Ok well here it is. Sorry it took so long, school has been a pain. Please
review if this was worth the wait. Oh I almost forgot, this chapter is a
little different from all the others. It's told by Serena. Just so you
know, it's Serena talking in this chapter.
Epilogue
**********
It's already been one whole year since the shop burned down and yet I remember every detail as if it I were back in the middle of the raging inferno. My most vivid memory is that of Beryl, lying helpless and unconscious on the ground. There was so much blood, I still shiver. I was so relieved when I heard she was okay. Which was sort of weird because we have been enemies for so long. But I had never been so scared in my life. I don't think I'll ever be that scared again. And yet through the terror and the pain I found love and happiness. I found the love of my life.
We're married you know. We've been married for three months and twenty two days. Darien proposed to me no more than a week after I was released from the hospital. He had told me he wanted to wait until I was out of the hospital because he was afraid the excitement would be too much for me. I say he just didn't have enough money at the moment to buy me this gorgeous rock that now resides on my left ring finger.
But getting back on track. The day after I had woke up in the hospital bed Lita gave me an envelope. My full name was on the envelope in my father's hand-writing. He never called me Serenity unless it was important. I knew without opening it what would be written on the sheet of paper resting safely, folded just enough times to fit snugly in the envelope. All I could do was ask why and hope this measly letter would be able to answer all my questions. And it did, for once in all my life, my father told me the cold, hard truth. The letter said exactly this,
To my dearest daughter Serenity,
I hope you forgive me for the wrongs I have done to you. Your mother never left us, it was I who took you away from her. To this day I'm still not exactly sure why. You see, your mother and I hadn't planned on her pregnancy. We weren't even married. Just two kids enjoying each other's company. And then she told me she was pregnant. I was only 17, what did I know about raising kids, let alone having them. We got married of course, I'm not sure if we ever loved one another. Rose and I fought a lot during her pregnancy. Our fights were never anything that really mattered, and it was usually I who started them. I think I resented your mother for getting pregnant. I even thought she had gotten pregnant on purpose. I had always heard about women trapping men with babies. But I know now it was my fault her and i didn't last. Just after you were born Rose told me she loved me. But I thought it unacceptable. I was so incredibly convinced she had gotten pregnant on purpose I wanted her to suffer. I wanted her to know how it felt to be helpless, because that was what I was. Helpless. I couldn't leave you and your mother. So one night I took you and left. She searched for us, for the better part of three years. But the oddest thing was she never called the police. I could never, will never, understand why she didn't. That is where my story ends my darling daughter. Your mother did not deserve what I did to her and you, my precious baby, could never deserve anything cruel. I know I didn't always treat you as I should have. That I have said things that hurt you deeply, that I have DONE things that have hurt you deeply. You may never get past what I have done and said. No matter what you decide I will understand and accept your choice. Just please believe me when I tell you I love you. You are the only thing I've done right in this world. You made me a better person. I've left town, I wanted to give you and Rose sometime together. Tell Rose I will come back and if there are police waiting for me I hold no anger only regret and sorrow. I love you Serenity Rose Johnson. You are the one and only good thing I put in this world. I will always love you.
Love,
Dad
Oh how I remember crying like a child. My tears were falling fast onto his letter, making the words run. I had to hand the letter to Darien, begging him to finish reading it to me. Of course I didn't have to beg, but there was this insane fear inside of me, telling me that if I didn't hear the last few sentences of my father's letter, I would lose him forever. Talk about crazy huh?
I let Rose read the letter she too started crying but I doubt it was for the same reasons as myself. I knew Rose probably hated my father. Who could blame her? I looked at her, staring hard at her. Without even turning her head she told me she wouldn't involve any police. I hugged her tightly. Even though I knew what my dad had done was wrong and that somewhere inside I felt he should pay, I could never hurt him. He had taken care of me. He protected me and loved me. And no matter what his crimes were I would forever love him.
My mother and I have become very close. You see? I'm even calling her my mother. I love seeing the joy and happiness that lights up her eyes when she hears me say mom. I think, no I know, she's been waiting nearly her entire life to her that word come from my lips. Having a mom isn't exactly how I expected it to be. You know all those TV moms who bake cookies and call their kids almost every hour just to say hi and you think, how corny? Because seriously is life really like that? Well I'd have to say yes! Rose is so wonderful. She is exactly what a TV mom would be like on Prozac. Sometimes I'm scared.
Raye and Chad had their baby a month ago. A beautiful baby girl. I can already tell that little girl is going to be quite breath-taking. Me and the girls had gone into see Raye about an hour after the birth. Although she looked tired and sweaty there was something radiant about her. We all cried, saying in between our sobs that we were aunts! After all the tears were gone Raye told us she and Chad hadn't named their little girl yet. That was when Raye looked at me, her bottom lip quivering as her eyes were pleading with mine. I knew what she wanted. After about two hundred and seventeen 'No's' I begrudgingly said 'Fine!' Raye finally had a name for her little girl. Isabella.
Incase you didn't quite understand what happened, Raye begged me for that name. The name that I was reserving for my little girl. When Raye had become pregnant she had asked Amy, Lita and myself what we would name our kids. Amy and Lita supplied many names to Raye but I had stayed out of the conversation, trying not to draw attention to myself. But it was to no avail, Raye began whining and begging saying she knew I had at least a few names in mind. I crumbled like a cookie. As soon as the name Isabella came out of my mouth Raye got all starry-eyed, saying what a perfect name it was. I, of course, took action immediately, making her promise me she would not take that name. Raye grumbled of course, but agreed. I knew she had her fingers crossed. She's sneaky like that.
Only three weeks after Isabella was born Amy told us she was moving to France. Amy has always been the brain of SLAR's. She was the one who operated our money, all the business propaganda and what not. So who could blame her when a very wealthy man by the name of Zachary Catoui, offered her a very prestigious position. Not to mention the fact that Mr. Catoui is exceptionally handsome and was draped all over Amy when we met him. So now Amy works in France as a scientist. She works at a very high-status, research lab, but for the life of me I can't remember which one. I know, I know, what kind of friend am I to forget the place that one my best friend's calls, 'Heaven'? Well it's a very long French name.
Then there's Lita. What can I say about my dear, dear friend Lita? How about she's making a fortune as the Chief Chef at The Golden Star, in San Francisco. Darien and I went out to visit her, her first week at the Gold Star. She was so nervous and yet so calm. That's what I've always loved about Lita, she could be preparing to defuse a bomb and not even break a sweat. Apparently Lita has finally met the infamous, Mr. Right. His name is Nathan Campbell. I have to admit, he was attractive.
I guess there is only one more person I should mention. You're all probably on the edge of your seats wondering right? Seiya. There I mentioned him. Okay, okay fine I'll tell you more. He came to me two days after the fire. I could tell he had been crying. I can't even begin to describe how unnerving it was to know he had been crying. Seiya is one of the strongest, toughest men I know and probably ever will know. He just kept apologizing to me, saying he's happy just being my friend. And that he honestly does want me to be happy, even if not with him. I told him I was happy. That I loved Darien with all my heart and soul. I still can't believe how much I sounded like a Hallmark card. If I hadn't been so intoxicated with the wonderful liquid drug called morphine, I most likely would have slapped myself.
It's sort of ironic, I guess you could say. A fire that basically destroyed my business and only means of financial support brought me everything I have ever wanted. I finally have a loving mother that I've always wished for. All of my friends have the lives they've always dreamt of. I have a wonderful husband who I love and I know loves me. And lastly, but definitely most important, I'm pregnant. It's so surreal. I never thought of myself as the mother type. But here I am, six weeks pregnant. I don't think it's possible to be this happy. So here ends my story. I hope I have enlightened a few. ******************************************
Well it is finally finished. SLAR's is 100% complete. Now to finish my other story. But newho, I want to take this time to thank everyone (in no particular order) who took the time to write me a review: Milady Goddess, Demonica Angelicus, Lady Tristana Rogue, ishkabod, SilverMo, Fuuruma, E, invisible2u, Kit Riley, reli, Silver Running Water, ngan, jojodacrow jane , Moonbunny667, ClaimingUntoughable yogurt , kyoko , shhh.itsa.secret Lady of Enchantment, koldy, babby-c Fiy-chan, kirei*snow*tenshi, Karen Walker Evening Star, rynn , michelle , merlot
Well that's everyone, I hope you remember you're name if you reviewed anonymously. Sorry to say but I couldn't put everyone in here cuz some ppl didn't leave a name. But thank you to everyone!! I also wanted to give me special thanks to Meg, my editor. She helped me soooo soooo much on this story and I doubt I could have finished this without her.
Epilogue
**********
It's already been one whole year since the shop burned down and yet I remember every detail as if it I were back in the middle of the raging inferno. My most vivid memory is that of Beryl, lying helpless and unconscious on the ground. There was so much blood, I still shiver. I was so relieved when I heard she was okay. Which was sort of weird because we have been enemies for so long. But I had never been so scared in my life. I don't think I'll ever be that scared again. And yet through the terror and the pain I found love and happiness. I found the love of my life.
We're married you know. We've been married for three months and twenty two days. Darien proposed to me no more than a week after I was released from the hospital. He had told me he wanted to wait until I was out of the hospital because he was afraid the excitement would be too much for me. I say he just didn't have enough money at the moment to buy me this gorgeous rock that now resides on my left ring finger.
But getting back on track. The day after I had woke up in the hospital bed Lita gave me an envelope. My full name was on the envelope in my father's hand-writing. He never called me Serenity unless it was important. I knew without opening it what would be written on the sheet of paper resting safely, folded just enough times to fit snugly in the envelope. All I could do was ask why and hope this measly letter would be able to answer all my questions. And it did, for once in all my life, my father told me the cold, hard truth. The letter said exactly this,
To my dearest daughter Serenity,
I hope you forgive me for the wrongs I have done to you. Your mother never left us, it was I who took you away from her. To this day I'm still not exactly sure why. You see, your mother and I hadn't planned on her pregnancy. We weren't even married. Just two kids enjoying each other's company. And then she told me she was pregnant. I was only 17, what did I know about raising kids, let alone having them. We got married of course, I'm not sure if we ever loved one another. Rose and I fought a lot during her pregnancy. Our fights were never anything that really mattered, and it was usually I who started them. I think I resented your mother for getting pregnant. I even thought she had gotten pregnant on purpose. I had always heard about women trapping men with babies. But I know now it was my fault her and i didn't last. Just after you were born Rose told me she loved me. But I thought it unacceptable. I was so incredibly convinced she had gotten pregnant on purpose I wanted her to suffer. I wanted her to know how it felt to be helpless, because that was what I was. Helpless. I couldn't leave you and your mother. So one night I took you and left. She searched for us, for the better part of three years. But the oddest thing was she never called the police. I could never, will never, understand why she didn't. That is where my story ends my darling daughter. Your mother did not deserve what I did to her and you, my precious baby, could never deserve anything cruel. I know I didn't always treat you as I should have. That I have said things that hurt you deeply, that I have DONE things that have hurt you deeply. You may never get past what I have done and said. No matter what you decide I will understand and accept your choice. Just please believe me when I tell you I love you. You are the only thing I've done right in this world. You made me a better person. I've left town, I wanted to give you and Rose sometime together. Tell Rose I will come back and if there are police waiting for me I hold no anger only regret and sorrow. I love you Serenity Rose Johnson. You are the one and only good thing I put in this world. I will always love you.
Love,
Dad
Oh how I remember crying like a child. My tears were falling fast onto his letter, making the words run. I had to hand the letter to Darien, begging him to finish reading it to me. Of course I didn't have to beg, but there was this insane fear inside of me, telling me that if I didn't hear the last few sentences of my father's letter, I would lose him forever. Talk about crazy huh?
I let Rose read the letter she too started crying but I doubt it was for the same reasons as myself. I knew Rose probably hated my father. Who could blame her? I looked at her, staring hard at her. Without even turning her head she told me she wouldn't involve any police. I hugged her tightly. Even though I knew what my dad had done was wrong and that somewhere inside I felt he should pay, I could never hurt him. He had taken care of me. He protected me and loved me. And no matter what his crimes were I would forever love him.
My mother and I have become very close. You see? I'm even calling her my mother. I love seeing the joy and happiness that lights up her eyes when she hears me say mom. I think, no I know, she's been waiting nearly her entire life to her that word come from my lips. Having a mom isn't exactly how I expected it to be. You know all those TV moms who bake cookies and call their kids almost every hour just to say hi and you think, how corny? Because seriously is life really like that? Well I'd have to say yes! Rose is so wonderful. She is exactly what a TV mom would be like on Prozac. Sometimes I'm scared.
Raye and Chad had their baby a month ago. A beautiful baby girl. I can already tell that little girl is going to be quite breath-taking. Me and the girls had gone into see Raye about an hour after the birth. Although she looked tired and sweaty there was something radiant about her. We all cried, saying in between our sobs that we were aunts! After all the tears were gone Raye told us she and Chad hadn't named their little girl yet. That was when Raye looked at me, her bottom lip quivering as her eyes were pleading with mine. I knew what she wanted. After about two hundred and seventeen 'No's' I begrudgingly said 'Fine!' Raye finally had a name for her little girl. Isabella.
Incase you didn't quite understand what happened, Raye begged me for that name. The name that I was reserving for my little girl. When Raye had become pregnant she had asked Amy, Lita and myself what we would name our kids. Amy and Lita supplied many names to Raye but I had stayed out of the conversation, trying not to draw attention to myself. But it was to no avail, Raye began whining and begging saying she knew I had at least a few names in mind. I crumbled like a cookie. As soon as the name Isabella came out of my mouth Raye got all starry-eyed, saying what a perfect name it was. I, of course, took action immediately, making her promise me she would not take that name. Raye grumbled of course, but agreed. I knew she had her fingers crossed. She's sneaky like that.
Only three weeks after Isabella was born Amy told us she was moving to France. Amy has always been the brain of SLAR's. She was the one who operated our money, all the business propaganda and what not. So who could blame her when a very wealthy man by the name of Zachary Catoui, offered her a very prestigious position. Not to mention the fact that Mr. Catoui is exceptionally handsome and was draped all over Amy when we met him. So now Amy works in France as a scientist. She works at a very high-status, research lab, but for the life of me I can't remember which one. I know, I know, what kind of friend am I to forget the place that one my best friend's calls, 'Heaven'? Well it's a very long French name.
Then there's Lita. What can I say about my dear, dear friend Lita? How about she's making a fortune as the Chief Chef at The Golden Star, in San Francisco. Darien and I went out to visit her, her first week at the Gold Star. She was so nervous and yet so calm. That's what I've always loved about Lita, she could be preparing to defuse a bomb and not even break a sweat. Apparently Lita has finally met the infamous, Mr. Right. His name is Nathan Campbell. I have to admit, he was attractive.
I guess there is only one more person I should mention. You're all probably on the edge of your seats wondering right? Seiya. There I mentioned him. Okay, okay fine I'll tell you more. He came to me two days after the fire. I could tell he had been crying. I can't even begin to describe how unnerving it was to know he had been crying. Seiya is one of the strongest, toughest men I know and probably ever will know. He just kept apologizing to me, saying he's happy just being my friend. And that he honestly does want me to be happy, even if not with him. I told him I was happy. That I loved Darien with all my heart and soul. I still can't believe how much I sounded like a Hallmark card. If I hadn't been so intoxicated with the wonderful liquid drug called morphine, I most likely would have slapped myself.
It's sort of ironic, I guess you could say. A fire that basically destroyed my business and only means of financial support brought me everything I have ever wanted. I finally have a loving mother that I've always wished for. All of my friends have the lives they've always dreamt of. I have a wonderful husband who I love and I know loves me. And lastly, but definitely most important, I'm pregnant. It's so surreal. I never thought of myself as the mother type. But here I am, six weeks pregnant. I don't think it's possible to be this happy. So here ends my story. I hope I have enlightened a few. ******************************************
Well it is finally finished. SLAR's is 100% complete. Now to finish my other story. But newho, I want to take this time to thank everyone (in no particular order) who took the time to write me a review: Milady Goddess, Demonica Angelicus, Lady Tristana Rogue, ishkabod, SilverMo, Fuuruma, E, invisible2u, Kit Riley, reli, Silver Running Water, ngan, jojodacrow jane , Moonbunny667, ClaimingUntoughable yogurt , kyoko , shhh.itsa.secret Lady of Enchantment, koldy, babby-c Fiy-chan, kirei*snow*tenshi, Karen Walker Evening Star, rynn , michelle , merlot
Well that's everyone, I hope you remember you're name if you reviewed anonymously. Sorry to say but I couldn't put everyone in here cuz some ppl didn't leave a name. But thank you to everyone!! I also wanted to give me special thanks to Meg, my editor. She helped me soooo soooo much on this story and I doubt I could have finished this without her.