Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.
Chapter Three: Birthday
It was a late afternoon. Serena lied on her back with her arm folded behind her head. She was dressed in a t-shirt and jeans. Luna lied next to her on the bed and curled up on the floor.
It was one week before her eighteenth birthday and only yesterday had Raye informed her that she was pregnant. Five different pregnancy tests and five positive later, Serena had to face the music. She was indeed pregnant. She felt weird. When she was fourteen-years-old, the idea of having Darien's baby excited her and all she did was planned and dreamed about their wedding. She could not wait to give birth to their future daughter, Rini. Now, Rini was here inside of her and four weeks old.
She still very much in love with Darien, but her trip to Boston made her realized that she was no longer that fourteen-year-old and he was no longer the seventeen-year-old guy that despised her as much as she despised him. She rolled over to her side and smiled remembering the many epic arguments that caused the arcade to be filled to capacity as everything awaited their fights. He called her a crying meatball head and she called him an arrogant jerk. Now, she had no idea that they would have been together of four years and now they were having a baby together.
She knew she had to tell Darien, the rest of the girls, and her family. Luna and Raye promised they would not utter a word. Luna remained by her side at all times even though she knew that Luna would secretly prefer to be with Artemis. It was obvious that they were in love with one another. Now, that the cat was out of the bag that they were going to have a future daughter named Diana together, it was hard to fight the destiny that they were meant to be together.
Serena heard a beep from her computer. She knew that sound meant someone was trying to video chat with her. She sat up and walked over to her computer. It was Darien requesting permission to chat with her. She sighed. She was no longer angry with Darien about not returning home for the summer like he promised. She was mainly concerned about her unborn child. She was not ready to tell Darien the truth. She wondered if he would be happy that she was carrying his child or would he be upset that there was now a dent in his perfect plan for them together. Serena slowly moved the mouse cursor over the inbox asking if she wanted to accept or deny his request. She pressed the deny button and walked away. Her cell phone started to immediately ring afterwards. She walked over towards it and saw that it was Darien.
Serena slipped on her sneakers. She grabbed her keys and left her room as Luna found her out of the room. Luna hopped on Serena's shoulder as Serena raced down the stairs. Irene heard Serena running down the stairs. She walked away from the stove and leaned passed the kitchen door. She called out Serena's name to only hear the front door closing. Serena was already gone.
Serena walked down the streets of her district in Juban with no destination in particular. Luna asked, "Are you okay, Serena?"
Serena shook her head. "No, I just need to think." Serena found a bench in the park by the river. She sat down as Luna hopped off of her and sat down next to her.
Serena stuffed her hands in her pocket.
Luna said, "You love Darien, and you are carrying his child. You are carrying Rini. You always dreamed about your wedding and having Rini."
Serena turned to Luna and said, "That's the problem, Luna. Why am I not happy and jumping up for joy?" She stared down at Luna searching for clarity. "I have everything I could possibly want. Why am I not happy? Why am I avoiding Darien?"
Luna shook her head. "I cannot answer it, Serena. All I say is that you grew up."
A puzzled expression appeared on Serena's face. Luna continued, "You're not that lazy crybaby klutz that I first met who could not chew gum and walk at the same time. You grew up and evolved into a beautiful young woman who is a confident and passionate. You became the strong and powerful leader that I knew was inside of you all along, and you saved the world five times. You are not the same girl Serena so stop trying to be."
Serena sighed. "And my relationship with Darien has changed. I am thinking we are going to have candle lights dinners and talking like he used to do. Now, it's like I can't be with him without him for five minutes without him wanting to rip my clothes off and having rough, animalistic sex."
"Serena!" Luna screeched as Serena talked about her sex life.
Serena laughed. "I'm sorry Luna. I thought you and Artemis have done it by now." Luna turned red. "I mean you do have Diana in the future so it's inevitable that you two are going to…."
"Serena Tuskino! I do not want to hear this type of unladylike talking from you. You should have waited until your wedding night to have sex anyway."
Serena smiled petting Luna. "I am sorry, Luna. Thank you."
Luna looked confused. "For what?"
"For making me feel better."
In a loft in Los Angeles, California, Darien angrily hurled his phone against the wall smashing it into smithereens. He has been calling her nonstop for over a month and she refused to answer his calls. He knew she received him because he received an alert saying that she denied his request for a video chat. He ran his hand through his hair in frustration. He struggled to remain control as he clenched and unclenched his fist wanting to strangle her at the moment for being so stubborn. He looked at her picture that sat on his computer desk with smiling warmly at him wearing a sundress in a field of flowers. He snapped that picture before he left for school last year.
He walked to the refrigerator and grabbed a beer. He took a swig of his beer with a peeved expression still plastered on his face. He did not understand why she was making so big deal about this. She could easily teleport there and they could have been making love by now. It was a bright sunny day and the daylight illuminated his modest loft that was fully furnished with the basic necessities. Even though he was hardly in his apartment because he was working, he loved the view of his wall window that showed him the beautiful skyline of the city. An image of him throwing a naked Serena against the window appeared in his head. He could imagine her with her hands pressed against the window as he had hot doggy style sex with her from behind. He groaned as he felt himself growing hard as the image disappeared.
He was confused as hell with her. He sees her all hot and bothered with a guy that she says she imagined was really him. She says that she wanted sex so she gave her sex. Now, she is treating him like he did something wrong. He did not get her. He sighed. He figured he would talk to Andrew about it. He looked for his phone. He looked across the room and saw it smashed to pieces against the floor. Shit!
An hour later, Darien walked out of a store with a brand new phone. He lied to the sales associate that someone stole his phone so that he could easily get a new phone by paying the insurance. The sales associate helped him loaded his contacts back to his phone from his e-mail account.
Darien strolled down the sunny streets of L.A. holding his phone in one hand while holding a bag with his phone equipment in his other hand. He told the phone. "Call Andrew."
A woman in a robotic voice said, "Calling Andrew." Darien watched as the phone started dialing Andrew's number.
Andrew yawned as he sat up in his bed. It was three o' clock in the morning. He groaned as he answered the phone next to his portrait of Rita and him smiling on his night stand.
He asked sleepily, "What's up?"
Darien asked, "Hey man, are you asleep?"
Andrew rolled his eyes. "Of course I was. It's three in the morning. I have to be to work in three hours."
Darien cringed. "Sorry Andrew. I forgot about the time difference." It was a little after eleven in the morning in California.
Andrew shook his head. "It's fine man. What's up?"
"It's about Serena."
Andrew sighed. "I'll call you back in a little bit. I'll need coffee for this." He clicked off the phone leaving Darien holding the phone stunned when he disconnected. Andrew sluggishly got out of bed. Whenever Darien Shields called him about girl problems, he knew it was a big deal. Darien hardly ever talked about personal things unless it was really bothering him.
Andrew slowly walked into the kitchen of his apartment as he slowly prepared himself a cup of coffee. After leaning against the counter and slowly sipping a cup of coffee in his Sailor Jupiter mug that Lita had made for him in her pottery class a year ago after he told her that Sailor Jupiter was his favorite Sailor Scout. He had no idea why she turned red. He guessed she felt embarrassed for him like a super heroine like Sailor Jupiter. He felt silly until she told him that Sailor Jupiter was her favorite sailor scout too.
He started to perk up after taking a few sips of coffee. He called Darien back. Darien had just walked back into his apartment. He locked the front door then placed his keys and bag on top of the kitchen counter.
He popped on his sofa when he saw Andrew calling. He answered it.
Darien said, "Hey Andrew."
Andrew said, "Hey, now what's going on with you and Serena?" Darien only told him that he was dating Serena about two years ago. He did cringe because Serena was so young and childlike while Darien was so serious. Plus, she was only fourteen at the time. But he could not speak either, he thought Rei was hot and she was the same age as Serena. He did not understand Darien's relationship with Serena. All he knew was that Darien came alive with Serena in his life and she made him happy. That made Andrew smile.
Darien lied on his sofa with the phone to his ear. "I don't know man. Okay, I told you about the video last month about her grinding against some guy on the dance floor then started making out." Darien became angry just saying it out while Andrew cleared his throat. Seeing Serena that provocative turned him on too. Even though he'll never admit that out loud. Plus, it made him feel dirty and wrong because he loved Serena like a little sister.
Darien continued, "I ended up calling her that night and breaking up with her. She shows up at my apartment…" Before Andrew could ask how, Darien said, "Don't ask me how. Anyway, the meatballs are gone and she's looking hot and sexy, and all I wanted to do was make love to her. She told me that the guy meant nothing to her and she was fantasizing about me went that happened and she just got lost in the moment. She told me that she wanted to lose her virginity to me. So we finally have sex and it was amazing. It was like heaven being inside of her like my cock was made to be inside of her." Andrew was dumbfounded and speechless. "Every time it was magical and all I wanted to do was fuck her over and over again. We had sex on the dining room table, in the shower, on the kitchen counter, and on balcony. Every time she screamed and came over my cock. She was soaking wet."
Andrew interrupted. "I could have lived without hearing the graphic details of your sex life with Serena, who is like a baby sister to me. And I never ever want to hear about her having sex. But anyway, are you talking about your girlfriend or a porno?"
Darien looked confused. "What do you mean?"
Andrew said, "Darien, you're scaring the shit out of the poor girl. Just because she says she wants sex doesn't mean that you have to fuck her brains out every time you see her."
Darien said, "I haven't had sex in four years. I study hard and work out every day to not think about having sex. I constantly get hit on beautiful women ready to open their legs to me. I even almost hooked up with another woman last month. I couldn't even get my cock up. The only woman that aroused me is Serena. Even after I have sex with her and came; I am hard again and ready to go again. It's like I've been behind bars for four years and I just want to fuck my girlfriend all day every day."
Andrew said, "Darien, you're going to have to calm down your libido. There's more to a relationship than just sex. Girls like romance and to be wined and dined. You don't need to fulfill every sexual fantasy that you have about her right away."
Darien thought about the fantasy her had earlier about screwing the daylights out of Serena against the window. "I don't know how. She could be wearing a paper bag and I still want her." Darien cringed and spoke so quickly that Andrew did not hear a word he said.
Andrew asked, "What?"
Darien closed his eyes in embarrassed. "I stole her panties."
Andrew was dumbfounded then burst into laughter. "That's pathetic, Darien."
"Come on. I hardly see her. I need something to remind me how she smells. My cock won't work for anyone but her so I can't cheat and she's like halfway across the planet."
Andrew laughed. "I see why she won't speak to you. She finally realized how crazy your ass really is and she's scared shitless."
Darien groaned. "Come Andrew. Help me."
Andrew leaned off the counter. He said, "I don't know. Masturbate."
"I masturbate so often I feel like my dick is going to fall off. What else?"
"Keep yourself busy. Focus on school, work out…."
"Dude, I am a straight A student with a 4.0 grade point average and I went from have a six pack to an eight pack."
"I don't know. Go to church. That's the best way to cool your desire and make you feel guilty about having premarital sex."
"Not religious."
"Picture your mom..."
"She's dead. Don't remember her."
"Think about someone that you really don't like."
Darien pondered for a moment about someone that he did not like. He fantasized about having sex with Serena with her sexy body underneath her as he banged the hell out of her. An image popped into his head of this person he did not like and his desire instantly when down. The image went away. Darien smiled in relief.
Darien said happily, "Thanks Andrew."
Andrew asked, "You're good?"
Darien thought about their other problem which he thought was ridiculous "No, she's upset with me because chose a summer internship making a hell of a lot of money over returning home and spending money. She refused to answer my phone calls or text."
Andrew sipped her coffee. "Didn't you do the same thing to her?"
"That was different I thought she cheated on me. What she is doing is stupid if she has the ability to just come visit me whenever she wants."
Andrew said, "That's not the point."
Darien sat up resting his back against the arm of the sofa. "What do you mean? That's exactly the point."
"She's used to the Darien that she had before you went off to study aboard. You used to always spend time with her, and you never forgot her birthday or Valentine's Day. You were so romantic and supportive. Now, you don't do that anymore. You text her for graduation. You should have been there. You did not buy her anything for Valentine's Day or her seventeenth birthday. She's going to be eighteen in a week and you aren't even here."
Darien groaned as he covered his eyes. He totally forgot about her birthday. Andrew continued, "You could have been here, but you chose money or her. It's always something else over her, and she's starting to see that."
"I want her."
"You don't act like it. You take her for granted. It's wasn't sex that she was after. It was you, but if you continued focusing on this ideal life that you mapped out for you and Serena, then you are going to lose your girlfriend along the way."
"I can't. We've meant to be together. She's my destiny." Darien found himself saying arrogantly. He could not believe how cocky he sounded.
"Well amigo, destinies changed. When you don't invest as much energy in your personal relationship as you do in school and everything else, she's not going to wait that long. If you think that Serena is going to sit around and wait for you get your shit together in a different country Darien then you are not that smart."
Darien tilted his head back and looked up at the white ceiling. "Serena is hot Darien. Guys are constantly checking her out your girlfriend. If you don't get your act together, she's going to start taking notice."
Darien pondered about what Andrew said long after their conversation ended. A firm look appeared on Darien's face. He knew what he had to do.
Serena spent the week hanging out with her friends. She knew that they were planning her surprise birthday party. They were acting strange all week long. She still had not told them about the baby. Raye scolded her on the phone that she needed to tell the truth since truth will eventually reveal itself. Serena told her she would tell them after her birthday. She wanted things to remain normal for a little while more before their lives changed forever.
The girls easily convinced Andrew to allow them to throw the party at The Crown. He did not even charge them a fee. Andrew and Lita decorated the cake. Raye and Mina went shopping for decorations. Ami helped Ken and Irene put together a special birthday gift from Serena.
Serena had bittersweet smile on her face now that Darien finally stopped trying to communicate with her. She wondered if he had given up on her.
Serena walked into an art gallery. Art always interested her and she received emails from the local museum downtown about upcoming events at the museum. Her party was in two days and she knew on the last Saturday of every month. The museum was opened free to the public.
They were displaying the art of Jake Kelly. Jake Kelly was an American designer and he painted these mystical abstract paintings about the moon kingdom. Serena wanted to check them out since she remembered Peggy Jones painting from four years ago about the moon kingdom and romantic pieces of Princess Serenity and Prince Endyimon. She convinced Serena and Darien to model for her at her home. Serena and Darien hated each other back them and insulted the other whenever the opportunity rose. As they sat letting Peggy sketch them, it was the first time that Serena ever really studied Darien's profile and admit to herself that he was kind of hot.
Serena also remembered that Peggy turned out to be a carrier of the seven rainbow crystals from the Moon and Serena as Sailor Moon had to defeat her in her youma form and heal her with the power of her moon wand. She wondered if this Jake Kelly was evil.
She ran into Peggy the other day at the grocery store. She was Peggy Kelly now a world renowned artist who travelled the world. She was now happily married to an American accountant working at the Japanese branch of his company and had a three-year-old son. She returned to Tokyo ready to settle down. She recently achieved her dream. She opened up her own art gallery. Her art pieces sell for at least ten thousand dollars a painting. She often featured new artists and invited Serena to check out this new artist.
She was amazed as she looked at the art work. She walked around admiring the paintings one by one. Her jaw dropped when she saw a life sized portrait of a beautiful woman with fiery long red hair. She was in dark, murky water and her head was about the water staring directly at her with blazing red eyes. She saw another paint of a woman sitting alone in the bar like she was waiting for someone. She saw another painting of a beautiful woman looking sat as her lover's back is towards her and it looks like he was about to walk out the door. She saw another painting of a little girl crying in pigtails for her parents in a sea of people. She was the only splash of color in the black and white painting.
"Do you like them?" Serena jumped when she heard a deep male voice behind her. She turned around and saw a tall, strikingly handsome and well-built blonde man with piercing blue eyes dressed in a sharp three piece suit. He was about twenty-something and had a mature air about him. He stood next to her and stuffed his hands in his pocket as he looked at the painting.
Serena became so flustered that she could not speak. She said a little shaking. "I love them. It's like you can feel what they are feelings by looking at the paintings."
The man continued, "I think that was what the artist's point was. He wanted the viewer to feel the emotions that the subjects are feeling in each painting."
Serena stared in amazing at the painting admiring their range of color and detail. The man watched as Serena walked around stand as close as she could to each painting without touching. She walked "What's the name of this display?"
The man said, "Emotions by Jake Kelly."
Serena glanced at him for a moment. "I assume you are the artist." The man laughed as Serena turned back to inspected the paintings. He followed her.
He laughed. He had a whimsical laugh. He said, "I guess it is obvious."
Serena said, "You are quite the painter. Your artwork is excellent."
Jake said, "Peggy told me that you were coming. She wanted me to show you around." Serena smiled as she circling around the room. He stopped. "She said you actually model for her once."
Serena turned to Jake. "Yes, my boyfriend and I did."
Jake grinned at her giving her a big smile. "I didn't ask you if you had a boyfriend."
Serena said, "I know. I was just letting you know that I did."
Jake smiled. "He's a lucky man." Serena smiled as she locked eyes with Jake for a moment.
"Oh good! You two have met." Serena broke away from his stare when she saw Peggy walking into the world wearing a form fitting green one should dress with crème colored pumps. She wore her hair in a French twist, light makeup, and expensive green emerald earrings matching her dress. She oozed with sophistication and confidence.
When Serena saw how sharply Jake and Peggy were dressed, she felt extremely underdressed. Peggy told her nothing about dressing up. She was wearing a strapless white sundress with a square neckline with white wedge sandals and a French pedicure.
Peggy strolled up to them. She embraced them both. Peggy said, "Serena, this is my brother-in-law Jake. He just graduated from art school."
Serena smiled sincerely at him as he stared at her. "Jake, this is my friend Serena Tuskino. She modeled for me once when I had no confidence in my talent. I contributed my success today to meeting her."
Serena said modestly. "Peggy, I had nothing to do with it. You were already talented and your artwork was already selling."
Peggy smiled. "But under a different name. I thought people who not buy my artwork if they saw me, and because I met you, I learned to believe in myself and now I am a world-renowned artist."
Jake gave Serena a charming smile. He turned to Serena and teased, "Aren't you little Miss Perfect." Serena rolled her eyes at him.
Peggy asked Serena looking around, "So what do you think? Does my brother in law have talent? Will his paintings sell?"
Serena arched her eyebrow. "I think he is okay. If I had ten grand I'll buy one."
Jake let out a throaty laugh folding his arms. "I wish I could sell a piece for ten grand."
Peggy laughed. Peggy looked at her watched. Peggy said, "Oh dear. It's going on one. I have to meet with John."
Serena asked confused, "Who's John?"
Jake intervened, "My boring brother and her husband." Peggy playfully slapped Jake's arm.
Peggy turned to Serena. She asked, "Why don't you tag along and meet him? We're having lunch at the Ritz. The food is superb." Serena loved food and knew the restaurant was one of the best and expensive restaurants in town. Only the wealthy elite could afford to eat there and there was a dress code.
Serena said looking down at herself, "I don't know. I'm underdressed."
Peggy dismissed her claim. "Serena, you're fine. Plus, I told John about you. He'll love to meet you."
Serena hesitated a moment. When she saw the pleading look on Peggy's face, she gave in. She smiled. "Fine, you got me."
Peggy cheered. Jake shook his head.
Peggy asked Jake "Are you coming?"
Jake shook his head. "No, I have to finish putting my art work up and then the investor is coming at three. I pretty busy for the art show on Monday night."
Serena blurted out. "That's my birthday."
Jake grinned. "That's awesome. What's age are you making?"
"I'll be eighteen."
Jake laughed. "Wow, in less than forty-eight hours, you are going to be legal." Serena blushed feeling slightly hot. Peggy slapped Jake in the back of the head causing him to cry out in pain.
Serena bowed over laughing. Peggy said, "Stop flirting with her. She's has a boyfriend. He's hot and he's studying to be a doctor. You have no shot." Peggy wrapped her around Serena's arm and led her out of the gallery. "Come on, Serena." Jake rubbed the back of his head.
Peggy said with her nose in the air. "I'll be back in a couple of hours. Try not to destroy the place."
Jake called out, "It was nice meeting you Serena." She turned her head for brief moment and smiled.
Peggy's husband was charming as ever. He had a dry sense of humor and Serena was bored out of her mind watching the happy couple brag about how perfect their lives were together. They were planning a trip to Hawaii in a few weeks and Peggy was worried that she was going to miss some important clients. Serena did however enjoy the food. They were stunned as Serena ate the majority of the cheesecake they had argued for desert. Peggy told her how impressed she was with her stamina to that cheesecake.
"Surprise!" Serena was stunned as tears of joys flowed down her cheeks as she covered her mouth in shock with Artemis and Luna by her side.
She cried, "You guys!" She had just walked into the crown. Serena wore a baby blue maxi dress with matching stilettoes. Her hair was in wave of curly gold locks. Mina came over and curled her hair.
The Crown was piled with her classmates from high school and at the center of the crowd were her friends dressed up in party dresses. The Crown was turned into a party hall decorated with moons and stars hanging from the ceiling. White balloons that looked like full moons fell from the ceilings. Everyone started to sing the happy birthday song loud and off key as Lita and Andrew walked out rolling a cart with a large Sailor Moon cake with eighteen candles lit up. In the middle of the cake it read, "Happy Birthday Serena." Serena was stunned that the girls would be so bold. However, no one but the girls and Luna and Artemis understood the joke. She guessed everyone assumed she was a Sailor Moon fan.
Serena hugged her parents who were also stood in the crowd along with her brother Sammy and his girlfriend Mika.
Irene said, "Happy Birthday, sweetheart!"
Ken said, "Happy Birthday, princess."
Serena laughed. "Thanks mom and dad."
The party was hot and popping. There was a DJ in the background. Lita explained that Andrew paid for the DJ. Serena was impressed. She danced to all of the hit songs with her girls. Mina and Raye danced with a couple of cute guys in the middle of the dance floor drawing the attention of the crowd.
Ami was surprised when Greg showed up. Serena strode into the back room to use Andrew's private bathroom since the main one was packed. She was stunned to see them sitting on the sofa in Andrew's office. No one went back there. They were having a full on make out session. Serena knew that Ami has lost her virginity to Greg a few months ago. He was doing an internship at a research center and was in town for a few months. Serena secretly wanted Greg and Ami to work out, but it seemed like it was impossible. The time was never right for them and their schedules always conflicted. Greg was leaving to return to Nagoya. Ami was leaving to study in Germany. They made a pact that if they were not dating anyone. They would hang out together and hook up.
Serena found out about their affair when Ami called to ask her if she could pick her up from the airport. Serena was the first person to ever befriend Ami when everyone else thought she was a freak of nature since she was so smart. Ami had one of the highest averages in the nation in math and science. She was asked to represent the nation for some conventions overseas where only the brightest minds were allowed to attend. While at the conference, she met Greg. He already had graduated high school two years earlier and was already a sophomore in college. They hung out for the first few days and caught up with one another. Then on the last day he invited her into his room and they ended up making love. Ami told Serena about what happened on the car ride home.
Serena quickly leaned against the wall so that they would not see her and she slowly opened and locked the back of the door as she snuck so no one could disturb them.
Serena strutted out of the room. She saw Lita and Andrew standing by the punch table chatting. Serena looked at their body language and instantly smiled. They were so into to each other even though neither wanted to admit it.
Lita took a sip of her punch. Someone had spiked the punch with vodka and patron, which she was thankful for at that moment. She pretended to be interested with a fake smile plastered on her face. She listened to Andrew talk about for the umpteenth time about how wonderful Rita was. Rita emailed him today about how she was found new artifacts from the Egyptian pharaoh King Tut.
Andrew laughed. "She was so excited. I can't wait to marry her."
Lita choked on her drink and coughed. "Oh my goodness, Lita. Are you okay?" Andrew patted her back.
Lita nodded asked hoarsely, "What do you mean?"
Andrew smiled at Lita. "I want you to take over running the arcade while I'm going."
Everything was gone too fast for Lita. "What do you mean, Andrew?"
Andrew smiled. "I love Rita. I want to marry her, and I love her enough to compromise. I am going to go to Egypt and I am going to marry Rita. I'm leaving at the end of the summer."
Lita asked, "Does Rita know?"
Andrew nodded. "She actually thought I was nuts to leave Tokyo and come travel around the world with her."
"But Andrew, you love the arcade."
"Rita means more to me than the arcade. Plus, I could use my background in health care and help the underprivileged people there."
Lita opened her mouth to protest but nothing came out. There was no way to reason with him. You can't reason with love. If Andrew wanted to leave forever and be with the woman he loved. There was nothing she could do about it.
On the inside Lita wanted to cry and beg him to pick her. But she knew that he would always choose Rita. Rita was the one that he wanted. Lita gave him a weak smile. "If that's what you want, I am happy for you. The Crown is in good hands."
Andrew placed a reassuring hand on Lita's bare shoulder. "Thanks, Lita. Sometimes I don't know what I would do without you." He gave her a small peck on the cheek and walked away.
Lita saw Serena, Mina, and Raye on the dance floor dancing to Rhianna and Chris Brown's song, "Birthday Cake." Lita poured herself another cup of punch and chunk it down before placing the cup on the table. She joined her girlfriends on the dance floor. They smiled as they danced in a group to the song.
Irene stood by the DJ borrowing his microphone and tapped it causing a loud thud in the room as she checked to see if it was on. Irene placed the microphone to her mouth. She said happily, "Hi everyone. I'm Serena's mom." Everyone stopped what they were doing and paid attention to her.
Serena smiled. Someone walked in through the front door but no one paid attention. Irene smile looking at her daughter through the crowd and said, "I know that you guys want to get back to your partying but I wanted to take the time and give my daughter a birthday present with the help of her friend Ami." Everyone searched for Ami except Serena but no one knew where she was. She bit her bottom lip. Irene shrugged her shoulder giving up looking for her. "Anyhow, I wanted to give this tribute to you Serena. I know that you are an adult daughter now and I wish the next twenty years of your life to be as wonderful as the last eighteen years of your life. So here's your father and my tribute to you."
Serena gave a big toothy smile to her mouth. She muttered through her teeth. "Please no embarrassing photos."
Raye said upset, "Where the heck if Ami? If we have to be here. So does she?"
Irene motioned for Raye to come to the stage. Everyone turned to a back room to see Ami walking out a little disheveled and walking funny. She walked onto the stage and started to play the melody for
Lita looked stunned. "Did Ami just…"
Mina cleared her throat. Ami walked to the piano limping to the piano. She started to play the melody to The Beatles' "Hey Jude". Raye quickly strutted to the stages and grabbed the microphone away from Irene. She started singing the lyrics instead she used Serena instead of Jude. Serena turned around and saw Andrew in the back turning off the lights. A projector came on and started to show a slideshow of Serena. Irene and Ken came to stand next to his wife placing a comfortable arm around her. Serena groaned in embarrassment as she saw embarrassing photographs of her from the day she was born and her mother smiling at the camera as she held a tiny Serena wrapped tightly in a pink blanket at the hospital and showed a series of Serena in cute moments throughout her life. It ended with a photograph of Serena dressed in a red ballroom gown with her pigtails in her hair. She was wearing a silver crown on her head with a bouquet of roses in her hand as her parents dressed up posed next to her. She had won the titled of the Red Queen. Their class did a winter in wonderland dance based off of Alice in Wonderland where everyone dressed up like characters from the Wonderland series. Amanda won the vote for The White Queen while Serena won the class vote for Red Queen. It was another event in her life that Darien did not show up for. She did not notice a pair of familiar eyes staring at her. The crowd cheered in applause when they slide showed ended. They applauded Serena who simply curtsied causing laughter. Andrew flipped on the switch.
Greg slipped out of the backroom adjusting his pants. He joined in the crowd and began applauding Serena. Across the cross, he locked eyes with Ami who sat the piano. She smiled at him blushing. He started to blush too. They then turned their attention to Serena as Ami stood up and applauded her friend.
The party continued on. The DJ was now playing Jason Mraz's "I Won't Give Up." Serena felt parched. She walked towards the punch table to get a cup of punch.
"Excuse me." She froze as she slowly turned around. She blinked her eyes to check to see if she was dreaming. Before her stood, Darien dressed in a tuxedo with a bouquet of roses in his hand. He gave her a half smile.
Their blue eyes simply stared at one another as the chatter went on around them. Darien spoke softly. "Happy Birthday, Serena."
Serena looked in disbelief. "Why are you here?"
Darien looked confused. "What do you mean?"
Serena said, "I've never been this important to you before. Why now?" She turned to him placing her hands on her hips.
Darien let out a frustrated sigh. "I'm here dressed in a tuxedo with a bouquet of roses. What more do you want?"
Serena said, "Something more." She turned around walking out. Darien grabbed her arm and swung her back around causing a few eyes to look at them.
Darien looked Serena directly into the eyes. He began to dance with her pulling a reluctant Serena close to him catching her off guard. "Dance with me. Give me one song." He began to dance to with her and luckily she did not make a scene.
They started to waltz across the dance floor without realizing it. The started to gain the attention of the crowd.
Ken looked confused at the guy dancing with his daughter. He looked familiar but he could not put his finger on it. Irene tapped her husband. She nudged towards the dance floor. Ken smiled as he led his wife to the dance floor and began to dance with her. Andrew smiled as he leaned against the wall and saw Lita moving her feet to the music as they danced. He pushed himself up from the wall. He walked towards her. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, "May I have this dance?"
A stunned Lita turned around and stared at him for a moment. She nodded as she allowed him to lead her on the dance floor. They began to dance.
Darien looked at a reluctant Serena. He always took their relationship for granted like she would never leave him. The beautiful woman that danced with him was not the same girl who looked worshipped the ground that he walked on. He knew that either he get his act together or his Serena would no longer be his. "I love you, Serena. Tell me what you want so I can't fix this." He twirled her away from him then twirled her back as he dipped her in his arm before pulling her back up.
Serena looked into Darien's eyes was full of love and pain. He was vulnerable right now and was not the confident Darien that she knew.
Serena said, "I feel like I am nothing to you. It's like I know you love me, but you don't love me. You love that I am the moon princess and you love that I am the mother of your future children and future queen but you don't love me. You have no interest in my life."
Darien cut her off. "I am interested."
"Then tell me one thing about my life in the last year." Darien hesitated and froze in his moment. He could not think of anything. He knew absolutely nothing about her life in the last year.
Serena snorted. "Exactly." She started to pull away from him. He grabbed her wrist and twirled her back into his arms and began to dance with her again.
Darien said, "So tell me."
Serena looked into his eyes. "I shouldn't have to tell him. Maybe if you were here than you would know."
Darien laughed as if an actualization occurred. "Ah…we're getting somewhere. You want me to come back to Japan. You want me to give up my life in America to come back home to Japan." She could hear the cynicism in his voice.
Serena said, "You say that like it's a bad thing. What's wrong with coming back home? "
Darien said, "Serena, you have a perfect life. You have friends and a family that loves you. A room of your own and you lived in the suburbia in a beautiful home. You have had your parents every day for eighteen years. You didn't lose your parents in a car accident when you were eight. You didn't get bounced from foster home to foster home. You didn't end up the streets or know how it is to be homeless. You don't know how it is to be so hungry that you are digging in a garbage can trying to find food. You have no idea how it is to struggle. But once you get out of that lifestyle. You never want to go back. I don't want to be poor. I don't want us to struggle. I never want you or our children to have to experience what I went through or even Lita." Serena glanced at her friend across the ballroom who danced happily with Andrew. "I'm working my ass off as fast as I can to provide a good future for the both of us."
Serena said, "I don't care about that. I don't care about being poor. I just want to be with you."
Darien smiled. "That sounds romantic and all, but love doesn't pay the bills and there is nothing romantic about being homeless and poor on the streets struggling to make ends meet."
Serena asked, "So what does that have to do with coming home to Japan? You can go to school here."
Darien smiled at her. She said, "Don't you see it, Serena. Look around at all your classmates and friends." Serena glanced around the room at her classmates. "All of them are branching out to face the next chapter of their lives. Some will go off to colleges. Others will enter the workforce. Some will start families. Look at your friends. Ami is going off to Germany. Lita is going off to culinary school. Mina will go back to Europe. Andrew is going to Egypt to marry Rita." Serena looked at him shocked. "He told me during the slide show."
Serena glanced at Lita. "Poor Lita."
Darien said, "My point is that you're living in your past. Your childhood is over it. I liked Japan but my life is America. Our life is in America." She turned to him and looked up.
Serena asked, "What are you saying?"
Darien said, "Come back to America with me. We'll be together. Just the two of us."
Darien laughed. "I promised not to ravish you unless you want it." Serena looked skeptical at him.
Serena teased, "I don't believe you."
Darien pulled her closer to him. "Believe me. I want to ravish you right on the middle of this floor but I am not." He pulled her closer to him and whispered into her ear. "You are in total control of that part of our area." She smiled.
He leaned forward. "You're the number one priority in my life. You're my family, and if you want Japan, then I'll transfer to Japan. If you want me to quit my internship in Los Angeles making beaucoup of money with perks that include a company car and come back to Japan, I will do so if that makes you happy."
Serena asked, "What will make you happy?"
Darien said, "I have to return to L.A. by the end of the week. I told my boss I had to take time off due to extenuating circumstances. I want you to return to Los Angeles with me." The song ended.
Serena gasped, "But what about my friends?"
Darien said, "Serena, they have their own lives to start. Plus, I'm sure you girls will keep in touch."
Serena felt dizzy. Darien noticed. He asked worried. "Baby, are you okay?"
Serena nodded touching her throat. "Yeah, I think the dancing made me dizzy. I feel a tad bit parched."
Darien looked odd at her. "That's strange. You never used to get dizzy when we danced before. Let's get you something to drink." He grabbed her hand as he walked her to the punch bowl.
The DJ started playing LMFAO's "Sexy and I know." The crowd started dancing. The crowd started dancing to the song even Andrew convinced a reserved Ami to dance to it. Raye and Lita danced swinging their hips to the beat. Mina danced with a random guy in the crowd. They laughed as they did silly moves dancing to the beat.
Serena smiled as Darien whispered something in her ear causing her to laugh. Raye laughed as she saw Ami having a good time. She said dancing with Lita, "Wow, I can't believe Ami is actually dancing."
Lita danced. "I know. Someone spiked the punch with vodka and patron."
Raye stopped dancing as she watched in horror as Darien handed Serena a cup of punch that she thanked him for, as she slowly started to lift it to her lips. Raye tried to push through the crowd but the dance floor was packed as everyone continued dancing.
Raye yelled, "Darien! Stop her! She's pregnant!" Raye quickly covered her mouth. She had shouted it out right as the song ended and everyone in the building heard what she said. Everyone gawked at Serena in disbelief including her parents. Serena turned to Darien with a stunned look on his face.