Serena made her way into her favorite cafe, seeing the line already beginning to build up, as it was early on a Sunday morning and many were on their way to church. She wasn't on her way to church or on her way to anything, really. She was simply planning on taking her early morning Sunday walk on the beach, as that was the best time - when it was deserted. She sighed as she stepped into line, playing on her phone until she finally got to the front. She ordered her favorite hazelnut and mocha cappuccino and was digging around for her wallet inside her huge purse, when someone stepped in front of her. "I got it," he said, handing the cashier his credit card.

Serena looked up, surprised. "Thank you," she said.

The guy turned around to look at her and she immediately recognized him as the hot blonde guy from the bar last night. "No problem," Nate grinned at her.

"You," she said, a smile gracing her face as her eyes lit up. "Great to see you again."

"It's Nate, by the way. And you didn't even say hi!" Nate said, pretending to pout.

The cashier cleared her throat and the two, realizing they were still in the way of the line, stepped off to the side. "I'm sorry, I had to go," Serena said as they walked out of the cafe together. "Something came up with my mom." She paused. "Serena," she said awkwardly, realizing she hadn't told him her name either.

"Maybe you just didn't think I was cute enough to talk to me," Nate winked at her, as they walked down the sidewalk, side by side.

"Maybe," Serena smirked back. "But you didn't say hi either! It works two ways. Guess you weren't as brave as your friend. He must be very confident in himself to approach my friend that easily."

Nate chuckled. "Chuck is very confident. He has reasons to be. He's...something else," he said.

Serena shook her head. "I just hope he didn't leave Blair in too terrible of shape."

"I didn't hear anything last night," Nate said. "Then again, I was pretty high and was really into my video games, so I couldn't really tell ya."

Serena giggled. "Fair enough."

"So, where are you headed?" Nate asked, realizing they had been walking without a destination.

"Oh, every Sunday morning I go for a walk on the beach. I like the solitude. And then I go to Blair's to watch Tiffany's and I bring bagels but that idea is probably shot, seeing as she's watched that movie like a thousand times in the last few months."

"No way," Nate said. He looked really excited.

"Yeah, Blair likes Tiffany's," Serena shrugged.

"No," Nate laughed, squeezing his eyes shut. "That's not what I was saying that about. You take walks on the beach on Sunday's too!"

"Are you kidding me?" Serena asked, stopping mid-step. "Don't say that you do too!"

"Yeah, I do!" Nate laughed, throwing his hands up. "You caught me! I like my solitude too. It's the-"

"Best time to think," Serena filled in, with a smile. "Well, I'd better go. Maybe we can take a walk of solitude on the beach together sometime."

Nate pulled his cellphone out of his pocket. "Hey, what's your number? Maybe I can give you a call sometime."

"Sure! I'd like that," Serena said, giving him her number. "I'll see you later, Nate." She walked away from him with a flirty smile. Nate watched her go for a while. A few seconds later, she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. It was an unknown number. "Hello?" she answered it.

"Is it sometime yet?" Nate's voice came over the phone.

Serena smiled widely and turned around to look at him. He was already staring at her. "Catch ya later, cutie," she said, before hanging up the phone, shaking her head and walking away, giggling to herself.

Rufus awoke the next day with a pounding headache. The sun way coming through the blinds and his eyes roamed around, confused about his whereabouts. It took him a moment to realize that he was back at the loft, where his two adult kids were staying, where Lily had sent him yesterday. He sat up suddenly, which was not a very good idea, as his head pounded violently and his stomach churned. His head swam as he tried to piece together everything that had happened yesterday and last night. The whole day and evening was a complete blur. All he could remember was Lily...Bart...the divorce...coming here...going to the bar...meeting a strange but nice young lad...and that was all. He must have gotten drunk past the point of remembrance after that.

He slowly stood up and dragged his feet off to the shower. He turned the water on as hot as it would go, so the tiny bathroom was filled with steam and the water was so hot that it seared his skin and turned it bright red. He loved showers that were so hot they made him basically look like a lobster. They were soothing to the soul and really allowed him to think about things. He had a lot of thinking to do. Should he really try what this Nate kid had been trying to get him to? Maybe being with another woman was a good start to getting over Lily. Now that he thought about it, he wasn't sure he would ever get over Lily. She was his one great love and he would go to the ends of the earth for her - and he had, but it still wasn't good enough for her. He was never good enough for her. Apparently, the only person who was was Bart Bass.

So, maybe he should try meeting new women. Maybe someone would actually make him feel better, treat him right, appreciate him and all he did. And then it was decided. He would see if this Nate kid could actually help him or work wonders, as he swore he did.

He finished showering and got out, the smell of pancakes filling his nostrils. The smell made him want to gag, reminding him of Lily cooking breakfast for him. But he swallowed hard, getting dressed, and walking out into the kitchen. "Hello, darling," he greeted his blonde daughter, Jenny, who had way too much black eyeliner on for a father's liking. He kissed her on the cheek.

"Hey," she said, furrowing her eyebrows. "What are you doing here? I saw your stuff when I got home last night but you weren't here."

"Yeah, I came in late," Rufus said, taking a seat at the bar.

"Problems with Lil?" Jenny guessed.

"Yeah," he nodded. "I think we're getting a divorce."

"Oh my god, dad, I'm so sorry," Jenny said, concern evident in her voice and on her face.

Rufus did his best to smile at her, but he said nothing. The front door opened and his son, Dan, stepped in. "Sorry about what?" Dan asked, looking surprised to see his father sitting there. "What's going on, dad?"

"He thinks Lily wants a divorce," Jenny said.

"I know that she does," Rufus corrected. "She told me herself."

"Oh, no," Dan said sadly. "Did she say why?"

Rufus shrugged, deciding it was better not to tell the kids that she had slept with someone else, for the sake of the fact that maybe their marriage could somehow work itself out. It probably wouldn't but that didn't mean he should make his kids hate his wife. "She just said we both need some time apart to really think about our marriage." He picked up the newspaper and his eyes scanned it. "Why are you coming home in the morning?" he asked, looking at Dan suspiciously.

Dan opened his mouth to talk, but Jenny talked over him. "He was with a girl."

"Who?" Rufus asked.

Dan rolled his eyes and shot Jenny a dirty look. "Well, it wasn't Serena if that's what you're thinking. You know she and I ended a long time ago. Remember? When you and her mother decided to get married? I really wasn't into the idea of dating my step-sister."

Rufus shrugged. "Well, I just thought that maybe since my marriage with Lil was over that you two might try to get back together or something."

"Definitely not!" Dan replied. "She's way too complicated for me. I'm looking for someone more simple, someone who gets me, someone easy, someone like-"

"Vanessa," Jenny chimed in.

Dan shot her another look of annoyance.

"Wow," Rufus nodded. "My son's love life is better than my own."

Dan frowned. "I'm sorry, dad, I never should have said anything-"

"Don't apologize for being happy," Rufus shook his head. "Don't ever apologize for that." Dan nodded awkwardly before heading back into his bedroom and closing the door behind him. Rufus turned to Jenny, putting the newspaper down. "So...how are things with...that one guy?"

"Louis?" Jenny asked, a smile lighting up her face. "Things are really good! Though I know Serena isn't too happy with me and Blair especially isn't...Have you heard from Serena?"

Rufus shook his head. "I assume she'll probably take Lil's side on the matter."

Jenny frowned. "Dad, I know how close you and Serena got."

"Yeah, she's like my own daughter," Rufus agreed. "She told me a lot of stuff, personal things. She doesn't have a real dad, you know. He didn't want anything to do with her. So I became her dad, in ways. She even called me 'dad'." Rufus swallowed hard, trying not to let it bother him. "I just hope that I don't lose her, too."

"You won't," Jenny consoled her dad. "It's going to be okay."

Rufus nodded. "Well," he said. "I'd better get going."

Jenny raised her eyebrows at him. "Where are you going?"

"Just out with a friend."

"Dad… you don't have friends," Jenny laughed.

Rufus laughed with her. "Ha, good one. See you later, sweetie." He kissed her on the forehead and left the loft, pulling out his phone. He called Nate, who told him to meet him at the shopping mall.

They spent the entire day trying on suits and buying shoes and eating cheap pretzels and drinking icees. Rufus had to admit, it was quite fun hanging out with a younger guy. Nate reminded him a lot of his younger self, so free to explore the world. It was nice to have a reminder of being young. It almost made him feel young again. At the end of the day, Rufus had almost maxed out his credit cards buying new stuff.

"Now, what do you say we go to the bar again tonight?" Nate asked him.

"It's a Sunday night," Rufus said skeptically.

"Exactly," Nate said. "All the desperate women will be there looking for one last hook-up before the stressful week begins." He grabbed his shoulder. "You have a lot to learn, my friend."

Chuck woke up before Blair did. He realized she was still only in her bra and panties and shook his head at himself. He was quite surprised with himself that he was able to not throw himself at her all night while they just sat and talked. She was quite beautiful. Well, she was the most beautiful girl in the world. And they really had a connection last night. This was all really knew to Chuck. He wasn't used to actually wanting a girl to stick around the next morning. That just wasn't him. He smirked and got up to call room service. When he returned to the bedroom, he found he dressing herself in the black dress she had worn last night.

"Hey," he greeted with his deep voice.

Blair looked up to see him, surprised. "Oh," she said. "I thought maybe you were gone."

"I live here," Chuck said, a smirk still evident on his face.

"I guess that's true," Blair said, zipping up her dress and looking around for her shoes. Chuck pointed to the foot of the bed and she nodded and picked them up, forcing them onto her feet. "Thanks," she said. "And thanks for last night. I had a really good time." She didn't even smile as she pushed past him and walked toward the front door.

"You're leaving?" Chuck asked.

Blair turned to look at him, her hand hovering above the doorknob. "Yes?" She said, her brows furrowing together, clearly confused.

"But I just ordered breakfast," Chuck said. "For two."

"Tell them it will be for one," Blair said, placing her hand on the door. She wasn't even looking him in the eye.

"Blair," Chuck said, stepping toward her. "What's wrong? I thought we had some good talks last night. I thought we really connected."

Blair ignored his gaze again and played with the hem of her dress, smoothing out the crevices. "Well...I thought...maybe you would want me to go...since you, ya know...didn't get what you wanted," she said softly.

Chuck closed the space between them in a few long strides. His fingers were under her chin, forcing her head up, forcing her to look him in the eye. He searched her eyes, willing her to tell him all of the secrets hidden there. "I want you to stay," he said. "At least for breakfast. We can talk more, get to know each other better. I really want to know everything about you."

"Okay," Blair decided. She pushed past Chuck and walked back into the living room, sitting down on the couch. "So what do you want to know?"

"Hmm," Chuck thought, sitting down across from her, lying back, only his robe covering him. "Tell me about your first love."

"My first love?" Blair asked. "Or the boys I thought I was in love with?"

"Both," Chuck said.

Blair swallowed. "Okay. I was fourteen when I thought I fell in love for the first time and the way he talked into my ear tickled my insides and the way he moved made my knees wobble and shake and the way he touched my waist made my heart melt into a puddle and droop down into my lungs, willing the air I breathed right out of me."

Chuck watched her, fixated on her lips, the way she spoke, the way her words flowed out like poetry.

She smiled. "I was silly then, naive. Too young to know what love was. It was a short fling, lasted barely a few months, and he went away for college. He was much older than me. I haven't spoken to him since and I don't even really see what I saw in him at the time. But things change and people change."

"And the second time?"

"I was sixteen and it was a boy who made my heart smile so hard that it twisted my stomach and made my brain think so hard that it threatened to crush my skull with all of the things that it knew." She breathed out. "And that left as soon as it came. He moved away to Paris and wouldn't return my calls or texts, so I had to assume that was over."

"Is all you've ever known pain?" Chuck asked.

Blair looked at him, holding her finger up. "The last time I fell in love I was eighteen. It was a boy who made my heart threaten to push right through my chest, breaking my skin, spilling out onto the floor in front of me, taking the life right out of my body, leaving a heartless woman with twisted insides and a brain bigger than the heart that now lay on the floor. He made my bones feel so fragile and frail, threatening to snap and no longer this thing I call a body, leaving me in a puddle of simple matter on the wooden floor, where I would soak into its crevices and transfer my energy elsewhere, where I would not have to fall in love again."

"Was it that bad?" Chuck asked, breathless by her words.

Blair nodded. "We were together for several years. He left me for a girl a few years younger than me, a pretty blonde girl who wears a lot of eyeliner and it super into fashion. I guess she held some fascination that I didn't."

"I'll never see it," Chuck said.

Blair smiled at him. "That's sweet."

"This was recent, wasn't it?"

"Four months ago," Blair nodded, her lips tightening and her heart aching at the thought. "I haven't spoken to him since." Chuck nodded, his eyes focusing on hers, willing himself to never look away from her. "What about you?" Blair asked. "Ever been in love?"

"Once," Chuck admitted. "I met her in Paris when I spent the summer there with my father for an elongated business trip. She was an incredible girl, you know the kind of girl that really makes you think about who you are and who you want to be and everything you've done wrong and everything you want to do right. Her name was Eva. She was tan and beautiful and had a heart that was too big, too forgiving. She was a sweet girl. You know, the kind that would stop and give change to the homeless or pay for the person behind her's coffee or something. She was just so selfless and I never understood it. I always wished I could be like that but something inside me wouldn't allow it."

Blair's lips curled up in a small smile. "So what happened there?"

"I found out she was a prostitute," Chuck said. He expected Blair to laugh. She didn't. "It was silly for me to be upset, I know. I just didn't like the idea of other guys being with her the same way I was. I asked her to stop for me, she said she couldn't, said she needed the money. When I offered her a great sum of money and asked her to return to New York with me, she refused, said it was too much, that she could never take that from me. So then it was over. It was only a few short months but it felt like an eternity, with her. I didn't know if I would ever be okay after that, if I would ever stop missing her. She was like that one huge raindrop that really catches your attention at the way it splatters onto the windshield, the way it rolls down, leaving a huge path of water in its wake. In this case, it was a huge path of self-destruction that she left.

I started using drugs, drinking all the time, sleeping around. As time passed, I grew out of the drugs and partying habit, but I still drink and sleep around. Sometimes, I wish I didn't. But sometimes I feel like it's the only thing that can keep me distracted long enough not to remember."

"Do you still love her?" Blair asked.

It was only then that they both realized that Blair had scooted much closer to him, and their arms were now touching.

Chuck shook his head slowly. "No, I don't think I do. I think I just love the idea of her, or the idea of anyone, really, just being there for me, caring for me." He swallowed hard and leaned in to kiss Blair. Her lips met his, ready. It was a passionate, gentle, caring kiss, filled with words they only wished they could speak to each other. They understood each other, in a way that no one else could.

There was a light rap on the door and the two sprang apart. "Room service," Chuck said, standing up, rubbing the back of his neck. Heat crept up to Blair's cheeks. The door opened and a man with a white uniform rolled a cart in, that gave off delicious smells of crepes and other breakfast treats. Chuck took the cart from the man and dismissed him, rolling it over to Blair, whose stomach cued, as if on command. She giggled and so did Chuck. "Dig in," he requested, and she obliged.

Around ten, Serena decided to call Blair, to see if she was home yet, so she could stop by and they could have their traditional Sunday. Blair said she hadn't returned home yet but she would be leaving soon, so Serena stopped to grab some bagels to kill time and headed that way. When she arrived, Blair was there, sitting in the living room in the same clothes she had worn last night. "Ooh, scandalous," Serena said.

"Yeah," Blair scoffed. "That's about how I felt walking home. I got so many stares. Everyone probably thought I was a prostitute."

Serena rolled her eyes. "Come on, B. Everyone has to do the walk of shame at some point in their lives. At least you got it over with now. It makes the other ones much easier." Serena paused and laughed at herself. "That made me sound like a total slut."

"Walk of shame?" Blair asked, curiously.

"Yeah," Serena said, as she pulled Blair's favorite bagel and cream cheese out of the sack she was holding and handed it to her. Blair took it, though she had just eaten. She had to be polite, so she decided to eat this bagel, for Serena. "Like, when you sleep with a guy and have to sneak out the next morning." She grinned at Blair. "I want to hear all about it!"

"We didn't sleep together," Blair said.

Serena stared at her. "I don't believe you."

"Honest!" Blair said, throwing her hands up.

"Then why are you coming home in the middle of the morning still wearing the same clothes you were wearing last night?" Serena asked, eyeing her best friend suspiciously.

"We stayed up talking all night," Blair said. Serena gave her another look. "I'm serious! We really clicked and had a good time. We didn't sleep together. But we had a lot of fun."

"Oh," Serena said, as if she finally believed her. "Well, I guess that makes sense. Nate said he didn't hear anything. Anyway, I'm happy for you!"

"Wait, wait, wait," Blair said. "You talked to Nate today?"

"Yeah!" Serena said excitedly. "We ran into each other at the coffee shop! You won't believe it! He takes Sunday morning walks on the beach too."

Blair laughed hard. "You seriously believe that?"

Serena looked confused. "Yes?"

"Honey," Blair said. "You don't think it was just a line to make it look like you guys had much more in common than you do?"

Serena shrugged. "No, I guess I didn't think about it like that." She paused. "Anyway, he seemed pretty awestruck, so I believe him. He's so cute and he asked for my phone number." She winked as she spread cream cheese onto her bagel.

"That's awesome, S," Blair smiled at her best friend. "You wanna stay over tonight?"

"Well, that depends," Serena said. "Will we be watching Tiffany's for the millionth time because that movie is getting old."

Blair feigned being hurt. "No, I think I'm done with Tiffany's for a while. How about a comedy? Or a few? We can just pig out on snacks and watch stupid movies and talk about boys just like the old days." Her face lit up. "Oh, please, it would be so much fun!"

"Okay, I'm in," Serena agreed.

"Hey, by the way, is your mom okay?" Blair asked. "I heard about the divorce."

"Yeah," Serena sighed, running her hand through her long blonde wavy hair. "I don't think she's taking it very hard. I mean, she is the one that suggested it in the first place. I guess she made a mistake...slept with Bart Bass."

"Chuck's father?" Blair asked, scrunching up her face.

"What?" Serena asked, seeing the look on her face.

"He's not a good person," Blair said. "I just hope she doesn't get caught up with him."

"She doesn't want to be with him," Serena replied. "She loves Rufus, she just can't handle being with him after what she did to him. She wanted to give him some time to decide if it was worth it. She's doing this for him, believe it or not."

"Poor Rufus," Blair said. "I bet he's taking it pretty rough."

Serena nodded. "I would think so. He really loved mom. I think I'll give him a call, actually, see how he's doing." She pulled out her phone and called him. "Hey, dad," she greeted him, which brought a smile to his face.

"Hey, honey, good to hear from you," Rufus said.

"How are you doing?" Serena asked, sucking in her breath. "I heard about what happened with mom. I'm really sorry."

"I'm doing okay," Rufus said. "Trying my best." He paused before adding. "How is your mom, by the way?"

"She's good," Serena said. She knew that probably wasn't what he wanted to hear. She bit her lip. "I just want you to know that if...if you need anything, I'm still here. Even if you and mom aren't together, you were a dad to me when my biological father never was, and it means so much to me that you just accepted me as your own."

"Of course, sweetie," Rufus said. "Thank you."

"We should do lunch tomorrow," Serena suggested.

"I would love to," Rufus replied, satisfied with the fact that at least he hadn't lost Serena, too.

"Okay," Serena said. "I'll see you then. Love you." She hung up the phone and looked at Blair. "He sounded like a mess. But better than I expected. Maybe this break will do him good, too."

Blair nodded understandingly. "I just hope everything works out for both of them. I love your mom and Rufus is a really good guy. Even though I can't say that much for how his children turned out."

Serena sighed. "Oh, Blair, don't start with Jenny again. Haven't you bashed her enough?"

Blair gave her a look. "It's only enough when I say it's enough, Serena. Have you ever had a boy leave you for someone else?" Serena said nothing. "I didn't think so. It's hard, okay? I loved Louis."

Serena shrieked and grinned a wide grin.

"WHAT!?" Blair asked, shocked, as she jumped a million miles out of her skin. "You scared the shit out of me!"

"You said loved," Serena said. "Past tense."

"I did?" Blair asked, surprised at herself. "Yeah, I guess I did." She smiled to herself, feeling pretty good about herself for the first time in a while.

"Wow," Serena said. "I'm impressed. That Chuck guy must have really gotten to you."

"I like him," Blair admitted.

A/N: Okay, there's chapter two for ya. I know this chapter wasn't anything special. I just wanted to build up on the friendships between Serena and Blair and the new-found one between Nate and Rufus! I also really wanted to get into Nate and Serena interacting a little more. I promise there will be more interaction between them in future chapters and all my Rufly fans need to hang in there, it's coming! My favorite part about writing this chapter was the descriptions between Chuck and Blair about ex-lovers. It was really fun. Let me know what you think!