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Meanwhile, Jenny's still interning. She makes tweaks and suggestions to a dress as she fits a model, but what she doesn't know is that Eleanor Waldorf has returned from her summer away, and she's heard every stinging critique Little J said. Eleanor fires Jenny on the spot. Jenny apologizes to no avail. She accepts her fate tearily and resigns herself to clearing out her workstation.

Blair surprises Nate and Vanessa while they're hanging out with some scheme that still doesn't totally make sense to us. She doesn't want Nate with the duchess, so she invites him and Vanessa to her party. Nate agrees to go and tells Vanessa he'll pick her up later...

...until he runs (literally) into Marcus while jogging and finds out Catherine is going to be at the party. Nate once again gives Vanessa the shaft to please his mistress.

At Chez Humphrey, Vanessa and Rufus once again banter, and Rufus talks about starting to date again. Were we the only ones who thought he was going to take HER as his date and show up at Blair's bash uninvited? Dan heads out to get Serena.

The party has begun, and Chuck strides up to Blair with a plan in mind, asking her if Marcus is really meeting her needs in bed. Blair tries to put on a happy face, but she's putty in Chuck's hands as he seduces her while they're both fully clothed (a lot hotter than any makeout scene she's had with Marcus so far). Chuck whispers filthy nothings in her ear, and asks her to have sex with him. Blair pretends to be skeeved, but Chuck's not fooled: "Why are you still holding my hand?" She storms off: "I have a party to host."

Nate arrives at the party and Catherine makes a beeline for him. She's holding his hand when, of course, Vanessa walks in. Crushed, she tries to leave, but Nate stops her and tells her everything.

But before things can really get underway, the entire city goes dark. It's a blackout!

Dan and Serena are trapped in the elevator in her building, and things are awkward. Dan tries to call to get them out, and Serena mentions that he should have used her name. Of course, Dan seizes this opportunity to be self-righteous and attack Serena for being who she is. Serena: "Why do you always get to be right?" Why, indeed!

Blair talks to Catherine, who implies that Marcus may never want to sleep with her (!) and talks about how Nate makes her feel alive. Blair, desperate to feel that way with someone besides Chuck, tells Marcus to meet her in her bedroom. But Chuck has overheard, so he makes his way up there first...

Blair's waiting in her bedroom with one candle lit when Chuck arrives. He says, "Blow out the candle" in a fake (but actually real, since Ed Westwick is British) British accent. Blair does so, and he takes her in his arms. We think Blair has to know it's not Marcus she's making out with, and that probably turns her on even more. They go at it in the dark.

Catherine confronts Vanessa about Nate. Vanessa accuses her of not really caring about him, but Catherine takes umbrage at that and says V has no idea how she feels about Nate.

Dan and Serena continue to argue it out until they're both exhausted and sick of fighting. Their relationship is clearly not working.

Back at Eleanor's design studio, Jenny is about to leave, but Eleanor won't let her go out in the blackout. Instead, she asks Jenny to hold a flashlight while she works on some designs. Jenny does so, and they end up bonding over Jenny's opinions of Eleanor's work. Seems like Eleanor actually likes hearing some real criticism.

Vanessa is on her way out when Nate stops her, but this time she doesn't even want him anymore -- Catherine told her she loves Nate, and Vanessa's not getting in the way of that. Nate does a halfhearted "Vanessa!" call, but he doesn't even follow her out.

The lights are back on, and Marcus walks in on Blair and Chuck making out. He can't believe it -- he punches Chuck and Blair inexplicably runs after him, leaving Chuck behind. She demands that he show her passion: "I'm not some delicate flower!" -- and they make out on the stairs for everyone, including Chuck, to see. We still don't understand why she keeps up this charade with Marcus. Hasn't it gone on long enough?

Rufus -- and his date! -- arrive at Eleanor's to check on Jenny. She's doing just great. In fact, Eleanor wants her to stay and work on more designs.

Dan and Serena tearily realize that once they leave this elevator, their relationship is really over. As Serena walks out, Dan says "I still..." and S says, "Me, too." They may love each other, but they don't understand each other. It's time for these two to take a real break.

Back at the Humphrey house, Dan and Vanessa bond over their mutually problematic love lives. Vanessa confesses that Catherine told her that if Nate leaves her, she's going to the FBI about his father, so V had no choice but to cut out of this triangle. Dan still can't believe the whole situation.

What did you think of the episode? Are you happy Dan and Serena really ended things? What's your take on the Nate triangle and the return of Nate and Vanessa? And what about the hot scenes between Chuck and Blair? Let us know in the comments!