Serenity woke up the next morning to the sunlight barely shining through
the bedroom curtains, smiling and stretching her arms above her. Seto was
not beside her, but that was okay. It gave her time to think about
everything that happened to her since she and her brother had decided to
reunite.
She had never expected to meet a young, handsome romantic billionaire as a volunteer at the learning center, nor had she expected to fall in love with him. It would be too easy to become accustomed to living this kind of lifestyle, and have Seto's adoration and Mokuba's sweetness to go along with it. She loved the brothers very much, adored the black haired teen and his kind other brother.
Yet it pained her greatly knowing that she had hurt Tristen by coming here with Seto. She had done nothing but treat him badly from the beginning and he had never deserved any of it. He was her brother's best friend and had practically been family for years. She had let him kiss her on their picnic, knowing that she was with Seto, but she could not resist how endearing he was with her. They had only spent a few days together, but she felt as though they had known each other forever. I am so sorry, Tristen, she thought at the verge of tears, I never meant to hurt you. She sat up in bed as she heard a few of Seto's servents just outside the bedroom door, talking amongst themselves.
"Has Master Seto returned yet?" one asked.
"No. He has left instructions with us to obey any commands his female companion issues once she wakes up." another said.
"She's very pretty, isn't she? I guess he was right when he said that getting involved with her learning center would be good for his public image." the first said.
"I kinda feel sorry for the girl. She's falling for a guy who showers her with gifts and takes her to bed just to insure she helps him look better in the public eye." the second said.
"That can't be true. I've seen them together; he acts like he actually cares about her." the first said.
"Don't be fooled. The only thing Seto Kaiba cares about is his brother and Kaiba Corp. He has no room in his life for some woman, I've heard him say that more than once before. All he wants her for is to improve his public standing." the second said.
"Master Seto has returned. Let's get to work." the first said.
Serenity sat bolt upright in bed, shaking from what she had just overheard. This couldn't really be true, she thought, he couldn't be just using me to make himself look better. She contemplated this thought for a moment as she got dressed. Considering that hsi servents were closer to him than anyone, she couldn't imagine why they would lie about something that important. It made sense for him as a businessman to date pretty young girls to boost his public image, but she did not want to be among those women.
She wanted him to honestly love her, just like he had led her to believe he did. I am so confused, she thought. Does he really love me or is he just using me, she wondered. She knew Tristen's feelings had been sincere right from the bat, even without being able to see him completely. She could feel it in his touch, in his kiss, in everything about him...she hated feeling this way. She had thought coming here would ease her confusion, but being with Seto had only made it worse.
Seto walked in with concern in his eyes as he saw her crying on the bed.
"Serenity sweetheart, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" he asked her.
"Seto...it's just that I've been doing some thinking. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you." she said.
He smiled at her with softened eyes. "It's okay. I've been doing some thinking too, about you and I, Serenity." he said.
She looked up into his eyes. "You have?" she asked.
"Yes. I've been thinking about how lonely I have been all my life, just having my younger brother for companionship. I have depended on him for far too long for that, waiting to meet the woman who I could love with all my heart. That person is you, Serenity." he told her.
"Seto...you love me?" she gasped.
Seto chuckled and took her hands in his. "Of course I do! I told you so last night and I meant every word of it. Ever since the day I met you, somehow I knew from that moment that you were the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with." he said.
He pulled his late stepmother's wedding ring out of his pocket and showed it to her.
"Serenity...I love you and I would be honored if you would be my wife." he said.
Serenity was speechless as she stared at the stunning diamond ring and at the man that held it. As much as she wanted to throw herself into his arms and accept, something was holding her back...
"Oh Seto...I love you too, but I can't acceot your ring. I'm sorry." she said.
"Why not? Is it too soon? I'm sorry. I should have waited. I've never done anything like this before; I just knew I wanted to be with you, Serenity." he told her.
"I love you and your brother very much, Seto, and I would love to be a part of your family. The two of you mean everything to me. It's not too soon. It's just that...I'm in love with someone else." she told him.
The couple sat silently for a moment as they stared down at their hands, him moving his to put his ring back in his pocket.
"I am so sorry, Serenity. It was thoughtless of me to make you feel more confused when you had feelings for both of us. As much as I love you, the most important thing to me is that you are happy. That means more than you and I being together if it is him that you really want to be with." Seto said.
"I am so sorry, Seto. I thought I was sure and that was unfair of me. I don't deserve to be with either of you." she said.
Seto smiled and kissed her cheek. "That's where you are wrong. Tristen is a very lucky man to have your love. I'm sure he will treat you with the love and respect you deserve. As long as you promise that Mokuba and I will always be in your heart, then I will not regret letting you go." Seto said.
"I could never stop loving you or Mokuba ever! I love the two of you so very much...thank you, Seto."
Seto embraced her, her returning his embrace, stroking his soft adburn hair. She would never regret meeting Seto Kaiba or his brother, the two teens meant the world to her and that would never change...
"You never learn, do you? Kentaro is going to kick your ass when he finds out." Tristen told Joey.
"Blah blah blah...jeez, who asked you? I didn't put a fight when you declined to get high with me. Like Serenity says, get over it already!" Joey told him.
The two teens were sitting in Joey's bedroom, studying for the next day's school exams, Tristen frowning at his friend for partaking in one of Joey's favorite habits while his father was gone.
At the mention of Serenity's name, Tristen's attention was instantly gotten, his thoughts strictly on her. She would be returning soon from her trip, and he would probably never see her again. He was sure that she and Seto had gotten very serious while she was away, and he knew that Joey would break the news to him gently. I have no regrets, he thoughts, as long as he knew that she was happy. He knew he would eventually get over his feelings for her, and find someone else to love the way he did her.
"Joey Wheeler, I swear you are hopeless." a voice said.
The two friends looked up to greet their visitor, Tristen standing, Joey putting out his cigerette.
"Serenity! You're back...welcome home, little sister." Joey said.
"Thank you, Joey. Hello Tristen." she said.
Tristen's heart felt like it skipped a beat as he looked upon his best friend's sister. She looked as wonderful as always and even more so in his eyes.
"How did you know it was me?" he asked her.
"You look just like you described yourself to me, only I think you look nicer than you said you were. I actually came over to talk to you, Tristen." she said.
"Hey! What am I over here, chopped liver?" Joey snorted.
Serenity giggled. "I'll visit with you in a minute, big brother. I need to talk to Tristen first." she said.
Tristen followed her over to her father's living room, the two of them sitting down together on Kentaro's taped up leather couch. Grimacing at the metallic tape that held it together, Tristen could see why Serenity would want to escape from this lifestyle. She wanted her and Joey out of this kind of atmosphere, and Seto could more than provide it for her. He sighed, thinking of this, as he prepared himself for what she had to say.
"I see you got your bandages off. The operations was a success, I take it." Tristen said.
"Yes. I could barely see you before we were introduced, but I can see everything now! I am so grateful to be able to see." she said.
"I'm glad for you too, Serenity, now you'll be able to see the sun rise and set everyday." he said.
"Yes. It was because of your words that I was able to go through with the operation, remembering what you had described to me. I never thanked you for that." she said.
Tristen blushed. "You don't have to. I enjoyed sharing those moments with you." he said.
"I did too, Tristen. I came here today to tell you that I took the trip to Las Vegas with Seto this weekend." she said.
"Yes. Your mother told me." he said.
"Well, while we were there, Seto proposed to me." she said.
There was an awkward moment of silence between them before Tristen cleared his throat to speak again.
"I thought that might happen. What did you say to him?" he asked.
"I turned him down." she said.
Tristen's eyes widened; this was a surprise. 'You did? Why did you do that?" he asked.
Serenity looked up into Tristen's eyes. "I told him I was in love with someone else." she said.
"Serenity...I don't know what to say. Do I know this guy you're in love with?" he asked.
She smiled. "Possibly. He's a young guy, tall, dark and handsome, and he has never been anything kind to me. I knew for sure that I loved him when I doubted everythign about my existance except for his feelings for me. That's when I knew for sure." she told him.
"I don't know what to say, Serenity. I had no idea." he said.
"Yuo had no idea that I shared the feelings that you feel for me, Tristen? That man that stole my heart was you." she told him.
His eyes widened with surprise as he turned to look into her eyes.
"It's me you love, Serenity? I...I can't believe this! Really?" he asked.
She smiled at him, smacking him in the arm. "Yes, really! I love you, Tristen." she told him.
He smiled at her too, rubbing his arm where she had smacked him. "I love you too, Serenity." he said.
The couple threw themselves into each other's embrace, coming together to share a tender, passionate kiss. This was the kiss that she remembered, like the one they had shared on their picnic. He kissed so differently from Seto, who believed in deep, sensual kisses, but Tristen's kisses were wonderful in their own way.
She loved the feeling of his lips against hers, hesistant and a little unsure of himself, but still very nice. Parting from the kiss, she rested her head on Tristen's shoulder as he held her in his arms. Waving at her brother Joey, who was smiling at them from his bedroom window, Serenity sighed happily. She knew now for sure that this was where she wanted to be, in Tristen's arms, to be loved by the one that she loved most.
THE END
Author's note-I know there are many of you out there that loved this ending and even more that didn't, but I planned all along for her to end up with Tristen. This story already has it's sequel posted on the site if anyone wants to read it under my same pen name called Crowd Of Stars! Thanks to all that have reviewed and I welcome all future reviews and emails from all of you! thank you! Charlottlette
She had never expected to meet a young, handsome romantic billionaire as a volunteer at the learning center, nor had she expected to fall in love with him. It would be too easy to become accustomed to living this kind of lifestyle, and have Seto's adoration and Mokuba's sweetness to go along with it. She loved the brothers very much, adored the black haired teen and his kind other brother.
Yet it pained her greatly knowing that she had hurt Tristen by coming here with Seto. She had done nothing but treat him badly from the beginning and he had never deserved any of it. He was her brother's best friend and had practically been family for years. She had let him kiss her on their picnic, knowing that she was with Seto, but she could not resist how endearing he was with her. They had only spent a few days together, but she felt as though they had known each other forever. I am so sorry, Tristen, she thought at the verge of tears, I never meant to hurt you. She sat up in bed as she heard a few of Seto's servents just outside the bedroom door, talking amongst themselves.
"Has Master Seto returned yet?" one asked.
"No. He has left instructions with us to obey any commands his female companion issues once she wakes up." another said.
"She's very pretty, isn't she? I guess he was right when he said that getting involved with her learning center would be good for his public image." the first said.
"I kinda feel sorry for the girl. She's falling for a guy who showers her with gifts and takes her to bed just to insure she helps him look better in the public eye." the second said.
"That can't be true. I've seen them together; he acts like he actually cares about her." the first said.
"Don't be fooled. The only thing Seto Kaiba cares about is his brother and Kaiba Corp. He has no room in his life for some woman, I've heard him say that more than once before. All he wants her for is to improve his public standing." the second said.
"Master Seto has returned. Let's get to work." the first said.
Serenity sat bolt upright in bed, shaking from what she had just overheard. This couldn't really be true, she thought, he couldn't be just using me to make himself look better. She contemplated this thought for a moment as she got dressed. Considering that hsi servents were closer to him than anyone, she couldn't imagine why they would lie about something that important. It made sense for him as a businessman to date pretty young girls to boost his public image, but she did not want to be among those women.
She wanted him to honestly love her, just like he had led her to believe he did. I am so confused, she thought. Does he really love me or is he just using me, she wondered. She knew Tristen's feelings had been sincere right from the bat, even without being able to see him completely. She could feel it in his touch, in his kiss, in everything about him...she hated feeling this way. She had thought coming here would ease her confusion, but being with Seto had only made it worse.
Seto walked in with concern in his eyes as he saw her crying on the bed.
"Serenity sweetheart, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" he asked her.
"Seto...it's just that I've been doing some thinking. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you." she said.
He smiled at her with softened eyes. "It's okay. I've been doing some thinking too, about you and I, Serenity." he said.
She looked up into his eyes. "You have?" she asked.
"Yes. I've been thinking about how lonely I have been all my life, just having my younger brother for companionship. I have depended on him for far too long for that, waiting to meet the woman who I could love with all my heart. That person is you, Serenity." he told her.
"Seto...you love me?" she gasped.
Seto chuckled and took her hands in his. "Of course I do! I told you so last night and I meant every word of it. Ever since the day I met you, somehow I knew from that moment that you were the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with." he said.
He pulled his late stepmother's wedding ring out of his pocket and showed it to her.
"Serenity...I love you and I would be honored if you would be my wife." he said.
Serenity was speechless as she stared at the stunning diamond ring and at the man that held it. As much as she wanted to throw herself into his arms and accept, something was holding her back...
"Oh Seto...I love you too, but I can't acceot your ring. I'm sorry." she said.
"Why not? Is it too soon? I'm sorry. I should have waited. I've never done anything like this before; I just knew I wanted to be with you, Serenity." he told her.
"I love you and your brother very much, Seto, and I would love to be a part of your family. The two of you mean everything to me. It's not too soon. It's just that...I'm in love with someone else." she told him.
The couple sat silently for a moment as they stared down at their hands, him moving his to put his ring back in his pocket.
"I am so sorry, Serenity. It was thoughtless of me to make you feel more confused when you had feelings for both of us. As much as I love you, the most important thing to me is that you are happy. That means more than you and I being together if it is him that you really want to be with." Seto said.
"I am so sorry, Seto. I thought I was sure and that was unfair of me. I don't deserve to be with either of you." she said.
Seto smiled and kissed her cheek. "That's where you are wrong. Tristen is a very lucky man to have your love. I'm sure he will treat you with the love and respect you deserve. As long as you promise that Mokuba and I will always be in your heart, then I will not regret letting you go." Seto said.
"I could never stop loving you or Mokuba ever! I love the two of you so very much...thank you, Seto."
Seto embraced her, her returning his embrace, stroking his soft adburn hair. She would never regret meeting Seto Kaiba or his brother, the two teens meant the world to her and that would never change...
"You never learn, do you? Kentaro is going to kick your ass when he finds out." Tristen told Joey.
"Blah blah blah...jeez, who asked you? I didn't put a fight when you declined to get high with me. Like Serenity says, get over it already!" Joey told him.
The two teens were sitting in Joey's bedroom, studying for the next day's school exams, Tristen frowning at his friend for partaking in one of Joey's favorite habits while his father was gone.
At the mention of Serenity's name, Tristen's attention was instantly gotten, his thoughts strictly on her. She would be returning soon from her trip, and he would probably never see her again. He was sure that she and Seto had gotten very serious while she was away, and he knew that Joey would break the news to him gently. I have no regrets, he thoughts, as long as he knew that she was happy. He knew he would eventually get over his feelings for her, and find someone else to love the way he did her.
"Joey Wheeler, I swear you are hopeless." a voice said.
The two friends looked up to greet their visitor, Tristen standing, Joey putting out his cigerette.
"Serenity! You're back...welcome home, little sister." Joey said.
"Thank you, Joey. Hello Tristen." she said.
Tristen's heart felt like it skipped a beat as he looked upon his best friend's sister. She looked as wonderful as always and even more so in his eyes.
"How did you know it was me?" he asked her.
"You look just like you described yourself to me, only I think you look nicer than you said you were. I actually came over to talk to you, Tristen." she said.
"Hey! What am I over here, chopped liver?" Joey snorted.
Serenity giggled. "I'll visit with you in a minute, big brother. I need to talk to Tristen first." she said.
Tristen followed her over to her father's living room, the two of them sitting down together on Kentaro's taped up leather couch. Grimacing at the metallic tape that held it together, Tristen could see why Serenity would want to escape from this lifestyle. She wanted her and Joey out of this kind of atmosphere, and Seto could more than provide it for her. He sighed, thinking of this, as he prepared himself for what she had to say.
"I see you got your bandages off. The operations was a success, I take it." Tristen said.
"Yes. I could barely see you before we were introduced, but I can see everything now! I am so grateful to be able to see." she said.
"I'm glad for you too, Serenity, now you'll be able to see the sun rise and set everyday." he said.
"Yes. It was because of your words that I was able to go through with the operation, remembering what you had described to me. I never thanked you for that." she said.
Tristen blushed. "You don't have to. I enjoyed sharing those moments with you." he said.
"I did too, Tristen. I came here today to tell you that I took the trip to Las Vegas with Seto this weekend." she said.
"Yes. Your mother told me." he said.
"Well, while we were there, Seto proposed to me." she said.
There was an awkward moment of silence between them before Tristen cleared his throat to speak again.
"I thought that might happen. What did you say to him?" he asked.
"I turned him down." she said.
Tristen's eyes widened; this was a surprise. 'You did? Why did you do that?" he asked.
Serenity looked up into Tristen's eyes. "I told him I was in love with someone else." she said.
"Serenity...I don't know what to say. Do I know this guy you're in love with?" he asked.
She smiled. "Possibly. He's a young guy, tall, dark and handsome, and he has never been anything kind to me. I knew for sure that I loved him when I doubted everythign about my existance except for his feelings for me. That's when I knew for sure." she told him.
"I don't know what to say, Serenity. I had no idea." he said.
"Yuo had no idea that I shared the feelings that you feel for me, Tristen? That man that stole my heart was you." she told him.
His eyes widened with surprise as he turned to look into her eyes.
"It's me you love, Serenity? I...I can't believe this! Really?" he asked.
She smiled at him, smacking him in the arm. "Yes, really! I love you, Tristen." she told him.
He smiled at her too, rubbing his arm where she had smacked him. "I love you too, Serenity." he said.
The couple threw themselves into each other's embrace, coming together to share a tender, passionate kiss. This was the kiss that she remembered, like the one they had shared on their picnic. He kissed so differently from Seto, who believed in deep, sensual kisses, but Tristen's kisses were wonderful in their own way.
She loved the feeling of his lips against hers, hesistant and a little unsure of himself, but still very nice. Parting from the kiss, she rested her head on Tristen's shoulder as he held her in his arms. Waving at her brother Joey, who was smiling at them from his bedroom window, Serenity sighed happily. She knew now for sure that this was where she wanted to be, in Tristen's arms, to be loved by the one that she loved most.
THE END
Author's note-I know there are many of you out there that loved this ending and even more that didn't, but I planned all along for her to end up with Tristen. This story already has it's sequel posted on the site if anyone wants to read it under my same pen name called Crowd Of Stars! Thanks to all that have reviewed and I welcome all future reviews and emails from all of you! thank you! Charlottlette