Of Faux and Friends

Chapter 3

A/N: Okay, so I'm trying to update all of my stories. Is anyone still interested in this, please let me know. Also, I want to apologize for lack of updates. For those of you who didn't know, I'm applying to graduate school and it's a major pain in the ass and I've been so busy. But I'm going to try really hard to update all my stories. I'm currently writing four, so I'll try and update one story a week.

Disclaimer: I don't own SM.

Rating: M (language, violence, and sexual situations)

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Serena rushed around another corridor, the white pristine floors of the hospital shining under the bright lights glistening from the high ceiling. She went around another corner checking her watch and noting that she had a few minutes to pick up her medicine and get back to the office for her one o'clock appointment. Quickly she rushed over to the pharmacy, her heart beating rapidly from the hasty pace she moved at. Minutes passed as she continued to watch the clock and she felt herself growing impatient. How long could it possibly take to pour some damn pills into a bottle? She checked her watch one last time before the pharmacist's assistant called her number and she approached the desk.

"How can I help you, miss?" asked the plump older woman to Serena.

"I need to pick up a prescription for Ken Tsukino," she said breathlessly, tapping the tips of her Manolo Blahnik's against the counter wall.

"Are you related to him?"

"Yes," Serena growled. "I'm his daughter."

"Can I see some identification?"

Serena sighed before digging around her purse for her wallet. If she didn't hurry and get out of this hospital then she might run into Darien and she really didn't want to see him. She had been able to avoid him for the last two weeks and wanted to keep it that way.

"Here," said Serena as she shoved her driver's license at the portly woman. Painstakingly, the woman scrutinized the card and Serena watched solemnly as the woman's eyes darted from the ID to her. "This doesn't look like you," said the woman.

"It's me," said Serena. "It's from a long time ago."

"How long ago?"

"I don't know. When I was nineteen," said Serena, clicking her tongue against the side of her cheek. "Look that's me, I'm his daughter and all I want to do is pick up my father's medicine so I can get back to work."

"It's against the law to impersonate someone, young lady. And this certainly does not look like you in this picture. Who are you really?"

Serena groaned loudly. "That's me! My name is Serena Tsukino," she yelled, the woman stepping back from the counter as Serena continued to rant. "Look, you want to see all my credit cards? They all say the same thing."

"That won't be necessary," growled a familiar voice from behind her. Serena froze in her tracks realizing who it was. Her worst nightmare had come true. "Give her the prescription, Alice."

"Okay, Dr. Chiba," said the woman blushing profusely as she dashed to the back of the pharmacy.

"I suppose I should thank you," said Serena, turning to face Darien. He was wearing a white collared shirt, a black tie and black pants. He eyes sparkled behind the glasses he was wearing before he quickly took them off.

"Alice is practically blind in both eyes," said Darien, smiling at Serena. "What brings you here?"

"I'm just picking up some medication." Serena noticed that an expression of worry quickly etched itself across Darien's face.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

Serena looked puzzled. "Oh yea, I'm fine, it's just for my dad."

Darien smiled fondly. "How is he?"

"He's good. He's just got Irritable Bowel Syndrome. My mom says it makes him crabby," said Serena, smiling at Darien.

"Well constant constipation can do that to someone," said Darien scratching the back of his head. "Are you hungry?"

"What?" asked Serena, her head tilting to see if Alice had returned with her father's prescription. "Uh, yeah, I didn't really get the chance to grab any lunch. My dad called me asked for a favor and I couldn't really say no."

"Go to lunch with me," said Darien. Serena grimaced. All she wanted to do was get her father's medicine and as fate would have it, she had to run into him. And if that weren't enough, he had summoned up the nerve to ask her to lunch with him.

"I don't think that's a good idea. Besides I have to be back at work soon, I'm probably already going to be late."

Darien frowned. "How about tomorrow then?"

"Look-"

"Serena lunch isn't going to kill you. I won't bring you flowers, I won't touch you, I'm just going to feed you. And considering that you used to be a bottomless pit, I'd be surprised if you said no."

"Insulting me does not make we want to go out with you," said Serena folding her arms as Alice returned with a stack of pills.

"What's all this?" asked Serena as Alice placed at least five prescriptions on the counter.

"Well, this is Pepcid for heartburn, some Reglan to regulate his colon, some anti-fungal foot cream and powder for the athlete's foot and some Viagra for…well you know."

"Gross," Serena muttered to herself as Darien chuckled behind her.

"When Ken comes he usually gets some personal lubricant. Want me to throw that in with the rest?" asked Alice, her lips twitching.

"No," Serena muttered as Darien chuckled lightly beside her. He watched the blonde snatch the prescriptions and place them into the big black purse at her side. She turned on her heel and began to storm past Darien when he caught her by the arm and pulled her to him.

Her nose brushed against his chest and she looked up at him, his blue eyes shining with mirth. "Go out with me," said Darien.

"I said no," Serena replied. "Let go of me."

Darien loosened his grip, but did not release her arm. Instead he let his fingers inch downward, touching the soft bare skin of her arm until his fingertips reached the palm of her hand. With slow movements he brought his lips to her hand and kissed each finger gently. "It wasn't a question, Serena."

"Excuse me," she said, her voice trembling as he repeated his motions on her other hand.

"I'm tired of asking you," he said. "I know where you work. I'll be there tomorrow at twelve. Be ready." Quickly he released her hand before turning and walking down a corridor to the Oncology ward in the hospital.

Serena stood breathless and watched him as he walked away, his proud movements angering her. Who does he think he is? He can't just order her around like she was some child. The blonde trudged off toward the parking lot, thoughts of the raven haired man clouding her movements. She was pissed and embarrassed at his actions, but despite her dismay, something was tingling in the pit of her abdomen. With grim realization, she realized that it was excitement.

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She tapped her painted fingernails against her desk, watching the gold rimmed clock on the white walls in her office. It was 11:57 and there had been no word from Darien. She had spent most of last night and this morning finding what to wear, and after realizing that she had too much clothing, opted for a strapless black dress that came to her knees, a red leather belt that she would wear around her waist, and red Steve Madden open toed pumps.

Combing her fingers through her hair she sighed. Why was she so nervous that he might not show up? It would be like him to go back on his word, to leave her waiting for him. It wasn't like he hadn't done it before. Feeling herself seething with anger, she leaned against the plush leather chair and closed her eyes, a faint sense of agitation consuming all the anxiety that she had previously felt. There was a knock on her door and her eyes immediately shot open as a tall, dark haired man entered the room, a dashing bouquet of wild flowers in his hand. She smirked.

"I thought you weren't going to bring me flowers," she said, getting up from behind the desk and walking towards Darien. He looked stunning in a black, pinstripe suit.

"I lied," he said, as she approached him and took the flowers from his hand. She smelled them and smiled before setting the bouquet on her desk. "You look beautiful."

She stared at him, the smirk still on her face and her cheeks bright with excitement. "Thank you," she said gently, walking back to him. "You look very nice, too."

"Where would you like to go?" he asked, stuffing his hands in his pockets and staring at her face. She was so beautiful; he was such a fool to let her go. He only prayed she would give him one more chance and that if she did, he would love her for the rest of his life.

"I don't know. We don't have to go anywhere special. We could get burgers if you like."

Darien laughed lightly. "You want me to take you to a burger joint in what you're wearing?" he asked. "You're too lovely to be sitting in McDonald's Serena."

"I like McDonald's," she said, rubbing her stomach. "All through college Mina and I ate double cheeseburgers because they were cheap and we were broke."

"Nonetheless, I'd much rather take you somewhere nice. My groveling has to start somewhere."

She raised an eyebrow. "Groveling?"

"Of course," he said, running his fingers delicately over the top of a chair, "this is all an elaborate plan that I concocted to win your heart back."

Serena frowned. "I thought it was just lunch. I take it you lied to me again?"

"Bingo."

"Why should I trust you, then?" she asked, folding her arms over her chest.

"Because I adore you, and I'm lying to you for all of the right reasons." He walked toward her slowly, his hands reaching out and caressing her cheeks. "Your skin is so soft."

"Don't," she whispered, turning her face away from him and backing up. He stopped immediately.

"Whatever you want," he said. She watched silently as he stared at her, her big blue eyes mirroring the sadness that he felt settle deep inside of him.

"I'm scared," she whispered, her eyes closing and her shoulders slumping.

"Why?" he asked, his brow furrowing.

"I…I don't know what to do. I hate you…and I love you. You have so much power over me Darien, and you know that. I know you do. You're going to hurt me again. I know you will."

Struggling to keep his distance, Darien's heart sank into his stomach. What he wouldn't give to scoop her in his arms and kiss her doubts away, to tell her that she was his life, to apologize for leaving her so many years ago and to make her his wife. "I…Serena you know that I regret leaving you. There aren't enough words to express how sorry I am. I love you, more than anything in this world. I've wasted so much time already. Don't push me away now."

Serena opened her eyes as silent tears streamed down her face, stopping at the curve of her lips and dripping onto the desk beneath her. Losing the battle against her wants, he quickly rushed to her and pulled her into his arms. Her body began to shake with sobs and he could feel her tears staining his shirt. His eyes burned and he closed them, the sound of a sniffle like the blast of a rifle against his ears. Her sadness was killing him. He had made her cry, the love of his life, the woman who melted the ice around his heart, and he had made her cry.

"It's okay," he said shakily. His mouth was dry and he licked his lips as she shook in his arms, her shoulders vibrating against his hands. "I'm so sorry." But the words meant nothing to her. All she could remember, all she could feel was her pain and all she could see were the tears that stung against her eyelids. She pushed herself away from him, and plopped down onto the cushy chair beside her. She wasn't weak anymore and she hated that Darien was watching her cry. She felt like a coward and a fool. She lowered her head into her hands and covered her face. She didn't want him to see her shame.

She felt him bend down before her and almost sighed when his hands cupped her face lifting it meet his. He moved his thumb to her eyes and quickly wiped away the stray tears that fell like leaves from her blue orbs. Leaning in, he felt his head touch hers and she sniffled against him. He shuddered when her fingers brushed against his chest and he wanted to kiss her so badly, to take her to his home and make love to her in his bed until the only tears that she shed were ones from ecstasy and utter bliss. Yet, now was not the time. He promised her that he would spend the rest of his life making this up to her, making her happy, making her his. He would never love another woman as much as he loved his meatball head.

"Serena," he said quietly as she looked into his eyes. She whimpered in response. "Please don't cry because of me. I'm not worth it."

Serena looked up at him somberly before she reached out and touched his face. "Yes you are."

Her honesty broke him and the tears that he had tried to hold back quickly fell. Serena caught them between her fingertips and watched as they dropped to the ground, absorb into the cracks in the wood and were forgotten. For moments he held her in his arms, his face buried in the crook of her neck until the sound of rumbling broke through the melancholic atmosphere.

"Darien?" asked Serena, the tone of her voice small and diffident.

"Yes?" he said looking into her eyes.

She smiled abashedly. "I'm hungry."

Quickly he stood up and reached out for her and without hesitation she placed her hand in his. "Let's go."