The crisp air nipped at the strands of hair escaping confinement. Rene was too busy fighting her tears to notice. Her hand clasped tightly in her mothers, and although Ilene seemed as composed as ever, Rene could feel the faint shuddering coursing through her mother's body. In the past week, her mother began to shrink before her very eyes. Her regal poise began to slouch and her bright eyes seemed duller. Her appetite decreased and today in her black suit, Rene had the awful inclination that her mother would be carried away by the wind.

The last flower was dropped within the grave. Darien's hands seemed to hesitate as his fingers contracted and released the white rose. "Goodbye, Daddy," he murmured as a crystal tear fell unnoticed into the grave. When he lifted his head again to the massive crowd in the cemetery, they could see no remorse, no tears. All they saw was a face as hard as granite and a jaw as set still as stone, and then they became afraid.

When Darien returned his place next to Rene, he could feel her eyes on him. Meeting them, he had hoped to see fear in them. Instead he saw pain; a pain that so resembled his own. Surprising the hell out of everyone who knew the tense relationship between them, he closed his hand around hers as they watched the earth cover up the man they had all learned to love.

"Rene? Mr. Simms is waiting for you in the library," Kelsey called from the hall.

"I'm coming. I wanted a moment alone," Rene answered as she fixed her makeup. The funeral had been a final reminder that her stepfather was forever lost to her. And now we will divide his belongings like a pack of scavengers picking up the leftovers.

She made her way to the large room she had often visited. The room was rather packed with most every employee in the mansion and close friends and family attending. Although George never had another child after Darien, he had a twin brother named Matthew whom Rene had never taken a liking to. His daughter, however, was a great friend of Rene, and it was at this sad occasion that she was reunited with the woman.

"Amy!" Rene cried in joy as she spotted Darien's only cousin and ran into her arms. The small woman was a few years older than her and extremely bright but had always been very kind to her.

"Rene, I can't believe this is it. But I guess we should settle down. I hope we will be able to hang out after this meeting. I have missed you Rene!"

"You're always the level-headed one, Amy," Sere whispered as she turned her attention to the front of the room.

Darien was seated in the front of the room with an air of authority in George's leather executive chair. Although Rene couldn't help but to admire the way his angular body exuded power, she felt a sense of rage at his obvious show of possession. Seems he's already staking his claims, she thought inwardly.

Jonathan Simms had been one of George's closest friends. It had been a visit with him to the sleepy little town that had caused George to eventually build his estate here. His death had been a grim reminder that his own life was ticking away. The sight of Darien sitting elegantly grated a bit. Although he had seen Darien grow into a magnificent young man, he had been powerless to protect him from the pain of losing both parents. During the past year of silence between father and son, Jonathan had often been the one to hear George's sighs and pain.

Tucking his thoughts behind his gold-rimmed glasses he cleared his throat in the almost full library. George had been very generous and had made sure his faithful employees and family were provided for.

After a brief introduction, he began.

"Hello friends and family,

Today I am no longer with you, and although it flatters me that you all have cared so much for an old man like myself, I realize that I have an everlasting responsibility to make sure you are well-provided for. You are here today because in some way, shape, or form you have made me a happier man. In the separate letters that Jonathan will give out, you will receive a personal letter for each of you as a last testimony from me to you. I hope that the possessions I have left behind will continue to be a blessing as each of you have been for me and not be a curse to my memory. Although I leave my earthly possessions, I want to wish you all the best.

Love,

George Brady"

As people filed up to receive their letter, Darien remained seated. He had noticed upon arrival that Ilene had not arrived. After the instructions were disclosed and his father's letter read, she still had not shown up. What was she up to? He wondered yet had no one to ask. Spotting Rene who looked as cool and composed as ever, he wondered if he could casually ask where her mother was…would she see through that? Finally rising to his feet so that he could get in the line, he approached her and his cousin Amy who had more beautiful since the last time he had seen her.

"Darien!" Amy exclaimed as she gave him a friendly hug. "You haven't been in touch, dear cousin."

"I've been busy, Amy. I've heard that you have as well. How is Zachary doing?"

Blushing, Amy smiled sadly, "I love him. I had hoped that …"

Darien mumbled something as he brought his arm around Amy and pulled her close. "Dad would have loved to, but I'm afraid you're stuck with me. If I didn't know Zack so well, I would never give you away on your wedding day."

"Thank you, Darien," Amy said thickly as she wiped her blue eyes, a shade lighter than Darien's.

Rene stood silently and a bit awkwardly as Darien transformed from a tyrannical and selfish son to a caring and sensitive man. Slowly her eyes traveled up and met his eyes. Had he known that she was watching him?

Darien's heart skipped a beat as he watched the emotions play across Rene's face. When her eyes met his, he wanted to reach out to her and hold her as he did Amy a minute ago. There was this innocence and vulnerability in her usually cool and professional gaze.

"Serenity…"

Rene whirled around to find Jonathan holding a cream envelope out to her. Grabbing the envelope and holding it close to her, she fled the room with Amy calling out quietly after her and Darien watching her shed tear hit the Persian carpet.

Somehow she found her way to the willow tree where she collapsed in a flurry of black silk and gold hair. Fingering the heavy envelope she wondered what he had written to her. Had he loved her like a daughter? Why did he leave her so soon? Her mother?

She had lost her control momentarily in the library. The combination of Darien's shocking kindness and her name… the name George had always addressed her by had shattered her resolve to remain strong. She let the tears fall and the ground absorb them. With a shattering breath, she opened the envelope praying that the sun will not set until she is done.

Ilene read the letter repeatedly. Her suspicions were correct after all. It had been long since George had mentioned it, and she had always thought it was a joke between them. She sighed again. It would be no trivial matter for his plan to work, but if it did, there would be no stopping it. Like a wildfire, it will spread and consume everything. Silently she wondered if she was willing for her daughter to be caught in this project, a project of a lonely and desperate man that she loved.

"Serenity,

My dear, the past year as I've learned to enjoy the company of laughter and love again in my life, I realized that when I married your mother, I had inexplicably found myself a daughter as well. Some of the circumstances you will find yourself in during the near future will baffle you as well as hurt you, but please understand that I want the best for you. You are a strong young woman with a spirit that can take on the greatest warriors. I am sorry to say this, but my son, Darien, who you have no doubt met and detest but who I love to a dreadful extent, will probably be one of those who tries to hurt you. However, don't be fooled by his callousness for we think alike, and he already enjoys your company far too much that he would like to. For this reason I will leave you some of my best treasures in an unconventional way. I want you to be happy always as you have made me very happy, and it is my only hope that you will be able to find the love I found in my life. With this said, I have made arrangements through Jonathan and the firm to provide you with a guaranteed job. Don't take this as charity. You may work anywhere that you would like, but it would be my utmost honor to have someone as bright and promising as you to work at Brady & Shields. In fact, you'd probably curse me for it after your first month. Secondly, you will share the rights to the estate with Darien. I know this may bother you quite a bit, but hopefully you will understand in the future. I have extended the invitation for your mother to live here as long as she wishes, and I hope that one day you will find as happy a home as I did here. Third there are the stock portfolios for Brady and Shields. I've divided them between you, Darien, and Amy seeing as your mother adamantly advised against giving her any. You will have 30,000 shares, which equates to 35 of my total shares. You may also use the stock freely although it seems beneficial if and when you make it on the board. Lastly, there is my favorite treasure. It is a bit of a secret, and I'm sorry to have not the chance to explain it to you in person. To compensate, I have enclosed audio instructions in this letter in a mini-disc. I love you, my dear. And I hope selfishly to always hold that special place in your heart.

Your loving father,

George"

Losing the last piece of her strength, Rene crumpled and let the grief wash over her in tears of unforgettable pain.

Amy left in her car after giving up looking for Rene. Amy knew she wouldn't be found unless she was ready and decided to leave for town earlier. Darien waited until she had disappeared behind the gate before making his way to the gardens. The letter his father wrote him both relieved and angered him. Although it made all the difference in the world that he had his father's love and forgiveness, he couldn't understand why his father would want to torture him with Rene's constant presence in his life. How could they split the estate? And the shares? And his personal guidance for her? When had he become a babysitter for the girl? Deep down he knew he was lying to himself about both things. Rene would not need a babysitter and she was definitely not a girl. And what was this business with the recorded disc that she possessed? Why would his father want to give something to him but make him get the instructions from Rene?

Although the grief washed over him like waves coming in at high tide, he found his mind to be clear enough to think and to strategize. His goal was to get everything away from Ilene and Rene. Why wasn't he thinking about that instead of if Rene was all right? And why had he suddenly taken her hand today at the funeral? She didn't understand his pain…did she?

Darien found himself standing in front of the willow tree where he first found her. She was sitting under it, engrossed in her letter. Although he heard the telltale hiccups from her sobs, she seemed otherwise as elegant as ever. The setting sun made him body itch to take Black for a ride. A sudden voice broke him from his reverie.

"Why are you here?" Rene asked with an indistinguishable hitch in her voice.

"I came because you have the disc," he replied.

"George did not mention that it belonged to you as well," she replied coolly as she made no move to rise from her seated position. He said nothing

"Why were you crying the day that I came?" Darien asked after a period of silence.

"Because you were coming," she said passively.

Cocking an eyebrow, Darien looked at her challengingly.

"Why do you think I was crying, Sherlock. What am I always crying about?" She snapped as his look weighed heavily on her. She wanted to cringe, to tell him to stop watching her with his studying look.

"Yet you don't always cry. I have a feeling you have rarely cried before dad's death."

"I was crying because I missed your father. I missed a man who I loved as my own father. The memories from this willow brought out pent up tears. Is there anything else you would like to know? Or will you just leave me alone" She answered weakly. She was simply too tired to fight him.

Stepping toward the willow, he took a seat in his designer suit on the bald spot in the grass, a seat very near Rene.

"My father brought you here?" He asked quietly with eyes averted.

"Many times when the weather was pleasant, I was sitting here not 2 weeks ago with him and our favorite books."

"Did he ever tell you about this tree's history?"

"No, he hadn't. But I could tell he loved this tree very much as if it was a person at times," Rene replied with a curious look at him. Although Darien was looking off into the distance, his voice was surprisingly intimate. Rene closed her eyes slightly so she could feel the melodious baritone wash over her in waves of forbidden pleasure.

"My mother's name is Elena Bodet. She came from an aristocratic family from southern California. Her parents were the descendents of French nobles, and they made a fortune in Napa Valley from their wine-making. She met my father while he visited the vineyard after he had shortly gained success at making partner at the investment firm. They fell in love, got married, and had me. My father would do anything to make her smile, to see her laugh. She had a very beautiful laugh and long black hair. When we moved here, she had been sad that there was no garden like at her vineyards. Father helped her start up this one. When everything was complete, she went out and bought a willow tree seedling and planted it here. She would often have picnics with me here and read with my father. This was her sanctuary. She spent many of her last days here. Father saw her in constant pain and carried her out here himself when she asked to be under her willow. She died in his arms here, on this very spot that we're sitting on. My father would soothe me by saying that mother would always be here. He told me the grass won't grow here because my mom was sitting here all day. I love my parents and now they are both gone," his voice had faded to a whisper and when he had finished, Rene did not know what to do.

"Darien?" She whispered softly as she looked up at him with wide eyes.

He looked down at her and saw something he had forgotten that even existed: hope.

Her hair spilled softly onto her shoulders as her rosebud lips pouted in his distress. Unable to control himself and his emotions, he bent down and captured her hair in one hand and her lips with his own. A surprised gasp racked her body as he pulled her closer to him, fitting her to his body. His tongue traced her lips and when she sighed slightly at the feel of him against her, he took his chances and entered the hot recesses of her mouth.

Rene had kissed and been kissed before, but it had never been with a man like Darien. Her cheeks were already heated from the lack of air going to her brain as she returned his ardor with equal force. Her shaking hands moved to Darien's cheek, and the feel of the stubble beneath his skin made her shudder into the kiss.

Slowly she felt his strong hands mapping the curves of her back as they moved smoothly over her black blouse, the heat seeping past the silk. When his hands pressed down harder, with more insistence, throaty moans vibrated from her.

When they broke away for air, he studied her slowly and leisurely with a pair of quicksilver eyes. 'The way a lover would,' she thought. A whirl of thoughts entered into Rene's head, thoughts she desperately blocked when he assaulted her senses with immense pleasure. Darien wanted to destroy her. He hated her and her mother. He just wanted the inheritance. He was her step-brother.

With a broken cry, she lunged away from him as if he was a criminal. She didn't anticipate the coldness seeping through her from the loss of contact, and her reaction made her shudder.

"This isn't right," she choked as she scooted even further from him, half relieved and half disappointed that he hadn't followed her.

He watched her silently with thoughtful eyes, neither encouraging nor protesting the increasing distance between them.

With the letter clasped in one hand and her fingers pressed to her swollen lips, she fled from the willow tree and from her step-brother.