Chapter 117: The One Thing
~You are the one thing that I got right
It's a fickle world, yeah, it's a fickle world
You turned the darkness into sunlight
I'm a lucky girl, yeah, I'm a lucky girl
And if I mess up everything someday
I won't hide my head in shame'
Cause you are the one thing that I got right~
~Shakira~
Disclaimer: I own Elizabeth, all the rest of the characters unless otherwise noted do not belong to me.
A/N: So sorry for such a long delay. I honestly thought I had posted these chapters a long time ago!
They say the early bird gets the worm. Inspiring motivation if you're the bird. The worm, however, has no idea when her future will be plucked away by the next airborne attacker.
Elizabeth span in the chair for the 10th time. She and Drew were working on the new album, and they had just listened to the whole thing but weren't quite sure if it was finished.
"You think spinning is gonna help a song come to you?"
"Maybe" she replied, "You were doing it so I thought it would work."
"So?"
"I don't know if it's the best song to end the album." She said, "I mean I like it, but I wrote it last fall when I thought I wanted Nate but was kinda with Chuck and now I'm married to Chuck."
"True" he said. "Well maybe there is another song in you somewhere? Maybe about your husband. Like the one we sang this summer. That was such a beautiful song, and you could just feel your love for him"
"Hopefully. You got anything?"
"No" he said. "So, I'm watching Ella tonight, right?"
"Uh yeah" she said "I told my dad we would go to his Gallery opening and I just don't think it's the right place for my little girl. Especially with Ivy being there too"
"Oh" he replied.
"I should go. I left Ella with the guys, so God only knows what they have her up too. Nate once taught her how to break into a safe."
"Good luck" he said.
*Chuck and Nate*
Chuck sat on the couch with Ella watching some surveillance on TV
"Hey, is Liz here?"
"At the label working on her new album with Drew. Something about needing one more maybe two more songs. Told me that she was leaving Ella here when she left."
"You surfing 'The Empire' CCTV again? What is Olivia Munn staying here?" Nate asked. "Teach Ella how to watch surveillance, I already taught her safe cracking, so she's definitely set in a career choice involving those two things."
"Wrong place" Chuck replied. "This is the Security footage from the Van der Woodsen building"
"How'd you get your hands on that?"
"Well, Vanya can't be bribed but the night doorman was remarkably open to a cash payment."
"Teaching Ella bribery. She will be very well rounded in education."
"Of course, she will, Elizabeth is her mother. She's been teaching this girl how to do math since she was barely a week old" Chuck said, "And with Rufus as her grandfather she will know the guitar by the time she's three."
"So, what are you looking for?"
"When Ivy was in the apartment, she said Bart walked in with an envelope he held on to rather tightly. I was hoping to see a return address or some distinguishing marks."
"Did you find anything?"
"Indeed" Chuck replied. "The envelope had the seal of the first international bank of Sudan"
"The financial records from his illegal oil trade?"
"I assume so, but Bart closed all the accounts that morning"
"And he's not about to show you what's in the envelope or tell you where it is"
"He won't but someone else might" Chuck said. "Bruce Caplan dropped the envelope off to Bart that morning"
"The Bass business manager. He won't spill any of Bart's secrets to you"
"He won't, but if the head of 'The Spectator' were to ask for business management advice…"
"He might accidentally let something slip"
"Especially if it's the kind of meeting that loosens lips"
She arrived at the Empire and walked in as Bruce Caplan was leaving.
"What did I miss?" she asked.
"Did you get the info?" Chuck asked coming in with Ella.
"No, but I did get his phone" Nate said.
"Do I want to know what you two are up too?" she asked. "Not to mention what you're teaching her. She already has safe cracking down for her resume. What else did you two add to it?"
"Surveillance" Nate replied "Which was her father's doing"
She looked at Chuck and shook her head then took Ella from him and kissed him.
"Come on baby girl Daddy and Uncle Nate are crazy" she said, and she took her into her room and put her in her bed. She looked at her music sheets and started tapping on it with her pencil while she stared at her daughter. "You truly are my greatest blessing even if I didn't know it at the time."
She watched her fall asleep then walked into the living room to see the boys at the bar.
"Then pull up my father" she heard Chuck say "Bruce said he had different methods for hiding information for different clients maybe there's a record of it"
"What is going on?" she asked walking up to Chuck and he put a hand on her back.
"There is nothing here but addresses and phone numbers"
"Either one of you gonna answer me?" she asked
"We stole Bruce Caplan's phone trying to find something on my father. Look at the Calendar" Chuck said as her phone buzzed.
DAD: Change of plans. Gallery opening cancelled
"Who was that?" Chuck asked.
"My dad" she said "His gallery is cancelled"
"There's an entry here it says "Bass Traffic"
"Like a meeting with Bart while stuck in Traffic?" Elizabeth asked.
Chuck took his hand off her back and grabbed the phone and walked over to the couch and sat down. Nate and Elizabeth stood in front of him.
"So with my dad's gallery cancelled and we already having a babysitter we should do something tonight" Elizabeth said to Chuck and sat down.
"What did you have in mind?" He asked while he was browsing the phone.
"We can get dinner, or we can be that cliché couple that makes out in the back of a movie theater" she replied, and Nate looked at her confused and she shrugged. "He's not paying…"
"Movie" Chuck said and kissed her cheek. "Baby you are a genius"
"What did I do? I was only joking about that. You know that right? I know that Chuck Bass doesn't do movies"
"I do but you mentioned movie and then I saw Bruce watched a lot of movies including Traffic"
"The drug dealer with the paintings?" she asked.
"You think that's where Bart hid whatever was in the envelope?" Nate asked.
"There is a lot of paintings in the Van der Woodsen apartment" Chuck replied. "I'm just, unfortunately, still banned from the building"
"I'm headed that way then" Nate replied and left.
"So about tonight?" she asked. "Am I cancelling Drew or…"
"No, we will go out. Right after we do this"
"Oh" she replied and kissed him. "Then I am gonna go find a pretty dress to wear then, so my handsome husband can take me out"
*Serena and Nate, and Chuck*
"Are you sure there's nothing" Chuck asked over the phone
"I'm sure there is nothing in any of this art" Nate said.
"It could be subtle, tape on the backing or rip in the seam"
"No there's nothing, and the back of art is really boring" Nate said and heard someone "Hold on one second, someone's coming"
"Hey Nate" Serena said, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm writing an article on Lily's artwork for the 'Spectator'"
"Oh, for the A.P.F. benefit tonight?" she asked.
"Yeah. Exactly" he replied, "What are you up too?"
"Just rereading an old short story" Serena replied
"Is everybody a writer these days?"
"It—no, it's Dan's"
"Wow. Aren't you getting enough of him in 'Vanity Fair'?"
"It's the one from the 'The New Yorker' you know the story about the first time he saw me at that party"
"Do not tell me in some twisted turn of events that sex tape made you miss him."
"We spent some time together, and I don't know. It brought up some old memories. Isn't that what always happens when you and Lizzie hangout when you're broken up?"
"Lizzie is married and the happiest I've seen her in forever. That is all I have ever wanted for her Serena, and you're really vulnerable right now after Steven broke up with you. It's too soon to have real feelings for Dan"
"But what if my feelings for Dan never really went away?"
"That high school kid you fell in love with, that's not who he is anymore okay? He almost cost me 'The Spectator' with his serial and he exploited all of us in those chapters."
Elizabeth came out of the bedroom all dressed and ready. Ella had woken up and she brought her out and put her in her pack and play with some toys. She spotted Chuck on the phone.
"Wait. What about the auction Serena mentioned? Look around. Is there anything missing?" Chuck said turning and spotting Elizabeth. "Wow, you are the most beautiful women on the planet"
"Thank you" She replied.
"I know that you wanted a night out but…"
"Where we going?"
"An art auction that Lily is hosting"
"Explains why my dad's gallery opening was cancelled." She replied, "We were going to the gallery anyways so this is no different right?"
"I guess" he replied.
Drew walked in.
"Am I on time?"
"Yes" she said hugging him. "Ella is in her pack and play. She hasn't eaten yet. Thank you so much."
"Thank you Drew" Chuck said, and they walked over to Ella. "Be good for Uncle Drew"
They each kissed the top of her head, and they got on the elevator.
"If I haven't already told you this, you look amazing tonight"
"I think your exact words were most beautiful women on this planet. But amazing works too" she replied and kissed him.
They got in the limo and headed that way but got stuck in traffic. Chuck took out his phone and called Nate putting it on speaker. .
"Did you reach anyone from APF?" Chuck asked
"I finally got ahold of an assistant, but they said they're only taking bids in person. How far away are you guys?"
"Ten blocks" Chuck replied. "Is there no way around this, like on the sidewalk?"
There was honking in the distance.
"Let's go" Elizabeth said opening the door.
"What are you doing?"
"I can run in heels Hun, let's go" she replied
"The babies?"
"Will be fine" she replied, and he kissed her.
"You are amazing" he replied, and they got out and started heading that direction.
They finally arrived as the bidding was going on. They ran in and Chuck bided. A guy came over with champagne and she shook her head no.
"I'm gonna find water" she said and kissed his cheek while he continued to bid.
It ended and she walked over.
"Your dad got it. Can you talk him out of it?"
"I can try" she replied kissing him.
"Did you find some water" he asked, and she nodded.
"Yes, but I would prefer we take the limo back home eventually" she replied. "I'm gonna go talk to my dad"
She walked over to see Ivy kissing him and walking away and Rufus and Lily talking. Then her dad walking away.
"Dad" she replied
"Rock star, what are you doing here?"
"You saw Chuck, right?"
"I did, I just didn't know you came with him" he replied.
"Well, I am married to him" she replied "Can we buy that painting from you and her?"
"Why do you want it?"
"Chuck thinks it might have the answers to taking down Bart" she replied. "And taking down Bart is what is best for our family"
She put her hand to her belly and his eyes got big.
"You're pregnant?"
"I am" she replied. "We didn't tell anyone because of…"
"The accident?"
"Yeah" she replied, and he hugged her and kissed the top of her head.
"I will talk to Ivy" he said.
"Thank you, dad," she smiled. "I should go find my husband"
"Okay" he smiled "I am so proud of you. With your band, and your businesses."
"Thank you" she replied.
They got home and released Drew. She took her shoes off and put them in the bedroom. She checked on Ella then came out and Nate was handing Chuck a glass of scotch and then handed her one.
"I will pass" she replied, and Chuck took it from her and set it down. He put his hand on her back and he and Nate clinked glasses.
"It's not like you to pass on Scotch" Nate replied.
Elizabeth looked at Chuck and kissed his cheek then turned to Nate.
"I won't be drinking for about 6 more months at least"
"You're pregnant?" he asked, and she nodded. "Congratulations!"
"With Twins" she replied.
"Wow" he replied.
"And like with Ella, we would love if you were their godfather" Chuck replied.
"Yes!"
"You are the only one that knows that its twins. We've told very few people about the pregnancy anyways. Well you and my dad" Elizabeth replied. "But my dad doesn't know about the twin's part"
He hugged them both and then looked over at the box with the guys taking the painting out.
"Enough about me" Elizabeth replied. "About the painting"
"So what do you expect to find?" Nate asked.
"The Financial records of Bart's oil deal. Which then I finally hand over to the FBI will ensure he spends the rest of his days playing pinochle with Bernie Madoff."
The guys took it out of the box. Chuck walked away from her and looked at the back.
"I guess it's not time to break out the handcuffs just yet."
"Where the hell is the envelope?"
"Maybe Traffic meant something else? Or we got the wrong painting."
"Lily was determined to get this one. She even tried to buy it back from Ivy and my dad" Elizabeth replied.
"Then someone took it off?"
"Then they got the evidence" Chuck replied.
"And we will figure that out" Elizabeth replied leaning on his shoulder and kissing his cheek.
The Beatles sang, "Living is easy with eyes closed. But even with our eyes open, we all still have blind spots. Or maybe we're just looking in the wrong place. But when we finally do see the light, its strawberry fields forever.
X.O.X.O Gossip Girl