
      Paradise


      Author: aria


      Rated: NC17



      Chapter 4
      Serena woke up the next morning feeling warm and incredibly relaxed. she 
      tried to sit up and couldnt move. She looked down and found Dariens arms 
      wrapped around her as if he was afraid she was going to disappear in the 
      night. Smiling she settled back and snuggled closer. She wouldnt mind 
      waking up like this more often.
      Darien stirred and pulled her closer to him. Serena kissed him gently and 
      smiled as he groggily opened his eyes slightly. she could see the 
      confusion first, then the joy and wonderment. he smiled his sexy little 
      smile and mumbled, "So it wasn't a dream then?"
      "Nope." Serena smiled and rested her head in the crook of his shoulder. 
      "It was very real." Serena realized that she didn't feel any awkwardness 
      when she was with Darien. Here she was completely naked, pressed skin to 
      skin with him and she didn't feel the least bit embarrassed. Nor did she 
      worry about her lack of makeup or mussed up hair.
      "Serena, I love you." Darien blurted it out without thinking. he just 
      needed to say it out loud to her.
      Serena levered herself up on her elbows and stared into his handsome face. 
      "You love me?" her heart fluttered wildly in her chest.
      "Truly." Darien looked into her eyes, hoping that she'd feel the same. But 
      he already knew she did. Serena wouldn't have made love with him if she 
      didn't. He just needed to hear it from her.
      "I love you too." she whispered.
      Elated, Darien nibbled at her lips. "Come on. Lets get some breakfast."
      It took them a few minutes to get dressed and to gather some bananas and 
      coconuts before they were settled back in the sun to eat.
      "Darien, I don't think Ive ever been happier."
      He raised a dark brow. "Not even when you're shopping?"
      "Nope. Not even when Im shopping." she peeled a banana and leaned against 
      him.
      Darien was mesmerized watching her eat the fruit, when he heard something. 
      Not really sure if heard anything, he looked at Serena. She was as alert 
      as he. She sat up and listened as well.
      "Darien! Serena!" Voices could be heard now floating to them on the 
      breeze. "Serena! Darien!"
      They both jumped up and ran in the direction of the voices.
      On the beach a crowd of people half walked, half ran calling their names.
      Serena wasn't sure if she was happy or what. in way she was happy because 
      they'd be going home. But then again she was sad because they were going 
      home. she took his hand and looked up at him, smiling a little sadly.
      Darien gave her hand a squeeze and smiled back. It was going to be ok.
      The first people to them were the girls. Tears flowing and screams of 
      delight they reached Serena and grabbed her in a massive group hug.
      "Oh my god Serena we thought we'd never see you again!"
      Serena hugged them each in turn and then reached over pulling Darien to 
      her. "I almost didn't but Darien saved me." in more ways than one she 
      added silently to herself.
      They all looked at him then. "Darien saved you?"
      She nodded and wound his arm around her chest. She smiled at all their 
      stunned faces. she looked around then. She noticed she couldn't see a 
      certain someone. "Where's Malachite?"
      "Right here." he had silently approached them from behind, looking like he 
      was about to kill Darien. "What's this all about?" he pulled Darien from 
      her and grabbed her arm. "Here I was worried about you and you go and...I 
      don't even want to think about it...with this guy?"
      Serena yanked her arm out of his grasp. "I was too blinded by you to 
      realize that I didn't really care about you. I was enamoured with what you 
      were rather than who you were. The time we spent on the island showed me 
      that. I'm in love with Darien. Hes kind and gentle and loving. Unlike 
      some people." she practically spat out the last sentence.
      "What are you talking about? Ive always treated you with respect."
      "Oh really? And do you remember what you did to me just before the storm?" 
      she took his blank expression as a no. "So you don't remember attacking 
      me?"
      "Don't be absurd. i would never lay a hand on you."
      Darien growled at him. "Then how come when I found her her clothes were 
      practically torn off her? Huh?" his eyes held Malachite's and never 
      wavered for a second. "So you don't remember getting a room for you two 
      for the specific purpose of seducing her? You don't remember drinking 
      yourself into oblivion and then practically forcing yourself on her?" 
      Darien stepped forward until they were practically nose-to-nose.
      While Darien was speaking, Malachite's eyes widened with shock and horror 
      as he remembered, if only a few of the memories. "Oh my god."
      Lita, Mina, Amy and Raye had stood silently to the side until then. Now 
      they stood open-mouthed unbelieving of what they had just heard. "Serena 
      why didn't you tell us?"
      Serena gave them a wry little smile. "How could I? Youre his biggest 
      fans. I doubt you'd have believe me anyways."
      "Of course we would have!" they gave her another group hug.
      Malachite tried to put an apologizing hand on her shoulder but she 
      shrugged it away, even before Darien could get at it. "You don't ever get 
      to touch me again."
      He looked like he was going to say something but stopped himself. Instead 
      he nodded solemnly and walked back to the launch.
      Serena couldn't believe how much better she felt now that she confronted 
      him. She turned and walked into Dariens waiting arms. Finally she felt 
      complete.