The Future's Not What You Imagined
Title: The Future's Not What You Imagined.
Fandom: Gossip Girl.
Characters: Serena van der Woodsen/Nate Archibald.
Rating: PG.
Word Count: 510.
Spoilers: None, really.
Summary: She runs into Nate years later, when she's supposed to be happily married and have the complete two-point-five kids. She's single, though, and has no idea if kids are even going to be part of her future.
Author's Note/Disclaimer: Written for the prompt It's always been you for Nate/Serena over at the Multi-Fandom Request-A-Fic Meme Type-Thing.
She runs into Nate years later, when she's supposed to be happily married and have the complete two-point-five kids. She's single, though, and has no idea if kids are even going to be part of her future.
He's handsome, all clean-shaven and dressed like he's on his way to some important business meeting. His suit is nice; crisp lines and not a wrinkle in sight. He smiles at her, says her name, and suddenly she's back in the bar with him.
The feel of his fingers against her skin, how he tasted like pie and champagne; his was gentle and she was a tad too rough around the edges. They were a couple that wouldn't have worked, even in a million years. They were too similar, but far too different.
"How have you been?" His voice brings her back to the present and she smiles, wistfully, as she looks at his face.
"Lonely," she says. She didn't even realize she was until that one word, harsh and far too real, escaped her mouth. She laughs softly, nervously, and notices the way his eyes soften. "I'm sorry," she shakes her head, blonde curls falling over her shoulders. She reaches out, as if to touch him, then pulls away. "I'm sorry," she repeats and turns, willing the tears in her eyes not to fall.
His hand curls gently around her arm, burning hot to her cold exterior. She can feel herself breaking apart, splitting into a million little pieces as he pulls his hand away. "Serena," he says gently, and suddenly they're close friends again. It's like no time has passed, and he's still wearing Blair's heart on his sleeve.
"Don't," she shakes her head. She doesn't glance over her shoulder, doesn't dare look at him; if she does, she'll lose it for sure.
A sigh escapes between his lips and her heart stops for a brief second. He touches her again, but this time doesn't let go. "I've been lonely, too," he almost whispers.
The noisy city around them seems to pause as the words register in her brain. She turns, slowly, afraid that once she sees his face everything she's ever hoped for will be erased by the heartbreaking truth. Those words mean more to her than she's willing to admit, and she longs to hear the I'm lonely because you're not here with me hidden between vowels.
He reaches up once she's facing him, tentatively brushing her hair behind her ear. Fingertips linger against her cheek and a gentle smile curls his lips. "I've missed you," he says, and somewhere lost in his breath she hears, It's always been you and her heart flutters.
She's in his arms before she realizes what's happened, and he's kissing her before she has the chance to pull away. She wants to laugh, to cry, to scream; she wants to do something because her life finally feels complete. She can feel the future in his kiss, and she knows that this is how it was supposed to be.
He still tastes like champagne.
Fandom: Gossip Girl.
Characters: Serena van der Woodsen/Nate Archibald.
Rating: PG.
Word Count: 510.
Spoilers: None, really.
Summary: She runs into Nate years later, when she's supposed to be happily married and have the complete two-point-five kids. She's single, though, and has no idea if kids are even going to be part of her future.
Author's Note/Disclaimer: Written for the prompt It's always been you for Nate/Serena over at the Multi-Fandom Request-A-Fic Meme Type-Thing.
She runs into Nate years later, when she's supposed to be happily married and have the complete two-point-five kids. She's single, though, and has no idea if kids are even going to be part of her future.
He's handsome, all clean-shaven and dressed like he's on his way to some important business meeting. His suit is nice; crisp lines and not a wrinkle in sight. He smiles at her, says her name, and suddenly she's back in the bar with him.
The feel of his fingers against her skin, how he tasted like pie and champagne; his was gentle and she was a tad too rough around the edges. They were a couple that wouldn't have worked, even in a million years. They were too similar, but far too different.
"How have you been?" His voice brings her back to the present and she smiles, wistfully, as she looks at his face.
"Lonely," she says. She didn't even realize she was until that one word, harsh and far too real, escaped her mouth. She laughs softly, nervously, and notices the way his eyes soften. "I'm sorry," she shakes her head, blonde curls falling over her shoulders. She reaches out, as if to touch him, then pulls away. "I'm sorry," she repeats and turns, willing the tears in her eyes not to fall.
His hand curls gently around her arm, burning hot to her cold exterior. She can feel herself breaking apart, splitting into a million little pieces as he pulls his hand away. "Serena," he says gently, and suddenly they're close friends again. It's like no time has passed, and he's still wearing Blair's heart on his sleeve.
"Don't," she shakes her head. She doesn't glance over her shoulder, doesn't dare look at him; if she does, she'll lose it for sure.
A sigh escapes between his lips and her heart stops for a brief second. He touches her again, but this time doesn't let go. "I've been lonely, too," he almost whispers.
The noisy city around them seems to pause as the words register in her brain. She turns, slowly, afraid that once she sees his face everything she's ever hoped for will be erased by the heartbreaking truth. Those words mean more to her than she's willing to admit, and she longs to hear the I'm lonely because you're not here with me hidden between vowels.
He reaches up once she's facing him, tentatively brushing her hair behind her ear. Fingertips linger against her cheek and a gentle smile curls his lips. "I've missed you," he says, and somewhere lost in his breath she hears, It's always been you and her heart flutters.
She's in his arms before she realizes what's happened, and he's kissing her before she has the chance to pull away. She wants to laugh, to cry, to scream; she wants to do something because her life finally feels complete. She can feel the future in his kiss, and she knows that this is how it was supposed to be.
He still tastes like champagne.