LIFE, LOVE, AND SOMETHING LIKE THAT

Serena sat in the nursery stroking her belly. It was now late April. Nothing has happened since the party, but Serena was still scared for her child. Darien always had 2 guards around Serena, wherever they went. Darien revealed the truth to the public about Beryl and her son. He showed DNA testing proving he wasn't the father, breaking Beryl's heart since her threats of his baby and Serena. Darien did everything in his power after that party to ruin Beryl and David and not just because of his wife and child, but Beryl deserved it all the things she has done. Darien was close to burying Lace in the dirt with Kim's new and never ever done before production marketing. All her work has pushed Chiba to have no rivals to none. Darien came into the nursey.

"There you are? Dinner is ready..Serena?" Serena just rocked in the chair staring off. Darien went over to her. "Serena!" She looked up at him.

"Huh?"

"Dinner is ready."

"Oh. Good. I'm starved." Darien helped her to her feet. Just a few more months and his son or daughter would be born. Darien's hand went to her belly.

"He's moving alot lately, especialy stretched out. I feel kicking here, but he was just over there a few hours ago."

"She loves to move aroundin Mommy."

"It's a boy."

"Girl."

"Boy." Serena smiled and took his arm as they went downstairs. Darien sat at to a chair and kissed her cheek before taking his seat. "I made sure everything was made to your liking for tonight's dinner."

"Great." Serena lifted her napkin and placed it at her lap. "So, what is this big surprise?" Darien slightly choked on his glass of milk. Since Serena wasn't allowed to drink because of her pregnancy, Darien did everything, ate and drank anything and everything she did while they were together. Serena would have him trying her weird combination of peanut butter, pickle, marshmallow chicken salad. Yuck! But Darien was a great husband and didn't care, didn't like it, but would anything for his wife and baby.

"What surprise is that, wife?"

"Oh, please like you could keep anything from me. Besides, Amy alreadytold me."

"I'll kill her."

"She'smy doctor, of course, she would be worried about her patient flying halfway across the world so late into her first pregnancy."

"It'll be fun for a short vacation."

"I am in the last of my trimester, Darien, can't it wait until after the baby is born? It'll only be a few months."

"No." Serena looked up from her plate at him.

"Why not?" Darien could tell she was getting a bit angry.

"It just can't Serena."

"Okay, and when do we leave?"

"Surprise, tomorrow morning."

"And work?"

"All taking care of."

"What are you planning and to where mister?"

"Patience, my love." Serena cut her steak and ate a big piece.

"You're lucky."

"Lucky? Why?"

"That I love you." Darien smiled and took her hand. They kissed.

"I love you too, Serena."


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Next morning, April 11th, Serena and Darien packed their things for the trip. Darien refused to tell Serena how long, but the first stop was Hawaii, ended up finally in Kula Bay Resort in South Pacific where they spent their honeymoon, having not been back in since then. Darien wanted their first year anniversary to be spent there. So, on May 14th, they arrived to Kula Bay. Serena couldn't believe how he made the place set up. It looked exactly when they came the last night, nothing was changed. The couple spent many night in each other's arms, fire roaring in the distance. Once they got back home, It was getting hotter by the ends of Serena's pregnacy. Her modd was rising with the temperature. Darien often had to bit his tongue like the girls, when Serena got into one of her hellous pregnancy fits. Nightmares were frequent these days, her baby crying could be heard in the distance. Darien always assured her nothing could happen or will happen as long as he was around.
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It was late May now, May 26th, Serena due in just a few days. The girls were throwing a huge baby shower today.
"Hey!" Raye screamed as she came in carrying several bags, behind her many guards carrying dozens of bags. Serena laughed as she stood at the bottom of the steps.

"What is all of this!"

"For the shower of course!" Mina said carrying her bags inside. Lita had many trays of food being carried in. Darien took Kim's folder of works. He lifted a few pages.

"Oh, the designs are set, so just go ahead with production," Serena said, showing Darien the sets.

"Great. I'll get out of you girls way, have fun." Darien kissed Serena.

"Are you still working!" Amy asked.

"No," Serena said as she fixed Darien's collar.

"Liar." Darien kissed Serena's cheek.

"Nice work," Darien said. Serena walked with him to the door.

"Thanks."

"See you later."

"Bye." She closed the door behind him. "Great, so, what is all of this?" The girls hadn't allowed Serena any shopping for the baby, other than fixing up the nursery with furniture. All the drawers were empty, no diapers, no clothes, not a one thing. Serena was a little upset, but the girls swore they could make up for it.


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Later that evening, Serena and the girls were putting away all the new items. Millions of clothes. Amy knew the baby sex, as the doctor, but refused to tell the others, though she gave hints here and there, but the real surprise would be coming at delivery. Darien came into the house later that evening. Serena was in bed sleeping, but woke up. She came into the kitchen to find Darien eating dinner, having skipped it at work. She kissed him, before getting a whiff of his food.
"What's that smell?"

"What?"

"Did you get ham?"

"No, I know you hate ham," Darien said lifting the sandwich up in front of her face. Serena's face went pale.

"And salami?" Darien groaned.

"And salami?" Serena covered her mouth and ran to the bathroom. Darien rushed after her, but she slammed the door in his face.

"I told you I hated that lunch meat smell!"

"I know, I know, but you eat bologna, I thought when you said nothing piggy, that just meant ham and bacon!" Darien tried to open the door, but found it locked. Serena threw up. "Serena, please, open the door!"

"Go away! You did this!" Darien grabbed a knife and was able to open the door. He got down on his knees, and held her hair up as she continued to throw up.

"I am such a pain to you!" She cried sitting back. Darien wet a cloth and wipped down her face, neck and upper chest area.

"You could never be a pain wife." She tried to wipe away the tears, but they kept falling.

"Yes, yes, I am!" He hugged her, and kissed her head as she cried on him. He rubbed her back to calm her.

"Come on, this is not good for the baby." Serena sniffed. "Don't cry, it's going to be okay. Brandon is not going to like having Mommy crying like this."

"We are not calling our first child, Brandon!"

"Well, how about Jonathan or Christopher?"

"No!" Darien helped her up. "I like Samantha or Cathleen."

"Oh, come on, those are bad girl names, at least my boy names are realistic, Cathleen?"

"Well, I like them."

"What was that, baby," Darien held Serena's stomach. The baby slightly kicked. "You hate it too." Serena rolled her eyes and walked away. She groaned as she passed his food. "Let me go lay you down."

"No, I'm fine. Finish your damn salami."

"Serena.."

"No! Besides, I can't spend another minute in that sandwhich's present." Darien stood at the bottom of the steps, as Serena went upstairs. "Hurry up."

"I will." Darien watched her go into their bedroom. He sighed and went back to his dinner.

Serena flipped through the channels as Darien came into the bedroom, less than 10 minutes later. He started pulling off his clothes. Darien went to kiss her, when she pushed his face away.

"What?"

"Brush, your breath smells like that sandwich?" Darien smiled and went into the bathroom.

"Happy, citrus fresh," Darien said crawling up to kiss her. Serena smiled and held his face, both with equally citrus fresh breath now. Darien's lips slid down her cheek and neck.

"Mmm...that's where this all started." Darien smiled. Darien started undressing her. "Man, does it not love me." He felt the baby kicking a bit stronger tonight than ever before.

"Oh, he wants to come out and play."

"I am soo for that right now if it ends all of this." Serena tugged at his shirt. She held him slid it over his head. Darien kissed her deeply and they made love. Darien shifted down her, so he could talk and caress Serena's stomach. His ritual for the last few months. As annoying as Serena sometimes would get because of all this attention, she still allowed it. She laughed as he sang to the baby. Serena fell asleep to his tales and singing. Darien looked up to see Serena sleeping.

"You know, your Mommy and I will always be there for you. You'll always be our baby, our first, my first. I will always love you, you and your mother." Serena smiled in her sleep. "I'll always be here to comfort and care for you, you will never want or need anything as long as I am here, and it will always be like that. And I know you won't be little forever, but don't you dare think you will ever be too big for your Daddy." Darien fell asleep against Serena's chest. His hand over her belly.


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The next morning, as Darien was at work, Serena was out in the garden by the pool getting fresh air. She went back into the house to go take a nap. Mina arrived around lunch time with Lita. Lita brought all of Serena's favorite things. As Serena was halfway up the stairs, the lights to the house went out.
"Serena, what's going on?"

"Did you and Darien forget to pay your bills?" Lita laughed at Mina's comment.

"Not funny." Serena looked around. "Lee, Nick..?."

"Upstairs all 3 of you, now."

"What's going on?" Serena looked to see several dark figures strolling around. Lee ushered the girls upstairs and stood guard outside their room. Serena went to pick up the phone and found the line dead. She started breathing hard. Mina quickly handed her cell phone over.

"Darien something is wrong!"

"What?" All of a sudden, as explosion could be heard. Serena screamed. "Serena!" Smoke started to fill the room. Serena screamed as the door was kicked in. All the girls passed out eventually from the smoke. "Serena! SERENA!"


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the end

for now

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NOT!


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SOOO EVIL!
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Yes, I know


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Darien ran into his house and found the place in destruction, many areas still smoking.
"Serena!" Darien rushed upstairs. He found Lee shot outside the bedroom. Many guards around, struggling to move either from being shot or the smoke the knocked most of them out. Darien placed his jacket to Lee's shoulder. "Where is wife?"

"I'm sorry." Darien pushed off the door move to see Lita and Mina passed on the floor. His wife missing. Darien lifted the picture on the bed. It was of his wife, she looked passed out. At the bottom of the polarid in red read: "Sleeping Beauty will never wake again" . Darien's grip on the picture tightened. He crushed the picture and screamed out.

"SERENA!"

TBC

until next time

:P