Dear Isabella

Chapter 6 By A Shot of Amber

Please remember to read and review or send all comments, questions, suggestions, and flames to Saphrians_Water_Reflection@hotmail.com. Thank you!

Dear Isabella Chapter 6

It had been only two days since I last saw Darien and I was at a stand still when it came to him. Did I want to see him again? Without a doubt yes I did. I wanted to see him and talk to him and laugh with him and be with him. Was I in love with him? Maybe but I doubt it. If Mina knew about it she would call it a crush and nothing more. A crush? It had to be more then a crush if I was hoping that every time the phone rang it would be him breathing on the other line.

No instead it was John calling for Alex. The Winter Formal was coming up. It was all Alex talked about. It was all I could listen to without going crazy. We had bought her dress from the local Charlotte Ruse. A dress that cost me upwards of fifty dollars. She had better appreciate the dress that was all I could say. It was flashy but not sexy, well not too sexy. It was a white strapless sheath with little golden beaded flowers scattered over it. I thought it was beautiful and for a mothers pride on her it looked great. This John guy had better love her in it.

Serena picked up the delicate glass ornament and carefully hung it on the tree. Tyler and Andrew had brought it home only hours earlier and promptly scattered pine needles everywhere in her car which they had used to bring the tree home and inside the house when they dragged it in. After an hours worth of vacuuming and listening to Andrew curse at the tree stand they had gotten the tree up and the ornaments out. While the other kids got ready for bed, they still had school tomorrow, Serena pulled her ornaments out of the basement and got to work decorating. The tree was in the same room as the computer. The glow of the screed reflected on the glass ornaments. Andrew was upstairs in the shower, to him Christmas was a meant for shopping for endless gifts and cursing at the tree. For me it was something special and magical. I loved Christmas.

Serena hung up a pair of delicate glass ballet slippers on the tree then stood back to admire her work. She had been at it for an hour and was almost finished. Twice the tree had tipped but she somehow got it upright again and continued to hang ornaments. Behind her the computer screen blinked and glowed. She had turned on the internet but none of her friends were on. Absentmindedly Serena wondered if they were decorating their own trees at that moment. She was bending down to pick up another box of ornaments when the computer dinged. Serena stood up and turned around to see the instant message alert on the screen. Her heart constricted in her throat as she read who it was from.

Serena walked over and moved the mouse to click on the okay button then sat down while the screen blinked and his message appeared.

PrinceEndymion: Your on early tonight. MonPrincess: I was decorating the tree and waiting for you. PrinceEndymion: Really? I'm flattered. MonPrincess: LOL, you should be. So what are you doing on so early? PrinceEndymion: I was sitting bored at work so I thought I would see if you are on. MonPrincess: Well here I am! PrinceEndymion; I'm glad you are. I really wanted to talk to you. MonPrincess: About what? PrinceEndymion: What are you doing Saturday night?

" Watching Alex go out with a boy I barely know," Serena muttered to herself.

MonPrincess: Oh the usual seeing, making dinner, seeing my daughter off to a big dance, yadda yadda. PrinceEndymion: LOL, sounds interesting. Are you to busy to meet me for coffee? MonPrincess: What time? PrinceEndymion: What time are you free? MonPrincess: At 7 I have to drop Alex and her date off at the school so anytime after 7. PrinceEndymion: Alright how about at the Starbucks on Sinjuku Avenue? MonPrincess: I'll be there with bells on. PrinceEndymion: I look forward to it.

" Have you finished with the tree yet?" Andrew called from upstairs.

Serena clicked the message box closed, turned off the internet and got up from her chair.

" No not yet, I still have some ornaments to put up," she replied as she pushed her bangs out of her face and walked over to the tree again.

" Well I'm going to bed, I'll see you up there."

" Yea, I'll be up later," Serena called out to him.

Serena listened to the door to their bedroom close then got up from the floor where she was kneeling. Hopefully he was still on.he was.

MonPrincess: So I was thinking who needs sleep. PrinceEndymion: Where did you go? MonPrincess: I got temporarily disconnected. PrinceEndymion: I see, while you were gone I missed you. MonPrincess: Flatterer. PrinceEndymion: So anyway do you want to know where I keep your picture? MonPrincess: Let me guess anywhere where your wife can't see it. PrinceEndymion: Beryl is hardly home enough for me to see it. No instead its here on my desk at work. MonPrincess: Your working late? PrinceEndymion: Yea, I'm all alone in the office with just the cleaning staff and you to keep me company. MonPrincess: I wish I was there. PrinceEndymion: So do I.

Serena turned around and looked at the tree in the corner of the room. It glistened with all its ornaments in the light of the computer.

* * * * * * *

" So I'm thinking we should do something on Saturday night, I'm once again dateless and am going to be very bored."

Serena looked up from the towel she was looking at. " Mina I would love to but I have plans with Andrew. We are going out to dinner."

" I thought you had to drop Alex off at the dance? When do you have time to go to dinner?"

" After we drop her off at the dance and before we have to pick her up. It's a four hour dance, we'll have time to have dinner." Serena set down the towel she was looking at and moved on to the pots and pans.

What a cool liar you are. Serena smiled to herself, a small smile that showed how happy she was. Saturday night she was going out, but not with Andrew. He would be home with the kids while she spent another magical night with Darien. Actually this would be her first night with him, their first date had been in the day.

Mina watched the way Serena's eyes shone as she ran her hand over a silver pot. Either she was very excited about pots and pans or something was happening. There was no way Serena was the same person she was a week ago, that the computer had changed her.

No! There was nothing wrong with Serena. There couldn't be? Could there?

* * * * * * *

Serena positioned herself at the bottom of the stairs where she could get the best pictures. Alex was still at the top standing tall and silhouetted so her date could get the full view. John stood next to Serena dressed in a suit and carrying a red rose corsage in his hand.

As Alex slowly walked down the stairs holding the edge of her dress in one hand so she wouldn't trip Serena took pictures. Behind her Andrew stood with Brian who was snapping pictures with his Fisher Price camera of his big sister.

" Wow Alex you look great," John breathed as Alex came to a stop in front of him.

Alex grinned happily and for a second she looked like the same old girl Serena knew instead of this magical princess standing before her now.

" Thank you John." She moved her eyes down to the corsage. " Is that for me?"

" Yea, I knew you were wearing a white dress so I got a red corsage, that way you'd be red and white like a candy cane.

A candy cane? This guy must have food on his mind quite a lot.

" Thank you its beautiful." Alex untied the corsage ribbon and John slipped it on her wrist.

Serena smiled and took a few more pictures of the two before Alex asked her to stop it.

" Mom we don't need a picture of every moment of the night and anyway we need to go I don't want to be late."

" Alright Alex we'll leave," Serena moved the camera away from her face and turned to get her coat. Andrew followed her to the closet while Brian continued to take pictures.

" So are you coming home after you drop them off?"

" No, I was thinking about going to a movie with Mina. The new Christian Slater movie is out and Mina is dying to see it," Serena replied as she pulled out her coat.

" Well do you want me to pick up Alex?"

" No I can do it, the movie won't be that long." Serena closed the closet door and smiled at Andrew. " You take a night off, I can pick her up after the movie, just make sure to put Brian to bed at 8pm. No later since he was naughty today."

Serena pulled her coat on and kissed Andrew's cheek. " I'll be home at 11:30pm with Alex. Come on now," Serena walked pass Andrew to herd Alex and John out the door, "we don't want to be late."

Andrew turned to watch Serena and the kids walk out into the cold night air before the door shut. He turned to Brian who was clicking his camera at the ceiling.

" Brian what do you say that you and daddy have some ice cream?"

" Ice cream!" Brian cried dropping the camera and running forward towards Andrew. " I want some chocolate ice cream with sprinkles."

Andrew picked him up. " Then lets get some."

* * * * * * *

The bell on the door rang as she entered the steamy shop. A quick look around revealed him to be sitting near a window in plush maroon chair. He wore a pair and gray slacks and brown coat over a white button up shirt. A small book lay in his open palm while the other hand rested against his head.

" Darien?"

He looked up meeting her eyes with his own. " Serena!" He closed the book and removed his glasses. " I was hoping you would come."

Serena took a seat across from him and removed her coat. " Why wouldn't you think I would come. I promised to come with bells on."

" And where are the bells?"

" They are right here," Serena shook the bells attached to her buns of hair.

" Wonderful!" Darien replied clapping his hands together. " Then we are all set.

" I would hope so, I would hate to come in unprepared."

" And I would hate to miss seeing your beauty."

" And I would hate to keep the waiter waiting to take our orders," Serena replied while she blushed a becoming shade of pink.

" Ah yes of course, I'm sorry I was just complimenting my date on her beauty and because of it I had to keep you waiting." Darien turned to the waiter who was standing over them with his pad of paper posed and ready.

" Its no bother at all sir and ma'am. Now what can I get you?"

" I'll have a hot tea with lemon, I don't need a lot of caffeine tonight."

" That sounds good, but I want a cup of café mocha," Darien replied nodding his head at her then turning back to the waiter.

" Do you want sprinkles on it?"

" Yes I do."

" Very good, I'll be back shortly with your drinks." He took leaving them strangely alone in the crowded room.

" So you took your daughter to the dance I gather? Did she look nice and was her date a gentlemen?"

" Alex looked beautiful and her date was very nice. He called ma'am which made me feel very old. I didn't know I was a ma'am already, I was kind of hoping I would still be a miss."

Darien was leaning close with his elbows on his knees and his fingers clasped together under his chin. His blue eyes were intense as they watched her.

" I guess its just a part of having kids, meaning I have to grow old."

" I don't think you look a day over twenty-five."

" Thank you, but it can't be true, I'm old and wrinkly." Serena laughed.

" I think you're the most beautiful girl I have ever seen," Darien replied in an even tone.

" And I think you're the most handsome man I have ever seen," Serena whispered leaning in closer to him. She reached out her hand and took his own in hers. " I don't know why I'm doing this but I just wanted to touch you."

" You can touch me whenever you want," he whispered back as he closed his fingers around hers.

Serena blushed and turned her face away from him. He was watching her with this intense look in his eyes. It was scary yet exciting at the same time.

" Serena," his voice broke through her thoughts, " I want to take you somewhere, nothing harmful, its all safe but I want you too see it."

" We have to finish our drinks first," Serena replied as the waiter came back with their drinks and set them down on the low wooden table separating them.

" Then drink up quickly, I want to go there before she gets back."

" Who is she? Do you mean your wife?"

" Beryl? Yea, she's at a benefit for something she doesn't care for. That means she should be in early in the morning." He let go of her hand and sat back in his chair.

" Darien are we going to your apartment?"

" Drink your drink Serena, I want you to see it."

Serena fell silent as she took sips of her tea. Why did he want her to see his apartment? Was he trying something that she should say no too, but in truth she probably wanted more then he.

* * * * * * *

After they finished their drinks, they left the coffeehouse in his car. It was a nice car, a gift from Beryl who obviously had good taste. Darien assured her that Beryl's good taste only ran towards cars.

" I know I shouldn't say this but she as atrocious taste in clothes. She tends towards bright colors and splashy patterns."

" And what about me? Would you say that I'm the same way?"

" No your beautiful and your clothes only enhance your beauty." He closed her door and walked around to the other side of the car.

" I really shouldn't be doing this," she mummered as he climbed in and started the car.

" I won't force you to do anything you don't want to do Serena," he turned to her and took her hand. " Just say the word and I'll let you out of this car."

Serena blinked once then twice and looked down at his hand holding hers. It was a nice hand, tanned with even clean fingernails and sprinkling of small black hairs on the back.

" Take me with you, I want to go with you."

Darien smiled and lifted her hand to his mouth. He gently kissed it before letting her go and shifting the car into drive. Serena sat back in her seat and looked out the front window. Nothing would happen.nothing would happen.right?

* * * * * * *

Andrew looked up from the TV where he was watching a nature show. The phone was ringing, but who would be calling now? The phone had been quiet all night, probably because Tyler was online. He must be off now. Andrew vaguely remembered something about Tyler going out with some friends. He should remember where Tyler was going.

The phone rang again, it sounded angry and impatient. Andrew got up and walked into the kitchen. He picked up the white plastic receiver up and placed it against his ear.

" Hello?"

" Andrew? What are you doing home? I thought you and Serena were going out?"

" Who is this?"

" Oh I'm sorry I forgot. This is Mina. I was calling to leave Serena a message since she said you and her were going out."

" How can we be going out? I thought she was going out with you?" Andrew replied.

" Going out with me? She told me you and her were going out to dinner after Alex was dropped off at the dance. I wanted to see if she wanted to go out but she said she was busy."

' Then why did she lie to me?'

" I'm sorry Mina but I don't know where Serena is at the moment. She might have wanted to be alone tonight."

' That still doesn't explain her lying to us.'

" I'll have her call you when she gets home."

" Okay, that sounds good. Thank you Andrew. Bye."

Mina hung up the phone and turned away. Why would Serena lie to her? She was not that type of person. Obviously something was going on. Suddenly a thought came into her head. It was a little far fetched but could she be out with that guy from the internet?

Andrew hung up his phone and turned away from it as he walked back into the family room. Something was obviously making Serena lie. There was no way she wanted to be alone tonight, she would have said if she wanted too. No something was up. Andrew picked up the TV controller and turned off the TV. He looked towards the room where the computer was. The idea was a little far-fetched but she had been making a lot of friends online. Could one of them be a man?

Andrew walked into the living room where the computer sat. He stood there staring at it for a moment before walking forward and pressing the on button. Maybe he would find some clues here.

* * * * * * *

The lobby was very nice, nothing like the lobby of Mina's apartment. There was a doorman who opened the door for them and even knew Darien by name. If he wondered who the strange blond girl was, he didn't say anything. Instead he greeted Darien, opened the door for them and ignored her.

The elevator took them up to the 6th floor where he stepped out as he sorted through his pocket looking for his keys. He finally found them as they came to a stop in front of his door. Apartment 28, he had the twenty eighth apartment, no correction, he and his wife had the twenty eighth apartment.

" Its not much, its clean but as for the furniture its all Beryl's fault if you don't like it."

" I'm sure it can't be that bad," Serena replied as he turned the key in the lock and opened the door.

Serena walked in first followed by him. She stopped in the front entrance hall and looked about her. The curtains were open allowing some moonlight to stream in but it was faint and didn't light up the whole apartment. Behind her Darien flipped a switch lighting the apartment with light. It was filled with what could only be described as vulgar obtuse furniture.

" Beryl does have horrible tastes," Darien apologized as he closed the door and came up next to her.

" I guess her favorite color is purple?"

" Yea, she went a little over board with it so I tried balancing it out with some nicer stuff. The couch is all mine and so is that green chair. Its my favorite place to sit in the whole apartment. Beryl hates it, she says it clashes with her decorating motif but I refuse to be completely covered in purple and leopard print cloth.

Serena nodded in agreement before turning to Darien. She was slightly surprised by how blue his eyes were but why should she be surprised? She had seen them before but now there was something different in them, something she had once seen in Andrew's eyes when they were first dating.

" So would you like a cup of coffee?" Darien moved past her over the crème colored carpet towards the kitchen.

Serena shook off her dazed state and smiled at him. " Yes I would love a cup."

" Good, while I prepare it you can just relax and make your self at home I don't need any help. People say I can make a pretty mean cup of coffee."

" Then I will look forward to it," Serena laughed in reply.

Darien gave her a toothy smile and disappeared through the swinging door into the kitchen. Serena watched him go then walked over to a shelf full of pictures. She looked into the faces of Darien at graduation from high school or college. He wore a black gown with his mortarboard tipped back from his face. A wide grin was on his face as he held out both arms with his diploma clutched in one hand. Another picture showed him with his arm around a beautiful red haired womyn. They both looked immensely happy from the smiles on their faces.

'That must be Beryl,' Serena thought as her heart skipped a painful beat.

She turned away from the pictures and moved onto another picture of a little boy with black hair and storm colored eyes playing in a sand box.

" I see you found my picture collection."

Serena turned around to see Darien coming out of the kitchen with a tray holding cups and a pot of coffee in his hand.

" Is this a picture of you as a child?" She held up the picture to him to see.

" Yea, that was taken when I was about five. The lady that ran the orphanage liked to take pictures." Darien set down the tray on the coffee table and stood up.

" The orphanage?" Serena looked down at the picture and blushed. " Oh I'm sorry to hear that. I um."

" Don't be worried. My parents died when I was five. I lived in an orphanage till I was 17. It wasn't half bad you know, the people were nice and I was well taken care of." He took the picture from her grasp and set it back on the shelf. " Now come and lets have some coffee before it gets late."

" What time is it?" Serena asked suddenly feeling alarmed.

" Don't worry, its only 9:30. You don't have to pick up Alex till 11 right?"

" Yes that's right," Serena sat down on the couch next to him and took the coffee cup he handed her. " You have a wonderful view." She looked towards the balcony with its sliding glass doors.

" That's one of the reasons I love this apartment, it has a great view."

" Do you mind if I look?" Serena turned to him and was once again surprised by the look in his eyes.

" Of course, go right ahead," he replied.

Serena nodded and turned away. She set her coffee cup down on the table and stood up. The doors slid open and the cold night breeze wrapped itself around her body. Serena shivered and raised her hands to cover her arms. She suddenly wished she had her coat but it was hanging in the foyer of the apartment. Still the view was magnificent, Serena could see down into the streets and past the other high rise buildings to a view of Tokyo tower all lit up for the night.

Behind her Darien turned off the lights and walked across the room to join her outside.

" I never get a view quite like this at home. When I look outside my window I can only see a yard that always needs mowing except now in the winter and my neighbors ugly rose print curtains."

" Beryl hates the view, she doesn't like heights. I'm the only one here who appreciates this balcony for what its for."

" I appreciate it." Serena turned to face him. " It's a beautiful balcony, I could only wish for something like this at home."

" Serena," he touched her cheek with his hand, " please don't talk of home. We are together now and that's all that matters."

Suddenly Serena understood why he had brought her here.

" Darien.I.I can't. I am married and so are you and we shouldn't cheat on our spouses." Serena turned away from him so she was facing the railing.

He stood there looking wounded for a moment then nodded his head. " Your right and I'm sorry. I'll talk you back to your car if you would like."

Serena raised her head from the railing as he walked back into the room. Did she want this? Did she really want to hurt Andrew and the kids?

And the truth was.that she did.

" Darien!" He stopped and turned towards her a questioning look on his face.

She walked back into the room which now seemed so bright with moonlight. Once in front of him Serena took his face in between her hands and gently leaned forward and kissed him. Their first kiss was soft and light then he was putting his arms around her and dragging her body to his. As the kisses grew more and more hungry any thoughts of Andrew and the kids disappeared from her thoughts.

Please remember to read and review or send all comments, questions, suggestions, and flames to Saphrians_Water_Reflection@hotmail.com. Thank you!