Thanks to everyone who read the last chapter and are back for this one. I just want to say that I didn't mean to offend some Americans out there who found that I generalized them. If you didn't notice, I took some pot shots at Canadians too so it's not as if I singled out the Americans. I just wanted to point out the misconceptions _both_ countries have about the other; I wasn't looking to stereotype, generalize or piss any one off.

Walter still stutters for those of you who don't remember the note I put in a few chapters ago. For the readers who want to know why Serena is taking pills and seeing a therapist: be patient, she's got issues to deal with. It's going to be revealed little by little as the story unfolds so keep reading! If I reveal everything right at the beginning, there won't be a story to read. Bad for you, bad for me cuz I love to get feedback so keep them coming!

By the way, I was on getlyrics.com looking for the lyrics to SWV's Weak, when I noticed the lyrics for a song they did with TLC called Oh Starry Night. I checked out the lyrics and sure enough, it was the same song that Raye sang on an SM episode. I couldn't believe it, so I tried to look for it on KaZaa but all I could find was the SM version, not the SWV version (if there is one). If anyone knows the truth behind this, please tell me!!

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Wounded Souls

Chapter four-Soliloquies and Secrets

By: crystal rose

~***************************************~

(3 weeks later)

Darien Shields waited patiently for Serena to arrive at the cozy Italian restaurant that they had agreed to meet for lunch to discuss his father's progress. Of course, that wasn't the only reason he wanted to talk to her here at the restaurant instead of at home and if he wasn't so busy trying to deny it, he would realize that having lunch with Serena in public was his way staking claim on her before anyone else does. He was declaring to the world that he was out to win Serena Mathis' heart and Lord help the fool who dared step in his way.

Seeing that he had arrived fifteen minutes early before their scheduled appointment, Darien took those precious minutes of solitude to compose himself. Glancing around to make sure no one was looking, he picked up the soupspoon and checked his rather distorted reflection, making sure that everything was perfect and that the little strand of hair fell just at the right angle over his eyes in the sexy manner he knew women liked. Catching what he was doing, Darien chuckled. 'What the hell are you doing, Shields? Primping for the lovely Serena?'

Setting the spoon down, Darien glanced at his watch, tapping his foot impatiently on the floor. He ran his hand through his ebony hair, disturbing the recently styled locks. 'Gagggh! You messed up the hair!' Quickly, he brushed his hair back to place with the aid of his spoon mirror and looked around the restaurant once more, only to find that she hasn't arrived yet.

'Would you stop that? You'd think you were some horny teenager on a first date. No, you are Darien Shields, bachelor and heart breaker. You leave a string of swooning women and broken hearts in your wake. You don't need Serena Mathis in your life; there are plenty of women falling over themselves to take her place. I mean, in the past two weeks alone, you've slept with three different women numerous times, in various places and had a marvelous time forgetting about her with them. If Serena hasn't realized what a great catch you are by now, then that's her tough luck cuz we don't need her.' Darien frowned to himself and nodded his head firmly, oblivious to the raised eyebrow one waiter gave him as he was passing by.

'Oh yeah? If you don't need her, why were all the women you slept with blonde and relatively Serena's body type?' Darien paused, searching for an answer. 'Coincidence, that's all. I can't help it if those blondes threw themselves at me these past couple of weeks.' Convinced that he was right, he settled back into his seat some more. Pulling out a file that he had brought with him from work, he opened it and began reviewing the figures in front of him. The letters and symbols swam around as if they had a mind of their own, until he saw that they had rearranged themselves to form 'Se(r)en@ S#ieLd$,' 'b&AÜtiful,' 'mINe,' and '£ove.' Darien's eyes widened in disbelief. He shut the file closed with a snap and shoved it back into his briefcase. He saw a waiter passing by and signaled for a refill of his glass of red wine.

'Get a grip, Shields! You're going crazy!" He looked out the window and saw a petite blonde woman with her back towards him, kissing another man. Darien stood up, outraged. Here he was, waiting for Serena patiently, wondering what's taking her, when all along she'd been making out with a Charles Manson look-alike outside the very restaurant where they were supposed to have lunch together! Just as Darien had thrown his napkin on the table in disgust and was preparing to go outside to give his 'competition' a piece of his mind, the couple turned and Darien noted that 'Serena' was in fact an elderly woman whose white hair he had mistaken for blonde.

He sat back down sheepishly as the other restaurant patrons stared at him in amusement. He began to talk softly to himself, saying "how could you mistake that withered up old goat for Serena, whose supple skin has the texture of the finest satin? Her hair looks and feels like the purest silk, golden like the sun and scented like freshly ripened strawberries. Serena's eyes are a vibrant blue like the sky and they sparkle like the sea. Don't you see, o unworthy pursuer of gentle Serenity's heart, that she is as fresh as a rose plucked from the gardens of thy father's house, not tired and haggard like that unfortunate bumpkin and her mate outside yonder street? _How dares't_ thou defile Lady Serenity's honour by mistaking her for that common wench, when she is the most beautiful and innocent of creatures that ever roamed upon this happy earth! Fiend! Base dotard! Crawl back to the fiery depths of hell from whence thou came, and forget thou didst ever chanced espy fair Serenity's visage. Alas, thou unfortunate brute, born under unlucky star to have fallen so deeply under temptress Serenity's spell, it is too late to redeem thyself! Thou art in love with the gentle spirit that is Serenity, mistress of thy heart and keeper of thy soul. Fare thee well, thou bravest and foulest of beings sent forth by thy evil master, thy battle has just begun..." Darien slammed his palm dramatically on the table, startling the other diners, his eyes glassy and his breathing shallow. He hadn't noticed his voice getting steadily louder or taking on a British accent, until a worried diner alerted one of the staff.

A concerned waiter stepped forward cautiously towards him. "Sir, are you alright?"

"Huh? Oh yes...sorry...just thinking to myself, that's all," Darien stammered, blinking his eyes rapidly. 'Since when did I start waxing poetic?'

The waiter frowned as if he didn't believe him. "Okay...sure. In the meantime, do you want to order?"

"No thanks, I'm waiting for someone and I'm afraid I got here a little too early."

'Ah...so that's what this is all about. It figures. He's mooning over a woman.' Smiling encouragingly at Darien, he nodded his head and left.

Darien in turn was panicking over his recent soliloquy. 'How could I be in love with the fair Serenity-I mean, Serena? It's only been three weeks, for god's sakes! Loving someone only gets you hurt, Darien. Remember Ann? You gave her your heart, your soul for two years and what did she do? Turn around and leave you for that bitch Beryl. She couldn't even leave you for a man! She had the nerve to fuck Beryl in your bed while you were at work, that whore. So in answer to your question Darien, no, you are _not_ in love with Serena. She's just like Ann. End of story.' Nobody knew the true reason behind his failed romance with Ann, not even his parents. As far as the world was concerned, Darien broke off his two-year relationship with Ann Roberts, leaving her to seek comfort in the arms of her best friend and college roommate Beryl Stone.

As Darien was sitting there reliving his past, emotions playing out clearly on his face, a certain blonde woman was at the front of the restaurant speaking with the maître'd, who promptly showed her to Darien's table. By now, the story of Darien's attempt at Shakespearean dialogue had gone around the entire staff at Luigi's Bistro and Nemo, the maître'd, had been charged with keeping a lookout for the 'temptress Serenity.'

Upon seeing her, Nemo could see why Mr. Shields was so smitten. 'She _is_ a vision. If you were only a few decades younger, and a few chins thinner, you _might_ have a chance. Ah, but Bella would have a few things to say about that and once Bella starts, she doesn't stop and we can't have that, now can we Nemo?' He led the way to the stormy-looking Darien, who had taken to glowering at his watch, willing it to move faster. He didn't notice Serena standing there until she laid a hand on his shoulder, causing him to flail his arm out and knocking over an artificial tree behind him.

Jumping out of his chair, Darien straightened out the fallen tree and began to apologize profusely to Serena, Nemo, the patrons and to the whole world in general. 'It's not my fault she's so damn beautiful.' Assuring him that it was quite all right, Nemo walked toward the kitchen, smiling all the way. 'I think I'll go have my break now. I'm sure the guys would love to hear about this.'

At the table, Darien smiled apologetically at Serena and pulled out the chair for her. He caught a whiff of her hair ('strawberries-I knew it!') as she sat down gracefully. When he had seated, Serena gave him an apologetic look of her own. "I'm really sorry for being late Dare. The traffic's killer."

Darien's heart fluttered. 'Dare. She called me Dare. Oh I dare alright...' He waved his hand with the air of a sultan pardoning an errant slave. "It's fine, Sere. You're not late, I'm too early. I didn't feel like slaving away in the office during such a beautiful day so I decided to head out to lunch early. So, how were things with my dad today?"

Serena laughed heartily, tilting her head and arching her back, causing her breasts to thrust out unknowingly. Darien swallowed the rest of his wine in one gulp and signaled the waiter for another. He had a feeling he was going to need it. "Your father is still the lovable grouch from two weeks ago. He complained throughout our stretching exercises today and then proceeded to shout at every animal that dared get in his way during our walk outside."

Darien grimaced, feeling like a teenager who was just humiliated by his parents in front of his friends. "I'm really sorry about that, Sere. I know he's hard to put up with so I'll speak to him later about his behaviour."

Serena hastily put down the water glass and shook her head. "No, don't do that! He's prickly on the outside, but he's got a marshmallowy-centre. I like him just the way he is."

Darien smiled at her description of his father. 'Who would have thought that Walter Shields III, the man who's been called a bull-headed bear in the world of finance and trade, whom my mother's friend's four-year old granddaughter Lila, ran away from screaming "puppy-kicker!" at the top of her lungs at a recent garden party, has a marshmallowy cream filling?' Somehow the thought amused him and he laughed out loud, causing ripples of pleasure to run down Serena's back.

"I guess you're right, in a way. One day, a few months ago, my family hosted a garden party and invited all our friends and their families. Lila, the sweetest four-year-old little girl in the whole world decided to show my father her new puppy, whom she had brought with her, and all the tricks he can do. What she didn't know was dad is severely allergic to dogs, but when he tried to tell her that, she didn't care because she didn't know what 'being allergic' meant. So what do you think my dad did?"

"What?" Serena asked, a wide grin making its way across her face and her eyes twinkling in merriment.

"Instead of taking the time to explain what allergies were, he tells her that he's a monster who likes to kick puppies around and use them as soccer balls. He didn't stop there; to prove to Lila that he meant business, he grabbed the little puppy, set it on the ground and swung his leg back. Before he could pretend to follow through on the kick, she head butted him, but being only three and a half feet tall..."

"She head butted him in the groin!" screeched Serena, tears of laughter falling from her eyes and attracting the attention of everyone in the restaurant. Darien laughed too, remember how his father fell to the ground in agony, holding back obscenities until Lila was far away before letting loose.

"Everybody saw what happened because after he fell, Lila started yelling 'puppy-kicker!' and pointing at him, like dad was some kind of wanted criminal and she had caught him. Lila's mother had to drag her away from dad before she could do any more damage to him, but we could still hear her yelling at the top of her lungs. Mom chewed him out for that one, and I guess he felt bad himself because he sent that dog every chew toy, dog house accessory and snack that he could find in town. He even threw in a wheelbarrow of doggy stuffed animals and karate lessons for Lila cuz he said, and I quote, 'that little girlie packs a mean punch in that small head of hers; she should channel that power into her arms and learn to use her head for something more useful like learning what the word allergy means.' I couldn't look at him in the eye for days after that without laughing. He sulked for a week until he found out that my new car had been stolen and stripped down to the frame. I guess he thought it was cosmic payback, or something."

Serena was laughing so hard, she didn't notice the waiter had come to take their orders. She waved at him and gasped some words out incoherently until she finally had to resort to pointing at spaghetti and meatballs on the menu and her water glass. Darien and the waiter exchanged smiles as Darien ordered the lasagna. "Puppy-kicker!" she wheezed.

When she was finally able to calm down, Serena and Darien made small talk as they awaited the arrival of their food. They found out facts about each other such as Serena's favourite food which happens to be salmon sashimi ("but I don't like salmon cooked because it looses its flavour."); Darien's most embarrassing moment was when he accidentally stumbled in the crowded men's locker room at his former gym and reached out blindly to catch himself ("how was I supposed to know that guy's crotch would be there? That's the reason I had the gym in the house built in the first place."); Serena's experiences as a cashier ("I had a ton of customers in my line a few days before Christmas and this lady wanted me to do a refund because I accidentally overcharged her twenty cents. I got pissed off and reached into my wallet and gave her back a quarter with my most insincere apologies." [true story...I was the cashier]); and Darien's favourite Disney movie ("The Little Mermaid because not only was Ariel hot but also because I think Prince Eric kinda looks like me."). They continued to chatter about their lives, both not wanting to get too personal, but also wanting to find out more about the other. Darien could feel himself falling more and more for this woman. 'Does she feel the same about me?'

By the time they finished eating, they each felt as if they had been friends since childhood. The spell was broken, however, when Serena glanced at her watch and realized that she had an appointment in about a half hour. Disappointed, Darien walked her to the parking lot where both his cars were parked, seeing as he loaned Serena one of his many convertibles for the duration of her stay.

"Thanks for lunch, Dare. I had a real good time," Serena said awkwardly. Inside, she couldn't help but wonder what to do next. 'Should I hug him, shake his hand, just walk off?'

Darien, too, was fighting his own inner struggle. "Well...see you back at the house, Sere." They both stared at each other for a moment until a car blared its horn at them. Startled out of their reverie, Darien and Serena whipped their heads in annoyance towards the irate driver for ruining the moment. It was then that they realized that they had been standing in the middle of the parking lot, preventing a line cars from getting out to the street. Darien waved his right arm apologetically at the drivers and placed his other hand on the small of Serena's back unconsciously, causing her heart to beat faster in excitement, and ushered her to her car.

Serena unlocked the door and slid herself in, tugging at her knee length skirt-which had ridden up to her thighs-back down in an effort to preserve her modesty but failed to notice that her action caused her button-down blouse to open just enough for Darien to know that she was wearing a pink lace bra. 'Hmm...36C from the looks of it.' Darien averted his eyes just as Serena swiveled her head to look at him, looking at her with an innocent smile upon his lips. Flashing him a smile of her own, she said "well Dare, I gotta go or I'll be late for my appointment."

"See you later, Sere." Darien watched as she backed out of the space and zoomed off down the street. 'Fare thee well, o mistress of my heart and keeper of my soul. I love thee always.'

~*********************************~

"So Serena, how have you been since the last time I saw you?"

Serena smiled at Dr. Eisner, who was giving her a look that only therapists can give. "It's been okay. Mr. Potts has been making steady progress over the past few weeks and he's not quite so grumpy anymore." Early on, Serena had decided to switch the last names of the people she worked for in order for them to retain their privacy.

"Serena...you know I wasn't asking about your work."

"I could never fool you Dr. Eisner. As I said, it's been okay. I haven't been getting the spells as much as I have and I've been taking my pills everyday."

"That's good. I believe you were telling me about your high school days last week. Are you still comfortable with telling me what went on that caused you to repel the affection of men today?" Dr. Eisner asked, flipping through his notes.

Serena took a deep breath. If she was to recover, she had to get this out. "Is it okay if I don't tell you everything right away? I just don't want to dwell too much on it..."

"Of course, Serena. You can start wherever you want. You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to reveal."

"Well...I got my first boyfriend when I was fourteen and he was fifteen. We went out for two months before he told me he loved me. Pretty soon, he kept asking me when we'd have sex until I finally gave in on our six-month anniversary. Everything was going great until he entered me and found out that I wasn't a virgin...do I have to tell you why I wasn't?" she whimpered, tears falling from her eyes. Dr. Eisner handed her the box of tissues and shook his head silently. Serena composed herself after drying her tears and cleared her throat.

"He broke up with me a week later. You see, I was his first and when he found out that I wasn't a virgin...Anyway, we stopped seeing each other and I later found out that he told all the guys on the basketball team that I was easy. I didn't go out with anybody after that for a while," she said, preparing herself for the next part of her story.

"Serena?" She looked up at the sound of the doctor's face and realized that she hadn't spoken in a few minutes.

"Sorry. A few months after my fifteenth birthday, my father died in a car accident. I thought I would die from grief and reached out to anyone who seemed to show any interest in me. There was this guy...Nicholas Pike. He was my lab partner in science class and sometimes we would go to each other's houses to do our science homework together. He knew about my father's death and always comforted me whenever I felt lonely. One thing led to another, and pretty soon, we were having sex on his living room floor. I should have known that he was only using me because he had a girlfriend on the sly," Serena said. Dr. Eisner looked at her in sympathy and waited for her to resume.

"Things didn't work out between Nick and me, so I moved on to another boy, and then another, and then another. By the time I turned sixteen, I had had five boyfriends, all of whom I slept with on a regular basis during our relationship, and eleven other one-night stands in between. My mother found out about my behaviour when I had a pregnancy scare after having sex with some guy I met in a club. She found the negative pregnancy test in my trashcan and hit me, screaming stuff about me being a disgrace to my father's memory and so forth. Her words just angered me and I found myself openly flaunting my sex life to her. And then, the day..." Serena broke down into sobs, brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.

"The day after my high school graduation, she found me and one of my former teachers in a sixty-nine on her bed. He was so into it that he didn't even notice the door was opened and my mother standing there but I did. I expected her to pull me down from on top of him but she didn't even look surprised. She didn't even yell at me that time; I guess she had had enough. She just shook her head sadly at me and closed the door behind her softly when she left. The look of pity she had in her eyes scared me to the core but I just kept giving that teacher head until he came. I felt numb and didn't even notice when he left. I rinsed out my mouth and vowed never to be that girl again. The kind of girl who used sex to hurt her mother and everyone she loves that way."

Dr. Eisner looked at her thoughtfully, choosing his words carefully. "So you've never gone out with another man for what, ten years? Don't you feel lonely?"

"Yes. But I deserve to be lonely. Besides, who would want somebody as tainted as I am?" she replied quietly, not meeting his eyes.

"You are not tainted. Nobody deserves to be lonely, Serena. You have as much right as anyone else to go out there and find the person you were meant to be with. What happens if you fall in love with someone, and he loves you back despite your past?" Dr. Eisner asked her gently.

"I think it's already happened," she replied in a voice so soft, Dr. Eisner had to lean in closer to hear it.

"What was that, Serena?"

"I said it might have already happened. I mean, I don't know how he feels about me, but when I'm around Darien-that's Mr. Shie...err, Mr. Potts' son-I find myself feeling things that I've fought to suppress for ten years. I think I'm in love with him. No, I _know_ I'm in love with him," Serena sighed dejectedly.

"Well, you don't seem too thrilled about it," stated Dr. Eisner, already expecting her reply.

"Don't you see? He can't love someone like me! By loving him, I'm just setting myself up for a fall because I know he'll never have me. I'm worthless, and a disgrace to myself _and_ my family, and...and...I'm dirty! I'm tainted! HE said so!" she wailed, wringing her hands in agony.

Dr. Eisner frowned in confusion. "Who did? Darien?"

Serena gulped and shook her head frantically. "No, Darien would never say anything like that to me on purpose. _Jake_ did...Oh god, oh god, oh god," she whispered to herself as she fought the wave of nausea that came every time Jake Cassidy's name came to mind. Unable to stand it anymore, Serena tore off the couch and ran to the doctor's private washroom adjacent to his office. She locked the door and emptied the contents of her stomach into the toilet. She stood wearily on her shaking legs and rinsed out her mouth with hot water after flushing the toilet.

When Serena felt better, she stepped outside the washroom and found Dr. Eisner waiting for her worriedly by the door with a look of concern upon his face. His normally cheerful green eyes were etched with worry and his hair looked like he had combed his fingers through it a number of times. "Are you feeling better now, Serena?"

Serena gave him a small smile and nodded. "Yes, thank you Dr. Eisner."

Dr. Eisner sighed in relief and looked at her apologetically. "I'm afraid that we'll have to continue our conversation next week, Serena. Your hour's almost up."

"I understand doctor. I'll go speak with Janice."

Dr. Eisner watched her leave and sank wearily behind his desk. Sometimes his job really sucked. 'Poor Serena. I hope she'll be able to find the happiness that we've found,' he thought as he gazed at the picture of his long-time girlfriend. He ran his finger lovingly over the image of her long reddish-brown hair. 'It's time to let go of the pain, Serena, and find happiness in the arms of the one you love.'

~****************************~

Darien gazed at Serena and wondered what had happened between the time she left him in the restaurant parking lot to the time they had finished eating another one of Lita's fabulous dishes, that got her so sombre. Sitting beside her on the couch in the spacious family room where they had retired after their meal, Darien gently tilted her chin up so that she was looking into his eyes. "What's wrong Sere?"

Serena smiled sadly. "It's nothing Dare. I'm just feeling a little worn out after my doctor's appointment, is all."

Darien wrinkled his brow in confusion. "What kind of doctor's appointment leaves a person feeling worn out?"

At first, Serena was tempted to lie to him, but one look into his eyes made her want to come clean. "A therapist. I've been seeing a therapist for a while now, even when I was back in Canada. Please, just don't ask me any more..."

Darien could see her troubled blue eyes pleading for understanding. He wanted to know more but he understood. "Of course, Serena. Besides, practically everyone in this town is seeing a therapist for some kind of problem or another. I understand your need for privacy Serena, but someday I hope that you'll feel comfortable coming to me with your troubles. I want to be there for you, Sere, I really do."

"I know you do, thank-you," she said softly, leaning her head on his shoulder. This was the farthest she had ever gone with a man since that day ten years ago. Her mother had forgiven her, as did her brother and friends, but she could never forgive herself for all the horrible things she had done since she met Jake. She sat back up when Candace and Walter walked into the room.

Candace looked at Walter slyly, nudging her eyebrow at towards the couple on the couch. Walter grinned at the picture. Darien and Serena were sitting close to each other on the couch and they had distinctly seen Serena's head on his shoulder before they walked into the room. Despite his protests, Walter had grown fond of Serena over the passing days and only kept up his 'gruff teddy bear' persona for show. He knew that Serena was the girl that would finally make an honest man out of his son; now if only Darien would make the first move. Candace sat down on the piano bench and started to play a waltz tune.

Serena got up off the couch and walked towards Walter who had seated himself in the cozy leather armchair by the fireplace. "Come on Mr. Shields, let's dance."

Walter raised an eyebrow at her in scorn. "Me, you want _me_ to dance with you, girlie? You don't know what you're asking for. Your toes will be screaming for mercy by the time I'm through with you. Ask my wife if you don't believe me. You're better off dancing with the boy."

Candace smiled at her husband and followed his lead. "It's true, Serena dear. My toes still haven't recovered from the last outing we had. It's lucky that Darien inherited his sense of coordination from _my_ side of the family, not his father's. The Shields men, with the exception of Darien that is, are clods when it comes to dancing."

Feeling backed into a corner by Walter and Candace, who were staring pointedly at her, Serena turned back to the couch and reached out a hand for Darien to take. "Okay Darien. Let's see what you got."

The two waltzed in each other's arms around the room accompanied by Candace's playing. Darien led her through each step perfectly in time to the music. Serena felt herself gradually adjust to the feel of Darien's arms around her and the feel of his body close to hers. Darien felt like he was dancing on air, carried by the angel in his arms. Candace and Walter could see the deep feelings that ran between the two, but that both were afraid to say anything to the other in fear of rejection.

When the song was finished, Darien gave a sweeping bow to his parents while Serena curtsied gracefully. Seeing them dancing together reminded Candace of something she had been meaning to bring up to Serena all week. "Serena dear, would you like to come with Walter and I to the hospital ball next week? I know it's short notice, but I've just had so many things on my mind..."

"That's okay, Candace. I completely understand. Besides, Amy already invited me to go along with her fiancé Zachary, also a doctor."

"That's wonderful, dear. I have an idea! Since I'm on the organizing committee, I could arrange for all of us to sit together. That is unless you wouldn't mind sitting with a couple of old fogies like us."

Walter harrumphed. "Speak for yourself, Candy."

Serena smiled. "That would be lovely and I'm sure Amy won't mind one bit."

"That's great! Now, let's see...that's Walter, me, Amy, her fiancé, you...that leaves us with one more seat at the table. Are you bringing a date?" Candace asked, watching the intense glower upon her son's face.

Serena blushed and looked down at the carpet. "No, I don't have a date, and I'm not looking for one. I just want to have a good time."

"That's fine, dear. Now whom can we squeeze in who's all alone?" Candace pretended to think.

Darien sighed loudly and threw his hands into the air. "Fine mom. _I'll_ go. But I just want you to know that I'm only doing this for you." Inside, Darien's heart was going a thousand beats per minute. 'YES! The perfect excuse to be out with Serena!'

Walter, who was standing behind Darien and Serena, rolled his eyes at Candace, who in turn, smiled broadly. Now Walter and Candace knew just how smitten Darien was with Serena. Darien hadn't been to a hospital ball in five years ever since he broke up with Ann a few weeks before and all the single girls heard that he was back on the market. They threw themselves relentlessly at Darien, who was still heartbroken at the time, until he snapped and yelled at the women to leave him alone. Everything stopped at his outburst and Darien stalked angrily out of the ballroom, vowing never to darken its doors again.

"Of course, son. Who else would you do it for?"

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There! It's done and I'm tired. It's 3:12 in the morning and I can barely keep my eyes open. It's all for you, dear readers, it's all for you...so keep reviewing!