Kissing Frogs and Catching Princes

Dedicated to all the girls who have kissed a lot of frogs on their quest for something better.

May you one day find your Prince.

Happy Valentine's Day

xoxo

~x-X-x~

Chapter 1: New Faces in Familiar Places

Dusky Louboutin pumps pounded the graying pavement in quick succession. Click, click. Click, click. Powerful navy fabric swayed in the breeze, tickling creamy thighs. Ivory knee-highs attached themselves poetically and ran down svelte legs, imprisoning them. The wind swept soft chocolate tendrils across covered shoulders, a slight shiver escaping nude-glossed lips as two delicate hands reached over and wrapped the charcoal blazer more tightly around a shivering frame. Turning the corner, mysterious eyes sparkled a little with recognition, a small smile gracing plump lips as a hand reached up and waved through the air.

"Serena! Serena!"

Turning towards the voice that called her, Serena van der Woodsen smiled and waved back at the beautiful and familiar girl before her. Striding up to meet her, the blonde wrapped her long arms around the brunette's tiny frame and happily pulled her close, giggling like a little school girl.

"Blair! I've missed you so much!"

Looking up at her sparkling blue orbs, Blair Waldorf had to admit that an entire summer without her best friend had been dull to say the least. Where Serena had been traveling the Caribbean on her latest exotic adventure, Blair had been busy improving her social calendar in New York City, working as an intern for a successful mogul who ran a string of hotels globally. It was a risk to work rather than enjoy her last summer before final year of school, but Blair had wanted to hit the ground running. Her mother had always said that time waits for no man. Nor woman. So she had successfully carried out a hectic schedule throughout the long summer months, earning not only a commendable list of extra-curricular activities to woo future colleges, but also recognition in the Upper East side as more than just the wealthy daughter of a famous designer. Blair Waldorf was a multitasking Queen who didn't understand the prospect of slowing down. No pain, no gain.

There was a reason she was considered a wonder-woman. Or over-achiever.

She preferred the first term.

"So, tell me all about your tropical oasis getaway. Was it all cosmopolitans and cabana boys?"

Serena smiled, a sparkle glistening in her eyes which told Blair straight away that her idea of living vicariously through Serena was a good one. Sure, she had missed the partying season with the town's most notorious party-girl, but she knew her blonde bombshell best friend would have had more than enough fun for the both of them. Where Blair was meticulous and organized, Serena was carefree and flighty, preferring to live life jumping out of the plane rather than flying it like Blair. She thrived in scenarios of unpredictability and the whimsy that came with going with the flow. Organized chaos, as the energetic blonde liked to put it. Ethereally beautiful, Serena was the most wanted and most gossiped about "it" girl in Manhattan. However she was also probably the most dependable person is Blair's life. Although she was popular she never let it get to her head, and being friends since the age of five had allowed both girls to grow in different directions but still maintain a healthy respect for one-another.

Serena was Blair's rock, as Blair was Serena's.

"More like martinis and muscle men," Serena laughed, wrapping her arm in Blair's. The blonde was notorious for becoming easily bored by her male counterparts and not pursuing committed relationships, in spite of the long line of eligible men wishing to date her. Blair however, was completely different, forever wishing for her prince charming to come and whisk her away for a romance worth writing about. For now though, she would settle for Serena's tales of lust and intrigue across the seas. As they made their way down the road towards school, Serena eagerly chatted away about her new-found appreciation for older men. "Boys are so last season, B. I'm onto a new breed of male now. Men."

"Hmmm," Blair replied thoughtfully, tilting her head to the side as brilliant flashes of white streaked their way across the shadowed streets, the morning sun lighting the city canvas. "I think you may have a problem finding any of those at school."

School was in fact the Constance Billard School, a private and elite all-girls institution in New York City. Located at 93rd and Madison Avenue on the prestigious Upper East Side of Manhattan, it housed the city's elite. The children born and bred by society's most affluent. Alongside the girl's school lay their brotherly counterpart, St. Jude's school for Boys, allowing the social matriculation of both boys and girls. Boys being the operative word, one which Serena frowned at when Blair mentioned the fact.

"Well, it's a big city. I'm sure I will make some use of it!"

Clasping her fingers around her friend's, Serena pulled Blair along the bustling streets and straight towards the school's entrance. Smiling at the usual crowd of adoring admirers, the school's Queen Bees skipped up the cemented stairs and into the bustling halls. Crowds of students greeted one-another with hugs and squeals, Serena rolling her eyes when notorious arch-rival Vanessa Abrams, veered past them with a look of disdain. Leaning against the coolness of the metallic lockers, Serena reapplied her lip gloss as Blair placed her books within, a meek voice chirping at them from behind.

"Good morning Blair, Serena. I trust you had a great summer?'

Standing in the hall, the tiny girl shuffled about on the spot nervously. Biting her lower lip, her straight blond hair grazed her shoulders with each movement of her tiny head. Holding a large folder to her chest, she waited anxiously for the girls to speak.

"Jenny," Blair replied, forcing a smile across her lips as she looked down at the wide-eyed junior. "I trust you were able to book that table for dinner tonight?"

Nodding ferociously, Jenny reached down into her folder and pulled out a large piece of paper. Reading over it meticulously, she recalled all the information she had jotted down previously.

"Yes, dinner for two at Louis for eight o'clock. Window seat verified. The limo will swing by and pick him up at seven-thirty sharp."

"Him?" Serena chuckled, nudging Blair in the ribs as the brunette sighed in contempt. Glaring, she ordered the flighty blonde to hush for the time being as she returned her attention back to the young girl.

"Good work Jenny. Now I need you to go Waldorf's and pick up the dress that will be waiting there for me. Tell them I sent you and that I need matching shoes. They'll know what to do. Also, run by the Penthouse and ask Darota to double-check that the theater tickets will be ready for us when we arrive. Box, not booth. They messed it up last time and my guest was most seriously displeased."

Writing down the orders in haste, Jenny mumbled to herself as Blair and Serena both looked down upon her. Finally finishing her scrawl, she looked up and smiled, blowing her blonde fringe out of her eyes with a soft breath. As people rushed frantically by them, the three girls stared at each other for a while in silence. Finally, unable to take the weirdness any longer, Blair rolled her eyes and ushered Jenny with her hands.

"Go, go, go. That's all I need right now."

Nodding, Jenny's face fell a little as she reached down for her bag, Serena throwing her a sympathetic smile before turning her attention back to Blair. Twirling a long strand of golden hair between her fingers, the blonde looked down at her brunette sidekick with a questioning look.

"What?" Blair stated, giving Serena a look of complete indignation.

"Do you think maybe you could go a little easier on the kid?" Serena quipped, the bell sounding out above them as students began shuffling towards the hall. "You've been running her ragged all summer."

"If she wants the title of Queen Bee next year," Blair stated, her hand clasping a folder and sliding it so that it rested parallel to her hips, "then she needs to earn her stripes. Just as I did."

"You were born into the position," Serena countered, rolling her eyes at Blair as they neared the school's hall entrance. "You hardly worked for it."

"And you've hardly worked," Blair chided her friend sarcastically, scrunching her nose up as the blonde squinted her eyes in return. "See, there's a reason we're friends after all, S."

Sliding into the hall, the pair were watched as they took their seats among the evenly distributed pews. The crowed hustled with the usual excitement of the first day back at school, whispered voices drifting gossip between the students like snow sprinkling down at Christmas. Soon enough, the St Jude's boys made their way into the hall and began taking their places, the sound of sweetened girly giggles filtering through the hall. Feet shuffled in quick succession, Blair looking up to see Nate Archibald making his way to the pew across from theirs. He smiled when he saw them, magnificent baby blues gazing in kindness.

Nate and Blair had always been close friends, their parents having often summered together in various holiday retreats around the world. Nate's father was their accountant, and a very successful one at that. Everyone within a two-mile radius was after him, and his reputation exceeded anyone else in the same line of work. His mother often worked on social events with both Blair's and Serena's mothers, so the three of them were always forced together at the numerous society shin-digs that took place.

Blair often thought of them as the three amigos. A close-knit, trustworthy group.

As the girls waved over at their handsome friend, the headmistress stood at the microphone and cleared her throat, all eyes drawing upon her as the congregation settled down.

"Good morning boys and girls and welcome back to what we hope to be another extremely successful year at Constance Billard and St Jude's. We trust you all had a relaxing summer vacation and have come back prepared to work to the utmost standards this schooling year."

Shuffling in her seat, Serena was already getting bored. Glancing across the room, her eyes landed on Nate and she pulled a face, the young boy trying desperately not to react. He cleared his throat and sent her a playful warning look, the blonde scrunching up her nose before turning away. Leaning into Blair, she waited for the headmistress's eyes to move away from her general direction before she whispered.

"So, tell me about this "date" Miss Waldorf."

Without moving her eyes from the headmistress, Blair muttered under her breath, seemingly un-phased by the blonde's question. With the voice of the principal muttering around them, the brunette spoke in a low hush.

"It's the boss's son. He's just come back from studying abroad. His father needed someone to take him out for the night, I offered. No big deal."

"The common room in the West Wing is for Seniors only. Please, if you are not there to study or have a relaxing break between classes, then do not use this facility."

Serena nodded, a slight smirk sliding across her lips as she continued.

"The boss's son. Wow B, I didn't know you were so naughty."

"Oh please," Blair responded, doing her best to sound bored with the entire conversation. "It's not a big deal. I managed to secure a great deal for my mother's charity benefit simply by agreeing to go. It's just dinner and the theater and in return I managed to get two whole tables sold for my mother's benefit."

"Swimming tryouts are at the end of next week. Please write your name on the board outside Mr Jefferies room if you wish to try-out for the team."

"Sounds ideal," Serena replied, shuffling a little closer to Blair as the headmistress continued to prattle on before them. "Always the business woman. No time for love?"

"Love?" Blair scoffed under her breath, shooting a sideways glance at Serena before returning her gaze to the front. "Look, I'm not like everyone else here. I want romance, good looks and charm. Someone sophisticated and business-minded. Someone strong and independent and unafraid to say what's on his mind."

"Someone like you?"

"Someone who can match me," Blair countered, closing her lips as the older woman on stage continued her speech. "And I highly doubt a boy with a father like the man I have been working for all summer would fit the bill."

"Why is that?" Serena questioned, clearly enjoying the stirring of her best friend. "Not enough money?"

"All social and charitable events must go through the social club committee. Please see Miss Blair Waldorf, head of the committee, if you wish to join and make a difference."

"More money than he knows what to do with," Blair continued, smiling as the headmistress looked over at them. As soon as her eyes darted away, the brunette proceeded to finish her sentence. "But there's no warmth there. Plus, have you seen the guy? His face is so hard, it could be hereditary. His son could look just as hard, if not, more so. That would not match with my soft complexion and features."

"Maybe not," Serena exclaimed, her soft velvet voice hitting her friend's ear with encouragement. "But, he could be drop-dead gorgeous and totally worth your time."

"Now I wish to welcome all the new enrollments at Constance and St. Jude's. Please make sure you make each and every one of our new members feel most welcome."

"Would you like to go on this date?" Blair offered, raising her eyebrows as Serena giggled by her side. "You seem more into it than I am."

"No can do," the blonde replied coolly, clapping her hands as the headmistress began calling out the names of the new enrollments. "I already have a date tonight."

"Sarah Albright. Welcome."

"Then hush up about mine," Blair ordered, nudging her elbow into the chuckling blonde's side. Serena giggled quietly but relented, placing her hand over her friend's as they both stared ahead. A short girl with wild red hair and freckles galore stood up from her chair in the front row and turned around, allowing the entire student population to see her. Shrugging, Serena turned back to Blair, a questioning look crossing her features as she lowered her brow.

"Hey, what did you say his name was again?"

Blair turned to Serena and smiled, thankful that she had dropped the sarcasm and was actually willing to talk.

"Charles Bass."

"Charles Bass. Welcome."

Two pairs of astonished eyes darted up at the mention of the name. Stretching their necks, the two girls glanced over at the boy who stood in response to the name. A quick glance told them everything they needed to know. Her mind working in overdrive, Blair took in every ounce of information that she could from this quick introduction. He was tall, raven hair slicing across his creamy forehead in a jagged formation. His pixie-like haircut was matched by thick, furrowed brows, hanging dangerously low as he waved at the crowd. Blair found it hard to determine if he was reserved, embarrassed or simply unimpressed with the greeting ritual. At any rate, his chocolate eyes gave little away, nor did his closed lips, soft and perfectly proportioned. Instead, together they served only to demonstrate a cool and calm exterior. He oozed a sense of power, something Blair found quite impressive.

"Oh," Serena said, seemingly impressed by what she saw. "Looks nothing like daddy-dearest at all."

She was right, everyone knew it. As soon as he stood the crowd buzzed a little with excitement. Standing there in just a school uniform, there was an understated sex appeal that came with him. The lemon shirt looked almost designer, the school's neck tie draped around his neck like a Hugo Boss billboard in Times Square. Even the tan pants that were chastised by all had managed to look like they'd been specially made for him. He'd even gone as far as to make his own fashion statement regarding the mandatory attire, a carefully knitted patchwork scarf that showed of the vibrant colors of charcoal, maroon, ivory and red. Checkered across his blazer, he was the epitome of sophistication.

Not at all what Blair had expected.

Watching her, Serena smirked a little as the boy smirked and then sat with Blair's undivided attention, the brunette's mind clearly working in overdrive at the prospect that was Charles Bass. Playfully nudging her shoulder into the side of her best friend, the blonde waited for nervous orbs to gaze upon her in reply. Sure enough, after a moment to gather her thoughts, Blair turned and leaned into Serena as the headmistress continued with her new-arrivals roll call.

"New plan," Blair announced, grabbing out her blackberry and typing away furiously. "Theater and a movie will not suffice. I must throw the best "Welcome Back To School" party the Upper East Side has ever seen."

"And why is that?" Serena teased, scrunching her tiny nose together as her friend gazed at her in exasperation. "I thought it was no big deal, this date with Charles?"

"That was before I laid eyes on him, when he was nothing more than a Trust-fund Brat who looked like a recreation of Steve Urkel amalgamated with Bill Gates. That-" she murmured, pointing in the direction of Charles, "That my friend, is a whole new ball game!"

"So what happens now?"

"Now," the brunette announced, slipping easily into her planning mode. "Now I must get organized. I'll need to get Jenny straight into planning, call Darota and have her organize the food, and get the minions to make sure anyone who's anyone is on that list and making an appearance at my party tonight!"

"And what about me?" Serena asked, turning as the headmistress thanked them all for attending and wished them a wonderful year. "What can I do to help you?"

"You, my dear, sweet vixen of a friend," Blair replied, smiling sweetly at Serena. "You can find out everything there is to know about Charles Bass!"

Nodding her head in understanding, the leggy blonde got to her feet and held out her hand, the brunette completely unaware that the assembly had come to a close and the students had begun filing out of the hall. Sending them a quick wave, Nate made his way to the front of the hall and shook hands with Charles, much to Blair's delight.

"And it looks like you can start by interrogating Nate"

Glancing across the hall, Serena's eyes landed on the two boys conversing, smiles all around. They shook hands, and Serena knew at once that whatever information there was to get, she would surely be able to extract it from Nate.

"Done and done," the blonde stated happily, shaking Blair's hands as the two exchanged smiles. "Looks like Princess Blair may have finally found her Prince!"

"Serena, my dear," Blair cooed happily, chocolate orbs looking to the heavens with a thankful gaze as she wrapped her arm around the blonde's and headed towards the door. "I think you just might be right!"

~x-X-x~

AN: So I'm giving this story another go because I kinda loved writing it and thought "What the hell?" I am totally, completely and utterly a DAIR shipper. I used to be Chair up until he sold her for a hotel. I just couldn't get around that. Chuck treated Blair like a prostitute and I couldn't forgive that. Anyway, this is completely AU and I'm not even sure who I will write into it but please let me know your thoughts, opinions and of course – what you want to see?

Much love, and please review!

Chrissy

xox