A/N: Whooh! GG finale is just few days away. (sobs) I want NS endgame! BTW thank you for the reviews. I love you all! So I had a hard time finishing this but I hope u enjoy it (again). So GG finale is ending and so is this story. One last chapter next... Pls R&R! So the next chapter is the last one. Wow! After a year, I finally finished this 3

Chapter 25

'Where are we?' Serena asked as they were walking to a big old house. A 2 story mansion beside a lake.

'No need to know.'

'I want to see Nate now. Please.'

They entered into an old mansion. As they entered, it was very spacious. You could hear echoes.

'You could get lost in here. It has 14 rooms and the living room its a big as a ballroom.'

'How'd you know this place?'

'This was meant to be ours.'

Serena paused.

'I bought this for you. For us. I was gonna have it renovated.'

'You never told me you bought a house.'

'I was gonna... Until things got ugly.'

They both remained silent until Carter spoke again.

'I love you, Serena. I'm crazy about you. I can't stop thinking about you...' He gripped both her arms. 'Please... I'm begging you to come back to me. I forgive you and I am willing for a fresh start. Forget the divorce!'

'No!' As Serena broke free from Carter. 'Have I not told you again and again that I don't want to be with you anymore?! I don't love you anymore, Carter, I'm sorry... You're insane, you need help.'

'I don't want help! I want you!' As he burst.

Serena spoke softly. 'I'm not here to argue, I'm here to see Nate.'

Carter gave her a dirty look and dialled one of his men to bring Nate out. Seconds later, as they brought him in. They pushed him towards the center of the floor. He was all helpless, bruised and beaten up. Serena felt shocked. She covered her mouth as tears run down.

'What have you done to him?!' As she hurriedly ran towards him and held him in her arms.

'Serena...' He said in a weak voice.

'What have they done to you? Oh God...'

'You have a choice, Serena. It's either me...' Then he points the gun to Nate. '...or his death.'

'Why can't you just leave me alone?'

'Because I want you so bad.' Carter started to sweat. 'Take him back.'

His men grabbed Nate from Serena but she tries to hold on but they're too strong.

'If you love me, you'd let me go.'

'If you love him, you'd let him live and choose me.' He forced an evil smile. 'So what do you choose? Me or him, but he dies.'

Tears slowly went down to her cheeks. She hated seeing Nate beaten up. It hurt her so much. She felt vulnerable and helpless but she tries to fight for her one true love.

She spoke softly. 'No matter how much you try to win me back, you won't be able to buy my love and trust... For me, it will always be Nate. I love him, Carter. We love each other and I'm going to marry him and have kids and forever be with him... So let me go... Set me free... Move on. I'm not the one you'll end up with. Find someone who will love you as much as you love her... I want to be happy. So do you... Just let us go...'

Carter paused. He paced back and forth thinking what Serena just said. His conscience started to bother him but he tries to fight it with his pride.

'No... No. No!' As he slapped a side table away. 'I want you, Serena! I love you!' He started to burst. He has gone mad and insane that he went in and forced a kiss on her lips. Serena pushed him back and wiped her mouth. 'You're pathetic!'

'Pathetically in love with you.' He said like a maniac.

She tries thinking of a plan. She studies her surroundings casually. She noticed that Carter seemed to be alone at this moment and that his men are nowhere in sight.

He made a move again. He forced himself to her.

'Get off me! Carter!' She tries pushing him away but now, he kept on forcing himself. She reached for the nearest vase and smashed it in his head. He dropped on the floor suffering from the pain. She immediately went upstairs and searched each room to find Nate. The house is so large that it's going to take time before she finally finds him.

She went to the halls. There were tons of doors. She opened each of them hoping to find him there. The first 3 doors were empty. She opened the fourth door and still empty. She got exhausted but she didn't give up. She ran to the next door in the far end opened it. She saw him. She felt relieved and hurt seeing him in that condition. He was lying on the floor with his hands and feet tied.

'Serena...'

'There's not much time. We have to get out of here.' As she untied each knot.

As soon as she untied all, she helped him sit up and wrapped her arms around him. He was badly hurt and weak.

'I'm so sorry.' She whispered as her tears were falling down.

'It's not your fault.' He muttered softly.

She helped him get up but he can't stand properly.

'Ow.' He said.

'Come on. Let's get you out.' She put his arm around her and went out the room.

Carter got up and touched his head. It hurts so bad. His men appeared.

'Where the hell have you been?! Go get her!'

They all spread out and searched the whole house.

Serena and Nate hurried to the stairs but they heard footsteps going up.

'Damn!' She whispered. 'Come on, Nate. We better hide.' As she and Nate went inside one of the rooms. She saw a big closet and thought of an idea. She helped Nate get inside and she followed. She closed the cabinet and stayed there until the coast is clear.

'I'll get us out of here, I promise.' She whispered as she held Nate in her arms and kissed his forehead. 'You saved me many times, now it's my turn to save you.' She added.

Carter's men searched all the rooms. One of them entered the room where they were hiding. Serena is shivering in fright but does her best to keep quiet. He searched everywhere in the room, the bathroom but he cannot find her until his eyes landed in the closet. He decided to check the closet until someone shouted.

'Hey! Nate Archibald is gone!'

He hurriedly went outside.

'What?!'

'He escaped. She must've escaped with him. What are we gonna tell boss?'

'The truth! Come on! Let's keep searching. You two, you search outside, we will search inside.'

They both stayed inside until everything is quiet again.

'How can we escape? There's only one staircase.' Serena asked.

She grabbed her cellphone from her pocket. 'Damn it. No signal.'

'Try mine.' He said as he grabbed his from his pocket.

'Same. No reception.'

They stayed quiet for a few seconds.

'Let's try the window.' He suggested.

'What? You can't even walk properly.'

'I'll do my best.' As he got out of the closet but his ribs started to hurt. 'Ow.'

Serena held him. 'See? You can't. Let's just find a way to the door, okay?'

Serena opened the door slightly open and peeked out to see if someone is out there.

'No one's around. Come on.' She whispered.

Serena helped Nate go out the room when all of the sudden, a gun was pointed to them.

'Where do you think you're going?'

They both froze.

'I gave you a choice, Serena, it's either I kill him or you choose to be with me.'

'Go to hell.' She muttered.

'That's not in the choices.' Carter answered. 'I'm gonna kill you, Archibald.' He pointed the gun to him.

Angry, Nate suddenly grabbed Carter's arm away and pushed him against the wall. Carter accidentally shot the ceiling. Both men were fighting against each other. Nate tried grabbing the gun from Carter's hand but Carter eventually punched him in the face. He did the same also. The gun was slipped from Carte's hand. Serena went in to get it. She pointed the gun to Carter but she was shaking. She saw Nate is losing and has been receiving continuous punches from Carter. For the sake of Nate, she shot Carter on his left arm. Carter dropped on the floor in agony as Nate stood away from him. Serena dropped the gun and ran into Nate and embraced him.

'Oh God.' She buried her face on to his chest.

Nate wrapped his arm around her as they went down the stairs leaving Carter upstairs in pain.

The police arrived as soon as they were about to exit the house. Carter's men were already arrested. Chuck, Blair and Dan were the first to see them. Blair ran into Serena and Nate and embraced them both.

'Oh my God!' As Blair embraced the two. 'I'm so glad you're still alive.'

Chuck and Dan followed.

'Were glad you're okay. I thought I was gonna lose my best friend and my sister.' Chuck said as he embraced his best friend.

'Well you didn't.' Serena answered. 'How did you find us?'

'As soon as you left, Dan came. He has been watching you with Carter in Central Park. He is our spy.' Blair asked.

'Dan. You shouldn't have.' She embraced him.

'Hey, you called me, right?' He said.

The police brought Carter down.

'You son of a bitch. That's what you get!' Blair yelled at him.

'Ma'am, as soon as Carter Baizen recovers from his injure, he will be arrested,' One of the officers said.

'Thank you, officer, just take him away from me.' Serena said.

Finally, they are at peace. Serena realized she's happy now that she's free from Carter and that she can have her happy ending with Nate.

Later at the hospital, Nate was confined but his condition is good. Serena entered the room.

'Hey.' She kissed him on the lips.

'Hey.' He smiled.

She sat to a chair next to him. 'How are you feeling?'

'I'm good. The doctor said that my right leg shall be healed in no time.'

She smiled. 'I'm glad.'

They just stared at each other.

'I'm really sorry.'

'Don't. It's all Carter. And he's gone now.'

She nodded.

Nate noticed something shiny on Serena's finger.

'Hey, what is that? Is that-' As he pointed to her finger.

'Oh.' As she viewed the ring in her hand. 'I, uh, kind of said yes.'

'Without me there?'

Serena laughed as she nodded. 'I already made up my mind and my answer is yes.'

Nate sat up. 'Really?'

'Yes. I want to marry you, Nate Archibald.'

Happy, he embraced her so tightly. He wasn't as happy as he was now. Finally, after years of waiting, he finally got it. It was worth the wait. He felt like his life is complete. Almost complete because he didn't marry her yet. But, finally, he get to live happily with his one true love. His soulmate, the love of his life, his childhood bestfriend and now, fiancé.'