FIC: Five People Chuck Bass Loves (PG-13)
Title:Five People Chuck Loves (And the five times he’s admitted it)
Author: Missqteeone
Disc: I do not own gossip girl. I make no profit from this work of fiction.
Warnings: Character death. Mentions of drug use. Not graphic. A few 'f' bombs because Chuck is Chuck.
Summary: Future fic about Chuck Bass' life.
**
Chuck was uncharacteristically nervous as he waited in the busy airport in Paris. Blair’s finals had been over for hours and her plane from Bradley should be arriving momentarily. He had thought about getting flowers, or a ring but if he’s learned anything from his relationship with Blair, she prefers him as is. And this time, he was finally ready. Making his mark on Europe, free from his father’s shadow and pressure he associated with New York, he was good. Healthy- even.
His hand still shook sometimes from withdrawal, but he needed this. And if that stupid British assistant of his knew anything it was that he needed this. So he was pacing back in forth, driving himself crazy. Her flight was landing, and he briefly thought about leaving. Until his phone started ringing.
“Chuck, I tried to reassure Frau Lichtleiter that I was more than competent in handling the rebuilding of Klub Klien but she just started swearing at me in German. And then French.”
“Victoria I do not have time to deal with this.”
“Blvdes Arschloch Amerikanisch!”
Rolling his eyes, Chuck tried to get the Frau to calm the fuck down, but she was talking too fast about too much of his money. He tried reasoning, he tried anger and soon he was swearing right back at her. That got her to shut up. He looked down at the polished floor and a pair of manolo blahniks from next seasons were tapping impatiently.
“I am rebuilding your Klub Klien. Accept it or I’ll call Ulla Scmidt personally to get your club shut down so I can buy from underneath you.” He hung up on her and turned to see Blair Waldorf, wearing a Yale T-shirt and jeans.
“You’re not Roman or mon petit chat.” She slipped the sunglasses on top of her head and looked expectantly at him. He figured she’d changed in college, but there was no sign of the Blair Waldorf he knew (aside from the shoes).
“You’re carrying my luggage. Chop Chop!” Blair insisted impatiently from several feet in front of him. He walked closer to her and took her hand in his. “I love you.” He whispered, as if it would go away if he said it too loudly.
“I know. I’m fabulous. I was thinking a fall wedding, Spring is so boring and blasé. And I’d really like for you to wear a black tux-”
“I’m ready now. Damnit, Waldorf!” He turned her around to face him.
He expected anger. He expected reaction. She dragged him into the little jewelry store where a woman was talking excitedly in French. “Mademoiselle Blair! Today is ze day, no? Mademoiselle Blair here every year, say she iz waiting for her boyfriend to propose. She come early, she stay late. Mr. Roman have to drag her away that first year, remember? I ztay and zit with Mademoiselle Blair, me keep zis job to zee zhe day you finally come for ze ring!”
“Thank you, Chloe. When you were- away. I bought a ring. And I told myself that someday you’d give it to me. And I came to this airport to visit my father and I hoped that one day-”
“I love you.” He said it louder this time, and he meant it.
**
When Cornelia Waldorf was born, Chuck cried for the first time in years. This tiny little thing was his and Blair’s and she was perfect. And as he watched her grow, walk, talk- he knew that she had a part of his heart he didn’t know existed. She was beautiful, and happy. She skipped everywhere and held his hand. She’d crawl into his lap when he was working at home and pretend to read all of the reports he was getting in from Europe.
She was the perfect combination of Serena and Blair and he kept surprising him at every turn. When Heart was born, she dressed him up like a doll and carried him everywhere. She was three but that’s what she did. And then six years later when Aubrey was born, she changed diapers and watched Heart pretend to skateboard.
He had this overwhelming feeling of pride as she grew. She never made the mistakes that he did, she was always happy and beautiful. Her brown curls bounced wherever she went and she always wanted to come with Daddy to take your daughter to work day.
And when he came back from business trips (after an hour of ‘I miss you’ sex from his wife) He would bring her a gift, which would seldom get opened and greedily look over the specs for his newest acquisition. She was grooming herself to takeover the company and she was eighteen and so close. She was dating Nathaniel’s son (while he was sneaking in, Hunter Archibald was sneaking out)
So when she came to him, crying and truly upset for the first time in her short life, he was very concerned. “I’m so sorry Daddy, but- I got offered an internship with CNN, they like my writing. They want me to work with them and I’m going to take it.” She had been scribbling notes all over things since she was little. And if Humphrey was any indication she was good- really good.
Chuck exhaled in relief. He was worried that something was actually wrong. “I thought you would be upset.”
“I am proud of you, Cornelia. You could never disappoint me.” He reassured her, wrapping his arms around her. He couldn’t remember loving her more in this moment. She was becoming her own person.
“I love you, Daddy.”
“Now let’s talk about you dating Vanessa’s son.”
**
After the first blissful years with Cornelia, super-child, Chuck figured that he was lucky. And when Blair was pregnant again (you stupid, Basshole), Cornelia quit talking about a puppy or a chatty (French was never her strong suit). He had always assumed that they would have another girl, but Blair was resilient
“I am ten times hornier than I was last time. It has to be a boy.” Blair insisted. She rubbed her belly lovingly and waddled back to the kitchen where she was eating. She had named Cornelia and it was only fair that he got to name the second one. He was thinking Renee or Arlin. Blair of course hated both names, and he didn’t even consider a male name until five minutes after Boy Waldorf (Blair would not name her children, Bass, thank you) was born.
He was small but had his hair. It was too early, and Blair was still in the OR. They said she had a 40% chance at living and if he could take it back, he would pick Blair. He found himself in his father’s position all those years ago. He did not wish this on anyone. He let the nurse take Boy Waldorf and took Cornelia’s tiny hand and walked her to Blair’s recovery room.
He would not become his father and his son would not be him. If Blair wasn’t going to make it then in his mind they were both dead. The hospital room was warm and bright. He had paid in advance to have a room decorated for Blair’s recovery. They were in France visiting her father and then she wanted a Waterbirth.
“Is Mommy sick?”
“Yes she is very sick, and we need to be quiet so she can rest.”
“Where’s the baby?” She whispered making a bump motion over her stomach. Chuck told her that she would not be pregnant ever. She replied asking why and then Blair said it was because Daddy didn’t get violent he got even.
Chuck cried for this first time in years and peppered kisses over her face. He hoisted Cornelia onto the her bed and she babbled incessantly about Grandpa Roman and Grandpere Harold buying her a pony. The nurse asked if he wanted to see his son and he nodded mutely.
“My Heart.” Blair smiled, sleepily. “Name him Heart.” She pulled Cornelia close and buried her face in her hair. He named him Heart Daniel Waldorf because he was determined that his son was not going to turn into him. And his son became a different person. He skateboarded and jumped off cliffs. He played guitar in that old man Humphrey’s loft. They were different. But he made an effort to get to know his son.
“I’d like to dedicate this song to um, my Dad. Chuck Bass. This is “two sides of a coin”.” Heart got up there with his stupid necklaces and his grungy looking hair. He played his set, and Chuck tried to bear it while Blair rubbed his thigh. They were in Queens for godssake.
“He’s kinda sucky.”
“Aubrey.” Blair chided gently. “We are here to listen to your brother and not complain. He thinks your spelling bees are probably ‘sucky’ but he still goes and doesn’t complain.” Blair had decided this was an occasion to dress down for- he was wearing jeans for the first time in years. Her dress was bright red and she was wearing a headband.
“My spelling bees are at school. In Manhattan. And then we go to Swig for dessert.” Aubrey reminded her, very at home in her favorite hoodie and jeans. For a girl from the Upper East Side she didn’t look it.
“And the school is much cleaner than this dive.” Cornelia added. She was wearing a “Vain”( the name of Heart’s band) t-shirt that she commissioned Jenny to design. Thankfully Blair had talked her into wearing leggings otherwise that shirt would have caused problems. “They would probably serve me here-”
“No. They wouldn’t.” Chuck insisted. Heart finished his set and then proceeded to walk towards Rufus with the rest of his band. A little hurt, Chuck finished the rest of his- whatever they were calling Vodka- and clapped along with the audience when Vain won the battle of the bands.
“I’d like to thank my mom and dad. And my sisters for inspiring the name!” Heart grinned winking at Cornelia. “This is for you guys.”
The rest of the crowd was booing at the mention of thanking one’s parents but Chuck didn’t care. They may have their differences but he was proud for them. He loved his son.
**
Aubrey was a surprise.
And where it was so easy to be Cornelia’s “Daddy” and it was difficult but bearable to be Heart’s “old man”, he wasn’t sure how to relate to his youngest daughter. Her first word was “moon” and from there she was so excited about learning new things. Everything. She was reading before preschool and she skipped first, second, sixth and ninth grade.
He bought her old books in weird languages. She wanted to learn French, Spanish, Italian and Latin. He got her the best tutors and she was so smart beyond her years. She graduated high school and went to Oxford. People were constantly telling him how brilliant she was, how proud he should be. He didn’t know how to understand her. She stayed in England after she graduated and went to work for some prestigious Science Research facility.
He flew to London on business and promised Blair he would stop in and see her. What he found was not a brilliant scientist, but a broken little girl who was both a workaholic and on drugs. He had let other push her and she had become what he feared for his children.
“You ever feel like your life means nothing?” She slurred at him, bleary-eyed and shaking. “Because I sure do.”
“How could you say that?” Chuck asked, dampening her forehead with a cloth. She needed to sober up so he could bring her home. Her apartment was beautiful- but there was nothing in it. Just a bed and her computer. How had he not seen this coming? Heart and Cornelia were always so excited to come home for holidays. Sh
“I knew you know. That I wasn’t yours. And for a long time I thought- I could pretend. My father was dead and my mother- she’s more fucked up then I am. You were good to me, Chuck.” She was talking like this was the end.
Chuck was confused. “What are you talking about?”
“Uncle Aaron? Car crash? Ringing any bells?” She was twenty one she should not be this cynical. Aaron Rose had indeed died from a car accident. He did have a baby girl, which contrary to popular belief was not Serena’s. The girl did go missing about the same time she was born. Blair had tracked the baby down to a crack whore who found her in the street. The baby was put up for adoption and Jenny took the poor girl in. He did not want to bring it up to his children that their schoolmate was actually their family. Heather was graduating from RISD in the spring.
“I wish you could have confided in me. Asked me.” He choked out, the familiar feeling of parental shame washing over him. But instead of his father he felt it about himself.
“There was nothing to ask.” She spat, finally going unconscious in his arms.
“I should have tried harder with you, Aubrey.” He sighed picking her up and motioning for the driver to take them to the hospital. He made a few calls, cancelled his appointments for the next month and called his private eye to fax him over the files.
Three days later, after the crying, the puking and the screaming, he calmly explained that he had always been her father. That there had been a mixup at the hospital for a few measly hours and that Aubrey Serena Waldorf was once again safe in the arms of her parents. He showed her the paternity test they did while she was unconscious and the one they did in the hospital twenty one years ago.
“You’re my daughter, Aubrey and I let you grow up too fast. And I love you enough to help you now.”
Aubrey, his beautiful, tear-stained Aubrey nodded and pushed her now blonde hair behind her ears. “I was so convinced, growing up. I distanced myself away from you. I saw how you were with Corny- with Heart. I thought if I got too close, I’d lose you forever.”
“I’m going to tell you a story about my father that I haven’t told anyone- not even your mother.” He got into the small bed with her and talked about pain and rejection. He talked until his voice went hoarse about love and redemption.
**
For years he hated Rufus Humphrey. And that bitch of a stepmother Lily. He went to buy a seedy little bar in Monaco, they were there. He was wasted in Prague, there that little bastard was, propping him up and slapping him so he could crawl back into his limo. He came back to New York with Blair after Paris; there he was in his brand-new office, with a proposal for a firehouse that needed help.
Somehow the two of them wormed their way into his life. And eventually the hatred that had burned inside of him, became a dull dislike for the two of them. He loved the firehouse.
“It’d be a nice place- for a family.” Dufus hinted. “Lily never liked living in hotels.”
Chuck huffed at the thought. Who didn’t like having room service. A hotel downstairs- a bar?
“I always thought she was crazy, but it’s different when you’re a father, Chuck.”
“And you would know about fatherhood?” Chuck snapped. Not everyone could be Rufus Humphrey, superdad. “What’s the point of all this? Fatherly bonding? Please.”
“Blair’s pregnant.” Rufus’ stupid shaggy face did not lie. “And believe it or not, you need to be there for her, and for yourself. Growing up in hotels is not how you should live.”
And then six moths later they were moving into the old firehouse with a baby. Cornelia was so tiny and she would crawl around. She was cute- whenever Blair was around, but the second Blair would leave, she would look around and then start to cry.
Chuck would then quit working (Who could work when a toddler was crying) and then pick up the guitar Rufus gave him for a housewarming gift. He try his best and she would just stare up at him, enthralled. Lily would come over to visit, and he refrained from calling her a frigid bitch, and Cornelia just loved her.
And when Hart was born- they flew to France to make sure he was eating. After three shots of tequila, Rufus let him have three more before cutting him off. “Blair will be fine.”
“I get it, you know? Now, more than ever.”
“And what is that?” Rufus asked him.
“I was willing to let my son die if Blair would live. I didn’t plan it, and it happened. I don’t blame you anymore, Humphrey.” Chuck felt the tear drop down his face and he put the bottle down with disgust. Rufus never told Blair and he never drank tequila again. It was very low-brow.
Rufus took Cornelia to dance practice, sent her writing to Dan. He showed Heart how to play the guitar and everything he knew about music. He picked Aubrey up from school and they talked for hours about life. He knew he wasn’t the best father, but with Rufus Humphrey in their lives, he knew his children were well taken care of.
And it ends as it begins. Dan sent his apologies, and Jenny had fashion week in France. Vanessa brought Nate, and their son brought his daughter and their ten year old. Heart cancelled the rest of his tour and his bandmates wore suits. The lead singer was holding Heart’s hand and even though he vehemently confessed to hating her, he knew there would be a wedding someday soon. Aubrey was sober, both emotionally and physically, and that nerd from down the street was hovering in the background.
Blair was strong, and he was sad. Lily was a wreck, and thankfully Serena had showed up whereas none of their other biological children had. Rufus Humphrey was buried in the private Bass plot, and he didn’t care about the consequences.
“Rufus Humphrey was a good man- and you know he’s a good man because I hated him at first and my mind was changed. I loved him like a father and I’m sorry I didn’t tell him more. He was instrumental in raising my children and the man I am today. We will- miss him.”
Author: Missqteeone
Disc: I do not own gossip girl. I make no profit from this work of fiction.
Warnings: Character death. Mentions of drug use. Not graphic. A few 'f' bombs because Chuck is Chuck.
Summary: Future fic about Chuck Bass' life.
**
Chuck was uncharacteristically nervous as he waited in the busy airport in Paris. Blair’s finals had been over for hours and her plane from Bradley should be arriving momentarily. He had thought about getting flowers, or a ring but if he’s learned anything from his relationship with Blair, she prefers him as is. And this time, he was finally ready. Making his mark on Europe, free from his father’s shadow and pressure he associated with New York, he was good. Healthy- even.
His hand still shook sometimes from withdrawal, but he needed this. And if that stupid British assistant of his knew anything it was that he needed this. So he was pacing back in forth, driving himself crazy. Her flight was landing, and he briefly thought about leaving. Until his phone started ringing.
“Chuck, I tried to reassure Frau Lichtleiter that I was more than competent in handling the rebuilding of Klub Klien but she just started swearing at me in German. And then French.”
“Victoria I do not have time to deal with this.”
“Blvdes Arschloch Amerikanisch!”
Rolling his eyes, Chuck tried to get the Frau to calm the fuck down, but she was talking too fast about too much of his money. He tried reasoning, he tried anger and soon he was swearing right back at her. That got her to shut up. He looked down at the polished floor and a pair of manolo blahniks from next seasons were tapping impatiently.
“I am rebuilding your Klub Klien. Accept it or I’ll call Ulla Scmidt personally to get your club shut down so I can buy from underneath you.” He hung up on her and turned to see Blair Waldorf, wearing a Yale T-shirt and jeans.
“You’re not Roman or mon petit chat.” She slipped the sunglasses on top of her head and looked expectantly at him. He figured she’d changed in college, but there was no sign of the Blair Waldorf he knew (aside from the shoes).
“You’re carrying my luggage. Chop Chop!” Blair insisted impatiently from several feet in front of him. He walked closer to her and took her hand in his. “I love you.” He whispered, as if it would go away if he said it too loudly.
“I know. I’m fabulous. I was thinking a fall wedding, Spring is so boring and blasé. And I’d really like for you to wear a black tux-”
“I’m ready now. Damnit, Waldorf!” He turned her around to face him.
He expected anger. He expected reaction. She dragged him into the little jewelry store where a woman was talking excitedly in French. “Mademoiselle Blair! Today is ze day, no? Mademoiselle Blair here every year, say she iz waiting for her boyfriend to propose. She come early, she stay late. Mr. Roman have to drag her away that first year, remember? I ztay and zit with Mademoiselle Blair, me keep zis job to zee zhe day you finally come for ze ring!”
“Thank you, Chloe. When you were- away. I bought a ring. And I told myself that someday you’d give it to me. And I came to this airport to visit my father and I hoped that one day-”
“I love you.” He said it louder this time, and he meant it.
**
When Cornelia Waldorf was born, Chuck cried for the first time in years. This tiny little thing was his and Blair’s and she was perfect. And as he watched her grow, walk, talk- he knew that she had a part of his heart he didn’t know existed. She was beautiful, and happy. She skipped everywhere and held his hand. She’d crawl into his lap when he was working at home and pretend to read all of the reports he was getting in from Europe.
She was the perfect combination of Serena and Blair and he kept surprising him at every turn. When Heart was born, she dressed him up like a doll and carried him everywhere. She was three but that’s what she did. And then six years later when Aubrey was born, she changed diapers and watched Heart pretend to skateboard.
He had this overwhelming feeling of pride as she grew. She never made the mistakes that he did, she was always happy and beautiful. Her brown curls bounced wherever she went and she always wanted to come with Daddy to take your daughter to work day.
And when he came back from business trips (after an hour of ‘I miss you’ sex from his wife) He would bring her a gift, which would seldom get opened and greedily look over the specs for his newest acquisition. She was grooming herself to takeover the company and she was eighteen and so close. She was dating Nathaniel’s son (while he was sneaking in, Hunter Archibald was sneaking out)
So when she came to him, crying and truly upset for the first time in her short life, he was very concerned. “I’m so sorry Daddy, but- I got offered an internship with CNN, they like my writing. They want me to work with them and I’m going to take it.” She had been scribbling notes all over things since she was little. And if Humphrey was any indication she was good- really good.
Chuck exhaled in relief. He was worried that something was actually wrong. “I thought you would be upset.”
“I am proud of you, Cornelia. You could never disappoint me.” He reassured her, wrapping his arms around her. He couldn’t remember loving her more in this moment. She was becoming her own person.
“I love you, Daddy.”
“Now let’s talk about you dating Vanessa’s son.”
**
After the first blissful years with Cornelia, super-child, Chuck figured that he was lucky. And when Blair was pregnant again (you stupid, Basshole), Cornelia quit talking about a puppy or a chatty (French was never her strong suit). He had always assumed that they would have another girl, but Blair was resilient
“I am ten times hornier than I was last time. It has to be a boy.” Blair insisted. She rubbed her belly lovingly and waddled back to the kitchen where she was eating. She had named Cornelia and it was only fair that he got to name the second one. He was thinking Renee or Arlin. Blair of course hated both names, and he didn’t even consider a male name until five minutes after Boy Waldorf (Blair would not name her children, Bass, thank you) was born.
He was small but had his hair. It was too early, and Blair was still in the OR. They said she had a 40% chance at living and if he could take it back, he would pick Blair. He found himself in his father’s position all those years ago. He did not wish this on anyone. He let the nurse take Boy Waldorf and took Cornelia’s tiny hand and walked her to Blair’s recovery room.
He would not become his father and his son would not be him. If Blair wasn’t going to make it then in his mind they were both dead. The hospital room was warm and bright. He had paid in advance to have a room decorated for Blair’s recovery. They were in France visiting her father and then she wanted a Waterbirth.
“Is Mommy sick?”
“Yes she is very sick, and we need to be quiet so she can rest.”
“Where’s the baby?” She whispered making a bump motion over her stomach. Chuck told her that she would not be pregnant ever. She replied asking why and then Blair said it was because Daddy didn’t get violent he got even.
Chuck cried for this first time in years and peppered kisses over her face. He hoisted Cornelia onto the her bed and she babbled incessantly about Grandpa Roman and Grandpere Harold buying her a pony. The nurse asked if he wanted to see his son and he nodded mutely.
“My Heart.” Blair smiled, sleepily. “Name him Heart.” She pulled Cornelia close and buried her face in her hair. He named him Heart Daniel Waldorf because he was determined that his son was not going to turn into him. And his son became a different person. He skateboarded and jumped off cliffs. He played guitar in that old man Humphrey’s loft. They were different. But he made an effort to get to know his son.
“I’d like to dedicate this song to um, my Dad. Chuck Bass. This is “two sides of a coin”.” Heart got up there with his stupid necklaces and his grungy looking hair. He played his set, and Chuck tried to bear it while Blair rubbed his thigh. They were in Queens for godssake.
“He’s kinda sucky.”
“Aubrey.” Blair chided gently. “We are here to listen to your brother and not complain. He thinks your spelling bees are probably ‘sucky’ but he still goes and doesn’t complain.” Blair had decided this was an occasion to dress down for- he was wearing jeans for the first time in years. Her dress was bright red and she was wearing a headband.
“My spelling bees are at school. In Manhattan. And then we go to Swig for dessert.” Aubrey reminded her, very at home in her favorite hoodie and jeans. For a girl from the Upper East Side she didn’t look it.
“And the school is much cleaner than this dive.” Cornelia added. She was wearing a “Vain”( the name of Heart’s band) t-shirt that she commissioned Jenny to design. Thankfully Blair had talked her into wearing leggings otherwise that shirt would have caused problems. “They would probably serve me here-”
“No. They wouldn’t.” Chuck insisted. Heart finished his set and then proceeded to walk towards Rufus with the rest of his band. A little hurt, Chuck finished the rest of his- whatever they were calling Vodka- and clapped along with the audience when Vain won the battle of the bands.
“I’d like to thank my mom and dad. And my sisters for inspiring the name!” Heart grinned winking at Cornelia. “This is for you guys.”
The rest of the crowd was booing at the mention of thanking one’s parents but Chuck didn’t care. They may have their differences but he was proud for them. He loved his son.
**
Aubrey was a surprise.
And where it was so easy to be Cornelia’s “Daddy” and it was difficult but bearable to be Heart’s “old man”, he wasn’t sure how to relate to his youngest daughter. Her first word was “moon” and from there she was so excited about learning new things. Everything. She was reading before preschool and she skipped first, second, sixth and ninth grade.
He bought her old books in weird languages. She wanted to learn French, Spanish, Italian and Latin. He got her the best tutors and she was so smart beyond her years. She graduated high school and went to Oxford. People were constantly telling him how brilliant she was, how proud he should be. He didn’t know how to understand her. She stayed in England after she graduated and went to work for some prestigious Science Research facility.
He flew to London on business and promised Blair he would stop in and see her. What he found was not a brilliant scientist, but a broken little girl who was both a workaholic and on drugs. He had let other push her and she had become what he feared for his children.
“You ever feel like your life means nothing?” She slurred at him, bleary-eyed and shaking. “Because I sure do.”
“How could you say that?” Chuck asked, dampening her forehead with a cloth. She needed to sober up so he could bring her home. Her apartment was beautiful- but there was nothing in it. Just a bed and her computer. How had he not seen this coming? Heart and Cornelia were always so excited to come home for holidays. Sh
“I knew you know. That I wasn’t yours. And for a long time I thought- I could pretend. My father was dead and my mother- she’s more fucked up then I am. You were good to me, Chuck.” She was talking like this was the end.
Chuck was confused. “What are you talking about?”
“Uncle Aaron? Car crash? Ringing any bells?” She was twenty one she should not be this cynical. Aaron Rose had indeed died from a car accident. He did have a baby girl, which contrary to popular belief was not Serena’s. The girl did go missing about the same time she was born. Blair had tracked the baby down to a crack whore who found her in the street. The baby was put up for adoption and Jenny took the poor girl in. He did not want to bring it up to his children that their schoolmate was actually their family. Heather was graduating from RISD in the spring.
“I wish you could have confided in me. Asked me.” He choked out, the familiar feeling of parental shame washing over him. But instead of his father he felt it about himself.
“There was nothing to ask.” She spat, finally going unconscious in his arms.
“I should have tried harder with you, Aubrey.” He sighed picking her up and motioning for the driver to take them to the hospital. He made a few calls, cancelled his appointments for the next month and called his private eye to fax him over the files.
Three days later, after the crying, the puking and the screaming, he calmly explained that he had always been her father. That there had been a mixup at the hospital for a few measly hours and that Aubrey Serena Waldorf was once again safe in the arms of her parents. He showed her the paternity test they did while she was unconscious and the one they did in the hospital twenty one years ago.
“You’re my daughter, Aubrey and I let you grow up too fast. And I love you enough to help you now.”
Aubrey, his beautiful, tear-stained Aubrey nodded and pushed her now blonde hair behind her ears. “I was so convinced, growing up. I distanced myself away from you. I saw how you were with Corny- with Heart. I thought if I got too close, I’d lose you forever.”
“I’m going to tell you a story about my father that I haven’t told anyone- not even your mother.” He got into the small bed with her and talked about pain and rejection. He talked until his voice went hoarse about love and redemption.
**
For years he hated Rufus Humphrey. And that bitch of a stepmother Lily. He went to buy a seedy little bar in Monaco, they were there. He was wasted in Prague, there that little bastard was, propping him up and slapping him so he could crawl back into his limo. He came back to New York with Blair after Paris; there he was in his brand-new office, with a proposal for a firehouse that needed help.
Somehow the two of them wormed their way into his life. And eventually the hatred that had burned inside of him, became a dull dislike for the two of them. He loved the firehouse.
“It’d be a nice place- for a family.” Dufus hinted. “Lily never liked living in hotels.”
Chuck huffed at the thought. Who didn’t like having room service. A hotel downstairs- a bar?
“I always thought she was crazy, but it’s different when you’re a father, Chuck.”
“And you would know about fatherhood?” Chuck snapped. Not everyone could be Rufus Humphrey, superdad. “What’s the point of all this? Fatherly bonding? Please.”
“Blair’s pregnant.” Rufus’ stupid shaggy face did not lie. “And believe it or not, you need to be there for her, and for yourself. Growing up in hotels is not how you should live.”
And then six moths later they were moving into the old firehouse with a baby. Cornelia was so tiny and she would crawl around. She was cute- whenever Blair was around, but the second Blair would leave, she would look around and then start to cry.
Chuck would then quit working (Who could work when a toddler was crying) and then pick up the guitar Rufus gave him for a housewarming gift. He try his best and she would just stare up at him, enthralled. Lily would come over to visit, and he refrained from calling her a frigid bitch, and Cornelia just loved her.
And when Hart was born- they flew to France to make sure he was eating. After three shots of tequila, Rufus let him have three more before cutting him off. “Blair will be fine.”
“I get it, you know? Now, more than ever.”
“And what is that?” Rufus asked him.
“I was willing to let my son die if Blair would live. I didn’t plan it, and it happened. I don’t blame you anymore, Humphrey.” Chuck felt the tear drop down his face and he put the bottle down with disgust. Rufus never told Blair and he never drank tequila again. It was very low-brow.
Rufus took Cornelia to dance practice, sent her writing to Dan. He showed Heart how to play the guitar and everything he knew about music. He picked Aubrey up from school and they talked for hours about life. He knew he wasn’t the best father, but with Rufus Humphrey in their lives, he knew his children were well taken care of.
And it ends as it begins. Dan sent his apologies, and Jenny had fashion week in France. Vanessa brought Nate, and their son brought his daughter and their ten year old. Heart cancelled the rest of his tour and his bandmates wore suits. The lead singer was holding Heart’s hand and even though he vehemently confessed to hating her, he knew there would be a wedding someday soon. Aubrey was sober, both emotionally and physically, and that nerd from down the street was hovering in the background.
Blair was strong, and he was sad. Lily was a wreck, and thankfully Serena had showed up whereas none of their other biological children had. Rufus Humphrey was buried in the private Bass plot, and he didn’t care about the consequences.
“Rufus Humphrey was a good man- and you know he’s a good man because I hated him at first and my mind was changed. I loved him like a father and I’m sorry I didn’t tell him more. He was instrumental in raising my children and the man I am today. We will- miss him.”