6Since she wasn't due for another 2 months and she was unable to fly. Lily and Eleanor decided to surprise Chuck and Blair with a visit. They were going to arrive the first week of May and stay for 2 weeks, they said they were coming to celebrate a late Easter and Passover but really, they were just both concerned about their kids.
Eleanor and Cyrus arrived on Sunday with Lily and Rufus, they brought Dan along with them as he was finished classes and needed to get out of the city and his own head. Blair was glad to have her friend around and Chuck was willing to tolerate Humphrey. Everyone settled into their assigned rooms and then they all met in the dining room to have dinner. Everyone asked lots of questions about Blair and the babies. Chuck tried to deflect and talk about New York or BIEE, but Blair just smiled and answered their questions. After dinner all the parents retired to their rooms and Chuck went to his study to prepare for a big meeting, he had the next day. Blair and Dan went to the den to watch Pride and Prejudice, they still loved to watch movies together as they had the same taste in Cinema. After the movie they said good night and Blair went to her room, Chuck was in be waiting for her. "Did you and Humphrey have a good time?" he asked looking up at her while she changed into her pyjamas.
"As a matter of fact, we didn't. Dan is in a mood; he really needs to move on from Serena I need my intelligent movie watching friend back. He didn't even fight me on my movie choice. Too bad we don't know anyone our age around here that we could set him up with." She said as she tried to get into the bed. She refused to use the step stool Chuck had bought her, so he came around the bed and helped her in, she sat down with a humph upset that she couldn't do it alone and that she couldn't think of anyone for Dan.
"Blair just use the stool next time. The babies are heavy, and I don't need you to fall getting into bed and injure yourself or them." he said assuming her humph was about the bed issue.
"Yes, I know Chuck, I just don't want to need it. But that's only part of the reason I am upset. How can neither of us know a girl for Dan? We know so many people." She said.
"There's always Vanessa." Chuck said.
"Hell No. We will think of someone better suited for him." She said lying back in the bed and snuggling into Chuck's side.
Chuck was just about to dose off when Blair sat up straight and said "I've got it"
"What, what are you talking about..." Chuck said in a daze?
"Cecelia, the daughter of my father's neighbour in France. She is single and American, and she is studying literature at Columbia, they have a ton in common. Now under what pretense can we get her here?" she said looking at Chuck for an answer.
"Uh... isn't she like a photographer on the side. Why don't you get her to come and take some of those maternity photos everyone always takes when pregnant?" Chuck said
"That's brilliant, I mean I didn't want to be one of those women who takes those kinds of pictures but hey at least it's a way to get her here and I can say I chose her because I feel comfortable around her. You are so smart Chuck. I am going to go and email her right now and see if I can't get her to join Daddy and Roman on the plane tomorrow night." she slid out of the bed and got her laptop from the "lounge area" in their room. She quickly sent out an email to Cecelia and her father. She got a response from Cecelia immediately (it was only 11pm) saying she didn't really do those kinds of photos, but she was willing to come to the villa and try for Blair. She knew she wouldn't hear from her father till morning, so she shut her laptop and went back over to the bed Chuck had fallen asleep, so she was forced to use the stupid step-stool to get into bed.
The next day was spent mostly with her mother and Lily they had agreed to do a half/half dinner rather than 2 large dinners. So, Blair had the staff work with her mother and mother-in-law as well as Cyrus to plan out a Passover Seder Easter Dinner for the following evening. They would have done it on the Monday but her dad and Roman were getting in late on Monday night and Blair refused to do it without them. Speaking of her father he liked her plan, he and Roman felt Cecelia was much to dedicated to school and should find someone nice and Harold liked Dan, so he agreed to bring him up casually on the flight. Her plan was going swell, Rufus was keeping Dan busy, Chuck was working and everyone else was working on this dinner leaving Blair plenty of time to rest and relax.
At 9pm that evening the Bass jet landed on their landing strip. Chuck went out to greet the guests, Blair wanted to join him, but Chuck complained the terrain was too bumpy and it was dark out and she lamented letting him go alone. But at the last second, she convinced Dan to go with him saying she would rather Chuck have some company just in case. The staff was going as well to get all the luggage, but Dan didn't need to know that.
Blair sat in the sunroom with her guests waiting for Chuck and Dan to return. They were back about 10 minutes later, she tried to run over to her father but she was not able to do that at her current size so she waddled over to him slowly, he met her halfway, and gave him as big a hug as she could. She did notice that Dan and Cecelia were quite wrapped up in a conversation about something or other which made her smile. Cecelia eventually realized where she was and made her way over to Blair greeting her. Blair introduced her to the rest of her guests, and they all sat down for a coffee, Blair couldn't have any, but she had a nice fruity tea. Slowly everyone started to trickle out of the room leaving only Blair, Chuck, Dan and Cecelia. Dan and Cecelia were so immersed in their conversation that they Chuck and Blair saying good night and leaving them alone.
As soon as they were in their bedroom with the door closed Blair squealed "I told you they would hit it off."
"I've never doubted your match making skills my love." Chuck said going over to the closet to get his pyjamas. Blair followed him and put on her pyjamas as well. They both got into bed, Chuck helped Blair, and decided to cuddle and watch some TV before going to bed.
They both fell asleep not long after. Blair woke up at 4am in excruciating pain. She tried to see if it would pass but it seemed as soon as it did it started again. She immediately woke Chuck up hitting him with a pillow.
"What? What's happening?" Chuck said in his dazed state.
"Something is wrong, I'm in excruciating pain, I think I might be in labour." she said.
"Oh Lord. Ok. Here let me help you out of the bed. I'll grab you some clothes. Do you think you can change?" he said helping her out of bed. she nodded clutching her stomach.
He helped her into a dress and put on whatever was closest of his clothes, he called their staff and got one of them to bring their car up to the front of the villa. He helped her down the steps from their room however as she was walking another pain hit and she screamed. Everyone woke up and came into the hallway.
"What's going on?" Eleanor said.
"Blair's in labour, we are going to the hospital." Chuck replied in a strained voice as Blair was squeezing his hand tightly.
"Oh, my goodness. Charles let me grab my clothes I will come with you." Eleanor said, Blair just nodded happy that her mother would be by her side. Chuck continued to walk Blair down to the car, Eleanor met them as they were going down the stairs, which was helpful.
They met the car at the front door, luckily, they were able to get a hold of their driver so Eleanor and Chuck could sit in the back with Blair. Who at this point was crying in pain?
"It's too early." She said in between sobs.
"I know my love, but everything will be fine." Chuck said trying to reassure her.
"Blair darling don't worry the twins will be fine its only 1 month, they are just keen like their mother and ready to meet us all." Eleanor said wiping the tears from her daughter's eyes.
It took 10 minutes to get to the hospital, they brought her right up to maternity and hooked her up to all the monitors, their doctor was on the way, so they were in a room waiting.
About 5 minutes later a nurse popped her head in saying they had some visitors in the waiting room. Eleanor had told Cyrus to get the rest of the parents to the hospital. Though Dan and Cecelia had come as well. They were all waiting patiently for news.
About 20 minutes later the pain had calmed down a little due to some drugs the nurse had given Blair. Her doctor entered "So Mrs. Bass you think you are in labour. Well let's take a look shall we." she the blanket covering Blair's bottom half and helped her into the stirrups. Blair was just looking at Chuck waiting for any news.
"Good news Mrs. Bass, you are not in labour. You are just experiencing Braxton hicks; your cervix is still very much closed. I will review your blood work to confirm and then we will do an ultrasound just to make sure that there are no other issues that brought this on and after that you are free to go." She said getting up and going out to the hallway to check the blood test records on her charts.
"I am so stupid. I should have known. I have read all about Braxton hicks." Blair said moving her feet out of the stirrups.
"No, you aren't dear, reading about something does not prepare you for the reality of the situation, lots of people think they are in labour when experiencing Braxton Hicks. I did when I was in labour with you, twice actually." Eleanor said.
Blair looked up at her mother and smiled, she was quite happy they had repaired their relationship and she was able to have her mother in the room with her right now.
The doctor returned a moment later "The blood test confirms the Braxton hicks. Now let's just get an ultrasound to make sure everything else is ok." she said wheeling the machine over to Blair's bed side. Eleanor moved to the side of the bed Chuck was on to allow the doctor more room. She lifted Blairs gown leaving the blanket to cover her bottom half, then placed the Gel on her luckily the hospital had one of those warmers. She began moving the wand and looking at the screen. From what Blair and Chuck could see everything looked as it did the week prior at their last appointment. However, the doctors face said something different.
"So, everything looks good except your placenta is a little low lying for this late in your pregnancy. Not placenta previa exactly but if we don't try and correct it now you will end up with placenta previa. I am recommending bed rest." Blair frowned. "I know it's not ideal but it's what is needed. You need to stay in bed, not a seated position in bed lying down with a few pillows under your bottom. Basically, we are trying to use gravity to our advantage and see if we can get the placenta to move on its own. This means no sexual intercourse of any kind; no swimming and you are only to get up to use the bathroom with someone helping you to the bathroom. Let's try this for the next 10 days and see how it goes." the doctor said.
Blair frowned but ultimately agreed that if it's what is best for the twins, she would obviously do it. Chuck helped her get dressed and into a wheelchair, then the three of them wheeled over to the waiting room. "It was a false alarm." Eleanor said, "Though it was a blessing in disguise because they did an ultrasound and Blair has a low-lying placenta, so she has to be on bed rest."
"Thank you, mother." Blair said through gritted teeth, because everyone there just needed to know her medical history. "Let's just go home please, I'm tired." Blair said.
"Of course, Blair." Chuck said. He pushed her toward the elevator and out to the front of the hospital where their car was waiting. He didn't even wait for the family or Eleanor; he was so lost in his thoughts.
"Chuck" Blair said placing her hand on his, this snapped him out of his daze, and she saw his eyes for the first time since the ultrasound. He was breaking inside; she squeezed his hand. "Chuck I am going to be fine. I know this was your concern from the beginning, but the doctor said it's not placenta previa it's just a lower lying placenta that hopefully can be fixed. So, let's not think the worst until we get through the next 10 days." she said pulling his towards her and kissing the top of his head as he leaned in and put his head on her shoulder.