That was how Darien found her sprawled across the side walk and soaking wet. He picked her up gently and headed to his apartment. He would have taken her home but other than the direction it was in he had no idea where she live. He also gather from the nasty bruise on her head she needed medical attention, his house was just two blocks away also if he was cold well Serena must be freezing. He debated briefly about whether to put her in his bed or lay her out on the couch. He decided the couch was the safest option and after striping her to her underwear wrapped her in his warmest quilt. He then went and made instant soup and gently woke her when it was ready. He carefully check her pupils as she blink at him groggily then helped her to eat the soup he'd made. When she'd finished the meal and he was satisfied that she really didn't have a concussion he let the clearly exhausted girl fall back asleep.

Serena awoke to an unfamiliar room the glow of a T.V the only light breaking up the darkness. She sat strait up in a tangle of sheets and looked around franticly. She didn't calm down at all when she saw Darien asleep in the chair beside her, just felt another kind of panic rise. She tried to stand but got further tangled in the quilt wrapped around her and tripped over the coffee table.

"Ouch.." She muttered angrily extracting herself from the blankets and rubbing her elbow and knee.

"Serena?" Darien asked groggily switching the light beside his chair on. Serena realized she was sitting practically naked in the middle of Darien's living room and made a grab for the blanket and clutched it to her chest slowly standing.

"Where are my cloths Darien?" She demanded using anger to mask the many other emotions running though her. If she were going to have another fight with Darien being clothed was high on her list of priorities. Though not being clothed had distinct possibilities. She shook her head. She wasn't going to let herself go that far.

"They're in the dryer." He said standing, he was clad simply in an pair of sweat pants and she watched the muscles in his back move under his skin, reconsidering the possibilities.

"I'll get myself a shirt and find something for you to wear." He threw over his shoulder as he headed to the bedroom. He came back in a tight white tee that accentuated his body almost more than it hide it and holding out an overlarge flannel work shirt. Taking a deep breath Serena dropped the quilt and walked boldly across the room. Darien only raised a brow as she took the shirt from him and threw it over her shoulders.

"It's not like it's anything you haven't seen." She said with a too sweet smile.

"I'll make something to eat." Serena nodded absently quickly buttoning up the shirt which fell nearly to her knees and rolling up the sleeves. She looked over at the clock on the VCR it was 1:37 am too late to go home now, she'd just tell her mom she'd slept over at the temple.

"So.." Serena paced over to the kitchen and had a seat at one of the barstools in front of the pass-through. Darien seemed to know just what she was asking and answered without turning around.

"I found you passed out on the side walk a couple of blocks from here. I would have taken you home but I didn't know were you lived."

"Just as well my father probably would have killed you on the spot." She looked down at the counter for a moment before raising her eyes again.

"Thank you." Darien smiled over at her.

"I only have one rule. When you are here you will eat." He stated going back to his cooking.

"If I'm here to often you'll go bankrupt feeding me." Serena laughed.

"I don't mind."

"Is that an invitation?" Serena asked suddenly serious.

"Maybe." Serena let it go for now and attacked the bowl of soup and piece of bread and butter placed in front of her. He came to sit beside her but remained silent as she ate her meal. When she was finished he took a minute to gather his thoughts before he spoke.

"Serena just hear me out and don't say anything ok?" He waited till she nodded before continuing.

"You were right I am an idiot I should have know better then to think you'd do all that you did just to win a bet." Serena opened her mouth and Darien placed his finger over her lips. "Not until I'm finished. God Serena I don't think you realize how insane you were driving me..." She looked at him indignantly but held her peace as he chuckled and continued. "When Andrew told me about the bet I decided you were just having a bit of fun, but then it just went to far. It never really occurred to me that it was anything but a game for you Serena and it should have. When you started acting and dressing so differently I forgot how young you really are and I let it go to far."

She'd looked away partway through his little speech and didn't look at him when he finished. He let her think over what he'd said as he cleared the dishes.

AN: so... You like? If you decided you do like it any suggestions to where I should go from here should the war end?