~August 29 2025~

After Ministry Ball, St Mungos and Shaken and Stirred.

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Darien, somehow still steady on his feet, arrived at the manor and knocked at the door, with rather more force than really necessary.

Killa the house-elf opened the door. "Yyes, sir?"

"Can I see your mistress..please?" Darien asked, trying to sound as polite as possible.

"Mistress Diana is sick Mister Vaight... But I shall go ask if she can see you." The elf bowed. "Come in, Mister Vaight sir. Come in. You can wait in the sitting room."

"Thanks." Darien wiped his boots on the mat and began to head to the sitting room.

Nicolas was sitting in none other than the sitting room, reading the paper. "Killa who was that?"

"Killa? Who was... Vaight." Nicolas said with a scowl. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to see Diana." Darien glared at Nick.

"Don't you think you've already caused enough damage for one night?" Nicolas said furiously. Then he relaxed. "And besides, I thought we already talked about this." He smirked.

"I didn't come here to talk to you." Darien spat. "I came here to talk to my ex-wife."

"I'm afraid that's not possible, Darien," Nicolas said. "She's not feeling well and you have yourself to blame for that."

Darien glared. "We will see."

"No, I won't let you see her, she's in a delicate situation, something your thick head can't seem to understand." Nicolas glared. "She could lose the baby."

Darien glared back. "Do you really think you can stop her seeing me if she wants to?"

"I don't think she wants to." Nicolas replied easily. "Just go away, you aren't needed here."

"If she doesn't want to see me, I will go." Darien replied, now fixing his gaze on the door instead of Nick. "But I want to hear it from the engineer not the oil rag."

"There is no reason why she should see you." Nicolas said. "So no, you can't see her. Now please leave, I'm sure you remember where the door is."

Darien did not move, his gaze still fixed on the door.

He just wanted answers.

"Are you deaf? I'm asking you to leave my house." Nicolas pressured. "If you don't I'll have Killa escort you -"

"Nicolas," a soft voice said from the door, Diana appeared. "It's alright."

"Diana...." Nicolas said surprised. "You shouldn't be up, the healer said..."

She put up a hand to silence him. "I'm fine, I just want to talk to Darien for a bit."

Nicolas was about to argue but Diana merely stared at him. (lol scary stare)

Nicolas sighed in resignation. "Fine I'll wait outside... If anything happens," he glared at Darien. "I'll be close by."

Darien said nothing, and waited for Nick to leave.

"...Diana...I just need to talk to you. And this time I want straight answers."

Nicolas cast a worried glance at Diana but she merely nodded in reassurance as Nicolas left.

"Alright." Diana said breathily. She was gathering up her courage for what she was about to do. "Ask away."

"I want to know..." Darien took a deep breath.

"I want to know why you want me at his birth, and why you wouldn't give me a straight answer...but more than that...I want to know whether that baby is mine or Nick's!"

Diana sighed. She knew what she had to do but that didn't make it any easier. She had to lie to him to save their baby. She subconsciously put her hand on her belly. 'I'm so sorry...'

"I'm sorry Darien, but... it is Nicolas'," she was surprised at herself, her voice actually sounded even. She dropped her gaze. "I was... I was so distraught after you left and Nick... he was there and well one thing lead to another..." Her eyes met Darien's, ready for whatever he might throw at her.

"Right."

Darien sighed. "At least you were honest with me. Thank you. And I'm sorry...again."

The news had sobered him up completely, and he felt strangely calm.

"Darien," She said her voice heavy, "I'm so sorry, I never meant to hurt you."

"I know." Darien's voice was heavy with despair. "I just don't know...if anything I've ever done was right. This is not your fault."