Fall into Winter - Part 4 - After the Fall
All My Brothers, Book II
By: Reba Jean, January 11, 2003
E-mail: rjean@ghg.net, rebajean@Stories.Com
Homepage:
Genre: Romance/comedy
Rating: PG-13
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.
Author Notes: By popular demand, here's the next installment to conclude the "cliff hanger" in Part 3. The response was 100% for one option. It had been so long since I could write anything on this story, that I wondered if anyone would still want to read it. I have ideas for the next two episodes, but I make no false promises on timing.
Thanks for your emails or reviews on the previous chapter: ~*Angel*~, Bera Moon, BonovoxSM, DannigirlSOS, Deny, Fleur, Goddess of Light, Kimmi-chan, Mariejw, Marnie, Midnighteyes413, Saki, Shaina, Shivonne aka Serenity871, Usagi Chiba, and Wreath of Roses.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Recapping . . .
Tuxedo Mask watched helplessly through the open workroom door. The seemingly slow motion flight of arcing bullets intersected Serena's path as she threw herself between Kari and the twin's playpen. A shower of blood sprayed the thief and half the small room, as Serena crumpled lifelessly to the floor.
"NNNOOO!" Tuxedo Mask's anguished scream shattered the sudden silence. It was immediately echoed by two anguished wails.
. . .
A blinding golden light flashed across the room. The downed and wounded Soba slid across the floor and slammed violently against the display counter. In the back room, Kari rose until suspended in mid air. Suddenly she flew across the room and crashed into the far wall. Darien's dark form, barely visible through the golden haze, lifted Serena's limp and bloodied body. A silver mist formed around her, mirroring the golden aura around Darien. Gold and silver tendrils swirled and the colors mixed until blinding light enveloped them both.
Molly nervously regarded the motionless thieves, moving quickly to retrieve the fallen weapons. The hostages remained still, knocked unconscious by the initial blast. They appeared unhurt, otherwise. The glowing egg shape pulsed from silver to gold and back, throwing off bursts of light in a shimmering symphony of ever-changing colors.
A tornado of rainbow clad forms crashed through the jewelry store doors, colliding into a tangled pile of arms, legs, and hair. Groans and obscene mutters emerged from the writhing mass of senshi. Molly gaped open mouthed at the slapstick scene.
Crawling from beneath the senshi pile up, Ami asked breathlessly, "What is going on? We all heard several desperate mind-screams for help."
Molly remained silent, staring at the senshi as they gradually untangled themselves. She had never seen all six transformed together before. Mars, Venus, and Jupiter angrily shoved one another, trying to separate. Uranus helped Neptune to her feet. Ami stood apart, waving about her computer materialized from thin air. They all stared at the glowing mass in the corner.
Everyone jumped at a second crash as the doors blew open again. A true tornadic swirl of dark colors entered through the wide open doors. The swirling mists gradually slowed. Sailor Pluto and Sailor Saturn emerged from the dissipating mist. "What happened since we left the time gate? We saw Serena fall and heard three screams," Hotaru asked quickly.
"Yeah, like the showoffs over there just said. What is happening?" a piqued Rei asked.
"That's what we'd all like to know," echoed Haruka. The senshi all looked expectantly at Molly.
Molly gulped under the weight of their stares. "Two thieves came in and started to rob the shop. I was filling this bag with cash from the safe. The girl started threatening to kidnap the twins. Darien, uh Tuxedo Mask, came in and attacked the man with the gun. When we heard the Uzi firing, the girl started shooting too. A bullet hit Serena in the throat when she jumped in front of the play pen. Somehow Darien blasted the two thieves and threw them against the walls without even touching them. He picked up Serena and then they disappeared into that ball of light," she answered.
As the senshi continued to watch the glowing shape, the gold and silver gradually faded to reveal Endymion in field battle dress holding the limp form of Princess Serenity in his arms. He answered their obvious question, "Yes, she now lives. She is very weak."
Serenity stirred and opened her eyes. "You can put me down now. I'm fine."
She turned slightly at the cooing sounds and laughs from the baby playpen behind her. "Momma's all right now. And yes you both were VERY good boys to call for help." Serenity knelt next to the crib, reaching to touch and reassure her twins.
Endymion looked around the store angrily at the crumpled bodies of the thieves. He drew his sword and stalked over to the woman, lowering the point to rest on her throat. "I should eliminate these two vermin now," he growled lowly.
Serenity merely looked at him. He turned and met her gaze. "Don't. You don't need to kill them. Leave them here for the police. Molly can say the senshi came and knocked them out and then left."
"They don't deserve mercy," he protested. Rei, Lita, and Haruka nodded agreement. The rest watched silently to see what would transpire.
"Perhaps not. But it is yours to grant," Serenity answered cryptically. She slumped weakly against the side of the playpen.
Endymion turned, sheathing his sword and leapt to her side. He picked her up again and rose. "In spite of what she says, she is not fine. She remains very weak. I need some of you to take the twins home for us and watch them until we return. I don't know exactly how long it will be."
Mina asked, "Where are you going?"
Endymion answered, "To Elysion, to seek aid. My healing energy has been dissipated. I can do no more for her without renewal. Returning to the center in Elysion will speed the process. The prayers and wisdom of Helios will assist. He may also know some ways to help restore her energy. Until we return, then." Endymion and Serenity disappeared in a flash of light.
Makoto and Mina looked at Setsuna questioningly, "Since when can he do that?"
Setsuna smiled mysteriously as was her habit, "Endymion has come into more of his powers tonight. He is capable of far more than even he knows. And in choosing mercy over vengeance, he has chosen the light path over the dark once more."
Setsuna looked at the other senshi. "You will take care of those two? I need to return to the time gate."
Hotaru had moved over and picked up one of the infants. "I'd rather stay here and help babysit."
Michiru added, "She can stay with us. It's been a while since she visited."
"Well then, I'm off." her voice trailing off as Sailor Pluto disappeared again.
Makoto looked around at the other girls. "Who wants to help? Oh, no, not you, Mina. We all remember what happened the last time you babysat."
Mina looked chagrined as Ami giggled and Mars laughed loudly.
"Then let's all get out of here before the cops that Molly called get here," advised Haruka as the rest of the girls finished gathering up all the baby things.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Several days later . . .
The crowd milled around outside the church doors, waiting for the midnight Christmas eve service to begin. Serena and Darien, standing near the end of the line, could see her mother and father talking with the group clustered nearest the door. Accepting her mother's invitation to attend the midnight mass had seemed a good way to reassure her family and their friends that Serena had truly recovered from her ordeal.
A restful night in peaceful Elysium had greatly sped Serena's healing and restored both her and Darien's energy levels to normal. Darien, Serena, and Helios spent quite a bit of time discussing the sudden appearance of Darien's additional powers. After retreating to his extensive library and searching in the ancient historical records dating back to the time of the Silver Millennium, Helios was able to give them a little additional information. It seemed that the males of Endymion's lineage had traditionally come into their mystical abilities later in life than the females of the lunar royal line. Stress or danger often accelerated the sudden appearance of previously unmanifested talents. Serena thought it was quite amusing that Darien was less than precocious in this area at least.
They resolved to visit Elysium more often. Not only would Darien and Serena benefit from a short retreat from their busy lives, but they enjoyed spending time with Helios and valued him as a friend. Darien teased Serena that it was about the only place where he was not outnumbered by female senshi.
Serena nudged Darien and interrupted his silent musing, as she waved at some of her old church friends. Since the twins had been born, she had not visited with them often. It struck her as a little amusing that although Darien had shown very little interest in church group activities before they were married, he had been there more often lately than she had.
"How come you decided to sit through all those classes and stuff to join? I know large formal groups aren't really your style," Serena asked as she gestured around them.
"Your mom convinced me, actually. She said it was a way we could be together as a family." Darien answered.
Serena nodded, knowing how alone he had been throughout most of his life. That made the most sense of all.
Darien grinned mischievously and decided to tease her a little about it. "The Power behind the universe and everything doesn't live in a house."
Serena replied in kind, "But that Love is present here as well."
Having no good reply, Darien shrugged, "I'm still more at home outside on the church grounds or in the garden back of Hikawa shrine."
Off on another tangent, like the little boy he still sometimes was, Darien reached in his jacket pocket and pulled out a somewhat crumpled small gold foil package. "I was going to give this to you later but all this waiting is so boring and there's time now. It's sort of a combined Christmas, Valentine's Day, and anniversary gift." The light in his eyes danced and he grinned crookedly, "Hope ya like it."
Serena turned over the package. The silver ribbon formed an elaborate bow, holding sprigs of red-berry holly and mistletoe. An angel charm dangled from a necklace of woven silver and gold strands, entwined in the ribbon. "Oh that's pretty. Put it on for me, will you?" asked Serena as she handed him the necklace.
Darien brushed back the hair from her neck and fastened the clasp. Turning the package over in her hands, Serena raised an eyebrow. "Mistletoe?"
"Just an excuse to do this," Darien elaborated as he placed a swift kiss on the side of her neck, still scarred red where it had been torn open by the jewel thief's bullet.
"Darien, people will see us! You can't do that," Serena began protesting.
"And this," he added as he captured her lips. Serena giggled and reddened at the glances and smiles from the people around her.
"Mamo-chan, you are being so silly!" she chided him.
Smirking, he retorted, "But isn't that the way you love me?"
Giving in to her own impulse, she stood on tiptoe and pulled him down and kissed him back. When he worked free again, he reminded her, "You still haven't opened the package yet."
Serena looked blankly at the two cardboard tickets in her hand. "Are these to a concert, a play, or what?"
"Just turn them over and take a closer look," he directed.
"Tokyo/Paris et Paris/Tokyo" she read. "These are to Paris!" she squealed. Her face fell, "We can't leave Endy and Mamoru long enough to go there!"
Darien smiled, "It's just for a long weekend, three nights. The Concorde only takes a few hours for the trip. Your parents have said they will baby- sit. We'll spend Valentine's Day, our anniversary, in Paris." Three gifts for the price of one, he added to himself, congratulating himself on his 'thriftiness'.
Serena looked at him sidewise. "I love the idea; it's so romantic. I'm so lucky to have such a thoughtful and wonderful husband." She eyed Darien who was eating up the praise. "Just don't count it more than once, lover- boy. I may not be the greatest at math, but even I can count to three. All those dress shops in Paris just cry out for me to visit them," she trailed off dreamily.
Serena burst out laughing and reached out to pat Darien's cheek, reddened by a guilty flush. "Baby, I know all your tricks by now. I remember how you took advantage of the 90% off 'fire sale' during the Negaverse attack on the Osa-P jewelry store to buy my engagement ring," she teased.
Thinking quickly, I need a save, a good comeback. "Just don't pack anything but casual clothes. The rest of the surprise was shopping for a couple of nice outfits to wear out at night." Serena just looked at Darien.
He groaned and added, "and the shoes to go with them too." His all too vivid imagination visualized a nightmarish shopping marathon like the one on their honeymoon. Shoes were the absolute worst. Certainly not his idea of how to spend Valentine's Day or an anniversary. He envisioned time in a hot tub instead, no fancy, expensive clothes needed, thriftier too.
Serena smirked, "We'll work in some of that too, AFTER I finish my shopping."
"Maybe you can even wear the new jacket I got you for Christmas once or twice on our trip, instead of that ugly old green thing."
"Hey, that's my favorite! But I'll read the books you got me, the Encyclopedia of Anatomy and Physiology looks really interesting. And you don't have to buy me anything fancy or any clothes next year, just get the new edition of the Physician's Desk Reference set on pharmaceuticals, herbals, and standard treatments. In fact you can get me the new one every year. That's the best present that I can think of right now," Darien rambled on enthusiastically. "I like the rain cover for my car too," he added.
Serena smiled, "You and Ami both, just give you a big, heavy, boring book and you're happy."
As the line finally began to shuffle forward, Serena looked down again at the crystal and silver angel charm dangling from her gold and silver chain. "I think I saw real angels once or twice," she remarked in a low voice.
"What?" Darien paused, startled out of his reverie.
"It was after I 'died' a couple of times during battles," she replied.
Consciousness of her presence with him and their intertwined emotional connection filled Darien. Moved more by the vision of graceful loveliness before him than really responding to her words, he murmured, "I have too."
They passed into the darkened sanctuary, lit only by hundreds of candle flames. The points of light reflected the love shining in her eyes, and the golden glow of her shimmering hair. Darien shuddered convulsively; he had nearly lost her. He commented softly, "There's a real live angel standing right in front of me now."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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.
Author Notes: By popular demand, here's the next installment to conclude the "cliff hanger" in Part 3. The response was 100% for one option. It had been so long since I could write anything on this story, that I wondered if anyone would still want to read it. I have ideas for the next two episodes, but I make no false promises on timing.
Thanks for your emails or reviews on the previous chapter: ~*Angel*~, Bera Moon, BonovoxSM, DannigirlSOS, Deny, Fleur, Goddess of Light, Kimmi-chan, Mariejw, Marnie, Midnighteyes413, Saki, Shaina, Shivonne aka Serenity871, Usagi Chiba, and Wreath of Roses.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Recapping . . .
Tuxedo Mask watched helplessly through the open workroom door. The seemingly slow motion flight of arcing bullets intersected Serena's path as she threw herself between Kari and the twin's playpen. A shower of blood sprayed the thief and half the small room, as Serena crumpled lifelessly to the floor.
"NNNOOO!" Tuxedo Mask's anguished scream shattered the sudden silence. It was immediately echoed by two anguished wails.
. . .
A blinding golden light flashed across the room. The downed and wounded Soba slid across the floor and slammed violently against the display counter. In the back room, Kari rose until suspended in mid air. Suddenly she flew across the room and crashed into the far wall. Darien's dark form, barely visible through the golden haze, lifted Serena's limp and bloodied body. A silver mist formed around her, mirroring the golden aura around Darien. Gold and silver tendrils swirled and the colors mixed until blinding light enveloped them both.
Molly nervously regarded the motionless thieves, moving quickly to retrieve the fallen weapons. The hostages remained still, knocked unconscious by the initial blast. They appeared unhurt, otherwise. The glowing egg shape pulsed from silver to gold and back, throwing off bursts of light in a shimmering symphony of ever-changing colors.
A tornado of rainbow clad forms crashed through the jewelry store doors, colliding into a tangled pile of arms, legs, and hair. Groans and obscene mutters emerged from the writhing mass of senshi. Molly gaped open mouthed at the slapstick scene.
Crawling from beneath the senshi pile up, Ami asked breathlessly, "What is going on? We all heard several desperate mind-screams for help."
Molly remained silent, staring at the senshi as they gradually untangled themselves. She had never seen all six transformed together before. Mars, Venus, and Jupiter angrily shoved one another, trying to separate. Uranus helped Neptune to her feet. Ami stood apart, waving about her computer materialized from thin air. They all stared at the glowing mass in the corner.
Everyone jumped at a second crash as the doors blew open again. A true tornadic swirl of dark colors entered through the wide open doors. The swirling mists gradually slowed. Sailor Pluto and Sailor Saturn emerged from the dissipating mist. "What happened since we left the time gate? We saw Serena fall and heard three screams," Hotaru asked quickly.
"Yeah, like the showoffs over there just said. What is happening?" a piqued Rei asked.
"That's what we'd all like to know," echoed Haruka. The senshi all looked expectantly at Molly.
Molly gulped under the weight of their stares. "Two thieves came in and started to rob the shop. I was filling this bag with cash from the safe. The girl started threatening to kidnap the twins. Darien, uh Tuxedo Mask, came in and attacked the man with the gun. When we heard the Uzi firing, the girl started shooting too. A bullet hit Serena in the throat when she jumped in front of the play pen. Somehow Darien blasted the two thieves and threw them against the walls without even touching them. He picked up Serena and then they disappeared into that ball of light," she answered.
As the senshi continued to watch the glowing shape, the gold and silver gradually faded to reveal Endymion in field battle dress holding the limp form of Princess Serenity in his arms. He answered their obvious question, "Yes, she now lives. She is very weak."
Serenity stirred and opened her eyes. "You can put me down now. I'm fine."
She turned slightly at the cooing sounds and laughs from the baby playpen behind her. "Momma's all right now. And yes you both were VERY good boys to call for help." Serenity knelt next to the crib, reaching to touch and reassure her twins.
Endymion looked around the store angrily at the crumpled bodies of the thieves. He drew his sword and stalked over to the woman, lowering the point to rest on her throat. "I should eliminate these two vermin now," he growled lowly.
Serenity merely looked at him. He turned and met her gaze. "Don't. You don't need to kill them. Leave them here for the police. Molly can say the senshi came and knocked them out and then left."
"They don't deserve mercy," he protested. Rei, Lita, and Haruka nodded agreement. The rest watched silently to see what would transpire.
"Perhaps not. But it is yours to grant," Serenity answered cryptically. She slumped weakly against the side of the playpen.
Endymion turned, sheathing his sword and leapt to her side. He picked her up again and rose. "In spite of what she says, she is not fine. She remains very weak. I need some of you to take the twins home for us and watch them until we return. I don't know exactly how long it will be."
Mina asked, "Where are you going?"
Endymion answered, "To Elysion, to seek aid. My healing energy has been dissipated. I can do no more for her without renewal. Returning to the center in Elysion will speed the process. The prayers and wisdom of Helios will assist. He may also know some ways to help restore her energy. Until we return, then." Endymion and Serenity disappeared in a flash of light.
Makoto and Mina looked at Setsuna questioningly, "Since when can he do that?"
Setsuna smiled mysteriously as was her habit, "Endymion has come into more of his powers tonight. He is capable of far more than even he knows. And in choosing mercy over vengeance, he has chosen the light path over the dark once more."
Setsuna looked at the other senshi. "You will take care of those two? I need to return to the time gate."
Hotaru had moved over and picked up one of the infants. "I'd rather stay here and help babysit."
Michiru added, "She can stay with us. It's been a while since she visited."
"Well then, I'm off." her voice trailing off as Sailor Pluto disappeared again.
Makoto looked around at the other girls. "Who wants to help? Oh, no, not you, Mina. We all remember what happened the last time you babysat."
Mina looked chagrined as Ami giggled and Mars laughed loudly.
"Then let's all get out of here before the cops that Molly called get here," advised Haruka as the rest of the girls finished gathering up all the baby things.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Several days later . . .
The crowd milled around outside the church doors, waiting for the midnight Christmas eve service to begin. Serena and Darien, standing near the end of the line, could see her mother and father talking with the group clustered nearest the door. Accepting her mother's invitation to attend the midnight mass had seemed a good way to reassure her family and their friends that Serena had truly recovered from her ordeal.
A restful night in peaceful Elysium had greatly sped Serena's healing and restored both her and Darien's energy levels to normal. Darien, Serena, and Helios spent quite a bit of time discussing the sudden appearance of Darien's additional powers. After retreating to his extensive library and searching in the ancient historical records dating back to the time of the Silver Millennium, Helios was able to give them a little additional information. It seemed that the males of Endymion's lineage had traditionally come into their mystical abilities later in life than the females of the lunar royal line. Stress or danger often accelerated the sudden appearance of previously unmanifested talents. Serena thought it was quite amusing that Darien was less than precocious in this area at least.
They resolved to visit Elysium more often. Not only would Darien and Serena benefit from a short retreat from their busy lives, but they enjoyed spending time with Helios and valued him as a friend. Darien teased Serena that it was about the only place where he was not outnumbered by female senshi.
Serena nudged Darien and interrupted his silent musing, as she waved at some of her old church friends. Since the twins had been born, she had not visited with them often. It struck her as a little amusing that although Darien had shown very little interest in church group activities before they were married, he had been there more often lately than she had.
"How come you decided to sit through all those classes and stuff to join? I know large formal groups aren't really your style," Serena asked as she gestured around them.
"Your mom convinced me, actually. She said it was a way we could be together as a family." Darien answered.
Serena nodded, knowing how alone he had been throughout most of his life. That made the most sense of all.
Darien grinned mischievously and decided to tease her a little about it. "The Power behind the universe and everything doesn't live in a house."
Serena replied in kind, "But that Love is present here as well."
Having no good reply, Darien shrugged, "I'm still more at home outside on the church grounds or in the garden back of Hikawa shrine."
Off on another tangent, like the little boy he still sometimes was, Darien reached in his jacket pocket and pulled out a somewhat crumpled small gold foil package. "I was going to give this to you later but all this waiting is so boring and there's time now. It's sort of a combined Christmas, Valentine's Day, and anniversary gift." The light in his eyes danced and he grinned crookedly, "Hope ya like it."
Serena turned over the package. The silver ribbon formed an elaborate bow, holding sprigs of red-berry holly and mistletoe. An angel charm dangled from a necklace of woven silver and gold strands, entwined in the ribbon. "Oh that's pretty. Put it on for me, will you?" asked Serena as she handed him the necklace.
Darien brushed back the hair from her neck and fastened the clasp. Turning the package over in her hands, Serena raised an eyebrow. "Mistletoe?"
"Just an excuse to do this," Darien elaborated as he placed a swift kiss on the side of her neck, still scarred red where it had been torn open by the jewel thief's bullet.
"Darien, people will see us! You can't do that," Serena began protesting.
"And this," he added as he captured her lips. Serena giggled and reddened at the glances and smiles from the people around her.
"Mamo-chan, you are being so silly!" she chided him.
Smirking, he retorted, "But isn't that the way you love me?"
Giving in to her own impulse, she stood on tiptoe and pulled him down and kissed him back. When he worked free again, he reminded her, "You still haven't opened the package yet."
Serena looked blankly at the two cardboard tickets in her hand. "Are these to a concert, a play, or what?"
"Just turn them over and take a closer look," he directed.
"Tokyo/Paris et Paris/Tokyo" she read. "These are to Paris!" she squealed. Her face fell, "We can't leave Endy and Mamoru long enough to go there!"
Darien smiled, "It's just for a long weekend, three nights. The Concorde only takes a few hours for the trip. Your parents have said they will baby- sit. We'll spend Valentine's Day, our anniversary, in Paris." Three gifts for the price of one, he added to himself, congratulating himself on his 'thriftiness'.
Serena looked at him sidewise. "I love the idea; it's so romantic. I'm so lucky to have such a thoughtful and wonderful husband." She eyed Darien who was eating up the praise. "Just don't count it more than once, lover- boy. I may not be the greatest at math, but even I can count to three. All those dress shops in Paris just cry out for me to visit them," she trailed off dreamily.
Serena burst out laughing and reached out to pat Darien's cheek, reddened by a guilty flush. "Baby, I know all your tricks by now. I remember how you took advantage of the 90% off 'fire sale' during the Negaverse attack on the Osa-P jewelry store to buy my engagement ring," she teased.
Thinking quickly, I need a save, a good comeback. "Just don't pack anything but casual clothes. The rest of the surprise was shopping for a couple of nice outfits to wear out at night." Serena just looked at Darien.
He groaned and added, "and the shoes to go with them too." His all too vivid imagination visualized a nightmarish shopping marathon like the one on their honeymoon. Shoes were the absolute worst. Certainly not his idea of how to spend Valentine's Day or an anniversary. He envisioned time in a hot tub instead, no fancy, expensive clothes needed, thriftier too.
Serena smirked, "We'll work in some of that too, AFTER I finish my shopping."
"Maybe you can even wear the new jacket I got you for Christmas once or twice on our trip, instead of that ugly old green thing."
"Hey, that's my favorite! But I'll read the books you got me, the Encyclopedia of Anatomy and Physiology looks really interesting. And you don't have to buy me anything fancy or any clothes next year, just get the new edition of the Physician's Desk Reference set on pharmaceuticals, herbals, and standard treatments. In fact you can get me the new one every year. That's the best present that I can think of right now," Darien rambled on enthusiastically. "I like the rain cover for my car too," he added.
Serena smiled, "You and Ami both, just give you a big, heavy, boring book and you're happy."
As the line finally began to shuffle forward, Serena looked down again at the crystal and silver angel charm dangling from her gold and silver chain. "I think I saw real angels once or twice," she remarked in a low voice.
"What?" Darien paused, startled out of his reverie.
"It was after I 'died' a couple of times during battles," she replied.
Consciousness of her presence with him and their intertwined emotional connection filled Darien. Moved more by the vision of graceful loveliness before him than really responding to her words, he murmured, "I have too."
They passed into the darkened sanctuary, lit only by hundreds of candle flames. The points of light reflected the love shining in her eyes, and the golden glow of her shimmering hair. Darien shuddered convulsively; he had nearly lost her. He commented softly, "There's a real live angel standing right in front of me now."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*