Short chapter but I still think it's better than nothing right? Let me know what you think.

Fragile Heart

Serena stepped into the dark, penthouse apartment and gasp as Darien flipped the lights on. There, in front of her was a large living room with simple furnishings, soft carpet, and vaulted ceilings. The far wall was made of windows that provided a spectacular view of the city. "It's amazing!"

"I try."

"Well, it's wonderful Darien… I wish I lived here."

"You do now my dear. Welcome."

"I'm more interested in the type of things I'll have to do around here."

"What do you want to do?" He asked with a devious smile and watched as she blushed.

"I'm here… with you in your place so… I don't know… you pick."

"I don't know if you want to do what I want to do…"

"I probably do." She stepped over to him and traced the contours of his lips with her pointer finger. "For once… I want to live… I want to know what it's like to be with someone who knows how to make me feel alive."

"You just jump right in don't you?"

"Not usually… but I don't have the patience to wait for what I know I can have now."

"So true… so very true." Darien smirked and scooped her into his arms. "Okay then, I'll do what you wish m'lady."

88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

"Andrew I know you know where she is." Seiya leaned over the counter and stared into the blonde's bright green eyes.

"Nope sorry." He looked away and began to feverishly wipe down the counter that must have had invisible grime on it.

"Andrew… if he has her you have to tell me… you know you do… it's not good for her to be with him."

"Why are you strong arming me? If you think she's there then go an look! Don't involve me."

"You're involved. Get used to it, now… is she there?"

"Yes." Andrew sighed and stopped his scrubbing. "Yes, she is."

"If I go over there is he going to start yelling at me?"

"Probably… you know your brother. Plus, you aren't a tame sheep yourself you know?"

"I understand that but… around her I will be… I have to be."

"I know… but Seiya don't you think you've tried to protect her long enough? Let her have some fun… She doesn't have…"

"Time… I know… but I love her so much Andrew… he doesn't know what's wrong with her and that can be the most dangerous part of this whole thing."

"I suppose you should go over there, don't you?"

"Unfortunately yes… I do."

888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

"Wow…" Serena breathed and looked at the clock. "That's… a… record."

"You okay?" Darien asked knitting his brow and noticing how labored her breathing was.

"I… Maybe…" She lay her head on the pillow and closed her blue eyes.

"Serena…"

"I need my purse… and… a… glass… of… water." Her Voice was barely a whisper then she began to cough uncontrollably. Now, being alert Darien jumped out of bed, brought her purse and a glass of water. When he came back she was unconscious.

"Serena! Hey! Meatball head!" His voice was panicked, almost hysterical as he tried to shake her awake. Her body seemed to pale causing the same effect for him. "Oh my God…"

88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

"You are?" The ER doctor eyed Darien who stood in the long sterile white hallway waiting for the news.

"I'm the one who brought her in here."

"I know that but who are you? You're not her fiancé and you're not her brother or father… so, who?"

"I m her boss and close friend."

"Not that close apparently."

"Why would you say that?"

"I say that because I've been this woman's doctor since she was a child. I've never seen you and frankly any friend of hers would not have… excited her so much." The doctor glared as Darien heard the hurried sound of steps on the tile floor.

"Where is she? Is she okay?" Seiya appeared around the corner of the hall. "What happened?"

"That's what I was asking him." The doctor eyed Darien and nodded.

"What did you do to her?" Seiya pivoted around and glared at his older brother.

"I made her feel like a woman not a little girl."

"You're a Goddamned idiot you know that? Don't you know she's sick! You could have just taken months off of her life!"

"Based on the severity of this episode Seiya she only has six months before surgery is going to be a necessary action." The doctor frowned.

"I… I can't do that… not in that time."

"Well, since her friend is all caught up then perhaps he can help you with the costs hmm? Now, If you'll excuse me I have other patients to attend to."

"What the hell were you thinking?" Seiya turned after the doctor had walked away.

"I didn't know she was sick… It was her idea."

"Of course it was her idea! She always wants what she can't have and frankly you ought to have more of a conscious than that!"

"I hate you Seiya."

"That doesn't give you the right to take her from me! She's all I have and I've done everything for her! I should have never let her take that job… I knew it was nothing but bad news."

"What do you mean let her? She's a grown woman!"

"With a heart condition! A terminal heart condition Darien! She can't do physical activity, she can't ride motorcycles and have crazy sex with you! It will KILL her!"

"How was I supposed to know… and what was the doctor talking about? What operation?"

"She needs a heart transplant. Problem is she's O negative and it's hard to find an O negative heart… I don't have the money either."

"How much?"

"Why do you care?"

"I know it sounds weird but I think I love her…"

"No, that's called lust."

"No, Seiya it's not. I love her and I want to help… even if it means helping you."

"Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. I have fifty saved."

"Done."

"What do you mean done?"

"I have the money for you and you can even keep the fifty thousand… I just… I want to remain in her life."

"I don't know if I can allow that."

"Seiya… please? Now, what is the name of the heart condition again… maybe there's something else they can do?"

"It's called dilated cardiomyopathy, and no, there's nothing else to do."

"You're sure?"

"Yes I'm sure! I've looked! Don't think that you can just walk into our lives and start calling the shots because I've been the one looking after her all these years. I've worked my ass off trying to sell my art for the money for this operation. I even sold our car for some money. It's been hard for both of us and she doesn't see the sacrifices because I haven't told her…"

"Told her what?"

"That I'm doing all of this for her. She has no idea… the only way she'll have the surgery is if we have the money and even then it's a long shot… anymore she's talking about the type of burial she wants because she doesn't want to struggle through the pain of the surgery and the therapy and medications… I guess I'm being selfish asking her to do it but… to me it's worth it just to keep her alive."

"Like I said Seiya, I'll pay for it all if I can stay in her life… and if she does choose to die… let her live a little before it's too late to do anything. Tonight she told me that she's never had any… fun in the bedroom and that's what she really wanted. I apologize for doing what she asked but… I couldn't live with myself if I knew she wasn't having any fun."

"Well, I appreciate the apology but I'm still pissed at you both."

"I would be too if I were you."

"Finally something we can positively agree on."