Beauty and the Beast
A/N: This is a take on the disney version
Chapter ten: Falling in Love
"First, you have to close your eyes." He told her. Serena obliged, keeping her eys closed as he led her inside.
"Now open them" He intructed. As she slowly opened her eyes, she carefully took in her surroundings. They were in a huge library filled with rows and rows of books everywhere. Her mouth fell open. She couldn't believe it. It was magnifecent.
"I've never seen so many books" She whispered. Darien smiled.
"Do you like it?" He asked.
"Of course" She said, throwing her arms around him, catching them both by surprise. She quickly let go and smiled shyly.
"Can I read one?" She asked.
"Yes, you may come here whenever you like" Darien told her. He watched as the petite blonde rushed over to shelves and pulled out one of her favorite books titled 'King Arthur'. She looked over at Darien shyly.
"Can we read it together?" She asked. Darien was surprised, but he nodded and they settled down in front of the fireplace.
"Would you look at that?" Luna whispered from the door way. Her husband Artemis smiled.
"They look so happy" He said softly. "The Master deserves some happiness after all this time" Kunzite and Zoicite agreed.
"It's magnifecent" Molly said. "He's finding love"
Serena was in the courtyard with Darien. She looked at the wonderful snow and glanced at her companion. He was different, and She was starting to feel something, but she didn't know what it was. She stared at him through shy eyes.
Darien watched Serena playing with Diana and Molly and smiled gently. He was falling in love with her, but did she feel the same way. He was lost in his thought when a snowball hit him. Startled he looked up and saw Serena, Molly and Diana laughing. Darien beckoned to Kunzite and Zoicite to join him. If it was war the girls wanted, then it was on. For the next hour they six of them had a huge snowball fight and made snow angels and forts. After they went inside, Luna made everyone drink a cup of hot cocoa so that they wouldn't catch a cold.
Darien decided that he had to show Serena how he felt about her so he planned a grand ball for the two of them.
Serena paced her room.
"What shall I wear" She asked. Molly tried to help her by pulling out all of Serena's special gowns, but none of them seemed to fit for the evening. Molly spotted the perfect dress in the back of the closet and pulled it out. Serena's eyes lit up.
When Serena entered the ballroom, Darien stared in awe. She was dressed in a soft silk white gown that flowed to the grown. It was sleeveless and she wore three gold bracelets on her wrist. Her hair was not in it's normal style, instead it was pulled up on top of her head in a french twist with a braid down the back. She looked like an angel. She glided down the stairs and took his paw.
DArien led her to a table laiden in gold and held a chair for her. After the meal, Serena pulled DArien out to the dance floor and They twirled around the dance floor. The servants watched in wonder as thier beloved master and the woman he loved dance. After dancing, Darien led her out on the terrace and noticed that she looked sad.
"Serena? Are you happy here with me?" He asked. Serena hesitated.
"Yes" She replied softly, staring off into thedistance.
"You miss your family, don't you?" He asked.
"Yes" Serena whispered. Darien stood up and turned away. Though it hurt, he knew what he must do.
"Than you must return" He toldher. Serena stared at him for a moment.
"What did you say?" She asked.
"I release you from your promise" He said. Serena sat still for a moment. Darien handed her a small mirror.
"Use this, to remember me" He told her. "It will show you anything" Serena accepted the gift and flung her arms around Darien.
"I will be back, I promise" She said. She turned and went back inside. a moment later, he could see Her exiting the gate on one of his horses. He sighed. Kunzite walked out onto the terrace.
"Well, your highness. I must say everything is going well. I knew you had it in you." He said.
"I let her go" Darien explained. Kunzite was speechless.
"Why?" He asked.
"Because I love her" Darien said softly.
Serena was on her way home when she ran into her father, brother and Sapphire. Her father looked sickly and pale.
"Serena, you're safe" Sammy exclaimed.
"I'll explain after we get FAther home" Serena told them. Once they entered the cottage, Rubeus ran off to tell Diamond.
Serena put her father in bed and placed a warm cloth on his head.
"I thought I'd never see you again." Ken whispered.
"I'm here Papa" Serena whispered.
"I have a question, How did you escape?" Sapphire asked. Serena shook her head.
"He let me go" She explained. "He's not as aweful as we thought. He's changed" Suddenly they heard a coomotion outside and there was a knock on the door.