BekaRoo: hey! You are back! Thanks for the review!

Bloodyhell95: again such a high rating! Thanks a lot! Keeps me motivated!

Magnus57: thank you so much! I thought playing with the children's names would be fun!

Carolyn-NYC: that's the longest review I have ever got! And boy was I glad to read it! Thank you soo much Carolyn! Loved your review! And yes, angst is on the way! Xoxo!

Keep the reviews coming!

Chapter 3: The Party

Blair gasped as she opened the big box which was placed on her bed. "I got it for you", Eleanor Waldorf smiled at her daughter. Blair grinned happily, picking the dress carefully out of the box. It was a light pink gown, with noodle straps. It had heavy ruffles from the waist down.

"Do you like it?" Eleanor asked Blair. "I love it!" Blair exclaimed in reply.

Eleanor said, "Good". Then she turned to leave Blair's room, "I want you to wear it to the party".

Blair nodded her head in response. Smiling, she turned to examine the dress in the mirror. She didn't notice Eleanor leave her room. She was more excited to see Dan's reaction to her gown. She knew pink was Dan's favourite colour on her! She had also decided to introduce him to Eleanor, officially-as her boyfriend.

"Dorota!" she called. She needed to get ready for the party which was being held in Eleanor Waldorf's honour- for winning the 'Best Designer Award' at the Paris Fashion Week.

-o0o-

Blair was just wearing her small diamond studs in her ears when Dorota came to her with a box in hand.

Blair smiled. She had immediately recognized that the box was a jewelry box. But the brand didn't look familiar. Maybe it was from France- another gift from mother?

Blair excitedly took the box from Dorota who was equally excited. As Blair slowly opened the lid of the box, she heard Dorota gasp.

Blair could only stare at the delicate diamond necklace, nestled intricately in the box. "There's a card", Dorota spoke, looking at the card placed on the inside of the box. Blair took the card and read:

To the beautiful Blair,

Love,

Louis.

Blair gasped. This beautiful necklace was a gift from Louis? Why would he send her such an expensive gift?

Eleanor Waldorf breezed in the room then. Dorota, sensing Blair's confusion said, "Miss Waldorf, you look wonderful!"

Blair shut the box and placed it on her dresser. "Yes, mother. You look lovely", she added.

"Why, thank you!" Eleanor exclaimed in delight. Eleanor was wearing a pristine white strapless figure-hugging gown. She was wearing ruby chandeliers in her ears with a matching bracelet.

"I'm just about ready", Blair hurried to the mirror and pouted to check if her lipstick was applied evenly.

Eleanor noticed the box on Blair's dresser. She went ahead and opened it. "Oh my!" she breathed.

"Is this a gift from the prince?" Eleanor asked.

Blair nodded. "How lovely of Louis!" Eleanor exclaimed. She examined the necklace further with her expert eyes.

"Well then, why aren't you wearing it?" she demanded.

Blair shook her head. "I want to keep it simple". She looked at herself in the mirror. Blair had decided to go with the minimum accessories look.

"Nonsense!" Eleanor scoffed, as she delicately took the necklace out of the box, holding it in her hands. "It would compliment you dress".

Blair had loved the neckpiece. But she didn't want to wear it because it was a gift from Louis. She didn't want to give Louis the wrong idea. She was with Dan, and that was not going to change. The sooner she told her mother about Dan, the better.

Eleanor stood behind Blair and gently placed the necklace around her neck, fastening its delicate clasp. "There", Eleanor said, "now you are ready".

Blair shook her head. The necklace was exquisite. But she had decided that she would return it to Louis- maybe not tonight that would seem rude. But tomorrow morning, she would send it back. And for that reason, she couldn't wear it tonight.

"Mother", Blair said. "I can't wear this".

"Blair…." Eleanor looked at her daughter. "A gift should always be honoured". Then she moved elegantly out of the room, snapping her fingers at Dorota to follow.

Dorota threw a worried glance at Blair before following Eleanor.

Blair took a deep breath and picking up her clutch, she walked towards the door, without a backward glance in the mirror.

-o0o-

"Dan!" Blair called as she spotted him standing at the drinks counter. He turned and smiled at her. He was looking handsome in a grey tuxedo. Still smiling, he walked towards her.

Blair waited, blushing when Dan winked at her. "What is it with you and pink?" he muttered when he reached her. "I can't seem to keep my eyes off you".

Blair grinned, happy that Dan had liked her dress. Dan reached for her hand and gave her a quick kiss on the check.

"How was your interview?" Blair asked just as Dan said, "I hope the flowers reached home?"

They looked at each other. "The interview was great. They loved me!" Dan rolled his eyes. Blair beamed. Then said, "Yes. The flowers reached home. Mother loved them".

Lily and Rufus were still out of town and had asked Dan to convey their wishes to Eleanor.

Dan had thought it fit to send the flowers home, instead of bringing them to the party. It was a good idea; Eleanor was too busy greeting everyone.

"How is your mother?" Dan asked, as they started walking towards Eleanor. "Very happy", Blair said, "still the same", she added, remembering her earlier conversion with her mother.

Dan squeezed her hand to comfort her. Blair squeezed it back. "I hope you are ready. I'm going to introduce you to mother."

"As ready as ever", Dan answered wryly. Blair looked at him. "With Eleanor Waldorf, you can't really be ready", he explained.

"Just like Blair Waldorf", raising his eyebrows at her, causing Blair to smack him.

"Ah! There's my daughter", came a booming voice. Blair turned from Dan to see Cyrus walking to greet her.

"Cyrus!" Blair exclaimed, hugging him tight. "How have you been?" she asked him.

"I'm delightful. When your mother's happy, I'm happy", Cyrus answered. He looked at Dan and commented, "There is a fine young man".

Dan shook Cyrus's hand, "Hello Sir. Dan Humphrey".

Cyrus nodded his head, looking from Blair to Dan. "Shall we all meet you mother?" he asked.

Blair smiled as she led the way to Eleanor, who was still surrounded by well-wishers. "Speaking of mother, why aren't you standing next to her?" Blair demanded.

"I had to attend to an urgent phone call", Cyrus explained. When Blair opened her moth to protest, Cyrus added, "No worries. She is not alone".

Blair got confused. What did Cyrus mean by that?

"No. she is not alone", Dan repeated, looking at Louis standing beside Eleanor.

Blair frowned. Before she could say anything however, Eleanor spotted her and waved her over. "My daughter!" she announced to everyone beside her.

Blair knew she would spend the next hour throwing fake smiles at people. Still holding Dan's hand in hers, Blair moved to join her mother.

"Blair" Louis greeted her, looking at her necklace. "Louis" Blair said.

"Blair and Louis have known each other since last summer", Eleanor beamed at Louis.

Blair was not happy. Couldn't her mother see that she was holding Dan's hand? That she was standing with him, beside him? Apparently, she couldn't. Blair could see that Cyrus was not looking too happy either.

"Blair" Dan whispered in her ear. She looked at him, her expression apologetic. "Would you like a drink?" he asked.

"Dan", Blair began. "I'll be right back", he nodded his head, then disappeared among the crowd. Blair sighed. Why did Eleanor have to behave this way?

Turning towards her mother, Blair noticed that she was alone. Louis was gone. So was Cyrus. Taking this opportunity, Blair started, "Mother…"

"Blair!" Eleanor exclaimed. "Did you see how everyone loved Louis? He is a very charming young man. And it helps that he is the future prince of Monaco." She beamed.

"Mother" Blair tried again. "Speaking of Louis, where did he disappear? And have you seen Cyrus, he said he'd be back in a minute" Eleanor scanned the crowded ballroom, smiling as people smiled at her.

Blair closed her eyes. This was going to be difficult. "Mother, Dan…"

"Why is he here?" Eleanor asked, refilling her glass from a passing waiter. They were dressed in grey waistcoats and a bow-tie.

Blair raised her eyebrows. "He is here to convey Lily and Rufus's wishes- to congratulate you himself."

"We received Lily and Rufus's wishes. He didn't have to be here", Eleanor took a sip from her drink.

"Mother!" Blair had started losing her temper.

"Here you go", Dan was standing next to Blair, holding her drink in his hands. Blair accepted the drink, giving him a tired smile. Dan raised his eyebrows.

"Daniel, would you please get a drink for Louis?" Eleanor said.

Dan turned his head to look at Eleanor, surprise evident on his face. Louis was standing behind Eleanor. He walked in front to join her, all the while looking at him.

"Mother!" Blair burst out. "Dan is not a waiter!"

Eleanor looked unperturbed. Only Louis seemed a little disturbed.

"Dan is my boyfriend. If you would have paid any attention to me, you'd have noticed".

Blair grabbed Dan's hand, "C'mon Dan". They walked away, leaving Eleanor and Louis to stare after them.

-o0o-

"Blair, slow down", Dan said. They were outside the ballroom. Blair was still shaking with anger.

"How could she do this?" Blair asked him. "She's Eleanor Waldorf", Dan said.

"That's no excuse", Blair said, looking at him. "No. But that doesn't change anything", Dan replied.

Blair's shoulders slumped. "I'm so sorry Dan", she said in a defeated voice.

"Hey! Why are you sorry?" Dan quickly took her face in his hands. Blair looked at him with moist eyes. She was very hurt with the way Eleanor had treated Dan. She loved him.

"If you really are sorry, you should apologize to your mother", Dan said in a quietly.

"What?" Blair scoffed.

"She's your mother", Dan said as a way of explanation.

Blair began shaking her head. Dan said, "Look at me".

Blair raised her eyes to stare into Dan's beautiful eyes. "You will apologize", Dan said.

Blair pursed her lips. "Promise?" Dan asked. Blair sighed. "Promise" she whispered.

Dan smiled and kissed her forehead. "I love you".

"How much do you love me?" Blair grumbled, pouting at him.

Dan chuckled, kissing her pout. Blair giggled and kissed him back.

-o0o-

Blair was standing in front of the mirror, staring blankly at herself.

"Blair!" Eleanor Waldorf stormed in Blair's room. Blair whirled around.

Eleanor looked at her daughter and said, "for once, I thought you were grown up".

Blair said quietly, "Mother, I've grown up".

Eleanor folded her arms across her chest, "Dan Humphrey?"

Blair replied, "So what's wrong with that? I thought you liked Dan".

Eleanor sighed, "I do like Dan. He's a fine young man".

She moved to stand in front of Blair. "But you are Blair Waldorf".

Blair replied, raising her voice, "and he's Dan Humphrey!"

Eleanor looked at herself in the mirror, looking past Blair. She said, "Blair, you have always wanted your fairytale. And Louis…." She looked in Blair's eyes, "Louis is you prince".

Blair didn't say anything. She found that she couldn't talk.

She did want a fairytale. And Louis was a prince.

Eleanor continued, "Why do you have to have everything after Serena's had it?"

Blair's eyes widened, "where did Serena come in all of this?"

Eleanor sighed, "Serena has always been a part of your life, Blair. If she wants something, she gets it. And after her, you get it".

"Mother, I don't know what you are talking about", Blair turned away from her mother to face the mirror again.

"You do, Blair", her mother said. "There was Nate and now Dan".

"She didn't have chuck" Blair threw at Eleanor.

"That's because she didn't want him", Eleanor raised her voice. "You very well know that if she did, she could have had him".

Blair bit her lip. She thought she was going to scream at her mother.

"And Serena is a very good friend, Blair", Eleanor said. "I don't forget that".

Eleanor sat on Blair's bed. "She was always a good friend to you. And what have you done? I'm very sure she's not thrilled with you….with you and Dan".

"She's in Paris, mother" Blair said.

"Yes, because she wants to be away from all this!"

"Did she meet you?" Blair asked, turning her head to look at her mother.

"No. but I had called Lily to ask her whether she's coming to the party…and she was with Rufus…for some road trip!" Eleanor flung her hands in the air.

"But she's happy, mother" Blair said in a calm voice.

"I know Blair. I know" Eleanor looked at her. Then she stood up. "Lily is happy with Rufus, the way I'm happy with Cyrus".

She placed her hands on Blair's shoulders. "We are old souls. But you…you are young! You have your whole life in front of you. And for your entire life, you wanted a fairytale. And here it is, right in front of you".

"I'm sorry mother", Blair said. "I'm sorry that I walked out on you in the party." Blair knew that if she didn't apologize now, she would never get around to it later. And she wanted to keep her promise to Dan.

Eleanor sighed and started walking away from Blair. When she had reached the door, she said, "for once, Blair, make a wise choice".

Blair protested, "Mother!"

Eleanor said, "Don't disappoint me" and walked out of Blair's room.

Blair felt as if her mother had slapped her, walking out like that.

Everything that she had done, she had always disappointed her mother.

Blair found herself blinking furiously, trying to stop the tears. But it was of no use, they had already started flowing.

She turned and looked at her reflection in the mirror, the tears flowing freely down her cheeks. She touched the necklace.