(A play on the Last Crusade)

Outfits Link:

https://urstyle.fashion/collections/146863

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 3.02 "The Freshmen", outside the Met, Hope, Thyra, Brooklyn, Blair, Noe, Serena, Zaya and Sadie were sitting together on the steps.

"Blair, you and Wyatt will find your places," Hope told her. "Just give it time."

"No, I found my place, and it's at the bottom," Blair told them.

From 3.02 "The Freshmen", in Harry's bedroom, Bree and Harry sat on his bed.

"If your family can accept us together, maybe one day, mine will too," Bree told him.

They kissed.

From 3.02 "The Freshmen", in the Waldorf Penthouse, Aurora and Thyra were sitting with Alex, Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck.

"Well, I'm glad that we could all be here," Aurora told them. "Bass Industries and Diamond Enterprises collaborating. And we always had a go-to architect like this, but I never thought than an Archibald brother would be a go-to architect, Alex."

Alex smirked. "Yeah, me neither, but I'm glad that I can help."

Aurora chuckled. "Brooklyn, I'm glad that you, Dylan and Chuck thought of this. I know that I'm looking forward to it. And so are Hope and Thyra. Once Hope is not busy with FIT and Columbia of course."

Thyra sat back. "So what's this project gonna be?"

"We wanna make a speakeasy," Brooklyn answered.

"In the front, an elegant restaurant," Dylan explained.

"But down in the vault, an after-hours locale devoted to indecency, disreputable behavior and all manner of debauchery," Chuck went on.

Alex opened his file, showing them photographs and pictures, sketches of architecture, showing them the designs of the restaurant, the vault, and the speakeasy behind the vault door.

"We just wanted to wait till we were sure it was going through," Dylan explained. "But with Bass Industries, Diamond Enterprises, and an Archibald architect on the case, how can it not?"

From 3.02 "The Freshmen", later in the Penthouse, Brooklyn, Dylan, Chuck, Hope, Thyra, Aurora and Alex were celebrating with drinking.

"To a fulfilled deal," Brooklyn told them.

"I wish I could've helped more, but..." Hope trailed off.

"You're still learning, and you've got a lot on your plate," Aurora pointed out. "We all get that. And besides, you taking Columbia classes is exactly what you need right now for business."

From 3.02 "The Freshmen", outside Ostroff, Richard was mocking Laureen. "What happened to your little plan on trying to bring me down? Even if it meant pushing me over an edge to get me locked away, either in an institution or jail. But you know neither of those work since I have all the contacts I need under my thumb to make sure that you can't do something like that. No other psychiatrist is going to commit me. And no cop is going to lock me away."

"Oh, my plan's still in motion either way, and I'll figure out the rest," Laureen answered. "I just need some information to make it work."

From 3.01, Laureen/Dominic were seen talking in his office, and in 3.02, Laureen and Dominic were seen at their dinner and in the street, clearly with a bit of flirting while Dominic was concerned for Laureen, Zaya and Sadie.

Richard: (voice over from 3.02 The Freshmen) "By contacting Dominic Driton? A childhood crush? Your former best friend."

From 3.02 "The Freshmen", outside Ostroff, Laureen looked Richard, nodding sarcastically. "You're stalking us."

"It's not stalking when it's my wife and daughters," Richard told her.

"It is when you're psycho," Laureen replied, trying to get to her limo, but Richard blocked her path. Laureen tried to push past Richard. Richard grabbed Laureen's arm to stop her, pulling her back. When Richard's grip on Laureen's arm was hurtful, Laureen used her other hand to slam into Richard's to make him let go, and when he tried to grab her with the other hand clearly with the intent to hurt, Laureen caught that hand, twisting his arm behind his back, pushing him against the limo face first. Laureen pushed Richard away from the limo, standing next to the limo door, opening it. "That was just a taste of what we learned, so try anything like that again, you'll see a hell of a lot more. And you might be relaxed and fine in our family home for now, but you're not gonna be for long if you don't stay the hell away from us."

From 3.02 "The Freshmen", in the street, Laureen and Dominic were walking.

"I was in love with my husband for 14 years before he fell apart and took us down with him," Laureen told him. "I don't know what changed."

"And that's what you wanted my help to find out," Dominic told her. "So you know for yourself. Not just because you need leverage to make him want for the two of you to separate or divorce. But because you need to know for yourself. Closure. I could find out. I could definitely try, at least."

Laureen smiled a bit, chuckling. "Thank you, Dominic."

Dominic took Laureen by the hand, bringing it to his lips to kiss, without taking his gaze from Laureen's. "It's my pleasure, Laureen."

Laureen and Dominic looked at each other with slight smiles.

From 3.02 "The Freshmen", on the rooftop, Dan was on the phone with Hope. "You know, I'm still a little wrecked. So I'll call you later."

Dan and Georgina kissed.

From 3.01 "Reversals of Fortune", Away from the game, Noe and Hope were explaining what happened to Alex and Nate.

"So, Serena says Carter's stalking Noe to hide a secret about what she's up to with James and Carter, and once you guys find out about it, Serena and James both take off," Nate stated.

Noe crossed her arms. "And I swear I'm not gonna stop until I find out what Serena needs Carter and James for, and why she would say that Carter's stalking me when Hope, Zaya and Sadie and I knew that he wasn't."

"Noe, I know that tone of voice, and whatever you think about doing to get James, Carter and Serena to fess up, please tell me so that things don't get completely out of hand," Nate told her.

Noe smirked slyly, tilting her head, shrugging. "Okay."

From 3.01 "Reversals of Fortune", in James's studio, James and Serena sat at the laptop.

"I wanna make sure my father sees these wherever he goes," Serena told him. "I'm not gonna stop trying to get his attention until he comes out of hiding and he talks to me and I can get answers for Noe."

"Even if you don't tell Noe what you're doing?" James asked. "Serena, sooner or later, she's gonna find out, and she's not gonna stop until she does. And who knows what the hell she'll pull to try to get us and Carter to fess up."

From 3.02 "The Freshmen", late at night in Carter's suite, Marie and Carter sat at the bar.

"You're into event planning?" Carter asked.

"Yeah," Marie answered. "But too bad for me, I'm not one of the big names in event planning in this city."

Carter considered, tilting his head. "Well, I could use some of my contacts in this city to help, if you want. I mean, I'm sure that planning some of these big social parties and events that me and the Crew go to on the daily probably pays a hell of a lot more than singing at some café."

Marie smiled. "I would like that."

From 3.02 "The Freshmen", early morning in Carter's suite, Carter sat across from Marie. "I think I may have landed you an event to plan."

Marie tiled her head curiously, managing a small smile. "Thank you. Not just for the job or the place to stay. You're pretty much the only one I've actually been with that understands and doesn't look at me differently after they know the truth. You were there for me. Carter, I don't know what we are, and I don't know what's gonna happen with my family or me personally, mind and all. I just know... that I do want you."

Carter smiled a bit. "Well, you already know that I want you."

Marie nodded a bit, biting her lip. Carter leaned closer, placing a hand on her cheek, and they closed the distance between them with a kiss.

In the closing, there was a screen shot of the Gossip Girl website, with a picture of Marie and Carter's kiss in 3.02.

The headline read: Frisky Freaks

The caption underneath the picture read: Ever since the first kiss of the Dark Prince and Queen of Hearts spread across this site and all our eyes, everyone's been talking about Carter Baizen and Marie Rosson. Looks like this crazy queen couldn't resist falling for the broken bad boy, though it may be because she's more broken than him. The dark paradise for this dark pair seems to be going strong... for now. But with rumors flying about the girl with many names still going around, and names like 'crazy', 'freak' and 'weirdo' floating about, only time will tell if this match made in hell can last. If secrets from both their pasts don't break them first.

X•O°X•O

Worlds Colliding (Gossip Girl)

X•O°X•O

Day One

Morning - Montage

(Song:) Check the Score - The World Record

There was a montage of the city at morning.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Morning in New York. Time to wake up from bad dreams, roll out of the beds we've made and start making plans for a brighter future."

X • O ° X • O

Noe/Nate's Apartment - Living Room

Nate was getting ready to leave for Columbia, while talking to Noe. "So Serena, James and Carter are still keeping a secret from you?"

"Yes, they are," Noe answered.

"And you won't give up until you find out what it is," Nate stated.

"Nope," Noe agreed.

Nate smirked. "Oh, boy."

Noe smiled. "What?"

"Normally when something like this happens, trouble ensues, especially with you," Nate answered.

Noe smirked. "Yeah."

"Please tell me what you're up to so it doesn't get out of hand," Nate told her.

"I'm just messing around and playing a few harmless pranks until they realize it's me and then to get it to stop, they'll tell me," Noe answered. "You know, paying a girl to slap Carter, messing with room service."

Nate smirked, looking away, tilting his head in amusement. "Please tell me that it won't go beyond that."

"It won't," Noe answered. "They just don't know that yet." They both chuckled. "So what do you want to do tonight?"

"Anything you wanna do," Nate answered.

"I actually kinda wanna see what everyone's up to," Noe told him. "You know, catch up with the Crew. It's been a while since we've all hung out together, you know?"

Nate nodded. "All right. We can see what everyone's doing tonight."

Noe tilted her head. "Yeah, because we've held each other captive for quite a while."

Nate smirked in amusement, taking Noe by her hands, pulling her closer. "Hmm, but not unwillingly."

Noe and Nate smiled, kissing, embracing.

"Good luck today," Noe told him. "At class."

"Good luck with your scheme," Nate replied. 

They chuckled, walking out together.

X • O ° X • O

FIT - Class

Hope was in class.

"This class will make you understand that you're aspiring to do something great," the teacher told them. "To emulate the likes of Marc Jacobs, Vera Wang, Rick Owens, perhaps even surpass them. What you create will be considered art, and don't let anyone tell you differently. The journey starts right here, right now. And it's my job to make you understand that each of you can be artists. And we do have a slightly famous name and face among us in this class, which you would know if you've been to an Eleanor Waldorf fashion show, or read the tabloids about the reveal of Aurora Diamond's daughter... Hope Diamond."

The students applauded.

Hope smiled nervously. "Thanks. Hi."

"You happen to already have the three things that I teach in this class," the teacher told her. "Style, desire and talent. I take it what you're wearing is an original piece since I don't recognize it."

"Yeah, it is, actually," Hope answered. "Thanks for noticing."

"So may I ask, for someone like you who already has a foothold in the business, is doing here in this class?" the teacher asked.

"I want to be able to build on what I know," Hope answered. "Become better, and do better, not just for me, but everyone that could take an interest. I don't want to take shortcuts. I want to work for it. All of it. And maybe can inspire others like me to do the same."

The teacher smiled. "Very good answer. I think you will be an inspiration to us all one day, Miss Diamond."

Hope smiled.

X • O ° X • O

Columbia - Hallway

Alex was just done auditing classes for architecture that morning, running into Hope as she was here for business class. "Hey, Hope."

Hope smiled, as they shared an embrace. "Alex. How was auditing architecture?"

"It was great," Alex answered. "Very enlightening. It's definitely gonna help with the speakeasy. I got to meet up with Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck after this."

Hope smirked. "That's great. I got to head to business class, and then I have an actual business meeting with Thyra and some of the bank loaners after, but Thyra and I should be able to join you, Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck by lunch. Mom is out of town for other business just for a couple of days but she should be back in town soon enough."

Alex chuckled. "Yeah, Aurora wouldn't stay gone for too long. This is gonna work out great, isn't it?"

"Yeah, I think it is," Hope answered. "And I'm glad that we're starting our futures now."

Alex smirked. "So am I." They kissed. "I'll see you at lunch."

Hope smiled. "Yes, you will."

Alex and Hope smiled, heading their separate ways.

(Song Ends)

X • O ° X • O

NYU - Dorm Building

Blair and Wyatt were walking toward Blair's dorm room.

"So first class at NYU and it wasn't so bad compared to the rest of what we've gone through at this school," Blair pointed out.

Wyatt nodded in agreement. "Very true. And with Brooklyn, Dylan, Chuck and Thyra are focused on making their marks in the business world, while Hope is also trying to do the same while also going to FIT and Columbia, and Alex having started auditing architect classes, they're all really making all their marks and trying to get a jump start on their futures. And they're trying to do it on their own right now since Aurora's out of town on business."

"Yeah, well, I'm sure that once Aurora fixes things at Columbia for you and me this year, you'll be getting that jump start too, Wyatt," Blair told him.

"And Thyra later on," Wyatt finished.

Blair smiled, nodding. "Yeah. I know this isn't what either of us hoped for, but it's the best we got for now. Might as well make the most of it."

Blair put on a black glove to remove the sock from the doorknob of her dorm room, opening the door, walking in.

Wyatt realized what the sock was for, staying out in the hallway. "Uh, Blair--"

X • O ° X • O

Blair/Georgina's Dorm Room

When Blair walked in, leaving the door open for Wyatt to see into the room, it was for them both to see that Georgina and Dan were in the middle of starting a hookup on Georgina's bed. Georgina was still clothed, and Dan only had his shirt off, but still had his jeans on.

Blair was horrified and disgusted, throwing the sock at them. "Ew! Oh! Oh, God! No! Ugh!" Dan launched up, grabbing his shirt quickly, clumsily. Blair took off her glove, throwing it at Dan. "I'm wearing a glove and I still wanna wash my hands."

Georgina remained calmed and relaxed on the bed. "Hey, guys. Dan was just--"

Dan pulled on his shirt, mortified. "I was just--I was just... I was getting a book that I need. I..." He grabbed a book. "It's, um, 'Our Bodies, Ourselves: A New Edition For A New Era'. That's excellent."

Wyatt shook his head in disgust. "No, we know what this is. This is disgusting. The washed up wannabe insider and the psycho slut? Really?"

Blair glared at Georgina. "And don't think that you can run me out of my own room with a half-naked Dan Humphrey."

Georgina smirked. "Fine. Stay. Maybe you'll learn something."

Dan shook his head. "No, that's okay, I was just about to hit the trail, you know."

"It just so happens we're on the way to a study breakfast," Wyatt told them.

Blair walked toward her desk to to pick up some of her books. "I just stopped by to pick up my books and pick up my mail, so feel free to hit the trail all you want."

Blair walked toward Wyatt.

Wyatt gave Dan a skeptical look. "From Serena to Georgina? Quite a fall, even for you."

Wyatt and Blair walked out.

Georgina stood. "Don't worry about Blair and Wyatt. I knew they'd have a problem with us, but I think Vanessa's gonna be supportive, and Jenny and your dad. Maybe not the Crew, including Hope after everything, but still." She put her hands on Dan's shoulders. "Hey, I'm starved. Wanna grab breakfast?"

"Um, you know what?" Dan asked. "I--I gotta be somewhere. But, uh, rain check?"

"Sure," Georgina answered. "No biggie." Dan handed her the book he grabbed. "Thanks."

Dan grabbed his bag, walking out of the room, closing the door behind him.

X • O ° X • O

Hallway

(Song:) We're #1 - The World Record

Dan was doing the walk of shame down the hallway while trying to put on his shoes.

Thyra, James and Serena came by, turning to see Dan.

"Dan?" Thyra asked.

Dan turned to see them. "What? Oh, of course."

James smirked in amusement. "Did we just catch you on a walk of shame?"

Busted, Dan shook his head. "No. No, no, no, don't be silly. I was visiting, uh, uh, Vanessa. She's on this new Chinese feng shui kick and she makes you take your shoes off when you--"

"And your shirt?" Serena asked, gesturing to Dan's open shirt.

Dan looked down. "Yeah, it's weird."

Vanessa opened her dorm room door behind Dan. "I thought I heard your voices. What's going on?"

"We're heading to Blair's room since we were planning on a surprise visit to Blair and Wyatt," James answered. "And Dan here claims he was visiting you." He pointed behind Dan. "But if that's Vanessa's room..."

Thyra pointed toward Blair and Wyatt's room. "That's their room, yeah."

Vanessa said, "Please tell me it was Georgina and not Blair", while Serena said, "Please tell me it was Blair and not Georgina."

James scoffed a laugh. "Okay, one, Blair wouldn't sleep with him, and it would be super awkward if she did."

"Are you seriously sleeping with the literal devil who's tried to ruin all our lives?" Thyra asked.

"I don't--I don't wanna talk about this right now," Dan told them. "We--in the hallway or ever. Never would also be good. I would like that."

(Song Ends)

X • O ° X • O

Vanessa's Room

Dan was sitting on the floor while talking to Thyra, Serena, James and Vanessa. "I--I just mean that when you do something no one knows about it's kind of like you're not really doing it. Uh, but when someone finds out about it--"

"It becomes real," Serena finished.

Dan nodded. "Yeah."

"Well, college is time for experimentation," Vanessa pointed out.

"Yeah, for psychedelic drugs and ethnic food and sexuality," Thyra told them. "But sleeping with the evil psycho bitch that has literally drugged Serena and Noe, and tormented Alex and Hope, and is harassing Blair and Wyatt, and outed Eric at the dinner table?"

Dan nodded. "Yeah, okay, when you put it like that--"

"You gave Hope hell when Gossip Girl blasted that she slept with Chuck, but you sleeping with Georgina is way worse," James told him.

Dan rubbed his face. "Okay, so--so you, uh, guys are, what?"

"We're just gonna tease you mercilessly," Serena answered, giving Thyra and James an amused look. "But without judgement. 'Cause who doesn't have a Georgina in their closet, right?"

Thyra and James shrugged. "Right."

"But we're not judging him, Serena," James told her. "We're judging the fact that he did this after judging Hope so harshly about Chuck."

Dan sighed. "Yeah, they've got a point. I should probably talk to her." He pointed from Thyra to James. "And please, neither one of you tell her about this until I get to talk to her." He pointed at Thyra. "Especially you."

Thyra scoffed a laugh. "Oh, if you think I want to tell Hope about this, and see how she'll react, you're dead wrong about that."

James sighed. "Okay, Thyra, Serena and I were coming to see Blair and Wyatt, but now that they're not here, we should go."

"Yeah, I got to meet with Hope for a business meeting to do with the project," Thyra told them. "Aurora's out of town for business, but she should be back in a couple of days."

"Blair and Wyatt just wanted to see Thyra beforehand, but obviously that's not happening now," James explained. "Serena, we should, uh, meet up with Noe. I'm pretty sure that if we don't at least try to talk to her soon, her slightly awaited attempts to get us and Carter to fess up will start to happen soon."

Serena sighed, nodding. "Yeah. Let's go."

Thyra, James, Serena and Dan left Georgina's dorm room.

X • O ° X • O

Rhodes/Bass Apartment - Living Room

Marie stood by the windows, on the phone. "Hey, Carter. What's up?"

Carter walked down the street. "Hey, so the event service called back with another event tonight at the art auction. You up for a little more planning?"

Marie smiled. "Yeah, you know I am. This is what, the fourth one in a week?"

Carter smirked. "Told you, you'd never be out of a job in a city where there's an event or a party every day, sometimes two or three times a day."

Marie chuckled. "Yes, you did."

"Hey, where are you?" Carter asked. "I'm meeting up with Serena and James. I know they and Noe wanted to get to know you more like some of the other members of the Crew do."

Marie nodded, looking a little guilty. "Yeah, I'll meet you soon. I have something to tell you, okay? After all this."

"Yeah, sure," Carter answered. "I'll see you soon, Marie."

"Yeah, bye," Marie agreed.

They hung up. Marie walked over to the couch to sit down in front of Rufus where they were practicing with guitars. 

"Who was that?" Rufus asked.

"Oh, just, uh, Carter," Marie answered. "I've got another event to plan tonight."

Rufus chuckled. "The stories I've heard about Carter Baizen, I'm surprised he's been so helpful with you, Marie. I've always known James to be the more sincere and helpful one."

Marie smiled. "Yeah, well, James might be the more sincere and helpful, but Carter's really been there for me, ironically, so... where were we?"

Marie strummed a few chords.

"You are a natural," Rufus told her. "One week of guitar lessons, and you've got all the major chords."

Marie smiled. "Thanks again. I've always wanted to learn. I just never had the time before, but I did get to do some learning with my voice. I just... figured I'd take a shot at getting a few pointers from one of the greats."

Rufus smiled. "Well, I don't know about one of the greats. Um, maybe one of the pretty goods."

Marie played a few more chords, before stopping. "Actually, I've been meaning to talk to you about something."

Laureen, Zaya, Sadie, Eric and Jenny walked in.

"Hey, Marie," Jenny told her.

Marie looked back at Laureen, Zaya, Sadie, Eric and Jenny, smiling, standing, looking at her half-sister first. "Hey. Hey, Jenny." She looked at her half-brother. "Eric."

"You've been coming around for a lot this week," Eric pointed out.

"Yeah," Marie agreed. "Loving the guitar lessons. How you doing, Eric?"

"I'm good," Eric answered.

"What about you, Marie?" Laureen asked. "Given any thought to what I offered you at the polo match?"

"I have," Marie answered. "And, uh, I really wanted to thank you, Laureen. I mean, Carter talking to you and you telling him almost everything he needed to know..."

"Well, not everything," Laureen pointed out. "DID is different for everyone. I didn't know exactly how it was going to be with you."

"True, but still, you helped us out so much already," Marie told her. "So, really, thank you, Laureen. And if the offer is still available, I would like to take you up on it, yeah."

Laureen smiled kindly, sympathetically and reassuringly. "Of course it's still on the table."

Marie smiled, nodding. "Zaya, Sadie, nice to see you."

"Yeah, you too," Zaya agreed.

"Are you excited about the auction tonight?" Sadie asked.

"Yeah, I actually get to help with some of the planning," Marie answered. "I might be working the party, but at least I get to be there."

"That's great, Marie," Eric told her.

"Yeah, Lily has a photo on sale for the auction," Rufus explained. "I'm gonna go check out the competition."

Eric checked a catalogue. "Oh, wow, '72 Bowie is a dead ringer for Shakira."

Marie was getting kind of overwhelmed given she had so many family members here but she didn't know how to tell them. "You know, I should, um, I should probably take off."

"But I thought you wanted to talk," Rufus told her.

Marie looked at a loss, shaking her head. "Oh, it--it can wait. Maybe next lesson. Is Wednesday still good?"

Rufus nodded. "See you then."

"All right," Marie agreed.

"Should I give you my number so we can set your first appointment up?" Laureen asked.

"Uh, you know what?" Marie asked. "We can talk about that tonight at Sotheby's. Is that okay?"

"Of course it is," Laureen answered. "I know you have to go, and so do I, to work at Ostroff."

"Oh, Marie, if you need any help with vocal and dancing training like you used to do at the café, Zaya and I can help with our lessons," Sadie offered.

Marie smiled. "Maybe. Thanks, guys. I will see all of you later."

"Bye, Marie," Zaya told her.

"Here, let me walk you out," Laureen told her. "I have to head to work anyway."

Laureen and Marie walked away toward the elevator to leave.

Jenny sat at the arm of the couch. "Dad, Marie's been spending a lot of time here lately."

Rufus nodded in agreement. "Yeah, she's a good kid. Good guitar player too. Great singer."

Rufus sat down.

X • O ° X • O

The Downing - Outside

Marie walked up to the hotel to head up to Carter's suite, only to be surprised when Carter came up next to her, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer.

Marie smiled. "Hey." They kissed. "Good way to be greeted."

Carter smirked. "I know. After the auction tonight, what do you say to a weekend of room service and white fluffy robes? Staying in for the weekend."

Marie chuckled. "I think that sounds good after all the running around with the events and stuff."

Further toward the street, Noe, Serena and James were walking together, on the way to meet up with Marie and Carter.

"Dan and Georgina?" Noe asked. "Are you freaking kidding me?"

Serena and James laughed.

"We wish we were," Serena told her.

They met up with Marie and Carter.

"Oh, there you guys are," Carter told them.

"So this is where you and Marie have been hiding out at, huh, Carter?" James asked. 

"Not hiding," Marie denied. "Just a good place to relax."

"Uh, Marie, I know we've met like one time in the spring for five seconds with Hope, but it's nice to fully meet you," Noe told her. "I didn't know you would be here though. I thought you were gonna be with Rufus for guitar lessons. Zaya, Sadie, Eric and Jenny told me about it, and that you were setting things up for a first appointment with Laureen."

Carter looked at Marie, slightly confused. "I'm glad you finally talked to Laureen again, but I didn't know you've been taking guitar lessons from Rufus."

Marie was kind of caught off guard. "Yeah, that's what I wanted to tell you earlier when you called." Carter nodded, still confused, while Noe, Serena and James were curious. "But, uh, yeah, it's nice to see you too again, too, Noe. Hope said about the same thing to me as you did when we met for real at the Waldorf-Diamond-Baizen place with the Basses. James, Thyra, Aurora, Chuck, Brooklyn and Dylan were all there, and Alex Archibald, but, uh, Blair and Wyatt weren't. And I did get to see some Rhodes-Humphreys already this morning. Rufus, Jenny, Eric, Zaya, Sadie and Laureen were pretty welcoming this morning, and now Noe and Serena."

"Right," James agreed. "Well, nice to see you, Marie. I know you haven't really met Serena but there was that little mishap at the polo match, so..."

Serena smiled, shaking Marie's hand. "It's really nice to meet you, Marie. I've heard so much about you."

Marie smiled, though was a little more overwhelmed. "You too. And just so you know, Serena, I don't blame you for the whole polo match thing. Though Carter did warn me about whatever you could pull to get Serena, James and Carter to fess up, Noe."

Noe nodded, tilting her head. "Yeah, well, I decided to take it a little easy given, you know, Marie. But, uh..."

"Oh, is that why I got slapped by a random stranger?" Carter asked.

"And some of my favorite clothes went missing or others shredded," Serena added.

"And I got a 'call' informing me one of my SVA projects were due on the wrong day," James finished.

Noe made a face, shaking her head, acting innocent. "I don't know what you're talking about."

The others smirked.

Carter looked at Serena. "Would you just tell her?"

"Later," Serena answered. "We've all got places to be."

Marie chuckled. "I should go inside. Kinda overwhelmed."

Noe nodded in understanding. "I get it. More than most."

Marie nodded. "I know you do."

"If you need someone to talk to..." Noe trailed off.

Marie managed a small smile. "Thanks, Noe. I'll see you inside, Carter. And I'll see Noe, Serena and James later."

Marie walked inside.

Carter raised his eyebrows, watching Marie walk inside, then looking at Noe.

"What?" Noe asked. "Just because I don't remember being with you doesn't mean I'll be a bitch to you or to Marie."

Carter chuckled.

"Just be glad your ex gets along with your new girlfriend," James told him.

Serena smiled. "Yeah, I like Marie. She seems nice. And you might have helped her through stuff, Carter, but clearly she's made an impact on you too."

Carter looked away.  "All right, are we done?"

James smirked. "Aw, still pretending to be the closed off bad boy. Get over it, Carter. I think you and Marie are good for each other."

Noe smiled. "I'll see you guys later."

"No more pranks," Serena told her.

"Only until you tell me the truth," Noe replied, walking away.

Carter and James smirked.

Carter frowned in confusion. "I wonder why Marie didn't tell me about guitar lessons with Rufus or hanging out with Laureen, Zaya, Sadie, Eric and Jenny."

Serena shrugged. "Maybe that's what you two will talk about when Marie talks to you. See you later."

Serena and James walked away. Carter was still curious.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "When faced with an uncertain future, the questions we truly hate to ask are the ones we fear we already know the answer to."

X • O ° X • O

Shopping Strip

Zaya and Sadie were walking down the street, going shopping, passing by a store front with many TVs playing in the windows, where they could watch a pop/rock singer about Sadie's age on all the TVs, and hear the song playing.

Zaya walked in front of Sadie.

"Hey," Sadie complained lightly.

Zaya turned to look at Sadie in amusement. "Oh, I'm sorry. Am I blocking your view of what's-his-name?"

"I'm trying to see what comes on after him," Sadie told her.

Zaya sat down next to Sadie. "What's his name anyway? He's a little young for a singer, isn't he?"

Sadie shrugged. "Whatever. He doesn't look any younger than I do. I think his name's Preston or something. Shea I think. He's younger brother to that big movie star Prince."

Zaya smirked. "Preston and Prince Shea. Right."

"Preston and Prince are both supposed to be in that new movie, Prince is the leading male, and Preston's featured as a singer," Sadie explained. "The movie that's coming out next week I think."

Zaya nodded in amusement. "Right."

A TV journalist, Libby Lam, came on TV. "The fabulously talented 13 year old Preston Shea, younger brother to movie star Prince Shea, mostly known for the Endless Knights series, picked up six Music Association Awards last night, just in time for his new CD, Real Shea, to drop, wow, double platinum. And if that wasn't enough for the young star to achieve in his young age, he is set to be featured in the upcoming movie, Fleur, where Prince is the leading male, and there are rumors about Preston being cast in a movie as a starring role with Prince soon. I caught up with our favorite duo of brothers on the red carpet."

Preston and Prince were shown on screen.

"Well, first, I'd love to say thank you so much for buying the records and purchasing the Fleur tickets in advance," Preston stated. "You're the reason I love what I do."

"And we also can't wait for you guys to sea Fleur, even if Preston's only featured in the film, and I can't wait to do this new movie, and see if the rumors about Preston being cast in a movie with yours truly are true," Prince added. "We do all of this for you, the best fans in the world. Thank you."

Zaya was amused. "Interesting. I see you think Preston's cute, and even if I'm not into guys, I can admit Prince is hot."

Sadie chuckled. "Really, Zaya?"

They heard a car pull up behind them, and Zaya and Sadie turned around to see the car behind them. Richard got out of the car, causing both sisters to freeze when they saw their father in front of them.

"Can we help you?" Zaya asked sarcastically, uncaringly.

Richard shrugged. "Taking a walk. Seems I've been doing a lot of that lately."

"How about taking a hike?" Sadie asked. "Done that lately?"

"Do you want me to say 'I'm sorry for everything'?" Richard asked mockingly.

Zaya shook her head. "No, Dad, I want you to say 'kick my ass, girls, please, I deserve it'."

"And believe me, we totally could," Sadie told him. "You're completely out of your mind."

Richard shrugged. "There is some evidence to support that theory. But not enough to get rid of me. And even if there was, you wouldn't succeed. I'm about as crazy as you can get without being committed."

"Well, you need to be," Zaya replied.

Richard smirked. "But I won't be. I can't. Why don't we have a talk?"

"Why don't we shave your face on the pavement?" Sadie asked. "Whatever broke you, it won't break us too. Some people might crack under too much pressure, while for others, pressure is just the stone that sharpens the knife."

Richard smirked. "Very well put, my dear."

"We are not your dears," Zaya told him angrily. "Now go away."

Richard shook his head, a little more dangerous looking and sounding now as he stepped closer. "Daughters shouldn't talk this way to their fathers."

"Can you even be called our father anymore?" Sadie replied.

"Don't you dare touch us, or you will regret it," Zaya told him. Richard grabbed their arms in a tight grip that did hurt them. Zaya twisted Richard's hand off of her, twisting his arm, as Sadie twisted his other hand off of her and his arm, their combined movements being enough to make him turn as they were nearly using enough twisting to possibly dislocate either arm, as they both kicked his knees and made him fall to the ground. "You know, we knew you were psycho, a sexist, selfish bigot. I didn't think you were an idiot on top of it."

"Wow, you really hit the jackpot, Dad," Sadie told him mockingly, though she was deeply upset to see this happen to their family after it had been good for so long and they didn't know why it changed, so stressed, a hand over her chest.

Richard chuckled, though he was in pain. "You really think you two and your mother trying to break my arms is going to change anything?"

Zaya rolled her eyes. "That wasn't even close to breaking your arms. If you want to really us to, keep this up and let me know."

Zaya placed a hand on Sadie's back, leading her away, as a couple of the teenagers at the shopping strip had seen, and were taking pictures for Gossip Girl to send.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Spotted. Zaya and Sadie von Miller having to take down their father Richard in public while Mother Laureen could not be around to be mother bear to her darling daughters. When the future's not set in stone, sometimes you have to fight like hell to make sure you survive to see it."

X • O ° X • O

X • O ° X • O

Street 

Hope and Alex were walking together when Dan walked up to them.

"Hey," Alex told him.

"Hey," Dan replied. "How did you guys's meetings go?"

"They went great," Hope answered. "Wait, how do you know about them? I didn't tell you."

"I actually ran into Thyra, James and Serena this morning and they told me," Dan answered. "They were at NYU to visit Blair and Wyatt, but... Anyway, there's something about that that I have to tell you, before you find out in some other horrible way."

"What is it?" Hope asked. "Dan, spit it out."

"I kind of slept with Georgina," Dan answered. "More than once."

Hope just stared. Dan snapped his fingers in front of Hope's face, not receiving a reaction.

Alex looked at Dan. "I think you broke Hope."

Hope finally blinked. "Nope. I'm just trying to wake up from an insane world to a normal world. I guess it's not working."

"I made a mistake, all right?" Dan asked. "It's just..."

Hope nodded sarcastically, a little rambling. "So what? You decide to make that mistake again? More than once? More than twice? That's a choice. Not a mistake. I make mistakes all the time. Last year, I was doing this assignment in science, and it was for chapter ten, and I'd actually read chapter 11." She stopped herself, and in a remarkable show of restraint, got herself back on track. "Anyway, that's a mistake. This isn't. This is a choice. But people change. We're always changing, right? You aren't the same as you were then. I'm not the same as I was then. But Georgina is always gonna be the same. You can't trust her to be your friend, let alone... sex friend."

"Don't you think I know that?" Dan asked.

"Apparently you don't," Hope replied.

Alex shook his head. "Well, you're screwing my ex, and I'm still dating your adoptive sister. So that's about the only things we have overlap with. And you're the one dumb enough to actually hook up with Georgina after knowing everything she's done and knowing she hasn't changed. At least when I was with her, it was before she went completely psycho. She's Tweedlelee and you're Tweedledumbass." 

"Hey," Dan complained.

"Well, it's true," Hope told him, smirking.

"Yeah, I mean, you give Hope hell about sleeping with Chuck and you turn around and sleep with Georgina after knowing everything she's done, and not just once during a spiral and an identity crisis and so many other things, but several times while completely lucid?" Alex asked.

Dan nodded. "Yeah, yeah, when you put it like that..."

Hope hit Dan in the shoulder. "You're such an ass."

"I know I can be sometimes," Dan told her.

Hope raised her eyebrows skeptically, teasingly, smirking. "Sometimes?"

Dan chuckled sarcastically.

Alex smirked. "I would just check to make sure there's not an ice pick under the bed if you're gonna be dating Georgina Sparks."

Dan shook his head. "We're not dating. We're just, uh, hanging out."

Alex scoffed skeptically. "Then piece of advice? You should make sure she knows that 'cause when Georgina likes somebody, she will go from zero to crazy before you know it, trust me. When I tried to break things off with her completely, she started to send me notes about wanting to get back together even though we weren't officially dating, after we hooked up in 6th grade, and it was freaking creepy as hell. Bitch is a psycho that you should stay away from."

"I told you," Hope told him. "But did you listen to me? No, because you never listen to me."

"I get it," Dan told her in amusement. "And thanks, guys."

Dan walked away.

Hope turned to Alex, looking after Dan. "I could kill him."

Alex chuckled. "I know."

Alex put his arm around Hope, and they continued walking.

X • O ° X • O

Waldorf Penthouse - Thyra's Room

Thyra was working on things on her laptop. When the door opened, Thyra looked up. "Brooklyn?"

Brooklyn walked in with a tray, kicking the door closed behind her, wearing a little wrap jacket, placing the tray on the bed. "Yep. Just little ol' me. I recommend the hot apple cider caramel."

Thyra smirked, knowing where this was going, biting her lip, tilting her head. "On what?"

Brooklyn smirked, taking off her jacket, revealing a lace camisole and lacy shorts. "Surprise me."

Thyra smiled. Brooklyn leaned closer to wrap her arms around Thyra's neck, kissing her.

Thyra put her arm around Brooklyn's waist to pull her closer. "You... are amazing."

Brooklyn smirked, twining her fingers through Thyra's hair. "I know. So are you, Thyra. The meeting earlier was successful so I thought we'd celebrate. Our style." They chuckled, kissing. "You and Hope had a nice meeting with the bank loaners this morning. Alex got luck with auditing for the past week or so and more meetings about the construction of things. Aurora is making sure of things while on her little business trip. And Chuck, Dylan and I have a meeting planned with Sean MacPherson in a few hours."

Thyra smiled. "And a few hours is hours from now. And is it bad that us talking about our project and our future plan of success together is really..."

"Working up an appetite?" Brooklyn finished. "I know."

Brooklyn and Thyra smiled, continuing to kiss.

X • O ° X • O

Outside

Dylan and Wyatt were sitting outside the apartment building.

"How was your meeting with Alex, Hope, Thyra, Brooklyn and Chuck?" Wyatt asked.

Dylan smirked. "It was pretty good actually. Alex with the architect auditing classes, and making meetings about the construction, and Hope and Thyra had a meeting this morning with the bank loaners, while Brooklyn, Chuck and I get to handle Sean MacPherson in a few hours. Even without Aurora in town right now, we've been doing good on our own, and she's still helping with things from afar. It's been pretty good, Wyatt."

Wyatt smirked. "Well, you look happy with all this, Dylan. I like seeing it."

Dylan chuckled. "Well, I'm glad you do, because part of the wish is that it'll make things good for all of us." Wyatt nodded, smiling a bit. Dylan sighed. "Yeah. I guess it's about time, isn't it?"

Wyatt checked his watch, noticing the time, smiling. "Yeah, actually, it is. But not to go inside yet. Don't move."

Wyatt backed away.

"Why?" Dylan asked. Wyatt was looking at his watch. "Wyatt, what--what's going on?"

"The sprinklers," Wyatt answered.

Dylan stood. "What?" The sprinklers started, dousing Dylan, and they were both laughing. Dylan chased Wyatt, as they ran around and had fun. "You think you're funny? You are so dead." Dylan caught Wyatt, pulling him into his arms, as both looked at each other and smiled. "Oh, I got you, I got you, I got you."

Dylan and Wyatt started to make out, making their way inside to go up to the penthouse while still making out.

X • O ° X • O

Chuck's Hotel Room

Chuck was working on a laptop, when Blair came up behind him and started to kiss him.

Chuck held Blair close for a moment, chuckling. "I would rather focus on this." They kissed. "But look, I, uh... I have a really big meeting, with Brooklyn and Dylan, in a few hours." They kissed. "Seriously, it's important." Chuck sighed, pulling apart from Blair. "I have to keep my... focus. It's with Sean MacPherson. We're only gonna get one shot with him."

Blair looked up, puzzled. "As opposed to me who's just some endless font of do-overs?"

Blair turned to grab her stuff.

"Look, I'll make it up to you," Chuck told her. "Where are you going?"

"No idea," Blair told him. "I officially have nowhere left to go. My roommate is a nympho with a sock fetish. I have no friends at school. Brooklyn/Thyra and Dylan/Wyatt are probably hooking up at the penthouse, maybe even Serena/James if they're back home after seeing Noe, Carter and Marie, not to mention Noe/Nate and Hope/Alex, while you refuse to do so with me, because now my boyfriend would rather obsess about a restaurateur than spend quality time with me. And hasn't, by the way, in five days."

Blair walked out of the hotel room. Chuck sighed.

X • O ° X • O

Hallway

Blair put her bag on a table, going through her purse, putting things on the table, accidentally knocking some things down in the process. She knelt down to pick everything up, finding an envelope that was engraved with an embossed seal, opening it, taking out the card inside, gasping at what was written on the card.

You've been invited to La Table Elitaire. Good Luck...

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "In biblical times, destiny was delivered in the form of stone tablets or burning bushes. But today, true destiny is often engraved and carries an embossed seal."

Blair was in shock. "Oh, my God." She grabbed her phone, making a call. "Thyra, you won't believe what I just got."

X • O ° X • O

Central Park

Serena and James were walking across a bridge together.

Serena looked at the camera in her hand. "Why is it so blurry?"

"Adjust the lens," James suggested.

"I already did," Serena told him. "It doesn't help. Can you help me?" James took a sip of his water, smirking. Serena tilted her head. "James."

"Okay," James agreed. "Practice focusing on this before you move on to take photos of views. Back up."

James put his bottle of water on the bridge railing, pulling Serena back with him.

Serena watched the camera. "It doesn't focus."

"Wait until it's red," James told her.

Serena did as told. "Oh, I see."

"Now shoot," James told her.

Serena took the picture, smiling. "Is the photo sharp?"

"Yes," James answered. "What's so hard?"

James leaned against the bridge railing, drinking his water, watching over his shoulder as Serena was taking pictures of the views around them, smirking.

Serena got an idea, smirking. "James?"

James looked over his shoulder at Serena again. "Hmm?"

"I think a photo of a view is not complete without a person in it," Serena told him. "Come over here."

James chuckled. "No."

"Come on," Serena pleaded.

"As the one that is usually taking the pictures, I'm not keen to the pictures being taken of me," James told her.

"Well, you had to get used to it over this summer because a lot of pictures were being taken of us, even if you weren't completely visible most of the time," Serena pointed out. "And you are my boyfriend, and I'm learning to take pictures now, so you can get used to it for real."

James stood straight, turning to Serena, smirking in amusement. "Is that so?"

Serena smiled, nodding. "It really is. Between being seen with me in the city by other photographers for magazines, to..."

"Being posted on Gossip Girl," James finished.

Serena nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Since you are my boyfriend, there's gonna be a lot of pictures taken of you, besides the fact that you're a Baizen."

"That's true," James agreed, sighing, giving in. "All right, just take it already."

Serena smiled victoriously. "All right. 3, 2, 1. Listen, this is magic I'm seeing here." James smirked. "Come on, smile. Not smirk, smile. You can do it." James turned his smirk into a smile. "There you go." Serena took a picture of James when he smiled. "See, that's magic."

James took the camera from Serena, pulling her closer by the arm, smirking. "You done now?"

"For now," Serena answered teasingly.

They smiled, kissing softly, slowly but passionately. A girl in the distance saw them, recognizing them from Gossip Girl, taking a picture of Serena and James kissing before sending it in. Serena and James pulled away from their kiss, smiling.

James took Serena's hand, leading her along. "Come on. I'm starving."

"Honestly, me too," Serena told him.

After a moment, their phones both went off, and they looked at the Gossip Girl blast with the picture of them kissing.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Spotted. Serena van der Woodsen and James Baizen passing courtship to courting in Central Park, capturing the views around. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so wonder how many words, or how much time, S&J would get according to their session."

Serena looked at James. "See? What did I tell you?"

James smirked. "Yeah, yeah, yeah."

X • O ° X • O

Shea Mansion - Living Room

Preston and Prince's parents were both talking. Their names were Sherry and Simon.

"Preston's late," Sherry told him.

"He'll be here," Simon told her. "Prince already is."

Prince walked in. "I take it you are talking about Preston."

"Prince, where's your brother?" Simon asked.

"He should be here soon," Prince answered.

Sherry placed her hands on her hips. "You need to manage both of them better, Simon."

Simon placed a cut out board of Preston and Prince on the floor. "Hello, we both manage them."

"And how about you do a little less 'managing' and a little more parenting?" Prince asked.

"That's not funny, Prince," Sherry told him.

"Wasn't supposed to be," Prince replied.

"Preston needs to know opportunities like this don't come every day," Sherry told them.

"He knows," Simon told her. "He's a smart kid."

Preston walked into the house. "Hey. What's up?"

Sherry turned to give him a look. "You're late."

Preston tilted his head back. "Sorry, Mom. I was at the library doing a little reading."

"Romance novels again?" Simon asked.

Preston shrugged. "You and Mom are the ones that got me and Prince hooked on them when we were kids, Dad."

Prince smirked. "That's true. Though I'm not a kid anymore, but clearly you still are, Preston."

"Shut up," Preston replied.

Sherry smiled, kissing Preston on the cheek. "Hi."

"How you doing, Preston?" Simon asked, giving Preston a hug.

"Great, great," Preston answered. "Excellent."

Sherry cupped Preston's cheek. "Oh, Preston, honey. You could have cleaned up a little bit."

"What?" Preston asked. "I'm..." He sniffed himself. "I'm totally clean."

Sherry sighed, looking at Prince and Simon. "He looks like a street kid, not a movie and pop star."

"He looks fine, Mom," Prince told her. "Just be yourself, Preston."

Preston nodded. "Okay."

The doorbell rang.

"He's here," Sherry told them, going to answer the door.

Prince held his fists toward Preston. Preston fist bumped with his brother.

Simon placed a hand on either of their shoulders. "All right, this is it, sons. Your chance at what we've always wanted."

Prince smirked. "Right."

Preston nodded skeptically. "Yeah."

Sherry led a man inside. "Alan, please come in."

"Sherry," Alan greeted. "Simon. Great place you've got here."

Simon shook Alan's hand. "Oh, I'm glad you like. We just moved in to be in the city. Though this is more of Prince's place. Sherry and I just work here. Preston likes to stay here though."

Alan greeted Preston and Prince. "Preston and Prince Shea."

Prince shook his hand. "Mr. Smith."

Preston shook Alan's hand. "Hi."

"My daughters are big fans of yours," Alan told them.

Preston chuckled. "Oh, great."

Sherry smiled. "Aw."

Alan looked around. "Wow. This is great." He saw movie still photos of Prince on the wall, along with photos of Preston on the wall when he was playing on stage, with a guitar. "This is awesome. Rock and roll! Hello, Cleveland!" The Sheas chuckled, sitting on a couch. "Awesome." Alan picked up one of Preston's albums on the fireplace mantel. "Got this album at the house. Girls love this." He put it down, turning to face the Sheas. "All right, you know, now let's get right to the point. Let's get right to it. Prince, Preston, I've been watching you and I like what I see. Of course everyone knows you're a talented movie star, Prince. In Fleur, the Endless Knights series. And you're a done deal with this next movie that I have in the works. And Preston's proving that he is a talented, talented kid. Singing, dancing, acting. I do really like you for the part we called you in for to play in Fleur, to be featured in for the song, Preston. And now we want you to be in this new upcoming movie with your big brother, to play brothers."

Sherry squealed.

Prince smiled. "So the rumors are true. I think that'd be pretty cool."

"They could be," Alan answered.

Preston smiled. "Thank you, sir. Coming from you, this has been such an honor to... I mean, to work with someone like you."

"Well, you've done great for your Fleur feature," Alan told him. "You've done brilliant. If you want to continue and be in this movie with Prince, you have to prove that you're a serious and committed actor for future roles."

"How do I do that?" Preston asked.

"On Monday, I'm gonna meet with my people, and sell them on you," Alan explained. "In the meantime, just keep up the good work. Stay out of the tabloids, work hard like usual. No press, good or bad, okay?"

Preston nodded. "I can do that."

"In fact, until the movie premieres, stay home," Alan told him. "All right."

The Sheas stood.

Prince shook Alan's hand. "Thank you, sir. We appreciate it."

X • O ° X • O

NYU - Dorm Building - Hallway

Dan was hesitating while making his way up to Blair/Georgina's dorm room. "Good eye contact."

Before he could knock, Georgina opened the door. "Hey."

Dan's eyes were wide. "Oh, hey."

Georgina chuckled. "What are you doing here?"

Dan turned his fist (set for knocking on the door) into a wave. "I just, uh... I-I-I wanted to talk to you, about... us. Not--not us, uh, us. It's, uh... look, here's the thing. I really love hanging out with you, but I just wanna make sure it's just not a misunderstanding, that we're on the same page about us, uh, hanging out like we do. If you want me to leave, I can understand, uh..."

Dan turned to leave.

"That was your first of those talks, huh?" Georgina asked.

Dan turned back. "Yeah. How was I?"

Georgina stepped closer. "You're adorable." She kissed Dan lightly. "Come on, I was heading out for pizza. Don't worry, no strings."

Georgina walked past.

Dan, surprised by how well Georgina seemingly took that, nodded. "Yeah, okay, yeah, yeah." He closed the dorm door. "I like--I like pizza. That was easy."

X • O ° X • O

Park Trail

Noe, Serena, Blair, Thyra, Hope and Zaya were walking together.

Zaya was very annoyed and shaken up, a little angry after earlier, as she was critiquing girls passing by. "Too tall, too thin, too thick. Bleh."

"Wow," Serena said. "Where's nice Zaya?"

"She's been killed, and I ate her bleeding heart for breakfast, and I'm still hungry," Zaya told them. "Don't mind me."

"Where is Sadie and Brooklyn?" Serena asked.

"Sadie went to continue to shop to blow off some steam after earlier, and Brooklyn's at a meeting with Dylan and Chuck," Zaya answered.

"Oh, my God, Zaya," Noe told her. "We saw the blast. You and Sadie, are you... I mean, Richard..."

Zaya nodded, looking more shaken up than she had revealed previously before. "It was rattling, believe me."

"Why were you two alone?" Hope asked. 

"I mean, the Crew was busy," Zaya answered. "And Sadie's with her little girl clique right now, the mini versions of you guys, while she's like the mini version of me. I think she'll be okay, she just needed to blow off some steam."

"After earlier with Richard, you and Sadie have every right not to be okay, Zaya," Blair told her. "I can't imagine how pissed off Laureen must be right now."

"Yeah, I told Laureen," Serena explained. "I knew that you weren't going to, Zaya, and I knew that Sadie wasn't. But she had to know."

Zaya nodded. 

Thyra looked at Zaya in concern. "If you and Sadie had just met up with us earlier after Richard, we could've all been there for you, Zaya. And for Laureen."

Zaya shook her head. "We just wanted to be alone."

The girls sighed.

"Well, here's the deal from now on, Zaya," Noe told her. "You and Sadie are not to be alone out about anymore, even if you're together. You're either with us, or Sadie's with her little mini girls clique, or something. Laureen said the same thing."

"Okay?" Hope asked.

Zaya nodded. "Can we please just talk about Blair's card thing?"

"Are you sure?" Blair asked.

"Yes, anything to distract me from this," Zaya answered.

"Okay," Thyra agreed, as the girls wanted to do anything to help, even if it meant just changing the subject to distract her. "And it's not a 'card thing'. It's an invitation to La Table Elitaire."

"The elite table," Blair told them. "Have you not heard of them?"

"It's a secret society," Noe answered sarcastically. "If we had heard of it, it wouldn't be a secret."

"They're modeled after the grandes ecoles in France," Thyra explained. "Secret salons for the elite of academic institutions."

Blair smiled. "Finally, something exclusive to strive for. Something worthy of all my pent up energy and attention."

Hope chuckled. "So I take it you and Chuck still--"

"No," Blair answered. "And if he wants to focus on something other than us, so can I." Her phone went off. "Ooh, it's them."

"Who?" Serena asked.

"La Table Elitaire," Blair answered. "They've given me my initiation instructions. This is it. I gotta go." She started to leave, but turned back. "Oh, and Zaya, we mean it. Public places for you and Sadie, you are not to be alone. Bye."

Blair walked off. Zaya smiled a bit at the girls being so worried about her and Sadie and being there for them and looking out for them. Serena, Noe, Hope and Thyra also smiled.

X • O ° X • O

MacPherson's Office

Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck arrived for the meeting. The girl at the desk looked up, by the name of Devyn.

"Meeting for Mr. MacPherson," Chuck told her.

Devyn stood. "I apologize, but he's going to have to reschedule."

"It's Devyn, right?" Dylan asked. "We spoke earlier. You are far more beautiful than I pictured."

"I have an MBA from Tuck," Devyn told them. "I'm not the coat-check girl."

"Well, then I'm sure you're aware his club on 63rd isn't doing as well as it could," Brooklyn told her. "Uptown isn't downtown. His business could help ours. We have some ideas he should hear."

"We get dozens of young business people a week pitching Sean their vision of the future," Devyn told them, sitting down, typing on her laptop. "That doesn't mean he wants to hear it."

Chuck tilted his head. "We can be very persuasive."

Devyn smirked. "So were they. I've been in your shoes."

Brooklyn looked down at her own shoes. "Gucci? I don't think so. I'm Brooklyn Bass. These are my brothers Chuck and Dylan. We run this town. We make the rules, and we always win. Sometimes gracefully. I'm a modern woman. I know what I want and how to get it. I'm a bitch with moves to make."

Devyn smirked, somewhat impressed, while Chuck and Dylan smirked. "Piece of advice? You really want him to take you seriously?" She glanced at the photos behind them. "Find a way to show him that you respect his past." They looked at the clubbing photos behind them. "At least then you'll have a shot."

"Thank you," Dylan told her.

Chuck, Brooklyn and Dylan looked over the photos, and saw an open book of a photo bookmarked with a pink sticky note, exchanging a look, walking away with the book.

X • O ° X • O

Street

Noe and Nate were walking down the street.

"I just can't believe that Richard went after Zaya and Sadie in broad daylight, in public," Nate told her. "Laureen must be seething.'

"Oh, she is," Noe answered. "I don't think that we want to know what Laureen's up to to get back at him. Luckily Zaya and Sadie could defend themselves."

"Are they okay?" Nate asked.

"Yeah, Zaya's putting on a good face, and Sadie's with the mini girls that like to pretend they're me, Hope, Brooklyn, Thyra, Blair and Serena," Noe explained. "I'm really worried about them, Nate."

"I know," Nate agreed. "But they're gonna be okay. All right? We can make sure of it, Noe."

Noe nodded in agreement. Nate put his arm around Noe, and they kissed.

X • O ° X • O

Street

Harry and Bree were walking together.

"I can't believe your parents haven't returned any of your phone calls," Harry told her.

"Or texts or emails," Bree added. "So what do you want to do tonight?"

"As much as I enjoy the low profile thing, it'd be nice to at least go somewhere that has a cash register, maybe," Harry told her.

Bree smiled. "You mean actually go out together? Be seen by other people?"

"Well, yeah," Harry answered. "I would like you to meet my nephews and their girls at least. Alex, Nate, Hope and Noe."

"Introducing me to more of your family?" Bree asked. "The good ones anyway? I'd be honored."

They smiled, kissing.

"All right, let me see what everyone's doing tonight, and we'll make our public debut," Harry told her. "If your family finds out and doesn't like it..."

"Maybe they'll call and complain," Bree told him.

Harry smirked. "Ooh."

They kissed.

X • O ° X • O

Mall

Sadie was going shopping with the Mini Girls, AKA her clique, but was getting overwhelmed with being around them and all their questions, so she went her own way, leaving them so she could be alone.

X • O ° X • O

Stairwell

In the mall stairwell, Preston and Prince were talking.

"We were supposed to stay home, Preston," Prince told him in amusement.

"I know, but I just wanted to get something, all right?" Preston asked. "I'll be right down, I promise."

"All right, well, stay out of the spotlight, make sure no one sees you," Prince told him, giving Preston some sunglasses to hide his face. "And I'll be out back in the alley waiting for you so we can get out of here fast."

Preston nodded in agreement. "All right, thanks, Prince."

"Hurry up," Prince told him, walking outside.

Preston walked upstairs.

X • O ° X • O

Store

In one of the mall's stores, Preston was trying to buy something discreetly.

A group of girls walked by, nearby Preston and Sadie's age, and they recognized Preston immediately even though he was hiding his face with the sunglasses. "Oh, my God, Preston Shea!"

The girls started to run for Preston, but Preston's eyes went wide before he took off running, through a stairwell, and down the steps and stopped at a door on the bottom floor, opening it, which was the door that Sadie was next to in the shop that she was shopping in, accidentally hitting her in the head with the door.

Sadie fell to the floor, holding her head. "Ow."

Preston was stunned, apologetic, kneeling next to Sadie. "Did I just hit you?"

Sadie gave him a sarcastic look. "No, the door hit me by itself."

Preston made a face. "Oh, this is not good."

Sadie lowered her hand. "For you or for me? 'Cause right now, it feels a lot worse for me."

Preston looked around. "This is really not good."

Sadie realized who he was. "Wait. You're Preston--"

Preston quickly put one hand on the back of Sadie's head and the other over Sadie's mouth before she could finish her sentence so no one could hear her. "I'll give you front row tickets to my next concert and free premiere tickets to my upcoming movie if you don't scream my name."

Sadie pushed him off. "I wasn't going to scream." She held her head, putting a hand to her chest, like there was a little pain in her chest, but she was sure that her vessel was fine. "Ow."

Preston looked concerned. "Okay. I need to get you to a doctor." He stood, reaching for Sadie's hands. "Come on, come on. Get this hand. This hand." Sadie reluctantly took his hand so that Preston could help her up. "There we go. Come on. Just..."

Preston helped Sadie through the door so they could head out to the alley.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Sometimes fate and come as delicately and silently as a snowflake, but other times, it can hit you like a sledgehammer."

X • O ° X • O

Outside - Alley

Preston led Sadie outside into the alley out back where Prince was waiting with his car, so that he could drive them away from the mall.

Prince got out of the car when he saw Preston helping Sadie. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. What happened?"

"Prince, help now," Preston told him. "Questions later."

"Okay," Prince agreed, leading Sadie to the car.

"Just get her in the car," Preston told him.

Prince guided Sadie into the backseat, as Preston was in the passenger seat, before he got into the driver's seat, looking at Sadie and Preston. "Seat belts." Sadie and Preston pulled on their seat belts. Prince looked at Preston. "Who is she?"

Preston looked back at Sadie. "What is your name?"

"Sadie," Sadie answered.

Preston nodded. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Sadie."

Sadie rolled her eyes. "Oh, I can think of nicer ways."

Preston smiled.

Sadie held her chest, looking to be in a bit more pain.

"Uh, she's not looking too hot," Prince remarked. "Hey, hey, hey. Do not hurl in this car, okay?"

"I'm not gonna get sick," Sadie told them. "It's... my chest hurts."

"Why would her chest hurt?" Prince asked. "Preston, what the hell did you do?"

"Can you just get us to the hospital, please?" Preston asked. "Go."

Prince started the car and drove them away.

X • O ° X • O

Sotheby's Auction House - Outside

The Bass limo pulled up. 

Chuck got out of the limo first, adjusting his suit jacket. The driver closed his door.

Dylan got out of the limo on the other side, smoothing out his suit, looking around.

Brooklyn stepped out of the limo, closing the door behind her, turning to look to the auction house.

Blair walked outside, seeing Hope, Wyatt, Thyra and James waiting for her. "Thanks for waiting for me."

"Sure, no problem," Wyatt agreed.

James looked toward the Bass limo and at the siblings. "Uh, what are Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck doing here?"

They turned to look at the Basses.

 "How did you know we were here?" Hope asked.

Blair looked at Chuck. "Did you come to apologize? That is so sweet."

"Not exactly," Chuck answered. "Though I am sorry. I know I've been all work lately."

"What are you doing here?" Thyra asked.

Dylan showed them the book they took from Sean's office. "There's a photograph we need that's up for auction tonight."

Wyatt nodded. "Blair too. A secret collegiate society wants her."

Blair smiled, showing them the same picture that the Basses needed. "Initiation is easy. All you have to do is contribute to their salon's art collection as a fee, so..."

Brooklyn was annoyed to see that it was the same picture. "You've got to be kidding me."

James shrugged. "I'm more of a Helmut Newton guy myself, but they want a vintage McMullan. Who are we to argue?"

"You see the guy in this photo?" Chuck asked. "That's Sean MacPherson."

"He has an entire wall of photos like this in his office," Dylan explained. "But procuring this one for him is the best way we can show him we have respect for his history."

Hope realized where they were going with this. "And gaining his support in his business so we can further the speakeasy."

The Bass siblings nodded.

"Exactly," Brooklyn answered.

"Show him respect?" Wyatt asked. "He's a club owner. Not a Mafia don."

"But this photo could help us with the speakeasy," Thyra told them.

Chuck looked at Blair. "You can buy your table people a wonderful Henry Diltz."

"La Table Elitaire," Blair corrected. "I only have until midnight tonight. This is what they asked for."

Hope, James and Wyatt knew that this could lead to a fight, trying to stop it before it started.

"Look, calm down," James told them.  "All right?"

"There's gotta be a way that we can all get what we want," Hope told them.

"Blair, come on," Dylan told her. "There's more at stake to the rest of us than you and a secret society. This is about professions and careers for us."

"I'm sorry, but we need this," Brooklyn told her.

"Well, you're not getting it," Blair replied. "This could just as easily turn into a profession or career for me."

"And how is that?" Thyra asked.

Blair didn't answer, walking away toward her limo.

Brooklyn, Dylan, Chuck, Hope, Thyra, Wyatt and James exchanged a look.

X • O ° X • O

Inside

Marie was helping set up for the event that night.

Carter walked closer. "You seem to be doing well."

Marie smiled. "Hey, what are you doing here?"

Carter shrugged. "Just wanted to come by to see how you were doing."

"I'm actually almost done," Marie answered. "Any more pranks from Noe?"

"Room service and three bottles of '95 Dom Reserve ordered on my card this afternoon," Carter answered. "Pretty sure she was actually trying to do something nice for you and me, but Noe of course forgot that I know '95 Dom Reserve is a tell of hers. So..."

Marie chuckled. "So your amnesiac ex-girlfriend is trying to help you and me out in a relationship?"

"Yeah, kinda processing that too," Carter told her.

Marie smirked, before letting it fade, looking slightly overwhelmed, but finding it ironic that one of her half-sisters was doing that for them. "That's ironic." Carter frowned, not getting it. "Anyway, well, after I finish, we can talk after this."

"About whatever you wanted to talk to me about this morning?" Carter asked. "Yeah, sounds good. You know, I actually already thought that you were seeing Laureen, but this morning, with what you, Noe and Serena said to me and James about you making plans for your first appointment with Laureen sometime soon, and then that you were taking guitar lessons with Rufus, and seeing Zaya, Sadie, Eric and Jenny..."

Marie knew that he knew she was lying to him about some things, and was very worried about this coming up like this. "Carter... it's nothing."

Carter was really amused, but not being mean, just curious. "You'd make a terrible poker player."

Marie sighed. "It's really complicated."

"What's so complicated?" Carter asked. "I mean, your past, your DID I get, but lying about other things about how you spend your mornings..."

"I didn't know how to tell you the truth," Marie told him.

"Truth about what?" Carter asked.

Marie knew she had to come clean, sighing heavily, closing her eyes. "I'm Rufus and Lily's daughter."

Carter looked at her for a moment, processing, in shock, but at the same thinking that this made things about her make a lot more sense, just looking at her in stunned silence. Marie looked worried about how he could react.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "They say honesty is the best policy. Though for Marie Rosson... the Queen of Hearts, it might be the hardest thing she has to do."

X • O ° X • O

Von Miller Mansion - Laureen's Office

Laureen was sitting in her old home office in a lounge chair, drinking from a wine glass, waiting.

Richard stormed up to Laureen. "Where the hell is my bed?"

"Oh, hi," Laureen told him mockingly. "Nice to see you too."

"Where is all my stuff, Laureen?" Richard asked.

"I gave it away," Laureen told him simply, smugly.

Richard glared at her. "You what?"

"I had to," Laureen told him in an innocent tone. "It was all wet and smelly."

Richard gave her a skeptical look. "And how did that happen?"

Laureen tilted her head as if she was trying to remember. "The sprinklers came on... by accident. After I tossed everything out the window." She smiled happily. "That part was on purpose." Richard glared at her. Laureen smirked, slowly standing to look in his eyes, glaring daggers at him. "I told you that if you came around me, Zaya or Sadie, I would make sure that you couldn't live happily in our family home, and you came around our daughters anyway, you hurt them before they took you down, so I'm just keeping my promise. What are you going to do about it? Hurt me? Scream, rage? Go ahead."

Richard smirked sarcastically. "I know what you're trying to do." He walked toward the fireplace, causing Laureen to tense. "Laureen, how stupid do you think I am?" He took out a recording device in hiding. "Planting bugs like a lame amateur. You're going to have to seriously up your game if this is gonna be any fun for me. What exactly do you have on me, huh? You've tried to have me arrested for attempted assault, for threatening, and nothing could stand up in court because I do have the best lawyers that money can buy. And they're all on my side. Even if you manage to find a way to have me arrested again, I will just get right back out, and I will come right back here. This isn't going to end any time soon."

"And I'm also not going to give up until it does," Laureen replied. "Goodbye." Richard tried to stop Laureen from leaving by grabbing her arm, pulling her back, hurting her, but Laureen twisted free of his hold, turning to push him into the wall, making him fall against the bookshelf, before he fell to the floor. "You knew that that wasn't going to work this time any more than last time."

Laureen walked out of the office, and leaving the mansion.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "I hope Zaya, Sadie and Laureen's policies are paid up, because it looks like they're on a collision course."

X • O ° X • O

X • O ° X • O

Sotheby's Auction House - Outside

Marie and Carter were sitting together on a bench outside so they could talk.

"I told you that my parents never told me or Andrea that I was adopted," Marie explained. "And that I only found out after Andrea died last spring. That was true. And when I left to go find my biological family, my adoptive parents told me that they already spoke with my real parents and they wanted nothing to do with me."

"They lied to you, Marie," Carter told her. "Before the summer, James, Hope, Thyra, Blair and Wyatt explained about the sibling that Noe, Serena and Eric shared with Dan and Jenny. The adoptive sibling to Hope, Chuck, Brooklyn and Dylan, and other cousin to Zaya and Sadie and niece to Laureen. You. They said that Rufus and Lily went looking for you and that your adoptive parents said that... you were dead."

Marie was stunned to hear this. "Wait, what?"

"Yeah," Carter answered. "Drowned in the river on the mountains. But that wasn't you, clearly. That was how Andrea died, wasn't it?"

"Yeah," Marie answered, looking even more betrayed and angry at the thought of her adoptive parents. "My adoptive parents told my real parents that I was Andrea?"

Carter nodded. "Yeah. Damn. They're even more screwed up than your real parents."

Marie scoffed. "You're telling me."

Carter shook his head. "I don't understand why you didn't tell me this before."

"I was afraid," Marie answered.

Carter tilted his head. "Marie..."

"I was afraid that you would think that I really was crazy, or that I was using you, and I never, ever, not once, wanted to," Marie told him. "I didn't even know until some time after we met. About my family. And when I found out, I wanted to tell you. I made plans on telling you, and..."

Carter realized when, sighing heavily. "The last day I saw you in spring. You told me that you wanted to hang out and so that you could tell me something that you found out about your family. It was Noe, Serena, James, Blair, Wyatt, Hope, Nate and Chuck's graduation so I went to go meet up with Thyra, Aurora, Cyrus and Eleanor. And Alex, Brooklyn, Dylan, Zaya, Sadie, Harry, Eric and the others. You wanted to tell me that day but it was the day that we saw Vincent." Marie nodded, tears in her eyes. "You were going to tell me but he scared you off."

"Yeah," Marie answered, nearly crying.

"You trusted me with this that day, but you didn't trust me after everything else?" Carter asked.

"It's not that I didn't trust you," Marie answered. "Of course I trust you, Carter. I do. I was just scared. Everyone has called me crazy my entire life just because of DID. And everyone who reads Gossip Girl besides the Crew thinks I'm crazy too. And I knew that I had to find a right way to deal with this without people thinking I really was crazy."

Carter nodded, looking away. "Including me." He looked at her. "You know that I wouldn't have thought you were crazy, Marie. So what were you really scared of when it came to me? Getting hurt again?"

"Maybe," Marie answered. "And I know that sounds ridiculous, but..."

Carter shook his head. "After everything you've went through, it's the least ridiculous thing I've heard."

Marie took a deep breath, emotional. "I have been so hurt in the past. And I was starting to feel really vulnerable with you and that made me scared because I've never been able to feel that way with anyone else without getting hurt. I guess I was afraid of the way that you make me feel, and I know that doesn't matter now. After I kept this huge thing from you. But I just thought you should know." She looked down, a few tears falling. "I just... I'm sorry I didn't tell you what may be the most important thing now. And if keeping this secret ruined this for us, I'm sorry, Carter."

Marie stood, walking away.

Carter stood, walking after her. "Marie, wait." He caught her arm. Marie turned to face him. "You told me everything about your past that you didn't have to tell me." Marie looked down, sniffling. "And even if you didn't tell me everything, it's okay. And it's okay that you didn't tell me about your family."

Marie looked up in confusion, shaking her head. "It's not. It can't be okay."

"You were scared, and I get it after everything," Carter told her. "Okay? I have a lot of things that I don't talk about, so I get it. And you were going to tell me before the summer. Before Vincent scared you again. It's okay."

"I could have still told you after I told you everything else, Carter," Marie told him. "If I wasn't too scared and weak and--"

"You're not weak," Carter interjected. "You're actually one of the strongest people I know."

Marie managed a small smile, shaking her head. "Please don't make this okay. It's too much to forgive."

"Well, that's too bad," Carter replied. "Because I forgive you."

"You can't, not after I lied about something this huge," Marie told him.

Carter shrugged. "I just did." He smiled. "So you're gonna have to deal with it."

Marie couldn't help but smile, but two tears still slipped down her cheeks, chuckling. Carter wiped some of her tears away, kissing her. Marie deepened the kiss before they pulled away. Carter left his hand on her cheek, brushing his thumb against her skin, and Marie closed her eyes, relaxing at the feeling. 

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Sometimes all it takes to make things feel okay is to know that you're not alone even in the most twisted and complicated of situations."

X • O ° X • O

Exam Room

A doctor was shining a light in Sadie's eyes and having her follow the light with her gaze to make sure she didn't have a concussion. "Well, I've done a thorough exam, and the CT scan was normal. The MRI showed that your aortic vessel did not burst, and it didn't grow."

"Clearly, otherwise I would be dead right now," Sadie told him.

Preston peaked in through the curtain. "What's she talking about?"

"Don't worry about it," Sadie told him.

The doctor looked at Sadie. "Your vessel was just irritated after a long hard day ending with getting hit in the head."

"So she's okay?" Preston asked. "Why was her chest hurting? That wasn't from the hit in the head, was it?"

"No," Sadie answered in annoyance.

The doctor gave Preston a look. "Out."

Preston closed the curtain. "Okay."

The doctor looked at Sadie. "Was it?"

"No, today's been a very stressful day on top of a sea of very stressful days," Sadie answered. "I'm surprised that I haven't had more chest pain."

The doctor nodded in understanding. "There's no sign of head trauma, you don't have a concussion, and I'm absolutely certain your vessel is going to be just fine as long as you avoid stress and other things that could provoke a growth."

Sadie raised her eyebrows skeptically, nodding. "Yeah, that won't be easy at all. So can I go now?"

"Yes, but I want you to put an ice pack on that bump until you get home, and relax as much as possible," the doctor answered. "I'll be right back."

"Okay," Sadie said. The doctor left. Preston checked on Sadie, looking concerned, awkward and sheepish, also confused. His phone started to go off but he didn't react to it. "You gonna answer that?"

Preston looked to the side. "Oh, right. Just..." He closed the curtains again, turning away to answer the phone. "Hello, Mom. What? Who? Where? Now?"

Sherry was at home during a party. "Yes, right now. We thought he wasn't coming, but he just showed up with your two biggest fans. Look, you and Prince promised him you were gonna stay home this weekend. It's up to you both to fix this, Preston."

"Okay," Preston agreed. "Just stall them. Prince and I will be right there."

Preston hung up.

Prince walked closer. "That might be a problem."

"Why?" Preston asked.

"The waiting room is filled with big guys with big cameras," Prince answered.

"You kidding?" Preston asked. "The paparazzi found us?"

Prince nodded. "Uh-huh. But I found a back way for us and your new little friend Sadie in there."

Sadie put an ice pack to her head, scoffing. "Wouldn't call getting hit in the head and sent to the hospital 'friendship'." Preston walked closer. "I cannot be in the spotlight right now either, okay? My father is already on a rampage, and he's pissed about me and Zaya getting on Gossip Girl and being involved in an arrest scandal with Noe and Serena that hit every news outlet in the city, and we weren't even in the spotlight that much."

"Who's Zaya, Noe and Serena?" Preston asked.

"Zaya's my sister and Noe and Serena are my cousins," Sadie answered. "And it is so weird to know people in this city don't know us. Especially teenagers since basically every teen we know, and some adults, read Gossip Girl."

Prince realized what she was talking. "Oh, my God. Serena van der Woodsen. Her sister Noe. You and Zaya are their cousins. You're Sadie von Miller."

Preston and Sadie were both stunned that he knew of them.

"Uh, how do you know Serena?" Sadie asked. "Or about me, Zaya and Noe?"

"I know Serena from a few years back," Prince answered. "Uh, it's a long story, and one you probably don't need to hear right now. But she told me about Noe, Zaya and you. And her brother Eric."

"Was this from when you were at boarding school?" Preston asked.

Sadie cut in before Prince answered. "I don't care anymore, okay? None of this is the point. The point is, 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, and--"

"Just calm down, okay?" Preston asked.

"Do not tell me to calm down," Sadie told him. "I want to go home before my mom and Zaya freak out. Okay?"

Sadie tossed her ice pack at Preston, hitting him in the face.

"Ow!" Preston said.

Prince raised his eyebrows, amused, smirking. "She's definitely Serena's cousin."

Preston looked at Sadie. "What is wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me?" Sadie asked sarcastically. "Nothing. Besides getting hit in the head with a door and getting sent to the hospital and having a close call with a condition that you don't need to know about, and I really am looking forward to more havoc in my family. Not."

"Is that why you're so crabby?" Preston asked.

Sadie was annoyed. "I'm not crabby."

Preston nodded. "Oh, not crabby. Defensive."

Sadie tilted her head. "I am not defensive."

"See?" Preston asked. "You disagree with everything I say."

"Do not," Sadie denied.

"Do too," Preston insisted.

Sadie was very annoyed, but trying not to get more stressed out. "Just take me home. I'm supposed to be at Sotheby's auction tonight."

"We will," Prince told her. "First we need to make one teeny-tiny little stop. Let's go."

X • O ° X • O

NYU - Blair/Georgina's Dorm Room

Blair was getting ready for the auction in a beautiful short dress, when there was a knock on the door. She went to answer.

Chuck stood in the hall with a bottle of champagne and two wine glasses. "I came to apologize."

"So apologize," Blair told him.

"Uh, that was it," Chuck told her, holding up the bottle. "But it comes with a bottle of champagne. Your favorite vintage if I'm not mistaken. Look, our relationship should be more important than business deals or secret societies. Like with both sets of our siblings."

"So what do you suppose?" Blair asked.

"I propose we don't go to the auction tonight," Chuck told her. "Neither one of us gets the photograph. I already called off Thyra, Brooklyn and Dylan. Hope, Wyatt, James and Alex can make sure they stand down. It's the only way."

Blair nodded. "Mm. Pity. I already have my bidding paddle."

Chuck smirked. "Well, I'm sure we can find some other use for it."

Blair smirked, pulling Chuck inside so they could kiss and shut the door.

X • O ° X • O

Rhodes/Bass Apartment Building - Lobby

Laureen walked into the lobby from outside, after returning from confronting Richard, seeing that Dominic was waiting there with an assistant who was holding a dress.

"I heard that you've had another brush with Richard," Dominic told her. "And so did Zaya and Sadie. I wanted to make sure you were all right. Laureen?"

"We're fine," Laureen answered. "Their father just won't take a hint. He has tables that have one spot for him and five for his ego. But we'll deal with him eventually. Thank you for checking in, Dominic."

"Anytime," Dominic replied. "But be careful, Laureen. Don't just play your hand. Play your opponent's hand against them."

Laureen nodded. "Thanks." She looked at the dress. "What's this?"

"I had an inspiration for what you could wear to the event tonight," Dominic explained. "I do remember how much we both appreciated the art auction."

"Well, I applaud your presumption," Laureen told him. "I've already picked out a dress, made from the resident designer for me and my loved ones."

"Hope Diamond, you mean?" Dominic asked. "You could change it up a bit, once, at least, don't you think, Laureen? I had it overnighted by the designers."

"You're friends with Dolce & Gabbana?" Laureen asked.

Dominic shrugged. "I have many friends."

"Well, I recently had dinner with Domenico," Laureen told him. "Your name didn't come up."

Dominic chuckled. "Oh, really? Well, I'm trying not to give people reasons to talk about me."

"A nice change of pace for me," Laureen told him.

"As you are for me," Dominic replied. "Single suits you, Laureen. Even if you are at war with your insane husband who refuses to let you go."

"Your charms won't work on me, Dominic," Laureen told him. "Whatever the case of what happens with my husband, I am looking to take my time with freedom, once I actually get it for real."

Dominic nodded in understanding. "Perhaps we should go, then."

Laureen considered for a moment. "Oh, maybe I should try on that gown. The designers are friends of mine, after all. I wouldn't want to offend. And it is stunning."

Dominic smiled. "I look forward to seeing you in it."

Laureen tried to hide a smile, biting her lip.

X • O ° X • O

Shea Mansion - Foyer

Preston and Prince walked into their home with Sadie.

Sadie looked around. "Nice place."

"Thanks," Preston told her. He saw their parents, pulling Sadie upstairs. "Gotta go."

"What are you doing?" Sadie asked.

"Gotta get upstairs," Preston told her.

"Stop pulling me," Sadie told him. "I will kick your ass if I have to."

Preston stopped. "I believe that. And I'm sorry."

"Where are we going?" Sadie asked.

"I'm sorry," Preston told her. "I just don't know--"

"Where to hide me?" Sadie finished.

Preston reached the top of the stairs, leading Sadie along. "No, I'm not hiding you. It's just that I don't want these particular people to see you right now."

"Because I'm not a movie or pop star like you or Prince?" Sadie asked.

"No," Preston answered. "Okay, because I don't want anyone asking questions, and by the sound of things at the hospital, neither do you." He imitated the press with a hand up to his mouth like he was holding a mic. "Who is she? Where'd you meet? You two dating? They make stuff up."

"I know, I live in a city where Gossip Girl runs everything," Sadie told him.

"So you're, what, Gossip Girl famous?" Preston asked.

"Basically, yeah," Sadie answered. "So are basically all my friends and family. I even have a Crew. The Upper East Side Crew."

Preston nodded in understanding. "So you don't want to be down there anymore than I do because there are people down there that would recognize you and post you on Gossip Girl with me." Sadie tilted her head back, knowing that he was right. Preston led her away. "Come on."

X • O ° X • O

Guest Room

Preston led Sadie into the guest room. "Um, the guest room. Be my guest."

Sadie chuckled. "Do I have a choice?"

"Not really," Preston answered. "I'll be right back. Just stay."

Sadie gave him a look. "I'm not a dog, but I will attack and scratch your eyes out like a feline."

Preston nodded, amused, impressed. "I believe that too."

Preston walked out of the room.

Sadie watched through the window to see Preston walk outside to greet the party goers.

X • O ° X • O

NYU - Blair/Georgina's Dorm Room

Blair and Chuck were laying on the floor, making out. They paused when both their phones went off, taking their phones down from the desk above their heads so they could check their messages.

"Buckman," Chuck said. "Car detailed."

"Dorota," Blair stated. "Dry cleaning." They put their phones back, kissing. Chuck's phone went off. Blair stopped him from getting it. "Leave it. We've been waiting a week for this. I'm turning them off."

Blair reached up for both phones.

Chuck tried to stop her. "Oh, wait."

Blair looked at Chuck's text. "'Got word photo could go for 5500.' How could you?" Chuck took Blair's phone. "Hey, give--"

Chuck read Blair's message. "'The last McMullan went for 3000'. I guess Dorota's counterintelligence isn't what it used to be."

"Don't change the subject," Blair told him. "I can't believe you lied to me. Trying to use sex to distract me so that Brooklyn and Dylan could get that photo for you three, Hope, Thyra and Alex's project."

Blair stood, turning to grab her things.

Chuck sat up. "I learned from the best."

Blair also grabbed Chuck's shoes. "That photograph is mine."

Blair walked out of the room, giving Chuck a look of determination that ended up looking comical as she darted out of the room and closed the door.

Chuck checked his phone, but looked up when he realized something. "She stole my shoes?"

X • O ° X • O

Shea Mansion - Outside (Party)

Preston walked up to Prince, Sherry and Simon. Alan walked closer with his daughters.

"Hey, Preston," Sherry told him.

"How you doing, bud?" Simon asked.

Alan shook Prince and Preston's hands, introducing his daughters. "Prince, Preston, my daughters."

"Hey," Prince greeted. "What's up?"

"They wanted to ask you something, Preston," Sherry told him.

"Can you sing us a song?" one of the daughters asked.

Preston smiled. "Of course, absolutely. Got something new I'm working on. Prince, can you grab me a stool?"

"Sure," Prince answered.

"You know where your guitar is?" Sherry asked.

"Of course," Preston answered.

Simon looked at the two daughters. "You're gonna love this."

Prince and Preston walked away. Prince grabbed a stool, setting it down in the middle of the party.

Preston sat down with his guitar. "Uh, hey, everybody. This is a little something I'm working on for my next album." He sat down to sing. "I'm no superman / I can't take your hand / And fly you anywhere you wanna go, yeah / I can't read your mind / Like a billboard sign / And tell you everything you want to hear." Sadie opened the balcony to the guest room so she could hear the song from where she stood. "But I'll be your hero / 'Cause I, I can be everything you need / If you're the one for me / Like gravity, I'll be unstoppable / I, yeah, I believe in destiny / I may be an ordinary guy with heart and soul / But if you're the one for me, then I'll be your hero." Sadie smiled a bit at hearing the song, leaning against the railing by her arms. "Oh, I'll be your hero, yeah / I'll be your hero / So incredible / Some kind of miracle / That when it's meant to be / I'll become a hero, oh / So I'll wait, wait, wait, wait for you..." As Preston held out the note in a strong and boyishly beautiful voice, he looked up and noticed Sadie watching from the balcony, smiling a bit. "Yeah, I'll be a hero, yeah / 'Cause I, I can be everything you need / If you're the one for me / Like gravity, I'll be unstoppable / I, yeah, I believe in destiny / I may be an ordinary guy with heart and soul / But if you're the one for me, then I'll be your hero / Yeah, yeah, I'll be your hero." He brought the song to a close. "Hero."

The guests all cheered and applauded. Preston looked up at the balcony but only to see that Sadie was no longer there.

X • O ° X • O

Inside - Foyer

Sadie walked downstairs, looking for the way to get out of the mansion to go home, seeing a lot of people inside, trying to avoid being seen by any teenage girl that used Gossip Girl, which was easier said than done.

X • O ° X • O

Garage

Sadie made her way to the garage, looking over the many cars there.

Preston walked in. "Hey, where you going?"

"Away from here," Sadie answered.

Preston closed the door. "What did I do now?"

"You and Prince said you'd take me home," Sadie reminded him. "When?"

"Well, Prince's busy with the guests, and he's kinda tied up with Alan Smith, a movie producer and director that we're both working with," Preston explained. "So..."

"So what, I'll walk?" Sadie asked.

"I'll go with you," Preston offered. "Where is your place again?"

"Upper East Side," Sadie answered.

Preston looked amused. "Oh, that's great. That should take half the night."

Sadie shrugged. "At least it's a nice day out."

"And risk being seen?" Preston asked. "You know, I could drive us."

Sadie laughed sarcastically. "Uh, no. I don't even know how to drive, so why would you?"

"Because Prince taught me," Preston answered.

Sadie nodded, unsurprised, looking away. "Of course he did."

"What do you say?" Preston asked.

Sadie bit her lip, considering, sighing. "Fine."

Preston smiled, opening the door to the silver car for Sadie. Sadie ignored that car, opening the passenger seat door to the blue car, getting in, closing the door.

Preston was not surprised by that, closing the door to the silver car, walking to get the keys to the blue car from the key hook on the wall. "Of course she did that."

Preston walked back to the blue car, getting into the driver's seat, starting the car, pushing the button to open the garage door, driving out of the garage and down the street.

X • O ° X • O

The Downing - Carter's Hotel Suite

Marie and Carter had just finished getting ready.

Carter turned to Marie. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that the girl I'm now seeing is the half-sister to my ex-girlfriend, and to my brother's girlfriend, and two Brooklyn kids none of the Crew can stand, and the adoptive sister to Hope who is like family to me, James, Blair and Wyatt since she's Aurora's daughter and Thyra's cousin, and also the adoptive sister to Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck Bass, three of my friends, who used to be enemies, but also used to be friends before that. And cousin to Zaya and Sadie, and you have a lot of the same issues that they have, and that Noe has. And the expert I talked to about finding out more about you, Laureen... is also your aunt. And ironically, Noe's little prank earlier with the room service and the Dom was like trying to set up a dinner for us, and she doesn't even know that she was setting her ex-boyfriend who she doesn't remember being with up with her half-sister who she thinks is dead. This is all freaking twisted as hell."

Marie smirked, tilting her head. "Just like us." Carter nodded. "Regret getting involved me with yet?"

Carter smirked, shaking his head. "Not a chance." Marie smiled a bit in relief, looking down. Carter walked closer. "What's wrong?"

Marie looked up. "My, uh... my adoptive parents kept calling. I answered finally today so that I could demand to know why they lied to Lily and Rufus about me. About Andrea. And they tried to make excuses, but that wasn't good enough for me. I told them what I needed to do, and they didn't take it very well. I was just hoping that I wouldn't have to go through telling my family alone."

Carter smiled a bit, shaking his head, placing a hand on her cheek. "You don't." Marie smiled a bit. "Come on."

Carter took Marie's hand, kissing it. They both walked out of the suite.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Turns out photographs won't be the only thing up for grabs tonight. A priceless secret is on the auction block and bidding begins now."

X • O ° X • O

X • O ° X • O

On the Road - Shea Family's Blue Car

(Song:) Rollercoaster - Bleachers

While driving Sadie home, Preston turned on the radio, singing along with the song. "It was summer when I saw your face / But like a teenage runaway / Oh, God, I never thought we'd take it that far / Some killer queen you are /  Now I'm running and I can't stop anywhere I go /  I think about it everyday and night / I can't let go / Man, I'm never the same / We were shot gun lovers / I was shot gun running away."

Sadie looked at him, slightly amused. "Really?"

"What?" Preston asked. "Come on, sing with me. It'll pass the time until we get you home." He started to sing again. "So come a little closer /  There was something I could tell ya /  You were such a rollercoaster / And a killer queen you are." He looked at Sadie, nodding, encouraging her to sing along. Sadie shook her head, looking away. "Rollercoaster, I don't say no /  Rollercoaster, When you don't say no / And it's such a rollercoaster / Some killer queen you are / We took the bones out from the road / Those endless nights that we traveled we stole / You let your clothes fall to the floor / And lit a fire while I waited for more / Now I'm running and I won't stop I don't wanna go / I think about it everyday and night / I can't let go / And hey, I'm never the same / It's a hundred miles an hour on a dirt road, running away."

Sadie chuckled. "Let me guess. You think I'm one of those girls who's been dying to meet Preston Shea, to sit in a car and do carpool karaoke with him? Yeah, no thanks. I don't like this song anyway."

"What kind of songs do you like?" Preston asked.

Sadie raised her eyebrows. "Why? Fishing to see if I like your music?"

"Maybe," Preston answered.

"I like your music," Sadie answered. "I'm just not so sure I like you given today."

Preston tilted his head. "That's fair. But you don't know me, and you might even like me when I'm not being a klutz that knocks down pretty girls."

Sadie gave him a side eye glance, before looking out the window. "Oh, turn here."

Preston made the turn. "Why don't you know how to drive?"

"Besides the fact that I'm literally only about to turn 13 this month, my family relies on car service and limos," Sadie answered. "And they're too protective of me to teach me how to drive."

Preston chuckled. "Sounds like my parents. They hated that Prince taught me how to drive. Not so much because they thought I needed protection, but more like they were worried that they couldn't keep an eye over my every move."

Sadie nodded. Preston drove them up to the Rhodes/Bass apartment building.

Sadie unbuckled her seat belt. "Thanks for the ride. Now I gotta get inside and get ready for the auction with my family before Zaya and my mom freak out."

"Hey, look, Sadie," Preston told her. "Look, I just wanna say I'm sorry."

Sadie nodded. "Noted. Are we done now?"

"Uh, yeah," Preston answered. "Yeah, yeah, I guess we're done."

Sadie waved. "Good."

Preston waved. "Bye."

Sadie got out of the car, jogging up to the building. Preston watched her go in concern, confusion and curiosity. 

(Song Ends)

X • O ° X • O

Rhodes/Bass Apartment - Living Room

Sadie walked off the elevator in a rush, toward Zaya and Laureen where they were waiting, both dressed up. Laureen was wearing the dress Dominic brought her.

"Hey, so sorry I'm late," Sadie told them.

Laureen stood, walking closer worriedly. "Sadie, where were you? Zaya and I were worried."

Sadie didn't know how to explain about Preston, Prince and the rest without sounding like it was made up, so she settled for half-truths. "I just got caught up with shopping with the girls, and then I split up from them because I wanted to be alone, and I got left behind. I'm sorry."

Zaya sighed. "I'm just glad you're okay. Don't ever scare us like that again, all right?"

Sadie nodded. "All right. I'm so sorry. Let me go get ready."

X • O ° X • O

Sotheby's Auction House - Outside

(Song:) Ready for the Floor - Lissy Trullie

Everyone was going to the Sotheby's Auction that evening.

Nate and Noe stepped out of their limo, looking at the photographers, smiling. Noe looked up at the auction building.

"It's your first Sotheby's, isn't it?" Nate asked.

"First auction," Noe answered. "I think."

"All right," Nate told her. "This is probably my tenth, and since you're new to this, if you need a hand to hold..." Noe smiled, hitting Nate playfully in the chest for the teasing sarcasm. They chuckled. "You ready?"

Noe and Nate smiled. Noe turned to kiss Nate passionately while all the photographers took pictures, before they walked inside.

Hope and Alex walked up to the auction, smiling at Noe and Nate kissing in front of everyone.

"Not to be outdone," Hope stated sarcastically.

Alex smirked. "Right. So, Miss Diamond, are you ready for your first auction?"

Hope smiled. "You bet I am. But we have got to keep this fight from getting out of control, Alex."

"Oh, I know," Alex agreed. "Brooklyn, Dylan, Chuck and Blair would do anything to get what they want, Hope. But at least you, Thyra, James, Wyatt and I can keep things somewhat under control."

Hope and Alex shared a kiss, before walking inside.

Brooklyn and Thyra walked up to the auction.

"Look, Brooklyn, I'm annoyed with Blair too because this is our futures that she's risking, but she also wants to find her place in the world, too," Thyra told her. "Please tell me that you won't let things go too far."

Brooklyn nodded. "Chuck, Dylan and I weren't planning on going to battle with Blair, Thyra. But I'm not gonna let her selfishness with this society thing keep us all from finishing this project and actually achieving our dreams this early on. You and I deserve this."

"I know we do," Thyra told her. "And so do Hope, Alex, Chuck and Dylan. But  Alex, Wyatt, James, Hope and I don't want to hurt Blair doing so."

"Well, isn't that what you, Alex, Wyatt, Hope and James are for?" Brooklyn asked in amusement. "Come on."

Brooklyn gave Thyra a kiss, before leading her inside by her hand.

Dylan and Wyatt also walked up.

Wyatt turned to look at him. "Dylan. I know that Brooklyn might take it easy on Blair, and so would Chuck, because Brooklyn and Blair are like best friends, and Chuck's in love with her. But that doesn't mean that I know if you're gonna be nice about all of this. I know you guys would do whatever you can to get what you want. And I know that you, Brooklyn, Chuck, Thyra, Hope and Alex have been working hard on this project with Aurora, but please, for the love of God, for me and James at least..."

"Wyatt, I can't just let Blair's typical thinking of herself interrupt us from getting our project done or furthering our professions and careers, our dreams," Dylan told him. "But if it makes you feel any better, I don't destroy your sister, all right? And like you said, Brooklyn and Chuck won't, even if we're mad. And besides, with you, Hope, Thyra, James and Alex looking after us, how can one of us destroy the other?"

"That's not funny," Wyatt told him. "Hope, James, Alex, Thyra and I are gonna have our hands full with you four, aren't we?"

"Probably," Dylan answered, giving Wyatt a kiss. "Let's go."

Dylan and Wyatt walked inside.

Serena and James walked up to the auction.

"I'm sorry about all this, James," Serena told him. "I mean, I know that you, Hope, Alex, Thyra and Wyatt didn't want to spend the auction night trying to keep Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck from fighting with Blair and vice versa."

"Ah, it's fine," James told her. "I mean, it's not, but still. Hope, Alex, Thyra, Wyatt and I can handle Brooklyn, Dylan, Chuck and Blair."

Serena smirked. "You sure about that?"

"As much as you thought you could handle Noe's attempts to get us and Carter to come clean about the summer and everything else," James answered.

Serena tilted her head. "True. But at least Noe's attempts have just been pranks."

"Ones that have been escalating," James replied. "Serena, you have to tell Noe. I mean, if she finds out some other way, then she will definitely flip. But if she finds out from you, then maybe it'll be okay."

Serena took this seriously, nodding in understanding. "Okay. Hey, do you see Marie and Carter anywhere? I thought they had something to say to us."

"I don't," James answered. "But let's get inside. We can talk to Marie and Carter later."

Serena and James walked inside, sharing a kiss as they did.

Marie and Carter walked up to the auction.

Marie was very nervous, breathing a little unevenly, looking very overwhelmed.

Carter noticed this, taking Marie's arm. "Marie. Look at me." Marie turned to look at him. "You can do this. Okay?" Marie nodded barely, not sure if she could. "Come on. I'm right here with you, okay?"

Marie nodded barely. "What if I dissociate or switch, and..."

"I'll make up something so we can leave and we can tell them later," Carter answered. "All right?" Marie was very touched by everything Carter was doing to help her, nodding. Carter nodded. "Come on."

Marie and Carter walked inside.

Zaya, Sadie and Laureen got out of their limo.

Blair walked closer. "Zaya, Sadie, there you two are. Have you seen Noe, Hope, Brooklyn, Thyra or Serena?"

"They're inside," Laureen answered. "Hello, Blair."

"Laureen," Blair greeted. "Hi."

"I'll be inside," Laureen told them, walking away, passing by Dominic on her way.

Dominic turned to see Laureen, seeing that she was wearing the dress he brought her, smirking. "Nice to see you, Laureen. And in that dress. I knew you couldn't resist."

Laureen turned to face him. "Well, fine art's meant to be displayed."

Dominic nodded. "And appreciated. Ironic since we are at an art auction."

Laureen chuckled, leaning closer to whisper in Dominic's ear. "You may want to slow down, Dominic. This dress may touch my body, but you'll never be so lucky."

Laureen patted Dominic on the chest twice, walking away to head inside. Dominic watched her go, smirking in amusement, also walking in.

Back with Zaya, Sadie and Blair, they were talking while walking.

"What are you doing here, Blair?" Sadie asked.

"I need a photograph that's up for auction tonight to get into La Table Elitaire," Blair answered. "But Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck want it for some business deal."

"That is way oversimplifying it," Zaya told her. "Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck need that so that they can make the deal that could help them make the speakeasy with Hope, Alex and Thyra."

"Yeah, but how could Chuck try to and distract me so that Brooklyn and Dylan could get the photograph?" Blair asked. "Putting his own happiness above mine?" She turned to face Zaya and Sadie, making all three of them stop walking. "What kind of boyfriend does that? How is that a healthy relationship? Tell me."

Zaya nodded in amusement. "I take it you two still haven't--"

Blair gave her a look. "There aren't enough curse words in the world to satisfy me right now."

Sadie was confused. "What the hell is La Table Elitaire?"

Zaya smirked. "It's a club that Blair wants to get into but she needs that photo, but Brooklyn, Dylan, Chuck, Hope, Alex and Thyra need it to make their speakeasy happen."

Sadie frowned. "Okay. Blair, you're getting mad about Chuck, Brooklyn and Dylan's scheming to get the photo, while you're also scheming, and trying to stop them, Alex, Hope and Thyra from succeeding with making an actual restaurant and a speakeasy, all to get into some club? That's not very good girlfriend behavior, or best friend behavior, or adoptive sister and cousin behavior."

Blair frowned, not wanting to admit they were right.

Chuck walked up to them. "Hey." Blair turned to face him, standing next to Zaya and Sadie, who both looked amused and awkward. "My Bottegas, where are they?"

"Consider them prisoners of war," Blair told him. "They'll be released when I have the photograph and don't think you can distract me with another ounce of Dom."

Blair walked inside.

Chuck chuckled. "Zaya, Sadie."

"Chuck," Zaya replied.

"You may want to stay out of the way of crossfire for this one," Chuck told them.

"Don't need to tell me twice," Sadie replied, walking inside.

Zaya smirked, tilting her head, walking inside.

Chuck watched them go in amusement, shaking his head, walking inside.

Harry and Bree were also arriving to the event, walking inside.

(Song Ends)

X • O ° X • O

Inside

Laureen was standing alone.

Dominic walked by, looking at Laureen. "You'll be happy to know I got filled in on one of the things about Richard's past."

Laureen was intrigued. "Do go on."

Dominic handed her a champagne glass. "I think you'll need this first."

Laureen took the glass, before taking a drink. "What is it, Dominic?"

"Are you familiar with his old secretary, Amanda Stry?" Dominic asked.

"She was a friend before she moved," Laureen answered. "Why?"

"I'm pretty sure they had an affair before Amanda went off the radar a year ago," Dominic answered. "Facts and sources line up with the information you gave me about the times when he wasn't with you, and he wasn't at work, and she was nowhere to be seen either."

Laureen nodded, looking away, unsurprised. "There was a time when I thought that an affair might have been happening. Right before his psychotic break. But an affair wouldn't be the cause of this. Something else must have happened."

"I know," Dominic agreed. "I'm still looking." Laureen nodded. "Laureen? How are you?"

Laureen sighed heavily. "Not well. But thank you for helping me with this, Dominic."

Dominic nodded. "Of course."

Laureen gazed off. "Regret comes in all shapes and sizes. Some are small, like when we do a bad thing for a good reason. Some are bigger, like when we let down someone we love. Some of us escape the pangs of regret by making the right choice. Some of us have little time for regret because we're looking forward to the future. Sometimes we have to fight to come to terms with the past. And sometimes we bury our regret by promising to change our ways. But our biggest regrets are not for the things we did... but for the things we didn't do. Things we didn't say, that could have saved someone we care about... especially when we can see the dark storm that's headed their way."

Zaya and Sadie walked closer, having heard what their mother said about regret.

"What is it that you regret, Laureen?" Dominic asked. "Do you regret falling for Richard and staying with him all this time?"

"I don't regret being with him for the first 14 years because it brought me Zaya and Sadie, and they're everything I could ever want," Laureen answered. Zaya and Sadie managed small smiles at hearing this. "But I regret the darkness that we're now living in, and not being able to do anything to prevent it. I should have seen something a year ago and said something to prevent all this from happening but..."

Dominic took her hand comfortingly. "You can't fix everyone, Laureen. And you can't save everyone. Especially if they don't want to be saved. Like your husband doesn't."

Laureen looked at Dominic thankfully, managing a small, sad smile.

Zaya and Sadie walked closer. "Hey, Mom."

Laureen and Dominic let each other's hands go as they looked at Zaya and Sadie.

Dominic smiled warmly. "So this must be the famous Zaya and Sadie von Miller. I hear from Laureen that you're all thinking about changing your names to Rhodes after everything with your father is done."

"Yeah," Sadie answered. "And you're Dominic Driton."

"What the hell kind of company name is Driton Dominatrix?" Zaya asked.

Laureen smiled, looking away.

Dominic smirked. "I was young and free and naïve when I came up with that name, okay?"

"So you were a young playboy," Zaya stated. "We called it." The four of them smiled. "Nice to meet you, Dominic."

Dominic shook both Zaya and Sadie's hands, smiling warmly. "It is very nice to meet the two of you two."

Zaya and Sadie smiled a bit.

X • O ° X • O

Elsewhere

Thyra was getting a drink.

A guy walked up to Thyra, flirting with her. "I'm Noah."

Thyra ran a finger along her lip to fix her lipstick, tilting her head. "And I'm out of your league."

"You look good in that dress," Noah told her. "It suits you."

"Thanks," Thyra replied.

"You know what else would look good on me?" Noah asked. "Me."

"I think you're out of your league, and in big trouble with my girlfriend," Thyra told him.

Noah chuckled. "Girlfriend? I don't see one."

Brooklyn walked up to them, giving Noah a slight push away. "Now you do. Goodbye." Noah scoffed but walked away. Brooklyn turned to look at Thyra. "He clearly wanted to do you."

"Does everything have to be about sex with you?" Thyra asked in amusement.

Brooklyn nodded, speaking with a duh voice. "Yeah."

They both smiled.

Georgian walked by. "Oh, looks like the two Sapphic love birds are just fiddling with easy prey. Any other places you'd recommend that I find easy prey?"

"Yeah, far away from us," Thyra told her. "Unless you'd like your next period to come out of your nose."

"Goodbye," Brooklyn told her.

Georgina smirked. "Sorry. I'm not fluent in backstabbing whore."

"Really?" Brooklyn asked sarcastically. "I was under the impression you were the teacher."

Brooklyn and Thyra walked away. Georgina watched them go, scoffing slightly in amusement.

X • O ° X • O

Elsewhere

Marie and Carter started to walk up to Rufus, who was standing alone.

"I am right here, okay?" Carter asked.

Marie nodded thankfully, keeping hold of Carter's hand.

Rufus turned to see them. "Hey, Marie. You've done a great job with this event. If it was only helping plan it."

Marie managed a small smile, overcome with nervousness. "Thank you. Remember when I told you there was something I wanted to talk to you about today? That's why I'm here."

They heard a man's voice through the the PA system. "Ladies and gentlemen, the auction will begin in a few minutes."

Rufus looked at Marie. "Sorry, could you give me one second? I need to double check when Lily's photo's up. I'll be right back."

Rufus patted Marie on the arm, walking away between Marie and Carter.

Marie turned to Carter, breathing deeply. Carter put a hand on her arm.

Marie looked behind Carter, seeing Renee Rosson by the door looking for her, looking away. "Oh, my God."

"Don't worry," Carter told her. "It--it's a long night. There's still time."

Marie shook her head. "No, it's not that."

Marie looked toward Renee. Renee spotted Marie, looking a little more relieved.

Carter frowned, confused. "Who is she?"

"Renee Rosson," Marie answered.

"Rosson?" Carter repeated. "Your adoptive mother?"

"Yeah," Marie answered. "I'll be back."

Carter nodded. Marie walked away.

X • O ° X • O

Auction Time

The auction began.

"Welcome to Sotheby's," the auctioneer told them. "For your competition tonight, we offer a wonderful selection of works of art, all of which have been generously donated. There'll be no buyer's premium."

Blair took a seat in the second row, behind Brooklyn and Dylan. The three of them gave a look to each other.

Chuck took a seat next to Blair. "You can't outbid us. How are you planning to win?"

Blair ran her hand down Chuck's leg. "Your lack of focus."

Brooklyn and Dylan rolled their eyes.

"Well, at least Chuck's not the only one bidding then," Dylan told her. "Brooklyn and I are too."

Blair bit her lip.

The auctioneer spoke. "First up, lot number 1, is the Patrick McMullan." A picture of a woman and a man in fine attire appeared on the screen above him. "And I'll start the bidding at &3,500." Many people raised their bidding paddles, including Brooklyn, Dylan, Chuck and Blair. "$3,600, $3,700, $3,800, $3,900, $4,000, $4,100, $4,200, $4,300, $4,400, $4,500, $4,600, $4,700, $4,800, $4,900." Most people were dropping out of the bid now, but not all. Brooklyn, Dylan, Chuck and Blair were still bidding. "$5,000, $5,100, $5,200 on the telephone, $5,300, $5,400, $5,500, $5,600, $5,700, $5,800, $5,900... $6,000 there, $6,100, $6,200, $6,300, $6,400, $6,500, $6,600, $6,700, $6,800, $6,900... $7,000, $7,100, $7,200, $7,300, $7,400, $7,500, $7,600, $7,700, $7,800, $7,900..." 

Blair looked at the Basses. "Enough. I need this and you're gonna let me have it."

"You don't, and no, we're not," Brooklyn replied.

"I need that society," Blair told them. "You don't turn down destiny."

"It's not destiny if you have to barter your way in," Chuck pointed out. 

Brooklyn, Dylan, Chuck and Blair were too busy bickering to keep on bidding.

The auctioneer tapped his gavel against the podium in front of him. "Sold. $8,000 to 9-1-5. Thank you very much."

Brooklyn, Dylan, Chuck and Blair turned to see that James, Wyatt, Thyra, Hope and Alex were standing together, and that Wyatt was holding 9-1-5. James, Wyatt, Thyra, Hope and Alex looked at Brooklyn, Dylan, Chuck and Blair. Thyra and Hope tilted their heads. James, Wyatt and Alex shrugged.

X • O ° X • O

Main Room

Renee led Marie to the side to talk to her alone.

"What are you doing here?" Marie asked. "Is--is Chris here too? I'm not calling you 'Mom', and I'm not calling him 'Dad' after everything I found out you two lied to me and Andrea about, and my real family."

"He's not here," Renee answered. "After we talked to you, I got in a train ticket. I came straight to New York. I had Lily's address. The doorman told me about the auction."

"You know, if you came here to stop me, you wasted a trip," Marie told her.

"I just needed to explain," Renee told her. "When they came looking for you so soon after Andrea... the thought of losing you too... I told your father to lie. It's my fault."

"He's not my father," Marie told her. "And you're not my mother."

"You might not think that we are, but you're my daughter, Marie," Renee told her. "And no matter what you think of us, I do love you. I know that you want to do this, but think about what you're doing. There comes a time when every life goes off course, and in this moment, who will you be? What if they don't like you or they don't understand you or the alters, and what if they can't handle you? Will you let down your guard with them only to be hurt? Will you reach out and face your fears about this bravely? Or move forward with faith? Or will you fail and spiral more into darkness than you have in the past? There is darkness in your soul, Marie, and we're just protecting you from that."

Marie was trying very hard not to get emotional and overwhelmed again. "You're not protecting me from anything. You two have just been controlling me and Andrea for all our lives. You were so desperate to keep a hold of me that you told my family that I was Andrea to make them think that I was dead. I might be scared about whatever lies in the future, and there might be 'darkness in my soul', but there's more darkness back with you and Chris for me than there is here."

Renee was skeptical. "Is there? You have no idea who these people really are. When life comes to rushing at you from out of darkness, who will you choose to face it with? Strangers? Will it be someone you trust? How do you know you can trust them with this? Will they be wise with your disorder? And will they love you for you, flaws and all, or cast you aside when they realize how broken you really are? Will they make noble choices with you, for you? Or are they not to be trusted? Are these people that you can count on? People who will watch over you when you stumble and fall and give you the love, support, comfort and help that you need? Or will they be the ones to laugh at you and watch you on the ground? How do you know that you're meant to be with them, here? Please, Marie. Come with me. We can talk about everything with your father."

Marie looked away, not knowing what to do, because everything Renee said was something that Marie feared, and she didn't know how everyone would react.

X • O ° X • O

Elsewhere

Dan and Rufus were standing together.

"Have you seen Marie?" Rufus asked. "She wanted to talk to me."

"I didn't realize that you and Marie were actually like hanging out a lot," Dan told him. Carter walked by. Dan stepped over to him. "Hey, Carter." Carter stopped, not liking Dan but tolerating him without being mean at the moment because of everything he found out that day. "Have you seen Marie?"

"Yeah, she should be over here soon," Carter answered. He looked at Rufus. "She just wants tot talk to you."

"Talk to me about what?" Rufus asked.

"She'll explain everything," Carter told them.

Renee and Marie walked closer.

"Marie, uh, what's going on?" Rufus asked.

Marie swallowed. "I haven't told you the truth. This is my adoptive mother." She was so close to telling the truth, but being afraid of what could happen, didn't. "I'm your daughter's sister. Andrea's sister, and I, uh... I really wanted to meet you."

Dan and Rufus looked stunned, and Carter looked between Marie and Renee like he knew that Renee had made Marie afraid again, annoyed with Renee after Marie was so close to telling the truth.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Sorry, Carter. Looks like Marie was too afraid to pay the price of truth."

X • O ° X • O

X • O ° X • O

Night - Sotheby's Auction

Blair, Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck walked over to James, Hope, Alex, Thyra and Wyatt.

"Guys, what are you doing?" Brooklyn asked.

"Stopping this silly little war over the photograph," Hope answered.

Alex looked at Blair. "You don't need the picture to bribe your way into a secret society. And I doubt that we really need it for the restaurant and the speakeasy to actually come into reality."

"When are you guys gonna realize that you don't need to bribe your way into things?" Wyatt asked. "You're special enough on your own. And you don't need some group or some business man to say you are."

"Blair, you're secret society material all on your own," James told her. "And Chuck, Brooklyn and Dylan, despite your bad-girl/boy, I don't give a damn charade, you're all geniuses when it comes to business, and so is Thyra. You don't need this stupid photo to get your way for you guys, or Hope and Alex. You're all crafty enough to do it yourselves."

"But you want to prove us wrong?" Thyra asked. "Go ahead, take it, but you guys might very well be destroying the other if you use this  for your own ends."

Blair and the Bass siblings knew that they were right.

Blair sighed, putting her society card on the table nearby. "Damn you guys."

They all chuckled.

Alex picked up the card from the society to read in curiosity, before realizing something. "Son of a bitch. You've got to be kidding me."

"What?" Chuck asked.

"I'll be right back," Alex told them, walking away.

They watched him go in confusion.

Blair looked at the others. "I want you guys to have the photo."

They looked at her, only slightly surprised. 

"After all that, why?" Dylan asked.

"Because I care about you and your dreams," Blair answered. "You enormously stubborn pains in the ass."

They all smiled.

"And what about La Table Elitaire?" Chuck asked.

"What about them?" Hope asked. "We just got to believe in each other."

Blair handed over the photo. "I believe in you guys. And if this is what it takes for you to succeed, then it's worth it."

They all smiled again.

X • O ° X • O

Elsewhere

Laureen was now with Rufus and Marie, looking at Marie. "You're Andrea's sister?" Marie nodded. "I don't understand. Why didn't you just tell us who you were?"

Marie shrugged slightly. "I wasn't sure if you guys would wanna talk to me. Or if you would think I was crazy. I wasn't even sure what I would say."

"Hey, let's just, uh, let's go back to the house, you and your mom, and we--we'll get to know each other better," Rufus suggested.

Marie looked very tempted but wasn't sure if she could. "I'd like that. It's just... in time. For now, I think this is a good first step. You got a great family. Both of you. And my sister would have been proud to know you. All of you."

Rufus shook her hand. "Thanks, Marie." Rufus gave Marie a hug. Marie smiled slightly with tears in her eyes as she returned the embrace. "You don't know how much that means to me."

 They pulled away.

Laureen looked at Marie in concern. "Are you all right?"

Marie nodded. "Yeah, yeah. I just... it's all really overwhelming."

"Listen, I had no idea who you were when I offered to help you," Laureen told her. "But now if you really need to talk to me, even if it's not just for help, I would love to talk to you."

Marie nodded thankfully, shakily. "Thank you, Laureen."

Laureen handed her card to Marie. "Anytime, Marie."

Marie nodded, walking away, looking like she could have a panic attack from all of this, not sure what to do, nearly crying.

X • O ° X • O

Elsewhere

Noe, Serena, Zaya and Sadie were talking.

"Serena, you gonna just come clean about whatever you've been doing with James and Carter and just put this whole thing to rest?" Zaya asked. "I'm tired of it, the Crew's tired of it, especially Noe."

"Eh, I don't know," Noe admitted. "Playing a couple of pranks was fun. The clothes, SVA, the girl slapping Carter, but the room service and Dom was actually a treat for him and Marie. But I do just wanna know."

"Yeah, Serena, we all wanna know," Sadie told her. "Come on. Whatever James and Carter were working on you with had to do with Noe, and it had to have been serious."

Serena knew it was time to come clean, sighing, nodding. "Yeah, it is."

"Oh, but first, could you tell me what trouble Carter and I got into that you and James had to help us out of?" Noe asked. "I've been dying to know since I heard about it. Greece, Santorini, or whatever."

"Yeah, what happened in Santorini?" Zaya asked.

Serena chuckled. "Okay, that is a long story."

"Well, we've got time," Sadie pointed out.

Serena sighed, giving in. "Noe was with Dad, and he was getting married to his girlfriend at the time, but she took off because she didn't want to be there. She was with Carter at the time, and they, uh... they stole a boat just to have a little bit of fun."

Noe looked away, tilting her head, not that surprised, but stunned that she didn't remember this. "Okay, that sounds like something I would do. I can't believe I don't remember that."

Zaya and Sadie laughed. Noe and Serena smiled.

"Anyway, James and I managed to clean things up," Serena explained. "And I made James and Carter both promise not to tell you, Noe, because I didn't know if it was going to make anything worse with the amnesia, but then you've been doing so well, and a lot better than you were before, because of all the help with Laureen and your medications."

"So why did you lie about this summer?" Noe asked.

"Because this is something a lot bigger than Santorini," Serena answered.

Zaya raised her eyebrows skeptically. "Bigger than Noe and Carter stealing a boat and you and James having to clean up the mess?"

"Yeah," Serena answered. "I, uh... I went looking for him."

"Who?" Sadie asked.

Serena hesitated, looking at Noe in concern. "Dad." Noe didn't look like she was processing just yet, and Zaya and Sadie were both surprised. "I found a trail of places that he had been, trying to find him, and I didn't want anyone to know, because I didn't know if he was the same when he caused the car wreck that made you lose your memories and left you there, or if he was a changed man, so when everyone went their separate ways before summer, when I left with James and Carter to train, I asked them for help, and they helped me."

Noe took all of this in, very affected and overwhelmed by the news, trying to hide how much it got to her, breathing a little unevenly, trying to be very calm as they looked at her in concern. "And did you find him?"

Serena shook her head. "No."

Noe couldn't find the words to say for a moment, swallowing. "You went looking for him. Why?"

"Because of you," Serena answered. "At the very least, if he didn't change after the accident, then maybe he could at least apologize to you for making you lose your memories. And everything you had to go through sense. And maybe he is a changed man, because he needed to change after what happened. I wanted to find out for you, after what he did to you."

Noe took a deep breath, fighting back tears. "And you didn't say anything to me."

Zaya and Sadie took Noe's hands to help her remain calm. "Noe..."

Serena felt really guilty. "I didn't want to say anything until I found him. I'm sorry. I should've said something. If I had just told you about all of this to begin with... but I knew that this could be a very bad trigger for you." She looked at Zaya and Sadie. "And I didn't know how to tell either of you either because of everything you're going through with Richard, and especially after today when he hurt you, and... I know that fathers is not a good subject for any of us, so..."

"It's okay," Sadie told them.

"It's gonna be okay," Zaya told them.

Noe nodded barely. Noe, Zaya, Sadie and Serena embraced.

Marie stood several feet back, having overheard most of the conversation, looking at her sisters and cousins with tears in her eyes, as she had seen for herself the kind of pain they could go through with their family too, and how similar she could really be to all of them.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "In a bidding war, even when you win, what you thought you wanted can suddenly be reappraised."

Several feet in the other direction, Bree was listening from where she was having her date with Harry, though Harry was on the phone and didn't hear anything from what the girls said.

X • O ° X • O

Elsewhere

Alex found Georgina at the bar. "Does La Table Elitaire even exist, Georgina?"

Georgina smirked, tilting her head. "I'm sorry, but my French is a little rusty. Maybe you should start with excusez-moi."

"As soon as I saw that invitation, I recognized the G, the handwriting in general, because of all the stalkerish, obsessive notes you left me in the sixth grade after you couldn't take a hint," Alex told her. "Those Gs has caused me enough trouble in the past."

Georgina smiled. "It's sweet you recognized my handwriting, Alex." Alex rolled his eyes. "And yes, the La Table Elitaire does exist. My friend Devyn was a member in Dartmouth. Although I doubt the NYU chapter has ever heard of Blair Waldorf, if there even is an NYU chapter."

Alex nodded sarcastically. "Oh, good, so you haven't changed at all. What about Dan?"

"Dan is Dan," Georgina answered. "But when it comes with messing with Blair Waldorf, I don't have to do much, but sit back, light a match and watch her go up in flames. Though I know that this time, it was messing with you, Hope, Thyra, Wyatt, Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck too. Oops. Sorry, Alex. It's just too fun to mess with your little Crew. I think the only ones I haven't messed with now are Zaya, Sadie, James and Nate. And Carter, if he's officially apart of the little group now. I'm gonna have to find a way to do that."

"How about you leave Zaya and Sadie alone after everything they already go through with their father?" Alex asked. "I know you saw the Gossip Girl blast about them earlier today, and you know about Sadie's heart condition that could kill her any moment especially if stress is high."

Georgina shrugged. "Then I'll just make it where the stress wouldn't be too high."

Alex rolled his eyes. "And leave James, Nate and Carter alone too. If you keep pushing anyone in the Crew, they will push back. And when they do, I'll be right behind them."

Georgina smirked. "It's rare to see the Upper East Side of you, Alex. But I like it. I wonder if Hope does too since now she's transformed into a Diamond."

Alex gave her a look. "Leave Hope out of it. And keep this up, and you'll see more of that side from both of us. Now we've all had enough of you tonight."

Alex pivoted back, gesturing for Georgina to leave. Georgina gave Alex a look, before walking past. Alex turned his head to watch her go, making sure she was leaving.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Other times, old opponents resurface to raise the stakes."

X • O ° X • O

Outside

The Rhodes-Humphreys (including Hope) walked outside.

"I thought after the night we've had, we'd hit Morondi's," Laureen told them. "Some lemon spaghetti, some friend artichokes."

"Did someone say food?" Hope asked in a cute voice. "I'm starving."

"Yeah, me too," Noe agreed.

James, Nate and Alex walked closer.

"Well, that's what you get after a day of scheming, Noe," Nate told her.

Noe smiled.

"Let me just find Georgina," Dan told them.

Alex scratched his chin. "Oh, you know what, don't bother. Um, she already left. She said she had a headache or something."

Hope looked at Alex curiously.

"What?" Dan asked. "Okay. It's kind of weird she didn't say goodbye. I should. I'll call her."

"Let's eat!" Sadie told them.

"Yes," Zaya agreed.

Serena smiled. "I could go for some food."

"Alex, Nate, James, how about it?" Laureen asked. "You three care to join us?"

"Yeah, sure," James answered.

As they were all leaving and getting into the limos, Marie walked outside, watching them go.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "But it's the things we walk away from that feel like they cost the most."

Carter walked outside, joining Marie, watching as the others drove away, turning to Marie. "What happened in there? What did your mom say to you?"

"Renee is hardly my mother," Marie told him. "And I don't know. I'm just... I'm at a crossroads. Angry, confused, hurt. I don't have a map or directions for how to do this, Carter. The choices we make in moments like these can define the rest of our lives. But when I'm looking at the unknown right now, like everyone else faced with the unknown, most of us prefer to turn around and go back."

"You don't have to go back," Carter told her. "Marie..."

Marie had tears in her eyes. "What if Renee's right? What if they won't like me? What if they think I'm crazy? Or they can't deal with me and my issues? Some of them might, like Laureen, but what if my own parents can't? I never wanted to go back, but..."

"You can keep going," Carter suggested. "Find something better for yourself with your family. Something better than the pain of going it alone. I know you don't think so, but I know that you're brave enough to do this."

"I barely had the bravery or courage it took to let you in and tell you almost everything," Marie told him. "This was a dream. All of it was a dream."

"And it can come true," Carter pointed out.

Marie didn't know what to do, looking away. "You know, it's only when you're tested that you truly find who you are and who you can be. And I don't know if I'm the person that I want to be, or the person that you thought I was."

"The person you want to be does exist somewhere on the other side of all of this," Carter told her. "All the hard work and beyond the heartache and fear and everything else. You get to choose what you do now."

"I don't feel like I have any choice that is good for me or for them right now," Marie told him. "Look, Noe, Serena and Eric, and Dan and Jenny think that Andrea was their sister. And they know that she's dead. And Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck and Hope... I wanted to get to know them just as much as Noe, Serena, Eric, Dan and Jenny because they're my adoptive siblings too. And I wanted to get to know Zaya and Sadie, and Laureen, because they're my cousins and aunt, and my parents. I just... Lily's not even here. And Rufus... I don't know what to do. If I make a choice either way, it'll haunt me in ways I don't know if I can handle. If I turn back, it could be the worst thing. And if I go forward on this path, it could be just as bad."

"And if you go forward, it could be so much better than before," Carter pointed out. "If you turn back now, you're giving up."

Marie knew he was right, sighing heavily, desperately trying to think of what to do. "I need to be sure of what I do before I make any decisions. And I need to at least meet Lily before I tell anyone else. I need to talk with my adoptive parents and get them to understand. Or at least try to buy us some time until I'm ready to tell everyone. Because I know it's not just going to effect Noe, Serena, Eric, Chuck, Brooklyn, Dylan, Hope, Dan and Jenny, or Zaya and Sadie, or even Lily, Rufus and Laureen. It's going to effect everyone. The rest of your Crew. Everything."

Carter sighed, nodding. "Look, I get the need to bolt after everything. But you promise to come back?"

"Yeah," Marie answered. "Sometime soon. I just... I wanted to thank you for everything that you did."

"Oh, I'm not interested in a goodbye, Marie," Carter told her. "Especially since you are coming back."

Marie chuckled barely, putting a hand to her head. "God. When I came here, I never thought that I would let me guard down, especially with you. And I didn't think that it would be so good with you. Okay, you've been ironically the best one I've been with that understands and makes things feel like it's okay. I just need more time. Okay?"

Carter knew she had a point, and knowing not to push her right now, nodding. "Yeah. Okay."

"Can you not tell anyone until I come back?" Marie asked. "Please. I will come back soon and figure out what to do after that, I promise. But please promise me that you won't tell anyone."

"I promise," Carter answered.

"Are you sure you're okay with keeping this secret for me until I get back?" Marie asked.

Carter shrugged. "Sure."

Marie used his words from earlier. "Now who'd make a terrible poker player?"

Carter smiled. "You can still joke. That's a good sign." Marie smiled a bit. "I'll see you sometime soon. Right?"

Marie nodded, leaning her head down. Carter placed a hand on her cheek, and they met each other's gazes before kissing for the temporary goodbye, and Marie embraced him. Carter was only slightly surprised but returned the embrace.

Georgina was listening from around the corner of the building, finding the ammunition she needed to mess with Zaya, Sadie, Carter (plus Marie) that she said that she wanted to find to mess with the remaining Crew members that she hadn't messed with before, smirking smugly, though she was in shock that Marie was the secret Rhodes-Humphrey child.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "And yet, it's when we've been outbid, forced to watch our prize go home with others that the rules of protocol no longer apply. I wouldn't put your paddles away just yet. Who knows what bidders will do when they're desperate?"

X • O ° X • O

X • O ° X • O

Day Two

Morning - Humphrey Loft - Living Room

Alex and Hope were sitting with Dan as he was calling Georgina.

Georgina answered from Grand Central Station. "Hey, glad you called. Do you wanna do something today?"

Dan made a face. "Uh, you know, I can't."

"Oh," Georgina said. "Alex told you and Hope about what I did with Blair, Brooklyn, Dylan, Chuck, Hope, Thyra and Alex."

"Yeah," Dan answered. "Yeah, he did."

"Look, I--I sent that invitation out last week before you and I got together," Georgina told him. "And Wyatt and James, and Thyra, Alex and Hope weren't really apart of the fighting, you know? They were trying to stop the fighting. And the ones that really took the biggest hits, it was Brooklyn, Dylan, Chuck and Blair. I mean, talk about a victimless crime."

"Uh, not so victimless when it was Hope, Thyra, Alex, Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck's project and careers on the line," Dan pointed out. "But anyway, I really think we should cool things off for a while. You know, take a--take a little break."

"A break?" Georgina asked. "Already?"

"Well, we did say no strings," Dan reminded her.

Georgina nodded, looking cold. "Right. No strings. I'll see you later."

"Okay," Dan agreed.

They hung up.

Alex shrugged. "Sorry. I thought you should know that she hadn't changed."

"No, you--you did the right thing to tell us," Hope told him. She hit Dan in the shoulder. "And you did the wrong thing about not listening to us."

Dan nodded in agreement, sitting down. "Yeah, I know, I know, and I'm sorry."

Hope looked at Alex. "Did you really force Georgina out of the auction?"

"I wouldn't call it 'force', but 'strongly suggested', and she listened," Alex answered.

Hope smirked. "I didn't know you had that much of the Upper East Side in you, Archibald."

Alex smirked.

Dan chuckled.

X • O ° X • O

Sean MacPherson's Office

Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck showed the photo to Devyn, but knew that she had planned them as part of Georgina's game.

"So how did it work?" Chuck asked. "You happen to mention meeting me, Brooklyn and Dylan to Georgina and she hatched up a plan to cause trouble for our project with Hope, Alex and Thyra, and causing trouble between us and Blair?"

Devyn smiled. "Georgie and I go back. The girl has an MBA in deviant behavior. You're going to need a better sense of humor in the club business."

Brooklyn leaned against the desk by her arms to look at Devyn mockingly. "Oh, honey, we've got plenty in the realm of sense of humor. But when one crosses us, we also like to get payback. And we're better at that than anything."

Dylan and Chuck smirked in agreement.

Sean walked in, taking his seat, seeing the photo. "Nice photo."

"Thanks," Dylan told him. "I'm Dylan Bass. This is my brother and sister Brooklyn and Chuck. Big fans. By the way, when your lease at the Empire Hotel isn't renewed?" He pointed at Devyn. "Thank bright eyes here." He looked at Devyn, smirking. "How's that for sense of humor?"

Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck turned around, walking out.

X • O ° X • O

Rhodes/Bass Apartment - Dining Room

(Song:) Animal - Miike Snow

Dan, Hope and Alex walked in to have breakfast with the rest of the Rhodes/Humphreys, all having a good time. James and Nate were also here since Hope, Serena and Noe had invited their boyfriends to join them.

Sadie smiled. "All of us, the Crew, all their families. It's the entire family of the future. We're all linked in some way."

They all smiled, knowing she was right, and enjoying it.

X • O ° X • O

Empire Hotel - Outside

Blair and Wyatt joined Thyra, Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck outside the hotel.

"You said you wanted to talk," Wyatt told them. "Why here?"

"We got to thinking, and we don't just want to do the restaurant, or the speakeasy," Brooklyn explained. "We want to buy this hotel."

Blair and Wyatt chuckled.

"Guys, a club and restaurant are on thing, but a hotel?" Blair asked.

"Brooklyn, Dylan and I've been meeting with the board of Bass Industries all morning," Chuck explained. "Hope and Thyra called Aurora to see if we could add another collaboration like this with Diamond Enterprises. Alex already agreed that he would like to help with what could be the future Archibald Architect."

Blair and Wyatt smiled.

"We're risking it all, but at least we're not in it alone," Dylan pointed out. "The board thinks we've lost our minds."

"Have you?" Wyatt asked.

Thyra smiled. "No."

"Then how can you be so sure?" Blair asked.

"Because it's not just us in it," Thyra answered. "We're in it together. We have Hope, Rory, and Alex. And we have people like you two and James and the rest of the Crew who believe in us."

Thyra, Brooklyn, Dylan, Wyatt, Blair and Chuck all smiled as they looked toward the Empire, before walking toward it.

X • O ° X • O

Street

James and Carter were walking down the street.

"How was breakfast?" Carter asked.

"Pretty good," James answered. "What happened to Marie? I heard that she was Andrea's sister. I can't believe she's the adoptive sister to Serena, Noe, Eric, Dan and Jenny's half sister. At least they got to meet her. And Zaya, Sadie, Laureen and Rufus too."

Carter kept his promise about not telling Marie's secret, but was a little awkward. "Right."

They walked past a limo.

Bree rolled down her window, calling after them. "James and Carter Baizen."

James and Carter turned back.

Carter recognized her. "Bree Buckley."

"Heard through the grapevine you were back in New York," Bree told him.

"What do you want?" James asked.

"Are you kidding?" Bree asked. "I'm headed home to face the family firing squad. Considering what your brother did to us, being able to find him is gonna go a long way in getting me back in. Do you know what Carter did, James?" James looked at Carter. He clearly did know, but didn't want to say anything. Carter looked numb, guilty. "I'm sure they'll be in touch." Bree looked at Carter. "Oh, and, um, go ahead and run if you want. You know how much Daddy loves to hunt."

Bree's limo drove away.

James and Carter exchanged a look, both looking concerned.

X • O ° X • O

Train

Marie was riding a train with Renee, looking out the window, clearly still upset and angry, but not wanting Renee to see it.

Georgina was seen several seats back to follow them back to Boston, or outside Boston.

Marie was clearly still thinking about Carter and her family and wanting to figure out how to do all of this, but not sure in what way any of this could work.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Anyone want to start the bidding on what happens next? Going once, going twice. XOXO, Gossip Girl."