Vegas Chapter 12

Serena never thought she would be so happy to go back to school. She passed around Darien as he poured his coffee in to his togco mug.

"Do you want to go get breakfast?" He asked non shalantly.

"Someone may see." She replied.

"They know that we live in the same apartment complex Serena." He pointed out annoyed.

"Yeah, but since you are supposedly married to someone else then that makes me the other woman." She slammed the cabinet and grabbed her bag to walk out the door.

He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to him. "Hey, what's wrong? This is what you wanted." He spoke softly in to her hair.

"Nothing, nothing…." But it wasn't nothing. She couldn't stop these feelings. The feelings of love. She sat still in his arms thinking of nothing but the other day.

It was another day of the girl's brilliant idea to narrow down people that could be her future husband Otherwise known as Endymion. Serena sat watching from her usual barstool drinking her milkshake. Normally, she would not pay attention to any of them but over the last few days all she could do was watch Darien knock each guy out of the park. It happened so suddenly; the heart fluttering moments when she would look at him as he made sure no man other than him came near her. If she didn't know any better he could have been Endymion, but her life didn't work that way. Destiny wouldn't have put them together this easily.

It was when the girls would tell him how wonderful he was and how lucky his wife was that she wanted to scream. She hated the scowl that was a daily feature on Raye's face when the wife was mentioned. Raye wasn't allowed to make facial features when it came to Darien's love life. He was hers and hers only. And yet, she couldn't keep him. And she couldn't tell him she was a reincarnated Moon Princess who was destined to be with the Prince of Earth and her guard would make damn sure that no one got in the way. They had only been married a week and yet, in that one week they had grown so close and comfortable around one another. They had dinner together every night and he told her stories of the ER and the hospital. She told him about her day and decorating the small apartment downstairs. They picked on each other like crazy but in a good way. But this whole not being able to stay with him made her mad, and what made her more than angry was that she was the other woman.

"Serena, what's wrong?" He tilted her chin up and she looked in to his eyes her heart pumping like crazy. 'this is wrong, it's so wrong.'

"Nothing!" She pulled away. She wasn't allowed to feel this way. "I have to get to school." She left out the door slamming it as she left.

Darien sighed. He knew that they were getting closer and she was fighting every time she felt something. It didn't help either that the girls constantly went on about his 'wife' and Serena had to endure it. It was only fair though, he had to interview other men to see if they could win a chance to date his wife. He had fun with it though, and even though he was tired from work and then from questioning the crap out of teenagers with bad intentions he got to go home with Serena. They would laugh and joke about what the boys would say. She would let him touch her like he just did until she pushed away. He would take anything at this point to get closer to her.

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Serena lazily walked to school. All she could think about was his eyes, his perfect hair, his great body, his smile,. "STOP SERENA JUST STOP! You can't have feelings for your husband, its just nuts. " She yelled out loud on the street corner.

Some people stopped at stared at the crazy blond with the weird hairstyle as she screamed out loud. She was way early as she climbed the steps to her first class. Changing her shoes she walked in to the empty classroom.

"Good morning Mrs. Chiba. I guess your changing your name is influencing your attendance record." A voice behind her said making her jump.

"Miss Hauruna!"

"Your parents sent over your papers a couple days ago." Miss Hauruna said waving the papers in front of her face. Mrs. Hauruna had become her teacher a week before school let out for winter break when her old teacher took a leave of absence. She didn't know how much Serena had truly changed and she still held a grudge.

"Oh, well about that… Miss Hauruna can you just call me Miss. Tsukino." Serena said as calm as possible, but inside she was freaking out. Lita and Mina had first class with her. Her parents were pure evil.

"Hum… I don't think so Mrs. Chiba. I have rules to abide by. It's surprising though, that when you were younger all you wanted to be was married and now that you are, you don't want to be called your married name." Miss Hauruna taunted.

Serena built up her confidence.

"M.i.s.s. Hauruna, I am not at all embarrassed by my new last name. My husband is a very successful doctor actually he is quite famous. Dr. Darien Chiba, he has been in the paper a few times. It's just that I would prefer to be called Miss. Tsukino for your sake." Serena said calmly.

"My sake!" Haurna's hand flew to her chest and she let out a laugh.

"Yes, your sake. I mean think of what the other students and teachers would say when they found out dumb little Serena was married to a prestigious doctor and," She cleared her throat… "and well you haven't been married yet. I just wanted to save face for you. However, if you feel that calling me M.r.s. Chiba is following the rules then go ahead." Serena said taking her seat and opening her book.

"I hope you are ready for a pop quiz today Miss Tsukino." Miss Hauruna said as she walked away.

Serena sat down at her desk and let out her breath, she barley won that one. And throughout the day she smirked as Miss Hauruna stressed every syllable of her last name when she was called on in class.

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Darien walked in to the arcade around six. It was later than usual but he was still beaming from the inside out about the surgery that he performed earlier. His enhanced senses helped him more and more in the ER, and he felt that somehow it was Serena's doing. Something about them being together made him more powerful. The sky was dark as he entered the Crown and he could feel the upcoming thunderstorm.

The moment he stepped inside he raged like the outside storm coming on. Kevin, Jaden, Zack and Nathan were wrapped around his wife laughing like crazy. She giggled and blushed from where she sat on her usual bar stool. Ami, Lita, Mina and even Raye had joined in on the conversation laughing. The bell chimed and Ami looked up, her face red and cheery. She skipped away from the conversation over to Darien.

"Darien!" she said in a raised whisper. "We think we may have found him! Well, he has to be one of the four!"

"Him?" He said quickly. He didn't realize they were looking for someone specific. His eyes narrowed in suspicion at Serena who was laughing again at a joke one of his General's said.

Ami flushed. "Well, four choices really. They are all over there. They scored amazing on the test and it just feels right somehow." She pointed not meeting his gaze.

Something wasn't right about this. Serena and the girls were hiding something. Why did Ami say him? One of the four? One of his generals?

"I didn't get my chance with them." Darien said not paying attention to Ami but his eyes now on his men who hadn't noticed his presence.

"Well, we thought we could do the dinner… you know all of us. Then you could single out the guy. I planned out all everything." Ami said proud.

Kevin touched Serena's arm playfully and it wasn't the storm that caused the thunder to rumble though the sky. It was Endymion's anger that made the building shake. He ended up only making things worse. Serena shrieked and she grabbed Zack out of fear and put her head in his chest. Zack smiled widely. Darien grimaced and from what he could see out of the corner of his eye Ami grimaced as well. He didn't know how he got to the other side of the room. His generals stiffened when they saw him. The look of anger in Endymion's eyes caused them to each take one step away from the girls. It only took Zack a moment to realize that this was Endymion's wife and he dropped his hold on the girl and stepped away. Thunder rippled though the air once more and lighting lit the room.

"Darien." Kunzite said with admiration and fear in his voice.

"Hello, guys." Darien replied eerily, his authority an underlining tone.

"Oh, so you all know each other… that's great!" Lita smiled, trying to break the tense atmosphere.

"Yeah! So we should all meet at Serena's apartment Friday." Mina tried to follow Lita's lead.

"What…" Darien asked his eyes caught on Serena's.

"Dinner. I just told you." Ami answered, she lowered her voice, "Part of the dating steps."

"Oh… yeah well. I am sorry I was late. It's getting late and there is going to be a furious storm coming on soon. I was going to offer Serena a ride home." Darien said glancing at each of his men. They immediately understood when he used Serena's name possessively in his tone. They all gulped.

"Yeah, sure. I hate storms." Serena said breaking the icy atmosphere. It seemed to warm Darien up at once a small smile meeting her's.

"Bye. We can talk tomorrow about plans." She waved and Darien placed his hand on the small of her back and led her out of the arcade.

Ami, Ray, Mina and Lita eyed the couple suspiciously as they left the arcade. Luna stared on from the bag under a nearby booth.

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In the car she didn't talk to him for a while. He seemed angry, his eyes on the road. The sky darkened and the thunder roared. In what seemed like it took forever they made their way in to the apartment. Serena took off her shoes and dropped her school bag off in her room.

"So…. What do you want for dinner?" Serena asked trying to ease Darien out of the mood he was in.

"Who is he?" Darien asked quietly.

"What?" Serena asked confused.

"Who is he? Who are you looking for?" Darien asked entering the kitchen. His eyes were dark.

"I don't know what you are talking about. So I was think we should just have ramen noodle bowels. What do you think?" Serena ducked his gaze and began opening up cabinets pretending to look for a pot.

Darien slammed the cabinet shut where Serena was pretending to peer inside startling her. He turned her around and pinned her up against the counter. His eyes black.

"Ami said that she thought that they… they as in your friends… had found him." He said slowly.

"A date…. I thought that was the whole point of screening every man in town. "Him", could have been anyone they chose." She retorted.

"No, Ami said 'him', in a way she implied it was someone specific. One of the four she said"

"You are reading too much in to this. They just want to pick the best person for me."

"I AM THE BEST PERSON FOR YOU!" he yelled frustrated moving away from her. Serena just gulped, she knew it was the truth. Instead of going to him like she wanted, she just froze.

"This is getting stupid Serena. I don't know why I am playing along with this charade. You are my wife and today I wanted to kill my own friend when you grabbed him. It's done. When Friday comes along we are no longer playing these games."

"You don't know what you are messing with Darien!" Serena yelled back. "It's the whole future! The future of the world!"

"You are not making any sense!" He yelled lighting streaking across the sky, thunder booming. Out of sheer reaction Serena grabbed hold of his shirt and pulled her face in to his muscular chest in fright. She had faced so much worse in her life, for some reason thunderstorms scared her to the core.

"I am making sense. You are just not listening!" She said in to his shirt, her voice shook.

He grabbed her chin… "Why won't you just tell me…" he said in defeat his eyes sad.

Pulling her chin away she looked downward. The rain had begun to fall buckets outside. "I can't tell you."

"Fine." He said pulling away and stalking in to his room, slamming the door.

Serena was left alone in the kitchen. Rain stuck to the windows and lighting lit up the room. She pulled herself up on to the kitchen counter and grabbed a box of crackers.

She munched rhythmically thinking about all the pros and cons of what she had gotten herself in too. She knew she could love Darien, that she did love Darien, but Endymion took up a part of that love. Even though she had never met him she loved him. He gave her Rini and that was enough reason for her to find him. The thunder boomed again and she left out a small shriek dropping the box of crackers.

She was up off the counter in seconds. Lighting lit the apartment again and the lights all went out. Thunder shook the building.

She bolted though the apartment finding herself in front of Darien's door. After the fight they just had she knew she shouldn't go in. The thunder shook again and she found herself inside. Running though the room and under the covers.

Darien was on the phone, shock on his face. The thunder rattled again and she let out a small cry.

"Yes, Kevin. I know you didn't know. No. Yes. No. Shut up or so help me… Fine. Friday. Bye." He hung up, Serena watching him from a small peak hole under the covers.

He was still angry, she could feel it. She didn't care.

"Serena." He growled.

"yes…" she epped.

"What are you doing?" He said annoyed not finding this cute at all.

"Please… she begged. The lights are out, it's a storm. Please." She begged

"Out." He said no emotion in his voice.

"Really?"

"Yes. I can't… I have to work early." He made an excuse.

"Fine… I guess… I guess…" She shrieked again when the lighting and thunder started the rain came down harder. She grabbed on to him.

"You really are scared aren't you?" He asked.

"No… I will be going in a few seconds to my room…or my apartment since…" She trailed off. She hadn't really missed her mother but now she did. She missed being young at home and childlike. She missed her mom.

Darien put one arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to him. She gave in with no second thoughts and snuggled in to his side. The storm raged on. Lighting lit the room over and over again.

When the rain grew to a constant drizzle and the thunder lessened, Serena sat up in the bed.

She sighed, "I am really sorry about today."

"Me too." He sighed.

The lights were still out.

"So, how do you know those guys? They seemed really familiar to me." She asked still not placing their faces

Darien figured he should just stick to the college story and skip the whole re-incarnation thing. "We met in America. We went to college together. Besides, Andrew they are my only male friends."

"They are really nice… I think they would be great for the girls." Serena said absent-mindedly.

"What?" Darien asked.

"I dunno… I just think… well don't you see it too? Hummm… Lita and Nathan…"

"Ami and Zack. I saw the way she was looking at him." Darien chimed in.

"REALLY! Okay okay so how about Mina and Kevin. They are just both so… leader like and Mina has a thing for guys with long sexy hair."

Darien gave her a look… then shook it off "Well that leaves Ray and Jacen… humm."

"Hum what?" Serena nudged Darien and he pretended to be hurt.

"Well, they may kill one another."

"You mean Ray may kill him, right."

"No, I mean Jacen is just as bad at Raye."

"Oh well. It should be interesting to watch. Plus, wait till we turn the tables on them. Muh hahahahaha." Serena tapped her fingers together trying to look sinister.

"I could not agree more." Darien mumbled.

Serena nodded. After a few moments of silence Serena spoke again. "Are we okay?" They words toppled out of her mouth before she could comprehend what she was saying. She wanted to push him away but she just couldn't she was so drawn to him. Like a magnet.

"We are still lying to everyone." Darien said after a second.

"For good reason." She stated.

"I don't see one." He answered chin up.

"I think your life is good enough." Serena crossed her arms over her chest looking serious.

"Please, I could take all of them!" Darien said arrogantly.

"I don't think so." She laughed.

"Please! You don't know who I would take down to be with you." He said quickly. The truth was now told.

Serena could just stare at him. Had he really just said that?

"Come on! Like you didn't know it was true." He sneaked closer to her putting his arm around her waist and pulling her closer. Serena didn't protest, but her hand went up to his chest, her eyes wide.

"I interview men who want to marry you everyday just to keep them away from you and you with me." Serena went to protest his finger went up to her lips to hush her.

"Yes, marry you, not date you. They say anything to get to you, and they do. But, I am your husband and I know it's only been a week but drinks or no drinks I meant what I said in Vegas. I want this to work. We can make this work." He confessed.

Serena felt her heart swell this feeling in her side of her made her brave. She leaned up and kissed Darien. At first it was innocent but slowly it became more intense Darien laid her down in to the soft bed and planted kisses up and down her neck, her hands went in to his hair. He kissed her nose lovingly. Pulling away to look at her. She smiled her arms still around him.

"Too much?" He asked with a smirk.

"No… no… I've just never felt this way." She admitted.

"It's normal. At least I think it is." Darien said..

"It should feel wrong, but it's so right." Serena sighed.

"I think so." Darien smiled at the major break through in their relationship.

"Well, maybe you could kiss me again." Serena blushed.

"On one condition…" He said seriously.

Serena's brow furrowed. "What?"

"Sleep in here with me from now on… like my wife would." He stated.

"I don't know." She hesitated.

Darien conjured up a large boom of thunder making Serena jump in to his arms.

"Okay! Okay!" she agreed smiling.

"SUCCESS! Darien yelled leaning down to kiss his wife.

Darien pulled away after awhile, not wanting things to go to far before Serena was ready. She looked flushed and happy. The lights suddenly came on lighting the dark room.

"Food." Darien said knowing what Serena was thinking about.

"I like this mind reading you have going on. Come on husband." She smiled getting out of bed. He smiled and followed behind her like a puppy.

She liked this private life she was building with them. She changed her mind again. No one would get in the way of this private life they were building together. No one.