A/N: This was written for my 31 Days of Shipping prompt, Two Conflicting Ships. I love both of these ships, but I'm more partial to Derena.

Beta work was done by Grammarly. The only thing I own in this little tale is the plot.

Be sure to let me know what you think!

Love always,
~starr

The best part about living on the Upper East Side was escaping to the Hamptons for the summer. It was the one thing that Serena looked forward to every single summer. As much as she loved traveling abroad, she enjoyed the Hamptons just as much because it meant she could spend time with the people who matter the most to her.

This summer was going to be spent focusing on herself so that when she returned to the city at the end of the summer, she could finally decide between Dan and Nate. She cared for both of them deeply, but she knew that she couldn't continue to string them both along for the rest of their lives. Everyone deserves to be happy.

Serena took a deep breath as she closed her eyes, relaxing against the chaise lounge by the pool as she soaked in the warm summer sun. The pool was filled with fellow Upper East Siders enjoying the Hamptons' peace and serenity, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It was a welcomed change of pace as Serena allowed her thoughts to drift from the excitement nearby to the decision she needed to make.

As she soaked up the sun, her mind was flooded with memories of happy times spent with both Dan and Nate. Each memory brought a smile to her face and sent her heart aflutter. Serena didn't want to hurt either of them by choosing one over the other, but in the end, she knew that soon she would be left with only the happy memories of her relationship with one of them. That was if they both didn't hate her after making them wait all this time for a decision.

Serena was well aware of the fact that what she was doing to them wasn't fair, but neither one was willing to stand down. Both Dan and Nate were willing to do whatever it took to make sure that Serena chose them. Nate spoiled her with the more extravagant things he could afford because of his family's money, but it wasn't just the money that pulled Serena towards him. Nate understood the struggles she had dealt with in a way that no one else did. That bond brought them closer, but at the same time, it added a layer of complexity to their relationship that neither of them could have ever accounted for.

Then there was Dan. Dan showed her that there was more to life than just the Upper East Side. He was a nobody who managed to find his way into her inner circle. No matter how many times the two of them broke up, Serena's heart always directed her back to him. He made her feel smart, and he made her feel loved, wanted even, which was a rare feeling for her to feel.

"Serena van der Woodsen, please report to the front desk. Your party is looking for you."

Serena's eyes shot open as she furrowed her brow. Her mother was in California, finishing up the estate paperwork and emptying out her late grandmother's house. Erik was staying with her in the Hamptons, but he knew where to find her if he needed her for something. With a sigh, she sat up from her lounge and reached for her phone. Several missed calls from Dan and Nate. Serena rolled her eyes as she stood up from her lounge and hurried her way to the front desk. "I'm going to kill them," she grumbled, gritting her teeth as she entered the clubhouse.

Plastering on a smile, Serena glanced at the two idiots sitting in the lobby with goofy grins on their faces. She shook her head and turned to the concierge. "Hello, I'm Serena van der Woodsen. Is there a problem?"

The concierge offered her a calm smile and pointed to the gentlemen standing behind her. "I believe they belong to you?"

Serena turned slowly on her heel to look at them, crossing her arms over her chest as they both jumped up from the couch.

"We got lost," they replied in unison, taking a few steps towards her.

Serena held her hands up and shook her head, glancing back over her shoulder at the concierge with a half-hearted smile. "Unfortunately, I do know them. I'll take care of it. Thank you for calling me."

"You're welcome," the concierge replied, nodding his head as he walked away to busy himself with something.

Serena took a few steps toward them, both with an angry look on her face, brushing between the two of them as she continued on. She lifted her finger in the air and motioned for them to follow her. Quickly, she led them outside and around the side of the building, where she stopped short, causing them to run into one another as they attempted to avoid running into her. She turned on her heel and crossed her arms over her chest, narrowing her eyes at them.

"What are you two doing here? I didn't even bring you with me?" Serena asked, looking between the two of them as she waited for an answer. She could tell they were embarrassed because they had made fools of themselves, but she wasn't going to let them off the hook.

"I wanted to see you," Nate said, shrugging his shoulders. "I couldn't spend the whole summer without seeing you."

"And when I found out he was coming up here," Dan chimed in, offering a smile to Serena, "I decided to tag along. I didn't want to go the whole summer without seeing you."

"Look," Serena said, carding a hand through her hair as she took a deep breath once again. "I told you that I needed some time to figure some stuff out before I could make a choice. That's why I didn't invite you both to come along. I appreciate you both coming up here because you wanted to see me, but I still need time."

Dan and Nate hung their heads at her words, and it made Serena's heartache. It was a long trip from the Upper East Side to the Hamptons. She didn't want to make them turn right around and go home, but she still needed a little time.

Serena looked between them once more and let out a sigh. "Can we promise to spend the rest of the summer hanging out as friends and to stay friends when we get back to the city, and I make my choice? I don't want to send you both back after you made the trip here, and I'm happy to see you both."

Dan turned to look at Nate, offering him a hand. "I'm sure I can find a way to enjoy some fun in the sun hanging with my friends. What about you?"

Nate looked at the hand offered to him for a moment before glancing up at Serena's face. She was nibbling on her lower lip as she waited anxiously for his answer. He'd do anything to make her happy. Nate reached out to take Dan's hand, shaking it firmly. "Here's to a summer in the Hamptons."

Serena stepped forward and wrapped an arm around each of them, giving them a quick hug. "Great. I promise I'll make a decision by the end of the summer," Serena insisted, leading them to the pool.