Disclaimer:
All standard disclaimers apply.
"To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world."
— Bill Wilson
Endymion shivered in the howling rain and drew the cloak tighter around him. In the distance, he could see the lights of the small town.
"Sire!"
He turned his head to see his companion Artemis, a tough young man with the strength of an ox and a determination that rivaled Apollo himself. "What is it?"
"Sire, it's too dark and dangerous!" Artemis shouted back.
"I have to return to Serena!" Endymion said. "She's expecting me home tonight! Besides, Luna will be worried, too."
At the mention of Luna, Artemis fell silent. The two men dashed homebound, leaving in their wakes trails and spatters of mud. Endymion shook his head and wiped the rain away from his eyes, following the call of her heart.
When the two men finally arrived at their home, Endymion flew down his horse and handed the reins to Artemis.
"Don't worry, Sire," the groom assured his master. "I'll take care of these beasts. And tell Luna I'm home, please?"
Endymion laughed. "Yes, Artemis. Of course. Like always."
The master tugged on the keys that hung from his belt and tried the door. It was locked; he wasn't surprised. It had been raining quite hard for the last few days, and since neither he nor Artemis—the only men in the household—were home, Serena and Luna were wise to lock up the door.
Inserting the key, he shivered again in his drenched, cold condition. He tried to knob again and expected it to open. When it didn't, he frowned and fumbled with the other keys. Perhaps he had the wrong key, however unlikely that was. Well, he was tired and cold and hungry. He had an excuse for having the wrong key.
At that moment, the door opened, and he looked to see his beautiful wife standing there, a welcoming smile gracing her lips. For a few seconds, he simply stood there admiring his wife's splendor, until she threw herself into his arms.
"Sweetheart," he sighed, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. "Bunny, I'm completely wet. You'll catch a chill."
"I don't care," came her reply from somewhere muffled in his cloak.
Endymion held his wife closer and tilted her head up to kiss her. She obliged his wish, slipping her arms around his neck, twining her fingers in his hair. Groaning, he forced himself away, looking down on her smiling face.
Serena sighed. "I'm glad you're home, Endy. I missed you."
"I missed you, too," he kissed her again.
She took his hand and led him through the hall to the corridor upstairs. Opening the door of the very last room, she went to a linen closet and pulled out dry clothes for him. "In the bathroom there's a tub of warm water waiting," she called over her shoulder. "Have you had supper yet?"
"No, not yet."
She smiled at him across their bedroom. "Dinner awaits you, then. I cooked it myself."
"Thank you."
She blushed and nodded. She had never gotten used to the way he could make a simple note of thanks into such an elaborate, heartwarming tradition. When he disappeared into the bathroom, she went to the kitchen and helped Luna prepare the dishes and bring them to the table.
"The little man hasn't been any trouble to you, has he?" Serena asked as she added the finishing touch to the soup and scooped it out of the kettle.
"No, not at all," Luna reassured her. "He fell asleep as soon as he had lunch. He hasn't woken up since."
"That's good," Serena said with a laugh. "Leto can be such a pain sometimes."
"Now, now," Luna chided her mistress. "Don't you complain, my lady. Leto has got your heart."
Serena grinned in response. "You cannot be more right, Luna."
She returned to the bedroom a few minutes later to inform her husband that supper was served. He was just coming out of the bathroom, vigorously rubbing his wet, unruly hair with a towel and pulling on his breeches. Her mouth dried.
After three years of marriage, he still took her breath away. Endymion looked up and smiled at his wife standing by the door. Her eyes were smoldering and he felt his body respond. One look was all it took.
"Dinner is served," Serena said softly, watching as he neared her and reached behind her to close the heavy oaken door. Her husband kissed her again and she leaned into him.
Welcome home, my Love.
"How's my Leto?" Endymion asked later that evening, after they'd piled the dishes in the sink.
"Find out for yourself," Serena replied with a smile. "I'll help Luna clean the dishes. Go see Leto. And don't wake him up," she warned sternly, though a smile tugged on her face.
"Cross my heart," Endymion joked, and all but flew up the stairs, impatient to see his son. His son Leto, named after his father Leo, who, along with his mother, died when he was all but a child. His son Leto, who went through death—literally. (AN: I will make some allusions to the story "To Serena, With My Love." If you don't understand the allusions, feel free to read "To Serena, With My Love.")
The two women shared an amused glance.
A while later, when Serena entered their bedroom again, she sighed as she closed the door behind her. It'd been a long week since Endy had gone…a long, taxing week.
A hand slipped across her waist while another lifted her hair. "How was your week?" he murmured, brushing his lips across her nape, delighted when he felt her shiver.
"Fine," she tried not to moan, tipping her head one way and giving him access to her neck and shoulder.
"Liar," he accused softly, toying with the seams of her gown. He swept her off her feet and laid her on the bed, smiling as she reached for him.
Serena tugged his head down and kissed him deeply. Oh, how she'd missed him…missed his embrace, his kiss, the touch of his skin against hers. She laughed, realizing that he had yet again managed to undress her without her knowledge.
Growling softly, Endymion looked at the armful of Serena he had, watching the play of emotions across her face, that seductive posture she permanently held whenever they were alone. "How was yours?" she asked breathlessly, as his lips traveled down.
"I missed you," he replied, and kissed her lips again. "I missed this. Did you?"
"Yes," she sighed, surrendering to his love.
"And this?" he murmured, cupping a perfect breast in his hand, rubbing his thumb across the taut peak.
"Yes," she gasped, reaching for him desperately, wanting to give him the same pleasure he was giving her. Endymion, however, had other plans, and eluded her touch, holding her hands captive above her head, pinned against the headboard.
"And this?" he suckled the taut peak, drawing a moan from her lips. He smiled as she arched against him. "Patience, my dear," he murmured, enjoying his banquet.
"Endy," she tried again to move her arms, but he wouldn't have any of it. Instead, he quickened his pace, reached down, and pressed his hand against her mound.
Her moan turned into a shriek of pleasure as the waves hit her. He swallowed her scream and released her hands, allowing her to do what she would to him. He smiled at that thought. Every time he had relinquished control to her in the three years they'd been married, the longest he lasted had been five minutes. The last time he had given her control, he lost his mind within a minute.
As these thoughts ran through his mind, he watched as she climbed atop him, a mischievous smile on her face. He felt an answering grin on his face.
"Do your worst," he snarled, trying to contain himself, trying to rein in his passion.
"I will," she promised, and leaned down to kiss him.
Time became eternal then, as the lovers took turns leading the other to Heaven. And for a few hours, Serena forgot the imminent danger looming on the horizon.
I hope I appeased your appetite.
Endymion smiled and kissed her brow. Not really.
Serena looked up with a scolding look. You are insatiable!
So I am. He kissed her brow again and wrapped her tighter into the comfort of his arms. Sweetheart, why was the bolt in place when I came home?
Immediately Serena stiffened. The bolt? She asked cautiously, measuring how much she could lie again without upsetting him.
I'm not letting it go this time, he captured her hand and kissed her fingertips, one by one. It's been a month now. Tell me. And don't you lie. I can feel it when you lie to me.
Instead of relaxing, as Endymion had half expected her to do, she stiffened even more and sat up, reaching for a dressing robe. He followed suit, worried beyond words when she turned away from him.
Buns. He took her into his arms and kissed her face softly. What's wrong?
She looked at him, fear more than apparent on her face. You'll say I'm silly.
All right, you're silly. Now tell me.
She sighed and fell into his embrace. Endy, lately I haven't been feeling well. His silence urged her on. I…well, I really don't know how to say this, but…I think something's coming.
You know.
The realization hit him hard. Desperately, he tipped her chin up and looked deep into her eyes. You know?
What do you mean I know? She blinked at him, confused when he drew her tighter into his arms. Endy, what is it? This doesn't concern that trip you took, does it? Oh, Endy, what have you hidden from me? Did you go see Andrew and Robert and Henry instead?
"Sweetheart, we have to go back. We have to start packing."
Incredulous, Serena watched as her husband let her go and began to dress. "Now?"
Now.
The dead seriousness in his eyes convinced her. Without questioning him, she went to the vanity and began to braid her hair.
"Why didn't you tell me you went to the Palace instead?" Serena asked, just hours later, inside a warm and comfortable carriage.
"I couldn't. I didn't think you knew." Endymion searched through his saddlebag and found his insignia. This would have to do for now.
"What are you doing?" Serena asked as he pinned the insignia to her gown.
"Protection. For now my blood and life will protect you against it, but it's too weak. We'd have to find something more powerful. Queen Serenity will provide you with all the knowledge you need, I'm sure."
Endy! Tell me what's going on!
His eyes found hers again. You already know.
She stopped breathing. It can't be…
It's already begun, Love.
"So what I felt was true? There is an evil gathering somewhere?" Her fingers tightened around his, and in her eyes he could see the old, reawakened fear.
"You have the Blood. Of course you would know." He touched her cheek and kissed her. Sweetheart, I shall protect you with my life.
No. Not with your life. Just love me, like you promised.
I do.
Author's Note:
Here's the first chapter of the sequel of "To Serena, With My Love." I'll try to write and post the chapters quickly, but this will (probably) be a ten-chapter work (if not longer), so please be patient.
As you have noticed, this story is rated R for sexual content. As for language and action/violence, it'll mostly be PG-13.
Please leave a comment and thank you!
Crystal Selena
