A moment of doubt...

Nate sighed. "Serena, please don't take this personally, but you've got to hide."

"Hide?"

"Yes." He picked up her clothes and grabbed her hand, dragging her into the bathroom. "Just stay in here, please."

He wanted to smack himself. Here she was, Serena van der Woodsen in his bedroom, wearing nothing but a bra and underwear and he was going to talk to Naomi about table seating or where the bridesmaids would get their hair done, or something equally irrelevant.

He was giving up an almost naked Serena. She had been in his dreams for four years and this is what it had come to. Nearly naked ex-girlfriend or fiancé who was bound to be wearing her usual uniform of preppy designer clothes, talking about shit.

And for some reason not even Nate could understand, he chose the latter.

Serena looked totally bewildered. "You're serious? You're sticking me in the bathroom?"

Nate gave her the infamous puppy dog eyes. "This hurts me far more than you." He said, kissing her again. "I really, really missed you Serena," he said sincerely, before shutting the door.

She leaned against the shut bathroom door and let out a breath. Serena let the smile form on her lips. Damn. She missed him. She had had a few guys when she first got to Europe, but surprisingly enough, none of them compared to Nate. She loved him and maybe that was why. Or maybe he was just that good. She decided it was both, then went back to replaying the whole scene over in her head.

Naomi Bergendorf walked briskly into the spare bedroom where her fiancé slept. She noticed several things. The door was slightly ajar. The covers on the bed were an absolute mess. And she wasn't sure, but she thought she caught the slightest hint of Givenchy, a very irresistible perfume.

Nate shifted on the bed. Just his luck to pick the most observant girl in the world as his fiancé; he could tell she was surveying the scene, but he feigned innocence.

"Mimi." He said smiling.

"Nate. No nicknames, please."

"Right."

She strode over to the bed and kissed him, briskly. Everything she did was brisk; this girl didn't waste any time. Nate compared these thoughts to Serena, who could lie on the beach and stare at the night sky for hours. Nate would know, they'd spent a lot of time doing that in college before she just took off and-

"Nate. Hello?" Naomi snapped interrupting the monologue he couldn't turn off in his head.

Nate gazed up at her. Naomi Bergendorf. Daughter of Jonathan and Siobhan Bergendorf. Jonathan was a successful Irish businessman in International banking and his wife was an interior designer. Naomi had classic Irish features. Red hair, green eyes, pale skin. When Nate had met her he had been struck by the contrast between her and golden curls, deep-blue eyed, always tan Serena. He had found Naomi strikingly gorgeous. But now that he had the comparison, he wasn't so sure.

"Sorry Naomi. You were saying?"

"I was saying, darling, that the wedding is a mere two weeks away. I know it seems rather reckless, but I need to go to Seattle for the weekend and discuss the last minute details with Kim."

Nate was extremely glad he had paid attention to this particular information. Kim was Naomi's best friend and maid of honour.

Nate nodded. "I understand."

Naomi beamed. "Of course I'll be back for the party on Sunday night."

"Of course you will." Nate said obediently.

Serena was pressed against the bathroom door, listening with disgust. Who the hell was this girl? And what would possess Nate to think that he should marry her? Serena was suddenly worried. Maybe it was the other way around. Maybe Nate was totally happy with this snotty sounding Naomi girl. Who the hell did Serena think she was?

She shook her head. No way. This was her and Nate she was thinking about. They were definitely going to end up together.

But it would be tough. There was no room for negative thoughts.

Nate watched Naomi go and mentally slapped himself. She looked really concerned. And she should, with his way far off demeanour. He'd seen a glimmer of that vulnerable look in Naomi's eyes. Much the one he saw in the mirror when Serena had abandoned him.

He felt a drop in his stomach. No way was he going to put Naomi through all that hurt. No way.

He was resolving himself to the fact that nothing could happen with Serena when she re entered the room, dressed again. Serena could see this was not the time to pick up where they had left off. Instead, she smiled. "Can't wait to see your mom and dad." She told him, smiling and walking out of his room.

Nate just sat there, bewildered by that air of mystery she still carried. He breathed in deeply. It smelled like her perfume. He grinned.

So much for nothing happening.