Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. They belong to Cecily von Zeigesar and The CW.
I want to start out by giving a great big thank you to all of you who reviewed and to Lori2279 for being my beta.
Enjoy.
"Where are we?" Blair inquired the next morning as she felt Chuck's familiar warmth wrapped around her in the most unfamiliar surroundings she had ever seen.
"The Plaza," he told her as he kissed her shoulder softly.
"I don't even remember entering the hotel," she admitted as she snuggled back against him while pulling his arms tighter around her body.
"That is because you fell asleep in the limo on the way here, and I carried you up here," he told her as he watched her look around the room with curiosity. He wondered how long it would take for her to ask for more details as to where they were, as they were not in one of the standard Plaza suites. He was pretty confident that she would put that together.
"So chivalrous of you," she laughed lightly
"It is in my nature when I need it to be," he smiled as he brushed the hair away from her neck and began nibbling lightly.
"What time is it?" she inquired as her eyes drifted closed again.
"Early," he replied, "You have time for more sleep if you need it."
"I don't need it," she purred softly, "I desire it, as I also desire you."
"You'll have to choose one or the other," he chuckled, "Because those desires are polar opposites."
"It's a difficult choice," she moaned as she began to stretch her tired muscles, "Choose for me."
"I think you should choose," he continued to laugh, "Only you can know what your body needs most right now."
"You," she made her decision quickly as she turned in his arms, "I need you."
"That's the decision I was hoping for," he smiled.
"For the record, that is always going to be my answer," she told him.
"For some reason I don't believe you," he chuckled, "I see a few months down the road in which you will be a few more months pregnant and most likely cursing the very ground that I walk on."
"But I promise to not mean it," she laughed along with him, "But right now I assure you I mean what I say. I need you."
After her needs were fully satisfied, she made her way into the bathroom to begin preparing for the day. She gasped at the luxuriousness of her surroundings. She called out to Chuck immediately.
"What is it?" Chuck inquired as he rushed in, thinking she'd seen a rodent or bug as her shrieks echoed through the suite.
"Chuck, that tub has gold plated faucets," Blair replied as she motioned towards the lavish fixture, "No Plaza suite has gold plated faucets except . . ."
"The Royal Suite," Chuck offered.
"How did you manage this?" Blair inquired as her eyes went wide in surprise, "This suite is reserved for visiting royalty."
"How quickly you have forgotten," he chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her waist, "You are visiting royalty."
"Are you telling me that you actually managed to convince the hotel manager that such an island exists and I am it's queen," Blair rolled her eyes.
"Such an island does exist," he told her, "And you are its queen. As such, you deserve the most luxurious accommodations available. As it so happened, the Royal Suite was available for at least the next month."
"So here we are," Blair replied with a hint of skepticism in her voice.
"Here we are," he agreed, "Enjoy it while you can."
"Why does it turn into a pumpkin at midnight?" she inquired.
"What I mean to say is that while this indulgence is nice, it will not be permanent as I intend for us to go house hunting something in the near future," he explained.
"How about today?" Blair suggested with an eager grin.
"How about tomorrow," he countered, "We have appointments today that need to be kept, namely your doctor's appointment and then you're meeting with your mother to choose a design for your wedding dress."
"Tomorrow then," she agreed.
"Your doctor's appointment is in two hours," he reminded her, "You'd better start getting ready, or we'll be late."
Blair nodded as she ushered him out of the bathroom. Her hand fell to her stomach as the butterflies crept in. She hoped that everything went well today.
"I'm nervous," Blair told Chuck as they waited for the doctor to walk into the exam room. She'd changed into a hospital gown and was sitting on the examination table with her legs swinging back and forth in an effort to calm her nervous energy.
"There is nothing to be nervous about," he told her as he kissed her hand softly.
"What if the test was wrong?" she frowned, "What if I did it wrong? What if I'm not pregnant? I mean I haven't even had any morning sickness. When Dorota was pregnant she threw up all day every day.""
"We can still have the wedding that we are planning," he told her, "And if it's in your head that you want a child right this minute, we'll work on a new addition as soon as we say I do."
"Do you mean that?" she asked as she looked to him with hopeful eyes.
"Yes," he nodded, "I can't say that I was ready for this, but now that it's a real possibility I am. Let's first let the doctor make her determination. Then we'll cross that bridge if we need to. For now let's focus on the most probable outcome that you are pregnant."
"Most probable?" she lifted a curious eyebrow.
"The odds of the test being a false positive are pretty slim, aren't they?" he inquired.
"I suppose," she nodded.
"Whatever the outcome, I will be right by your side," he assured her as he kissed her temple as the door to the exam room opened and in stepped the OB/GYN.
"Good morning, Mister Bass, Ms. Waldorf," the doctor greeted them with a warm smile, "I'm Doctor Cooper. I hear you believe you have a baby on the way."
"I took a pregnancy test about a week ago. It was positive," Blair replied.
"When was your last menstrual cycle?" Doctor Cooper inquired as she began jotting down notes on Blair's chart.
"At least six weeks," Blair replied, "I've never been the most regular, but I've never been this late before."
"And have you had unprotected intercourse in that time?" the doctor inquired.
"Yes," Blair nodded as she looked at Chuck. He had a guilt written across his face. He hadn't given protection any thought the night he'd rescued Blair from Russell Thorpe.
"We'll run a quick blood test to confirm the results," the doctor replied, "Once we have the results, we'll go from there. I'll send my nurse in to draw a little blood. Then you two just sit tight. We should have the results in just a few minutes. Apparently someone in this room is quite the influence in this hospital. Everyone is jumping through hoops."
Chuck's lips curled into an amused smile. "Waldorf, what have you done?" he laughed.
Blair rolled her eyes.
"I'll be back in a few minutes," Doctor Cooper replied as she left the room.
After the nurse drew some blood, the pair waited patiently for the results.
"I'm sorry," Chuck stated out of the blue.
"For what?" she asked as she ran her fingers along his jaw as it tensed.
"I wasn't even thinking about protection that night Thorpe took you captive," he replied, "I was just so focused on finding you and keeping you safe. When it was all over, and we were in that room together, I got carried away."
"We both got carried away," she assured him, "I'm never going to regret that night, especially if I am pregnant. It's part of who we are, and as carried away as you got, so did I."
"You're too easy on me," he frowned.
"You're too hard on yourself," was her quick retort. "I don't blame you for this."
"But . . ." he began.
"No buts," she told him as she pressed her fingers to his lips. "We created this life together. I'm never going to regret that or the choice I made to be with you."
He captured her hand and brought it to his lips as he gave her a slight nod.
"I love you, Bass," she added.
"I love you, Waldorf – soon to be Bass," he replied.
"You think I'm taking your name, do you?" she teased him.
"Aren't you?" he frowned.
"Maybe," she shrugged in a noncommittal way.
"This baby will have my name, won't it?"
"He or she might," she continued to shrug.
"Why are we even discussing this?" he growled, "This is my child. It will carry the Bass name."
"This is our child," she corrected him calmly.
"Do I get no say in this?" he continued to grumble, "Am I just a sperm donor to you?"
"You know you're more than that," she scolded him.
"Is my name not good enough for our child?" he pressed.
"Stop being ridiculous," she continued to scold him.
"Then why is there even a debate here?" he narrowed his eyes as he looked at her, "Is it okay that I'm giving you all my money, but not enough for you to take my name and give our child my name?"
"I'm not marrying you because of your money or your name," she snapped at him, "I love you, you idiot. If you'd take your foot out of your ass, you'd realize that I merely intended to tease you. Of course our child will have your last name, and yes, I'm taking your last name, though I will be hyphenating it with my own. Quit assuming the worst in people, especially me."
Chuck closed his eyes as her words sunk in. He was truly being an idiot. Had there been a dunce hat in the corner, he would have put it on and stared at the wall for possibly the rest of his life. "I'm sorry," he spoke out finally, "Honestly, right now I wouldn't blame you if you didn't want to give our child my name at all. Who would want an idiot's last name?"
"You are impossible," she sighed.
"I'm sorry," he apologized again.
Blair began to laugh at the pathetic pout on his face. God she loved this man.
"The original results have been confirmed," Doctor Cooper announced as she returned to the examination room, "Are congratulations in order?"
"Yes," Blair replied as Chuck's pout was quickly erased by a happy grin. "It was unexpected, but a blessing nonetheless."
"Then congratulations," Doctor Cooper smiled, "We'll do a quick exam to make sure everything is developing as normal, and then I'll be giving you some literature to read as well as a prescription for prenatal vitamins."
"Chuck and I have been doing a little research of our own," Blair replied, "And my housekeeper recently had a child. I'm a little curious about something. Dorota, my housekeeper, had severe nausea with her pregnancy. I haven't experienced any of that."
"Morning sickness usually starts around week six of a pregnancy. Usually after about the twelfth week it will subside, but there are instances of a woman experiencing morning sickness all the way through the pregnancy," the doctor explained.
"So I still have morning sickness in my future," Blair frowned.
"It's a possibility," Doctor Cooper nodded, "But not every woman does, and even those that do, there are varying degrees of morning sickness."
"I'm also bulimic," Blair admitted.
"Currently?" Doctor Cooper asked as she looked at the pair with great concerned.
"No," Blair shook her head quickly, "Not recently, awhile back. I've just read that could be a complication."
"I'm glad you told me," Doctor Cooper stated as she made a note in Blair's chart. "Did you seek treatment for your illness?"
"Yes," Blair nodded, "I saw a therapist for awhile. She had me journal everything."
"I'd like you to keep a journal as well during this pregnancy. Write down what you eat, how you're feeling, if you do start to experience morning sickness, I'd like to you write down what you are feeling before and after a bout of sickness," Doctor Cooper stated.
"Is this going to be a problem?" Chuck inquired as she continued on with her scribbling in Blair's chart, making him nervous.
"No," Doctor Cooper looked up from Blair's chart quickly to give them both a reassuring smile, "This is just something that we'll have to keep a close eye on as the pregnancy progresses. There isn't any reason to believe that your history with bulimia will prevent you from having a healthy child, but it is also something that will need monitoring."
"Okay," Blair nodded as Doctor Cooper guided her to lie back so she could begin the exam. Blair held Chuck's hand tight, their eyes remained locked together. A single tear slid down Blair's cheek, which Chuck was quick to capture as he gave her a reassuring smile.
"Everything is going to be alright," he whispered in her ear.
After several, painfully quiet minutes through her examination, the doctor announced that she and the baby appeared to be in good health and everything was progressing normally. She told Blair to change out of the hospital gown and that she would have the literature and prescription waiting at the nurse's desk. She also requested that Blair make a weekly appointment with her, so that she could closely monitor her, merely as a precaution.
"I'm more nervous now than I was before we went to see this doctor," Blair confessed as her head came to rest against his shoulder as they sat in the back of his limo on their way back towards their next destination, "I remember talking to my therapist about how my illness could affect me in later years, but the reminder today was like a slap in the face."
"It's just something we have to be aware of," Chuck reassured her as his hand caressed her stocking covered thigh gently as they road to Eleanor's loft where Blair was to have her measurements taken, "Doctor Cooper didn't give us any reason to panic."
"I know, you're right," she sighed.
"Are you still wanting to tell your mother about the baby?" Chuck inquired.
"Now that we know for sure, yes," Blair nodded, "It's going to become obvious to her soon enough, especially when she takes my measurements today and then three weeks from now they are completely different."
"It can wait a week or so," he assured her, "If you're not ready."
"I need to tell her," Blair replied, "I need to tell someone. I agree that we should wait to tell everyone else until after the wedding, but I trust Dorota and my mother to keep this under wraps."
"So no telling Serena or Nathaniel," Chuck surmised.
"I'm sorry," she replied, "I know it's a hard thing to ask you to do, keep this a secret, but as I said yesterday, neither Serena nor Nate are particularly skilled with keeping secrets. I want to be the one to spread the news, when we're ready."
"As I said before, it's your decision on who we tell and when we tell them," he gave her a reassuring smile, "If you want to wait until this child is in preschool, we will."
"Don't be absurd," she rolled her eyes as she tapped his shoulder lightly, "Will you go with me to the loft? Will you hold my hand as I tell her the news?"
"Yes," he nodded as he caught the hopefulness in her eyes. "Of course, I will."
She smiled softly as she gave his hand a gentle squeeze. Her eyes were about to drift closed in slumber when the limo stopped outside the building where Eleanor's loft was. She took a deep breath as Arthur held the door open for them.
"Blair, Charles, I'm so happy you're here," Eleanor greeted them as they stepped off the elevator. Both Blair and Chuck were taken aback at her prompt appearance. Blair was used to being waved into Eleanor's office by her assistant, but it appeared that her mother had been pacing in circles for several minutes as she waited for them to arrive.
"Is everything okay?" Blair asked curiously as she lifted her eyebrow towards her mother.
"Yes, of course," Eleanor assured her, "I'm just a little eager to begin. After all, how many times does a mother get to design her only daughter's wedding gown?"
"Hopefully only once," Chuck added a brief bit of humor to the conversation.
Eleanor's laughter filled the room, catching Chuck off guard. Laughter was not a sound he had experienced often from his fiancée's mother.
"Come, I have many designs to show you," Eleanor quickly motioned Blair and Chuck towards her office. As she passed her assistant, she requested a bottle of champagne.
"No," Blair spoke quickly to halt the assistant, "No champagne, I think it's best to keep sober as we plan the wedding of my dreams."
"Good point," Eleanor nodded, "Cancel the champagne."
After escorting Blair and Chuck into her office, she pulled out several drawings that she was eager to show her daughter. It suddenly occurred to her that Chuck probably shouldn't be there for this. "Charles, it's not that I'm not happy to see you here today, but don't you think it's a little silly to be sitting here as we pick out Blair's wedding dress. Aren't you supposed to be surprised?"
"Chuck and I have something to discuss with you first," Blair began.
"You don't want me to design your wedding dress, after all," Eleanor's face fell in disappointment.
"No," Blair corrected her, "I'd be more than honored to wear one of your gowns."
"Then what is it?" Eleanor inquired, "Does Serena not want to . . ."
"I'm not giving Serena any say," Blair cut her mother off, "It's just that . . . it's kind of like . . . I don't even know where to begin." Blair looked to Chuck, hoping that he'd have the words that she was suddenly faltering to find.
"Blair's concerned about how the dress you'll be designing for her will fit in three weeks," Chuck began.
It suddenly dawned on Eleanor's face as to what he could possibly mean. "Blair, are you . . ."
"Pregnant," Blair finished her mother's sentence as she bit her lip nervously, "Yes."
"Oh my goodness," Eleanor's eyes went wide in surprise. "Is it . . . could it possibly be . . ."
"Chuck's the father," Blair closed down Eleanor's line of questioning, "He's the only one that I've been intimate with since we conceived this child approximately six weeks ago."
"Six and a half," Chuck corrected her.
"You and Louis never . . ." Eleanor continued to fumble for complete sentences as her surprise was getting the better of her.
"Had sex, no," Blair replied, "Apparently I was more of a convenience, a way to get his stupid crown."
"I don't understand," Eleanor replied.
"It's not really important at the moment," Blair waved off any further explanation that her mother wanted, "The point is that I'm pregnant, but I don't particularly want to look pregnant as Chuck and I say our vows. I'm hoping that you can work your particular brand of magic to hide any baby bumps I might be sporting in a few week's time."
Eleanor began to rifle through the many designs she'd drawn many weeks earlier. She concluded that most needed to be tossed aside, but she did have a few options.
"I suppose extra fabric or a bow could hide any potential bumps, or perhaps something as simple as an empire waist line. They deemphasize a waistline," Eleanor stated as she flipped through several options before she came to two that she thought had a lot of potential. She was about to show them to Blair when she realized Chuck was still in the room. "Charles, perhaps you should wait in my lobby. This is one item of the wedding I believe you should have zero input on."
"You are absolutely right," Chuck smiled, "I'll just poke around your loft and see if I can take a peek at your next line. I always like to be ahead of fashion curve."
"Knock yourself out," Eleanor replied as she motioned him away. Just as he was about to open the door, Eleanor called out to halt him. Before he could process another thing, Eleanor was standing in front of him and offering him a congratulatory hug. "I really am happy for both you and my daughter."
"Thank you," Chuck replied.
"You hurt her or my grandchild, I will castrate you," Eleanor whispered in his ear so that Blair would not overhear.
"Please do," he chuckled as she pulled away.
"Now shoo," Eleanor waved him away again as she and Blair went to work.
"I bet a hug from Eleanor Waldorf-Rose was the last thing you expected to encounter today," Blair giggled as they were being seating in her favorite restaurant by the hostess.
"Definitely the surprise of the day," he chuckled as he held her chair for her as she accepted the menu from the hostess before he took his own seat.
"What did she say that had you chuckling as she chased you out of her office?" Blair inquired as she peered over her menu to take in his handsome features. He wasn't even bothering to look at the menu, so she had an unobstructed view.
"She promised to castrate me if I hurt you . . ." he replied as he suddenly lowered his voice to add, "Or the baby."
"I hope that doesn't give you second thoughts," she bit her lip in nervousness.
"No second thoughts here," he assured her before he threw the question back at her, "You?"
"No," she shook her head quickly, "No cold feet here either."
"Your mother is just protecting her child," Chuck replied as he reached across the table and grasped her hand, "I can't fault her for that especially since that's going to be us in the near future."
"Great minds think alike," a third voice suddenly joined the conversation in the form of Georgina. "Where's your Prince Charming, B?"
"Sitting across from me," Blair sighed as she and Chuck turned towards one of their least favorite people.
"I think you misheard me," Georgina cackled, "I said Prince Charming, not Prince Smarmy."
"Prince Smarmy is all the way across the Atlantic taking over his evil kingdom," Blair rolled her eyes, "If you want an introduction, I'd be happy to make one. Come to think of it, you'd be the perfect match."
"I happen to be a married woman," Georgina reminded him as she waved her finger in Blair's face that was adorned with a wedding ring.
"Poor bastard," Blair muttered, "How'd you trick him into that? Forge another DNA test?"
"We happen to be in love," Georgina snapped.
Chuck snorted his amusement.
"Go away, Georgina," Blair waved her away, "Chuck and I are having a private moment."
"Oh, Blair, you are so unbelievably stupid. You're never going to get your happily ever after with him. You can't trust a man that doesn't have a soul, and Chuck traded his away long ago – for a hotel, I believe."
"Ancient history," Blair waved off the attempted insult.
"It's your heartache, not mine," Georgina shrugged as she walked away with a sinister grin on her face. She'd have to thank whoever it was for sending her the tip about Blair and Chuck's lunchtime destination. She was going to finally get some payback for all they had done to her over the years.
"Ignore her, Bass," Blair stated as Chuck watched Georgina walk away as she finished pursuing the menu, "She's just trying to cause trouble for us. I'm not going to take her bait, and neither are you."
"It's hard to disagree with some of what she said," he frowned.
Before Blair could comment further, their waiter came to take their orders. What she had planned to say was forgotten as he began prodding her for details on her wedding dress.
TBC. . .