A/N: My apologies for the VERY long wait. I've been ill, still recovering, still have assignments and research to catch up on and finals to study for...but exam stress makes me write more, so you get a new chapter, finally! ;) Thanks for sticking with this story, following, favouriting and reviewing!
Anyway, this chapter jumps 2 weeks ahead from the previous chapter. Little moments in that two weeks (including some S&D studying/tutoring sessions mentioned in this chapter) have been/will be included in my latest TOBITF drabbles titled S + D = ss + dd. Do check them out! ;)
Godschildtweety: Thank you! Me too! ;) Usagi Carter: LOL. I'm so glad you liked the chapter! Thank you so much for letting me know! As for the dark moon arc, nope, there won't be a breakup but...you'll see! ;) Puffgirl1952: LOL. I will! Keep reading and reviewing! ;) familiachibatsukino: Oops! Sorry for the long wait and thanks for reviewing! :) SailorMoonForever: LOL! Thank you! No, I couldn't tell at all how excited you were! So subtle! Haha...Sounds familiar?*wink with hearts* Moonprincess998: Thanks! I'm glad you approved! ;) I don't know what chapter Remembering the Past will be yet but it will definitely be dedicated to you! ;) Nickybluejess: Thanks! I'm so glad you liked the chapter! LOL, I actually forgot the kids were in the room until I read your review! Thank goodness they were just kissing! ;) .125: I'm sorry for the delay but grateful for your review. Thank you! ;) trish 1573: Yes! Definitely some feel good chapters before more drama! Not to say there won't be drama in the feel good chapters! *evil laugh* JFVM: Oh thanks! I'm so glad you thought so. Hope you'll like this chapter too. :) LoveInTheBattleField: Thanks! Here it comes! ;) CherrySerenity-sama: LOL. I wrote in Seiya's black eye in just for you! I'm afraid Diamond's appearance and the return of S/D memories won't be for several more chapters. Wait for it! ;) I'll definitely try to inject humour in the 'ball games' and 'meet the parents' scenes. I hope it works! ;) kbtjmandy: I'll never be able to tell you how much your continued support of my stories and wonderful reviews mean to me. They make me smile and warm my heart. Thank you so much!:) Rose: LOL. You noticed that, huh? Well, their first kiss took place in the Anne & Alan chapter. How's that for ironic?! I'm glad you liked my Jason and Mina. I love them too! Anyway, thanks ever so much for your support and oh so fun reviews! ;) SerenityShields: Wow! What a review and what a compliment! Thanks! *blush* CherryBlossoms016: LOL. Petz have short hair. So you were right the first time! ;) I haven't decided yet if TOBITF will feature the Ayakashi sisters. Would you mind so very much if I pair up Sapphire with Emerald instead? Again, I haven't decided yet. Some scenes are clear in my head while others only become clearer as I write them. :) Emily: You're welcome!;) I'm so glad you liked the chapter. Thanks for your beautiful review and kind words! ;) Fanfic1Fan: Thanks and welcome to TOBITF! There are some really good SM stories out there and you're welcome to check out some of my favourites on my profile. ;) smfan4ever72: Aww... Another wonderful review! Thank you! You're so kind! I can't thank you enough for your continued support of this story. Really, thanks! :) naughtygirl: Haha...Once again, you made me laugh! Thanks! I love your reaction to the chapter! ;) Ashley10155: Thanks! Here's your update, enjoy! ;) PrincessAnastacia: Here's your update and thanks ever so much for the wish! ;) Guest: LOL! Here's your update. Hope it's worth the wait! ;) Romyna.Z: Welcome to TOBITF! What a nice review! Thank you! It cheered me up greatly! And great timing! Here's an update...I hope it makes you smile! ;)
Telepathic communications / thoughts are in Italics.
(Standard disclaimer: I do not own any of the Sailor Moon characters. All characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi.)
Chapter 20: Wishes & Charms
Serena's Bedroom (29th June, approximately half an hour to midnight, two weeks after the previous chapter)
Serena wished her friends were still awake. But they had all agreed to go to bed early to face their final day of exam the next day.
She sighed. They were right, of course. They had been studying consistently for the past two weeks. Today they had sat for two papers, put in two hours of rigorous training with Amara, more revision, and she had even put in an hour of running before turning in for the night.
They needed to get some rest. If it was a normal test, that would've been a different matter. But this was their final examination in their final year of high school.
Tomorrow, high school would be over.
Still, tomorrow was her eighteenth birthday. Her best friends always wished her happy birthday at the stroke of midnight. The celebration and gifts always came later, but the wishes from her four best friends always came at the stroke of midnight.
They probably thought I had something planned with Darien, she consoled herself.
Restless, she slipped out of bed and pushed open the glass door leading to her personal balcony. Resting her elbows on the railing, she let her thoughts drifted over the last two weeks.
Two weeks, that's how long she and Darien had been dating. Though technically, they had only been on one date, two if you counted the Prom.
The circumstances were unavoidable seeing as this whole week had consisted of her final examinations and most of the last two weeks had been filled with revision.
Even Amara had let up on training so that the inner Scouts could focus on their studies. She had only insisted on two hours of daily training and persisted that each Scout do their own endurance training at least an hour a day.
Surprisingly, Amy was the first to agree with her, pointing out that studying interweaved with exercise would make it more effective, and they still have the Demoniaques to watch out for.
Serena smiled at the thought of her bluenette friend. Trust Amy to be rational and logical, she thought affectionately. She and Darien have that in common. And all that brain power...
The thought of him brought a small crease between her brows. It had surprised her that the two of them had managed to coexist in complete harmony with one another. It had terrified her and confused her when she discovered the depths of emotions she had for him.
He had been a constant in her life, since the day she met him. She had seen him every day, argued with him every day and he was never very far from her mind or heart.
But even with awareness of the unacknowledged simmering attraction and interest that was buried under bickering and sarcastic bantering, she hadn't known that he would become so integral in her life, so vital.
In the last two weeks, he had been patient, sweet and understanding. In the last two weeks, he had somehow become her best friend.
She had been panicking over her exams. He had simply sat her down and went through her lessons with her. And though she would never say it out loud, he made a better teacher than even the Scout of Wisdom herself. And Amy was a very good teacher, even better than their teachers at school, patient, thorough and gentle.
Not as gentle, equally thorough in his own way, full of teasing and provocations, and surprisingly just as patient, Darien had explained things in ways Amy wouldn't have. He related each concept with something she was familiar with, used analogies she was able to relate to and he had even involved their future children in some of their tutoring sessions.
She had been afraid that he would fall back to their previous pattern of bickering and him putting her down. She had even been afraid that he would humiliate her in front of the children. Instead, he turned the lessons into precious family moments that she wouldn't have traded for anything. He made the lessons bearable and easier and at times, fun. Yes, lessons could actually be fun when the raven haired man was involved.
So in the last two weeks, he had become her boy friend, her best friend, her teacher, her shoulder to cry on, to talk to, to laugh with and to tease. He had become her rock and comfort. How did that happened? She couldn't help but wonder.
Where the children were concerned, they were in complete harmony. They weren't just a united front. They were united, in complete accordance with one another. A silent agreement: The children came first.
It wasn't obligation. It was love. Unbelievable as it seemed, they both loved their future children, beyond doubt, beyond reason.
But it was these feelings that confused Serena more. Are they supposed to love each other? Fall in line so the future won't change? Can the future be changed? But she and Darien must've fallen in love for them to have the children in the first place, right? Or did they fell in love because of the children? Do they have no choice in the matter? All these questions and time paradox have her completely baffled.
My emotions are my own she told herself, no one can make me feel what I don't want to feel. But...I don't want to love him! Serena sighed. She knew that wasn't quite true.
He had always mattered to her. She never knew why. But she had always cared. When they had first met, the loneliness in his eyes had drawn her to him. It had hurt her and it had weighed her heart down and filled her with poignancy.
She had always known he mattered. She just hadn't known he would come to matter this much. So much.
And he hadn't even said a word about her birthday. Her eighteenth birthday. They hadn't made any plans, at all. No mention. No plans.
Is that normal? She wondered. She didn't know. She just knew it mattered.
From inside her bedroom, Darien watched her, smiling over the red hearts scattered on her white satin boxers which she wore with a white spaghetti strap tank top.
Glancing at his watch, a quarter to midnight, he thought to himself, pleased, just enough time.
"Can't sleep?" he asked quietly.
She jumped and almost made him laugh.
"I didn't mean to startle you." His tone was apologetic as he moved closer.
Serena gulped, "Don't be silly. I was just..." she trailed off, going blank when his hands skimmed down her bare arms.
"You're tensed," he murmured, "What's got you worried, Baby?"
She managed a smile even as her pulse jittered. He only called her that when he was being particularly sweet.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she frowned slightly when it finally registered in her mind what he was wearing. "Nothing's got me worried. What're you doing, in a suit and tie, at this hour? It's almost midnight, Darien."
He merely shrugged, "Video conferencing."
"At this hour? It's almost midnight," she repeated.
"Not in Asia. What are you still doing up?"
Pretending ignorance, his gaze remained level on hers as he patiently waited for her answer.
Serena sighed. "It's really nothing. Just...big day tomorrow," she replied elusively.
Hoping to distract him, she went on indignantly, "I don't know which sadistic individual scheduled Chemistry and Maths examinations on the same day!"
Darien laughed. "You'll do fine," he said confidently.
"After all, it's not as if I have air in the head where the brain should be, right?" Serena mockingly threw back one of his old insults to his face.
Darien nearly winced at the remembrance of his old verbal abuse, until he saw the laughter in her eyes.
"Right," he replied assertively, grinning.
Looking at his watch, he shifted and nervously reached a hand into the inside pocket of his suit.
At Serena's enquiring glance, he laid his other hand on her cheek and leaned down and made her knees go weak with a long, slow, thorough kiss. The kiss deepened and the emotion swirling inside threatened to choke her as panic spurted through waves of pleasure.
When they eased apart, his hand remained gentle on her cheek, "Happy Birthday, Serena."
Her lips curved. "I didn't think you'd remember."
At his arched brow, she laughed. "Well, with the children and everyone planning the celebration, I knew you wouldn't forget. I just thought you'd wait until tomorrow to..." She trailed off when she saw the long slim box in his hand. "Oh. You bought me a gift."
Darien said nothing. He gently put the box in her palm and waited.
She opened the box and her heart shot like a missile to her throat. "Oh. Darien."
The bracelet itself was platinum. Small, perfectly carved roses, joined together. No colour. Just the silver of platinum gleaming subtly under the moonlight. Some of the charms however, burst with colours, either from beautiful lacquer and enamel finishing or diamonds or coloured stones appropriately placed here and there. Each charm no more than one centimetre by one centimetre in size yet each was perfectly detailed and crafted sterling silver, gold, white-gold or rose-gold.
She touched the charms cautiously, reverently studying them.
"The bracelet is from me, but the charms are from all of us," Darien explained gently and continued with unaccustomed apprehension, "I wanted you to have all of us with you at all times. The people you care about. They mean so much to you. So I had them chose a charm each."
His heart pounded, raging against panic fighting to surface when she said nothing as she continued to stare at the bracelet which remained in its casing.
"If you don't like them we could always change them."
Startled by his brisk words, Serena finally lifted her face to his which was carefully blank by now. But she recognised the rigid tension of his shoulders and the worry in his eyes which he wasn't quite able to hide and her heart did a long, slow swirl in her chest, "I love them. They're perfect." Her voice came out as a whisper. I love you. You're perfect. Her heart whispered along.
All he could see was her cerulean blue eyes shining with gratitude and as his heart settled back in place, he simply lost all coherent thoughts.
"Mina, Amy, Lita and Raye said to wish you Happy Birthday from them at the stroke of midnight. They said to tell you they didn't forget," he blurted out suddenly, unnerved by the awe and wonder on her face, by how relieved he was that she didn't hate his gift and by how much it mattered that she didn't.
Hearing his words and seeing his embarrassment, Serena laughed, a quick, delightful laugh as she rose up on her toes and kissed him, "Of course they didn't," she said with affection.
Taking the bracelet out of the box, she held it out to him. "Will you help me put them on?" she asked, almost shyly.
Regaining his wit, Darien smiled and complied.
Holding her wrist in his hand, he touched a pair of silver Hershey's kisses charm and the matching gold pair, "The kisses are from the children. They came in pairs because...so do they. Silver kisses from Sara and Darryl and gold kisses..."
"...from Darren and Suri to represent the crystals they carry," Serena finished, touching the charms lovingly.
Darien nodded. His smile widened and his fingers moved on to tap a diamond studded gold tiara charm and a top hat charm, "The children chose these too. They're supposed to represent us." Grinning widely at her now, "Can you guess which one I chose?" he asked wickedly.
Another quick burst of laughter and Serena teasingly touched an owl charm. "Could it be this one? Because you're, oh, so wise?" she teased.
Darien chuckled and shook his head. "That and the trident came from Amy and Zach. Wisdom and power over water," he explained.
Serena nodded in understanding. The sterling silver trident with tiny sapphire stones at its tips and the brown lacquered owl with mini emeralds for eyes charms perfectly described both Amy and Zachary.
Touching the black and white cat charms, she looked up at him, "Luna and Artemis."
"Of course. That's pretty obvious. Which one's mine?"
Still teasing him, she touched the crystal ball charm, "The snow globe?"
Darien stiffened slightly before playfully tugging a strand of her hair as he laughingly informed her, "That's not a snow globe, Meatball Head! Oh, what I wouldn't give to see the look on Jason's and Raye's faces when they find out that you thought their crystal ball is a snow globe!"
"I think that can be arranged," Serena replied, laughing with him, "Flame and crystal ball to represent fire and psychic abilities." She continued softly, thinking that the two charms would definitely remind her of Raye and her brother.
Darien nodded and went on, "I think the hour glass is from Sailor Pluto and the planet Saturn is from Sailor Saturn."
Serena abruptly looked up at him, "You think?" she asked and then pouted as she remembered that none of them had seen either Scouts in over five weeks, "Did you get to see Trista and Hotaru?"
Darien shook his head. "I've never met them. Amara and Michelle asked me the same question. But the charms came in an envelope which I found on my desk in my study," he answered vaguely, not wanting her to know, yet, that there was something else in the envelope.
Nodding absently now, "The sports car is from Amara and the violin is from Michelle," Serena said as she lovingly fingered the sports car, her mind picturing a woman and a little girl that she was beginning to miss. Her heart knew that the hour glass and Saturn charms must've came from them.
Seeing the wistful look on Serena's face, Darien brought her hand up to his lips and kissed the skin on her wrist above the bracelet and brought her back to him, mind, heart and senses.
The warmth of his action had rosy tints flushed up her face. Desperately trying to keep cool, Serena touched a silver cupcake charm with pink enamel finish as its icing. "This makes me think of Lita," she said softly.
Darien chuckled lightly. "It is from her. She'd be very pleased you figured it out." He held the white-gold lightning bolt charm next to the cupcake charm between his fingers and went on, "She and Nathan agreed on the lightning but they couldn't decide between a horse and a rose at first."
Serena tipped her head back and wrinkled her nose, "A horse or a rose?" She asked in confusion.
Darien couldn't help it, the tilt of her head and her expression just beckoned him to lower his mouth to hers. Slowly he bent his head and covered her lips with his, and smiled when she leaned in just a little closer.
"Jupiter is also the Scout of Nature and Nathan thought the rose would remind you of Lita's earrings but she said a cupcake is more likely to remind you of her and a rose would just remind you of..." he cleared his throat, "...me instead. You know, since I can conjure up roses and all." He finished by adding action to mirror his words and conjured up a perfect red rose for her with a gentle smile on his face which widened at her gasped of delight.
For a moment they just stared at each other. Two people completely in love. Two people completely terrified of voicing that love out loud. Two people completely unaware of the mutual depths of feelings in the other.
So they broke their gaze. And tried to cling to the precious moment together. Struggled to prolong it for just a moment longer.
"So, I'll give you a clue. Mine's in the food group. There aren't much left. Don't tell me you still can't guess which one is mine," Darien teased.
Playing along, Serena held her hand up between the two of them again and pointed to the milkshake charm, "The milkshake that would remind you of our triple chocolate milkshake with extra sprinkles, chocolate chips, nuts and cream?" she asked cheekily.
Darien laughed a completely unguarded laugh which coming from him was completely rare and Serena's breath caught in her throat and her chest tightened with the wave of feelings that swamped her. Love, joy, gratitude. For the man, for the moment, for his happiness.
"I love chocolate. I really do. But I don't think I can drink that stuff. I honestly don't know how you and the children managed to stomach that thing day after day without getting sick," he said when his laughter subsided.
Serena laughingly jabbed him in the ribs. "Shows what you know! They're delicious! Absolutely yummy!" she exclaimed in mock indignance and smacked her lips.
And Darien found himself laughing and kissing someone at the same time for the first time in his life.
Shaking his head, he conceded, "That charm does remind me of you and the children. I think that's why Drew chose it. And the ice cream charm of course. He said if both don't remind you of him after the countless milkshakes and ice creams he made for you, he doesn't know what will."
Serena smiled fondly at that statement and the memory it brought. "Drew makes the best milkshakes and ice creams in the whole wide world!" She proclaimed passionately.
Chuckling for the umpteenth time that night, Darien tapped the rose-gold heart and white-gold star charms, "Mina and Kevin. Though I think Mina chose both. Something about love and dream and the fact that she's a star," he informed her, his finger unconsciously lingering over the skin below the bracelet.
"Mina is a star and she's also the Scout of Love," Serena replied, keeping her face bland.
"Yes, but can you see Kevin with hearts and stars?" Darien asked mischievously.
She stifled a laugh and rolled her eyes at the innuendo his expression suggested. Sobering up though, she looked deeply into his eyes, "They seemed very different but underneath it all, they're not, not really. Despite her open personality, Mina's rather cautious about letting people in and Kevin, I think, despite his outward demeanour, has more emotions inside him than any of us," she stated quietly, "He'd have to, to be with Mina. She wouldn't be with someone who couldn't love her with all he is."
Nor could I, she added silently.
Emotions churned and tightened and threatened to strangle him. Reining them in, he kissed the top of her head, "Its half past midnight. We'd better get you into bed. Last day of exam tomorrow and there's that baseball game. You need your beauty sleep."
Without waiting for her reply, he scooped her up into his arms bridal style. He heard her breath caught in her throat, felt her hesitate, but as he made his way back inside to her bed, she wrapped her arms around his neck and slowly leaned her head on his shoulder.
Serena sighed as butterflies fluttered in her stomach. How was it possible that one man makes me feel so safe and yet terrifies me half to death at the same time? She wondered, not for the first time.
The warm tickle of her sigh fluttered against his skin where his tie had loosened and glancing down at her closed eyes, he took the moment to take in her features once again. Her lashes, thick and long, rested sweetly against her skin. And what skin she had, alabaster, flawless…virginal.
He stopped in mid-step at the direction his mind had wondered to. It was getting more and more difficult not to act on his desire for her. He shook himself out of his reverie and took a deep breath and moved forward.
I have to. She's not ready. She matters too much. He firmly told himself.
Tucking her into bed and leaning over her, he brushed his lips gently over her eyelids, "We'll continue this tomorrow when you can see properly in broad daylight," softly kissed both her cheeks, "Gives you a better chance at guessing which charm is mine," and finally, tenderly pressed his lips to hers and allowed himself to linger over the kiss, just for a minute.
Brushing her hair out of her face and looking down at her for a moment, Darien straightened, "Good night, Serena. I'll see you in the morning," and started for the door before he lost the will to do so.
"Darien."
He stopped, slowly turned back, his brow lifted in silent question.
"Would you… stay with me until I fell asleep?" Serena requested shyly.
He almost groaned but it came out as a short, self derisive quiet laugh as he slowly went back to her.
"I'm not so sure it's a good idea, Serena. I can be patient, but I'm not a saint. And you would tempt a saint."
She blushed but lifted her comforter, "Please?"
Sighing, Darien relented, sat to take his shoes and jacket off and got into bed beside her.
When she instinctively curled into him, he smiled in the dark and pressed the fingers of one hand at the base of her neck before moving them to ease the tension on her shoulders and soothingly rubbed her back.
"Thank you for my birthday wish, Darien, and my charms," she pressed her palm on his chest and burrowed closer into him, drawing in the comforting scent of him, coffee, chocolate, roses and something male.
Darien mentally groaned and recited the elements of the periodic table in his head.
"You're welcome, Meatball Head. Hush now. Go to sleep."
"I don't think I can sleep. I'm too tensed and worried," she murmured even as the rhythm of his heart under her palm calmed her and slowly pulled her under, "And besides, I thought you weren't going to call me Meatball Head anymore?"
Her husky sleepy voice pulled, her warm breath teased. Darien ignored both.
He touched his lips to her temple. "If you can't sleep, we could go through the reactions of Period three elements again, shall we?" he asked and proceeded to explain each reaction in an attempt to put her to sleep and to distract himself.
Her breathing slowed and she was asleep even before he completed the reactions of sodium.
Satisfied, Darien rested his cheek on top of her head with every intention of going back to his apartment and sleeping in his own bed.
He drew in the scent of grapefruits and peaches from her hair and held her closer. Just a bit more, he thought absently. His eyes drifted close instead and at the edge between consciousness and sleep, he thought her heard her whispered, "The Meatballs. They're yours. Just like me. Your Meatball Head. They're perfect. Just like you."
Posted on fanfiction: 7 November 2013
A/N: Okay, this is actually only ONE part of FOURmain scenes and TWO smaller scenes that were supposed to be in this ONE chapter and I actually deleted and rewrote almost the whole chapter (except for Darien's and the children's gifts) more than twice. The other scenes have been written. They just need detailing and editing but my first paper is tomorrow and I really need to study and I really want to post something. So, this is a compromise. The scene above is just ONE of the birthday surprises and the bracelet is just ONE part of the birthday gift. The rest and the baseball game and another plot twist will be posted in the next chapter Baseball Game & Birthday Celebration. The title is subject to change if I decide to splice the chapter yet again. Those of you who have been following TOBITF (or me) for a while probably already realised that this is what I do sometimes. Cut my chapters and re-titled them when I can't finish writing/editing the whole chapter (which is the case here) or when a chapter gets too long (which this one would've been otherwise. This scene alone is already almost 4000 words!). So I hope this isn't too bad and if it is, I hope you're kind enough to be patient with me while I try and get my bearings back.
S + D = ss + dd followers, you probably figured out what the charms are that Trista sent in Time Keeper's Intervention. But do remember, there was also something else in the envelope! ;)
P/S: Next update would probably be after the 14th. Do pray I'm well enough to give my law finals my best shot! :)