Chapter 24 - Birth Of Love

Darien sat there with Serena in the hospital waiting room and held her tightly and kissed her forehead. Today was the day that had changed everything for them. Because of this day they had a future and they knew it would be wonderful.

A nurse came out of the room they had been staring at and said, "King Endymion, Neo-Queen Serenity, he has been born and Molly and Jadeite would love for you to come in now and meet him." Darien and Serena stood and made their way into the room.

Molly held a newborn Jasper, and Jadeite walked over to Darine and Serena and said, "Molly is doing well and I would like you to meet my son. Again. Here is Jasper." He led them over and smiled down at his perfect little son.

Serena smiled at Molly, "He looks perfect! He looks a little smaller than I remember him though." She chuckled and kissed him on his little toes.

Darien looked Jadeite in the eye and said, "I will do anything for him, I promise you that. He is your son, but he will be my son-in-law one day and I couldn't be more pleased. I promised him I would help him in anything he needs."

Molly spoke up, "He is so tiny and he has already saved us all. What a strange weight to place on his shoulders at such a young age."

Serena nodded, "Let's let him be little for now, but one day he will be a king. I couldn't be more happy right now."

OooooooO

Two years later Molly, Jadeite, and Jasper sat in the same waiting room staring at the same door. Now was time for the birth of Celestine and they were waiting in anticipation. Jasper, of course, was playing with his own toys and oblivious to the fact that his soulmate was about to enter the world.

When Celestine was born and they were ushered in they brought Jasper along. Today was the last day they would force them to be in the same room together. They had long discussions as to how to encourage the two together, but not make them feel forced.

OooooooO

Jasper ran quickly ahead of the group and laughed as he climbed the tree first and looked back when he got to the top. He shouted, "I am king of the tree! You all have to do what I say."

Celestine laughed and bowed to him, "King of the tree, can I climb up too?"

"You have permission to climb!" Jasper had to admit he always had a soft spot for her.

OooooooO

Jasper, Alexite, Kyanite, Lepidolite, and Garnet all stared at each other in shock. They had been playing in the informal sitting room in the palace and one of them had knocked over a large vase shattering it into pieces.

Garnet looked stricken and said, "I think it's time for me to go home to Nemesis. I am sure my mother is looking for me by now." He disappeared quickly and didn't return.

Lepidolite shook his head, "Coward."

Kyanite said, "And what is your great plan? I am considering trying to figure out a way to disappear too."

"Duh!" Lepidolite said. "We just beg Jasper to take the blame. King Endymion never gets mad at him. I am willing to give him money to go and confess. Anyone else willing to chip in?" The rest all nodded.

Jasper rolled his eyes, "How about I just tell the truth and then you don't have to pay me. We don't know how it was knocked over and it was an accident."

Alexite said, "Fine, but you tell him. I don't want to be the bearer of bad news. He takes it better from you."

"Fine." Jasper said. He didn't know why, but he knew they were right. King Endymion seemed to favor him.

They walked to find King Endymion with Celestine and Jasper smiled at her. She really was a sweet girl. Endymion looked up, "What is it young Generals?"

Jasper scuffed his foot, "We were all playing in the informal sitting room and that large vase tumbled over and broke. We honestly don't know who broke it. We are all sorry."

Celestine looked up and smiled at Jasper, "Thank goodness! I hated that vase. It was given to me for my third birthday. Honestly, who gives that to a child?! Now, I can be rid of it and it isn't my fault." She skipped over and hugged Jasper. "You are too good to me." She stepped back and walked back over to her father.

Endymion smiled and said, "You are all forgiven. In fact it sounds like I owe you my thanks. Be more careful though next time, it might not be something my daughter hates."

Jasper walked away trying to figure out what to get Celestine as a present. He knew she loved the painted scene on that vase.

OooooooO

Celestine ducked into the library and quickly looked around and hid behind the books in the ancient history section. People rarely came back there and she would be away from prying eyes. She sat on the floor and started to cry. Growing up she had watched her mother cry in secret and yet every time she did Darien managed to find her. She thought it was the most romantic thing she had ever seen. She wiped at her tears. She hoped one day she would have someone to love her like her father loved her mother.

She wanted desperately to be like her mother in every way. That was why she hid as she cried. Everyone saw Neo-Queen Serenity as strong and capable. Only her father saw her mother as Serena, the woman who needed him.

She knew she was upset over nothing, but she struggled to make it stop affecting her. She was heir to the Earth and the Silver Alliance, how could she let some girl get to her like she did? It still hurt when Hauyne said that she only had friends because of her title. She sniffed again.

"Why are you crying?" Jasper asked and sat down next to Celestine.

She dried her eyes and looked at him, "Don't worry about me. I will be fine. I am not as weak as I appear right now."

He shook his head, "You don't appear weak, you appear human. That is aloud you know. What happened?"

"Why are you my friend?" She asked instead of answering him.

"Hauyne is a bitch, she is miserable and wants everyone to be as unhappy as her." He put his finger under Celestine's chin and lifted it so she would be looking him in the eyes. "You are amazing and you would have us as friends if you were Queen or if you were a pauper without anything to your name. We are your friends because of who you are, never because of what you are."

She smiled at him and her eyes were finally dry, "Thank you. And thank you for finding me." Her heart swelled in her chest and she realized that she was falling in love with him.

OooooooO

Jasper leaned against the tree Celestine had once carved her name in and he watched as she walked around the garden with Pyrope and Alexandrite. Princes Pyrope and Lady Alexandrite looked pretty, but Crowned Princes Celestine was a vision. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and he couldn't look away. She laughed at something Pyrope had said and her eyes sparkled even brighter.

He sighed and kicked at a stone by his foot. He knew he wouldn't ever be able to look away from her. His eyes traveled from her face to the Palace. In that building was her father, a man who would tear apart the whole universe to protect his wife and daughter.

Alexite laughed at Jasper as he ducked under the branches of the tree and walked over to him. "I am guessing you aren't staring at my sister."

Jasper startled and his head abruptly turned to him, "No, you are right I am not."

"Too bad, it would be nice to be brothers. You are looking for a better title than that though, you are looking for Prince." Alexite said.

Jasper looked affronted, "I am not interested in her because of any title!"

"Sorry, that joke was in poor taste. I know you better than that, I was trying to sound clever." Alexite said and then paused. "In all honesty you would make a great Prince. Most importantly I think you are the only one King Endymion would let anywhere near his daughter."

Jasper shook his head and sighed, "I am falling in love with her."

"Bullshit. You have been in love with her for years, there isn't any falling about it."

Jasper just nodded and turned his head back to Celestine.