White Christmas

While You're Dancing

Vanya had gone to Poland to bring Dorota's parents over, and Blair was the only one there. She stayed at the maid's side, the labor at least being easier than her first one, with Ana. By dinner, Dorota was cradling her son in her arms, little Dimitri. She made Blair hold him, at first a little nervous, but, as he lay in her arms, she realized how badly she wanted this. The little boy made happy little sounds at her, and it was a mess of happiness tempered with ice water. She handed him back to Dorota and rubbed her arms.

"Miss Blair, are you okay?"

"I..." she sighed, and sat on Dorota's bed, "How could you let me grow up with such silly thoughts in my head? How could I believe I'd never find..." Blair stared at her lap, fidgeting with her clothes.

"You always dream big for other people. So I always knew some day someone would come along and be brave enough to dream big, for you." Dorota smiled.

"What will I do, though, Dorota?" Blair was scared and frustrated, and took it out by tugging cruelly at the hem of her skirt.

"You forget all those peonies in the apartment? You ran away and he not give up on you." Dorota gently berated the girl.

"But he was so cool to me at lunch yesterday." Blair began to pout.

"He hurt, Miss Blair, and I take it you were not falling all over him?" Dorota continued.

Now Blair had to frown, because Dorota was completely right. It was like all their flirting had shifted to the wrong page. Neither of them said the whole of any of their feelings- at least, Blair did not. He had looked so... perfect; oh, the way he had looked at her in those first few moments.

Dimitri started fussing in the middle of her reverie, "Here let me take him."

"I think he is ready for a nap." Dorota smiled down at her little boy as she gave him to Blair. She rocked him a few moments as she walked him to his little crib.

How many will we have?

Is three too many? I always thought three sounded good.

... I want a girl first, I think.

Didn't you hear how beautiful my wife is? Imagine a tiny version- all fury and brown curls.

She remembered his smile, and his laugh.

Yes, but she'd have to have your smirk!

Only if she gets your mouth.

You know... the hardest part may be having only three children?

Blair laid him down to sleep, and went back to sitting with Dorota, her heart pounding so loudly she thought it must be audible to her friend.

"Dorota... how did you know you wanted to be with Vanya forever?" She felt like a little girl asking her mother for a fairy story.

"Because of how wonderful he make me feel; like a whole person. And when I look at him, I knew I wanted to build my family with him. Now we have Ana, and little Dimitri, and my family is all the more beautiful- and there is you and Miss Serena, too." She smiled.

Blair hugged Dorota- her maid, her friend, and in many ways her mother, "I miss Mom and Dad..." She said in a quiet voice.

"I know." Dorota held Blair close.

"I don't want that to happen to my children." She cried at little, thinking of her parents, thinking that the same thing could befall her own babies.

"Hush, don't think that. Firstly, that is no excuse to be scared of love and growing your own family," The maid stroked Blair's hair, "And second, your babies be just as strong as you- and Mister Chuck, if you chose him? He is very good at arguing, but no match for Dorota."

Blair sat up, "What?"

"He try to visit you as soon as you come home. I stop him, but he put up good fight." Dorota smiled, "I think he know I not let him in, but could not turn away Miss Blair's favorite flowers. Smart boy."

She smiled, imagining Dorota and Chuck at odds. That would have been quite a scene to witness. He fought Dorota for her, not many men would be so brave as to even think of doing such a thing. Her heart began aching again.

"So, what do you think, Miss Blair? Is Mister Chuck your fairy tale?"

"I think..."

"I think someone needs to catch me up! Who is Mister Chuck?" A dirty blond boy strolled across the room and hugged Dorota, "Congratulations! Vanya must be so proud, where is he?"

The girls gasped and smiled, "Eric!"

Blair was grinning from ear to ear, "He arrives home Friday with Dorota's parents."

"Oh, so we get Dorota and the baby all to ourselves for a day? Fantastic!"

They ate dinner with Dorota in her room, then Eric and Blair went home and caught up on all that had passed in the last few weeks. When he found out Chuck, and Nate, were Nate and Chuck, he was delighted. But when he asked Blair why Dorota had been asking her about 'Mister Chuck' Blair hid behind Nate and Serena's fake engagement. That at least kept him in shock through the next morning.

He was staring at all the peonies as he sipped his morning coffee, "So... Chuck?"

"Did I tell you I caught Serena and Nate getting it on behind the stage at the inn?" Blair tried to feint again.

"Chuck. You and Chuck?" Eric was not budging. Like Serena knew how to behave in public where boys were concerned.

Blair swirled her orange juice, "Me and Chuck... he..." she took a small sip, needing to feel the acidic juice burn a little in her throat, "He said he thought... he was falling in love with me. And I ran."

"You... what!" Eric just stared at her.

"I have issues, I know!" Blair glowered at him.

"So, Saturday is Christmas Eve." Eric completely shifted the conversation.

"Yes." Blair was surprised to be seemingly off the hook so easily.

"You know what I think the most beautiful thing to hear on Christmas Eve is?" Eric affected an air of sweetness, if slightly dramatic.

Blair gave him a rather flat look, "What?"

"I love you." Eric made a sappy face at her and she smacked him in the arm.

"I love you, too, Eric." She replied pointedly, "But no. What, I'm just going to show up at this big event and say, 'Chuck Bass, I'm madly in love with you and want to have your babies!'"

"Well, isn't that the truth?" Eric raised an eyebrow at her.

"Eric!"

"We leave Saturday morning, no fussing from you missy!"

"Why not... sooner?" Blair had to look away, it was shameful.

"Because Vanya won't arrive until tomorrow, and I have a little work to do- and I am not missing this for the world!" Eric smiled.

So Blair had a few days more to herself, her feelings for Chuck settling, rooting more firmly in her heart. Eric was encouraging, leaving real estate listings and bridal magazines 'conveniently' about for her. She curled up those two nights with them, dreaming of the life she wanted to build with Chuck.

Saturday morning Eric and Blair departed, a town car driving them to Vermont, "Why couldn't we get Nate to send the helicopter?" Blair pouted.

"We could have, but you need time to be nervous, and freak out, so I can calm you down." Eric did grow up with Blair.

"What if I don't?" She glared at him.

"Then I get to be impressed," Eric chuckled.

Blair was calm, only growing anxious- not nervous, as they grew closer. Emma ferreted them away in a cabin while everyone was distracted, and Eric and Blair spent the time preparing for the evening.

Upstairs in the main house, the professor barked at Emma, "Emma! Where is my tuxedo, or my suits!"

"They are at the dry cleaners!" She countered.

"I will not go down in my university clothes! How could you send all my suits?"

"You only have two."

"Either your tweed jacket that you wore for years is good enough or I will just tell Nate and Chuck that you could not be bothered to come down tonight! Come Susan, your grandfather has a choice to make." Emma turned on her heels, taking her daughter with her out of the room.

Susan stood at the bottom of her stairs, anxiously watching the big grandfather clock in the foyer, waiting for her grandfather. He looked quite the academic when he at last came down the stairs, "Oh, grandfather."

"You didn't think I was going to come downstairs in my bathrobe, did you?" He smiled at her, and she took his offered arm.

"You may not look as grand as someone in military dress, but I know what you do is just as important," Susie beamed up at him.

Stepping into the main room, a spotlight shone on the professor, and everyone in the room stood. "This is for you Grandpa." Susan brought him to a table with a cake made like a stack of books- all history, from Thucydides to Alan Brinkley. A moment later, students began lining up- first, Kappa Alphas from across the years, then other students, all there smiling at him, wanting to shake his hand.

Nate and Chuck stood to the side, smiling. Eventually the professor saw them, and made his way to greet them, knowing it was all their doing. The crowd of men began calling for a speech.

Walking through the group, he lectured them, like he used to, "I'm not quite sure what you lot might call this, but a gentleman knows how to tie a necktie, and polish his shoes. When Napoleon put the wrong buttons on his uniforms, he lost the war to Russia. History matters, behavior, appearance, matter. I don't know how you can call yourself Hampden-Sydney boys, more like a ragtag bunch of want to be Wall Streeters, who can't tell the difference between Thucydides and Herodotus. You've grown soft and lazy, sloppy, and... and," He smiled, "I've never seen anything look so wonderful in my whole life." A hint of tears sparkled in his blue eyes, and everyone applauded, smiling at the sound of their old teacher on one of his post-exam bents.

He blew out the candles on his cake, and soon everyone was seated for dinner. Chuck and Nate sat back, letting everyone else enjoy the professor's company. Nate was, however, in his own bubble with Serena. They seemed happier than ever, and there was Chuck, alone. He thought perhaps... maybe... Blair would come back tonight. The event she and Serena had organized was incredible, and she was not even here to see it. He was not ready to cope with the idea that he screwed up, and she was gone. He had to believe it would be okay soon.

Couples began to take to the floor to dance. He watched Serena and Nate for a while, but his altruism only went so far. After the first dance however, Serena asked if he would dance with her? And like a perfect gentleman, he said yes.

"I know I'm not my sister, but I'm glad all the same you would dance with me," Serena bubbled.

"It's an honor to dance with anyone of Blair's acquaintance," He tried to flatter, but it fell flat a little.

Hidden in the shadows, Eric now reached for Blair's hand to pull her to the floor, Blair squeaking a little, "No, wait, can't I freak out first?"

He laughed, "Nope, that opportunity has passed, time to go!"

They drifted across the floor towards Serena, who had to keep her smile down when her eyes met Blair's.

Eric was flawless, "If I might cut in?" and with that, he changed Blair's hand for Serena's and floated off with his tall willowy sister.

It was electricity when their fingers touched, their bodies were magnetic, pulling closer and closer until they fit together perfectly. Chuck had to keep calm, though his heart was in his throat, and his eyes drank in the sight of her. So he focused on something else, "Was that Eric just now?"

"Yes, he came up with me, after Dorota had her baby, and her family arrived. Chuck..."

He stared down at her, her eyes were large pools of soft brown, and he was scared that only the worst could come from her sudden appearance, "Please." He furrowed his brow, as if in pain, and looked away from her, "If you've come here to... tell me things have come to an end, spare me the agony. It hurts so much to hold you right now. Let go, and be done with me."

Blair could have cried at the look on his face, the sound in his voice as he spoke such painful words. Her hand traveled up his arm to cup his cheek and turn his face back to her. "I'm sure you wish it were that easy, or simple. I'm sorry I was afraid, and that I hurt you. But in my self-imposed exile, I missed you more than I could have ever imagined possible. I only slept well, or had sweet dreams, after I admitted to myself that I want nothing else in the world so much as to love you and be with you, Chuck."

She leaned up, brushing her lips against his, careful, uncertain. For a moment she was afraid at his lack of response, then equally afraid when his hands tightened around her- was he going to push her away?

No. His mouth pressed against hers, passion answering her gentleness, and her arms wrapped around his neck as he dipped her back on the dance floor. The crowd paused at the scene, and after a moment, Eric whistled and Serena was making cheering noises. Assuming a more respectable stance, the couple glared at the blond trio a moment before smiles broke across their faces, only then returning to their dance.

Serena went to get a drink while Eric and Nate caught up. Eric eyed the taller boy, "So I hear you were faking an engagement to my sister?"

"Actually... about that. Chuck picked up something for me in the city while he was there, and I was wanting to ask you."

A few minutes later, Nate took Serena to the library for some privacy, and when they emerged, Serena was wearing the van der Bilt diamond. The girls were squealing and hugging as Nate, Chuck, and Eric just grinned.

"So, what about you Chuck," Nate elbowed his best friend.

"Don't rush me- I'm just glad to know I didn't lose her. And we all don't have the van der Bilt charm to fall back on, you know." Chuck glowered at his friend, alluding to the giant diamond on Serena's finger.

"Oh, I know you'll more than make up for that in your own way!" Nate knew exactly how Chuck competed with the van der Bilt ring.

"Anyway, gentlemen, I think I've had enough activity for the evening. Now if you excuse me, I'd like to take my lady and enjoy our reunion in a more private space?" Chuck winked at his friends as his hand slid around Blair's waist.

They were kissing feverishly before they could even push the door open. Clothes were half off by the time the made it near the bed. Blair reached to their not so little box of condoms, still at the bedside a week later, and picked one up.

Chuck froze, and grasped her arm, holding it steady. Pulling his mouth away, he gasped, "No."

Blair's heart beat so fast she thought it might explode, "No?"

"No. I don't just want to have sex with you anymore. I don't want to date, and play games for the media. I know what we have, I know what I want with you," Chuck pulled the condom from her hand and tossed it to the floor, before he knelt down before her.

Now Blair was certain her heart was about to explode as he gaze up at her, his hand reaching into his pocket. She felt her knees weaken, and tried to focus on breathing. She was not going to faint, she was not going to faint.

"Blair... my beloved Waldorf, will you build your future with me? Live not on Park Avenue, help me raise our children, and... be my wife?" Chuck held up the sparkling ring of white fire that was his mother's.

"Chuck," She smiled wide, trying to stay calm enough to answer him. She stepped back a moment, and then knelt down to her knees before him, "With all my heart, passion, love- my entire being, I give myself to you as you give yourself to me. Partners... equals, in our love, in our life."

He slipped the ring on her finger and quickly returned to kissing her. The remaining pieces of clothing were stripped off with all due urgency, and they could not be troubled to move from the floor. He pulled Blair on top of him, eager to watch her, to touch her, to feel himself buried inside of her so completely. There was no holding back after this past week; it was raw and wild, their hips bucking and grinding against one another as she rode him desperately. She was beautiful in the moonlight, her frenzy, her cries, only making his passion escalate faster. But what sent him into his orgasm had nothing to do with their passion or lust, but the sight of her left hand as it cupped her breast, the glitter of light shining as it fractured into a million points of light. She was his, to love and be with from this day forward. The thought burned down the column of his spine, his body jerking as he cried out with such bliss, uniting him with her, and the hope of beginning their family.

Their lust cooled after that, but the next few hours were filled will sweet touches and loving words between making love. Sleep eventually claimed them, and there were no alarms to wake them in the morning, just the wonderful sensation of being in each other's arms.

While everyone was asleep, it finally, at last, snowed. Chuck and Blair walked up to the house together for breakfast, smiling, hand in hand. It was truly the best Christmas gift ever as they joined Serena and Nate and Eric at a table, sharing their news, and at last, they were all... family.

AN: The end! Well, except for the epilogue ^_^ But I'm off on vacation now, so, delayed gratification. Actually, you are a fun, weird bunch of readers. All at once you want quick updates, yet now that we are at the end, you wish I would take longer? :confused: lol, I blame the fluff?

Thank you to dear sweet cococutie33 for a lovely job once again editing this madness. You can also thank her for the bigger epilogue you will be getting after I return in a week! She told me several hundred words was just not acceptable, haha.

Take a moment to tell me how it was? I didn't realize how long it had been since I wrote a CB engagement scene and am very nervous about it! Seriously, you have no idea 0_o

xoxo
~K