Dear Readers,

The story appears to have accidently gotten deleted while uploading. So this is a re-upload.

I appreciate your reviews and encouragement. I've started writing again, after a long break and this is all I need right now.

And I've missed Chair.

Enjoy.

Ch.3

Let me haunt you tonight

Flashback

It's Christmas Eve. The day we unravel one of the several prettily wrapped presents. The day snow flutters over an already ploughed New York. Red and white stripped candy canes snap between my fingers. Holly and mistletoe festoon over us deviously.

We binge on Éclairs. We giggle next to the fire place. We're wrapped in the same snug blanket, you and I. We're toasting marshmallows. You squeal as I try to feed you a Santa-shaped-cookie. I smile.

Henry is two and he's as excited as a bear cub on his first hunt.

"Presents!" he babbles, ripping apart golden and red paper.

But it's my smile you're looking at and I know why. I stopped smiling like that after Bart died, isn't that what you're thinking? Aren't you, Blair?

Well, you are my toughest critic

You really think I won't go up there.

I know you won't.

Who's that girl?

I have no idea.

Wow, I haven't gotten a real laugh out of you in a long time

Sixteen year old Chuck's eyes glinted at you mischievously over a Cheshire cat grin. He was seedy, he was shameless and you loved him for it. We were best friends, you remember don't you?

Partners in crime.

But then Bart died and I died. Bart fake died but I really died. My eyes deadened into whirlpools of nothingness and loneliness, you couldn't find me anymore. You couldn't see me smile.

I saw his eyes…and I couldn't see him anymore.

Thanks for bringing me back Blair. Tonight, I smile at you like sixteen year old Chuck Bass did. You are thrilled to see the Cheshire cat again. You throw a cranberry at me. You giggle as I tug you closer. You sigh as I kiss your neck.

The lights of the tree liquefy into molten gold as your eyes flutter shut.

"Chuck, you smell like eggnog," you murmur. You're so beautiful Blair. You're so beautiful tangled with me in these blankets like a charm.

I fist chocolate curls in my hand, as I kiss you.

Henry's complaining whine brings us both back to earth and we laugh.

He's unwrapping a train set. In his blue pajama's with those big cognac brown eyes- my eyes- he stares at us. He topples the train set over with his foot.

"Uh oh," he says, looking worried.

You can't help but laugh gently. With a blissful, enchanted, tender look on your face you untangle yourself from me. You crawl up to where your baby is. You take him in your arms. You both sit together and unwrap presents as I watch, completely at peace. I could watch you and Henry forever.

I could but….

My phone buzzes distracting me.

It's an unknown number, an untraceable number. This distracts me. Only specific contacts have this particular number.

Who could it be?

Still smiling distractedly at you two, I flicker open the message. My smile freezes on my face.

Chuck… says that message which changed everything.

Chuck I'm in the city. We need to meet. Call me, its urgent. You'll understand why.

The message itself is suspicious enough but the last word strikes me.

You'll understand why. – Eva.

"Chuck?"

It's you, Blair and you look confused. Henry is running his train all over you but you're looking at me.

"Is everything okay?" you ask.

I could tell you. But it's Christmas. I don't want to ruin this, our bubble. Our golden snow globe, cozy and private. I won't let her ruin this.

So I smile. It's not the same. But I try.

"Everything is perfect," I declare and I jump to the floor to play with Henry and his train set.

It must be nothing, I think. What it could it be? Is she in trouble?

Eva is wrong. I don't understand. But I'm compelled to find out.

She's the only woman I ever even tried to have a real relationship with other than you, Blair.

Maybe that's why I need to know.

It must be nothing.

How very wrong I was.