Chapter Two: Letting Things Go
Serena was jostled from a pleasant dream – involving a certain Tuxedoed Prince of Earth and herself – by Rini shaking her. The pink-haired child seemed distraught and that alone kept Serena from sinking back into peaceful slumber. Ever since discovering that she was the mother-to-be of the sometimes-irksome little girl she had felt a peculiar protectiveness for the spore, an expansion on the older-sister-love that she had felt when Rini was pretending to be her cousin, before either knew the truth.
"Rini? What's wrong?" Serena asked as she sat up. A frown creased her brow …Luna was missing. Only then did she notice the hollow pit in her stomach, the feeling of dread that she had become familiar to after so many youma battles and this only heightened her apprehension. "What is it?"
"Ami called on the phone for you but momma answered it. I think something is wrong because she started to cry and had me come up here to wake you." Rini explained, looking scared and alone and confused.
"Great Serenity," Serena whispered. "Where is papa? Is he home? And Sammy?" She demanded.
"It's not them. Momma told you to get down there though. Luna left to Raye's to tell the girls that you wouldn't make it for the Scout meeting today."
For once, guilt over forgetting a meeting didn't even register as Serena went into overdrive, quickly stripping out of her pajamas and into a pair of blue-jean shorts and a white blouse, grabbing her communicator and Luna-Disguise Pen before fixing her hair up into her buns and then she paused at the doorway, almost trembling as horrible scenarios tumbled through her mind, each one worse than the one before.
Rini saw her hesitation and took one of her hands. "Mommy?" She asked softly, careful to keep her voice to a hush even though there was no one else within hearing range.
Serena steeled herself, gave Rini a small smile in reassurance and walked down the stairs and into the kitchen where her mother suddenly threw the phone at her. "Call Darien. You've got to get down to the hospital. Ken and Sammy are at the game." She ordered.
Serena gulped and dialed her boyfriend's number, for once dreading the rings until he picked up. Explaining what she knew, she asked him to come down and pick both her and Rini up before hanging up and looking to her mother for some answers. Ilene Tsukino looked positively shattered.
"Oh honey, it was Peter and Judith. They've been in some sort of accident with the girls. The doctors were sketchy about the details but it doesn't sound good. Krissa's fine but …" And she broke down into sobs again, mother and daughter comforting each other in a hug that seemed designed to build up relations as Rini looked on, ringing her hands together helplessly. "Ami called up because her mother was called in for duty because of it. Oh Kami-san," She cried.
"It's okay, momma, it'll be fine." Serena replied. It had been roughly two years since Darien and Serena had met Judith, Peter, Krissa and Wendy and since then, Serena's family had grown to be close with the other family. Serena's heart wrenched at the thought of any of them injured. Krissa was only just six, Wendy near two by now and their parents were so young as well …grief stricken, Serena found Rini's hand again after tearing away from her mother, promised that she would return with news and stepped outside as Darien pulled up.
* * *
The hospital seemed impossibly sterile and stark. Orderlies rushed about on trivial assignments as nurses gabbed behind the front station with doctors heading the structured chaos while dashing from room to room as ordered by the speakers and pushing around stretchers and wheelchairs. But of family or friends awaiting word of their loved ones there was little. Serena calmly explained to Darien and Rini that the children's ward was much brighter and was filled with laughter and she confided that she had even been given work up in the nursery since baby-sitting for some of the younger patients after being released.
She sat silently with one of her hands holding Rini's and the other holding Darien's as she reclined between the two. Darien hadn't said more than two words since learning of the incident but he had wrapped one arm possessively around Serena's waist and had yet to remove it. Time passed sluggishly with Rini drowsing in the – though padded – hard chairs until Serena had lifted her into her lap and wrapped her arms around the young girl as Darien still held her in his embrace.
Marie Mizuno – Ami's mother – approached after a time and acknowledged the trio with a sad nod of her head. "I've got some good news and some bad news." She started and paused. "Here, I'll lead you three to Krissa's room and then we can talk." She shared a pointed look with both Serena and Darien and the couple looked down at Rini and nodded. Smiling faintly she walked down the hall with Serena – Rini in her arms – at Darien's side. "I'll let you visit for a moment," She murmured and stepped back to give the group some privacy.
Darien and Serena were at Krissa's side in a heartbeat, looks of relief evident on their faces. "Hey, dear one," Serena said softly. "This is …my cousin, Rini," She paused and glanced at Rini, "Rini, this is Krissa, one of the girls Darien and I baby-sat for."
"Hello," Rini greeted sorrowfully. Without warning she threw herself into Krissa's arms, sobbing loudly. "I'm so glad you're all right!" She exclaimed. "You worried momma and Serena!" She wept.
Krissa blinked in astonishment and managed a weary smile as she reciprocated the hug. "Runs in the family, I see," She said quietly, looking up at Serena and Darien. A wistful smile crossed her face. "Still hate each other, eh?" She asked, with an innocent expression. Serena smiled warmly and kissed her forehead as Darien blushed and kissed her cheek.
"How are you feeling?" Darien asked.
Krissa made a face. "I have a headache and I'm hungry but the food is nasty here. I think I have a few bruises, but I was hardly hurt." She explained.
"What happened, sweetie?" He inquired, holding one of her hands as Rini sat back on the bed, holding the other one.
"We were in the car and a big truck couldn't stop." She looked downcast. "I hope the driver is okay," She whispered, tears in her eyes. Serena and Darien shared a glance and looked to the door.
"The doctor wants to talk with us, dear one, but we can come back afterwards." Serena began. She looked down at her child. "Rini, wait here with Krissa please …I think she needs someone just now," Serena instructed.
"What about you and Darien?" Rini asked lightly.
"We have to say goodbye, Rini …we have to say goodbye …" And suddenly she couldn't speak anymore so she kissed Rini and Krissa and took Darien's hand, leaving the children together.
* * *
Darien wrapped his arm about Serena's shoulders as she took his other hand. Marie was waiting for them outside, her expression one of sincere sorrow. "Come with me please," She requested. "Peter and Judith …didn't make it. The other vehicle hit the passenger's side and killed Judy on contact. Both vehicles collided with the building then and Peter died. Luckily for them, both Wendy and Krissa were sitting in back and buckled up."
"But?" Serena asked tiredly.
Marie took a deep breath. "Wendy received a margin of the impact as well …she's on life support right now, but that's just about the only thing keeping her going. She may be conscious, but not for long and when her eyes close …" She trailed off, not needing to finish as she pushed open the door to the critical care ward and led them to a room where the door was cracked open.
Little Wendy lay in a bed far too large for her tiny body, machines nearby pumping life into her veins. Her pale blue eyes were open and brimming with tears but a smile crossed her face as she saw her visitors. Marie wordlessly closed the door as she exited the room and Serena and Darien walked up to the bedside.
"Hey there, little one," Serena murmured, her voice breaking. "How are you doing?"
Wendy's face fell. "I hurt all over and everything's blurry." She confided. "Mommy and daddy …are they all right? And Krissa?"
"They're all fine, sweetheart, everyone is fine." Darien replied tenderly, offering some small hope in her final minutes.
"Am I gonna be all right?" Wendy asked in a small, frightened voice.
"Of course you are, sweetheart, we all love you too much for you to go. You just need to rest and everything will be all better." Darien kissed the little girl and took her small hands within his own.
"Sing me to sleep, Serena," Wendy pleaded.
"Your wish …is my command, little one," Serena replied lightly. "Any requests?" Wendy shook her head and Darien just gave her a half-smile of encouragement. "Okay … I've got a special song just for you, Wendy. It's called Where Have All The Flowers Gone?" She paused and kissed Wendy's forehead. "I love you, little one …
Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone?
Gone to young girls, little one!
When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?
Where have all the young girls gone, long time passing?
Where have all the young girls gone, long time ago?
Where have all the young girls gone?
Gone to young men, little one!
When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?
Where have all the young men gone, long time passing?
Where have all the young men gone, long time ago?
Where have all the young men gone?
Gone to soldiers, little one!
When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?
Where have all the soldiers' gone, long time passing?
Where have all the soldiers' gone, long time ago?
Where have all the soldiers' gone?
Gone to graveyards, little one!
When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?
And where have all the graveyards gone, long time passing?
Where have all the graveyards gone, long time ago?
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Gone to flowers, little one!
When will they ever learn, oh when will they ever learn?
Serena felt silent tears cascade down her cheeks as Wendy breathed her last and Darien kissed her once more before closing her eyes. Time stood still in the small room as both cried softly, turning and falling into each other's arms and the comfort to be found there. And then time swept on …
