We do not own "Sailor Moon" nor any of the characters.
SAILOR MOON ETERNAL
"The 6th Season of the Sailor Moon Saga"
By Haruka Kou
Chapter 15: Exciting Life on This Journey
"Do you think we should've left without Terry?" Super Sailor Neptune says, worriedly, looking back down the street for the departed Star Maker.
"Don't worry, Michelle," Sailor Star Healer squeezes her gloved hand as they walk along.
"He'll be fine," Fighter adds with a confident smile.
"How do you know-?" Neptune begins to ask, how they could be so sure.
"Because you don't know Terry like we do," Fighter smiles wistfully, "He always comes through for the people he cares about."
The night's battles over, a calming peace gently sweeps over this soldier and Fighter begins the transformation back into his regular self. Looking down at Uranus, lying in his arms, he senses her suddenly stirring.
"Feels different," the words slowly whisper from her lips, her eyes still closed. Alarmed for a moment at what she said might mean, Sayer bites his lip concerned.
"Is that bad, Ally? Cause if it is, I might, maybe could…" He trails off, not knowing what he could do about it really. His male form was now how he was ordinarily, and he could not change it except when needed in battle.
"No. It's fine just the way it is," Alex's eyes open, looking into Sayer's, as she holds her head up weakly from his very male chest, simply commenting on the difference she had felt during his transformation.
"That's good," Sayer breathes a sigh of relief, quite satisfied with himself as he was. Chuckling weakly, Alex begins to come to, meeting Michelle's gaze out of the corner of her eye, and she smiles, glad to be alive.
Something that just might change in a moment or so.
"This is the street that leads to where the Ferrari is. You don't have to call a limo, Michelle, I can drive through anything." Alex wonders why her friend stops at a public phone, requesting a limo to pick them up, when her Ferrari was only a block or two away.
Michelle gives Alex a scared wide-eyed glance and continues to make the call, as Robin and Sayer exchange looks.
"What is it?" Alex's suspicious mind jumps right on it.
"Nothing." Sayer smiles through his teeth.
"Don't lie to me," She says threateningly, even lying in his arms, it seemed an invalid claim. A silence ensues as both men look to the ground.
"What happened to my car?" Alex puts two and two together ready to explode.
"The car?" Robin says, twisting his lip, wishing he wasn't here at all at this moment.
"What car are you talking about?" Sayer smiles down at her growingly angered face, about to unleash it's wrath upon him, somehow knowing anything bad must be all his fault.
"Starr!" She bellows his last name, meaning business.
"It…welll…it…kinda…blew up." He finishes, averting his eyes fearfully at her blazing ones.
"WHAT!" Her heart breaking, over her beloved machine being destroyed, Alex takes it out on poor Sayer.
"Amara, calm down," Michelle returns from the phone, to the middle of the argument, but Alex ignores her words.
"You diverted the shot, remember? It was either the Ferrari or me, Ally." Sayer tries to lighten the situation with a big smile.
"Maybe I made the wrong choice." Under her breath, she sulks, the thought of her sleek golden friend in ruins almost unbearable.
"You mean it, 'U'?" Hearing her, Sayer leans his head down, the sad, puppy-dog eyes he gives her were pathetic.
"The limo's here. Just get me home," she says, frustrated and annoyed as Robin and Michelle, as their normal selves, in their still very formal wear, get into the limousine. Alex shakes her head smiling with a sigh, as she looks in Sayer's eyes.
"I guess there are some things a car can't do for you," she aims at him, though heartbroken she was not feeling as bad about her Ferrari as she thought she was a moment ago.
"Hold that thought," Sayer says right back, touching his fingertip to her lips as he jumps into the waiting limo, sliding in with Alex as fast as he could.
"Step on it, Driver!" He shouts to the man up front and the limo takes off with a screech, throwing Michelle and Robin, who were opposite of them, to the floor in an aqua pile.
"Oh, Robin," Michelle's flirtatious voice comes through the pitch black car, obviously in close quarters with him, as a result of the quick pullout.
"Put on your seatbelt, Michelle," Robin's scratchy voice answers unromantically in return, making Alex smile, despite herself, as they speed off into the night.
After spending some time together under the moonlit stars, Terry and Susan return to the reception hall, collecting their car from the otherwise vacant lot. The drive home is very quiet and peaceful, as happier than she has ever been before in her life, Susan leans her head on Terry's chest as he drives along, with only one arm to steer with, the other wrapped around Susan's shoulders.
Sighing blissfully, Susan feels overwhelmed by his cologne, so soft and sexy, his chest so warm, she knows she'll never want to leave it again. Closing her eyes, she loses herself in this ecstasy, knowing his heart, his soul, his very being was now part of her and her alone.
"We're home, my lady," she hears his low voice whisper to her softly as she wakes from her reverie, the long drive seeming to go by in a blur. Slowly, not wanting to leave her side either, Terry gets out of the sedan, offering Susan his hand and gently guiding his graceful lady from the car, proud to have such a beautiful creature on his arm, as they stroll up the walk way to the house.
"There you two are! See Ally, I TOLD you they would make it!" Sayer's lively voice opens the front door to greet them, as he calls back to the living room.
"Sayer." Terry nods to his younger brother, for some reason feeling glad inside to see him. Close as they were, it would have been hard to leave Sayer behind. But as he and Susan walk into the living room, Terry notices Sayer's jovial mood changing and his eyes follow his brother with scrutiny.
"Susan." Alex who was lying on the couch, her head propped up by a pillow, says. "It's good to—" she starts to say, when Sayer interrupts, going to Terry.
"Ter, what….?" Lifting his brother's two arms with his, Sayer holds his wrists, seeing, though they were invisible, the bonds that Time had clasped around them. Terry smiles, touched that their closeness could give oblivious Sayer such insight that he usually did not have.
"It's fine, Sayer," he meets his brother's worried gaze, "Everything's fine now." He turns his eyes to Susan, who looks up gratefully at him. His anxious face slowly turning to a smile, Sayer accepts Terry's words as he always does, believing in his judgment implicitly.
"Have a seat, then, guys, I'll go get you some drinks." Pointing the couple over to a loveseat, Sayer goes to the kitchen.
Sitting down, Susan sidles up close to Terry, wrapping her arms around him. Smiling Terry looks around just now noticing his other brother and Michelle's silence upon their arrival.
"Are they asleep?" Terry asks the obvious, making conversation with a reclined Alex, who seemed to be studying the cute couple with concern.
"I think so," Alex responds, satisfied - for now — that, though Robin was in Michelle's hair, the shrimp was only using it for a pillow. Michelle was innocently enough asleep in his arms.
"How cute!" Susan whispers, glancing at the peaceful pair for a moment before turning her gaze back to Terry.
"Here you go!" Sayer returns with two Cokes and some glasses, putting them down on the coffee table in front of Susan and Terry.
Seeing his seat from before now filled, Sayer glances around for a new place to sit. Noticing this as well, Alex takes pity upon him (or was it something more?), lifting her aching body up and pushing the pillows aside, she pats the couch.
"You can….sit here…if you want to." Alex asks, a little hesitantly. Blinking at his unbelievable luck, Sayer smiles at the offer, excited that she'd even care after the standoffish way she's treated him since they arrived back, and he sits where her head used to be. Trying to sit up properly, and more pointedly, to the other side of the couch, Alex suddenly feels pain shoot through her body and her arms holding her upright, collapse beneath her, her head landing -PLOP!— on Sayer's unsuspecting lap. Their eyes both wide in surprise, Sayer then smiles.
"Good idea, Ally. Don't want to put a strain on you sitting up in your condition." He says, nervousness and discouragement about their budding relationship slowly ebbing away.
"It's NOT a strain," Alex tries to lift herself again, never wanting to give in to him, but finds she was weaker than she could let herself think.
"Yes it is." Sayer bravely holds her down.
"No, it's not." Alex says continuing their argument, in actuality, quite enjoying both their ongoing little spats and the close proximity to each other.
Watching the two continue to argue, Terry chuckles at them, when suddenly he feels a little tension of his own, as a gentle warm breath blows on his neck amorously.
Turning to see Susan's mysteriously smiling face, Terry pulls his lady to his lap, wanting to be as close to her as she wanted to be to him. But he did not realize that, at this very moment, Susan wanted to be even closer. Continuing to blow into his ear, she wraps her slender hand around his neck, her long fingers gently toying with those sweet little curls in the back. These little flirtatious caresses take their effect on our "proper" gentleman, whose eyes open wider with each of her soft touches.
I know we shouldn't…..Terry stiffens a bit, his high morals holding him back, but Susan's persistent strokings would overwhelm even the most stoic of individuals, who, especially one who was this madly in love with her, who was certain she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with…..And since we already have…..The little devil on Terry's shoulder gives him all the excuses he needs, he was already willing but still…..I'll hold out…..
Jumping up, and bringing himself and Susan to their feet, Terry's sudden movements surprise both Alex and Sayer, cutting short their argument (to which it seemed Alex had already one, as she always determined she would, seated apart from Sayer on the far end of the couch). For all of his high standards and gentlemanly behaviour, Terry could hold out no longer.
"It's getting late, so maybe we should all get some rest." His voice was full of nervous energy. Sayer and Alex looking in shock at the calm man's sudden change in demeanor, just sit there blinking up at him for a moment.
"Maybe in a little while. I'm not really tired yet," Alex answers suspiciously, sitting up straighter.
"Me neither," Sayer inches a bit closer to her and Alex slides farther down the couch as a result. "You go on Ter. Susie's waiting," Sayer whispers, winking with a sly smile.
"Sayer -I…I'm ONLY going to say goodnight." Terry stumbles, trying to gain his values again, always attempting (though it sometimes seemed difficult) to impress the virtues on his younger, more high strung brother, but at the moment the point seemed a bit moot, as Susan leaves his side, taking a rather striking pose, in her bedroom doorway.
"Terry darling," she beckons to him, her eyelids lowered seductively.
"Uh—huh." Sayer smirks at Terry's vain attempts to convince them of his perfectly "innocent" intentions.
To this Terry is about to refute again, but Susan begins to hum their melody, ruffling her dress at their hooks in a dangerous manner, her eyes gazing at Terry with a silent request. "I…" Losing all sense of everything else around him, Terry becomes entranced in her eyes, as Susan reaches out to him and he goes to her….
"Ten to one he doesn't come back out till the morning." Sayer leans his head towards Alex, whispering conspiratorially, as Terry and Susan disappear behind the closing door.
"I think Susan has a better head on her shoulders than that." Alex says assuredly, always ready to put down the male sex.
"Oh, yeah?" Sayer feels a challenge. "How much you wanna bet?"
"Betting on a lady's honor? How ungentlemanly." Alex grins at his wickedness, then joins in the fun. "If your brother comes out, within say, ten minutes, you'll have to buy me anything I want." Alex puts up the wager.
"And if he doesn't come out," Sayer holds up his finger, "You have to give ME anything I want." Sayer's wicked smile spreads to his eyes, which rest on Alex with interest. Alex raises her eyebrows, considering her choices for a moment, neither option sounding all that horrible. She nods, sticking out her hand to him.
"Deal, Starr." Her hand extends out to him.
"Deal, Sokova." Sayer takes it, and shakes her hand liking the firm grip of her palm in his as the two of them turn their watchful gazes upon Susan's closed bedroom door.
As he closes the door behind them, Terry turns to Susan as she faces him, the faint trace of a smile on her parted lips.
How moist they look. I know what they taste like, but…..could I know more? As if some mysterious force was controlling him, Terry slows moves forward, his strong hands at first tentatively, then suddenly not so tentatively, take hold of her bare shoulders. "Susan, my lady," he whispers throatily.
Her purple dress already hanging low, taunting him all evening, Terry reaches around her back for the clasps, but his fingers pause in mid-air, as he searches Susan's fuschia eyes one more time.
One meeting of their eyes was enough for him to know exactly what she wanted. Staying away from those luscious lips no longer, Terry kisses her full and passionately, savoring each moment.
Darling, I love you! Susan's inner thoughts soar with each one of his gentle caresses, his sweet kisses. Our hearts, our souls have been joined! I want to show you how much I love you…..Susan's restrained soul was released at long lastHer slender hands caress him as she kisses his neck, his cologne pervading her senses.
"Terry. Terry darling…I love you…I won't run away this time." She warmly breathes to him words that she would soon come to regret.
Suddenly, she feels his kisses stop, his powerful hands pull back. Trying to catch his breath, Terry looks his lady-love in the eye.
"Run away this time…?" His deep voice was still breathless, and filled with the question, bells going off in his head.
"I won't, I promise." Susan doesn't see his apprehension rising, her mouth returning to kissing his neck. Terry's eyes go wide, his ethics finally (At last!) jabbing him hard in the gut.
"Susan….you mean we…haven't…?" Terry swallows hard, rather relieved, loosening his hands around her back. Susan shakes her head, a mischievous smile on her face.
"Not yet," she whispers.
Terry's eyes go wide in relief, but his hands seem unwilling to leave. The animal urge so tantalizing, but his high morals were stronger and the desire to do right by this woman was strongest of all. Terry pulls his hands away, much to Susan's confusement.
"Susan, I don't think we should…until…." He lifts her dangling dress back onto her bare shoulders gingerly.
"Until?" Susan's smile drops, disappointment obvious in her large eyes.
"Until…" Terry trails off, his heart breaking at the tears forming in her eyes. "Susan," He takes her shoulders. "I'd rather not. I don't want to mar your flawless perfection. You understand." Terry smiles softly, hoping she would, when he himself didn't understand fully.
Seeing in his caring eyes no room for argument, Susan nods her head up and down sadly, though truly not really understanding why. If we love each other, then…..? Susan sighs at the lost chance, but then smiles, pleased his thoughts were always for her.
"What a wonderful man you are, my love. Someday soon I will show you my appreciation.", the fire inside now tamed, but ready to blaze up at any moment.
"I will say 'good night' then, my lady." Terry bows, trying to extricate himself from her arms, but to no avail as Susan wraps herself around him, burying her head in his chest.
"Please don't leave me alone tonight." Having such loneliness for so long, now knowing she no longer had to be because of this man, she now shared a special bond with, Susan could not stand the thought of being alone—without him, for even a second on this special night.
"Susan…" Terry begins to explain his feelings on the subject again, looking her in the eye.
"Just stay with me." Truthfully, honestly, she only wanted him by her side; to feel him near, no matter what.
Terry smiles tenderly, his eyes lovingly gazing upon her. "I will stay my lady but it's been a long night and I want you to get some rest." He orders, already exercising his powers over her. "Go and get yourself changed. I'll be right here when you return." He says reassuringly, squeezing her arms and kissing her forehead sweetly.
"Yes, my lord," Susan obediently nods, gathering her sleepwear and entering the adjoining bathroom. "Someday…" she whispers softly, her eyes upon her handsome Terry as he closes the door behind her. Someday soon, she thinks, determinedly looking in the mirror at her face aglow with the love she feels for him.
"Stop that." Alex's low growl threatens as Sayer's hand rests itself on her leg.
"What?" Pulling his hand away quickly, Sayer's voice is all innocent, his face even having an insulted look.
"Just because your brother is…..with…Susan..." She starts fending off his advances.
"Ah hah! Then you concede the bet!" Sayer sticks his face in hers smugly, eager to claim victory -and his prize.
"I didn't say that. There's still two more minutes left for him to come out." Looking at the still tightly shut door, Alex has a sinking feeling that this time she just might lose her bet.
"Two minutes isn't a very long time," Sayer sings tauntingly, feeling triumphant on the verge of winning.
"Isn't it?" Alex's voice goes suddenly mysterious in its way.
"I don't think it -IS!" His words are cut off in a yelp, as Alex, quick as the wind, suddenly grabs the wrist of the hand about to touch her leg and, even in her weakened state, forcefully pushes Sayer back, sending him flying down to the couch. For a second her eyes flash wickedly into his shocked ones. And then she throws all of her weight into a smacking kiss, right on Sayer's lips.
Click. Click. Click. The seconds tick by as the hard kiss becomes softer, then goes back to being forceful again. This, their second kiss, was a close match to the passion of their first, leaving both of them breathless. Alex sits up, looking down with a smirk at the huffing Sayer. Feeling a bit faint, Sayer tries to say something, but nothing comes out, as hopelessly out of breath as he was.
Ding. Dong. Ding. The clock strikes four, their wagered ten minutes were up. Smirking, Alex sits up properly on her seat at the other end of the couch. Her breathing was completely normal already, looking as though nothing had just happened. Alex crosses her arms, quite pleased with herself.
Swallowing hard and finally catching his breath, Sayer pulls himself up. "The ten minutes are up and Ter didn't come out. So I-"
About to announce his victory, Alex cuts him off. "And how do you know he didn't come out?" She smiles.
"Were you watching the entire ten minutes?" She teases, knowing that she had him, smoothing back her mussed hair. "He only had to come out. We didn't say anything about him going back in." She cuts off Sayer's next line of defense before he even thinks of it.
"We -I- You did that on purpose!" Sayer yells loudly, feeling cheated somehow.
"Do you regret it?" Her smile turns serious, the taste of his kiss still on her lips.
"Not a chance." His miffed feelings gone with the wind, Sayer moves closer to her and for once Alex does not move away.
"Regret what?" Robin's scratchy voice even scratchier when he was sleepy. Sayer's exclamation before had awoken him and Michelle from their peaceful dozing on the loveseat across.
"Go back to sleep, shrimp." Sayer remembers Alex's word for his short brother and takes right to it, a little angry that Robin might have interrupted something about to happen.
"What's going on?" Michelle's tired voice smiles into Robin's gold vested chest, her eyes still closed.
"Time for bed, Michelle," Alex stands, going to Michelle, pulling her to her feet pointedly away from Robin's warm arms, as she eyes him warily.
"Amara?" Half-asleep Michelle smiles at her friend, leaning on her chest as Alex leads her safely to her bedroom.
"How 'bout I order some take-out, Ally?" Sayer, too, stands, calling out to her.
"Sounds good." She agrees, knowing that she should really rest after today's ordeal, but for some reason she didn't want to. Still able to half carry Michelle to her room, Alex starts peeling off that huge dress, getting her ready for bed. Going to Michelle's fancy vanity and returning her earrings and headband to their box, Alex stops, looking at herself in the mirror, feeling there was something new in those eyes that wasn't there before.
"Love does that to us, doesn't it?" Michelle pulling on her French nightgown, leans her aqua curls over Alex's shoulder, easily reading her best friend's mind.
"Michelle." Alex strokes her hair, in that tone, but wondering if she was truthfully able to correct her words. Alex then lifts her like a child, putting Michelle in bed, covering her with the sheet lovingly.
"How was his kiss?" Michelle asks curiously, teasingly, knowing intuitively that Alex and Sayer had just kissed.
Smiling at Michelle's nosiness, Alex simply goes to the wall switch, turning the light off. "Good night, Michelle." Alex avoids the question, embarrassed a bit, even to herself. But Michelle only needed to see the look in her strong partner's eyes for the answer.
"That good, hmmm?" Michelle sighs, smiling as she falls back to sleep, her own lips longing to kiss her Robin's again, as she reaches her mind out to him….
At the sound of the door opening, Terry gazes up from the armchair to see Susan meekly standing in the doorway, wearing a man's white shirt.
"It - it's yours," Susan quickly says, at his raised eyebrows, not wanting him to think anything else. "Last night, I…You can have it back if…." She suddenly feels at a loss for words.
"Oh no! Susan, my lady, it suits you far better than it ever did me." Terry compliments, taking her hand and kissing her wrist, then lifting her easily, carrying her to the bed.
Please give me the fortitude I need tonight. He prays silently, his body fighting his tormented mind as he gently lowers her to the bed, Susan's arms around his neck. Terry kisses her tenderly on the lips. His hand slips into hers and doesn't let go as he pulls a chair closer so he doesn't have to. "Sleep well, my Princess," Terry kisses the hand in his once again, brushing the hair back from her lovely face with his other hand.
"Terry." Susan whispers, her heart overflowing with gratitude and love for her heroic man, who made her to not feel alone any longer. Even when she closes her eyes, Susan feels him still there, haunting her dreams as she slowly drifts into a peaceful slumber, her hand tightly wrapped around his warm one.
Gazing upon her beautiful, restful face, Terry could not imagine that could be a more splendid creature throughout the entire galaxy. And you are mine - for all time. I am so lucky to have you.
A quiet peace overtakes the bedroom as a man in love reflects upon his lady.
Returning to the living room, Alex finds the seat where Robin was snoozing now vacant, Sayer was lazing across the couch. His eyes were closed and Alex almost turns around, thinking he fell asleep, when she hears him start to hum lowly. My song.
She smiles, making her entrance as she plops down on the loveseat opposite him. Casually flopping her legs over the edge, with her arms over her head not facing him. Suddenly he stops humming, his eyes studying the ceiling above it seemed. "What are you thinking about?" Alex breaks the silence, curious.
"Ally, I just realized. I don't know anything about you." Sayer sits up, looking at her.
"What's to know?" Alex answers lazily, noncommittally.
"I don't know…" he says, just wanting to know anything more about the woman before him, and then remembers something she said earlier in the evening.
"Before. You mentioned your mother. Is she…?" Sayer trails off, sorry he said it, almost immediately, not wanting to stir up any bad memories.
"She's gone. Since I was five years old." Alex answers, matter-of-factly, showing no emotion.
"I'm sorry Ally. I…I never knew my mother. So you're up on me there. Never knew my father either, come to think of it." Sayer smiles in a daze, never thinking much about his parents before.
"You're better off there, then." Alex sits up, looking him directly in the eye, causing Sayer to raise his eyebrows in surprise at the venomous response. "My father mistreated my mother. He beat her, controlled her. She was so weak. But a good woman, sweet and kind. My mother could never leave him. Her Russian Orthodox religion wouldn't allow it. Not only that, she loved him. He destroyed her one day, when he finally left. When he left us both. She died soon after that. Doctors said it was pneumonia, but even as young as I was, I knew what really killed her. Broken heart. She died, cold and broken. I decided from that day on, I'd never be like her. Never let myself be that weak, at a man's hand. So… now you know."
Sitting there, quietly absorbing her sad tale, Sayer begins to look at his golden beauty in a new light, understanding things he never understood before about her. "Ally. Not all men are like that." He says, trying to defend his adopted sex as a whole.
"Aren't they?" Angrily turning away, her arms folding defiantly.
"I wouldn't be." He whispers, his hand touching her folded arm lightly.
"You wouldn't?" Alex despite herself, feels her eyes being pulled into his as he shakes his head. Unfolding her arms, she tentatively reaches out for him, believing his words, when suddenly the doorbell rings.
Surprised by the sound in the dead quiet house, Sayer jumps up, letting go of her arms and banging his head on the overhanging lamp —again.
"OW!" He rubs it as he goes to answer the door. "Be right back, Ally." He winks at her. At first smiling at his foolishness, Alex quickly gets to her feet, pacing the room's length.
Why did I tell him all that? Why do I want to believe him? Fool! Fool, Alex! He's just the same as every other man…isn't he? Alex peeks up down the hallway to where Sayer seemed to be arguing with the Chinaman. His funny gestures try to explain something to the non English speaking man, quite comical in Alex's eyes, making her chuckle as she hurries back to the couch. She not wanting to be caught doing a silly thing like spying on him, as she puts her feet up casually on the coffee table.
Finally coming around the corner, with a huge cardboard box, chocked full of Chinese food cartons, fortune cookies and sauces of all sorts, Sayer dangerously balances it in one hand, cleaning off the coffee table with the other. (That meant just chucking everything to the floor.) He smacks Alex's legs off as well, sometimes treating her just as another "one of the guys", something Alex herself found quite appealing about him.
"Now I got some of, uh, this," he displays each carton, holding it high in the air, peeking in each box physically. "And some of, uh, uh, this, gooey looking stuff. Oh and this is really good! It's….uh…pork lo mang," he tries to remember some of what the guy at the door called it, mangling the foreign words horribly, making Alex laugh out loud. "You do like Chinese food, I hope." He smiles, just thinking now to ask her opinion.
"Sure. Who doesn't?" Alex piles some of the lo mein on her paper plate.
"Actually…I never had it before," He truthfully admits. "Is that stuff any good?" as Alex swallows a mouthful.
"Here, try some," She says with a full mouth, taking another big bite and nodding of its goodness.
"Don't mind if I do," Sayer smiles wickedly, going in for some mouth to mouth that Alex doesn't punish him for.
"Let's try this one next," Sayer holds up another bucket of Chinese surprise.
"It's going to be a long meal, isn't it?" Alex smiles, her heart feeling light and almost…happy when she was with him.
"Hope you're hungry." Sayer teases back as laughingly they pile all different kinds of unknown goo onto each other's plates, thoroughly enjoying the barbs and teasing passing between them, long into the night.
Early the next morning, Susan's eyes slowly flutter open, the warm touch of Terry's hand still in hers. He held my hand the entire night. She gazes lovingly on the owner of the hand, though still seated on the chair, his head was lightly resting over the pillow next to hers. For a moment, Susan simply enjoys looking at the peaceful features on Terry's handsome face. So darling when you're asleep too! She smiles and her eyes drift down coming upon a small piece of paper lying loosely in his hand, resting on the edge of the bed.
Curiosity getting the better of her, Susan mischievously checks to be sure he was fast asleep. As her fingers hold themselves back from touching his skin, sliding the slip of paper from his still hand. Trying to be as quiet as possible, she doesn't make a move, not wanting to awaken him as she lifts the sheet in question to her eyes.
Your name ever on my lips
Your doe eyes are more radiant than the stars
Your unrivaled beauty takes my breath away
Your scent so soft, yet sends my senses reeling
The slightest touch of your delicate hands
Makes my heart skip a beat
Your graceful movements are as a dance amidst the stars
Sweeter than wine
The taste of your lips so moist and sensuous
I long to taste them once more
The sound of your gentle voice whispering in my eye
I want to hear
Throughout eternity
Your passionate spirit
Echoed in my lonely soul
All this and more to me
My beloved
My precious
My own
My Susan
Her eyes fill with tears in silent awe of the poem written just for me. Her breath catches in her throat as the tears slip down her soft cheeks, dropping their moist warmth upon Terry's sleeping hand. Opening his violet eyes, Terry looks to gaze upon his beautiful lady as he has done so many times throughout the night and is surprised to find her eyes tearful, staring at a paper in her trembling hand.
"You - you weren't supposed to read that," Terry suddenly feels shy and a little embarrassed over his expressive poetry not meant for a lady's delicate eyes, as he realizes what she was reading.
"Terry, my darling." Susan looks at him, her face filled with wonder. "Did you really mean all these wonderful things?" She whispers in a shaking voice, tears still streaming down her cheeks. Smiling softly, he's embarrassed no longer, glad that she is able to see his true feelings, his deep passion for her in the form of his poetry.
"Every word, my love." Terry gazes intently into her eyes. "A thousand lines more would not be enough to express what I feel for you here in my heart." Looking at her delicate trembling features, Terry leans over her, kneeling to the bed and kisses her gently, wiping her tears away with his thumbs..
Backing away, Terry swallows hard, clearing his throat nervously, guiltily almost.
"I will take my leave from you now, my lady." He bows as she sits up, her eyes bright, throwing a kiss to him when he reaches the door, to which he catches in the air, pressing his fingers symbolically to his lips. Though finding it agonizing to leave, Terry opens the door, closing it behind him slowly, yet still peeking in at his precious lady and watches as she rereads his poem and girlishly kisses the page. The look of sheer bliss and wonderment on her beautiful, tearful face makes Terry fall in love with her a million times over again.
Coming into the living room, even Terry (who was quite used to Sayer's constant messes) was shocked to see the chaos spread around it. Containers and plates of half-eaten foods and beverages were left messily pushed aside on the now stained beige coffee table, cassettes, videos and CD boxes strewn across the floor without care all leading Terry's shocked eyes up to the culprit at the center of the storm. Make that TWO culprits. This time, Terry observes the two responsible parties for the mess.
Their eyes closed, both were casually propped up on surprisingly the same large couch, laying opposite of each other.
Suspicious of the evidential situation, knowing Sayer well enough to know he had about zero percent restraint, Terry quietly investigates, coming over to the supposedly sleeping couple making him cast serious doubts upon them.
Sayer, I hope you didn't -Terry starts to think chidingly, surprised when his brother's mouth, his eyes still closed, begins to speak.
"I like that one, too, Ally. You've got good taste." Just now, Terry notices the headphone sets over both their ears.
"Thanks. Michelle can't stand these CDs, so I rarely get to listen to them, except when I'm driving alone in my…" She stops, trying to shake off the feeling of the lost of her precious Ferrari. Though her eyes were closed and music blaring in their ears, Alex's keen senses pick up another presence.
"Your brother's finally back."
She smirks as she remembers the little "bet" called off suddenly on account of…rain last night. Pulling off his headset, a quick beat dance mix sizzling through them, Sayer looks up backwards, to see Terry's disapproving face looking down into his, a question in his eyes.
"Don't give me that face, Ter. I know what you've been up to!" Sayer teases, knowing himself still (sigh) innocent enough, his taller brother though was quite another story.
"Oh, I—uh—" Terry stumbles, surprised at the accusation and blushing at it, making him look all the more suspicious.
"Do I win the bet now?" Sayer gives it one more try, but Alex merely continues to smirk, ignoring him as she pulls off her earphones and shuts down the CD player with a remote.
"What bet?" Terry's eyes go wide as he tries to imagine what his brother and Miss Sokova were up to.
"Alex! Don't tell me you stayed up all night!" Michelle's voice comes high-pitched into the living room as she enters in a particularly stylish new summer dress.
"Well, we…got talking and…." Alex guiltily rubs her head and sits up properly, moving so quickly that her long legs knock Sayer right off the couch onto the floor with a thud, causing those gathered to laugh, Susan joining them as she slides in unnoticed, hanging on Terry's arm.
"Ughh! What a mess!" The last occupant of the house comes in with a grumpy comment, as usual. Michelle nods, agreeing with Robin wholeheartedly as she makes her way to Alex, lightly stepping over the disaster area they once called a living room.
"Now it's my turn to put you to bed," she tugs on Alex's arm.
"Michelle, I'm not tired. I thought maybe we can go for a drive." She looks at Sayer with the offer as Terry gives his brother a helping hand off the floor, then suddenly catches herself, realizing her Ferrari way past out of commission. "On my motorcycle." She throws in, a moment too late.
"You're in no condition to drive a motorcycle." Michelle's affections become bossy, pulling her difficult cousin to her feet. "You're going to rest here, ALL day." Michelle smiles triumphantly, when Alex gives in, letting her drag her away.
Jumping to his feet, Sayer quickly scoops up something small from the coffee table. "You forgot to open your fortune cookie, Ally." He chucks it through the air expertly, and Alex reaches out, catching it in one hand effortlessly.
Curious, she pops the cookie open, breaking it to reveal a fortune inside, pauses, then reads it aloud for all to hear.
"Greet every new morning with a fresh smile."
She repeats the usual fortune cookie fare, shrugging and crunching it up in her hand.
"That's nice." Susan smiles, as she goes to help Terry clear up the mess (he refuses to let her of course).
Flashing a dazzling pair of eyes at Sayer, who gives her a salute, Alex lets Michelle lead her to the bedroom, where "Motherly" Michelle busies herself tucking Alex in.
"Go to sleep." Michelle orders, kissing her beloved cousin tenderly on the cheek. Just leaving, she catches a glimpse of something lying on the ground and stoops down, picking it up. Looking at it as she walks out and down the hall, Michelle finds it the crumpled fortune cookie strip and discovers, to her surprise, to not read what Alex said.
"The winds of fate have brought you the great love of your life"
Smiling at her friend's cover up and the strangely prophetic fortune, Michelle folds the tiny slip of paper and sticks it in her pocket, glad to know that maybe things were going to be just fine for her beloved Amara at last.
Terry chases his lady from the clean-up effort, recruiting his two reluctant brothers to do the dirty work instead. Through Robin's endless complaining, the job finally gets down. Susan and Michelle busy in the kitchen making a big breakfast for the then as Sayer and Terry disappear to their rooms to freshen up and Robin lazily drapes himself in the neatened up living room he slaved over (yeah right) turning on the TV's local news, everything settling into a normal day.
"It's so wonderful to be able to do the simple things like making breakfast for him." Susan says over the frying ham, humming happily, a smile on her blissful face. Peeking over nosily as she does battle with the toaster, (household chores never much to her liking) Michelle leans her head close to Susan's happily humming one.
"How was your evening?" Michelle's flirtatious mind easily gathers that something was afoot.
"Wonderful." Susan says in a daze, continuing to hum, making Michelle certain of her suspicions now, when Terry, freshly showered and dressed in a dashing new suit, enters the kitchen humming the same melody in perfect time with Susan, leaning over her shoulder, kissing her tenderly.
"I don't believe I said 'Good Morning' yet," Terry smiles. "Allow me, my lady," he helps Susan flip the ham pieces onto a plate, making the two of them the picture perfect lovers in Michelle's eyes.
"Good morning, Ms. Moreau." Terry finally notices that Michelle was present, and she nods back at him, then quietly slips out of the kitchen, drifting into the living room, sidling up onto the couch next to her own conquest, cuddling up close to Robin.
"Hey, Michelle," he says simply, his eyes still glued to the television.
"Robin," she whispers wanting what Terry was giving to Susan too, cuddling even closer to her silver haired love. "Robin?" She repeats, growing angered when he continues to seemingly ignore her caresses. Insulted, Michelle's about to jump to her feet, feeling more than a bit rejected, when Robin's soft voice enters her mind.
"You want to go to that tonight, Michelle?" His lime green eyes direct hers towards the television set he was so engrossed with as a commercial just finishes.
"'The Phantom of the Opera'? The seats must be sold out if it's tonight," Michelle feels her spirits lifting, glad that she was not being ignored, that really Robin was thinking of her. He is romantic. She sighs.
"We'll get tickets," he reassures her, knowing both of them had high connections, squeezing her hand. Lifting her face up to be kissed, he pauses at first, blinking at her prompting. But Robin then smiles, and meets her lips tentatively.
"You guys too, huh?" Sayer interrupts the tender moment, Robin quickly pulling away, much to Michelle's chagrin. "I go in the kitchen and Ter and Susie…." He trails off, a wry smile on his face, his eyes dancing.
"Breakfast is ready." Terry says, breathlessly, as his head peeks around the corner, the faint trace of her red lipstick on his lips.
"Are you sure it's all clear now?" Sayer teases, his eyebrows raised as he walks past, winking at the lady clinging all over his brother.
"'Morning, Susie." Sayer sings, so full of energy, in a casual t-shirt and stone-washed blue jeans, you wouldn't think he'd been up all night at all.
"Good morning, Sayer," Susan blushes, returning to pouring glasses of orange juice on the table.
Robin and Michelle glide in, hand in hand, the five of them sit at the kitchen table, enjoying some pleasant conversation and the slightly overcooked ham and scorched eggs-all around knowing the cook's mind was elsewhere when she should have been watching them.
"Where're you guys off to today?" Sayer asks, stuffing the last piece of ham in his mouth.
"My artistic class for me. Robin will stay here with Amara." Michelle states their day's schedule, ordering Robin about just coming to her naturally.
"Oh, joy." Robin mumbles, not looking forward to spending the day with-her.
"What was that, dear?" Michelle twists her lip.
"Nothing," Robin sighs with a shrug.
"Susie?" Sayer turns his attention to the lovely woman at his side, shooting Robin a nasty look.
"I thought we'd just stay here too and just….relax." Her eyes rest upon Terry meaningfully.
"What's wrong, Ter?" Sayer enjoys seeing his brother squirm under Susan's tantalizing gaze.
"Wrong? Oh, nothing." Terry's low voice a pitch higher than usual as he covers up, pretending to be clearing the table instead.
Watching Michelle amorously attach herself to Robin, her lips touching his ear under the guise of whispering into it, and Robin's face was going into shock at whatever she was saying, Terry could imagine what she was proposing, remembering his apprehension earlier this morning of Sayer and Alex.
"I was thinking," his says suddenly, knowing that his willpower on the brink of collapse, along with everyone else's it seemed.
Calling everyone's attention to him, "That since we're going to be staying here on Earth," Michelle and Susan's eyes light up, "we should go and find a suitable apartment for the three of us." He watches the two ladies' faces drop.
"And as soon as possible." Robin adds, Michelle's mouth twitching.
"But you can stay here for as long as you want! You're quite welcome." Michelle smiles all sweetness at Terry, trying to be convincing to he who was in charge.
"I think it's for the best," Terry always has tried to be the "big brother", watching out for his two brothers' safety as well as their morals it seemed, (not to mention his own teetering ones, sigh). Seeing Susan's dejected face, Terry gently caresses her hair, hoping she will understand.
"Would you like to help me look for one today? Let's make a day of it together, and maybe then we can go on a picnic. You have such exquisite taste." He asks, smiling sweetly. Susan nods.
"Yes, my love," She smiles obediently, disappointed they were leaving, but happy he wanted to spend the day with her-their first together as an official couple.
"You guys going into town then?" Sayer says suddenly. "Good. There's something there I want to do…"
He says mysteriously, his eyes peeking down the hallway towards a certain golden haired beauty's bedroom.
After dropping Michelle off at her art school, and Sayer off at the street corner in town he so mysteriously needed to be at, Terry and Susan go on a hunt for a new apartment for the three bachelors. The usual burden turning into quite an enjoyable experience for our two new lovers on their first day as an "official" couple, anything would be fun as long as they were together.
Neither of them very choosy, one of the first apartment complexes they go to seems to have a pleasant enough set of suites, large enough to house the three men without them being in each other's way all the time.
"The view is lovely." Susan opens the glass sliding doors, leading to the airy balcony on the highest floor of the large stately building.
"Yes, it is." Terry puts his arm around her shoulder, more looking at her than at the city's scenic skyline, the ocean just in view in the distance.
"Ahem." The apartment man showing them around interrupts the romantic scene. "Is this apartment for you and….ahem….the young lady—Sir?" Obviously the snooty older man did not approve of unwed cohabitation.
"No, it's really for him and his two brothers," Susan blushes, wishing, just for a second, that it was what he implied.
"Yes," Terry says, matter-of-factly, a bit annoyed at the man's disapproving suspicions looking him up and down.
"Ahh." The man nods, unable to believe anything else really of such a fine, conservative looking young man. "Would you like to take residence with us then, Mr. Starr?"
"What do you think of it, my lady?" Terry turns to Susan for his decision, giving her the final choice.
"I think it would suit you beautifully," glancing around approvingly.
"Then we'll take it," Terry nods to the man who pulls some papers out of his briefcase for him to sign.
"These are the highest class apartments, securely monitored and they come fully furnished, as you can see, with the finest quality conveniences." He sweeps his hand towards the high tech looking kitchen with his sales pitch and Terry smiles knowing he would be the only member of the bachelor household to be using these "quality" conveniences.
"Very good. We can move in tomorrow then?" Terry signs his name to the contract as the man nods. Taking note of, but not worrying about the pricey cost of living in such an upper class establishment.
That done, Terry and Susan go shopping, taking in all the sights and sounds of the busy city, picking up the things they needed for their day out, then heading off to the picnic grounds at a nearby park.
"Perfect day for a picnic," Terry says as he carries the basket full of goodies out to Susan who was sitting very femininely on a picnic blanket he had just laid out.
"Everything's perfect when I'm with you." Susan smiles sweetly up at him and Terry smiles back, sitting down next to her, contently stretching his long legs out onto the green grass.
A beautiful summer day indeed, in the busy parkland, birds chirping away happily, the sun shining down brightly in the sky, couples strolling through the park, as noisy children race to and fro on the breezy, kite-flying day.
"I've never been on a picnic before," Susan busies herself reveling in the normalcy of the calmness of time in the air as she spreads out the many different outdoor luncheon foods on the blanket.
"Do you like it so far?" Terry leans back relaxing as he rolls up his sleeves, his tie and jacket already discarded.
"Very much." Susan demurely tosses her hair back, her face basking in the warm sunlight, her radiance adding to the splendor of the day, as Terry watches her admiringly, enjoying their time together when he suddenly sees a small child dangerously dangling from a tree.
Jumping up as he rushes to her, catching the falling little girl in his strong arms.
"Be careful, Little Miss," he smiles, lowering her to the ground. Wide eyed, she points up to the tree pleadingly.
"My kite!" The little girl, points up to the poor thing caught in a web of branches.
"Not to worry." Terry says, agilely climbing up the tree, he returns in a flash with the girl's undamaged lost "friend."
"Thank you!" Grabbing her kite, the little waif is off and flying again in a jiff. Proudly watching her boyfriend's (Yes, he is my boyfriend!) heroism, Susan is surprised to hear another girlish voice echoing her thoughts from beside her.
"Terry papa, is so heroic, isn't he, Puu?" Rini's pink cones bouncing up and down as she runs up to her guardian, glad to see her again after last night's scare, always inwardly believing that she would.
"Yes he is." Susan pats the ground next to her. "Won't you join us, Small Lady?" she waves her hand over to the basket full of goodies.
"Well…I'm supposed to be with the rest of the girls but…" The tasty treats too tempting our sweet-toothed little lady gives in. "Maybe just a few of those muffins…." She stuffs some into her mouth, Susan giggling at her young charge's healthy energy.
"Rini! Where have you gotten…" Tara's small voice calls out for her missing friend. Stopping suddenly when she sees the woman with Rini, and for a moment their eyes meet. "Susan!" Tara cries out, rushing to her. The thin girl falls to her knees, throwing herself around a surprised Susan. Tears in her violet eyes, Tara cries into her guardian's chest. Tears forming in Susan's own eyes, as she whispers "Forgive me for not considering your feelings, Tara."
"No. I was the one wrong. I was just being silly. I saw it last night. Terry loves you very much." Tara whispers honestly, looking into Susan's eyes. "I'm sorry." Tara smiles hopefully up at her, the pangs of her first crush slowly passing.
Hugging her tightly, Susan smiles back, happy there was no longer a rift between them, and that they were friends once again.
Rini smiles at the pair, pleased with how things were going.
"Look what we found!" Mina's loud voice sings like she found a prize through the park, as she, on one arm and Lita on the other, come dragging Terry along with them. Amy and Rei close behind.
"Susan! You're here too." Amy smiles at her older friend. Susan nods sweetly, truly glad to see their cheerful faces again, when last night she thought she might never.
"Of course." Rei smirks insinuatingly at Terry and Susan, to which Terry smiles back, then suddenly sees Rini's pink little head busily munching away in the picnic basket.
Going to her, he sends all the girls into shock bowing down to his knees to the little girl reverently. "Princess, you truly are our "Small Lady". To you I am eternally grateful." He says, lowering his eyes deferentially to her, placing the small Time Key in her hand that was so important to his mission last night.
Speechless, crumbs of muffin all around her open mouth, Rini smiles into his purple eyes, knowing why, once again, she loved her "Terry papa" so much. "Terry-papa." She whispers, hugging his bent down neck.
"What's that all about?" Rei whispers behind their backs to Lita, all four girls ignorant of last night's adventures.
"I don't know." Lita shrugs.
"Whatever it is, it's very nice." Amy smiles sweetly.
"Who cares? We're going to be late for the movie!" Not wanting to miss any part of the newest cheesy romantic flick, especially since she managed that cutie Ken to meet them there. "Come on girls!" She pulls on Amy, Rei, and Lita. "See you guys later!" Helplessly dragged away by Mina, they all wave goodbye.
"So full of life, aren't they?" Susan waves back to her cherished friends.
"Speaking of which…" Terry smirks, spotting his brother chatting up the four departing scouts, whatever he says making them stick up their noses at him indignantly stomping off.
Shrugging, Sayer then comes jogging up. "Sayer, what did you say to them?" Terry curiously asks, ready to reprimand him.
"I only told them that they all looked great yesterday at the Wedding," Sayer says innocently enough.
"And…?" Terry somehow knew instinctively that there was more than that to the story.
"And….I just said I wondered what had happened to them today." He smiles, full of teasing wickedness.
"Sayer!" Terry was still shocked at the way his younger brother could crudely treat women, but the three ladies around him giggle anyway.
"Food! I'm starving!" Sayer plunks down next to Tara and begins to dig right in, as Terry hands Rini and Tara some money to buy themselves a kite, the two children skittering off happily.
Her eyes laughing at their youthful exuberance, Susan turns to Sayer. "Did you accomplish what you wanted to today?" She asks him politely as Terry kneels down next to her and puts an arm around her shoulders.
"Oh yeah." Sayer lazily sprawls out into the grass, his arms behind his head, his enigmatic smile filled with guyish pride. "I sure did." He pulls down his shades over his eyes, the smile still pasted on his face as Tara and Rini race by, a red kite streaming behind them high in the clear blue sky.