Disclaimer: I only own the story specific characters I created. The originals belong to Cecily von Zeigesar and The CW.
The Bass family was busy gathering all their gifts under the tree as Aiden and Eddie worked together in the kitchen to make Christmas Eve dinner. Aiden had been making the family's holiday meals for a few years now, since he was a sophomore in high school, earning higher praise each year from the family.
"Daddy, can I talk to you?" Charlotte ambled into her father's office where he and Blair were curled up together, reading. It was a pastime they'd shared for most of their relationship, one that always warmed Charlotte's heart to see. Her father was most likely trying to distract her mother from sneaking a peek at the gifts under the tree, but there was something on Charlotte's mind she didn't want to wait to speak to him about.
"Sure, Sweetheart, I'll go shake a few presents," Blair rose to her feet.
"Actually, you can stay," Charlotte pulled up a chair to sit across from her parents.
"What is it, Charlotte?" Chuck marked the page in the book and set it aside to give his daughter his full attention.
"I wanted to talk to you about this afternoon…at the hospital," Charlotte added.
"Did something happen?" Chuck asked.
"Nothing bad," Charlotte was quick to assure him, "But…umm…I was talking to one of the little girl's mothers, and it got me to thinking about how fortunate our family is – both because of our good health and the money in our bank accounts. Some of the families are so broke because of their children's illness they won't be having Christmas. That shouldn't happen, ever."
"I don't know there is anything we can do about it, Charlotte," Chuck frowned in confusion.
"Fix it," Charlotte demanded, "Donate more money so these families don't have to choose between their children getting well and paying their mortgage."
Blair gave her husband a sympathetic look.
"Charlotte, we give millions of dollars a year to that hospital," Chuck responded, "We've built so many wings, it's a wonder they having named the entire hospital after our family."
"That's not good enough," Charlotte snapped at him, "Tell them to stop building wings and to use the money to care for these patients so they don't have to pay themselves."
Chuck was about to speak, but Blair chimed in instead, "Sweetheart, we could give every cent in our bank accounts, but it's still not going to be enough to help every family."
"Can I at least help one?" Charlotte had tears in her eyes, "Sadie's family isn't going to have Christmas because she's sick. That's not fair. Every kid should have Christmas."
"You're right, it's not," Blair went to her daughter, putting her arms around her shoulders. She'd had these same emotions after they'd become parents. She'd asked Chuck to do the exact same thing. It had killed him to tell her the exact same things they were trying to tell Charlotte now. "Every family we visited today is receiving the best care possible. The endowment we established years ago helps those families with the greatest need. As hard as it is to hear the stories, we also have to look at it from the other side."
"What do you mean?" Charlotte asked.
"I'm sure Sadie is sick like her mother has said," Blair responded as gently as she could, "But there are some people out there who try to take advantage of situations like that…seek handouts where there are other alternatives. If Sadie's family is as bad off as they claim, they can apply to the endowment to help with financial costs, which would include things like presents."
"You're saying Sadie's mother lied to me?" Charlotte wiped at her tears.
"I'm saying there are people out there who try to take advantage of our generosity," Blair rubbed her daughter's shoulders.
"Char, I'll look into it," Chuck spoke up, "If Sadie's family is legitimately in financial crisis, we'll help, but…"
"But it may just be some lady trying to take advantage of a naïve elf who still has a lot to learn," Charlotte reached for a tissue to dry her eyes.
"Not naïve," Blair amended, "Caring. You have such a generous heart, Sweetheart. You have no idea how proud that makes me and your father."
"I could barely keep it together this afternoon," Charlotte confessed, "What's wrong with me?"
"Nothing is wrong with you," Blair took the tissue from her daughter's hand and wiped at her eyes, "Sweetheart, when your father and I finally got together for good, my emotions were all over the place. It's a scary thing to open yourself up like that, make yourself vulnerable to getting hurt. Things may hit you a bit harder than they have before, but the best part is now you have someone to lean on…and from what I saw at the hospital, Eddie Fraser has some pretty broad shoulders and is fully ready to have you lean on them."
There was a grumble released in the direction of Chuck.
"Dad," Charlotte scowled at her father.
"Like it or not, Chuck Bass, your daughter is making room for another man in her life," Blair sent her husband a scowl of her own, "And don't think I haven't heard the muttering or seen the looks you've been sending Eddie's way. You need to get ahold of yourself because Charlotte's happy."
Chuck engaged his wife in a staring contest he was destined to lose. He knew he had to get onboard, but Charlotte was his princess. He wasn't ready.
"Daddy, he's really good for me," Charlotte added, batting her lashes like she used to when she was a little girl, know it was her father's Achilles heel.
"I know, Charlotte," Chuck released a heavy sigh, "And I know how happy he makes you. I'm really trying to be okay with all of this. It's just going to take some time."
"How much time?" Charlotte challenged him, "Because like it or not, Eddie and I are in love, and for the first time in my life, I really feel like I might have found something like you have with Mom, which is scary as hell, but also really, truly wonderful."
"You're in love," Chuck stuttered.
"Yes, Dad, love, l-o-v-e," Charlotte literally spelled it out for him, "I'm including him in our family celebrations in a way I've never included anyone else. Doesn't that tell you how important he is to me?"
Chuck closed his eyes to let Charlotte's words sink in fully, "Charlotte Evelyn Waldorf-Bass, all I have ever wanted for you since the moment I first held you in my arms was to be happy. Edward Fraser is about the most honorable man I could have asked for. I'm not saying I'm ready to give your hand in marriage just yet, but I am doing my best to get comfortable with the two of you together."
"And if Eddie and I spend nights together?" Charlotte's voice waffled nervously.
Chuck forced out a heavy breath, "I'm not as stupid as I look. I know you're a twenty-three year old woman. I know you've had…" Chuck couldn't force the words out. Blair bit her cheek hard to not have a good chuckle at his expense.
"Sex, Daddy," Charlotte offered up, her eyes shining with mischief. Oh how she wished she had a camera to capture the look on her father's face as she said the word out loud.
"Oh god, let's not do this on Christmas Eve," Chuck went to the wet bar and poured himself a tumbler of scotch.
"Oh Daddy, I love you, and I get that you still think I'm your little girl, but I'm really not," Charlotte rose to her feet, went to his side, set his drink down, and put her hands on both of his shoulders to have is full attention, "Eddie and I are building towards something really great. I'm not saying we're ready to take a long walk down the aisle just yet…I just want to be with him and experience life with him the same way you and Mom did before you got married."
"I know, Princess," Chuck sighed heavily.
"So when Eddie and I start having sleep overs, there will be no grumbling from you about him defiling your little princess," Charlotte stated, "And there sure as heck won't be any attempts to strangle him at the breakfast table."
"Start having sleep overs?" Chuck's eyes looked suddenly hopeful, almost relieved.
Charlotte rolled her eyes, "Good talk, Daddy." She kissed his cheek and left his office.
"Start having sleep overs?" Chuck repeated to himself, "They haven't had…yet?"
"I'm not even going to answer that question," Blair snickered, "I thought you were going to have a heart attack when Charlotte said the word 'sex'. She's twenty-three years old, Bass. Need I remind you, you were practically ten years younger than she is now when you first experienced sex and far less mature."
"Blair, this is Christmas. I really don't want to be discussing my sexual escapades or those of my daughter tonight of all nights," Chuck told her.
"And that other matter Charlotte brought up?" Blair asked.
"I'll look into Sadie's family's finances," Chuck assured her.
"Thank you," Blair caressed his chest.
Eddie was helping Aiden in the kitchen when Charlotte ambled into the room after speaking with her parents. She planted a kiss on his cheek before taking a seat on the stool at the counter.
"I kinda like having company in the kitchen," Aiden pulled a spoon from the drawer to taste the sauce for his holiday creation, "I love what I do, but with the rest of the family is pretty helpless in the kitchen, it's quite lonely at times."
"I can see that," Eddie chuckled, "I've been trying to teach your sister a few kitchen skills."
"Really?" Aiden snorted, "I hope you aren't giving her any cutlery. She'd likely lose a finger."
"Ha ha, little brother," Charlotte held up her fingers, "All ten, still present and accounted for."
"Impressive," Aiden smiled, "You're still not getting anywhere near my stove."
"Oh, really," she took the bait, "I seem to remember how much you like using my kitchen. Perhaps you'll change your tune if I restrict your access."
"You wouldn't dare," Aiden scowled at her, "It would be a culinary crime to not allow anyone with culinary expertise to use it."
"Oh, and you think you're the expert," Charlotte's eyes swam in amusement. She loved the playful banter she had with both her brothers.
"A heck of a lot more than you," was her brother's quick response.
Charlotte's only response was to laugh. She knew she was hopeless in the kitchen, just like her mother before her. Her father had teased her mother endlessly about her lack of skills in the kitchen. Early in their relationship, Blair had gotten it into her head that she should know how to cook for her man and attempted to make Chuck a few meals which had ended spectacularly bad. Chuck had practically forbidden her from ever stepping foot in the kitchen for anything more than a beverage. Charlotte had followed in her mother's footsteps.
No one knew where Aiden's passion and talents for cooking came from, but Blair and Chuck had encouraged his pursuits the instant he showed them as they'd done with all of Charlotte and Brice's interests as they were growing up.
"At least I can ride a horse," she tossed back at him.
"Hey, low blow," Aiden scowled at her.
"What's the story there?" Eddie inquired.
"After I had been taking riding lessons for awhile, Aiden started coming with me and Daddy. He begged for weeks to take lessons, so Dad did his homework to find the best male instructor and bought all the gear for him. Aiden was stylin' and eager to take a ride. Mom took all sorts of pictures of him in his attire, like she did for me when I first started riding. We got him up on the horse, he took one slow stroll around the arena, demanded to be taken off the horse, and never wanted to ride again. Thank god, Dad, hadn't gone through the process yet of actually buying him a horse," Charlotte explained
"Horse riding isn't for everyone," Aiden shrugged his shoulders, "Brice isn't much of a fan either."
"It worked out well for me," Charlotte shrugged, "It continued as a thing Dad and I did together."
"Were you into baseball like your brother?" Eddie asked.
"I played, but it wasn't my favorite sport," Aiden replied.
"Yeah, the shiner when you were two pretty much dampened that enthusiasm," Charlotte chimed in.
"This one I've heard," Eddie recalled, "Chuck was out of town for some executive retreat and Aiden's face caught a foul ball."
"Hey, that wasn't funny," Charlotte smacked Eddie's shoulder, "He got super lucky. He could have lost an eye."
"Charlotte feels responsible," Aiden explained, "I was playing catch with her when it happened. She hovered over me for days and days after it happened."
"And I still remember the sound of him wailing as Mom tried to comfort him," Charlotte added.
"I actually preferred water polo," Aiden turned the conversation quickly. He knew how much the memories of what happened bothered his sister. He truthfully didn't remember the entire incident, only what he was told by his mom, brother and sister.
"He was really good too. He got offered scholarships at all the top colleges in the country," Charlotte beamed with pride.
"It wasn't a difficult choice," Aiden replied, "Cooking is my first love."
Charlotte stepped towards him and put an arm around his waist, "And you're good at it."
"What are we missing?" Collette asked as she and Brice came into the kitchen arm in arm.
"Just giving Eddie some insight into our family," Aiden replied.
"Oh goodness, a potential minefield," Collette replied, "Just take it as it comes, Eddie. They have all these inside jokes I'm still trying to figure out."
"You know everything you need to, Sweetheart," Brice kissed her temple.
"Your mother is getting gift happy," Collette stated, "She keeps picking up gifts with her name on them and shaking them."
"Yep, that's our mom," Aiden laughed out. "She turned into a kid in the candy store on Christmas Eve."
"If I got half the gifts your father gives her, I would be too," Collette snickered, "Why doesn't your father just buy her a jewelry store and be done with it. She has practically everything Harry Winston, Cartier, and Tiffany has ever made."
"Dad really should build her a jewelry vault," Brice chuckled.
"He probably already has," Charlotte rolled her eyes.
"Why weren't we invited to the party?" Blair and Chuck entered the kitchen arm and arm, "Whatever you're making, Aiden, it smells fantastic."
"Thanks, Mom," Aiden stirred the pan, "It's got to simmer for awhile."
"How about we all open one gift each while we wait?" Blair's eyes sparkled. Her children all snickered in response. They'd tried on numerous occasions to limit their mother to just one gift before dinner, but before everyone knew it, all the presents under the tree had been opened. It was within the last few years, their father had stepped in to dissuade his anxious wife.
"How about we watch Charlie Brown's Christmas instead?" Chuck suggested.
"No," Blair moaned and then stuck out her lip to pout.
"Not going to work, Beautiful," Chuck leaned in to kiss away her pout.
The family was all comfy in the media room when Chuck cued up the family's favorite Christmas movie. The first time they all saw it was when Aiden was three. They must have watched it four times in a row that first Christmas Eve, and every year since it was the first movie they watched.
Eddie took a moment to take in the scene when Chuck made himself comfortable next to his wife, who eagerly snuggled in against him. Brice was settled with his head resting in Collette's lap as she gentle stroked her fingers through his hair. Aiden had his head rested against Charlotte's shoulder as she snuggled into Eddie. They were all so comfortable together, and they seemed to accept him into the fold without question or hesitation.
There were times Eddie still felt like he didn't deserve Charlotte, didn't deserve to be in her world, but moments like this shook the thought away. Her family didn't give a second thought to his presence.
As the end credits of the movie began to roll, Aiden went to check on their dinner.
"I haven't seen that movie since Justin and I were kids," Eddie helped Charlotte to her feet as the rest of the family trickled out of the media room.
"Oh gosh, it's only been a couple of years since we stopped watching it two or three times in a row on Christmas Eve," Charlotte replied, "When Aiden was really young, he'd demand we watch it over and over all Christmas season."
"Aiden would run to whoever was closer with the case in his hands and his dark brown eyes opened so wide, it was impossible to resist," Blair chimed in.
"He'd pull us all into the media room and demand we watch it together as a family," Charlotte added, "As he got older, we watched it less and less."
"Thank god," Chuck added. Truth be told, he was sick of the movie altogether, but he enjoyed having the family gathered so much he never said anything.
"I love all these holiday traditions you guys have," Eddie followed Charlotte into the dining room.
"You can thank Chuck then," Blair chimed in.
"You started the traditions, Beautiful, the first year we were together," Chuck reminded his wife as he held her chair for her before taking his seat at the opposite side of the table.
"Yes, but you made them traditions. I just did them once," Blair beamed in response as Aiden came in with the holiday meal in his hands. Everyone's attention immediately shifted to praising the culinary student for his talents until everyone was so full they couldn't eat another bite.
After bringing all the dishes into the kitchen, the family migrated towards the tree and the plethora of presents all around it, wrapped elegantly in the highest quality wrapping paper. It looked so much like a Christmas card, Eddie had to take out his phone to capture it.
While he found a comfortable spot, Charlotte, Aiden, and Brice pulled out Santa hats from under tree and put them on before passing out gifts. It took quite awhile and everyone had a giant mound built in front of them, even Eddie, much to his surprise. Once Brice was settled next to Collette, Barty curled himself at his master's feet with his own Santa hat affixed to his head.
"Here's the deal, Eddie," Blair chimed in before everyone tore into their gifts, "We go around to each person once, who opens a gift from Chuck and myself. Then everyone rips into the rest."
Charlotte had already picked out the present she wanted Eddie to open and handed it to him. All eyes were on him looking expectantly. "Newest to the group opens the first gift."
"Thank goodness it's someone else for a change," Collette chimed in.
Eddie took a deep breath as he opened the first gift from Blair and Chuck. He did his best not to let his hands shake as he could feel all eyes trained on him. Once the paper was torn away, he lifted the lid to see a pair of monogrammed cufflinks, likely worth more than anything he'd ever owned.
"Wow, these are great," Eddie swallowed hard to graciously accept the gift. Every fiber of his being wanted to hand them back as he did not feel worthy, but he kept those thoughts to himself. From the look on Charlotte's face, she most definitely felt he belonged, and he loved her so much he didn't want to correct her.
"Lettie's turn," Aiden quickly took the focus off of Eddie, which he appreciated. As much as everyone teased the family matriarch about her gift receiving eagerness, he most definitely took after her, and having to wait through two others to open a gift was tough for the youngest family member to swallow.
Collette received a pair of Tiffany earrings, which had her gushing with gratitude. Aiden received a new set of knives certain to make him the envy of all his classmates when he returned to school after the holidays. Brice received a vintage set of wine corks from one of the oldest winemakers in France. Charlotte received her own pair of Tiffany earrings, much to her delight.
"Your turn, Chuck," Blair told her husband.
"After you, Beautiful," Chuck smiled.
"They do this every year," Collette leaned over towards Eddie, "It's something of a standoff. Chuck wins every year."
"Mom doesn't have the patience to wait him out," Brice chimed in before he halted his parents' playful back and forth banter, "Do you mind if Mom opens my gift first this year?"
"Oh," Blair raised a curious brow as she sifted through her pile of gifts until she found one from her son.
"Actually, I was thinking it could be this one," he pulled an envelop from his back pocket.
Blair looked even more intrigued as she slipped her finger under the sealed envelope flap and opened it. She read through the piece of paper a few times, trying to understand what exactly she was reading.
"It's a job offer," Brice explained, "Here in New York. I'm moving home."
Blair's face instantly lit up like a Christmas tree, launching herself off her chair to hug her son as tight as she could. "Really?"
"Yes, really," Brice bobbed his head, laughing at how enthused his mother was about his news, "Lettie and I have been talking about it for the past year. New York is our home. We wanted to get back as soon as we're able. I already have enough credits to graduate, so when this position came up I applied. I'll be the exclusive representative of Grandpere's vineyard here in the U.S."
"Oh my goodness, this is the best gift you could have given me," Blair hugged him tighter.
"Lettie will be finishing school this spring, and then we'll find a permanent place to settle," Brice replied, "Until then I'm hoping my sister or my parents will let me crash with them."
"I don't care about the details. All I care about is my boy is coming home," Blair hugged him a third time.
"It's gonna be hard for the rest of us to top Brice's present this year," Aiden quipped as Blair finally sat down, reading through Brice's job offer for a third time. It was making far more sense now, and she was grinning from ear to ear.
"Chuck, did you know about this?" Blair turned to her husband.
Chuck's eyes only sparkled in response. Of course he knew. It was clear Chuck was enjoying his wife's joy as much as she was. Whatever gift he opened didn't matter as much as the delight his wife was experiencing.
Once Chuck opened his gift, it was apparently an invitation for everyone to tear into their gifts. Wrapping paper began to fly. Poor Barty kept getting buried beneath a mound of it even though he pawed out from underneath the paper several times.
Charlotte had given Eddie several new items to add to his wardrobe and a tie clip meant to go with the cufflinks Chuck and Blair had given him.
Charlotte purposely waited to open Eddie's gifts until last. She began to ooh and aah at the various trinkets she was getting and so completely distracted she didn't hear the chime of the elevator or her boyfriend leaving the room. Eddie and Chuck snuck away while the rest of the family were preoccupied by the gift fest.
"Thanks for coming across town," Eddie greeted his brother and sister-in-law as they'd been kind enough to bring his final gift for Charlotte over.
"She's all bathed and ready to be shown off," Abby handed over the leashed of the golden maltipoo puppy Eddie had picked out weeks ago. Around the puppy's neck was a festive Christmas ribbon. The puppy had been staying with Eddie's parents after she'd gone to obedience training. Abby had latched onto the adorable golden haired dog the moment it pranced into the apartment, showering her with all sorts of attention and affection.
"And you're sure she'll be okay around other dogs?" Chuck was a bit nervous how this new member of the family would interact with Barty.
"Yep, Barty and the puppy have already played together," Abby smiled broadly. "They got along great. Don't worry, Mister Bass, this puppy is the sweetest thing and fully housebroken. I almost don't want to give her up."
"We'll have our hands full soon," Justin reminded his wife as he affectionately rubbed her ever growing belly.
"We'd better get going," Abby glanced at her watch.
"Good luck, Eddie," Justin patted his brother's back.
"Bye, puppy," Abby waved at the dog, "Be good. We'll see you soon."
Eddie waited until the door closed on the elevator before he lifted the final present to Charlotte into his arms and carried it back into the festivities.
"On my goodness, how cute!" Collette was the first one to notice Eddie returning with the small puppy in his arms.
Charlotte gasped as her eyes locked with the adorable brown eyes. "Oh my god, who is this?"
"This is your new puppy," Eddie transferred the dog into Charlotte's eager arms.
"Oh my god!" she exclaimed a second time as the puppy immediately began licking her fingers, "You are just about the cutest thing I've ever seen." Charlotte turned towards Eddie, "I can't believe you did this?"
"In a good way, right?" Eddie sat beside her as she cuddled up with her new companion.
"In a very good way," Charlotte occupied herself by scratching behind the ears of the adorable dog.
"Don't worry, she comes with a whole host of toys and all accessories needed for a new pet owner," Eddie assured her, "I made sure Daniella was on board with the new household addition and everything.
"She?" Charlotte picked up on, "Does she have a name?"
"We've just been calling her puppy for now," Eddie shook his head, "We figured you'd want to do the honors of naming her."
Charlotte ran her fingers through the dog's soft fur, studying her for a few moments before proclaiming, "Emmaline, but Emie for short."
"Emie," Eddie repeated.
"Yep, Emie," Charlotte kissed the top of her new dog's head, her smile as wide as it could go. "What do you think, will you respond to Emie?"
The puppy yipped in reply, which caught Barty's attention as he trotted over to sniff out the new addition.
"Behave Barty," Charlotte warned the family pet as she held Emie protectively in her arms.
"Don't worry, Char, Barty and Emie are already acquainted," Brice came over, rubbing the top of his own dog's head, "When Eddie told me what he was getting you for Christmas, I suggested the two might want to get familiar with each other before they lived so close together. They got along really well."
"Oh, I just can't believe it," Charlotte kissed her new puppy again, "She's just the cutest little thing. How old is she?"
"Ten weeks," Eddie replied, "While she was being weaned from her mother, she went through obedience training. She's been staying with my parents for the last week. She's almost convinced my parents they need a dog, and I thought that was never going to happen. Even Justin enjoyed it, despite his allergy. If they weren't having a baby in a few months, I think Abby would have convinced him to get one too."
"I can see it already," Charlotte replied, "She already has the Bass charms."
The family was eager to welcome the newest Bass to the family as Emie was passed around the room with Barty following close behind, like he was keeping watch over her like the great protector.
"You and Emie are going to be the best of friends, aren't you?" Charlotte bent down to kiss the top of Barty's head before Emie was returned to her arms.
In all the excitement, Brice nearly forgot he had a final gift to deliver to his own girlfriend. Collette pouted at having to leave all the fun but dutifully suited up for the cold at Charlotte's urging.
"Don't get any cuter while I'm gone," Collette gave Emie a bit more love before she followed Brice to the elevator. Charlotte could practically hear Collette asking Brice for another puppy to add to their family.
"Don't worry, Buddy, they aren't replacing you," Aiden gave Barty a good rub down.
"This has certainly been an eventful Christmas," Blair smiled as she began organizing her unwrapped gifts, making sure none of them got tossed out with the wrapping paper Aiden was bagging up with his father.
"It's not over yet," Chuck rocked on his heels.
"Oh really?" Blair stared her husband down, "Do you have another surprise for me that's going to top the news of my son moving home?"
"Depend on how you feel about having a soon to be daughter-in-law," Chuck replied.
"What?" Blair gasped, "Are Brice and Collette engaged?"
"They likely will be when they get back from their carriage ride through Central Park," Aiden chimed in.
Blair's jaw dropped in surprise. "A new job and a fiancée, oh my goodness."
"She has to say yes first," Aiden snickered.
"She will," Charlotte rolled her eyes and swatted her youngest brother's shoulder. "Those two have been destined for this moment since they first met."
"He's a Bass who knows what he wants," Chuck gave his wife a curious smile Eddie didn't know what to make of. "When we meet the love of our life, we do everything we can to make them happy."
"Really? Is that what all that adolescent torture you graced me with? Making me happy?" Blair teased.
"I was confused," Chuck sent her a wink. They had both long ago forgiven each other for their past mistakes. Anything brought up now was merely a means to tease the other or put them in their place.
"Ignore them," Charlotte continued to cuddle with her puppy, who seemed just as anxious to be on the receiving end of the affection. "Oh goodness, I'm going to need to hire you a pet sitter."
"A pet sitter," Aiden frozen from his cleanup task, "That's not really a thing, is it?"
"You'd be surprised, Sweetheart," Blair plopped down next to her daughter and took the adorable pup into her arms, "There is an entire industry involving pet care."
"And we didn't take advantage?" Aiden snorted, "Would have been nice if someone else picked up Barty's poop every once and awhile."
"Because you had to do it so often," Charlotte rolled her eyes before turning her attentions back towards her dog. "Don't you worry, Emie, I will happily pick up your poo because you are just the cutest thing in the world."
Aiden rolled his eyes in response. He loved Barty as much as the rest of the family, but he wasn't as enamored with dogs in general. He took after his father in that way. Chuck loved how Barty brought smiles to everyone's faces, but he wasn't nearly as heartbroken when Brice took him to France as the rest of the family. Charlotte and Blair had been nearly inconsolable for days.
Blair and Charlotte took Emie down to her penthouse to give her the lay of the land while Eddie stayed behind to help clean up the mess.
"That's about the biggest smile I've ever seen on Charlotte's face," Chuck told the younger man. "How'd you know she even wanted one?"
"She mentioned it once when we passed a dog park. She talked about how much she missed Barty and about how she wanted a dog of her own, but she said she wanted a smaller dog, a fluffy dog…"
"A chick dog," Aiden chimed in, "Emie certainly fits that bill. Emie is going to be attached to Charlotte's hip all Christmas break. She'll probably even want to take it to the office with her when they open back up after the holidays."
"If it was allowed," Chuck laughed, "It's not."
"You know, she has someone wrapped around her pinky in the office who has the authority to allow pets in the workplace," Aiden reminded his father.
"No," Chuck held firm, "That's a rule I will not change."
"We'll see," Aiden chuckled.
Blair and Charlotte returned a bit later with Emie. The pup's collar had already been changed to the blinged out one Eddie had purchased which was sitting in front of the tree in her living room along with an entire buffet of other puppy trinkets needed for a new pet owner. Emie was strutting her stuff as she ambled over to Eddie, yipping and jumping like she wanted him to pick her up.
"You definitely are an attention seeker," Eddie immediately caved to her wishes, rubbing her up as he cradled her in his arms.
"How about a board game while we wait for Collette and Brice to get back?" Aiden suggested.
"Monopoly," Charlotte's eyes lit in excitement.
"How about something a bit less like work," Blair chimed in, "Trivial Pursuit?"
"As long as we play the family edition," Aiden chimed in.
"Go get the game," Blair instructed her son.
The five of them were so engrossed in the game that they missed Brice and Collette stepping off the elevator, grinning from ear to ear. The pair heard a cheer coming from the dining room and followed the sound. Blair and Aiden were sitting together, Charlotte, Eddie and Emie were on the other side of the table, and Chuck was sitting in his usual place at the head of the table. On the board were three circular game pieces. It was clear Chuck was wiping the floor against the rest of the family, even though he was at a disadvantage.
Brice cleared his throat and then asked, "Is there room for two more?"
Collette had her hand extended out to show off her new ring. Blair and Charlotte squealed with delight as they descended upon the newly engaged pair, gushing over the ring and the other details of the proposal, oohing and aahing when appropriate.
"I know it's entirely too soon to be planning because we haven't even set a date, but Charlotte will you be my maid of honor?" Collette asked.
"Of course," Charlotte hugged her soonish to be sister-in-law.
"And Blair, I'd really love it if you'd design my gown," Collette added.
"I'd have it no other way," Blair hugged Collette, more than thrilled to welcome Brice's fiancée into the family.
"Aiden, best man?" Brice asked.
"Definitely," Aiden hugged his older brother and then Collette.
"Congratulations," Chuck added before he hugged the pair.
The game was reset as Brice and Collette teamed up and they played and chatted happily about the newly engaged couple, going over details still too early to plan until everyone was yawning and struggling to keep their eyes open.
Charlotte was situating Emie in her little bed in the corner of the room. The little pup was already sound asleep. Eddie had expected to emerged from the bathroom to find the newest addition to the household sleeping in bed with them that evening.
"Looks like she's right at home," Eddie smiled at the adoring way Charlotte was hovering over her new pet.
"I can't believe you remembered," Charlotte gushed as she advanced upon Eddie, wrapped up in her festive red robe, her arms wrapping around his shoulders, pressing herself in tight against him.
"Every word," he pressed his lips to hers.
"I have another Christmas present for you," she caressed the nap of his neck with a finger.
"Another present?" he encircled her waist, bringing her in even closer, "You've already been more than generous."
"This present is for both of us," she pecked at his lips before stepping away to slip from her robe to reveal the red silk negligee she'd chosen for the night, a far cry from the usual pajamas she wore to bed.
"Charlotte," Eddie felt his mouth go dry at the sight of her in such a beautiful and seductive piece of clothing.
"I love you, Eddie," she wrapped her arms around him again, "And I wanted this Christmas to give us both the most special gift I could."
"Just being with you is enough," Eddie's hand went to her waist, anchoring at her hips.
"I love you, Eddie," Charlotte repeated.
"I love you, too, Charlotte," he felt himself getting lost in her eyes.
"Make love to me, Eddie," she whispered just before he captured her lips in the deepest of kisses. She found herself whimpering in response when he deepened it.
"Are you sure?" Eddie pried his lips away only for a moment. His forehead pressed against her, trying desperately to reign in his urges in the off chance she said no.
"I'm so ready," Charlotte brought her lips back to his, angling to take the kiss deeper as her hands trailed down his back, searching for the hem of his shirt.
Eddie felt Charlotte's hands on the bare skin of his back. The feeling of fire she was leaving in her wake erased any hesitation he was feeling. He helped her pull the shirt off his body, tossing it carelessly aside before he swept Charlotte into his arms and carried her to the bed, laying her upon it gently, like a treasure he intended to savor.
Charlotte remembered seeing a bare chested Eddie Fraser many times over the years as they'd grown up, but she was unprepared for the muscular sight before her. "Where have you been hiding these?" she ran her hands along his well-defined pecks.
Eddie chuckled as he laid out on the bed next to her, allowing her to explore him, taking kisses at random moments as her fingers trailed along his chest and down his stomach, exploring the new territory she'd uncovered. She felt herself blushed when a finger slipped into the waistband of his shorts.
"Charlotte," he caressed her cheek softly, getting her to look into his eyes, "We go at your pace."
"I want this…I want this so much…I'm just a little nervous," she admitted, "I'm not as experienced, and before it was quick and…"
"Do you want me to lead the way?" he asked gently.
"Yes," she bobbed her head.
Eddie pressed another kiss to her lips and then slowly guided them through the dance. After he removed his shorts, he allowed Charlotte to get comfortable with his nudity before he removed her negligee, uncovering the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.
Charlotte had never felt as treasured as Eddie loved her body with his hands and lips. He took the time to explore, find pleasure points she didn't know existed.
"Eddie, please," she felt herself about read to combust.
"Condom?" he looked to her expectantly.
"Nightstand drawer," she pointed.
Grabbing one quickly, he was gone for only a moment before he settled into the cradle of her thighs.
"Are you sure?" he caressed her checks tenderly as they lay together, skin to skin.
"I've never been so sure," Charlotte rose up off the bed to capture his lips in a deep kiss.
Slowly they came together. Eddie took his time, let her body adjust and sought out the ways to bring her the most pleasure. Charlotte was in absolute heaven as they rose and fell in perfect rhythm. She never knew being with a man could be so pleasurable. She finally understood the noises she'd heard from her parents' bedroom for all those years. They found their bliss together and then held each other close as their breaths slowly returned.
"Wow," Charlotte was the first to be able to put a coherent thought together.
Eddie pressed his lips to her collarbone, chuckling at her response.
"Wow," Charlotte repeated, her hands trailing along his shoulders, keeping him close.
"You already said that," Eddie pulled away just enough to look into her eyes. He felt an immense amount of pride at the amount of satisfaction reflected in them.
"Well, you're going to hear it again," she laughed, "Because wow is about all I have."
"I'm glad you approve," he took another kiss.
"More than approve," she replied, "We're going to spend the rest of our holiday break in bed doing that again and again."
"Oh really?" he raised a curious brow, "I think we can find other creative places for the experience."
"Oh god, I hope so," she felt so much joy at the moment, and then a thought came to her, "Was it okay for you? Did I do it right? Did I…"
"Charlotte," he pressed a finger to her lips to silence her, "There is no wrong way to make love."
"But was I okay?" she asked, her eyes dodging his in her fear of getting a displeasing answer.
"Charlotte," Eddie coaxed her eyes back to his, "I love you, and being able to finally express it physically is just about the best Christmas present I could receive, and you are the most beautiful Christmas present I've ever been given, and what I felt was the best Christmas feelings I've ever had."
"It felt good to me, but I wasn't sure. I'm still so…" Charlotte found herself still nervous.
Eddie pressed his lips to hers to silence any further words she was going to speak, putting as much emotion and passion into his kiss as he could in hopes to alleviate any remaining doubt she had.
Charlotte found herself experiencing bliss a second time before they tumbled off to sleep.
TBC…