What it Takes to be Mom

A non-season, non-manga, non-even-vaguely-relating-to-real-story-line story by yours truly. Hope you enjoy!

BTW: If my story is in any way similar to any of the others you have read/written, please tell me immediately!!! I have no wish to plagiarize anyone's story, or use any ideas that don't belong to me. Thank you!

Yumi T.

Chapter One-Tears of the Heart

"Daddy Daddy Daddy!"

The insistent cries of the small child brought a smile to the lips of the dark-haired man. He obligingly set down the bags in his arms, and handed the ring of keys over to the raven-haired child, who promptly dropped them, then upon retrieving them, jammed the wrong one into the lock. Laughing, the man picked the correct key, and the door swung open. It hit the wall with a bang, as a couple embracing in the hall came into view. The woman froze, then slowly turned around. Her face was flushed, and a peculiar smell wafted out of the apartment into the man's face. His nose wrinkled slightly as he took in the smell, the state of their clothing, and the looks on the couple's faces. His eyes shut tightly for a second, and when they opened once more, they were as dark sapphire bits of glass. He stared at his wife, and the man standing next to her.

"Raye." The dark-haired man acknowledged.

"Jason." He did not even look at the blonde-haired man, but continued to stare at his wife.

There was no warmth in his voice, and his daughter, hidden behind his leg, stared up at the man who did not act or sound like her beloved father. Why had he and her mother not hugged and kissed yet. Why was her mother not looking at her father anymore, and why was she hugging some other man. The facts refused to add up in her young mind, and she clutched all the harder to the jean-clad pants leg.

"Darien."

Raye's voice was little more then a whisper, and trembled slightly. She brushed a strand of hair away from her eyes, and Darien noticed the lack of wedding ring on her finger. Still, she stood straight, and there was a hint of fire in her eyes. Darien had loved that fire.

Before.

"Were you going to tell me?" He was now staring down at their daughter, lazily twirling strands of black silk through his fingers, smoothing her bangs. He wasn't sure, he was jumping to conclusions, everything was perfect and fine, there was no problem, nothing had happened, she…

"Yes." Her voice was still quiet.

…had admitted it…

His shoulders stiffened, and the fingers on his daughter's shoulder tensed and she whimpered in fear. She stared up at him and he gazed down at her, sorrow lining his face.

"Perhaps it is a little late for that now. I think it would be in all of our best interests if you gathered your things and stayed somewhere else. We can discuss this later." His voice was far too calm for the speed his mind was racing at, but it would only hurt everyone more for him to react in front of their…his daughter.

Raye nodded jerkily, and ran off back into their bedroom. Darien's eyes finally raised and he watched her form disappear. The silence in the room became deafening. Jason cleared his throat, a loud rasping sound. Darien's eyes slowly crossed to him, regarded him dully for a moment, and then returned to his daughter.

"Look, Darien. You knew that things weren't going well between you two, and you woul-"

He never even saw Darien move. Suddenly his head smashed against the wall, and Darien's grip tightened slightly around his throat.

"Jason!" screamed Raye, who, emerging from the room with a bag, immediately ran over and began beating Darien's arm. He dropped Jason to the floor, and turned slowly to walk to the door.

"Leave." His eyes stared above their heads, seeing things they could not, and thinking things they couldn't imagine. Raye moved Jason through the door, then stooped to hug the small child good-bye.

"Don't touch her."

Raye froze, and then shot up.

"She is my daughter too, don't you dare try to take her away from me!"

Darien finally looked at her, and Raye shrank back from the rage that smoldered in his eyes.

"Do not touch her. Do not talk to her. Just. Leave." Raye looked down at her daughter, who edged further back behind her father, eyes glistening with tears. Raye stifled a sob, and ran out into the hall. Jason took her hand, and they jogged down the hallway and around a corner. Once they were out of sight, Darien slowly shut the door, then sunk down to the floor with his arms around his head and began to sob. His daughter slid next to him and was pulled in, cradled in his arms, their tears mixing together.

The next morning, breakfast was a quiet affair. Darien decided that Saturday morning cartoons would be a little inappropriate, so breakfast was eaten in silence. His daughter glanced at him in between bites of cereal, searching for the broken man she had seen the night before in this soundless shell of a man. Prominent bags lay under his eyes, and he moved slowly, as if he were an old man. She had snuck into his room the night before, only to find him staring up at the ceiling, hand absent-mindedly stroking the sheets where her mother would have lain. She closed the door very quietly, and had tiptoed back to her own room. Though she still wasn't sure what had happened, what her mother had done must have been pretty bad, and she had a feeling that nothing would ever be the same again.

First chapter done!

Please review and tell me if I should continue it. It is my first story and I'd like to hear from you guys whether it is even worth it to post the rest

Many thanks, hope to hear from some of you soon!