What If...?
Chapter 3
By: Jessica M. Moonflower
Disclaimer: What would really make my Christmas the best ever is if I could own the rights to SM, but I doubt that Naoko would come to my house and make my dreams come true. =(
ANs: Nothing much to say except enjoy your holiday season with your family and the ones you love! ^_^
"Love gives itself--it is not bought." *~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow*~
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Darien opened one eye and then the other. He sat up, trying to remember what exactly happened as he settled his focus on his surroundings. He was shocked to see literally nothing!
'What is going on?! Where am I? All I remember was driving down the street to get something to eat, almost running over a little girl, seeing if she was all right, and then this white light that appeared after she woke up. Am I somehow dead? Is this heaven?'
"No silly, we're just in between times," a lilting voice replied to his thoughts as she giggled.
He turned around to come face to face with the girl he almost ran over, only instead of wearing the heavy jacket and sweatpants she had on earlier, she now wore a flowing white gown trimmed in gold with a wreath of daisies and baby's breath adorning her long soft curly auburn hair. She floated three-inches off the ground and smiled brightly at him, her violet blue eyes glistening with a warm light that was all her own.
"What do you mean we're in between times? Who are you and how were you able to read my thoughts?" he demanded, being cautious of the young girl before him.
"Please don't be frightened, Darien. I only brought you here to show you a few things. My name is Joyce, and I can read your thoughts... well...because I simply can." She grinned a winsome smile.
"H-how did you know my name? I never told you what it was."
"Allow me to explain. I'm one of the guardians who watch over people's lives where I make sure that they don't make that one catastrophic mistake which will make them susceptible enough to see everything that went right in their life go bad all of a sudden, and destroy others closely linked to them in the process."
"What are you talking about? Are you saying that I'm ruining my life as well as Serena and Juliette's?"
Joyce looked sorrowfully away, closing her eyes as well.
"It wasn't tottering to that point until you started ignoring them."
"I realized that and I plan on changing it! I don't need you to interfere with our lives!" he furiously screamed at her.
"You may realize it, but deep down inside you don't know how badly you have hurt and disappointed them. You think it'll be so easy to fix everything when it won't be. The purpose of our jobs is to show you and many others what went wrong in their lives and what their likely fate may be if they don't do a thing to change the situation. And let me tell you something, many of them we have visited couldn't care less what happens in their future until it is too late to fix it. Many of them have gone through life feeling miserable and hating the world when they shouldn't. If you refuse to turn your life around, we can't force you. We can only warn you and hope for the best."
"You're just a little girl! You can't possibly understand what goes on in my life!" he viciously declared, arms crossed over his chest.
"I may look like a thirteen-year old girl who is way too naive to comprehend adult situations, but I'm a lot older than you think," she smugly retorted.
"This has got to be a dream," he mumbled incoherently, lying back on the ground and closing his eyes, hoping he'll wake up and be back in the safe haven of his car.
"Sorry Darien, but it doesn't work that way. And I can't take you back until you have seen what you need to see."
Abruptly sitting up, he considered his words carefully.
"You mean to tell me that if I don't consent to this crazy little trip you have planned for me, you won't take me home?"
She nodded triumphantly, tossing her hair back so that it bounced with a fluid motion.
"That's right, Darien, and I don't think your wife and daughter would be too happy to have you stuck here for all of eternity just because you're so stubborn."
He grumbled and muttered a response as he got up off the ground to stand in front of her. She watched him in amusement, finding his actions hilarious.
"Hey, I don't make the rules, I just abide by them."
"Fine, I'll agree to this. Taking a deep breath, he calmly inquired, "Where do we begin?"
"Take my hand and I'll show you."
Joyce slowly floated down to the ground where her feet landed lightly on the floor. Darien did as he was told and was amazed by how much aura of warmth and light this single girl had by just the touch of her hand. It was comforting and put him at ease almost immediately. With her other hand, she waved it in a circular motion and a portal appeared.
They easily stepped right through and found themselves outside on a clear winter's night on Christmas Eve. A small Victorian house stood right in front of their view, decked out in Christmas lights and an evergreen wreath hanging on the front door. The snow was soft beneath their feet and some sat on leafless tree branches. On the other side of the street, a few carolers were going door to door to bring the spirit of Christmas alive to each home they came upon.
Darien looked all around him in awe as he tried to figure out where they were as everything looked so familiar to him.
"Do you know where you are, Darien?" asked Joyce, smiling at the many happy children who were playing on their front lawns with their families, either building snowmen or having snowball fights.
"It looks familiar, but I can't place the exact location."
"I'll give you a hint--you met a very special young woman here and the most special day of your life occurred in this very same house we are standing in right now just by her simple answer."
Realization dawned on him as he walked towards a nearby tree. Carved on the bark of the tree were the initials D.K. + S.T. inside a heart. Darien ran his hand over it and turned to Joyce with puzzlement in his eyes.
"This is Serena's home in Connecticut. I proposed to her on Christmas Eve over four years ago. How is it possible that we're here now?"
"I'm showing you your past before you and Serena became husband and wife, how happy and in love you two were before you two started having arguments lately. But please understand that these are events that have already happened so nobody can see or hear us. You can say we're merely observing."
The sound of two people laughing drew their attention from the tree to the porch where a young woman and man sat on the porch swing. Their cheeks were rosy from the running they did all the way to the house.
Darien was transfixed on the scene unfolding before him as he watched his past self brush snow off of Serena's hair.
"The snowball fight at the park was just what we needed," she said breathlessly between giggles.
"Oh, yeah! And I got you good, too!" He laughed mirthfully.
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"You are so delusional!"
"Are you saying that I'm crazy? Well, you're going to pay for that comment!"
Darien watched as his past self proceeded to tickle Serena mercilessly as she laughed uncontrollably. After a few minutes of tickling, struggling, and laughs, Darien grew serious but stared lovingly at Serena.
"Serena?"
"Yes, what is it, Darien?" Her blue eyes shining with love for the man before her.
"It still surprises me everyday how after all these years we've been together, nothing has broken us apart."
Serena laid her hand on top of Darien's gloved one and stared deeply into his eyes, filled with equal love and devotion.
"We're soul mates, Dare. Soul mates can never be separated no matter what obstacle is thrown at them. That's why our love is still going strong."
"It's clear that we can't bear to stay apart from the other so how about we stay together for the rest of our lives?" His eyes lit brightly, excitement dancing within their depths.
Her eyes widened with recognition. She had figured out what he was implying, but was too shocked to even voice out his implications.
Darien got off the swing and knelt in front of her, her eyes never leaving his as he reached into his jacket pocket to produce a black velvet box. He opened it to reveal a beautiful gold wedding band with small diamonds and sapphires adorning it.
"Serena Thompson, will you do me the honor of making me the most happiest man alive by marrying me?" his past self implored, eyes shining with hope and love.
Tears streaked down her face as she embraced him fiercely, eyes closed tightly as more tears trickled down her face.
"Yes! Of course I'll marry you!" she whispered affectionately in his ear, kissing his forehead.
In sheer happiness at her acceptance, he picked her up and swung her around. Everything swirled around them, but neither person cared as they continued to celebrate with their dizzying dance.
After he set her down on the ground, he proceeded to slip the ring on her finger.
Serena admired it for a moment then pulled him in another embrace for a long and passionate kiss which can turn up the warm anybody up on this cold winter's night.
Darien looked on at the scene unfolding before him as he relived this happiest part of his life.
"I remember how much my heart soared that Christmas Eve when I heard her say that one little response come from her lips. I felt that my entire future was falling into place with Serena as my wife," he commented wistfully.
"My job is to show you your past and what might be your future if you don't open up your mind and heart now," Joyce replied, tracing the heart on the tree's bark.
"What is that supposed to mean?" He gave her a narrowing look.
"That's something for you to figure out on your own."
"Figure what out?! I really don't see the point of this trip to the past!"
Avoiding his questioning glare, she waved her hand in that same circular motion where a portal appeared out of no where.
"Come on, Darien. I've much more to show you."
Sneaking one more glance towards the loving and blissful pair, he turned and followed Joyce inside the portal, disappearing behind him once he stepped in.
To be continued...
----------------------@
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! ^_^
(Written on December 4, 2001)
Chapter 3
By: Jessica M. Moonflower
Disclaimer: What would really make my Christmas the best ever is if I could own the rights to SM, but I doubt that Naoko would come to my house and make my dreams come true. =(
ANs: Nothing much to say except enjoy your holiday season with your family and the ones you love! ^_^
"Love gives itself--it is not bought." *~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow*~
---------------@
Darien opened one eye and then the other. He sat up, trying to remember what exactly happened as he settled his focus on his surroundings. He was shocked to see literally nothing!
'What is going on?! Where am I? All I remember was driving down the street to get something to eat, almost running over a little girl, seeing if she was all right, and then this white light that appeared after she woke up. Am I somehow dead? Is this heaven?'
"No silly, we're just in between times," a lilting voice replied to his thoughts as she giggled.
He turned around to come face to face with the girl he almost ran over, only instead of wearing the heavy jacket and sweatpants she had on earlier, she now wore a flowing white gown trimmed in gold with a wreath of daisies and baby's breath adorning her long soft curly auburn hair. She floated three-inches off the ground and smiled brightly at him, her violet blue eyes glistening with a warm light that was all her own.
"What do you mean we're in between times? Who are you and how were you able to read my thoughts?" he demanded, being cautious of the young girl before him.
"Please don't be frightened, Darien. I only brought you here to show you a few things. My name is Joyce, and I can read your thoughts... well...because I simply can." She grinned a winsome smile.
"H-how did you know my name? I never told you what it was."
"Allow me to explain. I'm one of the guardians who watch over people's lives where I make sure that they don't make that one catastrophic mistake which will make them susceptible enough to see everything that went right in their life go bad all of a sudden, and destroy others closely linked to them in the process."
"What are you talking about? Are you saying that I'm ruining my life as well as Serena and Juliette's?"
Joyce looked sorrowfully away, closing her eyes as well.
"It wasn't tottering to that point until you started ignoring them."
"I realized that and I plan on changing it! I don't need you to interfere with our lives!" he furiously screamed at her.
"You may realize it, but deep down inside you don't know how badly you have hurt and disappointed them. You think it'll be so easy to fix everything when it won't be. The purpose of our jobs is to show you and many others what went wrong in their lives and what their likely fate may be if they don't do a thing to change the situation. And let me tell you something, many of them we have visited couldn't care less what happens in their future until it is too late to fix it. Many of them have gone through life feeling miserable and hating the world when they shouldn't. If you refuse to turn your life around, we can't force you. We can only warn you and hope for the best."
"You're just a little girl! You can't possibly understand what goes on in my life!" he viciously declared, arms crossed over his chest.
"I may look like a thirteen-year old girl who is way too naive to comprehend adult situations, but I'm a lot older than you think," she smugly retorted.
"This has got to be a dream," he mumbled incoherently, lying back on the ground and closing his eyes, hoping he'll wake up and be back in the safe haven of his car.
"Sorry Darien, but it doesn't work that way. And I can't take you back until you have seen what you need to see."
Abruptly sitting up, he considered his words carefully.
"You mean to tell me that if I don't consent to this crazy little trip you have planned for me, you won't take me home?"
She nodded triumphantly, tossing her hair back so that it bounced with a fluid motion.
"That's right, Darien, and I don't think your wife and daughter would be too happy to have you stuck here for all of eternity just because you're so stubborn."
He grumbled and muttered a response as he got up off the ground to stand in front of her. She watched him in amusement, finding his actions hilarious.
"Hey, I don't make the rules, I just abide by them."
"Fine, I'll agree to this. Taking a deep breath, he calmly inquired, "Where do we begin?"
"Take my hand and I'll show you."
Joyce slowly floated down to the ground where her feet landed lightly on the floor. Darien did as he was told and was amazed by how much aura of warmth and light this single girl had by just the touch of her hand. It was comforting and put him at ease almost immediately. With her other hand, she waved it in a circular motion and a portal appeared.
They easily stepped right through and found themselves outside on a clear winter's night on Christmas Eve. A small Victorian house stood right in front of their view, decked out in Christmas lights and an evergreen wreath hanging on the front door. The snow was soft beneath their feet and some sat on leafless tree branches. On the other side of the street, a few carolers were going door to door to bring the spirit of Christmas alive to each home they came upon.
Darien looked all around him in awe as he tried to figure out where they were as everything looked so familiar to him.
"Do you know where you are, Darien?" asked Joyce, smiling at the many happy children who were playing on their front lawns with their families, either building snowmen or having snowball fights.
"It looks familiar, but I can't place the exact location."
"I'll give you a hint--you met a very special young woman here and the most special day of your life occurred in this very same house we are standing in right now just by her simple answer."
Realization dawned on him as he walked towards a nearby tree. Carved on the bark of the tree were the initials D.K. + S.T. inside a heart. Darien ran his hand over it and turned to Joyce with puzzlement in his eyes.
"This is Serena's home in Connecticut. I proposed to her on Christmas Eve over four years ago. How is it possible that we're here now?"
"I'm showing you your past before you and Serena became husband and wife, how happy and in love you two were before you two started having arguments lately. But please understand that these are events that have already happened so nobody can see or hear us. You can say we're merely observing."
The sound of two people laughing drew their attention from the tree to the porch where a young woman and man sat on the porch swing. Their cheeks were rosy from the running they did all the way to the house.
Darien was transfixed on the scene unfolding before him as he watched his past self brush snow off of Serena's hair.
"The snowball fight at the park was just what we needed," she said breathlessly between giggles.
"Oh, yeah! And I got you good, too!" He laughed mirthfully.
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"You are so delusional!"
"Are you saying that I'm crazy? Well, you're going to pay for that comment!"
Darien watched as his past self proceeded to tickle Serena mercilessly as she laughed uncontrollably. After a few minutes of tickling, struggling, and laughs, Darien grew serious but stared lovingly at Serena.
"Serena?"
"Yes, what is it, Darien?" Her blue eyes shining with love for the man before her.
"It still surprises me everyday how after all these years we've been together, nothing has broken us apart."
Serena laid her hand on top of Darien's gloved one and stared deeply into his eyes, filled with equal love and devotion.
"We're soul mates, Dare. Soul mates can never be separated no matter what obstacle is thrown at them. That's why our love is still going strong."
"It's clear that we can't bear to stay apart from the other so how about we stay together for the rest of our lives?" His eyes lit brightly, excitement dancing within their depths.
Her eyes widened with recognition. She had figured out what he was implying, but was too shocked to even voice out his implications.
Darien got off the swing and knelt in front of her, her eyes never leaving his as he reached into his jacket pocket to produce a black velvet box. He opened it to reveal a beautiful gold wedding band with small diamonds and sapphires adorning it.
"Serena Thompson, will you do me the honor of making me the most happiest man alive by marrying me?" his past self implored, eyes shining with hope and love.
Tears streaked down her face as she embraced him fiercely, eyes closed tightly as more tears trickled down her face.
"Yes! Of course I'll marry you!" she whispered affectionately in his ear, kissing his forehead.
In sheer happiness at her acceptance, he picked her up and swung her around. Everything swirled around them, but neither person cared as they continued to celebrate with their dizzying dance.
After he set her down on the ground, he proceeded to slip the ring on her finger.
Serena admired it for a moment then pulled him in another embrace for a long and passionate kiss which can turn up the warm anybody up on this cold winter's night.
Darien looked on at the scene unfolding before him as he relived this happiest part of his life.
"I remember how much my heart soared that Christmas Eve when I heard her say that one little response come from her lips. I felt that my entire future was falling into place with Serena as my wife," he commented wistfully.
"My job is to show you your past and what might be your future if you don't open up your mind and heart now," Joyce replied, tracing the heart on the tree's bark.
"What is that supposed to mean?" He gave her a narrowing look.
"That's something for you to figure out on your own."
"Figure what out?! I really don't see the point of this trip to the past!"
Avoiding his questioning glare, she waved her hand in that same circular motion where a portal appeared out of no where.
"Come on, Darien. I've much more to show you."
Sneaking one more glance towards the loving and blissful pair, he turned and followed Joyce inside the portal, disappearing behind him once he stepped in.
To be continued...
----------------------@
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! ^_^
(Written on December 4, 2001)