Sorry it took so long to get this chapter out, two things have happened, and one is college homework this semester is getting to be too much for me to handle and the other is I don't have my laptop anymore. To make a long story short, I thought the fan in my laptop was dieing, (this pretty much happened on October 24th), so I gave it to my dad to look at and he found a lot of dust bunnies in there and decided that it just needed to be cleaned out, so when he puts it back together, the power button didn't work. So, now I can't turn my laptop on, and it's been over a week like this already… I dunno how much longer I can last like this… Its hard not having a computer when at least two of your three classes rely on a computer to do school work for the class…

Well, I suppose that is enough of my rambling and of my problems, on with the chapter.

Chapter 7

It was about an hour or so after Quatre left when Serena finally wondered downstairs. When she got up she was surprised to find that she had slept so late, for some reason it was quiet. When she got downstairs, she had a hard time trying to find at least one of her brother's friends, now she was starting to get this feeling that something was up, it was way to quiet. She learned quickly that Duo was the noisiest of all of her brother's friends that were there. But there wasn't anything to indicate that he was there, not one little noise at all. Serena's search stopped when she bumped into Rashid on the way to the kitchen. She thought that someone might be in there, for if Duo was quiet, he was probably stuffing his face with food. It was one of the few things that could keep him quiet. But bumping into Rashid, rather literally, for she wasn't watching where she was going, interrupted her thought process on why it was so quiet.

"Lady Serena, are you alright?" Rashid asked in a hurry, using a title to address her with, as he quickly held on to Serena so she wouldn't fall over from bumping into him.

"Rashid…!" Serena said, while giving him this look that said "don't call me that."

It took Rashid a moment to understand why she was giving him that look, then it hit him what he called her. "I'm sorry, Serena. I forgot that you don't like being addressed by a title. But you still didn't answer my question." Rashid apologized, then getting back to the point.

"I'm fine. My thoughts were just elsewhere, and I wasn't paying attention is all. There's no harm done." Serena answered; practically repeating herself as Rashid almost asked if she was sure she was alright.

"If you're sure you're alright…" Rashid started, but Serena cut him off, wishing for a change in subject.

"I'm sure." Serena replied, before getting to the point of her thoughts before she ran into him. "Rashid, do you know where the other's are? It seems way to quiet around here." Serena asked, while looking around the room to make her point clear.

"Master Quatre had to leave earlier today for an important meeting. He wished to tell you himself, and he waited for as long as he could, but since it seemed that you wouldn't be up before he had to leave, he told me to tell you." Rashid explained.

"Wanted to tell me what?" Serena asked, getting this curious look on her face.

"About the meeting." Rashid replied.

"And…?" Serena asked, getting the feeling there was more.

"And…Master Quatre doesn't know when he'll be back. To be honest, he doesn't know how long the meeting will take. Neither of us do." Rashid explained, hoping what he said wouldn't upset Serena or make her even more sad. This was the second time Quatre had to leave her in his care.

"Ok, and what about Quatre's friends that were here?" Serena asked, getting the feeling that something might be up, for Rashid, for some reason, wasn't telling her everything and she, as it seemed, to have to ask a question to get the answer out of him.

"They had to leave early this morning. They had to get back to their daily lives. For you see, they were just staying the night." Rashid answered, telling her what Quatre told him to say. He just wished he could tell her the truth as to the real reason they all had to leave.

"Oh." Was all Serena could say, as she walked around Rashid and continued to the kitchen.

After Serena had breakfast, actually, it should be called lunch, considering what time it was when she ate, Serena told Rashid that she wanted a bit of fresh air, since it was going to be awhile until Quatre was going to be back. The first thing that came to Rashid's mind was the flower garden or any other place on the grounds. But Serena had other ideas, arguing that she could see the flower garden from her room and that she could walk the grounds any time.

"Rashid, if it isn't too much trouble, I would like to go to the park." Serena said, voicing her idea as to what she meant by wanting to get some fresh air.

"No trouble at all. If you want to go to the park, then that's what we'll do. Just let me go and get the car." Rashid replied, turning to leave and get everything ready for the trip.

"Rashid…" Serena said, stopping Rashid in his tracks.

"What is it, Serena?" Rashid asked, turning around to face Serena.

"Nothing to fancy. I don't want to attract attention." Serena stated, hinting that she doesn't want anything like a limo or anything of that sort. She just wanted something simple.

Rashid smiled and nodded his understanding before turning back around to get everything ready.

Serena was looking out the window, watching as the scenery flew by. The whole ride to the park was rather quiet, neither Rashid nor Serena said a word. Serena didn't feel like talking and Rashid felt that she just needed time to think, since she was looking out the window the entire time. After some time of even more silence, they finally arrived at the park. Rashid parked the car, and the second he turned the car off Serena got out; she didn't feel like waiting to be let out. She knew Rashid would prefer to let her out of the car, but she didn't care at the moment. She just wanted to find something familiar, something that didn't make her seem so alone, and she felt that the park was the place to go. Serena just stood there, staring out at the park before her, not really knowing what to do next.

"Where to now?" Rashid asked, walking up next to Serena.

"I don't know. The only other park I've been to is the one in Tokyo back on Earth. I don't know if the parks on the Colonies are anywhere similar to the ones on Earth." Serena answered, staring out at the park, not even looking at Rashid as she spoke.

"How about we go and look around then." Rashid suggested. Serena just nodded in response and took a step in the direction she happened to be facing, with Rashid following behind her.

There wasn't much said, if anything, during there walk through the park. They found people sitting on benches talking with those they knew, or couples sitting and enjoying each others company. There were people having picnics and families at the playground that was in the park. What made Serena stop and stare is when she found a sort of small theater type place. There was a small platform with a roof down in the center, with seats fanning around it in an arc. But the thing that drew her to this place was the sound of a violin playing. The music reminded her of one of the melodies that Michelle played before. When they got into this clearing, Serena noticed that there were two people down in the center. One was playing, while the other was sitting in the first row watching and listening to the other play. As the melody continued to be played, Serena couldn't help but to think that it was Michelle. But as far as Serena knew, Michelle and Amara, including the rest of the Outers, should've been back on Earth, shouldn't they? With curiosity getting the better of her, she slowly walked down toward the center. The closer she got, the more she realized it was her, it was Michelle! Rashid continued to stand by the last row, just watching Serena walk toward the one playing. If anything were to happen, then he would step in, but he felt that she probably wanted her space, so just watching over Serena would have to do.

"Michelle?" Serena asked, stopping a couple of rows behind the one watching the other play. She just had to make sure it was her.

As Serena asked that, the violin stopped playing, the owner of the violin opened her eyes to look at the one who spoke. The one who was watching turned around to see who spoke as well.

"Serena?" The one holding the violin asked.

"Kitten?" The one sitting down asked, as she got up out of her set, as if to get a better look.

"Amara…Michelle…What are you two doing here? I thought the both of you were still on Earth. Are Trista and Hotaru here as well?" Serena asked, with a hit of slight confusing.

"We decided to take a little vacation." Michelle explained, setting the violin down and getting off of the stage like platform.

"And no, Trista and Hotaru aren't here. They're still on Earth." Amara answered the other question.

With her questions answered, she headed toward Michelle's violin. However, she didn't get to far when Amara noticed something, voicing it in a question.

"Kitten, who's that?" Amara asked, looking over at Rashid.

Serena stopped where she was and turned around looking over at Amara and then looked over at who she was talking about.

"Him?" Serena asked, glancing over at Amara to see if she was really revering to who she think she was. When Amara didn't budge or say anything, Serena continued. "I guess you could say that he's a friend of the family. His name is Rashid." Serena explained.

"A friend of the family?" Michelle asked, wondering if she heard right, who was now standing next to Serena.

"Yes, my brother wanted him to look after me. I guess so I don't feel lonely." Serena answered.

"Your brother? But I thought Sammy…?" Michelle started to ask, but was interrupted by Serena.

"The Tsukino's aren't my real family. They just take care of me. I guess you could consider it something like witness protection. Well, it was more for the protection than anything else." Serena answered, starting to ramble near the end.

"If they aren't your real family, then who is?" Amara asked, the topic of the conversation getting her attention.

"My real family name is Winner." Serena explained, while turning back around and heading toward Michelle's violin again.

"Winner!?" Both Amara and Michelle questioned in disbelief.

"Yes, my brother is Quatre Winner, my twin brother actually." Serena answered, the last part of the sentence she tacked on as an after thought.

"Twin!?" Both Amara and Michelle almost yelled.

Serena ignored this and picked up the violin and turned to Michelle. "May I?" Serena asked, indicating the violin in her hand. She wished to change the subject.

"Kitten, I don't think that's a good idea. Remember the last time you tried that?" Amara reminded them.

"I remember, but I was pretending I had no idea what I was doing." Serena stated.

"Pretended?" Michelle questioned, not to sure Serena could actually play the violin.

"Yes, Quatre and I learned to play the violin together." Serena explained. Just as she finished saying that, she started to play the violin, she didn't want to wait anymore for Michelle's permission, especially since it seemed like she was going to have to prove to them that she really can play the violin before Michelle would give her the ok to use her violin.

The music that Serena played surprised Amara and Michelle. They were now realizing that Serena could really play the violin and play it well. But there was one thing that concerned them about the music that Serena was playing, it sounded sad. Now they were wondering what Serena could be so sad about and why.

"Serena, what's the matter? That song seemed rather sad." Michelle asked once Serena stopped playing.

"It's nothing." Serena said, trying to detour them from her problems. Mainly because if Amara ever found out, it might end up being the end of the Inners, probably literally.

"Kitten, it's obviously something. Now tell us what is bothering you." Amara almost demanded.

"Really, it's nothing. Quatre's been rather busy lately and I was hoping to visit and catch up, is all." Serena answered, trying to cover up the real reason.

"Yea know, I think I want to meet this brother of yours." Amara declared out of nowhere.

"Amara, we shouldn't just invite ourselves to someone else's place." Michelle tried to reprimand Amara.

"But, Quatre is out on a meeting and neither Rashid nor myself knows when he's going to be back." Serena stated, ignoring what Michelle said, figuring that it would be pointless to tell Amara no.

"Well then, were just going to have to stay there until he comes back, no won't we." Amara stated mater-of-factly.

I hope all of you enjoyed this chapter. You all got to benefit from me not having my laptop. I have to use my mom's computer now to do stuff and it doesn't give me much time to work on my homework. So, in the time I usually get to work on homework if I had my laptop, I was able to work on this chapter. Hopefully I'll have my laptop back soon.