Turning a Blind Eye
Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
Chapter Five: Making the World Blind
"What do you mean he knows? How could he know?" Lita asked, following Serena into the dining room
"He knows something's up. He's uncomfortable with Rini being attached to Darien. He's going to do something." Serena muttered as she pulled out her address book.
"Ok, I don't like the guy, you know that; but don't you think that's a bit much?" Lita asked.
"No. I'm not going to cut him completely out of the custody, just going to limit it. Maybe make it supervised depending on how tonight goes." Serena said, "Regardless I need to talk to my lawyer about it."
"Yeah, you should definitely do that." Lita agreed slightly.
"Lita, I almost married the man. He's manipulative, I just never saw it before; actually, I just never acknowledged it before." Serena said, "I'm going to need you guys with me through this."
"Sere, we'll always be with you. I just don't want to jump to conclusions. You're right, you know Danny better than any of us. I just don't want Rini to be hurt. Or you." Lita said seriously.
"I know. And thank you, for this and everything. But it's time to open my eyes to everything and do the best thing for me and her." Serena said as she began dialing.
"Ok, I have to get to the restaurant. Call me if you need me." Lita said as she hugged Serena.
"I will. Have a good day." Serena smiled at her friend as her lawyers office picked up the phone.
111111
Serena sat at her desk, going over client files when Jake pokes his head out of his office.
"Sere, you ok?" Jake asked, his tie lose on his neck.
"Yes, Jake, I'm fine. Who told you? Nate, Lita, or do I have to fire my lawyer?" Serena asked, knowing she would never fire her lawyer over this.
"Nate; who found out from Lita. Don't fire Lizzie. Drew would kill you. Anyway, if you need anything, let us know." Jake offered.
"I wouldn't fire Lizzie, but I would have to watch her, don't want her to get disbarred because of me." Serena smiled in spite of the serious conversation, "And thanks, Jake. I'll be fine. Darien's going to help me and of course Lita and the girls. We'll be ok."
"I know. We just want to make sure you know that we're all here for you." Jake reminded.
"I know. And you need to straighten that tie and head out to the conference downtown. Nate should already be there from the Wilson house." Serena said as she held out a client file to him with a post-it note on it with directions.
"Thank you; why don't you close up early? We'll be at the courthouse the rest of the day and the line in here is forwarded to my cell." Jake said as he did as Serena told him and straightened his tie.
"I think I'll actually take you up on that. It's been a long day and I want to relax a bit before meeting with Darien." Serena muttered.
"Good, I'll see you tomorrow." Jake smiled as he went back into his office to get his briefcase while Serena shutdown her computer and activated the call forwarding to their answering service, "After you, my lady." Jake smiled once Serena grabbed her purse, holding the door open for her.
"Thank you, again." Serena smiled and kissed him on the cheek as she walked by.
Jake smiled at her and closed the door, pulling his keys out of his pocket to lock the door behind them.
22222
Serena sat in her bathtub, bubbles up to the top and tried to relax; but the tension just wouldn't leave her shoulders and the feeling of foreboding would leave her mind.
Looking toward the small pile of bath toys that Rini liked to play with in the bath, Serena couldn't help but worry that Danny would somehow get full custody of her and that she'd never see her daughter again.
Sighing at her crazy thought, Serena leaned her head back onto the lip of the tub to stare at the white ceiling.
"You should have put a towel behind your head." A masculine voice said from the bathroom doorway.
Serena looked over to see Darien leaning against the doorjamb casually, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes watching her every movement.
"How did you get in?" Serena asked , remembering she had locked the door behind her.
"Lita met with Amy for lunch and she suggested I make my way over here as soon as I finished my board meeting. She was so adamant for it that she gave me her house key." Darien smiled at her, "Something happen this morning?" He then asked as he walked into the bathroom to stand near the tub.
"Yeah, Danny's going to do something. He knows I'm going to reduce his hours with Rini or take her away. I think he's finally figured out that I'm not under his control anymore so he's going to hurt me anyway he can." Serena sighed as she sat up to pull the stopper from the tub.
"No, lay back." Darien said, stopping her from ending her bath as he grabbed a towel and rolled it up, "Everything will be ok, just relax." Darien told her soothingly as he went to sit on the corner of the tub near where she was laying back and placed the towel behind her neck.
"Darien…" Serena began to protest when he reached out and began massaging her shoulders.
"You were about to say?" Darien chuckled as he kept massaging her shoulders, getting them to relax under his fingers.
"Hmmmmm?" Serena moaned, her eyes already closed in bliss.
"I thought so." Darien smiled.
They stayed like that for about ten minutes, Darien switching from her shoulders to her neck; though near the end Darien's hands began to linger and caress more than massage.
"The water's cooling." Serena murmured quietly.
"We should probably get you out of there then." Darien said softly as he looked around the bathroom for a towel.
"On the shelf behind you," Serena answered as she saw him look around when she sat up to pull the stopper, "Thank you, I needed that." Serena smiled with a sigh and a stretch.
"No problem; though we missed our reservation at the restaurant." Darien said as he held out the towel for her to step into.
"Don't be shy now." Darien smirked at her.
Serena shook her head as she quickly stood up and stepped out of the tub, then stepped on one of Rini's toys and began to fall forward. Darien rushed forward and grabbed her before she could fall completely and wrapped her in his arms.
"I can't lose her Darien." Serena mumbled into his chest.
"You won't; any judge worth their salt will see that you're providing the best environment for her." Darien reassured her.
"I hope your right." Serena whispered as she looked up at him.
"I am. Let's get some clothes on you and figure out what to eat." Darien said with a smile.
"That sounds like a good idea." Serena smiled back at him as she wrapped the towel around her and walked out of the bathroom with Darien behind her.
3333333
Serena sat on her couch dressed in her sweats and a tank top, wrapped in a blanket and hugging a pillow. The remnant of a pizza sat on her coffee table and the smell of cinnamon bread wafting from the kitchen.
"Uh, coffee cups?" Darien asked from the kitchen.
"Upper cupboard to the right of the sink." Serena called back then heard him open a cupboard and the clinking of mugs, "Guess you found them." Serena smiled.
"Yes I did." Darien responded as he came out of the kitchen carrying two mugs and another box from the pizza place.
"Mmmm. Can we do this every date?" Serena asked as he sat down the box on top of the other pizza box and hand her a mug of hot chocolate.
"We could; wouldn't have to dodge the paparazzi." Darien said as he straightened, "I haven't been replaced, have I?" He asked as he gestured to the pillow in her arms.
"Nope, just keeping you place warm." Serena smile as she put the pillow back in its rightful place next to her.
"Good." Darien smiled as he sat next to her with his own mug of hot chocolate and rested his arm on the back of the couch so Serena could cuddle up next to him.
They sat on the couch, eating the 'complimentary' cinnamon bread from the pizza place, sipping their hot chocolate, and watching a movie.
"It's almost 9:00." Serena pointed out as the movie ended and their empty mugs were placed on the coffee table.
"Is that when Rini's supposed to be home?" Darien asked, looking over to meet Serena's gaze.
"Yeah, I was being nice to Danny and let him extend his time with her a couple of hours." Serena muttered.
"You're a wonderful person." Darien told her as he kissed her forehead and moved to get up to take the mugs to the kitchen.
"It can wait, just stay here with me a little while longer." Serena said as she tighten her arms around him and rubbed her face against his chest.
"As you wish." Darien mumbled as he leaned back and held her close.
"They're playing that movie in a theater downtown Thursday; I'm going to take Rini." Serena said with a smile.
"Are you inviting me or stating a fact?" Darien asked.
"I'm inviting you, I'm sure Rini won't mind that you tag along." Serena chuckled.
"I'd be happy to accompany you two ladies to the movies." Darien smiled down at her.
"I'm so glad I have you here tonight. And that the girls set us up on that blind date." Serena whispered.
"I'm glad to be here for you; and I'm pretty sure I'm going to owe the girls so much for the rest of my life for introducing us." Darien responded as he leaned in and kissed her.
Serena smiled against his lips as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Like that do you?" Darien whispered as he shifted so that he and Serena could lay on the couch together.
"Mmmhmmm." Serena agreed with a sigh as Darien carefully settled his weight on top of her, though making sure he wasn't crushing her.
"I do too." Darien smiled as he leaned in again to kiss her.
After a few minutes Serena pushed a little on Darien's chest, "I feel like a horny teenager." Serena smiled up at him a little breathless.
"Well, I haven't done this in a long time." Darien replied with a smile.
"The last time I felt this was I ended up with a child." Serena scoffed.
"Yes, but she's an amazing child." Darien laughed as a car door slammed outside the house.
"He's early." Serena sighed as Darien sat up and pulled her up with him.
"Hey, it's a good thing; it means I get to see Rini tonight before she passes out." Darien smiled as a knock sounded on the front door.
"Yeah, I guess that's true. She'll be happy about that." Serena chuckled as she got off the couch and made her way to the door.
Serena opened the door and prepared to have something small run either past her legs or right into them, being preoccupied with her preparation of keeping her balance when her daughter ran to her she was stunned when the camera bulb went off in her face and a reporter shouted her name.