So exhausted, I hate homework.

Anyways, I'll explain this now before you go crazy on me, but these set of chapters are anti-climaxes to the upcoming event.

The 'actual' confession won't happen for maybe a couple chapters.

Don't blame me. You can blame my torturous evil side.

But don't be afraid, there will be a confession, there will be a climax, there will be an end.

Just not now.

I Do Not Own Sailor Moon And Her Counterparts

You Have Officially Been Warned

Chapter Twelve

"I don't think that'd be such a great idea," Darien replied, one hand reaching awkwardly for the foyer wall for a means of support.

"Darien's not in any state to go out," Beryl declared tightly.

"I can make my own decisions, thank you very much," he told her amiably. "I'm going to head into the salon. Why don't you all join me?"

Serena felt like crying in frustration as she watched Darien move into the glided room at the southwest corner of the house. She'd made a mistake. Once again. Although at least this time she could console herself with the thought that she'd had no way of knowing Darien wouldn't be sober. Instead of relief, however, she felt annoyance and frustration. She wanted to unburden herself, and she wanted to do it now.

Beryl Shields had aged. Little wonder; they'd all aged. But the fire that had sustained her still burned. Serena could practically feel its heat coming from the woman in waves of hate.

Or was it fear?

Beryl was in on this deception, too, Serena reminded herself grimly. Beryl had guessed the truth and then had had the gall to try and direct Serena which path to take.

As she looked at Beryl now, a flood of uncertain emotions poured through Serena's veins. It didn't help to have Caroline standing behind the woman's shoulder, a lieutenant in this war with the Evil Witch, the autocratic general.

Oh, how it hurt. Serena was surprised by the pain. She quivered inside, as much from Darien's unexpected touch when he removed her black jacket, as from the turbulent emotions plaguing her at the sight of her old nemesis.

Yes, Darien had hurt her, too. Yes, he was the reason she'd fled without telling him she was pregnant. But it was Beryl––and Serena guessed Caroline might be involved somewhere, too––who had turned Serena's wound into a mortal one. It was Beryl who had ultimately forced Serena to leave town.

She'd actually come to Serena's home a few days after Serena's embarrassing appearance at the Shield dinner party––shown up on a hot June night dressed in a lavender silk suit. She'd come from church, she said, although it was a Wednesday night and Serena had never known Beryl to be an avid churchgoer. She'd come to offer Serena money in order to drive her out of Darien's life forever. But the money was nothing compared to the pain of Darien's rejection.

So, now, with Beryl's red eyes staring her down and memories swirling like dust devils, Serena remembered everything––the lies, the hurt, the money and the deception. And the guilt that had been eating at her lessened a bit because although she was partially at fault, she'd been barely eighteen! Beryl had been a grown woman who should have had some scruples, while Serena had scarcely set a toe into the adult world.

Or so her guilty conscious had tried to assure her.

"Are you coming?" Darien asked from the doorway, looking dishevelled in a frustratingly sexy way. His hair flopped forward and the grim lines around his mouth were replaced by a hint of dimples. He'd always been way too attractive––blessed by the gods. Wondering what she could possibly accomplish, Serena took a step after him.

"Wait," Beryl muttered harshly. "You have no business being here."

Serena eyed her adversary. "I have business."

"What kind of business?" Caroline asked, hey eyes following Darien's progress as he threw himself onto a couch at the very edge of Serena's vision. Unhappiness had drawn fine lines around Caroline's mouth.

"You've been out of Darien's life for years," Beryl declared, picking her words carefully. So, Caroline didn't know. It was Beryl's dirty own little secret. "You can't come back now without some consequences."

"Consequences?" Serena inched her chip upward, praying she could keep up her bravado. But a traitorous little shudder had begun in her lower limbs, a trembling she could not control although she desperately wanted to appear calm and cool. Beryl had that effect on her. She'd always had that effect.

"Caroline, would you mind giving us a minute alone?" Beryl asked.

Caroline looked from Serena to Beryl. Clearly she was as confused as Darien about Beryl's strange aversion to Serena. Murmuring an assent, she headed after Darien, but as soon as she was gone, Serena wished her back. Alone with a viper. The Evil Witch. Serena met Beryl Shields' sharp gaze with hot defiance.

"We had a deal," Beryl said in a low voice.

"You and I never had a deal," Serena replied.

She thought back to the ten thousand dollars she'd been forced to accept from Beryl once she'd left Crescent Bay, pregnant and alone. Her Aunt Elena had taken pity on Serena and given her a home in Atlanta while Serena awaited the birth. But when the check arrived from Beryl and Serena refused to sign it on principle, Elena had taken matter in to her own hands and forged Serena's signature. Serena couldn't believe it, but she didn't stop it. Aunt Elena insisted they had to do it for Serena's mother's sake. Ilene Tsukino had tried her best to keep the pregnancy a secret from her husband, but when Ken Tsukino found out, his wrath was endless. The money helped Ilene move closer to Elena and Serena––and far from her abusive husband.

But of course, Beryl wouldn't understand that kind of desperation.

"You took the money," Beryl hissed. "If you rake this up now, I'll demand it all back."

"And I'll get it for you," Serena answered tautly.

Beryl snorted. "You can't possibly pay it all back"

"I don't have to discuss this with you. It's Darien who needs to know the truth."

"You can't talk to him now. He's drunk." Her mouth said the words as if it tasted bad; her expression seemed to suggest Darien's lack of sobriety was entirely Serena's fault. "Go home and think about what you're doing. I mean, seriously think about it."

"I've thought about it for fourteen years." Serena pushed past her on her way into the salon and Darien.

Caroline was perched next to him on a burgundy couch that looked old and beautiful and expensive, probably a one-of-a-kind antique. Darien sprawled, legs out, hands dangling between his knees, his eyes half-closed with sleep. Serena hated to admit that Beryl might be actually right: now wasn't the time to tell him about Rini.

"So, how long are you in town?" Caroline asked, smoothing her palms on her dress.

"I'm not sure," Serena answered, wondering how many times she'd been asked that question since she'd resurfaced in Crescent Bay.

"Serena…" Darien muttered suddenly. "Still haunting the neighbourhood, I see." His gaze narrowing on Serena in a way that momentarily panicked her. Was he more sober than he let on?

But no, his head flopped toward Caroline, his temple touching one tense shoulder. She reached up to touch him but it was a curiously reluctant gesture, as if she were unfamiliar with the feel of him, her fiancé. There was absolutely no naturalness about Caroline Newsmith at all. She wouldn't meet Serena's eyes, and Serena, for reasons, she didn't want to examine too closely, felt her chest constrict painfully.

"It's been a long time," Caroline murmured, her smile forced.

"A lifetime," Serena agreed.

"So, you wanted to see Darien?"

"Well, yes…among other people," Serena added, realising her small lie was to save Caroline embarrassment. Why she cared, she couldn't say, but Caroline's petty meanness in high school seemed far away and remote right now; practically nonexistent, as insubstantial as fairy dust.

High school itself was an ancient memory and Serena marvelled that such a brief span of her life, a time spent wallowing in teen angst and infantile emotions, had produced such a rage of continuing torment.

It had produced Rini, she reminded herself. And Rini was the reason everything mattered so much to this day. Rini was a product of intense feelings, and maybe that was why she appeared so intense herself.

"It's really great to get all misty-eyed over high school, isn't it?" Darien declared ironically.

"People move on. Grow up. Change their lives." This was from Caroline, surprisingly, who seemed to suddenly feel the need to justify her position. "Did you know Mina Aino is marrying Matt Dalton?" On Valentine's Day," she added, unwilling sending a frisson up Serena's spine.

Rini's birthday.

"I heard this morning," Serena admitted. "Mina invited me to the wedding."

Caroline's eyes flared. "Are you going?"

"I…think so," Serena said, wondering what devil had possessed her.

"So, you're staying in Crescent Bay, then," Darien said. Beneath his thick inscrutable lashes she couldn't tell if he was watching her or not.

"My business partner wants to make a trade. I take a few weeks off now, I babysit her child and take care most of the business' accounting and budgets."

"Kind of like a reunion for you," Caroline suggested. She looked none too happy with the arrangements.

"It's more like a pilgrimage," Serena admitted.

A cool breeze swirled through the room and everyone looked to the doorway where Beryl stood like a statue. Serena's fanciful mind wondered if the stirring air was created by her own cold fury, but she could see the front door had cracked back open, and the breath of the sea air was welcome in these close confines.

Examining Darien, Beryl demanded, "How long have you been drinking?"

"Darien shot her a glance that would have set a lesser person's knees to quaking. But Beryl was made of stern stuff. "Not long enough," he told her. "I'm still conscious."

"I'm sure you're making a wonderful impression on our guest."

"Don't worry about Serena," Darien said before Serena could object herself. "She escaped early. Ran right out of town."

Beryl's hands fluttered. "It's not like you to do this sort of thing."

"Really," Darien drawled. "What is like me? Living here with you? Letting the Shields empire swallow me up whole?" He threw his arms, nearly overbalancing. "I shoulda up and spilt, like Amara."

Beryl inhaled sharply. "There's no point in this."

Serena had come to the same conclusion. "I'll go."

"No, don't." Darien struggled to his feet.

"I'll…call you," Serena told him as Caroline got to her feet, too, as if she were afraid to let him do anything on his own with Serena in the room.

"You wanted to see me alone. Now's a great time. Maybe I can catch a ride home with you."

"I'll take you!" Caroline quickly offered.

"This can wait," Serena agreed. "I'll be around for a while, and there's bound to be a better time to talk." Serena meant her words. Now that she'd made her decision to stick around Crescent Bay a bit longer, the pressure was off. She would call the Kentwells tonight, she decided, and tell them what was happening. Rini would want to know.

"What are you going to do?" Beryl demanded, clearly unable to help herself. Small wonder. She had a lot to lose.

"Go to bed," Serena said, deliberately misunderstanding. Then a mirthful sprite inside her suddenly said, "Oh, I took a job while I'm here. Its just temporary, but it's a lot of fun. At Crawfish Delish."

Beryl gasped. Caroline's jaw dropped, and Darien stared at her in a way she couldn't quite fathom. Serena wouldn't have human if she didn't enjoy the moment a little. They deserved it––the whole lot of these "on the water" snobs.

"Then maybe I'll see you at work," Darien drawled, a grin lightening his face. He, at least, saw the humour in the situation.

They stared at each other, and Serena sensing that he'd somehow joined her "side", at least for the moment, decided it was a good time to leave. With some muttered goodbyes, she hurried out of the house, holding her breath until she was inside her rental car, then letting it out on a sigh of release as she closed her eyes.

"Hey…"

Knuckles rapped against her window. Serena jumped, hey eyes flying open. Darien stood outside, hunkered against the driving rain and wind. Twisting the ignition, Serena waved a goodbye at him, but her escape wasn't quite fast enough because he threw open the passenger door and climbed in beside her.

"What are you doing?" she demanded.

"What are you doing?" he answered right back. "You've got something to say, just say it."

"I don't want to talk to you like this."

"You'd rather I was sober."

She could smell the liquor, but more than that she could smell the rain on the shoulders of his damp senim shirt. His hair glistened with droplets and when he shook his head, some of the moisture hit Serena in a soft spray.

Her hands tightened around the wheel. "I've got to get back," she said through tense lips.

"To work? I happen to know the shift's over at Crawfish Delish. And don't tell me you didn't know I own the restaurant."

"I didn't when they hired me."

"But you did before tonight."

Serena shrugged. "Andrew told me."

"Ah…"

She didn't like the way he said that. Too knowing. Too sure of what she all about.

"Is it a problem?" she asked, feeling strained.

"Andrew's still your number-one fan. I remember that. He'd never let anyone say a bad word about you."

"They managed to anyway," Serena murmured lightly.

"I don't care if you work at the restaurant," he said, switching topics. "I don't care if you stay in Crescent Bay for good."

"Well, I'm not."

"But I've got this feeling that I'm in the dark about something important." He brushed his hair back with one hand, his face taut and serious. "Beryl is scared of you for some reason. That doesn't make a whole lot of sense unless there's a reason more than high school." He glanced at her. "Gonna enlighten me?"

She could almost believe he was sober enough to hear the truth. Staring at him, she gathered courage. "There is something I need to talk to you about," she admitted. Her heart began pounding once again, slow and heavy, feeling as if it would beat right out of her chest. "But I'm not sure now's the time."

"That bad, huh?"

"Or that good," she whispered, dry-mouthed.

"So, when is the time?"

"Later. When you're sober and I'm…ready."

"I'm pretty damn sober."

"Not enough."

"You're just not ready," he guessed, his eyes narrowing. The sweep of his lashes against his cheek was too seductive, too appealing. She had to look away.

"I'll call you."

"Will you?"

She nodded.

"When?"

"I think I'll stay until Mina's wedding," Serena said. "So we're got a lot of time."

"Then I'll see you at the wedding," he replied, reopening the door and stepping back into the rain.

"Oh, we'll talk before then," she assured him.

"No." He was positive. Leaning against the frame of the open door, he ducked his head inside to meet her confused gaze. "I'm going out of town. So, now's your chance. What's the big secret?"

There was never going to be a good time, Serena thought with frustration. Might as well just dive in. "All right. I'll just say it. A lot happened between us," she reminded him, searching his eyes.

"We had a relationship," he agreed amiably enough.

"An intense relationship."

"Darien!" Caroline's voice was an unwelcome intrusion. Serena gritted her teeth, inwardly groaning as she spied his fiancé coming down the front steps, and the silhouette of Beryl in the doorway like the overprotective mother she was.

"Say it." Darien urged, frowning in annoyance at Caroline's interference. "Quick!"

"I–– It's–– We had––"

"I'll give you a ride," Caroline declared, reaching earshot just then and spoiling the moment. "I want to talk to you anyway."

In frustration Darien held Serena's gaze. She stared right back, unable to break that fragile contact between them. He seemed about to blow Caroline off, but she heard herself say in a low voice, "I'll see you at the wedding, okay?"

"We'll get it all straight then," Darien agreed, reaching her wavelength.

Serena nodded thoughtfully and as Darien slowly closed the door, she put the car in gear, glancing back in her review mirror at him and Caroline who stood side by side in the rain. It seemed inevitable, somehow, that the truth would come out at a wedding. A wedding on Valentine's day. On Rini's birthday.

How ironic. It added a poignant sting to an already sensitive issue. But somehow it felt right.

Okay, now you'll be wondering why I'm updating it now, but I just felt slightly guilty for leaving it like that for you.

So I'll try update sometime next week, bit later than my usual day, because of this impromptu update.

Hint here: although next update's won't have the confession, there will be angry words said, and ultimatums and action. =)

So now, please review! I do so like to get the reviews.

And again, don't worry, there will be a (hopefully) worthwhile climax to this story.

Patience is a virtue.