It had been a long day at the office, too long. All the petite blond wanted was a hot bath and lots of rest. As she trudged down the corridors of the Rory, Torrance & Associates she wondered what she was still doing there at 1:30 am. Her once tight pin-striped skirt suit was crumpled from sitting so many hours in a desk. The black heels she loved so much induced so much pain she was ready to let the jackals she loving called cats maul them. She had no real business there- not until September- and even then she was only assisting the main council. She hated doing favors; Rei Hino owed her big.

Riding the elevator to the first floor she halfway fell asleep until the familiar "ding" awoke her. She waved goodbye to the security guard and walked herself to her sleek silver Infiniti G-35. The ride home was just as miserable- red lights were a curse designed to put her to sleep before she found the comfort of her bed.

The quiet apartment building brought her glee- she was sooo close to reaching her apartment door now- so close to a hot bath...

"It's really late Serena- shouldn't you already be in bed?"

"Andrew what are you doing waiting outside my door?"

The tall, blond, model look-alike was sitting in front of her much treasured door not looking like he was gonna budge. His jeans looked just a little crumpled from sitting, but the green shirt he wore really brought out the nice color of his eyes.

"Well now Usa, that's not a nice way of greeting an old friend?"

"Drew, I'm tired I've had a long day- and I really want to get inside. My feet are killing me, I need to get out of this suit and bathe so I can sleep! And quit calling me Usa- I was eight the last time I was referred to as a rabbit."

"Now, now behave yourself or I'll call your mom first thing in the morning...And where pray tell are you're trademark buns? Didn't you once say they were a "part" of you and nobody could change that?"

"Andrew, I'm tired- look if you want sleep on the couch, fine- we'll talk in the morning- I'll call it a sick day or something and spend the day catching up with you- just let me get inside!"

"Always were such a sweet girl Usa."

"Yeah, yeah move a bit so I can get to the front of my door."

As she searched for her keys in her purse she wondered if her home was clean enough to let anyone even come in.

...Were the dishes even washed...what if I left personal clothes on the bathroom floor...man this is gonna be a long night...

"Drew c'mon in- I'm sure the place is a wreck and guess what I'm not in the mood to clean- so deal with it."

"Sure thing Usa."

Her apartment screamed 'girl'. The white accents and pink curtains looked a bit dated but hey- what did she care- she hardly had time to notice it. Sure sometimes she'd prefer it to have a sophisticated air but there was only so much you could do when you spent 85 hours a week in an office. Not to mention who was gonna see her precious flat? Ha! She couldn't remember the last time she had a date- work kept her sooo busy.

The living room was littered with magazines, and case papers and random candy wrappers. This is what Serena lovingly called home.

The lanky blond followed Serena in- his green eyes took in everything. Eyeing Serena he giggled- as much as she thought she'd change she was still the same eight year-old next door. She never could keep her room clean, much less an apartment.

"Drew make yourself at home- just don't make it a permanent one."

"Please Usa, I've got a nice home just outside of NYC. You want anything before you go to sleep? Maybe something along the lines of food...?"

"As tempting as that sounds I think I'll settle for breakfast tomorrow morning and a steaming bath now."

"M'kay Usa. Goodnight and remember big, strong Andrew is here to chase away those bad dreams of yours."

"Yeah, yeah goodnight to you too."

As she peeled away her grey jacket, Serena turned the hot water on and let it run so the tub would fill. The rest of her clothes came away just as the tub finished filling. Lowering her tired body into the tub immediately relaxed her stiff muscles. For too many hours she was nailed to a chair- sure it's what she had wanted, but now at twenty-eight she was beginning to doubt herself.

She hadn't dated since high school, and even then her relationships didn't last more than a week or two. She didn't have time to work on a relationship- she barely had time for herself. Her fears of becoming of a lonely spinster were mounting as each day passed by. She remembered being fifteen and telling her friends that by 25 she'd surely be married and by 26 she'd hope to have a little boy running around her house. She sighed with contempt. Was it so much to ask for? And sure she wasn't as social as the rest of her friends- all but Mina and Ami had found their special someone. Even Haruka managed to find someone, which often put a damper on things. Serena had figured that if by 35 she hadn't married she might concede to go on a date with Haruka. Oddly enough Haruka ended up with someone before she had her chance with her; so much for back-up plans.

Serena chastised herself quietly, "There's no way Cupid just skipped out on me and went straight to my friends. Sure Lady Luck never really smiles down upon me- but Cupid...maybe he was different, at least I pray he is."

"Usa are you done...? I kinda have to go!"

She had forgotten that he was so whinny- but she loved her Drew. With no big brothers of her own, she took to Andrew like a kid sister. "I'm going Andrew- I'll be out in 5."

She pulled herself out of the tub and wrapped herself in a fluffy towel as she drained the water in the tub. Her golden hair streamed down until it hit the middle of her back. Opening the door she saw Andrew jumping up and down.

"Finally," muttered the fastidious blond. He raced in and slammed her bathroom door shut with an audible thud.

"Don't forget to put the seat back down Andrew!" Laughingly she grabbed some spare sheets and a blanket and left them in the living room for the tall blond.

She then trudged into her room put on a pair of boxers and a pink tank. Grabbing what was left of the case file she agreed to 'help' with, she quickly edited it, and went about adding or taking away new arguments. At 4 am she decided that enough was enough, she threw everything on her mahogany nightstand, and turned the lamp off, promptly falling asleep.

Setting an alarm, the blond in the living room decided that he too needed his beauty rest if indeed he was going to divulge the reason of his presence. With a half hazard movement he threw off his clothes grabbed the sheets Serena had left and promptly fell asleep on the couch..