Chapter Fourteen - Better Person

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I'm skipping an episode where they're at Yale and on to the next one.

I sat next to Eric and  Lily at the family breakfast. I wasn't talking to Chuck, again for obvious reasons. Serena came out and started at us.

"Why are you all so quiet?" She wondered

"Good Morning." Father came down and over to the table.

"Bart, you're back early." Serena commented as he came round to Lily.

"My last round of meetings wrapped up sooner than expected." He replied then sat down next to his wife.

"Rushing home to the family. How long is this layover." Chuck drawled leaning back in his chair

"Oh, shut up Chuck, no one likes a sour puss. Welcome Home, Daddy." I got up and went to wrap my arms around him and kiss his cheek.

"Thank you sweetheart. Besides I'm here for the long haul." I went to sit back down.

"Just in time for our housewarming party tomorrow night." Lily chimed

"Um, I've been meaning to ask you, can we bring friends?" Eric questioned. I knew who he was thinking of. His new boyfriend, I had been choming at the bit to meet him.

"Of course, dear. Oh, did you get the little suit I laid out for you Serena?" lily wondered

"That was for me? I thought the housekeepers got a new uniforms." Serena  joked

"Yeah it's conservative, yes but classic."

"Lilly, I forgot to thank you for what you sent me, I presume it for me to wear tonight?" I caught her attention

"Actually your father brought it from Paris like Serena's it had it's own seat on the plane."

"Thank you, Daddy."

"Your welcome sweetheart." he smiled at me

"Bart bought us clothes?" Serena questioned. Eric held up his wrist showing off his new watch.

"New watch."

"Cash. Direct deposit into one of my off shore accounts." Chuck added and I snorted

"Yeah cause that doesn't sound shady at all. Oh wait it's you." I sass

"Rosalie, if you could refrain from your latest feud insults with your brother. Lily and I have something we wanna discuss." he begins "As tomorrow's party marks our debut as a family we've been talking about what that actually means." I start munching on some toast

"Less money for us when you die?" Chuck commented and I threw a grape at him, he caught it and smirked at me.

"We were thinking along the lines of some guidelines." Lily stated taking my fathers hand in hers

"Guidelines?" Serena questioned "For what?"

"for life together. I mean now that we're all here minus Rosalie, who for her benefit will remain in Brooklyn having some rules would be nice." Lily continued

"Like what?" Serena questioned incredulously

"Like, every Friday we dine as a family." Lily added

"Don't you think Monday would..." Eric was cut off by my father

"A weekend curfew of 1:00 am" Dad continued

"Is that Eastern or Pacific?" Chuck commented

"And no going on on school nights, unless it is special circumstances or with prior permission."

"Are you serious? Mom where is this coming from?" Serena questioned annoyed

"Bart and I, we made this decision. We are in complete agreement with this." Serena was not happy, she left in a huff.

"Find something amusing, sister?" Chuck wondered

"Nothing at all. I'm I correct in assuming that our original terms of agreement still stand even in light of this new development?" I questioned my father

"Yes, Rose. Your schedule will remain the same with the small detail about being over here more for family time."

"That's not fair." Eric sighed

"That's life. Daddy, Lily, brothers. I am off." I stood up aiming to leave as well, now that the entertainment was over I saw no reason to stay.

"Sweetheart before you go there is something else I wanted to give you." He stood up and went over to his briefcase he pulled out two small boxes one was long the other other square.

"I thought this would go with your necklace." he opened the up "Now they are real but they do blend in with your last christmas gift." he noted towards the B necklace that I always wore. He had got me a pearl necklace and earrings.

"They're beautiful, thank you. Would you send them to the loft. i don't want to be carrying them around all day."

"Of course. Have a good day." he kissed my head. I headed of to school.

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I had a shift in the gallery the next day, it was pretty busy. Rafus stopped by as I was making up another order.

"Hey Rose."

"Hi Rufus, one sec." I finished the coffees and took them to their table "Here you go enjoy." I headed back

"So are you here as boss or regular guy?" I wonder giving a small smile to the older man before me.

"Can't I be both?" I chuckled "I will have a black coffee to go. I was actually hoping to speak to you."

"Can we speak while I work, it's a busy shift?"

"Sure." he came round and i handed him his cup, he took a stool out from the tiny staff room.

"Have you talked to Dan?" he questioned as I wiped down the machine.

"Not since he found me after the fashion show, why?" I replied

"He's just been a bit off lately. Well he joined the soccer team and he's happy but something seems off you know. I thought you might know."

"We spoke and now were not." he sighs

"Rose, I can't get why you two can't be together? You're a nice girl." I put a hand on my hip

"I'm not, I'm me. A ruthless Bass with more issues than a magazine subscription. Us being friend is great, was great but it would be impossible to be anything more."

"And why is that."

"Dan he has this idea of what a girl should be like and girl he should be dating. I'm not that girl, I'm not even close." I answer restocking a few things

"You don't see it do you?" he asks me

"See what?"

"You are that girl when you're with him. You're the girl that wants to know what to get him for christmas and takes over a tradition to do so. The girl who wears his little sisters designs and is proud to. You're the girl that didn't want him getting hurt by a scathing ex so schemed to make sure he came out on top." he chuckled "And Dan is the guy who  carried you up the stairs and to bed when you weren't well, he's the guy who actually remembered your conversations with him and got you that necklace you always wear. Dan is the guy who comes home and raves about how you aren't afraid to stand up to people including your brother, that you are not afraid to admit your faults.He judges people yes, but he sees the real you. The you that changed."

"Not that much, though."

"Enough, you changed enough. To be a better person."

"Excuse me." I had new customers. I went to take their order.

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