Namiko-Daughter of Sekhmet: Thank you, hope you like this chapter too!

serena79: I really tried to finish this chapter sooner, but I was hit my two things: tests and a writer's block! But I'm really proud of myself, as I was able to fight back my writer's block just after three days!

koldy: segoi!

spades: thank you for that complement! Although I have to say I'm really happy with the reviews I got so far, I never expected to get this many!

fritzi: hey, you guys take time to read my stories, so of course I have to read the reviews! I care about what you think, or else I'd just keep the story in my chemistry notebook forever.

pamela: I hope you like fluff then!

sally: heh, will that Diamond ever learn?

aurora: if u happy then me happy too! hope u enjoy dis chapter!

Moonlightshadows: thank you!

Lady Tristana Rogue: I think that Darien kicks ass in this chapter, he is in his full glory here, although I don't think I can promise any actual kicking ass scenes…

invisible2u: u kidding? I've always had a secret crush on Diamond, and I've always wished that Diamond and Pluto would end up together!

Mindy: I'm not gonna stop writing, I promise... at least until this song ends… there are two more line in the song after this…

kalinda: Here, here! is the next chapter!

solar-roselover: thank! I know this isn't soon, forgive me!

CC: thankie-dankie-doo! *yes, I am not your average sane person!*

Hurt Before

*Take It In Stride*

*Turning the key, unlocking the door

Embracing the roller coaster world

Take it in stride; you're just twenty-five

And you know we've all been hurt before*

During the afternoon Serena had finally managed to finish Damon Diamond's report. Once she was done with that, she went home early, avoiding her curious friends.

The next day she arrived just in time to share the elevator up to the offices with Darien again. She remembered the events of the day before, and he greeted her with a hearty smile. She could have sworn that the metallic walls of the elevator had turned a pinkish colour. There, she was back at square one, falling at his feet again. Literally, because she tripped on the little gap between the floor and the elevator in the midst of the fuzzy feeling she got from seeing him again. Luckily, Darien saved her from humiliation by catching her fall.

"You clumsy little thing," he sighed friendly, "Are you alright?"

"I am," Serena managed as she felt Darien hug her carefully in case she hurt anything. Gently she freed herself from him, hiding her blush. She didn't bother to press the button for her floor.

"Aren't you going to your office?" Darien asked curiously noticing this.

"No, I have to give Mr. Diamond his report," she explained, "Now that our sessions are over."

She saw the broad smile in his face. "Good for you," he told her, sounding rather happy.

They parted at Rei's desk, who was looking at them with two big, round eyes almost bursting with curiosity. She couldn't believe the sight; Serena and Darien were actually getting along, she never thought she'd live to see this day. Both Lita and Rei followed the scene, where Darien went into his office with a broad grin, and even sounded happy instead of nonchalant when he greeted them. Then there was Serena who was as pink as cotton candy, with her azure eyes brighter than ever, turned the opposite way to go to Diamond's quarters. And just before both persons opened their doors, they stole one last glance at each other, then pressed their respective doors with a slight chuckle at the coincidence. Lita and Rei did not know what to make of what they saw.

Serena found Diamond sitting lazily by his desk, having a smoke. She greeted him politely, and he jumped up, quit smoking and was ready to oblige her. He ran around his desk to draw the chair for her, and when she was seated, he nervously asked if she wanted a drink.

"No, thank you," Serena answered good naturedly, "Mr. Diamond, why don't you sit down."

Diamond obeyed her instantly. "So," he started, "When are we going to have dinner together again?" he attacked, like a lion jumping eagerly onto his deer meal.

"Listen," Serena started at the other end of the thread, "I have finished your report, it's not that big, as it is only based on the two sessions I had with you. From our talks, I concluded that those two sessions were enough, which is why I am now giving you this report. You can, however, drop by my office if you still feel the need to talk, if you feel that you have problems."

"What are you trying to say?" Damon questioned suspiciously.

"That there will be no more dinners, Mr. Diamond, I do not feel comfortable going on dates with my employer," Serena said outright. "Please, take the time to read the report; it may help you in the future."

With that Serena left, and Damon had not really processed what she said. At first he was just stupefied by her refusal. Then, when she had long gone, he realised what she meant. She did not want him! He knew that Darien had to do with it, but it was beyond him to understand why she would rather be together with a jerk, who had always treated her bad, than him. Diamond went into a jealous rage, and decided that it was time for revenge.

Later in the afternoon, Damon summoned her to his office. Serena assumed that he'd read through her report, and wanted to talk to her about it. She couldn't have been more wrong and naïve. To be true, he did not even take a look at the report; instead he carelessly put it in a random pile on him desk and forgot about it. When she came into his office, he was looking at her grimly, in a way that told her that she was in trouble.

"Ms. Moone," Diamond spoke once Serena was seated, "You have one week to hand in your resignation letter, or I will have to fire you."

Serena was shocked, and could not utter a word for a minute or two. At first she didn't really understand what she had done wrong, for all she knew, most of the staff that came to her were quite satisfied. And besides, how is it that Diamond was firing her and not Amara, the personnel manager? She tried to compose herself, so that she'd be able to satisfy her curiosity.

"I don't understand," Serena uttered at last, looking at Diamond in the eye. "Will you give me reasons to why this decision has been taken?"

Diamond paused for a moment, trying to put together an answer. "You have disobeyed certain orders," he came up with at last.

Serena was confused with this statement, but seconds later it all came back to her. She had refused to be Diamond's next girlfriend! She couldn't believe this was happening to her and a torpedo of anger shot trough her. She stood up, still facing that pervert.

"Sure as hell, I'll resign," she shouted, "You won't have to worry, you'll have my resignation letter by tomorrow, but don't you think that I'll spare you for one second, Mister!"

"Keep you voice down, Hon," Diamond smiled sarcastically, "Honestly, what is it was you are going to do? Sue me?"

"Now that you gave me the idea," Serena yelled going out, "I think will!"

With that she walked out slamming the door, but she barely reached the elevator before the collapsed crying. How could she be so stupid? She shouldn't have gone out with him, she should've never accepted this promotion, she should've stayed home in the safely of her parents.

Lita and Rei quickly left their desks and ran other to Serena to try to find out what was wrong and to comfort her. The commotion was so great that Darien had heard the door slam from his office, and the feet running and the noise coming from outside. He came out to check up on things when he found Serena crying and the two other girls on the ground with her.

"Serena," Lita was trying softly, "What's wrong? What happened in there? Please, speak…Sweetheart…"

"What's going on," they heard Darien's authoritarian voice.

"We don't know," Rei explained, "All I can say is that it looks like Diamond and Serena had a fight of some sort with all that shouting."

Darien's eyes grew soft and troubled. "All right, you guys, let me take care of her," he said to the girls' surprise.

"Never," Rei snapped, "For all we know, you'll hurt her even more."

"Shut up, Rei," Darien growled, "You don't know what the hell you're babbling about." As he said this she pushed Rei away, and hugged crying Serena gently. "It's alright, Serena, we'll talk about it in my office, let me carry you."

Both Rei and Lita were surprised with his actions, and couldn't help but to think that he had something to do with the whole thing. The way he spoke, and let his hand caress her hair and cheeks, wiping away the tears, was just so new to them. They had never seen Darien show this much affection publicly, and we have to remember that Rei was once married to him too! They watched open mouthed as he lifted Serena up effortlessly, and carried her into his office.

Inside his office, Darien sat her on his chair, and let her cry her heart out. He went down on his knees, stroking her hair, letting her cry on his light blue dress shirt. He whispered comforting words in her ear, and didn't hesitate to call her "sweetheart", "dear" and "darling". Through this they did not know that they were being spied on by two secretaries who could not contain their curiosity.

Finally Serena stopped crying. She hugged him tightly and she looked up to his eyes, which were, obviously concerned.

"What am I going to do," she uttered hopelessly.

"We might figure something out if you tell me what's ailing you," he whispered brushing some hair from her wet eyes. "Serena, what did Diamond do?"

"He fired me, Darien," she sighed unhappily, "I have a week to hand in my resignation letter."

Darien was so taken aback by what she said that he had to back away some, to get the information to come through to his brain. Then he realised that he should've known. What was he imagining? Something as stupid as Diamond forbidding her to have lunch with him? This is the third time that he has forced an employee to resign! He stood up, pacing angrily.

"That bastard!" he exclaimed angrily. "How can he do this? Dirty piece of scum! I won't let him, this time. Not now, not when things are like this," then in the midst of this passionate discourse he turned to Serena, and spoke in an assuring voice, "I won't let you go. He can't fire you, not now when I love you. I'll talk to him; I'll make sure that he takes back his words, even if it means using violence. I warned him not to try anything on you, but I guess he was asking for it."

With that, Darien started to head out. They did not notice two pairs of panicked eyes retreat in fear of being caught spying.

"Darien, stop!" Serena asked going after him, grabbing his arm. "Wait, don't go yet…"

He obeyed her, and turned to look at the lovely smelling young lady. She observed him blushing, and then slowly she brought her arms around his neck. They did not notice the two pairs of eyes returning to watch them through the small gap between the door and the wall, when they noticed that Darien was not coming out.

"Did you just mean what you said? Do you really love me?" she whispered, unsure.

He didn't know how to answer to that. To be honest, he wasn't really aware that he'd just told her that he loved her. Now he wasn't sure how she'd take it, and the fact that she was embracing him did not seem to encourage him of anything.

"Yes," he said at last, in a low voice, blushing (!).

"Oh, my love, you don't know how many times I've dreamt of his moment," she whispered, standing on her tip toes, then giving his a butterfly kiss of his lips.

"You mean you—" he uttered surprised, and watched her nod with an angelic face. Darien then gave a laugh, and picked her up and spun her around the office. When he put her down again, he wasted no time in giving her the kiss that he'd wanted to share with her since the day that she left his apartment.

"You're my angel," he said at last, breaking the kiss. Serena smiled, smuggling into him, ignoring the wet spot on his shirt that her tears had left. "Don't worry; he can't do anything to you. We'll take it up at the staff meeting on Friday, and have a vote. Amy, Trista, and I represent half of the company, and I'm sure Michelle and Andrew won't stand by their brother when they hear of his dealings."

"You're so good," Serena told him, "I wish Diamond could be like you, it would save both Trista and himself a lot of pain."

"Are you insane?" Darien joked, "I mean, I've been a first class jerk, and somehow you still fell in love with me. You must be crazy."

"Perhaps," she smiled, "But I knew you were good right from the start."

"Right," he recalled, "For a moment there, I forgot that you are a shrink."

Serena chuckled, while Darien laughed with happiness, embracing her. They never suspected that by now Amy, Mina, Andrew, Trista, Amara, and Michelle knew about their 'secret', for those two pairs of spying eyes wasted no time in phoning around to tell everyone about the newest gossip.

Doki, dok Minna-chan!!! Don't stop reading yet, cuz I'm not done, there are still two lines left to this song! I'd like to advertise my other story Suppressed Feelings; I'll be updating it soon! Oh, and also… I have to advertise the cutest manga: Girl Got Game! Visit to read more about it, and many other mangas!