Serenity, age twelve, Swann Manor
Meagan and Serenity stood out in the front yard, studying each other. They were both the same age, yet as different as could be.
Meagan had dark brown eyes and dark brown hair and her skin was darker than Serenity's. Her eyes had a curious expression in them; they gave the impression to anybody she stared at too long that she was upset with them.
Serenity, on the other hand, had pale skin with rosy pink cheeks, bright blue eyes and bright blond hair that was in a tangled mess at the moment. Her eyes had curious silver specks in them and gave people the impression that she could read their thoughts.
If these traits were strange to everybody, they were not to each other, as they stood there sizing the other up.
Serenity frowned as she looked passed Meagan's shoulder and saw a rather tall figure coming towards them; she had no doubt in her mind that it was the Governor himself, striding towards the two.
"Meagan!" he cried, walking quickly towards the two. "Are you alright?"
Meagan grinned. "Yes, Father, I am, thanks to Serenity here." she stated matter-of-factly, indicating Serenity, who was looking at the ground, her face a flaming red.
"I-it was nothing," stuttered the blonde girl, not looking up. She knew for sure he was going to send her to the orphanage. He was going to be angry that she escaped, and send her back, and she was going to be beaten worse than ever and could probably not walk for the next month and a half.
But, what the older man said startled the young blonde. He bent down to her level and looked her in the eye. "Where are your parents, young lady? Surely they must be scared to death that you are missing."
Serenity smiled sadly and looked into his kindly face. "I- I have no parents, sir. I was orphaned at age eight; my father had left my mother and I when I was just little, and then a few years back, my mother passed away, so I've been at the orphanage ever since." she replied, knowing full well that she could be honest with this man and that he wouldn't judge her one way or the other.
The Governor shuddered at the word 'orphanage'. "Horrible place, that orphanage. I suppose I really should do something about it." then, as though he suddenly realized he was talking to Serenity again, he looked at her, his eyes warm. "How can I ever repay you for helping my daughter?"
Serenity looked at him. "P-Please, s-sir. Don't make me go back to the orphanage. That's all I ask." she replied, looking into his kindly eyes.
He thought about this for a moment, then straightened up, as though in a business-like manner and replied. "No, I don't think I shall." then, his eyes sparkling. "We have some room in our home for you. Mind you, you will have to earn your keep."
Serenity was delighted. "Oh, thank you, sir, thank you! I'll work as best I can, I'll do whatever you ask me to! Oh, thank you!" she cried.
Meagan giggled and the three made their way into the huge castle-like house that was the Swann manor.
Governor Swann looked at young Serenity. "Now, your bedroom will be next to Meagan's, she will show you where it is. I have business that I need to attend to. However, if you need anything, call upon one of the maid's and they will help you." then, on an after-thought, he said. "Now, perhaps you shall need a bath, and some nice warm clothing."
Serenity smiled, then turned to Meagan as the Governor walked away. "I thought I was going to be treated like a slave, or something." she said, looking in amazement at the spot where the Governor was jut standing.
Meagan rolled her eyes, grinning all the same. "Father is an old softie. He can't find it in him to treat the help inferior in anyway. Just last week he gave the butler a vacation for a month to see his family, and he even got a mid-wife for our expecting maid. You'll be treated just like family here, Serenity. Now, you had better get in the bath. I shall have lots of fun braiding your hair in millions of minuscule braids."
And, walking up the stairs, the two friends laughed and joked.
Serenity sighed in contentment as she soaked in the fragrant bubble filled bath. The water was nice and hot; it was helping to ease her aches and pains.
She looked at her legs and frowned. They sure ached a lot lately. She also noticed that they were getting slightly longer. Maybe she was hitting her growth spurt... finally. There were also prickly hairs poking out everywhere that she had never noticed before.
As she got out of the bath tub she also became aware of a dull throbbing in her lower abdomen.
Serenity shrugged it off and dried herself off with the warm fuzzy towel that was hanging on the towel rack next to the bath tub.
She wrapped it around her tight and held up the dress that had been brought up to her. It was light pink with white lace trim around the neck, the end of the sleeves and the bottom hem of the dress. There were also two white bows that matched the dress.
Serenity slipped the dress on and grinned. It was perfect for her. It fit just right.
She did a little twirl and smiled. She couldn't ever remember feeling more like a princess in her entire life.
After checking herself out in the mirror, Serenity walked out of the bath-room and into Meagan's room, where the young girl was sitting on her overly large bed with its many pillows, waiting with a bunch of hair ties and a comb. "About time," stated Meagan, impatiently, gesturing for Serenity to sit down so she could start her braiding.
Serenity smiled and consented and sat where her new friend told her to. She cringed at Meagan pulled the comb through her hair without any mercy. "Ouch!" she said, pulling away. "What did you do that for?"
Meagan looked apologetic. "I'm sorry!" she said, frowning. "Elizabeth's hair is so thick that I have to pull hard. I didn't realize just how hard I was actually pulling."
Serenity grinned. "It's okay, just be more careful now," she stated, and leaned back so Meagan could continue.
The more time that went by, the more Governor Swann treated Serenity like an actual daughter rather than a servant of any kind. He gave her an allowance equal to his own two daughters and also treated her to an occasional frilly dress, which her closet was now full of.
"Serenity!" came the sing-song voice of the eldest Swann girl, Elizabeth. She was one year older than Serenity and Meagan, and she took it upon herself to act the mature one...every once in awhile, that is.
The three were the best of friends; they bought clothing together, they studied with their tutor together, they went to do the Governor's errands together. They both had been very welcoming of Serenity, and now they were just like sisters, doing everything together.
Serenity was still in bed. She had been having a hard time getting to sleep lately. Over the past few weeks she had been getting that sharp little pain in her lower abdomen that she got had gotten the first day she had arrived at Swann Manor. Now she was feeling groggy and miserable.
Elizabeth smiled knowingly as the blonde looked up at her imploringly. She sat on Serenity's bed and patted her legs. "I see," she replied, acting much more like a twenty-three year old than a thirteen year old. "You're getting that 'special time'."
Serenity sat up, looking at Elizabeth. "What 'special time'?" she asked
"Quite obviously they did not explain this to you at the orphanage," stated Elizabeth, shaking her head. "so, I shall take it upon myself to explain the facts of life to you.
"This 'special time' I am referring to isn't a bad thing, it's natural. Every month you get these cramps, and you swell up and such, and then you get what is called Premenstrual Syndrome, or PMS."
Serenity was looking at Elizabeth as though she had just uttered one of the nastiest swear words ever. "Isn't there..." she looked around uncomfortably. "...blood involved?"
Elizabeth was about to answer when Meagan came in holding a hot water bottle to her own abdomen. "Hello," she mumbled, coming over and throwing herself on Serenity's bed also. "I feel terrible!"
"Hear, hear!" said Serenity, putting her head down and curling up in a little ball.
Elizabeth grinned. "Ah, so I get to help BOTH of you now. I can think of nothing more rewarding." there was a hint of light sarcasm in her voice.
Serenity sniffled for a moment before bursting out into tears. She cried for five whole minutes. "I don't even know why I'm crying!" she wailed.
A minute later a maid came walking in with two steaming mugs on a tray. She handed one to Meagan and one to Serenity. "Here you go," she said, smiling at the two. "That should make you feel better."
"Thank you," said Serenity, wiping her eyes. "You have no idea how much I appreciate this!"
The maid shook her head. "I think I do have somewhat of an idea, Ms. Serenity," she replied, giving a little curtsey and walking out the door.
Serenity took a sip of tea. She was trying to pull off a somewhat thoughtful expression, which must not have worked because the other two burst out laughing.
"What bug crawled in your tea?" she shot at Meagan, who had set her mug on Serenity's night-stand and was holding her stomach, her eyes watering with her laughter. "Cause if that's the effect, then I want one too!"
"You..." gasp of breath then another giggle. "should..." another giggle and a bigger gasp of breath. "have..." snort. "seen..." giggle then snort. "your..." two giggles then a rather loud snort. "face..." two snorts then a giggle.
Serenity looked at Elizabeth as if she had gone slightly insane. "It wasn't supposed to be THAT funny!" she said, hitting the two girls with her pillow.
"Oh, but it was!" cried Megan, snorting, then covering her mouth as if she had just let out a nasty curse word. "Whoops!"
And then the three laughed even more, each holding their sides with tears of laughter winding down their faces.
So, there is another chappie. I hope ya'll are liking this new, re-vamped version. There is a ton more detail in this one and I have a feeling it's going to be slightly longer than my first 'attempt', as that one kind of jumped right into the story. I've also been considering... What do you guy's think, should I go and re-do Captain Jack Sparrow's Story? I think I should, but I want to know what you guys think. Anyway, R&R and tell me what you think, especially about CJSS.