Gossip Girl

. . .

They came among you, and played their part well, duped you into thinking they were your friend, all the time gathering information for the mother of all take-downs. Watch your back Upper East Siders, your dirty laundry's about to be hung out to dry,

Xoxo, Gossip Girl

. . .

"If you ask me she's just pissed she didn't do something like this," Nate said, putting his phone away in his pocket, he'd checked all the vitals once they'd landed and was now just contented to be back in the City, even if his lack of sleep and jetlag was making it hard to stay awake, "whoever this is saw behind closed doors – something she could never have. She's probably running scared."

"Assuming it is a she," Chuck mused, pouring himself a drink, "Bourbon?"

"No," Nate protested immediately laughing a little, "you might be able to stomach it but my heads all over the place – not too sure that your finest vintage is the best idea."

Chuck laughed, downing his in one go, he looked out as the skyscrapers of Manhattan loomed out of the darkness in the distance, the city was ablaze at night, Manhattan was never truly absorbed by the darkness – merely dulled slightly, though in Chuck's eyes this was when the city was at its most mesmerising. In the darkness one could see the true character of the buildings, the reasons their architects had designed them and the reason that they had endured so long. He was probably feeling as bad as Nate if not worse but he didn't show it – that was the mark of someone who'd spent their infantile years being groomed on the Upper East Side, you never showed your emotions – you guarded them well, they were after all your greatest weakness.

"As much as I'd love to rush back to the Empire I think I'll stop by and see Lily," Chuck considered aloud, "are you coming to the Party tomorrow night?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Nate affirmed confidently, "assuming I'm actually awake, right now I'm struggling to even keep my eyes open. I think it'd be important to Serena that I go anyway…we kinda left things…unclear when we left – Charlie kinda took priority over everything else, wonder how Dan is."

"Humphrey will be fine," Chuck deflected, he didn't much like Dan nor did he like the fact that he had not only somehow wormed his way into Nate's confidence but he'd also become something of an acquaintance to Blair, something Chuck would never have seen before – then again he'd never have predicted Dan dating someone above his social strata like Serena in the first place so anything was possible, "I imagine he'll be coming tomorrow night."

"What about Jenny?" Nate probed – he had heard much about Dan's sister but the Party seemed like the perfect opportunity to bring her back into the family fold after being away for so long, Chuck shrugged in response, scanning his cell for any updates.

He looked out the window, they were on the outskirts of Manhattan now, soon they'd be moving amongst the tall spires, "I doubt Rufus would bring Jenny back…he'll want Lily's night to go off without incident and where there's Jenny-"

"-there's incident." Nate finished knowingly, "I wonder if the author will have come forward by the time of the Party tomorrow."

"They'll probably be there," he considered, pouring himself another drink, "I'm surprised Lily's even having so many people, I thought she'd fallen out with her friends after the rough ride she had but evidently she's smoothed things over." He raised an eyebrow at Nate and his face gave it all away.

He held his hands up, "I might have said something to mom, I just pointed out she'd been friends with Lily for ages and that for all her flaws she should just try and look past it, I mean it's not like the Archibald's struggle with eating their pride or anything." He grinned – his family had been through a lot and had gone from the heavens to the abyss and now they were…coasting along at midlevel and that was all he wanted. "Maybe I will have that drink."

Chuck smirked and poured out a fresh glass for himself and a second one for Nate, the two chinked glasses in a toast, "To the City." Chuck declared.

"To the City." Nate repeated, clinking the glasses together and then downing the Bourbon and looking up at the first few skyscrapers as they passed back into their world – into their home.

. . .

The door opened and the Apartment seemed exactly as he remembered it before he'd left, there had been a few changes, a few new pieces of artwork – Lily had probably needed to spend the time scouring the internet for a few pieces from her favourite artists if only to distract her from her parole, but otherwise the place seemed the same. The living area was deserted though; Rufus was the first one down from the bedroom, dressed in a casual shirt, chinos and deck-shoes – clearly though they'd spent the summer indoors they hadn't lost the spirit of the season. Chuck shook his hand as Lily followed a moment later, dressed in a burgundy maxi dress – she looked very pale, probably again a result of her house arrest. She also looked tired and slightly stressed – though that was nothing new, the only new thing was that she normally covered it up far better, she prided herself on maintaining her appearance.

"Charles," she greeted warmly, he kissed her on the cheek affectionately, "it's so good to have you back in the City in time for my parole party – I assume you're coming?"

Chuck nodded affirmatively, "How could I miss it? I have a little business to attend to tomorrow so I won't be free for most of the day but I'll be here in the evening, should I ask how summer was or would you prefer that I didn't?"

"It was fine," Lily said, strolling into the kitchen and producing a bottle of wine, pouring it into the three waiting glasses Rufus had prepared, "I mean I have watched enough films to last me a lifetime and also read more literature than I should ever have to but otherwise it's been fine, I owe it all to Rufus," she smiled warmly at her husband, "even I have to admit I have been suffering from cabin fever, you never quite realize how much you take your freedom for granted until you can't even walk down a street." She drank deeply from her glass, while Rufus only sipped at his, Chuck looked at the wine and decided against it, returning it to the breakfast bar – he should pay attention to Nate's example, drink and jet-lag weren't a good combination, especially when you had business meetings early in the morning. "And how was your trip with Nate?"

"Illuminating," he replied evasively – best not to impart the grittier details of their journey, "like old times – it was good to get away and explore…different cultures, when we stopped in Hong Kong I did actually talk to someone about buying a majority share in a Hotel there, a pipeline idea," he added quickly when he saw Rufus and Lily's faces, "rebrand the place, renovate it and open it as the first in the chain of the Empire International – but that's only a pipeline idea."

"Of course," Lily stated, "well it's inspired that your thinking beyond New York now Charles, your developing into quite the entrepreneur, I've concerned myself with spending rather than earning any money recently…I've become quite the connoisseur of wine, in fact I believe we had a delivery yesterday didn't we?" Rufus nodded affirmatively, "Would you like to come see it Charles – perhaps you could stock it in the cellar at the Empire?"

"Perhaps tomorrow," Chuck deflected diplomatically, noting Lily's glum expression, "I should probably get going, I was just stopping by to see you, I've got a full day of meetings tomorrow morning. I'll see you tomorrow." Lily smiled and accepted a kiss on the cheek and noted the handshake between her husband and step-son and watched him leave the apartment, despite their tribulations she was getting back to an amicable relationship with Charles – that had been all she had ever wanted after what happened to his father.

"Did Cece call?" Lily enquired, drinking some of her wine.

"Yes – she's chartered a private jet so Serena will be flying home at leisure tomorrow, I think Cece wanted to spend a little more time with her before she left," Rufus clued-up, "how do you want to play things with Chuck and Blair tomorrow?"

"Well how we normally do Rufus," Lily said uninterestedly as if it was the most mundane of processes, "we keep them apart, if they meet they meet and we hope that there are no fireworks – she's engaged to the Prince of Monaco, Blair will want to keep as a low a profile as possible and Charles will respect that."

"Any word from Carol?" Rufus asked.

"Still straight to answering machine," Lily drank deeply from her glass – her sister had put a great strain on her and made things unnecessarily difficult, "I think I'm just going to have to content myself with my husband, my children and my friends tomorrow night Rufus darling." Rufus frowned, she might be putting on a façade but he could see straight through it: she was torn up about this and he would get to the bottom of it.

. . .

The glorious sunshine beaming through the window had been what woke her – that and the distant lapping of the waves on the golden, sandy beach, Serena reflected that she had probably fallen just a little in love with California. She was sad to be leaving, Cece had actually been quite bearable and Serena had liked spending time with her Grandmother, though something of her sadness was more attached to what she was leaving behind. Though she dreamed of screenwriting and had become passionate about it, once she was back at College there would be very little opportunity for her to write again…except in her papers…and that wasn't the kind of writing she was interested in.

Reluctantly, knowing that it would mean the beginning of the end of her summer Serena slipped out of her bedroom and down the stairs – she was planning on grabbing a croissant and some orange juice and taking it up to her bedroom to just relax before she started packing for the flight: that was the benefit of flying private, she was under no pressure to run out the door, she could take things at a sedate pace. She blinked dozily – she was still half-asleep, and then found herself smiling as she entered the Dining Room. It wasn't the panoramic view of the beach and the deep indigo ocean that had her exited however, it was the breakfast, one of Cece's maids swept past with a bottle of champagne and on cue Serena's grandmother entered, dressed in a Paisley Gown. She smiled and Serena crossed the room to kiss her on the cheek.

"My send-off," Cece declared warmly, stretching her arms out as though she'd conjured the croissants and fruit out of thin air, "sit down – Maria open a bottle of champagne." Her grandmother was still struggling with her drinking, but she was old and stubborn, and old, stubborn people were very hard to dissuade from their old habits. The principle you can't teach an old dog new tricks was never truer than in regard to Cece who was smearing Apricot Jam over a croissant, Serena settled in her chair and narrowly avoided a cork in the face as Maria, Cece's long-suffering maid opened a bottle and poured her a glass, somehow Serena wasn't entirely sure that Champagne at this time in the morning was a wise idea but, taking a look at how happy Cece was she decided to amuse her grandmother. Cece was probably sad to see her granddaughter leave too, though Serena reminded herself it was Cece's fault; she could very easily join Serena on the flight to New York for Lily's party.

"Well do start darling," Cece implored, "would you like a grapefruit?" Serena reluctantly took a spoonful of strawberries and sipped at her champagne – immediately regretting it as the alcohol filtered into her system.

"I'm okay," Serena protested, spearing a particularly large strawberry particularly aggressively – she was tired - and placing it in her mouth whole, she chewed it over as she avoided Cece's gaze and looked out to the sea – that was something that she would miss when she got back to the City, a crystal clear ocean, "I think Mom's sad Carol isn't coming tonight, I think she'd be happy if you came though Grandma?"

Cece smiled politely but Serena could tell it wasn't a sincere one; she had learned to read her Grandma's expressions after a long summer spent studying them and instantly understood she wasn't going to win this argument, even though she was going to try hard.

"A delightful idea," Cece enthused falsely, "but I think your Mother would prefer it if it was just…immediate family," she didn't justify her reasoning, "besides I've already arranged to meet people and my Diary is fully booked today, as soon as you leave the Airport I have people to see, things to do, sights to see…," she paused as she took in her granddaughter's expression, "I'm sorry Serena but…it just wouldn't be…right."

"Sure," Serena said glumly, chewing a few more strawberries, "I just thought it might be nice to have the family or at least some of the family together for one night, guess that's the impossible dream?"

Cece laughed a little, "It isn't like I'm avoiding you darling, I just…won't be there this time, there will be other family occasions," Cece paused as though she was weighing something over, "have you given thought to maybe staying on here in California?"

"College starts in a few weeks," Serena immediately shot-down, "I'd have to go back regardless."

"Of course," Cece said, sipping at her champagne, "I just thought you might consider the career opportunities here, I'm rather well connected – perhaps I could introduce you to some Industry Executives, maybe you could get a few commissions? Or perhaps I could see if there are any writing courses – of course you might have to move to Los Angeles for a little while but that wouldn't be so bad would it?"

"Grandma I can't," Serena cut-off definitely, "it isn't that I don't want to – I know there are better career opportunities or whatever but I have to make my own path, I can't just rely on my family…I've done that too often…I need to strike out on my own."

"Naturally," Cece said, finishing her champagne and shaking her glass gesturing for a top-up, "are you packed?"

"No I still have to get it done," she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and she checked it and groaned, "another Gossip Girlpost."

Cece gave her a pensive look, "Do you think it's wise to go back with this exposé looming over you Serena? You have a somewhat…suspect past, it's very possible that you know whoever authored it, perhaps you should stay here until the storm blows over darling?"

"Gossip Girl never stopped me before Grandma, she isn't going to stop me this time and neither is this stupid exposé, and it's probably just some big publicity stunt anyway." Serena reasoned, the issue with an anonymous exposé was that as soon as it was published the people described within it would be able to determine who was responsible, so it had to be a hoax – or else the person that authored it had a death wish.

. . .

Blair descended the staircase carefully – the gown was gorgeous but it was designed for impact rather than practical application, the pair of heels she as teetering in were not helping either, the dress swept down over her legs giving her the semblance of gliding, Dorotha had styled her hair in one of the traditional European styles with a plait across the front of her head and the rest of it arranged up – it had been a lengthy preparation but it would be worth it if Louis were happy to see her. Her Prince was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, smiling dressed in a tuxedo, she finally made it down the stairs and gingerly moved into his embrace, kissing him softly on the lips before parting and locking her hand with his as they moved through the Palace toward the courtyard.

They said little and then ducked outside past the guards and moved towards the Limo, the Chauffeur held open the door as Blair navigated the small space, settling on the seat as Louis ducked through the door on the opposite side taking her hand again as the limo pulled away from the courtyard and moved out onto the driveway. She leaned across and kissed him more passionately this time – their moments of affection had been fleeting during the summer and she was pleased to have her fiancé back in her life.

"How have you been," he asked as they pulled apart, "I am sorry that I have been away for so long," he kissed her hand lovingly, "my mother has seen to everything I trust?"

"Yes right down to keeping me cooped up exempt when she rolls me out to meet Courtiers for little chats – she won't even let me have a telephone, something about a Princess-in-waiting learning the benefits of patience and detachment, I'm well aware that we'll spend most of our time here or on Royal Business Louis but I mean seriously? No phone?" Blair fumed – besides loneliness her other burning emotion was fury, it had been bubbling away beneath and now she had a chance to redress her grievances and she would take it with both hands.

Louis shrugged, "My mother is a traditionalist, before she married my father she spent six months where her only contact was when she was brought meals and when she was allowed out by my grandmother to meet the Queen of England," he looked saddened my the news, "I am sorry that she has been like this – I will see to it that you are given a Telephone as soon as you get back from New York." He said sincerely as though that would fix everything. Blair frowned at that point, a confused frown – as soon as she got back from New York? But he was supposed to be coming with her?

"Sorry I must have heard you wrong, you mean when we get back from New York?" Blair enquired, tightening her grip only marginally on his hand as she felt her concern rising.

"Blair I'm sorry I thought I made it clear, you are going to New York to enquire about Dresses for the Wedding, it is not necessary for me to go and besides while you are away myself and my mother must entertain the Queen Regnant of the Netherlands." Blair gave him an appalled look and then turned away to look out as the limo swept out of the gateposts. "Blair I am sorry if there was a misunderstanding – but you were always to make this trip alone and then you will return to Monaco we will be married and you can leave New York behind you forever." He smiled warmly and kissed her on the cheek affectionately but Blair pulled away from him aghast. She could feel tears forming but she held them back – she wasn't going to embarrass him in public, Blair looked out and fought back a sob – she had chosen this life and she would have to make sacrifices. As soon as the luncheon was over she would board a plane to New York, the last time she would fly into the City and she couldn't even bear to think about that. No-one ever told you how hard or painful it was until the event. No-one ever told you what you were giving up in the pursuit of love.

. . .

The hardest choices are those taken in our darkest hours, but when you sign a deal with the devil you can expect to be burned. The ties that bind are so easily broken, and in this world you often find your at the crossways only to find that your strings were cut a long time ago. All eyes are on you know – the next move is yours,

Xoxo, Gossip Girl.

. . .

Hope you enjoyed Chapter 2,

Sorry if you don't like my writing style but that's just the way I do things, I can't really rectify that,

Hope you'll stay with me for Chapter 3,

Acrobat

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