Title:Love and Bitter Memories.Chapter 7 Author:Tapestry Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com Standard Disclaimer Apply. *denotes thought ~Author's POV~ Mina opened her eyes.She stared around the room....until..her eyes landed on Anthony..... A scream pierced the room's air. Serena gasped. "Mina,calm down!!"coaxed Serena. "Serena....what's HE doing here???"sobbed Mina. "Mina..."whispered Anthony,as he reached for her. "Don't touch me!!!!"screamed Mina,angrily.Then she remembered something. "Serena!!!The baby!!??"cried Mina anxiously. Serena bit her lip,and shook her head sadly. Mina grew motionless....staring at nothing.....her lower lip quivered. Anthony touched her arm....and when he did...... Mina swirved towards her rat of a husband.Her eyes were dead....pushing his hand away,she let out an anguished wail....screaming at Anthony who backed away from the bed. "Get out!!!!I don't want to see you!!!!" Serena's resolved hardened....Mina was awake,and she DIDN'T want to see Anthony.So she was going to personally kick the creep out. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Mina...please..."began Anthony as he tried to approach the bed. "Get out."hissed Serena walking towards Anthony with a deadly glare. Anthony frowned at Serena. "Serena,this has nothing to do with you,this is a family matter."said Anthony walking towards the bed. Serena stood in front of him. "Mina IS my family,and SHE said she DOESN'T want to see you,"spat Serena. "She's my wife dammit.We have some things to discuss,get out of my way." shouted Anthony glaring at Serena angrily. Serena stood firm and returned his glare icily. Andrew stepped in. "Serena's right,Mina said she didn't want to see a creep like you,so I suggest you get lost."growled Andrew. Anthony frowned at Andrew. "This is none of your business,you bloody nosey,"spat Anthony. Mina was still wailing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Then Darien came in with the doctors. "What's going on???"asked Darien shocked. Serena turned. "Mina doesn't want to see this jerk.But he's insistent."spat Serena. "Sir,I suggest you step outside,the patient is getting hysterical."said the doctor to Anthony. "Get him out!!!!"screamed Mina."I hate him!!!I want a divorce!!!" "Mina,.."pleaded Anthony. Darien and Andrew glared at him. "Get out."said Darien cooly. "You can't do this,that's my wife!!"shouted Anthony. "Well...apparently you didn't think so,if you had a mistress."spat Serena venomously. "Leave,before I make you."growled Darien menacingly. Anthony took one look at the three angry and threathening faces and left the room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serena went to Mina's side. "Mina.."whispered Serena."Shhhhhh...he's gone...he's gone."coaxed Serena, hugging her friend. "I hate him."cried Mina. "Mina...forget him...you're going to get your divorce and be a new woman." said Andrew. Mina peeped over Serena's shoulder and saw Darien and Andrew. Pushing a lock of hair out of her puffy red eyes,Mina gaped. "Mr Brimstone!!Mr Shields!!!"exclaimed Mina. Darien gave a chuckle. "Well at least she remembers us."laughed Andrew. Mina stared at her friend.Serena frowned,shooting her look,saying 'Don't get any ideas.' "I think it's best you let the patient rest."said the doctor. ( No pun intended :D ) "I'll see you later,Mina.Right now,I have a building to finish decorating. I've neglected the project too long."said Serena returning to her normal self. "I have to go too...I have a meeting in half-an hour."said Darien.' "Come on Andrew."called Darien. After both men left,Mina looked at Serena expectantly. "I thought you hated Mr Shields."stated Mina. "I-I...You're certainly recovering fast if you go around asking this question."said Serena."I have to go.I've got a weeks worth of work to do and a weeks worth of sleep to catch up on."said Serena walking out. Mina sighed shaking her head.*Stubborn as always,Serena...but you can't fool me....you love him...* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~Darien's POV~ I drove back to the office,pondering my current predicament.What was the status quo now??? It was strange but being friends with Serena Lunaria was....pleasant. Was I attracted to her??Yes. Was I exasperated and annoyed by her presence at times??Yes. Did my heart thump hard everytime I met her??Yes. Did I love her??..... Parking at my parking slot,I didn't want to answer that question just yet...because I couldn't. "Penny for your thoughts." I snapped out of my thoughts and looked to my bestfriend."What??" Andrew merely shook his head with a sigh. "Darien....you can't keep denying it forever.I can see it in your eyes. Just like I was when I met Rita......before she died."whispered Andrew sadly. I looked toward my friend.Rita Braddock.Andrew's late fianceé had died from a fatal accident.It was probably why he'd been so worried about Mina. He had loved Rita.And she was gone....and he didn't want anybody else to feel that pain.He was hurting inside.I knew...even though he lived with it from day to day.They say time heals all wounds. But I guess he'd never recover....He'd loved Rita Braddock with all his heart,and would've walked through heaven and the depths of hell for her. "Hey..it's alright...Andrew...you've got to let the past go."I told him softly. He nodded."I think I'll go visit Mina after work.She could use some company after that spat with her rat of a husband. I nodded."That's a good idea.I'll go with you..later."I chuckled.Indeed.. chuckling and laughing was very unfamiliar to me.But I guess sometimes even the leopard can change it's spots. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~Serena's POV~ I sat in my office till dusk...I really didn't need to supervise the building's decorating.My workers were top notch.They'd call if they needed my help.Which,evidently from the empty message box I got from Molly, they don't.... Staring out into the orangy glow of the setting sun,turning the sky into vivid colours,I wondered... ~FLASHBACK~ ( Chapter 6, part where they were going to kiss ) Serena stared at Darien,sadness and pain clearly written in her eyes. Both didn't say a word. Slowly....he lowered his head towards hers...... ~END FLASHBACK~ Shaking my head,I sighed.If my mind hadn't cleared from the fog,I would have probably been kissing Darien Terra Shields,my client...into who knows where. Did I hate the man??No. Did I feel infuriated by him at times??Definately. Did I love him??I didn't know.... Why is it so difficult to be around Darien Shields??? Because he's different...he's handsome and sexy...the one person who could be my utter downfall just because I opened my heart and trusted again. Did I want the pain??No. Did I want to feel loved??Yes. Could he mend my broken heart??Yes. Could he shatter it??Yes... Could he give me the happiness and love??Yes. But was it worth the risk????..... I stared dumbfounded at an old yellow picture and two new pictures.The old one was of Theresa and me,at the orphanage.The other was of Mina,me and Mina's mother.The last picture was of me,at 16..staring adoringly at the camera with the man who had shattered my brittle heart.One I had tried so hard to mend....maybe it isn't there anymore..maybe it's gone.....shattered into oblivion.If I'm lucky. A knock on the door brought me back to reality...the harsh,cold,hard and stinking reality.I hated it so much. "What is it Molly??" "There's a Miss Beryl Brooks." I frowned.What did SHE want????? "Send her in.". Why did I have the feeling of drowning that I had made the wrong choice that I would regret for my entire life???? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~Beryl's POV~ I entered the drab aand morbid looking office.A lot like Darien's...hmmph. You'd think as top interior decorater,she'd have some taste.Stupid airheaded blonde. "Hello sweetie."I said with a hint of sarcasm. "Hello Miss Brooks.What brings you here???"she asked. "Why...I heard you've become close friends of Darien."I purred.This should teach Shields to mess with me."He's very attentive isn't he??"I asked prowling around the room looking at drab certificates and little trinkets. How tacky. Serena Lunaria stared at me with cold eyes.Such a sweet looking thing. But I can very well see she's not as naive as she looks.But she's still a stupid chit no less. "I came to warn you,"I smirked. She raised an eyebrows."I don't need your warnings."she spat.Oooh...she bites.. "Oh,but you WILL...Miss Lunaria..you WILL."I replied snidely."Darien's not the type to let a pretty young woman pass him by,darling...I've been there.So if you think he'll fall for you,don't hold your breath." "Now whatever gave you THAT idea that I would get involve with Mr Shields, Miss Brooks???"she asked me bitterly. "Why...darling...tell me...have you ever been hurt before??"I smirked. "That's none of your damn business."she snapped. Ah...that answers my question.So the cold fish has fallen in love before. What a flighty idealistic thing she must have been. "Well darling...Darien's a confirmed bachelor...so you'd be wasting your time.Your heart will break,shatter into a million pieces."I laughed,knocking over a porcelain vase.The vase shattering into a skillion pieces. "Comprénde??"I saw her eyes narrow menacingly. "That would be if I still HAD a heart to break,Brooks.Now get out... before I have security do it."she spat. "But of course darling."I gave a laugh and breezed out of the office. Laughing... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~Mina's POV~(Next day) I sat on the bed,flipping through magazines.Giving a sigh,I closed my eyes and thought of the events that happened...I was DEFINATELY getting a divorce with Anthony,though what he really needed was to be shot. God...the baby- "Penny for your thoughts,Mina."came a voice. Opening my eyes,I saw Serena. "Hi Serena."I replied glumly. I noticed Serena was wearing a dark scowl on her face...which meant it hadn't been a good day yesterday. I gave a sigh...everybody in the world was having problems...why???? "Something wrong Mina??" "N-nothing."I whispered. "Liar...what's wrong??" "The baby..."I choked. Serenaa stared at me sadly. "Oh gods...Serena..I never even knew if-if...my little baby was a b-boy or a girl..I-I never even got to see my baby...g-grow up..and stuff."I sobbed. Serena enveloped me in a hug."Oh shhh...it's alright.." "I want my baby back Serena...oh god...I want to hold my child..."I hiccuped.My eyes red and teary. "We're sorry for you,Mina."came a voice. "Mr Brimstone!!Mr Shields!"I exclaimed. What were THEY doing here?????????!!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~Author's POV~ Everybody stared at each other in silence.Andrew coughed lightly,breaking the tension. "How are you feeling??"asked Andrew. Mina smiled."I-I'm fine..th-thank you."choked Mina. "Mina,do you need some water??"asked Serena. Minaa nodded."Thanks Sere,I'm better now." Serena merely smiled and left to refill the thermos with water.... Darien followed her.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Andrew watched his friend go and shook his head with a sigh.Earning a small smile from Mina. "You can tell he likes her too huh??"asked Mina. Andrew looked up startled."Yeah...."he laughed.He was staring into sky blue eyes....eyes he could almost drown in. Mina watched Andrew's face with interest.His eyes were a deep dark beautiful blue.The colour of turbulent ocean waves. Her heart fluttered slightly..*Oh my..* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Somewhere else... "So...hows the decor coming???"asked Darien. Serena turned to look at him with faint amusement."You don't know??"asked Serena in mock horror. Darien gave a chuckle."Nope..I've been busy.Haven't you????"enquired Darien. Serena nodded...yes she HAD been busy.She HAD to...if she was to get her mind of the question.Darien was walking close to her,driving her senses into overdrive... "Lets step outside for awhile.Please??"asked Serena. Darien nodded,thankful for the fresh air.Maybe that would knock the fog that clouded his brain. Serena sighed and took a deep breath of the fresh air of mornings. "Why so tense??"asked Darien. Serena shrugged,"Stress I guess...Mina's condition...everything.But I manage.I'm used to it."sighed Serena sadly.She remebered what Beryl had said yesterday... ~FLASHBACK~ "Well darling...Darien's a confirmed bachelor...so you'd be wasting your time.Your heart will break,shatter into a million pieces."laughed Beryl. ~END FLASHBACK~ Standing a bit further...Darien noticed this and was irritated.Did he smell bad or something?? "Serena...what's wrong?" "Nothing Mr Shields...nothing at all.."whispered Serena. Darien moved right in front of her,lifting her chin."I don't believe you, Miss Lunaria.You're a lousy liar in this state."laughed Darien. He stared into the clearest cerulean blue eyes,the shields were down a moment and he saw a world full of hurt,pain and betrayal.He knew....he understood.She was what he'd been searching for.Lowering his head to hers... Serena closed her eyes....as both met in a kiss...At that moment,Darien knew....he loved Serena Lunaria,the one who had melted his ice cold heart. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To be continued... Hahahahahaha!!!That's all for chapter 7!!!What's gonna happen next??? Whopee another chapter down and I don't know how many more to go. :p Watch for chapter 8.Email me!! My Fanfic Archive:http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Lights/5079/archive.html