Okay, here's chapter 3. Let me warn you right now that this one is sad. Lots of crying, and if I do this right, maybe a tear or two from you the reader. It certainly made me cry thinking of it. Okay then, see you at the bottom! -------------------------------------- Darien pulled the keys to their apartment out of his pocket and unlocked the door. He stepped in and closed the door behind him. "Daddy!" he heard someone call out, then saw a blur of pink hair as Rini charged into him. Darien caught her, and swung her up in his arms. "Hi Pumpkin! How was your day today?" he asked, giving Rini a kiss on the nose. "Fun!" she said back. "Well, what did you do?" Darien asked again. "The teacher took us outside to study flowers. I caught a grasshopper and put it on Caleb's head, but it jumped off before he noticed it." Rini chattered, as Darien carried her into the main room "Silly. Next time, leave the grasshoppers on the ground. Okay!" Darien said, and Rini nodded. "Seth! Seth, come back here!" they heard Serena yell, then a small, butt-naked 3 year old came streaking from the direction of the bathroom. He was sopping wet, and when he grabbed Darien's leg, it got Darien's pant leg all wet. Serena appeared at the doorway, hands on her hips. "Seth, come here! You can see Daddy in a minute! NOW!" Serena ordered, taking a step nearer to him. "Seth, listen to your mother." Darien added. "I'm clean already! I don't need to finish my bath." Seth tried to argue, and that argument was met by a whack on the derriere from Serena. "NOW!" she ordered again. With a pout, Seth let go of Darien's leg and stomped back to the bathroom. "Have fun!" Darien called after Serena, who had followed Seth into the bathroom. "Hush up!" Serena called back. Darien laughed as he put Rini down, who went to finish her homework. He sat down on the couch and flipped on the TV. After a while, Serena came back in the room. "Where's Seth?" Darien asked. "I put him to bed. He's been annoying all day, and I've just now calmed him down. How was your day." Serena said. "I've had better days." Darien said. "Awww. Come here." Serena said, and began to massage his shoulders. "That feels good. I have to go to Rini's school tomorrow, one of those career days. It should be fun." Darien said, moving his shoulders under Serena's hands. "It's Rini's bedtime. I'll let you put her to bed." Serena whispered, and dropped her hands. Darien groaned in disappointment at losing his massage. "Rini, its time for bed. You don't want to be late tomorrow!" Darien called, rising from the couch. Serena watch as the two chattered about the next day. After they went into Rini's room, Serena got up to take a shower. Darien turned off the light in Rini's room, and went into Seth's. By now, he was asleep, his wet brown hair all over his face. Darien gently moved them aside, and Seth stirred a little. "Good night, Seth." He said, and pulled the covers up around him. And the morning Comes! (hmm, Smashmouth. Kewl.) "Rini, come on! If you don't hurry, I'll leave you." Darien called. "Coming, Daddy!" Rini yelled back, and ran to meet him. "Darien, I'm going to take Seth to Mothers, while I go to the store. Is there anything you need?" Serena said, from the kitchen. "No, I don't think so. Oh, yeah. I do! Come here and I'll tell you!" Darien answered. Serena came in to the hallway, and stepped over a toy truck, ending up in front of Darien. "What is it you need?" Serena asked. Darien smiled, then pulled Serena into a kiss. Rini immediately started to gag, and make jokes about kissing. When they pulled apart, Rini was still making gagging noises. "Okay then, I'll be sure to get you some of that at the store!" Serena joked, and went back into the kitchen. Pretty soon, Darien had left with Rini, and Serena was on her way to her mothers. Seth asked to play some music along the way, so Serena brought along a tape with sing-a-longs in it. They drove to a major intersection, still singing, and had to stop at the red light. "Mommy, can you get me my juice?" Seth asked suddenly. "Seth, if you drink too much, I'm not going to stop for you to go to the bathroom! Hold on." Serena said, and glanced around for his cup as the light turned green. "I'll have to get it for you later, okay Seth." Serena stepped on the gas and started to drive through the intersection. She never saw the truck run the red light, heading straight for her car. In an instant, it crashed into Serena's small car, completely denting in the side. The force of the blow slammed her into a car in the other lane, causing the other side of car to pinch in. Her car ended up sandwiched between the 2 other cars, the back seat in the worse shape. ------------------------ "And I always have my radio or my cell phone with me at all times, in case there is an accident somewhere!" Darien said, to an attentive 2nd grade class. Right on cue, his cell phone rang, and Darien excused himself. He unhooked his phone from his side, and stepped outside the classroom. "Hello?" Darien said. "Darien! Good. I finally got a hold of you. This is Andrew, from the hospital." "Yeah. What's the matter, Andrew?" "God, how do I say this. Serena and Seth were in a car accident. They are both in intensive care, but that's all I know. I've called her family, and told them that they should get down here A.S.A.P. You and Rini should too. I'm sorry, Darien, but I have to go. Hurry, okay!" *click* 'Oh my god, Serena!' he thought. Darien just stood there for a while, in shock. After a second, he snapped out of it, and put the phone up. He turned back to the classroom door and went back in. "Rini, we need to go. Mommy was in an accident. Come on!" Darien called out in a strangely calm voice that surprised him. "Coming!" Rini said, gathering her stuff. "I'm sorry, but I think that she needs to go with me." Darien tried to explain to the teacher, and then they were gone. ----------------------------- Rini was sitting on her grandmother's lap, asleep. Irene (Serena's mom) and Ken (Serena's dad) were there, with Sammy. Darien was at the end of the hallway, pacing back and forth. It seemed to take forever, but a doctor finally came up to speak to him. When the others saw the doctor approach Darien, they all got up to listen. Irene was still holding Rini. "Mr. Shields? I'm Dr. Thompson. Your wife is fine. We managed to stop all internal bleeding, and we set her broken arm. She has a nasty bump on the head, but she'll be okay. Right now she's unconscious, but she's expected to wake up soon enough." Dr. Thompson said. A sigh of relief came from where her parent's were. Dr. Thompson glanced at them, and let his eyes settle on Rini. "What about Seth?" Darien asked. Sadness came into Dr. Thompson's eyes, as he glanced back to Darien then away again. "There wasn't anything we could do. He was too young, and the way the cars collided, he didn't have a chance. I'm sorry. If you want to see your wife, follow me." Dr. Thompson said, and walked away. Irene gasped, and tears filled her eyes. She buried her shoulder into Ken's, who tried to comfort her with tears in his own eyes. Darien followed him, and Sammy started too, but Ken stopped him. "Let him alone with her for awhile. We'll get to see Serena soon enough." Ken said. --------------------------------- The door closed behind Dr. Thompson, and Darien found himself alone in the room with Serena. She was still out of it. Seeing her lying there, bandaged up and in that room, Darien realized then that his son was really dead, and there was nothing he could do. All this seemed to hit him at once, and he backed against the door. As if unable to support his own weight, his legs slowly buckled underneath him, and he ended up sitting in front of the door. Darien brought his knees up to his chest, crossed his arms over the tops of them, and buried his head in his arms. 'It's alright to cry!' a voice from his memory called out. With this, Darien let his tears flow freely. A thousand thoughts were running through his mind, his friends, Serena, Rini, and the picture of his parents. 'My parents! I loved them so much, and still do, but they aren't here! Now Seth! God, why does everyone I love have to leave me!' Darien thought, and slammed his fist against the floor. "Why me! Why! What did I ever do wrong?", he yelled out. "Ugh. What happened! Where am I? Darien?" Serena mumbled, as she woke up, then sat up. In an instant, Darien was beside her, holding her, still crying. "Shhh, Darien, it's okay, I'm alright." Serena said, stroking his hair with her good arm. "I was so afraid that I'd loose you. I couldn't ever lose you, but...He mumbled into her shoulder, then lifted his head. "It isn't alright! Seth is d...dead" he managed to get out, as more tears fell down his face. Serena did nothing at first, but get a few helpless squeaks out of her mouth. Her eyes started to fill with tears, and Darien pulled her closer to him. "NOOOO!!!! Oh God, no!" Serena got out before she was taken with sobs. She cried out loudly, clutching Darien's back with her hand. They held each other for a long time, each taking slight comfort in their company, till Serena cried herself to sleep. Darien gently laid her back down onto the hard bed. She didn't wake up, but stirred, and mumbled something Darien couldn't understand. Darien stood up and sat in the chair next to her bed. He rested his head in his hands and let tears stream down his face. Darien dozed off, but never stopped crying. After awhile, Andrew cracked open the door and looked in. He motioned for Ken, Irene and Sammy to keep quiet, and then let them in, closing the door behind him. Irene immediately went over by Serena, followed by Sammy. Ken went over to where Darien was sitting an put a hand on his shoulder. Darien woke up, and looked at Ken. Ken mentally winced at the look in Darien's eyes. It was one of complete hopelessness and loss. Darien stood up, and Ken pulled him into a hug. Once again, the door opened, and a small, pink-haired girl came in. "Daddy, is Mommy awake yet?" Rini asked. Darien let go of Ken and picked up his daughter, squeezing her tight. "Not right now, sweetie, but she will be. I love you so much, munchkin." He said. "Seth isn't coming home, Daddy. I wish he could, though." Rini whispered, so only Darien could hear her. Darien tried to choke out a reply, but couldn't. Instead he held her closer to him, and turned so his back was to Serena. Darien started to walk around the room with her. After a while he asked, "Rini, do you want to go get something to eat?" "Sure, but will we come back when mommy wakes up?" Rini asked. "Of course." And they left the room. After they got a snack, they sat down outside the room. Darien put his head in his hands and rested his elbows on his knees. He sat there for a while until he felt a tiny hand slide over and around his shoulder. He looked up, and Rini finished pulling him into a hug. Through his tears, Darien smiled weakly, and took Rini into a big hug. He closed his eyes, and let the tears escape through them. ------------------------- *sniff* Okay, that's chapter 3. Are you crying? I am. (stupid onions :) Okay, stay tuned for chapter 4. It gets better, but not necessarily happier. *yawn* Good night! Dragonfly,