A/N: Aaargh, I'm so, so sorry I couldn't post this yesterday, I was really busy! You will however receive two chapters today to catch up, so no worries about not getting what you're due :D This chapter's not as romance orientated as the others are because I'm trying to show Blair's dependency on the two main men in her life and how she manages and balances this. Hope you like it, and special thanks for everyone who reviewed last chapter, they were so lovely!

ADVENT

holiday season

"Where's my Blair bear?" The voice only has to ring through the hallways for about twenty seconds before Blair skips down the stairs and into her father's waiting arms, squealing when he tickles her under the chin despite the fact that she's just been taking part in a heavy make out session with Nate upstairs.

"What's up, Daddy?" she asks, smiling so brightly it almost hurts, but she wants to be perfect for him. His beautiful baby Blair.

"I was just wondering if it's time to send young Mr Archibald home now," he says, and at Blair's instant frown, he continues, "because surely you know that when the holiday season starts it's mostly family time, sweetheart." He taps her nose, his eyes twinkling. "And between you and me, there's pie in the kitchen."

Blair smiles up at him at the thought of them all spending time together as a family, just the way, the only way, she likes it. "Of course, Daddy," she says. "I'll just go and get him."

Upstairs, Nate is texting Chuck when Blair flounces in and drags him to his feet and then starts to hunt around the room from his shoes. "You're leaving," she says to him by way of explanation.

"What- why? What did I do?" he asks, confused, as she hands him one of his leather shoes.

She walks up to him with the other shoe and places a small hand in the centre of his chest. "Daddy says Christmas time is family time. Sorry, Nate," she says, and shrugs, not sounding sorry at all. Then she's off again, to the mirror to pin her her back into place and wipe away any traces of smudged lipgloss as Nate puts his shoes back on. "We'll meet tomorrow for coffee. I'll text you." She blows a kiss at him through the mirror and then waits for him to leave the room before snatching up her phone and furiously texting.

Nate gets the text on the second stair before the bottom. I love you. B. He smiles slowly and shakes his head before walking out of the hall and into the lift, texting as he goes.

Same. Blair smiles when she reads it and then closes her phone, dropping it on her bed before running back down the stairs and into the kitchen where her Daddy is waiting.

"All done?" he asks, a grin on his face as he reaches for her to sit on his lap.

"All done," she beams, resting against him as he starts to tell her some wonderful Christmas story that she's heard a thousand times. She grins to herself secretly, thinking of the text she's just recieved and of her Daddy's warm voice speaking only to her, knowing just how well she keeps the only two men in her life perfectly balanced. It's a skill that she's taught herself well.