You've Got the Love
A/N: Nate and Serena missing moments- I'll be writing one for each episode of gossip girl seasons one and two. This one shot takes place after Blair and Serena's show down on the steps. Title from the song of the same name by *Florence and The Machine.* Please take the time to review- feedback is the best thing for an author.
Pilot
Blair stalks down the steps in a huff and puff, with Kati and Iz smirking on either side, clutching her skim mocha latte to the box of invitations like it held her heart within it.
Serena's left alone at the top of the stairs, trying to pretend she isn't lonely without her friend. She tosses the yogurt into the nearest trash can. Because, really, she prefers coffee but she'd already spent too much time at the hospital with Eric, so she just grabbed the first thing she could find and a made a run for it.
She straightens out her jacket with a restrained sigh, pulling at the skewed lapels before heading to class.
There is a very familiar boy in the corner, his arms crossed and eyes distant and there's a joint lit up between his fingers but it hasn't reached his lips yet. Her heart sinks lower with every steps that she takes in his direction.
After their encounter this morning, out side the Palace Hotel- *of course* he's mad at her. He might even have the right to be, really.
She'd told him in no uncertain terms that he wasn't the reason she was home. That she didn't- she *didn't* come back for him. And then she'd flipped her long blonde hair over the shoulder of her tan leather jacket and swept past the doors without so much as a back ward glance.
He couldn't possibly know how hard it had been for her to walk through those doors, how incredibly difficult she had found it to walk away from him when every fiber in her being longed to turn around. To throw herself into his strong, safe arms. To bury her nose in his chest and smell the heady scent soap and weed that always made her feel giddy, playing havoc with her senses even faster than champagne could- that smell was just so perfect, just so *Nate*. To press her lips to his cheek and finally feel like she was back home in his embrace.
She bites her lip. Her fingers ball into fist at her sides, because looking at him now as he leans against the brick wall of their school makes her want to hug him, still.
His shoulders are stiff. He doesn't even look at her.
"Nate-" she starts softly, her heart a little bruised by his stony gaze.
He stares fixedly at the asphalt, mouth tight around the corners and she really *hates* seeing him like this.
"What is it, Serena?" His voice never used to be this cold. It echoes in her ears like something from another planet.
Her mouth drops- "Nate, I-"
"I already heard it, Serena. You didn't come for me. I get it. I don't need your sympathy." He lowers his head as he says it.
"I'm just trying to explain to you-"
He snaps, head bobbing back up and he looks almost angry, blue eyes blazing. He's never been angry before.
"So, why did you come back, Serena? If it wasn't for me and it certainly wasn't for Blair than why *did* you come back at all?"
"I'm sorry." Her voice cracks with tears and Nate just melts away, his arm reaching out to circle her shoulders. He squeezes her upper arm with own special blend of comfort and affection and both of their resistance crumbles. She turns into him, breathing in his warmth, his friendship, his misplaced love.
He sighs heavily. "Please," he says, coaxingly, "I'm sorry for how I acted. Will you just tell me what's wrong?"
Serena bites her mouth. Looks up at him with wide blue eyes, drenched in tears and her wet lashes blink fetchingly.
"It's Eric," she sobs into his jacket, "He's sick."
He frowns. He'd thought Eric was in Miami or Florida- somewhere *warm*. How could he be sick? He reaches out to dry her tears with the ends of his scarf, trying to not think about the fact that Chuck would probably strangle him for this if he caught him using the scarf as a handkerchief. Blair- shit, Blair would probably help. He casts a furtive glance around the courtyard over the top of Serena's golden hea but the bell already rang some time in between him yelling and her crying.
Serena sniffs. She doesn't cry very often. "Want to sit down?" he offers and she nods. Still wrapped up in each other, they walk to a secluded bench.
Just sitting there, buried in the ivy, with their knees brushing against each other, calms the storms in both of their hearts.
Slowly, she tells him Eric's story and Nate's eyes grow wide but he doesn't say anything, anything at all. His hand rubs circles in the small of her back as she talks, the other hand resting lightly against her legs, thinking quietly how much he loves that she leaves them bare. He likes touching her skin, all golden and warm and beautiful and she doesn't hide it the way Blair does, under silken stockings and knee high socks with lace and nonsense lining every available inch of leg.
His heart twists a little. He wants to help her, wants to go see Eric with her and hold her hand.
It isn't his place though. Serena doesn't belong to him, even if he's sure that he's always- *always* belonged to her.
She smiles, tentatively through her tears. "Thank you," she says, "For listening."
He tries to smile, as well, mouth turning. "Always," he vows.
She nods, reaches down for bag sitting next to the bench and leaps lightly to her feet. Their eyes meet as she stands above him, his hand still resting against her leg and the angle is so poignant- so *familiar* that heat flushes to their cheeks.
It's a loaded moment.
"Good bye, Nate." She whispers it, reluctant to break the spell. His hand drops away from her skin and she turns away.
Nate takes a deep breath and tosses the joint to the floor, grinding it against the pavement. He just had a shot of Serena van der Woodsen.
He doesn't need weed after that.
