What about love?
Chapter 3
Three hours and a cup of coffee later, Serena sat in the waiting
room with Darien. Andrew would have been there, but he had no one to
look after the diner. The two sat together and Serena gripped Darien's
hand.
She couldn't stop thinking about the offer Darien had made in the
car. It would be the answer to all her prayers. Especially after Brad
attack today. Her son had to go into to surgery, which is a lot of
extra money.
And she just didn't have it. Not even a bit of it.
Serena shook her self mentally. She really couldn't believe she was
considering taking Darien up on this. She always vowed not to be
someones charity case, whether or not he was her best friend. If only
the circumstances were different. If only she wasn't in so much debt.
She would take the money. But she knew that once she had a taste of
wealth she would hate losing it.
And she couldn't rely on Darien forever. But...the money...
"Serena?" Darien brushed a piece of hair from his eyes and stared at her. "You okay?"
"Yea...fine as I can be knowing my son is in surgery." She said
sarcastically, then felt bad. "Sorry." she said with a sigh. "This is
just really depressing. I don't mean to take it out on you." Darien
squeezed her hand.
"It's fine. Do these kind of attacks happen often with Brad?" Darien asked cautiously.
"No. He was just really excited and I didn't think tot ell him to
calm down. But he must have gotten really happy about something. And
his nerves took over and he collapsed in a seizure." Serena bowed her
head and let the tears slip from her eyes.
Darien pulled her as close as possible, with the arm rest between them, letting her cry on his shoulder.
"I want to tell you every thing will be okay. But I don't want to
lie to you..." Darien whispered wiping a few of her tears. She smiled
sadly.
"Thanks for wanting to make me feel better."
"Serena, I would give the world for you to feel better."
"You mean that?"
"Of course. I mean your my-" He was cut off by the sound of the
doctor's boots on the floor. Both Serena and Darien stood, clinging to
each other.
"It's okay you all. Brad has once again made it through a success
full surgery." The doctor smiled happily. Serena smiled and sighed in
relief.
"Can we go in and see him?" The doctor nodded and walked away. Serena pulled Darien towards Brad's room.
"Serena, you go on in. I will be there in a few. I wanna grab some
coffee." Serena smiled and said okay. Darien watched her disappear into
the room and he turned around and headed down the hallway.
He didn't really want any coffee. He needed to talk to the head nurse about the hospital bill...
He reached the receptionist's desk and smiled at the pretty nurse
sitting at the desk. She was on the telephone and she held up a finger
telling him to hold on a minute.
"Yes...I understand...no...bye." She hung up and smiled at him.
"Sorry about that. My son has finally reached his middle teens and is
driving me nuts." Darien smiled in response. "So...sir, how may I help
you?"
"I wondering if I could pay a hospital bill here?"
"Yes sir."
"Great. I want to pay all bills under the name Cabell, Serena and Cabell, Brad."
"Okay..." She typed on the computer a bit and looked back at him. "What relation are you to these people?"
"Serena's fiancé and Brad's soon to be stepfather."
"That's wonderful. They are very lucky. How will you be paying Mr...?" She paused.
"Shields and credit card." He handed her his card and watched as she typed in his account number and clicked a few more buttons.
"All set, Mr. Shields." She smiled and handed his card back.
Back in Brad's room, Serena sat in the chair next
to him watching him doze. He looked so peaceful and healthy. She hated
having to watch bad things happen to him. When she loved him so much.
It riped her heart out.
A small knock on the door startled her and she jumped, looking up
to see Darien in the door way. He smiled at her and she stood up and
gave him a hug.
"Hey." He said kissing the crown of her head.
"Hey." They hugged for a few more seconds then Serena pulled away.
"Will you stay here with Brad? I need to go and check on something."
Darien agreed to stay and Serena slipped out of the room as Darien took
her former seat.
She walked down the hall to the receptionists desk. She dreaded
hearing all much this bill would be. She already had so much over due
fines and bills that needed to be paid.
The nurse at the desk looked up when she reached it and smiled.
"Ah...Mrs. Cabell. How are you doing today?"
"Eh...Alright I guess..." She wrung her hands. "Say, can you tell
me how much I'm going to owe after this bill? I know I owe a lot...but
I will have it paid soon."
"Oh you silly girl. That handsome fiancé of yours just came and
paid off all your fines. You have nothing to worry about. So go relax
and spend some time with your recovering son and fiancé." The nurse
shooed her away with a smile.
Serena was fumed. Fiancé? Who did he think he was?
When she stormed into Brad's room Darien didn't even try to look confused.
"Why did you do that? That was none of your business. You had no
right to pay my bills. No right to say you are my fiancé. What's with
that anyway? Fiancé..." She then began to pace and mumbled to her self.
"Serena..." She stopped and looked at him. "If you could be quiet for about 2 minutes and stay still I can explain."
With a huff she threw herself into the chair next to him.
"Alright. Explain."
"I said I was your fiancé, because..." He paused as if for dramatic
effect. "I think you should get married." She sprung up form the seat
she had so recently taken.
"What? Married? Us?" She gaped at him in disbelief. He couldn't be serious.
"Just think about it Serena. We get along really well. I enjoy
being around you and Brad is one of my favorite people. If we got
married you couldn't say I was trying to throw charity on you and I
could support you without you needing to pay me back."
Darien shrugged when he finished and Serena sunk back into the chair.
"You've thought this over haven't you?" Serena muttered not really
looking for an answer. She was silent for the next few moments. Then
she looked at her son and her view on everything changed.
Everything Darien had mentioned was true. But there was more. With
Darien around, Brad would have a male figure in his life. He would have
a dad. Something Brad's always really wanted. And if Serena could give
Brad the one thing he wants...
"Okay." She whispered quietly. So quietly that Darien barely heard
her. But he heard her enough to have him springing out of his seat.
"You serious?" She nodded and Darien smiled pulling her to her
feet. He hugged her tightly. "You won't regret it Serena. I will make
you happier than ever." Serena laughed and pulled away a little. "Now,
Seal the deal with a kiss" She laughed a little and stood on her tip pe
toes to kiss his cheek, but he turned his head in time and their lips
meet. They kiss was simple and innocent, but sparked a fire that both
of then had thought went out a long time ago.
Boy, where they wrong.
"Momma?" Brad's small voice broke their kiss and Serena and Darien walked over to his bed.
"Hi sweetie." She smiled at him and brushed hair from his forehead.
"I'm feel...ing b-better...momma."
"That's wonderful darling."
"Yea...my leg's do...n't," He swallowed. "...ache as...much." He was looking at Darien this time.
"Wanna know why that is sport?" Darien smiled and squeezed his hand.
"Yea..."
"It's because your stronger than anything out there. And your the bravest kid...heck...your the bravest person I know." Darien said smiling. Brad's eyes lit up and he smiled.
"I am...aw-fully bra-ve...huh? Am...I braver..t-than e...even you?" Darien's eyes got really wide.
"Of course you are. I am big wimp compared to you!" Darien shook
his head in amazement and Brad laughed in disbelief. As the two
bantered on about non-sense Serena watched in awe. Darien had some of
the best patience she'd ever seen someone besides her use with her son.
And he made Brad laugh so much. Serena smiled sadly when Brad laughed
extra hard at something Darien said.
She felt Darien reach over a grab her hand.
"Momma?" Brad asked a few minutes later.
"Yea sweetie?"
"How ka-come you...and..." he swallowed. "Da-re...were ka-ki-sa...kissing earlier?" He asked talking about when he had woken up.
"Um...well, Brad the thing is..." She hesitated looking at Darien who took over for her.
"Brad, your mother and I have decided to got married." Darien said firmly. Brad's eyes got wide.
"Woah...that's c-cool." Brad smiled at them. "So you la-love each...other?"
Darien didn't even glance at Serena as he answered. "No buddy. Not
in the way you mean. I love your mom because she is my best friend."
"Oh." He frowned a little. "Momma...says t-that you should o...only marry...if you la-love the per...per...person."
"That's true, Brad. But your mom and I aren't marrying like normal
people do. We are marrying because we have to. I mean, we still want
to. But our wanting isn't as important." Darien said smiling oddly.
"Ah...that's c-cool I guess."
Both Darien and Brad miss seeing Serena slump in her seat when
Darien had said he didn't love her. It had hit like a punch to the gut,
knocking all her wind from her. She wasn't sure why she was feeling
like she was. But she had a pretty good idea. Because when Brad had
asked if they loved each other.
She had wanted to say that she did. And mean it when she said it.
Yes! And the story begins to progress! They are getting married! I hope to have the next one up soon...yea i know i say that each time.
But motivate me...and review!
Oh...and I don't usually do this...it's to much like begging...
But if any of you read Ginny/Harry fanfictions...
would you all mind reading my story 'And Then His Palms Began to Sweat'?
It's a really cute story...I think...
But thanks if you do!
Lot's of hugs,
Ashley (ChibiMangaAngel)
