I had a lot of free time yesterday and was able to bang out an entire chapter. Woo hoo! There's a good mix of Darien/Serena and Endymion/Serenity so there's a bit of something for everyone. Enjoy!
Oh and this chapter is dedicated to TwIsTeD pErFeCtIoN-16 who left me the sweetest review ever in the history of the world.
Chapter 9
Every night Serena had dreams of Serenity and Endymion. As their relationship progressed nightly, so did hers with Darien. They had sat down and talked about the issues they were having. Serena agreed to stop fighting and insulting Darien every chance she got and he agreed to stop his numerous sexual advances if he was not actually going to have sex with her. They had both been doing rather well with their agreement and their relationship was strong and healthy. Serena spent every afternoon at Darien's apartment where he would help her with any homework she didn't understand and then listen to her dream from the night before. He loved sitting on the floor next to her while she recounted her dream to him. He tended to mimic the movements of Endymion as she described them and she would pause to smile at him before continuing on.
Darien plopped on the floor after making pasta for them and handed Serena a bowl. "So, what happened with Endymion and Serenity last night?" he asked.
"She started calling him Endy and they've finally had their first kiss!" she gushed. Serena shoveled some pasta into her mouth, trying to remember every detail. For whatever reason, Darien wanted as much detail as she could provide him with. She was happy to oblige – no one else would listen to the stories about her dreams anyway. Even Luna was bored with the fairytale her mind was creating.
"Tell me everything," he said. "I want to know all of it."
"It's like a soap opera for you. You're addicted to this story," she laughed. "Can I eat first and then tell you?"
"Of course. We wouldn't want to disturb your precious eating time," Darien said. "You're quite vicious when you're hungry."
"Hey! If I can't insult you, then you can't insult me," she yelled with her mouth full of food.
"Easy there, killer. You're getting sauce all over my couch."
"Good. You need a new one anyway. This one bores me. It's just…white. This whole place is white. We need to decorate."
"Tell me your dream and I'll let you decorate all you want."
"What is your obsession with these people? You realize they aren't real, right?" she asked. She was beginning to believe that he thought Endymion and Serenity had actually existed at one point.
"Just tell me the story," he said. He put their bowls of pasta aside and took her hand, kissing each finger lightly. "Please tell me, baby. You know you want to."
"You're so confident about how I feel about you, aren't you?" she laughed.
"'Course I am. I'm the hottest guy around. Why wouldn't you adore me?"
"If I tell you my dream, do you promise to shut up?"
"Yes," he replied.
"Fine," she said. "So, like I said she's started calling him Endy…" And Serena began to tell her latest dream to her admittedly hot boyfriend.
"Endymion, stop!" giggled Serenity. She and Endymion were spending the cold afternoon in his study by the warm fireplace. Endymion's nimble fingers were tickling every inch of Serenity's sensitive body.
"Tell me I'm the greatest prince in existence," he demanded.
"I will not!" she yelled through her laughter.
"Then I have no choice but to continue," he said with a smile. In truth, he loved the sound of her laughter. If he could hear the tinkling sound for the rest of his life he would die a happy man.
"Fine!" she squealed. "You are the greatest prince in existence!"
"Now tell me I'm the most handsome man you've ever seen," he said, redoubling his efforts instead of ceasing them.
Serenity tried desperately to push his hands away from her but he was too strong. She tried to grasp onto the large hands and hold them still but that didn't work either. "I will not lie to you twice in a row!"
"You know it's the truth, Serenity. I am the greatest and most handsome man to ever walk the planet. So just admit it," he said with a cocky grin, his fingers going to the most ticklish spots on her body.
"That's not true. I find Jadeite to be much more appealing a man than you are," she gasped out. This caused his fingers to stop moving. Serenity took advantage of the pause and sat on his hands. "There. Now you can't tickle me. I've won."
Endymion smirked at her and pinched her butt. "Is Jad really better than me, do you think? He's sort of an ass, Serenity."
"He can be an ass but he can be very sweet. Much like you," she said. She sat up and grabbed Endymion's hands, kissing them like he kissed hers. "But I suppose I can admit that I prefer you above everyone else."
"That makes me very happy," he said softly. He lay down on the blanket and pulled her with him. Serenity rested her head right above his heart and listened to the steady sound of it's beating. She intertwined her fingers with his and sighed happily. This was bliss. He was bliss. She never wanted to leave Earth. All she wanted was to be with Endymion forever.
"Endy," she whispered contentedly to herself.
"Endy?" he questioned, sitting up a bit to look into her eyes.
Serenity's face flushed and she looked away. "Sorry, I…I just…sorry."
"I like it," he said. He tilted her chin up and kissed her forehead. "You may call me Endy if it makes you happy, Princess."
"Do you like it, though? I would not want to give you a nickname that you dislike," she said. The crescent moon on her forehead tingled from the contact his warm lips had made.
"Nothing would make me happier than for you to have your own private name for me," he stated. Serenity's face broke into a huge smile.
"Then you must call me a secret nickname, too," she said. "You may call me 'perfect' because that is what I am."
"Is that so?" Endymion asked with a laugh. "No one is perfect, darling. Not even you – though you are close to it. And you cannot decide what I call you. That's my job." He took a minute to think about it and his features softened. "I will call you 'beautiful' because you truly are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen."
"And who said you weren't romantic?" she said softly, brushing his hair out of his eyes. He captured her hand and kissed each inch of it tenderly. "Endy, what sort of relationship do we have? We seem to be much more than friends. Do you fancy me?"
"Of course I fancy you. You are a beautiful princess with a big heart and an even bigger mouth in which you spew off your wonderful wisdom," he said. "You have become one of my greatest friends these past few weeks and I would not give you up for anything."
"I mean to say do you fancy me as more than a friend? Are you…attracted to me in a way that exceeds friendship?" her heart fluttered in her chest as she awaited his answer.
Endymion thought long and hard about what she was asking. Yes, he had begun to find himself attracted to her. When she walked into a room his eyes were immediately drawn to her and he could never help the smile that graced his face. He found her irresistible and he dreamt about her nightly. She was absolutely silly and crazy and proper and wise all at the same time. She was carefree and whimsical when she wanted to be and completely serious when she had to be. She had grown to be his greatest friend since the day she had marched into his life three weeks ago. She was everything he had wanted in a woman.
"Yes," he finally said. "I like you as more than just a friend. I would be a fool not to." Serenity only nodded, not sure how to respond. She was very happy that he liked her. She had very strong feelings for him, too. But they were from different planets. Once she left Earth to go back home, she may never see him again.
"Endy, what if we never meet again after I've left?" she asked.
"We will, beautiful," he reassured her. "If I must go to the Moon daily just to catch a glimpse of you, then I shall."
"Thank you," she whispered. She laid her head back above his heart and let the sound soothe her. "You know, your father thinks you're working in here, not wasting time away with me."
"Time with you is never wasted. It is merely productive in a different manner," he said.
"Nevertheless, I should leave you to your work. I'm sure someone must be free to entertain me," she said, beginning to sit up.
Endymion sat up next to her and shook his head. "I would much prefer if you stayed with me in here. I promise to work as long as you don't leave me alone in here."
"Are you terribly frightened of being alone?" she asked.
"No. But I'm terribly frightened that Nephrite has not yet had his daily fix of women and might stumble upon you in the hall and try to steal you away from me. Then all my wooing will have been for naught."
"No one could steal me away from you. I am yours to keep," she said quietly. She turned her face slightly and their noses were practically touching.
"Serenity," Endymion whispered.
"Yes?" she breathed.
"If you do not care for me as more than a friend then you need to move away from me now," he said.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because at this moment I want nothing more than to kiss you," he admittedly almost inaudibly.
"Nothing would make me happier," she whispered back. With no further encouragement, Endymion's lips sought out Serenity's and they shared a brief, gentle kiss.
"That was my first kiss," Serenity said. Her fingers touched her lips softly and she looked at him with wide eyes. "I kissed you." Endymion did not respond. He wasn't sure what exactly she was trying to convey but he was sure it was not happiness. His heart clenched at the thought of her regretting her decision. He had enjoyed their kiss so much. He loved the way her warm lips felt against his own and the way she had put feeling into it.
"Do you regret it?" he asked.
"Of course not," she said. She smiled and kissed him again. He held her body tightly to his and returned the kiss. It lasted longer than the first one and became increasingly passionate. As Endymion slid his tongue against Serenity's bottom lip, pleading for entrance into her mouth, the door was flung open. Serenity jumped back in surprise and Endymion let out an angry growl.
"Kunzite, you have 5 seconds to give me a very good explanation as to why you're here right now before I kill you," he snapped.
"My apologies, your highness," Kunzite said with an eye roll. "I was not aware that you and the Princess were in here sharing a…private moment. Your father sent me to check on how the plans for the army have been going."
"Army?" Serenity questioned. She looked up at Endymion's hardened face. He ignored her.
"They are fine. I am working on them now," he said. His voice was cold.
"I was not aware that kissing Serenity helped you plan war tactics, Prince," Kunzite said with a smirk.
"War tactics?" Serenity questioned again. She took hold of Endymion's hand and squeezed it, trying to gain his attention. Again he ignored her.
"Get out!" he bellowed.
"I shall tell your father you are hard at work, then," Kunzite said icily before bowing and leaving the study.
"Endymion, what is going on?" Serenity demanded. "What are you preparing an army for?"
"You should go," he said, not looking at her.
"Endymion! You cannot just shut me out like this!"
"Please go," he whispered.
"No," she said.
"Serenity, please."
"If you plan on leaving me and going off to war then I think I have the right to know!"
"It doesn't concern you, Serenity," he said. His voice was quiet and pained.
"When are you leaving?" she asked.
Endymion took a deep breath but did not answer.
"When are you leaving?" she demanded again, more forcefully.
"I am not going anywhere," he responded. "They were plans to…to go to war against the Moon. They were made long ago and now I must find a way to stop them. The soldiers are rebelling against the idea so I must raise a different army to defeat them so that you and your people may be safe. Especially you."
"Oh," Serenity whispered. "Then I shall leave you to your work." She stood quickly and glanced down at him.
"Wait," he said. He stood in front of her and took her hand in his. "I know you do not celebrate Christmas on the Moon, but here it's a very big ordeal. You give your friends and loved ones gifts. I have gotten you something." He searched through the drawers of his desk before pulling out a long box and opening it. Serenity saw a glittering gold beaded bracelet twinkling up at her and gasped.
"It's the one that I saw in the shop window," she said. "The one I wanted to buy when you took me into town one day."
"I saw you admiring it and I wanted to give it to you," he said. He slid it onto her wrist and smiled. "It looks wonderful on you. I cannot think of a better owner for it than you."
"Thank you," she said. "But I'm afraid I was not aware that it was almost Christmas and I have not gotten you anything. I'm not sure what I would give you, even if I had known."
"Having you here is enough," he said. He kissed her again but withdrew quickly. "I think it would be best for you to go now. I can't get any work done with you here distracting me. You're too tempting."
"Then I will leave you in peace," she said. "Find me when you've finished your boring work."
"I promise," he said. They shared one last kiss before Serenity slipped out the door, leaving behind the man she was falling quickly for.
"What do you think?" Serena asked Darien.
"I think that they make a wonderful couple and I can't wait for tomorrow's installment," he said.
"Do you think we're a cuter couple?"
"Seeing as I've never tried to destroy your home, I'd have to say yes," he said.
"They come in a close second," she decided.
"That they do," Darien said. He took their finished bowls into the kitchen and called, "Would you like some ice cream?"
"Yes, please!" Serena replied quickly. She jumped from the couch and scrambled into the kitchen. She wrapped her arms around his torso from behind and rested her head against his back. "Can I stay with you tonight?"
"No sleepovers," he said firmly. If Serena slept over in his bed – this time perfectly sober and aware – he knew he would not be able to contain himself. It would be his undoing in the battle he was fighting against his sex drive.
"Please, Darien?" she begged. "I want to spend the night with you. I want to fall asleep cuddled up in your arms." She dropped her arms from around him and spun him around, looking up at him with her large, crystal blue eyes. He sighed.
"I can't say no to that face," he groaned. "Fine. You can stay." Serena kissed him on the cheek happily and bounced away back into the living room.
Okay, there you go! R&R blah blah. Until next time :D
