Fall into Winter – Part 2 – censored version
All My Brothers, Book II
By: Reba Jean, July 15, 2002
E-mail: rjean@ghg.net, rebajean@Stories.Com
Homepage: http://www.angelfire.com/tx5/prairieskye
Genre: Romance/comedy
Rating: PG13/R
Disclaimer: Characters are based on Sailor Moon copyright 1992 by Naoko
Takeuchi/Kodansha, TOEI Animation, English language adaptation
Copyright 1995 by DIC Entertainment. This story is not intended for
monetary gain or tangible profit, but purely for entertainment of the
readers.
* * * * * * * * *
The moonlight spilled through the window, highlighting Serena's
silhouette in the doorway with a silvery glow. She appeared entranced
by the sight of Endymion and Mamoru actually sleeping. Her thoughts
drifted peacefully and she wondered what Rini had looked like at that
same age. She startled as Darien slipped his arms around her and
answered her unspoken thought. "I guess we'll just have to wait and
see."
"I didn't hear you come in," Serena commented as she leaned back into
his embrace. Darien sighed and rested his chin on her hair.
"I was trying to be quiet; I didn't know if you would still be up," he
answered.
"I finished feeding them a little while ago. They just fell asleep. I
think I saw one of them roll over and I was watching to see if he would
do it again," Serena added.
"Well, I guess that's another thing I missed," Darien commented
ruefully. "How did their checkup at the doctor go?"
"They're both doing fine. She said they were gaining weight and
growing the way they should," Serena answered.
"I wanted to be there, but they were short this week at the hospital.
I need to rethink working so much, I guess. I need more time to study
and I know that you could use more help, even though you haven't been
complaining. And have I reminded you lately that I love you?" Darien
commented.
"I want to see more of you too," he added.
Serena turned around to face Darien and allowed her eyes to travel up
and down his form. "I wouldn't mind seeing more of you either. She
ran her hands lightly up his chest to tie around his neck. As she rose
up on her toes reaching toward his face; he met her half way.
"I. Love. You. Too." Serena punctuated each word with an additional
kiss.
Darien smiled widely and picked up Serena, starting toward their
bedroom. "How are you doing? Did your doctor say it would be okay
to…" It was easy enough for her to catch that thought.
"I feel fine, but the doctor said we should still wait another couple
of weeks," Serena admitted reluctantly.
"Aw, man. It's harder, … to leave you alone, … than when we were
dating!" Darien complained.
Setting her back down on her feet, Darien said, "I don't want to argue
about it. I'm gonna go take a shower."
"You not wanting to argue? You're not getting away that easy."
Leering, Serena ordered, "Lie down on the bed."
"What?" exclaimed Darien, his eyes widening in surprise.
Serena began laughing at his expression. "You look shocked, the same
as I must have when you told me to do that, two days after I got home.
I thought you wanted me and couldn't wait any longer, when all you
wanted was to look at the stitches."
"I was just trying to tease you. I wouldn't be that selfish. But your
reaction was so funny," Darien added laughing as he remembered the look
on her face.
Serena put her hands on her hips, "Well what are you waiting for, I
don't have all night you know. I'm not going to tell you again."
"Yes, Mam!" Darien quipped as he quickly moved to 'obey'.
Carefully studying the pose Darien struck, "As appetizing as you look,
I'm hungry," Serena admitted sheepishly. "Wait here while I go find
something to eat in the kitchen."
A few moments later, she returned, nibbling. Serena looked at him and
smiled.
Later, drained and lethargic, Darien rested and commented to his food
obsessed partner. "Being between you and food, that can be dangerous
and kinda scary."
Doodling with the ketchup and mustard spills left on the plate, Darien
indulged his artistic impulses. "Picasso, you're not. Are you through
drawing on me with the ketchup?" Serena craned her neck, trying to see
what Darien was doing.
Darien resumed his finger painting/cat-like clean up game until he
reached the other end of Serena and stopped. Just when he was almost
where she really wanted him to be. Serena leaned up on one elbow and
protested, "You're not going to stop NOW are you?"
Darien wrinkled his nose, "Yuck! You're smelly. Some other time," he
muttered as he rolled away.
"Darien!" Serena protested. She was mortified. All she could think of
was that he was rejecting her. Serena began to cry. "You don't want
me any more. You think I'm gross and nasty."
"Oh, I guess that wasn't the most tactful thing to say," Darien
admitted as he mentally kicked himself. He crawled back over Serena,
pinning her so she couldn't slip away somewhere to cry. "Shush, don't
cry. I didn't mean that I think you're disgusting." Darien thought
furiously; what can I say? I'm just making a mess of it.
Guiltily looking at her tear stained face, smudged with mustard and
ketchup, Darien finally got an idea. "Hey, we're both sticky messes."
As he rubbed a smear on her cheek, he added, "You've got ketchup on
your cheek and mustard on your nose." He began licking her cheek and
her nose in between her ticklish giggles.
"There are even pickles in your hair. Why don't we go take a shower
now? Let me wash you off, hmm? I'm sure I can help you feel all nice
and clean and relaxed. Maybe use that rose shampoo of yours that
smells so nice and is slippery and bubbly," Darien cajoled.
"So that's where most of that bottle went. Mina just gave it to me
three weeks ago! All those showers you've been taking lately. You
could have asked me to join you, ya know. Instead you sneak off alone
to play by yourself," Serena complained.
Darien actually blushed; he was busted. "Well I just didn't want to
bother you. You've been really sore and tired," and grouchy, weepy,
and whiney, he added to himself.
"I heard that, mister!" Serena growled menacingly.
Darien reverted to his usual tactics when losing an argument and kissed
her to distraction. And found himself quite distracted as well by the
warm female body wiggling beneath him. "Are you sure you don't want
to?" Darien begged.
"What do you think, baka? But the doctor said don't." Serena answered.
"You're gonna kill me if you keep doing that. How did you learn to
wiggle like that anyway?" he added as he rolled over slightly to watch
her moves.
"From that belly dancing class that Rei talked us all into taking last
year. You like it?" Serena asked.
"Oh, yeah! I can really see Rei getting into something like that too,"
Darien commented absently as he stared at the wall.
Whap!
"OW! That HURT! Why did you hit me?" Darien whined.
"I SAW what you were imagining, baka. And Rei's not that big either,"
Serena complained.
"I love you," Darien said plaintively. "You're not mad at me are you?
Let's go take a shower, ok?"
"Mom was right, men really do have a one track mind," Serena commented
scathingly.
"Well it's on the same track as yours!" Darien retorted as he pulled
her up and towed her toward the bathroom. Darien pulled Serena up
against him as he caressed her.
The urge to tease and play was irrepressible, however. Darien asked
curiously, "Hey babe, you know that commercial where the farmer is
milking a cow and he sprays the dog across the room?"
"I'm not a cow!" yelled Serena, beginning to get angry.
"Aw, come on, it would be fun," protested Darien.
Serena giggled, "Mamo-gram, you are so silly for a grown man."
After they both were washed completely clean, the couple cuddled a
moment longer, finally breaking a last gentle kiss. "Let's go to bed
and get some sleep before the next wake-up call," Darien proposed
sleepily.
Serena examined her fingers and looked over Darien's body. "I've been
in the water long enough. I'm as wrinkled as a prune and I don't think
I've ever seen you shriveled up quite so," Serena giggled.
Darien's eyes twinkled with amusement, "Just like a woman, always
complaining. Can't ever please you, I guess. Of course it would help
if you could ever make up your mind."
A loud "Yeouch!" accompanied the crack of the skillfully snapped towel.
"I'll get you for that!" threatened Darien as he pursued the swiftly
fleeing woman into the bedroom.
Thwap. She had turned to attack and hit him with a pillow. Whap. He
returned the blow. Screams, giggles, and laughter accompanied the
pillow fight, as Darien and Serena beat each other mercilessly.
Collapsing together in a heap, in the middle of their totally destroyed
bedding, Serena laughed until tears began streaming down her face.
Darien was holding his side, aching from convulsive laughter. "Enough,
Usako. Truce," he gasped.
Serena crawled up next to him and sprawled across his chest. "Truce,"
she agreed. Their ragged breathing eased and rapidly beating hearts
slowed.
Drifting off to sleep Darien whispered, "Sweet dreams, princess. I
love you."
Serena lay still, listening to his quiet breathing. "I love you too,
prince. But I still won," she answered finally.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Serena entered the bedroom. She had finally gotten out of that
afternoon's make-up class. She was not looking forward to all the
catch-up assignments she would have to complete for the months of
school that she missed. Make-up classes over the winter and spring
breaks had even been proposed if she did not finish on schedule.
School seemed even more depressing and irrelevant than before the boys
were born. It was a good thing that Darien had changed his work
schedule so he could be home more afternoons, since her mother couldn't
baby-sit then during the extra classes.
Looking into the travel playpen set up in the corner, the two subjects
of her last thoughts seemed oblivious to her approach. Endymion was
staring up towards the ceiling moving his eyes back and forth. Mamoru
was alternately batting at the mirrored and spotted ball suspended
above him and grabbing his toes. Asking Darien, "What on earth is
Endy staring at all this time?"
"Oh, what, huh? I'll show you, it's kind of funny." Darien got up off
the bed where he was reading and walked over to the electrical switch
on the wall. "Watch what he does." Darien switched the ceiling fan
speed to high. The baby rolled his eyes rapidly and squenched up his
face like he was about to cry. Darien flipped it back to very slow
speed. The baby resumed his previous fixed stare. Darien flipped the
fan completely off and went back to his studies. This time Endy began
to wail in earnest.
Serena scooped up the upset baby and cradled him on her shoulder.
"Hush, don't cry. Momma will fix it." Glaring at Darien, Serena
scolded, "Bad Poppa! That's mean! You knew that would make him cry."
"He didn't cry when I was here by myself. It was funny to watch him
staring at it going round and round, like he was hypnotized. I don't
know if it's that good for his eyes to watch it for very long anyway,"
Darien replied and shrugged.
Serena picked up Mamoru, who promptly began crying as well,
disappointed at having his games interrupted.
"Sheesh, Serena now you've made them both cry. How can I get any of
this done now?" Darien complained.
"You're the one who made Endy cry. We'll just go in the kitchen since
that old grump doesn't want us in here. It's time to feed you anyway."
Serena fed and played with the babies for a while. After she changed
the resulting smelly diapers, bathed the smelly babies, and put them
down for their last nap for the day, she was exhausted herself.
Serena yawned and decided she could use a nap as well. Darien's books
and papers were strewn across half the bed. He was sprawled out
reading a textbook propped on the pillows. Serena commented, "Your
junk's in the way." She swept the papers off her side and onto the
floor, plopped down on her side and curled around a pillow with her
rear scooted up against him. She yawned again and was out immediately,
before he could even protest. Darien sighed and gathered up his books
and papers and stacked them on his desk. He was tired of studying
anyway. A nap seemed like a good idea to him as well.
Serena woke after a short rest, feeling hungry. It must be nearly time
for dinner. She felt Darien moving restlessly beside her, his arms had
pulled her against his chest and it sounded like he was whispering
endearments. As he rhythmically poked against her, she giggled. He
was having another ecchi dream. That's what had gotten them two five-
kilo packages of joy and trouble in the first place. Before living
with him, she had no idea how often his thoughts turned that way.
Deciding she wanted to play with him, it was short work to remove and
toss his scrub pants on the floor. Her own clothes joined them as
well. Serena signed as she joined with him; she was happy to be able
to resume their favorite activity together. She wondered when he would
wake up this time. And that man claimed she could sleep through
anything.
Serena regarded her sleepy and sated lover from the pile of pillows she
was sprawled across. They certainly seemed to make love as often as
possible. She wondered what his past had been like; although she had
never felt right in asking. Her curiosity had finally overcome her
reluctance to question him. "Darien, did you have a lot of women
before me?"
A sense of danger penetrated his sleep and desire fogged senses.
"What? Huh?" he responded intelligently.
Serena repeated her question. Quickly responding Socratically, Darien
turned her question back at her. "Why do you ask? Did you have a lot
of men before me?"
Serena eyes flashed angrily, "How can you even ask me something like
that? I can't believe you just said that."
Darien answered blandly, "Why not? You just asked me the same thing."
He didn't really want to know the answer if it was yes though. "You
know I love you; how you answer won't change that," he 'reassured' her.
Wrong thing to say. "You mean you don't care?" Serena asked sadly. He
didn't care about what she did. He must think she had cheated on him
or something. Her eyes began to fill with tears.
I hate these situations. How do I get out of this conversation, Darien
wondered frantically. "Usako, of course I care about you. I love you.
But you never did say anything about the first time hurting or
anything. I didn't want to ask. I wondered if maybe Diamond had hurt
you that way after all or maybe that you and Seiya had been more than
friends. I thought you would tell me if you wanted me to know," he
answered truthfully.
Serena answered with an edge in her voice, "There was never anyone
else. I didn't exactly love Seiya in that way; it was closer to the
way you feel about a brother or sister. I'm sure that's what Diamond
wanted. He tried but I was able to fend him off the times we were
alone. It just didn't hurt was all. Mina told me if you're real
athletic that happens. Or Ami says sometimes you might stretch or
break the hymen using tampons or that some girls never even have one."
Darien ran his hands through his hair, "I should have remembered that
stuff. I knew that. I'm sorry if I upset you."
Serena smiled mischievously, "But darling, you never did answer my
question."
Darien swallowed convulsively, "No."
Serena crossed her arms on her pile of pillows and propped her chin on
her folded hands. She regarded Darien expectantly, "No, there weren't
a lot or no, there weren't any, dearest?"
"You know how shy I was. There was just one woman before you. I don't
count what happened in the Negaverse." A hollow, haunted expression
flickered in Darien's eyes and he looked down in shame.
Serena looked at him in surprise, "the Negaverse?"
"I'm ashamed that they broke me and Beryl was able to cast that spell
that "brainwashed" me. I'll never really understand how you were able
to forgive me for all the horrible things I did. I try not to remember
too much from that time. They tortured me mentally and physically as
well as magically you know. What Beryl, Malachite, and the rest did to
me sexually had nothing to do with love. It was only about causing
pain and degradation and controlling me. I'm glad I had at least one
good experience before that to remember. But it was mostly the way you
loved me in spite of everything that let me stay alive and keep my
sanity at all," Darien confessed. He was pale and shaking by the time
he finished whispering the end of his explanation.
Silent tears of remorse ran from Serena's eyes. She moved quickly over
to Darien and held him tightly, resting her head on his shoulder. "Oh,
I'm so sorry baby. I never knew any of those things. You never told
anyone at all?"
"No, I was too ashamed," he responded. "But Sunny Tristian was a good
thing, if you still want to hear everything. True confessions time, I
guess," Darien continued wryly.
"Yes, I would like to know, if you still want to tell me," Serena
answered him.
"The summer before I met you, when I was sixteen, I had a modeling
shoot on location at a beach resort. I was the youngest guy there.
The girls were all so beautiful and I even tried asking a couple out.
They just laughed and told me try again when I was grown up. They had
a lot of fun teasing me until Sunny and I started seeing each other.
The guys thought I was really lucky, but told me not to get too
attached. They said she would pick a guy at each job, but when the job
was over she always left, and she would never date them again. I
pretended I was cool with it, but before long I fell in love. Then she
left and I never did see her again. And that hurt, more than I can
say. I just kind of avoided getting interested in any girl in
particular. I would hide in my studies like Ami does. Until you hit
me on the head with that test paper, and then drove me crazy for so
long." Darien sighed.
"What did she look like?" Serena asked curiously.
Darien closed his eyes to try to remember her features. "She must have
been about 20 or 22 years old. She was tall, dark, and beautiful with
long green-black hair."
Serena looked up in surprise, "Darien that sounds like Setsuna, Sailor
Pluto."
Darien smiled, "I know. You can't imagine how surprised I was, the
first time I saw her. She must have thought I was crazy, the way I
kept staring at her. Eventually I couldn't stand the suspense any
longer and asked Pluto if it was her. She told me no." Darien shook
his head, "But I still wonder, sometimes . . ."
Serena looked at him speculatively, "I wonder too. But even if it was
Pluto, and she has decided to deny it, then she will never say
differently. I guess it doesn't matter anyway, as long as you behave
in the future that is. You are already claimed and I don't share."
Serena marked her territory with a lingering kiss.
Darien gathered her close, planting fluttering kisses on her hair,
face, neck and shoulders. "Don't you forget that you belong to me,
either. I've seen the way all the guys look at you. And I've caught
you looking at some of them too."
Serena blushed and said "Oops." She brightened and grinned
mischievously, "Oh by the way, `Mr. Hypocrite', I seem to remember
someone fantasizing about Rei while we were making love not too long
ago."
Darien squirmed. She had him there. One of the dangers of a
telepathic bond with your partner. He drawled, "Well don't touch then.
And we can agree at least to try not to look."
Serena smiled, "Agreed. Except for one thing. I'm still gonna look at
you and touch you all I want!"
"I certainly won't object to that," Darien seconded.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Note: There was a Sailormoon fanfiction parody that used the name
`mammogram' for Mamoru. I do not recall the title or author. I have
never been able to read the name Mamo-chan without remembering this.
So I couldn't resist using it in the context of this story.
All My Brothers, Book II
By: Reba Jean, July 15, 2002
E-mail: rjean@ghg.net, rebajean@Stories.Com
Homepage: http://www.angelfire.com/tx5/prairieskye
Genre: Romance/comedy
Rating: PG13/R
Disclaimer: Characters are based on Sailor Moon copyright 1992 by Naoko
Takeuchi/Kodansha, TOEI Animation, English language adaptation
Copyright 1995 by DIC Entertainment. This story is not intended for
monetary gain or tangible profit, but purely for entertainment of the
readers.
* * * * * * * * *
The moonlight spilled through the window, highlighting Serena's
silhouette in the doorway with a silvery glow. She appeared entranced
by the sight of Endymion and Mamoru actually sleeping. Her thoughts
drifted peacefully and she wondered what Rini had looked like at that
same age. She startled as Darien slipped his arms around her and
answered her unspoken thought. "I guess we'll just have to wait and
see."
"I didn't hear you come in," Serena commented as she leaned back into
his embrace. Darien sighed and rested his chin on her hair.
"I was trying to be quiet; I didn't know if you would still be up," he
answered.
"I finished feeding them a little while ago. They just fell asleep. I
think I saw one of them roll over and I was watching to see if he would
do it again," Serena added.
"Well, I guess that's another thing I missed," Darien commented
ruefully. "How did their checkup at the doctor go?"
"They're both doing fine. She said they were gaining weight and
growing the way they should," Serena answered.
"I wanted to be there, but they were short this week at the hospital.
I need to rethink working so much, I guess. I need more time to study
and I know that you could use more help, even though you haven't been
complaining. And have I reminded you lately that I love you?" Darien
commented.
"I want to see more of you too," he added.
Serena turned around to face Darien and allowed her eyes to travel up
and down his form. "I wouldn't mind seeing more of you either. She
ran her hands lightly up his chest to tie around his neck. As she rose
up on her toes reaching toward his face; he met her half way.
"I. Love. You. Too." Serena punctuated each word with an additional
kiss.
Darien smiled widely and picked up Serena, starting toward their
bedroom. "How are you doing? Did your doctor say it would be okay
to…" It was easy enough for her to catch that thought.
"I feel fine, but the doctor said we should still wait another couple
of weeks," Serena admitted reluctantly.
"Aw, man. It's harder, … to leave you alone, … than when we were
dating!" Darien complained.
Setting her back down on her feet, Darien said, "I don't want to argue
about it. I'm gonna go take a shower."
"You not wanting to argue? You're not getting away that easy."
Leering, Serena ordered, "Lie down on the bed."
"What?" exclaimed Darien, his eyes widening in surprise.
Serena began laughing at his expression. "You look shocked, the same
as I must have when you told me to do that, two days after I got home.
I thought you wanted me and couldn't wait any longer, when all you
wanted was to look at the stitches."
"I was just trying to tease you. I wouldn't be that selfish. But your
reaction was so funny," Darien added laughing as he remembered the look
on her face.
Serena put her hands on her hips, "Well what are you waiting for, I
don't have all night you know. I'm not going to tell you again."
"Yes, Mam!" Darien quipped as he quickly moved to 'obey'.
Carefully studying the pose Darien struck, "As appetizing as you look,
I'm hungry," Serena admitted sheepishly. "Wait here while I go find
something to eat in the kitchen."
A few moments later, she returned, nibbling. Serena looked at him and
smiled.
Later, drained and lethargic, Darien rested and commented to his food
obsessed partner. "Being between you and food, that can be dangerous
and kinda scary."
Doodling with the ketchup and mustard spills left on the plate, Darien
indulged his artistic impulses. "Picasso, you're not. Are you through
drawing on me with the ketchup?" Serena craned her neck, trying to see
what Darien was doing.
Darien resumed his finger painting/cat-like clean up game until he
reached the other end of Serena and stopped. Just when he was almost
where she really wanted him to be. Serena leaned up on one elbow and
protested, "You're not going to stop NOW are you?"
Darien wrinkled his nose, "Yuck! You're smelly. Some other time," he
muttered as he rolled away.
"Darien!" Serena protested. She was mortified. All she could think of
was that he was rejecting her. Serena began to cry. "You don't want
me any more. You think I'm gross and nasty."
"Oh, I guess that wasn't the most tactful thing to say," Darien
admitted as he mentally kicked himself. He crawled back over Serena,
pinning her so she couldn't slip away somewhere to cry. "Shush, don't
cry. I didn't mean that I think you're disgusting." Darien thought
furiously; what can I say? I'm just making a mess of it.
Guiltily looking at her tear stained face, smudged with mustard and
ketchup, Darien finally got an idea. "Hey, we're both sticky messes."
As he rubbed a smear on her cheek, he added, "You've got ketchup on
your cheek and mustard on your nose." He began licking her cheek and
her nose in between her ticklish giggles.
"There are even pickles in your hair. Why don't we go take a shower
now? Let me wash you off, hmm? I'm sure I can help you feel all nice
and clean and relaxed. Maybe use that rose shampoo of yours that
smells so nice and is slippery and bubbly," Darien cajoled.
"So that's where most of that bottle went. Mina just gave it to me
three weeks ago! All those showers you've been taking lately. You
could have asked me to join you, ya know. Instead you sneak off alone
to play by yourself," Serena complained.
Darien actually blushed; he was busted. "Well I just didn't want to
bother you. You've been really sore and tired," and grouchy, weepy,
and whiney, he added to himself.
"I heard that, mister!" Serena growled menacingly.
Darien reverted to his usual tactics when losing an argument and kissed
her to distraction. And found himself quite distracted as well by the
warm female body wiggling beneath him. "Are you sure you don't want
to?" Darien begged.
"What do you think, baka? But the doctor said don't." Serena answered.
"You're gonna kill me if you keep doing that. How did you learn to
wiggle like that anyway?" he added as he rolled over slightly to watch
her moves.
"From that belly dancing class that Rei talked us all into taking last
year. You like it?" Serena asked.
"Oh, yeah! I can really see Rei getting into something like that too,"
Darien commented absently as he stared at the wall.
Whap!
"OW! That HURT! Why did you hit me?" Darien whined.
"I SAW what you were imagining, baka. And Rei's not that big either,"
Serena complained.
"I love you," Darien said plaintively. "You're not mad at me are you?
Let's go take a shower, ok?"
"Mom was right, men really do have a one track mind," Serena commented
scathingly.
"Well it's on the same track as yours!" Darien retorted as he pulled
her up and towed her toward the bathroom. Darien pulled Serena up
against him as he caressed her.
The urge to tease and play was irrepressible, however. Darien asked
curiously, "Hey babe, you know that commercial where the farmer is
milking a cow and he sprays the dog across the room?"
"I'm not a cow!" yelled Serena, beginning to get angry.
"Aw, come on, it would be fun," protested Darien.
Serena giggled, "Mamo-gram, you are so silly for a grown man."
After they both were washed completely clean, the couple cuddled a
moment longer, finally breaking a last gentle kiss. "Let's go to bed
and get some sleep before the next wake-up call," Darien proposed
sleepily.
Serena examined her fingers and looked over Darien's body. "I've been
in the water long enough. I'm as wrinkled as a prune and I don't think
I've ever seen you shriveled up quite so," Serena giggled.
Darien's eyes twinkled with amusement, "Just like a woman, always
complaining. Can't ever please you, I guess. Of course it would help
if you could ever make up your mind."
A loud "Yeouch!" accompanied the crack of the skillfully snapped towel.
"I'll get you for that!" threatened Darien as he pursued the swiftly
fleeing woman into the bedroom.
Thwap. She had turned to attack and hit him with a pillow. Whap. He
returned the blow. Screams, giggles, and laughter accompanied the
pillow fight, as Darien and Serena beat each other mercilessly.
Collapsing together in a heap, in the middle of their totally destroyed
bedding, Serena laughed until tears began streaming down her face.
Darien was holding his side, aching from convulsive laughter. "Enough,
Usako. Truce," he gasped.
Serena crawled up next to him and sprawled across his chest. "Truce,"
she agreed. Their ragged breathing eased and rapidly beating hearts
slowed.
Drifting off to sleep Darien whispered, "Sweet dreams, princess. I
love you."
Serena lay still, listening to his quiet breathing. "I love you too,
prince. But I still won," she answered finally.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Serena entered the bedroom. She had finally gotten out of that
afternoon's make-up class. She was not looking forward to all the
catch-up assignments she would have to complete for the months of
school that she missed. Make-up classes over the winter and spring
breaks had even been proposed if she did not finish on schedule.
School seemed even more depressing and irrelevant than before the boys
were born. It was a good thing that Darien had changed his work
schedule so he could be home more afternoons, since her mother couldn't
baby-sit then during the extra classes.
Looking into the travel playpen set up in the corner, the two subjects
of her last thoughts seemed oblivious to her approach. Endymion was
staring up towards the ceiling moving his eyes back and forth. Mamoru
was alternately batting at the mirrored and spotted ball suspended
above him and grabbing his toes. Asking Darien, "What on earth is
Endy staring at all this time?"
"Oh, what, huh? I'll show you, it's kind of funny." Darien got up off
the bed where he was reading and walked over to the electrical switch
on the wall. "Watch what he does." Darien switched the ceiling fan
speed to high. The baby rolled his eyes rapidly and squenched up his
face like he was about to cry. Darien flipped it back to very slow
speed. The baby resumed his previous fixed stare. Darien flipped the
fan completely off and went back to his studies. This time Endy began
to wail in earnest.
Serena scooped up the upset baby and cradled him on her shoulder.
"Hush, don't cry. Momma will fix it." Glaring at Darien, Serena
scolded, "Bad Poppa! That's mean! You knew that would make him cry."
"He didn't cry when I was here by myself. It was funny to watch him
staring at it going round and round, like he was hypnotized. I don't
know if it's that good for his eyes to watch it for very long anyway,"
Darien replied and shrugged.
Serena picked up Mamoru, who promptly began crying as well,
disappointed at having his games interrupted.
"Sheesh, Serena now you've made them both cry. How can I get any of
this done now?" Darien complained.
"You're the one who made Endy cry. We'll just go in the kitchen since
that old grump doesn't want us in here. It's time to feed you anyway."
Serena fed and played with the babies for a while. After she changed
the resulting smelly diapers, bathed the smelly babies, and put them
down for their last nap for the day, she was exhausted herself.
Serena yawned and decided she could use a nap as well. Darien's books
and papers were strewn across half the bed. He was sprawled out
reading a textbook propped on the pillows. Serena commented, "Your
junk's in the way." She swept the papers off her side and onto the
floor, plopped down on her side and curled around a pillow with her
rear scooted up against him. She yawned again and was out immediately,
before he could even protest. Darien sighed and gathered up his books
and papers and stacked them on his desk. He was tired of studying
anyway. A nap seemed like a good idea to him as well.
Serena woke after a short rest, feeling hungry. It must be nearly time
for dinner. She felt Darien moving restlessly beside her, his arms had
pulled her against his chest and it sounded like he was whispering
endearments. As he rhythmically poked against her, she giggled. He
was having another ecchi dream. That's what had gotten them two five-
kilo packages of joy and trouble in the first place. Before living
with him, she had no idea how often his thoughts turned that way.
Deciding she wanted to play with him, it was short work to remove and
toss his scrub pants on the floor. Her own clothes joined them as
well. Serena signed as she joined with him; she was happy to be able
to resume their favorite activity together. She wondered when he would
wake up this time. And that man claimed she could sleep through
anything.
Serena regarded her sleepy and sated lover from the pile of pillows she
was sprawled across. They certainly seemed to make love as often as
possible. She wondered what his past had been like; although she had
never felt right in asking. Her curiosity had finally overcome her
reluctance to question him. "Darien, did you have a lot of women
before me?"
A sense of danger penetrated his sleep and desire fogged senses.
"What? Huh?" he responded intelligently.
Serena repeated her question. Quickly responding Socratically, Darien
turned her question back at her. "Why do you ask? Did you have a lot
of men before me?"
Serena eyes flashed angrily, "How can you even ask me something like
that? I can't believe you just said that."
Darien answered blandly, "Why not? You just asked me the same thing."
He didn't really want to know the answer if it was yes though. "You
know I love you; how you answer won't change that," he 'reassured' her.
Wrong thing to say. "You mean you don't care?" Serena asked sadly. He
didn't care about what she did. He must think she had cheated on him
or something. Her eyes began to fill with tears.
I hate these situations. How do I get out of this conversation, Darien
wondered frantically. "Usako, of course I care about you. I love you.
But you never did say anything about the first time hurting or
anything. I didn't want to ask. I wondered if maybe Diamond had hurt
you that way after all or maybe that you and Seiya had been more than
friends. I thought you would tell me if you wanted me to know," he
answered truthfully.
Serena answered with an edge in her voice, "There was never anyone
else. I didn't exactly love Seiya in that way; it was closer to the
way you feel about a brother or sister. I'm sure that's what Diamond
wanted. He tried but I was able to fend him off the times we were
alone. It just didn't hurt was all. Mina told me if you're real
athletic that happens. Or Ami says sometimes you might stretch or
break the hymen using tampons or that some girls never even have one."
Darien ran his hands through his hair, "I should have remembered that
stuff. I knew that. I'm sorry if I upset you."
Serena smiled mischievously, "But darling, you never did answer my
question."
Darien swallowed convulsively, "No."
Serena crossed her arms on her pile of pillows and propped her chin on
her folded hands. She regarded Darien expectantly, "No, there weren't
a lot or no, there weren't any, dearest?"
"You know how shy I was. There was just one woman before you. I don't
count what happened in the Negaverse." A hollow, haunted expression
flickered in Darien's eyes and he looked down in shame.
Serena looked at him in surprise, "the Negaverse?"
"I'm ashamed that they broke me and Beryl was able to cast that spell
that "brainwashed" me. I'll never really understand how you were able
to forgive me for all the horrible things I did. I try not to remember
too much from that time. They tortured me mentally and physically as
well as magically you know. What Beryl, Malachite, and the rest did to
me sexually had nothing to do with love. It was only about causing
pain and degradation and controlling me. I'm glad I had at least one
good experience before that to remember. But it was mostly the way you
loved me in spite of everything that let me stay alive and keep my
sanity at all," Darien confessed. He was pale and shaking by the time
he finished whispering the end of his explanation.
Silent tears of remorse ran from Serena's eyes. She moved quickly over
to Darien and held him tightly, resting her head on his shoulder. "Oh,
I'm so sorry baby. I never knew any of those things. You never told
anyone at all?"
"No, I was too ashamed," he responded. "But Sunny Tristian was a good
thing, if you still want to hear everything. True confessions time, I
guess," Darien continued wryly.
"Yes, I would like to know, if you still want to tell me," Serena
answered him.
"The summer before I met you, when I was sixteen, I had a modeling
shoot on location at a beach resort. I was the youngest guy there.
The girls were all so beautiful and I even tried asking a couple out.
They just laughed and told me try again when I was grown up. They had
a lot of fun teasing me until Sunny and I started seeing each other.
The guys thought I was really lucky, but told me not to get too
attached. They said she would pick a guy at each job, but when the job
was over she always left, and she would never date them again. I
pretended I was cool with it, but before long I fell in love. Then she
left and I never did see her again. And that hurt, more than I can
say. I just kind of avoided getting interested in any girl in
particular. I would hide in my studies like Ami does. Until you hit
me on the head with that test paper, and then drove me crazy for so
long." Darien sighed.
"What did she look like?" Serena asked curiously.
Darien closed his eyes to try to remember her features. "She must have
been about 20 or 22 years old. She was tall, dark, and beautiful with
long green-black hair."
Serena looked up in surprise, "Darien that sounds like Setsuna, Sailor
Pluto."
Darien smiled, "I know. You can't imagine how surprised I was, the
first time I saw her. She must have thought I was crazy, the way I
kept staring at her. Eventually I couldn't stand the suspense any
longer and asked Pluto if it was her. She told me no." Darien shook
his head, "But I still wonder, sometimes . . ."
Serena looked at him speculatively, "I wonder too. But even if it was
Pluto, and she has decided to deny it, then she will never say
differently. I guess it doesn't matter anyway, as long as you behave
in the future that is. You are already claimed and I don't share."
Serena marked her territory with a lingering kiss.
Darien gathered her close, planting fluttering kisses on her hair,
face, neck and shoulders. "Don't you forget that you belong to me,
either. I've seen the way all the guys look at you. And I've caught
you looking at some of them too."
Serena blushed and said "Oops." She brightened and grinned
mischievously, "Oh by the way, `Mr. Hypocrite', I seem to remember
someone fantasizing about Rei while we were making love not too long
ago."
Darien squirmed. She had him there. One of the dangers of a
telepathic bond with your partner. He drawled, "Well don't touch then.
And we can agree at least to try not to look."
Serena smiled, "Agreed. Except for one thing. I'm still gonna look at
you and touch you all I want!"
"I certainly won't object to that," Darien seconded.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Note: There was a Sailormoon fanfiction parody that used the name
`mammogram' for Mamoru. I do not recall the title or author. I have
never been able to read the name Mamo-chan without remembering this.
So I couldn't resist using it in the context of this story.