Chapter Fifteen: Poe Fairy Tale Theory

*Serena sat at her desk, restless. The day had been a nightmare from hell so far, and she could hardly wait to see what per-chance would arise next. She knew that at five thirty, when Relena would begin to get ready to leave for the night, Hiiro was going to break the news to her. She hadn't really wanted to be there to watch Relena's eyes fall and the tears begin to pour… God! It was like she was betraying her brother… She let out a strangled sob.

"You alright?" Hiiro looked up from his post in the doorway of Relena's office, a slight tinge of worry written in his eyes.

"Fine." She choked. This was the absolute worst day of her life. Looking around her desk, she sighed with a strained tone and flipped through a few papers. They were all filled out. Everyone of them, not a signature or date missing. Even the penmanship was perfect- the elegant curves, loops and dips of the script were all in place, all the t's crossed and i's dotted. She had done all of the paper work up until next week already, and she had nothing else to do.

Usually she would make herself busy, re-checking Relena's schedule, or sorting files, or alphabetizing, but right now… she felt like crawling up into herself and dying. Life was so unfair sometimes. It punished unabashedly and indiscriminately. Well, those were the rules.

In her mind, life was like a fairy tale. It really was. An Edgar Allen Poe fairy tale. There were simple rules all must follow in order to keep reasonably safe, the first of which being stick to tradition, ignore all sense of reason, because, as everyone found out sooner or later, tradition always gets it's way, and reason always ends up dead. Like her brother: dead.

The second rule was don't ever toy with or insult the fairy princess. Those who did always got their just desserts- and they usually included a chocolate covered death. And she was about to insult Relena- oh this was going very well!

The third rule of a fairy tale, nothing is ever as it seems, was one of her personal favorites. Everything always had a deeper meaning, regardless of what it was originally intended to mean. Like Hiiro's eyes… so much more depth than she had ever imagined…

The final rule of life's fairy tale, naturally, time does not stop for anyone, and you can never punish without impunity. Impunity… funny word.

She laughed at her own thoughts. Impunity! It was right up there with kumquat and duckies! She was losing it! What did impunity mean anyway? Well, she could at least do that. Reaching over herself, she pulled the dictionary on her computer up and typed in the word. Impunity: The ability to commit a crime, usually murder, and escape without punishment. She laughed.

There was no such thing as impunity.

As her mind twisted over her current situation, she thought of something else. Engagement. She was engaged. Certainly never how she had expected it to happen. She had wanted a knight in shining armor to come and carry her off into the sunset, sweep her off her feet and dazzle her with his wit and caring, or solve world problems and dedicate them to her, or… do something gallant! Engagement… Noun, verb: to engage. 1) An agreement to get married. 2) An arrangement to be present at an event, especially a business or social appointment. 3) A battle or other military conflict involving military forces. All three of them sounded like her position. She was definitely engaged to get married. It was also a business arrangement made by their parents, and as for military conflict? Her verbal war with Hiiro was the very definition of conflict.

"Serena?" The deep voice melted her thoughts and her brain became mush. Why the hell did that have to happen each time he spoke? It drove her mad, really it did. She put her guard up, hoping he wouldn't notice her weakness.

"What?" She snipped. Hiiro backed away and she recoiled.

"It's five thirty." She gasped, and he nodded at her reaction. "We need to tell her."

"She'll never trust me again." Serena moaned. Hiiro had been watching the woman struggle with herself since they had returned to the building after lunch. Since then she had completed more paperwork than he had thought humanly possible, as well as stared at her desk for an equal amount of time. He could see she was in deep thought, but it was rather funny to watch her.

Occasionally she would frown, and he could see a tear well up in her eye, only to be withheld and blinked away seconds later. Then she would smile sadly, or even smirk, before allowing her face to fall. He could literally trace the emotions she was going through by studying her facial expressions. But what he could not tell was what she was thinking about when the emotions changed. It was entirely impossible to discern her true thoughts, though he wished more than anything he could. Even the slightest bit of insight into her shielded mind would help him…

"Hnn." He couldn't let her see his weakness.

"You are a horrible, mindless, heartless creature! I don't see how she ever could have loved you! You never speak! With you it's either silence, or grunting and one-word answers! You drive me crazy!"

"Sorry."

"You aren't, so don't pretend to be! I hate that word, sorry!"

"Hnn."

"You're impossible!" Serena threw her hands into the air frustrated.

"And you're not?" He whispered. She caught the general jist of what he said, and was about to lay into him and chew him out for it when Relena knocked on her office door to get their attention.

"Really? If you two are going to be such children, I don't see how you'll ever survive a marriage! The very thought scares me!" She shuddered looking at them. Hiiro and Serena stopped and stared.

"You knew?" Hiiro clipped, unsure of what to say.

"The day after you got back, I received an email from Une. She and J had had an interesting discussion that she wanted me to hear. She didn't know at the time that we had already, well, ended our relationship. She wanted to save me the heartbreak in front of you, Hiiro, and the task of you both having to tell me."

"You've known all this time?" Serena's hot eyes fell to the ground in shame. "Oh Relena, I'm so sorry! I had no idea, and I promised my Mother, and what with her death…"

"Serena, it's alright. Really." Relena smiled weakly. "I…" She took a deep breath. "I know you had nothing to do with this. I know both of you had nothing to do with this, but well, what's done is done. Hiiro, what I said before still hold true. We've become different people you and I. You've gained a dry sense of humor, an identity of your own, a humanity. I realize now, knowing that both of you are supposed to marry, that you aren't the one I need anymore either.

"I used to depend on your strength. I needed it, needed you to hold onto and wish for, but when all is said and done, I needed it, I don't need it. Past tense. Hiiro," Relena paused and breathed deeply again. "You are not the only one who is ready to move on. I am too, your arranged marriage just made that clear to me.

"And Serena." Relena turned to face the blonde pixie woman-child in front of her. "Serena, it was funny. After your parents came by that day, and you were so worried about whether or not to tell them yes… I knew in my heart you would say yes, if only to make them happy. But then I found out the next day that you were supposed to marry Hiiro, and my heart stopped. I was so jealous Serena."

"Relena, I'm so sorry!" Serena sobbed quietly, her voice raspy and uneven.

"No, don't interrupt. Let me finish." Relena commanded gently. She heaved a sigh. But this all had to come out now, before it did any more damage to anyone. "I was so jealous. And then your parents and the crash… I realized something. You need Hiiro. No, don't look so shocked and disgusted!" Relena laughed despite herself at Serena's facial expression. "You do! You need him the way I needed him. And he could use you too. Both of you are so much fun to listen to that I should set up a ring and start selling tickets to the secretaries to come watch you two verbally spar it out!

"My point is, somewhere along the way I lost my jealousy and started thinking, it's a good thing for both of you. It's ok. Hiiro, Serena, by all means, get married."

"Relena," Hiiro began. But he stopped, unsure of what to say. But Serena knew.

"Oh Relena! As much as I hate this marriage, I love you!" She cried, throwing herself into the older woman's arms and hugging her tightly. Relena hugged back just as tight, truly happy and free for the first time since she was fourteen years old.

"Oh Serena!" Relena sighed laughing. They pulled apart, still wiping tears from their cheeks and eyes.

"This has been such a terrible day." Serena smiled and cried.

"I know Serena. I know." Relena looked much the same way. Hiiro shuddered.

"Women." He balked out loud. "Sentimental, the lot of them." But both women could see the humor hidden in his eyes.

"Not all women are sentimental." Serena glared lightly. But she couldn't look too mean with the tears in her eyes and the smile still gracing her rouge stained lips.

"Yes, they are." Hiiro confirmed with a slight nod. At that moment, Mina came bounding into the room.

"Hello all! I was wondering where you all were since no one came down to say good night to me and it's nearly six thirty… are you crying?" Her pale blue eyes widened. "Oh! I want to cry too!" Her eyes were already tearing up. "What's gone wrong girls?" She sniffled.

"Not all are sentimental? I rest my case." Hiiro smirked. Relena laughed and Serena growled.

"Mina is a special case." Serena smirked, Relena laughed, and Hiiro frowned.

"Why are we crying?" Mina asked, still teary eyed and unsure of what the last comment had been about.

"Relena gave her blessings for Serena and I to get married." Hiiro scoffed.

"Get married!" She screeched. "I knew it! I knew you two were in love! I could smell it a mile away!" She ranted.

"Mina, I promised my Mother I would, and Hiiro promised his father. That's our only reasoning." Serena told her, stiff as a board.

"Oh." Mina's mood dipped for a moment, then went back up. "You're getting married! Oh, this is wonderful! Oh Serena! Now you get to pick out a dress, and bridesmaids… oh Sere!"

"Yeah…" Serena's eyes became wistful. "A wedding dress." Hiiro's eyes widened. She looked content thinking about their marriage for a change. It was beautiful.

"Sere, you've always wanted to be a bride…" Mina breathed. She had always wanted to be a bride? Hiiro smiled slightly. Dreams, hopes, wishes and aspirations…

"Relena? Mina? Would you be bridesmaids?" Serena asked, hopeful.

"Oh my God yes!" Mina hugged her hard. Relena smiled and laughed.

"I would be honored to Serena."

"Good." The short blonde nodded. "But no Maid of Honor, I'm not picking between you two!" The three women laughed, and Hiiro blinked. What was a bridesmaid? He knew what a wedding was, he didn't know how it actually went or who and what was involved! It looked like he would be online all night learning all he could.

"Hiiro, who are you going to have be your ushers?" Mina asked excitedly. Hiiro blinked again. He didn't know what the ushers were.

"The others Hiiro?" Relena suggested after a few moments of silence.

"Quatre, Trowa, Wufei, and Duo." Hiiro supplied with ease.

"Four? I need two more bridesmaids…" Serena frowned.

"Sally Po and Wufei are dating Serena." Relena told her with a gentle smile. "They've been together for a while, and Wufei won't do it without Sally." Serena smiled at the thought.

"I didn't know Sally was seeing anyone! But I love her dearly, and if she's dating someone Hiiro knows… One more… Ami! I know we haven't seen her in two years, but we both still keep in touch…"

"I talk to her too!" Mina laughed. "I can't believe it took us this long!"

"I can't believe we're doing this now!" Serena smiled nervously. Then she frowned. "Let's stop thinking about this."

"Why?" Mina asked.

"I'm tried." Was the only answer they received. Hiiro nodded.

"Need a ride?"

"I'll call a cab." She told him curtly. Wait! Hold up! Hiiro's mind rewound the last ten minutes. They had been talking about the wedding, the people and all, but now when it came time for her to spend fifteen minutes with him she couldn't handle it? He grunted loudly and snorted. Serena looked appalled. Good.

"Come on." He grabbed her hand. Keeping tight hold of it, he managed to grab his jacket and keys from behind his desk.

"Let go of me you caveman!" She struggled. Relena and Mina watched, half laughing, half concerned for their friends.

"They'll kill each other on the wedding night, not sleep together." Mina whispered to Relena.

"No, she'll severely maim him. I don't think Hiiro's got it in him to hit her." Relena whispered back. Mina sized Hiiro up.

"Yeah, you're right. Under that grunting macho attitude, I think he's a huge softy! Reminds me of the grumpy Carebear actually."

"Let me go!" They heard screaming as Hiiro dragged Serena down the hall. All the way out the door and to the bike Hiiro pulled her. Finally Hiiro had had enough. He let go of her hand, only to grab her by her waist and lift her onto the bike. He got on behind her and started the engine.

"Drive." He commanded.

"What?"

"Drive."

"I, I don't know how." She stammered, her screaming stopping. He smirked, then put the bike into reverse. It moved backwards on it's own, and she screamed. He managed to slam the brakes on for a moment.

"Steer it like you would a bike." He whispered in her ear, his low, deep voice rumbling on her back as the back rumbled beneath her. Shivers went up and down her spine, and Hiiro could see goose bumps appear in her bare arms. Then he smirked and let up on the brakes.

Serena gingerly touched the handles, barely steering it. She was so scared… he was crazy… this was not good. What did he expect her to do? Drive them home? She could barely get herself home. Surely he had to have a voice of reason somewhere buried…

Her own words echoed in her head: "ignore all sense of reason, because, as everyone found out sooner or later, tradition always gets it's way, and reason always ends up dead." She was being too reasonable, and if she didn't stop, she was going to suffer at the hand of tradition. So she let go. Or rather, she gripped the handlebars tighter and really looked at the controls. Like a car… And she put it into drive and managed to get out into the street.

Hiiro felt Serena relax suddenly, and saw her hands grip the bars tighter. She was learning. Good. She, though a little shaky, managed to get them onto the street and even stop at the stop sign on her own. But when he saw that she didn't know how to turn, he smirked.

"Leaning into the turn."

"But we'll flip!" She hissed.

"Not if you're going to right speed." And he took over from behind and speed the bike up, carefully cornering the turn. "Understand?"

"Yes." Serena nodded, knuckles white from holding on so tightly. Then she eased up and began steering again. This time Hiiro' hands, which hand been on the handlebars near own, fell to his sides and he grabbed onto her waist. Serena flushed brightly, but said nothing.

The next turn came, and she speed the bike up, just as Hiiro had done and leaned in tightly. She held her breathed and carefully executed the turn. Once they were done, and she had straightened the motorcycle out, she felt… indescribable! It was such a rush… like a brain-freeze, only all over her body. She had done it! She was driving a motorcycle! Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined she would learn to drive a motorcycle…the feeling was so incredible!

As they pulled up to their apartment buildings, Serena put the bike into park and waited for Hiiro to climb off from behind her. Then she jumped off quickly and stretched. She felt alive for the first time in so long…

"I did it… I really did it… I drove a motorcycle!" She cried out, opening her arms and staring up towards the heavens. The dark night sky stared back, the millions of tiny stars blinding her.

"You did well." Hiiro grunted, shattering the mood. She looked at him, still smiling. "Thank you!" Hiiro felt a faint heat creep to his cheeks. Never before had anyone made him feel so… hot and uncomfortable. Then, Serena blinked. Her smile fell, and her face became stoic. Hiiro frowned. He knew what was coming. She was like Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde- and her duality scared him, it really did.

"Thank you. Good night." She nodded curtly at him before running into her apartment building. Hiiro frowned. But he knew he was getting somewhere. Where, he wasn't sure. But he at least he wasn't in gridlock anymore! And the night became so much sweeter. *

~~~ Well, I do think the whole first part is a bunch of nonsense. But it's true! (I had an English final today, forgive my wordiness, it comes with preparation for the test) Anyway, I thought it was rather funny. If you've ever read "Hop-Frog", you'll understand completely!

** I have finally updated my site! I know that sound trivial, but I really re-vamped the whole thing! I'm looking for submissions too, so when you get the chance, email me and I'll check your fic out! I take pretty much everything, as long as I think it's up to par. Email me and let me know if you're interested in having your story posted! PLEAZE REVIEW! Much love, Vixen~~~