Author's Note: Okay I hope you all like this chapter. So, it's not just S that has family issues. LOL. I have a little game for you all. Each chapter contains a song lyric. Let's play guess the song. The first two are easy, but it starts to get tricky now.

Chapter 3: I know just where I find the answers

The rest of Christmas seemed to pass in a haze. Serena threw herself into the festivities in order to not think about the gift from her father. She was spending a lot of time with Dan, but they still hadn't discussed what had transpired the other day nor had they discussed her father. The state of their relationship was literally the white elephant in the room. Dan had also avoided nearly all of Vanessa's phone calls. He knew it was over and deep down he was sure she did as well. The last thing he wanted was to have another fight with her over absolutely nothing at all, so he chose the path of least resistance—total avoidance. He was heading over to a local café with Serena after a very useless trip to some local stores. Blair was in Paris, so she had recruited him as her shopping partner of choice. But, he didn't care it was something they used to do all the time back when they were a couple. He'd hum and haw, make nice comments, get her to laugh and enjoy looking at her as she tried on various outfits.

"Hey, try smiling buddy."

"I just spent the entire day shopping. You know I'm not a girl right?"

Serena looked him up and down, "really? I thought you were jenny dressed in drag."

"Ha-ha very funny. Come on I need some caffeine, "he said as he balanced her bags in one hand and opened the door for her with the other. He put her bags down and went to get them some coffee and a little something to munch on. He sat down with their food and drinks in hand and smiled at her.

"All kidding aside, it was fun hanging out with you. Do you miss Blair?"

"I do, but I also love spending time with you. I don't want us to ever do what we did this past year. You mean too much to me. You'll always be a part of my life."

"Ditto. Now, enough with the sap. Have you decided what movie you want to see?"

"Dear John!"

"Dear God no!"

"Why? It's cute."

"It's a Nicholas sparks."

"Come on, Dan admit it, you love him. You aspire to be him. I saw you crying when we watched the notebook."

"It was sad, it's like she forgot everything than when she finally remembered they died. What a jip!"

"You are such a girl!"Serena said as she giggled. They sat in companionable silence as they drank their coffees and shared the cheesecake he had bought for her. Dan's eyes locked with her as she placed the fork in his mouth. He chewed on the desert and said, "Hmm tastes good." Dan then leaned over and kissed her softly.

"Tastes even better, "he said as he looked at her passionately. Serena leaned over the table grabbed him by his shirt collar and kissed him until he couldn't think straight. Dan licked his lips and stared across at her. She got up and grabbed him by the hand and dragged him down the hall and into the bathroom. She closed the door and locked it behind them. Serena pushed him up against the wall and covered him in kisses. She had missed his touch and his new look had been driving her crazy for quite awhile. She pulled off his sweater and threw it on the floor and raked her fingernails across his chest. "Ouch,"he muttered.

"No pain, no gain Dan."

"Is that so?"He said as he started lightly nibbling on her neck. Serena threw her head back and pulled him closer as he marked her and branded her as if she only belonged to him. His hands were roaming under her shirt, skimming the outline of her bra, when they heard a loud knocking on the door. "Can you hurry up?Other people wanna use the goddamn bathroom too,"yelled a loud voice.

"Just a minute,"Dan replied as Serena giggled into his shoulders. He put his shirt back on while she smoothed her mussed her and made sure her clothes weren't askew. They walked out hand-in-hand shocking the large man waiting to use the bathroom. Dan grabbed her stuff and they left the café as quickly as they could.

"That wasn't the best idea,"Dan said barely able to contain his laughter. Serena looped her arm into his and said, "next time we should choose our bathrooms more carefully."

"Next time?"

"Whey?don't you want there to be a next time?"she asked.

"I do, but shouldn't we talk about this first?"he said. Serena removed her arm from his and folded it across her chest. "Talk about what exactly?"

"Your father, my girlfriend, your boyfriend."

She simply stared at him coldly. "I don't know what you're getting at?"

Dan looked at her tenderly. He knew that she was putting up walls in order to detract from the point. He placed his hands on her delicate shoulders and said, "I love you, but this is not how I want us to happen. You deserve better, we deserve better. I don't want to be the bad guy, but I don't think we should do this until you've dealt with all this stuff with your dad. I know we both just got carried away, but I just think we should wait,"he rambled.

Serena face broke out in a gradual smile and she shoved him a bit. "You're probably right."

"So, what are you going to do? I don't wanna push you, but if you wanna talk about it, I'm here."

"I don't know what I'm gonna do."

"Just take your time and know I'm here,"he said as he took her hand and they walked the rest of the way home. Serena looked at this boy, the one person she's truly loved and was amazed at how he always knew the right things to say. She was in a bad place right now, but one thing she knew for sure is that with Dan by her side, it would be okay. When they got to the penthouse she sat on her bed and looked up at him. "I'm going to see him, but I can't do it alone. Come with me?"

"You want me to come with you?"he asked. She looked up at him and said, "I need you to."

This summer she had Carter with her as they roamed from one city to another on what ended up being nothing more than a wild goose chase. But, what she really needed only Dan could provide—love and support.

He looked at her, smiled and said, "I'll be there whenever, wherever."

Dan went home to pack a few things since their flight was headed out tonight. He just wanted Serena to get whatever she wanted, but a part of him really worried that she was headed towards even more disappointment. This was a man who had abandoned both of his children and had not been heard from for well over ten years. He was worried that she was setting herself up for more pain. He zipped up his small suitcase and threw his laptop bag over his shoulder. He was about to head out when his father entered the loft.

"Where are you going?"

"On a trip. I'll be back in a few days."

"Weren't you even going to tell me?"Rufus asked.

"I'm 19 not 5."

"But, you're still my son."

"Dad, I'm not in the mood for some enlightening lectures. I'm in a hurry."

Rufus placed his hand on Dan's shoulders and said, "What's with the tude?"

"What tude? And since when do you use the word 'tude?"

"Are you going with Serena?"

Rufus looked at his son a beat and immediately knew what he was up to. "You're going with Serena, aren't you?" Dan didn't reply.

"Have you any idea what you are doing? Are you really willing to sacrifice your relationship, a life long friendship…."

Dan rolled his eyes and said, "So, now you suddenly give a shit about my relationships? When it suits you. I don't have time for your hypocritical rambling," he said as he left the loft and headed outside where Serena was waiting for him inside a limo. Dan handed off his stuff to the driver and climbed inside. He smiled at Serena and reached his hand out to hers and said, "you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be,"she said as she smiled at him.