Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, I'm just borrowing them.


Part 3

The sun beat down as the wind blew gently, rustling the leaves as the
 sound of dirt hitting a coffin lid echoed in the still park.  The
 occasional sob punctured the rhythm occasionally but the girl who was
 holding the shovel refused to cry.  Her eyes were dull, lacking lustre. 
 Her hair had been cut to her waist and it hung in a straight braid down
 her back, pulled back from her face.  Perspiration beaded her brow as
 she threw her current load of dirt onto the coffin and then turned back
 to get another shovel full.  She looked like she was doing it
 mechanically when, in reality, she felt only numbness.  She continued
 with her task, not bothering to look at the brown haired boy who was
 aiding her.  Neither of them spoke; there was no need.

In the next half hour the two of them finished filling in the fresh
 grave and then patted it down with more force than was necessary.  Dull
 blue eyes looked up and around, as she straightened from a hunched over
 posture, stretching her back muscles.  All the mourners had left;
 headed back to her place for the reception after the funeral.  She
 wiped a forearm across her forehead and sighed, looking down at the
 dirt that now hid her father's coffin from view.  "Damn you," she
 whispered bitterly.  Next to the plot was her mother's gravestone.  Now
 they were together, but she felt as if she and Sam had been abandoned.

"'Rena?" the hesitant question brought her face up to meet her brothers. 
 She didn't realize she was dirt streaked and covered in dust.  She
 looked at her brother, her eyes flicking over his appearance.  

He was slightly shorter than she, still, his hair cropped short to his
 head.  His brown eyes looked at her with a mixture of uncertainty and
 sadness.  He was dressed similar to her.  They both wore their
 gardening clothes, old jeans that were barely presentable and ragged t
-shirts.

"Sorry Sam," she told him with a wan smile, "I guess I'm just worn out
 after the last five days.  I'm just frustrated, that's all."

The last five days had been a mixture of relatives flying in from all
 over to stay with them for the funeral.  Amidst the condolences and
 everyone pitching in to help along with funeral preparations and
 meetings with the funeral people and lawyers, Serena had been worn
 ragged.  Her nerves were shot, having been forced to retreat behind a
 wall of false confidence and assurance for her family and her brother. 
 Being strong had never felt so wrong to her.  She wasn't an adult, not
 yet at any rate, and her relatives, all 16 of them, didn't seem to
 realize that she needed comforting as much as Sam, even if she told
 them she was alright.  

She yearned to see Darien.  Since the night of her father's death she
 hadn't talked to him.  Oh, he'd been around, just lurking in the
 shadows and just the sight of him gave her strength to deal with her
 insincere family.  To her relief there had been no talk of what would
 happen to her and Sam.  Not yet at any rate.

The day of the funeral had dawned with an air unreality.  Everyone had
 dressed in black, except for her and her brother.  They'd been dressed
 in muted shades of blue and purple.  Before the trip to the graveyard
 and their duty as diggers they'd dressed casually, not bothering to
 dress up very much.  Their father had never really noticed they were
 there after their mother had died so they didn't figure he'd noticed,
 or mind, their state of dress now.  

Serena bent backwards, hearing her back crack in several places and then
 straightened up, stretching her hands over her head with a weary sigh. 
 It died on her lips as her eyes encountered the last person, other than
 the funeral home personnel, who remained near the grave.  "Darien," she
 whispered.  Somehow she wasn't surprised to see him even though he'd
 told her he probably couldn't come.

Today, after the reception, she and the family were supposed to go to
 the reading of the will and she'd been wondering how she was going to
 be able to get through it without breaking down.  

Now, she thought she knew.  She dropped her shovel next to the grave and
 walked straight to him.  He opened his arms and she stepped into them,
 wrapping hers around his waist as his slid around her shoulders.  "I'm
 sorry, Serena," he told her gently, kissing the top of her head.  

She closed her eyes, relishing the feel of having him hold her.  She
 remained quiet, nodding her acceptance to his condolences as the
 familiar burning started in the back of her throat.  Finally, she
 looked up at him, vaguely noticing that his immaculate suit was now
 dirt streaked, "I thought you couldn't come," she said quietly.

He held her tightly, "I couldn't desert you like that.  How good of a
 friend would I be if I left you to face this on your own.  You cut your
 hair." He remarked suddenly.

She blushed and smiled, feeling strangely thrilled that he'd noticed,
 "Totally inconsequential," she said softly.

"It made you smile, didn't it?"

"Yeah,"

"Then it wasn't inconsequential."

Sammy moved over to them at that point, nodding solemnly to Darien.

"How're you doing, Sam?" he asked, gently moving Serena under one arm
 and holding the other out to the young boy.

Sam looked uncertainly at his sister and then back to the man that held
 her.  Serena detached one of her arms from around his waist and held it
 out to her brother.  He stepped up and wrapped both of them in a firm
 hug, his eyes filling with tears.  The three of them stood that way for
 a long, long time, taking comfort from each other.

*****

Serena sat, tight lipped, her hand clasped in Darien's under the table
 at which she sat.  She was dressed in a faded pink dress that fell in
 soft waves to her ankles.  Small flat shoes completed the outfit.  She
 sat in a comfortable chair in the lawyer's office at a round table with
 the rest of her surviving members of her family.  Sam was on her right,
 Darien on her left and the Lawyer on the other side of Sam.  The rest
 were seated around the table as they listened for their inheritance
 from the late Mr. Tuskino.

"...And to my lovely daughter and son, I leave the house, no out
 standing debts, my three cars and a sum of 2 million dollars in
 savings..."

Serena gasped, her free hand flying to her mouth.  Where had her father
 collected that much money!  She could put Sam through college on the
 interest alone in four or five years!  Her heart soared as she began to
 hope that perhaps, just perhaps, she could look after Sam on her own
 and stay where they were.  The lawyer's next words penetrated her
 consciousness, dashing all hopes from her mind.

"...And to my sister Lisa I leave the care of my two children until they
 are the age of 18 years old.  Should either of the children dislike
 this arrangement, they may have the choice of living with the relative
 of their choice or the following friends of the family..." she blocked
 out the monotone voice of the lawyer and shut her eyes.  

Her worst fears had come true.  They were being given the choice of
 living with any family member of their choice, but none of them even
 lived in Japan!  Heck, they barely spoke decent Japanese even if they
 could understand it!  She opened her eyes and sought the figure sitting
 across the table from her.  

Her father's only sister, their aunt Lisa.  She shivered just looking at
 her.  The lady was uncouth.  She lived on an acreage someplace in North
 America raising horses or some such nonsense and was unmarried.  How
 was the woman to know how to take care of them?  She'd come dressed to
 the funeral and the hearing in western cowboy boots, black skin-tight
 jeans and a plaid western shirt.  Her honey blonde hair was braided and
 hidden under a cowboy hat that was stained with sweat.  On top of that
 she was chewing something that was brown and had a spittoon on the
 floor by her chair.  

Serena wrinkled her nose. No, she and Sam would not go to live with this
 woman, even if she fought the legal system with every last penny of
 their inheritance.

A pressure on her hand brought her back to reality and from her
 disturbing thoughts.  She looked at the man beside her, forcing a brave
 smile, but she knew that he saw the turmoil and disappointment, not to
 mention the panic she would never give voice to, in her eyes.  He
 squeezed her hand reassuringly and then gently caressed the pulse at
 the base of her wrist with his thumb, sending a shiver of pleasure,
 despite the grim surroundings, racing up her spine.

Darien brought her hand to rest on his thigh, playing absently with her
 fingers as he turned over what the lawyer had said about the conditions
 of where they would live.  They had the house, but what good would it
 do them if they were forced to move away from the city?  He'd just
 found her, could he let her go until she came back?  Would she come
 back?  His heart thudded painfully in his chest.  There had to be some
 way to ensure that she stay, but what?  He couldn't adopt her... he'd
 never be able to live like that with her.  But what... He could offer
 to be her guardian, but he wasn't on that list of friends.  He had to
 find some way of keeping her with him, he just -had- too!

*****

Serena sighed as the last of her relatives left to go back to their
 hotels for the night.  She was physically and emotionally exhausted and
 wanted nothing more than to go soak in a hot bath and then fall into
 bed and sleep until god knew when.  

She was out of school for the week, the school board being sympathetic
 enough to postpone her finals until she returned.  They'd told her that
 hers would be different from the other student's due to fairness, but
 she understood and was grateful for the extra time.  She was also not
 working this week, her employer having given her a week and a half from
 the time of her father's death to get herself back together.  She'd
 been told, though, that if she felt ready before that to come back then
 she should and if she needed longer than she should not hesitate to
 take it.

She lifted her hand to her hair and undid the braid that held it and
 then ran her fingers through the tight weave, sighing as it slid apart
 and allowed her to massage her aching scalp.  Gentle hand rested on her
 shoulders, suddenly, and started working on the knots that were keeping
 her back tight.  She closed her eyes and dropped her head forward, her
 hair creating a pleated curtain of gold around her face.  The strong
 hands moved over her shoulders easily, as if knowing exactly where to
 give the most pressure and when to back off.  She leaned back into the
 solid wall of his chest, murmuring with pleasure.  "Darien... that
 feels sooo good."

She felt more than heard his chuckled, "I can tell," his tone was
 slightly amused, "You're melting into me like chocolate on a hot
 summer's day."

A smile curved her lips but she didn't deny it.  The sensation of having
 a relaxed back was making her head fuzzy.  It didn't help that his
 hands were leaving trails of liquid warmth over her shoulders, either. 
 She leaned back into him, her whole weight resting against him and
 would have slipped to the floor had he not caught her around the waist
 at that moment.  "Alright, I think I'd better put you to bed," he told
 her tenderly.  

She made a sound that could have been either a protest or an agreement
 as he swept her off her feet and into his arms.  He cradled her against
 his chest, marvelling at how light she was.  He looked down into her
 angelic face, relaxed in slumber.  A satisfied smile crept over his
 features.  He was glad she'd been able to fall asleep so easily. 
 Carefully he carried her upstairs and opened doors until he found her
 room.  At least, he assumed it was her room.  The single bead with the
 pink bunny coverlet was a bit of a shock but somehow he found it
 endearing that she had something so... well, childish in her private
 domain.  

He laid her down on the bed, gently cradling her head until the soft
 pillow took its weight.  He looked down at her, his smile tender, his
 eyes fairly glowing with love for her, a love he'd never had the nerve
 to actually show her yet.  One day, he promised himself.  First he had
 to figure out a way to keep her in Tokyo so that he got his chance. He
 leaned down and removed her shoes and then gently pulled the covers up
 from their neatly folded position at the bottom of the bed and covered
 her.  He looked down at her sleeping form as he crouched next to the
 low bed.  

Hesitantly he raised one hand to her face and carefully brushed her
 bangs out of her eyes.  She smiled in her sleep, moving towards his
 hand.  He found himself smiling faintly as he gently traced the
 graceful sweep of her cheek, the shell of her delicate ears and then
 down to the stubborn jut of her chin; softened in sleep.  He suppressed
 a groan as he fought the urge to run his thumb over her bottom lip and
 quickly withdrew his hand.  He straightened, looking down at her with
 determined, dark eyes.  "I'm not letting you go, Sere," he whispered
 fiercely, "If need be I'll fight heaven itself to keep you here, with
 me, forever."  Gently tucking the covers in around her shoulders he
 quickly left the room, shutting the door behind him silently.

*****

Lazy.  A heavy drunken feeling of pure contentment was what awakened
 her.  The sun was spilling through her open blinds when she opened her
 eyes lazily and stretched, reaching far above her head.  She sighed in
 contentment and then frowned, 'How did I get into my room?' the thought
 came and wouldn't leave.  She vaguely remembered a talk with Darien and
 the beginning of a massage and of sending her family away.  After the
 feel of Darien's hands on her shoulders she couldn't remember anything
 else, except the vague sensation of feeling loved and cherished.  

She threw back her covers and swung her feet to the floor.  It was then
 she noticed she was still dressed in her clothes from the previous
 evening and sighed.  She stood and quickly removed of the rumpled
 dress.  She then stretched in her underwear and finally removed her
 stockings and the rest of her garments.  She grabbed her robe from
 where it was hanging on the back of her door and shrugged into it,
 rubbing her eyes sleepily.  She felt tranquil, more in control and
 couldn't understand why.

She opened her door and took a startled step backwards.  Standing in
 front of her in his rumpled slacks and shirt was Darien.  Her eyes took
 in the fact that he was freshly washed and that he was more
 devastatingly handsome than ever.  She felt her breathing quicken and
 moved her hands to the collar of her robe, making sure it was well
 closed.  His eyes followed her hands and then moved up and down before
 finally he met her eyes, smiling, raising the try she hadn't noticed he
 was carrying, "Well, I was going to serve you breakfast in bed.  How
 are you feeling?"

Serena smiled at his light tone, and tried to ignore her fluttering
 heart.  "Much better.  What time is it?"

"Roughly noon.  Come on, back to bed, I'm going to serve this too you in
 bed like I intended." He was teasing but she complied anyway.  

She slid back onto her bed and folded her feet under her, leaning
 against her headboard as he placed a well-loaded tray on her lap.  Her
 mouth watered as she took in the bounty before her.  Scrambled eggs,
 two pieces of toast, a full grapefruit along with a sugar bowl and a
 bowl for the seeds, 8 pancakes awash in syrup and a bowl of assorted
 fruit.  The tray also held two glasses, one filled with orange juice,
 the other with milk. She looked at him with amazed eyes, tears filling
 them, "I..." she searched for the words and finally blurted, "I didn't
 know you could cook."

Darien raised one hand to her face and gently brushed the tears off her
 cheek as they started to slide down.  From her reaction he surmised
 that she's never had anyone take care of her the way he was doing; at
 least not for a long, long time.  And that she'd never been served
 breakfast in bed before.  "Hush, love, eat.  We can talk later.  And
 just so you know." An amused smile curved his lips as he pushed the
 fork into her hand, "I'm a man of many talents.  Living on my own has
 taught me the hard way."

She nodded and, her eyes glowing in gratitude, dug into her unexpected
 meal.  She savoured each bite, polishing off the entire thing in about
 twenty minutes. She pushed the tray down her lap and leaned back with a
 contented sound, "I haven't eaten that good in a long time.  Thank you,
 Darien," she said with a smile.

He whisked the tray off her lap and placed it on her desk.  Turning back
 to her, he offered her his hand and, when she accepted, drew her to her
 feet and then swept her up in his arms with a grin.  She laughed in
 surprise, "Where are we going now?"

"You, my dear, are going to go have a shower while I clean up the
 kitchen from my culinary masterpiece." He talked as he whisked her into
 the bathroom and then deposited her on the cold tiles.  "Now no playing
 hooky from your shower," he teased, wagging his finger at her, "You're
 going to have this shower if I have to put you in myself!"

Serena smiled and laughingly pushed him our and then closed the door. 
 Turning she quickly set about twisting the knobs to prepare her shower.

Darien stared at the closed door, his smile fading.  His plan
 this morning had worked.  So far he'd kept her from remembering that
 her father wasn't there anymore and kept her smiling.  An idea suddenly
 hit him as he looked at the door in front of him. 'I know!' he thought
 triumphantly, 'That's how I can keep her here!  Now, hopefully, she'll
 agree to it...'

*****

Serena walked into the kitchen, her expression revealing nothing.  Sammy
 wasn't in the house so she assumed he'd gone out before she'd gotten
 up.  Darien was seated at the main table in the kitchen, the day's
 paper and a cup of coffee in front of him.  It frightened her to see
 how normal her looked, how right, in her house.  "Darien?" she was
 hesitant.

He looked up, smiling warmly at her.  "Take a seat.  Something on your
 mind?"

She sat, twisting her hands in her lap.  She appeared calm and in
 control except her the twisting of her hands, but she hoped he would
 forgive her that.  "Well, I was wondering... I mean, I know you're not
 on the list of people my father mentioned in his will and all..." she
 trailed off, looking down at her lap.  

She heard him fold the paper and put it on the table away from her.  His
 hand gently cupped her chin, forcing her head up with a slight pressure
 until she was looking into his eyes.  She saw his feelings clearly
 through his eyes and felt her insides melt.

"Serena, I know I'm not on that list, but there's something I'd like to
 discuss with you about that too.  Maybe we should go get comfortable on
 the couch and discuss this."

She nodded, licking her lips as her mouth suddenly felt dry.  She let
 him take her hand and pull her to her feet.  She silently followed him
 into the living room and then sat next to him on the couch, her knees
 touching his as he turned slightly towards her.  She was wearing denim
 again but she felt the heart of his knees clear through both his and
 her pants.  "Can... can I go first?"

He nodded silently, biting his tongue.

She licked her lips again and Darien suppressed a groan.  She had no
 idea what she did to him when she did that!  "Well, I was thinking
 about it yesterday and I have every intention of fighting this custody
 thing.  I've been paying the bills around here off my salary for the
 past few years and doing the groceries and so on but I think I have due
 cause to think Sam and I can take care of yourselves." She met his gaze
 and he saw the pain she was trying to hide.

"Why, Serena?  Why not start over somewhere else?"

"Because I can't stand the thought of losing you." She told him
 honestly.  In that single whispered statement he knew she had just
 admitted that she was as deeply involved with this as he was.  It was a
 reassuring thought. 

He groaned, reaching out to gently cradle her face in one of his palms,
 "God Serena, aren't we the pair?  I'm going to assume that you moving
 out of Tokyo is out of the question... because I have every intention
 of keeping you here no matter what it takes.  Which brings me to my
 portion of this conversation.  IF we can't do anything else to keep you
 in Tokyo I have a suggestion that might enable us."

"What is it?"

He swallowed hard, "Something I don't know if either of us is ready for
 but that we could grow into."

She raised an eyebrow, remaining silent despite the curiosity that was
 gnawing at her.

He looked her square in the eyes, his tone serious.  "I want you to know
 I realize that this would only be in name for now, alright? And only
 until you're 18 if that is your wish, but I'm a selfish man, Serena,
 and if this is what it takes to get you to stay I will gladly do it. 
 It would be an honour for me."

She bit her lip.  He was dragging this out far too long, what could he
 possibly be talking about?

"Marry me, Serena." He answered her unspoken question with a slight
 smile, "I want you to marry me, for as long as you'll have me."

She felt her jaw drop in shock.  'Marriage?' she found herself thinking. 
 The word echoed inside her skull.  She stared at his earnest face,
 feeling as if he'd just dropped a bomb shell on her.  

"I know you probably think I'm crazy," he said softly, his gaze never
 leaving hers.  He ran a nervous hand through his hair, causing his
 bangs to fall into his eyes, "But I won't lose you because of your age
 Serena, you mean more to me than anything.  It can be a marriage in
 only name, I don't mind that, you can still live here with Sam but I'd
 be here too, or at my apartment if that is what you want.  You own the
 house, it's only right I don't try and move you so I won't.  It's not
 our only option but as far as I know about laws it's probably the only
 one that won't have you living half way across the world too far from
 me that I'll go crazy without you."

Emotions flickered across her face and in her eyes as she listened to
 him.  She swallowed hard, licking her lips, as she finally found her
 voice.  "You want me to marry you?"

Darien nodded, taking her hands in his again, "More than anything I want
 you to be my wife, but I value you, cherish you, more than anything,
 Serena.  I know it sounds crazy, hell, I can't believe some of this
 stuff I'm saying but all of it is true; I love you.  Nothing is going
 to change that.  If marrying you is the only way to keep you here then
 I think we should.  I understand you're not ready for marriage so we'll
 take this slow, alright?  We'll keep getting to know each other and I
 won't make any 'husbandly' demands on you until you want to make some
 on me.  We will be married but the only responsibilities we're going to
 really share are those of the finances for the house and taking care of
 each other and Sam." He searched her eyes, seeing her shock first and
 foremost, her fear second, love mixed with amazement and finally a look
 of curiosity and he knew she was considering what he was saying.  

"So you're saying we're just going to be dating, like any other couple
 our- my age for now even if we are married?" she said hesitantly.  She
 couldn't believe she was actually considering this!  Still, she felt a
 huge thrill run up her spine at the thought.  She could be his wife,
 true, only in name, but eventually they would build a relationship and
 she would be able to keep him to herself.  Would he keep his promise
 and not pressure her?  She looked searchingly into his eyes and felt
 her heart melt.  She trusted him and the emotions shining in his eyes.  

"Take all the time you want, Serena, there's no rush, I just wanted to
 put the idea to you in case you felt trapped and had no options." he
 told her with a small smile.  She saw the strain it was on him not to
 pressure her... and yet he was already keeping his promise.  She didn't
 realize it yet, but her decision had already been made.

She launched herself at him and wound her arms around his neck, "Do you
 really mean that?" she asked, her voice quivering, "Do you really want
 to marry me and live here with Sam and me? We don't have a lot to
 offer, except one kid who's still not in high school yet and a wife who
 will be more like a little sister."

He held her tightly, "More than anything," his voice was soft, full of
 emotions, "I want to take care of you, if you'll let me.  If it be as a
 husband, friend, brother-" his voice seemed to choke on that one, "Or
 anything else you need me as.  I want to be here for you.  Forever."

She buried her face in the curve of his neck and hugged him tightly. 
 Finally she pulled away and her face was filled with a hope that he
 hadn't seen before.  It took his breath away and he felt this almost
 impossible urge to grab her and kiss her.  She fairly glowed and was
 looking up at him through her lashes.

"Serena," her name was a groan on his lips. "Please, sugar, don't look
 at me like that.  I don't want to pressure you but..." he trailed off,
 swallowing hard.

Her smile faltered, "Look at you like what?" 

He framed her face gently with his hands.  With her statement he knew
 that she wasn't even aware of the effect she had on him.  OR that she
 held the kind of power she did over him.  "You're looking at me with
 these gorgeous blues and they could send me to my knees easily," he
 told her softly as he brushed his thumb across her bottom lip.  He
 tried to stop himself from doing it, but the temptation was just too
 much.  His admission shocked her, causing her eyes to drop from his
 face.  "I have a hard time resisting you when you look at me with that
 look in your eyes.  You glow Serena, and I'd have a hard time refusing
 you."

She looked back up at him, this time moving her head so she was face to
 face with him.  He felt her trembling in his grasp, her lips pulsated
 under his thumb and when she finally locked her gaze with his she
 gently placed a small kiss on the pad of his thumb.  It was a shyly
 erotic gesture and Darien suddenly questioned his will power.  Would he
 be able to go through with his promise?  One look into her crystal
 clear eyes, her shy face and glowing smile made his heart melt.  He
 pulled her onto his lap and wrapped his arms gently around her, leaning
 his forehead against hers.  He gently removed his thumb from her lip
 and moved his hands to the marginally safer region of her waist. His
 eyes were closed as he concentrated on just holding her, letting
 himself relish the feel of having her there, safely tucked in his arms.

His eyes flew open as gently, feather soft lips tasting of heaven and
 innocence pressed lightly against his own.  His eyes flew open, his
 gaze meeting golden bangs that gently brushed against his lashes.  He
 hesitated, unsure of what to do.  She pulled back, opening her eyes to
 look at him uncertainly.  They were soft and vulnerable and so intense
 his breath caught.  He closed his eyes and gently returned the gesture,
 placing a feather soft kiss on her lips and then pulling away before he
 pushed his self-control beyond its considerable limits.  And before she
 could respond.

She opened her eyes, her long lashes fluttering against her pale skin,
 as she stared through her lashes at him. He exhaled and then inhaled
 sharply when her cool fingers touched the heated skin of his face.  He
 caught her hands and gently removed them from his face, but kept her
 hands captured in his.  "Wow." He finally breathed.

Serena smiled shyly.  She wasn't sure what reaction she'd expected,
 after all, that had been her first kiss.  She raised their joined hands
 to her trembling lips, her eyes wide, staring into his.  She knew her
 heart was on her sleeve but she didn't care.  "Was that..." her voice
 was husky, lower than it normally was and she couldn't understand why,
 "was that what being electrified feels like?"

He chuckled, nodding.  He'd felt a jolt of desire so sudden and strong
 he would have collapsed at her feet had he been standing.  Now he knew
 she'd felt the same electricity as he had.  "It isn't always like that,
 sugar, but with us..." he gently smoothes her hair off her face, "I get
 the feeling it will always be.  You're lucky, you got zapped on your
 first kiss." 

"You... you could tell that I've... I've never..." she stuttered, unable
 to believe he'd been able to tell.

He nodded, "And that is the single sweetest kiss I've ever had the
 privilege of receiving.  Thank you."

She blushed, a warm, light pink that crawled up her neck and into her
 cheeks.  She felt tongue tied and couldn't find her voice.

He kissed her tenderly on the tip of her nose and then gently placed her
 on the couch.  He rose to his feet and smiled.  "I need to go home and
 get some things together.  I'd like to take you out to dinner tonight,
 if I may.  Would that be alright?"

She nodded, unable to speak still, her eyes glowing.

He bent down and gently brushed a fleeting kiss across her lips, "Think
 about what I've said.  And dress formal.  This is a special occasion."
 That said he collected his jacket.

Serena nodded, and watched as he disappeared out of sight.  She heard
 the front door close and brought trembling hands to her face, closing
 her eyes.  She could still see his smile, feel his lips and felt her
 knees go weak just thinking about the thrill of his touch.  'When did I
 go from being all on my own to needing him like air?' she asked
 herself.  'Should I marry him and just go on as we have.  Something is
 happening to us that I don't understand.  I love him, yes, but is that
 enough to trust him...' she laughed out loud at the absurdity of her
 own thoughts, a smile spreading slowly across her face, "How can I
 question him after all he's done?" she found herself asking a loud,
 "It's not him I question but my own motives..." she was cut off by the
 door bell ringing.  She frowned and went to answer the door.

She felt as if she'd been punched in the gut when she saw who was
 standing in the door way, "Aunt Lisa, won't you come in," she said,
 plastering the false smile she'd perfected onto her face.

Lisa swaggered into the room, pausing only to spit her chew out on the
 lawn and then tromped into the house.  She wore her boots and didn't
 bother to remove them as Serena closed the door behind her.  She
 removed her hat with one hand, and ran her other hand through straw
-coloured hair before tossing her hat onto a peg on the wall. He jacket
 followed and then her boots.  Serena wrinkled her nose at the smell,
 but said nothing.  She'd learned to keep her tongue a long time ago. 
 Finally, Lisa stood up and looked at her critically.  "Well, Serena
 hon, are you ready to be a startin' yer new life?" her drawl was
 pronounced and it put Serena in the mind of a badly done American
 western.  

"Aunt Lisa, I really appreciate you offering to take us in and al but I
 can't uproot Sammy and just drag him hal-way around the world, it just
 isn't practical.  His friends are here, as are mine, and I don't think
 we'd do very well outside of Japan."

Lisa laughed, "That's ridiculous, Serena hon, you and Sammy would
 absolutely adore it at my ranch!  There is nothing keeping you here now
 that your dear old dad has passed on."

Serena looked at her with her eyes, and then into the woman's conniving
 eyes.  She saw no remorse, no sympathy and worst of all, no
 understanding.  This was a woman who wanted her brother's children
 because of what they had, not because she wanted them to come live with
 her. All she wanted was their inheritance.  Serena felt physically
 sick.  Was everyone in her father's family like that?  Did they all
 just look out for just themselves and no one else?  She hoped not.

"I'm sorry, Aunt Lisa, but I will not allow you to take either of us out
 of Japan, I don't care what I have to do to convince you otherwise.  If
 I have to spend every last penny dad left Sam and I to fight to keep us
 here I will, and I'll win because, unlike you, I have everything to
 lose if I fail."

Lisa looked at her niece.  This was not the cowered young woman her
 brother had described.  The daughter he'd said would do anything she
 asked just to please.  And definitely not the daughter that would get
 up and go just because she was told.  No, this young woman looked like
 a determined mother hen, fighting to keep its nest intact.  The thought
 was sobering.  She tried another route, dropping the friendly relative
 route and revealing her true self, the side of herself that had kept
 her single for so long.

"Listen to me you little sap, you father left you in my care.  You and
 Sam both.  If you don't like the thought of moving half way around the
 world to my ranch, well tough.  You don't have a choice in the matter. 
 You can come back in two years when you're 18 and by then maybe you'll
 have learned something other than how to bat your eyelashes at boys and
 look like a simpering little female.  You honestly think that man of
 yours would be hanging around if you hadn't inherited all that money? 
 Think again, he just wants you because of what you have, not of who you
 are.  All men are like that, they just want your body, or your money."
 She lashed out viciously, attacking Serena verbally from all side.

Serena put her hands over her ears and then screamed "STOP IT!" at the
 top of her lungs when her aunt looked to be getting ready to do more
 damage, "I don't care what you say, Sam and I aren't going anywhere and
 if I have to find one of those friends to take Sam and I, I will!  I
 hate you, I don't see how my father could be related to you, you've a
 vile hateful creature who should be shot because you're vermin and I
 hate you! You don't know anything about Darien either and I should have
 you arrested for trying to corrupt a minor.  Get out! Get out of my
 house!" she snapped, her voice, after the first scream never going
 beyond a level whisper.

Lisa's eyes widened in surprise, never having suspected that her niece
 could be so vicious!  She jammed on her clothes, "This isn't finished,
 Serena, I will have you at my Ranch come hell or high water by the end
 of the year, mark my word!" She wrenched open the door and left,
 slamming it behind her. 

Serena felt herself shaking in rage, having this sudden urge to ram her
 fist into something she turned her energy to something more rewarding
 and grabbed her coat and keys.  She grabbed her purse and quickly went
 out for a walk.  Darien had said tonight was formal.  Well, she needed
 something formal, and the thought of being able to shop helped calm her
 considerably.  New clothes sounded heavenly and she set out to go shop
 her socks off.

*****

The rustle of fabric against bare skin was the only sound in the room as
 slender hands pulled light, clingy material over long legs and up over
 a petite, developing body.  Crystal and champagne blended into one as
 the light hit the material, making it shimmer between the colours,
 merging them together.  Hands that were slightly quaking fitted the
 clasp together at the back of a smooth, pale throat and then slid
 gently over the fabric, down over the soft curve of her breasts, over
 her flat stomach and then down over the skirt to where it fell to mid
-thigh.  She raised her head and looked at herself in the mirror, her
 azure blues critical and then smiled.  She looked stunning.  Shyly, she
 lifted her hair off her neck and wondered what to do with it.  She
 didn't think she would be able to resist the urge to scratch if her
 hair was tickling her mostly naked back for the rest of the evening. 

"'Rena?" a voice called from outside her door.

She dropped the golden mass and then, suddenly overcome by shyness,
 turned towards the door, "I'm in here Sam." She called, an odd catch to
 her voice, "Come on in."

Sam opened the door and took a couple of steps inside and then froze,
 his eyes finding his sister and then registering what she was wearing. 
 "Holy Cow, 'Rena!" he said amazed, "You look like a million bucks!  Are
 you going out tonight?"

She nodded, her eyes on her reflection for a moment more before turning
 to face her brother, "Darien is taking me out and I didn't have
 anything formal.  Think it'll work?"

Sam nodded, walking towards her.  He stepped up and gave her an
 impulsive hug.  "I'm going out to Mike's but tell -him-," and they both
 knew he meant Darien, "that if he hurts you in any way I'll kill him."
 The way he said it she knew her brother was proud of her.  "You look
 amazing sis, don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

"Thanks Sam." She smiled, "I needed to hear that.  Alright, I don't know
 when we'll be back but you have fun at Mike's alright?  And if Lisa
 finds you, tell her that she's got to talk to me.  Technically speaking
 dad left you in my custody, so anything you want to do or she wants to
 try has to go through me first.  Don't let her get to you, alright?"

Sam nodded and left her, closing the door behind him as he raced down
 the stairs.  Serena heard his retreating footsteps and turned back to
 her mirror.  She didn't have a lot of practice in fancy hairstyles;
 hopefully she wouldn't mess up too badly.  She picked up her brush and
 quickly began brushing through her tangled hair.  She looked at herself
 as she worked the brush through her hair and sighed.  It was freshly
 washed but to her it seemed to lack lustre, only reflecting the light
 of her room instead of shining the way it should be.

She dropped her head into her hands, laying the bush quietly, by feel,
 next to her and then closed her eyes, squeezing them shut.  'What
 should I do?' her mind cried silently, painfully reverberating the
 words in her mind.  She didn't really have much of a choice as far as
 she knew.  Her decisions were being made for her and she didn't like
 it.  She clenched her hand into a fist, 'I want to,' her mind
 continued, 'I really want to, but am I ready to give me life to another
 forever... or for as long as need be?  He's trustworthy, but can I trust
 myself.  Should I go live with Aunt...' she cut the thought off.  That
 was un-thinkable.  She could never leave the city she loved so dearly. 
 She wouldn't even think of uprooting her brother at this point in his
 life. And Darien was here.  She could never leave him.  She lifted her
 head, meeting her own eyes in the mirror and smiled.  Her heart had
 made the decision a long time ago; it had just taken a while for her
 mind to accept it.

She picked up her brush and this time, a smile on her lips, began to
 carefully style her hair.  A half hour later she nodded, adding one
 last pin and then stepped into the one-inch pumps that matched her
 dress.  She turned, smiled at her reflection in the mirror and then
 hurried out of her room as the doorbell sounded.

She carefully walked downstairs, not wanting to trip and break her neck,
 and then, checking to see who it was, threw the door open.  Darien was
 standing before her, dressed dashingly in a black tuxedo, holding a
 bouquet of assorted roses.  Three white, two yellow, one white, one
 black and five read.  She felt his eyes on her and looked up in time to
 meet his gaze, se him devouring her with his eyes, before he hid the
 emotion behind genuine appreciation.  "You look ravishing," he told
 her, stepping inside and holding the roses out to her.

She gracefully accepted them and decided she had to return the
 compliment, she'd never seen him looking so... gorgeous didn't seem to
 cover it, but it was a good place to start.  "And you look dashingly
 handsome, thank you for the flowers."

He smiled his heart-breaking, bone-melting smile, "Anything for you, my
 sweet.  Come, we have reservations, we mustn't be late."

She nodded, "I'll just find a vase for these and then we can go." She
 turned and felt, more than heard his sharp intake of breath.  

"What..." there was a funny catch in his voice.  He cleared his throat
 and tried again as she turned her head to look back at him over her
 shoulder.  "What happened to the back of your dress?"

"The... oh, it's backless.  You don't mind, do you?"

He shook his head and hoped he'd have the willpower to resist the urge
 to touch her for the rest of the night.  Suddenly, it seemed like a
 long night indeed.

*****

Author's notes: That's it for part 3!  And there will be a part 4
 *grimace* I've got to stop making my one part stories longer:P  Anyway,
 hope it wasn't disappointeing or anything!  Hopefully part 4 is the
 last... anyway, e-mail me, I love to hear from you guys! Thanks to
 everyone who mailed me about my stories :)

And I'd also like to thank everyone who read, and responded to "The
 Crash".  I really appreciate it, I hope that my story has helped put
 across what it meant to say.  Thanks again, the responce was almost
 overwhelming!  

Comments, flames, questions... all go to:

Jade_Max@innocent.com

Thanks a lot for reading!

Jade_Max
