He finds her at Blair's two days after she gets out of Ostroff. He doesn't know what to say at first, but he figures he's just one of many that have formed a line to beg for her forgiveness. He's sure that she's furious with him, may even hate him, and he hates himself for that. He should have trusted her, should have looked in her eyes and known she was telling them the truth. Now he has to find a way to make things right, because even if they can't be together, Nate knows he can't loose Serena as a friend. He takes a deep breath as he knocks on her bedroom door, and hears her give him permission to come in.

"S."

He opens the door to her room to find her sitting on her bed staring down at a book in her hand. Her golden hair is falling around her face, and he swears she's never looked more alive and beautiful.

She looks up at him with a forced smile, "Nate, hey."

"So, guess I should just get this out of the way…" He begins sticking his hands in his pockets and dropping his head, "I suck, seriously I do."

"Yeah, you kinda do," she nods with a tiny smile. "Go on…"

"I'm sorry," he says finally walking over to the bed. He lowers his head again and rubs the back of his neck with his hand as he lets out a long breath, "For not believing you, for thinking you had fallen back into old patterns, for not being there for you when you needed me. I was a jerk, like a really big jerk, and I'm sorry…."

"Nate?" Stop saying you're sorry," she smiles.

"But I am." He sighs. "Like you have no idea how sorry," he adds. "I'm sorry I didn't visit you at Ostroff, or stay longer at the hospital…"

"You're not the only one," she whispers. "No one believed me, well no one but Dan…"

"Yeah Dan," he nods. "Guess you picked the right guy after all…" He frowns.

It hurts, deep down it hurts, knowing she cares more about Dan. He gets it in a way, but still, she's suppose to be his Serena, and even though Dan is one of his best friends, it doesn't mean he thinks he should have his girl.

"Wait how did you know about that? Did Dan tell you…" She begins.

"No, Dan mentioned it to Eric, and Eric mentioned it to Chuck and well Chuck told me…" Nate laughs bashfully.

"Did Chuck also tell you that even though I had picked Dan, I decided that right now I just want some me time?"

"No, he failed to mention that part…" Nate speaks trying to hide the relief that has suddenly filled him.

"Yeah, Dan seems okay with it though," she shrugs. "He's out right now with Blair, trying to get revenge on all the people that wronged me," she says with a sad smile. "I'm not supposed to know that though…."

"You're not supposed to know?"

"No, but Dan told Eric and Eric let me in on the plan."

"Dan and Blair working together? That's scary!"

"Yeah…" Serena nods. "So, you want to stay for awhile?" She asks after a second. "We could watch movies, or something."

"Does that mean you forgive me?" Nate asks tilting his head and giving her a hopeful smile.

"Only if you promise to never doubt me again," Serena nods.

"Never again," Nate promises. "Seriously, I'm so sorry S. I should have believed you, I know you, know you enough to know to believe you….."

"It was a crazy night, I'm not even sure I would have believed me... I almost didn't believe me actually.."

"You're not that person anymore and even when you were you were still amazing," Nate smiles.

"You can stop sucking up now, I've forgiven you already," Serena laughs.

"I'm just telling the truth," Nate smirks. "You are amazing Serena…"

"So does that mean you're not mad at me for picking Dan?" She frowns.

"I'm not mad," he sighs. "I'm not happy about it, and I think my pride has been shot a bit," he smirks, "But I get it, even though I still think I'm the better choice," he jokes looking away as he lets out a short laugh.

"Natie, It wasn't some easy choice honest," she sighs. "It's just.. with you, I don't know, I'm scared," she shrugs. "I'm not sure what I'd do if I lost you and if we tried again and it didn't work, and we were angry again… I just need you in my life…."

"You have me in your life," Nate smiles. "Always in your life, no matter what."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"And Dan, I can't explain it, it just all felt unfinished or something… I mean I don't know, how do you pick between the two most amazing guys in New York?" She smiles.

"Well we are pretty awesome," Nate agrees with a chuckle.

"Yes, yes you are," Serena nods.

"You know I don't think it's over with us," Nate shrugs honestly. "Maybe this us together thing is own a break or something, but it's not over."

"No?" Serena asks biting her lip.

"No."

"Maybe not," she nods. "Blair says we're destined for a Ken and Barbie wedding someday," she chuckles.

"Blair is a smart girl," Nate laughs. "You should listen to her about that."

"But we're not Ken and Barbie…" Serena smirks.

"No, because you're way hotter than Barbie," Nate nods. "So… After you have your 'me' time, are you going back to Dan?"

It comes out sadder than he means for it too, but still he has to ask, needs to know what to prepare for. He can be her friend, he can go through the motions, but at the end of the day, he's still going to love her.

"I don't know… Everyone wanted me to make a choice, and I did, and I care about Dan, and he was here for me when I needed him, still is, but I can't say for certain that we're going to be together."

"Whatever you decide, I'll still be here," Nate smiles.

"Yeah? So how about a day of movies and relaxing?" She asks patting a place on the bed beside her.

Nate smiles, "I think that would be awesome."

"Hey," she grins sheepishly. "Look under my bed."

"What?" He asks with wide eyes.

"Just do it," she giggles.

He just nods and does what she's says, because she's Serena and that's how it's suppose to go. He finds a box under the bed full of junk food, and he can't help but let out a laugh. "I think I found your food stash!"

"Blair tries to throw all my good food out," she giggles. "So now I have to hide it from her."

He just shakes his head as he hands her the box and slides up on the bed beside her. "You better have Pop-Tarts in that thing," he grins."

"Of course, and Reese Cups, and Snickers mini's and Skittles and…"

"I get the point," Nate snorts grabbing a Reese Cup out of her hand. "This is turning out to be the perfect day," he laughs he wraps his arm around Serena and she snuggles up to him.

Just holding her again, feeling her against him, somehow gives him a tiny flickering of hope. She smells like peaches, sweet and tangy and so perfectly Serena and he swears he could hold her like this until the end of time.

"Natie," she whispers as she turns on the television. "While I'm doing this whole me thing, can we be 'us' again?" She asks in a childlike voice. "You know this us."

"Yeah," he nods kissing her temple gently. "I think that's a great idea."

"K, cause I miss the real us, the hanging out, eating junk food, and acting like kids us," she smiles.

"I miss that too S, so so much."

"No one gets that part of me like you do," she speaks quietly. "They think it's immature…"

"That's just because they don't understand."

She smiles against him, her eyes sparkling again and he can't help but think that one day, it's going to be like this forever. He refuses to believe that this isn't suppose to be how things are meant to be. Dan is a great guy, but one day, someday, he won't be the right guy. Nate knows he isn't the smartest guy, but he knows things, knows that if he gives it time, and just waits, things will work out the way they're suppose to. He has loved Serena too long to give up now, so if he has to wait a little longer, if he has to spend a little more time watching movies, and just hanging out to get there, Nate can't help but think that he's perfectly okay with that.