Hey folks! This is it. Enjoy this little wrap up to The Chase. Thanks again for being here. For every review, every favourite, every view, everything. This was a Nate Archibald dream for me and it turned out better than I imagined.

At the end, I have a tiny snippet from the sequel - Ultraviolet. I would recommend adding me to your author alert notification list so you can be prepared when it comes out! First chapter will go up in two weeks or so. The sequel takes place after the finale Part B aka we will see everyone again at Dan and Serena's wedding.

Thanks again. I have heart eyes for all of you.

Two months later

"Come ON, ump!"

"You're kidding me, right?"

Mackenzie couldn't help but smile as she listened to Nate, his cousin and dad grumble about the baseball game. They were seated just behind home base for a Saturday evening New York Yankee home game. Nate had surprised her with the tickets and both Tripp and The Captain were sitting with them, too.

She glanced beside her to Nate, who was leaning forward in his seat, sipping a beer. He was wearing a pinstripe shirt. He looked over and caught her eye, shifting his body to lean towards her and kiss her instead, pulling down on the brim of her hat as he turned his attention back to the game.

This was a happy moment she wanted to capture in her memory.

She studied Nate as he watched the game, chatted with his family, smiled at her, checked his phone. He had really ironed out his balance in life. As he glanced down at his phone, he sighed and rolled his eyes, showing a picture he had received to Mackenzie. It was from Serena - an awkward selfie of her, Dan and Henry with the accompanied message: 'Hen misses his Uncle Nate!'

Mackenzie let out a breath, smiling at the photo. Nothing like a good guilt trip.

Both Nate and Mackenzie had been keeping their distance from the Waldorf-Bass clan since the gala. Understandably so, considering what happened.

"Nathaniel, you're an idiot, you know that?"

Nate was clutching his arm as a paramedic pulled him into an ambulance.

"Where's Mack?"

"She's fine, just quite concussed. She'll need a few stitches. She'll see you at the hospital."

The last twenty minutes had been a whirlwind.

Nate didn't know what had overcome in when he was faced with the fear of losing Mackenzie. Even if he wasn't really going to lose her - the fact that Mitch Watson was yielding a gun and pulling her out of the room had set something off in Nate. With adrenalin pulsing through him, he had rushed at Mitch Watson and Mackenzie. And just before he tackled them to the ground, Mitch had shot his gun. The bullet had only grazed Nate's arm, thankfully.

Mackenzie fell to the ground, slamming her head onto the corner of one of Chuck's bookcases. Mitch Watson had fallen into the doors, bursting them open to reveal four federal agents waiting outside in the Bass Industries hall.

After Mackenzie had given her statement to the agents and police, and had her eyebrow sewn up with several stitches, she hurried off to find Nate.

Mackenzie almost cried when she saw him sitting there - dress pants and fancy socks, white undershirt, bandaged left bicep. He still managed to look so handsome, even in this state of distress.

"Mack, thank God," he managed to spill out, as she nearly tackled him on the bed. She wrapped her arms around him, as gently as possible, then pulled away to kiss him.

"What did I tell you about defending my honour?" Mackenzie almost cried when he looked her in the eyes. His eyes were warm, comforting, familiar.

Stupid Nate and his stupid hero complex. He shifted over slightly to let her sit beside him on the bed.

He tangled his hand with hers as they sat there. She leaned her head onto his shoulder.

"Nate, thank you for -"

"Shhh. I want to forget about the hard stuff for a few minutes." He paused, squeezing her hand. "It's Montreal, by the way. Our weekend away."

A crack of a baseball bat interrupted Mackenzie's distracted thoughts. She reached her arm over and grazed her fingers over Nate's exposed left bicep, where a pink mark of scar tissue still remained from the bullet graze. He reached up and grabbed her hand, pulling it in to kiss it ever so gently.

Mackenzie often found herself overwhelmed when she looked back on that entire evening. The anxiety came back in droves when she thought about how if Nate had leapt ten inches in the other direction, he could have been shot dead. Or how if Mitch Watson had taken her to the airport, he may have taken advantage of her moreso. Or how Chuck Bass just let them get into that mess. How even the last eight months had changed Mackenzie's life so drastically and how poisonous the city was and how-

"Mackenzie, do you want a drink?" She let all the thoughts wash away when she heard her name being called by The Captain at the end of their row, grabbing beers for them all.

She smiled and shook her head, leaning back into the seat and looking out at the field.

Whatever happened, she still had Nate by her side. And that was more important than anything.

It wasn't an easy decision, but Mackenzie proceeded with her enrollment into the specialized summer program at The London School Of Business.

Nate was a huge motivator for her. He wanted what was best for her in every way. And despite her anger, Chuck Bass helped her make the decision too.

Chuck Bass was persistent. He knew his take down of Mitch Watson came at the expense of Mackenzie Humphrey's well being on more than one occasion. But he was determined to make things better with her.

She took a meeting with him only after he persisted for weeks.

She was sitting in his office, arms crossed. Chuck stared at her from across his desk.

"I talked with your advisor and signed off on your internship hours," Chuck started, sliding some paperwork across the desk.

Mackenzie simply nodded her head.

"Thank you."

"Listen, Mackenzie, I can't apologize enough for what transpired. I want you to know how grateful I am for what you did for the foundation. That small clerical error lead Jack to dive further into our Australian books and found some more anomalies."

"Great." Mackenzie didn't care about any of that. She knew Mitch Watson was in custody and facing time in prison because of his money laundering. But that didn't resolve all her trauma.

"Is there anything I can do to help with this? I know you're still mad but our lives will likely overlap for a long time so I don't want things to be awkward between us."

"I'm considering going to The London School of Business this summer so I think the distance will help."

"Taking what?"

"I've been accepted into their 10 week Strategic Branding and Private Equity short course. If I go I'll just be staying with Jenny."

"Let me pay your tuition."

"You can't just buy my forgiveness, Chuck."

"This has no strings attached. It's a gift. A thank you. It's the least I can do."

Chuck Bass himself paid the invoice for her tuition. It didn't come out of the Bass Industries books. It came from his personal cheque book.

It was a step in the right direction but Mackenzie was still struggling to understand how Chuck worked.

It was a warm Friday in May and Mackenzie was heading home to the loft. Nate had taken the afternoon off and was going to meet her there. She had spent her morning at Columbia, wrapping up a few things to ensure she had completed everything to finish the Masters program. Then she had gone to see her therapist. Now, following an afternoon cocktail with Serena, she was finally going to see Nate.

After the article incident and the aftermath of the gala, something was different for Mackenzie and Nate. Everything felt stronger, their connection seemed so much more. Their purpose had shifted. Suddenly, the future was very real and the upcoming long distance relationship was scary. Possible, but scary.

When Mackenzie walked into the loft, she was surprised to see Dan there. He was standing with Nate in the kitchen and seemed to be directing him on something. Cooking dinner?

"Is this a dream?" Mackenzie asked as she walked into the loft, sliding off her jacket. "Is that Nate Archibald standing over a stove?"

Nate turned his head and smirked at her.

"Our little guy is really growing up," Dan commented. "You have to keep stirring these around or they'll stick." He pointed down at a sauce pan on the stove. He reached over and turned the element down, turning towards his sister.

"So, exciting news. Nothing entirely official just yet so keep this under wraps but I'm meeting with Netflix next week. They want the rights to City People for a limited series run."

"Dan! That's incredible." Mackenzie pulled her brother into a hug.

"Congrats, man," Nate threw his cloth over his shoulder and patted Dan's back. Mackenzie poured them all celebratory drinks as they sat in the living room. Whatever Nate was cooking remained on the stove to simmer.

"So, are you all ready for London?" Dan shook his sister's knee. "Serena is very set on visiting in August, by the way."

"Ready as I can be," she replied to him, shrugging. "Nate has managed to book three separate trips across the pond, too."

Mackenzie had to admit knowing Nate was coming to visit multiple times was a huge determining factor for her. It's not that she was codependent per se, she just knew she would miss him. Immensely.

"You do realize absence makes the heart grow fonder," Dan commented, rolling his eyes.

"Hey, The Spectator can run without me being in the office, so I may as well romance my girlfriend across Europe if the timing works."

"Please don't talk about romancing my sister while I'm in your presence."

Dan left shortly after, leaving Mackenzie and Nate to enjoy dinner together. With Dan's assistance, Nate had cooked up a veggie stir fry with chicken and jasmine rice. And it was at least edible, although he still had some skills to master.

"I consider that a success since I didn't give us food poisoning," Nate laughed at himself as they cuddled on the couch after dinner.

"I'm impressed. I have to admit seeing you cooking, working with your hands, sleeves rolled up - very sexy." She sat up from leaning on his chest and gave him a playful smile.

"Oh yeah?" He reached for her waist and pulled her back towards him. She straddled over his hips and leaned in to kiss him.

"Yeah, and watching you do the dishes now will be super sexy, too."

"Hey, if I cooked doesn't that mean you have to clean up?" He moved his hands up and down her back, sneaking up under her shirt. He traced his fingers carefully along her spine, leaning a trail of goosebumps on her skin.

"Maybe the dishes can wait," she replied breathlessly, as he dove in to kiss her neck and collarbone.

"It occurred to me the other day," Nate pulled away from her, a mischievous smile on her face. "We still haven't used those handcuffs."

Mackenzie's eyes grew wide as she looked at him. "Oh, I mainly bought those as a joke."

"Well, I'm not joking." He bit her bottom lip, moving his hands further up her back to unclip her bra.

"Feisty," she whispered back to him.

Serena has been right about one thing - Mackenzie's chemistry with Nate was unbeatable, especially in the bedroom. She couldn't even remember the substandard ex-lovers she used to sleep with - Nate's passion and take charge attitude did something unexplainable to Mackenzie.

Twenty minutes later, she was half naked on her bed. Her arms were handcuffed through her headboard as Nate laid kisses up and down her torso. Just as he reached to pull her jeans off, he stopped.

"I love you, you know," he said quietly as he stared at her.

"Is now really the best time for proclaiming your love?" She kicked her legs in protest. She needed her pants off and Nate on her, in her.

"Actually, I think now is the best time for something else." He crawled up the bed towards her, and leaned down beside her to whisper. "It's the best time for me to do the dishes."

She gasped at him and pulled at her locked wrists. "You're kidding."

He leaned down to kiss her and stood up off the bed.

"I'll be back."

Mackenzie gave him a skeptical glance as he walked away. "Nate, come on."

"Maybe I'll run to the store to get some snacks." Nate said from the kitchen. Mackenzie heard him opening up the fridge, then shuffling some dishes in the kitchen.

"Nate!" He didn't reply. "Nathaniel Fitzwilliam Archibald, this isn't funny."

"Do you really think full naming me is going to help you, Mackenzie Lilas Rose Humphrey?"

"Naaaaate. Please."

He came back to her room, leaning on the door frame and smiling at her. "God, I love when you say please."

Nate Archibald was really hitting a stride in his life - both business and personal.

The Spectator was thriving - so much so that Nate was slated to add on nearly two dozen staff members by the end of the year. He was meeting with his main financial planner this week to sort out next steps for assets - an expanded office in D.C. and a private jet to save on travel costs. He never dreamed this is where The Spectator would evolve too but he couldn't be more excited about the future of his news reporting agency.

And he couldn't be more excited about his future with Mackenzie Humphrey, too.

It had been a long time since he could picture ten years ahead with a partner. Even planning two months ahead used to be a headache. Now, he could picture himself waking up beside Mackenzie every day for the rest of his life if she would let him. Sure, they had to get through this summer of long distance dating but they had survived everything else so far. What was ten weeks across the pond going to do?

Nate was doing his best to soak up the next two weeks with her before she left.

It was a cool Thursday night. Nate was giving a speech at a Big Brothers Big Sisters event at his mother's request. It was a summer kick off fundraiser, with people of all ages attending. There was live music, games for the kids and cocktails for the adults. The Spectator was going to be running a summer blog outlining the events put on by BBBS, wrapping up with an online fundraising initiative from subscribers.

Nate was standing backstage, waiting for his call up to speak. He knew Mackenzie was waiting in the crowd with his parents and he knew she was trying her best with Anne Archibald.

He sent her a text while he waited: 'I hope my mother is at least making polite conversation.'

'She introduced me to two people as your girlfriend. At least this time she didn't describe me as Nate's friend's sister.'

'See? She's warming up to you.'

'Your dad keeps handing me glasses of champagne to get through this. God bless him.'

After his speech, Nate made his way through the crowd, stopping to say hello to his parents' friends as needed. He finally found his dad and Mackenzie seated outside on the patio, near an outdoor heater.

"Hey, you survived," Nate kissed Mackenzie on the cheek as he dropped onto the couch beside her.

"I will admit the bubbly helped," Mackenzie tilted her glass towards the Captain who just laughed.

"I know my Anne can be a bit overbearing," Howard nodded towards her. "She's had an image of the ideal trophy wife for Nate since he was born. She's protective."

"Please tell me you consumed more than champagne tonight," Nate turned to Mackenzie. Her cheeks were flushed and she was smiling at him, eyes wide.

He could tell she was drunk.

"And maybe a vodka soda. Or two."

Nate glanced over at his dad, who raised his hands innocently. "Sorry, you know how your mother is at events like this. She drives anyone to drink." Nate sighed, rolling his eyes. He sent a quick message to John to come by to pick them up.

"Well, I think maybe it's time to head home, babe," Nate stood up, extending his hands to help Mackenzie stand up.

"I'm sorry I let the champagne get to me. Are you mad?" Mackenzie swallowed hard as Nate slid into the car beside her. He leaned over and kissed her forehead.

"No, of course not." Nate took her hand in his and she leaned her head on his shoulder. "But you and I both know you shouldn't be fighting anxiety with alcohol. Even when you're facing Anne Archibald."

"She doesn't like me, Nate," Mackenzie said to him quietly. "She's faking it. But I can tell."

"I don't care what my mother thinks, Mack." Nate squeezed her hand.

Mackenzie didn't believe a word of that.

"I won't be anyone's trophy wife."

As if he's even thinking about marrying me, anyway. Isn't that too much to assume? We've only been dating for six months.

"Hey," Nate shifted his body towards her, causing her head to lift from his shoulder. "I don't want a trophy wife - whatever that even means anyway. I want a partner in life who has goals and dreams and the same wants as me. Someone who I can support and will be there for me, too."

"I'm a bit drunk so forgive me or ignore me if this is too much but I want to be that partner for you." Mackenzie squeezed her eyes shut tightly, nervously fiddling with the ring on her hand.

"Well, I'm not drunk. I want you to be that partner for me, too." Nate leaned in and kissed her softly.

"This wasn't a marriage proposal, was it?"

Nate laughed at her panicked question. "No. But it's nice to confirm we're on the same page about the future."

"Good." She turned and snuggled into his chest as he wrapped his arm around her.

"Also, come on, like I would propose to you in the back of a car. You know whatever I do will be romantic as hell."

"Okay, sorry to hurt your ego, Archibald."

"Yes, everything of yours is packed away and ready for the sublet. Dan said he'd meet them here this weekend sort everything out." Mackenzie was waiting outside the loft with her luggage. She had one more night in the city before heading off to London for the summer and she was heading to Nate's for the evening. He had invited Dan, Serena and Eric over for a final NYC dinner.

"Okay. Now, one last thing." Mackenzie sighed as Rufus continued on the other end of the phone. "Mack? Have fun, okay? I know the last year hasn't been the best chapter of your life but hopefully you can relax. And enjoy this time with your sister."

Mackenzie couldn't help but smile. As frustrating as her relationship with her dad had been, his love for her came out and showed itself in times like this. She couldn't help but feel grateful for it.

"Thanks, dad. We'll FaceTime you next week!"

Mackenzie climbed into the backseat of Nate's town car as John loaded her luggage into the trunk. It was hard to believe she wouldn't be back to the loft until September. She and Rufus has chatted briefly about his plan for the future of the loft - selling it was the main idea. But for now, it would still be there when she returned to the city.

A few days prior Mackenzie had a day in the city with her mother, too. She missed her mom and now with the looming next few months of her life ahead, she wished she had spent more time up in Hudson the last few months. Growing up, Allison was really more like a best friend to Mackenzie. Her close relationship with her mother made up for the ongoing dramatics with her father.

Mackenzie walked into Nate's apartment to see gold and silver balloons and a homemade 'Bon Voyage' banner strung across the far wall. She couldn't help but smile, as Nate came over to sweep her into a hug.

"This is too much, you guys. I'm only gone for three months." She pulled herself away from Nate and kissed him. "Plus I'll see you in a few weeks and you guys in July." She motioned to Dan and Serena who were sitting on the couch.

"Nate insisted you deserved this kind of pomp," Eric announced, motioning around. "As if your journey to London will make you forget the rest of us here."

"I also wanted to help throw a party! Even a small one like this." Serena joined in, standing up and heading over to the kitchen. "Wine?"

"Yes, please."

The five enjoyed a perfectly fun night - indulging in a real New York feast: pizza from Lombardi's, dumplings from Dumpling House and cookies from Levain. They watched silly YouTube videos and old episodes of Friends. They played cards and Dan sang along to an entire Rolling Stones album.

All in all, Mackenzie felt it was a perfect way to cap up the last half year of her life in the city.

After saying goodbye, with Dan hugging his sister twice, Mackenzie fell onto the couch beside Nate and stretched her legs over his lap.

"So, what are you going to miss most about me?" Nate slowly traced his fingers up and down her legs, looking over at her for a response.

"Probably your hot tub," Mackenzie replied, giving him a playful smile. He gave her a mock hurt look. "In all honesty, I'm going to miss your messy morning hair. And that charming smile that makes my knees weak. And when you sing along to songs in the car."

She pulled herself up from her position and straddled Nate's lap. "And these lips. I will miss these lips." She leaned in and kissed him, hard. They remained like that for some moments, only pausing to come back up for air.

"Your turn."

Nate wrapped his arms around her waist and stared into her eyes. "I will miss your stubborn sassy attitude. And your soft skin. And I'll miss watching your brain figure out a solution to some weird math problem."

She smiled at him then leaned in, resting her head on his shoulder while he held her closely.

"I wish I could bottle this feeling. This exact warmth, this even, constant beating of your heart in my ear. I want to feel it forever."

"Do you think fate would have brought us together if you hadn't moved back to the city?"

"I'm sure you would be dating Kara Montgomery right now if I wasn't in the picture," Mackenzie replied to him, pulling away from her position to kiss him again.

"I mean, Kara Montgomery is hot but she's no you, Mack."

"Oh, thanks," she rolled her eyes at his comment, although she appreciate the sentiment. "You could have any girl you wanted Nate, sometimes I'm still surprised you want me."

"I wish I could explain the way you make me feel. In here." He pointed to his chest, his heart. "No other girl could hold onto my heart like you."

She paused to stare at him. His beautiful eyes seemed to be glimmering. His cheeks were rosy and pink. His smile was small, powerful. She sighed.

Nate was all she could even dream of and more.

"You know, Eric was right. We are nauseating."

"Shut up and kiss me."

"You know, I never said sorry."

"For what?"

"The article. The whole mess. Telling your story without asking."

"Nate, you said you were sorry a ton of times already. You then had a bullet graze your arm when you were running to try and protect me. I think we are past apologies."

Mackenzie and Nate were walking down an old cobblestone street in Old Montreal. Nate had planned a perfectly lovely, quiet weekend away. They were both still healing from the aftermath of the gala - emotionally and physically.

"I'm not sure I can ever forgive myself for causing you all that pain. And benefiting from it. I hate that my recent added success arrived because I hurt you."

"Nate. I know you didn't mean to hurt me. And I've forgiven you. So you need to forgive yourself, too. Life is fleeting and the last time I'm going to do is dwell about something like this. You know, your article helped a lot of people - I joined a support group on Facebook that stemmed from your #HowISurvived conversation. You did that. And I love you for it, regardless of my initial reaction. I'm okay. We're okay."

They paused in front of a fountain. Nate took both of Mackenzie's hands in his and looked at her. She smiled at him.

There she stood - average height, long brown hair, magnetic eyes, rosy cheeks, a new scar above her left eyebrow.

"You know, I was going to suggest we get matching tattoos. Although I guess having scars from the same incident is just as tough." She squeezed his hands, then let go, letting her hand gently grip his healing bicep.

"What kind of matching tattoos?"

Mackenzie raised her eyebrows at him. "Are you considering it?"

Nate shrugged. "I never thought I would ever get a tattoo. But my badass girlfriend has a few so who knows."

She smirked at him. "I would add a sunflower to my leg or something. And maybe you'd get a tiny little rose or sunflower your ankle or foot. How's that, tough guy?"

"You don't think I can pull off a sleeve or something?"

Nate threw his arm around her shoulders as they continued to walk. "You're a bit soft, Archibald. But that's okay. It's part of why I love you."

"Oh yeah? What else do you love about me?"

"I love how you bent me over the couch this morning in front of the window."

"Yeah, well, wait until you see what I do to you in the shower when we get back."

Mackenzie was taking the red eye to London. Nate secured her a first class seat, even though she insisted she didn't need it.

They spent most of Sunday in bed together. Or in the hot tub. Or the shower. Or the kitchen. But it was spent together.

The sudden realization that Mackenzie was not going to wake up in bed beside him for a while hit Nate hard that morning. Even though they were going to see each other in Paris in a few weeks.

They finally got dressed around four in the afternoon. Nate insisted he was going to cook her dinner.

Mackenzie sat on the couch and watched him. "Are you sure you don't need help?"

"Dan has been giving me thorough cooking lessons and support. I've got this." Nate looked down to his phone then back to the measuring cup in front of him. "Just relax over there."

"Can you at least tell me what you're making?"

Nate finally looked over at her and smiled. "Mushroom risotto."

She opened her eyes wide and smiled, "isn't this the part where I come over there and scare the shit out of you and ruin it?"

"I mean, that makes a great story but I'm actually hungry so maybe not."

Mackenzie laughed and nodded in agreement. She wandered over to Nate's record machine under his mounted TV and searched around for her Billy Joel album. She put it on to play quietly then joined him in the kitchen.

"Here, I'll stir while you chop. Risotto can be a two person recipe." She kissed him then took the spoon from his hand, stirring the simmering rice.

"I'm impressed at your new cooking skills, you know." Mackenzie continued.

"Well, you did say you'd never move in with me if I didn't know how to cook so. I had to start somewhere."

"You learned to cook for me?"

"For us, I hope."

"Wait, are you asking me to move in?" Mackenzie nearly dropped her spoon on the floor.

Nate just smiled at her and leaned against the counter. "Maybe. When you get back, if you want. I know you don't have a job lined up for the fall but I'm close to all the subway stops and -

Mackenzie did drop the spoon this time. She rushed over to him and cut him off, pressing her lips against his. She pulled away and just stared at him, matching smiles on their faces.

"I love you, Mackenzie Humphrey."

"I love you, Nate Archibald."

The End

Coming Soon: A Sequel to The Chase

Ultraviolet

Mackenzie knew she was spiraling.

She climbed up the stairs from the subway station and took deep breaths as she walked through Manhattan. The weight in her chest, mostly stemming from anxiety and leftover grief paired with the aftereffects of sobbing for the last week, made every breath feel sharp.

On some level, she had no idea where her feet were taking her.

She finally pulled her phone out and did the bravest thing she could think of.

She hit the call symbol beside the small picture of Nate in her contacts. She wasn't entirely sure this was even his number anymore but it was worth a try. It was a cool Saturday night. Spring had arrived in the city days ago, but the chilled air of winter seemed to be lingering.

She tugged her coat closer to her chest as she heard the call ring in her ear.

Hang up. This was a mistake. Hang up.

Just as she was about to pull her phone away, she heard his voice on the other end.

"Hello?"

She breathed in deeply.

"Mackenzie?" Hearing him say her name out loud was almost enough to cause her to collapse on the sidewalk.

"Hi."

"Hi."

"Listen, I'm sorry, I just wanted to apologize for how I acted the other day. At my mom's…" She trailed off. Funeral. You were just at your mom's funeral, Mackenzie.

"Mack, I can't even imagine what's going on in your head right now so really, it's okay."

"And I'm sorry for calling you out of nowhere on a Saturday night. I'm sure you're in the middle of something and-

"I mean, I'm working on a publication schedule at home, in my pajamas, so that's something, I guess." She couldn't help but smile, picturing Nate sitting at his kitchen table, a short glass of scotch beside him, plaid pajama pants on his legs.

"Nate, I'm a mess. Everything is a mess. I leave tomorrow on the red-eye but my brain is just racing and…" She swallowed hard. She just had to say it. "I don't want to be alone tonight."

The pause that followed her statement was two seconds long, but to Mackenzie it felt like a lifetime.

"Are you still at The Empire? John can be there in-

"I just got off the Subway on 96th."

"I'll meet you in the lobby."

This ultraviolet morning light below tells me this love is worth the fight...