SN: Hey everyone! Sorry for the LONG wait! ff.net has been screwy lately, so I decided
to wait 'til everything was normal, and right now, everything seems normal. I hope it
stays that way! ^^;; Anyway, without further ado, here's Chapter 16!

~Love Triangle: Chapter 16~

By: Sapphie ^.~

Key:

"- - -" dialogue

'- - -' thinking

//- - -\\ scene change

(SN) Sapphie Notes

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Important Info: None today.

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Recap:

"You bastard! If you don't tell me who the hell you are, I'll just have to force it out of
you!" Endymion said threateningly. James gave an icy glare to Endymion and crossed his
arms.

"Well...if you must know.....I'm Selenity's father."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Endymion stood there in complete and total shock. Selenity lifted her head to look at the
man that claimed to be her father. After a moment of silence, Endymion spoke up.

"Who the..." Endymion was interrupted by Selenity.

"You're....my............father?" Selenity asked in shock. She took a few deep breaths.
"No...this can't be..." Selenity said, her voice trembling. She buried her head into
Endymion's chest.

"I don't know who you're trying to play for a fool, but..."

"I'm not trying to fool anyone! I'm James! I'm Selenity's father! King of the Moon!!"
James exclaimed.

"Go get your mother." Endymion whispered into Selenity's ear. Selenity nodded her head
and went to get her mother. Soon, Endymion was left alone with James.

"Look. I don't know who you are, but..." James interrupted Endymion yet again.

"You _know_ who I am! I told you twice!" James yelled.

"Would you please shut the hell up and let me finish me damn sentence?" Endymion
yelled back. With clear frustration, James sighed and crossed his arms. Endymion took in
a breath. "Now, I don't know who you are, but if we find out that you're lying, you will
be sent to jail in one second flat." Endymion remarked. James uncrossed his arms and
took a deep breath, trying to stay calm.

"Look. I'm...."

"Oh my god!! James?!?!?!" Endymion and James turned around to see a furious and
shocked Queen Serenity. James's face seemed to light up when he laid his eyes on
Serenity.

"Serenity...you look beautiful!" James said. The sight of Selenity made him breathless.
Serenity had a stern and angry look on her face.

"If you think that is going to make me go soft on you and forgive you, then you thought
wrong."

"Serenity. I wasn't trying to..."

"How dare you, James. How dare you come back here!" Serenity said with anger in her
voice.

"Serenity! It's not what you think!" James said.

"Oh, it isn't? Then why'd you leave in the first place?" Serenity asked, glaring at him.
James was left speechless. "I thought so." Serenity said.

"Please, Serenity. Hear me out. All I ask is for a day to explain myself. I've changed,
Serenity! I've changed! Please." Serenity stared into his eyes for a while and found
sincerity in them.

"Okay. In the morning, we'll talk. Endymion, show him to an empty guest room, away
from my room, Selenity's room, and your room." Endymion nodded his head and bowed.
Selenity, who had been standing quietly beside her mother all this time, held her mother's
hand. "Come, Selenity. Let's go." Serenity gently squeezed Selenity's hand, trying to hold
back tears. As Queen Serenity and Selenity walked away, Endymion led James into an
empty guest room.

// In Selenity's room \\

Selenity sat quietly next to her mother. There was an awkward silence between them.

"Mother..." Selenity called out softly. "Is....is he...."

"Yes." Serenity answered. "He _is_ your father." Selenity let out a small gasp.

"But you told me..."

"I told you that your father died because of health complications." Serenity said quietly.

"But why? Why did you lie to me? Why didn't you tell me he was alive all this time?"
Selenity asked as tears slowly formed in her eyes.

"You were only 5 years old. You wouldn't have understood, and I didn't want you to hate
your father when you got older." Serenity explained. She avoided eye contact with
Selenity. She didn't want to see the hurt look on her face.

"But why would I hate him?" Selenity asked, trying hard to stay calm while holding back
tears.

"Because...your father left our family." Serenity said reluctantly.

"What?" Selenity asked in disbelief. Serenity took in a deep breath and explained the
whole story.

After Serenity explained what happened, Selenity broke into tears. Endymion walked in
and saw Selenity's present state. Queen Serenity quietly stood up and walked away.

"I'll be in my room." Queen Serenity said quietly over her shoulder. Selenity raised her
head and looked at her mother through tear filled eyes as she walked out of the door. She
then looked at Endymion. He knelt down in front of her and held her hands. He kissed her
hands and looked into her crystal blue eyes. Selenity suddenly knelt down with him and
threw her arms around him as she buried her head into his warm chest.

"Endymion..." Selenity cried out in a muffled voice. Endymion lifted her head and looked
into her tear filled eyes. Selenity looked back at him while a tear escaped its watery
prison. "He's....he's.....my father!!" Selenity said, almost as if she was panicking.
Endymion gently hushed her. He began to gently stroke her hair. Selenity calmed herself
and laid her head on Endymion's shoulder.

"It's okay." he whispered. "It's okay."

// In Queen Serenity's room \\

She sat on her bed and let out a heavy sigh. She then threw herself on the bed, lying on its
soft cushion, staring at the ceiling. She took in a deep breath and slowly let it out.

"How dare he come back here. After all these years, he finally decided to come back?
Who does he think he is? Thinking that he can come back her any time he pleases?" A
small tear began to form at the corner of her eye. She quickly wiped it away. "No. I'm not
going to cry." Serenity said to herself. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths.
When she opened her eyes again, they began to fill with tears almost immediately. "But
why? Why did he have to come back? Does he want me to go through the pain he caused
me all over again?" Serenity could no longer hold it in. The tears she had fought back
came tumbling down. Serenity cried tears of pain, hurt, and loneliness. Soon, she cried
herself to sleep.

// In James's room \\

James sat on the edge of his bed with his shoulders slumped and his head hung low.

"Maybe I shouldn't have come." he muttered to himself. "No. I did the right thing by
coming back. I've changed, and they need to realize that." James said to himself.
Suddenly, he was startled by a knock on the door. He got off the bed and made his way to
the door. He opened it to see the person he least expected to see.

"Selenity!" James exclaimed with delight. Selenity gave him a nervous half-smile.

"H..he...hello." Selenity said with a stutter. There was an awkward silence between them
for a moment. James cleared his throat.

"Why don't you come in?" James said, gesturing towards the inside of the room. Selenity
slowly and quietly walked in and took a seat in a nearby chair. James pulled up a chair
and sat across from her. Again, there was that silence. Selenity cleared her throat.

"So, you're my father?" Selenity began.

"Yes. I am. And I'm so sorry for leaving you and your mother." Selenity just looked
down at her hands, which were delicately laid in her lap.

"Why?" Selenity asked, looking up at James.

"Why what?" James asked in confusion.

"Why did you leave us?" Selenity asked. James had a guilty look on his face.

"I know what I did was wrong, but I couldn't find any other solution. I just had to leave."
James said reluctantly.

"I see." Selenity said in a flat voice.

"Please, Selenity. Let me explain myself." James pleaded.

"Okay." Selenity said quietly.

"Look, like I said, I know what I did was wrong, but believe me, I've mended my ways.
I'm better now. I've changed. Please, you have to give me a second chance." James said,
his eyes full of sorrow. Selenity looked at her hands, then looked back at James.

"I'm sorry. I can't forgive you for what you did." Selenity said slowly. James let out a
heavy sigh.

"I knew it. You'd never forgive me. You'd never give me another chance." James said
solemnly, slowly hanging his head.

"Who ever said I wouldn't give you another chance?" Selenity said with a smug smile on
her face. James lifted his head, looking at Selenity in a somewhat shocked look.

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" James asked with hopefulness in his voice.
Selenity giggled a little.

"Yes, I am." Selenity said with a sweet smiled. James's face lit up and a wide smile
suddenly appeared on his solemn face.

"Oh, Selenity! Thank you! Thank you!" James said, taking Selenity's hand and squeezing
them. "Selenity, can I ask you something?" James asked, letting go of Selenity's hands.

"Yes. Of course." Selenity said. "What is it?" A shade of light pink began to slowly make
its way to his cheeks.

"Can....can I have a hug?" James asked shyly. Selenity was surprised at first, but soon
smiled.

"Of course." Selenity said. Soon, they were warmly embracing each other. James smiled.

"It feels so good to have my little girl in my arms again." James said. They soon parted
from their embrace. James smiled at Selenity again. "I just hope your mother can forgive
me and give me another chance." he said, his tone of voice changing.

"Don't worry. Just give her time. I'm sure she'll come around." Selenity said with a
smile, trying to cheer him up.

"Thanks, Selenity." James said.

Soon, Selenity and James engaged in conversation. They talked about their lives, what
they had done, and caught up with each other. Suddenly, they were disturbed by a knock
on the door.

"I'll get that." Selenity said. She rose from her chair and went to open the door. When she
opened the door, she gasped a little.

"Endymion! What are you doing here?" Selenity asked.

"Who's at the door?" James asked.

"It's Endymion." Selenity said, answering James.

"Endymion? Who's Endymion?" James asked.

"You'll find out soon." Selenity said.

"Selenity. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in your room?" Endymion
whispered.

"Don't worry. I'm fine. I was just getting to know my father. That's all." Selenity said.
Endymion had an uneasy look on his face. "Oh, come on. He's not all bad. He's a very
nice man. You just have to get to know him, that's all." Selenity said, trying to wipe off
the look on Endymion's face. He still had that look on his face. Selenity gave up. She
took Endymion by the hand and dragged him into the room, quickly closing the door.

"James...err....Dad, this is Endymion." Selenity said. James looked at Endymion from
head to toe.

"Hey...weren't you the guy that punched me today?" James asked, raising an eyebrow.
Selenity suddenly blushed.

"Oh, that was an accident. We didn't know who you were and he was just trying to
protect me." Selenity explained quickly, trying to brush it off. James let out a small
chuckle.

"Well, Endymion. It is certainly nice to meet you, when you're not punching me, that is."
James said sarcastically. James extended his hand out to Endymion. Endymion hesitated
at first, but soon took his hand and they shook hands. Selenity pulled up a chair next to
hers. Selenity and Endymion took a seat next to each other.

"So, Endymion. I was just wondering something. Why did you punch me earlier?" James
asked. "Are you Selenity's bodyguard or something?" Endymion scratched his head.

"Um...I guess you could say that." Endymion answered.

"Oh my god, Endymion. You do not know how to answer questions!" Selenity said. She
turned towards her father.

"Endymion isn't my bodyguard. He's my fiancé." Selenity said with a smile. James had a
surprised look on his face.

"Well well well. Now I understand why you punched me." James said with a chuckle. His
facial expression soon changed from a happy one to a serious one. "Do you still dislike
me?" James asked. Endymion had a guilty look on his face.

"Well, yes I do. But I'll like from now on, for Selenity." Endymion said. James just stared
at Endymion and Endymion stared back. Suddenly, Endymion started to laugh. James did
too. "I'm sorry, James. I apologize for punching you." Endymion said. James laughed.
"All is forgiven." James said. They shook hands again to show there was no hard
feelings. For the rest of the time, Endymion, Selenity, and James talked. Everything was
going fine until....

"Endymion. I hope you know that you are going to marry a wonderful young lady who
loves you very much." James said. Endymion smiled.

"Of course I know. If I didn't, I might not be getting married to her." Endymion said
matter-of-factly. James smiled at that. "I hope you know that I love your daughter very
much and that I'd do anything for her. Even punch her father in the face!" Endymion said,
laughing a little. James laughed with Endymion.

"So, I see." James said. Endymion turned to Selenity.

"And I hope you know that I mean what I said. I do truly love you and I'd do anything for
you." Endymion said, looking lovingly into Selenity's eyes. Selenity began to blush and
smiled. Endymion lightly brushed her lips with a kiss. Selenity continued to smile. James
smiled, happy to know that Selenity was in good hands.

"Oh, Endymion. There's one thing that I keep forgetting to ask you." James said.

"What is it?" Endymion asked.

"I know this is a stupid question, but I was just wondering...are you a prince? I mean,
you're wearing regal clothing and all." James said.

"Yes. I am a prince. I'm the prince of the planet Earth." Endymion said proudly. Selenity
smiled proudly too. James, however, did not smile.

"You're from...Earth?" James asked. Endymion's smile vanished immediately.

"Yes. Why? Is that a problem?" Endymion asked.

"Yes, it is a problem." James turned towards Selenity. "Do you realize that you're going
to marry the prince of the Earth?" James asked.

"Of course I know." Selenity said.

"But why? Earth is our enemy. They've always been, and they always will." James said
defensively.

"James. It's not like that anymore. Earth and the Moon are now allies." Endymion
replied.

"Well, when I was the king..." James was interrupted.

"But you're not the king anymore. And yes, you are right. The Earth and the Moon were
enemies for a long time, even when you were king, but ever since you left, Queen
Serenity has been able to make Earth an ally of the Moon." Endymion explained. James
sighed and shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Endymion. I can't let this happen." James said.

"No...you're not saying..." Selenity said, unable to finish her sentence. She held on to
Endymion's hand tightly, as if she was going to be separated from him.

"Yes, Selenity. I am saying that." James said. There was complete silence for a moment.
"I'm sorry, you two, but I forbid you two from marrying each other."

*****

TO BE CONTINUED

*****

SN: Please, as always, R+R! If you would like me to email you when I update, please
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email me. Well, until next time, jaa! ^.~