Sorry! It's taking me forever! I am working on Vegas now! Here is a new chapter please review.

One Week Left

Serena lay in bed, the boat gently rocking her to sleep. She pieced together that last two weeks' up and lows. The time spent on the Rubi had been a wonderfully magnificent time and at the same time filled with dread and sadness. The first night on the ship Serena had met a wonderful young man by the name of Seyia Kou.

"Mr. Kou, thank you so much for the dance." Serena curtsied as he bowed to her in the middle of the dance floor.

"Call me, Seyia." He said kissing her gloved hand making a tinge of red creep up in to her cheeks.

"Oh, of course, Seyia. May I inquire as to where the name Seyia originated?" She asked as Seyia took her arm and escorted her off the dance floor.

"My parents were adventures in their own right. First traveling to Shanghais and then to Japan where I was born. Instinctively they named me Seyia after the doctor who helped my mother give birth to me."

"Very interesting, and so now you are following in their footsteps on your own adventure?" She flirted not realized that she was leading on the good looking young man.

He gave a chuckle. "Miss Kingsley, I've been on many an adventure. Come, join me in a drink with my extremely exciting table."

Serena nodded in acceptance.

Approaching the table she noticed a dark red-headed very handsome man and an extremely beautiful woman with light brown hair sitting with their eyes glued to one another, smiling and holding each other close. She sipped her wine never taking her eyes off the man. Next to them was another couple, they were also obviously entwined in one another but almost in a shy way. She also was quite lovely with darker hair that gave off a slightly blue tint. Her delicate features were being admired by her delicate looking man. As Serena's eyes inspected him further she noticed that he was more than he seemed. His long blond wavy hair was tied back at the nape of his neck and even though his almost feminine looking features made him look young she knew he was strong by his muscular jaw line and he would give his life to protect the lady in blue at his side. Serena's heart fluttered and a smile graced her lips. Love.

As they came closer to the table the couples some how managed to pull their magnetic gazes from their lovers and look up as Serena and Seyia were a mere foot from the circular table.

She was unsure why, but a slight nervousness took over.

"And this fair lady is my love struck table." Seyia smirked. The brunette giggled as her significant other pulled her close. The bluenette blushed almost embarrassed and the blond man had a smirk on his lips that matched Seyia's.

Seyia turned to Serena, "May I introduce to you General Nathan Adams and the new Mrs. Lita Adams and General Zachary Bennett and as coinsciendenitly enough the newly formed Mrs. Amy Bennett."

"Please to meet all of you and congratulations." Serena curtsied.

Seyia continued, "Everyone this is my newly formed acquaintance Lady Serenity Kingsley." He pulled out a chair for her and she graciously accepted.

"Waiter! Please, a bottle of champagne!" Seyia motioned to the near by waiter.

"Lady Serena, I do apologize for our dear friend Sergeant Kou's behavior. It is quite a pleasure to meet you." Major Adams said with a wink.

"It is a pleasure. May I add Lady Serena that your dress is quite lovely." Mrs. Adams stated.

"Thank you so much Mrs. Adams."

"Lita, please. This is my dearest friend Mrs. Bennett but I am sure that it more than fine if you address her as Amy." Lita grasped Amy's free hand that was on the table giving it a squeeze.

"Amy is quite fine. After all, I am not used to being addressed as Mrs. Bennett yet." Amy spoke up from Lita's left the blush never leaving her face.

"Thank you, I prefer to go by Serena as well. Am I right in assuming you are in the Kings Military?" She addressed the men.

"Yes, we are. Our whole regiment was on leave for two months. The perfect time to come back to London to be wed to the most beautiful women in the world." Major Bennett spoke up. Amy's blush reddened.

"That is so wonderful." Serena was unsure why but she started fidgeting with the edge of the table cloth.

"So, Miss Serena, how is it that you are on this luxury liner to the hottest place in the world."

Serena almost choked on her champagne when the question was asked. Almost too embarrassed to answer for the sheer fact that she hated telling people about her upcoming engagement. .

"I am getting married. My cousin Mina…" Serena nodded to the beautiful blond who was on her third dance with a different beau, " is traveling with me as my maid of honor and only brides maid."

Seyia was stunned. This beautiful woman was going to be married.

"Married! That it so exciting!" Lita said, "But to whom!"

"Kingsley… Kingsley… Your father wouldn't be Commander Edward Kingsley?" Nathan asked in disbelief.

"Yes, Commander Kingsley is my father." Serena answered softly knowing this may not end well.

"So you are engaged to Lieutenant Major Shields?" Amy said. Lt. Shields was her husbands Supreme officer and Zach looked up to him with great admiration. They were all invited to the wedding.

"Yes… do you know Lt. Shields?" Serena asked in disbelief.

"Well… yes…" Nathan went to answer. That scoundrel… he didn't even go back to England to marry her while he was on leave.…but Darien was one of his closest friends and he admired him greatly. Obligation to his friend kept him for giving the more than beautiful lady and honest answer.

"The great Lt. Shields is our supreme officer." Seyia said with extreme sarcasm beating Nathan to the punch.

"Your… Supreme officer…" Serena said as both women looked down and Serena saw the disappointment in Zachary and Nathan's eyes for a brief moment and she understood. He didn't care about her… Zachary and Nathan both left India to be married… and he stayed in India like a coward…

Serena wiped the tear from her eyes as she remembered thanking everyone at the table before she made the pathetic excuse that she was tired and left the table. She knew that Darien had no reason to love her. That she could use as an excuse for his actions, but he was on holiday and her father was dying. Didn't he care enough to at least wed her so her only father could see? Still, her large heart kept her from holding a grudge and her mind floated to the wonderful things in life.

Since then she had become close friends with Lita and Amy. Mina, Lita, Amy and Serena had become inseparable. Almost as inseparable as Luna and Artimus who in a way had become all the girls chaperones. Nathan, Zachary, Seyia and Artimus had their 'men' time as the girls gossiped. Mina was more than overjoyed to have Serena acting more like her self.

The weather had become warm and the girls all enjoyed their summer wardrobes. Dinner and dancing every night in the main ballroom allowed the girls to have more than one fashion show nightly. Most of the men on the boat were quite taken with the beauties and Nathan, Zachary, Seyia and Artimus had to step in a time or two when a cad had one too many to drink. Luna was also on occasion found in compromising positions but she was one woman who could stand up for herself not caring what society would think. Serena and Mina were not so lucky. It was their duty to remain a lady no matter how the situation transpired. Serena herself would just smile and blush and make fun of the young or old man without them realizing it. It was when they did realize that Serena was poking fun, Seyia came to her rescue. Then she would go on the deck and vent her anger of being a lady and how she couldn't just tell them where to go. He would laugh at her angry red face and tell her it would be no fun if he couldn't at least pretend to save the day.

It was tonight of all nights that Serena and the girls had found that yet again they had indulged in too much champagne and gin. Serena found herself drinking a tad bit more as The Rubi came closer to India. The stars shown brightly above them as they gingerly lounged about on the deck chairs. A slow ocean breeze lifted Serena's sprits as she listened to the crashing of the waves against the side of the ship.

"Please, tell me…" Mina started in a calm voice breaking the silence among the girls, "What is it like…making love?"

"Mina!" Amy gasped and Serena giggled. Lita just smiled which aroused Serena's curiosity as well.

"Shouldn't you know by now Mina. I mean I am sure every man on the boat has whispered delicious things in your ears as you have danced." Serena took a stab as she alluded to the many nights where both girls would stay up laughing at the men's comments.

"Hush! I am talking about the real thing. What is it like?"

Lita was as open as a book on the taboo topic and Mina eagerly took in the details of the art of making love. Her description was more anatomical than Serena had envisioned but the way Lita went on she knew there was much more to it that could be described.

"It was just so… so much more than I hoped it would be!" Lita said taking a large sip of gin.

"Weren't you nervous!" Mina asked.

"Oh of course I was shaking so bad on our wedding night I reasoned with myself it would be just fine if I locked myself in the bathroom; but Nathan was so gentle with me. I can't say after the second or third time that I was not so gentle back." Lita hinted and as Mina squealed and Amy continued to blush giving away the fact that she had taken part in the self-satisfaction. Serena kept quiet as the reality of the matter took over. It didn't take long before Mina stated her newly formed fear.

"Serena, your next!" Mina giggled and Serena gave a false smile easily giving away her fear.

"Duckie! You can't be that nervous. Even Amy wasn't that scared. Hell, she was braver than I." Lita shrieked.

"Lita, is right. It's okay Serena I promise. It hurts a little at first but then it… well… it is just so wonderful." Amy patted Serena's back.

"It's not that." Tears filled Serena's eyes and the truth would finally emerge. "He doesn't even love me. Nathan and Zachary and even when you get married Mina it will be for love. I don't love him and yet we are supposed to take part in an activity labeled as love making." Serena began to sob.

"Rena!" Mina held her. "He would be stupid not to love you. I think even Seyia loves you and he has only known you two weeks."

"Hush you!" Serena wiped her tears and playfully slapped Serena. The small mention at her new friend brought about feelings of security and trust.

"Serena, all things aside… here." Amy handed Serena a small sponge.

"What is this?" Curiosity arose.

"It is a sponge that you insert… to… uhh….." Amy stammered.

"To no get pregnant. We both love our husbands dearly but it's too soon to have children." Lita continued for Amy.

"Oh… I don't know what if Darien wants' children right away?" Serena asked.

"Serena, don't be such a tussie. He didn't even come home to marry you I doubt he would want you to start breeding immediately!" Mina pointed out making Serena laugh.

Serena laughed so hard tears began to form and the contagious bubbling from the beautiful blond spread to her friends and soon enough jokes of starting her own cattle farm ensued. The stars shown brighter for Serena that night as Serena and Mina showed Lita and Amy how to do the Charleston.

~*~*~*~*~*~~*

"Come… come… hurry and do not let anyone see you." Luna hustled the white haired man in to her small cabin.

"Luna, what on Earth are you doing. This is highly inappropriate behavior for a lady." Artimus joked.

"Hush you baboon. I want to show you my gift for Serena's wedding."

"Luna! Are you hiding a new groom for the young lady! What type of chaperone are you!" He continued to bait the small woman.

"If that were the case I would be the best chaperone in the world; alas, only second best. Come on, enough joking." Luna went in to her wardrobe and pulled a garment bag.

"She hasn't even noticed it's been gone. I've been working on it for almost two weeks now." Luna gently hung the bag on the door and unzipped it. Inside was Serena's wedding gown that Luna had redone. Artimus gave a whistle.

"Luna. I never doubted your talent for a moment but this is just… spectacular. Serena will look like a princess in this gown." Artimus moved in to take a closer look at the beaded work along the bust. Simply gorgeous… he thought no longer referring to the dress. Luna had a smile of self-satisfaction on her lips.

He looked up right it to Luna's eyes. Straitening up he placed his hand on Luna's face caressing her lips with his thumb. "Almost as spectacular as you are."

"Artimus…" Luna managed to say as his lips covered hers.

"Serena! Do you think Luna is asleeeeeping!" Luna pulled away from Artimis when he heard the girls in the adjacent cabin.

"Luna.."

"Shhh you have to go!" Zipping up he dress quickly she shoved it back in to her wardrobe and shoved a frazzled Artimus out the door. Mina and Serena busted in though her door at the exact moment their faces red from drinking.

"Luna!" Serena sung as she tripped over Mina as she entered the room. "What are you doing?"

"Luna! Why are you so flushed!" Mina asked sitting down on the bed.

"Well, you frightened me!" Luna lied. "Girls act like ladies. You need to stop drinking." She scolded when really she didn't mind that they drank. They never caused much of a spectacle like the other girls who were on the 'fleeting ship'. That was Luna's name for the Rubi because of the swarms of girls who had taken to the ship to try and find a husband in India. Mina and Serena were unfortunately were not the exception; however, they had class and charisma in turn made men flock to them. None of the men than the girls had come in contact with seem worthy of the girls. And those that did were more than happily married and Seyia was infatuated with Serena who in turn was to be wed.

"Luna, were you thinking of Artimus?" Mina prodded.

"Heavens child, don't ask such things."

"Oh… so you were?" Serena taunted.

"I knew both of you were going to be trouble. Such ladies in public and wenches in private." She smiled shaking her finger.

"You know you love us!" Mina said hugging her. "Good night."

"Good night, Luna. Say good night to Artimus too!" Serena kissing her on the cheek.

"Oh that's it! Out. Off to bed children." Shutting the door behind her she let out a sigh of relief. That was way to close.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Darien drove though the town of Bombay occasionally honking at the people to get out of his way. It was another hot day but he still put the top down on his automobile and allowed sweat to drip down his face. He didn't understand why he was going to see his cousin Rei. She would go on and on about wedding plans and that was the last thing on his mind. But, he still had one week left of vacation before his bride graced him with her presence.

Pulling up to the large gate, the two Indian guards scurried to get the gate open for their master. He nodded a quick thank you and sped though toward the large house. He loved this house, but it reminded him too much of his parents and the family he never had. So, he had asked Rei to live here with her husband James. James ran the diamond mines for him and he trusted the man with his life. An attendant quickly came to move the car as Darien stepped out. He looked around the lawn was just attended to so perfectly it would be a wonderful place to allow children to run. He shook his head first at the thought and then in anger. He didn't have time for a family.

"SHIELDS! Your late!" He heard a women yell. Turning around he say Rei still in her rode standing against the two double doors.

"What are you talking bout you crazy woman. I didn't even know I was coming this way today."

"Darien Shields your mother would turn in her grave if she knew how much you have been denying your obligation to assist with your wedding! You knew how she felt about this day." She continued to yell at him.

A low growl came from Darien's thought as he ignored her walking in to the house. Rei could feel the anger emanating off him. She was pleased with herself for sticking a nerve.

"DON'T YOU WALK AWAY FROM ME!" she yelled hot on his tails.

"Punjab! I need a drink!" Darien yelled to the servant in Hindi.

"It's noon! You do not need a drink! Come on I have to show you wedding preparations."

"Woman. If you don't shut up in five seconds we will be preparing funeral preparations as well." He growled.

Rei knew he meant it and part of her told her she should shut up but some how she just couldn't help herself.

"No, it only would have been a funeral if you would have married Beryl Westbanks. At least now we can have a wedding."

He turned around of her so fast their eyes locking in a heated duel. "What you do you know Rei! Nothing!" he spat!

"Please, that woman is a mindless twitt who just wanted to up her social standing the same as you do in the military." Darien gave her a look curious as to know she knew of his plans.

"Don't look at me like that. I know what Miss. Kingsley has to offer in titles, medals and badges. You're a fool. Your own mother even told you that you and Serena are meant to be. That she knew it since her birth. Stop being a asshole!"

Rei was right. As a child his mother used to tell him that she had made sure that Darien would always have an angel, his soul mate.

"Rei, my mother didn't mean it as my child bride. Plus, at least Beryl is educated and smart. She speaks Hindi and she is worldly. Unlike that girl."

By this time Rei had poured herself a drink to help her put up with Darien.

"That girl's name is Serena. Your such a fool." She led him outside. "You can not see past the end of your nose, do you know that? Beryl is by no means worldly she just puts on a good show. She doesn't know Hindi! Just commands to bark at her servants and as gentle as you think that woman is she is as evil as the cobras that lurk in the gardens. Now, shut up and I will show you where you are having your ceremony… to your soul mate!"

Darien followed behind Rei like a scared puppy but not before downing his first drink and getting a second. He would prove Rei wrong.