"I can't believe you thought that you could keep this a secret from me", Jimena scolded them both, her fingers wrapped tightly over a red brush as she ran it roughly through Inocencia's damp, coarse locks.

"OW!" the girl, whined as she had been doing for the past hour or so. "That hurts, mama!"

She looked down at her daughter. "Well, that's what you get. You know what salt water does to your hair!"

Inocencia looked across the room at Collin who had received a similar argument earlier. He just shrugged and gave her a sympathetic grin. She pouted, crossed her arms and turned away from the on looking Heaven, Adonis, Stanton, and Serena. They all sat on the grass outside of their Spanish style home, staring up at starless skies, as Jimena had wanted to keep as far away from its interior as possible.

"Keep your head where I can see it", Jimena turned her back around to face them and continued to brush through thick, dark tresses. Serena couldn't help but to smile at this obvious display of tough love. How many times had she wished she could die from embarrassment when her mother forbade her or taught her right from wrong? Sorrow hazed over her emerald eyes at the simple recollection and soon after, she could feel Stanton embracing her from behind. She let herself fall back onto his torso and stared up into the pitch black heavens. Tremors reverberated throughout her insides at the absence of the moon, and he held her closer. They both shrunk back a bit as Jimena's searing black eyes sliced through their souls. "What were you thinking not telling me?"

"How was she supposed to trust someone she'd never met before?" Stanton defended her.

"And what's your excuse?" She moved forward.

"I don't know". Serena groaned at the constant fire growing in his eyes. "Maybe I just don't like you"

Inocencia's expression was gleeful, anticipation in her eyes and Serena had to scowl at what could only be the devil's child. Adonis and Heaven, sensing their father's anger, clutched at Serena's blouse and Collin slapped a hand to his forehead. He moved in between them.

"I don't want to have to referee another fight between you two. Will you knock it off?"

They backed away from each other and Inocencia groaned. "Ah, dad. You ruin everything".

Jimena removed the brush from her daughter's hair and lifted her to her feet. She turned to Collin. "Take the twins and this little duende to Serena's house". She turned to Serena and held out her hands, daring her to challenge the request. "Keys".

"I don't have any", Serena muttered. "Stanton?"

Silence.

"Stanton!"

He reluctantly drew a collection of keys from his pocket, unlinked a silver one from the chain, and tossed it at Jimena. She caught it in midair before it struck her in the face. "Nice one", she snarled.

"Thanks", he sighed, apparently disappointed that he had missed. Jimena handed the key to Collin who took Inocencia by the wrist and started towards the Lexus. "Ready?" he asked the twins.

They averted their huge innocent eyes to meet their parents'.

"You owe us a sundae", Heaven complained. Stanton groaned and turned to Collin who simply shrugged.

"Alright, but that adds to the fifty dollars you already owe me", he turned back to lead the children to the vehicle. "Don't you guys want to go surfing instead?"

"NO!" everyone, including their parents cried at once.

He smiled sheepishly. "Just kidding". With that, he crowded them into the car and after a few minutes, they were speeding off into the night, rock music booming from the speakers. Inocencia muttered something that sounded like "Old school" from the front seat.

Jimena stared after the car for a moment, waiting until it disappeared around a distant corner. When it did, she turned back to them, giving her ebony curls a toss. "Let's go inside".

Serena sat on the sofa, biting at her fingernails, a habit she hadn't indulged in since kindergarten. Stanton, on the other hand, was more relaxed. He laid next to her, his head in her lap, his feet on the cushions. He was flipping through the People Magazine that she had been reading earlier. Jimena was pacing the room, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She was still in her work clothes, but the blouse was wrinkled now and grass stains soiled her skirt. Finally, she stopped in mid- pace and glowered down over them. Serena swallowed hard, but Stanton continued to flip through the magazine without a care in the world. He chuckled profoundly at something in its pages. Jimena rolled her eyes. "Pay attention!"

"I am paying attention"

Serena plucked the magazine from his hands and sent it flying across the room. "Let's get this over with". He shot her an annoyed look from her lap. "I was reading that".

"You have to listen"

He smirked. "Says who?". He turned to face the raven- haired woman. "We already told you everything there is to know"

"I don't believe you"

"Well, whose fault is that?"

"Maggie should be back soon", Serena changed the subject. "She's looking for me- the future me- right now"

Jimena groaned. "Don't you get it, Serena? The Atrox has been released. We're in grave danger".

"Of course she doesn't get it", Stanton countered. "She's only been here for two days. Stop badgering her"

"I'm not badgering her". She took Serena roughly by the arm. "I'm not badgering you, am I Serena?"

Serena hissed in pain as Jimena's grasp deepened, her fingernails slicing into her arm. She turned to Stanton, her eyes begging him for assistance. He nodded and with the speed of light, he disappeared. Jimena backed away, her hand still clutching Serena's arm.

"He's taken a shadow form"

"A shadow form?" Serena gulped. Is that how he had disappeared that night in their bedroom? Suddenly, from no where in particular, a hand evolved from the darkness and took her by the waist.

"AHHHH!" she shrieked as the imminent shadow enveloped her body. "AGH!" she cried even louder when she realized that her hand was missing and the rest of her limbs for that matter. The darkness seemed to rise and Jimena seemed farther and farther away. She kicked at the sofa and cried vulgarities. "Jimena!" Serena called, fighting and struggling with her captor. She gave a cry of frustration when it became apparent that she was tussling with air.

You really have to stop that, a familiar voice floated through her head.

"Stanton!" she cried. "Where are you? Are you okay?"

"Besides the ninety percent ear damage, I think I'm good".

She rolled her eyes – wherever they were- at his sarcasm. "How are you doing this?" she breathed softly, looking down upon the night as they soared across the highest buildings. Teenagers roamed the streets, laughing and joking with each other. Some of them looked up in their direction as if sensing a mystical presence. Then satisfied that there was nothing there, they would turn back around and indulge in conversation. Rain had begun to drizzle from the skies and tiny pricks of water tickled her shadow form. She tried to suppress her giggles, but invisible hands massaged at her sides and she burst out laughing. "Stop!" she begged him. She knew that had she been visible, there would be a huge smile on her face. When he finally ceased, she leaned further back into the darkness and breathed heavily. "What did you do that for?"

I wanted you to smile

"But you can't see me"

I didn't need to. She felt him moving around her and his whereabouts could be determined by a simple caress at her cheek. Her hand found his and she massaged at his palms, their fingers dancing together. He ran his lips tauntingly over her neck and she bit her bottom lip in yearning. Her ambiguity was no longer a barricade to his love. She lay before him exposed. Defenseless. Vulnerable. Vulnerable? WHAT AM I DOING? She exclaimed, to herself and wrestled out of his arms.

"Serena!" he scolded, taking her by the waist. "You could have fallen!"

"Get off!"

"Would you rather I drop you?"

She immediately ceased to move, realizing the danger she almost inflicted upon herself. "I'm sorry"

"No I'm sorry", he soothed her. "I got carried away"

"Can't argue with that", she spoke dryly, still trembling from the incredibly strong emotion that had engulfed her only seconds ago.

"You weren't complaining"

She could feel her cheeks glowing scarlet as they neared a deserted stretch of the beach, waves roaring upon the sand.

"Careful", he teased. "Your face might get stuck that way".

"Whatever", she uttered, wondering how long it would take him to catch her if she slapped him and ran away. They landed on the sands and materialized back into their human form. Serena took a few steps back, her head spinning. She didn't feel so good. Her eyes widened as something stirred sickeningly in her stomach. No, not now! Not in front of…. Ugh… She leaned over and heaved right into the sand.

"It's alright", Stanton stood over her, pulling her hair from her face. "It's perfectly normal". She finally stood to her feet, her hands covering her mouth. He handed her a towel which she gladly took and wiped her face. He carries towels around?

He nodded in reply to her ponderings. "Ever since Tianna", he muttered, eying his dark jean jacket. (For those of you who read the last book, remember when Tianna totally messed up his jacket? Ok… I'm gonna go now! Bye!)

"Tianna?"

"Never mind", he shook his head and pulled her across the beach.

"Where are we going?"

He pointed towards a small wooden cabin in the distance.

"Oh…"

Serena tossed her hair back as she climbed out of the shower, water crystals flying across steamy, sky blue painted walls. She took a towel from the granite counter and wrapped it over her nude form. Then turning to her right, she reached for the red blouse, jeans, and black camisole to find that it had vanished. Her eyes narrowed. What was this jerk up to now?

"Stanton!" she called, peeking out of the bathroom to see him on a tan sofa, skimming through the pages of what seemed to be a huge encyclopedia.

"Someone likes to read". She broke his concentration and he looked up at her head, as that was the only visible part of her body, a devilish smile curving about his lips. "Oh, hi, Serena"

"Where are my clothes?"

He tapped a finger to his chin. "Oh. Silly me. I put them in the wash".

"You did that on purpose!"

"Did not"

"What am I going to wear?"

"Just put a towel on"

She gave him one of those I- know- you- don't- think- I'm- coming- out- of- this- bathroom- in- a- towel looks. "No way"

"It's no big deal. I've seen you naked before"

Her skin flamed a fiery red.

He sat upright and patted the spot beside him. "Come here"

She rapidly shook her head and he tilted his.

"Come on. What are you afraid of?"

"I'm not afraid", she breathed, her voice quivering. Suck it up. Suck it up. She strolled over to the couch and sat down beside him, clutching the towel tightly over her bodice.

He put a hand to her damp shoulder and she abruptly pulled away.

"Serena". His sapphire eyes flooded with pain. "I'm not going to hurt you".

She felt a twinge of shame and compassion in her chest. How could he make her feel so innocent, yet so guilty at the same time? "Okay", she whispered and turned to face him.

"Maybe the radio'll make you feel better". He took a black portable from a marble table in the center of the room and switched it on.

Tonight is the night

That you make me a woman

He immediately switched it off and placed it on the ground beneath them. "Or not". He looked back up at her and took off his jacket to wrap it over her shoulders. "Better?"

She nodded. "Yeah". They sat in silence for a few unsettling seconds. "So about the Atrox…"

"I know. I was about to get to that"

"So?"

"I'm sorry he attacked you"

She cocked an eyebrow at him. "Why are you talking about yourself in the third person?"

"It wasn't me" He took her by the shoulders, his expression frustrated. "I mean it was, but… God, Serena. I can't stand the thought of hurting you. Don't make me say it".

"I'm sorry", she comforted him, massaging his back. "But I don't understand. He was so… evil"

"Not evil", he leaned back. "Without you I have no reason to live. Without you it's easy to kill. To project that image".

"Then you weren't always the saint you are now?" she smirked sarcastically. He only laughed and returned her smirk.

"Compared to what I was then, babe, I'm a fucking angel"

She gave a half smile at his comparison and twisted the wet strands of crimson about her finger. "So how can we defeat the Atrox?"

"We'll just have to face it again. But first". He took Serena gently by the palms. I have to teach you.

"Teach me?"

He put a finger to her lips. Speak only with your mind.

Why?

It makes good practice.

Practice? For what? My head hurts. And I'm hungry. Do we have any food here? I left my McDonalds at Jimena's. And I got lots of fries this time too…

Stop!

What is he talking about now?

I can hear you

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Oooh, quick! Think of something else. Stanton. Sexy- Doh! Not that!

Stanton gave a cynical laugh and fell back against the sofa. "We've got a lot of work to do".

"Stop laughing at me!" she tried to sound threatening, but he only laughed harder.

Let's try that again

No!

See? He removed a few wisps of garnet from her face. You're getting better already

This fic could get pretty steamy... so tell me: HOW STEAMY IS TOO STEAMY?

REVIEW CORNER:

Demon Dea: Nah. I try not to brutally murder Stanton in my fics lol

Cynthia: I guess he grabbed her... because he could. YES because he could! Glad you love it!

ElephantsrocmysoX. SOX! Yes, SOX! Did I mention SOX: Glad you like it! Two stantons is surprisingly hard to write with...

Bethany: Ofcourse the bathroom person will be in the story or else it would have been stupid to create them lol Yeah, I had to make him mean though O.o

Depressed- and- Bored - I don't know what that meant but OOOO KKKKK! (thumbs up) lol

MiniSparky: I imagine it was confusing O.o

Shadowings: Thank you for that obviously display of ego on my review bored. Lol J/k