No, this is not an illusion. I am writing another fic when I havn't finished the last. I will finish it but I had to start this while the idea was still there. :) Hope you like it. Let me know!

The New Job

"I'm off to work babe!" Serena sang as she ran down the stairs and grabbed her purse. The sudden stop made her long blonde pigtails rush past her and swing lightly as she waited for her fiancé to say goodbye. "Babe!"

"I'm coming dumpling. Chill, I've got plaster all over me." He smiled and gave her a soft peck on the cheek. "Good luck on your first day. Don't let the grease monkeys push you around."

"They won't." She winked and walked out of the brand new townhouse she called home with a bounce in her flat shoed step she rushed down the sidewalk to the bus stop, adjusted her crisp white shirt, and smooth black slacks accented with a large silver belt. The crisp spring air made her cheeks blush but soothed her at the same time. With a slight smile she closed her eyes and imagined what her first day had in store for her; the picture of large burly men walking around with mild tempers and grease smeared all over their jumpsuits made her giggle slightly.

The sound of the large bus engine roused her from her peaceful daydream and beckoned her into the cabin. With a small flick of her wrist she deposited her money in the automated machine and smiled at the bus driver who simply snorted at her attempt to be friendly. She shrugged and sat at the front of the bus then pulled out her MP3 player so she could listen to her music.

There were many different people on the bus this morning. A teenage boy dressed in black with black spiked hair and piercing on his face sat in the back resentfully staring out the window. She smiled, a part of her identified with him, he was obviously an artistic boy, which lead her to think of Seiya. Did he ever dress like this boy? Her thoughts drew her to the day they'd met. She had gone into the local café and saw this man quietly sitting in the corner with his sketchbook scribbling away. He looked so sad after he put his pencil down and finally looked up at her giving a halfhearted smile, he had stood and walked out.

The bus lurched to a stop causing her to look around at her surroundings. Lucky for her it was her stop so she stood and stepped off of the bus then began the semi-long walk to her new job. Finally after walking quite a distance the building appeared and beckoned her into it's large lobby, she had to admit that, for a motorcycle sales/repair shop the building was rather nice.

"You the new gal?" The large woman behing the reception desk bellowed.

"I am…"

"Go on upstairs to HR. They're waitin' for ya. I'll be here when ya finish." The woman's gruff voice seemed as soft as sandpaper but motherly at the same time.

"Okay." Serena smiled warmly and went upstairs to get all of her information from HR.

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"So, ya made it did ya?" Greeted the receptionist.

"Yes. Hello, my name is Serena Tsukino." Serena held out her hand in order to shake the receptionist's hand.

"Name's Selma glad to meet ya dear." She shook Serena's hand roughly then motioned for her to take a seat. "Looks like it's time start trainin' ya to replace me."

"I'm ready when you are."

"Girl, I ain't never gonna be ready ta retire."

"Well, congratulations on a job well done."

"Yeah but I'm gonna miss these boys around here."

"Boys? What boys?" Asked a large man with a white beard. He reminded Serena of Santa clause only with a grungier look to him. His grey jumpsuit had traces of grease just as Serena thought would be the case.

"All y'all are boys." She laughed and waved him off. "Don't ya have work to be doin'?"

"Naw, that damn kid came in, hollered at me so I tells him 'Eh! Ya wanna fix the damn thing then fix it yerself.' So he took my wrench and smacked me with it before tellin' me to buzz off… called me an old man."

"Ya are an old man Neal. But he shudn't be hittin' you with no wrench!"

"Yeah well, he did it and I ain't gonna complain any 'cause he's got himself a temper like no other."

"If ya want ya send him to me and I'll set 'im straight."

"I just might do that Selma… hey! Who's this pretty little lady?"

"She's my new replacement for when I leave, her name's Serena."

"Nice to meet ya young lady. Ya done gotta worry about some of us guys. We can be nasty at times."

"You're a large bear Neal. Don't scare the kid." Selma laughed heartily and looked at the confused blonde.

"There. I did your job for you, you cranky old man." A deep voice caught Serena's attention as she saw a young man marching over to the desk. He was very attractive in his gray jumpsuit which he'd tied the entire top half of the suit around his waist and was not wearing a black muscle shirt that conformed to his muscular torso and arms. His black hair was lightly tossed and fell gently over his forehead and ended just before his dark blue eyes. A slight but dashing smile spread across his face as his eyes fixed on Serena.

"Ya had no right to hit Neal with a wrench and you know it!" Selma snapped at him.

"I didn't hit him… what the hell? Tellin' lies so you can fetch your girlfriend after me?" The young man turned to Neal and glared.

"Naw, just felt like tellin' a story so I could meet the new gal."

"New gal huh? Gee, and here I was thinking you brought your daughter in Sel. How you doing meatball head?" He asked and laughed.

"My name is Serena."

"Good for you. I'm Darien."

"This kid never calls anyone by their names. He's got a name for everyone."

"I don't like meatball head."

"Take it!" Both Selma and Neal exclaimed before Darien could respond.

"Trust me dear. Take that nickname and be grateful." Selma smiled.

"I'm not going to be grateful for that."

"Tough, that's your name now." Darien laughed and looked around at the lobby. "I think this place will miss you momma hen."

"Thank you Darien. Now, you two get back to work."

"Okay."

"Fine. See you around meatball head." Darien waved and turned towards the shop door. She could use some loosening up. He smirked.

"Don't think about it kiddo." Neal said flatly as he saw Darien's smirk.

"Hey, I've already started."

"She's a nice girl, plus, she's got a ring."

"Hah! A lousy piece of tin has never stopped me before old man. Don't think I'll let it stop me now."

"You can't do that, remember the fraternization policy?"

"Policies? Rules? I don't think so."

"I don't want you talking with him very often okay Serena?" Selma frowned and watched the door shut.

"Why not?"

"He's bad news. No sweet thing like you should be around a guy like that… they have a tendency to turn ya."

"No one's going to turn me anything. I'm engaged and not interested."

"Ya will be honey… ya will be."

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"Hey! How was the first day?" Seiya greeted his fiancé as she came in the door.

"It was interesting… learned a lot and met most everyone."

"Yeah? Good." He nodded and hugged her.

"This one mechanic gave me an annoying nick name."

"What's that?"

"Meatball head."

"Meatball head? He doesn't sound too nice."

"I'm not sure… he's the only one there roughly my age."

"Well he sounds like an ass." Seiya sneered and untied his plaster covered apron.

"Finish your sculpture?"

"Yeah. I like it."

""Good, now maybe we can actually go and see the sphinx so you can compare it."

"I have no desire to travel. You know that." He glanced at her hopefull eyes and frowned. "I'm not going to travel."

"I want to."

"Then go without me."

"But, we're getting married… that's no fun."

"Then stay here, that's what I'm doing."

"Where's your sense of adventure?"

"I don't have one… now, don't ask me that again because my mother used to do that all the time."

"Sorry babe. I forgot." She sighed and slumped he shoulders.

"It's okay dumpling… now, what should I cook for dinner?"

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Darien stepped out of the building and walked to his motorcycle and smiled. That girl… She's the sexiest woman I've ever seen… a shame she thinks she's going to get married to some boring do gooder. Ugh, I bet she's a tiger in sheep's skin. He startled the bike and kick started it making the motor rumble.

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