Chapter 18 - Back To Life Part I

Darien stared at Rick and Stephen and said, "You know you guys are idiots, right?"

"Yup!" Stephen replied. "But keep in mind that you turned them all down."

Rick shook his head, "We aren't idiots we are brilliant! David is in on this too."

"I can't believe you are all going to be doctors, if I didn't consistently test higher than you all on every test we take then I would be pissed right now." Darien shook his head at them both.

"Oh, come on you're invited! You just can't participate, obviously." Rick informed Darien as if he should be glad.

"No, I am not coming. I would prefer to not know anything about this." Darien stopped walking and shouted, "Rick, Stephen, and David are all idiots girls. Don't date them!"

Rick looked irritated, "And why would you do something like that!"

"You are setting up a draft party to divy up the girls so you all can pick your favorites and call 'dibs' on them. I stick with my initial statement. You are all idiots." Darien told them and kept walking to class with them.

Stephen added, "Yes, but we are smart idiots. We started arguing over the girls. It is the best way. It is all in the interest of preserving our friendship."

Darien grabbed the door for class and opened it for them all, "Oh, look. We're at class and we have to stop talking about this. Darn."

"Sarcasm is easy humor." Rick stated.

Darien smiled at him, "You should be able to understand it then."

OooooooO

Sammy came home late again and Nephrite confronted him. "What are you doing getting home so late? I know you have a certain amount of freedom here, but you are still fourteen."

"I cleared it with Uncle, don't worry. Raye escorted me to Nemesis and I worked with their engineers. You can imagine they were surprised to be working with someone as young as me." He smiled and looked proud, "Thirty minutes in and we were all talking about ideas and getting along great. It's so much fun to be able to talk to people who understand what I am talking about. I used to think I was just weird and now I am learning that I can understand things others can't."

"It isn't any surprise that you are special." Nephrite said. "Queen Serenity placed Serena in that family for a reason."

"But why give her parents like that? I don't get it."

Nephrite shrugged, "Maybe because they didn't step in and stop her from fulfilling her duties. Personally I believe that the Queen saw it as more important that she was your sister. It can't be a mistake that you are as brilliant as you are and you will be able to aid her."

Sammy looked awed, "You really think that Queen Serenity wanted me as a brother to her daughter? That's… just wow."

"I do. We may never know. It doesn't really matter in the end too much. You are her brother and her safety will be improved because of you. That's what's important." Nephrite told him and then smiled. "So, what is the code to Zosite's safe?"

Sammy rolled his eyes, "1010. They really have to stop picking their girlfriends' birthdays."

"Any booby traps you are aware of?"

"None that I am aware of." Sammy added, "Just don't tell anyone I told you."

"Deal. Now I better go and change the combination on my safe."

Sammy shook his head and headed up to shower and then go to bed.

OooooooO

Darien thanked Topaz for bringing him to Nemesis and he knocked on Raye's office door. She didn't have an assistant yet so she answered it herself.

Raye looked startled, "Hey, hello Darien. Please come in."

"Thank you. I know you weren't expecting me, but I thought it was about time we talked about everything that happened."

Raye motioned for Darien to sit down and she sat behind her desk. She wanted the position of power to cover up her nerves. "Go ahead. I am listening."

Darien sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, "I first have to say I am sorry. I stayed angry far longer than I had any right to. Your treatment of Serena touched a sore spot in me and I couldn't forgive you until I forgave myself."

Raye shook her head and laughed. "She absolutely nailed your reason for still being angry. Serena can really see to the heart of people and understand them."

"That she can. She is amazing." He got a soft smile on his face. "I saw you at the funeral surrounded by your friends and supported and realized that you knew. You know what you almost lost and you appreciate everything you have. I don't even know what made me see it, but I did."

"You are right. I vowed to myself then and there to never let my jealousy get in the way again. Everything I have is because of the day Serena stepped into my life." Raye laughed. "I think we are very much alike and we understand each other perfectly. Serena is the gatekeeper to both of our happy endings."

He nodded, "Well said. Can you forgive me for staying angry for so long. You had Serena's forgiveness, you should have had mine too."

"I forgive you, but it isn't needed. I approve of your tendency to be overprotective of her. She needs someone who puts her before others because she won't ever do that herself." She smiled, "I like you better because you were still mad at me. Now we can be friends again."

"I will never understand women," he stated.

"LIfe is boring if it comes to you too easily."

OooooooO

"Son of a bitch! Who the hell stole tuna from my safe?" Zoisite came storming out of his room and stomping down the hall. He quickly crossed to Jadeite's room, opened the door and said, "Can I borrow a can of tuna? I need Luna to spy on someone for me and I am all out. Someone broke into my safe."

Jadeite shrugged, "It will cost you three cans next time you go to the store."

"That's robbery!"

"Take it or leave it."

Zoisite said, "Fine! I will take it." He narrowed his eyes at Jadeite, "You didn't steal my tuna did you?"

"Last time someone stole something it was you." Jadeite reminded him. "Maybe Kunzite has gotten some payback."

"Shoot. I bet you are right. What to help me pull a prank on him?"

Jadeite smiled, "Sounds like a great idea."

"You will have to donate one can of tuna to the cause." Zoisite added, "I need the one for Luna, but the other will get opened and go up on a shelf in his closet."

Jadeite smiled, "Brilliant, that's somewhere Luna can't get to it so she won't be able to thwart our plan."

"Exactly." Zoisite smiled.

OooooooO

Raye heard a knock on her door and she shouted for them to come in. She decided she really needed to start to look for an assistant.

In walked a young woman who sat in the seat in front of her desk and smiled at her. "Hello, my name is Opal."

"Hello Opal, I am Raye."

Opal smiled, "I absolutely know who you are. You are amazing and the love of Sapphire's life. It's so romantic." She took a breath, "Well, I had an actual point in coming. First of all, Sammy is amazing. My father is one of the Engineers working with him and he was blown away by his knowledge. I haven't seen him this excited in a long time. So cool. Second, I was hoping to apply as your assistant." She pulled out a resume and handed it to Raye. "I am self motivated and have worked as an assistant for several Engineers all at once."

Raye looked down at her resume, "You worked for your father?"

"Well yes, but please don't assume that I didn't earn that job because I worked for my dad. He expects hard work, dedication, and intelligence and he doesn't make exceptions." Opal pointed out and then said, "That's what is so impressive about Sammy. Dad would never give him credit for being a kid. He can keep up and can more than hold his own with adults, dad holds him to the standard he would anyone else."

"I didn't realize that a notice had gone out that I was looking for an Assistant." Raye admitted to her apoligetically.

"Oh, don't worry. It didn't. Sammy mentioned you were in your office and I assumed you would be looking for someone." Opal slid back in her chair, "I was hoping that you would give me a chance at least until you were able to start looking for one. I would love to be given a shot."

Raye considered her and said, "Topaz is incredible and will be a hard act to follow. I don't expect my Assistant to be like him, but I am hoping for someone who can grow into being as capable as he is. Sapphire will be harder to please because he wants the best for me."

Opal smiled, "Topaz is someone we all look up to. I would love to be given a chance, please. If you decide I am not working out for you I will step away without a fuss."

Raye stuck out her hand to shake Opal's, "Deal."

Opal smiled and shook it.

OooooooO

Sammy knocked on Nephrite's door and heard him say to come in. Sammy closed the door behind himself and looked at Nephrite and said, "Zoisite believes that Kunzite took revenge and stole his tuna. I wanted you to know."

"You are a fabulous ally Sammy."

"Thank you. I was also stopping in to ask you for a favor. Could we leave a bit early for school tomorrow and stop by the Arcade? I was hoping to get a coffee for myself and a friend."

"Absolutely, I would be happy to."

"Thanks."

OooooooO

Sapphire sorted through his files and looked up sharply at Topaz, "What is the problem? You have been out of sorts for the past hour. Is everything okay?

"Sorry Sir, it won't be a problem again." Topaz replied and menally shook himself to get it together.

"No, that isn't what I mean. What is bothering you? I want to help you. You have done such an amazing job for me, listening is the least I could do."

"It's Raye's new Assistant sir."

"Is there something wrong with her? Should I tell Raye to get rid of her?" Sapphire looked concerned.

"No sir. There isn't anything wrong with her. That's the problem." He sighed and his shoulders slumped. "I have had feelings for her for almost a year. I could manage them when her office was further away. Now I will see her every day."

"She rejected you! What's that girl thinking?"

Topaz looked confused, "What makes you think she rejected me?"

"You aren't dating her right?" Sapphire asked.

"Corect, but I never asked her out."

"Wait. What? Why not?" Sapphire was puzzled.

Topaz sighed, "Because if I don't ask her out she can't reject me."

Sapphire shook his head, "You need to ask her out. Man up."

"Like you did?"

Sapphire laughed, "Well, that isn't nice of you to call me out on my own hypocrisy."

"I am here to serve like always sir." Topaz quipped.

"Take it from me. Take a chance and ask her out."

OooooooO

Darien walked into the Arcade and saw Jasper sitting there talking to Andrew. He walked over and sat down on a stool next to Jasper and clapped him on the back. "So how are you today?"

"I am okay. I had dinner with mom and dad last night. It was great." Jasper beamed.

Darien smiled at him, "That is great to hear! I was hoping to go and find something for Serena later as a present and I was wondering if you would like to come with me. I thought it would be nice to get to know you better."

"Sure, I would like that sir." Jasper was startled by Darien's request.

Darien shook his head, "I like you and I want to get to know more about you. You are my daughter's soulmate."

Jasper nodded and looked forlorn, "And this version of me will never get to experience her love. When we stop this evil from killing her there will be a whole new future and I won't be part of it."

Darien looked pensive, "But a version of you that is actually you will end up with her."

"I am sure I didn't follow any of that," Andrew said and shook his head.

Jasper gave a wry smile, "I think I followed it. I guess you are right. I would just like to be assured that I will find my way to her."

"You will. Mars wouldn't have told you about you being her soulmate unless he knew you would get there." Darien shook his head in wonder, "I never expected to be the father that would be okay with my daughter marrying. I will be though. She will be with a man of your strength and character and I will happily see her married."

Jasper laughed, "You are famously protective of her. It is strange to think you would be okay with us dating."

"Well, you are protective of her too. So protective that you came back in time to set the whole future right." Darien looked him in the eye. "I see you as my equal in her protection."

Jasper was floored. He never believed anyone could get Darien's approval when it came to Celestine.