Author: Well we finally made it to chapter 7, but the journey continues. Even DS can only fight the force for so long. The coming chapters will be focused on their learning about each other and facing their past. You know what they say unless you learn from history you're bound to repeat it. I promise they will learn, please be patient. But, the emo is over and time for the love. My side plots of Nate/Casey and Carter/Blair will also be fleshed out in coming chapters. In the meantime enjoy the bowchickabowwa.

Chapter 7: Reignited Passions

Dan hated this. For four days, he had been incapable of thinking of anything but Serena. Its like she occupied every corner of his mind. He felt like he was being invaded. Everything seemed to remind him of her. A scent, a book, walking down the street, and even going to the park reminded him of her. For years, he had managed to cope without being bombarded with memories of her. He'd been able to block out all of those small moments that made them who they were, but lately it's all he thought of. He couldn't seem to get any work done because his mind kept drifting. Too much of this book was wrapped up in his relationship with Serena. No matter how much he tried to deny it, this was essentially their story. He sighed and closed his lap top. He obviously wasn't going to get any work done, so he put on a pair of sweats and went for a run. He'd gotten into the habit years ago. He would go for a good jog around the city to clear his head. Most people went to the park, but he preferred the hustle and bustle of the city streets and alley ways to the pristine walkways designed for joggers and other sports enthusiast. Jenny thought he was crazy for wanting to take on the frantic city streets, but he loved it. This city was his home and he could never imagine leaving it for good. Yale was good to him, but he missed the city and took every excuse to come back and breathe its stale air. It was a feeling that separated the true New Yorker from those that merely inhabited the city. He turned as he came across a group of construction workers digging hole in the middle of the street and took a side path which housed old brownhouses, but to Dan they weren't old, just classic. He had an appreciation for the history that this city had. He imagined the artists and writers that once inhabited these home. It was a little game he liked to play with himself. He created scenarios and stories of the struggles these peoples endured. He'd always been fascinated by people's stories. Everyone had one; whether rich or poor, man or woman, adult or child. Everyone had a story to tell and he was always picturing what strangers lives were like. Jenny accused him of living in a fantasyland in order to avoid his own reality, but he liked to think of it as simple curiosity

Dan turned back and made his way back home. When he got to his loft, he found her standing outside his door looking frazzled and a little impatient.

"Serena? What are you doing here?"

"We need to talk? Can I come in?"she asked tentatively. She still wasn't sure why she was here. One minute she was on her way to meet Blair, the next she found herself cancelling and standing in front of Dan's building. They way they had left things had been gnawing at her. As much as he may have been right, she didn't want to leave things that way. She felt this need to explain to clarify matters.

"Sure,"he said as he opened the door and led her inside. "Do you mind if I shower first because I sorta stink right now?"

"Sure, I'll just wait here."

Serena sat on his couch and flipped through the cover of the New Yorker that was lay on his coffee table. She flipped through the table of contents and noticed his name under short stories and decided to read it. She always loved his stories and editing his work was both a chore and a joy. By the time, she reached the end of the story she had tears in her eyes. It was about a young man who had been disillusioned by his mother. Serena knew him well enough to know that Dan was never one who simply made stories up, but rather drew from his own life. Alison was a subject that they rarely broached, but it was part of why she felt instantly connected to him. Serena was proud of her life and what she had built. She had very few regrets, the only thing that weighed on her mind was the fact that she had let him go, but apart felt like if he really wanted her he would have fought harder for her.

She looked up from the magazine she had been reading and saw him standing there in a pair of faded jeans and a green shirt. He was beautiful. Dan sat next to her awkwardly and smiled at her.

"So, you wanted to talk?"he asked.

"Yeah, I didn't like the way we left things. I wanted to explain."

"You don't owe me anything. You're my editor. That's it. I was foolish enough to think that we could be friends, but I was wrong."

"why can't we?"

Dan was starting to lose to feel slightly uncomfortable. Her mere presence was unsettling to him. His attraction to her had not dimmed over the years. She still got him going like no one else.

"Let's be real, Serena. We were never very good at being friends, plus too much time has passed. I don't even know who you are anymore, "he said with an exasperated sigh.

Serena didn't know why she wanted this or even what she was doing, but she needed to have him in her life. She wanted them to be more than just editor/writer, she wanted them to be friends. "I'm still me Dan. There was a time when you were the only person that got me and I miss that. I know I should have just told you the truth, but I was scared. You made an assumption and I was too afraid to clear it up,"she said.

"Oh I see. Serena, I don't know. I don't know if we can be friends. I mean its awkward enough just working together."

"So, you're just going to give up? Just like that. I should have known,"Serena said as she got up to leave. Dan followed her to the door and grabbed her hand.

"what's that supposed to mean? What exactly are you excusing me of?"he said with more than a hint of anger in his voice.

"I'm just calling it like I see it. You're a coward,"she said. The moment the words slipped from her mouth she wished she could take them out, but now it was out there. A part of her still resented him for not trying harder for not fighting her fear. She wanted no needed him to break down her walls, but he just wouldn't do it.

"Who the fuck do you think you are? A coward? Where the hell is this coming from Serena? You don't know anything about my fears heck you don't even know who I am anymore? Maybe you knew the little boy who would do anything for you, but he's dead. That Dan doesn't exist anymore. So, don't come marching in here acting like you even k now me, "he said with a barely restrained anger.

Serena looked right through him and wondered when he had become this imbittered man that stood before her, "You're right. I don't know you. The Dan I knew was never this bitter shell of a human being."

"Fuck you. I am bitter. I'm very bitter because of you I can't hold down a normal relationship because everytime I come close I'm reminded of you. You're always there in the back of my mind, in my dreams haunting me like a tall blonde monster. You're my boogie man,"he said harshly.

Serena was raging. How dare he? He was blaming her for his failed relationships. She swung her hand bag over and over again, "I hate you. Damn you. Don't you ever blame me for your manwhoring you stupid jackass. I have nothing to do with the fact that you can't keep your dick in your pants."

Dan was confused, angry, and strangely aroused by her fierce need to beat him. He grabbed her wrists and said, "stop it."

"No, not until you take it back,"she demanded.

"I won't because its the truth,"he said before pushing her up against the wall and kissing her. He kissed her with such force and passion that she instantly reacted. It was like a fire had been ignited. A small spark had built to a raging fire within minutes. His mouth was devouring hers and he had her pinned against the steel door. She grabbed the material of his shirt and tore it.

Dan stopped his assault on her mouth when he noticed that she'd manage to tear his shirt in one fell swoop. "You wanna play rough, don't you?"he said. He was still angry and he found himself dragging her jacket from her shoulders and ripping off her blouse popping the buttons in the process. He pulled her closer and led her back into the living room. He leaned on the edge of his couch and pulled Serena's skirt up and ripped her panties with his hand. His touch had her going crazy. She was a frenzy. She usually liked to have sex a little less frantically and with more gentleness but all she wanted was to get her hands all over him. Her nails dug into his back as he used his index finger to massage her core.

Neither of them said a word, they let their bodies do the talking instead. She clung to him her body responding to his machinations while her mind raged and questioned whether this was the wisest thing to do. Soon he had her bent over the couch as he entered her from behind. His grunts matched her moans and in the recess of her mind she knew this was right, she knew that her body was made to fit his. She had forgotten what a skilled lover he was.

Later she stood in the middle of his loft with nothing but her bra and skirt on.

"That was unexpected, "she said as he searched for his pants and something to say to her. He had never done anything like that before. He was rough with her and he knew it and now he felt like a complete shit head.

"Uh, I don't know what to say."

"Just give me a shirt and we forget the rest, but you owe me a shirt and a pair of panties, "she said before she left him in the middle of his apartment to contemplate what they'd both done.

"You did what?"Blair asked Serena as they looked through the racks at Bergdorfs.

"I had sex with Dan."

"What? Doesn't he think you're married, "Blair inquired as she pulled out a dress and held it against her small frame.

"No, he knows the truth."

"Well are you going to fill me in or are you just going to drop the S-bomb and pretend like you never said anything."

"I wanted to explain. I was hoping we could be friends."

"Well how's that working out for you?"Blair said as she laughed. She didn't understand these two. It was obvious that neither of them would ever be over the other. She just didn't know why they were still playing this stupid game."

"It was sort of unexpected and thats all you're getting out of me."

"Uh, I don't want details. I just meant how did you guys go from talking to fucking. Thats a record even for you guys."

"We got in a fight."

"Okay, I've heard enough of the DanSerena saga to last me a lifetime. Now, lets shop. Shopping is serious business S."

"What's the occasion?"

"I have a Charity ball to organize for next month,"Blair said.

"So, how's Carter anyhow. I hope you're keeping an eye on your heart with that one, B."

"Pot meet kettle,"she said.

Dan and Serena were having trouble sticking to their agreement to never speak of it again. He arrived at her apartment a week later with two boxes.

"What's this?"

"I believe I owe you some articles of clothing,"he said as he winked at her playfully.

Serena opened the first box and found a nice silk blouse that resembled the one he had torn. She took out the small box and took out a pair of panties that seemed to be scented. She held it up to her nose and said, "edible panties? Really Dan?"

"Strawberries. You know how much I love that flavour,"he said.

"So, this is a present for you? What makes you think you'll get that chance again?"

"I don't, but I thought I'd give it my best shot."

Serena scrunched her nose as she debated his overture. Did she really want to get involved with him again. It had been years and she was bound to get hurt again and if it went wrong it could affect their working relationship.

"We work together."

"Exactly, Serena."

"This is stupid."

"Why?"he asked.

"We've been down this road."

"Not for ten years."

"I'm not ready for another relationship."

"Baby steps, neither am I. All I know is that I miss you and I need you,"he said. He pleaded his case with a soft kiss which made it nearly impossible to resist.

"You play dirty."

"I play to win,"he said.