Sunset at Paradise Cove

Chapter 42

Author's Note: Hi everyone just want to say thank you for all the positive feedback I have received for the last chapter and the story as a whole, also to all those who have favorited this story or me as a writer I am very pleased to see you are enjoying this story and the rest of my works. This story will be finishing up soon with just a couple more chapters to go possible two or three more will let you know for sure by next chapter, but there will always be new ideas and stories to come. Thanks for reading and following along and please send your thoughts and reviews. Thanks Mars Light

Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon never did never will also there is a song mentioned in the story Marry you by Bruno Mars not mine either

Darien walked into the small cottage after surfing practice as he placed his surf board down at the side of the door and looked down seeing Serena's sandals were sitting by the door as well. A small curve of his lips went up into a tender smile, enjoying coming home to another and feeling over the past few days a sense of worth that he hadn't had before, that his simple house had turned into more of a home with someone there waiting for him.

He slipped off his own sandals and walked inside as he looked around quickly seeing that she had been keeping herself busy tidying everything up in his absence, where there once had been pizza boxes and empty cans now the place was left clean and orderly, but it was more then that it was the simple conversations they shared at the table and the overall presence of having someone else there to listen and ask how his days is when he heard her voice call out "Darien is that you?"

He responded back saying "yeah it's me" and walked over to grab himself an energy drink from the fridge as he closed the door and saw something that was not their before a picture of the two of them that they had taken from what seemed so long ago now of one of the late nights down on the beach before she knew the real him or that he had taken the time to get to know the real her either as he reached out and took the picture in hand with a small smirk seeing the happy couple smiling back at him as called out "where did this photo come from?"

He placed the photo back down under the magnet on the fridge where it would keep its permanent spot as he unscrewed the cap from the bottle and started drinking it down fully in one gulp as he heard her reply come from inside the bedroom stating "I found it, I didn't realize I still held onto that picture, if it's a problem we can take it down"

Darien looked over to the picture once more as he let out a small chuckle knowing that he didn't want to take the picture down, that if anything he wanted to add more of them to the space as he shook his head expecting it was time that he told her what was on his mind over the past few days telling her back "no I think it is good where it is"

He walked over to the couch as he saw her doll still sitting there starring at him, but unless he was mistaken which he was certain he wasn't it had a different set of clothes on then it did when he left earlier as he shook his head questioning back "am I mistaken or did you have a change of clothes or something for this doll?"

He heard her slight amusement as she came walking out of the bedroom wearing a simple blue dress with a white shrug and complemented it by wearing the necklace that he had purchased for her as she looked to him with a warm smile telling him back "no I made it actually I used one of the dresses that Anna had given to me they were all too big anyway, so I cut it down and made myself a few things with the material and had enough left-over to make a little dolls dress"

Darien turned back to look at the doll with amazement that she had actually made this herself as he questioned back "you made this?" Serena let out a small chuckle as she nodded her head telling him "yes, it is not perfect, but I thought it was kind of cute"

Darien looked to her with a warm smile responding back "I think it is very good, you could probably make a living out of doing this" Serena looked to him surprised by his comment as she shook her head questioning back "you really think I could?"

Darien stood up from the couch as he walked over and took hold of her elbows as he smiled telling her assuredly "I think you can do much more then you realize"

Serena stood there having him standing this close, which she couldn't deny any longer that she didn't enjoy having him this close by lately, sharing stories and meals together, it felt almost like it could be a real marriage, but it wasn't as she turned away from him quickly and walked across to the other side of the room questioning what she thought would be a safer subject "so how did your practice go?"

Darien let out a deep breath seeing even now she still was pulling away from him as he stood up against the wall trying to seem like all was casual, even though his heart was racing with the one question he had on his mind to ask her, but had yet to find the proper time to do so telling her back "it went good I think I am in good shape for the competition tomorrow"

Serena walked towards the bathroom as she put a quick brush through her hair telling him back quickly "well I am sure that you will be amazing as always"

Darien took a deep breath in as he let it out slow commenting back "well with you there to cheer me on I am sure that I will be" as he stood up against the counter waiting for her reply which didn't take that long to come as she walked out of the bathroom and looked to him asking uncertain "you want me to come?"

He stood with his arms crossed trying to look easy going even though his heart was racing the whole time as he nodded his head telling her "yes I want you to be there, I was actually thinking that" as he looked seeing her face starring at him waiting to hear what he would say as he released a deep breath telling her I was actually thinking that I was feeling hungry and thinking about heading over to the tiki early to grab a bite to eat before I meet up with the others for our warm up, so what do you think will you join me?"

Serena stood there for a moment having a feeling that he was going to say something else besides just asking her to join him for lunch, but shrugged it off as only her only wishful thinking as she walked towards the kitchen telling him back "oh well that sounds nice, but I am going to have to pass but go enjoy yourself"

Darien looked to her with a small shake of his head knowing that he would have to wait a bit longer before asking her to stay with him for always as he looked seeing for the first time that she looked a little over dressed just for a party down at the beach as he shrugged his shoulders questioning back "are you going somewhere, a date perhaps?" as he waited hoping desperately that the answer would be no.

Serena reached into the fridge to grab herself a bottle of water as she turned back to him stating casually "yes actually I am going out, but no it's not a date"

Darien let out the breath he held glad to know that much at least, but it still didn't explain where she was off to that she got herself all dressed up for as he shook his head trying to get the answer's he seeks without seeming too over eager to know asking "so where are you headed off to"

Serena placed her bottle back in the fridge as she closed the door and saw the picture that she had put up earlier, a reminder for herself of the foolish girl she was who was to innocent in her ways to realize the truth as she let out a deep breath knowing she had to give up on any notions of silly day dreams that she would have to learn how to make it on her own telling him back "I thought I would go out and put my name in a few places see if I can find myself a job, and hopefully a place of my own eventually"

Darien looked to her startled not expecting this to come that she had thoughts of leaving finding her own place and in some ways, it was worse than if she was actually going out on a date as he looked to her questioning back while trying to sound supportive when inside he was screaming as he asked her "oh where were you planning on looking?"

Serena walked back inside as she made her way over to the door and slipped her sandals on her feet as she replied telling him "well I thought I would start in that area that you took me that had all the businesses and then maybe do some social networking also and see what comes of it"

Darien cleared his throat silently cursing himself for taking her there and putting any thoughts she might have gotten in her head about leaving as looked to her with a simple nod replying back "I see well good luck with the search, do you need a ride or a lift anywhere I can take you"

Serena walked over towards him as she reached up and placed a small kiss on his cheek as she had seen her mother do to her father many times as shook her head telling him with a small grin "no, but thank you I feel like this is something I should try to do on my own" then turned around to walk away and shook her head questioning why she just went up and kissed him on the cheek as she did and continued walking hoping he wouldn't make anything of it as she finished explaining "after all if I am going to learn to be financially dependent on my own I have to figure out how to get around don't I"

Darien looked to her with a charming smile unsure why she just gave him a kiss on the cheek, even though it was only on the cheek, but a kiss was still a kiss, only by the way she was acting she obviously didn't want to make a big deal over it, so he wouldn't at least not yet anyway until they could find a better time to discuss the living arrangements a bit more thoroughly.

He walked back over to the couch and sat back down, even though his plans to have lunch together failed miserable, he expected he would have to find a way to explain and show her that he wanted to make this living arrangement of theirs more permanent and soon as he began telling her "you know you don't have to do it at all on your own, you do know, I can still support us both well enough" as he looked over and saw by the corner of his eye there lying on the end table was the paper laying out as he reached over and slid it closer to his view seeing where she had circled in a red pen possible room rentals as he looked to her taken back questioning angrily that he could already be too late "were you seriously thinking of leaving also and what you were just going to go without telling me"

Serena turned back to look at him seeing that he seemed to be growing angry while he was holding up a copy of the morning paper as she shook her head telling him lightly "no of course not I wouldn't just leave and cut all ties with you, that is not the kind of person that I am"

Darien let out a deep breath hearing the slight jibe from her over the way he had acted towards her in the past, when he made some cruel and idiotic mistakes as he shook his head stating back "then why are you looking at places to live already, when you don't even have a job lined up yet"

Serena placed her hands down on her hips getting frustrated with the way he was acting towards her now, he had been so supportive in the past and now was acting like she didn't have what it takes to make it on her won as she shook her head telling him back "I was just beginning to look for your information, but I figured that you were probably getting tired of sleeping out on the couch every night and maybe it was time that I go out and find my own place to live hence where the job would come in and if you really do have confidence in me like you say you do then you will wish me luck that I find a job right away"

Darien was taken back startled that she thought that he didn't have full confidence in her which he did and felt the complete opposite of what she thought instead he was actually really worried sick that she would do too well and end up leaving him soon as he shook his head telling her back "Serena it's not that I don't have confidence in your abilities because I do and I am sure you can find a job with no problem it's just that well I" as he took a deep breath in telling her "I wouldn't mind sleeping out on the couch for a while longer if need be, there is no real rush"

Serena shook her head unsure about all of these missed signals she was getting from him, one second making it sound like the worst thing possible for her to make her own way in the world and the next giving her his full support in doing so, but shrugged it off as it being just his way and it would probably be best to put a little added distance between them as she replied back "well I have to learn to be dependent on my own sooner or later, that is why I hope that I will be able to find a suitable position today and then I can focus on finding my own place to live so you can go back to living the life you had before I came along. I mean after all how hard could it be to find a job when my father had practically groomed me to run his businesses since before, I could talk"

Darien looked to her knowing that what she spoke of was true and any busy not smart enough to hire her was crazy which meant all his plans for having a future together were quickly slipping out of his hands as he let out a deep breath while trying to grasp at straws questioning back "then won't be working at the neighborhood grocery store be a bit of a step down for you"

Serena nodded her head knowing he was right never expecting that this would come, that all her life everything had already been laid out for her, all her parents well thought out plans gone, and now she had to find her own course as she replied back telling him with a confidence, she didn't have yet in herself "yes maybe it will, but right now I am hitting rock bottom and I need to start somewhere and I don't mind working my way up to the top"

Darien looked to her seeing whether this would work out between them or not, this was something that was important to her to at least give it a try and he would give her his full support in doing so as he nodded his head and stood up from the couch as he walked over to her and brushed a piece of stray hair away from her face telling her with a smile "well then, if this is what you want I wish you luck with your search I am sure you will do great and find a job in no time, and whatever company you chose will be lucky to have you"

Serena plastered on a happy smile to hear his supportive words as she took hold of his hand telling him sincerely "thank you Darien, I really couldn't have come this far without you" as she reached up and gave him a quick peck on the cheek then turned around to walk out the door telling him back "I will see you tonight then"

Serena began to walk out the door, but Darien had yet to let go of her hand as she turned back to look at him, he asked with a little smirk "later tonight? how long were you planning on staying out for? You have to eat something sooner or, later don't you? Come by the tiki tonight everyone will be there the whole gang"

Serena took a deep breath in knowing that when he spoke of the whole gang what he really meant was all his friends, which also meant Eva who would just find another way of reminding her of why they didn't suit together as she shook her head telling him back hesitantly "I don't know, it will probably be a long day and you can tell me about how it went later on"

Darien shook his head not willing to take no for an answer as he responded back telling her excitedly "you have to come at least for a little while, it is kind of an island tradition around here everyone comes year after year. Its really a big party they throw down on the beach the night before the big surfing competition, there is going to be a large bonfire and usually they end up roasting a pig, it's a huge deal you can't miss it and as a bonus, me and the boys are playing. Come on say you'll come"

Serena shook her head knowing that whether she was there or not would not make a bit of difference, when he is on stage, he will probably not even notice she is there once all his adoring fans are surrounding him, as she let out a deep breath knowing he was right about one thing though, she did need to eat and was not in a hurry to try out the oven again as she smiled asking him "you really roast a pig?"

Darien nodded his head expecting that she was intrigued telling her back with a shrug "yeah it's something we do around here"

Serena looked to him as she let out a slight chuckle knowing if she was going to make this her permanent home she would have to learn to fit in here with their different ways as she nodded her head replying back "alright I will try to stop by later" as she went to walk out the door again, but again he did not let go of her hand as she turned back to look at him asking "what is it?" and saw he looked to her with a completely serious face asking "you will be their won't you?"

Serena looked back at him with a small shake of her head, remembering all the times when she had made Anna promise in a similar fashion that she would be there to pick her up from school on time every day as she smiled saying back "I just told you I will try to come by later after my interviews are done"

Darien shook his head as he took a deep breath in and let it back out telling her deeply "no I meant the competition tomorrow, you will come won't you, you will be there to cheer me on"

Serena stood their seeing the deep expression that was on his face and was surprised to see that it would mean that much to him whether or not she was there as she looked to him questioning back cautiously "you really want me to come?"

Darien looked to her expecting that she had no real interest in being there to see the competition as he shrugged his shoulders, while trying to make it seem like it was not a huge deal to him telling her back "I mean only if you want to" as he saw that radiant smile of hers come again as she grasped his hand within both of hers telling him back "then yes, I'll be there, I promise"

Darien looked to her with a small grin hearing her promise that she would be there tomorrow as he spoke up telling her with a little gleam to his eyes "then good luck with your job search even though I don't think you'll need it, they'll be lucky to have you" as he let go of her hand and reached down and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek

Serena smiled unsure what this was exactly going on between them, but would enjoy it for however long it lasted as she waved her hand goodbye and walked out the door calling out "I'll see you later"

Darien stood in the doorway for a moment longer as he watched her walking down the sandy beach on her own to make her own way out in the world as he turned around and closed the door behind him and looked into his now empty house as he went over and sat down on the couch alone as he let out a deep breath stating "yeah I'll see you later"

Andy continued to play the opening chords to the song again, but could tell by the lack of response in their lead singer, he wasn't completely focused that there was something troubling him as Ryan let out a deep laugh stating "uh oh seems like there are maybe some marital problems at home again"

Darien turned back to their drummer as he shook his head telling him aggressively "it's none of your damn business about my home life, but for your information everything is fine between Serena and I great actually never been better"

Andy stopped playing seeing that Ryan was right about one thing that even though Darien said one thing what he meant was something else as he removed his guitar strap from around his shoulder and placed it down as he shook his head telling him "ok yeah but he's right on one thing, you are definitely distracted, now do you want to get what is going on off your chest or should we expect another interesting song choice like last time"

Darien shook his head as he replied back telling him firmly "there is nothing wrong like I said everything is great between Serena and I never been better so are we going to play here or not?"

Andy looked to him with a slight nod of his head knowing his friend better than that and that everything was obviously not as he said perfect as he shook his head telling him back "alright you just better get your head back on straight before tonight and especially before the competition tomorrow"

Darien took a deep breath in and let it out slow, seeing that this would not just get dropped as he had hoped and replied back them "for the last time everything is fine Serena and I are getting along great, better than before, things are working out perfectly, and now she is leaving"

Andy looked back at him with a shake of his head, while trying to get what he assumed would be a further explanation on the sudden change questioning back "leaving? Where? Why?"

Darien nodded his head solemnly thinking of their earlier conversation where she had made her plans known to him as he replied back saying "well not right away or so she says anyhow, but she was looking at possible rooms to rent elsewhere and she went out looking for job prospects today so she can afford a place of her own"

Andy looked to him with a slight shrug of his shoulder not seeing any problem with this as he replied back telling him "oh good for her"

Darien grew angry as he heard Andy's lack of response, to what she has planned as he shouted back questioning "what? what do you mean good for her? She has a place to live with me"

Andy looked to his friend with his eyes open wide to hear the way his friend spoke of her as he stated back "well I just figured that this would be good for her, for both of you actually"

Darien shook his head as he replied back aggravated "and what is that supposed to mean? Maybe I could be good for her, maybe we could be for each other"

Andy walked over to him as he patted Darien on the shoulder trying to bring a little sense into this replying back "listen buddy I am not trying to make it sound that you shouldn't be together, maybe you both could make it work, but you did kind of rush the whole marriage thing and then after losing the baby and having her move in with you. I just think that maybe it might not be the worst thing if Serena did go out and get her own place, put a little distance between you both to figure things out for a while"

Darien looked to Andy with a shake of his head questioning back "why are you of all people actually supportive of her leaving, weren't you the one that told me that I had messed things up with letting her go in the first place and that I should go after her and get her back, well you were right and I did and now you're saying I should just let her go again"

Andy nodded his head as he replied telling him "yeah I did say that and from what you had told me about her parents I am glad you did talk her into coming back here to stay but I still think that maybe it would be best if she did get her own place, you two did rush things and maybe putting a little distance between you isn't the worst thing that could happen, this way take a break and you can put your heads back together after everything that has happened and gone down between the two of you and maybe figure out what will come next, if there will be a next"

Darien took a deep breath in not wanting to hear the truth but supposing that he needed too as he nodded his head and let out a deep sigh telling him back "yeah maybe your right it's just that…" as he paused and took a deep breath in and let it back out telling him "I don't want to lose whatever this is"

Andy looked to him oddly, never hearing Darien of all people speak this way about anyone, especially no other girl as he questioned back curiously "and just what exactly is this?"

Darien looked to him thinking of his earlier thoughts stating factually with a small laugh "I don't want to not seeing her sandals when I walk in the door each day. I don't want to not hear her humming when she is in the bathtub. I don't want to sit down at the table and have my morning coffee alone without having her walk out of the bedroom hearing her groggily say good morning. I don't want her to leave Andy. I have actually enjoyed having her around. I guess it just feels right having her there with me like she somehow belongs and I don't want to lose that"

Andy looked to him both shocked and amazed to hear Darien of all people tell him that he was actually happy being married to someone else as he shook his head with a small laugh questioning back "have you spoken to her about any of this? Told her how you really feel?"

Darien looked to him with a shake of his head knowing that is what he should have done, but so far had yet to find the actual words to say or possible the courage to say what he needed too while replying back "no not in so many words, I guess I just haven't been able to find the right words yet to say to her. Every time I am going to ask, something always comes up or I stop and think and…."

Andy looked to him with a shake of his head hearing the hesitation questioning back "and what are you having seconds thoughts or something"

Darien shook his head as he replied back telling him "no I want to be with her I do it's just that, she has been through so much heart ache and pain mostly because of me and I just don't want to make it any worse. I was going to tell her over lunch today that I want her to stay with me always, but then she dropped the bomb on me that she was looking to get her own place, I guess I should have said something then but" as he let out a deep breath and Andy finished for him saying "but you didn't you kept quiet instead"

Darien nodded his head as he let out a deep laugh asking in general "how is that I could talk to and charm all these different women, but when it comes to asking the one woman that I want to be with to stay I can't find the simple words to do so?"

Andy shook his head as he patted him on the shoulder replying back "well you better figure it out a way to tell her soon before she starts to pack up her things"

Darien nodded his head expecting himself that he was running out of time questioning him back "yeah your right, but do you have any ideas" when they both turned around to hear as Ryan started playing a popular tune and singing along "it's a beautiful night, we're looking for something dumb to do. Hey baby, I think I want to marry you"

Darien let out a deep laugh knowing the words were true enough as he pointed towards his friend and then they all picked up their instruments and began to play along

Meanwhile Eva stood to the backside of the stage overhearing the entire conversation as she narrowed her eyes with a deep sneer.