AN: Sorry this has taken a while, but due to recent due dates, traveling confusions and just generally attempting to enjoy what I can of the holiday it's been difficult to be inspire, let alone sit down and write anything. Inspiration seriously failing me :(

"Good morning." Nate groaned, doubting anything good could come of this morning. He barely recalled the previous evening, since arriving back; but was sure he was consistently rushing to the toilet throughout the hours of the night. He looked around the sunlit room, but no one was there. He got out of the bed and walked over to the toilet. He knew the room well, recalling the summers himself and Chuck would light up, knowing how ventilated the room was.

He washed his face, studied his reflection and didn't like what he saw. He looked exhausted, and pale. He needed food.

As if she read his mind, Blair entered the room with a tray of eggs, toast, and orange juice. She was surprised to see his bed empty, but quickly noted his return from the bathroom.

"Good morning!" she smiled, happy to see he's well enough to get out of bed and wasn't heaving out any other intakes. He honestly gave them all a scare, Nate was not one to over dose, let alone take anything he wasn't sure of. Getting drunk wasn't his thing either, at least not alone.

"I'm sorry about last night." He truly felt guilty, especially since he could tell she's had little to no sleep, and he was most likely the cause.

"It's fine Nate. I have to get home, but Chuck should be able to take care of you." she gave him her best smile, despite the weariness that was finally hitting her along with relief. She needed sleep, and she planned to do so in her own bed, away from Chuck.

"Ok, I'll call you" he smiled back, glad to know she wasn't mad at him, but equally worried she was just running low on anger energy after spending her evening with Chuck. Speaking of which, the devil himself was at the door just as Blair left. She made sure to give him a fake smile with a blatant look of disdain on her way. Chuck merely smirked, loving how he still manages to get under her skin, in a ways.

"You're up" it was a statement more than a question. Chuck entered the room, just as tired as Blair, but he had his fair share of sleep in the master bedroom. He of course had invited the brunette to join him, but she declined the offer of spending any more time with him than need be.

"Yeah, thanks for letting me crash here." Nate motioned to the bed, not really up for saying much to Chuck. He was grateful, but it still felt strange. He still was his supposed best friend, who stole his girlfriend. But he had Blair now, and Chuck can do whatever he wants, Serena or not. It doesn't cancel out the fact Chuck admitted he loved Blair. It was a long time ago, before the summer and everything.

"So are you planning on telling me what happened, and what you took?" Chuck wasn't going to get into a true heart to heart with Nate. They made up, and that was that. Now to fuck over the guy who gave Nate whatever he took.

"I actually dunno what I took man," Nate rubbed his head, trying to recall the name. Along with the usual joint, champagne, beer, bong and maybe a line...

He made his way to the neighbouring house, only to catch a glimpse of a few girls stripping naked to jump in the pool. Inadequate was barely descriptive enough, but Blair would think so; and at that point so did he. All he wanted was some more weed. He ran out, and well a few bong hits wouldn't hurt. He knew that kind of stuff wouldn't be going on outside. Nah, kids went crazy drunk, but the real shit happens behind closed doors. So in the house he went, and passed a few people who waved and smiled to him. He knew them, of course he did. They went to school together, or the same functions, whatever it was, he didn't really care about them.

"Nate!" who he did care about was the dealer of the night. He knew exactly who to look for, and was glad he didn't have to look for long.

"Carter, how are you man?" Nate was glad to see the older boy. He'd disappeared a while back, moving out of his parents place, ditching their high society rule, and started doing his own thing. That lead to travelling on whatever money he had until he came back to start dealing. Now he lives it up with the teens of the Upper East Side, while selling what he gets from his connections. Nate admires the guy for finally getting out of the circle, making his own decisions, without living up to any expectations. He does what he wants, when he wants, and that was fucking cool.

"I'm great, got a new seller tonight" He admitted pulling out a bag of Nate's usual order. Nate took out a wad of cash from his pocket and shook Carter's hand, slipping him the money, before he got up to leave.

"Archibald!" Carter pulled Nate down. "What's the rush? take a few shots," he motioned to the table filled with drinks. "Maybe even a sniff" Nate caught a glimpse of what some girls on the other side of the table were doing. He's used to ignoring whatever's going on around him, but this time he just smiled as the girl smiled to him, offering him a line.

"It's on me," Carter patted Nate's shoulder encouragingly. He probably shouldn't have taken the offer, but he needed a high that was much stronger than the usual.

"Baizen?" Chuck was surprised to hear of the other boy. Baizen enjoyed living the life of a dealer, and was good one for the UES crowd, but enjoyed fucking people over more, and Nate should have known better than to trust the guy.

"He's cool," Nate didn't see the truth as clearly as Chuck, but he at least knew when Chuck began to plan for revenge. "He's out of town by now anyways... I'm more worried about my dad"

"The captain can't kill you" Chuck reminded his friend, finding the fear rather humorous. Knowing well enough not to press of the topic, he'd find Carter later, now it's probably best to make up for lost times.

"I just wouldn't put it past him to ask any of the other ex-marines to do the honors" The two laughed as Nate began his breakfast that Blair left for him.

Blair returned to her busy house, filled with designers, photographers, interior decorators and whatever else her mother hired. She was quick to her room though. After a failed attempt at sleeping she crawled out of bed. It's been two hours, and all that she managed was over thinking, and it was driving her mad with concern. As a new plan, she changed into two piece swimsuit before sneaking out back onto the pool. She considered a swim, and after last night, she needed to cool off. She must have been swimming for hours, thinking about everything. She dunked her head under water and just swam, trying to clear her head.

"Blair!" Her mother called and she emerged from the water.

"Yes?"

"I just called the Captain about having Nate as our main model, and he said that they're leaving today?"

"What?" She pulled herself out the water, grabbed her robe and slipped it on before finding her phone.

"This is a disaster, who am I going to replace him with on such short notice?" Eleanor huffed off trying to think up names, making sure everyone in the house knew she was disappointed once again.

"Nate?"

"Blair, hey I was about to call" He sounded rather calm.

"What's going on? Is your dad taking you to Dartmouth?" She wasn't though

"Not exactly... are you busy?"

"I just got out of the pool"

"I can see that"

She turned around and saw him, in casual khakis and a worn out polo shirt. He gave her his best smile, but she saw right past it.

"Nate is that you?" Anne Archibald was quick to the front door as it opened.

"Hey mom, I spent the night at Chuck's" that made her cringe. His father soon followed, looking not too pleased with his son.

"Do you know the trouble you caused me yesterday?" None, Blair and Chuck were the ones who took care of him. "The number of people who seem to find your drunk and disorderly behaviour inappropriate might be one thing, but to take drugs"

"Dad it's not like that"

"No Nathaniel, this is serious." Nate was about to interject again but his mother beat him to it.

"Listen to your father Nate" His mother put in her two cents.

"I always knew you enjoyed an occasional cigarette of whatever content, but it seems like you don't realize how it affects us when you do so publicly. And with what happened yesterday, I can't allow it anymore. If you can't present yourself well enough in public, then I'll just have to take you to be treated"

"What are you saying?"

"We're leaving later this afternoon, and we are taking you to a center back in New York" His mother explained calmly

"You're having me committed?" Nate was shocked. "Over one night"

"This hasn't been your first time Nathaniel, and you continuously reek of marijuana" His fathered pressed on. "I thought being with Blair would change that, but I was wrong" that was just a low blow all together.

"Nate, this is for the best" his mother defended "You know how much image matters to the family" of course he does, he's related to politicians, who probably do worse shit than him.

"If you don't go, we'll take you by force Nathaniel, and your grandfather will be informed" of course, who would ever want to offend grandfather.

"You two are insane!" Nate didn't even bother staying. He just walked up the stairs and slammed the door. He knew he had to, but for now he wanted to shower.

"Can we take a walk?" Nate asked; a bit embarrassed. It wasn't his first idea to come to Blair about this, but Chuck thought it was best to talk to her rather than him. He originally contemplated just pretending like he was going on the university trip, but Blair would find out. And a few other thoughts followed.

"Let me change-"

"You're fine" he said it offhandedly, but took another moment to think it through "Just lose the pink robe" He smiled. Some smiles were forced, but this was easy. He really did find the idea funny.

"I can't walk around in my swim suit" They were a little ways away from the beach.

"Fine" he had to keep in the laugh at that image as he watched her run into her house.

She returned a couple of minutes later, finding him by the pool, with his feet in the water. He got out when he saw her and offered his hand, taking in the fact she merely slipped on shorts, and a tank top. She didn't even bother drying out her hair, but he caught the scent of hair products, and sun tan lotion.

They walked for a while, hand in hand, with Nate contemplating how to break the news, and Blair with her own thoughts about them.

"You know I'm sorry about last night" he sighed

"I know" Blair nodded. A few moments of silence passed again

"My dad wants me to go to rehab" There, he said it.

Blair stopped walking. She just stopped. Her thoughts came to a halt, and every ideal she had been trying so hard to imagine they were, blurred in her mind.

"I'm going back to the city tonight, and-"

"You should go" She stopped him from explaining himself anymore. She thought it through before; Nate was a drug addicted seventeen year-old. He needed this. She wouldn't be selfish into making him stay. The more she thought about it the more it made sense.

"That's what Chuck said" He admitted as they continued walking.

"Chuck knows?"

"Yeah, he dropped me off... He actually convinced me to go" Nate admitted. Recalling the conversation, Chuck made a lot of sense. They messed about, but recently, or at least over the past year, he's become dependent on being high.

They reached their destination. Where they have both known they would end up. The docks were a long walk, but they both needed it. And when they arrived, they finally hit a mutual conclusion.

"I can't say I ever imagined us ending" Nate looked out to the sea. They climbed onto the boat they'd spent their most romantic getaway on and ended it.

"Going through rough patches here and there..." Blair continued his train of thought, taking in the same sight.

"But never ending" Nate looked down at the brunette that laid her head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist and watched the sun set along with whatever was left of their relationship.

"Guess life's not as predictable as the movies" She smiled up at the blonde, holding on to him as the perfect scene didn't follow the dialogue at all. Two lovers, who weren't really ever in love, watching nature's beauty taking place. She knew he cared now, and it made it a lot more painful to go through with it. She didn't want them to end, she wanted to have a happily ever after, but she knew it couldn't be with Nate.

"Guess not" He smiled, not as heartbroken as he thought he'd be; but neither was Blair, and that was comforting to know it was right. It still hurt, and he didn't want to let her go just yet.