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

"Someone is awake, I see," Chuck cooed as he picked up Charlotte from her crib. Her chocolate orbs were as wide as saucers as she smiled up at him. He turned towards his bed to see Blair still sound asleep. He took Charlotte out of the room so that Blair wouldn't wake. She looked beautiful as she slept soundly. He owed her a morning of sleeping in. It was her insistence that he confront his unresolved father issues that allowed in the most peaceful night sleep that he ever remembered having.

Chuck took Charlotte into the living room and spread out a blanket near one of the Christmas trees and laid down with her.

"It's Christmas Eve, Charlotte," Chuck began as he caressed her stomach gently, "You won't understand this for at least another couple of years, but tonight is such a magical night. I promised your mother that we would be together forever on this night.

"I hope that you will always feel the magic of this season. It took me eighteen years to understand the joys of this holiday. I promise you, Sweetheart, you will not have to wait that long."

"Chuck," Blair spoke softly as she found the pair on the floor. She turned on the lights of the tree and watched as Charlotte's eyes widen in excitement before she knelt down to join the pair on the floor.

"Did you sleep well?" Chuck inquired as she kissed him softly before she bent down to kiss Charlotte.

She nodded, "You?"

"Better than I have in years," he responded.

"How long have the two of you been awake?" she inquired as Charlotte squirmed on her back. She was trying to rock herself so she could try turning over, but Chuck's hand on her stomach was preventing her from the attempt. Blair lifted his hand off their daughter's stomach and entwined her fingers into his.

"Not long. I think Charlotte has been awake longer than either of us," Chuck concluded, "When I went to check on her, her adorable eyes were already wide open."

"It's Christmas Eve," Blair stated.

"I was just telling that to Charlotte," Chuck responded as he watched Charlotte rock herself back and forth, "I cannot wait for Charlotte to get a year or two older so that she'll understand the entire effect of Christmas."

"You are going to take it easy this year, aren't you," Blair replied, "She doesn't need the toy store this year."

"Have you forgotten whom you married?" he chuckled, "Of course she's getting the toy store. Eugenia and I made arrangements for the toys to be delivered this afternoon."

"Chuck," she tried to scold him, but her groan came out with more amusement than she had intended.

"You knew she was going to be spoiled before she was conceived," he smirked as his eyes looked to Blair to show her that they were shining in amusement, "She's half Waldorf, half Bass, how could she be anything less."

"You have a point," she sighed as Charlotte successfully rolled onto her side as she reached out towards her mother. Blair extended her hand and allow Charlotte to grab onto her index finger which Charlotte pulled immediately towards her mouth.

"She's starting to suck on anything she can get her hands on," Chuck concluded.

"She is your daughter after all," Blair replied sarcastically.

"I only suck when my hands are on you," he responded as he reached for her as his hands trailed the silk fabric of her robe. He let out a groan of disappointment as he discovered that she had taken the time to redress in her negligee from the previous evening along with the previously missing matching panties.

"Later," she assured him as her daughter continued to taste her finger.

"Lucky little girl," Chuck groaned.

"You cannot seriously be thinking about making love right now with our daughter less than twelve inches away from us," Blair gasped in shock.

"When are you going to get it through your head that I think about making love to you every minute of every day that we aren't making love," he whispered into her ear before his tongue began to trace the shell of her ear. "You are my obsession . . . always have been, always will be."

She kissed him passionately before she returned her focus to Charlotte whose eyes were beginning to drift closed. "Yesterday Lily agreed to take Charlotte for the afternoon so we can play Santa and Mrs. Claus at the hospital," Blair sighed as Chuck's hand roamed her body gently. When Charlotte's eyes closed completed, Chuck sat up and picked her up in his arms to settle her on his chest. His heartbeat would put their angel into a deeper sleep.

"Wonderful," he spoke softly as he soothingly rubbed Charlotte's back, "I'd hate to miss out on our one Christmas tradition at the Children's Hospital because we now have a child ourselves."

"You're such a natural with her," Blair marveled as she leaned in next to Chuck and covered his hand with hers.

"She makes it easy," he sighed as he kissed Charlotte's forehead softly. "She smells good. I love holding her, almost as much as I love holding her mother." They continued to sit together in the living room as Charlotte slept. They didn't speak. They merely enjoyed the quiet moments they had together. Life had been crazy since Chuck returned to work after his paternity leave, and these moments were rare.

"Mom told me to tell you that she was going to be a little late," Serena stated as she, Eric, Nate, and Jenny stepped off the elevator. They were greeted by Charlotte and a very annoyed Blair in her Mrs. Claus costume. Chuck was being a pain by refusing to get dressed in his costume until everyone had arrived, and they were ready to leave. He was fed up with sweating through his suit before the left the penthouse as seemed to be the tradition each year.

"I can stay with Charlotte until Lily arrives," Nate offered up quickly. His generous offer had everyone smirking with amusement. He made no secret is dislike of the costume he was currently wearing. Every year the complaining became louder and the promises to never get conned into volunteering each Christmas became more convincing.

"Nice gams, Archibault," Chuck snickered as he approached the group at the elevator. He was partially dressed as he had the velvet red pants, along with a white cotton shirt, candy cane striped suspenders, and black patent leather boots. His foam stomach, coat, hate and beard were all still in the bedroom.

Nate glared menacingly at his best friend's remark as Chuck let out a low whistle of appreciation as he eyed his friend's costume. Every year Chuck challenged himself to come up with a more inappropriate comment on the green and white striped stockings and pointy toed green shoes his daughter's godfather was wearing.

"One of these years, Man, you are getting into these tights. Remember this moment. I promise to give as good as you gave," Nate warned his friend as he continued to stare down his best friend.

"You know you could always say no," Chuck laughed merrily as a smile lit up his face.

"Have you ever tried to say no to your wife when she bats those damn eyelashes of hers?" he cursed as his scowl turned towards Blair who was swaying back and forth innocently with Charlotte in her arms.

"It's impossible, I know," he nodded as he took Charlotte from Blair, "It's going to be doubly impossible when this little one figures out how her mother does it."

Lily arrived minutes later to Blair's relief. She hated when they were late for the party. She hated making the children wait, especially now that she was a mother herself. Chuck disappeared just as Lily stepped off the elevator to finish getting dressed. The bags of toys were already moved towards the elevator and Blair was kissing Charlotte goodbye when he returned.

"Be good for Grandma Lily," Chuck cooed as he lifted Charlotte from Lily's arms to hug her goodbye. Having already put on the beard and hat, Charlotte didn't recognize him and let out a blood-curling scream. Blair quickly yanked off Chuck's hate and lowered his beard to calm their daughter down which was instantaneous. She knew if they had left the penthouse without Chuck calming Charlotte down that it would bother him for the rest of the afternoon and his performance for the children would be affected.

Lily and Charlotte waved everyone goodbye. Chuck waited until the elevator doors were closed before he put his beard and hat in place after kissing Blair one final time.

"Ack, get a room," Jenny gagged as she was the unfortunate person to ride with the pair in the elevator.

"Humphrey's suggestion is valid," Chuck grinned, "I've gone without all day."

"Behave," Blair scolded him as she straightened his beard after slapping his chest.

"I love you," he mouthed as he kissed her hand. Blair felt herself melt just a touch at his romantic gesture.

"How's my favorite little girl?" Chuck inquired as he and Blair returned from the hospital to Charlotte waiting for them in Grandma Eleanor's arms. Blair was surprised by her mother's presence. Charlotte didn't appear to be as comfortable in Eleanor's arms as she had been in Lily's earlier as she was squirming as if she was trying to break free. Chuck quickly relieved Eleanor of his daughter as he kissed Eleanor's cheek in greeting.

"Where's Lily?" Blair inquired as she hugged her mother.

"She's in the kitchen. We had Dorota whip up some of her famous sugar cookies so that we could decorate them with Charlotte. Lily is helping Dorota clean up. I was just going to put Charlotte down for a nap," Eleanor explained.

"I didn't know you were coming over," Blair responded as she kissed Charlotte's cheek before Chuck disappeared with Charlotte into her bedroom to lay her down for a nap.

"Lily called to tell me she was watching Charlotte. She suggested a Grandma fest, so I came right over. Charlotte is such a little angel. She behaved so well all day," Eleanor marveled, "When you were that age, Blair, all you did was scream and holler except when either your father of Dorota had you. I swear if I came within a foot of you, you'd scream for your life."

Blair couldn't help the snicker of amusement that escaped, but she didn't comment further. Her and her mother had finally come to a truce just before Blair and Chuck were married, and she wasn't going to be the one to ruin that.

"You and Dorota are still coming over tomorrow right?" Blair inquired.

"Of course," her mother confirmed as Blair stepped into her kitchen to offer her assistance.

"Three ladies without a clue in the kitchen . . . should I call the fire department now or wait until I see smoke?" Chuck inquired as he stepped into the kitchen. His stomach padding was removed, but the rest of the suit was still on. He was hoping to talk Blair into the naughty Mrs. Claus costume once they were alone, and he wanted to be properly dressed.

"You are horrible, Charles," Eleanor chuckled with amusement. The sound of Eleanor's laughter was always an unexpected surprise for Chuck. She had been so against him being involved with her daughter for so many years. It only seemed to be within the past year that she really seemed to have accepted that he was her daughter's choice, which coincided with Blair's pregnancy.

"He knows," Blair rolled her eyes as she slapped his shoulder lightly. Chuck took that as an invitation to kiss her cheek.

"Blair, Charles, your daughter gets cuter each time I see her," Lily commented as she put down the sponge she was using to clean the counters.

"Is Charlotte asleep?" Blair turned towards Chuck.

"Out like a light," Chuck nodded.

"We should get going," Lily stated, "It is Christmas eve after all, and I know the two of you always celebrate tonight."

"We do," Chuck smiled.

"What time does the festivities begin tomorrow?" Lily inquired.

"Anytime after eleven," Chuck replied, "I'm taking my two favorite ladies some place special tomorrow morning."

Blair looked at him with intrigue as she began walking Eleanor, Lily, and Dorota to the elevator.

"Is Charlotte still down?" Chuck inquired as Blair strolled into their bedroom to find him laid out on the bed with his hands comfortably folded together behind his head.

"She's out," Blair nodded as she check to see that the baby monitor had already been turned on after rolling her eyes as she saw the enormous pile of presents under and around their Christmas tree. Dorota must have moved all of the presents from Charlotte's Christmas room into their room after all of Chuck's presents had been delivered. They'd never get all of Charlotte's presents opened by the end of the night. "Whatever Lily, Dorota, and my mother did wore her out. We should wake her in a couple of hours, so she'll sleep through the night, but . . ."

"Until then I have you all to myself," Chuck grinned as he sat up and pulled her onto the bed next to him.

"I'll be right back," she stated eagerly as she pecked at his lips before she escaped from the room. He growled his displeasure at her sudden loss and followed her trail. He heard her own growl of frustration as he entered one of the spare bedrooms where she kept some of her clothes to see her throwing clothes out of the closet. He had to do some smooth maneuvering to miss a set of hangers that were inadvertently thrown at his head.

"What are you looking for?" he inquired as she stomped her foot in anger as another growl of disappointment left her lips as she looked at her now empty closet.

"My Mrs. Claus costume," she responded as she turned to him with a pout on her face, "The other one. I distinctly remember putting it in here after the holidays last year, but now it's gone. If I find out that cranky old maid took it, she is so fired."

Chuck shuttered with the disgust he felt at the mental image of their fifty something stumpy old maid in Blair's costume. It was almost enough to ruin his mood . . . almost.

"She didn't take anything," he assured her as he extended his hand, guiding her around the piles of clothes she had thrown in her hast and led her back to their bedroom closet where her costume was on display, "As you were walking everyone to the elevator, I retrieved your costume. I had hoped to talk you into wearing it, but it sounds as if I'll have an easier time convincing you than I had originally thought."

She smiled brightly as her hands closed around the hanger before her self-consciousness came out as she eyed the dress nervously. "This might not fit anymore. My body isn't the same as it was last Christmas."

"Trust me, it will fit," he assured her as he caressed her back gently to get her the much needed boost of confidence.

"I'll give it a try," she smiled warmly before she disappeared into their bathroom to try squeezing her body into the velvet fabric. She reemerged minutes later to candles lit around their room, and very svelte Santa waiting for her on the bed. She giggled as she rubbed the fabric at her hips subconsciously. The costume was a bit more snug around her breasts and her hips that it had been in years past, but it still fit for which she was grateful. Chuck smiled his appreciation as he stepped forward and took her in his arms.

"Beautiful," he stated as his eyes roamed her velvet clad body as she reached out and took the hat and beard off his head and threw it into a corner of the room, nearly knocking over one of the lit candles in her haste to caress his face. He chuckled in amusement as the candle wobbled but stayed upright. "Careful, Mrs. Claus, we wouldn't want to burn down our home tonight of all nights, and I still have to work this evening."

"The only work you have this evening is pleasing me," she whispered in his ear as her arms enveloped him.

"That's not work," he chuckled as he lifted her slightly off her feet so her legs could wrap around his waist, "That's pleasure, sheer, blissful pleasure." He moaned at the pleasurable friction she created against him as her legs locked behind him.

"What do you think of the dress?" Blair inquired as he lowered her to the bed. He tried to pull away to admire her dress once more, but her legs were locked tight and wouldn't allow him to move.

"It gets better each year," he assured her as his hands slid down the sides of her hips as he searched for the hem to slid it up her hips.

"So, Santa, have you been naughty or nice this year?" she inquired as she bit back a teasing laugh.

"That depends on what being naughty gets me," he responded without missing a beat.

"Me," she replied.

"Then I've been very naughty," he laughed darkly.

"Then by all means, claim your reward," she encouraged him as she lowered the trousers of his pants using mostly her legs. She was relieved to see that he had forgone the boxers that he usually wore with the suit as he slid into her slowly inch by glorious inch.

"If this is my incentive to be naughty, I'm returning to the duplicitous ways of my youth," he moaned as they found a steady rhythm.

"Don't you dare," she scolded him as she tapped him lightly on his velvet-clad shoulder.

"Give me a reason not to," he hissed as her legs clamped tighter around his waist.

"Charlotte," she called out as her orgasm rocked through her suddenly.

"Not exactly the sexiest thing you've said to me in the throes of passion, but a perfect answer none the less," he conceded as he followed her over the edge. They were both laughing as the lay together to catch their breath.

"Okay, Charlotte, here's the deal," Chuck stated as he sat with his daughter in his lap as he watched Blair fork a marshmallow and hand it to him. "We hold the marshmallow close to the flame, but not in the flame. Your mother and I have learned this through years of experience. We have also learned that your mother will flip out if the marshmallow catches on fire and would rather watch it burn to ash than simply blow the flame out."

Blair glared at the way his eyes twinkled as he spoke to his daughter while teasing her.

"Our goal is for the marshmallow to turn golden brown and grow about twice it's starting size. That means the marshmallow is perfectly cooked and ready to melt the chocolate that Mommy is holding in her hand and trying very hard not to eat," he continued to explain to his daughter as he watched his wife try to discreetly place a piece of chocolate in her mouth. "I saw that, Blair."

"Why do you always buy the most exquisite chocolate for these things and not allow me to eat any of it on it's own?" Blair sighed as she gave up trying to hide her guilt and simply enjoyed the taste in her mouth.

"You started this tradition," he reminded her as he carefully watched what he was cooking, "I merely made it a Bass worthy tradition by adding the most decadent chocolate money can buy."

When the marshmallow was perfectly cooked he turned the prong towards Blair and allowed her to slide the golden puffy ball of sugar onto the chocolate and graham cracker that she was holding. She took the first bite as she always did and then handed it to him to sample.

"Incredible, like always," was Blair's reply as Chuck took a small bit of the marshmallow and put it onto his finger allowing it to cool sufficiently before he held it to Charlotte's lips and waited for her to take his finger into her mouth. He didn't wait too long as Charlotte's lips closed around her father's finger immediately. Her eyes lit up at the sugary taste in her mouth.

"I think she likes it," Chuck laughed as he pulled his finger free and added a bit more marshmallow, which Charlotte quickly accepted.

"That's her first non-liquefied food," Blair pointed out as Chuck took another bite of their dessert before handing it back to Blair to finish off.

"What a lucky place to start," Chuck added as he kissed the top of Charlotte's head before he turned them both away from the fire and towards the tree with mounds of presents underneath. Chuck and Blair had both gone beyond crazy with their shopping for their daughter. While Blair joked about Chuck buying their daughter a toy store, she hadn't been much better at controlling her urge to buy things for Charlotte.

"Where do we start?" Blair inquired as she looked to the presents under the tree.

"How about with the one that says, to Blair," he offered as he pointed to one of the presents.

"Chuck, we said we weren't doing gifts this year," Blair scolded him.

"We did, and I didn't," he smirked, "This gift is from Charlotte."

"Chuck, she's not even four months old," Blair rolled her eyes as her hands closed around the gift with eager anticipation of opening it, "She couldn't have possibly chosen a present for me."

"Just open it," Chuck insisted as he watched Blair's fingers inch towards the wrapping paper's seam. She needed no further encouragement as she expertly slid the box out of the paper. Her eyes were shining with happy tears as her eyes found a platinum framed photo of her daughter and husband. It was the picture she had taken of the pair in the hospital the day Charlotte was born.

"It's perfect," Blair gasped as a few tears slid down her cheeks as she bent over and kissed her daughter and then her husband.

"And I swear Charlotte picked it out," Chuck responded, "I took her into Tiffany's, and she pointed to the most expensive frame she could find. She certainly is our daughter."

Blair laughed as she brushed a few more tears off her checks as she then handed a gift to him.

"Blair," it was his turn to scold her as he read the label to see it was a gift for him.

"It's from Charlotte, I swear," Blair responded innocently.

As he tore open the paper with the help of Charlotte, inside was a similarly styled frame to the one he had given her with a photo of his two favorite women. Chuck smiled as he looked at the picture of his ladyloves looking back at him with matching smiles. It was apparent that it was a recent picture, as Charlotte was wearing the headband he had given her as an early Christmas gift.

"Amazing," was Chuck's only reply. His eyes were shining with tears as he kissed his daughter's head as she reached out to add her fingerprints to the platinum frame in his hand. He looked to his wife who was crawling towards him on her knees so that she could hold them both. Charlotte would get hundreds of gifts that evening, everything from fashionable clothing to the latest and greatest toys for children her age, but none would have the feeling behind it that two simple photos would give her parents.

TBC. . .

So, what do you think? Christmas day is almost here.