Nate gave the detective a small smile once their short conversation was over. "I'm sorry we can't be of much help."

He stood up. "I'm sorry too. I guess it's no use talking to Mr. Bass and Ms. Waldorf."

Nate nodded in agreement. "I guess not."

Nate walked the detective to the door and watched him take the elevator down. He quickly ran back to the room and opened the door to watch Damien struggling for his words.

"I don't know! The Murdoch boys give me the supplies I ask for."

The four of them looked at each other. The Murdoch boys were very attractive, wealthy, triplets that were a few years ahead of them in St. Judes. Sebastian, Lucas, and Weston. Each of who held a personal grudge against one or more of the four of them. Chuck was silent…was this it? Was it the Murdoch boys who were responsible?

"I didn't kill her. That's all I know. When she showed up missing in the news, I was scared the police would question me because I was the last seen with her. My dad…he's just about ready to cut me off, I had to run."

Serena looked over at him. "When you came back a few months ago, you were looking for something desperately… what was it?"

"Georgina had stolen a bunch of…product from the Murdochs! They were pissed, looking for it like crazy. They blamed me since I'd brought her in as a customer. She stole almost 100 grand worth. And they were gonna take it out on me. I couldn't afford to pay that off, I had to pawn some of my grandma's jewelry. And I paid it off but it wasn't enough for them, they didn't want people thinking it was easy to steal from them."

"Why are they taking it out on us? The text messages! Why do they keep harassing us?"

Damien shrugged. "I don't know!"

"How can I get to them?"

"I'm meeting them tonight. If I don't deliver their money they're gonna be pissed. I'll try to find out more for you, I swear. I will!"

…

Once Damien was gone, Serena took Nate's hand and led him into one of Chuck's empty bedrooms. She tried to smile for him but he knew her too well.

He kissed the palm of her hand. "It's gonna be okay."

She nodded. "I hope so." A tear betrayed her and rolled down her cheek.

Nate wiped her tear off with his thumb. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her softly on her cheek, her lips, her forehead.

Serena smiled as Nate kissed her neck. She giggled. "Stoppp…you know I'm ticklish."

Nate smiled at her. "Just wanted to hear you laugh." He sat on the edge of the bed and let out a deep breath. "That was a close one."

Serena walked over to the bathroom and turned on the water. "How about a bath?"

Serena watched as the tub filled up with water and as Nate stripped and climbed in. She poured a few drops of bubble bath and climbed in after him.

They sat facing each other in silence. Serena rubbed Nate's calves softly and he took her foot and massaged it.

Blair and Chuck knocked before opening the bathroom door. Serena was glad the bubbles covered them from neck down. Blair held out a bottle of wine and Chuck handed them each a glass.

Blair, in a rare break from elegance, sat on the bathroom floor with her legs crossed in front of her. Nate scrunched up his face in mock disgust. "I can see your underwear."

Blair let her jaw drop, hiding the smile forming on her face. "Nuh-uh! I'm wearing shorts!" She drew up her skirt only to realize that she was in fact not wearing shorts. Her face turned red and she repositioned her legs behind her and smoothed out her skirt.

Chuck let out a loud laugh and soon they were all laughing hysterically They laughed like they had no worries, because they were 12 again, drinking a bottle of cider that they pretended was champagne, and they'd steal expensive glasses from Blair's mother, and they'd toast to being friends forever.

….

Serena woke up to the sound of the shower running. She opened the bathroom door slightly to see the outlines of Nate's body. She stood at the doorway admiring him and bit down on her bottom lip softly.

Nate poked his head out and splashed warm water her way. "Are you just gonna stand there? Come."

Serena stripped down instantly and hopped in the shower. She stood under the hot water as Nate shampooed his hair. Everything had been going so great lately and she refused to do anything to mess it up. She grabbed the loofah and washed Nate's back softly.

There was a knock in the door and Mrs. Archibald poked her head in. "Nate? Hurry up in there! I need to talk to you." She was quiet for a second. "Hello Serena."

Nate rolled his eyes as the door closed. She gave her an apologetic look. "I'm gonna go talk to her."

He hopped out of the shower and pulled boxers and pants on before walking downstairs. "What's up mom?"

She shot him a glare and poured herself a drink. "I'm sorry to interrupt you…"

Nate knew she wasn't but he held back his snarky comment. "What did you want to talk about?" He grabbed an apple laying on the counter and bit into it.

"I need you to accompany to a charity event tonight. Your father can't make it. That's all."

"I can't tonight, Mom. I have to –"

"Nathaniel, I wasn't asking you. Besides, you can reschedule with Serena. You're with her day and night anyway."

Nate knew he wasn't going to get out of it. He nodded annoyingly and marched back upstairs.

Serena sat at the edge of the bed combing through her long hair. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah. She's making me go to a charity event with her tonight."

"Tonight? But tonight's when Damien is –"

"I know. But you know how my mother is…"

Serena frowned. "Great."

Nate kissed her forehead. "Chuck will be there. And Blair. Everything is gonna be fine. And I'll get there as soon as I can get away."

"Okay." She looked around the room. "I could really go for waffles. Can't you?"

Nate nodded and pulled a shirt on. "Let's go."

…

Serena walked into her penthouse and planted a kiss of Lily's cheek. "Hey."

Lily looked pleasantly surprised. "Hello, Serena. I wish you'd greet me like that all the time." She stood up and hugged her. She was glad Serena was in such a good mood lately...she seemed genuinely happy.

"I just came to change. I'm going out with Chuck and Blair. But I'll be home tonight. I promised Erik we'd stay up late watching Pulp Fiction."

Lily nodded. "Great. I'll make sure there's popcorn. Is Nate not going out with you guys?"

Serena shook her head carelessly. She popped a grape in her mouth. "No. His mother is dragging him to some charity event…which I'm surprised you're not going to…anyway, make it kettle corn?"

Lily shrugged. "Well, I very well cannot attend them all. And kettle corn it is. Have fun. I'm going to take a bath."

Serena slipped into a tight black dress with nude heels. She pulled on a few bracelets and rubbed some product on her hair to make it shiny. She heard her phone ring and Chuck's voice on the other end. "We're here. Serena…I'm so sorry but there was only one spot. And you're the only one who was gone that year…they won't suspect you."

…

Sebastian Murdoch's jaw dropped when he saw the beautiful blonde approaching him. He quickly regained his composure and gave her a cold look as she approached him. "You lost?"

Serena made eye contact and shook her head. "No I want in."

"There's one opening. If you can give me the buy-I, upfront. Ten grand."

Serena pulled out ten packets of bills from her purse. "Done." She smiled at him. "Now…where are the drinks?"

He cleared his throat and led the way back to the elevator and pressed the top bottom. He glanced at her sideways. "I'm Sebastian."

Serena was silent for a few seconds. It was perfect because it made him think she was uninterested when really she was just trying to steady her voice. "I didn't come here to make friends. I came here to win."

He let out a small chuckle. The elevator doors opened. "After you."

Serena walked out to find a big room with a poker table in the middle. She was the last one to arrive. Sebastian was the only Murdoch there, the one with the soft spot for blondes and the weakest link, according to Chuck. There was a bartender with a small, but very stocked bar to the side and furniture pushed to the side.

Serena took the empty seat and turned to Sebastian. "I'll have a martini."

Sebastian shot her a dirty look but he was amused. "I'm not a waiter."

Serena ignored him. "Extra dry."

He rolled his eyes and walked towards the bar, then walked back and took his seat next to her.

She'd spent the last few weeks rehearsing with Chuck. She wasn't winning but she wasn't losing. She was playing well enough to be there all night. She kept ordering round after round for everyone, then tossing most of hers to the plant nearby.

Sebastian stretched out his arms after a couple of hours. "How about a break? Meet back here in 30."

Serena waited until everyone, including the bartender left the room. Sebastian walked over to the bar. "You don't have to stay here."

Serena shrugged. "I have nowhere else to be. I'm Serena."

"Ah, so there is a name." He was drunk all right. He turned to her. "You're quite the…" He cleared his throat and tried to compose himself. "Who sent you?"

"Damien. We met through a mutual friend a couple years ago. Just reconnected. He told me this was a good form of entertainment."

Sebastian rolled his eyes. "I fucking hate that guy. We have to keep him around though. Who was the mutual friend?"

"Georgina." She paused to see his reaction. He simply frowned. "Georgina Sparks. Did you know her?"

He let out an exaggerated Chuckle. "Did I know her? I hated the bitch. But she was always around. Luke just couldn't shake her off…the sex must have been good or something. But she's dead now. You know that?"

Serena nodded. "I heard. What a pity."

Sebastian shrugged. "Not much of a loss, if you ask me. Luke was the only one who could stand her…and he hated her the most too. Funny how that works."

Serena was annoyed now. They needed Luke, not this drunk idiot. "We…still have some time. How far is your place?"

Sebastian became flustered at the insinuation. "We live right across the street. We could go there now."

The elevator dinged and the other players headed to their seats.

Serena gave Sebastian a small wink. "Next time."