"I think she's in Japan. There's a fashion show she's doing there tomorrow night." Blair looked down at her dinner while she talked to Chuck.

"She's been gone a lot lately." Chuck took his last bite. "Nathaniel has been busy too. I called him yesterday and when he answered he said Nathaniel Archibald speaking…I was like dude, really?"

"He's been spending a lot of time with his grandfather."

"I just feel bad. At least Serena is doing what she always wanted to do."

"Yeah I think she's happy. It's still weird when they talk about her on the media. She's becoming the model everyone wants to book. She met Twiggy!"

"Cool. I should get going. I'll see you tomorrow?" He gave Blair a kiss.

Blair nodded. "Don't forget tomorrow we're meeting with the planner for your birthday party!"

…

"It's a weird feeling. I'm hardly ever alone but I feel so lonely. I just needed to hear a familiar voice." Serena held the phone tight against her cheek.

"I'm glad you called. I feel the exact same way." He sounded tired.

"Oh right. How are things going with him?"

Nate paced around his room. "I just…I don't want to disappoint him. I really want to do this for him."

"Being a politician isn't a job, Natie. It's a way of life. You don't get to leave your office and go home. People are watching your every move."

"That's true about being a model too. I saw you on the t.v. You're designing a clothing line? That's amazing."

Serena smiled. "What were you doing watching the E! channel?"

Nate laughed. "That wasn't the point of what I just said."

"I'm really excited about it. And I love what I do so it's worth sacrificing my privacy. I'm worried that you can't say the same. You wouldn't be disappointing him. I think you're being to hard on yourself."

"I don't know what to do. I'm miserable. I really am. I just have no choice." It felt good admitting it but he felt slightly guilty. "I'm having this handed to me on a silver platter. Who am I to refuse it?"

"Your happiness should be above all else."

Nate let out a loud sigh. "I should get going."

"Okay. I'll talk to you later."

"Yeah. Good luck tomorrow. I'll see you when you get home."

…

Nate walked into Chuck's apartment. "It's almost your birthday! What do you want me to get you?"

Chuck have him his signature smirk. "Nathaniel, you're not wearing a leash. I'm surprised." Nate gave him a dirty look and he dropped the subject. "I don't know. What do you get someone who has it all?" He threw a small book at him. "It's my black book. You're single now. Enjoy it for me."

Nate let out a small laugh. Thanks, I guess." He shoved it in his pocket. "So your party is tomorrow. 25. It seems like just yesterday when you were running around in nothing but diapers and a scarf."

Chuck couldn't help but laugh. "You're stupid." His face got serious. "I invited Serena. She said she probably wasn't going to be able to make it though."

"Oh. Well thanks for the heads up."

Chuck nodded. "Now about my present. How comfortable are you with doing something that may or may not be entirely legal…"

…

Blair looked around the room. It was like they were in middle school and everybody was getting drunk for the first time. Everyone was plastered. She saw Nate and Chuck doing body shots off some skanks. She had given Chuck a bit of leeway, it was his birthday, after all. That was as far as she let him go though, she felt she was being generous. She looked for the nearest room, she really had to pee.

Nate felt like the whole room started spinning. One of the girls grabbed his hand and led him into an empty room. He laughed as she pushed him on the bed and climbed on top of him.

Blair opened the door to find Nate half naked with a random girl straddling him. "Nate!"

Nate heard his name and looked toward the door. "Blair! Get out."

Blair was shocked. "Fine! But use protection. You don't know where she's been." She ignored the girl's scoff and walked out of the room.

Serena walked into Chuck's party. Holy crap. The place was a mess. She was looking for Chuck when she saw Blair was calling her so she ducked into the nearest room. She opened the door to find Nate standing while a girl she didn't recognize stood in front of him and removed his belt. She froze and Nate's eyes locked on hers. She saw a second of regret in his eyes and then a look she didn't recognize. He looked away and fell back onto the bed, pulling the girl on top of him and continued to kiss her. Serena couldn't believe what was happening. She walked out and closed the door hard behind her.

Nate heard the door close. His head was spinning. "Get off of me."

She gave him a confused look then pretended not to hear and started to rub between his legs.

He pushed her off of him. He pulled on his shirt and went into the bathroom to wash his face.

When Serena found Blair and Chuck she had tears running down her face. "I just saw Nate. In the room with some girl. He looked right at me. And pulled her on top of him."

"You guys aren't together anymore. It's not like he's cheating." Chuck said innocently.

Blair turned to him angrily. "Chuck! What is wrong with you?"

Serena gave him an angry look too. "She shoved a wrapped present in his hands. Happy Birthday." She turned to leave and Blair followed her.

"Blair I'm fine. I'm just in shock, really. It just hurt to see him with someone else." She gave Blair the best smile she could muster. "Go back in there. I'm going to bed. Really, go."

Blair hugged her best friend. "Goodnight, S. Call me if you need anything."

…

Nate still felt drunk when Blair shook him awake early the next morning. "Blair, what is wrong with you?"

When he heard Blair scream he was suddenly wide awake. "What the hell is wrong with you? Serena was devastated. Why would you do that?"

Nate covered his face with his pillow and then Blair yanked it off. "Cause I'm like the honey badger. I just don't give a shit!"

Chuck burst out laughing from behind Blair. The honey badger had become one of their favorite YouTube videos and he appreciated the reference.

Blair gave Chuck a dirty look then turned back to Nate. "Are you fucking kidding me?"

"No. I mean, yes." He was still scared of Blair. "Look it was an asshole move. I don't know why I did it. I was drunk." He looked down. "I guess I just didn't want her to think I was still crying over her."

"The one time you guys end things on a good note! Why are you trying to ruin it?"

"I'm sorry! If I could take it back I would but I can't. Can I go back to sleep now?"

Blair hit him in the face with a pillow. "Now you can."

…

Nate knocked on Serena's door. She opened the door and he handed her a red velvet cupcake. "Hi."

It was her favorite. She took it from him and walked back in and sat on the couch. Nate walked behind her slowly. "I'm really sorry about yesterday."

"You don't have to apologize. It's not like we're together anymore. You can sleep with whoever you want."

"I didn't sleep with her." She rolled her eyes at him. "I really didn't! It was just an asshole move. I know we ended things in a good place and I don't want to ruin that." Serena sat in silence. "Do you accept my apology?"

She tried really hard to hide her smile. She was so glad Nate didn't seal the deal with a random slut. She shrugged. "You should've brought me two cupcakes. Then maybe I would consider it."

He smiled at her. "We missed you. I missed you. I'm glad you're back."

"Me too. But I leave in a week. To L.A. But I'm only gone for a few days."

"Hopefully they go by fast. Wanna go to brunch? Chuck and Blair are already there."

"I promised my mom and Erik I'd have lunch with them. We're all meeting up for dinner though, right?"

"I can't do dinner tonight but I'll make it tomorrow."

She frowned. "I have an interview tomorrow."

Nate frowned too. "We'll figure something out."