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18

Rehabilitation

Raye sighed and looked at the sterile tile floor of the plain white hospital room. She loved Serena as a sister but the doldrums of staying in the hospital room constantly was starting to gnaw at her sanity. She wanted to scream, she wanted to cry, hell she really just wanted to run far away from this place. However, she couldn't do any of those things. She needed to be there for Darien, she needed to be there for Serena. She stretched her body and looked at Darien's empty chair and smiled. Since his first visit to see the twins he'd made daily trips to see them. The nurse always excitedly reported to Raye his demeanor and soft tones when holding them and it always warmed her heart. Her brother was actually living for once in his life.

A rumble in her stomach told Raye that she was hungry. Darien would be with the twins for at least an hour so she certainly had time to go to the cafeteria and eat but… if he found out she had left Serena alone there would be hell to pay. On the other hand if she didn't go then she wouldn't be very attentive. Weighing the pros and cons of each choice she decided to be selfish. She had been selfless staying there constantly and it was time to do something for herself. Honestly, how could only fifteen minutes do any damage? Shrugging she jumped out of her chair and went out into the hall looking at the nurse's station. "I'm going to get something to eat. Don't tell my brother." The women nodded and Raye walked happily to the cafeteria. She wouldn't brand the cafeteria as gourmet in any sense of the word but it would do. Some food was better than none.

After she acquired her meal she sat at a table and stared blankly at the plate. It was some sort of lasagna though it looked somewhat like a strange layered sponge. "Hey! They told me I could find you here." Raye looked up now startled to see her twin brother Seiya. "Getting away from the sanitarium eh?" He coolly sat down and tilted his head towards the ceiling. "I'm betting our dearest brother doesn't know?"

"Are you kidding me? Do you know what he would do if he DID know?" Raye sighed and stabbed her fork into the red and yellow glob on her plate. "I don't feel guilty though. Staying here twenty four seven won't change anything." Seiya nodded thoughtfully. "I'm just shocked her no good mother hasn't been to see her. I suppose Serena doesn't have anyone but us."

"No, not really that was obvious when she went to her friends." Seiya paused and leaned forward onto the table. "Hurry up and eat that so we can get back before Darien gets back." Raye nodded and quickly began to eat her meal hoping that they would beat Darien back. Seiya seemed to silently agree because he sat silently looking at his sister with various questions in his eyes. "How's she been? Anything?" Raye shook her head and shoved a large portion of the lasagna in her mouth. "Maybe he should consider… never mind."

"What?" Raye snapped up and narrowed her eyes. "What should he consider? Seiya if you're trying to suggest that he sign a DNR then I think you're delusional. No way is he going to let her die and you know it." She felt like slapping her brother. Despite the fact that he did care about Serena and Darien he often thought too much like their older sibling… well, at least the old version of him. "She isn't on life support so she's fine. She's just…"

"Unconscious." Seiya sighed and looked at the table guiltily. "I wonder what would happen if she…" They both grew silent as each pondered the inevitable question. What if she did die? What would happen? Neither wanted to find out because Darien was a dangerous man. Not only was he dangerous but he loved this woman and love, made people extremely unpredictable. "Let's just get back to the room." She nodded her agreement and finished her food.

The two slowly walked back to the hall where Serena's room was at the same time Darien did. "What are you doing out here and not in there?" His voice was a bit raised and his eyes wide making the two cringe. "You're supposed to stay with her!" Before Raye had a chance to respond he began quickly walking towards the room. He knew he shouldn't panic, there was no reason to panic yet, something in him made him walk a little faster and as he neared the sound of the flat line alarm reached his ears. "Oh… God, please no…" His voice was just barely above a whisper as he watched a few nurses run into Serena's room. "SERENA!" The voice that escaped him didn't even sound human much less his. As he went to pick up his pace his legs ceased to work and instead he collapsed to his knees onto the floor and watched Raye and Seiya run past him. Raye rushed in, the guilt obvious in her steps but Seiya froze just outside the door a look of pure fear written on his face. "Seiya?" His brother didn't respond making Darien's heart drop. Why wouldn't he answer? Unless… no. She couldn't be. Darien attempted to rise to his feet but when he saw the nurses emerge from the room with looks of distress he felt all the strength leave him.

"Dare!" Raye shouted as she ran out tears streaming down her face. "Dare!" She ran to him with tears in her eyes and threw herself onto the floor in front of him. "Dare… Serena's…" She faltered trying to catch her breath because the incident had winded her. "She's… awake." For a moment he wasn't sure if he'd heard his sister correctly. "Did you hear me Dare? She's awake!"

He stood numbly, unable to feel anything but hope. He wanted to believe that he'd heard right but he was in such an emotional state it was hard to distinguish reality from fiction. Of course he had heard wrong, Raye wouldn't be crying like that had he heard correctly. After what seemed like hours he reached the door and looked in to see Serena rubbing her eyes with her palms the heart monitor's little receptor was hanging off of the edge of the bed. "Serena?" His voice cracked upon saying her name and as she lowered her hands he felt like melting. Ever so slowly she turned her head and looked at him, her eyes full of light, full of the innocence he loved her so much for. A smile spread over her face and she opened her lips and let out a cry of joy, not anything comprehendible but he didn't care. There were no words for how truly happy he felt in that moment.

He walked to her as casually as he could, not wanting her to know just how close he had come to breaking. She could never know how weak he'd been during her unconsciousness. When he reached her he smiled wholeheartedly and placed a hand of her cheek. "Hey." His voice was soft but she could hear the emotion. She could tell he was trying to contain himself, trying to hide his fear. Of course, she couldn't allow him that. In a quick movement she threw herself into him wrapping her arms tightly around his waist and began to cry. It had been so hard, so terribly hard to lay there in that bed unable to tell him to go home. She had maintained a slight bit of awareness but nothing significant enough to even move, all she could do was listen and feel his hand on hers.

"She lives!" Darien jumped and looked at Alex who'd walked in and was now observing the couple. "Hey Serena, my name is Doctor Alex Maltona. If you don't mind I'd like to do a few tests on you, nothing too involved I'm just checking your basic functions." Darien nodded and stepped away but she caught his hand making it clear that she needed him near. "Okay… so…" Alex walked to the foot of the bed and pulled the blankets away from her feet. "Let me know if you can feel this will you?" He smiled and ran his pen from her heel to her toes along the bottom of her feet. She nodded and he did the other foot, she nodded again. "Good. Now this?" He began to poke her leg alternating sides and moving up only a few inches at a time. She nodded again and again making him feel very good about her physical state. "Okay, how about this, follow my pen with your eyes." He moved the object from side to side and front to back watching to be sure her eyes were working properly. "So far so good bud." Alex smiled at Darien then looked back at his patient. "Now… I'm going to ask you to say your name." It was the one thing patients usually lost when entering into a coma, their ability to speak, they usually lost their ability to walk with extended periods of time. Serena however had only been in her coma for a month.

"S… Ser… Serena." She smiled after the word left her mouth fairly cleanly. "Serena! Hah! How's that?" She smiled and looked at Darien triumphantly. "Where's that jackass that dropped me… did you do something about that?" Her sharp look was more than clear between the two, she wanted to know what Darien had done to the poor man.

"No, not yet I haven't." He smiled and looked back at Alex who was filling out her chart. The emotion running through him made him want to cry out and hold her so tightly she'd never be able to leave him but he knew better. That wasn't what she needed.

"Well, Darien, my man, you know the next part of this." Alex nodded and watched as Darien maneuvered his fiancé so she was sitting on the edge of the bed. "Flex your feet for me Serena." She did so never looking away from Darien's glistening eyes. "Okay, now, stand up for me." She began to scoot herself off the bed, her feet touched the cold tile floor making her shiver. It was a struggle but she managed to stand.

"Wow… I'm a little wobbly." She laughed lightly but the fear remaining in her eyes. "Nothing new though." She smiled slyly. Alex then asked her so take a few steps forward making her bite her lip. She didn't feel strong enough to walk but she had to try, plus, Darien was right there and there was no way he'd let her fall. "Okay…" She began to shift her weight but immediately teetered and fell to the side. Darien scooped her up and looked at Alex expectantly.

"I hate being right all the time." He sighed and sat his beloved back onto the bed. "You're going to need therapy to learn to walk again." She closed her eyes in acceptance. She could handle that as long as Darien was there beside her.

"Fine, that just means you get to carry me around like the princess I am." She winked making him smile. "Where's my children?" She tilted her head and looked at Darien. "It is my understanding you managed to somehow fit two into me correct?" Both Alex and Darien laughed heartily.

"Yes darling, it's all my fault." Darien looked pointedly at Seiya. "Wheelchair, now." Seiya rolled his eyes and grabbed a wheelchair from the hall bringing it in. "Thank you." Darien lowered her into the contraption and covered her in a blanket. "We're going to see our miracles if you don't mind." Alex nodded as the two left the room in silence. Darien just reveling in her presence and Serena in quiet contemplation. She was anxious to say the least.

Darien didn't even bother to go to the window, instead he entered the nursery and wheeled her over to the familiar bassinet with the two sleeping infants. Serena smiled and looked at her children with a large smile, the sudden warmth that filled her surprised her. These were her angels, she'd carried them both for nine months and now it was time for her to care for them. How perfect her life was turning out to be.

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The sound of an infant's cry blared over the small speaker of the baby monitor, it was the third time that night and all ready Serena was feeling the strain. She moaned, now exhausted by the past six month's events. After they had left the hospital it had taken three months for her to learn to walk again and the twins were certainly reminding her that she couldn't forget. Despite the fact that Darien had taken a sabbatical she didn't feel any less stress when caring for the two, well, Rini was the most trouble. Rien, which was Darien Jr's nickname, was the calm one of the two and seemed to almost be annoyed with Rini's constant crying. "I've got it angel." Darien sighed and rose from the bed. "Go back to sleep." Darien left the room and entered the kitchen to prepare a bottle for Rini. The little pig was demanding more and more milk lately and he wasn't about to go into the nursery without a bottle in hand.

He crossed the living room and placed his hand on the door knob of one of the two rooms he'd had added to the apartment suite. Turning the handle he walked in and quickly to Rini's crib. "You are such a pain you know that?" He asked lovingly knowing that no matter what his little girl did he would always love her with all of his heart. She smiled when she saw him and seemed to quiet in pure anticipation. "Demanding little lady aren't you?" He picked his daughter up and placed the bottle into her open mouth then watched her gulp the contents until it was all gone. He then burped her and went back to his room where Serena was waiting attentively for him. "What?"

"Nothing." She drawled slowly and moved toward the edge of the bed crawling seductively. He smiled and sat on the bed close by allowing her to slide her hands from behind him, over his shoulders and down his bare chest until her head was right by his. "I can't smile and love you?"

"Yes, you can but somehow I think you're looking for something more. Aren't you?" He turned his face to hers and smiled sweetly knowing full well what she wanted. He had been puzzled over the past few months as to why she hadn't approached him but then again, they had two six month old children to take care of and it didn't leave much time for adult play dates.

"Why would you think that?" She whispered breathily into his ear then nipped at the lobe hoping to get a reaction out of him. "Hmmmm?" Darien didn't move as he thought about his options. He was tired, but he was never THAT tired. Although, they had to be ready if the twins cried and he wasn't sure if he'd be able to get up if they cried during the fact.

"No." He sighed and leaned back in an attempt to deter her from her current convictions. The actions only allowed her better access to his bare torso and so she stretched her hands as close to his lower half as possible. It was a form of protest, a very effective form of protest too. "Serena, please." He slowly lifted her hands and maneuvered himself so he was laying down with his back to her.

"You never say no… you can't say no to me! What do you want?" She whined making him chuckle lightly and look at her with an amused grin. "I mean it… you can do whatever you want with me." She tilted her head in an angelic manner and batted her eyes.

"That's the least of my concerns darling. I can always do whatever I want with you but that's beside the point. The issue is that we have to children now, and you're tired, I'm tired… plus we have to attend to them if they cry… You know?" He made his point clearly making his fiancé sigh and nod her head before pulling him onto his back and straddling his body. "Serena, I mean it."

"So do I." She lowered her lips to his and paused when he turned his head away to avoid the kiss. "Fine, you wanna play hard to get…" She growled and lowered her lips to his neck and nipped at it making him squirm slightly. "You made me beg once, it's my turn now buddy." He bit the inside of his lip then flipped her onto her back and looked down at her sternly.

"Serena, be reasonable. You can wait a bit can't you?" The lusty gleam in her eyes was all the answer he needed. She wouldn't wait and if he made her then it would be hell later on. "I'm not going to…"

"Fine! Go to sleep for all I care!" She cried out as he moved away from her and turned his back once more. "Darien… come on…" She paused and thought about all of the possible things she could say and do to convince him that he HAD to give into her. Deciding on a path she smiled. "There's someone else isn't there? That's why you left the school and now you're wishing you hadn't." He ground his teeth angrily knowing that she was just trying to manipulate him but still, her words were very effective in agitating him. "I knew it. Ever since I ballooned up with the twins you lost interest and now every time you look at me all you see is some fat, ugly chick with two kids…"

"Shut up! Serena, stop it right now! That actually hurts my feelings!" He lied and glared at her but was met with a delighted sparkle in her own eyes. "Serena, I mean it, cut it out you're not getting any tonight." She smiled and shrugged standing up from the bed. "Where are you going?"

"If you don't want to help me I know a few people who would." She shrugged and turned towards the door stopping as she heard the animalistic and furious growl erupt from her mate. It was exciting and worked her up even more. "Objections?" She turned around slightly only to find him already hovering over her. "Oh, look at you, you move quickly for someone so tired."

"You wouldn't dare walk out of here and go to one of them." He challenged and leaned close to her face. "They don't measure up." He smiled but grew serious when she shrugged. "Serena, don't play with me like this."

"My dearest Darien, I'm not playing. You're the one playing some sort of mind game. I'm simply trying to fill a need." She then turned from him and stiffened her movements in anticipation of his forceful way of keeping her there with him yet, he didn't seem to move. "Okay, you've made your decision I suppose." Darien then grabbed her roughly and pulled her body flush against him placing his hands on the insides of her thighs, a favorite hold.

"You're not going anywhere, and don't think that you could get away with it if you did. You'd be in a world of trouble Serena." He hissed into her ears viciously making her shiver. This was the Darien she craved over all the rest. When he was angry or jealous his drive and determination to remind her of who she belonged to enthralled her.

"Well then… I guess… you're just going to have to show me… who's boss around here." She bit her lip as his arms instinctively pulled her closer to him until she could feel his entire front on her. He didn't speak only growled again and tightened his grip on her lifting her off of the ground. She knew she would pay for what she said but she didn't care, she just hoped that he wouldn't assault her too badly. After all she had just learned how to walk again not long ago.