The meeting started out just fine. It was peaceful for half an hour before Lilly and Erin got into it and Lilly stormed out. "Now that she's gone, can we finish this meeting or should I reschedule?" Serena asked her brother.
"I'm sorry," he apologized. Serena shrugged, used to being interrupted by the two. Miraculously, they finished early. "So any more thoughts on the ball subject?" Lita asked.
"December twenty-third. Starts at eight sharp," Serena said.
Lita's smile widened. "Who talked you into it?" she asked.
"It took a night of persuasion from Kaden," she said with a smile.
"No wonder you were in such a good mood this morning," Mina said.
"Hey, you. Where were you this morning?" Serena asked, pulling her into a hug.
"I've got sick kids," Mina said.
"I'm sorry to hear that. What do they have this time?" Serena asked.
"Mild cases of the flu. With them being so young though, I want to have someone there to watch over them all the time, so I had to wait until Michael came home. Lilly faxed over the contract this morning. When I called, you were still in bed. I've read it through, signed it, and set it on the desk downstairs. Then I came to find you to see what you were up to," Mina said.
"Serena finally gave into a ball on the twenty-third of December, which leaves us not quite three month's time. I hope you have something up your sleeve," Lita said.
"I do. Follow me," Serena said. They followed her to her downstairs office. "I figured you'd be in here," Serena said to Lilly, who was filing papers.
Diana had the week off and Lilly was bored, so she did Diana's job while she was gone. "You found me, yay," she said dryly.
"I wasn't looking for you, Lil, I just figured you'd be in here. I came in to print off my list and specific instructions for the ball if your interested," Serena said.
Lilly turned and looked at her. She smiled. "Figures Kaden could talk you into it," she said and moved so Serena could access the computer. Serena printed off seven very detailed copies, including pictures, of what she wanted.
"Share. I'm low on ink, and I don't feel like buying more," Serena said.
Lita laughed. "Tightwad," she teased her.
"Of course. I wouldn't be Serena if I didn't save every penny we earned," Serena said. Everyone laughed.
"Hey, gorgeous, I thought I might find you here. Hello, ladies, and Erin," Kaden said.
"Let me guess, you're stealing your wife and we cant have her anymore?" Mina asked.
"Now that you mention it, yes. But you can have her back after she deals with Rini," Kaden said.
"No luck?" Serena asked him.
"No luck. She won't talk to me or budge. She's laying on her bed, in her Pjs, with her stereo turned up full blast. Any ideas?" he asked.
"Yep. The unexpected. That's three days this week, and I'm tired of it," Serena said and flipped open her cell phone.
Darien answered his phone. "Hello, Serena. What happened this time?" he asked.
"Your daughter refuses to get out of bed, get dressed, or go to school. She did this Monday, yesterday, and today. I'm done dealing. It's your turn," Serena said. Everyone was startled. She'd always handled the girls just fine without calling Darien. No wonder she'd said the unexpected.
"Grace just called here, but I'll be there in five," he said.
"Thanks," Serena said and they flipped their phones shut.
"Trouble?" Setsuna asked him.
"Yes. Apparently Rini has refused to get out of bed and go to school or anything this week, except Tuesday. Serena has to be at the end of her rope to call me," Darien said.
"Wait, Rini refuses to go to her lessons and she loves school. Do they still go to the same lessons at the same times?" Setsuna asked.
"As far as I know. The way Grace sounded on the phone a few minutes ago made me wonder if they aren't fighting. Why?" he asked.
"Erin and Serena started that about the same age and their parents finally pulled them out of the private school put them in public school and in separate classes. I'm not saying to do that, I'm just saying that's what their parents did," Setsuna said.
"If it worked on Rena, it just may work on the girls. I might just take it one step further and bring Rini here after semester break, and let her do her lessons here. Would you mind?" he asked.
"Do you really want to take it that far?" Setsuna asked him.
"I think it might be good for them. Serena's had them all this time. Besides, they wont rule together anyhow. Rini will be here, and Grace there. Why not get them used to the idea of being on separate planets for a while," Darien said.
"I'm hesitant to say yes, but maybe your right. If we just tried it for the semester, and then Grace can join her down here this summer like they always do, maybe it'll work. See what Rena says, and let me know before we do anything," Setsuna said.
"I will. I promise. I love you, I'll be home soon," he said. He gave her a quick kiss and left.
"I take it you and Sets were talking?" Serena asked from her desk, where she was listening to something on the phone.
"Yes. What are you doing?" he asked.
"Eavesdropping on my brother's phone call with his girlfriend that I can't stand. Why?" she asked.
"I just wondered. I'm guessing you have it on mute then?" he asked.
"Yep. I really don't like this woman, if you want to call her that. She's barely twenty and still living with her parents while she tries to finish high school. She dropped out her sophomore year and decided to go back last year. I've met her more than once, and I've tried to like her, she just rubs me the wrong way. Now onto Rini. What would you like to do, because grounding doesn't work, taking away privileges doesn't work. I don't know what else to do. That's why I called you," Serena said.
Kaden came in and sat down then. "She locked the door. She won't even listen to me try to tell her that you'd called Darien. I don't think she believes you'd go that far. Hey, Dare, how's everything going?" Kaden asked him.
"Until half an hour ago, just fine. Sit, lets talk. Sets couldn't come because teleporting makes her sick right now. Oh, by the way, we just found out yesterday that she's expecting again. We meant to call, but then Angel got sick in school, then Dominic, and I blame it on Mina because she knew yesterday at the meeting that her kids were sick," he said as Mina appeared in the doorway.
She smiled. "That's OK. I blame you for everything else. Sorry to interrupt, but I had a quick question for Rena. Why white glitter on the roses?" she asked.
"To look like snow blondie. Did you get the invitations finished yet?" Serena asked.
"Nope. Lilly took them away, threw the ones I did away, and started over. She said I was going too fast and the ink was smudging. She's doing them in moon calligraphy, so it make take a few hours," Mina said.
"I told you to let her do them, but you insisted that you could do them. Now leave before I have Luna throw you out. Oh, and Mina, you have glitter all in your hair. Tell Lita to knock it off before I come in there and finish things my way," Serena said. Mina smiled and left.
"You can sure tell the two of you are related," Darien muttered.
Serena crumpled a piece of paper and threw it at him. "Smart ass. Congratulations by the way," she said.
Darien laughed. "Thanks," he said and uncrumpled the paper Serena had been doodling on. "Frustrated?" he asked.
"Yes. Why?" she asked.
"I can tell. You're pressing hard with you pencil and trying to get the angle of the lighting just right. I take it this is the painting your doing in the great hall?" he asked.
"Trying, but I keep screwing it up," Serena said.
"Relax and you'll get it right," Darien said.
"Thanks. It's a little hard to relax though, when she starts this," Serena said.
"She's done this before then?" he asked.
"Oh yes. Off and on since school started again. I can't handle this anymore, with the holidays right around the corner, and now a stupid ball, I don't know what to do, Darien. I'm on the verge of throwing my hands up and leaving, and not coming back until I'm damn good and ready," Serena said, frustrated tears in her eyes.
Kaden stood, walked around the desk, and pulled her up and into his arms. "It'll be OK. I promise," he soothed her shattered nerves.
"I have a suggestion, but I don't know if you'll go for it," Darien said as Kaden sat down in the chair with Serena in his lap. She wiped her eyes and looked at him. He knew the wounded expression that she wore now all to well. He'd caused it enough when they were together. "Rena, you're the strongest person I know. If you give up now, then it's like giving up the war. You wouldn't let Beryl win, so why are you letting our daughter win?" he asked.
"It's hard, Darien. I love them so much. I try so hard because I don't want to be like my mom. I give them what they need. I try not to spoil them by giving them whatever they want. I punish them when I know they deserve it, and give them praise for even the smallest accomplishments. I don't know what I've done wrong. Lately, Rini's totally shut us out of her life. She barely talks to me or Kaden, or even Grace. I'm glad she's feeling better, beyond glad. I love them all to pieces, but I don't know what to do," Serena said, wiping at fresh tears.
"I know, Rena. You're a great parent, too, but maybe it's time to shake up their lives a bit and split them apart," Darien said.
Serena looked at him confused. "I'm listening," she said.
"Setsuna and I were talking for a few minutes just before I came up here. She remembers when your parents finally pulled the two of you out of private school and put you in public school with Mina and the girls in separate classes. I thought that might work for this situation, but I want to take it one step further, and bring Rini home with me after the holidays at the beginning of the new semester. I want your opinions now," he said.
"It worked when we were pulled out of the private school. Hell, I wish I'd though of something like that. Do you think they'd go for being separated for that long?" Serena asked.
"Sweetheart, just last night you were telling me that eventually they were going to rule separate planets anyhow, so why not let them go through a trial separation now, while they're still young, so they get used to the idea of being apart for long periods at a time. I mean, how often, besides at meetings, do you see Erin?" Kaden asked.
"Not very. We're always so busy, we rarely have time to see each other. When were you thinking about this?" Serena asked Darien.
"Let them have the holidays, and since school semester starts as soon as they go back, I take Rini back about a week before. We don't have to tell them until after the holiday ball if you want to wait," Darien said.
"I think it would be best if we wait until maybe the day after Christmas so they can't accuse us of spoiling it for them. Was I this temperamental at ten?" Serena asked them.
Both men groaned. She laughed. "Sweetheart, you were worse. I remember your favorite word being no," Darien said.
Serena looked at Kaden. "Don't look at me, you know I'm going to agree with him. Serena, do you remember your tenth Christmas?" Kaden asked.
"Vaguely, why?" she asked.
"You wanted this CD player that was just coming out and expensive as hell," Darien said.
"I remember now. I threw one hell of a fit for a week straight. Mom was so frustrated with me she wanted to pull her hair out by the roots. They'd send me to my room, and take things and privileges away, and I still threw my fit. Finally, they sent me off to Grandma's. She ignored my fits. When we had Christmas dinner, it was a small turkey with instant potatoes and canned gravy. She said she could never understand the lavishness of my parents' dinner. There were no gifts and no TV, just an old radio show. She made me go to bed early every night, and told me to be thankful we had a warm house and comfortable clothes to wear. She said that there were other people were less fortunate than us, that couldn't even afford dinner, let alone a Christmas tree and presents. After an early dinner that evening, she took me to the homeless shelter where people from the streets had come to get a free dinner. She and I walked into the kitchen, put on aprons, and help serve dinner. I remember this one family came through the line. They had nothing but the clothes on their back and a few belongings because their house had burned down. Their little girl didn't even have a warm coat. I felt so bad for throwing my fit, I went out of the kitchen and went and got my coat. I gave it to the little girl and even though it was to big for her. She and her family were grateful. Then I gave them my Christmas money that mom and dad sent me. I don't think I've ever felt as guilty as I did then," Serena said.
"I always wondered why you became so generous with your money," Darien said.
"Trust me, a soup kitchen isn't the best place to spend the holidays, but it's better than nothing," Serena said.
"So are we going to do it or not?" Darien asked.
"I think we should," Kaden said.
"Me, too. I guess it's up to Sets now to say yay or nay. Do you still want Grace to come for the summer holiday?" Serena asked.
"Yes, because then they'd have been separated for almost five full months. Besides, you'll come and see her a lot. I know you," Darien said.
Serena smiled, knowing she was predictable. "This feels weird. It makes me feel old. I mean, not old, but it seems like just yesterday I was doing this and it was me being punished. Now, all of the sudden, it dawns on me that instead of being the ones punished, we're the ones doing the punishing and making these decisions. It just gives me a reality check I guess. Like where did it all go, you know?" she asked.
"Sweetheart, you aren't now, nor will you ever be, old. Even in a thousand years when you have your next reality check and realize that you're a grandparent, you'll never be old," Kaden said.
"Gee, thanks," Serena said. Darien and Kaden both laughed.
"Well what now?" Kaden asked.
"Now Darien talks to Sets to see if she agrees to this, and if she does, then it happens. In the meantime, while chaos breaks loose here, you and I and the boys are going home for a much needed break," Serena said.
"Darien, do you think you can talk Rini into at least coming with us this weekend?" She asked.
"I suppose," he said.