Ya, okay, so it's short. I've been busy with life lately and fics fall into the background. Anywho, here you are, enjoy! Oh, and if you review with an idea I may incorporate it into the story. :) REVIEW!

10

Thinking Ahead

Waking the next morning I was greeted by the sound of Darien trying to hold off the girls. His efforts were making my loyal friends angry, to the point where I could even hear Amy yelling at him.

"We have to see her! We're her best friends!" She shouted at Darien who was apparently unmoved by the show.

"Let them in." I called over the rail of the loft bedroom and was soon surrounded by them. Mina had thrown herself at me as if I was a life saver and she'd been tossed overboard. "Hey, careful with me." I covered my naked body in an attempt at decency.

"You're naked." Lita almost ground in anger. "Why are you naked in Darien's room?" The other girls turned to me with interest until Amy brought a bag into the open.

"I um, figured you'd need some clothes. Don't imagine you'll ever wear that outfit again." She almost gulped with guilt from the lines she'd spat at me earlier that week. "I'm sorry that happened to you Serena." She whispered and hugged me.

"Me too… the worst part is… I don't think… I mean I don't think I'm ever going to … you know." My words made Mina turn five shades of white before she grabbed my shoulders and shook me with protest.

"No! You're wrong! You totally will. You'll see! You just need to get over this little setback!" Her words were desperate. "I mean come on… how do you feel when a guy kisses you?"

I had to stop at that. As I thought about it my skin must have paled. I'd never really kissed a guy before. I mean sure, school girl pecks but never actually kissed. Diamond had forced a kiss onto me but other than that, nothing. "I wouldn't know." I looked down with shame as the girls stared at me in shock.

No one seemed to talk after that until Darien came up and looked at the girls sternly. "Okay, out ,out. That's enough company for now. She needs her rest." He insisted and crossed his arms. The girls slowly filed out and he simply stood there looking at me. "So, want to talk about why you were tossing and turning last night?"

"Not really." I shrugged only to have him sit on the foot of the bed. "A little." I blushed slightly and he nodded. "Well, I had this dream that basically said I'd never… experience intimacy the way most women do." I tried to put it as noncommittal as possible but something in Darien's eyes told me he knew what I was saying.

"Serena, what happened to you will obviously affect you for some time. Keep in mind though, that this one incident does not represent all of your future experiences. I don't think you're one of those women who do not respond normally to intimacy. In fact, I'd say that this encounter proves that." He reasoned softly as his eyes searched mine. "Serena, you aren't ruined. Trust me on that."

"How would you know? You're not me." I wanted him to be right and at the same time I was tired of him always being right. He simply smiled and shook his head as if to dismiss my question.

"I may not be you, but I know you." His eyes locked onto mine and seemed to dig into my soul yet again. "Regardless, how are you feeling physically? Still aching?" He moved towards me on the bed to read my reaction to the question a little better.

"I think so, yes." I nodded as the unmistakable urge to go to the bathroom hit me. "We'll see." I threw the covers off of my nude form and flinched as my thighs protested. "Oh, yeah, definitely." I hissed through my teeth. "I have to go to the bathroom."

"Not a problem." Darien nodded and moved around the bed to pick me up. Looping my arms around his neck I easily accepted his chivalry. He then carried me downstairs and set me on my feet in the bathroom. He was so careful, as if I was a china doll that would burst into a million pieces if treated wrong. As weight was put onto my legs I felt sharp pains through my thighs and nether regions. Noticing this he picked me up again and set me down on the toilet.

"I'll leave you alone then." He turned and left me sitting on the porcelain throne with watering eyes. I couldn't believe the pain I was in! Obviously I truly had no idea how rough Diamond had been! Resigning to ignoring the pain I was feeling I relieved my bladder which was even more painful. What the hell had that man done to me? I felt as if all of my muscles were severely ripped!

Finishing my business I wiped and stood (with great effort) then flushed and washed my hands. This little bathroom trip was certainly enough activity for me for the day, that was for sure. Being gentle with myself I opened the bathroom door and took a few baby steps out. Darien was in the kitchen looking at me with concern. One look at my face and I was back in his arms being carried up stairs.

"I'm going to order some food… what do you want?" He escaped the topic of my pain easily as my mind immediately focused on how hungry I was. "They have anything you want I'm sure." He added nicely then took me upstairs to the bed. "How about eggs with lots and lots of bacon?"

"Sounds great." I smiled through my tears and closed my eyes as he nodded and pressed his lips to my forehead. "What do you think happened to him?"

"Andrew's on it." Darien assured me quickly and balled his fist. "I'll let you know when he lets me know. Okay?" With that he turned away from me and went downstairs to call room service.

What had happened to Diamond? What would security have done to the man? I pictured him being in a medical bed with ice on his member and stiches all over him. From the way Darien looked it was clear the two had fought viciously. Thankfully Darien had come out the winner.

I couldn't help but let my mind wander to Darien once more. Who would have thought the man who had been tormenting me all these years would be my knight in shining armor? I certainly didn't that's for darn sure.

Andrew walked down the long hallway to the security office and knocked on the door lightly. The door was opened quickly to reveal a tall, blue-haired man with sapphire eyes and handsome features.

"May I help you with something sir?" He asked pleasantly and smiled briefly to try and give off a welcoming presence. "Have you lost something perhaps?"

"No, I came here to make a report on an incident that occurred last night." The blonde spoke confidently despite the nervousness he was feeling.

"Very well, come in." The man ushered him into the room and sat him in a chair before sitting himself at the computer. "So then, what happened?"

"A very close friend of mine was raped." Andrew stated blankly and noticed the security guard pause slightly. "She had gone to dance with this guy and he came onto her a little heavy. She didn't like it and when he tried to assault her in the hallway she got out of it and went to another one of my friend's room. Somehow, the guy got into the room and raped my friend without my other friend knowing until it was too late. I'm sorry to say the guy got pummeled pretty well by the one friend who happens to love the other friend." Andrew then looked up at the security guard who was looking at him incredulously.

"Ah, by any chance did your friend leave this man outside this door last night?" The man asked casually. He had yet to touch the computer and it worried Andrew a little.

"I think he did, yeah." The blonde nodded and bit his lip a little.

"Well sir, this isn't a very nice story you're telling me. I would rather someone have told me last night. Did anyone take this woman to the medical wing?" The security guard asked suspiciously with narrowed eyes making Andrew even more nervous.

"N… No. My guy friend is a doctor and she was a little scared so she didn't want to go to the medical wing. Not to mention the fact that I doubt Darien would have let her go seeing as how he put the other guy there." Andrew shrugged casually then noticed the guard write something down. "Is that a problem?"

"Frankly?" The guard sighed and tapped a few keys on the keyboard then paused a little. "This is a huge problem sir." The man then leaned forward cautiously. "Name's Sapphire by the way, and I happen to be that guy's brother, and employee."

Andrew felt as if the wind had been sucked from his lungs. "W… What?"

"The man who raped your friend, is my brother and the owner of this cruise line." Sapphire repeated then sighed. "I can't say I'm surprised though. When Diamond sees a woman he wants he won't stop until he gets her. I'm sorry to know that your friend fell victim to it but seeing as how this… Darien fellow took care of it there's nothing more I can do."

"You're kidding me?" Andrew stormed and jumped up from the chair. "So… nothing will happen to him because he owns the boat?"

"No, nothing will happen to him because we were in international waters when it happened. Be thankful for that because that means your friend Darien gets off scott free." Sapphire snapped and stood to match Andrew. "My brother is a menace, but then again, if your friend hadn't been provoking him it wouldn't have happened. She should take it as a lesson."

"Oh, believe you me, she took the lesson. He took her virginity but she got a good lesson out of it all-right. She'll be scared for the rest of her life I'm sure." Andrew noticed a change in Sapphire suddenly and paused. "What?"

"He really took her virginity? Like that?" Sapphire sat back down and rest his head in his hand. "My brother, though an asshole has always known where to draw the line, where to stop. Why would he do that to someone?" The blue-haired man seemed to be having a discussion with himself.

"So… okay okay, wait a second here." A thought came into Andrew's head. "You telling me your brother used a key to get into my friend's room? That means there isn't a safe person on this boat! What the hell?" Andrew stormed which caused Sapphire to frown. "You know what? When we get back we are going to file a complaint with the BBB and look into what can be done about this!" With that Andrew left the security room to tell his friend what he had discovered. As he walked towards his friend's room he could feel an oncoming storm, Darien would be irate over this.

Knocking on the door gently Andrew jumped as it was pulled open by his longtime friend. Walking in he remained quiet then turned and sighed as Darien shut the door and gave him a "well?" look.

"Ummm… I think you ought to sit down for this one." Andrew smiled as best he could as he noticed Darien's muscles tense. "Diamond owns this boat. He got in using a key." The blonde man watched as Darien stood calmly in front of him. His mind obviously working overtime. Then Darien suddenly walked past him and to the balcony. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking that this cruise is over. I'm getting us all off of this thing." Darien vowed seriously and looked up at the loft where Serena was. "I don't care what it takes. Next port we're going home." With that Darien walked towards the stairs. "Thank you for finding that out Andrew."

I felt my breath hitch as Andrew announced his findings about Diamond. I could hardly believe it. Boy, do I know how to pick 'em. I then heard Darien. He was ending the cruise and as I heard him say it I personally rejoiced. I was going to be able to go back home!

Darien then appeared at the top of the stairs and looked at me seriously. I simply nodded my agreement and he nodded back. It was settled. At the next port we were getting off the ship and going home. "Thank you Dare. I appreciate it."

"Any time Meatball head, any time."