The Heart of the Matter
Summary: Five years after a very painful divorce, Serena gets an invitation… To her ex-husbands wedding.
Authors Note: Thanks for all the positive reviews. I'm so glad that you liked it! There is only one more chapter after this, actually I don't know if it's one more chapter or two. I can't decide yet. I think it'll be one, but I'm not sure. Alright well, I'll stop rambling and I hope that you enjoy this chapter! It's not the best written chapter ever, but I think that it's pretty good. Also it's a little longer! So yay! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything.
Guide:
"…" – When somebody speaks.
'…' – Somebody's thoughts.
Italics – Future, something in the future that you will learn about later. (Not in anymore chapters though)
(Writing in here) – Time period, could say: Future, Blank amount of years back, or Present day.
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Chapter 14: Darien
(Three Years Back)
And then, there was a shot.
Darien's eyes widened and he looked at Diamond who had fired the shot, then at the person who had received the shot. Jolene fell to the floor, her eyes dim, her mouth parted, her arms splaying out at her sides. He stood there in shock for a moment before falling down to his knees and taking Jolene onto his lap. She wasn't bleeding, but she wasn't breathing either. The shot had hit her head, killing her on impact.
"Call 991! Somebody, just call 911!" Darien called out, even though he knew it was hopeless to even try and save her now. He brushed a hand on her pale cheek, her heartbeat was gone. Tears welled in his eyes. "Jolene, love, this can't be happening… you can't be dead."
And then, there was a second shot.
Darien's head whipped towards the sound and he saw Serena standing with her hands clamped over her mouth, her eyes wide and fearful. His eyes then landed on Diamond's body, he had shot himself in the head. He had been planning this all along and not even confided in anybody. He wasn't even very sure if this was really happening. Serena looked up at him, her eyes-brows furrowed and tears tracked down her face, and then she leant down next to Diamond, the same thing he was doing to Jolene. The guests sat horrified where they were as the police rushed in, apparently somebody had called. They lifted Jolene out of Darien's arms, and he didn't protest. He turned his head and watched as Serena stared at the men who were taking Diamond away. Serena turned her head and squeezed her eyes shut before opening them and rushing down the aisle. Darien caught her just in time as her foot caught on the steps to the alter, he caught her and he hugged her tightly against his body.
"Darien, oh my god Darien, they're dead." His own grief washed over him and he buried his head in her hair. He didn't even notice that the church was being emptied out. That all the guests were scared to death and avoiding the place where Diamond's body had been. That they were just as sorrowful as they could be. He was the only one who knew how much Jolene didn't deserve to die. That they deserved a life together. That he had loved Jolene almost as much as he loved Serena. The woman he knew as Alice, Andrew, and Seiya hung back, watching the two as they comforted each other.
No words were exchanged; just knowing that they had each other was enough for both of them in their time of need.
--
Darien sat on the couch of his and Jolene's hotel room. He looked around the dim-lit room and found his eyes resting on the blonde whose head was rested on his shoulder gently. She was asleep, had been asleep for hours. He hadn't moved her to the bed yet, but he was planning on it. He turned his head away from Serena and then looked at the garment bag that lay untouched on a chair near the bed. It was Jolene's wedding dress garment bag. Everything was still in its place, nothing had been touched. All of Jolene's make-up was still on the dresser and her clothing was still in the closet. He had no intention of touching those things ever again. It held too much pain for him to cope with. He shook his head and then rested it on top of his ex-wife's head. She didn't stir, she had cried herself to sleep and he had held her, happy that she was alive. He was broken inside, everything hurt. His best friend had betrayed him and killed his wife-to-be and then killed himself. He could have easily killed Serena and taken away everything that meant something to him, but he didn't. And Darien knew why Diamond only took Jolene life and his own life. Diamond had always loved Jolene and this was his revenge, this was what had to happen. Serena stirred slightly and then opened her crystal blue eyes.
"Darien?" She questioned her voice light and broken. He nodded his head against hers and he could feel the shivers being sent down her spine. He couldn't do this; he couldn't do this right after his wife-to-be was killed. He wasn't going to do this, he was just going to comfort Serena and that was all.
"Yes Serena?"
"It wasn't a dream, was it?" She asked and he nodded his head again, he closed his eyes and he could still feel Jolene's hands in his own. After the deaths had been pronounced, Serena and himself were taken down to the police station. They had been questioned about what had happened and then returned to Darien's hotel room. Serena reached for his hand and squeezed it lightly.
"No, it wasn't a dream Serena." He confirmed and she nodded her head sadly, tears threatening to fall down her flushed cheeks. Her eyes were red and puffy and Darien reached up with his free hand and wiped at one of her tear tracked cheeks. She spoke just as he let his hand fall down to his lap and he covered his free hand over her hand that was already holding his other hand.
"I'm so sorry Darien; I know that you wanted a huge wonderful wedding and that you really loved Jolene. I'm so sorry that it had to be her." She spoke honestly and he ran his fingers gently on Serena's small hand.
"It will be hard to ever move on," He said trying not to choke on his own sorrows, "But we will make it, won't we?" He asked, uncertain of everything, he was confused and broken and he didn't know what to think anymore.
"Yes, I think that we will make it." Serena said, her voice stronger then his own and she turned his head so that she was looking at him. He looked down at her and she smiled, "I… I just don't know how we will ever make it without them. Will you honestly be alright?" She questioned, just wanting to make sure that he would truly be alright.
"I really can't say that I will Serena," He said, tears in his eyes, "I just loved her so much and I miss her so much… you know what I mean?"
"Yes, I know exactly what you mean."
--
Darien watched as she prepared to walk out of his life once more. She picked up her purse, her skirt swishing slightly and then turned to her escort Seiya. Seiya said something to Serena, who only nodded as they both watched the taxi-driver put their bags into the taxi. Serena turned her head and waved at him slightly, Darien waved back, and no smile was on his face, he did it out of kindness. Darien watched as Seiya got into the car first and Serena walked slowly back towards him.
"So there is where we say our good-byes." Serena stated and rocked back onto her heels. Darien nodded his head and took her into his arms. "I-I…"
"You don't have to say a word Serena." He said quietly as he felt her relax against him. She nodded her head and then he pulled back, kissing her cheek gently, "Thank you for being there when I needed you."
A small smile floated across her face, "No problem, and thank you for being there for me… I don't think that I would have survived if you weren't there for me."
"It was a trade-off kind of thing." Darien said and Serena nodded eagerly.
"Let's keep in touch." Serena decided and it was Darien's turn to nod. She quickly hugged him one more time and then waved before running back to the taxi, "We will meet again, I'm sure of it Darien Shields." She shouted over her shoulder and then she disappeared into the taxi. She waved once more from the window and then the taxi was off.
And then he was alone again.
--
"Darien, there's something we need to tell you." The woman he knew as Alice stated as she stood in front of Darien. He eyed her and noticed that she looked terribly familiar. She looked just like Mina. "I'm not Alice."
"That's right, you're Mina Aino." Mina gasped slightly and a smile tugged at her lips. Darien shrugged his shoulders when he saw Andrew sending him a, 'what the hell, if you already knew, why didn't you just tell us that?!' look. "Why didn't you just tell me before?"
"Well I was kind of undercover; I was looking out for Serena." Mina confessed and Darien nodded his head. He looked at Andrew and then back at Mina who had her head bowed to the floor.
"It doesn't really matter; it's not a big deal anymore." Darien said and Mina looked up and he could tell that she noticed the grief that his eyes were holding. She placed a finger on her lips and tapped it thoughtfully.
"I think we're going to have you move in with us." Mina decided as she brushed a piece of hair back from her face. Darien eyed her and then shook his head, "No Darien, I insist I don't think that you want to be alone after this."
He nodded his head after a couple minutes of thought, "I guess you are right, I don't think that I would survive living alone."
"Alright, then it's decided," Mina stated, "You're staying with us from now on… until you decide that you've finally moved on and all that junk." She said trying to lighten the mood; Darien shook his head, and then walked off towards him room to back. He stopped halfway, and turned back, seeing Mina in Andrew's arms and her head was rested on his chest. They didn't seem to notice him lurking.
"Gods Mina, it wasn't suppose to happen like this." Andrew said and ran a hand through her blonde hair. Darien stood still and leaned against the wall as he listened, "My god, don't do this to me."
"Andrew, I'm sorry." Mina said and coughed slightly. She closed her eyes and placed a smile slightly on her face, "But love, what can we do?"
--
It had been two days since their departure from the hotel and into Andrew's house. He lived outside of Boston, Massachusetts. Andrew sat at the kitchen table as Darien walked into the room. He took a seat across from Andrew, "Where's Mina?"
"What?" Andrew looked up and sighed noticing that his best friend was talking to him. "Mina? Oh… She left."
'So that's what they were talking about when I saw them talking in the hotel.' Darien shook his head so that his thoughts would come together. He fingered the ring that was in his pocket. It was Jolene's ring that had been meant to go onto her finger, but now she was gone. "Where'd she run off too?"
"She went back to Japan." He stated, his voice wavering slightly.
"Why?"
Andrew slammed a fist down on the table, "If I knew Dare, do you think I would be here?! She told me that she loved me but there were some things that she had to take care of in Japan and that she would stay in touch. She left t his morning."
"I'm sorry Andrew," Darien said half-heartedly. He didn't know why Andrew was so upset over Mina leaving. Mina would come back; she would keep in touch, just like she promised. It wasn't the biggest deal, considering that his love and wife-to-be, Jolene Campbell had just left his life forever.
--
(Two Years Back)
It was true that Mina Aino came back to America after a year. She was just as bubbly as ever, but there was a little part of her that was missing. She had told Darien stories of her friends since the wedding and he had listened just out of kindness, he wasn't very interested in the stories, but it occupied his time. He had heard stories about Lita Kino, Rei Hino, and Ami Mizuno. He had also heard stories of Seiya Kou, but this was the first time that he heard anything of Serena Tsukino. "Well you see, after the wedding and all, she decided that she was going to move out of the house that you two formally owned."
"She sold it?" Darien questioned nervously and Mina shook her head, her now waist long blonde hair swishing slightly.
"Nah, she just moved up in a smaller town because she said that she couldn't really deal with being in that house anymore. It was too big for one person to occupy, you know what I mean? I visited her a year ago and she was okay. She was still a little bit shaken from the wedding and everything like that." Mina said and stirred her tea thoughtfully.
"Yeah…" Darien sighed, "Has she gotten married yet?"
Mina shook her head, "Nope, there's not even a guy waiting for her to get married to him. She's been single ever since the wedding. It seems that Seiya and Riana decided to get married, since they fell in love or something like that. They got married a year after the wedding here."
"I see." Darien said and it didn't surprise him that Riana and Seiya got married, he had seen how they looked at each other and how they had always been together. Darien sighed and watched as Mina talked about Lita Kino. He thought to himself, that it was about time to go and visit Serena Tsukino.
--
(Present Day)
It took Darien Shields two years to finally get the courage to go and find Serena. He made his way across the town in one of the cars that he had picked up at the mansion that they had lived in. Mina was right; it was too big for one person to live in. It would seem so empty and alone and he probably couldn't even take it. He had walked around the mansion and found it exactly the same way it had been when he left. He had picked a couple of things up at the mansion and then started on his journey. Mina had given him a couple of places to stop on his way to see Serena. The first stop was Rei Hino's house. He got out of his car and walked up to the temple's gate. He walked through the gate and knocked on the temple door. Rei, a raven haired woman that he remembered vaguely had been at the wedding. He hadn't seen much of her, but knew that when he and Serena were married, he saw a lot of her.
"What a surprise." Rei breathed and leaned against the doorway, "I haven't seen you in awhile Darien."
Darien nodded his head, "Same goes for you, you look nice." Rei blushed slightly, knowing that Darien had seen her very pregnant state. Then she pressed herself against the doorway, letting Darien enter her temple. Her husband Chad was sitting at the table, papers spread out in front of him. He looked up and nodded in greeting to Darien.
"So you're here… because…?" Rei prompted and Darien nodded his head before handing her a letter that Mina had written and a pregnancy book that Mina thought Rei would take interest in. "Oh thanks, seems like you're Mina's minion, aren't you?"
Darien laughed slightly, "I guess that is so. Well I have to get going, I have four more stops. It was nice seeing you two again. I'll keep in touch!" Darien said as he descended from the temple. He jumped back into his car and mentally checked that stop off of his list.
--
The next stop that he had to make was at Lita Hino's house. He knocked on the door and Lita answered it hesitantly. When she noticed it was him, she swung the door openly fully, "Hey Shields, I didn't know that you were back in the neighborhood."
Darien smiled kindly, "Yeah, it's been awhile."
"That it has," Lita sighed and brushed a piece of her bang back behind her ear, "So what brings you to Japan?"
"Mina actually, ever since I decided to visit Japan, she gave me all these things to do." Darien shrugged as a smile spread across Lita's features. "So I came here to give you this." He handed her a cook-book that Mina thought Lita would like. It was all kinds of American foods that Mina had just recently decided to like.
"Thanks." Lita said and Darien waved as he walked away from the open door of Lita's house.
"I better get going, I'll see you later."
"Alright!" Lita called and waved good-bye.
--
After Lita's house, he was destined to go to Ami Mizuno's house. He walked up to the house, which was pretty huge considering that Ami had never really had a big job. She must have gotten married over the years. He sighed and brought his hand up to the door, just as the door swung open. Ami Mizuno stood there with her boyfriend Greg. "Darien! Oh god, I wasn't expecting you." Ami's voice was calm and soothing as she stopped where she was and leaned against the doorway.
"Yeah, sorry about the surprise… I'm just dropping some things off for Mina." Ami nodded her head and took the envelope that was in Darien's hand. "Well it was nice seeing you again."
"Yes well it is wonderful to see you again!" Ami said and added some cheerfulness to her voice as she watched him walk back to his car. He backed out of the driveway and thanked god that he didn't have to have a conversation with Ami. They hadn't really liked each other before, even though Ami was perfect and sweet. They just hadn't connected in the right way. He checked that stop off in his mind before speeding off to his second-to-last stop.
--
Riana Kou stepped out of Darien's way and asked if he wanted to come inside. It was obvious that Darien could not just ignore the invitation. So he stepped inside and sat down at the pair of couches that faced each other. Seiya Kou sat on the other couch while Riana sat down next to him. She smiled sweetly. "So what brings you to Japan Darien?"
Darien shifted, clearly uncomfortable, "I'm actually here to visit Serena."
"Really?" Riana said surprise detectable in her tone and Darien nodded his head. "Well that surely is a surprise!"
"Yeah, I knew it would be… but I think that after three years, we should at least keep some connect after what happened." Riana nodded her head thoughtfully and Darien's eyes went straight to Seiya, who hadn't said anything since he had first arrived here. "What have you two been up too lately?"
"Well, nothing really." Riana answered, "Just getting used to the married life still."
"Ah, I see." Darien said and then reached into his pocket for the envelope that Mina had given him. He reached across the table and handed Riana the letter then stood up, "Well I must get going, I'm only in Japan for a little while."
"Where will you be staying?" Riana questioned and Darien shrugged.
"I think I'm just going to ask Serena if I can stay in the mansion for she no longer lives there, you know."
"Yes, I do know that. I helped her move, are you sure that you don't want to stay here?" Riana questioned and Darien nodded his head.
"Sorry, I'll have to decline, but thanks for asking." Darien said and walked towards the door, "I'm sure that we will keep in touch, will we not?"
"Yes, I'm sure that we will." Riana followed him towards the door and then stood in the doorway as she watched him walk away. Darien knew that she was wondering if he was really over Jolene, and the answer was no. He would never be over Jolene, it was a fact, and he could not hide from it. But after all these years, he had shown him how much he was in love with somebody else. Somebody who he had let walk out of his life multiple times and he regretted each time that she had left. He was determined on getting her back.
--
The house was a lot smaller compared to the mansion. He got out of his car after taking deep breaths and then walked towards the house. There was another car in the driveway, but he ignored the fact that there might be another person in Serena's house. He hoped that there wasn't another person in her house. He walked up the steps and knocked lightly on the door. The small blonde pulled open the door and her eyes widened. She looked exactly the same just that her hair wasn't up in her usual style; it was pulled back and left to linger on her bare shoulder. She wore a shirt that sleeves rested on her shoulders, leaving her shoulders bare, and a pair of jeans. Her eyes searched his in attempt to see why he had come to visit her.
"Darien, I wasn't expecting you."
"Sorry about this…" Darien said and took Serena's invitation into her house. He loved the way she had furnished it. She led him to the kitchen and sat down at the kitchen table with him. "I was just in Japan and I thought that I might give you a little visit."
"It's alright, the only people who really visit me often is Lita and Riana. Everybody seems so busy these days." A small smile was on her lips as she handed him a cup of black coffee. He smiled as he looked down at the coffee; she had remembered the way he took his coffee.
"So there's no man waiting for you around here, eh?"
Serena giggled, "No, there is no m an around here waiting for me. I haven't really been that social ever since the wedding. So what have you been up too and what brings you to Japan all of a sudden Darien?"
"Well, like I said before I just came for a little visit around my hometown and I thought that I would make some visits. Also Mina wanted me to drop some things off while I was here. I haven't really been up too that much ever since… you know." She nodded her head, her blonde hair swishing slightly. "My life has been very uneventful lately."
"Same here." Serena agreed and ran her fingers around the mug in front of her. "I haven't really been up to writing lately and I have basically lost contact with Mina, how has she been?"
"Married and pregnant." Darien stated and Serena's eyes widened.
"Really? She's pregnant?!"
"You didn't know?" Darien asked and Serena shook her head, her hands gripped around the yellow mug. "Well she just found out a couple of weeks ago, maybe she was planning on calling you."
"Goodness, I feel so out of the loop." Serena said and crossed her legs under the table, blushing as she accidentally brushed Darien's leg. "It has been awhile since I talked to her though, maybe I should call her one of these days."
"I think that she would enjoy that actually, very much."
"I do miss her very much, I can't believe that she actually decided to stay in America… but I cannot blame her because if I had some reason to stay in America, I would have…" Her eyes only widened more as she realized what she had said, "That's not what I mean…"
"It's alright Serena, I get what you mean."
She let out a deep breath, "This is crazy."
"What is crazy?"
"This Darien, what are you really doing here? The only reason that you really came was to what, show me how you moved on? To invite me to your new wedding?" She questioned, hurt clearly recognizable in her voice.
Darien ignored this, "That's not why I'm here Serena; I told you that I'm here because I wanted to visit you." She stood up abruptly and walked off down the hallway. Darien stood up and followed her down the hallway.
"Is that the truth?" Serena questioned and Darien noticed that they were in her new office. She was standing in front of the desk and he was standing in the doorway. He advanced forward, so that he was only a couple inches away from her. "Why do you torture me so?"
"I'm not doing anything Serena… I just came here to see you; I just wanted to see you again." He confessed and she nodded her head, tears welling up in her eyes. She closed her eyes, a tear slipping down her cheek. He raised his hand and wiped it away from his face. As he took her against himself, he placed his own mouth over hers. She let out a soft moan of protest, but gave into his kiss.
She pulled back, "Please… don't do this if this means nothing to you."
"What do you mean?" He questioned, breathless. Nothing had changed about her, her lips still tasted the same way and she was absolutely perfect. She shook her head, but remained in his arms.
"Don't kiss me like that if it only means a way to get over Jolene to you." She pleaded and he nodded his head, resting his forehead against hers. "Don't do this if it means nothing to you, because it means everything to me."
"Serena… I-"
She continued, "Don't do this if you're just going to leave me again, because I will die inside again if you do this, if you pretend you love me and then you leave."
"Serena…" He interjected, but she wasn't listening.
"Don't do this if you don't love me. If you don't truly love me then don't do this to me. If all I am to you is a re-bound, then don't do this, please don't do this if the reason you are doing has been listed." Serena pleaded, her voice strained and he pressed his lips to her forehead and withdrew from her. "I knew it." She breathed and leaned against the desk for support.
"Serena," He said firmly, "It's not what you think."
"Then what is it?" She questioned, her eyes shinning with tears and pain. He shook his head and steadied himself.
"I am never going to leave you again, if you let me." He looked into her blue eyes and saw a small smile tugging at her pink lips. She took a step forward and placed a hand on his face. "Serena…"
"Do you really mean it Darien, are you sure?" He nodded his head and then pulled out something that he had taken from the mansion. He told her to close her eyes and then placed the object that he had into her petit hand. She opened her eyes and opened her hand. She looked at what was in her hand and tears rushed down her face.
"Darien… Oh my god, Darien, where did you get this?" She asked and he smiled before taking a couple steps forward and tugging her into his embrace. She came willing, her eyes closed as she rested her head on his shoulder. In her hand was the white-gold engagement ring that he had given to her about eight years ago. He could feel her fingers, slowing moving fingering the ring as he ran a hand through her hair and down her back.
"I found it in the mansion." He withdrew from her and got down on one knee, "Now Serena Tsukino, will you do me the honors of marrying me again?"
End of Chapter 14: Darien
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Ending Note: So what do you guys think? Sorry about the cliffhanger, the end is soon! Isn't that sad? Well it only took me about a month to make this story! Yay! I think that that is good. Well, I honestly hope that you guys liked this chapter and I don't know when I will get around to updating again. Thanks for reading!
Please review!