Sorry it's taking so long for updates guys, but I gots lots and lots of school...ugh. Anyways thanks for all of ur reviews and for bearing with me as I continue this story. I hope you enjoy it.

Serena let out a deep sigh and rolled over for a change of view. What is happening to us? Our relationship barely started and it's already having problems. She traced the patterns on the comforter with her fingers.

If only that job wasn't so far from here. She sighed again. Maybe if I get a job things would start to get better around here. Then maybe Darien wouldn't have to work so hard; that's probably why he's acting strange anyways.

With a deep breath she rose from the bed and made her way to the bathroom so she could shower off the dust from the stables.

Darien drummed his fingers on his desk. Damn, all that bickering with Anne made me forget to call Serena. And now she's not answering. She's probably mad at me or maybe she's just out of the house, tired of being cooped up all day.

He leaned back in his chair and brushed all ten fingers through his dark hair. I've been so busy lately; I have to find a way to make this up to her. His fingers stopped suddenly.

I know, I'll take her out today. Yeah. He scooted over to his computer with a new energy and searched through his browser for nice restaurants. After settling on one that looked promising he made reservations.

Just as he hung up the phone his door flew open. In burst in a tall and built brown haired man. He looked fumed.

"Another one quit!"

Darien stared at the pacing man, "What do you mean? Who quit?"

"My secretary!" he just about screamed, now facing Darien.

"Allan calm down, we'll just get you a new one," Darien tried to calm his friend.

Allan finally stopped his pacing and dropped his head, "But she was perfect," he sulked.

Darien did his best to convince his friend that everything would work out, but nothing seemed to work. "Sheila was perfect. How am I ever going to get work done now?"

Darien scoffed, "When do you ever do work?"

"Exactly! Now I actually have to do things!" He dropped into a big chair and ran his hands through his hair. "Why does this always happen to me?"

A little while later Darien watched his friend shuffle slowly out of his office. His moping eyes never left the carpet.

Darien sighed as he fell into his desk chair. "I'm never going to get any work done am I?" he asked himself. "First Anne, now her brother," he complained as he rubbed his eyes.

He turned back to his computer in an attempt to get some work done. Fast clicking sounds sounded off from his keyboard for a few minutes before slowing down along with his thoughts.

He couldn't help it. He had a lot on his mind. Allan and Anne interrupting him, not to mention Anne's persistence. But most of all his thoughts went to the girl in his house that he knew was feeling troubled.

A sigh escaped from his lips yet again. "Serena." I wonder what she thinks about everything right now? I know she says nothing is wrong when I ask, but I feel something is bothering her.

His eyes stared passed the computer screen before widening with an idea. "Hey, maybe that's it!"

He jumped to his feet excited at his new idea. "Maybe she's bored at home needs to get out. I'll just get her a job. And that secretary job just opened!" He strode across his room with his first true smile of the day. "Perfect, Now Allan's problem will be solved as well!"

"Hey Allan!" Darien burst through the office door.

"What!" he screamed back practically falling out of his chair. "You scared the hell out of me!"

Darien ignored the outburst and continued. "I think I got someone to fill that secretary job."

Allan's brown eyes lit up as he jumped to his feet. "Really? Wow great! Thanks Darien, I knew you'd figure something out for me."

Now Serena and I can finally move forward. And I get to see her at work as well! This is going to be great, he thought as another smile spread across his face.

Serena slammed the phone back down on the receiver. "This is so frustrating! Why put an ad in the paper if you're not going to even look at the people that call in." She threw herself face down in the couch. "I can to lift boxes," she pouted.

A thundering sound made her let out a shriek as she jumped up off the couch. Her startled blue eyes darted toward the door that had just been slammed open by an excited Darien.

His sapphire eye immediately found hers and her and charged over Serena like an animal expressing dominance. As soon as he reached her she was in the air in his tight embrace before he pulled her lips to his, taking her into a well deserved passionate kiss.

"Darien what has gotten into you?" Serena finally asked. She was still dizzy from his out-of-the-blue actions.

"Serena, get dressed I got some great news!" he proclaimed.

She took a few steps back in order to steady herself after he put her down.

"What am I getting dressed for?" She asked intrigued.

Darien smiled and took her hands in his. "We're celebrating. I finally found you a job."

Serena froze at the statement. For some reason the statement really bothered her. That's why he's all excited now? Because I can finally hold my own wait? So that's why he's been acting so distant because he thought I was taking advantage of him.

Similar questions filled her mind making her eyes narrow and an angry lump form in her throat. She swallowed as she pulled her hands out of him a little too roughly.

"What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? What's wrong?" She looked away with a scoff before turning back to him. Her eyes filled with fury. "You're telling me that you've been distant from me all this time because you were upset that I didn't have a job?"

Darien's eyes widened a little at the sharpness of her voice. What did I do wrong?

"So that's what you think? That I've been just sitting around at home all this time while you were at work?

"No, no-," he tried.

"Well I got news for you," she interrupted. "I have been trying every single day, going to interviews, making phone calls. I even got approached for a job that I turned down because it was too far away from you," she pointed a commanding finger at him.

"I can't believe I actually felt bad. I tried to get a job in this freaking town and meanwhile you turn into some unapproachable ass, girls all over you, barely talking to me, until you finally have a job for me."

"No Serena, that's not tr-," he tried again only to be cut off again.

"I told you I didn't want to impose on you Darien. If I was just going to be a bother there was no point of me moving in here!"

Unshed tears remained at the rim of her eyes when she finished. Meanwhile Darien remained silent as he simply stood there, stunned.

Serena had screamed at him. He didn't even know she was capable of that. Have I really been acting that bad? He dropped his head in realization, She's right I haven't been giving enough attention to our relationship.

Just then something caught his eye. He cocked his head to the side to see if he had seen right. After realizing what it was his blood instantly boiled. But even so I never thought she would ever go that far! "Oh really," he seethed, "and just what the hell is this huh?" He grabbed her hand and turned it over none to gently.

Serena stared at him quizzically before realizing he was talking about her hand.

"Andrew," he continued, "you're getting mad about some girl that threw herself on me and here you are finding other guys while I'm at work. Is this what you've been doing when I'm not here? Just because I'm busy at work? Well if that's the case why are you complaining!?"

She felt something stir inside her like nothing she had ever felt before. She had almost just slapped him, but he didn't notice. Instead she took a breath and looked straight into his eyes.

"Is that really what you think of me Darien?"

"Well it seems to me you're just accusing me of doing what you have been doing all along."

She winced, this time her tears did fall, but she turned away before he could see. She kept herself from slapping him, but that didn't stop him from slapping her with his words. "I would never do that to you. You know me better than that," she said softly.

"Do I Serena? Do I? You said it yourself; we barely just met. We don't know each other."

That was it. She didn't want to hear anymore. With that last comment she began walking toward the stairs so she could gather her things.

"Don't walk away from me," he commanded.

She stopped at the stairs at his command but kept her back to him. She turned her head to the side before saying softly, "Andrew was the man I met today about a job working on his ranch. I turned it down because I thought it would have been too far from you. Maybe I should just take it," she said before climbing the stairs.

Guilt swarmed through his entire being. He knew she was telling the truth. Deep down he knew she was telling the truth the entire time. He knew she wouldn't do anything like that.

He flew up the stairs to follow her and found her already packing her clothes.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I just freaked out. Please don't leave."

More tears fell at the pain in his voice when he begged her to not leave. "I need to Darien. This isn't working out. I'll still be with you if you want, but I don't want to be a bother anymore."

He reached out to her and pulled her to his chest making sure she wouldn't leave him. "I never thought you were a bother." Serena buried her head in his chest and took in his scent. She didn't want to leave anymore than he wanted her to. "I just thought you were upset and bored here so when a job opened up I was excited that I could give you what you wanted."

She swallowed.

"I was just so excited because not only did I think you would be happy, but that would mean you would be working with me."

A soft sob erupted from her throat as she pressed tighter against him. "Oh, Darien I'm so sorry. I've just thought-ugh, I'm so stupid."

He chuckled lightly and tried to coo her, "No you're not stupid and you don't need to be sorry." He lifted her chin so he could look into her eyes. His breathing hitched when he saw that he had made her cry. "I'm the one who's sorry and stupid. I didn't mean anything I said. I was just angry and saying dumb things. I know you wouldn't do anything like that."

She looked up at him with eyes that looked like they might cry again at any second. "But I shouldn't have yelled at you like that."

He frowned a little. "I shouldn't have yelled at you either. Hey, but I deserved it."

Despite the way she felt she laughed.

He brushed her old tears from her eyes and kissed her lightly. When he pulled away he saw that dreamy look appear on her face.

"There see, everything's fine now."

She nodded with her eyes still trapped in his before he broke the stare with his kiss. "Now, go get dressed because I still have reservations for us. I need to take you out somewhere nice. I've been away from you for way too long."

She nodded again and gave him a warm hug before making her way to the closet.

"Serena," he called.

She stopped and turned around to face him.

He was smiling. "I love you."

A smile and blush spread across her cheeks at the declaration. "I love you too."

Darien smiled at her loving face, almost forgetting the previous events.

After stepping into the restaurant that Darien had picked out, Serena immediately felt guilty again for yelling at him earlier. This place is really nice. It's probably expensive too.

She swallowed nervously and continued her stride next to Darien.

"Hello, I called earlier and made reservations for too. The reservation's under Serena."

Serena couldn't help smiling when she heard her name.

"Right this way," the hostess lead the way to their booth and placed the menus in front of the couple. She explained who the server was before leaving. Her eyes lingered on Darien a little too long for Serena's taste. Of course Darien didn't notice.

Serena decided to not make a comment about it, but instead turned her attention to her menu. "Darien this place is really expensive," she pointed out.

He smiled and lowered her menu so he could see her worried face. "Don't worry about it Serena. Just pick out whatever you want no matter what the price."

She nodded still unsure, but went ahead and ordered anyway. She settled for Jumbo shrimp while Darien picked the Alaskan king crab legs.

The dinner would have gone smoothly if the hostess didn't keep coming back to asking if they needed help. Serena's eyebrow twitched a little in annoyance when she kept coming back. Is she serious? She's not even a waitress!

After sending her another death glare, the hostess finally got the point and gave up.

"Did you have a nice time?" Darien asked as they drove back to his house.

Serena gripped her stomach, "Yes that was delicious. Thank you."

Serena's heart raced when Darien took her hand in the car. Even after all this time he still makes my heart beat fast. A light blush appeared on her cheeks as well when he glanced in her direction.

She smiled and released a breath that she felt she had been holding for days. Things are finally starting to go back to normal.

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