A/N: I'm baaaaaack! Sorry about the wait! It took a while to get settled back from my trip and get ready for the new semester. It's a busy time, I'm sure you understand! I have very exciting news for you at the bottom, so please check it out after! For now, enjoy!
Chuck Bass had lived through many traumatic events in his life. The first time his father "died" had involved many sleepless nights, aside from the one night he stayed with Blair. There was the time he got shot, and when his dreams of a family with Blair were taken away after the accident. There was also the night he realized his father was alive, and the night of Bart's actual death. The worst had always been the times when he thought he had lost Blair forever. They were so painful that they had turned him numb.
But the past 24 hours had been the most emotionally draining ones of his life. He could only breathe and remind himself that it was all over. Chuck stared at the brownstone building before him.
It was time.
Yesterday night...
"We'll find him, he'll turn up B," Serena assured her as she rubbed her shoulder comfortingly.
"And if he doesn't? What then, Serena?" Blair asked, her eyes begging the golden girl to give her an answer that would give her hope.
Serena could only stare back at her, unable to say anything.
Luckily for them, Chuck walked into the room at that moment. He walked straight to the elevator as he spoke.
"They've found him, he was spotted with my...with Elizabeth Fisher in-" Chuck said, but stopped talking as the elevator opened.
And out walked Jenny Humphrey.
Everyone was silent in shock as they stared at the girl who had been absent from their lives for the past few years.
"I think you lost something in Brooklyn," she said, and crouched down to lift something from the elevator.
It was Henry.
"This yours?" Jenny asked with a smile, holding the little boy forward.
The sound Blair made was somewhere between a shriek and a sob as she rushed forward, snatching up her son and holding him tightly to her. It was the sound only a mother in true fear for her child could have made.
She cried hysterically as she buried her face into his warm neck, and Henry seemed to catch on to whatever it was as well, because he burst into tears.
That was Chuck's cue to envelop them both in his arms.
"Don't you ever scare us like that again, Henry," he mumbled as he pressed his lips to the top of the boys head.
He nearly lost his little boy. His perfect Henry.
The family held each other closely for several long moments, before Chuck lifted his head, subtly wiping a tear from his cheek.
"How did you find him?" Chuck asked the blonde.
"He was at our usual diner with his...I mean, your-" Jenny stuttered, unsure of how to explain her.
"With Elizabeth Fisher," he said for her with finality.
She nodded.
"For what it's worth, he looked totally at ease and safe. But still, I know who she is, and when I got the blast from Dan, I knew that I had to grab him and make a break for it," she explained.
At that point, Blair gathered herself and glanced up at Jenny, still holding Henry close.
"You saved him," she said quietly, studying her carefully.
Jenny shrugged.
"Of course I did," she replied.
"I owe you a lot more than even I can afford," Blair said, shaking her head.
"Blair, it was nothing. Anyone would have done the same thing," Jenny claimed.
"And anyone would still have my gratitude. So if there's anything...?" Blair insisted.
Jenny thought about it for a moment. She thought about how she had missed the city despite what it had done to her. But she was different now, and she was stronger than before.
The only time things had ever felt positive or right for her on the Upper East Side was when she worked for Eleanor. That was where Jenny fit in and thrived. Her career was just starting to take off, and she needed a place that was successful yet familiar for her.
And right now, Waldorf designs was one of the top fashion houses under Blair's management.
"I'm not asking for an outright job, but just a chance to prove myself in an interview," she said slowly.
Blair stared at her questioningly.
"Need a new designer?" Jenny asked.
That night, Chuck, Blair and Henry were curled up together in bed. Chuck was seated upright against the headboard, and Blair was leaning against him with a sleeping Henry in her lap.
She stroked the soft brown hair that fell across Henry's forehead and kissed him there. Blair took a deep breath and sighed loudly.
"I know what you mean," Chuck said as his finger drew patterns on her shoulder.
"He's alright Chuck, he's safe," Blair whispered as she stared down at the resting boy. He looked so at peace, like he had no idea what had happened or what his parents had been going through tonight.
"Blair, there's something we need to talk about, and I don't think we should hold it off anymore," he said.
Blair turned her head up to stare at her husband, contemplating him for a moment. After they had gotten married and settled down, Chuck had grown even more. He talked more and wasn't ever afraid of opening up to her. There was still that calm, quietness about him at times that he would always have. But it wasn't a defence mechanism or a way to hide his true feelings anymore.
"Okay," she said, nodding.
"First of all, I want to say sorry for how I reacted when I first found out about your run-in with Elizabeth Fisher," Chuck said.
"I shouldn't have trusted her. She was up to something and I can't believe I didn't see right through her ploy again," Blair replied quickly, shaking her head.
"You can't be blamed for that, and it still doesn't excuse how irrational I was. I guess...that woman; she caused one of the hardest moments of my life. I thought she was going to do something to hurt you and Henry, and inevitably me. I thought you didn't understand that she was a threat," he explained.
"I know how it looked, but you weren't there Chuck. She looked genuinely regretful, and it felt safe," she replied.
Chuck nodded, turning his gaze forward and beginning to absentmindedly stroke his fingertips against her earlobes as he spoke.
"When I first saw the photo of you with her, I felt all kinds of things. I'm not perfect. In the past I've made mistakes when I've been afraid of losing the people I love and when I'm reminded of the people who hurt me most. But this time, I felt more...in control of my reaction," he said. It wasn't a huge leap, and he didn't feel like the ultimate man yet. Not with what he'd been through in his life.
But he was the man who was trying.
He had separated himself from the situation, mulled it over...and he must have done something right, because then Blair found him and had her way with him.
He smirked inwardly, thinking about how much he enjoyed that part of dealing with their marital arguments.
Blair was the only one who "got" him and didn't let him get away with sitting around musing to himself for too long.
"I understand, and I want you to know that I think of us as a team, Chuck. It's the truest thing in my life. But I just went with my instinct in that situation; the instinct I've had ever since..." Blair said quietly, closing her eyes as she recalled the painful memory.
It was silent for a moment as Chuck stared down at the top of her head waiting for her, not wanting to jump at her in fear she would retreat. It was something he had learned about Blair through experience. She had always held off from letting him see her at her most vulnerable.
"Talk to me about it," he whispered finally after a while.
"I-," she began in a tight voice, but quickly shook her head in refusal.
"You once told me that I carried you, and you have no idea what that meant to me. I've always longed to be the one to do that," Chuck said honestly, hoping it would get through to her once and for all.
She lifted her head to gaze at him when he said this. He reached his other hand around to thread their fingers together.
Blair's face crumbled.
"I just miss her...or him. I never even got to know that part," she said in a cracked voice as tears slipped down her cheeks.
He nodded, lifting her hand up to his lips and kissing it.
"I'm impossibly happy with you and Henry, I really am. It's just...a mother can't forget," she cried, almost in outrage. She was speaking a whole volume of things at this point.
Blair buried her face in his neck, and Chuck held her closer, huddling her with Henry in a crooked embrace in an attempt to comfort her.
Because that was how Blair and Chuck always did consoling, wasn't it?
Uncoordinated yet more soothing than anything else.
Blair's sniffles eventually died down, and they simply sat there wrapped up together in silence.
"You're amazing, Blair. You care so much and you love so much...I've never known anyone that powerful," he said quietly after a moment.
Blair lifted her head to lock eyes with him, and shuddered when she saw all of it there.
It was all too intense.
Him...the feelings he had for her...how he made her feel.
It made her insides tremble as she caught her lips with his in a sweet, yet passionately long kiss.
When she finally pulled back, she leaned her forehead against his, their noses grazing lightly.
"Love you," she whispered almost inaudibly, before leaning her head back down against his shoulder and closing her eyes.
Chuck rested his head on top of hers and closed his eyes as well. He briefly registered that he was still in his business clothes, but found that he couldn't imagine detaching himself from Blair and Henry's warmth.
"Love you too," he breathed, before allowing himself to drift into sleep.
The next morning, Jack and Georgina were seated at the doctors waiting for their test results.
Both of them were completely pale and staring straight ahead with glazed eyes.
Something had finally fazed the evil pair.
But they still had their hands enveloped, fiddling with each other's fingers, content to be reminding themselves of each other's presence.
After Jack had overcome his shock the night before, Georgina explained herself more fully. He hadn't said anything for a long time, and fear had started to creep up on her. But then, he simply said he would go with her to the doctors the next day and be with her to take the test.
So here they were.
"Ahem."
They looked up to see the doctor approaching them.
"Why don't you come into my office for a moment?" He said.
They glanced at each other, before nodding and standing up to follow him inside.
Once they were seated inside, he shuffled around some papers before removing his glasses and turning to look at them.
It was tense, and Jack just wanted him to hurry up and spit it out.
"Well, you aren't pregnant," the doctor said.
Georgina let out a sigh of relief.
"But, you did lie to me about your drug use. If you don't start cutting down you're going to harm yourself. I should be recommending you to rehab," the man said sternly.
"Already tried rehab, it got old fast. But I did last longer than Lohan," she replied in amusement.
She turned to look at Jack, and saw a faint glimmer of a smirk on his otherwise unreadable face.
"Jack?" Georgina said, nudging him.
He didn't respond, seeming to be lost in thought.
"What should we be doing if we wanted to have a baby?" Jack asked the doctor.
"Uh...excuse me?" Georgina asked.
Seeming to sense an impending conflict between the two intimidating looking individuals, the doctor stood up.
"Why don't I give you two a moment?" He said, before exiting the office.
Jack turned to look at her.
"I thought about it, and maybe I want to," he said slowly.
"You want to?" Georgina squeaked, blinking at him.
"Maybe," Jack replied defiantly.
"We're not even married," she exclaimed, which held little weight coming from her, but she was desperate for any excuse.
"So now you care about the sacred union? Alright, we can easily remedy that," he said with a chuckle.
"Now you're asking me to marry you?" Georgina said, unable to stop herself from laughing.
She regretted it immediately, because he seemed to narrow his eyes and look away as though he was offended.
"Why does that sound so crazy to you? I love you, don't I?" Jack muttered. When he thought about having a child with Georgina, Jack felt kind of excited. He was already practising with Milo, and sure it was a bit soon, but...whatever.
Georgina pulled herself together, and reached up her hand to turn his face to her as she smiled at him as gently as she could.
"Look, we're Jack and Georgina...Georgina and Jack. I love you, but you know that babies and marriage aren't us right now," she reasoned.
He stared back her as she said the words, feeling some sense come back to him.
"Do you know what I thought the first time I met you?" Jack murmured softly.
Georgina shook her head.
"I thought, here is this...attractive, impressive, worthy woman to play with. Then I spoke to you, and you just seemed to get it. You saw people and relationships and life the same twisted way I do. I never thought I'd ever come across someone like that," he admitted.
"I didn't see you coming either. You're like my match made in hell," she responded shyly, with a little laugh.
Jack grinned back at her, and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear familiarly.
"Ask me to marry you, someday. Have a baby with me, someday. But do it when it feels right, and not with a pregnancy scare over our heads," Georgina said with a smile.
He chuckled and nodded before leaning forward to kiss her.
Present...
Chuck pressed the doorbell of the brownstone building and waited.
A moment later, the door opened to reveal Elizabeth.
"Charles," she said in shock.
He stared at her, his face set in a hard look as he studied the woman he hadn't seen in years. She hadn't changed at all.
"Won't you come in?" Elizabeth asked, after she gathered herself.
Chuck shook his head and held up his hand in refusal.
"You took my kid," he said simply.
She swallowed and nodded.
"Why?" Chuck asked.
"You won't understand," she said, shaking her head.
"Try me," he said.
Elizabeth sighed and stared at him for a long moment. He thought he saw something flash in her eyes, but it was from a different time. A time when he believed in her.
"I wanted to know who you were through your son," she said quietly.
Chuck tilted his head at her, narrowing his eyes.
"I find that hard to believe in my experience with you. To me it just seems diabolical," he replied.
"It is part of the truth, and you've raised a great boy," she said quickly, her brown eyes looking completely sincere.
He held her stare for a long moment, before nodding in acceptance of the words.
"What's the whole truth?" Chuck asked, determined to not be sucked in, no matter how honest she seemed. The woman had always been able to pull off the innocent act flawlessly.
She looked at him hesitantly, before shaking her head and sighing.
"I knew if I tried to contact you, you'd turn me away. So when I found Henry, I saw an opportunity. Have you ever...done something to someone just so they'd have no choice but to talk to you?" Elizabeth asked slowly before turning her gaze to the ground.
Chuck thought about how many times he had acted out throughout his teens and childhood, just waiting for Bart to realise something. After a certain point, he realised that all he was going to get from the man was a scolding, so he just stopped caring and acted out because it was apparently all he was capable of doing. Chuck also thought about the time he had influenced Serena into taking the crown from Blair just so she could need him, and all the other immature games he played in fear that he couldn't hold her attention otherwise.
"I have, but I don't do that anymore. I've grown up...maybe you should do the same," he said evenly, before turning around and walking over to his limo. Just before he got in, Chuck turned back to lock eyes with her.
She nodded slightly at him, and he did the same back, before entering the car and driving off.
Wait! Don't go anywhere just yet!
First of all, let me tell you the exciting news. We are doing a massive Gossip Girl rewatch with all of fandom in order to bring us all together! It begins on Twitter next Sunday at 8pm EST. I will be live tweeting as I watch the episode from the account parisinthe1920s. Afterwards, we will all be discussing it on FanForum. Follow my twitter account (redonesie) to receive details and updates about the whole thing. I suggest you join Twitter and FanForum to be part of the action, especially those who are new to fandom. It's going to be a fun experience!
On this fic: now that the major storylines have been tied up here, I'm going back to one-shots. I already have a couple of ideas in my mind and I've been working from your requests. So keep them coming! I'm aware that this chapter was very Chuck based, so I'm looking to develop Blair now when it comes to Chair scenes. Maybe something to do with Waldorf designs?
Thank you to the following people for their reviews on the last chapter, they always make me smile: Paystin4Life, sarah, Judy24, Katrin, louren, LLLL, Florence Italy, Gabby, Marilyn, Kara, Trozev, Lisa, Moozanna, Chairytale Ending, TracyG, Gossip Girl, suspensegirl and all the guests.
Until next time !