A/N: Hi everybody!

Sorry this chapter took a little longer than the rest!

This story has written itself so quickly, and there seems to be so much I need to get down. This is all good news, obviously, but I do admit that I'm surprising myself. Usually when I write the chapters don't flow so easily but with this story, everything's different. Might be the wonderful characters of the Upper East Side, and the wonderfulness of Nate Archibald and Jenny Humphrey (both together, and apart).

In this chapter, one of Jenny's boys makes his return to the Upper East Side in preparation for her birthday party, which Blair and Serena are planning right down to the last detail. What else could we expect, really? Her birthday is coming up soon, and boy it's going to be an interesting night! Nate also attempts to make up for the Sage incident by dropping by Dan and Serena's to see Jenny, and Chuck makes an interesting discovery when looking through a property contract.

Onward!

Party Planning

As Nate rode the elevator up to Dan and Serena's apartment, he mulled over the previous week's events. It all began, he would later realize, the day Jenny Humphrey returned to the Upper East Side full time. Blair had, for all intents and purposes, decided to throw and impromptu party, and Jenny and Nate appeared to have been the guests of honour. Nate had recently been informed by his best friend, Blair's husband, that Blair had a plan. And a Waldorf with a plan was like nothing else. Having pressed Chuck further, Nate soon discovered that this 'plan' was in fact to get Nate and Jenny to be one another's date for Dan and Serena's wedding. Apparently there was unresolved tension.

The two weren't engaged yet, but Dan was planning to ask and honestly, everyone already knew the answer.

In the days following the party, Nate had been cornered by his ex-girlfriend, Sage. When he turned her down for the position of his assistant, she turned the tables and kissed him, just in time for Jenny to burst into the room, and for countless potential investors to start filing into the Spectator's offices. Thankfully, they hadn't seen anything but Mr. Archibald politely declining an applicant, and an inexplicably frazzled young designer as she rushed from the building.

So Nate found himself heading to see Jenny to, if nothing else, apologize for the Sage incident. Although he wasn't sure an apology was needed, he certainly felt like he owed Jenny one. He didn't want her, of all people, to think he was still the same guy, going from girl to girl and never stopping long enough to actually be happy.

Jenny was staying with Dan and Serena. She was, as she put it that past Tuesday morning (it was now Wednesday), fed up of Blair's meddling and jibing about Carter Baizen. God, even the guy's name made Nate's skin crawl in disgust. He wanted to believe Jenny, but she'd had her fair share of crazy exes. Between Asher and Damien and, well, himself, her track record wasn't great.

The elevator binged and he stepped out into the hall. Serena and Dan's apartment was not the penthouse. Rather, it was a quaint – by UES standards, that is – little place nestled on the seventh floor, and they only shared said floor with one other apartment. Nate went to their door and knocked, expecting Dan or Serena first. Instead, it was Jenny who greeted him. She was out of breath, messy haired and red in the face. Safety pins and a pencil between her teeth, her hands were almost full with fabric and zips and buttons and god only knew what else.

Nate closed the door behind him and smiled. He followed her through to the guest room. There was fabric strewn everywhere, in pastels and golds, ribbons and cloths. Nate wasn't sure if there was even a carpet underneath it all anymore. Aghast at the state of the place, and wondering if Dan had seen it yet, Nate put his hands in his pockets and looked around some more. By then, Jenny had emptied her mouth of all non-essentials and was sitting at the dressing table; her sewing machine had taken pride of place, but she was sitting facing him instead of it.

'What's up, Nate?' she asked, and he wasn't sure but he thought she was quite short with him. It was probably the stress of having to answer to Blair Waldorf. He'd been there.

'Just wanted to check in,' he began, but stopped when she scooped up her cell and checked the screen. She put it right back down. 'How are you?'

'I'm good. I'm actually really busy –'

'Is this a bad time?'

They spoke in unison, and as they did Jenny's phone beeped. She swept it up twice as fast as before, but Nate didn't miss the disappointment on her face when she looked at the screen, and then put it down once again.

'You expecting someone?' he prodded. He had a good idea who, but chose not to dwell on it.

'No,' she replied, but again her gaze trailed down to her cell.

Nate was suddenly agitated. 'I just wanted to apologize for the other day – for what you walked in on, but you've clearly got other stuff going on so I can go.'

'You mean you and your assistant?'

'She's not my assistant,' he said, folding his arms.

'Definitely looked like she was assisting you with something –'

'Jenny,' he said pointedly. 'That was Sage Spence. My ex-girlfriend.'

'Oh, the seventeen year-old!' Jenny crossed her own arms and stood up. 'You were, what, twenty two when you dated her?'

'Why does that matter?' Nate asked, frowning.

Jenny didn't speak, only shook her head, and it dawned quickly on Nate that she was referring to them and, more specifically, herself. One of the biggest issues that came between them – after Vanessa's lies, but they were something else – was the age difference. It wasn't that big, granted, but Nate was already heading off to college and moving on by the time she turned sixteen. It wouldn't matter now, Nate knew, because she was turning twenty four on the weekend.

He looked her over. She was still long legs and skinny arms, but she'd grown into them and into a genuine beauty. Nate's didn't have a big preference, but on Jenny less was always more. She was naturally striking, and while he liked the platinum blonde, he didn't miss the black eyes and wine lips. Although he was partial to a nice colour lipstick. More accurately a lovely pair of lips, and Jenny definitely had those.

'Nate?'

'What?'

'You were staring.'

'Oh,' he caught himself and looked at the floor. 'Sorry. I'm tired.' Liar, he told himself. He was about to speak when she checked her phone again, and his agitation came flooding back. 'Why are you waiting on him?'

'Excuse me?'

'Baizen. I already told you, he's not worth it.'

'Why does it matter?' Jenny asked, matching his attitude and then some. 'It's not your business.'

'He's not worth it, Jenny.' Nate repeated, ignoring her when she rolled her eyes. For whatever reason, she'd stopped denying it. And that made him even angrier. 'He's not good enough for you!'

'And who is?' Jenny chastised. 'I can make my own decisions.'

'Your history with men begs to differ.'

Jenny half-laughed, half-glowered at him. 'You want to talk about dating history? We'll have to reschedule. Not sure your list of exes could fit in this apartment.'

It was Nate's turn to glower.

'This isn't about me.'

'I'm sorry, are you offended?' Jenny snarked.

Nate bit back a retort quickly. He observed her. Cheeks still rosy from her work, chest rising and falling rapidly in annoyance. He sighed loudly and threw up his hands.

'Jenny, I didn't come here to get in a fight.'

'Then why did you come?'

'I wanted to apologize for the other day.'

She rolled her eyes. 'Nate, I really don't care if you're banging your assistant. Or not your assistant, or whoever she is. It doesn't matter to me.'

Nate nodded, deeply unhappy at the turn of events. He was hoping for more a chuckle at the past and maybe something to eat. 'Well alright then.'

'I should get back to work,' she said, and even she sounded disappointed at the way things had gone. 'See you later.'

'Yeah, sure.'

He wasn't sure why he was lingering. She was just looking at him now, waiting on him to leave but he couldn't seem to get his feet to move .Must be all that tension Blair is so convinced of, he thought bitterly. Eventually, Jenny turned to her work and Nate knew he'd overstayed his welcome. He turned for the door and passed Dan, who was home from a meeting with his publicist.

'Just propose and get the damn wedding over with, would you?' Nate said in passing.

Dan looked up from his mail, puzzled. 'Good to see you too, man!' he called, but Nate was already gone.

'We're home!'

Jenny had never been happier to hear Serena's sing-song voice coming through the halls. She leapt up from her seat, threw down her fabric, narrowly avoided stabbing her feet with pins and rushed through to greet her soon-to-be sister in law, and then her best friend.

'Eric!' Jenny squealed, launching herself at him. She hadn't seen him in far too long. Eric was knocked into the wall by the force of Jenny's hug, but he didn't seem to mind as he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.

'Six months is too long,' he said as they broke apart. 'You should get out to LA more often.'

'As much as I love bumping into faked up plastics and being whipped in the eye by hair extensions every time I turn around, I think I'll pass. You should move home,' Jenny said, ignoring the eye roll.

'LA isn't so bad,' Eric said.

They went through to the living room. Jenny and Eric got comfy and ready to catch up as Serena busied herself with making waffles. She'd become quite the force to be reckoned with since she and Dan had moved in together two years earlier, and her handy work in the kitchen was second to almost none. Serena was readying herself for motherhood, even if she didn't know it herself yet. All of her friends, Jenny included, could see her rushing around the kitchen as she prepared breakfasts for her doting husband and children. It would be sooner than she thought. Jenny observed Serena for a moment, then smiled and went back to Eric.

'Catch me up,' he said. 'What have I missed?'

It was half an hour later when Dan emerged from an afternoon writing session in his office. He yawned and stretched and then realized Eric had arrived and hugged his brother in law. When they parted, Dan looked down at Jenny. She was lying on her back on the couch, and Eric was sitting on the coffee table. It appeared to be a counselling session, although Eric probably wasn't charging her by the hour like he did all his other patients.

'What's uh… what's going on here?' Dan asked, looking between his sister, girlfriend and future brother in law. Serena was sitting in the armchair behind Eric, looking no more informed than Dan.

'Jenny's feeling some regret over a conversation she had with Nate earlier today,' Eric said, in his best psychologist's voice.

'We've been trying to work through it,' Serena added with a cheeky smile.

'So that's why Nate left here so pissed this morning,' Dan said, and Jenny groaned. 'What happened, Jen?'

'He's just so judgemental!'

'You're just learning this now?' Serena asked gently. 'Nate's always been that way. He's a great friend and he's a wonderful person. But if he doesn't like something, it's really hard to get him to see it clearly.'

'The way he kept going on about Carter –' She stopped herself and looked at Eric. So far she'd only told him about the Sage incident. Damn it, she thought.

'Carter?' Eric inquired, raising his eyebrows. 'As in Carter Baizen?'

'You didn't know about that whole…' Dan didn't try hard to hide his displeasure, 'thing?'

'I only knew about Nate and Sage. Jenny neglected to tell me the rest.'

'Because you can be just as judgy as Nate,' said Jenny, propping up on her elbows and poking her tongue out.

'This coming from Little J, former queen of Constance?'

'Don't you mean disgraced queen of Constance?' Jenny said, grabbing the nearest cushion and attempting to smother herself underneath it. Dan pulled it away and then forced her to sit up.

'Jen, what's really going on here?'

Jenny put her head in her hands. The truth was, Nate always, always seemed to press the right buttons. She could always rely on him to get her blood pumping. When she was a kid it was because she was crazy about him; the great Nate Archibald. As handsome as he was sweet, kind and an all-around good guy who didn't get lost in who his family was, or let anyone tell him what he could be. Jenny was consumed by him when she was younger, but as the years had worn on and she realized more and more how much he didn't want her back, she forced herself to get over him.

'I don't know. He just gets to me.'

'I wonder why,' Serena mused, sneaking a knowing glance Jenny's way. Jenny narrowed her eyes, but that only made Serena smirk.

'Can we get back to Carter?' Eric interjected suddenly. 'Because I'd like to know how that even happened in the first place.'

'London's a dangerous place,' Dan said, sitting on the arm of Serena's chair and pecking her on the lips.

'We just…' Jenny began slowly. 'We met over there, and we had fun. It doesn't even matter though because I haven't heard from him in a few days, so –'

'Is that unusual?' Dan asked.

Jenny didn't like where this was going. She'd been backed into a corner suddenly and now, here she was, about to confess her feelings about a guy she'd had no intention of developing feelings for in the first place. Not that she had feelings. She was just confused. She and Carter were friends, and they talked often, and that's what made his radio silence strange. She clasped her hands in her lap and soldiered on, because if she didn't talk about it to someone, it would just come out in another fight with someone else.

'A little. He called me the first morning I was here, and we usually text in the day. And so far… nothing.'

'Jenny,' Serena spoke up. 'If you like him, then you shouldn't let any of us – mainly Blair – tell you otherwise. If you say he's changed and you really believe that, then you shouldn't be afraid to be with him. If I had listened to Blair when she was telling me that I shouldn't be with Dan, we wouldn't be together now.'

Jenny sighed. 'Like I said, it doesn't even matter. We're just good friends.'

They all looked at her, but she chose to move on.

'Serena, are there any waffles left?'

'Everything is set.'

Blair Waldorf Bass stood in amongst chaos as her teams worked to prepare everything for Jenny's upcoming birthday party. With a clipboard and list of tasks on one hip, and a poorly Henry on the other, Blair tried to figure out if there was anything she'd missed. Of course there wasn't. Henry had his head resting on his mother's shoulder and was holding on to a lock of Blair's always-perfect hair. She turned and kissed the top of her son's head.

'What do you think, baby? Is Mommy the best?'

Henry didn't speak, but he did nod and Blair smiled in delight. Just then, the doors opened and Serena swept into the room, blinding the workers with her bright smile and nearly taking one's eye out with her long golden hair. She looked around the room and then gave Blair an approving nod. They'd decided to have the party in Chuck's newest building. Nestled on East 82nd Street, Penance was proving to a successful nightspot for society's elite. The children of senators and congressmen frequented the place, as did celebrities. The bouncers turned away anyone below the A list, naturally. Blair was certain Jenny would love it.

She'd decorated the room with two high-flying chandeliers. The lighting was low and romantic, and Blair was having white and lilac hydrangeas flown in from Japan. She remembered how much Jenny loved them in her younger years at Constance, and she was sure that taking Jenny back to a simpler time would only help Blair's plan to relight any fire Jenny still had burning for a certain Mr. Archibald. The theme of the party was simple; royalty. A girl only turns twenty four once.

'Jenny's going to love it, B.'

'Of course she will,' Blair said confidently, but she soon fell into a loving smile as Serena took Henry from her arms and wrapped him up in a great big hug. She soothed him and swayed and he soon fell asleep on her shoulder.

'He loves you,' Blair said and Serena grinned. 'Do you want something to eat?'

'No, thanks. I'm feeling a little queasy this morning.'

'I hope you don't have what my poor Henry does. How is it having Jenny living with you?'

Serena tried to remain tight-lipped, but Blair knew she'd get it out of her friend eventually. Jenny had opted to stay with her brother for the next couple of weeks, and while it meant there were no ample opportunities for Blair to prod her protégé for information about her romantic life, she did have Serena to employ on that front. Blair ran her hand over her son's forehead to check his temperature and then, satisfied, led Serena over to a leather booth so they could plan their next move. Serena wasn't aware of the full plan yet, and wouldn't be until Dan proposed. If only Humphrey would hurry up!

'Well… Jenny and Nate had a fight yesterday morning.'

'I knew something had happened,' Blair said, leaning across the table that divided them. 'He came over and went right to Chuck's expensive drinks cabinet.' He had two. One in the kitchen, the other in his office. The one in his office was reserved for truly dire situations or exceptionally joyous occasions. After disappearing into Chuck's office, Nate was eventually coaxed out when Blair told him dinner had been served.

'He had a face like thunder,' Blair said. Serena drew her lips into a thin line.

'From what Jenny told us it was because he brought up Carter. She's getting really sick of it, and she insists they're just friends.'

'Oh Little J,' Blair said in a sing-song voice. 'If it were really true she wouldn't be getting so agitated. No, something absolutely happened between her and Baizen, and we need to sever the tether before it's too late.'

'You make it sound so violent.'

'No violence necessary. A true queen knows how to play to her strengths.'

'And what are your strengths? I mean, besides the obvious?' Serena was smirking.

'Oh mon ami. The biggest thing we have working on our side is that I want to offer Jenny a permanent position here in Manhattan.'

'Just to keep her away from Carter?'

Blair looked appalled for a moment, before softening into a look of mild acceptance. 'I most certainly am not. Jenny Humphrey, though years ago I would have been loath to admit it, is very talented. She's smart, she understands this business and most importantly, she knows how this world works. And why wouldn't she? She learned from the best.' Blair said, looking pleased with herself.

'I am not giving Jenny this promotion just to keep her from Carter Baizen. That's just a pleasant, added bonus.'

Serena was rolling her eyes but, deep down, Blair knew she agreed. All their lives they'd heard stories of Carter Baizen. He was charming but certainly no prince, and he gambled away much of his inherited fortune by the time he was twenty one. But Blair had done her research upon learning he and Jenny were… corresponding. She'd discovered that Carter was making a vast fortune, atop the family money he came into when he turned twenty five, in the restaurant business.

'Well, either way, I think Jenny deserves the vice-president's position. She's more than earned it and maybe now that she's moving back to Manhattan full time, Eric will come too.'

Blair knew Serena desperately missed having her younger brother around. He was in town for the party but would be flying back to LA Monday evening. Blair reached over and touched her best friend's arm.

'He'll be back soon, I'm sure. The allure of our world is too strong to resist. Just look at Jenny – she could have stayed full time in Paris if she wanted. I even offered her a position over there but she turned it down. She always came back,' Blair said, then pulled a face. 'Even though London was calling.'

'So you'll offer her the promotion at her party?'

'And she'll be a fool to say no. It's a wonderful opportunity and it'll bring her home for good.'

'And what about Nate?' Serena said, surprising Blair. Blair took it in her stride.

'I just feel it would be a crime not to give them their fair shot,' she said. She couldn't say why, obviously. Blair had been on hand to help Dan choose the perfect ring. She suspected he was going to propose on the weekend. She hoped it wouldn't be on Saturday; she didn't want it to take away from Jenny's celebration, and all the praise she herself would inevitably get for the party.

Serena smiled. 'Saturday's going to be a big day for Jenny.'

And how right she was.

Chuck Bass was a busy man. He was a real estate mogul, a three time recipient of the Business Man of the Year Award, a self-employed billionaire and a chairman of several boards and committees. He was a brother and a best friend, but most importantly he was a husband and a father, and as he sat in his office, in his pyjamas and robe, rocking his four year-old son in his arms, he'd truly, never felt happier.

Henry had been sick all day. After arriving home with Blair, he'd thrown up on several pieces of furniture and on the hem of Blair's dress. Rather than scold him, however, Blair simply cuddled him before passing him to his father so she could change, clean up and then come and take care of her baby. After she'd fallen asleep in bed, with Henry wrapped in her arms, Chuck had gotten up and begun heading downstairs to do some late night reading.

Henry had called out and said he wanted his Daddy and so Chuck had taken his son with him to his office where they now sat. With Henry hugged close to his chest, sucking on his thumb, Chuck went about his reading. He was looking over paper for an expansion of property in the West Village, where he'd been eyeing an old building that, if fixed up properly, could become a wonderful night spot.

It just so happened – he later discovered – that another entrepreneur, who mainly dealt in things overseas, was also interested in the building. Chuck had, of course, stuck his PI on the tail of this businessman from London, and finally Chuck had the documents on his desk. When he read the name of the man, he had to double check.

'What?' he said to himself, careful not to wake his boy. He checked Henry was still fast asleep, and then went back to the papers.

So Carter Baizen was planning to open a restaurant in Manhattan, and apparently he already had a name in mind. Chuck was somewhat tempted to let him win the auction, just to amuse himself with thoughts of Carter trying to play with the big boys. Despite being the oldest, Carter had always been one of the most immature pieces of trash Chuck had had the misfortune of knowing. And by the look of the name of the restaurant, it seemed Chuck's darling wife was on to something when she lectured Jenny Humphrey about who she was rolling around the sheets with.

Jenny, of course, had denied it all.

But given that Carter planned to open a restaurant called J, Chuck suspected Jenny wasn't quite being honest.

A/N: Ugh, I'm sorry but Daddy!Chuck is literally one of my favourite things! Hope you liked the update - things are going to start heating up soon!
Please leave some feedback - it's much appreciated! x