Everything She Ever Needed Ch.16 - Nine Months In The Making (Part 2)
Chapter 16 - Nine Months In The Making (Part 2)
Two nurses, one anesthetist, and an epidural later, Blair was curled up on her side. Sleeping soundly after finally having her senses numbed into relaxation. The room was quiet and the lights had been dimmed to a drowsy level, which Serena could attest.
She had yet to leave her makeshift post, instead deciding to stay to watch over her girlfriend and busy herself by scanning through the articles of one of the discarded magazines. Darkness had just taken to the sky outside and despite only having sat in a hospital all day, Serena felt exhausted. It did not help that the light rhythm of Blair’s even breathing was all that could be heard and that it was lulling her even more.
As if her mother could read her mind from across the city blocks separating them, Serena’s cell phone began a muffled buzzing against the leather of her bag, disrupting her sleepiness. Grabbing the device, she hurriedly made her way from the room to answer the call and nearly collided with a nurse who had been entering.
“Just making the rounds, how is she?” the woman asked with a light smile. Serena opened the door a bit wider, revealing her peacefully resting girlfriend.
“She’s fine now, but do you think I could get one of those too?” Serena teased with a grin of her own, referring to the epidural which had so quickly taken effect.
“I’ll see what I can do,” the nurse laughed. “I won’t wake her, just let one of us know if you need anything at all.”
Serena gave an appreciative nod. “I will, thank you.”
By the time the conversation had ended, the ringing of her phone had ended as well. Realizing that cell phones were relatively taboo inside a hospital, she scanned the hallways and found them mostly empty before redialing Lily.
“Hey, mom.” The blonde spoke in hushed tones, as she walked through a random hallway and found herself at the glass of the nursery. She could not stop the smile from spreading across her face at the sight of the few infants lying in their blankets.
“She was getting sick, but she just got an epidural…she’s asleep now. Yes, Eleanor is still here somewhere.” Serena distractedly answered the customary questioning on how Blair was feeling and the status of the situation, while her eyes landed on a particular baby. The only one wrapped in light pink material with wispy dark hair.
Her stomach turned over in a sort of overwhelming anticipation and she was no longer trying very hard to hear what Lily was saying. In what could only be described as a short amount of time, she and Blair would have something just like that, but all their own and all of their responsibility.
Serena’s mother spoke into her ear over the phone, but it took her a moment to refocus and respond. “What? Oh, don’t worry about it. You know how she is, she didn’t want to keep you here all day.”
After having left the hospital, Blair insisted that Lily wait to come back, convincing her that she should wait until evening to return, so as not to waste her entire day while nothing was happening and of course, she did not want it to seem as if she really needed anything from anyone.
“Well, just come back now or whatever.” Serena offered, her fingers trailing along the sill. “No, I don’t think we need anything else…” The baby she had been watching was beginning to wake, her softly colored brows furrowing in gentle frustration. Now, all Serena could think of was of how she and Blair’s baby would probably do the same endearing things, just in an even more adorable fashion.
But as Lily was murmuring her ‘goodbyes,’ Serena remembered something so important that she really could not believe that she had forgotten it at all and her previous thoughts escaped her mind. “Wait! There is one more thing I need!”
“No, no, I can’t tell you what it is, but it’s in my closet in a…in a Tiffany’s bag. You cannot forget it! Just don’t look at it, or touch it, or even think about it, just bring it straight to me!”
Serena snapped her cell phone shut before Lily could work any details out of her, hoping that she would follow her orders and not peek into the iconic blue bag. A huff of breath swirled the ends of her hair. Now, she was feeling overwhelmed for all sorts of reasons.
*****
“Do you have it?” Serena asked, trying to keep the edge of panic and desperation out of her voice. She stole a glance towards her still sleeping girlfriend, and then eyed her mother expectantly.
Lily began an adventure through her large handbag, first pulling out a silk sleep mask and then the baby name book. “You probably want this, since apparently she doesn’t have a name yet.”
“Ugh, yeah, I know, but where is the other stuff I asked for?” the blonde pressed on, hoping to hurry Lily along.
“It’s right here, she isn’t going to see it when she’s asleep…” Lily replied. She sounded exasperated by her daughter’s behavior and turned a look of wondering to her as she handed over the bag. It was obvious that it contained some type of gift for Blair, but it eluded her as to why it was such a mystery.
“Ahh, Tiffany’s, she’ll love that!”
Eleanor decided to reappear just as Serena was stowing away the robin’s egg blue bag in her own purse. “What is it, Serena?” she asked none too quietly, from the doorway.
As the younger blonde straightened back up, she casually ran a hand through her hair and put on a sly smirk. Now that her surprise was out of sight she was feeling much calmer. “You know what it is? It’s nothing that you two need to worry about, just a little something for my girlfriend.”
Lily and Eleanor seemed somewhat dissatisfied with the response, but it was evident that they were not going to get a private viewing of whatever glistening gems Serena was keeping, so each contented themselves with sinking into a chair.
Serena had just sat down herself when Blair turned onto her back and harshly furrowed her brows. Her eyes begrudgingly opened, shooting a disgusted sneer around the room.
“Why do you three insist on being so loud?” Blair practically growled through her curled lips and then threw her forearm across her eyes. She had the art of not pulling her IV mastered now, using her right hand while her left hand lied motionless by her side.
“We’re sorry, B.” Serena assured, as she moved toward her girlfriend, but not before giving Eleanor and Lily a glare that rivaled Blair’s own. Fortunately, it seemed as if she hadn’t been listening to what they had been saying. “Can I lay with you?”
“I suppose…” came the brunette’s haughty response.
“My mom brought something for us.” Serena held the book up as an explanation to her announcement, and received a displeased snort from Blair.
“Someone might as well just pick some names because I can’t choose.” Blair spat, looking as if she would have nothing to do with the text the blonde held.
“Okay, fine, Eleanor do you want to -”
“Wait…” Blair abruptly burst out, and then swiftly trailed off; not wanting it to seem like Serena knew almost all of the ways to bypass her bitchiness. “Maybe I’ll be able to find something suitable after all.”
After long moments of Blair turning pages in what seemed to be genuine vexation, her physician suddenly entered the room and she already knew what to expect. She did not think she would ever get used to having someone dip their face between her thighs while wearing some goofy grin - except Serena. It made her feel like she should give the man a thumbs up as he happily descended below the sheet across her legs, before kicking him in the head.
Judging from the set of Serena’s mouth and the perturbed look creasing her forehead, it was a great possibility that she was having the same thoughts.
“You’re dilated to nearly ten centimeters. I think we should try some pushing.”
Well, maybe she hadn’t expected that.
“What!? No…I’m not ready yet!” Blair protested, her voice high with anxiety as she whipped her head towards Serena to see her reaction to the doctor’s statement. She had obviously known this would eventually have to happen, but she had been trying to fast forward through that part in her mind.
“You’re ready, you can do it.” Serena gently reassured, and the quick smile she had for the brunette was much more settling than the overly enthusiastic expression of the nurse beginning to pull her knee back.
Before Blair could say anything more, Eleanor was taking her hand with a firm grip, just as Serena was doing with her other hand. She was trapped now, with no way out.
“Now, Blair, I need you to remember to breathe for me and just bear down.” The doctor instructed and the brunette nervously listened, adjusting her grasp around Serena’s palm.
With her epidural still providing some relief, the first push was not so bad, nor was the second, or the third, but when she began to lose count and she could no longer easily control her breathing, her senses became overwrought. The hair at the nape of her neck was slick with sweat, an annoying sensation in itself, but magnified by every other discomfort she was feeling. Blair wanted the doctor and nurses to shut their mouths, she did not need to hear about how good she was doing, because nothing about the entire situation felt good at all.
Serena was petting her hand and murmuring the only words of encouragement she wanted to hear out of anyone, but it was not preventing her from wanting to give up. Stopping mid-push, Blair let go of her girlfriend’s fingers, gaining the chiding disapproval of her ‘coaches.’
It was not as if Blair ever gave up on things. In fact, she could not remember a time when she had not succeeded when she absolutely wanted to, but she was almost sure that child birth was about to break that record. The worst part was that everyone was watching as the frustrated tears fell down her cheekbones, after they had pooled at the corners of her eyes.
“I don’t think I can do this.” Blair tiredly admitted, the tone of defeat noticeable in her panted words. The energy in the room immediately decreased with her lack of ambition.
“Blair, I really think we could avoid a C-section…” her doctor gently advised, as he sat up to meet her eyes.
“Come on, B.” Serena urged, placing her hand on Blair’s cheek as she moved to sit down beside her. The brunette silently met her girlfriend’s gaze and let her wipe away some of the moisture coating her skin. “You’ve been through so much, are you really going to let this get the best of you?”
Blair shook her head in disagreement, she was not sure whether she should be upset or offended, and she was really too tired to do either, so instead she just listened to what Serena had to say.
“Then you need to use all of that stubborn Waldorf determination - which I know you possess - so we can have this baby, okay?”
Serena finished with a serious look, and Blair gathered herself again; she could not have agreed more. “Okay…” She was the Queen B and she was going to make having a baby look like a stroll through Central Park.
After Serena’s persuasion, Blair began pushing for what felt like an agonizingly long amount of time (a time in which she forgot all about Central Park and lazy walks), and just as the thought that she honestly might not have the strength to continue flashed through her pain addled mind, she gave one last push and then suddenly it was over. There was a rush of dizziness and Blair collapsed back against the pillows, bringing Serena down with her by the arm around her shoulders. She was breathing heavily and just beginning to register the little wails filling the room, when Serena tenderly grasped her jaw, effectively blocking out the harsh fluorescent lighting from above by giving her a comforting kiss.
“I love you, B.” Serena’s voice slipped on the tears gathering in her eyes, as she ran her fingertips down Blair’s damp, flushed cheek.
She had managed to fight her way through labor and now she just had to concentrate on speaking again; a task which proved to be more difficult than expected when she was unable to draw steady breaths. “I love you too.”
When her girlfriend pulled back and the blanketed weight of her newborn daughter was settled on her chest, Blair was taken by a sensation that was more than a little overwhelming. For a few moments - as the pads of her fingers softly skimmed the light pink fleece and carefully adjusted the fabric so that the baby’s face was clearly visible - she could forget about everything around her. The tears that had already been close behind her eyes quickly sprang back to life and Blair let them spill over, not even bothering to wipe them away with her knuckle as she normally would.
It was really too much. Looking into the long lashed, soft brown eyes which were a perfect miniature of her own was suddenly bringing Blair more happiness than she had ever remembered feeling. In all the things she had done at Constance Billard and in all the things she had strived for throughout her life, she had never felt anything as gratifying as holding her daughter for just a few short moments. This was a new emotion, and although she wasn’t quite sure what to make of it yet, she knew it would be easily accepted.
A hand laid itself over Blair’s, momentarily breaking her concentration. “She looks just like you, Blair,” Serena spoke lightly, leaning in as they both adoringly watched the infant wrapped up against the brunette’s chest. “She’s gorgeous.”
Blair did not attempt to answer, her throat was too constricted and how she felt could not be put into words anyway. But her shaky breath and slight nod were enough for Serena, who was immensely happy from just watching her girlfriend’s sweet reaction.
Reaching out, Blair very hesitantly touched the tip of her finger to her baby’s lips and it made her think of something Serena had said the night before. It felt surreal. But the warm reddened skin brushing past her fingertips told her it was not.
Serena could hardly contain herself as she awaited her chance to hold their newborn, but she was trying to be patient. She was wondering if Blair was ever going to speak again - because she had about a million things to say - and when the baby’s little face began to scrunch in irritation, she received the most perfect answer.
“Shh, I’m right here…don’t cry, baby girl.” Blair cooed in a light tone. Her disheveled curls were framing her face and her smile was beaming when she pressed her lips to her daughter’s forehead. The image was enough to make a fresh set of tears start anew in Serena’s eyes; just when she thought she knew Blair Waldorf, she got to see an entirely new side of her.
The blonde beside her sniffled and she turned to her, smile still in place. Without saying anything, Blair carefully moved the bundle of blankets in her arms to her girlfriend’s waiting embrace.
“Hey, sweetheart…you look just like your mommy, you’re so beautiful.” Serena cutely babbled the words she had told Blair, causing the baby to blink her eyes and open her mouth, as if she was recognizing this as something she should probably acknowledge.
Blair giggled at the exchange. “You always know what to say, Serena…she likes it.”
“I just know Waldorf girls love their compliments.” Serena stated with a laugh, as she stroked tufts of surprisingly thick brown hair.
“Of course, especially when they are so deserved!” Eleanor chimed in and both Blair and Serena were reminded that their mothers were still in the room, after being so thoroughly distracted. A kiss was placed on Blair’s cheek. “You did so well, Blair, and congratulations, you’ve made me feel very old.”
Blair thanked her mother for the kind words and smirked at her humorous comment, before giving her attention to her daughter again, who was still being doted upon by Serena, and now, Lily.
“So, now that you’ve seen her, do any names come to mind?” Serena asked. Her expression was one of giddiness and Blair knew that she was already completely smitten; she had seen that face before.
“Well…actually there is one.”
“Really?”
Blair nodded, increasing the blonde’s excitement all the more. “I was thinking of…Carabella, Carabella Nicole,” the brunette hesitantly announced, before quickly finishing, “but only if you like it too, S.”
Serena immediately melted. “Aww, I remember when we talked about that, that night.”
“Yeah, it just seemed to stick in my head…so do you like it?” Blair quizzed hopefully, lightly sinking her teeth into her bottom lip as she waited to hear Serena’s reply. The thought that Serena might not care for the name had worried her a bit, because for some reason, no other name had stuck out to her like that one had.
“I think it’s perfect.”
*****
Once the task of choosing an official name had concluded, Blair had quickly and easily drifted off to sleep while nursing the newly named Carabella. And while Serena had joined them in their rest for a few hours, her own anxious anticipation had forced her to waking once again.
It was not helping that in Blair’s exhaustion she had let her head collapse against Serena’s shoulder and had not moved since closing her eyes. So, trying to be as still as possible, the blonde maneuvered her arm from beneath her girlfriend’s weight. But her efforts were somewhat jarring, and soon the baby propped up by pillows and sprawled against Blair’s chest was crying out about the disturbance.
The sudden noise was still new and unfamiliar, and although Blair’s palm still remained cupped around the back of Carabella’s hat covered head, the light cries startled her awake.
“Forget where you are?” Serena spoke lightly.
“Mmm…it’s hard to forget this place.” Blair whispered; sleep still heavy in her voice. She reclosed her eyes moments later and turned her face into her daughter, who had already calmed and settled her head against Blair’s shoulder. “What time is it, S?”
The blonde did not even give the clock on the wall a short glance before answering. “I don’t know…the middle of the night or something, it doesn’t matter. Are you going back to sleep?”
“Maybe, why?” Blair lazily questioned back and decided to crack her bleary eyes open a bit.
“Because I have something for you.”
The prospect of receiving the unknown something perked up the brunette, but she also seemed to be wondering why Serena had to give gifts during the early hours of the morning.
“I can’t wait any longer…” Serena stated, doing a perfect job of reading Blair’s thoughts.
Humoring her girlfriend with a sleepy smile, Blair waited patiently as Serena reached behind her to the table and retrieved from her purse, a distinctly colored blue box, finished with a satiny white ribbon.
If it had not been for Carabella lying asleep on her chest, she most likely would have squealed in excitement and surprise when Serena’s fingertips untied the perfect bow and slipped off the lid, revealing the white gold bracelet and highly glistening charms they had been admiring months earlier.
“You remembered,” Blair turned to the blonde with adoration showing all over her features, “even I forgot…when did you get it?”
“How could I forget your ingenious way of feeling better after morning sickness?” Serena quipped before taking on a shy quality, and lowering her eyes. “And I got them that morning when we were in the store, I had to have them for you.”
A smile was shared that conveyed all the sweet things Blair was thinking, without having to say a word. They had always been able to understand one another with just a quick smile or passing glance, and this was no exception.
“Well, I love it, Serena…thank you.”
“You’re welcome, but don’t you want to look at it before you thank me,” teased Serena, while she bounced her eyebrows in question.
“Of course I do.” Blair’s response came after a soft press of their lips.
Serena placed the bracelet - which had yet to be closely looked at - over the brunette’s fingers in order for her to take in all of the exquisitely crafted details.
As they lay on her palm, Blair studied the gold rocking horse with its round brilliant diamonds, the heart lock charm announcing ‘It’s A Girl, and the diamond and pink enamel baby carriage, all while Serena watched over her amused expressions.
When her girlfriend began turning her hand over to view the charms on the other side of her fingers, Serena’s eager blue eyes were glued to her face, prepared to gauge her reaction to what she was about to see.
The brunette’s face had been one of relaxed contentment before, but upon furthering her exploration her brows quirked in confusion, and her mouth fell open. One, a baby duck tag charm, had been engraved with a hyphenated version of the initials of she and Serena’s last names. While the second, another heart lock charm, read ‘Marry Me’ in slanted script letters.
Blair nearly gave herself whiplash turning towards Serena. The blonde was giving her a happy smile; somewhat nervous, but nonetheless happy and hopeful.
“S…” The simple nickname was whispered in a hushed tone, but still held all of the love that had been there for as long as each of them could remember.
“Shh, please don’t say anything yet…” Serena whispered just as quietly, touching her index finger to Blair’s lips. It was not hard for her to not speak, she felt as if her heart was in her throat. She wondered how Serena could.
Moving her thumb to brush along the edge of Blair’s bottom lip, Serena started to speak again. “I know we’re young,” she began with a cute eye roll at her own parent-like statement, “and I know that we have a lot to consider right now…”
This time she paused to steal a glance at Carabella and run the backs of her knuckles carefully across her soft cheek, instantly making Blair smile in a deep appreciate of her ever caring nature.
“But, I love you and Carabella both so much, and I always want to be here for you, so, Blair, would you marry me?” Serena finished, her expression turning serious as she looked up at who she soon hoped would be her fiancé.
Blair was not sure when or how Serena managed to get the marquise cut diamond engagement ring into her hands, but it did not matter, because she was sure of the answer she was going to give. In fact, somewhere in the back of her mind the thought of how in the world Serena could not already know her answer flickered faintly.
“Yes…” Blair answered softly, an elated smile growing and her frequently recurring tears glazing her eyes once again. “Yes, Serena, of course, I mean…did you really think I would refuse?”
A sharp release of breath, resembling something between a heaved sigh of relief and a short expression of amusement rushed past the blonde’s mouth, before she took Blair’s lips in a kiss.
“I didn’t know what you would say, you make me nervous.”
“Well, I’m definitely saying yes, but you should always be a little nervous.” Blair replied in a devilish way, but she just could not resist teasing Serena. When compared to the present, it was difficult to believe that there was a time when the two could hardly get past competing with one another.
Serena just laughed, not at all surprised by that response. “Well, thank you for torturing me, B. But would you take this before I think you’ve changed your mind.”
Blair offered her hand, which betrayed her calm demeanor with slightly trembling fingers. The flawless platinum felt cool sliding along her skin and it sent a chill through her body. This is what she had always wanted; even if she hadn’t known it would be with Serena.
“Perfect fit…” Serena marveled aloud as if she did not already know that it would be.
“Yes.” Blair breathed out; because it was the only thing she could think of to say as she stared down at the ring on her finger. Which looked stunning even in the dim lighting.
“I hope our parents don’t kill me for this.” Serena half giggled, and then scooped up Carabella and tucked her against all of the messy gold hair lying over her shoulders. “But I don’t care anyway!”
“You’re going to wake her up, Ser - wait, you mean no one knows about this?”
The blonde hid her guilty smirk in the folds of material wrapped around the newborn. “Are you kidding!? I wasn’t even sure if I would be brave enough to ask, obviously I didn’t tell anyone!”
Blair could only shake her head and pull Serena into a kiss. Even Serena, who seemed to have a never ending source of confidence, had her moments, just as Blair had hers. But together they understood each other, knew one another better than anyone else ever could, and that is what would continue to keep them together.
TBC
Finally, right!? So sorry for taking forevs between updates, but this was the hardest chapter to write as of yet, so hopefully I did it justice and you all like it! Thanks for reading! ;)