Author's Notes: "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" is sung by Celine Dion. I have no clue about any other information that I should be putting in here. I've been waiting for 6 years to put this song into an appropriate story, and it fits best here. The lyrics will be in asterisks. I will be using the better (meaning relevant--the whole song is beautiful) parts of the song throughout the rest of the story. I admit that some of them may be slightly out of order, but for this purpose, they fit better…I've also been listening to a lot of Savage Garden while writing this, so Savage Garden fans know how I feel and what the tone of the story is like. Thanks!

Chapter Two: Reunion

Her day was long and frustrating, and it didn't end until nine thirty in the evening. Serena had to pack all of her belongings into three suitcases and a gym bag; withdraw all of her money from the bank; open a new account; go to a lawyer and a priest, and hand over the evidence; make sure that her parents knew that she was coming home; not to mention buy a plane ticket for the next available flight to Japan, and call her boss and explain the situation. She left no note; only the key, an empty liquor cabinet, and a recipe gone bad on the stove.

The plane trip was just about the most boring one she'd ever had. She was more anxious than anything else. Anxiety turned into fear very quickly, however, when she pictured her friends' faces. What were they going to think? The paperwork would come in soon for her annulment. Then she would be a single mother, without a job until her child was a few months old, and without any help. She just wanted to burst into tears. Her friends would think----what would they think?

And then there was Darien.Darien. When she thought of him her stomach dropped and became a bumpy boulder. There was a lump in her throat, and she couldn't breathe. She was going straight back into the lion's den. She couldn't bear the thought of him knowing what happened. She couldn't count on her friends not telling him, so maybe it was best that she didn't see them again.

There were nights when the wind was so cold that my body froze in bed if I just listened to it right outside the window. There were days when the sun was so cruel, that all the tears turned to dust and I just knew my eyes were drying up forever.

She closed her eyes and the New World disappeared and became Japan; home. Her parents and younger brother, Samuel were waiting for her with outstretched arms and tears in their eyes.

"Oh, Serena, my baby," her mother whispered, as she held Serena and rocked her back and forth in her arms. "Serena. We're so glad you're home."

"Mom. Can we please go home? I have something to tell you, and I'd rather be home when I do. Let me go get my bags."

The ride home was silent, and, even though she hadn't said a word about her leaving Ray, she felt that her parents knew. She hoped that that would make telling them easier. They were the most understanding, patient parents in the world. Please don't let them say 'I told you so,' she prayed. I can handle anything but that…almost anything.

As it turned out, her mother used her womanly and motherly intuition and sensed what the situation was over the phone, so telling her parents that she was getting her marriage annulled did not come as quite a shock. Samuel, however, was looking menacing and cracking his knuckles.

"What are you going to do now," her father asked. He had a look of pure hatred on his face, and she could see that he was trying to restrain his anger for the man that hurt his little girl. "As much as we love you, we can't have you stay here, at least, not permanently," he added quickly.

"I'm going to look for a job with a local college or high school. I'll start looking for an apartment tomorrow."

"Why don't you call Amy? She can catch you up on everything, and maybe help you look for a place to stay."

"I've thought about it for quite some time, mom, and I just don't think that it would be a good idea for me to…reunite with them. They were all so helpful and good to me. I don't think that they would be happy that I'm back."

"Oh, pish posh. They are all wonderful people, and they would want to help you. I'm going to invite Amy over for lunch tomorrow, that way you two can catch up."

As usual, motherly advice is the best kind. Amy arrived at twelve on the dot, and was ecstatic to see Serena.

"I can't believe you're home! Everyone will want to see you as soon as possible, so I'll arrange for us to meet tomorrow at the old arcade. That way, the memories will soak back in in a familiar environment. Oh my goodness, you're pregnant! Why didn't you say something," she demanded, seeming not to lose a breath in her exclamations.

"Can you really tell that easily," Serena asked uneasily. "I thought I had bought the appropriately stretching clothing…"

"I don't think that anyone else will be able to, except maybe Mina. She had a baby boy, Garret, two months ago. And besides, I am a doctor, after all. And besides times two, you have a…look about you, you seem to be glowing."

"That's a miracle. There hasn't been much to glow about recently."

"What do you mean? Is something wrong," Amy asked quickly, jumping up and sitting next to Serena on the couch. They used to have some great truth or dare sessions on that couch during sleep-overs.

"Well." Serena took a deep breath and said clearly, "I left Ray. He never wanted children. And-," she stopped short. Maybe telling the whole truth would be a bit harsh. After all, Ray used to be everyone's friend, and he had even dated Raye while the joke lasted. Serena wanted to hit herself for still thinking that she loved him, but it was true. A part of her knew that she would always love him, or at least love him for the sake of their child. "A-And, well, I really want children," she said, a little embarrassed.

"Of course you do. You were always the mother-type. I'm surprised that you didn't leave long before this."

"I didn't find out until two days ago, otherwise I would have left a long time ago." She sighed and said, "It's going to be rough starting over again. Do you want to come hunt up apartments with me?"

"Well, why don't you come to live in my building? I have an apartment free across the hall, and you can come visit me anytime you want!"

"Even at three in the morning," Serena asked, smiling, remembering a time when she would call Amy about a math problem in the wee hours of the morning before an exam.

"Even at three in the morning. Come over to the apartment building tomorrow and check the place out. Greg used to live in there, so there's some stuff that you won't need to worry about paying for. Like a couch and a bed frame. Then we can get together with everyone else and have lunch."

"Um, Amy, who does 'everyone else' include?"

"I won't invite him if you really don't want me to. If you're not ready, I can hold off on that reunion."

"Thanks, Amy. You-you are a really great friend. Thank you," she said, hugging Amy tightly.

"Well, you are a bit prone to overreactions at this stage, so I'll let that one slide," she said, grinning, "but, you aren't a bad friend yourself. I love you Serena, and I want you to be happy. I'll see you tomorrow. Around ten?"

"Sure. See you tomorrow."

Tomorrow came faster than expected. Some of the things that came along with it were unexpected too. Serena had just looked over the apartment, decided that it was small enough and just about the right price, and signed the lease for the first six months, when who should come sauntering down the hall but Darien. She darted back into the apartment and shut the door, praying that Amy wouldn't tell him that she was there. There was some fervent talking for a few moments, but Serena couldn't hear a word of it over the buzzing in her head and the pounding of her heart.

It's all coming back, it's all coming back to me now. There were moments of gold and there were flashes of light. There were things I'd never do again, but then they'd always seemed right…

"Don't worry, Serena, he still doesn't know you're here," Amy said, opening the door. "I just told him that my newest tenant is very shy. I'll bring some extra shelves over after lunch. I'll also see if I can get you Greg's refrigerator out of storage. The only thing you'll need to get is a mattress."

"Why didn't you tell me that he lived in this building! I can't stay here if he's here! Oh, what am I going to do," she cried, hiding her face in her hands.

"Calm down, Serena. By the time Darien knows you're here, you'll have found a better place to live. He works with me at the hospital and has very irregular hours. He is such a workaholic. He's there during most of the day, and several hours at night, even if it's not his shift. Darien lives four doors down from me. Just breathe, Serena, or I'll have to put you on some medication."

Serena was still in a very agitated state when lunchtime rolled around. Old habits die hard, however, and her rumbling stomach and mind for gossip took over.

Mina and her husband Shawn came in first with their little baby in a stroller. There was some crying. Raye and Lita came in next arguing over a muscular man that had passed them along the way, but they stopped short when they saw Serena. There was a lot of crying. Andrew was scowling behind the counter at Lita, but she didn't seem to care. He gave Serena a hug, and sat down, grumpily, across from Lita in the booth. Lunch was very pleasant and loud. There was a lot of catching up to do. Serena learned that not communicating with your friends for three years can be a painful decision.

Mina and Shawn owned their own home a few blocks from Raye's temple. They had been working for a charity when they met and fell in love at first sight. Mina was attempting to get her volleyball team into the Olympics in two years, but she was having a hard time deciding between her family and career as a PR woman.

Raye continued to work at the Cherry Hill temple and had reluctantly decided to remain single a long time ago. She was on the verge of sending in her demo tape, when Chad, the apprentice, accidentally tripped and knocked it into the fire. Raye's ire didn't last long, however, not when he brought her a dozen lilies and a box of matches.

Lita and Andrew were in an off period, a mood which seemed to float angrily around the room during lunch. Andrew was tired of waiting for Lita to make up her mind and stop staring at every gorgeous guy that passed, but he couldn't help loving her. She was afraid of committing to the best man that she ever had; afraid of making him unhappy, but she refused to tell him how she felt.

Amy was engaged to her long-time sweet-heart, Greg, and they had set the date for the following summer, when life would be a bit more settled. Greg was working temporarily at an airport until a position for computer analyst could open up at the local energy plant. They were currently living in Amy's apartment across the hall from Serena.

"How have you been, Serena," Mina asked. "How's Ray? Where is Ray, for that matter?"

"I," she took a deep breath, "left Ray a few days ago. I'm getting our marriage annulled," she said as everyone gasped. "H-He never wanted children, and I do. I'm almost six months pregnant."

"CONGRATULATIONS," Mina screeched. "Maybe we'll end up being in-laws! That would be SO cool."

Serena forced a smile. Things were turning out better than expected.

"What a slimy ass," Raye said vehemently. "I can't believe he didn't tell you before you got married! I'm going to kill him."

"Don't bother. He'll manage," Serena said, choking up. "I need to get my things and unpack, so, excuse me."

"I'll come help," Andrew said, quickly, anxious to get out of the company of four screeching girls and a lovesick husband.

Serena groaned inwardly. Here was Darien's best friend coming to help her unpack her things, and he didn't know that Darien didn't know that she was here. Damn. "Thanks, Andrew," she said, instead.

He walked her to his car and helped her in. "Where to?"

"My parents' house."

"I'm really glad you're back, Serena," he said, getting in and starting the car.

"Thanks, Andrew. It's nice to be wanted," she said quietly, staring down at her hands.

"Now that you're back, and…in your situation, Da-"

"Will not know I'm here, alright? Please don't tell him that I'm here. I'm begging you. I don't want to have to face him. He'll just gloat."

"Hardly," Andrew said, before he could stop himself.

Andrew became strangely mute to the subject of Darien the rest of the trip, to and from Serena's parents' house. When they got back to Serena's new apartment, Greg and Amy were moving a new set of shelves into the living room.

"Hey, Serena. Welcome home," Greg said, kissing her on the forehead.

"Thanks, Greg," she said, blushing a little.

"He's such a charmer, isn't he," Amy said, smiling. "It seemed to work well on me, though, didn't it? We're just moving your shelves in, and your refrigerator will be in here by tomorrow afternoon."

Serena was all moved in by the next evening, and eating a light dinner on her balcony. She was a busy little bee, and had bought plants to spruce up the ugly white walls. Thanks to Greg and Amy, all she really had to pay for was a mattress, a few light fixtures, a coffee table, a small table for the kitchen, some bedside tables, groceries, and some cleaning supplies. She had received an old television from her parents, her old bed sheets, some towels, cooking utensils, an old telephone, and a family portrait. They had come over to help her move in and to spend some time with her before their trip to her grandfather's home.

"Tell grandpa that I love him, will you? Have a safe trip, and bring back a hug and kiss for me," she said as they said their goodbyes.

A week later Darien showed no sign that he was in the building, so Serena decided to go down to the basement and do some laundry. She sat on top of one of the washing machines reading over her application for a teaching position at an American embassy elementary school, and munching on an apple. It was after eight when the dryer was finished. She shoved her laundry into a basket, deciding that folded laundry was heavier than unfolded, and turned around right into a stunned and rumpled-looking Darien. She dropped her basket and stuttered. It took all of her willpower to leave everything, look away from his piercing blue eyes, and hurry to the elevator. She would ask Amy or Greg to bring her things up to her. Or she could wait until tomorrow to get her things. How could she still feel like a silly, awkward teenager? This was just ridiculous. I'll give him two hours and then I'll go get my stuff. She needn't have bothered, however. Moments later there was a knock on the door.

Darien, looking only slightly less rumpled, stood there holding her basket and stack of papers. His dark hair looked ready to win the prize for the most knotted, and his shirt looked like it had lived in a drawer for about a year, all crumpled up. His face was expressionless. "I won't bother you," he said in an expression similar to that of his face, and handed her her things. Turning away quickly, he strode down the hall and into his apartment.

Serena collapsed onto the floor.

It was that long ago, but it's all coming back to me. It's so hard to resist, and it's all coming back to me. I can barely recall, but it's all coming back to me now.