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Serena

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I heard a voice that sounded vaguely familiar but I couldn't place it. I turned around and there was Adriana. I didn't really pay attention to the person who was holding her. "Adriana! Thank you, thank you, thank you." I shifted Adam so that I could take my little girl in my arms. As Adriana lunged towards me and didn't make it, I noticed the person that was holding her. At first I thought that it was a man, but then Adriana wasn't one to go to just any man, she would go to a strange woman first.

"Hold on little one, I'll give you to your mommy." The other woman said softly, as she placed her in my arms. I hugged her and Adam to me. Adriana put her small arms around my neck. The other woman smiled at this and started to walk away.

"Wait, please. I didn't get a chance to thank you. And don't I know you from somewhere?" ** Nice Serena. ** This stopped her in her mid step and turned back around. I finally got a good look at her face and gasped. ** No it can't be can it? Well why can't it? ** I argued silently with myself. Everything in me was telling me that it was she.

Her eyes narrowed at me as I stared at her. I knew then that it was she. That look was all I needed for reassurance. But what could I do if she didn't remember me? Just thank her and act like I didn't say anything. Yeah that always works. Yeah right what am I thinking?

"I don't think so, you must be thinking of someone else." She said a little coolly.

"Must be." I held in a sigh as I said this. "Thank you again for bringing Adriana back to me. I don't know what I would have done if something would have happened to her." **God, this hurts. Just like it did with the others. **

She nodded and walked back the way that she had come. I watched her go feeling sad.

"Ma'am now that you have your daughter back are you ready to order? I'm not trying to rush you or anything." The waitress asked a little hesitantly.

"Yes I suppose I am." With that we walked back to my table and she held Adriana while I put Adam in his seat. Once they were both set where I could keep an eye on them I sat down and gave her my order. When that was done she left and I was left alone with the two babies and my thoughts. They were talking to each other and myself in their baby language. I smiled at them witch caused them to giggle. I talked to them as well. About five minutes after we had got our food, I saw her walk out. This time couldn't repress the sight that came.

Sometimes having twins can be extremely tiring, especially when it comes to feeding time. They weren't this hard to take care of when they were only months old. You had to take turns giving them bites or they would start to cry. They ate pretty well, and I knew that when we got back in the jeep they were going to want their bottle. Then soon afterwards they would go to sleep and I might be able to go all the way to Columbus this night. They finally had their fill and started to doze on and off for a bout 15 minutes that gave me time to eat. ** I'm not going in tonight. I'm getting a hotel room and sleeping late, and then go on in in the morning. ** I decided while I ate and wrote the check out.

This was going to be fun. Looking at them I noticed that Adam was still wake but had been really quiet. He looked like he was daydreaming. Since Adam was awake I picked up Adriana and settled her in my arms then turned to pick Adam up. He held his tiny arms up to me and yawned.

"I know baby, you're tired, and you can go to sleep in the car." I said while I struggled a little to pick him up without waking Adriana. It wouldn't do to have her wake up so soon after she was asleep. I thought that I was bad when I got woke up I tell you I'm nothing compared to Adriana. My little girl is really grumpy. That's a good word.

I paid the lady at the register a little clumsily but she understood. And offered me a smile. Carrying a sleeping child and one that was nearly asleep is not easy. I'll tell you that now. As I was walking out the door I saw a head with dark hair over in the corner of the store and did a double take. ** Darien? No it can't be, he's in Little Rock. Oh I need to lie down. ** I walked quickly out of the place before I completely lost my mind. As I approached my jeep I thought I saw someone leaning against the hood. But then again it was night so I couldn't have been sure. That was until I was already at my car a looked again. I saw a tall figure leaning against the hood, from what I could tell dressed in jeans, shirt and blazer. A few strands of sandy blonde hair hung in the persons face. ** Maybe she does know. **

"Is there something I can help you with?" I asked stopping at the back of the jeep.

This got her attention and she jerked her head up apparently she had been lost in thought and had not heard me approaching, now how she knew what vehicle was mine was beyond me. She stared at me for a second before moving. She stepped away from the hood and started to walk towards me. I had no idea if this was good or bad, hopefully good since I was still holding my babies.

She didn't say anything as she stopped a couple feet form me. I was inclined to take a few step backs, but held my ground, I knew that would be they only way to prove to her who I was. Her green eyes studied me hard for a few minutes as if trying to decide if it was really whom she thought it was. I didn't move or speak. To be honest I was a tad bit worried at what she might do if I did.

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The Other

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** Why am I waiting for the girl to come out of there? How do I even know this is her vehicle for that matter? ** I glanced down at my watch. ** It was been thirty minutes already what could be taking so long. Deep breath, just calm down. ** I had been lost in my thoughts and hadn't heard anyone approaching until I heard a voice. I jerked my head up to see the lady from the restaurant standing there. Seeing here there something in my mind broke free.

"Is there something that I can help you with?" she asked, I noticed she stopped at the back of the jeep.

** That voice where have I heard it? ** I studied her hard as I walked closer to her. After a couple of minutes I finally spoke. I didn't know what she knew but I didn't want to be the one that caused her pain. "How do you know me?" I asked simply, my voice low.

She stared for a few moments in silence before saying anything. "What do you mean, 'How do I know you?'" He voice was tense as she spoke and I noticed the little boy clung tightly to her shirt. "You just returned my daughter to me."

The truth that was true, but not all of it, I could tell that much by the way she spoke.

"You said back there that you thought you knew me, how?" I asked pushing the sleeves up on my blazer, I would take it off but I honestly didn't feel like holding it, and then the wind was a little cool speaking of rain that was to come. The expression on her face was one of pure frustration. She wanted to tell me everything I could see that in her eyes but she didn't know how much I knew, I could also see that in her eyes.

After looking at me for a few minutes before speaking again she finally did. While she spoke she readjusted the children in her arms as best as she could. "Would you mind if I put them in their car seats and then we may continue this."

"By all means go right ahead." I watched as she fumbled for her keys. And then tried to unlock the door. I shook my head at her attempts. "Would you like me to hold on of them?" This got her attention and she turned to face me once again. I knew she trusted me, if for no other reason than the past.

"Would you mind?"

"No not at all." I responded as I stepped closer to her. "Which one?"

"I mean no offense by this but I doubt that Adam will let you hold him. So would you mind holding the sleeping one?"

"Why don't I try to see if I can get Adam?" I asked reaching out my arms to him. She was right he wouldn't come to me, his small hands tightened on her shirt and he buried his face in her hair. "Ok, well then I'll take the sleeping one." With that I reached out and caught hold of the little girl. She whimpered once, snuggled into my arms and slept on.

"You know I think she likes you." She had set the little boy down in the front passengers seat and had a bag opened beside her. "I hope you don't mind holding her a little longer, I want to change their clothes before I put them in." She explained while pulling off his white shirt and then his green shorts and slipping him into his pajamas. The poor thing yawned as the shirt came down over his head and he held his arms up to her. "In a minutes baby, let mommy get Adriana dressed and settled in." She then moved him over to the driver's seat and turned to get the little girl.

I handed her over to her mother and watched as she quickly changed the little girl from her dress to a nightshirt as well. Then she put her in her car seat pulled a blanket on her and strapped her in. During the whole thing she never woke once. With that done she picked up Adam again and rocked him cradled in her arms until he fell asleep.

Serena had changed so much in the years that we had been apart. She had children of her own and had to be married. I watched as she rocked the little boy a little longer to make sure he was asleep and then put him in his car seat and did the same for him as she did for the little girl.

When that was done she turned back to me and looked me straight in the eyes. That was something only My Princess had done, not Serena when she was younger. Yes I know they are the same person. But this shows just how much the crybaby girl that she used to be has grown up. Gods, I was proud to call her my Princess. I mean she was standing there facing me with her back straight and head held high. Her hair that used to be down below her knees was now a little ways about her waist and pulled back from her face. I could guess the reason for it being done so.