Chapter Twelve
Nate stopped as soon as she whispered out his name. He knew he shouldn't be here, but he couldn't help but eavesdrop.
"Oliver…" Serena's tears started forming.
"Hey Serena, did you get my letter?"
"Is that all you can say to me, after disappearing and not calling for weeks?" Serena's voice raised and Nate hid behind a green hedge in case Serena saw him.
"I'm sorry Serena, I explained everything to you in a letter. I know I'm being a coward, but I had to it. You need to be in New York with your friends and family." He said 'family' in a bitter tone, knowing that her mother would be utterly useless in her condition. "They have the resources and money to take care of you, sweetheart. This new job means I'm going to be away a lot and have to travel a lot to report to Fox Sports and I can't leave you alone. I know I've broken your heart by leaving you like I have, but it is for the best."
"I understand Oliver. Promise me, you'll keep in contact with me though? If not all the time, but once in a while." She whimpered. Nate's heart sank hearing how broken Serena was, wanting to run up to her and take her into his arms.
"I'll email and call you at least once a month, but for now I think we need space, to repair our hearts and be whole again."
"I love you…" She said sobbing through the phone and her hand wiping away her tears.
"Oh Serena, I love you too…that's why I'm letting you go. Promise me one thing?"
"What is it?" She choked out.
"Find your true happiness and give Nate a chance. He might be your happy ending."
"I will try, but it's going to take some time, Oliver." She hung up the phone and buried her face in her hands. Nate snuck up behind Serena and pulled her into an embrace – comforting her and whispering in her ears soothing words as her fists remained on his chest. No words were said. Blair and Chuck approached the two and wrapped their own arms around the blondes, immediately easing the tension in Serena's body. She pulled away and started laughing in between her tears.
"When was the last time we were hugging like this?" The four of them laughed something that they haven't done in a very long time. They separated and walked back to the party smiling. Serena finally felt closure after Oliver left without words, and she finally felt like she was on her way towards happiness.
"You know what, I think I am kind of glad to be home. You three and Erik are all I need." Serena pulled Blair closer to her and gave her a side hug.
"Are you sure you'll be alright, S?" Blair looked up at her best friend, her sister with worried eyes. Serena smiled softly and gave Blair a kiss on the cheek.
"I'll be okay; I mean I have other things to worry about. I start chemo on Monday and I'm really scared." She whispered at the end, very rarely did she admit that she was scared of things and when she does, she really meant it.
"Oh S, you have us now and you're not going to be alone. If we can afford the Upper East Side lifestyle, we can get you the best care for you to beat cancer. Now, no more being sad okay? Let's go back to the party to drink and have fun." Blair grasped Serena's hand and dragged her back to the white party. The rest of the evening, Serena forget all her troubles and actually had some fun. After a couple hours, Serena walked back upstairs to her room and began undressing out of her bathers and put on her fluffy robe.
"Serena, are you there?" Nate knocked on the door before opening a small gap to look to make sure she wasn't naked or anything.
"Come in, Nate…" She replied as she ran her hand through her hair and began taking off her jewellery and make-up. He walked in with a soft smile on his face. He ran his hand through his freshly-washed wet hair.
"How are you feeling?" Nate asked him softly. Serena turned around to look at Nate – he looked at her in awe, such a beautiful woman regardless of the make-up and messy hair.
"I've had better days, but I'm getting there." Serena made the decision that she was going to do what Oliver made her promise to do which was to finally find her true happiness and do it with Nate. Nate had always been her best friend and saved her from countless situations but never judged her for it, even when she had an affair with Tripp. She believed in fate and maybe Greg breaking up was her and pushing her towards Nate was what fate wanted. She walked over and gave Nate a kiss on the cheek before walking into the bathroom.
"Can you please bring some snacks upstairs? I want to watch a movie in bed." She cried out from behind before closing the shower door. Nate immediately shot up to his feet and walked downstairs to prepare a tray of snacks and drinks. By the time he returned upstairs, Serena was dressed in a long tee with a pair of shorts underneath but the length of the tee was half way down her thighs.
She tucked herself under the bed covers and Nate placed the tray on the table beside her bed. She patted the empty space on the bed beside her.
"Stay with me Natie… I don't want to be alone." She said softly.
"Of course S, anything for you." He smiled. He settled himself beside her and she immediately snuggled into his side and his arm wrapped around his waist pulling her closer so they snuggle together.
Serena felt extremely nervous for the first time since she had chemotherapy the first time while she was living in Australia. Even the second time she had surgery wasn't as nerve-wracking as the last time. She sat in the chair at the hospital waiting for the nurse to set up her chemotherapy. She had spent her weekend with Nate watching movies, going out to try new restaurants and having gelato in Central Park. He walked into the room smiling drinking a cup of coffee and sat down next to Serena.
"Are you ready for your first round of chemo?" He bent down and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"I'm a little bit nervous. It's different this time around." She shrugged. She reached out to hold onto his hand and squeezed it gently before looking at his beautiful blue eyes, "will you please stay with me?"
"Absolutely S, I'll just text my assistant to change my schedule." He smiled. He got up and left the room, just as the nurse walked in.
"How are you feeling today, Miss Van der Woodsen?" The nurse smiled brightly as she began setting up Serena's areas. Nate walked in giving the nurse one of this breathtaking smiles.
"I'm feeling alright, especially since my number one supporter will be here." She pointed at Nate.
"Alright, let's get your first round started." The nurse proclaimed as she pricked the needle into the back of the forearm.
An hour later, Serena finished her first session of chemotherapy but was feeling a little queasy, so Nate helped her back to her room at Chuck and Blair's house. It was currently empty except Dorota was scattering around the house. He settled Serena down in her bed, "Dorota, can you please bring up some tea and sandwiches for Serena?" He yelled out to Dorota. Poor girl, she's so tired… He sat next to Serena and tucked her against him. He began soothing her hair as she slept. The room was filled with utter silence except for the quiet snores from Serena. Dorota walked in quietly and placed the tray quietly on the bedside table.
He gently shook Serena awake, "Serena, you need to have some food." Serena's eyes began to flutter and her vision began clearing as she saw his beautiful eyes staring down directly into her own blue eyes. He reached across Serena and took the tray and placed it on his laps.
"Here's some chamomile tea and ham and cheese sandwiches for lunch. Blair said she'll bring you some red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting for you after she picks up Henry." Serena smiled brightly and started chowing down her sandwiches and drinking her tea. Nate laughed out loud at her messy eating.
"You must be really hungry." Serena nodded and grinned. She finished eating and walked over to the bathroom and filled her bathtub and sprinkled lavender smelling bath salts all over. She turned on the jets. She walked out of the bathroom with the taps off and the jets on and saw Nate shaking the bed cover and re-making the bed.
"Nate," she said standing there unintentionally showing off her long legs, "there's something I want to talk to you about." He walked up to Nate and laced her arms around his neck. "I promised someone that I would try and find true happiness…and he suggested that I might find it with you." Nate was slightly shocked at Serena's confession but he was relieved because years of feelings had been buried inside until now.
"This can be our chance, there are nothing and no-one that can stop us anymore. Well, maybe except my cancer and that I could die from it, but other than that, we are two single people who have feelings for each other but could never act on it properly and – "Nate placed his finger on her lips to quieten her and chuckled at her blabbering.
"I want us to try again too…" He confessed with a small blush on his cheeks. He pulled her closer so their bodies were pressed against each other. Serena licked her lips and eyes fell to his lips as she cupped his cheeks in her hands. He grasped her neck and pulled her face to his and kissed her passionately. Her luscious lips felt so good against his soft, seductive lips and their kisses always felt so electric.
"Would you like to join me in the bath?" She asked against his lips. She pulled out of the embrace and clutched onto her hand pulling him towards the bathroom, with Nate shutting the door behind them kissing him against the closed door.
Finally right!? I mean, it's taken 12 chapters, but these things take time! Time passes, feelings change (but, did they?) and reconnection was inevitable. It all works out in the end between those two.