Note: Thank you for all your reviews! And thanks for the editing hints! I really appreciate it! :)
Babies Don't Just Appear in Ditches
By Marie J.W.
Chapter Two
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Light streaked through the window casting its morning glow on the two undisturbed sleepers. Serena still held the baby close as the small one kept on dreaming. The sun came up hour by hour till 8:00a.m.
Serena yawned and moved to sleep on her other side when she noticed an unfamiliar feeling against her side. She opened her eyes and looked down at the sleeping baby held tightly against her chest. Her pink hair was sticking up at odd ends and her tiny face was relaxed and peaceful.
"Morning, sweetie," Serena smiled adoringly. 'I've never woken up with a baby in my arms before.' Serena lay there watching the baby's even breathing. 'I wonder where your Mother is. Does she miss you? Or were you really abandoned? How could anyone abandon such a sweet thing like you?' Serena stroked the baby's soft hair lovingly. 'I bet you're someone special. Could you be the daughter of the Moon Princess? Do you know where she is? I wish you could talk.' Serena traced the spot where she knew the crescent moon was concealed.
Just then the wonderful smell of bacon drifted under Serena's nose. 'Mmmm…'
Serena, leaning on her elbow, looked around the living room curiously. 'Is Darien still here? I thought he had work.' Serena, looking down at the baby, moved her arm from her, and got up. After making sure, once again, that the baby wasn't going to fall off, Serena walked into the kitchen.
Darien was standing by the stove wearing dark blue sweat pants and nothing else. Serena caught her breath. 'What is he doing?' She stared down at his bare feet and felt a giggle begin to work its way up. There was something very strange seeing Darien with no socks on let alone shoes.
Darien turned to her, feeling someone behind him, "It's about time you woke up. No wonder you're late for school."
Serena glared at him, "Leave me alone, Darien! I should be the one scolding you."
"Me?" Darien asked annoyed.
"Yes, where were you last night? I had to stay here and watch the baby while you were out doing who knows what! My mom was about to kill me!" Serena came up to look at what he was cooking. There was pancakes and bacon.
"It's not my fault, Meatball head! I had work! And thanks to you I didn't get any sleep!"
Serena looked up at him and glared. 'My goodness, he's tall!' Serena thought.
Darien turned and glared down at her but then saw something he never noticed before. 'Her eyes are blue? When were they blue? I thought they were...um, I guess I never really thought about it.'
Serena looked back down at the food when she realized Darien was looking at her more intently then she liked, "I didn't think you could cook."
"When you live by yourself...you have to learn."
Serena looked back up at him, "Where's your parents? Don't they ever visit?"
Darien looked away from her, "My parents are dead. They died when I was seven."
"Oh!" Serena felt like hitting herself for being so inconsiderate, "I'm sorry, Darien."
"Don't be. It happened a long time ago," Darien flipped one of the pancakes.
A cry was heard from the living room. Serena, thankful, ran back into the living room and picked up the baby and brought her back into the kitchen. Sometimes it was so hard talking to Darien. He made her mad and uncomfortable.
Darien cringed inside. After listening to the baby cry all night the first night she was here he wasn't sure he was up for a repeat. He could just feel another headache coming on. Serena came into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of milk and quickly fed the baby. Its cries quieted into contented sucking noises.
Darien sighed, "You know, you two sound the same when you cry."
Serena glared at Darien's back, "I wouldn't be talking if I were you! I bet you've cried just as hard," Serena turned her attention to the baby. She was just so cute! Then a thought came to her and she quickly snapped her head towards Darien, "Wait a minute, why are you here anyway? Don't you have work?"
"No, if you've forgotten, Meatball head, it's Saturday," Darien shot her a curious look.
Serena giggled, "Oh ya! Well, in that case you're taking me shopping!"
"What?" Darien asked annoyed, "I am not taking you anywhere! I am going to relax! And enjoy-"
"Oh, relax Darien! It won't take long! I just need to pick up some baby formula and tell the scou- girls what's going on. I can't take care of a baby by myself," Serena cut in.
Darien growled and turned back to his cooking, "Fine, but that's all! You can have one of your friends take care of...her."
"Well, if they can they will!" Serena marched out of the kitchen upset.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"That looks fine, Meatball head," Darien leaned on the grocery cart, annoyed at how much time Serena was taking. Serena held the sleeping baby in her arms while they went down each of the aisles.
"Ya, you're right...wait a minute, what about this?"
"Meatball head!"
"Don't call me that here! You have any idea how embarrassing that sounds?" Serena looked around paranoid.
Darien rolled his eyes, "Like I care! Let's get out of here and find your friends."
Serena shot him a glare before moving to another brand.
Darien sighed and moved to stand beside Serena. He looked down at the baby, "What do you think her name is?"
"I don't know..."
"You know she sure drinks a lot of milk," Darien mused.
"Are you calling her a pig too?" Serena asked annoyed before throwing several things of formula in the cart.
Darien didn't answer but quickly moved the cart to the check out.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Serena and Darien walked up the steps to the Cherry Hill Temple, Serena holding the baby.
'I hope Ray's not too busy!' Serena thought as they reached the top of the stairs.
The Temple was beautiful in the summer with cherry blooms surrounding it. Chad came around from the side of the Temple with a broom in his hand. He looked up and waved when he saw Serena, "Hi! You looking for Ray?"
Serena quickly walked up to Chad, "Ya, is she here?"
Chad looked down at the baby in Serena's arms then up at Serena then down again, "Uh, Serena..."
Serena blushed when she realized what he was thinking, "Oh! This is...um, I'm babysitting for a friend."
Chad laughed nervously, "Oh, right!" 'Get head out of the gutter. Ysh.'
"So is Ray here?"
"Nope, she had to go pick up some thing for the festival. She said not to wait up for her."
"Oh...okay! Thanks, Chad!" Serena turned and started walking back, Darien followed.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Serena had Darien stop at Mina's next. Mina lived in the really nice part of town. The house was a beautiful light peach and went up two stories high.
Serena, leaving the baby with Darien standing on the sidewalk, knocked on the beautiful white door.
Mina's Mother answered it, "Hello, Serena. Are you looking for Mina?"
"Ya, is she here?"
"Sorry, but she's going to be at the studio all day! Maybe you can drop by there," Mrs. Aino offered.
Serena smiled, "Thanks." She walked back down the sidewalk to Darien.
"Not here?" Darien asked.
Serena shook her head, "Nope. Let's try Lita."
Serena tried Lita's and Amy's with no luck. Lita was helping a friend plan a camping trip while Amy was in a computer class for the next five hours, taking a test.
"Great! So, now what am I going to do?" Serena thought out loud.
Darien was planning on walking Serena back to her house but it didn't sound like she wanted to go there.
"What about your Mother?" Darien asked as they walked side-by-side.
"I can't. Mom will ask a lot of questions and I'll have no way of answering them. And what would happen if Mom takes this baby to the orphanage! I couldn't let that happen! I can't let this baby grow up without its real Mother!" Serena felt like crying.
Darien's heart struggled against mind. 'Orphanage? Boy do I know what that's like! Mrs. Tsukino wouldn't do that, would she? But she might. And what about this babies real Mother? She would have to be out there somewhere right? But how would Serena get in contact with her or even let her know that we have her baby? Can I leave Serena at Mrs. Tsukino house with the baby? This is crazy I can't believe I'm even debating this! Yes! I should leave Serena there. That's where she lives and the baby will be taken care of. But I can't! Why not? Do you really want a baby around the house, crying, wailing, crying, and wailing? Ohh, and do you really want Meatball head hanging around? You do know what you're going to have to go through if you let her stay? Right?'
Serena stared down at her feet feeling worried and dejected. 'How am I going to explain this to Mom? And what happened if the Crescent Moon shows up? Then I'll really have some explaining to do! What do I say? I think that she's the Moon Princesses daughter? Like that would go over well! Then I'd have to explain that I'm Sailor Moon and that all my friends are the Sailor Scouts! Luna would really hate me then! Luna! What is Luna going to say about this?! She's going to freak! This is almost as bad as explaining this to my Mother! Luna is...like my second Mother or something! This has got to be a nightmare!' Serena groaned.
"Um, Meatball head- er, Serena," Darien cleared his throat, "The baby can stay at my place...but just until you can find its Mother."
"Are you serious?!" I asked. 'I'm not sure if I really want to leave this little baby in the hands of Darien Chiba but like I have a choice at the moment. And besides if he is serous then this makes my job a little easier!'
"Yeah, but there's rules to abide by, you understand?" Darien asked seriously.
"Sure, so what are they? Can't be too hard."
"Number one," Darien started off, "No eating in the living room."
"What? What's the matter with you? How can you watch TV and not eat?" Serena looked horrified.
"Cut the dramatics' Meatball head! Are you going to go by my rules or not...because if you're not..."
"Fine, fine...What else?"
"Rule numbers two, clean after yourself and the baby. I don't want my apartment to look like your room."
"You've never seen my room!" Serena protested.
"Rule number three," he went on, "no inviting your friends over for parties."
"What are you, my Father?" Serena asked annoyed, "Gosh, fine, but you're are so mean! What's next?"
"That's it. You obey those rules and I'm happy."
"Good for me! But in exchange for that you have to take care of this baby at night since I obviously can't stay there; and maybe during the day too. It's going to look pretty weird if my parents see me ducking out of the house every morning. So far my Mother thinks I'm helping a friend," Serena frowned, "This is going to be hard."
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Are you serious?!" Andrew coughed.
Darien sat at the counter in the arcade/café drinking his morning coffee as if nothing was out of the ordinary at happened.
"Darien, answer me!"
"Yes, I'm serious but I don't see why you're so worked up about it," Darien smiled, "Don't look so shocked."
Andrew smiled, "I knew you had a thing for her!"
Darien spit out his drink, "What?"
"You are in LOVE with Serena!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I am defiantly NOT in love with Meatball head!" Darien took a paper napkin and wiped the imaginary crumbs off his shirt.
"Sure you are. That's why you're helping her. Come on, Dar, since when you have done anything without some meaning behind it. You know you care for her," Andrew smirked.
Darien rolled his eyes, "I'm only helping her...because she has nowhere else to put the baby."
"Suurree, and it has nothing to do with that fact that she has gorgeous long legs and a megawatt smile," Andrew grinned.
Darien glared, "I have to get to work."
"Okay, see you tomorrow buddy! And don't forget to say hi to Serena for me!" Andrew broke out laughing.
Darien was glad to hear that awful laughter disappear as soon as he stepped out of the arcade. 'Andrew's crazy! Me fall for Meatball head? No way, not a chance!' Darien slipped into his car and headed to work.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"So, you're saying that you go to your friend's apartment during the day to help HIM out then you go home when HE gets there?" Molly asked over the phone. Serena lifted the baby up, having just finished changing her dipper, and carried her over to the couch, "Yep, I just hang around here cleaning and stuff." Serena decided to ignore Molly's obvious hints.
"Is he cute?" Molly giggled.
Serena blushed, "No!"
"Oh," Molly's hope was deflated, "So, does he pay you?"
"No, I guess you could call it volunteer work. But enough about me. What's going on with you? I've hardly seen you."
"Oh, last week Mom took me shopping and I got the coolest shoes, then Melvin asked me out! Can you believe that dweeb? He's such a brainy but he's cute!"
"Did you say yes?"
"Hmmm… maybe," Molly giggled, "I decided I'd give him a chance, not that I think anything will happen."
Serena smiled and made herself comfortable on the couch, "What are you doing today?"
"Oh, nothing really. Mom had to go to another exercise class. She tried to get me to go this time but I'd rather sit and watch TV, relaxing and eating my favorite chips!"
"Sounds good to me! I wish I could do that."
"Why? Are you grounded from TV again?"
"No, my friend forbids watching TV and eating at the same time in his house! Can you believe that?"
"No way! Well, at least you know he's clean."
"Ya, too clean if you ask me! Everything is in perfect order, right were it's suppose to be. Everything to the silver ware; its... agggg! You would think he would go crazy after a while!"
Molly giggled, "Ya I know what you mean- hold on Serena I have another call."
A few seconds later, "Hey, Serena how about I call you back."
"Sounds good. Talk to you later Moll!"
"Kay, bye!" Click.
Serena sighed and leaned her head back, "This summer is not turning out like I thought it would," Serena turned her head down to the baby in her lap, "'Where did you come from?!"
Serena got up and carried the baby on her hip, "We defiantly need some music!" Serena picked out a CD that she liked and turned up the speakers then went back into the laundry room. 'Didn't she come with a blanket?'
Serena found the baby blue blanket on top of the dryer all folded up neatly.
"Too neat," Serena shook out the blanket with one hand. The blanket was soft with a silky boarder. There was some gold glitter on the side, catching Serena's eye. "What's this?"
Serena took a closer look and gasped, "You've got to be kidding!"
On the side, sown in gold was the name...'Our Small Lady, Rini S. Chiba.'
'This is impossible! Has Darien seen this?' Serena quickly put the blanket down and looked down at the baby, "Chiba? You are defiantly NOT a Chiba! But this is your blanket. Your name must be Rini. That's a pretty name but... Chiba?!"
Serena took a long look at the blanket on the dryer, "Darien's going to freak when he sees this! Maybe he shouldn't see it. I don't know. It's best if I wait," Serena picked up the blanket and went back into the living room and quickly stuffed the blue blanket into her bag.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Bills, bills, fans, fans, bills, payments, check, fans..." Darien read off his mail, quickly discarding the fans into the wastebasket. Darien had only been on the News once when he got promoted but ever since he had been getting fan mail from girls from all over Tokyo! It had become a nuisance.
"Mr. Chiba, Mr. Watson is here to see you...about the flowers?" Mrs. Leaver's voice came over the speaker.
"Thank you, just send him in," Darien smiled. He had personally order some red roses to go in his apartment. It was hard to find really good quality flowers now days.
A man with sandy brown hair came in wearing a brown suit and tie, "The Roses you ordered, sir. Personally delivered like you asked."
"Thank you," Darien got up and shook the man's hand.
"I hope this is satisfactory?" he asked.
"Perfect," Darien handed the man the check and bid him goodbye. After the deliverer were gone Darien bent down and picked up the roses, "I better take these home and get them in some water."
Darien walked out of his office to the secretary, "I'll see you tomorrow Mrs. Leaver."
"What do you plan to do with those?" Mrs. Leaver asked, curious.
"I'm going to put them in my apartment. I'm not much of a decorator but I do like to have something.."
"Well, there're beautiful!"
Darien smiled, "Thanks! You have a good day."
"You too, Mr. Chiba."
'If these don't cheer up my apartment I don't know what will.' Darien went down to his car.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Rini, Rini, Rini, that is such a cute name!" Serena cooed playfully. She lifted the baby up above her as she lay on the couch. The baby giggled as she was bounced up and down before landing softly on Serena's stomach.
"You're going to be such a beautiful girl when you're all grown up! Your mother's going to be so proud of you!" Serena laughed happily as Rini cracked a Kodak smile. Just then the door opened to reveal a bunch of red roses. Serena sat up, putting Rini in front of her facing the door as well. The roses moved to the side showing Darien's face.
"What are you doing?" Serena asked.
"Can't I come into my own apartment?"
"No, I mean what are you doing with the roses?"
"Oh, I going to put them in here," He stated. Darien moved across the room and laid them on the dining room table.
Serena got up with the baby and followed him, "What for?"
Darien turn to face her, "Don't you like roses?"
"Of course but I doubt you got them for me," Serena put the baby down on the table.
"Meatball head, the baby does not go on the table," Darien picked the baby up and handed her back to Serena.
Serena glared at him before taking the baby, "Her names Rini."
"How do you know that?" Darien asked.
"It says it on the blanket she came with," Serena pointed out.
"Oh, well now you have something to call her," Darien picked up half the roses and put them in the sink.
"You're so rude."
"What? I didn't say anything wrong."
"It wasn't what you said it was the way you said it."
Darien rolled his eyes, "I don't know what you're talking about, Meatball head."
"Of course you don't. It comes natural to you," Serena smiled sweetly at Darien.
Darien glared at her, "You have some nerve, Meatball head."
"Ring, ring, ring..." Darien answered the phone, "Hello, Chiba here."
"Chiba? Um, I...is Serena there?" A sweet voice came over the phone. Darien glared at Serena who stood there innocently holding the pink haired baby.
"Yeah, who is this?" Darien asked.
"Molly, I'm a friend of Serena's."
"Oh, really. Well, she's busy right now so you might want to call back later."
"Oh, okay, thanks!" Clink.
Serena walked up to Darien, "Who was that?"
"Nobody," Darien grabbed the roses off the table and went to the kitchen sink.
"What do you mean 'nobody'? It was for me, wasn't it?" Serena glared at Darien.
Darien turned and glared back at her, "And since when have I given you permission to give out my phone number to all your girlfriends?"
"Oooo, you're so mean! You can't do that to me!"
"Oh, can't I? THIS IS MY PLACE!" Darien yelled. Serena stepped back, "You don't have to yell."
"I can yell if I want."
"Not at me you can't! I demand respect!"
"Don't give out my phone number and you can have it!"
"I don't have to listen to this! I'm going in the other room!"
"Fine!"
"Fine!" Serena stomped back into the living room. Rini looked up at Serena curiously as they sat down on the couch.
Darien sighed and put his hands on the counter.
"Ring, ring, ring..." Darien answered it again, "Chiba here."
"Hi, um. Is Serena there?" another sweet voice came over the phone. This one seemed a little shy.
Darien gripped the phone, "And who might this be?"
"Amy, I'm a friend of-"
"She's-" then stalling for an excuse and not being able to think of one he bit out, "she's really busy!" Darien almost growled, "Call back later."
"Oh, okay. Thanks! Bye." Clink.
Darien slammed the phone down and stomped into the living room. Serena watched as Darien moved around the couch to stand in front of her, "Let me ask one...ONE questions. How many people 'did' you give my phone number to?"
Serena thought about it, "Um, well...six I think."
Darien lifted an eye brow, "Six?"
"Yes but-"
"Did you know that I purposely did not put my number in the phone book?" Darien asked.
"No."
"Well, I did. So please stop giving people MY phone number!" Darien's voice rose.
Serena glared, "Well, if I didn't my mom wouldn't be able to call me, my friends wouldn't know where I am, and I wouldn't have anyone to talk to!"
Darien pointed a finger at Serena then balled his fist before walking back into the kitchen to calm down.
Serena looked down at Rini, "Darien's being a stupid boy isn't he?" She cooed.
The next day Serena called Ray with her communicator, knowing that was the only way she was going to get all the scouts together. Ray said they could meet at the Cherry Hill Temple at five p.m. that day for dinner and they would discus whatever scout business Serena had.
Serena wrapped the baby up in one of the baby blankets she brought then swung her backpack over her shoulder, "We get to walk to Ray's! Isn't that great?" Serena asked with an over cheerful smile. It was hot and sunny out side, not the best day to go on a hike. Serena was ready and it was going to be a whole lot of fun telling the scouts all about little Rini.
