"Look what the cat dragged." Mina said cheerily pouring herself a glass wine in the kitchen.
Serena just let out a light chuckle. "Hello Mina." She hung up her purse and removed her shoes.
"Would you like a glass of wine?" She offered. "It is a new one that Lita recommended, it's kinda like a rose but a little darker."
"Yes, please." Serena said walking over to the kitchen.
"I am surprised you're back this early. Normally I hear you coming in way later than this." Mina handed her scooting a coaster to her spot then gently placing her glass of wine on top of it.
"I am sorry I tried to be quiet."
"Or you were avoiding me." Mina took and sip and shrugged her shoulders.
"Oh shut up."
Mina cleared her throat and looked at the coaster on the counter. "So...wanna tell me why you haven't spent the night in your new home?"
Serena tilted her head and rolled her eyes.
"Don't roll your eyes at me. You drive home late, and you wake up early. Spending the night would help you so much." Mina tried to explain. "I am not telling you to move in, Sere, but on night you are late..."
"All my stuff is here." Serena argued.
"Darien would buy you the whole department store and drug store if that would get you to stay the night."
"Shut up." Serena just shook her head.
"You know I am right. He bought you this beautiful house, and I know you want to stay the night. I can see it all over your face you thought about it. Has he asked you to stay the night?"
Serena just scratched her forehead and her face blushed.
"He has! And you said no? Come on Serena, you wanted him to be open with his feelings, you wanted him to want you and here he is."
"I did not have my stuff!" Serena shouted defensively, trying not to smile.
"That is a lame excuse and you know it!"
"It's the truth!"
"Serena you are being ridiculous. That place is going to be your home. Move some things in there."
"Are you kicking me out?" Serena teased.
"Absolutely not! I would never." Mina put her hand on her hips. "I cannot believe you would even think about that Serena. You know my duty is to you above all else, so if you want to stay here then you will stay here."
"Look I know Malachite has a beautiful condo with an amazing view, are you trying to get me out so you can move in." Serena started to fish.
"No more wine for you." Mina said as she refilled her own glass.
"You better refill my drink or I will transform and blast your ass." Serena squared up still smiling.
"You wouldn't dare." Mina grabbed her glass and filled it to the top and tossed the left over bottle in the recycling.
"Now that I have my wine I won't!"
"But back to you, I am not asking you to move out and I am not even saying move in with him. I am just saying. You are there working on the house late, or doing whatever the hell you guys are doing, why rush or ruin the moment and come here?"
"What room would I even stay in?" Serena finally asked.
Mina's face became straight. She stared at Serena for a second. "Did you really just ask that?"
Serena looked back at her confused. "What? It is a valid question. The house has 5 rooms. There are two beds, one in the master and one in the guest bedroom. Do I sleep in the guest bedroom?"She saw as Mina's face remained unchanged. "What? He and I still haven't slept together, which is fine because he does want to wait until after are married, so I will respect that, but I don't know."
"Do you ever get out of your damn head and just go with the flow." Mina asked.
"No." Serena answered. "I think about everything, and I hate awkward situations, even though I know I am awkward."
Mina ran her hand across her face, "What am I going to do with you..." She let out a groan.
"Be my friend and keep giving me wine." Serena smirked.
"At this point I will just have to hand you the barrel." She shook her head. "Serena, I know the wheels stay turning in that little head of yours, but chill out. Don't overthink and for god sakes keep a bag in your trunk so you can spend the night. He loves you so much, I bet he would be willing to sleep on the floor if it was next to you."
Serena sighed. "I need to go shower, open another bottle, and we will figure this all out."
"Nothing to figure out."
"In my head there are a million 'what ifs' and I am not done talking to you about Mal. So open the bottle. You started this conversation, so you better believe we will finish it." She hopped off the stool, gulped her wine and headed towards the bathroom.
The days after came and went. Serena was so busy with conferences and meetings that she didn't even have time to go the house. She didn't have a chance to see Darien much either. He called her everyday, and when she would tell him she had to take care of stuff for work he would either volunteer for extra hours or just spend some time with the guys. She did miss him, but it was a different missing him. Not the sad one she felt when they were apart and no longer together, but it was more of the counting down the says until she could see him again.
When school was out, she decided she was not going to stay another minute. She packed her student's papers and skipped out. She could not wait to be at the house. She loved being in that house, it was becoming more and more like the house she always wanted to raise a family in.
She didn't text Darien or call him. She originally told him that she was going to stay late to finish grading, so she didn't want to bother him and cause him to feel rushed to come home. When she pulled up to the house she noted the lights were on. She smiled to herself and headed in.
When she entered the door she could hear a familiar voice speaking with Darien. She headed to the kitchen, where she saw Darien in the kitchen cooking and Ma sitting on the couch in the livign room that connected to it.
"Ma!" Serena said with a huge smile and opened arms for a hug.
Ma stood up and turned around, and Serena's heart skipped a beat.
"Danny! Oh my god!" Her eyes started to tear up. Her steps became faster and before she knew it she was a step away from Ma, grabbing Danny into her arms.
"I am here too..." A deep voice said from behind her.
She didn't answer. She just held Danny in her arms, resting her face on his head, bouncing him. "Oh my sweet boy..." She whispered. "Oh my sweet boy."
"He really missed you..." Ma said interrupting her moment.
Serena sniffed her tears back. "When did you get here, and how is he here with you? Nobody adopted him?"
"Sere, why don't you give her a chance to answer each question."Darien suggested calmly.
Serena snapped around, holding on to the baby. "Darien you are lucky I am holding or I would hit you right now."
"Okay you two.." Ma interrupted. "When I found out Darien made this purchase, I decided I was going to take some time off to help him around and see this gorgeous home. I hated that stupid condo, to hight." She gave Darien a look. "And Danny has had some potential parents, but they just did not seem to be the ones for him. I asked to take some time off and I requested to bring him with me. Once I got approved. I bought my ticket and here I am."
"Can't believe you didn't let me get your ticket Ma." He cautiously came up behind Serena to rub Danny's head and give her a kiss on the forehead.
"Oh hush boy, you just bought this house. Save your money for other things." She waved her hand like it was no big deal.
Darien just rolled his eyes and watched Serena with the baby. He could see the feeling of peace written all over it.
"Sweetheart do you need help in the kitchen, you both had long days and I don't mind cooking."
"It's okay Ma, I am just waiting for the water to boil." He rans his hand down Serena's back. He noticed she starting humming to him.
Once dinner was ready Darien set the table and Ma sat down across from him.
"Sere you need sit down and eat."
"I know I will...I just missed holding him." She explained.
"Honey you will have all weekend I promise." Ma saw as her eyes lit up. "You can hold him as much as you want. Please have a seat and sit with us. I miss being around you too you know." She said trying to guilt her to sit down. It worked. She put Danny down in his bouncer and took her seat next to Darien.
"I can't believe he still hasn't been adopted." Serena said putting her napkin on her lap.
"It is a long process and honestly, none of the other parent were right for him." Ma explained. "He is very special."
Serena nodded as she took a bit of her food. "Thanks for making dinner. "She turned to Darien.
"It's no big deal. If I would have known you would be off early, I would have started cooking sooner.
"I didn't mind the wait, especially getting to hold him." She smiled. "How are the other kids Ma?"
"They are all doing so well. Darien donated a new play set, so they are just loving that."
"You did?" Serena asked proudly.
Darien just nodded.
"We have to go back and see the place again." Serena said looking at Darien.
The fact that Serena said "we" made brought a huge smile to his smile to his face. All he could do was nod.
Once everyone was done. Darien cleaned everything up. He kept looking at the clock. He tried to finish as quick as possible, to spend more time with Serena before it got to late and she would leave. The idea of her leaving killed his mood. He wanted her to stay so bad. The sound of her laughing with Ma, and making baby noises, made his whole life feel complete. He was just about done, when Serena walked in with her empt glass.
"You can just leave it here, I will leave it in the dishwasher."
Serena did as instructed.
"Are you leaving now...? You have your keys."
"Oh," She shook her head and looked down at her keys. "No, I am going to grab my bag from the car, I wanted to shower."
"Bag?" He thought he knew what he heard but he wanted to make sure.
She just nodded.
"Do you need help?" He washed his hands to remove all the soap.
"No, it's small. A few things for the weekend, i was really tried getting up and figured I would be too tired to drive home, and then come back tomorrow. It was just easier in my head. If that's okay?"
Not caring that his hands were still wet, he grabbed her face and gave deep kiss. She kissed him back, hand still hanging at her side as it held her keys.
"I will have an issue with you spending the night here. I will go get your bag." He whispered. She didn't argue just put her keys in his hand, and kissed him back.