Christmas: 2018

"CHUCK!" Blair screamed at the top of her lungs.

"What?!?" he replied, bolting down the spiral staircase of their Upper East Side penthouse.

"Does the tree look crooked?" she inquired, tilting her head a little to the left to examine if it did indeed make it look more symmetrical.

"Damnit Blair!" he said, descending the last few stairs, "You almost gave me a fucking heart attack! Do not scream like that unless you actually have something worth screaming about"

"I seem to recall you enjoying me screaming your name last night…" She replied moving from her spot in front of the tree closer to him.

"Don't start Blair, that's different. You cannot just go around the house screaming like a lunatic, what kind of example are you setting?"

"Oh please Chuck, I was just having a little fun. Plus, she is out with Eleanor today… probably adding items to her never ending Christmas List. Thanks for suggesting that by the way!"

"Hey, when we were at the Hamptons in July and she said "Daddy—can you get me a parasol" and a responded "Add it to your Christmas List, Angel," I didn't think she would actually start a Christmas list that day and keep adding to it for the next 5 and a half months!"

"I'm sorry, have you met our daughter? She is a feisty little thing who will do whatever it takes to get what she wants."

"I didn't think I would be out maneuvered by a 3-year old!"

"Which reminds me, did you already wrap the parasol, or should I?" she said to her husband in a half serious… yet half mocking tone.

"Yes, B. It is in the rectangular box with the pink ribbon on it. It is locked in the cupboard under the stairs until tomorrow tonight."

"The tea set too?"

"Yes, that too."

"And the…"

"Blair, it is all there. Stop worrying!" Chuck said taking her into a hug.

"I know," she sighed into his chest, "I just want every Christmas for her to be perfect."

"I know. And we are doing pretty well so far!"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"What time is Eleanor bringing her back?" Inquired Chuck.

"2:30," replied Blair, "Then we're all making Christmas cookies before the guests arrive at 7."

"Please tell me Serena is not baking with you today."

"Of course she is, don't be ridiculous."

"Me ridiculous!?! Last time you left her alone in the kitchen, we had over 3,000 dollars in damages!"

"But we're still good friends with the firemen who came! You had drinks with them last week!"

"That's besides the point! I don't want her lighting my little girl on fire!"

"Charles Bass! You know that Darcy means the world to Serena! She would never do anything like that!"

"Just don't leave them alone in the kitchen together. Even if you have to use the bathroom—Just call me down."

"Do you really think Serena is that irresponsible?"

"No," he said brushing a hair out of his wife's face, "I just think Darcy is that irreplaceable."