A/N: My apologies for the delay. I hadn't realised how much I actually depended on adrenaline to get through my days and when the adrenaline wore off, that's when all the fatigue and soreness came tumbling back...So here's another family moment and I'll get back to working on TOBITF as soon as I'm able.
Moonprincess998: Hmm...I hope D knows S and the children well enough not to take it to heart and I think the fact that they finished the oatmeal speaks for the depth of their love for him! ;) Trish1573: You and your mom are very sweet! Like mother like daughter, eh? LOL. I love eggs for breakfast! I'm with your mom on this! How can you not love eggs?! ;) PS: You featured in this drabble! How do like that? ;) catgirl505: You're welcome! :) janay0502: I'm really glad! ;) kbtjmandy: Oh thank you! I have final assignments too (for this particular course) and research/simulation/analysis for my other two. I hope your exams went well and you get to finish your assignments on time. Reading calms me down too. And so does writing. I'd be very glad if my stories help you unwind somewhat. ;) bunny88rosemagic: Thank you! I'm really glad you thought so! Will you be having your chocolate milkshake with extra sprinkles, chocolate chips, nuts and cream? ;) JJenA: What a beautiful compliment! Thank you so much! :) To answer your question, drabble no. 9 will catch us up to Chapter 20 of TOBITF whereas drabble no. 10 will take place after Chapter 22. ;) James Birdsong: Thanks! Welcome to (S + D = ss + dd)! ;) xx Nariel xx: LOL. Thanks! My late Nana used to prepare sandwiches with the ingredients arranged as smiley. :) Definitely unique and special! ;) LoveInTheBattleField: Thanks! Here it comes! ;) smfan4ever72: Thank you! I'm really glad! ;) CherrySerenity-sama: LOL. I know, right? He just won't give up on the oatmeal! Serena can be inventive when she wants to be! ;) I'm glad your computer survived. :) lostinshanghai: Thanks! I'm glad! :)
Thoughts are in Italics.
(Standard disclaimer: I do not own any of the Sailor Moon characters. All characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi.)
S plus D equals little s squared plus little d squared (S + D = ss + dd)
6. Daddy's Fault
Timeline: takes place in between Chapters 19 & 20 of TOBITF (inspired by/with reference to a scene in Chapter 17)
Rating: K
No. Of words: 935 words
Serena waved goodbye to her friends as the girls piled up into Mina's red Porsche and smiled weakly at Darien as he opened the door to his black Ferrari for her and quickly went around the car and slipped into the driver's seat.
He spared her a glance as he started the car. "So, how was your first paper?"
Serena shrugged dejectedly. "Don't ask. One would think it would be the easiest paper. I mean, we use English everyday!"
"That bad, huh?" he asked sympathetically, closing a hand over hers comfortingly.
Another sigh and another shrug, "I'd rather not think about it anymore."
Darien chuckled lightly and squeezed Serena's hand, "That's okay. We'll just prepare better for your Biology paper tomorrow."
Serena groaned and closed her eyes.
Understanding, Darien kept his silence and his hand on hers for the short drive to the children's school, giving her time to settle her nerves.
Remembering to use the Luna Pen to make them look older, both Darien and Serena got out of the car, their gaze searching for their future children.
Darien's eyebrow raised and Serena gasped as Sara and Suri came out, holding each other's hands, uncharacteristically dishevelled with blue paint on one of Suri's buns and some on Sara's uniform and cheek.
Darryl and Darren followed their sisters, dragging their feet. Both though not as dishevelled, also spotted little specks of the same blue paint as their sisters.
Darien's brows drew together when both girls ran straight for Serena, completely ignoring him.
"Mummy!"
Serena crouched down and hugged them both, concern on her face as she saw both children on the verge of tears, "What's wrong darlings? What happened?" she asked soothingly, her own worries over her exam completely forgotten.
Darryl and Darren came to stand in front of Darien, uncharacteristically subdued.
Luca Jordan and Trish Jarvis, the children's class teachers waited slightly behind them with two little boys whose face and hair were completely covered with the same blue paint.
Darien put a hand on each son's shoulder and looked at the two adults expectantly, wordlessly waiting for an explanation.
Before either adult could say anything, Serena looked up at Darryl and Darren and gently asked, "Can one of you tell us what happened?"
Both teachers were struck by the way Darien's expression changed as he looked down at his 'wife'. His eyes softened and suddenly he didn't seem as intimidating.
Suri's voice trembled as she buried her face against her mother's shoulder, "We got into a fight."
Darren raised his chin almost defiantly in such a 'Serena' gesture that Darien's heart skipped a beat. "It's not the girls' fault, Mom," he defended his sisters even as he shifted guiltily on his feet.
Darryl's lips quivered but a stubborn gleam remained in his eyes, "The boys tried to paint their buns blue," he tried to explain.
Serena stroke Suri's hair as Sara sniffled and tightened her arms around Serena's neck.
Darien looked down at Darryl and Darren, "So you decided to paint them instead?" he asked disbelievingly.
Darren bit his bottom lip. "It was an accident, Dad."
Darryl nodded earnestly in agreement. "I tried to stop Joel and accidentally knocked the paint in his hand. It fell onto his face and he accidentally bumped into Tom who had another plastic cup filled with diluted blue paint..."
When the little voice broke, Darien let out a deep breath and stooped on his knees so that he was eye level with his future sons. He couldn't help pulling the boys into his arms when Darryl continued weakly, "We were just trying to protect them, Dad."
Luca Jordan cleared his throat. "It's true. Apparently the boys..." he said gesturing to the two Smurf-like boys with his colleague, "...got it into their heads that the buns are..." he cleared his throat again, "antennas and decided to..." his voice trailed off helplessly as he gestured to the children.
Trish Jarvis stepped forward, "I can't apologise enough," she said completely rattled by the turn of event. Turning to the two Smurfs, she ordered sternly, "Joel, Tom, apologise, this instance!"
The two little boys mumbled their apologies and the horrified teachers added their own apologies before turning to usher the boys inside.
Serena stood up and something warm stirred in her as Darien's and her future sons' raven heads bent close together as he once again hugged them reassuringly.
She bent down to do the same, whispering, "I'm very proud of you both for watching over your sisters."
Darien's approval and being enveloped in Serena's familiar scents and gentle embrace soothed the boys' nerves.
The little girls however, stiffened when Darien tried to hug them and refused to acknowledge him.
"Is something wrong, Princess?"
Suri looked up at him indignantly. "They called us Antenna Head. That's what started the fight."
Darien hung his head even as his lips twitched.
"Darien Shields, don't you dare laugh..." Serena hissed under her breath.
"It's really not funny, Daddy. They got the idea because you told them what you used to call Mummy," Sara huffed. Her face stern as she folded her arms across her chest.
"It's really Daddy's fault, Mummy," Suri said to Serena.
"I totally agree with you," Serena placated, keeping her face straight for the children's benefit.
Darien tweaked Sara's nose and brushed Suri's hair. "It really is my fault."
He picked both girls up and spin with them in his arms, soaking up their delighted squeals and happy laughter.
"Forgive me, Princesses?" he asked tenderly remorseful.
Appeased, Sara giggled and kissed his cheek while Suri tightened her hold on his neck.
Non-TOBITF Readers:
The incident the children were referring to above:
Scene from TOBITF's Chapter 17: Awkward Parents & Awestruck Teachers.
"You take that back this instance! Jerk!" the words and tone of voice sounded so eerily familiar that both Serena and Darien automatically turned toward it. Both had to struggle over the sense of déjà vu at the sight of Sara and Suri with their hands on their waists, looking up at two little boys older and taller than they were, defiantly.
"I will not! What are you alienettes doing here anyway? Missed your spaceship?" the blond boy sneered.
"Joel, that's not very nice, we should at least offer to help the alienettes locate their missing spaceship!" the red haired boy joined the teasing.
Though it took a moment, Darien managed to close his mouth and gently push the back of his hand under Serena's chin to shut hers. "Why does that scene look familiar?" he murmured as he started to walk towards the commotion.
Serena shook herself out of her trance and placed her hand on his arm to stop him, the beginning of a smile on her lips, "Let's give them a moment," she said gleefully. Looking laughingly into Darien's eyes, she asked, "You really don't know why that scene looked familiar?"
"You know, if you use half your effort to tease our sisters to study instead, you might not be stuck in the same grade as them," Darryl addressed the two little boys coolly.
"Your time would be better spent studying than teasing little girls," Darren added just as coldly.
"Oh. My. God," Serena gasped, "They sounded just like you!" she turned an accusing look at Darien.
"But they aren't little girls, not with those two antennas protruding out of their heads!" Joel insisted.
Tom chuckled, "They do look like antennas, that's why Joel called you alienettes!"
Suri stomped her feet "You're being mean! These are buns, not antennas!"
"And we are not alienettes! You boys are being jerks!" Sara crossed her arms.
Darien's jaw dropped again. "They sounded just like you!" he said slowly in a strangled voice, completely in awe.
Looking at each other, they both burst out laughing, "They sounded like us!" they said simultaneously.
The children stopped arguing and looked at the laughing adults who were struggling to regain their breath and composure.
Tom Jarvis's hazel eyes widened at the sight before him and he elbowed his best friend. The man and woman before them looked like their friends, well, nemesis, but the man looked as intimidating as a warrior and the lady was as beautiful as a princess. He gulped.
Darien maintained his straight face as he addressed the boys who were teasing his future daughters, "You know, I used to tease a girl because of her same hair style as my daughters."
"Really? What did you call the girl, Sir?" Joel's curiosity overcame his fear.
Darien cleared his throat, "I...uh...called her..."
"Don't you dare, Darien."
"...Meatball Head."
As the little boys burst out laughing, Darien continued, "But that's beside the point. You might regret your actions someday, especially when you're trying to get the girl to like you." And that statement stopped the laughter and had both Tom and Joel narrowing their eyes in suspicion, "Like?" Tom asked doubtfully, "You mean like in the movies? When the boy and girl kiss and stuff?"
"I mean exactly like that." Darien answered with a serious face while Serena tucked her tongue in her cheek.
Joel sent Darien a pained look, man to man, "I don't get why anyone would want to go around kissing girls."
"It's an acquired taste," Darien told him, not quite able to hide the twinkle in his eyes, "Besides, it's common knowledge that boys only teased girls they like. It's their way to get the girl's attention," he claimed demurely.
Serena lifted her startled eyes to study his thoughtfully, "Is that so?" she asked so softly, it was almost inaudible.
Posted on fanfiction: 22 November 2013
A/N: The two scenes from TOBITF (referred to by drabble 5 and 6) were actually two of my favourite TOBITF scenes. Which one was yours? ;)
Also, English really isn't the easiest language, is it? George Carlinsaid it best in his "The English Plural" posted on my profile...