Chapter five

Darien felt as if he was drowning. The words circling in his head 'Break in and entry…break in and entry…break in and entry…

"Where's my daughter?" He asked suddenly, images of Ayane, being kidnapped, or else mounted on his floor, were almost too much for him to take.

"Mr. Volpe, try to…."

"Where is my daughter?!" he barked furiously. His eyes were livid balls of blue fire.

"She's in there with officer Seymour…" Darien brushed past the man into his house. Kneeling in front of the couch was a dark haired man. He was talking in a low coo to who ever were on the couch.

"Daddy!" The high-pitched voice of Ayane called, as she bolted off the couch and into Darien's arms. He caught her up and crushed her in a bear hug. Relieved as if a huge weight was lifted of his shoulders. He held her close to him, afraid to let her go. He looked down into her violet eyes.

"Are you ok?" He whispered gently, the whole of his rage held behind a thin veil of control. She looked up into his eyes, her own brimming with tears. She nodded her head. "Did you see who it was?" He asked softly. She nodded her head again, swallowed hard and said.

"Father Rick…" Darien started at her, his eyes flashing darkly.

"What did he do?" he asked in a low dangerous voice.

"Nothing, Serena hit him in the face, than ran with me to her room and locked the door. He screamed and shouted and kicked…while Serena was on the phone…and then he left…" She muttered. Looking at his feet. Darien pulled her chin up, and looked in her eye, she didn't look terrified.

"Mr. Volpe…" The harsh voice of a tall man with graying dark hair began.

"Where's Serena?" Darien interrupted, he was furious, he wanted to kill something, preferably father Rick, he looked over at the man and pinned him with an ice stare be fitting of a predator.

"Ms. Lane, is giving her statement to Detective Richardson…" The man pointed to over by the stairs. Before he could stop him Darien had started towards it, determined to get some answers.

                                                          ****

Long after the event Serena, still couldn't figure out how she'd stayed so calm. She'd wanted to scream, and cry and curl up in a little ball. But she'd stood still, given her statement, explained what had happened, and answered all of the Detective's questions. It had all happened so quickly, she'd heard a noise outside the play room, gone out to see, come face to face with a red haired man she'd never seen before, hit him in face with the book she'd grabbed on her way out of the room, grabbed Ayane, ran up the stairs to her room, and locked the door, thanked her lucky stars for the phone line in her room, called the cops, and waited with baited breath as she heard the man swear something fierce, promise to do horrible things to her, then finally give up and storm out. She'd been so wound up in the questions, and retelling, she hadn't noticed Darien.

"Detective Richardson I assume?" Darien asked suddenly. Causing her to jump. The platinum blond haired detective, looked up coolly at Darien.

"Yes, and you'd be Mr. Volpe?"

"Yes I would, I think you've questioned Serena enough for one night…"

"So do I…"

"Good…" The two men seemed to be in some kind of unseen battle. Detective Richardson was oddly handsome, with his light green eyes, and chiseled features, he had a scar running down the side of his face.  Darien grinned suddenly in a manner that almost destroyed the angry feeling that had been building up. "Long time no see, Yaten, I didn't know you were going by Richardson these days…"

"No one but Malcolm knows." He smiled mystically, then handed Serena a card. "Call me if you remember anything else, I'll be call you." He nodded his head to Darien, and walked away. Darien followed the man with his eyes, as he placed Ayane down. He reached into his coat pocket and dialed the number to Chateau Meridian.

                                                              ****

The room that Darien had gotten was exquisite; actually it was two rooms, joined by a long living room. On the one side was Darien's room; on the other was Serena and Ayane's room.  It had been the best the hotel could do on such short notice.  Serena was mesmerized by the sheer beauty, the long living room, was bathe in rich earthy hues of brown, cream, red, and a deep orange. The room had a heavy Spanish influence to it. And she loved it, it reminded her of home, her own house was a throw back to the Old Spanish style that had once dominated Red Brook. The bedrooms where in a class- all- their- own, hers and Ayane's room where covered in wall paper that had small lilies printed on them. The goose down beds had matching covers and sheets. Cream rugs covered the hard wood floors, the cabinet on the opposite side of the room opened up to reveal a small T.V. And the washroom door was to the other side. Darien's room was almost identical, except for the wallpaper, it was covered in roses, and the color scheme of the room was reds and pinks, rather than whites and creams.

"They gave us the 'cozy room,'" he explained with a slight sigh of disgust.

"It's very nice…" Serena mumbled.

"The living room is nice, very Spanish, but the bedrooms are like something out of a hospice." He replied in the air of someone simply trying to make conversation.

"Well it's very…uh cozy…" She grinned, as did he, but the smile didn't quiet reach either of their eyes, they were simply trying to keep the conversation light for Ayane's sake. Darien was furious, and Serena was anxious, and both of them knew it, but they knew better than to show their emotion to Ayane.

"Why don't you go to bed Ayane? You've had a long day." Darien told her in a gentle yet commanding way, She yawned, and grabbed Darien along with her to her room. He smiled the first real smile he'd had since all of this had happened.

20 minutes, 15 monsters, and three stories later, Darien walked out of Ayane's room. She was a sleep finally. He was tired, badly wanted a shower, and desperately wanted to sleep. But he needed to talk to Serena first. She was sitting on the couch staring out into space, a look of bewilderment trapping her usually calm features.

"What were you thinking?" He asked out right, he'd meant to approach it with more tact than that, but he was too annoyed, tired and frustrated to do so.

"Pardon?" She said coming back from whatever frightful hollow of her mind she'd been at.

"Why did you leave the play room? Why did you hit him? Why!" he asked furiously, he wanted to pick her up and shake her, and kiss her to make sure she was still there, and then he realized that he'd been terrified that something might have happened to her, his woman, he swore to himself, 'stop that damn it!' he roared mentally.

"Would you rather I stayed in there and let him kill us?" She asked irritated, she hadn't expected him to attack her.

"No I would have rather you locked the damn door to the playroom!" he howled in frustration, her anger was fueling his own.

"Really? Would this be the imaginary one?" She yelled back at him in anger.

"That door locks…" he retorted

"No it doesn't!" she said pounding her fist down hard.

"Yes it does!"  He got closer to her, ordinarily she would have backed down but not tonight, she'd had enough for one day, more that enough, she was tired of being at someone else's mercy.

"Who was in there you or me?"

"Whose house is it yours or mine?"

"Whose in it more you or me?"

"Damn it Serena!" He said pounding his fist down so hard that the table shook. "Don't you understand what could have happened to you? He's a convicted rapist! A woman beater, the man nearly killed the mother of his own kids, if not for what ever favor god had for you, he'd have killed you!"

"You think I didn't know that? Do you think I sat him down and tried to reason with him? I hit him and ran! I didn't wait for him to come after me…"

"That's not what I'm saying…"

"Then what exactly are you saying?"

"I'm saying that you should have stayed put…"

"The door did not lock!" she screamed out. She was shaking from anger, and fear, as the memory of the day flew into her mind tears ran down her face, but she held her own. Her tears smashed hard into Darien, he didn't mean to yell at her, but he was furious, sick with fear of what could have happened, both to herself and Ayane.

"Alright, assuming it didn't lock, why didn't you run into one of the washrooms?" he had tightened the reigns of his control. It took an effort for his voice to come out calm and even but he made sure it did.

"I wanted to get as far away as possible from him…" she swallowed hard, as she pulled her arms around herself. She looked like a wounded child. Suddenly Darien started to feel very guilty.  She must have been terrified, she was so fragile and small, it would have been easy for anybody to hurt her, he gritted his teeth, as he imagined her pretty skin being cut, her fighting against Rick. He brutally pushed the images from his mind, because they were ripping his heart with fear.

"That must have been some punch," he said suddenly.

"Pardon?" she asked bewildered, the sudden change in his tone was surprising, his voice was odd now, filled with something she couldn't quiet place, something like fear, dread, maybe even guilt.

"For you to have gotten that much of a head start on him," he offered.

"Oh, no I didn't punch him, I hit him with a book…"

"A book?" he said stunned. "What one?"

"Complete works of Beatrix Potter, thank god for hard covers." She smiled despite herself, she was still shaking, and even the act of smiling was hard, without wanted to cry. That was all she needed she decided, a nice long cry. "I'm going to go take a shower and get some sleep," she mumbled, because the tears where already starting to show. But before she could move away Darien caught her, and turned her to face him, he lifted up her chin, and looked into her tear brimmed eyes.

"Hey, your safe now, nothings going to happen…" he cooed to her gently, that destroyed the last of her defenses and she began to cry hysterically. Darien pulled her into his arms, and she didn't have enough strength to even resist, she relaxed in his arms, her face pressed into his chest. Darien was finding it very hard to breath, he felt guilt, anger, and desire burning through him, he wanted to kill Rick now, and god help him he would! He stroked the blond hair gently, allowing her what little comfort his body could give. He didn't know what to say, didn't know what to do, so he stood there holding her. Taking in her sweet scent, the feel of her soft hair and skin. Suddenly and rather uncomfortably, he tightened. He moved her away from him; he looked into her confused eyes.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to cry…" She began embarrassed that she'd allowed herself to lose control, allow him to hold her. Why had he let her go? She liked the feel of his arms, hadn't he liked how she'd felt in his arms? Or was it because she worked for him? She wasn't sure, but suddenly she became very aware of the differences between herself and Darien. He was older than her, he was stronger and bigger that her, he was more experienced than her, and most imposing he was richer and higher on the social scale than her. The man was extremely handsome, it was very hard to believe that he would not have women throwing themselves at him; it was also equally hard to believe that what he did next.

He'd been looking into those befuddled eyes of hers, reading them as if he were reading a book, she'd liked being in his arms, oh lord help him, he'd liked her being there, she was confused as to why he'd let her go, and she was running a couple thousand questions in her mind. She was looking at him different now, as if she'd realized something, she looked away from him quickly.

"I'd better go take a shower, I'm sorry Mr…" he didn't know why hearing that had pushed him over the edge, but it had, he stopped her words with his mouth. He tilted her chin up in order to get better access to her mouth, having kissed her while she was speaking. He tasted her, soft and sweet, her mouth accepted his, as his tongue imitated the sex act. She stood rather stiffly at first, but then relaxed, and finally melted in his arm. He slipped his arm around her tiny waist and picked her up, getting rather irritated with having to bend down. He crushed her tiny mouth, and her small body into his own. She was trembling now with desire, her nipples hardened into peaks against his chest. And he groaned into her mouth because he could feel it. He wanted her and she wanted him, this time he was sure of it. He slid his hard, callused hand under her shirt towards her breasts. She let out a moan as he touched her, his hand was over her bra, and it was driving her insane. He moved with her still in his arms to his room, and took her straight to his bed. He laid her down on it; looking into her eyes he saw exactly what he wanted to. She was aroused, and she wanted him almost as bad as he wanted her. He made short work of her tee shirt, and then went straight for her bra. She trembled wanting something she had never known, but instinctively knew she had to have. He swept away the small lace garment, exposing her breasts to him. The look in his eyes both terrified and pleased her.

"God your so small…" he muttered running the back of his hand against her overtly sensitive skin. She trembled under his touch.

"Is…is that bad?" she stammered unable to think of anything else to say. He smiled a purely predatory smile, and shook his head. He dropped his head down to her breast, tasting it with his mouth. She arched violently against him. He was losing control very quickly and he knew it. But lord help him, he didn't care. He slid an arm under her back and pulled her towards his mouth, her tiny hands came down to his hair to hold him there. He tasted her roughly, feeling her tremble, he moved his hands towards her pants, and undid the fastening. He looked up again into her big eyes, watching for any indication that she didn't want this, but it wasn't there. He pulled her pants out of the way, still looking at her. He slid his knee in between her legs and spread them apart, making room for himself. He looked into her eyes, as he unbuttoned his own shirt, and took her trembling hand to his chest, and pressed it there. He moved himself down, between her legs, waiting for the inevitable panic he was sure was going to come. But it didn't, instead she moved instinctively so that her hips were against his. He groaned harshly, he hadn't expected her to do that. She stopped moving instantly, looking up at him confused, and then realization hit him. She was a virgin! He pulled away from her instantly, savagely taking control of himself, and incredibly thankful that he'd had enough sense to keep his pants on. He held his head in his hands and swore profusely to himself.

"D…Darien?" she muttered, confused and frustrated.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked, his voice trembling in the after math of their foreplay, his body was aching, punishing him for stopping it. He was chastising himself for not realizing it before.

"Tell…" She was so confused, but the daze was starting to lift, and she was starting to realize what had just happened.

"You're a virgin, why didn't you tell me?" He asked again angrily, oh he was pissed, but not at her, god she was a virgin she couldn't have known the seriousness of what they were doing, how dangerously close she'd come to losing that holy state and how much it had hurt to stop.

"I…." She blushed deep scarlet realizing that he'd figured it out, had she done something wrong? Something that had made him realize it? She was flushing deeper realizing that she was disappointed that he'd stopped, that she was not afraid, not with him. She shuttered as she quickly redressed herself. Darien swore under his breath as he turned to face her. She was exquisite, her pale skin, with it's peaches and cream coloring, her beautiful eyes, her bow mouth, her tiny body… she was shaking, she couldn't re clasp her bra because of this. She had her face away from him now, and he was almost positive she was on the brink of tears. He reached out and caught her hands, moving them away from the clasp.

"I'll do it." He muttered harshly as he undid his own handy work, he grabbed her tee shirt off the floor along with her pants, and redressed her. When he was done she'd regained some of her composure, although she looked deeply mortified. "Now we have a problem." He said to her looking deeply into her blue eyes. "We're both obviously attracted to each other, but you're a virgin, and I don't seduce virgins, so nothing can happen between us, I highly doubt your in the market for a one night stand, and I'm not looking for long term." He told her matter- of- factly, out right destroying all her dreams.

"I know that" she muttered to her feet.

"Do you? You didn't know what you were getting into, but I did, so maybe I should fill you in, I want you, there's only so much that will protect you from me, and after a while there's a good chance that it won't, I don't want to take you, save that for the man you love, but I don't know how long I can say that and actually mean it, you've got to keep your head, because you can't count on me to stop." He told her as gently as he could.

"But you did stop…"

"Only because I realized that you're a virgin, you can't count on that to stop me every time, you're going to have to stop me."

"How?"

"What?" he asked surprised at the question.

"How do I stop you? Your bigger than me…"

"I'm not going to rape you! For god sakes I would never touch a woman who didn't want it!" he said almost furiously before comprehension dawned on him for the 2nd time that night. "Something happened to you didn't it?"

"I…"

Why bother to fight? Stay still enjoy the ride…

She'd suddenly gotten very pale, her eyes had enlarged into pools of fear. She got up of the bed and almost ran to the door; Darien caught her before she could run out. Turned her in his arms to face him, she looked like a trapped animal.

"I shouldn't have asked." He muttered, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you." He looked at her very gently, and then said in a slightly playful voice. "You better go to bed, wouldn't want to break my own rules so quickly after naming them." He smiled as he turned her and led her out the door. When they were in the living room, Darien directed her to the room she shared with Ayane, watched her slip inside, and then close it. He stared at the door for a moment, before heading off for a cold shower.

Serena stared at the inside of the door, her heart sticking in her throat, she couldn't breath, everything came into perspective, she'd nearly gone to bed with Darien, had been immensely disappointed when he'd stopped, he'd figured out she was a virgin, then that someone had tried…. And finally and probably most shocking of all, she felt safe in Darien's arms, that was a first. No man had ever made her feel safe, short of family. And even then Darien's arms had been a whole other experience, fear and safety, excitement and dread, happiness and deep sorrow, all locked into one, to make the biggest paradox she'd ever experienced. And then she put a name on it, one that she'd resisted for so long, she was in love. She laughed despite herself, it was ridiculous, she barely even knew the man, she didn't know when his birthday was, didn't know his favorite color, yet she knew his scent, his stride, his voice, the feel and touch of his face, his body, his mouth…she shuttered. Then shook her head, she was mistaking lust with love, she enforced this in her mind. No way could she be in love with Darien Volpe, she told herself. She wanted him that was all. That was all! Right?

                                                  ****

Tuesday at the office was painful to say the least. All the guys were fussing, asking Darien if he needed a good bodyguard, or a hired goon. 'I know this guy, very effective, he doesn't even have to touch them…' 'He use to work in the CIA…' 'Really reliable…' Darien was considering firing the next person who asked, when Mina walked into his office.

"Mr. Volpe…"

"Yes Mina?"

"Uh, I, um, I hate to, uh…I need to…well"

"Mina just spit it out." He said not unkindly, with a definite note of amusement.

"My son's sick, I need to take the day off cause I don't have anyone else to look after him, it's really important, he never gets sick…" She mumbled to her feet.

"You didn't have to ask, you could have just called."

"I just found out…"

"Oh, well go a head I can manage with out you."

"Thanks."

"Out of curiosity how old is your son?"

"5!!!" Malcolm half yelled in shock, pushed a hand through his hair, swore profusely, and paced Darien's office.

"What's the big deal, she has a kid…"

"Darien me and Mina were…uh intimate 5 years ago!"

"So? That doesn't mean it's yours…"

"Darien she was a virgin!"

"So?"

"Her parents were missionaries!"

"Oh…ooohhh" he said as the same realization hit him.

"God…why didn't she tell me…"

"Maybe it's not yours…maybe she went on the rebound after you?"

"Darien you're not getting the picture…"

"So spell it out, if she slept with you, she might have…"

"She'd never even had a boyfriend before me!" He said furiously pounding his fist down. "She didn't know anything about men! Anything! She'd never even been kissed! She couldn't have slept with anyone cause I left her afraid of intimacy!" he raged.

"What?" Darien said stunned.

"I thought she was experienced, god just look at her, she's gorgeous! I seduced her, took away her virginity, scared the hell out of her…."

"How do you know that for sure…?"

"Because she wouldn't even look at me after," he said in a low voice, the bitterness of the memory stirring emotions he'd refused to allow to surface.

"So, she was the daughter of missionaries, she'd lost her virginity before marriage, she was probably ashamed…"

"No Darien you don't get it, she wouldn't look at me at all, like after that night, she never looked at my face again…"

"What did you do to her?"

"Well gee, what do people do when they have sex?" he asked sarcastically.

"No dumb ass, I mean what did you do after that…"

"Well I was in shock…"

"Granted, did you shove your foot in your mouth?"

"Ah…well"

"What did you say?"

"I…uh freaked out…"

"Why am I not surprised, did you get mad cause she didn't tell you?"

"Not at her…"

"How would she have known?"

"She wouldn't have…"

"Well there you go! She wasn't afraid of intimacy, just you!" Darien said simply.

"Oh gee thanks, that so lifts a weight of my shoulders!" Malcolm said sarcastically.

"Well it should, because it means that she might have gotten the message that you thought it was revolting that she was an innocent, and so she went out to prove you wrong and slept with some guy, there's a good chance that her son isn't yours…"

"Yah, but it would still be my fault…"

"Well that was your own stupidity, you should have known better, my god missionaries!! How could you not know?"

"I didn't know about her background, until it was to late."

"So you just slept with her knowing nothing about her?"

"She was a friend of Yaten's ok! She came to stay at the ranch for a while, she seemed so sophisticated…"

"Because she was Yaten's 'friend'?" Darien suggested.

"Well partly, come on you see the way she holds herself…"

"Yah I do, but I also see a young, terrified, hardworking woman, how could you have missed that?"

"I didn't, I just thought she was experienced…"

"The way a woman walks or talks or even speaks is not a guild line! For god sakes there are women out in the villages of Africa who can't speak a word of English, can't walk right that know a hundred thousand things about sex!"

"I know that! Look at her Darien! She's gorgeous, she must have been offered a thousand times! How was I supposed to know that she'd never excepted?"

"I suppose so, maybe I'm shouldn't be preaching…" he sighed wearily.

"Why not?" Malcolm asked suddenly although he had a pretty good idea.

"Had a little interlude with my nanny…"

"Let me guess, ended with you finding out she's a virgin?"

"Not in the way you found out I assure you…"

"Lucky bastard" Malcolm sighed sitting down. They both knew nothing that what was said in the room would ever get out; they were best friends, closer than any of the others. "So what happened?"

"Ah well, its sort of a long story…"

                                                     ****

Mina looked down at her sick son, he had a temperature, and he was coughing, and shaking. She frown sadly as she looked at him. Even sick he looked exactly like his father, who in all the time that she'd known him had never gotten sick. She brushed back his blond hair, and couldn't decide if it looked more like hers or his fathers, usually it looked more like his fathers, but it was soaked in sweat now. He coughed as he awoke.

"Mommy?" he asked tiredly.

"I'm here baby"

"Umm…" he mumbled as he tried to pull himself up. Mina caught him in the act and put him back down.

"Don't baby, your very sick, you need to sleep, take this." She said putting a teaspoon of a putrid smelling clear liquid in front of his mouth. "It'll take your temperature down." He swallowed the stuff and then turned on to his stomach, and fell a sleep.

Mina pulled the blanket around him, hoping that she wouldn't have to call the doctor, but it was very probable that she'd have to, when he got sick, he got very sick. She sighed, she loved her son very much, it was the only thing she had left of his father, it broke her heart when she remembered that he was gone forever, that she was alone with his child. She sighed. Closed the door and hoped against hope that she wouldn't lose his son too.

                                                    ****

Serena braided Ayane's long hair, humming out the tune to, 'beautiful dreamer'. The phone ringing brought her out of her daze, and she answered it.

"Hello" She said.

"Hi, this is Detective Yaten Richardson."

"Hey, how can I help you?" she asked smiling, she liked Yaten, he was nice man, he had an aura about him that seemed both gentle and calm.

"Well I know this isn't exactly appropriate, but I was wondering if you'd go out to dinner with me tonight?"  She thought about it for a moment, the idea was tempting, but she couldn't imagine herself dating the man, couldn't imagine kissing him, not like with Darien… she forced her mind back, why not? He was nice, and besides Darien had already said he had no interest in her aside from physical.

"Yah I'd love to!" she said before she had time to rethink.

"Great, for a minute there I thought you were going to turn me down, how does 8:30 sound?"

"Sounds great, no chance, just had to turn something off." She lied.

"Well we're going to Le Peppin, if you're wondering."

"Never been, what's the dress code like?"

"Formal-ish, jackets for the men, dressy for the ladies."

"Um, thanks, I'll see you then"

"See you" They hung up, and Serena stared down at the phone, had she just agreed to a date? To a fancy restaurant no less! This was turning out to be one hell of a day. She needed to go find something Fancy to wear, there was always that dress…

                                                  ****

Darien walked in at about 7:30, and almost walked right back out, Serena was sitting on the couch in the living room, wearing a form fitting, knee length, light pink under black lace, dress. Her feet where clad in pointed black stilettos. Her long legs were crossed at the knee, and the exquisite length from her ankle to her knees was almost too mesmerizing to look away.  Her long blond hair was half tied back in a bun, allowing for the rest to come down her shoulders to her waist. Her big blue eyes where lined with eyeliner, and a touch of pink eye shadow, her pretty mouth was bear as usual, and her elegant fingernails were covered in light pink polish, to match her toenails. She looked absolutely stunning.

"Going somewhere?" he asked curiously, although he really didn't care, he was having way too much trouble breathing to worry about anything else.

"Got a date," she mumbled. That hit him like a typhoon, she had a date, a date with some stranger, someone who might kiss her pretty mouth, touch her perfect body…he stomped the thought out, why should he care if she was going to go out on a date? It was none of his business!

"That's nice, anyone I know?" he asked impassively, almost as if he was starting a conversation, but truthfully he wanted to know, and he wanted to know now!

"Detective Yaten." She informed him. He simply nodded his head. Even though he was suddenly very murderous.

"Try not to wake us up when you get in." He said blankly.

"Alright, night Darien."

"Night Serena" He walked into his room, closed the door, turned on the television, and screamed into his pillow. He punched it a couple of times, then went off to take a shower. 'I'll kill Yaten, so help me god!' he muttered to himself, as he damn near scraped the skin off of his body.

Serena, stared at her feet, oddly disappointed, he hadn't cared, not even a little. She shook her head, why should he care? He just wanted her, and even then he wasn't about to sleep with her, why should he care if she went out and slept with Yaten? He wouldn't! He'd probably be happy for the distraction. She sighed under her breath, because she was acting like a lovesick child, which she wasn't she told herself firmly. It was only lust! She'd never been touched or kissed like that before, how was she supposed to act normal after that? If she'd been more experienced…she'd have been in Darien's bed…she trembled as she realized the seriousness of the night before. It hadn't been playing, or making out, it had been fore play, Darien would have slept with her that night. Suddenly she wished she'd been more experienced, she wanted to scream, why was she acting like such a dimwit? She wasn't experienced, she hadn't slept with Darien, and she WASN'T in love with him!

"Serena are you okay?" Ayane's little voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Yah I'm fine baby, what's up?"  Ayane smiled knowingly.

"Where you going?"

"On a date"

"Oh" the little girl's smile didn't waver, "have fun" she walked past her to Darien's bedroom. Knocked and then walked in. Ayane liked Serena, she liked her new daddy, she liked her house, but it was obvious that her new daddy just tolerated her, he didn't love her, but if Serena and Darien were to get married then she could stay forever. She smiled her mystical smile; she was going to make it happen, one way or another. Besides it was for daddy's own good, he needed a wife!

                                                    ****

The date with Yaten had been a lot of fun. He'd been a perfect gentleman the whole night, careful not to stare at her but to keep constant eye contact, he'd told her stories, engaged her in conversation, and pulled out chairs, opened doors and escorted her on and off the dance floor. All in all she'd had a great time. Yet the entire time she'd been daydreaming that she was really with Darien. It was stupid and she knew it, because the truth was Yaten was handsome, funny, kind, nice, gentle, generous, and extremely polite. Sure Darien was all of these things, but he was also, childish, smoldering, intoxicating, charming in the oddest way. Not that Yaten wasn't charming, just it was a different kind, with Darien it was natural and effortless, Yaten's was a result of good breeding, and years and years of practice on women. She wasn't sure why she was comparing the two, it seemed idiotic considering, but she couldn't help it. What ever she felt for Darien, it was strong!

He stopped his silver viper at the front entrance of her hotel. She looked admiringly at it's beautiful leather interior. She realized for the first time that night, that considering his job, he shouldn't have been able to afford the car.

"Something wrong?" He asked her, noticing the contemplating look on her face.

"Ah not exactly, I was just wondering something"

"Like?"

"Well it's really none of my business…"

"Ask away"

"Ah…how can you afford this car?" she blurted out, she expected him to be a little angry but instead he simply smiled.

"Yah I was waiting for that, it's a present from my half-brother, besides detective work is only my day job, my family owns a ranch and feed-lot." He grinned at the curious look on her face.

"Where are you based?"

"Uh…Texas, Red Brook"

"No way! I'm from Red Brook."

"Small world…wait your not Hack Lane's little sister are you?"

"Yup" she grinned, he stared at her astonished, as though he'd never seen her before.

"No kidding? You guys are nothing a like."

"Yah I get that a lot" She smiled wider, she had no resentment against Hack, her sister and her were opposites in every way, but Serena still loved her.

"Yah I get that with my brother, he's a business man, he's always seen as the more serious one, I've always been the, uh, rebel" he smiled mischievously at her.

"What's his name?"

"Malcolm."

                                                   ****

Long after Serena came home, Darien had trouble sleeping. He imagined Yaten kissing Serena, imagined him touching her, and imagined a few other things that had set his blood on fire. He wanted to beat the snot out of Yaten, to tell him to stay away from his woman, but as he kept reminding himself, Serena was not his woman. Besides he didn't want Serena to be his woman, he wanted a woman. He wished he hadn't alienated Francesca, but then he knew nothing was going to satisfy his need for Serena, besides Serena. He swore profusely under his breath, punched his pillow a couple of times, and fell into a dazed sleep.

Serena ran a finger over her right hand, where Yaten had kissed it. She wondered what it would have felt like if it had been Darien instead. He'd smiled after the kiss, looked her in the eyes and said in a voice full of good humor 'Darien's one lucky bastard' said his goodbyes and left. She wondered at the meaning of his words. But it had been to late to ask; perhaps he'd sensed she had been daydreaming during their date, she felt extremely guilty at that thought. She hadn't meant to appear uninterested, because she genuinely wasn't, and he was such a nice man. She groaned as she started to undress, she heard a knock on the door, turned to answer it and was faced with a shirtless Darien.

"Uh hi…" she said.

"Hi…" the stared at each other awkwardly, because her dress had been unzipped half way, and his chest was a masterpiece. "Maybe I'll talk to you tomorrow" he muttered suddenly, turning to walk back to his room, his stomped his feet down hard as he threaded back.

Idiot! He screamed at himself, what was he thinking? He'd wanted to look at her, wanted to see if she looked kissed, make sure she wasn't too happy…he'd been being a moron, he was jealous for god sakes! Of Yaten no less! The man was 27! He gritted his teeth as he realized that they were closer in age and therefore had more in common. Oh why did he care? Probably because he wanted more than sex! He threw himself into bed, swore a couple more times, and tried to go back to sleep. But thoughts of Serena, beautiful and naked with Yaten were destroying his peace.

                                                   ****

"You look like death" Zoey mumbled the next morning at the meeting. Zoey was one to talk; he'd been miserable, irritable, and very interested in his work the last 2 weeks. Ami's absence was almost intolerable to him.

"Umm couldn't sleep."

"This wouldn't have anything to do with Yaten would it?" Malcolm asked curiously, causing Darien to snap the pencil in his hand. "Ahh I see it does…"

"Lets get back to business shall we?" Darien barked tersely.

"Alright, alright no need to bite our heads off…" Nathan said with an earnest grin.

"You've been in an awfully good mood lately Nate, any reason?" Jaden asked the man. Nathan shoved a hand through his brown hair, and smiled.

"No particular reason, just enjoying my freedom." He said with a bright smile.

"Alright what's going on? Spill it!" Malcolm commanded, to which Nathan simply smiled bigger.

"Molly is moving back to Texas." He smiled brightly.

"Whoa, seriously? I thought she'd never go back there" Jaden said stunned.

"Neither did I, it's not a huge step since no one knows she'll be there, but it's still a step." Nathan replied. He had taken a definite liking to Molly.

"Well that's good." Zoey said annoyed, "but can we get to business?"

"Yah I agree." Darien said firmly, the rest of the guys stared at them as though they were crazy.

"You guys feeling okay?" Jaden asked.

"Feeling fine, but I have a job to do and I'd like to do it!" Zoey snapped.

"I agree, can we get to it?" Darien added equally annoyed.

"Alright…" Malcolm said rolling his eyes.

The rest of the day was almost intolerable, Darien snapped at almost everyone that day, including Mina, for no other reason than she looked like Serena. Finally when Malcolm couldn't take it anymore, he confronted Darien.

"Alright I've had enough of you being a Jack ass, time to spill what's up?"

"Nothing" Darien said firmly.

"If that was nothing then I'd hate to see you mad, seriously what is going on?"

"Yaten went out with Serena!"

"Yah I know…"

"Well then why are you asking?!"

"I didn't realize you'd be reacting this bad."

"Neither did I!" he admitted furiously. "I thought I only wanted her, but now I don't know, I want to kill Yaten, and I mean kill him! Just the thought that he could have touched her pisses me right of!"

"He didn't."

"What?"

"He didn't touch her, he likes her a lot, but she'd too into you to notice"

"What are you talking about?"

"I had a…shall we say interesting conversation with him, he didn't even kiss her"

"Really?" he asked relieved, he still wanted to kill Yaten, but the fact that he hadn't kissed her was certainly a calming factor.

"Yup."

"Why not?" he asked suddenly very curious.

"Because she'd into you!"

"What?"

"Don't play stupid, Yaten said it was obvious."

"Yaten is a detective…"

"Right, well there you go so make your damn move!"

"I can't she's a virgin!"

"So don't sleep with her!"

"But I want her!"

"So then sleep with her!"

"But she's a virgin!"

"She won't be when you're done!"

"Malcolm! I don't seduce virgins!"

"No instead, you plot to kill everyone who might change that state…"

"Shut up, Yaten doesn't count as everyone…"

"How about getting mad at the idea that Nathan might like her?"

"That doesn't count either, and how did you know that?"

"You just told me…"

"Do you have a point or are you just trying to make me gray?"

"How do you know she doesn't want to be with you?"

"Well I don't, but she'd an innocent she doesn't know what she'd be getting herself into…"

"Just cause she's never slept with anyone doesn't mean she'd brain dead!"

"Well I know that…"

"So give her a chance to decide"

"How exactly? Hey Serena will you sleep with me?"

"Yah sure, that might work, if your trying to seduce a trucker! Of course not! Ask her out, see what happens"

"But I can't seduce her!"

"God your one stubborn man, fine don't take my advice, kill yourself trying to stay away from her, you know it's not going to work!"

"Thanks, while you're at it why don't you predict the day I'm going to die?"

"Umm two weeks…"

"Shut up!"

"Your right, more like a week and a half…"

"Oh that's it you're kicked out!" he said pounding his fist down on his desk, Malcolm smiled as he walked himself out.

"You know I'm right…"

"Out!"

                                                    ****

Serena smiled down at Ayane, she'd talked to Yaten earlier in the day. He'd told her that he knew she was smitten with Darien, but wondered if she'd like to be friends with him at the very least. She'd jumped at his realization, but had accepted his friendship, he'd then asked if she'd like to go to the movies as friends, because he really enjoyed her company. She'd agreed. Yaten was fun, and she really liked his company to. She brushed the little girl's hair, and packed up the stuff she'd need for her sleep over with Kasumi. Tomorrow morning they'd be checking out of the hotel, since the house had been swept, and Darien had had new security measures added both to the building and the apartment. She had to admit she was going to miss the hotel. The phone rang, it was the hotel with the message that Rei was here, and they'd sent her up. She hugged Ayane, the sudden fear of being alone was almost overwhelming, but she knew she was being ridiculous. Besides she wouldn't be alone for long, Darien would be home at four today, and at 6 she was going to be at the movies with Yaten.

                                                        ****

Darien sat quietly in the back seat of his limo as Gus drove him to the hotel. He'd been considering Malcolm's proposal, it had made sense in away, if Serena actually interested in him that was. Of well, the worst that could happen was she'd be going on another date with Yaten…

(A/n: hey well I don't know if you'd call this a cliffy…but…lol sorry, I just figured I'd break this up, instead of making it one long chappy…well tell me wat u think…seriously I stayed up till 3 am getting this done for you guys, so please, please review!! ^_~ one more thing, if you want to know when I update this email me, don't send it in a review, cause I can't keep track of it, thanks guys![ disturbed_tapestry@hotmail.com] #_* need sleep…! )