Here's another chapter... I know it's a little short but I like it and I hope you do too. REVIEW!

A Mother's Love

The next morning found Serena in her beloved's arms listening to the rhythmic beat of his heart. Through the bandages wrapped around him she could feel the heat radiating from his body, keeping her warm underneath the mound of blankets atop of them. She'd been unable to sleep, and now with a hollowness to her eyes she stared at Darien's perfect face, his features softened by his current state of sleep. How horrific he could be when he wasn't the everyday Darien she knew; last night had shaken her to the core yet, drew her closer to him. He was human, he wasn't the perfect God everyone thought him, he had flaws. At the same time however, she wasn't sure what would have happened had he not come out of his trance. He'd said he wouldn't hurt her but, how could he know that? How could she guarantee that he wouldn't hurt her? "Morning." She jumped when she heard the groggy voice erupt from his voice as he turned to her, the blue orbs that were his eyes fixed on hers, full of uncertainty and apology. "You didn't sleep." She nodded in agreement as he traced her bottom lip with his index finger. "Is it because of me?"

Serena lay next to him silently, unsure of how to answer him. He sighed and propped himself up on one elbow looking into her eyes willing her to answer. "Sort of, I was thinking about a few things." She looked away in an attempt to avoid his piercing eyes only to have him turn her face back so he could delve into her mind. "I mean… Dare, that was a little scary last night and who's to say nothing bad would have happened? Plus… I want to go back to school, I feel like I'm dejected from the world here in this house."

"You are." Darien nodded and pet her hair gently. An overwhelming sense of guilt began to fill him as it had the night before. He'd taken her father from her, let her suffer through Alan then his father and brother, only to be pulled away from her boyfriend… now she was here, where he wanted her and yet, he'd almost lost her last night. He knew what would have happened if she had failed to pull him from his state of mind, and he didn't want to think about it. "Tell you what… Come with me to the university and register as a double student. You can complete high school and get college credit. You'll have outside interactions and friends, work to keep you busy… what do you think of that?"

"Really? I can do that?" Serena exclaimed happily and looked at him anxiously. She really wanted to go back to school, for more than one reason, for one she wanted to finish school, for two she knew Darien would want her to be educated. Plus, why would she object to going to Shieldston University? It was one of the most prestigious schools in the world and she could get in for nothing.

"Of course you can! We'll get you enrolled on Monday how about that?" She nodded enthusiastically. "As for me… well… I'll acknowledge that I could use some anti-psychotics. What happened last night… you should have never witnessed such a thing. I've been reluctant to take any sort of medication for my… issues but I think I need to, now that I have you. What do you think about that?" He waited for a response as she looked at him blinking as she tried to register what he'd just said.

"No! I don't want you to take medications… I love you the way you are not the way you could be on meds. Darien… what happened last night, I know that you're not perfect but, you're perfect for me and I don't mind you being a little quirky." She smiled and placed a protective hand on his face wanting to calm him.

"I lied when I said I wouldn't have hurt you… I would have. Dear God I would have." He pulled her closer to him burying his face in the nape of her neck savoring the way she smelled, the way she felt. "I don't want to do that again Serena… ever. I don't want to hurt you any more than you've already been hurt. I want to be the person that makes you feel better, the person who you turn to when you need to feel safe. I don't want to be just another person in your life that you can't trust."

"I can trust you and I know that… can we just stop talking about this now and move onto the other lie you spat at me yesterday?" Serena smiled knowing that the current subject was pretty much settled despite them coming to a definitive decision on the matter.

"What lie is that?" Darien picked up his head suddenly looking into her eyes with shock. He couldn't remember lying to her except for that one moment. "Serena?" He asked as she pushed him away from her and stood from the bed her silky white negligee drawing his eyes to her figure. Suddenly he realized what she meant, knowing this he grinned, she really was insatiable. "I'm sorry, at the time I didn't mean it as a lie, but a promise…"

"Well you did lie. I'm walking aren't I?" She smiled and spun around so the white fabric lifted in the air revealing her white lace panties. "What a shame because now I can use my legs to run away from you." A challenging look made him shiver ever so slightly. She wanted to play a game of cat and mouse knowing full well that he would catch her. "So, since you lied to me I'm going to make you work for it." She smiled as he ran his hand through his hair with an amused look on his face.

"What are the rules to this little game of yours Serena?" He smiled and leaned forward.

"The rules? Who says they're any rules Dare? I run, and occasionally hide, you catch me. Nothing to it right?" She winked and walked over to him. "The only thing that needs a rule is that I want a head start."

"You realize that you're not being a very good girl by running right?" He cooed playfully expecting her to deny that fact. Serena wasn't much for any sort of role playing or dirty talk. Mostly because she'd heard enough of it from people she didn't want to be with.

"Then I guess you're just going to have to punish me." With that she turned and walked out of the room slightly swinging her hips with each step. Darien lay on the bed with a surprised look on his face. Could this woman be any more amazing? She wanted him to chase her, to catch her, then make her pay for being a little runaway. He waited for a few moments before walking out of the bedroom and into the living room where there was no sign of the blonde angel. He kept searching for her, looking everywhere he could think of when a sudden thought occurred to him, perhaps she was on the terrace. With that he walked out there enjoying the feeling of the cool breeze blowing through his hair then a small noise caught his attention. He spun seeing Serena run into the living room laughing, her hair and the silky white fabric flowing behind her. "Okay, you found me now what are you going to do Darien?"

"Catch you." He smiled and rushed after her until they were both flanking the couch her towards the kitchen and him on the far wall. "I will catch you, you know that?"

"I know, I don't want to get away from you right now." She giggled then squeaked as he bounded onto the couch cushions towards her. The result was what he wanted, her rushing into the kitchen where she was cornered. There was only one way in and out and he was now blocking that doorway. "Hey! Damn you!"

"What?" He asked with a grin and stood in the arch of the only exit. "Trapped?" She stood in the kitchen not moving, knowing that he'd bound towards her if she did. "I'm not moving away from the door."

"I'm not moving period." He laughed which made her relax a bit. Only then did she realize that he wanted her to drop her guard because no sooner did she loosen her posture than he'd rushed to her and shoved her against the refrigerator. The cold steel against her back made her cry out with surprise. "I win." His blue eyes sparkled making her laugh.

"Yeah, sure you have." She rolled her eyes in protest only to have him growl playfully in the back of his throat and move one of his hands to her panties then pressed his fingers to her making her moan lightly. Not wanting to allow her space to escape he reached for the cutting block and grabbed a knife, placing the steel against her outer thigh and slid it under the lacy fabric slicing them off. "You… did that far too well."

"So what?" He asked and placed the knife on the counter away from her. Then undressed himself and lifted her up moving his hands over her hips and pressing her harder against the fridge. "You're going to get it you know that?"

"Uh huh, right. The fridge really Darien?" She smirked as a glint appeared in his eyes, one that spoke volumes more than he ever would. She was intriguing and exciting him more than she thought she had been.

"Fine, if that's the way you want it." Darien smiled and swung her into the table so she was bent over the table. The impact made her gasp, that was just before Darien held her arms to the table and leaned over to whisper in her ear. "You asked for it." He then thrust into her making her cry out so loud it was practically a scream. "Just tell me when you can't take anymore." He thrust into her again and again, each time a renewed scream escaped her, in fact, after a while he was afraid that maybe he was hurting her. "Are you okay?" He paused.

"Did I say stop?" She snapped and looked over her shoulder at him, her face was rosy and glistening with sweat exciting him all the more. "Where did you learn to be so… rough? This is so different than normal." She gasp and moaned as he ever so slowly moved in her and put his hands under her moving them down to her lower regions and pressing his fingers into her rubbing her swollen clit.

"It's instinct. That and I am a medical doctor as well, I know all the workings of the human body. Why are you surprised?"

Raelean stood at the top of the stairs glaring at her eldest son's bedroom doors. She hated the little blonde that had captivated him in such a complete way. She listened to the muffled screams coming from the rooms, just barely audible but she could hear them, and she wished that they were screams of terror and pain but she knew better. "They'll be at it for a while." Carson said stepping beside her and shaking his head. "He's really taken with her. I know that she isn't all you want in a daughter-in-law but she is…"

"Shut up Carson. You're just defending her because she was a good fuck." Raelean growled and turned her eyes to him. "You really think I'm going to let him pick her? I'm not. A few weeks ago, a young lady came to me. She knew who I was and she wanted my approval to date him. I prefer her. She is one of his students but she's wiser and more mature than this twit is…" Carson just stared at his ex-wife in shock. Was she actually talking about undermining their son? Their psychotic homicidal son?

"Raelean… I don't think you're being very rational about this… I mean… you're talking about Darien for heaven's sake." Carson shuddered when he pictured the showdown between the two fiery tempered people.

"I brought him into this world and I can take him out if need be. Trust me. My little boy may be feared by most people but I will put him in his place… if I had my way he would have slit her throat last night." She smiled as Carson paled when he realized she'd actually played her son, she'd figured out how to manipulate him.

"You're… using his temper against him? Raelean you're… brilliant!" He clapped excitedly then rubbed his hands together. "Why do you think he'd hurt her?"

"When he's pissed he takes it out on whatever bothers him. That's why he hides himself in his room. She was in there my dear. He should have strangled her or something but… somehow… it didn't work. That little bitch can't mean that much can she?" Raelean tapped her foot and turned on her heels. "I'll take care of it myself if I have to. It's not that hard to break in there." She laughed and descended the stairs leaving Carson nervously standing near the doors.

"I actually like her dad. I think Dare should marry her. Why don't you agree?" Seiya asked tilting his head to the side and approaching his father. "I mean… what did she ever do to mom to deserve such nasty treatment?"

"Don't worry, I love that your brother chose her. She's a fair and loving girl. Your mother hates that. I learned long ago that crossing that woman was a bad idea. Where do you think Darien got all of his little… nuances from?" Carson looked at his son cautiously and sighed. "There will be a showdown and I don't know who's going to win… I do know that Serena's going to wind up in the middle and we're going to have to take one side or the other. The question is… who are we going to choose?"