Disclaimer: In a nutshell, I don't own Sailor Moon.
Author's notes: Enjoy this installment!
Chapter Six
"So what is the plan for tonight?"
"Plan?" Serena asked as she swiveled in her seat with a phone to her ear.
"Yes, your plans," Diamond replied.
"What did you have in mind?" Serena smiled.
"Maybe dinner, dancing. The usual."
"Well I have to go to a Christmas party at Darien's parents house then maybe you and I could go out to a late dinner," Serena suggested.
"Why do you have to go? It's not like your related to them or anything," Diamond said bitterly.
"It's just for appearance's sake," Serena replied.
"God, Serena. I can't believe you don't see it," Diamond snapped.
"See what?" Serena retorted.
"Darien still loves you. I knew it from the moment he came to dinner," Diamond replied. "You must be blind."
"Diamond, that family has treated me as if I was their daughter ever since I have known them, and yes, for a while I was technically their daughter-in-law. But Darien and I are now divorced. It doesn't mean I can't keep in contact with his family."
"Really? Then why do you still live with him?" Diamond asked.
"What?"
"You heard me."
"How do you know?"
"You left your coat in the limo. When I came back to return it, I saw Darien pull up in the garage." Diamond asked. "I thought that you two living together wouldn't be a problem but it obviously is now that you are still going to family functions together."
"Diamond."
"I don't want to hear it Serena." Click.
Serena stared at the phone resonating a dial tone.
"What happened?" Mina asked as she came in noticing the stunned blond.
"I think Diamond and I are through."
"What?" asked Mina.
"Mina, I'm going to take the rest of the day off," Serena told her, as she was packing up her briefcase and grabbing her coat.
"Okay, I'll see you tonight at the party."
Serena rode the elevator down to the lobby. She hailed a cab and got in.
"Where to?"
"Shield Tech Headquarters." Serena blankly replied.
"Molly can I get those sales figures on my desk by three?" Darien replied through the intercom.
"Yes Mr. Shields, right away. Um, there's someone here to see you."
"Who?"
"I'm not at liberty to say."
"What? Molly. Molly?" Darien got up from his desk and headed to his office door. He opened it wide and was surprised. "Serena?"
Serena lunged at Darien engulfing him with her long, slender arms. She silently sobbed against his dress shirt. Darien shocked didn't know what to do. He brought his hands up to her head and started to stroke her gently.
"Serena, what's wrong?" Darien led her over to the couch and set her down.
"Darien." Serena's face was drenched with tears.
"What is it?" Was something wrong at work? Was she hurt? Raped?
"It's Diamond. He…"
"Did he hurt you?" He clenched his hand into a tight fist.
"No! Nothing like that! Well…I guess you could say he hurt me," Serena whispered. "We're through."
"What?"
"Diamond had a problem with you and I remaining friends and he couldn't handle it."
"Serena, I'm sorry."
"It was bound to happen sooner or later. I guess I'm not good with men," Serena smiled. "I didn't want to go home to that empty house. I didn't know where to go."
"Don't worry about it Serena. I'll always be here for you."
"Why is it you're more sweeter when we're not married?" Serena smiled after a long pause tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Darien gave a nervous chuckle. 'I guess it's because I didn't know what I had when I had it,' he silently thought to himself.
"I really don't know."
Serena looked up at him. "So…" she said drying her tears, "Am I going to meet you at the party?"
"Well…why don't we go together?" Darien suggested. Serena looked at him suspiciously. "Just as friends," Darien assured.
"I'd like that," Serena smiled. "I guess I better go." Serena stood up and headed for the door, leaving Darien on the couch. "Oh and Darien. If that merger falls through, and it's because of me…I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it Serena. I think 63 million a year is a good yearly salary," he joked. "It's not important."
Later that night…
"So Serena, how's work?" asked Ann.
"It's great. I have one big project I'm working on now." Serena sipped her champagne glass. Serena was sitting on the couch with several of other women she had the pleasure of meeting over the years. Serena wore a whit blouse under a red vest with a black ankle length skirt with slits running up to mid thigh on the left side. Serena looked at the other side of the room and saw Darien conversing with many other men who were dressed casually. Darien was wearing a white knit sweater and khaki pants. In his hand was a glass of brandy. He saw her roaming eyes and smirked while giving her a subtle wink. Her head snapped back to the women who talking about the adventures of married life and their children. Serena sat uncomfortably. All of these women here had loving husbands and adorable children.
"I'm going to tell him." A voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Tell him what?" Serena looked next to her on the couch.
"I'm going to tell Andrew I'm pregnant. Tonight," Mina smiled.
"Mina…that's great. Congratulations," Serena hugged her friend. "So that's why you didn't want any champagne. Mina nodded. Serena stared at her hands.
"Serena?" Mina asked.
"Huh?"
"Are you okay?"
"Um, I think I just need to go outside. All of this champagne," Serena sat up and excused herself. Darien saw Serena get up and head out for the front door. Mina looked at Darien worriedly and got the message. He put his glass down and picked up his jacket as well as Serena's.
"Serena?"
"Oh, Darien," Serena whispered. Darien handed her jacket then put on his own. "Thanks."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Darien looked at her disbelievingly.
Serena gave out a small laugh. "It's just that…it seems I'm the only one that hasn't had the pleasure of holding my own bundle of joy. Inside the women are sharing stories of when their children first began to walk or talk. It looks like I won't have a chance of having that."
Darien didn't know what to say. It was partially his fault. He put his career before his wife. He was too stupid to see that until now.
"I need to know something," Serena spoke.
"What?" Darien asked.
Serena paused before opening her mouth. "Do you still love me?"
Darien was surprised by her bold question. "What?"
"I need to know."
Darien hesitated. "I will always love you Serena. But not the way that I think you're asking me."
"What?"
"I…I…can't…don't love you." It pained Darien to answer in this way.
Serena looked at Darien in watery eyes. Serena didn't want to hear another word.
"I have to go."
"Serena! Wait!"
"What? What Darien!" Serena shouted. "You gave me your answer."
"Let me drive you home. After all we did come here together."
Serena bit her bottom lip. She doubt Mina and Andrew would want to leave the party now. "Fine."
"Wait here. I'll go get my keys." Darien walked back into the house to retrieve his keys.
After a few minutes of waiting out on the porch, Serena saw someone coming towards her. She wiped away any tears. It was dark so the person was covered by the shadows of the trees. "Whose there?"
"Serena." It was a male voice.
"Diamond?"
Diamond stepped into the light. "Serena."
"What are you doing here?" Serena asked bitterly.
"I'm sorry."
"I can't believe you had the nerve to come here."
"Serena, I came to apologize."
"I don't accept."
"Serena please give me a second chance."
"Why? You thought that…"
"I thought wrong. Please Serena. I love you. I didn't realize it until I thought I lost you. That's why I came here tonight. I want to be with you."
Serena looked off. She gave a hard long thought to what she was about to. 'It's obvious Darien doesn't love me anymore. I want to start something that will last forever,' she thought. "Okay," she smiled.
Meanwhile…
"Darien!" Setsuna called.
"What is it?" Darien was about to walk out the front door with his keys in hand.
"What the hell did you do?"
"What do you mean?"
"You told Serena that you didn't love her anymore?" Setsuna looked at her brother with a glare. It was hard to keep anything from his prying younger sister.
"Setsuna, I can't tell her I love her. I'm afraid if I do, I'm going to screw it all up again."
"Well you definitely screwed it up," Setsuna looked outside the window. Darien joined her and saw Serena and Diamond kissing on the front porch.
"Do you have any idea what you just lost?"
"I lost it a long time ago, Sets."
It was four months later when spring began to come back to life. Serena spent New Year's with Diamond and Darien spent it with his family. Serena's birthday was the next day. As the months progressed, Diamond and Serena's relationship got stronger. Diamond had begun to accept Serena and Darien's friendship. It didn't matter that much anymore because Darien and Serena grew farther apart as Serena and Diamond started to grow closer and closer. Darien was occupied with work as was Serena and did not get home until late at night. Things had gone back to the way they used to be. No contact except the occasional chaos in the morning.
"What's this?" Andrew asked picking up a small box that was sitting on Darien's desk.
"It's…nothing," Darien replied looking over some papers.
"Can I open it?" Andrew picked it up and undid the ribbon that tied it together.
"Go for it."
Andrew opened the box and looked inside. Nestled in the black velvet was a locket. "It's for Serena isn't it?"
"It was her mother's. I had it restored for her birthday. It doesn't matter," Darien leaned back against his chair. "I'm going to be gone for her party, so I figured I would give it to you to give to her."
Andrew put the locket back in its place and closed the box. "You should do it."
"I have business to tend to in New York."
"Darien…"
"Andrew, please do this for me." As Andrew was about to protest the intercom came on.
"Mr. Shields, the helicopter is here for your departure to the airfield."
"Thank you Molly." Darien got up from his chair and put on his jacket. He grabbed his briefcase and left without a word.
Andrew stood in the empty office still holding the box. He set the box on the mahogany desk and left. 'I'm sorry, Darien. You clean up your own mess.'
That very same night, the house was alive with people. Family and friends came out to wish Serena a Happy 30th Birthday. [ AN: I don't remember if I specified her age. Sorry if there's a mistake.]
"Happy 30th Birthday!" cheered her friends. All of them were there. Chad and Raye, Mina and Andrew, Ami and Greg, Lita and Ken and as well as associates and childhood friends.
Serena smiled. She felt arms wrap around her waist. "Happy Birthday," whispered Diamond. Serena turned herself around.
"Thank you, Mr. Wiltshire. May I ask where is my present?" Serena smiled.
"You're going to have to wait until after the party."
"As long as I get it." A shrill ring came from inside Diamond's jacket pocket.
"I'll be back." Diamond left to find a place where it was quiet enough to hear into the phone.
"Happy 30th!" Mina hugged her friend. Serena smiled again. Andrew gave a hug to Serena as well.
"Where's Darien?" Serena asked. Surely he would be here by now.
"He had some business stuff over in New York," Andrew gave an apologetic smile. Serena's face fell for a few seconds.
"Lets take a picture!" Lita replied from behind her. For the first time in a long time, Serena's friends were in the same room at once. As the five of them, Mina, Raye, Serena, Ami and Lita posed for a picture, Serena noticed a familiar mop of ebony hair from across the room. Serena excused herself and went to go search for it. She would constantly get interrupted by many of acquaintances and be forced to make small talk. By the end of the night, Serena had no luck in searching for Darien. By two in the morning, everyone had gone home except Diamond and the catering service.
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah, just a little tired is all." Serena plopped on the couch with her head resting on the armrest.
"It was a very nice birthday party." Diamond smiled as he held his hands behind his back.
"Speaking of birthdays, where's my present?" Serena grinned as she sat up.
Serena woke up the next morning with a terrible headache. She lay in bed thinking about last night's events. Serena brought her hand up to her forehead massaging it ignoring the dancing light on the walls. Serena bit her lip. She didn't know what to do. She figured it was the best way to forget about Darien. Now all she had to do was tell him. Serena walked down the stairs dressed and showered. She walked into the kitchen and saw Darien sipping on a mug of coffee reading the business section of the newspaper. Serena nervously coughed and walked to the refrigerator.
"You're back."
"Yeah, it was an unexpected business. Sorry about last night."
"It's all right. Darien?" It was now or never.
"Hmm?"
"I need to tell you something."
"What is it?" Darien replied with a cold tone. Serena sat down at one of the chairs.
"Diamond asked me to marry him. And I said yes."
Author's note: Such a short chapter!!! Well I am taking exams. But when that's all over I'll be able to write longer chapters and hopefully end this fanfic because I want to start a new one! Sorry if it seems rushed. I think there's only about a chapter left and most likely an epilogue. Well REVIEW!
::K. Ly::