A/N: Here is chapter 4. The timeline of this story might not exactly match the one on the show. I haven't included their college choices in this chapter, but I haven't forgotten about it.
I do not own Gossip Girl or its characters. Please review!
Hey Upper East Siders, sources say that last night Chuck had a meeting the parent with Elenor Waldorf. Aren't we all dying to know how that went? And it looks like we have a new guest in town for our very own Golden Boy. Do we get to see a Vanderbilt in New York City... hasn't it been ages? Hope V is prepared for the storm coming her way.
About a week later, Nate and Vanessa were about to head to the school courtyard when a voice similar to NAte called out," Got any time for your brother?"
"Tripp, hey man! What are you doing there?" Nate asked
"I am here to invite you to the Vanderbilt family reunion." Tripp said.
"No thanks." Nate said, tightly.
"Why?"
"Almost a year, Tripp, no communication from the family and suddenly they want me there?" Nate asked, offended.
"Come on, man. Who is this lady with you?" Tripp asked glancing towards Vanessa.
"Nice change of topic, but this is Vanessa, my girlfriend." Nate introduced the two. "Vanessa this is-"
"Tripp Vanderbilt, is that you I see after such a long time?" Serena exclaimed, coming from teh other side. She was on her way to school, when she saw Nate with his cousin.
"Serena!" Tripp said, equally delighted at seeing the blonde and pulled her for a brief hug.
"What brings you to Manhattan?" She asked.
"The annual Vanderbilt get-together is this weekend." He pointed to Nate, "And this one refuses to come."
"Can you blame him?" Serena asked. "Where were you guys when was staying on FBI seized property?" She defended her best friend.
"What? I had no idea things were like that, man. Grandfather refused to talk about it." Tripp lamely excused.
"Know how to operate a phone?" Nate asked, sarcastically.
"I was in the middle of something. I was so lost in my happiness I forgot about everything else?" Tripp said.
"What aren't you telling us, Tripp?" Serena asked, eyeing him curiously. Nate hadn't; mentioned something huge in the lede Vanderbilt's life, but they hadn't even spoken for sometime.
"I got engaged." He said with a broad smile on his face.
"That's amazing news, man." Nate said, and despite his anger gave him a man-hug.
"Congratulations! When do I meet the lucky lady?" Serena asked.
"You will if you come this weekend. Come on, Serena. Convince him. Grandfather really wants him there. And of course you remember the fun we used to have that time." Tripp pleaded. "Just think about it." He told Nate and sat in his car to be driven away.
"Tripp, engaged!" Serena exclaimed turning to Nate.
"I can't imagine it." Nate said.
"You miss them." Serena said understanding her best friend.
"I do." Nate agreed.
"Who was he?" Vanessa asked interrupting them.
"Tripp is my cousin on my mom's side." Nate explained.
"Oh." Vanessa checked her watch and said, "I have a meeting with the Headmistress. See you guys later."
"You wanna skip school and talk about it?" Serena asked, knowing that he needed to vent and talk it through.
"Yes. With alcohol preferably." Nate said.
"I know juts the place." Serena said, linking hands with him and starting to walk. She sent a quick text to Blair about her absence so that the brunette wouldn't worry. A minute later she got a reply from Blair asking her where the two were headed.
Nate and Serena were talking as they walked, he told her about the disappointment he felt when no one form the family helped him or his mother. Serena agreed to all of it but also explained to him and as per what he had told his mom went against the family when she helped the Captain leave the country.
As they got into a booth at the 24 hour club, Nate agreed, "Yeah. I know how much Grandfather hates anyone going against him."
"It's upto, you Natie. But they are your family. Maybe give them a chance." Serena suggested.
"Hmm.. come with me?" He asked. He would feel much better if she were there with him.
"The Vanderbilt estate? You don't need to tell me twice." Serena smiled.
Just then, Blair and Chuck also got into the booth.
The Non Judging Breakfast skipping school today. Wonder what caused that? How would V react to these images of our N and S being so close?
"Blair Waldorf skipping school." Nate said, shocked.
"I need alcohol." Blair said, taking Serena's martini and gulping it down. She said that she needed to get out of school. Chuck of course wouldn't be there if neither of the three were.
"What happened, B?" Serena asked concerned by her unusual behaviour.
"My mom is okay with me dating him." Blair said pointing to Chuck.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Nate asked. Neither him nor Serena knew why Blair was so much on the edge.
"She used to hate him more than I did!" Blair exclaimed. "Something is wrong. That boyfriend of hers has changed her."
"That man did hug me. Gave me the creeps." Chuck said, agreeing with Blair.
"Any non-sexual body contact gives you the creeps," Nate countered.
"True." Chuck smirked. "Anyway, what made the two of you hunt for alcohol at 9 AM?"
"Tripp came today to invite me to the Vanderbilt reunion." Nate said.
"Are you going?" Blair asked. All three of them knew about the silence from that family in the recent months.
"Serena has suggested I give them another chance. Let's see." Nate shrugged. "You guys wanna come along too? It would be very much appreciated."
"Can't mom and me and doing something on Friday... which again is weird for my mother. Anyway, we will be there for the day-long auction and gala at the end of the weekend." Blair answered.
"Fine. That'll help." Nate said, he turned to Serena, "you better not ditch me for even a second."
"I won't" She smiled.
"Why can't you just leave that Vanessa girl?" Blair asked.
"B!" Serena exclaimed.
"Please, you two belong with each other. Stop delaying the inevitable." she said in an obvious tone.
"Just friends, B." Nate sighed. Blair started arguing with the two until Chuck stopped them.
"Anyway, what do you wanna do after this?" He asked.
"B, you up for some shopping?" Serena asked "I need something new for the weekend."
"When am I not up for shopping?" Blair replied.
The day before Nate and Serena were scheduled to leave for the Vanderbilt mansion, they were having their weekly dinner. They were catching each other up on what had happened the past few days.
"Blair kept going on and on the entire shopping trip." Serena groaned. "I felt like agreeing with her just to make her stop."
Nate laughed. "Once Blair sets her mind to something, you know how she gets."
"I know. But she can't expect us to date just because she wants us to!" Serena exclaimed.
"I never said she was totally sane." Nate said. Soon their dinner was served and they moved on to lighter topics. Just before Serena was getting inside her car, Nate stopped her.
"I forgot, Vanessa is coming to the Vanderbilt reunion."
"Oh, okay." Serena said. "Do-" Nate's phone rang and a car behind Serena's honked causing Serena to get in and instruct the driver to drive away. Serena sighed and made her way to her room when she saw that Blair was calling her.
"Hey, B"
"All packed, S?" Blair asked.
"I... I don't think I'm going." Serena said, disappointed.
"What? And how did Nate react to this?" Blair asked.
"He is taking Vanessa. I don't think he needs me there anymore."
"Oh, S. I knew that Brooklyn was no good. I can't believe Nate-" Blair ranted.
"B, I'll see in school tomorrow." Serena said cutting the line, not in the mood to talk. She saw her half-packed suitcase and pushed it aside on the bed and left it as it is.
Early next morning, Nate and Vanessa came to the Van der Woodsen apartment. "Lily, is Serena ready?" He asked.
"She told me last night she wasn't going. Did something happen?" Lily asked him.
"What?" Nate asked confused. They were perfectly alright during dinner. "can I go up to her room?"
"Of course, Nathaniel." Lily smiled. Nate indicated Vanessa to stay in the living room as he made his way up the stairs.
Nate made his way up and gently pushed open the door to Serena's room. He saw her sleeping soundly, snuggled in her duvet and smiled. He went and sat by her and gently shook her. "S... get up."
"L'me sleep." she mumbled.
"No. You promised me that you would not ditch me. Serena!" Nate said, louder than last time. He saw the half-packed suitcase and went to it. "Serena, get up. I will put in whatever else you need into this. Go get ready." He said strictly.
Serena woke up a bit more due to his continued talking. "You're taking Vanessa, you don't need me."
"How does me taking Vanessa change me needing you there?" Nate asked.
"I thought..." Serena mumbled still have asleep.
"S... go get ready, I mean it." Nate said.
"I was content in my dream tonight." Serena said, pretending to be annoyed.
"I know.." Nate smiled and opened her closet, taking out a few things he knew she'd require. Vanessa opened the door to te room and entered, "What are you doing?"
"Serena thought that as you were going, she didn't have to. Stupid miscommunication." Nate grumbled.
"You're packing for her?" Vanessa asked confused.
"I have travelled enough with her and Blair to know exactly what they need." Nate smiled. Jus then, Serena called form the washroom, "Nate can you bring me my Black Armani jeans and the Mark Jacobs yellow top?"
"Uh... I got the jeans but S you have a lot of yellow tops." Nate said.
"Ugh.. get me the jeans." She said.
Nate was about to enter the washroom, when Vanessa stopped him. "She'll be half naked in there."
Nate chuckled a bit, "It's fine." He entered and Vanessa was able to hear a "There you go, S."
He came out of the washroom and zipped up Serena's suitcase. Serena came out of the washroom without wearing a top. "Serena!" Vanessa called out.
"Yeah?" Serena asked while rummaging through her tops.
"Nate was in the room and you came out just wearing a bra, waist up?" She asked, confused at the bold blonde.
"Uhh..." Serena thougth for a minute not exactly seeing the problem. "Nothing he hasn't seen before." She smiled. Nate just laughed.
"Vanessa, calm down. We have been changing in front of each other since we were kids." Nate said.
Serena finally found the top she was looking for and put it on. The top had a zipper and even after multiple treis she was unable to zip it up completely. Nate laughed a stood behind her, made her it and pulled it down slightly before pulling it back up and securing the button.
"Thank you." Serena kissed him on the cheek and went to her vanity to put on some make-up. Finally Serena was ready in her high heeled knee length boots and the Burberry trench coat. "Let's go. Arthur will bring the suitcase in to the car."
"We can carry it." Vanessa dead-panned.
The two blondes glanced at each other. "Give it to me." Nate said, in his usual chivalrous self.
"No. Natie, stop." she rang the intercom and asked the butler to come to her room and instructed him to take the case downstairs.
Spotted N and S dressed to their best self. Is it just me or do you think that V wil be looking completely out of place where they are headed? And is there some jealousy in V we see as she eyes the two blondes?
The town car pulled into the driveway and the three New Yorkers got down. Tripp came to them and greeted them. "Nate, so glad you changed your mind, man."
"Yeah. Serena suggested I give you a chance. Do not make me regret it." Nate said. Tripp turned to Serena and hugged her to whispering a 'thank you' to her. He then introduced them to his fiancée Maureen, who immediately started talking to Serena.
"Nate!" Came a voice and soon Nate was crushed against a blonde women with a few brown highlights.
"Good to see you too, El." Nate said laughing at his sister's antics.
"Oh my God! S. It's been so long." Elizabeth said turning to Serena.
They too hugged and started plannig a shopping trip to 5th Avenue. "You need to come with me to Bergdorfs, the collection is so good." Serena said.
"Done. Maureen, up for some shopping therapy?" She asked her soon to be sister in law.
"Of course." Maureen smiled. "Next weekend?" She asked, and the girls nodded.
Nate introduced everyone to Vanessa and the three greeted a few of Nate's uncles and aunts. Suddenly, a loud of a helicopter was heard.
"Hospital near by?" Vanessa asked.
"That's Grandfather's ride." Nate answered.
"He is going to be so surprised to see you." Tripp commented from behind.
"Wait... I thought this was his idea.." Nate asked confused.
"Well..." Tripp said, looking slightly guilty. Nate was about to turn and head back into the car, when Serena stopped him.
"Nate... you have come here. Meet him at least." Serena said, keeping her hand on his elbow and giving him an encouraging smile.
"Listen to the wise lady, Natie." Elizabeth shouted from behind.
"Hey! Only I call him that." Serena said, elbowing her. From the side, Maureen shushed them as they saw William Vanderbilt and Nate approach each other.
"Nathaniel, it's so good to see you." he said, opening his arms to embrace his grandson.
"It's good to see you too, Grandfather." Nate said, smiling.
The two started walking towards the others, greeting others on the way. "Serena, you look radiant, child." He said.
"Mr. Vanderbilt. It's so good to see you." Serena replied.
"She is the one who encouraged Nate to come here." Tripp said from behind.
"I'm grateful." He said to her, genuinely.
"Of course. I know he missed you guys." She smiled, glancing at Nate.
"Grandfather, this is my girlfriend, Vanessa." Nate introduced them. William simply shook the girl's hand, not saying a word. Nate and Serena looked at each other almost expecting the reaction. The whole gathering headed inside to get settled in before the festivities started.
Uh oh, V. Did you get the greeting you didn't expect? Didn't anyone tell you that Upstate New York is colder than the Upper East Side? And well, Serena and Nate are in the place where they've had uncountable childhood memories, will they lead to something more between our favourite blondes? And did we see our Queen B having some mother-daughter time? Who knew that happened in the UES? You know you love me.
-xoxo, Gossip Girl