Author's Notes: The next chapter's right here, just like I promised. But first, let me give you a little summary of "Titanic" which is due in Spring 2002. Note: It is NOT based on the movie.

The Titanic

~He was everything a woman would die for. She was everything he wanted. The only problem: She had someone else. Being a man of skill and ambition, he would do anything to get what he wanted.....even if it meant murder. But what would happen if another man would do the same to keep her? It's a story of romance, murder, and the tragedy that killed so many on that large ship that was once "unsinkable". The question is: Will someone even have the chance to win her over when they were all meant to die?~

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Hidden - Chapter 9 - By: Hell's Huntress
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The night echoed with the sound of crickets. There was the faint smell of roses in the air. Darien leaned on railing of his balcony and stared outside at the night sky. It seemed to be flooded with stars.....tiny diamonds flickering against a midnight ocean.

He looked down at his hands, dark strands of hair falling upon his eyes. He would have enjoyed the silence if the memories of that day didn't haunt him. The thought of Samuel being a woman........he couldn't imagine it. Yes he saw it with his own eyes, yet the very thought of it refused to sink in. He closed his eyes and sighed. He didn't even know whether he should be mad at her for not saying anything or if he should pity her. He understood why she ran away, yet a part of him still blamed her for not trusting them enough. Then again, what else could have been done? He couldn't blame the poor girl......

He clenched his fists. Girl....

Not too long ago Samuel was like a brother. They even had a few drinks together. There were so many hours they spent together like brothers. He spent so many hours with a woman who pretended to be a man. He chuckled for a moment. It was so ironic. She was pretty damn good at acting too.

He nearly felt guilty for treating her like she was a real man. He felt so foolish. She fooled all of them and that very thought glazed any emotions he had with ice. But whenever he remembered those eyes.....those blue eyes staring up at him with tears, the ice would melt away.

He rubbed his forehead and looked back up at the sky. He was confused. He hated her and admired her courage and spirit all at the same time. What would he have done anyway? He knew he was being unreasonable and what she did was perfectly logical yet he still couldn't help but feel so rejected. They took her into their home yet she didn't trust them enough.

He nearly growled. He didn't even want to feel anything for her. However, everytime he remembered looking at her and seeing a beautiful woman.....a princess......instead of that brave, thin, young man she pretended to be.......

"Beautiful sky isn't it?"

His back stiffened at the sound of an unfamiliar yet femenine voice. It sounded like a gentle bell that yet he didn't know who it belonged to. He turned around and froze.

Serena stood beside him, her head bowed down. Her long blonde hair tumbled over her back like a golden waterfall. He could still see the evidence of what Alfred did earlier. Her scalp look red and there were a few lines on her forehead. Her hair was a little tangled in some areas yet he knew they would heal. She almost looked like a beaten angel.

"I....I know you probably hate me right now. I can't blame you. It's just that I couldn't do anything. I didn't like Alfred from the very beginning and I was afraid that if I told you - " She looked up at him with moist eyes. They used to be as bright as the sky. Now they seemed to match the evening sky itself. She then turned away, obviously embarassed. "I'm sorry. I was planning to tell you if not right away. I mean, we even got drunk together.....I thought you would understand."

Darien only stared at her in silence. He suddenly didn't know what to do. He wanted to reach out and tell her that he did understand, but he remained frozen instead. He felt angry all over again even though he didn't know why. His pride was frozen.

She continued again when she didn't hear him reply. "I've caused you enough trouble. Your family has done so much for me and.....and I feel guilty." The last word seemed to fade away. She paused for a moment as if waiting for him to reply. When he didn't, she took a deep breath and laughed. "Yes, I know I must look terrible in your eyes right now. I really am sorry though. I never wanted you to get in trouble."

She sniffed for a brief moment as if she was ready to cry. "I'm grateful for everything you and your family have done for me. I'll never forget how good you all were.....especially you. What you did earlier was something I don't deserve and I know that." She then looked up at him forced a weak smile. "I just wanted to thank you."

Darien turned away and nodded. He couldn't look at her. What was he doing? She was thanking him and apologizing and all he could do was nod?

The smile faded as soon as it came. She turned away again. "Well I won't cause you any more trouble. I'm leaving."

He suddenly turned to face her, an alarmed expression on his face. However, she didn't seem to notice.

"I'm sorry for everything. Good bye." She still wasn't looking at him when she picked up a bag of clothes and walked away.

He growled in frustration. Before he could stop himself, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her so that she was facing him. Without thinking twice, he crushed his lips against hers and wrapped her in an embrace.

Serena's eyes went wide. She wasn't even expecting him to say anything and he was already kissing her. Confused yet overwhelmed with the sweet release, she gave in and kissed back before she could stop herself. She didn't even know what she was doing. Her mind protested but if this was something to make her look foolish then it wouldn't matter. She already made a fool out of herself anyway.

An electric shock seemed to rush through her body. She pulled his body closer to his. For the first time, she finally felt like a real woman again......kissing the man who stood up for her earlier. If being "rescued" by a man wasn't enough to make her feel like a real woman then the kiss was.

Darien parted her lips gently and pushed his tongue inside. She felt her back stiffen at first, not knowing how to respond. Doing the same thing was the only thing she could do. It was a sweet surrender that erased any doubt or guilt she had. It lasted for a brief moment yet it seemed to last forever.

He finally pulled away, leaving them both breathless. She looked up at him despite her body's protests. He smiled at her, leaving her at a loss of words and the strength to keep standing. If he still had any anger within him he forgot about it.

"Speechless, princess?"

Serena raised her brows in disbelief. She suddenly didn't know if he meant that kiss or not.

His expression darkened again, but this time it was filled with concern. "You're right. We had a few drinks together. You've shown me that a woman can really be capable of doing anything a man can do.....at least you can."

A faint blush rose to her cheeks.

"Don't feel sorry.....please don't. It's not entirely your fault. I can't blame you. Besides, what woman would have the courage or the skill to run away and pretend to be a man? You've got quite a spirit, princess, and it's not the type you would find in just any other woman. And don't think that I'm saying this just because you're of royalty - "

She bit her bottom lip and touched his own. "Serena. Call me Serena from now on."

Darien smiled at her and kissed her forehead. "You know, what you did would make quite a story for others. Say....children?"

She suddenly looked at him with confusion in her eyes.

He shook is head and smiled. "Stay with me or let me go with you. I'll do what you want but don't leave me. It's not everyday a man finds someone like you and I don't want to let you go."

"But I-I.....my family."

"We'll visit them. We'll live with them if you want. We could go to your home and then come back here. Name it. Tell me what you want."

Serena shook her head and sighed. "It's not that easy. No one's really suppose to know about my home."

"Then I won't say a word. My family and I can even move there if you want."

"What?" She looked at him with amusement. "They won't like it - "

"Yes we will." Henry smiled at them. Serena looked at him with an alarmed expression, only causing him to laugh. "Think about it. Stay here until you've made up your mind. Things won't be so hard after that."

Serena stared at him with a blank expression. It was obvious that she didn't know what to think about it. Henry chuckled and touched her shoulder. "You're more than just a guest in our family now. Just like the way Samuel was a brother, you'll be something more. Now go.....go to your room and get some rest. My son and I need to talk about this." He smiled at Darien.

Monique gently took Serena by the hand, leading her back to her room. Serena stared at the two men, a small smile forming on her lips.

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Author's Notes: Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you the last and final chapter up the next.......