GoddessMoonLady
Chapter 8
Disclaimers:
GML: Hello again!
Darien: You're really spitting these chapters out aren't you?
GML: Yup! I told you, I wanna finish this one so I'll be able to focus more on the Harry Potter fics. Anyways, you know the drill! I don't own 'SM', I can dream, but Those dreams don't come true.
Darien:snort:
GML:glares: Shut up Darien. :storms out of the room:
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Serenity's eyes cracked open slowly to gaze around her sunlit room. She frowned confused, What was she doing in bed at noon on a Monday? She had shopping to do!
As soon as she tried to sit up sharp pain lanced through her causing her to cry out. With it came the events of the evening before. Listening to Darien inform her mother that he had indeed given her the book. Darien kissing her hand in the usual greeting. Wandering through his gardens talking. Returning to the house. The balcony. Melissa. Falling. The hurried footsteps of her mother's heels on the hardwood floor drew her attention as Ilene came bustling into the room, drawn by her child's cry.
Ilene gasped with relief at the site of Serenity awake. She had been so terrified when her eldest child had fainted from pain in the carriage and wouldn't be roused. She quickly made her way to the bed and sat smoothing Serenity's hair, much to the younger girl's confusion.
"Mother?" Serenity enquired softly, almost fearfully.
"Hush, child. it's all right. You just gave your Father and I quite a scare. The doctor said you were to remain in bed until you recover a bit, then you may be moved to the duvet in the parlor. You may sit up with help, all right?" Ilene smiled sadly as she saw true confusion sweep through Serenity's silver-blue eyes. Eyes she, to her deep shame, had never truly looked at before. "Now, as you can see it is time fore lunch, I'll be right back up with your tray." Ilene ran her fingers over Serenity's hair once more before standing and leaving the room.
'What on Earth has gotten into her?' Serenity wondered staring at her cracked door. Was it the fall? She couldn't, for the life of her, remember a time when her mother had gazed at her so. It was almost as though it were Melissa her mother were looking upon. Serenity's eyes dropped to her lap.
Ilene returned moments later with a tray laden with food. She set the tray on the floor and helped Serenity sit up in bed before placing it on her lap. She sat there, watching Serenity cautiously eat her meal. Serenity's nervousness obvious as she kept glancing at her over her meal as though afraid of being chastised for something.
As soon as she was finished her Ilene removed the tray and helped Serenity lye back down. "Now, is there anything else you would like, dear, before I adjourn downstairs?" She asked softly.
"C-could you hand me my book, please, Mother? The Charles Dickens one?" Serenity whispered eyeing the older woman, fearful of being slapped for her daring.
"Of course, dear." Ilene retrieved the book from the window seat where Serenity had left it the day before. She handed the book to her child whom carefully propped it up using the blankets.
Serenity didn't start reading till her mother left the room.
This behavior continued over the next few weeks as Serenity healed slowly. Finally, the doctor declared she was well enough to be allowed downstairs if she wished, though she still had to be carried by her father.
This beautiful, crisp September day found Serenity settled on the window seat in the parlor, quit tucked around her legs, finishing her copy of Charles Dickens's 'David Copperfield' for the second time. She had just closed the book and turned to gaze out the window when the pull rope doorbell chimed through the house. Her mother's voice echoed from the hall.
"Darien! Hello, Do come in!"
"Thank you, Mrs. Saunders. I'm sorry to arrive unannounced as this, but I was just on my way home and thought I would pay a visit." Darien's voice answered pleasantly.
"No need for apologies, Darien." Ilene answered waving a hand toward him as she showed him into the Parlor, "Would you care for some tea? I'm afraid Melissa isn't at home at the moment."
"Oh, well, that's quite the shame, I would love some." He responded with false sincerity. His eyes lit up as they landed on Serenity, watching them from her spot at the window. "Miss Serenity!"
"Mr. Sheilds," Serenity whispered quietly nodding to him, a small smile dancing at her lips.
"Oh! I just remembered! I found this in a shop a couple days ago and thought you might like it." He reach into his pocket and withdrew a square package.
"What is it?" Serenity asked curiously as she accepted the gift. She gazed at him openly excitement clear in her eyes.
Ilene watched the exchange curiously. It had never occurred to her to wander 'why' Darien was always so pleased to see Serenity or why he came by the house to wait when they weren't there, only to hurry off when they arrived. Ilene's eye widened as the pieces all fell into place. The walks, talks, the book. Darien hadn't been coming to see Melissa at all! His interests lay in Serenity! It was perfectly clear now, as it seamed they had forgotten she was even in the room.
Darien smiled, "I figured you had finished with David Copperfield and would be in need of a new book." He motioned for her to look or herself.
Serenity watched him for a moment before opening the paper packaging to reveal another hard back book. "The Pride and the Prejudice!"
Darien grinned, "I though you would like to see how it ends, as I caused you to be interrupted the last time." He winced slightly, embarrassed. Serenity gazed up at him for a moment before a brilliant smile bloomed on her face and her laughter rang out through the room.
"Indeed, I would." Serenity answered, bright smile firmly in place. It was the biggest smile Darien had ever seen. Not to mention the first her Mother had seen in years.
Ilene's eyes played over her daughter's beautiful face. And it was beautiful. How had she never noticed the almost exotic quality before? How Serenity's long, silver-blonde hair glittered in the light, now only pulled back by a ribbon rather then pulled up into the tight bun it was usually worn in? How Serenity's Silver-blue eyes fairly twinkled in the light from the bay window?
Shame welled up in Ilene's breast. She had almost lost this child. For years she had been cruel and cold, simply because she had thought Serenity not pretty enough to be worthy of her affection. It would serve her rightly if Serenity never gave her a second glance once she left this household.
"Uh hem," Ilene cleared her throat, drawing their attention as she brought in the tea, "Darien, would you be so kind as to bring Serenity to the settee so that she might join us?"
"Of course, Mrs. Saunders." Darien agreed as he gently scooped Serenity up into his arms, ever mindful of her broken and mending arm. He carried her across the room and set her down, re-tucking her blankets around her with such care it once more made Ilene wander how she could have missed this detail.
Ilene poured the tea handing cups to Darien and Serenity, whom had to be cautious, before pouring her own and settling back in her chair addressing Darien.
"Tell me truthfully, Darien, You haven't really been coming to see Melissa all this time, have you?" She enquired bluntly, watching the surprise flicker through his eyes
Darien hung his head, "No, Ma'am, I haven't." Serenity blushed.
Ilene eyed him for a moment before smiling, "Well, I'm pleased someone was able to see the beauty in My dear Serenity, which her father and I were to blind to see."
Darien's head came up to stare at her in surprise before smiling, "I did indeed, Ma'am. I saw it the first day I set eyes on her." He turned to smile at Serenity whom was watching him with wide eyes, her porcelain cheeks pink.
"That is good to hear. Now, how we go about this from here is going to be complicated. Melissa will take this hard, and as Serenity is in no state for such an ordeal, we shall proceed with caution." Ilene outlined a plan that involved allowing Darien to come visit to check on Serenity while Ilene would send Melissa out doing some of Serenity's old chores, mostly just the shopping.
It was a tricky plan, but worked wonderfully. Melissa never suspected a thing.
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GML: Dadada DAt DA DAAAA! Puppy POWER!
Darien:raises eyebrow:
GML:blush: Don't say it Darien.
Darien:smirk:
GML:sigh: Ok, I'm just quite pleased with myself right now. As of this chapter I have 3 Chapters left:claps: Yeah for me!
Darien: You have serious problems.
GML:sticks out tongue: At least I didn't have a psychotic Bitch turn me into a brainless zombie-puppet.
Darien:glare:
GML:smirk: Ha! Serenity one, Darien ZIP:snicker:
Darien:rolls eyes: What ever.
GML:bounces in chair: Ok, did ya like it? Did ya? I know her mum did a complete 180 here. The way I see it is that Ilene made a mistake, a HUGE Booboo, but a booboo nun-the-less. Now is the chance for her to make it better.
Darien: How... nice of you to do that.
GML:smirk: Of course! I had planned for her parents to do a 180 the whole time. lol, I bet most don't think she should forgive them. :snicker: OH! I just remembered something!
Darien:raises eyebrow:
GML: Everyone remembers the scene back in chapter 5? The one where Serenity and Darien get caught in the storm and take cover? I forgot to give credit where credit was do!
Darien: Typical
GML:glares D: Ok, The original suggestion came from Aeirol in a review. I SO meant to say thank you and give credit, but in the planning of where to squeeze it in and everything that followed, it completely slipped my mind! So, now, a MUCH Majorly overdue 'Thank You' to Aeirol for the idea that ended up playing a HUGE part in the story! If you don't know why I said that, then you weren't paying attention last chapter. Ok, now that I've made up for MY big booboo, REVIEW