Friendly Encounters- Chapter Seventeen

He had agreed to do it. He knew the minute that the question came out of her mouth that he would be doing it for her. He had to in order to win her and the baby back. He had to prove to Blair that he could be trusted because he understood where she was coming from. Chuck had royally screwed her over and he was just lucky that she was willing to give him a second chance, that was if he could impress Eleanor. Which would not be easy in the least.
But he wanted to do it for Blair. It wasn’t even a question of having to do it, he actually wanted to do it. This was his chance to prove that he was worthy of Blair and the baby’s love. He would have been lying if he didn’t admit that he was a little nervous because if he screwed this up too, then there would be no second chances. But he was confident that he could get through tonight and prove to Eleanor and Blair for that matter, that he really had changed his mind.
He would be on his best behavior and he needed to look his best too. He had chosen to wear a boring black suit with a red bow tie for a splash of color. Normally, he would have worn something flashier but tonight was not the time for that. He ran his hand through his hair and mussed it a little, so it looked carelessly attractive. Chuck snapped on his Rolex and decided not to stall anymore. The sooner he got to Blair’s apartment, then the sooner the whole evening will be over. And there was nothing more that he was looking forward too.

XOXO
Chuck arrived exactly at six o clock. Blair met him at the door and she bestowed him with a big smile which seemed to make everything that much wore worth it.
“Hi.” She whispered while she gave him a peck on the lips. Of course it turned into more than just a gentle kiss, after a moment her sanity finally returned and she pushed him away gently. She had dressed conservatively also. She had on a gray dress that hit her mid-knee. It was like they were both mourning and attending a funeral. Which it very well could be if things didn’t go well tonight.
He couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face when he saw how that dress framed her ever growing stomach. “You look great, B.”
She bit down on her lip. “Yeah? My huge stomach is not turning you off on me?”
He shook his head. “Just the opposite, I think it makes you look even sexier. And you’re only five and half months pregnant, you’re just going to get bigger and I can’t wait for that.”
“Gee, thanks Chuck. You’ve made me feel a whole lot better.” Blair said it sarcastically but her smile tipped him off that she wasn’t mad in the least. He wrapped an arm around her waist and they both walked into the dining room. Eleanor wasn’t there yet.
As soon as they sat down around the table, Eleanor came down the stairs dressed to the nines. Although as soon as she saw Chuck, her mouth was set into a grim line of disapproval. He felt his palms start to sweat just by the glare that she was giving him; this was going to be even harder than he had originally thought. He tried to smile but found that he couldn’t compose his facial features into even a hint of one because of the extreme nervousness that was now residing in him.
You cannot mess this up. He repeated it to himself over and over again, and hoped that he would be able to prove to Blair and Eleanor that he was sorry for what he had done.
“Hi, mom.” Blair said softly and Eleanor’s eyes went straight to her protruding stomach. A look of disappointment came over her face. Blair went over to hug her while Eleanor stiffly returned the hug.
“Ms. Waldorf.” Chuck heard himself say quietly. He wasn’t even sure that he had spoken the words, it seemed more like he had whispered them. Her eyes lightened on him and it was the first time that he noticed that she had eyes like a hawk. That didn’t bode well for him. Blair walked over to his side and she grabbed his hand, and gave it an encouraging squeeze. His hand settled on the small of her back as the three of them, well four, made their way back to the table.
As soon as everyone was seated, the doorbell rang. Eleanor hastily made her way out of the chair. “That is the guest that I invited for tonight’s dinner. I hope that doesn’t bother you.”
She waited for his approval. He shook his head and mumbled, “No, not at all.” Chuck cringed at the fact that he was going to have to impress another person. He had no idea who she had invited but it would probably be someone who was just like her. Cold, demanding, sometimes cruel, and very hard to impress. The thought made him want to heave. Blair glanced at him with a worried expression on her face. He shook his head to signal that he was fine.
They heard Eleanor chatting with someone at the door and then heard footsteps. He turned his head to see who this surprise guest was that he was going to have to put up with and almost fell out of his chair. It was Bart. His own damn father. He just stared back at him, like he had never seen him before. The knot that had been forming in his stomach only got bigger. Now he had to deal with his father and Blair’s mother. That would definitely be something to tell his son one day.
Blair’s mouth was hanging open and Bart lightly touched his shoulder as he made his way over to sit next to him.
Eleanor took the seat next to Bart. “Blair, Chuck, as you can see I asked Bart to come along. I wasn’t happy when you asked me to do this Blair, just for the reason that I don’t think you should ever forgive him for what he’s done to you. He abandoned you and his own child, what makes you think that he’s not going to do it again?”
Blair was just about to answer but Eleanor interrupted her. “No, let me finish. I wanted Bart to come along and have dinner with us because there is no better person to know if Chuck is really sorry and is telling the truth during tonight’s dinner. He knows his own son and this is your one chance to right your life, Blair. You will be telling us the truth tonight, won’t you Bart?”
He looked stoically back at Eleanor. “If I don’t think Chuck has really changed his mind about Blair or the baby, I will certainly let my feelings be known on the matter.”
Chuck had to fight the urge to pull his hair out from his scalp. He needed to do something right now that would take some of the pressure off of him.
“Are you ready to begin?” Eleanor asked. It seemed more like a business meeting then an actual dinner. But that may have been for the best.
Eleanor put her hands under her chin and looked harshly at Chuck. “First of all, I would just like to say that I am very hurt that you would treat Blair like this. She’s been your best friend for years and to treat her like this is unacceptable. Why should any of us believe that you have really changed your mind about the baby? How do we know that you’re not going to do it again?”
It was his first test and he was determined to pass it. “Wow. You’ve started out with a really hard question for me.”
If it was possible Eleanor’s face got even scarier. “Are you telling me that you can’t already answer a question?”
Chuck watched as their dinner was brought out and set in front of them. He didn’t feel the least bit hungry. “I didn’t say that, Ms. Waldorf.”
Blair glanced at him cautiously but gave him an optimistic smile. He knew that she still didn’t believe in him a hundred percent and he was going to do his damndest so that she did. “I…” His nervousness got to the best of him and all of them looked at him like he had committed a cardinal sin. So he tried again. “The most important thing to say is that I love Blair, she is the only thing that matters to me anymore along with our baby. I’m eighteen and I was a total ass for what I did to Blair but I was scared out of my mind. I know that isn’t an excuse but that is when we were just starting our relationship and I panicked. I didn’t think that I ever wanted children because of my reputation.”
Bart and Eleanor both looked up at this point.
“I know that all of you know about my famous reputation as a womanizer and drinker, and just plain son of a bitch most of the time. And all of that is true, or it was. Not anymore. Ever since I’ve started having romantic feelings for Blair that has all changed. And now, I can’t imagine my life without her or our son. It’s all I want anymore.” He turned to face her. “I’m sorry again, Blair.”
She smiled widely and gripped his hand under the table. “I know, Chuck.” She whispered.
Some of the fear abated. This wasn’t so bad, he decided. He just had to be honest about everything and they both would be able to tell how sorry he was that he had done that to Blair and their child.
Eleanor nodded slowly but he could tell that she was secretly pleased with his answer. “Why did you change your mind?”
He smiled as he looked from Eleanor’s grim face, to his father’s stoic one, and finally to Blair’s grinning one. “That’s easy. For the month that I didn’t see Blair, all I could think about was how miserable I was and how much I wanted to be with her. Every day that passed that I couldn’t see her, all I thought about was how much I missed my best friend who I could tell anything, how much I missed the light that is Blair Waldorf, and then I came to miss even my own child though I hadn’t even met him yet. And most importantly, I missed the woman that I loved. I finally came to realize that I couldn’t be without her because without her in my life, it was like there was no life. I was just this empty shell of a man who went about everything normally but everything I did made me even more upset that I wasn’t with her. And then I finally knew that I wanted her and the baby. I always loved our child, I just didn’t know if I was cut out to be a father but now I am prepared to find out. And if I’m not, then I will do the best to my ability to make sure that I am making Blair and our son as happy as possible. I even think that what has happened to us will only make our relationship stronger in the long run. ”
A shocked silence fell over the dining room. Bart finally clapped him gently on the back. “It looks like you came prepared today, son. I like that.” He even managed to let out a little grimace of a smile.
His father’s approval made everything that much better and he turned to see Blair had tears in her eyes. “Are you okay?”
“I’m perfect.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Chuck saw that Eleanor looked completely dumbstruck.
Suddenly there was a loud squeal from Blair as she clapped her hand to her stomach and her face lit up with the most beautiful smile that he had ever seen. “The baby just kicked.” Her excitement was palpable and he couldn’t help but get excited.
“Really?” He asked.
She grabbed his hand and moved it to her stomach. “You have to feel it, Chuck. It was such an amazing feeling and it was the first time that it happened.”
He lightly rested his hand on her stomach and waited. Nothing happened. He felt a wave of disappointment wash over him and just as he was about to move his hand away from her belly, there was a solid thud behind his hand. Blair squealed and he couldn’t help but lean over and hug her to him. “I can’t believe that I just got to feel that, Blair. I think that is one of the most amazing things I have ever felt. Our baby just kicked for the first time! That’s our baby.”
“I know.” She giggled. Blair never giggled, so it was definitely the hormones taking over. He couldn’t help himself; he leaned over and pressed his lips to hers as his hand still was on her stomach. It was a sweet and gentle kiss, a promise of things to come. She placed a hand behind his head to deepen the kiss.
Eleanor cleared her throat and they finally broke apart. He looked at his father to see him grinning and he grinned back at him. Another amazing thing that happened tonight and to think he had been so nervous he could barely breathe before.
“Well, I do have to admit that you have given some thought to this evening Chuck and have come prepared. But I’m not satisfied yet.” Eleanor said. “Do you plan on ever marrying my daughter? You’ve done things backward.”
“Mom!” Blair said in mortification. “That is a horrible thing to ask.”
“It’s okay, B.” He heard himself say. He looked Eleanor straight in the eye. “We have never discussed marriage at all and we’re eighteen, that’s not something we’re thinking of doing right now.”
Eleanor’s disapproval showed all over her face. “Humph.”
He continued, “But with that being said, I fully expect for Blair to be my wife one day. I don’t think it’s in our immediate future, right now we are just concerned about our son but there is nothing more than that. I want for us to be a true family in every sense of the word one day. I will be prepared to take the plunge with her one day and I will not allow the fear to overtake me again.” He turned to Blair. “I love you and nothing we do will ever be bad. I even want after we’re married one day, to have a few more Blair and Chucks running around with us.”
Blair bit her lip and her eyes teared up. “I love you too, Chuck.”
“I know you do.” He whispered back.
They stared at each other for several moments until Blair turned back to her mother. “Are you satisfied now? I think Chuck has said everything that you need to know.”
Before she could answer, Bart stood up. “I think that I will leave the three of you to it. You have really changed, Chuck. Nothing makes me prouder than that.” He placed a hand gently on Blair’s shoulder. “I’ll see you later, Blair?”
She nodded. “Of course, Bart.”
Chuck watched as his father left and he had finally done. He had made his father proud, he had won back Blair, and now all he had to do was wait and see what Eleanor’s reaction to this would be. He watched her as she contemplated everything that he had just said.
“Blair, I would like to speak to you for a moment in private.” Blair grinned at him and walked with her mother up the stairs and into another bedroom. Now all he had to do was wait. Again.

XOXO
As soon as they had stepped into her bedroom, Blair rounded on her. “What do you think?” She captured her bottom lip between her teeth and pulled it in a worried fashion.
Eleanor looked at her solemnly. “When you asked me to do this Blair, I’ll admit that I wasn’t pleased. When you love somebody and they do what Chuck has done to you, it almost seems impossible to forgive him. And I knew that at the start of tonight that he wouldn’t get through to me about how he’s changed because I hate him for what he has done to you. You didn’t deserve any of this and how you’ve handled it all, only makes me proud that you are my daughter. You know that I wouldn’t have liked to see this happen to you but now that is has, it only shows me what an incredible and strong woman that you have turned into.”
Blair’s eyes reflected the sadness that she felt at hearing her mother’s words. “You don’t think I should forgive him then?”
“That is entirely up to you, Blair.”
Blair sighed with aggravation. “That is why I asked you to do this mother. I wanted your opinion on whether you thought that Chuck really has changed his mind, and if he does want to be there for me and the baby. I know how I feel but I need someone else to tell me because my love for Chuck usually overrides what is right.”
“As much as it pains to me say this, anyone can see that Chuck is very sorry for what he did to you and the baby.” Eleanor explained. “The way he looks at you proves how much he loves you, Blair. You can hear the remorse in his voice and the way his eyes glaze over with regret whenever he talks about it. He loves you like a man should love a woman, Blair. And I know how much you love him, so there is really nothing left to talk about, is there?”
Before Eleanor had even finished what she was saying, Blair had dashed from the room and made her way downstairs. Eleanor smiled. What it felt like to be in love.

XOXO
As he saw Blair walking back towards him, the fear that he had felt before started to kick back into overdrive. When she reached the table, he grabbed her hand. “I feel like I’m on fucking trial here, B. What did she say?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and played with some of the loose strands of hair around his collar. “Why don’t you forget about my mother and come upstairs with me.” Blair said with a lecherous grin. “Unless you don’t want to have sex with a pregnant lady.”
He was out of his seat before she had even finished the sentence and was carefully walking her up the stairs. “Of course I want to have sex with my pregnant lover.” He kissed her lightly on the lips. Her hands slid up to the front of his suit jacket. Her lips parted and he fed her a slick, wet, devouring kiss that slammed into her and raised her to the balls of her feet. Before things got to out of hand he heard her mutter against his neck, “Girlfriend.”
“What?”
She grinned. “You’re about to have sex with your pregnant girlfriend.” She explained. “I’m not just your lover, am I?”
“No, you aren’t. Definitely my pregnant girlfriend and that only has room to grow.”
She pulled him inside of her bedroom and closed the door. There would be no more talking that night.

XOXO
Chuck wrapped an arm around Blair as they entered Petit Tresor. This had entirely been her idea but he wanted to make her happy, so he decided to go along with her. “Why are we here now, Blair? We have months before the baby comes.”
She pulled a cute little face that had him aching to take her back to bed. “I want to be prepared, Chuck. You know how I am with this kind of stuff.”
As soon as the door had closed behind them, saleswoman started to flock over to them. “Can I help you find anything? What are you looking for?”
He looked from one to the next, and chuckled while keeping an arm draped over Blair’s shoulders. “I think we’re probably going to need everything. We’re new at this, if you didn’t notice.”
Three hours later, they had basically bought out the store. He laughed as he signed his name on the bill. They had bought a car seat, stroller, high chair, crib, playpen, changing table, dresser, rocker, ottoman, more clothes than you could count, diapers, wipes, washcloths, bottles, a first aid kit, and a baby monitor. He figured that they would be set for a while.
As they left the store, he was surprised to see that he still had a grin on his face. Buying all of those things for the baby had been a lot more fun that he had expected. He dropped off Blair at home and made his way to his father’s. Bart had called him early in the morning and said that he wanted to discuss something that was very important. Those words scared him but he was anxious to see what this was all about.

XOXO
He entered his father’s study and found Bart at his usual spot behind his desk. Bart raised his head when he saw that he was standing outside of the door. “Come in, Chuck. I know that you were probably celebrating with Blair about everything last night.” He smiled. “But I just couldn’t wait to ask you something and it is very important to me.”
Bart’s words puzzled him but he quickly took a seat opposite him. “What is it? Is everything okay?”
Bart nodded. “Yes, everything is fine. I just again want to tell you how proud I am of you for last night. You did the right thing and I know you didn’t do it because you felt you had too, you did it because you love Blair and your unborn child. That is something that you should be so very proud of yourself for. And I know that you’re probably still worried that you’re not going to be a good father but you are. You’ve already proven that you’re going to be much better than I ever was. Granted, that wasn’t very good.” He waved his hand. “I’m getting off track. The reason I asked you here is because I wanted to know if you would be interested in something.”
“What?” He asked anxiously. He had a feeling that it was going to be big news.
“I want to know if you’re ready to become a member of Bass Industries with me.”

To Be Continued…

A/N: I know that I haven’t updated this fic in such a long time but I’ve felt uninspired with it. And finally a few days ago, I thought of something and this is what I came up with. A big thank you to everyone who has supported this story. I think it will be never ending. I’m not sure which fic I will be updating next, so if anyone has any suggestions, I would be open to hearing them. :D