CLAIR DE LUNE

Summary: Twas the night after Dan and Serena's wedding, and all through Chuck and Blair's house, not a creature was stirring, especially not Eric, Nate, and Jenny! When the singletons of the group go out for a wild night on the town, Nate and Jenny must fake a relationship in order to save his mayoral run. But when does the acting stop, and the loving begin? Chapter 1-6 are rated T; those from 7 on are rated M. A Nate and Jenny story, with lots of married Chuck and Blair, matchmaking little Henry, and wisecracking Eric.

Disclaimer: I own nothing in the Gossip Girl universe, not even (sadly) Chuck or Nate. Major props to Cecily von Ziegesar, the CW, the producers, actors, and crew, and everyone involved with bringing these amazing characters to life.

Chapter 24 – The Parting Glass

EPILOGUE

Serena

Ever since recovering from the illness that had almost stolen her life, it was Serena's habit to rise early to greet the sun. Before cancer, Serena had always been one to relish a good lie-in, whether it was snuggling with the covers, or with Dan.

Once she'd had her babies, she'd made it a family tradition to spend weekend mornings in bed. After sufficient sleep and lovemaking, Dan would generally disappear for a while as she dozed, then reappear with breakfast and kids in tow. (He'd always been the morning person, anyway.)

Blair was horrified that Serena allowed her children to camp out in bed with her if they weren't ill ("I don't believe in co-sleeping with children once they're school age, S – it makes them codependent"), but Jenny had defended her sister-in-law.

"Nicky and Ali used to climb in bed with us all the time, Blair, and they're just fine…"

"That's because they're half-Humphrey," was Blair's sniffed reply.

This morning, Serena had left Dan sitting up in bed with his two daughters perched on either side while she did her sun salutations. She was now a certified yoga instructor with popular summer classes in the Hamptons, and winter classes in Santa Barbara. Generally, she did yoga on the beach, but considering the fact that one of her dearest friends would be inaugurated President on the morn, she could stay away from the waves and the sand for a few days.

The one person she could never get interested in joining her was Dan. As much as he'd loosened up since she'd married him, Dan still wasn't Zen enough to join any of her classes. Her girls usually did, but today they were enjoying their special daddy-daughter time.

Stepping back inside the French doors, her yoga mat rolled under her arm, Serena paused in the doorway to drink in the sight of her beautiful family. Autumn with her midnight curls, porcelain skin, and starry blue eyes. Gemma with hair as golden as her own, warm tan, and her father's dark eyes. And Chris would be coming in that morning with Milo Sparks, deputy Headmaster at St. Jude's… their son had a Calculus exam, but more importantly, a party the night before…

At sixteen, Christopher Rhodes Humphrey never missed the best parties.

And of course, there was her Dan. After all these years, Dan was her anchor, her rock. Hers. As much as they'd all changed, except for a little grey around his temples, Dan was still the same.

As their eyes met, her husband blew her a kiss, and a flame flickered deep in his dark eyes. And Serena wondered for the millionth time if she'd always feel seventeen whenever he looked at her..

"Hi, Mom," said Autumn, in her quiet way. Her eldest daughter was counted by some as even more breathtaking than Serena had been at the same age, but she was as ethereal and calm as her mother was sunny and bright.

She's the moon to my sun, as Dan always says. We should have named her Selena, as he suggested, for Selene, goddess of the moon. But at the time, we'd just lost Alison...

Serena and Dan's firstborn was a sharp contrast to her little sister Gemma, who had inherited the dry Humphrey sense of humor in full measure.

Now Gemma, we named her just right. She's the fire to her sister's water. I am amazed at how much I see of me and Dan in both of them, and at the same time, how little like both of them we are.

"Have you said enough 'oms' for all of us, Mommy dear?" Gemma snarked, then giggled as her father tickled her a little.

"Before you ask, Mom," Autumn was saying, rolling her eyes at her little sister, "we're just about to watch your wedding video for the thousandth time."

Serena sat down in the Queen Anne chair nearest the French doors, reaching for a bottle of ice-cold water conveniently set on the side table. "Really? Why?

"Because that's when this all started," Dan told her. "The girls and I were sitting here, eating these incredible Blair House croissants and reminiscing. We wanted to know exactly how we ended up related to the First Family… and it dawned on me that Jenny and Nate started dating at our wedding."

"That's not how Aunt J tells it, Dad," Autumn said. "She says it started the week after you two got married… and Aunt B says that she and Uncle Chuck fixed them up."

Gemma shook her head. "That's not what Uncle Nate says. He told us that Aunt J had this massive crush on him in high school, and he thought she was cute, too. But she was way younger than he was, so they didn't date until they were older."

"Of course Uncle Nate would saythat," laughed Autumn. "Aunt J dated tons of guys before him, super famous ones too, so he probably tells himself that to feel better..."

Gemma reached over Dan to poke her sister in the ribs. "Don't talk about my favorite uncle like that! Aunt J totally lucked out landing the President, everyone says so at Constance. Our school tries to act as if she graduated from there, when everyone knows she finished at some dinky public school upstate."

"Well, Mom and Dad know the truth."

"That's because Dad and Uncle Nate both dated Mom at one point! You remember that old Gossip Girl site we found…"

Autumn shook her head. "G, is it really necessary to bring that up? Today of all days? Ew."

"You mean the fact that Uncle Nate was almost our Dad? Why can't we talk about it? It's not like Mom and Dad ever hid anything from us… Aunt B was so angry when Nick and Katie found all that stuff, but…"

"Girls, girls," Dan interrupted, much amused. (Like Serena, he'd been struggling to hold back his laughter… although no one had been amused when the kids found the Gossip Girl archives several years before.) "I thought we were watching the wedding holos."

"Yes, but really, Mom should say something in her defense," insisted Gemma. "Mom, weren't you and Uncle Nate madly in love at one point?"

"Nate and I have always loved each other," Serena replied smoothly, without missing a beat. "I can't remember not knowing your Uncle Nate, or Aunt Blair and Uncle Chuck. Our parents were friends, and we played together even before we started preschool. When that happens, sometimes feelings get confused…"

"But the mean girls at Constance said that it took Uncle Nate years to get over you, Mom," Gemma pressed. "And that he married Aunt J only after you married Dad."

"Well, they're mean girls," Dan said, nonplussed. "That's what they do. It's part of their job description."

"Exactly," Autumn agreed. "I don't know why you listen to anything they have to say, Gem. Besides, have you seen Uncle Nate and Aunt J? They're just as disgusting as Mom and Dad when it comes to being all over each other..."

"Gee, thanks kid," said Dan, ruffling her hair roughly, then dropping a kiss on top of it.

Serena stood up, and walked over to the bed. Swinging her feet up easily, she reclined on the other side of Gemma, who instinctively curled into her mother.

"I'm going to say this, and then we're going to watch the wedding video quickly so that we're not late to breakfast," she said firmly. "Sometimes when you grow up that close, things get confusing. Nate and I were always… well, as popular as we were in school, we were always kind of… in the shadow of our best friends. Blair was Queen Bee, and that was that. Uncle Chuck was rich, and wild, and crazy things were always happening when he was around. Chuck and Blair threw the best parties, they were always at the center of gossip…"

"Not much has changed, I see," Gemma giggled (because Serena started tickling her side).

"Chuck and Blair were drawn together even before they started dating," Serena continued. "Looking back, it's easy to see that now. They were made for each other. And that sort of left me and Nate out there. He and I always had a lot in common, and we were teenagers, so… things happened. Nate thought it meant that we were love, but I realized that it wasn't that simple. It was hard and I'm just thankful that we got to keep our friendship after I met your father."

Serena reached over Gemma to clasp Dan's hand.

"Your father moved me like no one else ever had," she said softly to her daughters, but gazing at their father. "He was the first person to truly see me, to see underneath all the pretense. He saw straight into my heart. And he still does."

"EW! Not over me, Mom and Dad!" But Dan and Serena's lips met for a few seconds before their younger daughter broke them up.

Autumn was chortling. "Dad, give me the controls for the holophone. I'm going to start the video…"

They were interrupted by commotion at the door. An insistent rapping, someone calling out for Dan and Serena, and a familiar voice groaning.

Gemma leaped off the bed and ran to the door before anyone could stop her.

In stumbled Henry, carrying Alice in his arms. She clearly looked ill. Anais was right behind him.

Serena was on her feet in an instant. Dan was already at the door, there to catch his niece as she collapsed.

"My God, Hen, what happened to her?!"

"Anais and me were… she was like this when she found us."

Dan helped Henry walk Alice to the vacant Queen Anne chair, where Gemma and Autumn were already pouring water and bringing pillows from the bed.

It took Serena less than a minute, but as she stroked her niece's brow, checked her pulse, and smelled her breath, she quickly figured out that Ali was drugged. Drugged. Sweet little Alice, who'd made her cookies every day during her cancer bout until she could eat them. The darling little girl who'd painted the most beautiful portrait of Serena that anyone had ever done, right after she learned that she was going to live. The little doll of a girl who, except for Nate's eyes, was the exact image of Serena's sister-in-law Jenny at sixteen.

Drugged.

Jenny gave everyone hell when she was that age, too. Ali's been so rebellious about that Gavin boy, just like her mother was about Nate…

And poor Nate? He'll be heartbroken. Ali is the apple of his eye. His "mini sweetheart," as he always calls her.

We've got to keep this away from him until we can get her sobered up. Inauguration Day is tomorrow. This is the last thing he needs.

As Autumn helped Alice sip a glass of water, Dan wiped their niece's brow with a cool cloth, and Gemma manned the automatic single-cup coffee maker, brewing a single cup of Ali's favorite hazelnut espresso. Henry and Anais stood by the door, talking with each other in low tones. (Serena noticed that they looked unusually disheveled. Suspiciously disheveled…)

She tried to figure out what to do. Of course, Nate and Jenny would need to be notified, but right now, they were preparing for a packed Inauguration Eve. So were Blair and Chuck… and both couples had Katie's impending due date on the radar as well.

Ali would need to go to rehab right after Inauguration… and there was no way that they'd be able to keep it out of the press. It would dominate the news cycle at a time when her parents didn't need it.

But most of all, what frightened Serena most was that drug abuse was something that Nate and his father had struggled with, too. Nate's was more mild, and Serena didn't think he'd ever give up his habit of smoking a joint or two during life's darker moments. But the Captain's drug abuse was something that eventually killed him.

Serena didn't want her beautiful niece to succumb to addiction, too.

As if her thoughts had summoned him, Dan came over to where Serena stood, contemplating what to do.

"She didn't do this," murmured Dan before Serena could speak.

"What? Why? How do you know?"

"Because the same thing happened to you," he told her. "And Jenny, too. It's easy enough to drug a poor little rich girl and make it seem as if she did it."

I'd almost forgotten.

"Anyway," Dan was saying, "stay with her. I'm going to find Blair and Chuck first. They need to contact Olivia Pope… yes, I know she's retired, but her firm is still going, and we're going to need her for the investigation. No one is more discreet."

Serena nodded, then pulled her husband closer.

"Take Henry and Anais with you, and tell them to go shower and change before Blair sees them."

Dan glanced over to the two eldest of the next generation, who were now helping Gemma and Autumn with Ali. Then he looked back at his wife.

"Are they…?"

"Yes, Dan, of course they are. That must be why Hannah isn't here at Inauguration all of a sudden."

"Hannah Liu, whose father owns half of China's manufacturing? Great. But I thought our kids made that Pact never to end up with each other?"

"Right, and Blair was going to marry that Prince. And I was going to move to LA, and your sister wasn't going to ever settle down at all… by the way, didn't Nick and Katie render our kids' silly pact null and void?"

"Point taken. Well, Blair isn't going to be happy. And I doubt Vanessa will be thrilled, either. They're cordial, but…"

"Never mind any of that, Dan. Just find Blair and Chuck. They'll figure out how to handle this like they always do, and break the news to Nate and Jenny. I'll send the rest of the kids down to breakfast, and keep Ali calm."

Serena watched as Dan went over to Anais and Henry, said something to them quietly, then followed them out the door. Then she went back to sit with her niece and daughters.

Autumn had tears in her eyes as she looked up at her mother. "Mom, how did this happen? There aren't any drugs here and no one should've gotten past security…"

Ali started clutching her head and grabbing her stomach. "I think I'm going to be sick…"

Gemma got the wastebasket just in time, as Ali threw up the contents of her stomach. Serena held back her niece's hair as she cried.

"Auntie S," she rasped at last, "someone is trying to hurt Daddy! Please…"

But Serena was lifting her up, and sitting down on the chair, then settling her niece down into her arms.

"Shh," she whispered. "It will be all right."

Chuck

The soon-to-be Chief of Staff of the United States had been up since shortly after the dawn, enjoying the morning in his favorite fashion, when his wife uncurled herself from around him and said she was going to check on his daughter.

"Which one?"

"The one who's having a baby, of course!"

"That daughter of mine has a husband," he'd mouthed in protest against her neck. "Whom I graciously didn't have murdered, might I add."

Blair giggled. "Yes, but that daughter of ours is probably up with the baby, something that her clueless Archibald of a husband may not understand. I'll bet anything she's uncomfortable and restless. She needs her mother."

"Have you decided what you're going to do about Audrey?" Chuck drawled.

"You mean, what we're going to do about Audrey," Blair corrected him. "And I think that letting Dree stew is the best punishment. She knows we're less than pleased with her antics. And the news cycle moves so fast these days… Chuck, why couldn't your girls be more like Henry? My sensible boy."

"My girls are perfection, just like their mother." His hand moved south. "After this dog and pony show is over, we also need to discuss why my sensible son and my beautiful wife have decided that he'll be taking over Waldorf, not Bass Industries."

Her small hand stilled his. "Nothing's been decided. We were just talking… and why were you spying on me?"

Dauntless, his fingers splayed against the smooth plane of her stomach, caressing before moving south again. "Any conversations about our heirs need to include me. And before you protest," he dipped the tips of her fingers beneath the lace of her panties, "I already anticipated that Henry would go to Waldorf when Katie and Nicholas joined me at Bass."

His hands went around Blair's waist. All the better for her to flip him over and assume the dominant position.

"And you're truly okay with that, Chuck?"

"I want our children to be happy. Just like I've always wanted you to be happy." He slid her panties down. Blair came up on her knees to accommodate him, while she worked on ridding him of his pajama bottoms. "Your happiness is what I live for."

"Well, then," she said, with a note of satisfaction in her voice. "Now that we have the matter of the children settled, let me settle you before I find Kate…"

After Blair had settled him nicely (in bed, and in a shared shower), and left their suite in search of their elder twin, Chuck donned a robe, went to the desk of their nicely appointed suite, and started work. His to-do list was a mile long… the final touches on Nate's Inauguration speech after editing and timing were on his desk, waiting for his review and approval.

Just as he picked up his reading glasses, a knock sounded on the door.

"Who is it?" he growled.

"Dan," said his brother-in-law.

Chuck put his glasses back on the blotter, then turned around. "Come in, Daniel."

He was expecting one of Dan's usual inanities, so there was a look of impatience on Chuck's face as the door opened. It completely melted away as he took Dan in. The other man wasn't even dressed yet, and he was only wearing one slipper.

"What's wrong?" asked Chuck.

"Ali." Dan quickly filled him in with the details. "Do you think…"

"No, you're right, this isn't her doing. Alice is just like her mother, and Jennifer barely likes being tipsy, let alone hitting the pipe or the needle."

"It was a needle. That's what they used. I didn't tell Serena, I didn't want to scare her because it looks like Ali's going to be just fine, but I saw the mark. She's wearing something without sleeves… the needle mark was angry and red. Just like the time that Serena…"

Chuck turned away from Dan. Security had been compromised.

At Blair House.

Steps away from the White House.

"Chuck."

"Be quiet, I need to alert Marcus Cane about the breach," he snapped.

After he alerted Cane, so that procedures were put into place to lock down Blair House, he turned back to Dan.

"Someone's gotten in here. We should be thankful this wasn't worse. And heads are going to roll over this. Our niece could have died!"

Chuck wanted to fire Ali's security detail immediately. Relishing the horrified looks on their faces was the only thing that was stopping him from scouring the house himself, and tearing whoever did this to his niece limb from limb.

"But who could get into Blair House the day before inauguration, Chuck?"

"Anyone from political dissidents to international terrorists."

Dan's mouth dropped open.

"Welcome to the President's inner circle, Daniel. Nathaniel is for all intents and purposes our brother. We've had his back for most of our lives. That means…"

"That doesn't mean anything, Chuck."

"It means everything, Daniel! You and Serena have never allowed me to provide a full security detail for your family, even after Lily finally listened to sense. The First Lady of the United States is your sister! This isn't 1989 or 2010. The world war ended with a ceasefire, not a peace treaty. Nathaniel wants to bring the belligerents to the White House for a peace summit in just three weeks. Which means…"

Dan's hands went to his hair. "Yeah, I get it. It means we're all in this together, and I need to protect my family, too. But Chuck…"

He raised an eyebrow in response.

"When have we not been in this together? After all, I think we got him into this mess in the first place… when we were kids, you and Blair wanted to rule the world, and I wanted your sister although I knew I could never have a girl like her. And this is where we all ended up."

"Point taken."

Dan seemed surprised. "Wow. Okay, then… the answer is yes, I'll let you assign a security detail for my family, Chuck. Seeing their cousin like this is scaring my girls."

"Good." He was already back on his holophone, finishing up a message to the head of his own private security team, widely acknowledged to be among the best in the world. "I'm going to ask Liv to conduct an investigation today. You should go find Blair, and the two of you talk to Nathaniel and Jennifer before they see Alice. I'll be there soon."

"Wait, Chuck… there is one more thing."

"What could possibly be more important than ensuring Alice's safety?"

"Nothing, but there's something you need to know before Blair does."

Chuck put down his phone and folded his arms.

"Remember I said that Henry and Anais found Ali. But she came into the room where they were talking… they brought her straight to us…"

Chuck shook his head impatiently. What was Dan on about?

"Chuck, those kids smelled like sex."

That was all? He couldn't help but chortle.

"And?"

"And?"

"My son has been sleeping with Vanessa's daughter since they were teenagers," Chuck drawled. "He wants her, but she's afraid that he really doesn't. The Humphrey half of Anais doesn't get that Henry, underneath that gentlemanly facade, is a Bass. And the Bass in Henry wil never give up until she's his. Not entirely her fault… after all, everyone believes that he's all Blair… but Henry is my son, too."

He said the last part more to himself than to his brother-in-law. Although he considered his Blair the perfect mother, there were occasionally things that Chuck knew about his children that she missed.

They were Basses, after all.

"What? Since they were teens? Chuck, you can't be serious."

Chuck reminded himself that he was speaking to a Humphrey. Social subtleties weren't their strong suit. Many years before, he would have cut Dan down to size, but somewhere along the way, Daniel Humphrey had become almost as much of a brother to him as Nathaniel was.

"Henry planned his fifteenth birthday party specifically so that he'd end up alone with her," explained Chuck patiently, as he picked up his phone again and started texting Liv. "Ever since then, they've been together."

"Chuck, that makes no sense at all. They've both dated other people. Even lived with them."

"Blair and I did too. She dated you and even married someone else. Doesn't matter. That's my son. There isn't anyone else for him. It's Anais. Always has been."

Dan let out a breath. "Wow. First Nick and Katie, now Henry and Anais…"

"Then Autumn and Milo… and something's going on between Audrey and Christopher that even I don't quite understand…"

"No, Chuck, what? Autumn's never even had a boyfriend…"

Finished with the message to Liv, Chuck was now texting his family physician, in town for the Inauguration. "And that's because your eldest daughter spends every weekend that she can with the boy you initially thought was yours. He's her Inauguration escort."

"Yes, I know that, Chuck, but they're not… every weekend?... and Chris? He's only seventeen! Audrey's almost 21… all they do is argue whenever they're in the same room…"

"We all ended up with each other. It makes sense that our kids would do the same."

"That's different. We weren't raised as family."

"We all came from broken families. So we patched together our own." Chuck's phone lit up with two messages, one from Olivia Pope, and the other from the doctor. "Speaking of, stop gaping about the patently obvious and make yourself useful. We need to find Blair, then go break this news to our brother."

Blair

She was on her way back from sitting with Katie when Chuck and Dan met her in the hall.

"This place is crawling with security," she told Chuck, going to his arms and planting a quick kiss on his lips. "Inauguration Day looms."

Her husband returned her kiss. "How was Katie?"

"Uncomfortable as I suspected, but perfectly fine. What's going on? Why are you walking around with dilapidated Dan?"

"Thanks a lot, Blair."

"Don't mention it, Humphrey. I've written your fashion sense off as a lost cause long ago." She looked from Dan to Chuck, then back at Dan again, concern written all over her face. "What's happened?"

She knew something was wrong before they said it, because of the way Chuck's arms tightened around her waist.

"Security was somehow compromised. Ali must have heard or seen something she shouldn't have. They drugged her but she got away."

"As a warning." Blair pushed him off. "Where is Alice? Is her mother with her?"

"No, just Serena," Dan replied.

Blair's hands immediately went to her hips.

"Excuse me? Why am I hearing about this before Jenny? Have you two lost your mind?"

"We were just getting you so that you could talk to Jenny and Nate with us, love," Chuck said soothingly, reaching for her hand. Blair thought about pushing him away (after all this time, Chuck should have known better), but couldn't resist the warmth and comfort of his fingers, intertwined with hers.

"Then what are we standing here for? Let's go."

The soon-to-be First Couple's suite was at the very end of the hall. Before Secret Service could open the door, it opened for them… and two flying human cannonballs came tumbling out.

"Uncle Chuck!" screamed little Fred, leaping into his arms.

Not to be outdone, his twin Tad shouted "Uncle Dan!" while making his own running leap.

Then, together:

"AUNT B!"

And they launched themselves at the Queen, giggling uncontrollably as she hugged them both, but more distractedly than usual.

"We're almost ready, Blair," called Jenny from inside the suite.

"Yeah, might as well come in… we're just finishing up," Nate added.

When they walked in, Nate was helping Jenny with her necklace, fixing the clasp while she held her hair out of the way. She was sitting at the vanity, a powder brush in her hand.

"Still think I should wear a tie," he mused as he pressed a kiss just above the clasp, then let her hair fall back into place. "It's a church."

"And no one except stuffy prep school boys wear ties anymore, Nate," his wife admonished. "Tell him, Blair."

"I'm afraid we have something to tell you of more consequence than ties, J," Blair said.

Jenny frowned. Nate's eyes widened.

"What is it, Blair?" he wanted to know.

Chuck came over to clasp his best friend's shoulder.

"I think you need to sit down for this, Nathaniel."

Dan was already going for the decanter. "We actually insist you sit, Nate, and we'll pour you a drink while we're at it."

"Absolutely not, Dan!" Jenny protested. "It's only 10 in the morning and he's already had a hangover from last night… you two got him plastered, when you know Nate's never been able to drink as much as you two…"

"Thanks a lot, Jen," Nate quipped, sitting down. "Sounds like I'm going to need more rocks than Scotch, Dan."

No. They weren't going to be able to drop the news gently, Blair thought to herself. Nate and Jenny were far too wired. Which made sense… they were about to lead the free world, and the modicum of privacy they'd been able to maintain throughout Nate's political career would disappear.

They needed to hear this straight with no chaser.

"J, Alice has been drugged," Blair said bluntly. "Someone got through security."

"WHAT?" both Jenny and Nate said at the same time.

"Where is she?" asked Jenny, already en route to the door.

"How the hell did this happen?" Nate roared angrily, following her. "Secret Service, all of these damned protocols… we're practically caged… what the hell is any of it for?"

Chuck was already blocking the door.

"Nathaniel. Jennifer. In a few minutes, I promise, we will have Ali with you. But you have got to calm down. She's upset enough as it is."

"Chuck, I'm going to see my daughter," Nate thundered. "Now. Either move, or…"

But there was a commotion in the hall, a dozen voices, and agents ordering Chuck to step aside. Marcus Cane appeared.

The head of Secret Service for the shift, Callie Sittingbear, was talking into her wire.

"The Baron and his Buttercup are secure. Bijou is safe with Mrs. Humphrey… yes, Beast and Belle are still at breakfast… you've sent the Bear and Builder down there? Are they secure? Great."

Blair caught Chuck's eye as they followed the hurried conversation. The Secret Service required all First Families to choose code names for their immediate family, but all had to begin with the same first letter.

Nate was the Baron, signaling his blue blood. Jenny was Buttercup, because she loved the old movie The Princess Bride… and refused to be called Belle or Baby or anything else her husband came up with. (Nate: "But Buttercup just sounds stupid." Jenny: "Don't be a snob, Nate.")

Their children chose Beast, Bijou, Bear, and Builder respectively – Nick, Ali, Fred, and Tad. And as Nick's wife, Katie was now part of the First Family, so her code name was Belle.

The baby, the First Grandchild that would soon come, would be their little Bonbon, of course.

It had been Blair and Chuck who'd brokered the Secret Service nicknames for the First Family. The letter B was chosen in their honor… doubly so for Blair.

Marcus Cane was speaking with Nate and Jenny as the Secret Service continued their heightened threat security procedures.

"Arch, Alice is with Mrs. Humphrey and her daughters. The doctor is with her. She is secure and recovering. Secret Service Agent Sittingbear has more."

The head of Secret Service for the shift, Callie Sittingbear continued. "Mr. President-elect, Mrs. Grant arrived about ten minutes ago. We only allowed her to speak with your daughter, since we know she is a family friend. Between Mrs. Grant and Mrs. Humphrey, Alice is comfortable and well."

"Thank you," Nate replied. It was still a bit strange for them to remember that Olivia Pope was Mrs. Grant, although she and the former President had been married for many years. "Jenny and I appreciate that. What did she tell you?"

"We'll brief you in full as soon as we can, sir. However, between what she told us and the search, we have determined that there is a bomb in the Presidential limo that cannot be disabled. It is set to go off in 12 minutes. The vehicle is underground, beneath the grounds of the house. Special services are requesting your permission for controlled detonation."

Although the situation was dire, Blair thought idly, they'd been at this for so long…. So of course, no one flinched.

Nate immediately shifted into commander-in-chief mode.

"Tell me more about the situation. Will there be any loss of life?"

"Sir, begging your pardon, given the time we have left…"

"Twelve minutes is long enough for you to give me more information than you have in order to make a decision, Agent Sittingbear."

"We've moved to contain the vehicle in a blastproof shield. However, the reverb will very likely make the garden cave in. How much, we can't be sure, but the simulations show significant damage to the grounds."

"Alternatives."

"We take the vehicle out to the middle of Pennsylvania Avenue before the detonation. Same blast shield, but in full sight of the White House."

"Have you communicated with the current President? He's still in office for twenty-seven more hours…"

"Sir, after he determined no lives would be lost in either containment scenario, the President has requested that we defer the decision to you, since your Administration will be responsible for the investigation. However, we have limited time if you want to move the vehicle to the street."

"Thank you, Agent. Give me one minute."

Nate turned to Jenny and whispered something in her ear. She nodded, then came over to where Blair stood as Chuck walked over to Nate. Both men strolled to the window, casually, as if Ali weren't recovering from being attacked, and they weren't contemplating a major decision.

"What do you think?" Jenny asked Blair.

"I think we should let them detonate underground," she responded immediately. Surprised at her own fervor. "And it's not because I want to plan my first state dinner… J, I don't want to re-ignite the war. An exploding Presidential limo means war, even if none of us are in it."

"Yes, but whoever did this came after our daughter," sighed Jenny. "They could have killed my baby, Blair. I want them to pay."

"I get it. Everything in you wants to hurt whoever did this to your little girl. But as First Lady…"

"I know. We have to think about what's best for the country, not ourselves. We've been thinking about others ever since Nate became mayor of New York."

Jenny's tone was impatient.

Blair understood her completely.

There was another commotion in the hall. Agent Sittingbear, on her wire, glanced up at the tall, lanky youth Marcus Cane was ushering in the door.

"Governor Arch… I mean, President-elect Archibald, I have to talk with you."

Nate looked up at the very last person he wanted to see just then.

"Gavin Landry. What the hell are you doing here? Are you the reason Ali was attacked? Were you with my daughter earlier?"

"No, sir! I came because I was talking to Alice when they attacked her… she hung up, but I think she hit the redial on her phone while they were doing it, so I heard everything! My mama and me, we got here soon as we could…"

"Gavin, dear, what on earth are you talking about?" Jenny asked him. "What's going on?"

"Only my family's plot to assassinate your husband," said Bree Buckley Landry dryly, walking into the door right before Olivia Pope Grant did. "After all, the Vanderbilts can't have a President before the Buckleys do."

Blair and Chuck's eyes met. Their thoughts were as one.

Oh, no.

Not this shit again.

Alice

"I've ruined everything."

She didn't seem to be able to stop crying. Which was bad. She was already dehydrated from whatever crap her attacker had given her. There was no way that the media wouldn't pick up on it today. Her puffy eyes would be in all the holos, and everyone would speculate.

Shaking the cobwebs out of her mind, Alice frowned at the feel of her aunt's soft and fragrant hands, smoothing down her hair. "What?"

"You've ruined nothing," Serena told her, holding her tight. "Gem, sweetie, bring me that rosewater… thanks, Audie. I'm going to see where Dan went."

She left with a kiss. Alice felt her big cousin's arms wind around her waist. She leaned into Autumn's slender frame. Audie… the most misnamed of all their generation, for she was a cool, winter beauty. The calmest, the wisest of them all.

If Henry was the one who made them all feel safe, then Audie was the one who made them all feel as if things would be all right.

"Where did Auntie S go?" Now that she was gaining her wits again, Alice needed to let her dad and Uncle Chuck know what was going on! They were all in danger.

"Don't even think about it, Ali," said Gemma, pressing a rosewater-soaked cloth against her forehead. "Hen and 'Nais went to tell security, and Daddy's gone to find Uncle Chuck. Whatever it is, it will be fine."

"You were attacked within sight of the White House," Autumn added gently. "This is now a matter of national security. Whatever plan they had, it's been foiled, and whoever was responsible got caught."

A knock sounded on the door. Ali frowned. Why would Aunt Serena knock to enter her own suite?

When she saw her mother, followed closely by her father, Alice burst into tears anew.

"Mommy, Daddy… I'm so sorry!"

Her mother's eyes were red, too. She practically snatched Ali from her cousin's arms, holding her so tight that she couldn't breathe…

And then her father pulled her into an even tighter hug, holding them both.

"Daddy, the press will be able to tell we were crying," she murmured, inhaling his Dad-scent. "I'm so sick of them saying bad things about you and Mommy, and..."

"We're just glad you're safe," Nate said into his daughter's hair. "Fuck the press and the horse they rode in on."

Ali half expected her mother to admonish him. But Jenny was crying now too.

"When I think about what could have happened! Oh, my God, baby!"

"I'm sorry," Ali repeated. "I know I'm in trouble…"

"You're not in trouble," Nate told her as they finally let her go, sitting down with her between them on the bench at the end of the bed. Her mother's hands were in her hair and her long legs were thrown over her dad's knees.

Ali looked at her parents, a frown furrowing her brow.

"Why am I not in trouble? I thought you were so mad at me."

"I think you were more than a little angry with us, Sunshine," said Nate. "And no wonder. When's the last time you had any time with the two of us? Other than at a campaign event, or when we were yelling at you about Gavin?"

"I'm going to be sixteen soon, Daddy," Ali said loftily. "I don't exactly need a babysitter like Freddy or Tad..."

"But you still need us to be your Mom and Dad, not the President and First Lady," Jenny replied. "We haven't been fair to you, sweetie. With Nick getting married, then the baby coming right after Inauguration… we just haven't had time to adjust to our new family dynamic."

"You didn't sign up for this," Nate observed, chucking her chin. "Any of this."

Ali shrugged in response. "Dad, it's all I know."

Which was true. When she was very little, she was the mayor's daughter. In elementary and middle school, she was the governor's daughter. And for the past two years, she had been the senator's daughter, even though everyone still called her father "the Gov."

And now she'd be the President's only daughter. As much as she chafed at all the restrictions, Alice Archibald knew about no other life.

She tried to imagine having different parents, a mom who wasn't a famous designer, a dad who wasn't one of the famous politicians on the planet… and failed. Ali loved her parents, and knew they loved and worried about her and her brothers. They also felt so much guilt about the life they'd made their children lead.

But it's not a terrible life, thought Ali. Sure, I wish I wasn't in the news all the time, and I wish Dad would understand what Gavin means to me, but seriously, my Mom and Dad aren't half bad as parents go.

At least I know they love me.

"When this is all over, sweetie," Jenny promised, "remind me to tell you about all the times I bailed when it got to be too much. Including right before I married your father. He left me all alone in the house, you see…. so I just ran away!"

Ali's mouth dropped open. Her mother had a wicked sense of humor and was great fun in private, but she was hardworking and never missed a beat as "America's First Lady." What did she mean, "she ran away?"

"I didn't leave her," chided Nate. "She'd just found out she was pregnant with your brother, and said she was tired. Decided she was going to Brooklyn to clear her head, but she couldn't just ride around the subway anymore…"

"I haven't ridden the subway since Aunt Georgina died," Alice said, very softly.

And the stricken looks on both her parents' faces made her wish she hadn't said anything at all.

No, this wouldn't do. For all her teenage angst, she still adored her parents. They were not just amazing at politics, they were awesome parents. The only thing they'd ever denied her was Gavin. And she'd find a way around that, one that didn't hurt them.

"You know, I never really liked the subway," she told them. "And I'm glad I can say it, now that you're going to be the President and all."

Nate scoffed, ruffling her hair. "Hey, I cleaned up the MTA when you were still in diapers, kid!"

Jenny just laughed and kissed her cheek. "We love you, Ali."

"I love you both more."

"Not possible," said Nate. "That's why God invented parents… speaking of which, there's someone who'd really like to see you."

Alice shrugged. "Daddy, I really don't want to see anyone right now…"

"But how else am I going to ask you to the ball?"

She gasped.

Gavin's tall, lean, and handsome frame filled the doorway.

Emitting some sound between a squeak and a squeal, Ali jumped up and leapt into his arms.

Her feet cleared the ground.

"Your dad says it's okay for us to see each other," Gavin told her, staring as if to memorize every contour of her face. "As long as we don't ditch your Secret Service detail…"

"Who will report back to me," called out Nate. "With details. Every time. Is that understood?"

The man who would soon be President was addressing his daughter.

But his eyes were on Gavin Landry.

"Yes, sir," they both chimed.

Before Nate could respond, a sonic boom shook Blair House.

Chuck

The soon-to-be White House Chief of Staff stood in the underground garage with a hastily assembled number of military brass, and chief officials from the CIA and FBI. They stood to one side, watching the bomb squad from the United States Army's Special Forces set up equipment around the limo that Nate and his family would have taken to church.

"Can you absolutely assure that this field can contain that bomb?"

"Beyond absolute, Mr. Bass. This technology has been used since the last war." At the question in Chuck's eyes, the chief intelligence officer said, "Classified," before he could even ask.

Chuck's eyes narrowed.

"If anyone is harmed today, Coulson - my family, the President's family, the President himself - please know that my operatives in 42 sovereign nations have been notified. We will not only hold those who set this bomb responsible, but the families and the interests of every person standing in this room.

"Understood."

The outgoing President of the United States walked into the garage, followed closely by Nate. He was the one who had spoken.

"There's profit in war," he said to Chuck. "Lots of profit. You and Nate have always been too wealthy to be tempted… unlike me."

Chuck stared at the man who would soon hand over the highest seat in the free world to his best friend.

As well as the codes for the greatest nuclear arsenal on the planet.

"I've had my own demons to wrestle with," was Chuck's reply. "I won't judge."

"Yet you've kept him away from so much of this."

Shrug. "My brother doesn't like getting his hands dirty." His dark eyes turned to onyx. "I've never minded."

The bomb began to beep.

"Less than one minute, Mr. President."

"Activate the particle containment field."

Instantly, the limo was bathed in what seemed to be an almost liquid light that alternated between teal and aqua. It looked like something out of a science fiction movie.

"I thought that never made it out of prototype," said Chuck.

"You're not in technology," the current President said.

"Yet I sit on the board of the corporation that made that. Apparently, their R&D progressed faster than anyone thought. Which means…"

"…your best friend will have an interesting Presidency. Because those Mars colonists we've stranded thanks to our little world war may not be so lonely anymore."

"I'll say." He turned to the President. "Seems that the Buckleys have finally bet on the wrong horse."

"Well, we can't have P.J.'s hired lackeys going and telling tales, can we?" chuckled the chief intelligent officer. "And the President-elect said he wanted those who harmed his daughter to disappear."

They were silent along with the rest of the garage as they watched the limo. Inside, two men and a woman were locked in. They'd tried to break the windows as well as the glass sunroof, but the Presidential motorcade was specifically designed to prevent such breaches.

Like watching frogs in a boiling pot of water, thought Chuck idly. After all, he was a hotelier who'd grown up in hotels. Many of them contained world-class restaurants...

He felt nothing as he watched the distress of the assassins. He'd already placed calls that Nate and his grandfather would not allow him to make more than twenty years before. But it was now time.

After what Bree told them, P.J. Buckley would soon be no more. She was already on her way to the Pentagon, where she would give a statement before joining the inauguration festivities the next day.

He appreciated that Bree Buckley Landry knew the vital importance of loyalty. He would find her a place in the administration. From the looks of it, her son had already found his.

Chuck was pleased.

The bomb went off, creating a sonic boom that shook the house, but created no lasting damage. The gardens were fine, and there was no evidence of the explosion above ground at all. The blast was completely contained within the strange light.

The force field dissipated.

It was as if the limo - and its passengers - never were.

Henry

About a half hour after the controlled blast shook the Blair House complex without doing much damage, and ten minutes after Nate, Jenny, and the twins went to the church, a knock sounded on Henry's door.

"Who is it?" he asked, eyeing Anais nervously. She was perched on the window seat, reading quietly. (She always loved a great view.)

"It's your mother, Henry," came Blair's voice through the door. "Can I come in?"

He was sitting at the desk on the other side of the room, looking at Waldorf's latest executive summary report. They were changed and showered.

"Of course."

Blair walked into Henry's room, looking around. But just as she greeted Anais…

Vanessa Abrams Vanderbilt walked into the room right behind her, closing the door.

"Hi guys," she said. "Mind if we sit down?"

"Hi Mom, what's going on?" Anais asked. There was a querulous note in her usually steady voice as Vanessa sat down next to her on the window seat.

Blair chose to sit in one of the two Queen Anne chairs facing the window. That meant Henry couldn't just stay at the desk. Even during times of trouble, he couldn't help but be courteous. If Blair Waldorf Bass had drilled nothing into his head, "always be a gentleman" was etched on his brain so permanently that it was surely a reflex.

Neither of their mothers said anything at first. Then Henry and Anais spoke at once.

"You two want to talk about something, don't you?" Anais asked warily. "What's up?"

"We've already been briefed on the Buckley situation, Mother," Henry said. "Glad no one was hurt."

Blair reached out to pat her son's knee. "Give it up, Bass. We've got your number. The jig is up."

"What we've been trying to figure out is why you've kept this from everyone for so long," Vanessa continued. "Or why you think any of us would be… I don't know… angry and dramatic over it all."

Henry groaned. "Who told you, Ali?"

"No, you told on yourselves," Blair said. "Serena said you two positively reeked of sex when you brought Ali to her."

Anais' accusing eyes flew to Henry.

"You said Aunt S would never tell!"

"She didn't tell, Dan did," Vanessa corrected.

"Figures," muttered Henry darkly. "He was always the weakest link."

Blair and Vanessa burst out laughing.

"Oh my God," Vanessa chuckled. "You are definitely your dad's son. So is this why Hannah's not here? And why my kid clearly hasn't set a toenail in her own room?"

"Mom, I am twenty-six years old," Anais snapped. "I'm not a kid!"

"Oh yes, you are," singsonged Blair. "Chuck says the two of you have been sneaking around for years! Why?"

"The Pact!" both Henry and Anais said together.

"That stupid pact," Vanessa laughed. "Anais, you've been blushing over Henry since you were in kindergarten."

Blair added, "And you instigated a fight with Anais when you were only four years old. Just to see how she'd react."

"See, this is exactly what we didn't want, Blair!" said Anais. "Henry and I have known each other our entire lives."

"Just as long as I've known his father. And as long Katie's known Nick. Welcome to Bassian mate selection, sweetie."

Vanessa rolled her eyes at the long ago enemy who'd been her friend for much longer, then turned back to her daughter.

"The way he looks at you, 'Nais… he's not hiding a thing."

Anais sighed, then looked at Henry.

"You're my best friend. I never wanted us to lose that."

"We won't," Henry promised, his voice low, his entire universe reduced to just her even with his mother in the room. "Because you're my everything."

"Then it's settled," said Blair briskly. "Stop sneaking around, and make the inauguration your first date as a couple."

"Your first public date," Vanessa added, barely suppressing her chuckle.

She and Vanessa stood up and went to walk out of the room. Henry and Anais looked from them, to each other, and back again.

The door opened. They could almost breathe again…

"Your top is on backwards, 'Nais-chickadee," Vanessa called over her shoulder.

"Henry, darling, I've never seen you wear a shirt inside out before, but I'm sure you can make it a trend," Blair added.

The door closed.

Mortified, the young couple looked at what they had on, and then at each other.

"I don't know whether to be totally embarrassed, or laugh my ass off," Anais confessed.

"Neither can I," said Henry, closing the distance between them. "Well, now that we have our mothers' very embarrassing blessing, may I suggest we remove all clothing and…"

With a laugh, Anais pounced.

He never got to finish the sentence.

Jenny

"Nate, we're not supposed to be here."

That was a sentence that she hadn't uttered in a long time. Not since her teen years had Jenny Humphrey Archibald felt as if she was trespassing. But that was exactly how she felt after the long day of festivities wrapped with a concert on the Mall which the holos broadcast all over the world…

They were standing on the White House balcony, watching the stars. The former President and his wife were being feted at a political event, and would be back later to spend their last night in the White House. Which was why Jenny felt a bit like an intruder, with all the moving and renovation going on.

"We're going to be here for the next four years, perhaps the next eight," he replied in that voice he saved just for her. "Might as well get used to it. Besides, there are some things I want to say to you."

Jenny looked from the starry sky, into eyes that were even more blue.

"Haven't we said it all?" she whispered, smiling softly. "Over the years, I mean. We've had quite a ride."

His fingers laced through hers.

"They briefed me this evening," he said. "My first briefing. The one where I had to sign all the documentation that no one realizes Presidents have to sign, or they disappear."

"Yes, I know…"

"It's all real. So many theories we thought were stupid conspiracies? A lot of it is some version of the truth."

Jenny laughed dryly. "Wait, so you're telling me Kennedy…"

Nate nodded.

"And all those big attacks over the past 40 years…"

Nod.

"Time travel?"

Nod.

Jenny's mouth dropped open. "Aliens?"

"They prefer to be known as the Sentients. One of them was at the meeting… before you ask, they look just like we do. They're among us, but are more peaceful than we are. Also much more technologically advanced."

She studied his face. Then shook her head and laughed again.

"Well, it's the mid-21st century. I guess this is when we should make first contact." She frowned. "Wait a minute, Nate… are you telling me that the only reason the good guys won World War III was because of E.T.s?"

"The Sentients intervened during World War II. FDR, Churchill, and that gang all treated with them. They will deal with the human leaders, whether in government or otherwise, whom they think are ethical." Pause. "Apparently, they didn't deal with the last President. But they… kinda manipulated time so that I'd get the job."

Jenny was aghast. "I beg to differ. You are by far the most qualified, babe, the best candidate with a world of experience…"

"The only way to travel through interstellar space is to also travel through time," Nate explained. "Tell me, why did Dan decide to go to St. Jude instead of Stuyvesant or even somewhere like Collegiate if he was gonna go private?"

"What does that have to do with anything?" asked Jenny, thoroughly confused. "Some guy came by our home, and made St. Jude sound wonderful. Said Dan could get a scholarship. Now, you know Dan. He wasn't really thinking much about going to school with a lot of snotty rich kids. But the man talked to me, too. Told me that Constance had an amazing arts program, and all kinds of internship connections. He pulled up the website, had all these great brochures. And when he left, I…"

"Talked to Dan about applying," they both said together.

Jenny blinked, staring at their intertwined hands. "Nate, that's weird. Why would the first thing that they tell you when you're about to become President be that aliens set us up?" She laughed. "Don't tell me our entire lives have been an episode of Doctor Who, babe."

He laughed too, then grew serious.

"Apparently, not only is it important for me to be President, but our kids - yours and mine, Dan's and Serena's, and Chuck's and Blair's - do some incredible things. None of that would have been possible if you and Dan hadn't come to the Upper East Side so long ago, and wanted to be in our world."

His arms wound around her as her hands went to his chest.

"I'm just glad I'm part of your world, Nate Archibald," she told him, just before their lips met for a kiss.

When they returned to Blair House, and their picnic was all set up for them, their song choice was obvious.

I've had the time of my life!

No I never felt this way before!

Yes I swear it's the truth,

And I owe it all to you...

'Cause I've had the time of my life,

And I've searched through every open door,

'Til I found the truth

And I owe it all to you…

Inauguration Day

And the next morning, at 11:55 am, after all the preliminaries were done and the Chief Justice of the United States waited to administer the Oath of Office for President Nate Archibald, the New York Philharmonic played a lovely melody for their favorite son…

Debussy's Clair de lune.

Votre âme est un paysage choisi

Que vont charmant masques et bergamasques

Jouant du luth et dansant et quasi

Tristes sous leurs déguisements fantasques.

Tout en chantant sur le mode mineur

L'amour vainqueur et la vie opportune

Ils n'ont pas l'air de croire à leur bonheur

Et leur chanson se mêle au clair de lune,

Au calme clair de lune triste et beau,

Qui fait rêver les oiseaux dans les arbres

Et sangloter d'extase les jets d'eau,

Les grands jets d'eau sveltes parmi les marbres.

And the First Lady of the United States cried… and remembered.

Give Me Love - Ensemble I

That evening, the Archibalds made the rounds at a dozen Inaugural balls, dancing to their favorite song. But they saved the best for last, and the grandest ball of them all was held at the White House, with all their family and friends, and the elite of the elite making their entrances.

It was a moment that none would ever forget.

"Are you tired?" Nate asked her, grinning. He hadn't had a drop to drink, but he was still on his Inaugural high.

So was she.

"Never," she said, looking up the line at the people they loved most in the world.

They entered on an instrumental version of Ed Sheeran's old song from their younger days, "Give Me Love." First, the older children, for the littlest ones were already tucked into bed.

And it was just as Chuck had observed: gentle Autumn Humphrey in ethereal pink was escorted by a very serious-looking Milo Sparks, and (a fully clothed) Audrey Bass was escorted by (a smirking) Chris Humphrey. Her buttercup yellow dress belied her sparkling personality, but Chris, always one for the dramatic, had on a tie made of the same fabric.

They were followed by Dan and Serena Humphrey. Serena nearly stole the show in her dress that looked as if it had been stitched out of diamonds… and their parents Lily and Rufus were nearly as resplendent, Lily refusing her wheelchair.

Next were the Vanderbilts. William Vanderbilt was wheeled in, looking 30 years younger than his 99 years ("that man quaffs blood like it's Scotch, that's his liquor"). Also of note were Attorney General Tripp Vanderbilt with his bohemian wife Vanessa, whose slinky black beaded gown was from Waldorf… and would be the only time she allowed Blair Bass to dress her.

After that came the Basses. First, Henry and Anais, looking like the risen sun. Her stunning blue dress would be in every news holo and fashion magazine around the globe by morning… an original designed by Henry Waldorf Bass, his debut as a designer. (Only their nearest and dearest knew how intimately he was acquainted with her measurements.)

Blair also wore a dress designed by her son, one that looked like it was made of pure gold and flattered her petite frame perfectly. Never one to forsake the dramatic, Chuck forsook the traditional black tux with tails he'd worn as they accompanied Nate and Jenny to the dozen balls, and had on a pewter jacket - also designed by his son.

Finally, there was the First Family.

First, there was Nick and Katie, the President's son and daughter-in-law. Katie was a vision in bone-ivory beads, but was exhausted from all the festivities. Still, she wasn't a daughter of Blair and Chuck Bass for nothing. None of this showed on her face, as she descended the main staircase with the cultured hauteur of the princess… which she was.

Next came Alice Archibald, on the arm of Gavin Landry, son of an influential Senator, whose mother Bree was already waiting among the assembled guests. She knew that teal was a risky choice, especially when the world wasn't sure if they wanted to see the President's daughter as a little girl or a young lady, but her 1920s-inspired gown (one of the few that was not Waldorf) was commented upon by all.

Then came the President's mother, Anne Vanderbilt Archibald, looking like the blueblooded Queen Mother that she was. She was accompanied not by a date, but by Eleanor Waldorf Rose, Blair's mother… and the First Lady's first mentor. Both were elegant and regal in shades of purple.

Finally, last but not least, were the President and First Lady of the United States.

As with the first eleven balls, the cheers and applause were deafening. And they were iconic, timeless, immortal in that moment… it was one for the history books.

Jenny generally didn't wear black. It reminded her of the worst, darkest time of her life, right after her parents' divorce, and her teen years. But her family and friends knew exactly why Blair designed the exquisite black velvet dress that she had on.

"Cotillion," said Nate wonderingly, when he saw her in it, after she stepped out of the dressing room of the Presidential residence.

"Yours… or mine?"

"Yours. You wore pink to mine."

She smiled. "I'm shocked you remembered. You were so busy fighting with Carter and reconciling with Blair…"

He closed the distance between their bodies… and their lips.

"I remember everything about you, Jenny," he murmured when he let her breathe. "Carter who? Blair who?"

And they almost didn't make it to any of the inaugural balls at all.

But hours later, they stood at the top of that staircase, much as they had on stage during her long-ago Cotillion…

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, honored guests, I present to you the President and the First Lady of these United States! Let's all raise a glass!

Triumphant.

The Parting Glass - Ensemble II

Such a night wasn't meant for sleeping. It was meant for partying. And none partied so joyfully as that group, on that night, in that White House.

By three-thirty in the morning, no one was abed. Instead, they were all crowded into the lounge of the Presidential residence. Ties and high heels littered the expensive hardwood floor and priceless rugs, freed from their confines. Collars were loosened; shawls drifted to chairs and stools and divans.

They'd given so much to the world.

Now it was time to be a family again.

"I'd say that it was a command performance," Blair announced, laughing as Chuck whispered something in her ear. "Inauguration went off without a hitch."

"All except my thriller B-movie drama, Aunt B," Ali said ruefully, as Gavin took her hand in both of his to comfort her.

"Which didn't happen, technically," was Blair's reply. "Ali, you're going to have to learn that once something's taken care of, it doesn't bear mentioning."

"Because your ethics are warped, Blair," Serena laughed.

"No, it's called 'being filthy rich,'" drawled Chuck. "And the President's daughter. I only hope this is a lesson to you all. Nate and I have enough to do, preventing the next world war… we don't need any of you to end up missing, too."

"My son is right," Lily said. "We've all gone through enough already. Let's have a quiet eight years."

And they all toasted to that.

"A toast to all of you," said Nate once things were quieter again, "for being here. With us. Always."

"Always," said his grandfather, still awake, still savoring his family's greatest victory of all.

"Yes, always," his cousin Tripp echoed with a sincere smile. Truly, Bobby to his JFK… only this time, this century, both would live and do good.

"And a toast to all those who are no longer with us," said Jenny, very softly. "Nate's father and grandmother. My mother. Milo's mom and dad, who would have loved to have seen this moment…"

Her voice broke. Nate pulled her closer, brushing the tear from her cheek with his thumb.

"Well, God knows Jack and Georgina loved a good party," he said, giving a stoic-looking Milo a nod… and Milo nodded back.

"A toast to new life as well," said Katie, lightening the mood. "Oh please, go on, enjoy drinking without me, all of you…" she trailed off with a giggle, as Nick tickled her.

"And new beginnings," said Serena, smiling at all the new young couples around the room. "May all your lives be filled with as much joy and laughter as ours have been. May you never have a dull moment."

They all laughed knowingly, clinked glasses, and drank.

"Speaking of new beginnings…"

That was Henry. He spoke to the room, but his eyes were only for Anais.

As hers belonged solely to him.

"Henry Charles Bass. You are not going to do this. Not here. Not now."

"Yes I am, my love. Right here, right now. I'm not waiting another minute."

Blair gasped and turned to Chuck. "Oh, my God… he truly is your son!"

But Henry had already dropped to one knee. He'd already retrieved a certain small box from his tuxedo jacket's pocket, and was reaching out for his hand.

"What if I refuse?"

"You won't," was his cocky reply.

"Well, get on with it, my boy," advised William Vanderbilt. "My Scotch glass is nearly empty…"

"Father, really," admonished Anne.

The ring dazzled a room already resplended with impressive diamonds. But it wasn't a diamond that Henry offered his first and only love, but the most dazzling sapphire any of them had ever seen.

That was when Anais started to cry.

"She hates diamonds," Henry explained, lifting her chin with two fingers and kissing her gently as the tears fell. "And she loves the color blue."

His lips found hers. Kissed her gently.

"Marry me."

"We just went public yesterday…"

Another kiss.

"Marry me," he repeated. This time, he almost growled it…

Audrey turned to Chris and slapped palms. "Get it, big brother!"

"You two disgust me," Katie said disapprovingly. "Mother, you can't approve of this, it's Uncle Nate's day, and he's just…"

"Shut up," was Audrey's reply. "'Nais, you've got to say yes!"

Anais was shaking her head. "He did this in front of everyone so that I wouldn't say no!"

"A Bass uses any tools at his disposal," noted Chuck. Fatherly pride was written all over his face. "I approve."

"So do I," said Blair. "Anais…"

"Listen, she's my daughter," said Vanessa. "And none of this speculation is necessary… chickadee, answer the question."

Jenny turned to Nate, then to the young couple in front of them.

"There's nothing worse than the nosiest people on the entire Upper East Side meddling in your new relationship," she observed. "It's been twenty years, but I still remember!"

Nate certainly agreed. "Listen, we should all get to bed, let them work this out…"

"But it's already worked out."

That was Anais.

"So you'll marry my son? Just like that?" asked Blair.

But Chuck knew better. "This isn't the first time, is it?"

"Not at all." Pause. "He first asked me when we… on that ski trip so long ago."

"When you were just kids?" Blair demanded. "You were in your teens!"

"Of course, Mother," Henry said, very practically as he slid the sapphire on his fiancee's ring finger. "And this is the same ring. I always knew she'd say yes…. just as all of you always knew…"

He paused, and glanced over his shoulder at the President and First Lady.

"I knew that Uncle Nate would marry Aunt J when I was only three years old. I watched them fall in love. I watched you and Dad be in love, and Aunt S and Uncle Dan. I knew what love looked like and felt like from watching all of you, all my life."

He looked deep into Anais' eyes.

"And that's what I feel when I'm with you, Anais. It's what I've always felt."

Their lips met again, as Henry lifted Anais out of her seat, really kissing her for the first time in front of all their family and friends.

"That's my boy," said Chuck. "Let's get those glasses filled! A toast to the President's nephew, and his bride-to-be!"

A man may drink and not be drunk

A man may fight and not be slain

A man may court a pretty girl

And perhaps be welcomed back again

But since it has so ought to be

By a time to rise and a time to fall

Come fill to me the parting glass

Good night, and joy be with you all-

Good night, and joy be with you all.

~the end~

A/N: Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything, faithful readers. Please accept my sincere apologies for the delay in this final installment, and my endless gratitude for loving this story. I hope that this is a fitting end, and as always, I'd love to hear from you.