Title: Housing Love

Author: K. Ly

Rating: PG

Chapter: Three

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon. If only life was that perfect. 

Author's Notes: Hello once again! Here's the third chapter! Hope you all enjoy! Yes, the lives of our characters seem glamorous but just you wait… ::evil grin::

***

"You really should stop smoking."

Darien turned around. "You didn't have a problem with it before." There she was. Standing in front of him, Serena stared him in the eyes. Her pale arms were wrapped around her thin body as a cool breeze swept through.

"I didn't have a problem because I was never there to say it to you!"

"What about you Serena? Your career is going fine and in the direction you want it to. You had to make sacrifices to get there and so did I."

"Yeah, I did make sacrifices, Darien. Like the one I made when we had our second wedding anniversary. I could have made a deal with a very important businessman. It would have been the one account that would have made me famous," she snapped. "But it didn't matter anyway," Serena whispered. "You never even showed up, called or left me a message at the office. Do the sacrifices really have to be your wife and family? I hated covering for you at the family picnics at your grandparents' house. 'He's at a meeting, he's running late, he's not feeling well.' I got tired of it Darien."

"I said I was sorry!"

"Saying sorry once, isn't going to make up for everything else!"

"Then what do you want me to do!?"

Serena stood still. She wanted him to say, "I still love you! Maybe this whole divorce was a mistake!" But she knew that he didn't feel that way. Not anymore. 

"Go inside Serena. You're going to freeze without a coat on."

"I don't need you to tell me what to do."

"Oh but, you're going to tell me what to do?! People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."

Serena bit her lip. He was right. "Fine Darien. I just thought we could have stayed friends. That's all." She turned around and left.

Darien took another hit from his cigarette and stared off into space. He looked back down at his hand. He tapped the unfinished cigarette into the stone railing and threw it into the bushes. With a sigh he turned around with his attention back to the party. 

"That seemed rather harsh Darien."

"What are you doing here, Beryl?" Darien turned around to find him facing Beryl wearing a black spaghetti strap dress with daring slits up the sides.

"I got invited, Darling. Anyone who's anyone gets invited to the Kaufman's Winter Gala."

"Exactly, so what are YOU doing here?"

"My father got invited and of course that mean's me too. Aren't you going to offer me your jacket? It is rather cold out here." Beryl wrapped herself with her pale arms as she stepped closer to him.

"You should be used to this temperature. Your heart is this cold all year round," he snapped as Beryl circled around him until she was right behind him.

"What's with the cold shoulder Darien? That scene with your ex-wife and Diamond in the dancing room has you all riled up?"

"That's Serena's business not mine."

"The word around the block is that Diamond Wiltshire has a little crush on your ex-wife. You aren't at all irritated that the man you will being doing business with, will soon end up doing your ex-wife?" she whispered in his ear as Darien stared from the open veranda doors into the dancing room. Diamond and Serena were talking about something across the room.

"What do you want Beryl?" Darien turned around.  

"I want you. I always have. From the day you became an intern for my father ever so long ago."

"I grew up on the streets, Beryl. I know trash when I see it. It's never going to happen, sweetheart. The day I end up with you will be the day I end up being a groomsman at Diamond Wiltshire and Serena's wedding."

"That won't be very long." Beryl smiled as she ran her manicured hands down the side of his cheeks. "I always get what I want Darien. Always."

"Stay away from me Beryl. That's final."

Meanwhile, Serena left she went to the attendants to retrieve her jacket and scarf. She went back into the party and searched for Mina. When Serena found her, she told her, "Mina, I'm gonna leave early."

Mina alarmed saw Serena holding her jacket and purse. "You can't leave yet! It's too early!"

"Mina, trust me. I think it's time for me to go."

"That's the champagne talking! Serena, trust me, you don't want to be leaving the party so early."

"Mina-"

"Serena?"

Serena turned around. "Hello Diamond."

"I couldn't help but overhearing that you wanted to leave early."

"Um, yes. I have a very early meeting tomorrow," Serena lied.

"On a Sunday?"

Serena smiled weakly. "Heh. Well…"

"I was hoping that you and I could get together sometime."

Serena looked out of the corner of her eye. Her attention was momentarily drawn to Darien who was talking to a redhead whose face was blocked by Darien.  "I'd loved to. How about Tuesday? Dinner?"

"Sounds great. I'll give you call." Diamond left as Mina grinned.

"Sounds like you got a hot date."

"I'll see you Monday Mina."

"Are you sure you don't want the limousine driver to take you home?"

"No Mina. I'll just take a walk. Fresh air might do me some good."

***

The week began as it usually did. Spilt coffee on the blouse, keys gone missing, and cell phone not charged. Serena was frantically searching for her keys as the phone rang. Picking up the cordless phone, Serena continued her search inside the kitchen. "Hello?"

"Ms. Jameson?"

"This is she."

"It's Mrs. Dante. Your real estate agent."

"Oh yes! I've been waiting for your phone call."

"I have good news. There is an interested buyer for the house. He's willing to pay 4.5 million dollars for it."

"Really? That's great," Serena replied.

"He would like to move in next week if it is possible."

"Next week?!" Serena shrieked. "That's awfully short notice. I still haven't found an apartment yet."

"I could try to talk him into moving at a later date, but he told me that he would be willing to pay another 100,000 to help move things out."

""Well, isn't that generous? I will have to call you back, Mrs. Dante. I lost my keys, and I am very late."

"No problem my dear."

"I'll talk to you then. Bye." Serena tossed the phone on the couch as she entered the living room. Squeezing her hand inside the crevices of the cushions Serena pulled out a pair of keys. "One week, huh? It looks like I'm going to have to go apartment hunting."  

Serena had a task before her she did not want to do. Apologize to Darien.  Darien's headquarters was not a long way from Serena's architect firm. Serena stepped out of the elevator at the top floor. It was relatively early but she knew Darien would be there.  His personal assistant wasn't even there yet. Serena knocked on the door. After a few more moments of just standing there she knocked on it again. After standing there even more, she decided to go ahead on in. "I'll just write a note," Serena said quietly. 'It's just as good on paper as it is in person, right?' she thought. She opened the door wide. At the site of Darien's office stunned her. It was exactly the same as we left it a few days ago. Clothes strewn, takeout boxes littering the coffee table, an endless amount of soda cans. "What in the lord?" Serena walked around the office before her eyes were drawn to the limp figure in the leather couch. It was Darien and he was asleep. Serena smiled. She rarely got to see Darien sleep, unlike the first year and a half of their marriage. She set herself down on the corner of the couch taking in the adorable image in front of her. Darien, in a light blue silk shirt with its first three buttons undone and black trousers was sleeping blissfully. Darien groaned at the feeling that there was a presence right beside him. He blinked. And blinked again. There was Serena looking down at him in an Ann Taylor Pinstriped jacket and matching pants. Her hair was tied in a simple ponytail.

Darien surprised jumped up causing Serena to jump up to her feet as well. "Serena! What are you doing here?" Darien gasped as he tried to calm down.

"I came down to apologize about what happened."

"What do you mean?" Darien replied walking back to his desk.

"About what happened in the limousine and out on the balcony."

"Don't worry about it Serena."

"No, Darien. For too long I didn't have the guts to tell you and I just want to say I am sorry."

"Apology accepted."

"Somehow I don't believe you really mean that."

"I mean it. I forgive you."

"Don't you have anything to say?"

"Like what?"

"Something along the lines of, 'I'm sorry too'."

"Just the other night, you yell at me saying that "I'm sorry" once isn't good enough? What do you want of me Serena?"

"I want things to be okay between us. Lately it's been like we have never been friends before. I'd like to remind you that we were friends before we were…together."

"We are okay. I…I just haven't been myself lately. I have a big business meeting coming up and I haven't had a comfortable night's sleep in a long time."

"So we are okay? Are we back to being friends?"

"Yes." Darien sighed.

"Good." After a long moment of silence, Serena spoke. "Darien, what is this mess?"

"Nothing Serena. I've had some very long nights at the company. Just trying to work some things out."

"Darien. Have you been living here?" Serena turned around and looked Darien in the eye. "Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I told you, it's not your job to worry about me."

"Bullshit Darien. Married or not, it is my job to worry about you."

"Serena, honestly I am absolutely fine. Its just some apartments in the city aren't available yet."

"Come live with me." Serena was shocked at the very words that were spoken out of her mouth.

Darien looked up. "What?"

"Come live with me."

"You're crazy, Serena."

"Maybe so. But only as roommates. I was going to sell the house but since there are no apartment listings in the city I might as well stay there."

"What's the catch?"

"No catch. I would hate to see you living here for the rest of your life."

"I don't know Serena."

"What's so hard about it? We're friends, remember? There are seven rooms in that house and currently have only one resident. Another one won't hurt."

"It would be awkward."

"Darien, you are never there during the day or early night. It will be just like before. It will be a place where you can sleep and put your belongings. The only difference is that we're not married.  So you won't have to feel guilty."

"Are you sure?" Darien looked at her with skepticism. She always had something up her sleeve.

"Positive, and if it doesn't work out you can move out. Anytime at all." Serena stuck out her hand. Darien glanced down at it and gave a heavy sigh. He held out his own and then shook.

"Deal."  

***

"You did WHAT?!"

"Lita…"

"Serena, how could you let that man back into your home after all that he's put you through!" Serena was sitting in the very homey kitchen of Lita Evans. Lita invited Serena to come over for lunch in the late afternoon to talk about girl stuff.  Lita was chopping up fresh green salad as Serena flipped through a family photo album.

"Lita, what was I suppose to do? Let him live there for the rest of his life?!"

"Didn't he do that before you guys got divorced?"

"That's not fair, Lita."

"What's not fair about it?"

"We all make mistakes."

"He's made about one too many." 

Serena refused to comment anymore on the Darien subject. She began to flip the pages of Lita's photo album. Random pictures cluttered the page. There were pictures of Lita and her husband, Ken, along with their two children, Leslie the oldest, 5, and Kenny, 3. Events such as family vacations at Disney world and birthdays filled the photo album. "What I wouldn't give to be a stay-at-home mom."

Lita chuckled. "Believe me, Serena. Sometimes those children can be a handful. I just can't wait until Kenny turns 18 and is out of here. But for the moment I'm currently glad that they are spending the day with their grandmother."

"You say that now, but you don't know how lucky you are Lita."

"Don't worry I know. I'm reminded everyday when I open their bedroom doors and the light of the hallway just shines one their face when they're sleeping."

"Don't you ever wish that you could have started that restaurant that you wanted to?" 

"Everyday. But if I did I wouldn't have met Ken. I wouldn't have had Leslie or Kenny. I don't think one restaurant is worth the price of two wonderful children and a husband I can't stop kissing."

Serena smiled as she dug into her lunch. Serena remember that day that Lita and Ken met. Lita was running late for a job interview when she bumped into Ken in the elevator. Of course, as all chance meetings are, the elevator stopped abruptly leaving the two stranded for a near four hours.  It was love at first sight. One day she hopes to experience that kind of feeling again. One day.

"I think we should have a girl's night out. Get your mind off of this whole Darien situation. Just the girls. I'll call Amy, Mina, and Raye," Lita suggested. "We haven't gone out in a while."

"Lita, may I remind you, a mother of two really shouldn't be going bar hopping."

"Serena, I'm 30 years old and people think I'm 24. Who would have to know?"

***

"You're moving back in with Serena?"

"Yes. I have no choice. I can't live here for the rest of my life."

"Weren't you doing that BEFORE you guys got divorced?" Andrew questioned.

"Yes, but this time I won't have to feel guilty about not coming home if I have to work late nights. We're not married anymore."

"Let me guess. You're 'Friends'", Andrew said quoting the word 'friends' with his hands.

"More like roommates than 'friends'."

"This situation between you two is very confusing. I thought you never wanted to go back to that house. All that stuff about memories and…stuff. What changed your mind?"

What did change Darien's mind? The fact that there were absolutely no apartments in the city, thanks to the incredibly conniving Beryl? Maybe he just wanted a place to stay without having the pay rent?

"I think not! I told you, you wouldn't last a week in this hellhole." His conscience was back and ready to sing the "I told you so" song, which of course came with the dance. 

"Darien?"

"Huh? Oh sorry, Andrew. I got to get this stuff over at Serena's then prepare for the meeting with Wiltshire tomorrow."

"I guess 'Men's night out' will have to wait, huh? Chad, Greg, Ken and I can hold off 'til tomorrow. We were going to have fun trying to pick out a new girl for you."

"Knowing you guys you would pick the first girl that threw herself at me."

"We would probably have to wait for a few months for that to happen Darien…"

***

Closing notes: Wow, a new chapter updated within two weeks of the last chapter. That's a record! Hope you've had fun reading this chapter. Kind of wrote it in one or two sittings. Let me know what you think and I am open to any ideas you guys might have.

Please review! It only takes two seconds! Even if it's just to say, "please update!"  It makes an author feel really good about what other people think of the story! But I'm not going to be one of those people who are like "I'm not going to update until I get 5 reviews". But please review!

~.:K. Ly:.~