St. Mungos ~August 29, 2025~

Darien closed his eyes briefly.

"I...I don't know." His voice was quiet and honest. "I just don't know."

Diana didn't like that answer much. Weeks of no word from him and he suddenly shows up twice in one night!

"So I don't suppose you're here to offer an apology?" Her voice was bordering angry.

Darien stared fixedly at the floor. "It was for the best." He muttered.

"I don't see Nick complaining. I don't see you complaining. You get to be a mother. Everybody wins."

"You don't see anyone complaining?" Diana repeated in disbelief. "You refused to recieve my Owls, you refused to even see me! Of course you wouldn't see anyone complaining because you were cutting yourself off from me!" Hurt and anger all mended into one as a small beeping noise started to sound that steadily grew louder.

Darien frowned. "I didn't get any owls. And you never came to see me. I don't know what you're talking about!" He felt himself start to get angry, but forced himself not to shout.

He noticed the beeping and his eyes flickered over the equipment. "What the bloody hell is that?!" He snapped, irritated.

"It's telling me that I'm getting angry," Diana explained annoyed. "The needle's not suppose to go over 100 or else it suppose to mean I'm in 'critical condition.' Like I need to know that I'm getting angry!" She glared at the machine that was at 67 and raising then glared back at Darien.

"So now I'm a liar?" She said sarcastically. The beeping noises started to panic as it went to the 70's.

"Maybe you've been hanging around Nick too long." Darien spat.

"Not that it's anything to do with me who you choose to play happy families with..." He snarled.

75 the meter was at 75 and the noise just wouldn't stop.

"Ugghhhh! Shut up!" With her wand, Diana disabled the beeping noises but the meter was still online and it was still making it's way up.

"You're the one who left! What in Merlin's name was I suppose to do?!"

"How the bloody hell would I know?!" Darien raised his voice. "I was a bit too busy trying to save your life to plan what you were going to do!" His anger rose, it had been bottled up for far too long.

"Saving my life?" Diana said her pulse rasing and with it, the meter showed 80. "You nearly destroyed it, if it wasn't for Nick, I wouldn't know what I would have done!"

"I acted for the best! I don't see any Purgers trying to kill you now!" Darien shouted back, oblivious to the rising meter.

"So you decided to sever all ties with me?! Yeah that was a great plan what if Purgers decided to ambush me at the Cottage?" She said sarcastically.

She didn't really believe that would happen but it was one of Ferderico's arguments in trying to convince Diana to marry and live with Nicolas.

The meter was at 85.

"They wouldn't do that if I wasn't there! If they knew I wasn't in contact with you anymore they would't go after you! They wouldn't use you to get to me!" He shouted back, eyes blazing with anger and a tinge of hurt.

"Besides, you married Nick quickly enough! There wasn't much time for them to ambush you!"

She avoided Darien's gaze as she detected a sense of hurt in them and her guilt was just too much to bare with his stare. She didn't want to marry Nicolas, she didn't want to hurt Darien but...

The meter jumped to 92 and Diana decided to mind it. She took a few deep and calming breathes. If it wasn't for the baby, she wouldn't have bothered, but as it was, it was very dangerous for the baby.

"I did what I had to do." Diana said rather calmly considering. To protect our baby.

"As did I!" Darien didn't lower his voice, eyes flaming with anger.

He turned away. "Not that anyone believes me."

"I didn't... mean to hurt you Darien," Diana's voice was soft and the meter was going significantly down.

Darien laughed coldly. "It hardly matters. It's nothing to do with me...None of it."

Diana was hurtful to hear that. After all, even though Darien didn't know it, it had everything to do with him. She felt tears rimming her eyes, it broke her heart to see Darien's detached attitude.

Pain flashed in her features as she felt the baby kick inside of her.

Darien frowned. "What...What's wrong? Should I get the Healer?"

His anger was fading back into cool, yet fake, indifference, although a bit of concern showed in his voice.

"No.... I'm..." Diana had a slight trouble breathing. "I'm fine... the baby... he's kicking."

Darien's expression returned to neutral. "I should go get Nick, he wouldn't want to miss his little...kicking." He left a pause, unaware of the baby's gender, and not really wanting to say the word itself.

His voice was expressionless.

"Nick is probably filling out forms till he Christmas." Diana said lightly.

She repositioned herself so that she was more comfortable. "Do you want to feel him kicking?" She looked at Darien for any reaction he might show.

Darien blinked. What the...

He frowned. "Nick wouldn't want me near him..or her, I have no doubt."

"Him," Diana corrected. "And I don't care what Nicolas wants at the moment. I'm rather angry at him."

"You shouldn't insult his daddy, he'll get mad." Darien commented, but he moved nearer the bed anyway, as though some force was commanding him to...although why he could not say.