***** As you can see it was longer before I updated the story, but one I went out for the weekend, and two, it's getting more harder to make all the ideas I have flow. Not that I'm out of ideas, it's just that it's that I'm worried about pleasing all with the plot that's going to continue with the rest of the story. I'm glad that you all enjoyed the last time. I really appreciated the reviews. Now while someone said that I already had 80, yes, but when I say I want reviews, I only ask for, well, now I've been asking for 8... it's to help me to see that the chapter was good. I mean if I write a chapter and all of you hate it, I'm taking it away and rewriting it.

I should think though after I wake up from all the crazy weekend partying I did, I shall be pumping out some more chapters. I don't have all that much to occupy my time as I only work and hang around home until me and my friends decide to jump in the car and see how far we can go. So, it won't be too much of a problem for coming up with more, so just have patience with me.

Besides all that, I really am glad that you all like it. Now here's where I say that S.M. characters are not mine but this is my story. I've only borrowed them for the time being. Hope you all enjoy this chapter!!! *****

Serena looked at herself in the mirror after waking up to go into the store for work that day. She grimaced upon noticing the bags under her eyes hadn't gone away.

She had tried to sleep lately, but Darien's branding kiss seared through all her thoughts, and she was haunted by it to the point of complete distraction. For the most part, it was all that occupied her thoughts.

"Mommy," Rini said coming into the bathroom. Serena looked up at her. "I need t brush my teeth."

Serena gave her a smile. "Alright kitten paws," she said, patting her daughter's head. "Just don't be too long, as soon as I'm dressed I'm going to take you to see our new place and then we're going to see your auntie Lita."

She left the bathroom and went to her room to change. She grabbed a pair of her tight light blue jeans with the white intone, and a white knit camisole style tank. She slipped her long blond hair up into a high bouncing ponytail.

"Mommy," Rini said with a huge smile when Serena entered the kitchen.

"What kitten paws?" she asked as she grabbed up her purse.

"Someone had flowers brought for you."

Serena looked up startled.

"Yes, Serena, someone thought to send you some gorgeous roses," Mina smiled as she finished off her coffee.

Serena crossed to the counter where a large white box sat. Inside was a dozen beautiful, long stemmed red and white roses that were one of her three favorites, known as fire and ice. There was only one person who knew that she liked these ones...

"So, what does the card say?" Mina asked.

"Can I have one mommy, they're so pretty," Rini said with an awestruck smile as she looked at the flowers.

Serena nodded at her daughter as she picked up the small card that came with the roses. Rini picked out one of the top roses from the box and was amazed at the prettiness of the flower.

Serena, it said. These are a gift to welcome you home. I thought you might like to have some flowers to bring the simple beauty and charm into it, just like you always said about your fire and ice roses. They are meant to be the harmony roses that bring a strange balance. Odd how those words can come around to haunt you. I shall see you soon, and I am greatly looking forward to meeting our daughter. Just let me know what way will be best in going about it. With love, Darien.

Serena took a slow breath when she finished reading the card. "Well," she said quietly.

"So?" Mina asked.

Serena handed her the card rather than say anything allowed.

"Well, kitten paws, are you ready to go?" Serena asked as she grabbed her white jean jacket.

Rini bobbed her head in a nod.

"Mina?" Serena asked. "Are you ready to go?"

Mina grinned as she waved her purse in the air. "I've got it all."

Serena rolled her eyes. "Alright, let's go."

They left the penthouse apartment and made their way uptown to where the house was.

Rini exclaimed excitedly over it and picked out her room within moments of being in it. Mina nodded with approval as she checked the place over.

Serena took a seat on the kitchen counter and looked out into the large green backyard with the pond just off the side with a nice seating area. Then just across the lawn was a swimming pool and a hot tub attached to it. She was looking forward to her late night swims when they finally moved in, in two weeks.

They were going to be moving in five days before Rini's birthday, and then they were going to throw a party for her with all the family, as small as it was.

Once they checked the house over, they made their way uptown to Lita's restaurant.

"Hey guys," Lita smiled when they entered.

Rini ran up and threw her arms around her soon-to-be aunt. "Auntie Lita, I saw our new house and it's so cool. It's so much better than our house in New Zeeland."

"Really, well, I'll have to see it when you guys move in," Lita said as she guided them to their usual table back in the corner by the windows.

Rini beamed with excitement. "You're going to come to my party, right?"

Lita nodded. "You can't have a party without one of my special birthday girl cakes."

Rini smiled even brighter then. "As long as it's chocolate. I love chocolate."

"Hey, I love chocolate too," a new voice said.

They all turned to see Darien. Serena had all she could to keep her eyes from popping right out of her head. "What are you doing here?" she asked him, practically in a hiss.

"Well, I saw you and thought that I should catch up with my dearest old friend," Darien said. "May I join you?" he asked her.

Serena swallowed as she nodded. She could see what Darien was doing. He was trying to get into their daughter's life slowly, by being their friend.

"You know my mom?" Rini asked him.

Darien nodded. "Yeah, I've known your mom a real long time."

"Do you know my dad?" she asked.

"Rini," Serena said sharply.

"I was just asking," she said quietly.

Serena gave a half-smile. She had to love the bluntness of kids. They said what they meant, and damn it if adults couldn't quite take it.

"Sorry about that Darien," Serena said quietly. "But Rini had been anxious about meeting her father. But I did promise her that I would tell him that I was willing to share her with him."

Rini nodded. "Yes she did. And I will be horribly disappointed if I don't get to have a daddy like all the other kids."

Darien nodded. "Well, your mom was always good on her promises. I'm sure that she when she says she'll get your dad she means it."

"So, do you know my daddy?" Rini asked him again.

Darien swallowed a little nervously then nodded. "Yes, I know him."

"Really?" Rini asked him, a bright smile pressed on her lips again.

Darien felt a catch in his throat when he looked at his daughter. She was beautiful, just like her mother. He wanted to tell her that he was her father, but he knew his plan would work—it had to work.

"Yes," he nodded. "And I know you'll love him once you get to know him."

Rini seemed satisfied with that answer as she went about looking through the kid's menu to decide what she wanted for lunch.

Darien didn't plan to leave them, as Serena could tell as he settled in nicely while they made their orders with the chef on duty while Lita sat with them.

"So, everything's all set for the house?" Lita asked her.

Serena nodded. "I signed the papers yesterday with the real estate agent. It's now ours," Serena smiled. "I'm looking forward to moving in. not that I don't like living with you Mina," she said with a teasing smile at her sister.

Mina rolled her eyes. "Right, the fact that I'm constantly trying to steal the necklace that you designed for Brad Pitt who wants to give it to Jennifer Aniston for Valentines Day."

Serena laughed. "Yes, well, that's always a plus of living in our own place. You won't try to steal my own diamonds. But you know, considering that you own a major million dollar corporation that you could buy your own diamonds and not steal mine."

Mina blushed. "But it's not as fun when you have your own," she laughed.

"But stealing is bad, aunt mina," Rini stated.

They all looked at Rini who's earnest face wretched them all in the stomach.

"Oh Rini, you know I'm not stealing. I only ever borrow your mom's diamonds. It's like when we played renegades, we borrowed your mom's star locket as the walkie talkie..."

"We borrowed it."

Mina nodded at her niece while she felt Serena's eyes burning on her.

"You two played with my star locket?" she said through gritted teeth.

"We only meant to borrow it. Nothing happened to it," Rini said quirkily to her mother. "We weren't supposed to say anything..."

"Yes, nothing happened to it," Mina said quietly, looking down to avoid Serena's livid expression.

"Mina, you should know better. My locket is..."

Serena stopped, remembering that Darien was present. He had given her the locket on her nineteenth birthday, the last happy day she had spent with Darien, and the same day that she found out she was going to be a mother.

"Please, just in the future if you two want to play renegades or super heroes that you use other things like the brooches that I put aside for such use. That locket is real special to me, and I would hate for anything to happen to it."

Rini came over and gave her a hug. "I'm real sorry mom. I promise I won't ever play with it again."

Serena hugged her tightly. "I know kitten paws, I know."

Darien watched the scene quietly. He knew what locket they were talking about. He had given Serena a musical star locket on her nineteenth birthday because she had wanted something completely frivolous. Her birthday was their last happy memory before she left him.

He sighed.

"Are you alright?" Lita asked him.

"Oh, yes, it's nothing, just dying to get some food."

Lita nodded. "Well, it seems it's on its way," she said as a waiter brought the tray with their food on it.

The food was delicious as usual. Mina kept the lunch lively with her anecdotes about the movie that the studio was filming. Lita informed them that she would be going in for an ultrasound soon, and was really excited about it. Darien talked about his sister, while Serena remained silent.

When they were finished eating Mina excused herself so that she could go down to the recording studio to make sure everything was running well under her new director.

Lita smiled then after Mina had gone. "I'd love to hang out some more, but I have to finish some paper work."

Serena smiled then gave her soon to be sister in law a hug. "Just take it easy. You do have another little one to consider. I know I was exhausted almost all the time with this little one," Serena said with a smile as she looked at her precious daughter as she was coloring a picture.

Lita nodded with a bright smile. "Oh I know, and besides I have Andrew calling me almost every hour just to make sure that I'm taking it easy and not overloading myself."

Then Lita left them to go to her office. Serena sighed as she leant back in her chair.

"So, what do you two ladies want to do today, my treat," Darien said

"Really?" Rini said looking up at him. "We can go anywhere?"

Darien nodded. "Anywhere you want to go. Your wish is my command."

Serena gave him a stern look. "You don't have to do this."

He nodded. "Yes I do. I have a lot to make up for, and I have to start somewhere."

"Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you. Rini has very creative tastes."

Rini thought about it for a minute then grinned. "I want to go to the arcade to play some games, then I want to see the stars at the temple that Rei told me about."

Darien laughed, looking at Serena with a sparkle in his eyes. "Your right, she's very creative in what she wants. She reminds me of someone I knew once."

Serena fought not to blush, but failed miserably. All the times she had made odd requests for where they would go for the day always shocked Darien at first, but eventually he grew used to them, and he came up with a few of his own creative plans for the day. Most of which held a remote place where they could try and get lost in each other.

"All right milady," Darien said, scooping her up to carry her piggyback. Rini squealed with delight.

They went to the arcade for the afternoon, which seemed to leave them with a lot of time to talk, as Rini was busy with the games.

"I think that I need to enter her life like a good friend, let her get to know and like me. Then we can tell her that I'm her father," Darien said, taking a sip of his pop.

Serena fiddled with the straw of her milkshake. "That'll work."

"Serena," Darien said softly.

She looked up to find herself falling into his midnight blue eyes.

"I really want you two in my life. Rini especially."

Serena nodded. Rini was her lifesaver when she came over and sat down beside her. "All done pet?" she asked.

Rini nodded. "Yep, I was doing good in ms. Pac man until the little men eat me."

Darien frowned. "Then I think we need to kick their butts."

Rini looked at him. "You want to play with me?" she asked.

Darien nodded. "I wouldn't want to let those monsters get away with it."

Rini beamed and then dragged Darien to the game. They played for a while doing good, and then Rini decided that she wanted to go see the Cherry Hill Temple.

Rini took to Darien, and hardly left his side and babbled on all about the things that she had done with her aunt and uncle. She also told him all about the adventures she shared with Luna, and Darien was content with taking in her whole life as it was offered to him.

Serena smiled at the sight of the two of them while they walked along the paths of the temple. She knew in her heart she would remember the day forever. Rini had found her father, even if she didn't know it, they were close, and they would be closer yet.

She sighed.

"What?" Darien asked her as Rini ran ahead to look at the small birds in the white wooden cage.

"Nothing," she said.

"Serena," he said softly.

She tried to avoid looking at him, knowing that she would lose herself in his eyes and do things she wouldn't normally do. He kept looking at her, and she could feel his eyes on her, probing her for answers. Finally, she looked at him.

His midnight blue eyes locked with hers, and she felt herself falling out of control.

He looked at her with a sad look deep in his eyes.

"I never meant to hurt you. I never wanted to leave, but I didn't know what else to do. But I had to do what I had to do for my daughter's sake. After I left Japan and went to New Zealand, it was all about her. I didn't have too much of a choice considering..."

"Were you really unwell?" he asked her.

She shrugged. "It was just difficult. I was too stressed and the doctors had a lot to work with. But I pulled through because I wanted our child."

"You still love me," he said knowingly.

"What?" she said with a frown. "Where did that come from?"

"Just looking at you, and listening to everything... keeping the locket, keeping our daughter... you still love me," he said.

Her frown deepened. "I'm not understanding you."

"Alright, forget it. But I want you to have dinner with me tomorrow night, please say yes." She blinked then. "Please, there's so much that I want to say, and I think that we need to be alone and just talk."

"Alright," she said slowly.

He grinned. "Okay, so I'll pick you up at seven."

She nodded.

Just then, Rini came running over. They finished their walk and then left Darien and headed home. All the way back to the apartment, Rini babbled on about Darien. Serena smiled faintly, glad that her daughter greatly like her father, but fought back the frown realizing that Darien was wheedling a place into their lives.

She was glad for Rini's sake, and deep down, she wondered where he and her were going to stand.