A/N: Sorry for the long delay everyone I have had major writers block on what to do with the story. I am sorry but I hope you enjoy the update.
Friday seemed to roll around too slowly for Serena, she was oddly not nervous about her date or really that excited it felt like a hangout with a friend not a potential boyfriend. But regardless she felt this way with Andrew she never had that butterfly feeling with men usually, well with the exception of Darien but that was then and now she had a date with Seiya. Her friends just said she was overly confident which she didn't really believe she was she had her troubles too with herself like everyone just most boys didn't faze her.
Serena went on about her day and entered into her math class and was met with a smiling Seiya.
"Hey Serena," Seiya smiled standing in front of her.
"Hey Seiya," She smiled placing her book bag on top of her desk.
"So we hadn't really discussed where you wanted me to take you tonight," Seiya said fiddling with his thumbs suddenly.
Serena raised her brow at the noted unusualness that Seiya was acting currently. He was usually very goofy and cocky but now he was almost shy.
"Well I am up for anywhere, I love food and just hanging out," Serena smiled brightly trying to reassure him to not be nervous.
"Well then I have an idea," Seiya smiled again as the bell rang indicating for the students to take their seats for class to begin.
"What's your idea?" Serena whispered as Seiya took his seat.
"Let's see a movie there is this cool movie and dine place, I'll pick you up at six," He smiled and opened up his notebook and began to work on the classwork up on the board.
Serena shrugged and began to work on the classwork as well while her day continued to drag on.
Darien sat in his work office rubbing his temples in efforts to slow down his rushing thoughts. The dreaded day had come and much too soon to his dismay. He couldn't admit it out loud anymore due to circumstances but he wanted Serena to himself. He was going to have to watch her leave from his house on some date with a delinquent. He was protective of her but due to situational issues he was unsure how to act around her now. Which brought out the taunting, which was more than likely to cause the young blonde to drift further from him, and whether Darien would admit or not was probably was for his own good. Since she announced she had a date Darien had dreaded this Friday to come. Come to think of it too it had been a week since Beryl had left and yet he had never heard from her. Not that he cared he almost found it hilarious that he had no clue where his wife was or what she was doing or if she was even coming home. He almost prayed she left for good but then the thought of Hotaru entered his mind and he wanted his daughter to have her mother regardless of how much of a bitch the woman was.
"Mr. Shields," A dark haired woman interrupted his thoughts.
"Yes Setsuna?" Darien smiled up at the woman.
"You have a call," Setsuna smiled back at the man with a twinkle in her eyes when she looked at him.
The olive toned skinned woman was another one of Darien's many mistresses. He always kept his rule of only once with each woman because then it wasn't cheating to him but if he ever broke that rule Setsuna would be one woman he would consider seeing again and again. Primarily just for the sex he didn't feel a real connection with her like she did for him plus it would be highly inappropriate to have a real relationship with his secretary, sleeping with her he would allow although.
"Thank you," Darien said finally after he pondered about her.
"Hello this is Mr. Shields," Darien answered the phone.
The school day had finally ended and Serena let out a sigh of relief happy to know it was finally the weekend. Serena began to make her way over to the daycare to pick up Hotaru and then head back to Hotaru's home.
Once inside the now familiar home both girls took their shoes off and made their way toward the living room.
"Hey Hotaru do you want a snack?" Serena asked walking into the kitchen.
"I want noodles and butter!" Hotaru smiled delightfully.
"Well you're going to have dinner later about something a bit more small? How about some grapes?" Serena suggested.
"Alright," Hotaru shrugged.
Serena smiled satisfied she got the girl to agree to some fruits and began to wash off some grapes in a bowl for her.
She felt herself growing quite attached to the little girl it broke her heart knowing one day she wouldn't have to babysit anymore when Beryl returned. She oddly felt a lot of joy in her company and felt herself becoming a little kid again.
"Bunny can you watch a movie with me?" Hotaru asked looking up at Serena with pleading eyes snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Sure what movie?" Serena smiled.
Hotaru ran over to a shelf next to the TV and pulled at a case and ran back to Serena, "It's this one it's a about princesses and fairies!"
Serena bit back a giggle at the girl's excitement and nodded and set the TV up and popped the DVD into the player and plopped onto the couch next to Hotaru while the movie began to play.
Serena felt herself drifting off into boredom due to the movies lack of adult and teenager appeal it was strictly made for kids lacking any luster for Serena to keep herself awake. Serena unknowingly passed out on the armchair of the couch while Hotaru was so invested in the children's film she hadn't quite noticed Serena hadn't been paying attention.
Darien entered his home and noticed how quiet it was he didn't hear Serena talking nonetheless his daughter either. He raised his brow with curiosity wondering where they might be considering Serena had wanted him to come home early from work and he was right on time. He walked into the living room and noticed the TV screen blaring and illuminating his daughter and Serena curled up on the couch asleep. Darien smiled to himself feeling an odd warm feeling inside him at the sight. If Serena's age wasn't an issue maybe he would consider remarrying and building a family with her since the bond with his daughter that she had was undeniable. He pushed those thoughts out of his head understanding the impossibility of it not only because of her age now but due to him only having these feelings now.
He gently touched Serena's shoulder startling her causing her eyes to quickly shoot open and widen only to relax knowing it was him, "Oh hey," Serena yawned.
"Hey you better get ready you said your date was coming here soon," Darien whispered hoping to not wake Hotaru.
Serena bleakly nodded and headed to the bathroom to freshen up, Darien took her place on the couch and watched her tip toe away. In the smallest mannerisms she intrigued him more than a lust now even though that lust still existed it was more now.
His mind began to think back to earlier that day and the phone call he had received. He had finally heard from Beryl but it wasn't to check in on things or their daughter it was to inform him she wouldn't be back in a week, in fact she was unsure how long it would take. Darien almost knew she was with a lover out there. He didn't need to hear it from her or catch her it was obvious enough.
Darien let out a sigh and looked over at his daughter who was still asleep on the couch and he smiled to himself and turned his attention back to the TV and changed the station to the news.
Once inside the bathroom she locked herself in and began to splash some water on her face and check to see if her face looked alright. Once pleased with her appearance she looked down at her phone and noticed a missed text message from Seiya informing her he was out front waiting.
Serena quickly left the bathroom and went to tell Darien goodbye and head out on the date. She had to admit it felt odd to tell Darien she was going on a date and to say goodbye to him right before it. She knew it shouldn't feel uncomfortable but it did.
"Hey," Serena said as she entered the living room again and met eye contact with Darien, "my date is here, thanks again for letting me go," She half smiled knowing how awkward this situation was for the both of them as the feeling filled the room.
"Oh alright, have fun," Darien said with no emotion on his face.
"I will," Serena whispered and turned and made her way out the front door and felt a sense of relief come over her when she met eyes with Seiya who was smiling at her while he leaned against his car.
Darien peered out the window carefully in order to not be caught peeping on the two. He analyzed the man to see who just was taking HIS Bunny out. Well not his but what he wished was his. The man she was greeting had long black hair tied back into a ponytail. Darien almost laughed at the appearance of the teenager. Seriously what was with teens' and their style and especially this kid. She was smiling and talking with him briefly before getting into the kid's red sports car that his parent's obviously bought for him which didn't honestly matter but any jab Darien could take out on this kid he would take.
The two began to drive away from Darien's house and towards a theater nearby while the two enveloped into an awkward silence in the car. For some reason Serena felt odd now again, knowing she was on a date with this guy for some reason changed something for her. She usually could converse with anyone comfortably but now that she was on a date with someone else that wasn't Andrew, her fist relationship, things felt odd.
She swallowed a hard lump in her throat once Seiya parked the car outside the theater and opened her mouth to speak.
"This is uncomfortable huh?" Seiya said.
"Only kind of," Serena let out a sigh.
"I felt it too," Seiya said.
"Really? Is something wrong with this?" Serena said with a frown.
"No I just liked us better as friends now it's a lot of pressure. You're such a pretty girl and I just think we were meant to be best friends," Seiya shrugged.
"Well then let's just be best friends, I like friends," Serena smiled at him happy that the feeling was mutual.
After all the pining he did to get with her she felt bad things turned like this but she was just glad he felt the same.
"Do you want me to take you home?" Seiya asked.
"Nah I just felt uncomfortable earlier now that we are on the same page I am still up for a friend date," Serena smiled.
"Good then let's go," Seiya smiled as the two got out of the car and headed up to the ticket booth.
Once the two had ordered plenty of food for an army and got situated, Serena went into her purse to turn off her phone before the movie. She quickly noticed a text from Darien.
'Don't worry about babysitting tomorrow Hotaru is staying with a friend,'
Serena shrugged and turned her phone off and then smiled at Seiya while the theater darkened and the movie began.