Authors Note: Darien uses sign language to communicate.

Prologue

Darien's 15th birthday

" Daaaaaaaaaaaa-riiiiiiii-eeeeeeen. Darien! Look at me please. Please look at me. So what if he doesn't understand about not being able to speak! I do and so does your mother and that's all that matters." Serena said from her place beside Darien.

Darien didn't even look her way. He focused on the island in the middle of the lake, situated at the edge of Serena's family's property. His fathers words kept on ringing around in his head.

' You'll never amount to anything if you can't speak! You're going to be a useless dumb bastard, on the doll for the rest of your life. You're useless, an animal!' His father had removed his belt and raised it threateningly. ' If you're an animal, then I'll treat you like one. On your knees ANIMAL!' Darien had been slow to obey, looking from his mother dangling from her husband's arms, trying to stop what was happening, back to his father. The belt cam down across his face, leaving a red welt across his eyes and left cheek. Unable to cry out he had backed away from his father, who came forward yelling for him to drop to his knees and lashing him with the belt. ' Can't speak by the time you're fifteen huh, ANIMAL! Well I'll show you how animals are treated in this house when they aren't any smarter than a mule. On your hands and knees. NOW!'

Darien had dropped to his knees, scampering hurriedly for the door to the house. His fathers belt had hit his back many times before he got out of the door, but he hadn't noticed through his terror. He cursed his inability to form words. He had tried so often to say something, to make his throat obey him and make even a single syllable. But for fifteen years it had failed him, and it would continue to fail him for the rest of his life.

Nine Years Later

What kind of an answer was that? Promise me you'll answer me properly, or I'll do this...

"Darien please stop! Stop, that tickles. Aaarrrgh! All right, all right, I give in. Please stop tickling meeeeeee. !" Serena cried, trying to roll away from Dariens fingers as they prodded her in her most ticklish spot, while holding her still with his knees on either side of her hips.

Say yes! Darien stopped tickling just long enough to sign, then resuming.

" Yes! There I've said it now stop!" Serena said, trying to catch her breath.

Now stop joking around and answer my question properly

" I answered your question properly the other day when you said that one day you would have made yourself good enough to marry you." Serena said, looking up into Darien's beautiful blue eyes.

I wasn't asking then, but I am now and I want a proper answer, not ' Hmmm I don't know, maybe if you...

" How could you ever think that, after I've told you a million times that I love you, I would ever say no?" Serena asked.

Even though I'll never be able to talk?

" I think I talk enough for the both of us, don't you? " Serena said.

I can at least provide for you now.

" I've never worried about that. I always knew you could become a great businessman, even though you couldn't talk. Although I would have loved you even if you couldn't." Serena said.

I wouldn't have let you. If I couldn't support you, I wouldn't ask you to be my wife. I don't want you telling me someday that I'm useless and that you wished you had never married me. I'm going to make you proud of me, always.