Of Faux and Friends

Chapter Seven

A/N: I know, sometimes I amaze myself (jk). I really had no intention on finishing this fic, but hell, let's give it a go. I changed some things in reference to the plot, so it's a little less melodramatic. Only a little though. Anyway, tell me what you think, reviews will keep me going.

Rating: M

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon's not mine.

"How long do you expect for us to keep this little charade up?" asked Lily, her fingers twirling around her auburn curls as she took another sip of water.

"Little charade?"

"Pretending we don't know each other, lying to Darien. He's no fool. He's going to figure out what's going on sooner or later."

"I would hardly call faking an amniocentesis and buying off doctor's a little charade. Do you have any idea how much this is costing me, Lily?"

"You said it was worth it if it meant getting Darien out of her life."

"She is worth it. The question is, how much do you value your life with Darien over the life of your little bastard child?"Lily grimaced. For the last few days she had been regretting this little deal she had made with Seiya.

Now she was beginning to realize how Eve felt after she took a bite from that apple. "What are you getting at, Seiya?"

"You're right, Lily, Darien is no fool. He's going to figure out that this baby isn't his and he's not going to be pleased that you've been lying to him about it."

"I'm aware of that Seiya. I'm not an idiot."

He chuckled, sipping his wine before staring wearily at her. He smirked; this poor girl had absolutely no idea what she had gotten herself into. "Do you love Darien the way you say you do?"

"Of course, I do. I wouldn't have responded to your offer and come all the way here if I didn't."

"Then answer my question. How far are you willing to go to win back your precious doctor?"

Lily paused before answering. Something broke inside her mind at his question and she feared asking him what exactly he had planned for her. When he tracked her down a little over a week ago and called her out of the blue, she had thought he was a telemarketer trying to sell her something, but when he stared spouting information to her about Darien, she knew he wanted something more than her money. Somehow he knew that she had been dating Darien before his departure and was pregnant with a child that wasn't his. He offered her the opportunity to win back the man she had lost and a considerable amount of money if she helped. He told her no one would get hurt in the process, that he could help her win him back at little cost to her. It all seemed too simple over the phone. He was articulate and cunning and for whatever reason, she trusted him. Yet, as she sat here, facing the man that was pulling the strings like a master puppeteer, all she could feel was fear, anxiety. What exactly had she gotten herself into and how far was she willing to go for him? She loved him so much and wanted desperately to live out the lie that she was creating with him. She would go to the ends of the world for him, even if it meant being guided there by the devil himself.

She sighed, her will was resolute, her destiny sealed. "I'm willing to go as far as it takes."

Seiya smiled. That was exactly what he was waiting to hear.

"Earth to Serena!" yelled Raye, waving a fork in front of the blonde for dramatic effect.

Serena focused her eyes on her friends before returning her concentration to the mother feeding her child in the park opposite the café where they were eating. She smiled sadly. Soon that would be Darien and Lily, strolling down the park with their new child. Reveling in the unwavering love that emanated from all new parents. She had never in her life been so envious of anyone. Another woman was living her dream, building a life with a man she had loved since her adolescence. Perhaps it was better this way, she and Darien had far too many demons between the two of them for their relationship to ever really make it to forever.

"Are you okay?" Serena, asked Mina, placing a hand over friends arm, a concerned expression on her face.

Serena smiled sadly. They would find out the news eventually. It couldn't hurt to tell them now. "Darien's having a baby."

Raye's eyes immediately widened in disbelief. "You're lying."

"Why the hell would I lie about that?" Serena snapped, glaring at her counterpart.

"Because…because you hate him that's why."

"I wouldn't make something like this up."

"If Darien was having a baby with someone then I would have been the first to know. He would have told me."

Serena laughed lowly. "Well it wasn't exactly planned. It was a nice little surprise for him."

"When he did tell you all of this?" asked Amy, putting her fork down and staring intently at Serena.

"A few days ago."

"So he just waltzed into your apartment and told you that he was going to be a father before telling me?"

"If it makes you feel any better I doubt Andrew knows either."

Raye frowned. "I don't believe you."

"Fine," said Serena, pushing the empty plate away from her as she leaned back further into her chair. "You can call him and ask. He's probably picking out pastels with his lovely girlfriend as we speak." Even to herself she sounded bitter.

"So wait, Darien decided, of all people, to come to your apartment and tell you that he was having a kid with someone that we've never even met?" asked Mina, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"That about sums it up."

"That doesn't even make sense," shouted Raye.

"It does actually, he owes me the truth," said Serena, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She was tired of keeping this secret from her friends. She wanted them to know the truth about her lies. "Considering our past."

"You two weren't exactly friends Serena, it doesn't make sense to us for him to divulge a huge secret like this to you," Amy said.

"There are a lot of things you don't know about Darien."

"And you're implying that you know him better than us?" asked Raye annoyed. "Better than me?"

"I know him better than any of you will ever know."

"What is that supposed to mean?" cried Raye.

"It's not supposed to mean anything; it's just a simple fact that he and I are closer than you all think."

"Yeah right, Serena, you two were so close that he ignored you for seven years and only kept in touch with me and Andrew."

"There's an interesting story behind all of that," said Serena, gathering up her things and rising to leave. "You should ask him to tell it to you sometime."

Night had fallen over her apartment and the only visible sign of color was the blue hue of the moonlight that bounced off the walls within the dark room. She sat there quietly, clutching a fleece blanket to her chest, a mug of steaming tea warming the hands that lay idly in her lap. Her phone hadn't stopped ringing since her impromptu speech at lunch this afternoon. She hadn't spoken to any of her friends since she arrived home, but she surmised from the voicemails that they had left, that every single one of her friends had called Darien. And that he had ignored every single one of their calls.

It didn't surprise her that he didn't pick up. He was probably furious with her for spreading his news, but she couldn't help it. It was this dirty little secret that was festering inside of her, egging on her rage, fueling her sorrow. She had to tell somebody or it would consume her like a boat in a raging storm. Her hand shook as she brought the tea to her lips, the scorching liquid burning her mouth and throat as she swallowed it down.

She wondered what he was doing now. Was he lying in bed stroking her belly, planning his future with the woman that had come and interrupted their second chance at love? Her eyes stung; she had been trying so hard not to cry that her tear ducts felt like they were going to explode. Her head throbbed and despite the tea, her mouth was parched. She needed…something. She needed to be around someone that cared for her, that loved her, that could take her mind off the burden that was ripping and tearing at her heart.

Shakily she reached for the phone and held the plastic against her ear, the cold stinging against her warm cheeks. She hesitated for a moment before placing the mug on the coffee table before her and dialing the digits the she knew so well. She waited, her hands trembling as the phone rang once, twice…she imagined that he wasn't going to pick up, considering everything that had happened between them recently.

"Hello?" The voice was calm, knowing, triumphant.

"Seiya?"

"Serena?"

"I…are you busy?"

He paused. She could almost see the smug smirk on his face. "I'm never too busy for you."

"Can you come by later? I…need to see you."

"Anything you want, love."

He hung up the phone gently before leaning back into his leather chair watching the logs in the fire place as they crackled and split. The grin on his lips was more than noticeable. Everything was falling right into place. Darien would be out of the picture soon, that little bitch Lily would get what she wanted and Serena, his beautiful Serena, was falling into his arms, just where she belonged.

"Raye, it's almost midnight. What are you doing here?" asked Darien, rubbing his red, swollen eyes as he viewed the brunette before him.

"I wouldn't be here if you answered your phone from time to time."

He sighed. "I had a busy day."

"Did you? What were you doing that kept you so occupied?" she asked, peeking into the dark, seemingly empty apartment. "I called your job. They said you called in sick today."

Darien grimaced. "I suppose I should invite you in then."

"That would be nice."

He moved to the side and gestured for her to enter. Raye searched stealthily for some sort of clue, anything that would indicate that someone other than Darien was living here and that she was in fact, of the female persuasion. However as always the apartment was spotless and if there was a pregnant girlfriend running around, she was nowhere to be found.

"So are you going to tell me what you're doing here so late or are you going to play Where's Wally in my apartment?"

"So you know why I'm here then?" she asked, spinning to face him, taking in his appearance. He looked tired and haggard at best.

"I'm figuring Serena told you."

"So it's true?"

Darien sighed. "Yeah, it's true."

"Where is she?"

Darien shrugged. "Sleeping."

"Here?"

"She wouldn't stay anywhere else."

Raye laughed. "Where did you try to ship her off to?"

"The Sheraton."

"Hoping she'd disappear?"

Darien frowned. "Maybe."

"That's not like you, to shirk your responsibilities."

"I don't need a lecture right now, Raye. I know what I have to do."

"So you're okay with her keeping the baby then?"

"She's four months pregnant. I don't have a choice."

Raye paused looking around, feeling pity for him. "Serena's really upset. I'm not quite sure why though."

He smirked; he was surprised that she didn't tell her friends the whole story. It was a lot to discuss he supposed and they had told a lot of lies to skirt around the fact that they were dating and completely in love behind their friends backs. "Is she?" asked Darien, feigning nonchalance. "I can't imagine why."

"I can't imagine why you would tell her before you would tell any of us."

Darien looked down to the ground before staring up at the frowning girl. He could tell she was about to go into lawyer mode. "It's complicated and I don't want to talk about it."

"I've never seen her like this. She's so detached, so bitter. I think she may do something stupid."

Darien crossed his arms over his chest. "I don't have any control over what Serena does."

"Her behavior today proves otherwise."

"Raye, please, it's late."

"I've always been there when you needed me and never asked anything from you. But Serena is my friend and I deserve to know what's going on between the two of you."

"Why don't you ask her then? She seems so eager to tell the whole world about what I'm dealing with then she should be just as ready to talk about herself."

Raye sighed. "Fine, but you need to find a way to fix this."

"I can't, Raye, this situation is completely fucked and now Serena is fucked because of it. Do yourself a favor and don't get involved."

"Don't get involved?" cried, her voice elevating. "You two are my best friends. You're hiding stuff from me and Serena is hurting. I'm already fucking involved."

"I'll talk to her, okay, just please go home before you wake Lily."

"So she does have a name. Am I ever going to get to meet her?"

"Yeah. One day."

"I'm going to hold you to that," she said, opening his door and stepping outside.

"I know you will," he said, watching her retreating figure before leaning against the wall and pressing his back against the wooden frame. Serena, I'm so sorry.

He shook his head before grabbing his coat and car keys. He needed to find her and at least try to make things right.

"You look upset," asked Seiya, setting his keys on the table sitting beside her on the couch.

"I didn't think you'd come." Her expression was blank, her features tired. He could see how this was hurting her and a small part of him hated what he was doing. But a few months from now when all of this was over, she would be happy with him, as his wife and Darien would be a distant memory.

"I told you I'd always be here when you needed me."

"I'm sorry for the way I treated you lately. There were other things…I…I'm sorry." She looked toward him and smiled sadly.

She closed her eyes when he reached out and touched her cheek. His fingers entwined themselves with her own and before she could stop herself, she was straddling him. His arm was firm around her waist, his breath warm against her cheeks. His lips were soft and yet firm against her collarbone, her neck, her lips. She felt too weak and vulnerable to stop him. What was the point in waiting? Darien was out of her reach for good now. What was so wrong with giving in to the man that loved her?

She returned his embrace, her lips covering his, his tongue dancing against her own. He pulled her hips over his and she found herself unable to stop from moving them on her own accord. She could feel his hardening length expanding beneath her and the friction felt tantalizingly good against her core.

She didn't fight him when she felt the robe loosen around her arms and almost cried out in anticipation with her bare breasts hit the crisp air. He immediately latched his mouth onto her swollen buds and nipped and sucked until she was mewing and whimpering, her hands fisting in his hair. He shifted slightly, removing his own jacket and shirt as he traced kisses up and down her neck.

Quickly he scooped her into his arms and pressed her into him. She gasped when she felt herself being lifted. He continued his ministrations as he made his way to the bedroom, making an intermitted stop against a wall, pressing her back into the wooden surface as he ground against her again.

"I've been waiting for this for so long," he said, his voice low and gruff. Through her panties he began to stoke her lips, her womanhood trembling with fresh need as she cried out against him. She suddenly felt guilty of depriving him for so long, making him wait because she had never given up on the man that broke her heart so many years ago.

His fingers hooked around her panties when the sudden knock on the door shook her from the sultry cloud of lust that was clouding her vision. She tensed when the knock came a second time.

"Leave it," said Seiya. "It's past midnight."

"It could be important. It may be one of my friends."

"They could have called," he said, nibbling on her neck earning another gasp of pleasure from his writhing companion.

"It may be important!" she said again, sliding down the wall away from him. Seiya sighed in frustration as he let her go, rubbing his hands through his hair. "It'll only take a minute. I just want to see who it is."

"Serena it's Darien! Please, just, open the door," he called from behind the wood that was trembling under the force of his knocking.

She stopped moving, her heart catching in her chest. She looked to Seiya who looked like he was going to explode from anger. "I'll answer it," he said, finally, stepping over the carelessly discarded clothing that lay strewn around the floor.

He gripped the brass handle and ripped it open hastily.

"Serena-"

"What the hell are you doing here?" yelled Seiya eyeing the man that stood erect in the doorway.

Darien sucked in a breath of surprise before scowling at the man. He was shirtless and disheveled. It was pretty obvious what they had been doing. "I could ask you the same thing."

Seiya laughed. "I was about to make love to my girlfriend. Considering you interrupted, I think its best that you leave."

"I'm not going anywhere without Serena. Where the hell is she?"

Darien shoved Seiya hard enough to push him into the adjacent wall before meeting the gaze of the surprised and bewildered girl that stood clutching her clothes before him. "Are you okay?"

"Of course she's okay," said Seiya recovering from Darien's assault. The man had pushed him so hard that all the wind was not knocked out of him. "I wasn't forcing her, she was more than willing."

"Seiya," Serena said, warningly.

"I need…I just need to talk to you," Darien said, stepping closer to the blond.

"You don't have anything to talk about it."

"Are you Serena?" asked Darien forcefully, his fists clenching. "Stop answering for her. She's perfectly capable of speaking for herself."

"You have no business here, Chiba."

"I'd beg to differ, Takagawa."

"Don't come here picking fights. I would hate to have to send you back to your pregnant little twat of a girlfriend bruised and bloody," Seiya said, cracking his knuckles and stepping toward Darien.

"So I guess you told everyone then," Darien said looking at her with an irritable expression on his face.

"I never told him. How did you know about that Seiya?"

He laughed. "I was at the florist attempting to buy flowers for you when I ran into her, bragging about how you knocked her up and sending roses to herself on your dime. Your little girlfriends a fucking idiot. By next week the whole towns going to know about Chiba, Jr."

"Stay out of this, Seiya," Darien yelled, stepping toward Serena.

"Not even going to defend the mother of your child. Guess you won't be in the running for the father of the year award," Seiya said smugly.

"Shut up," said Darien, rounding on Seiya and approaching the younger man quickly.

"You probably don't even give a fuck about her. You're too busy here trying to seduce my girlfriend."

Darien chuckled. "Some boyfriend you are. Last time I checked, threatening your girlfriend when she breaks up with you isn't exactly what I would call wooing her."

"No, but I suppose knocking someone up and then leaving them to rot in New York is. You have a habit of hasty escapes Darien. At least I stuck around. Too bad I can't say the same about you."

"She's better off without you. You should have left!"

"But I didn't! I'm a man of my word. Not some fucking coward who leaves town just because he's too much of a bitch to handle a few bumps in the road."

Darien paused momentarily before thrusting his fist into the younger man's face. Serena screamed as she saw Seiya's head pop to the left, a small amount of blood flinging itself onto a nearby wall.

"Stop it Darien!" she yelled running toward Seiya who had fallen on the floor, weakened by the impact of Darien's attack.

Seiya immediately pushed himself up before charging at Darien, pushing his back into a wall and landing a punch against the older man's jaw. Darien immediately recovered from the blow and kneed Seiya in the groin pushing him from his body and slamming his fist once again into the other man's face.

Seiya swore loudly as his vision went black for a moment. He stumbled backwards clutching the couch for leverage. "You son of a bitch! I'm going to kill you!"

"I'd like to see you try," Darien said, using his fist to wipe the small trickle of blood that stained the corner of his lips.

"If the both of you don't cut this out I'm calling the police!" yelled Serena, frowning at them both.

"Well tell you're crazed ex-boyfriend to get the hell out of here!"

"You first," Darien spat vehemently.

"You both can leave for all I care! Get out. Both of you. Now!"

"Not until you talk to me," Darien said, vulnerability replacing the rage in his eyes. "Please, just talk to me."

"I don't think so," Seiya said, stepping forward. Serena immediately went to step in front of him. Her hand pressed into his chest as she stared pleadingly into his eyes. "We need to settle this. Just me and Darien. I'll come see you as soon as this is over. I promise."

Seiya sighed. Things were not turning out how he had planned. He had never expected Chiba to show up and fight for her fucking honor. He cringed. He was going to have to leave her alone with Chiba. He could play the understanding boyfriend. For now.

"Fine, but if he does anything to upset you, I'm coming back," Seiya said, wiping the blood from his mouth and kissing her cheek. Quickly he put on his shirt, grabbed his coat and exited toward the door.

"I'll be seeing you Chiba."

"You can count on it," Darien replied, watching as he disappeared from the door frame. He shut the door behind him slowly.

"Why are you here?" Serena asked, pulling the robe tighter around herself.

"Raye said if I didn't come you'd do something stupid. Apparently that means having sex with your homicidal boyfriend."

Serena sighed. "Go home, Darien."

"I didn't come here to pick a fight with you or Seiya, Serena. But considering that's the only way I can get you to talk to me… you won't answer my calls."

"I was planning on calling you back, it's just….if she answers the phone I might lose it. It's easier for me to think of her as someone who doesn't really exist. I don't want to picture you with her."

"But she does exist," he said, stepping toward her. "And I can't change that, Serena."

"I know."

"Just because…I told you, nothing has changed for me." She didn't protest as he reached out and touched her arm, pulling her into him. She was warm and small in his arms.

"I…we can't. I can't."

Darien smiled grimly. "So you'd rather be with Seiya than with me?"

"No. For right now, I'd rather be by myself. I just…I need time to think about things, I just don't know what to do," she said, maneuvering herself from his grip.

He sighed. "Okay. I know this situation is difficult. But just because I'm having a child with Lily, it doesn't mean that I'm going to pick up with her where I left off. I'll wait forever for you. I'm always going to love you Serena, no matter what you decide."

He lingered for a moment before closing the door behind him. As soon as the door slammed shut she felt her resolve break. The tears came in waves, strong and unyielding, the sounds of her sobs consuming all notions of tranquility in her apartment. This situation with Seiya and Darien, his baby, the secrets she was keeping from her friends, it was so suffocating. She felt so painfully trapped. She needed a break, an intermission to gather her thoughts. As long as she stayed here surrounded, so near to everything that reminded her of him, stayed within an earshot of hearing about him and his complicated relationship with her, she would succumb to the feelings of inadequacy and jealously that were surging within her. She needed to leave this apartment; she needed to leave this city.

She needed to get out of Japan.