Again – so much love to all of those who are reading my story! You all are fantastic and urge me to keep going!

This chapter is dedicated to the amazing fellow baby-loving and zombie-free Maryl. It's an early birthday present for her, so I hope you like it Maryl (as well as everyone else).

And what can I say about the recent filming pics my fellow Serenate lovers – we'll always have fanfiction?! I know I'll always believe that Nate and Serena could be extremely happy if given the proper chance (I mean, weren't these two great in 6.02?!). With that, its time to continue the story…

Again, I don't own anything.

Chapter 3: This Woman's Work

June 24th, 2021

"You honestly think I'm jealous of you?" scoffed Ellen. "I don't see anything that you have that I could possibly want."

Serena just laughed. She couldn't even bring herself to reply because she knew it was like talking to a brick wall.

"What's so funny? Huh?"

"Nothing," groaned Serena as she shook her head. "Absolutely nothing at all. You're right, there is nothing that I have that you could possibly want. I just happen to have an amazing career, incredible friends, an even more wonderful family, and a man who loves me more than anything. Why would you want any of that?"

At that moment Blair walked up to the two women and interrupted, "You're still here Ellen. I thought you would have left long ago when you realized that no one wants you here." She then turned to Serena and asked, "Are you ready to go? I'd really like to get a coffee."

"Yeah, I'm finished," answered Serena. "Let's get out of here."

As Serena turned to leave, Ellen grabbed her arm. "Don't you walk away from me. We aren't finished here."

Serena forcefully ripped her arm from Ellen's grasp and chided, "Yes, we are. Stop following me and leave my family alone."

Ellen then snickered, "Your precious family. I wonder how long that's going to last. I mean look at you two. Serena, I think you may have spent too much time in the California sun. And Blair, your face, as well as some other bits of you, are looking a bit fuller these days. You've both reached that age when surgery becomes your best friend. Soon enough, you're going to find it harder and harder to keep those men of yours interested. But at least you'll have each other. Oh, and that little boy of yours Blair."

"Oh, please," Blair couldn't help but roll her eyes. "You're attempts at provoking us into a scene are useless. We're leaving. You're staying here. Maybe Thomas can help you with a pair of shoes since you obviously need it."

Blair motioned to leave and one of the store clerks held the door open. Once both Serena and Blair were out on the sidewalk, Serena released an extremely frustrated sounding scream. "ARGH! That woman drives me insane!"

"Ugh, I know. I get that she doesn't like you, but hasn't this gone on long enough."

"Seriously! I've actually tried to pinpoint what I did to make her hate me so much, but I can't. It was definitely before her and Nate's engagement party. I think it started around the time that my adorable nephew was born."

Both Blair and Serena shared a happy smile at the thought of the junior Bass and threw their arms around each other as they walked further down the street. Serena flashed back to the autumn of 2014.

XOXOXOXOXO

October 25th, 2014

It was Saturday night and Serena was on a date. Technically, this was her third date with Justin. Their first date was sharing a coffee together. The second was an afternoon at the movies, watching a film that Serena needed to see for class. This date, their third, was dinner out. Justin was in the Master's program at USC and had met Serena the previous Spring when he assisted one of her instructors. He was an attractive guy and Serena really enjoyed his company, although she already knew this wasn't going anywhere long-term.

Serena and Justin had finished their meals and were now enjoying their coffee and dessert, when her phone started ringing. Quickly, Serena silenced the ringer and ignored the call after seeing who it was. She went back to her conversation with Justin. Two minutes later her phone started ringing again. The same person, so Serena again ignored the call and put her phone back on the table.

"Someone obviously wants to talk to you," Justin joked.

"Its no one that can't wait until later. Now tell me again about meeting Robert Redford."

Then, as Justin was about to speak, Serena's phone chirped indicating that she had a text message. She turned her phone over to read it quickly.

'Blair is in labour. Call me ASAP'

"Oh My God!" Serena gasped as her hand covered her mouth. She then pushed back her chair and stood. "I'm sorry Justin, but I need to make a quick call."

"Is everything all right?" he asked as he stood, concern in his voice.

"I'm not sure," she said as she gathered her purse. "My best friend just went into labour but she isn't due for at least two more weeks. Sit, please. I'll be back in a few minutes."

Serena then walked out the front door of the restaurant and rapidly scrolled her contacts until she landed on an all-too-familiar name.

The intended answered before the first ring even finished.

"Serena! Thank God its you!" Nate sighed in relief. "Where have you been? I've been trying to call you forever!"

"Nevermind that Nate – what's happening with Blair and the baby? She's not due yet. Is everything okay?" Serena started pacing back and forth on the sidewalk. She was extremely worried and she needed answers.

"So far, everything is okay. Dorota and I are at the hospital with her. The doctor…"

"Wait, where's Chuck?" Serena quickly interrupted.

"That's the thing. He's stuck in Washington DC."

"WHAT!" shrieked Serena. She couldn't believe that Chuck would miss his baby's birth.

"I know!" Nate replied, shocked as well about the dilemma they were currently in. "He went down for a weekend of schmoozing with lobbyists and politicians. He immediately went to the airport when Blair realized what was happening but there has been some sort of security breach, so they aren't letting any planes leave the ground. "

"Shit," exhaled Serena.

"Exactly," agreed Nate. "As you can imagine, it's chaos right now. Chuck is doing everything he can think of; he's called in favors with some people in the government to see if they'll let him fly or at least leave the airport. He's got a chartered plane waiting in Baltimore, so his plan is to drive up there and then fly home. He should be able to make it in time – the doctor says Blair's got a while before the baby is coming."

"That's good. That's good," nodded Serena, even though no one could see her. "Blair doesn't need the extra stress."

"Oh, we haven't even told her about Chuck. She thinks he's on his way."

"That's probably for the best," and she sat down on a bench. "Well, tell Blair that I'll get on the first plane in the morning so I'll be there soon."

"You'll do better than that. Chuck got you a ticket on the red-eye at 10:30 tonight." Nate then glanced at his watch and did the quick math. "You should be able to make it if you leave for the airport now – the flight leaves in about an hour."

"But I haven't packed anything," Serena whined.

"Serena, you're getting on that flight," Nate insisted forcefully. "I need you here in case Chuck doesn't make it in time. You'll land at like 6 o'clock in the morning – there will be a driver waiting to bring you straight to the hospital."

"Wow, you guys really have thought of everything," she replied, in awe of their quick actions. Just then she heard a voice yelling in the background.

"Nate! Is that Chuck?! Where is the damn Basshole when you need him?"

"No, its not Chuck. It's Serena," he answered Blair and Serena could hear every word.

"Why didn't you tell me you were talking to S!" screeched Blair loud enough for Serena to hear. "Hand me the phone Archibald! NOW!"

"Mrs. Blair, you must be calm for the baby," Serena overheard Dorota arguing.

"I'll be fine if Blondie here will just let me talk to Serena. OUCH – ARRGGGHHH! Another contraction is starting."

"Deep breaths Blair." Serena could hear the trembling in Nate's voice as he coached Blair. Nate was now at Blair's side and Serena noted Nate and Dorota counting the seconds of the contraction. At that moment Serena realized she needed to get to the airport as soon as possible because she was not going to let Blair go through this without her, especially if there was a chance that Chuck wasn't going to make it.

The next thing Serena heard were the sounds of deep breaths at the other end of the phone and she realized that Blair has seized control of the device.

"Blair," Serena squealed excitedly. "Are you okay?"

"Serena," Blair gasped for breath. "I will be when I know you're on that flight!" A few seconds later Serena heard Blair start sniffling. She was tired and scared and emotional. "Please, Serena. I need you here. I know the doctor says everything is fine with the baby but isn't this too early? The baby isn't due until November 7th. I'm scared and Chuck isn't here yet. What if something bad happens like before?"

"Blair, everything is going to be fine," Serena tried to reassure her while wiping the tears that were now streaming down her face. "You know that your baby is far enough along that he or she can be born without complications. Plus, that baby is half Bass and half Waldorf and that's got to count for something."

"Serena..." Blair sobbed.

"I'm leaving for the airport as we speak," and Serena rose from the bench and made her way back into the restaurant. "Don't worry about a thing – I'll be there to see my beautiful and healthy niece or nephew being born."

"Thank you," sighed Blair, relief flooded her speech.

"Hey, that's what sisters are for," and a smile lit up Serena's face thinking about Blair and what she was about to do. "I love you B and I'll be there in a few hours. I promise." She then hung up the phone and explained the situation to Justin. He helped her into a cab that brought her straight to LAX.

XOXO

About eleven hours later, at 10:52am on Sunday October 26th, 2014 precisely, Blair gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby boy with both Chuck and Serena by her side. Chuck made it to the hospital in the middle of the night while Blair was sleeping (the epidural really did the trick) and Serena arrived around 6:30 in the morning, so neither missed much. Nate and Dorota stayed the entire night with Blair, but Nate didn't think he could stomach the actual delivery so he waited outside the birthing suite.

"Nate!" Serena called out excitedly from Blair's hospital room. Jumping up and down giddily she cried, "He's here! He's here! It's a boy!"

Nate shot up from his seat in the waiting area and made his way over to Serena. She threw her arms around him and he hugged her back. It had been a long night for both of them.

"It's a boy?" he asked, relief flooded his system. Nate didn't realize how nervous he was for Blair and Chuck and their baby until that moment. "How's Blair? And Chuck? What's his name?"

"The nurses are just cleaning him up and then Blair and the baby are going to move up to her room. She and Chuck want us to meet them up there, so come on." Serena grabbed Nate's hand and led him to what was going to be Blair's hospital room for the duration of her stay.

Serena and Nate sat down on the sofa in what was to be Blair's hospital room. Nate wrapped his arm around Serena's shoulders and she leaned into his frame.

"Blair was absolutely amazing," Serena uttered into Nate's chest. Then she looked up into his eyes. "You should have seen her Nate. She just kept pushing and pushing, even though I know she must have been exhausted. And Chuck, at one point I thought he was going to push the doctor out of the way and pull the baby out himself just so that he could help Blair."

"Ha-ha," chuckled Nate. "I'm just forever grateful that both you and Chuck were able to make it before the tough part started. I don't know if I could have handled that."

"Nate, you were incredible with Blair," she assured him. "She said you were a rock."

"Funny that she called me a rock because she spent a lot of the time yelling at me and telling me how useless I was."

"She didn't mean it Nate. She was in labour," Serena countered.

"I know – at least that's what I kept telling myself that. Plus, I knew that Chuck was depending on me. It was killing him that he wasn't there the whole time. I swear he was calling every 15-20 minutes to check on Blair and the baby."

"Aww, Uncle Nate was taking his new job very seriously," Serena kidded. Nate blushed at this comment and playfully elbowed Serena.

"Oh come on Nate, it's not a bad thing," Serena defended. Then she asked the question that had been on her mind since the previous evening. "Why were you of all people with Blair when this happened?"

"Chuck asked me to stay with Blair for the weekend while he went out of town. It seems that being 38 weeks pregnant wasn't slowing Blair down a bit and Chuck was nervous she would do too much."

"I'm guessing he never anticipated that she would do this!"

"Neither did I or I don't know if I would have agreed to it," Nate laughed. "For the longest time she was adamant that it was false labour and she wouldn't let me call Chuck or the doctor. Finally, Dorota and I convinced her to let us take her to the hospital. We argued that if it was false labour they would just send her home. Instead, they checked her in. She flipped!"

"Oh I can imagine it was not a pretty sight," added Serena.

"At first she told the doctor that he was wrong, because her baby was not due for two more weeks and all first time babies were late. I think she debated whether she was really in labour for at least two hours," Nate started shaking his head as he recounted Blair's crazy antics. "I suspect that she would have walked out of the hospital except for the fact that she was in a hospital gown. Dorota knows Blair really well; she hid Blair's clothes so that she couldn't leave!"

"No she didn't" gasped Serena. "Wait a second, are you telling me that Blair Waldorf, fashionista extraordinaire, was wearing a run-of-the-mill hospital gown?"

"Uh huh! Look, I got a picture!" and Nate pulled out his phone to show Serena the shots he took of Blair during this whole experience. He even had a few videos.

"You realize the blackmail material you have, right?" Serena joked. "Seriously, I can't believe that Blair let you take these," and she grabbed Nate's phone to scroll through all of them.

"Well, I may have told her that Chuck asked me too. She doesn't need to know the truth." With that Nate gave Serena a cautious look.

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me."

Just then, the door to the room opened. Chuck was pushing Blair in her wheelchair while she was carrying their baby boy wrapped in sky blue blanket with a matching hat on his head. The new parents were glowing, their smiles so big that they took up their entire faces and there was only the tiniest evidence that they had been crying. Looking at them, you wouldn't believe how little sleep they had gotten or that Blair had just given birth.

Nate and Serena both jumped up when they entered so that they could greet them. Nate, who had yet to see Chuck, Blair, or the baby since the birth, practically ran to meet them.

Very proudly, Chuck spoke, "May I introduce to you our son, Victor Charles Bass. He was born at exactly 10:52am, and he is 21 inches long and weighs a healthy 8 pounds and 3 ounces."

"Wow!" Nate was astonished. He leaned in to see the baby boy and he was surprised at how small yet how big he was. "I can't believe he was inside of you all this time Blair. He's perfect."

"What exactly are you saying Archibald?" Blair snapped. She really did look amazing for someone who had been in labour for almost 24 hours, someone who had just spent the last hour pushing this precious child from her womb. "That we couldn't possibly have a such a gorgeous baby?"

"No, no, no! That's not what I meant at all," he reasoned. "He just seems so big and small at the same time. He really is the most perfect baby I've ever seen. Congratulations." Nate then hugged Blair and when the two separated they heard Serena sniffling. Once there was enough distance between Nate and baby Victor, Serena shoved Nate out of the way so that she could hug Blair and coo all over the baby.

Nate made his way over to Chuck and the two best friends shared a hug. Chuck whispered, "Thank you for everything Nathaniel," and Nate replied with "Anytime man."

XOXO

After spending a couple of hours with the new parents and baby Bass, Nate and Serena excused themselves when it came time for Blair to try to feed the baby. Nate offered to let Serena come back to his place to freshen up and have a bite to eat, before they returned to the hospital. At Nate's apartment, he showed Serena where the guest room and shower were and then he went and showered himself. When he finished he threw on a t-shirt and sweats and called in for some Chinese. Nate was sitting on the sofa watching football when Serena came into the room.

"Uhm, Nate. Do you happen to have anything I can wear?" Serena nervously asked before continuing. "Dorota has some clothes for me but they are at Blair and Chuck's house and I don't feel like putting my dress back on. I've been wearing it for almost 24 hours straight."

Nate couldn't stop staring. This was a sight he hadn't seen since his freshman year at Columbia. Serena van der Woodsen was standing in his living room wearing only a towel. Her hair was still wet and she was make-up free, but to Nate she was as beautiful as ever. It took him at least a minute or so to register that Serena was even talking.

"Suuurrre," Nate slowly drawled. Realizing that he probably looked like a blubbering idiot, he bounced up from the sofa to get Serena some spare clothes. "Let me see what I've got."

"Oh, I don't need anything special. Just a t-shirt and boxers will be fine," and she followed Nate down the hallway.

"Give me a minute. I'll bring them to you."

"Thanks Nate," chimed Serena as she continued to the guest room.

A little while later, Nate and Serena were sprawled out on the couch, the empty cartons of Chinese food discarded on the coffee table in front of them. Football was still on the TV, but neither was paying it any attention. They were still reliving the past 24 hours.

"I can't believe how much hair Victor has," marveled Serena. She was still completely over the moon about how incredible Blair was during the delivery and how amazing her nephew is. There was a new love in Serena's life and his name was Victor Bass.

"Well, you've seen his father, right? Chuck isn't exactly hairless."

"Eww," Serena whined. "The images floating through my head right now."

Nate laughed at Serena's scrunched up face and gently smacked her arm. "Get you head out of the gutter Serena. We're godparents now. We need to clean up our acts."

"I know. And I know what you meant about Chuck." Serena then tried to hide the yawn that escaped her. She was so tired. "I can't help but think about our kids – what they'll look like."

"Our kids?" Nate suddenly perked up from his sleepy state.

"Oh, Nate, you know what I mean," and she playfully kicked him with her foot. "I mean my kids, if I ever have them, and yours. Can you picture them?"

"Sure." Of course all Nate could think about now were the children that he and Serena would have together. They would be beautiful – with bright blue eyes, blonde locks, and smiles that would light up rooms.

"What would you name them?" Serena asked, not realizing that Nate was off in his own world.

"Huh?"

"Oh, nevermind," Serena shrugged off his question. "You're exhausted and I was just being silly anyways."

Serena then curled her legs up under her and leaned into Nate's warm and muscular chest. It took Nate a second to adjust, but when he did he draped his arm around Serena and rested his head against the corner of the sofa. It felt so natural for the both of them.

"You know," Serena interrupted the silence with a whisper. "Victor is adorable, but we would have the most gorgeous babies. Your beautiful blue eyes..."

"And your smile," Nate interjected. Then he tentatively continued, "I would want them to have your smile."

"I can imagine a boy and a girl," Serena added.

"Me too."

She could envision a young boy, tall for his age, with short blonde hair and blue eyes throwing a baseball with his father. "For a boy, I like simple and traditional names; maybe Nicholas or Benjamin or Samuel."

"I like those," and Nate began rubbing his hand up and down Serena's arm. "Just as long as we don't name him William – too many Williams in my family."

Serena then curled a bit more into Nate's torso and wrapped her arm him. She was enjoying the heat coming from his body. She then pondered aloud, "I wonder what our little girl would be named?"

Nate let out a low laugh that Serena felt it through his whole body before replying. "You're going to think I'm crazy,"

"Never," Serena quickly muttered while shaking her head side-to-side.

"Well, she could be named after the Simon & Garfunkel song," Nate chuckled and then tightened his grip on Serena, kind of like hug from their position. He then continued more softly, "And you of course. Cecilia. Or the other name I've always liked for a little blonde mini-Serena is Rosamond – we would call her Rose for short."

"Ahh," Serena yawned and stretched to get more comfortable. Her eyes began to close as she mumbled, "I can picture them – Rose and Nick Archibald – running around our Hamptons lawn in the summer."

"Yeah," Nate sighed as drowsiness began to take him over. In a barely coherent voice he let out a low, "Me too. Me too."

This was the scene that Ellen walked in on when she returned from the weekend at her sister's. Serena had her head on Nate's lap, while he had his arm around her. Serena's hair was still slightly damp and all she had on was one of Nate's Columbia Law School t-shirts and some black cotton boxer shorts. Nate was still in his lounge-around-the-house clothes. And both of them were sound asleep. After taking in the setting, a shocked Ellen backpedaled her way out of the apartment.

XOXO

RING RING RING

"What the fuuuckkk," yawned Nate. He fumbled with his phone before answering it, which unfortunately woke Serena as well.

"Helllooo."

….

"Yeah, Serena is here with me. We must have dozed off."

….

"I think I can speak for her and say of course we're coming back to the hospital."

….

"Sure. No problem. I think Serena needs to stop by your place anyways so we can grab it for you."

….

"Okay. See ya soon man. Bye."

While Nate was talking to Chuck on the phone, Serena got up and gathered her things from the guest room. She changed into a very loose pair of Nate's sweatpants and returned to the living room.

"That was Chuck. He wants me to pick up a clean set of clothes for himself when we run by their house."

"I guess that Blair didn't pack anything for him in her hospital bag, huh? I'm surprised he didn't have his own bag packed," Serena teased.

"He did! That's exactly what he wants me to get." Nate then tossed his phone aside and turned off the TV.

"Only Chuck and Blair would need separate hospital bags."

"Yeah, I know," he laughed because it was true – most couples would pack lightly and jointly. "I'm going to throw on some clothes, then we'll be able to head out. Oh," Nate suddenly remembered something important. "Don't let me forget the cigars. Even if we can't smoke them I think Chuck will appreciate the gesture."

"Got it. Cigars," Serena nodded. "Chuck's going to love it!" She then called out to Nate, "You've got one for me too, right?"

"Of course!" Nate agreed as he rejoined Serena, now wearing a pair of jeans and clean t-shirt. "Hell, Blair can have one too if she wants. She deserves it after what she went through." The two proceeded out of the apartment.

"Ooh, Nate," and Serena starting tugging on Nate's arm. "We should stop by Laduree and get Blair some macarons!"

"Good idea, Serena. Do you think we can get some blue ones?"

The two friends strolled through the lobby of the apartment building, arms linked, and chatting away. They were completely consumed with each other, which would probably explain why neither spotted the young woman hiding around the corner listening to every word they were saying.

XOXO

Serena would find out years later that it was that Sunday night, when Nate returned to his apartment from the hospital to find Ellen home and already asleep, that Nate started filling out his transfer application for UCLA Law School.

XOXOXOXOXO

June 24th, 2021

"Well, I think you should get a restraining order against her. I swear she is stalking you!"

"Believe me, I've thought about," and Serena's face turned somber. "I could just never do that to Nate."

"I have to wonder what Nate was smoking when he met her," Blair joked and looked at Serena, who simply shrugged her shoulders in response. Then both girls burst into a fit of laughter.

A/N: Alas, filming has wrapped and GG will continue to be 'Nellen' free! Those writers don't know what they've missed out on.

Many thanks to those of you who reviewed: Emily, maryl, BikerChick101, ericaalynn, Trosev, Dr. Holland, and SnowedUnderNJ, as well as those who favorited and followed. You keep encouraging me to write more!