Thank you all for your continued support of this story. I would love to personally respond to you all but I just don't have the time. To all the many new readers welcome. I'm glad to have you on board and to all my loyal readers thanks for sticking with this. I own nothing. Enjoy!
It was twelve noon exactly when Eleanor Waldorf and Cyrus Rose breezed into the Bass household. Dorota was in the foyer taking their coats and directing the staff with their luggage when Blair and Chuck entered.
Eleanor hugged her daughter. "You look lovely dear."
Blair smiled always happy with a compliment from her mother. "As do you Mother. Lunch is nearly ready." She gave Cyrus a hug.
Chuck kissed Eleanor's cheek. "Merry Christmas Eleanor."
She patted his arm. "Same to you Charles. Thank you for sending the jet. You spoil us. I can't remember the last time we flew commercial to New York."
He shook Cyrus' hand. "Only the best for my in-laws."
Eleanor started down the hall calling out, "Where are my grandchildren?"
Ned came down the back staircase and down the hall. Eleanor held out her arms. "Edward."
He hugged his grandmother. "You look well Grand-mere."
"Thank you my darling and I think you've grown since Thanksgiving."
Ned stood up straighter. He was always trying to catch up with his big brother. He linked his arm with his grandmother's and led her into the living room.
Ned ever the helpful child took everyone's drink orders and went to the bar to fill them. Henry came into the room. He shook Cyrus' hand.
"How's Yale Hen?"
Henry crossed to kiss his grandmother on the cheek. "Excellent. I'm loving every minute of it."
"Straight A's." Blair, sitting next to her mother, chimed in.
Eleanor smiled. "I'd expect nothing less. Are you playing lacrosse in the spring?"
He nodded pouring himself a glass of his father's single malt. "I plan to. Training starts as soon as I get back."
Ned handed everyone their drinks and they all settled in. Ned who adored Cyrus filled him in on his upcoming baseball season while Henry told his grandmother about his classes.
After about five minutes Eleanor looked around. "Where is my granddaughter?"
Blair shook her head. "Probably moping. She broke up with her boyfriend a few days ago. She's been all doom and gloom ever since."
Eleanor stood up straightening her skirt. "There will be no more of that now that I'm here."
Blair was about to stop her mother when Chuck touched her arm and shook his head. "Let her go." Blair sighed, sat back on the couch and took a sip of her drink as she watched her mother leave the room.
Eleanor tapped lightly on her granddaughter's bedroom door. "Cordelia it's your Grand-mere."
Cordelia took a deep breath and then pulled her door open smiling a forced smile. "Grand-mere!" She hugged her grandmother tightly. "I'm so glad you and Saba are here."
Eleanor held her granddaughter out from her looking her over. Cordelia had spent a huge amount of time on her appearance making sure everything was perfect. From the ribbon of silk wrapped into her curls to her Dior blouse and Waldorf Designs skirt to her Fendi pumps and Wolford tights. Her makeup was light just as Eleanor liked it. Her grandmother was even harder to please than her mother.
"You look beautiful as always."
Cordelia smiled a real smile this time. "Thank you."
"What's this I hear about you crying over a broken heart?" She put her arm around Cordelia's waist. "You are a Waldorf woman and no man should control how you feel. Chin up and move forward." She kissed her temple.
"Is that the advice you used to give my mother when she was upset about Daddy?" Cordelia glanced sideways at her grandmother.
Eleanor thought a moment. "To be honest there was never telling your mother anything when it came to your father. I always knew she was going to do exactly what she wanted to do. Those two were inevitable and I also knew eventually they would work it out. They were always meant to be." She rolled her eyes. "Your mother and father were always intense. Always so much drama." She held up her hands. "But it all worked out for the best."
Eleanor put her arm back around her granddaughter and patted her hip. "Now let's go downstairs and have lunch. I'm famished. Plus I want to hear all about the party the other night." She started to lead Cordelia out of her room and down the hall. "Your mother emailed pictures and you looked stunning in the gown."
And so the afternoon progressed with everyone together and everyone happy or at least pretending to be.
The Basses Christmas traditions were sacred. Every Christmas Eve was spent at Lily's. The guest list varied from year to year depending on where everyone was and who was in New York at the time; but if the Bass family was home then they were at the Van der Woodsen's.
This year was special because all of Lily's children, minus Scott (but no one really thought of him as family), were home and attending the Christmas Eve party. Serena, who now lived full time in L.A., was back for the next two weeks along with her thirteen year old son Jake. Eric was visiting from London with his husband, Theodore and was staying with Lily along with their three year old daughter Celia. Lily was divorced again from William and was introducing her banker boyfriend Spencer Bancroft to the family. Because of this it was strictly family only. In past years she was known to invite an eclectic group of people from artists and musicians to writers and politicians.
Everyone had a wonderful evening. Lily was as always the perfect hostess and everyone loved Spencer. He was funny and smart and fit in perfectly with the family. Plus everyone could tell that he absolutely adored Lily. Blair and Serena spent most of the night head to head laughing and catching up. Jake and Ned who were best friends mimicked their mothers and hung out the entire night. Celia who everyone called Cece was completely enamored with Cordelia and never left her side. Cordelia loved this and it was enough to make her forget for a moment her parents and their mess of a past.
By the time they got back home everyone was exhausted and headed straight to bed. Blair made sure everyone had everything they needed before heading to bed herself. When she entered the master suite Chuck was nowhere to be found. She assumed he was locking up, securing the house, and setting the alarm.
Twenty minutes later she exited the bathroom to find her husband still missing. She slipped on her robe. It was a beautiful velvet robe in blood red and it matched her blood red nightgown perfectly. She headed downstairs and found her husband sitting on the couch in the family room. He had lit a fire and had turned on the Christmas tree lights.
She came in quietly whispering his name. "Chuck? Is everything alright?"
He glanced up at her as she came to stand in front of him. He nodded taking a sip of his scotch. "I was enjoying the peace and quiet."
She reached a hand out touching his cheek. "Can I join you?"
He took her hand and pulled her onto the couch next to him. She sat down onto the cushion beside him. He kissed her hand. "I was hoping you'd find me."
She leaned into him kissing him softly. "I always find you, my love." She laid her head onto his shoulder. "Tonight was so nice. I love when everyone is home and together. And how cute is Cece? It makes me want another baby."
"Seeing as I've been fixed that's impossible. Besides I would not want to go back to that for all the money in the world. Diapers, bottles, sleep deprivation; no thank you."
She tilted her head back to look at him. "It wasn't all bad."
He shook his head. "No but I'm looking forward to being alone with you again. Only four more years and Ned is off to college. I love my children but I love my wife more."
She kissed his cheek. "Let's go away somewhere for a bit. Maybe after fashion week. Just you and me and an island."
"And no clothes."
She laughed. "You have a one track mind Mr. Bass."
"You have no idea." He tilted her head back and kissed her long and deep. Pulling away he smiled at her. "Do you want your first day of Christmas present?"
This was Chuck's tradition. He gave Blair a present for each of the twelve days of Christmas. Often, but not always, he correlated a gift to match the song. One year he had the New York ballet perform just for them for her ninth day present. Another year he had seven swans purchased and placed at the pond in Central Park with a crest designed just for her. The swans to this day swam there and bore her crest. He said if the Queen of England had her own swans than so should the Queen of New York. They were known as the Waldorf swans. Another year he had a row of pear trees planted at their house in Provence and just last year he had purchased five solid gold bracelets that had once belonged to Marie Antoinette. The role playing that ensued that night was some of their best in years.
She nodded sitting up and tucking her feet under her. "It is after midnight so technically it is the twenty-fifth so yes please." Her eyes sparkled.
Chuck handed her a box in a very familiar plum colored velvet that could only mean one thing: Aspreys.
"Chuck," she whispered as she carefully untied the big silk red bow they had tied around it. Opening the lid she gasped. Nestled inside was one of the most gorgeous necklaces she had ever seen. It was platinum and it was a setting that looked like intertwined branches. Hanging off the branches was a total of six pear-shaped diamonds and nestled in the center was a partridge of white diamonds with a yellow diamond breast.
Blair was literally speechless. It was such a unique piece. Obviously it was commissioned by Chuck and probably took months to craft. He had totally outdone himself with this one.
She ran her fingers along the metal and down the diamonds. "It's stunning. Thank you." She started to kiss him passionately.
After a minute or two Chuck pulled back taking the box from her and removing the piece. He placed it around her neck and the diamonds fell perfectly in place. Exactly the way he had imagined it in his mind when he worked with the designers.
Blair ran her fingers along the cool metal again. "You've certainly outdone yourself this year Charles Bass."
He smiled as he leaned forward placing a kiss against her neck just above the necklace. "Now it's time for my present. I want you upstairs and in our bed wearing nothing but that necklace."
She raised her brows at him. "Do you think you've been a good enough boy this year for such a sensational gift?"
He pulled her onto his lap so she was straddling him. "Oh I've been very good."
She placed her hands onto his shoulders and leaned forward kissing him. She felt his hands untying the sash of her robe and pushing it open as he deepened the kiss. He cupped her breast running his thumb against her nipple straining against the silk. His other hand disappeared under her nightgown.
He pulled his lips from hers leaning his forehead against hers. "Let me help you get started." He ripped her panties from her.
Blair gasped, "Chuck, my mother or Cyrus could come down."
He pinched her nipple kissing her. "Then I suggest you head upstairs and do what I asked."
She kissed him one more time. "Meet me up there in five minutes?" She raised her eyebrows at him.
He reached out for his glass of scotch taking a sip. He then lifted her panties to his nose and took a deep breath. "I'll give you two."
She blushed as she got off his lap. Reaching out she snatched her panties from his grasp. He gave her a pout. "You're no fun."
She started to walk away looking at him over her shoulder. "I plan on showing you exactly how much fun I can be." She continued on her way swaying her hips as she left the room.
Chuck drained his glass as he patiently counted down the seconds. It was going to be a very merry Christmas of that he was sure.
Cordelia woke up Christmas morning to the vibration of her phone. She picked it up seeing that it was Matt calling and hit the ignore button. She had made very few decisions in the last few days but permanently ending things with Matt was definitely one she was sure of. She glanced at her clock. It was only six forty-five. She rolled over and tried to go back to sleep. After about twenty minutes of lying there listening to her stomach rumble she decided to go downstairs and get something to eat.
She entered the kitchen to find the caterers already starting to prepare breakfast. Christmas was the one day a year that the entire household staff had the day off. So that meant outside help brought in and because the Basses always paid exceptionally well they were usually the same people every year. Dorota would be over for Christmas lunch but as a guest with Vanya, Ana and Leo.
The chef smiled at her. "Can I get you anything Miss?"
Cordelia shook her head grabbing a plate and a knife. "No thank you. I'll help myself."
She cut a piece of the babka Dorota had made yesterday and poured herself a cup of coffee and headed through the swinging door and into the breakfast room. She was shocked to find her father sitting in his usual spot at the head of the table with a cup of espresso and a pile of papers in front of him.
She had been avoiding both her parents as much as possible since she discovered the truth about their past. It had been easy with her grandparents here and spending last night at Grandma Lily's with the whole family in attendance. Now she was face to face with him and there were no distractions to be had.
Chuck looked up from the papers he was reading and smiled at his daughter. "Good morning sweetheart and Merry Christmas."
She smiled glancing at him briefly and sat down. "Merry Christmas. You're up early."
"I was overseeing the distribution of presents and doing some last minute work. You know how your mother hates it when I do any business on a holiday."
She nodded taking a bite of the sweet bread. She picked up the Limoges creamer and poured some cream into her coffee stirring it briefly before taking a sip.
Chuck signed his last contract and set the papers aside just as the chef entered bringing him a plate of eggs, bacon and toast smothered in butter.
He looked at his daughter. "Don't tell your mother. She's on me about diet and exercise as well as drinking."
Cordelia lifted her fork to show him the large piece of babka on the end. "I won't if you don't."
He laughed taking a sip of his espresso. He placed his cup back onto his saucer and became serious. "Are you okay? I feel like something's going on and it's not just your break up with the Goring boy."
Cordelia froze mid bite. Leave it to her father to see through her façade. She took a deep breath nodding. "Yeah it's just school and friends. The usual pressures."
He took a bite of his toast. "You know your mother is a great person to talk to about all that."
Cordelia rolled her eyes as she took another bite sitting back in her chair. "She's probably the last one who'd understand."
"She loves you so much Cor. You have no idea."
Cordelia set her fork down. "She just drives me crazy sometimes. She's always so involved in my life. It feels like I can't breathe sometimes."
Chuck sighed. "I know your mother can be a bit type A but she's the reason our lives run so smoothly. She adores you kids and her family is always first and foremost in her life."
He took a sip of his coffee. "I remember the day she gave birth to you. She was radiant. No woman ever looked more beautiful." He was lost in his memory for a moment. "She had said all along that she didn't care if we had a boy or a girl but I know she really wanted a daughter. She was ecstatic when we found out."
He looked up at his daughter. "You have to understand that when Henry was born he was mine from day one. I wanted a son of my own so badly. My relationship with my own father had never been good and Hen was a clean slate for me. A chance to have a father and son closeness I never had. But you, you belonged to your mother. You weren't even four hours old and she had the next ten years of your life all planned out. When we came home from the hospital she was so smitten with you that she wouldn't let hardly anyone else hold you or feed you. I think the first two months we didn't even go out. She refused to leave you. I would never have admitted it back then but I was so jealous. You and Henry were all that mattered. There wasn't room for me."
Cordelia gave him a questioning look. "The great Chuck Bass was jealous of a baby."
He smirked. "Yeah can you believe it? That was a bit of an adjustment period for us."
"How did you resolve it?" She had never heard this story and she was genuinely interested.
"I kidnapped her when you were five months old. She was starting to wean you and I had had enough. I arranged for Dorota and your grandparents to fly in from Paris to take care you and your brother and I took her away for two weeks. I think she cried for the first three days and then she spent a day and half screaming at me and demanding I return her home but I was finally able to convince her we needed time together. I got her to come around." He raised his eyebrows at his daughter.
Cordelia wrinkled her nose. "Eww I don't even want to know."
Chuck laughed. "My point is cut her some slack. She loves you more than you could ever begin to imagine."
Cordelia nodded her head. "Did you always know mom was the one?"
He thought for a moment. "Yes although I may not have always been honest with myself about it. But as time passed I knew that eventually we would be together. One way or another."
Cordelia pushed her plate aside and picked up her cup taking a sip. "Thanks for the chat Dad. I'm going to go take a shower and get dressed. Prepare for the crazy that's about to commence."
Chuck laughed. "That sounds like a good idea. I love you Cordelia."
She got up pushing her chair back and setting her cup onto its saucer. She leaned over kissing her father on his cheek. "I love you too Daddy."
She left the dining room feeling sad. This was the father she knew and loved. The one who spoke about her mother with so much love and admiration. She couldn't reconcile this man with the one she had read about. How were they the same person? It didn't seem possible.
Cordelia had just finished getting dressed when Henry knocked on her door and came in plopping down on her bed.
"Merry Christmas Delia." Henry was the only one she allowed to call her that. He had been doing it since she was brought home from the hospital. Cordelia had been too hard for him to say at the time so she'd been Delia to him ever since.
She gave his foot a push. "Merry Christmas." She tugged on the duvet he had rumpled. "I just made my bed."
He smiled at her. "You are so Mom sometimes."
She was searching through her jewelry box looking for her other Chanel diamond star earring her father had given her last year. "Are you trying to be insulting?"
He laughed. "Aww come on Mom isn't all that bad. There are worse women to aspire to be like than Blair Waldorf Bass."
Cordelia having found the earring was putting it on as she turned to face her brother. "How much exactly do you know about Mom and Dad's past?"
He wrinkled his forehead. "What are you talking about? Their great and epic love story? We've heard it a million times. Why?"
Cordelia sat on the edge of the bed facing her brother. "What if I told you it wasn't so epic?"
He sat up. "What are you talking about?"
She needed to unburden. She couldn't hold it in anymore. Plus she knew Henry was always calm and clear headed. He'd help her figure out what to do. "I found out some stuff. Things I never knew about our parents." She got up and went into her closet. She dug out the Longchamp bag she had hidden under her other totes and pulled the papers out bringing them to her brother.
"Look at this." She tossed the pile into her brother's lap.
She was quiet as Henry went through the papers. He was silent for the most part except for an occasional "fuck". He had skimmed quickly and after about fifteen minutes he tossed the pile aside.
He got up pacing for a minute. Cordelia had never seen her easygoing brother quite like this. It made her uncomfortable.
She stood up placing a hand on his arm. "Hen?"
He shrugged her hand from himself and turned to her. "What the fuck Cordelia? Why would you show that to me?"
She took a step backwards. This was a side of Henry she'd never seen. "I needed to talk to someone. I didn't know what to do. I've been carrying this around with me for the past few days and it's eating me up."
He ran his hands over his face and through his dark brown hair which was longer than their mother liked. "How can all that be true? How do we even know it is? Maybe it's all a big hoax. Something someone's starting for publicity."
Cordelia shook her head. "I really don't think it is Henry. There are videos and pictures to back stuff up."
"Those are our genes Delia. Right there," he gestured to the pile of papers on her bed. "What kind of man does those things to people he supposedly loves? How do you marry a man like that? Do you think they really were involved with Grandpa Bart's death? Are they murderers?" He started pacing again.
Cordelia watched her brother for a minute and then taking a deep breath blurted out, "I want to go see Dan Humphrey."
Henry stopped pacing and looked at his sister like she was crazy. She held up a hand to stop him before he could protest. "He was Gossip Girl. He wrote a book not to mention essays on our parents. He was married to Aunt Serena and dated Mom. He could give us the answers we need."
Henry bit his bottom lip as he thought for a moment. "If Dad finds out we went to see him he's going to go crazy. He's never liked Dan but something happened about six months ago that really made Dad hate him."
"What happened?"
Henry shook his head. "I have no idea. I overheard the end of a conversation Dad was having on the phone with him. He said something about Dan keeping his mouth shut and if he didn't Dad would make sure he never published another word again. He was furious. When I asked him what was going on he told me to 'mind my own damn business.'" Henry shrugged.
Cordelia nodded. "We need to go see Dan."
"Okay. We'll go tomorrow. We know he's definitely in town because he's spending time with Jake." He started to turn to leave her room and stopped. "Don't mention a word of this to Ned. He's too young and doesn't need to know."
She agreed. "Of course. I would never say anything."
Henry sighed. "Alright. Let's go play happy family."
He left her room and Cordelia felt like her heart weighed a ton. Maybe she shouldn't have told Henry. Now it was his burden too. It probably wasn't fair to unload on him like that. But she had to tell someone and at least now she wasn't alone in her misery.
