Chapter 34
By: Serena Chibi
Date: February 14, 2013
Reviews are always appreciated, so if you read please be sure to leave me a little comment or something Thank you: SerenityMoonGodness, LoveInTheBattlefield, Sweetmaj010, GinnyPotter0183 & a Guest for reviewing
In a matter of days, Serena finds herself walking out of the airport and into unfamiliar territory. The air is cool against her skin; fall has begun to set in everywhere but she isn't used to anything quite this cold. The lowest it ever got back home was still almost 50-degrees, although with it being nearly ten-thirty at night here it was only 34-degrees outside.
Seeing a small shiver spread across Serena's frame, Darien pulls his jacket open and wraps it around her. "You've really never been far from home have you?" he asks, pulling her closer to him for warmth.
"N-not really, no" Serena's teeth chitter as she speaks. Having always lived in California, the nearly twenty-degree temperature change felt a lot more like a thirty-degree difference to her. I'm really not dressed for something like this. She thinks to herself, looking down at her lightweight jacket, jeans and tennis shoes; then to Darien's boots, jeans and leather jacket.
"Let's just head to the hotel. Then we'll go get some more suitable clothes for you tomorrow." Darien laughs. Just then, a black Audi pulls to a stop in front of them, and a teenage boy jumps out.
"Mr. Shields, here is your rental for the next 4 days." The kid holds the keys out for Darien to take them from him.
"Thank you… Evan. I appreciate you bringing it around for us." Darien looks at the young man's nametag then his face; he had to be no more than 18-years-old. He's probably working to get through college. He thinks as he takes the keys. "Here, hold up a minute." Darien raises his hand then reaches into his pocket to retrieve his wallet. Handing it to Serena, since his left arm is keeping her warm, he whispers "Pull a $10 out for him."
While Darien puts his wallet away, Serena reaches out to hand Evan the money. His face lights up a little and he thanks them quickly then turns to retreat into the airport. Serena looks up to Darien and they both laugh at the young boy's reaction.
"So, remind me again why we are coming here into this subzero weather?" Serena asks sarcastically and shivers with her teeth chattering.
"I know you've never really been anywhere like this before and I'd really like you to see the snow and feel the difference in weather. California is nice and warm pretty much all year-round but here… they get extreme amounts of snow and pretty cold temperatures up in the mountains; which is kind of where we're heading." Darien laughs and hugs Serena closer to him as he sees a look of 'Are you kidding me?' spread across her face. "It'll be fine, you'll actually enjoy it." We'll see, she thinks, picking up one of her luggage bags.
Getting into the elevator at the hotel, Serena gives Darien a curious look as he clicks the '21' button.
"What? I figured since you've never been outside of Cali before I would splurge a little. I may have gotten us the, um, Penthouse suite." Darien cocks his head to side a little shyly.
Serena smirks upon seeing his boyish reaction. He's so adorable. "Thank you, although I'm sure you'll enjoy it just as much as me." Serena winks at Darien then places a sweet kiss on his cheek, which only serves to make him blush further. Entering the room, they go about getting ready for bed and unpacking a few of the necessities. Darien enters the bathroom to get cleaned up, as Serena climbs into bed.
"I hope you brought a nice dress with you because I kind of made us dinner plans for the night after tomorrow." Darien says from the bathroom doorway. "Why don't you order us room service for dinner? That way we can get some food and sleep; tomorrow is going to be a busy day."
"Okay, that sounds good. I need something to take my pill with anyways, and then we can get some well-deserved R&R after that long flight."
"See, you have the right idea about vacation already, some relaxation and fun. Although, can you maybe not take your stuff tonight? I kind of want to do something else with you tonight too. I was thinking a nice massage and a little something to help you relax instead."
Serena raises her eyebrows at him. "A little something, you say?"
"Okay, maybe it's a big something then." Darien laughs in response and pulls a grey t-shirt over his head.
Twenty minutes later, they are sitting in bed enjoying their dinner of chicken parmesan and bison sirloin. Darien cuts off another piece of his chicken but as he eats it, he eyes Serena's plate.
"Is it good?" he points at her sirloin with his fork.
"My bison, you mean?" Darien shakes his head. "Yea, it's pretty good; my favorite meat actually because it's so healthy. It's low in calories and fat but higher in protein than beef. Do you want to try some?" Serena cuts off a portion and stabs it with her fork. Holding the meat upright, she offers it to him.
Closing the gap between them, Darien takes the bite of bison tentatively. Chewing slowly, he tries to ascertain whether it is something he likes or not.
Watching his facial expressions, Serena can't help but laugh out loud as she pushes his should lightly. "So, do you like it or not?"
"I think so? It is good but not quite what I was expecting. I was thinking it would be more game-y but it isn't; it tastes kind of like beef, only better."
"I told you it was good!" Proceeding to eat the last piece, Serena places her plate on the bedside table and her silverware on top. Rolling onto her stomach, she stretches out. Fixing her shorts and tank top that rode up on her from stretching, Serena folds her arms under her head and watches Darien. "Well that was delicious, and I'm barely tired. There is something I want to talk to you about though."
Reaching over, Darien starts to rub Serena's nearly bare shoulders. Only the tiniest strap from her tank top is in the way, so he slides them to the sides of her shoulders so they won't interfere. Continuing rubbing her shoulders, Darien asks "So, what would you like to talk about, my angel?"
"Us; well more of what we are doing in this and our expectations you know, for the future?"
"Uh, okay then. What exactly did you have in mind? What do you want to know or talk about in particular? 'Cause I think I made my intentions pretty clear: I love you and want to be with you for as long as possible. Maybe marry you someday, if you'll let me." Darien moves so that he is sitting on her butt and can massage the full length of her back easier. Moving his hands in small circles along Serena's shoulders he moves slowly down to her tailbone, waiting for a reply.
After a minute of figuring out how to say what she wants to, Serena finally replies, "About what you said the other day in the kitchen?"
She feels the movement of Darien's hands come to a halt, "About your cooking?" then they resume.
Darien was confused, what does she want to talk about; her cooking? Upon asking, he feels her body shake beneath him. Increasingly confused, he leans over to look at her face. "Are you laughing at me?"
"Not really laughing at you, more at your innocence than anything." Slowly her laughing dies down, "No, not about my cooking, sweetie." Letting out a deep breath as Darien is massaging, Serena feels her back crack. Feeling some tension release, "That feels really good; you're going to put me to sleep like this. I actually wanted to talk about the whole children thing with you." Closing her eyes, she lets her head sink even deeper into the pillow.
"Alright, what about it? I thought you want to have kids, or at least that's the impression I got." Darien presses her back a little harder, trying to ensure he gets all the kinks out.
"Well, of course I do. I was pregnant and didn't abort it, despite how it was conceived; I think that answers that. But just because I want to have a child doesn't mean that I'll be able to. I just want to make sure that you're okay with the possibility that I may not be able to have any children. I don't want to get any further into this, if that's even possible, if you're in it for something that I can't offer you.
Darien is quiet as he scratches up and down the backs of Serena's legs. He can feel the tension in the air, almost like a weight pressing on his shoulders. I want you but I want kids too… Why can't I have both? I just want the woman I love and I want a child for us to love together. "I'm not going to lie, I do want kids." He feels her shoulders tense beneath his fingers. Leaning in closer, he presses his fingers into her shoulders a little harder and whispers in her ear, "But, I want you more than I want kids. I can live without them as long as I have you. So, I hope that answers you: I want children but I need you, Sere."
"Oh." Serena feels her face burn. "You know, even after this long, your romanticism still flusters me. You have a way of making everything sound like something out of an old novel."
"What can I say? Being in love makes it rather easy for me to think that way. Now, was there anything else you wanted to discuss before bed?" Rolling off of Serena's back, Darien lies next to her and looks at the ceiling.
"Umm… let's talk about… mmm…" Serena's words trail off and Darien turns to look at her. Trying to think of what else she wants to talk about, Serena feels sleep start to overtake her as her eyes grow heavy.
"Why don't you get some sleep and we'll talk tomorrow. You seem a little rundown lately." Darien kisses the side of her face.
"Uh… huh…" Using the last of her energy, Serena rolls up against Darien and plants a kiss on his chest.