Chapter 14

AN: I don't think that Darien is in the wrong, he's pissed and rightly so, but as you've seen, he wants her around, but he has given her hell and she's felt it throughout. She doesn't get away with it, just nobody else knows because nobody's said anything to them. Amy even called her on it last chapter, about how Serena had to watch her step otherwise there would be a scandal and drama unfolding. Raye sees it too and wanted them to get along, but knows that Serena's hurting her brother, however unintentionally, and that's part of her snappishness at Serena, though she doesn't say it. Nobody's turned against Darien, he's the brother so there's mild irritants along the way because he is Darien, but they're all watching out for him. Serena's the new girl so they're trying to be supportive of her, but they've always got Darien's back. Michelangelo's, well he's Michelangelo. He's got his own agenda he's playing and he likes both Serena and Darien, but Serena's more on his level, and Darien's never been around enough for him to really get that close to, but his values are a little different than everybody else's so he's supportive of both of them and their plights. I don't think those two ever argued once, they even were friends enough to ski together and had a friendly competition. And the rest of the townies, except maybe Lita and Mina don't really know Darien all that well anymore but they're still supportive of their own, but Mona is so far out there and actually kind of new, so he doesn't know her that well and really, Mona doesn't have a stance on him vs her anyways. Hotaru is another matter, she's young and she's seen Darien around, he's the town's hero and can do no wrong, but she doesn't know him like everybody else. As for Andrew, of course his loyalty is to Serena and always Serena. Well, maybe not always...

I hope that clears things up for people. :)

At some point while she slept, Serena had been moved from the couch and placed into Andrew's bed. She frowned as she opened her eyes and looked into his open closet. Had Darien come back during the night to check on her? Zolton had advised that she not be alone. Then Serena realized that the room was very bright and that she was warmer than the half-dead fireplace would have made her.

She shifted and realized there was a blond body slumbering next to her and she realized with a start that it was Andrew. She reached out a hand and shifted back some of his blond locks. He smiled beneath her touch. "Awake now?" He asked with a groan.

"Yes... when did you get here?"

"Around ten. It's strange how sober a man can be in the morning after a night's sleep on a chair and then remembering that someone he cares deeply about had been in grave peril the night before." He propped up onto his elbow and looked down at her. "What made you do something so stupid?"

"This from the man who didn't tell me it was stupid for diving into a freezing lake?"

"Pash." He waved that away. "I know you're a strong swimmer and have been in similar temperature conditions before. Hell, you've been in worse all around conditions in water before that. I didn't think that was idiotic, but walking home in a winter's night in Montana was probably the dumbest thing I've ever had the memory of you doing."

"Gee, thanks." Serena sighed and snuggled into his body heat. "What time is it anyway?" She turned to look but he pulled her back into his large muscular arms.

"We're not done talking, you can't get out of it that easily. I have to be sure that you're aware of the dangers and will never do it again."

"Easily. I will never walk from the ranch again in a winter's night in Montana." She repeated his phrasing word for word. "Happy now? I was already lit into by two of the Shields and the good Herr Doktor."

Andrew laughed and pressed a kiss onto her temple. "All right, fine. I won't be a broken record. I just want you to know that I care about you and your safety."

"Got it." She reached out a finger and pushed gently on his nose. "Now, I should be getting up."

"It's already three in the afternoon, and suffice it to say, you're not going anywhere." He locked his arm around her, one was enough and pulled the blanket up with the other. "We're going to spend the day in bed."

"Andrew-" She felt a bit of a panic coming on by his suggestion.

"Sleeping. Me to recover from my hangover and you from numerous different things." Another kiss, this one to her cheek. "Relax, nobody will miss us today, and get some sleep."

Except for a few bathroom breaks and to eat, Serena and Andrew did spend all day in bed, and somehow slept through the night quite soundly. Serena woke up earlier than usual with no ability to sleep again, but she felt well-rested and Andrew followed into the kitchen for breakfast an hour later.

The sun wasn't even close to up yet, but then again, it wasn't rising for longer and longer periods so it could very well be later than she thought. Serena stretched out her stiff muscles, she hadn't used them for an entire day. She turned to Andrew and cocked her head to the side. "Are you joining me in the studio today?"

"No, I don't believe so. Michelangelo's going to be there, isn't he?"

"You still not over-"

"It isn't the skiing thing." Andrew countered. "Though it was thoughtless and irresponsible on both his and Darien's parts to leave you alone up there, I have moved on."

"Then why don't you like him?"

"He's got everything handed to him too easily. He's too perfect, it's so artificial."

Serena rounded on Andrew at that notion, fork in hand and sausage link hanging from its silver prongs. "Take that back, take that back right now."

"Why?" Andrew stirred the eggs and then looked back at her. "You know its true, you even said he looked like he hit the gym a lot."

"But that's only to refine his muscles and he's active, he's a sport's guy. Just like you." Serena felt defensive of her new friendship with Michelangelo.

"What's wrong with my statement?" Andrew was seriously confused. "It isn't like you're much of a fan of the artificial. You always laugh at those who feel so inadequate that they have to change everything about themselves to make them less unique, more generic than person."

"That's rich." Serena laughed. "Coming from you. He's the least generic person I've met in a long time. He's ambitious and a workaholic, sure, but he's not generic. You barely know him. Not like I do." Serena felt hurt that Andrew could even think that lowly of someone she practically praised as her idol. That Andrew thought something bad of anyone. She could feel the tears sting and she tried to blink them back. Andrew caught on quickly and he turned off the stove, moving the eggs to safety and pulled her resisting form into his arms.

"I'm sorry, Sere, really. I didn't mean anything by it. I don't even know where its come from. I guess I'm a little jealous of him and all of his success." He gave a harsh laugh. "Can you believe it? Me? Jealous?"

"But why? What do you have to be jealous of?"

Andrew shrugged and pulled her closer. "I guess its because he has a lot of your attention and ever since he's gotten here, I've had less of it. I feel you pulling away from me again." Andrew sighed. "I haven't even seen you all week, not since, well, I'm sorry about that night too."

"No, don't be sorry." Serena pulled back. "And you have no reason to be jealous. I'm here for you, and you alone. The minute you don't need me anymore, I'll be gone. I won't look back twice at anyone else I've met here." By then Darien would be gone too, if all worked in her favor, which wasn't the precedent yet, but she could always hope.

Andrew was shaking his head. "There might come the doubtful time that I won't need you anymore, but even if that were to happen, I'll always want you near me." He smiled shakily down at her. "Am I forgiven? I couldn't handle it if you were upset with me."

"All is forgiven." Serena sighed and wrapped her arms around his waist. Her fingers barely reached each other. Not that he was fat and not that her arms were particularly short. He was just so big and his chest was impressive in not only expansion but also in definition. "Too bad its winter. I would have had a right old blast if it were summer."

"You and me both." Andrew's tone turned a bit teasing. "Lita in a swimsuit would have been something to see!"

She squeaked in shock and then pulled back to hit him in the abdomen. "Jerk, thinking about another girl, a married girl, while I'm in your arms!"

"Sorry Sere, but man, she's got a smokin' body!" But he pulled her back to him and she felt him pinch her derriere. "Not that you're anything to sneeze at. Strong, defined muscles all over your body, beautiful eyes, face and hair. A fairly decent chest, and the best ass in the country."

"What is it with people's obsession with my bottom?" Man, she had never gotten so much attention for it in the past.

Andrew smirked. "I don't know if you ever look at it in the mirror, but it is definitely the best shape and definition any woman could hope to have and any man could hope to look at and touch."

"It's only a butt." Serena was feeling a little self-conscious about it now. "One of the grossest part of the human anatomy." Any species actually.

"Perhaps, but with the swoop of your back..." His fingers found the hollow above her waist. "It is enticing to say the least." His head ducked down to kiss her, and she might have let him, she couldn't help but be charmed by his words, when there was a knock at the door.

"I better go get that." Usagi broke out of his hold and adjusted her night shirt, she had short shorts on underneath but they wouldn't be noticed until the short hemline of her shirt rode up. She opened the door and was actually mildly shocked by who was at the other side of it. "Mina, what can I help you with?"

"Well..." She seemed kind of awkward. "I was talking to Andrew at the party but I hadn't seen either of you since then and I wanted to make sure you were both all right." Mina was eying Serena's outfit with some speculation and was frowning slightly at the mused appearance. "Was I interrupting anything?"

"No." "Yes." Serena and Andrew's words overlapped each other and they shared a look before laughing. "Come on in, why don't you join us for breakfast?"

"Thanks, but really if I was walking in to the middle of a kinky breakfast, I can go-"

"If by kinky you mean eggs and sausage at the table while fully dressed, then yes, yes it is. But please, then every meal will be kinky and really we shouldn't show ourselves in public ever again. Actually anyone eating in public should be ashamed of themselves. And for those who have people over- well!"

Mina was laughing as she shut the door behind her. She'd been here many times in the past, having been coming up here every winter for years. But this was the first time she remembered enjoying her time quite so much as Andrew and Serena were hilarious when put together. They built off each other with such timing and precision and it could only be accomplished after years together liking one another and sharing many of life's moments. No one could doubt that these two were a well-oiled machine.

–

When the temperatures slowly raised and the snow was cleared enough by trucks with attachable snowplows, Serena ventured back to the office. Darien had disappeared to his ranch somewhere along the line and she hadn't seen him since. Amy shrugged and said it was probably for the best. Now people were slowly filtering back in and Raye was finally home. She was crankier than ever too, since she'd been cooped up with Darien for so long.

"He's a pain in the rear end!" Raye grumbled. "I swear if I didn't love him so much, I would have shot him a month ago!"

"What's he done now?" Amy asked, and there was a smile fluttering about her lips, she'd been smiling a lot since the snow storm. It didn't even matter to her that the lodge was half empty. But that was due to cancellations, people couldn't get through the passes. Now people were going to fill up the rooms once more. Amy had said it was to be expected, those things did happen, especially here.

Serena looked at Amy curiously, she might not know these women so well, but she could bet good money that Amy wasn't usually so cheerful, even if she'd been having a bout of grumpiness the last month, it seemed to fit her personality better. Not that Serena didn't like this new version of Amy. As long as they were happy, they weren't looking too deep at anyone else's business. Except Raye wasn't happy and she wasn't looking. So one extreme or the other was needed.

Raye went on, completely oblivious to this new factor to her sister's personality. "He's been bugging me about Jace. Wondering why I even hold out hope that he'll come back to me. That I should just be satisfied to raise this kid on my own and slam him with a paternity suit. Well to do that, I need to know where Jace is, and secondly, Jace wants the kid. I've told Darien that a thousand times. But I was the one that kicked Jace out and now he's cooling his heels and licking his wounds after such a brutal telling off from me."

Serena already knew that and was thinking about the emails she'd sent out to other ski resorts around the world. Both big and small and she had shifted through a lot of replies, but nothing told her about Jace's whereabouts. She probably had more on her computer now. "He didn't leave you any kind of idea where he might potentially be?"

"None." Raye sighed. "I wish I knew. I would tell him how terribly sorry I am and how upset I am with myself for how I reacted. He probably doesn't even know I decided to keep the child. I'd said some pretty horrible things."

Amy was looking at Raye with something akin to shock. She knew most of that herself, but this was enough to pull her out of her happy bubble. "You threatened to end the child's life?" Amy asked, her hand covering her own stomach as if she was going to be sick at even the thought of it.

"No, yes, oh, I don't know. I was hormonal and upset and I said a lot of things I wouldn't have meant in a million years." Raye sighed and buried her head into her hands. "Now all I want is him back, back here so I can at least see him, even if he never takes me back otherwise."

Serena cast Raye a sympathetic look, she knew exactly how it felt to be Raye at the moment, even if their situations weren't exactly the same. Serena folded Raye into her arms and Amy joined in. Serena hung on longer than she probably should have, for she had to go and face her issues now and the two Shield sisters had to get back to work. "It'll be all right, you'll see." Serena whispered in Raye's ear. "He'll come around eventually if he's everything you've said he is. He loves you too much not to give it another try."

"I hope so." Raye pulled away with a sniff, trying to hold back her crazy pregnancy tears. "I really hope you're right." And Serena hoped so too, for both their sakes, and maybe a little bit for herself as well. If these two could work it out, maybe, just maybe, Serena would be all right in the end too. "Now, get out of here. I want you to go bring us a bunch of new clients."

"Will do." Serena saluted and ran out of the main room, hearing Raye's laughter as she went. At least she managed to cheer one person up. The test of her skills would be to see if she got the right clientele come the backside of the new year. That was the real evaluation. Not that they'd be unhappy with guests that didn't fit the exact bill they were going for, and maybe that was just the thing. The ones that they wanted came before, and they'd have to change their interest group for the second half of the season. Serena paused at the lobby doors, shrugging on her red coat and knock-off boots. She thought twice and slipped her gloves and hat on over her ears and pushed her way outside.

It was colder than she thought and she was grateful for her thoughtful protection and shoved her hands into her pockets as she made the short jaunt over to the office. She had a few new ideas about how she could go about contacting Jace. It was probably the most straight forward way but she had been holding off from doing so.

She grasped onto anything that could allow her not to face the fact that at any moment she'd open the door and have to deal with Darien. If she could wallow in Raye's misery, she was a thousand times happier than in her own. She was a fixer and a people person and if she couldn't fix her own situation, she could fix Raye's. Serena pushed open the door to the office, a greeting on her lips and she felt a little anticlimactic as Darien wasn't there. Perhaps he hadn't been in all week. But Raye had said that he'd dropped her off this morning and said something about going to the office.

Serena sighed and went to her computer sitting neatly on the coffee table near the couches. She dropped into the one facing the mountains and started up the laptop. She worked on it for quite awhile when somehow she nodded off. The next thing she knew, she was being woken up with one of the greatest smells known to man. She smiled and reached for it blindly. Then she lifted her eyes to the man offering it to her. "Darien?" She asked, surprised by this offer. She didn't want to think if it was laced or not. He'd proven too much of a hero to do something like that.

"It's a cease fire while we deliberate. Once its gone, so is the temporary truce." He sank down into the chair next to her as she nodded to the terms of the agreement. "I have had time to cool off and think rationally about what happened."

"I'm sorry, I should never have kissed you. I'm not entirely sure I know what came over me."

"That's not the point. But apology accepted and I won't horde it over your head. God, you know I'm not going to kick you out. As you've pointed out several times, I have plenty of proof that you're a cheat and not what we're looking for. Except the only person you're that way with, as far as I know, is me. But that's enough. We wanted a married couple and you can't be one if you're willing to step out on your relationship with Andrew. God knows why you'd want to, the two of you are great together."

"I don't want to. I admit the first one wasn't exactly planned but I went into it knowing full well, the other night however..."

"We both were reacting without thinking. That's the whole point of this conversation, not anything else. I've had a moment and I've realized that we didn't use any protection. If you become pregnant, first of all, I'll want a paternity test if there's any question to parentage. Second, if it is mine, I will be there in any way possible. I'm not going to step out on my responsibilities. Even if you're married and I don't agree with how this came about, it was partly my fault and I will accept that."

"I'm not pregnant." Serena twisted her head back and forth. There was absolutely no way that this is what she expected when she walked in the door. "I've told you, I'm on the pill."

"That's not foolproof and we're both fools." Darien shook his head in self-disgust. "I mean, there was absolutely no finesse in that. I just slammed you up against the door and took you."

"I took you too." Serena argued. "And as I recall, we both came away from that satisfied."

"That's part of the problem, isn't it? We're good together. We just have to touch and we're overcome by desire. Then we blow up at one another."

"No, correction, you blow up at me. I would be perfectly capable of rationally discussing the problem afterwards."

"Fine, so I blow up, you argue back and then you go and do something potentially deadly. I don't believe you handle the situation much better yourself." Darien snarled.

Serena held up her drink and swished it around. "Still got some here, pretty sure we're not going back to war yet."

Despite himself, Darien chuckled at her words. "All right, all right, I understand. Crisis averted."

"Good. Now is there anything else to discuss. Oh yes, why do you blow up at me?"

"Because you're infuriating." He commented and stood up. "I think this is over."

"Wait, no, it's not. Because I still want to know about why you're willing to overlook my gaffs with you and pretend they didn't happen when you've been threatening me since day two about sending me out on my bottom."

"You'd probably bounce and be perfectly all right. What I should do is throw you out on your face. At least that isn't bouncy but then I'd hate to see this perfect face ruined."

"Darien." Her tone warned him that she was being serious now. "What are we going to do about our problem?"

"Not touch, for one. And don't look at me. Those eyes are dangerous."

"So no touching, no looking." Serena's lips twisted, oh, he thought that was all there was to this, didn't he? He had only been attracted to her touch and eyes? "So that's going to solve the problem?"

"No, I can't look at you at all. If I do, I recall every little detail of you without clothes on. Like the birthmark you have right-"

"Ok, I get it. You can't look at me at all, I can't look at you, but I guess it'd be redundant on your part. So I could do all the looking I want. And no touching."

"Think you can just bury that flirtatious little comment in there, don't you? You have to stop doing that too. And no, you can't look at me, I might look up and catch those bewitching eyes filled with mischief and I'll probably come over and press you up against the window with no way to stop myself. I'm sure your husband will catch us then, if someone else doesn't. Besides, you'll need to control yourself too."

"All right, we'll try it your way." For awhile at least, and if that didn't work, she'd try Amy's suggestion. Amy might not be an expert on men and relationships, but she was an expert on her brother. So her advice was worth something. Though Serena knew there was no way Darien's plan would work, but she thought it secretly and tried to push it out, for it they didn't both go into this with true intentions then it definitely wouldn't. And while normally that's not something she'd do, for all the parties involved, she'd try. There were too many people who could be hurt if she just tossed it all out so she could follow her body's desires. But something would be working against all her best intentions her mind set up for them, she could control her body if she set her mind to it, but what she couldn't control was her heart.

"Good, now finish your drink so we can start." Darien walked away from her and she did as he suggested. It was a good thing that for the next few hours she'd be hidden from his view and she wouldn't be seeing him either. Except when she looked into the window in a certain area, she could see his reflection as he worked on the computer. She had to tear her eyes away every time. That's why she chose this spot in the past, but now with their new ground rules, it would be easier if she didn't have that sneaky way of looking without being seen.

And for an entire week it worked. Not well, but it was holding up for the most part. Then one day when Serena was pushing the door open, she had her hands full with christmas decorations. She figured if they had three weeks before the holiday, she might as well get a jump on it and appreciate it for as long as she could. He about rammed it down her throat when he caught sight of the box.

"No way." They were the first words she'd heard all week, they stopped exchanging even the most basic of communication. For all intents and purposes they pretended as if the other wasn't sitting five feet away from them. "Those are not taking another step into this office. It's already bad enough that there's a huge tree in the lodge." And it was gorgeous, even if it was fake. "And my hand has one decorated near the stables." That would be pretty, she thought. "But you're not infecting this pristine workplace with that nonsense. I thought I got away with having you in here when you hadn't attempted any other holiday, but this one is completely off limits."

"Oh..." Serena was shocked. What did he have against Christmas stuff? Then the sugary-sweet clicked in now that their agreement was null and void. She'd decide when this tactic was done with. "But Darien!" She purred, dropping the box on his desk. "I love Christmas and these are some momentous to keep everyone in the holiday spirit. Good cheer and kindness to everyone, you know." She didn't bait him, she let the unspoken words hang there for themselves instead of telling him, 'you know, the opposite of your typical attitude', and his mouth tightened in knowledge of exactly what she meant by that. "If I swear to leave your half of the room alone, will you let me keep them? They're just sooo cute and I've already decked out my apartments with Andrew with the stuff, there isn't any more room. I'll even let you decide where everything should go. As long as its up, I'll move it to where ever you want." She batted her lashes at him and he snarled back.

"No Christmas decorations."

"Come on, it'll soften your image." Not that he needed to, everybody already loved him and spoke highly of him but it was worth a shot

"Serena, no."

"Please?" She begged, batting her lashes harder, not sure if she was doing it right. She never really had to in the past.

He hesitated. "No."

She pouted and opened her eyes wide and gave him her best impression of a doe. "Come on, please?"

Another long hesitation as he tried to look away from her and failed. "All right."

She squealed and threw her arms around his neck before beating a hasty retreat. "You won't regret it. It'll be tastefully done."

"I'm trusting you to do just that." Darien got to his feet. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go drop in on Ton. See if he can prescribe me something, for I'm obviously losing it. I'll be back." Darien gave her a very pointed look. "Don't over do it."

"Not in my nature!" She vowed and put her hand over her heart. Darien's eyes followed her hand before he shook his head and left out the building muttering something to himself. Serena gave a small cheer and went to work.

Half an hour later, and Darien let himself back in. "Oh. my. God." His eyes widened as he took in what just transpired in his office.

Serena turned to him, a ribbon wrapped haphazardly around her hair and a grin on her face. "Totally perfect, right?"

"I am so going to kill you." Darien swore and took a very menacing step into the room. Serena took a step back and put the chair between them.

"Now Darien, I didn't go overboard, I promise. This is me being very conservative with the decorations."

"If this is conservative and you ran out of space in the apartments, remind me never to step foot in there. This is a bloody nightmare. It's like all the rooms at the North Pole have thrown up in here. I can barely walk two inches without tripping over some kind of trapping."

"It's still a bit of a mess, but you'll see, it's going to look great!" Serena defended herself. "I'm just not done yet." But she felt a little hurt, couldn't he see what she was going for? Really it wasn't all that bad, a few things here and there. That's all.

"If Mina says its too much you will know that there's something wrong with the picture." Mina had decked out the lodge. The lodge could be seen from space with all the lights and stuff she'd put on it. If the power wasn't already spotty she'd run it all at once and probably add a bunch more. Though that stuff didn't take too much energy.

"Mina hasn't said so."

"She hasn't been up here yet." Darien turned to call Mina up but Serena shot across the room and stayed his hand. "Serena-"

"No, don't worry, it won't be so crowded in an hour, please don't worry. You just caught me in my creating process. Stuff is everywhere, but it won't be. I'm a tasty, classy woman."

"I can't vouch for that." Darien pulled his hand away. "What happened to staying a distance and no touching?"

"It went out the window as soon as you spoke to me earlier today. I'm trying a new approach."

"Get me so frustrated that I tear my hair out? Run me out with stuff I don't like?" Darien intoned dryly. "Well howdy-doodah, you're succeeding."

"Darien..." She warned gently. "It's not like that and you know it." She wondered where he was about to put his fingers when he lifted them up to her eye level. He plucked the ribbon out of her hair as if it was a bug and dropped it onto the desk.

"One hour Serena, and then if its not something I can live with, I'm throwing it all out the window."

"One hour." Serena agreed and went back to work quickly. Darien sat back and watched her go. Darien watched her for the entire hour, though he tried to pretend he was working. His eyes kept sliding back to her slim but muscular body moving around the room as if she was dancing. She had a dancer's physique, he could see that now, after Thanksgiving. She was mesmerizing when she moved and he could freely admit he was one of those she affected. So then why was she working in this office rather than doing what she was obviously so good at? Though she was pretty good at this too. Maybe not the best he'd ever seen but she had a fresh approach to it.

Then she stopped and turned to him and he barely had time to move his eyes back to his computer before she caught him staring. "There, I'm done."

This time when he looked up at her, he took in the room for a change and had to admit, she'd done a great job. It changed the way the room felt, but it wasn't over the top with the knowledge that it was Christmas decorations, just that someone liked the red, green and white color scheme with just a tiny dose of cheer. "All right, it can stay."

She dove across the table and the next thing he knew she was in his lap with her arms around his neck. "Oh thank you Darien! Thank you! You're the best." She tilted back a little to look at him and when she did, they both realized that she was in his lap. She froze trying to move away but it was too late. He'd already reached up and cupped her cheek and with that action she was leaning closer to him. Their noses brushed and their eyes locked, she could see a small smile unfurl along his lips.

The door banged open and Serena fell over and off his lap. He jerked to catch her and neither of them noticed who it was that came unannounced into their office. "Interrupting something, am I?" A female voice asked and Serena never heard a voice she didn't like as much as she didn't like this one. Darien helped lift Serena to her feet.

Darien's face was a mask of rage again, but this time it wasn't directed towards her, and Serena had never been so scared in her life of this man. It gave her an insight in just how much he reigned in when dealing with her. "Bethany." He snarled at the redhead who stood there with hands on her hips, one jutting out to the side, trying to give herself a more seductive body shape. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to tell you that you're being an idiot. I barely saw you the last time you were home and I can't believe you trekked all the way back out here. For what? This..." Bethany glanced over Serena who was looking less than professional at the moment. "Two-bit wannabe." Oh, Serena definitely didn't like this woman and thought nastily that she clashed with the red now in the room. "I'll tell you honey, you're wasting your time. He might be interested in you to distract him while he's out here, but it could never be something permanent with the likes of you." Bethany shifted as if she was uncurling like a cat. "He's already got more woman than he could ever handle in me."

Serena started choking as Darien rose to his feet. He couldn't very well say anything in her defense, it'd either be a lie or admission that they'd done something more and at any rate this woman spoke some truths. "Bethany..." His tone was a clear warning and if he had used it with her, she would have backed off instantly, but Bethany only smiled slowly. "Get the hell off my land before I call the sheriff and have you thrown off."

"Too bad sugar plum." Bethany batted her overly made up lashes. "I've already got a room booked in the lodge. You wouldn't want your sisters to lose money on the biggest room they've got for the next month, would you?"

"They'd only lose money for a week at most and I'd fill it in for them if need be." Darien bit out. "Anything is better than you staying anywhere near me."

Bethany seemed unconcerned as she looked down at her talon-like nails. "You don't own all the land around here, Dare, eventually I will find some place to stay even if you do manage to find a way to kick me out of the lodge. I shall sue."

"And I shall win." Darien seemed unimpressed with this woman's words, as if nothing could really phase him. Serena wondered what had gone on between them, why this redhead striked such a reaction in him and then she realized that the two must have had an affair somewhere along the lines. That was the only time Darien was moved to anger, if he'd slept with the woman before.

Darien could see her understanding dawn out of the corner of his eye and knew Serena had reached for the wrong conclusions. "No, Serena, not that, never that. Bethany is a fully married woman, aren't you?"

"Divorced. I would have told you that when I saw you last, but I didn't have time before you got into that truck of yours and drove back here."

"What happened, he finally got tired of all your flings?" Darien lifted a brow.

"Just the one. He couldn't handle the idea of the two of us in the marriage bed and in the shower and on the chaise." Her lip lifted so far up it looked like she was a canine.

"Only in your imagination. I never set foot into that bedroom and the only reason I was ever in the house was because he invited me. As I told him when he called. Guess who he believed? That's right, his cousin."

Serena felt sick, Bethany was his cousin's wife? She groped for the couch behind her, sitting heavily on the arm. Unlike Darien, she believed him when he claimed his innocence, she knew far too much of his character not to. A few married women had hit on him and he gently rebuffed them and somehow scored more points in their husband's favors. The wives went back with new eyes and the marriages lived to last another season. Even when single women flirted with Darien he seemed uninterested, even the ones that had lived in town. He was giving her a questioning look and she shook her head, she believed him. But how could this woman betray her husband so often and then try to with family?

Darien gave a short nod and then turned back to the woman watching it all unfold. Her red brow was lifted in sardonic amusement. "So there is something going on between the two of you. How sweet Darien, having a little pet in the office for when you get bored. Clever too, hiding her up here and away from all eyes. Couldn't just keep her at the Ranch or the lodge. Your sisters might disapprove if they've suspected. But what's this? She's married? How shocking! So the perfect Darien has flaws after all, hmm?"

"There is nothing here that you need to be concerned by." Darien grated out. "You did not walk in on anything and of course her opinion matters, I have to share a small space with her during the day and she's one of my sisters' employees. If word gets back to them about you, they'll be livid to think I could do something as degrading as sleep with you." Serena winced as the woman let out a shrill noise at that very large mistake on his part, fanning the flames wasn't going to help. "So yes, I want her to believe me over you. There's nothing you can do that can stop me, and you're only adding slander to the counter-charges I could slam against you. As for finding someone to let you stay, hardly likely, one word from me and you could have a riot on your hands, pitchforks and chasing you out."

Bethany shook her head. "One day Darien you will eat your threats. But for now, I shall leave." She cast malice eyes at Serena. "Don't be a fool dear, he definitely won't look at you twice with those rings on that finger. But I commend your efforts. I could barely touch him before he cast me off, you seem to be getting a lot further than that." She licked her teeth. "What's your husband's name?" Bethany walked closer, getting so close that she was within touching distance of the two of them.

"Get out." Serena stood up and pointed to the door. "You have done enough talking. I would like to get back to work and to see your ugly coloring out that door."

Furious Bethany took a swipe at Serena and Darien caught her hand before those nails could do serious damage to her face. "Don't you dare. That would be assault on top of everything else."

"You haven't seen the last of me Darien." Her eyes transferred to Serena. "And you will never get away talking that way to me, cheat."

"The only one I see who could be counted as a cheater is you." Serena stood her ground. "Now you know both of our thoughts, leave."

"I second that." Darien hauled Bethany on her pointy tall heeled feet to the door and tossed her out. The door closed shut behind her and this time locked. It must not have closed all the way last time. Darien turned to Serena. "I'm sorry about all that. But you believe me, right?"

"Of course!" There was not even a need to think about her response. "Anyone could see that she wasn't your type and that she was obviously lying if they think you could ever do something like that. Besides you told me it wasn't true and I believe you."

Darien held her gaze steady for a long time. "Ok. Thank you. And as for right before that-"

"Don't worry. Let's not rehash things anymore, ok? If they happen they happen." Serena shrugged. Then she started laughing. "God, who knew such a small town was filled with such drama?"

Darien laughed with her. "That's usually the way it goes. Small towns are filled with more drama than cities unless the city is so large and people form their own exclusive communities and then there is tons of drama but a lot more subtle and vindictive. At least in a small town people will come out and say things... usually."

Serena collapsed on the sofa, looking up at the ceiling. "I can still feel my heart racing from the moment she stepped into the room." She shook her head. "And then when she actually thought to strike me- I didn't believe people actually did it. She's mentally unbalanced, that one."

There were no more amused sounds coming from Darien's corner and Serena looked over at him in curiosity. A frown was causing his face to twist unnaturally. She thought vaguely that if he kept that up, he'd no longer be so handsome and lines would cover his face earlier than normal. "Don't walk anywhere without a male escort until I make sure she's long gone from the grounds. She has been relentless in trying to obtain me as another mark on her post and a lot of the women I dated have gotten in her way and serious things happened to them in returned. And not one of those women spoke back to her in the way that you did."

Serena rolled to a sitting position and most women would be jealous of her control over her ab muscles. "Ok, I wont." She was well aware that the woman meant serious business. "I don't think it will be a problem, you, Andrew, Michelangelo, Nash, and even Zolton are pretty intimidating if you don't know the real personalities below." She wasn't too worried and if she didn't say something to them, Darien probably would.

She glanced at the clock on her computer. "I've got to go. I have... well I better just come right out and tell you, a lesson to teach at Mona's studio."

"What kind of lesson?" Though Darien had a feeling he knew.

"Dance. I'm teaching Hotaru and a bunch of other girls different dances. We're working on some other things too, but I'm really only qualified to teach the dancing. I'm surprised the news hasn't already gotten to you, what with how the grapevine seems to work around here."

"I knew you were spending time with them, but not why. Ok, I'll walk you over there." Darien rose to his feet. "Is someone going to be there with you?"

Serena made a face. "Andrew isn't, he's got work and Michelangelo... he comes when he wants to. He probably will be."

"I'll stay then." Darien unplugged his laptop and shrugged on his coat. "I can work from there."

Serena bit her lip, she would really rather he didn't, she'd feel self-conscious the whole time, but if he was right about Bethany, then she might need some kind of protection. "Ok."

"I promise I won't be a hindrance at all." He crossed his heart and held up the typical amount of fingers associated with boy-scouts. Serena rolled her eyes and took her computer too as she got ready to leave. She was wearing the right clothes for it, every time she had to go there afterward she always wore the right outfit to work to fit both places and then a change for after. She took the computer because she had an email that came with its own notification attached and she wanted to look into it, but she didn't want to do it where she had company.

Through the lesson, Darien kept quiet and worked at the desk she had set up for the music and checklist. The girls were doing rather well and Serena was fixing their forms. It was tedious work sometimes and today was one of those days where she was trying to get positions perfect before they could work on something more exciting.

At the end of the lesson Serena clapped her hands before the girls could scatter off. "Ok girls, you did well today, I know it was a lot of hard work, but I do think since we have a special guest, we should give them a special treat. What do you say?" They had all been excited and asked Darien a thousand questions, wondering if he danced and if he was going to dance with them like Andrew and Michelangelo sometimes did. Michelangelo more often than Andrew, but Darien shook his head no, he wasn't much of a dancer, especially when ranked among the other two it was completely unfair. Serena couldn't help but think that was a lie. She'd seen him move, he was seductive in his own right and his gait was smooth. If he wanted, he could be an amazing dancer if he found the right genre.

"Would you like that Darien?" One of the girls asked and Darien lifted his head to look at her.

"I'd be honored if you girls would like to show off for me." He closed his computer to prove it.

Serena smiled and spun around towards the table, changing cds until she found the right one. "Since you've seen me do a tango and a hip hop number, I'd like to showcase something different for the girls. It's a bit classic..." Serena warned. "Especially as today none of the guys decided to show up." Big surprise there, there seemed to be an epidemic keeping the males at bay today. "It's from Coppelia, a famous ballet in the dance world, though not as famous to those outside of it." Serena frowned at that notion. "Personally one of the only ballets I really liked growing up."

"You did ballet?" Darien asked in surprise, it seemed so rigid and formal and had so many rules, so unlike the Serena he knew. Serena could understand that. She detested rules and formality, she preferred sitting on a couch while working than at a desk, but it didn't mean she couldn't follow them.

"I liked all different kinds of dances." Serena shrugged. "My ballet instructor was shocked when he first found out about that, but over time could see how it was good to be both highly technical and free flowing. Unlike a lot of the other girls, it allowed me to be creative and what kept me in dance longer." She had the long thin legs for it and though she was slim elsewhere, it wasn't a curvy shape, she had too many stomach muscles, but she was boxy either like some dancers. She was just pretty straight down with an indent at her waist. So she still had one.

"I'm excited to see it." Darien said honestly. He had been glad for his computer because the lesson had looked boring but now that there was dancing, he was game to watch.

"Girls, we'll start at the chorus for this piece, after the boys all move off to the sides." Serena grinned. "It's the girl show now."

And the music started. It didn't start out as the most exciting number and the girls all formed from a v to a grouping and the only thing that moved then were their feet. Tiny little movements but all the way up on their tiptoes. Then just as suddenly they all stopped for a few breaths. Then they were moving again and they all moved in the exact same way, their arms flowing about in a graceful and pointed manner. It was beautiful to watch. They were all equal when they danced this. They were all the same and one group. The music picked up and so did their speed and movements. All too soon they were done.

Darien clapped and praised them all on a job well done. They were all such beautiful dancers. Then they all filed out, saying goodbye to Serena and thanking her for her time and help. Serena turned to Darien and looked at him curiously. "So what did you really think?"

"Truthfully?" He sat back and looked at her, weighing his words. "For ballet, they did a remarkable job. I didn't see any obvious flaws, but ballet isn't really my favorite type of dance. It seems too... piece mealy for me and a bit boring and long."

"I understand." Serena responded, and she did. "I never understood ballet as a whole, a few things are gorgeous and a few are really funny and flow well. But then there are these random moments and songs that are just there to show off how good some girls are at dancing or some boys and it doesn't seem to really belong in the story. It's like ten minutes of just dancing with no purpose. I'd rather them just have dancing and no story if they're going to do that. But this story is rather funny and has purpose and a point. The part I showed you, that's actually the bridesmaids walking down the aisle and bridesmaids do show off as they do it, so they might as well get a single dance for them in something about dancing."

"I get that now." Darien chuckled. "Truthfully the only ballet I was aware of was the Nutcracker and that was interesting for all of the first time I watched it and every time after that I wanted to gouge my eyes out."

"We have that in common at least. Then it was all about Swan Lake and personally I preferred the musical to it." Darien laughed at her words but Serena was looking at him with a look he couldn't quite decipher. "Are you really a bad dancer? I can't believe that its something that would ever get you down. You seem too perfect to have a flaw like that."

Darien rose fluidly to his feet and came around to her side of the table. "Perhaps its best to let the teacher be the judge of that." He flipped through the list of songs she had on the cds and picked the best one. "By the way, I'm surprised you're not using an ipod or smart phone for this."

"Older technology, what can you do?" Serena gave a small shrug and a gasp escaped her when he pulled her to him as the notes started. "This isn't a tango." Serena commented picking up on what he wanted to do right away.

"No, it's not." He grinned. "Welcome to my world." He took a step between her feet and spun her around in a circle without breaking form. Then once they were in the middle of the floor, he started in to the real steps for the song. "And I didn't cheat by getting one that tells you what to do."

"Like, one hop this time." Serena gave a little bounce in her step as she tried to follow his moves, pretty easy when he was good at leading, but this wasn't a genre she had ever spent much time in. "Country boy."

"Uh-uh, Mountain man." He teased.

"No way, that's a nickname I supply for Drew." Serena realized she'd misspoken as soon as she misstepped and realized that Darien had stopped dancing. She'd broken the cardinal unspoken rule between them, no talking about Andrew and she'd been talking about him a lot recently, using him as a way to keep Darien distant and her own heart safe. "Darien, come on, you have to finish the dance."

"No, you were right, I was overstepping again. Andrew is your Mountain man, I'm just a country boy that happened to bring the two of you back together." He gave an exaggerated bow. "Good day to you, Miss Serena, thank you for reminding me of my place before I got carried away." Then he turned and gathered up his stuff, forgetting the very reason why he came in the first place.

Serena could have called out for him and remind him but she stayed her tongue. Bethany should have been gone by now. Serena finished up with the typical clearing and organizing so it would be easier when she came back the next time. She calculated mentally the first foreseeable moment she could escape this place and give Andrew the out he needed. Five more months. How on Earth would she ever survive it? She picked up her laptop and turned to go out the door. She was locking up just as she realized she wasn't alone. Turning as if she was about to be jumped, she was relived to learn the identity of the person waiting for her. "Darien." She greeted. "What are you still doing here?"

"I'm surprised at you, thinking I would actually leave you when Bethany is on the loose?"

"You left and remembered and so you came back, didn't you?" Serena lifted a blond brow at him and he grunted.

"Got it in one."

Serena giggled and hip-checked him. "Come on then, imperfect, the sooner you get me to the lodge the sooner you can leave for real." The walk back was silent and then Serena lifted her head to look at him. "It was a lot of fun dancing with you Darien, you should do it more often. You're a good partner."

"You did formidably well for never doing it before. That was one of the harder dances and you still caught on and followed along."

"I've never really had to do western but it is similar to a lot of other dances in some ways."

"That's probably true. I wouldn't really know." Darien shrugged and then opened the door for her at the lodge. "Well, this is where I leave you." He gave her only the tightest of smiles and turned around and left her.

Serena gave a heavy sigh and went in, looking forward to whomever she could find in the restaurant. Some who would at least appear happy to talk and see her.

EAN: So the bit about Coppelia, I don't really know the whole story and I just found a dance that would work for this bit, but I made up what the rest of its storyline was. I hope you aren't too upset any dancers out there. I don't mean to offend. I don't know too much about ballet, but I do appreciate how difficult it really is.

EAN2: For anyone thinking that Darien should just call her on things, don't, only the audience is aware, intentionally, that there is more than meets the eye between Andrew and Serena, and perhaps Michelangelo. Darien's just... with Serena, he thinks they're in it for good. As you'll find out later, maybe, Darien's under the belief that marriage is sacred and he doesn't believe in divorce for the sake of divorce. It's that small town in him but he's also aware by living in a big city for almost as long as he'd lived there, that affairs happen and divorce happens. He doesn't have to like it to be trapped in it but he doesn't want to cause a divorce, but he obviously still wants Serena. Or does he? His Ranch's scene could just be a drinking male, being a drinking male. I only mention this here because I've outlined the rest of the story and there's more chapters left than I had realized, but that's only because this story is rounded and has some interesting developments that will happen. :)

P.S. If Eight and Jade can write two whole epic stories with only a few kisses, you have to be happy with me! Hahahahaha...