Disclaimer: I own Elizabeth, all the rest of the characters unless otherwise noted do not belong to me
~You've already won me over in spite of me
Don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet
Don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault
Your love is thick and it swallowed me whole
You're so much braver than I gave you credit for
That's not lip service
You've already won me over in spite of me
And don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet
And don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault
You are the bearer of unconditional things
You held your breath and the door for me
Thanks for your patience
You're the best listener that I've ever met
You're my best friend
Best friend with benefits
What took me so long?~
(Alanis Morissette)
Chapter 106: Head Over Feet
Every once in a while a life changing event will arrive with fanfare and excitement. In my experience, most turning points in our lives don't announce themselves. If anything they tend to creep up quietly when were least expecting them and force us to make a decision that isn't so easy.
*Chuck and Nate*
Chuck and Nate walked into the Empire after coming up from the gym.
"Any word from Jack or Andrew Tyler yet?" Nate asked
"Jack's not returning my calls and it's been a week." Chuck replied "And Andrew still hasn't been able to track down Elizabeth, my mother"
"So now that you know she's your mother for sure you think you, uh, want a relationship with her?"
"Haven't decided yet and since she's MIA, I don't have too"
"What about for Ella's sake. I mean that is her grandmother"
"Ella already has two grandmothers. She has Lily who spoils her to no end and Allison who may live in Hudson but loves Ella dearly. Does she need one who is gonna just bail"
"I guess that's good point. What does Liz have to say about that?"
"She says it's my decisions since it's my mother but she'll support me either way" Chuck said "So for now I'm gonna go down to the spa and catch a steam. Interested in joining?"
"I can't I have to get to work. Diana's finally making an appearance today"
Elizabeth walked into the kitchen to see Nate and Chuck.
"…the Spectator again"
"Morning Gentlemen" she replied.
"What are your plans for today?" Chuck asked her kissing her cheek.
"I was gonna see if Serena wanted to have lunch with Ella and I. We haven't really hung out much since Blair and Dan started dating and I don't want that to ruin our friendship.
"You two remain friends after I dated her after I dated you. It think Dan and Blair dating is nothing compared to that" Nate said.
She smiled and nodded.
"What did I interrupt?" she asked "I heard something about the Spectator"
"Diana is back" Nate replied.
"Oh" she replied.
"Ready for combat?" Chuck asked.
"No reason to think we'll have anything to fight about. She's an investor. I'm still editor in Chief"
"But she's Diana"
"I know you like to worry about me Liz, but don't. It will be fine. Nothing to worry about" Nate replied.
"I told myself the same thing before my night with the Australian women softball team then ended up with a fractured rib and a tattoo of a kangaroo that I didn't know I had for a month"
Elizabeth looked at Chuck weird.
"Is there a point to this story?" she asked.
"Diana and I may have ended things badly on a personal level but, professionally, we always worked well together, man"
"You mean when you two had sex in her office?" she asked and he looked at her.
"What does Lola think about you working with your ex?" Chuck asked laughing at his girl. Straight to the point Elizabeth was.
"I don't know, I haven't exactly told her. She's still trying to get over the fact I live with one" Nate said then glanced at Elizabeth.
"Well she has nothing to worry about here" Elizabeth replied "Just be honest with her. Every girl wants that. Right Chuck?"
"What the Lady says is right" Chuck replied.
"I actually need to get Ella ready" she replied kissing him. "We will see you later?"
She went into the bedroom and got Ella all ready for the day.
"Come on sweet girl, let's go see Aunt Serena"
*Chuck and Nate*
"So how does Lola not know about you and Diana, you were all over Gossip Girl and Page 6" Chuck asked after Elizabeth left the room.
"No, Lola has no interest in the Upper East Side social scene. But even if she did what Diana and I used to be to each other doesn't matter anymore"
"Maybe not to you, but why else would Diana be back? It can't be for her love of journalism"
"Well, I don't know about that, but once I get the lay of the land with Diana I'll tell Lola everything"
"You sound like you've got it all figured out. But I'd listen to Cinderella and tell Lola sooner."
"She does give good advice" Nate replied "You two look very happy"
"We are, thank you"
"Yeah" Nate replied and Chuck left.
Elizabeth and Ella arrived at Blair's house and went up to Serena's room and saw her with a magazine.
"Hey, you wanna grab lunch with your favorite step-sister and favorite niece?" Elizabeth said.
"Would you be interested in being the new 'It girl'?"
"I don't want to be an 'It Girl' and an international pop star which I'm almost about to be with how much Mr. Edwards talks about the fans in Europe"
"Good point" Serena said.
"Are you trying to replace yourself?" Elizabeth asked sitting on her bed with Ella in her lap
"I'm trying to stay off of Gossip Girls radar. Something you seem to be good at."
"I never do anything Gossip worthy, even when it came out I was pregnant with Chuck's baby she really didn't say much about it."
"But you dated both Carter and Nate, just like I did, how did you stay off then? And now you're dating Chuck, and he just so happens to technically be your step brother isn't that gossip worthy?"
"Dan is yours" Elizabeth said.
"Touché" Serena laughed. "I normally would love to have lunch with you but I'm gonna have to pass"
"Have fun, I hope you find her" Elizabeth said
She left and went to the Empire and spotted Andrew leaving. She put Ella in the play pen with some toys.
"Oh my god did you find your mother?" Elizabeth asked walking over to him.
"Yeah but…"
"You don't know if you should reach out?" she said.
"I don't know" he replied "I need to go do something. Dinner later?"
"Serena had already invited me to the show where she is modeling"
"Oh right. I'll meet you there?"
"Chuck, are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine really, I just need to talk to someone about Elizabeth. Well I need to talk to Blair"
"Okay" she said.
"You're okay with that?"
"Chuck I trust you. I know that Blair and you were dating when Elizabeth came into your life and she got to meet her. I know nothing about her and as much as I want to help you with this I know I can't"
"You are way too good for me"
"I think I'm perfect for you" she replied and kissed him. "We are amazing together. We trust each other. How many times have I talked to Carter since we've started dating?"
"A ton" he smiled.
"And?"
"I know how you feel about him so I'm not worried about it." He replied.
"Exactly" she said putting her arms around his neck and their phones buzzed. They pulled away and looked.
Word is that Diana and Nate are going to tonight's 'Down to Your Skivvies' party together. Guess their relationship just went from business to pleasure.
"I take it that he hasn't told Lola about Diana? That or he has and Diana is up to her old tricks" Elizabeth replied.
"No clue" Chuck replied. "But I gotta go"
"We will finish this talk later" she said kissing him.
"I'll see you there" he said smiling.
"I'm gonna go change. Drew will be over soon to watch Ella."
"She adores him" He said and she went to her room.
She stood in her room while Ella napped getting ready for the party. She smiled thinking about Chuck. Things were the best they had ever been for her and she couldn't be happier. She heard a knock on the door and opened it to see Drew.
"Hey" she replied hugging him.
"Is she napping still?"
"Yeah" she replied "You can stay here if you want with her. Charge whatever movie to Chuck"
"I think I might" he replied "How are you two?"
"I know that I was so set on Nate and I being together forever but"
"You're the happiest you've ever been?" he asked and she smiled.
"Yeah"
"I've known you a few years now. I've seen you with Carter and I've seen you with Nate." He said "But neither guy has made you as happy as you were that summer with Chuck. And that girl that I saw that summer is standing right here in front of me. And I love that"
"Thank you" she replied. "I think I'm gonna tell him tonight how I feel."
"Well if you need me to take her to another suite?"
"I'll text you" she said then hugged him.
She arrived at the party and looked around for Serena and saw her talking to Lola.
"Hey Ladies" she replied.
"Wow you look hot Lizzie" Serena said "You should be modeling tonight"
"Yeah you look amazing" Lola replied
"Are you here with Nate?" she asked.
"Um no, he's here with Diana" Lola said.
"Oh right, I saw that on Gossip Girl" she replied as a tray of champagne came by and she grabbed one "How are you with that?"
"Are you hopping we will break up so you can try and swoop in" Lola asked.
"Actually no. Chuck and I are very happy together and Nate is very happy with you. If you make him happy then I'm happy for you guys. Just be careful of Diana. She really likes Nate and she's gonna do everything in her power to take him from you so you need to fight"
"Thank you" Lola replied.
She nodded.
"I'm gonna go introduce myself to Diana" Lola said and took off.
"That was really sweet of you" Serena said.
"I meant it" she replied. "I want Nate happy. As happy as I am"
"I never would have thought in a million years that you and Chuck would be together"
"Yeah. If you would have told that 16 year old girl that was sparing with him on the school yard that she would fall for him I would have slapped you for suggesting that"
She spotted him sitting at the bar.
"Speak of the devil" she replied. "I'm gonna go talk to him."
"Go get your guy" Serena smiled.
She spotted Blair talking to him and then him walking away. She chased after him.
"Hey" she said grabbing his arm.
"Hey" he replied.
"You okay?" she asked.
"I paid Blair's dowry and I honestly didn't want anyone to know. I just wanted her free."
"And she doesn't think that?" she replied.
"No, she thinks I bought her" he replied "I tried to tell her that I was with you and happy but she just kept saying I bought her for myself. You have to know that's not the case"
"I know" she replied putting her hands on his cheeks and making him look at her. "I know"
"I know you came to see Serena model but I really wanna go home"
"Then let's go home" she said leaning her forehead against his. Her phone buzzed and she pulled away and looked at it.
Drew: Your Dad picked up Ella. Said he needed a smiley face. Hope that is okay?
"Who was that?" he asked.
"Drew. My dad picked up Ella"
"Let's go home" he said grabbing her hand.
They got home and she changed out of her dress and saw him sitting on the bed. She walked over to him and he pulled her into his lap.
"Can I say something? You don't have to say anything just let me say this" he said and she nodded.
"Yeah" she said
"I love you. I've been in love with you since the first time I saw you in the school gym. Well I've been interested in you since then. I think it was our talk outside my suite when you said you'd add call girl to your list of possible career paths to the counselor when I fell in love with you" he replied "And that's hard for me to say. And I know that we've told each other our feelings at the White Party. What you don't know is that it has taken me 4 years to tell you just how long I've been in love with you"
"4 years?" she replied.
"Yeah" he replied and she kissed him then pulled away.
"I love you too" she replied "I don't know when it happened, I just know that I am at my happiest when I'm with you. I knew that when we were together that summer but I was just a scared little girl who thought she had figured her whole life out. I wasn't expecting Charles Bass to show up at my show and change my whole world"
He kissed her and picked her up laid her on the bed. He had already said the words and now he was gonna show her those words.
Sometimes we fight for something only to discover by the time we get it our goals have changed. For some, it's too late the lines have been drawn and the damage has been done but other times you get the thing you always wanted only to find out it isn't what you really need. Get ready kids. I'm back, and this time, I'm here to stay
X.O.X.O Gossip Girl