I'm so sorry that I haven't updated in so long, but I've had exams. Since they're over now though I can write again and I will try to update more often. Please review! Sorry I uploaded the wrong chapter...this is the right one!

It turned out that Serena did not actually show up to dinner with Lily and Eric, but they were too used to Serena forgetting about things she had agreed to attend to be worried. Even when she didn't show up for the night they weren't worried. They figured that she was probably staying with some friends. If they had known the truth, then they would have felt very different emotions, but as it was…

Blair and Serena were tentatively trying to rebuild their relationship. But they both knew that it could never be what it was. Too much had happened and they didn't know how to go back. Serena was still heartbroken over Jake's deception and Blair was also heartbroken about Nate although she didn't show it. It was obvious that they wanted some time alone so Nate left them alone. Yet once he walked out he didn't know where to go. He couldn't bear to go home where his parents, who adored Blair, would be furious that he had dumped her, but where else could he go? The person he usually sought solace from was a complete wreck. So he decided to just walk…just walk and keep walking until he ended up God knew where. His plan would have worked if at that moment he hadn't walked into the very person who he hated most. He snarled,

"What the hell are you still doing here?"

Jake looked down, knowing that he deserved the ire that was explicit in Nate's normally carefully modulated voice.

"I…couldn't bear to leave without…apologizing…I never meant to hurt her…I never did lie to her…I just left out the truth which is just as bad…what I mean is that I do love her…and that if she had given me any indication that she loved me as much as she loves you…then I would have married her and screw what my family thinks…but I always knew that she…had feelings for you…the way she would mention your name…the look in her eyes…when…she laid eyes on you…I just knew…"

Nate looked at him incredulously.

"She did love you! You made her believe that you were free to love her and she did love you! How dare you try to make excuses? You can't! You've deceived and betrayed her and don't you dare try to wriggle out of it like the snivelling worm that you are! You belong underground!"

Jake recoiled from such viciousness, but at the same time a murderous light appeared in his eyes and before he could stop himself, Nate was on the ground, bleeding. He sprang up quickly, ready to punch him back, but someone got there before him. Chuck said arrogantly,

"Get out of here, scum, before I hit you again."

Jake looked coldly at the pair, but knew that there was no way he could win…and if Serena ever found out that he had bodily harmed that asshole, she would never forgive him and then his plans would all come to nothing. The only reason he had ever agreed to marry Kelly was because of her money. His father had squandered the fortune they had and now he had to marry someone rich to rebuild their fortune. He had been perfectly willing to marry Kelly before he met Serena, who was even richer. Oh, he did love her in a fashion, but he loved her money more. Kelly had overset his plans, but he would find another way to get Serena. What he wanted, he got.

x-x-x

As Alison drank her coffee, she looked meditatively over at her husband, who was reading the newspaper. They hadn't exchanged a word and an awkward tension hung between them. She racked her brains for something to say, but could think of nothing at all. Finally Rufus folded up his paper and said calmly,

"Alison, we need to talk."

She nodded numbly, slightly frightened by his tone of voice. She could deal with anger and with any passionate emotion, but this icy…uncaring tone…she did not know what to do. He said in the same colourless tone,

"I think we both agree that this can't go on. It's affecting the kids and it's a desperate situation. You can't get rid of your suspicion that I'm still in love with Lils and I…don't know how to deal with it…I find you over-possessive and jealous. Do you agree that something must be done about the situation?"

Alison nodded, her throat dry. She said wildly,

"Couples therapy or…a weekend away just the two of us…we could rebuild our marriage…and…and,"

"Alison, I want a divorce."

Five words…that's all it took for Alison to realize where she had driven them to. All the arguments she had picked over nothing…and now she was to become a middle-aged divorcee. Mutely she tried to shake her head, but Rufus had already risen and was giving her details.

"I've thought this over a long time…we both know this isn't working out. And I think that it would just be best…"

"Did you find out about the affair?" Alison asked numbly. Somewhere she knew that this didn't make sense, but her brain was too fogged up to try to make sense of what her instinct was telling her. Rufus looked surprised and thunderously angry.

"Affair? With who?"

"I guess not…" Alison said quietly. Now she wished that she had kept her mouth shut, but she needed to understand why he was so willing to give up on them. "It was with Bart Bass…"

She faltered when she saw the hot anger cool to a menacing coolness in his face. He said precisely,

"You are having an affair with Lily van der Woodsen's fiancé? Is this because you know that I will always cherish a place in my heart for her? Is it because you jealous of her?"

"You told her that you loved her!" Alison cried, tears now streaming down her. She was rapidly losing control and she knew it, but she didn't know how to stop. She felt that if she could just push him more and more he would stay with her. She was being irrational she knew, but what else could she do? Nothing was moving him…and the affair wasn't hurting him because of what she was doing to him…it was hurting him because of what it was doing to that slut! Inwardly she seethed, but when she looked up again, Rufus had walked out, unable to stand her presence.