Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Layla.

A/N: I really liked this chapter, I think It shows a lot of how people feel about different things.

Season 4 Episode 1

Rufus and Lily walked into their Apartment. Sophie on Rufus's hip. Lily walked over to the answer machine.

"Jenny looked good. You could tell what color her eyes are"

"Well sending her to Hudson was a good decision"

"You know what wasn't…?"

"Visiting my mother? We had to. Plus she enjoyed seeing Sophie."

"Well who wouldn't"

Lily pressed play on the answering machine.

"Lillian its Eleanor. Just a reminder that you offered your lovely abode for the Fashions Night Out planning luncheon tomorrow. Cyrus you're going to cut Ana's circulation" Eleanor said through the machine.

"Aren't you glad that isn't us?" Lily said commenting on the baby crying through the machine.

"That actually was us last year, with this little one" Rufus said tickling Sophie and she giggled. The next message began to play.

"Lily its Bruce Caplan. Call me when you get in. It's important." Bruce said through the machine.

"Hmm. The Bass business manager. I wonder what he wants." Lily asked.

"If it's about Chuck I'd rather not know" Rufus replied.

After Layla and Blair left the room Serena opened her package and spotted her Columbia course catalog. Her phone rang and she answered it.

"Hey Mom"

"Hi sweetheart. I wanna hear all about your day. The food, the shopping and the boys on Vespa's."

"Well that pretty much sums it up

"But first um I wanted to know if you and Blair have heard from Charles?"

"No, and I don't expect to. It's actually decent of him leaving her alone"

"Poor Blair. Is she still hurting?"

"Yeah, but she's putting up a good front. Even when Layla is around. They seem to be building their friendship back up over this. I wouldn't worry about Chuck. Any normal summer he's drunk on some island where polygamy is illegal"

"Given everything that's happened it makes sense he's gone rogue."

"He hasn't called to check on Sophie. He does know you have her. Layla let him know before everything happened"

"No. Look if you don't know anything I can find out myself"

Dan and Vanessa walked down the street.

"Listen. I'm sorry that we couldn't talk more yesterday. Milo has been real colicky." Dan said.

"The fact that you even know that word is…"

"Oh you'd be shocked at what I know about breast feeding and baby poop and…"

"Wow, do not mention her geor-gina"

"It's a lot to take in, believe me. But please don't tell my dad or Lily alright. Not even Layla. I gotta be the one to tell them."

"Why haven't you?"

"Maybe because I'm totally freaking out. Do you know how difficult it is to keep a baby alive? You can't leave it alone. It has to…" Dan rambled.

"Dan," Vanessa said stopping him "Did you ever thing maybe Layla is exactly who you should call and tell. She's kept Sophie alive this long obviously she's doing something right. Plus she had help from Rufus and Lily. They'll help you too."

"Yeah but Georgina isn't Layla's favorite person, what if she won't…"

"Layla won't care who Milo's mother is. You're her friend. She'll help you. I have to ask like Rufus and Layla will. Are you sure Milo is even yours?"

"Of course he is. I mean I'm pre-yeah I'm pretty sure"

Lily walked downstairs to see her home invaded my models and clothes.

"Eleanor you're early"
"Well just to set up dear. And to accessorize you properly" Eleanor said putting a name tag on Lily

"You know Bass is not her middle name?" Rufus said holding Sophie.

"Well I was afraid nobody would know who she was. Not a lot of Humphreys in the society pages." Eleanor said walking away.

"Well you don't have to stick around if you don't want to"

"Oh you think I'd skip out on a roomful of champagne and models. Are you forgetting I use to be a rock star?" Rufus said and spotted papers in Lily's hand, "What is this? Why do you have Chuck's travel itinerary, bank statements and credit card bills?"

"Because I think he might be in trouble."

"After what he did? Good"

"Well apparently he went to Prague in May. Checked into his usual suite at the Mandarin and never checked out. His Credit card charges are very un-Charles like. What if something happened? For better or worse he's a part of this family"

"Yours not ours. The only think of his that I will claim is this little girl and for her sake I hope everything is okay but after the choices he's made Chuck deserves whatever's coming to him. As far as I'm concerned Layla and Soph would be better off without him."

"You may think that but Layla thinks otherwise. She loves him and is worried out of her mind about him"

"I'm only trying to protect her, it's what a parent does"

Nate walked into the Van der Woodsen's after getting a phone call from Lily to come by. He spotted a familiar face from earlier.

"Nate?" the girl said.

"Hey," Nate said and then read her name tag "Juliet. What are you doing here?"

"I'm a volunteer I worked the even last year. What are you doing here?"

"Nathaniel, thank you for getting here so fast. I was hoping you could look at Charles papers and see if there was anything that you might find. That I haven't. Your sister is keeping me posted from Paris if she hears anything." Lily said coming over with Sophie and guiding him away.

"How is she?" Nate asked. He didn't like that they were fighting and he missed her. Sophie reached out from Lily and Nate grabbed her.

"She's keeping it together but I know she's worried sick about him. But you know your sister"
"She's strong. Did you enjoy your summer with Soph?"

"She's an absolute angel"

"Funny considering who her parents are" Nate laughed. "I'll get right on these"
"Stay clear of Rufus okay?"

"Okay" Nate said and walked back over to Juliet.

"Whose little girl?" Juliet asked.

"My niece Sophia. Her mother is in Europe. Modeling"

"And her father"

"And that's what I'm finding out" Nate said raising up the papers in his hand and walked away.

After Georgina interrupted the luncheon and Dan and Rufus talked. Dan got off the phone with the doctor that confirmed that he was indeed Milo's father.

"It doesn't mean anything. We're doing our own test" Rufus said.

"Dad the dates line up. I thought we were being careful. But it's not like I didn't sleep with her"

"Why didn't you come to me when she first showed up"
"Do you remember how you reacted two years ago when Serena and I had that scare. Or how about when Layla told you about Soph. Sure you were supportive of her but you were freaking out on the inside. Not to mention I didn't know that I could handle the truth myself. Everything you said then is still true. I had to see this through. Trust me a couple times I thought about calling you or Layla."

"I may get angry or protective but I'll always be there for you. That's how it works when you're a father. You may not understand it now but trust me one day you will."

"I think I already do. I'm so thankful for all the times that I've helped Layla with Soph."

Later on that afternoon. Dan started to put Milo in his stroller when Lily approached him.

"You're a natural" Lily said.
"Thanks, I don't know if it's all the times I helped with Soph or what"

"No that's not it, you are definitely a natural"
"So have you talked to Serena lately?"
"The better question is have you? I know something happened between you two before she left. I'm guessing you haven't had much time to figure things out."

"There's nothing to figure out at this point. I can't imagine she'd be interested in being a step mother. It's a lot to think about. When Layla and I were together I had to think about it. Could I be a good step father figure for her baby? Should I be? Do I want to be? As much as I love them both I'm actually glad it didn't work out because I wasn't ready but now my fate is sealed. When you speak them. Will you not say anything about this? I need to tell them"

"Yeah of course.