After hours of chopping, pouring, stirring and mixing, dinner was finally done. Serena did everything she could to avoid the subject of Darien, and her mom did everything she could to bring it up. They set the table, and Irene called in her husband and Darien, who were done and sitting in the living room.

"This all looks amazing," Ken acknowledged as he took his seat at the head of the table.

Irene sat to his right. "It was one of Serena's recipes." Irene gushed, "I may have sampled a few times and it all taste amazing."

"Thanks mom." Serena said taking a seat to the left of her dad. She threw her napkin over her lap. "I had to tweak it a little to make sure there is enough for everyone." She smirked, "Hopefully it is just as good. I am so used to cooking for myself."

The jab caused Darien's heart to ache, as he took a seat next to her. She was hoping Darien got the hint to sit at the other end of the table away from her with the way she set his setting, but he didn't. He simply pulled his setting over.

"Let's eat. Honey hand me your plate, and tell me what you want." Irene reached for her husband's plate and started to give Serena the eye.

Serena at first oblivious, started serving herself. She suddenly felt like she as being watched. She looked up at her mom. Who was now glaring at her. If looks could kill, she would have been dead. She gave her mom a questionable look right back, and when she noticed that her mom was holding her dad's plate, she sighed, dropped the spoon and rolled her eyes.

"Darien..." She made sure to sound extra annoyed. "Would you like me to serve your plate?" Her skin boiling.

"Actually Serena, it's okay." Darien reached over to grab the serving spoon on his own.

"Don't be sill Darien, Serena can serve you," Ken put his hand up. "After all you are our guest."

"Yeah, Darien I am ecstatic to serve you, just tell me what you want." She snapped.

Darien sunk in his chair. "A little of everything is fine."

Serena threw a little bit of everything on his plate and put it in front of him. At this point she was no longer hungry, but she knew if she didn't make it look like she was eating her parents would notice, so she scooped her plate and just moved everything around and picked at it, while everyone talked amongst her. Occasionally they would force her into the conversation and she would just give one word answers, or the shortest answer possible. Her dad was more intrigued by Darien's work with the shelter.

"Well everything was amazing, thank you so much for having me." Darien said as he finished his second plate.

"Of course! You are welcome anytime!" Ken smiled. "How about you and I go retire in the living room."

"I was going to actually offer to help clean this up." Darien said looking at Serena who was already collecting all the empty dishes. Darien took notice to the fact that everyone's plate was cleaned except for hers.

"Serena has it and I can help her if anything. You go sit with Ken, he is just wanting some male bonding time." Irene too got up and started collecting the napkins.

"She is right, since Sammy left..." Ken added.

Serena headed to the kitchen first and her mom followed. She went straight to the trash to scrape her plate.

"Serena, that is quite a bit of food you wasted there." Irene observed.

"I wasn't hungry anymore."

"Serena, I know you are upset."

"Mom don't worry I will be respectful to your guest."

"Honey Darien, is more than a guest. He is apart of this family."

"Mommy I don't want to get into it, so let me just get this all cleaned up so I can go soak in the tub and go to bed."

"Dear you aren't going to stay up, spend time with us?"

"No, mom." Serena tied her hair back. "I feel like I have outnumbered by you guys enough for today."

"Honey we are not taking sides here."

"Could have fooled me mom." Serena turned to the sink and turned on the water. She wanted to tune everyone out.

Irene knew that nothing she said that this point would calm her daughter down, she a put all the dishes in the sink and let Serena have her moment. At the risk of having someone seeing her cry due to her frustration, she kept her head down and would use her shoulders to occasionally wipe her face. She just wanted to get this all done and go up to her room.

"Sere?" A whisper came from her left.

She looked up to see Darien's reflection in the window in front of her. He was holding a cup that could have been left behind.

"Just leave it."

"Serena, I didn't know they were going to ask me to stay, I actually tried to get out of it." He started to explain. "I just wanted to ask you on a date, and when you said no I was going to walk away, and he asked."

"Darien, it's fine." She snapped in a voice as low as possible she didn't want her parents to hear and run in. "You don't have to explain. You don't have to apologize. It's fine."

"Serena, I am not trying to make you any madder."

"You are not doing a very good job."

"Then tell me how to make this better." Darien pleaded. "Do you need help? I can dry the dishes for you, so you can get them done quicker."

"Do whatever you want Darien." She sighed. She wasn't mad, she just couldn't figure out how to feel.

She felt Darien's arm brush against hers as he stood next to her grabbing a towel to dry the dishes. He started to dry a plate and then he looked around the kitchen confused. He wasn't sure what do with it.

"Plates go in the cabinet in the far corner." She nudged her head to show him, since her hands were soapy. "But you might as well just stack a pile on the counter so you don't have to open and close the cabinet over and over."

Darien nodded and did as she instructed him to do. He kept watching Serena in the reflection. Her face so still. Every now and then she move her neck back and forth to stretch it out.

"Is your neck?" He asked concerned.

"I am fine."

He put the dish towel and the cup that he was drying down. Stepped behind her and put both hands on her shoulder.

She shrugged him off. "Please don't touch me."

He ignored her and put his hands right back where they were on her shoulder. "You're neck is obviously bothering you, and I am just trying to make sure you're okay." He started to light massage the area around her neck.

"Darien," She straightened her back hoping he would stop, but at the same time enjoying the massage. "I said, I was fine."

"Well the knots here say otherwise." He just kept massage her, moving his thumb in a circular motion.

The relief Serena was feeling was making it so hard to fight with him. He knew exactly where to go and the right pressure. His hands were surprisingly still warm for just handling wet dishes. She stretched out her neck to help relieve the tension. Her breathing started to calm. She started to doze.

"Let's go flying?" He whispered in her ear.

She turned and gave him a confused look. She wasn't sure if she dozed off and had a little dream.

"I mean it, let's go flying. You and me. When your parents go to bed. We transform and go for a flight. I know how much you love to admire the lights, we can see them better from the sky." He moved closer to her. Her back now touching his chest. "Please. Just me and you. That's all I want."

Serena shook her head. "If we transform they will think something is wrong."

"I will tell them to ignore the signal."

"They will ask questions."

"I will tell them to disregard, as an order." Darien said calmly.

"People might see us."

"And? It is not like we are myth or a legend. They know we exist." Darien explained.

"I didn't bring my broach." She shrugged.

"Then I guess I will just have to carry you the whole time. Any other excuses?" Darien stopped massaging her.

Serena just paused. Every scenario possible was running through her head.

"We won't go too far. And we can leave when you want." He wrapped both arms around her. Hugging her from behind. Inhaled the sent of her shampoo. He kissed the back of her head.

She tilted her head to the left and rested on his arm. She too took in a second to inhale his scent.

"Please."He whispered again. And this time kissed her temple.