Can I Officially Hate My Birthday?

A/N: Sorry for the long delay on posting this chapter. Life kinda took over but I'm back (For now) Hope you enjoy. Some good stuff is right around the corner so bare with me till we get there.

Disclaimer: I only own Miss Darcy Ellis. One of my all time favorite characters to write.

Darcy spent the next week after Thanksgiving doing her best to avoid both Nate and Serena. She wasn't really sure what all that had happened after she left Thanksgiving but she needed the time to really process it and now she had. Not to mention today was her birthday and the one year anniversary of Bart Bass' death. There was only one person on her mind and she was gonna be there for him like he was for her.

She walked out into the living room after getting ready for the day.

"Happy Birthday!" both her dad and uncle yelled.

"You guys really didn't have to" she said.

"Um yes we did sweetheart it's your birthday"

"So what are the birthday girls plans today?"

"Empire. I need to check up on someone."
"Nate?" they both said.

"No guys, Bass. His dad died a year ago."

"Oh wow. It's been a year already."

"Yes, and he was there on mom's anniversary so I'm gonna be there for him. I also need to check on the hotel before I go to California" she said. Her dad had asked her a few days ago if she thought maybe she wanted to spend the holidays on the opposite coast just to clear her mine.

"You decided to go" her dad said.

"I think it will be good. I can go see Brooke and Austin, then TJ. Just sort of get space."

"Good for you" they both said.

"Now I shall be off" she said.

"Talk to Nate before you go. It will make you feel better"

"Dad."

"Please Darc"

"Fine, if I see him. I'll talk to him"

"Good I don't want to see your friendship suffer" he smiled.

She smiled then headed out. She arrived at the hotel and over to the desk to look at today's agenda. One of their staff members walked over to her.

"Miss Ellis" she said.

"Hey um have you seen Bass this morning?"
"Mr. Bass told me to tell you that he went looking at your next project"

"Oh yeah he mentioned that" she said.

"But he left this for you" the girl said and handed her a small box then walked off. She opened the box and saw a small charm to go on her bracelet he had gotten her a year before. She smiled at it. She headed up to the penthouse to leave him a note. She went into his bedroom and found paper to leave the note. She left it then turned to leave and ran into Blair.

"Today isn't a good day Darcy"

"I'm aware of that. I just wanted to tell him thank you for the gift"

"Oh" Blair said and Darcy headed to the Elevator glancing at Nate's room on the way. "Wait Darc"

Darcy turned around to face her.

"Yes?"

"Thanks for being his friend."

"Well he was there for me on the anniversary of my mother's death so whatever I can do to help. Please tell me"

"I will" Blair said.

"I should go."

Darcy left and went shopping for her California friends, she figured she'd get Chuck and Nate something in California. Just thinking that made her realize her dad was right she needed to talk to him.

She headed back to her home and put the gifts in her room. She spotted a photo of her and Nate and stopped.

"That's a great picture" she heard her dad say.

"Yeah, it was an amazing date" she smiled.

"Did you talk to him?"

"Not yet but I will before I leave"

"How's Bass?"

"I didn't get to see him. I'm worried Dad. He and I are a lot alike in the bottling our feelings in. If it wasn't for him a few years ago I would have went nuts and shut everyone out on moms" she said and her phone rang. She looked down and saw Nate's name.

"Answer it" he said and left.

"Hello" she said.

"Hey Darc, I know I'm the last one you want to hear from but Serena was in an accident."

"What!?"

"I thought…"

"I'm on my way"

"Thank you" he said and she hung up. She ran out of the room and toward the elevator.

"You okay?" he dad asked walking toward her.

"My friend was in an accident"

"Oh no"

"I don't know when I'll be home so don't wait up" she said and kissed his cheek.

She got to the hospital and walked into Serena's room.

"Hey S" she said.

"Darcy, hey" Serena said grabbing Darcy's hand.

"I really want to make a crash joke but I feel that would be inappropriate"

"Thank you" Serena said trying to laugh.

"Hi" they heard Blair say. Darcy turned to her.

"I'll leave you two" Darcy said and gave Serena a light hand squeeze and left. She got out into the hallway and spotted Chuck down the hall on the floor. She walked over and sat down. She grabbed his hand and laid her head on his shoulder.

"Hi" he said.

"Hey" she said back.

"What are you doing Darc?"

"Well you see I had this really great friend by my side when the one year mark came for my mom. I thought I'd pay him back"

"Thanks" he said.

"Thank you for my charm."

"Happy Birthday" he said.

She smiled at him and then spotted Blair walking down the hall.

"Let her in Bass, she cares about you"

"Talk to Nate" he said kissing her hand.

"I will" she said standing up and walking away. She met Blair on the way. "Let me know how he's doing. I'm going to California over break and I want to make sure he's okay"

"Of course" Blair said and they walked away from each other. She got back up by Serena's room and spotted Nate walking out.

"Hey" he said.

"How is she?" she asked.

"Better, she's sleeping right now"

"Can I officially hate my birthday" she replied and he pulled her into a hug.

"Don't say that Darc" he replied stroking her hair as she cried into his shoulder.

"I'm sorry Nate"

"What for?" he asked looking at her.

"Breaking up with you" she replied.

"Hey Darc, you were right."

"About Serena?"
"Yeah I just couldn't admit it to myself Darc. I should be the one apologizing to you."

"No Nate don't. What we had was amazing but what we will have as friends like we were before will be better than that. I'd rather have you as that then not at all"

Nate pulled her back into a hug then kissed the top of her head.

"Will you do me a favor?" she asked pulling away.

"What?"

"Will you keep an eye on Bass for me?"

"Of course" he said. "But why?"

She kissed his cheek.

"I'll see you in the new year. I'm going to the west coast"

"Have fun" he said "I'll miss you"

"Me too" she smiled and walked away.