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Chapter 4: The Aftermath
The next morning, Rufus lie in bed, watching Lily sleep. Even sleeping, she took his breath away. The night before had been amazing. It was his every dream coming true. He loved her so much. He gently kissed her shoulder, then lay his head back down beside hers, his arms wrapped around her as he closed his eyes, and let his mind replay the night before.
They didn't say a word to each other as they made love, and kissed passionately. Lily's fingers dug into his back, and her body arched as he made love to her. He wanted to make her feel all the love he had for her, which was more than he knew his heart could hold.
She clung tightly to him, moving her body in time with his. Her legs were wrapped firmly around his waste. "I love you," she breathed into his ear.
"I love you too," he murmured, looking down at her with half-shut eyes.
They continued to kiss as Rufus slowly ran his hands down over Lily's body.
Lily tangled her fingers in his hair, but made sure even in her passion not to pull his hair too hard.
Even after it was over, he continued to hold her tightly, for now that he had her back, he never wanted to let her go. It was all right though, for Lily didn't seem in any hurry to let him go either.
When they finally did pull apart, it was only because he had to take a bathroom break. Then, she did.
By then, they were both wide awake, and decided on having a midnight snack of waffles and bacon with orange juice.
"We shouldn't be eating all this junk before bed you know," Lily said they ate at the kitchen island.
Rufus play gasped. "You did not just call waffles junk! Take it back!"
Lily laughed. "All right, all right. I take it back. Waffles aren't junk. Still, this food is fattening, and it's never a good idea to eat something so heavy right before bed."
Rufus grinned at her. "Well, why don't we work it off before bed then? Maybe even help our digestive systems digest a little faster?"
Lily smiled. "What did you have in mind?"
He hopped off his stool, and took her hand. He grinned at her. "Why don't I just show you?"
Lily looked at their clasped hands, then at the mischievous grin on his face. She then met his mischievous grin with a mischievous grin of her own. "By all means, show me."
Lily let him help her up out of her chair, then he picked her up, and brought her to the bedroom, where they helped each other out of their clothes.
They made love again, then held each other afterwards.
"Mm," Lily moaned. She kissed his chest. "You're right. That was an excellent way to work off the fat, and help aid our digestive systems. I like the way you think, Humphrey!"
They grinned at each other.
"And I love the way you make love," he told her.
She grinned, and they kissed some more.
Eventually, drowsiness got to them, and they fell asleep, but not until they were safely tucked into each other's loving arms.
Rufus kissed her again, only this time, he woke her up.
Lily's eyes slowly fluttered open, and she smiled up at him. "Good morning, my Darling."
"I'm sorry." He gently stroked some hair out of her face. "I didn't mean to wake you. You were just so beautiful lying there. I couldn't help it. I had to kiss you."
She grinned, and gently stroked some hair out of his eyes. "Never apologize for kissing me."
He grinned too. "Let me make it up to you." He kissed her softy at first, until she moaned, and pulled him in for a much deeper, much more passionate kiss.
When they finally broke for air, he lay back down, and propped himself up on his elbow, facing her. "You don't regret last night, do you?"
She looked at him. "Not at all. Why, do you?"
He shook his head. "Are you kidding me? It was a dream come true for me, finally getting you back."
She gently stroked his cheek. "I'm just sorry it took me so long to realize what a bitch I was being."
Rufus shook his head, and gently stroked Lily's cheek in return. "It's not entirely your fault. I was a total idiot for falling for Ivy. Actually, you weren't a bitch at all. You were just telling me something I didn't want to hear."
"Well, I could have taken more time to listen to you. Maybe if I was nicer about it, you would have been more apt to believe me," Lily said, looking away, as if ashamed.
"Hey." Rufus gently turned her chin so that she was forced to look at him. "We both made mistakes, but we both learned from them. Let's just enjoy the fact that we're finally back together, all right?"
Lily grinned. "We've already been enjoying being back together."
Rufus laughed. "Very true!" He then pulled her closer. "In fact, want to enjoy it a little more?"
Lily smiled, and stroked his cheek again. "I'd love to, but, like it or not, I have to see Bart. My anger has replaced my shock, and now I need to go over there, and give him a piece of my mind."
Rufus gently ran his fingertips up and down Lily's right arm. "Do you want me to come with you?"
Lily shook her head. "I love you for offering, but no thanks. This is something I have to do on my own." She took his face in hers, and kissed him passionately. "But I love you, and we're going to be together, you and I, so don't you worry."
"You do realize, now that I finally have you back, I'm never gonna let you go this time, right?" Rufus asked her, an eyebrow raised.
She nodded, then kissed him. "I wouldn't have it any other way." They kissed some more.
Soon, as they usually did, their kisses turned more intense.
Rufus moaned. "Mm, are you sure you don't have time first to...?"
Lily grinned. "I always have time for that when it's with you."
Rufus lowered his eyes with love for her.
The kissed again, and Rufus pulled the covers up over their heads.
Lily giggled, but her giggles soon turned to moans as Rufus once again showed her how much he truly loved her.
~Xoxo, Gossip Girl~
Lily had called Bart before leaving to see him. She didn't want to be surprised anymore than she already had to. Walking in on him and his assistant last night had been more than enough. She did not need a replay.
Bart had calmly told her that she could meet him at the apartment. He was taking the day off of work.
As Lily headed up the elevator that would take her to her apartment, she couldn't help but get more and more annoyed with every floor the elevator took her past. Of course now that they were divorcing he could manage to take a day off. When they were together, and she really wanted to spend the day with him, of course he couldn't take the day off. Work was too important to him. Or rather, his assistant was too important to him, she assumed.
The elevator doors opened, and she stepped into their apartment, her heels clicking along the floors, and seeming to echo off the walls. The clicking of her heels was the only sound in the room.
She found Bart sitting on the couch, waiting for her. He was just staring off into space. He wasn't reading the paper, or even watching TV. He was just sitting there, looking emotionless.
"Have you come to slap me? To tell me off? To tell me you never want to see me again?" he asked in an eerily calm tone.
Lily crossed her arms over her chest. "Slap you? I should, but I won't. You're not worth the risk of breaking a nail. Tell you off? I could, but you're not worth the breath. Besides, it wouldn't register with you. You'd just go back out, and continue sleeping with the many beautiful women in your life. As for telling you I never want to see you again, that's about right. However, there's a little matter we have to take care of before I can move on with my life and never have to see your lying, cheating, disgusting self again."
Bart sighed, then stood up. He walked over to the kitchen island, and picked up some papers. He then handed them to Lily. "Is this the matter you were talking about?"
Lily looked at the papers. They were divorce papers, already drawn up. His signature was on the bottom of them.
She looked up at him, an eyebrow raised. "Well, that was quick."
He shrugged. "I never saw much point in dragging out the inevitable. You can read it if you want. It basically states that we will split everything we own in half. The apartment in still in my name, but it's yours if you want it. I can sign it back over to you."
"So, you're not even going to try to win me back?" Lily asked, shocked.
Bart shrugged. "What's the point? I cheated on you. I know you, Lily. You don't go back to cheaters."
"I guess I don't really have the right to be angry, after I cheated with Rufus the night before our wedding. Our first wedding that is," Lily said. She hadn't really thought of that little detail until right then. She suddenly felt like a hypocrite.
Bart sighed. "Let's face it, Lily, We tried, but the fact is, we don't belong together. We're just not right for each other. I like my women too much to dedicate my life to just one, and you... Well, we both know your heart has belonged to Rufus since the day you met him. It always will."
Lily was quiet as she took all that in. Then, she nodded. Surprisingly, he was right. For once in his life, Bart Bass was right. Who would have thought?
"You were with him last night, weren't you?" Bart asked suddenly.
Lily blushed. "How did you know?"
Bart sighed. "I had a feeling it would be Rufus you'd be taking to the restaurant when I turned you down. One of my men saw you go into the restaurant with him last night."
Lily crossed her arms over her chest again, and raised an eyebrow. "So, you had someone spying on me."
Bart actually blushed, and Bart never blushed. "I'm sorry about that. I dismissed him as soon as he called me to tell me you were there with Rufus. I just wanted to confirm my suspicions."
"Why did you care? I mean, if you were sleeping with someone else anyway?" Lily asked.
Bart sighed. "Partly out of curiosity. Partly because I thought that, if you were with Rufus, I didn't have to feel so bad, sleeping with another woman."
Lily smirked. "Well, what do you know? Bart Bass has at least half a conscience."
Bart shrugged, and gave her a weak smile. "It's a start, right?"
Lily's expression remained serious, and her arms remained crossed over her chest. "I suppose."
"I take it you spend the night with Rufus at his place?" Bart then asked.
"Not that it's any of your business, but I did. It felt good to be with a man who actually loves me," Lily stated simply, her head held high in defiance.
Bart looked her in the eyes, his expression serious. "I do love you, Lily. There was never a time that I didn't. Though, I suppose I don't love you on as deep of a level as Rufus does."
Lily sighed. "And I loved you. But, as you pointed out, we both know my heart belongs to Rufus. And your heart, well, who knows who that truly belongs to, if anyone."
Bart didn't say anything as Lily walked over to the desk, and set the papers down on top of it. She read them over for a moment to make sure that there were so secret loopholes, and that she was indeed going to get half of everything, as Bart had promised. When she saw that Bart was indeed telling the truth for once, she took out a pen, clicked it open, and signed the divorce papers.
She then clicked the pen closed, set it aside, picked up the papers, and brough them back over to Bart. She handed him the papers. "Keep the apartment. Rufus never liked it anyway."
"So, I guess this is it then. You know, I did try to be a good husband to you, Lily," Bart stated.
Lily shrugged. "It just wasn't meant to be. We weren't meant to be."
Bart nodded sadly. "Believe it or not, I do wish you and Rufus a long and happy life together."
Lily smiled weakly. She then took Bart's hand, and squeezed it. "Thank you, Bart. I appreciate that. I really do. And I wish you a long and happy life with whomever that might be."
"Thank you," Bart said.
Lily kissed his cheek.
Bart kissed her cheek in return.
Lily then left the apartment, not looking back as she stepped into the elevator. Then, she turned around and saw Bart's sad face watching her until the elevator doors closed, closing on their marriage as well.
Lily sighed. It was over. For good this time.
~Xoxo, Gossip Girl~
"So, how did it go?" Rufus asked, pulling Lily into his arms, and kissing the top of her head once she had arrived back at his loft.
"Surprisingly well. He already had the divorce papers drawn, and ready for me to sign, so I signed them," Lily answered.
"I'm surprised he didn't try to fight for you," Rufus said, truly surprised.
Lily shrugged. "I was too, but he told me he knows that my heart will always belong with you, and that he loves his women too much to dedicate his life to just one."
Rufus shook his head. "That guy really is a jack ass. He's a fool for not loving you. But at least he finally realized that he isn't the man for you; that I am." He rubbed her back soothingly up and down.
Lily sighed with contentment, and nuzzled her face against his chest. "I'm just glad it's over."
Rufus used his free hand to stroke her hair. "I guess that's one good thing Bart's money and power did for us. It sped up the divorce."
"Mm, yes," Lily said, sounding tired.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Rufus asked, gently stroking her cheek now, and looking into her eyes.
"Nothing. I'm just tired. Do you mind if I take a nap?" Lily asked him.
"Of course I don't mind! My place is your place now," Rufus said. He picked her up, and carried her to the bed.
"Actually, it really is. Bart gave me fifty percent of everything, but he has the apartment. He said I could have it, but I figured maybe you and I could finally find a place of our own? A place that is not just mine, not just yours, but ours?" Lily asked.
Rufus grinned, and stroked her cheek again. "That sounds perfect!"
"Mm, you're perfect. Perfect for me," Lily murmured, stroking his cheek in return.
Rufus' eyes lowered with love for her as he gently kissed her lips. "Just as you're perfect for me, my Love."
They kissed some more, then Lily fell asleep in his arms.
Rufus fell asleep shortly after, Lily still in his arms, and her head resting on his chest.
~Xoxo, Gossip Girl~
It was Thanksgiving, and the table was set with the turkey, and everything else needed for a delicious Thanksgiving feast. It was a few days after Lily had said goodbye to Bart for good.
Lily had wanted her first Thanksgiving back with Rufus to be special. So, together, they had made the dinner at the loft, and invited over their children to celebrate the good news with them about their reuniting. Even Jenny and Eric were coming back, so everyone was going to be there. Lily was so happy!
Serena and Dan were already there, and helping her set everything on the table that Serena had been nice enough to set for her.
Rufus was off to the train station to pick up Jenny, and then to the airport to pick up Eric. He had left an hour ago, so Lily was hoping he would be back soon.
Fifteen minutes later, she got her wish. The doors opened, and in came Rufus, Jenny, and Eric.
Lily ran to Eric and hugged him. "I'm so glad you guys could come home for Thanksgiving! I missed you terribly!" She kissed Eric's forehead with a loud smack.
Eric grinned, but gently pushed his mother away. "Ah, Mom, you're going to get lipstick all over my head!"
Lily grinned. "Sorry!" She licked her thumb, then wiped at the red lip mark on her son's forehead.
"Yuck, Mom!" Eric said, pushing her away again. "I'll get it."
Lily pouted. "You never used to mind before."
"Yeah, when I was like ten!" Eric said.
Lily continued to pout.
Eric hugged his mom, and kissed her cheek. "Let me do the kissing. I don't wear lipstick!" he grinned.
"Thank God for that!" Lily said.
They all laughed.
"Happy Thanksgiving, Mom," Eric said with a smile.
"Happy Thanksgiving, Eric," Lily said, feeling the happy and excited feeling in her chest again.
"Happy Thanksgiving, Lily!" Jenny said, hugging Lily.
"Happy Thanksgiving, Jenny!" Lily said, hugging her tightly in return. "I'm so happy you're here."
"Me too," Jenny said with a smile, breaking the hug.
Lily then headed over to Rufus. She wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you for bringing the kids home." She kissed him.
Rufus kissed her back, then held her at arm's length, and grinned at her. "I'm not done yet."
Lily was confused. She was sure the expression on her face showed as much. "What do you mean?"
Rufus nodded over to the doors. "Why don't you go open the doors? I left you a little surprise out in the hallway."
"Rufus, what are you up to?" Lily asked, giving him a suspicious look.
"Just go look, would ya?" Rufus asked her. He grinned.
"Oh, all right!" Lily headed to the loft's doors. She swung them open, then gasped, and covered her mouth. Her eyes filled with tears of joy when she saw, standing before her, none other than her's and Rufus' son, Scott.
Scott grinned at her. "Happy Thanksgiving, Mom."
Lily cried out in happiness, then ran grabbed him, and pulled him to her. She held him close, and rocked him back and forth with her.
"I take it you're glad to see me?" Scott asked with a laugh.
"You have no idea!" she said though sniffles. "Oh, Scott, I'm so happy! I never thought we'd have the whole family together again, and now you're here!"
"I'm glad to be here, but, Mom, could you please let go of me? You're kind of crushing me," Scott said.
"Oh! Sorry. I'm just so happy to have you here!" Lily said, releasing him.
Before Scott could respond, Chuck arrived, bearing a pumpkin pie. "Well, well, if it isn't my half brother. Well, not biologically, but you get the drift. I didn't know you'd be here, but I'm glad you are. It's good to see you again," Chuck said to him.
Scott smiled. "Hello, Chuck. My dad called me, and had me come down as a surprise for Lily. It's good to see you too, adopted, half brother of mine." He grinned.
Chuck laughed, and they hugged, careful not to smoosh the pie between them.
"Charles!" Lily walked over to him. "I apologize ahead of the for the red stain on your cheeks." She kissed both his cheeks with a loud, muah! "I'm so glad you could make it! Happy Thanksgiving! Mm, that pie looks delicious. Thank you for bringing it."
"Thank you for inviting me. I know all of your real children are here. I'm glad to be included," Chuck said.
"You're my real child too. Blood has nothing to do with it," Lily said. She gave his forehead a kiss this time.
Chuck kissed her cheek in return. "And, as far as I'm concerned, you're my real mother. I love you."
"I love you too! I'm going to cry again," Lily said.
They all laughed.
"Come in, come in! Chuck, the bathroom's over there, if you want to wipe all the lipstick off," Lily said.
"Thanks. I was just about to ask," Chuck said with a grin. He set the pie down on the island.
Scott was socializing with his siblings and father.
Chuck headed off to the bathroom to wash his face before his greetings.
~Xoxo, Gossip Girl~
Ten minutes later, everyone was sitting at the Thanksgiving table. Rufus had prayed the blessing, and now, before eating, they were all going around the table giving something they were grateful for.
Jenny was thankful her fashion designing career was taking off. Scott was thankful to have found his birth parents, and to be able to spend Thanksgiving with them. Eric was grateful to have parents that were very loving and understanding when it came to him being gay. He had some gay friends who weren't so lucky when it came to their parents understanding. Chuck was grateful to have a mother in Lily. He said he had never thought he would have a mother until Lily came along. Of course, he made Lily cry again at this revelation. It was happy tears she was shedding though of course. Then, Dan and Serena surprised them all by saying that they both have the same thing they are thankful for. They held hands, and announced that they were back to being a couple. Everyone was happy for them.
When it was Rufus' turn, he took Lily's hand, and kissed it. Then, staring deep into her eyes, he said, "I'm thankful to have the love of my life back with me where she belongs."
Lily teared up again. She rubbed her thumb over his hand. "And I'm thankful to have the love of my life back. You're the only man I ever truly loved, Rufus. At least this much."
"And you're the only woman I truly loved." Rufus kissed her, and she hungrily kissed him back.
The kids weren't surprised, since Rufus and Lily had told them prior to Thanksgiving about their reuniting. However, it didn't stop them from being grossed out.
"All right, all right! That's sweet and all, but knock it off. You're grossing us out!" Serena said.
Dan nodded. "Dad, as relieved as I am to see you kissing Lily instead of Ivy, please don't do it while we're eating."
"It's kind of nauseating," Eric stated.
"Totally," Jenny agreed.
"I think it's romantic," Chuck said. "I'm glad to see them back together. Lord knows my father is an ass, and Ivy's a conniving little bitch."
Scott nodded. "I like knowing my parents are in love."
"Either way, the majority rules. Please, stop it!" Serena whined.
Rufus groaned, but broke the kiss. "All right, all right, we'll stop. For now." He wriggled his eyebrows up and down suggestively at Lily, who giggled.
"Thank you!" Serena said.
"They stopped." Eric held up his glass in a fake toast. "Something else to be thankful for." He took a sip.
His siblings laughed.
Rufus and Lily rolled their eyes, but grinned nonetheless.
~Xoxo, Gossip Girl~
It had been a wonderful dinner, and they had all gotten the chance to catch up, and reminisce. The best part was they all agreed to spend Christmas together as well. Even Scott was interested in spending Christmas with them. Of course, this made Lily extremely happy.
Chuck invited his siblings and Dan to stay at The Empire Hotel since the loft was certainly not big enough for them all to stay. They were all more than happy to.
They were all going to have breakfast together the next morning, then Lily and the girls were going to go Black Friday shopping while Rufus and the boys stayed home and watched football. Then, they'd all meet up again for dinner. Scott didn't have to leave until Sunday.
"This is going to be such a fun weekend!" Lily said as she got ready for bed in the bathroom. She left the door open so that Rufus could hear her from where he lie in bed. He had already gotten ready for bed, and now it was her turn.
"Yeah. I think it's the most time we've ever spend with the kids at a time. At least with all of them together. It feels nice," Rufus agreed.
"Like back when they were kids, and still had time for us, you mean?" Lily asked.
"Exactly!" Rufus agreed.
Lily came into the bedroom then, wearing a black lace negligee.
Rufus whistled. "Wow."
Lily grinned, her hand propped on the side of the door frame as she posed sexily underneath the door frame. "Do you like?"
Rufus moaned. "Do I like? Baby, you know I love."
Lily giggled, then ran over to the bed, and pounced onto it. "You make me act like I'm a teenager again," she said, gently stroking his cheek. "I'm just so happy with you."
"I'm glad to hear you say that," Rufus said.
"Oh, and why's that? Because I make you feel the same way about me?" Lily teased, pushing a stray strand of hair out of Rufus' eyes.
Rufus nodded. "Well, that. But also because maybe since you feel that way, you'll be more apt to say yes."
Lily raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Yes to what?"
Rufus moved his hand behind him, grabbed the ring box, then held it in front of Lily.
Lily gasped, and covered her mouth as he opened the blue velvet ring box that displayed the most beautiful diamond ring she had ever seen in her life. It was set in what looked like silver with a silver and diamond pattern that looked like vines that held the diamond as if the diamond was a flower. The diamond was beautiful. It was the perfect size. Not small enough to be embarrassing, and not ridiculously big either. The diamond was perfectly round. In fact, the whole ring was perfect.
"It's a platinum gold with an 18 carat diamond. Funny thing is, it's even called the Lily ring. I figured it's a sign that it was the right one. Do you like it?" Rufus asked her.
"Like it? Oh, Rufus, it's absolutely breathtaking. I love it!" Lily said, tearing up again.
Rufus took her left hand in his. "So, what do you say, Lily Rhodes, Van der Woodsen, whatever, whatever, Bass, Humphrey, Bass? Will you be a Humphrey again?"
Lily smirked. "I don't know, Rufus. I'll have to wait and see if Dan asks me. I don't think he will since he kind of has a thing for my daughter now. Unless, she's just a cover to get to me. Hm, you know, I never thought of that before!"
Rufus laughed. "Shut up! I'm being serious here!"
Lily grinned. "I know. I'm sorry. Ask me again. I promise to be serious this time."
Rufus cleared his throat. "All right. Lily, will you do me the greatest pleasure in life by being my wife?"
Lily giggled. "You rhymed!"
"Lily!" Rufus whined. "You promised!"
"You're right. I'm sorry. I have my answer," Lily said, turning serious again.
Rufus raised an eyebrow. "And?"
Lily sighed. "No."
Rufus felt as if a boulder had been dropped into his stomach. His face fell. "No?"
Lily burst into laughter. "Rufus, I was only joking! Of course I'll marry you, you Idiot! It's about time you asked!"
Rufus grinned. "You're such a bitch!"
"And yet, somehow, you love me anyway," Lily said.
Rufus licked his lips, and nodded. "That I do." He slid the ring onto her left ring finger. "It looks even more beautiful on you than I even imagined it would."
Lily grinned, eyeing the ring on her finger. "I love this ring so much, and I absolutely adore the fact that it has my name. But, you know, you didn't have to get me a new one. I loved the one you got me before too."
Rufus nodded. "I know, but I wanted a fresh start for us. With the new gallery, I can afford it now. I wanted to get you a new ring to symbolize a new beginning between us. This time, our marriage is going to last."
"You bet it is!" Lily said. She pulled him close, and kissed him. "Mm, I can hardly wait to be your wife again," she said, smiling, and nuzzling her nose against his.
"And I can hardy wait to be your husband again," he said to her.
Lily looked at her ring again. "And, hey. At least this way, if I ever lose this one, I always have my old one as a spare."
Rufus shook his head. "Don't you dare lose that one! Do you have any idea how much a platinum, eighteen carat engagement ring costs?" he asked, only half teasing.
Lily grinned at him. "I'll guard it with my life."
Rufus' eyes lowered with love for her. "And I'll guard you with my life."
Lily grinned some more. "Sounds good." She moved even closer to him. "Now what do you say we practice for our wedding night?"
Rufus moaned, and clicked off the lights.
Lily giggled. "I'll take that as a yes!"
"Oh, definitely a yes," Rufus said, straddling her, then kissing her passionately.
Lily moaned, and hungrily kissed her future husband back. She could hardly wait to be his wife. And, this time, she wasn't going to make the stupid mistake of letting him go.