Chapter 8
India sat on Darien's bed as Darien got ready to go to sleep. She sat there thinking about everything that had just happened in the past few days. Remembering her and Darien's past was the best thing that ever happened to her, the battle with the other Scouts was something that she could have done without, and the Twins were something that rounded the week off to totally confusing. Despite what she had learned about the future, she liked the fact the she and Darien were together even though he was married to Serena. The Twins symbolized their undying love for each other and resembled them so much that they were unmistakenly theirs.
Darien walked into the bedroom and looked at India. She seemed to be in deep thought, but she held a small smile on her face. "What are you thinking about?" Darien asked interrupting her period of thinking.
India looked up to see Darien standing their in his pajama bottoms. "Cute," India said smiling. "I was just thinking about all that has happened in the past week. The battle, us, the Twins." Her face went from sad to happy at her recollections.
Darien went over to India and sat on the bed. "I know, it's all just overwhelming. The Twins seem so happy, but sad at the same time. The future seems so sad, but happy at the same time, too. I can't imagine being married to Serena and having to be with you like I'm ashamed are something. I just wished that if it came down to that we could just be together without problems."
"I know what you mean. All I can think about is how did we get ourselves into that situation. The Twins are so beautiful, but their hearts seem full of sadness."
"What do you expect?" Darien asked fuming. "Their family isn't even complete. They don't even have both their parents at home. I can imagine how they feel. It isn't good to feel like you're alone. Even though they do have one of us, just now, having both, can really hurt. I lost both my parents, but just losing one would have made me feel the same way."
"I'm so scared of what might happen," India said as she begun to cry. "What will happen in the future? Why aren't we together from now on? I just don't understand any of this."
Darien put his arm around India to comfort her. He kissed her so lightly on her lips that she thought she might have imagined it. Darien slowly kissed India's tears away. "Don't cry. We must cherish the time we have now." Darien thought back to when he and India were putting the Twins in bed. "They seem so peaceful in their sleep, don't they? It's like there all their worries are gone, and all they have are wonderful memories."
"I wish I knew what those memories were," India whispered. "I just wish we could stay together. I'm really scared, Darien, really. What happens?"
"I don't know," Darien said silently. "I don't know."
"This isn't right!" India screamed standing up. "Why can't we just be together? What's wrong, what's wrong? This isn't right at all."
Darien stood up and took India in his arms. "Calm down. It's all right. All I want is for you to be happy. All I want is for us to be together."
India started to cry in Darien's arms uncontrollably. "It isn't fair. Just when I find you I learn soon I will have to give you up."
"You'll never lose me, India, never. I want you to remember that as long as you live."
India's knees started to fold under her. Darien picked India up and laid her in the bed. He started to leave out of the room.
"Wait, Darien," India said. "Don't leave me in here. Stay with me until I go to sleep or at least until I'm ready to go home."
"Okay," Darien said seeing India's desperation. Darien laid in the bed next to India. They looked deep into each others eyes. "You are so beautiful. Even now, when you look so sad all I can see is beauty."
India smiled through her tears. She lightly kissed Darien on the lips. "I love you. I always will love you."
"I love you, too," Darien said. Darien kissed India lightly on the lips. Then, slowly, he started to kiss her harder. India returned every single kiss with one of her own. "I could never leave you."
"I couldn't leave you either, Darien."
Darien slowly unbuttoned India's shirt. India helped Darien taking off her shirt. India and Darien laid there staring into each others eyes. "I love you, India. If you don't want to do this you don't have to."
"I love you, too," India replied softly. "If I didn't want to do it I wouldn't have gone this far, Darien. I trust you, Darien. I'm completely ready. The choice is up to you."
Darien looked at India. "I'm ready whenever you are." Darien kissed India softly on the lips. "I love you."
* India rolled over in bed. She turned to see Darien looking at her. She wondered how long he had been awake. Darien smiled softly at her.
"How long have you been up watching me?" India asked smiling.
"Only about twenty minutes," Darien replied. "I didn't want to wake you up."
"I guess I need to go home," India said thinking about the time and being out all night. "But before I go, I'll make breakfast. How about bacon and eggs?"
"Sounds good to me."
India got up and put on one of Darien's way too big shirts, then walked out of the room. She walked into the kitchen and started looking for the pots and pans. As soon as India found everything, she was looking for she started to make breakfast.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Serena woke up early in the morning. She threw clothes everywhere in a frenzy to get ready to leave. Serena knew she had to hurry before Darien left. She didn't have time for breakfast, even though her stomach was rumbling.
She was determined to figure out what was going on. The past two days all she did was cry. Well, now the time for crying was over. It was time for some answers-answers she needed desperately. Serena felt empty inside.
She ran down the stairs eager to get over to Darien's apartment. As she ran down the stairs she smelled her mom cooking breakfast.
"Good morning, Serena," Mrs. Tsukino greeted. "You're up so early today. What's the rush? I thought you were still upset over whatever."
Serena hadn't yet told her parents about her and Darien. The only people that knew were everyone that was involved with the battle, and Molly. Molly had called the day after to ask Serena why she hadn't been at school. Serena told her everything and Molly was very sad for her. Serena still dreaded the moment when she would have to face Rini and tell her the truth. All the troubles of the past week raced through Serena's mind.
"No, Mom," Serena said stopping abruptly. "I'm still really bummed, but now I have to get over to Darien's to talk to him."
"You haven't been eating much, and I'm worried about you. I want you to sit down and eat something. It won't take very long."
Serena didn't feel like eating. At the moment, she didn't feel like she could hold anything down. When Serena looked at her mother, she felt bad and sat down at the table. Mrs. Tsukino smiled and placed a plate in front of Serena. Just to please her mother, Serena ate. She didn't really taste any of the food. She ate mechanically, ready to leave to meet Darien. When Serena finished, she ran for the door before her mother could ask any more questions.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Darien snuck up behind India and put his arms around her waist. "So is it done yet?"
"No!" India exclaimed surprised by Darien. "You should be careful when I'm cooking. You could have been burned."
"Well, I'm not."
"You should be more careful," India said worried about what might have happened. "That isn't very safe. Sit down at the table. It will be ready in a moment."
Darien went to the table and sat down. After a couple of minutes, India brought him his plate.
He looked at scrambled eggs and bacon. Darien started to eat his breakfast. While Darien was eating, the doorbell rang.
"Who could that be so early?" Darien wondered aloud.
"Don't worry about it. You stay here and eat, I'll go get the door." India walked to the door. On her way, she passed by the radio on Darien's coffee table and turned it on.
* Serena stood outside of Darien's apartment ringing the bell endlessly. "Why isn't he answering the door?" Serena thought aloud. "What if he isn't here? I hope he hasn't already left."
"Who is it?" Came a voice from inside.
Serena didn't think it was Darien's and was losing her courage. Maybe it's just a friend, she thought to herself.
"Serena!" She answered.
The door opened slowly, as if whoever it was was cautious about letting her in. When Serena saw who it was, she gasped. In front of her, stood India in one of the shirts she had bought Darien for his birthday. As if that was not enough she didn't seem to have on a skirt or anything. India looked really embarrassed about being there. It was almost as if she was sorry Serena had came, but not for her, for Serena.
"Hello," India greeted, but not with much warmth.
"Hello," Serena responded. She felt really stupid for coming over now. "Is Darien here? I have to talk to him."
"Sure, come in," India said after hesitating.
"I have to use the bathroom, excuse me." Serena ran to the bathroom. She could feel that she wasn't going to hold down the food she had for breakfast. Almost as soon as she got to the toilet, all the food she had eaten came up and out. Serena sat by the toilet and started to cry.
She had to get control of herself. Serena stood up and looked in the mirror. A girl that looked like her, but seemed deeply troubled, looked back at her.
I have to get control, Serena thought. I can't let him or her see me like this.
* "Who was at the door?" Darien asked.
"Um, it was Serena," India answered. "She's in the bathroom. I guess I better go get dressed and leave."
"Okay," Darien said. He knew that India leaving was the right thing to do in this situation, and didn't put up any resistance.
India looked at Darien now. He seemed deeply worried. She wished she could stay, but Darien and Serena needed time alone, also, she had to get home to help the Twins. India turned and headed for the bedroom.
Darien walked over to the sink and left his dishes there to wash later. He stood there for a while looking at nothing at all, just thinking about what was going to be said. Also, about what had to be said. Finally, he turned and walked into the living room. As Darien walked to the living room, That's What I Meant to Say came on on the radio.
It took me by surprise, when I saw you standing there.
Serena sat on the couch looking down at her hands. Darien felt very uncomfortable. He went over and sat on a chair, opposite of the couch. Serena looked up at Darien with a single tear in her eye. She wiped it away quickly trying not to show weakness.
"This is the first time I've ever seen you up so early," Darien said trying to break the ice. He saw it wasn't working, so he decided to get straight to the point. "How have you been lately?"
You asked me how I'd been.
Serena looked at Darien. Well, at least one of them is fully dressed, Serena thought. "How have I been lately?" Serena mocked bitterly. "How have I been lately? How do you think I've been? Let me see. My new friend took my boyfriend from me. Not to mention, my boyfriend lied to me when he said he was busy with work, while he was seeing someone else. And to add the cherry on top of all this, I find out the truth in a horrible battle where you joined her side and hit me. How the hell do you think I feel?"
I guess that's when I smiled and said just fine. Oh, but baby, I was lying. What I really meant to say is, I'm dying inside.
"Sorry. It was a dumb question of me. This isn't easy for me, I know it isn't easy for you. So why are you here?"
I'm still in love with you.
"I'm here to get answers. I just didn't expect to find them in your bed so quickly. How could you do that? We never did that. You told me you were going to wait. What a lie that was. I shouldn't be surprised. What about Rini? What about our relationship? What about the future?"
"I don't know," Darien said. "We should try to tell Rini about this together, though. The other questions I have no answer for. I have something really important that I should tell you."
"It isn't that you slept with India is it, because I've already guessed that," Serena said sarcastically.
Almost as if on cue, India walked in and kissed Darien on the lips. "I've got to go. I'll see you later, okay?"
"Okay," Darien said.
India looked at Serena with a look so full of pity Serena started fuming.
That bitch, Serena thought. The nerve of her. India could sense Serena's anger so she turned and left.
"I'm sorry about that," Darien apologized. "What I have to tell you will not be easy on you. It's still hard for me to grasp myself."
"Just tell me already!" Serena yelled frustrated.
"Me and India have children from the future-our future," Darien blurted out.
And as you walk away, the echo of my words cut just like a knife, cut so deep it hurts.
This hit Serena really hard. She didn't know how to handle this. She didn't know if she should cry, get angry, or just slap Darien right then.
I held the tears, held on to my pride and watched you go. I wonder if you'll ever know. . .
"I didn't know," Darien hurried and explained. "I just found out yesterday with India. Our children have came from the future to help with the oncoming battle. I'm sorry. I don't know what to say. I just found out, too."
Serena felt surprised and angry and everything at once. " I can't take this," she said standing up. "I'll have to talk to you some other time." Serena ran from the room and the apartment before Darien could even say anything.
What I really meant to say is, I'm really not that strong. No matter how hard I try, I'm still holding on. . .
Darien was left standing there. He didn't know what to do or what came next. He had a class in a few minutes, so he just got ready and left.
QAN: If you're wondering if they had sex, yes. Also, as you learn in any sex education class television and crap doesn't really tell you the whole story, so for those of you of the younger age which I know some are, yes you do get sexually transmitted diseases and pregnant from having sex. If you decided to have sex wear a latex condom so you can be somewhat protected, but as they say: the only way to be completely safe is to be abstinent. Just for sake of argument we'll say they had protection and no one got diseases, don't ask me how because it's all left up to your imagination.