I am VERY SORRY! This took a long while because my interest has been transferred to slash writing on fictionpress, and I haven't been able to send anything out because the review doesn't display your email address unless you type it in the email section under the name. You have to review as an anonymous person if you want the parts. I'm very sorry this took so long. BUT! I'd like to thank and congratulate JUDY for being the 100TH REVIEWER! YAY! Thank you for reading everybody, and I love you all!

Chapter 15

Serena yawned, and reached up to flick her hair out of her face. Stanton's bottom lip was pursed a little bit, his earring gleaming through the sliver of light coming in through the curtain. Sighing softly, so not to wake him, Serena gently entered his mind, wondering if he was dreaming. She paused a little as he jerked in his sleep, but then went ahead into his mind.

There was nothing but blackness, like she had fallen into an abyss. Not a trace of light anywhere, and no sound was made. A little frightened, Serena tried to pull herself back, until a white flash suddenly illuminated the dark. "Mama? Mama? Mama where are you?" Serena turned, and there was Stanton, no older than four. Her eyes widened at his small stature, his little baby fat. His hair was a little finer, bangs covering his beautiful eyes that still shined a bright blue, despite his tender age. For some reason, his little nightdress was covered by dust and dirt. "Do you know where my mama is?"

Serena looked around, and sure enough, everywhere was pitch black, except for the spotlight that surrounded Stanton. "No, no, I don't."

Blue eyes dripped tears down a dirt-streaked face. "Where is she?" His voice was tiny, and a little squeaky, lacking its usual masculinity. Already feeling pity, Serena slowly went to him, and crouched so she wouldn't frighten him.

"I don't know little one. Why do you need her? And why are you so dirty?"

"I had a nightmare. I fell. And I can't find anyone…I'm all alone now." His voice broke with violent sobs, and he leaned forward, his tiny arms wrapping around her neck. Shocked, Serena put her arms around him, stroked his back lovingly, and felt his tears on her neck.

"Oh…you're not alone Stanton."

He stopped crying, and then pulled back. "How do you know my name?"

Serena blinked, and bit her lip. "I'm a friend of your mama's. She asked me to look after you while she's away. You can tell me about the nightmare if you need to." She crooned softly, thinking about the irony of Stanton having a nightmare about having a nightmare.

Little Stanton looked at her for a second, then wiped his face, and said, "Alright. But I want my bed." Serena nodded and felt the awkwardness as she picked him up, marveling at how weightless he was when he snuggled into her neck and inquired, "What's your name?"

She smiled at the sleepiness already in his voice. He probably just needed someone to hold him. "Serena."

"Will you take care of me until I go to sleep?" His sweet little voice asked.

Touched, Serena held him closer, causing him to squeak a little bit. "I'll always take care of you when you need me Stanton. That's why I'm here..."

She squeezed him just a little tighter, and suddenly, he disappeared, his tiny figure gone. Serena frantically looked around, her hands flailing in every direction, but Stanton couldn't be found. "Stanton!" She screamed, but the blackness overwhelmed her, until she pulled back.

When she opened her eyes, Stanton was breathing hard next to her, his pupils dilated. She could never play a part in his mind unless he pulled her farther inside. He must have done so involuntarily in his sleep. Serena lifted her hand again, and stroked his cheek. "Are you okay Serena?"

She nodded sweetly, and snuggled closer again. "Do you want me to make breakfast?"

His eyes widened a little bit, then he said with a small smile, "Whoever makes it to the kitchen first?"

She tilted her head, and smiled a little bit. "Sure." Serena flicked her head, and playfully flopped all of the covers onto Stanton as she got out of bed. She twisted on her toes back to him just as she got whacked with a soft pillow. "Hey," she shouted, then retaliated by throwing the pillow back at him, giggling and smiling. Stanton ripped the pillow out of the air, and quickly rolled out of the bed, then lightly chucked it back at her. Giddy, Serena ducked, and lightly pulled the pillow to herself.

"Hey!" She felt him lean onto the mattress, and could feel his weight coming closer…closer…

She whacked him in his face, and quickly scurried away, then turned back, watching his face slowly turn to her with a sly grin. "Remind me I owe you one." Serena laughed, and opened the door, and strolled out. She shivered a little as cold air brushed past her as she went to her room. When she glanced around to see where the air was coming from, she noticed the tower door was open.

Confused, Serena shut the door, then went to her room.

Serena scooped the scrambled eggs onto a plate, then walked out to the table, and set Stanton's meal down before him. He gave her a sour look. "The deal was the first to make it to the kitchen."

"You didn't say what the first person in the kitchen had to do. Now come on, I make food all the time; you don't have to make it seem like its hard work."

Stanton tilted his head, and dug into his meal. After he put away about a mountain of food, Serena decided to bring up her discovery. "Hey, Stanton. Have you been around the castle at all?"

He wiped his mouth with the napkin, before saying, "Yeah, considering I lived here at one time, I think I've been around."

Serena rolled her eyes. "I mean on this trip."

He tilted his head. "I haven't covered the entire grounds if that's what you mean."

She tightened her lips. This might not work if she didn't cut to the chase. "Well, have you been on the North side of the castle then?"

Stanton's brow rose. "Are you getting at that room full of boxes and treasure chests?"

After a brief pause, she said, "…Yes."

Stanton nodded. "I noticed that my mothers dress chest was raided. Find something interesting?"

Serena opened her mouth, realizing that she took something that wasn't even his, she started to apologize before he put a finger over her lip. "Don't worry about it. So long as it looks good on you, I'm fine." He winked at her, then stood up to clear the dishes, leaving Serena alone with her thoughts. Well, Stanton knew she had been in the dress box, but that didn't matter. She was more concerned about the casual attitude he displayed towards that room. There could be something special from his past in there, didn't he want to see what was there? Unless he'd already been through it, or he knew what was in it.

She tilted her head, then rose. Perhaps it was time she took advantage of that lake outside. "Stanton, I'm going for a swim, I'll see you in a bit."

Serena approached the mass of water, her sarong gently flapping against her legs. No wonder Stanton liked to swim here. The lake appeared far more massive at a second glance. She slipped off the white sarong, leaving her in the red-halter two-piece suit. Dipping her toe into the water, Serena shivered at the late-morning cool.

She stepped back a bit, then ran until she hit the bank, and dove in. She surfaced quickly, and as soon as she hit the air, she let out a gasp of cold. "God! That's cold!"

Her body, though completely immersed, was blanketed in goosebumps, and her tanned figure was swiftly becoming white. The idea suddenly lost its appeal, and Serena found herself getting out and covering her waist with the sarong. Teeth chattering, Serena quickly worked her way back to the portcullis, surprise hitting her when she saw it was down. She was positive that it was up when she went out to the water. Shrugging, she reached down to grip the steel, and pulled, but the portcullis wouldn't budge. Serena pulled again and again, but the portcullis still didn't rise even an inch.

Sighing, and hands on hips, Serena mentally called Stanton, and not even a minute later, he was forming in front of her. When his body was finally in one piece, his eyes widened, and gave her the once-over. Serena tilted her head, and raised a brow. "Ahem?"

He guiltily looked up at her and grinned. "Nice suit."

Serena glanced at herself quickly, then said, "You act like you've never seen a thong before, now---"

"The bottom half is a thong?" Stanton said his voice full of intrigue.

She rolled her eyes, and said, "Yes, now could you please lift the portcullis? It fell before I came back, and I can get it up."

Stanton shifted his eyes, then said, "sure." He bent down, but before his hands even reached the metal, he paused, grinned again, then straightened, and crossed his arms smugly.

Serena cocked her head, and frowned at him. "What? Come on, you lifted it before."

He checked his nails. "I had motivation then. I just don't feel like it today."

Her jaw dropped. "I can find another way in!"

"Every other way inside is cut off by the moat. There's that area by your room, but those windows don't open from the outside."

Serena shook her head slowly, unsure what to think of his challenge. "Alright, so what are my options here?"

Stanton placed his hands behind his back, his grin broad, clearly enjoying himself. "One, you can stay out there. Or two, you can take off that sarong and then I might let you back in."

Her eyes rolling, Serena untied the sarong, and flung it away, waiting for him to lift the portcullis. "Happy now?"

Stanton's eyes remained glued to her thong, interest shining in the sharp blue. "Ecstatic." He paused for a bit, but he lifted the gate, and allowed her in, and left her be like a gentleman.

But as Serena looked back at Stanton, and his eyes glued to her butt, she couldn't help but say to herself, 'Oh, anything but a gentleman. Anything but.'

Serena licked her lips after Stanton took away the lasagna plate. "That was delicious."

As Stanton entered the kitchen, he said over his shoulder, "I know."

She chuckled, and wiped her face with the napkin, and got up to go to her room. On her way up the stairs, she passed a window. The sky had hanged the crescent moon to a nice full orb. The tranquil feelings soaked into her at the sight, making her sigh and lean on the window. She found it hard to believe that her friends and family were looking over the very same sky in L.A. while she was here in Europe.

Suddenly, warm arms wrapped around her, and soft lips kissed her cheek. "It's so beautiful. Just look at the nice curvature, the natural glow, and the heavenly beauty."

Serena was confused. Since when did Stanton like a---

"Then there's the moon."

She laughed, and leaned into his touch, her hands linking with his, her thoughts wandering. "I really want to thank you for convincing me to come with you."

He nudged her affectionately, and stroked her stomach gently, causing it to flutter. "Hey, I probably couldn't go through it without you."

Serena smiled at the compliment. "Thanks."

Stanton began a gentle sway. "Hey, it's true."

She shook her head. "I don't mean for what you said." Serena twisted in his arms, and wrapped hers around his neck, gazing into his wanting eyes with a forbidden want of her own. "Although it is sweet of you."

He chuckled, kissed her temple, and began a slow path down her face. "Then what did you mean?"

Serena breathed deeply, inhaling the smell of his clean soap, taking her back to when he tried to warn her about Zahi. The confusion she felt, the doubt, the pain….

How could she ever think that of him?

Drunk on love, Serena closed her eyes, rose to her toes, and captured his lips. Her hand gently caressed his cheek, tickling her fingertips at the feel of light stubble. The passion that had risen in her last night rose again, this time it intensified ten times. The tell-tale changing of his body began again, and she welcomed it, stepping closer to him and wriggling slightly against him, causing a feral groan that went from his mouth vibrating into hers.

She didn't know what was happening. Cravings intensified, her body wanted, her heart soared, her mind was spinning, and her legs became Jell-O. As if he read her mind, Stanton lifted her leg to go around his waist, and press her to the wall, her body pulsating in need.

She wasn't sure if she could take it anymore…if she waited much longer the flames that spread through her entire body might consume her. Breaking away, Serena gasped for air and Stanton dropped butterfly kisses on her throat. "God!" She cried out, his body encompassing hers, locking her in the wave of passion that left her dazed.

He yanked up the hem of her shirt just enough so he could fit his hand underneath. Serena sobbed out a moan, and she pressed herself closer. Her eyes opened, and she stared at his eyes, shining intensely with need. She pressed his hand harder to her breast, and his fingers curled, making her whimper.

"Serena?"

She gasped, and licked her lips. The moon cast a white glow upon his tanned face, and he was incredibly handsome. "Yeah?"

"Thanks for what?"

She smiled softly. "For being so compassionate. So…gentle, yet firm and still so totally understanding."

He looked her face over for a second, then said, "Is this going the way I think it is?"

Serena's smile disappeared, and her lip trembled. "Oh God…"