Chapter Thirteen

And Honestly, Who Can Blame You?

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When they arrived at the Tsukino's residents, Darien took in the home. It was bigger then he'd realized. It didn't look so big from the outside, but it was really spacious inside. He was led upstairs to where he'd be rooming for the next few days.

When Serena opened the door to her room, he expected to see pink fuzzy stuff, or something extremely girl, but it was the complete opposite. He could've mistaken her room for Sammy's, maybe with a slight hint of homosexuality, but with a few changes, it could be a guys room. His jaw dropped in awe.

"I guess I forgot to mention that I'm a tom-boy. I hate make-up and rarely get dressed up in fancy 'girly' stuff." She confessed.

"No, it's totally fine sweetie. I love you for you, you don't need to be a girly girl for me to love you...as long as you aren't a lesbian, we're good." He joked.

"Then I guess we aren't good," she snickered going along with his joke. His jaw dropped. "I WAS KIDDING, I SAID I LOVE YOU DIDN'T I?"

"Yah, I know, I didn't think you were kidding for a second there." He sighed a sigh of relief.

"Knock, knock." Serena's dad stood at the door. "I should have suggested this on our way home, but I suppose it's late for that. Darien, shall we head to your place for some clothes or something?"

"Oh, yah, I guess that'd be a good idea." He remembered that he had only a pair of pajamas and the clothes he was waring...with holes from the knife and completely saturated in blood.

"I'll stay and wait for mom and Sammy." Serena said, making herself comfy on her couch.

"No, I want to be sure you're completely fine, the doctor said to have someone with you at all times." Serena's dad said cautiously.

"I know, but Sammy will be here in what, 10 minutes, maybe sooner, and mom will be here not long after that." Serena begged.

Ken looked at Darien, who had a sense of worry in his eyes. "I don't really like the id-" Darien started.

"I'll be fine, I've survived a beating, and multiple stab wounds...if I feel in the least bit wousy or like something's wrong, I'll call your cell." She reassured. She turned to her dad. "Please daddy." She pulled out the puppy dog eyes.

"Aw, come on honey, you know I don't do the puppy dog eyes...fine, but you have to promais to call when Sammy gets home, so I won't have to worry." Ken gave in.

"Thank you, thank you. I want to clean up anyways if I'm gonna have company."

"Just don't over work yourself. Keep in mind that you are still recovering." Darien reminded.

"Yah, yah, I know. You guys worry to much."

"We'll be back as soon as possible." Ken said.

"Take your time." Serena urged.

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When the two men reached Darien's appartment, Serena had called. She notified that Sammy was home and all was good.

"I'm fine..." She sighed.

"Everything okay, Serena?" Ken asked.

"Well, could you guys pick up something to eat...I know it's not close to dinner, but we haven't eaten anything since breakfast, being a late one." She said, stomach growling.

"Yah, but that could be a while, traffic is horrible, but I'll see what we can do. And don't worry, your mother is held up at work, we should be back before she gets there. Bye honey."

"Okay, thanks. Bye," She hung up.

"Great, you guys got something to take for my food-crazed daughter? We were sapposed to go shopping lastnight, but never had the chance, we're outta food." Ken asked Darien.

He looked in the cuboards and then the fridge. He reported his findings. "I guess we were gonna do the same lastnight." Darien laughed.

"Getting food could add another hour onto the trip, and when Ilene called in the car, she said she was going to be held up at the office, and wouldn't return till the usual suppertime."

"Well I'll call the guys, they're probably on their way to the hospital by now. They can pick up something."

"If it won't be a problem."
"Nope." He pulled out his cell and dialed a number. "Hey, Josh. Can you guys pick up some food, we're out." Josh said something. "No, we're out now...I'll explain everything later...Yah, just pick up some groceries and meet me at home...okay, thanks...bye" He hung up.

"They'll be here in about 10 minutes with some food for the bunch of us." Darien notified.

"Thanks. Do you need any help with your stuff?" Ken offered.

"No, thanks, just going to get some clothes and whatnot." Darien said. "Make yourself at home and I'll be right back."

"Okay, take your time."

Ken sat, taking in the home. You could tell they were still adjusting, boxes were still sitting in the corner of the room, no pictures...except one frame that he noticed. It must have been not long ago when it was taken. The fame had six pictures in it. He only recognized one of the men by name, but recognized the others from the hospital and labeled them as Darien's friends. Around the outside was a picture of Raye and Kevin, one of Mina and Josh, one of Amy and Stephen, one of Lita and Zac, one of his daughter and Darien, and the last of all of them. Each man stood behind the respective girl. He noticed that there was writing around the edge of the frame, so he decided to approach the frame. Under each of the individual pictures, were the names of the people in the picture. And at the top of the frame read 'Friends last a while, but best friends last forever.' At the bottom of the frame read: 'Love last a while, but true love last forever.'

"We've found our true loves." Ken spun around at the shock of the voice he'd just heard. "I knew I loved your daughter the moment I looked into her sad, blue eyes."

"She is something special." Ken agreed, looking at the frame again. "This is truly beautiful, Darien."

"I had it made the day after those pictures were taken. My friends said they'd think they found their loves as well, which doesn't surprise me, they seem really happy whenever they're with Serena's friends."

There was a rattle at the door, then it opened to reveal four familiar faces.

"Hey guys." Greeted Darien.

"Hey." They said in unison.

"This is Mr. Tsukino, Serena's father." Darien introduced.

"Please, call me Ken." He smiled back at them.

"Nice to meet you, Ken." Zac greeted.

"You mind explaining, Darien?" Stephen asked, taking mental note of the bag in Darien's arms.

"Well short story is Serena and I were releaced today. The doctor wants someone to be with us, incase of anything. We go back to school on Friday. We both have onone to be with us, so I'm staying at the Tsukino's residents." He explained.

"Oh, I guess that makes since." Kevin scratched his head.

"Yup, that's the story." Ken said.

"Well we brought the food." Josh said, handing the bag to Ken.

"Thank you so much." Ken retreived the bag.

"We'd come with you, but we were pounded with homework, being that we missed yesterday, you know?" Zac said.
"Okay, I'll just see you guys later." Darien said, walking out the door.
"We'll stop by after school tomorrow." Kevin said.

"See you then." Darien waved bye.

"They are a nice group of friends, Darien" Ken said, walking back to his car.

"They were my only friends, until I moved here and met your daughter and her friends that is." Darien said with a smile.

"I've put it off too long. I'm going to need to take the fatherly role and talk to you about my daughter and your intentions on the ride home." Ken said.
"No problem, Serena mentioned that you were protective, and honestly, who could blame you?" Darien just smiled as he set his things in the car.