Chapter Three: Adjustments
Darien saw hide nor hair of Serena the next few days, inside or outside of her building. She was most likely trying not to be anywhere near him, trying to hole up in her room. What was she doing in Japan? Did she finally wake up and leave the bastard, or did he break her heart? Darien was over his mantra of a curse that Serena would feel as much pain as he did when she left. It wasn't right that anyone feel that kind of pain; especially Serena.
She was so naïve; and he loved her innocence. That was what attracted him to her. He thought that he could protect Serena from the world and all of its evil. Instead, he had pushed her into the cruel world without even a goodbye and turned his back on her. He had lost the only woman he had ever loved, and continued to love with all of his mixed up heart.
Well, he would find out as much as he could and then determine whether or not he should even speak to her. That's why he was having lunch with Lita. When, suddenly, Andrew came up behind him and whacked him on the head.
"What the hell is your problem, Andrew," Darien said, his blue eyes glaring as he whipped around to face his attacker.
"Shouldn't you be begging Serena's forgiveness by now? She's been back for almost a month now, and you're sitting around here."
"What do you propose that I do? Waltz up to her room, pound on the door, and then hop in the sack with her?"
"No, you can't do that," Lita said, not really thinking.
"Of course not. I'm not a complete idiot. Geez. Besides, I can tell you for a fact that she does not want to see me. And anyway, where's that husband of hers? I haven't seen him yet," he asked, trying to be nonchalant, but obviously failing miserably.
"Well, you wouldn't, would you. She murdered him back in the States, and she's a fugitive."
"Will you shut up and tell me what happened, Andrew?"
"Can't. My first order was to shut up," he said, being stubborn.
"You are such a pill, Andrew," Lita said, exasperated. "I'll tell you, Darien. It's simple, really. Ray didn't want kids, and Serena didn't know that before they were married. She found out somehow, though, and she left him. She's getting her marriage annulled, and sticking around here. I thought I'd get her a cat. What do you think, Andrew?"
"Good idea."
Darien was a bit shocked at their laid-back attitude about the whole thing. So, that worthless bum got what he deserved. More importantly, Serena would be free in several weeks. Then he could show her how much he had changed, and prove to her that he was worth her love. He was more than ready to start over.
Serena woke up from her late afternoon nap just in time to get dinner started. She was ravenous after having only eaten a decent breakfast and four sandwiches for lunch. First she was going to check the mail to see if the papers had come yet. She hadn't even set one foot out of the door when her imagination got the better of her. There was a bundle of flowers at her door; no note. Serena became frantic, and ran to the phone. It took three rings, but Amy finally picked up her cell phone.
"Amy, Amy, I'm freaking out! Ray isn't in town, or anything, is he?"
"No, not that I know of. Why? What's wrong? You sound out of breath."
"Someone left a bunch of flowers outside my door, and there was no note. I didn't leave Ray a note! He's not leaving me one either! I should get police protection! Yes. Yes, that's what I'll do. They can arrest him for stalking." Ray hadn't shown any signs of violence with Serena, but something in his eyes seemed to say that he was perfectly capable of committing a violent crime.
"Serena, calm down. You're letting your imagination run away with you. You've jumped to too many conclusions. Greg would have let me know if Ray had come in through any of the airlines, even the private ones. I'll bet it was just Chad. He has really become more absent-minded as this year goes on. He's probably just leaving you a welcoming gift." Amy let her following pause sink in. "Or, it could be Darien, you know."
"What? It can't have been him. He sounded absolutely livid when I bumped into him the other night. Someone should tell him to iron his shirts, too."
Amy laughed out loud. None of the staff at the hospital could convince him that an iron was an essential piece of equipment. "Look, if you have any heart in you, just use the flowers to lighten up your house. They'll make you feel better."
They did anything but. They made her more agitated than ever before. What if Darien really had sent them? Was he trying to apologize? He was so stubborn and prideful the last time they had spoken; well, argued was more like it… Could he have changed?
She didn't have much time over the next few days to think about it, however. She was too busy house-training her new kitten that Lita had bought for her. It was a little black kitten that she had named Luna in honor of her beloved cat from childhood. The kitten was the most adorable creature she had ever laid eyes on. It would curl up in her lap while she was watching a program, and it would sleep on her pillow next to her ear. The gentle purring would put Serena to sleep.
Her nights were lonely, however, despite the new friendship. She longed for someone that she could talk to about anything without being laughed at or looked down upon. Her mind was full of things to discuss and no one to discuss them with. Sometimes she would cry just for the release, and at other times, just because she couldn't stand the pressure bearing down upon her every second of her measly existence. Everything seemed to be crashing down upon her, and there was nothing she could do about it. Her fragile state seemed to annoy people rather then help her endear herself, so she tried to stay at home as much as possible.
Things began to change one night, and her emotions left her more out of her mind than the rest of her troubles did.
Serena decided to go up to the roof of the apartment building and see if anything looked or felt different from up there. Sometimes a change of scenery did wonders for the soul. She had only been up there for about fifteen minutes when Darien showed up. He didn't seem to recognize her for a moment, and then tried to go back down the stairs.
"You don't have to go, Darien. I-I was just about to leave," she lied.
"I suppose we could act like mature adults and both stay," he said tonelessly, and said no other word. For about ten minutes. "Are you feeling alright?"
Serena was sitting up against the corner of the wall and staring off into space. "Fine."
"So…," he sighed. "So, you're back. For good?"
"I think so."
"I heard about everything from Lita."
So, he knows I'm pregnant, almost unmarried, and alone. Great, just great. At least he seems to be taking it all well. "Yeah."
"Look, if you don't want to talk about it, just say so. Frankly, I-I'm just about to burst with questions."
"You never did have any problem with honesty. At least, as long as it wasn't your deep, dark secrets."
"And you-" he stopped himself. Maybe they shouldn't bring up their past. She was starting over again, and that seemed hard enough. "Are you going to be teaching?"
"Yes. I'll start substituting in March," she said, getting up. She wasn't feeling well, and this conversation was making her nervous. The heat was starting to make her dizzy, and her mind was already buzzing from the tension of the situation.
"Are you sure you're alright? You're looking a bit green," he said, now a bit more concerned. Serena never used to hide the fact that she was not feeling well, especially if it would get her out of class.
"I-My stomach is a bit upset. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go have a good cry."
"…What?"
"I've been having some really good, cathartic crying sessions lately, so…," she trailed off, eager to let the subject lie. "Goodnight, Darien," she said, hastily, and walked down the steps to the elevator. The elevator was having a problem it seemed, and so, Serena, reluctantly took the stairs. This was a bad thing to do with her seemingly ever-expanding belly, however, and eventually, she gave up. She was out of breath by the third flight, and was forced to wait for someone to come help her. She sat down and had her cry, but it was most unexpected. She felt so weak and helpless. She couldn't even walk down some measly stairs without needing help. Unfortunately for Serena, the only person to come down the stairs was Darien. He happened upon her at her most painful sob, and sat down along side her.
"I said that you didn't look alright. What's wrong?"
Serena tried to dry her face, but the tears kept coming. "I need some help getting downstairs."
"Are you well? You're going to have to tell me what's wrong. Or else I'll have to take you to a doctor on shift."
He has no eyes. They must not have told him. "I'm pregnant, Darien. Almost six months in," she said, standing up and taking his arm.
"What?"
"Do you not have ears as well as eyes? I'm almost six months pregnant. What did you think this was, a beer belly?"
"I-I wasn't looking at your belly," he said, feeling like he wanted to collapse. "A-Are you really pregnant?"
"I wouldn't fake this, Darien. Not for the world."
It took them twenty minutes to reach Serena's apartment, and another five minutes to find her key in her over-stuffed purse.
"Will you stay and have some hot-chocolate with me?"
"Can I be honest," he blurted out after they had settled down on the couch.
"Please do."
"I think Ray is the biggest bastard I have ever had the misfortune to meet."
"Would you really like to tell me how you feel," she asked, and smiled slightly. "I knew you felt that way before I got married."
"Well, now I have proof," he said, a bit too triumphantly.
"If you've come here to gloat, you can just scamper off to your room, because I don't want to hear it," she said, her temper flaring up.
"I didn't mean to gloat. I just meant that I'm glad he lost something that was so precious to someone else…Mainly me. He got what he deserved."
"And so did I? You're not really making me feel any better, Darien," she said, putting her mug down on the coffee table and folding her arms across her chest.
"I don't want to hurt you, Serena. Maybe it's best if I do leave," he said, getting up. Things were not going as well as he had planned. But then, you couldn't ever expect them to; not when you were with Serena.
"Y-You," she said, and dropped her head.
"What?"
"Never mind. Goodnight, Darien," she said coolly.
"Goodnight, Serena," he said, taking her outstretched hand.
I finished crying in the instant that you left, and I can't remember when or where or how. And I banished every memory that you and I had ever made.
Author's Notes: Tell me how you like it! I've got writers block after the next chapter (which I'm still editing), so give me feedback. I hope you all enjoy this one! Good luck and God bless!