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