Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. They belong to Cecily von Zeigesar and The CW.

Charlotte was at the table working on her latest masterpiece, a welcome home poster for her Aunt Serena. Aiden was trying to help, but Charlotte was stubbornly not letting him. Aiden was grunting in frustration when Blair entered the dining room to check on their progress.

"Charlotte, let Aiden make his own poster if you won't let him help you," Blair instructed her daughter.

"Fine," Charlotte handed Aiden his own paper and shared her markers.

Aiden when straight to work, asking Blair to help only with the words, but doing the artwork himself. His concentration was downright adorable.

"When does Aunt Serena get here?" Aiden asked.

"In a couple of hours," Blair glanced at her watch.

Lily, Eric, and Chuck had flown to Maine to bring her home. Blair had stayed behind to see to it Serena's room at the penthouse was ready for her residency, and to oversee the party preparations to welcome her. Guests would begin to arrive in an hour, only close family. Serena's therapists had recommended she slowly ease her way back in to her Upper East life. Staying with Blair and Chuck had been Serena's request. She didn't trust herself to live alone just yet, but she couldn't hide away in therapy any longer.

"Is Aunt Serena all better?" Charlotte asked.

"She's better," Blair ran her fingers through her daughter's hair, "She may never be all better, but she's much better."

"All done," Aiden announced while holding up his squiggly lined welcome home poster, upside down.

"It's very pretty, Sweetheart," Blair turned the poster right side up for him, "Are you ready for the party, Peanut?"

"Yep," he bobbed his head eagerly.

"Go change your clothes," Blair encouraged him.

Aiden ran off while Charlotte finished up her own poster.

"Mom, is Aunt Serena still sad because she lost her baby?" Charlotte climbed into her mother's lap.

"Yes, Sweetheart, she is," Blair brought her arms around her daughter and pressed their foreheads together.

"I am too," Charlotte replied.

"Me too," Blair offered up a slight smile, "Serena needs us right now."

"How can we help?" Charlotte asked.

"Be you," Blair replied, "Serena needs us to be normal around her. Treat her no different than you always have. She may have days where she's really sad, and we need to just let her be on those days."

"Okay," Charlotte nodded. "Can we go shopping?"

"One day next week when Dad brings Brice and Aiden to baseball practice, you, me and Serena will go shopping," Blair laughed.

"Yay," Charlotte cheered.

"Is this what you're wearing to the party?" Blair glanced at her daughter's outfit.

"No," Charlotte shook her head.

"You'd better change then. Guests will be here soon," Blair encouraged her.

Charlotte quickly ran off.

Blair checked in with Dorota to make sure Serena's room was ready to go. She knew Dorota was already dreading having to clean up after the messy blonde but would do so without complaint.

"Caters are ready to serve the moment everyone starts to arrive," Blair stated.

"Serena room all ready," Dorota was putting the finishing touches on it.

"Wasn't worried," Blair replied, "You are nothing if not efficient."

"Miss Serena like this room better?" Dorota asked.

"I think so," Blair glanced around.

They decided to put Serena in a different guest room from the one she'd stayed in when she briefly stayed with them before. Chuck had contractors come in to convert the space into a mini apartment for Serena. She had all the amenities of her own place, yet on a smaller scale. The entire space was designed to ensure calm and serenity, two things Serena desperately needed.

"Mommy, I dressed," Aiden popped into Serena's suite dressed in the manner he saw appropriate.

"Blue and yellow striped shirt with red and green plaid trousers," Blair picked him up, doing her best not to laugh at his expense, "That is a combination even your daddy would never attempt. How about we try again?"

"Okay," he tossed his arms around her neck and gave her a squeeze.

Blair had her son color coordinated before the first of the guests arrived.

The party was in full effect just in time to welcome the guest of honor. Charlotte and Aiden both had their signs held out when Serena stepped off the elevator, Aiden's once again was upside down.

Serena was overwhelmed by her greeting. She hadn't expected anyone to welcome her home considering the bridges she'd likely burned before she sought treatment.

"Welcome home, S," Blair immediately hugged her.

"It's good to be home," Serena hugged her back.

"Hi, Aunt Serena," Aiden danced over with his sign held high.

"Oh my goodness, what a good artist you are, Peanut," Serena knelt down to hug him, "Thank you."

"I missed you," Aiden hugged her back.

"I missed you more," she hugged him a bit harder.

Brice and Charlotte descended upon her in a group hug.

"Welcome home, Serena," Magnus was next to greet her, with his and Eric's daughter cradled against his chest.

"Oh my goodness," Serena rose to her feet to take in the sight of her niece for the first time, "Look at her. E, she's beautiful."

"We're well aware," Eric stepped in to put his arm around Magnus's waist while he transferred Penny into Serena's arms.

"You are a lucky little girl," Serena cradled her niece in her arms, "We have the best family, full of unconditional love."

"Are you okay, S?" Blair stepped in when Serena felt herself getting choked up.

"Yes," Serena nodded, shifted Penny slightly to free up a hand to wipe at her tears, "I'm just glad to be back in familiar surrounds and with familiar faces."

"We're glad to have you back," Blair put an arm around Serena's waist.

"We may be a bunch of stuck up society snobs we threw together and claimed to be a family, but you're all mine," Serena laughed, her head coming to rest against Blair's shoulder while she continued to cradle Penny in her arms, "I couldn't be more grateful for everyone here."

The End