A/N: Here's you guys another chapter. I had a rough day so I turned to Darcy to make it better. Hope she makes your day better as well. I really LOVE this chapter. It was probably my favorite to piece together. I also want to give a big shout out to AspiringWriterGirl for her kind words about my story which helped be get back to it. Also if you haven't already check out her story Here lies Jane Doe. You won't be disappointed.

Disclaimer: I only own Darcy. She's my pride and joy. That is all.

Reasons to Move in With Him

Darcy, William and Eric all sat with Serena in her room.

"I know I've already said this but I'm very proud of you and so is mom" Eric said.

"So am I" William said.

"Is that why she's here to tell me herself. Do I even want to know where she is?" Serena asked.

"She and Bass are meeting with a reporter from The Post this morning" Darcy replied. "He said it was a profile on Bass Industries"

"Oh The Post, because they have such award winning business coverage."

"Serena" William said.

"I'm way ahead of you. When I confronted her she didn't deny it." Eric said. "Bass Industries is a Family ran company. Like it or not, what the family does affects what people think about it"

"I know I've put her in a tough position" Serena replied "Please promise me, both of you, that you'll try to keep her honest about where I am and what's going on"

"We're on it" Eric said and turned to Darcy "Right Darc?"

"Definitely." She smiled as the doctor walked in.

"Hello Serena" the doctor said "Eric, Darcy and…"

"My father" Serena replied.

"William Van der Woodsen" William said.

"So have you made a decision?" the doctor asked.

"Yeah" Serena nodded.

"We love you" William said hugging her then guiding Darcy and Eric out. They got downstairs and ran into Dan and Blair. "I need to take this"

He walked away and Darcy turned her attention to Dan and Blair.

"I'm sure were on her list" she heard Blair say.

"There is no list" Eric said.

"Eric's right. The doctor recommended a 72 hour no contact treatment. That includes family"

"And you guys" Eric said.

"Serena doesn't need to be here. Juliet was behind everything." Dan said.

"We have questions for her" Blair said.

"Whatever series of events that got her in the front door, she's here now, and she's getting the help she's probably needed for a long time" Eric said.

"So whatever you two are up to, is gonna have to be without her" Darcy said and they walked away frustrated. "It's for the best"

Their father walked back over to them.

"Sorry about that." He said. "So do you two wanna grab lunch?"

"I…" Eric started.

"We'd like that. Wouldn't we Eric" Darcy said grabbing his arm.

"Yeah, sounds great" Eric said.

They went to a nearby diner and took a seat. It was silent for a while until they ordered their food.

"So Eric how's school?" William asked breaking the silence
"It's alright" he replied.

"The question to ask is 'How's the boyfriend?'" Darcy joked.

"Good. How's yours?" Eric asked.

"We're good" she smiled.

"Which is why all your things are still at the apartment." William said.

"Dad!"

"What? You two have been together what 6 months? You two already have lived together all summer. I'm honestly surprised you haven't moved in with him already."

"That was Henry and Sara. It's different."

"You two are Henry and Sara. It isn't different."

"Wait whose Henry and Sara?" Eric asked.

"Our summer Alias."

"How did you come up with those names?"

"Bass and I had a rooftop chat, the night that Blair thought she was pregnant and wasn't sure if it was Nates' or Bass's

"That was a while ago"

"Yeah, um we were talking about running away and I asked what his alias would be. When I saw him lying on the ground shot I remembered that talk and thought on my feet."

"Clever" Eric laughed. "Now I see how you two fell in love."

"Another reason to move in with him" William said. "You don't flinch when he says it, or when people say it about you two."

"Says what?" Eric asked a little confused. Darcy never really told her brother about the L word.

"I love you" William said. "Darcy hasn't said them since she was 4. When her mom was first diagnosed with Cancer."

"That's why you say you too?"

"Yeah"

"What's with the admire thing though that you and Chuck do?"

"It's silly but it's our version of the words" she said. "It's special"

"It's actually awesome" Eric said. "It's about time that Chuck found someone who could keep up with him."

Darcy smiled.

After lunch they went their separate ways. Darcy headed to the Empire. Her father's thoughts about living with Chuck had plagued her mind. She sat on the pool table and thought about it.

"Hey beautiful" she heard Chuck say and she hopped off the table.

"Hey" she said and greeted him with a kiss. "How was the interview with the Post?"

"Fantastic" he said "How was family time?"

"Great. Actually after we saw Serena. Dad, Eric and I went to lunch."

"How was that?"

"Good. Um they brought up a topic that has sort of been on my mind"

"Oh"

"About me, you and…." She said looking around "Our Empire"

"What about it?" he asked and watched her facial expressions as she looked around the room then it hit them. "Darcinda Ellis. Will you move in with me?"

"Only if you want me too."

"Are you kidding I wanted you to the minute we got back"

"You should've said something Bass, I would have in a heartbeat. Living with you in Prague was amazing" she said wrapping her arms around his neck and kissed him then pulled away "Plus, it is half my hotel"

"The Empire does need a Queen" he said "We will rule it as King and Queen"

"I like the sound of that" she said and kissed him again.

They arrived at the party. A person with a tray stopped by them.

"Champagne?" they asked.

"No thank you" she replied as someone took her coat.

"I'm gonna go find you a drink" Chuck said and kissed her temple then walked away Darcy spotted Eric and walked over.

"How's Lily sitting?"

"She does not make it easy" he replied.

"Well if you need help, I'm here"

"Thanks"

"By the way. Bass asked me to move in with him" she smiled.

"That's great sis" he said and spotted Lily talking to someone. "Gotta go"

He walked away and she looked around and Chuck walked over.

"For my lady" he said handing her the cider.

"Thank you" she said kissing him.

"I need to go make my toast."

"Of course" she said and followed him over.

He clinked his glass and everyone turned to him. Lily stood next to him.

"Good Evening. On behalf of Bass Industries I'd like to wish you all a very Happy Holiday. I'd also like to acknowledge my stepmother and all the work she's done for the company" Chuck said and everyone applaud.

"When Charles asked me to take over, I was overwhelmed. But he's family and I've tried to do what's best for my family. It's the one thing that has always guided me" Lily said and Serena appeared. "Serena!" What a lovely surprise"

Darcy looked across the room at Eric. Neither one knew what was going on. She walked over to him as Blair and Dan walked in.

"What's going on?" Blair asked.

"I don't know buy I feel a little sick inside" Eric responded "And not because I'm looking at him"

Darcy turned to see Damien.

"What have you come too…?" Eric started.

"Eric not now" Darcy said.

"I'm leaving. Thanks for the ride into the city" Damien said then left.

"Hi, I'm Serena. I'm Lily's daughter" Serena said and they all turned to her.

"Here we go" Darcy said.

"I wasn't gonna be able to make it tonight because, um, I was actually at the Ostroff Center. But if it were up to my mother, she'd have you believe I was at Canyon Ranch. That's because having a daughter who's in a mental hospital threatens her carefully protected image. She wants you all to think that she's the perfect host and mother and wife but the truth is she's a selfish liar who will destroy anyone who stands in her way" Serena said then walked away.

"What was that about?" Darcy asked turning to Blair and Dan.

"Serena brought Juliet with her tonight" Nate said.

"What?"

"We'll figure this out" Blair said walking by her.

"She's my sister" Darcy said following her

"What? For like a whole 6 months"

"Like that was my fault Blair" she said.

"May I remind you two, this is about Serena not either one of you" Dan said and Blair stormed off Dan behind her. Nate shrugged his shoulders at her.

"She's my sister Nate"

"I know, come on" he said and guided her down that way. They got to the room.

"Well clearly she's drugged Serena again. Dan write a list of everything Damien said he sold her and you tell us which one makes you trust psychopaths" Blair said turning to Juliet and then to Eric. "And you call the police"

"Nobody is calling the police" Serena said. "I know everything Juliet did and nothing excuses it but the Van der Woodsens are not putting anymore of her family behind bars. Juliet, I will find a way to get Ben out of Prison. I promise. You're free to go"

"What! No! This is unacceptable!" Blair yelled.

"Blair!" Darcy said and Blair turned to her "Let Serena talk"

"I'm sorry" Juliet said and left.

"I just spent a day in a car….with Dan Humphrey to try and track her down and you're just letting her leave" Blair yelled. Darcy shook her head and left the room. She spotted Bass on the couch and sat down next to him.

"I apologize, Charles. It seems that my biological children don't understand that when business is at stake, you need to leave your dirty laundry in the hamper."

"Is that what Ben Donovan was to you-dirty laundry?" Serena asked.

"Who's Ben Donovan?" Rufus asked.

"He was my boarding school teacher. Mom falsely accused him of statutory rape, so now he's serving time for a crime he didn't commit."

"Is that what the Ostroff Center calls treatment these days? Public scenes and false accusations?"

"Juliet is Ben's sister. She told me everything. So, please, no more lying. What happened?" Serena asked.

"You wanted to come home, and I wanted you here. But when Constance saw your records from Knightley, They wouldn't take you back, and it was the same with all the decent schools. I-I was worried about your future, so I went to Knightley and talked to the administration."

"Of course you did."
"Well, when I was on campus, there were some girls gossiping about you. They said that you had spent the night at a bed and breakfast with one of your teachers."

"That was just gossip."

"Well, it was gossip I could use to our advantage. I expressed my concern to the school that one of their teachers was having an inappropriate relationship with my underage daughter."

"So you sent Ben to prison so that I could go to Constance?"

"Well, no! O-of course not. But after I left, the school alerted the authorities, then I didn't know what I had set in motion until I was contacted by the D.A., and by then, it was too late."

"What, too late to tell the truth? So you just destroy a man's life, all so that you can keep up appearances?"

"No, I did this for you, for your future. Look, it's not like Mr. Donovan was guilt-free. He shouldn't have been having an affair with a student."

"But he didn't do anything. Nothing ever happened."

"Serena, you don't have to protect him."

"I'm not protecting him. He never touched me, mom. You sent an innocent man to prison."

"Look, everyone here has crossed the line at some point to protect someone they care about. Sometimes there's collateral damage." Chuck said.

"It's not so easy when you're the collateral damage. Maybe it's time to put everything on the table. Lily, do you have something you need to tell Chuck?" Rufus asked.

Chuck and Darcy looked at Rufus and then back at Lily.

"Well, if there was something I wanted to tell Charles, I would have told him." Lily said and Chuck looked back at Rufus.

"Lily's selling Bass Industries." Rufus said and Chuck looked at Lily with disbelief

"It's all very complicated. I had to talk to the board first.

"I trusted you with my father's company." Chuck said standing up. Darcy right beside him "I want it back immediately!"

"Do you really think the board would allow me to give the company to someone who just disappeared for three months? Your instability is the reason that I ended up in charge In the first place."

"Ellis and I can run it together"

"Oh right the girl who's known for her wild days and is an alcoholic. Real stable Charles

"I won't let you do this" Chuck said and walked out. Darcy turned to Lily.

"And to think I wanted you and my father together. I'm so glad that didn't work out" Darcy said and followed Chuck. She got down to the limo and crawled in. Chuck sat there. She grabbed his hand. "We're gonna get your company back Bass. I'm with you 110%"

He turned to her and kissed her.

"I love you"

"You too" she smiled.

*1 Week later*

They all sat around the table eating at the Empire

"See I told you food is more delicious when you cook it yourself" Dan said.

"Yeah which is why were gonna end this experiment in middle class living and call housekeeping to clean up."

"No way. Darcy made me stick my hand up a turkey's butt. You're not getting out of your job"

"Darcy's made me do that before"

"No excuses Nate. Blair is right. You need to do your part" Darcy said.

"Well I provided the location. So I did my part. Now I'm off to New Zealand for a taste of summer." Chuck said and walked into the bedroom. Darcy right behind him.

"You do realize that this will be the longest we've been apart since we started dating" she said.

"I really wish you'd go with" he said.

"Well as much fun as it is to run in with your sadist uncle. I made a promise to my best friend I would be her maid of honor

"I know" he said and kissed her.

"Tell him I say hi though"

"He'll enjoy that"

They walked out into the main area.

"Bye friends. I'll see you in the New Year" Chuck said.

"I'll walk you out" Nate said and they headed toward the elevator.

"New Zealand? That's awfully close to Australia" Blair said joining them.

"You know me. I like the heat" Chuck responded then turned to Darcy. "I'll miss you"

"Me too" she replied and gave him one more kiss.

"Jack will never help you" Blair said

"A shared enemy makes for unlikely friends" Chuck said and stepped onto the elevator and headed down.

Blair turned to Darcy.

"If you were smart you wouldn't let him make a deal with the devil"

"But you and I both know that Bass is stubborn and wouldn't listen even if I said not to" Darcy responded.

A few days later Darcy arrived in California. She spotted Austin waiting for her.

"Hey stranger" he said hugging her.

"Where's the fiancé?"

"A meeting"

"Oh"

"How are you?"

"Fantastic"

"Where's the billionaire boyfriend?"

"He had business to take care of in New Zealand."

"We'll miss him"

"No you won't" Darcy said.

"Darc"

"Be happy for me Aust. Hell, be happy for yourself. You're marrying Brooke."

"I am. For you and for me. I may not like the guy but he's the first one to say those words and you not freeze up"

"I'm happy" she said.

"Good"

"Take me home now" she replied and they took off toward sunny L.A.