Sorry, sorry, sorry for the wait. I just wanted to give out a huge hug to everyone who has reviewed! I can't believe this story actually made it to 200+ I'm so glad you all are enjoying That Simple Magic. So a BIG thank-you to all! And also, thanks for all the wonderful understanding and support I received! You guys rock J
This chapter was going to be longer but I wanted to get something up for everyone. You'll just have to see Serena's dad's reaction and the answer to a question next chapter!
I also am trying to reload this because the format got screwed the first time.
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That Simple Magic
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Chapter Eight: Sunrise Surprise
Ten slabs of cement up, ten slabs of cement back, and a good deal of backache in between. At approximately nine thirty-eight in the morning, about twenty minutes after I had puked up today's breakfast, I was pacing- hobbling would be the more correct term- up and down in front of a rather disgruntled Rei. She had managed to step into the one puddle of slush left on the sidewalk while wearing her new sandals and I was the closest victim.
"Would you go already?" Rei demanded, scraping her foot against a tree. "You're only delaying the inevitable."
"Well see how easy you find it, marching up to the worst enemy of your childhood and announcing that you are having his baby!" I snapped. My back was killing me and I was not in the mood to argue. So far I had managed to get halfway down the street to Darien's place and every time I ended up right back where I started; Rei was more than a little irritated.
"Meatball Head, you goof!" she shouted. "I'm going to leave if you can't manage to get your butt up to that apartment in the next five minutes!" Hah! Like one of my best friends would really abandon me when I was in need!
Five minutes later, I was standing by myself on the sidewalk. So much for best friends. "Stupid Rei," I muttered to myself, ignoring the odd looks I was getting from the other pedestrians. I narrowed my eyes at one suspicious looking young woman. She walked by me, unconcerned, swinging what looked to be an expensive leather briefcase. Young, healthy, slim, beautiful, obviously wealthy… I loathed her. She was the type my fellow procreator would go for. Oh, how I loathed him. I threw my head up to the skies.
"HE'S THE LAST MAN ON EARTH I'D WANT TO PROCREATE WITH," I wailed. "Why does this stuff always happen to me?!"
Suddenly I found that I was being given a wide berth, in the middle of an empty piece of sidewalk, two feet in radius. I sniffed. As if I wanted to have anything to do with them anyway. They were all trouble, especially men. With these thoughts in mind, I suddenly clapped a hand over my mouth and darted to the nearby trash bin with surprising agility.
Funny, I could have sworn I'd already spewed up the entire contents of my stomach earlier this morning.
"Rabbitface?" someone exclaimed in shock. Grasping the edge of the bin, I weakly looked towards the familiar voice.
"Ahhh!" I stumbled backwards. I squeezed my eyes shut, "You're not here, go away. You're not here go away. You're not here, go aw…"
"… What the heck happened to you?" my younger brother demanded in disbelief.
"I do not want to discuss this," I managed with dignity. Oh god, I can't believe Sammy was the one to find me vomiting on the side of the street. How could this possibly be anymore embarrassing?
"No offense, Rabbitface, but you look a lot different then you did the last time you had dinner with Mom and Dad," Sammy declared.
"I'm pregnant, dummy!" I yelled, giving him a whack on the head for effect. "Now be a good bro and take me to a nice place to sit down and buy me a drink." I scrubbed the back of my hand against my mouth, wincing at the acrid taste that was inside. Phlech! Gross.
"Oh man," Sammy's jaw dropped and his eyes bulged out of their sockets. "Have you told Mom and Dad yet? I bet Dad totally flipped, didn't he?!"
"Of course I haven't told them yet, stupid." Did I want to be locked in a nunnery for the rest of my life? No way, therefore Dad was never going to know.
"Well when you do, make sure I'm there, okay?" Sammy pouted. "Please?"
"Fine," I growled. Younger siblings are such a pain. You would have thought that Sammy would have grown out of this annoying-Serena faze by now. Sammy frowned at me then abruptly started walking off in the other direction.
"Hey- wait a second!" I called, beginning to lumber after him. "Aren't you supposed to have questions and stuff?"
"You remember Health in school?" Sammy grinned. "I had that class too so I know how babies are made." He choked and his face began to turn blue. "That means- oh gross, nasty thoughts! I can't believe anyone would do that with my sister!"
"Shut up, dork." What a wise-cracking little twerp. It wasn't like I was completely despicable, I tell you. On the other hand, if you combined his face with mine we would make a lovely shade of purple! "Now you are going take your lovely sister out for tea and be nice to me because I've had a very stressful day and you aren't going to mention anything I might find distressing."
"You find gum on the sidewalk distressing." Sammy rolled his eyes as he trudged back towards me. Yes, I knew my adorable face would come in handy soon!
"Thank you," I replied primly as he offered his arm. I figured that ignoring his last comment was the most dignified way to go.
We actually had a very nice time together, probably because we were both on our best behaviors. I sipped my tea like a lady and the foul taste in my mouth eventually disappeared; better yet- never once did I feel the urge to hurl the teacup at my younger sibling's unsuspecting head. That, I feel, was a true accomplishment because generally speaking, I never get out of an encounter with my brother without at least throwing something.
And then I found myself back in the situation that I was in this morning: at Darien's place. Even though I was the Queen of Procrastinating, I still managed to end up right back where I had started. At least I had managed to enter the building this time.
I found myself just staring at the door. Half of me wished that he would open it and walk out suddenly, forcing me into discourse. The other half of me was screaming 'run, run, as fast you can, you can't catch me because I'm Sailor Moon, man!' Okay, so maybe it wasn't my best song ever but under the circumstances I think it was pretty good.
"Are you looking for Darien?" a woman inquired, walking down the hall with a newspaper folded under one arm. She was slender with tilted lavender eyes and raven curls tumbling down her back. My eye twitched. Who was this woman? She was far too similar to my image of his model girlfriend to make me feel comfortable.
"Um, yes, actually," I mumbled, perspiration breaking out on my flushed forehead. Watch her be his girlfriend that he neglected to tell me about! One of these days I was going to strangle that man and he would completely deserve it too. "Is he not home?"
"He left about half an hour ago with Andrew." She smiled, baring sparkling white teeth suitable for toothpaste commercial. Whoa! Now she was definitely treading on my territory to be discussing Andrew and Darien in such familiar terms.
"Do you have any idea when he will be back?" I was grinding my teeth and my nails were digging into the fleshy bits of my palm but I don't think it would have been a good omen to suddenly attack her for no reason. I was being entirely irrational and it felt very nice.
"No, I'm sorry." Why did she have to be so damn courteous? Couldn't she be just a little bit rude to give me the excuse to release some anger? She continued down the hall, apparently unaware of the lethal stare I was sending after her. Now, if my princess-powers actually worked like they were supposed, she would be a pile of ashes right now. Unfortunately, my Ultra-Venomous-Don't-Screw-With-Me Death Glare must have been malfunctioning because she hadn't burst into flame. I suppose that was more Rei's field anyway.
I had returned to staring at Darien's door, wishing desperately that he come home, as Miss Perfect fumbled with her keys. I had to stop lashing out at every decent looking young female who was not in my predicament. It wasn't as if it was their fault I looked like a beach ball, no it was that damn dirty crystal's fault and, of course, Darien's! It's not like I could have gotten pregnant here myself, people! It takes two to do that vertical tango!
Yes, I was a complete mental mess and I'm not afraid to admit it.
"Hey…." My eyes slid sideways to regard Miss Perfect. She had somehow managed to return to my side without me even noticing.
"Hi," I concentrated on making my greeting sound friendly this time. It came out rather gruff all the same.
"Would you like to come back to my place for some coffee while you wait?" The invitation would have been appreciated more if the sudden thought of coffee hadn't made the bile rise in my throat. My face went hot and cold at the same time.
"Thank you very much for the offer," was my gracious reply after I had managed to choke the bile back down. Ew. "However, I think I should be getting home now since I've been out all day." Unconsciously my hand drifted towards my stomach as it had taken to doing lately. Sometimes I thought I could feel my baby's heartbeat if I was relaxed enough.
Surprisingly, Miss Perfect's gaze followed my hand wistfully. "What's it like?" she asked curiously. "Being pregnant, I mean."
"It's the best and worst experience of my life," I said honestly. "I love her already, though." Not that I knew she was really a she, per se. Call it a motherly instinct.
"Oh," Miss Perfect sighed. "I've always wanted lots of children."
"Me too," I answered, sharing my first genuine smile of the day. "Me too."
"Good afternoon, Mina," I virtually floated into my apartment, dancing over to the kitchen with a gracefulness that should have been shocking. I rummaged through my freezer with a buffoonish grin plastered on my face, and reentered the living room waving a spoon in one hand and a quart of ice cream in the other. "Wonderful day today, wasn't it?"
"Well you're in a happy mood," Mina commented from where she was lounging on the couch. She held a gossip magazine listlessly in her hands. I idly noticed that the front page was a mammoth close-up of a white-haired man. Since when had the press taken to following around old geezers?
"Yep!" I agreed, slurping down half melted ice cream. Luna glanced up from her perch on top of the television. I don't know why my cat seemed to be constantly in my home these days seeing as she supposedly lived with my parents.
"So I take it that Darien took the news well?" she asked, pausing as she washed her face.
"Um," the ice cream slipped in my grip and I hurried to catch it. "Actually, he wasn't home today."
"I can't believe you haven't even told him yet!" Mina shrieked and Luna eyed me with disapproval.
"What are you going to do- wait until your water has broken and call him from the hospital?" the feline taunted. "In case you've forgotten, Lunar girl, there is no way to chart your pregnancy. You could have your baby tonight!"
"I hardly think that's going to happen," I sniffed, settling down on the ottoman. "Besides, I don't see how it's my fault that he wasn't home." Luna growled and leapt from the television. She stalked to the opposite side of the room with her back arched and tail lashing before turning to stare at me. I determinedly turned my back on her despite the fact that her continued attention made for an itchy spot right between my shoulder blades.
"You have to tell him sooner or later," Mina groaned. "You're barely even trying. Have you called his house and left a message?"
"Nooo." so I hadn't thought of that- sue me, why don't you! I'm pretty sure this isn't the information you tell over the phone. Mina rolled her eyes and allowed herself to flop off of the couch before moving towards the portable phone. Her fingertips had just begun to brush the handheld device when it let out a piercing ring. Mina jumped and knocked over the stand, sending the phone crashing to the floor. She sent a disgruntled look over her shoulder at me (oh please, as if it were my fault) and crawled around on the floor.
"Hello?" she demanded breathlessly, scrambling back to her feet. She froze and a slow smile spread across her face. "Hey darling," she cooed. Oh yuck, gag me. Does she have to go all mushy in my living room? Being as intuitive as the leader of my protectors should be, Mina gave me a dreamy smile and drifted into her room, closing the door behind her. Well, fine by me, like I wanted to listen to her gooey conversation anyway. I settled back in my seat and scooped ice cream into my drooling mouth. Oh-wait- brain freeze! Eh!
"You!" Luna stabbed a paw in my direction. "You are telling that Darien about the baby tomorrow!"
"Um, heh heh, right," I trailed off, trying to take no notice of the headache coming on. "Ouch," I doubled over my stomach, hissing. That little squirt in there just kicked me! The nerve of her, kicking her own mother! I'm going to give that child life and she repays me by kicking or punching me?
I bet we're going to have lots of problems when she is a teenager.
"See, even your kid wants you to talk to her dad," Luna declared smugly. Have I ever mentioned how I hated smug people? Only I am allowed to be smug and only I am allowed to have double standards because I am a princess.
I sneered and went into my room to sulk.
Moving about restlessly in my bed, I impatiently waited for the sandman to come. 'I heard lavender is a good way to help you fall asleep when you are pregnant,' Lita had told me earlier that evening, when I had complained about lack of sleep during our phone call. 'There are also massages and stuff that your partner can do to help you relax.' She had snickered. 'I bet Darien wouldn't mind obliging.'
Yeah, of course he wouldn't mind- not. But I say, let's take things one thing at a time; for instance, I think that I should get around to telling him that he's going to be a parent before I expect us to perform any civilized activities together.
So there I lay, inhaling enough lavender to make me sneeze occasionally and a good gallon of tea in my stomach that supposedly helped cramps. I should sue that company for raising my hopes, as it was I wished someone would just rip out my ovaries and save me the trouble. Flopping over created a lot of awkward moments in my life and I was glad that no one was there to witness it. I glared at the clock.
It was the three a.m. wake-up call. Yippee!
And I hadn't even gone to sleep yet! "Damn it!" I cursed, resisting the urge to roll over onto my belly and burrow my head in my pillow. Sorry, Sere, no-can-do anymore, I reminded myself. Well what was I going to do now? Mina would kill me if I tried to wake her up now- she had been so grumpy when she found out I hadn't had the guts to tell Darien the big news. I should probably get around to that soon….
"I'll do it!" I suddenly announced to the quiet room, sitting bolt upright in bed. Guided by the blinking red light of my alarm, I fumbled for the phone. It took another few minutes for my mind to try and remember his phone number. "Nine-oh-one, wait, that's not right!" I grumbled to myself. "Nine-oh-three-double seven-oh-three! Yes, I'm brilliant!" I quickly dialed.
"…iz tree in the morn," he slurred sleepily. "Better be good."
"Good morning Darien, darling!" I chirped.
"Noo, gawd no!" Darien groaned desperately. "Meatballs, is that you?"
"The one and only, sweetheart!" I cooed. "I have something important to tell you."
"It'z gonna haff to wait," he replied drowsily. "I dunno if yur anal or what Meatballz but I need sleep."
"But Darien, this is very important!" Not to mention, this was the one time in my life that I had ever made am effort to continue a conversation with Darien. I was actually maturing!
"Meet me in tha perk tumarra," he mumbled and then there was a click and a buzzing sound filled my ears. He did not just hang up on me, did he?! I was going to wring his neck! Here I am, trying to be friendly and share news that was going to have a major affect on both of our lives AND HE HANGS UP. I ground my teeth and c racked my knuckles: Darien Shields, you sure are going to get it tomorrow when I got my hands on you.
After that, surprisingly enough, I managed to fall into a very restful sleep. It wasn't until morning that I realized he hadn't told me what time to meet him at. Men!
"Darien! What a surprise it is to bump into you! Good to see you again," I lied through my teeth, grateful for the style of my coat being capable of disguising my rotund girth.
"What you do for kicks, Meatball," Darien said, shaking his head. We were strolling through the park and from a distance it might have even looked as if we enjoyed each other's company. That is, if I hadn't been walking on one side of the path and Darien on the other. "Oh, and I think I forgot to thank you for calling me at three a.m. to arrange this heart to heart."
"That was you? You don't say," I would be a liar if I said I wasn't smirking at this point. "Not a problem; you are sincerely welcome." Darien definitely looked as if he had seen better days- there were purple shadows under his eyes, his shirt was wrinkled, and his hair was a mess (not to say that it wasn't always messed up anyway). Actually, it looked like he had been up since… say, three a.m.? -Insert evil cackle here- Darien was glowering at the stupid grin pasted on my face.
"Just say what you want and let's get this over with," he growled. "You're starting to get annoying." Now I'd call that an improvement considering the state of our mutual affairs. When we first met, he found the mere sight of me annoying.
"Well you remember that thing that sort of took place between us? The one we promised never to talk about ever again?" I babbled nervously.
"The thing we promised to never talk about but now we are talking about? I may recall it," Darien admitted. The breeze ruffled his hair. "Don't tell me you're in love with me now. I mean, I know I'm irresistible and everything but I just don't see you like that. You're more of a…um…'friend.'"
And Mr. Egomaniac has made a triumphant return! Let the fanfare proceed! "Hah! Yeah, right! If I ever thought I was in love with you, I'd commit myself to an insane asylum," I snorted. Sure, my laughter edged on the verge of hysterical and we were attracting odd looks but really, what does that matter?
"Glad to hear it," Darien didn't even have the grace to blush. What a jerk. We continued walking together in an almost amiable way, probably because Darien was in a zombie-like state and I was too busy mumbling to myself to notice. Finally we paused in front of the pond. I watched a ducky go by with all of her little duckies. Aw, how cute! I smiled for a moment, gulped and Darien.
"I want to show you something," I finally sighed. Yes, I had not better way to tell Darien than just springing it on him out of the blue by demonstrating the evidence. Sometimes I wonder if I'm truly evil but it's not like I could actually have the courage to come out right and tell him! Please, as it was the butterflies in my gut were making me dizzy. I grasped my coat and fumbled with the belt.
"Meatball Head, it's illegal to strip in public," Darien smirked. "This is a family park after all."
"No kidding, you pervert!" I shrieked, flushing indignantly. Did he actually think I was that depraved? Don't answer that, who knows what goes on in that man's dirty mind. "I'm not stripping!"
"If you say so," a glint in Darien's gorgeous… um, naturally I really mean ugly… blue eyes informed me that he still thought otherwise. What a sicko. Fixing a death glare on the creature, I slid out of my coat.
Fwhoomp!
I glanced down, slightly nervous, at where he lay sprawled on the grass. He featured a dumbfounded look on his face; I wished I had a camera so I could preserve his expression forever. Hah! And people always thought I was the klutzy one!
"Darien, are you alright?" I asked, huffing slightly as I bent over to check on him. Alright, so I admit I was a little bit worried about him. But only because we were having a kid together and he couldn't just die of shock. Right…. Even my subconscious wasn't buying that one but the excuse would have to do for now. I waved my hand over his blank face. "Darien?"
"You, you look," he stammered, rapidly blinking his dazed eyes.
"Radiant? Glowing? Spectacularly gorgeous?" I supplied helpfully.
"Big," he sighed, pushing up from the ground and gesturing with his hands. Okay, so now he was too good to take any of my 'helpful' hints, was that it?
"Gee, thanks," I sniffled, waddling to the bench a few feet away. Jackass, bastard, there weren't even words to describe how awful he was. How is a girl supposed to look when she's pregnant, I ask you? It's not like I can keep a flat tummy when there is a brand new human being growing inside me. To think Lita actually claimed Darien was tactful!
I folded my arms under my breasts and blinked my eyes rapidly. In preparing myself for recounting the news, I had considered the fact that Darien might not take it so well. Did he have to take it so badly though? Wiping my suddenly runny nose on the edge of my sleeve, I stared through blurred eyes out at the mother duck and her little ducklings. I bet her co-creator didn't abandon her or call her FAT when she was pregnant. I bet SHE didn't have to worry about how she was going to tell her children that their dad didn't care.
Life just… oh, life just sucks sometimes.
A heavy arm draped itself across my shoulders and I was pulled over along the bench. Startled, I looked up into Darien's shimmering blue eyes. You know how some people say they can see stuff in each other's lives? Let me tell you, they must be lying because I couldn't see anything in Darien's eyes except for a little bit of a glitter and all I did was hope desperately that he couldn't see into my thoughts.
That almost sounds like a contradiction.
"Are you really pregnant?" he asked softly, close enough for our noses to brush against each other. "And is it really mine?"
"Of course it is, you fool," I snapped. I must have had something in my eye because they were very watery and I ducked my head so Darien couldn't see. "I'm not just some… some… some common slut who- hic- sleeps around." Great, so now I was hiccupping. Soon I really was going to start crying and then everything would go downhill from there.
"I know you're not, Meatball," Darien murmured in my ear and he pulled me closer. I hesitated before wrapping my arms around his middle and burrowing my nose in his shirt. He smelled of roses and something else. I'm fairly embarrassed to admit that I liked the way he smelled. I could feel his hands running through my tails of hair and he looped one around a hand, giving it a gentle tug. "I just have a couple questions."
"Shoot," I sighed and angled my head to see his face. Maybe it would have been too much to hope for but I wished that my eyes hadn't become too red and puffy from when I had… ahem… something in my eyes.
"I guess it could just be me and all but it seems to me that you are more advanced than you should be."
"Oh- yeah, that would be the other thing I wanted to talk to you about," I pulled back suddenly and accidentally cracked my head against his jaw.
"Do you always have to do that?" Darien winced, running a hand over his bruised jaw.
"Shut it, creep," I moaned, rubbing the back of my head. I took a deep breath and scanned the park to make sure no one was close enough to overhear. I hadn't discussed telling this secret with the girls and Luna sure wasn't going to like it. All the same, Darien had to be told. "I- I, um," I began as furtively as possible. My eyes were on a never ending cycle, darting to all corners of the park. "I think the reason my pregnancy is going so quickly is because I'm-I'm," I stuttered.
"You're?" Darien tried helpfully. You know, he really isn't as bad as he seems from time to time.
"I'mSailorMoon," I blurted out in a rush. If Darien's expression when I had shown him that I was pregnant was hysterical, this was one was even more so. He was stunned; I really craved my camera now. Darien shook himself and scowled at me.
"Ha ha, very funny Meatball, want to run that one by me again?" he demanded.
"I really am!" I cried. I can't believe he didn't buy it. It wasn't like we looked that differently! Even though there was that glamour that hid our identities… still, we did resemble each other after all!
"And I'm the king of England," Darien burst out laughing. "Oh, my silly Meatballs!"
"It's true!" I pouted. Who would have thought he wouldn't believe me? "Look buddy, I'd transform for you here and now to prove it but for one, we're in a crowded park," okay so maybe that was a lie, "and for another, the last time I changed, I realized that when I was transforming, I was without…," how to put it delicately, "clothes!" Besides, I wouldn't want to think about what it would be like transforming in a pregnant state anyway.
Darien was staring at me intently, like he was trying to realign me with other memories. I fidgeted nervously; he must think I was on drugs or something. Without any warning, a wicked grin spread across his face.
"So," he drawled. "You're Sailor Moon."
"Shush, not so loudly!" I hushed him frantically, tossing wild looks around the park.
"Well Miss Sailor Moon," here his grin got even wider if that was possible, "did you ever have a crush on Mr. Tuxedo Mask?"
A blush crept across my cheeks. Not that it was any of your business, Mr. Nosy. I only pined for him for more than half of my life. "Maybe," I replied shiftily although the blood rushing to my face was most likely giving me away anyway. "Why?"
"Because, Miss Short Fuku," Darien mumbled, looking like he was going to burst, "I'm Tuxedo Mask." My mouth dropped and I gulped. No way- no way on earth was my hero… ooo, I can't even say it. Darien? Tuxedo Mask? How could it be? Tuxie was always so charming and mysterious and such a wonderful kisser.
There I froze. Oh my god I had willingly kissed Darien! My arch-nemesis! And I actually thought he was a good kisser too!
"I kissed you!" I cried in astonishment. Darien had his smirk back on again.
"You enjoyed it too, you little twerp," he snickered. I barely mastered the urge to smack him on the head.
"I should kill you for that comment, you twit!" I yelled. "Wait a minute," I said suspiciously. "How do I know you're really Tuxie?"
I would prefer not to discuss his answer because he-he-
HE KISSED ME! He smooched me right in the middle of the park, smacked one right down on my unsuspecting lips. Only an hour before he had been talking about 'ooo it's a family park' and now we were making out in it! More like ravishing each other as much as possible without actually doing the down and dirty.
Okay, so if I'm completely truthful, I can't say I really struggled. At all. That is, until someone else decided to join in the fun.
"Ow!" I slanted my mouth away and hid my flustered face in the crook of Darien's neck. Darien wore a face of bemusement before I grabbed his hand and placed it over my belly. I watched him through my eyelashes as he swallowed. My hand rubbed soothingly over his even though I flinched each time the baby kicked. Eventually she settled down and Darien's hand was simply grasped in mine. I attempted to smooth my rumpled dress over my large stomach as I leaned against his tall frame for support.
"Well my little heroine," Darien said, beginning to laugh. "You kiss much better than you did when you were fourteen." I opened my mouth- how dare he say something like that, especially after we just had that moment together?!- when suddenly he paled. "I kissed you when you were fourteen! I'm-I'm"
"Sickening?" I suggested. You know Serena, always ready to lend a hand. Hey, wait a minute. Did I just say kissing me was sickening? Darien grimaced. "Don't worry, you sick old man, at least you didn't know what you were doing." Hah!
"Let's can the sideshow, Sere," Darien sighed. Wow! He just called me by my real name- not only that but my nickname. Maybe we were really getting somewhere after all. "We need to talk."
"What about?"
"I," he stumbled over his words, looking like a lost little boy. He was too cute to be true. "I want to be in our child's life as much as possible." He made eye contact suddenly and for an inexplicable reason, I wished that I could hug him. "Would you move in with me?"
