7. Mommy Dearest (1/2)

masquerade

a gossip girl fic by gigi

summary: what if the masquerade ball wasn't just for the teenagers? lily and rufus find themselves dragged to the ball by their insistent children--and bump into each other.

chapter 7: mommy dearest

a/n: so so sorry for taking so long to update! i've been really busy, and now the only time i have to write is on the weekends. well, i hope you still love the story.

greetings, upper east siders,

gossip girl here with a juicy new development of the humphrey-ues saga. turns out my last update wasn't received all too well with the ex-mrs. lonely boy.

spotted: two blondes--one, a classy upper east sider and the other a local artist--duking it out in front of the palace. bartholomew even threw in a few punches against his almost wife.

ex-mrs. lonely boy walked away with bass, leaving behind lily van der woodsen sobbing into mr. lonely boy's shirt. what went down to

eak lily's cool demeanor?

you know you love me,

xo xo

gossip girl

"well, the plan worked," lily declared half-heartedly, tossing the sidekick back to her daughter. she fiddled with her beige silk robe, seemingly unable to decide whether or not to close it over her pitch black night dress.

"mom," serena started, her heart aching for her mother. "i can't help but think you were a little too convincing in the courtyard." lily looked at the other blonde. "something bart said really hurt you didn't it?"

"no," rufus denied, coming in from the kitchen. "something i said really hurt her." that guilty expression never left his face as he looked at lily.

"what do you mean? you didn't say anything," serena said, confused.

"something i said twenty years ago. bart repeated what i said, and, at least to me, it reminded me of the worst night of my life."

serena looked to her mother for confirmation. lily's eyes filled with unshed tears as she nodded her head. her fingers finally rested on her robe as she got up off the couch. "i think," she started, her voice catching, "that i should go to bed. i have to deal with her tomorrow."

"how are you going to tell dear old mummy?" rufus asked sarcastically.

lily sighed, "i invited her to tea tomorrow morning at eleven."

"and then?" serena urged.

"and then...i have no idea." her shoulders slumped in exhaustion as she trudged into her bedroom.

8d

morning dawned, but no birds chirped, singing in the new day. no, the alarm blared and the new day was flushed down the toilet along with the rest of lily's

eakfast.

as serena helped her mother get ready for tea with "mommy dearest," as rufus liked to put it, she couldn't help but try to wipe the somber look off lily's face. "at least you know you'll be hungry for tea," she joked, somewhat halfheartedly.

"oh, yes, because nothing revs up an appetite like a good twenty minutes with your face in the toilet," lily shot back. "sorry."

"what's wrong, mom?" serena couldn't help but ask. "you look like you're on your death march."

"you know what? in some ways, i feel like i am."

neither of them spoke another word until the door to the suite opened and in walked--eric.

"geez," he commented. "it feels like death row in here. should i be playing taps on my trumpet?"