Disclaimer: I do not own any Sailor Moon characters.

Chapter 1

Darien stuffed his leather briefcase with the files he had been handed earlier that day. There weren't enough hours in the day time for him to get everything completed like he wanted to. This was going to make his weekend that much more hectic and upsetting. He sighed out loud as he double checked his glossy wooden desk for anything he might need and then he walked out of the office. He strolled down the hallway, rode down the elevator, made it to the garage, got into his black Mercedes-Benz and drove off into the terrible traffic of the city. His eyes consistently glanced between the digital clock on his dashboard and the Rolex watch on his wrist; both of them said he was late.

"Perfect," he muttered as he leaned his elbow against the side window.

After about five minutes of mundane traffic, his phone went off. He sighed and answered it with an aggravated tone, "Yes? … I … I … No. I know. I know! I'm stuck in traffic for crying out loud! I'll be there in five minutes… She can wait for five freaking minutes! … Yeah … Alright … ALRIGHT!"

He slammed his phone down and continued to wait in traffic like everyone else. Darien tried to kill some time by turning on the public radio.

"The book is called 'Memories on a Music Stand' by Michiru Kaioh and now she's here with us to discuss it. Hello Ms. Kaioh," the interviewer started.

"Please call me Michiru," she replied.

Darien turned it up and listened carefully.

"So in the book you describe a rather scandalous affair with a married man. Was this incident true?"

"Well, yes and no. I changed all of the names in the book except for my current spouse and my family. I want to protect these people that I care deeply about," she explained. "But to answer your question, the scandal is completely real and completely detailed in the book!"

"Haha! Keep on plugging it, Michiru!" the interviewer laughed.

"Ha, yes. Well, I have to get the word out somehow! Word of mouth through the orchestra world can only do so much," she responded with a light, airy quality about her voice.

"What was the toughest part about writing this book?"

"Going back and trying to fit the pieces together with the scandal. I had to interview the man and the woman whom I hurt," she responded.

"Was the ex-wife upset?"

Darien turned the radio off before Michiru could respond. His past with her was too much for him to bear any longer. And besides, he had finally arrived at his destination both figuratively and literally. He parked in front of the building and quickly walked inside. He breezed down a few twists and turns of the brightly colored hallways and stopped at a dead end. Sitting against the wall in an orange chair was a tiny girl with light pink hair in a set of pigtails. He exhaled loudly and shrugged at her. She jumped down from the chair and slung her backpack over her shoulder.

"You're late," she commented. Her voice reminded him so much of her mother…

"I'm sorry. There was—"

"Traffic. I know. Mom called the front office back after she called you," she said quietly as they walked out of her school building together.

Darien helped her into the car and when he got into the front seat, he looked in the rearview mirror to glance back at his daughter, "Rini … You look a little—"

"Dad, we talked about sex in class today," she interrupted suddenly.

"I … oh. Oh wow," he replied with a shocked expression over his face. He hadn't expected "the talk" to come so soon. She wasn't old enough to know about this stuff … was she? He felt uncomfortable. His chest felt heavy suddenly and for the first time in a while, he couldn't think of what to say to her. This whole parenting thing was still new to him …

"You don't have to say anything, Dad," she replied. "Mom had a talk with me a while ago."

"Oh … well that's good," Darien smiled as the tension from his shoulders drained a little bit.

"But…"

Damn. He wasn't off the hook yet!

"I was wondering … How did you mom meet?" she asked.

Darien stopped at the stoplight ahead abruptly and darted his eyes up to the rearview mirror again. He didn't know which was worse: telling her the history of his love life or explaining sex.

"Um … how about we make a deal? I'll tell you about your mom and me if you do your all of your homework for the weekend," he suggested.

Rini raised an eyebrow at that request; she could get two nights worth of homework done by dinner time. This would leave the whole weekend free to question her dad about his relationships.

"Deal," she nodded.

"Great!" Darien exclaimed with relief, thinking that Rini would take forever to complete her math assignments.

He pulled into the parking lot of his apartment complex and helped his daughter out of the car. The two of them rode the elevator up to his floor and had to walk only a little ways down a hallway until they came to his door. He pushed it open after the twist of his golden key. Rini went ahead of him and dropped her things in the living room. She pulled out her binder from her brightly colored backpack and started to work on her math problems.

Darien strolled into his den where he put his briefcase down and loosened his tie. He sat down at his desk and turned his computer on. He sighed as he saw there was an e-mail from Rini's mother. It was her checking up on the two of them, making sure that everything was going smoothly. If there was one thing that people didn't seem to realize about the pink haired little girl it was that she could take care of herself if needed. She was highly independent. It was almost ridiculous. She acted like a mini adult sometimes.

"Delete," Darien mumbled to himself as he did just that to the notice in his inbox.

Four hours later...

"Daddy?"

He looked up from his paperwork that was sprawled across his desk to find his daughter leaning up against the door frame. She was in her pajamas already. Darien glanced at his watch and then stood up to his feet.

"Are you done with your homework?" he asked, strolling over to her.

She nodded in response and handed him her assignments. They walked out to the living room where a slice of cold pizza sat where she had been scribbling furiously. He looked over her homework while she grabbed him a piece of pizza. When she handed him the food, he gave her back her papers.

"Looks good," he nodded.

"Then tell me about mom," she begged, plopping down onto her knees.

Darien coughed as he swallowed his food. He had totally forgotten about their pact of the night. Sighing, he asked her with a full mouth of cold cheese and pizza crust, "What do you want to know?"

"Start from the beginning," she answered.

"Alright, but once I'm finished with all of this, you are never allowed to ask me about my relationship with your mother again, got it?" he prompted.

Rini shook his hand in agreement and then said, "Now start!"

"Okay, okay," he grinned. "Well, I guess it all began back when I got out of college. I had just moved to the city and boy was I naïve… "

Fifteen years ago…

Darien ran down the street frantically, pushing through couples strolling lazily hand in hand and nearly tackling an elderly woman down onto the pavement. She was caught by a tall, gangly looking blonde girl who screamed at him. He apologized profusely as he rushed back to his hastened pace and sprinted into the building on the corner of the street. He made it into an elevator that was just about to close and pressed the fifth floor button. He ran out of the golden box filled with dapper looking men and women and breathed heavily as he approached the empty receptionist desk. He felt a breeze flutter past him and he caught sight of the blonde girl he had run into downstairs. She plopped herself down in the receptionist chair.

"Um, hello," Darien smiled wearily. "I'm here to see Mr. Albright. I have an interview set up."

"No you don't," she replied sternly.

"Excuse me?"

The blonde girl didn't look up at him right away. Instead she pushed his elbows off of the granite countertop of her desk and repositioned her gold name placard so he could see it.

"Serena, is it?" he asked, pointing to the name. "I made an appointment with you yesterday on the phone."

"Yes you did. And what did I say?" she responded with an arched eyebrow.

"You said I had an appointment scheduled."

"Did I say what time?"

He thought about it for a moment and then slouched when he couldn't remember the time she had stated. This was because Serena never told him what time to show up. She was appalled by his behavior not only on the phone earlier but also outside on the sidewalk and was determined to punish him a little bit. It was her task as Mr. Albright's secretary to make sure that anyone who goes through those tall double doors is worthy of his time. This young man was not at all worthy. Not yet.

"You have missed your appointment Mr. … what was your name again?" she asked, this time looking into his eyes.

"Shields. My name is Darien Shields," he said exasperatedly.

"Come back tomorrow and I'll see if I can squeeze you in," she shrugged.

"But I have another appointment tomorrow!" he exclaimed.

"Then you won't see Mr. Albright. He's a very busy man after all."

Darien couldn't believe this. He threw his hands up in the air and said, "Fine. I'll be back tomorrow."

"See you then," she waved as the phone rang.

The next day, Darien came in and waited. He waited from the time that Serena had gotten to her desk until she turned her lamp out. There had been no sign of Mr. Albright anywhere. So, he came back the next day. And the next. And the next. He went for a whole two weeks straight, waiting for hours and hours just for a meeting with this man.

There were plenty of college grads his same age, but none of them seemed to have the audacity or even same level of class that Darien had. They left in the middle of the day to go for a long lunch or they returned and ate it messily in front of Serena. They had no idea that they were being watched the whole time they were there. Serena's good looks were a great distraction; none of the other men took her seriously.

By the end of the third week, there was only Darien and another young man named Andrew who were still waiting patiently. The two had made some small talk. They found out that they grew up in Connecticut and were both from very ambitious families. They got along. After waiting for an opening all day, they would both walk away starving and in much need of a drink.

The two finally decided to cement their friendship one night and went out to a restaurant called "Read". This place was the literati's dream world with the walls covered in classic books and best sellers shoved on tall, windy shelves that were dotted all over the room. People came here to read manuscripts, read the next big thing, or work on critiquing the next big thing. There were VIP rooms where deals went on for new books, magazines, or anything else in the literature world. There was a café upstairs for the morning readers, movers and shakers, and then at night, it turned into a fine restaurant establishment.

"This is the longest I've ever waited to meet with someone," Andrew sighed as the waitress brought him his dry martini.

"I know what you mean. This is tiring," Darien nodded. He sipped on his beer mindfully and glanced over the menu.

"Why do you want this so bad?"

"I don't know … I think it was just something I was supposed to do. My parents are both authors. Not very good ones, but they can make somewhat of a living," he shrugged.

"But you don't want to have a best-selling book?" Andrew asked curiously.

"Not really," Darien mused. "I'd much rather have a book that will touch someone and help them on their path through life. I want to influence … make someone's life better."

His new found friend snorted and downed the rest of his drink, "That is such a load of bullshit! I want a book that is going to make me a lot of money."

"But if you put your audience first, try to satisfy them, then they'll follow you and make you a rich man," he replied with a tip of his slowly draining beer. "I feel like I have so much more to live for rather than that 'perfect' book that will never come."

Right as Andrew finished his drink, he looked around the restaurant and flagged down a turquoise haired beauty whom he thought was a waitress. Darien knew that she didn't work there; she had her Big Bird colored book plastered all over the restaurant they were in. Apparently Andrew didn't do his homework like Darien did.

"My lady, would you be so kind as to refill this? Martini. Dry. Thank you," he smiled.

She merely grinned and glanced at Darien who shook his head no. She turned around on the ball of her foot and sashayed on up to the bar. All of the men in the establishment were staring at her, wondering why such a renowned author had been asked by a nobody for a refreshed drink. Andrew was either going to get points for his stupidity or be shamed for months in the business. It all depended on how Michiru would respond.

She ended up coming back around with his drink refilled and a smile on her face. Maybe he would just be seen as an eager puppy trying to make in the publishing world and nothing more. He wasn't a threat to anyone yet, so she didn't need to treat it as such. Instead she nodded to them and walked away without saying a word.

"What a terrible waitress," Andrew scoffed as he sipped on his drink. "She didn't even take our orders yet."

Darien laughed loudly, not bothering to tell him that she was the Michiru Kaioh. The real waiter, who actually happened to be a man, came and took down their orders. Andrew looked a little confused, but soon moved past his mistake as he downed more drinks. Darien kept himself in check unlike his fellow writer and only had one more beer with dinner.

When they finished their meal, they did their best not to stumble out of the restaurant like a bunch of shameful teenagers. Andrew suddenly stopped Darien from leaving and tugged onto his collar. He dragged him over to a bookshelf and pulled out one of Michiru's book titled "Little Boys and Big Bows". He groaned out loud, knowing exactly what he had done. Michiru was a big deal in the literature world because she was able to blend their realm with the classical music industry as well. She was the complete culmination of class.

"I'm screwed," Andrew whispered as they strolled into the street, feeling a little bit more sober.

The next day, when Darien arrived in the lobby, he didn't see Andrew. Instead, as he looked through his iPhone, he found an e-mail riddled with embarrassment from his new friend. The man had decided to pursue a different firm, a lower level firm, and work his way back up to Albright. Darien replied to him saying that he would take his chances and work through his savings in order to get a meeting with the man who made headlines and put people on the map. They decided to keep in touch and would get more drinks at the end of the week.

Serena walked in that morning with a cup of coffee and a shocked expression tattooed on her face. She couldn't believe that the lobby had been completely wiped clean except for Darien. There was only one more thing that the blonde secretary had to do before she could allow him to have a meeting with her boss; she needed to interrogate him.

"Want to go for dinner?" she asked as she sat behind her desk.

Darien furrowed his brow, "Are you sure you're asking the right person?"

"Do you see anyone else here?" she grinned, gesturing to the empty chairs sitting on either side of him. "I feel bad. You've been here for nearly a month."

"You're pitying me," he sighed.

"Let me take you out!" she whined. "You need your spirits lifted. I know this great little Italian bistro right around the corner."

"Fine. Let's go."

At the end of the day, they rode down to the lobby and he followed the flighty young girl down the street. The restaurant was literally right around the corner. It was a place that could be easily missed by those who had money, but to the poor and hungry, it was the perfect family place to dine. The two walked in, were seated immediately, and given some bread with oil and vinegar to munch on.

"So why are you trying to meet with Mr. Albright?" Serena asked as she ate a vinegar drenched piece bread.

"I have a manuscript for him," Darien answered.

"Ha! You're joking," she laughed. "You could have left that with me ages ago."

"No, I couldn't have," he insisted. "This is special to me. I wanted to present it to him myself."

"He'll like the dedication," she winked.

"How come I've never seen him enter his office?"

Serena opened up her menu and replied to him as she perused the options, "He knows that there people like you who want to meet him so he avoids them at all costs. There's another entrance into his office in the back."

"I'm sorry, people like me?"

"You know, college grad students who think they have the best credentials out there and the best book ever. I've met with plenty of people who are just a waste of his time," she shrugged.

"I don't think my credentials are better than anyone else's," Darien smiled. "I do, however, think my character and drive is better than other candidate out there. This manuscript isn't finished. It probably will never be finished, but it's something I would like to be working on while working with him and learning tricks of the trade."

"You're honest at least," Serena responded. After they order their food, she asked him, "Can I see it?"

"See what?"

"Your manuscript," she continued. "I want to see what kind of crap you're pushing toward my boss."

"Forgive me if I'm a little weary. I don't know if I can trust giving you my stuff."

"Why?" she pressed.

Darien was starting to feel a little nervous. He probably shouldn't have said anything to begin with. He sipped his water, trying to wash away his dry mouth that had sudden attacked his orifice.

"Seriously … why?" she asked. She knew what he was going to say … he just had to grow some balls and say it.

"Because I don't feel comfortable with giving my manuscript to a secretary," he sighed. He felt bad saying it, but it was true. Nothing about Serena said she would be able to give him any new opinion that he hadn't already heard from his friends or family. She was just a secretary for a man that he wanted to work for and didn't hold any more power other than that.

Right as her pretty little face started to contort into anger, a voice shouted across the room, "Serena!"

The young blonde turned around to find Michiru coming towards her way, looking even sexier than she did the night before. She leaned over and gave the secretary a kiss on either cheek before standing up straight, sticking her chest out slightly. She eyed Darien cautiously before looking back at her friend.

"Dinning with the eager to please, I see," Michiru commented.

"He's been in the lobby every day for a month. No bathroom breaks and he doesn't eat in front of me like the others," she answered.

"He's been waiting for Richard? That old coot won't see anyone!" Michiru laughed.

Serena's face hadn't changed from her sour disposition as she continued, "I thought I would treat Darien out for his dedication. But I was sadly mistaken; he is like the rest of those beggars."

"I … Serena," he begged as she stood up to her feet.

"Come on then, have dinner with me instead," the turquoise haired woman insisted, pulling on Serena's slender arm.

She wrenched it free and grabbed her stuff instead. Her eyes stayed locked onto Darien the whole time as she said with venom in her voice, "No thank you. I've lost my appetite. I'm just a secretary after all. I need to watch my figure. It's the only thing I have going for me."

"I never said that!" he exclaimed.

"You didn't have to. You basically insinuated to me that I have no brain," she snapped.

With that, she left the little hole in the wall restaurant. Darien ran a hand through his hair, not believing what he had just done. Michiru tossed him a sly smile before sashaying back to her VIP booth.

"Good luck getting an appointment now…" she said over her shoulder.

Present Time

"You pissed her off?" Rini asked as she sipped on her water on the couch. "Way to go Dad."

"Don't use that language, please," Darien asked her. "But um … yes I did. She wasn't too happy with me."

"Hold that thought. Bathroom break!"

The child leapt off the couch and started to run down the hallway to her bathroom as Darien hollered after her, "Get into your pjs while you're at it!"

He couldn't believe he was in this predicament. His child was questioning him about his love life and how it all transpired. It was only going to get grittier and stickier as he went on. He wondered if he should stop telling the story. But if he didn't do this now, he never would get another chance. Rini wasn't attracted to boys yet, she wasn't an angry, sullen teenager, and she had a decent head on her shoulders. If anything, this was the perfect opportunity to get everything out on the table.

"I'm going to brush my teeth and then I'll be ready for more!" Rini cried out to her father.

"Alright! I'll be waiting…"

That's the end of chapter 1! Please review and let me know what you think! Chapter 2 is on it's way!