A/N: So this is, like several other chapters, faaaaaaaarrrrr too long to be a drabble. But I don't care. And neither should you.

A series of loud raps on the door to his room at the Bass' summer home startled Chuck, who was leaning over the ancient mahogany vanity towards the also-vintage mirror on the wall, attempting several different methods of artfully mussing with the tips of his gelled-back hairstyle.

"I need help," the voice from the hallway demanded. Chuck smiled with recognition the realization of just who his late night called could be.

"And I'm always at your service," he trilled. Chuck yanked open the door with a flourish and ushered Serena into his room, complete with the grandest of bows as he motioned for her to sit on his unnecessarily luxurious, king-sized bed. Then he suddenly dropped the act.

"All-right sister, what problem could possibly cause such theatrics so as to leave your dramatically running to my side at two in the morning?"

Chuck flopped down onto the bed beside Serena in a rather undignified matter. She took a deep breath.

"Can you be serious about this?" she asked, lying down on the red comforter as well. Chuck rolled his eyes.

"Is this about Danny-boy? Because I'm already on it. He will stalk you no more." Serena punched his arm.

"No. Chuck. Please say you didn't," Serena cringed, a slight edge of hysteria entering her voice.

"I didn't," Chuck lied. "But what is all this about, then? Did you kill someone else or something?" Serena laughed once, a loud, echoing sound that, once faded, threw them into a somber atmosphere.

"No," Serena said, lowering her decibel lever significantly. "I think I'm falling in love with Nate." Chuck rolled his eyes.

"You're not the commitment-phobe on this bed right now. This is a problem how?"

"Wait your turn, Chuck." Chuck rolled his eyes again exaggeratedly. Serena ignored him. "But I'm in love with Dan. And Dan told me two days ago that," Serena paused to take a breath, "that he finally forgives me."

"Oh." Chuck sat up, leaning himself against the headboard. "Well. Whose heart are you going to break? I'm naturally inclined towards Brooklyn, of course." Serena, flipped over onto her stomach, resting her head on her elbow.

"If I knew, would I be asking for help from you?" Chuck smirked. He balled his two hands into fists and shoved them both behind his back, making a grand show of mixing them up.

"Okay. Nate's the empty one. Pick a hand, any hand…" Serena rolled her eyes.

"This one," she said, attempting to humor Chuck. He pulled his left hand out and opened it. His thumb was underneath the fist. Full.

"Looks like the fates vote for the fairytale romance. Dan as princess, of course." Chuck shrugged and spread out, mimicking Serena's position on his bed.

"We both know you cheat," she pointed out.

"I personally vote for Nate," Chuck countered, "So it's a moot point." He shifted his chin from one arm to the other, mirroring Serena instead. "But all joking aside, everything will work out fine. What you need to do is make this about you, not about them."

"Which means what, exactly?"

"Don't give a second thought to Nate's reaction, or Dan's reaction, or what anyone besides you will think about any of this and just do what you want. Think about how you feel and everything will probably clear itself up."

"I don't know if I can do that, Chuck. It's selfish, and I have t—," Chuck waved a dismissive hand in her direction, cutting her off.

"Dan would be fine. His 'loving family and friends' will help him through this. Besides, he dumped you first. He knows you might not forgive him, if you would consider that for a moment." Serena frowned.

"But what about Nate, then?"

"Who do you think you're talking to, Serena?" Chuck asked, voice hard, "Blair and I can pick up the pieces there. The many, many pieces. We can handle it. Nate will be okay, eventually, if that's what you decided to do. But no decision is easy. Think of you, here. Everything else is just reactionary."

"Selfish," Serena insisted, but Chuck could tell that her resolve was weakening.

"No," he corrected, "smart." Chuck gave his new sister an appraising look. "But I already know what you're going to do. You just need to figure it out yourself." Serena yawned. Chuck yawned.

"Yawning is contagious," she said. "But I already knew, really. I just… ugh… I don't want to hurt anyone." Chuck stretched his arms over his head, grabbing his left wrist with his right hand.

"Too late."