Hey Everybody! To Answer the Beta comment. I have a beta, but I post these before having her edit...I know weird right? But the beta is for me as a growing writer. I'll update as Aqua Tonic suggests more to me. She's an awesome Beta.
As for certain "medical references" I did look at a few medical websites to be accurate, but hey this is my story, my world. I know, that's a stupid way to think, but as for as I know, I am accurate.
Oh and I loved reading all the comments. They made me laugh, and I am very flattered to be a reason people love fanfiction again.
Enjoy, and Review! You guys have helped immensely.
Chapter Six
Serena rolled her eyes as she tried to shut the door. A hand shot out, stopping it from closing.
"Seriously, Seiya, what are you doing here? You know what? I don't care, just go away." Serena just wasn't in the mood tonight. Tonight, she had been celebrating, and moving on with her life. Seiya being here meant her old life, old flings, and she just wanted him gone. Again, she tried to closing the door, but he simply wouldn't budge.
"Serena," he whined in a way that made Serena cringe. "I only want to talk."
Really, now he wanted to talk? What about all those times that she wanted to talk? The times where he simply wouldn't listen to anything she had to say. She was finished.
"I'm done talking, Seiya." Letting go of the door, she crossed her arms over her chest in a defensive position an Seiya flew towards her, stumbling before catching himself.
"I miss you." He stepped back from her after gaining his composure, trying to give her some space.
Missed her? Sure, he could miss her, but nothing changed. Serena, just stared at him, a raised eyebrow and locked hips. This was going nowhere.
"Please, come back to me." His futile attempt at begging would not work on her this time.
"No." She said coldly. "I will not. Since you won't leave, are you going to tell me how you got this address, because I am pretty sure there is going to be an ass kicked in the morning."
Seiya stepped back and gave her a sheepish look as he began to scratch his head.
"About that..."
What kind of answer was that? Serena really didn't like where this conversation was heading. Before he could answer, Serena finally took a good look at him. His appearance hadn't changed much, but he had cut his hair. The long locks that he used to wear in that gangly ponytail were gone. Now all that was left was an attractive, dark shaggy do. Serena was shocked. After all that time of begging him to cut his hair he had finally done it.
It was a lame attempt to try and win her back.
And she refused to fall for it. They were finished.
Done.
But his cryptic answer to her question left her a little confused, and annoyed.
Scratch that little, make it really annoyed.
"What do you mean about that?" She finally asked, letting her irritation fill each word.
"Well, here's the thing." Suddenly his shoes began to look attractive to him. He couldn't even look at her. "I kinda, sorta, had you followed."
"You WHAT?" Serena bellowed, forgetting how late it was in the night.
Of all the things that he was capable of, he had never gone to such low measures. She had been followed?
"See, I was worried about you."
Worried. There was an excuse she hadn't heard about before. So, he was worried about her, was that it?
Eyes closed, she let out an exasperated breath she didn't even know she was holding. "Seiya, I want you to stop. Now."
He looked up at her, his face looking like a desperate puppy. She'd like to show him puppy. A puppy who had her followed. Oh, God. He could have been following her the night she was with that guy. She really had to remember his name. How could she have forgotten? When she had fessed up to Mina, she knew. What changed in a week or two? His name must not have been that important, but his love making was.
Oh, what she wouldn't give right now to find that man.
Except for that little part about them not using protection. And the fact that she could now be carrying his child. But passionate love making, she was down for that.
"Serena, I only did it because I love you."
Only did it because he loved her? Oh, come on now. What kind of fool did he take her for? Serena knew the reason he did it. He was possessive. Looking back on it now, she definitely could see it as a possibility. She could even see it being the possible reason for him not wanting children. Realization hit her like a ton of bricks. Not once in this begging for her back did he mention why she left in the first place.
Children.
"If you really loved me, you would have wanted my children." She grabbed the door, ready to close it.
"What if I said I did now?" He asked, desperation apparent in his voice.
So now his tune has changed? Serena bit her lip in frustration. Okay, breathe, she had to keep telling herself. It doesn't matter what he wants. Her thoughts focused in on a mysterious man with dazzling blue eyes.
Remember what you want, Serena. She puffed up. That's right. Seiya wouldn't give her what she wanted, but she may have gotten it anyways.
"It wouldn't matter, because I think I am pregnant with another man's child."
There, she said it.
With that final sentence, she shut the door on his gaping face. As she thought about what she had just told Seiya, she began to smack her head against the back of the door. What was she going to do now? Seiya had been following her. He knows how to find her. What could happen if she is, indeed, pregnant?
Was Seiya capable of harming her in anyway?
Serena had no idea anymore what that man was capable of. He had been following for, who knows how long? As far as she knew, he could have been following her before they were split up. She walked back into her living room where Amy was still fast asleep. How could she have slept through that whole argument?
It was probably better that Amy slept, but she probably wouldn't appreciate sleeping on the couch all night.
Serena walked over to her and shook her shoulders with a gentle nudge. "Amy..." She stirred a bit and rolled over, "Amy."
Her eyes opened into slits as she looked at Serena, "huh?"
Serena giggled and continued to wake her up, "It's almost midnight. You should probably go to bed."
Nodding her head, Amy stood up and padded towards her room. The living room seemed empty without the sound of the television and her roommate. Worrying about whatever was to come seemed pointless to Serena, so she sighed and walked to her room. After all, it was bedtime for herself, too.
A week later found Serena at the doctors office. The pungent smell of sterilization filled her nostrils as she beat her hand against her gray sling purse. Anticipation always was the hardest for Serena to cope with. Today's anticipation seemed much harder than others.
After reading up on pregnancy online, she found out doctors can know within 24 hours of conception if a woman is pregnant. Skeptical of the information from even medical sites, she called her doctor. Dr. Mickelson confirmed that to be true, but not in all cases of pregnancy. Serena decided she wanted to know right away, so she booked the appointment.
Part of her wanted this baby.
Part of her wanted a drink.
All of her wanted to see the doctor right now.
A chubby, older woman next to her smiled as she leaned over, wanting to engage in a conversation. Serena gave her a friendly, yet wary smile back.
"So, what are you in for today?" The woman's voice sounded motherly and nosy at the same time. Was that possible? Nosy people always drove Serena mad, but sitting out in the waiting room was a fate worse than death.
She'd already counted the tiles that lined the pillar by the receptionists desk. 122 all in a row. The walls were white and the carpet was a deep, ugly red. It reminded Serena of blood. They probably used it to cover up all the injured people that came in here. Except this was a doctor's clinic. Trauma's were meant for emergency rooms. So, it was either pick up one of the trashy magazines on the table next to her - and they weren't trashy enough - or talk to this woman.
She opted for the woman, even though she might regret it later.
"I think I might be pregnant." Serena held up both hands and crossed her fingers, as her leg shook out of control.
The woman raised her portly hand to her chest in endearment. The cardigan she wore seemed outdated, and crinkled under the pressure of said hand. She smiled at Serena, grandmotherly, her short curly hair shaking in enthusiasm as she tilted her head.
"That's wonderful dear." Clasping her purse, she looked off wistfully. "I wish I was here for babies. Not anymore, I'm afraid. Now it's just ill mannered bowl movements."
Serena simply nodded her head in pained understanding. If there was a God, she hoped he was listening now and having mercy on her. This old woman looked the type that liked to go into details. The last thing Serena wanted to listen to today was about bowl movements.
The woman leaned over to say something else as a nurse walked through the backroom door and called out, "Serena Carlisle."
Shooting up from her chair, she gave the old woman a nod bye as she walked towards the nurse. Okay, so maybe there was a God. Now onto the exam.
Two hours later, Serena held onto the paper in her hands. She couldn't decide of the paper held good news or bad news. One thing was for sure, she needed a friend right now and she knew where to get one.
Lita's bar, like always, calmed Serena down in an instant. Walking up to the bar, she waited for Lita to notice her.
Worry etching her face as she looked at Serena's disheveled appearance, she strolled around to the other side of the bar.
"Serena? What's wrong?"
Everything, was what Serena wanted to say. At Twenty-six, she still wasn't able to cope emotionally with things like this. Her mother had never prepared her. Always, just Serena, why can't you be more like Mina. She's so much fun. You should take lessons. Of course, at a time like this, her mind would take her back to her loving mother's support. Not that she didn't love her mother, or Mina in any case, but she couldn't help it. Mina was fun, like her mother Irene. It only meant Serena would take after her father, Benjamin. It wasn't even that Serena minded, but it did get old to be constantly compared as the "boring" one. Well, her mother couldn't say one night stands were boring.
"I went to the doctor today." Serena replied to Lita's questioning and looks. "Can you take a little bit of time to talk to me?"
"Always."
Throwing her black waitress apron over the counter, she said at Ken, "Watch the bar. I'll be back soon."
Her hand went to Serena's back as she guided her to a booth. More like plopping rather than sitting, the midnight blue booth seat made a squeaking noise as Lita sat across from Serena, her concern even more apparent as Serena looked across at her.
"Would you stop looking at me like that?" As if on cue, Serena looked down at the skin on her hands, like always. It seemed to be her defense when things went wrong. Like looking at the skin on her hands and twiddling with her fingers is going to make all the problems she had go away. Knowing her friend's habits, she reached out and grabbed her hands.
"Serena. What is going on?"
"I went to the doctor today."
Letting go of Serena's hands, she leaned back in the booth in understanding. This was why she looked so forlorn walking into her bar. Well, Lita could always cheer her up. She smiled and stood up. Patting Serena's shoulder, she began to walk to the bar.
"Let me get you some vodka. I know how much you wanted that baby."
Serena sighed in frustration at her friend.
"Lita would you please sit down?"
"Yep, right after I get you that drink."
"I don't want a drink."
"But you need one friend. On the house."
Serena pinched the bridge of her nose in aggravation. Why wouldn't her friend just sit down, shut up and listen to what she had to say? It seemed that no one wanted to listen to what Serena had to say anymore. First, Seiya shows up at her door a week ago and now Lita won't sit down and take her seriously.
"Lita, I can't have alcohol."
Shock was all that Lita's face bore. No words could come out of her mouth as slowly slid back into the booth. Realization of why Serena was upset dawned on her. There was no father figure in this little baby's life growing inside of her friend.
"What are you going to do?" Lita shot her a sympathetic look as she watched her yet again begin playing with her hands.
Looking down a faint whisper could only be heard. "I don't know."
Traces of shame laced her words.
Wait shame?
Serena Carlisle had no reason to be shamed and Lita would make her believe that.
"Serena, you don't regret this do you?"
Again, all Serena answered with an 'I don't know.'
Lita's resolve to make her happy was even stronger. This woman across from her was her best friend. There was no way this woman was going to regret a baby. As long as Lita could remember, it was all Serena talked about. Serena deserved to be happy about having her first child.
Man or no man, this child would be loved, so now all Lita had to do was make Serena forget her mistake and realize the wonderful gift she had been given.
"Serena. I know you. You don't live with regrets. Think of it like this."
Serena looked up, fully attentive to Lita.
"You wanted a baby. This dark, mysterious man came into your life and gave you what your last man wouldn't. Now you have what you wanted most on the way. We should be celebrating. No moping."
No moping. Easy for Lita to say, as she wasn't carrying a love child. That's what this child to be was, a love child.
A fatherless child.
A bastard.
Serena clamped her eyes shut. No child of hers would ever be referred to as a bastard. Her hand instinctively clutched her stomach. Noticing the pinch of her fingers now grasping at her unborn child, Serena looked down. There was a baby growing in there. How could she be upset about her baby?
Serena resolved right in the booth, that she couldn't let her child believe those awful things. After all, in nine months, she would have to be strong for the both of them.
A strong mother.
Serena could be a strong mother. No, she had to be. Chanting to herself in her head, she glared up at Lita and nodded with boldness.
"You are right. No moping. This baby is going to be loved more than anything in my life. It may not be the best circumstances. But tell me what circumstances are ever good?"
"There's my girl." Lita grinned at her and clapped her hands together.
A loud grumble erupted from the strong woman's stomach. She curled her head into her shoulders and grinned guiltily at Lita.
"Can you bring me food now?"
"Now Darien, I know you can be nice." Amy said sternly, as they walked into the lobby of her apartment building. The two had decided to go out for smoothies today and play some board games back at Amy's. Knowing Serena would be at the apartment, Amy decided to lay out some ground rules for her brother.
The condensation around Darien's cup ran into his palm as he rolled his eyes at his sister.
"Yes, of course, mistress Amy. I will be nice." He put up two fingers to his chest. "Scout's honor."
Ah, now he wanted to be a smartass. His wisecracks seemed to be a typical thing for her mostly normal brother.
Narrowing her eyes, she sipped on her orange, fruity drink.
"You were never in the boy scouts."
"Doesn't mean I can't live up to their standards."
Shaking her head, she pushed the button to the elevator. The doors swooshed open and they stepped into the oversized human box.
"I mean it though, Darien. She's been through a rough week. She came home on Tuesday after going to the doctor. The news was shocking to say the least. She is, indeed, pregnant, and she is dealing with the fact that her baby won't have a father."
Surprise, Surprise. Darien's hunches about this girl seemed to be shaping out correctly. But the defensive look on his sister's face
"I will be nice." He raised his smoothie free arm in defeat. Under his breath he commented, "Doesn't mean I won't be passing judgment about whether I want my little sister to be around this floozy."
Trying to change the subject, Amy turned to face Darien and asked, "Hey. You never told me, how did your date go with that amazing woman?"
Suddenly his smoothie seemed more interesting than their conversation. He began to play with the straw, trying to find chunks of unblended fruit. "Oh you know. She was nice."
"She was nice?" Amy laughed at his unenthusiastic reply. "A week ago, this girl was the woman of your dreams, and now she's nice?"
They walked off the elevator towards her door, and Darien began explaining more.
"Don't get me wrong, she's gorgeous. But it seemed like the spark was missing this time. She didn't electrify me with just one look, and her hair seemed different, darker somehow." He trailed off with the last comment.
Amy reached for the door handle and chuckled at her brother. "So let me get this straight. The first time you two met, she electrified you with a look?" Her laughter continued as she hee'd and haw'd.
"Don't make fun of me! I thought she was special, and then she called the other day and told me she was interested in Andrew, and asked if it would be awkward if she asked him on a date."
The sound of laughter continued as Amy pushed open the door and stumbled into her apartment, her brother following a frown framing his dark eyebrows.
"Amy, it's not funny."
Serena peaked her head up from the magazine she had been reading on their couch. For a second couldn't breathe.
There he was.
She could recognize that face anywhere.
Blue eyes collided as he looked up from frowning at Amy.
"Darien, this is Serena." Amy began introducing them, "Serena, Darien."
Darien put an arm out towards his sister and held her shoulder. She stopped and looked up at him.
"We've met."