed like when we walked in here…I just don't want you going too fast. You just woke up and things weren't exactly good between you when this all started…"
Blair closed her eyes, groaned. Did her mother really think that she'd forgotten any of that? It as all she'd thought of before Chuck let her know in no uncertain terms that he expected her to move in with him and the girls when the time came for her to leave the hospital for home. "I know…"
"Well, I for one think that young love is a thing of beauty, dear." Cyrus threw in, "Given some time and space, the kids'll be just fine…just fine indeed. They need need to get their feet back under them."
"I couldn't agree more." Harold said.
Blair almost laughed, grateful for their support and reminded of earlier attempts at literally doing just that and her subsequent fall right on her ass. Things would be like that with Chuck, she guessed. Blair wanted to be on her own feet again…the same way that she wanted her family with Chuck. They'd fall but she had to keep trying.
"Don't get me wrong, darling." Eleanor was saying, "Your father and Cyrus are right. It'll take time and that's all I'm saying. I just want you to be happy. And I guess I was a little in love with the idea of you being home again." She sighed. "I'm just glad you're back."
"Aw, Mom." Blair squealed, grabbing her mother's hands. "Well, you'll be back in New York and then I'll just be a car ride away."
"Yes, there's that."
"And I'm going to need all the help that I can get. I know that everyone pitched in to help Chuck with the girls early on." Blair said, oblivious as Cyrus shifted uncomfortably and Harold exchanged worried glances with Roman who'd ceased playing with the television. Dorota couldn't quite hide her surprise at Blair's next words. "Seriously, Mom. I'm glad that you could all do that. That you could be there for Chuck and the girls."
Eleanor stiffened, "Oh…well."
Feeling mortified as tears burned the back of her eyes, Blair said interpreted her mother's sudden attack of nerves as being due to the trail of tears staining Blair's pale cheeks. Swiping delicately at her wet cheeks, Blair smiled shakily for her mother, "Sorry, guess I'm…I don't know what…happy. Overwhelmed. Happy. It's what I wanted before. You being there."
"I won't let you down again. I promise." Eleanor said, hugging her daughter. "I just hope you can forgive me for the things that I did before. I'll do everything that I can to make it up to you."
The woman was more than twenty years late with that sentiment but Blair would take it. In that moment she forgave her for missing so much of Blair's childhood for the sake of her career. She forgave her for those last few hellish weeks before Kat and Evie's births where her mother. "You're here. That's enough."
"I love you, sweetheart." Eleanor said. "It'll be okay. We'll be okay now."
ஐTBCஐ
A/N: And that's that for now…I've got another superlong chapter in the wings. Wifey is reading it now. Hope to have it posted for you guys tomorrow. Before/During/After the episode. So it's official. C/B are setting up house with their kids and Dorota of course. Poor Chuck who'd have thought that he'd end up surrounded by so many females...definitely not how he pictured it. Eleanor still wanting to change her ways, while playing fast and loose with her intentions and the truth. ND as a couple…hmm. Couldn't resist. Sorry. N/V. Will she? Won't she? What will N do with it all. Okay I should get to bed. Work tomorrow, ya know? As always let me know what you're thinking. And will update asap. Hopefully tomorrow night…and again it's super super long. I've been feeling long-winded. Okay night all. :kiss:
Courtney