【 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ━━ 𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 】

𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆-𝘁𝘄𝗼, a set of jolly days
𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 - 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

IT'S CHRISTMAS IN NEW York, and along with the season comes The Constance Billard/ St. Jude's bazaar. Where the only thing bizarre are the donated items for sale.

While the freshmen sing a song I am against a set of lockers. As a brunette boy steals kisses from me, pulling away he has a soft smile. Holding onto his collar I bite my lip, "You look really cute." I tell him. Raising a brow at me he shakes his head, "I'm not cute." Tom denies, "You are." I tell him.

"I'm not." he pouts. Smiling at him I nod. Leaning my head on his shoulder, "Then what are you?" I ask softly, "I don't know." he shrugs. Humming I kiss his neck, "I don't know either." I whisper back.

Pulling away I read his first draft for his Brown essay, "What you think?" he asks. Shaking my head, I continue to read, "What does it say?" he asks, "It says that you are hardworking, business-oriented, smart, competitive." I note what this letter says about him.

Turning my head to him, "And incredibly sexy." I tease, with a smirk, holding the letter to him. Seeing his cheeks flush, I smile softly. Nudging my nose against his. Leaning closer he gracing his lips against mine, starting the kissing again.

"Thomas?" a sudden voice asks.

Pulling away we see Bart and Lily, "Father." he breathes out, "Mister Bass." I nod. Seeing their eyes, we follow their eye line. Glancing down their eyes are focused on our hands on each other.

Clearing our throats we take our hands off, "See you." I awkwardly walking away, quickly. Leaving the younger Bass with them. Pointing at where the girl left, "I.. I'm going." he nods.

Nodding they smile actually as awkward as him, "Monaco, huh?" I ask as we walk side-by-side, "Yeah, we are joining him for New Years." he informs me. Biting my lip I look down, "Or did you have something else in mind..?" the youngest Bass trails off.

Glancing at him I smile softly, "Well... I wouldn't mind kissing you. But if you are away." I shrug, a smile tucking up my lips. Smiling back he nods, kissing my cheek. Pressing them on the other, and back. Turning my face a laugh leaves my lips, "Val!" a voice calls.

Looking up Blair and Serena stand there, "Dad is on his way home." B says excitedly yet stressed. Humming I kiss his cheek, "Have fun." he tells me, "Text me?" I ask walking back.

Pulling me closer, he kisses my forehead, "Is it okay if I come by?" he asks softly. Staring back at him I smile softly at the question, "Yeah." I breath out, "I'd love that." I tell him. Nodding, we let go.

As I walk back, linking my arm with Blair, "What was that?" Serena questions, "Nothing." I whisper as we move through the body of people. Making it out alive, we attempted to hold a cab, "Hey, nice holiday spirit, Scrooge!" B screams as the taxi continues to drive.

Rolling my eyes at her, I chuckle softly, "Oh, Gosh. So, it's going to be a real Waldorf Christmas." S hums, "Well, a real Waldorf Christmas Eve." I correct, "Elenore drew the line at Christmas day. That's only for the three of us, and Dorota." Blair adds.

Holding my arm out for a new cab, the blond hums, "Well, you two still have a couple days with him." Serena reminds us.

"No, it will be more than just a couple of days. I'm going to convince him to stay in New York." B tells her. Rolling my eyes at her idea I sigh softly, "And I'm convincing B that, that's a bad idea to spend her time on." I add to that.

"What about Paris and Roman?" S questions, "Roman is a phase." B retorts. Causing me to raise my brows as I let my arms fall turning to Blair, "That sounds really homophobic." I tell her.

Turning to me she shakes her head, "I'm not." she denies, "Sounds like something a homophobe would say." I sing, "It's not about that. He belongs here with us. He only left New York to ride out the scandal." Blair sighs.

As the cab stops, I think about her reasoning. Which is true, he only left because of the rumours. If it was up to him I'm sure he would have stayed. Well, he would have stayed then. By now he has already made a home there. I don't know if he would move back just for us.

"Time to come home don't you think?" B asks me. As I shrug she turns to Serena, "Don't you want to ask me something?" she reminds the blond, "Yes, a gift idea for Dan now that Vanessa got him the most thoughtful Dan-like present ever." S rants, in dire need of a present idea.

Opening the door I look back at them, "Why don't you just buy him a new outfit for Cedric and call it a day?" Blair suggests sassily, "Thank you for being totally not helpful at all." S waves as I step in, "I will text you with ideas!" I call as B closes the door.

Turning to me she raises a brow as I didn't say anything, "What the Hell are you doing?" the young Waldorf asks bluntly, "What do you mean?" I ask her confused, "You danced with him at Cotillion, he punched Carter and now you two are all over each other, again." she tells me.

Taking a deep breath I can't help but smile, "Well... we just- we are friends for the moment. But it's going great." I sigh out happily, "So... did you do anything with him in the car alone?" she continues to question, "We just kissed." I tell her.

Which is true, "Nothing else?" she asks, "Nothing." I lie. Physical we didn't do anything else but I offered him to. Which in Blair her eyes would definitely be something. What it also is in my eyes, but honestly now I would rather focus on Harold being back. Then me getting no action with Thomas.

"Val?" a voice snaps me out, "We are home." B tells me gently. Nodding I get out of the cab. Shaking myself out of the memories, "There are my favourite girls!" a long-forgotten voice calls out.

Immediately making a smile paint my face, "You look more beautiful than ever." Harold tells B as we pull away. Looking me over he smiles, "And you. How you've grown up." he gasps, "Sweetheart, you remember Roman." he tells us.

Furrowing my brows Roman steps out for us to see, "Nice to see you again, Roman." I smile as he pulls me into a hug. Pulling away I nudge B, "Right, Blair?" I ask. Nodding awkwardly she gets pulled in a hug as well, "You are still perfection. Delicate, yet full with flavour." he tells her.

Causing my brows to furrow, "Like a macaron." he says holding out a box. Which I'm assuming are macaroons, "Harold told me you love taking pictures." Roman tells me. Holding out a box for me. Taking the box I glance up at Harold whom nods for me to open it.

Doing so the most beautiful film camera in the history of time is revealed; the Canon AE-1. It's honestly a piece of history, something I have wanted for so long but could never find, "We found it on a market, and I knew you should have it." Roman tells me.

Glancing up I shake my head, "Wow, this is- this is too much." I deny wanting to hand it back, "No, no. It's for you, a gift for Christmas." he denies, pushing it back in my hands.

"This is too kind." I breath out, "Nothing is too good for you, mon cheri." Roman smiles softly. Nodding I pull the strap over my neck, "Thank you." I say still in awe.

Smiling at Blair she smiles back, "Imagine my surprise when the elevator door opened and out popped both of them." the voice of my Godmother, Elenore, says as she walks in, "Well, I didn't think you would mind." Harold tells Elenore, "It's the perfect opportunity for you guys to get to know Roman better." he says shifting back to us.

Where we both nod at, "Absolutely." B smiles fauxly. Glancing at the candy canes in her hands, "This is for you." she says handing one to her dad. Handing one to me, "Thanks." I whisper.

Where she shrugs too, "You remembered. It's our tradition." he explains to Roman. Handing the last one to the model, "This one is for you." she hands, "Merci, Blair." Roman thanks, "My pleasure." she hums awkwardly.

Now that we are all here and with here I mean New York. We made our way to the ice rink. Another one of our traditions on this holiday, "I can't believe you are okay with this." B questions, "Who said I was okay with this?" Elenore questions, "And you; 'Oh, thank you, Roman." Blair mocks.

Glancing up from the camera, my brows furrow, "Huh?" I ask confused. Where B rolls her eyes at, "I like the camera. If you don't like them I can eat them for you." I retort, "That won't be necessary." she denies, "What am I supposed to do, make a scene?" the older Waldorf questions.

"I would advise not to." I say, letting the camera dangle from my neck.

"Behave like some pathetic scorned wife? No." she continues, "Roman doesn't even know how to ice-skate." B says starting her down going rant about Roman.

As Elenore says the words Victoria Secret it immediately gains Roman's attention, "Yeah, I am designing a line of retro-chic sleepwear. And lingerie-" Elenore starts, "And I'm looking forward to the samples. We are all very proud." B cuts off. Glancing between the five of us, "In fact mom why don't you tell Roman all about it?" B says.

Causing me to roll my eyes at Blair her plan, as Elenore takes Roman his arm. Walking forward with the new boyfriend of her late husband, "It's so good to have you here." Blair smiles holding on to Harold.

"It's so good to be here. Now, where is the handsome Nate? Am I going to see him tonight?" he questions, wrapping around both of us.

"And maybe Thomas?" he turns to me, "Well, Nate is in Connecticut with his mom. He said he would try to catch a train and make it to the party tonight." B explains, "Tom is still here, I think he will make it. But he could also be on a flight out to meet his brother." I tell the older man.

We continue to talk, "Another Elenore Waldorf soiree, another New York institution I miss." Harold chuckles, "You know, you don't have to miss any of it.." B start, "I wish I could be at two places at ones my dear but that's impossible." he apologizes.

Nodding I frown softly, "You know that chateau near Lyon?" the older Waldorf man asks, making both of us hum, "Roman and I bought it." he announces, "You bought that place?" B questions.

"Yes." he smiles, "And with Roman?" she asks again. Where he smiles at, "The house is flooded with light. The fireplaces are big. I mean, you could walk into them." he explains happily.

Not understanding B her expressions, "The gardens are incroyable." he smiles.

"Can't wait to see it." I tell him, "Perhaps you come and visit this summer." he offers, "We would love to have you there." he smiles.

authors note the next chapter is going to be one long ass chapter. damn.. i started editing it today, and am up to page three, which now looks quite good. yet it's three out of thirty four. so.. wish me luck!