Josh and Jenny had planned to go to Chuck's New Year's party together way back in November when the invites went out. But Josh isn't talking to her; he hasn't even called since Christmas Day. So she tells Nate she will go with him when he asks a few days beforehand. He even offers to come all the way out to Brooklyn to pick her up.

Since Christmas, they haven't mentioned the kiss or what it means. They have spent every day together, laughed and smiled. They've walked down the street hand in hand, shared ice cream (even though it's like 10 degrees outside), and seen several movies. She hasn't had such a fun break in years.

But she's avoiding her feelings, living in the bubble where she can have Josh in theory and Nate in reality. She's happy with it because it means she can be with Nate without having to break Josh's heart. The bubble isn't actually reality, but she savors it while it lasts.

The bubble bursts the night of the party. Josh is back, she hears through the grapevine. She is sure he will be at the party. And she has no idea what she is going to do.

She knows that she looks amazing in a short, strapless black leather dress that she made herself and knee high black boots that make her a few inches taller. But when she steps out of her bedroom, and Nate looks like he is going to have a heart attack, she smiles inside. She understands the feeling. He looks good enough to eat in a casual way – his dark wash jeans fit him perfectly and he's wearing a fitted, blue button up shirt that matches his eyes and a suit jacket. His hair is longer now, back like it was in high school. And his face is scruff free, but there's a bit of stubble.

He's her dream come true and her mouth goes dry.

After staring at each other for a few seconds, they hug and he helps her into her coat before escorting her out. "You look amazing, but you're going to freeze to death." She's happy her dad and isn't home, so she doesn't have to fight with him about her dress. But all her suffering will be worth it, even if she has to deal with Dan's judgmental face at the party, to experience how Nate is responding to her in the dress.

She giggles as they walk out of her building, with his hand on the small of her back, and get into his waiting limo. "No I won't, you'll keep me warm." She doesn't mean for it to come out so flirtatiously, but it does. And she can't say she regrets it when she sees him swallow deeply.

"Of course," he says, his voice a bit huskier than usual.

When they get to the party, which is being held at Chuck's Empire Hotel, she can't help but gasp at the beauty that surrounds her. She's been to a lot of these parties over the years, but this one is amazing. She tells Blair as much when they find her and Chuck holding court. The sparkling lights and crystals make it seem almost magical.

Blair pulls her into the restroom and asks her about Nate. Apparently, the chemistry between them is sizzling and Blair noticed the looks Nate was flashing at Jenny the minute they walked into the hotel. Blair was in Paris with her mom, dad, and step-dads for Christmas, so Jenny hasn't been able to tell her about the kiss. So she tells her right then and there. Her friend just smirks like she won a game.

"I knew it! I knew the two of you would end up together!"

Jenny laughs. "We aren't together, Blair. I'm still with Josh – I have to figure out what to do with Josh. He's my boyfriend, even if he isn't currently speaking to me."

"Do you love him?"

She sighs, thinking of all she and Nate have been through over the years. "Of course I love him, Blair. I have since I was fourteen."

"We were talking about Josh, Jenny," Blair says seriously.

Oh.

Suddenly things are a whole lot clearer for Jenny. She has to find Josh and end it with him. She loves Nate. She always has.

When they leave the bathroom, she makes a beeline for Nate, who is chatting with Dan and Vanessa. As soon as he sees her, his eyes light up. Jenny knows nothing will ever feel better than seeing Nate be so happy to see her.

She smiles and stands next to him, his arm draping over her shoulder automatically. It's 9 pm and if she wants to spend the first minutes of the new year with Nate she has to find Josh and end things. But she decides she can wait a while to spend time with Nate.

They dance for an hour before she decides it's time to bite the bullet and find Josh. She tells Nate and their friends that she'll be right back and goes to look for him.

It doesn't take long to spot him in the crowd. Despite everything, she cares about him and she is in tune with him. Steeling herself with a deep breath, she goes to do the inevitable. Josh is standing and talking to a few people near the drinks. She walks up to him and grabs his arm. When he turns and sees it's her, he smiles. She takes his hand and drags him out to the balcony.

"Jenny, hey. I was hoping I'd see you soon. You look amazing," he says, still holding her hand. She realizes how cold she is without her coat or Nate's warmth and starts to shiver. Josh doesn't offer her his coat and she knows Nate would. She just wants to get over this as quickly as possible and find Nate. "I'm sorry about Christmas."

"It's fine. Listen, Josh, we need to talk. I… I don't think this is working anymore."

He suddenly looks angry. He takes a deep breath, but his fingers fold into fists. "You can't be serious. I've been with you for months, I fucking care about you, I haven't pressured you into sleeping with me, and now you're just ditching me!" He's yelling and she feels uncomfortable. "This is because of Nate, right? God, I'm such an idiot! You've been cheating on me with him! Haven't you? Don't deny it, Jenny Humphrey. I know it." His voice is venomous.

"Josh, calm down!"

He walks towards her and she backs up until she is up against the railing and he is pushed up against her. "Tell me!"

"We kissed on Christmas Eve. But that's it! It hasn't gone any further. I wanted to talk to you first!"

The vein in his neck is throbbing and he is angrier than she's ever seen him. "You slut," he hisses at her. Then he slaps her, creating a pain that radiates from her cheek. "How dare you? How fucking dare you? You know who I am!"

He raises his hand again like he might try to hurt her. Jenny is crying, mascara running down her face. She's never seen him like this. He's never been anything but kind to her. Sure, he'd stop talking to her sometimes if he was angry, but she always deserved it. It wasn't really his fault; sometimes he just got angry. Other than that, they had a good relationship while it lasted. And it wasn't like this wasn't a big deal. She had cheated on him. But she's scared even if she deserves it.

Before Josh can act any further, a hand wraps around his arm roughly, immobilizing him. "You will never, never touch her again. Do you understand me?" It's Nate; he's there to save her. His voice is pure threat. There is no denying that he is murderous at that moment.

She releases a breath in relief. Until Josh turns from her and punches Nate in the nose. He's bleeding and she is screaming and it's all a blur of fists between the two of them until Chuck and Blair come to see what the commotion is about. Blair lets out a gasp at the scene before jumping into action. Chuck has security escort Josh out (roughly) and Blair tells the group of people watching to beat it before escorting Jenny and Nate up to Chuck's hotel suite.

Jenny's arm is wrapped around Nate as she leads him into Chuck's bathroom and sits him on the toilet. Blair tells them she is going back downstairs to deal with the partygoers and hugs them both before she leaves.

"Are you okay?" Nate mutters as she gently tips his head back and places tissues under his nose to stop the bleeding. He's got a black eye, too, but the bleeding is the real problem.

She can't help but laugh in disbelief. "Really, Nate? You're bleeding, your nose could be broken, and you're asking how I am?"

His hand lands on her cheek, touching it gently before falling to his side again. "Yes, because all I care about is you. So, are you okay?"

"Yes," she whispers, slightly breathless at the look in his eyes.

After the bleeding stops, she checks to see if his nose is broken. "Good news, Archibald. I think your good looks will last another day. It's not broken." She has to joke so that she doesn't cry.

He releases a breath. "Thank god. What would I have done if the one reason you liked me was gone?" She can't help but smile at that.

Suddenly, they hear horns and yelling. They realize that they are in the bathroom, him sitting on the toilet and her leaning over him, as midnight comes. She smiles at him and he reflects it on his face. His hand comes up and grazes her cheek where a bruise is starting to form.

"I should have killed him," he murmurs, his blue eyes staring into hers. She can't believe he's serious – that he would take punches for her. But she knows it's true. She has never been surer of him than she is in that moment.

She leans closer to him. "Nate, it's midnight. So shut up and kiss me."

He doesn't need to be told twice. Before she knows what is happening, his soft lips are on hers and she is losing oxygen as she falls into him. There, in Chuck's bathroom, she finally feels whole. His tongue swipes against her lips and she opens them without hesitation. Nate stands, his lips never leaving hers, and moves her against the wall, pressing his body into hers. Unlike earlier in the night, when she'd been scared by such action, she feels safe and hot all over.

His hands are roaming her body and his are pulling the hair at the nape of his neck. He finally pulls away from her lips, allowing her to suck in air. Their hearts are beating erratically and they just stare at each other. Then, his lips meet the spot on her neck where she's particularly sensitive and a noise comes out of her that she has never heard before. She sounds needy but she doesn't even care. His hands slide to the backs of her thighs and he picks her up so that she wraps her legs around his waist.

They are kissing again as he carries her out of the bathroom and they make it to the couch. Nate sits down with Jenny on his lap, her legs on either side of his hips. She can feel him, hard and thick, beneath her as they grind together.

Her hands go under his shirt and he gasps into her mouth at the feeling, his hand wrapping itself in her hair and tugging gently. Her moan is interrupted by the sound of someone clearing his throat.

They pull apart quickly and open their eyes to see Chuck and Blair standing there, staring at them with a smile on each of their faces. "Well, well, well, Nathaniel, what do we have here?" Chuck says with a drawl, clearly amused.

Jenny glances over at Nate and sees his flushed skin, kiss-swollen lips, and messy hair. She can't help but smile as she looks at him. He's embarrassed, but clearly not enough to unwrap from her. His arms are still tight around her waist and she is still sitting on his lap.

"Chuck, Blair," he says.

"Why are you defiling my sofa, Nathanial? Do you not have a home of your own?" Chuck glares now. Blair is still silently smiling like she won something. She slaps her boyfriend's shoulder.

"Chuck, shush. Nate, what my love means to say is that we are very happy for you and Jenny. We love you both. Now, we are going to sleep. You are welcome to stay in the guest room tonight and have breakfast with us in the morning."

"Actually," Nate says, "I think we should head out. Jenny needs to get home." Jenny looks at him, a bit surprised and hurt that he wants to take her home. She knows they need to talk.

But she and Nate have never been good at talking.