Another Black Tie Affair

By: afallenblackrose

Author's Notes: I had every intention of not updating this story again until after Tuesday, but I checked my e-mail today and saw all the love that I received and well…I had to reward you guys somehow. Thanks to SerenaDarienforeverJune30, PoisonIvy89, EvaC, nebelflecke, DarkMoonVisions, SerentiyMoonGodness, Jessie F. Babi, Jubilee Torch, mangamania, dori-tori, Anonymoose13, LGCoffeeAddict, QueenNeptune1964, fnr03, and sere for reviewing the last chapter. Many of you think that the woman is Beryl. Are you right? Well, read on to find out!

Part Six:

The Tests

"What are you doing here?" Darien found himself asking the woman with aquamarine hair again, this time his tone more light. It had been awhile since he last saw her, and seeing her again after a year was a shock to his system, especially because she was supposed to be on vacation. The woman smiled at him and gave him a hug.

"I totally forgot that you were coming back stateside," she said. "So, I got myself onto the next available flight and came back to make sure nothing had been messed up in my absence. To my surprise, I found the temp that I hired to take my place, crying in the corner. You didn't happen to have anything to do with that, did you, Darien?"

"I might have," Darien admitted with a smile on his face. "But she forgot to inform me of a meeting time change when I landed. Hence, why we're meeting with Sapphire, now. I apologize," he said switching his attention to the man that he had forgotten about as soon as he started talking with the woman. "But I haven't seen Michelle in over a year."

"It's not a problem," Sapphire said smiling. "But shall we sit down and hold this discussion after we order something to eat? Due to a long meeting, I didn't have lunch." Darien nodded and pushed out his chair to sit down. Michelle who was sitting on his right, smiled at Sapphire who had pushed out her chair for her. She opened her menu and began browsing the selections. "So, Darien, you never did answer Michelle's question. Where is your lovely wife this evening?"

"Serena, unfortunately, came down with the flu last night," Darien replied. "I've been at home taking care of her, and forgot to call Luna to inform you of the change of plans. But apparently, it didn't matter since Michelle came instead." He smiled at his secretary, who smiled back at him. The two of them had always been close, because they had been brought up in the same social circle. The media believed that one day there would be an arranged marriage between the two of them, but Michelle and Darien knew that they were only friends. Unfortunately, Michelle's family's business had suffered some financial hardships and had to declare bankruptcy four years ago. Darien, who had taken over his family's business, had hired Michelle to be his secretary so that way she could have an income while her family's assets were being figured out.

"The poor thing," Michelle said. "You guys have barely been back for twenty-four hours, and she already falls ill. I hope she's okay?"

"She'll be fine," Darien replied. "We just have to wait for the disease to run its course. So she is staying at home with a friend while I'm out to dinner with you. She apologizes also," he mentioned to Sapphire, "that she couldn't make it this evening."

"Tell her not to worry about it, and I wish her a speedy recovery. I've had the misfortune of coming down with the flu while in a foreign country and it was not the best experience."

The waiter came to take their orders, and once he walked away with their menus, Sapphire turned back to Darien. "So, Darien, let's talk some business, shall we?"

Hotaru shouldn't have been sneaking around Serena's apartment, but since her charge for the evening was asleep with a cold compress pressed to her head, she had nothing else to do. Yes, the apartment was decked out with the best entertainment system in the world, and had cable with over 600 channels, but she was really curious about Serena's new husband. She had the feeling that she knew Darien Shields from somewhere and it wasn't because of the many tabloids he had been in. She had never been one of Darien's 'girls of the night' of that she was sure of, but how else could she possibly know him? Unless…. no, it couldn't be…. she pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and dialed a number. She closed herself into the bathroom, just in case Serena woke up, she didn't want her to overhear this conversation.

Serena woke up with a start and felt like someone was dunking her head in a bucketful of fire. Damn this fever, she couldn't help but think. She sat up cautiously, knowing that along with the fever she would be experiencing dizzy spells and she didn't want to lose her balance. She was enough of a klutz as it was. Her movements especially slow, she made her way to the bathroom, but stopped short when she saw that the door was closed. Was Hotaru in there, and if she was why was Serena hearing voices? Who was she talking to? She pressed her ear to the door, but could barely hear due to her clogged up ears. But she did catch some things.

"Did you…" she thought she heard Hotaru say and then after awhile of silence, she heard sobs. Not sure what was going on, Serena knocked on the door.

"Hotaru? Are you in there?" She heard a squeak of surprise and then in a few seconds Hotaru opened the door, her eyes red as if she had been crying. Something was poking out of her pocket, it looked like her cell phone. She rubbed her hands over her eyes.

"I didn't think you'd be awake for a few hours," she said her voice hoarse.

"I woke up because my fever's back," Serena replied. "But are you okay, Hotaru? You look like you've been crying. Did something happen?"

"Oh, no, I'm fine. Really, but you're not. Let's get you some Motrin, okay?" She led Serena back to the bed and set her up so that a new cold compress was back on her head. While Hotaru was in the bathroom, she fingered her pocket where she had stored Darien's comb in a plastic zip locked bag. She had to know….

A week later…

Darien slumped back into his apartment, and knew without looking at the clock that it was late. He'd be very surprised if Serena was still up. He hadn't been spending a lot of time at home lately, Sapphire was taking more convincing than he had originally planned. Days and nights had been spent on making up a contract that Sapphire would like, but he kept changing his demands. He sighed, and looked away to the bedroom. Serena had been real supportive of these nights, and she had finally gotten over that flu that she had. But the one thing that she wasn't too sure of was the picture she had seen the morning after the dinner with Sapphire and Michelle. He had explained that Michelle was his secretary and they were only friends, but Serena had seen Michelle before in the tabloids before he went back to Tokyo and had her pegged as one of his ladies.

Darien sighed again, and shuffled into the family room. It was best to sleep on the couch and not disturb Serena, even though he desperately wanted to sleep next to her. He was about to sit down and make himself comfortable for the night, when he heard a sound from behind him. He turned and was surprised to see Serena standing at the doorway to their bedroom, her arms crossed over her chest.

"I should have known that you'd still be up," he found himself saying.

"I couldn't sleep," she shrugged. "Kind of late for you to be getting home. Sapphire's contract again?" She pushed away from the doorway, and walked closer to him.

"Yes, he keeps changing his demands," he sighed. "But why couldn't you sleep?" His eyes searched hers, he saw that there was worry in that gaze. Something was bugging her and she wasn't going to tell him about it. "Serena, what's going on? What aren't you telling me?"

"It's nothing, or at least, I'm sure it's nothing," she said turning her back on him. Darien stepped up behind her and turned her so that way she was facing him again. The sight shocked him. There were tears running down her face. How had things gotten so bad between them?

"Serena, tell me," he whispered lowering his head so he was staring directly into her eyes.

"The doctor from the hospital called," she replied. "Something showed up in one of the tests that they ran when I was there last week. He wants me to come back in…." she trailed off. Darien instantly enveloped her into a hug, holding her as close as he possibly could. No wonder she couldn't sleep. What had shown up on one of her tests? What was going on?

"It's going to be okay," he reassured her. "It's going to be just fine." He felt Serena's arms encircle him, returning his hug. Her head nuzzled into his chest. She hadn't felt like they were this close ever since she had gotten sick. They hadn't even shared the same bed since they had arrived here.

"Darien," she whispered. "Please tell me that you don't have any intentions of sleeping on the couch tonight."

"Not now, I don't," he whispered back a light of lust in his eyes. He leaned his head down and captured her lips with his. Serena felt herself deepen the kiss and once they broke apart, breathless, he took her hand in his and led her to the bedroom.

Serena really hated doctor's offices. They were so fake with happy colors and peaceful paintings that she wanted to take a can of black paint and redo them all. There was nothing happy about a doctor's office. This is where doctors took their patients and turned their worlds upside down with really bad news. Serena felt her leg bouncing beneath her. She was impatient and nervous at the same time. What could possibly be wrong with her?

Dr. Larson walked in with a file in his hand.

"Serena Shields," he said shaking her hand. "It's good to see you again. Sorry to call you in like this but like I said there was something on one of the tests that I have to talk to you about."

"Okay, is it something bad?" She asked.

"Well, are you still feeling queasy?"

"Sort of, why?"

"Well, Serena, I'm pleased to tell you that you're pregnant."

Hotaru had the envelope in her hands and she knew that they were shaking. Her life could possibly change with what was in this envelope. She sighed. There was no point in waiting, either her life was going to change or it wasn't. With a shaky finger she slit open the envelope and took out the piece of paper that was inside. She read over it, and felt it slip from her hands and flutter to the floor.

"Oh my God…" she whispered.

Author's Notes: I really need to stop leaving you guys with cliffhangers, but I can't stop myself! I hope you guys like the chapter, so please review and I'll try to update soon!