Disclaimer: Nope not mine

A/N: Because the finale never made me happy and this was on my mind. It's different and I'm nervous but here goes nothing. Takes place the night of the wedding.

Until The Road Runs Out

"I'm running late be there soon, don't give up on me."

"I'll wait forever if I have too, be careful."

"Always."

He stared at the promises on his phone as he looked at the time one more time. Silence, the room was filed with deafening silence as he waited. Worry swept through him as he walked over to the window of his hotel room and stared blankly outside.

Serena and Dan's wedding had been perfect, she had been beautiful, stunning in every possible way. Dan had looked on top of the world, and Blair and Chuck looked more in love than ever.

"Nothing is ever what it seems though," he muttered as he walked over to fix himself a drink. "Not for any of us anyway."

His nerves were on edge more than usual tonight, and his heart raced in a way he hadn't experienced in awhile. He needed to see her, touch her, remind her that he loved her more than anything in the world. Fear swept through his as he wondered if something had went wrong. He was convinced that there was nothing that they couldn't get through together, but if anything happened, he wasn't sure what he would do.

A knock at his door sent relief through him, he all but ran to the door, opening it quickly and smiling when she appeared on the other side.

"Nathaniel Archibald?" She smiled brightly at him.

"Come here." He spoke grabbing her to him and pulling her in the room. The door slammed behind them as he swept her into a kiss. "Serena," he whispered softly, "I was so scared you wouldn't make it."

She pulled back and smiled, "I promised I would didn't I?"

Nate put his hands on her face, staring at her as he kissed her forehead, "This has been the worse day of my life."

She nodded her head and took his head, "It hasn't been easy for me either," she agreed.

"Where is he? Did anyone see you?"

"I told him I was going to take a walk on the beach," she frowned, "We should be okay for a little while."

He wrapped his arms around her again, "You were so beautiful today, it took everything in me not to punch him in the face and take his place."

Serena nodded her head, "I know, as I said my vows I pretended it was you, it was horrible Natie, but it's the way it has to be for now."

"Just a year?" Nate asked. "A year and it's over?"

"Just a year." Serena spoke. "I still can't believe he's doing this to us."

Nate groaned, "We should have known when we found out he was Gossip Girl that he was crazy. I mean he kept it up for so long, but to blackmail you now? Get all new information on all of us just to get you to marry him?"

"It's twisted."

Nate lowered his head as he moved his hand and gently caressed Serena's lips when his finger, "When he kissed you today," he whispered closing his eyes.

"I know, it was hard," Serena frowned, "But Natie, you know how I feel, it's you okay? You're the one I love."

"He gets that this is just for show right? In name only?"

"I've made it very clear to him," Serena sighed. "I told him there is nothing that's going to happen. He just keeps thinking a year with me will change my mind. You have to know Nate, nothing will ever do that," Serena spoke, "I love you, it's us Natie, it should have always been us."

Nate brought his lips to her and kissed her, he took a deep breath breathing in her scent. He needed this tonight, needed to just hold her, to remember that no matter what the world thought, it was still them, and one day, they would finally be able to be together forever.

For as long as he could remember, Serena had been his lifeline. He wasn't even sure he could remember a time when he hadn't loved her. No matter what they had faced, what had came their way, they always seemed to find their way back to each other. Her smile, the way her eyes lit up a room, it was all he wanted. She was his happy place, the one person that could make him laugh, make him smile no matter what was going on.

"Maybe if we tell Blair and Chuck, if they know what he's doing they could help us," Nate spoke with a frown. "Maybe..."

"Natie," Serena smiled sadly, "We've talked about this, we can't tell them, Dan would freak if he knew that you knew what was going on. Blair and Chuck have more to loose than any of us. What he has on them, on all of us, it could ruin us. I can use this time to get something on him maybe, we have to do this."

Nate nodded, "I know, it's just so hard." He whispered. "Knowing you'll be there with him, that we'll have to sneak like that, and that when I'm around him, I have to play clueless, S this is horrible." He frowned. "What you're having to go through, I just can't stand it, it's not fair."

Serena sighed, "It's the only way for now."

"I love you, you know that right?" Nate asked. "I have loved you for most of my life, and I'll love you for the rest of it. Just remember that okay? When you are there with him and it gets hard, remember that I'm here and I love you."

Serena pulled him to her and kissed him deeply, her arms wrapping around him tightly, "I love you too Nate, always."

"Always," Nate whispered back.

"One year," Serena promised. "And then I'll be free, and you'll be mayor, and we will all be in the clear."

"One year," Nate nodded. "As long as he doesn't find out."

"We can do this," Serena spoke softly.

"We will do this." He agreed sadly.

"I love you." Serena spoke resting her forehead against his.

"Always have." Nate sighed.

"Always will."