Disclaimer: I don't anything apart from Lydia
A/N: Now for the die-hard fans, you might call me out on some of the smaller errors that I may have made, but it's been a while since I last saw the show. On with the story – how do you think Lydia will juggle everything and everyone?
This chapter will be slightly shorter in order to prep for the epilogue
Chapter 11
Watching Nate disappear in a police car was gut wrenchingly horrible – we were so close to reconciling and being a family unit. The three of us. My phone was still gripped in my hand and I knew there and then that my dad couldn't be forgiven for having Nate arrested. I glanced at the message again:
I warned you to be careful – but he can't be what you really deserve.
Dad was the reason Nate was being driven away in a cop car and there was nothing I could do about it. Something had to be done, and Chuck felt exactly the same way.
"I'm sorry Chuck but I have to go to the police station…" I said, squeezing his shoulder. I turned away to go, but he grabbed my hand gently. "Ow- let me go! Sorry…" I said, slowly trailing off. "Dad may have grabbed me a little harder than I expected earlier, I freaked, but it's fine…"
"Sorry… Be careful, and keep in touch. Do not keep me out of the loop. Dad will not get away with this, I have a plan," Chuck whispered, pulling me close in a gentle embrace. When he let go, he stared at me with intensity- his mouth twitched as he thought about what to say next. "I want you to know the truth… but Archibald broke up with Sage. He said you're the only one that he wants. He's telling the truth, I know it."
Recently, I had felt so distant with my brother- because we both had our own relationships and dramas to deal with.
I tried to hide the grin on my face. "Thank you, I hope he hasn't changed his mind."
I strutted boldly towards the roadside, when Chuck called out to me to take the car. Thankfully, it was much quicker. On the way, I chose to write a letter of my own for Nate, just so that he had my answer if anything happened. I went straight up to the desk and demanded to see Nate. The lady on the desk looked at me like she was better than me. I watched her check out my bump and then roll her eyes. My mouth dropping at her judgement. She went back to typing the keys on her computer, but I held my tongue rather than accusing her of ignoring me.
"Excuse me ma'am, I'm here to see Nathaniel Archibald – he's here in your custody… Lydia?"
This voice was one that I knew, I had only met him a couple of times – mostly at social events that I was dragged back to the Upper East Side to attend. I looked to my side to see Howard Archibald looking back at me.
"Mr Archibald…" I didn't know what to say. What did you say to the grandfather of my baby when you haven't seen him in years? I wondered if he even knew about the baby. "You came here for Nate?"
"I did, Miss Bass. Might I say, I didn't expect you to be back in town- Nate told me that you were going to be on placement in a hospital in Philadelphia… What happened there?" He frowned at me, and I felt like I was being cross-examined. His eyes watched me closely, looking for any indicators. He didn't even give me time to answer before quizzing me further. "Nate is certainly taken by you, but I want to ask you something. After all, you're a Bass and they have certain reputations that force me to question your intentions." He squinted at me. "Do you love my son?"
Taken aback, I refrained from flinching. "Mr Archibald-" A text from Blair took my mind off of things, Chuck was leaving… for Moscow… because of our dad. Chuck hadn't even said anything to me so I clutched my heart, feeling my heart beating speedily.
"Please, call me Howard, Miss Bass…"
"Okay, Howard, but whether I love him or not, that's not what matters right now. What matters is that he is in an interrogation room waiting for you and I think that- hang on, how did you know he had been arrested?"
"Sage told me." Howard put a hand on my shoulder. "AndI know that you and Nate are no longer together, but I always thought you were too good for him."
Obviously Nate's coat was distracting Mr Archibald from my bump. How he didn't notice was beyond me!
Knowing that Sage had taken some kind of initiative to help Nate was a relief, although I wish it had been me who had gotten Nate the help he needed. Touched by Mr Archibald's words, I was forced to dab the corner of my eye to soak up the tear. Having not seen him when I was with Nate, I found it unbelievably heart-warming to hear him say that.
"Well, Sage is an amazing girl too," I added, pulling my coat tightly across my body and bump, knowing that Howard hadn't taken notice of it.
We were led away down the corridor and into the room where Nate was in. Sat opposite him, was Sage.
"Lydia…" she murmured, standing up swiftly with a clenched jaw. "What are you doing here? It's over between you two."
"And I know that it's over between you and Nate too… I'm here for exactly the same reason that you are, Sage. We both want Nate out of this." I smiled in a forced manner, glancing over to Nate and nodding. I wanted to say I'm here because I love him, but that would have been wrong. "Everything will be okay, trust me." I patted Sage on the shoulder. "Maybe we should go outside, leave them to sort it out."
Once she was out the room, I went quickly back in towards Nate, crouching down beside him. "Nate, this is for you to read when you need a boost." I handed him the letter and went to kiss him on his cheek, but he moved and I ended up kissing his lips. The blood gathered in my cheeks. "I'm here to fight for you. Because-"
"I love you too…" Nate interrupted, but he echoed exactly what I was going to say. "Check the lining…"
The lining. Feeling happy, and a little awkward at the fact his father had seen this whole episode, I dashed out the room. Sage was glowering at me when I closed the door.
"I know you're upset Sage, but now is not the time to come together and help Nate. He-" My phone vibrated in my pocket. "Chuck?"
"Lydia, I need you to stay calm and trust me."
"Charles Batholomew Bass – you will tell me what the hell is going on right now… Blair said you left for Moscow – how can you disappear now and not even say goodbye. You have got one minute to fill me in right now!" I left the police station so that Sage couldn't hear what he was about to tell me.
"Lydia- I'm not in Moscow, I lied to Blair. I thought she would run to you if I left, but I need your help. I need you to take the car and meet me, but be quick. We don't have much time for this plan."
"Of course Chuck, hang in there. I'm glad you're okay." I grinned from ear to ear, knowing that this could be the plan that would rid us of our dad. "You were right about Nate by the way."
After picking Chuck up, we went to the Empire to change and then I was asked for one more favour.
"Lydia, I need you to get Humphrey to help us."
I squinted my eyes at me. "Chuck, you can't trust him. I used him to get back at Nate and because I was hurt. Not to mention Serena told me that he is colluding with our father."
"I know what he did, but you can change his mind…"
I rolled my eyes and groaned. "I didn't think I would be doing this at nearly nine months pregnant… Let me call Dan and try my best."
The moment I got through to Dan, I started rambling uncontrollably.
"Dan, Dan, Dan! Dan, please don't hang up! I know things ended awkwardly between us, but me and Chuck… we both need your help, please. You are the only one who is capable of helping tie everything together. You have to help. If our friendship means anything to you, please help us do the one thing that we have struggled to do. Bring our father down and-"
"Lydia, you had me at please… Pass the phone to Chuck and let me hear this plan."
"Thank you Dan, Serena is a lucky girl, and she will come around- I know it. Just like I said, you have to make Serena see it…"
"I'm not so sure about that, but I hope you're right."
I held the phone out to Chuck and set about tying my hair into a messy ponytail to go with the dress I was wearing for the real estate press event. Little did Dad know, that we were coming for him. This was war, and he may have won the first war, but the battle is far from over.
Once he was off the phone, I smiled at him one last time. "Chuck, I'm going to stick to Dad like a fly caught in a web. He still kind of trusts me, and we can't let him disappear on us. As soon as I walk out the door, it is as if I don't love you. I do, but Dad has to believe me…" I grabbed my bag and walked out of the apartment.
I stayed by Dad's side like a doting daughter – I watched Blair's team of scammers try to get in his head, but I played her and led him away from them. When it came to Dad's speech, I saw Dan stand by the podium. He nodded at me and did his introduction.
"I'd like to introduce a man at the centre of the Bass family, Charles Bass."
I turned to Dad. "What is Dan playing at, Dad?"
He waved his hand at me, telling me to be quiet. I turned my attention back to Chuck's rant that sounded like it was falling on deaf ears. Dad grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards the stage as Chuck darted away. My eyes connected with Blair and Serena's as they watched me from the other end of the room. They looked in complete dismay at the thought of me backstabbing them. I wanted to scream out and tell them the truth, but I couldn't drop my act- not when I was so close to bringing my dad down.
Once my dad finished his speech, there was a hustle of movement and I saw Nate coming in with his father. I was about to go and greet them when Dad grabbed my arm again.
"Not yet Lydia, you're both mine…" Dad grumbled, knowing that his world was about to come cascading down. "Mr Archibald, did they not have enough room in prison for your son?"
Howard and Nate examined me closely, wondering why I was apparently in a team with my dad. They wanted my dad to remove his name from the loan, but he played with the Archibalds, torturing them. It was as if Dad was a cat and he had caught a mouse to play with.
"Watching your son squirm is enough to keep the name on the loan." Dad smirked at the pair.
"Dad, you can't do this!" I snapped, wrenching my arm from his grip and risking my doting daughter cover. "Whether you like it or not. Whether you consent to it or bless it, Nate is the father of my baby. Please… You wouldn't jeopardise my baby's future, will you? The Spectator is everything to Nate and you-"
"Summer, if that newspaper is everything to him, then you and that bastard baby are nothing to him." Dad faced the two Archibalds, smiling eerily.
"Name your price Dad, please… I'll give you mine and Chuck's inheritance – all of it."
Nate stepped towards me. "No Lydia, don't!"
Dad shook his head slowly. "Leaving him would be the price, and I know that you're still in love with him."
I turned to face Nate. "Nate… I can't let him win…"
"Well enjoy the rest of your night, the drinks are on me." Dad walked away, disappearing into the crowd.
"I hate you!" I shouted, about to go full crazy on him, but Nate held me back.
He whispered in my ear. "Enough, Lydia. It's fine."
It was far from fine.
My stomach twisted and I rushed to get out of the event, trying to squeeze past all these people. My chest was tightening and no amount of deep breaths was helping. Baby Baby Bass was in trouble. An arm wrapped itself around my waist, holding me up.
"Lydia, what's wrong?" Nate whispered, trying to make me stand up straight.
Heavily breathing, I winced. "Something's wrong. I need an ambulance." I squeaked in pain, grabbing the metal bannister of the steps outside. "Ow…"
Nate was the best kind of person I could have hoped for to have been by my side. He did exactly what I asked for and we were in the hospital in no time. Admittedly, I didn't appreciate it being in some fancy private suite. The pain was nothing like I expected and Nate was terrified – I could see it in his face. Though even through the pain, he made me laugh and smile.
The nurse smiled and looked between me and Nate. "Well, I believe that even though it is a little earlier than expected, but I think baby's ready to say hello. So how about it? Are you ready?"
The squealing baby – that squealing little bundle of joy that was the Bass-Archibald baby. Baby Boy Bass, Baby Bass' Baby Boy Bass-Archibald…
"Your baby is beautiful…" Nate said, perching on the side of the bed and putting his arm around me as I cradled the little body. "You're beautiful."
"No, our baby is beautiful." I looked up and kissed his lips. "I love you, Nate." Another kiss.
Baby Bass Archibald stirred in my arms, a little hand moving the blanket ever so slightly.
He then pulled out the letter I wrote for him. "Did you really mean this?"
"Every, single, word. You, me, our baby and The Spectator- I'll help you out with the finances, every single penny… You have my heart and everything I have is shared with you… All I have is yours."
I was then reminded of when Nate said, check the lining. "My bag, give me the medal box…"
Nate looked a little nervous. "I erm- well… Lydia. That medal box lining. I don't know if now is the right time."
I widened my eyes at him. "I've just had a baby – I don't there is ever going to be a right time with this one in the picture…"
Nate picked up the medal box from my bag and opened it slowly. He lifted the medal and bottom lining out and took a deep breath. "Lydia, Lydia Summer Bass- I don't know why I didn't realise all of this sooner. Everyone would call me stupid for not saying something to you. I could ramble for months about the reasons I love you Lyds. You never gave up on me. Right now, I've never been surer of anything in my life. I only want to ask one person once. You are that one person…"
"Rambling Nate," I giggled.
"Right- Lydia, will you please do me the honour of marrying me?" He rotated the box around in his hands to show me.
My mouth hit the floor. "Nate!" I squeaked, before bursting into laughter with tears rolling down my cheeks onto my hospital gown.
"Laughing isn't the usual response to a proposal…"
I shook my head. "Nate, take out the lining of the lid." I watched him rip out the lining and I gasped. "You got a ring for me?" I cradled the bundle in my arms. "Nate. Will you marry me?" I asked, smiling as I held onto the blanket tightly. I knew what my answer was, but not what his was.
"Lydia, I'd say yes a million times yes." Nate nearly launched himself at me, and kissed my mouth.
"So what happens next?" I asked him, looking down at the bundle so I almost wasn't listening. Our son's eyes were so big and blue when he opened them. "Those are totally the Archibald blues…"
Nate turned on the telly, his phone in his hand. "Oh my god-…" He had another call coming through from his phone.
I watched the screen and read the rolling news along the bottom of the screen. BODY AT BASS EVENT. I bit my lip sharply.
"Lydia… there 's something I need to tell you. It's about your dad… He's-"
The two pieces of information found themselves connecting in my mind. "My dad's dead, isn't he?"
He nodded.
"I need some a moment…" I whispered, letting Nate take the baby from me. I went over to the window and stared at the sun rising in the distance. "It's over. It's really over."
"But what matters is you and me. And this little guy. Everything will be fine- just like you said."
We stayed in the hospital for a few days, police officers tried to get statements from us- but I forced the lawyers to step in as we left the event early, and I was still not a hundred percent after having the baby. I was thankful to have him sleeping peacefully in the little cot whilst the police were there.
Nate brought some stuff back from his apartment to work on whilst we waited to be discharged. Nate's parents and Lily came to visit us, but the fact that none of our friends or Chuck could visit was hard to accept at first, but I knew that they were a little preoccupied with the investigation into my dad's death. At that moment in time, I would have loved nothing me than to show off my baby to everyone.
I was just buttoning up a Babygro when I saw Nate bent over the table as he stared at Spectator documents he had brought. Watching him work so hard was just one more reason why I knew he was going to be a strong father and husband to be.
"Nate- I've just realised… The Spectator is yours…" I said, carrying a bundled baby over to Nate at the small table. "With my dad out of the picture, I can pay off the money and it can all be yours." I put my finger up. "I've already spoken with my lawyer and accountant to sort this out, it's finalised."
"Would you really be okay with doing that?" he murmured, sifting between two Spectator documents.
"How about fifty, fifty?"
"Deal…" He kissed my cheek. "Now I know we joked about it, but let's see if we can find Gossip Girl's identity together."
We were discharged and about to move into the Empire where we were going to be able to plan who was the real Gossip Girl. Then we got a text from Gossip Girl.
"Chuck is back?" I gasped. Then the elevator doors opened.
I froze.
"Jack? What the hell are you doing here?" I stammered, backing nervously away from him. My eyes darted between my baby and my uncle, petrified to move.
Jack put his hands up. "Fresh slate… You better come with us. Chuck wants you there."
"Chuck! Where is he?" I squealed, holding my son close and carrying him towards the door. "Come on Nate, we have to go!"
I had my job, scoping out the fountain at Central Park whilst waiting for the others to arrive. Nate had been delayed to send one post from The Spectator. About Gossip Girl – although everyone seemed to think Dorota, I couldn't help but think it was someone in our circle… Closer to home. I had a feeling recently, but I couldn't say for sure. The sound of the fountain was calming to my nerves, and the wrapped up bundle in my arms.
Then I saw Chuck, Dan and Nate striding down the stairs towards me.
"Chuck- come here now!" I snapped harshly. "I need you to meet somebody quick… Before it's too late. This is your nephew, Sebastian Charlie Archibald. Do you want to hold him?" I put one arm around my brother as I let him hold his nephew. "I've miss you so much, and I can't believe that it is really over. But there's one more thing you should know." I showed him my hand, with the ring on. "You were right about Nate… He really did want to be with me."
"Well it seems congratulations are in order- but I want one thing from you before we go ahead. One more thing needs to be done to cover everything. I need your blessing- to marry Blair."
"Of course I will, but only if you bless mine… You had it the moment you admittedly you actually loved her. I love you so much and I love you even more when you're with Blair." Seeing that time was of the essence and I didn't want to be a miserable wreck, I took Sebastian back from my twin. "Now let's get you married!" I went to join the others, but Chuck tapped my arm.
"I'm not sorry for what happened to Dad, but I am sorry for not keeping in touch. We couldn't take chances. I wish I could have been there to support you and help you…"
"No matter what happens, I'll always forgive you." I kissed his cheek and pulled him towards an ethereal looking Blair and Cyrus. "Take good care of him Blair."
I cradled Sebastian in my arms as Chuck and Blair got married, Nate had his arm around me and Sebastian. I started to sniffle at the beauty of the moment we were having.
Never in a million years did I think that I would be standing in Central Park watching my twin brother getting married to one of my best friends whilst I held the baby I shared with Nate Archibald – Gossip Girl's most eligible bachelor in the whole of the Upper East Side (although not a bachelor for much longer by the rock on my finger!) Serena was no longer running from her troubles. Nate and I were going to get married.
Life honestly couldn't have been better.
Well… Until the police cars showed up, everything felt so rushed and like it was over in seconds. Me, Serena, Dan, Nate and Georgina were left wondering what was going to happen to Chuck and my sister in law. To try and shed some happiness on the situation, I introduced Sebastian to them all- even to Georgina who I couldn't stand most of the time. They cooed and cuddled my son which brought joy and tears to my heart. Plus Sebastian was one of those babies that you could just give to anyone. He loved people and wouldn't cry in a particular person's arms. He was happy sleeping in anyone's arms.
"Well I guess it's a good time to say that you're in for another wedding soon." I joked with the others. "Nate and I are engaged."
A hubbub of congratulations rang out around the group, catching the attention of people nearby. It was silenced but the message appearing on our phones.
"Gossip Girl's obviously got one more post…" Serena sighed.
Nate shook his head, squeezing my shoulder. "No, this one is from The Spectator."
I rested my head on his chest. "Everything's going to be alright." I winked at Dan, insinuating that I knew all about his secret identity. He was the one I suspected the most, because- as Gossip Girl put it "you're a nobody until someone writes about you" and he became someone when 'Gossip Girl' wrote about him and us.
It was the perfect way in.
In a smart way, he used us to get into our circle. Going back to our graduation labels, he called me a classic virgin and he also said it to my face when we were together. None of the others ever said that label to my face. We avoid the labels. We didn't call Nate a whore, we didn't call Dan the ultimate insider (which is more positive of the bunch), Blair wasn't the weakling and Serena was never irrelevant – not in my eyes.
We gathered at the Waldorf house to wait for Blair and Chuck to return from the station. It was nerve wracking and I was relieved to be able to use the bassinette that Dorota used for Leo and Anastasia to keep Sebastian in and watch over him as we proceeded to throw about accusations of who we really thought was Gossip Girl.
"There were moments where I thought that it was you, Dan… Seriously I did…" I pursed my lips. "But I forgive you for the posts you put up about me. I'm grateful for it too."
Serena tilted her head a little. "Why? If it was Dan, then why would forgive him- Gossip Girl has dragged you through the dirt over the last year."
"Well," I started, looking at Nate with adoration, putting a hand firmly on his shoulder. "Gossip Girl has given me a lot… Look at it this way. Without Dan posting my return, or my movements, or about the secret about Montana, there was no way that I could just ignore my feelings for Nate. Gossip Girl… She made me realise that I wasn't as deeply in love with Dan as I thought I was- sorry Dan… I know you did that to protect yourself and your feelings. And even though Gossip Girl frayed my relationship with Nate, it made me realise what I wanted more than anything in the world. What I wanted was this guy right here…"
Georgina mimicked throwing up. "Please, it was clearly you in your childlike attempt to make yourself known again. Being in Montana meant that you could make the ultimate return, and keep up to date with what was going on in the Upper East Side."
"Well I never sent anything in – no matter what grudges I had," I added, feeling proud with myself. "Not once."
Thoughts from AspiringWriterGirl – Well this has been a chapter I've sat on for weeks! I hope you enjoy it and leave a review!
