Preface

"Somebody to Love" is a fanfiction three years in the making. I started this endeavor November, 7th 2010, one day after my 25th birthday. I had a head full of ideas and plans that I couldn't wait to get out on paper. Looking back, I had no idea it would be such a bitch to write. After the first year it steadily started to decline and I became less prolific. I was at the tail end of finishing up my degree and life just started to take over. I was lucky if I pushed out a chapter a month. As I took steps into the real world to find a job, my hobbies took a backseat.

A year and a half after graduation, I finally settled into my career and moved into a new apartment, some 300 miles away from friends and family. I was ready to jump back into the passion of writing one of my most favorite stories.

You maybe wondering have I written stories before and the answer is… yes. I have another account on here but I have chosen to keep my identity under wraps. Why? Who knows? Perhaps, because, after all this is a Gossip Girl FanFiction. I'm sure I have spoken one time or another to many of you and have told you I'm writing this story so it may not be hard to find out.

My only hopes with this story is that you keep an open mind and stick with it. I promised myself that I wasn't going to post this story until it was finished in its entirety, but after 3 long years I'm afraid that if I do that it'll never get finish. Like any writer I need feedback and a swift kick in the ass to finish.

I would like to stay on a rhythm and post a chapter once a week on a Sunday. I have over 20 chapters written so I have a 5 month run on this to get it finished, and I think now is the time. With Gossip Girl's run over I have no idea if people are even reading, but I'm hoping the die hard fans are still out there.

Now, the important part. What is this story even about? "Somebody to Love" follows the twenty year breakup of Rufus and Lily. It starts 3 months after Lily left to have her child and delves into the lives of four main people—Rufus Humphrey, Alison Richards, Lily Rhodes, and William van der Woodsen. This is my attempt to fill in the blanks of those twenty lost years. This is the prologue to the lives that we now know.

Now, this is where it gets dicey because I'm sure you're probably thinking, "Well Rufus and Lily won't be together in your story, they're with other people and I don't want to read that!" Which, yes, is true…..almost. My number one goal in this story was to be true to life. People move on and find love. People grow up and want different things out of life. People evolve. Do I think that Rufus loved Alison? Yes, of course and very deeply so. And I think the same about Lily and Will. This story will show that.

But it will also show that just because your heart moves on doesn't mean places aren't kept for individuals. Not only am I trying to stay true to life but also to the show. We all know how Rufus and Lily felt about each other; that's a given. This, my friends, just fills in the holes of the heart.

I hope that doesn't scare too many people away and starting March, 3rd 2013 you come back to read, "Somebody to Love."

In the mean time here is a little teaser from Chapter One titled: "He's all yours..."

"Steve get me two pitchers," Rufus walked up to the bar leaning over it a little. "We go on in ten."

Throwing his rag over his shoulder he cleared a few shot glasses from the counter."Sure thing Humphrey, give me two minutes," he turned to Alison. "And what about you? What do you want sweets?"

"I…I…umm…," She looked back and forth, trying in vain not to stumble over her words and act like she knew what she was talking about. "I…I'll have a…"

"Get her a Heineken," Rufus looked over at her shaking his head.

Alison looked over instantly recognizing the voice. He didn't look up, his hair was a bit disheveled and in his eyes. He picked up a few peanuts and popped them into his mouth, a sly, cocky, smile playing on his lips. "Rufus…."He looked up for the first time and she could just barely see his hazel eyes peaking from beneath his brown hair.

"Don't get out much?" he asked looking downward again.

His question threw her and she didn't quite know what to say. "No, I…ummm…" she laughed. "I suppose not."

He laughed inwardly and finally turned to her and smiled. "How you doin?"

"Good," she smiled sincerely. "You?"

"Fine."

She looked around the bar trying to see if anyone was looking at them. "What…what are you doing here?"

"We got a small gig to play at a few bars down here this month," he nodded. "Nothing big. What are you doin' in a place like this?"

"Humphrey come on!" Mike walked passed. "Stop looking for your rebound fuck and come do sound check."

Alison didn't look over, but stared at her hands that were placed in her lap. She twisted her thumb ring around her finger and pursed her lips to keep from saying something.

Rufus looked from Mike back to Alison instantly feeling bad. "Hey…don't listen to him he doesn't know what he's talking about. Mike's just….he's an ass."

She nodded not looking at him. "It's…it's fine."

He moved closer to her so she'd look at him. "No it's not. I'm sorry. Mike's the drummer in my band. He's always in a bad mood cause nobody likes him."

"Here you go," Steve sat down two overflowing pitches of beer and Alison's bottle of Heineken.

"I got em' both," Rufus pulled money from his back pocket placing it down on the bar.

Alison held out her hand. "Oh no, you don't have to do that."

"Don't worry about it," he half shook his head. "You…you should stay and listen."

"Well I'm here with a friend," she turned around and looked for Katie.

"A guy?" Rufus looked around, wondering whom it could be.

"No," she shook her head. "Katie, my roommate. Is umm…Lily here?" she swallowed.

He sighed looking down a knot forming in his stomach. "We broke up a couple months ago," he swallowed.

"Oh," she bit her lip. "I'm sorry. I didn't know." She never really cared much for Lily. She had only seen her a few times, and each time she always had something smart to stay to her, or would make sure it was known that Rufus was hers to everyone around.

"Humphrey! Beer!" Mike shouted again. "Come on!"

Rufus grabbed both pitchers and pushed the stool out of his way. "I play here every Thursday night till the first week of May. You should come back."

She nodded as he walked away. She touched her bottle of Heineken looking at the green bottle for a moment before looking at Rufus's retreating form, strange, old feelings coming over her.