Disclaimer: Had Gossip Girl been mine, Nate would have received far more importance than he actually did.
It was at 5.30 that he finally accepted that he wouldn't be getting any sleep. So he got up from his bed, took a shower and changed. He was completely dressed, forty five minutes later, in a pin-stripped grey suit. Then, he realized that people like Dan, normal people, didn't show up at their office at this ungodly hour. So he began to pace, and he thought about Serena. He made some coffee, and thought about him and Serena. He paced some more and thought about Dan and Serena. And at 7.00 am Nate was still thinking about Serena. With a jolt Nate realized that Dan leaving Serena had taken a toll on his emotions. He sighed. He decided he needed fresh air to clear his thoughts. He reversed his car out of the garage and made his way over to Dan's. Nate lit a cigarette on the way while he drove. He took in one long puff, and shook his head to clear his mind. Feeling the smoke escape his lungs he tried to arrange his thought. What will he say to Dan this time?
He reached Dan's office around 8.00. After Dan made his way into UES after Gossip Girl, there was no looking back for him. Nate genuinely admired what Dan had done from himself. From an ordinary guy in Brooklyn to the most outspoken political critic and journalist must have been a hell of a ride. Nate smiled – he was truly proud of him. He walked over to the reception, to be greeted by his secretary.
"Back again, Mr. Archibald?" she asked, attempting to look nonchalant.
"Hey Eileen, I need to meet Dan." Nate replied shortly.
Eileen prayed that the blush on her neck wasn't too visible.
"I am sorry, Mr. Archibald. He wouldn't be showing up for at least another hour. You could however take a seat." Eileen figured it would be a field day on which she can stare at Nate Archibald all she wanted for an entire hour.
"Yeah, okay. Thanks." Nate made his way towards the couch. He had a fine backside, Eileen noticed. She continued to notice several other fine things about one Mr. Archibald for the next hour. The field day was interrupted by the arrival of her boss.
"What, the seventh time Nate?" Dan asked when he saw him rise from the couch.
"Dan, you need to listen to me!" Nate approached.
"My office it is then." Dan led the way to his office. It was a huge cabin, with a Mahogany table in the center and a revolving chair behind it. The wall that faced the door was covered in books. Dan took his place on the revolving seat and motioned Nate to take a seat opposite.
"So, I assume we are here to discuss my love life?" Dan questioned, raising his eyebrows.
"Your married life." Nate corrected.
"Look Nate, I have no idea why are we discussing this again. You know my reply. I don't plan on going back." Dan said, almost as if the whole idea of going back and fixing his married life was ridiculous.
"How can you just dismiss all of this like that, Dan? She's your wife. You have been married for two years. We aren't in high school anymore mate, you just can't break-up and move on." Nate tried to reason.
"That is what bothers me Nate. Sometimes I think we are still at the stage where one of us would just like to break up. Maybe we weren't prepared for this. The marriage you know? Maybe we rushed into all of this." Dan admitted.
All Nate could do was stare at him. Was Dan Humphrey saying that he regretted getting married to Serena? How can a man regret marrying Serena?Serena Van Der Woodsen, the woman who stole so many hearts all across Manhattan. Serena Van Der Woodsen, the personification of perfect. How can a man regret being the central person in her life?
He voiced his exact thoughts. "Dan, are you trying to tell me that you think marrying Serena was a mistake?"
"If I say no, I might be lying. And I don't want to do that Nate." Dan replied, suddenly very fascinated by the paper weight on his desk.
"Are you sure you know what you're talking about? She loves you Dan! You're the only person she has ever felt so strongly for. You proposed to her didn't you? Then how can you back out like that?" Nate questioned bewildered and well, scared. Scared of what Dan Humphrey was admitting. How will he ever convince him if he thinks the marriage itself was a mistake? How will he deal with Serena once she finds out about this?
"I am not sure I even wanted to propose." Dan admitted. It felt good. Getting this off his chest after almost two years. He needed to tell someone! And who better than Nate? "Look Nate, she's great all right – "
"Just not great enough to stay married to?" Nate interrupted.
"Maybe. Honestly Nate, she's obsessed with this idea of a perfect marriage. The perfect curtains and the wooden floors. Long walks on the beach and candle-light dinners. And I've tried explaining to her that this is reality. It doesn't happen that way in the real world. Things change after getting married. She just doesn't understand. Sometimes I feel that the only reason I even proposed to her is because she wanted me to." Dan reasoned.
"But you knew about this all along. You knew she was a romantic even if she doesn't admit it. And as far as I remember you enjoyed the candle light dinners and the long walks. So what changed after the wedding?" Nate was desperate now. Desperate for him to understand that all of this might just kill Serena.
"Because after we got married all this romance felt like a compulsion to me! Nate, I don't want to be that boy from Brooklyn who made it to the UES never to be heard of again. Now that I am here, I want to prove I deserve it. I want to make myself the Dan Humphrey. I want people to remember me for my hard work and determination. I want the power and the status people fear and lust after, Nate. I want it." Dan let Nate know.
"And you're ready to sacrifice the person who loved you when you weren't all this?" Nate asked with disbelief. "Dan, look I understand what you're talking about. I have seen people there. But Dan, this tryst with power; it doesn't last. This leaves you lonely as ever. Trust me when I say this man, you don't want that. You do not want to lose your marriage for this."
"Well, I'll just hope my tryst lasts." Dan replied.
The two men stared at each other. "I guess we don't have anything else to say to each other then." Dan concluded.
"I guess we don't." Nate said standing up. "I'll take your leave then."
Dan nodded. They exchanged a firm handshake and Nate walked out of Dan's office more hopeless about this entire situation than ever.
Getting into his car, Nate only thought of Serena and seven years ago when she had ran out on them because Dan had rejected her. He massaged his forehead, and dialed up someone on his cell phone.
"Hannah, call off all my meetings for the day. I won't be coming in." He informed his secretary. With that, he drove off to Serena's.
Serena heard her doorbell ring, and got up from her bed. Cursing whoever was at the other end. What does a self-pitying woman has to do to get some peace around here? Tying the knot of her gown she made her way towards her entrance door, opening it to reveal Nate.
"Thank God. I have been ringing the bell for the past half hour!" Nate said stepping in.
Serena glanced at the clock. "It's 10.30! What are you doing here?" Serena asked exasperated.
"It's 10.30 Serena, what are you doing in bed?" Nate asked, careful to use the same tone as hers.
"Don't you have to be at work or something, you busy busy man?" She asked irritated.
"Oh, I figured you're more important." He replied nonchalantly. Serena had no idea what pact Nate had signed which made him say everything that she once wanted Dan to say. Having no idea what to do, she made to move towards her bedroom. "I am sleeping Nate. You can leave… Or make yourself comfortable. Whatever suits you." Serena called behind her. Serena got comfortable in her blankets smiling. Nate Archibald does that to her, she noticed.
"Oh no, you don't." Serena pulled the covers over her head at Nate's voice. "Get up S! Come on." Next thing Serena knew she was sitting upright on her bed, Nate's arms supporting her weight and a toothbrush in her mouth. "Right come on! Brush up."
"What is wrong with you?" Serena moaned, pulling the toothbrush out of her mouth. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, only to see Nate opening up the wardrobe.
"No, Nate!" Serena got up at record speed from her bed and rushed towards her wardrobe. "You never open a girl's cupboard! Don't you know?" Serena rambled panicky. Toothpaste spitting out of her mouth, her hair disheveled and eyes wide. Nate burst out laughing.
"That's what it takes to have you up and running?" Nate said between his laughter. Serena fumed and turned back.
"Oh, get lost! Go back home." Serena said.
"No no, come here." Nate held Serena's hand and pulled her back. Serena crashed against his chest and instinctively his arms wound around Serena's waist to make her stay. And for that moment, Nate felt his heartbeat stop.
He turned her around to look in the full-length mirror. And there she was, in her sea-green nightie, toothpaste spilling from her mouth, and golden hair in knots and Nate, clad in his grey suit smiling over her shoulder. And Serena couldn't help it, she laughed. She laughed so hard, she felt her stomach hurt. And Nate laughed alongside, because Serena was laughing, and he could feel the vibrations of her body near his heart and there was life in her eyes and because everything in the world was right because Serena was happy.
Serena laughed until she began choking on her toothpaste. Nate suddenly stopped and rubbed her back. "Are you okay? Serena? " Serena rushed to the washroom and spitted her toothpaste out. Rinsing her mouth over and over, till the coughing stopped. She turned around, her eyes bloodshot.
"Oh my God, Serena, are you okay?" Nate came to the restroom door.
"I am fine. Now, if you leave I can change." Serena told him.
"Promise you won't go to bed?" Nate asked.
"Oh, I don't think I can get any sleep now." Serena told him, turning him around and slowly walking him out of her bedroom, her hands on his back. "Oh by the way, I am not dressing to impress." Serena informed him.
"Good, I wasn't planning to take you out anyway." Nate replied.
After pushing him out, Serena locked the door to her room and turned away smiling. Nate really did make her smile for no reason. She had no idea why Nate hadn't shown up earlier, but now when he was here, Serena felt better than she had felt in the last year with her marriage on the rocks like that. And Serena was clueless how Nate managed to do that.
Nate opened the fridge in her kitchen and took out a water bottle. Unscrewing the cap, he took a large gulp directly from it. Nate shook his head. His heart is not supposed to stop when he touches Serena. But, right then, with Serena in her nightwear and sleep in her eyes, and Nate dressed in his suit, standing in front of the mirror like that with her back pressed against his front and his hand on her waist, Nate wished he could have had that every morning.
"She's in love with Dan, she's married to Dan!" A voice in his head chided him. Dan clearly doesn't know what he's giving up, Nate decided right there.
Fifteen minutes later, when Serena came out freshly showered, Nate was sitting on the couch, aimlessly switching the channels on the television. Clad in a long-sleeve button-down shirt and dark blue denim shorts, her golden hair tied up in a messy bun. Nate just stared at her as she made her way over to the kitchen. He silently cursed whatever higher power resided up there, because sure as hell, it was out to get him.
"So, why are you here?" Serena's voice broke his trance. She was still in the kitchen.
"Well, you know, to beg for forgiveness." Nate replied from the couch.
Serena came out and stood at the doorway, hands on her hips. "Begging won't get you anywhere Archibald."
"Well, in that case, I will grovel." Nate said, taking his cell-phone out from his pocket.
"Who're you calling?" Serena asked him curious, moving forward towards the couch.
"Cleaning service." Nate replied, distracted by his phone.
"Why?" Serena looked at him confused.
Nate got up from where he was seated, grabbed her shoulders and turned her around. "That's why." He whispered in her ear. And then Serena noticed. Her house was a mess. It definitely needed some dusting. Which reminded Serena, she needed to do some laundry as well. And the trash needed to be taken out and the fridge needed re-stocking. Her eyes grew wide
"Oh." Serena replied, reality dawning on her. Nate chuckled, she really was adorable. He was about to dial up the cleaning service when she stopped him. "Oh no, don't call up anyone. I like to clean up this place on my own." Nate kept his phone in his pocket. "In fact, I will re-arrange it a bit while I am at it." Serena told him.
"So, I go near the wardrobe and you are ready to take a shower, I start calling up a cleaning service and you're ready to rearrange the entire place. A bit intense aren't we?" Nate said teasing.
Serena threw him her most seductive look and moved forward. "You have no idea what you do to me, Nate Archibald." Nate stood there, dumbstruck until Serena rolled her eyes and turned away. Nate looked up towards the ceiling. That higher power was truly testing his will today.
"I really thought me helping you out yesterday with the dishes would've given you a hint." Nate called after her. Praying that this would make him seem unaffected by what just happened.
And so they began cleaning. Nate grabbed the vacuum and Serena, the duster. Beginning from the living room, Serena busied herself in cleaning up the windows while Nate, took off his coat and tie, unbuttoned the first two buttons on his shirt and got working on the carpet. It was hard work for the next twenty minutes for Nate Archibald; poor soul has never cleaned up his own cupboard, let alone an entire living room. Serena was still dusting the decorative pieces on when he got done with his work. She was sitting on her knees on a chair, her back facing him. Nate sneaked behind her, and traced the sole of her exposed foot with his forefinger. Serena shrieked, lost her balance and fell from the chair on her bum. She looked up to see Nate holding his sides and doubling in laughter. She kicked him in the shins hard, causing him to fall next to her. "You're a prat." She muttered. But even she couldn't hide the smile that was creeping up on her face.
It was a while in the bedroom before Serena could stop Nate from bouncing on her bed. According to Nate, it wasn't his fault, the mattress was bouncy.
"What are you? Four?" Serena asked him.
He was on both his knees, facing her when he replied, "What are you? Sixty-four?" He looked like a little kid then. Just like when they were seven and Serena would come to his place because her Mom was out with her new boyfriend and she was fretting about it. And Nate would look her in the eyes and tell her that she was just seven and too young to worry about her mom and whoever she was dating. Serena felt herself tear up from nostalgia. He was always her rock. She ruffled his hair.
"But, really come on! Get up, I'll just straighten up my sheets and the wardrobe and then we're finally done." She informed him.
"Okay." Nate muttered, moving off the bed. Serena smiled at him. Leaning across the bed, she attempted to straighten the pillow, her shirt rising up to reveal her milky back and her shorts tightening, defining the curves of her body. Nate suddenly felt too warm in the room but he just couldn't take her eyes off her. "Err… " he began, "I think I should order some lunch. What do you want to eat?" He asked her moving out from the room as fast as his feet could carry him.
"Oh, I don't know. Some pizza will do." He heard her call. Once in the living room, Nate let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He grabbed hold of his hair. "She loves someone else. She'll hate you if she finds out about this. Get your shit together Archibald!" He told himself. He rubbed his eyes with the heels of her hands and ordered the pizza.
It was three in the evening when Nate and Serena were finally done cleaning up. They had had their lunch, cleaned up after it and were lounging in front of the television. When Serena began, "You know, I still need to restock my fridge."
"Yes, because obviously there is no tomorrow and we have to do everything today to survive the zombie attack about to occur." Nate said.
Serena chuckled. "Grade eight level lame Archibald." She informed him.
"You laughed." Nate accused.
"Yes, at the lameness of it." Serena defended.
"Oh forgive my sense of humor if it was unable to please you after three hours of extremely hard work." Nate complained.
"Oh don't be such a rich spoiled brat." Serena berated.
"Serena, I am a rich spoiled brat. I was born a rich spoiled brat." Nate reminded her. "But really, come on. I am tired. We can go shopping tomorrow." Nate really wished he would've caught some sleep last night. The tiredness was catching up on him right now.
"I'll make you some coffee then." Serena offered.
"Oh, no! We can go out and get some. Besides, you really need to leave this place." Nate told her.
"I thought you were tired." Serena raised an eyebrow.
"For grocery shopping. Not for coffee." Nate told her. "Come on. Get changed, I am waiting here for you."
"Okay, then. Give me fifteen minutes." Serena told him getting up from the couch. Nate nodded.
When Serena came out, dressed in a red knee-length dress and hair tied up in a pony-tail, she found Nate sprawled on her couch. His eyes closed, and his shirt rising just a tiny bit, so you could see the hair near his navel. He looked so innocent. Serena couldn't take his eyes off him. He was always good-looking, the type of good-looking which made girls blush and their knees buckle. But right now, he looked at peace. He looked so serene. Serena suddenly caught hold of her thoughts. Perhaps you fantasize just about anyone when you're left alone for too long, Serena tried to reason with herself.
"Nate." She called. When he didn't move, she shook him a little on the shoulder. That caused Nate to open his eyes.
"Oh, you're ready." He noticed. "Come on, let's go." He said rising up.
"Are you sure?" Serena asked him gently. "I mean, you look kind of tired Nate. You should get some rest." Serena said.
"Oh, I am fine." Come on lets go, he said wearing his coat.
"Are you sure?" Serena asked him again.
"Yes, Serena. I am fine." Nate told her helping her put on her coat.
"Okay then, let's go." Serena gave in.
Once they were outside the house, Nate moved towards his car. "No." Serena held his wrist. "Let's just walk." She said.
"Alright." Honestly, Nate would've agreed to anything then, he was concentrating too much on his the feel of her hand on his wrist to think of anything else.
It was a cloudy day and the breeze was cool and crisp. They walked until they reached Viand Coffee Shop. They went inside and took their seat near the window. The waiter handed them the menu cards. Nate ordered an espresso and Serena a latte.
"So, what has been happening in your life lately?" Serena questioned him when the waiter left.
"Oh, my life is pretty boring Van Der Woodsen. It wouldn't interest you." Nate told him, lighting up a cigarette.
"I have no idea where you picked that habit Archibald. But it's a nasty one." Serena said, crinkling her nose.
"Cut me some slack, there is only so much lonely success a man can take." Nate replied smiling, taking in a puff.
"So why are you lonely?" Serena asked. "Nate, sometimes I feel, I don't get you the way, you do me. Are you hiding something from me?"
Nate shifted in his seat. "Of course not, S. What will I ever hide from you?" Nate lied though his teeth. Because really, what was he supposed to reply to that? I am completely in love with you and even though I want to fix everything in your life, I am scared that my feelings will end up making your situation worse. Nate had a feeling that, that conversation wouldn't go down too well. So he looked in her eyes with complete confidence and he lied.
"So, you'll answer whatever I ask you?" Serena began.
"Shoot away." Nate replied, taking in another puff.
"Okay, so why have you been single for the last two years?" Serena asked, "I mean that surely is a record for Nate Archibald." She smiled.
"Didn't find anyone who was able to hold my gaze." Nate replied shortly.
"Oh but come on! You're the most eligible bachelor in Manhattan; surely girls will be falling left and right trying to impress you." Serena rambled excited. "I mean no one is asking you to fall completely and irrevocably in love with someone. But you know you could have a little fun, wipe out the loneliness." Serena suggested.
Oh but he was the most eligible bachelor in Manhattan, and he did fall irrevocably in love with a girl. And while girls were falling left and right trying to impress him, that one girl, sitting right across him had no idea what she did to him. Nate almost laughed at his situation. "I don't know Serena, I am not sure I want an arm candy anymore." He said, sighing. "Besides, work keeps me busy."
"If work keeps you so busy, and you're so in love with it, why didn't you run for mayor? I mean not even thirty and asked to run for mayor. That's big Nate." Serena told him, pride evident in her voice. It was her Natie that New York looked up to.
"I don't know, I always thought that politics was more Van Der Built than Archibald." Nate shrugged.
"Well, fair enough." Serena reasoned. "But being single is not Archibald! Come on Nate. No one caught your eye?" Serena insisted.
Nate was allowed a breath of relief when the waiter brought their order. "You are more interested in my love life than the press I have to face Serena." Nate told her smiling. "And that is quite a bit."
"So, tell me the real reason. I won't badger you then, promise." Serena said taking a sip from her cup.
Nate extinguished his cigarette and took a sip from his own coffee. "Well, I don't know, I just thought that you should know when that person is sitting in front of you." Nate began not taking his eyes off Serena. "There should be electricity and sparks. You should get giddy when you see them, and there should be butterflies in your stomach. They should take your breath away in ways no one ever has." Nate rambled on staring at Serena. "I haven't found someone like that yet." At least someone other than you. Nate thought.
Serena let out a little laugh. "But that doesn't happen, Nate. I mean even I thought it did but Dan taught me that all that stuff, it just happens in crappy romance novels. And this is real life." Serena told him with the air of someone who has truly seen such romanticism fall apart. Experienced it, in fact.
"So maybe, Dan has it all wrong." Nate told Serena, "Because it's supposed to be exactly the way it's in those crappy romance novels."
"Maybe it's supposed to be that way, but it isn't Nate." Serena almost whispered, her eyes looking downwards while she took a sip from her coffee.
"Oh, I can assure you, it is." Nate said confidently. Because he had felt it. All of it, with her. For her.
"It isn't." Serena kept insisting. Because she thought she feels it for Dan and he feels it for her too. She has never been more wrong.
"What if I prove it to you?" Nate challenged, too focused on proving his unknown feelings for Serena to actually care what he was proposing. "What if I took you out on a perfect date and prove to you that the stuff in those romantic novels actually does happen?"
"Well, if you do that then I'll do whatever you want me to." Serena told him, confident that he will fail.
"Anything?" Nate asked raising his eyebrows.
"Anything." Serena assured him. "What if you fail though?"
"I won't." Nate informed her.
"Oh, don't be so arrogant. What will you do if you're proven wrong?" Serena asked him.
"Well, what do you want me to do?" Nate questioned.
"If you lose, I want you to quit smoking." Serena declared.
"All right then, Van Der Woodsen. You've got yourself a deal."
"All right Archibald, you've got yourself a date."
And they shook on it.
It began to rain when they made their way out of the café. And it wasn't a light drizzle, it was rain; heavy rain. Heavy enough to drench both of them within seconds. "Come on! Let's go to my place" Nate shouted over the tattoo of the water drops pounding on the pavement. "It's closer." Serena nodded and both of them sprinted to his place. Nate holding Serena's hand throughout the way in case she slipped. Just like in those crappy romance novels.
Nate unlocked the entrance door and both of them rushed in. He switched on the lights and turned around to see Serena taking off her coat. Her wet dress clung to her body in all the right places. Nate let out a sigh, Dear Lord she was beautiful. Nate cleared his throat causing Serena to look up, "You should change, you'll catch a cold otherwise" And I will lose all the patience a man can have, thought Nate.
"All right." Serena agreed.
Ten minutes later, Nate was dressed in a plain white, half sleeve shirt and black sweatpants. He was busy working on his files, there was a new sponsorship deal coming up for The New York Spectator. He was halfway through the second page, when he heard a door close. He looked up to see Serena in his black button down shirt and boxers, her blonde hair left loose. He immediately cursed the moment he suggested that she should change.
"Look what I found Archibald." Serena said lifting up a packet. "To think they wanted you to be mayor!" She said, pretending to be exasperated. Nate looked closer; it was a packet of weed he had confiscated from one of his teenage interns at the office.
"There is a reason I rejected that offer. Too much Van Der Built." He smirked moving towards her.
"And we all know this is classic Archibald." Serena teased.
Nate let out a snort. "It's not mine." He clarified.
"Of course, I believe you." She replied smiling.
"No, I am serious." Nate defended. "It's really not mine."
"Well, are you planning it to return it?" Serena asked, side stepping him and walking into his living room.
"No, why do you ask?" Nate asked confused.
"Because I think we could have a little fun." Serena squealed.
"Oh no! We're not smoking that Serena." Nate told her.
"Oh, really? What are you? Sixty-four?" She said repeating his words from earlier in the day.
Nate let out a laugh. "Come on Serena! What has gotten into you?" he asked, extending his hand so that she could return him the packet.
She pulled her hand closer to her body. "I don't know." She said laughing. And she really didn't. She didn't know how she had gone from mourning her almost broken marriage to wanting to get high with his best friend in a span of twenty four hours. Maybe because he was there for in ways nobody was. Or maybe because he told her that she was important to him. Or maybe because he made her feel important. Or she thinks it had something to do with his lame jokes and his carefree nature. Or how he always thought about her before he thought about himself. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that his presence alone could cheer her up. Maybe it was the look in his eyes when he talked to her. Whatever it was, Serena figured, it was good. It made her feel good, hopeful about everything around her. It made her feel like a child allowed to make mistakes because someone will take care of them. Nate will take care of them, of her.
"Serena, we're not smoking that up." Nate said moving closer, putting a stop to Serena's pondering.
"Oh, you don't have to smoke it." Said Serena, moving towards the kitchen. Nate followed her inside. "All right, we need some eggs, oil, flour, sugar and cocoa powder." Serena said rummaging through his cupboards.
"Are you making hash brownies?" Nate asked, not believing the girl standing in front of him.
"You will enjoy them." And so Serena began to beat and whip and mix and pour, while Nate watched her. He remembered the last time they were in the kitchen, with her wearing his shirt. The breakfast and the whipped cream and the strawberries. It all came rushing back to him, hitting him hard in the stomach. He should've stopped her, he realized for the umpteenth time. He shouldn't have let her go.
"They're ready!" Serena announced, turning away from the oven to face him. Nate looked at her and began to laugh. "What?" She asked confused.
"You have the batter all over your face." Nate told her grabbing a napkin from the counter. "Come here." He took hold of her hand and pulled her towards him proceeding to wipe off the batter from her cheeks, her forehead and her upper lips. Serena continued to look at him from under her lashes. "There!" he said. "You're good."
Serena took the brownies from the oven and offered him some. When Nate took some, she chose a piece for herself and raised it in a toast. "Cheers." She said before she bit into one. Nate took a bite of his piece as well. They were good.
"Wow, Serena. Where did you learn to bake so well?" he asked, genuinely curious.
"Oh I used to bake for Dan." She told him. Nate wished he never asked.
But they were good. So he took a second piece and she took a third one. He took the fourth piece and she, the fifth. They continued taking until all that was left on the plate were the crumbs and all you could hear in the house was the laughter of two very high twenty-nine year old adults.
"Come on!" Serena insisted after finishing her last piece. "Let's go." She said taking Nate's hand and walking to the door.
"Where are we going?" Nate asked laughing and allowing her to carry him along.
"Oh this place, I really want to go to." Apparently that was a good enough answer. So Nate Archibald and Serena Van Der Woodsen were seen running on the streets of the Upper East Side in inappropriate clothing. They ran and they walked and they laughed and they talked until they reached Serena's destination.
"Isn't this Dan's office?" Nate asked her once they were standing in front of the building.
"Oh yes, it is." Serena informed him. "And that," she said, pointing towards the only window with the light switched on, "is Dan's cabin."
"Serena why are we here?" Nate asked her, suddenly not so high anymore.
"I saw you shove a pen in your pocket when I entered the living room." She said, disregarding his question. "I want it."
Nate took out the pen and handed it to her. She looked around on the street and noticed a discarded tissue paper. She picked it up and began to write on it. "Serenaaaa." Nate moaned in a sing-song voice. "What is this? Romeo and Juliet?" Nate asked.
"Oh no." Serena began to laugh. "This is much much better." she told him. Nate looked down to see what she was writing and began to laugh the moment he saw it. "You know you love me, xoxo Gossip Girl." It read. Serena wrapped the paper around a rock and chucked it in the direction of Dan's window, effectively breaking the glass. By the time Dan Humphrey looked down from his window to see who has disturbed him from his work, Serena and Nate had run away laughing.
"I feel so free Natie! I feel so alive." Serena told Nate, walking two steps ahead of him her arms wide open. "I FEEL ALIVE!" she screamed for New York to hear. Nate just laughed walking behind her.
"Come on Nate! Don't be such a bore!" Serena chided. It was as if they were six again. A careful Nate and a carefree Serena. "Don't you feel alive and happy and giddy?" He did. With her so happy, he felt everything. "I do." Nate replied. "I FEEL HAPPY BECAUSE YOU FEEL HAPPY!" Nate screamed at her. New York rung with the sound of these two souls laughing. Two souls who were so right for each other, yet so wrong. Serena laughed and Nate hummed and New York witnessed. Serena tripped and Nate caught her at the waist and New York witnessed. They made their way over to Nate's house with his arm around her waist and her arms around his' and New York witnessed. Witnessed and hoped that these two would find their way to each other just like they did when they met for the very first time at the age of five.
They finally reached home, laughing and very proud of what they had just done. "Natie." Serena spoke up.
Nate turned his head to look at her, "What?" he asked.
"My feet hurt." She told him. "Carry me" she raised both her hands in the air.
And he did what she said. Because Nate always did what Serena asked him to do. He hooked one arm under her knees and used the other arm to support her shoulders and carried her to his room. Gently placing her on his bed, he began to cover her up with the blanket. "But I am not sleepy!" Serena complained.
"You're not?" Nate asked her with wide eyes.
"No! I don't want to sleep." Serena said.
"Alright then. What do you want to do?" Nate asked her, his face mere centimeters away from hers.
Serena pointed to his LCD. "I want to watch the telly."
"Oh alright." He switched on the television and handed her the remote. Nate was about to make his way outside his room when he heard Serena's voice.
"Where are you going?" she demanded.
"Outside, I'll crash in my guest room tonight." He said.
"Come back Natie, don't leave me alone." And there was more to it than the weed talking. He saw tears in her eyes. She was actually scared of him walking out on her. He quickly made his way over to her on the bed and surrounded her fragile body with his strong arms.
"Don't worry, S. I am here as long as you want me to." He promised her.
"Good." Serena said, against her chest as she began switching through the channels. She kept on switching them until she saw something which made her eyes wide and her mouth formed an O out of glee.
"WHO LIVES IN A PINEAPPLE UNDER THE SEA?"
"SPONGEBOB SQUARE-PANTS!" Nate and Serena sang along.
For the next hour they watched Spongebob with more interest that they have ever watched news. They laughed at Patrick and Spongebob and Squidward and all the nonsense that happened on the show. They watched and they laughed and they caught sexual innuendoes, in a seemingly innocent cartoon series.
"F is for friends who do stuff together. U is for you and me. N is for anywhere and anytime at all down here in the deep blue seeaaa!"
"Serena!" Nate said, his entire body vibrating with laughter. "This is not appropriate for children." He informed her.
Serena nodded, tears of mirth in her eyes. She picked up Nate's phone and continued to dial.
"Who're you calling?" Nate asked her. She didn't reply. Whoever Serena was calling apparently didn't pick up at the other end and Serena had no choice but to leave a message.
"Blair, I know Henry watches Spongebob Square Pants. It's bad Balir! It's really bad!" Serena said in the phone, as if she had just discovered a new conspiracy theory regarding 9/11. Beside her, Nate held his sides and laughed. "I am serious Blair! They talk about his thing. His thing! Don't let Henry watch it! It's bad." Serena kept the phone down to see Nate still laughing.
"Oh don't laugh!" She chastised him. "I did the responsible thing here! Blair should know what her child watches!" She said defending her actions.
"Serena, you basically informed Blair that Chuck Bass's son watches a cartoon show!" Nate told her. "He's Chuck's son Serena!" Nate reminded her, shaking her a little. "I am pretty sure, he has already seen much worse."
At this Serena's eyes grew wide and she began to laugh. "Oh my God! Blair will be so annoyed when she listens to that voicemail!" Serena said, wiping the tears from her eyes. "You know, Chuck once told me that he had been part of a threesome." Serena told him.
"Oh not once!" Nate replied.
"Really?" Serena asked surprised. Nate nodded. There was a pause before – "I want to have a threesome!" Serena said.
Nate spluttered. "No you don't." He let her know.
"But I want to know what it feels like! Even Dan had one!" Cried Serena.
"What it feels like for a girl?" Nate pretended to mull it over "Well, it's like, you know – " and Nate began to make some extremely obscene gestures here.
"Eww! No Natie!" Serena said shoving him in the shoulder. Nate tried to steady himself and grabbed hold of her waist. But he ended up falling on his back anyway taking Serena with him so that she lied on top of him.
"What?" Nate tried to defend himself "You asked me what would it feel like!"
"But, that's disgusting!" Serena told him. "Change of plans all right? I don't want one."
"Good." Replied Nate shortly. Enjoying the weight of her body, numbing his.
"Nate, have you been ever part of a threesome?" Serena asked him, curious.
"Oh yes!" Nate replied. "With you and Blair for the longest of time. Boy! That really screwed me." Nate said reminiscing.
"Tell me I was better!" He heard Serena say. Nate burst out laughing. That was the last thing he had expected to come out of her mouth. "No Nate! Come on. I was better wasn't I?"
Nate looked straight into her eyes, brushed her hair away from her face, before he whispered, "You were always better."
Serena smiled and kissed him on the nose. She settled herself against him and put her head on his chest.
"Nate?" Serena whispered after a while.
"Hmm?" Nate murmured sleepily.
"You're forgiven." These were the last words Serena said before she drifted into a deep peaceful sleep.
The next morning, Blair Waldorf-Bass rushed to Nate's house because she had received a voice-mail from Serena, that was so Serena and she had received it from Nate's phone. So Nate definitely had some explaining to do. She unlocked his apartment with the spare keys he had given to her and Chuck. Walking inside the house she called for Nate, never to receive a reply. She knocked on his bedroom door and then quietly opened it when she didn't hear anything from inside the room. There, on the bed, she saw Serena clad in Nate's clothes sleeping peacefully with her back pressed against his front and Nate's arms protectively placed around her waist. Blair smiled.
A/N: All right. So this is probably the longest chapter of this story. I am sorry I didn't update sooner. I had an exam yesterday morning and a flight to catch in the evening. So I was super busy. I hope I have given you guys a chapter worth the wait.
Also, oh my God! You guys are such cute little bunnies. But I actually did not receive any hate. I actually received two very nice reviews by some upset Serenate fans (Like myself) who wanted more Serenate interaction. It wasn't hate mail, just very nice genuine reviews. So I just thought I should clear that up. But it was nice to see you guys getting all defensive at the thought that someone sent me hate. Thanks you guys! Also, I hope this had enough Serenate to make you guys happy and compensate for the late update.
KEEP REVIEWING YOU GUYS! HONEST REVIEWS! BECAUSE THEY KEEP ME GOING. I LOVE THEM.
And well one reviewer actually deserves a shout out here because they have been sending me the most adorable and animated reviews. So here's to sweetlemonrain. Baby, if we ever meet you won't be clinging to my legs. We will be clinging to each other while we eat ice cream and watch Nate punch Tripp. BECAUSE THAT WAS THE SEXIEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED IN GOSSIP GIRL (ALONG WITH NATE PUNCHING DAN).
Okay, I hope the reasons I gave for Dan walking out on Serena weren't too bland. Because I honestly imagined this is what Dan will become. Since he was so driven to get power and status and all that stuff. So there!
Hopefully you enjoyed the Serenate interactions. And yes, there is a Nate/Serena date coming up as promised in the chapter. But don't expect it in the next one. Or you know... maybe the one after that too. It will take some time.
Also, I am sorry for any grammatical errors. It's four in the morning here and this chapter is pretty long so I am pretty sure you would have found quite a few. I am sorry. I will correct them as soon as possible.
Next: I am thinking of raising the rating to M, because of that threesome talk (hehe). So let me know if you guys got uncomfortable or something. I'll change that.
Lastly: Merry Christmas guys! Have a great one :D