May 2002

Disclaimer: These character's aren't mine, but the story is..

Chapter 21




"Are you sure? I'm not over dressed?"

Darien chuckled, "No, Selene, you're not over dressed. Relax,
Princess, this is a casual dinner."

"With wine?" she looked pointedly at the bottle under his arm.

He shrugged, "I've got unconventional parents. Jeans and a sweater,
Selene, I promise you won't look out of place in it."

She eyed his black jeans and black t-shirt. His leather jacket was
slung over one shoulder, the bottle of wine under his arm. She turned back
to look at her reflection in the mirror. Her jeans were new, the creases
still blatantly obvious, the fabric stiff. Small gemstones glittered on the
back pockets and across the stitching on her hips. Her sweater was a dark
burgundy that clung to her curves and was soft to the touch. She fingered
the faux-gemstone design on the front. "I feel over dressed."

"Then change, Princess. I promise my dad will love you no matter
what you wear. Mom is already enamoured with you. I called to ask what
kind of casual dinner we were having and she just about talked my ear off
with Selenity this and Selenity that. Trust me, Selene, they're going to
love you if you show up in a paper bag."

She giggled, her eyes dancing. "Well, if you say so. Shall we?"

She didn't move as she walked towards him. "Are you going to leave
your hair as it is?"

"Would you prefer I cut it for the evening?"

"Well, I'd rather not bring attention to Drew's folks unless
absolutely necessary."

"And the limo parked in front of their house yesterday wasn't obvious
enough?"

Darien made a sound of disgust, "I'd forgotten how we got there."

Selenity simply took the win from him and hooked her hand through his
arm, "Well then, let's go visit your parents, shall we?"

Figuring he'd get nowhere fast if he continued the argument, Darien
let it drop and escorted her out of the house and to his car.


"Dare, Selene!" Andrew opened the door to his parent's house before
they could knock, his smile warm as they stepped inside, "I'm so glad the
both of you could come. Being stuck in this house with just dad against
Rita and mom is terrible!"

"They have you doing the table again, huh?"

Andrew made a face, "I hate setting the table."

"I've never set one, is it hard?"

Andrew's mouth dropped open as he looked at Selenity.

Darien chuckled, "Well, it's not hard, but it takes time. Drew can
show you how if you like."

She nodded eagerly, "Oh yes, I'd like that very much."

The three of them walked through the house, though a homey kitchen
and into the back yard. Darien's parents looked up from the barbecue and
headed over as Drew deserted them to go join Rita by a large pool. Selenity
glanced at Darien as if to ask why he hadn't mentioned the pool, but turned
a warm smile on his parents. Bill smiled as he approached and took both of
her hands in his own, kissing the back of both, "Princess Selenity, you are
more breathtaking in person. Welcome to our home. And before you start
calling me anything, please, call me Bill."

She blushed delicately. So this is where Andrew and Darien had
picked up their manners. "Thank you, Bill. You have a lovely home."

He shrugged, "We make do." He turned to Darien and accepted the
bottle of wine and left after giving his son a slap on the back.

Mae enfolded Selenity in a hug, "Welcome back, dear. You look
absolutely lovely."

Selenity returned the hug, "I'm afraid I've never been to a casual
barbecue."

Mae smiled, "Relax, honey. Just enjoy yourself."

Selenity returned the smile as Mae turned to her son, "And just where
are my roses young man?"

Darien blinked, "Damn, I knew I forgot something."

Bill laughed, "Better run, son."

Darien reached behind him and pulled a half dozen roses from behind
his back, "Oh, wait, I've got six, will that do?"

Mae swatted him on the arm and accepted the bouquet of red roses.

Darien winked at Selenity, "Jeans that have back pockets have their
uses."

She laughed as he escorted her towards Drew and Rita while his mother
went to find a vase to put the roses in. Rita stood and hugged the younger
woman, "You look amazing in that outfit, Selene. Certainly looks better on
you than it did on the rack."

She grinned as she sat across from Rita, Darien sitting beside her
after claiming a hug from the red head. "Well, I like it, the jeans are a
bit uncomfortable though."

"They just need to be broken in; either that or washed,"

"I washed them once already before I wore them, they're not dirty."

Drew chuckled, "Rita means washing them to take the stiffness out of
the fabric, not because they're dirty."

"Oh."

"So, what did Amy find, are you two going to be allowed to get
married afterall?" Rita asked, looking from one to the other.

"I'm not pregnant, Rita."

She squealed, hugging Selenity fiercely, "That's wonderful! So when
can we expect a wedding?"

Selenity looked at Darien. "A date hasn't been set yet, there are a
couple of complications that have to be cleared up first."

"What kinds of complications?"

Darien swallowed, "The circumstances surrounding my adoption, Drew.
It's been put forward I might be the younger brother of Selenity's old
betrothed. We had some blood samples taken to be tested. We should know in
a week."

Drew blinked, "You might be related to him? Wow, my brother is
royalty!"

"Noble, not royal," Selenity corrected, "and it's not for certain
yet. We need the tests results."

"The other half of this is that Selenity is technically still
betrothed to the Duke in the eyes of the press and the people so we've got
to hold a press conference telling of the broken betrothal and her
engagement to me."

Rita and Drew nodded, "Makes sense, pal. But you two will be allowed
to announce it?"

"The blood test results will tell us whether or not we'll be allowed
to. Selenity's father has told me we're not to do anything rash. If I am
indeed nobility he'll allow our wedding to proceed as quickly as we like.
If it's proved that everything is simply circumstance, and I'm some
commoner," he rolled his eyes, "I've got to prove my studies won't interfere
with the Princess and her royal duties."

Selenity rolled her eyes, "He won't let me just give up the throne.
If he's not noble, I might have to."

Rita squeezed her hands, "Relax you two. We appreciate you being
straight with us, but this is supposed to be a day for relaxing and
enjoyment. So what have you two got planned for this week?"

Darien shrugged, "Selenity has her schedule, I have mine. I still
have classes to attend."

"And I have a dozen press conferences and talk shows to do," she made
a face, "This broken betrothal is going to be headline news, I don't want
Darien, or you two, around me much for this next week. I really don't want
you guys to be harassed."

"We can take care of ourselves, Princess," Darien told her smiling,
"Besides, I want to see you, even if I do get hassled. It's worth it."

Drew and Rita seconded that sentiment as Bill called from the grill
asking how everyone wanted their steaks. Laughter abounded in the backyard
as everyone was settled with a drink and good-natured jokes were shared.
Mae joined the four young people and teased them mercilessly about their
relationships and the upcoming weddings. By unspoken agreement, none of
them mentioned the circumstances surrounding Selenity and Darien's impending
wedding.

Rita talked about the honeymoon she and Drew were planning and
mentioned the possibility of having a double wedding. Selenity shook her
head regrettably and proceeded to tell them about the rituals she and Darien
would have to perform to be married in the eyes of the nobility. She spoke
at length and continued to speak even when dinner was served.

For the next few hours she fielded their questions and comments with
ease. Darien couldn't help feeling a little daunted, but immensely proud,
of his Princess. When she was finished, and night was falling, they
gathered on the patio to look at the stars. Selenity proceeded to identify
each star, or constellation, and drew incredulous looks from Bill and Mae.

"Certainly puts the dumb blonde theory to shame."

Selenity grinned, "Now, now, Bill, you of all people should know
blondes are just as intelligent as anyone. We're just under rated."

He chuckled and nodded, looking back to the stars. For the next
several minutes they were silent and Darien finally sighed, checking his
watch, "I hate to do this, but Selenity has to be home shortly."

"Already?" Andrew glanced at his watch, "It's not even midnight yet."

Darien shrugged. "Charles and her father are very protective of her.
Besides, I gave Charles my word I'd have her home at a decent hour."

Rita laughed, "Midnight is decent?"

"Of course, Rita, dear," Mae told her grinning, "Midnight is when
people older than 17 and younger than 70 think is a good time to think about
heading home. Darien is just being responsible. As always."

Selenity giggled, "He just wants to be rid of me."

She shrieked as he grabbed her and dipped her back over his arm,
looking into her eyes with a soft smile, "Never, Princess."

"Never?"

He nodded and gently kissed her forehead before letting her back up.
The soft smiles of their audience made them both grin as she was tucked
into his side. "Darien's right, I really have to be getting home. I had a
lovely time tonight, though. Thank you so much for inviting me."

Mae tugged her free from Darien's grip and hugged her, "You're
welcome anytime, dear. We're glad you could make it."

Bill nodded, "Come back soon, Selenity."

She surprised everyone by enfolding Bill in a quick hug. "Thank
you."

Darien hugged his parents before steering Selentiy out of the house
and escorted her to the car. His eyes darted left and right as he looked
for press.

"Relax, Darien, Daddy had some words with the press here in town.
Apparently they're being appeased with the press conference tomorrow. The
condition is that none of us get hassled."

He chuckled as he opened the door for her. She slid into the
passenger seat as he went around and slid into the driver's side. "Don't
take this wrong, but could we not get in a car accident this time on our way
back to my house?"

He chuckled, leaning over to gently cup her face, "I promise. No
accidents. You look so beautiful, have I told you that tonight?"

She smiled at him, "No. Not-"

She was cut off as he gently kissed her, making her sigh. He pulled
back as her hands began to creep up his chest. "You look gorgeous,
Princess." he reached over her shoulder and buckled her in before doing his
own and starting the car.

She stared at him, speechless, as he drove through Tokyo back towards
her home. They were pulling into the drive way when she finally found her
voice again. "Breaking your promise again, Darien?"

He smiled a heart melting half-smile at her, "Keeping one. Good
night, Selenity. Let me know how the press conference goes tomorrow."

She nodded and got out of the car, "Good night, my love."

She closed the door behind her and walked towards her front door.
Her emotions were mixed about the kisses they'd shared. She wanted more,
most asuredly, but why did she feel like she shouldn't be kissing him just
yet? Was there something in her mind that had to be dealt with before she
could kiss him guilt-free? She sighed and stepped into her house. Her
thoughts could wait until after the press conference. For now, she needed
her sleep and needed to harden her resolve for facing her worst enemy;
Martin.


Author's Note: Comments, Questions, Suggestions, flames... all go to

Jademax@hotmail.com

Unless of course you'd like to write a review!

Thanks for reading!

Jade_Max