#old thread

Serena: Serena had been serious when she had come back to New York and told Nate that she wanted to see how they could possibly make further steps in this, their relationship, wanting to show him that she actually was serious about this. All in, maybe for the first time in their life. Admittedly she hadn’t spoken to Dan yet, nor had they talked to his PR team which arguably was one of the biggest concerns the had, but it didn’t mean that she did not want to make sure he knew that she had meant every word she said. Nate’s birthday did come as a perfect excuse or opportunity, depending on how one looked at it, to do just that. On the outside it wasn’t too stark of a contrast to his birthday last year, his birthday celebrated with a rather public fundraiser amongst manhattans elite, but in comparison to the year before there was no anxiety, nor arguments and no secret hushed attempts of promises. Instead the blonde had been, not necessarily next to, but at least close to Nate all night. It was one of those games between wanting to be with him, but knowing that at this point any headlines getting ahead of them would or could get in their way, which was also why she had left the even before him, not without telling him though. What she did leave out was the fact that he’d see her the moment he’d get back to his place - curtesy of his doorman who she by now considered an ally. What she did prepare for him wasn’t much, but it was enough to make sure he knew she first of all, had not considered the earlier happenings of the evening his actual celebration, but also that this, them, just the two of them, really was what she wanted more…all of. However, she had learnt from trying to cook with him all those months ago, which was why instead of being greeted by a cake that she attempted to bake he was rather greeted by one she had ordered, candles lit when she had heard him at the door, though the smile on her face was perhaps brighter than the candlelight. The scene must have been so very telling of the world they lived in, evening dress and tuxedo contrasted by an attempt to make a home, create a life that was so common for others and so craved by them occasionally. “Happy birthday!” The blonde finally told him softly when he did step into his apartment, giving him a moment to take it all in before she’d get overwhelmed by the excitement to give him the gift she’d considered for weeks.

Nate: Nothing had changed about the fact that all the mingling, business conversations and making new connections through small talk wasn't something he was particularly fond of and yet this year's fundraiser aka his birthday party for the public was a lot more bearable than the last. And while it wasn't obvious to anyone else since they did get quite good at pretending to be friends in public while the lines had blurred a whole lot behind closed doors for months now, it was all because of Serena's presence. There was just something about knowing she was there, and how smoothly she every once in a while found her way right into the conversations he was having without anyone really noticing just to be a little closer to him (or so he figured) that so easily made him enjoy all of this at least a bit. Technically he should've also known that Serena wouldn't let this be the only celebration of the night, especially since she had once thrown him what he still to this day considered the best birthday party ever and a part of him did have a feeling that she would find one way or another to surprise him tonight but she still earned a little surprised look along with a smile that certainly matched hers when he finally arrived at his apartment. The sight he was met with, as well as the fact this promised he'd get to spend the rest of his birthday just with her was really all he wanted. And needed. "You're amazing." He chuckled, truly touched by the gesture and that happy look on her face that told him how much she enjoyed giving him this little surprise party of two. "I was hoping I'd see you again tonight." Nate whispered against her lips after he'd finally walked over and kissed her, still smiling and he had a feeling that particular smile couldn't be wiped off his face for the rest of the night. "The cake looks delicious. But I assume I have to make a wish first and then blow out the candles?"

Serena: Serena had assumed he’d be happy with her little surprise but of course there was a chance that he had rather spent the rest of the evening with all of their friends - though one look at this face confirmed that her guess had been correct and this was just what he seemed to both want and need. “Of course you have to make a wish - and don’t even think about telling me or it’ll never come true!” Serena told him grinning softly, only stepping back a little bit so he could actually blow out the candles and make a wish, something she considered an integral part of their little birthday celebration. Pressing another soft kiss against his lips before she actually moved away to grab both, two forks because cutting the cake was clearly overrated but also grabbed the little bag that contained his gift, something she’d spent an extraordinary amount of time thinking about before she had made a decision. The bag held a watch, just simple enough to work for his every day life but special enough to be considered a gift - but most of all inscribed on the back, the words “promise, I’ll never make you wait again” but a cheeky nod at their history as well as a heartfelt promise for their future. “Okay make a wish and then open this before I tell you what is in it!” The blonde finally said as she held the bag behind her back, waiting for him to follow her little instruction.

Nate: He grinned when she basically explained to him how making a birthday wish worked, which he obviously didn’t need but it wasn’t really a common thing on the Upper East Side. Birthday cakes and the tradition of blowing out candles to make wishes before doing so, that was. Birthdays were rather social gatherings to present their children and their qualities for their planned future and to show off their wealth by spending ridiculous amounts of money on everything but never really paying much mind to what their child actually wanted - or wished for. Therefore someone genuinely wanting you to make a wish was a rarity, something as simple as that powerful enough to make one feel appreciated… and there wasn’t much more than he could wish for. Especially since she was there with him and she’d been for a while now in one way or another. But maybe… well maybe he’ll wish for her to stay this happy, and a little selfishly for many more moments like this which ultimately meant his happiness would match hers. “It was really difficult for you not to spoil this surprise, huh?” He teased, blowing out the candles carefully once his wish was silently made. But before he paid attention to her gift his arms wrapped around her, kissing her again only that this time it wasn’t just a quick one but one to compensate probably all those times he’d wanted to kiss her today but couldn’t, smiling once he pulled back a little. “If I make my own wish true right after making it, it wouldn’t mean it never comes true if I tell you that was exactly it, right?” Nate softly mumbled against her lips, pressing yet another kiss against them and then finally took the bag containing his gift from her. “And maybe I just like to test my theory how impatient you can get.” He added with a grin. For probably the first time, he suppressed the urge to tell her that she didn’t have to get him a gift because 1) he was sure she knew and 2) he also knew she loved giving gifts and that hers were particularly thoughtful so he couldn’t deny that he was curious to learn what she’d gotten him. Taking the box out of the bag that revealed a watch once he opened it, his smile grew a little bigger. Serena had exquisite taste, that was no secret at all and this watch in fact validated that. It was one of the things they had in common. As much as he sometimes despised the Upper East Side and how superficial it was, this was the one part he couldn’t escape and probably would always keep. He liked the feel of cashmere against his skin or a good quality suit, expensive satin sheets and high quality furniture that came with prices only wealthy people could pay but that at least wasn’t the worst “flaw” to have if you liked giving back equally as much, right? “It’s beautiful.” It wasn’t until he took the watch out of the box it came in to switch it out with the one he was wearing right now (because the watch she’d just gifted him obviously was his favorite now), that he caught a glimpse of an inscription on the back, turning it around to have a better look at it. Lifting his gaze to meet hers, his now a little teary because the little promise was undeniably touching, he smiled the probably biggest smile of the night so far. “I like that promise.”

Serena: “I hope this wasn’t all you wished for!” The blonde answered after his lips met hers, her arms loosely draped around his neck for a moment before she happily handed the gift over - well, allowed him to take it. He obviously knew that this, keeping anything from him actually, was torture for her and so she appreciated that he didn’t drag the moment out any longer despite his teasing words. The monetary aspect of a present, especially on the upper east side, was a tricky one. Money ultimately was nothing but numbers and those generally meant nothing, though she’d been made painfully aware of the fact that this wasn’t the case for anyone when she had tried to give Dan his very first Christmas present, ironically also a watch but with much different of a significance. While her - at this moment still official - husband had grown accustomed to the finer things in life over the past few years Nate grew up just like her, where a thoughtful gift was just that, despite what it might have cost, that part never truly something that was acknowledged. The blonde was glad he liked it, though she didn’t doubt that part for a moment and yet she watched carefully to catch glimpse of the actual meaning of it, perhaps even the true gift of it all. His reaction didn’t disappoint, the tears glistening in his eyes telling her all she needed to know. “I mean it…I don’t think I’ve always realised that you were waiting for me, but…well I don’t ever want to make that mistake again and I don’t ever want to make you wait like this again. I want this to work, I want to make it work…make us work!”

Nate: This was easily the best gift anyone had ever given him, the meaning and promise behind it all obviously playing a major factor in that aside from how elegant it looked and how it was something he could wear on an every day basis. "To be fair, I don't think I was... aware that I was waiting for you until Thanksgiving two years ago and even then I tried to deny it for a little while longer." Nate only fully realized in that moment the impact those ups and downs they've pushed past to get to where they were today had on him and probably her too, from her not being able to make any kind of promises to the things she'd just said that meant just... everything to him. "I want to make us work too." They were simple words but they were the only thing he'd ever ask for - he wanted them to really try this time. Both of them, of course. The fact she was choosing today for such a significant step in their relationship was a sweet bonus to this already lovely celebration, the new watch which now replaced the old one a constant reminder of that promise she just gave him. "I think I have to officially declare this as the best birthday ever." His arms wrapped around her once again, pressing his lips against hers briefly. "Waiting for you was absolutely worth every second - just as much as being with you will be."

Serena: The last two years had been a whirlwind, from a shared kiss at thanksgiving that most likely set all of this - including the end of her marriage - in motion, to him walking away from their friendship to save his heart, to her possibly for the first time ever promising him that she was all in, absolutely not planning to go anywhere and wholly trusting in them and in the possibility of a future, no matter how complicated. It almost felt like too much change for such a relatively short time however it also felt like it was years in the making, both the disillusion of her marriage but also this, them. She had always tried not to promise Nate anything, never wanting to break those promises but maybe she was now sure enough to do just that, promise him something and not just say it but give him something to hold onto, keep her promise with him daily for what surely would be some turbulent months once or if they’d start making this more public. His role and her reputation a combination that sure would not make for easy headlines. “Are you crazy? The last birthday I threw you was spectacular…and that was before everyone left!” She teased him softly though she secretly agreed, this might have been the perfect night, or was the perfect night that was. pressing a soft kiss against his words after his words fully registered she smiled up at him, he’d next step one she’d planned but one that felt…right in that moment as she carefully removed the two bands that had adorned her hands for the past few years, those rings and that promise not applicable anymore, not when she was in the arms of the man she assumed or hoped she’s spend the rest of…well, possibly forever with.

Nate: "Maybe I am a little crazy." He said, a soft laugh falling from his lips followed by a shrug, her teasing words not really changing his mind about declaring this years birthday the best birthday ever though. "That badass assassin themed birthday party will always be a very close second, don't worry." After all, he didn't keep those polaroids from that party (and the handcuffs) all those years for no reason and he was actually sure that Serena knew as well why today had a little more significance than that party. His gaze only left hers when she removed the rings from her fingers, eyes following every movement and remaining on the rings which were now placed on the table for a moment longer before they met hers again. There were a lot of emotions rushing through him right then, something he figured was probably the same for her, all of which he would always be unable to put into words - mostly because he felt like there were no words strong enough to describe them. And words didn't exactly feel necessary in a moment that underlined the promise Serena had gifted him with today. Instead of saying anything, a smile stretched across his lips - the kind that also reached his eyes - as he kissed her again, expressing at least some of the things he felt through it - the love he felt for her, the security this entire gesture gave him, the excitement for their future (even if he knew the public probably wouldn't make it easy for them)... Of course he also knew that her marriage would eventually and officially end whenever she'd get the chance to speak to Dan, and while a part of him felt sorry for his friend he also allowed himself to be a little selfish this time because after all the pining, waiting and almosts, this right now really felt like it's been a long time coming.

Serena: She couldn’t help but laugh softly when he called the assassin themes birthday party a close second - something she both knew came from the heart and was most likely true. They’d barely been dating then but things had already been a little rocky, nothing that some handcuffs and a sleepless night between the sheets couldn’t fix, but this felt more certain and more stable than anything they’d ever been in the past - and all that without and kind of label even attached just yet. In Serenas mind they were a little too old for the girlfriend/boyfriend thing anyways and technically, though it now truly felt more like a formality, she was still married - and he still had a publicist that’d most likely talk them out of anything becoming public. Watching the smile extend from his lips to his eyes as she looked up from where her rings now laid made the whole act worth it, not to mention reassured her that this was exactly what she wanted. Divorce frankly had always been her biggest fear but looking at Nate right now it didn’t feel quite as scary anymore. They both knew that sometimes words failed them and this kiss certainly was one of those moments when words could have never expressed everything their bodies were able to, the cake momentarily forgotten as she leant against the table, pulling Nate against her and she leant back just a little, elbow gracing the icing that snapped her out of that little trance. Admittedly she might have been craving the man in front of her much more than any cake, but she was also adamant that there was no way that this day could pass without them at least trying it. “Pause that thought!” She ultimately whispered against his lips to quickly get two forks from the kitchen. “Can’t take you to the bedroom before you get a chance to try your cake!” She blonde joked though the suggestion rang true as she handed him the fork. “Birthday boy first”