Sorry for the late update. The last Christmas Chapter. This chapter was inspired by an article called Ritz Paris in Conde Nast Traveler magazine. This article description of the Ritz pre-renovation is the reason behind the timeline and way this fic is set in 2015 not 2016. Apparently, the elevator pre-renovation was charming but was notorious for getting stuck.

Christmas 2015

Three years later only a month after seeing each other in New York Chuck and Blair would meet again on Christmas Eve at a large party in at the Ritz Paris where designers, socialites, millionaires gathered to celebrate Christmas. In only three days Blair would be a bride at her own wedding. Only this time fate played no role in their meeting rather Chuck planned it this way. Needing to see her. Needing to see if there was any hope in them.

"Are you happy, Blair?" He asked.

She shrugged and looked to her left at the bar away from him. That shrug sent waves throughout Chuck's body. That unsure indifferent answer was a small ray of hope when he was in darkness for three years without her.

It was that shrug that changed his life. He broke up with Eva only a day after Thanksgiving. He was not sure where his relationship with Eva stood or if they had one anymore. His indifference was the reason why he never wanted to have a child. Even now he felt no connection to Eva's child not in the way he felt connected to Blair unborn child even all these years later. But he needed to do something before she was married forever and taken from him by a prince he deemed unworthy especially since he did not make her happy.

So here he was at the Ritz Paris waiting for her to show at the party so he could take her aside and talk to her. His friend Alexandre Bernard a communication business mogul.

"My friend, you are so nervous. Calm down. Be more like me," his friend Alexandre Bernard said smoothly even though he spoke English with a heavy French accent he still alluded confidence and swagger. While the man was 15 years older than Chuck they had a wild and fun three years together ever since Chuck had moved to Paris to closer to Blair.

"This is my last chance. The wedding is in three days," he whispered to Dre. Chuck felt like pulling his hair out. Cocktail hour had officially started and she was not here.

"Maybe it is not meant to be," Alexandre shrugged.

"You said you would help so help," Chuck hissed out. Not wanting to concede defeat.

"Oh, sainte. My young foolish friend. For the two years I have known you, you whine and you complain about missing this girl and what have you done? Nothing. But tonight, tonight, on the veille de son mariage. You act. And now I must help," Alexandre said rolling his eyes.

"Not tonight Alexandre," Chuck said rolling his eyes knowing his friend was on the verge of a long rant. They were so different but Alexandre mind for business and skill at reading people made Chuck respect him. Now the older man was like a mentor to him.

"Fine. Fine. I know I know you love her not Eva. True love. Anything for true love. Plus, helping you find your love is the French thing to do," Alexandre teased.

"You have a wife and at least two mistresses let's not talk true love," Chuck joked back.

"Ayy, but that is the French way too," Alexandre shrugged laughing as he pulled his cell phone out. "My knowledge of women leads me to believe she is not ready yet. So, we will get him to come down alone and you go to her. I will help. Come."

Chuck followed his friend who was more comfortable navigating the Ritz having a private room there for whenever his wife kicked him out came to the elevator attendant. One thing about the Ritz was the main oak limed elevator was notorious for getting stuck even with passengers inside. So, Alexandre arranged for a heavy tip for the elevator to get stuck with the Prince as the passenger. Then for an even heavier tip, he found out what room they were in for Chuck.

"Mon trésor, are you sure you even want to attend tonight's party?" Louis asked Blair as he smoothed a kiss over her forehead. He knew how hard Christmas was for his fiancé but it was she who insisted that they come to this one last big party at the Ritz before it was closed for renovations.

"Yes, I am just running a bit behind. Plus, my mother and Cyrus are here tonight and I want to spend this Christmas with them. My makeup artist canceled on me and I am running behind because I have to somehow do it myself and look like a princess," she muttered her voice full of annoyance. Apparently, once she became a royal she had to spend her holidays with the royal family and her family was not invited. On top of that, she was grieving on this day in remembrance of her child and her failed relationship with Chuck.

Beyond her depression because of the day itself she was also on edge and short-tempered ever since she saw Chuck in New York City the day before Thanksgiving. Seeing him with a child on the way tore her into two.

Louis phone rung and she nodded at him to take it. It was Alexandre Bernard a French businessman who had his hand in every pot on this side of the world was eager to talk business with the Crown Prince for a property dealing in Monaco. Hearing Louis side of the phone call she knew that he also wanted to go downstairs where the cocktail hour was already underway.

"Please go. Give me twenty minutes and I will join you," she told him. Rising on her tip toes since she did not have heels on yet she smiled trying to escape back into her false persona.

She thought that coming here today would be good for her but now she was unsure. For such a long time, only Chuck knew of the lost baby. But when the royal family had insisted that she have a Christmas wedding she finally broke down and told Louis. He supported her and yet, the winter wedding continued planned for the 28th instead of the 25th. She convinced Louis to spend her last Christmas before she became a 'royal' with her family but that meant a huge party at the Ritz. It was not the way she wanted to spend her holiday but her mother had already sent in her rsvp and did not want to cancel on the historic party. Everyone who was anyone in the fashion business was going because after today the hotel was undergoing renovations that would forever change the halls that Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Emmet Hemingway and many more famous icons had walked through.

She was just getting inside her dress when she realized she needed someone to zip her up. She groaned wondering if she could call Louis back to zip her up when there was a knock on the door. Thinking it was her fiancé since they only had the one gold barrel key to the room that was in her purse she rushed to opened the door.

"Can you zip me," the rush of words died on her lips as Chuck should there in the doorway looking like he had not slept in days.

"Chuck what are you- "she said trying to find the words to finish her sentence but she faded away as she knew instantly from the hunger in his eyes why had come. He came for her.

"Merry Christmas Blair," he said. His words were choked out. Filled with sorrow. His cheeks looked hollow, bags under his eyes, and he looked tired but lustful. She blinked twice trying to understand what was happening.

"I am getting married Chuck in a few days. You need to leave now," she bit out and tried to close the door on him but he pressed his Italian made leather shoes and his shoulder in his blood red satin suit jacket pushed through.

"Blair, we need to talk. We never talked," he pleaded.

"There is nothing left to say," she said as she pushed the door with all her strength knowing that if she let him in she would gladly give her body to him.

"Maybe you don't have anything to say but I do. I love you. I always have and I always will. I was a selfish asshole but I never lied to you," he said through the crack in the door. "You knew I couldn't handle having kids. I know I would be rubbish at it. But that day on Christmas I came back because I thought hell if I could do this with anyone I could do it with you. But you lost… I mean you didn't lose it-him or her it just happened because these things happen. And I know me leaving did not help and only cause undue stress. And I wanted to give you space so I gave you the winter. I thought you would come back to finish school and we would work on us but you never did. I couldn't handle that rejection and when I finally came looking for you I found you in Monaco playing house with a Prince. It was like we never happened. Compared to the time I last saw you get into that elevator you look so… so at peace. That… it well it broke my heart. And I realized how much I must have hurt you so decided to let you go. To be happy. But last month when I asked if you were happy you shrugged. So, I came for you. Because I want you to be happy more than anyone I know. Fuck, if he can't make you happy than maybe I can because I use to make you happy."

She let him speak on and on not wanting to interpret knowing she may never again have the chance to hear him out.

"Chuck life is not that simple. You are having a baby with another woman," she rushed the words. They tasted bitter on her lips and her heart squeezed as the thought hit her hard and she loosens the hold on the door. He slid further in but not completely.

"I never meant to get her pregnant. If you ask I won't ever have anything to do with her or the baby. I just want you," he said. The honestly of his words hit her hard. He would abandon his child. She gasped in shock and suddenly she had this sinking feeling as she remembered all of Chuck's words of protest over having children. Could this man ever be a good father? In her shock the door opened fully.

He slipped in and looked her. Her hand was pressed tight to her rose gold sequin strapless grown still needing someone to help her zipper it up. Her makeup was only half done, and she still had no heels on but she was in his mind breathtaking.

"You think I would ask that of you. To forsake your child for me? You think I am that selfish," she rushed out.

He closed his eyes and looked like he was in pain but he only shrugged.

The silence ate at the room but neither moved nor looked at each other. One look was all it would take before they rushed at each other.

Finally, unable to take it anymore or she would break and let her dress drop she asked him to zipper up the rest. He said nothing and never made eye contact but he walked around her until he was at her back. Zipping up her dress he let his knuckles touch the softness of her back. He moved his hands up to trailed to her neck once he was done with her dress. He grew for her as lust came and took over all his senses to the point where he forgot why he was here. Her stomach quivered at the touch and fought the feeling she had to lean into him. He staggered back his resolve breaking down knowing a moment longer of her skin, her smell would be his breaking point. Stumbling back until the back of his knees came into contact with a chaise lounge he took a seat.

She turned to look at him. "Chuck I want you to be the father I know that you could be. Please," she whispered to him.

He glanced at her for a moment and gave her a sad smile. "I thought you would be wearing red. You always wore red for Christmas," he said with a sad smile. "But I guess things change." Blair did not know what to say or how to say she would never in the Christmas mood ever since her miscarriage. So, she only tried to give him a smile but she felt tears in her eyes. He looked down at his hands so he missed her tears that she quickly wiped away.

"I thought of getting a vasectomy but I thought it would ruin our chance of ever getting back together. And by that point having a child with you was not that scary. But now having a child with another woman is what is going to keep you from me," he groaned as he put his hand in his hands.

She walked over to him placing her hand on his. "It's not only that. I am getting married Chuck. We have different lives now. Things are not as simple when we started dating in high school," she said trying to comfort him.

"Things with us were never simple Blair," he joked making her smile.

Then he sat back and took a deep breath. He patted the sat next to him as an invitation one she knew she should decline but took instead. He wrapped his hand around her bare back and shoulder and she leaned into him. Wanting to just be held by him one last time. He was silent enjoying the feel of her. Wondering how their lives would have been if he never ran away when he found out about the baby, their baby.

"I am so sorry Blair," he mumbled as he put his face into her hair. She did not quite know what he was apologizing for but it was earnest.

"Me too," she whispered.

"I am sorry you had to go through that alone. I should have been there. I have nightmares about it. I promised to be there whenever you needed and I couldn't handle it when you needed me most, my love," he whispered.

"You should have been there," she said not with malice but with sorrow knowing how different things would have been if he had.

"Do you think about what it could be like if we were together and our baby was alive?" he wondered because often his mind drifted there.

"Almost every day," she said and a wave of tears fell and Chuck felt guilty for asked. Kissing her temple apologizing once again.

"He would have been having his second Christmas now," she mumbled and he rubbed her shoulders.

"I always think of the baby as a girl. That looks like you but bigger eyes she hasn't quite grown into. I would be wrapped around her finger and buy her all the ponies and Barbie dolls in the world," he shared. She felt pleasure and sorrow in his words and she smiled sadly.

"I always think of it as a boy with your name. He is always mischievous, playful, but especially happy."

Then he shifted and got something out of his suit jacket. She realized it was his wallet. In from one of the pockets out came a purple and blue bow hair clip. A small thing for an infant. Her gift to him when she left. Suddenly it was very hard for her to breathe as she stared at him in shock. She moved out of his embrace to face him fully.

"I should have been there. If I didn't put that stress on you maybe she would have lived and been here today and I killed our baby "his voice broke off as he was unable to stop the tears and Blair reached for him.

"Oh, god Chuck. No. These things happen. Please. If anything, it was my fault. I was holding him. I lost him," she said trying to explain and keep her own tears at bay.

Finally once the tears were spent he moved to look at her and speak again. "When I realized, my actions caused you stress which is what probably caused the miscarriage I thought I would never be able to face you again. I thought I could never make you happy again. But if he isn't making you happy then let me try again. I promise will try every day and I would never take you for granted again."

Blair's hands shook as she reached into his coat to find the pocket square he always carried. She pulled it out and wiped his wet face.

"I will always love you. Always but our lives are different now. We are different," she told him only half believing her words.

He nodded. "I will always love you, Blair. But do you think you could never be happy with me again?" he asked.

She looked over his shoulder as she thought. "I don't know. Our lives would be very altered then before. You would have a son. Would we live in Paris or New York? Could you ever give me a family that I want and be the father our children would need"?

He sighed as he thought over her words not knowing how to answer. Finally, he admitted his deepest fear. "I afraid I will resent my child because he is going to be what stops you from being with me again," Chuck said bitterly. His words spoken from pain, not truth. Blair in her anger at his words and his selfishness for his own child slapped him.

"Do you think I am that vain? That I would not want to be with you because you have a child that was not mine when we were not together. Do you even understand how much I love you? How much I would love anyone created by you," she whispered her words coming out before she could think what they would even mean.

Chuck's eyes widened as he took in her words realizing then that Blair was even more unique than he ever thought imaginable. Most importantly he felt her love for him for them in this moment giving him hope.

"You aren't your father, Chuck. Don't resent your child for something he has no control over," Blair whispered to him as she sunk back into his arms feeling tired and defeated.

"You are right," he nuzzled his nose into her hair. "I would love any child that came from you because it would be a part of you and I should have realized you felt the same. I promise I will try to love him the way he deserves." Chuck said finally feeling at peace with Eva's child and his love for Blair. Realizing that they did not need to conflict and could exist together in his life. Blair was always selfless when he came to him. He needed to be that selfless for her now.

"Merry Christmas, Chuck," she finally said and turned in his arms to face him. Deciding that she needed to kiss him but he spoke before she could make her move.

"Please Blair, come with me. Come be a part of my new family," he said. Those words over any of his others had her wanting to escape with him.

Then his phone rang. He cursed under his breath. "Ouais?" he hissed as he listened to his friend on the line. All Blair heard was L'ascenseur fonctionne before Chuck quickly hung up.

"Who was stuck on an elevator?" she asked.

"Your prince. He is on his way back. But he is taking the stairs. Are you coming with me?" he asked hope in his eyes.

"What Chuck no. I can't. What would everyone say?" she stuttered but wanting to escape with him.

Knowing he should not be here when Louis came especially if Blair choose to remain with him. He did not want to put her in that position.

"I have to go then. It would be best if he did not find me, here right? I am having a party on New Year's Eve at my new hotel in the city called the Empire. Serena would know the details. If you chose to get married I will let you go but if you want this- if you want us forever you will be the lady in red at my party," he rushed out before he leaned in a stole a quick kiss before Blair could understand what happened. But kissing him back was easy as breathing. She met him kiss for kiss inviting him into her mouth. But he pulled away what felt like a moment later. He was out the door before she could respond.

Sorry for the bad french. But I wanted to throw some words in there and see how they worked.

So New Years is next. Well really Dec 28th is next. Its a bonus day. I hope this chapter makes up for some of the angst. But I know it is not the happy reunion just yet. The line from the summary is finally there. Yay. We are so close to done. Personally, I find Chuck's 'I thought you would be wearing red. You always wore red for Christmas' kind of heartbreaking. I also updated my profile a few weeks ago with inspirations behind each story if anyone is interested.

Alexandre is supposed to be a smart, funny, older womanizer who mentors Chuck. I envisioned him as a father type figure for Chuck who helps him while he lived in Paris. He helps Chuck grow up in a way that we don't get to see in this fic but is only in my mind. I am thinking of writing a series of oneshots (More like drabbles) about this AU (past, present future). But I doubt I will have the time to write it :( Because I have so many ideas that I had to trim for the holiday day one scene model I wanted to use. Alexandre scene with Chuck should have been cut but I liked it so I kept it.

I probably won't get the next two chapters up before New Years but I want to have them up by the first week of January.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.