- Clair! - Somebody yelled after a girl who was passing by the crowd of senior students that were idling on the benches in the campus of New York University.

Among them was a guy who just transferred from UCLA, where he spent the previous years of college and life. He was studying art history and decided that he wanted to finish his senior year on NYU and go back to his home town and actually experience art. His father wasn't very fascinated by the idea of his only child going back to the big city, where most of his life drama happened, but his son was old enough to decide by himself, so any talks and tries to make him stay were futile. He packed his things and left. His grandfather's loft in Brooklyn was empty for a long time, since the old man moved to Manhattan with his wife, then divorced her and continued doing his music, becoming surprisingly popular in his older age. Since then the old Humphrey was hardly ever coming to the loft, living the life of a rock star, sleeping in hotels and tour buses.

Even though New York wasn't completely new to him, Dylan couldn't get rid of the feeling of an outsider or a tourist in the city where he was born.

He was scrolling through his phone, when some girl yelled a name of a girl who passed like a tornado through the campus.

- Marie Clair! Wait! – He lifted his head, when the other girl yelled a bit louder. This Marie Clair that passed by the students like a storm, was tall girl, model type, wearing skinny jeans, black boots, a t-shirt tied in a knot on one side, hair falling down in imperfect waves.

- What? – She turned to face her friend. The girl approached her and said something quietly to her and they went inside the building together. His eyes remained fixed at the empty spot where the two girls were standing, unable to remember if he saw this Marie Clair in his life before. She was there in front of him for probably 30 seconds, but it was enough to make him start checking through his head if he ever met some girl named Clair. Marie Clair. Maybe she was one of his cousins that he met probably fifteen years ago, when he and his father attended the funeral of his great grandfather. But no…they were all blonds with light eyes…like aunt Jenny.

His thoughts were interrupted by a guy who was asking him about certain class that he had no idea where was held.

It was his first day at NYU, first week alone in New York City. His father was calling several times a day, making sure to inform him where he can buy good food, which movie theatres to attend, the good bars…

- Dad, this is New York, twenty something years later. Places and supermarkets from back then don't exist.

Slowly his father, Daniel Humphrey was turning into the too caring, slightly over concerned Rufus.

-If something goes wrong, feel free to call Lily, or come home…really, you can come home any time. – Dan said.

- Dad, I don't know that woman, why would I call her? And I'm not coming back till I graduate. – He sighed tired from the same conversation they were having once again.

- Ok…ok…I'm just saying that you aren't alone there.

But he was. He was more alone than ever. He didn't know anyone, he was practically like a ghost, people were hardly noticing him. He could have got a room in the dorms, but he preferred to isolate and clear his mind and re-evaluate his life in the loft.

His parents divorced when he was three years old and his father never remarried again. He was completely devoted to him, his writing and the home. From time to time he would have dated women, but it seemed as if they never were good enough.

His mother remarried and was still married to the same man for about seventeen years. They had two boys and lived in Florida. He loved his brothers, but they were complete opposites, he was the quiet kid who liked to read or paint, and they were two very restless boys who were always in the mood for sports. Every summer till he started attending college he was spending his holidays in Florida with his half siblings, his mother and his step father who never seemed to care too much to get to know him better.

He was in New York for several weeks and it seemed that he and the city sort of liked each other. He felt completely comfortable walking around the city exploring the streets, the museums, the bars, at times he even was having coffee at the popular coffee shops with his classmates…He was blending in. He loved the classes at school, he loved the peace that he had in the loft, he loved everything about New York and was wondering how crazy you should be to leave a place like that and move in suburban Los Angeles (even though he was perfectly aware that his father moved there so he could be close to the studio that made a TV show based on his first best seller, Inside).

It was Thursday afternoon and he was heading to the subway, when a blond older woman poked his shoulder.

- Dylan? – She smiled at him. He didn't know who she was, but apparently she knew him. – You've grown up so much. You probably don't remember me at all…well I'm a bit older now…Lily…- She put her hand on her chest. – Humphrey. Well, now Rhodes, but I used to be married to…

- My grandfather. I know, but if you didn't introduce yourself, I would have never guessed who you are.

- Well that's just…How are you? What are you doing in New York? How's Daniel? – She asked million questions.

- I'm fine. I'm studying here…- But before he was able to answer all of her questions, she interrupted him.

- Why don't you join us tomorrow? It's my daughter's birthday, so you will finally get the chance to meet her, and my son…well you already have met them, but you know, you were too young…So how about a reunion? – She was talking fast, and before he was able to think of an excuse she was shaking his hand, and telling him the address of her home.

He didn't want to go, he didn't know those people and even if he knew something about them it was just from stories he heard. They weren't related and he couldn't think of any reason why he would go to that stupid birthday party of her daughter. All he knew was that his grandfather wasn't much in the mood to talk about his former wife and the life he had back in New York.

As usual Dan called him that day and when he told him about the invitation he got from Lilly, Dan told him to go.

-I practically grew up among those people. It'd be rude not to go, and also I'll feel much safer if I know that you aren't completely alone there.

And that's how Dylan ended up in a cab going to Lily's place. He entered the building and headed to the elevator. A girl was standing in front of it. She was pressing the button multiple times, anxiously stomping with her heel.

- You know it won't come faster if you press the button more than once – He said with a friendly tone. She didn't even face him, nor replied anything. They both entered the elevator and their hands went to press the penthouse button in the same time.

- Who the hell are you? – She lifted her eyes on him. – Serena's new boy toy?

- Who? – He looked at her. It was the same girl from the campus. Marie Clair.

- Oh, sorry. You must be a caterer or something – She said with slightly arrogant tone and turned her head and stared at the buttons of the elevator.

- I'm not a caterer. I'm invited to the party. – He pointed out, slightly annoyed from the attitude of the girl.

- OK – She rolled her eyes, showing that she wasn't in the mood to talk to him anymore.

- I'm Dylan – He said, wanting to break the silence.

- Did I ask about your name? – She smiled raising her eyebrow. – Marie. Or Clair, as people call me. – They shook hands. - I'm the daughter of Serena's best friend. Not a fan of this family at all, but I had to come because my annoying mother is a control freak, so I'll just spend the night drinking and teasing these snobs.

- Wow – He giggled. – Do they know what sort of guest is about to attend their party?

Before she was able to answer him, the elevator stopped and the doors opened. The penthouse was already crowded, people drinking, smooth jazz in the background and waiters passing between them.

-Clair, I thought you won't come – A blond tall woman, giggled with a glass of champagne in her hand, hugging the girl, almost suffocating her. – Your mother told me you threatened to come here in jeans and a t-shirt. Are you trying to kill her? – She was laughing. It was obvious that she was tipsy already.

-Yes – The girl replied, tapping Serena's shoulder mechanically. – Happy birthday! My mom will bring you the present later.

- Oh, you brought a date – Serena smiled. Then she took a better look at the boy and her face from happy and smiley turned into confused with a slight "oh" on her lips. He did look like his father, had slightly long messy curls, pale face, chocolate brown eyes with big eyelashes and was caring himself the same way as his father. He was taller than Dan, but the resemblance was incredible.

- I don't know who he is! – Clair said sounding as if Serena was crazy, passing by her walking to the crowd.

- Hello – He boy said – I'm Dylan.

- Humphrey – Serena finished instead of him. – Mother told me that she met you the other day, and invited you. I'm Serena – She extended her hand.

- Nice to meet you – He said. He wanted to say that he heard a lot of great things about her, but the truth was he barely knew who the woman with such young spirit was.

- How's Dan? – She asked, taking him to the bar.

- He's fine. – The conversation was weird, because mainly he didn't know what to say to her.

- Ah…it's been so many years – She said, handing him a glass of champagne. – It's my birthday and I don't even want to think about my age…

The party was a typical Upper East Side party. There were lots of important snobs who were drinking ultra expensive drinks, wearing the most famous designers' dresses and suits, holding crystal glasses in hands covered with diamonds and platinum...and most importantly they were all acting happy. Rarely who of them really was.

Dylan was constantly asking himself what the hell he was doing there, but leaving after about forty minutes would have been considered rude. So he was drinking his drink at the bar, occasionally being interrupted by people he didn't know (but they seemed to know him and his father) and he was doing small talks about his college, about Dan, life in California…

- Told you they are all snobs. – Clair sat next to him, showing up out of nowhere, asking the bartender for a refill. – Are you drunk? – She asked. He shook his head. – Another one for…what was your name again? – She asked him.

- Dylan. Dylan Humphrey – He said, taking the other glass the bartender offered him.

- Well happy 48th birthday to Serena ex Stefani, ex Archibald, ex Williamson, nee van der Woodsen – She raised her glass and clank from his. He was just looking at her, semi confused semi amazed from her big mouth and the way she was trashing the whole family.

- Don't say that out loud, she said she was hiding her age.

- Who? – Clair burst in laughter. – Did she tell you she was like 35? She's a cougar you know. God knows how many husbands she had - It was more like a friendly warning for him. - She has a kid that attends school in Switzerland, few boy toys, and some of them I don't even think are legal – She giggled.

- You know…- He said, not paying attention on Serena's bio. – I have this weird feeling that I know you.

- Maybe you saw me on TV. My mother runs Waldorf Designs. I sort of modelled for her lines. Or maybe, you saw my face when my parents were filling tabloids six months ago.

- Why? – He knew he shouldn't have to let himself ask her that.

- Where the hell you live? – She asked. – Charles Bass divorced Blair Waldorf after almost two decades of marriage. If you are asking me, it should have happened long time ago.

- Why don't you call him "dad"? – He asked naively.

- Chuck? – She snorted and raised her eyebrows. – I was never good enough for him, I was a bad seed, as the old Bass was calling me, a redneck that was God's punishment for their family. In other words, I'm not an uptight snob, I study fashion design, I go to bars in Brooklyn, listen to punk rock and hate the entire Bass family since I was able to speak. Oh…and I also am destroying their history of good taste in fashion.

- Well…you aren't bad dressed – Dylan pointed out her simple black dress.

- Oh this…I had to. It's an Upper East Party, and I don't want to cause my mother a heart attack. Not yet.

- Sorry I'm late. I had a terrible migraine…- Blair finally came to the party. She was in her late forties, but her prefect taste in clothing, the energizing face treatments and her strict macrobiotic diet were helping her look as if she was 35. Truth was she didn't want to go Serena's birthday party, risking getting questions about Chuck to the people who were acting her friends while she was married to him.

- It's ok – Serena hugged her, more leaning into her, trying to hide the effect of nine glasses of champagne. – You will never believe who is here.

- Did Clair finally come? We had a terrible fight. You know how difficult she is, she was threatening me that she would change into jeans and flannel shirt on the street and come over dressed like that…Ugh can you imagine…

- She is here – Serena dragged Blair's hand. – Look at that boy. My mother invited him. He came here to finish his studies. The resemblance is incredible…- Blair wasn't listening to Serena's drunken monolog. She was just staring at the boy who was talking to her daughter. Suddenly her throat was dry, she could have felt her heart pounding, fear prevailing her body…- Dylan. – Serena brought her back to reality. I mean, he named the kid just like his character from Inside, no wonder his wife left him. – Serena giggling.

- What is Clair doing with him? – Blair asked frightened.

- I don't know…they are the only young people here, so you know…who knows, maybe…history will repeat itself.

- No! – Blair interrupted her, strictly, and went to the bar.

- Hello mother – Clair smiled at her, looking at her with tipsy eyes.

- Who are you? – Blair asked Dylan with strict tone.

- Dylan Humphrey, madam – He introduced himself. The resemblance with Dan was cutting Blair's heart, and memories were flushing in her head.

- Getting drunk with a total stranger Marie? - Blair didn't even bother to shake Dylan's hand.

- He's not a stranger. He's the son of this guy who used to go to school with you and Miss Sunshine. Can you believe he wrote that lame show, you never let me watch…

- I don't know what you are talking about, but I need you. And stop drinking, there are paparazzi downstairs, waiting for you to do something idiotic again. I can't handle your father's criticism anymore. – Blair tried to make her get off the bar chair.

Marie Clair, as much as was raised like a princess on the Upper East Side, as much as she had classy name, as much as she had the finest education around Europe, as much as she was showered with expensive gifts in the form of jewels and clothes, she never acted the way she was expected. She had long, dark brown wavy hair (her mother was begging her to cut it a bit shorter), was enjoying wearing ripped jeans, t-shirts with weird prints, tattooed an infinity sign on her shoulder blade when she was sixteen which forced Chuck Bass to ground her for the rest of the school year (of course she broke his order, simply walking out of their royal penthouse, and spending the entire night out). Chuck was always blaming Blair for their daughter's behavior, criticizing her that she didn't do her best when was raising her as a lady. He was even more pissed off when she told him that she won't study economy and finances, but fashion design, something that in her case meant creating lots of clothes for punk/rock post teenage rebellious girls. He was disgusted by the idea. He loved her, but deep down he hated everything about her. One day he found out something that made complete sense to his ambivalence feelings about his only child…

- If I didn't know better, I'd say that they are…- Lily came to Blair who was drinking her champagne in a corner, staring in the direction where Dylan and Clair were drinking and laughing.

- What? – She asked, cutting Lily's eyes with hers.

- You should tell your daughter before it's too late.

- What are you talking about Lily?

- She's a Humphrey for God's sake. Anyone can see that. Curly hair, not having a single gram of taste in fashion, reminds me of Jenny in her teen years, and look at them…look at their faces. If I didn't know that she is few years younger than that kid over there, I'd think they are twins.

Blair's face was covered with panic.

-Tell her right now, you don't want this to go in the wrong way. – Lily said calmly, not mentioning that she knew that Marie Clair was the reason why Chuck decided to end his marriage. - Even her middle name wasn't chosen by coincidence. Think about it! - She left Blair alone, who was suffocating and ran out on the terrace to get air.

TBC