A/N: This chapter is dedicated to the memory of Dianna, the coolest and best grandmother anyone could ever ask for.


Chavez glanced at the wall clock in the bunkhouse. 1:30 A.M., and he still wasn't asleep. He knew he needed to sleep; he'd have to get up in a few hours. But for some reason, he couldn't fall asleep. Chavez wasn't sure if this was because his mind kept wandering to the dance he'd shared with Serena, or because cake and ice cream hadn't been nearly enough dinner.

Chavez threw his blanket off and, carefully avoiding the squeaky floorboards, he left the bunkhouse and went up to the main house. The kitchen was totally dark, save for a little moonlight streaming through the window. Chavez had almost finished making a sandwich when he began to feel he was being watched.

"AH-CHOO!"

He turned, recognizing the sneeze. Sure enough, Serena was sitting at the table with her bare feet propped on the tabletop. But instead of her usual sleepwear of sweatpants and T-shirt, she wore a red spaghetti-strap top and gray cotton shorts.

"Damn," Serena cursed to herself, realizing she'd been caught. It had been fun while it lasted, sitting in the dark and admiring the way Chavez looked without a shirt on.

"Serena, what are you doing awake?" Chavez asked her.

She shrugged with one shoulder. "Insomina." Then she held up a thick book entitled Under and Alone. "When I can't sleep, I read."

"In the kitchen with the lights off?" (Even with little visibility, she could see his raised eyebrow).

"I can see in the dark," said Serena. "Okay, I gave you my reason. What's your excuse for being awake this late?"

"I was hungry," Chavez replied. "Is that book any good?" he asked as Serena returned to it.

"Yeah, it's interesting. I've read it at least twelve times," she said. "It's the true story of a police officer who went undercover with the most dangerous motorcycle gang in the world. He was undercover for two years before they had enough evidence to convict half the people he rode with."

They sat in silence until Chavez finished his sandwich and said he was going back to bed. Serena's heart pounded; she didn't want him to leave so soon. She was certain they were right for each other, but there was only one way to be sure. Her mother always said: "If you think he's the one, sleep with him. If he still looks good to you in the morning, you're meant to be."

"Will you sleep with me?" Serena blurted.

Chavez slowly withdrew his hand from the doorknob. His ears had to be deceiving him; there was no way he'd really heard what he thought he heard. "Pardon me?" he said.

"Sleep with me, and see what happens." Serena said.

"Why?" Chavez asked, perplexed. Serena had never seemed the casual sex type.

"Why not? You're here, I'm sure as hell here, we're in love...at least I think we're in love..." she said in a rush.

"Of course we're in love." he replied, putting an arm around her. "But are you sure you want to do this?"

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life," Serena said with a shy smile.

She took his hand, and the two of them headed upstairs.