What If...?
Chapter 2
By: Jessica M. Moonflower
Disclaimer: Hmm...I have some loose change, bread two days old, and one sock, but no money to own the rights to Sailor Moon. Darn! ^^;;;
ANs: Happy holidays everyone! I'm back with another chapter of this story. Right now, I'm a little slow in writing new chapters for TBWH and LGAHOMH. Typing the finished chapters may take me FOREVER, but never fear, I will get them to you! ^_^ Bye for now, minna!
"While many a soul are unhappy with love, no one is ever happy without it." ~*Unknown~*
@~@~@~@~@~@~@~
No matter how hard he tried, Darien just couldn't get anymore work done. He felt guilty for how he and his wife ended their conversation on a bad note. How could he act so stupid for saying money was all that mattered to him when his family always came first and foremost in anything that he did!
Throwing his pen roughly on the desk and not nearly as focused on his work as he was before, he leaned back on his swivel chair and looked to the left of his desk where a wedding picture of him and Serena sat and right next to it, a picture of Juliette at six-months old.
He examined the wedding picture carefully and recalled how happy he and Serena were that day.
They had a beautiful church ceremony and reception afterwards. He remembered how they both danced to their wedding song, blissfully happy as they were now husband and wife.
Their wedding night was just as memorable as the wedding ceremony itself. He smiled slyly as he thought of that night and how little sleep they had, or better yet how they didn't even get out of their hotel room in Hawaii until noon.
He wanted so much for their first night of love making to be special and a night that neither of them would ever forget. To set the romantic mood he was aiming for, he had red and white rose petals littered all over the bed, scented candles lit all around the room, and several vases of red and white roses placed near the bed and on the tables. The bathroom was set up in a similar way to the bedroom except rose petals were littered in a bath tub full of water and candles were sitting on the ledge of the tub with scented bath oils beside them.
Serena was touched by the beautiful scene that it brought tears to her eyes. She never knew of a man that would go through all this trouble to make her happy and prove how much he loved her. But once they started making love, passions were ignited all throughout the night as they consummated their love. And with their intimate union, a beautiful girl was born.
Darien was jumping for joy when he became a father. Just like Serena, Juliette was a buoyant girl that was constantly filled with light and joy. The first time he held the gurgling baby in his arms, he knew right then and there that life couldn't be more perfect without his daughter and wife.
He used to come home early after work everyday just to play with his daughter for a while and then spend some time with Serena when Juliette was in bed. Life was simply flawless--until he merged with the Finchley's to boost up his fledgling and still flourishing advertising company. Since then, he had been working late nights at the office, going away on business trips, and spending minimal time with his family.
How he missed the little games he used to create with Juliette and sleeping beside his wife each night. Now, he rarely sleeps at home anymore and winds up sleeping at the office during one of his late nights.
'Serena was right', he thought to himself as he traced the picture of his family lightly with his fingertips. 'I have been neglecting them for far too long, but this project is very important to the company. Once I'm through with this, everything will turn back to normal, they'll see'.
Satisfied with his reasoning, he decided to step out for a moment to grab something to eat. He knew of this great twenty-four hour diner which was a twenty-minute drive away from here.
He reached the building's garage and got into his white Jaguar. He pulled out of the parking lot, intent on getting to the diner and filling his empty and grumbling stomach.
While driving along Madison Avenue, he observed how the streets were nearly deserted and somewhat dormant. He glanced at his designer Guess watch to check the time which was a little pass nine. It was odd since it never got this deserted around this time.
'It is Christmas Eve, Dare. Everybody is at home with their...family'.
He trailed off a bit on the last word as he realized that he was probably the only idiot not at home right now with his family on Christmas Eve.
'But I will be going home--just not right now'.
He was so deep in thought that he barely paid any attention to the road ahead of him as a young girl stood traumatized right in the middle of it. Darien looked up just in time to slam his foot on the pedal causing the car to come to a screeching halt.
He sat in the car for a few moments breathing heavily and blinking a few times. He shakily got out of his car, walking to where the girl was lying face down on the pavement and the headlights being the only thing illuminating her seemingly still body.
Darien prayed to God that the girl wasn't dead or he would never forgive himself. Just imagining her family's grief stricken faces when they find out that their little girl was hit by a car on Christmas Eve, of all times, tore his heart to shreds.
The girl looked to be about thirteen-years old, a person who hasn't yet lived her life to the fullest. Her auburn hair was damp and laid messily over her back and on the cold ground.
Shaking himself out of his daze, Darien bent down beside her and nervously yet gently turned her over. He observed that she had no cuts or bruises from the impact and was grateful for that. He took her wrist into his hands and checked for a pulse which was beating normally. He sighed in relief to know that she was still alive and well and must have passed out from shock and not because he hit her.
He was about to pick her up to take her inside his car when a sudden movement of her eyes opening caught him off guard. What happened next, he couldn't remember except for a white light that engulfed them both, vanishing from the streets and leaving the car's headlight's to radiate the spot they were just sitting in seconds before.
To be continued...
**~**~**~**~**
(Written on November 23, 2001)
Chapter 2
By: Jessica M. Moonflower
Disclaimer: Hmm...I have some loose change, bread two days old, and one sock, but no money to own the rights to Sailor Moon. Darn! ^^;;;
ANs: Happy holidays everyone! I'm back with another chapter of this story. Right now, I'm a little slow in writing new chapters for TBWH and LGAHOMH. Typing the finished chapters may take me FOREVER, but never fear, I will get them to you! ^_^ Bye for now, minna!
"While many a soul are unhappy with love, no one is ever happy without it." ~*Unknown~*
@~@~@~@~@~@~@~
No matter how hard he tried, Darien just couldn't get anymore work done. He felt guilty for how he and his wife ended their conversation on a bad note. How could he act so stupid for saying money was all that mattered to him when his family always came first and foremost in anything that he did!
Throwing his pen roughly on the desk and not nearly as focused on his work as he was before, he leaned back on his swivel chair and looked to the left of his desk where a wedding picture of him and Serena sat and right next to it, a picture of Juliette at six-months old.
He examined the wedding picture carefully and recalled how happy he and Serena were that day.
They had a beautiful church ceremony and reception afterwards. He remembered how they both danced to their wedding song, blissfully happy as they were now husband and wife.
Their wedding night was just as memorable as the wedding ceremony itself. He smiled slyly as he thought of that night and how little sleep they had, or better yet how they didn't even get out of their hotel room in Hawaii until noon.
He wanted so much for their first night of love making to be special and a night that neither of them would ever forget. To set the romantic mood he was aiming for, he had red and white rose petals littered all over the bed, scented candles lit all around the room, and several vases of red and white roses placed near the bed and on the tables. The bathroom was set up in a similar way to the bedroom except rose petals were littered in a bath tub full of water and candles were sitting on the ledge of the tub with scented bath oils beside them.
Serena was touched by the beautiful scene that it brought tears to her eyes. She never knew of a man that would go through all this trouble to make her happy and prove how much he loved her. But once they started making love, passions were ignited all throughout the night as they consummated their love. And with their intimate union, a beautiful girl was born.
Darien was jumping for joy when he became a father. Just like Serena, Juliette was a buoyant girl that was constantly filled with light and joy. The first time he held the gurgling baby in his arms, he knew right then and there that life couldn't be more perfect without his daughter and wife.
He used to come home early after work everyday just to play with his daughter for a while and then spend some time with Serena when Juliette was in bed. Life was simply flawless--until he merged with the Finchley's to boost up his fledgling and still flourishing advertising company. Since then, he had been working late nights at the office, going away on business trips, and spending minimal time with his family.
How he missed the little games he used to create with Juliette and sleeping beside his wife each night. Now, he rarely sleeps at home anymore and winds up sleeping at the office during one of his late nights.
'Serena was right', he thought to himself as he traced the picture of his family lightly with his fingertips. 'I have been neglecting them for far too long, but this project is very important to the company. Once I'm through with this, everything will turn back to normal, they'll see'.
Satisfied with his reasoning, he decided to step out for a moment to grab something to eat. He knew of this great twenty-four hour diner which was a twenty-minute drive away from here.
He reached the building's garage and got into his white Jaguar. He pulled out of the parking lot, intent on getting to the diner and filling his empty and grumbling stomach.
While driving along Madison Avenue, he observed how the streets were nearly deserted and somewhat dormant. He glanced at his designer Guess watch to check the time which was a little pass nine. It was odd since it never got this deserted around this time.
'It is Christmas Eve, Dare. Everybody is at home with their...family'.
He trailed off a bit on the last word as he realized that he was probably the only idiot not at home right now with his family on Christmas Eve.
'But I will be going home--just not right now'.
He was so deep in thought that he barely paid any attention to the road ahead of him as a young girl stood traumatized right in the middle of it. Darien looked up just in time to slam his foot on the pedal causing the car to come to a screeching halt.
He sat in the car for a few moments breathing heavily and blinking a few times. He shakily got out of his car, walking to where the girl was lying face down on the pavement and the headlights being the only thing illuminating her seemingly still body.
Darien prayed to God that the girl wasn't dead or he would never forgive himself. Just imagining her family's grief stricken faces when they find out that their little girl was hit by a car on Christmas Eve, of all times, tore his heart to shreds.
The girl looked to be about thirteen-years old, a person who hasn't yet lived her life to the fullest. Her auburn hair was damp and laid messily over her back and on the cold ground.
Shaking himself out of his daze, Darien bent down beside her and nervously yet gently turned her over. He observed that she had no cuts or bruises from the impact and was grateful for that. He took her wrist into his hands and checked for a pulse which was beating normally. He sighed in relief to know that she was still alive and well and must have passed out from shock and not because he hit her.
He was about to pick her up to take her inside his car when a sudden movement of her eyes opening caught him off guard. What happened next, he couldn't remember except for a white light that engulfed them both, vanishing from the streets and leaving the car's headlight's to radiate the spot they were just sitting in seconds before.
To be continued...
**~**~**~**~**
(Written on November 23, 2001)