Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. They belong to Cecily von Zeigesar and The CW.
Enjoy.
"Blair, this Hamptons retreat of yours is beautiful," Lily spoke with delight as she and Rufus were greeted by the pair, "We haven't spent Christmas in the Hamptons in ages. I forgot how charming the town becomes for the holidays. It's like a Christmas card at every turn."
"Thank you, Lily," Blair replied as their caretaker took their guests' coats.
"And this home looks fantastic," Lily took in the surroundings, "I'd forgotten this place even existed. It's so hidden. They used to give tours when I was a little girl."
"They still do. Blair's giving tours every ten minutes," Chuck snickered, "Tickets can be purchased in the gift shop."
"Chuck," Blair rolled her eyes as she backhanded his shoulder.
"Is Eric here yet?" Lily inquired, "He said he has a surprise for us."
"He's here," Blair confirmed, "And he most definitely has a surprise. Brace yourself, Lily. It's quite the shock."
"So it's not Serena?" Lily frowned slightly. She'd held out hope for weeks that her daughter was going to make it home for the holiday even though Serena had been consistent in her proclamations that she wasn't going to make it.
"Sorry, Lily," Blair stepped in to hug her best friend's mother, "I wanted her to come home too."
"Then what is this big surprise?" Lily inquired as she was quick to mask her disappointment.
"I think Eric gets the honors," Blair linked her arm with her eventual mother-in-law and guided her into the living area where all the guests had gathered, including Eric.
"Oh my god!" Lily shrieked as she took in her son's appearance. His hair was streaked red and green for the holiday, which was apparently his big surprise, "Eric, what happened to your hair!"
"Don't you like it?" Eric tried his hardest to keep a straight face.
"It's red and green!" she scoffed, "What on earth possessed you to do such a thing?"
"A bunch of the brothers in my fraternity thought it would be a fun thing to do for the holidays," Eric shrugged.
"Give your parents heart attacks!" she gasped.
"It's just a bit of solidarity," Eric replied, "It will wash out in a few weeks."
"It had better," Lily glared at him, "Dying your hair brunette from your natural blonde is all I'm comfortable with."
"It's college, Mom," Eric replied, "I'm supposed to experiment."
"Couldn't you get a weird piercing or a tattoo instead?" Lily offered.
"He's got the tattoo," Chuck chimed in with a chuckle.
"What!" Lily exclaimed, "Where?"
"It's probably best left to the imagination," Blair replied.
"Why do you two know about this, and I don't?" Lily looked towards Blair and Chuck.
"Because he came to us drunker than a skunk and needed to sleep it off," Blair snickered, "But he also had to show his brother his ink. He was so proud."
"Until he tried to take a seat," Chuck laughed as he recalled the same memory.
"What is it?" Lily tried to be calm about the situation.
"Tweety Bird," Eric admitted reluctantly.
"Tweety Bird," Lily repeated, as she fought to contain her laughter, "On your rump."
"It seemed like a good idea in the moment," Eric shrugged.
"As did the red and green hair," Blair chimed in, feeling the need to take Serena's place in giving Eric grief.
"The hair will grow out and the tattoo can be removed down the road," Eric responded, "I'm being wild and carefree while I still can. The real world is going to call far sooner than I'd like."
"It's not so bad," Blair assured him as her phone rang. She quickly checked it and began beaming, "It's S, right on time for a change. Chuck, go set up the video conferencing equipment while I answer this…Hey, S, Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas, B!" Serena shrieked, "Did he get you the rock?"
"Oh my god, S, you're a broken record," Blair laughed, "And no proposal yet."
"Put him on the phone. I need to have a talk with him," Serena demanded.
"He's setting up the video equipment. You're all set up, aren't you?"
"Ready to roll," Serena confirmed.
"We'll start with Eric," Blair nudged him towards the media room where Chuck had disappeared moments earlier, "He's got a couple surprises for you."
It was a few moments before everyone heard Serena's shriek of surprise at seeing the color of her brother's hair, and then a few moments more before she shrieked again, obviously laying eyes on Tweety Bird for the first time.
Lily took her turn after Eric, and then Nate arrived in time to take his turn.
"Chuck, you're killing me," Serena told her brother when he took his turn, "Still no proposal. If I'm going crazy, I can only imagine how insane Blair must be."
"We came to an agreement," Chuck responded, "She stopped pressing me to propose until everything I have planned falls in to place. It's a little over a month away. Blair's being patient, so you can be as well."
"One more month," Serena breathed a sigh of relief, "I'll try."
"Let's turn this conversation around. You're the one on a life changing African safari. How's Malawi?" he inquired.
"Life changing," Serena replied, "We've been working on proving clean drinking water to the nearby villages. This little girl was so excited yesterday just to turn on the faucet and have water that she was able to drink right from the tap. I started bawling. It's a thing that I've always taken for granted but no more."
"Sounds like quite an adventure," Chuck stated, "I'm proud of you, Serena."
"Is this a brother/sister moment that we're having here?" she teased him, "Awe, it's a Christmas day miracle."
"There you go spoiling it," he chuckled.
"I'll be proud of you too," she snickered, "After you propose to my best friend."
"It all comes back to that," he shook his head in amusement.
"I'd better be the first person you call when it happens."
"Even if it's the middle of the night?" he chuckled.
"With the time difference it will probably be the early morning here. We get up early around here," she informed him.
"Serena van der Woodsen up before noon…wow, I never thought I'd see the day," he teased.
"Do you really want to go there, Chuckie?" she challenged him, "For every one of my misdeeds, there are ten of yours I can point out."
"Awe, the threats of siblings," he refused to take her bait.
"And speaking of siblings, how could you let our brother streak his hair like a Christmas tree and get a little yellow bird tattooed on his ass," she hissed, "You're supposed to be looking out for him while I'm gone."
"Yes, odd color highlights and Tweety are my fault. Our brother has no mind of his own," he rolled his eyes.
"Merry Christmas, Chuck," Serena chuckled, "And thank you for the Christmas gift. You were more than generous in your donation to our cause. It's because of you that girl was able to drink from the faucet."
"It's because of you," Chuck told her sincerely, "You're the one out there doing the work. I just wrote a check."
"Well, thank you," Serena replied.
"I'll go get Blair," Chuck stated as he went to grab his girlfriend away from the family gathering.
As Serena waited, one of the girls from the village joined her and began asking questions with her limited English about the video equipment around her. Serena was chatting and laughing as Blair walked in.
"Hey, B," Serena smiled, "This is Sayda. She's one of the girls that lives in the village. Sayda, say hi to my best friend, Blair."
The little girl waved at Blair.
"Hi," Blair smiled and waved back.
"Sayda thinks my hair looks like the sun because of the color," Serena explained as the little girl tugged at a few stands, "She follows me around like my shadow." Sayda turned suddenly and whispered into Serena's ear. It was a few moments before she broke away and then suddenly ran out of view.
"Is something wrong?" Blair asked as Serena chuckled as her eyes followed Sayda.
"No," Serena continued laughing, "She was embarrassed. She's never seen a moving picture screen before. She thought it was a magic box. She also hasn't taken a bath in a few days, and you looked so clean and pretty."
"Merry Christmas, S…again," Blair stated after a few moments of self-reflection.
"Merry Christmas, B. I miss you so much," Serena replied.
"I miss you too," Blair assured her.
"So really no engagement?" Serena frowned.
"Not yet," Blair confirmed as she flashed her left hand as proof.
"Maybe he's waiting to do so in front of the family," Serena theorized.
"I don't think so, S," Blair tried her hardest not to laugh, "I think the proposal is going to be a private matter."
"Well, how do you want it to happen?" Serena inquired.
"I don't know," Blair shrugged, "I used to think about it all the time when I was younger, but that was when I was with Nate and planning out that perfect life that now holds no interest to me. Honestly, all I really need is Chuck on one knee and a stellar engagement ring that I'll be happy to wear for the next half century. Anything else that he wants to plan is fine with me, hopefully sooner rather than later. I'm trying to be patient like he's asked, but it's driving me insane. Has he said anything to you?"
"No," Serena shook her head, "He tells me what he tells you. I need to be patient. So how about we change subjects. What's happening with my favorite fashion designer?"
"Hard at work on the line," Blair smiled, "I just found out yesterday that I get to show at Fashion Week, so everyone is really excited. I've got the designs all worked out, and we're busy working on the construction of the garments now."
"Is there any way we can set up a webcam at the show so that I can watch? I don't want to miss your debut," Serena moaned.
"I'll see what I can do," Blair replied, "Did you get our Christmas care package yet? Lily and I sent it two weeks ago."
"Yep, it's waiting for me," Serena confirmed.
"And I threw in an extra package of tampons and condoms because you just never know when you'll need both," Blair chuckled, "Any cute boys in the new batch of recruits that came through since we last spoke?"
"Well, there is this one," Serena spoke coyly, "He's from London. He just finished his studies at Oxford, and wanted to take a bit of time off before he joins the real world. His father is in Parliament. He's really cute and sweet and…" She trailed off. Blair knew what that meant. Serena was going to return from her twenty-seven month commitment to the Peace Corps either with a broken heart or an engagement ring.
"So, three months in, any regrets?" Blair inquired.
"No," Serena shook her head, "I miss everyone like crazy, but this is just the adventure I needed. I'm glad I'm doing this."
"Only twenty four months to go," Blair chuckled.
"That's like two years," Serena's eyes went wide.
"Yes, it is," Blair confirmed, "Did your fancy Ivy League education teach you that? Almost makes me glad Yale rescinded their acceptance of me back in high school. What a waste of money that would have been if that's all you learned."
"There's that condescending NYU wit," Serena teased.
"So what's the British cutie's name?" Blair inquired.
"Max," Serena responded, "Which is short for Maximillian Reginald Duncan the Fourth."
"That's quite the mouthful. I see why he goes by Max," Blair replied.
"I can't wait for you to meet him," Serena gushed.
"Are you bringing him home in March?"
"Unfortunately, he won't be through his probationary period by then, so no, but next time definitely," Serena explained.
"You're coming home at a good time. Fashion week will be a distant memory, so I'll have all the time I need to devote to my best friend. We'll shop our way up and down Fifth Avenue, get manicures, pedicures and facials, and take trips to the salon. I can bring you to the loft and show you what we're working on for the next season, maybe even get you into some of our designs and get you photographed. Our exposure as of late hasn't been what we had hoped though the Bass Christmas Gala should improve things with so many socialites attending wearing my designs in the hopes that their significant others would gain favor with the boss," Blair explained, "It didn't work, though the increase in business was appreciated."
"Sucking up has no limits," Serena laughed, "Chuck should throw a few bones. Maybe business will pick up exponentially."
"We're doing fine," Blair assured her, "We're building towards Fashion Week. If we have a good showing, I believe the offers will start pouring in."
"I think the correct statement is after you have a good showing, the offers will pour in," Serena amended, "B, I have no doubt Fashion Week will be a complete success for you. You have the best taste in fashion of anyone I know."
"Awe, thanks, S," Blair smiled.
Neither woman wanted to end the communication, but they could tell the time was drawing near. Both had celebrations to get to.
"Sometimes I wish you had talked me out of this," Serena confessed as tears began to well in her eyes, "I miss everything about home. In theory I knew I'd be missing holidays, but the reality of it is so much more difficult than I imagined it would be."
"You're here in spirit," Blair felt herself tearing up.
"I guess that will have to be enough," Serena sighed as a tear trailed down her cheek.
"Maybe next year," Blair offered, "Once you're through with your probation, it's easier to get time off, right?"
"Yeah," she confirmed, "Maybe next year."
"Are you going to be okay?" Blair inquired.
"I'll be fine," Serena nodded, "It's just home sickness. It passes. I'd better go."
"I'll be available later if you need to talk some more," Blair assured her.
"Thanks, B, I love you," Serena sniffled, "And I miss you so much."
"We'll talk soon," Blair assured her, "I love and miss you too."
Blair found Chuck once the video chat had completed. His arm came around her waist immediately as her head fell against his shoulder.
"You okay?" he whispered as the rest of the gathered were listening to an amusing story that Eric was telling.
"No," she shook her head slightly, "But I'm better next to you."
Chuck turned and captured her lips in a soft kiss.
Blair sighed as she wiped at his lips to remove her lipstick. Chuck began kissing the pads of each of her fingers in response until Nate elbowed him in the stomach to get his attention.
"Archibald, you're dead," Chuck growled at his best friend though he kept his eyes locked with Blair.
"The natives are getting hungry," Nate informed him, "How about that gourmet meal you promised us?"
"I'll speak with the caterers," Blair disappeared, brushing tears out of her eyes as she did so.
"Way to be sensitive," Chuck glared at his best friend before he followed Blair.
"Dinner is ready," Blair informed him after a quick word with her caterer.
"Dinner can wait," Chuck snagged his arms around her waist and brought her in tight against him.
"So wonderful," she sighed as her head came to rest against his shoulder, "Back in high school, who knew you had it in you?"
"You did," he smiled.
"Some people probably think I'm crazy for staying with you as long as I have. Some people probably think you're running around behind my back. Some people probably think I'm just using you to get my line up and running…"
"Some people don't have a clue what they're talking about," Chuck stopped her, "We are devoted to each other over everything else. I couldn't care less about what those misinformed, judgmental nimrods think as long as you and I go to bed together every night."
"Such a sap," she snickered.
"Guilty," he chuckled.
"Bring everyone into the dining room," she nudged him out of the room, "I'll get the caterers to start setting up."
"I love you," he kissed her cheek.
"I love you," she smiled as she sent him on his way.
TBC…