GoddessMoonLady
Epilogue
Disclaimers:
GML: eyes wide This is it...
Darien: stares You are actually here.
GML&D: stares at each other
GML: Whoa... blink Um, I don't own 'SM' Naoko does... Shakes head Read.
Darien: stunned silence
:H:H:H:H:H:
May 20th 1861
Serenity smiled as she hugged her best friend and cousin in law, Mina Thompson. "Mina! Oh, it's so good to see you!"
"I know! It's been soo long! Happy anniversary! I can hardly believe you and my hard headed cousin have been married for nine whole years!" Mina gushed holding the girl out at arms length to have a good look.
"I know! Sometimes it feels as though it were just yesterday he had proposed!" She sighed, "Well, yesterday and one child ago, rather."
Mina laughed, "Yes, one child already and another on the way!"
"Well, you haven't much room to speak! How are Andrew and the boys?" Serenity asked as they made their way through the house and out into the backyard and the Anniversary party being held there. "Jason is seven now, and Alex four aren't they?"
Mina nodded, sighing, "That they are indeed. And a handful if ever you saw them! Lita!" They hurried over to join the other woman, only to be joined moments later by Ray O'Neil and Amy Mavriks.
"It was a lovely idea to host this party out here. Your garden is quite lovely." Lita gushed as she gazed about.
Serenity smiled, "Indeed. It was out here where Darien and I became close. It holds a special meaning for both of us."
"That is So sweet!" Amy sighed. The others nodded.
"Then I suppose you are lucky your parents left it to you." Ray commented quietly.
Serenity sighed, "I know. I miss them. It is so hard to think about at times. I mean, Father going off to war eight years ago, only to die on the front lines, then Mother leaving and heading North just four years ago." She shook her head.
"I can't help but feel sorry for Melissa though. I mean, first she marries James, then dies in child birth not a year later! There son, Adam, he's the same age as Alex now isn't he? Four? What ever happened to the poor baby?" Mina enquired.
Serenity smiled sadly, "Mother took him with her. Said the poor dear needed someone to care for him as his Father certainly couldn't. Even if they had disowned Melissa, she'd not see an innocent babe die for not being cared for."
"Excuse me, Ladies." The woman all turned to find Darien standing behind them. "I'm afraid I need to steal my lovely Wife away for a short time." The woman giggled.
"By all means, Darien. Just bring her back in fair condition. Lord knows you've already done enough." Mina commented motioning to Serenity's swelling abdomen. The others laughed.
Darien grinned and took Serenity's hand leading her away from her friends and off toward the entrance to the garden maze.
"Candice Elizabeth, you stay out of trouble while we are speaking, o you hear me Young Lady?" Darien demanded sternly.
The five year old giggled, "Yes, Poppa. I will be real good." She twirled the skirt of her pretty pink dress smiling up at him innocently with her deep blue eyes through the silver bangs curled upon her forehead.
"'Very Good', dear. You will be 'very good'." Serenity corrected gently, kissing the little child's forehead. She smiled, "Why don't you go baby-sit your Aunt Mina for me, sweets?"
"Okay, Mummy!" The little girl hurried off causing her parents to laugh at her eagerness.
The couple entered the gardens and Darien turned to Serenity. "I have a surprise for you." He grinned.
"A surprise?" Serenity asked, eyes lighting up. "What is it?"
Darien laughed, "If I told you it wouldn't be a surprise."
Serenity pouted, "Please? Tell me what it is? Pretty please?"
Darien just grinned and started leading his pouting with back towards the rose garden where they had first really talked and he had given her Charles Dickens' David Copperfield.
The garden was beautiful. The roses are all in bloom, the grass green, the sky clear and there is a beautifully wrapped package sitting on the white bench where they had sat that day when she had opened his first real gift to find the book.
Serenity's eyes lit up as she spotted the package. It was about the same size as the book he had given her last time only this time it was wrapped in dark red paper with gold ribbon.
"Here, sit down and open it." He took her hand and helped her to sit carefully upon the white bench, situating her skirts about her. He settles next to her handing her the package.
He watched idly as she carefully unwrapped the package. As soon as the paper was moved aside she gasped.
"Oh, my.." Her hand flies up to her mouth in surprise. Her eyes flicker over the beautiful cover of Charles Dickens' 'Great Expectations'.
She gazed up into his eyes as tears poor into her own. "I can't believe this."
Darien smiled, "I thought it rather appropriate really. Over nine years ago we sat on this same spot and I gave you a book. A Charles Dickens book. Now, here we are, older, wiser, and still together and I giving you another Charles Dickens book. It seems almost poetic really."
Serenity laughed softly, "It does indeed. After all, our relations started with a book. It is only appropriate that it should be commiserated with a book." She smiled, the same bright, beautiful smile that had always been reserved for him, and now their daughter.
"Indeed." He smiled leaning over he kissed her gently, passionately, That one kiss expressing nine years worth of love and happiness, as well as a promise for many more such years to come. They separated staring into each other's eyes.
Darien smiled and stood, offering his wife a hand and helping her rise to rejoin their guests. To continue celebrating the most joyous day of their lives. They day they truly found each other.
:H:H:H:H:H:
GML: OH. MY. GODDESS. :blinks back tears: I finished it.
Darien::stares: I can't believe it...
GML::nods: I truly did it. : shakes head: Wow... :swallows: Now::deep breath: What did you all think about that ending? Was it worth it? I just want to say before I end this, THANK YOU. Thank you to all the reviewers that left me a message. I know I never commented on them, but I did read EACH and EVERY one of them. If it weren't for the reviews I would probably have put this one back up on the shelves and left it there ages ago. You're all the BEST! Now, Say goodbye, Darien. It may be a while before you see them again.
Darien::raises eyebrow: Why do you say that::eyes GML cautiously:
GML: Because! you're going back into your cage of course::grabs D and tosses him in, locking the door:
Darien: LET ME OUT OF HERE!
GML: I said say 'Goodbye'! Anyways, Bye everyone::waves::starts crying: