Blair leaned against the kitchen counter, sighing. Were any of her Thanksgivings ever going to go the way she wanted them to?

Really, she should just give up now.

At least this Thanksgiving wasn't as bad as the one two years ago. She couldn't help but repress a faint shudder, remembering the cake. The cake that she'd crammed into her mouth in under five minutes. The cake that she'd spent the next ten minutes forcing out into the toilet, and the next hour curled on the bathroom floor, the taste of vomit still burning her mouth.

No, there would never be a Thanksgiving as bad as that one.

Despite all the drama. Jenny and Eric's feud; the fact that Serena was having an affair with a married man - Nate's cousin no less - and now she and Nate were no longer speaking; the huge row that had blown up over the dinner table, ruining the turkey; and now, to cap it all off, her mother's news. Eleanor was pregnant. Blair still failed to comprehend how that was even possible. In fact, the thought was almost enough to make her sick. Eleanor Waldorf with a baby. And the worst thing was that she hadn't even told Blair to begin with!

Like Blair wasn't a part of her new family.

Blair sighed. She'd have to go back out in a second; she'd left Chuck to deal with Lily, who couldn't quite understand either, why her Thanksgiving had been destroyed, and why her table was now empty because so many people had stormed out.

Blair glanced up to see Vanessa walk in.

Oh yes. Then there was the fact that she'd had to spend her Thanksgiving...with Brooklyn. Dan she could handle (just), but he'd invited Abrahms! And her awful mother!

Although, if Blair was completely honest, Vanessa had been the least of her worries; she hadn't actually done anything. In fact, though Blair would never admit it, Vanessa didn't really bother her any more. But she would deny any suggestion that they were friends.

And it was the principle, anyway.

What was next - Thanksgiving with Georgina?

And Vanessa looked miserable now.

Of course. Blair remembered the whole Humphrey situation. Honestly, as if the table had needed any more drama.

"Abrahms." Blair nodded at her.

"Hi, Blair."

Vanessa sat on the counter opposite her. Her heart clearly wasn't in it.

They were silent for a moment.

Finally, Blair sighed in irritation. "What are you doing here?"

Vanessa looked up, blinking. Then she got it. She rolled her eyes. "Blair, I know you don't want me here - and believe me, Thanksgiving with the Waldorfs was not-"

"I mean," Blair interrupted exasperatedly, "Why aren't you with Humphrey?" She raised an eyebrow, pointed.

Vanessa looked taken aback.

"I..."

"He's obviously in love with you, and you seem to spend the entire time following him around like a lovesick puppy, bordering on stalker..."

But Vanessa let the insult wash over her.

"He's not in love with me."

She tried to make the idea sound ridiculous.

Blair rolled her eyes. Vanessa was a poor liar.

"Oh, please. Even I can see pathetic lonely boy brooding all over you. Quite frankly, it's nauseating. So why don't you do us all a favour, and go put him out of his misery?"

For the first time ever, Vanessa actually stared at Blair in stunned silence.

Eventually, though, she shook her head.

"It would never work," she muttered. Finding excuses. "It'd be too weird. We're best friends."

She had no idea why she was telling this to Blair Waldorf, of all people.

Blair went quiet.

Vanessa didn't see, but her face had softened, gaze resting on the pumpkin pie on the side.

"Sometimes," she said softly, wryly, "Your best friend might turn out to be everything you've ever wanted. Someone who knows you, inside out. Better than you know yourself."

Vanessa was silent as her words sunk in.

Then she looked across at Blair, a question forming as she saw her expression, but Blair cut her off.

Her look of disdain was back.

"Now, are you going or not?"

Vanessa gazed at her. She stood up slowly.

"I'm going."

Blair smirked. "Of course you are. Run along."

Vanessa shook her head, rueful. Blair Waldorf was still Blair Waldorf.

She breathed out. She would do it.

Then, just before she left, she paused in the doorway.

"Thanks, Blair."

It was very quiet, but she knew Blair had heard.

Blair rolled her eyes, but her mouth twitched, out of sight.