She shut the door gently and walked downstairs just as Darien put down the
phone.

"Hey," she said, "Guess what, we're going to church tomorrow morning. Looks
like we'll have to wake up at eight again."

Then she noticed Darien's worried expression. "What's wrong?"

"That was the hospital," he said quietly, "Mrs. Muriel isn't recovering as
well as they had hoped. She... may not make it."

"What?" Serena whispered.

"The doctor asked us to go see her tomorrow," Darien said gravely, "It may
be the last time."


I Need You
by Phantasy Star
- - - - -

Chapter Four


"Okay, have fun at Sunday school," Serena said as the girls piled out of
Darien's car.

"We'll pick you up at one," Darien reminded them.

"'Bye bye Serena! 'Bye bye Dar Dar!" the children chorused.

Serena took a deep breath as she and Darien drove out of the parking lot.

"Are you sure we made the right decision?" Serena asked.

Darien sighed. "I'm afraid the girls aren't ready for it. They've already
lost their parents. I don't want to see them lose their Grandma too."

Serena frowned. "Still, if they get the chance, shouldn't they say goodbye?"

Darien stared at the road ahead of them and didn't answer. Soon, they pulled
into the visitors parking lot at the hospital.

- - -

"Mrs. Muriel," Serena said as they went into her room. She was lying in bed,
with a white sheet with flower patterns covering her. Her eyes looked tired
and she seemed thinner than before. Serena went quickly to her side.

"Hi dear," the old woman said with a gentle smile, "How are they?"

"They're just fine," Darien reassured her as he set down the soup they had
brought, "Amy won the Math contest."

Mrs. Muriel chuckled, "I knew she would. Are they at church?"

"Yes," Serena said, then added hesitantly, "Mrs. Muriel... Do you want to see
them?"

"I..." the old woman said gravely, "I do. But I don't want them to know... to
know that..."

"I know," Darien said quietly, "Don't worry about it."

"And... don't tell them," Mrs. Muriel said, "Not until they're older."

"Mrs. Muriel," Serena said, "Don't say things like this. You're going to be
fine."

The old lady's eyes smiled, "I know when my time is coming, dear. And I've
lived a wonderful life. I've had many days to spend alone with my husband,
but I never thought I'd have the chance to take care of beautiful children.
God gave me that chance though, and I wouldn't trade any of it for the world."

Serena took Mrs. Muriel's hand and looked at Darien, the two of them sharing
a smile.

"Mrs. Muriel!" Darien said suddenly, when Mrs. Muriel closed her eyes. Then
he turned to the doorway. "Doctors!"

- - -

"She'll be fine for now," the doctor told them, "I don't know how long she'll
be able to hang on though."

"Thanks..." Darien said, staring at the door to the old woman's room.

Serena shook her head mutely, "It doesn't sound like there's much chance of
her recovering..."

"I know..." Darien said, "We can only hope. Let's go pick up the girls now."

- - -

Two days later...

"All right, kids," the teacher said, "It's lunch time. Everybody go to the
field."

The children cheered and scampered outside.

"Hi Li Li," a classmate came up and greeted her.

"Hi Carmen," Lita said quietly.

"What are you having for lunch?" Carmen asked.

"Meatballs," Lita answered, "Serena made them for me."

"Why doesn't your Mommy make them for you?" the other girl asked.

"Cuz she's not here," Lita grumbled.

"Well, where is she?"

"I... I don't know," Lita shrugged and turned away.

"So you have no Mommy," Carmen said sadly, "That's too bad. Because my Mommy
loves me very much."

"Shut up!" Lita cried and knocked the lunchbox out of the other girl's hands.

"Hey! You broke it!"

The girl pushed at Lita angrily and Lita shoved her back.

"Li Li, Carmen!" the teacher shouted as she rushed over, "Come inside this
instant!"

- - -

"Li Li, what's wrong?" Serena asked as Darien and the girls came home from
school. She looked at Darien, who shrugged helplessly.

"She's been quiet since I picked her up," he explained, "Come on, Li Li, tell
us why you've been crying."

Just then, the telephone rang.

"I'll get it," Serena volunteered.

"Hi, this is Miss Leung, Lita's teacher," the voice on the other end said,
"Is Mrs. Muriel there?"

"No... No she isn't..." Serena said, "Can I help you?"

"Are you one of Li Li's guardians?"

"I guess so..."

"well, I just wanted to let you know that Lita was caught fighting today at
school. Another girl said something to upset her, and Lita broke her
lunchbox. I don't know what the issue is. Neither of them would talk
about it."

"I'll talk to her then..." Serena said worriedly.

"All right, thank you. Lita's a good girl. I hope you'll work things out
for her."

- - -

Serena took a deep breath and pushed the bedroom door open gently. She found
Lita inside, hugging her Wonder Woman doll and staring at the floor.

"Li Li..." Serena said softly, "That was Miss Leung. She told me you had a
little trouble at school today."

"I don't want to talk about it," the six-year-old said without looking at Serena.

Serena sat down on Lita's bed and put an arm around her, "You can tell me
anything. You know that."

Lita looked up at her hesitantly. "You won't tell anybody? Not even Dar Dar?"

"Dar Dar?" Serena exclaimed, "Why, I wouldn't tell him anything unless I
absolutely have to. It'd just be something else he could use against me."

Seeing Lita's confused expression, she blushed, "Anyway... What is it, Li Li?"

Lita looked at the floor, "I... I don't have a Mommy. That Carmen says her
Mommy loves her a lot... and... and... I'll never get to be loved by my Mommy!
I don't even remember her!"

Tears flowed freely now. Serena held Lita tighter. "Sh, it's okay. Your
Mommy may not be here, but you have so many people who love you around. I'm
here, your sisters are here, and Dar Dar's here. He may be a big jerk, but
he's very dependable and nice, at least to you guys..."

Lita sobbed into Serena's shirt, gripping the older girl tightly, "But I don't
even miss her. I'm such a bad girl!"

Serena patted Lita on the head, "Of course you aren't. You'll always have your
Mommy in your heart."

"What's that mean?"

"That means..." Serena explained slowly, "Even though your Mommy isn't here,
you still love her a lot, deep inside. And wherever she is, I'm sure she loves
you too."

Lita started to smile a little. "Really? So it's not my fault I don't
remember her?"

"Not at all. You'll always remember..." Serena said softly and pointed at
Lita's chest, "In there."

The two of them sat there for a while, Lita's sobs finally residing.

Then she tugged on Serena's sleeve, "Serena... Will you be my Mommy... I
mean, for now?"

Serena looked surprised. Then she held Lita's hand. "Of course I will. I'll
always be here for you."

Neither of them noticed Darien watching from outside, his eyes growing soft at
the scene in front of him.

- - -

"So, Prince Charming took Cinderella back to the palace and the two of them
were married the very next day. And they lived happily ever after."

Serena smiled and put the book down, then noticed Mina snoring softly. She
flipped the night light off and walked out of the room.

"Darien," a girl's voice pleaded downstairs, "Please, just one last time."

Serena's eyes widened in surprise as she leaned over the staircase and peeked
at the open front door.

"Elisa," Darien was saying, "I already told you, it's over between us."

Serena blinked. Whoa, an ex-girlfriend.

"You promised you'd go to this dance with me!" the pretty brunette said
angrily.

"That was when we were still together," Darien said, exasperated, "I'm sorry,
but..."

"Come on, Darien!" the girl cried as she put her arms around him, "You
promised me..."

Darien took hold of her thin wrists and pulled her away from him, "I... I..."

Serena, watching this whole scene with fascination, accidentally slipped and
hit her hand on the railing.

The two looked up at her, and she laughed in embarrassment, "Sorry 'bout that!
I wasn't spying on you or anything. Just didn't want to disturb your... um,
conversation."

Elisa glared at her a little, while Darien sighed.

"All right..." he said as Elisa's face brightened, "Just tonight."

"Really?" she whispered.

"Yes..." Darien said, giving her a half smile, "I'll go change..."

He walked out of the living room, and Serena came down the stairs.

"Hi," she offered a smile, "Elisa, is it?"

"Yeah, and you're?" the other girl said disdainfully.

"Serena."

"Oh," she said, raising her dark brows at the blonde, "Darien's mine, by
the way."

"Um..." Serena said, surprised, "Okay... I thought I just heard him say you
guys broke up..."

"That doesn't matter!" Elisa snapped, "I'll get him back! And you'd better
back off - he's off limits!"

Serena burst out laughing, "Ha! Me, liking Darien? Seriously, I don't see
why anyone could like him, but to each her own, I guess."

Before Elisa could answer, Darien came into the room with a full suit on, a
navy jacket over a classy white shirt, complete with a dark tie and dress shoes.

Elisa smiled and blushed a little, "Let's go."

"Oh, I forgot to check with you," Darien apologized as he turned to Serena and
fixed his tie, "You don't mind me going off tonight, do you?"

Serena rolled her eyes, "Whatever, I'm not your mother, okay?"

Darien smiled, "All right, I'm off then, Meatball Head."

He escorted Elisa out to his car, leaving behind a fuming Serena.

"Although if I WERE your mother," she called after him, "I'd tell you to be a
little more polite and stop CALLING PEOPLE NAMES!"

Darien laughed and gave her a backwards wave.

Serena glared after him.

"Jerk."


- Author's Notes:

Don't we all hate pushy girls?
Yeah, not a lot happening between Serena and Darien in this chapter.
Things will start up soon, I promise :) Thanks for reading!

Phantasy Star