*****
So, like always, here's the next chapter after the said amount of reader
reviews. I'm glad that you liked it. It was a bit of a harder chapter, but
I'm glad that you all liked it. For the most part almost all of you liked
it, but there was one person who was weary of it. So I hope that I can make
up for it in this chapter. I hope you like this one the same. I must warn
all of you, I might put in some clinchers soon, and I know you're all going
to be upset, but it's going to heighten the story. But it all will be for
the good cause of Serena and her family. So, here's fair warning, and if
and when it does happen, please don't hate me. It really is going to help
the story, it may not look like it, but it will be very detrimental.
So, I don't own S.M. characters, I wish, but I think I'll just stick to
writing, and in this case I'm only borrowing them. Enjoy, and take all in
as a whole. It's all important. Trust me. Of course, it's another 8 reviews
to get the next chapter, as you all know. So, till then. Ciao.
*****
"Mommy, Darien here's to take us to the mountain," Rini said from the doorway while Serena had been working up a design sketch for some celebrities that were already shopping for their Oscar jewelry.
Serena looked up at her daughter who was wearing a pink snow bunny snowsuit for kids. "Aren't you going to be a little warm in that kitten paws?" Serena asked with a smile.
Rini gave her a bright smile. "I'm wearing it so the moment we stop I can jump in the snow."
Serena laughed as she stood up. "Ah, kitten paws, you're going to be quite warm, trust me. Why don't you take it off, and you can put it on just before you get out of the truck," she suggested with her motherly smile.
Rini considered it, and then took off the snowsuit to her baby blue leggings, and a white fleece sweatshirt.
"My lord Rini, you would have melted if you kept wearing that."
Rini frowned in her disappointment. "But I'm too excited mommy."
"I know kitten paws," she said, coming over to her daughter's side and scooping her up in a hug. "Now come on, Darien's waiting for us."
Going to the mountain resort had been Darien's idea. He had spent a lot of time with Rini, and tried to squeeze in time for the two of them alone. But between work, and Rini, they didn't have the chance to acknowledge a relationship that was only sprouting growth.
Darien owned the resort that they were going to, and he wanted to just make sure that his staff was up to speed, and meeting all the guest demands with out complaint. He suggested that she and Rini should join him, so they could spend a whole weekend to grow closer as a family. Plus he thought that Rini would love to learn how to ski or snowboard. He wanted to share in the first time experience with Rini.
Darien was in the foyer with Mina and Andrew, who had come over to drop off Serena's camera that he borrowed.
Serena smiled at them. "Well, we're all ready to go now."
"Alright, I'll help with your bags," Darien said with a smile, as he scooped up Rini's and her bags.
Rini grabbed her small purple backpack, which had some of her books, and games that would help for the seven-hour drive. Serena held Rini's snowsuit, while she grabbed her parka from the counter, as well as her purse.
"Well, all set then," Serena said. She hugged her brother and sister. "I'll see you two on Sunday night. I'll have my cell, and you have the number if you need to reach me."
"You guys sure that you all don't want to come?" Darien asked them. "There are still plenty of rooms for you all to have."
Mina shook head. "No, you guys should go and enjoy a nice weekend away," she said, cutting off anything Andrew might say about wanting to join them.
With one final goodbye from both Rini and Serena, they trooped down to Darien's truck out front. They packed in their bags while Rini begged to sit in the front seat.
"How about you get the front seat for the first hour until we reach the gas station outside of town, and then for the last half hour while we go up the mountain trail," Darien suggested with a questioning look at Serena who nodded in response.
Rini exclaimed with her excitement as she climbed into the front passenger seat with a little help from Serena. Serena then slid into the back seat, deciding that the father-daughter bonding could take place and let her try and work out some more finer details of her sketch.
Rini and Darien talked the whole time the first couple of hours as Serena once done her sketch had fallen asleep in the back seat.
"You know, my mommy says that my birthday is going to be real special, because I'm going to be turning five. Mommy got me into preschool, but next year I get to go to kindergarten."
Darien gave her a smile. "Well, that is special, isn't it?" he said.
She nodded. "But can I tell you a secret Darien," she said with wide, imploring eyes.
Darien felt his throat catch with emotion. She trusted him, his daughter trusted him. He felt like he had reached his ultimate goal, he would be close to his daughter. And he was getting there. "Sure," he said. "You can tell me anything."
"Well, now see, I don't want you to tell mommy, because she might worry horribly if she couldn't do it for me."
"Oh," he said slowly.
"See, my birthday wish is to have my daddy."
"Really, why then?" he asked her while they drove the scenic road to the mountain, which was cutting down by the conversation with his daughter.
"Because it's my wish. Wishes only come on special occasions that's what mommy told me. She told me that what's my daddy told her before I was born."
Darien sighed. He could remember telling that to Serena every time he had a surprise for her and she tried to find out about it. It amazed him how Rini could remind him so much of the Serena he once knew so intimately.
"So, you're hoping that at your birthday, you'll get your dad?" he asked, making sure that he had it right.
Rini bobbed her head in answer.
"Well, maybe you will. But I think your right about not saying anything to your mom. You know that she would do anything for you, but if he weren't able to make it there, she wouldn't want you to be disappointed."
Rini smiled. "I know."
They drove on, still talking, and singing along to kids songs, while Serena slept peacefully in the backseat. Finally, they arrived at the mountain resort.
The head manager came out to greet them. "Hello Mr. Shields. We've been expecting you."
"Well, I hope not everyone. I did want to be able to observe the whole management of the place without making anyone nervous."
The man nodded. "Yes, sir, as to your request, myself and three others know of your arrival."
Darien nodded. "Good. Well, if you'll show this young lady to our suite, while I bring up her mother," he said, gesturing for a bellboy to take care of the bags.
Serena was still sleeping, so Darien scooped her into his arms and carried her to their suite. Rini was checking the room over when Darien entered, Serena in his arms. The head manager left them then, promising to meet up with him later. Darien then went and placed Serena in the room with the two queen size beds with an ensuite.
Once he had Serena tucked under one of the light blankets, he closed the bedroom door and turned to Rini. "Well, Rini, shall we go and check out the hotel?" he asked her.
Rini nodded enthusiastically. "But we will go out in the snow soon, right?"
Darien nodded. "As soon as your mom gets up, we'll take a sleigh ride. Does that sound good pet?" he asked her.
Rini nodded, coming and taking his hand. Darien looked down at the small hand in his and smiled with amazement.
He took her through the main lobby, showed her the indoor pool and hot tub, as well as the outdoor ones. Then he took her into the games room. She grew excited when she saw that he had a Mrs. Pac man, and they played that for a while. Finally, when it grew close to dinnertime they made their way back up to their room.
Serena was sitting out on the balcony, overlooking part of the outdoor pool, and most of the mountain lifts above them. She had a cup of hot chocolate in her hand, while she sat there contently. She looked refreshed which made Darien feel more at ease.
"Hey mommy," Rini said running over to her mother's side and plumping herself on Serena's lap. "Darien showed me his hotel."
"That was nice of him," she smiled.
"And now he's going to take us to one of the restaurants for dinner," Rini bubbled on.
"Well I think we should probably go change then," Serena said, placing Rini on her feet and standing up herself.
"Take your time," Darien said. "I'm just going to run on down to check on something with the manager."
Serena nodded. "Sure," she said, making her way back to her and Rini's room of the large suite.
Darien left them then and Rini babbled on about the entire hotel. She then told her about the high score that she and Darien had gotten on Mrs. Pac man.
Serena changed into a black skirt and a black sweater with a cowl neck that revealed her shoulders. She swept her hair up in a curly ponytail while Rini changed into her pink skirt with a white and pink floral sweater. Serena did Rini's hair up in the two pigtails with the two buns up top, just like the hairstyle Serena did to her own hair when she was much younger.
Darien returned and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw them. "Wow," was all he could say to both of them. Serena looked stunning while Rini looked so much like the child version of Serena that he found it spooky, but she still looked absolutely adorable.
Serena shrugged. "Well, you said you were taking us out for dinner, so I figured I should dress for the occasion."
"I think everyone in the place is going to be envious that I have two pretty ladies to take for dinner."
Serena shook her head with a laugh. "Well, shall we get going then?" she asked him.
He nodded as he offered his arm for her and a hand for Rini. Both took his offered arms, and the made their way to the restaurant that overlooked the small ice skating pond just below the front entrance to the resort.
Rini was quite taken by the winter theme that the restaurant had adopted in sport of the season, while Serena found the elegant surrounding so breathtaking. The food was incredible, even if it wasn't quite the same quality as Lita's.
"You know, I think Lita has ruined me for any other chef," Darien grinned while Rini was picking off the desert cart that was now stopped in front of their table.
Serena laughed. "I think she'll be glad to hear that, maybe you should think about getting her to come up here and see if she can look over the menu you have."
Darien nodded as he considered her suggestion. "I think I might just ask her."
Serena then laughed when she noticed the deserts that Rini had picked. "Do you think you're going to eat all that?" she asked.
Rini nodded energetically. "I have to mommy, it would be terribly rude if I didn't after I took all of them."
Serena shook her head in laughter. "Then I guess me and Darien will have to help you."
Rini pouted for a second but then took on a face of noble sacrifice and let her mom pick whatever she wanted except the devil's chocolate cake. Darien helped them eat the desert so all that was left were some cookies, which Rini could bring back with her to the room.
"How about ice skating?" Rini asked as they were making their way back to their suite.
Darien looked at Serena who was staring at the ice pond dreamily. He nodded then. "Sounds good."
They went up to the room to change and then went down to the pond to rent skates and skate around. Rini, never been skating before froze before the ice.
"Rini, pet, there's nothing to worry about," Darien said offering a hand. "I'll help you. And if you want there are those t-bars that can help you out."
Rini took a deep breath and then accepted Darien's hand. Serena took pictures of her baby girl making her first attempts of skating. Once she got used to the new feeling, Rini started to venture out on the ice on her own.
Darien skated to where Serena sat on the side. "Well milady, care to join me?" he asked her with a wide grin.
She arched a brow at him. "I don't know," she said slowly.
He clutched his chest in mock pain. "I think the lady does wound me."
She shook her head laughing. "Sometimes I wonder about you," she smiled.
"Me, what is there to wonder about me? What you see is what you get. You should know that of all people."
Serena sighed. "Yes, I suppose I should."
"So how about it, skate with me?"
She smiled up at him, and took his hand. They skated around the rink and then skated with Rini, taking turns in spinning her around. Then Darien found that Serena and Rini had ganged up on him and were hitting him with snowballs.
After some time Darien convinced Rini to join his side and they chased Serena, finally tackling her in the snow.
Darien fell onto her, while Rini ended up hitting her hair with a few snowballs, and then hit Darien for good measure. Serena looked up into Darien's eyes, and despite how close and intimate they were, they knew a challenge when they saw it. Darien kissed her quickly on her lips then helped her to her feet and they went about chasing Rini.
Finally, once Rini was completely exhausted, they made their way back to their hotel suite. Serena went and tucked Rini into bed. Rini even asked Darien to help in the process. Once Rini had received kisses from both of them, and promises that she would go skiing the next day, she fell asleep.
Serena closed the door to the bedroom she wanted to share with her daughter and joined Darien out on the balcony, who was sitting and looking out at the mountain.
"It's absolutely beautiful up here," she said softly.
He nodded as he took a hold of her hand and pulled her up behind him, resting her hand on his chest. He leaned his head back to look at her. "Yes, it is, that's why I love it up here."
She gave him a smile. He pulled her around so that he was facing her properly. "So, you're not regretting coming?" he asked her.
She shook her head. "No, I'm glad I did. You and Rini are bonding and I just feel at peace with seeing how happy you two are."
He nodded. "I think maybe we should tell her who I am on her birthday," he said then.
She blinked. "On her birthday, why?"
He grinned then. "Heard it from a little birdie that she has a great wish, and special occasions are when wishes are their best."
She smiled at the familiar words. "Well, I guess there's no stopping you, is there?"
He shook his head. "Afraid not," he said.
She laughed. "Well, I think it's great. She'll be so happy. She already thinks so highly of you."
"well, now my question is, what does the mother think of me?"
She looked at him, not blinking. "I think you're the sweetest guy in the world. For you to forgive me for all that I have done, I think that I have been given more then I could ever ask for."
He looked at her steadily. "Is that how you see it? You only see us progressing as friends?" he asked her, a catch in his voice.
She swallowed nervously. "This isn't about me."
"Sure it is. I can tell you that Rini is going to want her parents together."
"Then I'll give it to her."
"But not in the full sense. You'll only get together with me, because you want Rini to have a father. Serena, I want..." he stopped, sighing as he stood up to meet her eye to eye. "I know you've been through hell and high water, but there's something I think your tricking your brain of."
"Oh, and what's that?"
"You still love me."
She just stared at him.
"I can see it in your eyes, I can feel it in your touch. You still love me. Just like I haven't stopped loving you, you haven't stopped loving me."
She swallowed while a tear slipped down her cheek.
"And I'll tell you another thing."
"What?" she asked him slowly.
He lifted her chin and took her lips in a kiss that spoke of all their undying love, of all their passion, of all their everything that made them want to live each day—their love.
When they parted, he looked at her steadily. "You can't deny how much you still feel me in your soul. You have all that passion of love that hasn't died. And you can't deny it. Our love was spoken through that kiss."
Another tear fell down her cheek.
"What are you so afraid of? Your father's not around to hurt you anymore. None of us find it shameful that you brought a beautiful little girl into the world. So what is it that has you running scared?"
"I'm afraid that... that..."
"What?" he coaxed.
"I don't know. I don't know why I'm so scared. I think because while I was dying I was too afraid that if I ever was too happy again that I'd somehow lose it. It's what happened that year that I left. I was so happy that I had you and then on my birthday when I found out that I was going to have a baby, I was just so happy. Then my world came crumbling down on me."
"Oh Serena," he said taking her into his arms. "Don't you think you deserve to have some happiness now? Besides owing it to our daughter, don't you think that we owe it to ourselves to see what will happen next."
She let Darien hold her while she let his words sink in.
"Let me love you, let me love our daughter. We can make it work, I know we can, but we can't know until we try," he said softly while he held her close to him.
"Alright," she said slowly. "Let's see what happens."
But no more words could come from her mouth as it was taken by a warm, then hot loving kiss.
"Mommy, Darien here's to take us to the mountain," Rini said from the doorway while Serena had been working up a design sketch for some celebrities that were already shopping for their Oscar jewelry.
Serena looked up at her daughter who was wearing a pink snow bunny snowsuit for kids. "Aren't you going to be a little warm in that kitten paws?" Serena asked with a smile.
Rini gave her a bright smile. "I'm wearing it so the moment we stop I can jump in the snow."
Serena laughed as she stood up. "Ah, kitten paws, you're going to be quite warm, trust me. Why don't you take it off, and you can put it on just before you get out of the truck," she suggested with her motherly smile.
Rini considered it, and then took off the snowsuit to her baby blue leggings, and a white fleece sweatshirt.
"My lord Rini, you would have melted if you kept wearing that."
Rini frowned in her disappointment. "But I'm too excited mommy."
"I know kitten paws," she said, coming over to her daughter's side and scooping her up in a hug. "Now come on, Darien's waiting for us."
Going to the mountain resort had been Darien's idea. He had spent a lot of time with Rini, and tried to squeeze in time for the two of them alone. But between work, and Rini, they didn't have the chance to acknowledge a relationship that was only sprouting growth.
Darien owned the resort that they were going to, and he wanted to just make sure that his staff was up to speed, and meeting all the guest demands with out complaint. He suggested that she and Rini should join him, so they could spend a whole weekend to grow closer as a family. Plus he thought that Rini would love to learn how to ski or snowboard. He wanted to share in the first time experience with Rini.
Darien was in the foyer with Mina and Andrew, who had come over to drop off Serena's camera that he borrowed.
Serena smiled at them. "Well, we're all ready to go now."
"Alright, I'll help with your bags," Darien said with a smile, as he scooped up Rini's and her bags.
Rini grabbed her small purple backpack, which had some of her books, and games that would help for the seven-hour drive. Serena held Rini's snowsuit, while she grabbed her parka from the counter, as well as her purse.
"Well, all set then," Serena said. She hugged her brother and sister. "I'll see you two on Sunday night. I'll have my cell, and you have the number if you need to reach me."
"You guys sure that you all don't want to come?" Darien asked them. "There are still plenty of rooms for you all to have."
Mina shook head. "No, you guys should go and enjoy a nice weekend away," she said, cutting off anything Andrew might say about wanting to join them.
With one final goodbye from both Rini and Serena, they trooped down to Darien's truck out front. They packed in their bags while Rini begged to sit in the front seat.
"How about you get the front seat for the first hour until we reach the gas station outside of town, and then for the last half hour while we go up the mountain trail," Darien suggested with a questioning look at Serena who nodded in response.
Rini exclaimed with her excitement as she climbed into the front passenger seat with a little help from Serena. Serena then slid into the back seat, deciding that the father-daughter bonding could take place and let her try and work out some more finer details of her sketch.
Rini and Darien talked the whole time the first couple of hours as Serena once done her sketch had fallen asleep in the back seat.
"You know, my mommy says that my birthday is going to be real special, because I'm going to be turning five. Mommy got me into preschool, but next year I get to go to kindergarten."
Darien gave her a smile. "Well, that is special, isn't it?" he said.
She nodded. "But can I tell you a secret Darien," she said with wide, imploring eyes.
Darien felt his throat catch with emotion. She trusted him, his daughter trusted him. He felt like he had reached his ultimate goal, he would be close to his daughter. And he was getting there. "Sure," he said. "You can tell me anything."
"Well, now see, I don't want you to tell mommy, because she might worry horribly if she couldn't do it for me."
"Oh," he said slowly.
"See, my birthday wish is to have my daddy."
"Really, why then?" he asked her while they drove the scenic road to the mountain, which was cutting down by the conversation with his daughter.
"Because it's my wish. Wishes only come on special occasions that's what mommy told me. She told me that what's my daddy told her before I was born."
Darien sighed. He could remember telling that to Serena every time he had a surprise for her and she tried to find out about it. It amazed him how Rini could remind him so much of the Serena he once knew so intimately.
"So, you're hoping that at your birthday, you'll get your dad?" he asked, making sure that he had it right.
Rini bobbed her head in answer.
"Well, maybe you will. But I think your right about not saying anything to your mom. You know that she would do anything for you, but if he weren't able to make it there, she wouldn't want you to be disappointed."
Rini smiled. "I know."
They drove on, still talking, and singing along to kids songs, while Serena slept peacefully in the backseat. Finally, they arrived at the mountain resort.
The head manager came out to greet them. "Hello Mr. Shields. We've been expecting you."
"Well, I hope not everyone. I did want to be able to observe the whole management of the place without making anyone nervous."
The man nodded. "Yes, sir, as to your request, myself and three others know of your arrival."
Darien nodded. "Good. Well, if you'll show this young lady to our suite, while I bring up her mother," he said, gesturing for a bellboy to take care of the bags.
Serena was still sleeping, so Darien scooped her into his arms and carried her to their suite. Rini was checking the room over when Darien entered, Serena in his arms. The head manager left them then, promising to meet up with him later. Darien then went and placed Serena in the room with the two queen size beds with an ensuite.
Once he had Serena tucked under one of the light blankets, he closed the bedroom door and turned to Rini. "Well, Rini, shall we go and check out the hotel?" he asked her.
Rini nodded enthusiastically. "But we will go out in the snow soon, right?"
Darien nodded. "As soon as your mom gets up, we'll take a sleigh ride. Does that sound good pet?" he asked her.
Rini nodded, coming and taking his hand. Darien looked down at the small hand in his and smiled with amazement.
He took her through the main lobby, showed her the indoor pool and hot tub, as well as the outdoor ones. Then he took her into the games room. She grew excited when she saw that he had a Mrs. Pac man, and they played that for a while. Finally, when it grew close to dinnertime they made their way back up to their room.
Serena was sitting out on the balcony, overlooking part of the outdoor pool, and most of the mountain lifts above them. She had a cup of hot chocolate in her hand, while she sat there contently. She looked refreshed which made Darien feel more at ease.
"Hey mommy," Rini said running over to her mother's side and plumping herself on Serena's lap. "Darien showed me his hotel."
"That was nice of him," she smiled.
"And now he's going to take us to one of the restaurants for dinner," Rini bubbled on.
"Well I think we should probably go change then," Serena said, placing Rini on her feet and standing up herself.
"Take your time," Darien said. "I'm just going to run on down to check on something with the manager."
Serena nodded. "Sure," she said, making her way back to her and Rini's room of the large suite.
Darien left them then and Rini babbled on about the entire hotel. She then told her about the high score that she and Darien had gotten on Mrs. Pac man.
Serena changed into a black skirt and a black sweater with a cowl neck that revealed her shoulders. She swept her hair up in a curly ponytail while Rini changed into her pink skirt with a white and pink floral sweater. Serena did Rini's hair up in the two pigtails with the two buns up top, just like the hairstyle Serena did to her own hair when she was much younger.
Darien returned and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw them. "Wow," was all he could say to both of them. Serena looked stunning while Rini looked so much like the child version of Serena that he found it spooky, but she still looked absolutely adorable.
Serena shrugged. "Well, you said you were taking us out for dinner, so I figured I should dress for the occasion."
"I think everyone in the place is going to be envious that I have two pretty ladies to take for dinner."
Serena shook her head with a laugh. "Well, shall we get going then?" she asked him.
He nodded as he offered his arm for her and a hand for Rini. Both took his offered arms, and the made their way to the restaurant that overlooked the small ice skating pond just below the front entrance to the resort.
Rini was quite taken by the winter theme that the restaurant had adopted in sport of the season, while Serena found the elegant surrounding so breathtaking. The food was incredible, even if it wasn't quite the same quality as Lita's.
"You know, I think Lita has ruined me for any other chef," Darien grinned while Rini was picking off the desert cart that was now stopped in front of their table.
Serena laughed. "I think she'll be glad to hear that, maybe you should think about getting her to come up here and see if she can look over the menu you have."
Darien nodded as he considered her suggestion. "I think I might just ask her."
Serena then laughed when she noticed the deserts that Rini had picked. "Do you think you're going to eat all that?" she asked.
Rini nodded energetically. "I have to mommy, it would be terribly rude if I didn't after I took all of them."
Serena shook her head in laughter. "Then I guess me and Darien will have to help you."
Rini pouted for a second but then took on a face of noble sacrifice and let her mom pick whatever she wanted except the devil's chocolate cake. Darien helped them eat the desert so all that was left were some cookies, which Rini could bring back with her to the room.
"How about ice skating?" Rini asked as they were making their way back to their suite.
Darien looked at Serena who was staring at the ice pond dreamily. He nodded then. "Sounds good."
They went up to the room to change and then went down to the pond to rent skates and skate around. Rini, never been skating before froze before the ice.
"Rini, pet, there's nothing to worry about," Darien said offering a hand. "I'll help you. And if you want there are those t-bars that can help you out."
Rini took a deep breath and then accepted Darien's hand. Serena took pictures of her baby girl making her first attempts of skating. Once she got used to the new feeling, Rini started to venture out on the ice on her own.
Darien skated to where Serena sat on the side. "Well milady, care to join me?" he asked her with a wide grin.
She arched a brow at him. "I don't know," she said slowly.
He clutched his chest in mock pain. "I think the lady does wound me."
She shook her head laughing. "Sometimes I wonder about you," she smiled.
"Me, what is there to wonder about me? What you see is what you get. You should know that of all people."
Serena sighed. "Yes, I suppose I should."
"So how about it, skate with me?"
She smiled up at him, and took his hand. They skated around the rink and then skated with Rini, taking turns in spinning her around. Then Darien found that Serena and Rini had ganged up on him and were hitting him with snowballs.
After some time Darien convinced Rini to join his side and they chased Serena, finally tackling her in the snow.
Darien fell onto her, while Rini ended up hitting her hair with a few snowballs, and then hit Darien for good measure. Serena looked up into Darien's eyes, and despite how close and intimate they were, they knew a challenge when they saw it. Darien kissed her quickly on her lips then helped her to her feet and they went about chasing Rini.
Finally, once Rini was completely exhausted, they made their way back to their hotel suite. Serena went and tucked Rini into bed. Rini even asked Darien to help in the process. Once Rini had received kisses from both of them, and promises that she would go skiing the next day, she fell asleep.
Serena closed the door to the bedroom she wanted to share with her daughter and joined Darien out on the balcony, who was sitting and looking out at the mountain.
"It's absolutely beautiful up here," she said softly.
He nodded as he took a hold of her hand and pulled her up behind him, resting her hand on his chest. He leaned his head back to look at her. "Yes, it is, that's why I love it up here."
She gave him a smile. He pulled her around so that he was facing her properly. "So, you're not regretting coming?" he asked her.
She shook her head. "No, I'm glad I did. You and Rini are bonding and I just feel at peace with seeing how happy you two are."
He nodded. "I think maybe we should tell her who I am on her birthday," he said then.
She blinked. "On her birthday, why?"
He grinned then. "Heard it from a little birdie that she has a great wish, and special occasions are when wishes are their best."
She smiled at the familiar words. "Well, I guess there's no stopping you, is there?"
He shook his head. "Afraid not," he said.
She laughed. "Well, I think it's great. She'll be so happy. She already thinks so highly of you."
"well, now my question is, what does the mother think of me?"
She looked at him, not blinking. "I think you're the sweetest guy in the world. For you to forgive me for all that I have done, I think that I have been given more then I could ever ask for."
He looked at her steadily. "Is that how you see it? You only see us progressing as friends?" he asked her, a catch in his voice.
She swallowed nervously. "This isn't about me."
"Sure it is. I can tell you that Rini is going to want her parents together."
"Then I'll give it to her."
"But not in the full sense. You'll only get together with me, because you want Rini to have a father. Serena, I want..." he stopped, sighing as he stood up to meet her eye to eye. "I know you've been through hell and high water, but there's something I think your tricking your brain of."
"Oh, and what's that?"
"You still love me."
She just stared at him.
"I can see it in your eyes, I can feel it in your touch. You still love me. Just like I haven't stopped loving you, you haven't stopped loving me."
She swallowed while a tear slipped down her cheek.
"And I'll tell you another thing."
"What?" she asked him slowly.
He lifted her chin and took her lips in a kiss that spoke of all their undying love, of all their passion, of all their everything that made them want to live each day—their love.
When they parted, he looked at her steadily. "You can't deny how much you still feel me in your soul. You have all that passion of love that hasn't died. And you can't deny it. Our love was spoken through that kiss."
Another tear fell down her cheek.
"What are you so afraid of? Your father's not around to hurt you anymore. None of us find it shameful that you brought a beautiful little girl into the world. So what is it that has you running scared?"
"I'm afraid that... that..."
"What?" he coaxed.
"I don't know. I don't know why I'm so scared. I think because while I was dying I was too afraid that if I ever was too happy again that I'd somehow lose it. It's what happened that year that I left. I was so happy that I had you and then on my birthday when I found out that I was going to have a baby, I was just so happy. Then my world came crumbling down on me."
"Oh Serena," he said taking her into his arms. "Don't you think you deserve to have some happiness now? Besides owing it to our daughter, don't you think that we owe it to ourselves to see what will happen next."
She let Darien hold her while she let his words sink in.
"Let me love you, let me love our daughter. We can make it work, I know we can, but we can't know until we try," he said softly while he held her close to him.
"Alright," she said slowly. "Let's see what happens."
But no more words could come from her mouth as it was taken by a warm, then hot loving kiss.