Last chapter all! I thought I'd get it done in ten, but I finished it with only nine. Go me! It's been such a thrill to be back with you all and writing again. It's a tough economy we are living in now so sadly work must come first. I'm one of the lucky few whose art is my work and I thoroughly enjoy it. But it's always nice to be able to sit at the computer and think of all the wacky ideas my head comes up with during the day. Well, enough jibber jabber- enjoy the last chapter of Sheild's Bride!

Yes, Mattie," Serena said huskily. "Stay with daddy tonight. I'll pick you up after school tomorrow. T—tell Raye and Justin goodnight for me, please." She turned hurriedly away from Darien and Mattie before she could no longer contain her tears.

She hated being so tearful. It made her feel weak and inept. Hormones, she reminded herself as she hurried out to her car, pulling her jacket on as she went. It had to be hormones making her so emotional. So unequipped to handle the mess in which she'd suddenly found herself.

Watching Serena tear out of the house like the devil was at her heels, Darien frowned. She'd been pale and quiet throughout supper, casting him surreptitious looks when she'd thought he hadn't been looking.

He'd figured she was trying to come up with a way to break the news that she and Diamond were already planning their future. But just now, when he'd brought it out into the open, she'd looked as white and shaky as she had when she'd passed out into Diamond's arms the other day.

The realization had him on his feet. What if she fainted while she was driving back home?

No, not home. To the apartment that she was currently staying in.

Justin came into the room. "Did I hear Serena leave?"

"Yeah." Darien leaned over Mattie. "You mind staying here with Raye and Justin for a bit?"

Mattie, who was once again thoroughly occupied with the computerized toy, shrugged. "You gonna go get Mom?"

Darien didn't know how to answer that one. "I'm gonna make sure she gets home okay," he finally settled for.

The windows of Serena's apartment were dark. If it weren't for the sight of her car parked near the back door, Darien would have thought she wasn't there.

He threw his truck in park and pushed open the door. It had started to snow again. He headed toward the door, stopping short when it unexpectedly opened. Diamond, head down and hands shoved in his pockets, strode around the side of the building and disappeared from sight.

Darien caught the gleam of Serena's gilded curls as she stood in the doorway. His half-brother hadn't noticed him, but Serena sure in hell did. In the faint light shining from behind her, he saw her stiffen and begin to shut the door.

His boot stopped its progress.

She didn't fight him. Merely turned away.

He pushed open the door and followed her inside. He found her sitting in the kitchen, arms folded tightly around her slender body. She didn't speak. Just tossed her wild mane of curls behind her shoulders and looked at him in the dim light.

"Where did Diamond go?"

He heard her sigh faintly. "Diamond. Always Diamond," she murmured. "To Braden, I imagine."

"What for?"

Her lips pressed together for a moment. "Because that's where his on-and-off fiancée lives."

"His fiancée." Darien repeated the words, unable to quite believe them.

"Yes," Serena assured. "His fiancée. He told you of his plans but obviously neglected to tell you the name of his intended. I suppose he thought it was one more thing that Lenora would have told you. Or perhaps he thought it was something else he could stick to you."

"Stick to me? Why?"

"Do you think I'd make it up?"

He shoved his hand through his hair, even as he cursed his half-brother all over again. "I'm sorry."

Serena looked up at him, her expression sad. "For what? That you've lost your easy excuse to call it quits with me?"

"Dammit, Serena—"

She popped up to her feet, slashing her hand in the air. "Just stop. I don't have the stomach for this right now." She walked into the living room. "Where's Mattie, anyway?"

"Still at Justin and Raye's." He followed her, catching her arm in his hand. Feeling her go stiff as a board. He ignored it and turned her inexorably around to face him. "I'm sorry that he hurt you again." Admitting it didn't come easy.

"Who, Diamond?" She stared at him with that same look she'd been wearing for the past few days. The one that silently asked if he'd lost his mind. "The only thing that Diamond's return proved was that our marriage is a sham." Her throat worked. "I'd thought…hoped—"

Something hard and tight lodged in Darien's chest. A sham? He'd devoted his life to Serena and their son even though he'd known they weren't truly his. It was a hard truth to face. "Hoped what?"

Her lashes swept down, hiding her blue eyes. "We've been…married…a while, Darien. But I don't think we've ever talked about what's in our hearts. Not really. We talk about Mattie, we talk about our friends and what's going on around Weaver. We talk about the horses you train and about my job at the home. But that's about it."

"I know what's in your heart."

"Do you?" Her lips twisted. "You've got one up on me, then. All I know is that you don't want me, anymore."

"Dammit, I'll always want you." The admission came out, low and fierce. "But I want you to be happy, more. And if that means Diamond, then that's something I've gotta live with."

"When have I ever suggested that I would only be happy with him? I don't love your half-brother!"

"You used to cry out his name in your sleep. Every damned night, Serena."

Her lips parted. "Used to, Darien. Did you ever ask me about the dreams? Of course not! You're Mr. Tall, Dark, and Silent. The man who sacrificed his future for the poor little pregnant girl who couldn't take care of her life. The man who gave up everything just to ensure his nephew didn't get raised by strangers!"

"I got everything," he growled. "But I knew it wasn't mine to keep. You were Diamond's."

"I wasn't. And I'm not." She swiped her fingers over her cheeks. "I was 18 and infatuated with a handsome college boy who was home on summer vacation. But I got over that infatuation pretty darned quickly when it became clear he'd only been out for some summer's entertainment."

"Your dreams—"

"Nightmares!" Her arms lifted. "Nightmares, Darien. When I'd find him stealing Mattie away from us. And they went away, didn't they? Because I knew that you and I would never let anything happen to our—" her voice broke "—to our child."

Each tear that he saw slide down her cheek felt like acid burning in his soul. He could no more resist her pain than he could swing from the moon. "Ahh, meatball head," he murmured, brushing his thumb over that trail of tears. "You deserve so much more than I can ever give you."

Serena closed her eyes against the sight of Darien. So tall and darkly beautiful. "I know you don't love me," she whispered. "But pushing me toward Diamond isn't something that makes up for what you don't feel. I don't blame you, Darien. All you wanted was to make sure my child was provided for; that he remained a Shields. My falling—"

"All I wanted was you. The baby…Mattie. She was icing on the cake."

She shook her head, disbelieving. "You married me because you felt sorry for me."

"I married you because I looked into your cornflower blue eyes and saw forever."

Fresh tears collected in her eyes. "But you didn't…why…we—oh dammit, Darien!" She wanted to kick him. She wanted to kiss him.

"Are you in love with Diamond or not?"

"No! I'm in love with—"

His tension suddenly penetrated the cocoon of misery surrounding her. An unexpected calm swept through her and she thought she might well contentedly drown in the depths of his dark eyes. "I'm in love with you," she finished quietly. "Diamond was the flash. But you…you were the substance. The real thing. And I knew it practically from the start."

He folded her in his arms. "You deserve more." His lips burned over her temple. "I thought I could let you walk away, but I can't."

"Push me away, you mean. You can spend the next few years paying for it." She twisted her head around until her lips found his. "Say it, Darien. Give me the words. Just once and I'll never ask again."

He kissed her. Long and deep. And when he lifted his head, his breath was ragged and her head was filled with stars. "I love you. Always have. Always will."

"Then why do you keep saying I deserve more? All I want is what I have. You. Mattie."

"And babies. You told me once you wanted a houseful of kids." He gently captured her face in his hands. He pressed his mouth to hers. Then let go of her, stepping away.

Serena reached out for him, but he'd turned away and didn't see her outstretched hand.

"I can't give you that houseful." His voice was rough. "You stay with me and Mattie is all we'll ever have."

It was a good thing there was a chair nearby, for she sank weakly onto the arm of it. Having Mattie would have been enough, she thought faintly. "Why would you think that?"

"I had the mumps when I was younger. The doctor said I could write off…well, you know."

She settled her hand on her abdomen and sent up a prayer of thanks. "You never had a test to be certain."

"What was the point? Just more proof that I can't father a child."

"Oh, Darien," she whispered. "Do you know what tomorrow is?"

"Our wedding anniversary."

"Hmm." She pushed to her feet and moved over to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. She pressed her cheek against his strong back. "Do you know what tonight is?"

She felt the deep breath he drew. "Six years ago was the first time we made love."

"That night was when I truly felt like Darien Shields' bride. I knitted you a sweater for our wedding anniversary," she murmured, and practically felt his reaction to the seemingly odd comment.

"I bought you a bottle of that perfume you're always drooling over."

She smiled faintly and, still keeping her hands on him, slipped around to face him. "But I have another gift for the both of us. For our true anniversary." She took his big hands in hers and pressed them to her flat belly.

He looked pained. "Serena—"

"I'm pregnant, Darien. You and I…we've made a baby together. That is why I fainted the other day."

"But…how—"

She tucked her tongue between her teeth, trying very hard to contain the joyful laughter bubbling inside her. Oh, she loved him so! She stretched up, wrapping her hands around his shoulders, pressing her breasts against him. And now that the truth was out between them, she planned to tell him she loved him on an exceedingly regular basis. "In the usual way," she assured gently. "But if you'd like a reminder of the process, I'll be more than happy to show you."

Darien swept his hands down Serena's back and stepped back, staring incredulously at her. "You're serious."

She nodded. Smiled and the brilliance lit up every corner of his soul. He swept her against him, kissing her, swinging her in a circle. It seemed Diamond's return hadn't been such a bad thing, after all. "It's a miracle," he whispered. "You're a miracle."

"It's love. And I have only one more thing I want." Serena tilted her head back, looking up at her husband, feeling the love in his eyes like a warm glow.

"Anything."

"Let's go get Mattie," she said. "And then let's go home."

"Yeah." Darien's smile was long and slow and utterly sweet. If she hadn't already loved him, she'd have fallen for him just for that smile alone. "Let's go home," he said. "Where we all belong."

The End! Thank you thank you thank you. If you tomatoes to throw at me, be my guest cause I'll throw some onion your way too. lol.

For those that were hoping for a real competition, apologies. Perhaps the wording was a bit off with the summary- no actually competition just miscommunication and confusion with the heart. The normal ailings of a Serena/Darien tale.

Again, I do hope you have enjoyed this tale and keep checking back for more every now and then. Send it your reviews or catch me on twitter talking about just everything under the sun.

Bless it be~

Selene Grace