Blueeyeddevil06 thank you for all the work you put into this story with me as my beta!
Beryl sat in prison and flinched. The woman who bunked with her hated her and made it a point to torment her. She tried running the prisoners when she arrived, but she failed to pay attention to existing dynamics. She quickly realized she didn't have any power. And now, here she was stuck for life. Without the possibility of parole.
Amy met her half siblings one week after Beryl's arrest. She spoke with their mother first who was shocked to find out that her soon to be ex-husband had a daughter. It hurt Amy to know he never mentioned her. What Amy didn't expect was how much she liked the woman. Of course it didn't hurt that she was so appreciative of Amy. Her heart broke that her ex just left and didn't spend time with his children. They cried at night for a while wondering where he was.
She watched as Amy spoke with the kids. She let them know that they were special, and that she already loved them. They were excited to have a big sister. She was a natural with them. Afterwards, they decided that Amy would take an active role in their lives. She promised their mother that she would make sure they understood that his leaving had nothing to do with them.
Two years later, Serena sat at her dresser and looked at the mirror. "Code Name Serenity link to Endymion." Darien was with his study group in the library. David, Stephen, and Rick had become close friends of his. Now Zoisite joined them too. "How is the studying going?" Serena asked.
Darien was startled but smiled down at his tablet at her. "It's going really well. How was class?"
She groaned. "I did well on the test. I'm just exhausted."
Darien narrowed his eyes at her. "What are you planning on springing on me? You don't normally contact me like this."
"I just got the letter I'm accepted into the doctorate program!" Everyone congratulated her.
Darien beamed at her through the screen. "You're going to beat me to a doctorate, aren't you?"
She shrugged. "It was your idea I went back to school." She then smiled at him.
"I'm so proud of you. It's hard to believe the first time I met you was when you threw a failed test in my face."
She smirked. "So, since I'll have my doctorate first, I think you have to pick a different name to publish under."
"Why's that?"
"The way I figure it, the first one to publish can decide to use our last name. If I beat you, I get to use Shields."
He chuckled. "Or, the academic community can just get used to there being two doctor Shields. I know I'm excited about it."
She blew him a kiss. "I'll let you get back to your study group. Love you!"
"I love you too."
Artemis held Luna's hand as they walked through the park. "I can't believe all our girls are married."
"They're happy, and so are we." She looked down at her wedding band and smiled.
Artemis noticed what she was doing. "We men aren't just a distraction?"
"Oh, you're a distraction alright. It's just you're the best kind."
