What If...?
Chapter 5
By: Jessica M. Moonflower
Disclaimer: Do you think Naoko would gift wrap Mamoru and ship him off to my house? *sigh* A girl can dream, can't she?
ANs: Have a very Merry Christmas!
"Although the sky may be full of stars, my heart is empty without you." *T. Smith*
*~~~~~~~~~*
"Where are we?" Darien asked curiously, oblivious to his surroundings.
From what he saw, a Christmas party was commencing in an extravagant and very expensive restaurant. Wealthy looking people were dressed in glittering gowns and sharp tuxes, sipping wine as they talked about business and other related affairs.
"This is the future, Darien."
"What does this have to do with me and my family?" He gestured to the people around them.
"It has everything to do with your family. This is your party."
"Mine?!" he asked, stupefied at the discovery.
"Yes. Because of the merging of your company with the Finchley's, it made you one of the most wealthiest and powerful men alive."
"But isn't that a good thing? I'm able to give Serena and Juliette all they ever wanted in life."
Joyce shook her head sadly, heartbroken at the fact that she had to tell him the horrid news about this future. The look on her face made Darien pale and a cold sweat to start on his forehead. Things couldn't possibly get any worse than it is now, could it?
"Darien...you're not with Serena and Juliette anymore--you both parted ways."
He blanched at the information. He tried to register everything that was said to him, not wanting to believe a word.
"A divorce? Wh-what? How?"
"You neglected your family and the arguments between you and Serena got worse. She had enough and filed for divorce which you gladly accepted."
"What happens to Juliette?" he inquired dazedly, gripping the wall for support as he found it hard to stand anymore.
"She's with Serena. You were so angry at Serena that you didn't bother to work out visitation rights with her. You told her that you didn't want to have anything to do with Juliette."
Darien collapsed on the floor, tears stinging his eyes as each piece of his future crashed down on him like a ton of bricks. It was hard to accept that this could possibly be his future--a future away from Serena and a daughter he loved more than anything.
"Is this what my life will turn out to be? I lose my family and become a monster?! This can't happen!" Turning to Joyce, he grabbed hold of the hem of her long gown in desperation. "Tell me what becomes of me without Serena and Juliette in my life."
Flighty laughter from the corner of the room caused him to swerve his head towards two people, although it took him a few times to believe who the man was with the sultry red head slut.
Darien's future self stood with an air of arrogance and self-confidence as he eagerly and hungrily kissed his way down the woman's long neck. He noticed uneasily how his future self was enjoying every moment of his seduction on the cheap skank he enjoyed nibbling.
"That's m-me?" It was hard for him to blurt out the question, unable to accept this whole new side of him.
"Yes. As soon as the divorce was final, you became a wealthy playboy as well, discarding women left and right once you've fulfilled your sexual desires with them."
"But I'm not like that! I only love Serena and I'd never go for some bubble headed bimbo."
"Things change, Darien. People change as well."
He turned his gaze back at his future self, suddenly feeling disgusted at the sight of himself for using women for sex. He continued to watch a tall auburn haired male walk up to his future self and date.
"Hey Darien! I just wanted to comment on the lovely party you are throwing and show my absolute gratitude for inviting my family as well," he remarked with a warm smile.
"Glad to hear it, Brian. Where is your wife and daughter? I'd love to meet them."
"Oh, they're having a conversation with my father. I'll go get them." He quickly strode off to another part of the ball room to go fetch his family.
"Who is that man?" Darien turned to Joyce curiously.
"Brain Finchley, son of the same man who you closed the business deal with."
"I don't remember meeting him."
"You don't until later since he isn't in the advertising business. He's an architect for a huge company. You only invited him out of hospitality towards Mr. Morris Finchley."
"Darien, may I present to you my family." Darien and Joyce drew their attention back to the small group standing by the pillar, only Darien wish he hadn't. Next to Brian was Serena with his left arm comfortably draped around her slim waist and his other free hand holding Juliette's hand.
His future self also paled considerably, swiftly wiping his smug smile off his face as he surveyed his ex-wife and their daughter. He regained his composure to listen to the introductions.
"Serena, this is Darien Kelley, my father's business partner and the host of this fabulous party. Darien, my wife Serena and our daughter Juliette."
"A pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Finchley," he greeted her indifferently, bringing the back of her hand to his lips for a polite kiss.
"Same here, Mr. Kelley. I've heard so much about you from Brian," she replied, keeping her face void of any emotion and quickly bringing her hand back to her side as if his kiss scorched her porcelain skin. Juliette watched the exchange in quiet observation and easily saw the uneasiness in her mother's movements and the stoic greetings of her ex-father.
"Nice to meet you, too, Juliette." He bent down to shake her hand and she politely shook it back, but made sure to be wary of him at the same time.
"Thank you for inviting us, Mr. Kelley."
Darien winced at the formality his own daughter was showing to his future self. He understood why Serena would, but not from Juliette, the same little girl who loved to greet him by the door when she heard the car pull up in the driveway. He noted that his future self was completely lifeless in front of Serena and Juliette and stood there with not so much as a flicker of emotion, not one reaction.
"Why don't I leave you two to get better acquainted with Darien while I go talk to Mr. Warner about those building plans? Is that fine with you, sweetie?" Brian bestowed a kiss on her temple.
"Brian, why don't me and Juliette come with you? Mr. Warner did say he wanted to discuss with me more about the interior design of his house," Serena almost pleadingly urged, trying to hide her discomfort to be around Darien.
"It'll only be a minute, Sere. I won't be gone long, and Mr. Warner will be seeing us on Friday for that luncheon so you can talk it over with him then."
"If you're sure..."
"Of course I am. See you later, Dare."
Brian walked off to meet Mr. Warner at his table who was talking animatedly with his wife.
"Will you excuse us, Cindy?" Darien demanded rather than asked his now forgotten date to leave.
She pouted, but willingly left them, casting a cold stare towards Serena as she brushed passed her.
There was silence between the three of them, having no idea what to say to the other. Juliette was fidgeting with her dress while Serena was in a desperate need to escape her former husband and his piercing gaze.
"It has been a while, eh Serena?" he coolly asked.
"Yes, it has," she replied impassively. "How have you been?"
"Great. The business is really taking off, and you?"
"I quit being a reporter and turned to more interesting things like interior decorating."
"Oh, how quaint." He gulped down some champagne then idly twirled his glass between his fingertips.
Ignoring the comment, Serena gestured to Cindy who was talking with some of her other air headed bimbo friends by the bar. They all gave Serena the once over, continuing to say nasty comments about her in secret.
"Is that your new girlfriend?"
"No, just a date for tonight. Why do you ask? Should I believe that you are jealous?" He smirked slyly, feeling quite amused by her curious question.
"Don't flatter yourself, Darien." She rolled her eyes sarcastically while Juliette tried to ignore the on starts of an argument between her parents.
"I didn't know you married Brian. Really, Sere, I'm hurt that you didn't bother inviting me to the wedding. I thought that we would still be friends."
"Gee, I didn't think that you would want to go," she snapped vehemently, keeping her voice low as to not draw attention from others.
"Do you really have to start the dramatics? I wonder how I survived staying married to you all those years." He laughed sardonically and flaring Serena's temper even more.
Keeping a fake smile on her face, she bent down next to Juliette to whisper, "Why don't you go by Daddy while me and Mr. Kelley talk, okay?"
"Okay Mommy," she solemnly replied, striding away from her and towards Brian while occasionally glancing back at her two sparring parents.
"I can't believe you had Juliette call her REAL father 'Mr. Kelley'. What happened to 'Daddy'? Oh, wait, that's right, you never told Brian about us judging by the fact that he didn't show one hint of insecurity when he was introducing my ex-wife and daughter to me."
"Just stop it, Darien! You had a chance at a happy life with me and Juliette and you threw it all away!! And for what?! To make money?! Juliette and I didn't care about the money. Heck, we could be poor and just the three of us being together would be enough for me--for us. Apparently it wasn't enough for you." Serena closed her eyes and sighed inwardly, then slowly opened them once more to look up at him. "For a ten-year old, Juliette resents you. She hates the fact that her real father isn't bothering to find out how she is, what's going on, and why you never want to visit her. At her age, she shouldn't be holding any grudges, but I can't blame her. You were the one that refused to have further contact with her. I could care less if you didn't want to see me, but you should have at least done this for her."
"God, the combining of my company with the Finchley's was all for you and her! You're just an ungrateful brat, Serena. I should've never married you in the first place if I had known that you would stand in the way of accomplishing my dreams!"
"Being a ruthless business tycoon who uses women for sex. Oh, how horrible of me to stand in your way to accomplish such a dream!" she bitterly exclaimed, moving her arms in a furious motion. "Tell me something, Darien, what changed you? When did our love die?"
"Lost interest in our family, but most of all you! Your constant nagging is what drove a rift in our marriage," he caustically replied, his cold eyes burning through hers.
She shivered as she drew back from him in shock. She hadn't expected an answer like that and it was like a sharp dagger straight through her heart.
"I see," she placidly said, her tone even and bitter. "Too bad I was blind to see the kind of man you really are. If you excuse me, Darien, I have a family to get back to."
Serena was about to turn and leave when a biting comeback from Darien stopped her in her tracks.
"That's right, Sere, go back to that loser Brian."
Spinning on her heels, she glared at him, blue fire meeting with ice blue.
"At least he's half the man than you'll ever be because the way I see it, the Darien Kelley I used to know and fell in love with has died a long time ago. It's a pity since I always pictured ourselves growing old together."
She quietly departed, finally letting go of her past with Darien and looking forward to a future with her new husband Brian.
Darien watched as his future self went through a sea of emotions, but quickly hardened his heart and brushed aside these emotions to join Cindy once more.
He shook his head over and over again, trying to believe that this can't be his future. It was more like a nightmare to him! He stood sobbing brokenly at how much he had hurt his family in this life and how he had changed so much. Joyce's tender voice comforted him somewhat and halted his crying.
"Just because you saw this terrifying future doesn't mean it is set in stone. You still have a chance in changing all this. Are you certain that you have seen the error of your ways?"
"Yes, but please send me home, Joyce. I miss my wife and daughter and I want to be with them now more than ever."
Joyce smiled broadly and nodded.
"I'd be happy to do that. I wish you much luck and happiness in the future."
Darien was unable to see Joyce as a white light blinded his vision.
To be continued...
~~~~~~~~~~~*
Just one more chapter and an epilogue! Hope you have been enjoying this story since it is about to end! ^_~
(Written December 18, 2001)
Chapter 5
By: Jessica M. Moonflower
Disclaimer: Do you think Naoko would gift wrap Mamoru and ship him off to my house? *sigh* A girl can dream, can't she?
ANs: Have a very Merry Christmas!
"Although the sky may be full of stars, my heart is empty without you." *T. Smith*
*~~~~~~~~~*
"Where are we?" Darien asked curiously, oblivious to his surroundings.
From what he saw, a Christmas party was commencing in an extravagant and very expensive restaurant. Wealthy looking people were dressed in glittering gowns and sharp tuxes, sipping wine as they talked about business and other related affairs.
"This is the future, Darien."
"What does this have to do with me and my family?" He gestured to the people around them.
"It has everything to do with your family. This is your party."
"Mine?!" he asked, stupefied at the discovery.
"Yes. Because of the merging of your company with the Finchley's, it made you one of the most wealthiest and powerful men alive."
"But isn't that a good thing? I'm able to give Serena and Juliette all they ever wanted in life."
Joyce shook her head sadly, heartbroken at the fact that she had to tell him the horrid news about this future. The look on her face made Darien pale and a cold sweat to start on his forehead. Things couldn't possibly get any worse than it is now, could it?
"Darien...you're not with Serena and Juliette anymore--you both parted ways."
He blanched at the information. He tried to register everything that was said to him, not wanting to believe a word.
"A divorce? Wh-what? How?"
"You neglected your family and the arguments between you and Serena got worse. She had enough and filed for divorce which you gladly accepted."
"What happens to Juliette?" he inquired dazedly, gripping the wall for support as he found it hard to stand anymore.
"She's with Serena. You were so angry at Serena that you didn't bother to work out visitation rights with her. You told her that you didn't want to have anything to do with Juliette."
Darien collapsed on the floor, tears stinging his eyes as each piece of his future crashed down on him like a ton of bricks. It was hard to accept that this could possibly be his future--a future away from Serena and a daughter he loved more than anything.
"Is this what my life will turn out to be? I lose my family and become a monster?! This can't happen!" Turning to Joyce, he grabbed hold of the hem of her long gown in desperation. "Tell me what becomes of me without Serena and Juliette in my life."
Flighty laughter from the corner of the room caused him to swerve his head towards two people, although it took him a few times to believe who the man was with the sultry red head slut.
Darien's future self stood with an air of arrogance and self-confidence as he eagerly and hungrily kissed his way down the woman's long neck. He noticed uneasily how his future self was enjoying every moment of his seduction on the cheap skank he enjoyed nibbling.
"That's m-me?" It was hard for him to blurt out the question, unable to accept this whole new side of him.
"Yes. As soon as the divorce was final, you became a wealthy playboy as well, discarding women left and right once you've fulfilled your sexual desires with them."
"But I'm not like that! I only love Serena and I'd never go for some bubble headed bimbo."
"Things change, Darien. People change as well."
He turned his gaze back at his future self, suddenly feeling disgusted at the sight of himself for using women for sex. He continued to watch a tall auburn haired male walk up to his future self and date.
"Hey Darien! I just wanted to comment on the lovely party you are throwing and show my absolute gratitude for inviting my family as well," he remarked with a warm smile.
"Glad to hear it, Brian. Where is your wife and daughter? I'd love to meet them."
"Oh, they're having a conversation with my father. I'll go get them." He quickly strode off to another part of the ball room to go fetch his family.
"Who is that man?" Darien turned to Joyce curiously.
"Brain Finchley, son of the same man who you closed the business deal with."
"I don't remember meeting him."
"You don't until later since he isn't in the advertising business. He's an architect for a huge company. You only invited him out of hospitality towards Mr. Morris Finchley."
"Darien, may I present to you my family." Darien and Joyce drew their attention back to the small group standing by the pillar, only Darien wish he hadn't. Next to Brian was Serena with his left arm comfortably draped around her slim waist and his other free hand holding Juliette's hand.
His future self also paled considerably, swiftly wiping his smug smile off his face as he surveyed his ex-wife and their daughter. He regained his composure to listen to the introductions.
"Serena, this is Darien Kelley, my father's business partner and the host of this fabulous party. Darien, my wife Serena and our daughter Juliette."
"A pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Finchley," he greeted her indifferently, bringing the back of her hand to his lips for a polite kiss.
"Same here, Mr. Kelley. I've heard so much about you from Brian," she replied, keeping her face void of any emotion and quickly bringing her hand back to her side as if his kiss scorched her porcelain skin. Juliette watched the exchange in quiet observation and easily saw the uneasiness in her mother's movements and the stoic greetings of her ex-father.
"Nice to meet you, too, Juliette." He bent down to shake her hand and she politely shook it back, but made sure to be wary of him at the same time.
"Thank you for inviting us, Mr. Kelley."
Darien winced at the formality his own daughter was showing to his future self. He understood why Serena would, but not from Juliette, the same little girl who loved to greet him by the door when she heard the car pull up in the driveway. He noted that his future self was completely lifeless in front of Serena and Juliette and stood there with not so much as a flicker of emotion, not one reaction.
"Why don't I leave you two to get better acquainted with Darien while I go talk to Mr. Warner about those building plans? Is that fine with you, sweetie?" Brian bestowed a kiss on her temple.
"Brian, why don't me and Juliette come with you? Mr. Warner did say he wanted to discuss with me more about the interior design of his house," Serena almost pleadingly urged, trying to hide her discomfort to be around Darien.
"It'll only be a minute, Sere. I won't be gone long, and Mr. Warner will be seeing us on Friday for that luncheon so you can talk it over with him then."
"If you're sure..."
"Of course I am. See you later, Dare."
Brian walked off to meet Mr. Warner at his table who was talking animatedly with his wife.
"Will you excuse us, Cindy?" Darien demanded rather than asked his now forgotten date to leave.
She pouted, but willingly left them, casting a cold stare towards Serena as she brushed passed her.
There was silence between the three of them, having no idea what to say to the other. Juliette was fidgeting with her dress while Serena was in a desperate need to escape her former husband and his piercing gaze.
"It has been a while, eh Serena?" he coolly asked.
"Yes, it has," she replied impassively. "How have you been?"
"Great. The business is really taking off, and you?"
"I quit being a reporter and turned to more interesting things like interior decorating."
"Oh, how quaint." He gulped down some champagne then idly twirled his glass between his fingertips.
Ignoring the comment, Serena gestured to Cindy who was talking with some of her other air headed bimbo friends by the bar. They all gave Serena the once over, continuing to say nasty comments about her in secret.
"Is that your new girlfriend?"
"No, just a date for tonight. Why do you ask? Should I believe that you are jealous?" He smirked slyly, feeling quite amused by her curious question.
"Don't flatter yourself, Darien." She rolled her eyes sarcastically while Juliette tried to ignore the on starts of an argument between her parents.
"I didn't know you married Brian. Really, Sere, I'm hurt that you didn't bother inviting me to the wedding. I thought that we would still be friends."
"Gee, I didn't think that you would want to go," she snapped vehemently, keeping her voice low as to not draw attention from others.
"Do you really have to start the dramatics? I wonder how I survived staying married to you all those years." He laughed sardonically and flaring Serena's temper even more.
Keeping a fake smile on her face, she bent down next to Juliette to whisper, "Why don't you go by Daddy while me and Mr. Kelley talk, okay?"
"Okay Mommy," she solemnly replied, striding away from her and towards Brian while occasionally glancing back at her two sparring parents.
"I can't believe you had Juliette call her REAL father 'Mr. Kelley'. What happened to 'Daddy'? Oh, wait, that's right, you never told Brian about us judging by the fact that he didn't show one hint of insecurity when he was introducing my ex-wife and daughter to me."
"Just stop it, Darien! You had a chance at a happy life with me and Juliette and you threw it all away!! And for what?! To make money?! Juliette and I didn't care about the money. Heck, we could be poor and just the three of us being together would be enough for me--for us. Apparently it wasn't enough for you." Serena closed her eyes and sighed inwardly, then slowly opened them once more to look up at him. "For a ten-year old, Juliette resents you. She hates the fact that her real father isn't bothering to find out how she is, what's going on, and why you never want to visit her. At her age, she shouldn't be holding any grudges, but I can't blame her. You were the one that refused to have further contact with her. I could care less if you didn't want to see me, but you should have at least done this for her."
"God, the combining of my company with the Finchley's was all for you and her! You're just an ungrateful brat, Serena. I should've never married you in the first place if I had known that you would stand in the way of accomplishing my dreams!"
"Being a ruthless business tycoon who uses women for sex. Oh, how horrible of me to stand in your way to accomplish such a dream!" she bitterly exclaimed, moving her arms in a furious motion. "Tell me something, Darien, what changed you? When did our love die?"
"Lost interest in our family, but most of all you! Your constant nagging is what drove a rift in our marriage," he caustically replied, his cold eyes burning through hers.
She shivered as she drew back from him in shock. She hadn't expected an answer like that and it was like a sharp dagger straight through her heart.
"I see," she placidly said, her tone even and bitter. "Too bad I was blind to see the kind of man you really are. If you excuse me, Darien, I have a family to get back to."
Serena was about to turn and leave when a biting comeback from Darien stopped her in her tracks.
"That's right, Sere, go back to that loser Brian."
Spinning on her heels, she glared at him, blue fire meeting with ice blue.
"At least he's half the man than you'll ever be because the way I see it, the Darien Kelley I used to know and fell in love with has died a long time ago. It's a pity since I always pictured ourselves growing old together."
She quietly departed, finally letting go of her past with Darien and looking forward to a future with her new husband Brian.
Darien watched as his future self went through a sea of emotions, but quickly hardened his heart and brushed aside these emotions to join Cindy once more.
He shook his head over and over again, trying to believe that this can't be his future. It was more like a nightmare to him! He stood sobbing brokenly at how much he had hurt his family in this life and how he had changed so much. Joyce's tender voice comforted him somewhat and halted his crying.
"Just because you saw this terrifying future doesn't mean it is set in stone. You still have a chance in changing all this. Are you certain that you have seen the error of your ways?"
"Yes, but please send me home, Joyce. I miss my wife and daughter and I want to be with them now more than ever."
Joyce smiled broadly and nodded.
"I'd be happy to do that. I wish you much luck and happiness in the future."
Darien was unable to see Joyce as a white light blinded his vision.
To be continued...
~~~~~~~~~~~*
Just one more chapter and an epilogue! Hope you have been enjoying this story since it is about to end! ^_~
(Written December 18, 2001)