Sorry for the lack of updating. I've been getting a lot of new readers on this one, so I chose to update it first. Hope you like it :)
Smut warning, as always.
The sun shined brightly on the blue waters of New Haven. It was a beautiful July afternoon, perfect for sailing. Nate Archibald stood on the Vanderbilt family dock, adjusting the sails and preparing for departure. He was preparing to sail off on his favorite ship, The London Eye, one of the prized sailboats his family owned. His wife stood holding their infant son on the dock with a cautious expression on her face.
"Natie, are you sure he isn't too little?" Serena held their son to her chest protectively. Nate continued tampering with the sails.
"He's seven months S. He'll love it. We can always come back if he doesn't." She looked down at her son through her Dolce and Gabbana shades. Will gurgled happily as he watched his father intently. She kissed the top of his head and shifted the baby bag on her shoulder.
"Alright we're set. I'll take him from you." Nate outstretched his broad arms and took the baby carefully. Serena hopped in after her men and put the baby bag under the seat. She flattened her white lace cover up with a sigh. After months and months of Just Dance and pilates, she still had some baby weight. Although Blair always was making snarky comments about her always being so flawless, very rarely did she feel it. Not only was she pregnant, but she was sick. Her body really took a toll from it along with her confidence. And the scar- She was broken out of her thoughts by a splash of water hitting her stomach. She gasped.
"Miss Daydreamer, you need to help me take off. Go to port." Serena rolled her eyes and followed his direction. She had become a very trained sailor after years and years with sailing with Nate. Blair was never really much of a fan and neither was Chuck, so usually it was just her and Nate out on the open seas. It gave her a sense of liberation and bliss. She loved the feeling of the wind and the small specks of water hitting her face. Being with him was just an added bonus. While she was nervous about her son's maiden voyage, she was excited to share this experience with him. She looked over at him in his seat as she untied the last of the knots. He watched his mother with his wide blue eyes. Serena giggled and wrinkled her nose.
"My pretty boy is excited for his first sailing trip isn't he?" She cooed, clapping her hands together. As if he understood, his face lit up and he started babbling nothings.
"No distractions Co-Captain Van Der Woodsen! Not even cute babies! Get to it." Serena stuck her tongue out at him and returned to her duties. Nate steered the boat out of port and soon they were sailing on the open seas. She yanked her ponytail out and threw her hair around giddily. She had missed this freedom so much. As much she loved her son, she needed to be free. She had not only been tied down to her house after he was born, but most of the nine months of her pregnancy. She couldn't have left the house if she was even able to because Nate would've been right outside the door to push her back in. Now she was free on the open seas feeling better than ever.
"The view is fine from back here." Nate yelled with a whistle. Serena gave him her winning smile and pranced over to sit with her son. Will's blonde tufts blew in the wind and he giggled with glee. Serena wrapped her arm around the back of the seat and tucked her legs underneath of her. Months ago, her baby boy was under an incubator in the ICU. It warmed her heart to see him so happy and lively. She pinched his chubby cheeks and giggled. Will was clad in a stripped sailing outfit, designed by his very own Aunt B. It couldn't have fit him better. She rested her head on the back of the seat and watched the waves float past peacefully.
"Alright we're can stop here." Nate announced, adjusting the sails. Serena hopped up and dropped the anchor. She turned around and was met with a bouquet of beautiful Stargazer Lilies.
"What's the occasion?" She asked with a raised eyebrow. Nate gave her a look.
"Do I need an occasion to give you flowers?" He asked. She blushed. He still made her blush like a little girl.
"I guess not." She said with a smile. She put the flowers up to her face and breathed in the heavenly scent.
"The combination of the sweet flowers and salty sea gives me a better high than a joint. I think my pregnancy actually made me mentally insane." She breathed, closing her eyes. Nate put a finger to his lip.
"Shh. We mustn't speak of that in front of our little passenger." She sighed and placed the flowers on the cushion on the bow cushion.
"Peanut Butter Jelly time, peanut butter jelly time!" She chanted, dancing her way over to the built in cooler. Nate clicked Will out of his seat and plopped down on the cushion.
"Tell Mommy you're too little for peanut butter and jelly! You barely have any teethies!" Nate cooed, bouncing his son up and down. Will babbled on and waved his left arm in the air. Serena ducked under the jib with two peanut butter jellies in ziplocks and a bottle.
"Which is why Mommy brought you a bottle!" She replied sweetly, plopping down next to her boys. Nate took the bottle and began to feed him. She giggled.
"Who knew we'd be the cheesy family?" She asked. Nate shook his head as he finally got will to latch onto the bottle.
"No one is worse than Chuck and Blair. They are so sweet it hurts my stomach. Especially when Chuck gets all Cool-Whip on me. Seeing him like that is just plain disturbing." Serena nodded in agreement and laughed.
"That's what happens when you live in a house full of girls I guess."
"That's what happens when your wife is Blair Waldorf is the most accurate answer. Thank god I bypassed that." He murmured. She slapped his shoulder playfully. They both shared a long laugh imagining that.
"Roads lead where they do for a reason." Nate whispered. Serena pressed her forehead against his. He was the one to finally close the distance. They continued kissing under the warmth of the sunlight and over the baby at their lap, who was beginning to get tired at the sight. At the first crackle, they were already separated.
"What's wrong Boo?" Nate asked, propping Will up so he was standing on his lap. Serena took the bottle and put it beside her. The baby offered a winning smile.
"Are you sure we didn't accidently pick up Baby Bass from the hospital?" Serena asked. Nate shot her a look.
"Don't even joke about that. It's actually the scariest thought I've been faced with in a while." She giggled and kissed his nose.
"I can assure you he's 100 percent ours. I can clearly remember the painful labor. But more importantly, seeing those beautiful blue eyes for the first time. Even at five pounds and covered in god knows what, he was exactly how I'd always imagined our baby would be." Nate kissed her cheek.
"I clearly remember it being the scariest moment in my life...and really wanting a joint afterwards." He murmured. She gave him a soft stern look and outstretched her hands for her son. He reluctantly handed him over.
"Feed me." She demanded, opening her mouth. He shook his head. He never knew what to expect with her. He broke off a bit of the peanut butter and jelly and fed her. She sighed.
"PB&J always tastes ten times better in the summer." She stated, opening her mouth for more. Will happily observed the sights from his mother's lap. The ocean glistened off his blue eyes in perfect harmony. Nate looked at his family in complete awe.
"We're just so perfect aren't we Natie." Serena said as she cocked her head. He smirked.
"You really are."
"Are you sure he's going to like the ocean?" Serena asked apprehensively. Nate pulled off his shirt, distracting her from further thought. His perfect abs, beautiful barely-there chest hair leading down to his-
"We're about to find out." He responded. He hopped off the stern and emerged quickly from the water, flicking his golden locks to the side. She giggled.
"Okay Daddy get in position in case he falls." She walked over to the ladder and sat down. He swam over to the ladder and paddled a couple feet away. She slowly lowered Will into the gentle waves, only so his feet were touching. Nate couldn't read his expression at first, but then his face started to wrinkle.
"S, he's about to blow." He warned. Within seconds, his first cry pierced the air. Serena sighed and sat back up.
"I think it's time for little man to go down. His pack in play is in the quarters right?" She asked. Nate nodded.
"Do you need my help?" He asked. She shook her head.
"No. Cool off. I'll be out in a bit. The water will rock him right to sleep and finally give my arm a break." Nate sighed and lied on his back in the water.
There was nothing quite as relaxing as the Hamptons.
"Looks like both you and your son are out like lights." Serena observed. Nate had set up their blow-up island and was lying on it peacefully.
"We Archibald men need our rest." He mumbled, rubbing his eyes. His eyes focused on his gorgeous wife sitting at the edge of the sailboat, her hair blowing in the wind effortlessly and skin glistening in the sun. How did he ever get so lucky as to come across Serena Van Der Woodsen. Everything about her was so beautiful, from her laugh to her bright blue eyes. He couldn't ask for anything more in a girl. Nobody he ever dated could ever reach her perfection. It was just her. She was it for him and would always be.
"Why don't you come join me cocaptian?" He proposed. She bit her lip.
"I think I'd rather stay here." She quickly responded. He sat up and looked at her. She was thumbing the lace on her cover up. He could clearly see the magenta bikini underneath it through the holes. It was a step for her to even put a bikini on. She usually just wore a summer dress and flip flops. She just had to take a leap of faith and then all of the insecurities she tried to hide would go away. Before Nate could even comprehend what he was doing, he was pulling her by the foot into the water. She screamed loudly before the water silenced her. He feared her reaction as she submerged.
"Are you crazy Nate?" She yelled moments after she popped out. He smiled goofily.
"You weren't going to come in if I didn't force you."
"That's completely accurate." She grumbled, looking down at her wet cover up.
"This was a brand new Victoria Secret cover up." She added, her eyes still locked on it. Nate looked at her.
"Since when do you care about getting clothes ruined? Has Blair rub-"
"Since they cover up my freaking c-section gash, okay? I was so happy I fit into this and now it's all ruined!" She screamed, tears brimming in her eyes. He swam closer and wrapped his arms around her. His right palm gingerly pressed against her scar. She fought back tears as he gazed into her eyes.
"That scar should not represent shame. It's a battle scar. It shows how hard you fought so our son could be here. Every time I see it I love you even more, if that's even virtually possible. You fought long and hard Serena and you should be proud of it." She pressed her lips together and looked down at the small ripples of water beneath her. Nate bent his head down and captured her lips in a deep kiss. She responded with the same depth, moaning as the palm against her scar traveled up further.
The ruined cover-up was quickly forgotten.
Hope you liked this chapter! I know the one-shots skip around in time a lot, but I hope you saw some development in this chapter with Serena and her insecurities about post-pregnancy. Let me know if you want to go back in time or further! I already have an idea about a future NS fic off of this one with Will included. So I'm leaning towards only going back or only a bit forward, but I'll gauge it off of reviews! So please leave one!
XOXO, Becca
P.S: Sorry for the butchered sailboat terms for anyone who actually goes sailing! I did do a little research. I am a big boater myself, but actually have never been on one! So sorry for any mistakes.
