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There was a screen shot of Gossip Girl with a picture from 2.25, in Nate/Noe's apartment, with Noe, Nate, Hope, Alex, Brooklyn, Thyra, Dylan, Wyatt, James, Zaya, Sadie, Blair, Chuck, Nate and Carter stood in front of the glass walls, a little further up than Marie, not noticing her behind them.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Gossip Girl here. Your one and only source into the scandalous lives of Manhattan's elite."

From 3.09 "They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They?", in the loft, Dan, Olivia and Vanessa had looked at the college list.

"I think we got a solid 14 out of 15," Dan stated.

Vanessa watched as Dan and Olivia kissed. Dan turned his head to watch as Olivia leaned closer to Vanessa and they started to kiss. The three of them looked between each other, before Dan and Vanessa got closer to each other, and started to kiss.

Olivia: (voice over from 3.09 They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They?) "I am not going with just one more to go."

From 3.09 "They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They?", in the political office, Tripp offered Noe some food. Noe took some, and Tripp brushed his hand on Noe's. Noe stepped back, sitting down in a chair.

Nate: (voice over from 2.19 The Grandfather) "Tripp may be a little creepy, but he used to have a crush on you when we were kids, but you didn't like him."

Tripp looked at her for a moment while she was eating, sliding closer. Noe raised her gaze, looking surprised. Tripp stood next to Noe, showing her the speech, a little too close. Noe seemed to notice and was a little alarmed but not knowing what to say or do.

Nate: (voice over from 2.19 The Grandfather) "But Tripp's happy with Maureen, I think."

From 2.19 "The Grandfather", at the Vanderbilt reunion, Noe walked away. Tripp turned and watched her go, watching the fight between Noe and Nate, smirking slightly, taking a drink.

Nate: (voice over from 2.20 Remains of the J) "Tripp started a fight between you and me."

From 3.09 "They Should Humphreys, Don't They?", in Tripp's office, Tripp looked at Noe. "Do I make you uncomfortable? I find you smart and charming and funny, and pretty much the strongest girl I know, and I wanted to help you out. But having you here? I didn't realize how much it would effect me." Noe realized what he meant, in shock, overwhelmed, looking down. Tripp looked at her intensely. "Say something." Noe turned toward the door. Tripp grabbed her arm to stop her. "Noe, wait."

Noe took her arm away, backing away. "Please. It--it's fine. Excuse me."

From 3.09 "They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They?", at cotillion, Noe and Marie were talking.

Noe shook her head. "I don't know if I can trust him."

Marie looked at her in concern. "If this isn't nothing, then it could turn out pretty dark. I don't want to take that chance."

From 3.09 "They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They?", in Tripp's office, Noe looked at Tripp. "I came to say that I quit."

Tripp sighed, nodding. "I completely understand why you'd want to quit after what I said today. But don't throw this away, Noe. Harry told me about what you and Nate told everyone tonight." Noe looked away. "I know that you're pregnant. And that you wanted to take this job because you wanted to make Nate and your baby proud." Noe bit her lip. "You wanted to work to prove to yourself that you were ready for the world without constantly being looked after, right? And you don't want to let Nate or the baby down. You deserve this opportunity. And I want you there."

Noe wasn't aware that he was using the things he said to manipulate her to not quitting, because what he said was still true. "I don't want to disappoint Nate or this baby. And I do want to prove myself. I want to prove to my mom of all people that I can do this. Work, have a baby, and everything else."

From 3.09 "They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They?", in the hospital, Emilia explained to Angela. "It is the contract that Giovanni had sent to me. He managed to get the Silence to agree to a pardon for all of us, as long as we agreed to their terms. The terms of our pardon is that... we all stay out of the business of the Silence. Out of everything. Which means... they don't want us looking for Giselle. They don't want Hope, Thyra and Aurora looking for who could have killed Thyra's parents. And they don't want James and Carter looking for who had their sister Caroline killed in the car crash that James was also in. And if they catch any of us still looking, then the pardon would be revoked and we would all be in danger again. Including Alex Archibald, Brooklyn Bass and Harry Vanderbilt, after they helped us in Rome."

From 3.09 "They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They?", in the Waldorf penthouse, Hope, Thyra, Aurora, Angela and Emilia used the marker to put their bloody thumb prints on the contract, and the next day, James and Carter did the same.

Angela: (voice over from 3.09 They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They?) "We all have to sign, don't we?"

From 3.09 "They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They?", in the Waldorf penthouse, Aurora looked at Harry. "It's not fair, Harry. To any of us."

Harry looked at her sadly. "I know it's not."

Harry looked at Aurora sympathetically, putting an arm around her in an embrace. Aurora returned the embrace, leaning her head on his shoulder.

From 3.07 "How to Succeed in Bassness", in the vault/club during the party, Jenny, seeing that Eric was watching, took Beck by the jacket and brought him into a kiss. Beck was shocked, and Eric was stunned, hurt and angry, even a bit jealous though he didn't want to admit it. Beck broke the kiss off before walking away. Jenny turned to look at Eric, smirking, winking, walking away.

Zaya: (voice over from 3.07 How to Succeed in Bassness) "Jenny kissed Beck in front of Eric even though knowing Beck likes Eric and Eric is his friend."

From 3.07 "How to Succeed in Bassness", in the Rhodes/Bass apartment, Zaya, Sadie and Eric were confronting Jenny while Marie tried to stop the fighting.

Eric looked at Jenny. "If you did this to Beck and Jonathan to get back at me for telling our parents, what are you gonna do to Zaya and Sadie, since I told Mom to ask them what you did? They're the ones that explained everything."

"And if you try anything against us, we will retaliate and take you down," Sadie told her.

"Jenny, what the hell are you doing?" Marie asked.

Jenny looked at Marie in annoyance. "You know, you might be our sister and you're new but that doesn't mean you know me or any of us."

Zaya, Sadie and Eric glared at Jenny for hurting Marie like that.

"I want nothing to do with you in either world," Eric told her.

Zaya scoffed, placing her hands together briefly. "You know, we were wrong to think that this could work. You as princess with us."

Jenny nodded. "Finally, something we agree on. But I'm not giving up my spot. In fact, if you four don't give it your all, I might take over completely."

"If you want to have a war to see who remains on top, trust me, you will lose," Zaya told her.

From 3.08 "The Grandfather: Part 2", in the hallway of the Empire, Vincent pushed Marie against the wall, chuckling at the sight of her wriggling to get away, unable to break his hold on her because he was far too strong for her. When Marie tried to hit him with her free hand, Vincent clamped her other wrist in the same hand he held the first, twisting her arms painfully, taking advantage of her weakened arm and nearly sprained it, making her groan in pain, pinning her arms to the wall over her head, bringing his free hand up to hold the side of her neck, causing her to tense up, kissing her deeply.

Marie: (voice over from 3.08 The Grandfather: Part 2) "Vincent took pleasure in scaring the living hell out of me, knowing that I couldn't stop him. He never left me alone back home, and he wasn't going to leave me alone here until he was locked up."

From 3.08 "The Grandfather: Part 2", in the party, Brittany had the security guards handcuffing Vincent.

Vincent scoffed, laughing evilly. "You and your alters want to do this to me, Marie? Just remember that I always come back and it gets worse every time I do, no matter how long it takes. Who knows what new personality you'll get the next time something really horrible happens? Like the one you have where you're paid to date clients like a prostitute. And you have to wonder if your claim that I raped you is really true or not when you take in that fact. Slut. You might have everyone thinking that I'm the crazy one, but if they all knew about your DID, multiple personalities, they would know that you are."

Brittany was furious, pushing Vincent forward into the cake in front of him while the guards were handcuffing him. Everyone in the crowd exclaimed, including the rest of the Crew. The guards pulled Vincent up, as he had cake and icing all over his face. Marie watched the guards take Vincent away to be arrested in relief.

Marie: (voice over from 3.08 The Grandfather: Part 2) "Everyone's gonna know. Gossip Girl, blogs. Everyone's gonna treat me like I'm crazy."

From 3.08 "The Grandfather: Part 2", in the hallway of the Empire, Marie looked at Laureen. "The police will think that I'm making up what he did to me because what he said about Brittany dating Prince and the disorder. The only thing he's in jail for right now is that he broke a restraining order."

From 3.09 "They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They?", multiple scenes, Marie saw hallucinations of Vincent.

Vincent: (voice over from 3.09 They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They) "Every time I did something like I did at that party, you would see me for days or weeks after it happened, like a lasting impression."

From 3.06 "All About Marie", in Dominic's office, Laureen and Dominic looked at each other intensely for a long moment, before Laureen finally gave in to what she felt and what she wanted when she took Dominic by the front of his shirt and pulled him closer. They met halfway in a fierce, passionate kiss. Dominic held the back of Laureen's head, and Laureen wrapped an arm around his neck as they continued to make out.

Laureen: (voice over from 3.07 How to Succeed in Bassness) "I wanted to wait until all of this was over with Richard, so that we didn't risk setting him off more."

From 3.07 "How to Succeed in Bassness", in Dominic's room, Laureen and Dominic were kissing, hooking up.

Dominic: (voice over from 3.07 How to Succeed in Bassness) "That was until Zaya and Sadie convinced you not to wait so that you could be happy now."

From 3.08 "The Grandfather: Part 2", in Dominic's home, Zaya, Sadie, Laureen and Dominic were having a meal.

Sadie shrugged. "Well, there's nothing wrong with fairytales. Everyone ends up happily ever after."

"Well, after this nightmare is over for real..." Dominic trailed off. "I wish that the three of you get that happily ever after."

Zaya smirked, raising an eyebrow, taking a sip of mimosa. "With you?"

Laureen and Dominic chuckled at their bluntness and persistency.

Laureen smiled. "I guess we'll see how it goes."

Zaya and Sadie smiled. Dominic chuckled, shaking his head, smiling.

From 3.07 "How to Succeed in Bassness", in the hotel, Serena opened the curtains to reveal Dan and Olivia kissing to the paparazzi that James had gathered. "Look, everyone, it's Olivia Burke kissing her boyfriend, Dan Humphrey."

Brittany realized she could help, smirking, looking at Carter. "Remember what I said about open relationships?"

"Yeah," Carter answered, confused on where she was going with this.

Brittany smirked, winking, stepping closer to Prince, speaking to the press. "I'm dating Prince Shea."

Brittany gave Serena and James a helpful look, smirking, winking. Serena and James smiled at the fact that Brittany wanted to help them. Carter nodded in amusement, looking away.

Marie/Brittany: (voice over from 3.08 The Grandfather: Part 2) "Marie has a thing with Carter Baizen, and I do like him too, and we might have a thing."

Prince, also relieved with the plan to get out of the fake relationship with Olivia, took off his hat, tossing it aside, taking Brittany in his arms with a hand on her back and on the back of her head, dipping her down as they kissed, with all the photographers taking pictures.

Prince: (voice over from 3.08 The Grandfather: Part 2) "So you want to continue fake dating me?"

From 3.08 "The Grandfather: Part 2", in the party, Brittany and Prince were talking.

Brittany shrugged sheepishly, smiling. "Well, it doesn't have to be fake dating, but we don't have to be officially together 'together' if you don't want to." She smirked teasingly. "You know what friends with benefits mean, right?"

Prince stepped closer, smirking. "Obviously. And I'd be up to that with you. If it meant being very close friends with a lot of benefits."

Brittany smirked. "Well, you'll learn how close I can be and how many benefits I have to offer."

From 3.09 "They Should Humphreys, Don't They?", multiple scenes, the press and paparazzi were following Sadie and Marie around, especially when they were with the others from the Rhodes girls or the Crew, before and during cotillion.

Sadie: (voice over from 3.03 The Lost CruSadie) "I cannot be in the spotlight. My father is already on a rampage, and he's pissed about me and Zaya getting on Gossip Girl. If my dad finds out about this because I'm in the spotlight because of you, he could really lose it more than he already has."

From 3.08 "The Grandfather: Part 2", there was flashes of things Sadie and Preston did together, including hiding from paparazzi, taking an unknown car to get away while wearing disguises, having a photo op, driving in the middle of nowhere, losing the car to the mud pool, playing around in the lake to get clean, and walking back to Coney Island.

Sadie: (voice over from 3.08 The Grandfather: Part 2) "I'm liking this Bonnie and Clyde vibe."

Preston: (voice over from 3.08 The Grandfather: Part 2) "Me too."

From 3.08 "The Grandfather: Part 2", at lakeside, Sadie and Preston were talking.

Sadie explained about her family situation to Preston. "Our father's side of the family is really sketchy and dangerous. Including our father. He had a psychotic break, and we don't know how far he's willing to go. And I have a heart condition. It is manageable, but a couple more of situations like with my dad could either put me in the hospital or in the ground."

From 3.08 "The Grandfather: Part 2", at Coney Island, Preston and Sadie walked back on the beach.

"I think you're amazing," Preston told her.

Sadie smiled. "I think you're amazing too."

Preston and Sadie looked at each other, smiling slightly, and almost drawn in to a near kiss, before Sadie felt winded, and had to take a step back, a hand to her chest. Preston led Sadie over to Zaya and Laureen, a hand on her back. As they did, a photographer was taking pictures of them from the bushes.

From 3.09 "They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They?", in the Shea mansion, the Sheas were on video call with Alan Smith.

"How do we make the story go away?" Simon asked.

"Prince, you say that you broke up with Marie and whatever alters you're seeing," Alan told him. "Preston, you say you don't know Sadie."

"You want us to lie?" Preston asked skeptically.

"Marie, Brittany, Andrea, Lacy and Nick did nothing wrong," Prince told him. "And I actually like Brittany. Preston likes Sadie."

"Say whatever you have to say, because I promise you, either you cut ties with the girls, or these movies," Alan told them.

From 3.09 "They Should Humphreys, Don't They?", in the Shea mansion, Prince and Preston had been watching Sadie and Marie on TV, both looking upset at what they were going through, along with the alters.

Prince sighed. "They seriously need to back off of Marie, Lacy, Andrea, Brittany and Nick. It's not their fault. That was the whole reason I lied about breaking up with Brittany, so that I could try to get the press to leave them alone because of how horrible they can be to them. Why'd Sadie lie? Why did you lie?"

"There's so many things with her dad, Zaya and Laureen..." Preston trailed off. "I don't even know how to explain."

Prince sighed. "You're having to stay away from Sadie because of family drama, and I have to be on the outs with Brittany because of all of this."

From 3.08 "The Grandfather: Part 2", at the Silence gathering, Carter saw Richard talking with other men, smirking, nodding. Carter was stunned to see Richard, but looking like everything was starting to make sense.

Carter: (voice over from 3.08 The Grandfather: Part 2) "Now that we know Richard's in the Silence..."

From 3.08 "The Grandfather: Part 2", at the party, James was on the phone with Carter. "Zaya, Sadie and Laureen have been in more danger than we've even realized."

From 3.08 "The Grandfather: Part 2", in the party, Brooklyn, Thyra and James were explaining to Zaya and Sadie.

"The Silence people are basically above the law with all their contacts in police forces and psychiatric centers, and... that explains why Laureen, Aurora and Dominic could never take down... your father," Brooklyn told them.

Zaya had to take a deep breath, in shock. "Our dad's in the Silence? Okay, we had to learn that our dad had an affair with a woman and got her pregnant, and she died in a house fire, our unborn half sibling died in a house fire, and that's why Dad snapped and he's done everything he's done. And now we find out we can't stop him because he's in the organization that is targeting some of our closest friends? Dad could snap, and he could end up hurting us or Mom or Dominic."

From 3.09 "They Should Humphreys, Don't They?", at cotillion, Jane walked up to Jenny. "Are you really gonna let them get away with this, humiliating you like this? You wanted to get queen, right? I think I know how you can do that. Getting back at Zaya like this is the only way you're gonna prove to people that you can be the better queen than her, Brooklyn and Thyra, and better princess than Sadie. Do you wanna win or not?"

Jenny hesitated, conflicted, but she was furious and embarrassed enough that she didn't know what else to do. She took the recording, and sent to Gossip Girl. Jane smirked smugly.

From 3.09 "They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They?", at cotillion, the blast outing Zaya's sexuality was released, horrifying the Crew/family. Zaya was breathing heavily, starting to have a panic attack, knowing how Richard would react, and knowing how dangerous it could get, starting to cry, while Brooklyn, Noe, Marie, Hope, Serena and Sadie were there with Zaya to make sure that she didn't completely break down, Eric, Blair and Thyra tried to help her as much as they could, while Alex, Dylan, Wyatt, James, Nate, Chuck and Carter were completely in shock and standing around them, all being there for her. Laureen and Dominic were trying to help Zaya but didn't know what was going on.

Sadie was furious, walking up to Jenny, slapping her hard in the face. "You have no idea what you just did. How bad this really is. You just made your biggest mistake."

From 3.09 "They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They?", outside cotillion, Zaya looked at Richard. "What are you gonna do now, Dad? Yell, fight, hit me, keep Sadie's life over my head and Mom's head so that whatever happens to her is our fault? It's not our fault, Dad, it's yours."

Sadie was crying and holding her chest, having shortness of breath. Zaya and Laureen were worried and fearful of what could happen. Sadie took several deep breaths demonstrated by Laureen and Zaya as they were trying desperately to calm her down.

From 3.09 "They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They?", in the street, in the rain, Richard looked at Laureen, seething. "You don't want to push me, Laureen. You know what can happen if you do. Don't think that I don't know that you, Zaya and Sadie know the truth about me now. About the Silence. And don't think for a second that they won't make me deal with the three of you. Or Dominic."

Laureen turned to leave, but Richard pulled her back, grabbing her head and kissing her forcefully. Laureen pushed Richard away from her, disgusted. Richard laughed evilly. Laureen wiped her mouth, storming away down the street. Richard watched her go with a smirk, adjusting his tie.

Laureen stopped, considering what he just did, grabbing a steel trash can from the sidewalk, turning around, throwing it forcefully through a building window next to Richard. Richard cowered away, trying to fend off the glass, looking up at Laureen. Laureen glared at him coldly. "Next time, it'll be your head."

Laureen stepped on glass as she made her away to leave. Richard watched her go, amused.

In the closing, there was a screen shot of the Gossip Girl website, with two pictures side by side. The first picture was of Noe and Nate at cotillion when they told everyone about Noe being pregnant, and the second picture was of Zaya, Sadie, Laureen and Richard outside cotillion, arguing, both in 3.09.

The headline read: World War Rhodes

The caption underneath the picture read: As if lies, drama and secrets weren't enough for this elite Manhattan family. Yesterday at cotillion changed everything for everyone in many different ways. First of all, I have news for all of you that's going to make you cry and cheer in joy, and news that will likely ruin lives. Noe van der Woodsen is trading her designer threads for maternity clothes. Having a child with Nate Archibald. Looks like Noe won't be hitting the runways after she starts to show, so while she's on hiatus from working with Waldorf Designs, she's working with Nate and Alex's cousin Tripp Vanderbilt. Wonder if that's going to be something to look into. In other news, Marie Rosson and the alters have been brutally crucified by the public and press due to her ex Vincent Sinclair outing her DID secret some time ago, and she had to even break up with movie star Prince Shea, though it looks like Dark Prince Carter Baizen is helpfully taking care of his Queen of Hearts. But for how long would they stay safe? The other news, the devastating, of course has to do with the von Miller portion of the Rhodes family. With Sadie's secret rendezvous with Preston Shea revealed, and Jenny Humphrey going to war with Zaya and Sadie, going as far to out Zaya through my website, it seems like Zaya, Sadie and Laureen, and Dominic Driton, all have more to worry about with Richard than ever. That was never my intention. I'm very sorry, ladies. I wish you the best of luck and hope you all stay safe.

X•O°X•O

Worlds Colliding (Gossip Girl)

X•O°X•O

Day One

Day - Ostroff Center - Laureen's Office

Laureen and Marie sat in Laureen's office.

"I can't believe we didn't start these sooner," Marie told her.

"Neither can I," Laureen agreed. "But I'm glad that you finally came to me, Marie."

"Yeah, so am I," Marie stated. "I didn't want to sooner because I know that you had enough to deal with, Laureen. With Zaya, Sadie and Richard, and Dominic, and..."

Laureen shook her head. "It's not your place to worry about that. And I can always make time to help any of you. All right?"

Marie nodded. "Okay."

"You said that people were giving you a hard time ever since Vincent outed your disorder to the public," Laureen told her.

Marie nodded. "Most people don't think it's the truth. They called me crazy and a liar. This quote reminds me of what people reacted like a lot. 'Even with good people, even with people you can kinda trust, when the truth is inconvenient, they don't believe it. Even if they really care about you, they just... they just don't."

"You know that we believe you," Laureen told her. Marie nodded. "We help by understanding, reassurance, coping with tools you'll need for the rest of your life. Or lives. Being truthful. All things the police did not do for you. To serve and protect. I've seen what you've gone through, Marie. How you've switched and dissociated and parts of yourself were brought forth. And I just want to be here for you, and Brittany, Andrea, Lacy and Nick."

"That makes you the best therapist we've had already, Laureen," Marie told her. "The other ones couldn't care less. My adoptive parents couldn't. And I hate any form of attachment to them I have left. Including my last name. I want to change it. Like you, Zaya and Sadie want to change your last names after all of this is over, because you don't want any connection with Richard after this is over."

"Would you like to use the last name Rhodes, like Zaya, Sadie and I would?" Laureen asked.

Marie nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, I think that would be better. Because already this side of my family has been better to me than my adoptive family. Besides my sister Andrea, of course."

"Of course," Laureen agreed. "I believe burdens were placed on you by people who didn't love you as well as you deserve to be loved. And that's what we're here to discuss. How I might help you carry those burdens a little more lightly or maybe even lay some of them down. But this is your time, and we have a few minutes if there's something you want to tell me about what happened. I would love to listen. So basically you were relentlessly bullied as a child by your peers ever since preschool, hurt and nearly killed at young ages, and you were punished severely by your adoptive parents for things you didn't do, you were assaulted more than once by your ex-boyfriend and now stalker, once was an attempt to rape, and the second was actual. And he's followed you and hurt you other times because he couldn't let you go."

"Yeah," Marie answered.

"I'm so sorry, Marie," Laureen told her sadly.

"It's not your fault, Laureen," Marie told her.

"It's brave of you to revisit it," Laureen told her. "That's not easy. Thank you for trusting me. Can I ask you one thing before we finish?"

"Okay," Marie answered.

"Understanding that none of this was your fault, it was a horrible situation that was imposed on you, I wonder if there's something of value you can take from it," Laureen told her. "This might not be the last time in your life that you're misunderstood or mistrusted. I just wonder if there's a way to think about it, about how you might manage this kind of injustice if it were to happen again."

"It always happens again," Marie told her.

"What do you mean?" Laureen asked.

"Vincent," Marie answered. "I don't think he ever cared about me. Not enough. Not enough to stop himself from going psycho and doing things to me. To us. He... after that last night, when he..." She forced herself to speak the word, very monotone, because she was fearful if she let emotion into her voice, she wouldn't be able to speak at all. "Raped me. It wasn't the last time I saw him. He would follow me. Follow us. He watched us from a distance. He knew about all of my alters and their triggers and he knew how to use them against us in the worst way possible. Making us feel so sick, so dizzy, so disoriented that we couldn't fight back. But Andrea helped stop him every time."

"Until Andrea passed away," Laureen finished sadly, sympathetic.

Marie nodded. "Yes. This last time, he didn't know that I had an alter for Andrea, because I hadn't started seeing you officially. When I was seeing him in my head, and I went to see him to try to get him out of my mind, he admitted to me that he looked at the notes about me, the files my past therapists had on me, to know everything about me. Including that I would see him for days or weeks after he did something like that like a lasting impression. He knew that I was going to go see him because of it, to try to get him out of my head. Said that he knew me better than I knew myself. And... it's like... between Vincent, and his outing of my disorder, the press and how the public treats me, when all I want to do is be happy with Carter and tell him how I really feel, and Brittany wants to be with Prince... but all I see is sky and water to the horizon, and it's like, how much longer am I gonna have to swim?"

Laureen was very worried, empathetic for her niece, trying to be there for her and help her through all of this as much as she could. "We all have parts that scare us, Marie. Parts that we're afraid to look at. Parts that we run from because we are just too scared to look at them. But we can't not look. And we can't not say it. And if we can't say it with words, then... you're an artist in other ways, right? You said that Nick can write stories, and Brittany can write songs, and Lacy can draw. You and Andrea have those talents too. You find another way. And there is always another way. You won't swim forever, Marie. I promise."

Marie shed a few tears, but nodded gratefully for Laureen helping her, wiping her tears away. Laureen and Marie both stood, and shared an embrace.

X • O ° X • O

Waldorf Penthouse - Living Room

Hope, Dylan, Thyra, Brooklyn, Wyatt, Blair, Chuck, Carter and James were here with Theo.

Chuck sat down with a drink in his hand. "So I see out of us Waldorf-Diamond-Baizen-Basses, the only ones that don't have their lovers here today are Hope, Carter and James. Alex, Marie and Serena being the ones missing, of course. The fact that we can all be paired off with Archibalds and Rhodes, and the other Rhodes sister Noe is with the other Archibald brother Nate, that's got to say something. Especially since Nevaeh and Nathaniel are having a child together."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Hope told him. "So what's on the agenda today?"

"I'm adding new recruits to my student army," Blair answered. "Apparently at NYU, no one cares if your forefathers made pumpkin pie at Plymouth. They only care if they made profits at Paramount."

Chuck nodded in understanding. "Ah, the Tisch kids."

"Spawn of moguls and movie stars," Wyatt agreed. "Yesterday, Blair sent a first edition 'No Exit' script to their leader, Paul Hoffman. Today, we'll secure the alliance."

Blair smiled. "Wyatt promised to help."

"Anyone else interested in tagging along?" Wyatt asked.

"I got classes at FIT," Hope told them.

"I've gotta head to SVA," James agreed.

Thyra came up with an excuse to not go. "Uh, Brooklyn?"

"Thyra and I have to get to Constance, while Dylan gets to blow it off because of Theo," Brooklyn added. "Even though Angela could watch him."

"Angela's not here at the moment, is she?" Dylan replied smugly. "I'm with Theo right now. You, Thyra, Zaya and Sadie have good luck at school though, Brooklyn. And I'm sure Blair and Wyatt will have good luck at Tisch."

"I'd love to, but a high-ranking diplomat has asked me, Brooklyn and Dylan to show his son around New York," Chuck explained. "But with Brooklyn, Thyra, Zaya and Sadie needing to deal with things at school, and Dylan being here with Theo while Angela's out, I guess that leaves me. We need to build up our continental clientele, so it looks like we're Statue of Liberty-bound."

Carter shrugged. "I just don't wanna go." They others weren't surprised by Carter's response, smirking slightly in amusement. "But oh, the sacrifices you all make for success."

"Hey, does Angela actually stay here?" Brooklyn asked.

"Not anymore, not since Angela's mostly healed," Thyra answered.

"No, Angela's staying at that old abandoned clocktower again that we saw her in last year," James explained. "Obviously she leaves Theo here, but..."

"Angela didn't say anything about going back to the clocktower," Dylan told them, concerned.

Hope tilted her head. "Mom, Thyra and I were thinking about buying Angela's clocktower. For her and Theo."

"Really?" Carter asked.

"Yeah," Thyra answered. "We can remake it into a home for Angela, with plenty of space for anyone who could also want to be there for her, or with her, including extra rooms for Theo if he wants to stay there while growing up. We just have to talk to Alex about architect designs."

"Well, if Dylan, Chuck and I can help, let us know," Brooklyn told them.

"Absolutely," Dylan agreed. "No mother of my child is going to be living in squalor."

They all smiled.

Wyatt nodded in agreement. "I'm in full support of this idea. It can be another Diamond-Bass-Archibald team up for the future. Hope, Thyra and Aurora with buying Angela's clocktower, Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck with helping for real estate, and Alex helping with the building and designs."

"Sounds like a good plan," James agreed. "I'm sure Angela will approve."

Blair chuckled. "She better. Angela's still healing, even if she's healed enough to go back there."

Carter chuckled. "Right."

"Hey, Carter," Dylan told him. "Where's Marie?"

"Marie, the alters and Laureen had their first official session this morning," Carter answered.

The others nodded in understanding.

"So  Marie's getting the help she needs," Brooklyn stated. "Laureen's helping her and the alters. That's good."

"After everything Marie and the alters went through, yeah," James agreed.

"So now that we know Marie's okay, what about Zaya, Sadie and Laureen?" Wyatt asked. "And Dominic? Are they okay?"

"I wouldn't necessarily say that Marie's okay, but Zaya and Sadie are in denial about whatever their father could do to them, Laureen and Dominic, and they're just trying to focus on damage control at school after what Jenny did," Thyra answered.

Hope shook her head, disappointed and disgusted with what her adoptive sister did. "I can't believe she outed Zaya, and Sadie had to go to the hospital after her chest and heart pains. Luckily her vessel didn't grow, but still, that could have killed her. And Laureen and Dominic are in danger too, so... between everything that went down with them and Marie..."

"Yeah," Blair agreed sadly. "But Marie and the alters are getting help from Laureen, and we might not know how to protect Zaya, Sadie, Laureen and Dominic yet, but we can eventually, right?"

The others sighed, not knowing. 

"Zaya, Sadie and Laureen can defend themselves, to an extent," Chuck pointed out. "Dominic Driton, not so much. Where's Angela?"

"Dylan and I gave Angela the day off so she could go drink and have a little bit of fun, like she did with us when we went to lost weekend with Alex, James, Nate, Chuck and Carter," Wyatt answered.

"Angela gave me and Wyatt the day off while she watched Theo, so the least we could do was the same," Dylan pointed out. The others nodded in agreement. "Wyatt, you are the kindest man I have ever had the pleasure to love. You would be an amazing father. You would feed the child, bathe him, care for him in the middle of the night."

"What would you do?" Hope asked.

Dylan smirked. "Me? I'm the fun dad."

The others laughed at that.

Brooklyn nodded in amusement, unsurprised. "Right, yeah."

"Carter, you didn't bombard Marie with the Vincent issue the night of cotillion, right?" Thyra asked.

"No, I didn't," Carter answered. "Marie's the one that brought it up. And we talked it through. So..."

"You're really worried about her," Blair stated.

"You know, Carter, I know that you liked to lead girls on, in the past," James told him. "And girls fell for it because they thought you were cute, or funny, or that they'd actually get something out of it, other than a bad reputation." Carter turned to face James, raising his eyebrows. "But Marie's been through hell and back, and this thing you two have, it seems like it's been the best thing that's happened to her in a while. And she's the best thing that's ever happened to you."

"You think I don't know that?" Carter asked in amusement. "I do care about her, James. I really... really care about Marie. For real, okay? And like you said, she's been through so much. I don't know if I'm making it better or not, but..."

Chuck smirked, scratching his chin, raising an eyebrow. "You love her, Carter. You love Marie. It's more obvious than when Blair and I were before we even said the words."

Hope smiled a bit. "Chuck's right. We all know it, Carter. You know it, but you haven't said it. Neither has Marie, even though we all know she feels the same. I think you're really good for her."

"So do I," Brooklyn agreed. "And I get why you haven't said it, Carter. You don't want to overwhelm her. And maybe Marie hasn't said it because she's not ready for that kind of vulnerability after everything she's been through."

"But, uh..." Wyatt trailed off. "Yeah. We all know that you and Marie love each other, Carter."

Chuck nodded in agreement. "It's pretty obvious."

Carter just crossed his arms, not answering.

The elevator doors opened, and Eleanor walked in. "Where is that precious little baby?"

Blair and Wyatt were surprised. "Mom!"

Hope, James, Thyra and Carter were also surprised. "Eleanor."

"What is she doing back?" Brooklyn asked. "Did you guys tell her?"

"What would we tell her?" Blair asked.

"Oh, I'll get to all of you next," Eleanor told them, turning to look at Theo, smiling. "Oh, he's just a big old pile of love."

Carter smirked. "Yeah, I don't think that that's love that you're smelling."

Chuck scratched his head. "Mm."

Eleanor took Theo to hold. "Okay, who wants to explain to me why I had to hear that I was technically a grandma while I was getting off the flight home from Paris? Unlike all of you, Dorota knows when I should know these things."

Dylan made a face. "Uh-oh."

"Well..." Hope trailed off.

"Thing is..." Thyra trailed off.

James scratched his head. "Yeah, about that..."

The kids didn't answer, smiling awkwardly.

X • O ° X • O

Bar

(Song:) Telephone - Lady Gaga 

Brittany had switched out, and she was having fun, dancing in the bar on the dance floor, looking very confident and sexy but without overdoing it, looking very at ease and natural, singing along to the song. "Just a second, it's my favorite song they're gonna play / And I cannot text you with a drink in my hand, eh /  You shoulda made some plans with me / You knew that I was free / And now you won't stop calling me / I'm kinda busy / Stop callin', stop callin' / I don't wanna think any more / I left my head and heart on the dance floor / Stop callin', stop callin' / I don't wanna talk anymore / I left my head and my heart on the dance floor / Tonight I'm not taking no calls 'cause I'll be dancing."

While Brittany was dancing, she saw Angela across the bar, and Angela clearly looked amused and impressed, smirking in amusement, drinking. Brittany and Angela were clearly intrigued by the other. Prince walked into the bar, looking around, seeing Brittany dancing on the dance floor, smirking, unsurprised. Brittany saw Prince, surprised but happy to see him.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "As a famed literary liar once told Oprah, memory is subjective. Memories can be embellished or denied. But as James Frey knows all too well, the truth always comes out."

Brittany smirked, grabbing her jacket from the nearby table, slinging it over her shoulder, walking toward the bar with a sway in her step, sitting down, nodding for Prince to come over.

Prince walked closer, sitting down next to Brittany. "You know exactly what to do to get a guy to miss you, huh?"

Brittany smirked. "You know it."

Prince chuckled. "How much for a broken heart with a side of regret?"

Brittany smiled a bit. "Um, more than you wanna know."

Prince nodded knowingly. "I'm sorry about all of this. I wanted to talk to you before, but I never got the chance. I mean, with cotillion, our hectic lives."

"I know," Brittany agreed. "And I know why you and Preston lied, Prince."

Prince nodded. "Preston lied because he was trying to protect Sadie, plus Zaya and Laureen, from her father. And I liked, thinking that if I did, the press would leave you alone, and Marie, Lacy, Andrea and Nick. But I was wrong, since clearly they're still hooked on you, and I'm sorry for that, Brittany."

"You don't have to be," Brittany told him. "I mean, I know you lied to try and protect us too. To get people to stop harassing us. It was a good attempt, even though it didn't technically work. Thanks for trying though."

"Yeah," Prince stated. "Wish there was something else I could do to try to make people leave you guys alone."

"Well, that's not exactly your job, is it?" Brittany asked, smiling a bit. "It's okay. I actually like hanging out with you. The sex and stuff."

"Yeah, so do I," Prince agreed. 'And if you'd like to be with me, even not exclusively, I'd like that. For real. Doesn't have to be strings. I don't want my family or managers to have control over me, or you for that matter. I wanna be with you."

Brittany smiled. "You'd really risk the wrath of your parents and managers and risk losing movies because of me?"

Prince smirked, nodding. "Yeah. I would. People that are meant to be together always find their way in the end, right?"

Brittany bit her lip, smiling. "Right. You and Andrea might be friends with benefits, but you and I are a little more than that, huh?"

"That's very true," Prince agreed. "And if that's what you two want, I'm cool with that. If you want us as two friends hanging out, then we'll be two friends hanging out. If you want it to be dating, it'll be dating. Or somewhere in between like we're talking about now. Especially since we have to meet halfway with the alters, Marie and Carter anyway." Brittany nodded in agreement. "I just want to be with you, somehow, someway, even if it's not completely. See you laugh, and smile. Sometimes maybe be the reason behind it." Brittany couldn't help but grin, causing Prince to smile in return. "See, there it is. You think you can handle that, Brittany?"

Brittany smirked. "Oh, I can handle a lot more than you think, Prince."

Prince smirked. "I don't doubt it. Do you, about this?"

Brittany shook her head. "No. I don't doubt it. I want this. To have some sort of chance between us. Even if it's not fully realized yet, but the possibility in the future. So non-exclusive."

"Yeah," Prince answered. "I'm not sure you're gonna be able to handle the whole 'non-exclusive' thing though."

Brittany raised her eyebrows. "You don't say."

"Well, I mean, you know, pretty soon you're obviously gonna fall for me and then you're gonna have to break up with all those other guys or girls and that's just gonna get messy," Prince told her, teasing.

Brittany smiled, laughing, causing Prince to smile because that was his goal, playing along. "I see. I think you're the one that has to worry about falling for me and breaking up with other girls or guys, Prince. Not me. I think we'll both be fine."

"You sure?" Prince asked.

"I'm sure," Brittany answered.

They both smiled. Brittany bit her lip, thinking, placing a hand on Prince's cheek, and leaning closer to kiss him. Prince was surprised but kissed back.

(Song Ends)

X • O ° X • O

Street

(Song:) Bitch - Ruby Amanfu

Laureen, Aurora and Emilia were walking down the street, speaking.

"So Hope's adoptive sister outed your daughter Zaya at cotillion, and it caused an eruption between you two, your other daughter Sadie, and your husband from the Silence," Emilia stated. "And your boyfriend Dominic Driton helped you three find out about Richard's affair with a woman who he got pregnant and died in a house fire and that caused the psychotic break that led to the downfall of your family. For a newcomer-know-all, that's quite a fast track record, Laureen."

Laureen nodded in agreement. "Yeah. All of this is pretty new to me, but I can't... I can't help but thinking that it feels better to know why all this happened, even if it hurts all the same."

Aurora nodded. "I think that's the same reason why Emilia and I want to know what we want to know, Laureen."

"About Giselle," Emilia agreed. "About Hope, Thyra and Aurora's family. James and Carter's sister Caroline. We all deserve to know the truth, Laureen. No matter how dark and how twisted and how devastating it might be. Angela's already avenged Ivan, but... I can't help but think that the Silence deserves a lot more vengeance than that, and we can't take it down. Not like this. I grew to hate the world after I lost my father and my brother to the same thing that I lost Giselle. Angela, Giselle, Ivan and Theo... they were the only things from this world that I didn't hate. And now I know that Angela and Theo will be safe, loved and welcomed with all of you."

Laureen hesitated, biting her lip. "Emilia, you've killed to protect Angela and Theo. And to try and avenge Ivan and try and find Giselle, and your father and brother. And Aurora, I know that you would kill if it meant protecting Hope, Thyra, Blair, Wyatt, James or Carter."

"Yeah," Aurora agreed. "What are you getting at?"

"Those are the lengths that the two of you would go, and I've gone far enough to bring Dominic into this mess before I realized how big it really was, to find out how to stop my husband, before I knew about the Silence," Laureen told them. "I tried to save my husband. And now that I know that there's no way in hell that I can have him locked away or committed... after cotillion, he almost caused Sadie's vessel to burst. She could have died. And Zaya was so broken. And he wanted to hurt them. He told me that the Silence would make him deal with them, with me and Dominic, if it came to it. And..."

"You're wondering if you have it in you to kill him, if that's what it came down to it," Emilia finished. "If it meant protecting yourself, Zaya, Sadie and Dominic."

Laureen swallowed, looking away. "I learned to defend myself, and Zaya and Sadie learned a great deal more than I did. So I know that I'm no angel. I'm not innocent and sweet in all of this. But I don't know if I can kill the man that I loved for 14 years."

"I know you could," Aurora told her. "Laureen, you forget that Harry, Thyra and I were the ones that taught you, Zaya and Sadie to fight. I know you have what it takes, especially with your daughters and Dominic on the line. Your husband doesn't deserve to be taken easy on after everything he's done. And you do have the heart of a fighter, of someone who's willing to do whatever it took to survive and protect the ones you love."

"From what Aurora tells me, you were willing to be a prisoner in your own home to protect Zaya and Sadie last year," Emilia told her. "Before you couldn't do it anymore. And Aurora had to give up Hope and stay away from her and Thyra most of their lives to protect them until she couldn't do that anymore. And I've gone to such lengths for Angela and Giselle. You may not think that you're ready to go that far, Laureen. But we both know that you are if it comes down to it."

Aurora shrugged. "People can call us stone cold hearted bitches because of the lengths we'll go, but it's for the right reasons. It's not because we can't feel love, it's because we love that much. Emilia for trying to find her father and brother and daughter and avenge her husband, and protect her other daughter and grandson. Because she's a child, sister, wife, mother and grandmother. And you and I, Laureen? We're both mothers that will do anything for the ones we love. And not just our daughters, or nieces, or nephew in your case with Eric, but the entire Crew because you and I, and Harry, are that protective over them." Laureen nodded in agreement. "And that's not something we have to be ashamed of."

"So we can be saints in the eyes of the Crew, but sinners in the eyes of everyone else because of what we'd do to protect them," Laureen stated. "The same way I'd protect Dominic and Eric too. We can be someone's hell or someone's dream, nothing in between. Richard called me a tease after he kissed me the night of cotillion by force, and I threw the steel trashcan at the window next to him in warning. And I don't feel guilty for that because he forced that on me. So I shouldn't have to feel guilty if he does something worse, and I have to do something worse. He's made me, Zaya and Sadie hurt and suffer for far too long, and I just need him out of our lives now."

"We've all been numb for too long," Emilia told them. "But now with things changing, we're revived. And we get to feel alive again. Even with the worst of circumstances as of late. If other people are stupid enough to try and contain or control us or the ones that we love... well, then, they'll get what they deserve one way or another. And on that note, I need to leave. I've said my goodbyes to Angela and Theo, a couple times already. And I need to head out to continue my search for Giselle, and try to help you with your issues involving the Silence as well. Richard, Caroline, Victoria, Matthew. All of it."

"Thank you, Emilia," Aurora told her.

Laureen, Aurora and Emilia all nodded, determined yet reliving everything they had gone through, as they headed their separate ways.

Emilia got into a car to drive away, reliving when she had to lose her father and her brother to sex slavery, the same thing she had to lose Giselle to later. She remembered when Angela had to tell her that Ivan had been killed during their separate missions trying to find Giselle, and remembered how she broke down afterward in devastation.

Aurora walked toward her town car to get in. She remembered when she was a teenager, and she sat by Rain's bedside as he was sick and dying, holding Baby Hope in her arms. She had been crying in devastation when Rain died in front of her. She remembered when she had to give Hope up because of the danger from the Silence, and how cold, distant and numb she had been after she had to lose the first love of her life, and her daughter. She remembered just a few years ago, when she heard of Victoria and Matthew's death, and standing at their graves during their funeral, shedding a few tears.

Laureen walked toward her town car to get in. She relived everything from her time with Richard, how it was good and sweet for 14 years, before it turned into a nightmare. When Richard snapped, and became threatening and abusive, many flashbacks shown from book 2 and 3. She remembered Zaya breaking down and Sadie clutching her heart in 3.09, how close Sadie could have came to dying because of Richard. She thought of Dominic and worried about his safety along with her daughters, and she was determined to do what she could to make sure that all three of them and herself was safe, no matter what she had to do to make sure they were.

(Song Ends)

X • O ° X • O

Central Park

Noe and Nate were going for a walk.

"Eleanor's back in town, so before I pop, I'm about to go do one last job for her before I start showing," Noe explained. "Let her know about the pregnancy so she knows that I can't do another modeling gig until after the baby's born."

"All right," Nate agreed in amusement. "Well, since it's your last gig for a while, have fun."

Noe smiled. "Oh, you know I will." She sighed. "I'm mostly using it to distract myself so I'm not driving myself nuts with worry over Zaya, Sadie and Laureen, even Dominic, after cotillion, but..."

Nate took her hands. "Noe. Listen to me. Zaya, Sadie and Laureen are gonna be fine. And Dominic's not in as much danger as them, right?"

Noe sighed. "I guess so. I'm still worried though."

"Well, don't worry too much," Nate told her. "It's not good for the baby."

Noe nodded in agreement. "I know. That's why I need this gig as the distraction."

Nate nodded in understanding. "All right. Well, you go do that. I'll be talking with Alex, Harry and Tripp, all right?"

Noe looked at Nate, concerned. "I didn't do anything wrong, right? Between you and Tripp?"

"Of course you didn't," Nate answered. "Don't even think like that. I'm glad you told me."

Noe nodded, still looking worried. "Okay. We'll find a way to make this day less stressful later."

Nate smirked slightly, nodding. "Yes, we will. But you get to take it easy, remember? The doctors said so."

Noe sighed, tilting her head. "I'm taking it as easy as I can, Nate. But I get your point." Noe and Nate smiled, sharing a kiss. "Love you."

"Love you too," Nate agreed.

Noe let her hand slip out of Nate's as she backed away, both of them smiling at the other, before Noe turned around, walking away.

X • O ° X • O

Street

Alex and Dan were walking.

"What, a threesome?" Alex asked.

"Oh, yeah," Dan answered. "Just me, Olivia, Vanessa, two girls, four boobs, one Dan Humphrey. How awesome am I?"

Alex was exasperated by his stupidity. "Oh, how stupid can you be?"

"What?" Dan asked.

"Okay, I know things," Alex told him. "I--I've been to Europe. Chuck, Dylan and Brooklyn Bass are some of my best friends. All right, the third person is supposed to be a stranger. Unless you're into polygamy and open relationships like Marie/Alters and Carter. Not sure how that could work honestly, and I don't wanna find out."

"No, the fact that it was Vanessa is what made it so fun," Dan told him.

Alex rolled his eyes. "Okay, the problem is, during a threesome, there's always a twosome and a onesome going on."

"You know what?" Dan asked. "The onesome was not so bad."

Alex scoffed. "Okay, well, you may have enjoyed the show, but it couldn't have been easy for Olivia to see you and Vanessa."

"No, you know what?" Dan asked. "Olivia was fine. We talked the next morning. And so was Vanessa. I mean, I haven't really seen her much, but, uh, I'm--I'm sure she is. Why are you being such a buzzkill?"

"Why are you being such a dumbass?" Alex replied. "You were lucky to have both of them in your life. A girlfriend, and a girl friend. You had both, and you blew it."

Dan shook his head. "I did not. I did not." Vanessa walked up to them. "In fact, you know what? There she is, my still best friend."

Alex nodded sarcastically, knowing that it was not going to be that easy. "Oh, perfect."

Dan walked toward Vanessa. "Abrams."

"Hey, Dan," Vanessa greeted, before giving a wave to Alex. Alex rolled his eyes, walking away. Vanessa was not surprised after her last encounter with the Archibalds/Vanderbilts in 3.08. She looked at Dan. "I barely have seen you this week. I feel like you've been avoiding me since..."

Dan shook his head. "No. No, not at all. Uh, tonight at the Bowery, I think Morrissey is playing. So you wanna go, just the two of us for old times's sake?"

Vanessa nodded nervously. "Yeah, I'd love it. So I'll see you tonight?"

"Yeah, of course," Dan answered. "Yeah." They went in for an awkward hug. "Sorry." Vanessa walked away. Dan walked over to where Alex was getting coffee from the cart. "Hey."

"Well, that didn't seem awkward at all," Alex told him sarcastically.

Dan tilted his head. "Everything is... it's fine. It really is."

Alex nodded sarcastically. "Give me a call if you need me, which you will." He walked away, his phone ringing, and he answered. "Hey, Hope. You wouldn't believe what Tweedledees Olivia and Vanessa and Tweedledumbass Dan did. I'll explain later." After listening to what Hope had to say, he seemed really interested. "Floor plans for a clocktower, huh? I'm on it."

X • O ° X • O

St. Jude's/Constance - Courtyard

Zaya and Sadie were sitting, waiting, while everyone was staring at them after everything that happened at cotillion, with Prince and Preston, so forth. Brooklyn and Thyra walked closer, looking at Zaya and Sadie worriedly in concern.

(Song:) I Kissed a Girl - Katy Perry

Jenny's handmaidens walked up to the three queens and princess to mock them, playing the song on the speaker they held.

Jane smirked, looking at Zaya. "So are you a top or a bottom?" Jenny's handmaidens  pretended to make out in front of Zaya, Brooklyn and Thyra, holding up two fingers and licking the air between them to mock them cruelly. Sadie walked closer angrily. "This one's for you, girls. Oh, are you three together together? That makes perfect sense since you're all into girls."

"Is this because you don't like dick?" Sawyer asked. "You like the v-jay, right?"

Brooklyn smirked sarcastically, giving them a cold look. "Oh, sweeties. I go both ways, bitch. But the only one I love and I'm with is Thyra."

"Good answer," the other handmaiden mocked. "So what do they call you lesbos? Bryraya? What do you call little sister Sadie with the heart condition?"

Thyra was getting fed up quickly but remained calm, even though she was very bitchy and sassy. "I know a few things they call you. Slut, whore, two-faced, lying, backstabbing bitch."

"If you have something to say other than mindless, bitching, hate crime, then just say it," Zaya told them.

"Oh, hey, Zaya," Jane told her mockingly.

Zaya glared at them. "Don't, 'hey, Zaya' me. We're not friends. You're not gonna braid my hair or paint my nails. You insecure, needy, codependent virgins."

"Yeah, well, you're ugly," Jane told her.

Zaya scoffed, tilting her head. "No, I'm beautiful. And I'm sure that 90% of your so-called 'beauty' could be removed with a Kleenex. Your birth certificates are apology letters from the condom factory."

"There's no need to insult us, Zaya," Jane told her mockingly.

Zaya mocked a gasp. "Oh, I'm not insulting you. I'm describing you. There's a difference."

Sadie glared at the girls. "I bet your brains feel as good as new, seeing that you've never used them. Brooklyn, Thyra and Zaya may like girls, and boys in Brooklyn's case, and I may be the one with the heart condition, but when we're all older, we'll be the successful ones that everyone will be talking about, while you three are gonna be the fat, lonely, unhappily married, wildly mediocre nobodies you're destined to become."

"You can't talk to us like that," Sawyer told her.

"Actually, I can, 'cause I just did," Sadie replied.

"You brought this on yourselves," Zaya told them.

"You're just those three boring, self-centered basic bitches that did this incredibly dated and boring stunt in front of the whole school," Brooklyn told them. "And guess what? Nobody feels sorry for those bitches."

"Now get the hell out of our sight," Thyra threatened. "Get to walking."

Zaya waved bye sarcastically, mockingly. "Bye."

Sadie picked up the speaker when they tried to take it. "Uh-uh. This is mine now. You know what I'm gonna do with it?" She raised the speaker over her head and threw it to the ground hard enough to make it bash and shatter, destroying it. "You're lucky that wasn't directed at you."

(Song Ends)

The handmaidens ran off. Zaya, Sadie, Brooklyn and Thyra looked at everyone else.

"Is there anyone else that would like to say something?" Thyra asked intimidatingly. Zaya, Sadie, Brooklyn and Thyra gave them queenly/princessly menacing glares that caused everyone to obey no matter the situation. Everyone looked away, walking off immediately. Thyra crossed her arms over her chest sarcastically, tilting her head. "No? I didn't think so."

Preston walked through the courtyard, looking toward Sadie. Sadie caught his eye, but both kept their distance even though they didn't want to. Sadie was not in any mood to deal with any more drama or complication after everything else.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Queens BB, T and Z, and Princess S weren't fooling around today at Constance. Bow down or bow out, because Brooklyn Bass, Thyra Diamond and Zaya and Sadie von Miller aren't taking any prisoners when it comes to reminding everyone who's in charge. Wonder if that will change after everyone knows the additional truth regarding Sadie and Preston Shea."

X • O ° X • O

X • O ° X • O

Bar

(Song:) Poker Face - Lady Gaga

Prince was gone, but Brittany was still here, dissociating. When she came to, Lacy was awakening.

Angela walked up to the bar to get another drink, seeing Lacy. "Marie? You okay?"

Lacy looked at Angela, her British accent clear as day. "I'm sorry, what?"

Angela realized that she switched because of the accent, chuckling. "Okay. Accent. Different vibe of attitude. You switched. You're not Marie. But Dylan and Wyatt did show me the introduction videos of the alters, so I'm guessing the one that was dancing and was with that movie star Prince Shea was Brittany, and you're Lacy."

Lacy smiled, nodding, tilting her head. "You'd be correct. I probably only have 30 minutes or less before switching back though. This body cannot handle the excitement and vibrancy I bring out of it. It gets too tired."

Angela smirked. "Right."

"And you're Angela," Lacy stated.

"That's right," Angela answered. They walked away from the bar toward a table with drinks in hand. "You here for Prince or Carter?"

Lacy sat down in a chair confidently yet sweetly, resting her arms on the arms of the chair, crossing her legs, tilting her head with a slight smirk/smile. "I'd be okay with just talking to you for the moment."

Angela raised her eyebrows, smirking in amusement, raising an eyebrow. "Okay." She sat down in the chair across from Lacy, resting her arms on the arms of the chair, propping her feet up on the table in front of them, relaxing back. "So, you're the one with the British accent. Lacy. The confident dancer, bitchy one is Brittany, the one who is dating both Carter Baizen and Prince Shea, while Andrea might be hooking up with both too. While you and Nick are strictly into girls, and Marie's only into Carter."

"That's right," Lacy answered. "You seem to be a little informed on us already. I'm glad the boys showed you the video so you could understand, then."

Angela smirked. "Yeah, me too. You, Marie, Brittany, Andrea and Nick seem really fascinating to me, Lacy. Not just because I'm not affected by sexuality or gender, or the fact I don't mind who people are drawn to, let alone myself."

Lacy realized, smirking a slight smile. "You're bisexual?"

Angela tilted her head in consideration. "Eh, I'd say it goes deeper than that. I don't care for gender at all. So I'd classify as pan, I think."

Lacy smiled. "Well, that's good to know."

Angela chuckled. "Hmm. 17 year old with a baby boy and healing from something that could have ended me entirely. I can't imagine what would've happened if I died and Theo was..."

"Don't think like that, Angela," Lacy told her. "You're here, you know? And as for the worry? What if the ground opens up and swallows us? What if Mars attacks? You can't worry about all the what if's in life. So, relax and enjoy the ride. Is your shoulder doing better?"

"Yeah, almost healed completely," Angela answered. "I should be able to start training again soon. Better to keep in shape even if I'm no longer on the Silence's hit list."

Lacy nodded in understanding, thinking. "You know they say that you're never more alive than the moment before you die? Was it a rush?"

Angela thought back to the night in Rome, able to remember it now. "Yeah. It was. Not the good kind. But we have to pay attention to the important moments, Lacy. Sometimes they only come around once."

Lacy nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Hard to do when you don't remember most of the moments you're in." Angela nodded understandingly. "Are you happy, with Theo?"

Angela smiled. "Yeah, I am. Theo's the best thing that has ever happened to me."

Lacy chuckled. "I'm glad." She seemed to have a weird sensation. "Whoa."

"What?" Angela asked.

Lacy shook her head. "Nothing. I just... I got a weird sense of Deja vu."

"Like a past life type of Deja vu?" Angela asked. "Or just a memory repeating?"

"I don't know," Lacy admitted. "Why? Do you believe in past lives?"

Angela nodded. "I believe in a lot of things. And that the people that we bond with instantly even if just meeting, they probably were important to you in a past life. Do you believe in past lives, Lacy?"

"I don't think so," Lacy answered. "I think we've got one life, one chance, and what we do with it, it's up to us."

Angela tilted her head in consideration, smirking, nodding. "Well, I'll drink to that."

Lacy and Angela raised their glasses to each other, clinking their glasses, drinking as they met gazes, smirking slight smiles.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Spotted. Marie Rosson/Queen of Hearts possibly capturing two more hearts other than just Carter Baizen. Prince Shea was seen at the bar with Brittany, and it looks like another alter, Lacy, was spotted with Angela De Los Caballeros. This tangled tale is spinning a wicked web, and it's anyone's guess how far this one can spread."

(Song Ends)

X • O ° X • O

Café

The Tisch members were gathered at the café.

The leader, as named earlier by Blair, was Paul Hoffman. "Lady Gaga is Tisch alumni. Even if she doesn't want to give a secret concert at the Bleeker, at least show me the courtesy of writing back."

Blair and Wyatt walked closer.

"Are you guys talking about Lady Gaga?" Blair asked.

"No, we're talking about Gaga Ahmadinejad, First Lady of Iran," Paul told them sarcastically.

The group chuckled.

"That's funny," Wyatt stated sarcastically. "You know who likes sarcasm? Our stepfather, Cyrus Rose. Big time entertainment lawyer. Maybe he could talk her into doing a show."

"Uh, we all know who my father is, and this girl here is Willa Weinstein," Paul told them, gesturing to the girl next to him. Willa waved. "And if our fathers can't help us, I doubt Cyrus Rose, whom I've never heard of, can."

"What are you guys doing for cabaret tonight?" Willa asked. "Fairy tale theme is hard. Don't want to be trite."

"Cabaret?" Blair asked. "I love cabaret. And fairy tales. Princesses, queens."

"Uh, sorry, it's my cabaret, and it's by invitation only," Paul told them. "All the spots are filled by... serious theater students."

The group walked away. Blair and Wyatt looked annoyed.

X • O ° X • O

The Empire - Trio Penthouse

Hope and Alex were talking after Hope's FIT/Columbia classes, and Alex's auditing classes.

"Shouldn't you be at high school?" Hope asked in amusement, while she was starting to cook an early lunch.

Alex shrugged, smirking. "I'm a senior, remember? I got lunch hour as a free hour, and besides, I thought that being here with my girlfriend talking about the new plans to build a clocktower suitable for one of the Crew, or more. Angela might not be completely one of us, but she is Theo's mother, and we look out for each other."

Hope nodded in agreement. "Very true."

"So it's just you and me tonight while talking about the plans?" Alex asked.

Hope smirked. "Finally. You can help me make some food. Come on."

Alex returned the smirk. "Sounds good."

"You admitted at our picnic that you don't even know how to cook, that you just followed directions," Hope told him. "And I get it. I mean, you've had maids who did the cooking for you."

"Well, teach me," Alex told her. "Teach me how to cook. I might learn something for the future."

Hope smiled. "Okay, fine." She sat on the counter top, grinning. "I'll order you about as you cook."

Alex gave her an amused look. "I thought it was going to be a team effort."

Hope shook her head, smiling. "Nope. Begin."

As Hope instructed Alex, they were both having fun. Hope eventually slid closer to help him multitask. Alex pulled her off the counter toward him, holding her from behind as they continued to cook. Hope turned to Alex, wrapping her arms around Alex, as Alex still kept his arms around her. They both smiled at each other, and started to kiss, making out for several moments, before pulling away.

"That was stressful," Alex sighed. "But fun with you."

They laughed.

"I'll get the bowls," Hope told him.

They smiled, going to get the food.

X • O ° X • O

Pool Room

After classes at SVA, James was swimming in a pool, coming up for air at the end of the pool, to see Serena kneeling on the edge of the pool to look right at him when he came up. They both smiled.

Serena put her phone down on the ground outside of the pool. "This reminds me of us swimming at Lake Geneva."

James smirked. "Same. Including this part."

Serena realized what he was going to do, protesting even though she was smiling. "No, James..." James pulled Serena into the pool, causing her to squeal and laugh in happiness. "I didn't bring dry clothes."

"You left some in my room the last time you were here," James told her. "It's not the first time you've done that either."

James took Serena in his arms, spinning them around through the water, making them both smile and laugh.

Serena tilted her head, pressing her lips together. "This definitely reminds me of Camp Suisse." She took James by the head to pull him under the water with her. They both came up from the water facing each other, both laughing. James pulled Serena closer. Serena wrapped her arms around his neck. After a moment of gazing at each other happily, they finally kissed. "That part is new though."

James shrugged. "Newish considering that we 'married' there when we were kids."

They both laughed, kissing again, more passionately and heatedly than before.

X • O ° X • O

Modeling Gig

Noe was doing her last modeling gig before she started to show, having fun with the distraction that she needed to stop worrying so much. She popped her hand on her hip, turning her head to rest on her shoulder, the crease of her jaw nuzzling naturally in the fabric of her strap. She puckered her lips a bit, not too much, plumping them further. The picture was taken, capturing her natural beauty. Noe loosened her limbs for a moment, turning her body forward, rising her eyes to the sky, biting her lip lightly, looking stressed but like she had never felt more free, arms lightly outstretched, angling toward the ground. The picture was taken.

Eleanor walked closer. "Noe, darling, you're doing so well. I can't wait for more jobs like this for you."

Noe walked closer once she was done. "That's actually what I needed to talk to you about, Eleanor."

Eleanor nodded, curious. "Oh. All right. What is it?"

"Um, this would be my last modeling job for a while," Noe answered. "This was completely unexpected, but, uh... Nate and I... we're expecting."

Eleanor frowned in confusion, before she realized. "Oh!" Noe nodded, licking her lips nervously. "I'm gone with Cyrus not three months, and Angela De Los Caballeros comes back with a baby that is Dylan's, and Wyatt's acting like a second father so it's like Theo's my grandson, and my favorite model is now expecting a baby too. You kids are making me feel old."

Noe smiled. "I swear, as soon as this baby is born, I'm all for modeling again. I just... need to get through the next 6-7 months."

Eleanor nodded, sighing, giving in, hiding a smile. "Well, all right. Go get dressed. You're done for the day. And for the next couple of months until we can get you back."

Noe smiled, turning around, walking away.

X • O ° X • O

St. Jude's/Constance - Hallway

Sadie was walking down the hallway.

Preston walked toward her. "Sadie, wait."

"We can't be seen talking," Sadie told him.

Knowing she was right, Preston took Sadie by the arm, looking around to make sure no one saw, leading Sadie to an empty classroom.

X • O ° X • O

Classroom

Preston led Sadie into the room, closing the door behind them.

"What do you want, Preston?" Sadie asked.

"I wanted to make sure that you were okay," Preston answered. "I saw on Gossip Girl what happened with Zaya, Laureen, you and your dad. And I'm so sorry, Sadie. I don't know what else to do, or say. I only lied about you..."

"To protect me, to try and keep me out of the spotlight," Sadie finished. "I know, Preston. But it didn't work. I know that Prince lied to protect Marie, Brittany, Andrea, Lacy and Nick, but that didn't work either."

Preston knew she was right, very concerned and worried. "Just tell me what I can do to help."

"That's the thing," Sadie told him. "There's nothing you can do. This thing with my dad, my mom and Zaya, it's more serious and more dangerous than when I first told you. And I... I don't want to get anyone else involved with that, because my mom's boyfriend Dominic already is, and that's enough guilt and worry on our heads, along with my..."

Preston nodded knowingly, sadly. "Your heart."

Sadie sighed heavily, nodding. "Yeah. I had issues with it, the night of cotillion, after everything that happened. And I... I was so scared, Preston. I thought that that would be it. That that would cause the vessel to burst, but it didn't. And the vessel was just irritated and inflamed, but it didn't grow. Not yet anyway."

Preston looked at her worriedly in sadness. "Sadie..."

Sadie took a moment to pull herself together, sighing. "Maybe you should just worry about you, Prince and your parents. Your career. I'll worry about my life, you worry about yours. I can't have anything more complicated in my life right now. Not until this thing with my dad is over. We're not supposed to be hanging out anymore anyway."

Before Preston could respond, Sadie walked past him and out of the room, closing the door behind her, and walking down the hallway to leave. Preston was left stunned, not knowing what to do or how to react to that.

X • O ° X • O

Hallway

Zaya walked down the hallway, as some boys were giving her a tough time.

"Oh, hey, Zaya," a boy told her. "Maybe you need a little help with straightening up. Could help by sucking this."

Zaya scoffed, glaring at them. "When guys like you say 'suck it', I always reply with, 'sorry, small objects are a choking hazard'."

"Well, your reign as queen is history," another boy mocked.

Zaya nodded sarcastically. "History. That's an appropriate word for your sex life if you don't leave me the hell alone. Don't forget, as queen, I know things. Or can make things up." She held up a pinky mockingly. "Tiny little pinkie sized details."

The boys were stunned, and Zaya pushed past them to walk away.

Jenny walked up to Zaya. "We need to talk."

"'We' don't need to do anything," Zaya replied. "There is no 'we'. Why don't you slip into something more comfortable for me? Like a coma."

"Zaya, listen," Jenny told her. "I didn't know that would--I didn't think people still did stuff like that. I was pissed off because of cotillion, and I just sent the blast. I didn't think it would be a big thing."

"Bull," Zaya replied. "You knew exactly how big it was. I don't care if you think my coming out would be a 'big thing'. You know it can be a big thing because of what happened with Eric and the ex-boyfriend you both shared, and Dylan and Wyatt, and Brooklyn and Thyra, so don't you dare for one second expect me to think that you didn't know it would be a big deal." She slapped Jenny in the face. "That's for outing me." She slapped Jenny harder with her other hand, making her head turn away in the other direction. "And that's for starting this fight within our family. Sadie was so out of breath and her chest was hurting so bad. Her vessel could have burst because of that. Because of you. My sister could have died, because of you."

Jenny shook her head. "You don't get to lay that on me."

"Yes, I do, because you're the one that started all of this when you sent the blast to out me to all of New York City," Zaya replied. "You don't get to decide that. I'm supposed to be the one that decides when and where and who knows and how I want to say it. That's supposed to be my choice! You took that away from me. And you could have ended up killing my sister! So believe me when I tell you that every chance I have to get back at you and to destroy you, I'm gonna take it because you destroyed my life and nearly took Sadie's."

Zaya glared at Jenny, walking away.

X • O ° X • O

Street

Dan and Olivia were walking down the street.

Olivia was on the phone. "I don't care how much money they're offering. Sherry, 'Bitches of Eastwick' is a terrible idea." She hung up, looking at Dan. "It's like Heathers, but with witches. Ever since EK4 isn't happening, Sherry and Simon are literally pushing me to take anything, since they're still pushing Preston and Prince to take that political thriller once they fix everything up with Marie and Sadie, and Zaya and Laureen."

Dan sighed. "Yeah, well, Marie's not the one dating Prince, remember? That's all in the press now. Brittany's the one dating him." Olivia nodded. "And Sadie and Preston's first crush vibes is not something I'm overly invested in." Dan smirked, like that was a lie. "But I thought that you'd, uh, you'd stick around now."

"Well, that's my plan," Olivia told him. "I'm so happy here. You know, I have my classes, and I have you."

"And Vanessa," Dan added.

Olivia nodded awkwardly. "And Vanessa. And if I want to act, I can do it here at NYU. You know, with the best theater department in the whole country."

Dan nodded. "Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, you know, speaking of Tisch, um... tell me if I'm crazy, but I was thinking of applying to the, uh, playwriting program for next year."

Olivia smiled. "Dan, I don't think that's crazy at all."

"I would have to write a play by this Christmas break," Dan explained.

Olivia put a hand over her heart. "Well, I'll help you with your application tonight."

"I would love that, but, uh, tonight Vanessa and I are gonna go see Morrissey at the Bowery," Dan explained. "It's a tradition we've had since seventh grade, you know. We wear tight shirts, we throw gladiolus on stage. Um, it's okay, right?"

Olivia hesitated, but nodded. "Yes, of course. It's tradition." They kissed. "I'm gonna go grab a coffee, okay? I'll see you later."

Olivia walked away.

Dan turned after her. "Okay, uh... I thought we were gonna grab coffee together."

X • O ° X • O

St. Jude's/Constance - Outside

Zaya was waiting by the gate, waiting for Sadie.

Sadie walked outside of school, starting to walk down the steps.

Jenny walked up to Sadie. "Can we talk?"

Sadie kept walking, but slapped Jenny in the face as she walked past her. "I have nothing to say to you."

"Sadie, wait," Jenny told her. "I talked to Zaya and she told me what happened, and we need to talk."

"Get the hell away from me before I slap your ugly face again," Sadie told her.

"Hey," Jenny tried again.

"You outed my sister on Gossip Girl, Jenny," Sadie told her. "Zaya didn't deserve that. No one deserves that. And you knew. You knew how much of a bigot and a prick our father could be. You knew he would be furious and what he could do. Not just to Zaya, but to me."

"I wasn't even thinking about Richard when I sent the blast," Jenny told her. "Or your heart condition."

"That's the point!" Sadie told her angrily. "You don't think of anything but getting what you want no matter who could get hurt and who you have to manipulate to do it. You're not a born UESider, but way worse than any of us because nobody else would have done what you did with sexualities and our father. But you did something as bad as Georgina did, when she outed Eric at a dinner table in front of Lily, Noe and Serena, but at least that was just to family, not to the entire city of Manhattan. Our dad threatened Zaya in front of everyone, and..." She had tears in her eyes. "I couldn't breathe. My heart was pounding so hard. It felt like it would explode. Mom and Zaya had to take me to the hospital to make sure that my heart was okay and that I wasn't going to die."

"Sadie..." Jenny trailed off.

Sadie glared at her. "So just stay the hell away from me, and from Zaya. And believe that we're going to make you regret what you did. You wanted to destroy us, Jenny? Too bad, because we're not going anywhere. But you are going to be destroyed and it just might be you that's running for cover."

Sadie glared at Jenny, walking away.

By the gate, Zaya was still glaring at Jenny. Zaya and Sadie started to walk away together, both glaring back at Jenny once in sync, before turning around, and walking past the gates, leaving school.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "No one can say that Zaya and Sadie von Miller can't take humiliation in stride... and still come out on top. This queen and princess don't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon."

X • O ° X • O

X • O ° X • O

Rhodes/Bass Apartment - Marie's Room

After Brittany's dancing and Lacy's switch out exhausted the body, Marie had fallen asleep in her room.

X • O ° X • O

Marie's Inner World

Day - Castle - Gold Room

Marie and the alters were sitting around the gold room once again.

Brittany was lounging in a chair, filing her nails, chewing gum.

Andrea looked at Marie, amused. "Come on, you've totally fallen for Carter. And I'm barely even connected with him, but he's fun to hang out with. And Brittany's involved with him, but she likes Prince. And Angela's pretty fun to hang out with too."

Lacy, Nick and Brittany nodded in agreement. "Yep."

"That's because Angela flirts with all of you when you flirt with her," Marie told them.

Lacy smirked. "What? Angela's badass and hot but she can be sweet. I like her."

Nick chuckled. "You know it's bad when Lacy even says that and likes Angela too. Obviously I do."

Brittany shrugged. "I think it's a plus side that Angela's pansexual. And she's single even though she's a mother, so there's that. And she just turned 17, so another plus."

Andrea smirked. "Point is, Marie, you may strictly want only Carter, but Brittany, Lacy, Nick and I get to see other people, like Prince and maybe Angela."

Brittany blew a gum.

"Brittany and Prince started out as friends with benefits, but closer," Nick pointed out. "Same with Andrea."

"Pretty much," Brittany agreed.

"And Angela seems pretty easygoing about all this," Nick told them.

Marie was amused. "Look, all of you get to do whatever you please. I like being with Carter. I'm just not really sure how I feel right now."

"You can keep saying that, Marie, but it's obvious that Carter's in love with you, and that you're so in love with him," Lacy told her.

Marie froze as if thinking about it, fully realizing that she was and not knowing how to react.

"We didn't mean to upset you," Andrea told her. "And we're probably completely wrong."

Marie shook her head. "No, you're not. I think you may be right... and that's what terrifies me. I know that I only wanted to be with him, but being that vulnerable, after everything we've been through..."

"You don't have to keep doing this to yourself, Marie," Nick told her.

"Marie, just let someone in," Andrea told her. "Especially if it's Carter. You've got everything you ever wanted, right? We all did. Family, so many friends who would defend you, a guy that is nuts over you and who you are nuts for."

"You don't have to keep being afraid, Marie," Nick told her. "If you love him, tell him. Plus, he doesn't even mind that the rest of us like some action too, with other people, so that gives him a plus in my column."

"Same here," Brittany agreed.

Lacy grinned. "Yep!"

Andrea nodded. "Totally."

They all laughed. 

X • O ° X • O

Reality

Day - Rhodes/Bass Apartment - Living Room

Jenny was laying down on the couch, reading a magazine.

Lily and Rufus were here.

Chuck, Brooklyn and Dylan led Damien Dalgaard inside.

"We'll just be a minute," Brooklyn told him.

Lily smiled at seeing her adoptive children. "Brooklyn. Dylan. Charles. How are you? How's Theo? Can I get you three a cup off coffee?"

"Theo's with Angela as of the moment," Dylan answered.

"And we're on our way to the planetarium," Chuck explained, handing Lily some papers. "Brooklyn and Dylan were getting things for Theo, and I was just dropping off those papers you needed."

"Thank you," Lily told him, putting on her reading glasses to go over the papers.

"Did Chuck Bass just say he was going to the planetarium?" Rufus asked. "And Brooklyn and Dylan are going with you?"

Brooklyn smirked. "Hmm, we're entertaining a hotel guest, the son of an ambassador. He's waiting in the foyer."

Lily looked toward Damien, getting an idea. "Well, maybe Jenny could show him around." Jenny looked over at them. Brooklyn and Dylan glared at Jenny. Even Chuck wasn't happy with her. "You did say you wanted a distraction from all the fighting with Zaya and Sadie. And everything with Laureen..."

Jenny sat up, looking Damien over, looking intrigued, impressed. "Uh... Yeah, I can do it."

Jenny walked past.

Brooklyn glared after her. "Don't destroy this one thing for us, like you did with Zaya, Sadie, Laureen and Dominic."

Jenny returned the glare as she walked by Brooklyn.

X • O ° X • O

NYU - Hallway

Olivia was walking down the hallway toward her/Vanessa's dorm room.

Blair walked out of her dorm room. "Olivia. Just the starlet I was hoping to find."

"Hi, Blair," Olivia told her. "Uh, Dorota need to use my outlet for your towel warmer again?"

"Actually, I have a question," Blair told her. "How do Wyatt and I win over shallow, superficial actors?"

"Calling them shallow and superficial didn't work?" Olivia asked sarcastically.

"I'm serious," Blair told her. "They're all doing this cabaret thing tonight. We weren't even invited. Not that we have anything to perform."

Olivia got an idea, smirking a slight smile. "Well, you're in luck. I was invited. I guess being a movie star has a certain cache."

Blair smiled. "I may have read that at the dentist."

"More importantly, I am dating a guy who needs an opportunity to write a play," Olivia told her. "He'll just need to clear his schedule first."

X • O ° X • O

Political Office - Tripp's Office

Tripp was working.

Nate knocked on the door. "Hey, Tripp."

Tripp looked up. "Nate. I thought I wasn't meeting you, Alex or Harry until later."

"Change of plans," Nate explained. "Alex is with Hope, talking about architecture plans for the Crew, or more specifically, Dylan's son Theo's mother Angela De Los Caballeros, and Harry's making plans of something with Aurora."

Tripp nodded in understanding. "And you're here why? If you're looking for your pregnant girlfriend, she's not in yet. But she has been with me most days."

Nate nodded sarcastically. "If you're looking for a black eye, it's in my fist."

Tripp smirked. "Where'd that come from?"

"I know that you used to like Noe when we were kids, and I know that she feels uncomfortable around you," Nate told him. "And she told me what you said to her before. And she was going to quit, and then she decides not to because she didn't want to let me or the baby down."

"Sounds like the right move for a soon-to-be-mother," Tripp told him.

"Except I know how you can convince people, and how Noe can be swayed," Nate replied.

Tripp shrugged. "You're the one having a baby with the girl damaged immensely from a car accident since glass went through her temple into her brain. Should have thought that more through if Noe can really be that easily swayed. Or manipulated."

Nate glared at him. "Watch it. Noe doesn't want to get between us which is why she didn't want to say anything, but I'm not gonna let anyone or anything hurt her or our baby. And the damage from the car accident doesn't change the fact that she's strong and independent, but that she can still be manipulated like anyone else."

"But more easily," Tripp pointed out. "Not that I'm saying that's what I'm doing."

"Yeah, you better not," Nate told him. "You're married, but you started a fight between me and Noe on your wedding day, at your reception."

Tripp shook his head. "I didn't mean to."

Nate looked skeptical. "Right. And now you're the one that asked Noe to come in for the job interview. She didn't go to you. And you hired her even though she has no experience in the political field. And come to find out that you weren't even actively hiring anyone when you asked her to come in. Do you see how suspicious that looks?"

"Maybe I just wanted to do the two of you a favor," Tripp told him. "Especially with this baby on the way. If you're really so worried, then why don't you just tell Noe to quit?"

"Because it's her choice, I'm not gonna take it away from her," Nate answered. "But I swear, if anything like this happens again..."

"Why?" Tripp asked. "Can't you trust her? I mean, isn't that what this is about? You love Noe. You're about to have a child with her. But can you trust her? 'Cause if you can, you got nothing to worry about, right?"

"I trust Noe," Nate answered. "And I want to trust you. So promise me that nothing like that will happen again. Because if you're taking advantage of Noe..."

"I'm not," Tripp told him, and even though he was lying, he looked completely convincing, and completely sincere, enough to fool anyone. "I'm not doing anything wrong, Nate. I promise you that."

Nate looked slightly relieved due to Tripp's believable performance, but he still felt off.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Looks like Nate Archibald was smart enough to confront the danger of his cousin, but his cousin was smart enough to make sure that it didn't seem like a threat at all. Too bad Noe and Nate don't know what would hit them until it's too late."

X • O ° X • O

Restaurant/Bar

(Song:) Hold On - Extreme Music

Laureen and Dominic were sitting at a restaurant that also had a place for dancing.

"How are Zaya and Sadie?" Dominic asked in concern. "I know that since cotillion, things have been hell for you and for them, but are they..."

"They're dealing with a lot of backlash at school, but they are sort of better," Laureen answered. "Zaya and Sadie are probably gonna be off of school any minute now, actually. I should get going, after this." Dominic nodded. "I can't... I can't keep fearing of what will happen, Dominic. None of us can. Too much has happened with my husband, and we just need it to stop. I hoped that I could stop it by saving him before, but... but I know that I can't do that now. And things might get even darker from here."

"I don't think anyone could handle all of this at once," Dominic admitted. "Not even you, Laureen Rhodes. The blonde dragon. The one he'll regret messing with." Laureen sighed, managing a small smile. "I miss the care-free, free-spirit Laureen Rhodes, from back when we were kids. The one I know that you still have in you."

"Oh, I do," Laureen agreed. "Just like I know you have that same rebellious, fun Dominic Driton inside. I remember that you used to get into quite a few bar fights."

Dominic smirked. "And won every single one."

Laureen smirked, nodding. "Yep."

They both chuckled. Laureen bit her lip, looking down.

Dominic knew there was something she wasn't telling him. "Was there anything else that he did?"

Laureen tilted her head. "Dominic..."

"It's just a question," Dominic pointed out. "One you don't have to answer, but if he did something else, I'd like to help, if I can."

Laureen sighed, tilting her head. "He kissed me. Grabbed me and kissed me before I realized what he was doing. When I got free, I threw a steel trashcan through the window next to him and said that the next time that it happened, I would throw it at his head."

Dominic was clearly very angry and protective. "Okay. Well, he definitely needs to go down. For you, Zaya and Sadie, before anything else happens."

"I know what I'm fighting for, Dominic," Laureen told him. "Myself, my daughters. Our freedom. And you're fighting for us. But we're fighting against something that you don't understand completely."

"And I don't need to as long as I know that we all make it out of this in one piece," Dominic replied.

Laureen sighed. "I just... I don't want my life to revolve around this until it finally ends. I want to actually be able to live." She got an idea, smirking slightly. "Ask me to dance."

Dominic looked at her, confused and surprised. "You want to dance? Right now?"

"I know it's not the best time, but there are people dancing here," Laureen pointed out. "And I'm trying to make a point to both me and you. To prove to myself that I don't have to stop living while this is going on. That there's more to life than the pain that he causes us. Champagne, a slow song, a good friend, or a lover, family. There are good things. I just needed to remind myself of that. I just need to remind myself that peace is still possible after all of this is over."

Dominic nodded in understanding and agreement, standing, finishing his glass, placing it down, offering his hand to Laureen. "As you wish, Laureen."

Laureen smiled, taking his hand, standing. Dominic led her a few paces away from their table, and Laureen put her free hand on his shoulder, while Dominic put his free hand on her waist, as they began to dance and look at each other. Laureen leaned her cheek against Dominic's, as they danced cheek to cheek. Dominic spun Laureen around, pulling her close. They smiled, kissing, as Laureen wrapped her arms around his neck.

Richard walked in, glaring at Laureen and Dominic as they danced and kissed.

After a few moments of dancing, Laureen and Dominic returned to their table, still standing, as they both picked up their glasses.

Laureen looked at Dominic, raising her glass. "Well, here's to moving on."

Dominic raised his glass. "To moving on."

Laureen and Dominic clinked their glasses, drinking, smiling.

Richard walked closer. "Sadly, it won't be that easy."

Laureen and Dominic both glared at him.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Laureen asked.

"Trying to keep my wife for one," Richard answered.

Laureen glared at him. "I may be bound to you by law, but I am not yours."

"What do you want?" Dominic asked dangerously.

Richard smirked. "Trying to be tough, Dominic? You don't know the half of the story or the danger. I'm the one that gets to decide if you two walk out of here or not."

Laureen shook her head, worried about Dominic. "Don't do this."

Richard grabbed Laureen's arm, pulling her closer to him. "I won't, if you leave now."

Laureen twisted her arm free, pushing Richard back by slamming her hand into his chest, making him stumble back more than a few paces. Richard walked closer angrily.

Dominic stepped between Laureen and Richard. "I've learned a lot of things growing up in back when. I used to get into some fights of my own. I think you and I fought once, didn't we? You didn't win that time. You sure you want to try your luck now?"

Richard glared, trying to punch Dominic. Dominic ducked, grabbing Richard by his suit jacket, headbutting his head against Richard's face, pushing him to the floor. Everyone watched in shock but did nothing.

Laureen just wanted to enjoy the show, sitting down at the table, drinking from her glass, watching, smirking slightly.

Richard stood, punching Dominic in the face, trying to punch him again. Dominic ducked, punching Richard in the stomach, kneeing him in the stomach, elbowing him hard in the back, kicking him in the knee, making him fall to his knees.

Laureen watched with a smirk from where she sat watching, taking a drink.

Dominic and Richard traded a couple of punches and blocks, but Dominic grabbed Richard by the shoulders, bringing him down so he could knee him in the face, making him fall to the floor. When Richard tried to get back up, Dominic kicked him down, and punched him repeatedly in the face until he stayed down.

Laureen finished her drink, smirking, putting her glass down, standing, walking toward Dominic, putting her hand on his shoulder, glaring down at Richard with a smirk. "Let's go."

Dominic nodded in agreement. "Yeah."

Laureen and Dominic grabbed their jackets, turning around, walking away as everyone watched.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Who says that the drama and danger's just reserved for the Elite kids? Laureen von Miller and Dominic Driton aren't ones to live boring lives. But what happens if a life ends tonight?"

(Song Ends)

X • O ° X • O

X • O ° X • O

Music Store

Zaya and Sadie were here to try and distract themselves from everything going on, going through some of the music stuff.

Wyatt walked along, seeing them, concerned and worried. "Zaya, Sadie, hey."

Zaya and Sadie looked surprised to see him. "Wyatt."

"What are you doing here?" Zaya asked.

"Uh, just needed an upgrade for my piano," Wyatt answered. "I haven't played in a while, but Dylan, Angela and I thought that playing could help soothe Theo." Zaya and Sadie nodded in understanding, but they were both distracted and upset. Wyatt looked at them in concern. "Are you okay?"

"Not really," Sadie answered.

"We've just been on this road too long," Zaya told him. "And we just wanted to get back to music for a little bit to try and keep us calm. Ever since cotillion, I just wanted to sing, or I wanted to scream, but it was like... my voice was gone. I'm just tired of spending days trapped inside my head."

"You just gotta keep your chins up," Wyatt told them.

Sadie scoffed softly. "Easy for you to say. Feels like we can't look up 'cause our world's falling down. Everything's falling apart. You know, it started to storm the night of cotillion after Dad found out about the Gossip Girl blast, about Zaya. And it feels like it's been storming since them. Like clouds blocking out the sky and the sunshine."

Wyatt nodded in understanding, wanting to be there for them and reassure them. "I know it's hard right now, but you just have to hold on. Even if it's just one more day, or one more week, or one more month, I think you guys will find a way. You two and Laureen, and protecting Dominic. You just have to remind yourselves of why you learned to fight and learned how to defend yourselves, so you can fight until you got your freedom and got your lives back."

"Yeah, and even if we got the upper hand over Dad with fighting, what about after that?" Zaya asked. "We can't lock him up or have him committed because of the Silence. The only way we'd ever be free is if..."

They knew that the only way they would be free was if Richard was no longer around, and Zaya and Sadie looked down.

Wyatt looked at them sadly. "Don't think about that right now. But I do think it's time you two started remembering your dreams. Remember who you wanna be, let that light hit your eyes again. I remember how passionate both of you were about your futures, you knew exactly what you wanted. Zaya, you've always wanted Broadway and you would do anything to get there. Sadie, you and I are on the same page with the neurology and biomedics, remember? We can still get there. Both of you can."

Sadie sighed, nodding, becoming more determined. "You're right. We still have passion and beauty that's been trapped inside. And we have to let Dad know, let everyone know that's been giving us a hard time, that we're not gonna hide. We can still spread our wings and fly, Zaya."

Wyatt took Sadie's hand, referencing what she said about the clouds blocking out the sky. "The sun is always there to shine. The clouds don't own the sky. And your dad, and those people giving you two a hard time, don't own either of you. Come on."

Wyatt led Zaya and Sadie over to a piano, sitting down. 

"What are you doing?" Zaya asked.

"I'm pretty sure both of you are gonna know this song," Wyatt told them. "I want you to sing, okay? This song is perfect for you guys, and you two need to remember who you are, and what you want, and fight to get there. Fight to get it."

Sadie frowned. "Okay."

Wyatt started to play a melancholic piano version of Titanium by David Ghetta feat. Sia, fashioned after the cover by Madilyn Bailey.

 Zaya nodded sadly, starting to sing. "You shout it out, but I can't hear a word you say / I'm talking loud, not saying much / I'm criticized, but all your bullets ricochet / Shoot me down, but I get up / I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose / Fire away, fire away / Ricochet, take your aim / Fire away, fire away / You shoot me down, but I won't fall." She closed her eyes, letting a tear fall as she sang a gentle but beautiful and heartbreaking high note. "I am titanium / You shoot me down, but I won't fall / I am titanium."

Sadie had tears in her eyes as she sang. "Cut me down, but it's you who'll have further to fall / Ghost town and haunted love / Raise your voice / Sticks and stones may break my bones / I'm talking loud, not saying much / I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose / Fire away, fire away / Ricochet, take your aim / Fire away, fire away / You shoot me down, but I won't fall." She shed a tear as she sang the gentle but beautiful and heartbreaking high note. "I am titanium / You shoot me down, but I won't fall / I am titanium."

Zaya sang a longer, more intense and beautiful note. "I am titanium...."

Sadie sang a longer, more intense and beautiful note. "I am titanium..."

Zaya and Sadie sang together, intense and beautiful long notes. "I am titanium..."

Sadie took a deep breath. "Stone hard, machine gun / Firing at the ones who run."

Zaya held a hand over her stomach as she gathered her voice's strength, ready for the long, high and beautiful note at the end of this verse, as her voice was going to and from notes during the word 'glass'. "Stone hard, as bulletproof glass..............."

Wyatt played a more uplifting and powerful rift of the song.

Zaya and Sadie were shown feeling more strong and confident, but still showing what they had been going through, holding each other's hands as they looked to each other for each other's strength, singing more powerfully. "I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose / Fire away, fire away / Ricochet, take your aim / Fire away, fire away / You shoot me down, but I won't fall / I am titanium / Shoot me down, but I won't fall / I am titanium / Shoot me down, but I won't fall / I am titanium / Shoot me down, but I won't fall / I am titanium........."

Zaya, Sadie and Wyatt ended the song, as Zaya and Sadie were more reassured but more open with being upset and vulnerable. Wyatt looked at them in concern, standing, so that the three of them could embrace.

X • O ° X • O

Political Office - Tripp's Office

Noe was working at the office. Tripp walked in.

Noe was still nervous, uncomfortable around him. "Hey, Tripp. Uh, how are you? I was, uh, just leaving you a note about the, uh, 'Observer' article."

Tripp smiled. "Oh, great."

"I thought you wouldn't be here, which is what it said on your schedule," Noe told him.

Tripp nodded. "Right. Um, my meeting ended earlier."

"Good," Noe told him.

"Yeah," Tripp said.

"Then you'll have time to read my note," Noe told him, chuckling nervously, awkwardly. Tripp walked past her toward his desk. Noe turned to face him. "You know, this, um, this really shouldn't be so awkward."

Tripp turned to face Noe. "It won't be for long. Big move to DC tomorrow."

"I thought that wasn't until January," Noe told him.

"Maureen wanted to be there for the holidays," Tripp told her. "The parties, the networking. It's probably for the best, though. I've been pretty..." He looked over Noe. "Distracted." Noe looked down. Tripp stepped closer. "Uh, last week..."

Noe shook her head. "Nothing happened."

"Then why does it feel like it did?" Tripp asked.

"Nothing happened," Noe repeated, very agitated, and Tripp raised his eyebrows at her trying not to get overwhelmed. "And nothing's going to happen."

Maureen walked in. "There you two are." Noe turned to face her, relieved but even more nervous she was here. Tripp walked toward her. Maureen laughed. "Honey, I just found out they had to move the freshman spouses luncheon. Um, so I'd have to leave in an hour. Is that okay?"

"Yeah, of course," Tripp answered. "I'll see you tomorrow. I'll just have Jeanne finish packing."

"But all that's left is the home office," Maureen told him. "Noe should help you." Tripp was surprised by the suggestion, but smug, smirking. Noe opened her mouth to decline nervously, but Maureen cut her off. "There's some private family stuff, and I trust you. I mean, you've been with Nate so long, that you're practically family already, right? Especially with the baby on the way. Tripp, Alex, Harry and Nate were all talking about it. Congratulations."

"Thank you," Noe told her awkwardly, tensely, trying to find a way out of helping. "But that..."

"That's not really in Noe's job description," Tripp told her.

"She doesn't mind," Maureen told him. She looked at Noe. "Do you?" Noe didn't get the chance to answer. Maureen looked at Tripp. "Now who wants to take their favorite wife to lunch?"

Maureen led Tripp out of the room.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Don't forget yourself, congressman. Your marriage could wind up in a million little pieces, and Nate and Noe along with it. Nate and Noe better strap in, because this will be one wild and dark ride."

Noe, very overwhelmed, pulled out her phone, and called her older sister like she made her promise to do at cotillion.

X • O ° X • O

The Empire - Lobby

Marie, Serena and James were talking at the Empire.

"Hey, James, have you seen Carter?" Marie asked.

"Yeah, he had some stuff to do, but he should be back soon," James answered.

"Okay," Marie agreed. "Why are you two wet?" Serena and James smiled. "Don't answer that." Marie's phone rang. "I'll answer this though."

Serena smiled. "Is that him? Oh, it is, isn't it?"

Marie started to pull out her phone. "Oh, my God, Serena, I'm gonna kill you."

Serena smiled. "Why? It's your man. Your big, sexy, protective man."

Marie pushed Serena lightly for her teasing. "You need to calm down." James smirked in amusement. Marie looked at her Caller ID. "It's not even Carter. It's Noe." Serena made a whoops face. James chuckled. Marie answered her phone. "Noe, hey."

"Marie?" Noe asked. "I need to talk. Where are you?"

"At the Empire," Marie answered. "With Serena and James, waiting for Carter. Alex and Hope are up in the penthouse in case you need to talk."

Noe nodded. "Yeah, I do. I definitely do. And I need to call Nate."

"Okay," Marie agreed. "I think Nate was coming over here to talk to Alex anyway. Are you okay?"

Serena looked confused, concerned.

"No," Noe answered. "I'll explain when I get there."

X • O ° X • O

Waldorf Penthouse - Living Room

Thyra and Brooklyn were sitting with Theo, as they were watching a movie, trying to distract themselves from everything.

Angela walked in. "Hey. I'm glad Dylan and Wyatt gave me some time for myself today. Thyra, Brooklyn, thanks for staying with Theo."

"Yeah, of course, after we got out of school, obviously," Thyra told her.

Angela nodded in amusement. "Obviously. What are we watching?"

Angela sat down next to Theo, Brooklyn and Thyra.

"Horror movie," Brooklyn answered.

Angela looked at Brooklyn and Thyra in amusement, raising an eyebrow, smirking. "For a baby?"

"Hope and Alex suggested it," Thyra explained. "For me and Brooklyn, not for Theo, obviously."

Angela nodded in amusement.

Brooklyn smirked. "But Theo happens to like it. I don't know if it's the colors or the sounds, or the fact that he's a De Los Caballeros."

Angela smirked. "And Hope and Alex suggested this movie to you two?"

"They may be the most nice out of the Crew, but don't let that fool you, they can be total badasses and into darkness and things too," Brooklyn told her.

"Obviously, if Rome was any indication of what they could do," Angela agreed.

Thyra nodded. "Exactly."

Brooklyn smiled. "Okay, here comes the massacre. Theo loves it."

Angela smirked, taking Theo to hold. "Come here, Theo." Theo smiled at his mother, babbling happily as he watched the movie. "I see what you mean."

Thyra smirked. "Mm-hmm."

"Where's Dylan and Wyatt?" Angela asked.

"Wyatt first went out to upgrade his piano like you and Dylan wanted for Theo," Brooklyn explained. 

Thyra nodded. "And then I think Dylan and Wyatt went on a date since they knew you were coming home."

Angela nodded in understanding. "All right then."

Thyra looked at Angela, smirking. "But I think you'll be happy with some of our plans for you, Angela."

Angela frowned. "What do you mean?"

Brooklyn chuckled. "We'll explain later."

X • O ° X • O

Restaurant

Wyatt and Dylan were walking into a restaurant.

"What are we doing here?" Wyatt asked.

"We're on a date," Dylan answered.

"Really?" Wyatt asked.

Dylan nodded. "The first real one on our own without Angela, without Theo, without anyone else, and without going to a party, ever since Angela sent Theo to us. You ruined the surprise."

Wyatt smiled, reaching up to his head. "You wanted to surprise me with our first official date after our lives changed because of Angela and Theo? That's cute."

Dylan smirked. "I'm not cute. Come on. Do you want the date or not?"

They smiled, walking over to the tables, sitting down to eat, smiling, talking and having fun while eating their dinner, relieved to be together, and stronger and more steady than ever.

"I love you," Wyatt told him.

"How can I not love you?" Dylan asked. "Anyone would be lucky to have you as a boyfriend. Oh, wait, that's me."

Wyatt smirked. "You are so full of yourself."

Dylan shrugged. "You can't blame me." They both chuckled. Wyatt looked distracted. "Wyatt? What's wrong?"

"I saw Zaya and Sadie at the music store when I went to get my piano upgrade," Wyatt explained.

Dylan frowned in concern. "Are they okay? I mean, I know that they're not okay because of Zaya's outing and Sadie's heart, and Laureen and Dominic... but..."

"They're having a really tough time," Wyatt answered. "Like I know Laureen probably is too, even though she's got Dominic to help her through most things. But I did get them to remember what they wanted to look forward to in the future to take their mind off of things. And I think it worked, a little. But they're still so hurt and upset, and..."

"Well, of course they are," Dylan agreed. "Who wouldn't be?"

Wyatt nodded in acknowledgement, taking a deep breath. "I'm just worried."

"So am I," Dylan agreed. "But I'm glad that Zaya and Sadie had you with them, Wyatt."

Wyatt nodded, and Dylan and Wyatt held hands over the table.

X • O ° X • O

The Empire - Penthouse

Hope and Alex were talking over designs after eating. Marie, Serena and James were with them. Noe and Nate walked in.

"Noe, what's wrong?" Nate asked. "You called me here to meet up with Hope, Alex, Marie, Serena and James for a reason."

"You okay?" Alex asked in concern.

"No," Noe answered. "I know that we all just literally got the Crew to stop fighting, or more over Serena with Blair, Nate, Hope and Alex after the whole thing with James, Marie, Carter, Harry, Aurora, Zaya, Sadie, Eric and Beck, and at the speakeasy, but..."

Serena winced. "Sorry about that."

"Still kinda salty I missed the speakeasy, but I get it, since it was for a good reason," Hope admitted.

"And I didn't want to bring this up because of everything going on with Zaya, Sadie and Laureen, and maybe Dominic," Noe added.

"Noe, you've got to stop putting stuff off for other people," Marie told her.

"What's going on?" James asked. "We can help you."

Nate looked at Noe knowingly. "It's Tripp, isn't it?"

Noe bit her lip nervously, nodding. Nate looked annoyed with his cousin and protective of Noe. Marie was also worried and protective. Hope, Alex, Serena and James frowned in confusion and concern, and Nate, Noe and Marie were prepared to explain.

X • O ° X • O

NYU - Vanessa/Olivia's Dorm Room

Vanessa was sitting at her desk, working.

Olivia walked in. "Vanessa, hey."

Vanessa looked back at her. "Hey. I figured you'd be back to get some clean clothes at some point."

Vanessa focused back on her work.

Olivia chuckled, getting clean clothes from her dresser to pack into her bag. "Yeah, I know. We've barely seen each other. Dan and I've just been... busy, you know?"

Vanessa stood, turning to face her. "So, you're not... avoiding me because of... the whole..."

"What?" Olivia asked unconvincingly. "Oh, my God. Uh, no. I... Come on, no."

Vanessa smiled. "Okay, great, because I was totally freaking out before I ran into Dan this morning. But he was the same old Dan. You know, tonight, we're going to, like, our fifth Morrissey show, and I still have tickets from our first one in seventh grade."

Olivia nodded awkwardly, walking closer. "Um, actually, I feel really bad about that, um... a month ago, I signed Dan and me up for the Bleeker Inn Cabaret and it's tonight. Um, we would totally blow it off, but Dan wants to apply to Tisch and it's just really great exposure for him."

Vanessa nodded. "Oh, yeah."

"Okay," Olivia whispered. "Sorry about Morrissey."

Olivia walked out.

X • O ° X • O

The Empire - Trio Penthouse

Noe, Nate and Marie had explained to Hope, Alex, Serena and James.

Serena took Noe's hand in worried concern. "Oh, my gosh."

"I can't believe you kept this to yourself while everyone was fighting," Hope told her worriedly.

"To be fair, it didn't start until last week," Nate pointed out. "That's when Tripp asked Noe to come in for the job. And hired her though she had no experience, when his political house wasn't even hiring. And I thought that I could believe him today, he put on a show that anybody would believe, but..."

"I just don't get it," Alex admitted. "I mean, Tripp? Really? Tripp has sacrificed so much to get where he is. I mean, we all have. Why would he risk it all by... Noe, I'm sorry."

"I don't know," Noe said meekly. "He acts like he's fighting it, but everything that he does... everything that he says... it's like a different story. Today, he said that he felt like something happened last week but nothing did. And he wanted me to say something so badly about what he said last week, and I couldn't."

"Are you scared of him?" James asked.

"I don't know," Noe admitted. "But I don't know if I can trust him."

Marie sighed, biting her lip. "Okay. So if you ever have to go around him, like today, I can go with you. Noe, I've been through this with Vincent, and Zaya, Sadie and Laureen are going through it with Richard, and we know that that can extent to Dominic if it gets to that point. We can't have it happen to you and Nate too. Especially with a baby on the way."

"Marie's right," Serena agreed. "I just... I don't know what to do."

Hope took a deep breath. "I can talk to Mom. She's a lawyer, and Tripp's not in the Silence. That we know of. I'm just gonna say he's not in it since if he was, William wouldn't have needed to set up Hudson hero for Tripp to win the election."

"Right," Alex agreed. "I can talk to Harry. I mean, he's gonna be crushed, since he believed in Tripp so much that he said that he set up Hudson Hero even though he didn't... But Harry, and Aurora and Laureen, are always people the Crew can go to. They'll always help when they can."

They all nodded in agreement.

"You're gonna be okay, Noe," James told her. "You, the baby, Nate. We're not gonna let anything happen to you."

Noe sighed in relief, nodding, looking down, running her hands through her hair. Nate knew how much this was getting to her, taking her hand reassuringly, tracing his fingers gently across her skin to calm her down.

X • O ° X • O

Park - Boat Pond

Damien and Jenny were walking together.

"So Belgium, huh?" Jenny asked. "I bet they have really good waffles. My family's really into waffles."

Damien chuckled. "Yeah, I've barely tasted them. We left when I was four so my father could work on the Oslo Accord."

"He worked on the Oslo Accord?" Jenny asked. "That sounds major."

Damien nodded. "Yeah, clearly more major than being a father, but..."

"Right," Jenny said awkwardly. "So, uh, what do you want to do? There's the boathouse for lunch. Or we could walk on over to Jean Georges."

"You know, I have a plan," Damien told her. "It'll be fun."

Two girls were watching them.

"Oh, my God," Jenny said. "Don't--don't look now, but those are the Chapin mean girls."

Damien waved to the girls. "Hi."

Damien walked toward a man selling a toy sail boat.

Jenny smirked smugly. "They're gonna die of jealousy." Damien started to pay for the toy sail boat. Jenny looked confused, embarrassed. "Uh, toy sail... sailboats? Really?" Damien took his things over to the boat pond. "Come on." Jenny followed him. "It might be cool in Belgium, but in Manhattan, only little kids do that."

Damien put the boat into the water. Jenny looked toward the Chapin mean girls, seeing that they were laughing.

X • O ° X • O

Café

Paul was speaking to Blair, Dan, Olivia and the Tisch members. "You have eight hours to write and rehearse your reimagined fairy tales before tech. Lots of Tisch faculty and alums will be there, plus my legit agent. So please, don't embarrass me. Good luck."

Paul walked away.

Olivia smiled at Dan. "See?"

Dan nodded. "Yeah, you... yeah, you're right, you're right. This is gonna be a great opportunity. All right, so which fairy tale do you think I should--"

Blair slid over to them. "Totally Snow White."

Wyatt walked up to them, sitting down. "Sorry I'm late."

"About time you got here," Blair told him. "I take it that you just had your lunch date with Dylan."

"Mm-hmm," Wyatt agreed.

"And I saw your text about Zaya and Sadie," Blair told him. "Are they okay?"

"I think a little bit better now than before," Wyatt answered.

Dan was confused, looking at Olivia. "Uh, what are they doing here?"

Blair smiled. "Silly. We're the producers, co-stars and directors."

Olivia nodded, pointing to Blair. "Yeah, it was her idea, actually."

Blair smirked. "My brilliant idea. A musical featuring the songs of Tisch alumna Lady Gaga."

Wyatt smirked, shrugging. "Paul loves his Gaga. And you know what? So do Brooklyn and Thyra. Since they're with Angela, Theo and Dylan, maybe they do wanna come out to see the production after all, since I know that they're pretty bored. Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck aren't with Damien Dalgaard, the ambassador's son, like they thought they would be."

"Oh, good idea, Wyatt," Blair told him. "I'm sure Theo would love a play like the one we're making, and Brooklyn, Thyra, Dylan and Angela could use a laugh after everything too. I'm gonna go pick Paul's brain about what songs he'd think work best thematically."

"And I'll call Dylan," Wyatt told them.

Blair and Wyatt stood, walking away.

Dan put down his notebook, holding his head, looking at Olivia. "Okay, um, what's going on here? You want me to cancel on Vanessa who's gonna be justifiably furious to write a Snow White Lady Gaga musical with Blair and Wyatt Waldorf? And now Brooklyn and Dylan Bass, Thyra Diamond and Angela De Los Caballeros are coming, and bringing little Theo with them."

"Listen, I know that their idea is kind of out of the box, but if you pull this off, everyone's gonna be talking about it," Olivia told him. "And they are your adoptive sister's family, right? Thyra is literally her cousin. Blair, Wyatt, James and Carter are like her cousins, and Brooklyn and Dylan are her step adoptive siblings, and Theo's her step adoptive nephew, and Angela is his mother. You could be trying to get along with them for Hope."

"Oh, I have tried, a couple times," Dan replied. "Didn't work out great then either. That was before Angela and Theo came into the picture though."

"So try again," Olivia told him. "I talked to Vanessa. She's totally cool about tonight."

Dan frowned. "Wait, so you already told her?"

Olivia played innocent. "I ran into her in our room, and she was fine, I promise."

X • O ° X • O

Park - Boat Pond

Damien was getting a different boat back from the pond.

Jenny was watching in annoyance, trying to call Chuck.

Chuck: (voicemail) "Leave a message, and I might listen to it."

"Chuck, pick up," Jenny told him. "Brooklyn and Dylan aren't answering because they hate me right now. Could you find another way to drum up business, because this Belgian boy has been playing in the park for the past half hour with his dinghy, and I have a reputation."

Jenny hung up.

Damien walked up to Jenny, smirking. "All right, all set."

"What now, balloon animals?" Jenny asked sarcastically. "By the way, you took the wrong boat."

Damien feigned innocence, shaking his head. "Um, no. Actually, this is, uh, the one with the cash." He pulled out the cash to show her. "Mine had the E in it."

Jenny looked at him in shock. "What?"

"Sorry if I was boring you," Damien told her. "You still want to get some lunch, and we can go find those, uh, Chapin girls?"

Damien walked away. Jenny watched him go, still stunned, but looking intrigued.

X • O ° X • O

The Empire - Trio Penthouse

Hope was on the phone in the other room.

Dan's voice was on the other line. "Okay, so get this. I had plans with Vanessa tonight, right?" He was in the street. "But then Olivia signed me up to do this cabaret thing with her, and Blair and Wyatt. And now Thyra, Brooklyn, Dylan, Angela and Theo. They want to show them a good time or whatever, but Olivia and Vanessa are..."

"Oh, does this have anything to do with the fact that Alex told me you had a threesome with Olivia and Vanessa, like a dumbass?" Hope asked sarcastically.

Dan nodded, tilting his head. "Yeah, I knew that was gonna be your reaction."

"I don't know about the Blair and Wyatt part of it all, but it sounds like one, if not both of your girls try to prove to the other who you belong to," Hope told him. "But you should be nice to them, Brooklyn, Thyra, Dylan and Angela given everything with Theo, and Zaya, Sadie and Laureen, and they could use the fun."

"All right, so what do I do about the girls?" Dan asked.

"You gotta prove to Olivia that you and Vanessa are just friends despite the threesome," Hope answered. "You good? Because I have to make another call to Mom. It's important."

"Yeah, I'm good," Dan answered. "Thanks. Hey, can you ask Marie how she and the alters would deal with something like this?"

"Oh, well, they'd be more careful about it since they have to given the different alters and relationships," Hope pointed out. "And Marie's kind of busy right now being there for Noe. I'll explain later."

Hope hung up, making another call, but it wasn't picked up.

Alex walked closer. "Hey, Harry's not answering."

"Mom neither," Hope told him.

"I do know that Aurora and Harry are supposed to be talking about the Silence and alternate ways to deal with the contract without endangering us all," Alex pointed out. "So that you, Thyra and Aurora can still find out what happened to Victoria and Matthew, and James and Carter with Caroline, and Angela and Emilia with Giselle."

"Right," Hope agreed. "So we keep calling Mom and Harry."

Alex nodded.

X • O ° X • O

Main Room

Noe and Nate were sitting together. Marie, Serena and James were giving them some space, knowing they needed it.

Nate took Noe's phone, handing it to her. "Okay, you ready?"

Noe nodded, taking her phone, calling Tripp.

Tripp was at home, looking at his phone, smirking when he saw who was calling, answering. "Noe, hey. Uh, what do you like on your pizza?"

"Actually, I--I'm not coming over," Noe told him.

Tripp looked annoyed, sitting down. "I had a feeling you'd call. I can't say I'm not disappointed, though."

Noe tried to remain steady. "Come on, Tripp. You know it's not a good idea for me to be alone with you all night."

Nate took Noe's hand to help her through this.

Tripp sighed. "I don't want to go without saying goodbye. Could we maybe just get some food?"

"No," Noe answered. "But travel safe, congressman. Bye."

Noe hung up, sighing in relief.

"Good work," Nate told her. "I'm gonna be here with you. Until Tripp leaves, I'm not gonna let you out of my sight."

Noe smiled in relief. Nate smiled in return.

Hope and Alex walked over to Marie, Serena and James.

"Hey, so Aurora and Harry aren't answering, so Hope and I are thinking of just heading over," Alex explained.

"Oh, great, yeah," James agreed. "Noe and Nate want to be alone, and I think that's good for them right now."

"Yeah," Marie agreed. "I'll call Carter, see what he says about all this."

Serena nodded. "Okay. I don't wanna leave them alone. I mean, if Tripp really is dangerous, it's not safe for either of them."

They knew Serena had a point but didn't want to crowd them either, sighing worriedly.

"Hey, Noe, Nate?" James asked. Noe and Nate looked over. "I know you two wanna be alone for now, but can we meet up with you somewhere later, to make sure that you guys okay? At least until Tripp leaves? If he's really dangerous..."

Noe sighed, nodding. "I'd feel better if we could meet up later."

Nate nodded in agreement. "Okay. Yeah, we'll text you guys later."

Marie nodded, relieved. "Okay. Hope and Alex are going over to see Aurora and Harry."

"Things are gonna be okay," Alex told them. "All right?"

Hope gave them a reassuring smile. "We can always rely on each other, right?"

Noe and Nate nodded.

Noe looked at her phone. "I should call Zaya and Sadie. I wanna make sure they're okay too. Maybe they can meet up with us. Laureen's gonna be with Dominic, or at work."

"All right," Serena agreed. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."

They all looked at each other, nodding.

X • O ° X • O

Tripp's Mansion - Office

Tripp was sitting down, hanging up his phone, clearly angry now. He took a glass, throwing it at the wall, making it shatter.

A maid walked in. "Mr. Vanderbilt, Mrs. Archibald is here to see you."

"My aunt?" Tripp asked. "I'm kind of busy. Can she come back later?"

The maid shook her head. "No, she said it was important."

X • O ° X • O

Harry's Mansion - Living Room

(Song:) Everything Has Changed - Taylor Swift - Ed Sheeran

Aurora was going over some research.

Harry walked over to Aurora. "So going over breadcrumbs of research to find out what you can about Caroline, Victoria, Matthew and Giselle? That's your plan? Like Hansel and Gretel trying to find their way home. That's what you and Emilia plan on?"

"The Silence's contract didn't leave us with much of a choice," Aurora pointed out.

Harry tilted his head in acknowledgement. "No, it did not."

"Some people may need breadcrumbs," Aurora pointed out. "Because losing our way would be the most cruel of things. I know that before Hope, before coming here and staying with Hope and Thyra, I lost my way. And losing your way on a journey is unfortunate. But losing your reason for the journey is a fate more cruel. Being here with Hope and Thyra renewed my actual hope of finding out about Victoria and Matthew. And I know that James and Carter need as much support as they can get to find out about Caroline. And Angela needs to believe that Emilia can find out about Giselle, no matter how long it takes."

"It could take years," Harry told her. "And I wish that you and Emilia didn't have to go through that. That Hope, Thyra, James, Carter and Angela didn't have to go through that."

"So do I," Aurora agreed. "But what can we do?"

"Well, I can tell you one thing," Harry told her. "You don't have to do this alone anymore. And you don't have to always take the wheel. I'm gonna be helping you. And when you think that you can't, I can take the wheel and let you rest your heart and your mind. Because I know that eventually, everyone needs to rest both. Because if you lose your heart and your mind before we reach the end of this, it might not be you who reaches there."

Aurora nodded in agreement. "Thank you, Harry. For helping. Because once you lose yourself, you have two choices. Find the person you used to be, or lose that person completely. Because sometimes, you have to step outside of the person you've been. And remember the person you are meant to be. The person you want to be. The person you are."

Harry nodded, looking at Aurora, very curious and concern, drawn in. "And who are you now, Aurora?"

Aurora returned the gaze. "I'm not sure who I am now, Harry. But I know that we've both been best at keeping ourselves emotionally detached from relationships. Guess that's why we always bickered as best friends. We were a lot alike even if we were complete opposites too."

"That's true," Harry agreed. "But there was a time that both of us wanted to though, isn't that right, Rory? I know everyone you've truly loved has passed, but I'm still here. I'm still the closest thing you have to a friend, to anything... other than Hope and Thyra. And James, Carter, Wyatt and Blair." Aurora nodded. "People change. I've changed. And I can't be the only one that's noticed that something has changed between you and me."

Aurora looked at Harry, knowing he was right, licking her lips slightly, tilting her head. "You're not the only one that's noticed." They managed small smiles. "But, uh... we both have a lot to do, Harry. A lot to look out for. And if you ever feel like giving up on helping me, with this mission, because of how long it might take, and how dangerous it might get, I understand."

Harry shook his head. "I'm not giving up on you, Aurora. I guess I'm just gonna have to trust that you won't give up on me either."

Harry and Aurora looked at each other, managing small smiles.

Hope and Alex walked in, and Harry and Aurora both looked at them.

"Mom?" Hope asked. "Harry?"

"Sorry, the maid let us in," Alex told them. "Harry..."

Aurora looked concerned by Hope's urgency, looking between Hope and Alex. "Hope? Alex? What's wrong?"

Hope and Alex knew they had to explain about Tripp, but knowing that Harry especially wasn't going to like to hear this.

(Song Ends)

X • O ° X • O

X • O ° X • O

NYU - Vanessa/Olivia's Dorm Room

Dan knocked on Vanessa's door.

Vanessa opened the door. "I thought you had a play to write."

Dan walked in. "Listen, I'm sorry about Morrissey, but... I told Olivia this morning that I wanted to apply to Tisch, and so she saw this cabaret thing, and she signed us up."

"Wait, this morning?" Vanessa asked.

"Yeah," Dan answered. "You know, it had nothing to do with our plans tonight. I mean, this is... it's a big opportunity for me."

Vanessa nodded skeptically. "Of course."

Dan sighed. "Yeah, so, um, I--I'm gonna need your help."

X • O ° X • O

Café

Brooklyn, Thyra, Dylan and Angela had come with Theo, since they were looking forward to the distraction provided by the cabaret since they had nothing better to do. Dylan, Wyatt and Angela sat at a table with Theo. Brooklyn, Thyra and Blair stood behind them, and Olivia and the Tisch members were standing around.

Dan put his script in front of Dylan, Wyatt, Angela and Theo. "Inspired by Miss Gaga's lyrics, I've written a satirical commentary." He handed scripts out to Brooklyn, Thyra, Blair, Olivia and the rest of the Tisch members. "About fame, glamor, and our society's obsession with the shiny new thing."

Wyatt read the script. "Humphrey, I'm surprised. This isn't horrible."

Dan pointed at Blair. "You play the aging queen, a fading but the talented rock star who's earned her success." He pointed at Wyatt. "The magic mirror, or the platinum record, who sees and knows all and has a way with poetic words, like you actually do." Wyatt shrugged in agreement. "Olivia, Snow White, a young up and comer who's trying to steal the queen's thunder by being outrageous and sexy."

Brooklyn smirked. "I'm pretty sure others could pull off the role better."

Olivia narrowed her eyes at Brooklyn.

Thyra gave Brooklyn an amused look. "Okay."

Dan crossed his arms. "Uh, Brooklyn, Thyra, if you really want the distraction, you can be the struggling dwarf boy band. I need a third, so, Angela?"

Angela raised her eyebrows skeptically. "You're kidding, right?"

"I thought you guys wanted to do a show for Theo," Dan pointed out. "I'm pretty sure he'd like to see his mother, aunt and possible future step aunt in a show like this. Plus one of his dad figures and another step aunt."

Angela looked at Theo, considering. Theo looked up at Angela, grinning.

Dylan smirked. "Come on, Angela. I thought you always wanted to be normal. And Theo certainly looks like he wants you to do it."

"Not helping, Dylan," Angela told him. The others smirked. Theo laughed. "All right, fine. Whatever."

"Uh, Dylan, what would you be doing?" Dan asked.

"I'll be holding Theo and watching and recording the entire time, probably laughing my ass off," Dylan answered.

The others nodded sarcastically.

Dan smirked. "I'll be Prince of Charming Records, trying to find his next big pop star, so I, um, you know, I think it, uh, I think it kinda works."

"James would be more fitting for the role since he's literal Prince Charming," Brooklyn pointed out. "Or Prince Shea. Even his little brother Preston is more charming royalty than you."

"And don't get too cocky, Humphrey," Thyra told him. "We still have your subpar acting to deal with."

Blair nodded. "Let's meet back here in a half an hour. Everyone off book so I can block."

"Actually, I've found a more experienced director more suited for the project," Dan explained.

"Julie Taymor?" Wyatt asked sarcastically.

Dan nodded, sarcasm equal. "Close."

Vanessa walked in, smiling.

Brooklyn, Thyra, Dylan, Wyatt and Blair were all annoyed. "No."

Angela was confused, not knowing who Vanessa was. "Who the hell is that?"

"That should be everyone's reaction to Vanellope," Brooklyn told her. "She's so unnecessary."

Thyra smirked. "You took the words right out of my mouth."

Blair nodded in agreement. "Mm-hmm."

"Vanessa?" Olivia asked. She stood. "V, I am so stupid for not thinking of you earlier. We're so lucky to have you to bring Dan's amazing words to life. Wait until you read this."

"I already did," Vanessa told her. "Dan always shows me early drafts of his work."

Olivia turned to look at Dan.

Dan shrugged. "Well, I mean, you know, I had to get her on board, show her something."

Olivia forced a smile. "Great. If you need any pointers, I've worked with some of the world's best directors."

"Sure, if I want to turn anyone into a bat, I'll let you know," Vanessa told her. "Thank you."

Dylan smirked. "Did Vanellope just sass to someone?"

"Dan?" Blair asked. "When girls live together, sometimes their cycles sync up. No hormones, not yours or theirs will get in the way of my cabaret."

"And our night of some silly fun that we all need to take the night off, and maybe get Theo to smile and laugh," Wyatt added.

Angela smirked. "It'll be fine, guys."

X • O ° X • O

Street

Damien and Jenny were walking together.

"What exactly does an Upper East Side princess do?" Damien asked. "You wear designer clothes, boss people around, but have a queen to answer to?"

"Three queens and a younger more badass princess," Jenny answered. "We go to parties and openings and stuff."

"Where you wear designer clothes and boss people around?" Damien asked. "And where those three queens and princess boss you around." Jenny nodded. "Sounds like kind of a yawn."

"Well, yeah, I guess compared to being an international drug dealer," Jenny answered. "What's the deal with that anyway? You don't need money. Your dad's an ambassador, right?"

Damien nodded. "Exactly. Which means we don't have to go through customs, they don't search our bags when we come in from the Hague. Besides of the added satisfaction of knowing my father would have to suffer if I were to be caught. A little bit of danger is what makes life worth living."

Jenny looked down. "Yeah, well, too much of that, like what I did to my step cousins... even if unintentional... that wasn't worth it. But today, when it was just me and you, no one else. It was kind of thrilling."

Damien smirked. "If you mean that, some friends are gonna meet me a little later to refuel my boat. You in?"

X • O ° X • O

Park

Noe and Nate were walking together, eating ice cream.

Noe was clearly happy with the ice cream given her cravings starting. "Hmm. I'm out of French fries."

Nate smirked. "So you can't dip them into the ice cream anymore. Good."

"Not good when pregnancy cravings are starting," Noe replied. Nate laughed lightly. "You know, life before all of this, for all of the Crew, it was so much easier."

"Yeah, in some ways," Nate agreed.

"Well, there was no Silence, no life-threatening danger, no psycho stalkers," Noe pointed out. "But Marie being here, and Angela and Theo... people like them, and Eric, Zaya, Sadie, Laureen, Harry and Aurora. James and Carter being back too. Those types of bonds... they make it a little more bearable."

Nate nodded in agreement. "Yeah, they do." Noe took a bite of ice cream, getting it all over her lips. Nate smiled. "Oh, my God. You got..." He laughed. "It's, like, all over..." He wiped the chocolate ice cream from Noe's lip, tasting it off of his finger. "You're good."

Noe laughed. "Thank you."

Nate smiled. "Yeah."

Noe's phone rang. She took it out, looking at the Caller ID, becoming nervous and apprehensive again. "Oh, it's, uh, it's Tripp."

"No, you can't," Nate told her.

"But what if it's important?" Noe asked.

Nate sighed. "Noe, just give me the phone." Noe handed him the phone. Nate hung up. "No talking about him, no thinking about him, no worrying, no seeing him. And if he comes looking for you, he's gonna find my fist in his face instead."

Noe smiled a bit in amusement. "What, are you gonna beat him up and throw him onto the plane?"

Nate was thinking. "I'm gonna take you to that karaoke club that James and Wyatt sang at a few years ago, and you and Hope sang at back in springtime, when Alex, Brooklyn, Thyra, Dylan, Wyatt, Zaya, Sadie, Harry, Aurora, Blair and I were all there too, and even Marie was, before we knew who she was, remember? Before she even realized she was your family." Noe nodded in agreement. "We said that we would meet up with Marie, Carter, James, Serena, and Zaya, Sadie, Hope and Alex, right? We can meet there, and we can have a little bit of fun, all right? Get all of our minds off of everything. Deal?"

Noe's phone started to ring again. Nate hung up, looking at Noe, waiting for her answer.

Noe smiled, nodding. "Deal."

Nate smiled. "All right. Let's call the others."

Noe nodded in agreement, and embraced Nate. Nate held her close, protective and sweet.

X • O ° X • O

Café

The cast members for the silly twisted fairy tale play were rehearsing.

Blair paced around Olivia. "Oh, Snow! Have this apple martini before your VMA performance tonight. I promise, it's not poisoned."

Vanessa started the music. "Okay, dwarves, that's your cue." Brooklyn, Thyra and Angela walked out, dancing around sillily. Theo was watching from Dylan's arms, and he was laughing in glee, causing Dylan, Wyatt, Angela, Brooklyn, Thyra and Blair to smile at their accomplishment, the whole reason why most of them were doing this. Dan found it a bit cute as well. Vanessa was also finding Theo cute and how the Crew members were doing this to make him happy and laugh, but she was more focused on trying to get back at Olivia for lying to her and ruining her plans with Dan that night. "You know, I think the dwarves should be in the front."

Thyra shrugged. "Don't have to ask me twice."

The three girls danced in front of Olivia.

Olivia, feeling boxed in, stepped out from behind the girls. "Okay, sorry, sorry, sorry. Excuse me." The music stopped. "Um, no one's gonna be able to see me."

"Yeah, well, this moment really is about the dwarves, right, Dan?" Vanessa asked.

"Well, I mean, it's called Snow White, so technically it's..." Dan trailed off.

Vanessa rolled her eyes. "Of course you would take her side."

"What?" Dan asked.

"Well, he's right," Olivia told her. "I'm not standing in the back."

"It was just a suggestion," Vanessa told her. She gestured to Brooklyn and Thyra. "I don't even like them." Brooklyn and Thyra nodded in agreement, clearly not caring. "And I don't even know Angela, but they're doing this for Theo, and I thought it would be nice for them to be front and center. I mean, did you hear him?"

Angela gave Vanessa a skeptical look, crossing her arms, shaking her head. "Uh, no, bitch. Whatever your problem is, you do not get to use my son as an excuse or a prop to defend whatever you're doing. Theo's not a prop."

Vanessa sighed. "I see we're gonna have issues like I do with all of them."

Olivia looked at Brooklyn, Thyra and Angela, and at Blair as she peaked out from behind the curtain. "Don't worry. It's not you guys, or the baby. Boxing me out is one of Vanessa's favorite activities."

Vanessa walked closer. "What did you say?"

Wyatt tried to stop the impending fight in front of Theo. "Whoa, whoa. Okay, all right."

"Not in front of Theo, or I'm kicking all your asses," Dylan warned.

Angela nodded in agreement. "I second that."

Brooklyn pointed at Dylan, Wyatt and Angela. "Yeah, don't wanna piss off these three parents."

"Dan, you better do something or we will," Thyra told him.

Dan, knowing that Thyra was serious, stood between Olivia and Vanessa. "Okay, girls, let's calm down, talk rationally."

Vanessa looked at Olivia, forcing her voice to be calm. "You're the one who signed up for this cabaret to box me out."

"Are you kidding me?" Olivia asked. "You're the one who boxed me out today with your Morrissey plans. And that night."

Brooklyn, Thyra, Dylan, Wyatt, Angela and Blair exchanged a confused look.

"What?" Dan asked.

"What are you talking about?" Vanessa asked.

In a brief flashback during the threesome, Olivia was on top of Dan, in her undergarments. Vanessa pushed Olivia off of Dan to the floor, before getting on top of him herself, also in her undergarments, before they started to make out.

"Vanessa, you're in love with Dan," Olivia told her, looking back over the group. "And everybody here knows it."

"That's true," Wyatt agreed.

Dylan smirked. "Even Marie knew it back before she met the rest of us for real, and she barely knew you."

Dan shook his head. "No, that's crazy. Come on."

Olivia scoffed. "Okay, I don't need to put up with any of this. I quit."

Olivia put her glass down, walking away.

"Oh, no, you don't," Vanessa told her. "I quit."

Vanessa walked away.

"What the hell is going on?" Brooklyn asked. "Did you bozos have a threesome or something?"

Dan turned to look at Brooklyn, Thyra, Dylan, Wyatt, Angela and Blair, and they realized that they did.

"Oh, God," Blair said.

Brooklyn and Dylan were both exasperated, just like Alex had been, speaking in twin sync. "Dumbass!"

Thyra smirked. "How stupid can you be? The third person is always supposed to be a stranger."

Angela shrugged. "Well, unless you've been in some of the relationships I've been in where all three are all together."

Wyatt looked at Angela in amusement. "You've been into polygamy? Why am I not surprised?"

Angela smirked, shrugging.

"Guys, look, I've already heard all this from Alex and Hope," Dan told them. "And this is my mess. I can... I'm gonna talk to the girls."

"In which order, hmm?" Brooklyn asked. Dan didn't know. "Exactly."

"You're gonna have to tack up by yourself," Blair told him. "I have an army to build, a school to take over, and girls to blackmail. Who's with me?"

Thyra and Brooklyn both raised their hands. "Us."

"It's been a while since just the three of us have been up to something together," Thyra pointed out.

Blair smiled. "Well, come on then."

Blair, Brooklyn and Thyra walked off.

Angela looked at Dylan and Wyatt in confused amusement. "They always like that?"

Dylan and Wyatt nodded. "Oh, yeah."

Dan nodded in agreement.

X • O ° X • O

Street

Zaya, Sadie, Serena and James went to meet up with Noe and Nate at the karaoke club.

Marie and Carter walked along behind them.

"So Tripp Vanderbilt is the potential psycho stalker this time around, huh?" Carter asked. "See? A lot of guys can't resist the Rhodes girl appeal." Marie gave Carter a look, only somewhat amused. "Sorry."

"It's fine," Marie told him. "I'm just worried about Noe. With her pregnant, and about to start showing, and things with Nate... this is the last thing that they need. And I might be overly cautious with all of this because of Vincent, but..."

"With good reason," Carter pointed out. "I get why you'd be so worried. I would be too. And we all are."

Marie nodded in agreement. "At least we know Zaya and Sadie are here, they're fine. And Laureen's with Dominic, or she's at work."

"Exactly," Carter agreed. "They're gonna be okay, Marie. Like you finally got to be."

Marie sighed heavily. "Yeah."

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "If only things were always what they appeared to be. As we know, nothing is as it seems. And it looks like the Rhodes girls and their loved ones are still in for the darkest rides of their lives."

X • O ° X • O

X • O ° X • O

NYU - Blair's Dorm Room

Blair had the lighting dimmed low, and a lamp shining on Olivia to give a mysterious, intimidating vibe. "Olivia. I'm not asking you to do cabaret for me. I'm asking you to do it for all the kids and tweens of this world."

"My fans don't care if I do cabaret," Olivia told her.

Blair gave her a look. "But they'll care if they hear their favorite queen of the dead had a..." 

X • O ° X • O

Vanessa/Olivia's Dorm Room

Brooklyn and Thyra had the lighting dimmed low, and a lamp shining on Vanessa to give a mysterious, intimidating vibe.

Thyra was going on the same train of thought/sentence as Blair. "...ménage with Dan Humphrey and his celebutante girlfriend."

Brooklyn smirked, tilting her head. "Do you really want everyone here to know that alterna-chick Abrams is literally a--"

X • O ° X • O

Blair's Room

Blair looked at Olivia. "First, I'll text TMZ."

X • O ° X • O

Vanessa/Olivia's Dorm Room

Thyra looked at Vanessa. "Then Gossip Girl."

Brooklyn pointed at Vanessa. "Oh, and the town crier in Nowheresville, Vermont so your parents find out."

Vanessa glared at them. "You two, just like your other half, really think you're better than me."

Thyra smirked. "Well, that's obvious."

"Obvious by like a landslide," Brooklyn agreed. "Or 100 landslides."

Thyra chuckled, clapping her hands together. "So..."

X • O ° X • O

Blair's Dorm Room

Blair looked at Olivia, smirking. "What's it gonna be?"

X • O ° X • O

Same club from 2.10 and 2.21.

Night - Karaoke Club

(Song:) Dance in the Dark - Au/Ra

Zaya and Sadie had just got done with a song at the karaoke place, laughing lightly as they were feeling a bit better. Noe, Hope, Marie and Serena were cheering them on, and Nate, Alex, Carter and James smirked, also clapping lightly.

Zaya and Sadie went to sit down.

"Ah, thank you, guys," Zaya told them.

Sadie nodded in agreement. "We really needed this."

"Yeah, looks like," Alex agreed.

"What did Harry and Aurora say?" Zaya asked. "Noe, you okay?"

Noe nodded. "I'm okay. I was just honestly more worried about you, Zaya. And Sadie, Laureen and Dominic."

"Well, don't, Noe," Sadie told her.

"Kind of hard not to be worried about all my sisters and cousins," Serena pointed out.

"Yeah, but we'll be fine," Marie told them. "Hopefully."

"We will," Hope told them. "And Mom and Harry said that they're gonna be looking into what they can do to find out if this thing with Tripp..."

"Is really as threatening as we think it might be," Alex pointed out. "They said that waiting Tripp out until he leaves for DC might be the best thing for now, until we find out if it's something more."

"All right," Carter said. "I hate waiting."

They all nodded in agreement.

"Until then, we can't really let Tripp know that we're onto him, at least this much," Hope explained. "That could set him off big time. If it is like how it is with Richard, or Vincent."

Zaya, Sadie and Marie looked down.

Noe looked at them sadly. "Can we please just talk about something else?"

"Somebody, please, anything to distract us all," Zaya told them.

"Definitely," Nate answered. "Zaya, Sadie, that was a great song. Sounds like Wyatt got you two back in the groove."

Zaya and Sadie smiled a bit.

"So, anyone else want to sing?" Marie asked.

"Uh, no," Alex answered.

James shook his head. "Nope."

Carter shook his head. "Not a chance."

Nate's phone started to ring, causing Nate to smirk. "Saved by the bell. Hold on one second. I'll, uh, I'll be right back."

Nate stood, walking away.

"Come on, Hope and I already sang," Noe told them. "Someone else has got to go. Marie, you're great at singing."

Marie shrugged. "Maybe in a bit. Serena, you wanna go?"

Serena shrugged, standing. "Why not? I'll go."

James smirked. "Now there's the Serena I know."

Sadie clapped. "Go, Serena."

"You got this, Serena," Zaya told her.

Serena walked up to the stage to sit down and start a song.

Nate stood at the back of the club, answering his phone. "Hello?"

Tripp was on the other line, sitting at home at his desk. "Nate, hey. Harry and Alex haven't been answering their calls. I just found out... Grandfather wasn't behind Hudson Hero. It was Maureen. Your mom just told me."

Nate was in shock. "No. You're kidding me."

Tripp shook his head. "I can't believe this. I let Harry take the fall. And you and Alex had my back all the way."

Nate clearly had a tough time controlling his anger and keeping their cover so he didn't make the situation with Noe/Tripp worse. "Don't worry about us, Tripp. What are you gonna do?"

Tripp was drinking, clearly angry. "I don't know. I can never trust her again. I don't know if I even want to see her again."

Nate sighed, looking toward Noe, worried about what this could mean, with Tripp no longer caring about his marriage with Maureen. "Of course, you're angry. Okay, Tripp, but she's your wife, all right? Any kind of separation this early in the term could affect your re-election."

Tripp knew that Nate was only saying that because he wanted to keep him away from Noe. "Re-election is the last thing on my mind right now. I just need to clear my head." In the karaoke club, the girls were cheering Serena on as she was singing and having fun, while the other boys were amused. Tripp heard them. "But you're out."

"Yeah, I'm out with friends," Nate answered. "Listen, hang in there, and Alex, Harry and I'll call you later, okay?"

Tripp hung up, draining his glass.

Nate hung up his phone, putting it away, walking back over to Noe at their table, sitting down.

"Was that Harry?" Noe asked.

"No, no, not yet," Nate answered. "I'm sure Harry and Aurora are still working on it. But, uh... we'll figure it out."

Noe nodded. Nate took Noe's hand, kissing it. Noe smiled, stroking a hand across Nate's forehead to sweep his hair back. They both smiled at each other.

(Song Ends)

X • O ° X • O

Night Club

Jenny and Damien walked along.

Damien introduced Jenny to a man who led them along. "Oh, by the way, Eugene. Uh, Jenny. Jenny, Eugene."

Jenny shook Eugene's hand. "Hi, nice to meet you."

Eugene nodded. "Cool. See you, boss."

Eugene walked away.

Damien checked his phone. "Good. My guy's here."

"Here, here?" Jenny asked. "Like he's coming over to the table?"

Damien chuckled. "Where would you suggest we do it? In the alley, with the cops and the cameras? Oh, I understand if you wanna leave or, you know, go to another table."

Jenny shook her head. "No, I'm good."

(Song Ends)

X • O ° X • O

Café

Brooklyn, Thyra, Angela's Costumes:

Wyatt's Costume:

The play was going on for real, and there was a full house in the café.

Dylan was sitting in the front with Theo, making sure he could see it all, while he was also keeping his promise about recording everything and laughing.

Willa was on stage as Little Red Riding Hood, in front of a man with a wolf mask on. "Granny, why are your teeth so... big?"

Backstage, Brooklyn, Thyra and Angela were dressed as the dwarves. Blair and Wyatt were in costume as the Evil Queen and Magic Mirror/Platinum Record.

Dan walked closer, wearing a normal like outfit for his part as Prince Charming. "What--what if they don't show up?"

"If Brooklyn, Thyra and Blair were the ones that threatened and blackmailed them, even I know that means they'll show," Angela told him.

Vanessa walked closer, not happy to be here.

Wyatt smirked sarcastically. "Oh, that's the show-must-go-on-spirit."

Olivia walked in.

"We're up next," Vanessa told them. "I'm gonna go make sure everything's ready."

"And I have a little treat for Paul I need to set up," Blair told them.

Blair walked away.

Brooklyn looked at Vanessa and Dan. "I just don't wanna be around you two."

"Let's go," Thyra told them.

Brooklyn, Thyra, Wyatt and Angela walked away in one direction, while Vanessa walked away in the other.

Now that the two of them were alone, Dan walked up to Olivia. "Hey, I'm glad you decided to come tonight."

"Well, Blair, Brooklyn and Thyra didn't really give me or Vanessa much choice," Olivia pointed out.

Dan looked down. "Look, uh, Vanessa and I are just friends. You know, she--she has no feelings for me. I'm positive. In fact, I made the same mistake when you... went to Japan. So, you know, whatever you... think you saw during our thing, uh, it wasn't from her."

Olivia nodded in agreement. "Yeah, no, you're right."

"Right, see?" Dan asked. "I told you."

"It wasn't from her," Olivia told him. "It was from you. I sat up to take my shirt off. I look over, and... you were looking at Vanessa like... you've never looked at me. And then you kissed her, like... like you've never kissed me."

Dan shook his head. "No, that--that's... that little thing? That was hardly even a kiss."

"That you even know what I'm talking about proves that it happened," Olivia told him. "If you just let yourself... you'll see that your feelings for her are real. And you should stop kidding yourself."

Dan was put in his place.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Hey, Lonely Boy. Looks like there's only room for one Prince Charming, and James Baizen has that role mastered better than you ever could. Looks like it's time for you to look in the enchanted mirror."

X • O ° X • O

Ostroff Center - Laureen's Office

While Laureen was working and locking up, Richard came to see Laureen.

Laureen glared, grabbing a letter opener from her desk. "Look who it is. The kissing bandit. Did you fondle anyone since we last spoke? Or did you pick another fight? The damage Dominic did certainly looks brutal."

"I should apologize," Richard admitted. "I won't." He grinned. "But I should. That kiss was a reckless mistake. Kinda like how Zaya was at first, since we didn't plan on her so soon in our lives." He sat down across from Laureen. Laureen glared at him, watching his every move closely. "That was a joke."

"Funny," Laureen told him bitterly, sarcastically. "No wonder we left you."

"I don't know," Richard told her. "I'm ready for round two of our last encounter. The one without Dominic, of course. The one last week. The kiss."

Laureen mocked gagging. "Sorry, I just... threw up a little in my mouth." She smiled coldly, holding up the letter opener. "Now get out of here before this goes through your eye."

Richard held up his hands in amusement. "Now, now, now. Before you turn me to stone with that look or put that through my eye, you left me with little choice, Laureen."

"And you have left me with a little bit of a migraine, and you're left with no mind at all," Laureen replied. "You're not helping us. You're just torturing us. You really want that."

Richard smirked. "Oh, second only to how much I've always wanted you."

"Well, you can't have me anymore after everything you did," Laureen replied. "Everything I learned about you. The Silence, Amanda Stry, her baby. Your child. Zaya and Sadie's sibling who died in that fire. I've done something I thought I could never do. I'm giving up on trying to save you. And if I have to take you down for real, I will."

Richard chuckled darkly. "Well, that would be one hell of a fight."

"Well, that's the beauty of what's before us," Laureen told him. "Between you and me, there's nothing left to fight for. But Zaya and Sadie are everything I need to fight for. And Dominic. But even if we took you out, you can survive anything, can't you? Like a cockroach." She grabbed a lighter from her desk, flicking it on, looking Richard in the eyes. "You never have liked fire, have you? Relax. I'm just lighting a candle." She lit a candle on her desk, putting it down, blowing the lighter out, glaring at Richard. "I thought fire was supposed to be Satan's friend. I'm sure that he has a special place in hell for you."

Richard smirked. "Why, I'm sorry to disappoint." He picked up a desk ornament, big and heavy, to try and hit Laureen in the head with. Laureen caught his wrist, twisting his arm hard enough to make him drop it, hitting Richard with it instead, stabbing him in the hand with the letter opener she still had when he tried to hit her, kicking him into the desk, tossing the letter opener at Richard, and trying to leave her office, only to find that it was locked from the outside and she couldn't get out. Richard attacked Laureen from behind, putting a chloroform cloth over her mouth, holding her arms down against her underneath his arms, and as Laureen struggled to breathe, she was forced to inhale the chloroform. Richard smirked as she started to fade into sleep, going limp in his arms. "But if I'm going to hell, you're coming with me."

X • O ° X • O

X • O ° X • O

Café

Dylan was sitting in the front with Theo, making sure he could see everything, while filming and laughing at everything.

Blair/Evil Queen walked toward the magic mirror/platinum record hole prop on the wall. "Platinum record on the wall. Who's the most talented of us all?"

Wyatt poked his head through the prop. "Though your voice is as clear as day, your dance moves are quite passé." Blair put her hand to her lips as if in shock. Dylan smirked. Theo smiled at seeing Wyatt up there. "And Snow White's youth and sex appeal means she'll get the record deal."

(Song:) Love Game - Lady Gaga (instrumental)

Brooklyn, Thyra and Angela, as the dwarves, front in center in front of Dylan and Theo and the rest, so that Theo could see them clear view as they did their part.

Angela held out her arms in a shrug. "I'm Screechy."

Thyra turned to the side, crossing her arms over her chest. "I'm Pitchy."

Brooklyn took off her hat, tossing it into the crowd. "I'm Bitchy."

Theo smiled at his mother and aunts, laughing. Dylan laughed as well while recording and holding Theo.

Dan walked onto the stage. "My, what talent you small people have." Unable to help himself, Dan patted Brooklyn and Thyra on the heads patronizingly. Brooklyn and Thyra twisted Dan's hands, glaring back at him, making him groan. "Ow. Feisty too." The crowd laughed. Angela smirked.  "If only there were a vampy young vixen to front you. We'd all be swimming in online sales. Luckily, I happen to be dating one."

Olivia walked in as a sexified Snow White, singing. "I wanna kiss you / But if I do then I might miss you, babe." She walked up to the stage, standing in front of Brooklyn, Thyra, Angela and Dan. "It's complicated and stupid / Got my ass squeezed by sexy cupid / Guess he wants to play, wants to play / A love game, a love game."

Brooklyn, Thyra and Angela sang while doing small dances, making Theo smile and laugh, smiling at him. "A love game, a love game / A love game, a love game."

(Song Ends)

X • O ° X • O

Night Club

(Song:) Dance in the Dark - Lady Gaga

Damien and Jenny were with the guy that Damien was dealing to.

"So you guys met at boarding school?" Jenny asked. "That's cool." Damien put the drugs in Jenny's hand. "What? Right."

"Yeah, eighth grade, Le Rosey," Damien told her. Jenny passed the drugs in secret over to the man. The man put it in his jacket. "Good times."

The man handed Jenny the cash.

Jenny handed the cash to Damien. "Um, it was nice to meet you. I'm gonna go use the ladies room."

"No, no, no," Damien told her. "Hey, sit down. Don't go empty handed. Here. Just, uh, test the product, yeah?"

Damien handed some of the drugs to Jenny.

Chuck arrived, taking the drugs from Jenny. "That won't be necessary."

Chuck tossed the pills down.

"Chuck?" Jenny asked. "Chuck, what are you doing here?"

"After I got your message, I had housekeeping do an early turndown service on Damien's room," Chuck explained. "That's where they found his stash. I've had my own experience in the boat pond. I'm taking you home." He looked at Damien. "You and your father have until noon to collect your luggage. After that, it's in the river."

Chuck tried to lead Jenny away.

Jenny stopped him. "Chuck, you're totally overreacting. I'm really fine."

"Uh, dude, the lady said she's fine," Damien told him.

Chuck handed Jenny's purse to her, glaring at Damien with a small smirk. "Dude. I'm Chuck Bass. Even Europeans must know what that means."

Damien backed off. Chuck led Jenny away. Jenny scoffed but went with Chuck.

(Song Ends)

X • O ° X • O

Café

Brooklyn, Thyra and Angela were still on stage, while Dylan was recording and laughing, and Theo was smiling and giggling.

Dan stood in the middle of the stage. "Well, now that I've added a disco-electro pop beat to Snow White's love ballad, and put your voices through autotune, it's time to take over the land."

"Though the autotune wasn't needed," Brooklyn replied.

The crowd laughed.

Dan spread his arms. "Let's have some fun. This beat is sick."

Brooklyn, Thyra and Angela spoke in sync. "I wanna take a ride on your disco stick."

Backstage, Vanessa, Blair and Wyatt were walking, looking for Olivia.

"That's her cue," Vanessa told them. "Where the hell is she?"

"I have no idea," Blair told them.

"Well, you know what?" Dan asked. "The--the disco stick tends to be an unreliable form of transportation. It, uh, it breaks down a lot."

Wyatt gave Vanessa a push to the curtain.

"What are you doing?" Vanessa asked.

Wyatt pushed Vanessa through the curtain. "Get in."

Vanessa was nervous to be in front of everyone suddenly. "Oh, Prince, here I am. Snow White."

"Oh," Dan said, confused.

"And I got plastic surgery and colored my hair like you suggested," Vanessa told him.

The crowd laughed.

Dan nodded. "Oh, right. Right. Okay. You, well, you look fantastic."

Brooklyn, Thyra and Angela looked very bored to have to look at Dan and Vanessa in front of them while doing the dance.

Blair and Wyatt watched from behind the curtain, also bored of Dan and Vanessa.

Dylan was also bored. Even Theo looked bored of Dan and Vanessa, as he was yawning through their lines.

Dylan whispered to his son as he started to yawn. "Same, Theo. Same."

X • O ° X • O

Karaoke Club

Marie and Carter were at their table. Marie was gazing off, nearly dissociated.

Carter walked over with a couple of drinks, sitting with Marie. "Marie?"

Marie looked at him. "Yeah, it's me. Sorry. I kinda spaced."

Carter shook his head. "You don't have to apologize for that, beautiful."

Marie smiled. "You're just gonna keep calling me 'beautiful' like others would call their girl 'princess' or something, aren't you?"

Carter nodded. "Yeah. Beautiful's my name for you." Marie smiled. Carter chuckled. "I know that you've been seeing Laureen, officially, finally."

"Yeah," Marie agreed. "I didn't want to think that I needed to before, but after everything with Vincent, I knew that I needed to more than ever. And Laureen's more helpful to me than any other therapist has ever been."

"Yeah, Laureen has the tendency to be more helpful for everyone in the Crew," Carter pointed out. They chuckled lightly. "So you..."

"I feel better," Marie answered. "More relaxed."

"And you're not seeing Vincent?" Carter asked.

Marie shook her head. "I'm not seeing him. I don't see him in my head anymore."

Carter sighed, relieved. "Good."

Marie smiled a bit. "Yeah. My mind feels more safe now. At ease. Except all this with Zaya, Sadie, Laureen, and now Noe."

Carter nodded. "I know." He took Marie's hand, kissing it. Marie chuckled. "And if Vincent gets out and if he comes after you, we'll deal with it. You and your alters aren't alone. And you have a lot more people protecting you than just the real Andrea now." They managed small smiles. "What about other news for you and the alters?"

Marie took a deep breath. "Brittany's still trying to make things work with Prince in secret. But Lacy, Nick, Brittany and Angela have all been flirting with Angela, and Angela's been flirting with them right back."

Carter smirked. "I'm not surprised. So Brittany likes Prince for real, and she and I do like each other, and Andrea is pretty sensual with me, even if neither of those are not the same as you and me." Marie nodded in agreement. "And Lacy, Andrea, Nick and Brittany are all flirting with Angela. Nice."

Marie chuckled. "Yeah. This is getting even more complicated, Carter."

Carter shrugged. "Maybe, but we did agree to open relationships for the alters, and I think it's fine. With all these love interests for you and the alters, you five know the complicated life of the Upper East Side fully now. Do you regret getting yourselves into it?"

"No," Marie answered. "Because we got our family, and the Crew, and you. And the alters may like or flirt with Prince and Angela, and Brittany and Andrea might have things with you... but you're the only one for me, Carter. No matter who comes and goes in my life. I just want to be with you."

Carter smiled a bit, kissing Marie slowly and softly. "Marie, you've been the only one for me for a long time now, you and two other alters, but that's still apart of who you are. I know that this is ours."

Marie and Carter smiled, kissing more passionately.

Over at Noe and Nate's table, they were also talking.

"You know, it took me a long time for me to realize I had feelings for you," Nate told her. "I mean, Alex and Harry used to tease me about how they knew years before I realized I loved you." Noe smiled. "And it took me a while to get over what happened between us at the Shepherd wedding." Noe nodded. "Three years ago at the masquerade ball, I was so drunk, and I tried to tell you I loved you, and went to kiss you." Noe looked at him in confusion, surprise. "Turns out that it was Hope, not you. She was wearing your mask and jacket."

Noe processed this, remembering. "This is what Gossip Girl meant when she said you and Hope kissed, on graduation day." Nate nodded. "You thought it was me. Why didn't you tell me before?"

"Back then, it was so soon after the accident, and you didn't remember hardly anything about me that night, and it took a while for you to start to get those memories back," Nate answered. "And I didn't want to freak you out."

Noe smiled, touched. "And you loved me back then?"

"Of course I did," Nate answered. "Noe, you're the most beautiful, amazing, alive, strongest person I've ever known. I loved you then. I love you now."

Completely touched and happy, Noe smiled, chuckling breathlessly. "Nate... I love you, too."

Noe and Nate smiled, leaning closer to kiss sweetly and passionately.

Serena, James, Hope, Alex, Zaya and Sadie were at other tables around, smiling at Noe/Nate and Marie/Carter.

"Who wants to sing next?" Hope asked.

Marie looked at Carter, biting her lip thoughtfully. "I'll go."

Marie stood, walking toward the stage.

Zaya and Sadie clapped. "Yay, Marie!"

They all laughed.

Marie sat down, picking a song, and though she sang it more slowly and softly, less pop genre than the actual song (I'm Yours by Alessia Cara), she sang it with a rock edge in her voice that suited her perfectly, finally able to really let Carter know how she felt. "Some nerve you have to break up my lonely / And tell me you want me / How dare you march into my heart? / Oh, how rude of you to ruin my miserable / And call me beautiful / 'Cause I wasn't looking for love, no." Noe, Nate, Serena, James, Hope, Alex, Zaya and Sadie all smiled, knowing that Marie was finally able to really reveal how she felt. Carter smiled a bit. "Nobody asked you to get me attached to you / In fact you tricked me / And I wasn't trying to fall in love / But boy you pushed me." Carter smirked slightly in amusement. "So all that I'm asking is that you handle me with caution / 'Cause I don't give myself often / But I guess I'll try today / I'm mad at you for being so cute." Carter tilted his head at Marie, flashing back to when he had told Marie in 3.04 'don't make me prove to you I'm anything but cute'. Marie remembered that, smirking at Carter cutely. "And changing my mood and altering my rude /  What's wrong with you? / You make me sick for being so perfect / What did I do? / What can I do, oh? / And I wasn't trying to melt this heart of iron / But the way you hold me makes the old me pass away / And I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared to fall again / But if you promise me you'll catch me, then it's okay / Oh, I hate that I spend my days just wasting time / Day dreaming 'til I see you again / I'm not used to this / Oh, I used to be so used to boys just using me / For you to be you to me feels new to me / 'Cause I usually cheer for the bad side / Love under a bad sign / So it makes me mad I'm falling again / Falling again...!" The others all smiled. Carter looked like he was truly in love with Marie right then, like she was with him. "'Cause I've had my heart broken before / And I promised I would never let me hurt anymore / But I tore down my walls and opened my doors / And made room for one, so, baby, I'm yours / Oh, baby, I'm yours / Oh, baby, I'm yours / Oh, baby, I'm yours / Oh, baby, I'm yours / But I tore down my walls / And opened my doors / And made room for one / So, baby, I'm yours / Oh, baby, I'm yours." Carter finished his drink, standing. Marie stood, walking toward him. "Carter, I..."

Carter brushed back a bit of her hair from her face, nodding knowingly, smiling a bit. "I love you."

Marie looked at him, not really surprised, but still stunned to hear the words from someone who meant them, smiling, knowing he did, letting out a light chuckle, relishing the happiness they both felt. "I love you."

Carter and Marie kissed even more passionately than before.

The others looked very happy for them but not intruding.

Zaya and Sadie looked at each other.

"We should probably get home," Zaya told her.

Sadie nodded in agreement. "Yeah."

"It's getting late," Hope agreed. "We can see if things are better tomorrow."

"And I hope they are," Alex told them.

"Same," Serena agreed.

James nodded. "Good night, guys."

"Noe and Nate are going to their place," Sadie stated. "I'm guessing Serena, Marie and Hope are going with James, Carter and Alex to the Empire?"

"Yeah, for a little while," Serena answered.

"Zaya, Sadie, you two gonna be okay for the night?" Noe asked.

Zaya and Sadie nodded reassuringly.

X • O ° X • O

Street

Noe and Nate were heading home, walking for the fresh air.

"I'm so proud of Marie, and so happy for her and Carter," Noe told him.

Nate smiled. "I know you are. It was pretty impressive, I'll admit."

Tripp walked out from hiding behind them. "I hope I'm not interrupting something."

Noe and Nate turned to look at Tripp, both apprehensive.

X • O ° X • O

Rhodes/Bass Apartment Building - Lobby

Zaya and Sadie walked in.

"Do you think Mom's back from work, or is she with Dominic?" Sadie asked.

"I don't know," Zaya admitted.

Richard walked out from hiding to see his daughters. "Zaya. Sadie."

Zaya and Sadie both froze.

Zaya glared at Richard. "Funny. I thought vampires couldn't get in without an invite. Oh, Sadie, remind me to buy garlic necklaces."

"Good day, Zaya," Richard replied. "Being dramatic, as usual."

"I'm not being dramatic," Zaya replied. "I'm being a protective older sister. And that means keeping Sadie out of harm's way."

"Ah, so I guess I'm 'harm'," Richard told her mockingly.

"You always have been 'harm', older and decrepit with emotional damage that you inflicted on us," Zaya answered.

"Maybe I just want to talk," Richard told them.

Sadie nodded sarcastically. "Yes, well, I'm sure your conversations are just riveting. I mean, you have so much to talk about, what with being a pure neglect and emotionally abusive and sometimes physically abusive parent to hash over. All our lives, you have avoided being a father to us, and a good husband to our mother. Do not think for one moment that you get to start now."

"We cannot do this right now," Zaya told him.

"What else do you have to do?" Richard asked.

"That is none of your business," Sadie told him. "As a matter of fact, none of our actual business is any of yours. You were a horrible father so we get to fire you from that."

"We have nothing left to say to you," Zaya told him. "Dick. You don't care about us. We're just your problems and your props and when we don't behave exactly perfectly, you lash out at us."

"Do you want me to tell you that I'll try harder?" Richard asked sarcastically, mockingly.

"It means nothing because nothing means anything to you," Sadie told him.

"What do you want?" Richard asked.

"We want you to get the hell out of our lives for good," Sadie answered.

Richard scoffed. "Out of my daughters' lives?"

"You're hurting your daughters," Zaya told him.

Richard stalked closer, making Zaya and Sadie back away. "Okay. Okay, you know what? This is getting to be a little much, right? I think we're done."

Sadie was holding her chest as she was trying to stay calm.

Zaya held her hands on Sadie's shoulders, glaring at Richard. "Get the hell away from us."

"Do you want to just listen to yourselves?" Richard asked. "Because you are talking nonsense as usual."

"Stop it," Zaya told him. "This isn't nonsense."

"You ever think that maybe you're the problem, Zaya?" Richard asked. "That maybe your exemplary behavior has caused Sadie to think it's okay to run away from her responsibilities?" Richard got close enough to where Sadie was very worried about the state of her heart, and Zaya, in defense for them both, raised her fist in retaliation. "Do it. Come on, Zaya. If you're serious about this, just do it." Before Zaya and Sadie could fight back against Richard, a couple of men came up behind Zaya and Sadie, and grabbed them before they could fight, putting cloths of chloroform over their mouths to make them breathe it in, holding them still as they were struggling. Richard watched them, unfazed as Zaya and Sadie looked at him in betrayal as they were forced to inhale it in and start to fall asleep. "Yeah. Just as I thought."

X • O ° X • O

X • O ° X • O

Café

Vanessa was pretending to be in a sleeping spell on the couch, with Brooklyn, Thyra and Angela standing behind the couch.

Blair stood nearby as the Evil Queen, next to the record prop on the wall. "Platinum record on the wall, it's me now who have it all."

Wyatt poked his head out through the prop. "Just as long as true love's kiss doesn't wake this coked-up miss."

Blair and Wyatt ran off backstage.

"Oh, if only the prince would kiss her," Thyra stated. "We could be international backup dancers on the world tour."

"Backup?" Brooklyn repeated. "I think the hell not. We're the main attraction."

The crowd laughed.

Dylan smirked. Theo giggled.

Angela looked behind them. "There's the prince now."

Dan walked on stage, over to Vanessa. "Yeah."

Dan just looked at Vanessa.

"You have to kiss her," Angela told him.

Brooklyn was exasperated by his hesitance. "Kiss her!"

Dan looked between Brooklyn, Thyra and Angela, who all nodded to Vanessa.

"Get it over with," Thyra told him.

Dan took off his hat, leaning down to kiss Vanessa, flashing back to when they kissed during the threesome and they looked at each other with a different look in both their eyes both in the past and present.

"What are you doing?" Vanessa asked.

Dan backed away. "Um..."

Thyra looked at the crowd. "Snow White is alive."

Everyone cheered, and everyone congratulated each other.

Dylan stood with Theo, saving the recordings he did. "Oh, that was amazing. Great blackmail material for all of you."

They all laughed.

"You surprised us all," Paul told them. "And, uh, Dan, if you ever think about applying to the playwriting program, let me know if you want me to read your sample, give some notes."

Dan nodded in appreciation. "Oh, wow, well, thank you so much. Yeah, I might take you up on that offer."

Brooklyn, Thyra, Angela, Blair and Wyatt took a bow, and Dylan and Theo smiled.

X • O ° X • O

Street

Noe and Nate were still facing Tripp.

"So, Maureen, uh..." Noe trailed off. "Wow. I, um, can't believe she did that."

"I called her," Tripp told them. "She admitted."

"You okay?" Noe asked.

"Not really," Tripp answered. "My wife isn't who I thought she was, and neither's my marriage. Nate, thanks for hearing me out earlier. You're a great friend."

Nate nodded. "Yeah, well... any time."

"Wait," Noe told him. "Nate, you knew? Why didn't you say anything to me?"

"I..." Nate trailed off.

"Look, Noe, I don't know anything anymore," Tripp told her. "I just know I don't want to be alone. Could we take a walk?"

Tripp didn't wait for an answer, walking away toward the door.

"Noe, I didn't tell you about Maureen because I didn't know if I could believe him or not," Nate told him. "I don't know what his game is, but he's gonna cross the line."

Nate and Noe were both worried on what this could lead to.

X • O ° X • O

Another Street

Dan saw Olivia, walking up to her. "Olivia, where have you been? You kind of abandoned me out there."

Olivia nodded. "I know. Sorry. I knew Vanessa would step in, and... I needed you to kiss her."

"Yeah, which I did, because I had to for the play," Dan told her. "I mean, you--you made me do it. You can't be mad. You can't judge what happened if you didn't see it."

"I didn't need to," Olivia replied. "You were the one that needed to kiss her again, to realize for yourself that your feelings for her are real." Dan looked down. "Anyway, uh... I just got done talking with Sherry and Simon, and... they kinda convinced me to take that witch movie."

"What?" Dan asked. "Olivia, you can't--you can't leave... like this."

Olivia tilted her head. "I read the script. It's actually pretty good. I'll be back in the fall."

Vanessa walked up to them. "There you are. Look... we're gonna have to talk about it. We saw each other naked, and there's no going back. But we're friends. So, Olivia, I apologize for how I acted during rehearsal. But I don't like Dan like that, and I haven't in years." She looked at Dan. "Right?"

Dan nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, she's right."

"Oh, and, you know, I think... Paul Hoffman kinda likes me," Vanessa told them, walking over to Paul. "Hey."

Dan and Olivia looked at each other, before Olivia walked away, never to be seen again.

X • O ° X • O

Rhodes/Bass Apartment - Living Room

Chuck and Jenny got off the elevator, walking into the living room.

"Look, I get the whole sullen-teenager pushing an envelope thing," Chuck told her. "I've pushed a pack. But you're better than that Damien guy."

Jenny turned to face him. "You sure about that? Because I don't think Zaya, Sadie, Brooklyn and Thyra would agree with you. Or most of the Crew now, including my own sisters. Hope's my sister by adoption, and I barely know Marie, but still. I didn't mean for Richard to snap on Zaya, Sadie and Laureen like that, but it happened. And being with Damien was exciting."

Chuck raised his eyebrows. "And dangerous. Please. It takes one to know one. I saw that look in your eye the very first day you came on my radar."

"And what so called look would that be?" Jenny asked.

"Be very careful, Jennifer Humphrey," Chuck told her. "If you go down the rabbit hole, it's going to take more than Hope Diamond and Marie Rosson to drag you back out."

Jenny sighed. "So what, you're gonna walk me to my room and make sure I don't get into any trouble?"

"Just try not to run into any Euro dealers in the kitchen," Chuck told her.

Jenny scoffed, walking away. 

X • O ° X • O

Old Von Miller Mansion - Living Room

(Song:) Up In Flames - Ruelle

Richard had been keeping Laureen tied up and unconscious this whole time.

Laureen was distantly waking up, her vision and hearing blurred, distant. Zaya and Sadie were waking up from being sedated, having similar reactions to waking up. All of them found that they were tied to chairs.

Richard was gently waking them up. "Zaya. Sadie. Laureen. You all took a hell of a nap. It took a lot to make sure that Laureen didn't wake up until now."

"Dad?" Sadie asked.

"You're all okay," Richard told them.

"What happened?" Zaya asked.

"What did you think was gonna happen?" Richard asked. "I lost one child and a lover to be left with a wife who doesn't let me touch her and two daughters that rebel at every turn and can't trust me."

"What's going on?" Sadie asked, breathing heavily, trying not to freak out.

Richard placed a finger over his lips. "Shh. Don't get so worked up. Don't want anything to happen to that heart of yours, Sadie. Listen, listen, listen."

Zaya, Sadie and Laureen were struggling against their binds. "No."

"Just give it a little more time," Richard told them. "You won't feel anymore pain. None of us will. This world is nothing but pain and suffering and confusion. Even the ones that seem to have it easy, they can have it just as hard as everyone else. Love, loss, pain, death, grief."

Laureen swallowed. "Insanity."

X • O ° X • O

Flashback

Amanda Stry's Home - Outside

Fire trucks and ambulances were racing through the streets, sirens and horns blaring, lights flashing, as they arrived to a building in the dead of the night, with fiery flames of death flaming sky high.

Richard was in the street, seeing the fire, looking in complete shock and horror, worried, running for the house, but police and paramedics kept Richard from running inside, holding him back, even though Richard was yelling and struggling.

It wasn't until hours later that the flames were put out, and the house was nothing but shambles. Smoke wafted away from the destroyed home.

A body was being taken away from the destroyed mansion. Amanda Stry.

Richard was sitting in the back of an ambulance, in utter shock and denial, looking broken and haunted, like whatever good that was in him was breaking and dying in that moment.

X • O ° X • O

Now

Night - Von Miller Mansion - Living Room

Richard held a lighter in his hands. "You know, after everything I did for this family, I thought you would show me a little more gratitude."

Laureen struggled against her binds. "If your love for us has really died, then tell me about your love for Amanda and her child."

"My love for you hasn't died, it's just turned... dark," Richard told them. "I cared about Amanda, though it wasn't the same thing as what I felt for you. Doesn't mean that it was any less real, though. Especially when we realized that she was pregnant with my child. Dominic and Laureen were right. Zaya, Sadie, you did have a half-sibling."

"What happened with the fire that killed them?" Zaya asked.

Richard looked down, looking deeply tormented. "Her home... it caught on fire. Amanda couldn't get out. By the time I drove up to her home, the flames were sky high. I had to watch as they pulled her out of the burned remains. Our child had never been able to be born."

"This was before Unity, right?" Zaya asked. "The fire, losing Amanda, the baby, Unity and everything that happened after that... that's why you changed."

"All of this led to you having a psychotic break," Laureen told him.

Richard stood angrily. "I'm not crazy! I just don't have the will it takes to live in such a horrible world anymore. And none of you should have to either. We're going to meet my child." He put a hand on Zaya and Sadie's cheeks, causing them to cringe away. "Your half-sibling. We're going to be a family. No more pain. No more suffering. No more shame. Purified by the same fire that Amanda and the baby died in."

Sadie started to cry, breathing shakily. "Dad..."

Richard kissed Zaya and Sadie both on the heads. "Shh. Everything's gonna be fine, I promise."

Richard kissed Laureen on the head, sitting down across from them with his lighter.

Sadie had trouble breathing. "What's that smell?"

Laureen realized, horrified. "Gasoline."

Richard flicked the lighter, ready to let it fall so that he could burn the house down with them inside, having already spread gasoline all around.

Zaya ripped free from the remainder of her ropes. "Dad, no!"

The lighter fell to the floor, igniting the gasoline, which started to spread.

Sadie pulled and pulled at her ropes, nearly free. "I don't want to die."

"No one does except the ones who are too broken to live on," Richard told them. "We all live in a house of fire. No fire department to call. No way out. Just the upstairs window to look out of while the fire burns the house down... with us trapped, locked in it."

Zaya, now free, grabbed a knife to defend herself against Richard. "Not us. You."

Richard lunged at Zaya to try and get her to stand down. Zaya ducked, punching Richard in the face. Richard tried to punch her. Zaya ducked, sliding past him over the floor, spinning to kick his legs out from underneath him, making him fall, stabbing Richard in the shoulder from behind to make him yell in pain. She stood, running to cut Sadie and Laureen free with the knife.

Richard stood to attack. Sadie climbed up on the table so she could jump up on Richard's back when he tried to attack, spinning herself around his head so she could wrap her legs around his neck and flip him to the ground with his momentum added to hers, standing, spinning to kick him in the head when he tried to get him, punching him in the face.

Laureen picked up the fireplace poker, using it to hit Richard in the face repeatedly, cutting his face severely as he tried to attack them, whaling on his back several times. Richard caught the poker, standing, pushing Laureen back, trying to attack, grabbing Laureen's arm. Laureen slammed her hand straight on into Richard's hand on her arm to make him let go, twisting his wrist and spinning him around to twist his arm behind his back hard enough to nearly sprain or break his arm, kicking him in the knee, making him fall to his knees, punching him hard in the head, making him fall.

Zaya lifted Sadie up. Sadie jumped onto Richard, doing a rotating spin around his head to use his momentum to flip him to the floor, somersaulting over the floor, standing, picking up the other fire place poker, using it to hit Richard in the back.

Zaya kicked Richard in the leg and the back of the knee to make him kneel down, spinning to hit him twice in the face, making him fall, taking the poker from Sadie, swinging it into Richard's jaw from underneath with an upper cut, making the poker slash his skin and making blood splash everywhere, making Richard fall and sprawl back over the floor, spinning around him repeatedly to hit him.

The fire was spreading dangerously around them, and the girls were having trouble breathing.

Richard was trying to get up. "All right, you've had your fun. But you know what it's time for now?"

Laureen kicked Richard down, slamming him into the wall. "The end."

Laureen kicked Richard in the face, shoving him to the floor near the flames. The flames quickly overtook Richard, burning him rather quickly, but agonizingly, making him scream as he was burning alive, unable to get away. He was flailing around but there was no saving him at this point, his death imminent and inevitable, inescapable.

Zaya, Sadie and Laureen were all breathing heavily in absolute shock from what was happening, and they had trouble breathing due to the smoke in the air, crying. Laureen wrapped her arms around either of Zaya and Sadie's shoulders, and led them as quickly as she could, and as safely, out of the mansion.

X • O ° X • O

Outside

Zaya, Laureen and Sadie made it outside, as the flames were reaching sky high limits. They turned to watch their old family burn, knowing that Richard was inside, gasping for breath. Sadie was holding her chest, sinking to her knees. Zaya and Laureen knelt on either side of Sadie to try and make sure that she was okay, while Zaya was desperately using her phone to call for help. On their knees and trying to catch their breath, Zaya, Sadie and Laureen looked up at the burning mansion in front of them with tears in their eyes, smoke clinging to their sweaty skin, as a heavy wind blew at them, blowing enough so that Sadie could catch her breath as their hair flowed back.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Sometimes it's after the curtains close the real reckonings come."

X • O ° X • O

Political Office - Tripp's Office

Noe walked into Tripp's office, setting a form on his desk.

Tripp looked up at Noe. "What is this?"

"It's my resignation form," Noe answered. "Look, whatever's happening between you and Maureen? I don't know, and I don't know if you're gonna end up staying here or going to DC, but I do know that I am happy with Nate, I want to be with Nate, and I want to raise our daughter with him."

Tripp walked closer. "You're under so much stress, Noe. And I've had a few too many drinks tonight." Noe backed away. "Why don't we give us the night to sleep it off and talk about it in the morning?"

Noe shook her head. "Goodbye, Tripp."

Noe turned to leave. Tripp caught her arm, pulling her back into a kiss forcefully. Noe was too surprised to do anything for a second, pulling back instantly when she realized what happened, pushing Tripp off of her, backing away, turning around, leaving the office instantly without looking back. Tripp watched her go with a dark, angry look in his eyes, looking like he wanted to go after her but refrained himself.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Whether it's about who we want but can't have."

X • O ° X • O

Street

Noe walked outside toward where Marie was waiting for her, feeling a panic attack coming on.

Marie looked at her in concern. "Noe? What happened?"

Noe was breathing heavily. "Oh, my God. He--he kissed me. He didn't let me go. He grabbed me and it hurt. What--what am I supposed to tell Nate?"

"Noe, calm down," Marie told her. "Breathe."

Noe shook her head, trying to keep her breathing under control, as it was getting more uneven, more sporadic as the seconds ticked by. "No. No, no, no, no." Feeling her fingers tingling from the panic attack, she shook her hands out, putting a hand to her head. "No."

Marie was very soothing, gentle and understanding. "Okay. Breathe. Just breathe. Noe, come on. Sit down."

Marie helped Noe sit down on a bench nearby.

Noe was trying to control her breathing, holding her chest in pain as she felt her heart racing, barely able to speak, unable to move, incredibly dizzy to the point she could barely see. "He... he kissed me. I couldn't..."

Marie rubbed her back calmingly. "Shh, shh, shh. It's all right. I can help you. I know that anxiety and panic attacks like this makes you feel like you're dying because I have them too, but I can help you. What are five things you see?"

Noe was confused but going with it, barely able to speak over a whisper, having to talk very slowly because of her breathing so sporadic. "Bench. Tree. Street. Dress. Light."

"Four things you hear," Marie told her.

Noe looked around. "You. Me. Cars. Light buzzing."

"Very good," Marie told her. "Three things you smell."

Noe took a deep breath. "Perfume. Hairspray. Makeup."

"Two things you can touch," Marie told her.

Noe took Marie's hand as she was calming down immensely. "You. Bench."

Marie nodded reassuringly, taking Noe's hand. "Do you need to do it again?"

Noe shook her head, breathing a lot easier now, looking at Marie gratefully in surprise, having an easier time speaking. "How did you know..."

"That's what my sister used to do for me when I got panic attacks," Marie answered. "Or anxiety attacks."

Noe took a deep breath, still trying to catch her breath, but having a lot easier time now. "Andrea."

Marie nodded. "Yeah."

Marie put her arm around Noe, rubbing her arm comfortingly. Noe was still calming down, looking like she could cry. Marie leaned Noe's head on her shoulder.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Whether it's about who we wish we were."

X • O ° X • O

The Empire - Trio Penthouse

Hope, Alex, Serena, James, Blair, Chuck, Brooklyn, Thyra, Dylan and Wyatt were sitting here with Angela and Theo, all unaware of what went down with the von Millers like the others had been since it just happened, while they were watching the cabaret videos that Dylan had taken. Carter, Nate, Aurora and Harry walked closer.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Or who we wish we could be."

X • O ° X • O

Von Miller Mansion - Outside

Fire trucks and ambulances were racing through the streets, sirens and horns blaring, lights flashing, as they arrived to the von Miller mansion in the dead of the night, with fiery flames of death flaming sky high.

Dominic was on his way, seeing the fire, looking in complete shock and horror, worried, running for the house, but police and paramedics kept Dominic back. Zaya, Sadie and Laureen were sitting outside the ambulance trucks, getting treated. The paramedics were making sure Sadie's heart was fine.  The three of them were in utter shock and denial, looking haunted by what just happened.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "And what life we wish we could have."

Laureen saw Dominic, standing, nodding for the police to let him through. Dominic walked closer to Zaya, Sadie and Laureen. Laureen nearly cried, and Dominic pulled her into his arms. Zaya and Sadie were very upset, crying. Laureen and Dominic turned to them, making sure they were okay. Laureen embraced her daughters once again, Dominic by their side as he tried to make sure they were fine, or as fine as they could be after everything that happened.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Looks like the nightmares for Marie Rosson, and Zaya, Sadie and Laureen von Miller and Dominic Driton is finally over. But the nightmare for Noe van der Woodsen and Nate Archibald might only just be beginning. XOXO, Gossip Girl."