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Little Family Get Together Chapter Three Written by Lady Nakosha
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ALL STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY
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Denise felt Darien come up from behind her and stand there awkwardly. She offered him no means of escape from his uncomfortable position. Denise stood there with her hands gripping the rail for all its worth and her body becoming tenser and stiffer by the moment.
"Have you decided yet?"
Denise whipped around and forced herself to avoid looking into his bottomless depths. She had to be strong! She couldn't let his irresistible smiles and words weaken her resolve! "I... I need more time to think."
Darien seemed to contemplate this. "Oh."
Denise wished that he would say more; that he would express his feelings and beg for her to return to him. But alas, Denise was smarter than that. Even though her sister swore to her that she'd let Denise have Darien... Denise knew who held his heart... and it wasn't her.
But that didn't mean she would give up! Denise thought determinedly, she would fight for him until the end, they had been through too much and been together far too long for her to just give him up at the first obstacle that came their way! "Actually I've had enough time."
Darien looked at her surprised. "You have? Well... what do you want to do, then?"
"I want us to stay together."
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Shock was the only thing that registered in Darien's mind, but he hid it well. "That's... that's great!" He exclaimed happily as he leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips.
A guilty lump formed in Darien's throat. Once he had heard those words leave her lips, the only thing besides shock that had entered his mind was mild disbelief and almost... disappointment. He had expected her to reject him and tell him the whole thing was off. Tell him that she hated his guts and trying to patch things up between them was useless.
But Denise had never ceased to amaze and surprise him, so he didn't know why this time should be any different.
"You've just got to promise me one thing, okay?"
Darien had a dreaded feeling that he knew what she would ask of him. He silently prayed and begged her to not say it... he had promised her he would stay away from Serena before, and look where it got him. A mind- blowing kiss with the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life and an almost canceled engagement with his fantasy's sister!
"Okay." Darien uttered. It wasn't until he felt light headed that he realized he had been holding his breath in anticipation, waiting for Denise to tell him what she wanted.
"I want you to promise me that you'll always... tell me what you're feeling. That you won't hide and keep silent about your doubts about us and you won't just go running to my sister because of your uncertainty, but you'll come to me, your fiancée, and talk to me about your feelings." Denise paused. "I think that's one of the main factors (besides Serena being so damn hot! Darien silently added) that you told Serena that you weren't sure about your love for me anymore."
Darien nodded weakly. "Yeah... I guess you're right."
"Good, so you'll always tell me what you're feeling, right?" Denise asked, insistently. She was determined to hear those exact words leave his perfectly shaped lips.
Darien nodded slowly as he steadily gazed at Denise. "Yes... of course. I wouldn't have it any other way."
Denise positively was bouncing up and down. "Well, I'm glad that we've worked out that rough bump in our relationship. I guess that once we hit a speed bump, we don't have to give up right away, huh?"
"Yeah, you're right about that." Darien forced himself to smile. "Speed bumps are killers sometimes... but they sure as hell won't kill us the first time, right?"
Denise took his hand into hers and sat down on the newest patio chair. "Right! Now... I think that proper introductions are to be made?"
Darien looked at her with confusion. "Proper introductions? To whom?"
Denise's smile widened considerably. "Well, the first time didn't go as planned and now that I'm confident in us and in my sister's promise, I don't see why we can try again and start over anew."
Darien fought to swallow the lump that had lodged itself in his throat. "Your sister? Introductions?" He repeated. She couldn't possibly expect him to reintroduce himself after everything him and Serena had already gone through!
"Yes! I was thinking that since we are basically starting over, so should you and Serena."
They had kissed for god's sake!
"That's not a problem is it?"
They had almost had sex in Denise's family's backyard! And she wanted them to start anew!? Impossible!
"Honey, you don't mind doing this for me, do you?"
He wouldn't agree to it! He wouldn't do it! In fact, he didn't want to start over! He wanted to pick off from where he and Serena had stopped...
"No, sweetie, it's not a problem at all." He heard himself tell Denise calmly and full of self-assurance. Darien wanted to pull those words back into his mouth, he wanted to slap himself silly, but he did neither.
Instead, he took Denise's hand and began leading her to the glass doors, where he would prove to Denise his loyalty and break his heart into a thousand pieces in the process.
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Serena didn't know how it was possible, but soon after seeing Denise and Darien heading over to her with a determined expression on both of their faces, she had found her legs working with a mind of their own and forcing her to walk to the sickingly cute couple.
"Darien." Serena breathed, inhaling his rose garden aroma that was mixed with a soapy scent. Serena turned towards her sister who looked as if she had won the lottery. In which a way she had... "Denise."
Serena gave her sister a meaningful look. "Everything well, I assume?"
Denise excitedly nodded her head, which Serena admitted deep inside of her that she was saddened to see. "Yes. Definitely well. Lovely. Even so much more than-"
Serena laughed and put a hand on her sister's shoulder. "I think we get the picture, honey."
"Sorry. It's just that Darien and I... we're together again. Stronger than before, I think." Denise said as she gazed at her fiancée with nothing but love and adoration shining in her eyes.
Serena flinched. Was her sister trying to shove it in? Serena's anger softened once she saw the look in her sister's eyes. Did her sister have to look so damn happy? "That's so... great." Serena lied through her clenched teeth.
"Oh, I forgot. Darien and I decided that we wanted to start over, you know, on a new slate. Since we're essentially starting over from... well, a few hours ago, I figured that it was only right that you and Darien also start over! So there wouldn't be any awkward feelings or anything." Denise leaned over closer to Serena. "He promised me his ever-lasting love, Sere. Can you believe it? He did that!"
Serena smiled weakly. "Oh... how great."
"So. Serena," Denise began slowly. "This is Darien, my fiancée." Serena thought that Denise had put more emphasis on her words than necessary, but Serena ignored it. What difference would it make if she had? "Darien, this is my sister, Serena."
Serena reached her hand out and stared into his fathomless depths. She struggled against the urge to melt into the ground. "Nice to meet you, Darien." Serena whispered, her words barely audible. But she could tell that Darien caught them. His eyes shone with emotions that Serena could only partially read, the passion in his eyes ran so deep in his eyes and overwhelmed Serena with feelings she had never thought she had possessed, that Serena felt as if she would cry any moment.
It was then when she knew that she and Darien could never start over because far too much had happened between them already. Far too much chemistry, more than desire had joined them together.
And that's also when Serena realized, with a combination of misery and joy; that she didn't want to forget what they had, because in the last few minutes, Serena knew that she had fallen more for Darien, than she had known possible.
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Darien watched as Serena's eyes flashed with feelings and realizations that made the fine hairs on his arms raise in desire.
Just watching her made him want her more. "No, the pleasure is mine."
He felt her gaze probe his face for facial expressions and search his soul silently. She was looking for the underlying meaning of his words, and Darien secretly hoped that she would find it.
Serena opened her mouth to say something, but Denise cut her off. No doubt that she knew that if Serena said more, him and Serena would disappear into their own world together and all that would exist would be them two.
"Now that the introductions are made, I think that I need to go find us some drinks." Darien looked over at her sharply.
She was leaving them alone? She trusted him enough to do that? Darien's heart squeezed with gratitude and guilt. "O-okay. We'll be here waiting, darling."
Denise kissed him on the cheek and flounced off in search of drinks for them. Darien hoped that she wouldn't find them for a while.
The silence between them killed Darien. He couldn't think of a single thing that was worth her hearing. "So we have to start over. Who's idea was that?"
Darien grimaced. "Wasn't mine, trust me."
"You know that we can't start over, do you?" Serena asked him softly.
"I knew that the moment I laid eyes on you."
"But we also can't be together. You belong with Denise."
Darien, for the first time in his life, wanted to cry. "Why? Why can't we just be together?"
"Plenty of reasons. Because you met my sister first, you two are engaged, she loves you with everything in her, it would kill her if you two broke up, and she would kill me if we got together. Plus, even I can't take you away from her."
"But she knows who holds my heart."
"She will ignore that if it means you two stay together and you stay faithful to her." Serena said. "Listen, Darien, ever since I could remember, her dream was to grow old with her one true love, have kids, blah, blah, blah. And she wants you to grow old with and have her kids with."
Darien would not accept his fate. "What about us though?"
"What about us? There is no *us* Darien." Serena hated lying to him bald-faced like this, but she knew that the only way she could keep him at a distance was to lie and kill any affection he had for her.
"There might be a thousand reasons for us not to be together, Serena. But there is only one reason that I care about and that makes all those other ones pale in comparison."
Serena wasn't sure she wanted to hear what he had to say. She wasn't sure if she was strong enough to resist him anymore. She could feel the walls around her heart slowly crumbling to the ground. "I don't..."
"The fact that we love each other and our hearts belong to no other is all the reason we need to be together."
Serena wanted so desperately to act on her heart's desire, but her mind and logic held her back. For that she was both thankful and sorry. "I... I'll admit that I..."
She paused when she saw Denise heading their way with a giant smile across her face and her hands full of cups. Her sister... her sister that begged her to not steal Darien away from her... her sister that Serena loved with all her heart and would never directly or indirectly try to hurt...
"I'll admit that all those other reasons do make a difference. And the one reason that will keep us apart is my sister and her love for both you and I. The only way that I can think of to repay her for her trust in me and her love in us is for me to let her have you." Serena said in measured tones.
"I am giving up the last secret claims that I had on your heart, Darien. I don't want you, even if my heart pleads to differ. I don't care if I'm miserable the rest of my life, as long as Denise is happy, then I guess that will sustain me."
Serena thought about touching his face, he looked so crushed, but she decided against it. She was just using that as a last excuse to hold him. "I'll find someone else, hopefully. Someone else to replace you. I hope that you and Denise are happy to whatever extent and please, do not try to come after me or break up with Denise for me because I won't let myself be with you and hurt her even more."
With those words, Serena swept past him with her hands clenched at her side in tight balls and she did her best to hug Denise before she headed outside with a heavy heart and the feeling of loneliness stronger than ever before.
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Well... what did you think? I decided that Serena is fun being the bitch and being seductive all the time, but I thought that showing her loving and softer side would help even off her personality. But don't look so sure yet, because there is more shades to Serena than being bitchy and a softy at heart.
Plus, poor Darien. He just wants to be happy, but his loyalty to Denise and the new fact about Serena not wanting him really puts a damper on things. Hopefully things will turn out, eh?
Guess you'll have to read and see, huh...
Review, of course. ^_~
~Lady Nakosha
Little Family Get Together Chapter Three Written by Lady Nakosha
===========================
ALL STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY
===========================
Denise felt Darien come up from behind her and stand there awkwardly. She offered him no means of escape from his uncomfortable position. Denise stood there with her hands gripping the rail for all its worth and her body becoming tenser and stiffer by the moment.
"Have you decided yet?"
Denise whipped around and forced herself to avoid looking into his bottomless depths. She had to be strong! She couldn't let his irresistible smiles and words weaken her resolve! "I... I need more time to think."
Darien seemed to contemplate this. "Oh."
Denise wished that he would say more; that he would express his feelings and beg for her to return to him. But alas, Denise was smarter than that. Even though her sister swore to her that she'd let Denise have Darien... Denise knew who held his heart... and it wasn't her.
But that didn't mean she would give up! Denise thought determinedly, she would fight for him until the end, they had been through too much and been together far too long for her to just give him up at the first obstacle that came their way! "Actually I've had enough time."
Darien looked at her surprised. "You have? Well... what do you want to do, then?"
"I want us to stay together."
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Shock was the only thing that registered in Darien's mind, but he hid it well. "That's... that's great!" He exclaimed happily as he leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips.
A guilty lump formed in Darien's throat. Once he had heard those words leave her lips, the only thing besides shock that had entered his mind was mild disbelief and almost... disappointment. He had expected her to reject him and tell him the whole thing was off. Tell him that she hated his guts and trying to patch things up between them was useless.
But Denise had never ceased to amaze and surprise him, so he didn't know why this time should be any different.
"You've just got to promise me one thing, okay?"
Darien had a dreaded feeling that he knew what she would ask of him. He silently prayed and begged her to not say it... he had promised her he would stay away from Serena before, and look where it got him. A mind- blowing kiss with the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life and an almost canceled engagement with his fantasy's sister!
"Okay." Darien uttered. It wasn't until he felt light headed that he realized he had been holding his breath in anticipation, waiting for Denise to tell him what she wanted.
"I want you to promise me that you'll always... tell me what you're feeling. That you won't hide and keep silent about your doubts about us and you won't just go running to my sister because of your uncertainty, but you'll come to me, your fiancée, and talk to me about your feelings." Denise paused. "I think that's one of the main factors (besides Serena being so damn hot! Darien silently added) that you told Serena that you weren't sure about your love for me anymore."
Darien nodded weakly. "Yeah... I guess you're right."
"Good, so you'll always tell me what you're feeling, right?" Denise asked, insistently. She was determined to hear those exact words leave his perfectly shaped lips.
Darien nodded slowly as he steadily gazed at Denise. "Yes... of course. I wouldn't have it any other way."
Denise positively was bouncing up and down. "Well, I'm glad that we've worked out that rough bump in our relationship. I guess that once we hit a speed bump, we don't have to give up right away, huh?"
"Yeah, you're right about that." Darien forced himself to smile. "Speed bumps are killers sometimes... but they sure as hell won't kill us the first time, right?"
Denise took his hand into hers and sat down on the newest patio chair. "Right! Now... I think that proper introductions are to be made?"
Darien looked at her with confusion. "Proper introductions? To whom?"
Denise's smile widened considerably. "Well, the first time didn't go as planned and now that I'm confident in us and in my sister's promise, I don't see why we can try again and start over anew."
Darien fought to swallow the lump that had lodged itself in his throat. "Your sister? Introductions?" He repeated. She couldn't possibly expect him to reintroduce himself after everything him and Serena had already gone through!
"Yes! I was thinking that since we are basically starting over, so should you and Serena."
They had kissed for god's sake!
"That's not a problem is it?"
They had almost had sex in Denise's family's backyard! And she wanted them to start anew!? Impossible!
"Honey, you don't mind doing this for me, do you?"
He wouldn't agree to it! He wouldn't do it! In fact, he didn't want to start over! He wanted to pick off from where he and Serena had stopped...
"No, sweetie, it's not a problem at all." He heard himself tell Denise calmly and full of self-assurance. Darien wanted to pull those words back into his mouth, he wanted to slap himself silly, but he did neither.
Instead, he took Denise's hand and began leading her to the glass doors, where he would prove to Denise his loyalty and break his heart into a thousand pieces in the process.
===========================
Serena didn't know how it was possible, but soon after seeing Denise and Darien heading over to her with a determined expression on both of their faces, she had found her legs working with a mind of their own and forcing her to walk to the sickingly cute couple.
"Darien." Serena breathed, inhaling his rose garden aroma that was mixed with a soapy scent. Serena turned towards her sister who looked as if she had won the lottery. In which a way she had... "Denise."
Serena gave her sister a meaningful look. "Everything well, I assume?"
Denise excitedly nodded her head, which Serena admitted deep inside of her that she was saddened to see. "Yes. Definitely well. Lovely. Even so much more than-"
Serena laughed and put a hand on her sister's shoulder. "I think we get the picture, honey."
"Sorry. It's just that Darien and I... we're together again. Stronger than before, I think." Denise said as she gazed at her fiancée with nothing but love and adoration shining in her eyes.
Serena flinched. Was her sister trying to shove it in? Serena's anger softened once she saw the look in her sister's eyes. Did her sister have to look so damn happy? "That's so... great." Serena lied through her clenched teeth.
"Oh, I forgot. Darien and I decided that we wanted to start over, you know, on a new slate. Since we're essentially starting over from... well, a few hours ago, I figured that it was only right that you and Darien also start over! So there wouldn't be any awkward feelings or anything." Denise leaned over closer to Serena. "He promised me his ever-lasting love, Sere. Can you believe it? He did that!"
Serena smiled weakly. "Oh... how great."
"So. Serena," Denise began slowly. "This is Darien, my fiancée." Serena thought that Denise had put more emphasis on her words than necessary, but Serena ignored it. What difference would it make if she had? "Darien, this is my sister, Serena."
Serena reached her hand out and stared into his fathomless depths. She struggled against the urge to melt into the ground. "Nice to meet you, Darien." Serena whispered, her words barely audible. But she could tell that Darien caught them. His eyes shone with emotions that Serena could only partially read, the passion in his eyes ran so deep in his eyes and overwhelmed Serena with feelings she had never thought she had possessed, that Serena felt as if she would cry any moment.
It was then when she knew that she and Darien could never start over because far too much had happened between them already. Far too much chemistry, more than desire had joined them together.
And that's also when Serena realized, with a combination of misery and joy; that she didn't want to forget what they had, because in the last few minutes, Serena knew that she had fallen more for Darien, than she had known possible.
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Darien watched as Serena's eyes flashed with feelings and realizations that made the fine hairs on his arms raise in desire.
Just watching her made him want her more. "No, the pleasure is mine."
He felt her gaze probe his face for facial expressions and search his soul silently. She was looking for the underlying meaning of his words, and Darien secretly hoped that she would find it.
Serena opened her mouth to say something, but Denise cut her off. No doubt that she knew that if Serena said more, him and Serena would disappear into their own world together and all that would exist would be them two.
"Now that the introductions are made, I think that I need to go find us some drinks." Darien looked over at her sharply.
She was leaving them alone? She trusted him enough to do that? Darien's heart squeezed with gratitude and guilt. "O-okay. We'll be here waiting, darling."
Denise kissed him on the cheek and flounced off in search of drinks for them. Darien hoped that she wouldn't find them for a while.
The silence between them killed Darien. He couldn't think of a single thing that was worth her hearing. "So we have to start over. Who's idea was that?"
Darien grimaced. "Wasn't mine, trust me."
"You know that we can't start over, do you?" Serena asked him softly.
"I knew that the moment I laid eyes on you."
"But we also can't be together. You belong with Denise."
Darien, for the first time in his life, wanted to cry. "Why? Why can't we just be together?"
"Plenty of reasons. Because you met my sister first, you two are engaged, she loves you with everything in her, it would kill her if you two broke up, and she would kill me if we got together. Plus, even I can't take you away from her."
"But she knows who holds my heart."
"She will ignore that if it means you two stay together and you stay faithful to her." Serena said. "Listen, Darien, ever since I could remember, her dream was to grow old with her one true love, have kids, blah, blah, blah. And she wants you to grow old with and have her kids with."
Darien would not accept his fate. "What about us though?"
"What about us? There is no *us* Darien." Serena hated lying to him bald-faced like this, but she knew that the only way she could keep him at a distance was to lie and kill any affection he had for her.
"There might be a thousand reasons for us not to be together, Serena. But there is only one reason that I care about and that makes all those other ones pale in comparison."
Serena wasn't sure she wanted to hear what he had to say. She wasn't sure if she was strong enough to resist him anymore. She could feel the walls around her heart slowly crumbling to the ground. "I don't..."
"The fact that we love each other and our hearts belong to no other is all the reason we need to be together."
Serena wanted so desperately to act on her heart's desire, but her mind and logic held her back. For that she was both thankful and sorry. "I... I'll admit that I..."
She paused when she saw Denise heading their way with a giant smile across her face and her hands full of cups. Her sister... her sister that begged her to not steal Darien away from her... her sister that Serena loved with all her heart and would never directly or indirectly try to hurt...
"I'll admit that all those other reasons do make a difference. And the one reason that will keep us apart is my sister and her love for both you and I. The only way that I can think of to repay her for her trust in me and her love in us is for me to let her have you." Serena said in measured tones.
"I am giving up the last secret claims that I had on your heart, Darien. I don't want you, even if my heart pleads to differ. I don't care if I'm miserable the rest of my life, as long as Denise is happy, then I guess that will sustain me."
Serena thought about touching his face, he looked so crushed, but she decided against it. She was just using that as a last excuse to hold him. "I'll find someone else, hopefully. Someone else to replace you. I hope that you and Denise are happy to whatever extent and please, do not try to come after me or break up with Denise for me because I won't let myself be with you and hurt her even more."
With those words, Serena swept past him with her hands clenched at her side in tight balls and she did her best to hug Denise before she headed outside with a heavy heart and the feeling of loneliness stronger than ever before.
===========================
Well... what did you think? I decided that Serena is fun being the bitch and being seductive all the time, but I thought that showing her loving and softer side would help even off her personality. But don't look so sure yet, because there is more shades to Serena than being bitchy and a softy at heart.
Plus, poor Darien. He just wants to be happy, but his loyalty to Denise and the new fact about Serena not wanting him really puts a damper on things. Hopefully things will turn out, eh?
Guess you'll have to read and see, huh...
Review, of course. ^_~
~Lady Nakosha
