Shady Business by Silver MoonAngel -------------------------------------------------------------------- STANDARD DISCLAIMER APPLIES -------------------------------------------------------------------- AN: Here's one of the many to come longer chapters. It's twice as long as normal, and once Serena has the babies, they'll get even longer. -------------------------------------------------------------------- "Serena, you need to wake up," Carlin whispered into her sister's ear. "You need to feed those babies." It had been a week since Serena had found out about the twins. To keep her from getting too depressed about her situation, Carlin had called Nerys and flew her to Chequoa Beach so they could both help Serena in her time of need. "Wake up, Meatball Brains. We're supposed to go shopping today and I know you don't want to miss that." Nerys said a little sharper than Carlin had. She didn't see why it was necessary for her to come here, but here she was, stuck with two pregnant women. "I know how to get her up," Carlin said as she grinned evilly. Lowering herself to Serena's ear, she whispered, "Serena, Darien's here." Serena sat straight up in bed. Seeing Nerys and Carlin giggling at her, she screamed, "That's not funny!" "Well, you seemed to perk right up when I said his name," Carlin giggled as Serena threw a pillow at her. "Put a sock in it kid. I don't want my niece or nephew to end up stupid. Then again, with you as it's mom and Galen as it's dad..." Serena said as she stuck her tongue out at Carlin. "Galen? The cutie with the curly black hair? Hot damn, Car, you did good." Carlin glared at Serena as she told Nerys, "It was a one-night stand and he doesn't remember anything. It'd be nice to keep it that way." Grinning at Serena, she said, "Serena did better than I did. She slept with the guy who took over her portion of Blade, Inc." Nerys laughed at the look on Serena's face. She could swear that there was smoke coming out of Serena's ears. "It's okay, Rene. Sammy took your part back over." "Sammy set up that coup? I guess I'll have to thank Mika when I see her next," Serena said as she laid her head back down. "Oh no you don't. Get up. Now," Nerys said as frown lines appeared between her eyes. "Besides, I want to hear about Darien and how you two met." Serena crossed her eyes at her sister. She didn't want to tell them anything and Carlin knew anyway. "It's easy. He took over my portion of the business, asked for me by name, and said that I would spend the month with him or else." "I pity your children," Nerys said with a smile. Half the reason she and Serena were so close was their constant banter. "Me too," Serena said as she fiddled with the blanket. As much as she "pitied" them, she wanted them. Heaven help her, but these babies may prove to be the best things to ever happen to her. With tears in her eyes, she asked, "Is it wrong to love them already?" Carlin put an arm around her sister. She knew what Serena was going through. It was hard not to love the babies that were fathered by the man you desperately loved. "No, Rene, it's not wrong. I love mine already." God help the man who helped create these children if he ever tried to wrench them away; he would feel a pain worse than the deepest pits of hell. * * * Raye stared at the phone. A million thoughts raced through her head; the foremost being 'Serena's pregnant.' She didn't know where the raspy voice had gotten her number, but it did and said the phrase that would pull Darien in forever. Raye sat up and stretched, feeling as if she had aged twenty years in that two- minute span. She couldn't tell him; not until Serena decided to do so herself. Her brother was a big boy; he could fix this mess on his own. Darien looked at his sister from the doorway. Whatever was said on the phone had scared her shitless; and it had something to do with Serena. Leaning on the doorjamb, Darien casually asked, "What did they have to say?" Raye looked at her brother and decided that he could find Serena on his own. If he was that damned determined, he would find her within the year, if she came out of hiding. "They said that Serena was spotted in Wyoming again." Standing up, Raye walked over to her brother and gave him a hug. Pulling away and smoothing a lapel on his jacket, Raye said, "I can't do it, Darien. It's tearing me apart. I need to give up the search for Serena. If she decides that she wants to be found, she will be. Until then..." Darien looked down at his sister, "That'll be fine, Raye. I shouldn't ask you to shoulder some of my burden." He moved out of her way and heard her mumble a soft "thank you" as she walked past. Watching her retreating back, he softly cursed himself for being so stupid. Between Raye and Serena, he had two women leading him around by the nose. Raye had cleverly diverted him and sent him on that wild goose chase in Wyoming. Serena was leading him around by his heartstrings and there was a possibility that she was going to be a mother. His last meeting with his hired detective had said as such. Darien ran a hand through his hair; everything seemed to be piling up on him. The coup at Blade, Inc. had to have been engineered by a woman. It was both underhanded and strong; almost a move Serena would pull. Serena... God he missed her. He had been so close and screwed it all up by catering to a client. "Darien? I'm leaving now," Raye called from the doorway. It would be the best thing for him if she just left; he would survive, he always had before. Darien enveloped her in a hug. Looking down at her suitcases, he asked, "Planning to go on a trip?" "Yeah. I think I'd like to go somewhere cold. Like Maine or Wyoming," Raye said as she picked up her suitcases. "Well, have fun," Darien said as she walked out the door. As an afterthought he added, "I sure as hell won't." * * * "Rene, we have a visitor," Nerys said from the window. She watched as a raven-haired woman walked out of the car. Walking into the living room from the kitchen, Serena asked, "Who is it?" "You better answer the door." Giving Nerys a look, Serena opened the door to find Raye standing there. "Raye! What are you doing here?" Pulling her friend inside, she looked out before closing the door. Narrowing her eyes at Raye, she asked, "Does he know you're here?" Raye shook her head. "I used my traveling alias, changed planes twice, and drove the last half hour here. If he found me, I'll be surprised." The girls whipped around when they heard Carlin squeak. Seeing she was trapped, she said, "It's nice to meet you, Raye. I'm glad to see you stayed away from Jadeite." Looking at the ruby-haired pipsqueak, Raye could only nod numbly and say, "I'm glad, too." Serena laughed on the look on both Raye and Carlin's faces. Carlin's instinct was to spout visions and Raye's was to clam up. "Raye, this is the sister I'm staying with. She's psychic like you." Raye slowly nodded her head and took Carlin's hand into hers. "It's nice to meet you Miss McBride. I assume that you were the one to call me?" Carlin's eyes grew as round as saucers, "You're...you're..." Raye smiled and nodded. Enveloping Carlin in a hug, she said, "I don't mind. California was getting far too stifling." Nerys tugged at the white streak that ran through her short black hair at the exchange. If she didn't know any better, she'd say that Carlin had been spooked by Raye's 'power.' Slowly walking away from the window, she stood next to Raye and did her best to be menacing. "We don't need to scare both the pregnant women in this household." Raye looked at her and nodded. "It wouldn't be any good to scare either of them. Especially my niece and nephew." Serena, who had been sitting on the couch, nearly gagged on her water. "Niece and nephew. Whoa, I haven't been to the doctor to determine their sex yet." Carlin smiled weakly at Serena, "I guess now's not a good time to tell you that you'll..." Serena cut her off, "I don't want to hear about my damn future, I want to live it. Got it?" Raye nudged Nerys. Getting her attention, she asked, "Is it just me, or has Serena gotten really cranky since she's been pregnant?" "Don't worry, you're not going to miss any of the madness," she replied to Raye. "Oh, and she's usually crankier." "I heard that," Serena said, causing the girls to collapse into a fit of giggles. * * * Darien wiped a weary hand across his face. Serena had been gone for five months now and Raye two. Those girls had managed to pan out faster than anyone he knew. Sitting across from him was the PI he had hired. Chad Jacobson came from a wealthy background and had been to the best law enforcement schools money could buy, but even he was starting to grow weary of all the invariable tasks they had been going through. Chad picked up a bottle of brandy and poured a glass. "Where did Raye say she was going again?" Darien stared blankly at the wall and said, "Wyoming or Maine, somewhere cold." "Then we'll assume where Serena is it's cold." Chad paused a moment before continuing on, "That would rule out that she'd been with either Samantha or Nerys in the last two months." A light started to shine in Darien's eyes. This was a whole new angle that they had never considered before. "That would make sense." Chad smiled and rubbed his chin. Boy when he got on a roll, he got on a roll. "Even more so if Serena was pregnant." Ever since Chad had signed on, he knew, deep down in his bones, that Serena was pregnant. Couldn't tell you why, he just knew. Darien got a stupid grin on his face as he thought about the little girl Serena would have. Her blonde hair and his deep blue eyes. Serena would probably be slightly rounded by now and marveling at the life inside her; and he wanted to be a part if it. "I hope she is pregnant." Chad just shook his head and tried to change the subject, "Have you been able to get a hold of Kieta yet?" Darien nodded, "Yeah. She just called me last week and told me to come see her. She even said to tag you along." Chad frowned and went back to work reading Raye's file. If he ever got his hands on her... "Jacobson," Darien said calmly, "you're drooling all over my sister's picture." Chad blushed and returned his eyes to his file. They had checked the airport records and Raye had gone to Wyoming, like she said, but when compared to hotel ledgers, Raye Carlson hadn't stayed in Cheyenne. Pondering that, Chad reached over and grabbed Kieta's file. Kieta McBride --scratch that, McNealon-- was the eldest child of Kathleen McBride and Arden Blade. Her mother was a well known psychic and possibly gave the gift to her children. "Is Mrs. McNealon psychic?" Darien inclined his head, "I don't know. If Raye was here she could tell us. She's a little psychic herself." Chad's ears perked up in interest, "Really? What's her specialty?" Darien chuckled at Chad's enthusiasm. If Raye was here, she'd flip that her psychic abilities didn't repulse a man, for once. "She's precognitive to a certain degree and a little telepathic, but only to certain people." "Maybe Mrs. McNealon can help us find Raye." "Maybe." * * * Carlin sat twitching in Kieta's living room. It had been Ki's brilliant plan to come here and meet Darien. "You'd be able to get a better on reading him than I ever could," Ki had put it, so here she was, six months pregnant and spying for her sister. This was going to be great, damn great. "Quit twitching. You look like a two-year-old," Kieta said as she pranced into her living room. She may have been a good astrologer and empathizer, but she was no mind reader. That had been her mom and Car's department. "If you were six months pregnant, you'd be twitching too. Do you know how hard it is to get comfortable? Serena's just the same way, except she gets to have twice the fun." Carlin was starting to wish that her and Galen didn't have that wild night, but oh well. No use going back now. Kieta smiled. She felt sorry for her sisters, but they were old enough to take care of their own problems. Draping an arm around Carlin, she asked, "Does Serena know what she's having yet?" Carlin smiled as she thought back to a week ago. "She fell out of her chair when the doctor told her." Laughing, she added, "You should have seen her face when the doctor told her she'd probably go into labor a month early and that our kids would probably share birthdays. She about died on the spot!" Kieta shook her head, trying to contain her laughter. Her youngest sister was a lot funnier since she had become pregnant. "I'm not surprised." Pausing a moment, she said, "I heard from Sam today." Carlin sat up in her chair. It had to be something if Samantha decided to grace them all with her presence. "What did she want?" Looking at her nails, Kieta said, "Apparently there is going to be a ball at the end of December and she wants you and Serena to go." Immediately, Carlin replied, "She wants to match Serena and Darien up." Kieta let out a whistle. Generally Car's predictions happened when she meditated or something like that; to have it come out of the blue was significant. "I'll be damned. Are you sure?" "Positive." Carlin may not have really liked Sam, but she loved her anyway. "She wants me to know too. She must be practicing." Before Kieta could answer, there was a knock on the door. Shooting a glance at Carlin, she went and answered it. Opening it, she gaped up at a man that was dark as sin and as mad as Hades. Sticking her hand out, she said, "You must be Darien." Turning toward his companion, she smiled and said, "You must be Mr. Jacobson." Opening the door wider, she motioned them to come in. "Sit down in the living room, I'll be in a moment." Darien stalked into the living room. He had been in a foul mood all morning and couldn't put his finger on why. Turning into the room, a small red-haired sprite caught his eye. "Who might you be?" Carlin smiled. She could see why Serena had fallen for him. Extending her hand from the chair, she said, "I'm the baby of the family." Chad tipped his hat toward her, "Miss McBride?" Carlin smiled even more. Boy would she have something to tell the girls when she got home. "The only one left, but you boys can call me Carlin." Catching their gazes drifting toward her abdomen, Carlin added, "But not for long." She caught the sadness in Darien's eyes; it was hidden, but there all the same. "Would you like me to make a prediction?" Darien was a little taken aback by her question. "You're precognitive?" Seeing her nod, he asked, "Can you tell me when I'll see Serena again?" Carlin smiled; he was nice, perfect for Serena, and really in love with her. "Sure, since I saw that answer a few days ago, I can tell you. You'll see her again in December and you'll finally track her down in June." Seeing him sadden even more, she said quickly, in lieu of an explanation, "She needs to go through something major before you can see her. Don't give up, she hasn't on you." Chad observed the scene quietly. He had basically had the same sentiments, but he wasn't going to say anything to Darien. "Carlin? When is Raye coming home?" She looked at the young detective and slightly shook her head, "I don't know. But when she does, it'll be long before Serena, but you already knew that." Chad stood looking at her gape-eyed. Before he could say anything, Kieta came into the room. Rubbing her hands together she said, "Okay. Let's get to business." * * * A few hours later, Chad and Darien were ushered out the front door by Kieta. She had politely answered their questions, but once Carlin started to get tired, she ushered them out the door. "I never expected to see the youngest one here," Chad said as he rubbed his brow. Carlin had been a wild card; seeing her pregnant made it even wilder. "Neither did I," Darien said as tears pricked his eyes. He thought they had finally found her, but that wasn't the case. At least he'd see her in December if Carlin's prediction was right. Hopefully, Raye would come home before that. Wiping his eyes on his sleeve, he turned toward Chad and said, "Let's go. I want to go home and start from square one." Chad mutely nodded and followed Darien's retreating back. If his gut feeling was right, they'd see Raye almost a year before they finally tracked down Serena. Inside the house, Carlin lay on the couch, staring at the ceiling. "He will find her, you know," she said to no one in particular. This wasn't a prediction, where the future was uncertain; this was an assurance, something that would happen whether Serena was ready or not. "Of course he will. He's a man bound and determined to find the woman he loves," Kieta said as she handed Carlin a glass of water. "The question is, will Serena be able to stay hidden for that long?" "It's Serena," Carlin said slowly rising. "She may be loud and boisterous sometimes, but she can be pretty damn quiet when she wants to." Kieta didn't reply and just stared at Carlin. Her little sister had grown up right under her nose. Wiping her nose, she collected Carlin in a hug, "It's killing not to tell Galen, isn't it?" Carlin let a tear drip down her cheek. She hated it when Kieta could pluck her feelings out of the air. "I just think..." "That's your and Serena's problem, you both 'just think.' You should just tell him, he might act differently than you think." At least Kieta hoped so. For both Serena and Carlin's sake. * * * 'Carlin may be a month farther along than me,' Serena thought, 'but I look like I'm the one who's farther along.' Here it was, only March, and Serena was ready to have the kids. Her ankles were swollen all to hell and she was only allowed to walk around the house if she needed to do something. Even worse, the Terror Twins (as she dubbed them) were trying to do flips through all hours of the night. She was ready to be done. She sat up as she heard someone knocking on the door. She called, "Coming!" as she went and answered the door. Swinging the door open when she got to it, she saw a young man wringing his hands and looking at his feet. "Can I help you?" He swung his gaze up and Serena saw the most amazing pair of gray eyes ever. He nervously licked his lips and said, "I'm Galen McHail. Is Carlin home? My brother said she's having my kid." Serena took a step back. They were in deep water now.