Chapter Nine
Previously: Serena confronted her family and explodes at Lily; Oliver makes a heartbreaking sacrifice; Nate finally gets rid of Juliet after she threatened him, revealing her motives behind her relationship with him.
Serena slowly opened her eyes after a long, emotional night turning to the side to see Erik sleeping on the chair. She smiled softly seeing her baby brother by her side – she gently caressed her hand along his face waking him up.
"Serena, you're awake." Erik smiled softly seeing his older sister look slightly better than she was last night. "How are you feeling?"
"Better than I was last night. It's so nice waking up to see your face again." She said quietly.
"Do you want some breakfast? I can text Blair to bring something when she comes in." He pulled out his phone and texted Blair to update her on Serena.
"Ooh, I would like some savoury croissants and some chamomile tea please." She giggled gleefully. "I need something fattening."
"Blair's not going to be happy about it. She sent me an angry face emoji." Erik laughed showing Serena the text message.
"Oh, I've missed you guys." Serena sighed as she was resting back on the hospital bed.
"Serena, are you really going to leave us again? Move back to the other side of the world? Thousands of away from us?" Erik asked sadly. He missed Serena – they went from seeing each other every single day to seeing each other once a year for a short period of time.
"I'm sorry E, but I just don't belong here anymore. The Upper East Side hasn't been my home for the last five years – I can't just come back and continue with my life. Mom has expectations of high expectations of us, of me. She wants me to be the socialite who attracts wealthy businessmen and runs foundations for the poor. That's not me. I want to get married, raise a family with a man who will love and spoil our kids. Mom has been absent for almost my whole life and continues to be – when she does see me, she's doing everything to control me and turn me into this person that I don't even recognise." Serena said honestly. She hadn't said anything like this before to anyone, not even with Oliver.
"I understand S, but you're older now and you run your own life. Did you even like your job as a publicist?" Erik asked. He understood Serena's reasoning as he has experienced the control of Lily – he struggled for a while but with Chuck's help, he became his own man.
"I did for the first few years, but then I got bored of dealing with rich people so I started training as a chef while working as a publicist part-time. I want to open my own restaurant, cook in a big kitchen and have parties at home surrounded by people who love me and we're all happy." She said with tears brimming in her eyes. At that moment she saw Blair walking in with Henry and Dorota and quickly wiped away her tears.
"Good Morning Serena! I brought you your breakfast – I can't believe you're eating food like this, it's so fatty." She spoke in her usual Blair manners. Dorota handed her the bag of food and tea.
"It's nice to see you again Ms Serena. You look well."
"Dorota! What did I say about talking Serena about her health?" She scolded. Dorota gave her a face before walking over to Erik and giving him some food.
"Dorota, can you please take Henry to the hospital playground?" "Yes, Mrs Blair." Blair came to Serena's bedside and sat on the bed holding her hand.
"Serena, please tell me you have thought about staying here?" Blair was never the one to beg or plead for anything, but she was desperate to have her best friend stay in New York.
"I'm sorry, B but I've made up my mind. I can't stay here – it's not my home anymore." Serena said sadly.
"We can make it your home again! You've got yourself a big penthouse with us and we can decorate it the way you want, you can cook us all breakfast. You can live with us again." Serena was about to open her mouth and say something but Nate walked in holding a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
"Hey, Serena…" He greeted quietly.
"Hello, Nate…" She replied stiffly. He walked to the other side of the bed and held out the flowers to her. Erik and Blair watched the two very closely waiting for Serena to potentially lash out or kick Nate out of the room.
"These are for you." Serena took the flowers cautiously waiting for him to say something else. "I'm really sorry for everything that has happened. I shouldn't have said those things about you. We've been best friends since we were little and I had literally cut you out of my life. I just want you back in my life – no more running or avoiding each other. I'm so sorry Serena and for not being by your side while you've been trying to fight cancer, I feel even worse for having not even reached out to you." He finished. Serena looked at his eyes and saw sadness and guilt.
"I forgive you, Nate. You're here now and that's all that matters. Thank you." Serena said sincerely reaching out to Nate squeezing his hand gently.
Things are finally starting to look up for Serena and Nate.
Oliver finished packing his bags and went down to the lobby waiting for his car to take him to the airport.
"Mr Jones, your car is here to take you to the airport." The doorman approached him and took his bags for him. He walked out to the car and turned around looking at the building.
"You're really doing this…" He looked down to see Chuck standing in front of him with Henry. In a short time, Chuck and Oliver had grown to be quite close – they hung out quite often attending sporting matches and going out to bars. Oliver also offered to help create menus for events he holds.
"I have to. It's the right thing to do for me and her. Is she still in surgery?" Oliver had gone to see Serena in the hospital before she was going for surgery to wish her the best of the surgery and support her trying to comfort her about her fears of the possibly not making it out.
"Yes, they said it still might be a few hours so Blair told me to go out and see how you were doing and bring back some food." Oliver looked down at Henry who was bent down playing with his toy cars on the floor. His heart was hurting about having to let a woman that he truly loved.
"I always hoped that Serena and I would have what you and Blair have – a family and we would open a restaurant together, but since I've been with her, she'll always belong here, with her family…with you guys… with Nate." He said sadly. He opened his trench-coat and pulled out an envelope and showed it to Chuck.
"I need you to give this to Serena. Everything I need to say to here that I couldn't tell her this morning is in this. Tell her that I love her too much to let her leave here again. She needs to be here." Oliver could feel tears forming in his eyes and his heart constricting. He bent down to Henry's level and ruffled his hair.
"Uncle Ollie! Can I have some more chocolate cookies?" He looked up grinning cheekily at Greg.
"Uncle Ollie has to back home now. Maybe next time." He said gently. Henry's face immediately dropped and his bottom lip dropped with tears welling.
"A-are you coming back?"
"I'm sorry, kid. I don't think I can, but maybe if you're good… you can come visit me one day. Now, be a good boy for mummy and daddy okay? Now give me a hug." Henry dropped his toys immediately and hugged Oliver. Oliver smiled and stood up.
"I'm going to miss you, Oliver. It's been good to know you." Chuck pulled him into a big man-hug.
"Same to you Chuck. Thank you for everything that you have done for me. Keep in contact yeah?" Chuck nodded and shook his hand firmly with the letter tucked into his suit pocket. Oliver got into the car and Chuck and Henry watched him drive off.
"Come on son; let's go get some lunch for mommy and Uncle Erik before we go back to the hospital."
Why is this taking so long?" Blair huffed as she walked up and down Serena's hospital room. She was nervous and worried about Serena going through another life battle.
"Calm down Blair... they're good doctors, she's in good hands," Erik said calmly. They both turned around seeing Chuck and Henry walking down the hospital walkway with food in their hands.
"Oh, thank God you're here. Did you find him? Is he coming back?" Blair asked frantically, looking at Chuck's grim face.
"He's gone to the airport. He's heartbroken though." Erik pat Chuck on the shoulder trying to comfort him.
"Of course, he is. He just sacrificed his love for Serena so she could be with us. He's a good guy."
"He's a great guy. Serena's going to be devastated! He left without saying anything." Blair said sadly.
"No, he left her a letter. When do we give it to her?" Chuck showed them the envelope that had Serena's name written on the front of the envelope.
"We'll give it to her once she is awake. She'll keep asking for him." The three of them nodded and sat down eating continuously waiting for news.
"Ms Van der Woodsen's family?" The doctor came out in his scrubs standing in front of them. They all stood up and Chuck picked up Henry and went to stand with the rest of them.
"Is everything alright?" Blair asked while Erik began texting his mum and Rufus.
"We've managed to take a further look into the bone marrow, and it is still in perfect condition. There will be no need for another transplant. She will be ready to begin her treatment as soon as possible."
"Thank you, doctor!" Blair said in relief. The men shook his hand and began walking to Serena's room. They saw here sleeping peacefully and sat around her bedside. Blair holding onto her hand like her life depending on it.
"Unbelievable!" Erik shouted standing up.
"What's wrong kid?" Chuck asked.
"My mother isn't coming. She and Rufus have a foundation event to attend. What a joke."
"Why am I not surprised? Lily has never put Serena first." Blair scoffed. "She's got us. Did you text Nate?"
"Yeah, he was in the middle of a meeting, but he is on his way." Another hour past and everyone was quietly napping when Serena started stirring in her sleep jolting Blair awake.
"W-w-water." She croaked out. Blair shot up quickly and went to pour Serena a cup of water and handed it to her to slowly sip.
"I'm so glad you're alright." Blair hugged Serena gently.
"How long was I out?"
"A good three hours. The doctor said that your bone marrow is fine though – you won't need to go through another transplant and able to begin your treatment as soon as you wish.
"Who's here?" She looked around and saw an empty room with just her and Blair; realising that her mother wasn't there, made her heart sink in disappointment…again.
"Aunt Serena!" Henry flew through the open door and jumped on the bed.
"Ooh." Serena groaned in slight pain. "Hey, little man… come over here. I need your big hugs." Henry crawled onto Serena's lap and wrapper his short chubby arms around her neck. She looked up at smiled at the Erik, Chuck and Nate. Nate placed another vase of flowers on the side and leant over to give her a kiss on the cheek.
She looked around confused, "Where's Oliver?" The room went quiet – no one answered making Serena nervous.
"S, he's gone," Blair whispered. Serena stiffened.
"What do you mean, he's gone?"
"He left you a letter – you need to read what he said." Chuck gave Serena the envelope and tears began welling up.
"Can I please be alone?" Serena requested quietly.
"Of course, we'll be outside." Blair gently squeezed her hand. As the boys gave Serena a kiss on the cheek each, Blair picked up Henry and all left the room quietly.
Serena slowly opened the envelope, pulled out the letter and began reading.
Dearest Serena,
I'm sorry that I won't be there when you wake up but I needed to leave. I can't let you leave New York to move back to Australia with me. Your family and best friends are here – they are worth more to your lives that your friends back home. Australia was your home for the past five years, but now it's time for you to return to your childhood home – somewhere that I don't belong or stay.
The last few years being with you has been amazing and all the memories we have created together will always be cherished. From the moment I met you, I was so enticed by your big, beautiful blue eyes – so full of happiness and life. I remember the first time I met you at the restaurant – you were sitting at the table on the balcony and I was sitting a few tables away working with the restaurant and bar manager discussing menus. I saw the waiter take your order and followed him to find out your order and table number. I went in and cooked it especially for you – a bigger portion than normal. I remember telling the waiter to give it to you and tell you that it's more than normal compliments of the chef. My brother teased me relentlessly seeing how giddy I was about making a dish. I went back to the managers and watched you eat it while your long blonde hair blew in the wind. When you were paying for the check, you had this big smile and it was beautiful. It turned out you were a regular customer and I didn't approach you six months later because I was scared.
I love you so much, so much that it hurts for me to do this to you and to me but it's the right thing to do, especially for me. You miss your best friends – even Nate who I know you still care very deeply about. Your face just lights up whenever you would talk about them and Nate still carries your heart. I know you love me but you'll always love Nate. I know you don't see it, but I do – you'll never fully give yourself to me as your feelings for Nate still has a hold on you. Stop running and give him a proper chance.
You've brought me such joy to my life and I've never been so happy in my life. I hope you understand why I had to leave you behind in New York. I hope you continue with a career in food – you have an amazing talent for baking and sweets. You can open your own bakery or café.
My contact details are still the same, but please don't contact me. I'll call you when I'm ready. I want us to still be friends. I'll pack your stuff and send it over to you when I get the chance to sort throughout stuff.
Remember, I'll always love you and I hope you can forgive me for leaving you during a time of need again.
Love,
Oliver Jones.
Serena hand that held the letter dropped to her lap and she sobbed her eyes out while her brother and best friends watch her heartbreaking sobs.