RebaJean12/30/05
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.
"Ahhhhhhhh . . . iiiieeeiiiii!" a terrified scream broke the quiet night rhythms.
Darien struggled to awaken. No sense of danger had aroused him. He turned quickly to look at Serena. She sat bolt upright, staring rigidly forward, tears streaming down her face. "They're gone!" she shrieked.
"Who's gone?" Darien questioned. Serena lurched toward him and grasped his tee shirt convulsively. She began sobbing heart-brokenly.
"Shh," he soothed as he rocked her gently. "Who is gone?" he asked again.
"They've taken them . . . Endy and Mamoru," Serena cried.
Darien shook his head in confusion. No one had entered the apartment. "They're here. They're fine. Can't you hear them breathing?"
"No . . . they're gone. I'll never see them again!" she wailed.
"I'll go look and make sure that they are okay," Darien answered. He settled Serena back on her pillows and pulled the covers up to her chin. He padded into the twin's room. Both were sleeping soundly in spite of Serena's wails. He returned and observed that Serena had cuddled around her pillow, sleeping peacefully once more.
Later that morning . . .
"Then you screamed that they were gone and I went and checked on them. You had gone back to sleep when I returned," Darien told Serena over breakfast.
"I don't remember any of that," Serena huffed. "You must have been dreaming," she muttered, stirring her cocoa idly.
"No, I think you were the one dreaming. This isn't the only time you've woken me up when you've had nightmares. This must be the fifth or sixth time since the robbery. Are you sure you don't want to talk to Ami or Setsuna about it?" Darien asked, trying to keep the anxiety out of his voice.
"I don't want to talk about that," Serena retorted sharply. "It's over. I don't want to remember it at all." She rose and stalked angrily out of the kitchen.
Darien sighed. She would not listen if he brought it up again. She had dismissed his concern when he tried to get her to talk it over with him. He glanced at the clock. He was already late for his shift at the hospital. He would have to deal with this later. As if he didn't have enough to deal with already, he thought resentfully.
Serena and Darien sprawled on a blanket in the middle of the bedroom floor, each nose to nose with one of the twins. Serena played patty cake with Endy and Darien was trying to get Mamoru to roll back the miniature football. From across the room, the computer chimed, announcing the latest email arrival. Darien sighed and rolled the ball back to the baby one last time.
"I think he almost had it there, don't you?" he asked Serena absently. He levered himself up and crossed the room, his attention already focused on the study references he was expecting for his next clinical psychology exam. Darien grabbed his printout and flipped through it, his confusion evident. Lengthy paragraphs of legalese filled the pages.
Serena protested, "That can wait. You've hardly spent any time at all with the boys lately. . . . Or with me."
"What?" his attention finally caught by the sad fugue he sensed around her. Serena had become increasingly melancholic and quiet over the past few weeks, so unlike her usual cheerful demeanor.
Finally responding to her comment, "That's one reason I'm glad we're getting away next weekend. The professors have really been piling extra assignments on since the holidays. That project for work has almost doubled too. It seems like ever since I started working mostly at home, they think I can work 24/7. He dropped down to the floor. Facing Serena at an angle, the babies corralled between them, he propped his chin on his elbow. "I've 'seen' you more than ever, just not when you're awake," referring to his habit of working while she and the babies slept. His fingers brushed along the side of her face. "Can you tell me what's bothering you?"
"Nothing's wrong, really. Do you ever feel like something is missing, that you're missing out on something?" Serena attempted to explain her muddled, confused feelings.
"No," he answered, clearly puzzled.
"What if . . . things had been different? Did you ever wonder what you're missing? What if none of this last year had ever happened," waving her hand in a gesture circling them all.
Darien lifted one eyebrow and smiled sardonically, "Be careful what you wish for. You remember what the ginzuishou (imperium silver crystal) did when you wished for a normal life after we defeated Beryl and Metallia."
Serena smiled sadly, "I'm not wishing, just wondering. What about your dreams?"
Darien just looked at her, "I found the princess I always dreamed about and learned something about my ancient past."
"But don't you ever wonder what your life would have been like?" Serena persisted.
Darien rolled over and stared at the ceiling, "Nah. On any given Saturday, I'd be studying or working or both. Just like now. We'd go out or do something here. Just like now. I'd take you home and come back alone. Take a cold shower. Sleep alone. Wake up alone. Take a cold shower." He grabbed her and dragged her over to lie against him.
He grinned mischievously, "No major magical enemies are trying to kill us and take over the world right now. I have a home, family, and the gorgeous woman I love curled up next to me. All sooner than I had ever hoped. She sleeps with me, wakes up next to me, and sometimes plays with me." Smiling seductively he added, "and I really, really like being able to take long hot showers together instead of needing cold ones all the time."
Serena slapped his arm lightly, "Is that all you think about?"
"Um, well, yeah, sometimes. But what about you?" he tried to change the topic.
"Darien!"
"I mean, you seem to be wishing something was different. What do you think is missing?" he asked softly. He reflected that she had seemed down and depressed ever since she was nearly killed in the jewelry story robbery.
"Well, I wouldn't be up this early," she started to list.
"Yeah, you'd sleep all day if you could," Darien teased.
"Nah, I'd have to get up to go shopping with the girls or go play video games at the arcade," Serena responded. "I'd probably go out more than I do now too."
"Wouldn't you rather stay home with us?" Darien countered.
"I'm home most of the time with just babies and no one older to talk to," Serena complained.
"I thought you ate lunch with the girls at school after your class. And don't you see your mom those days too," Darien said.
"I haven't been able to do that for the last couple of weeks. Mom is too busy now with the volunteer project to keep them that long," she answered.
Serena added, "The senshi are all going shopping today for dresses to wear at the city-wide high school Valentine Prom. It's a "century of movies" theme. I didn't get to go last year and now I'll miss this year too."
"I thought you wanted the trip to Paris. If I'd of known you just wanted to go to a dance, I wouldn't have booked the trip," Darien said in an irritated tone.
"I do want to go. But I want to go to the dance too. Everything has changed so much. I feel like I'm already old and not 17. I still want to be a teenager. Didn't you ever feel like that?" she asked as one tear trailed down her cheek.
"Not . . . really. My life's always been pretty much the same as now. I've always had to work and had lots of studying. The only time I really have any fun is when you make me," Darien smiled teasingly.
"Hey, why don't you call Rei or Mina and see where to meet them. Go out and have 'fun'. Buy a dress if you want; I'm sure there will be a place to wear it," Darien offered.
"Don't you want to come too?" Serena asked.
"Go shopping with all of you girls for dresses, voluntarily? No way!" Darien laughed.
"Well okay," Serena agreed lightly.
Waving his stack of print outs at Serena, Darien added, "This is the contract for the movie deal this summer. I should read over it. My friend still hasn't sent me the notes for the test either. I need to make some business phone calls too."
Serena bounced up and was ready to leave in record time. She stopped to hug Darien from behind as he sat at his desk. Serena admonished, "Make sure you 'watch' the boys. You'd be amazed at how far they can scoot or roll, even though they can't crawl yet. They can get away pretty quickly."
"Ok. Ok." Darien murmured absently as she brushed a kiss in passing.
The girls collapsed into the largest booth in the corner of the Crown arcade. It was the only one that could hold the girls and all their shopping bags. "I'm so glad to finally sit down. My feet are killing me," Serena whined.
"You've gone soft. You're out of practice. You need to go with us more often to keep in shape," commented Lita.
"Come to think of it, isn't your butt bigger than it used to be, Meatball Head?" needled Rei.
"It is not! I wear exactly the same size I did before the twins were born," argued Serena.
Rei grinned maliciously, "Yeah, exactly the same size you wore right before they were born. You still look like an odango!"
"You're mean!"
"Pphhtt!"
"Pththth!"
Volley and return continued as Rei and Serena launched one of their infamous tongue wars. Mina and Lita laughed. Ami looked embarrassed. "Don't you two ever stop. You do this every time you're together. It is so childish!"
Andrew watched with amusement as he approached the girls' booth to take their orders. Pausing to kiss Mina hello, he straightened and asked, "What can I get you ladies today?"
Ami looked pointedly at Rei and Serena and sniffed, "What ladies?"
Lita quickly composed her face into a deadpan expression and quipped, "I'll take some of what you just gave the blond, please."
Andrew, remembering Lita's long time crush on him, reddened and looked slightly alarmed. "Uh . . ."
Mina broke in, "Don't worry, Boy Toy, she's only teasing. We'll all have the usual." Rolling her eyes extravagantly, "Lita hasn't been interested in you in ages. Her "roommate" might have a few objections too," Mina added with a smirk.
Andrew could tell a major flaying/gossip session was about to begin according to the girls predictable pattern. He turned hastily to retreat and avoid being targeted again. Quite unable to resist such a tempting target flaunted right in front of her, Mina reached over and goosed Andrew.
"Ack!" he squeaked, turning quickly to see who was abusing him in such a way. "Oh, it's you, V-Babe." He grinned fatuously and winked, sauntering away cockily.
Lita groaned, "Ugh. You two are so sappy it's disgusting!"
Mulling over what she heard, it finally clicked. Serena asked curiously, "When did Lita get a roommate?"
"Meatball Head, you are so dense. I'm embarrassed to have to explain. She doesn't really have a roommate. Mina's just teasing her about Ken being over there so much," Rei sniped.
Much to Lita's relief, Serena spotted Molly just entering the arcade and waved her over. "Oh, you've been shopping. Did you find costumes to wear for the dance? I want to see what you bought," Molly exclaimed excitedly as she hurried over to join the girls crowed into the corner booth. Her grip on Melvin was merciless as he trailed behind protesting weakly. "I found the cutest thing, a gold 1920's flapper dress covered with sequins and fringe on the bottom. They even had a striped gangster suit to go with it for Melvin to wear," she gushed as she snatched the bags and boxes from her long-suffering pack animal.
Melvin collapsed on the booth next to Mina. "My feet are killing me. I swear she dragged me through every store in a 2 klick radius," he complained.
"Oh stop whining! You volunteered to drive me around and help carry things. I'll even buy you one of those prune smoothies you like," Molly added placatingly.
Melvin's eyes gleamed; he loved the "healthy power shakes" that Andrew had added to the menu to woo the after-workout crowd from the nearby health club. "With wheat germ sprinkles?" he asked.
"Sure," Molly replied.
The corner of the arcade began to resemble a garment flea market as the girls unbagged their purchases to show to Molly. Melvin's sighs of boredom were ignored in the excited female chatter, and he grew tired of serving as a clothes rack. He soon wandered off in search of a refuge from the female enclave.
"Kinda overwhelming sometimes," Andrew commiserated as he herded Melvin a stack of game tokens.
"Sure is!" Melvin agreed as he sped toward the arcade section.
"I don't see why we needed to leave so early," Serena complained. "I wanted to make sure Mamoru and Endy are okay."
"The boys will be fine," Darien soothed. He rubbed Serena's back reassuringly; he could see all her unvoiced worries in her expression. She settled against him with a sigh. In a much shorter time than would have taken them to the airport the limousine slowed to a stop outside the entrance to a grand hotel.
"Why are we stopping here?" Serena asked as she peered around curiously.
Darien manifested a white rose and handed it to Serena as he transformed into Prince Endymion. Serena stared at his armor clad form in confusion.
"Your dance awaits, my Lady." Darien grinned. "Don't worry, we have PLENTY of time, as you noted earlier. We have at least a couple of hours to enjoy your dance. The limo will pick us up out front and take us straight to the airport. While you were fussing with your mom about the boys, I had the concierge send our stuff on ahead."
"What will I wear?" Serena's voice rose in the beginnings of a wail.
"Your Rapunzel costume is in that bag, or here's your disguise pen," Darien offered.
Serena looked from one option to the other and shook her head. "No, if you're going as Prince Endymion then I should be Princess Serenity. If even Molly and Melvin are going to match, so should we."
Pausing at the head of the double staircase which descended into the ballroom from each side, Serena and Darien made their stately entrance. Stately except that "Princess Serenity" dashed down the stairs towing her prince, all the while waving wildly to her friends below. "Mina! Lita!" shouted Serena. She hiked up her skirts and leapt down the last two steps. Darien followed behind, sidestepping and apologizing to the couples in Serena's wake.
Across the ballroom from the stairs, a surprisingly good local band performed on the raised stage. The room was decorated in a Valentine's theme. Red, pink, and silver heart shaped balloons drifted near the ceiling with gilt streamers trailing. The rooms white and gilt patterned wallpaper and deep red carpet surrounding the dance floor complimented the decorations. Tables, draped in white with red and pink mixed floral centerpieces and candles, lined the side walls.
Darien assumed a parade rest at Serena's side, at her last stop as she flitted from one group of friends to another. The senshi gathered at a table midway between the bandstand and the buffet. Animated squeals and giggles greeted them as the girls excitedly compared costumes. Lita and Ken wore matching black ninja costumes. Andrew was garbed in a baseball uniform and Mina complemented him in a cheerleader costume. She wore a short blue pleated skirt, white crop top, and blue and red pom-poms. Rei was elaborately made up as a geisha in an obviously antique kimono. Chad wore 1800's style western business attire. Most surprising of all was Ami in a skin tight navy blue cat suit accompanying Greg as Batman.
The males exchanged commiserating glances as if to say "she dragged me here." Her initial chatter exhausted, Darien swept her toward the dance floor for a fast J-Pop set. Breathless afterwards, Serena marched toward the buffet table and piled a plate with sweets as Darien followed with their glasses of pink punch. They joined their friends at the senshi table.
Darien glanced at the clock and leaving the girls to chatter, approached the band for a request. He stopped silently behind Serena as the band announced a "special anniversary" request. The notes of the "locket" waltz rose from the quiet.
"Princess, may I have this last dance," Prince Endymion whispered to Princess Serenity. She gasped and looked at him with damp eyes as they moved onto the dance floor for the last waltz.