Darien forcefully rubbed his neck and shoulders and leaned his head left, right, forward and back. He pressed harder and harder in a circular motion. Then he moved switched arms and did the same thing on the other wide while still moving his around. He could feel the knots. Nobody could ever take out the knots in his neck like Serena could. He remembered when he was finishing his probation period at work, she would massage his shoulders and then his temples. He never had to ask, they could just be sitting there and she would just start. Her tiny hands were some how able to push on all the right spots with just the most perfect amount of pressure. What he would give just to have her sitting behind him on a random day massaging his shoulder right now. He sighed.
"So what time did you get home last night Darien?"
"I already told you Malachite I don't know."
"You know as our king we need to know what is going on and where you are." Malachite explained.
"I know. And I told you I went to see you her. See how she was doing." He picked up his white coffee cup and brought it up to his lips and took a small sip.
"Did you speak to her?"
"I already told you no!" Darien slammed his fists down on the table. The cup of coffee rattled, spilling some of the black coffee over the rim.
"Look Darien, you are our king, but she is also our queen. We need to make sur-"
"That what Malachite?" Darien folded his hands in front of him as he interrupted him. "That I didn't upset her? Why would I do that? And how would I even do that? I don't even know what I did. She left without a word."
"For god sake Darien, you didn't know she finished school!"
"Correction she didn't tell me she finished. That is on her. If she was so unhappy she should have talked to me tha-"
"Darien, we all know the person Serena is. She hates conflict and she always puts people's needs above her own, that is what makes her such a great queen and a great mother. So if she didn't say anything did she change any of her behavior?"
Darien picked up his cup again and took another sip. He gently put the cup down then ran his hands through his hair. He threw his head back. Bits and pieces of his memory came rushing through his mind.
"She used to make me dinner every night, and have it waiting for me."
"Did she suddenly stop?" Malachite asked.
"Well no." He thought. "I guess it started with her saying she was not sure if I was going to eat the food so she waited for me, then would go to bed once I said no. Then eventually..." He just shrugged, looked out the window. It was more than that. She stopped asking him to go out with the group, granted he never had time to go. She used to make sure she was home before he was home to hear about his day. Over time he started coming home to an empty condo, or a sleeping Serena. He started to nibble on his thumb nail.
"Darien stop biting your nails."
"What? I have been a terrible boyfriend/ fiancé. I have nothing left to say." He stopped biting his nail and threw his hands between his legs. "I need to get the check."
Malachite checked the time on his watch. "You're right Serena should be done with per procedure."
Darien's eyes widened. "That was today?!"
Malachite crossed his arms. Squared up his shoulders.
"Hey to be fair it is not like she told me anything." He threw money on the table.
"Are you going to wait for the change?"
"Forget the damn change I need to go check on Serena." He scooted out of his seat and headed out the door.
Raye creeped into Serena's room. She tiptoed to the side of her bed and slowly sat down. "Serena... " She whispered. Nothing. She laid motionless with a pillow over her head. "Serena..." She whispered again. This time she started rubbing her back. "Serena, you need to wake up and take your medication before the cramping kicks in." She rubbed her back again this time adding a little shake at the end. "Come on."
Serena groaned.
"Come on I have your medicine." Raye scooted so Serena could turn over on her back. She watched as Serena let out a deep sigh. Her eyes fluttered open. And her arms ran across them. "Scoot up so you can take your med."
Serena took and deep breath, held it and pushed herself up as far as she could. "This hurts so bad." She said weakly.
"I can only imagine." She handed Serena the medication and a cup of water.
Serena threw the medication in her mouth and took a gulp of water. She then looked out the window.
"He's been calling and texting you know."
Serena shook her head. "Let me guess in between patients?" She lifted her hip to adjust the strain on her back. "Can you grab me the heat pack?"
"Yeah..." She reached over to the table, grabbed the heat pack. Placed it on Serena's stomach, then got up, following the cord to plug it in. "Do you need me to get you anything?"
Serena just shook her head. Raye gently sat at the edge of Serena's bed. She licked her lips. "What do you want us to tell him?"
Serena looked at Raye. Scoffed. "Nothing!"
Raye's shoulders slumped. "If he orders us to do so..."
"He is not your king yet." Serena crossed her arms over her chest.
"He is as much my king as you are my queen. It is my duty to serve both of you" She smiled. "Even if you both drive me insane."
"More him than, me?"
"Sometimes." She rested her hand on her Serena's shin. "I know you're hurting, but you need to tell him. She is his daughter too."
Serena tightened her crossed arms.
"Don't pout." Raye teasingly scolded.
"Just tell him I didn't die."
"You're so frustrating." She shook her head. " What if he wants details."
"You know he won't. He is so busy, he will probably miss your call." Serena scoffed causing a sharp pain in her stomach that traveled towards her chest. She took in a breath. "Tell him the nurse will call him with numbers." She pulled her blanket up. "I am tired. I am going back to sleep."
"Serena...that won't enough for him."
"That is all he will get." She pulled the covers over her head and shooed Raye away with her hand.
"Whatever you wish your majesty." She got up. Opened the door creeped out. She gently shut it behind her.
"How is she? Can I go in?" Darien eagerly whispered.
"I am sorry Darien. She went back to bed." Raye shrugged her shoulder and walked down the hall.
"If she is asleep, I will just peak in on her and she won't even know. I will be in and out." Darien reached for the door.
"No!" Raye snapped. "She is not feeling well. She is hurting, both physically and emotionally right now." She saw as Darien's face sank. "Let her hormones normalize, then maybe it will less likely end up in a screaming match."
He sighed.
"Come back tomorrow." Raye explained. "Her body has been through a lot."
Darien looked at the door. She was inches from him. He should be there with her. He should have been there with her from start to finish. Holding her hand. In general.