Shady Business by Silver MoonAngel
Rated R
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                    STANDARD DISCLAIMER APPLIES

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	Carlin gaped with wide eyes when she opened the door, holding 
her travelling bag.  Galen and Serena were sitting on the couch 
talking.  Serena and Galen, the two people on Earth she thought, 
okay hoped, would never meet, were gabbing away like they had known 
each other forever.  Suddenly, both sets of eyes swung on her.  
'Please,' she thought, 'let me die now.  Don't let him ask any 
questions.'

	Serena studied her sister.  She had the proverbial deer caught 
in the headlights look.  Serena stood up and gave Carlin a hug.  
"Back from Ki's already?"

	Before Carlin could reply, Galen muscled his way in.  "Was it 
safe for you to be travelling in...  in..."

	Carlin took a step or two back and said, "Of course it was 
safe.  For as far along as I am,  I'm not really that big."

	Galen snuck in and breathed, "It'd be pretty interesting to 
know how far along you really are.  Your sister kept dodging the 
subject."

	Carlin just gazed at him.  In the last six months he had 
gotten handsomer, and sexier, than when she had seen him last.  He 
had let his hair grow long and his eyes were shadowed.  She prayed 
fervently that she was the cause of them; then she'd know her 
feelings were mirrored.  "I'm far enough along to show," she said as 
she mentally kicked herself.

	He reached forward and touched her abdomen.  He could only 
vaguely remember that night six months ago, when both of them were 
so drunk that they didn't care about protection or anything else 
except their unquenched passion.  "Carlin, I know she's mine."  
Lowering his voice to a whisper, he spoke in a way that sent chills 
up her spine, "I remember everything from that night."  He looked at 
her impishly, "I mean 'everything.'"

	Carlin looked for Serena, but her sister decided to vacate the 
room for the time being.  Pulling herself away from Galen, she said, 
"I need to lie down.  Jet lag and pregnancy aren't a good mix."

	As she moved to walk past him, Galen said, "This isn't done by 
a long shot."  He pulled her into his arms and kissed her 
passionately.  Pulling away, he stalked angrily toward the door; 
turning only once to say, "Remember that we're far from over."

	Carlin dropped to the floor like a ton of bricks.  This was 
happening far too soon; far, far too soon for her liking.

	Serena peaked her head inside the door.  She didn't feel like 
it was her place to interfere with Carlin's life when Car hadn't 
messed with hers.  "Car?  Are you okay?"

	Carlin ran her hand across her eyes.  She wanted, no, needed 
to be strong for Serena.  "I'll be fine.  Seeing him after so long 
innerved me."

	"Well, he was surprised."  Hell, surprised wasn't the word; 
blindsided is more like it.  He hadn't expected to see Serena 
pregnant, but seeing Carlin must have drove him off the deep end.  
"What did he say?"

	Carlin sighed.  Serena would find out anyway, it would be 
better to get it out now.  "He said that we're 'far from over.'"  
She turned her gaze to Serena.  She wanted Galen so much, but it 
wouldn't work out.  "I want him,  Rene, so much that it hurts to 
breathe.  Ya know?  When the air gets heavy when he's near and 
things like that."  She threw her hands up in the air, "It's 
multiplied now that I'm pregnant."

	Serena just stood there and nodded.  She felt the same way 
about Darien, obviously he did too because he was looking for her, 
but it was starting to fade.  Hopefully the sooner the better.

		*		*		*

	Chad threw a folder on Darien's desk.  "It's a good thing you 
gave me your passwords.  Raye sent this to you via e-mail."

	Darien eyed the folder wearily and looked back at Chad.  "Is it good?"

	Biting his lip to contain his smile, Chad said, "Why don't you 
look and tell me what you think?"

	Sliding the folder across his desk, Darien looked at it as if 
it may contain some infectious disease.  Edging a corner up, he saw 
a flash of color and thought it was a picture.  Flipping the cover 
up, Darien caught his breath at the picture he saw.  It was Serena 
with a half-hearted smile caressing her belly, her very swollen 
belly.  Below the caption said, "Serena and babies - 5 months."

	Darien whooped for joy.  He was going to be a father; and 
soon.  From the picture,  it looked like Serena was going to bust at 
any moment.  Letting that knowledge rest on the edge of his heart, 
Darien flipped through the rest of the photos.  There were several 
where Serena was caught unawares by the camera and a few where she 
was even sleeping.  He took a few out for himself and gave Chad the 
folder back.  "Look for clues in the pictures.  Maybe we'll finally 
be able to find her."

	Chad nodded his head.  Studying the pictures, he slowly shook 
his head.  The only way to find out where they were would be to 
actually fly to Michigan or somewhere else in the Midwest and 
personally look for the landmarks in the pictures.  He glanced up at 
Darien and said, "This isn't going to be easy.  Many of these places 
are unrecognizable unless you're actually there."  Chad glanced back 
at the picture containing Raye.  "It's amazing that she was able to 
send these to us."

	Darien picked up the nearest picture,  one of Serena and 
Carlin hugging, and stared at it.  If he hadn't messed everything 
up...  "You're right, Chad.  We should sit back and relax.  Carlin 
told me, while you were talking to Kieta, that Raye will be home 
before August."

	Chad glared at him, "Why didn't you tell me sooner?  That 
means that Raye will be home in less than five months."  He paused 
for a moment and seemed to look inward, "Raye's staying long enough 
to make sure that Serena and the baby are okay."

	Darien narrowed his eyes and went back to looking at the 
pictures.  He softly smiled as he looked at the ones of Serena 
sleeping.  One of her small hands was delicately curled on her 
stomach, comforting the life within.  Letting his eyes water at the 
beautiful sight, Darien whispered, "As soon as I find you, I'm not 
going to let either of you go."


		*		*		*

	"What did you two do?"

	Carlin and Raye jumped guiltily.  Serena was going to be so 
pissed when she found out what she and Raye had done.  "Serena, you 
should sit down."

	Serena glared at both Carlin and Raye.  Either both of them 
were planning a surprise for her or they had done something really 
stupid; Serena was wagering on the latter.  Don't tell me what to 
do.  She growled in retaliation, but sat down nonetheless.  They 
were into April now and Serena's symptoms were getting worse.  Grant 
it, she wasn't getting much bigger, but she could say she possessed 
a pair of 'cankles' due to how swollen her ankles were and she was 
starting to lose her appetite.  "Please tell me that you feel as 
miserable as I look," Serena asked Carlin.

	Carlin looked over at her sister.  Even though Serena was only 
six months along, she looked as if she was due tomorrow.  Carlin was 
seven months along and even she didn't look that big.  In a soothing 
voice, she said, "Serena, you don't look that bad.  You've just been 
pregnant for too long."  She sat down next to Serena and kissed her 
forehead, "You, Raye, and I are going to a salon."  When Serena 
opened her mouth to speak, Carlin forestalled her and said, "No 
buts.  We're going to get beautified and that's that."

	Raye moved over to her and said, "You should do it.  It might 
be the last time you get out until the babies are a little older."

	Serena's gaze wavered from Raye to Carlin, and back, several 
times.  She didn't know what they were planning, but they did have a 
point.  "All right, I'll go."

	The girls grabbed their coats and Raye drove the trio to the 
only salon in town.  They entered and signed up for haircuts.  A few 
moments later, a woman with red hair approached Serena.  "Right this 
way, Miss Blade."

	Serena studied the hair dresser as she was led to her chair.  
She looked a little like...  "Emerald?  Is that you?"
	She nodded and turned away.  She really hadn't wanted to hurt 
Serena all those years ago, but some things have to happen in a 
certain order.  "Sit down.  I see you're doing well for yourself."

	Serena looked at her stomach, "You have no idea how well."  
She clasped Emerald's hand when she came in front of her, "What 
happened to Diamond and you?  Why are you all the way out here?"

	Emerald gave a small smile.  With different circumstances, she 
and Serena could have been best friends.  "Diamond left me a few 
months ago for this red head he was seeing in California.  My 
brothers live out here and Galen's helping me out."

	Serena bust up laughing.  Fate sure had a wicked sense of 
humor.  "Is Galen's last name McHail?"

	Emerald smiled.  Maybe Serena was the one Galen had knocked 
up.  "Yeah.  He's been telling me that I'm going to be an aunt soon.  
Are you the mom?"

	Serena shook her head, "My little sister Carlin is the mommy.  
She's the little redhead who's getting her hair cut now."

	"Well, I'll be damned," Emerald whistled.  "It's a small 
world."

	"And constantly getting smaller."  Serena looked at Emerald 
and settled down to business, "What do you think I should do to my 
hair?"

	Emerald smiled and twirled Serena so she was facing the 
mirror, "Personally, I think..." 

		*		*		*

	Serena fluffed her hair, "I'm impressed, Emerald.  I never 
thought I'd be able to pull hair off this short."  Emerald had cut 
Serena's hair from its previous length, from the bottom of her back, 
to her chin and had put in layers.

	Emerald took a step back and said, "Having hair this short now 
will be a help when the babies come later.  You won't have to worry 
about them pulling on your hair."

	Serena stood up and started to leave.  Having second thoughts, 
she turned back around and asked, "Would you like to come to 
Carlin's and mine baby shower?  We're having it next week."

	Emerald stood there surprised.  If she was in Serena's shoes, 
she wouldn't have even looked back.  She nodded yes and added, 
"Diamond was wrong when he used to talk about you.  You're far more 
forgiving and caring than most of us could be."  She wiped at the 
tears that had gathered in the corners of her eyes and gathered 
Serena in her arms, "Thanks for giving me another chance."

	By this time, Serena was crying too.  Damn hormones.  She 
pulled out of the hug and said, "It's no problem.  Everyone deserves 
a second chance."

	Carlin came up from behind and said, "Remember those words 
when the time comes."

	Before Serena could ask what she meant, Raye spoke up.  "It's 
time for us to leave.  See ya next week, Emerald."

	The trio walked out of the salon and got into Raye's car.  
Carlin turned upon Serena and asked, "Aren't you glad we got you out 
of the house?"

	Looking back, Serena simply said, "Yes, I am."


		*		*		*

	Darien was starting to get cagey.  When Raye sent the third 
set of pictures, he knew where they were; or at least where some of 
the pictures had been taken.  If Chad wasn't out chasing a lead at 
this very moment, they would have been on the nearest plane.  "Where 
the hell could he be?"

	"I take it you're talking of me," Chad said as he walked 
through the doorway.  The lead he'd been chasing turned out to be a 
dead end.  He ended up spending the day talking with various 
transients, only to find that they had lied to collect the reward 
Darien offered.  Chad ran a hand through his hair aggressively.  He 
was starting to get slightly pissed at the whole reward thing; it 
had only caused trouble and a whole mess of dead ends.

	"Have you seen the last pictures that Raye sent?"  Darien 
asked as he waned them at Chad, forgetting that Chad had printed 
them off this morning.

	Chad blew a wisp of hair out of his eyes, "Of course.  I'm the 
one who gave them to you this morning."  He eyed them suspiciously 
and asked cautiously, "Find anything good?"

	Darien beamed like a little boy who had discovered something 
new.  "You bet your psychic ass I did."  He chuckled when Chad's jaw 
dropped and he started sputtering.  Darien patted Chad's back and 
said, "If you want to keep those kind of 'secrets' to yourself, 
don't make it obvious."

	Chad turned away from Darien.  Was his link to Raye as obvious 
too?  Looking back at Darien, he decided the answer was no.  Letting 
out a sigh of relief, he said, "You caught me."  Looking back at the 
photos, and trying to divert the attention from himself, Chad asked, 
"What did you find?"

	"They stayed in Florida for part of Serena's sixth month.  In 
the corner of the picture, you can just see the outline of a 
portrait gallery that bases itself in Florida and is, in fact, two 
blocks from a condo we own down there."  Darien was pretty damned 
pleased with himself and his face said, 'See, I can do things when 
you're gone.'

	Chad rubbed his chin.  It was quite interesting what happened 
behind your back.  "Alright, it's off to Florida we go.  We'll 
question Nerys and be back in time to celebrate Easter with your 
mother." 

		*		*		*

	Serena gazed warily out the window of the airplane.  Carlin 
had been so damn adamant about them leaving that morning.  When 
Serena questioned her, all she said was, "I'll tell you when we get 
home."  This week was supposed to be fun visiting Nerys and showing 
her how big they had both gotten; and it was fun, until this 
morning.

	Serena shifted in her seat and gazed at Carlin.  The poor kid 
was starting to get huge and her due date was at the end of June.  
Galen was going to be happy; he was already kissing Serena's feet 
for keeping him updated on Carlin's condition.  Carlin didn't know 
it yet, but he was going to be taking them home.  'The look on her 
face would be worth it,' Serena thought as she drifted off to sleep.

		*		*		*

	A few hours later, Serena woke to find Carlin staring at her.  
Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Serena looked up at her and asked, 
"Is something wrong, Car?"

	Carlin smirked at her sister.  Something had been slightly 
nagging Carlin for sometime and now seemed the perfect time to get 
it off her chest.  She cleared her throat and looked Serena straight 
in the eyes, "Do you still love Darien?"

	Serena was taken aback.  Trying to worm her way out of it, she 
said, "I loved his body..."

	"Bullshit."  Carlin looked at Serena's abdomen and back at her 
eyes, "Don't try to dodge my questions.  Do you still love Darien?"

	Serena felt trapped between a rock and a hard place.  No 
matter what she told Carlin, she knew the answer anyway.  Looking at 
Carlin with wet eyes she said softly, "I love him so much it hurts."

	Carlin wrapped her arms around Serena.  She knew Serena had to 
see Darien, but things had to happen in a certain order.  If Darien 
had found them at Nerys' this morning, he would have been pissed.  
Or not.  Too late to find out now.

	"Ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seatbelts."

	Everything was a blur after that.  The plane landed and the 
girls found their luggage okay enough.  Serena kept standing on her 
tiptoes to see if Galen had arrived yet.  Carlin tugged at her and 
asked, "Who are you looking for?"

	"Our ride," Serena replied, resuming her position on her 
tiptoes.  A few minutes later she tugged Carlin's arm.  "He's over 
there by the door."

	Carlin clambered on top of a chair to look.  "Where, I don't 
see anyone for us."

	Serena pulled her down and motioned her to follow, "Trust me, 
he's here.  C'mon."

	Carlin followed Serena through the mass of bodies and stopped 
short when she saw who Serena was referring to.  Turning to Serena 
she said, "You've got to be kidding me."

	Winking at her, Serena said, "Hell no.  Besides, you kids have 
some talking to do."  She turned toward the door and walked out, 
leaving Carlin and Galen in her wake.

	Galen turned toward Carlin and took her arm.  He lowered 
himself to her ear and said suggestively, "We should do our 
'talking' in private.  I don't like an audience."  He placed a kiss 
on her temple and said, "Let's go.  On the way home, we can discuss 
baby names."

	Serena softly sighed as she opened the door to Galen's car.  
At least Carlin would have a happy ending; Serena would only have 
her babies to comfort her.

		*		*		*

	Darien knocked on Nerys' door, making sure that the whole 
neighborhood would hear him, if she didn't.  Both Darien and Chad had 
been on the first flight to Tampa Bay to make sure they were able to 
catch on of Serena's sisters totally unaware.

	"Yes?"

	Darien looked up and was slightly surprised that this woman 
was related to Serena.  If it weren't for the eyes,  he never would 
have been able to place the two.  "Miss Tsukino?  I'm Darien Mills.  
I'd like to talk to you about your sister."

	The woman's eyes grew as wide as saucers as she stepped aside 
to let him in.  She motioned him to sit down and asked, "This is 
about Serena and that guy that got her pregnant, isn't it?"

	Darien bit his tongue to keep from saying what he didn't want 
said.  Nodding his head, he said, "I'm trying to find her.  Can you 
help me?"

	Nerys shook her head.  It wasn't her place to tell the man 
where Serena was.  "You missed her about four hours ago.  She needed 
to go home and prepare..."  She stopped herself, she didn't want to 
spill the beans about Serena being pregnant.

	"Nerys?"

	Nerys looked into the young man's eyes and was horrified to 
see pain and shock harbored there.  "Mr. Mills,  I'm not at liberty 
to discuss Serena's whereabouts.  However,  I can extend an 
invitation to you, via my sister Samantha, to a ball in December.  
Serena will be there."

	'You'll see her again in December and you'll finally track her 
down in June.'  Carlin's prediction circled the edge of Darien's 
mind.  If she hadn't told him, he never would have gone.

	"One condition, Mr. Mills," Nerys said with a growl low in her 
throat.

	He looked back at her.  "Anything, if I get to see Serena 
again."

	"If I hear through my channels that you are still looking for 
Serena, and endanger her at a time like this,  I'll convince her not 
to go."  Nerys glared at him.  If he really loved her sister, he'd 
do as she asked and not give her any lip.  "Do we have a deal?"

	Darien looked at her and smiled.  The one thing Arden Blade 
did right was give these girls each other.  "Only if you'll keep me 
posted on her condition."

	A slow smile crept over Nerys' face.  Whatever this man did, 
he truly loved Serena.  "Alright."  She stood up and led him toward 
the door.  Watching him leave, she called out, "Mr. Mills?"  When he 
turned around, she smiled and said, "Darien Chaucy has a much nicer 
ring to it, don't you think?"  She watched as the astonishment 
spread over his face, and walked back inside, leaving Darien to 
wonder how she knew.