The sound of the door opening, caused Serena to look over her shoulder as she sat on the couch. A sudden light came across her face, as she smiled.

"Isn't this a nice surprise! I thought you were working late?" She could barely hide her excitement.

A small groan, as Darien removed his white coat and tossed it into the dirty clothes hamper. "It was slow, so they asked me if I wanted to get off early, since I am doing them a favor of working next Tuesday."

"That's nice of them, now we can have dinner together." Serena clapped with the same excitement in her voice.

"That sounds good. I am going to take a quick shower. Then be right out."

She nodded. "Want me to order something?"

"Whatever is easiest for you." He headed towards the hallway. He took a glance at the TV. Rolled his eyes. "Another one of your Lifetime movies?"

"What?! I didn't expect you to be home this early!" She defended. "I will change it!" She reached for the remote.

"No, I am just going to shower, and then we will eat. I can live through yet another one, if it makes you happy." He gave her a smirk, and continued towards the bathroom. "How many different movies can one channel make with the same plot line?"

"Hundreds!" Serena shouted behind him.

A little over 30 minutes later he stepped out of the bathroom, dressed and drying his jet black hair with a towel. He turned his attention towards the living room, where he could still hear the movie going on. He took a step forwards, and leaned to see if Serena was where he had left her. She wasn't. He scanned the room, to find her frozen in the kitchen, fixated on the TV, as water boiled behind her. A soft smile across her face, and a little comforted sigh, as it went to commercial.

She then turned her attention to Darien.

"Don't make fun of me." She demanded, as she turned to toss a handful of pasta into the boiling water.

"I wasn't going too." He said walking closer. "I thought you were just going to order something." He observed all the food out on the counter.

"Well... I was," She turned around to face him. "Then I realized if you really wanted something not home made, you would have picked it up on your way home."

"I really would have been fine with anything." He said organizing the items on the counter.

"Do you not like my pasta?"

"That is not what I said." He quickly answered. "I...I love your pasta. I... I could eat it every day." He stumbled over his words.

Serena just giggled, and stirred the pasta again in the water. "Just chop those onions for the sauce."

The movie came back on, and too grabbed Darien's attention. The male character was a good look man in a black suit, hair combed to the side, broad shoulders, with assertive mannerisms. The girl, brunette, with big bright eyes, and flashing pearly white smile, full of light and energy.

"Let me guess, she is going to show him the true meaning of happiness and love, and they f." Darien sarcastically asked.

"Maybe..." Serena shrugged.

"What do you mean, 'maybe'? Everyone of these movies ends the same! And yet you always act so surprised. Don't you get tired of them?" He asked starting to chop the onions.

"Hmmmm, I guess I am hopeless romantic, and every time I get to the ending, it makes me beyond happy." She went to put the spoon in the sink.

"You know they are not realistic, right?" Darien tried to reason with her.

"I know..." She looked at the TV, then smiled. "But part of me feels like the idea had to come from somewhere, and...maybe somewhere out there someone lived this happily every after."

Darien continued to look at her confused.

"Darien, if you don't want to watch the movie, we can change it. I can watch it on Valentine's Day, when I am home." She smiled.

"Exactly when is Valentine's day?" He asked looking over at the calendar they have on the wall. Most of it covered with Darien's shift schedule.

"It is next Tuesday." Serena answered. "You're working, so I will help the girls get ready, like I always do. And then I will order my heart shaped pizza."

"Come again?" Darien interrupted.

"They make pizzas shaped into hearts that day, nothing special the recipe, but you know the heart shape, makes it so much better. I'll save you some, for when you're off." Her voice still cheery.

The scene cut an image of the female character sitting at a table by herself, waiting. It did not take long for Darien to connect the dots of the storyline. She was waiting on the guy with the black suit.

"He flaked on her." Serena groaned, shaking her head. "I was really hoping he would have shown up."

"Maybe he got held up at work? And didn't mean too." Darien suggested.

"Hmmm, maybe."And maybe he was just in the moment, but he could feel the disappointment in her voice. "But I guess a call would have been nice. You know...the little things."

The scene continued, and as the girl got ready to leave, another man swooped in and sat across from her. This one was not big or built as the other guy, hair was not as neatly combed, and blond. He wasn't in a suit, but a denim jacket. Kind of too casual for the place she was at, part of Darien wondered how he even got into the restaurant.

"Oh my gosh, and again Serena, face lit up. It is the boy that she grew up with!" She gushed. "Good play lifetime, not one but two guys?"

Serena poured a can of tomatoes over the seared meats. "Hey are you done with those onions?"

He did not answer.

"Darien..." She called again, taking a step towards him at the island. "Suddenly my movie is interesting isn't it?" She teased.

He looked at her, "huh?"

"The onions?" She pointed.

"Yes, I am done." He continued to watch the scene confused. "She just moves on...like that?" He finally asked.

"The movie isn't over yet, we'll see who she ends up with." She explained.

"Who do you want her to end up with?" Darien tried to pry.

"I am not sure, I don't pick a side, I just let the emotional roller coaster of a movie play out." Serena explained. "But I just have a few more things to do, and you're kind of slowing me down. So, could you just relax, or go chart, dinner will be done soon. I'll call you when we are ready to eat."

He didn't think anything of what she said, just nodded, washed his hands and left the kitchen. Not before stopping one more time in front of the TV, to see the guy once again, in a black suit. He had a handful of flowers, roses to be exact, and he walked so purposefully, until he paused dead in his tracks. Gripping the flowers he saw the female character, laughing at a table, with the other guy.

Darien shook off the scene, and headed to office to chart. Or attempt to chart. That scene continued to play in his head, over and over again. He thought about how many times, he walked in on her and Andrew laughing like that. "Stop it stupid... " He lectured himself. "Andrew would never do that to you." But then he could not help but wonder, how many other men would.

Serena is perfect, full of life, positivity, and love for everyone. Her smile could light up any room, and her eyes. How he loved her crystal blue eyes. Yet, here she is with him. There is nothing special about him. He can't even bring himself to cough up the words, he loves her, because he absolutely does, but to say it, made him so uncomfortable. He has not said those words to anyone since his parents passed, at least not that he can remember.

"Darien! Dinner!" Serena's voice called. "Hurry before it gets cold!"

He locked his desk top, and headed out to the dinner table. The room was quieter. He glanced at the TV to see it had been turned off.

"I know you don't like those movies, so I figured we can just sit and eat dinner, and talk to each other." She placed a fork down, next to the plate.

"I really don't mind it."

"It's okay Darien. And like I said I can just watch it on Tuesday." She sat down at her spot. "It'll give me something to do, have like a little marathon."

"I am sorry I have to work, I guess that is why they asked me," Darien said taking his seat. "I didn't even realize."

"Darien, it is fine, I knew what I was getting into when we first started dating, and I know holidays aren't a big thing to you, I am okay." She scrunched her nose and smiled at him before picking up her fork.

Understanding and patient. Other traits of hers, that makes her beyond perfect for anyone else, he thought.

"Eat before you food gets cold." She suggested. "It won't be good."

Then again, that feeling washed over him. Like he was disappointing her.

When dinner was done, he turned on the TV, looked back at her, as yet another Lifetime movie was on.

"How many different ones of these do they have?" He asked under his breath.

"Darien, changed the channel, it is only going to annoy you, and I want the rest of night to be nice and relaxing." She expressed as she put the rinsed plate in the dishwasher.

"Let me help you." He offered, walking towards her.

"You need to relax, I can do this."

"No," He disputed, "You made dinner, the least I can do is clean this dishes with you." He grabbed the empty glasses off the table.

"Are you okay?" She asked concerned. Observing Darien.

"Yeah... why wouldn't I be?" He asked her trying to collect himself.

"I don't know, I have never seen you like this. Are you feeling tired? I can finish this myself." Serena offered again.

"No, I am okay." Truth was he didn't understand what was wrong with him. It couldn't have just been the movie, he had seen every holiday movie with her. Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Years, and not one of them made him feel this way.

"Last one..."Finally said."Handing Darien another plate to put into the dishwasher.

He must have been in a trance, and going through the motions, because he does not recall loading all the dishes in the dishwasher. He heard the water turn off. And felt Serena's hand softly embrace his.

"Darien, are you sure you are good? Do you just want to go to bed." She asked

"No, I want to stay up and watch one more movie with you."

She was taken back, by his response. "Now I know you aren't feeling well. You actually want to watch one of these movies with me?"

"I mean unless you want to go to bed, I want to stay out here with you."

Again, another response that took her by surprise. "O...Okay... I was going to get some ice cream, do you want any?"

"I am okay, I'll meet you on the couch."

She continued to look at him, thrown off, as she nodded.

"Maybe some tea?" She offered.

"Sure that sounds good." He responded, sitting in the middle of the couch.

When Serena finally brought over his tea, she placed it on the table gently. His focus on the TV. He was stiff, sitting straight up, hands between his legs, back not even rested against the couch. She gently placed a hand on each shoulder, and started to massage his shoulder. She could feel tension, all across his shoulders.

"I knew something was bothering you." She simply stated.

He looked up at her.

"I know you aren't one with your feelings, and talking... but I know there is something wrong. Hopefully one day, you will be able to open up." She kissed his forehead, continued the massage for a little longer, before she sat next to him. Not leaning on him, like he had seen in the movie, but just next to him. The lines between the cushion, were almost like borders.