The Black Tie Affair

By: afallenblackrose

Author's Notes: I updated this story on Monday and got over eleven reviews for that chapter alone! I was really amazed and humbled by it and so I decided to update again because of all your wondrous reviews! This chapter is another short one, but if they're short I tend to update faster. Thanks to EvaC, Light'by'day, princess-serena-stukino-any-17, James Birdsong, Charmed Serenity, SerentiyMoonGodness, DarkMoonVisions, fnr03, nebelflecke, and mangamania for reviewing chapter six. To DarkMoonVisions again for reviewing chapter three and to nebelflecke again as well for reviewing chapter five. Your reviews amaze me and make me happy. Thanks so much! Enjoy this chapter!

Part Seven:

The Flowers

As Darien walked down the street to the local café, he couldn't help but smile. The sun was shining, and he was in a good mood. Serena and him had finally been together. Yes, they had been drunk, but Darien held the philosophy that alcohol reveals the heart's true desire. She was still in love with him, and now after what had happened the night before Serena and him had to talk about what was going to happen now. Was she going to leave Seiya? Would they get together? Darien couldn't help but scoff at himself at his thoughts. Of course, Serena and him would get together. How could they not?

His smile grew as he walked up to the counter to put in his order.

"Welcome to Ariel's, what can I get for you this morning?" A cheerful cashier asked him.

"Two large coffees and a chocolate chip muffin," he replied. He remembered how much Serena loved chocolate a few years ago. He doubt that that had changed much since he left three years ago. In fact, not much had changed since he left three years ago. Except for the way she looked. A little blonde seraph who could have any man fall under her spell, like he had.

Back at Serena's apartment, she was pacing in her living room. There was anger and rage building within her. How could Darien do this to her? He knew that she was getting married to Seiya. He knew that she wouldn't cheat on Seiya and wouldn't break it off with him. He knew that, and yet he kept pushing himself onto her. Trying to take advantage of her old feelings for him. Feelings, she couldn't help but think, that she still felt for him.

She groaned and sat back down on her couch. Her head was still pounding from her hang over, and her thinking about what had happened last night between Darien and herself wasn't helping matters. Her heart was confused. She loved Seiya, she really did or else she wouldn't have agreed to marry him. But what if Mina was right? The only reason she had said yes was because of Darien's fake marriage announcement. She had pretended to move on, but in actuality she was still in love with him.

She heard footsteps outside her door and then a knock.

"It's open," she called out. The door opened and in walked the devil himself. He was carrying two coffee cups and a white paper bag. Her eyes roamed over him and couldn't help but scowl. Couldn't this guy look ugly, at least once? Even in yesterday's rumpled clothes, he looked like a god.

"I brought back some breakfast," he said walking forward and closing her apartment door with his foot. "And some coffee for our hang overs." He sat the white bag and a cup of coffee in front of her. She looked at it and back at him. He looked like he was expecting something. Probably a thank you, but she wasn't in the mood for gratitude. It would have been half-hearted anyway.

She reached forward and took the cup of coffee in her hands. Hesitantly taking a sip, she was surprised. How did he know how she liked her coffee? She looked up at him and was about to ask him when he sat down next to her. His deep azure blue eyes bore into her. She hated when he did that. She couldn't think when he did that.

"So, about last night," he began. "What does it mean?"

"You really want me to answer that honestly?" She countered.

"Obviously."

"I want to say that it didn't mean anything," she replied. "That it was just a alcohol powered tryst, but…" she sighed. "I can't." She looked away from his eyes and to the table in front of her. Color slowly crept up her cheeks. This was so embarrassing. She felt like she was still in high school and admitting that she had a crush on the most popular guy in class.

"Serena," he whispered his hand reaching out to her face. His fingers slipped under her chin and turned her face to him. "I wouldn't have believed you even if you told me that what happened last night was a mistake infueled by alcohol. I know how you feel about me and you know how I feel about you. We need to be together."

"But Seiya…"

"You have to tell him about what happened between us," he told her. "How you liked me even before you met him. You have to break it off, Serena."

"And if I don't?" She asked.

"Then I will stop your wedding, Serena. I know you're marrying the wrong man, and I won't let you do it."

"How can I trust you, though Darien?" She asked. "You're a famous playboy. Am I supposed to entrust my heart to you?"

"Serena, I'm in love with you," he replied. "I would never hurt you."

Somehow she believed him wholly with her heart.

Serena sighed as she watched the clock, impatiently. It was almost eight, Seiya was supposed to be here in a few minutes. Her stomach was a bunch of twisted nerves. She was going to tell Seiya that she was breaking off their engagement because of his friend from America. She was going to tell him everything. It had taken a lot of convincing, but Darien had agreed to let her do this on her own. The only stipulation was that she had to call him afterwards and tell him how it went. She wrung her hands in front of her. This shouldn't have to be so hard.

A knock came from her door. Slowly, she got up from her couch and answered the door. Seiya was standing there, a smile on his face.

"Hello, beautiful," he greeted her, leaning in and giving her a kiss on the cheek. "I'm glad to see you're alright after what happened last night. I didn't think you were a heavy drinker."

"It was a stressful night," she replied ushering him inside. She closed the door behind him.

"Oh? How come, love?"

"Seiya, have a seat," she dodged the question. He would know the answer soon enough. "Can I get you something to drink?"

"No, I'm okay," he replied. "So what's going on?"

"Seiya, we need to talk."

The Following Evening

In the end, Serena couldn't tell him. She chickened out and instead they spent the evening talking about the wedding preparations. After Seiya left, with shaky hands she called Darien and told him what had happened. He was disappointed to say the least and hung up quickly. She sighed. She knew that he had been looking forward to their relationship, but she couldn't break Seiya's heart like that. It just wasn't her.

"You okay?" Seiya asked from beside her.

"I'm fine," she replied. They were coming home from a dinner with his parents. They were so thrilled that Serena would soon be joining the family. Serena had worn a smile all night on her face. A smile, she knew was fake.

They were stopped at the door of her apartment. Seiya waited patiently as she took out the keys and unlocked her door. She knew he wanted to come inside and she would let him, but that was as far as it was going to go this night.

The door finally opened, and they made their way inside. Serena flipped on the lights and was surprised by what she saw. Covering her living room were dozens upon dozens of red roses. Her mouth was agape and she looked frantically at Seiya. He hadn't done this. She knew it without looking at him. He always gave her yellow tulips. However, she knew who had sent her these and she frantically searched the roses for the card that she knew would be there.

But she didn't find it. Seiya did.

"For the beautiful angel. You're marrying the wrong man. Love, D." He read the card out loud. Her face immediately began to heat up in shame. She was going to kill Darien Shields for this. But hadn't he said that he was going to stop her wedding if she didn't tell Seiya and break it off?

"Who's D and what is he talking about?"

Author's Notes: Ooh, cliffhanger again. What do you think, will Serena finally tell Seiya what's going on? Let me know what you thought of this chapter and I'll update soon!