Title: BROKEN

Disclaimer: I don't own anything about Sailor Moon

Authors Notes: Here's the next chapter! Let me know what you think!

Serena and Mina sat quietly in her living room. Lita could be heard in the kitchen, clanging around with pots and pans. The noise got really loud sometimes and Mina cringed at the sound.

"I heard that Darien and Nathan yelled at each other in the arcade," she said after a moment.

Serena suddenly gave Mina her full attention. "What? When? Why?"

Mina giggled. "I don't know. A friend from school was there and I bumped into him today. He said that they were really going at each other and it sound like they were breaking up."

"Breaking up?" Serena asked confused.

"Yeah, as friends. You know, like saying they hated each other and stuff."

"Why?" Serena asked.

"I don't know. Didn't Nathan say anything?"

Serena shook her head.

"That's weird. Well, I asked Andrew and he said that Darien just going through some stuff right now and he's sure they'll work it out."

"Right," Serena said.

"I'm excited about the ball though!" Mina changed the subject abruptly.

"Yeah, me too," Serena said softly, her mind far away. She could only guess what they'd been fighting about, but something told her that it was about her. She felt awful for coming between them.

"I bought this dress that really shows off my hips," Mina continued.

Serena half listened to her go on and on about her dress, trying to seem interested. But she wanted to go and talk to Nathan. She wanted to find out what was going on. She felt like she was trapped in the middle of something she didn't understand.

"Are you in love with him?" Mina asked startling Serena.

"Who?" Serena asked.

Mina looked almost devastated at that answer. "Nathan. Are you in love with Nathan. You know, the guy you're dating."

Serena wasn't sure why Mina had gone so quiet, but it made her feel really guilty. "I'm not really sure yet. We've only been dating a little while and I really like him."

Mina nodded. "Alright, then good luck!"

It was not a secret that Mina didn't always make sense, but Serena had the distinct feeling that she was missing something. She watched her bubbly friend carefully, but the look was gone and replaced by another in seconds.

"It's to bad all the girls can't go," Mina said about the ball. "It would be fun if it was all five of us. But it's just going to be you and me and we have to go with different people. We might not be able to see each other at all."

Serena nodded. "I'm sure we will."

"Is Nathan going?" Mina asked.

"No, I don't think so."

"Well that's alright. Andrews going so that'll be fun."

"Mina, do you like Darien?"

Mina blinked at her blankly for a few moments.

"Yeah, he's alright," she answered. "Sort of broody I suppose. But he used to smile after you'd storm away from him when we were kids. I was sure he was the best looking guy in the world when he smiled. I think Raye had a crush on him at some point, but so did we all. You were really the only one who hated him."

Mina smiled to herself. "Wouldn't that have been sweat? You guys started out hating each other then lived happily ever after." She giggled. "He was always really nice when you weren't around. He helped me home a couple of times when it was later at night. I thought he was such a gentleman."

Serena wanted Mina to shut up, but she had asked the question.

"I think I'm glad he's back. I asked him to help me pick up my new bed and he said he would."

"When?" Serena asked.

"A couple of days. I only asked him because Andrew said he had a car. But he was really nice about it so I'm glad I did."

Lita came into the room and saw the look on Serena's face.

"Dinner's ready," she said cutting Mina off.

"Oh good, I'm starving," Mina said jumping off the couch.

Lita looked at Serena. "Are you alright?"

Serena nodded. "Yeah, I think so, but I need to do something quickly. Do you mind if I make a call before dinner?"

"Go ahead," Lita said gently.

Serena made her way into her fathers study and pulled the doors closed behind her. She picked up the phone and dialed Nathans number.

"I was hoping you might call," Nathan said answering the phone.

Serena couldn't help but smile at his voice. "How are you?" She asked.

"I could be better," he said lightly. "I could be with you."

"Nathan, I need to ask you something."

"You can ask me anything you want."

Serena hesitated. "What were you and Darien fighting about the other day?"

Nathan paused for a good moment on the phone.

"Nathan?" She asked.

"Darien is not himself right now and we just got into an argument. It wasn't really about anything specific, he was just agitated."

"Was it about me?" She asked.

"Why would you ask me that?" Nathan asked.

"Because I think it was," she said honestly. "Darien came over here the other night and told me he wanted to get to know me again. I thought maybe he had said the same thing to you and maybe you got angry about it."

Nathan was quiet on the other end of the phone.

"Was it?" Serena asked.

"Honestly I wasn't really sure until you said that," he answered. "Are you going to let him get to know you?"

Serena could hear the anger in his voice. "I don't want to go out with him Nathan, I really don't. But if I can help him I'd like to try."

"Serena, I really don't think that's a good idea," Nathan said.

"Why not?"

"He's just……I thought you hated him."

"I did…I mean I do…..I just….." Serena sighed. "Nathan, in a round about way he's asking for help. He's one of your best friends. Don't you think you'd like me to help him if I could. You said that some people can't be helped but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try."

She could hear Nathan hesitate.

"What happened between you and him Serena?" He finally asked.

Serena had always dreaded that question. "Nothing really," she answered hurriedly. "I was a kid and I sort of had a crush on him and he turned me down. I was just always angry about it."

She wished with all her heart that he believed her.

"And you're sure you don't care about him in that way?"

"Of course not," Serena said feeling the guilt grip at her heart. She was lying to him. She was lying to the person she felt she could love and she hated it.

"I don't like the idea of you spending time with him Serena. I don't think he's stable right now."

"I know."

"Promise me you'll try to stay away from him."

Part of her couldn't understand why he was asking her to do that. Wasn't Darien his best friend? She was confused. She would do anything for her friends, even if it meant spending slightly less time with her boyfriend. She would never date somebody that one of her friends was in love with, it just wasn't done. The idea that Nathan wasn't loyal to Darien surprised her. It was the first negative side of him she'd ever seen.

"I promise," she lied.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Nathan said.

"Bye," she hung up the phone. Now what did she do?

Serena ate dinner with her friends. She tried to put the whole situation behind her and just focus on what was happening at the moment.

Mina continued to go on and on about the ball and Serena found her chattering distracting enough to not think about Nathan for the moment. Her excitement about the ball was infectious, and soon Serena was almost looking forward to going. She would't have a date, but that meant she could have fun with all the people she knew there.

When Mina left Serena sat down across from Lita and smiled.

"I'm glad you decided to stay," Serena said happily.

"Me to," Lita said softly. Her green eyes still seemed tired, but at the same time she looked as if she had a little more life in her again.

Serena wanted nothing more then to see Lita as happy as humanly possible. She knew there was nothing that could stop her from being there for her friend, not even Darien. Serena frowned at the thought.

"Thinking about Nathan?" Lita asked after a moment.

Serena felt guilty. She was supposed to be thinking about her boyfriend.

"That's a no," Lita said laughing at Serena's look. "Does that mean you were thinking about Darien?"

"Lita, you're going to think I'm an awful person but I honestly can't be completely comfortable with Nathan until I've found some sort of even ground with Darien. Is it wrong of me to want to give him a chance even though him and Nathan are fighting about me?"

Lita thought about it, but didn't really know what to say.

"Nathan made me promise to try and stay away from him."

"Did you promise?" Lita asked.

Serena nodded.

"Were you lying?"

Slowly, Serena nodded.

"Do you have feelings for Darien?"

"No," Serena said. "I really don't think I do anymore. I know that I had feelings for him and I know that what I feel now is confusing and complicated, but I really don't think I'm in love with him. I'm not thinking of choosing him over Nathan, but I am thinking of finding out what happened to him."

"Why?" Lita asked. "What do you owe him? He doesn't deserve your help."

"Everyone deserves help," Serena said softly. "I've forgiven a lot of people and I've never regretted it."

Lita just sighed. She knew how her friend thought and her heart was winning this argument.

"I just need to know that if something goes horribly wrong and doing this is a big mistake I'll have something to.....you know....."

"You'll always have my support," Lita said smiling.

"Even though you don't agree?"

Lita nodded. "Yes, even if I don't agree."

There was a long pause between them.

"Well, there's not time like the present!" Lita said getting up.

Serena looked at her startled. "Now?"

"The sooner you figure Darien out the sooner you'll be able to move on with Nathan. So go and talk to him for awhile and see what he has to say. You'll be back here by nine o'clock exactly and then you'll call Nathan and tell him you love him. Then you'll go to sleep and tomorrow will be another day."

"You seem very sure about this," Serena said.

"If there was ever anything Darien excelled at it was pissing you off. I predict that you'll come home as early as possible."

Serena could only smile as Lita all but pushed her out the door.

Darien watched her through the small whole in the door. He had heard her come up the hallway, but she didn't seem to want to actually knock on the door. Instead she stood there, a tiny image in the small piece of glass, waiting for something.

Darien could feel his heart beating in his chest as he waited for her to knock. He contemplated opening the door for her, but he didn't want to frighten her off. What was she doing? Was she hear to see him or to tell him off? The anxiety rolled through him again and he tried to control his breathing.

She reached out her hand.

His heart stopped.

Then she went to walk back down the hallway.

Darien sighed and turned back to his apartment. Maybe she wouldn't talk to him. But that didn't make any sense. If he knew anything about Serena at all, he knew that she had a compulsion to forgive and find out the truth. He was counting on that. The thought of having her here, in his apartment, sent chills through him.

He looked a this bedroom door, still closed and sealed. He walked over and stood in front of it.

He could picture the way he had left his room. The large bed wrapped in the deepest black silk sheets and the red numbers of the digital clock cast a slight red tint. The wall of glass overlooking the city had sheer curtains that drifted in the slightest breeze.

He put his hand to the door, feeling the smooth wood beneath his fingers.

There was a light knock at the door.

Darien walked over and opened the door slowly, holding his breath at the sight of her standing there. She looked so nervous. Her blue eyes were wide and unblinking.

"You said you wanted to be friends," she said breathlessly. "Did you actually mean that?"

Darien nodded softly. "With all my heart."

"And you don't remember what happened before?"

Darien wasn't sure how to answer. He just stood there.

"I will help you if you want me to, but you have to promise that you won't try and be more than friends."

Darien didn't want to promise that. If he did, it would be a lie. He wanted to be near her again. He wanted her to be near him. He wanted to beat this monster inside of him that was making him so weak.

"I'll try," he said finally.

Serena looked for a moment like she would argue, but instead stepped back into the hallway.

"Get your coat, I'm not coming in your apartment."

Darien looked at her curiously.

Slowly he pulled on his shoes and walked out with her, locking the door behind him.

"Where are we going?" He asked.

"To the park," she answered quickly. She stepped into the elevator and stood nervously, waiting for him to push the button.

Darien complied.

"You can't tell Nathan about this," she said after a moment.

Darien couldn't help it, he smiled. "I promise."

End of chapter seven!

Reviews please!