Sooooo….anyway, I'm trying to MAKE time to update this story because believe me guys, I really want to! And I've got at least 3 new stories in the works so look forward to that. I know every author on here promises and promises to keep updating fast, fast, fast, but sometimes life just throws curveballs and sometimes they're unavoidable so bear with me here! Enjoy this next chapter!

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In the Cardigan living room, Darien sat on the couch, watching the news, basically catching up on all the stuff that was going on on the home front and seeing what rumors….errr….information the media was giving out about the war.

"Two more troops have died in Iraq today due to suicide bombers. Sources say…." The female reporter prattled on as various scenes of the incident played on the screen. Darien watched with grimace over his features. Suddenly, the t.v. shut off and the room went slightly dark. "Really Shields, do you need to needlessly re-live that crap while you're home?" Andrew said from behind him, remote in hand. Darien looked up at him.

"It's not that I want to re-live it Andrew, it's just that I still kind of worry about the rest of our friends that got left behind. We were lucky enough to be able to get on the plane this time without any real hassle. I mean, we could have been shot down just right after take off or during the flight or even before we stepped on the plane. Those two soldiers on t.v. that got killed could have been someone we knew." He said as Andrew sighed.

"Yeah, but it's the life we chose buddy. We need to remember that when we make friends with other soldiers, there's always the possibility of them being taken from us needlessly. That can happen here too. " He moved finally to sit down next to Darien on the couch with the t.v. still off. "I mean even if we hadn't become soldiers, we would still run the risk of being killed here. I could get run over by a car tomorrow on accident or I could choke on a chicken leg and die or something." He said the last part while laughing. Darien smiled a little.

"But I've pretty much settled with the fact that when it's our time to go, it's time to go. There's nothing you or I can do to stop it. Life goes on and no matter what you do with it, time goes on as well and when the grim reaper comes for me, I'll know it's for a good reason and my time here is done."

Darien shook his head. "But in Iraq, it's not the grim reaper or God that's taking our lives, it's the enemy and I'm pretty damn sure that God has little to no control over our enemies and I don't think the grim reaper has disciples." Andrew laughed. "Well, I don't know what to tell you, Shields, but apparently God does have some sort of hand in this war because that day in Iraq, he sent you to save me when I could have been brutally murdered." Darien nodded. "Yeah, but to save your life, someone else was sacrificed, a child, Andrew." Darien commented as the image tried to force its way back into Darien's mind. He cringed and shook it off.

Andrew frowned. "True. But it was just his time to go I guess." Darien shook his head. "Maybe it was, but was it his whole family's turn too?" Andrew was getting a little annoyed now. "Okay, Shields, you're looking way too deep into this." Andrew snapped his fingers and perked up. "Hey! I've got an idea! Why don't we get out of the house tonight and away from the t.v. and away from anything that could remind you of Iraq!" Darien looked at him funny. "How?" He asked, sort of seeing where this was going.

"Let's go clubbing! You know, go dancing, maybe drink a little or a lot, pick up some ladies. You told me you needed to get laid when you were drunk last night, remember?" Darien looked at him funny again. "I did?" He said as Andrew nodded. "Yeah, you did. The drunk mind speaks the sober heart buddy and apparently your sober body is telling your drunk mind to tell your best friend 'Hey I need a piece'!" Darien shook his head.

"I don't think it's a good idea Andrew. I mean, I just got out of a long term relationship and about to be engagement. I just don't know if I-" Andrew cut him off by getting up and pulling him off the couch. "Come on! It's better to have loved and lost than live with the psycho for the rest of your life!" He said as he dragged Darien off to his room. Darien smirked. "That saying is off the shirt you told me about, isn't it?" Andrew laughed as they walked down the hall. "Yup, and I always stick true to that saying , buddy." He said as he closed the door to the room and began working on step one of his plan, unbeknownst to Darien.

Meanwhile at Mina's house, the girls were also getting ready…well….at least one of them.

Serena sat at Mina's vanity, looking at herself and watching Mina work on her hair, pulling it in all sorts of directions. "Why are we doing this again?" Serena said, indirectly accusing Mina of having some sort of plot. Mina rolled her eyes. "To make you look good when we go out tonight, that's why!" She said as she pinned a few clumps of hair on top of Serena's head. Serena tried to move, but Mina caught her by her head and made her stay in place.

Serena had a slightly frustrated look on her face. "I thought you promised me no picking up guys, Mina." Mina rolled her eyes once more. "You don't always have to get dressed up just to go pick up guys. Don't you just sometimes dress up just to feel pretty?" She asked as Serena shook her head, causing Mina to grab her again. "No, not really." She replied and Mina sighed. "I think something got lost in translation when you were conceived, Serena. All women love to get dressed up for no reason just to feel pretty!"

Serena sighed. "Yeah, but Mina, when….you know what, happened to me, everything just changed. The way I felt about myself, the way I wanted to live, the way I look at men, the way I feel about….you know…getting intimate. I just don't think it'll ever happen just out of true feelings of love, especially after what happened to me was definitely not out of love." Mina started brushing Serena's hair while her smile faded.

"Serena, you know what happened wasn't your fault. He was mentally disturbed, you couldn't have known. He raped you, you didn't die, you didn't get pregnant or an STD, and you never have to see him again. He was taken away for good and he's locked up somewhere where he can never get out. You're out here and he's stuck in there." She then bent down and hugged Serena. She responded by nodding and putting a hand where Mina had her arms wrapped around her. "Don't stop living, Serena. He took your virginity, not your life. And as for the next guy that actually gets serious with you, as far as they know, you still haven't had your first time yet." Serena sighed as she looked away from the mirror.

"Mina, I know you're one of the only ones that was there for me when I did get raped. You're the only one who knows who did it. I couldn't even tell mom. I told Andrew but I didn't tell him who did it. I told the police yes, but even though I got him put away, it still doesn't change the fact I'll always not be able to trust men again fully and that I have to live with the fact that my first time was violently taken from me." Serena said fighting back the tears threatening to fall.

Mina hugged her tighter. "I know it'll never be enough to say it's alright and that your family and I love you and that some day you'll find someone who will accept you for who you are and what has happened to you, but I'll keep encouraging you as much as I can." Serena then turned around and hugged Mina back.

"That's why you're my best friend. You'll always be there for me, no matter what." Mina pulled back and smiled. "Now let's get all prettied up and let's hit the club!" She said as Serena turned back around and let Mina continue her work.

Almost one and a half hours later, Serena and Mina stepped out of Mina's room, completely transformed. Mina came out in an orange skirt that was very short but didn't reveal anything she didn't want anyone to see. She was also wearing a white spaghetti strap top that clung to all the right places. Her hair was pulled up into a bun with some strands hanging down but it still made her look attractive. She also wore high healed shoes with straps the same color as her skirt. Serena wore the same thing as Mina, only her skirt was black and her shoes were the same style as Mina's, only black. Her hair was also in the same style as Mina's.

Serena looked at Mina and then looked down at herself. "So….why do I look like your twin?" Serena asked as Mina laughed and grabbed her hand as she led her to her car. "Serena, people go crazy over twins! We'll be the most looked at girls in the club!" Mina was suddenly jerked back by Serena suddenly stopping. "I thought you said….." Serena started but Mina interjected. "Serena, I know I told you we weren't going to pick up guys but if the event just so happens to occur, you can always say no, or say you're a lesbian or taken." She said as she started laughing. Serena shook her head. 'Well, I guess she didn't entirely lie to me.' She thought as she opened the passenger door to Mina's car and got in.

A few moments later, Mina and Serena arrived at the club, parked next to the sidewalk, and walked a little ways to the door of the club. The doorman checked their ID's at the door and gladly ushered them in. The club was just starting to get crowded and the music was booming with the bass. The lights moved in tune with the music and the people did the same.

As Mina had said earlier everyone just loves twins and within minutes, both guys and girls came over to talk to them, just due to their appearance. Mina, of course, was outgoing when she talked to both guys and girls, and giggled when men flirted with her. Serena basically smiled and looked pretty and acted like Mina's twin for Mina. Mina even got a few numbers and a few dances in as the night wore on. Serena was offered a few dances and some numbers but she promptly said no or saying she was taken. Mina shook her head when she saw Serena doing this. 'When is she ever going to get over her fear of men? She's beautiful and shouldn't try and hide it. I wish she could find someone to just let go with.' She thought as she continued talking to a really cute brunette guy.

Meanwhile at the front entrance, Andrew and Darien just walked in, barely making it past the point where they started cutting off the number of people able to come. The club was packed now, but the music , the lights, and the people weren't changing much. Andrew smiled as he looked over his picks of the ladies. He wore a simple button down dark blue shirt and blue jeans. His hair was in his usual messy but still looking good style. Darien wore a plain black shirt that showed off his muscles in all the right places and blue jeans as well. As soon as they got in, Andrew ran off to apparently go track down a girl he had seen across the room.

Darien shook his head as he watched his battle buddy run off. He smiled to himself as he walked towards the bar. He could take almost any woman in the club he wanted and he knew it. He just knew though that if he did manage to sleep with a woman or even manage to get a little something else out of her, he'd hate himself in the morning. 'I know it might be impossible for me to find now, but I really want someone who wants to be in a faithful, committed relationship with me. I'm over that whole "there's only one thing that I want" phase. I got over that after I got into the military. I guess I'm just a hopeless case.' He thought as he ordered a beer. He finally sat down at the bar so he could enjoy a beer for the first time in years, in a lifetime, it seemed.

As he took a sip he happened to look a little ways down across the bar to see someone he sort of recognized. She had blonde hair and blue eyes and she was wearing a really tight fitting spaghetti strapped top with a really short little black skirt. She was giving the current guy that was talking to her an obviously fake smile while holding her own drink and slightly pushing away a guy that was obviously a little tipsy away from her, but he kept persisting. 'That's Andrew's little sister, I think.' He thought to himself as he took another sip and walked over towards them.

"Come on baby, just one dance. It'll mean nothin' I promise." The man kept begging and leaning into Serena closer as she tried to deter him somehow. "I already said no twice. I don't want to!" She said as he grabbed her hand and jerked her to him, making her drop her drink. Serena gasped as it crashed to the floor. 'Oh God, where's Mina when I need her?!' She thought desperately as the man began tugging on her. It took a little bit for the man to notice he made her drop her drink. He looked down and then looked back up at her. "I'm….I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." He said as Serena tried to pry herself away.

"You better be sorry because you've got your hand on my girlfriend." Someone said from behind him. The man finally let go of Serena and turned around to look at whoever said that to him. "And just who the fuck…." He trailed off as he sized himself up against Darien's towering height compared to his. "Oh…" The man said as he stared at Darien. Darien smirked. "I'm her boyfriend…." He said as he came over next to Serena and put his arm around her shoulders and made her come closer to him. "That's who the fuck I am." He said as he looked down at Serena. Serena gave him a weird, but sort of relieved look. "Sorry, sweetheart, I got held up at the base. You know how the military is, hurry up and wait." He said with a little smile at her. Serena got what he was attempting to do and smiled back. "Oh honey, it's alright. You know I'd wait for you for forever if I had to." She said as she looked back at the man, who had a defeated look on his face and turned around to go find someone else to hit on.

As soon as he was out of sight, Darien removed his arm from around Serena and stepped around to stand in front of her. Serena looked up at him and then smirked. "Thanks, but I could have handled that myself." She said as Darien smirked back. "You know, you're right, it looked like you really had it under control." He said as he pointed over to the bartender, who had come around the bar to clean up the drink and the glass Serena had dropped. Serena blushed. "Totally under control, really." He said as he laughed. Serena blushed deeper and acted like she was mad. "Well, he just startled me a little bit. Other than that, I was fine." She said as Darien laughed again and rolled his eyes. "Sure, sure." He said as Serena started fighting with him a little more.

Meanwhile, they had no idea they were being watched. Andrew sat in a corner with his beer, watching the whole event take place. 'If Darien hadn't gotten up and did what he did, I know I would pull the whole brother card and end up punching that guy in the face.' He thought as he took a swig. 'It looks like they're starting to actually talk now though.' He thought, not noticing someone coming up to stand beside him. "So, do you think he can crack Serena's defensive shell?" The girl next to him asked, who happened to be Mina. Andrew smiled. "As long as he doesn't move too fast, which I don't think he will, I think she'll be back in the dating scene yet, and with my battle buddy no less." He said with a smile. Mina sighed. "Oh well, I guess I'm gonna have to try and find another angle to use. There's goes my whole twins bit!" She said as she laughed. Andrew turned around to actually look at Mina. He stared at her for a few seconds before he finally spoke. "Would you like to dance?"

About an hour later, Serena and Darien had found a table alone together and he had replaced her drink, and even refilled it every time it went dry. Serena was laughing and so was Darien. "So you guys really did that to two camel spiders?" She asked as Darien laughed and took a swig of his new beer. "Yeah, but it was really funny….we didn't think so at the time….but it was really funny when they started fighting each other and then I guess they realized they could ruin our fun and run away so we tried to catch them but they're really fast little suckers, and they ran somewhere we weren't expecting them to." He paused for effect and Serena leaned over the table to him. "Where did they go?" She asked, really interested. Darien smiled and continued.

"They ran under the tent where our commander was taking a leak." He said as he started laughing. Serena started laughing too, sort of seeing where this story was heading. "So what happened?" She asked. "Well apparently they found their way to him and he fell out of the tent…..pants down and all, and ran out screaming. It was the funniest thing ever. Of course we got in trouble and got a long lecture about how we shouldn't even touch those things and how we shouldn't starve them and make them fight each other for our entertainment but it was really funny afterwards, even now." He said as they both burst out laughing. Serena finally stopped laughing after a few moments, took another sip of her eighth drink and stared at him for a little while. He finally stopped laughing as well and stared back at him.

'Maybe….he isn't anything like…..him…' She thought as she smiled at him. Darien was taken aback for a moment and then he smiled as well. 'Maybe Andrew was right. Maybe she does have a little thing for me and wants to get to know me.' He finally leaned in closer to her on the table and looked into her eyes. "Would you….wanna dance with me?" He asked her cautiously. Serena stared at him for a moment and then downed the rest of her drink and then looked at him again. "Okay." She said as she got up and he did as well.

They walked to the dance floor together with her hand in his. Serena felt a surprising tingle resonate from his hand to hers and rushed up her arm and it felt like it went into her chest. She sucked in a breath, as if the feeling had knocked the breath out of her body. Darien looked back at her and turned around to her on the dance floor and took both of her hands in his. "Hey, are you okay? You look a little…" His words trailed off to her as she looked down and blushed and slightly jerked her hands from out of his and then tried to regain her composure. "I'm good, I'm alright, just fine." She said he smiled at her again.

They began to move to the pounding dance remix of a song Serena always heard on the radio. Her body began to move to the rhythm of the song. Darien's body almost unintentionally followed hers along with the music. He was dancing behind her now but was still close enough he wasn't touching her, but she could still feel him there. During their dance, she looked over her shoulder at him and she was surprised when she looked. Usually when a guy danced behind her, he did it like he was already screwing her from behind, but not Darien. He moved in time with her and it still had a sexual tone, but not intentionally.

Serena suddenly felt a weird sensation take her over. She was pretty sure it was the vodka in her drink that was finally starting to take effect. Her vision blurred a little bit and the floor started moving without her. She finally fell back a little and was expecting to be on the floor but something caught her. She heard a voice next to her ear and it sort of gave her a calm feeling more so than the alcohol. "Do you want to get out of here?" He asked her simply. Serena just looked up at him and nodded. Darien looked around quickly and found a table and sat her down. He bent down in front of her and made her look at him. "Hey, I'm gonna go talk to somebody real quick. Don't move, alright?" He asked her as she nodded again.

Within a few moments, Darien found Andrew with a girl that looked strangely like Serena, only with an orange skirt and shoes. "Hey Cardi….Andrew, is it okay if I take your truck and take Serena home? I think she may be borderline drunk." Andrew looked at him for a moment and smiled and dug in his pocket for his keys and tossed them to Darien. "Be careful with her, she's my baby." He said as Darien gave her a confused look. "Serena?" He said as Andrew laughed and slapped him on the shoulder while holding his beer. "No, no, weirdo, the truck. But be careful with my little sis as well." He said as he gave him a half-assed salute. Darien smiled and nodded back as he walked off to go get Serena.

Darien found Serena in her seat, looking like she was about to fall asleep in her chair. Darien gently tapped her on the shoulder. "Hey, it's time to go." He said as she simply nodded again as he gently took her by her arm and made her stand up to walk out the door. A couple of blocks down, Darien found Andrew's white Silverado pick-up and pulled out the keys from his own pocket. He hit the unlock button and opened the passenger side door for her. Darien looked down at Serena and she just stared blankly at him when he opened the door. Darien just shook his head and gently put one arm against her back and the other underneath her legs to pick her up. He did so with hardly any effort. He buckled her in, closed her door, and went around the truck to the driver's side. He started up the truck and started on their way home.

A few minutes later, they had arrived at Serena's home. Darien quickly went around to her side of the truck and found her asleep. He shook his head. 'She wasn't even trashed. I guess she's a lightweight. I'll have to watch her.' He thought as he reached over to unbuckle her. He easily picked her up from out of her seat and put her in his arms once again. He closed the truck door and locked it. He continued to carry her to the door and tried all the keys on Andrew's keychain until he finally found the house key and got in. He kicked the door gently behind him and it closed on its own and he locked it.

Darien walked past the living room and into the hallway where the rooms where. 'Okay, that's mine, that's Cardigan's, that's their mother's room…..ah, here's hers.' He thought as he walked to her door and, with some difficulty, opened her door and walked in. He, again, kicked the door closed gently. He didn't lock it though. He wasn't intending on staying.

Darien gently laid her horizontally across the bed. He bent down and started to gently remove her shoes. About this time, Serena had woken up, the alcohol had fully kicked in for the most part. She knew where she was, even with the lights turned off. She felt something messing with her feet and she sat up and looked down to see Darien taking off her shoes. Darien looked up at her. "Finally awake I see." He said with a smile as he took off her last shoe. He stood up and looked down at her. "Well, seeing as how you're awake now, I think you can take car of the rest by yourself. Goodnight, Serena." He said as he smiled at her once more before turning around and leaving.

'She's really a nice girl. I might actually ask her out somewhere, one day maybe.' He thought as his hand was suddenly being tugged back and he turned around to see she had it. "Can't you take….take care….of the rest?" She asked, almost completely nonchalantly. Darien was stunned. "What?! Serena we don't know each other that well yet and I don't think you…" She cut him off as she got up off the bed. "What's there to know? I'm female, you're male…." She said as she reached out and pulled on his shirt and pulled him to her. "I'm pretty sure you can figure it out." She said rather seductively in his ear as she gently licked his earlobe. He shivered slightly "Ah! Serena! For my sake and yours, you have to sto…." She cut him off again, but this time, with her lips. Serena had closed her eyes and had both hands clinging to his shirt. Darien was shocked by her bold drunkenness. His eyes were still open and his hands weren't touching her.

Normally, if it were anyone else, he would've pushed her off, but for some reason, he didn't have the strength to do so. His eyes closed and he sank into her kiss. His arms went around her and hers came around his waist. He didn't even fully realize what he was doing until he had her underneath him on her bed, still clothed and she was taking off his shirt, still kissing him. He knew both Andrew and their mother would kill him if they found them like they were now and with his shirt completely off now, he knew he wouldn't have any valid excuse if they walked in, but a part of him didn't care.

'Well, she hasn't told me to stop so I guess it's okay.' He thought. Now he knew those beers were catching up to him. He wasn't near the level that Serena was, but he knew if he went through with this, he would be the only one who remembered. Half of him felt bad, but half of him wanted it, bad. He finally let himself go and just go with it. If it happened, it just happened, he couldn't fault anyone for that if she said no, but she wasn't complaining as she ran her hands up and down his muscled body. It felt so good to finally have a woman touch him like that in so long, kiss him like Serena was, rubbing up against his hips like she was. He couldn't help but moan as she grinded her hips against his. He brought his hand up and ran his fingers through her hair as he continued to kiss her. She eventually deepened the kiss by licking his bottom lip and asking for entry or his. Darien complied and deepened the kiss.

Darien felt her hands moving up and down his back, teasing him further. Darien smirked through the kiss and decided to tease back. He moved his other free hand and moved it downwards. He was gently touching the side of her knee on the outside of her leg. He gently but slowly ran his hand up her leg, up her thigh, and underneath her skirt. Darien felt her shiver and smiled and he moved down from her lips to her neck and continued kissing her there. He heard her gasp and say something inaudible. Darien smiled against her neck. 'I think I've still got it.' He thought proudly as he moved down. "AAAHHHH STOP! GET AWAY! DON'T TOUCH ME! I SAID NO!" He heard Serena suddenly scream. "What? I didn't hear you…." She cut him off as she threw him off of her and ran into her bathroom, slammed the door, and locked it. He could hear her sobbing on the inside.

Darien laid on the bed, wide-eyed, scared, confused, half-naked and horny. He pushed the last feelings aside as he quickly went to the door and knocked on it gently. "Serena, if I hurt you somehow, I'm sorry. Just tell me what I did! I don't know what….." He said as she cut him off by yelling through the door. "Just go away, please! Just leave me alone!" Darien stepped away from the door. Still confused and concerned for her. "Okay, I'm gonna leave now. But we're gonna talk about this in the morning." He said as she yelled at him again. "Just get the fuck out of here!" She yelled through a sob. Darien winced, not fully understanding what he did and not looking forward to what was unknown to come in the morning. He picked up his shirt and quickly and quietly exited her room, closing the door behind him.

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Kind of a cliffhanger but at least it was longer! So yes, please review and I'll get the next chapter up as soon as possible. I'm also thinking about releasing a new story this month but we will see what the fiture holds!

~Mackenzie