Disclaimer: I, like everyone else on this cite, do not own GG and never will…

Christmas: 1992

"You what?" inquired Eleanor Waldorf with an accusing tone in her icy voice.

"I invited Bart." Harold flatly responded.

"Why on earth would you do that Harold? The man reeks of scotch, he can pollute and entire room in under three minutes!" snapped Eleanor, hands practically glues to her hips.

"Well, what do you expect, El? The man's wife just died!"

"I'm aware of that Harold. But I'm also aware that it is Blair's first Christmas and I do not want her Burberry outfit smelling like alcohol! This is the first real time she will be introduced to all our friends at a social gathering. She needs to be presentable."

"I'm sure the Vanderbilt's are not going to think she has a drinking problem, she's 5 months old! Plus I convinced Bart to have the nanny bring little Charles, and the Archibald's are bringing their boy, and Lily is bringing Serena as well. He needs to get out of the house Eleanor- he has been locked up in there since May. God knows if the baby has ever been anywhere but the penthouse and the hospital. This will be good—for both of them."

"I suppose you are right," Eleanor conceded with a softening tone. "But the minute someone asks why Baby Blair smells like Bacardi, I'm throwing him out."

Four hours later the Waldorf Penthouse was adorned elaborately with Christmas decor. Eleanor never did anything half-ass. The tables were filled with Champaign and holiday punch as well as hand-made pastries from the French chef she had flown in from Pairs a week before. The head chef from Café des Artists was in charge of the main meal and had to draw up 4 draft menus before Mrs. Waldorf herself gave the stamp of approval.

The guest began arriving at 7 o'clock sharp. Lily arrived first, her date being the blonde hair girl she held in her arms. Serena Cecelia van der Woodsen was a 6- month old who captivated everyone with her bright green eyes and her two-toothed smile. The child was dressed in a gorgeous, yet simple red dress—but was missing her right saddle shoe. Even with the incomplete ensemble- she was a virtually perfect child.

Serena was placed in the playpen nest to Blair who was propped up sucking on a pacifier and taking in the world around her. She was trapped in this playpen while all the others were walking around so elegantly. She struggled to pull herself up to get a better look at the beautiful people walking through the door- but her attempt was to no avail. Blair's eyes narrowed and he little eyebrow curved up. If she wanted out of this playpen she had to try harder. She recognized he father standing in the vicinity of, what seemed like, her prison cell. She made a sweet noise and extended he little arms toward her father. When that went unnoticed, she furrowed he brow and cooed a little louder. Again, she was not being recognized over the crowd of people flooding into her home. Blair then decided to use the tool she knew always worked—the water works. She began to cry for her father. He immediately turned around and scooped up his little girl. As soon as she was in his arms he sobs stopped and were quickly replaced by a cutsie smile.

"Now that's the Blair I like to see. Come on Babe, let's go meet some people."

The Archibald's showed up and placed Nathaniel in the playpen with Serena. They seemed to get along in their little caged world.

While Blair was busy getting gushed over by UES Socialites, a stumbling Bart Bass entered closely followed by a young Asian woman carrying a small child in a miniature grey suit. An awkward hush fell over the room.

"Bart!" Harold greeted, approaching the man with an extended hand, "So glad you can make it!"

Bart simply nodded, obviously uncomfortable at the attention he was getting.

"Let me take your coat, and held yourself to some food, it's exquisite!" Again, Bart replied with a nod.

Eleanor rushed over to her husband, "Did you see the boy?"

"Yes, I did." Harold responded with a sigh.

"He looks so much like… "

"Misty." Harold finished.

Both were quiet, remembering the loss of their dear friend.

The nanny placed the newly arrived baby in the play pen with the others, and Harold decided it was time for Blair to have a rest. There was four of them. Each sitting in a corner of the playpen in the Waldorf penthouse. Staring at each other. Serena started to giggle and Nate soon followed, being entertained by a small rattle in his hand. Blair was holding a small stuffed animal in each hand, and the new arrival stat perfectly still, unaware of how to behave around so many people. Blair took the animal in her right hand and threw it the small distance across the playpen, hitting the boy in the face. She only smiled. He picked up the toy and examined it—seeming utterly bewildered by it.

The babies spent the next hour or so in the playpen while the adults mingled and mixed… with the ever so present exception of Bart Bass. He had not spoken a word to anyone all night long. He sat in a chair in the corner with a glass of scotch and a plate of holiday cookies. Many people attempted to make small talk with him-- talk about he rising empire that Bass Enterprises was shaping up to be—but he ignored everyone.

However, over in the corner, despite the din that was enveloping the room, he over heard five or six women deep in conversation.

"The van der Woodsen baby is adorable, did you see those eyes?"

"Yes, Serena is a little gem! But look at the Archibald boy!"

"He lucked out in the gene pool! I mean look at his parents—Any child of Anne's would be geougeous!"

"Blair is a charmer."

"Yes, she definitely knows how to work a room!"

"What a soft complexion- I wish for baby skin like hers!"

"And the other boy…"

"Yes, he arrived late, who is that?"

"Ummmmm….."

Bart stood from his chair and pushed it back, the noise grabbing the attention of everyone in the room.

"He," he said with great pride, " He is Chuck Bass."