Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. They belong to Cecily von Zeigesar and The CW.

You all came through big time for me with the last chapter. As a result, I pushed my creative juices into overdrive to give you your reward. Enjoy.

"Hello, my darling," Lily greeted her son with a warm hug and a kiss to his cheek, "I figured I'd be seeing you soon."

"William came to see me," Chuck decided to jump right in.

"He told me," Lily replied, "It's very generous of you to agree to help him, not that I'm surprised. You have the kindest heart."

"I blame Blair," Chuck laughed. "I hope I didn't overstep in agreeing to help him. I suspect you had already turned him down."

"I shouldn't have," Lily released a heavy sigh. "I let all our history cloud my judgment. You don't need to clean up William's mess. I'll do it."

"It might be easier for everyone concerned if it's me who William owes money to and not you," Chuck replied, "Less history."

"You may have a point," Lily conceded.

"I told William I'd let you set terms for repayment," Chuck added.

"Am I a horrible person if I ask him to stay out of my life and the lives of our children?" Lily asked.

"Lil, what's the entire story?" Chuck asked, "My P.I. could only dig up so much."

"Then you know what he was into before he left New York the first time," Lily sighed heavily, "The drinking, the drugs. He was out at all hours. I was left home with two extremely young children. I half expected to be woken in the middle of the night to the news he'd overdosed. I didn't want his influence to be seen by the children. They were young enough at the time, so they had no memories of what it was like. All they really remember is he left when they were young. I always told them it was because things just didn't work out between Mommy and Daddy. He loved his children, but he couldn't be around for them."

"Did he ever hurt you?" Chuck pressed.

"No," Lily shook her head, "There were moments when I thought he might, but he never laid a hand on me."

Chuck released a sigh of relief.

"He had an affair with a friend of mine from California She'd been visiting me for the summer," Lily's eyes cast to the floor. "He swore it meant nothing, but…"

"But…" Chuck prompted her.

"She ended up pregnant," Lily swallowed hard.

"Is it someone I know?" Chuck asked.

"No," Lily shook her head, "She returned to California so her parents could help her raise the child. It's a girl. Her name is Chloe."

"Eric and Serena don't know?" Chuck asked.

"I don't know if William knows. He left New York before my friend came to confess all," Lily admitted. "I don't know what to do, Charles. I should be able to rise above everything, but I don't know if I can."

"Whatever you need me to do, I will do," Chuck assured her, "I can rescind my offer to pay his settlement and let him deal with everything on his own."

"No, don't do that," Lily shook her head, "Make the situation go away, however you have to. William and I will figure out the rest. As far as repayment goes…I don't know."

"Think on it," Chuck offered, "And if you need to talk…"

"What did I ever do to deserve a son like you?" Lily smiled and hugged him tight. "You're still the best thing Bart ever gave me."

"Aside from life, you're the best thing he gave me too," Chuck replied when Lily stroked his chin. Her eyes were swimming with tears.

"I wish I'd known your mother, but I know you get your heart from her," Lily's hand rested at his chest, "It may have taken Blair's powers to unlock, but you're everything your father ever said your mother was."

"Thank you for that," Chuck's lip quivered while attempting to smile.

"I'll handle things with William," Lily replied, "When he's gotten his settlement worked out, I'll let you know."

"I went to see Jack," Chuck confessed. "I needed to get the entire story from him before he goes away."

"Do you believe you have the real story?" Lily asked, "Jack's never been the most forthright when it comes to the truth."

"I offered up a deal," Chuck explained, "Minimum security for the truth. If one whiff of it didn't check out, I'd use my influence to get him locked in a super max facility. If he's smart…"

"You're still giving him far too much credit," Lily replied.

"Perhaps, but so far everything has checked out," Chuck stated.

"Was Serena a target or just a play toy for him?" Lily asked.

"Serena began as a target of convenience," Chuck explained, "You were the target. He was using Serena to get to you, to get to your bank accounts, to bleed you dry."

"He hates me for giving Bass Industries to you," Lily concluded.

"I think there was more to it," Chuck replied, "He didn't say it, but I think he was in love with you."

"That's simply ridiculous," Lily scoffed.

"I think he was in love with you before you married Bart," Chuck added, "Did you know each other?"

"We were acquainted of course," Lily replied, "We attended the same events, but there was never a conversation of any substance."

"Love from afar?" Chuck offered, "You are a beautiful woman, Lil."

"Thank you for that," Lily felt herself blush, "No matter his reasons, he's succeeded in doing some serious damage."

"How is Serena doing?" Chuck knew where his mother thoughts were taking her.

"Every day is a struggle," Lily frowned, "She's doing well one day, and then the next she demands to come home. It doesn't help with Dan pressing forward on the divorce even while she's in rehab."

"The least he could do is wait for her treatment to end," Chuck grumbled.

"He's trying to tie up loose ends," Lily explained, "He's going back to teaching in Africa."

"I hadn't heard," Chuck replied.

"He just told Rufus a few days ago," Lily replied, "Neither of us were all that surprised. I think both Dan and Serena need a clean break."

"Might be for the best," Chuck glanced at his watch, "I'd better go. Charlotte's dance class should be over by the time I get back to the penthouse. We were flying out to the Hamptons after her class was done."

"Enjoy your weekend," Lily walked him to the elevator and gave him one final hug.

"There's room for two more in the helicopter," Chuck offered.

"Maybe next weekend," Lily smiled.

Chuck left with one last kiss to her cheek.


"Let's go, Daddy," Charlotte greeted her father when he stepped off the elevator into their penthouse.

"Hello, Princess," he knelt down to give her a hug.

"Mommy said we're leaving for the Hamptons when you got back," Charlotte told him, "Time to go."

"I'll be ready soon," Chuck assured her, "Are you all packed?"

"Yep," Charlotte bobbed her head, "I helped Aiden too."

"Your such a good big sister," he kissed her forehead, "We'll be ready to leave soon."

Charlotte disappeared from the entryway just as Blair came to greet him.

"Hello, Handsome," Blair greeted him with a kiss. "How'd it go with Lily?"

"About as I expected," Chuck stated, "Is everyone ready to go?"

"Aiden's down for a nap," Blair replied, "He was a bit cranky during Charlotte's lesson."

"So we'll need to wait until he wakes up," Chuck concluded, "It's going to be difficult keeping our beach bunny in check for that long."

"I've been giving her tasks to keep her occupied," Blair laughed.

"She mentioned packing for Aiden," Chuck replied. "Where's Brice and Barty?"

"Dorota took them for a walk so Barty wouldn't wake Aiden," Blair replied.

"You've covered every angle," Chuck smiled.

"Except yours," Blair's hand trailed down his shoulder, "You need to pack, Mister Bass."

"I could use some help," he raised a brow, "Think you could be of some use to me?"

"Oh, I think you'll find I'm more than you can handle," she snickered.

"You are indeed," he attacked her lips.


"I feel guilty," Blair told her husband while sitting on the beach of their Hamptons estate. Several steps away where their children, frolicking in the surf.

"Guilty, Beautiful?" he raised a brow.

"Here we are enjoying the rays of summer while Serena is up in Maine feeling miserable," Blair replied.

"It's probably for the best," Chuck motioned towards the proud papas a few steps away, doting on their daughter.

"Eric and Mags are the most adorable new fathers in the world," Blair smiled at the way the pair were fusing over Penny.

"Remember those first few months of parenthood with Charlotte," Chuck smiled.

"The overwhelming feeling of not knowing what the heck we were doing," Blair laughed.

"I'd say we figured it out," he leaned over and kissed her lips.

"Or our children are more resilient than we've given them credit for," Blair smiled.

"Must be it," Chuck laughed.

"God, I love you," Blair touched his chin.

A sudden breeze whizzed past them as Charlotte ran towards her uncles and cousin.

"Always the big sister," Chuck smiled.

"It's all the perks of having a little sister without having to share her princess title from her father," Blair replied.

"She does take a fair amount of joy in it," Chuck agreed.

They watched as Eric and Magnus laughed at something Charlotte was saying.

"They look tired," Blair observed her in-laws.

"They do have that new parent exhaustion look about them," Chuck agreed.

"Maybe we could offer our services this evening," Blair suggested, "Let them have a nice dinner and night to themselves."

"I didn't know you enjoyed all those sleepless nights," Chuck teased her.

"I'm so used to it after three children," Blair waved off his teasing, "We should let Magnus and Eric ease into it."

Chuck grabbed his cool beverage and advanced towards his brother.

"Chuck, will you tell your brother he's being ridiculous?" Magnus requested.

"Depends on what he's being ridiculous about," Chuck reached for little Penny's outstretched hand. She was covered head to toe in clothes. "Could it be this ensemble Penny's papa has picked out for her?"

"He diligently covered Penny in sunscreen, and I mean diligently. Then he covers her up in this," Magnus motioned towards his daughter.

"She does look a tad overdressed," Chuck wiggled the little girl's arm. "Blair tried this with Charlotte the first time we took her to the beach. Charlotte proceeded to strip herself down to her diaper. Granted she was a few months older."

"I don't want her getting sunburned," Eric glared at his husband, "She's only a month old."

"The umbrella is all set up," Chuck motioned towards the blanket and umbrella set up at Eric's early request. "She'll probably be more comfortable if her skin can breath."

"This fatherhood thing isn't for the faint of heart," Eric conceded to Chuck's final point and began removing the excess clothing.

"I'm with you there," Chuck laughed, "Blair and I thought maybe the two of you could enjoy a night to yourselves. We'll watch Penny."

"We appreciate the offer, but maybe some other time," Eric responded quickly.

"There's no shame in taking a night to yourself when the opportunity presents itself," Chuck assured both new fathers, "Trust me when I say you need time to yourself to recharge."

"It might not hurt," Magnus looked towards Eric and then his daughter.

"Feels like we're abandoning her already," Eric scooped up his daughter and held her close to his bare chest.

"Trust me, she'll never know you're gone," Chuck assured them both while looking at his own daughter, "Right, Princess."

"Right," Charlotte raised her arms for Chuck to pick her up. She was getting close to the point where Chuck could no longer left her, but he wasn't there yet. Until then, he'd relish her hugs.

"Should we show Uncle Eric how much fun playing in the sand is?" Chuck kissed her cheek and then returned her to her feet.

"Yes," Charlotte nodded and reached for her uncle's hand, "Come on, Uncle Eric."

"I can't say no to my favorite niece," Eric handed Penny to Chuck and then took his daughter's hand.

"What do you say, Penny?" Chuck cradled Penny expertly after handing Magnus his drink, "How about you let your papas have a night to themselves and you can stay with me and Aunt Blair?"

Penny didn't make a sound.

"Take that for a yes," Chuck advised his brother-in-law.

"We'll consider your offer," Magnus responded after taking a drink from Chuck's glass.

"That's all we ask," Chuck replied, "I know how hard it is leaving your child for the first time."

"This all happened faster than either of us planned," Magnus admitted.

"You could have ten years to prepare and you wouldn't be ready," Chuck replied, "It takes time to figure out."

"I thought with all my experience with kids while working at the hospital would prepare me," Magnus frowned, "Yet I feel almost more clueless than Eric at times."

"Between you and me, there are days still where both Blair and I feel clueless. Having her with me, knowing we're in it forever, makes those days bearable," Chuck replied.

"I appreciate the advice," Magnus smiled at the adorable sight of his daughter in Chuck's arms.

"Happy to help whenever I can," Chuck replied, "It's all a part of my godfather duties."

"Eric's nervous about how Serena is going to handle the news," Magnus admitted, "He's talking about flying up to Maine to break the news to her."

"It's going to be a difficult bit of news for Serena to handle," Chuck sighed, "If Serena is going to truly heal, she's going to need to face her problems head on. We're not going to be able to shelter her from everything."

"Pretty much word for word what Eric says," Magnus nodded, "Serena is lucky to have two brothers like you."

"We're lucky to have her too," Chuck offered Penny back to Magnus, "Smells like Papa gets diaper duty."

"You don't want to demonstrate your superior skills?" Magnus laughed.

"I'm a bit rusty," Chuck countered, "With Aiden out of diapers, those skills diminished quick."

"Yet you're offering up your babysitting duties," Magnus eyed him curiously.

"Blair's skills are still sharp," Chuck grinned.

"Good to know," Magnus disappeared into the beach house to change his daughter while Chuck returned to Blair's side.

"Did they take us up on our offer?" Blair rose up to meet his lips half way before he returned to his chair.

"They're considering it," Chuck replied, "Which is about all I expected. They're still getting a hang of the parenting thing. How long did it take us to spend a night away from Charlotte for the first time?"

"Good point," Blair stated, "Well, at least the offer is out there."

"Eric wants to fly up to Maine to tell Serena about Penny," Chuck stated.

"I know," Blair nodded, "He's already mentioned it to me. Is it wrong I want to be there when he tells her, so S has someone to lean on?"

"No," Chuck shook his head, "It's amazingly considerate."

"Think you can manage a houseful of children for a day so I can make the trip?" she asked.

"You ask as if it's a chore," he grasped her hand and brought it to his lips.

"I ask so you can insert your objection if it's warranted," she smiled.

"It's not," Chuck replied, "I'll have the jet ready whenever you and Eric want to leave. Will you be gone overnight?"

"It depends on how Serena takes it," Blair frowned, "If she needs me, I'll stay."

"If she asks you to take her home?" Chuck asked.

"We'll just have to cross that bridge if we come to it," Blair felt a pit growing deep within her stomach. She was extremely worried about how Serena was going to react to her brother's news, but she knew it was best to prepare Serena rather than spring her new niece on her the moment she left rehab.

TBC…