A/N: This is my first 'Gossip Girl' story. It is sort-of AU... originally I was planning to write a"Christmas" episode that would fit right between "O Brother Where Bart Thou" (2x13) and "In the realm of the Basses" (2x14), but it will eventually become AU (once episode 14 has aired).

Needless to say - it contains spoilers for 2x13 and probably some (minor) ones for 2x14.

I really, really hope you people like this. I'm not sure yet how long it will turn out to be, but I expect more than five chapters. ;)

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The Nightmare During Christmas

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1: Follow me in merry measure

And it came to pass in those days that the Winter holidays were, apparently, best not spent in the city. Let's look at how things became all… festive from Bart Bass's funeral on. S made the sweet escape with her own personal Johnny Dweeb to Buenos Aires. The rest of the Rhodes-van-der-Woodsen-Bass monstrosity, which is CeCe, Lily and E, left the city to talk things over or something. E sure looked hyped (you know how he gets).

Rufus Humphrey buried himself in shock and rock, while shipping Lonely Boy (who has just become a bit lonelier) and little J off to their mother. It took the newlyweds of the Waldorf-Rose household only 24 hours to get onto the plane to France. We should also mention our favorite Ick-Girl, Vanessa, who took her broke ass home to Vermont.

Ah, well, and then there was that one departure and the incident with a letter which explained it all… not.

Spotted:

B, without headband, spending the day with everyone's new BFF, Dorota, at Café Sabarsky. Still no news about her shattered half, that took off almost a fortnight ago, which might explain the sunglasses and the amount B ate before heading straight to the ladies' room.

And then there's N, re-established UES Prince, visiting his father in jail. It's safe to say he is the only visitor The Captain's had in weeks and very unlikely to assume that Mrs. Archibald even knows where the prison is located.

gossip_ftw mailed in, stating that even she and her friends have received calls from both the Waldorf and the Archibald residence, asking if they had any information about a certain Chuck Bass's whereabouts. Unfortunately, they were of no help. No kidding.

Things truly seem grave.

Deck the halls, Upper East Siders, 'tis the season to be jolly. And, with only the former Golden Couple in town, I'll be counting my blessings.

And who am I? That's another secret I'll never tell.

You know you love me.

XOXO,

Gossip Girl