A/N: Thank you for the interest and I hope you continue to enjoy the drabbles. This one is set approximately 3 years later. Please read and review.

It was the last week of summer before Blair headed back to Yale for her final year of studying law. Nate was still in the city working his ass off for his father; with very little reward. Serena was just being Serena, a smile here and ball gown there; she survived as Manhattan's 'It' girl and occasionally had a short guest role in a movie, but spent most of the time at galas and fundraisers wearing the most fabulous dresses that designers had made for her.

It was at one of Serena's infamous gatherings that Blair and Nate re-entered the same room for the first time since the beginning of last summer when their precarious long distance relationship had officially ended. Nate and Blair had reconciled at the end of freshmen year after his exploits at sea. They had gone back to being the perfect couple; only even more infatuated because Nate seemed to have done a lot of growing up. Blair too was growing up and as she grew up she realized how dependent she was on him and how much that restricted her. He too was fed up of only seeing her fleetingly during holidays and the odd weekend, what was there between them? It hadn't felt like much.

At least it hadn't felt like much until she saw him standing there, sexily brooding against a wall; dressed in the most perfect Dolce and Gabbana suit. She felt her heart flutter as he gazed back at her in amazement, marvelling at how perfect the silk tulle Giambattista Valli gown looked on her petit frame, shrouded by her dark locks. He smiled at her amicably and wandered over.

"Hey," he grinned. She smiled back warmly; he was still her friend even if they'd lost everything else.

"Hey."

"What's up?"

"I - I'm going back to school next week."

"Next week?" Nate asked in alarm and she nodded. "Guess we don't have long to hang out then."

"Nate," she said in a warning voice, her brow furrowing and a scared look crossing her face. She was going to reprimand him but she stopped and there was an awkward silence.

"I've missed you Blair."

"That's what you said last year," she said snidely. Nate was on the verge of pouring his heart out but stopped.

"Look how that ended up," he joked and Blair smiled. Just then they were called to dinner. "Can I at least escort you to dinner, or have I been replaced?"

"Nobody ever replaces their first love," Blair said in a matter of fact tone and Nate nodded as he always did when Blair gave him a rule he had to remember and took her arm in his.

Through dinner they sat side by side, although they didn't speak much. Nate was caught up in a conversation to his left and Blair was in one to her right. The conversation at Nate's end of the table slowly turned and he found himself eavesdropping on Blair.

"Well, I was planning to do a PhD in international law, you see I did this internship at the American Embassy in Paris and it's something I'm interested in."

"So you're thinking of going to Europe?"

"Most definitely," Blair smiled happily as if her life had just spanned out the way she had wanted it.

Nate had known about the internship in Paris; she'd talked to him about it a lot when she had returned and he could tell by the enthusiasm in her voice that she had had the best possible time. It had never occurred to him that she would pursue it. It had never occurred to him that she would live anywhere other than New York. Weren't they just playing a waiting game? He hadn't really envisioned what life was going to be like now; obviously Blair had. Blair had always liked plans, he had never really gone mad about them, but he liked that it was there. At least somebody knew where he was going. Now Blair had made a new plan, which wasn't featuring him and she was happy. Nate tried to switch off, but he couldn't help but hear Blair's excited gushes of laughter and the other few vague mentions that touched on her future career.

After dinner Nate waited until he saw Blair heading to the ladies, he waited outside for her. He knew exactly what was taking her so long and sure enough when she came out her lip gloss was smudged and her eyes looked watery.

"I only started again last summer," she whispered tearfully.

He took her hand and she smiled at him weakly. "Come on," he said hoarsely, winking at her.

She didn't even think as he jerked his head towards the balcony and tugged her hand firmly. She followed him through the crowd; holding his hand desperately tight. That was what she needed after episodes like that, a firm hand to hold hers. It was more reassuring than a hug and less awkward than a kiss that tasted of sick.

He pushed the door open and the cool air whipped Blair's long hair upwards like a dark haired angel's. "I want to show you something," Nate said taking both of her hands and leading her to the side of the balcony.

They were 35 floors above street level and the lights below twinkled like an explosion of stars. He took her to the edge and simply surveyed the city. "Don't you love it?" He asked quietly looking at her and she nodded silently as she stared down. They stood in silence for a time. "How can you bare to leave it?"

"I've got to finish school," Blair said quietly as she fiddled with her fingers.

Nate looked at her again. "Do you really want to go to Europe?" He asked abruptly leaning back from the railings in a carefree manner.

She looked up at him uncertainly.

"It's only a six hour flight, you'll never escape me."

Her lips broke into a tiny frozen smile.

"I don't think I can do this whole thing without you."

"I've missed you Nate," she whispered. "I want to be us again."

Nate enveloped her in a hug and she let his warmth radiate her. "We can be, this week, the holidays, spring, next summer and then forever. Even if you go to Europe I promise I'll come too."

"Cross your heart and kiss your elbow?"

"Of course; now what do you say to ditching this party and having our own party?"

A/N: PLEASE Review! I'll love you as much as Blair loves Nate forever!