The door to Nate's bedroom opened early that next morning and he felt the dull headache of a hangover as he squinted his eyes. He felt her presence before he saw her, and she was back, just like he said she'd be. "You're back," Nate said. "I knew you would be." He smiled up at her.

Serena rolled her eyes. "I'm not here for that. Not today."

"So what are you here for?" Nate asked, propping himself up on his elbows. "I'm sure it's not to tell me that you're sorry about last night?"

Serena shook her head. "No. I'm not sorry about last night, Nate. I was right."

"You were?" Nate asked, confused. He never had to try this hard to get Serena back in his arms. She was usually so easy. At the same time, extremely complicated. "Serena, I'm sorry, okay? What else do you want me to do?"

"I want you to tell Blair about us," Serena said.

Nate sat up, suddenly realizing this was serious now. "Serena, you know we can't do that. I love Blair. That doesn't mean I'm in love with her. But she's so easy to be with that I don't really think I would mind spending the rest of my life with her. But then I look at you and I realize that it would be even better to spend my life with you...But I can't. Blair would hate me. Blair would hate you. Is that what you really want?"

"So what do you want to do, then? Sneak around forever until one day she catches us? Face it, she's not stupid. She's going to find out eventually. She's Blair Waldorf." Serena said, frustrated that Nate just wasn't getting it.

Nate looked at the ground, his facial features telling a story that he was sad. "I guess we really only have the next month and a half before the wedding to get over each other, Serena..." He sounded like a small child who wanted nothing more than to be forgiven for their mistakes and misjudgments.

"And then?" Serena inquired.

"And then it's over," Nate looked up at her, his eyes meeting hers. He felt a spark run between their eyes, as if something invisible kept them there, kept them locked on each other. "It has to be."

He watched as Serena's eyes filled with tears, threatening to pour over onto her flawless doll-like face. He prayed they wouldn't spill, prayed they wouldn't tarnish her beautiful features. But they would. They always did. He wanted to hold her tight, kiss the top of her blonde hair, inhale the familiar scent of strawberries, keep her from hurting. But this was an ache he could not put to rest for her, a void he could not fill. He realized now that he was not a man enough for neither Blair or Serena and he didn't deserve either one of them. And that douche-y facade collapsed down upon him, pummeling him with all of the memories and emotions he had ever had toward either of the two girls. He watched it like a movie in his head - his first kiss with Blair, the excitement, the static, the love. The first time he told her he loved her, dramatic, relieving, satisfying. The first time they made love, romantic, passionate, perfect. And then...the first time he kissed Serena, the intensifying shock, the heat, the need. The first time he told her he loved her, so meaningful, deep, true, real. He opened his eyes, taking in the room around him once again, pushing himself out of his memories, as a single tear slipped down his cheek.

It was then he realized that Serena was gone. For how long, he wasn't sure. She must have slipped out sometime during the movie of mistakes and heartbreak playing through his head. Her words echoed through his head. "And then?...And then?...And then?..." over and over again, like a broken record, stuck on the same spot, like his heart was stuck on the same space of time. He sat down on his bed, hard. Serena's words were now taken over by Blair's words, powerful, strong, "Of course. Who else? Of course. Who else?" And now their words were battling in his head, just like the two of them were fighting for life in his heart. His heart thundering in his chest was the only thing that let him know that he was alive. Everything was silent around him, nothing moved, and he was numb.

He must have stayed in that spot for hours, until Chuck was rapping on his door. Chuck was smiling and then the smile vanished, as he immediately realized that something was wrong. "What?" Chuck asked, patting Nate gently on the shoulder, sitting on the bed next to him. Nate didn't even look at him. "What happened, man? What's wrong?"

"Everything," Nate croaked out. "Absolutely everything."

"Well, tell me about it," Chuck said. "Start from the beginning."

Nate took a deep breath. Inhaled, exhaled. Inhaled, exhaled. Tried to remain calm. "I love Blair," he said, as calmly as he could muster. "But I don't think I'm in love with her. I think I am in love with the idea of Blair and all that comes with her. She's really an amazing girl and I don't know why I'm not in love with her. But I think I could be, if I tried."

"Now, Nathaniel," Chuck started. "I am without a doubt no expert on love and romance, but I do know that you can't force feelings and you definitely can't force love." It was truly killing him to see Nate like this. It was terrible. He had just broken. And though things had been rough between them lately, he was still his brother, through and through.

"But now I've lost Serena," Nate said.

Chuck paused, really thinking about what to say next.

Nate took this as his key to keep talking. "So, yeah. I think I'm going to go to Blair's. I need some comfort right now, she would really do me some good. She's such a good listener, she always knows what to say. She's got such a kind soul, and she puts up with all the shit I've put her through. I'm just now realizing that I had two great things in my life - Serena and Blair. Now that Serena's gone, I only have Blair left to pick up the pieces. And I'm just going to have to be okay with that." He stood up. Chuck didn't try to stop him, didn't tell him what his heart was telling him to. He should have shouted: "Wait, I love her! Please don't take her further away from me than you already have!" But he didn't. He sat still and quiet on Nate's bed, his heart hammering in his chest.

When he heard the door close, he stood up and poured himself a glass of scotch and did what Chuck Bass was best at, drinking away his sorrows. Before noon, he was already drunk out of his mind, stumbling around the suite, more drunk than he'd ever been in his life. Nate had already come back home and gone again, murmuring something about going to stay his mother's for a while. Chuck had hardly paid attention. How could he? Nate had just taken Blair again...even though she was never really Chuck's to begin with. But he'd wanted her to be. Oh, how he'd wanted her to be. She was so beautiful, so pure, so elegant. She was the only light he had in this dark world. But he couldn't have her.

And maybe that was for the best. That would hurt his friendship with Nate, ruin the relationship between Nate and Blair. He was a terrible friend, falling for his best friend's fiance. But then again, Nate wasn't the most faithful man to Blair either. And Chuck could have been, he truly would have been. He would have treated her like she was the most precious thing in his life - because she was.

The next few days flew by in a blur of drunken stupor. After a while of stumbling around drunk, Chuck called Serena. She answered with a soft sniffle and he knew she'd been crying. "You okay, sis?" he slurred.

"Chuck, you're drunk," Serena said. "It's hardly even one and you sound wasted. And yeah, I'll be alright. Nate and I...called it quits today. I don't know why it hurts so bad. He wasn't ever mine in the first place. He always belonged to Blair. Always. I should have just let him be. I shouldn't have kissed him that first time at that wedding. I shouldn't have let things go this far. B is my best friend. She's the most amazing girl I know. And I just wanted to tear her apart and I really can't figure out why."

Chuck said nothing, just listened to his sister talk, admiring the way she talked about Blair.

"He was never mine, Chuck. That's what hurts the most."

"I understand," Chuck said.

"You do?" Serena asked.

"I do," Chuck said.

And that was all she needed. Realization washed over her like a flood and she suddenly felt pity. Chuck hadn't just been the pervy girlfriend-stealer trying to get between his douche of a best friend and Blair. He was in love with her. And anyone who couldn't see that was blind. And then she realized that it had been so obvious, in the way he looked at her. So obvious that she was forced to wonder how no one had seen that sooner, and how Blair hadn't noticed it. Nate was different, carefree, of course he didn't notice that. But Blair. She was so observant, so desperate for love and affection.

"The wedding is in two weeks," Serena said softly.

"Has time really gone that fast?" Chuck asked.

Serena gave a little hiccup of a giggle. "Yeah, I guess it has." She paused. "I guess we're gonna have to just put on some fake smiles for the ceremony."

"I guess so," Chuck said. He felt a sting of pain at even imagining Blair walking down the aisle to Nate's arms, as he just stood so casually to the side. "How can we do this, sis? How can we still be friends with the people we love and watch them in misery?"

"Love hurts," Serena said. "You take risks for the people you love. We love them. So we have to."

"I guess you're right," Chuck said. "As long as Blair's happy, I'm happy."

"Same with Nate," Serena said softly.

They didn't say anything more. They just sat in silence for a while until one of them finally hung up. After the phone call, Serena and Chuck both felt a little better. Chuck sobered up, read the newspaper, and made a few calls to reschedule business meetings to sooner dates to get the ball rolling. He really needed to keep busy to keep his mind off of things for the next two weeks. Serena took it upon herself to do a little retail therapy shopping and maxed out one of her credit cards. She then, carefully making sure Nate wasn't there and wouldn't be there, stopped by Blair's and hung out with her while watching Tiffany's and doing some wedding planning.

When Serena left Blair's, she got a phone call from Nate. She answered if after a long moment of consideration. She would at least hear out what he had to say, give it some consideration. "Yes, Nate?"

"Serena!" Nate said. "I'm so glad to hear your voice." When she didn't respond, he continued. "Serena, I'm sorry about earlier. I was talking nonsense…"

"No," Serena stopped him. She wasn't letting herself fall for him again. Not this time. "I'm a terrible best friend, Nate. In a couple of months, I'm going to be walking down the aisle at your wedding. And not as your bride, either. As your bride's maid of honor. I can't do this anymore, Nate. I'm sorry." She hung up the phone, satisfied with her willpower, but disgruntled at the fact that her heart was breaking into a million more, smaller pieces.

That same evening, Blair stopped by Chuck's on her way back from dinner with her mother. She stepped into his bedroom to see him laying on his bed in his purple, silk robe. He hadn't the slightest idea she was there, so she knocked on the side of the door and he looked up. "Hello, Blair," he said.

"Hi," she squeaked back.

He sat up. "Are you alright?"

"Of course," Blair said. "There's just - um - something I needed to talk to you about."

"Which is?" Chuck mused, trying to act like he didn't care, but in reality, his heart was bursting inside of his chest. Blair didn't answer him, just ran into his arms, collapsing in his grip. He held onto her tightly, becoming her support. "Blair, what's the matter?" He finally broke down, finally showed that he cared.

"I'm afraid I'm making a mistake," Blair said softly, tears streaming down her face. "Am I?"

Chuck sighed. "To me, yes. But that's up to you."

"Why do you think I am?" She asked desperately, needing some kind of answer for all of this.

"Because you don't love Nate," Chuck said. "And you deserve a happy life with someone that you love, who loves you in return just as much. I would hate to see you settle for someone you aren't in love with, Blair. Even if you don't end up with me, you shouldn't marry him. You owe it to yourself to make sure you're happy with your choices, Blair. Are you happy?"

Blair looked at him, awestruck. She didn't answer his question. "Did you say you wanted to be with me?"

Chuck didn't answer her question either. "Just promise me you'll think about it," Chuck said. "Don't settle. And try to be happy." He kissed her on the forehead, like he had done so many times before.

Blair took this as he cue to go and stood up, stumbling out of his apartment, tears blurring her vision. Chuck immediately regretted not telling her how he felt, though he was positive that she knew anyway. Either that, or she was entirely the dumbest human being on the planet.

Chuck was sitting down for lunch the next day when he got a phone call from Nate. "Hello? Long time no talk, Nathaniel. How have you been? Where have you been?"

"I'm good. I've been at my mom's. I just needed some time to clear my head."

"Feel better?"

"Yeah, I do."

"How'd the talk with Blair go after you left that day?" Chuck asked, not really caring in the slightest, but wanting to hear something about her.

"Not good, man," Nate replied.

"Really? Why not?" Chuck asked, his ears perking up.

"Well, it could have been worse, I guess," Nate said. "The wedding's still on but when I got there she was crying and I asked her what was wrong and she said she was still trying to get over someone else and that we should just keep some space in between us until the wedding to make it easier on both of us." He paused. "Who the hell is she trying to get over is all I'm wondering. I didn't know there was anyone. I mean, I can't be mad because I did it too but it's a little embarrassing that I didn't know. I wonder if they were sleeping together."

"No," Chuck said, before he realized that sounded weird. "Blair wouldn't do that." He swallowed hard.

"Hey, have you heard from Serena?" Nate asked.

"I have," Chuck said. "She's doing swell. I'll let her know you asked."

"Thanks, man," Nate replied. "Well, I'll get off here. See you at the wedding?"

"I'll be there," Chuck replied. He hung up the phone and calmly sat it down on the table, those his insides and his brain were going haywire. Blair was hung up on him? Well, he was sure she wasn't now but she had been…

The front door opened. "Serena!" Chuck called, surprised. "I thought we weren't seeing each other until later on tonight."

"Hi," a different voice chirped.

Chuck's head snapped up. It was Blair. She was here. She was right in front of him. She looked as beautiful as ever and that made it sting a little more. "Blair," he breathed out. "What are you doing here?"

"You've been ignoring my texts all day," Blair replied. "I was just wondering if you were...okay."

Chuck looked down at his phone. "Oh, sorry. I've been on the phone with Nate and before that I was speaking to some reps from London. Sorry you thought I was ignoring you, but I wasn't. It's just been a busy day."

"Oh," Blair said, looking down at her feet.

"Is that all?" Chuck asked.

Blair started to shuffle her feet all nervous-like and Chuck thought it was really cute. She looked up at him, meeting his eyes that were already waiting for hers. "Look, Chuck," she said. "I know things have been weird between the four of us lately and I hate it. I'm just wondering if you're hurt or upset or anything."

Chuck stood up. "Now you care?"

"What?" Blair asked, shocked.

"This is the moment you choose to care about how I feel?" Chuck asked. Blair looked confused. "Where were you when you knew that I loved you? Why didn't you care then?"

"Chuck what are you-" Her eyes went wide. "Did you just say you loved me?"

Chuck shook his head. "It doesn't matter, Blair. Nothing matters. Just like it didn't matter enough to you to tell me that you felt the same way about me."

"What did you want me to do!?" Blair asked. "That would have made things so much more complicated than they had to be."

"So you lied rather than telling me the honest truth?"

"I'm sorry! I just - I just didn't know what to do and everything was crashing down around me and it's all be so hectic. I love what I have with Nate. Even if it's not true love, I'm in love with the relationship we share. He's my best friend. I don't want to lose him, not like this, not for this reason."

"This reason?" Chuck demanded.

"I thought it might be easier that way. Chuck, please don't be mad at me. I really never wanted to hurt you, I just wanted to keep things simple between the four of us-"

"SIMPLE!?" Chuck bellowed back at her, snapping. "How in the hell is this simple!? I'm in love with you and you're with someone who's sleeping with your best friend, when that's ridiculous because you're in love with me!"

"You're in love with Chuck?"

Blair and Chuck both whipped around to see Nate standing in the doorway, an appalled and heartbreaking look on his face.

A/N: Sorry, short chapter. And sorry as well for how poorly this chapter is written! I know it jumps around a lot and gets kind of confusing, but this is a very confusing scenario between the characters. So, now we've heard a little more from Nate, so hopefully all of my Nate fans are feeling a little better about him! R&R.