Chapter 6

Darien face steeled as the information replayed in his head over and over again. Your wife is in the hospital. Your wife is in the hospital. Your wife is in the hospital. This was probably the first time Darien ever went over the speed limit without getting caught. Gripping the wheels tightly, he pulled into the hospital parking lot before messily parking in a spot. Not even bothering to pay for the parking ticket, Darien rushed through the automatic doors of the white building. Heading directly towards the elevator, Darien pulled his lips into a thin line before tapping his foot impatiently. What was taking so long?

Buzzzzzz.

Darien's face darkened as his phone vibrated in his pocket. Who was calling him now? Pulling it out without look at the caller id, he answered coldly, "Shields here."

"Darien!" Ami's voice fluttered through the phone, "Can we talk?"

Darien froze as he heard the voice of his wife's best friend on the other line. Glad you know that it's your wife's best friend buddy. What took you long enough? Darien frowned before rubbing his forehead, annoyed that his mind was playing with him.

"Darien?"

"Sorry Ami, I'm not available right now." Darien answered, trying to be as calm as possible. What was taking the elevator so long? There were two for Christ's sake!

"Can we meet up later?" Ami's voice sounding hopeful as ever.

Serena...

Darien felt sick to his stomach as the pang in his heart tightened. What was he doing right now? What kind of man was he?

"I don't think I'll have time later." He replied simply, pressing the up button for the elevator repeatedly. Fuck, I'll just take the stairs. Walking quickly pass the elevators, Darien stopped in front of the door to the stairs before pushing it open. He seriously hadn't exercised in awhile. Taking them two at a time, Darien raced passed the first floor quickly. 15 more to go...

"Why...? What's wrong?" Ami asked. Her voice laced with a hint of concern. Or jealousy...it was hard to tell. "Are you panting?"

"Sorry, I'm taking the stairs right now. Nothing's wrong." Darien replied annoyingly, realizing that talking on the phone at the same time was slowly taking his energy with it.

"Is it Serena?"

The question surprised him.

"What?" Darien asked incredulously.

"Are you with Serena right now?" Ami asked, this time making sure her question was to the point.

"No I'm not. I don't see why it should matter to you." He snapped, suddenly frustrated with all the questions.

"I thought I mattered to you." Ami wasn't implying anything, but what she was stating wasn't a fact either. The way she said it made him feel sick again.

Did she matter to him?

Darien stopped at level 8 before taking the time to breath, and think. After hearing Serena had gotten into the hospital, it was like his mind was wired to only her and nothing else. Even Ami who he once thought was possibly someone he could romantically be involved with was flushed down the drain. He felt that this shouldn't be an excuse to try and fix his mistakes...hell! They didn't even start anything! All that ever happened was the feelings being initiate on her side, and he never at one point denied it.

Realizing what he had being doing all along, stringing along something because he felt lonely without the love of his life was no excuse. He was someone that used to be respected by many, even in middle school to college, he was looked up to. Now...? Darien felt like he was the biggest failure to all mankind. He was despicable for even thinking that he had an ounce of feelings for another woman when his wife had his heart the whole time.

Swallowing thickly, Darien replied quietly, "I'm sorry." before hanging up. Putting his phone back into his pocket, he started to climb the stairs again.

He was a coward.

Running away from all of his problems.

Maybe that was why Serena had started to talk with Seiya.

Maybe Ami was right, and she might have started something with the man he despised the most.

But regardless of what the fact was, Darien wasn't letting go. It was his fault if Serena had had any doubts in their relationship. Even if it was going to take months or even years to accomplish, he would get his wife back. The right way.

Darien groaned inwardly as his muscles screamed at the unexpected exercise. Finally reaching level 16...or rather, floor 16, he felt like he was limping to the room that Serena was currently in.

1601, 1602, 1603...1604...

It should be here soon...

"Darien!"

He turned to the left as he spotted Rei standing outside of a closed door with Lita who was pacing back and forth.

"What happened to you?" Lita frowned before noticing the limp of his left leg.

"Took the stairs. Pulled a muscle or something." He grimaced before glancing at the door they were waiting out side of.

"What...what did the doctor say?" He asked quietly, looking at Rei for the answers since she was the closest to Serena.

"She..." Rei seemed to be having a internal battle with herself before replying, "has the stomach flu and dehydration. Lack of sleep and and not eating the right things are also included in the list. And where have you been?"

Darien almost flinched as Rei's last sentence was laced with an underlying tone of anger.

"I-I..."

"Do you even know what she's been going through? She's...! Ugh, you're just a jerk!" Rei said heatedly, the last word being childish as she couldn't help but feel helpless in the situation.

"Rei..." Lita murmured, resting her hand on the quivering form of her friend.

"She needed you Darien..." Rei continued, "And you weren't there."

He suddenly looked down at his feet as the words were said. The slight pounding of his blood reaching his ears.

"I know..." Darien said quietly. "I'm sorry that I caused her so much pain."

Rei's eyes widened as the words came out of his mouth. He rarely apologized for his actions, and this time...it seemed so sincere. Instead of his usual ruthless look, he looked tired and shaken by the news that his wife was in such a condition.

"The nurses are taking her stats and changing her IV bag...you can see her if you'd like." She finally said, leading Lita to sit with her at the benches that were not too far away from the room.

Just as Darien was about to thank her, the door to Serena's room opened, and two nurses came out.

Surprised at the man they hadn't seen before going into the room, one of the nurses prodded, "Are you Mr. Shields?"

"Um...yes." He replied hesitantly, wondering where this was going.

"Oh, don't give us that look! We just need you to sign a few sheets before you leave. Just head to the counter on this floor after you finish your visit." The nurses left quickly before he had a chance to answer, which only left Darien even more puzzled than before. Weird...

Walking into the dimmed room, Darien gently shut the door behind him before sitting in a chair right next to Serena's bed. Her chest was rising softly as he noticed for the first time, the dark circles under her eyes. Reaching towards the bed, Darien took hold of her small hand before bring it to his lips. Kissing softly, he pulled back, gazing at her sleeping form. Stroking the skin across her hand, Darien sighed.

"I'm sorry for not paying attention to you. I'm sorry that I drove you away into the arms of another man. Ami told me what happened...and I don't blame you. This was all my fault. Please give me another chance Serena...give me another chance to love you properly. Don't turn me away. I hate that it took this long for me to fight back. I hate that I only realized it when you ended up in the hospital...I want to be worthy of your love again." Darien whispered, his eyes blurring slightly as he spoke.

Even though he knew that Serena clearly couldn't hear him, he wanted to say this in front of her. To start a silent promise that he would die to keep.

"I love you so much." He whispered before kissing her hand again, "Please forgive my temper. I want to change that...funny actually...I went to a doctor about our problems...I'm not sure if it means anything...but maybe we can go together when you're better?"

"Please be okay..."

Darien reached to push a stray strand of hair from Serena's face before laying his head on the edge of the bed. Her hand still in his.

"Let me love you properly."

She brushed her short hair back as she glared angrily at her phone. This wasn't suppose to happen. Why did she always get the short end of the stick? Why was she always the sore loser?

It wasn't fair, and she was going to make sure she would get her way this time.

Dialling a number on her home phone, she impatiently tapped her fingers as it rang once, then twice, three times until someone finally picked up on the fourth.

"It's me. I want you to do something for me."

w.w

"Why is this happening again? I thought she would learn from her mistakes! But this time she's taking it too far. Why would she hurt Serena this way?" The blonde growled, kicking the trash can that was in her way.

"I don't know...but I'm pretty sure that for her, old habits die hard. We have to prevent this from happening. I'm sure she's on the move now."

"You make this seem like we're in a action movie or something." Mina growled. "Why are we loitering in the ally anyway?"

"I thought this would put a thrill to out current situation actually." The man laughed as he took out his phone to check the time. "I called the others, I think they should know about it."

"I didn't think I would have to drag them into my mess again." Mina sighed, running a hand through her straight blonde hair.

"Well, it's not your mess anymore. It's your friends."

"True..." Mina murmured before returning to her thoughts. It was only a year ago that it happened. True that it wasn't too long ago...but she didn't expect 'her' to move on so quickly. She didn't expect 'her' to even consider going at it again. She was too far into the game to even think of the consequences. Mina shuddered grimly, as she remembered what happened last time. She wasn't going to let anyone get hurt again. Not this time.

'She's going crazy, she's going crazy!'

"...Is that your ringtone?"

"Shut up." Mina huffed, her cheeks turning a bit red. Either from the cold or the embarrassment, it should've been pretty obvious.

"Hello?"

"Hey, how is she doing?" The voice on the other end asked, his tone laced with authority.

"She's fine. I called Rei awhile ago, and it wasn't anything serious. Luckily it wasn't what I thought happened. I can't believe I scared myself thinking the bitch had done something again."

"Well she indirectly was the source of the problem..." The person on the other end murmured, "When are you coming home?"

Mina smiled at the question, "Soon enough Kunzite. Soon."

Serena groaned quietly as she fought her eyes to open. The curtains were drawn, but even then, she could tell that it was night. How long had she been sleeping? Wait...she was in the hospital! Jolting her hands, she frowned as she felt one of them anchored to the bed. Looking to the left, she found a mop of dark hair, and her hand resting in theirs. Darien...

Careful not to wake him, Serena lifted her other hand to rub her stomach. She remembered now. The baby was safe...

She had fell asleep shortly after hearing the news. No wonder she couldn't remember right away. She was drugged by the sleep. But who could blame her? She really hadn't had a good nights sleep in awhile.

Resting her head back on the pillow, she looked to the left again, wondering how long he had been there.

Serena wasn't the type to lie...but she couldn't bring herself to open her eyes when Darien was talking to her while she was 'asleep'. She honestly didn't know what to say...and she didn't want to confront him on it either. It really wasn't the time.

That being said, it wasn't like she wasn't going to forgive him. She would. She loved him. Never stopped from the start.

There was one thing that puzzled her though...

Why did he think that it was his fault that she ran into the arms of another man?

When had she ever ran...

Seiya.

That must mean that Ami...

Serena glared murderously at the ceiling.

For once, she felt like she wasn't kept in the dark.

Someone was going to pay for their manipulation.

I sincerely apologize for not updating for...4 years. It has been a really long time. I don't want to make up any excuses. I will be honest and say that I lost passion in writing stories. It wasn't the same anymore, and there wasn't any inspiration for me. I do feel horrible though. I know that some of you waited so long for this, and for my other stories also.

I'm sorry if the story is going fast paced, but I honestly can't remember how I wanted the story to go 4 years back. After reading the story again, I had another new out look to how I wanted it to end.

You might also notice my different writing style.

I did grow up!

I tried to revise the other chapters, and fix the grammar, etc, but I honestly don't have time right now. I feel like I owe you guys. I will try to finish the stories I've started before trying to fix what I wrote before.

I am still looking for a beta.

I can't beta my own stuff for my life.

I also suck at english even though it's my first language.

Sorry again. If you have any questions, feel free to message me! Please tell me if the new update is too strange.