a/n: I'm SO sorry I haven't updated in so long. I'm in graduate school and it's the end of the semester so I've been finishing up my internship and working on my final assignments. It's almost over so I'll have more free time to work on this story and hopefully get on a regular posting schedule. Welcome to all the new readers and thanks as always for the reviews, favorites, and follows. You should probably reread the previous chapters to remember what's going on, but whenever you're ready go ahead and enjoy this next chapter.

After setting the bowl of salad on the table next to the garlic bread, Serena straightened the silverware on the napkins while her mother took the lasagna out of the oven. "That's the third time you've fiddled with those forks, honey," her mother said with amusement as she placed the lasagna on the table.

Serena sighed. "I just want everything to be perfect."

"Everything is as perfect as it's going to get. The food smells delicious, everything's clean, and I'm sure Darien is going to enjoy himself."

"Does he have to come here?" Sammy asked. "I really don't like that guy."

"Samuel, if you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all," Irene warned.

"Just give him a chance, Sammy," Serena replied. "And please don't pull anything like you did that day we ran into him."

"Whatever," Sammy muttered as he left to go into the den.

Serena started straightening the silverware again until Irene covered her hands to stop her. "What is going on with you, Serena?"

"Nothing! I don't have a crush on him if that's what you're getting at, Mom."

Irene smiled. "I can't say that thought didn't cross my mind, but I know better. This shouldn't be any different than when you bring your other friends over here for the first time so why are you going through so much more trouble to impress Darien?"

"Because that's what Jesus would do?" Serena tried before her mother gave her a look. "Well that's part of it, but I just want him to be comfortable here. It is a little different since Darien and I aren't exactly friends. We've had to work through a lot to get to this point and I just don't want to mess anything else up." She didn't want to tell her about the entire smacking fiasco from earlier and she hoped her answer would suffice.

"What do you mean by 'anything else'?"

Before Serena could answer the doorbell saved her. "He's here. I'll explain later." She hurried out of the kitchen with her mother following and stopped by the den where her father and brother were sitting. "Remember what I told you earlier. Be kind, don't treat him like a criminal, and don't ask about his family." Before they had a chance to question her Serena headed to the front hallway. She took a deep breath and brushed some invisible dirt off her shirt before opening the door. She found Darien standing there with a small box in his hands "Come on in," she said as she stepped aside to let him inside. "Thanks for coming."

"Thanks for having me. I brought a peace offering." He opened the box he was holding and showed her an assorted bunch of cookies. "I know it doesn't completely make up for earlier, but they're all chocolate cookies and I figured all girls like chocolate anyway so I hope it's enough."

Serena smiled. "It's more than enough. You really didn't have to bring these, but I'm not going to turn away free cookies." She took the box from him. "I want you to meet my family." She led him to the den and stopped in the doorway. "You remember Sammy, right?"

"Yeah, how's it going?" Sammy sat in the chair beside the doorway and continued playing whatever was on his Nintendo DS without acknowledging him.

Serena placed a hand on her hip. "Sammy, Darien is talking to you."

"Hey," Sammy replied as he continued playing his game. Irene got up and took the DS from him. "Mom! I wasn't done!"

"You're done now." Sammy crossed his arms while Irene turned to Darien and smiled. "Hello, Darien. I'm Serena's mother, Irene. It's so nice to finally meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine, ma'am. Serena has told me a lot about you."

"She must have forgotten to mention that you don't have to call me ma'am. Please, call me Irene."

"How are you doing, Darien?" Ken said extending a hand towards him as he joined his wife. "I'm Serena's father, Ken."

Darien shook his hand. "It's nice to meet you, sir."

"And it's nice to see a young man with such good manners and a good handshake. Are we ready to eat, dear?"

"We'll be ready as soon as everyone washes their hands," Irene replied. "Darien, there's a guest bathroom down the hall and to your left if you don't want to wait for everyone else to finish washing their hands in the kitchen."

"Thank you, ma'am… I mean, Mrs. Irene." Irene smiled as Darien walked down the hall towards the bathroom.

Serena followed her family into the kitchen and set the cookies on the countertop. She started to wash her hands, but she could feel everyone's eyes on her. "What?" she said with a sigh.

"What's this business about a peace offering?" Ken asked.

"It's nothing," Serena replied. "Darien was just being polite."

"For the time being," Sammy chimed in. "That's the guy who bullies Serena all the time. He and his friends call her names and make a hobby out of making fun of her."

"That was before, Daddy," Serena said noticing the look on her father's face. "We've had our differences, but things are changing. He's a good guy and I'd appreciate it if you treated him as such." She didn't want to give her family a reason to dislike Darien and she hoped to God he wasn't listening to their conversation.

Sammy scoffed and Serena rolled her eyes at him. "Serena, there's nothing to worry about," Irene said. "We've been through this with all your new friends and we're going to treat Darien the same way we would want to be treated. Right, boys?" She looked pointedly at Ken and Sammy.

"Yes, ma'am," Sammy and Ken said together.

"See? Nothing to worry about."

Serena sighed and dried her hands just as Darien came into the kitchen. If he heard their conversation, his face didn't show it and by now she would have known if something was bothering him. "You can sit wherever you want, Darien. What would you like to drink? We have a little bit of everything."

"Water is fine," he replied.

"Ice or no ice?"

"No ice, please." He took a seat beside Irene who sat at one end of the table across from Ken who sat at the other end. Sammy sat diagonally across from Darien next to Ken. Serena made a glass of water for him and herself before taking a seat beside Darien. "Thank you," he said as she set the glass in front of him.

"Irene, will you please bless the table?" Ken asked.

She nodded as everyone bowed their head and closed their eyes. "Dear God, we thank you for this day and we thank you for allowing Darien to join us for dinner tonight. Thank you for this wonderful food and thank you for giving Serena the diligence to prepare it. We pray that this food will nourish our bodies and we pray that you would bless the conversation around this table. All this we ask in Jesus' name and for His sake, amen."

"Amen. Just grab what you want, Darien," Serena instructed him. "There's no real method to the madness."

"You made all of this by yourself?" he asked as he got some salad. He was about to get some bread to go along with it until Sammy purposefully placed the basket out of his reach.

"Serena loves to help in the kitchen," Irene replied as she grabbed the bread basket and placed it between Serena and Darien. "She insisted on doing everything herself today and I just let her at it. I can always use the break."

"So how do you know Serena?" Ken asked.

"Just from school, sir. I've known her since sophomore year and we only had a few classes together, but we got partnered for this Sociology project this year and we've had to spend a lot more time getting to know each other."

"And have you always been friendly with her?" Ken continued. Irene gave her husband a look.

"No, sir, but…"

"Why not?"

"Because I didn't really know her, sir. But I think that's the point of this project. We all got partnered with someone we normally wouldn't associate with to gain a new perspective and to learn from each other. It's only been a couple of months, but Serena has already taught me a lot."

"Like what?"

"Kindness, compassion, not to judge a book by its cover, forgiveness…" He looked at her and smiled earning a smile back from her. "Those are some of the first few things that come mind, sir." Serena was about to return the favor and compliment him back until her father spoke up instead.

"How do you intend to foster your relationship with Serena?"

"Dad!" Serena whined as Sammy snickered.

"Ken, that's enough with the interrogation." Irene said. "What do you like to do for fun, Darien?"

"I like to hang out with my friends, I take karate, I play some guitar, and I like to read."

"Karate, huh?" Ken asked. "What rank are you?"

"Almost a black belt."

"I almost took karate back in my day, but I played basketball instead. I almost went pro until I met the love of my life who convinced me to be a writer instead. Best decision I ever made," he added with a wink as Irene smiled.

"That's kind of you, but the reason you didn't go pro was because you got cut," Irene explained. "You played well, but getting cut from the team helped you see your passion for the sport through writing."

"Beautiful and smart… that's exactly why I married you."

"And because you love me, right?"

"Always and forever."

"Gross!" Sammy exclaimed. "No flirting at the dinner table."

"Oh come on, Sammy. It's not even that bad tonight," Serena said.

Sammy shook his head. "Do your parents flirt in front of you, Darien?" Serena noticed Darien tense up from the corner of her eye while she glared pointedly at her brother.

"Sammy!"

"What?"

"You know what!"

"Kids, stop fighting and eat your dinner," Irene said calmly yet sternly. "We have a guest."

"She started it," Sammy muttered before his father gave him a look.

Serena was about to retort but decided to look at Darien instead to see how he was doing. He was looking down while he continued to eat and she hoped Sammy's question didn't shut him down. "I'm sorry, Darien," she said to him hoping he caught her double meaning.

"It's ok," he replied looking at her meaningfully. "My parents don't flirt in front of me because they died a long time ago, Sammy."

"Oh…" Sammy replied shamefully.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Darien," Ken said sadly.

"It's fine. I've pretty much had to raise myself since foster care did nothing to help me, but it's nice to be here because I can't even remember the last time I had a family dinner."

"We're glad to have you here," Irene said kindly.

Darien smiled. "Everything tastes delicious by the way. I didn't know you could cook so well, Serena."

"I only learned from the best," she replied looking at her mother. "Mom can literally turn anything into a gourmet meal. I'm not even half as good as she is."

"You can say that again," Sammy said. "I mean, you can cook, but Mom's food will always taste better."

"Now you have an excuse to come see us again, Darien," Irene said with a smile. "One of us will be glad to cook something for you so you can judge for yourself. Ken, you never told me how your day went."

"It was fine. They want me to cover the game on Friday…"

Serena zoned out of the conversation and focused on Darien who was still working on his food. He caught her eye and smiled politely at her. She smiled back. She hoped he wasn't just being polite because he felt like he had to especially after being cornered into the uncomfortable conversation about his parents. She was proud of him for handling it so well and she was thankful her family didn't pry any further, but she still wondered if he was ok. She would have to ask him later.

After dinner, Darien waited in the den on the sofa for Serena while she, Sammy, and her mom cleaned the kitchen. Soon Ken joined him and took a seat beside him. It was a bit intimidating to be in the room by himself with Serena's father and he wondered what he was up to. "Darien, I owe you an apology," he said.

"For what, sir?"

"I made some quick judgments about you and assumed the worst without taking the time to get to know you. It wasn't a Christ like thing to do and I'm very sorry."

"Don't worry about it, sir. I can see why you'd want to protect Serena from someone like me."

"Of course. It's because boys are pigs." Darien gave him a look. "I'm kidding… kind of." He sighed. "Serena is a treasure. Not to say that Sammy isn't special too, but it's just different having a daughter. And it's even scarier because you remind me of myself when I was your age. I have to give you credit though, Darien. You seem like a strong, smart young man. Perhaps a little misguided, but overall you seem to have a good head on your shoulders." He paused. "I also wanted to extend a personal invitation to our home anytime you want. I hate that you were forced to grow up alone so fast and I can't even begin to imagine how hard that must have been on you, but if you still need a family you're always welcome here."

"I… um…" Darien started before clearing his throat. "I appreciate that, sir."

Ken smiled. "I'll be in my office preparing for work tomorrow, but if I don't see you before then I wish you a good night. I look forward to seeing you again." He patted Darien's back before he got up and left the den.

Darien certainly didn't expect to be shown so much kindness from Serena's father, especially since it was probable that Serena told him and the rest of her family how much of a jerk he was, but if Serena could work hard to look past all the crap he put her through he probably shouldn't have been surprised that the apple didn't fall too far from the tree.

Sammy came into the den and grabbed his DS before heading right back out, but he stopped in the doorway and turned to face Darien. "I'm sorry about earlier," he said. "I didn't know."

"It's ok," Darien replied.

Sammy crossed his arms. "I'm still not sure I buy the good guy act. You're probably just trying to suck up to our family so you can stay on Serena's good side and get an A on that project. After it's all over everything will go back to normal and you'll be back to your old tricks. You might have everyone else fooled, but I'm not falling for it."

Darien sighed. "I get that you're trying to protect your sister and that's perfectly fine, but you have it all wrong. Things are different now. I know I've taken Serena for granted and after how much I've screwed up I don't deserve anything from her, but she's given me another chance and I don't intend to waste it. She's spent so much time trying to be my friend and I think it's time that I start returning the favor whether we get an A on this project or not."

"If you say so." Sammy left and passed by Serena who was coming into the den. She took a seat beside Darien and sighed deeply.

"Are you ok?"

Serena covered her face with one of her hands. "Darien, I'm so embarrassed. I wouldn't blame you if you never wanted to step foot in this house ever again. Between my dad interrogating you and Sammy asking about your parents when I specifically told him not to and then making a fool of myself by blowing up at him and…"

"Serena, stop," he interrupted. "Everything's ok. I was supposed to be interacting in your environment and I don't think it would have counted if everything was staged to perfection. Sammy and your dad both apologized to me."

Serena looked at him confusedly. "Mom and I sent Sammy in here, but I didn't expect Dad to apologize too."

"I didn't either. He complimented me and personally invited me back to be part of the family. There's a lot of love here and you're lucky you live in an environment where so many people care. I'm glad I came tonight."

"I am too." Serena looked down for a moment. "I heard a little bit of what you were saying to Sammy. He might not trust you, but I can see you're trying and that's enough for me."

"That's good to know. Are we really ok now?"

Serena nodded. "We just have to make sure building our friendship becomes a habit instead of a one-time event. Now what can I do to interact in your environment?"

"I don't know. Maybe since I came to your house you could come to my place, but that doesn't seem to be enough since I live alone."

"Can I still come to your black belt tournament?"

"You can, but that doesn't seem to be enough either since you're not the one doing karate."

Serena seemed to be thinking about it. "How often do you practice karate?"

"I go to class every Saturday afternoon and I practice 2-3 times a week at home so I stay in shape. Why?"

"Would it be any trouble if I came over one day after school to watch you practice? That way I could figure out what karate is all about and see you in action before your big tournament."

"How would you feel about me teaching you some basic karate lessons instead?"

Serena's face brightened. "That's an even better idea! I'd like that."

"Great. Next time I'm off from work you can come over. I'll let you know when I get my schedule next week."

"That's fine. Is there anything else we need to go over tonight?"

"I can't think of anything. What time is it?"

Serena checked her watch. "It's almost 7:30. I have other homework I need to finish before it gets too late."

"I do too. Is your mom still in the kitchen?"

"She should be." They walked into the kitchen and found Irene reading a magazine while eating some cookies. "Mom, Darien's about to leave."

Irene stood up and gave him a hug. "I enjoyed having you, Darien," she said to him. "I hope the so called men in this house didn't scare you away."

"No ma'am… Mrs. Irene. I'm sure I'll be back since Serena and I have to work on our project together anyway. Thank you for opening your home to me."

"The pleasure is all mine." She went to the counter and picked up a plate that was covered in aluminum foil. "We have a little too much lasagna here so please take this home with you."

"Thank you," he said as he took the plate. "I know Mr. Thomas is busy so please send him my regards."

"I will. Good night, Darien."

Serena led Darien to the front door and stopped before giving him a hug. Apparently showing affection was a genetic trait of the women in this house and he certainly didn't mind. "Consider the rest of that lasagna my peace offering to you. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Good night, Serena." He waved at her as he headed to his car. He drove away and watched her in his rearview mirror as she went back inside. It was a rough day, but he was glad things ended well after his visit at Serena's house. It certainly wasn't as hard to get along with them as he thought and he almost couldn't wait to return someday. For now he had to focus on getting his other assignments done before making any other future plans.

a/n: Let me know what you think and keep sending me any ideas you have for the story!