Sunset At Paradise Cove
Chapter 34
Author's Note: Hi everyone sorry about the delay in getting this chapter out, but it has been a bit of a hectic week but I hope everyone had a great Christmas Holiday and looking forward to a better 2021. Hope you enjoy the story and please continue to send your thoughts and reviews. Thanks Mars Light
Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon never did, never will thank you!
The room was decorated in pink lace and marble furniture that had been journaled in many of the articles of better homes where others paraded around taking pictures while looking at the lavish lifestyle in which she was kept prisoned with in as she sat on her bed and looked out the window at the lively city going on below.
She closed her eyes tight and wrapped her arms tightly across her chests feeling a chill from the memory of when she walked back up to the penthouse and her presence distracted her mother from one of her many important phone calls, but what she got was not a warm hug or an apology or even an I love you or I missed you what she got was only an I told you so.
She turned her head and looked back seeing sitting there on her highest shelf was her doll, the same doll that she had spoken to him about only a few days earlier that was currently sitting wrapped in a state of unmotion as she wiped a tear away from her eyes and stood up from the bed and walked over to the opposite wall and took the doll off the shelf.
She stood there for a moment just starring at the face seeing the slight shimmer in the eyes that the doll held as she took a deep breath in knowing she was this doll and would forever be trapped behind a barrier
Her thoughts were distracted by a knock at the door as she placed the doll down beside her bed and called out "now is not a good time" but the knock came again as the door was opened slightly and Anna peaked her head in with a small smirk stating "it's just me your mother is on another one of her save the campaign calls again, she will probably be awhile. I thought it might be a good chance to let us talk"
Serena took a deep breath in knowing the one person that she had always been able to talk to when she found herself in trouble, but right now was unable to find the words to explain how horribly she had screwed up and misjudged his character as she shook her head replying instead "there is nothing to say"
Anna simple nodded her head as she carefully walked in the room holding a small dish with assorted fruits and some cheeses as she closed the door behind her stating "I thought you might feel that way, but I also know that you have not been eating much either and well you need to keep up your health for yourself and that babe you are carrying"
Serena looked down and placed her hand over her stomach where her child still grew, which there was no more trying to deny it, it was only her child to be raised alone because he had made it clear he wanted nothing to do with either one of them as she shook her head suddenly feeling a greater loss of appetite telling her back "please just leave it on the dresser I will have some later"
Anna looked over to the dresser where a breakfast tray still sat from this morning uneaten as she shook her head telling her "this is not healthy Serena, I do not know what happened to you while you were away, but this behavior of yours keeping yourself locked in your room like this for days is not healthy, you must continue living your life"
Serena looked to her knowing that she was right and somehow, she had to find a way to move on after all that happened as she looked down to the bottle ring she still wore around her finger and began to cry as she felt a pair of warm arms wrapped around her shoulders as she cried out "I screwed up Anna, I really screwed up this time"
Anna felt her own heart breaking for the girl that she had raised from infancy now crumbling in her arms as she gently stroked the back of her head telling her "it will be alright; everything will be alright we'll figure it out" when she heard Muriel's voice yelling out from inside "Anna what did you do with those finance drafts I need them right away"
Serena took a deep breath in knowing she was back home alright as she stood up and wiped away the tears from her eyes telling her "you better go, mother sounds rather upset"
Anna stood looking to the girl in front of her and knew she should not just be leaving her here alone to waste away as she shook her head asking "how about we go out shopping or you can make a date with one of your friends"
Serena gave her a little smirk knowing none of what she mentioned would actually happen replying back "they have all parted to begin their college journeys and besides mother has forbidden me to be leaving the penthouse at all, can't have anyone taking the chance of seeing me in my condition"
Anna nodded her head remembering of the order Muriel had placed her own daughter under house arrest as she nodded her head replying "yes I had forgotten, but perhaps we could" but was quickly distracted as she heard Muriel yelling out louder "Anna where are you with those reports"
Serena closed her eyes tight as she tried to block out everything and shook her head telling her "you better go" Anna nodded her head knowing the longer Muriel was kept waiting, the angrier she would become as she nodded her head replying "alright I will be back later, but if you need anything, just ask"
Serena nodded her head as Anna went to open the bedroom door as she called out "wait one moment there is something that you can do for me?" Anna turned around pleased to actually hear Serena ask for anything in the almost a week that had gone by since her arrival as she looked to her hopeful asking "yes?"
Serena reached down towards the edge of the bed and picked up the doll as she took a long look at it then turned the doll around telling Anna "please can you donate this doll to a charity or something and make sure it goes to a good home?
Anna looked to her curiously wondering why the sudden intertest in a doll that had not been touched in many years as she took the doll from her hands asking "if that is what you want, but are you certain you wish to get rid of this doll?"
Serena nodded her head wanting to remove all memory of it from her mind as she turned to look out the window telling her sadly "yes, I think this doll has had enough years behind plastic and should have a chance to be loved by a special little girl"
Anna looked to the girl sitting on the bed across from her and knew that the one who desperately needed love was not this doll as she nodded her head replying "if you insist" and then while Serena had her back turned, she carefully tucked the doll away in the back of the closet as she opened the bedroom door and closed it behind her.
Anna stood outside Serena's bedroom as she took a deep breath in not knowing how, but knew somehow, she had to find a way to help this girl and ease her suffering when she heard Muriel's voice echoing down the hall again yelling out "Anna where are you?"
Anna stepped away from the wall as she began to walk towards the study where she found Muriel sitting with a glass of wine in her hand, showing only concern over a charity that would boost her image instead of the one person she should care most about, but doesn't as she looked to her with a slight tip of her head asking "you called"
Muriel looked to the doorway aggravated to see Anna standing there as she shouted out "where have you been, I have been calling for you for the past hour"
Anna took a deep breath in knowing it was no where near an hour but closer to five minutes but kept her voice steady as she replied back "my apologies, but I believe the reports you are asking for are the same ones that you had asked for and I had given to you the night before"
Muriel looked to her with a shake of her head commenting back dryly "that is besides the point I expect when I am looking for one of my household servants, that when I need something you are there to fetch it for me, I am not paying you to just stand around and do nothing all day now am I"
Anna looked to the woman before her knowing she was a witch and if it wasn't for the girl with the broken heart in the other room, she would have left ages ago as she swallowed down her pride responding back "I am sorry miss, but I was tending towards your daughter, she still has not been eating and it has been several days now and I am growing very worried about her"
Anna looked to the woman in front of her not sure why she actually expected to see even a shred of concern or compassion in the woman before her by her comment as Muriel shook her head replying back in a cold tone "it is better this way, the longer we can hide any weight gain the better, have you been doing as I have ordered and keeping the meals light"
Anna took a deep breath in knowing what Muriel ordered was both unhealthy and possibly dangerous for Serena and the baby as she nodded her head replying back "I have miss, but I don't know how long you intend to hide this from others and keeping a dietary nutrition right now, I don't know if that is wise"
Muriel looked to her with her head held up high stating annoyed "I don't remember asking for your opinion now did I" Anna looked to the woman before her wanting to yell and scream that she does not deserve a daughter as kind and sweet as Serena as she shook her head while keeping a respectable tone replying back "no, but I don't believe that is a healthy approach especially not with a growing baby inside"
Muriel seemed deep in thought as Anna took a deep breath hoping possibly, she had found a way to get through as Muriel nodded her head replying "you do make a valid point"
Anna released the breath she was holding glad to see that Muriel would at least listen to some reason as Muriel spoke up saying "you do have much to say when it comes to my daughter don't you"
Anna looked to her not knowing where this questioning was going exactly as she nodded her head replying back "yes I do I love Serena as if she was my own daughter" Muriel kept her face stern as she lifted up the glass of wine in her hand and took a small sip of it telling her "yes well you will not have to concern yourself any longer about Serena's health"
Anna looked to her not sure where she was going with this, but did not like it questioning back "I won't" Muriel shook her head as she walked over to her husband's desk and began writing something on a slip of paper while telling her "no, you were hired and placed in charge of Serena's care and seeing as how you have not done a very good job of keeping order around here, and the mess that has been created due to your negligence my husband and I have decided to release you"
Anna looked to her not sure if she just heard right the woman who not two minutes earlier was unable to find papers that were handed directly to her hours earlier, now wanted to release her as she shook her head asking back "release me?"
Muriel nodded her head as she stood back up holding out a signed check stating "yes consider this your severance pay, your termination is effective immediately, go pack your things"
Anna stood there shaking her head as she looked to the horrible woman standing in front of her knowing somehow this all had to go back to hiding the truth about the child, that she was doing her best to keep hidden as she asked concerned "and what about Serena?"
Muriel looked to her showing no mercy as she responded with a shake of her head telling her "Serena will be handled appropriately; my husband and I already have a plan in place on what to do about her"
Anna looked to her knowing the girl that she spoke of was her own daughter in which she never, not for one day of the girl's life ever acted like a true mother to Serena as she lost all composure shouting back "what to do about her? She is not some small mishap in a charity function you are preparing, she is a human being who like everyone else made a mistake and she is also your daughter who needs love and someone to try to show her a little compassion"
Muriel looked to her not appreciating hearing anyone speak to her in such a volatile way especially from the help as she held her head up high while telling her bitterly "I do not need any advice on my daughter from the help, after what she has done to herself, the sooner that situation is handled the better"
Anna looked to her unsure how any one person could be so distant from their own child and cold hearted to anyone else's needs but her own as she shook her head telling her "that situation as you call it, why don't you say what it really is a baby, Serena is having a baby and your grandchild"
Muriel looked to her annoyed to hear her break the ultimate taboo of speaking of it within her presence as she shook her head telling her "and you will not speak one word about this to anyone, no one is that clear, that is unless you ever want to work in this city again. I think we understand each other do we not"
Anna looked down to the check she was holding in her hands and knew the check had nothing to do with a severance pay, but was being used as a bribe to keep her mouth shut about the baby and part of her wanted to find away to stop this horrible woman before she found any other way to destroy the poor girl inside, but also knew that Muriel had the power to make through with her threat and she would be sure she never found another job working in this city again if she spoke of the baby Serena was carrying as she nodded her head in agreement telling her sadly "fine I will agree to your terms, but first I want to say goodbye to Serena before I leave"
Muriel stood up tall as she crossed her arms in front of her stating firmly "I do not believe that would be wise you two are far too close already, it would only complicate things further, it would be better if you just leave now"
Anna looked to her amazed that she actually expected her to just leave without saying a word to Serena which she would not do as she shook her head telling her forcefully "I practically raised that girl from a baby I can't leave her now without a single goodbye"
Muriel stood with her face like stone as she called out "Nigel" and then looked to Anna with a sour face telling her "she is my daughter, I was the one who carried her for all those months not you, it would be best that you remember that, and you will do as I tell you to do and leave now"
Anna looked to her knowing she may have carried Serena for those nine months but that is all the maternal connection this woman had ever shown as she shouted out loudly "you may have carried her for those months but that was where it all ended because you have never been a mother to that girl, you have not shown a moment of love or caring towards her without the camera rolling, not once in her entire life"
Muriel looked to her showing no concern to her comment and with a light shake of her head she replied back telling her "you will leave now; I will have Nigel gather your things and forward them to you"
Anna looked to her as she wiped a tear from her eyes knowing she would not even be given a chance to say good bye to the girl she loved as if she was her own as she shook her head and laid out one final plea begging "please I will go, but all I ask of you is this, do not hurt that girl anymore then she is already going through"
Nigel stepped into the room at that moment as he bowed down stoically asking "you called madam" Muriel looked to the one servant that knew their place as she replied back formally stating "yes Nigel Anna was just leaving us, please show her to the door"
Nigel turned his attention towards Anna with no look of surprise but almost as if his mouth turned up into a small grin as he responded "this way please"
Anna shook her head hating the thought of leaving Serena here with these people as she shook her head responding back "I can find my own way out" and then turned to walk out of the study to the front entrance as she turned around quietly and took one last look behind her only to see Nigel standing there to be sure she was actually leaving as she took a deep breath in telling him "please just tell her, tell her I love her"
Nigel stood with his face like stone as he replied back "madam has stated that no further communication between yourself and her daughter will be required, good day to you" Anna took a deep breath in not sure why she would expect anything less from them as she nodded her head and stepped out closing the door behind her.
Darien came walking across the sand wearing an overly wrinkled shirt with his hair pointing out in different directions as he walked up to the back of the stage where the other members of his band stood as Andy turned around to look his way surprised to see that he had actually shown up after missing the past few practices as he observed his usual dapper friend stating "wow you look like shit where the hell have you been? And when was the last time you took a shower?"
Ryan reached over seeing the dark circles under Darien's eyes from lack of sleep as he patted Andy on the shoulder and began laughing while telling him "I think I know, too much wedded bliss their buddy, Serena wouldn't let you go, too much banging around a little huh, huh"
Darien looked to him knowing it was the same girl he had been unable to get off his thoughts the past few days, but not for the same reason and with a shake of his head he abruptly told him "no, now I'm here so let's play"
Andy looked to him seeing a coldness there that he did not remember ever seeing in his usually carefree friend as he nodded his head telling him cautiously "sure whatever you say" as he picked up his own guitar and they walked out onto the stage with their lead guitarist who had been missing with no explanation for the past week
Darien stood up to the front of the stage as he blinked his eyes and looked out on the crowd of young lovers all sitting holding each other close, which he felt no connection to at the moment and felt ill by just being near as he took his guitar strap and wrapped it around his shoulder and spoke into the microphone stating "well this one goes out to all you gullible lovers out there who think they found their one true love, only for them to turn around and stab you right in the back with there lies"
Andy was snapped to attention by his words and quickly walked over and covered the microphone with his hand as he looked to Darien really seeing for the first time that he was well inebriated questioning "what are you doing?"
Darien shook his head telling him forcefully "I am here to do what I want to do, not what the little rich girl tells me what I should be doing, now move aside" Andy shook his head knowing there was more to this then what he was being told and knew Darien and Serena had obviously had some kind or argument as he looked to him stating "I think it would be better if you go and sit this one out let me and the boys handle it, go home to your wife"
Darien shook his head as he pushed Andy's hand away and started singing out overly loudly to a crowd of lover's vengeful songs of breaking up, deep heartache, and loneliness as the crowd sat starring up at the stage unsure of what to make of the band before them, while Darien put none of his usual presence and electricity into the performance while he continued to sing the words to the songs and changing a lyric or two.
Andy looked to the crowd knowing that if this continued on much longer with the melancholy woes they would soon be booed right off the stage as he walked over to Darien and handed him a note from the restaurant manager telling him "there is a couple here tonight that is celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and they want you to play their song, they are special friends of Angelo's"
Darien took the note from his hand abruptly as he looked down seeing what song was being requested as he thought back to the man that first introduced him to the blonde, that then went ahead and destroyed his life as he through the note down to the ground and stepped on it as he looked out on the crowd asking "Tom and Anita, is there a Tom and Anita here"
A little elderly couple sitting at a table towards the front of the stage holding hands smiled as the woman lifted up her hand saying pleasantly "right here"
Darien looked to them not believing it could actually be possibly to find one person you would ever actually want to be around for fifty years or more as he commented dryly "wow 50 years together, that's quite an accomplishment and you still look happy I guess, she is not a gold-digging harpy and not trying to change you in anyway is she Tom"
Andy stood there with his mouth open unsure where that comment had come from as he looked towards the side of the stage and saw a very angry looking Angelo starring his way while stating play the damn song" Andy let out a loud gulp as he spoke into this own mic saying "to Tom and Anita Happy 50th may you have many many more" and then started to play the opening chords of the song as he looked to his buddy hoping that there would not be any more unexpected comments.
Andy looked to Darien waiting for him to take the cue and pick up the lyrics as he continued to play the melody and motioned to him pick it up as he took a deep breath in seeing that Darien had no interest in playing a love song at all as he walked up to his own microphone and began singing "wisemen say"
Darien quickly picked up the tune as he began singing the rest of the words to the song with a few of his own renditions "only fools rush in isn't that the truth, but I can't help falling in love with you. Shall I stay would it be a sin to lie to the one you supposedly are in love with"
Andy gave Darien a dirty look knowing he was going to get them all in trouble as he told him "quit it with the comments and play the damn song right" but Darien continued to ignore his protest as he kept singing the song his way "like a river flows surely to the sea darling so it goes something are meant to be like having everything laid out perfect just the way you want it and then bam getting the little rich girl knocked up"
The older couple in the front looked to him with wide eyes to the words he spoke, but he showed no concern to them or the other members of his own band that stopped playing the song as he kept continuing playing his own guitar while singing "take my hand take my whole life too for I can't help falling in love with you and take my word for it all you gullible lovers out there who think you found something special, love is a meaningless ploy and not worth the trouble"
The couples all sat there looking at him with their mouths hanging open wide unsure what to make of the performance going on before them as Angelo's face was becoming beat red as he pointed towards Darien while shouting out angrily "get him off the stage now!"
Darien laughed showing no concern to any other comments then his own as he thought about a certain blonde whose haired shined like the golden sunlight and had eyes as blue as the deepest ocean that he himself had drowned within as he sang out loudly "like a river flows surely to the sea, darling so it goes somethings are meant to be and if you believe that your gullible and she already has you caught up in her web and she is going to keep strangling and strangling tighter until there is nothing left"
Andy quickly walked over to Darien's mic needing to stop this before it got any worse, than it already was as he spoke to the crowd politely telling them "my apologies, but we are going to take a brief intermission, please excuse us" as he quickly grabbed onto Darien's arm and pulled, but mostly dragged him from the stage.
Angelo stood off to the side waiting with his arms crossed as he looked to both Darien and Andrew asking "you better have a damn good explanation for what ever that was out there"
Andy looked to Darien curious himself to what would make his friend lose it so much on stage but all did Darien did was look to him with a shrug of his shoulder replying back "I was just giving these people a sense of what to truly expect so they won't get stabbed in the back, like I did"
Andy turned to look to his friend seeing a very different man then he did a week ago as he patted Angelo on the shoulder telling him "look we just need a minute here, why don't you offer everyone a free drink and take it out of our pay tonight alright" as Bill spoke out protesting "hey what do you mean take it out of our pay, it's not like my head is all screwed up like his is?"
Andy looked over to where Darien sat with his head between his knees and turned back to where Bill and Ryan stood by disgruntled as he commented "why don't you guys go take a break and get a drink yourselves also, I'll handle this"
Ryan looked over to the side to see his buddy that he had once admired for always having a different beautiful blonde on his arm every day, but now that obviously wasn't the case and he had some serious issues disturbing him as he nodded his head and pulled Bill with him along over to the side bar as Andy went and sat by Darien asking him "so what the hell was that all about?"
Darien lifted his head to look at him having no interest in spouting out his troubles while stating unapologetically "I was just sparring some of these fools some pain and giving them the truth right now, girls can't be trusted, especially the beautiful ones"
Andy looked to him with a nod of his head having a pretty good idea of who this was really all about as he let out a small chuckle asking "I take it there is something going on at home between you and Serena, first couple's disagreement, can't decide what color to paint the walls of the nursery or something?"
Darien stood up from the barrel that he sat on wishing it was only that simple as he shook his head telling him forcefully "no, now leave it alone"
Andy looked to him knowing that by Darien avoiding answering his question he was on the right track at least as he looked to him with a raised brow asking further "are you sure about that, maybe I should ask Serena and see for myself"
Darien turned around quickly at hearing her name mentioned again as he nodded his head telling him the same thing, he had been telling himself for the past week, but hadn't been able to believe it yet "I'm positive, I'm great now everything is perfect, the way it was supposed to be just me and me alone, no one else around, she's not here to mess with my plans any longer"
Andy looked to him surprised expecting this may have been a little more than just your basic couples' argument as he took a deep breath in afraid this rush of a wedding would come to this, but hadn't expected it to all fall apart this soon asking "what do you mean she's not there? where is she now?"
Darien shrugged his shoulder trying to act like it was not what kept him up most nights wondering the same damn thing after hearing not a single word from her, even though that was what he told her plainly on the beach that day as he reached up to his throbbing head telling him back "no idea probably went home or something"
Andy looked to him afraid to know the answer for himself of how bad his buddy screwed up this time as he shook his head asking back "you mean for just a visit? don't you?"
Darien shook his head in a nonresponsive way telling him back firmly "no I don't, she checked out of the hotel, clerk says she asked to make a phone call and then left a week ago"
Andy stood up from the barrel he sat on hearing this new bit of information, that Serena had been gone for a week now and this was the first he had heard of it as he looked to his friend knowing he had seriously messed things up this time as he shook of his head stating the obvious "but you have only been married for a week"
Darien nodded his head in response showing no emotion towards something that she was already probably in the process of having annulled while telling him casually "yeah so"
Andy looked to him unsure how Darien could be so obtuse to his ultimate error in tossing the girl aside as he called out "she's been gone a week"
Darien nodded his head in response as he looked down and saw an empty bottle of rum sitting nearby teasing him with thoughts of that night and the small ring that hung loose around the edge of the bottle as he reached down and grabbed the bottle and through it off into the distance as far as he could toss it out of sight and then let out a loud growl.
Andy stepped back not expecting to see that kind of forceful display from the man who was acting completely cavalier over his greatest mistake as he looked to him with a doubtful expression telling him "you didn't actually do it did you?" Darien turned back to look at him while feeling the inner turmoil that boiled up inside asking "do what?"
Andrew crossed his arms with a shake of his head seeing for himself in Darien's own behavior knowing that he had done some lousy things in the years he had known him, but up until now believed that he wouldn't actually hurt anyone, but he had been wrong as he stated back accusingly "you got that girl pregnant, married her and then abandoned her right afterwards"
Darien looked to him hearing the accusation in his words but knew if he had been there that day and heard all the expectations that were being put on him, that she expected and wanted from him it would be understandable why he had to walk away when he did as he crossed his arms telling him "there was more to it than that"
Andy looked to him with a slight nod having no doubt that Darien was doing the same he always did and running away when things got too close to home as he shook his head telling him "I thought maybe when you said all those things the other night to me down on the beach, about being a better man about being there for her and wanting to be a good father to your kid, that maybe you had changed, that you were not the same selfish asshole you always have been"
Darien looked to him not expecting his so-called friend to speak so forcefully and worse yet take her side in this as he shook his head telling him back "why don't you tell me how you really feel?"
Andy looked to him, but had no intentions of backing down as he gave him a hard push to his shoulder, but really wanted to knock some sense into the man's head telling him back "for years I watched you take advantage of unsuspecting woman showing them a good time and then moving onto the next one, but I always told myself you weren't hurting anyone it was all in fun, for you and for them, but I was wrong because someone did get hurt this time and you are standing here talking to me instead of trying to fix it"
Darien shook his head not wanting to believe what Andy said as he let out a loud laugh telling him "she'll be fine, she has plenty of money to keep herself warm at night, that's what she values most after all"
Andy looked to him not knowing Serena well but was doubtful of his comment after knowing she had agreed to marry him without knowing of his father's wealth as he shook his head telling him "since when the girl I met seemed perfectly happy spending the day on the beach with you, without needing money or trinkets and was delighted just to learn a game of volleyball"
Darien looked to him remembering the moments they had shared together before everything broke to pieces when she had told him that she felt trapped in her own world as he shook the thought from his head knowing what had all came out at his father place of what she really wanted and expected from him while telling him firmly "since I took her to my fathers and had to sit and listen to them go on and on about making all these plans for me and my life, that I was not good enough in her eyes well no sir not this guy"
Andy looked to him curious as to what was said exactly as he crossed his arms with a shake of his head telling him "really so she said those exact words that you were not good enough in her eyes? Even after she agreed to marry you thinking you did not have a penny to your name"
Darien stopped by his comment as he took a deep breath while trying to deny the comment telling him back "there was more to it than that, but yes if you must know she kept going on about how my father can improve his company and then demanded that I could not support her and the damn kid without my father's help"
Andy looked to him hearing his version of what happened and expected his temper had risen up without really thinking over what was said and with a shake of his head he questioned "did you really call it the damn kid in front of her?"
Darien looked to him aggravated that was what Andy heard from all of this telling him back "yeah something along those lines, but it doesn't matter now she went back to her penthouse life"
Andy let out a small laugh hearing his explanation for what it truly is as he shook his head telling him back "so let me get this straight you took her to meet your father where her business knowledge impressed him and then you said something stupid because she threw life into your face, that you do have a responsibility to that child she is carrying"
Darien shook his head while trying to ignore the stabbing he felt inside telling him back "I do well enough, I don't need her or my father's money, I don't need anyone" as he turned around and grabbed his guitar screaming out "now did we come here to play or not?"
Andrew stood to the side as he crossed his arms and took in his own observation to the girl who left home and all her families wealth just to marry a surfer telling him back "damn it Darien, don't you see it"
Darien let out a long sigh having enough with this conversation as he shook his head asking uninterested "see what?"
Andy looked to him as he leaned back against the barrel stating "you and she, are the same" as though it was the most obvious fact which his friend had not a clue to
Darien laughed thinking of the girl who was suffocated in that world and did not know what it was to enjoy even the simplest of pleasures telling him back "we are nothing alike"
Andy nodded his head thinking of the man he was talking to who a few years back left his own fathers place to find his own way and had never had to work for a single moment in his life until he found himself having to make his own way telling him firmly "you are more so than you realize, she was trying to run away from her rich controlling life that she is being suffocated into, just as you once were, only you found a way out, I guess she was not so lucky"
Darien stood there hearing the reminder of how things had started for him as he tried to push the thought away and shook his head telling him with some apprehension "I'm sure she's fine"
Andy nodded his head seeing the rough exterior starting to break down as he looked to him with a small smirk knowing Darien's chink in his armor telling him back "alright maybe so, but what about your child?"
Darien looked to him with a shake of his head knowing that Andy was up to something asking cautiously "what about it?"
Andy looked at him with a shake of his head and a small twinkle in his eye saying back "have you forgotten your child, the child that you said in so many words that you didn't give a damn about and yet you married her to take care of and protect it, to be a better parent then your mother ways to you, which I would say your behavior right now puts you in a worse category then your mother ever was, and that child is right now growing inside of her and is going to grow up in the same environment Serena has, that you had, and you want no part of it"
Darien looked to him hearing another speak out loud the words that he himself had been unable to get off his mind as Andy shrugged his shoulders and picked up his own guitar telling him "but if all you want to do is go out onto that stage and finish what you started out there, I'll be beside you, but I do wonder if you really want to be the kind of dad that just sends a note on their kids' birthday, that is when you remember when the birthday is and knows nothing about their own kid, but hey I am sure your child will be a great wall street investor before he or she even turns ten, and you could be walking down the street one day and not even know it's your own kid is that what you really want?"
Darien shook his head hearing the truth in Andy's words that he would become a stranger in his own child life as he replied back softly telling him "no"
Andy nodded his head seeing there was some sense finally reaching Darien's brain on what he would be missing out on telling him back "look I know this isn't what you expected your life to be, and I did have my reservations about all of this marriage stuff and still do, but I will say this that girl needs you and I think maybe part of you might need her too. I know there is a good man in there somewhere who will do the right thing, by her and your kid. I just think together you both need to figure out what that is"
Darien nodded his head thinking of some of the chosen words he had said to her down on the beach where she had found him with Eva hanging off of his arm and he used to cause further friction between them as he reached down into his pocket feeling a twinge of guilt and pulled out his car keys as he starred down at a single key ring as Andy looked at it surprised knowing he was thinking of the promise he witnessed them making together while telling him with a small grin "we've all got to grow up sooner or later just some have to do it sooner than others"
Darien held the small metal ring between his fingers thinking of the girl who had put her trust in him not once, but twice and he let her down both times as Angelo walked up to them breaking him from his thoughts complaining loudly "well are you going to play or not, I am not paying you both to stand around here and talk all night, now get your heads on straight get up there and play right this time"
Andy looked to Darien with a little twerk of his head asking him about more than just the performance "so how about it can we go do this the right way this time?"
Darien nodded his head as he took the key ring off his larger key ring and held it up with a little smirk telling him "yeah, thanks for still being my best man" as he slid the key ring into his back pocket.
Andy nodded his head seeing that Darien had a clearer sense then before on what the right path should be as he patted him on the shoulder telling him "anytime, now come on let's give these people the performance they have all been waiting for"
Darien nodded his head as he patted his back pocket feeling the small ring inside and then picked up his guitar as they walked out onto the stage.
