Disclaimer: I only own the story specific characters I created. The originals belong to Cecily von Zeigesar and The CW.
I'm a bit behind on my holidays storyline wise, but enjoy it all the same.
"Hey, Charlee," Serena greeted her goddaughter with a hug when she arrived at the Bass penthouse with her latest male companion at the appointed time on Thanksgiving Day.
"Hi, Serena," Charlotte returned her hug.
"Where's your mom?" Serena glanced around as she shed her coat and handed it to the attendant hired for the day. For the last several years, Dorota was given every holiday off, but she always had a standing invitation to join in the festivities. This year Chuck had sprung for her to return to Poland to visit her family. Blair felt the loss of her presence almost immediately.
"Sternly lecturing the caterer," Charlotte sighed, "Apparently there was a bit of a mix up with the food, and we're eating a bit sooner than she'd arranged."
"Uh oh," Serena chuckled, "No one wants to be on the business end of Blair Waldorf Bass's lecture, especially when they are in the wrong."
"Trust me, I know," Charlotte laughed.
"Have you met Councilman Harris?" Serena introduced her guest.
"Haven't had the pleasure," Charlotte extended her hand to the man. She was raised to always be polite, so she didn't feel the need to mention that she thought Serena's latest relationship would last about as long as the last one, maybe through New Year's Day. It seemed Serena's relationships were getting shorter with each passing year.
"You're as beautiful as your mother," the councilman's hands lingered against Charlotte's for longer than was probably appropriate. She promptly yanked them away. She was most grateful when the elevator chimed the arrival of their next guest.
"Hi, Sweetheart," Nate stepped off the elevator and greeted Charlotte with a hug and a kiss to her forehead, "How's my favorite goddaughter?"
"Better now," Charlotte hugged him tight as Serena and her boyfriend migrated into the living room to greet the other guests who had already arrived. Charlotte noticed Serena's date making a beeline for the bar to pour himself a healthy tumbler full of scotch.
"Everything okay?" he whispered in her ear. While she was always happy to see him, her tight hug told him something wasn't quite right.
"He gives off a weird vibe," Charlotte motioned slightly towards Serena's date.
"Stick with me, Sweetheart," he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "I'll keep him away from you."
"I know," she smiled, "You're just about as protective of me as my dad."
"Damn right," he chuckled, "Just say the word, and I'll deck him."
"Tempting," she snorted, "No date today?"
"Nope, flying solo," he shook his head, "I appear to have an opening if you're up to it for the day."
"Deal," Charlotte laughed and linked her arm with his. It had become a special thing for the both of them since she was a little girl. Whenever Nate arrived at a family or social function stag, Charlotte wormed her way into being his date. It started out as a joke, but as she grew more into the social scene it became a way for her to practice working the room. Now she was more of a pro than he was. An added benefit of the arrangement was Nate's presence kept away the undesirables.
"I know why I'm flying solo today, but I thought you'd have a line of men jumping at the chance to spend holidays with you," he teased.
"Maybe Christmas," she gave him a wink just as Blair emerged from the kitchen where the mini crisis appeared to be under control for at least the moment. She took over hostess duties, which allowed Charlotte to make a bit of an escape to check her phone. She'd received several messages while greeting guests but didn't have the time to answer them.
"Is your family boring you?" Chuck found his daughter in his office just before the family was about to sit down for the family feast. She was sitting at his desk with her feet up like she was right at home.
"Just responding to a few texts," Charlotte pocketed her phone and rose to her feet.
"Mister Fraser?" Chuck raised a curious brow.
"First it was a couple of my sorority sisters, and then Brice," she shook her head, "He wants to video conference after he's done with class. It's supposed to be a surprise for mom. He knows how much it bummed her out that he couldn't come for the holiday."
"She understands his need to attend his classes," Chuck wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Doesn't mean she's happy about it," Charlotte leaned against her father as they walked towards where their family was gathering.
"She's not serious about me turning Central Park into a vineyard, is she?" he chuckled.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Charlotte laughed as they joined the gathered. "If it brings Brice back to the states, she'd at least want you to look into it."
Charlotte immediately went over to converse with her grandfather in French. She was joined in the discussion with his life partner, Roman and her grandmother, Eleanor. She loved listening to Harold and Roman banter back and forth in what was their native language. Though it might seem odd to some, it wasn't at all awkward to have Eleanor chime in. The animosity between the divorced pair had disappeared over the last couple of decades. With Eleanor now living nearly full time in France, they conversed regularly.
"How's Bass treating you, Charlotte?" Eleanor asked her granddaughter in English when her Uncle Eric approached and put his arm around her waist.
"It's been a bit bumpy at times," Charlotte confessed as her head rested against Eric's shoulder, "Upper management just changed around the department though and things are going a lot better."
"Bet it helped when you bought everyone lunch on your first day back," Eric teased her.
"It was a kind gesture," Charlotte smiled, "At least they actually invited me out. They could have ignored me like everyone in the division did before the management change."
Eleanor looked completely lost by the conversation Eric and Charlotte were having.
"Someone falsely accused me of bullying them into doing my work for me," Charlotte filled her grandmother in, "While I was on administrative leave, a lot of other things came out about how dysfunctional the division was. Upper management thought it was best to shuffle things around. I'm working for this really amazing new boss. It's incredible how different it is going to work now. I no longer dread going into the office."
"Charles, how could you let Charlotte be targeted like that?" Eleanor scolded her son-in-law when he approached to let everyone know dinner was about to be served.
"I see you're spreading the good news," Chuck gave his daughter a playful scowl before addressing Eleanor, "I didn't have a clue what was going on until HR brought the dysfunction to my attention. I assure you everything has been appropriately handled, and I've learned from my mistakes."
"It really wasn't Daddy's fault," Charlotte chimed in defense of her father, "I didn't tell him what was going on. Everything has worked out though."
"Shall we eat?" Chuck ushered everyone towards the elaborately set table, under his breath so only Charlotte could hear, he added, "Before Serena's date drinks himself under the table."
Charlotte gave him an amused smile and was about to take her seat at the table when she felt her phone vibrate. "I'll be right back."
"Don't take too long," Charlotte's cousin, Penny, who idolized her and practically followed her around at every family gathering, told her, "You don't want to miss out on the mashed potatoes."
"Save my seat, Sweet Pea," Charlotte smiled at her adoring cousin before she disappeared into her father's office to take Eddie's call. "I thought we weren't going to converse until this evening."
"What can I say? I couldn't wait," he chuckled.
"You're going to make me miss saying grace," Charlotte told him.
"Sorry, I didn't realize you guys were sitting down already," he winced, "I thought you always ate a bit later."
"Caterers booked us a bit earlier this year," Charlotte explained, "Mom wasn't altogether thrilled with the change in schedule, but everyone arrived when they were supposed to so it all worked out."
"I can see how your mom wouldn't be pleased," he chuckled, "You'd better go. I'd hate for you to miss out on the meal because of me."
"Don't be silly. We have enough to feed a large army as it is," she replied, "Your entire family could have joined us, and we'd still have a mountain of food left over."
"Trust me, we'll have plenty leftovers ourselves," Eddie stated, "I think Mom overestimated how much we eat as a family."
"Is she making the entire meal by herself?" Charlotte asked. Even Aiden didn't cook on Thanksgiving, except to help her grandfather make his famous pumpkin pie.
"Abigail helped a bit when Mom would let her. Justin, Dad and I have wisely stayed out of the kitchen. Dad went in once to get a drink of water and ended up getting swatted by a wooden spoon. Justin and I are a bit dehydrated, but we'll survive until the food is on the table," he chuckled.
"As much as I hate to say this, I'd better get going," Charlotte sighed, "Our meal is on the table, and I'm sure I want to watch what sort of trouble Serena's latest male companion causes. He been pounding back the scotch at a pretty decent clip since the moment he arrived."
"We're still on for leftovers tonight, right?" he asked.
"Yep, Mom already instructed the caterers to set a few things aside," Charlotte confirmed, "I'll see you at my place in a few hours."
"Can't wait," he smiled.
Charlotte returned to the table just in time for the food to start making the rounds. Fortunately she was sandwiched in between Nate and her cousin, Penny, so she didn't have to make awkward conversation with Serena or her guest who happened to be sitting across the table. Penny was such a chatter box; she took most of Charlotte's attention.
After a lively meal in which Serena's male companion made a complete fool of himself. Nate was quite eager to throw the man out of the building by the collar of his shirt. Serena followed shortly after, apologizing profusely for the disturbance. As everything was settling down and the call from Brice sufficiently returned the mood back to the jovial family gathering, Charlotte was able to slip away from the gathering mostly unnoticed with a helping of leftovers.
"Hope you don't mind, I let myself in," Eddie was in the kitchen getting ingredients ready for their meal of leftovers.
"I don't mind at all," Charlotte approached to peck at his lips, "I like that you feel comfortable here."
"It helps that the lady of the manor is so welcoming," he loosely wrapped his arms around her waist when she set her containers on the counter. "How was your Bass family Thanksgiving?"
"Eventful," Charlotte giggled slightly, "Your family should have joined us. It would have been fun entertainment for the entire family."
"Oh," he raised a curious brow.
"I'll tell you over dinner," she smiled as her arms came around his neck, "How was your meal?"
"Sounds like it was much quieter than yours," he replied as they began to sway a bit. "Mom made a fantastic meal. It was the traditional feast Justin and I have been missing for the past several years we've been away."
"Home cooked holiday meals are just such a foreign concept to me," Charlotte smiled, "Our holiday meals have always been catered."
"Yes, I remember," he nodded, "That's your holiday tradition, and it works for your family. We've been lucky enough to be invited on many occasions."
"Play your cards right, and maybe you'll be invited again," she smiled.
"And perhaps you'd consider joining us in our celebration," his arms tightened a bit around her waist. "Would you like that?"
"Sounds like fun," she nodded. "I don't have to help cook, do I?"
"No, I think you'll be kept far away from the actually cooking," he chuckled, "You may have to wash a few dishes after the meal though."
"Then I'd better learn how before I break bread with your family," she sighed as her head came to rest against his chest.
"I'd be happy to teach you."
"I'm not hungry just yet," she replied, "How about we put the leftovers in the fridge and chill out in the movie room?"
"Deal," he allowed her to pull him into the theater.
They cued up a recently released movie and relaxed. After the chaos of Charlotte's family meal, she needed this quietness.
"Justin and Abigail know about us," Eddie spoke during a quiet moment of the movie.
"What?" Charlotte snatched up the remote to pause the movie.
"Justin and Abby know about us," Eddie repeated, "Dad accidently let it slip during our meal."
"How did Justin take it?" Charlotte voice quivered nervously.
"He was surprised obviously," Eddie chose his words carefully.
"In a bad way?" she twisted so she could look into his eyes.
"Not angry," Eddie shook his head, "Just really surprised. For him, it came out of nowhere."
"I wonder if that is how Aiden and Brice will react," Charlotte frowned.
"I was quite surprised by your father's reaction," Eddie admitted, "I figured I'd need to enter myself in the witness relocation program when he found out. He's been surprisingly accepting."
"I think it's the way he found out," Charlotte relaxed against his chest, her fingers tangling with his, "If I hadn't been facing career ruin at the moment, I think his reaction would have been more what we both expected."
"Do you think we're in the clear now that you're back at work?" he asked.
"I don't know," she responded hesitantly. "I want to say yes, but this is Daddy. Anything could set him off."
"So we should probably keep our sleepovers quiet," he smirked.
"Yes, for the rest of our lives," Charlotte laughed.
"Are you mad Justin and Abby know?" he asked.
"No," she shook her head, "Maybe if Justin reacted badly, I would be. I know we agreed to keep things quiet with the family until Christmas, but I'm really starting to question why? I really wanted you with me today."
"The feeling is entirely mutual," he kissed her temple. "So how was your meal? You said eventful."
"Oh god," Charlotte groaned, "Serena brought this really horrible guy. He's a councilman for the city, and also apparently quite the connoisseur of all things alcohol. The guy passed out in his mashed potatoes."
"You're not serious?" he snorted.
"I'm totally serious," Charlotte laughed, "The moment he arrived, he went straight to the bar and started knocking them back, one right after the other. He could barely find the dinner table. He started playing footsie with Nate, probably thinking it was me. Then all of a sudden, thud, right in his mashed potatoes. The guy had gravy all over his face when he came to. Serena just played it off like he was really nervous to meet everyone, but the guy gave me the serious willies the moment he shook my hand."
"Which is why you wanted me with you?" Eddie concluded.
"That was part of it," Charlotte replied, "Uncle Nate stepped in and played the protector roll quite well. He nearly broke the guy's foot when he realized who was playing footsie with him. Had it been Serena, he probably would have played along."
"Why didn't your Uncle Nate and Aunt Serena ever get together?" Eddie asked.
"They do occasionally," Charlotte admitted, "They have this really complicated relationship. I don't think Serena ever wants to really settle down again, and Uncle Nate doesn't want to settle down, ever. Mom says it's mostly hormonal for them. They do have chemistry, but they're not interested in making it work long term. If I'm honest, I think Uncle Nate is too good for Serena. She my godmother, and I love her, but she's never really figured out who she is. He's certainly not going to wait for her to figure it out."
"And your Uncle Nate has himself all figured out?" Eddie challenged.
"Way more than Serena," Charlotte nodded, "He may not have the entire romantic relationship thing figured out, but he's got a direction. He doesn't just live on publicity and a trust fund."
"I suppose that is a good description of your aunt," Eddie conceded.
"Anyways after the footsie incident, Nate was all too happy to throw the guy out of the building, and I mean literally," Charlotte replied.
"Saved your father from doing it," Eddie chuckled.
"I think there would have been a line of family members ready to do it," Charlotte laughed along with him, "Honestly, I don't know where Serena digs up some of these guys."
"It's probably something you don't even want to know," he pointed out.
"Come on, I'm getting hungry," Charlotte tugged on his hand, "Let's eat and then finish up this movie."
"After I teach you how to wash dishes," he willingly followed her into the kitchen.
TBC…