Thank you to my amazing fans. Keep the replies coming. Thank you to my awesome Beta. You have no idea how much your help means.

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Blair smiled as she hung another ornament. As she hung the next ornament, her smile grew as it was a blue ball with the name Sebastian on it. It hung next to a pink ornament with Sabrina on it. Next year at this time, she'd have two little almost one year olds to contend with as she decorated the tree.

Life wouldn't be boring, she mused hanging a purple one that said Eleanor on it in elegant script. She sighed, hoping her mother was having a good holiday wherever she was.

She checked her watch and she noted that as it was currently one in the afternoon which meant it was seven in the evening in Paris. She imagined that her mother and Cyrus were having dinner in their home in the city and her father and Roman were probably decorating their own tree at the chateau.

She ran a hand over her stomach absently, knowing that her father would make a wonderful grandfather and Roman an amazing 'uncle'. Shaking the thought and the tears away she turned to pick up the next ornament, a deep red one with Chuck's name on it, when a sharp pain struck her.

"Ooh," she gasped. On her last visit her doctor had said that twins were often up to a month or so early but she didn't expect Blair to go into labor before the New Year.

Apparently doctors didn't know everything, she thought as she stared at the puddle that had formed at her feet as her water broke unexpectedly.

"Okay. Ambulance," she murmured picking up the phone. "Children for Christmas. You two have impeccable timing. You must get that from your father."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Serena answered her ringing cell with an upbeat "Hello?"

"It's me. It's time. Hospital," Blair said between panting in the back of the ambulance.

"Now," Serena exclaimed in surprise. Blair had told her that she wouldn't be on call before the New Year.

"Now," Blair confirmed as her breathing began to labor as she felt another contraction building.

"I'm on my way," Serena said as she got off of her bed where she'd been watching 'A Christmas Story'. "Don't you dare have them until I get there."

"I'll do my best," Blair said sarcastically through each breath she took. "It's Morristown Memorial."

"I remember. I'll be there soon," she said before they hung up. Serena went to her closet and pulled out a bag of gifts she'd bought on the sly over the last few months. She grabbed her purse and then she stuck her head out of her door, listened and then crept her way out of the penthouse and headed for New Jersey.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"Oh my God. He is so perfect, I can't stand it," Serena said from the end of Blair's bed where she was staring at Sebastian Nathaniel at just after two am on Christmas day. She could see Chuck in each and every feature of the little boy lying before her.

"And his sister?"

"Sabrina Rose is going to turn as many heads as her mother did when she was growing up," Serena predicted as she looked at the little girl who was a miniature version of her best friend.

"Thanks, Serena," Blair smiled.

"How do you feel," Serena asked, coming to stand next to her.

"Tired," Blair yawned. "Are they really okay?"

"They are perfect," Serena assured her. "You did so great, Blair."

"I feel like I was hit by a truck."

"But you did it well," Serena said.

"Thanks. I have some stuff for you," Blair said as she sat up slowly. "It's over in the corner with my bag."

"You mean your suitcase," Serena teased.

"I had a lot to bring with me. It's the shopping bag behind it."

Serena picked up a white bag and peeked inside, "What is all this?"

"Presents from the children and me to thank you for being there for us."

"Blair, you didn't have to do this."

"Yes, I did," Blair nodded. She shot a look at the clock on the wall, "You should get going. If you leave now, you'll make it home in time to get some sleep before you have to wake up to open presents."

"I don't want to leave you by yourself."

"I am hardly by myself," Blair pointed to the end of her bed to her children's bassinets.

"You know what I mean," Serena frowned at her.

"You need to get home and be with your family."

"You're my family too," Serena told her.

"And you're mine," Blair assured her. "But you have to go home and be with your mother and brother and everyone else so that they don't get suspicious."

Serena nodded and then gave Blair a tight hug, "Call me if you want me to come back and there's a bag of gifts in the closet for you guys."

"Serena, the bag has some things for Dorota, Vanya, and Ana. I know it's a lot to ask but-"

"I'll think of something," Serena promised.

"There's something in there for Chuck too. I saw it and I couldn't make myself leave the store without it."

"I know how that goes. He may not be all that happy with her right now, but I know Dan bought Jenny a present," Serena said. "I'll make sure Chuck gets it somehow."

"Thanks, S."

"Merry Christmas, B."

"Merry Christmas."

=x=x=x=x=x=x=

Serena poked her head into the penthouse and listened.

All quiet.

She said a silent thank you and started her walk down the hall to her room. It had taken her forever to get back into the city. Who knew there would be so much traffic from Jersey to Manhattan between 2 and 5am Christmas morning?

"Serena?"

"Mom," she turned around. "You're up early."

"I was just putting out a few more gifts. Are you just getting in?"

Glad she'd had the forethought to change into something red and sparkly before starting her trek home, she started to give Lily the story she'd come up with, "Yes, but it's not what you think. A girl in my English class called about a last minute party. I did go to it, but I didn't stay long because about halfway through my second drink I realized most of my presents for you guys were still sitting in Blair's room unwrapped. So I had to go over there and wrap them. By the time I was done it was about 2 am so I just went to sleep after I set my phone alarm to wake me at 4:30. Then I packed everything up and came home. I don't think Dorota even knew I was there. At least I hope she didn't. I hope she spent a nice night with Vanya and the baby."

Lily gave her daughter an appraising look before she smiled, "I'm sure she did. Why don't you go get some more sleep? Eric won't be awake for a few more hours."

"Good idea. See you later, Mom."

"Night Sweetheart."

-x-x-x-x-x-

"You're pretty quiet today," Dan handed Serena a Shirley Temple which earned him a raised eyebrow. "Don't look at me like that. You look like you need the sugar. You've been yawning for half an hour. If I gave you alcohol you'd be asleep before you finished your first sip."

"So, I'm being too quiet, and I look tired. You always did know how to turn a girl's head, Dan," Serena grinned as she rolled her eyes.

"And then there are the few moments that I catch a Cheshire smile on your face. That's when I know who you're thinking about."

"She's my best friend, and she's about to become a mom. That makes me a little happy even though I'd be happier if I knew where she was. Can you blame me?"

"No, I can't."

"Speaking of best friends who are about to become moms, are we going to see Vanessa today?"

"I don't think so," he shook his head.

"Does she still think you and I are going to end up together?"

"I don't know if it's that or if she's just looking for a reason to not make a commitment to me or a life that includes me."

"I'm sorry Dan," Serena frowned sympathetically at him.

"Thanks. So, what about you and Nate?"

"What about me and Nate?"

"Nothing's changed?"

"No. He's still got a girlfriend that he's not willing to break up with at the moment."

"He's a fool then," Dan told her.

"Thank you," Serena smiled before she looked across the room to see Chuck enter. "Excuse me Dan."

"Sure."

Serena headed across the room and reached Chuck just as Lily did.

"I'm so glad you made it," Lily said, giving him a hug.

"I had a feeling if I didn't come, you'd send a mass of mercenaries to collect me."

"You know me well," Lily smiled.

"Merry Christmas, Chuck," Serena gave him a hug. "You almost missed cocktail hour."

"Sorry. Traffic was miserable," Chuck said as he handed a bag to Lily and his jacket to a maid. Lily smiled her thanks and walked over to the tree to put down the gifts she'd been handed.

"Still? I would've thought it would've cleared up a little since this morning. I wonder if Penn Station is still a zoo."

"How would you know what Penn Station is like?"

"What?"

"You just said you wondered if Penn Station was still a zoo. How would you know what it was like in the first place?"

"Radio. I was listening to the radio and it was saying how crazy things were out there." Serena quickly downed her drink and excused herself, "I need something a little stronger to drink."

Chuck watched his sister walk away. He'd known her long enough to know when something was going with her and for some reason he had a feeling that the something had to do with Blair.

He quietly left the room and called his PI.

"It's me. I want all of Serena van der Woodsen's phone records for the last three months as soon as possible." He hung up the phone and we back into the party.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Serena walked down the hall with a small smile on her face two days before the new year. She'd just gotten back from dinner with her family. New Year's was coming up and everyone around her seemed to be looking forward instead of back, which promised to make it a good party for tomorrow night.

She entered her room and put down her purse before flipping on the light. Turning around she gasped.

"Chuck? What the hell are you doing in my room, and why are you sitting in the dark?" Chuck just looked at her. "What's wrong?"

"Where is she?"

"She who," Serena asked. "Mom's down the hall."

"Blair," he hissed through his teeth

"How would I know," Serena said trying not to let the panic that was starting to race through her veins show in her voice.

"I know you better than Lily does. I know when you're lying. Tell me where she is now," he demanded as he stood up to be face to face with her. "I need to get to her before she has our child. I need to set things right."

Serena fumbles for a response only to be cut off again by Chuck.

"They're my family. The only one I'll ever have a chance to have. Please tell me."

"I will tell you that she's okay. She's healthy. But if I tell you where she is, neither of us will ever see her again."

"That's not enough," Chuck growled. "Please, Serena, I'm losing my mind here."

"No," Serena shook her head. "I opened my mouth once about this and I shouldn't have. I should've just kept Blair's secret and left you to go off with whatever her name was. I am not going to do it again. Blair's forgiven me for a lot over the years. She wouldn't forgive me for this and I refuse to let a guy be the reason I lose her."

"We won't lose her," he tried to assure her. "I promise you that I will do whatever it takes to keep her in our lives. I love her, Serena, her and our unborn child conceived out of our love for each other. Let me fix this . . . please."

Serena let out a sigh through her teeth. "They were born on Christmas."

"They," he repeated in bewilderment. "Twins?"

Serena reached for her purse and pulled out a photo from the side pocket. She handed it to him, "Sabrina Rose was born at 12:15am and Sebastian Nathaniel followed five minutes later."

Chuck's eyes welled with tears as he looked at the tiny little lives he was responsible for creating, "Please, Serena, tell me where they are."

"I can't. I'm sorry," Serena responded tearfully.

"Why?"

"Because I can't, I won't take the risk of losing her, even for you."

"But you're willing to let me lose her and our children."

"She named your son Sebastian because the way you two used to scheme always reminded her of Cruel Intentions. I think Nathaniel is pretty self explanatory but I'll tell you anyway. It's because at the end of the day, all the girls and all the booze and all the drugs don't matter, because you will always be there for him and he will always be there for you."

"As you are for Blair and her for you," Chuck realized.

"Exactly. You keep that," she nodded at the picture in his hand. "I won't stop you from trying to find her on your own. Just leave me out of it."