Thanks to everyone who has read the first chapter and thanks SO MUCH for reviews: it's always nice to get feedback and please do leave any thoughts for me to read, I really appreciate it!

The story's just sort of getting started, so sorry for not much action in the first chapter. More happening this time, get ready!

The car pulled up at the top of the long sandy driveway as their doors opened and luggage was lifted from the trunk.

"Thanks, I think we've got it from here."

Nate slipped a few bills into the hand of their driver as he and Chuck each grabbed the handle of their suitcase. Another rule from their 'lost weekend' vacations as teenagers: travel as light as possible, picking up what they needed along the way but discarding it as they left each city.

After a quick, sharp knock on the door Chuck noticed it give slightly, and another push confirmed that the front door was indeed open already.

"Hello?"

No response. He tried again as Nate followed behind.

"Anyone home? Serena?"

There was another silent pause, suddenly followed by Serena's voice coming from the living room to their left.

"Hey guys, in here."

Nate smiled as he saw Serena crane her neck to face them from where she sat on the sofa, its leather back to them.

Leaving their cases in the doorway, they both strode over to where she sat, neither prepared for what they saw as she stood to greet them:

Serena, standing in a long aqua coloured dress, both hands linked protectively where they sat on the protruding bump of her stomach. She bit her lip.

"So…."

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Nate was the first to speak.

"Oh my god, Serena. OH MY GOD."

Chuck attempted to follow him with a stuttered response.

"Um, when?...Who?"

Serena grasped both their arms and motioned for them to sit on the sofa as she took the chair opposite.

"I guess I should have told you but…"

"Yeah, you should have!"

Nate angrily put his head into his hands as Chuck turned to his friend with a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Relax, Archibald, it's not like it's…"

He trailed off at the awkward looks Serena and Nate were exchanging.

"Oh my god. It is yours."

The three of them sat in silence for a minute or so before Chuck once again broke it.

"When? I mean I thought the two of you were over months ago. More like a year or so?"

Serena looked up nervously.

"Well, we were. But then after the Constance party…you had just broken up with Raina" – she gestured at Nate – "and I was having my kinda….well a crisis, I guess. It was a one time thing…old friends, just comforting each other."

She dared herself to smile a little in Nate's direction but he still looked disbelievingly at her.

"I don't understand this, Serena. I mean, I thought we were careful!"

"We were, but I guess there was a problem."

"Well are you sure it's even from that night? I'm not trying to throw accusations around but I doubt you've been living like a nun out here."

Serena furrowed her brows angrily.

"How dare you. I'm telling you you're the father and all you can do is pass judgement on the way you assume I've been behaving? Really charming, Nate."

Chuck interjected in an attempt to diffuse the situation.

"How have you kept this a secret? Surely Blair knows."

"No, she doesn't. And it's going to stay that way until I've worked out what I'm going to do."

Nate looked up.

"Well it looks like you've already decided…you're pretty far along to-"

Serena cut him off coldly.

"I wasn't talking about an abortion, you insensitive moron. I meant until I've decided when and how to tell my mom, and whether I'm even going back to New York. Plus I have college and all of that to think about."

Nate looked stung and when he spoke this time it was with a softer tone.

"Serena, I'm sorry…look, I really am. Chuck, do you think we could have a minute?"

Chuck nodded silently before heading to the doorway.

"I'll take our cases. I'll be upstairs if you need me."

0000000000

Serena sat staring at the floor, waiting for Nate to speak. He took her hands in his.

"I am so sorry for what I said, Serena. I'm just shocked, that's all. Surely you can understand that?"

She looked up cautiously but didn't remove her hands from his grasp.

"I know. And I'm sorry too. I can't believe I just sprung it on you like this…both of you. But I thought I'd have more time…"

"But you must've known you'd have to tell me at some point."

They looked into each others eyes for a few peaceful seconds before Serena answered.

"Of course. It's just, as long as I was here I kind of felt protected…like I didn't have to face reality. Know what I mean?"

Nate laughed bitterly.

"More than you know."

She raised an eyebrow inquisitively at him. He looked straight at her and stroked her hand with his thumb.

"I spent this summer…all those trips with Chuck…no strings attached, all that bullshit. And it was fun, don't get me wrong, but…. What I'm trying to say is, I spent the whole summer thinking of you. Only you. I thought it was the end. I thought because you left straight away…I thought you were done. But I wasn't."

Now Serena carefully pulled her hands away.

"Nate, this baby…I don't want it to be a reason for you to force a relationship between us. That is the absolute last thing I want."

He shook his head in disbelief.

"Jesus, a baby. We're having a baby."

She cracked a full grin for the first time since he'd arrived.

"Well, that's usually what happens after the nine months."

He smiled widely back.

"I know it's kind of….well it's kind of crazy but…is it weird that I'm totally excited?"

Serena laughed and stood up, pulling him up with her.

"Well honestly, I'm glad you are. I was imagining scenarios where you'd take off forever."

He grabbed her in a huge embrace and whispered:

"You know that would never happen."

He grasped her by the forearms and looked her in the eyes.

"Whatever happens with us… I love you Serena. You know that. I always will. And I will always be there for this baby."

000000000

Chuck looked for what felt like the hundredth time at his cellphone screen, his fingers once again speed dialling Blair but hanging up before it could ring properly.

He still felt in shock from what had just happened and he knew Blair would be the one who could help him to make sense of it. But if Serena hadn't told her best friend then it had to be for a reason, and he realised it was not his choice to make. Being here with their two best friends though he began to see just how much he had missed Blair during the vacation.

Just one phone call couldn't hurt…just to see how she was doing….?

"Hey Chuck?"

Nate's voice calling up the stairs shook him out of his daydream and he quickly snapped his cellphone shut and slid it back into his pocket.

"Yeah?"

"Wanna come for lunch man? We're heading out."

Chuck was glad: Nate sounded a lot calmer and more cheerful than he had earlier. He shouted back down to his friend.

"I'll be down in a moment."

As he turned to leave the spare bedroom his eyes caught a framed photograph on the dresser of himself, Nate, Serena and Blair as kids: they couldn't have been more than seven or eight. The girls dressed in their mini kilts and tights, and the boys in freshly ironed tiny blazers. It seemed insane to him: they were barely past being children themselves, and now one of them was going to be responsible for another little life. He smiled slightly as he descended the staircase and met Nate and Serena in the hall.