Of Faux and Friends

Chapter 10

A/n: Sometimes I amaze myself…just kidding. So I am done with this. The manuscript is completely finished. I just need to edit each chapter because right now it's just one big text file. I'll be publishing one chapter everyday till it's done. Now on to finish Bait and Switch and start the outline for the possible sequel I'm dreaming up for Moriari. As always enjoy and review.

He watched her, the paleness of her face, the pristine, clear tears that fell from her eyes onto trembling hands that rested idly in her lap, the pallid reflection of her flesh apparent against the pale blue hospital gown. How many times had he been the harbinger of sad news? How many times had he told a woman about the death of her unborn baby? How many times had he told his patients that they may never be able to conceive again? It was a strange thing to be on the other side.

"I can't believe this," she croaked, her voice dry and low. Emerald green eyes lifted to meet his face. "How could this happen, Darien? I can't believe he's gone." Her hands fell to caress her empty womb.

He searched for the right words to say; words of comfort, sentiments of trite condolences. "I don't know," he said grimly. It was all he could say.

She frowned, olive eyes tightening to smaller slits. "Is that all you have to say?" Her voice was suddenly strong with anger, her hands gripping the sheets like a vice.

He sighed, pinched the bridge of his nose and looked to her. "I don't know what else to say."

She exhaled. "I went looking for you. I went looking for you, because I was worried and now our baby is dead!"

Darien's face remained a mask of stoicism, his lips, a thin line of unfeeling disdain. "I'm sorry-"

"You're not sorry! You never even wanted this baby in the first place!"

"I never wanted this baby to die! You shouldn't even be implying that."

Lily laughed, a bitter chuckle lacking mirth, lacking joy. "I'm sure a part of you is thrilled. You get to go on with your life with Serena. You don't have any obligation to me anymore. I'm surprised you're even still sitting here."

Darien scowled at her. She was in physical pain and emotional turmoil; part of him knew she didn't mean what she was saying, yet her words stung nonetheless. "You're not the only one who lost their baby today, Lily. This may not have been an ideal situation, but you have no idea how I felt about our son."

"Of course I don't! You never talked to me! Whenever I was around all you did was sit around and brood and pine over her!"

"What the hell did you want from me? I was handling things the best way I knew how! Two months ago my life did a complete one-eighty. I might not have been overjoyed, but I gave you everything you needed."

"Everything I needed but nothing I wanted. You don't care about me!"

"I wouldn't be sitting here right now if I didn't care about you!"

Lily sniffled, lifting her hand to wipe the tears from her cheek. "All I wanted was a family. With the man that I loved. Things weren't supposed to turn out this way."

Darien sighed. "Lily, we would have never been the family that you wanted. I cant…I can't give you what you want. You need to find someone that can."

She chuckled, her features ridden with disgust. "So that's it then? We're completely done and you're going to leave me to fend for myself?"

He shook his head. "I never said that. I'll be here for as long as you need me."

"My baby is dead because of you. I deserve more than that."

His eyes narrowed. "What aren't you saying?"

"I lost everything to come out here to be with you. My job, my home, now my child…I have nothing. You owe it to me to give me another chance."

"I'm sorry that our son is gone, I truly am," Darien began, standing up. "I'm I'm sorry that you made a rash decision to completely put your life on hold to come here and intrude on mine without as much as calling me. I never, never, hoped for anything bad to happen to you or our baby, but I can't give you want you want Lily! Don't make this harder than it has to be. I'll be there for you, financially, platonically, but I can't give you some fairytale life that will never exist for us."

"Get out," she snarled, her face riddled with tears. "I said GET OUT!"

"Fine," Darien said. "I'll be back tomorrow. I'm not going to let you go through this alone. I mean that."

Serena glanced at him again, her eyes falling back to the road, her fingers tight around the leather steering wheel as she pushed on the brakes. Taking a moment to gather her thoughts at the red light, her eyes once again focused on Darien. He hadn't said anything after visiting Lily; just grabbed her by the hand and led her to the car.

"Stupid question, but are you doing alright?" She couldn't stomach the silence.

"Yeah," he grunted. His eyes straight ahead on the road, his arms resting idly at his sides. She sighed quietly, pressing gently on the gas as the light turned green. "No. I don't know. She blames me, for the baby dying."

Serena glanced at him briefly. "She shouldn't…you were with me. If I would have just stood my ground and stayed away from you-"

"I came to you, remember? You have nothing to do with this."

"I have everything to do with this. If I would have just told you to go home, maybe she wouldn't have gone out that night. If I wouldn't have-"

"What? Let me make love to you? Give me something that I've wanted, needed from you for such a long time?" He turned to face her. "Please, this has nothing to do you. Lily made a choice to go out and find me. I hate what's happened because of it, but neither of us can sit here and take the blame for what happened. It was a needless accident and the baby paid for it. But I can't sit around letting myself worry about something I never had any control over."

Serena nodded silently before making a sharp left and halting the car after pulling into the parking stall. They sat in silence for a moment until Serena reached for the ignition and turned off the motor. "What are you going to do now?" she asked him.

"What do you mean?"

She looked at him sadly. "I'm sure…she needs you to be there with her-"

"And you have a new life waiting for you in London. What are we going to do?"

The question to her was more rhetorical than anything. She had obligations; legal obligations that could result in her getting fired. Her flight left seven hours ago and she wasn't on it. Eventually someone from her office would be calling asking where the hell she was and why she missed her flight. She wanted, more than anything, for him to offer to move in with her. But Darien was a man of valor; he wasn't going to be cavalier in regards to Lily. He would need to be there, he would need to mourn.

Carefully she stepped out of her vehicle, listening as Darien followed suit. She felt trapped in a haze as she walked with him towards the elevator. It was as though her mind wasn't working and only her feet knew where to go. Golden elevator doors slid open, the melancholy sound of a somber jazz ballad wafted quietly from the speakers above them as they stepped inside, watching the door close.

Her trembling fingers pressed the dimly illuminated number seven as the elevator rumbled to life, gliding up floor after floor until a familiar chime whistled against the quiet. Slowly they stepped out, their steps side by side, even in pace and stride as fumbling fingers reached for the keys in her bright yellow leather Balenciaga purse. The keys jingled a tune that feigned happiness until being thrust into the keyhole; the door opened with a silent sweep.

Walking into her nearly empty apartment reminded her of what realities laid before them. A majority of her clothing and shoes had already been shipped to the loft in downtown London that was supposed to be new home. Her lease was set to expire in less than two weeks; Monday was supposed her first day of work.

Lethargically she removed her shoes and tossed them into the empty corner, ignoring Darien as he threw his jacket onto the couch. She could feel his eyes on her, but she was too exhausted to say anything. They had spent half the day waiting in the hospital and because of his impromptu visit and their love making, she hadn't had the opportunity to get much sleep.

Quickly she traipsed into her bedroom and plopped onto the unmade bed, her body resting against the down mattress, her eyes fluttering closed.

"What's that?" asked Darien, after entering the room, his eyes falling onto the bedside table nearest the window.

"What's what?" she asked her, eyes still closed.

"That giant diamond ring on your nightstand?"

Immediately her eyes shot open. Seiya. With the on goings of the last twenty four hours she had forgotten about her proposal from Seiya and had subsequently forgotten that for a moment, she had said yes. By the time she and Darien had made it to her couch last night the ring had turned inward on her finger and she had been so busy gripping and clawing at his back that he hadn't even seen that it was there. Sometime during the middle of the night she must have taken it off and laid it on the table beside her before going to sleep.

Slowly she raised herself into a sitting position, watching the stern yet confused expression on Darien's face. "I can explain."

"Don't tell me that's what I think it is."

"I thought you and I were over."

"So you got engaged? To Seiya?"

"I…I know…it was dumb and I didn't really mean it, I don't know. I wasn't thinking, I was…sad and confused and depressed. And I was leaving, I didn't think…I don't even know if I would have gone through with it. Please don't me mad."

Darien looked at her sharply; his mouth agape. "I…I'm surprised. I'm not mad. Up until yesterday I had no claim on you. Things were complicated…I had a baby on the way, and now you have a fiancée."

Serena sighed. "Kind of a fiancée."

"Serena he gave you a wedding ring. He's your fiancée. I suppose last night doesn't matter much anyway. You have a responsibility to your job. Somewhere thousands of miles away from here."

"And you're responsible for Lily. Pregnant or not. She's hurting now and is going to need you."

Darien paused for a moment before walking towards her and sitting down beside her on the bed. "If we didn't have any other responsibilities to other things, other people, where would you and I be?"

Serena smiled softly. That answer was easy. "I would be with you, London, New York, Japan. I don't care where we were. As long as I was with you, I'd be okay."

He leaned in and kissed her cheek. "If I have learned anything from the mistake I made when I left you, is that you can't go back. Things don't always turn out the way you want them to and if you don't seize the day now, if you don't go after what you want, then one day you'll turn around and everything that you've wanted is gone. The only thing I want right now is you. Everything else can wait."

Serena leaned her head onto his shoulder and sighed, wishing life could be just a little easier.

"You can't be serious," said Seiya, his nostrils flaring with anger. He couldn't believe this was happening.

"Take it back," said Serena, her outstretched arm pressed toward him, a large diamond ring sparkling the middle of her palm.

"Why? What suddenly changed?" asked Seiya, feigning ignorance. Darien Chiba fucking her on her couch changed everything.

"I should have never said yes to begin with. This is a mistake. You and I are a mistake."

"Since when?"

"Since always."

"Funny that you never thought so until Chiba came back into your life."

"Seiya please, it's been a long day and I'm tired. I don't want to fight."

"If you're going to walk out on me, at least have the balls to be honest and up front about it. Is this because of Darien or not?"

She frowned after a moment. "What do you want me to say?" Of course this was about Darien. He'd left shortly after their conversation. She didn't promise him anything; in fact she told him she needed time to think. Wanting to be with him was a no-brainer. But she wouldn't just have to be breaking up with Seiya, she would be throwing her career away. If she reneged on her contract with Vogue London they would dismiss her; she couldn't go back to her old job because the position had already been filled. In the back of her mind she knew wholeheartedly that Darien would take care of her financially. But money wasn't the issue here. She had been working her ass off since college to get where she was today. Did she really want to throw it all away? But Seiya, breaking things off with him was a no brainer. Darien or not, London or not, she needed him out of her life.

"Part of this is about Darien, but another part of this is about me. You're not good for me Seiya. You and I aren't good together. We want different things out of life, we have nothing in common and I wouldn't be happy as your wife. I wasn't even happy as your girlfriend."

"And you realized all of this now?"

"No. I've known this from the beginning. But loneliness altars your way of thinking."

"So I was just something to occupy your time then?" he asked, his voice even. Behind the tranquil façade, Seiya was seething inside.

"Don't put words in my mouth. That's not what I meant."

"Fine," he said, snatching the ring from her hands. "I'm not going to beg you to stay with me. I hope you and the good old doctor are happy. But if there is one thing I can promise, Serena, it's that you're going to regret this."

She watched in silence as he walked towards the door and then out of it, a shiver of fear ripping through her. She wasn't sure if he meant breaking up with him because of what she was missing out on or something much more sinister.

With Seiya, it was always hard to tell.

"The insurance company called," said Darien, as sat down opposite Lily, a bag of toiletries one hand. "They said somehow you managed to wrap my BMW around a tree."

Lily frowned. "I'll pay the deductible-"

"That's not why I'm bringing this up," he said, setting the small bag on the bed beside her.

"Then why?" she asked heatedly. She was still obviously upset about him choosing Serena over her.

"What exactly do you remember from that night?" asked Darien.

"Why? I lost control of the car…I mean there was an asshole tailgating me. But all I can remember is smashing into the tree and then waking up here. Why? Something you're not telling me?"

"No. But there was black paint all over the bumper of the steering wheel and signs of impact from the rear. The police are talking about investigating. Are you sure there's nothing you can remember?"

Lily frowned. She was still recovering from major surgery and everything that night had happened so fast that she could barely recall what she had divulged to the insurance company over the phone. "I don't…I can't remember," she said. Sudden pictures flashed through her mind, the sound of an engine rumbling, the feeling of the truck slamming into her from behind, the black tinted windows. "Wait…there was a truck. I don't know what color it was, it was dark and that road barely had any street lights. I remember him tailing me and hitting me a couple of times. I don't…I don't remember what happened after that."

Darien frowned. Had someone intentionally driven her off the road? What wasn't she telling him? "Lily, is it possible that someone would want you dead?"

Inwardly she panicked. "Why would anyone want me dead? I don't know anyone out here Darien. Why would some stranger want to kill me?" she asked, trying to sound calm but her heart was aflutter with panic. Something stuck in her mind about the last conversation she'd had with Seiya. He asked her how far she was willing to go for Darien. Had he done this? Had he organized a hit on her? And if so, why would he want her dead.

"Lily? I need you to calm down," said Darien. "Your blood pressure is rising." Carefully he monitored the machines.

"Sorry, no…I'm fine. Just the thought of someone wanting to kill me-"

"Don't worry. You said it yourself, who do you know in Tokyo that would want you dead?" She smiled nervously at him. "I talked to your doctor today. He said you'll be discharged over the next couple of days but because of the extent of your injuries, you're going to need someone with you as much as possible. Considering your predicament, I think it's best if we keep living together."

"What?" she asked, her eyes wide with shock.

"I meant what I said. I'm not going to just leave you to fend for yourself out here. I'm not going to leave you alone during all of this. As soon as you're well enough to leave the hospital, I'll take you home and we'll handle things from there. The pneumothoraces on your lungs are small enough that they won't need treatment and your ribs won't be wrapped and will heal slowly on their own. It shouldn't be long before you're out of here."

Lily nodded. "Does Serena know about this?"

Darien's eyes narrowed. "Yes, she does."

"I guess it doesn't matter now, since she's going to London," she said pointedly staring at Darien for a response. She rolled her eyes when he offered none. "She is going to London right?"

"I don't know," he said honestly.

"You don't know?" she asked, her voice heavy with suspicion.

"No. I don't. She said she needed time to think."

"Think about what?"

"Going to London and living her dream in the career she's always wanted or staying here and living her dream of being with me."

"She said that?"

"She said that," Darien responded.

"And what if she decides to leave? What then?"

"I don't know."

"Will we ever have a chance again? I can make you just as happy as she does."

Darien doubted that. "Let's take things one day at a time okay?" He didn't have the heart to crush her spirit even more. She had already lost so much.

He kissed her, his lips moving over hers softly as he pulled her into his body, her breasts pressing into his white lab coat, her hands tangling in his hair. It had been nearly a day since he'd seen her, since he'd felt her against him. Her fingers scraped against his chest as she moved them downward, her fingernails flicking his nipples on the way down; he nearly came undone.

"What was that for?" asked Darien after she untangled herself from him to let him into her apartment.

"Do I need a reason?" she asked, closing the door behind him.

"Never. Is everything ok?" he asked, removing his coat. "You said it was important. I figured that means you made a decision."

"Yup."

Darien turned to face her. "So what's the verdict?"

She paused for a moment watching as vestiges of fear and hope flashed across his face. "Gianna Giuseppe is not too happy with me right now."

"Who?"

"The lady who was supposed to be my boss."

"Supposed to be?" he asked, his voice rising.

"Yeah, I called…relinquished my position. I'm not going to London."

"Are you serious?"

"Is the Pope a Catholic?"

Darien chuckled at her sarcasm. "Are you sure about this?"

"No…but I already made my choice. I've been away from you for too long. Fashion will always be there, but I don't know how long I'll have to be with you."

Darien was moved by her words, she had given up her passion to be with him. She had quit her job for him, turned her entire life around for him. For that he would forever be grateful. He rushed toward her, pulling her body into his before leaning his head in capturing her lips into a kiss. She giggled as he lifted her into the air and spun her around.

"Oh and one other very important fact…I broke off my engagement with Seiya."

"Did you now?" he said, putting her down and smiling at her, his eyes twinkling with love. "How did he take it?"

"How do you think?"

"Did he throw a hissy fit?"

"Basically."

"Make some speech?"

"You know it."

"Threaten you?"

Serena paused. "Maybe." She turned to look at Darien who was no longer smiling. "I said maybe…I don't know, it might be nothing."

"What exactly did he say?

"He said I'd regret it. But that could mean anything."

"We're talking about Seiya though."

"We've broken up a million times and every single time he'd tell me I'd regret it."

"Yes, but that was before I came into the picture and we both know he's not happy that I'm back in your life. I'm basically the Montague to Capulet."

"Are you seriously comparing our little love triangle to Romeo and Juliet? It's not that dramatic," said Serena grinning.

"It's dramatic enough."

"But not in a Shakespearean way, it's like not anybody is going to die," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing his nose.

"You seem deliriously happy for someone who just quit their job, you know."

"I know. I don't think it's hit me yet. I think you may have to help me keep my mind off things."

"And how can I do that?" he asked, huskily.

"I don't know, use your imagination," said Serena, giggling.

"I don't know, I have a pretty dirty imagination."

"Well then I can't possibly imagine what you're imagining. You may have to show me," she said closing her eyes as Darien kissed down her neck. He lifted her against him until her legs were wrapped securely around his waist, his erection pushing into her. "But I can already tell that you're up for the challenge."

For three days she sat and waited, paranoia seeping in and poisoning her mind. For three days she had waited until she felt strong and composed enough to confront Seiya. Three days before being discharged from hospital. Three days until Darien's watchful eye was no longer upon her. When he said he was going out today she knew what he meant. She was going to see his precious Serena. His evenings were spent with her, making sure she was comfortable and is as little pain as possible, but his mind was elsewhere. His mind seemed to be always on Serena.

Shaking her head slightly she banished all those thoughts away. Limping slowly she trudged to the elevator, ignoring the stares from the people passing through the upscale lobby of the building where Seiya's penthouse was. She gripped the walls of the elevator roughly, the pain in her chest amplified by the all consuming fear that was flowing through her like the tide of an angry river. Just a few more steps and she would be there, with him.

Peering down until the elevator doors opened she pushed past them, walking past the butler, the night maid, the Master Sommelier, past the chef until she burst into Seiya's office, the smoke from the Cuban cigar he was puffing at burning her already injured lungs.

"I suppose it was only a matter of time before you came here," he said, turning his neck to look at the gasping woman. Slowly he placed down the goblet of Merlot, the burgundy liquid gently sloshing as he sat it down onto the counter next to the smoking cigar. "You look horrendous."

"You did this didn't you? You did this to me! To my baby!"

"Yes-"

"Don't lie to me-"

"Who's lying?"

"How dare you try to cover up-"

"Clearly you're not listening to me Lillian. Yes, I issued a hit on you and yes, I am the reason your bastard child is dead. Anymore questions?"

She wretched, a dry heaving deep inside her, as she sobbed, a lone cry escaping her mouth. She gripped her empty womb, her free hands grasping the headrest of the red leather arm chair beside her. Shaky legs pulled her forward as she staggered into the chair, tears flowing freely down her face.

"Why? WHY?"

"Why do you think?"

"What?"

"Where are you now?"

"What?"

"Not so responsive are we?"

"What are you saying?" she screamed.

"Are you living with him or not?"

"Yes. I am."

"And what transpired between the two of you today?"

"He...he brought be breakfast in bed, he ran a bath for me in the morning, came home during his lunch break with food for me, made me dinner-"

"Well there now, you see…things are going swimmingly between the two of you now. And I'd say he's treating you much better than he was before, wouldn't you say? I think you've gotten exactly what you wanted."

Lily looked at him, horrified by what he was implying. "What I wanted? My baby is dead! Dead, Seiya! And Darien is only being so nice to me because he feel s guilty and he pities me. He's not in love with me, we're not a family! THIS IS NOT WHAT I WANTED," she screamed.

"Well you weren't doing a very good job pitching the idea of a family to him. He clearly wasn't interested in that."

"How could you do this?"

"Lily, come now, you had to have known this wouldn't have been a happy ending for you. You were carrying another man's baby and passing it off as Darien's. So not only did you cheat on him with another man during your courtship, you were impregnated by said man and then you tried to convince your ex, who wanted nothing to do with you, that the baby was his. Now let me remind you that your little stud on the side, what was his name? Mitchell,right? Mitchell looked nothing like Darien, as a matter of fact, he couldn't have looked less like Dr. Chiba. So what would have happened, on that glorious day, when your baby came out looking completely like someone else? He's a doctor for Christ's sake; he's not a fool Lily. He would have figured it out eventually. I spared you his hatred. Instead of being pissed at you, he's practically at your beck and call. Not a happy ending, but a better one than you might have had."

She looked at him, shock reigning on her face. "That doesn't change the fact that my son is dead. My son."

"I know…pity too. But you're uterus is completely fine. Good luck making another one."

"I cant…I can't believe you'd do this. I could have died."

"And that would have backfired, let me tell you. But you didn't. You'll survive."

"You're a psychopath. I should go to the police and tell them what you've done. You don't deserve to be sitting up here in your mansion with all of these things after the terrible things you've done to me."

"Are you threatening me?" he asked, his eyes alight with malice.

"What if I am?"

Seiya smiled. "Then you've just made an enemy out of the wrong person, Lillian."