When he walked into Chuck's place he heard his yelling at someone on the phone.

Blair looked at him suddenly. "Serena's missing!"

Nate gave her a surprise look. "I just came from there. She seemed fine."

"They're going to check the security cameras."

"Tell Chuck I'm going to try to find Serena. I'll check her apartment and the duck pond. Anywhere she might go."

…

Nate stopped at Serena's place to grab some of her stuff. Then he hailed a cab and went back to the hotel. When he walked in the room he saw Serena curled up on the floor next to the window. She didn't appear to be looking at anything in particular.

She smiled at him but her eyes seemed unfocused. "Hey."

Nate sat next to her. "Serena, are you alright?"

She shook her head. There were tears in her eyes. She was overwhelmed by her feelings. She felt so sad and she was trying to break through and find something to be happy about but she just couldn't. "How did I get here Nate? I'm not 16 anymore."

He held her tightly. "Tell me what happened."

She admitted to going back to taking pills and to snorting. "I was getting better on my own. And then my friend Sam came to visit. And she put pills in my drink. I didn't know. I guess I managed to call Chuck and I don't remember the rest. Next thing I know I was being ambushed by all of you."

"Why didn't you come to me?"

"I didn't want to worry you."

"You should've called me. The thought of anything happening to you just kills me…I…I was so worried you'd gone back."

"I was worried I'd gone back too. But I would never let myself get that bad. That's not me anymore, Nate. I have too much to lose." She smiled at him.

Nate smiled too. "Everything is going to be okay."

She pressed her lips against his.

He pulled away and looked down. "Serena…"

She put a finger over his lips and lowered her voice. "Please tell me you want me as badly as I want you."

He swallowed hard. "I…I do. I just don't think..."

She bit her lip. "I love you. You know how much I love you, right?"

He nodded. He leaned in and kissed cheek her softly. "I love you too. Come here. I want to show you something."

Serena put on Nate's baseball cap and big glasses so that no one would recognize her. She followed Nate silently until they got to her favorite part of Central Park, the duck pond. He grabbed her hand and led her to a patch of grass. He glimpsed at his watch, "Don't move." He ran back onto the concrete.

Serena looked at him. "What?"

Nate stood a few feet in front of her. "Just. Don't move. Trust me."

Serena nodded and stood there. She was a bit confused at what was going on and before she knew it the sprinklers went off and she was soaked. She took off her glasses and her baseball cap and shook out her hair. She couldn't help but smile at the sun shining down at her. She spread her arms out and let out giggles and squeals as the cold water hit her and she twirled around and around. She remembered Nate was watching her, there was a smile on his face too. She ran to him and dragged him back to the water.

Nate smiled at brushed her wet hair out of her face. "You are so breathtakingly beautiful."

She smiled and looked down at the floor, she couldn't help but be embarrassed.

He lifted her chin up and kissed her softly. "I love you Serena. I always have and I always will. There is nothing you could ever do to change that and you know it."

…

Nate went to visit Serena early next morning. She was eating waffles. She threw her arms around him. "I was hoping you'd join me for breakfast. I was so sad that you didn't spend the night."

Nate hugged her back. "I just didn't want Chuck to get suspicious. He's already asking me questions."

Serena smiled at him. When she was with Nate she couldn't think of a single reason to not be happy. "But I missed you so much."

Nate shot her a flirty smile. "How much?"

Serena kissed him deeply. "About that much. Maybe more, I'm not sure."

There was a loud knocking at the door. Nate went to open it but Chuck burst in before Nate reached the door. "I knew it! Do you think I'm an idiot? Serena get your stuff we're going."

Nate stood in front of Serena. "You're not taking her anywhere."

"She has to go back." He took a step toward her and Nate shoved him out of the way. "She needs help! She's sick."

Chuck looked hurt but Nate stood his ground. "I said you're not taking her anywhere."

Serena tried to stop things from getting out of control. "Chuck, I'm perfectly fine. I promise."

Chuck ignored Serena. "Get the hell out of my way Nathaniel."

Nate stood in front of Serena protectively.

Chuck grabbed Serena's arm and Nate instinctively punched Chuck hard in the eye.

Chuck stumbled backwards. Serena was in shock. There was completely silence. Nate stepped toward him. "I am so sorry. I don't know why I did that."

Chuck pushed him away. "You're an idiot. You can both rot here."

…

Serena turned on her cell phone for the first time in days. She was finally back home. She called her manager and told her she was severely ill but she was ready to get back to work in the next couple of days.

Serena couldn't just sit in one place and do nothing. She went to her bedside drawer and grabbed the small bag full of white powder. She went to the bathroom and dumped it all into the toilet. Then she decided to pay Chuck a visit.

She walked into his suite like she always did, even though she knew she wasn't welcome this time. Chuck sat on the couch with a glass of scotch in his hand.

Serena walked over to him. "Hi."

Chuck looked at her then back at the TV.

"You shouldn't be mad at Nate. He did it for me."

"He does a lot for you, doesn't he? When was the last time you did something for him?"

She had forgotten how cold Chuck could be when he was angry. His anger usually wasn't directed at any of them. "I know I shouldn't have asked him to get me out but I was desperate."

"You didn't answer my question. You claim you don't need rehab but I think you do. You should go to life rehab or something. You're a screw up."

"Chuck…"

"Oh you had sex with him! Is that how you repaid him? Kind of like a prostitute."

"I know you're upset but don't talk to me like that."

"I'm not mad at you! I feel sorry for you. And for Nate. You know how he feels about you so you manipulate him into doing whatever you want. You're pathetic."

Serena felt the tears stinging her eyes. "How could you say that? I love Nate more than anything. And you and Blair, you guys are my family…"

"I'm giving you a reality check. I know I'm far from perfect but at least I admit it. You prance around so care free because you take no accountability for anything you do. You always have us cleaning up after you right? You're in a never-ending cycle." He got up and turned away. "Now get out." He went in his room and closed the door hard behind him.

…

Serena walked into Blair's room. She was emotionally exhausted. She just needed a hug.

Blair looked at her. "What are you doing here?"

"B. I just wanted to see you."

Blair crossed her arms. "Why would you ask Nate to do such a thing? Do you have any idea how much trouble he would've been in if he had gotten caught?"

Serena shook her head. "I was desperate. You don't know what it's like there."

"No I don't, Serena. I don't know because I don't have a drug problem."

Serena felt the tears sting her eyes. "B, I just…I really need my best friend right now."

Blair's expressions softened and she tapped the bed next to her. Serena lay with her head on Blair's lap. Blair stroked her best friend. "I'm here. I'm always here."

…

"Do you feel like you need the drugs to be happy again?"

Serena sat in front of her therapist. She shook her head. "No. I hardly ever crave them anymore. Mostly they remind me of who I was before I went to boarding school."

"Would you say you're past your drug problem?"

Serena nodded. "I wish it was my only problem."

"What do you mean by that?"

She shrugged. "I'm back working, which is good. I needed my old routine. I think Nate and I are back together. Chuck still isn't speaking to me."

"Why do you think that is?"

"He thinks I'm selfish and manipulating and a screw-up. He's right. Oh and he compared me to a prostitute."

"Who do you say he's right?"

"I just want to leave. Just go away for a while without telling anyone where I was going."

"You've gone away before."

She nodded. "I'm notorious for it."

"Do you feel like that's you're only option?"

"It's easier than dealing with things. I've been running away since I was 15. Why should this time be any different?"

"You're not 15 anymore."

Serena got up suddenly. "We're done here."

"I didn't mean to make you angry. Will you be back next week?"

"No. I'll be gone by then."

"Will you tell me where you're going? You know I won't tell anyone."

She grabbed a mint from the table. "No."