You'll Get Through This

You'll Get Through This

Previously:

"K." He said as his cell went off. He pulled it out. "Hello?"
"Mr. Shields?"
"Speaking."

"Hi. This is Usagi's doctor. I was calling about her pill."

"Do we have to change the day we come?"
"No. You won't need to come for the pill."
"What do you mean?"

"She 'can't' take birth control anymore."

"W-why?"

"Usagi is pregnant."

"W-what?"

"I ran the pregnancy test first, and I just got the result. It's not strong, but it's there."
Darien collected himself as Andrew walked out with his food. "Thank you. I'll let her know."
"I'd like to schedule a prenatal exam so I can se how far along she is and check everything out."
"I'll call back. I need to talk to her first."
"Understandable."
"Thank you."

"Sure."

Darien slowly hung up the phone and lowered it to the counter. He just stared at it.

"Hello? Are you in there? Darien?"

"Sorry."
"Everything okay?"
"No. I'm sorry. Just stick it in the fridge and I'll eat it later. I have to go."
"Something I can help with?"
"How long will you be here?"
"Midnight probably."
"I might have to stop by after closing."
"Okay. I'll see you later?" He said uncertainly.

"Probably." He said before walking blankly out of the arcade.

He got in his car and headed to Raye's. That's where Serena said she'd be.

He arrived in a short few minutes and walked up the many steps to the temple.

"Hello young man. Can I help you?" A short, old man greeted.

"Hi. I'm looking for the girls."
"You are…?"
"Serena's boyfriend, Darien."
"I'll take you. This way."
The old man led Darien into the temple and down the hall. He stopped in front of a door and knocked.

"Come in gramps." Raye's voice called

He opened the door to reveal five girls and two cats.

Serena sat with her back to the door, Light to her right, Mina to her left, and Amy and Raye opposite her.

"Hey Darien." Mina greeted.

"Hey girls."
Serena turned around and saw her boyfriend…and the look in his eyes.

"Dare?"
"Hey Sere. Can I talk to you a minute?"
The other four girls looked at each other thinking the same thing.

"No girls, I'm not breaking up with her."
"Sure." She got up from her seat. "I'll be right back girls." Serena followed Darien outside. Grandpa resumed his sweeping while Serena and Darien went by a nearby tree.

"What's wrong Dare?"
"The doctor called. You aren't going back to take the pill."

"Why?"
"Well…you can't take the pill anymore."

"Can't?"

"Serena, you're pregnant."

All the blood drained from her face. "W-what?"
He hugged her close. "I'm sorry. I should've said no."
"No, it's my fault…I started the whole thing."
"No. It's as much my fault as it is yours."
"I guess. What are we going to do?"
"Raise it. Love it. That's all we can do."
"I guess. But we have another problem…well two problems."
"What's that?"
"My parents."

"When do you want to tell them?"
"The sooner the better."
"I'll go with you."

"Shall we face the music now?"
"Sure. What about the girls?"
"Oh yah. HEY GRAMPS! Can you tell the girls I have to get home?" She called to the old man.

"Sure Serena. Bye."

"Thanks. See ya!"

Darien and Serena got in the car, and Darien drove towards Serena's house.

"I wonder what my parents will say."
"Whatever it is, we'll face it together."
"I'm sorry Dare."
"Why? You didn't do anything wrong."

"I pushed you into having sex. With the pill, and sleeping over."
"We already talked about this. I could've said no at any time." He said pulling in front of the house.

"Weird. My mom's car is gone, but dad's is here. I'll go in and see what's up. Be right back."
"K."
She got out and walked in her house.

"Hey pumpkin. I thought you were hanging out with the girls." He called from the kitchen.

She walked in and saw him washing some dishes, his back to her. "We finished already. Where's mom?"
"Sammy had a doctor's appointment. She'll be back soon. Why?"
"I need to talk to you both." She said in a lowered voice.

"Sounds serious."

"It is." She practically whispered.

"Are you failing a class?"
"No."
"Get suspended?"
"No."
"Expelled?"

"No."
"Worse?"
"Mmhum." She mumbled.

"What could be more serious…the only thing that I could think of would be you having a boyfriend you've yet to tell us about and got pregnant." He chuckled slightly. "That would be ridiculous though, huh Serena?" He laughed again. He stopped listening behind him. He heard nothing but a sniffle behind him.

He turned to face her. She had a tear going down her cheek and no color in her face.

"That's exactly it, isn't it?"

"I-I'm sorry."

He turned his back to her again. "Leave."
"W-what?"
"Get out of this house. Leave.
"But daddy-"

"You are not my daughter. I raised my daughter better. Since you are not my daughter, get out of my house."
"But!"
"NOW! Out before I call the police."
She turned and ran out of the house in tears.

As she ran out, her mother and Sammy were heading in.

"Serena? What's wrong?" Irene asked.

"Ask Ken." She snapped before running to Darien's car. She got in and slammed the door.

"Serena?" Darien asked, his voice filled with concern.

"Please, just drive."

"Sure." He started the car and drove towards the Crown. "Hungry?"

"A little."
"We'll go visit Andrew then."
"Let's get a booth though. I'll tell you what happened."
"Okay."
The two got out of the car and walked into the Crown.

"Hey guys." Andrew called.

"Hey. We're gonna grab a booth." Darien said.

"K." He looked to Serena who was looking down with tears in her eyes. He was about to say something when he saw Darien shake his head and lead her to a corner booth.

Serena scooted in first, and Darien followed.

Andrew came over. "Can I get you guys something?"

"Just my stuff from earlier." Darien ordered.
"A salad."

Both Darien and Andrew looked at her in shock.

"What? I want to change my diet."

"That's my girl." Darien said. "I'm glad. He grinned before kissing her lightly on the cheek.

"I'll be right back." He said before heading off to the kitchen.

"He forgot about our drinks."
"I'll go tell him." She said.

"I could."
"No, I'll tell him. I want to ask him something anyways."
"Okay." He got up to let her out.

"I'll be right back." She said before walking off to the counter. "Hey Andy. You forgot to order our drinks."
"Really?" I guess I was too shocked because Mrs. I-hardly-ever-eat-healthy ordered a salad."
"Well I want to start eating healthier."
"Okay, so what did you guys want?"
"Water and a regular."

"Okay. I'll go get those for you."
"Oh, and I want a job."
"A job? Why? Your parents are loaded."
"I know, but Andy, please."
"I do need another waitress."
"Please." She begged.

""Okay. You can have the job."
"Thank you so much!" When do I start?"

"Well you know Lizzy's schedule?" Serena nodded. "You can work her schedule. She didn't want to work her anymore. She just quit yesterday."
"Thanks so much! I'll see you later."
"See ya."

She walked back over and sat down with a grin on her face
"What are you so happy about?"
"Andy just gave me a job."
"Why?"

"Cuz I asked him for one?"
"Are you sure?" I mean, I don't want you over working yourself."

"We're going to need the money." She said grimly. "You said you don't have much."
"What about your parents?"

"I'll explain later…I-I'm not ready yet."

"Okay." He pulled her into a hug as Andrew headed their way.

15 minutes earlier at the Tsukino household…

Irene and Sammy were walking up to the front door as Serena ran out in tears.

"Serena? What's wrong?"
"Ask Ken." She snapped before running to a red car…she recognized as Darien's.

She stared at the car dumbfounded as it pulled away.

"Mom?"
"Sammy, go clean your room."

"It's clean."
"Just go to your room and play your video games or something. I need to talk with your father."

"Okay."
The two walked into the house. Sammy walked upstairs as Irene went to the kitchen.

"Hello honey." Ken greeted keeping his back to her.

"Hello."
"How are you?"
"Fine. Now care to explain why your daughter just ran out of the house in tears telling me to ask 'Ken' why she was that way."
"He tensed for a minute before speaking in a low tone. "What daughter?"
"What do you mean what daughter!?"

"She came in wanting to speak to both of us. I was guessing what it was because it sounded serious. Would you like to know what she is keeping from us?"
"What?"

"She has a boyfriend and is pregnant."
"W-what?"

"The girl that's been living in our house is pregnant."

"Where is she now?"
"I kicked her out."

"You what?"

"She isn't the daughter we raised."
"But she's too young to be on her own!"
"She'll probably go live with her boyfriend who will dump her because she's pregnant, and she'll come crawling back."
"And what if she doesn't? Ken, you should've talked to me first. We could've handled it differently."
"Well when she comes back we'll handle it your way."
"What if she doesn't come back?"
"She will. The last thing teenage boys want is their girlfriend pregnant. The boy will probably just dump her and move onto the next girl. She'll have nowhere to go and come home."
"When she comes back, I don't want you acting hostel towards her. She made a mistake. All teens make mistakes."
"Okay, but she'll need to be told that she can't count on us to watch over her child. She is its mother and sole care taker. We'll help, but she can't ask us to raise it."

"I know. She'll raise it, hopefully better then we raised her." She frowned.

"We raised her better, she just didn't think."
"Sure."

"Now what do we do?" Serena asked.

"Well we're going to need to tell the girls and Andrew."
"Tell me what?" Andrew asked as he placed their plates.

"I guess we better do it now then later." Serena whispered. She looked up to Andrew glassy eyed. "Promise not to hate me?"
"Nothing could make me hate you Rena."

"Sit." She ordered, and he complied. "Andy, I'm pregnant." She said in a low whisper.

Andrew just stared at the couple with disappointment in his eyes.

A tear fell.

"You hate me now, don't you? Just like my father, you're just going to kick me out of your life. No one wants me now that I'm a pregnant slut!" She shouted as more tears fell. She suddenly pushed past Darien and ran out of the building.

Darien went to follow, but Andrew stopped him.

"I'm sorry Drew."
"You should be. I don't hate either of you, but I will say I'm disappointed."
"I know."
"Do you know what she meant by the comment about her father?"
"No, we haven't talked about that yet. We were going to tell her parents, but she ran out of the house crying. She hasn't said anything yet.

"Do you mind if I go? I want to talk with her."

"Go ahead. I'll just wait here."

"Okay, the place is closed, so don't worry about that." He said before running from the arcade.

Andrew began jogging towards the park. I hope she's there. He went to the rose garden. She always loved coming here. I hope she's here. He looked around and saw something blonde in the mix of red and green. He slowly walked up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Please don't make this harder on me Andy." She cried. "Just leave me alone!"

"Rena, I don't hate you."

She looked up to him with red, puffy eyes.

"I meant it when I said nothing could make me hate you."

He pulled her to her feet and wrapped his arms around her shoulders and she wrapped hers around his chest.

"You're practically my sister. I could never hate my sister. I don't hate you, I'm just disappointed in the choice you made."
"I'm sorry Andy."
"It's fine. Let me guess. That's why you ordered a salad today?"
She nodded into his chest.

"That still doesn't explain the comment about your father."

"I have to explain it to Darien too. I'll do it when we get back. I promise."

"Okay."
She laughed. "My mom will probably be calling me any minute." She said as a noise sounded in her pocket.

She pulled it out and read the caller id. "Told you." She pressed 'talk.' "Hello?"
"Serena, honey. Come home. Your father overreacted. He didn't mean what he said. Come home and we'll discuss this."

"Well according to Ken, I don't' have a father. He kicked me out, so that is not my home."

Andrew listened on in shock.

"And what are you going to do when this boyfriend of yours finds out."
"It's Darien mom. He's my boyfriend, and he's my baby's father."

"It doesn't make a difference. He'll dump you. He's not going to want a pregnant girlfriend."
"HOW COULD YOU!? HE ALREADY KNOWS!! HE WAS GOING TO BE WITH ME WHEN I TOLD YOU GUYS!" She said as they walked through the doors.

"And what about the baby?"
"We're going to raise it, love it, and care for it."
"I'd wish you'd just come home. We could talk this out and-"

"NO!" She yelled into the device as she stopped. "Dad – no – Ken got his wish. He no longer has a daughter…and I no longer live there. Goodbye." She said hanging up the phone. She looked down as a tear hit the floor.

Something definitely happened. She's calling her father Ken? Darien thought as he went to her side and wrapped her in a hug.

"I can't do this." She cried into his chest. "I was actually glad when she called…but then she thought you'd leave me. I can't believe she would think so little of you."
"Its okay."
"I don't think I can do this…Not by myself."
"You won't have to do it by yourself. You have me."
"You mean you're not going to leave me?"

"Le-? Serena, where would you get an idea like that?"
"In my child development class, my teacher told us that teenage mothers are often left alone because the fathers just leave."

"I would never do that to you Serena. I love you. I will stay with you through this."
"Thank you Darien. I love you too. I was hoping with all my heart that you wouldn't leave me…or I'd have to go home to my mother like a fool. She just said that you'd dump me once you found out."

"Serena, you have us with you. You don't have to do this alone." Andrew said placing a hand on her back.

She broke from Darien's embrace and hugged Andrew. "Thanks Andy."

"Sure."
"Now I guess I owe you two an explanation."

"If you're ready."
"I guess. Let's sit."
The three went to the counter and took seats. "So I went in and asked where mom was. My dad was doing the dishes when I walked in. He said she was out and asked why. I said that I needed to talk to both of them and he started guessing why. Then he guessed it…and all I could do was cry. A tear fell and that confirmed his thoughts." Her eyes filled with tears and Andrew placed a hand on her shoulder. "Then I said I was sorry and he told me to leave. He said I'm not his daughter. H-he threatened to call the police on me if I didn't." She said, tears pouring down her cheeks.
Darien pulled her close for a hug. He wrapped his arms around her as she cried into his chest.

"I've been kicked out of my own house. What am I supposed to do? Where am I supposed to go?" She asked pulling away to look at both.

"Rena, fist you need to calm down. Can you do that for me?"

She took a few deep breaths and nodded.

"Good, now you are going to come and stay with me." Darien said.

Andrew and Serena looked at him in shock.

"I couldn't."
"Where else are you going to go?"

"Darien's right. If your father doesn't want you home, you have no other choice." Andrew pointed out.

"I guess. Are you sure?"
"Yes. I told you I'm not leaving you. Not now, not ever."
She hugged him again. "Thank you Dare."

"It's fine. Now I don't know about you, but I'm whipped."
"Yah, I am kinda. How about we eat, then we can get going." Serena suggested.

"Sure."
The two got their plates and ate as they conversed with Andrew.

"Thanks for letting us stay here a while Andy."
"It's no problem. If you need something, call me. And don't forget, you start tomorrow."

"I won't. See you then." She said as they walked to the doors.

"Bye." Darien called.

"Bye." He said as they walked out. You'll get through this…I know you will.