Chapter 3

Collin passed Stanton the pepper for his grilled chicken with wild rice. "Thanks." Stanton said, "Looks like Serena's not the only one who can cook in this house."

Collin smirked. "She learned from the master." Stanton smiled, and ate his chicken while Collin watched. He may be a good boyfriend, but he was still someone who's life and soul was given to evil. But for the life of his sister. He blew out a long breath, and checked his watch. 1:05 a.m., fantastic. He cracked his neck, and stood up then walked to the fridge. "You want anything to drink?"

Stanton looked ready to accept, before he shook his head, and stared at his half-eaten chicken. Collin smirked again. Evil or not, Stanton was indeed his fellow man. And knowing his fellow man, and the dilemma he was placed with, he'd need something to clear his head.

He took out the Hawaiian Punch, and took down two glasses. He poured it out, and passed a glass to Stanton. Stanton's brow rose, then smiled softly, and took a sip. "It's not exactly butch, but it's filling," Collin said.

Stanton nodded, and cut off one more piece of the chicken. He didn't appear at ease; in fact he seemed tense and under strain. Not that he had much to worry about. Collin had never been in a situation like this before; he never had to bother with things involving Serena's boyfriends. Especially since no one had slept with her until now. He probably should have known this would happen. Serena had told him that she loved Stanton, and they had as much of an intimate relationship as was allowed. But that was by the standings of the Regulators. By his standings, as well as his father's, 'intimate' was good, so long as it meant something simple…like holding hands.

He wasn't quite sure how to begin. With a lecture? Advice? Warning? He wasn't sure. And he certainly wasn't sure how to treat someone who was probably much older than himself. All he was sure about was that he was angry. So, he decided to work with that. "So, you know what's going to come right?" Collin asked heavily.

Stanton put his cup down, and thumbed the condensation beading on the glass. "I'd originally assumed you were going to kick my ass all the way to the door, and tell me never to come back."

Collin gave him a dead stare. "Why? It wouldn't stop you."

Stanton tilted his head, raising his brows with a smile that Collin found quite disturbing under the circumstances. "True."

Collins eyes shifted down to the table and the red beverage in his hands, and Stanton studied him carefully, and Collin felt a strange tickling inside his head. Deciding to use the skill Jimena taught him, he shielded his mind, and the tickling ceased.

The other man tilted his head, but said nothing. He stared at his half-eaten chicken for a minute before he asked, "You upset?"

Collin laughed his voice void of any amusement. "Kind of. Was that you trying to remove it from my memory?"

Stanton looked up, his eyes shining without emotion. "Merely trying to see what you're thinking."

He leaned back in the chair, arms crossed. "My persona isn't showing it?"

Stanton tilted his head again. "Not really. The only thing I can tell is that you're not happy."

'No kidding!' "Well I am Serena's older brother."

Stanton sighed and leaned back in the chair, spreading the robe. "Look, I don't blame you for any resentment you might hold against me, but you're not going to blame Serena for any of this?"

Collin scoffed and got up, his empathy gone, the anger in the back of his head taking hold. "Hell no, I'll grant female hormones get out of control, but I give my sister more credit than that." He opened the fridge, grabbed what was left of the milk, and chugged the gallon, rather obnoxiously.

"What is wrong with you?" Stanton asked helplessly. "Are you mad?"

Collin tore the jug away from his lips, spilling some milk onto the floor. "You're damn right I am! Serena's fifteen and you're…you're…GODDAMNIT! How the fuck old are you?"

Stanton rose quickly. "Will you stop screaming? You'll wake her up!"

He tuned down his voice slightly. "I used to think you were okay! I mean, you were sure as hell evil, but you gave a lot to protect my sister. And now you go and pull a stunt like this!"

Stanton walked a little bit closer to Collin, trying to be calm and explanatory. "There was no stunt! We got together for our anniversary at about six. She went to sleep a few hours ago."

Collin's eyes widened in realization. No wonder Serena was so desperate to get him to spend the day with Jimena. He felt…so used!

"You'll be happy to know that while your little sister has decided to develop a sex-life, she's been responsible about it. She supplied the first source of protection."

Collin's jaw finally dropped, and he pointed in the direction of Serena's room as he stuttered, "th-the first? Wha-wha-what do you mean she…?"

Stanton crossed his arms and nodded. "Hey, she learned from the master."

Collin's eyes grew wider and this time, he appeared positively livid. "Okay, you really don't want to piss me off right now!"

His eyes rolled. "I realize you'd want to be protective of your sister, but come on! She made a choice. I admit I initiated it, but you know I would NEVER force her!"

"I would hope not."

The two men turned to see a disheveled Serena walking towards the kitchen in a pink fuzzy robe. "What is going on…?" She trailed off when she noticed the two standing in the kitchen.

"Ohhh…" Serena closed her eyes for a second, then opened them. "Okay. Stanton, please get your clothes while I talk to my brother?"

Stanton appeared hesitant at first, but after a quick glance at Collin, he left the kitchen.

Serena looked Collin in the eye for the first time since she came downstairs. "Collin, you're probably angry. And I understand, maybe I should have told you, maybe I shouldn't have."

Collin finally put the lid back on the milk as he put it back in the fridge. "You're damn right you should have!"

"Collin, come on! I'm young, but I love Stanton, and I knew what I was doing. And please don't blame him for this, he didn't even know what I was doing when I invited him over."

She spoke quickly, knowing that if she didn't get her point out fast, he'd interrupt. But Collin took the time to think before responding. Obviously, Stanton lied to him as well. He couldn't believe it…Serena…his little sister was actually having sex. "He said he initiated it."

"Oh…" Serena's voice was meek and quiet now. It grew even quieter as she said, "Well, it was me. And before you ask, we used protection."

Collin smirked with a dash of irony. "So I was told."

She crossed her arms, and scratched her neck. "Well, hey, I have enough sense to not get pregnant."

He let out a humorless laugh. "Thank God for that one."

Blinking, she questioned him. "For me?"

"For the baby. I'd hate for it to be motherless. And that kid would definitely be motherless."

Serena looked confused at first, but after she got the joke, she giggled.

She looked up at him, and upon seeing the distress on his face, she blinked, her eyes soft and concerned, which didn't help at all. That was the same expression she wore when they were little. She'd give him that face whenever she wondered when their mom would come home. Her big green eyes would shine up at him so innocently and youthful. Now…that image was so hard to fathom with the events of the evening.

He was happy that she hadn't tried to read his mind. Maybe she didn't want to skate thin ice, but he was pleased, none the less.

Serena stepped forward. "Collin?"

He looked up, leaving his thoughts. She bit her lip, took a deep breath, then spoke in a calm, well-controlled voice. "I know you're upset, and I don't blame you, I guess I would be too if the situations were reversed. Um…I wish you would have found out a different way, and I'm sorry you found out this way, but…I'm not going to apologize for what I did. I trust Stanton to have no diseases, and I love him enough to take this step."

Collin blinked, stunned. Serena really did have things worked out with this. He supposed that few caring big brothers would be pleased under such an occasion. The point was that his sister was growing up…but he still had authority, and could shove Stanton out the door any time he wanted. But what good would that do? He would refuse to give full support, but maybe he could give love. Hopefully, that would be enough. He walked over to Serena, and hugged her.

She eagerly hugged back, and put her head on his chest. "I know I'm pushing button's here, but it's late, so only if you don't mind, I'd like for Stanton to stay here for the night."

Collin swallowed, hard. "Don't worry about it. He can spend the night if you guys promise not to do anything while I'm in the house."

Serena stepped back, and her eyes were shining with what he hoped were happy tears. "Are you serious?"

Collin nodded. "Yes, now go up and tell him before I change my mind."

Serena stood on her toes, and kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks Collin!" She rushed out of the kitchen. To tell Stanton the happy news apparently.

Collin reached into the freezer, pulled out a different ice cream, grabbed a spoon, turned off the kitchen light, went into the den, propped up his feet, turned on the TV, and was about half-way through the pint of ice cream when he finally said to himself, "I am one hell of a brother."

Serena rushed up to her room, where she found Stanton halfway through the process of getting dressed, his khakis all he had on. "He said you could stay!"

He looked at her like he had just learned how to hear. "You're kidding?"

She went up to Stanton and took his hands away from his belt. "No. He really said you could stay, so long as we don't do anything the rest of the night."

Stanton laughed a little, but he squeezed her hands a little in encouragement. "What did he have to say? Is he still mad?"

Serena pulled his hands closer to her chest. "He didn't actually say much. I guess the little responsibility speech I rehearsed just in case really worked."

He laughed again, and he took their joined hands, lacing them behind the small of Serena's back. "Now all you have to do is give your dad the same speech right?" Stanton began a gentle nibble on her neck.

"I guess so. I really don't like to see them upset like this, but it really was my own choice."

And as she looked up at Stanton's very blue eyes, she smiled. 'And I don't regret it for a minute.'

He grinned, and leaned in for a kiss. She kissed him back for a few minutes while her senses turned to oatmeal. But they all came back in full force when Stanton reached for the belt at her robe. "Mm! Hey! Collin said you could only stay if we didn't do anything!"

Stanton continued to play with her lips, even as he teasingly parted her robe. "We're not going to do anything. He didn't say anything about actually sleeping together did he?"

Serena tilted her head as his lips traveled to her lobe, a ticklish process that lifted the fine hairs of her arms. "Uh…no."

Stanton pushed the robe past Serena's shoulders while she put her arms around his neck. He pulled her arms away briefly so he could pick her up, and carry her back to bed.