I know, I know another short one but I've been suffering from writers block on this one and working on "All for the Love of War" with Usako so yeah. Check it out if you haven't allready. Nonetheless REVIEW okay? Thank you!

13

Be Mine

Darien glared at the phone that was now ringing and contemplated picking it up. Nothing could be so important that he had to get it right? With a reluctant hesitation he grabbed the receiver off of the cradle and grunted into it signaling his presence. "Dare? I have something important to tell you and I want you to listen to me for once okay?" Seiya whispered on the other end of the phone. "Mom really hates her and is planning to kill her. That's why she pissed you off so bad last night… she wanted you to kill Serena yourself. Anyways, she's planning something and I think you need to either take care of your mom or you need to watch your back." Seiya's words pulled Darien from his self righteous delusion, making him realize that there was a serious issue at hand. His mother would try and hurt Serena, that much he knew.

"She won't touch her." Darien growled in a low voice so he wouldn't wake the exhausted woman in his arms. Calm down Darien… Serena's safe in here, no one can touch her as long as she stays within these doors. His attempt to reason with himself proved frivolous and he then realized that she wasn't safe in any place his mother knew about.

"She will Dare, you know that. She even said she has a girl all picked out for you. I really think she's being serious. I want to help in any way Dare… I'm rather fond of Serena." Seiya smiled into the phone hoping that Darien would feel better. "I'm choosing your side."

"My side? Who else would you side with? Our mother? I seriously doubt that Seiya. As for Serena… well, like I said she won't touch her because I will fucking kill the bitch." Darien growled making Serena stir a little. "I've got to get off the phone though Seiya… thank you for the information." He hung up the phone and settled into the bed once again cradling Serena protectively.

"Trying to smother me?" She smiled sleepily and wrapped her arm tightly around his bare waist enjoying the sensation of his arms around her. "When am I gonna do this party?" He smiled at her groggy words, her thoughts obviously disjointed. "I'm thinking this weekend… and I'm going to make that bastard so jealous." Her last few fading words sparked Darien's interest. Who was she talking about? Alan? It was all too easy to make Alan jealous.

"Who Serena? Who are you going to make jealous?" He asked and held her even more tightly hoping that she was in a mood to tell him, or at least a malleable state of mind to let him ask. "Serena? Who?"

"That jackass who thought he was so right for me. Then Molly… she never believed me when I begged for help. She waited until it was too late." She opened her eyes and looked at him her mind clear. "I want to show them all that I'm the luckiest girl in the world." He smiled and kissed her tenderly on the lips.

"I will help you as much as I can Serena. Trust me we will make everyone so jealous." He loved her with all of his heart and if she so wished everyone at the party would be jealous of her. Especially his mother, and the little trinket he had bought shopping would certainly help that.

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"Raye! Do you think it's ready?" Serena nervously looked around the ballroom and then at the raven haired beauty that was Darien's sister. "I don't know… I want this to be perfect! It's my first party and I know Darien expects everything to be perfect and… oh!" Serena then fluttered over to the buffet table and rearranged the large platters of ordeurves for the fifth time that evening. The guests would be arriving soon and Serena looked like a goddess in her expensive ballroom gown that was a deep pink at the bottom but faded to white at the top. Her usual buns and pigtails traded for an elegant curling updo with a long cascade of golden hair that reached just below her bottom. She was stunningly beautiful and the way that she had so expertly put together the large event made everyone in the house proud to be working for her.

"It's amazing Serena now stop worrying." Darien smiled as he entered the room and quickly strode to her taking her hands in his to stop her nervous fidgeting. "You're amazing… and… I think I know what you should do for a career. You should be a designer, stager, and party planner." He winked and looked over to Raye and then his mother who had just entered the ballroom. "Behave yourself mother."

"Of course my darling son." She nodded and glared at Serena briefly. "Oh… I hope you don't mind… I invited someone." A coy smile crept onto her face as Darien narrowed his eyes. "Just a young lady I enjoy spending time with… no one really… I didn't think it would matter the party being hosted in my sons home with his money."

"This is Serena's party mother, not yours it was rude of you not to include her in your invitation." Darien snorted and released Serena's hands in favor of turning to glare at his mother full bore. Raelean only nodded and looked at the ground faking regret. Darien frowned then looked at his love placing an arm around her shoulders. "The party is about to start darling… we had better go and greet anyone who shows up." Darien then lead her out into the front hall to the door. Upon opening it they saw a small crowd gathering, among them was Molly, Melvin, Molly's mother, Ilene, Anne, and Alan. She smiled as she looked around and noticed that the majority of her class was there and even Andrew and Rita. The people began to ascend the stairs, Serena introducing each person to Darien who absorbed all of the names looking for the people Serena had talked about in her sleepy haze.

"This is my mother, her husband Alan who you know, and then my little sister Anne." Serena almost sneered and nodded at the small group. Ilene practically fainted as Darien took her hand and placed a quick peck on the back of it.

"Welcome to our home, go on in and enjoy the party." Darien smiled making Alan turn red with anger. Serena hid her surprise as Darien uttered the words "Our home." She considered this his home, not hers, far from hers in fact. Ilene and Anne gawked at the grand foyer decorated in spring flowers, the two's eyes widening at every little nuance in the architecture, something Serena identified with.

As the guests continued to pour in Serena couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed by it all and as the last guest approached them she heard a slight grunt come from Darien. "Doctor Shields! How wonderful it is to see you outside of your classroom and office for once!" Serena looked at the rather verbose woman standing in front of her. She was tall, no doubt one of the many advantages of her five inch stiletto heels. She was a redhead with long and waving tresses, her dress was a dark purple strapless that hardly covered her breasts.

"What are you doing here Beryl?" Darien asked in his classroom tone being sure he was as cold as possible. She smiled and looked into the hall prompting Raelean to walk over gracefully with her arms out to receive a hug. The small action infuriated Darien but he remained calm and collected.

"Your mother invited me… You must be Serena… hmm…" Her eyes scanned the petite blonde with distain. "Hmm… I'm very disappointed. She's really quite young Darien. Picking them right off the tree to ripen them yourself?" She laughed making Raelean howl.

"Please! Come in and enjoy the party." Raelean asked the red head and turned towards the ballroom making Serena feel low and depressed. Beryl smiled and waltzed through the entry hall to the ballroom prompting Darien to wrap his arms around his beloved.

"Ignore her dumpling. She is nothing but a tramp." Serena smiled weakly and let Darien lead her into the ballroom where the guests were dancing and talking about various things.

The party continued, everyone enjoying the music and foods, well, almost everyone. Andrew looked around with dismay, knowing his professor's intentions for this evening, Diamond hated seeing Serena so happy with this man, this very older man. Ilene, Alan, and Ann, especially Ann, felt like idiots for treating Serena in such a terrible manner. Most of all Raelean was furious that Darien had completely ignored Beryl. He had managed to occupy every moment of his time with Serena and much to Raelean's dismay Serena's friends.

Towards the end of the party Darien walked calmly over to the stage and took the microphone that the band's singer was using thus silencing the music and drawing everyone's attention. "Ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming to this wonderful party. Let's give a round of applause for Serena while she takes her time in walking up here." The large crowd erupted in applause and whoops as Serena walked onto the stage. He smiled and took her hand lovingly then turned back to the crowd. "Just so everyone knows, this is the first party I've had in this house and I must say it has been well worth it… not to mention hopefully the first of many." He then turned to her and went down on one knee making her eyes widen and Raelean ball her fists. "I know it was wrong of me but I wanted you to put this party together so I could share how much I love you with an audience… you deserve much more than they gave you… so… I want to ask… will you marry me?" He produced a ring box with a large and sparkling diamond in a platinum band. She blushed and nodded letting him place the ring on her finger then jump up and hug her tightly. The crowd clapped once more before Darien returned to the microphone. "Thank you all very much. For those of you who treated her badly, just know that she will never want for any ever again and you're all screwed if she doesn't like you." With that he smiled and gently pulled her off the stage leaving everyone shocked by his words.

"Darien! How could you say that?" Serena said in dismay embarrassed by his forward remarks. "I wanted to make them jealous not threaten them." He only smiled and shrugged pulling her into a dancing hold.

"I don't feel like arguing right now dumpling, let's dance."

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Serena woke one early morning before her alarm went off, before Darien was awake, and before the sun had fully risen. The sudden feeling of nausea overcame her causing her to run into the bathroom and vomit. She breathed hard, wiping her mouth as she flushed the toilet and stared into the mirror noticing her paled complexion. This was the fifth morning she'd done this and it was beginning to concern her. She had yet to tell Darien but she wasn't sure she really wanted to tell him he may not want her going to school and she loved her classes at the university. "What are you doing up so early dumpling?" Darien said softly putting his arms around her waist and kissing the back of her neck. "Didn't you sleep okay?"

"I slept fine… I'm just not feeling well that's all." She sighed and looked into the mirror seeing his pensive face. He put his hand on her forehead while reaching for the thermometer in the top drawer.

"Here, let's take some of your vitals and see if you are coming down with something." She smiled as his medical doctor tone overtook him and he sat her on the counter listening to her breathing, taking her heart rate, and temperature. "You're okay here… let's weigh you." He lifted her off the counter taking her to the scale, setting her down. She frowned she had weighed herself before the party four weeks ago and had weighed 5 pounds lighter, the weight gain saddened her because it had been years since she had gained any weight. "Okay… any change since you last weighed yourself?"

"Five pounds… ugh!" She stomped off the scale angry with herself. "How can I have gained five pounds in four weeks? I never gain weight!" Darien chuckled lightly then grew serious and thoughtful. "Ugh, you're supposed to lose weight when you're sick not gain it! I mean, really! I hate this! I hate throwing up and I hate your mother!" Darien's eyes widened a bit her sudden mood swing and comment about throwing up catching his attention.

"You've been vomiting? How long has this gone on?" Darien couldn't help but feel a bit excited. If she had been vomiting every morning for a while, showing mood swings, and gaining weight she could be pregnant. The possibility made him smile like a child at Christmas.

"I don't know… five days I guess… why? What's wrong with me?" Her eyes filled with tears, yet another mood swing. Why hadn't he noticed this before now? Her hormones had clearly been acting differently and he hadn't felt as intense of an urge to take her to bed lately signaling a change in pheromones.

"Serena… let me do something and I apologize ahead of time for any discomfort or pain." He smiled and placed his hand on her breast squeezing slightly making her wince and cry out. "I think… you're pregnant dumpling." He smiled widely making her face drop. She stood leaning against the counter, shock in her eyes.

"I'm… what? But… I… we… I haven't even graduated yet!" She shouted in panic. "I have to finish school! What kind of mother would I be? I mean, you're overly educated and I don't even finish high school… oh my father would kill me if he were alive." She looked at Darien with worry in her eyes. "Can we take care of this?"

"Serena, is it so bad to have a child? It isn't like we don't have the space or the finances. Plus, we love one another and… I… I would actually love being a father." He wrapped his arms around her protectively. "My mother will be pissed."

"Dare… I'm too young for this… I… you know?" She said silently as her worry was suddenly mixed with excitement. He wanted a child with her, wanted to marry her and start a family. It was all so fairytale.

"No you're not, you're going to be a wonderful mother… I love you Serena and you've made me so happy since you arrived… you have no idea how you've changed me." They sighed together looking into the mirror. "We'll be just fine."