Umm, I'm sorry to say this, but I think the series is winding down. I really only intended to get them to this point when I set out. I certinatly didn't think to make it 20+ chapters. The problem is, I've gotten them here and now have no idea what to do with them. It may just be writers block, and I'll see where the story takes me. I'm thinking I'll do a series of firsts next in this, maybe followed by some stuff around weddings and child rearing. Any ideas you care to give would be appreciated, since I'm not experianced with relationships past the early lovey-dovey stage yet (and breakups... and non-scary stalker types...). Oh well, let me know if you'd like me to continue it past the firsts sporadically, or if you'd like me to wrap it up, or if you have ideas and I can keep it going with new stories.
Now for those of you who have finished and/or skipped my essay above, I have only one word for: Enjoy!
Telling their friends had gone better than either Serena or Darien could have predicted. Now they faced the more daunting task of explaining to Serena's father that Serena had a boyfriend. Considering how protective he had been of her when she was younger, neither was relishing the thought.
Surprisingly enough, dinner with her parents went well. Unknown to Serena, her mother had actually threatened her father to couch time should he scare their twenty-year-old daughter's first boyfriend away. After all, Ken hadn't been the one horribly disappointed by Serena's lack of prom date. He probably hadn't even noticed that her guest was Raye, so all the girls could go together (Molly had brought Lizzie). Irene had even started considering that maybe Serena did like Raye like ... that. She was therefore guiltily relieved when Serena had asked to invite a boyfriend to dinner.
They had been relaxing afterwards having coffee. Darien had been a big hit with both adults, and they were heartened by the couple's obvious feelings for each other. The looks between the two young adults said it all. Actually, the small touches and almost total absorption in the other one helped her parents sort it out. The distracted air their daughter showed reminded them pointedly of their own courting. However, they weren't the only ones that needed to meet Darien.
Sammy was home late from a rugby game. As such, he had missed most of the talk. Not that it really mattered. Sammy had known Darien for almost as long as Serena had, due to the couple's friendship. Even not really talking to them, it's hard to not pick up some knowledge of your siblings friends, after all.
"Hi Sammy! This is my boyfriend Darien."
Darien stood up and met Sammy halfway into the room with his hand outstretched. Sammy looked at the adoring expression on Serena's face and an old memory clicked.
WHAM!
"Ow! What the hell? My nose!"
Sammy then grabbed Darien's hand before Darien had a chance to withdraw it and use it to stop the flow of blood.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Sammy. Here, let me help you with that, Tilt your head back. That's right. Can someone grab some tissue and an ice pack? It doesn't look broken. That's lucky..."