A/N: Hey guys! It has been... far too long, and I'm really sorry.

Now, this chapter may not go the way you want/think/hoped. BUT I've always felt that because the pacing of Gossip Girl on TV was so fast, it has to be reflected in here in order to keep as true to the world of GG as possible. As for Nate, he's always been one to go with his emotions instead of his senses.

All this said, I do truly hope you enjoy this chapter. There are some callbacks to the good old days of the show, which I still miss sometimes despite its crazy story-telling.

I absolutely promise that I have every intention of finishing this story, by the way. Updates may take time because, truthfully, I am incredibly busy with work. Please stay tuned!

Onward! x

It Started With the Perfect Kiss

From what she understood of men - what she'd learned in rom coms and chick lit and young adult fiction and the like - Jenny had half-expected Carter to show up unannounced, perhaps with a boom box in tow in a football field, or with some promise to love her for eternity as he bestowed a family ring on her finger. Alas, no such event had transpired, and despite her wanting still for that all powerful one true love… Jenny was quite sure she didn't need it. In fact, she had sworn to herself and to Eric, over numerous Skype calls, Twilight marathons and countless tubs of ice cream, that she was going to focus on herself for the foreseeable future.

'It'll happen when it's supposed to happen,' her mother had always told her.

'Someone unexpected will barge in one day and bam, the rest will be history,' Eric had tried to convince her.

'You don't need a man to be complete,' Serena had insisted.

'Build your own empire and the rest shall fall into place,' Blair agreed.

Easy for all of them to say, Jenny mused. Not so easy when it was her in the situation, and it was a strange one to be in. Two men in love with her, both notoriously wealthy and more beautiful than she'd ever imagined her husband might be as a child. Both equally as damaged, much like her, and in both she'd found two different kinds of solace. Carter had been understanding, a kindred spirit banished from a kingdom they both so longed to be accepted by, only to find themselves on the outskirts, forever desperate to return home. But they'd changed each other in such a way that meant, finally, the kingdom wasn't the dream anymore. Instead, they forged their own paths and became successes… and even though she hated Carter now, she was sure of it, she wouldn't ever be able to deny what they'd had.

And then there was Nate.

A prince charming incarnate if ever there had been one, at least to look at. Heir to an old fortune, best friend to the King and Queen of the kingdom and, as he had said, in love with Jenny Humphrey. It was all she'd ever wanted in school, even when she crossed into her twenties she still fantasised occasionally that she and Nate would become something. It had always seemed they'd been heading for something big… perhaps it had come and gone already. Their final big blow-out about the state of their relationship was all that was ever meant to happen between them.

'Ouch!' Jenny hissed in pain as she pricked her finger just under the nail with her sewing needle. Silly her for getting distracted.

How did her thoughts always, always seem to circle back to Nate Archibald?

She was glad of the interrupting ring of her cell phone.

'Serena, hey.'

Jenny could practically hear Serena's grin as she spoke, 'Jenny! I'm hoping you can do me a favour.'

'Of course,' said Jenny, thankful of the distraction from her frazzled thoughts. 'I'm yours to command.'

'You're the best. Dan and I are on our way to the doctor's for our scan, and I totally lost track of my days and realised I'm supposed to be collecting some sample fabrics from Chakra's atelier. Do you mind running down there for me? Blair and Chuck have taken Henry to feed the ducks.'

'Not a problem,' Jenny agreed, rising from her seat and scanning the room for some shoes. She said her goodbyes and clicked off the phone as she slipped them on, grabbed her purse and made for the hallway of Dan and Serena's apartment.

It had been three weeks since Carter had released the doctored photographs. Jenny's scandal had been front page news for most of them, with headlines focused on the fact that Jenny refused to comment on any of it, that Carter had disappeared from all good society (again), and Nate… Nate was struggling under the fall out of it all. Jenny grit her teeth as her mind wandered to him again. She stopped in the kitchen to get a cup of water.

As she sipped it, she pondered over how things had become so messed up.

The Spectator had seen a dramatic drop in stock wealth to start with, though Chuck informed her - when she'd asked because of course she did - that the worth of them was starting to slowly climb back to normal figures. Investors had attempted to distance themselves from the Archibald name and publication, but it seemed talks were starting to improve. The most frustrating thing of it all, to Jenny on behalf of Nate, was the constant questioning of Nate's morals.

So many times he'd come to her rescue. So many times he helped his friends, kept Chuck away from the darkness and had been a shoulder to lean on for Blair. Nate had welcomed both Dan and Jenny into the world they weren't born to be part of with open arms, and as for Serena… Despite their differences, Jenny knew that Nate was always there for the golden girl. He was a good person, and he didn't deserve any of the rumours, the investigations, the nastiness being directed at him.

It was that she'd brought this on him - more so than any of the repercussions she'd faced herself - that shamed her more than anything. All he'd ever done was try to keep her safe, through school and even when she 'chose' Carter.

Even when she'd convinced him she hated him, he didn't care at all, he'd still loved her. And this was how she repaid him.

Jenny let out a long held in breath and raised her chin high. All of it was in the past. There was nothing they could do to fix what had been done. They hadn't spoken since the night she'd left Chuck and Blair's in disgrace.

As she clasped the door handle ready to leave, she decided it was probably for the best. They both needed time to cool off. It was definitely a good thing.

Nate was poised before her when she pulled the door open, ready to knock. He had a take-out bag bursting at the seams in one hand and load of white paper towels in the other. As their eyes met and Jenny's breath caught at the sight of him, he held up the paper towels and waved them in the air.

He smiled his glorious smile.

'Truce?'

Jenny eyed the take-out bag suspiciously and said, 'Burgers and fries?'

Nate nodded.

She smiled. It would be useless to argue against those ridiculous blue eyes.

'Walk with me, Archibald.'

'I don't believe you.'

'Well that's your choice; you're the one with the terrible opinions.'

'Don't be such an ass!'

Nate laughed aloud as Jenny threw a weak fist at his bicep. He feigned injury for a second, before collapsing into more raucous laughter when she pulled the face of a spoiled child on him. Eventually she succumbed to the humour too and they walked that way, red in the face with tears in their eyes, giggling as they went. Jenny had Serena's fabrics draped over one arm, and Nate was carrying the rubbish left over from their lunch of burgers and fries. He promptly left the garbage in a trash can they passed, wiping his hands off with the remaining white towels and then throwing them in the trash too.

His hand touched the small of her back as they continued on towards Dan and Serena's building. Nate pondered on how, even after all this time and everything that had come between them, how things felt so right - or more like he was at home - than when he touched her.

'Man I haven't laughed like that in a long, long time.'

'Roughly three weeks?' Jenny asked, drawing her lips into a thin line. 'Nate, I - '

'Don't ruin it,' he said, promptly holding his arm up to observe his watch. 'So far it's been two hours and… thirty seven minutes and we haven't argued.'

Jenny laughed again. How Nate just wanted to live in the sound of it.

'Not technically true,' Jenny corrected him, bumping into him as she sidestepped an oncoming runner. 'We have discussed with heated voices the fact that you have terrible taste in take-out.'

'I think you'll find my taste is superior.'

They chuckled again. Nate hadn't expected things to be this… easy between them. After everything they'd been through in such a short amount of time, Nate thought there'd been some thin ice to tread on first, perhaps some issues to overcome before they could even begin to repair what they once had. But no. Jenny had firmly planted herself right back in the middle of his life with a grin that lifted the weight high off his shoulders.

And with it, she'd found herself yet again in his affections.

As if she ever really left, he thought.

His feelings hadn't changed. He didn't see a time when they ever would now. But being friends again?

It was more than he'd expected, and he was willing to take it.

'This is me,' Jenny said, interrupting his reverie.

'How's the apartment hunt going?'

Jenny scrunched her nose. 'It's not, really. I keep saying I'll get started but with everything that's gone on the past few weeks I don't know… it's not been a huge priority. Dan and Serena have been great too! Though the constant PDA is getting a little much.'

'So start looking,' Nate told her. 'This afternoon. I'm free, I'll help.'

She looked skeptical for a moment.

Nate shrugged. 'I just want to make sure my friend finds the right place, and it's not like I'm swamped in advertising meetings right now.' He smirked, hoping it was enough.

As it turned out, it was.

'Alright,' Jenny gave in. 'Let me drop off these fabrics and I'll meet you down here in five. You better know a good realtor!' She called over her shoulder.

Jenny's day had turned out nothing like she'd expected when she'd woken up that morning; for one thing, Nate Archibald had strolled right back into her life with a bag of burgers and some white paper towels that were all so much as a white flag waving in surrender. It would be frustrating, Jenny mused as she watched him with his realtor - who it turns out was pretty damn good at her job, and familiar too but Jenny couldn't quite place her - Nate was so at ease, laughing and joking as they read through ads and he pointed out the ones he thought would be suitable.

Suddenly it hit Jenny that she should probably be involved in this conversation. It was an apartment for her, after all. She rolled her eyes at herself, then made her way over to the realtor's desk and smiled.

'Can I get in on this?' Jenny asked, nudging Nate playfully out of the way. He smirked and moved aside.

'She speaks,' said the realtor, sitting back in her chair and crossing her legs. She had a look of quiet confidence about her, and despite the somewhat rude tone she'd chosen to address Jenny in, Jenny found that she didn't quite mind.

The woman was beautiful, with long dark hair that was sleek and curly all at once. Dark eyes and darker skin. She wore a white dress with bedazzled sleeves. A little dressed up for a desk job, Jenny thought.

'She does,' Jenny replied at length. 'Mind if I take a look at these properties too? I'm the one with the cash, after all.'

The realtor laughed. 'I like you. Raina Thorpe,' she said, holding her hand out for Jenny to shake.

Jenny shook it, but froze the moment their hands touched.

Raina?

'Pretty unusual name,' Jenny mumbled.

Raina drew her lips inwards and nodded, taking her hand back.

'When I saw you walk in I figured this conversation was coming.'

Nate watched them curiously. 'Am I missing something?'

Suddenly Jenny had lost her voice, her words, her sense - everything. Images of Carter were flashing in her mind, the texts she'd seen on his phone from someone named Raina who, for all Jenny knew, he'd been having an affair with. But looking at her now, with her calm composure and innocent eyes, Jenny wasn't so sure.

She didn't care.

Or did she?

She didn't want to care, because she and Carter were done and she'd never go back after what he did. How could she? Jenny had moved on.

So why did this bother her so damn much?

Raina stood up.

'So it was you?' Jenny asked, finally having found her voice once more.

Nate narrowed his eyes.

'Alright, someone fill me in please?'

'There's not much to tell, not really,' Raina informed him as Jenny lost her words again. 'I did some business with Carter Baizen a while back - helped him seal the deal for his restaurant, J. We texted back and forth about it and from what I heard, Jenny thought I was his bit on the side.'

'He talked to you about us?' Jenny asked, her voice very quiet. She could feel Nate's eyes boring into the side of her head.

Raina smiled kindly. 'Business was the only thing ever between us,' she assured Jenny, touching her arm. 'And yeah he did. He raved about you. Said you were the best thing that had happened to him and he never thought he'd be so lucky.' She paused, as if debating whether she should carry on.

She did.

'He really did love you, Jenny.'

Jenny shook her head in disbelief. How could he have? To do what he did?

Nate was suddenly at her side, hand on the small of her back.

'I think we should get back to looking at apartments,' he said, a warning tone in his voice.

'Of course,' Raina said, sitting at her desk and clicking her computer mouse. 'I'll send the approved properties to one of my realtors - Sophie is great. She'll meet you at the first apartment in thirty minutes.'

'You're not the realtor?' Jenny asked.

Raina shook her head.

'Raina's owns the company. What?' He asked when Jenny looked at him. 'You said you hoped I had a good realtor! She's the best.'

Raina smiled at them as they headed for the door. 'Thanks both,' she called. 'I hope you find what you're looking for!'

Jenny stepped into the elevator with Nate a few moments later. Her thoughts were whirring, but Raina's words had stuck with her. Not that there'd been nothing between she and Carter, or that he really had cared about Jenny - really loved her, even. No, she replayed the last thing Raina had said to them as they departed over and over.

I hope you find what you're looking for.

Jenny shot a sideways glance at Nate, who caught her eye and smiled warmly.

Maybe it's been there all along, Jenny mused.

'It's perfect.'

Jenny felt lighter than air, as though she'd walked into a cloud and all her troubles and worries had lifted away. As she circled the room, she couldn't help but feel peace. Maybe this was what she'd been looking for; a fresh start. A new ideal. Away from everyone and everything. She turned her head slightly to where her friend was inspecting the coving.

Away from Nate.

Maybe that was what she needed.

To be alone.

'This does feel very you,' Nate admitted, hands in the pockets of his jeans.

The living room, annexed by an open plan kitchen-diner and two bedrooms, an office, a master bathroom and utility, was just that. It was big and light, and the current owners had wonderful taste in everything; the mismatched sofas, the art on the walls, even the mustard coloured accessories that complimented the grey tones throughout…

Jenny wanted it. Exactly as it was.

'Is it on the market as furnished?' She asked Sophie, who had met them exactly when Raina had said.

Sophie nodded. 'Everything is included. The sellers are moving to Dubai; the wife's had a job offer and they've decided they want a complete new start. Apparently customs is too tricky and they don't want the hassle. Everything you see, down to the cutlery and the glasses in the cupboards, is included.'

Jenny grinned, turning her head to Nate. He looked impressed.

'I'd like to make an offer,' Jenny said, spinning back around to Sophie, who grinned.

'Fantastic, I'll set it up for you,' she said, looking between the two of them. 'I think you'll be happy here.'

Nate made to deny the allegation that they were together with a abashed look on his face, but Jenny stopped him in his tracks when she simply said,

'I hope so,' to Sophie, and then looked at him.

His brow creased slightly, though he looked pleased, and Jenny merely shrugged. They didn't need to get into that just yet. Jenny didn't want him to have to explain their situation; it would just make things awkward as hell for all three of them, and it was a conversation she wanted to have at a later juncture, under her own conditions. She'd decided that she did in fact need a break, but she knew Nate would take some convincing.

Truth be told, so would she.

Things moved quickly.

The deal was settled within a matter of hours, and after Jenny had informed Dan and Serena of the good news, together they'd started moving her things over. They hadn't said anything, but Jenny knew they were thrilled to be able to start turning what had been her room into their nursery.

When they saw Jenny's new digs, Serena squealed.

'It's so you,' she said.

Jenny smiled wistfully and told them, 'Nate said the same thing.'

Dan and Serena had looked between one another, eyebrows raised all around.

'Nate?' Dan pressed, but Jenny merely shrugged.

'He helped me find this place.'

Serena appeared ready to burst, her smile was so big. 'He did?'

Jenny rolled her eyes, chuckling.

'Stop. We're trying to be friends again.'

'Does he know that?' Dan checked, leaning against the doorframe after placing a box labelled bedroom on the floor.

Jenny creased her brow, moving to pick up the box and take it through to the master bedroom.

'What do you mean?' She called.

Dan scoffed, and Serena threw him a warning look, which he ignored as Jenny came back through to the living room.

'Jenny the world and his wife know how Nate feels about you. I just want to make sure you know what you're doing.'

A teenage Jenny would have shouted, been rude, told him to mind his own damn business because she could make her own decisions. Twenty-something Jenny knew that would be childish, so she merely crossed her arms and remembered that yes, while Dan could sometimes be the most judgemental ass on the planet, it usually came from a place of love and she appreciated that.

'Dan, I know what I'm doing.'

'I'm just saying, it hasn't even been a month since everything with Carter, and I don't you to rush into anything else just yet unless you're sure.'

Jenny rolled her eyes playfully and threw an arm around his shoulders as Serena watched them.

'Look, brother of mine, I appreciate the concern, I really do. But Nate and I are in a good place and I want to keep it that way so, at least from my side, I'm not going to be pursuing anything. I've made that decision and I'm going to stick to it.'

Dan pulled a face, but chose not to say anything. He took Jenny's face in one hand and kissed her cheek. Serena came up and did the same on the other cheek, and Jenny grimaced as they pulled away laughing.

'Fly, little grasshopper,' Serena said, before pulling Jenny in for a squeeze. 'Congratulations.'

Nate was pacing.

It was a habit he'd developed in recent weeks, what with the tabloids spouting garbage about his morals and investors threatening to pull their funding, and not to mention the looks he would get when people recognised him on the street. Things had been hard but, thankfully, things seemed to be looking up.

Jenny had invited him to her new apartment for dinner, and to say he was excited was a tad bit of an understatement. He couldn't wait to see her, couldn't wait to hear what she had to say. But before that, he wanted to be sure this was the right move.

He cared about her.

So much.

But he needed to be certain this plan was the right one.

And so he found himself in Chuck's office at the Bass house, awaiting his illustrious friend.

'Nathaniel,' said Chuck as he arrived, closing the door behind him. He smiled. 'To what do I owe the pleasure?'

'I need some advice, or just someone to bounce some ideas off I guess?'

Chuck nodded as he took a seat in a brown leather armchair. 'Jenny?'

Nate nodded. How well Chuck knew him.

'She's invited me for dinner at her new place tonight,' Nate began. 'And I think this is going to be my last real chance to make something of it. We've been through so much…'

'You have. And your feelings are still strong, so that says a lot.'

'I don't know how to broach the subject with her. I mean…' Nate smiled as Jenny's face entered his thoughts. 'I'm in love with her.'

'Then what's the problem? Just tell her.'

Nate scratched the back of his neck, remember the last time he'd uttered those three words and how terribly she'd reacted. 'Didn't go so well last time.'

Chuck smirked. 'That's because your timing was terrible.'

Nate shrugged, 'I just wanted her to know.'

'And you still do?'

'Absolutely.'

'Alright,' said Chuck, leaning forward. 'I'll be perfectly honest with you, Nate. Things haven't run too smoothly for the two of you so far. The first thing you need to do is figure out where her head is; you don't want to risk scaring her off again.'

'That's the thing… when we were looking at apartments, the realtor said she hoped we'd be happy. We - as in us, as a couple - and Jenny didn't correct her. Just said thanks…'

Chuck watched him silently, an approving look on his face.

'Well then I just have one question,' he said, and Nate raised his eyebrows in anticipation.

'What the hell are you doing here with me?'

They spent most of their evening discussing the past; school, their friends and the constant will-they-won't-they between the four of them. Jenny laughed more than she had in the longest time, and Nate smiled so wide his cheeks ached by the time they even got to eating. The bolognese Jenny had concocted had been delicious, and the red wine to accompany it was a perfect choice. As Nate looked at her, dressed down in an oversized cream sweater, stud diamond earrings, with her hair atop her head in a messy bun, he was struck repeatedly by how relaxed she looked. How happy she seemed.

It had been a long time coming.

When they were finished, full of great food and wine and pushing midnight on the clock, after the plates had been cleared and washed and left to dry, Jenny led Nate over to the couch. They'd considered a second bottle of wine but Nate had declined, and he was sure he saw relief flash across her face. They settled on the couch, switched the television on for some background noise, and got to chatting some more.

Jenny lay her head back against the couch and closed her eyes.

'You remember when we were at school? All those times in between confusing feelings and kisses we didn't know the meaning of?' She couldn't see, but he was nodding. 'We were friends, and we were good at it.'

Nate felt his stomach twist. His mouth went dry.

'Being together today reminded me how easy things could be between us if we wanted them to be.'

She turned her head to him.

'Can we get back to that?'

Nate swallowed, trying to find his words.

'We can try.'

'Friends?'

Nate felt a weight in his chest, and his heart sank when he replied.

'Friends.'

She smiled a smile so glorious that it both broke his heart and mended it all at once.

Jenny stood on account of fetching them some snacks to watch a late night move. As she went, her eyes aglow with joy, he was taken back to the night they'd kissed for the first time, and how she'd smiled at him when they broke apart for the final time before heading their separate ways. She'd looked so happy, so light, so beautiful… If he'd known at the time how things were going to turn out, he never would have let go.

And here she was, walking away from him all over again.

So there we are... friends at long last. Is it the right decision? Can Nate and Jenny finally move on to a good place in one another's lives?

xoxo