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There was a screen shot of a Gossip Girl article announcing Serena and Noe's return and Noe's amnesia, with a picture of them at the Ivy League Party in 1.03.

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

From 2.12, there were flashes of what led up to Zaya's downfall at Unity, involving the picture, the betrayal of Lana and her ex boyfriend and all.

Zaya: (voice over from 2.12 It's a Wonderful Lie) "He asked me to send him the kind of pic that boys ask for, and every girl in the school was doing it."

From 2.14 "In the Realm of the Basses", on vacation, Zaya was spun around during a dance by a boy, and ended up face to face with a girl, looking nervous, blushing, before moving on and dancing by herself like nothing happened.

Zaya: (voice over from 2.12 It's a Wonderful Lie) "And I thought that I had to, because if I didn't, people would find out..."

From 2.10-2.13, there were scenes showing how horrible Richard could be to Zaya, Sadie and Laureen even when he thought that he was helping them, threatening Laureen with Sadie's heart condition to keep Zaya and Laureen in line.

Brooklyn: (voice over from 2.12 It's a Wonderful Lie) "Zaya, your own father is gaslighting you and Laureen with Sadie's life, and that's not your fault. It's Richard's."

From 2.12 "It's a Wonderful Lie", outside the dance, Hope tilted her head against Alex's. They smiled, kissing slowly yet passionately. Jenny and Zaya were standing together outside, seeing Alex and Hope. Jenny looked a little jealous of Alex and Hope but trying to get past it. Zaya gave her a knowing look.

Hope: (voice over from 2.14 In the Realm of the Basses) "How does a girl tell her boyfriend that her sister has a crush on him? She hasn't moved on."

Alex: (voice over from 2.14 In the Realm of the Basses) "Are you saying Jenny likes me?"

From 2.14 "In the Realm of the Basses", in the street, Alex tilted his head. "We're going to be okay, right?"

Hope managed a small smile, nodding. "Yeah, we're gonna be okay."

Hope and Alex embraced, holding each other close.

There were flashes of Jenny showing slight jealousy when Hope and Alex kissed in 2.14, and the awkwardness between Hope and Jenny at the loft when the Humphreys were talking about Rufus kicking Alex out, and Jenny described Alex in a way that confirmed that she still had a crush on Alex, and Hope said nothing.

Zaya: (voice over from 2.14 In the Realm of the Basses) "I know that you would let Jenny walk all over you if it means that you have your sister back, but that doesn't mean that you should let her."

From 2.14 "In the Realm of the Basses", in the street, Zaya looked at Hope. "Someone has to defend you if she steps out of line. Because obviously you're not gonna do it because you're scared of losing her for good, whether it's over her crush over Alex or not."

Hope placed her hands on Zaya's shoulders. "I know you're just looking out for me, and I thank you for that, but it's okay."

From 2.13 "O Brother, Where Bart Thou?", in Bart's study, Chuck looked at Lily. "As soon as that will is read and I get my part of the money, you will never see me again. Brooklyn and Dylan can do whatever the hell they want."

From 2.13 "O Brother, Where Bart Thou?", in the Humphrey loft, Laureen looked at Rufus. "There's something you need to know. I'm doing this to help her, even though she can't see it that way. The real problem is that she's in love with you. As long as she holds on to this, the two of you don't have a chance in hell of making it work."

From 2.13 "O Brother, Where Bart Thou?", in the train station, Rufus looked at Lily. "Just tell me one thing. Is it a boy or a girl?"

From 2.14 "In the Realm of the Basses", in the VDW/Bass apartment, Lily looked at Rufus. "Truth is, I wasn't ready to have a baby."

"I understand why you gave her up," Rufus told her. "But it's that you didn't tell me."

From 2.14 "In the Realm of the Basses", outside Victrola, Dan was on the phone with Rufus. "You can't ask me to hide this. This is too big to keep secret."

"Son, this isn't your secret to share," Rufus told him.

After hanging up, Dan looked at Noe, Hope, Serena, Alex and Nate. "Dad and Lily are going away for a couple days."

From 2.14 "In the Realm of the Basses", in Laureen's home office, Laureen looked at Richard with her arms crossed over her chest. "I've been helping you, trying to find a way to salvage any of what we all have left, but I don't do well with threats, Richard. Keep it up, and I won't be trying to save you anymore."

Richard smirked. "You'll keep trying, because that's just in your nature, isn't it, Laureen? You help people, even though they don't want help, even if it causes harm before it helps them. You telling Rufus about his and Lily's daughter is proof of that. You won't give up on me."

From 2.14 "In the Realm of the Basses", in the school hallway, Dylan looked at Wyatt. "I broke up with you, remember?"

"Yeah, through a note, which I didn't know was for real until I saw that you were hooking up with who knows how many girls and guys over the last month," Wyatt replied.

From 2.14 "In the Realm of the Basses", in a bar, Dylan looked at Wyatt. "I'm not seeing Laureen."

"Then what do you want to do?" Wyatt asked. "Keep spiraling and ruin everything and anything that you're close to? You and Chuck left Brooklyn broken, Dylan. And I know that both of you are broken too."

From 2.14 "In the Realm of the Basses", in Wyatt's room, James stepped inside, seeing that the room was wrecked, clearly the result of Wyatt having an episode, looking around. Wyatt was sitting on the floor, on the side of his bed, looking down at his hands, which were bleeding a little. He looked up to look at James with tears in his eyes.

Dylan: (voice over from 2.14 In the Realm of the Basses) "You have literal perfectionism with anger, and I'm the worst thing for you right now. Wouldn't want you to get angry and lash out because I'm not perfect, or because you're not perfect because you love someone like me."

Wyatt looked at James. "I'm supposed to understand why he would do this, I don't. I hate that he left, I hate the fact that he broke my heart, and I hate that even if he did hurt me, I just wish he would let me stay."

From 2.14 "In the Realm of the Basses", in the bar, Brooklyn was breaking up with Thyra. "I didn't want you around me while I'm like this. I'm starting to spiral so badly, Thyra. It seems like my spiraling could put you back into the dark place that you were in after your parents died."

"You mean the dark place that you pulled me out of?" Thyra asked.

Brooklyn gave her a look. "I didn't pull you out all the way, Thyra. I can be the very thing that can set you off again, and I don't want that to happen."

"You're not a loss cause, Brooklyn," Thyra told her, trying desperately to get her to see that. "I choose to stand by you."

Brooklyn swallowed. "I'm choosing to let you go."

Thyra put a hand on the bar. Knowing that Brooklyn was right, especially after the pain and struggle, she walked away before she could be tempted by her addiction, while there were flashes of Thyra's addiction issues with alcohol and drugs in book 1 and in the flashback of 2.11.

Thyra: (voice over from 2.14 In the Realm of the Basses) "I'm hurt and angry, I think she did the right thing, because I felt so tempted today after I saw her, how I used to, and how dangerous that was..."

From 2.14 "In the Realm of the Basses", on the rooftop of Victrola, Brooklyn was standing on the edge of the roof, while the others were trying to talk her down.

James was very worried. "Brooklyn, come away from there, please."

Blair was scared for one of her best friends. "Brooklyn, your father wouldn't have wanted this."

Brooklyn scoffed, tears burning in her eyes. "All I know is what he didn't want. Which was me, Chuck and Dylan. I'm done being strapped to two brothers who don't give a damn about me or what we all should be going through."

"Brooklyn, please," Dylan told her. "We're Chuck, Brooklyn and Dylan. We're all we have."

"Dylan and I can't be us without you, okay?" Chuck asked. "You're part of who we are, Brooklyn."

Thyra tried not to cry, hand still stretched out to Brooklyn. Brooklyn tentatively reached out to take Thyra's hand, starting to sit down carefully on the edge of the roof. Thyra quickly helped her the rest of the way off the ledge. Once Brooklyn made it on solid ground, they looked at each other, vulnerable. Thyra immediately pulled her into her arms. Brooklyn nuzzled her head in her shoulder as they held each other tightly.

Chuck and Dylan stepped closer, as all three siblings looked at each other with tears in their eyes. Brooklyn was crying and she hated it when they saw her cry but didn't care about it at the moment. Chuck and Dylan started to cry as well. The three siblings embraced, finally letting each other in after so long.

In the closing, there was a screen shot of the Gossip Girl website, with a picture of Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck at Victrola in 2.14.

The headline read: Three Teen Billionaires?

The caption underneath the picture read: With the recent passing of their father, Brooklyn, Chuck and Dylan Bass have been left with sorrow, grief and a big fat inheritance. If you thought Princess BB, the Bi Playboy and C were rolling in $$ before, just wait. You ain't seen nothin' yet. And remember, money changes everything.

X • O ° X • O

Worlds Colliding (Gossip Girl)

X • O ° X • O

Day One

Morning - Montage

(Song:) Mirror Error - The Faint

Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck were seen in their separate rooms, getting ready to go hear the will, all looking worse for wear. Brooklyn was just beginning a spiral after having looked for her brothers for a month, Dylan was barely coming back, and Chuck seemed to be stuck in his spiral, but all of them were trying to be more there for each other after Brooklyn's suicide attempt in 2.14.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "When most people lose a parent, they inherit sorrow, loss and a closet full of outdated clothes. But on the Upper East Side, death's sad chapter comes with a silver lining, or a gold one, if your relatives invested wisely in precious metals."

X • O ° X • O

The Palace - Outside

Jack was arriving, stepping out of his limo, looking at the hotel with a smirk.

Thyra, Wyatt and Blair walked up to him, dressed for school.

Thyra rolled her eyes. "Jack."

"Thyra," Jack replied. "And Wyatt and Blair. Where's your new little fourth sibling James? He certainly helped the other night with talking down my niece from taking a swan dive."

Thyra glared at him. "Show a little class, Bass-hole."

Jack smirked.

"James thought it would be best if he didn't come to crowd Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck, since they already asked us to be here, and Alex and Nate wanted to drop by too," Wyatt explained.

"Well, Brooklyn and Dylan didn't ask because they both think that Thyra and Wyatt should stay away from them while they're like this," Blair explained. "But Chuck asked because he knew that they needed support after everything."

"The only thing they're gonna need support for is the massive influx into their bank accounts," Jack told them.

Blair rolled her eyes. "Charming."

They walked up to the hotel.

"If I'm not mistake, Thyra, it is your aunt Aurora that is the lawyer for Bart's will, hmm?" Jack asked.

"Yeah," Thyra answered. "Since Bart had the US branch of Diamond Enterprises, now that he's dead..."

"The US branch of Diamond Enterprises goes to Aurora and you," Jack finished. "You sure that you can handle it, kiddo? Or that you even have the hope that you could handle whatever secrets Aurora has to have gotten this far?" Aurora, Brooklyn, Chuck and Dylan walked outside. "Let's ask her now."

Thyra glared at Jack. "Let's not."

Jack smirked. "Aw, no one wants to play today, huh?"

Aurora and the Bass siblings walked up to them.

Brooklyn sighed. "I'm not surprised you're here, Thyra. Given that you and Aurora are about to be getting back the US branch of Diamond Enterprises now that Bart's gone. Since Victoria and Matthew left it to him until you turned 18, or until he died. I hope you guys are happy with getting the company back now."

Dylan looked at Wyatt. "But what are you doing here?"

"I asked to be sure that Wyatt would be here with Thyra given everything," Chuck answered.

Brooklyn and Dylan both looked at Chuck in surprise. "You did?"

Chuck nodded, tilting his head. "Yeah."

"Yes, he did," Wyatt answered. "Chuck's looking out for you two even if he's not looking out for himself. Brooklyn, Dylan... I'm glad that you three are looking out for each other more now though."

Dylan sighed. "Yeah, well, let's just get this over with."

Aurora nodded, looking at the Bass siblings sympathetically. "Have patience, and courage. We're all gonna get through this."

Jack patted Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck on the shoulders. "I'm going to be running Bass Industries, and you three are about to inherit a billion dollars."

"I know our father," Chuck told them. "There'll be so many strings attached, we'll look like marionettes. He wouldn't miss his last chance to put us in our place."

Alex and Nate walked up to them, dressed in school uniform as well.

"Hey," Nate told them. "Thought you guys might need some backup."

"Thyra and Aurora getting the US branch of Diamond Enterprises aside, not only do they need us," Alex pointed out. "Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck do too."

Thyra managed a small smile, embracing with Alex and Nate.

Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck were surprised yet touched.

"Thanks," Brooklyn told them. "James called me this morning to make sure that I was okay, and Dylan and Chuck, and to say that he would've been here but he didn't want us to feel crowded or overwhelmed."

"And Noe wanted to give you three space since she knows that you're not on good terms with the van der Woodsens right now," Nate added. "But she wanted to send her best and make sure that you guys were okay."

"Sounds like James and Nevaeh," Chuck remarked.

"Mm-hmm," Dylan agreed. "Even if James and Noe couldn't be here... Alex, Nate, it's good to have you two here. Let's go."

They all walked inside.

(Song Ends)

X • O ° X • O

Humphrey Loft - Living Room

Dan and Jenny were both dressed for school, and Hope was ready to go to work, even though she had plenty of time before she had to be there.

"Hey, let's go," Dan told them.

Jenny walked with her siblings. "Okay, wait. Come on, admit it. Dad and Lily are totally hooking up on this trip to Boston."

Dan shook his head. "No. Lily--Lily just lost her husband, and Dad is getting her out of town so he can clear her head."

Hope raised her eyebrows. "Okay, if that's what you want to call it."

Dan started to put ear buds in. "Ooh, headphones on."

"No, come on," Jenny told him. "You know it's true."

"So what if Lily and Dad fall in love again?" Hope asked.

Dan sighed in exasperation. "They're not in love."

"How can you be so sure?" Hope asked.

"Because I--I am," Dan told them.

Jenny nodded skeptically. "Uh-huh. So, Hope, on the way out, you wanna talk about what you, me and Alex are doing next?"

Hope gave Dan a look that practically said 'help me'. Dan made a face, looking away and taking a sip of coffee. Dan, Hope and Jenny walked out of the loft.

X • O ° X • O

The Palace - Waiting Room

Blair, Wyatt, Alex and Nate were sitting together.

"I wouldn't have come to this party if I knew I wasn't VIP," Blair quipped.

"The important thing is that Thyra, Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck know that we're here for them," Nate pointed out.

Blair stood, walking toward the doors to listen in.

Alex sighed. "Blair."

"Shh," Blair shushed. "I can't hear."

Wyatt rolled his eyes. "Sit back down."

X • O ° X • O

Room

Aurora, Thyra, Brooklyn, Dylan, Chuck and Jack were sitting around the room.

Aurora held the documents with the will. "Now that we're settled, let's begin. Lily was unable to be here today, but she asked me to represent her as her legal counsel as well. Jack, you are Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck's closest living relative, God help them." Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck smirked. Jack chuckled. Thyra nodded. "And, as such, has been named their legal guardian." Aurora looked at the siblings. "Are you comfortable with this?"

Brooklyn looked at Jack. "Curfew?"

"None," Jack answered

"Girls sleeping over?" Chuck asked.

Jack smirked. "Yes, please. I know all three of you are into girls, so..."

"And guys for me and Brooklyn," Dylan pointed out. "So guys sleeping over?"

"Whatever works for you two," Jack told them.

Brooklyn looked at Aurora. "We'll allow it, for now."

Thyra and Brooklyn exchanged a look, looking numb and distant after their breakup.

"Moving on then," Aurora told them. "With regard to Bart's personal assets, they will be put in a trust which Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck will have access to on each of their 18th birthdays. And Diamond Enterprises, as stated here, does go back to me and Thyra. Thyra, normally, this wouldn't go to you until you're 18, but since I know that you've been involved in the business with Victoria and Matthew before they passed, and I know that you've done business with me too, it does rightfully belong to you in the States. And I know that you'll be able to handle it. I hope you think so too. Any Diamond left, right? As long as there's hope."

Thyra managed a small smile, though was nervous. "Right. Didn't think it would come this soon, but yeah. I think I'm ready."

Brooklyn nodded. "I know you are."

Thyra looked at Brooklyn, but Brooklyn looked away.

"And as for Bass Industries?" Jack asked.

Aurora looked over the will. "Yes, I was just getting to that. 29% of the company will remain in the board's hands, and a 20% stake in the company has been left to Lily Bass."

"Okay, but that still leaves 51%," Jack told her. "That's the controlling interest."

"Bart asked me to give this letter to Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck," Aurora explained, holding the letter out.

Neither of the three siblings reached for the letter.

"If we don't read it, do we still get our inheritance?" Chuck asked.

"Well, yes," Aurora answered.

Chuck stood. "Then I'll pass."

"Same," Dylan agreed.

"I don't need to read it," Brooklyn told them.

Brooklyn and Dylan stood. Jack stood, snatching the letter from Aurora. Chuck opened the door.

Blair walked in. "Guys! Is everything okay?"

Wyatt, Alex and Nate walked in.

"What's going on?" Alex asked.

"Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck are refusing to read the letter that represents Bart's final words," Jack answered.

"Your dad wrote you three a letter?" Wyatt asked. "You have to read it."

"Yeah, aren't you curious to know what it says?" Nate asked.

"I think I can guess," Chuck told them. "'You're disappointment of children. I'd die of embarrassment if I wasn't already. Why do you wear so much purple?'"

"Then you'll have the satisfaction of being right," Aurora told them.

"I nearly killed myself because of what that bastard put me, Dylan and Chuck through all our lives, pitting us against each other and all," Brooklyn told them. Alex and Nate looked at her in surprise and concern. "There's no way in hell I'm reading it."

Jack started to open the letter. "Then I am."

Thyra took the letter from Jack. "No. I'll read it." She looked at the siblings to make sure it was okay, and they barely nodded. Thyra took the letter out, starting to read. "'Dear children. I know I've always been hard on you'."

"True," Dylan agreed.

"'But my goal was always to prepare you for this day, to help you go from being children to adults'," Thyra read.

"The Italian au pair took care of that," Chuck quipped.

"Chuck, please," Blair told him.

Thyra continued to read. "'Sadly, there is nothing like the passing of a father to aid in this rite of passage for his children. Ultimately, I do feel that I did my job and you're prepared for this next chapter of your lives. Therefore, I'm bequeathing to you the majority share of Bass Industries when each of you turn 18'."

Everyone was surprised.

"That's gotta be a mistake," Brooklyn told them.

Nate shook his head. "No, it's not."

"He believed in you," Alex told them.

Jack glared heavenward. "That son of a bitch."

"Jack!" Aurora said, giving the teens a significant look like she was looking out for them. "Do you want me to smack the hell out of you again?"

"No, Jack's right," Dylan told them. "Our father can't be one way our whole lives and then all of a sudden, it's okay."

Brooklyn shook her head. "It's nice that he finally decided we're worthy, but I don't want it. Dylan and I've got three years before we can even touch the company either way because of the 'when you each turn 18' part. Chuck's only got a few months until he's 18 so he could probably start preparing now."

"Yeah, I could, but I don't want to either," Chuck agreed. He looked at Jack. "If you want it, you can have it."

Jack smirked, winking. Brooklyn walked out of the room without another word or look to anyone. Dylan and Chuck exchanged a look before leaving as well. Blair, Wyatt, Alex, Nate, Thyra and Aurora exchanged a look, walking out of the room.

X • O ° X • O

VDW/Bass Apartment - Serena's Room

Before school, in uniform, Serena and James were both talking.

"So Noe, Lily, you and Eric decided to give Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck space too, huh?" James asked.

"Yeah," Serena answered. "They're still not talking to us much. Or our mom."

"Or Zaya, Sadie and Laureen I'm guessing," James told her.

Serena shook her head in concern. "No, and we want to give them enough time to deal and heal on their own, without making things worse by pushing to be there for them."

"Yeah, I know the feeling," James told her. "I told you that I helped Brooklyn once before, before I went to take care of Caroline." Serena nodded. "The other night I helped again, and Brooklyn didn't like the reminder and how weak she felt. So even though I wanted to be there this morning, I didn't want there to be too much crowding and overwhelming, since Blair, Wyatt, Thyra, Aurora, Jack, Alex and Nate are all already there too. The Archibald brothers texted me before heading up there, so... and Thyra and Aurora are getting the US branch of Diamond Enterprises back, and here's to hoping that Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck get Bass Industries."

"Right," Serena agreed. "So since we can't be there this morning, I think we better get to school."

James plopped down on Serena's bed. "I think I'll stay here."

Serena smirked. "Did you ask permission?"

James tilted his head in response. "Do I need to when I see that you clearly want me to be here?"

Serena smiled, standing in front of James as he wrapped his arms around her waist, and Serena wrapped his arms around his neck, leaning her head down to kiss him passionately. James turned to put Serena on the bed with him above her, causing her to laugh in surprise. Serena slid James' uniform jacket and shirt off, as they continued to make out. James took the hem of her shirt, but before they could get too far, there was a knock on the door to interrupt. James slid away from Serena. Serena stood, running to the door to open it, not opening the door all the way. James sat on the bed, acting natural even though he didn't have his shirt on, picking up a book to pretend to read.

Eric was on the other side of the door. "We gotta go to school in 30 minutes, Serena." He saw James, knowing what had been going on, looking amused yet awkward. "Um, sorry, didn't mean to interrupt."

"What's up, Eric?" James asked.

"Hey, James," Eric replied awkwardly.

"We'll be right down," Serena told him nervously, awkwardly and smiling. "Thanks, Eric."

"Later," Eric told them, walking away.

Serena closed the door, turning to face James with a busted look on her face.

James tossed the book to the side, sitting forward, smirking, looking seductive yet sweet. "Shall we continue?"

Serena smiled, shaking her head. "After school."

James chuckled. "All right. Let's go."

X • O ° X • O

Von Miller Mansion - Living Room

Zaya and Sadie were about to leave for school. Zaya was packing up her tutoring/schoolwork from the day before.

Richard walked into the room, seeing them getting ready to go. "I see you had tutoring yesterday. Any tutoring today?"

"It's our day off," Sadie told him.

"Your exams are coming up soon," Richard reminded them. "You should be studying anyway."

Zaya was trying very hard not to let him get to her. "I need time to relax. My head... I can't make anything out right now, and we got to get to school."

Laureen stood in the doorway behind the girls, walking closer. "Well, you've been studying for too long. Take a break today and start again tomorrow."

Zaya smiled a bit in appreciation. "Thanks, Mom."

Richard looked at his wife in annoyance. "You can't let her keep procrastinating, Laureen."

Laureen returned the annoyed look, defensive and protective of their daughters, but also trying to make sure she didn't push Richard to lashing out. "She's not procrastinating. She's just waiting so she can actually read it."

"Thank you, Mom," Sadie told her. "Zaya's head hurts, and my chest hearts. The stress is too much."

Richard gave them a cold look. "That's no excuse. Sadie, you've got what it takes to really be a genius capable of anything, if you didn't let things hold you back. And this is what I'm talking about for you, Zaya. You're such a child, and a stupid one at that."

Zaya looked hurt, lowering her gaze. Sadie looked upset.

Laureen glared at Richard. "Get out."

"No," Richard replied. "And you shouldn't be talking back to me. Don't forget what you could do to poor Sadie's heart."

Laureen pointed at him angrily. "Don't. Don't you dare lay that on us. If you think that you can keep gaslighting me and Zaya with Sadie's life, you're the one who's gonna end up burned."

Sadie was fed up. "Mom, I'm fine. I'll help Zaya, Dad. Just don't yell at Zaya or Mom again. I'm helping her, Dad. Zaya needs help. And hearing you and Mom fight over who's right when it comes to us again, is not helping either of us."

"Sadie, Zaya, go on to school," Laureen assured. "It's okay."

Zaya and Sadie nodded, leaving the room, and leaving Laureen and Richard glaring at each other while their daughters went to school, though Laureen was thinking of a time where things were really good for them.

X • O ° X • O

Flashback - 14 Years Ago

Paris

Night - Club

(Song:) Queen of the Night - Whitney Houston

Young Laureen was in a club, dancing to the music in a sexy outfit.

Young Richard walked up to her with shot glasses. "Hey, Laureen."

They smiled, drinking their shots, continuing to dance very close to each other. Young Richard stroked her hair.

Young Laureen put her arms around his neck, whispering in his ear. "Let's get out of here."

Young Laureen held Young Richard's hand over their heads while she led him through the crowd and off the dance floor.

X • O ° X • O

Hotel Room

Young Laureen and Young Richard returned to their room, unable to keep their hands off each other. They made out passionately and heatedly, laying down.

A few weeks later, Young Laureen and Young Richard were laying together, holding an arm around each other.

"It's a good thing we're leaving," Young Richard told her.

"Who says we have to?" Young Laureen asked. "Leave, I mean."

"My mother," Young Richard answered. "She'd kill me."

Young Laureen shrugged. "She can't kill you if she can't find you. Just like how my parents can't."

"Our flight's at four," Young Richard told her.

"Don't you want an adventure?" Young Laureen asked.

Young Richard chuckled. "We've been in Paris for four months. We just had a whole semester of one."

"Paris in the summer is regular for me and my family," Young Laureen explained. "That's nothing new. I want to try something fun and new and exciting. I'm not ready to go back. To LA, to New York. To any of it."

"Laureen, we have a whole plan," Young Richard told her. "My family's basically gotten me a starter job at the von Miller family business. What is even happening right now?"

"If I don't do this now, maybe I never will," Young Laureen told him. "And I don't want to live with some 'what if' hanging over me."

"What are you talking about?" Young Richard asked.

Young Laureen took several deep breaths, not sure how he would react, very stunned herself and not knowing if his reaction would be good or bad. "The reason why I don't want this to end... is because sooner, rather than later, it will. And I don't want it to for quite a while. This is a total shock to me, and I didn't expect it to happen this soon, but... I'm not scared and I'm happy about it too. And I hope that you will be."

"About what?" Young Richard asked.

Young Laureen gathered the courage to be able to tell him. "I'm pregnant."

Young Richard looked at her in shock, but was slowly starting to smile. "I... that's great."

"Really?" Young Laureen asked. Young Richard nodded. They both smiled. "Oh, thank God. I didn't know how you could react."

"What about your mother?" Young Richard asked. "I mean, Celia made Lily give up her daughter, and she was 19, just a little while ago. We're only 15, almost 16."

"I know," Young Laureen agreed. "This is why I want to stay away from home, so Celia won't have the option of making me give up this child. Our child. Like Celia did for Lily, Rufus and their daughter. Please stay with me. Let's run away together."

Young Richard nodded. They smiled, holding each other close, and making out passionately.

(Song Ends)

X • O ° X • O

Now

Day - Von Miller Mansion - Hallway

Laureen was walking out of the room that Richard was still in, and she couldn't believe how much their lives had changed, how much of a damaged family they were now due to whatever happened to Richard that the girls of the von Miller family didn't know about. She put a hand against the wall, looking down, clearly trying to figure it out.

X • O ° X • O

Street

Hope and Noe were walking down the street, as Noe was dressed for school as well.

"Three times this week, I planned a dinner with Alex, and every time, Jenny just happened to show up," Hope explained.

"So Jenny is intentionally crashing your dates with Alex because of her crush that Zaya and Sadie found out about?" Noe asked.

"Well, I mean, I don't know if it's because of the crush, or it's because she doesn't have anyone else," Hope admitted. "I mean, you're always with Nate, and Eric's always with Jonathan, or starting to hang out with Beck Boardman. All the mean girls hate her. Zaya and Sadie are too busy with their family lives. I just gotta give her time to make new friends."

"But doesn't she understand the whole point of having a boyfriend is to be alone?" Noe asked. "And I don't know how you handle that, Hope. Knowing that Jenny likes Alex and now she's crashing all your dates this week."

"Maybe she's just lonely," Hope told her, looking nervous. "I mean, after everything that happened, I don't want to start anything else with Jenny because I just got her back, but..."

"You can't keep letting her run over you, Hope," Noe pointed out. "Zaya was right about that. I know that you won't stop her because you're afraid of losing her, but someone needs to stand up to her. And you already know that Zaya and Sadie and me would happily do so."

Hope chuckled. "Yeah, I do know, Noe, which is why I'm saying no. And I just used all three forms of the word in one sentence again, didn't I?"

"Yeah, you did," Noe answered.

Hope smiled. "But I'm saying no because I know that you three would not hold back, and I just... I don't want things to get out of hand."

"What if eventually they do, because you let too many things slide?" Noe asked.

Hope didn't know how to answer that. "I should get to work. I'll see you, Noe."

"I'll see you too," Noe agreed. "Just let me know if you need to talk about anything."

"You too," Hope told her. "I mean..."

"Everything about Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck?" Noe finished. "Yeah. I'm worried about them, but I know Chuck doesn't want anything to do with our family right now, and Brooklyn and Dylan need time, so..."

"Right," Hope agreed sadly.

"Serena, Eric and I might not be able to be with them right now, and James might be giving them space, but I'm glad that Thyra, Wyatt, Blair, Nate and Alex can be there for them," Noe told her. "And Aurora. And I'm happy that Thyra and Aurora are getting Diamond Enterprises in the US back."

"Me too," Hope agreed. "What is Diamond Enterprises exactly anyway? I mean, Thyra and Aurora never explained it, and neither did Alex or Nate. Then again, I never expected Archibald brothers to come clean, but still. I was just hoping to find out."

"It's basically business operations and finance management for a bunch of other companies and empires of all kinds and a lot of different people," Noe answered. "That's why Victoria and Matthew were in business a lot with Bart, and why he got the company after they died, since they helped with his business operations and finances."

Hope nodded in understanding. "Oh. Well, I'm glad Thyra and Aurora are getting it back. And that they've got Blair, Wyatt, Alex and Nate there with them, Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck. I know that James wanted to be too."

"Yeah," Noe agreed. "Listen, you got to get to work, and I got to get to school. My relationship with my Archibald brother is finally back on track, and you've got to make sure that Jenny doesn't screw up yours with the other brother."

Hope nodded semi-sarcastically, though half-nervous that she was right. "Goodbye, Noe."

Noe waved, giving a little salute, turning around, walking away.

Hope looked around, sighing, turning around, walking away in the other direction.

X • O ° X • O

St. Jude's/Constance - Outside

Eric and Beck were standing together, having started to hang out for a while now like Hope mentioned in the scene before with Noe.

Eric handed a book to Beck. "It's the book I was telling you about. I thought you might want to check it out."

"Oh, I definitely want to check it out," Beck answered. "I suppose I could read the book too." They chuckled. "But what are you going to do for me?"

"What do you mean?" Eric asked.

"Well, I read the book, you do something for me," Beck told him.

"Like what?" Eric asked.

Beck shrugged. "I don't know. Something fun. Like the film festival coming up. Deal?"

"Okay," Eric agreed. "Deal."

Beck smirked, raising an eyebrow, though looked slightly nervous. "Should we shake on it?"

Zaya and Sadie walked up to them.

"Hey, Eric," Zaya told him.

"Hey, Beck, you remember my cousins Zaya and Sadie von Miller from a few weeks back?" Eric asked.

"Oh, yeah, yeah," Beck answered. "They got back into town when the Waldorf-Diamond-Baizen and Bass siblings and Serena were helping me and my sister Emma months ago.  I've also met Noe, by the way. Hey, Zaya. Sadie. And I honestly can't wait to meet the rest of the Crew."

"Hi, Beck," Sadie told him. "What are you two talking about?"

"Beck and I decided that tonight, we are gonna have an Edith Head Film Festival," Eric answered.

"Eric says Edith Head, I say Hitchcock," Beck told them. "Same difference."

"Is this just a friend thing?" Zaya asked. "Because I don't think that Jonathan would like it very much, Eric."

"Yes, it's just a friend thing," Eric answered. Beck bit his lip, looking down. "Jonathan knows I've been hanging out with Beck and he's cool with it, and he better be after what he did before Thanksgiving. Do you two have something to get you out of the house for tonight?"

"Just gonna try to see if we can do tutoring elsewhere, since Dad's pushing for tutoring even though Mom knew that we both needed a break today," Sadie answered. "Head and chest pain, you know?"

Eric looked at them in concern, sighing in worry. Beck looked at them in confusion, frowning a bit.

"But I bet you two are gonna have a lot of fun... as friends," Zaya told them.

Eric looked at Beck. "You don't mind if they come with us, do you?"

Sadie tilted her head. "Eric. Zaya said that we would be fun."

"Yeah, and I know that you and Zaya both like to lie to make people not worry about you, Sadie," Eric replied.

Beck looked between them, nodding, looking more understanding than most people. "Yeah, sure. I'm sure there'd be more than enough for any of us to do."

Sadie clapped. "Yay!" She noticed something, looking between Beck and Eric. "Oh, wait. Oh, my God." She walked closer to Eric, looking at his backpack before looking at Beck. "Oh, did you guys know that you have matching backpacks? That's so cute. Aw!"

Zaya, Eric and Beck chuckled. Sadie smiled a bit.

X • O ° X • O

Boston Adoption Agency

Lily and Rufus were sitting in the waiting room, impatiently waiting.

Rufus's phone rang. He answered. "Hey, Dan, what's up?"

Dan was at school. "How long do you, Laureen and Lily expect me to keep this huge secret from not only Hope and Jenny, but Noe, Serena and Eric, and even Zaya and Sadie?"

Rufus stood, walking away from Lily. "Lily's gonna talk to Noe, Eric and Serena as soon as we get back. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before Laureen tells Zaya and Sadie. I will tell Hope and Jenny. In the meantime, you have to wait, just like we do."

Dan sighed. "I--I just--I don't like lying to everyone that I care about." Penelope, Hazel, Isabel and Nelly were walking behind Dan, overhearing his part of the phone call. "You know, they have a right to know what's going on, and you still haven't made up with Hope and she's being herself and thinking that she did something wrong and taking too much out on herself."

Dan walked away.

Penelope turned to the other mean girls. "Oh, my God."

"A major secret that could help us knock Hope off of her 'Angel of Brooklyn' high horse when Zaya, Sadie and Jenny refused to?" Hazel asked. "Seems like this secret could do just that, if not more."

"What?" Nelly asked. "We don't know what he's lying about."

"Why are you talking?" Penelope asked. "Last time I checked, you were still on probation."

"We should at least tell Zaya, Blair, Brooklyn and Thyra," Nelly pointed out.

"We're still not taking orders from Zaya no matter what they say, and Blair, Thyra and Wyatt are all with Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck, again," Isabel explained.

Penelope scoffed. "I'm really getting sick of how much time they're spending with them. And Brooklyn is completely ignoring her duties as Princess BB."

"But Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck's dad just died," Hazel told her.

Penelope was completely insensitive. "Yeah, like a month ago."

Hazel checked her phone. "And word on Gossip Girl is that Thyra got Diamond Enterprises back, so she'll be busy. Afraid we're on our own for this one, ladies."

X • O ° X • O

The Palace - Outside

Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck were talking, pulling on their jackets.

"It's like he's setting us up to fail from beyond the grave," Chuck told them.

"Do you really think Dad would leave his whole company to us when we all turn 18?" Dylan asked. "It doesn't make sense. He never trusted us with anything."

Brooklyn ran her hands through her hair in frustration. "I know it doesn't, but I don't trust Jack with the company. I've never trusted him with anything. Chuck, you're months away from turning 18. You can start the legacy now, at least preparing for it. And you've always wanted to take after Dad and run the empire of Bass Industries. And Dylan, you used to talk about helping run the company with Wyatt, promising a future where Wyatt would build his own company from the ground up. Whatever it would be called. Waldorf Incorporated or whatever."

"Yeah, and I remember a time when you hoped to help run Bass Industries while Thyra and Aurora ran Diamond Enterprises," Dylan replied. "You both wanted to be powerful it girls in business, Brooklyn. Either way, Chuck's a lot closer to taking over the business than we are, since we're still 3 years from turning 18."

Brooklyn and Dylan looked at Chuck, wondering.

Chuck looked conflicted. "I wouldn't even know where to begin."

"But do you want to?" Brooklyn asked.

"Brooklyn..." Chuck trailed off. "Dylan..."

"It's just a simple question," Dylan pointed out. "Do you want to?"

Chuck sighed heavily. "Yes."

Dylan took out the letter from Bart, handing it to Chuck. "It's a good thing Thyra handed this to me before we walked out then."

Chuck hesitated before taking the letter. "I know you don't want to help right now, Dylan. Brooklyn, after everything... do you even still want the future of Bass Industries? To be the 'it girl power couple in business' with Thyra when she has control over Diamond Enterprises in the US, while Aurora has it elsewhere? Is that your hope for the future still?"

"I don't know what my future is anymore," Brooklyn admitted. "I can't see much of anything. Let alone feel."

Dylan sighed. "I know the feeling."

Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck walked away from the hotel. Jack was shown inside, watching the siblings go with a glare.

Brooklyn walked alone down the street, pulling down her sunglasses as she walked, never stopping.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "You can't hide under designer shades for too long, Princess BB. Especially in the winter when things are colder than you are numb. Don't pout, Brooklyn. You can only escape the pain for so long without it all coming back to play. But until next time, rush home and hide yourself away."

X • O ° X • O

X • O ° X • O

St. Jude's/Constance - Courtyard

People were gathered in the courtyard for lunch time. Everyone's phones went off as Dan walked outside, and everyone was looking at him.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Is lowly Lonely Boy keeping a huge secret from sister Humble Hope? And possibly a lot more than that? Get out your shovels and start digging the dirt, kids. Gossip Girl's gonna need a little help getting to the bottom of this mess."

X • O ° X • O

The Palace - Bass Suite

Brooklyn and Dylan were sitting on the couches.

Chuck walked in with the letter.

Jack walked out from the kitchen with a drink, seeing them. "Ah, Chuck. You're back. Maybe you can get Dylan to snap out of it and Brooklyn to stop pouting."

"Go to hell, Jack," Brooklyn replied, taking a sip.

Jack smirked. "I might need some help with some--"

"Pulling the stick out of your ass?" Brooklyn asked. "Sorry, no one's strong enough to pull that out."

Dylan smirked, taking a sip.

"I took a walk around the block, read our father's letter," Chuck explained. "If it wasn't notarized, I'd think it was a fake. Look, Brooklyn." Brooklyn looked up. "Dylan and I owe you a lot. You saved our lives when we didn't want to be saved. Put your life on hold to bring us back from the edge."

"And couldn't resist falling off it myself, or almost," Brooklyn said, taking a drink. "But both of you, and Thyra, Blair, Wyatt and James, saved me too, so... Aurora too."

"That wasn't your fault," Dylan pointed out. "And I'm so sorry, Brooklyn. Before, you, Chuck and I, we weren't close, and we still aren't, not like that. But we do have each other's backs."

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about," Chuck admitted. "I've decided to follow our father's wishes and take over Bass Industries."

"Well, we can discuss that when you turn 18," Jack told him. "Anyway, you're in charge in name. It's better. All the fun, none of the work."

"Brooklyn and Dylan pointed out that I could start now, learning at least, and they could learn too, when they're ready," Chuck pointed out.

"This isn't an after-school job," Jack told them. "You have no experience. You're not ready."

Chuck narrowed his eyes. "If you want to stay in New York, I'll find a place for you in the company. I know it's going to be a long road, but I'm ready now." Jack scratched his neck, clearly looking angry, walking out of the room. Brooklyn and Dylan exchanged a look, proud of their older brother, smirking, looking at Chuck, nodding in approval. Chuck nodded in return, sitting down. "If I do this, then Bass Industries and Diamond Enterprises, hopefully, the collaborations of business and finance management would resume now since Thyra is set to take the lead at her company while Aurora's still in town, because Thyra's already had experience with the company and business of her family's company, thanks to Aurora, Victoria and Matthew."

"Yeah," Brooklyn agreed. "So?"

"So, once I get a steady footing on the company, if I do..." Chuck trailed off. "I hope you two can start preparing to help if I need it. Because I think if you start preparing, we might be handle the company together. When you're ready."

Brooklyn and Dylan exchanged a look, not knowing if they were ready, but touched that Chuck was offering this, and that all three siblings are trying to make an effort to get closer. They looked at each other and nodded.

X • O ° X • O

St. Jude's/Constance - Hallway

Dan walked into the hallway, seeing his stuff knocked all over the floor. He sighed, leaning down to pick stuff up.

Zaya walked by, kicking one of Dan's belongings. "You missed one."

"Wait, Zaya, do you--" Dan started, standing. "Look, I know that you and Sadie have gotten very protective over my sister, and that kick was probably because of the blast about the secret I'm keeping from Hope, but you don't have to look into it, because it's not--"

Zaya scoffed. "Oh, please. If you believe for one second that I would have the audacity to keep tabs on the very 'wild life' of Dan Dumphrey, you would be sadly mistaken. Hope can handle herself against you. It's Jenny I'm more worried about."

"What do you mean, Jenny?" Dan asked. "What the hell's happening now?"

Zaya smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Zaya shrugged one shoulder, turning around, walking away.

Down the hallway, Blair saw the encounter, and smirking in amusement at Zaya's brush off of Dan, impressed, walking along, answering her phone as it started to ring. "What do you want, Jack?"

Jack was riding in a limo. "You, obviously. Come out with me tonight."

"I told you I'm not interested," Blair told him.

"Didn't seem that way on New Year's," Jack replied.

Blair tried her best to remain composed. "Whatever may have transpired between us, what's important is what it means to me, which is nothing."

"Do you think it would be nothing to Chuck?" Jack asked. "And you purposely asked me to keep it secret from Brooklyn, Dylan, Thyra, Wyatt, James and Aurora the other night, too. To mask your shame."

Blair rolled her eyes. "I'm hanging up now."

Jack chuckled. "I wanted to apologize. This whole process just wasn't what I was expecting. I, uh, I want to make it right. Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck are the only family I've got."

Blair tilted her head. "I know. Poor Chuck, Brooklyn and Dylan. Luckily, they have me, Thyra and Wyatt, and the rest of the Crew of friends."

"What do you say we throw them a party to celebrate Chuck running the company and Brooklyn and Dylan's possibility of starting to learn soon?" Jack asked.

Blair walked outside into the courtyard. "Why not celebrate Bart dying? That would be just as tasteless."

"Just something to show they have our support," Jack told her.

"They know they have our support," Blair told him. "Mine and the Crew's, anyway. Not so sure about yours."

"Blair, only you, Thyra, Wyatt and James know better than anyone how rough things have been for Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck lately," Jack told her. "With the exception of Aurora. And unfortunately, I didn't help the way I reacted this morning. I really want to do something nice to celebrate. I'll bring Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck. You round up 'the Crew'. And, Blair, let's make it a surprise."

Blair looked down, tilting her head. "Fine. Brunch, tomorrow at the Palace."

They hung up. Jack smirked.

X • O ° X • O

Boston Adoption Agency - Office

Lily and Rufus were sitting across a man at the desk.

"I'm sorry for the delay," the man told them. "I was able to track down the adoptive family through your mother's lawyer, Mrs. Bass. Unfortunately, that's as far as I could take it."

"What do you mean, as far as you can take it?" Rufus asked. "You haven't taken it anywhere."

Lily tried to keep him calm. "Rufus, please."

The man looked down. "With a closed adoption, the only way the birth parents can track down and contact their child is if he or she registers with a search service. Your daughter has not done this."

"Look, I--I wasn't aware of my daughter or her adoption when it happened," Rufus explained. "I have rights, too. I'll find my own lawyer."

"Rufus, she has a whole life that we are not a part of," Lily told him. "Think of someone other than yourself."

The man held up a hand to mediate. "What if I try to get in touch with the adoptive parents? I can't guarantee they're gonna want to talk to you, but at least I can ask."

Rufus nodded. "Please. Tell them we're in town. We can meet them immediately, wherever they want."

Lily looked nervous, arms crossed. "Yes, of course."

X • O ° X • O

St. Jude's/Constance - Hallway

Serena, Noe, Blair and Thyra were walking together.

Serena looked at Blair. "Are you sure this is the best time for a flare up of Chuck fever?"

"I'm having no such thing," Blair denied. "We're just friends. Chuck, Brooklyn and Dylan have gone through a lot, and... they need us to be there."

Thyra looked at Serena. "And anyway, you and James are the ones who told us to make sure they weren't alone in the first place."

"You and Wyatt had very good reasons to keep your distance from Brooklyn and Dylan because they knew of your issues that could get worse around them when they're like this right now, Thyra," Serena told her. "Blair didn't have that reason."

"No one is judging or pointing fingers here," Noe told them. "I don't think Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck would be up for a brunch, but I do wish that we could all be there for them. Crew and all, whatever."

"Then it's settled," Blair told them.

"I didn't say 'it's settled'," Noe told her, but knowing Blair would go ahead with it anyway, causing Serena and Thyra to smirk.

Zaya walked up to them. "Hey."

"Hey, there you are," Thyra told her.

"What's up with Gossip Girl putting out a hit on Dan about keeping a secret from Hope?" Zaya asked. "Saying it could be a bigger secret from more people too."

Serena took the phone from Zaya to read. "Wait, let me see that." She read from the Gossip Girl blast. "'Nothing yet on Lonely Boy, but we did find out he brown bags it for lunch, and today's plat du jour? A tuna sandwich. Disgusting, but not enough for a conviction. Keep digging, kiddies.'"

"Tuna fish?" Blair asked. "Why does he make it so hard for himself?"

"All right, who did this?" Noe asked.

Zaya had her suspicions, turning to look at the mean girls behind her in the courtyard, who were watching them and smiling evilly, rolling her eyes, turning back to Noe, Serena, Thyra and Blair, who had followed her gaze and realized she was right about the mean girls being behind it.

Serena scoffed. "I see they act alone now."

Thyra tilted her head. "It's so hard finding obedient minions."

"They tried to stage a coup with a collegiate party and everything, until they got busted and I shut it down, with Sadie, Jenny and Eric's help, ironically," Zaya explained.

"Good girl," Blair told her. "Sadie's already learning advanced years, hmm, Zaya? Right now, I have to go get ready for absolutely non-romantic dinner with Chuck. Ta."

Blair walked away.

Thyra sighed. "I should get going too. I'll see you Rhodes girls later."

Thyra walked away. Noe, Serena and Zaya exchanged a look.

Serena linked her arms with Noe and Zaya's on either side of her. "Noe, Zaya, let's go get Sadie and hang out a little."

Zaya chuckled. "All right, but Sadie said that she's at the candy shop with her little clique, and she and I are hanging out with Eric and Beck tonight."

"Beck Boardman?" Serena asked. "He's still hanging out with Eric?"

"Yes, Beck Boardman," Zaya answered.

"Yeah, more and more over the last week or so," Noe answered. "Beck Boardman's kinda cool, you know, when he's not drunk and hitting on Wyatt and pissing off Dylan, from what I hear."

Noe, Serena and Zaya laughed, walking off together.

X • O ° X • O

Candy Shop

Hope and Dan walked up to the store.

Hope was going on about her upcoming anniversary with Alex. "I'm thinking one paint can of gummy worms and another of Swedish fish."

"Is this how you and Alex want to celebrate five months of dating, back together after Georgina broke you guys up last year?" Dan asked. "With all things gummy? Since the Catherine thing didn't break you two up since you were just pretending."

"Not just all things gummy but I'm planning on more, but since the anniversary's still two days from now, we still get to go to Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck's brunch tomorrow," Hope explained.

Dan nodded. "And you're praying that Jenny doesn't crash this date of all dates, right?"

"Since it's our anniversary, then she's gonna have to realize that she can't," Hope answered.

"And if she doesn't?" Dan asked.

Hope sighed. "I don't know. But you should know that you are only here for one reason, brother. I saw the Gossip Girl blast." Dan nodded, wincing. "And whatever secret you're keeping from me, that's your business. I guess I was just wishing that it wasn't something that could end up hurting me, or Alex, or Jenny, or anyone else around."

"Yeah, I'm not sure," Dan admitted.

"You've been walking around for days with a storm cloud over your head," Hope pointed out. "What's going on?" Nelly walked into the shop, seeing Hope and Dan talking. "Dan, clearly something is up." Nelly remained in hiding as much as she could while watching Dan and Hope. "If it's not about me, then let me help you, if you want."

Dan sighed, giving in, nodding. "All right, well, if... if I tell you, you can't say anything, to anyone." He put his phone into his jacket pocket, which was draped over his arm. Nelly saw where he put the phone. "Not Alex, not Noe, Jenny, Serena, Eric, Zaya, Sadie. Swear?"

Hope frowned. "Why?"

"You swear?" Dan asked. "Swear on all your Queen albums."

Hope tilted her head. "Bastard." Dan smirked. "Fine. Swear. Spill."

Dan sighed, giving in. "All right, um... well, you know that trip to Boston Dad and Lily are on?" Hope nodded. Nelly was sneaking closer, remaining hidden. "Uh, they--they are... they are looking for their daughter."

Hope looked at him in confusion. "What do you mean, daughter?"

"I mean their child," Dan answered. "The one that they had together 18-19 years ago." 

Hope was so shocked that she dropped her bag of candy. "What?"

Dan put his jacket aside, kneeling down to pick up the candy. "Okay, first of all, lower your voice, and I swear, if you go into a ramble, I will end you."

Hope just stared at him. "I'd like to see you try. Kinda hard to go into a ramble right now when I'm basically speechless right now."

"For once," Dan replied.

Hope knelt down to pick up the candy. "What are you talking about?"

"CeCe made Lily give the child up for adoption, and Dad never knew," Dan explained. Nelly snuck up to Dan's jacket to steal his phone, before darting away before she could be caught. "Laureen told Dad, and Chuck, Dylan and Brooklyn told me. Now Dad asked me not to tell you, or Jenny, or Noe, Serena, Eric, or even Zaya and Sadie, because Lily and Laureen and Dad are apparently wanting to tell all the kids."

Hope and Dan stood.

"I can't believe you're telling me that we have a half-sibling in a candy store," Hope told him.

"Well, you begged me to," Dan replied. "So please help me."

Hope was trying to process. "Okay. Um, wow. We... you, me and Jenny, we share a half sibling with Noe, Serena and Eric. The ex-girlfriend to you, and both the best friends to me and Jen." Dan nodded in agreement. "And our half-sibling is also Zaya and Sadie's cousin. Wha..."

"I know, it's hard to wrap your head around," Dan told her.

Hope nodded. "I can't believe Dad told you to keep this secret. Why would he do that? I mean, to them, I get because Lily and Laureen would tell their kids, but having you keep it from your own sisters?"

"Yeah, I don't know," Dan said.

"Okay, but you cannot ask me to keep this from Jenny, or from Noe, Serena, Eric, Zaya and Sadie," Hope told him. "Especially Noe. She's my best friend, Dan."

"I know, I know, but you have to keep it from Noe, at least until Dad and Lily get back," Dan told her. "You know how Noe takes some things like this. You know, after the accident and the trauma and everything, she can't always control how she takes things, and that's why everyone's always super worried about how to tell her things, or if they tell her at all. And same thing with Sadie, the stress, it could rupture her vessel or whatever, and..."

"Okay, but this, this is something they all need to know," Hope told him.

"I know," Dan agreed. "But we just have to wait, all right?" He sighed, looking behind Hope toward the front of the store where Sadie was seen standing with her 'clique', AKA the Mini Girls that took after Noe, Hope, Brooklyn, Thyra, Serena and Blair. "Speaking of Sadie. And other mini mes."

Hope turned around to follow his gaze.

Sadie walked up to them. "Hey, Hope."

"Sadie," Hope replied, seeing the Mini Girls. "Who are they?"

"Nosy little girls that were rooting for you and Alex when you first got back together, and hated me and Serena until we broke up again," Dan answered.

"Yeah, and now Serena's with James Baizen, who is a much better fit for her than you," Mini Serena told him.

"They're my new clique," Sadie explained, pointing to each girl in turn. "The one that takes after Noe is Peyton, the one that takes after Hope is Demi, the one that takes after Brooklyn is Dakota, the one that takes after Thyra is Madison, the one that takes after Serena is Ally, and the one that takes after Blair is Thea. Obviously I'm the parallel to Zaya in this group."

Hope and Dan nodded. "Obviously."

"Why are you keeping secrets that could destroy everybody again, Lonely Boy?" Peyton/Mini Noe asked.

Dan tried to lie, shaking his head. "I... I--I didn't."

"Bull," Ally/Mini Serena called him out. "How could you do it? Keeping secrets that could destroy everybody?"

Thea/Mini Blair looked at him with disdain. "Brooklyn pig."

"Why do you put up with what Dan and Jenny do to you, Hope?" Demi/Mini Hope asked.

Hope frowned. "Uh, how much do you actually know about me?"

Dakota/Mini Brooklyn raised her eyebrows. "Please. Angel of Brooklyn/Humble Hope dating Alex Archibald who's on the rise to being a prince of the Upper East Side again? You're like a foreign princess. All you gotta do now is get like a diamond crowd or something."

"What's the secret?" Madison/Mini Thyra asked.

Dan shook his head. "No, I'm not--I'm not doing this again. I can't. Sadie, send your little clique away."

Sadie crossed her arms, giving Dan a look. "I don't take orders from you, Dumphrey." She turned her head to look at the Mini Girls. "But you guys are getting annoying, so shut up and go away."

Thea/Mini Blair crossed her arms. "And if we don't?"

Hope and Dan raised their eyebrows, exchanging a look, knowing that was a mistake.

Sadie raised her eyebrows, turning to face the girls. "Do you really wanna find out? Do you remember what happened to Lisa at the roller rink when she tested me? It was all over Gossip Girl. And what Jenny, Zaya and I did to Vanessa. You really wanna take their places?"

The Mini Girls quickly shut up and walked away.

Sadie smirked smugly, arms still crossed as she tilted her head and turned back to Hope and Dan.

Hope smirked, impressed. "Nice. And thank you."

"Really, thanks," Dan agreed. "I cannot handle those girls."

"You can barely handle your sisters and the older mean girls," Hope pointed out.

Dan nodded sarcastically. "Don't remind me."

Sadie smirked. "I gotta go. Hanging out with Zaya, Eric and Beck tonight. But see you later, Hope."

Hope smiled, waving, though she felt guilty for not being able to tell her the secret right then. "Bye, Sadie. Tell Zaya, Eric and Beck I said hi."

Sadie nodded, turning around, starting to walk away.

Dan held out his arms. "What about me?" Sadie waved a hand without turning back like she was dismissing him without a goodbye, walking out of the shop. Dan wasn't surprised. Hope smirked, turning to look at Dan smugly, raising her eyebrows. "Shut up."

Hope smiled.

X • O ° X • O

Bass Suite

Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck were still here.

Jack walked in. "I hope you don't mind. I let myself in."

"I've made my decision, Jack," Chuck told him.

Jack nodded. "I know. And I owe you an apology. The fact is, you're Bart's children, and it is your rightful place."

"Your blessing means a lot," Dylan told him.

"Good," Jack told them. "Now before we start spooning, I want to take you out tonight to properly celebrate."

"I'm staying here," Brooklyn told them.

"Oh, so you can sit in numbness instead of having fun?" Jack asked sarcastically. "Sure, that'll be much better."

Brooklyn rolled her eyes.

"I have plans out in the city," Dylan told them numbly.

"And I'm having dinner with Blair," Chuck added.

"Reschedule everything," Jack told them.

"I can't with Blair," Chuck told him. "She's been a good friend to me. Only reason why Brooklyn and Dylan wouldn't be with Thyra and Wyatt is because they think they're protecting them."

Brooklyn and Dylan both said, "We are."

"Yeah, well, believe what you want," Jack told them. "And the last time I had friends like them, I ended up with gonorrhea."

"Suprax?" Chuck asked.

Jack tilted his head. "Rocephin. I ended up with that, and now she's somewhere to the left of totally useless and to the right of babbling lunatic."

Brooklyn pointed at Jack with the hand she used to hold her glass, tilting her head. "Oh, so she's you in a skirt."

Jack gave her a sarcastic smirk. "Very funny." Brooklyn smirked, taking a drink. "Guys, is this who you imagined Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck Bass to be? Spiraling drunks and druggies, or a man/woman who spends the day at the office and then goes home to the wife? It's no coincidence Bart had his most success when he was single." There was a knock on the door. Jack walked toward the door. "I, uh, invited a few friends to join us." He opened the door to reveal four female escorts outside the door. "I guess I'll have to entertain them on my own. Last chance."

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "What are Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck going to choose? Business and Thyra, Wyatt and Blair, or cocktails and coquettes?"

Chuck gave in, starting to leave with Jack and the girls.

Jack patted Chuck on the shoulder. "Attaboy, Chuck. Brooklyn, Dylan, you two still saying no?"

"I'm still saying no," Dylan answered.

Brooklyn laughed. "No. No, no, no, no. And have I mentioned, no? And also, no!"

"Come on," Jack told them. "You know you can never go wrong with tequila."

Dylan took a sip. "Tell that to your parents."

Jack was unsurprised by the unending amount of sass from the twins, waving them off, leaving with the girls. Chuck smirked, turning to leave.

"Chuck," Brooklyn said. Chuck stopped. "Are you sure you wanna do that?"

"I'm sure that I've been on best behavior all day, and I deserve to blow off some steam," Chuck answered. "Don't worry, little siblings. I won't let it get out of hand."

Chuck left with Jack and the girls.

Dylan swished his drink around. "Famous last words."

X • O ° X • O

Street

No longer in uniform, James was walking, speaking on his phone. "Yeah, if you could have someone find him, that would be great. Get back to me as soon as you can. All right, thank you."

James hung up.

Serena walked up to James with coffee, handing him some, as they continued to walk. "Who was that?"

"I've, uh, I've started to have some people start to look into where Carter might be," James answered.

"What, really?" Serena asked.

"Yeah," James answered. "I mean, after the other night with Brooklyn, and everything that went on with her, Dylan and Chuck... It brought up memories about Caroline and Carter, and I already lost Caroline. I just... I don't know how I would feel if I lost Carter, so I just felt like I had to make sure..."

"That he was okay," Serena finished. "James, I'm sorry. I wish I could help."

"Well, these little talks are certainly helping," James told her. "I just hope my contacts find Carter soon, whatever way they can."

Serena nodded in agreement. "Do you know how long it would take to find Carter?"

"No, I don't, especially if he doesn't want to be found," James answered. "But I gotta try."

"Right," Serena agreed, sympathetic and concerned. "Well, whatever you need, James, I'm here for you."

James chuckled. "I know you are, Serena. Thank you."

James and Serena put an arm around each other, continuing to walk.

X • O ° X • O

Waldorf Penthouse - Thyra's Room

(Song:) When I R.I.P - Labyrinth 

Thyra was sitting in her own room, looking reeling after everything that happened, looking too overwhelmed with the amount of change that she had gone through, both the good, and the very bad. She kept flashing back to 2.14 when she had been in the bar and very tempted to drink and do drugs around Brooklyn. She stood, going through her closet and her drawers, but not seeing the alcohol or drug stash that she used to have, having gotten rid of it after her addiction was made clear. She continued to look in a jewelry box, finding a pill, looking at it longingly for a moment though she knew the danger of addiction if she took it.

X • O ° X • O

Flashback

Night - Party

Thyra was alone without her friends in a party, doing drugs, inhaling a line of coke, looking around at the flashing lights of the party around her, picking up a bottle of alcohol, drinking straight from the bottle, walking through the party, doing more drugs and more drinking as she went. As she walked through the party, she was completely high and wasted, looking around numbly as the flashing lights got slower around her, in her mind as if she was seeing the lights flash in slow motion, the lights reflected on her form. She sat down, with a look that conveyed the feelings of confusion, longing and grief so vivid on her face, tears streaming down her cheeks, exhaling slowly in intervals that matched with the music, each breath getting heavier, longer, her vision starting to blur and the song starting to fade from her ears, as she was lost in her own little world, looking frozen and numb. After what seemed like an endless moment, she finally took a deep breath.

X • O ° X • O

Now

Waldorf Penthouse - Thyra's Room

Thyra was still looking at the pill. There was a knock on the door, breaking her out of her reverie.

Thyra had to take a moment to find her voice, putting the pill down. "Yeah?"

James opened the door. "I just wanted to check in. See how you were doing."

Thyra swallowed, showing James the pill that she had been tempted to take. "Not good."

James looked at the pill, realizing the state that Thyra was in, walking closer in worry. "Thyra..."

"You know, I didn't really know that I was truly an addict until over the summer," Thyra admitted. "I could drink fine, and have fun getting high, but it was getting worse and worse when I couldn't stop. Brooklyn was there to help me make sure that it didn't get out of control most of the time. But we spent the summer apart, and Blair and Wyatt were doing their own things when we were visiting Harold and Roman. And now that I really didn't have Brooklyn there..."

James took Thyra by the hands, leading her to the bed for them to sit down on. "You said that you felt tempted at the bar after the break up. The temptation never went away, did it?"

Thyra shook her head in shame. "God. I'm so sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for," James told her.

"I got the company back today," Thyra told him. "At least in the US, while Aurora handles out of country business, but she's still here, and Harry's still here. I have you, Blair, Wyatt, Nate, Alex, Hope, Noe. I have the Crew as friends. Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck are spiraling. Or, well, Dylan and Chuck are starting to come back since they've been spiraling for a month already, and Brooklyn has barely begun to spiral, but... I should be happy. Not still tempted."

"Temptation can come from the littlest of things, Thyra," James told her. "And you're still new at being sober. But we can make sure that you stay that way. If you let us help you. Okay?"

Thyra looked at the pill. "I just... there's been so much change. Both good and bad."

James nodded knowingly. "I know."

"I just wanted it to stop, to stop feeling so overwhelming," Thyra admitted. "You know the moment... when you're drunk and high, or just high. In the moment that it happens. When your breath starts to swell, and every time you breathe, you breathe out all the oxygen you have. Everything stops. Your heart, your lungs, and finally your brain. And everything you feel, you wish and want to forget, it all just sinks. And then suddenly, you give it air again. Give it life again. I remember the first time it happened to me. I got so scared, I wanted to call 911. Go to the hospital and be kept alive by machines and apple juice. But I'm not an idiot. I didn't want to mess up everyone's night. And then over time, that's all I wanted. Those two seconds of nothingness. But when the 'two seconds of nothingness' fades away, you have to actually look at your demons face to face."

James nodded knowingly. "And you like those two seconds at first, because life is nothing but pain and those two seconds are nothing. And nothing is better than suffering. But that doesn't last forever, Thyra. Addiction is an impulse that, once indulged, is impossible to pacify. Even when starved, the hunger survives. Life is by itself in a vacuum of suffering, but you can choose whether or not to let the suffering control you. I won't let the suffering control me anymore. Question is, will you let it control you? You're too strong for that, Thyra. To let anything or anyone control you. You control them, remember? You got this."

James held his hand out for the pill, questioningly.

Thyra was moved and reassured, thankful and very touched, placing the pill in James' hand so he could take it from her, tears in her eyes. "Thank you, James. I see how you were able to help Wyatt and Brooklyn so much before."

James and Thyra embraced, as James held her comfortingly after the near relapse, and Thyra was convincing herself that James was right and she was strong enough to keep going.

(Song Ends)

X • O ° X • O

Harry's Mansion - Living Room

Alex, Nate and Harry were tossing a football back and forth across the living room while talking.

"So Aurora was executioner to the will and Thyra and Aurora got Diamond Enterprises in the US back, huh?" Harry asked. "Was hoping for some good news for the family friends of us Archibald-Vanderbilts today."

"Yeah," Nate agreed. "Thyra and Aurora were thrilled, and Blair and Wyatt are happy, Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck were happy for them, but they're still spiraling and it's pretty bad."

"I can imagine," Harry agreed. "The Basses haven't had it easy. But I'm sure Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck can pull through, just like the rest of your Crew always seems to do. And the Waldorfs like Blair and Wyatt, and added Baizen brother, will be just fine with Thyra as a sister."

"Yeah," Alex agreed.

"What about you, Alex?" Harry asked. "Nate said that your five month anniversary with Hope is coming up. And it would've been more than a year if your psycho ex from sixth grade didn't break you up last year."

Alex groaned. "Mm, don't remind me about Georgina, Harry. But yeah, the anniversary for Hope and me is in two days. Got something special planned, but low key like Hope asked since she feels guilty that she can't afford to do grand big gestures like I'm used to doing."

"Oh, you mean like taking Hope on an air balloon ride on your first official date?" Nate asked sarcastically.

"Yeah, like that," Alex answered with honest sarcasm.

Harry smiled in amusement. "You took Hope on an air balloon ride on your first date?"

"First official date," Alex answered. "There were two event run ins that turned into us hanging out, but yeah, the air balloon ride was the first real, planned evening between us. Obviously I did the planning."

Harry smirked. "Obviously. What did Hope do that managed to get close to that?"

"Took Alex paintballing on Christmas last year while it was snowing," Nate answered.

"It was pretty cool actually, literally and figuratively," Alex admitted. "It was a lot of fun."

Harry chuckled. "What about you, Nate? Your and Noe's dates top that?"

"Ah, you mean besides Noe and Nate's drunken hookup at the Shepherd wedding?" Alex asked sarcastically. "That what you mean, Harry?"

Nate pushed Alex in the shoulder. "Shut up, Alex." Alex smirked. "Uh, Noe took me ice skating once on an unpredictable date. Watching her was worth it, since she used to know how to before the accident, and you could see her literally gliding back into that." Alex and Harry nodded in understanding. "And then I took her on many outlandish dates over the summer while we were in the Hamptons. It was pretty good."

Harry chuckled. "Good."

"But the anniversary for me and Hope should be good, as long as Jenny doesn't intrude like she has on our dates three times this week alone," Alex admitted.

"Jenny is Hope's sister, right?" Harry asked.

"Who has a crush on Alex and hasn't really let up even though she says she's moving on," Nate answered.

Alex sighed. "It's fine. She'll get over it, hopefully soon so it doesn't get between me and Hope, or between her and Jenny. How about we watch a movie?"

"Oh, Noe is actually supposed to meet up with me so we can watch a movie," Nate explained.

"All right, then we'll see you later, Harry," Alex told him.

"Bye, Harry," Nate told him.

"You got it, boys," Harry agreed. "See you." Alex and Nate walked out. Harry's phone rang. Harry took it out, answering. "Hello, Anne?"

Anne was pacing in the Archibald mansion. "Are they with you?"

"Alex and Nate?" Harry asked.

"Of course Alex and Nate, who else?" Anne asked.

"Yeah, they just left," Harry answered. "Hello to you too, big sister."

"Don't mess around with me right now, Harry," Anne told him. "Alex and Nate have been spending an awful lot of time with you since you've returned."

"Yeah, well, maybe they like having an uncle, a reliable adult figure around," Harry pointed out. "With Howie's felons and punching Alex, you and Howie both disapproving of Noe and Hope at first, and wanting Nate to be engaged to Blair in order to use Eleanor to save yourselves, even while knowing the Waldorfs are also family to Thyra like James Baizen is family to Thyra now now, even when knowing that he loved Noe, and still was a bitch to Noe after knowing about Noe's accident and amnesia, and you still didn't want your son to be around someone as 'damaged' as Noe, even though Noe is probably the best one he's been with, and wanting Alex to find a nice Upper East Side girl instead of Hope so that way he would be secure... until Howie was able to accept Noe and Hope before you did. I was even happy to hear about them while I was away. Especially after everything Noe went through with the accident. How long did it take you to accept everything about your husband, Alex, Nate and their loves, Anne?"

"Don't you dare judge me, Harry," Anne told him.

"If I was judging you, I never would've helped Alex and Nate," Harry replied. "You, Alex and Nate are my family and I would do anything for my family. But you know it's your mistakes and Howie's mistakes that led you guys here. I hope you don't make the same mistake again by not making things right with Alex and Nate. Your husband already did by turning himself in. You can make things right with less extreme ways. Like, I don't know, say, apologize and actually be a mother to Alex and Nate instead of leaving them alone in the city in a house with no power and no one inside, while you were chilling in the Hamptons and you helped Howie chill on an island."

Anne closed her eyes, feeling guilty, but defensive that her brother was calling her out on all of this. "Harry..."

Harry scoffed. "Goodnight, Anne."

Harry hung up, putting his phone down, picking up a glass that he poured for himself, taking a drink, sighing.

X • O ° X • O

Gallery/Cafe

(Song:) No, You Girls Never Know - Franz Ferdinand

Hope was here to try to clear her head, drinking coffee.

Noe walked in. "Hey, I thought you would be here."

Hope looked nervous to see Noe after what she learned from Dan that day, after already having seen Sadie and not able to tell her either. "Hey."

"With your and Alex's five month anniversary coming up, I thought you would be here to come up with more ideas for what to do," Noe admitted. "Need any help?"

"Uh, no," Hope answered. "I think I got it all figured out. But thanks."

"No problem," Noe told her. "I was just dropping by after a session."

"Oh, you just got done with Laureen?" Hope asked.

"Mm-hmm," Noe answered.

"How'd it go?" Hope asked. "Anything new?"

"Not really, though Laureen does keep therapy interesting and not boring," Noe answered. "She somehow makes it seem relaxing sometimes, which never happened to me before."

Hope chuckled. "Well, I'm glad."

Noe frowned in confusion. "You okay?"

Hope nodded nervously. "Yeah, just, uh... nervous and lightheaded. You know, work, Alex's and my anniversary, Jenny, Dan's secret..."

"Right, I saw the Gossip Girl blast," Noe told her. "You sure you're okay with all that?"

"I will be once everything stops being so secretive," Hope answered.

Noe scoffed. "Ah, good luck with that."

Hope chuckled without humor. "Right. Um, you going to see Nate?"

"Yeah, for a little bit," Noe answered. "Nate texted and said we could just relax and watch a movie or something."

Hope smiled a bit. "Sounds great."

"Yeah, it does," Noe agreed. "I'll see you later, Hope."

Hope forced a smile. "Bye, Noe."

Noe turned around, walking out of the gallery. Hope took out her phone, texting Dan:

When are Dad and Lily getting back. S, N, E, Z & Little S need to know about their daughter. Laureen hasn't told Zaya and Sadie yet. It's not fair!

X • O ° X • O

Night - Club

The mean girls, including Nelly, were gathered around a table, gossiping.

"You stole Dan Humphrey's phone?" Hazel asked.

Pleased with herself, Nelly smiled and nodded.

Penelope was pleased. "Not bad, Nelly. At this rate, you'll be off probation before your second marriage." Nelly was munching on a bag of candy. Penelope took it from her. "Is that candy?"

Dan's phone went off, and Penelope flipped open the phone so that all the girls could read Hope's text.

"Lily is Noe, Serena and Eric's mother," Isabel told them. "Laureen's Lily's sister, and Zaya and Sadie's mother. And if Lily had a daughter with Hope, Dan and Jenny's father Rufus..."

The girls were in complete shock.

"It--it can't," Hazel told them. "I mean, that's..."

Penelope smiled. "Oh, my God." She closed the phone, looking at Nelly. "Make that your first marriage."

Nelly smiled.

X • O ° X • O

Waldorf Penthouse - Living Room

Blair had been setting up a "non-romantic" dinner with Chuck, even though the way the dinner was set up, and the dress she was wearing, definitely seemed romantic, complete with candlelight, and she turned the lights down. Her phone went off, and she went to pick up the phone from the table, reading the text from Chuck:

Sorry, working late. Next time...

Blair closed her phone, looking disappointed.

X • O ° X • O

On the Road - Limo

Chuck and Jack were riding in the back of the limo with some girls, partying hard, drinking and doing drugs.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Looks like Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck Bass made their choices."

X • O ° X • O

Bar

Brooklyn was drinking, but not as hard as she was before.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "But careful, Basses. Now that you're big fishes..."

X • O ° X • O

Alley

Dylan was somewhat drunk, but lucid enough to get into a fight with another man, punching him in the face, and continuing to fight and beat him down, until the man pinned Dylan down and started to beat him down in return.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "There are a lot more sharks in this pond."

(Song Ends)

X • O ° X • O

X • O ° X • O

Dylan was lying down, getting beaten down, bleeding.

Wyatt was walking when he saw Dylan, running to check on him. "Dylan? Dylan, hey. Get the hell away from him!" The other guy started to run when he was caught. "Are you okay?"

"Do I look okay?" Dylan replied.

Wyatt tried to figure out what to do in the moment, figuring it out quickly, taking Dylan's arm, looping it around his shoulders so he could try and get him up. "All right, come on. Come on, I got you."

Wyatt helped Dylan away down the alley.

X • O ° X • O

Film Festival

Zaya and Sadie were at the film festival with Beck and Eric, but giving them their space, so the sisters would have their own space too.

Beck walked up to Eric with the book that Eric gave to him at the school that day. "All finished. Now it's my turn. You gotta try anything here with me."

"Hey, hey, hey," Eric told him. "Not so fast. Did you like it?"

"Did I like it, or did I read it?" Beck asked. "The book's about how a guy loses his integrity and gives into temptation. Which is exactly what I see you doing tonight, with me. Nothing that would get you in trouble with your boyfriend, though, trust me."

Eric laughed. "Right. Well, a deal's a deal, right?"

"That's right, Eric," Beck told him in amusement. "A deal is a deal. Oh, what about Zaya and Sadie?"

"Uh, I can talk to them," Eric answered. "Beck, you mind giving us a moment?"

"Not at all," Beck answered. "I'll get us some drinks."

"Thanks," Eric told him.

Beck walked away. Zaya and Sadie caught up with Eric.

"Where is Beck going?" Sadie asked.

"To get us drinks," Eric answered. "And then we're gonna have some fun."

"Oh, I'll go help Beck then," Sadie told them.

"All right," Zaya agreed. Sadie ran off to go help Beck. Zaya and Eric smiled. "You and Beck are getting close as friends, huh?"

"Yeah, I think," Eric answered. "I mean, it's nice to have a friend like Beck, you know?"

"Yeah," Zaya answered, pausing when she saw that a girl nearby was checking Zaya out and clearly sending signals, blushing, looking away.

Eric noticed this, looking at Zaya with a slightly knowing, curious look, raising an eyebrow. "Seems like the girl likes you."

"Yeah, but I don't know her, so..." Zaya trailed off.

"That's the only reason why you wouldn't like her?" Eric asked.

Zaya realized what that sounded like. "No. Oh, um... I don't... I don't know."

Eric stopped walking. "Zaya."

Zaya sighed, turning to face him, taking a deep breath, looking down nervously, needing to say this. "Eric... I think I'm gay."

Eric nodded, not surprised. "Oh."

"No one else knows," Zaya admitted. "Um..."

"I'm the first person you told?" Eric asked.

"Yeah," Zaya answered.

Eric smiled a bit. "I'm honored."

"Are you surprised?" Zaya asked.

"No," Eric answered.

"So you knew?" Zaya asked.

"Not exactly," Eric answered.

"But you're not surprised?" Zaya asked.

"Do you want me to be surprised?" Eric asked.

Zaya looked completely lost on what to do or say. "I don't know."

Eric nodded in understanding. "Okay, well, no matter what, Laureen and Sadie are going to love you. Just like me, Noe, Serena and our mother. And the friendships that you're building with Hope, Thyra, Brooklyn, Blair, the rest of the Crew? They're not gonna change because of this, because Thyra, Brooklyn, Dylan and Wyatt are like us, remember?" Zaya nodded. "I'm glad that you told me this."

Zaya looked very worried. "But my dad... if he finds out, he's going to hate me, and then he'll start more fights than he has already, and Sadie..."

"Sadie could be hurt," Eric finished in worry. "Or worse."

"Yeah," Zaya answered. "I can't let him find out."

"We'll figure it out," Eric assured. "I promise."

Zaya nodded with tears in her eyes, still looking scared. "What happened at Unity, I only sent those pictures because I thought if I didn't, people would find out about this, and then it would make its way back to my dad, and..."

"It's okay," Eric told her. "It's gonna be okay, Zaya. You, Sadie and Laureen are gonna be okay. Come here, Zaya." Zaya and Eric embraced, before pulling away. "Let's go have fun. Sadie and Beck are waiting."

Zaya and Eric smiled, walking in the direction of Sadie and Beck.

X • O ° X • O

Bass Suite

Since the suite was empty, Wyatt and Dylan were alone when Wyatt brought Dylan home.

Wyatt was now helping Dylan with his injuries, applying first aid and bandages. "You should've let me take you to the hospital."

"No," Dylan told him. "Chuck and Brooklyn have enough to worry about right now with their own spirals. I don't need to add to the list because of my own stupidity."

"Yeah, but I'm not a doctor, Dylan," Wyatt told him. "I'm just now starting to fully get into biomedical sciences. And a branch of that also includes biomedical neurology to a point, by the way. I'm not good at this yet."

"Yeah, but you will be," Dylan replied, smiling a bit at the concern and worry in his face and voice, reaching out to stroke Wyatt's cheek. "You're plenty good at this already, Wyatt. And thank you for helping me."

"Doesn't matter that you broke up with me because you wanted to protect me, or that we had a fight because of you were hooking up with a lot of people," Wyatt told him. "I'll always be there for you. I'll always take care of you. Even if you don't want anyone to take care of you or help you."

"I wouldn't say that I don't want 'anyone'," Dylan told him.

There was an intense look, and they nearly kissed.

Wyatt stopped the kiss before it happened, reminded by how angry he was about everything that happened, though trying to be mature and concerned. "How are you?"

"I'll survive," Dylan answered. "I'm all right. Just slightly sore."

"What happened?" Wyatt asked. "How did this happen?"

"I don't wanna talk about it," Dylan told him.

"Come on," Wyatt said. "I'm really worried about you."

Dylan sighed. "I just got drunk and stupid. It's nothing."

Wyatt gave him a look. "It's not nothing. I'm glad you didn't get hurt worse, but what would have happened if it was worse, and you died? I would have been devastated for the rest of my life."

"That much?" Dylan asked.

"Yeah," Wyatt answered. "We might be broken up and we fought, but I still care about you. You're still very important to me."

"Why do you even care?" Dylan asked.

"Do you really need to ask that question?" Wyatt asked. "I just found you beat up in the middle of an alley."

"I didn't ask you to help me or bring me here," Dylan told him.

Wyatt couldn't keep calm anymore, losing his patience. "You know what? I've had it. I've been trying to be mature and understanding because I thought that's what you needed, but I'm done."

Dylan stood up, nearly falling, but regaining his balance. "Look, Wyatt--"

Wyatt shook his head. "No. I listened to what you had to say, and I've been silent. Now it's my turn. You're right. You didn't ask for my help, but what was I supposed to do when I found you beat down in an alley? Or better yet, what happens next time you take off and decide to whore yourself out to God knows who? Maybe that Gossip Girl blast would be about how I had to find you dead in a ditch somewhere."

Dylan scoffed. "You know, this is exactly why I didn't want this. Here we go."

"Here we go?" Wyatt repeated. "That's your response to me wanting to talk to you?"

Dylan nodded. "Well, yeah, because I didn't want for us to get like this. Which is why I decided to break up with you."

"You decided?" Wyatt repeated, incredulous. "Do you hear yourself? You don't get to just say that we're over without talking like normal people, Dylan. For God's sake, you took off in the middle of the night after you almost drowned, Chuck took off, you both left Brooklyn broken and suicidal, and you left me a mess. I had to find out we broke up through a note I didn't think was real, until you were sleeping your way across every broke down bar on the other side of the world. You left me here alone to worry about you for weeks, and I understand your father died, and you were spiraling--"

"And if you're still angry, then clearly you don't understand after everything that me and my siblings went through," Dylan told him.

Wyatt tried not to let his anger get the best of him. "Don't you dare tell me I don't get to be angry. Of course I'm angry. I am in pain." He started to cry, pointing at Dylan. "And you put me here. You, the person who is supposed to love me more than anything else in the world."

Dylan scoffed. "Don't you think I'm in pain too? I got my father killed, a father that was abusive to me, Brooklyn and Chuck for all our lives and pit us against each other so that we wouldn't be close, and that led to us fracturing and Brooklyn nearly killing herself when Chuck and I weren't here. I have this guilt, this hate inside of me that feels like it's about to explode. And the only thing I can think of to stop it from getting out is getting beat down. How is your pain over a break up gonna measure up to all of that, Golden Boy?"

Wyatt closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "I know you're in pain, Dylan, and I'm sorry, but I can't help you if you refuse to be helped. And you don't want help, you want punishment. For your guilt over Bart and Brooklyn's suicide attempt and Chuck's spiral. That's what you're doing. And you could end up killed for real. I hate what you did so much. And I have a right to be angry."

"Never said you didn't, but don't for a second compare the pain of a break up to this pain," Dylan told him.

"I'm not trying to," Wyatt told him, trying to calm down for the both of them. "You were right about one thing. We can't be together until you pull yourself together. Because I deserve better than to go through this again, and as angry as I am with you, I really wish for you not to go through it either."

"So what?" Dylan asked. "What do you want me to do, Wyatt?"

"It's not about what I want you to do," Wyatt told him. "You need help, Dylan. And not the kind that I can help you with. I know that you said that you didn't want to talk to Laureen... but after tonight, I really think that you should reconsider and even if not Laureen, just somebody, because I'm out of options here."

Wyatt turned away for a moment, trying to compose himself.

"Wyatt..." Dylan trailed off.

Wyatt took a deep breath, turning back. "Look, I understand that you didn't want for us to get like this, and that's why you broke up with me. I don't like it, and I don't accept it, but I understand it, believe it or not as much as I hate it. And I hate it a lot. The problem is this. I still love you."

"You do?" Dylan asked.

"Yes," Wyatt answered. "We can get like this, and you can do all that to me, and even then I love you forever, Dylan, because I know that it's because of everything that you went through. So whatever you decide to do, even if I hate it, I still love you, but this isn't about me. It's about you and your pain and how you deal with it. I can't force you to want to be better, that's something that can only come from you. I can just believe in you, and I do. I know you can get through this, even if you don't think so. So I just hope you try to love you and believe in yourself as much as I do."

Wyatt turned around, walking away. Dylan bit his lip, still stubborn, but knowing that Wyatt was right, and put in his place, but also having gotten Wyatt to better understand his part of the pain and why he did all he did.

X • O ° X • O

Day Two

Boston

Morning - Hotel Room

Lily was sitting on the couch, trying to read a newspaper, but was unable to focus on it. "I can't even pretend to read this anymore." She took off her reading glasses, turning to look at Rufus behind her, who stood at the window. "How long are we gonna sit around here waiting?"

Rufus groaned, pacing back and forth. "Hasn't even been 24 hours yet. Just give it a chance."

Lily turned to look at him again now that he was on the other side of the room. "Yeah, but they may not make a decision for days. I hope they do, but... I've already missed the reading of Bart's will. I know that Thyra and Aurora got Diamond Enterprises in the US back, and of course Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck got Bass Industries, but I don't know anything else."

Rufus's phone started to ring. He walked over to pick it up, answering it. "Hello? Yes. She's right here." He sat down next to Lily. "And what did they say?" Lily reached over to take Rufus by the hand. Rufus looked upset, disappointed. "Oh. Well, did you tell 'em we're not looking for anything, just a conversation? Yes, well, I'm sorry, too." He hung up. "They don't want to meet. They don't want us to contact them... ever."

"Rufus..." Lily trailed off.

Rufus looked defeated, also secretive, guilty. "Well, that's it, then. I guess I'll go back."

Rufus stood, going to go pack.

X • O ° X • O

Manhattan

Ostroff Center - Laureen's Office

Laureen was sitting at her desk, working.

Dylan hesitantly knocked on the door.

Laureen looked up, surprised to see him. "Dylan. I didn't expect to see you."

"Yeah, well, I didn't expect to come here," Dylan replied. "But I know that you've been working miracles with Noe, and you've been helping Thyra, Wyatt and James, and Zaya and Sadie. And you did offer me, Brooklyn and Chuck to talk to you when we were ready. Be careful, Laureen. You might as well have an open door policy with the whole damn Crew."

Laureen chuckled. "I plan on it. All of the Crew seems to have... reasons to see me for help."

"That's a very nice way of saying that all of us are screwed up in one way or another," Dylan pointed out. "Eric too in some ways."

Laureen crossed her arms over her chest. "What can I help you with, Dylan?"

Dylan sighed. "Well, Wyatt suggested that I see you after Chuck and I got back, before Brooklyn..." He didn't finish, looking worried, shaking his head. "Moving on. But I said no, because I barely knew you, or Zaya and Sadie, since I never tried to be friends with them, and neither did Chuck, even though pretty much all the other Crew members did. Even if you were our step aunt, and Zaya and Sadie were our step cousins. Like Noe, Serena and Eric used to be our step siblings. Lily used to be our step mother."

"But clearly something's caused you to change your mind," Laureen pointed out.

"Yeah," Dylan agreed. "Do you have time for an appointment?"

"Whether or not we're still tied together by law, I always have time for family, former or otherwise," Laureen answered. "Take a seat, Dylan."

Dylan took a seat on the couch. Laureen sat across from him in her chair.

Dylan sighed heavily. "Last night, I got wasted, and I was high, and I got into a fight."

"I can tell," Laureen told him in concern. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah," Dylan answered. "I let it happen. I just... I thought it was punishment for breaking Wyatt's heart, for my dad, for Brooklyn, that I deserved it."

"No one deserves what any of your 'Crew' goes through," Laureen told him. "Neither does Eric."

"I know," Dylan agreed. "But that doesn't stop the bad things from happening."

Laureen shook her head sadly in agreement. "No, it doesn't. No matter how much I wish it would. What happened after the fight?"

"Wyatt found us and he chased the other guy away," Dylan answered. "He took me back home, and Brooklyn and Chuck weren't there because they were also out getting wasted or something, though Chuck was with our uncle Jack. Brooklyn wasn't. Wyatt bandaged me up, took care of me, and then tore into me with a rant that I definitely deserved after I took off the way I did, the way I hurt Wyatt, and Brooklyn. Like Chuck hurt Brooklyn too, and Blair. And... it was kind of a wake up call for me. And I knew that I had to come see you, Laureen."

Laureen nodded in understanding, remaining professional though she was also making the emotional connection with Dylan, not only as her patient, but her former step nephew. "I'm glad that you trusted me enough to come to me with this, Dylan."

"Do you think you can help me?" Dylan asked.

Laureen took a breath. "I think now that you want to be helped, and you're making the effort to get help, if you stick to it... I think that I'll be able to help you help yourself, yes."

Dylan nodded, reassured, taking a deep breath. "Thank you... Laureen."

Laureen nodded. "Are you sure you want to skip the brunch that Blair's planned for you, Brooklyn and Chuck in order to have this session with me?"

"More than sure," Dylan answered. "I don't need the brunch, not right now. But Chuck and Brooklyn might. What I need to be is right here."

Laureen nodded, sitting back. "All right. Let's begin digging a little further."

Dylan took a deep breath, nodding in agreement.

X • O ° X • O

The Palace - Brunch

Brooklyn, Noe, Serena, Blair, Thyra and Zaya were standing together.

Zaya took a strawberry off the brunch table, dropping it into her champagne, taking a sip of the strawberry flavored champagne.

Noe noticed a group of older people across the room. "Who are those people?"

"Members of the board of Bass Industries," Brooklyn answered. "I called it early last night and got some sleep so I wasn't too hung over this morning, and Dylan, Chuck and Jack all told me that they called it early too for the same reason. Jack said that he wanted the board to get to know us in a more casual setting. I've been looking for Chuck, but no luck."

Serena tilted her head. "You're hungover? Brooklyn..."

"Very barely, since like I said, we called early," Brooklyn reiterated, not aware that Chuck and Jack had lied about calling it early, or Jack's manipulation on the siblings.

"And you're sure that Chuck and Dylan both called it early too?" Serena asked.

"As sure as I can be," Brooklyn answered, looking worried.

"Okay, so you're good, and you think that Dylan and Chuck are good," Zaya told her. "That's good, right, Brooklyn?"

Brooklyn shrugged, taking a bite of a strawberry.

"Well, Wyatt explained to me, Blair and James about what went down with Dylan last night," Thyra admitted. Brooklyn frowned, clearly not having been told what happened by Dylan. Serena and Noe were also confused and worried. "Dylan got into a fight and Wyatt helped him, and I'm sure that it's not something you need to be worried about more right now, all right?"

"All right," Noe agreed, but was still worried like Brooklyn and Serena were.

Zaya looked at Blair. "So Chuck cancelled on you to go party with Jack?"

Blair rolled her eyes. "At this point, I'm not even surprised."

"Don't be catty," Thyra told her teasingly. "It provokes stress, and stress will provoke wrinkles, and then you'll need botox."

Blair smirked sarcastically.

"I'm just saying..." Noe trailed off.

"You're just saying nothing," Blair told her.

Hope walked by them to get to the table to get food. "First year where I had an actual invite to a Bass brunch instead of just being Alex's plus one. That's for the invite, Blair."

"Hello, Hope," Blair replied.

Thyra chuckled. "Hey, Hope."

"Hi, girls," Hope replied. "Where's Sadie at?"

Sadie walked up to them to get food. "Here I am. What's up?"

"Nothing much," Serena answered, running a hand through Sadie's hair fondly. "Oh, Zaya, Sadie, how was your night of fun with Eric and Beck?"

"It was fine," Sadie answered.

"Hang on, Beck Boardman?" Thyra asked.

"Yeah, Beck Boardman," Sadie answered. "It was fun."

"That's one way to put it," Zaya agreed.

Hope smiled. "Well, then I'm glad that you guys managed to have some fun then."

"Even if it was with Beck Boardman," Blair agreed. "I wonder if he moved on from Wyatt by now."

"Thanks, guys," Sadie told them. "And I'm pretty sure Beck did move on from Wyatt, with the way that Eric and Beck are bonding. Zaya, Serena, Noe, I think Beck has a crush on Eric."

Noe chuckled. "Beck and Eric are just friends, Sadie."

Sadie took a sip of water, looking sly and unconvinced. "If you say so."

The girls chuckled.

"At least Beck Boardman's moved on," Brooklyn told them. "Good for Eric. He certainly deserves better than Jonathan."

"I hope you're having fun, Brooklyn, since the brunch is for you, Chuck and Dylan," Zaya told her.

"Oh, it's more for Chuck than it is for me and Dylan, since Chuck is the one that can take over the company a lot sooner than we can, even if he'll let us help and learn while he's in charge," Brooklyn pointed out.

Serena placed a hand on Brooklyn's shoulder. "Well, either way, you all deserve it."

Blair raised her glass of champagne. "I'll drink to that."

The other girls raised their glasses, except for Thyra, who looked very worried, nervous.

Hope noticed, putting her drink down. "Thyra? You okay?"

"Uh, yeah," Thyra answered. "I just need some air."

"Do you want someone with you?" Noe asked.

"No, I'm fine," Thyra told them. "You girls have fun."

"Thyra..." Blair trailed off worriedly.

"Just let me be, Blair," Thyra told her. "You be here for Chuck, all right? I'm going."

The girls watched her go in concern.

"What was that about?" Sadie asked.

Hope sighed. "I have a pretty good idea."

Brooklyn finished her glass. "Should I..." She clearly wanted to go check on Thyra, but before she could finish, her phone went off. "Oh, that's Jack. He's supposed to be bringing Chuck and Dylan in. But Thyra..."

Zaya put a hand on Brooklyn's arm. "I'll check on Thyra. You be there with your family. Thyra wanted you and Blair and Wyatt to be here for Dylan and Chuck anyway."

"Are you sure?" Brooklyn asked.

"Of course," Zaya answered. "I owe you and Thyra both after the way you were both there for me, Brooklyn."

Brooklyn nodded. Zaya walked away to check on Thyra. Brooklyn and Blair walked away to the door. Serena, Noe, Hope and Sadie sighed in concern.

Elsewhere, Jenny was with Dan. "Dan, it's okay. Whatever secret the blast was talking about that you were keeping from Hope, it's still good that you two aren't letting it mess with you guys like what happened with me and Hope. And you came, so..."

"And you know I wouldn't pass up an opportunity to celebrate Chuck, Dylan and Brooklyn Bass," Dan told her sarcastically.

Jenny smirked. "Exactly. I'm gonna go find Noe, Hope, Eric, Zaya or Sadie, but text me if you need any moral support."

"I can't," Dan told her. "I lost my phone. I'm stuck with Dad's old cell. It practically has a rotary dial."

Jenny was amused. "Wow. Well, good luck."

Alex walked up to Hope at the brunch table, as she was now alone. "I'm glad you actually got an invitation this year."

Hope smiled. "That's what I said to Blair."

"Happy you could make it," Alex told her, kissing her on the cheek.

Hope tilted her head. "I love brunch. You have waffles and eggs and..." She pointed at one of the options on the table. "Little kipper-looking things in the same spot. I love this meal. It's perfect."

Alex smirked in amusement at her small ramble. "I know."

Hope took Alex by the hands. "Not to mention you're here."

Alex and Hope smiled.

"Remember, tomorrow, we get to celebrate our anniversary," Alex told her. "Five months back together."

Hope smiled, thrilled. "I know."

"You talked to Jenny yet about making sure this is one date that she can't crash?" Alex asked.

Hope sighed, nodding nervously. "I'm working up to it."

"Hope, you shouldn't have to be worried about talking to your own sister about things like this," Alex told her.

Hope tilted her head, sighing. "I know, I know. I just... Zaya, Sadie and I all talked about how Jenny still has some anger and jealousy deep down, and I don't want to start a fight. But I will talk to her. I promise, Alex."

Alex nodded. Alex and Hope embraced, kissing lightly, remaining in each other's arms as they pulled away, both sighing.

Elsewhere, Noe was eating a strawberry, looking around.

Nate walked up behind Noe, putting his arms around her. "Hey, Noe."

Noe smiled, leaning her head back on Nate's shoulder. "Hi, Nate." Noe turned to face Nate so they could kiss softly, holding each other's hands. "I'm glad you could make it."

"Are you kidding me?" Nate asked. "Pretty sure most of our friends/crew need this. And you're here. I'd be crazy not to come."

Noe smiled, as both Nate and Noe laughed lightly.

Noe let her smile fade, looking worried. "You've seen more of Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck lately than I have. Or Mom, Laureen, Serena, Eric, Zaya and Sadie, though Brooklyn was talking to me, Serena, Zaya, Sadie, Hope, Thyra and Blair earlier, so that's progress."

"Definitely is," Nate agreed.

"Do you think they're gonna be okay?" Noe asked.

"Eventually," Nate answered. "They just need time."

Noe nodded in agreement, sighing heavily.

Elsewhere, James walked up to Serena, placing his hands on her shoulders lightly.

Serena turned to face him, smiling. "James, you came."

"Of course I did," James agreed. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Well, you've been so busy lately, helping Thyra and Wyatt with their episodes or near relapse, or helping them and Blair with Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck..." Serena trailed off. "Not to mention trying to hire someone to find Carter."

"Yeah," James agreed. "Well, even given all that, I would always make time to be there for the Crew, and you, Serena, since that does include you, but you as my girlfriend too."

Serena smiled. "I like the sound of that."

Serena and James shared a kiss.

Brooklyn stood by the doorway, clapping her hands. "Excuse me. Please be quiet. Chuck, Dylan and Jack should be on their way up."

Jack walked in alone.

Everyone started to sing. "For he's a jolly good fellow / For he's a jolly good fellow."

Brooklyn walked up to Jack. "Where're Chuck and Dylan?"

"Relax, Brooklyn," Jack told her. "Dylan's not here, and Chuck's in his office."

"What do you mean, Dylan's not here?" Brooklyn asked. "And why is Chuck in the office?"

"Dylan said something about Laureen von Miller when I called to make sure of where he was," Jack answered.

Brooklyn realized that Dylan was trying to get help. "Laureen von Miller is Zaya and Sadie's mother. Noe, Thyra, Wyatt, James, Zaya and Sadie's psychiatrist. So Laureen must be helping Dylan, since she was our and Chuck's step aunt, since she's Lily's sister, and Noe, Serena and Eric's aunt."

Jack nodded. "Chuck's trying to work, though I don't know how much he'll get done after the night we had."

"What?" Brooklyn asked. "You three told me that you all called it off early. I found out about the brunch and I texted Chuck about it to make sure that you two would."

"Yeah, Chuck didn't get that text, I did," Jack explained, smirking slyly, but wasn't revealing what he had done and manipulated Chuck into doing.

"How bad is he?" Brooklyn asked.

"Oh, not that bad," Jack lied. "No worse than you."

Brooklyn narrowed her eyes at him, but before she could retort, two members of the board walked up to them.

The man shook Jack's hand. "Jack, there you are. I take it this is Brooklyn, one of the guests of honor." They shook hands. "Where are Dylan and Chuck?"

Jack chuckled. "Pete, Alice, glad you could make it. Brooklyn, this is Pete Holmerg, Alice Cashman, members of Bass Industries board."

Brooklyn put on a thin smile. "Nice to meet you."

"Dylan couldn't make it, because he's getting the help he so desperately needs at this time, but Chuck's hard at work upstairs, actually," Jack told them. "You should go see him. Perhaps Brooklyn could show you the way."

Brooklyn looked nervous and unsure of what exactly was going on, but knowing something was more wrong than Jack said, though she knew she couldn't blow this meeting because of it being her family's company. "Uh... sure."

Jack smirked. "You okay, Brooklyn? You look a little out of sorts. Can't blame you after the night you've had."

Brooklyn looked at Pete and Alice. "He's talking about a very depressing night."

Brooklyn glared at Jack suspiciously, walking out of the room quickly toward Chuck's office. Pete and Alice followed, though Brooklyn wanted to make sure that Chuck was good before they saw him, though she hadn't had enough time to find out what was really going on or how to stop it.

As Zaya was walking through the crowd, looking for Thyra, she was intercepted by the mean girls.

"Zaya?" Penelope asked. "We need to talk to you. It's important."

"We put a hit on Dan Humphrey on Gossip Girl--" Hazel started to explain.

"Why are you bothering me about Gossip Girl right now?" Zaya asked. "Move out of my way."

"We wanted your okay before we release what we have, since Brooklyn, Thyra and Blair are all busy, again," Penelope told her, feigning innocence.

Zaya tried to get this over with so she could get past them. "Fine. Whatever, I don't have time for this. Release it. Go breathe somewhere else."

Zaya pushed her way through the mean girls, walking past to walk out of the room.

"Why did you ask Zaya if you never wanted to listen to her before?" Nelly asked.

Penelope smirked. "Because I wanted to see if Zaya would say yes before knowing what this was since it will shake all the Rhodes-Humphreys, and if it means that Zaya feels guilty about the release because she said yes without checking on what it was, even better. Bombs away, girls."

Penelope sent the blast.

Jenny sat with Hope at a table. "So, what do you and Alex want to do tonight and tomorrow?"

Hope sighed. "Actually, uh, Alex and I were thinking of just being together tonight, and tomorrow's our anniversary, remember? So it would be nice to have two nights to ourselves. Just the two of us."

Jenny looked annoyed. "Oh, okay."

Hope tilted her head. "Come on, Jenny. You've been hanging out with us a lot recently."

"So?" Jenny asked. "Don't act like you're doing me some big favor."

"Okay, you're acting ridiculous," Hope told her.

"Me?" Jenny asked. "I wasn't gonna say anything, but ever since you started dating Alex again, it's like, 'my boyfriend this, my boyfriend that'. It's like, 'okay, we get it. You have a boyfriend'. But--"

"Yes, I do," Hope agreed. "And I'm sorry that you don't, and that we're in this awkward position because you still have feelings for him. But it doesn't mean I have to invite you out every time we have plans, especially with an anniversary coming up tomorrow."

Jenny shook her head. "You're so conceited."

"And you're annoying," Hope replied.

Jenny tilted her head. "Or is the more correct term for you insecure? You can't handle me being around Alex because you're worried about what I'll do."

"That is not true, and you know it, considering we've hung out with you constantly since all this started," Hope replied. "Just because we want some time alone for an anniversary--"

Jenny grabbed her things, standing, walking away in annoyance, acting out. Hope sighed, tilting her head back, not knowing what to do.

Harry and Aurora were both getting some food from the table.

"Aurora, hi," Harry greeted.

"Hello, Harry," Aurora replied. "What did I do to get this punishment?"

Harry chuckled. "You never stop, do you?"

"You never do either," Aurora replied.

"Alex and Nate told me about you and Thyra getting back the US branch of Diamond Enterprises," Harry explained. "Congratulations. I was hoping to give you an apology."

"For what?" Aurora asked.

"Ever underestimating you," Harry answered. "Figured I owed you an apology for that."

Aurora shook her head. "It's a common thing to underestimate my family. You don't owe me an apology, Harry. The only thing you owe me today is your absence from the space next to me."

Harry smirked. "I'm sure we'll have another banter meeting sometime soon, Rory."

Aurora gave Harry a look, walking away with her food. Harry smirked.

James walked up to Blair and Wyatt. "Blair, Wyatt, there you two are. Where's Thyra?"

"I idiotically made the suggestion to toast champagne and Thyra took off outside," Blair answered. "So I know she doesn't want to talk to me right now since I should've remembered that it was hard for her lately, but I didn't know how hard."

"Blair, you can't blame yourself," James told her. "Thyra asked me not to tell anyone how bad it was last night because she didn't want any pity or worry."

"Yeah, well, that's not going so well," Wyatt pointed out. "Did anyone go to check to see if Thyra was okay?"

"Zaya did," Blair answered. "She offered me and Brooklyn."

"We should keep looking," Wyatt suggested. "Make sure she's okay."

"Yeah, come on," James agreed.

They split up to look for Thyra.

X • O ° X • O

Outside

(Song:) Watchman, What is Left of the Night? - Greycoats

Thyra was sitting outside to get some fresh air.

Zaya walked outside. "Thyra? We've been looking for you."

Thyra sighed. "The girls, James or Wyatt send you to check on me while they've all got dates or something to do?"

Zaya walked closer. "We just wanted to make sure that you were okay."

Thyra shook her head, looking down. "I'm sorry. I just can't talk about this. With the addiction flaring up, and Brooklyn, and everything else, I just... I can't. And I don't expect you to understand."

Zaya nodded, trying to prove that she could help even though Thyra didn't think she could. "Right. Because why wouldn't I understand after you know everything me and Sadie and my mother have to go through with my father."

Thyra realized that she was being insensitive, closing her eyes. "Zaya, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. And yeah, what you, Sadie and Laureen are going through, it's horrible, but you have no idea the drowning feeling that I feel right now."

Zaya scoffed softly. "You have no idea what I feel, Thyra. You don't know what it's been like for me. The things that my father expects of me. The things that he does to me, to Sadie, to our mother. The pressure that I feel to be perfect all the damn time. Which is impossible with the things that I feel, the way that I am."

"You mean the dyslexia and Unity?" Thyra asked.

"I mean everything," Zaya answered. "How much can I take before I break? You may have gone through a lot of hardships, Thyra, but you're not the only one. So don't think that I can't relate. And I want to help you and show you that I can, even if the situations are different."

Thyra looked at Zaya, surprised but touched, managing a small smile. "Thank you, Zaya."

Zaya looked like she was becoming nervous and flustered, nodding, looking down, fiddling with her hands. "Yeah. Of course. You and Brooklyn helped me. I just... wanted to return the favor."

Thyra chuckled. "Right."

Thyra and Zaya's phones both went off. They checked the Gossip Girl blast, reading, both of them in shock as they read.

Zaya slowly stood. "I need to..."

Thyra nodded in agreement. "Go, it's okay."

X • O ° X • O

Inside

Everyone's phones started to go off. Everyone started to check them, including Noe, Hope, Alex, Wyatt, James, Sadie, Serena, Blair, Nate, Jenny and Eric.

The mean girls smirked smugly as they opened their phones.

Zaya walked into the room in a rush.

Everyone looked at Noe, Hope, Zaya, Sadie, Serena, Dan, Jenny and Eric in shock.

Dan looked around. "What now, people? It's not like I brought a tuna sandwich."

Dan pulled out his phone to read the blast. Hope looked worried that the secret came out like this, looking toward Noe, Zaya, Sadie, Serena, Dan, Jenny and Eric in worry, standing, especially worried about how Noe and Sadie would react given their mind or heart states. Zaya looked at Noe and Sadie with just as much worry. Noe, Serena, Sadie, Dan, Jenny and Eric were all finishing reading, all in shock. Noe put a hand to her head, and Sadie's hand was over her chest, as both were stunned absolutely by the revelation, though Noe more so obviously since it was the news about her half-sister. Zaya walked over quickly to Sadie to make sure she would be fine, and Serena and Eric walked over to Noe. Alex, Nate and James looked at Hope, Noe and Serena in shock and concern for their loved ones, and Wyatt and Blair were just as stunned and concerned.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Hold on to your floppy cable-knit hats, kids. Lonely Boy's secret is out, and this one's a doozy. Seems like Serena, Noe and Eric van der Woodsen share a sister with Hope, Dan and Jenny Humphrey. Equaling another cousin for Zaya and Sadie von Miller. While two best friends sharing a sibling like Noe and Hope would make them feel more like sisters than the fact that they're both dating an Archibald brother like Nate and Alex, but, the fact that star-crossed ex-lovers Serena and Dan dated without knowing about their sibling? At least Romeo and Juliet didn't share DNA. At least S has found a new Romeo with James Baizen. Another round of proof of overlap in the family since Noe used to date James's brother Carter. Who knows what could come next in this twisted family tree?"

Noe couldn't stay inside much longer, walking out of the room, leaving the building. Serena and Eric grabbed their jackets and followed Noe. Hope, Dan and Jenny exchanged a look with each other, and Zaya and Sadie, before they went after Noe, Serena and Eric. Zaya and Sadie were left stunned, knowing that the six of them needed a moment to themselves, but both wanting to know if this was true just as badly as they did.

X • O ° X • O

Chuck's Office

Chuck was drinking, doing drugs, and had two female escorts by his side.

Brooklyn opened the doors, walking in, seeing the state that Chuck was in, trying to stop Pete and Alice from seeing it but it was too late. "Chuck!"

"That is your older brother?" Pete asked.

"Yeah," Chuck answered. "Who the hell are you?"

"Pete Holmberg," Pete answered. "I'm on the board of Bass Industries."

Pete and Alice walked out of the room.

Brooklyn was completely stunned, not knowing how to fix this.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Didn't Bart teach Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck? Never mix business with pleasure."

(Song Ends)

X • O ° X • O

X • O ° X • O

Outside

Noe, Serena and Eric walked outside.

"Noe..." Eric trailed off.

"I just... I--I didn't... I couldn't be in there with everyone looking and..." Noe trailed off.

Dan, Jenny and Hope walked outside.

"Noe, are you okay?" Hope asked in concern.

Noe sighed shakily. "I--I don't know."

"This can't be true," Jenny told them. "Can it? I mean..."

Hope closed her eyes, looking down.

Dan swallowed. "It's true."

"And you knew?" Serena asked.

"Dan had to tell me yesterday because of the blast that he was keeping something from me, and I got it out of him, and the only reason why I didn't tell all of you..." Hope trailed off.

"Because of Noe's mind and Sadie's heart," Dan told them. "I begged Hope not to say anything. And Dad begged me."

Serena, Eric and Jenny were absolutely speechless.

Noe sighed, running her hands through her hair, also speechless, but trying to be okay. "Tell us everything you know."

Dan and Hope nodded in agreement.

X • O ° X • O

Inside

Sadie showed Zaya her phone, wondering if it was real. Zaya sighed, shaking her head, not knowing what to say. They both walked out of the room.

Brooklyn walked past Zaya and Sadie on the way into the room, grabbing a glass of champagne as she did, drinking it as she was so overwhelmed with knowing that things were really screwed for her and her brothers now, though she wanted to try to remedy things.

Chuck walked into the room, seeing everything. "What the hell?"

Dylan walked in. "Sorry I'm late. Did I miss anything?"

Brooklyn gave Dylan a look. "Did you ever." Jack was watching Brooklyn, Dylan and Chuck, smirking. Brooklyn walked up to the board members. "A word, if you would please?"

Chuck walked up to them. "Look, I didn't realize you were going to be here."

"Clearly," Pete replied. "We knew this was the reputation for all of you. When we learned your father had left you the company when you each turned 18, we had hoped he knew something we didn't." Jack was listening. "Apparently that's not the case. I don't know what Bart was thinking."

The board members walked out of brunch, leaving Brooklyn and Chuck overwhelmed.

Dylan was completely lost, walking up to Brooklyn and Chuck. "What the hell was that?"

"Board members from the company," Brooklyn answered. "You weren't here, Chuck was getting high and drunk with two girls, and I... I tried. I really tried, but I'm a mess. I--I can't..."

Brooklyn walked away.

Dylan took a step after her. "Brooklyn, wait. Chuck, what the hell?"

Chuck was just as lost as Dylan and Brooklyn.

Blair walked up to Chuck, so Dylan walked away to give them a moment alone.

"Did you do all this?" Chuck asked, gesturing around the brunch.

"What?" Blair asked. "Throw you and your siblings a brunch? Try to do something nice, supportive? Yes."

"We don't need your help," Chuck snapped. "Stop trying to play the wife."

Blair looked like she had been slapped in the face. Chuck walked away.

X • O ° X • O

Outside

Noe, Serena, Eric, Hope, Dan and Jenny were still talking.

Zaya and Sadie walked outside.

"Is it true?" Sadie asked.

"Yeah," Serena answered. "Yeah, it is."

"Wow," Eric said. He looked between the VDW and Humphrey siblings. "Well, I guess it makes sense that we fight like siblings."

"Yeah," Jenny agreed.

"Look, my dad made me promise not to say anything," Dan explained. "He wanted to tell Hope and Jenny, but Hope wrestled it out of me, and Lily wanted to tell Noe, Serena and Eric. Zaya, Sadie, Laureen wanted to tell you two. And I'm--I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Noe shook her head, trying to wrap her mind around it. "Okay. No, we get it, okay? I--I just don't und--"

"We should probably call them now and let them know that we all know," Hope pointed out.

Zaya was reeling, shaking her head. "No. Not yet. Mom's still at work, and Lily and Rufus are... is that why they're in Boston?"

Dan nodded.

"Look, it's obviously a lot to absorb," Serena told them. "I think we should wait until we get all the facts."

Noe turned away.

"Noe," Hope said. "Sadie. I want to make sure you two are okay."

Sadie nodded. "I'm fine. Noe?"

"I--I'm sorry, I just need some time to process this... alone," Noe told them, walking away.

The others nodded, knowing they all needed to do the same.

X • O ° X • O

Boston Hotel Room

Lily was alone in the room until she saw Rufus walk back in. "Oh, hey. I was just gonna call down and have our car brought around."

Rufus put his hands on his hips. "I don't think I'm ready to go."

Lily tilted her head. "Rufus."

Rufus leaned against a chair, crossing his arms. "What, Lily? The family could change their mind. We should write them a letter and explain that we just want to meet the girl."

"The parents don't want that," Lily told him.

"What about what she wants?" Rufus asked. "What about what I want? This works out well for you. You don't want to meet your daughter."

Lily put her phone down. "Oh. You don't think I haven't thought about this girl every day of her life? You want to meet her. Have you thought about what happens after that? What if we find out she's had a horrible life? Or what if we instantly love her, and then it's very clear that we've made a terrible mistake?"

Rufus shook his head. "My only fear is feeling like we failed to try everything."

"Well, we can keep trying from New York," Lily told him. "We don't have to stay here."

Rufus stood, his voice rising. "Why not, Lil? It's another day. Is that too much to ask?"

Rufus turned away.

Lily's voice rose a bit. "Yes. Yes, it is, because this whole search has been so excruciating, I don't want to go through it anymore. I don't want to spend another day, yet another minute, trapped in this hotel room, scared that you're gonna hate me forever, when I'm still in love with you."

Rufus looked at her, walking closer. "Lily."

Rufus took Lily in his arms, and they started to kiss passionately.

X • O ° X • O

X • O ° X • O

Rufus and Lily were lying in bed, covered with a sheet.

"I just can't believe you--you don't remember," Rufus told her. Lily laughed. "It--it was our first show in Paris, and you decided to stand on the front of the stage, and then you got really mad." Lily shook her head. "Because the drummer from Buffalo Tom groped you. No?"

Lily laughed. "No."

"You--no?" Rufus asked. "Now you're starting to scare me."

"I just can't believe we were in Paris together, and we spent the entire time in a dirty club in Marais," Lily told him.

"Maybe we should go back, do it again," Rufus suggested.

Lily smiled. "Oh, I would love that."

"Me too," Rufus agreed. Before they could kiss again, Rufus's phone went off. He grabbed it to answer. "Hello?" He sat up. "Yeah, this is he." Lily sat up. Rufus quickly grabbed a pen and paper to write something down. "Oh, um... mm-hmm. All right, thank you. Thank you so much."

"Well?" Lily asked.

Rufus hung his phone up. "That was Chris Rosson, the adoptive father. He doesn't want his wife to know, but he wants to meet with us."

They both smiled nervously, not knowing what to expect.

X • O ° X • O

The Palace

Brunch was long over and everyone was long gone, except for the four Basses.

Jack was sitting at a table to eat, looking up at his niece and nephews as they stood in front of him to confront him.

"You really expect us to believe that you didn't get Chuck wasted and high and caught, and tried to do the same with me and Dylan?" Brooklyn asked.

"Brooklyn and I both went off alone, and I got into a heavy fight, with a random person and with Wyatt, and I went to get help from Laureen von Miller, and you use my absence, and Chuck's spiral, and Brooklyn's hangover to get the board on your side," Dylan told him.

Jack chuckled. "Wasn't that hard for Chuck, but you and Dylan didn't want to come with us last night, Brooklyn. With Dylan gone though, and you a little worse for wear, pretty sure that it still worked."

Chuck leaned forward against the table by his arms. "You're our only family. How could you do this to us?"

"You did it to yourselves," Jack told them. "Clearly, I was right, but you aren't ready."

"You have your own life, your own company," Chuck told him.

"Sure," Jack agreed. "In Australia. My dear brother literally placed me on the other side of the world. I did everything right, I ran that place without complaint, and it thrived under my watch. And this is how he repays me?" He laughed. "By giving the company to three teenagers who can't stay sober and out of trouble?" He pointed at Chuck and Dylan. "You two especially, given that Brooklyn was trying to salvage today, but you two couldn't keep your peckers in your pants for 24 hours, not just during spirals, but any day of the week."

"At least we can keep ours in service for longer than five minutes," Dylan replied.

Jack laughed. "You can have that. I'll take Bass Industries."

"It's not yours to take," Brooklyn told him. "Our father gave it to us."

Jack finally stopped eating, sitting up straighter. "Actually... there is one stipulation attached to your appointment. Morality clause. Bart knew his kids. He specified that should you in any way act inappropriately, the board has the option to replace you with your legal guardian. Which, wouldn't you know it? Is me. I already talked to the board." He stood, putting a hand over his chest. "I'm in charge now."

Jack walked away, leaving the siblings in shocked betrayal.

X • O ° X • O

Boston Restaurant

Rufus and Lily were sitting at a table, very nervous.

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Rufus asked.

"Yes," Lily answered. "Yes, it's time."

Rufus took her hand to hold. "Thanks."

Chris Rosson walked up to them with a bag over his shoulder. "Mr. Humphrey? Mrs. Bass?"

Lily stood, shaking Chris's hand. "Yes, it's, uh, so--so nice to meet you."

Rufus stood, also shaking Chris's hand. "Thank you so much for calling us."

Chris gestured to the table. "Uh, please, sit down." Rufus and Lily sat down. Chris put his bag down. "I have something I have to tell you."

X • O ° X • O

VDW/Bass Apartment - Noe's Room

Noe was sitting on the floor, leaning against the bed. Serena, Eric, Zaya and Sadie walked in.

"Can we..." Sadie trailed off. "Can we come in?"

Noe nodded. "Yeah, of course."

"Have any of you, uh, have you spoken with Mom or Laureen?" Eric asked.

"Mom's not answering her phone yet since she's in a session," Zaya explained.

"And Mom's phone went straight to voicemail," Serena added.

"Yeah, for me too," Eric agreed. Eric, Serena, Zaya and Sadie sat on the floor with Noe, so they were all facing each other. "Noe, Sadie, are you two okay?"

"My chest feels fine now," Sadie answered. "Just... the shock..."

"Yeah," Noe agreed. "I mean, my heart's far safer than yours, Sadie, but the shock on my mind... It wasn't something that..."

Noe and Sadie both didn't know how to finish, looking down. Serena, Eric, Noe, Zaya and Sadie all took each other by the hands to be there for each other.

"I'm so mad at Mom and Laureen for keep this from us, but at the same time, I know Laureen was just protecting Mom, and I feel incredibly sad for her and Rufus," Serena admitted.

"Yeah, I know," Noe sighed, leaning her head back against the bed.

Zaya chuckled. "Sounds like it's got Grandma Celia written all over it. It reeks of Gin and Chanel No. 5."

"That's why Mom and Dad ran away when Zaya was about to be born, so Grandma Celia couldn't make Mom give her up since they were only 15, almost 16 at the time," Sadie explained.

"Yeah, sounds like 'Grandma Celia'," Eric agreed. "It is so weird that Noe, Serena and I share a half sister with Hope, Dan and Jenny. Zaya, Sadie, you have another cousin."

"Yep," Zaya agreed. "The fact that our cousin is the half-sibling to Hope, Jenny and Dan..."

"After everything Zaya and I did to help Hope and Noe, and finding out that Jenny had a crush on Alex, and everything else..." Sadie trailed off.

"It's a shock," Serena finished. "Imagine my shock when I realized that I share a sister with my ex-boyfriend. That--that's a little more hillbilly than I can handle."

"It is a little twisted," Eric agreed.

"It is very twisted," Noe corrected.

"But so what, Serena?" Eric asked. "You're not with Dan anymore, so you don't have to worry about this with our sister. You're happy with James."

Serena smiled. "Yeah."

"What do we do now?" Zaya asked.

Eric tilted his head. "I don't know. But we can't push Hope, Dan and Jenny away right now. Whatever we're going through, they're going through the same thing."

Sadie was thinking. "I think I got an idea. Zaya and I still need to stay out of house at home while Mom's at work, and she won't be off until late tonight. What if we all go to Hope, Dan and Jenny's and wait for Mom, Lily and Rufus there tonight? I know you want to talk to Hope, Noe. And I know Eric wants to talk to Jenny, and Serena has something to work out with Dan given everything. And we can all talk about it with our parents when they get there."

"I like this idea," Zaya agreed.

"Me too," Serena agreed.

Noe nodded. "And again, the wise younger Eric and Sadie come in to save the day." They all chuckled. Noe stood. "But since this is for later tonight, I need to talk with Nate."

"I would talk with James, but I know that he's busy with trying to find a contact that can help him track down Carter," Serena explained. "Thyra and Wyatt are helping him."

"Then Sadie and I will stay with you, Serena," Zaya told her.

Sadie nodded in agreement. "Yeah."

"I should talk to Jonathan," Eric told them. "I'm sure Hope is gonna talk with Alex about everything."

"Yep," Noe agreed. "I'll see you guys later tonight."

X • O ° X • O

Outside

Noe walked outside, seeing that Nate held out a car door for her, walking up to him. "Hey."

Noe kissed Nate.

"Hey," Nate said. "You okay?"

"Not entirely," Noe answered. "The Gossip Girl blast really shook me and Sadie, badly, but I think we're both gonna be okay. And so are Serena, Eric, Zaya, Sadie, Hope, Dan and Jenny. And if I say it out loud, what we now know, that will make it more real than anything I can ever imagine, and that's more than I can handle right at the second."

Nate nodded in understanding, concern, rubbing her arms to keep her calm. "Noe. Noe, hey, it's okay." Noe took a deep breath, nodding. "I know what you're going through."

Noe was slightly amused. "Really? You found out you and your best friend and her siblings, the brother who happens to be your sister's ex-boyfriend, your sister and brother all share a sibling, and your cousins found out they have another cousin you never knew you had?"

"Well, uh, no," Nate answered. "At least not yet. But, hey, I do know what it's like to have the most painful details of your personal life made public."

"Yeah," Noe agreed, nodding. "Yeah, it kind of blows."

"And I know it feels like nothing good can come of it," Nate told her. "Going through all of that, I found out who my real friends were. Like you."

Noe smiled, and they embraced and kissed.

"You know, we're actually gonna go over to the loft, to see what all this means, with our parents later tonight and all," Noe explained. "I just needed to see you first."

"All right," Nate agreed. "Don't worry. I'm betting that you and Hope will be more like best friend sisters now more than ever, dating me and Alex and people saying we're all gonna end married aside." Noe smiled. "And you're close with Jenny too. Eric is too. Serena and Dan will figure it out, and it's not as bad as it could have been, since Serena's with James, and they're happy together. And Zaya and Sadie were already getting close with Hope too. And they worked with Jenny not once but twice. So that should make things easier."

Noe smiled. "You think so?"

Nate nodded. "Let's hope so. For your and Sadie's sake."

"Thank you, Nate," Noe told him.

Noe and Nate remained in each other's arms.

X • O ° X • O

Gallery/Cafe

Hope was sitting at the counter, drinking coffee, reeling.

Alex walked in. "Hey. I thought I'd find you in here."

Hope sighed in relief to see Alex, standing, walking closer. They embraced.

"God," Hope said. "How did everything change so suddenly in less than 24 hours?"

Alex frowned, realizing what she meant. "You knew about this before today?"

"Just barely," Hope answered. "Dan told me yesterday because I got him to spill. Dad was making him keep the secret, and then he made me promise not to tell since Lily, Laureen and Dad wanted to tell Serena, Noe, Eric, Zaya, Sadie and Jenny, and..."

"And you were worried about Noe's mind state, and Sadie's vessel, which both proved that you should have been worried this afternoon," Alex finished. Hope nodded. "But Noe's fine, and Sadie's still okay. Her heart's fine." They both sat at the counter. "Finding out the news that you, Jenny and Dan share a sibling with Serena, Noe and Eric, a sister that is also the cousin to Zaya and Sadie... it's not the kind of news either of us expected to hear before our anniversary tomorrow, huh?"

"No, it is not," Hope answered.

"What are you guys gonna do?" Alex asked.

"I have no idea," Hope admitted.

"Well, whatever is going on with you and Jenny now, you can't let that distract you from what you guys just found out," Alex pointed out. "You guys all need each other more than ever."

"I know," Hope agreed. "I just... I didn't mean for us to fight today, I was trying hard for us not to fight. And I'm gonna talk to her and make sure that we're good, given everything today. I needed some time to think, and I needed to talk to you, but I know that I do need to go home and make sure everyone is all right."

Alex smiled, leaning closer. "Good. See? Compromise. Taking care of yourself and others. You seriously need to learn how to take care of yourself more often, Hope. But I love your heart and how you use it to take care of everyone else too. I just wish that you put more time into taking care of you too."

Hope smiled. "I know. Thank you, Alex. For everything."

Hope and Alex kissed.

X • O ° X • O

Boston Restaurant

Chris was sitting across from Rufus and Lily, who both looked devastated now. "It was last year. Andrea was camping on a mountain range with her boyfriend. They jumped in the water. Andrea got caught in a riptide."

Rufus put a hand on Lily's back.

"We're so sorry," Lily told him. "Um..."

Rufus looked down, shaking his head. "Yeah, if we had known, we... wouldn't have even bothered you."

Chris looked guilty and secretive. "It's my wife. She's had trouble with this. It was too painful for her to tell you, because, uh... well, it's too painful for her to tell anyone. She's with our other daughter, Marie. She's had many, many issues throughout her life, especially since Andrea died, and we didn't want to put Marie through more with all of this." Lily nodded. Chris took an article from his bag, handing it to them. "This is from the newspaper.

Lily looked up sadly. "Um, I just need to know. Was she happy?"

Chris nodded. "Very. Andrea was the light of joy that we needed in our home, but she was fierce, loyal, and protective, especially over Marie."

Rufus and Lily looked like they could both cry. Chris secretively took a drink of tea.

X • O ° X • O

Manhattan

Fight Bar

James, Wyatt and Thyra walked in, looking around.

"What are we doing here, James?" Thyra asked.

"One of my contacts gave this fight bar as an address to lead me to someone who's the best at finding objects or things," James answered. "A woman. I'm betting she can help with finding Carter."

"Oh, that's good," Wyatt said, semi-sarcastic. "You're going to ask a stranger look for Carter?"

"Well, none of the PIs I have contact with have any leads, so I'm looking for the best lead I got, which is this girl, Angela De Los Caballeros," James replied.

"Angela De Los Caballeros?" Wyatt repeated.

"Yeah," James answered. "Just gotta find her."

"In a fight bar?" Thyra asked. "Who is this chick?" They walked up to the bar. Thyra looked at the bartender. "Hey, we're looking for a girl named Angela De Los Caballeros. You know who that is?"

"Yeah," the bartender answered, gesturing to the cage/ring behind them. "She's right there."

James, Thyra and Wyatt turned around.

Angela was hanging from the bars of the cage/ring to suspend herself in the air, kicking the man she was fighting repeatedly, knocking him into the barred wiring of the cage/ring, making him fall, smirking smugly, jumping down.

Thyra, James and Wyatt exchanged a look, shrugging, walking closer to the cage/ring.

Angela climbed up the barred wiring of the cage/ring, turning to launch herself off toward the man she was fighting, punching him in the face viciously, spinning around to kick him in the face with both feet, knocking him into the barred wiring. The man lunged forward, ducking a punch from Angela, swinging at her. Angela leaned back enough to make him miss, trying to punch him from either side with either arm, though he raised both arms to block the moves, so she used her arms to propel her weight up as she jumped and kicked the man in the chest, falling back into a backward arch, flipping out of it and kicking the man in the face with both feet as she did, landing on both her feet, spinning around to kick him in the head. The man caught her leg, pushing her to the floor, grabbing her by the back of her head, kneeing her in the face, pacing around the cage/ring, arms held out as he tried to hype up the crowd. Angela spit out blood to the floor, with a slightly bleeding cut on her cheek underneath her eye, wiping her lip, rising to her feet, in a fighting stance, arms held up. The man tried to punch her. Angela ducked, spinning around him to stand behind him, kicking him in the back. The man grabbed her, trying to flip her to the ground, but Angela used their momentum combined to spin herself around his head, locking her legs around his neck in a scissor move, so she could flip him to the floor, and flipped through the air to land on her feet as she did. The man stood, trying to punch Angela. Angela raised an arm to block the move, kicking him in the groin, tackling him to the floor, putting his head in a lock with her legs, until he managed to roll himself over even though he was still in the lock, standing, lifting Angela while she still had her legs wrapped around his neck, trying to throw her off, but Angela caught onto the bars above her head, twisting her legs so that she could turn the man away from her, locking her legs around his neck again, knowing it was over, smirking victoriously all the while, when the man slowly passed out due to lack of oxygen. Angela jumped down.

The crowd was chanting, "Angela! Angela! Angela! Angela! Angela! Angela! Angela! Angela! Angela! Angela!"

Angela looked around the crowd as they chanted her name, smirking, tilting her head.

X • O ° X • O

Later

Angela sat at the bar, her eye now noticeably black after the fight earlier, as she used a napkin to wipe the blood from her cheek, tossing the napkin away.

Thyra, James and Wyatt walked up to her.

"Excuse me," James told her. "Angela De Los Caballeros?" Angela barely spared a glance in answer, drinking from a glass on the bar in front of her. "Can we talk to you?"

"I'm kind of busy," Angela told them, with a faint Brazilian accent.

Thyra nodded sarcastically, arms crossed. "Clearly."

"We only need five minutes," Wyatt told her.

Angela's Tattoo:

Angela stood, lifting up her black over shirt that had slits over the front in various places, revealing her white tank underneath, and turned her back to the mirror behind the bar, looking over her shoulder so she could look at the very detailed, huge tattoo across the top of her back, which was three flowers, two of which were red clematis giselle flowers, and the one in the middle of those was a light pink angela rose flower. "Not interested." James put a couple hundred dollar bills, tied into a roll by a rubber band, on the bar next to Angela. Angela turned to look at James, looking down at the money, picking up her glass, draining it, putting it down, picking up the roll of cash, slamming her glass down. "On second thought, I'd love to talk."

"Yeah, I thought you might," James told her.

Thyra wiped her lip with a thumb, pointing to Angela's back. "Nice tat. What kind of flowers are those?"

"Thank you," Angela told her. "They're angela and giselle flowers."

"Your name is also a flower?" Wyatt asked.

"So are a lot of other names," Angela replied. "Let's walk."

Angela led them up to a set of steps next to the bar, leading upstairs to the loft above. Thyra, James and Wyatt followed.

"So this whole fight club thing?" Wyatt asked. "You just beat people up for what? Fun?"

Angela shrugged. "Stress release." She sat down on a couch, resting her arms on the back of it, tilting her head. "Always a good thing to stay in shape." She glanced to Thyra. "Like you. You seem to have a slightly toned fighter's body. You fight?"

"My parents and my aunt taunt me while growing up," Thyra answered. "You?"

"Military family," Angela answered.

"You did not learn all that from being a military child," James told her.

"No, I learned some of that from being a military child, as did my sister Giselle, but we both learned more," Angela answered. "Do you really want to spend your five minutes talking about my backstory?"

"We're looking for someone," Wyatt explained. "James heard from a contact that you're the girl to talk to when private investigators fail."

"That's right," Angela answered. "I work as a broker. I help people find certain items, or people. As long as I get paid, you can ask for whatever you want. So who are you looking for?"

"My brother," James answered.

"You're James, right?" Angela asked.

"I'm James," James answered. "My brother's Carter Baizen. I last heard that he was in Europe, and traveling back overseas, but I don't know where. He fell off the grid whenever I got into a car crash with our sister Caroline. She died." Angela looked down. "And I just need to know that Carter's okay, that he's alive out there somewhere."

Angela bit her lip, taking a deep breath. "All right. Tell me everything you know about where Carter was last and where he tends to go, and I'll take care of the rest."

Thyra sighed heavily. "Thank you."

"And I don't want Carter hurt," James added. "Everything you used out there on that guy, part of the deal to get paid for actually finding my brother, means that you don't hurt him. He'll most likely be suspicious and lash out at first, but he'll stop when he hears about me and Caroline, if you give him this."

James handed Angela a ring.

Angela nodded in acknowledgement, tilting her head, taking the ring, looking it over while it laid on the palm of her hand. "Those are fair terms. I'm guessing this was Caroline's."

"Yeah," James answered.

"Sorry for her loss," Angela told him. "I know the feeling."

James nodded. Thyra raised her eyebrows.

"Are we done here?" Wyatt asked.

"For now," Angela answered. "Your names so I can get back to you?" James slid over a piece of paper. Angela picked up the paper to read. "Thyra Diamond. James Baizen. Wyatt Waldorf. Got it. You'll get the results you're looking for, trust me."

"We better," Thyra told her. "You're not the only one that can take a guy down like that, Angela."

Angela smirked, impressed, intrigued by Thyra and her drive/attitude. "I might start to like you yet, Thyra. Where do we start?"

James took a deep breath to tell them everything he knew about where Carter was last.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Looks like James Baizen is getting desperate enough to go to the extremes to make sure his brother Carter's okay. It's a good thing he wasn't alone in the endeavor that this took him down, with Thyra Diamond and Wyatt Waldorf by his side to seek the help of Angela De Los Caballeros. Who's Angela, might you ask? We're all dying to find out."

X • O ° X • O

X • O ° X • O

Waldorf Penthouse - Living Room

Blair walked toward the elevator when it opened, expecting to find her siblings. "Thyra? Wyatt? James?"

Blair stopped when she saw who was there.

Chuck was in the elevator with a bouquet of pink peonies. "I'm sorry. I screwed up."

Chuck handed the flowers to Blair.

Blair looked at the flowers in her hand for a moment, lowering them to her side. "It's too late, Chuck. I have stood by you through all of this, but I can't watch you self-destruct any longer. Brooklyn and Dylan were right to break up with Thyra and Wyatt so they wouldn't have to. I guess I should've stayed away from you too."

"Jack set me, Dylan and Brooklyn up," Chuck told her, stopping the elevator from closing.

"There's no one to blame but yourself for what you did," Blair told him. "Brooklyn and Dylan might have been spiraling, but they were nowhere near as bad as you today. Dylan went to get himself help from Laureen. Brooklyn knew when to cut herself off, but you just kept falling. I believed in you. Your father believed in you. Your siblings believed in you. Our crew believed in you. Even Aurora did. You... are the only one who didn't. All I wanted to do was... just be there. But today, when you called me your wife, you made it sound like the ugliest word in the world."

Chuck took a step toward her. "Blair, please."

Blair took a step back, looking so upset she could cry but trying to hide that fact. "I'm sorry... but I'm done."

Chuck stepped back into the elevator, and as the doors closed, Blair threw the flowers to the floor in the elevator.

X • O ° X • O

Street

Brooklyn was sitting on a bench, looking numb, closing her eyes.

Thyra was going for a walk to clear her head when she saw her. "Brooklyn?"

Brooklyn looked up in surprise. "Thyra?"

"What are you doing out here?" Thyra asked.

Brooklyn sighed, shaking her head. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Yeah, well, I just came back from a situation that you wouldn't believe if I told you," Thyra replied. "Let's see which one is more unbelievable."

Brooklyn took this challenge, nodding. "Okay. Jack set me, Dylan and Chuck up so that he could take the company from us, by getting Chuck high and wasted, even though Dylan and I told him not to go with Jack, but he used the fact that Dylan was absent at brunch, getting help from Laureen because of his fighting with Wyatt, to manipulate the board into thinking that none of us were fit to lead Bass Industries, while I was sober enough to try and keep things together, even though I was a little hungover. A little, just a little, because I was trying to be sober after I heard about Blair's brunch for us. What about you?"

Thyra nodded, sitting down on the bench in front of Brooklyn. "That's not surprising about Jack honestly. My 'unbelievable' moment is that James, Wyatt and I went to a fight club bar to track down a woman named Angela De Los Caballeros, a broker who could help find Carter and make sure that he's okay, that he's out there somewhere, since James hasn't been able to find him in any other way. Angela is an absolute badass, but she's our age. Took down a full grown man with ease."

Brooklyn was stunned. "Okay, you win."

Thyra smirked. "I know."

"Angela does sound like a badass," Brooklyn told her. "De Los Caballeros is a Brazilian name. It means 'of the knights'."

"Really?" Thyra asked in intrigue.

"Mm-hmm," Brooklyn answered. "So Angela's name fits."

"Yeah, Angela did have a Brazilian accent, slight one, but still," Thyra explained.

"You think this Angela can find Carter?" Brooklyn asked.

"I'm hoping she can, not for Carter, but if nothing else..." Thyra trailed off.

"Give James peace of mind," Brooklyn finished.

"Yeah," Thyra answered.

Brooklyn sighed. "Don't forget that Carter's your step cousin now though."

"Oh, how could I forget?" Thyra asked sarcastically. Brooklyn smirked barely, looking down. Thyra knew what was wrong. "Brooklyn, I'm so sorry about what Jack did to you, Dylan and Chuck. It's not surprising that he betrayed you three like that, but it's... it's insane with how he did it. But I will tell you one thing. I'm proud of you, and Dylan, for not falling into his trap for you like Chuck did."

"Yeah, well, he still tricked us," Brooklyn pointed out.

"But he didn't make you and Dylan fall more," Thyra countered. "You made sure that he couldn't, and you tried to salvage today as best as you could."

"Yeah, well, I'm not done trying," Brooklyn told her. "Chuck, Dylan and me, we're gonna get the company back one way or another."

"I know you are," Thyra agreed. "I can talk to Aurora, see what she can do to help."

Brooklyn frowned. "Why are you helping me so much? I broke up with you. I hurt you."

Thyra looked down. "Yeah. But you did it to protect me. I know that. I know that, because twice in as many days, I almost had a relapse."

Brooklyn looked very worried. "Thyra..."

"And before you say anything, no, this is not your fault," Thyra told her. "But James helped me. And Zaya did too. Wyatt and Blair have been there for me like usual, and Alex and Nate, though they're obviously a little distracted with Noe and Hope since the Gossip Girl blast about how Noe, Serena and Eric share a sibling with Hope, Dan and Jenny, and Zaya and Sadie have another cousin."

Brooklyn raised an eyebrow. "That's public knowledge now, huh?"

Thyra frowned. "Wait, you knew about the Rhodes/Humphrey sister?"

"Laureen wanted to help Lily stop hiding it, and Dylan, Chuck and I found out because Laureen refused to pay off our dad's PI," Brooklyn explained. "Don't ask."

Thyra chuckled. "Okay then. My point is, when you broke up with me, it was the right thing to do. And it was selfless, and full of caring, and I know that Bart and Jack tried to make you, Dylan and Chuck see those things as weaknesses, but they're not weaknesses, Brooklyn. They're strengths. So, yeah, I'm gonna focus more on getting help for the addiction now that it's flaring up more. Laureen said that I could call her whenever I needed to, since she's technically like a therapist plus sponsor for me. And... I'm still making sure the depression and anger are under control. And maybe you... after everything that Laureen's done for me, Noe, Zaya, Sadie, Wyatt, James, and now even Dylan of all people..."

"You think that I should go to the Crew's therapist Laureen von Miller," Brooklyn finished in a voice that was like announcing that on television to add humor.

Thyra chuckled. "Laureen could help you."

"I know," Brooklyn agreed. "But I don't know if I'm ready."

Thyra nodded. "Well, whenever you are ready, Laureen will be there for you."

"I know," Brooklyn told her. "But in the meantime, I don't want you waiting around for me."

"Brooklyn..." Thyra trailed off.

"I'm serious, Thyra," Brooklyn told her. "I don't know how long it's going to take me to get back on track, for real, and I don't want to mess up any progress that you've made on your own health and sobriety. Especially with this war with Jack about to start, I don't want you to get caught between that. You may be known as the Black Diamond, but we both know that I've always been the darker one out of the two of us. And I'm not letting you fall back into the darkness."

"Even if it means me moving on with someone new?" Thyra asked.

Brooklyn looked down, hating the thought of that, but knowing it was the right thing for her. "Yeah. I hate it, but yeah. I can't hold you back, Thyra. I won't."

Thyra and Brooklyn both had tears in their eyes.

Thyra took a deep breath. "Okay. I guess that's that then."

"Yeah," Brooklyn sighed. "That's that."

Thyra and Brooklyn looked at each other for a long moment, neither of them wanting to move. Brooklyn knew she had to go, standing, walking away down the street, starting to cry, but knowing it was for the best of Thyra's interests. Thyra watched her go, tears in her eyes, and some starting to fall, knowing Brooklyn was trying to do right by her, but hating having to be away from her.

X • O ° X • O

New York Public Library - Outside

Wyatt walked outside on his phone, going down stairs, seeing Dylan outside with his motorcycle, stopping in confusion, hanging up. "Dylan?"

"Hey, Wyatt," Dylan told him awkwardly.

"What are you doing here?" Wyatt asked.

"I know I'm probably the last person you wanna see right now, but I just wanted to let you know that I went to see Laureen," Dylan explained. "And that I'm getting help."

Wyatt was surprised, not knowing what to say. "Oh."

"Yeah," Dylan agreed. "I just realized I didn't want to find myself dead in a ditch somewhere, or have anyone find me there. And that was the only thing that could make me wake up and realize that I needed help. After what you said to me. And I'm really sorry. I should have said it sooner, and I shouldn't have left, and I definitely shouldn't have made you go through that. You have every right to be mad at me and I'm not sure me saying I'm sorry would change that, but I just wanted you to know that I really am so sorry."

Wyatt nodded, accepting the apology, but was still hurt, and still kind of mad. "Okay." Dylan nodded, turning to his bike. Wyatt watched him, taking a deep breath. "Dylan, wait."

Dylan stopped, turning around. "What?"

Wyatt walked closer. "I guess I just wanted to say I'm proud of you."

Dylan was surprised, scoffing out of instinct. "Yeah, sure, I'm a real winner."

Wyatt gave him a look. "I'm serious. Doesn't matter how long it took you to realize it. What matters is that you want to change, and no matter what happened between us, that's always gonna make me proud of you."

Dylan was touched, nodding. "Thank you, Wyatt."

Wyatt shrugged sheepishly. "Always."

"Does that mean you're not angry at me anymore?" Dylan asked hopefully.

Wyatt smirked. "Let's not get crazy."

Dylan shrugged. "Sorry, had to try."

Wyatt couldn't help but chuckle. "I'll see you later."

"Wait, um, can I hug you one last time?" Dylan asked. Wyatt was surprised, looking down, uncertain. "Unless you think it's dumb. Then we can just--" Wyatt cut him off by bringing Dylan into an embrace, surprising him. Dylan returned the embrace, and after a long moment, they pulled away, looking at each other sadly. "Thank you."

"What for?" Wyatt asked.

Dylan shook his head, sighing. "Just thank you."

Wyatt nodded, taking a deep breath, not looking at Dylan because he knew that he wouldn't be able to walk away if he looked at him again, before walking away without looking back. Dylan watched him go sadly, but was relieved that their relationship/friendship was not completely destroyed, getting onto his bike, pulling on his helmet, revving the engine to life, driving off.

X • O ° X • O

Humphrey Loft - Living Room

Jenny and Dan were making sandwiches.

Hope walked in. "Hey."

Jenny and Dan looked up. "Hey."

"Have you, um, talked to Alex?" Jenny asked.

"Yeah," Hope answered, sitting down.

"Okay," Dan agreed. "Well, I say we could all use a distraction, so I say we play boggle or watch a trashy movie."

"I rented 'Showgirls'," Jenny told them.

Hope shook her head. "Oh, no, Boggle. I don't think I can sit through 'Showgirls' again."

"Again?" Dan repeated. "Seriously?"

Jenny slid a sandwich toward Hope. "I'm s--"

"I'm really sorry," Hope said at the same time, but finished first. "There! I said it first. Ha ha."

The three siblings laughed.

Jenny chuckled. "Thanks. But, uh, I really should be the one to apologize. I mean, you have every right to want to be alone with Alex, especially with the anniversary, and I shouldn't have acted the way I did. I'm taking several steps back, trust me. I mean, I never meant to have this crush on Alex, and I'm getting over."

"Yeah," Hope said. "I know you'll be able to get over it."

Dan smiled. "Ah, there it is, you two. There you go."

"Okay, so are we really not gonna talk about the other elephant in the room?" Jenny asked.

Dan shook his head. "No."

"Why not?" Hope asked.

"Yeah, I mean, sharing a sibling with Noe, Serena and Eric, one your ex-girlfriend and my and Hope's best friends?" Jenny asked. "Not to mention being somewhat connected to Lily, Laureen, Zaya and Sadie because of this, because of our sister that's out there."

"Speaking of, you should know, the other teens of the situation are coming over," Hope told them.

"What?" Dan asked.

There was a knock on the door.

Hope stood. "That should be them." She walked to the loft door, opening it to reveal Noe, Serena, Eric, Zaya and Sadie outside. "Hey."

"Come on in," Jenny told them.

(Song:) Mirror Error - The Faint

The Rhodes kids walked in, all smiling.

"So, with the connection of the two families..." Sadie trailed off. "What does this mean for all of us?"

"I don't know," Serena admitted. "But we're here to figure it out, with all of us."

Eric nodded. "Sounds good."

Noe put an arm around Hope's shoulders, leaning her head on her shoulder. "So, it's obvious that you've felt like my sister for a while, but now it's like, almost literally true."

Hope laughed. "Almost."

Zaya looked at Dan. "And I guess this is supposed to mean that you can't get on our nerves... that much."

"It's okay," Dan told them. "I want to get on your nerves."

"Oh, really?" Eric asked.

"Uh, yeah," Dan answered.

Jenny grinned. "That's what family does."

They all laughed.

"Hey, can we get some sandwiches?" Sadie asked. "Something quick, though."

"Sure," Jenny answered. "PB&Js coming right up."

"That actually sounds pretty good," Zaya told them.

Noe nodded in agreement. "Mm-hmm."

"Yeah, I'll take one too," Serena agreed.

The teens all sat around the counter, all smiling and laughing.

X • O ° X • O

Bass Suite

Brooklyn and Dylan arrived home at the same time. They checked on both each other and Chuck, and even after what Jack put them through that day, they all seemed to be still closer than ever, and ready to take down their uncle whenever they could.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "The problem with inheritance is that it's not always as simple as it sounds."

X • O ° X • O

On the Road

Angela was about to leave the city on her motorcycle, wearing her black overshirt over her tank top again, and pulling on her jacket, getting onto her motorcycle, pulling on her helmet, revving up the engine, smirking, driving away.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Sometimes you get more than you bargained for."

X • O ° X • O

Waldorf Penthouse - Living Room

Blair and James were sitting together, waiting for Thyra and Wyatt to return home. Thyra and Wyatt stepped off the elevator, walking in. The four siblings looked at each other, nodding, as James was more reassured that they could find Carter now with Angela's help. Aurora walked by to check on them.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "And sometimes you get everything that you want back."

X • O ° X • O

Humphrey Loft - Outside

Laureen was about to walk in when Lily and Rufus walked up to the loft.

"Laureen, what are you doing here?" Rufus asked.

"I was asked to be here by the kids," Laureen answered. "I take it you two are just back from looking for your daughter."

Lily and Rufus were both upset.

"In a way," Lily answered. "Laureen, I know that you thought you were helping, and in ways, you did help. You've brought me and Rufus closer together even though we almost fell apart, but our daughter... Andrea... she's gone."

Laureen looked stunned, upset. "Lily... I'm so sorry. I wouldn't have told Rufus if I knew."

"We know," Rufus told her. "Don't feel guilty. This might have been just what we needed to move on."

"You know, I guess the idea of this child always made me feel connected to you," Lily told him. "And... I guess... a part of me never gave up on the idea that we would finally come together eventually. But maybe we weren't meant to be a family."

"I don't know about that," Laureen admitted. "Zaya and Sadie asked me to meet them, Noe, Serena, Eric, Hope, Dan and Jenny here."

"You don't think they know, do you?" Rufus asked. "I mean, they can't know that Andrea's gone, but do you think they know of her?"

Laureen shrugged. "One way to find out. I am sorry about Andrea, by the way."

Laureen, Lily and Rufus walked into the loft, seeing Noe, Hope, Serena, Zaya, Sadie, Eric, Jenny and Dan all sitting around the kitchen counter, and they all turned their heads to look at Laureen, Lily and Rufus when they walked in. Laureen and Lily linked their arms, and Lily and Rufus held hands, as they looked at some of their biggest challenges. Their children.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "Or you discover that in gaining one thing, you've lost something else."

X • O ° X • O

Archibald Mansion - Living Room

Alex, Nate and Harry were chilling, sharing a drink together, smiling and chatting.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "But every once in a while, the fates smile upon you."

X • O ° X • O

Boston

Rosson House - Living Room

Chris returned home to his wife, Renee Rosson.

"Is it over?" Renee asked.

Chris nodded. "They won't be back."

Renee started to cry. "I feel awful."

"We had to," Chris told her coldly. "We had to do it. They have money, lawyers. They wouldn't have stopped. We've already lost one daughter. We weren't losing another. They wouldn't have been able to handle Marie's condition either way."

X • O ° X • O

Marie's Room

Marie Rosson, the real daughter to Lily and Rufus, was sitting on her bed, looking at a picture of her dead adoptive sister Andrea, mourning and grieving, shedding a few tears. After a moment, she raised her gaze, looking ahead of her numbly.

Gossip Girl: (voice over) "And you get the one thing you really need. The one thing that you wished for. XOXO, Gossip Girl."