Ties That Bind

Chapter 75

Breaking down the Walls

Author's Note: Hi everyone well this is it the final chapter. I know it has been a long journey and I recently looked back on all the reviews that I received through out writing this story and I can tell how many of you took the long journey with me and I just want to say how much I appreciate all of the feedback I have received and thank you everyone for the amazing amount of support that I have received on this story.

I know in writing a story like this it took beloved characters and turned them into their own beings in a different world and also introduced some new characters along the way with it and I am so overwhelmed to see how well you identified with each emotion I wrote about and with your reviews helped bring these characters to be who they are.

I do ask that you please continue to let me know your reviews and thoughts for the final chapter which is a bit of a long one or just the story as a whole; Also please make sure you read the final chapter note at the end.

Thanks for all your continued support during this long journey and if you would be interested in reading any of my other stories, I posted a new one-shot fic in Serenas POV recently titled Black Coffee No Sugar. Thanks for reading and following along Mars Light

Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon never did, never will thank you!

Darien stood there in shock for a moment, stunned that she had actually physically pushed him away from her so forcefully and more so with himself that he felt no anger or frustration with her in doing so. He turned his head sharply to catch a glimpse of her as she ran the rest of the way up the stairs and away from him.

He shook his head not understanding this sudden change she had over him, but knew it was not so sudden after all, that the whole time being with her, he had begun to do things he would not normally find himself doing, but now she was the one not acting her normal self, and whatever this was going on between them was something else entirely different that he was still left unsure about.

He held the broach in his hand thinking of the lost look she had in her eyes standing before him and then the mixed signals he was getting afterwards, one moment she was all over him making him think she still wanted to be with him and then the next doing a complete turn-around pushing him up against the railing which under the right circumstances could be enticing, but this was not one of them.

He slammed his fist down on the railing getting frustrated with all the mixed up complicated emotions he was getting from her when all he really wanted to do was carry her into his bedroom and fuck her hard until the next sunrise, but knew that was not what she needed.

He turned around feeling unsure on how to fix things and made his way back downstairs to go to his study for a swift drink, needing one now especially after having her wrapped in his arms so closely and then torn away, while knowing as much as he wanted to, he couldn't give into his weakness of her.

He took a step down and heard a quiet voice speak up from the side of the stairwell "I'm sorry I didn't mean to cause problems" only to see Mina standing to the side of the stairwell, having witnessed the interaction between them with her head hanging low.

Darien stopped walking and thought of Serena's sudden strange behavior after bringing up Mina, who supposedly was a friend to her and then looked to Mina standing there with the same perplexed look on her face and told her in a strict manner stating "it is not you Mina, but I am going to get to the bottom of this, not a word of this to anyone"

He turned back around and went rushing up the stairs after Serena with the thought of his drink far from his mind, feeling instead a new determination to find out the answers for himself and rushed down to the private wing of the manor that he had kept closed off to everyone for years, until she came along.

He stood in front of the closed door to her room and silently rolled his eyes back thinking to himself that this would have been much easier in the other room they shared where she would not have been able to lock him out as he slammed his fist on the door yelling into her "Serena you may not be my mistress any longer, but this is still my home and you will open this door right now or I will break it down"

He waited a moment hoping she would open for him, but nothing happened as he grew more frustrated from the quiet way she kept him shut out and started pounding his fist on the door once more as he screamed in louder "Serena open this door at once"

He waited for another second, but the door still remained closed to him, as his frustrations grew with each passing second until he was ready to break the door down if need be, when he heard weeping coming from inside the room and the sound of her cries broke something inside of him as he put his hand up to the door and let out a deep breath then told her more gently "Serena please open the door I just, I want to talk to you"

He waited another moment wanting desperately to get inside and find the right way to comfort her, to take all her fears away, but the closed door in front of him told him what he needed to know, even though her actions said one thing the closed door in front of him screamed another loudly, that she still was angry with him and wanted to leave this place and him as he let out the breath he held and slowly turned around to figure out what his next step would be, until he saw the door open slowly.

He walked up to the door that was left open ajar and was not sure what reception he would get inside and pushed the door all the way open as he walked in where he found Serena standing with her back turned to him looking out the window of her bedroom.

He took a deep breath in thinking in his mind of another visit to this room many years before, when his heart became cold, dark, and distant that day and knew this could not end up the same way as before with having to say a final goodbye to someone who meant a great deal to him as he turned and saw the broken pieces of the perfume bottle he had left for her, now lying shattered on the floor.

He closed the door behind him with an unspoken determination to get his Serena back, which meant getting her to open up to him in a way she had not to anyone else so far and turned to see she still had her back turned towards him nor had she acknowledged his presence in the room yet and demanded louder then he intended "would you care to explain yourself, what those actions were downstairs"

Serena closed her eyes tight and paid no attention to his words only hearing the loud sound of footsteps getting closer to her and felt like she was trapped in her world of endless nightmares again, locked up in that room, only this time she was not tied to the bed, and could fightback while hearing his footsteps coming up closer as she froze knowing the pain that would soon follow as she shook her head no, but didn't say a word.

Darien walked up to her agitated by her silence, he was ready for her to yell or make a comment that would leave him speechless in typical Serena style, but instead her silence was killing him slowly as he put his hand up by her shoulder asking again "explain yourself Serena" only for her to quickly spin around and slap him hard across the face.

Darien stood there wide eyed, the slap did not hurt, but he never expected that she would have gotten the better of him twice now, when he looked down and saw her in a way he had never seen before, not from her, full of pain with her eyes dark and a blank distant stare looking past him as she continued trying to pound her fists into his chest while crying out "don't touch me"

He reached down and took hold of both of her arms tightly in his grasp afraid of the pain she would inflict on herself begging her "Serena stop" and held on tightly until the fight went out of her and she looked down to the floor and spoke in a solemn manner the words that left him shaken "If you want to beat me for what I have done, well go ahead there is nothing left of me. I am already broken"

Darien stood there really taking in the outward shell of what he saw, the wounds on her skin were beginning to heal, but the real pain that she was suffering from was left on the inside and only tearing her apart further as the days passed as he shook his head telling her "your spirit is broken enough. I would rather cut off my own hand then cause you any further pain. I only wish to help you through this"

Serena slowly looked up to him as he carefully released his hands from her arms, ready to let her punch, hit, slam her fists into him, whatever she needed to do to fight these demons she had inside as he took a step back and told her cautiously "if you need to hit something go ahead, take your best shot at me, it's not like I don't have it coming"

Serena let out a deep breath and took a step back hearing his words and then slowly looked around the room, realizing she was not trapped with Christopher any longer, but was still here at Castle Hill with Darien's soft blue eyes looking back at her concerned as his words rang through her head and she felt shocked by his admittance that he was not going to hurt her.

She took a further step back away from him, realizing what she had done while seeing Christopher's face in her mind instead of Darien's and slowly shook her head replying "I'm sorry I don't know what came over me just now" as she wrapped her arms tightly around herself knowing exactly what it was. Christopher's voice hauntingly in her head that she needed to break away from.

Darien walked up to her slowly seeing the fragile state she was left in, expecting that if he touched or pushed her the wrong way she would break into a thousand pieces before his eyes as he shook his head telling her back "no don't you dare apologize to me, you have nothing to be sorry for, but I have every reason to be sorry for everything that happened to you, not just what he did, but myself included"

Serena looked up to him hearing his apologetic words and wished it meant more to her, but it would change nothing, she could still not turn back time and be what he wanted and expected from her and just turn a blind eye to what he was doing with others in his bedroom, while she stayed here in this desolate room as she shook her head stating sadly "I forgive you for what you have done, but things are different now. I'm different and I can't be what you want me to be any longer"

Darien shook his head amazed with the truth he found within himself by her words, that he could feel this way and be this close to one person and the only thing he wanted to do was not take her to his bed, but take away all the pain that she felt as he raised her chin up to look at him saying gently "Serena inside you, you are still the same person who came to me all those months ago and turned my whole world upside down with all your dreams and hopes, don't you see you have already given me everything that I wanted and more so everything I didn't know that I needed"

She looked up at him wanting desperately to believe his words, that there was a part of him that needed her the same way she did he, but his actions spoke more clearly than any lies ever could and finding Mina with him in the early morning and then again this afternoon was proof enough of what he really wanted from Mina and not her as she pushed his hand away from her face telling him back with a stern "No!" as she pushed a stray tear from her eyes.

Darien watched her closing herself in tightly before his eyes and didn't know what she was holding back from him, but could see the inner turmoil going on behind those dark eyes that were still puffy from all the tears she had shed over the past few days, that he was not around to alleviate as he should have been and seen this coming unlike before as he tried to reach up to wipe away her tears telling her comfortingly "Serena it's over now, you're back with me and…"

He wanted to tell her she was safe and protected here with him as he let out a long sigh and dropped his hand down not able to finish his thoughts, thinking of all the times she had cried tears because of him and instead looked down to the floor, wanting to find the right words to tell her how sorry he was, that he had made mistakes and she suffered most because of them as he raised his hand up to her waist knowing what happened with Christopher was partially his own fault for not taking better care of the treasure he had.

Serena looked down to where his hand laid over her nightdress where the bandage covered Christopher's marking of her as his own and could see the tormented look in Darien's eyes and knew his words said one thing, but his actions spoke another far more clearly.

It was a look of anger that he would always carry with him whenever he saw her near another man and now she was marked as someone else's and he would never be able to see her in the same way again and just like everyone else who entered into her life, in time he too would no longer want her around as she shook her head telling him the words he had yet to say himself "I am no longer yours"

Darien looked up to her hearing her cold words and quickly removed his hand from her waist and took a step back as he racked his hand through his hair frustrated with the distance she kept putting between them as he looked to her stating "look Serena I've done things I am not proud of, but to see you like this" as he closed his eyes tight thinking of a far distant past right here in this very room that he had not thought of in years and yet it was the same moment that brought him to the man that he would become, here and now and would not let things turn out in a similar way.

Serena turned herself away from him seeing even now how he kept his head turned and wouldn't look her way and she did not want to hear any more of how damaged she was in his eyes, knowing it was better to walk away now with her head held high then shoved through the dirt again later, all the while hoping for something that could never be as she shook her head telling him abruptly "you've said enough, please go"

Darien took a deep breath knowing he couldn't; leave this room without finding a way to get her to open up to him and feel things again as he began to walk towards the bed, where he always felt in control, but now he was uncertain about everything feeling for the first time since he was a boy helpless.

He stopped by the duvet cover and picked up a feather that was lying isolated on the bed as a small grin passed his face, then looked over and saw as always there was an open book left on the bed as he let out a deep breath with his last grace of hope and turned back to her replying "I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as you are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone forever"

Serena looked to him with a shake of her head wanting so much to believe his words and be his one and only forever, but knew such fantasies were not real and only existed in the words she read in story books stating through broken pieces of her soul "Darien don't you see you're the one who is hurting me. I love you, I love all the times we spent together. I love that you can quote Ms. Austen right in front of me. I love that you were not afraid of my education and embraced it, but with all that my love was fragile and now lay broken. I cannot stay here and belong with you any longer"

Darien looked to her confused by the crossed signals he was getting, hearing that she loved him, but would not be with him as he yelled back "I don't understand what you want from me then Serena. I had kept my word and stayed a distance from you and you were unhappy. Now you tell me that you love me and enjoy being with me, but look at what you are doing pushing me away. I want to be with you also and you won't even let me touch you. Tell me what do you want Serena?"

She looked to him as she wiped a single tear from her eyes wishing she could go back and change things back to the way they were before, but there was no use hiding it any longer. There was no use pretending what she was as she reached down and lifted up her nightdress and in one quick movement tore the bandage off covering her bonding as she cringed and looked back up at him saying coldly "look at me, this is all of me tell me this is what you want? This is what you will have to face every day, the reminder that I betrayed you by leaving and now look at me. You don't want this, you don't want me. Not now, not any longer this way, a constant reminder that my body was used by somebody else who was not you" as she turned away so not to face him and see his eyes judging her while saying "and I want to leave"

Darien shook his head hearing her words knowing that she was wrong on every account and that the last thing he would ever want to happen was for her to leave him again as he told her back adamantly "no Serena that is not what I want at all"

She slowly turned around and started to open her mouth protesting back telling him "you don't know what you are saying" as a small grin crossed his face knowing that she was at least arguing with him again and it felt right doing so as he walked up closing the gap between them as a small smirk crossed his face telling her strongly "No this time I do. I see the doubts you have in me and I am going to speak and for once you are going to listen to me Serena"

She stood there surprised by his comment as she went to turn her head away not to get caught in his trap again only for him to reach out and touch her cheek gently that was stained from all the tears she shed, knowing he would never make the mistake of letting her go again, but he could see it in her eyes the uncertainty she felt.

He knew her concerns were founded by his past words and actions and needed to find a way to get her to see him as the man he is standing before her as he reached out and put his hand over the marking Christopher left behind and lifted up her chin to face him stating "this doesn't matter to me, you do, you belong here. You belong with me, with all your stubbornness, wise remarks, and unknown surprises. I want all of it Serena. I want all of you, imperfections included"

Serena looked up at him searching for a bit of truth, wanting those words to be real and believe them so much, that it didn't matter to him what she looked like that he still wanted to be with her anyway for what she is now because she couldn't go back to who she was any longer as she took a careful step forward and looked up to him feeling unsure with the response she would get asking "can we really start a new chapter with only you and I"

Darien looked to the beautiful woman standing in front of him whose body would perfectly curve against his own and desperately wanted to carry her over to the bed, but knew nothing could be as it was before, he would make certain of it this time, he would never take her for granted and in doing so would never lose her faith in him again as he shook his heads telling her "no, this time things will be different"

Serena looked up at him with resentment and pain swirling inside of her from his comment knowing that for the briefest of moments she let herself believe that he did change and would have cared for her only, but again she was only let down with false dreams as she pulled further away from him and walked to the other side of the room and turned to him coldly asking "why because of Mina, she has to be in this too"

Darien became angrier seeing each time he thought she would break down her walls and warm up to him again, and then Mina's name would come up and suddenly the barriers she had were up tighter between them with her pulling even further away as he raised his temper up flaring and yelled out "why do you keep bringing Mina into this? What does she have to do with you and me?"

Serena stood there shaking her head seeing how cold and obtuse he could be towards her feelings and remembered why she left him in the first place because he would never see her as anything more than another one of his possessions as she walked over and opened up the bedroom door feeling her heart breaking all over again, but this time no bandage could heal this wound telling him back "I can't do this with you. I can't be with you while you keep another mistress for your pleasures too. I want to be with you Darien, but I can't turn my back and not see what is happening right in front of me. I want more than that and after everything we shared, I think I deserve it, but obviously your feelings for me don't match the same that mine do for you"

Darien looked at her surprised unsure if he heard correctly as he picked up on one word that she had mentioned as he walked up closer to her and slammed the door closed with his fist to keep her from running away this time asking with a deep chuckle "my what?"

Serena looked to him knowing like everything else in her life this wouldn't be easy as she shook her head and took a step away from the door telling him with a deep sigh "I know how you feel about complications in a relationship and I can no longer pretend not to have feelings for you. Nor can I stand by while you keep your mistress also, so I will leave this way Mina can be more of what you need, she can give you the obedience I never could and…"

Darien laughed harder to her comments as the realization of her words hit him and knew they couldn't be further from the truth as he shook his head knowing there was only one woman who consumed all his thoughts and she is standing right in front of him as he told her back "Mina has been a loyal servant to me for years and I cannot stand here before you and tell you that there was not a time when yes I had many different women enter my bed chambers, but since you arrived Serena the only mistress I have ever kept or would ever think of having is you"

Serena shook her head not believing his words, not after all she had witnessed and heard for herself around the manor, how could it be true as she replied telling him coldly "your lying it's not true I saw you"

Darien stepped forward blocking any path of escaping as he reached out and gently touched her cheek telling her "your right I was with others, many others, even after you came along. I have made my share of mistakes Serena, which you have challenged me on time and again, but none of them had a special quality to them like you do"

Serena lowered her head hearing him once again speak of her special gift as a good thing as she shook her head asking through unshed tears "my special gift right"

Darien placed his hand under her chin and raised her head up to look at him telling her "you make me smile and laugh just by being you, you leave me speechless with your thoughts, and the wisdom of the words you say make me do things that I once thought were impossible, Serena you are my special gift"

She looked up at him blinking her eyes and dropped any fight hearing his words as she wiped the tears away from her eyes and asked confused "but Constance told me that you could never be interested in only one person and I saw the way you and Mina were together, you needed that more than" as she stopped unable to finish the horrible thought.

Darien let out a loud laugh knowing now what was truly troubling her mind, which couldn't be further from the truth as he crossed his arms and challenged her back asking "really you saw Mina and I together. I would be very interested in finding out when this took place seeing as how it never did, not since you came into my life anyway and are you really going to take the word of Constance over my own? Serena don't you see the only thing that I need now, is you"

She stood there hearing his words, all the while what Constance spoke to her about him never being satisfied with only one person rang through her head and knew how many head games Constance had played with her before, but it did not change what she had seen for herself she knew him and the hunger he always carried inside of him and what he could be capable of to get it as she looked to him stating doubtfully "but I saw you with Mina early this morning, you were together and then Mina came walking out of your bedroom later on"

Darien looked to her with a little shrug of his shoulder telling her innocently "yes she does have a habit of exiting my room after she finishes tidying it up, if you remember, she did so many times in your room also, but if you require more proof of Mina's where abouts you can speak with Andrew. He was with Mina early this morning to watch the sunrise before she came to find me to take care of some important business and making sure this went back to its rightful owner" as he opened his palm to show her the broach he held.

Serena looked to him with her mouth hanging open realizing what he had said that Mina and Andy were together?

She began to question her judgement of the situation, but then it didn't begin to explain the other things she witnessed as she shook her head telling him back strongly "that day down in your study you told me to send her in that you had business to take care of with her and you started allowing her to call you by you given name also. How am I supposed to overlook that?"

Darien shook his head as he walked up closer placing his hand behind her neck and tilted it back slightly enough to see those kissable lips of hers telling her sternly "really Serena for such a smart girl I thought that you would have figured it out much sooner"

Serena took a step back further away from him not appreciating the mocking tone he took as she crossed her arms over her chest, knowing he would finally admit to the truth and was no longer lying to her to bed as she told him back "well go ahead and explain it to me then"

Darien nodded his head in response seeing the way she was keeping herself carefully guarded off telling her back calmly "alright besides you everyone else in this household has been calling me Darien for a couple of weeks now because I told them too. I thought that by making some changes around here that you would feel more comfortable, obviously I was wrong and the business you speak of in my study was me asking Mina to mail out some letters. She has taken over some of Constance's duties and has been doing well with the tasks I have assigned her"

Serena stood there with her mouth hanging open trying to figure it out in her head and came to realize, everything he said rang true and how wrong she had been with her accusations. Not once did she hear anyone address him any longer as Lord Montgomery, not since returning back and Mina had only been acting as a true friend to her and she had been treating her so terribly as she looked up seeing the small grin on his face telling him apologetically "Darien I, I'm sorry"

Darien stepped up closer to her with a clear understanding now of where her worries came from and seeing the confusion that took over in her mind slowly wasting away as he grabbed her up into his arms not letting her go this time or ever again as he told her with a small grin "you never need to apologize to me, not after what I have done, but I suppose you never were really good at doing as you were told to begin with and most of the time you did the opposite, but I could tell right away there was something different, special about you right from when I first laid my eyes on you. I can't explain what it is, but I knew I had to continue to explore it more until I found out exactly what it is about you that I can't get enough of Serena"

Serena looked up to him wanting to believe in the worst way that what he says could be true and that it really could be possible that there was someone else who cared about her and wanted her for more then what she is on the outside as she shook her head asking him through her tears "and what is it you found out?"

Darien looked to her with a grin seeing her challenge him back in a way only she could as he pushed a stray hair away from her face stating "I see now it's everything, it's you Serena. It's the way you command a room with your presence and back down to no one, you have taken all that life has brought to you time and time again and came out stronger on the other side. I am amazed with your strength and courage and it doesn't help that you beat me in chess every time we play"

She let out a small giggle hearing his words as she looked around the room he had given to her that was far off from all the others as she shook her head questioning him back "if all that you say is true and you do want to be with me, then why did you put me so far away, give me this room, so far away from you and all the others, why here?"

Darien looked around the room she was in, that he had reopened especially for her with a shake of his head asking "is that what you think that by giving you this room I was pushing you away? Serena I wasn't trying to push you away in fact it was the opposite. I wanted to be sure you were most comfortable and happy here with me so you would have no reason for wanting to leave. I guess my reasoning did not go as planned"

Serena looked around the room surprised that he thought she would be comfortable here with all the gold opulence, which was not her at all as she shook her head asking with a small laugh "you wanted me to be comfortable and happy in this room?"

Darien looked over at the corner of the room by the bed that had feathers all over the floor and a few fruit lying nearby, but shrugged his shoulders expecting there was some sort of reasoning behind it, which he would find out more from her later as he told her back with a genuine smile "yes I gave you the best room in the manor it was built to belong to my mother and I think she would be pleased that you have it now"

Serena looked back at him surprised by his comment, knowing of the torment he felt at the reminder of his past and remembering the story he had told her of what seemed so long, a lifetime ago, about how the manor was built by his father and dedicated in memory for his mother and she felt humbled knowing that she was standing and slept in the room that was to be hers.

She looked around at how poorly she acted with the mess of feathers on the floor and knew how he felt about any reminders of his parents, and he had given her this room to be hers as she looked around seeing the room in an entirely different way now questioning back "this was to be your mother's room? Darien I had no idea" then blushed profusely by her own behavior telling him "I can get it cleaned up and looking perfect again in a jiffy I promise" as she turned to walk towards the bed.

Darien reached out and took hold of her hand in his, keeping her right in front of him with his eyes focused on only the one most important thing in this room as he lifted her hand up to his lips and placed a kiss on the back of her hand telling her "there will be time enough for that later, come sit here with me. I think it is passed time that you and I just talk"

Serena nodded her head solemnly and followed him towards the bed knowing that he had to be angry with her, for the way she behaved in this special room as she watched him sit down on the bed beside her and had yet to release her hand as he took a deep breath in then let it out calmly telling her "I know much about you, but I never told you much about me. Actually I have never spoken these words out loud to anyone not even Andy, you see there was a time when I only had unhappy memories associated with this room, this was where my father decided he could no longer live without the woman he loved, my mother"

Serena looked back at him startled to hear him speak of his most painful memory yet of his father's passing and now knew why he kept this area locked away, with memories such as these why would you want the reminder as she took his hand in her own comfortingly stating "I had no idea, I'm so sorry"

Darien looked down transfixed with her soft skin and placed his hand down and gently rubbed the inside of her thigh as he looked up to her deep blue eyes and continued telling her "as with you we both have parts of our past we must put behind us to move forward and I would like to see what I can do about changing all those bad memories into good, with you Serena"

Serena looked down to where he placed his hand down on her leg and felt her breath get caught in her throat at just the small bit of contact, he had with her leg, then looked up to see the look he had in his eyes. It was a look that she knew anywhere a look that spoke of incredible pleasures of what he could bring and what she wanted to have with him, but right now her fears took a stronger hold.

She quickly stood up from the bed and walked up to the wall by the door and took a few deep breaths in feeling the room closing in while knowing that he was doing more for her, and had shown her more compassion then anyone ever has in all her years, but having him sitting that close to her body made her feel things and remember things she didn't want too as she watched him stand up from the bed and walk over to her placing his hand on her back as she felt a chill run down her spine and heard his voice asking concerned "are you alright?"

She shook her head not able to answer feeling confused and trapped within her own skin, thinking of what once seemed like something she wanted desperately to be close with him again, now she was left unsure as she covered her own body with her arms telling him shyly "Darien I, I'm honored that you would open up to me the way that you have and I really do want to start over, but I don't know if I"

She turned her head around slowly to face him expecting to see the look of disappointment or worse anger in his eyes, only instead she found him standing fully composed listening to her deepest fears while she inwardly fell apart telling him "I mean I do, I do. I want to be with you, but I don't know if I can. I mean I want too, but I keep seeing their faces and" she covered her eyes and began to cry harder telling him "I don't want to be a disappointment for you"

Darien looked to her and could see the uncertainty and fear behind her eyes and felt relieved for the first time in days knowing that she was finally opening up to him and telling him what was really troubling her mind and now he knew what he was up against and what he had to do to make her forget. He gently reached up and removed her hands away from her face telling her passionately "you have never been a disappointment to me"

She let out a small sniffle and looked down to their joined hands which he held onto tightly with his own and tried to focus on just his face instead of all the other voices surrounding her telling him back worriedly "I can't block out the voices out of my head I have tried, but it's impossible there everywhere"

Darien nodded his head knowing there was only one way he knew of too clear her mind and make her think of nothing else, but the immense pleasure he could bring to her as his lips touched her shoulder gently telling her softly "let me try"

She closed her eyes and could feel his mouth up on her skin, his warm breath up against the pulse at her neck which was beating rapidly. She knew him and his touch and wanted to let her body give in to what it craved for when she heard Christopher's deep laughter starting again while asking her "who's the better man now" as she covered her ears and cried out "stop"

She crouched down closing her eyes tighter while covered her ears with her hands trying to block out the sounds, the memories haunting her when another voice came out louder than all the rest as she felt his gentle hand placed down on her knee and she slowly opened her eyes up to see Darien kneeling down in front of her, his blue eyes focused completely on her while saying assuredly "you're what I needed all along Serena, now let me prove it to you, that I am the only one you need, let me get rid of all the other voices and show you what only we can be and share together?"

She let out a deep breath and let her body relax to his touch and give to him, her full faith and trust. In doing so she found a weight lifted off of her shoulders as she wrapped her arms around his neck and before she knew what was happening he had swept her up into his arms again, where she felt warm and a renewed sense of security.

He carried her over to the bed and placed her down gently knowing this would be far different than any other encounter they ever had and as much as he wanted her right now he had to take it extra slow as he gently ran a hand down her cheek telling her softly "I want to touch you, but I won't force you, not now, not ever again. I will wait until you are ready and tell me this is what you want also"

She wanted to feel safe and loved by him and hoped that would be enough to block out the shadows from her past as she watched him sit down beside her on the bed as he slowly wrapped his arms around her holding her up close to his chest, but all she could still hear was Constance's loud laugher telling her over and over again in her condescending tone "you are nothing" until finally she couldn't take it any longer and cried out "I'm not nothing"

Darien opened his eyes wide surprised by her sudden outburst as he wrapped his arms around her tighter holding her closer to him where he would keep her protected as he spoke softly beside her ear "no you're everything"

She closed her eyes and just let all thoughts go away and just felt his warm arms wrap around her again and heard the sounds of his breathing, and knew she was safe and cared for here with him as she opened her eyes back up and looked around realizing where she was home.

It was just them here, at home where she woke up in his arms so many times and shared meals together, sat in front of the fire placing reading a book or played a game of chess and suddenly the voices she heard in her head were now gone as she turned over and placed her hand up onto his chest and looked up into his warm eyes telling him "Darien I know what I want and its you. Can we find a way to go back to the way things were before?"

He reached down and touched her cheek with his thumb, but even with the words she spoke he could still see a bit of uncertainty hidden inside of her, which would not be alleviated so easily and would take time to heal as he shook his head telling her "no we can't go back Serena, but if you will let me I can show you what it can be for us moving forward, for always"

She took a deep breath in hearing him speak of always as a promise to be kept and felt a peace inside of herself she has not felt in weeks as he placed his hand down on her leg again, but this time she did not pull herself away as she took a deep breath in trying to calm her shaken nerves while telling herself quietly 'it's only you and he now' then looked up to him asking more nervously than she intended "what do you have in mind?"

He took his hand and roamed further up her leg slowly lifting the hem of her nightgown higher as he massaged her inner thigh and whispered into her ear "for starters I will show you what you and you alone mean to me Serena. What just the sight of you alone does to me"

She took a deep breath in and nodded her head slowly knowing this is what she wants to put all the pain of her past behind her and start again telling him "okay"

Darien looked to her for any uncertainty and then reached his hand up higher and gently touched her womanhood as he felt her begin to tremble from his touch and immediately jerked his hand away cursing himself for his own fruition and gently turned her head to look into his eyes while he ran his hand over her cheek telling her softly "I'm not him Serena you know me, you know my touch, I won't hurt you, not now, not ever again"

She heard the sincerity of his words and placed her own hand down over his own as she nodded her head telling him back "I know that and I want to forget about that place and be here with you. Darien, I want to be yours again, but it's so hard to forget"

He let out a deep breath hearing all he needed to hear from her that she wanted to be his again and he would make that happen as he gently rubbed his hand up her arm as he told her softly "you are mine Serena, just as I am yours, it just took me longer to realize. Now I promise you can put your trust in me, lie back"

She took a deep breath in knowing she was putting a lot of trust in him right now and lied her head back against her pillow and closed her eyes as she waited and then felt his warm lips up against her forehead telling her softly "don't think just feel, you know me, you know my touch, you know the feel of my kisses" as he reached down and kissed her stomach telling her "and I want you, only you"

Serena closed her eyes tight and let out a deep breath knowing by him she was needed and wanted above all others as she felt the tenderness of his kisses along her skin, and then the pleasure she was feeling was quickly slaughtered by the thought of the many lashings that came down marking her body for experiencing a simple moment of pleasure and tried to shift further away from him.

Darien sat back up only to see her reaching further away from him to the other side of the bed as he let out a long sigh and placed his hand down over her arm, to keep her with him asking worriedly "what's the matter?"

Serena turned back to look at him knowing he would never be able to understand that the pleasure he gave to her, would also be the cause of her pain as she shook her head telling him "there is so much I want to tell you, but I don't know where to begin"

Darien nodded his head as he placed his hand up to her cheek replying calmly "I will listen, if you wish to tell me"

Serena looked to him seeing the truth in his face that he truly did want to take the time and listen to her as she slowly sat up on the bed and took a deep breath in saying what she had held inside herself for days now "you were there"

Darien looked to her curiously while listening on every word she spoke questioning "where?" She took a deep breath in and could feel herself back in that room again with Christopher feeling the pain and the fear she felt while he screamed out at her.

She closed her eyes tight trying to forget that place and time as she repeated to herself "it's over" and then there was a hand placed on top of her knee it wasn't moving any higher than her knee, but just there as a comfort as she opened her eyes and looked to see him beside her and repeated "you were there with me in that room, I could see you and feel your touch. I called out your name and"

Darien could see the raw emotions coming down from her cheeks as she spoke and remembered, then put a gentle hand up by her cheek as he wiped away her tears then reached in and gave her a soft chaste kiss to her lips telling her "I'm here now"

She nodded her head wanting desperately for it to be over and the nightmares to finally end, but shook her head telling him with a strong purpose "each time I called out your name the beatings would begin and the pain only got worse, Darien I want you to see me the way I was, when I was still beautiful, but I'm not and you shouldn't have to see me this way. I am no longer the girl you spoke of with such passion" as she covered some of the scars left behind with her hands

Darien looked back at her amazed with the way she saw herself as he questioned back "beautiful?" He quickly stood up from the bed and looked down at her feeling a deep frustration run through him that she didn't see what he did as he began telling her "Serena don't you see you are the most beautiful person I have ever known"

He carefully walked back up to the bed where she sat with a look of doubt in her eyes and placed a kiss down on one of the scars on her stomach telling her "beauty is many things, in time these wounds will heal, but they do not change or will they change the way that I see you, to me, you are beautiful both inside and out"

Serena looked up at him amazed not thinking there would ever come a time that she would ever hear such words spoken by him as she watched him cover Christopher's marking with his own hand, as she took a deep breath in knowing there were some things that even he couldn't excuse as he gently caressed her leg telling her "you may no longer be my mistress, but you will always be mine Serena, this does not change anything about what you mean to me"

She nodded her head hearing him put all her worst fears to rest as a small tear ran down her cheek realizing she finally found where she belonged here with him telling him back "yours I like the sound of that" as he moved his hand slowly down her neck pulling her lips in closer replying "me too"

She let his lips find her opening like a perfect symphony playing around her, taking them to another place where it can be just them together as his hand gently pulled down on the tight neckline of her nightdress revealing her open neck for his tasting. She let out a deep breath knowing she could not mistake his touch, his lips for any other as she breathed out softy "Darien I want you to touch me, I want to be yours again and only yours"

Darien looked to her not losing eye contact after gaining the permission from her to proceed that he had wanted and craved for these many days as his eyes pierced into her own and he held himself back stating "Serena I am not perfect and I have made many mistakes with you, but I will not let this be one of them, tell me is this what you want and not what you feel pressured into doing?"

She nodded her head feeling more assured, safe, and wanted by his near presence alone then she has ever felt before telling him assuredly "yes I want this to happen with you"

He looked to her amazed that with everything she had been through she wanted to be with him still and slowly lowered his hand down around her breast holding it gently and giving a soft squeeze as he heard her take in a deep gasp of air and then cupped her cheek with his other hand telling her gently "then we'll take it slow"

He saw the fight fading out of her as she nodded her head giving him her full acceptance and trust which he would be sure to take extra special care of this time around and ran his hand over the thin garment she wore.

He let out a small chuckle knowing this was not supposed to happen this way, and had taken certain steps and given specific orders on the new clothing purchased for her, which was to distract him from his thoughts of wanting to rip them off her, but instead found it wasn't the clothing at all, it was the woman that was wearing them that made him hard for her just being near as she looked up to him uncertain asking "what's so funny?"

He looked to her seeing the way she tried to cover her chest with her hand and took her hand and placed it by his mouth giving it a light kiss telling her "nothing you did, and at the same time everything you do to me"

He could see the perplexed look on her face as he let out a small chuckle and explained "the dresses that I bought for you to wear, were supposed to serve as a distraction so I would not be thinking of tearing them off of you every chance I got, but it turns out they didn't work as I expected"

Serena looked back at him with her mouth hanging open not expecting his comment as she shook her head telling him "you like seeing me in those dresses"

Darien nodded his head seeing the confused look on her face telling her with a small chuckle "Serena I could see you in a burlap sack and still feel a rise" while she shook her head not understanding as she questioned back "but you hardly ever looked at me"

He nodded his head knowing how difficult it was keeping his distance with her under the same roof, sometimes close enough to touch as he told her with a small grin "with great difficulty I assure you"

Serena thought back to that day in his study when he kept his back mostly turned away and then looked down at his strong member perking up as a new understanding of how that day went came to her and she smiled with the realization of why he kept turning his back as she found the humor in the situation now herself and brought her night dress up higher to her thigh telling him "you don't have to turn away any longer"

Darien smiled glad to see, she was still his Serena who could amaze him in new ways all the time, when he knew there were others in this room for her besides him alone and slowly lowered his head down and replaced the fingers he had on her breast with his tongue as it circled over her tip while she let out the deep breath she had been holding having her fears being replaced by only pleasure instead.

He slowly ran his hands up and down her torso with a deep determination to show her complete pleasure that only he could give her and felt her leaning back further into his touch, knowing she wanted this as much as he did, but this was only the start of a new beginning together as he released his mouth from around her breast and then sat up looking into her perfect blue saying proudly "you are perfect" and then tilted her chin up to look at him telling her genuinely "and you are mine"

Hearing those words from him at one time made her cringe and now it was all she ever wanted to hear from him every day and felt lighter inside knowing it, that this is where she belonged as she nodded her head agreeing "yes I am"

He reached down and placed his lips over her own for a long and lingering kiss which she welcomed as she placed her arms around him holding him nearer to her. His kisses were both enticing and needy and could not be construed as a fantasy because they were even better then any dream she ever had, until he suddenly pulled back and away from her as he looked to her stating firmly "you need to tell me if this becomes too much for you"

She looked to him with a small grin becoming aware of the changes not just in herself, but in him as well and kneeled up on the bed and lifted the bottom of her nightdress higher until it went completely off her and landed onto the floor as she placed her hand onto his chest telling him "it doesn't matter how fast or slow we take it as long as I have you here with me"

Darien let out a small chuckle having plans of his own knowing they would not be leaving this room for a long while to come as long as she continued to keep an unwavering trust in him as he picked her up into his arms and lied her down at the center of the bed and lifted her leg up bending them by the knee as he slowly ran his hand down her leg until he took hold of her panties and removed them from her.

Serena lied there looking up at the ceiling and felt completely exposed to him as she started to count backwards from ten, nine, eight, seven with each number getting lower her breathing picked up more steadily as she felt a warm hand touch her cheek and she turned her face to look his way as he shook his head telling her "promise me now, if it is too much you will say so"

She looked to him knowing that he meant every word and that he would stop what he was doing if she told him too, which only made her feel more secure in her choice as she nodded her head telling him "I promise"

Darien waited until he heard those words that he needed to hear from her lips and then trailed his hands down from her smooth neck, to her full breasts as he caressed each one slowly, and then went down further across her flat stomach, around her hips until he reached her thighs where he spread her legs open wider.

He looked up to her to be sure there was no apprehension or indecisiveness as she let out a soft moan enjoying his touch once more and nodded her head in approval, he then reached down and put his mouth around her compass as he heard her cry out in a way that only she could "oh Darien"

He started small with a few short nibbles waiting to see if she would jerk or pull away from his touch, but all he heard in response was her pleasured moans and stuck his tongue inside of her for a deeper taste as he heard her gasp for each breath she took.

Serena laid on the bed holding tightly onto the blanket underneath her, she could feel the wetness coming from down below where he licked all around her sticking his tongue in penetrating her deeper. She tried desperately to catch her own breath as she felt her whole body begin to convulse with the fire that burned within deeply for him. She needed him, she knew that now, it would always be him as she called out loudly "Darien please"

He licked up the delectable juices that she had released for him alone as he slowly removed his tongue from inside her; then stood up in front of the bed seeing her lying there looking more beautiful than he could possibly encounter and cupped her face asking "you are sure this is what you want?"

She couldn't take these sensations running through every morsel of her skin for much longer, feeling as though her whole body would explode soon if she didn't find her release; and was more than ready to feel all of him gratifying her again as she cried out "Please Darien I need you; I need to feel wanted and alive again"

Darien looked to her with a pleased grin more than willing to oblige by her commands as he lowered his pants down, dropping them to the floor and then took hold of her legs wrapping them up around his waist and in one quick movement entered himself deep inside of her as she screamed out his name, which he quickly silenced by placing his mouth over her own.

He wrapped his arms around her holding her close to him while her mouth opened up wider allowing his tongue entrance to melt with her own, while his hard member slowly kept pace moving in and out stretching her to reach the limits of their boundaries.

He removed his mouth from her own and took a deep breath in, knowing he was losing any bit of self -control he had left and began to pick up his pace telling her "I need you" Serena struggled to breath herself with the spell he had cast over her as she met with him thrust for thrust telling him back "you have all of me"

He kept his arms wrapped around her tightly and looked down into her endless blue eyes and could see it shining back the truth behind her words and it only made him want her more for it as he moved his hands up to her cheeks and reached down placing his mouth over hers in a seal that would not be broken as they finished their climaxes together.

Darien lied there for a time not wanting to disturb her restful state or make one move to leave this bed as he gently stroked up and down her back while holding her tightly within the embrace of his arms. He knew she would not be going anywhere, not now, not ever again, whatever it took to keep her with him he would do so as he took in a deep breath of her scent when he heard her whisper out the words "I love you"

He let out a little smirk knowing with her it would be breaking down all the boundaries he had set a long time ago for himself, but would be well worth it as long as it meant waking up next to her every day he could handle what would come next and replied back with a small grin "always with the complications, but I think I am okay with that as long as that means being here with you" as he held her tightly up closer to his chest.

Serena had her head resting on his chest hearing each breath he took, knowing she had told him she loved him, but he didn't say the words back. She snuggled her head up closer to his neck, still feeling safe being wrapped up here with his warm arms around her and knew he really did care about her and for now that would be enough, for now.

Darien relaxed back on the bed feeling more complete and at peace then he has felt in years thinking of the many things he wanted to give and show her still as he placed a gentle kiss on the head of this beautiful woman lying next to him that drove him crazy like no other could and more so was all his as he heard her gently ask "Darien?"

He looked down tilting her head up to face him seeing the brightness to her eyes returning and knew he could deny her nothing asking "yes?"

She gave him a quirky little smile as she moved herself away from him and turned so, she was sitting on top straddling his legs with her own. She could feel him below already growing hard again as she told him with a small grin "just one more thing"

He looked up at this woman sitting on top of him who was more than he ever expected to find and wanted to experience every surprise heading there way as he told her back "anything"

She gave him a flirtatious grin as she moved her fingers up over his chest telling him with a charming smile "I want my other room back"

He relaxed his head back on the pillow enjoying the view in front of him of Serena's golden tresses cascading down her shoulders onto his chest, while looking up to her curiously by her question asking "why would you want that room, this room is much larger and far more opulent"

Serena reached down with both hands and placed a kiss onto his chest for her answer as she looked up with a little grin stating "so I can be near you and touch you anytime I want"

Darien gave her a smile in return, knowing she could always find new ways to amaze him as he quickly turned her over so she was lying on her back with him on top as he raised her hands up over her head with a knowing look telling her "how about we discuss it further in the morning over breakfast" as he kissed over every inch of her body truly and deeply, while her loud screams of passion could be heard all thru the manor, throughout the night into the next morning of "oh, oh, oh Darien"

The End!

Okay Not really – I know I said this would be the last chapter, but I have truly loved writing about these characters and developing their characteristics and the story behind their actions and felt there was more to tell so I started to write an epilogue and had some new ideas to share and it turned into a short story in itself.

So, if you have enjoyed reading about the journey Serena and Darien took so far in Ties that Bind and need to find out what comes next for them. Please continue to read on as their story continues.

I Promise there will be no 75 chapters in the next one, it will be much shorter, but it is still a good read filled with love, suspense, and a few surprises. Personally, I super love writing it so if you enjoyed reading about these characters as I do to write about them. Look out for the next installment in Ties That Bind 1.5 the Knot.

Thanks for following along sending your reviews and please leave your thoughts and feedback to let me know if you would be interested in reading more on these characters. Thanks Mars Light