A treat for all you N/S fans!

Serena huffed, blowing her fringe up out of her eyes. She glanced over at Nate who was messing around with a tea spoon in front of him. The clock on the wall chimed half four and waiters began pouring tea for the many guests sat around the room.

Afternoon tea had officially began yet Chuck and Blair were still no where to be seen.

"Where are they?" Serena picked up a Danish from a silver cake stand in the middle of the table. "They're never late for tea."

Nate looked up from his spoon, staring at the two empty seats as if realising for the first time that they weren't there. "You know Blair and Chuck; they're probably 'busy' in his suite."

Serena gave an involuntary shudder as images popped up in her head. She offered a plate of sandwiches to Nate who took three of the largest ones and placed them next to a small pile of sugar cubes he had built up.

"What monument are we going for this time?"

"Thought I'd be a bit adventurous and go for the Arc de Triomphe."

Serena nodded thoughtfully and picked up a handful of cubes from a little bowl in front of her. "Here are some of mine, if you need anymore just shout."

Nate grinned as he stuck two cubes together with some of the clotted cream next to the teapot. Serena watched him as he began to build up one of the walls.

After watching for about two minutes Serena realized that without Chuck trying to knock Nate's efforts over and Blair helping her to steal sugar from the other tables, watching Nate build his sugar cube monument was slightly boring.

"Need any help? I could start building the other wall or something."

Nate nodded, still concentrating on his task. Serena started to lie out the cubes in the same pattern as Nate, leaning over him to steal some cream.

"Sad to be heading back to Brown soon?"

"After the whole boarding school thing I'm kind of used to leaving town for a bit. Plus I know that you'll all be up to see me on Wednesday."

"Ah it's Chuck's turn isn't it. Can't wait to see his offering."

"As long as it's not The Dark Knight again. I don't care what he says; batman movies will never appeal to those of us who can list three children's films as their top favourites."

Nate chuckled as he sized his wall up against Serena's. She bent low to the table, comparing each at a different angle.

"I think my side needs a bit more. Though yours looks a bit less stable."

Nate poked his with a fork, watching it wobble a bit. "Hmm I think you might be right."

They continued to work for a bit, stopping to sip on their tea. Without the other two it had seemed slightly pointless to add any whiskey to the tea. Plus Nate liked to work sober so that he could have a steadier hand.

"So it was fun dancing at your moms wedding the other day."

"Yeah it was, just like old times."

"Yet it wasn't was it."

"The tango just didn't feel appropriate. Besides I like slow dancing with you."

"Well I am very talented at it; no one can really deny that."

Serena snorted in agreement, which caused Nate to explode with laughter, knocking down half of his wall in the process.

"Oopsie daisy!"

Nate groaned, picking up the remains of fifteen minutes work and starting again. He attempted to shut out the giggles that were issuing from the blonde sat next to him.

She watched as he attempted to fix the mess he had caused, edging her creation away from him in case he took revenge on her half.

"I don't know why you're doing that S, technically that half belongs to me too."

Serena paused to consider what he had just said and taking the opportunity to take another look around for their friends.

"Whilst that is entirely true it is obvious you can't be trusted with even your own creation. Which is why I'm keeping this safely over here."

"Is that so?" Nate grinned at Serena before leaning across her and tapping her wall with his knife. As it collapsed he took the opportunity to gloat. "What was that S? Your side is more stable than mine?"

She stuck her tongue out at him, popping a sugar cube into her mouth as she smiled back at him.

"Perhaps we should give up on the sculpture session today. These sandwiches are divine; I should ask Chuck to pass my compliments over to the chef."

"If he ever appears."

"It must be something important to keep them away. If I remember Blair hated being late for tea. She used to call me up during her shopping trips to check I was up yet."

"You do realise Blair tends to shop around 10.30 am on a Saturday right?" Serena sipped her tea and cocked her head to the right as she gazed at Nate over the rim of her teacup.

"Which is why I used to be surprised every time she did it."

Nate finished off his third sandwich and was just about to pick up a fourth when two very familiar brunettes appeared at their table.

"So sorry we're late!" Blair smiled as she took the seat next to Serena. "Did we miss any gossip?"

As she shook her head, Serena could have sworn that she saw Blair send a disappointed look towards Chuck. She hid it well as she turned back to her other friends. "I guess if anything juicy had happened then we would have heard from another source." She indicated towards her phone next to her plate.

Chuck studied Nate's plate with a look of mild recognition.

"What was it this time?"

Nate followed Chuck's gaze to the pile of sugar cubes in front of him. "The Arc de Triomphe. Unfortunately we suffered from a…disturbance."

"Nate knocked it over with his amazing laughter abilities."

"Impressive. I think I still have the picture of your leaning tower of sugar on my wall at home." Blair pointed towards the mess in front of them. "Perhaps we could call it Pompeii after the volcano."

"Nathaniel, whatever you choose to do with your life, don't give up Columbia in favour of art school."

"Aw and to think I was going to ask my dear new stepfather if he fancied doing an exhibit on sugar sculptures."

"I don't think even Rufus would go for Nate's 'creations', and I've seen the art he displays at that gallery." Blair grimaced as if the idea of a Brooklyn art gallery was too horrific to bear.

Serena swatted Blair on the arm. "Hey that's my new stepfather you're bitching about!"

"Actually technically I'm bitching about his ex-wife's art." Blair raised her eyebrow at Serena. "You forget I've met that woman, which gives me full rights to bitch about her 'art'. Anyone who insults Lily is not worth my time."

"Thanks B, and you know that I er, support your father in all his endeavours."

"Couldn't think of anything nice to say about Eleanor?"

"I tried but it can be quiet difficult when you never say anything nice about her."

"She can throw one hell of a party."

"Thanks Chuck, that's very helpful."

"She has fantastic ambition."

"I often wonder if that's a good thing when it comes to my mother, but that's true Nate."

"Ooh I know!" Serena announced. "She has the best taste in shoes ever!"

Blair smiled and patted Serena's hand in her most patronising manner. "Thank you S, I will pass your sentiments on."

Blair looked at the clock and sighed. "Chuck darling we should get going soon, I promised Cyrus I would be home in time to see them before they head to Paris."

Chuck furrowed his brow in confusion before looking between his watch and the clock. It took him a second to realise what the look in his girlfriend's eyes meant.

"Ah absolutely. No need to get up you two."

Nate and Serena watched as they made an exit so abrupt it rivalled their arrival.

"I often wonder if tradition means anything to those two."

"Oh well, screw them. Let's head to the bar instead and get absolutely wasted. I have to go back to Brown tomorrow."

Nate stood up and offered his hand to Serena. "What a fantastic idea Miss Van Der Woodsen shall we?"

"Well thank you Mr Archibald."