Here's a quick note before you begin. Jenny and Nate had always been my endgame, but due to Taylor Momsen's exiting the show to tour with her band, the writers turned her into an antagonist, and this pairing never came to be. Here is my alternate take on what happened, beginning from episode 3x16 (when Nate rescued Jenny after Agnes roofied her, and she started sabotaging him and Serena, turning into a mega-bitch). Jenny's style stays roughly what it was through the first half of the season. Enjoy!

Jenny could hear the sounds of everyone having breakfast in the living room, but she sat in her room, clutching the pregnancy test. She was practically shaking, partially with relief, and partially with weakness. She wasn't pregnant. She prayed that meant nobody would ever find out what happened to her. She just couldn't bring herself to admit it. In the last few weeks, she had lost what little weight she had on her bones, had gotten so sick that she hadn't been to school in days, and jailed herself in her room so much that she was practically turning into a skeletal porcelain doll. Her family tried to help her the first few days, but after her refusals to be cared for, they had just left her alone to sort through her problems. They just wanted to give her her space, but she had convinced herself they didn't care. That was one of the reasons she couldn't tell anyone. Secondly, she couldn't bear the shame. It was all her fault.

Curled into a ball inside one of her dad's old Lincoln Hawke sweatshirts; she felt like a shell. The physical remnants of the night were gone, but she was scarred. She heard a faint knocking on her door, but she barely even registered it. When the door started to open, she jumped, and quickly hid the pregnancy test up her sleeve, assuming it was her father coming to check on her. She was shocked to see Nate standing at the doorway, looking at her like he had just seen a ghost. In fact, that's probably what she looked like.

"Jenny?" She didn't reply. She had no response to the look on his face. "Can I come in?" She shrugged. Nate softly closed the door behind him and crossed the room to sit down next to her. She jumped as he brushed against her. "Jenny, you're really scaring me. Your family is really worried. You know you can talk to me."

"I don't know what you want me to say." She choked out, her voice scratchy from lack of use.

"Just tell me what's going on." He reached for her hand, but she shoved him away, accidentally letting the test slip from her sleeve. Before she could stop him, Nate grabbed it. "Jenny, why do you have a pregnancy test? What's going on?" He was alarmed, and his temper was rising. He could only assume it was Damien, and he could feel his hands balling into fists.

"It's nothing, Nate. Don't worry about it." Jenny shrunk into herself fearfully, and kept her eyes down.

"Jenny, look at me." She didn't, so he grabbed her shoulders and forced her to turn to him. "Was it Damien?" He felt fury coursing through him, but stopped dead at the look on her face. Her eyes were filled with pure terror and she was shaking uncontrollably. He had never seen anyone look so fragile. All his anger suddenly melted away and he felt appalled at himself. "Jenny, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." He held his hands up in surrender.

She shook her head. "It's fine. It's not your fault."

"Jenny, I'm begging you. Please talk to me. This is me. This is Nate. You can tell me anything. I swear I won't tell anyone, unless you want me to." After a few moments, she finally looked up at him, and after searching his eyes, she took a shaky breath.

"Nate, I…I don't know if I can."

"Was it Damien? Did you use protection?"

"I never slept with Damien." She spoke so softly he almost didn't hear her, but her words hit him like a train.

"But that night…"

"I wanted everyone to think I had. I was hurt, and upset, and I hated that everyone was telling me what to do. I felt so alone."

"But then who?"

After a long moment of silence, she finally admitted, "I don't know."

"What do you mean, you don't know?"

"I…it wasn't voluntary." It was such an effort to get the words out. She was terrified to relive what happened, but she couldn't keep it in any longer. It was literally killing her. Nate let her words sink in, and there seemed to be only one explanation.

"Jenny, were you…raped?" As soon as he uttered the word, she began to shake and sob. He tried to reach out to her but she recoiled from his touch. He felt a surge of fury for whoever dared to touch her, but at the same time an overwhelming sense of sadness and anguish. He tentatively put a hand on her shoulder. She flinched but didn't protest. Finally, she collapsed against him unable to hold back the tears. The door opened slightly and he saw Serena poke her head in, and shock register on her face. He shook his head and signaled her out of the room. He didn't think Jenny even noticed. She wouldn't appreciate an audience right now.

When her sobbing finally subsided, she sat up and wiped her eyes. "Can you tell me what happened? At least when?" He asked, delicately.

"Eleanor's show." She choked out. "I was drugged. I didn't know where I was or what was happening. I just woke up in some apartment, and…it hurt. It hurt a lot. I got out of there as fast as I could and I came straight home."

"Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"I was so ashamed. it was all my fault, and everyone was so upset, and I couldn't bear it."

"Jenny, I had no idea. That's what you've been dealing with?" She nodded. "On my god. I'm so sorry. What can I do?"

"Please don't tell anyone!" She begged, panicked.

"Jenny, you need help. This is killing you. Please at least tell your dad."

"No! I…I can't. He's going to be so mad at me. He already hates me!"

"Jenny! No one hates you! We've all been so worried about you. Your dad just doesn't know how to help. Please don't ever think that we don't care. Oh my god, Jenny." He pulled her to him, and she started crying again. He had no idea what to do, so he just held her, stroking her back and trying to calm her down. "Please, Jenny. Please just tell your dad. Maybe even talk to someone about it. I can't watch you self-destruct like this. It's hurting all of us."

Jenny finally nodded. "Okay."

"Come on." He helped pull her to her feet, and put a steadying arm around her. Slowly, they made their way into the Humphrey/Van der woodsen living room, with Nate half carrying a struggling Jenny. She was so malnourished she could barely stand on her own. The family jumped to their feet, shocked. It seemed that everyone was there-Rufus, Lily, Serena, Dan, and Eric. Even Chuck had stopped by for breakfast. They all looked on in concern as Nate helped Jenny onto the couch. Eric sat next to her and set a cup of coffee in front of her, sensing that she would need it. She held it gratefully, and took a shaky sip.

Knowing she needed help, Nate spoke up. "Jenny has something she needs to share. I have to beg that you all keep this secret, and be gentle. You really have no idea what's going on." Nate kept his arm firmly around Jenny as she struggled to form the words.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!" She sobbed, and Nate just held her to his side, acting as both an emotional and physical support. He saw Lily put a hand to her mouth, so concerned for her step-daughter. "I should have told you all sooner. I was so ashamed." Jenny choked out. She sat quietly for a few minutes, trying to collect herself.

"Let me help." Nate offered, and she nodded. "The night of Eleanor's fashion show, Jenny didn't get drunk, she was roofied." There were audible gasps around the room.

"By who?" Dan piped up, clearly angry. Honestly, Nate didn't know. He looked to Jenny.

"Agnes." She choked out. "It was payback for cutting her out of my line last year."

"Agnes dropped her off at a bar, where she was…picked up by a guy, and-" He looked to Jenny to see if she wanted to say it, but she was practically catatonic, shaking. Taking a deep breath, he said it for her. "She was raped." The reactions around the room ranged from shocked, to furious. Rufus looked like he might throw up. Jenny just curled closer into Nate, tears streaming down her face again. "Can I tell them everything?" He asked Jenny. She nodded silently, not able to look at anyone. Nate felt terrible, like he was telling secrets that weren't his. But he knew he needed to be strong for Jenny. "She never slept with Damien. This…rape…took her virginity." You could hear a pin drop in the room, the shock was tangible.

"Oh my god." Chuck was the first one to speak. He never imagined anything like this, even when he was pursuing Jenny Humphrey. She looked so broken, that he suddenly felt sick for what he had done to her when she was a freshman. Rufus looked like he wanted to rip his own heart out. He looked shattered, like he had somehow failed his daughter. Over and over, Jenny kept apologizing through her tears. Eric tried to put a hand on her to help, but she flinched away, still terrified of people touching her. Nate seemed to the only one she was comfortable with.

"She's exhausted. I think she needs some sleep." Nate spoke up. Without waiting for an answer he stood and scooped Jenny into his arms, carrying her to her room. As he crossed the threshold, he could hear the others starting to share their shock. He tuned it out as he laid Jenny, exhausted, on her bed, and gently tucked her in.

"Nate?" She asked tentatively.

"Yeah?"

"Will you stay with me for a few minutes?"

"Of course." He sat on the edge of the bed next to her, and softly tucked her hair behind her ears. Her eyes were drooping, and he wondered when was the last time she actually got any sleep.

"Thank you for helping me. I'm so sorry."

"Jenny, don't apologize. None of this is your fault. I'm so sorry this happened to you. I'm glad you were able to talk to me, and I promise it will get better. I will always be here no matter what. Right now just get some rest. You're safe." Those last two words seemed to act as a physical panacea to her. She let out a deep sigh, and her eyes drifted shut. She was asleep within seconds, her body desperate for rest. Her expression cleared from one of pain to serenity as she drifted off. He was torn apart by how pale and gaunt she looked, no doubt tortured by the events of the past few weeks. Overcome, he leaned down and pressed a sweet kiss to her forehead. Even though he was dating Serena, which seemed like his long lost dream, he couldn't deny the feelings he had for Jenny. They were different than what he felt for Serena. Seeing her like this, he wanted nothing more than to protect her, shield her from all the pain. When he was certain that she was asleep, he stood and turned to find his girlfriend standing in the doorway. She opened her mouth to speak, but Nate held a finger up to his lips to quiet her. He looked pointedly at Jenny, then crossed the room to Serena, turned off the light and shut the door on his way out. He just stood outside with his girlfriend for a few minutes.

"I had no idea." Serena finally spoke up, her voice grave. She and Jenny had never been particularly close-they'd had their differences, but none of it mattered when it came to something like this. "I can't even imagine…"

"I know."

"She's been holding onto that for weeks."

"Rufus must be losing his mind."

"He had to go for a walk. Dan went with him. It's going to take some time." Serena told him, and he nodded. They both looked up moments later to see Chuck walking toward them.

"Did you know before today?" Chuck asked his best friend.

"No. I went in there to talk to her, and finally got her to admit it."

"Looking back on her freshman year…I feel awful." Chuck admitted, and it took both Nate and Serena by surprise. They never talked about what happened, and it was a shock to hear Chuck admit such ardent remorse. Maybe he wasn't a lost cause.

"Nate, can I talk to you for a second?" Chuck asked.

Serena gave Nate a quick kiss on the cheek. "You're a great friend." She told him, before she disappeared into the living room to give them some privacy.

"Look, you're my best friend, and I always strive to be honest with you." When Nate gave him a pointed look, he offered a wry smile. "When I'm the only one concerned. I can't speak for others secrets." Nate grudgingly nodded. "I have to ask you two things. Firstly, I need to get Blair involved. This took place at her mother's show, and because of one of her models. Not only should Eleanor fire the girl, but I know Blair would want to take a whack at her, and the guy that did this. Would you support that decision?"

"I think it's the right thing to do, but you should ask Jenny first. It was hard enough for her to admit it to me, and everyone here. It may take some time before she's okay going to the Waldorf's. I know it's a lot to ask, but we all just need to sit on this for a little while."

"I understand." Chuck paused, and pulled Nate a little further down the hallway, away from the living room.

"You could have asked that in front of Serena, so I'm guessing there's a reason we're talking alone."

Chuck nodded. "Again, it's my duty as best friend to be honest."

"Get on with it, Chuck."

"You and Jenny have always been close. I've seen it for years. I don't know what started it, but I know I'm not the only one who's noticed. It could have been Eric that she told, or even Vanessa, despite their differences. But, it was you. Is there something I need to know?"

Nate cut him off. "Look, I just happened to be the one to force it out of her."

"Yes, which means you put in even more effort than anyone to find out what happened, and she responded. I don't know what exactly there is between the two of you, but I'm not stupid. If you say you're just friends, fine. I'll go along with it. But, you are dating Serena, the girl you've been pining after for years."

"Yes, I know."

Chuck held up his hands in a polite signal for Nate to stop cutting him off.

"And, I'm happy for you. But you didn't see the way you held Jenny Humphrey. I don't think Serena noticed, since she sees you as a loyal boyfriend and just a good person-probably the best of us, if we're being honest. All, I'm saying-" Chuck had to stop Nate from interrupting him again, "is that you need to be sure what you're doing. Even a blind man could see that Jenny has had feelings for you, even if she's in absolutely no place to act on them right now, and blind and deaf man could see you have feelings for her. Whether those feelings are strictly platonic or not is your business. But don't ignore something just because you've been wearing blinders, chasing the same thing for years. Sometimes you have to see what's been waiting in the wings while you were plowing full steam ahead."

For once, Nate didn't have a retort. He just stared at the wall next to Chuck.

"I know you've been hit with a lot this morning. Jenny's been respectful of your relationship with Serena, and after what happened, I don't think she's going to be looking for a man anytime soon, so you've got time to sort through your feelings. I have some business to attend to, so I'll leave you to yours." He clapped Nate on the shoulder, and with a reassuring smile, he disappeared into the living room. A minute later, Nate hear the elevator ding, signaling Chuck's exit. It took him a few minutes to follow. When he did, he saw Lily and Eric huddled together, Eric's hand around a tear-stained Lily. Jenny may not be her own flesh and blood, but Lily cared for her adoptive children deeply. Eric looked catatonic. Jenny was his sister and best friend before that-he couldn't fathom what had happened to her. He also felt, like everyone else, incredibly guilty for the way he had been treating Jenny the past few months. Despite all of Jenny's mistakes, heaven knows she didn't deserve it. When weighed against everything this group had done in the past, dumping yogurt on sometime seemed like a hug.

"Hey." Serena came up to him, and kissed him lightly on the lips. "I have to go to work, but do you want to go get a coffee with me on the way?"

"I really think I should stay here." Nate responded after a few moments. "I don't have class today, and I want to be here when Jenny wakes up. She's going to need some support."

"Lily, Rufus, and Eric will be here." Serena was compassionate and delicate, but he could sense her protectiveness over him. He found in that moment that it annoyed him, when typically it might have made him happy.

"I know. I just…I feel like I'll be abandoning her if I leave right now." He figured it sounded lame, but it was true. And he also couldn't be around Serena after what Chuck had said to him. By the look in Serena's eyes, he knew she trusted him, and after the trauma of the morning, she wasn't suspicious, just concerned.

"Okay. I'll stop by later to see how she's doing." Nate nodded his assent, and walked her to the elevator. When it arrived, Serena got in without a word, and gave him a sad wave as the doors were closing. His mind was spinning.

The apartment was quiet as Nate sat in the living room, trying to study for his government class. Eric was at St. Jude's, Dan had class at NYU, Chuck was off somewhere and Serena was working. Lily had taken off a few hours ago to see to something at Bass Industries, and Rufus was upstairs. In all honesty, he hadn't read a word in over an hour. He sat, staring at the page, his mind far away from the penthouse. He had to force the image of what transpired between Jenny and this faceless rapist out of his head, so he turned his thoughts instead to happier memories. Though they did nothing to quiet his mind. He thought about Serena; how he had been in love with her for years, and despite his pursuit of other girls, his heart always went back to her. It had never occurred to him that he might be pursuing her out of habit, rather than true feelings. When he surveyed how he felt now against how he had felt in the past, it felt hollow. He didn't know what to make of it. Then he thought of Jenny. The first time he kissed her, he had thought she was Serena. At the time, wearing a mask with her honey blonde hair, she could have been Serena's twin. He had liked Jenny, become good friends with her, and even come to her aid a time or two. At that point, he never really thought of her as more than a little sister. Then he moved in with the Humphrey's, however temporarily. He watched, like everyone else, Jenny struggle to find herself, rebel, fall on her face, and just keep trying. Despite her mistakes, he held a great deal of respect for her. She was powerful, smart, and incredibly caring. She fought to be queen, but that wasn't what was special about her. Being queen brought out the worst qualities in her, but he knew she would move past it. She was strong. He feared the events of the past few weeks might force that phase out of her for good. He had run his mind in so many circles that he barely heard the soft footsteps coming down the hall.

"Nate?" Jenny asked, her voice hoarse, her eyes full of sleep.

"Hey!" He jumped up to help her. She still looked shaky on her feet. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm not sure. Better, I think. I don't know what to feel right now." Nate deposited her on the couch and sat next to her, pressing a hand to her forehead to make sure she wasn't feverish. She was surprisingly cold.

"You need to eat something."

"I don't think I can."

"Can you try?" At the look on her face, he changed tactics. "How about some tea? We'll start you off slow."

She nodded, and he made his way into the kitchen.

"Earl Grey, Lemon, or Mint?"

"Lemon with honey, please." She squeaked, and curled up into a ball against the couch cushions. He snuck a glance and her and couldn't help but smile. She was wearing a giant sweatshirt that engulfed her and drooped past her hands, black leggings and polka dotted fuzzy socks that rose to different heights on her slender calves. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun, and her face was bare. He felt horrible about what put her in such a state, but he couldn't deny that even at her worst, she was adorable. She opened her eyes as he approached with her tea.

"Careful, it's hot." He told her as he set it down on the coffee table and sat on the chair across from her.

"You didn't have to stay. I'm embarrassed enough as it is." She sat up and curled her legs underneath her, holding the mug in her sweatshirt covered hands to protect them from the heat.

"Trust me, I wanted to. I had the day free, so I just studied here. Besides, how could I pass up an opportunity to see you in fuzzy socks? Is that Elmo?" He teased lightly.

She giggled and he saw a tiny bit of color flood to her pale cheeks. "Long time favorite." She admitted.

"I'm here for you, Jenny. You're not allowed to feel bad, because I'm going to be here so much you're probably going to get sick of me." She gave him a rueful smile before taking a timid sip of tea. She flinched a little at the heat, and he apologized.

"You warned me." She shrugged and took another sip. More color flooded in to her cheeks and he felt a little better. "Don't let me keep you from studying. I'm really not the most exciting company right now."

Nate actually laughed out loud. "Trust me, you're not keeping me from anything."

"What are you studying?"

"You really want to know? I feel like there are plenty more interesting things we could talk about."

"I need the distraction." He nodded, understanding, and grabbed his book before sitting next to her on the couch. He gave her the brief summary of the class and the reading he was supposed to be doing.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked at the distant expression on her face.

"I think just think it's hilarious that guys criticize girls for wearing heels when they were the ones who invented them." She gestured at the image on the page. "Lady Gaga should sent the Renaissance men a thank you note." For the second time, Nate found himself laughing.

"I'd like to see a conversation between Machiavelli and Lady Gaga." Nate admitted, and they both smiled at the image. "Okay, enough of this. You don't look quite ready to get out of this apartment yet, so how about a movie? Something light?" He asked, and she nodded, smiling. They flipped through the stack of DVD's in the hutch, and Jenny grabbed at The Princess Bride. "Please!" She begged.

"You're sick, I'll humor you." Nate quoted from the movie in a grandfatherly voice, and she grinned. "You lay down, and I'll get it set up." She curled up on the couch again and he popped the DVD in just as Rufus came down the stairs.

"Jenny, you're awake!" He bent down and kissed her on the forehead. Nate excused himself politely, sensing they would need a minute. He grabbed his government book on his way out of the room, though knowing he wouldn't read a word of it. He wasn't proud of it, but he hung back, just around the corner so he could hear what they were talking about.

"Dad, I'm really sorry."

"Don't apologize, Jenny. It's not your fault. And I'm so sorry that this happened…I feel like I've failed you as a father. I should have protected you." Nate could hear the pain in Rufus' voice, and swore the man was crying.

"It's not your fault. I should have told you sooner." Jenny was definitely crying. They talked for a while, tears and hugs were exchanged, and finally Rufus decided he was making waffles. Nate almost laughed out loud; the man used any excuse to make waffles. He didn't blame Rufus though. Any way to cope was necessary, and if he could get Jenny to eat, that was worth a lot. He planned to wait a few minutes before re-entering the living room, but instead heard Jenny yell, albeit in a weak voice, for him to join.

"Nate! If you don't get your butt back in here, I'm going to start this without you!" She threatened, and he practically ran in.

"I can't miss a moment of The Princess Bride! Inconceivable!" He feigned dramatics, and she laughed.

"I think you've seen this movie one too many times." She teased him, and he sat on the couch next to her, propping her feet up on his lap. Leaning over, he tried to whisper, "does your dad have a waffle fetish or something?"

"I heard that." Rufus called from the kitchen, and Nate and Jenny laughed.

"I love your waffles, Dad." Jenny reassured him. Both Nate and Rufus were happy to see her animated again. She looked like a large weight had been lifted from her shoulders. It surprised Nate to look at the clock and realize it was barely noon. Rufus set the waffles on the coffee table, along with butter, syrup, whipped cream, several kinds of fruit, and a side of bacon. "Are we feeding an army here?" Nate joked.

"Us Humphrey's cope with food. It's a family tradition." Jenny assured him.

"So you should eat then." He responded, and plopped a dollop of whipped cream on her nose. She stuck her tongue out at him, and Rufus watched the exchange from afar, taking note of their interactions. He wasn't sure whether to be happy or concerned. For the moment though, Jenny was smiling, and that's all that mattered. He trusted Nate.

"I have to run down to the gallery, but Jenny, I see that you're in good hands. Jen?"

"Yeah, dad?"

"I'm sure you don't want to think about it, but I've arranged a few things. I haven't told anyone details, but Constance knows you won't be back until next week; I just told them you were sick. Secondly, I called a concierge doctor to come and check you out. Don't argue. I'm concerned, and it needs to happen. Thirdly, I called your mother. She's taking a train this afternoon, and your brother is going to meet her at Grand Central after his classes to bring her by. She should be here around 7." Jenny nodded at his statements, going very quiet as reality started to set back in. "I'll be back in a few hours. I believe Lily will be home soon. I love you, sweetheart." He kissed her on the forehead again, and headed toward the elevator.

"I love you, too, dad." She responded quietly. She was silent for a while before she realized Nate was staring at her. "What?" She asked. "Do I have something on my face?"

"Not anymore." He teased her and spooned a bit of whipped cream onto a waffle. She cracked a smile, and he gave her foot a squeeze. "It'll be okay." He assured her.

She nodded. "Let's start the movie. I haven't seen this in forever!" Nate grinned and picked up the remote, hitting play.

"I do expect you to eat some of these waffles." She pouted, and he gave her a pointed look. "I will force-feed you if I have to." He threatened, and she grabbed a plain waffle off the plate and nibbled at it.

"Better?"

"Better." He told her as the movie started. Lily came in a few hours later carrying grocery bags of all things, which she told them contained ingredients for Jenny's favorite croc pot dish, which, even more shockingly, she began preparing herself. Jenny and Nate both crossed their fingers, knowing Lily's lack of skills in the kitchen, and turned their attention back to the movie. Nate's phone buzzed several times with texts from Chuck and Serena, and he responded briefly that all was well and he was keeping Jenny company.

"Hello! My name is Inigo Montoya! You killed my father! Prepare to die!" Nate and Jenny were yelling at the top of their lungs during the final showdown between Inigo and Count Rugen when Serena walked in just over an hour later.

"Should I come back another time?" She asked, and they both turned to look at her.

"Serena!" Nate disentangled himself and stood up. "I thought you were at work."

"I have a lunch break, so I thought I'd stop by. I have Chinese food!" She held up a bag, and Nate kissed her on the cheek.

"You're the best." Nate grinned at her. "Come join us. We're almost to the end." He lead her into the living room, where Jenny had withdrawn again, sitting quietly.

"Hey, Jenny." Serena greeted her gently. "How are you feeling."

Jenny nodded. "Better. It hits me over again every once in a while."

"Well, let me know if there's anything I can do." Serena told her as she handed her a carton.

"Thanks."

Serena sat right up against Nate on the couch, and they all watched the ending of the movie in relative silence, eating Chinese. At the final kiss, she leaned over and kissed Nate. She didn't seem to notice, but he barely responded, not sure how he felt in that moment. As the credits rolled, she stood. "I have to get back to work."

"I'll walk you out." Nate walked with her to the elevator. "Thanks for coming by. She really needs the support right now." Nate told her as they waited for the doors to open.

"You're such a great friend, Nate." She kissed him again as she got in the elevator. "I'll see you tonight." As Nate resumed his seat, he put Jenny's feet back on his lap, and glanced over at her. She had barely touched her food, and had simply let it sit on the coffee table. She was staring at him, her gaze was hazy, but searching.

"You and Serena seem really happy. I'm glad you took my advice and not Dan's." She commented back to the society dinner where she told him to pursue Serena. He also recalled another evening involving Damien when he told her she deserved better. She had responded by commenting that it was not like Nate himself was available. That comment rung through his mind.

"It's been a long time coming." He said, not wanting to admit that he might have been better off taking Dan's advice and abandoning his pursuit.

"You're a wonderful person, Nate. I can always seem to count on you, and I hope I can repay the favor one day." Her eyes held all sincerity, and he felt his heart swell both with affection and guilt. He was about to speak when they heard Lily coming down the stairs.

"I'm sorry, Jenny, but the doctor is on his way." She told them. Jenny's face fell, and she nodded. Nate helped her to her feet. As he put an hand on her waist to steady her, he felt just how thin she was under the massive sweatshirt, and his concern rose. He was afraid what the doctor might say.

"Nate, you don't have to stay for this. It's probably going to be very uncomfortable." She told him.

"You shouldn't be alone."

"I'm not. Lily's here. She's probably a little better…equipped to handle this." Jenny said bashfully, looking at the floor. Nate had to concede, it wasn't his place to stay for something like this.

"I'll run down and get coffees. Would you like anything? Captain Crunch?" He asked her, and she smiled. He remembered her favorite Starbucks drink. Vanessa told her about it years ago-a strawberries and cream frappuccino with hazelnut, toffee, and caramel. It tasted like cereal and she loved it. She was shocked he remembered.

"Yeah. Thanks." He nodded, and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, before taking Lily's order, grabbing his coat and walking out of the penthouse. He didn't want to admit it to Jenny, but he was grateful for the fresh air. His mind had a lot to process.

After Nate left, Lily turned to Jenny. "How are you, sweetie?"

"Exhausted." Jenny admitted.

"Well, I'm glad Nate's got you laughing. You shouldn't have to dwell. You've done enough of that." Jenny nodded.

"He's a really good friend." Jenny commented. Lily had to hold her tongue. She saw the way Nate looked at Jenny, and had always known there was something going on there. She respected that he was dating her daughter, and she wouldn't seek to interfere with their relationship. But, she saw more clearly than they all did. Nate had been pining after Serena for years, and she could see that it was just puppy love; it wouldn't last. But looking at him and Jenny, there was something there. She kept her observations to herself, particularly due to what had just happened to poor Jenny, but she was very curious to see how it all turned out.

When Nate got back to the penthouse, it was late afternoon. He couldn't believe it had been just this morning that Jenny had confessed to everyone. It felt like a lifetime ago. He walked into the living room with the drinks and saw Rufus, Lily, and Eric all sitting around Jenny. He overheard the elderly doctor say "blood test" and Jenny went a little paler. Nate was sure he wasn't the only one in the room concerned that the needle would poke right through her.

"Hey, Nate." Eric greeted him.

"I'm glad I grabbed a few extra coffees." Nate laughed, and they each took a drink. He handed the Captain Crunch to Jenny, who took it gratefully. "You aright?"

"I hate needles." She told him, as the doctor prepped to draw blood. He wrapped the elastic around Jenny's bicep, and Nate heard her breathing accelerate. On impulse, he took her free hand and squeezed it.

"It'll be over with quickly. Just squeeze my hand if you need to." Rufus leaned against the counter, stoically observing. He was still in shock over what his daughter had told them, and seeing her with the doctor made it all the more real. He didn't know how to handle it, and was grateful for everyone around to help. Lily came to stand next to him, and rested her head on his shoulder, comforting him with her proximity. She knew how hard this was on him. They were both grateful to see Eric and Nate both flanking Jenny, there to support her. Nate did his best to keep Jenny calm as the doctor siphoned blood from her vein. When at last he was done, he told her he wanted to put her on IV fluids considering how dehydrated and malnourished she was. She balked, but he insisted it was necessary.

"It will only take about twenty minutes, and I promise you'll feel much better." He told her. She situated herself on the couch and prepared for the second needle. When she was finally all set up, the doctor went over to talk to Lily and Rufus about what they should do next. Nate sat next to Jenny on the couch, and Eric sat in the chair opposite her. They both did their best to distract her.

Eric regaled her with all of the ridiculous things that were going on at school, both the latest gossip girl blasts and the events that flew under her radar. Jenny hadn't even bothered checking gossip girl in days. She was happy to hear about the guy that Eric had gone on a date with, and insisted on hearing all of the details. As Eric launched into the story of how Ryan had taken him to an art exhibit in Brooklyn, Nate excused himself to take a call. When he came back, the doctor was taking the IV out of Jenny's arm, and her color was returning. She really did look better.

"I'll run your blood sample, and I should have results within 48 hours. Drink lots of fluids, and make sure to eat lots of protein and I would suggest some vitamins as well. I'll check back within the next day or two."

"Thank you, doctor." Rufus walked him to the elevator, asking all sorts of questions. It wasn't five minutes later that Dan arrived with their mom, and the whole group erupted into tears all over again. It had really been a long day. Nate couldn't believe all that had happened, and when the whole family was together, he suddenly felt very out of place. He found a moment when Rufus, Alison, and Lily were all talking to say goodbye to Jenny. She insisted on standing up and hugging him, saying thank you repeatedly.

"Really, Nate. Thank you. I probably wouldn't have told anyone if it weren't for you. And thank you for distracting me today. You really are such a great friend." He was so gently hugging her, afraid she was going to break.

"Of course. Keep in touch, and I'll come check on you again soon. I know your dad said you wouldn't be going back to school until next week."

"Yeah. I don't think I could handle it just yet." She commented, and looked horrified at the thought of going back to Constance. Nate nodded.

"Hang in there, Little J." He kissed her on the cheek before making his way over to the elevator. When he met up with Serena later, all he could think about was Jenny. He and Serena had been fighting a lot the past few weeks, and even if she couldn't tell, he had a sinking feeling their relationship had an expiration date. It blew his mind how not so long ago he was in love with Serena, when now he was questioning everything. It would take him a while to figure it all out.

"Jenny?" Eric asked, after Nate had gone. "What's going on between you two?" She knew who he was talking about.

"Nothing." He gave her a look. "I mean it Eric." Her voice was sincere. "I'm just grateful he was around to help. We've been friends for a long time, and I know he's happy with Serena. I'm not getting in the way of that. Besides," she looked at her feet and spoke quietly. "I really don't want to think about guys right now."

Eric nodded. "I understand. I just had to check."

"I know, Serena is your sister. I wouldn't do anything to hurt her." She yawned after she said it, and Eric smiled, happy to see the old Jenny peaking through again. He knew it would take time, but she would heal. He hoped that maybe this might even put their "Queen of Constance" drama behind them. He didn't know what the future held, so he was just going to do his best to help her in the present.

Alison stayed for several hours, even after Jenny had fallen asleep. Jenny was happy to have her mother there, and they spent a great deal of time just talking. Once Jenny was asleep, and Alison worked out some details with Rufus and Lily, she and Dan decided to spend the night at the Humphrey loft. They would come back in the morning. It had been a long day.

A/N. Not all chapters will be this long, but I hope you enjoyed! Please rate and review! New chapter will be posted soon.