Epilogue
Thirty-one years after Serena's decision
"Elios, do I really have to go with you?"
Elios watched as his beautiful wife sat on the edge of their bed and did her best imitation of their daughter's patented pout. Looking into her sky blue eyes, he leaned down to kiss her and said, "Yes."
"Elios!" She wound her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. Softly touching his lips, she asked, "Why must I go? I've never been anywhere near a queen, or a princess, or any of the senshi for that matter."
Pulling away, Elios touched the tip of her nose and said, "I need this particular queen's permission to have our daughter betrothed. After all, I did marry someone other than my betrothed..."
"But she was also betrothed to someone else!"
"That is beside the point, my dear. She is the princess of..."
"Father Elios?" A priest stuck his head in the door. "I believe your daughter is attempting to light a sacred fire with a cat."
Elios' wife pushed past him and grabbed her daughter's shirt, hauling her off the floor. Shooting a glare at Elios, she said, "Fetch our son. We need to get out of here before Camille burns the temple down!"
Smiling, Elios motioned to two altar boys to grab the luggage already amassed at the door. "Load quickly before she changes her mind."
Meanwhile, Serenity was sitting in Rini's room, making sure she stayed away from Jason.
"Mother! I don't see the harm in spending time with my fiancé! If I spent more time with him..."
"You would just get in more trouble." Serenity sat on a stool, blocking Rini's only way out. Her only surviving daughter would be eighteen in a few days, and on her birthday, she would get married to Jason. But until then, she wasn't allowed to see him.
"Dammit, Mom, this is taking it too far." Rini crossed her arms and legs and got ready to pout. Then she remembered that it only worked on her father.
Serenity smiled at Rini and said, "I remember when your grandfather would chase your father out of the house with a broom when he saw me during the week before the wedding. However, if you can get through the meeting with the priestess, then you can see Jason for a little bit."
A tap on the door was followed by, "Neo Queen Serenity, the priestess is here to see you."
Smiling at the messenger, Serenity motioned for the door to be opened wider to accommodate the priestess. Her smile only slightly faltered when she actually saw the priestess. The priestess was a mirror image of Endymion; the only thing Serenity could find that was different was the eyes, they looked just like hers.
The priestess bowed low to Serenity. Rising up, she smiled and said, "I believe my husband is looking for you, Your Majesty. He is trying to cover his faux pas in marrying me."
Rini answered from deeper in the room, "It's not his fault he fell in love with you, nor is it mine that I fell in love with Jason."
"This is true," Serenity murmured. She begged forgiveness and left to find Endymion. Somehow, she found herself in her bedroom, grabbing out an old picture from her nightstand. The picture of Chandra was twenty-five years old now, but the same eyes stared back at her that were in the priestess' head. Serenity held the picture to her breast as she ran back to the room where Rini was. The laughter surprised her a little, but she rapped softly on the door. Upon hearing Rini say, "Come in," Serenity slowly opened the door and just looked at the priestess. "How long have you been a priestess?"
The woman smiled at Serenity and answered, "Why ever since Elios picked me up at that orphanage. I was about sixteen and needed to do something with myself."
"I realize that this may sound rude, but what is your maiden name?" Serenity felt tears gather in her eyes, but she stubbornly held them back.
"No, my apologies, I never introduced myself. I'm Chandra Lena Doe. After the car crash that killed my adoptive parents, the orphanage gave me that lovely last name until I could remember my original." The woman softly sighed, "I never remembered though."
Serenity pulled the picture from her chest and gave it to Chandra. "Could you tell me, is this a picture of you?"
Chandra took the picture and visibly blanched. She remembered when that picture was taken. Her adoptive mother had made her pose so she would look proper to her real parents. Two weeks later, the car crash happened. "It is. It was supposed to be given to my real parents."
Serenity put her hand on Chandra's shoulder and said, "It was. I believe that you are my daughter."
"Mom?" Rini sat up and had a tear running down her cheek. She brushed it away and asked, "What do you mean?"
Turning away from both of her daughters, Serenity relayed the entire story of Chandra's existence, as she knew it. She even told them about what happened in the Time Gate. Finally turning to her girls, Serenity said, "I just wanted to do what I thought was best for everyone involved. If I could have kept you, I would have, but I was young and didn't like the outcome of my other options. I'm sorry Rini and Chandra."
Chandra stood and enveloped Serenity in a hug. Feeling somewhat at peace and whole for the first time in her life, Chandra said, "I forgive you, Mother." Grabbing Rini's hand, she led them out of the room with plans to grab Camille and Gareth on the way. They would have a long road ahead of them, but they were family now, and nothing could destroy that.
THE END
AN: Well, it's all done. Originally, I intended for there to be at least one more chapter, but something was pushing me to finish. It's been lovely writing this story, but onto more :)
So far, the order for the stories for the However Did we Fall in Love? Saga is:
Twist of Fate
Amy and Robert
Trista and Maverick (incomplete)