Chapter Eleven
Driver's License

Serena had been sitting at her desk, going over the reports from the last five months. At least it was better than being at the apartment. After Trowa left, Serena had only made it till nine-thirty before she decided to come into the office. Technically she wasn't supposed to be there, but it didn't mean she couldn't find a way to sneak in.

It was early Spring, and the weather was warm and sunny so Serena decided to walk to HQ, even though Trowa had left his keys for his bike. The walk to HQ had been pleasant and if nothing else, it killed some time. Which is what Serena wanted in the first place. She was already bored and she didn't know what she was supposed to do all day while Trowa was gone.

Serena had been in her office for over an hour. So far, no one had come in, and as far as she knew it, no one had seen her. The hardest part had been trying to avoid Duo. From what Serena learned through Heero's memories, Duo liked to wander the halls, and if you were looking for him, chances were Duo wasn't going to be in his office.

Using that to her knowledge, Serena entered the building through the garage door. Then she took the stairs up to the floor below hers. Serena quickly made her way down the hallway to another set of stairs. Once Serena was on her office floor, she looked down the hallway before opening the door fully. Ironically it was the same floor as the guys. Their offices weren't next to each other, but it still meant that her chances of getting into her office unnoticed would be difficult.

Lucky for her, Serena had been able to make it to her office without incident. That was until her door opened without warning.

Serena looked over her monitor to see Heero standing in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest, holding a folder in one of his hands.

"Do you want to explain why you're here and not at home?" Heero asked as he uncrossed his arms, coming into her office.

"Do you want to tell me how you found out I was here?" Serena countered back.

"Next time you would like to sneak into your office, don't swipe your temporary badge at the door," Heero said, coming around to the side of the desk.

"Really?" Serena lifted a brow as she turned her chair to face him better. She wanted to be angry, but somehow she found it assuming that Heero had found out she was there. Then again, he could've checked her GPS on her phone. Heaven forbid she shut it off for any reason.

"You never answered my question," Heero said.

"I was bored. Figured I could get a head start on the reports from the last five months," Serena shrugged.

"I thought I told you that you couldn't be here till Monday?"

"Oops, I forgot," Serena smirked. "No one else knows I'm here. Unless you informed Une?"

"No, I didn't," Heero shook his head. "It seems you're in a better mood today than last night," Heero commented. Serena sat back in her seat, crossing her arms over her chest. The change in topic caught her off guard. "What changed?"

"Coffee."

"Coffee?" Heero's brow arched.

"Coffee makes everything better." Serena smiled. "Why are you here? Other than to scold me for being in the office."

"I figured I'd give you these, considering you're here, and not at home," Heero said, handing her the folder. Serena ignored the tone he used as she turned her chair to face her desk. Opening the folder, she pulled out the first sheet of paper.

"A birth certificate?"

"Read it," Heero said.

"Serena Aoi Lowell, DOB: August 23, A.C. 181," Serena looked up at him. "Aoi?"

"I thought it was only fitting," Heero shrugged. "You came up with your name using people I know." Tipping his head towards the paper, "keep reading."

Serena scanned through the rest of the paper. Her mother was Aoi Clark, but no father was listed. Serena found it odd that Heero had chosen to list his mother instead of leaving that information blank. Then she noticed a second paper detailing more information about her position at Preventer. All the standard information that would be filled out for someone's personnel file. But on the third sheet, which contained more personal documentation, Serena paused holding the paper.

"Next of kin: Heero Yuy. Relation: sibling…" Serena read aloud.

"I had mine amended as well."

"I don't understand," Serena looked back up at him. "I thought we agreed-"

"No one can claim you're a clone now, Serena," Heero said, cutting her off. "You have an identity now. One that's all yours."

"I… I don't know what to say."

"You don't need to say anything," Heero's lips tipped up. "Now, I expect you to go home. Don't return to this office until Monday morning, do you understand?"

"Yeah," Serena said. She watched as Heero nodded before pushing himself off her desk and heading for the door.

"I have a question," she said, stopping Heero from leaving her office. "Why did you give me a middle name? That's not customary."

"To make it harder for someone to find you," Heero said from over his shoulder. "I knew you would keep your name, but I also know Edwards won't stop looking for you. Making your name a little harder to find in a database is our best bet." Heero turned his head back around. "I'll see you on Monday."

When Heero shut her door, Serena turned her eyes back down to the papers in her hand. She had an identity, an ID number, and a name that she could truly call her own. Serena was no longer a code name or a weapon to be used by someone else.

Heero and her had agreed they wouldn't take on the sibling roles. Heero didn't have a say, nor did Serena. It wasn't what either of them wanted. Heero understood that she only wanted to be close to him. To get to know him better and develop a friendship over time. Heero understood that she cared about him and the life he had been living. Serena had learned that Heero cared about her well-being, and while his actions months ago hadn't translated well, Serena knew Heero was trying now to make up for that.

Serena didn't care what others thought about their relationship. And neither did Heero. They understood each other, and they had a mutual agreement on how their roles would be in each other's lives. In a lot of ways, Serena owed everything to Heero. Because without him, she wouldn't have the chance she had not at having a real life.

Sitting back in her chair, Serena smiled as she placed the papers back in the folder.

"Maybe all of this will work out in the end," Serena said aloud.

Trowa had been working on a report when someone knocked on his office door. He had spent a better portion of the last hour double-checking the information, signing off on certain things, and noting any changes needed.

"Come in," Trowa said as he tried to finalize the last of the report before sending it off.

Glancing up to see who was entering his office when the door opened, Trowa stopped typing when he saw Serena enter his office. As she made her way over to his desk, Trowa noticed she was holding a folder in her hand.

"What are you doing here?" Trowa asked, lifting a brow at Serena as she sat on one of the chairs in front of his desk.

"I was bored," she shrugged. "And Heero kicked me out of my office."

"Heero kicked you out of your office?"

"Yup, Heero told me to go home and not to return till Monday," Serena said, tilting her head to the side. "I decided to come to your office instead." Trowa wanted to question why she had ignored Heero, but he wanted to know how Serena got to HQ first.

"How did you get here?" Trowa asked. "Did you take my bike?"

"No," Serena shook her head. "I walked here."

"Why?"

"It's nice out," she shrugged again. "It's not like I've never done it before."

Trowa stared at her for a moment. He knew he hadn't sent Serena a text message in a while to check and see how she was doing. Trowa was starting to wonder if he should've before he started working on the current report he had due.

While Serena had been in a better mood that morning, even going as far as to join him in the shower before making him another coffee before he left for work. Trowa had questioned how much of it was an act or if she was finally feeling better being back home with him.

Trowa knew it would take some time for the both of them to re-adjust to their old routine, or more like their new one considering Serena was now an agent with Preventer, but Trowa wasn't in too big of a rush. He just wanted Serena to be happy and feel comfortable again being around him.

"What's in the folder?" He asked.

"Are we playing twenty questions now?" Serena laughed while opening the folder. She pulled out a sheet of paper before handing it to him.

"Your birth certificate?" Trowa asked as he looked back at her.

"Yeah, I guess I have an ID number now." Trowa looked down at the page again, reading through it. While it wasn't much, he knew how important the document was. It meant Serena had an identity now.

"Your mother is listed as Aoi Clark?" Trowa looked back up at Serena.

"Yes."

"Who's Aoi Clark?"

"Heero's mother," Serena said. Trowa stared at her, taken aback by the information.

"Is that his mother's name or the name he made up when doing his papers?" Serena sat quietly for a moment, looking at him. "I'm guessing I'm not supposed to know this information, am I?"

"It's his birth mother's name. And yes, if Heero didn't tell you, it's best to pretend you don't know her name."

"Understood," Trowa nodded his head before reading through the rest of her birth certificate.

When he finished, Trowa looked back up at Serena, smiling at her, "I should say congratulation. You now have an ID number."

"Thank you. And," Serena paused for a moment. "I can legally drive now." Serena smiled brightly at him as she lifted her hand, revealing a driver's license. "At least this one is real."

Trowa couldn't help but laugh. He remembered when Cathy, Serena, and himself had gone out and had to show proof of age before being served drinks. Trowa hadn't thought about it until that moment, but he didn't even know if Serena had an ID card. Serena quickly pulled out an ID and handed it to the server. Trowa had questioned her about it after, learning that it was a fake one she used so she would be able to get into places and drive. Doctor J truly had covered all the basics, making sure Serena had what she needed in the real world.

Trowa stopped laughing when Serena's phone went off. She quickly pulled it out, frowning at the device.

"I'm guessing it's Heero?"

"Yeah, he told me to go home," she said. "I wonder if he'll be angry if I say to him once we're done."

"Done doing what?" Trowa lifted a brow at Serena, but her eyes were on her phone as she typed something. "Serena… what are you telling Heero?"

"That we're having sex in your office," Serena smiled at him before she turned to face the door.

"Why and what are you doing now?"

"I want to see his face when he comes in here," Serena smiled wickedly from over her shoulder. "It's payback for when he punched you."

"How do you know he punched me?"

"I just do," Serena said before turning her head back around.

"You know I'm trying to stay on Heero's good side, considering we're in a relationship, right?"

"Oh, I know," Serena said, not bothering to turn back to face him. "But it doesn't mean I'm not going to mess with him."

Before Trowa could say anything else, the door to his office slammed open. Heero stood glaring. The scowl on his face deepened when Serena said hi to him. Her voice was overly cheerful as she did so.

"Serena," Heero growled. "Go. Home."

Trowa saw her shoulders shake before she turned laughing. Covering her mouth, she looked at him before turning back to Heero. Heero huffed as he turned on his heel, walking away from the door. Duo stood to the side, grinning as he walked into the office.

"Damn, Rena," Duo laughed as he came to stand next to her. "You're going to cause so much trouble around here. It's going to be so awesome too. Might have to join in on some of that fun," Duo winked at her.

Serena erupted into more laughter. Trowa could only smile to himself. Serena was going to cause trouble, and it didn't help that Duo would be her partner in crime. The two of them were sure to keep everyone on their toes. But most importantly, Serena was acting more like her regular self, making Trowa happy. Maybe there was hope that everything would work out in the end.

Trowa happily sighed when he shut down his computer. The day was finally over. After Serena had left his office, Trowa busied himself the rest of the day, but this time he made sure to check in on Serena from time to time.

She had gone straight home after she left HQ, and while they had been texting each other off and on, Trowa knew she was still bored. Serena had told him a few times that being stuck at the apartment was starting to drive her crazy. Trowa tried to offer her ideas to keep herself busy, but he knew after a while that it was more restlessness than anything that was getting to Serena.

Considering she had been at a hotel for two weeks. Serena had told him she couldn't leave the place, and while it had a gym and pool, sitting in the hotel room was boring. Heero had only taken her out once to get some clothes. The only reason it had lasted as long as it had, two hours, was that she dragged her feet, trying to stay out longer. And the one time she snuck out and got her hair cut, Heero found out. She wasn't allowed to leave the hotel by herself. Something Trowa found odd, but Serena had told him that Heero wanted her to relax and take the extra time to recover before she saw everyone.

As Trowa drove home, he thought about what they could do over the weekend. A few ideas floated through his mind till he landed on one. But Trowa knew he needed to ask Serena before proceeding with any of it. Smiling to himself as he unlocked the door to their apartment, Trowa was greeted by Serena staring at him from the kitchen island, her hand hovering over the keyboard of her laptop.

"What are you doing?" Trowa asked as he walked over to her.

"Nothing," Serena said as she reached her hand up, trying to close her screen. Trowa reached out, stopping her. Lifting the screen, he looked at what she had been doing.

"Heero's going to be mad if he finds out you were reading through the reports from the last five months."

"Not if you don't tell him," Serena said, closing her laptop screen. "I'll finish dinner now." Trowa tried to hide the fact he wanted to laugh. Serena was acting suspiciously, but he decided not to tease her. Trowa was more curious to know what was for dinner.

"What are you making?" Trowa asked as Serena moved around the island. There were two large pots already on the stovetop.

"I'm made spaghetti and meatballs," she said as she lifted the lid on one of the pots. Serena grabbed a wooden spoon, stirring the contents inside. Trowa found it slightly odd she had gone with something simple till she moved over to a tray covered with a dishcloth. Lifting the cloth, he saw a loaf of bread.

"Did you make that?"

"Yeah, I made the meatballs and the sauce from scratch…." Serena trailed off, laughing. "I told you I was bored, and since I had some extra time on my hands, I figured I could work while I waited for you to get home."

"What are you going to do tomorrow?"

"I don't know," Serena said as she started cutting the bread.

"I can see if I can leave work early," Trowa offered.

"No," Serena shook her head, turning to face him. "You don't have to, but you may come home to more food."

"I won't complain, I swear," Trowa said as he lifted his hands into the air.

"Go get changed. It'll be another twenty minutes, then we can eat," Serena laughed.

After dinner, they sat on the couch, relaxing for the night. Serena was curled up against his side as they watched some movie on the TV. His hand had been absent-mindedly playing with a strand of her hair that lay against her shoulder.

Trowa had been debating sharing his idea for the weekend with Serena. But he was finding it hard to bring it up to her. Serena was starting to act more like herself, and she had even been in a better mood than she had been the day before. He didn't want to ruin things by bringing up something she still seemed unsure of, even though she had returned to the apartment and had even made dinner for them. Like she had months ago.

After a few minutes of weighing his options, Trowa decided that he'd ask her. Maybe it would help Serena to settle into the idea of living with him and help solidify for her that he wanted her here with him.

"Serena?"

"Trowa," Serena said as she turned her head to look at him. Trowa let the corners of his lips turn up.

"I was thinking over what we could do this weekend."

"And that is?" She asked.

"I think we should go furniture shopping and maybe pick up some more clothes for you." Serena pushed herself into a sitting position, causing him to move the arm he had draped over her shoulders.

"Why?" Serena stared at him wide-eyed. "You have furniture, and I have clothes."

"I thought we could go pick out a new bedroom set. You should have your own dresser instead of having two drawers in mine. Not to mention there's plenty of room in the closet for you." When Serena frowned at him, Trowa elaborated more. "Serena, a few pairs of jeans and some shirts aren't enough. You have three dresses now and three pairs of shoes. Two of which are heels."

"That's plenty," Serena deadpanned. "Why would I need more than some basics and a few nicer things?" Trowa wanted to laugh but refrained from doing so. He knew what she was referring to with her comment.

"You can have more than just basics." Trowa couldn't help the smile that came over his face. He may have been trying not to laugh, but it was hard. "You don't have to live with just the basics anymore. You can fill the whole closet with clothes and shoes if you want."

"I don't understand," Serena frowned.

"How much did you have when you were with Doctor J?" Trowa asked.

"Enough," Serena said, tilting her head to the side. "I've never had more than that."

"I understand, but what about Summer? You have no clothes for the season, and it'll be here before you know it," Trowa said. "And then Autumn and Winter. You're going to need appropriate clothing for each season." Serena's frown deepened as she looked at him. Trowa knew then that he had won his argument.

"I don't like it when you do that," Serena said, tightening her eyes. "You used logic on me."

"Yes, I did," Trowa nodded his head, smirking at her. "Now, back to what I was saying earlier. I think we should go shopping this weekend. We can pick out a new bedroom set and at least get you some more clothes."

"Under one condition," Serena said after a moment.

"What is it?"

"I pay for my own items, and we will only buy a dresser."

"That's two and no deal," Trowa smiled again when she glared at him. "I'm paying, and you can repay me by cooking dinner."

"But I do that anyway."

"I know," Trowa's smile widened. "Because we both know I'm a lousy cook."

Serena huffed before turning back to the TV, crossing her arms over her chest. Reaching over, Trowa pulled her towards him before pressing a kiss on her head. Serena settled against him again, and the two resumed watching the rest of the movie. Smiling once again to himself, Trowa knew Serena would put up a fight over the weekend, but he had zero intention of letting her win. Logic would always work, and worst case, Trowa knew he could find a way around her stubbornness.

In the end, Trowa just wanted Serena to be happy, and have the things she needed and deserved.

A/N

Happy Chapter Eleven!

I'm still dealing with some computer issues so I will not be posting a long note here. Hopefully, the formatting of this chapter is okay. I've been trying to edit and work on chapters via my phone, and while I used to do a lot of writing this way, working on a computer is much easier. I may have to skip a week uploading if I EVER get my laptop to work correctly just so I can play catch up. It doesn't help that before my computer issues, I was working on the middle and back half of the story more... not sorry because some crazy shit is going on in that part of the story, but it's coming to bite me in the butt because we're only eleven chapters in and I'm falling behind on keeping a minimum of ten chapters ready to post.

Oops. That's all I have to say to myself. Hopefully, I can get things figured out with my laptop and get more chapters written and ready for posting. If for some reason, you don't see an upload from me, just know I'm skipping that week to catch up on future chapters.

Until next time, (hopefully next week) take care and I'll see you all soon!
-MM