Oh yeah... I know I said this one would be shorter than the last. But, I included the flashback and now it is a lot larger... Well, read it! :-)

TITLE: To Choose A Wife. 2b
AUTHOR: Leni

DISCLAIMER: I've noticed nobody wants Rubeus... give him a good attitude and maybe I could find him a place in my humble home. *winks*
DISTRIBUTION: Mail me. Then take it.
SUMMARY: Endymion and Serenity. Molly has a question. Darien is relaxing but... guess what? A little voice won't let him! *evil laugh*
RATING: I'm sure this is PG-13 still... some may think it's PG-15... Oh, I don't know... just read it, please? Besides, these are Endy and Sere... how steamy can it get? Mmm... okay, don't answer. PG-14, it's final.
FEEDBACK: You won't like to see me begging. Don't make me. If you are reading this at Ff.net then review! review! REVIEW! dani_vasq@hotmail.com , a_d_v_v@yahoo.com.ar

"" represents speech.
// represents flashback.
represents thoughts.
represents 'annoying little voice'. I.e. Conscience.
***
//

A pair of strong arms wrapped around her and brought her body roughly into a strong chest.

"What are you doing here, little one?" he asked as he kissed her cheek lovingly.

She smiled in delight and relaxed against him. "Just enjoying the view, my dear."

His hands traced slowly her covered abdomen and she shivered as they went higher. "And are you enjoying the view, my little bunny?"

So distracted she was by his caress that she almost didn't hear his voice... Summoning some self-control she turned in his arms and looked directly into his dark blue eyes. "Very much," she responded flirty, caressing him softly.

He laughed, really laughed, gathering her upper body strongly against his chest and twirling her around. She giggled happily "Stop, Endymion! Stop!" and rested snugly against him when he finally stopped.

A corner of his mouth quirked up as he brought her body even closer to hid, one thumb tracing deliciously slowly over her spine. "Aren't I the one supposed to compliment you?" he whispered before kissing her neck.

Her eyes twinkled and she smiled. "Feel free to start at any moment," she teased.

"So I shall," he murmured just before separating their forms, putting some inches of distance between them. He took one of her hands in his and glanced appreciatively at her body. She blushed but stayed silent as he studied her. "Gods, you are so beautiful, my princess," was his final decision as he brought her back to his arms.

She was still smiling as he kissed her. She let her hands stay on his shoulders and, as the kiss grew longer and sweeter, she acted bolder pressing herself against him, demanding more of his kisses and mimicking the hands currently moving over her back, holding the nape of her neck lovingly and unbuttoning any button they found on their way...

"Oh gods, I love you so much Sere---"

//
"Serena Tsukino!"

Serena opened her eyes and for an instant her mind reached for her lover's. Lover... Serena blushed at the thought.

"Are you even listening to me, Miss. Tsukino?"

She internally groaned. As if it wasn't enough to remember her past life with Dar-- Endymion... They are one and the same, don't forget it. Whatever! ...did the memory have to come in the middle of her History class? "Yes, Mrs. Yakamoto."

Two years after leaving Miss Haruna's classroom, Serena found herself missing the ill-tempered teacher. How was that for irony? At least with Haruna-sensei, she reasoned, there was the possibility of a good mood if she had a date... no such luck with divorced and male-hater Mrs. Yakamoto... True, her old teacher could be grouchy with the best of them, but the worst Miss Haruna has ever done was to give her detention... while Mrs. Yakamoto would surely make sure to ruin her whole week. Serena sighed as she discovered that she was right.

"You'll give me an essay on the repercussions of the French Revolution in America for... let's say... Friday, is it understood?" The teacher gave her a hard look. Serena nodded meekly. Why would a *French* revolution have repercussions in *America*? Wasn't there a whole ocean in between? She just hoped Amy had some free time after the meeting. She searched for her friend across the classroom and gaped as she found her happily sleeping in the back of the room. Lita was in front of her, so that the teacher wouldn't see Amy's impromptu nap, and covered a yawn. Mina was the first to notice Serena, waving at her in exaggerated glee. Molly was next, signalling to Serena that she needed to talk with her in the break...

"And I expect no less than 1500 words," Mrs. Yakamoto continued, breaking through the surprise the unexpected sight Amy sleeping in class?! had caused.

"What? Thousand five hundred?" she squeaked when it finally sunk in. The woman just nodded curtly and turned around to go back to her desk. Serena sighed resignedly.

"That should teach you not to daydream in my class."

The other pupils snickered at Serena's antics, it had been a long time since she had fallen asleep in class. Those who had known her longer were surprised it had taken so long to fall back in the old habit.

Serena wanted to protest. I was not daydreaming! I was just receiving flashes of my past life... I can't control it! They hit whenever they want! Well, okay, maybe she had *unconsciously* called upon them after thinking so much about her earlier encounter with Darien. But it wasn't fair, she sulked, if thinking about that jerk was all it took for her to remember Serenity's and Endymion's conversations, dates and other... activities... They had a sexual relationship, you dimwit! And Serenity enjoyed it pretty much... then she would be flashbacking all the time!

Serena sighed. As if Mrs. Yakamoto would believe a word. She would just send to the school counsellor to 'sort out her problems'. And how would she explain visions about herself and her nemesis undressing each other? She blushed again. Damn, but those memories felt really real!

A groan escaped her. How was she supposed to confront Darien today at the meeting when she could only think of the fiery look in his Endymion's! eyes as he leaned in to kiss h--- Serenity. But... she was Serenity's reincarnation, wasn't she? And Darien was Endymion's. And if Serenity had felt oh so secure and comforted in Endymion's arms then it was only logical that she, Serena Tsukino, would feel the same in Darien's... wasn't it? Wasn't it?!

She stomped her head on her desk. That only earned her another harsh glare from her teacher and absolutely no answers.

Serena just *knew* that she should have followed Luna's words and stayed in bed today.
***

The man in the room cringed as the door was thrown open, envying the calm disposition of his partner. A loud thud signalled the door's encounter with the wall. He prepared himself mentally to confront the tempest crossing the threshold...

"Grandpa?" came the deceptively soft voice, "Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to interrupt your meditation."

The old man opened his eyes and looked at the black-haired maiden in front of him. Then he noticed the broom and the bucket in her hands and understood immediately. "Chad?" he called softly, as not to alter his apprentice's deep trance.

No answer.

"Chad?" A little more forcefully this time.

Silence.

Grandpa finally stood and shook the longhaired man.

"Uh? W--- what?" he spluttered. "What's up?" he finally asked with a yawn just as he met Grandpa's half-amused, half-exasperated stare. Chad gulped. "I fell asleep again, didn't I?" he inquired meekly.

Two twin aches at the sides of his head answered at him.

"And you forgot you promised me to help cleaning the roof!" Raye reminded him sharply.

Not surprisingly, Chad noted, her voice came from the side which most hurt. He winced. "I'm going, I'm going, love." He got up slowly.

"Here are your tools." Raye dropped the broom and bucket at his feet. "And don't 'love' me until the roof is clean, understood?" She glared at her boyfriend and spun back to the door.

Chad nodded slowly, his thought-processing ability still awakening. Just this instant he was content watching Raye's back undulate as she walked...

On the side, Grandpa was grinning at the spectacle. Oh, he had always known that those young ones would end up together, he had even cheered when Chad finally asked for his permission to court his granddaughter... but never - *never* - could he have guessed that this relationship would be so much fun!

Suddenly Raye turned around, flung herself into Chad's arms and kissed him quickly. "By the way, I love you to, baby."

Now fully awake, a very confused Chad stared at his girlfriend's retreating form and then down at the wise man looking for an explanation.

Grandpa shrugged and instantly proceeded to teach his pupil one of the most important lessons of life... "God told us to love them," he started referring to the departing girl, "he never said we had to understand them." Chad nodded slowly, assimilating the very true message, then grabbed his tools and set off for the roof.

Still musing about Grandpa's words, he passed Raye working in the garden and smiled as she winked and blew him a kiss.

Chad sighed in contentment. Maybe he would never understand women but God, he really loved this one!

In the meditation room, Grandpa smiled knowingly.

***

Serena stopped and glanced curiously at her friend.

Molly just blushed a pretty red.

"And how would I know, Moll? It's not exactly my area of expertise, you know?"

"Well, yeah... but you are the only girl I could ask this, 'Rena and... well... I..." Molly sighed in loss.

Seeing that the embarrassed stammering had stopped, Serena boldly asked, "Have you tried nipping him? Boys really like that."

Molly blushed brighter but nodded anyway.

"Hmm... and what about your tongue? Licking is good too... oh! and sucking! Can't forget to suck!"

"Serena!" Molly stopped her slightly mortified, glancing around to see if someone was listening to their conversation.

Her blonde friend just giggled at her actions. "Well, you asked," was her amused response.

Molly sighed. Yes, she had asked. And 'licking' plus 'sucking' was not the answer she had been prepared to hear... "That's just... gross too!"

Serena put her arm around Molly's and guided her to a more isolated corner. "Oh come on, Moll" she whispered as they passed some senior girls, "You can kiss him a la French but you can't lick from the corner of his mouth until his earlobe and then suck... just a little?"

"Well..." she fidgeted nervously.

"Trust me, Molly, Melvin will *love* that."

Molly raised her head and smiled at her long-time friend. "You think, 'Rena?"

"Cross my heart and hope to die," Serena giggled at the childish oath.

"And how come you know so much, huh?" Molly asked with a wiggle of eyebrows.

Now it was Serena's turn to blush and fidget...
//

"And how come you know so much, Your Majesty?"

She had come back to the Luna Palace mere hours ago. She had had a long talk with her mother, who for once put aside state affairs in favour of her newly engaged daughter, about the plans she and Endymion had for the wedding and, foremost, her experiences in Earth.

Now she was spending some time with her closer friends. She had brought each of them a little souvenir from Earth and was delighted as the girls oohed and aahed the curiosities from the blue and green planet.

"Fire without magic," she told Mars with a wink, "so you won't be drained every time you try to light a candle." The girls snickered and the raven-haired Senshi accepted the matchbox with a fake scowl. After three misguided attempts - one of which nearly burned Mars' eyebrows and another scared Venu's baby rabbit (she had always wanted to know what kind of animal would Prince Endymion name her Princess after)- Mars finally got it and was currently amusedly estimating how long she could hold the fire before in burned her fingers.

Mercury was sorting through the stones and shells Their Majesties had collected on their trip to a Terran beach. Of course, Serenity didn't tell her of the batch they lost to the sea because they had been... distracted... as the tide stole it into the deep water.

Jupiter was fingering the earrings and had asked curiously what they represented.

"Roses."

Mercury's head snapped up. Venus took a look at the bright red buds and sighed, "They are beautiful."

"And delicate too," Mercury agreed, "it's a shame they won't grow on Luna."

"Why not?" Jupiter asked as she took the lighting earrings off her earlobes and replaced them with her Princess' present.

"For starters, seeds cannot survive teletransportation. Unlike people, animals and even some stronger plants, they cannot channel the magical energy and it leaves them vulnerable," the blue-haired Senshi recounted.

"Even if the seeds could somehow come to Luna, it would be nearly impossible to grow them here," Serenity continued, "the differences in temperature and ambience here would kill the bushes after some weeks, not to mention that they need a fertile soil that not even Mother's Crystal could give us." She sighed wistfully. "On Earth Endymion showed me gardens and gardens full of roses. They were of all colours... red, pink... yellow... and everything in-between, it was beautiful..."

"Tell us more," pleaded Jupiter.

"Yes, what did you see on Earth, Serenity?" inquired an excited Venus, "and tell us about these roses, too!" Educated under Artemis' fond tutelage, the Venusian Scout always enjoyed a good tale. Serenity smiled as she tried to remember everything she had learned from her fiancé about his favourite flowers...

She told the girls about how Terrans recollected and chose the best seeds and of the methods for planting them... she told them that some breeds took years to blossom... and how they smelled sweetly at dawn (of course, she ignored the Senshi's snickers as she didn't tell them exactly what she had done at dawn in a garden.)... she told them that the Queen personally chose the prettiest flowers to adorn the castle... and how beautiful were the even when dried...

And that was when Endymion entered.

"And how come you know so much, You Majesty?"

"Well, someone told me about it while I was on Earth."

"Oh yes?" he asked as he stalked towards her, "and do I know this nameless teacher?"

"Mmm..." Serenity made as to trying to remember, "I don't think so, he was actually a very nice gentleman."

Endymion smirked at this, his arms going around his fiancée's frame, hand searching hers. Jupiter and Venus giggled at the sight while Mars sent Endymion a deathly glare...

Serenity blushed, she still wasn't accustomed to his shows of affection in front of an audience... specially if the audience included the ever-gossiping Venus and the protective Mars.

"Well," Jupiter said loudly, pulling Venus on her feet, "I guess there are too many people here." She winked unabashedly at her Princess who just blushed brighter. Venus actually pouted even as Mercury gathered her present and scrambled rapidly to her feet. Mars just bowed slightly at Endymion and when he smiled at her in greeting, the Scout smirked back evilly, the flame of her latest match blaring and then dying out under Mars' wordless order.

The Prince didn't even blink, just crossed his hands - intertwined with Serenity's - across her abdomen, bringing the Princess closer to him.

Mars left in a huff, Mercury following her in an attempt to soothe the Martian's ire.

Venus and Jupiter winced and looked in sympathy at the couple. Then they bowed and left the garden silently.

//
"How comes you know so much, huh?"

Serena shook her head and concentrated on Molly's curious question. "I guess I've read too many teen magazines," she answered nervously. Molly would never believe her where she had learned those tricks from.

The redhead looked at her friend suspiciously but finally shrugged it off. If Serena didn't want to tell her then it was her problem. "Well, I hope your readings will help Melvin and me."

"Oh Moll, you know Melvin better than I. New kissing techniques or not he'll still love and stalk you," Serena giggled.

"He doesn't stalk!" Molly defended her boyfriend. "He just... mmm... is a tad protective."

"Just jokin', girl," she placated her friend, "I know he doesn't mean any harm. 'Sides," she finished with a wink, "Your boyfriend is a complete sweetie."

Molly poked her playfully on the ribs. "Paws off my man, girlfriend!" she laughed, "Not my fault if you didn't notice him first."

"Not that he'd notice me back in the first place." Serena spied the other Scouts at the other side of the court and tugged Molly towards them. "I swear I saw a 'Molly + Melvin' on his notebook the other day. Complete with a heart and its arrow!" She sighed longingly.

"Really?" Molly blushed. "See? That's what I was talking about! Here I think I have him completely unveiled and then he comes out and does something out of the blue. Well.. A new kiss is a nice surprise, isn't it? 'Cause, well... I want to surprise him too!"

Serena paused midstep but resumed walking before Molly could notice. "Don't we all?"

//

"She hates me," he finally murmured when they were alone.

"She doesn't," Serenity said unconvincingly, appalled herself at her friend's behaviour. "At least she hasn't tried to burn you," she added with more optimism.

"Yet," Endymion reminded her gloomily.

Serenity giggled. "She is not that bad."

He glared.

"Really!"

More glares.

"She is just... protective."

He sighed. "Well, I am too but I don't go around scaring everyone within two feet of you!" He rested his chin on the back of her head, letting their intertwined hands hang loosely at their sides.

"Of course not," she agreed mockingly, "you only terrorise very eligible male within *twenty* feet."

"*I* am the *only* eligible male for you; understood, bunny?" He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. When he released it, she caressed his cheek lovingly.

"How would I know when all others scurry far from my big bad fiancé?" she pouted.

He grabbed her wrist again and began sucking her fingers. In a pause he asked darkly, "and is he really that bad?" his voice was muffled by the palm of her hand.

Serenity bit back a moan. "The worst," she whispered contentedly, feeling his hand guide hers across her body. Endymion had temporally lost interest in her free hand and was now concentrating on her neck. it was wonderfully torturous and wicked to feel her own hand tracing her breast as Endymion's fingers caressed her arm until her other hand was engulfed in his. And then he began to massage each finger deliciously... oh god, if someone had told her that her *thumb* could be an erogenmmm... "Endymion..."

"The worst, aren't I?" he murmured against her neck, sending shivers down hr body.

"Uh-huh." She just loved it when he hooked her arms behind his neck, leaving her helpless against his explorations. One hand squirmed on her back, relieving the sore muscles from her little practice with Mars and Venus, while the other went across the most pleasurable spots on her torso. And then he just... stopped.

"Endymion?"

"That's for you to rightfully maintain to having the worst fiancé," he told her wickedly.

"Endymion!" she scolded now throughfully frustrated. Damn it, it had only be a joke!

He twirled her around, letting her see that he was only kidding as well. "Do you like this fiancé of yours, princess?" he asked amused.

She bit her lip, making a show of considering her answer. "Well," she finally said, "only when he is not being an obnoxious and spoiled prince."

Endymion smirked. "I love you too, my pampered, whiny princess." And he leaned to give her a kiss.

Serenity was the first to come up for air. "God, what a pair we make!" she said with a happy smile, "I guess the phrase 'for better or for worse' should be 'in sanity or craziness' for us, don't you think so?"

"Oh, I see someone has been studying Terran binding customs, huh?" He hugged her tighter.

"After you mother grilled me for a *complete* hour as to *why* I had to use her old wedding dress, I decided to learn a little mmm..."

Apparently, Endymion wasn't so concerned about her new interest in his culture...

She stopped the kiss abruptly. "I just have this little doubt about a custom of yours, care to explain what it consists of?"

He looked at her strangely and sighed. "Okay," he grunted, clearly eager to continue kissing.

"What's a honeymoon?" she asked innocently.

He winked and stared at her, discovering that her intention were anything but 'innocent'. He wondered for a second when had this beautiful vixen replaced his pure fiancé, and remembered that he was the principal cause for the change, Endymion was the one who had brought the inner sexy woman forth. Then he threw his head back and laughed. Loudly. "Oh Serenity," he managed after this mirth subsided. "The honeymoon is a time for the spouses to know each other completely, unveiling any surprises in their relationship." A caressing brush at her side let her know exactly what he meant. "I'm afraid," he kept on, "that there won't be any surprise between us by that time."

As her answer, Serenity grabbed Endymion's face, giving him a deep and slow kiss. Finally satisfied, she finished with a quick peck on his lips, licked her own and then proceeded to lick his mouth from corner to corner. When he opened to let her tongue enter, she just ignored it, creating a wet trail across his cheek. With her body rubbing against his at her every movement and her hands leaving mad patterns on his back, Endymion couldn't help but groan when his beautiful fiancé began sucking on his earlobe...

"Are you surprised yet?" the little tease whispered on his ear.

He just nodded and carried her to a more comfortable spot.

//

"Don't we all?" Serena responded, "Surprises are the spice of any relationship."

"That's exactly what Melvin said..." Molly grumbled, "... before inviting me to a rodeo."

Serena blinked. "A rodeo?"

The redhead nodded.

"A little strange, that is... but sweet nonetheless," she said sincerely. "Congrats, Molly, you managed to snag yourself the last gentleman on this side of the planet."

Picking up her friend's decaying mood, Molly rushed to console her. "Oh Serena, don't be so pessimistic. I'm sure your personal Prince Charming is waiting for you around the next corner."

The corner three blocks from the school, actually.

Serena snorted. "Yeah, sure, so far I've only found frogs."

Really good looking frogs with a good taste in clothes.

Good taste? Oh please! With that green jacket he actually resembles a *real* frog!

"'Rena? You remember you have to kiss the frogs before seeing if it was Prince Charming or not, don't you?"

Girl took the words out of my mouth.

Serena sighed. "Maybe you are right, Moll."

Molly finally noticed the girls at the corner. "Hey 'Rena, aren't they your friends?"

"Yeah," Serena looked at them and noted that they were sitting closely together, Mina and Lita whispering back and forth as Amy debated between whatever was on her laptop and going back to sleep. "I wonder what they are talking so secretively about."

"Maybe a boyfriend?" Molly offered. "Amy was awfully tired in class... wonder why?" she said suggestively.

"Amy?" Serena laughed. "Nah! I adore that girl but the last guy she paid any attention to was the one who equalled her exam results!"

Molly nodded in remembrance. "Oh yeah, I actually remember him. But that was ages ago!"

Serena shrugged. "I think they are still pen-pals."

"That doesn't account for her pulling an all-nighter... Poor Amy, she looks really exhausted today."

"It isn't fair, you know?" the blonde complained. "I close my eyes for a few seconds and get this mega-sized assignment... Amy sleeps like the dead and Mrs. Yakamoto doesn't even scold her!"

"Maybe Mrs. Yakamoto is Miss Haruna's friend..." Molly suggested with a smile.

"Yeah, maybe, " Serena grumbled. Now that was a prospect she didn't like to even consider.

"Or maybe she just didn't like your snores..." The redhead laughed at her friend's hurt expression.

"Har, har, Molly. Very funny." She poked her tongue out at her friend.

The bell rang.

***

White cup. Black coffee.

Yeah, kind of obvious after fifteen minutes of staring at the damned cup! Could you stop with the brooding?

Darien sighed. His inner voice didn't even have manners.

Okay, okay... could you *please* stop brooding? It's giving us a headache!

He had hoped that a normal day at the university and then his normal cup of coffee at Drew's arcade would help him relax before the meeting.

It's not the meeting, you fool. It is THE meeting. I'd say that choosing a fiancée would account for the capital letters.

Voilá! *That* was the reason he wasn't able to relax. Darien groaned. Why was it that when you were trying to forget a specific fact came a little annoying voice and reminded you of it?

Because I'm annoying? Duh!

Just shut up. I'm enjoying my coffee here.

*It* lifted an imaginary eyebrow. You haven't even touched the stuff, pal. Darien could almost hear the snickering in a hidden corner of his unconscious.

"Hey Darien, you okay, mate?" came a friendly voice from the other side of the counter.

"I'm fine, Andrew," he growled.

The blonde's eyebrows shot up in response. Darien was generally too composed to snap at anybody like that. "Oookay," he began cautiously, "of course you are fine, 'Rien. Just tell me when the dark cloud's passed, okay?" With that said he headed for another customer to take his order.

You just scared you best friend, the voice lectured.

"My coffee is getting cold," Darien murmured and gulped down half of it in one go.

And you are ignoring me!

"I need help. Lots of it. Now," he whispered to the half empty cup.

It's half *full*. Are you always this pessimist? Wait. Don't answer that. Duh me! Geez, pal, no wonder you need help so badly.

Darien drank the rest of the coffee. There, it's empty. Happy now?

I could help if you want... the voice offered.

Darien ignored it and stared into his empty cup. One second. Two seconds. Three... and so on until he noticed the girl in the booth next to his staring at him. And it was not the 'I'm single and live alone' look, it was more of a 'Good looks, no brains to go with them. Why is he staring at that cup, for God's sake?' look. He sighed and asked Lizzie for another coffee. "And tell Drew I wanna talk with him, will you?" Lizzie nodded and went off to retrieve his order.

Five minutes later Darien was back staring at a full white cup. The coffee was fresh and black...

Oh god, there we go again... it whined.

This wasn't relaxing him. Not at all. He consulted his watch and sighed, he had still twenty minutes to kill off before he had to head out for Raye's.

He began sipping very slowly at the hot coffee and tried to put his mind in blank.

Hell no! Blank is bad! Now think of some way to get off that wedding!

Blank.

Or at least think how to convince Serena to marry you!

That made Darien snap and with a strong willpower he forced that irrational voice into the deep recesses of his mind. Then he breathed in deeply and began ordering the *rational* thoughts and facts:

1) Never more ask Lizzie for coffee. Only Andrew knew how he liked it.
2) He would rather abdicate than marry a Scout.
3) He could *not* abdicate. He was the one and only reincarnated Prince of Earth. Damn!
4) Setsuna was mental if she thought he would marry one of his *friends*.
5) Setsuna could be crazy but NOT wrong. If she said he must marry, then he MUST...

Darien groaned. He did not want to marry yet. Much less a Scout. But apparently he had to do it. But I don't want to choose one of them! he thought desperately.

Then let them choose between themselves.

Darien didn't even wonder how the annoying voice had recovered the shotgun seat of his conscious. This time it had actually said something helpful. If they couldn't make Setsuna desist of this mission, then he would accept whatever the Scouts decided. He smiled and sat more comfortably now. After all, the Senshi were mature young women and they could reach a wise decision. They wouldn't do something foolish like... like pairing him with Serena, for example!

Any reason you thought specifically of Serena?

Darien rolled his eyes. For some unknown reason, his unconscious had decided he was in love with Serena.

Aren't you?

That didn't even deserve an answer, Darien decided. True, the little annoying brat he met nearly three years ago had matured into a very determined teenager... but she still regressed ten years every time they were in the same room.

As if she was the only one doing the regressing!

Darien grinned, yeah, so sometimes he went 'a little' out of character when he was with her... but she deserved it!

And that has nothing to do with the fact of how beautiful she looks when she is mad? it asked snidely.

Nothing, Darien responded assuredly.

Ha! it said triumphantly, so you finally admit she is beautiful!

He shrugged mentally. No point denying it.

You are denying so many things lately... A pause. And she is graceful too, isn't she? it insisted.

Let's say she's not such a klutz nowadays.

And she is funny...

When she is not being a smart-ass with that vapid tongue of hers. Darien could almost feel *it* refraining to retort on the 'tongue'-comment.

But she is also cute, nice and well-mannered, it continued relentlessly.

Well, yeah, Darien finally gave in, remembering the few occasions where he had been able to appreciate the true Serena, not the Scout or the Princess-wannabe... just... Serena laughing freely with the girls, opening her eyes wide when Andrew gave her a 'special' sundae... Serena running on her way to school and the gasp of surprise every time she bumped him...

She would be a good girlfriend to any guy, wouldn't she?

I guess... he responded uncomfortably. For some reason, it didn't bode well the idea of Serena going out with someone else...

Ha! Someone else as in 'someone else than me', Darien?

Darien just furrowed his brow sharply and decided to ignore the voice's foolish rant. So far, it had only helped him in *one* thing, and that had NOTHING to do with Serena.

"You wanted anything, Darien?"

He looked up to discover Andrew waiting for his answer. Why had he sent Lizzie for her brother? You wanted to find a excuse to ignore me... it reminded him. "Err... well... I just wanted to... chat. You know, apologise for being such a jerk a while ago..."

"It's alright, Dare. No prob."

"Thanks..." He looked at the clock. "Well, what do you know? It's late already. You know how Raye gets when someone is late." He smiled weakly.

Andrew scrutinised his best friend, he didn't know what was happening but Darien seemed unusually tense. A wild idea stuck him... "You are not planning to go back with Raye, are you?" It wouldn't do, Andrew thought worriedly, Darien had seemed sincere about his interest for Serena. If he wanted to shack back with Raye in some attempt at denial, it would backfire horribly... and knowing Raye the 'backfiring' could be very literal.

He breathed when Darien actually laughed. "No, Drew! For God's sake, Raye and I are only good friends now. 'Sides, she is already in a relationship."

Andrew smiled. "I didn't know. She hasn't brought him here yet, has she?" He was sure she hadn't, he would surely notice one of his favourite clients bringing a boyfriend it. Specially with the noise the other girls would make if it actually happened.

"She's maintaining it a secret," Darien told him confidentially, "apparently she wants a quiet beginning and she knows the girls won't offer it."

"And you know this because..."

Darien smiled. "I saw her and Chad at the mall." They had seemed very in love holding hands like that. Who would have guessed? Temperamental Raye in love with quiet Chad! Miracles did exist after all. "I just guessed the rest."

"Chad?" Andrew asked puzzled, "isn't that the guy she swore to throw off her temple at the first chance she got?"

"The one and only." Darien grinned. "It's been two years and something, Drew. Things like that are bound to change. You can't hate a person forever, especially when they live and work so closely."

Andrew thought it terribly hypocritical for Darien to say that... or it would be if a blooming love for the 'Meatball Head' wasn't hiding behind that cool exterior.

Darien was pulling her wallet out of his pocket when THE voice reinitiated its attack. Raye is now in love with someone she detested two years ago... doesn't it sound any bells for you, pal?

Shut up. Darien took some bills out and placed them before Andrew. "That's for the coffee. Next time don't let Lizzie serve me," he added with a smile.

Andrew nodded.

Hello!!! Your refusal to accept the simple truth is amazing. Repeat after me: I am in love with Serena... Now say it!

I am NOT in love with Serena. "Bye 'Drew."

Andrew smirked as he waved Darien goodbye. He was sure his friend hadn't even noticed it but he had said clearly that he was not in love with Serena... Mmmm... Andrew laughed quietly. "Of course not, Dare," he murmured, "that's why you're thinking of her even when we haven't mentioned her name at all... Not loving her my ass!" He shook his head.

So much denial... it couldn't be healthy.
***

That's all, guys. I hope you enjoyed it. I hope you don't mind Molly in this story, I'm not sure if she will do another apparition in this fic but I felt she is far too abandoned in the SM-fiction... I also liked writing the flashbacks, as you may have noticed I've named the moon as Luna. I just thought that every planet has 'moons' and the center of the Silver Millenium should be special.

K&S
Leni.