Darien woke up to Serena's hair tickling his face and light tapping on the door. He rubbed his eyes with one hand. His other arm was tucked right under Serena. Her legs were entangled in his and hand wrapped around him. She was sleeping so peacefully. He hadn't slept this good in weeks. He missed her and he missed these mornings. He just admired her face. She looked so beautiful.
Tap. Tap.
He didn't want to get out of bed. He didn't want to risk waking her up. However, the knocking got louder and he knew it would only get louder if he didn't answer it. He sighed. Rolled out of bed. Grabbed his shirt, and answered the door. When he opened it, he saw her little cute face.
"Dr. Meany?" She looked at him so confused.
"Rini! You're up early!"Darien said in shock. "Oh shoot. You're mom is still sleeping." He whispered as he closed the room door. He knew she had been having a hard time sleeping so he wanted to let her rest.
"I am a little hungry."She said grabbing his hand to lead him to the kitchen. "Can you help me with the cereal?"
He scratched his neck while she dragged him. "Cereal huh? Do you really want all that sugar to start the day?"
Rini stopped and turned around. She glared at him. He laughed.
"You are just like your mother." He picked her up and placed her into one of the stools in front of the counter. "So which cereal will it be today?"
"Chocolate ones!" She said excitedly.
He poured her cereal and her milk. He then went to the coffee pot to make some coffee.
"So... why were you sleeping in Mommy's bed? And how come you're not in pajamas?" Rini asked before putting a huge scoop of cereal in her mouth.
Darien froze mid coffee scoop. "Well Rini... You see..." He turned around. "After helping your mommy move all your gifts up, I helped her clean a little, and while we were cleaning, she fell asleep!"
Rini laughed. "Mommy would do that. She hates cleaning."
"I know! And so I had to do all the cleaning, and then afterwards I didn't want her to sleep on the couch...so I carried her to her bed. But...after carrying her to her bed, I must have been so tired I passed out on her bed too!" He looked at Rini.
"Hmmm? Okay! Mommy can be pretty heavy... you must have used all your energy!"
"You are so right! I did." Darien turned back around to his coffee.
"How long is mommy going to sleep for?" Rini asked.
"Well she has been working a lot and she had a busy day with your yesterday, so I am sure just a few hours longer."
"What are we going to do until then?"
"Well...I need to get ready and change for the day. You can come up and watch TV in my apartment while I do that so Serena can have it nice and quiet?"
"Okay!"
Rini finished her cereal. Brushed her teeth and got ready. Darien took her upstairs, allowing Serena to rest.
"Darien?"Rini said as she was coloring on the floor and he sat on the couch.
"Yes, Rini?"
"Do you think my mom is pretty?"
The question threw Darien for a loop. He looked at Rini, "Well that is loaded question." He laughed.
"Do you?" She looked up at him.
He laughed. "Of course I do."
Rini chuckled."Hmm... I heard her Aunty Lita talking and she thinks you're a hunk, whatever that means."
Darien blushed. He looked up at the clock. It was almost 12:30. "So... Rini want to go see if your mommy is up?"
"Can I finish my picture? I want you to hang it on your fridge. Your apartment needs color."
He laughed. "Fine."
Back at Serena's apartment. Serena rolled over to feel an empty bed. She looked up and around the room, he was gone. She sighed. Rolled out of bed. Peaked outside her room. It was still quiet. "Rini?" She called. No answer. "Hmmmm...must still be sleeping." She shrugged. Her daughter did like to sleep in like her. She decided to hop in the shower. As the water hit her skin, she could only think of Darien, how she wished he had stayed this morning. 'Why did he leave?' she thought to herself. 'Did she push him too far? Was him and Lina really a thing? No because he wouldn't have come to the party, right?'
"Ugh." She got out of the shower. Dried herself off, laid on her bed for a second. She thought about making it. But what was the use, she was only going to mess it up again when she laid down at night. She heard a noise in the kitchen and popped up.
"Rini?" She yelled opening the door to her room.
"Yes mommy!" The little girl yelled from the living room.
"What are you doing? Are you hungry?" She asked as she walked into the living room.
"Nope. Darien made me cereal already."
"He did?" Serena didn't even notice Darien in the pantry until he walked out.
"Yeah, she tapped on the door this morning, and we got up. Had breakfast. Then got ready for the day!" He said smiling.
"Oh, okay." Serena nodded and looked around her apartment. All of Rini's gifts were organized and her kitchen sink was empty for the first time in a while. She then saw the ramen on the table and she laughed. "Was this from last night?" She asked as she walked over.
"Yeah, you kind of passed out!" Darien smirked.
"Yeah because you didn't want to clean." Rini scolded her and crossed her arms.
Serena looked at Darien confused. He gave her the 'Just go with it' look and she nodded. "I need coffee."
"I was going to make you a fresh pot, but I think you are out of coffee."
"Ugh, seriously?"
"But we can go to Uncle Andrews!" Rini jumped up.
"Why do I feel like you want to go for the shakes not for me to get coffee?" Serena asked with grin.
Rini stuck her tongue out.
"Come on it is still her birthday weekend." Darien winked at her.
"Am I really being out numbered right now?" Serena asked.
"Yup!" Rini smiling ear to ear.
"Okay fine." Serena placed her hands up surrendering. "Go get your shoes and a hair tie."
Rini ran to her room as the two watched. When she was in her room. Serena walked over to Darien in the kitchen. "Thank you for letting me sleep and everything." She stood right in front of him. Looked up, tilted her head and gave a sweet smile.
"Of course. I told you, I will always be here for you two." He looked back into her big blue eyes. He moved in closer to her.
He was now so close to her, she could smell his cologne. She loved being this close to him. He continued to just look at her. In the background they could hear Rini digging in her room for either her shoes or her hair ties, they were weren't sure, but neither of them broke their stare.
Finally he stood on her tip toes and gave him a gentle kiss on his lips and whispered."I am sorry for the other day, and the day afters after that."
Darien laughed and with one quick motion Darien picked her up and placed her on the counter. "I forgave you a long time ago."He said kissing her back."This whole thing is new to me and I know it is to you too, but I know I want to be here."
She wrapped her arms around his neck and he rested his forehead on hers.
"MOMMY!" They both jumped. Rini came running from her room."I cannot find my yellow hair ties!" She observed the scene in the kitchen. "Mommy, why are you on the counter?"
Serena looked at Serena. "I am on the counter...because..."
"There was spider on the floor and you know how your mom is with those things!" Darien shouted.
"Yes! And he got it! Just as you came running out." Serena added slowly sliding off the counter with Darien's help.
Rini just kept looking at the two of them.
"How about Mommy helps you with those hair ties, so we can go!"Serena grabbed her little one's hand and pulled her into the bedroom.
Darien let out a deep breath. He was so wrapped around their fingers, and they both had no idea.
Once everyone was ready to go, they got into Darien's car and headed over to the Arcade.
"Mommy can I have a chocolate, strawberry and vanilla, like Gammy used to get me?"
"You can have whatever you want, but remember, we still need to go to dinner with your grandparents." Serena said walking through the door of the arcade as Darien held it open.
"Well, well, well what is this lovely surprise!" Andrew greeted.
"Hello Uncle Andrew!"Rini cheered."Can I get a shake with chocolate, strawberry and vanilla?!"
"Of course! Coffee for you two?"
They nodded.
"Coming up. I just cleaned that table, so have a seat and I will bring it over."
Rini sat across from Darien and Serena. Nobody said much as they waited.
"Here you all go. So any crazy plans tonight? Rini open all your gifts yet?"
"We have dinner plans, and no mommy won't let me" She said eating the little cherry on top.
"Mommies can be such killjoys some times." Andrew joked.
"Shut up, you try to sleep with a talking something going off all night." Serena fired back.
"Touche. Let me know if you need anything."
"Thanks Andrew," Darien said putting some sugar in his coffee.
Serena looked around the table. Rini was happy with her shake and Darien took a sip of his coffee."So baby..." They both looked at her.
"I think she means me!" Rini stuck her tongue out at Darien.
"Oh sorry..." Darien said laughing.
Serena laughed. Then she took a deep breath.
"What mommy?"
"Umm.. Rini." She scratched her head."I wanted to let you know...no I wanted to ask..."
Darien froze. It was happening, which was fine with him, but he didn't know if he should be there or if should excuse himself. He wasn't sure if he should add anything in or stay quiet. Serena was stumbling all over the place.
"Mommy?" She stopped sucking on her shake.
Serena put her coffee down, looked at Darien who was looking right back at her. "Honey, I wanted to let you know...that Darien and I are-"
"In love.I know"The little girl finally finished her sentence and went back to her shake.
Darien choked on his gulp of coffee. The two looked at each other and then at her.
"Rini...are you okay with that?" Darien cautiously asked.
"Yeah." She shrugged.
"Honey, look at mommy. Are you sure?"
Rini looked at her.
"Honey are you sure you are okay with mommy being with Darien?"
"Yeah. He makes you happy! He is nice and he gets me milkshakes. So he is not Dr. Meany anymore." The little girl smiled and again went back to her shake.
"Well then I guess that is that." Serena looked at Darien.
He rubbed her hand with a sigh of relief.