A/N Thanks for the reviews !

Thank you for to the guest who reviewed

And a special shoutout to @sparklesheart

IF you are a rufly fan do read her Come Home and A Twist of fate

I will include Chuck and Blair

This phase one will not involve others much but phase two will be all off them The Van der Woodsen/Bass/Humphrey clan all coming together,I'm not going to spoil it!

Lately,I've been

I've been losing sleep dreaming

about the things we could be

But lately I've been

I've been playing hard

So now no more counting dollars

Now we'll be counting stars

Lily Rhodes had just came back from shopping from Saks,Barney's and other Fifith Avenue shops.

She entered her Milan Condominium's Penthouse with Vanya closely following behind with shopping bags.

She notices her daughter Serena with her in-law/ex-stepson Dan smiling, greeting and helps with her bags.

"Dan and Serena! Another of my kids visiting in a week, good for me."

"Eric's here too? I thought He was still in Indianapolis with that Case of PepsiCo and Dr.Pepper" said Dan in his sarcastic wit.

Lily gave him a look and Serena nudged him covering with a laugh and Lily with her.

Lily sat down on the couch and Dan and Serena opposite to her.

"Well we thought we should visit you and we didn't had any expert available so we came yo you for advice" said Serena

Lily narrowed her eyes and drinks her water brought by Larisa "On what?"

"On marriage"

As soon as they utter those words Lily almost chokes on her water.

She coughs a few times and then laughs and Dan and Serena look at each other confused.

She stops and then asks "Its a joke right? Now tell me the real reason."

"Mom we're serious we wanted your advice.We want to know something "

"Lily we wanted to know if you had any regret"

Lily's smile faded "Regret?On what exactly"

"That maybe you didn't gave it enough chances or took their mistake too much or could have given it more time for any of the marriages"

"No regrets except for one marriage and I'm not telling you which one"

"Rufus we know"

"Serena--"

"No Mom we want to know "

"I feel like I gave up too soon and should have fought for it,coz I didn't know how precious it was till I lost it"

Same pinch,dad feels the same way Dan thinks but doesn't say considering how his father is now; he shouldn't he's actually worse than sleeping with a con artist.

"Well we did a mistake" Dan nudges Serena now "I mean I did a mistake and we need to hear from someone rather than this useless fighting and silent treatment."

Lily thinks for a minute and raises her eyebrow.

"Depends on the mistake"

"Well-I-knda" Serena stammers

"She slept with Nate Archibald while I was at an event SHE sent me to represent us."

Now Lily is astonished,her daughter had a past with the Spectator's CEO but didn't thought she would do this.This to Dan.Herself would never do this too--

Wait she kinda did when she kissed William but had stopped and a kiss meant not much but sleeping together...

"Serena Cecelia Van der Woodsen-Humphrey what did you do ?"

"Mom!You're overreact--"

"No I'm not! I know didn't set the best example but I didn't do this to anyone and I mean anyone!"

She was lying she had done it to William in their first marriage and to Bart the NIGHT before their wedding with the same man in both cases.But she had to keep a moral compass or else these two would end like her and Rufus ; cold and distant after marriage.

"Mom!but it happened --"

"Serena Its none of my business but I think it would be up to you two and you should ask someone more better than me"

Dan speaks up now tired moving his head to and fro both between VDW women.

"Who Lily? My sister who's MIA and complete work alcoholic or my dad,no offense , is fucking around women every week.Do tell"

"Maybe Rufus he has been always the better one between us "

"Well we tried but he is busy for some conference cruise He is attending in Europe "

"What?!"

"Well yes mom ,Rufus is a businessman now of course he is doing these things"

"I know Serena I do follow him in Times,Insider and Page 6 . But tell me Dan please he by mistake didn't say The Annual Roundtable conference comprising of over 200 major CEOs of all over the world,THE most imp event for an entrepreneur"

"Yes,actually.Wait how did you--"

"I know coz I'm attending too in place of Chuck representing Bass.God!Now I have to face him on our anniversary "

Dan and Serena look at her.

Serena speaks ups"God!Mom you're still in love with him"

"With who?" says a fourth voice.

Rufus Humphrey exited his Rolls Royce's Phantom to enter his Flatiron-Gramercy $30m Penthouse with Rooftop Infinity pool

It was the 20th expensive penthouse in NYC on the 17th floor,located on 240 Park Avenue South,between East 19th and East 20th a block away from Gramercy Park near 4 and 6 trains at 23rd Street.

(I have shared the pics for better imagination on the wattpad its by same nameI do it in all my fics,Rufus' is a successful man remember)

He greeted his doorman Jason and thanked him while his driver carried all his suits,swimwear,accessories and other items he bought for the RT Conference.

He saw her, but didn't approach and as usual she was shopping some Chanel with far he can tell with her motto still strong "All shopping leads to shoe shopping"

All these years after shopping gifts for models and UES women he had become got a great acquired taste in shopping for women ; particularly shoes,so he could tell if its a Marc Jacobs,Chanel or Dolce.

Thinking then he enters his penthouse decorated also most exact like Milan[Dan had a heart attack seeing so familiar ,which he explained calmly that COINCIDENTALLY he had hired the same decorator]

It was similar,staircase by the entrance, a adjoined kitchen but an office at first in the hallway of the elevator just beside it.

Photographs of Family and his achievements instead of that Prada Marfa poster.

Awards hung on the wall to the staircase ;no Bart Bass' dirty secret letter behind it hidden.

He made his way around and asked Harry,his AI that runs the house and helps him,to read the stock market and sales of today,his AI complied and started to read.

He laid back on his head on the couch and closed his eyes listening. Sales and stats were good.

Parker comes through the stairs walking down and comes to Rufus.

He claps his hand and Rufus turns to him "So,I've packed your suitcase for tomorrow's evening jet which will be at 7 ready for ya.Even laid out the Tom Ford suit you're supposed to wear tonight at Columbia. I have told Mark to make dinner as per your diet routine and well I'm heading out ,need anything ?"

Rufus is in deep in thought and takes and deep breath "Mhmm, if I asked you something personal would you answer it ?"

Parker smiles knowing what its gonna be about "Depends"

"You said she is my soul mate then I am hers right?"

"Yes"

He looks at Parker with hurt and sadness in his eyes "Then why did she leave me?"

"Look from what you told me I think she left you away before you could leave her,you told she did do it to others"

"But she told we were different. I was too. Such I fool to believed her."

"I'm not saying she didn't love you,she did maybe too much that's why it must have hurt her too much"

"I did what I thought was right!"

"Maaaybe that was it ,you not respecting her decisions!Maybe we don't know coz you never asked!"

He snorted and murmured "Because I don't want to hear it "

Parker patted his back "Love is hurtful Rufus,but why her now ?You've outgrown what you were with her! Many dying to be with you! More smart and beautiful!"

He chuckles and gets up and goes to the bar and pours himself a whiskey "Coz no one's like her,but I was just asking for some thoughts and now I'm clear"

Parker comes to him and Rufus pours him a glass too.

They click their glasses.

"No more heartbreaks and no more this obsession with Lily" Rufus toasts with that not knowing the cruise was going to take a toll on this toast of theirs.

"May I ask again ,who?" William questions the three

Three of them in shock but Lily recovers first and answers "No one! What are doing here William?"

"I was checking on you--"

Serena speaks up now angrily "You have done enough dad,Mom's fine "

William smirks and gets himself seated "She clearly is not if she is still in love with me"

Dan nows speaks up irritated;he never liked Will anyway not before and def not now" Mr.Van der Woodsen its not you she is in love with ,its my dad! So please see yourself out or we will have security do it."

William smirks again and stands up "I knew it ! But alas she has finally come her senses but guess what?Rufus Humphrey is not available nor will comply back to you I made sure of it !"

Now all the Lily and Serena are confused ; Dan isn't Rufus told him

Lily confused asks "What do you mean?"

"I TOLD Ivy to date him!To keep him away from you for me! I changed CeCe's will and gave Rufus the idea to go against you!It was all me coz no one was allowed to have you if I cant"

And then a SLAP !

From Lily to William so hard that red was blooming on his left cheek!

"HOW DARE YOU DO THAT YOU BASTARD!"

She started to hit him on his chest some punches.

Dan and Serena rushed to separate them;Serena to William and Dan to Lily

When they finally got them ,William pretended to brush the invisible dust on his coat.

Dan then came up to him and said through his gritted teeth "Dare you step against ten feet of her and --"

"Or what?"

"I'll get some help from my dad and Chuck Bass and make sure you are well dealt with and don't forget about that Holland incident we will all testify including your own children and you will be long gone for good"

William gulped and nodded and left silently

Lily had her hand on her forehead cursing herself

"Thank you Daniel"

"Its OK Lily it was the least I could do"

"Mom its OK he is gone now "

With that Serena hugged Lily

"Thank you to both but now I've to go and lay down and then pack for tomorrow's flight and trip."

Serena made a face "You're still going after knowing--"

"Yes darling we are both in the same business and its a small island too we are bound to bump into each other"

"You sure you will be OK Mom?"

"Absolutely"

Lily got up and hugged Serena again and kissed Dan on his cheek

Lily spoke lastly "And sort it out will you two ? Don't be like me and Rufus ,don't be cowards and stubborn"

With that Lily went upstairs for her nap and eventual packing

SO 1808 WORDS

yay!

Next chappie they meet

or not

comment what you want

Harry the AI s like Jarvis or Friday like Tony Stark's AI

Or well like Siri or Alexa

What is your thoughts on CeCe alive and Scott maybe visiting.