One

Blair Waldorf eyed the elegant invitation sitting open at the edge of her perfectly manicured desk and tried to squash the twinge of jealousy she felt. Well, it could have been me, she thought to herself, happy that after all these years she could at least replace the word "should" with "could." Fourteen years ago, as they began their third year of prep school, Blair still had herself convinced she would be the woman calling herself Mrs. Archibald, even though she was pretty sure she knew even then that her and Nate were never destined for each other the way she had always thought. She was immensely grateful to herself that she didn't end up finding a way to convince herself to settle but she still felt that guilty pang of envy. Nate would have been a perfect husband-boring, totally not for her, but incredibly nice and perfect. It was too bad she didn't love him. Nate, as it turned out though, was also a perfect friend and she was glad she at least allowed herself to keep him in her life. He was one of a very select group that she had actually let be privy to her life after Constance Billard. Well, at least some of it she thought to herself. She sighed as she toyed with the response card. She had to admit that despite wishing she was the one happily reporting her pending nuptials, she was very happy for them-it had taken him forever, but after some diversions off the path he was meant to take, Nate had finally gotten his head out of the sand and proposed to Vanessa. They were, as she had realized many years ago, meant for each other. She had even come to love Vanessa and call her friend despite their rocky first years around one another. Blair was guiltily able to admit how much of a witch she'd been in her teen years and was proud of who she had become. True, she still knew how to manipulate and snipe when necessary, but her life experiences showed her just how important it was to give people a chance even if something on the outside seemed unattractive. She smiled to herself proudly as she realized how unimportant her youthful vanity had become and knew that even though she was still rolling in it, her love of money had dwindled. Maybe it was because she had actually began earning the money she was so easily given from her fateful birth into the Waldorf name and maybe it was because she had an appreciation for what money could do for those around you. Maybe it was just because she'd had so many disappointments she realized that her money was no good when it came to what really mattered. She dropped the response card and looked around her office, her view of the Eiffel Tower magnificent. France had been good to her-she was never questioned about her past and no one knew her well, not even her assistants. Her ever faithful Dorota, who insisted on helping her once she moved and never left, was the only one on the continent that knew the real Blair, old and new. She had been glad when her mother announced four years ago that Eleanor Waldorf Designs Inc. was opening a European headquarters in Paris. She decided to put her MBA to use and her mother had hired her as CFO for the new division. She was sure that Eleanor had some ulterior motives in whisking her away but she was more than pleased to escape the spotlight of the Upper East Side given her status at the time. Four years had flown by and her she was, the women she never knew or dreamed she'd be at nearly 31. As she continued to drift in her thoughts the harsh buzz of her intercom broke through.

"Mademoiselle Waldorf?" a heavily accented voice chimed "There is a call from a Mademoiselle Van Der Woodsen on line four-may I put her through?"

"Yes Brigitte, I'll take the call" she replied, excited to hear from Serena again so soon and excited to share some news.

"Oh my goodness!" Serena exclaimed once on the line "I'm getting to talk to you two whole times in one week!"

Blair laughed. "Ok, so maybe I'm a little busy from time to time. That's why I gave you the personal line though-but you always seem to call this one!"

"I know, I know, but I just can't get over your official business office-y stuff-it's too much fun to hear all your titles and such" Serena giggled. "I am just calling to see if you got your invite to the wedding and if you think you're going…New York is a long way for just a weekend, especially this close to Fashion Week. I'm sure N and V would understand if you couldn't make it…" She trailed off. "..and if you think it might be awkward around Chu..."

"No, not at all," Blair cut her off, a little too hastily. She took a breath and calmly added "I have been milling the event in my head all day-so yes, and it should be easier when I mov…"

Serena jumped in and in a shrill voice reminiscent of their teen years shrieked "I AM SO EXCITED-I feel like I never get to see you or the babies!! When will you come in so I can see them…and you of course"

Blair smiled "S, I think that with birthday number four steadily approaching, you can't keep calling them babies!"

"I know B, but I rarely see you guys and so I keep pretending they are just staying the same cute little twins they were when they were born." Serena sighed "Really though, when are you going to fly in-I can't wait and I want to meet you at the tarmac! Besides, we need to work out the details about the clinic-Vanessa and I are getting everything ready now that we're officially done with residency. I know we'll have to do a lot over teleconference since the wedding isn't for another six weeks and you won't be in until then, but at least at that point everything with the zoning people should be done and you can see the building."

"Actually Serena, I think I'll be available to discuss things in person, likely even next week" She could hear Serena begin to bubble with anticipation again so she hurried in as her eyes settled on the box of things she'd began to pack up off her desk. "Before you cut me off again, I was about to say something. I've really been thinking and now I know-I'm ready."

Serena's excitement turned serious as she gasped. "Are you sure?" she asked tentatively, hardly believing what her best friend was saying.

"I am," Blair said definitively. "I'm coming home."