For Love or Legacy

This chapter goes out to Ivan. Sorry it took so long, Happy Birthday!

Here's a summary reminding you all of the overall storyline:

It takes place four years after the end of season three, but I changed a few things. The hotel thing still happened, Chuck and Blair still separated, he still got her into Columbia, he still told her to meet him at the top of the Empire State Building, but she didn't miss him because Dorota wasn't pregnant or having a baby or married at the time so in turn, the Jenny thing didn't happen. After she met him, they decided to figure things out together with no labels, but Blair got pregnant and attempted to broach the subject of children to Chuck and he shot her down. She was shattered and left to Paris where she somehow lost the baby. Four years later she returned to New York for an interior design contract only to discover that Chuck had a four year old daughter named Cate. This devastated her and she decided to hurt Chuck by making him lose an award he was after for his new hotel, The Legacy. What she just found out is Cate is Jack's biologically. Chuck for his part, thought Blair got with Jack. He went after her four years ago only to find her kissing Jack then went back again when Cate was two to find Jack around Blair again. Blair swore to Chuck in present day that nothing happened between her and Jack. Chuck got back at Blair for making him lose the award for his new hotel by giving Blair no choice but to work for him designing his new townhouse. He threatened her with destroying her company/career if she didn't do as he said. Through all this there's been a constant push and pull with now even Lily and Eleanor teaming up to try to get them together for Cate's sake and so they both could heal. There's also Nate and Serena. Nate is trying to prove himself at The Spectator and for once, trying to ignore what he feels for Serena, finally accepting that he will never be enough for her. Serena has just graduated and gotten her degree in public relations, but she's lost. She doesn't know what she wants to do with her life or who to turn to.

Other notes, there's also Andrew 'Drew' Parker, Blair's good friend from Paris whom she's known for years. He was staying at the Waldorf penthouse with Blair, but Chuck hates him, hated how in close quarters they were and sold him the penthouse he was originally going to move into with Cate until he and Blair saw the townhouse.

And Miranda Holbrook whom Nate has been interviewing for the Spectator. She was found "Not Guilty" in her husband's murder and Nate has been getting her side of the story. She seems to want more from Nate than a mere interview though. Serena hates her and refers to her as the "husband murderer."

And who can forget, Gretchen Mason, Chuck's general manager at his new hotel, the Legacy. She would love nothing more than to get her hooks into Chuck. She's even told Cate to pretend to be happy around Chuck so he could be happy thinking she was happy.

Finally, some state of relationships: Serena has severed ties with Blair for deciding to leave NYC without any thought of what that would do to her, leaving once again. Chuck has ordered Serena to keep a distance from him and his daughter. He's angry she gave Blair the combination to his safe which allowed her to find out Cate is adopted and that Jack is her biological father.

Now on to the previously on:

Previously on FLOL:

Blair made Chuck sign the documents signing over the Legacy Hotel to Jack. Jack had threatened Blair in a previous chapter that if she didn't get Chuck to sign the hotel over he would submit papers bringing Cate's adoption by Chuck into question. Jack gave up his rights, but her biological mother never did. Serena had been trying to contact Nate, wanting to tell him that she got another chance to work for Congressman Brady but Nate hadn't answered any of her calls and hadn't been in his apartment when she stopped by and used the hidden spare key. Chuck was devastated when Blair made him sign the papers and she fled but he knew deep down that this wasn't her doing. He ordered Hues, his PI, to keep close tabs on Blair and Jack as well but if the PI ran into a problem and had to choose who to follow he was told that Blair was the priority. Blair enlisted the help of her good friend Drew and his lawyer to bury a couple of clauses into the hotel sign over contract. Nate awoke at his desk at the Spectator. He got drunk because he knew his grandfather would be livid at what he'd done. Nate traded Page Six the Miranda Holbrook exclusive and in return Page Six would not print pictures of Serena leaving Nate's penthouse half dressed. Chuck awoke at his office at the Legacy the next day. He realized he'd been given sleeping pills by the general manager of the hotel, Gretchen Mason. He was pissed and snapped at her to get out of his sight. Chuck was anxious because time had slipped away and he knew nothing of Blair or Jack's whereabouts. Blair went to Jack's Plaza suite. Jack found one of the clauses, the one where Jack agreed to stay away from Chuck and Cate physically and legally. He didn't sign it but he didn't find the other clause Blair had buried. Lily returned home after visiting Jenny in Italy and was informed by her maid that Serena had gone to California and that Serena and Chuck were on the outs. Lily called Chuck's townhouse anxiously and Cate's new nanny, Leah Daley answered. At first Leah didn't want to hand the phone over to Cate. The maid was given strict instruction to not allow Cate out of the townhouse or to answer any calls or receive any packages. Chuck was worried about Jack being in town. Leah finally gave the phone to Cate and Cate informed Lily that Chuck had gone off to find Blair and bring her back home. Serena was on her flight to California. She was hurt that Nate never returned home and never answered any of her phone calls but she made herself steel herself against it and swore to herself that she'd put Nate completely out of her mind as well as how Blair left her again and how Chuck forbade her contact with Cate and focus on the second chance she'd been given working for Congressman Brady. Chuck went to see Jack at his suite at the Plaza. Jack revealed that he knew Chuck had adopted his daughter and knew her birth name "Mia." Chuck got Jack to admit he forced Blair into asking him to sign the Legacy away. Chuck was so angry and could have let that anger overtake him but he stopped himself realizing he would just be repeating past mistakes, nothing else mattered but Blair and Cate. Jack could have everything else for all he cared. Nate once again awoke at his desk at the Spectator. He had fallen back to sleep and it was now the afternoon. He had a bunch of missed calls from his grandfather as well as Serena and also others regarding the Spectator. He listened to Serena's voicemail that she had left him, so excited that she'd gotten a second chance at her job. She called him "Fitz" in the voicemail, a nickname she had given him when they were children. (short for his middle name Fitzwilliam) Nate wanted nothing more than to call Serena back but knew he couldn't. He made a deal with his grandfather. He would stay away from Serena if his grandfather pulled some strings and got Serena her job back with Congressman Brady. Blair and Dorota went to the Port Authority dressed unlike themselves and purchased tickets with Eleanor's ID. Chuck exited the Plaza Hotel after leaving Jack. He was even more out of sorts wondering how his family tree was so messed up, but he forced himself to set that aside and call his PI for an update on Blair and that's when he was informed Blair bought two bus tickets, two plane tickets, two train tickets and ordered a car. The PI lost her in the fray. She was gone.

Chapter 22

Chuck didn't move an inch. It was as if he were paralyzed and suspended only by the words that had just been uttered in his ear.

She's gone

How could she be gone? How could she leave again? How had she not been stopped? His mind was a whirl of warring questions that only served to incite his rage and the underlying pain he didn't want to admit to.

But he used the feeling.

He used it to respond, to snap out of the devastating shock and react without filter or regard for anything.

"You were supposed to keep eyes on her!" Chuck yelled into his phone, not caring how loud he was being and ignoring Arthur who once again stopped driving to ask if everything was alright.

But he ignored him because it wasn't, nothing was, nor would it be again unless she was found.

"I'm, I'm sorry, Mr. Bass. I'll find her—"

"You better," he railed into his PI through the phone.

"I will, I—"

"Locate her," he cut the man off, hoping the man's hands were shaking as much as his were as he tried to contain his anger.

"I assure you—," his PI tried again, but Chuck, like before wouldn't hear any of it.

"I don't want any of your assurances, Hues, I want it done," he retorted, then took an unsteady breath before he informed the man of his impending fate...

"Because if you don't," he warned, losing the fire as his voice became ice, "I assure you, I promise you I'm going to dig deep, to the recesses of your soul to find whatever it is on this goddamn earth you hold dear and I'm going to tear it from you one sliver at a time," he grated.

"Find her."

XOXOXOXOXO

"I'm surprised you asked me here, what with the ten calls you've ignored from me since this morning alone."

Nate watched his grandfather pour himself a glass of whiskey from what was left of his drunken night as his stomach churned, making him shift uncomfortably in his seat at his office at the Spectator.

At least his grandfather didn't appear angry or annoyed. He simply poured himself a drink and took a sip as if he hadn't a care in the world, as if they were having a normal conversation between grandfather and grandson; merely catching up.

But the reality was, Nate knew better.

He could see past the cool veneer. The corner of one of the old man's eyes twitched lightly, baring the heated irritation held within. His fingers tapped the middle of his glass as if keeping track of the seconds gone by and his breaths came out measured and precise— too precise.

It all should have bothered him, and it would have before.

Not now.

Nate was done trying to please him. He refused to feel sorry for what he had done no matter the cost. It was a decision, a choice he'd made and he'd chosen her.

"This was all for that girl somehow, wasn't it?" William van der Bilt said, eerily reading his thoughts as he finally lost the detached facade and his voice grew hard.

"I told you before," Nate said, replying in kind, "that girl has a name. It's Serena; use it."

"Yes, Serena," William said dismissively, "I thought we had an agreement about her? It seems I was mistaken."

And here it is, Nate thought, rising from his seat.

"So you're going to fire me then?" he goaded, challenging his grandfather in a way he never had before.

William scowled, draining his glass then slamming it onto his desk. Nate didn't even flinch which made the old man even angrier.

"Not only are you going to clear out your things and go, but the minute you're gone I'm going to call up Congressman Brady so he can send Serena packing as well."

Nate took a step in his grandfather's direction. To do what exactly? He wasn't sure. He only knew William was threatening Serena and the thought propelled him forward, to mere inches away from the man.

"If you do this I'll walk away for good. You'll never hear from me again, not only that but I'll cash in my part of the estate that my grandmother left me," Nate said, so calm and collected it made his grandfather take a step back.

"You wouldn't dare," William said. "We had an agreement. No one would cash in their shares to keep the estate— your grandmother's home — intact."

"I guess it seems agreements mean nothing...," Nate trailed off, meeting his grandfather's gaze head on, "unless they do."

William furrowed his brows and his mouth twisted in distaste, "I don't approve of the affect she's having on you. I never have."

"You've never made it a secret," Nate looked away as too many memories clouded and filled his mind. His life up until now had been like one those small wind up cars and when he'd tried to change direction he'd been blocked at every turn, expected to keep moving and stay the course— his course.

That ended today.

"One chance," the old man muttered in agreement, making Nate look up, half surprised. His face must have given away his thoughts, of just how serious he was, but he didn't care. It was better this way.

"One chance," Nate echoed, extending a hand though it was the last thing he wanted to do.

William looked down at it then back up to Nate's eyes, "You purposely signed away the release rights to the Holbrook piece," he said but Nate didn't reply, knowing his grandfather didn't want one. "I expect you to find another story. All your efforts will be here, understood?"

"Understood," Nate said, before William finally took his offered hand in a tight hold, shaking on it.

XOXOXOXOXO

"No, we scrapped that from the menu; Steve Ballmer is allergic to duck," Serena said, sitting next to Congressman Brady's campaign manager as they finalized the plans for a fundraising banquet scheduled for the following week.

"Oh, that's right, thank you," Fiona Shaw said, going through her notes. "If I had forgotten that, Brady would've been furious. You cannot get the menu wrong with Microsoft money," she said, jotting something down into the binder on her lap. "He calls him Bill Gates Adjacent."

"You're welcome," Serena grinned towards the dark haired woman and went back to her own notes, trying to coordinate the seating arrangements in a way that would be most lucrative for the campaign.

"I bet you didn't think you'd be doing this when you took the job," Fiona smiled mid highlighter swipe.

Serena looked up and shifted on the couch that'd been placed in the ballroom at the Viceroy L'Ermitage Beverly Hills hotel for their use, "I don't mind," she shrugged, "and regardless, it is part of my job. I was hired to protect and preserve Derek Brady's reputation. Making sure the wife of a former assembly man, a woman whom he's rumored to have slept with, is seated farthest away from the congressman falls under my job description."

"I guess it does," Fiona laughed and Serena smiled then got back to work, going around, switching labels on the paper in front of her where a mock up of the tables were drawn. She was enjoying herself more than she thought she would. It was almost enough to make her forget...

But of course she couldn't.

Not completely.

She rubbed her temples, willing the thought of Nate away, only for it to be replaced by Blair then Chuck and Cate.

She tried to stop herself, remember her resolution, but she couldn't. Nate was probably out somewhere with Miranda Holbrook... and Blair? She had to be long gone by now, which meant Chuck and Cate were miserable. Despite herself she felt a sting behind her eyes.

Stop it.

She couldn't do this here.

She heard a soft whimper which startled her and she realized she was the source. She couldn't believe she'd let it slip, but she had because Fiona interrupted her with concern, "Headache? I have pain killers in my bag."

"No, thank you," Serena tried to smile past the mortification, "I'm okay," she cleared her throat.

"You sure?" she asked and Serena widened her smile, hoping this time it was convincing.

"Absolutely," she replied, forcing herself to focus on work and it worked, gratefully it did, but that relief only lasted so long because her hand stilled when she got to the next seating label.

William van der Bilt III

Her stomach sank horribly.

Tripp would be there.

XOXOXOXOXO

Blair struggled trying to adjust her bag with a trembling hand while rolling her suitcase behind her. Her muscles ached, her eyes burned and her head hurt. She was completely miserable, but she refused to say a word, knowing her companion would start nagging incessantly or worse— begging her to stop.

"Dorota, let's go," Blair said, even though she was the one slow on her feet. They'd spent the rest of the day and most of the night on a disgusting bus with a crying baby and a man who smelt faintly like fish and kept asking them for the time.

By the end of their journey she'd thrown her ten thousand dollar watch at him and paid someone to switch seats with them. It hadn't helped though. She hadn't been able to rest much less sleep. Now it was nearing three in the morning and she just wanted to go home.

She wanted Chuck.

She took in a difficult breath and looked back, ordering her thoughts away. She was ready to tell the maid to keep up, but realized she was actually ahead of her.

She had to rush up and use her last burst of energy as they exited the mostly empty bus station.

Blair's eyes lifted and widened when they exited, nearly breaking her three inch heel in the process.

"Where the hell are we?"

"Akron, Ohio," Dorota replied, turning to Blair, "You pick tickets."

"I picked whatever was leaving the soonest!" she retorted as she buttoned the collar or her jacket, "How in the world was I supposed to know that this is where we were headed?" she said then extended a hand out to the dark, deserted road, "And here I thought Brooklyn was bad," she complained. "This is practically the boondocks!"

Blair took in a few anxious breaths, looking left then right, not sure what to do next. She'd cleaned out her bank account before leaving, but they had no phone, no credit cards, nothing that could trace them back to where they were now, but ultimately nothing that could help.

And to top it all off, for all intents and purposes, they were lost.

"Dorota—," Blair said, about to tell the maid they should head back into the bus station, but she stopped short seeing her tapping away on a cell phone.

"Dorota!" she screeched and the maid looked up, startled.

"I told you no electronics! I don't want Chuck or Jack or anyone finding us," she said, trying to snatch the phone away, but her reflexes were slow and Dorota pulled back.

"Uspokój się!" she scolded, "This pre-paid phone. I buy in cash," she assured her, looking up and nodding down the road, "According to map we walk five minutes to coffee shop."

She wanted to yell and demand, And then what do we do?!

But she held her tongue. This was her idea. She had to take the reins.

"Let's get going," she nodded, tightening the belt around her jacket as a chill ran up her spine, "and as soon as we get there," she stopped to clear her throat, making Dorota eye her up and down, "we need to look up rental listings."

"You too pale," she said with concern, but Blair wouldn't listen, pulling her into a brisk pace.

XOXOXOXOXO

Chuck's bloodshot eyes tried to focus on the screen in front of him, but after spending the whole night staring at his laptop, everything was a blur.

"Fuck," he cursed, closing his eyes and even that action caused them to ache. He reached for the bottle of scotch next to him, but stopped himself. He needed a clear head.

You don't have a clear head. You haven't slept. How the hell do you think you're going to find her in your current state?

His mind mocked him or maybe it was the delirium sinking in? He wasn't sure, but it pissed him the fuck off and caused him to stand. In his anger he grabbed the laptop, wanting to throw it against the nearest wall, but the taunting voice in his head stopped him again.

You'll never find her if you do that.

He stilled, looking at the paused screen again. It was security footage from Grand Central Station from around the time that Blair had disappeared. He also had footage from the airport and the bus station, from everywhere she'd bought a ticket. He'd been going through it all to no avail.

She hadn't used any of the tickets she'd purchased and the security cameras from the Jitney bus stop had been angled horribly so he couldn't see in what direction she'd taken off in.

He didn't have a starting point.

He didn't have anything.

"Fuck!" he barked again, throwing his laptop onto the couch in the Palace Penthouse where he'd spent the night.

He started pacing, his mind whirling. He wanted to rage. He felt caged and anxious. It'd been nearly an entire day since she'd disappeared and two since he'd seen or spoken to his daughter.

He hadn't gone home nor had he called. He couldn't. How could he? What would he tell Cate? How could he face her and say Blair was gone?

He stopped his pacing and walked towards the guest bathroom to throw water on his face, but that didn't help his fatigue nor stop his incessant thoughts.

He could just imagine Cate's face and how horribly she must have felt when he hadn't returned home with Blair.

"Goddamn it," he spat, tightening his fist around the towel he'd used to dry his face. He couldn't leave his little girl that way. He needed answers for her, for himself.

He went into his rumpled jacket to dial his PI when his phone suddenly started buzzing, making him dig into his pocket frantically.

When he finally managed to pull his phone out, a number he didn't recognize stared back at him, making his heart thud in chest as he furiously swiped at his screen.

"Blair?" his breath thinned.

But it wasn't.

His hopes dashed and plummeted as Headmistress Hewitt's voice filled his ear.

"Mr. Bass?"

"Yes, good morning, Headmistress," he replied, trying to keep his composure.

"Good morning," she replied, "I'm contacting you because of Catherine's absence. She wasn't in school yesterday nor was she at role call a half hour ago. Is she ill?"

"No, I, there was uh..." Chuck trailed off, not knowing where or how to start.

"Oh, I apologize," Hewitt said, "Was there a death in the family?"

He should have yes, made something up, but his mind was sludge and only the truth slipped out, "No, that's not it, I..." but the headmistress cut him off.

"So she isn't ill, there wasn't a death or any kind of emergency?"

His ire spiked, "Headmistress Hewitt," he grated, gearing to tell her off, but she cut in again.

"Mr. Bass, since we've already established that there's no viable reason for Catherine's absence then I strongly suggest she make it to school in the next twenty minutes," she said, her voice direct and strict, "Please don't make me regret the opportunity I granted you."

He clenched his jaw then parted his lips, but Blair's face came to mind, how much she'd begged and how important that school was to her...

He looked down and swallowed his harsh words to reply, "She'll be there shortly."

XOXOXOXOXO

"I'm sorry Mrs. Humphrey, but Mr. Archibald won't be in today. Would you like me to relay a message?"

Lily pursed her lips looking down at her watch. She'd been at the Spectator for nearly a half hour, arriving just as they opened hoping she'd catch Nate as he arrived. She knew she could probably get information out of him, but so far she'd been out of luck.

He hadn't answered her calls, nor had he been home when she'd paid him a visit the night before. She was frustrated and running out of options.

"Yes," Lily huffed, for the moment resigning herself, "Can you please tell him to call Lily as soon as possible? It's very important," she said and his assistant Courtney smiled.

"Of course," she nodded, "Have a good day."

"Thank you, you too," Lily feigned a smile and exited, shifting her purse on her arm.

"Please take me to my son's place," she said, before reminding her driver of the new address.

Lily reached over for the small garment bag on the seat beside her. It was a dress she'd asked Jenny to design for Cate while in Italy. She hoped she would be able to distract her with the gift, if only for a few moments.

"Here we are," her driver said, stepping out of the car fifteen minutes later to open the door for her.

"Thank you," she said, exiting the vehicle and walking up to the front door. She shifted the garment bag and raised a hand, getting ready to ring the bell when the door swung unexpectedly open.

"Oh," she said startled before she was barreled into and nearly knocked down.

"Grandma!"

"Hello, sweetheart," Lily laughed, handing the nanny the garment bag before she bent down and pulled her granddaughter up in her arms for a hug, "Ooof," she huffed, propping Cate up on her hip, "You've grown a foot and gained at least a thousand pounds since I've last seen you," she joked, making Cate grin.

"No I haven't, silly," Cate continued to smile, but Lily could tell it was forced and frowned, looking back at the nanny.

"Leah, is it?"

"Yes, Leah Daley," the nanny smiled, "It's nice to formally meet you," she said, then apologized, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Humphrey, but we're in a rush."

"Rush?" Lily questioned and the nanny nodded.

"I have to get Cate to school in the next fifteen minutes."

"School?" Lily parroted then looked down at Cate's outfit and noticed the uniform for the first time, "Your father enrolled you?" she asked, more speaking to herself from the shock. She'd tried suggesting a few schools when Cate had turned four but Charles had been adamantly against it.

"Yup," Cate said, "Blair was there when we went all around Hawthorn," she explained, then looked away, fiddling with her jacket buttons as her eyes filled, brimming with tears.

The sight tore at Lily and she pulled Cate close, "I'm going to take her to school," she told the nanny who opened her mouth to protest, "If you're worried about my son, don't be. I'll take full responsibility, in fact—," Lily stopped to lower Cate down and dig into her purse, "I'll call him right now."

Lily waited as the call rang out to voicemail as it had been doing ever since she'd landed back in the city. She waited a moment then left another message, "Charles, it's your mother— again," she stressed the word, "I'm taking Catherine to school and I don't want to hear of you terrorizing the nanny because of it. She tried to stop me, but of course I wouldn't hear otherwise," she said, and went to hang up, but stopped herself to add, "oh, and when you're done ignoring my calls like a petulant child, return them," she snapped, finally ending the call and dropping the phone back into her bag.

"Let's go, Catherine," she said, leaving Leah stuttering in the doorway as she led her back towards the car.

"Here, let me," Lily said, taking Cate's school bag from her so that she could climb inside then followed her in after. She set the bag down then busied herself telling the driver where they were going before looking down at her sniffling granddaughter, "Oh, sweetheart, what's wrong?" she asked, pulling Cate as close as her seatbelt would allow, "Do you not like school?"

"No," Cate hiccupped, rubbing her eyes, "School is fun, but I want Blair and Daddy and he hasn't come back home yet. Where's Daddy and Blair?" Cate cried, and Lily felt at a horrible loss, not knowing how to respond.

"I'm not sure where they are," she replied honestly, rubbing Cate's back, "But sometimes it just takes longer than expected," she tried to reason, "Look, I said I would come visit yesterday, but I got so busy and held up, I couldn't and so I came today. Maybe the same thing is happening with them," she said and that gratefully seemed to help as Lily handed her a handkerchief to dry her eyes.

"Do you really think so?" Cate asked, her little chest still shuddering even though the tears were gone.

I really hope so, Lily thought desperately then looked away as she avoided the question and dug back into her purse. She needed help. She needed reinforcement, "Why don't we call Eleanor, hmm?"

Cate smiled wide, the first time she'd truly brightened up, "Yes, let's call!"

Lily dialed Eleanor's number and silently begged the woman to pick up.

"Lily?"

Lily held in a sigh of relief, but couldn't quite keep it out of her tone, "Eleanor," she said and immediately the woman knew something was amiss.

"What's wrong? Is it Blair?"

"I can't get into it at the moment," she tried to stress that into her words, "but I have Catherine here who needs some cheering up," she said, before hitting the speaker button and handing the phone over into her granddaughter's eager hands.

"Ellie!" Cate exclaimed and Eleanor's voice filled the air.

"Hello, my darling," she replied with a sort of warmth in the woman's voice Lily had seldom heard.

"Where are you? Is Blair with you? Have you seen my daddy? Are you all coming home?" Cate rushed out the questions rapidly, making Eleanor laugh, but Lily could hear the anxiousness laced in.

"Catherine," Eleanor sobered, "eloquence and articulation are important tools in life," she scolded her, but without any bite. "Take a deep breath, big, bigger," she said, as Cate sucked in a dramatic breath, "then let it out slowly, good," she said. "Now start again."

"I miss you. Are you coming to see me?" Cate asked, taking her time this go around.

"I— I, I've missed you too," she replied, showing none of the eloquence she'd asked of Cate, but Lily knew she'd been taken off guard, "I should be landing in New York shortly. If I can manage it, I'll see you later today, but if not definitely tomorrow."

"Yay!" Cate cheered, "Is Blair coming and Daddy too?"

Lily looked down, knowing her granddaughter would be sorely disappointed.

"I'm not with Blair or your father. I've been in London and haven't seen either of them since I left," she explained, then quickly went on, "But don't you worry, my darling, Lily and I are going to try our best to hurry your father and Blair home."

"Thank you, thank you, Ellie!" Cate beamed then handed the phone back to Lily who took it off speaker.

"I take it my daughter and your son are missing?" Eleanor said once Lily put the phone up to her ear.

"For more than twenty-four hours," she replied, "If you would've answered any of my texts you would have already known that," Lily said, with a smile for Cate's benefit before she turned slightly away from her.

"I just spent a good portion of my flight trying to clear the thing out and so far I've had no messages from Blair."

"You might want to try Harold," Lily suggested, trying to think of more things that they could possibly do.

"Harold was in London with Roman. They surprised me with a congratulatory dinner after I signed the Selfridges contract."

"Well, how lovely for you," Lily, griped, taking her frustration out on the woman.

"Don't blame this solely on me," Eleanor snapped right back. "This is as much your fault as it is mine. We should have coordinated better."

Lily sighed, knowing she spoke only the truth, "I know, you're right," she said, trying to keep her voice low as Cate occupied herself looking out the opposite window. "What time do you land?"

"In the next forty-five minutes," Eleanor replied, "I'll meet you at your place and we'll go from there."

"Eleanor—," Lily had to add, she wasn't sure what but the pounding of her anxious heart made her speak.

"I know, Lily, we'll find them."

XOXOXOXOXO

I'm not even going to ask how you were let up without my consent."

"While I sold you the penthouse, I still own the building," Chuck turned, walking past the foyer and into Andrew Parker's bare living room.

The man's eyes hardened and he could see the counter attack forming on his lips. Any other day he would love nothing more than to rise to the bait and cut Andrew down a size, but today wasn't that day.

After getting off the phone with the headmistress, he'd gone more than a little mad, he would admit. He'd dialed his lawyer wanting to back out of every single one of his current contracts at Bass Industries. He'd wanted to focus, to go public with his search, offer a worldwide reward if it was necessary, but his lawyer had talked him down. He'd told him to give it time, talk to her friends and family and that's when the thought had struck, and why he was now standing there, so despite himself he stopped him.

He wasn't there to fight. He was there for Blair, "Let's not argue the legalities and my trespassing, Parker. You know why I'm here."

"I do and I don't care," Drew said as he lifted his briefcase and an umbrella in his hand, attempting to walk past, but Chuck stopped him, pushing the man back.

He hadn't come to fight, but that no longer mattered.

Andrew dropped his things and pushed back, making Chuck stumble slightly before he recovered and went after Parker again.

He thought of Blair and of all the times he'd seen her cozying up with Andrew. He thought of how he knew, without a doubt, she must've ran to the man before she left. She should have come to him, stayed with him, but hadn't. He thought of her now, of how desperate she must be, and what adverse lengths she'd gone to, and would continue to go to to remain undetected. He took all that anxious rage and gripped the man's arms, pushing him into the nearest wall.

"Go ahead," he said, his breaths panting harshly as he pinned Andrew to the wall, "give me a reason," he warned and the man looked at him, his blue eyes studying, seeing he wasn't sure what but his next words made it clear.

"You look just as frantic as she did when I saw her last."

Chuck's stomach took a sharp nose-dive, and he was very sure he was going to be sick but he couldn't allow himself to be, not then. This was the first he'd heard of her since she'd gone. He went after the man again, not in anger or retaliation, but because he could do no less. His frayed nerves saw to that, "Where is she?" he asked, "You have to tell me," he said, but Andrew pulled back again.

"I don't know," he said and that sick feeling roiled in his stomach, but his fury won out.

"Don't you fucking lie to me," he bit out and Andrew gaze grew cold once more.

"While I'd love to do just that I know it wouldn't serve any purpose. I'm telling you the truth," he grated back, "She came for my help. My lawyer drew up a contract for your psychotic uncle then at her urging I bought her out, every piece of stock she owned I cashed in for her and then she was gone."

The little color Chuck had left drained from his face, "You not only let her, you helped her leave without even a hint as to where she was going? What kind of a goddamn friend are you?" he accused, voice rising in outrage because this was yet again another dead end.

"The best," he countered back, "I was there when she needed me, can you say the same?" he said and Chuck very nearly lost it then but Andrew stopped him, "Look, you and I both know Blair. She will get in contact with someone sooner or later. She won't stay gone," he said then sighed, "Hell, you definitely do not deserve it, but you have my word," he said, lifting his briefcase back up, "If she contacts me again I'll let you know immediately."

Chuck frowned, filled with a confusion that he voiced not intending to, "Why?"

Andrew shrugged, "Because your child would want me to."

XOXOXOXOXO

Nate exited his apartment, having gone home to shower and change. In truth he wished he could have just stayed home and slept the rest of the day, week, or better yet, month away just so his mind could rest and not think of the days ahead. He knew they would be brutal, even if he'd cornered his grandfather. He knew the old man wouldn't let sleeping dogs lie. It wasn't his style. He knew he'd come prepared if he were to press him again and he didn't want it to come to that.

Which meant he had to focus on the paper and not on—

"Serena?"

He saw a whirl of blonde turn towards him and it took a moment for his brain to register what his eyes were seeing, but once it did his stomach plummeted.

"Miranda."

"Yes, Miranda Holbrook, Wife and Killer," she spelled out, waving her shaking hand in the air as if the words were painted in front of her, "But of course they had the foresight to put a question mark at the end so I can't even sue them for slander," the woman tearfully said as she closed the distance between them, "Why?" she sniffled, "Tell me why?" she begged, "How could you?"

Nate felt vile. He'd had to choose between the story and Serena and he'd chosen Serena without a fraction of a doubt, much less a second thought. He hadn't stopped to really think how it would affect Miranda and now having her here in front of him, seeing the tears slip down her cheeks made him hate himself, maybe even more than he currently hated his grandfather.

"Miranda, I— "

The slap was unexpected. The impact stung and the loud crack it made when her hand hit his cheek filled the air. He almost felt grateful for the strike. He deserved it and more, much more he knew when his eyes settled back on the woman.

She didn't look like she'd gotten any satisfaction out of the violent outburst. She still looked just as broken, but worse now that she was cradling her hand to her chest.

"I don't want your excuses," she spat, rubbing the palm of her tender hand, "I want an explanation. They made me out to be an awful husband murderer, a black widow," she ranted miserably, "They cut so much out of it. They cut me out of it; my words, my truth. You promised me!"

"You're right," he admitted, because she was. He had promised her and he hadn't kept his word. What could he say? What could he possibly tell her? He had no excuse, nothing was good enough, not even the truth.

"I don't have an explanation," he finally settled on, "I told you to trust me with your story and I went ahead and broke that trust, and for that I'm sorry. I— I'm so sorry," he told her, meaning every word, but Miranda wouldn't hear it.

"Keep that apology," she scoffed in disgust. "It's as worthless as your word," she ended with, before she pushed past him and rushed into the elevator which had just dinged open.

Nate looked away, rubbing his temples as his stomach cramped with guilt. He wanted to leave, confront his grandfather again for every single thing that was going wrong in his life, but he couldn't.

For her he couldn't.

"I told you we'd find him."

Nate looked up startled. He watched the elevator doors close just as Lily and Eleanor walked up to him with a determined look in their eyes.

Fuck

He really was in hell.

XOXOXOXOXO

It was evening, nearing nine o'clock at night when Blair and Dorota trudged up to the very last house on their list. Exhaustion was settling in as Blair tried to recall how many houses they'd seen that day after leaving the coffee shop that morning, but her weary mind couldn't focus on anything but keeping one foot in front of the other.

"Miss Blair, this way," Dorota motioned, cupping Blair's arms to steady her when she nearly rolled an ankle.

"I'm fine," Blair snapped, for the umpteenth time pulling away, "I don't need to be led like an animal on a leash," she said, shrugging the maid's arms off when she tried to steer her towards the sprawling Tudor coming up to their right on Merriman Road.

In truth Blair should have been grateful for the support but she felt awful. Her eyes burned with fatigue and she was sweaty from all their traveling, yet her shoulders were slightly shaking despite the temperature only being around the low 50's that night.

Dorota didn't respond. She only knitted her brows, making Blair's stomach roil with guilt at the worry she saw reflected in her eyes. She didn't want Dorota to be worried even though she herself felt just short of a nervous wreck.

A sound brought her out of her thoughts and she realized not only had they already made it up to the entrance gate but the maid had also already tapped the smart security screen and they were being told by the computer to hold please.

After a moment which felt like an eternity a crisp voice greeted them, if you could call the serrated reply a greeting.

There will no longer be any showings tonight. Come again tomorrow morning.

At any other moment she would have argued, persuaded, or even blackmailed to get what she wanted but after all that she'd been through and after more than twenty-four hours without sleep she could do nothing more than let her shoulders slump.

There were no more houses to view that day, they'd toured them all. One after the other the owners all had rejected her. They'd refused to rent in cash. They had each asked for checks, bank accounts— her real ID, things that should have occurred to her before the house hunt, but ultimately things she couldn't produce.

If she did she had no doubt she'd be located within an hour and she couldn't let that happen.

She didn't know what to do next.

Again, she felt lost.

And the universe being what it was, or karma, fate, or whatever the hell you wanted to call it decided it was the perfect time to rain down on her.

Literally

A cool breeze picked up, clouds rolled in the night sky— looking very much like every horror movie she'd ever seen— followed quickly by a loud thundering boom before the heavens opened up and the floodgates burst.

Dammit

The storm had followed her to Ohio.

There was no where to go, no where to dash to take cover.

Within a minute she was drenched, her slight shiver was now a full on chatter, and she could do nothing more than hang onto the wrought iron gate that was suddenly moving within her grasp.

Wait, moving?

In her silent pity party she'd failed to notice Dorota, and how she had continued to tap into the security system, yelling for help in both English and Polish.

Her mind was still trying to come up to speed when the maid grabbed her arm and rushed her all the way down the pathway and up to the front door which swung open upon her arrival.

"The authorities will be called," a silver haired, well coiffed older woman said indignantly as Dorota pushed past her paying her no mind.

Blair had been in a daze through it all.

Or maybe in shock?

She wasn't sure.

She just knew she was incapable of speech, incapable of doing anything other than standing there, in some strange foyer as Dorota started to peel the soaked trench off her body.

"Did you hear anything I just said?" the woman asked and that's when everything seemed to come into blurry focus.

Dorota shouldn't have done that. They shouldn't have just barged in. They had to leave, "Dorota—," she said, but it came as barely a whimper.

The older woman's features suddenly twisted in concern, "Are you alright?"

"We travel all night and day to night again," the maid answered for her when she didn't immediately reply. For some reason it was taking her longer with her responses.

"We make hasty exit," she continued as the lady's concern grew.

"Don't, don't listen to her, I'm fine," she found enough strength to say as she looked around. It was warm there, nice colors. She liked it.

If only the room would keep still...

"No! Miss Blair!"

XOXOXOXOXO

"Cate, are you sure you don't want anything to eat?"

"No, Leah," Lily watched her granddaughter slowly shake her head in response to her nanny's question before stabbing a fork into her French toast.

She hated the sight, hated how her granddaughter was hurting and there was nothing she could do about it. She'd gone to see Nate with Eleanor but he hadn't had very much to say, just that Blair had booked a flight to Paris and apparently hadn't boarded it. Charles presumably was still searching for her.

They'd prodded Nathaniel some more, but he couldn't tell them anything else.

That had been about eleven hours ago and another full night that Charles hadn't made it home.

She hadn't either. She'd told Rufus she'd be staying with Cate until Charles reappeared. Eleanor had said the same to Cyrus about Blair.

"Good morning," Eleanor said, walking into the dining room as if she'd called her with her thoughts.

"Ellie!" Cate shrieked, pulling away from the table to run straight into Eleanor's arms.

Watching Cate come alive for the first time that morning made Lily grateful she hadn't told her Eleanor had also spent the night. They'd arrived late and Cate had already been in bed.

"I thought I came down for breakfast, not for an ambush," Eleanor chided, but a bright smile was on her face as she took a seat and pulled Cate onto her lap for a hug.

"I didn't know you were here too," Cate smiled, pulling back.

"I arrived with Lily late last night, but let's get back to the matter at hand," Eleanor told her, motioning over to Cate's plate, "Why is your breakfast untouched?"

Cate looked down, that newfound energy draining, "I'm not hungry," she replied.

Lily watched Eleanor glance up, their gazes meeting, but she didn't have an answer for her unspoken question. She didn't know what to do to lift Cate's spirits and get her to eat so she simply shrugged at a loss.

Eleanor sighed, parted her lips then pressed them before she spoke, "Well, if you aren't hungry we certainly won't force you to eat. I'm just disappointed you won't be up to helping me after school."

Cate frowned, perking up, "Help with what?"

"You know my arrival here was unexpected. I've barely had time to unpack, much less check in on Waldorf Designs. I was hoping you'd help me go over the new fabrics I purchased in London for my new children's line," Eleanor said, saturating her voice with regret.

Lily saw Cate squirm on Eleanor's lap before exclaiming, "I want to help! Oh, please, please!"

Eleanor laughed and Lily found herself following suit, "Well I guess you better get back to your plate before it's time to leave for school," Lily suggested and Cate nodded, scrambling off and back to her seat.

"Will Blair be there too?" Cate asked, mid-bite and the lighthearted few moments they'd shared evaporated into thin air.

She once again found herself sharing a troubled gaze with Eleanor, but this time it was her turn to take the reins, "Miss Daley, can you ready Cate's things to leave?" Lily asked the nanny who was standing off to the side in wait.

"Of course, Mrs. Humphrey," the nanny replied before exiting the dining room and leaving silence in her wake.

Lily bought herself another moment of reprieve as she took a sip of her tea before she lowered her cup down and replied to her granddaughter, "Not just yet, sweetheart," she said, with more regret than Cate realized, "I think your father and Blair still need a little bit more time."

"How much more?" Cate complained, but gratefully continued to eat.

"We're not sure, but we can't be seen moping about when they finally do return, now can we?" Eleanor interjected to which Lily was eternally appreciative of.

"I guess not," Cate agreed with disappointment, then lowered her fork and wiped her mouth, "I'm done."

"Just in time," Lily said, nodding towards the nanny who held Cate's jacket and backpack in her hands.

"Catherine is to be brought straight to Waldorf Designs after school," Eleanor informed Leah who floundered.

"Uh, I—"

"Straight," Lily confirmed, then she bent towards Cate who walked over for a kiss goodbye.

"I, oh, alright," she replied nervously as Cate pulled away to walk around the table to Eleanor.

"Have a wonderful day, my darling," Eleanor bent and kissed Cate on the forehead too.

"Bye," Cate waved sadly, walking out of the dining room and leaving them alone.

After a few breaths Eleanor leaned over, peering in the direction Cate had just taken, "She's gone," she told her. "Now we can speak freely."

"About what?" Lily said, finally allowing the depths of her distress to show. "We are no further along than we were yesterday. We still don't know where Charles or Blair are or what we should do next."

"I was thinking about that all night and I came to the conclusion that we've been going about this all wrong," Eleanor told her and Lily frowned.

"How so?"

"Well, we've been trying to track down Charles or Blair, but what about—"

"Dorota." Lily finished, following her thoughts as it dawned on her. "Eleanor, you're a genius," she said, excitement filling her cheeks with a smile as Eleanor grinned, lifted her cup and arched her brow.

"Cheers."

XOXOXOXOXO

Chuck rubbed his prickly cheek that morning as he exited the elevator at Bass Industries, ignoring the wide-eyed look he received from his assistant as he walked past her desk to get to his office.

"Are the contracts on my fucking desk?" He barked over his shoulder, making Ellen jump.

"Yes, Mr. Bass. They've been there for days," his assistant replied then bit her lip nervously when his dark, red-rimmed eyes stared her down from his office just before he closed his double doors with a slam.

Normally he wouldn't have spoken that way to his assistant. First and foremost she was extremely efficient; he paid her enough to be and second, he didn't want to deal with HR, much less any kind of unnecessary lawsuit, but his body was running on no sleep.

He sat down, nearly collapsing into his chair as he tried to make his brain work on the contracts in front of him. They were time sensitive, millions were on the line. It was the only reason he was even there and not back at the Palace Penthouse once again going over the security footage he'd acquired.

Fuck

He shouldn't have listened to his lawyers. He should have backed out of all these contracts. The words were all blurry in front of him. He wasn't sure what day it was or when he'd last eaten or showered.

To hell with it.

It was only money.

He signed the bottom of all the contracts without a final read through and threw them into a pile for his assistant to get to later.

He was going to rise, rush out, rush back but a horrible feeling in his gut stopped him.

It was probably his body demanding sustenance, but somehow he knew it wasn't. It was a weird feeling as if something were off, or wrong. He'd had the same feeling the night before.

Dammit.

He was going senile.

There was no other explanation for it. Of course he felt off and wrong. Everything in his life was fucking off and wrong, he tried to convince himself even if this felt different.

He shook his head, trying to clear the fog and rose, but once again he paused.

Thrown in a discard tray that'd yet to be cleared were the files of résumés of the PI's he'd interviewed before hiring Hues again.

A thought came to him as his hands dug into the pile.

He should have thought of this before, he berated himself.

One PI tracking Blair down was good, but five were sure to raise the odds.

XOXOXOXOXO

Blair shifted and moaned. Images assailed her and memories faded in and out as her mind fought for consciousness.

You Tiffany promised!

Don't do this, Blair.

She tried to shy away from the voices, but her whole body hurt and ached, stopping her in defeat.

Whispers, she thought, so many whispers.

She tried again to move and ease the pain in her limbs, but she couldn't. Her heart started to race and beat erratically.

Panic.

It was just another panic attack she tried to reassure her haze filled mind. She knew this. She'd suffered through them countless times before, but her eyes continued to flutter anxiously until she felt a warm touch on her face that finally soothed her movement.

"Chuck," she rasped before her lids lifted at last, only to quickly shut again with the harsh light that was blanketing the room.

"Easy," a voice said, confusing her as she blinked a few more times putting everything into focus.

Blair looked around, disoriented and panting. She was in a dark wooden four poster bed in a large room. There was fireplace with dying embers to her left and a picture window to her right. Her confusion deepened, leading to panic.

"Breathe, you're safe," the voice said again, forcing her eyes to settle on the source.

It wasn't Chuck and something clenched painfully inside her, making her cough.

"Easy, easy," the man repeated, and a glass of water appeared in front of her face.

She took a sip, then a gulp until she was practically chugging the water as fast as she could.

"That's enough," he said, as the water was snatched from her, making it spill a little as he placed the glass on the nightstand next to her.

"You need to go slowly. When's the last time you ate or drank anything?" He asked, taking a handkerchief out of his suit jacket and handing it to her.

"I—," she went to reply and suddenly realized how insane that was, responding to a strange man, in a strange room, in a strange house.

"Where am I?"

"You don't remember?" He asked, forcing her to really take him in. He was in his thirties. He was tall, in a tailored gray suit and tie. He had green eyes and dark hair and equally dark stubble peppering his face.

She should be scared, terrified, that she somehow found herself at the mercy of a strange man, but she curiously felt safe. It made no sense.

"Do you remember your name? What day it is? Year?" He prompted and she heard the concern in his voice as he lifted a pen light, blinding her with the suddenness of it all.

She blinked, clenching her eyes shut as she pushed his hand away. She knew her name, the year and what was worse— what had brought her there.

"It's okay. You don't have to answer all at once," he reassured and she realized her eyes had filled.

"Who are you?" She sniffled, horrified, she was letting a stranger see her that weak.

"I'm Phillip Hartley—"

"Dr. Robert Phillip Hartley, MD," Dorota interrupted bustling into the room with a breakfast tray that made Blair's nose scrunch.

"You can call me Hart, most people do," he said with a quick grin, before stepping aside to let the maid lower the tray.

"I don't—"

"It's only broth, tea and crackers, nothing heavy, but you need to eat to get over that flu," he said, stopping her protest in its track.

"Flu?" her brows knitted and then she remembered everything, how cold and miserable she'd been, how dizzy, how Dorota had forced her way into an older woman's home and then— nothing... "I fainted?"

"You did," he confirmed, "but lucky for you you weren't hurt in your fall and your fever has broken."

"You sleep all night and all morning and I pace," Dorota said, anxiously fiddling with her fingers.

"I'm fine," she reassured her, trying to sit up, but she didn't have the strength she thought she did and nearly fell sideways if not for Hart's quick hands.

"There," he said, helping her up and propping her pillows into position.

"Thanks," she said stiffly and her frown deepened. She now knew who he was and where she was but she was still just as confused. Why was he being so accommodating? Why hadn't they'd been kicked out or incarcerated for forcing their way in?

"Ah, you're awake," another strange voice said as Blair turned to see the same older woman from the night before walk in.

The woman had this imposing aura about her and her dark brown eyes were sharp and assessing. She was expertly styled with her white platinum hair in a neat chignon that complemented her deep blue Chanel suit perfectly.

Blair didn't know what to say. What do you tell a person after you've essentially broken into their home?

"Could you both give us the room?"

"But Miss Lucinda—" Dorota protested.

"Not a word," the woman shook her head, "From either of you," she gave a pointed look at Hart.

"Fine," Hart replied, "I'll be downstairs if you need me," he said before leading Dorota out.

She watched the maid give her one last helpless look before the door shut quietly behind them.

"Now then," the woman nodded towards Blair's bowl, "You and I are going to have a nice tête-à-tête while you eat," she said as she lowered herself into the winged back chair that had been pushed close to the bed.

Blair cleared her throat, unsure where to begin but she refused to show weakness before the woman, "My name is Blair," she said, picking up her spoon, "And I want to apologize for last night and any trouble we may have caused," she said lowering the spoon into the hot liquid, "I also want to assure you you'll be reimbursed for our stay and any medical expenses you incurred having to call the doctor in so hastily."

The woman shifted in her seat as Blair continued to talk, "As soon as I'm done here Dorota and I will be on our way."

"Are you about done now?" The woman asked with an arched brow that had Blair narrowing her eyes and tilting her head in response.

"Good," she said when Blair didn't respond, making Blair purse her lips.

"Eat," she ordered and Blair was forced to comply when it was made clear no further words would be spoken unless she made the broth disappear.

"My name is Lucinda Westmore," she started as Blair grudgingly filled the spoon and brought it to her lips, "and that doctor who was just in here is my grandson Robert, who stubbornly refuses to go by his God given name, so not to worry. There are no medical expenses, nor will there be any legal ones either."

Blair swallowed too quickly at that, making herself choke.

"Easy now, as I said I'm not pressing any charges against either of you."

Blair took a sip of her tea and a clear breath and thanked her. There was really not much else she could do. She took another spoon of her broth and looked back at the woman who was rubbing her pearl necklace between two manicured fingers. She had this commanding presence that made Blair want to sit up straighter and reflect it right back to her. What had Dorota dragged them into?

"So," Lucinda said, interrupting her thoughts, "Now that the pleasantries and introductions are out of the way, you can tell me exactly what it is you're running from."

The only sound that followed was the sound of Blair's rapidly beating heart and the clatter of silverware being dropped.

XOXOXOXOXO

"What was the letter of the day?"

"A!"

"And what states begin with the letter A?"

"Alabama!"

"Alaska!"

Cate looked away from her teacher. She liked her teacher Mrs. Henderson. She was nice with big light brown eyes and a soft voice, but she did not want to answer any of her questions. She hadn't wanted to answer any questions at all all day. She just wanted Daddy and Blair back.

Cate gave one last look at her teacher who was bent adjusting a classmate's backpack strap and stepped out the dismissal line.

They were supposed to be waiting to be picked up, but she didn't want to wait. Leah promised she'd be there to take her to Ellie and she didn't want to waste anymore time.

Maybe Blair was back by now? And Daddy?

That thought propelled her little leather Mary Jane clad feet forward as she followed a few older kids right out the campus gate and onto the sidewalk.

She looked right and left. So many people were walking up and down the block and a bunch of cars were parked in front of the school, but she didn't see her limo.

"You look a little lost there," a voice said as a shadow blocked the sun over her, "Do you need any help?"

Cate looked up to see a tall man with blue eyes and a dark suit on. She watched the man crouch in front of her and she frowned looking at his face.

She knew it was bad to talk to strangers, Daddy said so. He always said to yell for help if someone she didn't know tried to talk to her.

But she was angry.

And Daddy wasn't there.

Neither was Blair.

Or Leah.

Her little fists tightened as she looked at the man. She wasn't scared of him. Did that mean he wasn't bad?

"I'm Cate," she finally spoke up, ignoring the little voice that was telling her that what she was doing was not good at all.

The man grinned and she saw he had dimples like her.

"Hello Cate, I'm Jack."

A/N: I bet you thought you'd never hear from me again. I'm not going to lie, that almost happened. I'm really, honestly, terribly sorry. I have had a crazy last couple of years, went through 3 jobs... I just couldn't write. Enthusiasm escaped me. I gained it back finally last year around November (Just before Limoversary) and was going to start up writing again but the Ed scandal happened and my enthusiasm and muse plummeted. I didn't think I'd ever write for GG again but all of you out there helped me get my mojo back. Everyone who has ever reviewed and begged me to update in the last couple of years, it's because of you, anyone who has ever PMed asking me about my fic, it's because of you, anyone who has ever tweeted me telling me they were still waiting for an update, it's because of you... you all know who you are and if you are reading this, it's because of you too! Thank you! You don't know how much your support means to me. I want to finish this fic for all you out there and I know this chapter might have disappointed some of you...(there were no Chuck and Blair scenes!) but I could have it no other way because I do plan to finish this fic and I don't plan to rush through it just to give the fic an ending. I want it to be a satisfying end for everyone who stuck with it and I hope to give you just that. I'm going right back to writing the next chapter as I close this A/N out so if you could review and let me know you're still out there with me I'd appreciate it so much!

Thank you again!

P.S. There are two pics on my photobucket page if you'd like to check them out. Link is in my profile. Once you go to the site on the left you will see "For Love or Legacy". Click there and all my pics to the fic are posted. I've added a pic of Lucinda Westmore and a pic of her grandson, Dr. Robert Phillip (Hart) Hartley.

With love and gratitude,

XoXo Chrys