It's been two months since the big secret came out and changed the lives of Marie Clair, Dan, Dylan and Blair.
Dan and Clair were spending lots of time together, getting to know each other. He was taking his daughter to the places he liked (from time to time mentioning that her mother loved them too, even though it was hard for Clair to think that there was a time when her mother had spare time to visit museums or watch movies that lasted more than two hours). In situations where parents and children were reunited or were getting to know each other, like in their case, they were unusually comfortable near each other and their conversations weren't awkward. Clair had the feeling that she never was separated from her father and enjoyed his presence.
"It's Dylan's birthday tomorrow. He barely speaks to me" – He said, after they got back in the loft.
"It's because you are spending more time with me." – She replied. – "He thinks he's neglected."
"I would never do that, but…"
"Can't he be more tolerant? I just met you, he had you his whole life" – Words like that were brining back Dan to reality, and he was hurting. On one hand he and Clair were bonding perfectly but Dylan was getting more and more distant.
…
Dylan arrived to the loft after being absent from home for several days.
"Oh, sorry for interrupting the father-daughter meeting" – He said not hiding that he didn't like the picture of them preparing lunch.
"You know, for a twenty two year old you act like you are two. Can you please accept the fact that I'm here and I won't just disappear because you don't like me" – Clair sassed.
"Kids, kids…" – It made Dan smile, because no matter how much the tension between Dylan and Clair was high, they were a family with their ups and downs.
"Well, somebody had to say that to him." – Clair replied continuing cutting the tomatoes.
"Dad, I don't mind you two spending time, but I do mind having a stranger in my house" – Clair wasn't one of those people who were getting offended easily, but it was too much even for her. She stood up from the chair and went to the bathroom.
"Dylan, I don't like this post adolescent attitude" – Dan never spoke to his son with strict tone, and it surprised Dylan.
"I hate that you pretend that this is all normal. It's not"
"Yes it is. You have to understand this. I want to spend more time with her, to make it up…
"Well you can't! You think taking her on a tour around New York's museums, galleries or parks where you and her mother had romantic dates is going to fascinate her? That girl over there grew up in an old money family, and your emotional crap won't buy her." – He surprised himself from the rude words that he said.
"I think…um, I think you are very wrong." – Dan didn't even want to think of the way Chuck was buying his daughter's affection. – "If you stop seeing her as a threat or as a stranger I'm sure you'll like her". – It made Dylan silent, and he went to his room. Truth was he wanted to hate Clair. The first day he met her he liked her easy going attitude, she was down to earth and she was easy to talk to. From the first moment he didn't look at her as a possible love interest, but somehow he had a feeling that he knew her, like she was…his sister…He shook his head to make those thoughts go away.
Several times he talked to his mother, and not even once she said something bad about Blair or Clair, but was keep saying to him that he has to try at least to be nice to her. He was aware that he was acting like a child, but he wasn't ready just to let her in his life.
….
Blair was hardly ever seeing her daughter. Most of the time when she would have called her, Clair was replying with short answers and it was impossible to get any information out of her about her life in the loft or her relation with her father.
Blair had to get back to work, because EW Designs couldn't wait for her and her misery to pass. Of course her frustrations were poured to her employees and she was even worse and more demanding than Eleanor. In the evenings she would have go home, have a drink and went to bed. If it wasn't for Dorota who was visiting her occasionally, Blair was completely alone.
The night when was Dylan's birthday, Clair decided not to be around him or in the loft. She came back to the penthouse. Blair's hope faded when she saw her daughter's strict face.
"Are you finally coming home?" – She asked her.
"No." – She replied shortly. – "It's Dylan's birthday and I…well he made it clear that doesn't want me there tonight".
"Clair, for how long do you plan to do this to me?" – Blair sighed. Clair was leaning on the wall by the elevator, wearing sneakers, jeans and black t-shirt, combined with plaid shirt over, because it was chilly. Her curly hair seemed even longer and shinier and as much as Blair was worrying about her, she looked healthier than ever. She was no longer pale, but her face was glowing and it seemed that Dan was taking good care of her.
"To you?" – She raised her eyebrow. – "You are selfish mother!" – She said, not moving from the wall.
"Why don't you sit down? Are you hungry?" – Blair asked.
"No. He cooks for me and makes sure I eat healthy. Not skipping breakfast…" – Blair nodded. She knew that it was in their family tradition to take care about the food for the people they loved. – "You know, I have a question for you". Blair was expecting worse behavior like yelling, or slamming doors or crying, because Marie Clair had her spoiled brat moments.
"Yes…"
"What on earth made you leave a man like my father to marry someone like your ex husband?" – Her eyes had a dangerous stare, not hiding her judgment. Blair didn't know the answer herself.
"I was young and I though I knew what I wanted. Chuck was my first love and, it seemed logical…" – She took a deep breath. – "I wasn't much older than you when life drama was happening to me, and Dan was…
"Dan was there for you, but he was from Brooklyn, and Chuck had everything and you dump that French dude, and suddenly the cost was clear. How romantic." – Clair didn't even let her mother finish.
"Maybe I made a mistake, but it doesn't give you any rights to be rude with me Marie Clair!" – Blair said sharply. – "Yes it seemed that way…"
"Then why did you go to him again?" – She was waiting for an answer from her mother. Blair was looking for the answer in her head. She knew what it was, but she had never said it out loud. – "You loved him, didn't you?" – Blair left her in the foyer and went in the living room, sat on the sofa, not looking at her daughter. – "I hope he never forgives you. You and Bass deserve each other."
"No we don't" – Chuck entered the penthouse. – "Am I interrupting a heartbreaking mother-daughter conversation?" – He asked, walking by Clair, looking up and down on her. – "I see you are trying to blend in with Humphrey, wearing this". – He pointed on her shirt, emphasizing the last word.
"I'm not trying. Why would I? I am a Humphrey, it comes naturally." – She replied with arrogant tone.
"What are you doing here?" – Blair came to the foyer again.
"My lawyer sent your daughter some papers, but we never got her response, so I'm here to see if she has seen them." – He said.
"I'm glad you came, so I don't have to visit you. I want you to know that I am going to change my last name. I don't want to be Bass anymore." – It surprised both Chuck and Blair.
"What?!" – Blair asked.
"That's some good news, because among the papers my lawyer sent you was a copy of my changed testament. You are no longer the heir of Bass Industries." - He smirked.
"Chuck what are you talking about?" – Blair widened her eyes.
"You are even surprised Blair? – He mumbled. - Why would she be? Plus now she is going to change her last name, so thank you Clair for helping me." – He smiled ironically.
"I'm sure she didn't mean it. She's just…
"Oh, yes I meant it!" – She cut her mother's words. – "And even though I don't want to think how much money I just lost, it's a good riddance Bass!" – She chuckled.
Chuck left, and Blair rushed to check the pile of post she was too lazy to open. There was the envelope from Chuck's lawyer. She opened it and started crying.
"Are you insane?" – Clair asked her, being completely indifferent to the news. – "I don't want anything from him. As a matter of fact, once I make my own money I will pay him back what he wasted on me."
"Don't say that, it wasn't that we found you on the street. I invested in your education and everything…This is just…"
"I'll be in my room. You gather yourself together, because this is ridiculous."
When Chuck married Blair, their love was too epic for a prenuptial agreement, but his lawyers made him have it anyway. Not that Blair got out of that marriage poor, but for sure her fortune couldn't be measured to the empire that Chuck owned. She hated to admit, but her life seemed calmer and less stressful now that she was single. Except for the fact that she couldn't get rid of the feeling that Dan was stealing her daughter away from her. She knew that it was selfish, but she wanted Clair at home.
…
Dylan's birthday passed and even though he didn't have a lavish party, he spent the night out with classmates. When he came back home, his father was typing something on his computer.
"How was the party?" – Dan asked, taking his glasses off.
"Simple" – He added.
"Did you have fun?"
"It was ok."
Dylan's birthdays were usually celebrated with big family gathering, lots of food and drinks. His mother was always coming back to L.A with her family, but there were a few ones with only him and his father. Not that he minded, they always had good relation, and they were like best friends. His 22nd birthday started in the loft, just Dan and him all alone. Clair left. He didn't even feel like it was his birthday.
The girl knew that she wasn't welcome. Dylan hated to admit that he started missing his sister.
"You are alone?" – He asked his father.
"Yes, finishing something, I was writing from before. From tomorrow night you'll be alone in the loft too. I have to go back to L.A."
Dylan went to bed but he wasn't happy. Even though only few months ago he was the only child, and wasn't used on crowded home with an annoying little sister, he sort of got used on her. Now when Dan was about to leave, it meant that Clair wouldn't be coming back to the loft either. He was supposed to be happy about it, but somehow he wasn't.
….
"…I have to go back to L.A…" – He said to Clair, when she called him the next day. Suddenly the fact that he was about to go back there, made her panic. She felt safe with her father and spending the days with him were like a rehab from all the negativity she had absorbed during her life with Chuck and Blair, and the life among the cold snobs.
"Can I come with you…dad?" – The last word practically made Dan stop walking down the street. It wasn't weird or rude to him when she was calling him Dan. After all she was calling her mother by her name, and was calling Chuck "dad" only when they were in front of people and she hated to sound impolite.
"Yes." – He said. Half an hour later, he was in the penthouse. Clair had most of her belongings in the loft, but she still took a small bag with clothes that were more suitable for the warm California weather.
Blair haven't have seen him since their drunk night when they fell asleep on the sofa. She smiled to him, but he knew that she will freak out once she'll hear that he was taking Clair with him.
"I'm going to L.A." – Clair said when her mother looked at her questionably when she came down with another bag.
"Excuse me, what?"
"Only if that's ok with you Blair" – Dan rushed to say, before Clair had a chance to be sassy with her mother.
"I'm going with Dan."
"For how long? – Blair tried to keep calm. Clair didn't say anything. – "Don't tell me you are moving there!" – Blair raised her voice. – "Are you stealing my daughter, Humphrey?" – She turned to him.
"What am I, like 5? I decided to go with him, and I don't know for how long. A week, a month maybe…" – Clair said.
"What about school, young lady?" – Blair was already pissed off.
"It can wait" – The nonchalant attitude was adding oil to the fire.
"No. Blair, she'll stay with me for a week or two, school won't be neglected." – Dan tried to calm the situation. Blair was looking at both of them with anger.
"Let's put aside that she practically lives with you, but you are completely taking her away from me now?"
...
Serena interrupted the family fight. As usual she looked content, well dressed and nothing seemed to bother her.
"Bad timing?" – She smiled. In most situations people would have answered "no". But this wasn't most situations.
"Yes!" – Clair said, rolling her eyes.
"What's going on? Blair?" – Blair just looked at her not saying anything.
"Oh damn it Serena!" – Clair was always honest enough not to hide that Serena was annoying her. – "Do you always have to know everything? It's not of your goddamn business" – Serena looked at her, making a surprised face.
Blair went in the kitchen and Dan went after her. They were arguing there.
"That was rude Marie Clair!"
"So?"
"I'm your mother's best friend, we are like a family to each other!"
"Exactly. To my mother. To me you are nothing." – She sassed.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Let's say I know some stories about you." – If look could have killed, Serena would have been dead. Everytime Dorota would have taken her in the penthouse (because Clair liked spending time with her Nana), Clair enjoyed digging out old things that belonged to Blair. In her childhood Clair managed to find some of her mother's old diaries that were well hidden in her old room. Not all of them, but one or two where Blair was writing about all the heartaches that Serena caused her.
"Stories?" – Serena tilted her head a bit and looked at her questionably.
"Today we are not gonna talk about you. If you'll excuse me, my parents are fighting over there because of me. You are free to go!"
Clair went in the kitchen where Blair and Dan were fighting. Actually Blair had her arguments and Dan was listening. Once she finally said all the reasons why Clair couldn't go, he decided to speak. Clair was standing by the door, they didn't even notice her coming.
"…Almost twenty years and I'm stealing her away from you?! She wanted to come, and I'm happy to take her with me!" – Dan's last sentence shut Blair up. He left the kitchen and headed to the elevator. Clair rushed after him and practically jumped in before the door was closed. Standing next to him, wearing simple clothes and flats, she looked even younger. Dan was furious but chose not to speak and irritate the girl too. Somewhere between the penthouse and the ground floor, Marie Clair put her small hand in her father's.
"I decided to change my last name. I never was, nor I still want to be Bass. I told him that and he kicked me out of his will."
Dan didn't say a word, he just squeezed his daughter's hand in his. They left the building holding each others hands.